[ back home, they trained them, gave them tests, not just the insane academic ones, but physical - running, jumping, agility, all of the crap they needed to really ace that 'running for your fucking life' thing. but this isn't thomas's body from home, so how does he know it'll still keep up?

then again, steve apparently came ripped as hell, as did the naked, hobo looking guy who freaked out on the cryo deck. best he can do is test it. dashing to the storage vault, grabbing up some supplies, the added weight makes running back more of a jog, but his lungs keep up. good - that's what he's looking for. thomas appears back in the ring with a coil of rope tossed over his shoulder, and a crowbar in hand. ]

We're trading spots.

[ thomas announces, dropping the crowbar and the rope down near the edge of the canal. he's a little bossy (it's too bad tony isn't here to see a teenager giving cap orders), but it's not his fault he knows he's right, okay?? ] You can pull me back up faster, and I can hold my breath longer than you. Here.

[ when thomas starts to pull at the zipper of his jumpsuit, it's pretty clear what the idea here is. the rope is going around his waist, the crowbar is both to give him more weight to sink fast, and a tool to pry at the lodged object quickly, if he has to. ]

I'll jerk the line twice. As soon as you feel that, reel me back in fast as you can, alright? [ please don't let him get chopped up in the fan, old bearded guy, he's survived so much bullshit in the last three months, it'd just be embarrassing to croak on a janitorial chore. ]