| Chapter One |
| It was a year after Brett discovered Neri. A new underwater technician, John McBrad, and his son Robby had arrived on ORCA. He was about Brett age, a little taller, and slender though. He never talked to anyone, and basically kept to himself. When he was not in school he was in the rec-center, sitting by the large portal, reading. "Brett and I challenge you two at virtual soccer."Jason said to Froggie and Zoe "You're on" Zoe answered to the challenge. "Whats with him?" Froggy asked them as they walked by the boy that was sitting near the portal. "I don;'t know. I'm going to try to find out. Count me out Jason." Brett said. Brett walked over to the boy and asked "Mind if i sit here?" The boy looked up from his book "It's a free world." he said as he looked back to his book. Brett sat down , looked out the portal, looked at the boy and asked, "So, what are you reading?" "A book on the reef,": the boy replied. "Why read about it when you can explore it?" Brett asked. "That's what i plan to do, but first my father wants me to create a plan before I dive." The boy said. "Cool, I'm Brett," he said. "I'm Robert, most people call me Robby." he said. "So, have you planned you're next dive," Brett asked. "Yes. It wll be tomorrow, right after breakfast. Unfoutnatly you probably wont like the dive." he told Brett. "Why wouldn't I like this dive. I love to scuba dive." Brett said. "I don't scuba dive." he started to explain. "Huh?" Brett asked. "I don't dive like most people. I free dive." Robby finished explained "So, I also free dive" Brett said. "Not like I do." Robby told him. "What do you mean?" Brett asked. "Well, I free dive to depths over 50 meters. I stay under water for over five minutes, all without an air tank." he explained. "Are you serious?" Brett asked. "Yes, and at 10:00 am tomorrow I dive." he told Brett. "May I dive with you, in scuba gear of course?" Brett asked. "Sure, if you want. Meet me at the Docking Platform at 9:30 am." Robby told Brett. * * * After lights out, in the Bates' cabin, Jason asked "So why are you going diving tomorrow morning?" "The new kid, Robby, and I are going. He is actually going to free dive. He says he can stay underwater for over 5 minutes." Brett told his brother. "Well if he can people won't believe him." Jason said. * * * The next morning at 9:15 am abot 10 kids had collected on the Docking Platform. Brett And Robby arrived at 9:20 am. All Robby was wearing was a pair of track pants. He didn't have anything that might help him, not even a pair of swimming goggles. As Brett was putting on his diving gear, Robby was stretching, getting ready for his dive. About 5 minutes to 10:00 am Robby took off his track pants. under it he was wearing a blue racing style swimsuit. Some of the kids smirked at him. One kid even said, "No one ever wears those anymore." He replied, "I wonder if you will say that after I surface?" Facing Brett he said, "Are you ready?" "Whenever you are." Brett answered him. "I'm ready." Robby said, and with that he dove in. Wiithin 30 seconds he was already at 50 meters, with Brett barely able to keep up with him. He swam around the reef, going between the plants and rock formations. He then started to circle around the reef and slowly started to ascend. He broke the surface. Bret followed behind, breaking the surface within a meter of where Robby came up. "That was six minutes, twenty-one seconds, and a depth of 53 meters." Brett said after he took his regulator from his mouth. Everybody, including the one who made the remark earlier were stunned. * * * "So are you able to dive the same way everytime?" Brett asked Robby after lunch. "Yes, since I was five I've been able to stay underwater for over three minutes. That's when ans accident happened." Robby answered. "What happened?" Brett asked. "I'd rather not talk about it. It's a hard thing to talk about." Robby said. "I'm sorry." Brett apologized. "Aw, don't worry about it. It is just that i don't even understand it." Robby said. "Oh ok. So where did you live before you came to ORCA?" Brett asked, trying to change the subject. "Halifax, Canada. Beautiful place to live. I've also lived in Vancouver Canada, Miami, USA, Honolulu USA, Buenos Aires Argentina, Monaco France, and I was born in Charlottetown Canada." He answered. "Where is the place that you have stayed the longest at?" Brett asked him. "Charlottetown, for 2 years. The shortest was for 2 months in Monaco." He answered. "What about you?" "Lived in Sidney Australia until ORCA opened. Been here since then. Trust me ORCA is a great place to live. The people here are great once you show what type of person you are. You showed them that you'd fit in with that swim." Brett responded. |
| On to Chapter Two |