Chapter 9 Part II

He put the boys on the boat, started the engines and soon they were setting sail.

<<You have to wear these>> the captain told them, handing them some diving suits.

They were black in graphene fiber and covered the wearer from the top of the hair to the tip of the toes, leaving only the eyes free, protected by a layer of tempered glass integrated into the wetsuit. Furthermore, unlike the old models, they did not require oxygen cylinders. oxygen because thanks to graphene the suit was able to autonomously transform sea water into oxygen so it was possible to remain submerged for long periods of time.

In addition to this, their resistance and elasticity above the norm made them perfect for resisting the strong pressure that one suffered when diving to reach the seabed, in fact they were one of the pride of the Agency.

<< Have you ever done this before? I mean diving in it >> the elderly captain asked them while the boys were putting on their respective wetsuits;

<<It's the first time for everyone>> Alice replied;

<<That's right>> Leonardo confirmed.

<< So I'll give you some advice: when you are at sea you must not lose your peace of mind because otherwise you will panic and it will be worse for you, always remember that the wetsuit will provide you with all the oxygen you need while canned food will The interior of Aquarius is more than enough, so your watchword must be relaxation.

Please, keep this in mind >> the captain recommended.

Fantizzoni was very worried by the fact that in the group there wasn't even a member with previous experience in diving into the sea, however he couldn't do anything about it, his job was to lead them up to the laboratory and then unload them.

When they arrived the man stopped the boat and dropped anchor and then I looked at those boys one last time, scared of the size and vastness of the sea.

<< Here we are, at the end you will find the Aquarius. Now you have to dive in >> he urged them.

The first to go was Chiara followed closely by all the others, they were in one of the deepest points in the entire Mediterranean Sea and they had to go down with great caution, doing it too quickly could have caused them great physical damage.

The only knowledge they could rely on were the theory manuals studied previously, obviously the practice was very different however knowing the basic notions can help when you have no experience in the field.

The boys communicated with each other via a particular sensor integrated into the suits which had been tuned to a special frequency which bounced off the buoys on the surface allowing the divers to speak to each other as if they were in radio connection.

The water was clear and clean, this allowed the boys to do a very peaceful dive, pushed from behind by a light current which allowed them to reach the seabed more easily, surrounded by schools of fish of every color that were dodging each other. their passage even though the most fearful were the five cadets.

<< Look over there, here's Aquarius >> said Alice, indicating with her hand a fairly large quadrangular structure that stood out before their eyes;

<< Let's go towards the entrance door >> said Leonardo.

Swimming nimbly they reached the bottom of the sea and before entering the underwater building they watched the fish above their heads move in all directions, it was a truly magnificent sight that they could have contemplated even from inside Aquarius.

Externally the laboratory had the shape of a trident and was built entirely of ultra-resistant glass strengthened with diamond dust capable of resisting the pressure present at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, this allowed those inside to see everything that was happening on the seabed.

Once you entered through the entrance door you passed through a depressurization chamber after which you entered the actual laboratory consisting of the cabins for the station members, a common room where all the equipment necessary to carry out the various missions and a storage room were located. where food and water were kept.

To top it all off there was a room for communications with the outside world which was used to speak with the colonel's surface station if they had particular needs or wanted to declare surrender.

When the boys arrived in front of the entrance door they found themselves faced with the first difficulty of the mission: to enter Aquarius they had to enter a particular code hidden among the corals surrounding the laboratory.

<< Let's split into two groups and start looking >> proposed Alice.

She, Leonardo and Chiara headed towards a purple-red coral reef while Lucia and Orlando searched under the base of the station but both teams ended in failure.

<<There's nothing here>> Chiara said to her friends;

<< Where could the code be? >> Orlando wondered;

<< We must remember the recommendations of the captain of the ship: when we are underwater we must not panic so we remain calm and think >> said Lucia, fearing that things would overheat.

No one could think of a plausible solution, luckily for them the suits were capable of producing oxygen infinitely so they didn't have to worry about it however they couldn't stay underwater for too long.

<< Do you have any ideas? >> Orlando asked but his friends shook their heads in denial.

The situation was becoming more and more complicated and a certain nervousness began to build in the group when Leonardo was struck by an intuition to resolve the impasse.

<< I believe that the code to open the hatch is represented by the arrangement of the corals on the seabed. If we think about it for a moment the warning says that the code is hidden among the corals so it could be their own arrangement >> he proposed.

With a push of his kidneys he went up a few meters and observing them from above he noticed that the corals formed a sort of pattern but he couldn't interpret it.

When he was joined by his friends they too saw his particular disposition however only Alice understood what it was.

<< It's the Fibonacci sequence, do you know the diagram with which it is represented? If you notice, it's the same. I understood what the code is >> he said returning to the seabed.

He entered one after the other the first eight numbers that could be derived from the pyramid scheme of the Fibonacci sequence and finally the door opened.

One after the other they entered, depressurizing themselves, after which they were able to access the interior of the laboratory where they took off their wetsuits in favor of the more comfortable uniforms that awaited them in their respective bedrooms.

When they had settled in they were summoned to the common room where there was also a red velvet sofa and a large interactive island equipped with a hologram projector from which the very satisfied face of the colonel appeared who wanted to congratulate them.

<< Welcome to the Aquarius laboratory conceived and designed by myself and Prescotti, first of all congratulations for having guessed what the access code was, I can guarantee you that few have succeeded but this is only the first step.

A long month awaits you during which you will have to carry out various missions inside but above all outside the laboratory, however there will be time for this, for today your task will be to become familiar with all the environments and instruments of Aquarius, tomorrow you will start the first missions >> explained the woman, disconnecting immediately afterwards;

<<How many compliments, in my opinion she was too kind>> said Leonardo;

<<You're too prejudiced towards him, he just scolded you for arriving late, nothing more>> Alice replied sitting on the sofa;

<< Come and see how much goodness there is in the pantry, food won't be a problem >> Orlando began, opening the cupboard;

<<Put your paws down, it's not the time to start stuffing yourself, let's think about how organize our workloads>> proposed Chiara;

<< If we were forced to split up, I would say to repeat the same scheme as Etna with Leonardo, Chiara and Lucia in advance while Alice and I will remain inside Aquarius to guide you in the exploration >> Orlando proposed;

"I'm in," Chiara promptly replied.

At the bottom of the sea it was difficult to distinguish day from night but the depth at which they found themselves was not that great therefore the boys were able to see the sun's rays and when these disappeared it became pitch dark but automatically the lights inside the laboratory that allowed those inside to see outside but not the other way around, a solution adopted to prevent artificial lights from attracting large fish.

<<Now what do we do?>> Leonardo asked after consuming his portion of canned soup seasoned with dried meat;

<< We should go and rest, the colonel said he would warn us when a mission would start but it could be a nocturnal simulation, in fact I'm willing to bet on it so it's better to be fresh >> Chiara reflected as she greeted the company and headed to her room;

<< I agree with you >> Alice replied, following her closely.

One by one the boys headed to their cabins with the exception of Leonardo who remained on the sofa enjoying that magnificent underwater spectacle, he would hardly see it again and even the solar system would not be able to replicate it.

When he was alone, as in that circumstance, his thoughts constantly went to his parents, then he remembered all the tests he had overcome so far and the fears he had successfully faced, such as that of flying, realizing that he had come a long way.

<<You would be proud of me>> he said to himself, sighing.

The night passed very quickly and the colonel did not interfere with the boys' rest but the following morning, at dawn, a sort of siren went off which threw them out of bed and rushed them into the common room where the hologram of the officer's face was waiting for them to give him the instructions for the first mission.

<< Good morning to you, I hope you have rested well because we are starting to get serious so pay close attention to my words, today your first official mission in Aquarius begins which consists of recovering some precious objects inside a 15th century ship sunk off the coast of Lampedusa.

Your objective is to bring the treasures contained in the ship back to Aquarius and to do so you will have three days from now. Furthermore, you will shortly be provided with the coordinates to find the boat, given that the sea is very wide we have decided to give you this little help but nothing more.

At the end of the three days I will connect with you to see what you have recovered from the wreck, the more treasures you take the greater the chance that you will be able to successfully pass the test so give it a go.

Having said that, I wish you good luck! Don't disappoint me>> said the woman, suddenly closing the connection, causing another hologram to appear instead of her face, depicting the seabed with a red dot indicating the location of the wreck.

<< I would say to follow the plan established last night with three of us scouting ahead and two leading the explorers, what do you think? >> Orlando asked;

<<It's fine for me>> Chiara replied receiving the assent of the other members of the group;

<< So let's hurry, the first test has already started >> Leonardo cut short and couldn't wait to test himself again.

Leonardo, Chiara and Lucia quickly put on their respective wetsuits equipped with a "body cam" placed to the left of the right eye which transmitted all the images it took directly to the laboratory.

<<We're going, please guide us carefully and warn if there are any dangers ahead>> Lucia said, looking above all at Orlando;

<<We will be your ears and eyes>> Alice reassured them.

The three went to the depressurization chamber and shortly afterwards found themselves submerged on the seabed again.

The wreck was not very far from Aquarius, it was an old sunken ship which according to legend had belonged to one of the richest Arab princes ever, it was carrying gold and rubies at the time of its sinking following a sudden storm which it had taken the crew by surprise.

<<Proceed north as you are doing, at the moment all is clear>> Orlando announced while his friends advanced swimming among the schools of fish.

There were them of all types and colors but, intimidated by the arrival of those strangers, they quickly moved away, swimming in all directions to avoid them.

<< Very well, carry on like this, you should see the ship soon >> Alice announced.

A few meters away the wreck appeared, a large wooden vessel on whose bow was depicted a mermaid with her hands clasped on her chest while the hull was firmly stranded on the seabed, completely surrounded by algae.

The main mast still stood tall despite showing all the wear and tear of time, but on the sides of the ship some quadrangular hatches could be seen from which the crew released the cannons in the event of an attack.

<< Ok you're here, approach with caution and once you reach the deck look for the entrance to the hold, that's where they kept the treasures >> Alice announced;

<< Okay received >> Lucia replied.

The three divers advanced feverishly in the sand and when they were close to the wreck, with a push of their backs they began to climb up it until they found themselves on the deck.

Leonardo indicated to his companions to go to the left where a fine wooden door with well-decorated glass still showed some signs of its past glory.

<<It must be from here that you access the hold>> said Lucia.

Leonardo was the first to enter followed closely by the two girls but the further they advanced the more they were hit by that ghostly atmosphere typical of all sunken ships, however Lucia noticed a significant detail.

<< Where are the skeletons of the crew? In theory the bones should be here but there is nothing >> he said to his friends starting to worry;

<<We will meet them soon>> Alice replied to reassure her.

<< Maybe the current took them away>> added Leonardo who had noticed that detail and yet didn't really want to think about it;

<< Now go down until you find yourself in front of a large brass door, open it and you will be in the belly of the ship then reach the hold where the ship's safe is located, at least according to the instructions provided by the colonel >> Orlando communicated.

The tension was increasingly palpable both in those who remained in Aquarius and in those who were in action on the field, in any case they could do nothing but move forward so the three followed their friend's instructions to the letter, going down another level and finding themselves in front of a very thick brass door.

<< You're there, now open it but be careful, if you force your hand too much the ship could suffer and collapse on you, that wood has been on the bottom of the sea for centuries so I think it's very fragile so maximum caution >> suggested Alice from the laboratory.

To open the door you had to push to the left a knob identical to the rudder of the boat so first Leonardo tried alone but with little success then it was Alice and Lucia's turn finally all three jointly tried to move it but to no avail, the knob he didn't want to move.

<< Damn it's blocked, maybe there's some algae holding it back >> said Leonardo.

He tried to push it with his shoulders but to no avail, it seemed to be made of granite, in fact the only result he achieved was to make the vessel tremble dangerously which rocked left and right causing some of the floorboards above to collapse.

<<You have to go slowly>> said Alice, seeing a lot of sawdust falling on her friends;

<< This door won't go anywhere if we don't use force but then we risk making the ship go down so what do we do? >> asked Leonardo;

<< Try to check if there is any crack in the external part of the vessel through which we can enter, by now it is clear that from this door we will not even get a spider out of the hole >> stated Lucia speaking with the friends who remained in Aquarius.

Orlando panned the vessel and his hologram showed there was a small hole on the outside of the hull right next to the safe room.

<< Excellent intuition my love, get out of there and try to reach the lower part of the ship, at a certain point you should come across a hole that should lead you into the hold however it is not very big, at most you can enter one at a time >> said Orlando .

Leonardo signaled the girls to get back on, so they exited the belly of the vessel, swimming slowly so as not to cause further shocks to the hull, finding themselves back on the deck, from there they went down to the seabed and started looking for the hole Orlando was talking about.

Considering that the safe room was located in the depths of the ship, the hole in question could not have been very far from the seabed, in fact Lucia was the first to identify it and ironically, it corresponded precisely to the heart of the mermaid carved on the bow.

<< I found it ! >> exclaimed the girl as she was joined by her friends.

As they could see, it was really small and only an extremely thin person could have entered it, in fact Leonardo, who was the first to try, failed.

<< I can't do it, damn it! >> he shouted;

<< Let me try >> replied Lucia, the thinnest of the team.

The hole seemed to be made especially for her, in fact it fit her like a glove so much so that she slipped through it with extreme ease when entering the hold.

<<Turn on the torch top of suit>> Alice urged her, noting that that room was very dark.

As soon as the girl followed his advice she saw a sea of skeletons in front of her, she had found the answer to the question of where the remains of the crew had ended up.

She let out a scream that rang in the ears of everyone else, making Orlando jump in fear and he was about to rush out to save her and only Alice's intervention managed to stop him by pointing out that they were simple skeletons.

<< Are you okay? >> Leonardo asked her;

<< Everything's fine and sorry for the scream but I'm in the crew cemetery and I also understood why the door doesn't open from the outside, they blocked it from the inside >> he replied;

<< Can you move it? Maybe we can join you by going around again >> Leonardo asked her, anxious to enter the room;

<< Negative, I'm sorry, they used large wooden planks and nailed them to the walls, I don't have the strength to remove them >> Lucia replied;

<<Can you see if the treasure is there? From information we have it should be there somewhere>> Alice suggested from the laboratory.

Lucia looked around but there was neither gold nor rubies nor any other object comparable to the definition of treasure.

<< I don't see anything here, are you sure you showed us the right room? >> he asked referring to the friends who remained in Aquarius;

<< The holographic map in our possession says that you are right inside the hold of the ship so yes, we are sure of it >> Alice replied.

She and Orlando checked the holographic map several times but they hadn't made any mistakes, their friend was in the right room.

While the boys tried to solve that riddle, from the surface Colonel Tariconi was carefully watching them, examining their every move.

Behind her, a young girl was acting as her assistant, she was very tall and slender with long blond hair and pale blue eyes surrounded by a galaxy of freckles, she was wearing a white coat with which she covered black dungarees over a white shirt and orange sneakers.

<< Do you think they will be able to discover the secret of the ship? >> he asked his superior with that typical look between worried and dismayed usually used by nuns who provide aid to the sick in hospital;

<< They understood the secret to enter the laboratory so they should be able to reveal the mystery >> the colonel replied;

<<What if they don't succeed? Maybe I exaggerated with the complexity of test>> said the young woman;

<< Listen to me carefully Paola, when they are in space they will have to face much more dangerous situations so stop worrying about them and let's enjoy the show >> Tariconi retorted impatiently.

Paola was a genius at puzzles and from an early age she enjoyed formulating increasingly complex ones, a characteristic that attracted the Agency's attention and the reason why she was hired at the age of 18.

<< You're right Colonel, sometimes I'm too anxious >> she noted, adjusting her blue glasses on her button nose.

Meanwhile, the boys diving didn't know where to turn to find the treasure. On the one hand, Alice and Orlando repeated that that was the exact room while Leonardo in particular maintained the opposite.

<<The treasure isn't there, if you were right Lucia would have found it>> he repeated impatiently;

<< We're telling you that we're not wrong, that's the hold, how do we have to tell you again? >> Alice replied;

<< Let's keep calm, arguing is of no use, rather let's think of a way to get out of this mess >> Lucia replied but no one could think of an idea.

<< Try to do an online search and look for information on the ship, see what it was really carrying, maybe the treasure we are looking for is not something conventional but something else >> proposed Chiara;

<< Wait on the line >> Orlando replied.

Luckily for them, the laboratory was equipped with an autonomous connection to the metaverse used by scientists to search for information on new species of fish or corals they found during their stays in Aquarius.

<<We don't even know what the ship's name is>> said Alice;

<< Let's type something like "ancient shipwreck near Lampedusa" or similar >> Orlando replied in a rather hasty tone.

They set to work but got no results, without knowing the name of the ship it was impossible to do an accurate search.

Meanwhile Lucia continued to swim inside the room among the skulls and bones of the ship's crew, noticing that their uniforms had remained intact, immaculate while everything else had been deteriorated by the sea water.

The reasons that led to doubts were mainly two:

1. The crew of a ship could not wear such sumptuous uniforms;

2. Those clothes had remained there for centuries and should have been ruined, but instead they were still perfect, they looked like they had just come out of a haute couture shop.

<< Without the name of the ship the metaverse is useless >> Alice communicated;

<< Leave the metaverse alone, rather I would like Chiara to come in here with me for a moment >> Lucia said, calling her friend to her.

In one of the conversations we had at "Atlantide" in the previous days, the girl had revealed to her friends that she had a great passion for sewing and everything related to textiles and its history in general so she was the perfect person to give an opinion on uniforms.

<<I'm coming>> said Chiara, slipping into the hole, fitting in perfectly;

<<From today Leonardo is going on a diet>> Orlando jokingly said.

When she was inside the ship Lucia showed her one of the jackets, taking it off her skeleton and Chiara was also surprised.

<< The sea water should have corroded them but instead they are immaculate but how is this possible? I don't think they had such technology at the time >> she noted in amazement;

<< There are many of various colors and nature, from blue to orange, from red to black, you're spoiled for choice >> Lucia pointed out, avoiding the skeletons whose bones were piled up everywhere parts.

<< I don't know how to explain it, I would say take one and take it to the laboratory to have it analyzed. Based on the results we will know the truth but now it's time to return, we have been diving for too many hours >> Chiara ordered.

She grabbed a purple-red uniform and threw it through the hole, after which first she and then Lucia came out of the treasure room, retrieved the jacket and signaled to Leonardo that the time had come to return to the base but they hadn't taken into account some great white sharks that they seemed attracted to them.

As soon as they saw them they rushed at the boys, attacking them with a heat and anger that was unusual even for such a predator considering the fact that man does not represent its natural prey and yet in that circumstance they seemed to want to tear them to pieces.

Each cadet was equipped with a small steel knife that divers usually wear attached to their ankle but the sharks gave them no respite, there were three of them, one for each member of the team.

<< Leave me alone, you beast! >> exclaimed Leonardo waving the knife in the water;

<< You better run away while you still have time, I don't want to hurt you but you'll get them if you keep threatening me! >> Chiara shouted, threatening her attacker.

The most in difficulty was certainly Lucia who, not realizing the danger, was bitten on the same arm with which she was carrying the jacket taken from the ship while her wetsuit began to shred under the fury of the animal's bite.

< Love, no! >> Orlando shouted from the control cabin seeing his girlfriend victim of the jaws of the beast.

She was forced to let go of the uniform and as if by magic, as soon as the jacket moved away from them carried by the sea current, the sharks also disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.

<< Are you okay? >> Leonardo asked reaching Lucia;

<< I think so, luckily the graphene wetsuit withstood the blow but my arm hurts >> he replied and almost burst into tears from the pain;

<< Come back here immediately! >> Orlando howled.

Leonardo and Chiara grabbed Lucia and, albeit slowly so as not to make her too tired, they returned to the laboratory where Alice and Orlando were worriedly waiting for them.

After completing the depressurization Lucia was taken to the infirmary room where her friends checked the condition of her arm, luckily the graphene wetsuit had cushioned the shark's bite however her shoulder seemed to have come off.

<< I don't think there are fractures or bruises but I have to put it back in so get ready, this will hurt >> Chiara urged her, pushing her collarbone up;

<< How do you feel my love? >> Orlando asked her;

<< I'm fine but I need to lie down >> Lucia replied limping.

After leading her to her room, closing the door so as not to disturb her, the rest of the team gathered in the central room to take stock of the situation and decide on the next moves.

<< From what I could see, I would say that the graphene wetsuit saved the life of our friend who only suffered a few bruises while the shoulder problem is resolved but she will have to rest for a while.

Having said that, I had the clear impression that the sharks were interested in the jacket and not in us, or am I wrong? >> said Chiara;

<< I agree with you, there must be something on those clothes that attracts them so ferociously, also have you seen how well preserved they are? Centuries at the bottom of the sea and yet immaculate, something doesn't add up >> added Leonardo;

<< They could be the treasure we are looking for >> proposed Orlando;

<< I don't think so but even if I were right, how do we get them here? If uniforms attract sharks every time they leave the treasure room then we have no chance of success, if you haven't noticed they would have mauled us if Lucia hadn't dropped that stupid jacket >> Leonardo retorted.

He had been very shaken by the clash he had with those animals and unfortunately it was a large white shark that attacked him, the largest predatory fish on the planet as well as the third largest overall after the whale shark and the basking shark, in hand to hand the boys had no chance of victory.

The white shark belongs to a massive species although of variable size with a conical snout slightly rounded in the lower part, dark and round eyes, without a nictitating membrane and with five gill slits that pump water only if it is moving.

The first dorsal fin is large and sickle-shaped, it begins at the level of the posterior end of the pectoral fins, which are also sickle-shaped, while the second dorsal fin begins at the level of the anal fin and both are small in size while all the fins are spineless.

The caudal fin is large and shaped like a symmetrical crescent even if in reality the upper part is slightly longer than the lower one, however the caudal peduncle is depressed in a dorsal-ventral direction so as to form two large keels on the sides.

The white shark's mouth is equipped with various rows of teeth: triangular and serrated on the upper arch to chop up the prey, long and pointed on the lower one to stab and hold the prey in place with teeth that can reach up to 7.5 cm of length.

The color is white in the lower part of the body while in the upper part it has shades varying from gray to blue, sometimes slate with the line of separation between the two colors clear and jagged but thanks to this double color its visibility is reduced because it appears dark when viewed from above and light when viewed against the light.

Its skin is covered with sharp dermal teeth that measure from a tenth of a millimeter to 1 cm, are made up of dentine covered with enamel and have as their main function that of making water flow along its body in a highly hydrodynamic way.

The specimens that appeared to be guarding the vessel were about 5 meters long and weighed around a ton so they were females.

<<We absolutely must find a way to bring at least one of those jackets Aquarius, examine it and understand what is>> said Alice;

<< I don't want to repeat myself but how do we avoid sharks? It seems they have a fatal attraction for those jackets >> said Leonardo;

<< We need a distraction, something that will divert their attention long enough to allow us to get the uniforms without attracting attention >> Orlando proposed;

<< What do we invent?! >> Chiara asked;

<< The first question to ask is why they are attracted to jackets, what could be so special about them that makes them become so aggressive? >> Alice asked.

They thought about it the rest of the day but couldn't think of anything that would make a great white shark want a centuries-old jacket.

They remained sitting on the sofa thinking and thinking and thinking some more but despite racking their brains they didn't arrive at a solution.

<< Enough, I give up, I'm going to sleep. Tomorrow at dawn we'll meet here and take stock of the situation >> Orlando began, going to his cabin after realizing that Lucia was still sleeping.

<< I'm following him too, we've done enough for today >> said Leonardo, getting up from the sofa.

Chiara and Alice remained alone to contemplate the spectacle of the Mediterranean Sea, looking at it from a privileged perspective.

<<When I saw you in the jaws of that shark, feared worst>> began Alice, whose heart had stopped during the animal's attack on her girlfriend;

<<If you were scared I was scared, they have gigantic mouths>> Chiara replied bursting out laughing;

<<What are you happy about, exactly?>> Alice asked her;

<< I'm grateful to be still alive, that's all. When the shark grabbed me I thought I would die but instead I'm here talking to you, if Lucia hadn't dropped her jacket I can't imagine what would have happened, maybe they would have torn us to pieces without thinking twice >> he explained to her, changing his laughter in a liberating cry.

Alice hugged her tightly then kissed her on the lips, even though they had been dating for a long time, for the first time he seriously feared losing her.

<< Maybe tomorrow morning I will go on a mission with you so I want you to listen to me very carefully: if something happens to us you have to run away without thinking about me, do we understand each other? I couldn't bear to know the cause of your... >> Alice said without being able to complete the sentence.

<<We will do it together, as usual>> Chiara replied in tears, putting a hand over her mouth to silence her;

"I love you," Alice replied, her face blushing;

<< I love you too >> Chiara replied.

They stayed on the sofa all night and the next morning when their friends woke up they found them hugging each other like ivy around an abandoned house.

<< They are so cute, I'm sorry to wake them up >> said Leonardo.

It was up to Orlando to bring them back to reality and when they were all together, Lucia spoke up reassuring the rest of the team about their health conditions.

<< I wanted to thank you for your concern but I'm fine, I just have a little pain in my shoulder >> he said smiling, showing off a reassuring expression;

<<We are pleased, we now a family and must behave as such>> Alice replied giving her a caress on the cheek;

<< Having said that, let's move on to the action plan for today, we have to find a way to bring a jacket here to examine it >> Chiara began;

<<Yesterday I had the opportunity to think about what happened so was wondering: if we can't bring a uniform laboratory perhaps can Aquarius from uniforms.< p>

We could take the equipment, make it waterproof and carry out the necessary tests in the hold of the ship. Besides, the hole is too small and the sharks wouldn't fit through.

In this way those beasts won't be able to attack us and we can carry out our analyzes in peace, without having to watch our backs >> Lucia proposed, still in pain;

<< Is that a solution or we could take a sample of a uniform, a piece of fabric large enough to allow us to examine it but not so large as to attract the attention of the sharks >> Leonardo retorted;

<< The problem is that we don't know why they want the jackets, what if we took just one sample but they were attracted by the smell? We would be in trouble again >> Alice replied;

<< What do we do if the equipment does not fit into the hole of the ship? >> Leonardo replied.

They had reached a stalemate in which each proposal had weak and strong points, however there was not much time left before the conclusion of the test, they only had two days available so they had to make a decision quickly.

<< I would say let's put it to a vote: raise your hand if you are in favor of transporting the equipment to the ship >> said Chiara.

Orlando and Lucia raised their arms but no one else did.

<< Who is in favor of Leonardo's proposal? >> the girl asked once again.

Leonardo and Alice raised their hands but they were the only two so they were tied again and Chiara's vote would have been decisive.

<<It seems it's your turn to decide>> Orlando told her and seeing how Alice had voted she was afraid to know what she would have chosen.

<< We have to bring the jacket here to the laboratory, there are no alternatives because moving the equipment would be too dangerous and we have neither the strength nor the materials to make them waterproof, furthermore I found a way to distract the sharks >> Chiara concluded, grabbing a bag with a pre-cooked rare steak;

<<Do you want to use that push them away? Are sure it will work?>> Orlando asked her;

<<It's our only solution>> replied the girl;

<< I agree, moving the equipment would take too much time and effort so we will do as Chiara says >> Lucia began by changing her vote;

<< I would say to organize ourselves in the following way: the four of us will go out on a mission while Lucia will stay here to guide us >> Orlando proposed, receiving the agreement of the others.

They quickly put on their wetsuits, keeping their diving knives handy in case the sharks showed up, and then set off for the vessel.

Once they reached the wreck they circumnavigated it arriving at the hole into which Chiara and Alice slipped easily and found themselves once again in the treasure room of the ship.

<< So many skeletons, they're really scary >> Alice began, grabbing a red jacket;

<< Let's hurry up >> Chiara resumed.

Outside the ship Leonardo and Orlando looked nervously around, paying attention to everything that moved, fearing the arrival of the sharks.

As soon as the girls emerged from the wreck the four swam in the direction of the laboratory but the sharks revealed themselves exactly like the day before only this time they were expecting such an attack and were ready to defend themselves.

<< Guys behind you, those damned ones are coming >> Lucia from Aquarius warned them;

<<When they are clearly visible, throw the steaks at him, please don't hesitate>> said Chiara, turning to Orlando and Leonardo.

The sharks approached with great speed, they were now within a stone's throw so that they could distinguish their sharp teeth, at which point the two boys took the steaks out of their vacuum bags and threw them at them, hoping that the smell of the meat combined with that of the blood would divert them away from them.

At first the animals did not seem interested in the meat but only wanted the jacket, however when the smell of blood spread in the water they were disoriented as if they had taken a blow on the head.

<< It's working, get out of there immediately! >> Lucia shouted.

The four swam towards Aquarius as fast as they could and when they reached the laboratory they slipped inside to safety.

<< We did it! >> Orlando shouted, drunk with joy, kissing Chiara on the lips;

<< Have you gone crazy?! >> Lucia took it back;

<<Sorry, but I was pissing myself off, when saw those enormous things thought the worst here we are, safe and sound>> he justified himself.

<<Now let's hurry and examine the jacket see what secrets it hides>> said Leonardo with his hands still trembling with fear.

The memory of the previous clash with the sharks in which, caught by surprise, they were about to lose their lives was still alive in him.

They took the garment and subjected it to the following tests:

1. The magnifying glass up to 10 times larger, i.e. a simple lens useful for studying the patina and surface of an object, allowing you to evaluate the thickness of the pigments and other characteristics of the fabric;

2. The microscope up to 200 magnifications, that is, with the microscope it was possible to delve deeper into the results obtained with the simple lens;

3. IR spectrography has been used for decades on an industrial scale for chemical analyzes as the spectrographic measurement of age is not influenced by the place of origin of the tissue nor by climatic factors suffered by the object over the centuries.

The accuracy of the method varies from 10 to 20 years depending on the type of tissue and its age;

3. The 14C Radiocarbon Method, hailed upon its appearance as a miraculous weapon for the absolute and safe dating of ancient objects, allows the age of organic materials that contain carbon such as wood, fabrics, hair, ivory, coal, coral, leather to be measured and more.

The method is based on the following scientific theories: in the Earth's atmosphere carbon has three isotopes: 12C, 13C and 14C, only the latter is radioactive and therefore unstable and measurable.

14C is continuously formed in the upper atmosphere due to cosmic radiation and arrives on earth with rain.

During its existence every life form receives the 14C isotope which, together with water, is absorbed by the body;

4. Infrared Rays and IR Reflexography as infrared light is distinguished by the length of its waves which penetrate deeply into matter.

This phenomenon occurs for example at sunset when the very long red light waves manage to pierce the thick layer of the atmosphere full of dust and smoke while the light of other colors with shorter waves is absorbed.

The infrared rays can penetrate the color layer and, if it is thin, reach the base of the white preparation;

5. Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) Light as the human eye sees only a part of the vast palette of colors which are physically electromagnetic waves which oscillate at a certain frequency.

In the invisible part of the spectrum that includes long waves there is also infrared (IR) and in the short wave part ultraviolet light.

The behavior of matter in the non-visible field provides precious elements for the search for authenticity because copyists and forgers are not aware of the fact that the material they use can betray them as they use a light that they do not perceive;

6. Monochromatic visible light rays because beauty disappears when any object is illuminated with rays of a single color, highlighting details that escape the observer fascinated by the spectacle of colours.

The most used monochromatic light is sodium vapor which is pure yellow;

7. Wood's light as the rays of Wood's light differ fundamentally from others because they excite certain types of molecules creating fluorescence.

This means that the material not only reflects but emits its own light, in fact the test with Wood's light not only alters the colors but induces the material itself to become luminous;

8. Looking through matter with Röntgen rays (x-rays), used in many fields to see into or through matter.

Any Röntgen device used in medical radiology, whether modern or old, can be used for this type of research.

It is possible to discover modifications made to the object and information on the technique with which it was made. Furthermore, the examination allows you to identify a previous object under the visible one.

9. Pigmentography because pigments can be distinguished under the microscope by color, crystalline shape, opacity and purity.

make up the pigments can be defined . Other techniques used to ascertain the type of pigment are: atomic absorption spectrometry and the analysis of Röntgen ray fluorescence (X-Ray Fluorescence) also combined with the scanning electron microscope.

The peaks of the aforementioned curve mark the presence of copper elements in the blue azurite pigment and of the lead contained in the white pigment.

The application of these methods is valid for almost all materials and allows specific and in-depth investigations.

When they had finished doing all these tests they entered the data obtained into Pandora and while they awaited the results they relaxed on the sofa having a chat.

<< Why do you think sharks care so much about jackets? >> Orlando asked;

<< I don't know but when I was in the treasure room I noticed that on the floor, under the skeletons with the jackets, there were strange objects of elongated and translucent shape.

I had never seen anything like it>> said Alice;

<< Maybe I understood why they are attracted to uniforms: did the objects in question have a horny capsule with tendril-like formations? >> asked Orlando who, as a fishing expert, immediately understood what it was about;

<< I think so but how do you know? >> Alice replied;

<< They are shark eggs and since it is female specimens that attack us, I would say that that room has become the place where they reproduce.

They probably look at the jackets as protection for their eggs and when they saw us take one away they thought we were stealing their offspring.

That's why they always swim nearby >> explained the boy;

<< How did they manage to fit into that small hole? If Leonardo doesn't get into it, not even a shark can do it >> Lucia replied;

<< Evidently there is a second entrance, perhaps the hull has other larger holes that allow them to enter and exit, perhaps the hologram given to us by the colonel is deliberately unfinished >> proposed Leonardo.

Meanwhile, Pandora finished processing the data, reaching the conclusion that the uniforms were truly several centuries old, made up of a particular material which, combined with a special dye, made them impervious to water and salt and also exploited the latter to favor self-preservation of tissues.

<< Really fascinating, at this point it's clear that the uniforms are the treasure hidden on the ship but how do we get them out en masse? Do we have enough meat to distract the sharks? >> Alice asked.

Orlando went to the pantry and noticed that there were only four steaks left, a little few but perhaps they would be enough.

<<We only have one attempt available so tomorrow we will to be as efficient possible otherwise it real pain>> Chiara said to her friends;

<<For today I would say that this is enough, furthermore it almost night and like to go rest, if tomorrow we have do blitz will be better in top form>> Leonardo replied, getting up and going to sleep.

His thoughts immediately went to Sofia who he hadn't seen for several days, he would have loved to have her there by his side, she would certainly have known how to encourage him and what words to say to cheer him up, but instead he was alone and couldn't do anything about it.

The rest of the troop went to sleep very early and the following morning they were all ready to face their destiny, the only one to remain safe in Aquarius would be Lucia given the shoulder injury she suffered.

The four put on their wetsuits and left the laboratory, quickly reaching the vessel where Alice and Chiara furtively entered, taking some jackets, giving them to Orlando and Leonardo, after which they returned and grabbed some others.

Avoiding the skeletons, the two girls discovered that the room was strewn with shark eggs. They also saw that under the floor there was a large hole from which the beasts entered and exited. They had not noticed it before because it was covered by a mountain of bones.

<<We have taken enough uniforms, now let's leave>> said Chiara.

The two girls left the room carrying other jackets with them, they had stripped almost all the skeletons and only a few had been spared from being stripped.

<<Watch out behind you, the sharks could appear at any moment>> Lucia said to the two men of the company, checking if anything strange was moving behind them using the cameras positioned on the back of the wetsuits.

<<Let's get back to the laboratory, I don't want find myself face with an angry mother shark>> Orlando said.

All four carried a large quantity of jackets although Leonardo had less as he was responsible for throwing the steaks.

They quickly moved away from the vessel but when they were halfway to Aquarius they glimpsed a school of sharks swimming towards them and there were many more of them than in the previous days.

<<Oh my God!>> Leonardo exclaimed seeing them coming towards him;

<< Swim faster! Leo, at my signal throw the steaks >> said Lucia who using Pandora could calculate the exact distance at which the animals had to be before being stunned by the smell of the meat.

It was a race against time but no matter how fast the boys could swim, the sharks would always be one step ahead being in their natural habitat so the only option was to distract them and do it correctly.

<< Now Leo! Toss the steaks! >> Lucia shouted into his headset.

The boy held the jackets firmly in place with his right hand while with his left he threw the meat and the biodegradable bag into the water, raising a reddish cloud, after which he joined his friends.

As expected, the sharks were attracted by the smell of meat and blood and began to argue among themselves over who should eat the largest portion.

<< Now you have a window of time that you must exploit at all costs to return to the laboratory. You're almost there, one last effort >> said Lucia, encouraging her friends.

The problem was that the jackets were slowing them down a lot, carrying them in large quantities required a greater waste of energy, penalizing their swimming ability.

<< Let's not give up, we are close to Aquarius >> said Orlando.

Meanwhile the red cloud dissolved and the smell of blood faded, bringing the sharks' attention back to what they considered the egg thieves.

<< I don't want to alarm you but they are coming towards you again >> Lucia informed them, noticing that some sharks, having run out of food, had once again targeted Leonardo and the other boys who had arrived near the laboratory.

<< Open the door! >> Alice shouted to Lucia who complied instantly.

The entrance to Aquarius opened wide and the divers quickly entered it one at a time, carrying the precious cargo with them.

Leonardo was the last to enter, just in time to prevent a shark bite from tearing off his right leg.

<< We are the best! Get this, Colonel of my boots! >> Chiara shouted, depressurizing herself before going into the main room.

When they were in Aquarius again Lucia ran to meet Orlando, hugged him tightly and kissed him, Alice and Chiara did the same thing.

<<Okay, I understand that you want to make me feel excessive>> Leonardo joked, placing the recovered uniforms on the velvet sofa;

<<Now we have to call the colonel and show her loot>> Orlando proposed but there was no need as the woman's hologram appeared in the center of the main room.

<< We know that the uniforms were the treasure so we took practically all of them >> Lucia began.

The woman looked carefully at the loot and then burst out laughing.

<< I congratulate you, you have successfully completed the mission and moreover on time, it is truly remarkable so as a reward I will reveal the secret of the objects for which you risked your life.

Those jackets were made centuries ago in today's Arabian peninsula by Mohammed Baruk Al Khalij, one of the greatest master weavers of all time on behalf of his master, Prince Mohammed Kalirf al Jirgaf who as a great navigator wanted to have a fabric in capable of resisting the wear and tear of time and the sea.

Al Khalij invented a particular fabric with which he created the uniforms that you found in the treasure room, however the sharks have transformed the hold into the place where they lay their eggs and this makes them particularly susceptible if they see someone taking the uniforms out >> explained the colonel with a mocking tone;

<<We had gotten there too>> Lucia replied;

<< You have done an excellent job therefore you deserve a day of rest, I advise you to use it to take a magnificent walk on the seabed, you are inside a protected area very suitable for underwater excursions >> said the officer concluding the call.

<< Since we lost the meat, why don't we go hunting for some nice fish tomorrow morning? >> Orlando proposed receiving a slap on the back of the head from Lucia;

<<What about "protected area" isn't clear to you? We can't kill fish, at most we can study or observe them>> the girlfriend resumed;

<< The colonel had a splendid idea, I'm in for it >> said Leonardo;

<< I want to come with you, my shoulder should allow me to swim in peace >> added Lucia;

<<It's okay but don't make too sudden movements, you need to rest before can be in top form again>> Chiara admonished her;

The following morning they woke up at dawn, put on their wetsuits and spent the entire morning on the seabed swimming among the corals and schools of fish.

For once they didn't have to worry about performing some dangerous gesture or completing a training mission.