Deep Dive

Chapter 5 of Sapphire Mermaid

Sirtis, formerly Binia, decided to keep her new name. She raced across the wave tops of the Pacific, headed for the Mariana Trench, deepest spot on Earth at roughly seven miles down. Perhaps the UFO pilots had chosen this spot in hopes of the craft not being recovered. Alternately, they were headed here with a destination in mind. The situation was indeed urgent, as the U S Navy had earlier this year reached the bottom. They could indeed recover the wreck. If the aliens were headed here on purpose, it suggested an even deeper spot with a concealed entrance. They were long rumored to have deep sea bases. But then, star gazers insisted they also had them on Mars and the moon.

She angled sharply upward, then dived deep, having the light-globe strapped behind her. For this occasion she wore the Krypton garb of black dress and boots, with the tunic accented in white and green. The black cape was Kara's idea of keeping with the super hero animus. The crescent opening up below was about 2500 miles long, but not nearly as wide. Sirtis regretted that her powers didn't include night vision. Still, X-ray vision supplied reverse images in grainy detail. Deeper and deeper she plunged, scanning the four known outcrops. No luck there; she'd have to go all the way. At length she reached the bottom. In some places, the light picked out cracked gray stone. Other areas were covered in nutrient-rich slime. Bizarre creatures came and went: a neon jellyfish with an orange light in its dome; spider crabs with impossibly long legs; sea cucumbers; even plants, like a brilliant red fern.

After an hour of cruising, she felt a telltale tug on the metal globe—the craft's super magnet, part of its inter-dimensional power plant. The immense pressure of almost sixteen thousand psi had mangled the craft. Its dark gray metal should have survived the pressure, suggesting it had taken damage prior to the plunge. There wasn't time to speculate, as she had a job to do. The biggest problem was getting close enough. The globe might be snatched out of her grip and crushed against the magnet.

Sirtis wedged the globe in a fissure, augmenting its distant light with X rays. The magnet itself was intact, a large disk that was concave on both sides. The Men in Black had no idea of its condition; she would, therefore, report it as fragmented. It was up to Kara to bait a trap with it. Yet the craft remained a vexing problem. She flew all around it, noted a missing section. An escape pod? If so, where had it gone? Fetching the light-globe, she began a methodical search.

Soon she picked out an enormous circular hatch beneath sediment. Rapid arm waving blew it clear. It operated by sliding aside on locking clamps. Sirtis used brute strength to wrench it free and slide it aside. Immediately there came a gush of hot water from Stygian depths, which drew up a storm of debris. She waited for it to abate, then went to drag the wreck here and kick it down the passage. Finally she pulled the hatch closed and welded it in four places with heat vision. It was time to carry the magnet to the place designated by Kara.

A town in the Caucasus

A third of the way around the world, a village alderman looked over reports from district managers. Thanks to so much supernatural lore, the town enjoyed enough of a tourist trade to finance road improvements, making it easier to get here from the airport. He did his part as well: his widow's peak and curled mustache gave him a certain Old World mystique.

Suddenly the street-side wall crashed open in a rain of glass and plaster. In walked a blonde in a skimpy red costume and cape. The alderman slowly rose. "You wear the symbol of Superman, and yet . . ."

"I'm not a man? If you noticed that, we're off to a good start." She stalked toward him. "I'll ask only once. Where is the vampire?"

"Miss . . . please."

She gripped his collar at the neck and hoisted him high. "I mean no harm to your undead pet. I only want a little favor."

Only slightly assured, he put hands out. "Yes, yes. Let me down and we'll talk."

"You'll talk, and I'll listen."

He made bold to sit. "You have noticed how there is no crime here, how things run smoothly."

"And?"

"Centuries ago, my forefathers came to an understanding with the vampire. There is no killing—merely a few nips here and there in return for her special ability."

Her? Great—another cat fight. "That's exactly why I'm here, Alderman. From what I see, her bite has a hypnotic quality. In fact, it's self perpetuating, depending on what she commands the victim to do."

He looked flabbergasted. "You have done your research well. But killing me will not avail you."

The girl crossed arms with a smug little smile. "Suppose I expose your operation to the world? Every vampire hunter in Europe will flock here with their mallets, stakes, pitchforks, and torches."

Now he just felt defeated. "It seems I will have to trust you. Very well—this is where you can find her."

An old woman peered into the gaping hole, crossed herself, scurried away.

Beneath a crumbling fort

Kara waited until full dark before venturing down ancient steps carved into the stone. Wind moaned up from dank currents. The alderman said she'd find the vampire in the remains of an underground cistern. Kara had always found those claustrophobic-inducing for explorers. There was something creepy about damp sludge from centuries ago. It was easy to imagine it full of water with no way out. Her lantern cast haunted shadows among fallen tiers.

A feral shriek heralded fangs that made no headway against the back of her neck. Kara turned calmly as the creature sprang away, red eyes glinting in the dark. "Don't break your teeth. You're going to need them"

The vampire ventured closer, hands feeling the air like a snake's tongue. The wild-haired apparition spoke. "What manner of creature are you?"

"A visitor from the stars. You're native born, and I can respect that. I want to bring a trouble maker here for you to put the bite on. I'll tell you what command to give him. Once he's under your spell, it remains in place as long as you exist. That's your guarantee that no one will ever know your secret."

The other considered. "Bring him to me, star traveler."