Chapter CIII: Into the depths of Atlantis Part III
A cigarette in her mouth an older woman sat at her desk, her listening equipment on and fully operational, the sound waves of the waters and the surrounding peaks continuing to echo through into her ears from her headphones.
However she was completely bored out of her mind as there was truly nothing new to listen out for, so sucking hard on her small stick of Nicotine it flared up and then as it settled itself into her mouth she breathed the smoke out making a small cloud of the smelly substance, thus giving the area an almost foggy feel to it.
Finishing this huge puff she screwed the cigarette into a teacup ending its one useful purpose. Suddenly though something moved within the waves of sound … something… different, very, very different.
Walking through the huge steel open doorway, Nozomi and the others finally all made it to the bridge of the ship. The enormousness of it was still as awe inspiring even after their strange little endeavour with Audrey, Mole and Sweet.
Looking around at everything Nozomi looked out through the huge yellow coloured window and saw once again the huge enormous expanse of the dark blue sea as it continued on seemingly forever. However she took a step forwards squinting her eyes ever so slightly to try and discern something, she then saw that it wasn't just an endless sea of dark blue. For around them the switched on exterior search lights revealed as they darted their rays back and forth while they proceeded forwards that there were huge peaks of rock coming from below showing that they were now all near to the bottom of the sea.
Seeing these odd peaks everywhere it was almost like they were hovering over a huge dark mountain, though she'd never seen a mountain up close or even been on top of one, it was still an amazing sight.
Revealing her amazement Nozomi breathed, "wow! These peaks are huge! I never knew the ocean could be anything like this!"
Hearing her, her furry head cushion replied, "yeah just terrific lass…"
For still on top of her head Cait sith looked rather bored himself at their huge dark stained environment. He was completely disenchanted, but at the same time he was feeling very wary of this huge expansive space and its lack of light… for it felt incredibly ominous.
Nozomi though hearing this droned tone was a little annoyed that he didn't feel the same amazement she was experiencing as she replied, "Cait sith what's your problem? Aren't you glad we're getting to see something this new?'
Listening to her Cait sith sighed annoyed as he told her, "lass I think ya might be forgettin' somethin'… I'm a cat, cat's ain't no good in water and 'sides that I-"
However he stopped as he spied something at the corner of his eyes, that something was moving from the left hand side in the darkness, it was huge and threatening and the very sight of it made him freeze as it disappeared into the darkness with those huge red haunting furious eyes leaving with it.
Nozomi feeling him turn and suddenly freeze looked up at him and was puzzled as she then turned to look to where he was looking, however as the search light shone in that direction there was nothing to be seen at all, so turning back up again she asked, "Cait sith? Are you all right?"
Shaking his head as he heard her he asked, "huh what?"
Nozomi then repeated again, "Are you okay?"
Still staring after what he thought he saw he shook his head as replied, "oh uh?... Nothing its fine lass, its fine…"
Hearing him say this Nozomi still looked unsure, but then behind her she heard Mickey speak, "right, now where do ya suppose Milo is at to?"
At this question Nozomi then completely forgot about Cait sith's spooked moment as she asked, "Milo?" For that was a point, where was the linguist and mapmaker? With that she looked around herself as she asked wonderingly, "that's true just where is he anyway?"
However it didn't take Riku more than a moment to locate him as he looked around himself, he then told everyone seemingly bored as he pointed upward, "he's up on there."
Looking up then in Riku's pointed direction everyone saw that Milo was up near where the steering wheel of the ship was, as he seemed to be talking to the commander, Lyle.
Seeing him Mickey spoke up, "oh great! Well done there Riku! Let's go on up and see what's happenin'" With that he began to run in the direction Milo was in.
Nozomi seeing him go added, "yeah let's go!" With that she went up to catch up to the king as Riku simply rolled his eyes at her happy go luckiness as he followed quickly behind them all.
Reading from the "Shepard's Journal" Milo read to the commander in the dialect of the original maker's as the words rolled out of his mouth rather clumsily as he was concentrating hard to get just the right pronunciation, "Predeshtem logtu nug… nah geb."
However it was clear that as Milo read on from the book that Lyle was far from impressed as his eyes looked on with boredom in complete contrast to the linguist's enthusiastic excitement as he finished reading out the English translation guiding his finger over the hieroglyphics, "Enter the lair of the Leviathan, there you will find the path to the gateway!" Which he finished with a gleeful smile and firm nod.
At that moment, "hey there! Milo!"
Turning at this voice it was then Milo looked on puzzled at first but he quickly became enthused as he saw that it was his friendly acquaintances from earlier, happy he waved to them as he greeted back, "hey guys!" Lyle breathing a sigh of relief quickly turned his attentions back to his commanding duties glad that this little tutorial was now over.
Oblivious though Milo made it over to Mickey and the others as he asked them all, "so how did you guys find the bunks and stuff? Have you all managed to settle in?"
At this question there was a slight awkwardness in the air as they all remembered their different experiences with their 'roommates.'
…
Milo then looked on blankly confused at this quiet atmosphere as no one made any attempt to make a reply whatsoever.
It was then Nozomi spoke up, "well… we're in at least, though its gonna be a while before we're actually really settled."
Looking at her as she said this Milo got now at least a little more of a hint of what she meant as he nodded and replied, "oh I see… yeah, its always awkward moving in at first, did you guys all meet Mole?"
Nozomi asked, "Mole?" For obviously she hadn't.
Riku though told him knowing well enough, "oh yes… Sweet too."
Milo hearing Sweet's name being mentioned then instantly knew what it was that he'd been asked for himself for as he felt awkward remembering his own experience as replied, "I see, so he asked you for that too huh?"
The silence then became overwhelming again as the awkwardness returned to the atmosphere, however Nozomi still lost at this point asked clueless, "what're you guys talking about? Sweet? What was this thing he asked for?"
However Mickey quickly changed the subject seeing Riku's really uncomfortable expression wanting to avoid an explanation, "well that's somethin' that's not needed to know right now, movin' on anyway there Milo?"
Hearing him being referred to Milo turned to the king as he replied, "yeah?"
Mickey then got straight to the question, "so what's goin on with the exploration? Are we near to where we're supposed to be goin'?"
Hearing him ask Milo brightened up as he told him, "yeah! We're definitely really close now! We're still just searching for that tunnel into the ocean which is beside the Leviathan statue."
At this reply Mickey answered smiling, "ah yeah that I remember! Well I'll bet that'll be real easy to spot!"
Listening to that name being mentioned again Nozomi repeated in her mind 'Leviathan,' for even the sound of it just gave her the chills as the illustrated image came back in her mind. Then making a slight shake with her head trying to slide the haunting image from her mind she spoke with a rather awkward smile, "yeah I bet when we see that thing it's gonna give us a fright."
However Riku simply retorted to this comment catching the fear in her voice over a simple scary statue, "only to some people."
At this Nozomi became angered as she turned and said, "and what's that supposed to mean?"
Hearing the annoyed tone in her voice Riku smirked, "ah nothing at all!" He then coughed slightly into his hand, "-cowardly-" trying to disguise it with a small smile.
Nozomi snapped!
It was then the spats again between them began with Milo looking on rather a little confused though the king looked on with a simply calm smile while the rest of the crew stared on just as awkwardly unsure. Watching them go on the mapmaker asked, "are they always like this?"
Hearing him Mickey nodded still watching the two of them go on as he said, "Yeah pretty much a lot, though its all regular kinda stuff here." Milo was then silent again but as Mickey continued to gaze on at the little fight that was going on he was actually glad at the sight of it. For things were definitely normal for now and at peace in its own weird way and it also meant that for now the truth didn't have to be revealed.
In the distance seeing the spat continuing on themselves the crew were feeling a little annoyed themselves, so seeing that it wasn't going to end too soon it was then someone decided to come in and act as the referee.
Riku sighed at the last angry comment Nozomi gave, as he simply told her, not looking at her, "I never said you were an absolute coward or anything of the sort."
Still annoyed she protested still, Cait sith in the meantime had now fallen asleep soundly on her head the sound of the two of them becoming no more then background music, "then why did you say that just now!"
Looking at her then he really was beginning to lose his calm as he spoke out, "that just now was me-"
"Now cut this out both you!" At once making the two of them stop in their tracks the two squabbling teens turned and saw the very sexy blonde Lieutenant had come on over to them as she looked at them both very annoyed.
Silent in surprise at her commanding tone Riku and Nozomi all could do was stare at her as she continued with her lecture, "if the two of you want to have your own personal lover's spat then do it in your own spare time! Not while your own duty! Is that clear?"
Hearing this taking it seriously Nozomi though wondered, 'lover's spat?' However Riku answered her instead, "yes of course sorry mam! We'll make sure not to do it again! Won't we?" He asked turning to Nozomi.
Quiet still in thought she didn't respond, annoyed seeing her do this Riku gave a quick kick in her ankle making her snap out of it, "ow! What the-"
But then she heard a sound of an impatient cough, turning quick again she saw the female lieutenant looking at her extremely annoyed, seeing her look this way Nozomi stepped back into place as she answered feeling now embarrassed and really idiotic, "Uh yeah sorry there…mam, I'll make sure not to do that again."
Seeing now that both of her subordinates had got the message she responded, "good then see that you do! Now get back to your stations!" With that she walked away from the both to get back to her own duties.
Seeing her walk up to him the commander Lyle then complimented her, "well done there lieutenant Helga, now if there no more disturbances I say now we should-"
"Commander!"
Interruptions again broke through the commander's one calm moment; biting his lip he kept his irritation in place as he asked, "Yes soldier what is it?"
Hearing his commander the soldier spoke up, "you better have a look at this sir!" With that the soldier pointed forwards to the huge window as the searchlights all convened together showing the results he had found.
Everyone looking forwards out through the window all-quiet for a moment unsure but then quickly they all became wide eyed with shock and even in some cases terror as they saw the landscape that was below them all.
For there all over the sea bed were ruined and destroyed sea ships, some of them of Greek origin, European and some were so damaged and blasted beyond recognition that you couldn't even tell that they were originally ships anymore. The sight was haunting and saddening to think of the countless lives that were lost down there in the darkness and loneliness of the dark blue sea…
Nozomi feeling horrible seeing all these ships asked aloud her eyes wide with horror, "what happened here?"
Milo just as shocked as she was adjusted his glasses ever so slightly as he breathed out, "there are ships here from every era here!"
Riku seeing all this horrible destruction he felt his own nervousness grow ever so slightly, for what could have possibly caused all this atrocity?
Suddenly another droning voice echoed through the microphone system as she said, "commander? Commander?"
Hearing her recovering from his initial shock himself Lyle replied back, "yes, Mrs Packard, what is it?"
Glad to see she'd got the attention of her commander Mrs Packard spoke, "I'm picking up something on the hydrophone I think you should hear."
Nozomi still feeling horrible after seeing all the sunken ships snapped out of it for a moment as she repeated rather confused, "hydrophone?" For she wondered what that was?
Lyle curious himself at what it was that the old woman was hearing told her pointing to the sound system around them, "Put in on the speakers."
Then doing so Mrs Packard flicked a simple switch on her system and with that the sound was echoed all around the sub. As soon as the sound came out of the speakers everyone felt chills all go down their spines in seconds.
It was a loud screeching, groaning, almost metallic like sound as it creaked and echoed all around making a sea of dread fall over the heads of the crew. Cait sith hearing the sound flinched awake in seconds though he had to grasp his head as he called out, "awww darn ya that smarts!" For his sensitive cat ears were hearing the sound like a normal person would hear nails on a chalkboard.
Quickly rushing over to Mrs Packard's work area went to see what the cause of the sound might be Lyle asked, "What is it? A pod of whales?"
Shaking her head the old woman responded, "uh-uh, bigger."
Lieutenant Helga arriving at the same time spoke, "it sounds metallic," she then reached forwards twisting one of the knobs on the machinery trying to see if perhaps she could get a better result from things," could be an echo off one of the rocks."
Mrs Packard annoyed then retorted, "do you want to do my job? Be my guest." For how could they both do any better than what she could in that dark corner?
The noise though refusing to cease Nozomi was becoming more and more anxious at the sound as she thought of the boats and the image that Milo had shown to them before on the projector, could it really be that creature? Could it be-
"Is it just me? Or is that getting louder?" Milo asked as he interrupted Nozomi's thoughts and her anxious state.
Cait sith hearing the linguist say this winced as he could feel it himself, "mate if I'm! Ach! As in much agony as I am! Ow! Then yes it darn well is!" For he was still struggling very badly with the noise still echoing everywhere.
But then just as soon as Cait sith's complaints had come out of his mouth the sounds suddenly all died away quickly with seemingly no trace. Everyone listening still were all cautious for many moments… Cait sith though lifting one of his gloved paws cautiously off his ears listened for a moment before he happily cried out, "aww crikey at last!" For now he wouldn't be in so much agony anymore. Everyone too when Cait sith released his paws from his ears all became just as relieved as Nozomi herself let out a huge pent up sigh, she was so thankful nothing happened.
Even their Lieutenant was slightly relieved as she spoke, "well, whatever it was, it's gone now."
Mickey having been quiet during this whole incident spoke up himself, "well that was certainly scary there… just what was that there?"
Riku hearing him replied, "I don't know your majesty but whatever it was… it definitely wasn't good." The king nodded at this calmly, but he wasn't completely relaxed yet though.
Nozomi in the meantime finally recovering herself was still quiet for a moment shaking her arms getting the nervousness out of her system, but then Cait sith spoke up again pointing his gloved paw into the air, "glad that noise achin fest is over! If I ever meet up with whatever was causin that I'll give 'im a good old left and right as well a right kick up the rump!"
Hearing him Nozomi couldn't help but smirk as she remarked, "oh really? I'd like to see you try that Cait sith!"
At her words he remarked with his arms folded, "ya bet I'd do it! I'd get him right in his place like I do ya! Ya daft banshee!" To which he smacked her head again making Nozomi annoyed bitterly once more.
Seeing that his crew were all relaxed again including himself commander Lyle went back once again to giving his orders, "right Helmsman! Bring us about, tighten our search pattern and slow us to-"
But suddenly his commands were cut short as everyone was launched off their feet as something smashed into the sub making them all give out huge gasps and shouts as everyone became shocked and even injured.
"What the heck was-" But before Nozomi could continue to cry out her questions another crash came and with it the loud sounds of alarms began to ring out from all over the ship.
Getting up shakily trying to get her bearings together Nozomi saw all the red lights around her as everything was now in utter turmoil, but unlike the previous experiences she had before she had no idea how she was supposed to handle this one.
However the commander already seemed to know what to do as he spoke on still with that same commanding calmness as he told his lieutenant, "tell cookie to melt the butter and break out the bibs! I want this lobster served up on a silver platter!"
At once hearing the order Helga immediately relayed though her mouth bled ever so slightly, "load the torpedo bays! Subpod crews, battle stations!" Quickly again though she was thrown off her feet as the monster took another bashing at the submarine.
Still managing to stand there after another near stumble Nozomi watched as people ran around her all getting to their battle positions but still, "what should I do?" For she didn't know anything about driving a Subpod!
However quickly then though Riku and Mickey came running over to her, seeing them Nozomi spoke to them," guys! What do we do here! How're we supposed to fight that thing out there! How can we-"
Riku quickly interrupted her, "we don't."
Hearing these two words come from his mouth Nozomi was dumbstruck as she couldn't believe it for a moment, but then Cait sith spoke up for her instead, "what're ya talkin' about there Snow drop! These people have got some kinda weaponry 'ere! At least we can-"
But then Mickey himself interrupted him for the first time in his eerie calm manner in this rather drastic moment, "no, I'm afraid I gotta disagree with ya there Cait sith, Riku's already onto the fact that that thing out there is way bigger than what any of us can deal with here or anybody on board this entire submarine."
Hearing this info dumbfounded himself that he'd been interrupted by the mouse king Cait sith then asked after a moment, "then what're ya supposin' we do then mouse cheeks?"
Mickey then was solemn and reluctant to say it but then Riku came to his aid as he told the hotheaded pair, "we've got to escape from here, we've got to abandon the sub."
Listening to these words Nozomi instantly became concerned as she spoke distressed, "but what about all the people who're on board here!"
Grabbing her by the arm Riku told her trying to lead her away, "look I know you don't like what I'm saying but they're all going to abandon this ship soon! And when they do we've got to be one of the first to leave!" Stopping he couldn't move her anymore as she refused to budge. Looking at her then he saw the shocked look on her face that really saddened him inside but then he told her finally, "we can't worry about them."
But at these words Nozomi became absolutely enraged as she then argued straight back pulling her arm straight back out of his hand, "what do you mean we can't worry about them! They're all people here! Lives are at stake! We've got to do something to help! There has to be-"
Suddenly then Milo interrupted them as he told them running in their direction, "Hey guys we gotta go! The lieutenants already ordered us all to get to the Lifepods! We've gotta leave now and fast before-"
Suddenly then there was another huge crash that sent everyone flying once more with more yelling and shouting done, Riku landing hard on the metallic floor of the sub along with the king quickly saw Nozomi, Cait sith and Milo fall off the edge, seeing this he yelled, "Nozomi! Milo! Cait sith!"
"Aaagggghhh!" Nozomi cried out distressed as she fell, then suddenly she and Milo along with Cait sith collided with the huge front orange window of the sub, as the ship was now turned over they were both lying on top of it.
Nozomi aching gasped painfully as did Milo who shook his head from the impact, Cait sith also spoke out loudly, "ow! What made that there-"
But he stopped as he and everyone looked below and saw the terrifying monstrosity below them, it was a huge lobster like monster/creature coloured dark blue and metallic with various ancient engravings on its body as it held the sub with its two long gigantic claws as it peered through the window with its red and orange glowing eyes. Its true monstrous menace revealed to them all!
Milo seeing the creature then saw what it was as it s eyes zoomed and he realised exclaiming, "Jiminy Christmas! It's a machine!"
Gazing at its huge menacing eyes though Nozomi couldn't even move to scream from the sight of it as it horrified her so, and she realised then the true horror of the Leviathan and what it was that she and the others couldn't win against...
