Chapter Text
Red lights blinked on, off, on, off. Blinding. You watched faces, once full of joy, were filled with fear. The sounds of screams roared over the sirens, drowning out the announcements, drowning out the siren and explosions. It was deafening. You barreled into the engineering deck, slammed into the wall, and inhaled deeply to catch your breath. Bad idea. The scent of burning flesh filled your nostrils and you gagged. Flames licked at your skin, the heat searing your flesh. You could taste the smoke on your tongue. How many? How many were lost to the beam when it struck? No time, get to safety. You left them behind. Saved your own skin.
And watched the Aurora burn.
It was still so fresh in your memory. It had been weeks, perhaps even a month, since the crash. You were alone. For all you knew, you were the only survivor. You hoped, prayed, WISHED you weren’t. There were so many good people on the Aurora, kind folks that offered you warm smiles and gentle hugs. Folks that didn’t deserve to die.
You repaired your radio the first day since your lifepod landed. You received no signals. There was nothing. It was silent. Maybe- Maybe you were just out of range? But then the signal boosters you built would have put you in range.
You were alone.
The next few days, you explored the area you were trapped in. In the center was a volcanic island, dormant thankfully, and a ring of mountains surrounded it. Upon closer inspection (thank the gods you used to go mountain climbing back on earth), there was nothing but ocean beyond the mountain ring. When you tried to climb down the otherside, your PDA warned of countless leviathan class creatures inhabiting the area.
So, taking a dip in the void-like waters was a no go. Taking your seamoth was also a big fat NOPE. Mainly because the leviathans, according to the PDA, could swallow your seamoth whole, but also because you couldn’t find a hole big enough for your seamoth to fit through.
You were trapped.
The following week, you constructed a base beneath your lifepod and fabricated a stasis rifle. Better safe than sorry. You already nearly had your leg bitten off by some prehistoric looking shark your PDA called a “stalker”. Creepy. You also used your radio and pinpointed the general location of the Aurora. It was in some kind of massive ecological oasis. Nearly ten thousand miles away from you. There was no way you would be able to get to it through the void.
You were isolated.
There was only one option left for you. You had to build the Neptune Rocket if you wanted to get your ass off this nightmare world and back to Earth. All you needed to construct the rocket was the materials. And some of those materials could only be found deeper. The only problem? Your seamoth could only dive so far and you were unable to construct a PRAWN suit or a cyclops.
You were pissed.
Something told you diving any deeper than you had was a VERY bad idea, but you NEEDED to go deeper. So, you know what instincts? You could shut the hell up, unless you had a BETTER idea.
You were currently descending down beneath the volcanic island, since it was the only area that went deeper than 400 meters. You had to go deeper and you wouldn’ stop until you found everything you needed. You growled and pushed your seamoth to descend deeper before it could no longer handle the pressure. Begrudgingly, you directed your seamoth’s lights down into the darkness and clambered out into the freezing waters.
You hated the cold and only hoped your wetsuit would warm up quickly as you pulled out your seaglide. With a steadying breath, you descended. Your stasis rifle swayed against your back, held there by a loose strap that allowed you to pull it forward quickly. Soon enough, you were out of range of your seamoth’s ray of light. Glancing at your depth gauge, you paused. You were only 570 meters? Your seamoth got you down to 500 meters, but it felt like you were deeper. The water pressure was intense, more than it should have been.
‘What’s going on?’ You thought and pressed a hand to your chest. You had plenty of oxygen left, but this pressure was going to be a problem. You needed to go back up. Your brows dropped into an annoyed scowl. Were you really going to turn back because of this? For all you knew, this could be a hallucination. You had dived down this deep before and the pressure wasn’t this bad. Though, that was back on Earth…
Your mouth thinned into a determined line. You were going to keep going. You had to. You turned your seaglide back on and started diving deeper. You continued for a while longer, the pressure never changing, but the feel of being watched pricked your skin.
You ignored it. It was probably some kind of dumb fish watching you. What you couldn’t ignore was the deep rumble that vibrated your very bones. You startled and spun around. You had never heard, or FELT, that before.
“Alert: Leviathan class creature detected.”
You jolted at the sound of your PDA’s voice and you barely registered the warning when you saw a massive form drift some distance from you, shrouded in darkness. Your blood turned to ice in your veins and you froze. Slowly, the massive form drew closer and you trembled.
You might have dived too deep afterall. Perhaps you should have listened to instincts or turned back when you felt the pressure increase unnaturally. Your family was right. Your stubbornness was going to be the death of you.
Your body was overcome with intense shivers as the absolute unit of a MONSTER stopped in front of you. You couldn’t make out any of its features except for it’s colossal size and it’s burning orange eyes that glared down at you. It leaned forward and you saw a flash of sharp teeth.
You were going to die.
You flinched as the beast drew closer, but your movement reminded you of the rifle strapped securely to you. In a moment of adrenaline fueled panic, you yanked the stasis rifle from your back and pointed it at the leviathan.
Seeing your aggressive stance, the leviathan paused its approach. You bobbed in the water, hands shaking so badly there was no way you would be able to hit the leviathan, even with it being so close and big. When you made no move to attack, the leviathan tilted its head. You tensed and was about to charge up the rifle, just in case, when you caught movement in the corner of your eye. You snapped your gaze towards the movement, expecting another leviathan. What you saw instead left you gasping for breath.
A large appendage stretched from the leviathan that reached for you. As it drew closer, you were able to make out its shape. Five fingers with a thin webbing between each finger. This thing had hands. You were frozen, watching the hand, longer than you were tall, reach towards you.
Fear raced through your veins and you flailed your arms and legs in an attempt to flee. Your sad attempt at escape seemed to amuse the monster caging you in, as what sounded like a deep chuckle filled the water. You dropped the rifle in a panic and kicked back, away from the hand, only for your back to bump into something behind you.
Startled, you spun around and watched in horror as the other hand of the creature curled its fingers around your tiny frame. You kicked and clawed at the fingers encasing you as you were dragged towards the face of the leviathan. It watched with interest until your PDA’s voice echoed through the space between you and the monster.
“Thirty seconds of oxygen remaining.”
“SHIT!” You roared and struggled even more in the hand. “Let me go!”
“Go,” a thunderous voice echoed. Before you could figure out where the voice came from, there was a rush of water as you and the leviathan were very quickly ascending.
You clung desperately to the hand, the speed fast enough to press you more into the hand. The leviathan slowed to a stop near your seamoth and grabbed it. Before you could consider WHY the leviathan grabbed your seamoth, it started to swim upwards again. Soon enough, you were breaching the surface of the water, still held in the leviathan’s hand.
Upon reaching fresh air, your mask automatically released and you took a gasping breath. The second your lungs stopped burning, you started to kick and claw at the hand again.
The leviathan clicked lowly and watched your struggles renew, your puny blows doing nothing to deter him from holding you. Eclipse huffed, slightly annoyed at your squirming. He dropped the odd metal ball back into the water before dragging himself up the beach of his island. You did not seem to notice his movement or where he was taking you until he dropped you.
You squawked when your back slammed into the sand. Scrambling, you dragged yourself up and as far as you could before the leviathan’s hand cut off your path. Startled, you spun around and slipped.
“Whoa!” You yelped and fell face first into the sand. You spluttered and spat sand out when a shadow descended over you. You flipped yourself onto your back and yanked your dagger out of its sheath at your hip and pointed it at the hand reaching for you.
"Keep your scaly ass hand off me, you overgrown sardine!" You yelled and jabbed the dagger towards the leviathan.
“Rude, little thing.”
You froze. Your eyes bugged out and your jaw fell open. It talked. It understood you!?
AND IT CALLED YOU RUDE!?
“I’m rude?! Excuse you, fish face!” You yelled and pushed yourself from the sand, dagger still pointed at the beast. Your free hand swung out to the side in exasperation, “You’re the one going around grabbing people and scaring the shit out of them!”
“Language,” The leviathan rumbled and settled its hands on either side of you, its massive claws curling around you. Not touching, just there to prevent you from fleeing. You opened your mouth to shriek more, but the leviathan cut you off, “You trespassed.”
“What?” You squeaked and dropped your arm in surprise.
“You entered my territory,” Eclipse said and grinned at your slightly guilty expression. He was further amused when your surprise swiftly turned to indignation and defiance. It seemed he found something quite interesting, even if you had been trampeding all throughout the area.
You hissed and crossed your arms, “Well sorry! But the shit I need is probably down there!”
“For your… What was it you called it? Neptune rocket?” The leviathan said, its deep tone mocking.
“How?” You gaped. You had never seen this monster before, so how did it know about the rocket? On top of that, how could it speak English? And so fluently too! What the hell was going on?
“Find out,” The leviathan flashed its teeth in a grin and hummed. You scowled up at the watery titan. It wasn’t like any creature you’d seen so far. Half of its face and torso was a raven black, a black with a hint of blue, while the other was an ivory white, a warm white. It had bright orange and red fins decorating its sides, the only burst of color with the exception of those fiery orange eyes. Those eyes locked onto you and you frowned at the clear amusement they held.
You scowled and carefully pulled out your scanner after putting your dagger away. You directed the device at the overly smug leviathan and initiated the scan.
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Siren Leviathan, Singularity subspecies
A leviathan class predator found on the smaller end. Siren leviathans are known to travel in pairs and hunt larger leviathans as their preferred prey. This specimen seems to be missing its partner.
1. Body: A muscular creature built for speed and destruction. The bioluminescent markings allow sirens to attract mates, prey, or scare off trespassers in threat displays. The long, thick tail of sirens allows them to swim faster than most leviathan and lash out with incredible speed and deadly force.
2. Arms: This evolutionary trait is missing from most species on the planet, suggesting that sirens are likely one of the oldest species on the planet, despite their small size in comparison to other leviathans. Each arm ends in a webbed hand with each finger tipped with deadly claws designed to carve through stone and flesh.
3. Vocals: Sirens communicate in a variety of trills, chirps, clicks, rumbles, growls, and hisses. The vocal range of sirens allow them to mimic the calls of other species. Sirens use their songs to mesmerize (enthrall) prey and lead them to their deaths. Certain sirens are able to release a roar loud enough to stun nearby predators. If you hear a siren sing, then it’s too late.
4. Jaws: Powerful jaws and sharp teeth fit for tearing through the thick armor of larger leviathan-class species. Scans indicate sirens are able to survive on smaller prey, but their teeth become dull as a result.
5. Singularity subspecies: Scans indicate members of this subspecies are highly sensitive to vibrations, allowing them to sense movement in a wide area; how far the specimen can sense is undetermined, more research needed. Further scans indicate that solar eclipses allow this ability to increase tenfold. The Singularity subspecies appear to be the deadliest of the Sirens, able to prey on leviathans that reach up to 360 feet. Alert: Do not enter the waters during solar eclipses.
The particular specimen scanned is an adult male. Scans indicate this specimen’s growth was stunted, maxing it at 240 feet, though it could grow much longer.
Assessment: Extreme threat - Avoid in all circumstances. Do not trust time, for it bends to the greatest of forces.
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It- HE could mimic sounds. That explained HOW he could talk, but now how he knew english. Also, Singularity? What a strange name for a species. And what was this about vibrations? Shit, was that how he knew you were in his territory?
“Look, I’m sorry for trespassing on your territory, okay?” You huffed and dragged your gaze away from the massive predator. Were you being foolish to trust that this thing wasn’t going to eat you? Not really, if he wanted to eat you, he would have done so already. “I just- I need something that might be down there.”
“Might?” The leviathan said, mockery laced through his voice. “Unsure.”
Your hackles raised and dug your nails into your arm through your wetsuit gloves. When you refused to respond to the leviathan’s taunt, he leaned his face down and into your space, startling you. You jumped back and fell into the creature’s open palm. Before you could react, he scooped you up and straightened his back, bringing you several stories over the ground before he stopped.
“This ‘neptune’ you’re trying to make. It is a transporter, no?” The leviathan asked, no longer mocking you. Instead, his tone sounded serious. “You intend on leaving this world to return to your own.”
“Yeah, so what of it?!” You snapped and clung to the creature's thumb, which delicately laid across your stomach to keep you steady. If you weren’t so scared and annoyed, you might have been curious about what he meant by ‘transporter’ or how he knew you were planning to leave.
“Don’t.”
You blanched and slammed your fist against the finger, “EXCUSE ME!? I-”
“Those who came before left weapons that strike down all who approach,” The black and white scaled leviathan stated matter-of-factly. “Or leave.”
You pursed your lips. What did that mean? You couldn’t leave? ‘Those that came before’? Who came before? And what weapon? What was-
“The light,” Your voice was barely a whisper as you paled. When the Aurora neared this planet, something hit it. A light that seared through half of the ship. THAT was the weapon. Meant to keep anyone out and anything in. The Aurora was scheduled to pass this planet.
Did Alterra know?
Shakily, you dropped your hands and met the curious gaze of the leviathan, “So I’m trapped here.”
It wasn’t a question.
Eclipse nodded and frowned. This hopelessness he sensed flowing from you was… bothersome. It was not amusing like your indignance or surprise was. He tilted his head and trilled. You flinched at the sound and turned your wide, confused eyes up to the leviathan. Eclipse narrowed his own eyes. Your emotions were a mess. Just how long were you bottling them up?
The leviathan huffed, for what reason? You didn’t know and you didn’t care to know, especially as he lowered you back down to the beach. You steadied your feet under you and turned a confused glare up at the behemoth.
The leviathan shook his head before he rumbled out, “Stay out of my territory unless you want me to eat you, crumb.”
“Fine,” You huffed, but froze when what he called you registered.
Did- did he really call you a CRUMB!? RUDE!
You squawked and balled your fists, ready to pick a fight with the leviathan that could squash you. However, the beast was already turned away and dipping back into the water. You huffed indignantly and folded your arms across your chest.
That leviathan, he had no right to call you rude after calling you a CRUMB. Your bottom lip jutted out as you marched into the water. You dove in and your mask automatically covered your head. You glanced around and spotted your seamoth not too far. You darted towards it and looked it over, finding that it was thankfully unharmed, despite being manhandled by the leviathan.
Speaking of which, you turned your gaze down into the depths and found his eyes, glowing that fiery orange, watching you. They tracked your movement and you scowled before you got an idea. He may understand your language (and what curses were apparently), but surely he wouldn’t know gestures. With an annoyed smirk, you clenched one hand in a fist before unfurling the middle finger. Not waiting to see what the leviathan’s reaction was, you clambered into your seamoth and steered it away and back towards your base.
Below you, Eclipse trilled, his amusement growing. For such a small prey item, you were gutsy. He wanted to see more. Just how much more defiant you could be? How much cuter could you be? Eclipse chuckled and allowed his bioluminescence to die down before he sank deeper, disappearing into the depths.
You reached your base in no time and docked the seamoth in your moonpool. You grumbled curses and rants as you climbed out of your sub. You slipped down to the little walkway before marching into the main multipurpose room of your base. You tugged off your wetsuit and chucked it on the ground.
“Stupid giant fish,” You stomped down one of the corridors to another multipurpose room, which served as your room. “I ain’t a crumb, you- you OVERGROWN MINNOW!” You yelled and yanked out a pair of pajamas, too annoyed and exhausted to go back out. “Territorial ass hat.”
Once your pajamas were in place, you stomped over to the ladder that led to your makeshift kitchen and clambered down, “Telling me I can’t get the shit for my rocket.” You stomped over to your indoor garden and gently yanked one of the lantern fruits from its tree before you stomped over to your water purifier to fill your water bottle, “Telling me that I can’t- can’t leave…”
Your voice cracked and you sunk into the nearby chair. You gingerly placed your fruit and bottle on the table before folding your arms on it. You lowered your head into your arms and a breath shuddered out of your lungs slowly.
If what that leviathan said was true (which you still didn’t understand), then you were permanently grounded unless there was some way to deactivate whatever laser weapon was keeping things off or on the planet. Yet, you explored nearly every corner of this “Hotspot” you were in. There were no weird weapons. Only natural oceanic formations.
Taking a shaky breath in, you straightened your back and reclaimed your fruit and water.
The only place you hadn’t fully explored was beneath the island. In HIS territory. There had to be answers down there, as well as your materials. Determination reaffirmed, you chowed down on the fruit, downed your water, and turned in for the night.
The next morning, you set your plan in motion. Instead of approaching the leviathan’s territory from above like you had before, you had your seamoth hug the seafloor until you reached the drop-off. Just as you directed your seamoth to dive down, your path was cut off by the leviathan swooping up from below.
You yelped and jerked the seamoth’s controls back, to avoid crashing to him. Instead, your sub was caught in between his hands and he brought it up to his face.
“Little Crumb continues to trespass,” Eclipse smirked and cradled the metal ball in his hands carefully. He purred deeply at your offended expression. Oh how he enjoyed playing with you. You were far more entertaining than those whelps that lived on the edge of his territory. Eclipse hummed and tilted his head, “I am not surprised.”
“Stop calling me a crumb!” You yelled.
“Why?” The leviathan teased, “You are far too small to consider a meal or even a snack.”
You snarled and crossed your arms over your chest tightly as the leviathan turned your seamoth around and nudged it away from the dropoff. You turned the seamoth around and glared at the leviathan as he leaned his elbows on the cliff edge and rested his cheek in one hand. His eyes dared you to try to get past him and you were tempted to. But that would be what he wanted, so instead, you flipped him off and sped away. You tried to fight the smile that twitched at the corners of your mouth at the boisterous laughter that rumbled through the water behind you.
The next day, you tried again and just like before, the leviathan, who you learned called himself Eclipse, hindered your attempt. He grabbed your sub, carried it back up the cliff and deposited you before leaning against the cliff and grinning down at you. You’d flip him off before running away.
You repeated this for a few days, always trying to go down in different locations only to be stopped by Eclipse. Despite the repetition, he only seemed more amused each time you showed up. It was a game at this point. A game neither of you seemed to mind. You had fun trying to sneak past the leviathan and he seemed to have fun catching you. Sometimes he would hold your seamoth longer, other times he would just swim around you until you retreated back up to the dropoff. One time, Eclipse grabbed your seamoth and pulled it towards his face before the loudest purr you’d even heard rumbled through your little sub.
Today was no different, you thought. You approached the dropoff, ready to try and dart past Eclipse this time. You slowed as you hovered your seamoth over the cliff and looked down, expecting the familiar (and comforting) orange glow of the otherwise black and white leviathan, only to see nothing. He wasn’t there.
Your brows furrowed and your lips dropped into a confused frown. Where was he?
With barely concealed hesitation, you directed your seamoth down and began the dive deeper. Yet, Eclipse was still nowhere in sight. This wasn’t like him. He always stopped you by now. Did something happen to him? Now worried, you sped your seamoth along, frantically looking around, trying to spot the familiar orange glow.
Where? Where was he? He couldn’t have left you… could he?
The seamoth slowed to a stop, your hands hovered over the controls, trembling.
Why were you shaking? Why were you so scared?
Were- were you attached to him?
Slowly, shakily, you curled into yourself, cursing under your breath, “You damn idiot… you’re prey and he’s a predator…”
Curled in on yourself as you were, you failed to notice the bright flash of yellow, followed by deep blue. Darkness encased the edges of your vision.
You didn’t want to be left alone. You couldn’t stand being alone.
Why did you leave earth…
…