The crew exchanged awkward looks with one another. Everyone started to look at each other with suspicion.
Wong continued. "Even if we wanted to abort the mission and return to the surface today, the weather conditions are making that unsafe. We are down here for the duration." He paused. "It's been a long day, and I want you all to get rest and clear your heads. First thing tomorrow, we are going to run a full systems diagnostic and make sure everything is working properly. I want to address the battery recharge issues fully. And we will also be making an exterior examination of the hull to assess structural integrity. With the recent tremors, we must stay vigilant about the integrity of this structure. Our lives depend on it.” He looked at Jack and me. "I understand this is your investigation, but I have command authority over this habitat. You will defer to me for all safety concerns. Are we on the same page?”
I gave him a mock salute. "It's your show.”
After dinner, Elana and Ross took nightwatch.
JD and I shot the breeze with Flynn in our berthing compartment. We kicked around theories for a bit, then Flynn retired to his bunk.
I brushed my teeth and settled in for the evening. Something told me tomorrow would be a long day. Jack sealed and locked the hatch to our compartment. At least I wouldn't have to sleep with one eye open.
As isolated and as dangerous as it was, there was a certain peace about the habitat. The constant sound of the oceanand the hum of the equipment. Knowing that you could do nothing about anything that happened on the surface. There was a different kind of stress in the habitat, but at least the worry of daily life was gone. It was almost like going on vacation. Disconnecting and detoxing from reality. This was another world.
I had just fallen asleep when another unsettling tremor rumbled the habitat. An alarm sounded. The grating buzz of the klaxon sprang me out of my bunk.
This couldn't be good.
25
JD and I hustled out of the compartment, still in our skivvies, and sprinted down the passageway toward the chaos.
"Help!” Elana screamed. “Somebody help!"
With bare feet against the cold deck, we reached her berthing compartment. A jet of water sprayed in from the porthole flange. The high-pressure stream hissed.
Wong entered the compartment with wide eyes.
"I need a brace!” I shouted.
He ducked out of the compartment and returned a moment later. We wedged the brace against the flange. Wong took a wrench and tightened down the flange bolts. Between the two actions, the jet of water slowed to a trickle.
David left and returned a moment later with a self-sealing sheet of a space-age polymer epoxy. He cut it to size and affixed it around the flange, mashing it down, activating it. Itwould cure within seconds. The act of crushing the polymer foam induced the chemical reaction, and the material hardened almost instantly.
Crisis averted.
Elana wiped the sweat from her brow. She looked flustered, her heartbeat through the roof. All of ours were. The incident had spiked adrenaline, that was for sure. Nothing like a little reminder that you’re an intruder in the deep. And the deep didn't like intruders. It actively sought to eliminate them.
Elana took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
"You okay?" I asked.
She nodded, still shaken.
We were all soaking wet with cold seawater. I would not want to be out there for a long time without a suit, that much was certain.
Elana moved to the en suite, grabbed a few towels, and tossed one to each of us.
"Thank you," I said.
"Never a dull moment around here, huh?" she said.
"Seems that way. Is that the first leak you've had on the habitat?"
She nodded again. "And hopefully the last."
"This is why I think it's important we do a full structural evaluation of the habitat tomorrow," Wong said. "Let's all get some rest. We're going to need it," he said before darting out of the compartment.
I said goodbye to Elana as she dried off. We returned to our bunk room, and I took a shower to wash the saltwater away before climbing back into my rack. Flush with adrenaline, it wasn't easy to nod off again.
