Page 48 of Music of the Ocean

And Saxby needed to be here. He was the bridge between Indigo and the Federation… and the only reason the Federation still had a chance to escape with their lives and ships intact.

A commotion broke out on the Bridge of the Heathglow. The captain’s head jerked up as the main doors hissed open and Medical Officer Vance Brown strode in, his appearance rumpled and his hair stuck to his scalp in damp spikes. He was flanked by two security officers who peeled away after escorting him.

He came to a halt inside the holoperimeter, eyes fixed on the main display where Saxby’s water-sheathed face hovered, flickering in real time.

The captain gestured sharply for Vance to join him at the command platform.

“Medical Officer Brown,” the captain said, his voice carrying through the sudden hush. He motioned toward the feed. “Try to talk Lieutenant Delmar in. Convince him to meet us on one of the landmasses.”

Vance nodded once, jaw set, and stepped forward into the projection’s field. “Hey, man.”

“Hey.” Saxby raised his hand in acknowledgment.

“Listen, Saxby, tell the entity that’s keeping you hostage the Federation will negotiate your release.”

Saxby snorted. “The entity is right here and can hear you. I’m not a hostage, and I can’t leave. I’m no longer compatible with life outside of the oceans here and beyond this planet. The captain knows that. This goes far deeper than you’ve been told.”

“Is that the entity told you? And you believe it? I’m your friend, and you know I wouldn’t lie to you. We can help you. I promise, I’ll do all that I can and will be there every step of the way.”

“You are my friend, but you don’t have all the facts. You believe what you’ve been told. Look at me, Vance. Really look at me. I’ve changed so I can adapt to this environment. Think about that, would you? Think what that could mean to certain people.”

“Is that what the entity told you?” Vance demanded.

“It’s what I know,” Saxby replied calmly.

Indigo saw Vance gulp. He knew what the other humans saw now. Saxby’s face, still recognizably human, showed new ridges beneath the skin of his neck, and Vance had no doubt seen the webbing as Saxby waved. Not to mention the scales on his face.

“Are you saying the Federation set this up? They would never, man.”

“We were sent here to be infected by this planet, Vance. Whatever rank officer sent us knew what would happen. Was hoping it would happen, in fact. Because it’s happened before with a colony the Federation had established here.”

“W-what?” Vance asked.

“Yeah, it’s all classified, but certain people in power know what this planet does to those who touch the damned water, which I did. That’s what they wanted,” Saxby stressed. “They don’t want to save me, man, they want to study me. I’m not going to be a damned lab rat for the Federation. Not happening.”

“Shit, man, are you sure? Or did the entity tell you that? No one has said anything about any colony or—”

“This is going nowhere and I’m done. Any attempt to extract me will compromise everyone involved. The ship needs to leave. Tell everyone to never touch the water here. Tell the others—”

“Saxby, the captain thinks you’re being coerced, and frankly, it sounds like you’re talking out of your head.” Vance said, talking over the warning. “If you can get to land, we can beam you up. Or we talk in person. Tell us what you need. We’ll make it happen.”

Indigo moved behind Saxby. His tentacles twined along the edge of the frame. Indigo’s eyes fixed on the camera, then flicked to Saxby, then back.

“I need the Heathglow to leave,” Saxby said. “Don’t come down here. And for all the gods’ sakes, if you do, don’t touch the damned water. Promise me.”

Vance raised his hands, palms out. “You know how this works. The captain isn’t going to stand down unless he sees for himself that you’re safe and in control.”

Saxby snorted.

“Meet us on the southern peninsula. I’ll come along. Give us five minutes. Please.”

“And risk a tractor beam? Yeah, no thanks.”

Indigo closed his eyes and reached out with his senses, feeling the thrum of the city, the gentle sway of the ocean beyond, the invisible threads of communication that laced the planet’s atmosphere.

He waited. He did not need to wait long.

On the wall, the tactical display flickered. It split and reformed, and then the central window was broadcasting a new signal. It didn’t come from the starship in orbit, but from a location much farther away, beyond the system’s heliopause.