Planet Zar: Nexus

:: Don't the fishers collect samples? :: asked Pennatu, following swiftly behind Icar as the koi demon lead him through the twists and turns of nets.

"Yes and no," said Icar. "If they find something interesting they might bring it down to me but when we're trying to establish ethical fishing farms - not just rely on wild caught game - we need to pay particularly close attention to the species we're caring for."

:: So the wild fish are just extra? ::

"Important, but different." Icar pried open a section of netting and ushered Pennatu in.

The pen was massive, stretching to the east of the docks along the shallower coastline. Rocky protrusions crested the seafloor like a miniature mountain range. If Pennatu stared hard enough he could see small, colorful shapes darting between the crevices.

"Today we're collecting juvenile rainbow perch," said Icar. "Which aren't properly perch at all, but earth terms don't necessarily mean much out here, do they?"

Pennatu giggled and zipped circles around Icar. He'd only ever heard of Earth, but he'd met plenty of humans who originated from the planet. There were an awful lot their words for things that got slapped around on everything.

"The juvies aren't quite as bright as the adults so they blend in a bit better, they're a sort of bluey-orange with bright spots and..." Icar tapped Pennatu's shoulder and pointed out at the rocks. A small shoal of bright fish darted out of a shadow to mob a pair of shrimp. They were about the length of Icar's hand, with a flattish belly and ridge of tall purple dorsal fins. Their bodies were a spectrum of blue to orange with deep iridescent purple spots haloed in cyan.

:: Wow! :: Pennatu rushed forward as quick as he could.

The shoal scattered, diving into rocky coverts.

:: Oh :: Pennatu drooped, whirling back around to face Icar.

Icar smiled and crossed his arms. "You'll have to be a little more careful than that, but I appreciate your gumption. I'm gonna head to the other side of the paddock. When you catch one, come find me, alright?"

Pennatu perked immediately. :: Yeah, okay! ::

Pennatu was fast, real fast, it couldn't be that hard to catch a couple baby fish. He knew enough to be gentle with them, these guys were going to be brought back here once Icar got his samples - minimal stress, no injuries, that was the important goal. Pennatu swam toward the rocks, keeping his eye out for every flash of bright color, keeping to wide, quick circles.

An orange shape burst across Pennatu's path. He squawked and gave chase, dipping and diving after it in a whirl of color. He swiped at the perch but it overshot him and dashed back between the rocks. Another small shoal twirled about the ocean floor, pecking at fiddler crabs. Pennatu rushed at them, paws outstretched. He was so quick, there was no way they could all escape!

The perch turned and dashed away. Pennatu panicked, uncertain which to follow, and before he'd picked a target the whole lot were out of range.

:: Shoot! ::

Icar was gonna be so disappointed if Pennatu didn't manage to get one specimen. What was he going wrong? Had Pennatu already grown too big to be fast? That was a horrible thought! He knew, one day, he might get very big, and slow because of that, but he was still so young! He didn't want go to Icar empty-handed and it wasn't as if Pennatu forgot the lessons on specimen capture. Icar took plenty of time to show him with tank fish and it would be so awful to swim back to Icar and tell him Pennatu needed help.

Maybe he was just doing things wrong. Maybe he didn't need to be fast at all. How would Pennatu feel if something big and scary came rushing up to him?

Maybe being slow was the right answer. At least for these flighty fellows.

With renewed vigor, Pennatu paddled to the nearest rocky ledge and perched himself atop it. He had a decent view all the way down to the bottom. Crabs scuttled through the sediment, fronds of seaweed swayed where they clung to the stone, and tiny black fish skittered nervously between the shadows. Pennatu waited, swallowing deep breathes. He wasn't good at being still, it was so much more boring than chasing things around the reef and splashing about with Icar. But... but he could do this! He didn't want to let Icar down!

A little fiddler crab crawled up the ledge and tottered over Pennatu's foreleg. Pennatu held his breath, watching. It didn't even realize he was there!

From his peripheral a bright flash zipped by him. He turned his head to see, but it rushed off at the sudden movement. Pennatu grumbled and lowered his head to his paws to keep temptation at bay.

Eternity dripped by. Pennatu ached to do anything. Sitting and watching was the absolute worst, but he could manage this. Just a little bit longer!

A bright glimmer of orange floated near his head. Pennatu struggled not to gasp, not to squirm or turn or do anything but sit and wait.

It swam closer. And closer.

Another blue-orange shape approached from the other side and dove down to inspect the fiddler crabs gathered around Pennatu's belly. Pennatu waited, willing himself not to vibrate in excitement. He couldn't even breathe.

A rainbow perch swam right between his paws.

Pennatu whipped his hands together. An explosion of color burst away from him as the other fish took off in fright but none of that mattered! A wriggling, rainbow shape remained caught between Pennatu's paws. He'd done it.

:: Icar! Icar, I've got one! :: Pennatu pushed off the rocks and hurried to meet his bond.