Disclaimer: I own the scientists and most of the world. I do not own any of the things created by JRR Tolkien. Rated PG-13 for violence.

Author's notes: First of all, let me make it clear that this isn't particularly serious. It isn't supposed to be a detailed and meaningful narrative about what people would to if this happened to them. The metaphor I've used when describing it to other people is it's like Indiana Jones. The scientists won't act like scientists, and there will probably be lots of plot devices that make little sense and don't exist in the real world. So just bear with me on this. ;)

"Dr. Thomas, are you sure this will be safe?" Peter asked, flipping a technical looking switch. From across the small capsule, Jenna Thomas sighed.

"Yes. My design team was adamant about that, and it's been vigorously tested. It's never been so far down before, but the program Fred wrote was for testing it in scenarios like this. From what I gathered, the worst that will happen will be your ears hurting from the pressure." She squinted across at her researcher suspiciously. "Why do you ask?"

Peter shrugged. "I'm just worried. No one has ever done anything like this before."

"That's exactly why it's going to work. We'll be famous, Pete." She grinned and pressed a quick succession of buttons. The capsule gave a jerk and the clear sky that had been seen from the round windows receded, dark water replacing it as the Odyssey 5 plunged down into the ocean at a speed of hundreds of miles per hour. Jenna swiveled her chair around and flipped a switch, turning on a powerful light outside the capsule. A few twists of a knob adjusted it to a more manageable level.

Peter grabbed a small wheel and turned it sharply, sending the Odyssey careening towards the black crevice the pod had been aiming for. It shot through the narrow entrance and he stabilized the engine, forcing it into a steep descent. Nervously he reached over to the light's controls, rotating it in slow circles around the walls. The capsule continued to descend rapidly but Jenna punched a button, slowing it into a gradual fall.

"Well, we did it." Jenna said, her voice sounding muted in the hazy darkness. Peter nodded and turned to one of the windows. Murky water pressed around them, the only sight besides the faintly illuminated fissure's wall. Suddenly, he stiffened and stared.

"Jenna..."

The other doctor turned around, startled. Peter never used her first name. Warily, she approached the window. Peter stared at her, shock plain across his square face. "Jenna... what is that?"

() () ()

Unimaginable miles off, a man was lying in a shallow cave. His hands were folded across his chest like the sarcophagus of some Egyptian Pharaoh, and a curtain of flaming red hair framed his pale face. Abruptly, as if at some signal, his eyes flew open. A shadow seemed to pass over him and he turned onto his side, coughing weakly.

The coughing passed and he sat up stiffly, looking around at the shadowy cliff wall. His deep-set grey eyes gradually registered his surroundings and he rose to his knees, a wail of despair and anguish tearing from his lips. Distantly, the harsh cry of a seagull floated back in answer.