Simon noted that the creature didn't seem very fond of apologies. That was two for two on negative reactions to them. He couldn't make any promises though.
The C.O.I. officer seemed to ask someone else, someone in the room with them if she heard Simon correctly. There was the sound of another voice answering her but Simon couldn't make out what it said.
" How do you know about that ship?! "
Simon felt a little insulted by the question, shooting scathing looks at the speaker. " It had letters on it. I can read. " They thought he was stupid. But that wasn't news to him. Just more salt in the wound to be reminded of.
The voice asked again if he was saying he found the SM-8, with a tone that he was realizing meant it was very important to her.
" Yeah I did. And that wasn't all. " Simon got back up, rushing to the computer again. There was an energy to his voice that wasn't there moments ago. Something like determination and hope. " When I found it, the computer tried to download something ! It connected to the wreck. It said something about... "
He tapped away at the computer's console, bringing up the log that confirmed what he was saying. A voice rattled from the computer about leaving the area or surrendering to council authorities as Simon spoke over it.
" Something about a black box An archive. Right? "
" I'm right aren't I? ... Well, if you want it, you have to come get it. That's the deal. That's fair. That's fair. " He raised his voice, feeling more sure of himself. " I went through hell down here, but I came back with something so much better than a piece of bone. But if you want it, you have to get me out!... That's fair! "
The voice stammered out a claim, that there was no way the computer could have downloaded anything. That it wasn't even activated on the SM-13. That he didn't even have the login and password to accept a download.
" No, no, no! I'm not lying! I know big secret blown I'm not the first one down here, but there was a note! Someone told me to splice the wires! And now I've found something you need! "
He repeated that he wasn't lying with more desperation in his voice. " I saw it! I fell in a cave and navigated through it, and I found this ship, there was still power and it connected to the computer, it was trying to download something! " He moved back around to the map, looking at where he marked off the location of the wreck. " I'm telling the truth ! "
"... how far are you from it right now ? "
Simon's voice lowered to a more normal level again, looking to the map briefly then to the speaker again. " I mean Not far. I think. "
The C.O.I. Officer seemed to be going for it. She decided to direct him to the computer again, giving him the log in info and how to activate it. She also seemed to have a newfound energy to her tone. The voice excitedly talked about him going to get the data. Simon just hoped that meant he'd be out of this place finally.
" Tell me If I do this... you get me out? " Simon noticed some movement from Venom, behind him. But that wasn't his focus. He trusted that it wouldn't do anything that wasn't helpful to the both of them.
" If you do this, I'll come get you myself. " Hope welled up in his chest at hearing that. It threatened to spill from his eyes in the form of joyful tears. She continued to talk about having done similar salvage dives before.
But the other voice from before interrupted her. They seemed to be having an argument. Simon wasn't paying too much attention to it, overwhelmed with relief.
" What are you talking about? This isn't happening. We have orders. "
" You have orders. This is my ship, whatever I say, goes.
Get 14 prepped. "
She seemed to disregard the other voice, speaking directly to Simon again, who was now pressing the camera button. " Convict! The SM-8 wasn't just another sub. It had equipment on it that we can't make anymore. Things we'll never be able to make again. "
The other voice interrupted her again. The camera display on the wall showed the skull and bone pieces from before. " Ava! Look at me! He's lying! He will say anything to get back up here! Are you out of your mind! "
" Are you?! If he's right and we do nothing This is bigger than us, David! " Simon tried to think about how far he was from the wreck, but he couldn't remember with the two of them arguing. So he moved back over to the map to get a better look.
" Enough with the slogan! Oh my god! It's not worth it! He's not worth it! It's not worth it to lose you over some fucking criminal! " Simon turned his head briefly to look at the speaker again. Was he going to ruin this for them?! He was starting to feel tense again. One of his hands moving to search for the knife sheath or Venom again as he listened to them and scanned the map.
" It is worth anything! And you're lucky I'm not sending you down there instead. " She turned her attention to Simon again. " Convict! You said you mapped it. Do you have the coordinates? "
" When the line broke, I landed off the map in some kinda fucked up cave. I don't know. " He traced the marks he'd made with his hands as he answered her. " But the ship was the last thing I found, at about seven-twenty five maybe five-hundred. It was right next to the only way out I could find... It spat me out at around three-eighty, six-fifteen. "
" Alright. Here's the plan. We'll get prepped on our end and if you can make it back to the SM-8 and out, we can meet you outside the entrance in around thirty minutes. Don't take too long, who knows how long your oxygen will last. We'll be cutting contact to focus on our end and we'll re-establish contact when you're outside the entrance. "
There was some kind of noise in the background of her end. " If we can pull this off, there's hope for the C.O.I., for Eden, for everyone! Nothing else matters compared to this! Hurry! "
Simon sat at the controls again, hyping himself up. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Anticipation for a lot of things all at once. He wanted more than anything to be out of this death trap. But was she for real about how big this data was? Would it actually help everyone?
" Okay, I can do this. I go in, I come out. And then everyone is saved... " He felt a little out of breath but turned to the speaker and pointed at it.
" And then I'm free. " He needed to know she was going to be good on her word.
Silence for a moment. " And then you're free. "
Simon felt a wash of relief again. Emotional twitches tugging at his face. That was the most direct answer she'd given him so far. " Deal. " He put his hands on the controls.
Looks like we're finally about to get out of here, Venom.
" By the way. " Simon held off on moving the sub just yet, listening just in case there were more instructions. " ... My name's Ava."
There was another silence as he processed exactly what she was doing. Was this her attempt at making amends with him? His voice was quiet and a little shaky, but he answered her.
"... Simon."
Captain Ava seemed to inhale audibly. " Well, Simon. Let's get this done. Hopefully, I'll be seeing you soon. "
She could be heard talking to David again, who seemed to go back to arguing with her. Then the speaker's connection was cut off with a buzzing static sound.
" I can't wait to get the fuck out of this thing. " And with that, Simon turned the dial and pushed on the lever. The sub was moving again.
He watched for the obstacle indicators on the directional display, careful to thread the needle where he had to. Simon's voice was soft and quiet now. " Thanks. By the way. For logging the computer credentials in. I don't think I would have remembered that long ass password. "
Simon thought back to the way the creature had offered itself to help comfort him during all that. " And thanks for ... the other stuff too. I I think I needed it. "
He didn't remember the last time he'd had positive physical contact with, anything, really. Simon glanced down at the cuff bruising on his wrists. Then to the broken seedling pendant. It had to be his mother. Before she died. That was a long time ago. His Eden brothers weren't too buddy-buddy with him before filament station, due to the way he vocally doubted some of Father's teachings after the quiet rapture.
Simon made turns where he had to. Thinking about the safety close at hand. Then about what might happen once they made it up. Would Venom still be with him after? It was weird as fuck for sure. But it was a strange comfort to have someone there with him after so much time in isolation.
" So. What exactly are you, anyway? " He made sure to keep the destination in mind as he spoke. " What are your plans once we're out of this death trap? " Sudden... nausea. It was the hunger. " And if you don't mind, could you hand me that first-aid kit in the corner? " He wouldn't need to ration the food, if Ava was keeping her word.
