Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

<^ Subnautica ^>

(A story of survivors on planet 4546B.)

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<^ Survivor - Levallia 'Levi' (female, star explorer)

<^ Survivor - Bonnie 'Bunny' (female, engineer)

(Survivor's Log): Our starship, the Aurora, was shot down by an unidentified weapons system while banking past the unexplored planet 4546B. A, primarily, oceanic planet. The damage was too great. We were ordered to the lifepods, we were...we were some of the lucky ones. Out of fifty lifepods, that the Aurora was equipped with, twenty-five were destroyed when we were shot. We, me, Levallia - I was a star explorer on board...and my girlfriend, Bonnie, she was one of the engineers - we were on a date. We just happened to be close to one of the lifepods. It was the only thing...that saved our lives.

I was hit in the head during planetfall - knocked out - Bonnie was so scared. Come to, and our lifepod was on fire. Our harnesses were locked. Had to pry our way out just to put out the flames. Now, well, we're alive. The Aurora's wrecked on a sandbar, burning, a ways out. There's nothing but ocean in any direction. We were lucky. Again. Landed in the shallows, full of edible fish and reefs of coral. Resources. Bonnie is scared to trust the water, so it's a good thing this isn't the first ocean planet I've explored. Yeah. Yeah...we'll...be okay.

Right?

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(Day 1): Our lifepod (5) sustained damage during planetfall. That means fabricating a repair tool, because we need the short-range radio fixed, if nothing else. We need food too. And a source of fresh water. Bonnie didn't want me to go, but I have to explore the shallows. For both of our sakes. Sorry, Bunny. Love you. ♡

   * Repair lifepod (5).

   * Acquire food and water sources.

   * Explore the shallows.

   * What...shot down the Aurora?

<> We were right. About the 'lucky' part. I went out and caught some of the shallows' plentiful fish, then let the fabricator decide which were edible. Not only were plenty that - edible - but one type can be fabricated into drinkable water. We shouldn't go hungry or thirsty here.

<> When night started to fall, we cuddled up in the lifepod to sleep. Things aren't looking as hopeless as they did this morning.

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(Day 2): This morning, the PDA is detecting an increase in radiation levels around the Aurora. Radiation matching to the starship's drive core. Bonnie...she says that's not good. Really not good.

   * Scanner fabricated.

   * Found wreckage from the Aurora to scavenge.

   * Found an underwater 'kelp-like' forest. The scanner has called it creepvine. When I told Bonnie about it, and that's not all - when I told her there are bigger fish with lots of teeth who call the creepvine home? She was very worried about letting me go out again. But we need those resources. Besides...I'm guessing there are worse predators in some of these waters.

<> It took some diving into caves - it's a good thing I'm not claustrophobic, like I was telling Bunny, and some darn crashfish, but I got the materials for a repair tool. Which my little engineering bunny put to good use. So tonight we get to go to sleep without the sounds of wires sparking and warnings beeping. And a working radio. *Sigh* I love that woman so much.

(Off-screen.) I love you too, Levi.

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(Day 3): The PDA is detecting growing instability within the Aurora's drive core.

<> So I may have, maybe, gotten nipped once or twice by a creepvine fish with lots of teeth, but I had it handled! And, I can now fabricate a habitat builder, so who really won here?

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(Day 4): Got to work on a temporary hab for me and my 'Bunny' today. Our 'burrow' in these shallow waters.

(Off-screen.) *laugh* You're ridiculous, Levi.

Am not. Anyways, we need a hub for all of our needs, and I'm the muscles in this relationship, I'm the homemaker! And a home, I shall make!

<> Fuck. The PDA says the Aurora's drive core is going to blow in a few hours...

<> Distress call received from lifepod (3). They're not hurt, but their lifepod is damaged. Their coordinates put them in a creepvine forest not too far away. I'm going to go get them. Hopefully I'll be back before the drive core blows. Don't want Bonnie to be all alone for that. Don't want her to be all alone at all, actually...

<^ Survivor - Rox (female, security)

<^ Survivor - Mac (male, engineer)

<> Located lifepod (3). Finding it wasn't an issue - getting to it? Took some thinking. It had sunk into the creepvine forest, and was surrounded by those toothy predators. Stalkers. That's what the PDA decided to name them. Now, stalkers like to collect metal. To sharpen their teeth with. So I went, found some, and used that metal salvage to lure them away. Gave the lifepod's survivors a chance to swim to me, and we got to safety. Two survivors. A security officer, Rox; bit of a spitfire. And one of Bonnie's fellow engineers, Mac. Creative guy. We're going to have to expand the hab. New tunnels in our burrow, and all that.

Just...waiting on the boom now.

<> Just after dark, we didn't have to wait any longer. The Aurora's drive core blew.

(The PDA recommends radiation suits for all of us.)

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(Day 5): Distress call received from lifepod (6). Their coordinates were...sadly corrupted. The photos taken of their location shows underwater plains of red grass. We'll be scouting for them. It's all we can really do.

   * Expanded the hab.

   * Rox is surprisingly adept at catching small fish. She jokes it's because she likes food so much and really wants jerky to snack on.

   * Scanned more local sealife. As Rox joked; knowledge is power.

(Knowledge will keep us alive.)

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(Day 6): Bunny and I went on a date~ By that, I mean I managed to get her in the water for longer than a few minutes. We swam around the reef, I showed her some underwater caves she refused to go near, and by dusk? I'd gotten her to admit these oceans were actually beautiful. ♡

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(Day 7): Distress call received from lifepod (17). They're not too far from us. Says their lifepod is severely damaged, so we're going to get them immediately. Rox is coming with me - says she knows one of the survivors personally. He's 'hoping' she'll come, she joked. 'Playing damsel in distress and waiting to be saved.'

<^ Survivor - Ozzy (male, cook)

<^ Survivor - Paris (male, pilot)

<> Found them. *sigh* Found them 100m down, because lifepods sinking to the ocean floor count as just 'damaged'. DAMAGED!

(Off-screen.) We're sorry, okay? We - ow!

Don't hit them too hard, Rox. But, yeah, we did not have the gear for a 100m dive, and had to improvise to get our cook and pilot to the surface without drowning. Turns out that bladderfish work as emergency airbags in a pinch. The hab's going to need expanding again. Would be easier if the blueprints weren't corrupted.

<> Found something. Maybe a concerning something. At lifepod (17), I found a fish - a spadefish - with glowing green pustules all over its scales. The PDA said it was a peaceful herbivore, but it tried to gnaw on me when I got close. The PDA also said it was a 'bacterial infection' and 'to avoid it at all costs'. What if it's contagious to humans?

(Behavior altered by infection - aggressive?)

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(Day 8): The Aurora's distress call was picked up by a small trade ship, the Sunbeam. We can't contact them with our short-range radios, but they're looking for us. Somebody is looking for us.

<> Biters are nasty things, aren't they? Went out to salvage more wrecks, closer to the Aurora, and they kept, well, biting me!

<^ Survivor - Nancy (female, HR)

<^ Survivor - Lena 'Vixen' (female, passenger)

<> Hey, I found lifepod (6)! They actually weren't too far away, but their lifepod had sunk down to 100m. It was a good thing I happened to come across Nancy collecting lead for radiation suits, otherwise I may not have known they were there. She swam right up tot me and gave me a big hug! Poor thing. Her and Lena are with us now, at the hab. Nancy wants to learn to swim better from Rox, but Lena's a bit...catty. Mac's taken to calling her 'Vixen'. *laugh*

<> Gee...the waters here...really are beautiful. It's not the best of circumstance, but this is why I became a star explorer.

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(Day 9): The Sunbeam called back! Their scanners...picked up the Aurora's debris field. They know this is serious now. They're coming to get us.

<> Spent most of today scavenging closer to the Aurora. Bonnie says it's not necessary because we'll be rescued soon, and her worry is so sweet, but I can't shake this...foreboding feeling, in my gut. And my dad always taught me to listen when my gut starts talking.

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(Day 10): Reefbacks. I've seen them at a distance for a while, but today? I swam close enough to scan one! Almost gave Rox and Mac a heart attack in the process - none of us had tried to get close to the giant creatures before! They, maybe, thought I was going to be eaten. But now reefbacks are confirmed to be peaceful, so -

(Off-screen.) They weren't confirmed to be peaceful when you tested that, Levi!

*nervous chuckle* So...yeah. I sat and watched the pod for a while - or, floated and watched. Um, Bunny, baby, are you...mad?

(Off-screen.) Am I mad, she asks! My girlfriend has zero self-preservation instincts!

<> Tonight...ah, well, tonight? Spirits are low. I went out today to salvage from a massive wreck near Vixen Grasses - that's what Mac has taken to calling the area where lifepod (6) sank, because Lena - ah. Nevermind. They called me back to the hab early. We received a distress call from lifepod (19) and Officer Keen. He was the Aurora's Second Officer. Meant to take command if something happened to the Captain. He gave orders for a rendezvous on dry land...but the coordinates were corrupted. We want to go retrieve him...but his lifepod sank 300m below the surface, and I don't...we don't...*sigh*

(Off-screen.) *distant stomping* I have an idea!!!

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(Day 11): By the stars, I love these humans! *laugh* Mac and Bunny actually - actually - managed to fabricate a seamoth overnight! It'll be pushing it, but I might be able to get to lifepod (19) in time! Stars, Bunny, I love you! ♡

<> Okay. Okay. I've travelled further away from the shallows...than I have before. 180m below the surface. The seamoth can't handle deeper without upgrades, so I'm diving the next 120m by myself. Into a cave. With no light. Okay. Okay. Here I go. *deep breath*

<> Levallia to hab. I have Officer Keen. He's alive. *cheering over the radio* Any words for them, Officer?

(Off-screen.) *choking noise* You are all so reckless!

*laughter over the radio* Yeah, yeah. Hab, we're actually pretty close to those coordinates for dry land. We're going to check if anyone made it there before coming back, okay? Bunny, you're in charge of our burrow.

<^ Survivor - Keen (male, officer)

<> Saving Officer Keen...I'll admit it was a close call. Any later...but I did it. I did it.

   * This 'island' is floating! It's incredible!

   * The PDA is picking up energy surges coming from somewhere on the island.

   * Set up camp for the night - which meant meeting cave crawlers. Territorial little scavengers. The one downside to this incredible island.

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(Day 12): There are habs on this island. Alterra habs! Far too old to belong to any survivors of the Aurora. What is going on here? Are we...not the first Alterra starship to crash-land on 4546B?

(References to the Degasi crew?)

   * Found a strange alien tablet that glows purple in one of the abandoned habs. Never seen anything like it before...

   * PDA recordings from the 'Degasi' crew - they seem to point to desperation...and that these oceans have secrets.

<^ Survivor - Yu (female, chief engineer)

<^ Survivor - Berkeley (male, engineer)

<> Officer Keen and I were leaving the island - it was almost dark and we didn't want to spend another night there, when I stopped to...you know, maybe, cliff dive a bit. Turns out? Really good waste of time, because while I was climbing out of the water, I heard shouting! And out of the bushes run Yu and Berkeley! They're two more of the Aurora's engineers. Friends of Bonnie's. We almost missed them...I'm so glad we didn't. I mean, it took me and Berkeley holding onto the wings of the seamoth as we slowly made our way back, but we did make it. And I got a big kiss from my favorite engineer for my bravery!

I'm glad...but I also can't help but feel that something is wrong.

(Off-screen.) *mumbled* Levi?

I'm fine, baby, go back to sleep.

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(Day 13): The Sunbeam hailed us again. They're scanning for somewhere to land and pick us up. They're close. Really close. Has it really only been twelve days? *disbelieving laugh* Feels like so much longer. For all of us, I think. Just...have to hold out a couple more days. 

   * Mac's working hard to make sure we all have seagliders for when the Sunbeam lands. To get there safely and timely.

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(Day 14): Received a...call, from lifepod (13). A burial call. One confirmed dead. A high-priority passenger, Jochi Khasar. Lena's brother-in-law. The thing is, he had a son aboard the Aurora with him. Lena says he never would've boarded a lifepod without him. So we're gearing up. I hope we make it in time. If there is time.

<> Found lifepod (13) sunken into some sort of underwater mushroom biome. I...confirmed the body of Jochi Khasar. No sign of his son yet. I - I won't leave without confirmation.

<^ Survivor - Kim (male, passenger)

<> I found Kim. I'd begun to lose hope, and then? There he was. This kid whose oxygen tank dwarfed him. Waving, trying to swim to me but weighed down. He was crying behind his mask. And when I swam down to him? He clung to me. I - I...*sigh* We had to leave his dad's body down there. His dad had done his best to save him - to save his son. And he did. *hushed* You did, Mr. Khasar. You saved him. Kim...had a few scratches; nothing a medkit couldn't handle. He's with his aunt now. Lena was so grateful. She - he...I - 

(Off-screen.) Levi?

...Yeah, Bunny?

(Off-screen.) Come to bed.

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(Day 15): Expanded the hab. There's - what, twelve of us now? Even if rescue is on its way, tiny sleeping pods don't cut it for that many. Obviously, we'll only be here a little longer so I won't go overboard, but having the work to do is nice.

<> Everybody agreed having a communal part of the hab above the water would be great, so that's what I worked on most of the day.

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(Day 16): Call received from the Sunbeam - we have our rendezvous coordinates. An island nearly 1,100m to the north. Guess there was no need to expand the hab yesterday after all! *laugh* We're all packing up to go now. *bustle in the background* Guess we'll be saying goodbye to 4546B.

<> Bonnie was still scared, so she's going to be holding onto me and my seaglider on the way to the island. We'll all be travelling in a 'pod'. Like reefbacks!

<> Arrived at the second island. The PDA is detecting strange power sources it cannot identify. We're building a temporary hab to shelter in...but maybe I'll explore around some after? 

My bad feeling is coming back.

   * There is an alien structure on this island?! Could that be where the strange power source is coming from? 

   * Found another of those purple, glowing tablets. Maybe I could get into the structure with it?

   * Officer Keen had ordered all of us to stay away from the structure. I'll...listen. We'll be on our way home soon, and I don't want to worry Bonnie when we're almost out of here.

<> As night fell, I was sat in the sand, feet in the water...when I saw something. A creature watching me from the waters a little deeper out. Glowing eyes and slimy skin. Tentacles. We stared at each other - I got a short recording on my PDA...and then - this pale light swirled around it! When the light faded? It was gone. As if it had teleported away. I knew this planet had secrets. I just...hadn't expected them to scare me.

I showed the others the recording. Officer Keen ordered everyone to use a buddy system and stay away from the water. I don't blame him. I've stuck close to Bunny ever since. I don't...want anything to happen to her...

*whispered* Love you, Bunny.

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(Day 17): A couple hours, and we'll all be out of here. I...you know, I'm ready to go. This planet has its beauty, but there's still so much mystery to it too. Scary mysteries. I mean, I was poking around some of the caves earlier and I found an alien...archway? Who knows what that was for. But, I - I may be a star explorer, but I think this has taught me there are things left better off unexplored. Levallia, out. 

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