Gray's Underwater Adventure

"Do you hear that?"

"Of course I do, Gray. You've been using the water-speaker the entire time we've been down here. What part of that don't you understand?"

It had become a routine. Ero, a Progenitor of sorts and a being of endless knowledge, would say something that sounded like nonsense to Gray, who would reply with the same question he'd asked every day for the past week as they went about their duties. It was a game between them, now - a way for them to pass the time. It was nothing more than a silly joke that only two close friends could get behind. It was the thought that counted after all, right?

"That's not what I meant," said Gray, "it's just...I don't know. Do you ever wonder if there's something more?"

"More than what?" asked Ero, "You know what me and my kind are capable of. There isn't much more to be honest."

"I mean...more than this life."

Ero chuckled at his young friend and took one last glance behind him to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything before turning back towards the thrusters and equipping his diving helmet. He reached out towards Gray and pulled his dome into place over his head before handing him a water-speaker of his own. With the other hand he picked up his spear-gun and held it in front of him to double check its ammunition levels as he spoke. "You know full well what happens when we die, Gray. We're born again. We have powered bodies capable of so much more than your mortal ones and we live eternally by choice."

"Yeah, I know but...how do we choose? How can we possibly choose?"

Ero paused from checking his gun and looked down at the younger man with a look of confusion on his face. "What do you mean?" he asked, looking back up towards the exit one last time before turning back around and continuing on their journey once more, "We choose when we're born."