In the South Pacific ocean is the middle of nowhere. It is thousands of kilometers from the nearest point of human contact. Officially, it’s called the Oceanic Pole Of Inaccessibility, but most know it as Point Nemo- a word that means "nobody".

Before getting into the titanium body of the submersible, Scarlet takes a moment to take in the scene around them. Nobody is right, they think as they see the ocean stretch into an endless horizon. Above them, a gray and cloudy sky stretches on. No fish move around in the depths below as Point Nemo is scarce in nutrients for life. In any other universe, it'd be peaceful, quiet, the ultimate escape from civilization. But in this universe, there's a sound so loud that everyone on the deck of the Explorer wears ear protection. It comes from the giant rip in Earth's crust, where water rushes in like a waterfall. Water rushes into this fracture- the Fracture- with reckless abandon.

And so does space junk.

Point Nemo is popular with NASA and other space agencies. Anytime they need to send something back to Earth, Nemo is the destination. Most of it burns up on re-entry, but some parts sink into the over four thousand kilometer depths. And since the Fracture is currently taking in the ocean's water, sometimes Scarlet spots pieces of the aforementioned space junk. Just as they slip into the body of Nemo Explorer- as the submersible is named- a piece of giant metal with a US flag on the side of it drifts by. Scarlet notices the worry on the face of the captain of Explorer but doesn't bother to remind him that the ship is too far to be drawn into the Fracture. No, only Scarlet will be dropped down there. Well, more accurately- pulled down there. Dr. Almeida gave them the run down of how Nemo Explorer was going to enter this break in reality, on the near five hour ship ride here.

"I'm going to get dragged into the Fracture?"

"Gravity is rather odd around it, Dr. Rosewood. Yes, you're going to fall into the Fracture, but you'll end up underwater within minutes. It's the only way we've been able to get anything into it. When we tried dropping equipment into the Fracture itself, it was like the Fracture rejected it. The only way to get in is to be literally pulled by the ocean flowing into it."

"What's the fall going to feel like?"

"The team said it felt like a roller coaster."

"Oh great, I'm going to hate it."

"I'm-"

"Don't apologize Almeida, you don't mean it."

With one last look at the sky above, Scarlet goes in.

Inside Nemo Explorer is two rooms separated by a steel wall with a door frame. The so-called "pilot deck" is where Scarlet enters into. It's a small space with a windshield looking out and a console. On the console are various screens showing multiple pieces of needed information and a plenty of buttons that go to different controls. Built into the console is the steering mechanism. And in front of that is the padded chair Scarlet will sit in when navigating Nemo Explorer. After turning on the equipment and running what checks need to be done, the lone scientist goes in the main room. It's big enough to hold a desk, a couple of kitchen cabinets, a counter top, and two storage cabinets, one of which holds the DSPRT MK I. The walls are painted a light gray, and in the florescent lights built into the ceiling they almost look white. On one wall is a recessed space big enough for a twin bed. Within this sleeping space, Scarlet spots a couple of shelves. They doubt they'll use them.

They exits the submersible for a brief moment to tell the captain they're ready to launch in five then goes back in, ignoring the sky above and the ill omen it brings.

In the pilot seat, they imagine there is not a titanium hull above their head, but the night sky. Somewhere four hundred and twenty some kilometers above them, the ISS glides along the low orbit of planet Earth. It's path doesn't typically take it over Nemo, but it comes close enough, Scarlet supposes. On the submersible they sit in, ready to be dropped into the depths, Scarlet taps their earpiece. There's a burst of static. The astrophysicist cringes, tempted to throw the thing against a wall.

"Dr. Almeida?"

- Question for the oracle: does Dr. Almeida answer or does the submersible drop before that happens? 

  - Oracle: 2d6, 2-6 is no, 7-12 is yes 

  - Result: 3, no

As the submersible begins to sink, there's a burst of static. Scarlet growls and says, "tell the ISS crew I said hello." Then, they yank the earpiece away from their body and throw it against a wall.

"Why Almeida thought we'd be able to communicate near the Fracture is beyond me," Scarlet mumbles. Outside the windshield the hull of the S.S Explorer vanishes beneath the waterline of the South Pacific.

Nervous energy permeates their entire being. Nemo Explorer glides through the water and Scarlet relaxes, breathing in and out. The nerves are replaced with the familiar excitement driven by scientific conquest. It's an undeniable feeling. It is the time of getting answers even if the risk is great. But soon the feeling is replaced with the sensation of- as Dr. Almeida had told them- a roller coaster. Instead of screaming, the astrophysicist closes their eyes and starts to name stars. They name six stars that start with the letter A and open their eyes. Within them, the feeling of rapid downward movement is gone. How long has it been? Looking at the time on a nearby screen, it's been ten minutes since launch, but only a few since they started falling. Beyond the windshield is the vast darkness of the ocean. Scarlet flicks a switch and it's broken by headlights. So far, there is no movement- but there is a glow beyond that of the water reflecting the lights. It is green in color. They chose to ignore it and the anxiety building within them.

"Alright, time to navigate. Recorder, you on?"

Recorder activation confirmed; hello Dr. Rosewood. Record log?

"Record log."

Recording starting in three, two, one.

"Dr. Rosewood speaking from the Point Nemo submersible, Nemo Explorer. Time is two PM UTC, ten AM EST. At zero kilometers and descending downward into the Fracture. There is a cavern that I am aiming for. The previous expedition sent notes that this cavern seems to lead even further downward, perhaps even to the lower levels of the Fracture. Goal is to anchor Nemo Explorer to the entrance of said cavern and descend further. By calculations of someone that wasn't me, it's going to take ten hours to reach this cavern. By my calculations it's going to take closer to eleven. I'm going to sleep for about eight hours of that if I can, since I was awoken at two AM EST, six AM UTC and could not obtain rest on board the origin ship. Energy conservation is important, so a full night's sleep should satisfy the goal of using as little oxygen and other resources as possible. I was able to bring a weighted blanket and a plushie I've had since I was seven. Let's hope both things make it back to the surface. Rosewood out. Recording stop. Save log to local storage. Upload to cloud ASAP."

Log recorded, saving to local storage. Saved. Uploading to cloud now. Uploaded.

- Oracle: Fracture Opening  

  - d12 roll, result: 5, earthquake  

• Question: How long into Scarlet's sleep does this happen?
  • d8 roll: 1
• (My dice think sleep is for the weak, apparently)

  They climb the ladder and slip into the recessed sleeping space. After fluffing the pillow, Scarlet closes the privacy door and turns their back to what little light comes in through its cracks. Curled up with their weighted blanket and a twenty year old stuffed rabbit, Scarlet is asleep within seconds.

  In sleep, time passes faster. And in the Fracture, time passes with rapid indiscretion between one sleep bliss sigh and the next. The Fracture shifts its attention.

  And the reality of it responds.

  This UFO entering my depths has not gone unnoticed.

  Sixty minutes into their descent into the Fracture Opening, Scarlet is woken by the feeling of the submersible shaking. Before they can move, their body is thrown against the privacy door. Spewing unintelligible cuss words, Scarlet opens the door and scrambles from the bed. Their weighted blanket slides out of the bunk, falling to the floor with a loud thunk.

  "Robot, status. What's going on?"

  As Scarlet runs in socked feet to the pilot's seat, the robot answers. Seismic activity of unknown origin. I believe the ocean-

  "Yeah don't care what you believe. How long has it been?"

  One hour, five minutes, and-

  Nemo Explorer is underwater yet Scarlet feels like they're being thrown around in an earthquake measuring on the middle of the Richter scale. They attempt to get a hold of the sub, to try and battle the forces pushing against it.

  - Move: Avoid
  
  EVADE + DASH
  RESULT: GOOD 
  
  

• (I should buy a lottery ticket with how good that went.)

  Out of nowhere, something slams into the submersible. The green glow they'd been ignoring before flares around the outside of the ship. Scarlet grabs the sides of the chair they're in. On the console, the radar is picking up nothing. But the monitor for the oceanic conditions is sending alerts about-

  "Waves? There’s no way that’s How is that-"

  Scarlet doesn't get to finish that sentence as another such wave hits the titanium body of Nemo Explorer. It's sent careening into darkness as the lights flicker. They grip the steering mechanism and gain control back into the sub's favor. Nemo Explorer dodges another waves. Soon, the shaking ends. The monitors go quiet.

  The Fracture does not like this thing fighting it, but it will allow it, for now.

  Scarlet breathes a sigh of relief and slips back into the main room. They lift their blanket up off the floor and look up at the ceiling.

  "Robot, wake me up if anything else unusual happens."

  Define unusual.

  Scarlet pauses with their blanket in hand. "Good catch. Anything that would lead to me not seeing the sky again."

  Understood.

  “Cool. Dim the lights and wake me in six hours."

  Confirmed.

  The lights dim and Scarlet is once again asleep within seconds of slipping under their blanket.

  - ANOMALY CLUE 

• D66
• Result: 11

  ---

  Pandion Games has no affiliation with Stories In Silver or this playthrough. Rules of the game are paraphrased to protect IP and creative works of the creators and writers. Want to check out Substratum Protocol? Find it on Pandion Games’ website.