#reefbacks

Like how he named his lifepod Happy. Even though stalkers will chase after metal salvage, they are not to be treated like dogs. Creepvine is by far the most useful plant. Always scan a fragment if one is found. The seaglide is the only thing that matters. Reefbacks are his best friends. 

The last one took Fritz an embarrassing long time to figure out. Considering the fact reefbacks are so big they can effortlessly block out the sun, the idea of getting close to one made him want to swim as far away as possible in the opposite direction. Slowly but surely, however, he realized their size wasn’t something to be terrified of. Not when it comes to this lifeform at least. 

Don’t get him wrong, a voice in the back of his head still screams at him to stay away from such a massive creature every time he swims toward them. It’s impossible not to be scared of something that could eat him whole if it had the means to. They don’t, though. Confirmed it with a scan from a respectful distance. And no matter how many times he’s circled around them, he has yet to find any sort of mouth, even though it has a few human characteristics. 

That doesn’t mean they can’t say hi. Every time an eye as big as his head manages to spot him, without fail, a low hum will vibrate his very bones. 

Fritz winces from the tangible weight the sound possesses. He manages to keep his seaglide on course to be eyelevel with the leviathan, waving with a smile once his teeth aren’t chattering. “Good afternoon!” 

He’s given a blink in response. With greeting ritual complete, Fritz swims away and up, amazed to see an entire ecosystem that gives the reefback despite having seen it multiple times before. 

“You don’t have any harvestable barnacles, do you?” he asks with a careful sweep. Leaving alone the corals, acid mushrooms, and blood grass. Quickly avoids a biter before yelping and darting away when multiple chase him. 

Fritz makes a wide circle around the reefback, half convinced its laughing at him. Hopefully he’s able to make its slow journey an entertaining one. The least he can do for the generosity of allowing him to harvest materials. 

With the biters gone, he quickly darts over to the only barnacle he’s managed to spot. Gasps when it gives him a copper ore. 

“Finally!” the teenager exclaims, darting away again before anything else wanting a bite of him can take the opportunity. He swims up to the reefback’s eye again. “Thank you!” 

He’s given a blink. And considering the fact he’s saying things in a language it doesn’t understand, as well as being such a miniscule almost insignificant being, he greatly appreciates it tolerating his shenanigans. 

Fritz waves again before darting back to Happy as fast as possible. Because he finally has the last thing needed to build a seamoth. Even though he got the fragments ages ago and already made a radiation suit, materials for batteries eluded him. 

But now he has everything. Now he’ll have protection. 

It’s far from living a plush life, but Fritz won’t complain. He’s just happy to be alive. 

“I’m back, Happy!” he calls he quickly climbs into the lifepod to reach the storage, all but shoving everything needed into the fabricator to make a battery, than a power cell, leaving just enough to finally build a seamoth. 

Fritz beams as he throws the hatch open to dive back into the water, swimming up to the mobile vehicle bay that has been waiting patiently to be used, something he is more than happy to oblige. 

The button flashes once after he dispenses all of the necessary materials. Excitedly presses it to watch in awe as a ship is constructed right above him. Jumps and yells for absolute joy as it falls into the water with a splash. 

“Let’s go!” Fritz crows as he follows after it. Swims around the seamoth to admire its small size that will let him bring it into caves, a panel where upgrades and modifications can be added. 

And then he climbs into the little vehicle. Stares at the display promising to inform him when the hull gets damaged as well as ensuring he’ll have oxygen as long as it’s powered. Slowly grabs the wheel before carefully steering it forward. 

It’s fast. And intuitive. Lets Fritz zip around in a small circle as he laughs without worrying he’ll crash it. 

He won’t lie, despite its quickness, his heart skips a beat not being able to see what’s behind him. Swimming alone lets him easily look over his shoulder or tuck himself into a corner so nothing can sneak up behind him...most of the time. But it’s impossible to have a ship completely made out of glass. Having a camera would overload the circuit board and weigh it down. 

He’ll be fine. This is ten times better than being completely vulnerable in the vast open water. He just needs to adapt.