Robert stood from his crouch and slapped Willard on the back. "The boy did his job."

Connelly rubbed her head. The sphere was sealed shut, but something looked different. The cave. Their view had shifted and the water was…gone. They were in an open-air cave beneath the Europian ocean! Connelly looked at Willard. "Where…what did you do?"

"Entered a system of tunnels through another cave and made my way here," Willard said. "You were hung up on the fins, which I warned you might be a problem. All Robert had to do was retract the fins and increase your buoyancy. You popped up into the cave without a problem."

Connelly scrunched her forehead. "How did you get in? The sphere was sealed."

Willard shrugged. "Robert popped the hatch."

Robert shook his head lightly. "I don't remember opening the sphere…hardly remember retracting the fins."

"I'm just glad you guys are alive," Willard said.

Connelly extended her hand and Robert pulled her to her feet. She wanted to hold him, to hug him, but she wasn't really sure where they stood. Their relationship had always been safe. They shared all the benefits of a strong emotional bond without the confusion of physical passion. But that had changed. Would it work? She wasn't sure, but she didn't want to let their evolving relationship overshadow the mission…and she certainly didn't want Willard knowing. Not yet. Probably not for a while.

Robert seemed to sense Connelly's reserved body language and made no move to express his affection. She stretched her spine and peered out of the sphere, which had been resealed and filled with fresh air. As she leaned back, a shard of pain sliced through her ribcage. She winced and held her side. It felt as though her ribs, at least two or three, were cracked. She realized what must have taken place, and her respect for Willard's abilities increased tenfold. She had to be sure though. "Was I dead?" Connelly asked, her voice showing no emotions, as though she had just asked the time.

"What—ahh, you…yeah." Willard looked at the floor, hiding his eyes. "You both were."

Robert jumped. "I was?" His eyes were wide, peering over his low hanging glasses. "I was dead?"

Willard nodded. "You revived quickly. Connelly took some work." He glanced at Connelly, hiding his shaking hands behind his back. "Sorry about the ribs."

Connelly took hold of Willard's arm and squeezed. "If you had broken them all, I'd still be glad."

Willard laughed. "You'd still be unconscious."