Leap (Breakthrough, #2)

by Michael C. Grumley

drone lost connection with its remote pilot for twelve seconds.

President. And that was something most

face appeared on the video screen

looked back into the camera. “In

However, she did remember

“I’m really sorry, Alison.”

mainland, they hadn’t spent much time together lately. Their relationship

nearly every square foot of the enclosed

frames. It was then saved to IMIS’s

majority of communication happened instead through gestures and complex facial expressions. It presented very different requirements for capturing language. DeeAnn was the real expert.

smaller and integrated directly into the special vest that DeeAnn wore. Dulce’s words came

mechanical voice. I like play. DeeAnn smiled, copying

ear

vest. DeeAnn laughed and leaned forward. “I know. I

“Ali said you were ready to

strict, and, in this case, the size of the possible breach seemed

the

it. The fourth largest continent

Brazilian?” “I don’t know. Brazil

scrapped

and metal gray, yet Brazil’s warm,

nodded. “They want us out, but they’re

find a hotspot somewhere if we

*** Their hotel was located on

dollar bill and placed it in front of

grinning. “That’s not what I meant.

again, relieved. “Oh, yes, you

in the morning.”

here,

to?” *** After transferring the files

straightened back up, he gave them a slight grin. “My sister

ordinary. After several minutes, Caesare

radically prolonged the diver’s time underwater. On top of that,

rebreathers were virtually silent,

Alison,

see the rough, wavy images of

water. Dirk effortlessly began to circle

she

in the waterproof compartment didn’t have enough power to do a faster live translation, but it had no problem offloading that piece to the IMIS supercomputer. The diagnostics looked clean. No glitches, no wireless drops, no sign of voltage issues or leaks. It was better than they had hoped for. But it didn’t mean those problems wouldn’t happen. They still had a few more days of testing before they could do what everyone was so eagerly waiting for: to take the vest out into the open ocean. *** Downstairs, Alison and Chris stood in front of the tank, grinning from ear to ear. It was a marine biologist’s dream come true. To really communicate with another species was incredible enough. Now to be able to do it “out there,” in their native habitat, was a huge leap in oceanography research. They couldn’t imagine what they were going to learn outside of the tank. They stood in a daze, gleefully watching Dirk and Sally being fed by Kelly up above when someone spoke up behind them. “Are we too late for the big event?” Alison recognized the voice immediately and turned breathlessly with a grin that managed to get even wider. John Clay was standing behind her, along with Steve Caesare. Clay was smiling back at her. “I thought you were in Brazil?”

How are

Caesare. It’s nice to see you again.”

get so lucky?”

flicked his thick, muscular arm as she passed. She turned warmly

progress, thank you. In fact, the translations are coming faster and faster. Your girl here,” she said, with a wink at Alison, “runs quite a ship.” Clay didn’t see the nervous look Alison gave DeeAnn after being referred to as John’s “girl.” “So,”

It’s too bad you can’t come with us.” Caesare smiled, thinking

since the first day his father took

“Any idea how it works

long it was going to take. He mused and gave Clay a minute before changing the subject. “So listen, I’ve been looking at the design of that new vest Alison’s team developed. It’s pretty impressive. Tighter than I was expecting.” “Yeah,

oblige

for?” “For the Forel,” Clay murmured, peering over Caesare’s