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The Cohen Loop Carver and Max III copyright comidacomida 2015

It was surprising to Max how must time he'd spent as of late laying awake in bed staring at the bluish-colored stone like ceiling. Insomnia wasn't one of his usual faults yet, with everything that was happening he couldn't blame himself. Although the young man wasn't certain exactly what hour it was there was little uncertainty that it was early morning; he'd tried to go to bed at eleven, but that was most likely two or three hours past.

Laying on his back, Max was resting his hands on his stomach. The gesture almost felt pregnant-womanly to him but, he reminded himself, he didn't have a uterus. If that was the case should he have his hands lower? Higher? The thought made him a little ill at ease but concern over his child wasn't what was keeping him up... at least, he didn't think so. Before arriving at Water Earth he'd only ever heard a few words here-and-there about the Tikk yet he suddenly discovered that the Unity Centre was going to be heading directly into conflict with them. How exactly did that work, he wondered.

Carver's quiet voice called to him softly in English with vocal chords rather than in Phin, "Still awake? Again?"

Max sighed, rolling to his side so he could look to the archway where Carver stood. "Again. Yea."

The Amplus lowered down into the waist-high water and, with a powerful flick of his tail, crossed the room to Max's sleeping nook. He rose up, standing beside the raised platform where the Human was laying. The Phin's question came out more like a statement. "You're worried about tomorrow."

Rolling over onto his back once more, the Human gazed up into the near-dark at the shadowy outline of his lover; he could just barely make out Carver's lavender eyes. "The Tikk... we barely ever discussed them in class back on Land Earth."

Carver took a seat on the edge of Max's sleeping area. "We barely discussed the Humans from the Middle East or Central Africa. From what I gather neither they nor the Tikk like the idea of what the Unity Centre is about... and so the lesson plans leave those factions out."

Max was about to ask if ignoring those that didn't agree with your viewpoint was another 'Phin thing' when he suddenly realized something: Phins didn't have the market cornered on that kind of egocentrism. "I guess Humans and Phins have that in common; we prefer to deal with people that have a similar view as we do."

The Amplus took Human's hand in his. "Don't worry about the Tikk, Max."

The young man sighed. "Gray Doctor made it sound like they were going to attack the Centre or something."

Carver slid onto the sleeping perch next to Max and pulled him close. His next words weren't very comforting. "They will."

"But I'm not supposed to worry?"

The Phinn rubbed the side of his face against Max's. "The Tikk will do what they always do: they're going to create a battle line and challenge the Unity Centre's right to travel through their waters."

Max lay his head against Carver's chest. "I thought the Unity Centre has universal passage through all territories."

Carver nodded. "It does... but that doesn't mean the Tikk can't challenge it... and that's exactly what they'll do."

The Human slowly pulled back so he could look up into his lover's face. "So what does a challenge mean?"

Carver's expression was not very comforting. "A Spearcast."

Max had heard the term before; it meant an actual violent conflict. If his lover was trying to comfort him it really didn't help, and he repeated his earlier question. "But I'm not supposed to worry, huh?"

The Amplus let out a deep breath through his blow hole and laid down next to the Human, sliding closer so he could put his arms around the young man. "It's the reason the Unity Centre has security... just like the one on Land Earth."

Max rolled over so he could rest his back against the Phin's chest; something about Carver's embrace like that always helped comfort him and it worked, even if the Amplus' words didn't. "Those security are just for a display of force... keep pirates away and everything like that... we don't actually EXPECT trouble."

Carver gave him a light squeeze, "And that's what the security here is for too."

"But they're still expecting trouble?"

He felt the Phin shrug behind him. "The Tikk don't like the idea of Humans being on Water Earth. Every year the Centre passes by they create their battle line and challenge our security for the right to pass through their territory."

Max let out a deep breath helplessly. "The Spearcast?"

Carver nodded against his head. "Yes."

The Human closed his eyes, using the feel of the Amplus' arms around him to help provide an element of calm. One thing that also helped him in the past was understanding, so he grasped at that straw. "So... the Unity Centre security forces fight the Tikk until.....?"

Carver reached up to brush a hand against Max's forehead, drawing some of his hair away from his eyes; sometimes the Human forgot it'd been awhile since his last haircut. "It's a show of force, Max... they don't fight to win; it's the gesture that holds meaning because it reminds everyone involved that they object to Humans being here."

The young man took another steadying breath, feeling a little more relieved. "So... students don't get involved?"

The large Phin touched the end of his face to the top of the Human's head. "You won't be in any danger, Max... I promise."

"I won't... or WE wont? What about you?"

Carver gave him another gentle squeeze. "Some students will be asked to help bolster numbers... since Tikk are afraid to fight Amplus I'm pretty sure I'll be in the water but I'm not worried."

Max rotated in the Phin's grasp at hearing the words and reached down to take hold of one of Carver's hands, interlacing their fingers together. "Well I AM worried..."

The Amplus separated from him as much as the sleeping ledge would allow without him falling off into the water. Even in the half-light Carver's gaze held certainty. "I won't let anything happen to you... and that includes losing me."

The tears started coming before Max even realized it. "Why do they even do this?"

Carver drew him closer again, thick tongue emerging to clear the tears from the Human's cheeks. After that, he was pulled in for another hug. "When people have ideals worth fighting for, sometimes they have to fight. We believe that the Unity Centre will help ensure the prosperity of both our people. The Tikk don't want the Humans involved in Water Earth and don't want us to get involved in Land Earth."

Max fidgeted, resting his head against Carver's shoulder as the tears continued coming. "But... why fight? Can't they... I don't know... start a petition or something?"

Carver chuckled, rolling onto his back and carrying Max over atop him. "Most Phin don't believe in Bureaucratic Democracy, Max... you know that. The majority ruling over and marginalizing the minority is just institutionalized tyranny. The Tikk won't get their way but they won't give up fighting for it."

The Human shook his head. "There's got to be a better way. I mean... do-- do people die in Spearcasts?"

The Phin nodded, "Yes... usually a few. More than anything a Spearcast is about conviction. When something can't be settled with words then it becomes a test of wills. The Tikk will do this as long as they feel they need to. Eventually they will accept the ruling when they have lost more people than they're willing to."

Max lay atop his lover's body for several seconds before he looked up toward the comforting lavender eyes staring back down at him. "Do you remember that one time we were watching that news report about a militia group in Nebraska that was arrested by federal marshals?"

"I do."

The Human considered how he was going to convey his confusion and several seconds passed before he could put it to words. "You said you were glad those men were arrested."

Carver nodded. "I was."

Max took another moment to process his confusion. "But... those militia didn't agree with the way the United States was doing things and they were willing to fight so they could make their own choices... isn't that the same thing?"

The Amplus shook his head. "No."

"How do you figure?"

Carver rolled to the side so he could rest Max against the sleeping shelf again. "First... that is Land Earth and things work differently there."

It was the obvious answer. "So... if they were on Water--"

The Phin shook his head again, "No... it would still not be the same thing... because: second, those men were not doing the same as the Tikk."

Max let out a sigh, body going slack, "It doesn't make sense."

Carver rubbed the side of his face against Max's. "Of course it does. Those eight men that were arrested were fighting because they felt that they deserved certain rights they did not believe were being honored."

"Isn't that why the Tikk are--"

The Amplus shook his head. "No... the Tikk are fighting because they do not believe the Unity Centre will be good for our species... they are fighting because they believe that we are wrong and they are right. They are fighting for the benefit of EVERYONE... not just for themselves."

There was a difference, Max realized, but it still didn't feel that different. "So... you're saying that the Tikk are doing it because they think that we're wrong, not because they think they're right?"

Carver chuckled, pulling him close again. "Max... those men in Nebraska could have killed as many of the martials as they could before dying themselves."

Max nodded, "But they surrendered so nobody would have to die."

The Phin let out a click of confirmation. "Yes... they were not willing to die to defend their way of life... the Tikk are willing to... just like every Phin on board the Unity Centre is willing to."

The young man let out a sigh, his tears returning unbidden. "I don't like it, Carver... it's just... stupid."

The Amplus nodded against the top of his head. "You don't have to like it, Max... and I didn't say it wasn't stupid. They have a right to object, and this is the way to do it."

The young man reached up a hand to wipe his eyes even as he rolled over so he could press himself against the Phin again. "Phins need a Ghandi or something... peaceful resistance and that kind of thing."

"That works better on two dimensions."

Max was confused by the retort. "Huh?"

Carver chuckled. "Civil resistance... demonstrations, vigils, petitions, go-slows, sit-ins, occupations... some of the greatest strengths of those actions are to peacefully disrupt transportation and to create visibility for the movements."

"Yea... so?"

The Phin splashed the water lightly with his fingers. "Underwater movement happens on three dimensions... you would need three times as many people to make as much of an impact in that regard."

Max found himself frowning. "There's more to standing up for what you believe in than just being a nuisance, Carver."

The Amplus rubbed his back softly. "I know, Max... and I do not mean to belittle the ideology behind peaceful protest. I have always been enthralled by stories of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, the Rose Revolution, the Singing Revolution-- all of the amazing historical accounts of civil resistance among Humans. They are fantastic stories of traits that define humanity at its finest and most tried moments."

The Human let out a yawn, laying his head against Carver's chest. "So? That's my whole point. You can accomplish things without violence."

Carver continued the movement of his fingers on Max's back. "It has been shown time and time again that HUMANS can accomplish things in that way... for Phins with irreconcilable viewpoints we consider our best options to be organized Spearcasts."

"Then I wish things could be different."

The Phin smiled, bitter-sweet back at him. "At times like this, so do I."

They continued talking for many more hours, some of it even managing to make its way through Max's haze of exhaustion. The Unity Center would be traveling along the eastern coast of what was South America back on Land Earth and the Tikk would create a battle line and formally challenge the Centre. From the way Carver explained it the whole affair sounded ritualistic with specific codes of conduct and defined rules of engagement. The longer the night dragged on the better he felt.

Carver stayed with him the whole time, answering questions when Max could think of them, and then simply being a source of comfort thereafter. At some point the Amplus switched to singing, humming, clicking, and softly whistling out the song that he'd presented to Max before... the Birth Song. Carver coddled Max, performing the song and, the Human realized, as much for their unborn child as for him. Either way, however, it was calming... and it was wonderful. Before he knew it he had fallen asleep. The peace did not last; Carver gently urged him awake what seemed like far-too-few hours later.

The movement about the Unity Centre was as busy as any day that involved classes for the students but it was an entirely different kind of energy. The first and most important change that Max noted was that all classes were cancelled and all of the class rooms were fully flooded. The Unity Center itself was sitting higher in the water, with more of the structure's internal air supply pumped into higher floors, causing the top of the structure's central column to stick up out of the sea like a floating lighthouse.

The day started out with a magenta and orange sunrise, but clouds were quickly billowing up to block out any view of the sky. The workers aboard the Centre were swimming through the corridors at a rapid pace and students were encouraged to walk along the walls to stay out of the way of important activities. Considering what Max knew was coming he didn't really want to stop and think about what those activities were. As all of the students were organized by study level in separate meeting rooms, however, it was impossible to hide from the discussion any longer.

Max didn't recognize any of the faculty who were talking to his study level, but he drew some comfort by seeing a good number of familiar faces... and he felt just a little better when their Pod gathered together, including Angel along with Seraph, freshly released from the medical bay. A few rows in front of him were Andy and Greg and a few rows over was Angie Mae. He briefly remembered something he read in a psychology book about the comfort familiar things brought in times of stress and he realized there had to be some merit to those words; he was very thankful to have as much as he could at that point.

The gathering was designed solely to turn the upcoming confrontation into a learning opportunity; the thought made Max a little sick to his stomach. The instructor explained to the assembly that the Tikk were more than just a fourth subdivision of Phins... they also included of some Longos and the rare Album that objected to the decision passed by the Council of Four, the ruling body of Phins on Water Earth. The Council voted on all matters that affected the Phins as a whole and, as was their way, when the decision on whether or not to work with the Humans was made the vote was two for and two against.

A split decision was not at all abnormal and there were rules for settling a tie; it was the Council's standing philosophy that the tie would be broken in favor of whichever side of the argument for which the Album Councilman voted. Unlike most similar situations, however, the Tikk did not approve of the Council's decision and left the hearing... and the council. While the temporary 'Council of Three' attempted to resolve the breakdown in communication the Tikk prepared for their resistance to the developing Unity Programme.

That was over five decades ago and that resistance still made itself known every year in the form of the Spearcast. To date, Max learned, one hundred and eighty four Tikk gave their lives for their point of view; one hundred and four officials and seventeen students of the Unity Centre had done the same. Surprisingly, only two of the casualties had been Human. Angie Mae, never one to be subtle about her curiosity, made a very audible display of repeatedly slamming her palm against the water.

The speaker, a Longos who had introduced himself as Dorsal Line Lecturer finished his rhythmic accounting of the history of the upcoming Spearcast before he addressed her. "Angie Mae... you have a question?"

She was straight to the point. "Two Humans died in the Spearcasts? I thought the fighting was just between Phins."

A few muted murmurs surfaced within the crowd of students but Dorsal Line Lecturer silenced them immediately by smacking his fluke against the water. "That is correct, Angie Mae-- this conflict is settled solely between Phins. The first casualty was in the second Spearcast when a Human student ran to the aid of his Phin partner and was struck by a thrown javelin."

One row ahead of Max, Greg spoke up, "What happened?"

Seated beside Greg, Andy gave him a punch to the shoulder, "Shh... you weren't called on."

Greg rubbed his arm where Andy had hit him. "I just wanted to know."

Andy, voice still low, spoke quietly, "The Tikk was shot by the Human soldiers."

Dorsal Line Lecturer continued on discussing the accidental death of the second Human student but Max was focused more on Andy, who was expanding on his explanation. "You know how Phins don't really have the kind of history of wars as we do, right? And how they didn't have arms races and spend centuries on making all sorts of weapons? Well... we have guns... Phins don't... and they don't want em."

Greg blinked, "So... uh..."

Andy frowned. "That was the end of that year's Spearcast... the soldiers on board the Centre killed the Tikk that threw the spear and the other three around him. The Tikk left and didn't come back until the next year."

Max glanced aside to Carver, who also appeared intent on the conversation the two young men were having. The Human leaned over to whisper quietly to the Amplus. "If we have guns and the Tikk don't, how do they know we won't use our weapons on them?"

Carver looked back at him. "Even the Tikk have to hope for the best in Human nature to prevail... if your people wanted they could destroy everything here. Phins don't use weapons like you do... it isn't our way."

Max shuddered at the thought. "I'm glad cooler heads prevailed back on Land Earth."

The Amplus next to him rested a hand on the Human's thigh. "I am too... and that is why the Tikk continue to hold the Spearcast... they know that the Humans that want to make the Unity Centre work are willing to let Phins settle things our own way."

As the lecture continued more and more side discussions started to break out. By the time Dorsal Line Lecturer fell silent there was plenty of noise generated by the dozens of individual talks. As the Longos swam away from the podium the young man realized that apparently the students' reactions was the entire point of the lecture in the first place. He leaned his head against Carver and let out a sigh. "So... when does this all happen? What else is--"

A loud announcement in the Phin language filled the room; it was Dark Ring Astute Overseer High Director, the Unity Centre's highest ranking Album. "We have received word from the Tikk. They number eighty six and will start the Spearcast at dusk."

Another voice spoke up; a large Longos wearing a wetsuit who, until that moment had been silent. He addressed the Director in Phin but loud enough for everyone to clearly hear. "We have eighty eight men, Dark Ring Astute Overseer High Director."

Their discussion seemed almost ritualistic in its tempo and information conveyed. Carver confirmed it when he spoke quietly aside to Max. "The Unity Centre always fields half-again as many Phins as the Tikk..."

Max only needed a moment to do the math. "Then we're forty one short."

Dark Ring Astute Overseer High Director didn't even miss a beat. "How many of our staff have chosen to fight?"

The Longos in the wet suit responded immediately, "Twenty nine."

The Director nodded, but didn't seem to really consider the answer; Max assumed he probably already knew anyway. His next words were surprising, however. "I have spoken with the Tertiary Classes and have seven more."

There was a word within the Director's announcement that Max didn't understand but, judging by the words around it, he assumed that the Phin meant that seven students were drafted or had volunteered from the Tertiary Classes-- the Water Earth equivalent to university level students. After a measured pause, the wet-suit-wearing Longos turned to the assembly. "The University Centre calls upon its students and we ask for five Phin willing to fight for the preservation of the Programme."

Greg's voice carried thanks to the emphatic. "HUNTER?!?!"

The Album, who was standing next to where Greg sat stared down at him with a scathing glare and hissed "Don't embarrass me."

Angel had even less decorum than Greg. "Nuh-uh, Seraph... you ain't gettin' into THAT shit-- I ain't havin' it, Boo."

Seraph gently took his arm from the young black man's grasp, "This is my decision, Angel. I'll fight for the Programme."

The argument between Angel and Seraph continued right through Walker volunteering. Max watched Angie Mae's reaction which he found surprisingly difficult to read. She spoke calmly to her Longos partner once he sat back down... Max's attention was pulled from the two when he heard a voice he recognized speak up in Phin. He hadn't seen Roller since he had disappeared from F-3 after he and his Human partner were ejected. Max specifically noticed that Christina wasn't with him.

As everything fell quiet again the Director spoke up. "Hunter, Pusher, Walker, Roller, and Carver are accepted. Greg Brown, Tyrone Simpson, Angie Mae Kline, and Max Snyder, you will join your Phin partners on Deck 2. Everyone else, please remain here; lunch will be served shortly."

It took Max a few moments to realize what was happening. "Carver? You didn't volunteer... did you?"

The Amplus stood and held out a hand to assist the Human. "One of the requirements for the Unity Centre is that all Amplus serve in the Spearcast if needed."

There were a number of things Max wanted to say but he chose instead to keep his mouth shut; it felt like he was in the middle of a nightmare spiraling out of control. Unlike him, however, Angel chose NOT to remain quiet. "Can you believe that shit? My name's ANGEL... not Tyrone... what a--"

Seraph quieted the black man with a surging splash of water from his tail. "He was being official, Angel... he called he Pusher."

Carver added to the discussion, "The Spearcast is all about ritual. He didn't mean anything by it, Angel."

Angel 'hrumphed' as only he could, melodrama set on maximum. "Well, mutha-fucka's gonna do what he's gonna do, but this fine-ass bitch ain't gotta like it."

Max looked around at everyone heading through the hallway; he and Carver were staying close by Angel and Seraph to support one another; Angie Mae and Walker were speaking softly, moving along together as they followed after the group; behind them, lagging in the rear was Roller, walking alone. Shooting a glance at Carver, the young man motioned over his shoulder toward the lone Longos and the Amplus nodded, understanding his meaning.

Max lagged, letting the quiet, withdrawn Phin catch up to him. "Roller... hey."

The Phin looked up, almost startled, obviously pulled out of whatever thoughts were occupying him. The Longos eventually offered up a weak. "Max Snyder... hello. It is good to see you again."

The young man immediately hated himself for choosing a bad topic for small-talk. "So... where's Christine?"

Roller sighed out of his blow hole. "On a skiff heading back to Land Earth."

The announcement caught Max by surprise. "Really?"

The Longos nodded, "She chose to leave the Programme so they sent her home."

Max had never heard of someone quitting but, considering everything that had happened to her and the obviously strained tension that followed with Roller he could certainly understand. "So... what's that mean for you?"

Roller lowered his head. "I cannot continue classes this year without a Human partner... so I am going to apply for Continuation... Taking part in the Spearcast will look good when my request is reviewed."

The Human wanted to say more, but the words just didn't come out. Mute and uneasy, the young man simply walked beside the Longos in silence. As he saw those walking ahead of him turn to the right and enter an archway he finally managed to summon the only thing he could give voice to. "I'm sorry."

"Me too."

The archway, Max found, led to some kind of ready-room that immediately made him think of a medieval armory. He saw all sorts of spears, javelins, pilums, harpoons, and any other number of blades and pole arms. One thing he DIDN'T see however, was armor. By that point Carver had returned to his side and the Amplus spoke quietly, "I use one of those over there... Humans call them Pikes."

In fear of the tears starting again Max decided to focus on things as analytically as he could. "You have a longer reach and that will improve it... good choice."

Carver turned and gave him a hug. "I'll be fine, Max. I'll be fine."

Members of the Centre's security team entered and, after that, everything became complete chaos. Much to his displeasure, Max was separated from Carver and, along with the rest of the Humans, ended up herded into an adjacent room which looked much more modern in terms of what he expected of an armory: firearms, body armor, explosives... and yet, BECAUSE of those things and not in spite of them he felt even less at ease. The four students were addressed by a human security officer that looked a lot like a riot guard to Max.

The man raised the face guard of his helmet and looked at the four of them. "You're allowed topside because your partners are taking part in a Phin ritual. Everyone here knows that you're only observing? If not, speak up and I'll be happy to handcuff you before you create a problem."

The man, Lieutenant McKellen by name, went quickly through the expectations of any Humans above deck on the Unity Centre. They were only being allowed out in the open as a show of solidarity and because their Phin partners were going to be taking part in the battle. (Max didn't miss the way the man referred to it as a battle and not a Spearcast). He went on to explain that all observers were expected to stay behind a certain line on deck so as to avoid being put in danger.

The Lieutenant repeated multiple times that the Tikk wouldn't be endangering any Humans but a certain degree of 'staying out of the way' was just good common sense. He received a transmission via an ear piece and informed them that it was time to move and that they were to stay with him at all times; the weather outside was getting worse and he didn't plan on letting anyone get swept overboard. The students gave one another glances of concern but it was Angel who spoke up. "Afraid we can't swim?"

The security guard didn't apparently have a sense of humor. "Swimming at sea in a storm you probably can't. In a Water Earth Storm you can't. With a safety vest on, you definately can't."

Angie Mae, ever the one with attention to details questioned the man's last point. "Safety vest?"

He stopped the group at a set of stairs-- the first Max had recalled seeing since arriving on Water-Earth. He motioned to a dozen lockers set against the wall. "Yes... safety vests. Just because the Tikk don't plan on hurting you doesn't mean accidents can't happen and the Programme isn't willing to endanger students. Doesn't look like you've brought anything with you so just choose a locker and put the vest on over your wetsuit."

The students each selected a locker and Angel, who was the first to pull out the heavy-looking chest piece from his had a lot to say about it. "THIS thing? Damn, boy... might as well tie us to a cement block! If we go overboard in this we're gone!"

The humor was still lost to the Lieutenant, who moved over and helped Angel into the vest. "First, this strap can be unhooked for easy release... and second... stay in the assigned area and you won't go overboard."

It all sounded so simple... so straight-forward and easy, but Max knew it wouldn't work out that way. He continued to fret, worrying with each step as he and the rest of the Human students ascended the stairs. Finally, at the top, he waited for the security officer to open a sealed pressure door. The first indication that Max's concern about complications was well-founded was the buffeting wind and stinging rain that assaulted them the moment the door was thrown wide. The Lieuntenant's words were almost lost to the howling storm, "Do NOT pass the line of lights!"

Outside, the weather was even worse than it had seemed at first. Sheets of rain were falling from the sky and the rolling boom of thunder was very nearly drowned out by the hurricane force of wind. The stormy twilight made seeing anything difficult, but the rain made it even worse. It was hard enough to see his hand in front of his face, let alone the rest of the Humans around him. Thankfully, however, the blazing blue line of track lights creating a generous-sized rectangle on the pitching deck was the clearest thing in his view.

When Max had first arrived at the Centre he had been in awe at the sight of the large structure but, within the storm, his senses were limited to the few feet around him. The thought struck him that it was worthless even being present considering his inability to see anything but, a half-second later he realized he didn't want to go... not with Carver in danger. He glanced behind himself once at the door leading back into the safety of the Centre's interior but didn't feel the least bit of regret when another member of the human security detail closed and secured it.

The only way Max realized that the Spearcast had started was one of the guards shouting it out... and that continued to be the only way they got any information. Judging from how it was they received their updates it sounded as if there were spotters beneath the water where the storm created less confusion for the senses. Between the muted shouts from the man feeding them information and the pitching roll of the surface beneath his feet, Max's attention was split in a most displeasing way.

Imaginging everything happening beneath the waves and the continual movement of the deck brought a now-familiar queasiness to Max's stomach that usually only struck him in the mornings. The young man fell down to his knees, clutching his stomach as he gave into his body's reaction and he vomited up on the deck. One of the security guards knelt down to hold him in place as the floor shifted again, and Max threw up anew. The officer relaying information shouted out that the Centre had lost one of their Phins.

As one, the students turned in an attempt to hear more, each shouting over the other to make sure it wasn't their partner. Max, still on the floor, rotated to look up and at them, and his hand caught the corner of the leading trail of vomit, sprayed across the deck by the wind... and he slipped, landing face-first against the ship. He saw stars for a moment and felt the deck pitch. There were cries and shouts all around him, and Max felt the ground begin to move beneath him as he slid... and slid... and slid...

Angie Mae threw herself onto the deck and her fingers touched his palm; he grabbed tightly, but the remaining vomit on his digits was just slippery enough that they couldn't maintain contact. He let out a shout, bringing even more pain to his already aching skull. He went into a spin, continuing to slide along the angled deck. The spin was disorienting but he did catch sight of what could have been a handrail. Reaching out in a last ditch effort to stop himself he felt his fingers grip the metal bar for only a moment, until the weight of his own body and the speed at which he was moving overcame them; he screamed when they dislocated.

He wasn't exactly sure what happened next but, after picking up speed sliding along the deck the surface of the Unity Center was no longer beneath him. A moment later he felt the shocking impact of the icy sea and he cried out again, getting nothing for his trouble but a mouthful of saltwater.

The moment he submerged the full chaos of the storm above him became muted, and, for a split second his head didn't hurt quite as much. When he realized that the surface was drifting further and further away, however, he began to panic. Fighting against the weight of his security vest, Max almost forgot about the rapid release. Squirming within the vest, he reached for the release, and expelled the last of the air in his lungs as he screamed at the searing pain from trying to use his fingers. Only when he truly began to panic did enough clarity come through his terror to notice the pure white Phins swarming him.

The roiling surface of the sea frothed and foamed above him, as much from the storm as from the mass of Phins waging their war. The weight of his security vest continued to pull Max down and, as he struggled to loosen the straps, the Human began to realize rapidly that it was a losing battle. His lungs cried for air; his heart cried for Carver; but, most of all, he cried out for survival.... but he realized that all of those calls would go unanswered. He was never happier to be proven wrong.

Max had never before seen the kind of Phins that came to his rescue... his first half-view of white was as good a decription as any; the Tikk looked like a combination of a Longos and a Beluga whale... pure white with a lengthy beak. In his panicked state he tried to struggle, until one of them spoke in Phin with a decidedly hard-to-understand accent, "Stop, human... We are helping."

True to their word, three of them pulled him to the surface and, from there, the young man was hauled onto the deck of the Unity Centre. The storm was still in full swing, yet everything seemed so much calmer. Max gulped down air, then spontaneously vomited up lungfuls of water. It was all confusing, but he could swear he saw Carver climbing up onto the deck running toward him. The Amplus had a cut on his left bicep but looked otherwise well. Max didn't know how the Spearcast was going, but the most important thing to him was safe. The blackness that overcame him was surprisingly comforting.

He awoke the following morning in a medical bay bed, Carver by his side with a bandage on his arm. The Amplus gave him a hug so tight it was almost painful and there was no shortage of tears. It took Carver a full hour to properly convey what had become of the Spearcast after Max's inadvertent 'intervention'. In the end, the two parties split once Max was fished out of the water; the Tikk had lost three and the Unity Centre had lost four... it was an uneven exchange that most among the Centre considered a loss since the Tikk traditionally had more casualties than the Programme. The young man followed up with the obvious question. "We lost four? Who... were they?"

"Two of the Centre's security detail... both Longos. Speeder, an Album from--"

Carver had just started identifying the Centre's losses when Angie Mae entered the room but he immediately stopped and instead busied himself with writing. The young woman threw her arms around Max's shoulders and began alternating between saying how happy she was he had survived and crying against his chest. Over her shoulder, the Amplus held up a small strip of paper upon which he had clearly penned o=o,'; •

It was Phin for 'and Walker'.