Chapter 18 – Beneath The Surface
Blue…. So blue…. Everything is so blue. Like a perfect summer sky without blotches of clouds.
Look at that! I know that fish. What the hell is it called, anyway? Who cares? Nothing matters down here. I can't believe how clear it is. Can the others see it like this? I don't think so. You can only truly see it once you've begun to understand it. They don't understand it. This river is more than a body of water. It's alive. It is an entity unto itself. A beautiful goddess poised in the river basin. Her body clear and quiet. Her soul a striking cerulean…
"Alright! Is everyone online?" a harsh voice squawked from the com-link headset wrapped around Lara's ear. She winced, her poetic thoughts interrupted by the not-so-delicate fall back into reality. She tapped her headset, its waterproof plastic body sounding hollow against her ear.
"I'm online. I'm not sure about the rest of you assholes." She heard chuckling from the headphone. She and the gang o' goons Mason sent down with her were staying in touch via a community com-link plugged into their respective headsets. Another of Bryce's priceless inventions. They were deeper now, and they were required to stay in constant communication. Mitchell, one of the only guys who seemed to have a head on his shoulders, swerved up next to her on one of the ROV's. He smiled, throwing her a thumb's up as he began to match her pace. She liked him. He knew what he was doing, and he didn't have that bad-ass attitude that the rest of them tried to sport. She could tell he was genuine just by watching him. He had taken great care with the ROV, mounting only once he was in the water, as was protocol. He had checked his gear three or four times, and had even offered to check hers before they descended. He was an excellent diver, and he respected her need for space by not getting under her feet. Also, Lara noticed that he was wearing a small gold wedding band. Very proudly, it seemed. She trusted him, and he could tell.
"Hey Lara! You got the specs for that set of grottos about 200 yards up?" he shouted over the com. She did her best to smile back at him.
"I've got one better than that! I have thermo scans and heat patterns from 3-D mapping. We'd have to be stupid to get lost down here with that stuff." She pointed to a mini LCD screen mounted on her right wrist. It showed a moving pattern of warm colors, signifying where they were in relation to the surface. Another ROV moved up next to Lara, this time on her other side. It was Kent, the leader of Mason's divers. He was a total asshole. He slid up next to them, his face twisted in what seemed to be an eternal frown.
"Cut the chit-chat, you two. I want full concentration here! Croft, you keep us straight. Don't let this fucker distract you." He nodded gruffly toward Mitchell, who just rolled his eyes. Kent moved on, leaving the rest of the group trailing behind him. Lara made a dismissive motion towards Mitchell, and he nodded. He moved up along side of her, keeping an ever-watchful eye on the rest of their comrades.
Lara glanced at the LCD mapping system, checking her coordinates a second time. They were headed west, towards a semi-circle of perilous caves known as Devil's Trench to divers. The water wasn't deep here. Only about 120 feet. But the caves were shallow, creating a vacuum near their surfaces. Divers could get out of the water and walk around, even beneath 120 feet of water. It was an amazing natural phenomenon, caused by the density of the river water. Lara believed that if they were going to find anything, they would find it in one of those three caves. Most likely the largest, nicknamed The Dragon's Lair by professional divers. It was the deepest and darkest of the three, and had the worst reputation. It seemed divers were always getting lost in one of its many mazes.
They neared the outer rim of the first grotto, one of the small ones. Lara directed the team to move ahead, keeping to the right. The water became darker, but was still crystal clear. The divers all took a moment to stop and gaze at the sides of the caves, which were covered in some glowing substance. It was bright pink in some areas, and neon green in others. It was like watching an underwater laser show.
"That's a type of parasitic coral, boys," Lara explained over the com. "It starts as a slight phosphorus material, and grows to what you see right now. It can glow like that because of its genetic make-up. It's not good for the rocks, but it's beautiful to look at. You can't find it anywhere else on earth besides this body of water." She smiled as some of them ventured up to the sides of the grottos, touching the gelatinous coral very gently. One diver even took a picture. Her smile vanished when she saw Kent floating back towards the main hub.
"Alright, alright already! Let's get this fucking bandwagon moving, you bitches!" he bellowed. Lara raised a brow. The others began to taper off, moving back into their original positions. The water rippled and a slight current picked up as they began to swim again, one after the other. Lara revved the ROV again, following behind them.
A few minutes later, they were facing the side wall of The Dragon's Lair, where the uppermost rim met the bed of the river. The massive rock structure loomed above them like a sleeping sea monster, casting a dark, cold shadow across everything beneath it. The divers lingered, hovering in the water together in a circle. The water was murky here, and any light was indistinguishable save for that made by their illuminated equipment. Lara sensed a fear gripping those around her, sending chills through the water. She could feel tendrils of icy cold, like frigid fingers wrapping around her wetsuit. She shifted to the LCD, where she punched a button that activated the heat wraps in the lining of her suit. Supernatural or not, it was fucking cold down here.
Kent came up to her on the ROV, just missing her own by a hair. She wanted to beat the shit out of him right then and there, but thought it best to save it for the surface.
"Where do we go from here, Croft?" he demanded. Lara noticed that his arms were shaking a little. Either he was really excited, or he was really cold. Lara guessed the latter. It had suddenly gone very chilly at the bottom of the river. Only moments before, it seemed like the entire river was running at a comfortable temperature. Or, at least it seemed that way to her.
"You all will follow me, keeping a safe distance behind. Strange things have been rumored to lurk at the bottom of this river. I don't need anyone dying on me down here." Kent shot up a hand, his mesh gloves creating a scurry of bubbles.
"I think not. Mason's orders were to keep you behind us. I don't follow anyone. Now just tell me where the hell to go." Lara let go her hesitations, and rammed his side with her ROV. What the hell… they were all hers anyways! She got close, so that their masks were nearly touching. She grabbed his BCD with both hands, forcing him over the side of his ROV.
"Now you listen to me, you piece of shit!" she growled in his face. Everyone's heads shot back, staring at them with morbid curiosity. Mitchell was to her right, looking a little uneasy. Obviously, he had never seen two people go at each other 120 feet below the surface of an ancient Indian river…
"I'm the one in charge here. Fuck Mason. He knows just as well as anyone else that without me this project is shit. So you can just disregard whatever he said to you. When we're down here, risking our lives for his goddamn treasures, I refuse to take shit from a little weasel like you. You understand me? I have peoples' lives to consider down here. Now get the hell outta my way, and take a back seat! And that's the last I want to hear out of you until we're topside again, got it?" Kent was practically convulsing beneath her grip. His men watched with amusement as he nodded violently, nearly falling off the ROV.
"Y-yeah…. I g-got it," he managed, but not without blushing. Snickers were heard through the com. Lara let go of him, settling herself. It wasn't a good idea to get riled up beneath the surface. Something could go wrong, and that was a chance Lara couldn't take. All she could think about was Mitchell and his wedding band…
"Alright!" she announced to everyone. The whole team turned to look at her once more. "Pack it up and suck it up! We've got a cave entrance to find! I want you all behind me, and keep the high beams on!" She gassed the ROV again, leaving Kent behind in a rippling trail of bubbles.
Lara could see the surface breaking above her. A weak, bluish light radiated from the entrance to the Dragon's Lair, which had turned out to be a lot bigger than she had expected. She had feared that they wouldn't have enough room to maneuver once they were in the lane. However, once they emerged from the outer rim, the pool had opened up significantly, allowing the entire team access to the mouth of the cave. The water was shallow, but they had enough room. The cave walls were smooth here, covered in a discreet layer of calcium. Lara switched her com to the community band, cringing at the static build-up that exploded when she opened the circuit.
"All right guys, this is it," she announced, glancing back to make sure she still had everyone with her. "Bring it up nice and slow. Don't rush anything. Remember to let some air out of those machines before surfacing completely. We don't need to blow a gasket down here." She got a collection of grunts and acknowledgements from the group, and she switched off. They were rising faster now, and the surface was approaching quickly. The water became brighter, and the diving equipment began to give off streams of decompression bubbles. She let the lag out of the ROV, allowing it to idle until they reached the surface. She heard Kent and Mitchell do the same behind her, and they floated alongside her as they neared the shallows.
The pool broke, and the group surfaced with practiced competence. Lara cut the engine on the ROV, and took her mask off. Mitchell surfaced on her right, removing his mouthpiece and indulging in a big gulp of fresh air. He smiled a little when he caught Lara snickering at him.
"That canned shit just isn't the same!" Lara nodded, allowing herself to float on her back, taking in the air. It was surprisingly fresh down here, which meant there had to be natural ventilation somewhere in the depths of the cave. And yet, there was something… a twinge in the air. Lara couldn't put her finger on it. It was a smell. Something old and watery. Like a rotting corpse in a river. But it was barely noticeable, and Lara chalked it up to centuries of erosion and the absence of sunlight. Strange things grew in a place where the sun didn't shine. And strange things usually gave off strange smells…
They had drifted in, and were now able to wade in the pool. Lara got up, unhooking some of her gear. She turned back to the group, taking a quick head-count.
"Everyone in one piece?" she asked. She got raised hands from all 13 of them, including Kent, who still looked as though his pride would never heal. She looked next to her, and Mitchell had his hand raised. He was wearing that goofy smile of his, and Lara only shook her head at him.
"I know… I'm a ham," he replied, smirking. Lara ran her hands through the water, spraying him in the face.
Ten minutes later, they were all out of the water and setting up a temporary base at the edge of the cave. The water met the rock about 100 feet from their position, and the looming mouth of the cave gaped before them. Mitchell and three other divers were setting up halogen lamps on titanium poles every few feet, showering the antechamber with harsh, manufactured light. Kent had taken a small group to the center of the encampment, where they were assembling makeshift tables and laptops. Lara had moved off by herself, needing space to collect her thoughts. She pulled out a set of neon flares and a powerful flashlight from her pack. She noticed the protein bars Alex had left for her, smiled, and shoved them into her back pocket. She pulled out a pair of grappling shorts and slipped them on over her full-body wet suit. It was going to be cold in there, and she didn't feel like dealing with hypothermia today. She traded her water shoes for a pair of rappelling cleats, lacing them up around her ankles. Lastly, she pulled out a concert t-shirt with U2 pasted on the front, throwing it on to keep out the cold. She smiled, remembering the last time they had come to town. They had enjoyed a lovely luncheon together, discussing such pressing matters as what to do about overweight poodles, and whether or not white bread really was bad for you. And of course, she had attended the concert the next day. They were such lovely musicians…
She packed up her gear, hoisting her rucksack onto one shoulder. She made her way back to the center of the makeshift base, throwing her gear down next to the others. She strapped her sack onto her shoulders again, securing the clips around her waist. Mitchell made his way through the hustle and bustle, waving her down.
"Hey! You ready to do this thing, or what?" He slapped a good-natured hand to her shoulder, and she resisted the urge to slap him back. Men – no matter how accepting – always saw women as inferior. Best not to upset their belief system. Even if the truth could set you free…
"Yeah. Ready to whoop your ass,' she replied instead. Mitchell only threw his head back and laughed. Lara shook her head, securing the rest of her gear. Mitchell put his hand on his hips, a determined and fiery look spreading across his round face.
"So… what exactly are we looking for down here, anyway Lara?"
"That's a good question. I don't think anyone knows that," she replied, hefting her right cleat onto her left foot to retie the laces.
"I mean, we know he hid something down here, right?"
"Sort of. Thousands of years ago, when all this business with Victor Xavier took place, the River Bhima was a fraction of what it is today. Theoretically, these caves were all nearly above the water. Enough so that someone could walk around in them hiding things if they saw fit." Mitchell nodded, his eyes drifting in and out of deep thought.
"So, technically… He didn't swim down here to hide anything. Not like we did, at least." Lara stopped what she was doing to stare incredulously at him. He blushed fiercely, suddenly aware of what he had just said.
"I guess not, huh?"
"Scuba equipment was pretty hard to come by back in the ancient days of the Roman Empire, Mitchell," Lara replied with a twinge of sarcasm. They both chuckled.
"So, how do we know where to look?" Lara straightened, her back popping a little as she did so. She rubbed her hands across the small of her back, soothing the dull aches that were already protesting deep within her muscles.
"Ancient manuscripts found in the basement libraries of the temple. They talk about Xavier, and how he made a pilgrimage to the river to beg the gods for forgiveness. It says he stayed here for three days, finally leaving on the morning of the fourth due to his weakened condition."
"So, where did he hide it? Whatever it is?"
"The manuscripts say he buried a piece of his terrible past. I don't think it was a piece of the amulet. Legend has it that it cannot be destroyed. Only kept dormant by Immortal magic."
"What is Immortal magic?"
"Magic that can only be practiced by those who descend from the gods themselves. When the Shankai, the secret magi who were commissioned to guard the amulet, were first created… There were those who were of Immortal blood who were inducted. Or so the legend says. They were ultimately responsible for keeping the amulet dormant, and out of the hands of the wicked."
"So, what do you suppose is buried down here?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps another piece to the puzzle. At least, that's what I hope it is."
"Why's that?"
"From here on out, we're flying blind. We were lucky to discover that the temple had what we needed. But if we don't find anything here, we have nothing else to go on." Lara was a little more relaxed now, having given voice to what had been bugging her for the last 24 hours. Mitchell nodded solemnly, and Lara believed he understood their predicament. He was just hired help for the time being, but he was making the effort to be involved.
"Where do we start looking?" he asked, running one of his thick hands through his dark brown hair.
"Well, the manuscripts speak of the bowls of the cave, where the demon of the deep sleeps." Mitchell's eyes widened.
"That sounds a little dangerous, don't you think?" Lara only smiled.
"No, not hardly. The people of this area are and always have been a very superstitious culture. The demon of the deep probably refers to one of Siva's guardians. You see, Hindu gods have guardians that the gods manifest themselves through. These guardians can be anything from animals to people to giant boulders in a canyon. Anything. Sometimes, they can even be imaginary. Which is probably what the manuscripts were referring to. Not a real demon. Just an imaginary guardian thought up to keep this place safe."
"I see. Pretty smart, if you ask me."
"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to call it genius, but it does the trick."
"So we have to find the place where the demon of the deep sleeps, 'eh? Doesn't sound too daunting a task."
"You'd think. But this could get pretty tricky. The caves are pitch black, with no surface light at all. There are some indigenous life forms that give off florescent light, but those are just mushrooms and shit. We'll have to go in using only what we've got for navigation. Plus, it gets cold as hell in there."
"I didn't know hell could get cold," Mitchell replied with a smirk. He dodged a punch to his shoulder, chuckling as she flipped him the bird.
Lara had finished packing the rest of her gear, and decided she had allowed everyone else enough time to do the same. She grabbed one of the cargo boxes brought down on Mitchell's ROV, standing carefully on top of it. She cupped her hands to her mouth, using them as a mini-amplifier.
"Okay people! Let's get this popsicle stand on the fucking road! I want everybody set and prepped in five minutes! We're heading into the cave whether you guys are ready or not! Now let's move it!" She hopped off the crate, picking up another set of flares from the supply pile… just in case.
She looked over at Mitchell, and was surprised to see him gazing forlornly at his gold wedding band. He twisted it around on his finger, which was still dotted with water from the dive. His eyes were sad, and a little lonely. His shoulders were slouched, and his face had the set of a man about to go to war. She stood next to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Mitch?" You okay?" He shook his head a little, as if clearing his mind.
"Sort of. Not really. I know that sounds stupid."
"No, it doesn't sound stupid at all. Do you honestly think any of us want to be down here in the dark?"
"I know, I know. It's just… well, my wife."
"What's her name?"
"Kendra. God, she's so wonderful. We just got married a few months ago. I guess I'm… I guess I'm just afraid something will happen. That I'll never see her again." Lara took him by the shoulders, staring him straight in the eye.
"Now you listen to me, Mitch. This is going to be a walk in the park. I promise. We're going to go in, get what we came for, and get right back out again. No bullshit, okay? And don't you worry. I'll make sure you make it home to your new wife. I give you my word." Mitchell smiled, putting his hand over hers.
"Thanks Lara. You're a good person. It's an honor to work with you."
"Likewise," Lara replied with a sly smile. "Now let's cut with the mushy shit. We've got a treasure to find!"
Mitchell helped her carry some of the gear to the looming mouth of the cave, where the rest of the team had assembled with generators and power lighting. Lara took a quick inventory check, making sure they had everything they needed for the expedition. She even threw in a couple of spare battery reserves for the 3-D mapping system. She doubted if it would work that well once they went deep, but she figured it was better to be safe than to be sorry.
"All right! Let's go! Everyone grab a buddy, and stick close to the group. Stay in constant communication, and remember your safety procedures!" She stared at the gaping hole that served as the cave's entrance. It sat like a hungry mouth with crooked teeth, the darkness beyond sending chills down her spine. But she was excited now, and the nervous energy could always be used as fuel. She set her face in stone, waving to the group to follow behind her. Mitchell was close at her right, bringing up the side. The whole team marched onward, preparing themselves for battle with the shadows that lay in wait for them…. Deep within the Dragon's Lair.