[ WP ] 50 years from now deep sea exploration has been abandoned since technology has already scanned our oceans fully , or so we think . You continue as a hobby , and you find something .

I always check all of the tanks myself. It ’ s just a habit I developed over a lifetime of diving, and like any professional, I took responsibility for all of my own equipment. Gale is a great grad student, don ’ t get me wrong. But, well, frankly she just doesn ’ t care that much about the diving. I understand her reticence at my solitary passion. She and any other person on the planet could simply type in our current coordinates, and see a RealMap 3D scan of the ocean floor below. The newer versions of RealMap even let you interact directly with the topographical scans through your Oculus, FaceMate, or even the other virtual reality hardware. 
 
 But I ’ m old. I ’ m stuck in my ways, and I maintain that actual diving just can ’ t be beat. I have always loved the physicality of sinking down into the depths, interacting directly with fauna, reefs and even wrecks. Nothing else even comes close. 
 
 “ How long do you think we ’ ll be out here? ” Gale asked, not even bothering to look up from her book. I almost grimaced at the insinuation that I was wasting her time, but I ’ ve grown used to her youthful impatience. If nothing else, maybe dragging her out into the ocean with me would help her learn some patience. 
 
 “ About 2 hours, all told ” I responded. That was more or less true, but it ’ s not like she could leave without me; my grant money paid her rent. 
 
 Gale dispassionately rolled her eyes, mocking more than complaining. Two hours of isolation would give her time to study, especially since she was falling behind on the newest data sets coming out of California. She needed to get up to speed quickly, and she knew that. 
 
 “ Just remember, ” I said, “ if I ’ m not back in 2 hours, then something has gone wrong. Just engage the winch, and it will pull me back… ” I was interrupted by her recitation of the speech I had hammered at her over and over so many times before. 
 
 “ It will pull you back at a rate of 10 feet per second, then I have to use the pole to bring you alongside the boat, and haul your fish-smelling carcass back on board. Watch the monitor for other boats, listen to the radio for your signal, or if you need me to winch you back. ” 
 
 We stared blankly at each other for several long seconds. 
 
 “ I got it ” she said, turning back to her book. 
 
 I hoisted the tanks onto my back, and made sure the regulator was delivering air. I pulled down my mask, and slid towards the edge of the boat. 
 
 “ Wish me luck ” I nasally called to my indifferent companion. She waved noncommittally, indicating her utter lack of interest. I heaved my bulk gently backwards, allowing the weight of my gear to drag me down into the dark water below. 
 
 The cold mass hit me hard, then caressed me down into the grey depths. I exhaled hard, checked my orientation, then righted myself, and began to slowly descend. Somewhere below me was an abyss of nothing. 
 
 But for today, this was as far out as I could convince Gale to follow, and honestly we still had a lot to do back at the office today. Drifting further down into the water, I allowed all of those responsibilities do fade away, cast aside back at the surface. Down here, I was just a small part of the infinite flow of water, carried about on the currents, drifting down into the darkness. 
 
 After a short time, the bottom came into view. I stopped myself just short of the actual sea floor, and hovered gracefully above the stones and muck. There was nothing of note as I journeyed along the bottom, but even just the variations of the ocean ’ s detritus were able to hold my interest. No matter how many scans one looked at, there was still nothing like this in the world. The freedom of floating, heavenly in its embrace, and the adrenaline rush of the crushing depths surrounding me. This was my true love. 
 
 Then, from somewhere out of the darkness, something was with me. I couldn ’ t see anything beyond the murky water in front of me, and the silt below. But there was unquestionably something else there in the water. I could feel it moving along, shadowing my advance through the depths. 
 
 From the corner of my eyes, I would see a shadow, or a flitting shape. But wherever I turned to observe my visitor, there was only the obscure depth of the ocean. But the presence around me grew stronger, and I could feel my pulse in my ears. My breathing was speeding up, and I knew I was risking injury if I allowed myself to panic. I forced myself to breathe in a slowing pattern, all-the-while aware of the unseen, yet undoubtedly moving manifestation there with me. 
 
 I pressed the small button on my arm, sending an electric signal back to gale up on the surface. Any second now, the winch should begin retrieving me from this watery labyrinth, and its hidden occupant. 
 
 But nothing happened. I pressed the button again, but still I remained there, drifting with the lazy current, steadily pursued by nothing, but fully aware that I was absolutely not alone. Suddenly, I felt myself thrust upwards by rushing water, hitting me in the chest hard. I could see no moving agent, nothing propelling the water and my frail humanity through the water. I found myself pushed out of sight of the bottom, and still far below the dim light of the surface. 
 
 Instinctively, I exhaled hard, but my bubbles merely gathered about my face, refusing to reveal the direction of the surface. Beginning to panic, I exhaled hard once again, but still I simply found myself surrounded by my own exhalation. I went to press the button again, but found I was already hammering it in rapid succession. 
 
 Without warning, I saw the darkness move beneath me. Some great unfathomable shadow lurched and lunged below me, towards me; menacing and demanding. I felt the air seize in my lungs, and my heart raced, nearly blinding me in its exertion. The shadows below climbed and shifted, alternately fleeing then surpassing me in my suspension. I saw the darkness itself seemingly reach towards me, threatening to consume my very existence. 
 
 Suddenly I burst forth through the surface, and was blinded by the sky. The darkness below me receded, but I flailed in desperation towards the small figure of the boat. In the despairing moments it took for me to reach to boat, I could still feel the presence below, pacing my every move, seeming to be biding its time, relishing in my terror. 
 
 I hauled myself onto the boat, and tore the mask from my face, I gasped at the fresh air, and scrambled backwards into the very center of the boat, waiting for my watery villain to spring forth at any second and destroy our little fibreglass island. I hollered at Gale, my voice almost a shriek. 
 
 “ Go! Go! Get us out of here! ” 
 
 “ Wait, ” Gale countered, “ you ’ re letting me drive the boat? Seriously? ” 
 
 My mind couldn ’ t comprehend her words, but merely begged to be distanced from the murky horror beneath us. 
 
 “ Just go! ” I shouted. “ Go go go! ” 
 
 “ Cool ” Gale exclaimed, a gleeful grin alighting upon her face. She slid over to the driver ’ s seat, and turned the ignition. The motor roared to life, and within seconds we were moving fast through the water. I peered over the side, but though I couldn ’ t see the menacing shadow anymore, I felt that it was still there, ushering us from its home. 
 
 I collapsed back onto the side, heavy with exhaustion, unable to move in my fear. 
 
 “ Anything interesting? ” Gale asked as she captained us back towards the shore. 
 
 I couldn ’ t form the words to answer. All I could think was that the ocean had grown accustomed to our new absence, and was ready to ensure that we never again threatened its serenity. 
 
 I for one would not be disturbing it again. 

