The captain took a deep breath, "Right.", glancing at Preston before pushing the button of the ship intercom, "Attention, lunch is to commence in 10 minutes. Pack up and start preparing to board for the underwater journey once lunch is done within the half hour to people all who's going. That's all.".
Meanwhile, a late 20s-something young man by the name of Jacques Dernier is pushing a dolly of boxes that contains his own inventions of dynamite bombs, flares, bundles, explosives, etc., and he perked up when he heard the announcement. He muttered in his native French, "About time.", before seeing one of the vents rattling open, and he narrowed his eyes as he backed the dolly up around the corner.
Unable to break his habit of staying under cover, thanks to being in the French resistance, he watched the vent rattling open before it fell and got caught in time by a hand as the vent would have made a slamming sound loud enough in the hallway, and then his eyes widened in shock to see a kid, no, a barely pre-aged teenager, a boy in ragged clothes and such, looking like Italian descent, getting out of the vent.
How did he get on the ship?! The boy looked like he was half starved and dirty, with his black hair of a mop and dark brown eyes. Jacques frowned and walked out, clearing his throat, poised to run and catch him if he gets frightened, "How did you get on, boy?", speaking in English, still a bit heavy on his French accent.
The boy froze up as Jacques pinched the bridge of his nose. "Wait, hold on, let me try that again... I'm not upset...", he said as the boy just continued to stay still. "Does anyone else know you're here?", he asked as the boy shook his head. "You got a name?".
"V-Vinny...", the boy whispered, the Italian accent fairly obvious now. Jacques hummed, "How old are you? 9, 10?", and Vinny looked affronted for a second, "11, almost 12!".
"You got spunk, kid...How did you get on?", Jacques chuckled with a raised eyebrow, and Vinny ducked his head sheepishly, "Potato sack...I ain't going back to America! You won't make me...".
Jacques looked at him for a long moment, figuring that the Great Depression had done something hard on his family or worse, and he exhaled, "I won't press you on why, Vinny, but everybody is going to ask questions...".
Vinny sighed, averting his eyes, and then his cheeks turned red when his belly grumbled angrily, and Jacques gave a deep sigh, "You're lucky that I have a bleeding heart for down on luck people, kid. Come on, let's get you a fresh change of clothes, maybe a quick shower, and get some chow before we board.".
Eyes widening, Vinny looked up at him in surprise, "You aren't going to out me to the captain?", and Jacques gave a hum as he turned around to grab his dolly, pushing it alongside as he walked past Vinny, and stopped for a moment to look at him in the eye, "Nope. So, up to you, kid. Do you want to keep slinking around in vents, robbing a few oranges here and there, hiding and being seasick, or do you want to join me, become my apprentice, and you get meals 3 times a day, having an adventure, and stay by my side if you don't want to be found and taken back to America?", with a patient shrug, and then started to walk on, yet walking slowly, waiting for Vinny to make his choice.
"I don't really have much of a choice, do I?", Vinny asked as Jacques shook his head. "I'm afraid that sticking with me is the only choice you'd really have unless you want to be thrown into the stockade by the captain, sent back to the states and arrested as a spy.", Jacques had to admit the truth to the boy as he nodded.
Vinny exhaled and glanced at the vent, and with a deep breath, he picked it up and closed it, and then jogged up to Jacques, "Are those explosives, sir?", and Jacques quirked a genuine smile, "My inventions, kid, and you don't have to call me sir. Call me Jacques, or Jack if you want to. Good thing there's a locker room close to here. Stick with me, Vinny, and let's get you cleaned up, borrow a few clothes, and then head to the ship galley for that chow.", and Vinny's stomach grumbled again, causing him to blush as Jacques laughed warmly, "I think you're going to like this adventure as soon as you get food in that hungry belly.".
Vinny then gave a genuine smile, looking at Jacques, nodding, starting to feel like he might just have a new friend in him, maybe a mentor if he's required to work with small things under Jacques' supervision to keep away very personal questions from anyone else, and he's a bit relieved that Jacques isn't intrusive into his personal business like some people, considering his age and appearance.
An hour later, Erskine stood by Preston, "Very impressed, Preston. She's a beauty. The Ulysses is a good name, indeed.", and Preston chuckled warmly, "Thank you, doctor...", glancing around before noticing something in the bubble window of the sub, and smiling, nudging Erskine with a whisper, "Our guest's safe and good.".
Erskine glanced Preston's way, and his heart skipped a beat in relief to see Thaddeus in his gas mask and disguise of taking up a uniform of Team Atlantis, showing a hand sign of love for a quick minute, before nodding and resuming his patrol around the glass window boardwalks.
Preston quietly chuckled, "Better?", having noticed that Erskine was a bit tense earlier, and Erskine nodded, "Yes.", with a smile before seeing a man coming up from the boarding trucks and such, as he had met him yesterday, and Preston smiled, "Ah, Rourke! Almost time, eh?".
Commander Rourke nodded, "Yes, sir. Dr. Erskine, ready to embark?", and Erskine nodded, "Yes, but I'm waiting for Mr. Milo Thatch. I hope he hadn't gotten lost.", as Preston and he went to stroll besides Commander Rourke.
"Hope that kid isn't leading us the wrong way... very much would not make me a happy camper if I could put it in the most pleasant way possible.", Rourke said.
"I trust the young man... he's very much like his grandfather.", Erskine smiled before he noticed Jacques with Vinny; and of course, he wasn't the only one. "Did you see that boy before, Doctor?", Rourke asked him.
Erskine replied, "He was in the ship galley. I figured that he was one of the kitchen boys. I guess he asked Mr. Dernier if he could accompany him...And besides, if you think about it, Mr. Dernier will want an apprentice to watch him just in case if we need explosives in two different places or something of the sort, and if he was a kitchen boy, he will assist Cookie occasionally, I suppose.".
Rourke frowned, "I suppose you're right, Doctor...I allowed Ms. Ramirez to be here because of her father's retirement...But since I know Mr. Dernier, he will make sure that the boy is his responsibility, because I would not like it if that boy were causing trouble, as he is so young.".
Preston replied, "Oh, come on, Jacques is a determined man, and I'm sure he's taking care to keep him sticking close as much as possible.", and Rourke nodded, "True.".
Erskine then saw Milo walking with Steve and Peggy, "Milo! Steven, thank goodness. Miss Carter.", smiling in relief as he waved to grab their attention, and they came up to them.
Peggy glanced at Rourke, "Sir, if I may, I got a message from the captain in the bridge up top. He said that there was a U-Boat for clearly 10 minutes, coming close to us, and then strangely, it disappeared. The captain had talked to the convoy leader, and the U-Boat hadn't attacked them, nothing...they also said that it was there on their scanner too, but then it vanished on theirs as well.".
Everyone glanced at each other, all trying to think what had happened as Erskine took a deep breath, "I fear we might have company. If the U-Boat was indeed detected, then it must be that he was trying to reach any other nearby units and get a Wolfpack ready. We need to deploy in a few minutes before we find ourselves being attacked by over half a dozen or more subs.".
Rourke nods, "Agreed. Ladies and gentlemen, come with me. I better inform Mrs. Packard to announce to everybody to load up quickly in five minutes. Mr. Whitmore, take care.".
Preston nodded, "Take care, Rourke. Milo, watch over the doc, eh?", and Milo nodded, "You got it, Mr. Whitmore. Come on, Steve and Peggy!", with a gesture, with the couple following Milo, as they went after Rourke.
Erskine glanced at Preston who reassured him with a smile, "Don't worry, this ship can take a few whomps before danger really comes in, but either way, I will get the captain to turn around as soon as you're deployed.".
"Okay. You be careful, Preston. You know that either I or our guest will be upset if you get hurt.", Erskine replied, and Preston nodded, "You got it, doc. Now, git!", with Erskine nodding and nearly jogging up to climb up the ramp, with Steve grabbing his hand, "You good, Dr. Erskine?", as he got in.
"Nervous...", Erskine told him. "I've never actually been this close to the front... but even then, it's the fright of not knowing if there are U-Boats near or where they are that really gets to you.".
Steve replied, "I'm scared too, but we will get down there with all we got. You heard Milo. If we're close, we're surely able to follow his instructions from the map. And considering that maybe we're lucky, with the chance of being undetected by either the U-boats or the convoy, the mystery of Atlantis's guardian would be still around if the stories I heard about missing ships from the sailors in the galley is right.".
"Let's pray those are only just stories...", Erskine turned. "Sorry, I need to make sure that my equipment is already in; if we lose that... well, I'm sorry I wouldn't be able to hold up my end of things with our arrangement, Steven.".
Steve nodded, "It's okay, doc...I think I have something else to keep close to heart if that happens.", with a secret smile as he glanced at Peggy, and Erskine chuckled, squeezing his shoulder, "Indeed. Love is still around no matter what era.", with a smile before he left him, heading to his room where he saw Thaddeus, smiling as he's wearing his cream white ascot with Erskine's science insignia as it's his trademark notice for Erskine to know that it's him.
Upon locking the door, Thaddeus momentarily removed his gas mask and kissed him on the lips lovingly for a moment, "Sorry, couldn't resist...What's going on?".
Erskine was about to reply when Packard's voice came over the intercom, "Everyone who's boarding, load up in five minutes before we deploy.", and Erskine replied, "Can't be totally sure, but we had signs of a U-boat following a convoy on the scanner, and then it vanished like 10 minutes ago. I need to load all the equipment into the first Aqua-Evac, just in case.".
Thaddeus looked surprised and worried, nodding, "Right. I'll help you.", before donning his gas mask, and so, they went to pack the few open equipment back into their bags, as Erskine was grateful that he had partially unpacked this morning when he led Thaddeus to the sub.
"Top priority is to make sure this one survives if things go wrong...", Erskine muttered as he and Thaddeus were close with a few others as they were loading things. "Much of the command crew knows that at least.".
"Hopefully we won't be in a position to have to make the decision on what to sacrifice...", Thaddeus said.
Erskine nods, "Yes, hopefully.", with an exhale, smiling as practically almost all of the sub navy members didn't recognize Thaddeus' voice at all, it's only the team and Milo they have to worry about. Steve and Peggy are the safest on both sides of that as they never met or knew Thaddeus.
"Right, this should be good.", Erskine said as all his equipment is secured, and glances at Thaddeus, "I'll leave you to patrol.", with a smile, as Thaddeus whispers softly, "I'll be close to get to evacuation if anything happens. I ain't leaving out of your sight soon enough.", with a firm nod.
Erskine gave a thankful smile, and leaves, hearing Packard's voice over the intercom again, "Two minutes to deployment.", and he heads to the command bridge within the bubble window and sees Milo along with Steve and Peggy on one of the boardwalks, seeing Preston outside on the ship platform.
Preston tips his hat, smiling at him, and Erskine nods back with a smile, as Milo waves at Preston, with the sound of the alarm sounding out, with Steve holding on to the railing, with Preston giving a thumbs up, with his other hand behind him, and Erskine knew that he's crossing his fingers for luck, with Peggy commenting, "We're deploying.".
"At least we'll be able to see better if we have any company.", Erskine said. "You sure this thing was properly tested?", Milo asked as he was hanging on tight with the Ulysses rumbling as it was truly coming to life.
Erskine replied, "Mr. Whitmore, Preston, said that he had tested it two times during the building and all, it will be fine, Milo.", as they can see the water splashing in a whooshing sight, and Erskine saw Preston still there, smiling as the last sight of the surface for a split moment before the Ulysses became swallowed by the great ocean, floating and swimming with rotors at the sides here and there, intact and flawless, heading for the depths of the ocean.
Steve and Milo were googling in amazement as they saw several swarms of different fishes and such swimming by the glass bubble window, and Peggy exhaled, "I bet you wish you had your sketchpad out, huh, Steve?", with a smile.
"I knew I was forgetting something...", Steve cursed as Peggy chuckled. "Doubt we would stay still long enough for you to sketch.", she said. "Still, I suppose we could take a picture if anyone brought a camera.".
"Deemed too compromising to security so no to any cameras, I'm afraid.", Rourke informed her. "Everything secure, Helga?", he asked her as Helga nodded.
"Everything's in perfect status. Erskine's equipment as well as what we'll need to travel... if the journey is long, am I right, Mr. Thatch?", Helga looked to Milo as he was looking through the Shepard's Journal.
Milo blinked a few times before looking up, "Oh, yes...but are we followed by anyone?", and Rourke called out, "Packard?".
Mrs. Wilhelmina Packard took a swig of her cigarette before exhaling and replied, "We're reaching the coordinates steadily, Commander, but the scanning's clear. Apparently, they must have gotten too bold and went too far ahead of us since Radio Scanning on level 3 said that there are signs of dead U-Boats without live alarms.".
Rourke glanced at Milo, "Theories?", and Milo exhaled, "Steve, I'd need your help on this one.", and Steve nodded, and so, they set up a slide machine, with Milo replying, "We have stories from sailors, and many myths over the centuries, and from what the Journal says, the guardian of Atlantis is said to be a Levithan, said to drive men mad and destroy ships.", as a slide came alight, revealing a picture of old Latin and a drawing of a lobster.
"A Levithan?", Peggy asked, and Milo nodded, "Oh, yes. In the Bible, there is a description that says the creature shoots out bolts of lightning and sounding like thunder, but I believe it's mainly a sculpture of sorts to scare the superstitious away and the sort.".
Erskine frowned, "So, not exactly a living creature, then.", and Rourke replied, "So, when we get past this hunk of rock, where do we go?".
Milo turned off the slide machine, drawing, "We're here in the ocean, and there's a tunnel, a curve into an open-air pocket, and from there, is the path to Atlantis, sort of like the piping in your sink, but I do not know how long the path is, only that it took a long time of walking from what the author did.".
"Good thing we've got vehicles then. Those new GMC CCKW's can carry a lot of things.", Peggy said as others nodded.
"I'm still more concerned about those U-Boats...", Erskine admitted. "Unless we've already reached a good depth they couldn't follow, something took those things out and I don't think it was the Navy...".
"Doctor, you're obviously jumpy at shadows and myths.", Rourke obviously was dismissive of the danger.
Steve spoke up for Erskine, "Sir, we had myths justified, thanks to artifacts from Rome, Greece, Egypt. This should be the same, especially when we are heading into unknown waters.", and Rourke glanced at him for a long moment before exhaling, "I won't argue with that, Officer Rogers. But I still say that the seas can play tricks on people.".
Steve nodded, agreeing on his point, and then one of the helmsmen called out, "Commander, sire, there's something you should see. Scan's picking up tons of objects on the sea floor.", and Rourke replied, "Give me exterior lights, but keep them low unless needed to be wider in span.", ordering the helmspeople, and they followed his orders, and so, at the head of the Ulysses, exterior lights came on.
