Dark Life

Ty and Gemma revive Grimes, who was hit over the head by Shade. They try to convince him to wait for Doc. Grimes refuses and flees in one of the submarines, like everyone in the Trade Station aside from the pioneers and Doc. Ty loses track of Gemma, and she isn’t with the pioneers when he checks there. He sees the elevator go down to the saloon and realizes Gemma stole Grimes’s identification card. Ty follows.

In the saloon, Ty arrives in time to see Shade grab Gemma from behind. Something is off about the moment to Ty. Shade’s grip is loose, and his appearance changes again. Ty realizes Shade is Gemma’s brother, who must have pursued them the other day to find Gemma. He thinks Gemma has known for some time and that she helped trick Ty. Gemma insists she only knew once Ty left the cage to get Grimes.

Shade insists Gemma must go back Topside and use the money he sent to go to school. She cannot live with outlaws after everything he’s done to help her. He argues that the pioneers should want the Commonwealth to stop supporting them and get out of their business.

The pioneers find them in the saloon. Ty realizes that Doc had known who Shade was all along and allowed Gemma to think her brother was dead. Doc convinced the pioneers that following Gemma would lead them to Shade. The pioneers try to shoot Shade. Doc yells at them to stop, as they’re risking the structural integrity of the Trade Station while they’re all inside it. Gemma asks Ty to stop them, but Ty says Shade is still a criminal and needs to be stopped. Doc tranquilizes Shade as he tries to flee. As Shade loses control of his body, he references Doc’s last time below the surface and alludes to being the one who gave Doc his scars on his hands.

Ty sees fear and hatred on his neighbors’ faces as they watch Shade. Ty believes they will look at him like that someday when they learn about his Dark Gift. Jibby brings a noose, intending to hang Shade.

The pioneers prepare the noose. Ty steps in to stop the hanging after questioning his morals and commitment to the law.

Gemma throws her knife to Ty while Jibby carries her away. Ty steps in between Shade and the pioneers plotting to hang him. Ma and Pa arrive shortly after with Gemma, freeing her from Jibby. Ty frees Shade and Shade flees. As the pioneers try to pursue, Ty reveals his Dark Gift. His parents assert that they should take him back Topside now that his Dark Gift has been acknowledged. Ty argues that there is nothing wrong with him and that Benthic Territory is his home. Zoe and Hewitt join him, revealing their gifts. All the adults panic. Shade steps forward and says there’s nothing wrong with them. He says Doc tested the Seablite prisoners and found that Dark Gifts were not detriments to their bodies.

Doc flees when his true identity is revealed. Gemma tries to stop him and is taken hostage. Ty, Shade, and the pioneers pursue. They confront Doc in the wet room of the Trade Station as he forces Gemma into the only remaining submarine and pierces the last package of Liquigen to prevent any pursuit.

Gemma hits the accelerator while Doc is still on top of the submarine, knocking him into the water. Doc sucks in whatever remains in the Liquigen pack and escapes. The pioneers realize he will most likely die on such a low supply of Liquigen.

Shade intends to pursue Doc and pull him out of the water so he doesn’t die. Ty suspects Shade wants to kill Doc himself. The Specter arrives as if on cue.

The rest of the Seablite Gang disembarks. Eel, one of the members, stops electronics from working temporarily so the gang can escape. Shade tells the pioneers that they should stay undersea. The Commonwealth would take their kids if they went Topside. Shade and the Seablite Gang reveal the scars from Doc’s experimentation to convince the pioneers of the Commonwealth’s immoral aims.

Shade dissuades Gemma from trying to join the Gang and following him, claiming that she is “old business” he is done with. Before the gang leaves, Ty reminds Shade that he owes Ty for saving his life. Ty demands they never attack another homestead or pioneer and that Shade sign Gemma’s emancipation papers. Shade agrees to both demands and signs the papers. As the sub leaves, Ty moves to comfort Gemma. He kisses her and then assures her he’d been wanting to kiss her for a while.

Jibby calls their attention to the submarine, where Shade is watching them. Shade lifts his fist to his heart, his and Gemma’s sign for “I love you.” Then, the sub disappears.

A loud cracking noise reveals that Doc’s harpoon, which missed Shade, embedded itself into the glass of the Trade Station. The crack breaks and water floods the room.

The pioneers rush to escape the flooding before their floor is disengaged from the Trade Station. There is no way out in sight.

Ty uses his Dark Gift to save the pioneers. He uses his biosonar to call dolphins to their aid. The dolphins can take them to the surface fast enough.

Ty and Gemma are the last to get onto dolphins and leave. Underwater, Ty sees Doc, who had clung to pieces of the Trade Station. Doc tries to steal one of the dolphins, knocking Gemma off hers. Ty jumps off his own in pursuit. Ty’s dolphin joins him, pushing Gemma up so Ty can save her as Doc sinks.

On the surface, Ma and Pa cannot revive Gemma. They all think she is dead, but Ty thinks Zoe might be able to use her Dark Gift to help. Their parents try to stop him, but he convinces Zoe to help. Ty says he was wrong to tell her to hide her gift.

After several attempts, Zoe’s power works. Gemma sees it’s morning and worries about going back to her Topside home until Ty shows her the emancipation form Shade had signed.

The emancipation form helps Ty come up with a solution to the Benthic Territory’s problems. He suggests proclaiming their own emancipation because their tax-crops are vital to the Commonwealth. They will proclaim their self-governance and sell their crops for fair prices to survive.

Ty and Gemma explore Coldsleep Canyon. Ty’s swimming lessons for Gemma have paid off. He takes pleasure in watching her awe at the beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants. He suggests that he may kiss her again someday, if Gemma decides she wants him to. For now, he enjoys his explorations with her.