‘.…-ssible. We can’t carry on if this keeps happening. I’m not going to risk the lives of everyone on this community for the sake of a single madwoman. It doesn’t matter how much it’s offering us. Veronica died. End of conversation. All we’re left with is a ghost. Besides, we’ve got two others to process if we want to keep living. I’m not going back into the game, not again. Damn, she’s up. And listening, no, her eyes, they’re twitching. She’s awake and listening but I’ve no idea of how much she heard, not that it matters. The outside world is a mess right now, this is the safest place for her until that god calms down. Carissa. You can open your eyes, believe me, you don’t want to miss this bit.’ said Mike.

Carissa awoke to find herself surrounded by a gentle pulsing light, her eyes took time to adjust and warm air played on the surface of her skin. Waves of blue and red light flickered above her face and she fully awoke.

She would hope that they had not been referring to her as a madwoman. Her teeth remained sharp as did her appetite for protein. Her body remained drained of energy while her body remained unresponsive to her will.

Reaching out her instincts and mind for the Ocean Gateway System and the messages it had provided her she nearly physically recoiled as a pure sensation of hate and rage directed towards her cut her off before she was able to connect.

‘She’s a lucky one. Not many survive the wrath of a goddess this early in the game. Although it makes me wonder exactly what she did what caused it. The mermaid goddess likes the beautiful ones. Even favours them...but then I wouldn’t know anything about that. I’m just a simple trainer. Carissa, you can get up now. I’d give your mind a decent break from the system. Believe me, it’s not worth it. Also, congratulations on not dying.’ said the voice of Mike.

Struggling to push herself up she found herself lying down in a curled-up position inside a partially transparent dome, with two familiar faces looking down at her. Touching her body her grey skin suit was attached but her face uncovered, her equipment untouched.

She had expected Sherry but instead she saw Chas and Mike. The former was sitting in a cross-legged position with his hands clasped together and his eyes firmly shut. His hair was tied back neatly in a bob on the back of his head.

His change of clothing surprised Carissa, a robe, deep blue and with a shimmering effect which covered his neck and down past his legs overflowing on the floor of the dome. His presence was far different than previously, nearly regal. A dark red light shone from one of his eyes and he gave her a grin showing his teeth.

‘The Blessed Lady awakes...or the Cursed Mermaid Devours. I wonder which one you will choos-’ started Chas with his hands clasped and his head bowed before he was interrupted by the voice of Mike.

‘I love you like my own vat-born brother Chas but the scientist who was my goddess and mother combined would have advised me to tell you to shut the fuck up. Do not push me on this. We’ve already had to perform one ritual to calm down one particular goddess, I’m not going to give up more of my blood or even my manhood just so you can sprout mindless crap. Scratch that, useful, mindless crap. Carissa, pretend that Chas talks complete nonsense. Especially when you...meet the avatars. I’m already pushing the limits of what we’re allowed in the tutorial zone, or at least our version of it. Please. Don’t ask me or Chas any questions which we can’t answer. To make it simple this world has rules, specific rules regarding the game of the drowned gods and you almost broke one. I don’t know how and I honestly don’t want to know. Oh, and take a look outside. The view will cheer you up a little.’ said Mike.

‘The Drowned Ones choose their ones for vengeance or transformation. Also, you need a drink old man. I had Sherry bring a few spare bottles on board when you were performing the ritual. Blessed is those who care for themselves.’ said Chas.

This time with a slight smirk on his face and a glint in his eye which Carissa had never seen before. At least as far as she knew he’d never talked normally in her presence, which made her consider how much of his idiot savant appearance was a social mask.

She’d give her response in kind to show her own hidden depths. Beauty such as hers didn’t translate into stupidity or a shallow mind.

‘The Depths provide us with shade from the harsh sun and protection from those who wish us harm. Their flesh upon our lips we live and bring storms to their dwellings. Blessed be the ever-living beauties.’ replied Carissa.

‘I knew I liked you for a good reason. And it certainly wasn’t your looks regardless of what that mermaid goddess thinks about me. I’m a man of hidden trenches and simple desires. Did one of the Drowned Gods impart it to you during your oh-so brief period of

unconsciousness? Ah, you can’t see outside yet. My mistake, Sherry likes her extra layers of protection after all. Still, we’re safe enough here.’ said Mike.

‘Boss, you want her to see how deep we are?’ said Chas.

‘You only call me that when you feel ashamed. You stole those bottles from my personal stash didn’t you. I bet Sherry told you that she wanted them for Carissa, her little way of throwing a tantrum for not coming along. She gets far too attached to the candidates. I mean if they’re attracted to each other, it’s fine but...I’m off topic. We still have our own bundle of surprises here to teach a little more. No, this isn’t a physical lesson or a beating again. You took initiative by diving into that pool and even more so by trying to break out. Stupid. Very stupid but decent initiative. Carissa, you know what class Sherry is after working it out. Any ideas about what Chas or I am? It’ll give you a clue as to where we’re heading towards.’ said Mike.

‘Give me more time to recover. I need a little to think’ replied Carissa as the pair nodded and moved over to the other side of the mostly minimal dome where a series of boxes and bottles had been stored.

Rather than talk further Carissa took the time to observe her surroundings. The walls remained opaque but at times became marginally translucent allowing shimmer of both red and blue lights to shine through. The dome shape was a larger size than the construct which she had seen previously inside the room with the moon pool.

If it was the same diving bell then it had been enlarged several times with enough room for three people to stand comfortably and several metres across. The wooden floor she recognised as the same type of material which had made up the floating structure above.

No signs or furniture though aside from the pile of boxes and other items which Chas and Mike had moved towards. There was a light rocking motion which she became more aware of as full control over her body and senses slowly returned to her.

More questions and more nonsense about gods from those two.

She wasn’t clear if the pair was choosing to talk to try and distract her from her present situation or if they were simply nervous about her actions. Either way, it didn’t matter. She was certain that she was out of the floating wood that made up their respective homes.

This game of flooded world gods was confusing for her to say the least but she had an inkling of why the goddess, or mermaid goddess had chosen to accuse her cheating.

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Technology. This place, this world, this game system frowned upon the use of advanced technology.

She had seen nothing on board the boat which couldn’t have been built either by hand or required sufficiently advanced preparation. But she did know one fact which almost make her smile involuntary.

This world that had been drowned must have had a higher degree of technology than she originally thought. Not one where people used wood and bone to scavenge but educated, advanced levels. And if the world had been drowned then it had been for a good reason.

Humans themselves were able to create their own vessels to discover the depths of the oceans. Even use them for warfare between nations. Her own world of Terrus certainly had.

And if this world was anything like hers then paranoid men had built submersibles designed to attack and destroy. She recalled when she had watched the news once and a war had broken out between the major continents and one had launched a nuclear missile.

Thankfully the weapon had been shot down in time before causing mass devastation but if she could find a similar level of technology here buried beneath the waves then a certain mermaid goddess bitch would find her own anger and hate would be returned by her ten-thousand-fold.

Even become the captain of her own vessel. A fitting way to punish those who didn’t deserve her true beauty.

‘Carissa. You’re smiling. Body and mind recovered enough or are you thinking or ways to get revenge on me for failing in my duties as a combat testing tutor yesterday? We’ve still got a way to go still so you might as well join us for a drink and a snack.’ said Mike as his voice reached into Carissa’s thoughts and pulled her out of dark visions of underwater nuclear destruction.

‘Mike. Who is Veronica?’ called out Carissa. Her throat was slightly parched and her limbs weak and even though they were only several metres away on the other side of the dome her body betrayed her and she fell down, hand stretched outwards to break her fall.

The wooden floor rose up to meet her and Carissa raised her eyes to observe Mike standing next to Chas. Initially his eyes cooled sharply when he heard her say the name before he put a smile on his face.

Both of his hands equally occupied with a bottle and a cooked fish head in the other as the wood beneath Carissa’s body stopped her fall and lifted her back up into a standing position where a piece of wooden board extended into her hand like a walking stick.

‘Carissa. Guess she got you worse than we thought. Chas, you up to using a bit of healing on our beloved and brave candidate? I don’t think the mermaid goddess would take offence to that. Not at this stage at least. Not when the rest of the gods are waiting for us in avatar form. And that name...is none of your concern. She’s dead. It happens.’ said Mike as he took a deep swill of the bottle in one hand and crunched down hard on the cooked fish head filling his mouth.

He waved in her direction and another wooden walking stick extended into her other hand and wrapping around, guided her forwards while giving her a form of support.

Carissa noticed that his wooden club was nowhere to be seen. Not on his belt, not tucked behind him.

He doesn’t need the club or contact to use his…. magic and control over drift wood.

He lied.

Or he did it on purpose to make me think the threat was...no.

Protein and liquid. Fill the stomach, refresh the mind.

Learn Carissa.

Survive and learn.

‘Thank you. I’ll be...fine. Yes, my meeting with a goddess was an experience. I just need to eat and drink. Would you mind using your powers to make me a chair? As interesting as it is to be pulled forward by two walking sticks, I think we should sit down and have a chat and you can tell me how deep we are and a little about our final destination. I think I deserve a few more answers and at least a single bottle of the good stuff you hide away. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry your friend died. Or your lover.’ said Carissa.

Mike swallowed the fish head with a deep gulp and took another deep swig from the wine as he placed the bottle down on the boxes behind him and nodded towards Chas.

The other man had placed a bottle between his hands and had both eyes closed as though in prayer. Carissa considered that his robe appeared to shimmer more than before and a hint of sea spines appeared across the surface as they vanished.

The man was a predator and she was still prey. Both of them were. While she was only a tiny sea creature, barely formed, barely aware of the dangers of the deep. Chas was more of an unknown quantity but he hadn’t reacted to her with any form of hostile intent and his words earlier were clearly the sign of a man who was far more intelligent than he wanted to let on.

‘Chas? You up to it? Drinks, snacks and questions and answers? This is the safest that she’s going to be on the entire planet for a good long time. We have all the direct attention of the Drowned Gods after all. Or at least their avatars. As long as we don’t talk than about the t-word then we should be fine. And Carissa, this is the last time I need to talk about her. Veronica wasn’t my friend. She was family to us all and none of your fucking business. Clear? I’ve tolerated enough by this point.’ said Mike as he waved his hands theatrically and three equally sized chair and a single small table in the centre appeared in the middle of the dome.

After grabbing two crates from the small pile behind him and heaving them upwards Mike gave Chas a light kick on his back lifting his leg up and pushing the man forward.

‘Chas. Give her a bottle. She doesn’t know, she’s barely a newborn. Just give her a bottle.’ said Mike.

When he received no response, he raised his leg again when Chas opened his eyes and gave Carissa a deep look and a smile on his face as he presented the bottle between his hands with a flourish like a magician in her direction.

‘Magic. Makes. Wonders.’ said Chas as he gathered a fistful of his robe in one hand and strode forward to one of the chairs and placed the bottle with a singular flourish on the small centre table.

He was swiftly followed by Mike who dumped both boxes on the side of the table then grabbed one seat and made another gesture as the walking sticks wrapped themselves around Carissa’s hands and pulled her sharply forward towards the single vacant wooden chair.

‘It does. To be honest it also makes us lazy bastards on occasion. I can freely say that without Sherry listening in. Or she’d be after the both of us. After all, we’re here prepared to eat and drink and talk while she has to play baby-sitter on the surface to those two. A coward and a depressed woman who misses her family. No sense of adventure in these new candidates...not like our Carissa here. A treasure indeed. Small wonder the drowned gods take interest in her. Even the one of beauty gives her such divine hatred. But her actions tested their patience. Dangers without and deep within her.’ said Chas.

He sat back in his chair, stretching out his arms, folding his arms and closed his eyes.

‘Carissa. I’m truly sorry that you landed in this world. I told you before, us damaged people can recognise each other. I’ll tell you one thing though, if we don’t put on a good show for the tutorial stage up on the surface for the drowned gods and their attendants then they could make it worse. Much, much worse. For now, though, grab a cooked fish head and a bottle which hasn’t been enhanced into a bottle of healing liquid and therefore takes like fake cheap quality rain piss and settle down for a few moments. Then me and Chas will answer more questions.’ said Mike.

He nodded his head towards Chas who was sitting forward in his own chair. His shimmering robe began to tighten around his body like a second skin and fishy scales of various colours formed. Then it rippled creating a colourful pattern which reflected the light.

‘Show off.’ said Mike as Carissa reached for the bottle on the table to take a drink.