Neex swam ahead of him to the little cave entrance in the mass of false coral, making a few clicking noises. Two clownfish could briefly be seen, but just as quickly, they darted away, likely from his approach.

He came up alongside Neex and peered inside the dark cave, seeing some shadowed movements within.

"It seems they're shy," Neex declared, "but they'll get used to you with time!" She blinked suddenly. "Er, well, if you ever retu- Um, never mind that!" From a pocket on her belt, she produced a little metal oval. "Hold your hand above it, please, in a cup shape."

Jack did so, after which she twisted it a few times, and little pellets came out, trapped from floating off by his hand. Neex nodded to him as she put the oval away.

They waited. Momentarily, the fish got the hint, darting slightly forward as if tempted, then darting back away while peeking. One of them swam closer at one point, which caused the other to charge ahead, and soon they were practically racing up to his hand.

Bloop! Bloop! Bloop! He felt them nibble at his hand as they got the pellets, somewhat tickling. They then began swimming in little darts around his hand, looking for more. One of them kept nibbling at his hand as if seeking hidden crumbs.

Nibbler. Haha.

Neex was smiling widely. She pulled out the oval, causing the fish to briefly dart toward the cave, but they didn't go all the way in. Neex fed them with her hand a few more times, closing her fist until the one she intended got the pellet each time. They pulled the same routine, one of them darting around as if hunting for straggler pellets, the other nibbling at her hand and fingers. Stripey, the braver of the two, also came back toward Jack, swimming all around him seeking food, a few times brushing across his arm. Eventually, they both became bored with their fruitless searching and wandered back into the cave.

"Thanks for introducing me," Jack said through their link. "I've never been underwater with fish like this. Oh! Heh. I just realized I've completely stopped thinking about breathing! I think… yeah. I don't even want to puke anymore!"

Neex grinned with her eyes closed, blowing up tiny bubbles as she slow-clapped her hands close together in front of her. "I am so happy you've adjusted well! You're a natural seaman!"

Jack chuckled, which was a bit odd to do with water in his modified lung-gills. Tiny bubbles came out and bounced on his face as they rose through the water. "Let's hold our breath on that one. Until I pop out and then make the transition on my own."

Neex snorted at his words. "Hold our breath! You are such a joker."

Jack waggled his eyebrows, then turned to look at the nearby emulated coral and plants. He enjoyed the sight for a few moments, and then he swam over it all and brushed his hands through it. Neex followed, watching him.

"You are like me when first on land," Neex commented amiably. "Touching the things foreign to you. There is a little island we sneak to, which we have never seen any of your people use, and mostly just monitor in sweeps. It is not of great relevance to enemies, either, though there are signs they've been there. But I got to study and take samples. It was very dangerous and exciting. It felt almost naughty."

"It seems like that will change. We control a lot of Antarctica. There is a lot of nature to explore, and much safer than the borders."

"Many dreams coming true, to see it."

After a while, Jack turned back up to swim toward the brighter light of the pool. Once out of the 'hole,' he paused and turned to Neex. "So, what's the process for being out of water and making the transition to air?"

"You want to take a deep filling of water," Neex replied, "So you can have good pressure blowing it out. You want to do it violently in this case. This creates a big spray, and the last is a mist. Then, it is a simpler, gradual process to cough out the remaining content as vapor. You will also feel water separately trapped in your modified esophagus. You can spit it out or swallow it."

Jack nodded slowly. Very slowly. He nodded and nodded, procrastinating the bizarre things he was about to do. But eventually, he had to stop nodding.

Alright. Okay. Here. Here we go!

He swam up to the steps, took his final 'breath' of water, and pulled himself up. He walked up the steps a bit, figuring it was better to stand. Neex remained in the water, peeking her head out of it to watch.

Jack gave her a finger signal, then made his bizarre musculature inside his chest contract violently, simultaneously spitting outward, all of it as hard as he could. A big spray of water shot into the air, with the borders misty, until there was only a last bit of mist. Then he was just leaking water and he ran out of 'steam,' which immediately started making him suck in air and wrack and cough like a poor, dying soul with the worst and wettest of respiratory ailments.

It was not pleasant. He almost tripped and fell on the steps as he dropped down to his knees, coughing horribly. Each time he managed to suck in enough air, the next exhale let loose a visible mist of vapor. Somewhere in the process, he vacated the water, trying to make it to his stomach, too.

Neex had ducked under the water initially, but rose back out once his first spray was over. One way or another, she had her eyes glued on him the entire time, her pupils fat bars of rapt attention.

Finally, the coughing became manageable, and he was sucking in the sweet, sweet air. The water foray had been fascinating, but there was no question what he preferred breathing.

But I've got to do this all over again. Ugh. I hope it gets easier.

Neex swam up next to him, then turned around. Still in the water, she did a violent spray like he did, albeit not of nearly the same mass, and in much more of a precise jet. Once her lungs were spent, she breathed in, vaguely like a wheeze, but seemingly not coughing at all, as if done with practiced discipline. She spat a great spray of vapor out over the water. Another few disciplined breaths and wheezing sprays, and it seemed done.

She turned back around and smiled at him. "Don't worry, Jack! It'll get easier with time. Especially if you decide to practice it. I had to. Granted, I was young when I did, and we Deucalians likely have it easier. When I have fine water control application in progress, it is much easier."

Still coughing a bit, and his throat a bit raw, Jack said hoarsely, "I'll train if I can- hrk. If I can come here. Hrk!"

Neex appeared surprised. "I'm not sure they'd allow it, but you would return here, despite all the trouble it must be?"

"Of course- hrk! Neex. I enjoy spending time with you."

Neex smiled, her head tentacles doing curls and her pupils turning circular.

Mini chimed. <You have 33 minutes until class. It's advised you finish your training and depart, as you still have decontamination procedures to deal with to get out of here.>

Jack groaned. "There goes the bell! Hrk. Seems I need to get the training over with and leave, Neex. Schedule crap."

Neex's response was so deliberately still, he knew she was hiding a grain of disappointment. "You have a busy life of training to complete, yes! Okay. Go ahead and come back into the water." She dipped down below.

Jack blew out air, feeling trepidation for what was to come. But he had to get it over with. He dove down into the water.

Below, Neex met his eyes and said through their link, "Okay, this is simple so long as you have discipline and don't panic. But the best way to begin is slowly. Because rushing can cause some pain." She opened her mouth. "Slowly fill your mouth. The chambers within are sealed, but you have to resist choking reflexes in the throat. Just remember, the water is not so bad! Remember the new instincts, not the old. It is the cool embrace, it is the hug of a new medium of life. A different environmental family saying hi!

"Once all is stable to the throat, you should be able to feel your control over your modified trachea as instinctual muscular action. Just let water seep in as air seeps out. That's it. Let it trickle, or 'fall' so to speak, in a gradual process. Avoid breathing the entire time. You can hold your breath for a very long time. Just let the water do the work, hmm?"

Jack nodded. He let the water seep through into his mouth until he had a mouthful. It was the time of reckoning, though. He had to let the water in and avoid choking. He decided to do that part at once… and opened his mouth fully.

Water flooded his mouth and rushed to the back and into his throat in a flash. He had a brief hack, a brief moment of shaking panic, and that was all. The cool medium, trapped within. It didn't hurt, and he didn't choke. After all, he'd just been breathing it like air! He was adapted for this, he was parahuman!

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Closing his eyes, Jack felt for the control she mentioned. He'd already felt that earlier, so it wasn't very difficult. A trickle began as he opened the 'hatch.' It didn't feel like much of anything at first. He let a little more. A little more. He felt water slosh in his mutant lungs.

Ugh. Weird.

A momentary nausea, but he got past it. Before long, it was simply full, and water made a continuous pipe path through him. Another brief shift of inner control-works filled his esophagus, eliciting only a brief, involuntary heave. He breathed in and out, and water flowed. It was over.

Neex did an underwater flip and thrust her fists up. "You did it, Jack! Hurrah!"

"Hurrah!" Jack repeated. "Wasn't so bad, actually! It's nothing like I figured drowning would be."

"I'm relieved that is the case! But naturally, it shouldn't be. However you look at it, the modification is a technology, and technology should account for not terrorizing the user."

"Heh. Yeah, but that doesn't always pan out. Anyway, thanks again, Neex. I guess I'd better get going. Underwater hug?"

"Of course!" Neex shot over like a bullet in the water to hug him, squeezing like a living knot. Jack hugged back firmly — she was not a fragile gal.

She disengaged, beaming at him briefly before rising to the surface. He followed, popping his head up into the air next to her.

"Ooh! Let's spit together!" she exclaimed in his mind, as her eyes went wide just as the idea was coming to her. Briefly, she dipped down and back up, coming up looking a bit bloated with water in obvious unnecessary amplification. "Blow-hole solidarity!"

"Blow-hole solidarity!" Jack repeated, and put his arm around her shoulder — partly for the solidarity act and partly because he'd need it to avoid dropping into the water. "On a count of three… one… two… three!" They spat the water out in the same direction in a big combined torrent, hers now even more of a spray than his. Not only that, but the head-tentacles didn't want to be left out either, and had filled up with water as well, to make brief, but lovely spouts in many arcs in all directions, Neex's head essentially was made into a living water fountain. The spray at the end was a mist that was enough to obscure the pool for a moment.

They laughed at the display and Jack high-fived her — which she was familiar with — all in between dealing with his coughing and avoiding spilling back down under the water. But all his trepidation seemed banished, the whole matter quickly made into little more than an annoyance. 'Getting one's feet wet' was a powerful thing.

They both filtered out of the pool, and Jack found a towel to dry off. Neex did not need one. He watched as she used a combination of her head tentacles, tail, and ripples in her physically morphing skin to shed the water with ease. She knelt through the process, lowering her head down between her knees in agility briefly, then stood back up, shaking her hands and feet at the last with great vibration. It was all done in ten seconds, like rote, water made into a puddle that she stepped out of.

Watching in amazement, Jack couldn't help but laugh at the end, seeing her hold her feet back one after the other and wiggle them.

Neex looked at him askance when he did. "What, Jack?!"

"Nothing, sorry! That was just… fascinating to watch."

Her skin rippled, and pupils did swirls randomly all over the place, as she looked away and grabbed for a head tentacle, embarrassed. But she twisted her shoulders soon after, going from a wince to a sheepish, deliberate smile. "Mmph! It's okay! I get it." She gave a thumbs-up and ran off, back into the house, calling behind her, "Dry and dress and I'll see you out!"

Jack chuckled and shook his head as he watched her go. She could get embarrassed on a dime, despite how generally bombastic and open she was — including about minimal 'personal space' concerns and friendly body contact.

He got as thoroughly dry as possible with a towel, then put on his outer garments over the wetsuit bottoms and headed back into the house, carrying the towel on his shoulder. Neex was sitting on the arm edge of the loveseat nearest the airlock exit, facing it, dangling her feet, perhaps in a pose of attempted nonchalance.

Jack walked up into her field of vision and pointed to the towel. "Forgot to ask what to do with this?"

Neex frowned in thought. "I don't know, actually…"

Text popped into his head — from Dr. Wilson. <Just leave it on the floor, Jack.>

He nodded, tossing it on the floor. He glanced at the airlock. "Guess this is it. A bummer, really."

Neex smiled in pleasure. She hopped down and came over to hug him — less fierce this time, and much lower, her head now more at his chest with her arms around his waist. Her tentacles patted him gently. "It is a bummer to depart, yes, but a great happiness until then. Thank you for coming, Jack. I feel less missing of my home, now."

"Really?" Jack asked, surprised. He didn't really understand that one. She only nodded her head at his chest. He continued, "Well, if they let me, I'll return. Regardless, we'll meet again soon. Thanks for inviting me and thanks for teaching me."

Neex broke the hug and smiled. "Of course! I will be your helper for so long as I breathe."

Jack blinked a few times. He nodded uncertainly. "Likewise." But it didn't quite seem right. What she said meant something specific. But she just maintained her smile, likely one of indulgence.

Jack glanced over at his pack, still sitting on the floor. "Oh, snap! I forgot." He rushed over to it and knelt to unzip it, pulling out a small gift bag with tissue paper stuffed on top. He rose and walked back over to Neex with it, handing it to her. "A housewarming gift."

Her eyes were very wide seeing it, and they went even wider as he spoke. She took it with solemnity, as if a holy object, and looked up at him with wonder. She asked in an amazed whisper, "It warms my house?"

Jack burst out in laughter, unable to contain his amusement. But he waved his hands. "No, no! Hehe! It means that it's a gift for someone in a new abode."

Neex's pupils warbled and swirled, but she nodded and then looked down at the bag.

Jack gestured with a hand and said, "Open it! Pull out the tissue."

Neex complied, pulling the tissue out and revealing the contents with a sharp, pleased gasp. She pulled it out immediately. It was a steel canteen, but the front and back had a custom paint job, showing a blue sky and fluffy clouds, and on the front was emblazoned, "Neex, Honorary Skyhuman" in bold, golden letters.

The bag almost dropped to the floor, but was caught by her tail, as she marveled at the gift in her hands with her mouth wide open — and then she laughed and hopped slightly in glee. "It's incredible!" She flipped it back and forth, eyes scanning. "It's beautiful!"

Jack was overjoyed at her reaction. "I made the canteen myself, by the way. With my powers, out of raw steel. Might be a little rough, but I made sure it seals well and is leak-proof. I figured I could maybe make something that'll be useful wherever you go. An odd housewarming gift, maybe, but I dunno how long you'll be here."

Neex was nodding and listening as he described, eventually clutching it to her chest. "I love it, Jack. Thank you so much." She bowed. "It is very nice and I am very grateful in the extremes forever. I am humbled but receive it gladly."

"Awesome." He grinned. "Enjoy some water with it, I guess. Heh. Well. Better go, then." Awkwardly, he turned around, grabbed his bag, and headed to the airlock, turning once to wave amiably.

Still clutching the canteen, Neex returned his wave quite cheerily. "No Death, Jack!"

"You know it," he replied as he reached the door, and it began opening automatically. "No Death."

🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕

Decontamination procedures were extensive, and not a single precaution failed to be taken. From the outer airlock, Jack stepped right into an attached, levitating containment block that did not let one air molecule out of the habitat. Doors closed behind him, and he was floated down the maze of corridors until coming to yet another airlock to step through, in which there were very spartan showering facilities. He briefly had Dr. Wilson ask if he needed any 'help' inside, to which he declined.

After dropping his belongings in a sealed container, he took a quite vigorous shower in a square space that assailed him with hot water jets from every direction possible, then sprayed him with foaming soap from head-to-toe (in which he had to keep his eyes closed throughout), then scoured him again with hot water. After this, he was instructed to clean himself conventionally as well with some soap provided from a dispenser and a scrubber…

Eventually, he was dried off and wearing some new clothes: a t-shirt that said, "I Was in Containment and All I Got Was This Crummy T-Shirt' in hot pink, some generic gray sweatpants, simple pull-on plastic shoes in white, and a black cap that read in hot pink, 'FULLY Decontaminated!'

These people are so fraggin' weird. But I'm also keeping the stuff.

His gift bag included the promised rock candy, which he went immediately for. Cherry flavor. There was also an 'airlock' keychain ornament, a vial of liquid metal labeled 'fun gallium,' a magnet with the emblazoned text, 'Washing Hands — It's Positively Divine!,' and a contact card for Dr. Wilson.

Super secretive, yet they have contact cards? Okay…

When he got to his quarters, he quickly changed out of his 'new digs' for his uniform, stuffed some food in his mouth, washed it down with a 'Coffee Fusion' energy drink poisonous to mere mankind, and then headed to his classes. A back-to-back, his shared class with Highfive the second.

He thought about Neex and their growing bond together throughout the rest of the day. What would their relationship exactly be like? He wasn't sure, and of all the 'females' he'd ever known, assumptions seemed the absolute dumbest to make with her. For one, he had to say 'female,' as odd as it was, because she wasn't technically a 'woman.' The cultural differences were vast, and it was necessary to take note that she was a natural mimic trying to 'do human' as much as possible during her time with them. He could've offended her twenty times over with 'crude ape behavior' and never known it.

Hell, she might think of me like a pet! Okay, that's unfair. A trained Dog of War? Not so far-fetched, now, is it, Mr. Killer, Jack Laker? Ruff ruff! Heh.

He didn't feel like that was true, because her respect seemed authentic, but he couldn't rule it out. He didn't even know what to rule, because her way of thinking was alien. They might not even have a word for how she thought of him. It could be permanently lost in translation.

That being said, she had definitely modified herself to appear more sexually mature in a biological sense, and was likely emulating feminine women she admired, such as Dr. Wilson. It could be just that, but happenstantial or not, she'd made herself more attractive to human men. Subtle, as she didn't exactly need much with her cuteness factor, able to charm men and women alike with her looks and personality. She was also touchy-feely, which he was more than fine with, whatever the reasons. She might be that way with others, too. He didn't know. Others weren't bondsmates, though.

Jack didn't even know where his own thoughts were going about it. They wandered, somewhat, but he also wasn't going to discount valid observations. It wasn't necessarily a big deal…

Eh, forget it, Brain. Give it a rest! We do what we've been doing: push hard and focus on us. Er, me. Snag that coat and get on with my new life. Neex will be a part of it one way or another, and we'll just go with the flow and understand each other better, day by day.

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