The Barkuu. Lauren Wright

      The Science Officer sighed. "We have no idea, Ma'am. This stuff, this metal...There is nothing like it here on Earth."

      The CUAR thought for a moment and asked, "How could this be? I thought the periodic table was complete."

      The Science Officer squirmed and said, "Complete is a strong word."

      The CUAR looked at the officer. "What is that supposed to mean?" She sounded offended. "Is it complete, or is it not?"

      The Science Officer seemed to struggle for words. "The base is complete, yes. You see, Ma'am," the officer looked down at his hands if he were holding multiple items, "as you know, elements are made of protons, with neutrons and then electrons around them."

      "If you have one proton," the Science Officer held up one hand, "you have hydrogen. But if you add another proton," he put his hands together, "you have helium."

      "If you add a third," he held his hand out like he was holding another item, then brought them together, "you have lithium. This procession continues," he made cascading gestures with his hands, "each time you add a proton, and then you get a new element."

      The officer took a breath and said, "And in this manner, we have identified the first ninety-two elements that occur naturally."

      "With Uranium being ninety-two, there is no more room for new elements," the officer spoke the last statement with finality.

      "However," he paused for effect, "mankind has hypothesized the existence, and in some cases created, many more that are higher on the table. Further, there are alloys, alchemic mixes that we have only begun to understand."

      "Can we do any more testing in the lab?" The CUAR put her hands up in frustration. "I mean, with all of our technology, we can't so much as determine what these things are made of?"

      "Well, it would be more accurate to say," the Science Officer looked in the CUAR's eyes, "with all of our technology, we can't even take a sample."

      ~

      As studies came in from all over the planet, it was found that the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere was at its lowest in a century and a half. The smog cloud above most major cities had been scrubbed. Initial assumptions were that they had scattered, but searching had yielded no trace of them.

      ~

      "Can you believe this, Frank? We thought this Cloud was going to end all of humankind, and what does it do? It cleans the air for us."

      Adam was slipping on his flippers, when Frank said, "Yeah, but do we know 'why' they did it?"

      "Who's 'they,' Frank? The men in black? How do we know it was a 'they?' Maybe it was a natural event; perhaps it would've happened even if we weren't here."

      "You're naive, Adamame. You think this all just happened?" Frank was checking his mask. "Someone did this to the planet, and sooner or later, they are gonna want to be paid."

      "Always the conspiracy theorist, Frank. Probably the same guys who knocked off JFK, huh?"

      Frank just grinned and held his respirator out to his compadre. "Mark my words, Peanut, we'll meet our saviors. Only salvation isn't cheap." he fitted his mask over his face and fell backward into the water.

      The team began their descent to examine the objects that had splashed down in the water; Chuck’s voice came through the silence, "Mic check."

      "Aren't we supposed to do that before we dive?” Adam chimed in. “The mic works boss, so what are we hoping to find down here?" Chuck said, ignoring Adam’s comment.

      "We’re looking for a big shiny rock. Adam, if you have nothing intelligent to say, keep quiet."

      "You got it, boss,” Adam replied cheerfully, as the repramend was as much a declaration of his acceptance into the group.

      "Well, maybe he should check in every so often, so we know he's still with us.” Frank said. Joe came over the radio, “bunch of damn comedians." He loved his crew, and with love comes boundary issues.

      "Cut it," Joe said with an authoritative tone, and all went quiet. "We have no idea what we are going to find down here. Keep your eyes open and your mouths shut, unless you see something. On the surface, they had electrical issues when approaching the objects, so stay back until I give the okay."

      Taking great precaution, He had his device out approaching the object. "We don't seem to be getting any surges," Joe said as he studied it carefully.

      "There are fish swimmin’ ‘round it, boss. Can't be any electricity." Chuck observed.

      Joe looked around, and sure enough, life had already enveloped it.

      Joe clipped the device on his belt and said, "Let's take pictures and get some samples for the carpet dwellers, then get the hell out of here. Give a shout if you see something," Joe ordered as they dispersed.

      "Roger." "Sure thing, boss." "You got it, Paco," came the replies.

      "Hey, Frank... Frank, o'er here. Frank, look at this...Frank."

      "What now, you little shit?" Frank said. Adam was the newbie, the quintessential little brother of the group.

      "Hey, Frank, what does this sea cucumber look like to you?"

      "A much larger version of you," Frank said and chuckled to himself. "Much, much larger, Even got the right color after that girl you brought home last week."

      Adam burst out laughing. "You're a dick, Frank."

      "That explains all the hugs I get from you," Frank replied.

      "Hey, Frank, look at this."

      "What is it, Adam? Did you find your testicles down here? We've been searching everywhere."

      "Shut up, Frank, no really, look at this. Is this supposed to glow like this?"

      "Oh shit, I've never seen anything like it. Uh, Boss?"

      "Yeah, Frank."

      "We've found something."

      "We'll be right over. What is it?" Joe said.

      "What do you think it is, Boss? It's a glowing rock, of course."

      "But why is it glowing?"

      "I don't know, Joe My doctorate is in diving."

      "Haha. I'll give you twenty dollars if you name a school, any school."

      "So, who's taking the samples? Might as whale start with this," Adam said.

      "Whale puns, really? I guess we should draw straws. Who has been with us the shortest time?" Frank said.

      "Shit," said Adam.

      "Are you sure you don't want to measure, Adam? I could go get the sea cucumber."

      "You're a real help, Frank. Thanks. Don't they typically use submersibles for this?"

      "Did you take any underground with you when you had your tail between your legs?"

      "Oh, I suppose you were out enjoying the rain during the Cloud, Frank?"

      "Haha. Damn straight, I was out splashing in puddles, holding a kite and a key."

      "You're so brave, Frank. How are you still single?"

      "It's not coming off with the chisel, Boss. What should I do?" Chuck inserted.

      "Hey Frank, you brought the drill, right?" Joe questioned.

      "Well, yeah, but are you sure, Boss? They said only as a last resort.”

      "We tried everything else."

      "He tried the chisel. That hardly qualifies, Joe."

      "Do you have any other ideas, Genius?" Joe said.

      "Adam,