Deep in the Depths

Chapter 8: Cracking the Code (Part 1)

"I've been looking around the island, seeing what might be edible." The trees reminded Bessie of scales as they peeled from the center to release a golden syrup. The sweet smell alone had her mouth watering. "It smells good."

"You think it might be edible?"

Reaching into her pocket, Bessie pulled out her ITS tablet. Pulling up the scanner, green lasers feel over the golden syrup. "Right now, I see nothing to worry about."

"You want to get a sample?" Mathew pulled out a swab from the basket. "To study a bit more?"

Bessie took the swap and swiped up. The goo stretched with each pull, longer and longer until she was a meter away from the tree that still held on to its sap. "Well, one thing we know is that it's very elastic."

Mathew grabbed at the sap. His hands brightened into a deep fiery red until the sap snapped free. "There." Bessie's eyes widened as she rolled up the sap with the swap until she had a giant cotton candy size ball. "Well, at least I'll have plenty to study."

She slipped the swab back into the basket.

"So what else do you want to get a sample off?" She questioned, following Mathew deeper into the forest. Anything of interest, flowers, leaves, berries look alikes,even bugs were taken to be sampled and studied for any edibility.

"We should collect water samples while we're here too." Bessie parted the leaves to reveal the place she had previously found Mathew.

"Bessie." She turned around. Mathew's eyes had lost their shine. "We need to talk."

Bessie faltered. What was with the sudden change? "S-Sure." She followed him toward the pool's edge, easing herself right down beside him. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I overheard what Owen said to you." Mathew sighed. "I think he's right."

Bessie's eyes narrowed. "Not you too-"

"Ah." He raised his hand. "Here me out."

Bessie bit her lip.

"What are you to Orion?"

Bessie double taked. "I..I what?" Heat flushed across her face. "I don't know what you mean, Mathew."

"I mean, do you like him?"

"I...uh..." Bessie shook her head. "I don't think so." Could she even love something that was far from her? Sure, he was humanoid but that didn't mean he was human. For all she knew he could be a totally different species altogether.

And yet there was his smile, the way his skin was a constantly changing painting, the softness in his eyes that drew her...

"You like him."

She did.

Bessie covered her burning cheeks.

She really did.

"I'm only saying this because I want you both to be safe." The light in Mathew's eyes dimmed. "If you do move forward with this, you need to know what you're getting into. There will be stares and whispers. They won't understand."

Bessie licked her lips. "We're...we're not like that anymore." Surely, the years of advancement did something to erase the years of judgment. Racism, prejudice, even discrimination was a thing of the past.

Right?

Mathew reached forward, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Just be careful."

Snap. Their heads turned to the sound.

"And speaking of," Mathew humored as Orion stepped out of the treeline. "Good morning, Orion."

"Orion!" Bessie cried, shooting to her feet.