The enormous train shakes.

Special dampeners installed in the vehicle's hull make submersion on the water, less bumpy. Yet, the compartments always tremble because of water tension’s resistance.

I experienced these lots of times before; only, this time, I am not sitting. Instead of relaxing in the seat, enjoying the view and listening to music. I am heading to the entrance of the storage.

I need to get the equipment that the Dartboard sent to help in my mission.

Still feeling odd about this situation.

Here we go, shaking again...

I didn’t realize it would shake like this when standing up.

I have to hold my body and tighten my grip in the corridor’s rail, above my head, to not fall.

Now that we submerged the rest of the trip will be a smooth ride. Maybe it will  need extra care during a sharp turn.

Most of the passengers remain in their seats during the entire trip. But, is common for them to stretch their legs. The Squid offers nice alternatives to the seats: Lunch on the restaurant wagon; relax in the reading room; buy holos in the gift shop.

What follows the submergence process, makes a smile sprout in my face. A beautiful subnautic landscape replaces the dull polished metal surfaces of the junction. I love when tendrils of light, invade the room. Their streaks trespassing the transparent windows from both sides of the corridor gives to this artificial realm a new life. They apply a soft and ethereal shade of green to everything they touch. It is a divine moment to savor. One of the few things inside this ship that can put me in a state of absolute awe.

The storage room is in the back of the last wagon. I have time to appreciate the view while heading there. 

I move trying to not get distracted about the view.

A spectacular underwater scenery unfolds outside the Squid. Seaweeds, coral reefs, and different algae. All decorating the ground foundations built to hold the D patch above the surface.

Our speed increases.

Free from the clamps in the launch platform the train on the move.

In a blink of an eye, the last of the artificial pillars of the Dome Capital disappear behind us. Soon followed by the metallic walls holding the patch above sea level.

This change in scenery gives a feeling of shifting to another world:

A mysterious reality hidden inside the Immaculate.

Created by man and left untouched.

Adopted by Nature itself.

The builders of the Immaculate did a great job recreating a perfect replica of an actual sea. Copying shapes and landscapes of real sea bottom. But, it was mother Nature who decided to stow away inside the Vella and hijack their artificial creation. Giving real life and a true purpose to everything down here.

In a way, it also adopted us Vellers.

The tunneler moves faster.

We are now being surrounded by rocky underwater reefs. The tunneler is passing through a rock cavern. Species of green algae and other exotic plants, cover the walls of the cave, outside the train.

The train moves up again and I have to tighten my grip.

We left the cave by its other side. Now a dark green open sea bottom spreads. So vast that reaches infinite from both sides of the train wagon. The Squid is entering the Open Region of the Inner Pacific. A place where the sea creatures can be found.

With luck, we will see a parade of ocean fauna close to our windows.

The animals, living in the internal open ocean, became used to Squids. With trains always coming and going inside their transparent tubes. They realized how safe is to swim closer to the tunnelers.

Curious and mesmerized by the lights of the enormous vehicle. They follow the train at close distance.

Yesterday, my Squid got followed by a pair of Beluga whales.

Everyone was so surprised. The passengers covered the windows with their bodies to look at them and take holos. Such commotion was what made me perceive the rare white little monsters. They are the cutest creatures I have ever seen. Even I, could not resist the urge to record a holo video and take h- pictures to show Belle and the guys.

Oh! I didn't have the chance to show it to them.

This stupid day made me forget about the Beluga's holos.

Well, patience.

Other polar visitors may show up this evening. The patch coolers are in the active period. The regulators will low the water temperature from August to February. This procedure will keep the water a few hundred miles from the patches very cold. Cold enough to generate gelid winds and snowstorms. It is how we simulate the Vella Winter for Holiday seasons. Because of the colder waters, polar creatures migrate from their artificial polar region. It became normal to find those animals swimming closer to the beaches around the residential and commercial patches.

The windows got covered by small colorful dots: small fish of every shape and color joined our tunneler trip.

These creatures don't know they travel across the solar system in a spaceship. Nor that the sea they always lived is, in fact, a structured version of an enormous fish tank.

It is easy to forget about the good things when overwhelmed by sadness and self-pity.

“Thank you, little fellas, you made me feel worth again.”

At least they are protected by law.

Fishing, hunting or harming any living creatures on board of the Vellas is forbidden. The penalty for injuring the fauna inside a Vella can go from a demotion of ranks to years of forced labor. In extreme cases, or excessive cruelty: incarceration, and banishment from the Vella society. The only way to regain status of citizens again is by doing time in the Biological Center in patch B.

The animals inside play an important role in the survival of the Caravels. They help to maintain the balance of a delicate equilibrium. An equilibrium between elements that create life and life itself.

Without them and the molecule recyclers, we would not have survived for long in space.

A thing that, according to history books, they forgot to do in the days of the Old Earth.

It is a shame that I have little time to appreciate the view today.

I still can't believe I am about to risk my life because of a bomb inside the Squid. Yet, here I am. Excited by the perspective of doing this.

Well, what other alternatives I have? Be killed if the bomb explodes?

With that thought in mind, I arrived at the entrance of the storage room. Behind a wide balcony, there are two men responsible for the lockers. I recognize them by the peculiar black and red uniform of the Squid Transports and Co. 

One is a very young tanned boy, not much older than me, I suppose. The other is a middle-aged well-built man.

I try to not act nervous as I move closer to the younger one.

He notices me and stands up from his chair.

“Hello, I am here to retrieve a package from locker D-2566, it is addressed to Lauren Ellis.”

After hearing my request, the older men ask me for my EVO card. He raises his brown. Not happy that someone is asking for a package during the trip instead of being seated and enjoying the underwater voyage. He places my card above the balcony and a green light moves from side to side scanning the info.

"Do you know  we do not allow access to the lockers with the train in motion, do you miss Ellis?"