Chapter: Thirteen: Depth Charge
Chapter Author: Beck2
A/N
I'm alive! ALIVE!
Ahem.
It took me quite awhile to update this story, and for that I do apologize. But I did write this nice, slightly longer than usual chapter for all of you to read. I hope you like it, and for anyone that cares, Wizard of Oz went well! Of course, I now may never get the dialog out of my head, but I'll deal with it.
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"I don't see them."
"Well, that's pretty damn obvious. They're a little hard to miss."
"What's with you?"
Skinner just shook his head. The whole ordeal with letting Gilly go had resurfaced some old memories about his past that he would have rather remained sunk. Though, sinking memories was probably not a good thing to think of. They were, after all, on the bow of a ship.
His companion, Sawyer, looked at him curiously. "C'mon, tell me what's wrong."
"Just a little bloody impatient. How long is it going to be before something happens? How long will it be before I get another drink?!"
"Wow. You sounded just like me, except for the whole drink part, I usually don't do that."
"Philistine."
"Hunh?"
"Nothing."
"Never thought of you to be the one to use the big words around here."
"One of us has to be the brains of the conversation or it would go absolutely nowhere." He joked, trying to lighten the mood. He never liked heavy moods, they were far too depressing.
"Hah hah, very funny." Sawyer rolled his eyes.
Really, the whole part about old memories were already beginning to fade. It had troubled him a few moments ago, but as he turned his thought to the fact that the ship he was on could suddenly enter mortal combat at any time, those memories didn't seem so relevant.
It would probably bother him again later. He'd have to have the brandy ready.
"Do you think they're submerged?" Sawyer asked suddenly. "I mean, we're right outside Naples, they should be here."
"I tend to leave the Nautical nonsense to Nemo. He's the only one of us who knows what the hell we're doing anyway."
"Yeah. Kinda depressing, putting your fate into one man."
" Then again, if it was a woman, specifically one in particular…"
"You'd better stop that thought right now Skinner." Sawyer growled.
"Now now, I just meant that I would trust Mina with my life."
"Yeah, I bet."
He had to admit, it gave him joy to constantly nettle the young agent. It was just fun for him to see the American's feathers get ruffled for nothing. Or rather, his version of nothing.
"Come now Sawyer, you can't tell me you never thought…"
"Alright, Skinner, do you want to see if the submarine is submerged? Because if you keep it up I'm gonna make it possible for you, if you catch my meaning."
"My lips are sealed."
"That's a surprise." Sawyer shot back.
"Tch. Rudeness and or flattery shall get you nowhere. Now, if you excuse me, I have a date with a shot of scotch."
"Later." Sawyer said darkly.
Skinner just shook his head and laughed silently as he went back into the ship.
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A long time ago, he had been a young thief, and he was traveling in Venice, picking some of the best pockets for an old festival. He'd make a killing.
But thieves' lives are a highly romanticized thing. Nothing like his life. For every good pick, he was starving twice as much. And there were collectors, much like debt or tax collectors, but these were of a shady kind. If one lived on the street, they were required to pay in order to keep from having a living hell for a life.
He poured himself a shot of scotch and drank it down just as fast.
That kind of life was barely a life. When he was in Venice, he had come across some of those collectors. They took everything he had. He went back to square one, just like a dozen times before. It ceased to amaze him after awhile, only to anger him as time after time he was left penniless, and starving.
But then he got drafted into The League and everything became like a dream. A perfect life. Sure, that perfect life had a few flaws, but it had many definite perks. Seeing the world, being a hero (whether or not considered one), friends. Yes, the friends were a big part of that new life. He'd barely had any friends before this. Not real ones, anyway.
And that boy's life was so much like that old life, it was scary. But they both had their choices, he supposed. Still, it was sad to see history repeat itself.
But that was life.
And he needed another drink.
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"Ready the depth charges. If the Aurelius will not come up then we will make it."
"How do you know it's down there?" Dr. Jekyll asked cautiously.
Nemo smiled grimly. "I know. The Aurelius is waiting for us to make the first move. And I shall no disappoint."
It was just a feeling. He knew that fake ship was down there. They'd pay for sullying his Lady's good name.
"What exactly do these, 'depth charges' do?"
He turned to the vampire. She and Jekyll had been watching with great interest, as is befitting of two scientists.
"They are of a new design. Specially created to test the depth of water, they are also remarkably effective in unsubmerging the submerged."
"How do they do this?" She asked, fully interested.
"You shall see. Watch that screen." He took the time to wave at a screen, a vibration measuring device, much like his sonars, only this required vibrations to work.
"Captain, the first charges have been launched."
"Very good." He turned back to the screen that both Jekyll and Mina were watching. The metal indicators stayed totally still, for what seemed like an eternity. Then one after another, they started moving rapidly, scratching out the different waves they were receiving. Most were erratic. But one scratched out a straight, or semi straight line, indicating it had interference with the waves.
"There, more depth charges there. Don't let them escape." He directed his crewmen. They hastened to comply.
The screen cleared itself. It was needed for another run.
"Depth charges deployed!"
Several minutes later, more information came in, indicating a large object in the water.
"At last!" His triumph echoed across the room.
"It could be a rock outcropping." Mina said, confused.
Nemo just shook his head. "According to this, the object moves. Rocks as big as they are not in the habit of moving, especially in this manner."
"In this manner?" Jekyll said hesitantly.
"It is turning towards us. It will attempt to resurface, and attack, if it does not attack us from below."
"Can we not submerge?" Mina asked coolly.
"Submerging would take time, and would open us to attack. I will not make the same mistakes again."
"Then what do we do?"
"The depth charges will force him to surface. When he does, we will open fire."
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Commander Orick grabbed the railing as another shockwave hit the ship.
Depth charges.
Depth charges were simple looking canisters, but they tended to pack some power. Enough power to rock the Aurelius. The canisters exploded upon reaching a certain depth, setting out a minor shockwave. Normally, it would be of no consequence, but the charges were in excess, and the shockwaves were threatening to shake his wonderful ship apart.
Growling angrily, he grabbed a hapless crewmember. "Have we nothing to counter it?"
"N-no sir!"
"Fool!" He shoved him away.
"Sir! We must resurface, or the snapback of the receding water will flip us on our backs!" Another crewmember at one of the panels yelled.
The receding water. When the depth charges exploded, the pushed water away. That set out the shockwave. But the receding water was just as dangerous, as the water rushed back to it's original place. It would pull his ship with it.
But the Nautilus was above. It would undoubtedly fire as soon as he resurfaced.
"Sir, the snapback is about to hit us!"
"Come up underneath the Nautilus!"
"Sir?" The crewmember asked, startled.
"We will knock the Nautilus off balance. They'll try to outrun us, but we rise faster. We'll tip them."
"Sir, that could damage the Aurelius."
"It will also damage the Nautilus. Do it!"
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"Sir!"
"What is it?"
"Captain Nemo, the enemy ship is resurfacing."
"Ready the cannons and rockets."
Several crewmembers ran every which way to obey. He felt triumph seize him again. Now the battle would be fought.
"Sir, the enemy ship is resurfacing underneath us!"
"What? All engines full!"
"All engines full!" The crewmember turned the engines full, preparing to shoot across the sea.
But it was too slow in starting.
"Sir, we aren't going fast enough! The enemy ship shall hit us!"
He instantly grabbed a switch on the wall. Sirens started going off. Red lights started flashing.
He turned to his present crew.
"Brace for impact!"
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A/N
I don't know if I got the depth charges totally right, but this is an LXG story, so we can all deal with a little bit of tweaking, hmm?
Silent Bob 546: Oh dear. I don't think you'll like him any more after this chapter! Thank you very much!
Steffi-333: Ah yes. Well, it took me almost two weeks, but I got back in action and I hope you like this chapter! Aww…I got hugged! Thank you!
Clez: Thank you for being so understanding. I was worried that people would chase after me with internet generated pitchforks if I didn't update sooner. Glad you liked it!
Niani:I got a small part of Skinner in here for you and the rest of the Skinner lovers, hope you liked it!
Clutzy Me: I'm glad you like it! Sorry, I don't go to that school. I don't think we're in the same state, even. But that's okay. Wow, I guess Wizard of Oz is a really popular play, hmm?
Yvonne Clark: I think everyone that truly enjoyed the movie got that feeling. I truly do hope they make a sequel, and he's back to kick butt and take names. They have to have Sean Connery play that part again, or it won't be the same. I'm afraid I don't think I have either of those, sorry. But you're welcome to e-mail me if the moods takes you, it's on my profile. Just make sure the subject isn't 'hi' or 'none'.
Rogue77: Yes, it was cute. Glad you liked it!
Fritz Will Get You: Well, it took me awhile, but I did update and I certainly hope you like the chapter!
Please leave your comments on the way out!