Author note: This chapter will help build upon Mike's character... but don't get attached to him too quickly lol...

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Mike’s tan face scrunched up in pain as he tried to hide his suffering from the others. Sweat droplets began to rain from his forehead and coat his back as he slowly gripped the smooth ladder that led to his escape. He felt like he was drowning on air as couldn’t get enough in. He knew he’d pass out if he didn’t get up that ladder quick. Unfortunately for him Grace and Ricardo didn’t seem to of heard him as they were currently intensely conversing about what to do.

“… and right propellor seem to of given out. The fish managed to severely damage the Calvin’s main rudder. Rick it seems like the Calvin’s on its last legs. How are we ever going to find land at this rate?” Grace’s high voice seemed to annoy Mike in the wrong way as he was currently feeling horrendous. “Without the precision depth sonar how are supposed to find land in about 7 hours?” Ricardo sighed and turned to look back at the slightly damaged viewport. “Maybe we could perhaps fix the precision depth sonar as that to us is the most important…” Their voices slowly faded away as a ringing began to sound in Mike’s ear.

Mike didn’t want show any weakness to anyone. Ever since he was young, Mike learned that showing weakness was bad. He believed that weak people were bullied and frowned upon in society. Weakness of the body, heart and mind. He strived to better himself in these three categories. The weakness of his body was something he had worked on throughout his whole life. He currently had an extremely buff body for a scientist. The weakness of his mind could be solved with self study, the gaining of knowledge and life experience. He originally liked marine life so becoming a oceanographer and pursuing science was something he did later on. However, he thought his heart was almost a lost cause. The guy was originally very emotional as a child and had a very kind heart. He was weak, or so he thought. Mike had been hiding behind an impassive mask for his whole life. However, today in this very moment Mike felt his mask crack.

Tears stealthily flowed down his face as the all consuming fear he had began to override 34 years of impassiveness. His heart was heavy as he slowly raised his fist. “Clang! Clang Clang!” Mike could barely speak by this point and he had began banging on the ladder for attention. Grace in the midst of conversation with Ricardo abruptly stopped and turned towards the sudden sound fearing for the worst. Her large eyes finally rested on Mike as she realized he was the source of the banging. However, her relief was quickly cut short as she noticed the state of Mike. His body was slightly cowering over and his large frame seemed to shake and tremble like a leaf on a tree. “Mike? MIKE!” Grace hurriedly got up from her sitting pose. The quick pitter of her feet on the padded floor stopped as she arrived behind Mike.

She quickly oriented her small body around the much larger frame of Mike. “Hey Mikey, what’s wrong?” Ricardo, the bystander in the background, almost felt like the voice she was using then could be used for small babies or pets. A hardly audible croak leaked from Mike’s mouth “Hatch…open….please…” Grace nodded and then hurriedly yelled to Ricardo to open the hatch. Ricardo steered closer to the surface. With a quiet *slick * the hatch on top of the submersibles tail opened and cool sea air slowly flowed through the opening.

Grace worriedly watched as Mikes frame slowly straightened and moved up the ladder. She glanced back at Ricardo and shrugged her shoulders not bothering to break the silence. She felt like this moment deserved some of it after witnessing the big man cry.

Mike eventually reached the top of the relatively small ladder where he then began to rapidly gulp in many lungfuls of air. *Oh, I hope the poor guys okay* Grace quietly thought. She turned around and was about to head back to Ricardo before fate interrupted her.

A horrifying sound straight out of a nightmare shut down all rational thought. It was quickly followed by a deafening howl of pain from Mike as he was pulled from the ladder and out of the sub by something unseen. Grace froze in place as she felt warm liquid splash on her back and dribble down the back of her legs. The sound of it dripping on the floor sent Grace off as she let a mortal cry fear. “Shut the hatch…shut the hatch….shut the hatch!” Grace hysterically called out repeatedly as she stumbled towards Ricardo. He could only numbly nod and press the remote hatch button.