The temperature dropped noticeably as we descended to the lower level. Located directly beneath the arboretum, the chamber was being used as both a marine biology lab and storage area. Shelves lined two walls, holding plastic containers filled with spare parts. In one corner of the room was a sink situated within a long aluminum table lined with a dozen empty fish tanks. One aquarium was operational—a thousand-gallon saltwater habitat holding Oscar and Sophia, Lara Saints’ two octopi.

“Hey, guys.” I tapped on the glass, causing their translucent pink skin to darken to a gray brown. “Kyle, what’s with all the empty tanks?”

“Part of the Europa mission is to seek out new life-forms—the only reason I accepted this assignment. Once our engineers cap the hydrothermal vents, we’ll have access to the mini-subs, allowing Beta Squad to practice capturing sea specimens.”

“You must intend on going after some pretty big fish.” I pointed to a huge tank situated on the floor behind the spiral staircase. It was chest high and at least seven feet long. At the moment it was covered by a tarp so I couldn’t see what was inside.

Kyle Graulus snorted a laugh. “Yes. This one will hold a very big fish indeed.” Moving to the tank, he pulled off the covering—revealing a cryogenic pod. “This is your sleep chamber. There was no room in the science lab, so we had SEA’s engineers install it in here. Now you get to sleep with the fishes.”

“Lovely.”

“Jason Sloan, our staff cryogenist, requested that we power up the unit to ensure it is operational. Each of us completed this same task with our own pods; to ease the mind, I suppose.”

“Like packing your own parachute.”

“Your parachute is packed a bit differently than ours. Because GOLEM has no robotic arms inside this room, we will be the ones who will place you in stasis and the ones who shall awaken you.” The biologist grinned. “I see this upsets you.”

“Who awakens you?”

“GOLEM.”

“What if the ship loses power?”

“Oceanus draws power from a nuclear reactor and a vent system that has been pumping superheated water from the Earth’s mantle for billions of years. We will not lose power.”

“And what if the tectonic plates shift?”

“The cryogenic process makes you anxious. It’s understandable. I’ve been held in stasis twice. The first time I was quite nervous until the sedatives finally calmed me. The sensation is quite profound; it feels as if your consciousness is a falling feather, floating deeper into a comforting sleep.”

“Do you dream?”