She could see how a metallic tip rose up from the water while foaming water was pushed toward the sides. The shadow was now no more than fifteen meters away. The screaming seagulls that she saw surfing in the wind up at the car had flown down to the crowd and had taken up position a few meters above the crowd and now circled back and forth. For Maja, too many things happened at once.
The object that came up was huge. Much bigger than she imagined. It looked like an enormous pyramid that rose from the water. As a living, shining beast awakened from its sleep now emerged as a Leviathan from the depths. The crowd around her held their breath and starred at the unlikely object that appeared before them. Water ran out of it and splashed everywhere around them. A deep pulsating sound was heard, and it was mixed with the heavy wind and the seagull's screams.
Maja stared at the long lines of light that glided above her. The object appeared to be of greenish metal and the surface was rough and rugged and resembled an old gray whale covered with white parasites. Three long lines of light lined the hull and she stared at it as it glided over their heads.
Atacama deep, coast of Chile
March 15, 2049
The devil is in the details. David got up from the chair and walked over to the navigation table. The boat rolled in the waves, and he stretched out his hand, took hold of a shelf until the floor again was horizontal. He leaned over the navigation table and glanced down at the flashing icon which showed their journey to the target area and saw that it was almost at its target. He straightened himself and took a deep breath while his thoughts swirled.
Their company, MADC, was still relatively new but this mission would secure their names for decades to come, he was sure. That's why he had said yes when Backmann had called. David had previously worked with Backmann and that mission had gone well. But now it was different. Now he was with Melissa and MADC was her future too. Melissa had become angry when she realized that David had not told her everything and rightfully so. It was important that she was on board with everything they did, and he regretted that he had not explained everything at once to Melissa instead of keeping that part secret.
He shook his head. Why did he do that? He was not quite sure, it was so frustrating. Perhaps he had thought that she would refuse to agree to pursue such an absurd mission. Perhaps she would think it was a waste of resources trying to track a clue that was over three years old. Now, he certainly did not know why he did it and he cursed himself. He wondered how he could make it up her, nodded to himself, pressed a few buttons for adjusting the coordinates and walked down under deck where Melissa was. This would not be easy to explain. A hard, cold lump spread in the stomach. He was almost at the stairs when the boat rolled again, and he had to stop until the rolling died down.
The hologram screen on the wall showed a continuous news update stream and he glanced at it. The camera zoomed in on the red-haired journalist as she raised her hand to her headset and adjusted the microphone.
"Here, right behind me, we see Arik Zimki getting ready for his speech. As we all know, Arik Zimki is the leader of Helder Ster and a leader in the working group that has been appointed to investigate the unusual seismic activities we are now seeing.
The camera panned from the reporter to a short bald man who walked along a red carpet over to the stand where he would give his speech. David recognized Arik and knew that he was one of the most powerful men on the southern hemisphere. It was Arik who had taken over the chief position as CEO fifteen years ago when Helder Ster had suffered badly because commodity prices, especially for gold and diamonds, had been permafrozen for three years. In the early 2030s, several global mining producers got together and tried to take over the gold and diamond market with the help of a secret, illegal cartel. It had gone well in the beginning and prices had risen rapidly.
But Interpol had gotten wind of what they were doing and managed to infiltrate the cartel after two years and gathered evidence. The subsequent trials had been a disaster for those involved and several of the leaders had been sentenced to heavy fines and long prison sentences. The leader of Helder Ster, Mick Haas, a South African with a taste for prostitutes, had been sentenced to fourteen years in prison and the entire board of Helder Ster had been forced to resign. The South African authorities had required Helder Ster to issue a new board and choose a new leader. And through a lot of claws and sharp elbows, Arik had succeeded in becoming one of the two candidates the new board would choose from. Arik had hired a private investigator to look up information that could be used against the other. When the scandalous images of the other candidate mysteriously came into the hands of the press, the board had simply chosen Arik to lead Helder Ster.
Arik Zimki stepped over to the lectern, took a firm grip on the handles and looked out over the gathered.
"Dear members of the committee, dear board, dear fellows. Welcome."
Arik read with a slight lisp as he humbly looked down before he purposefully lifted his gaze.
"The leaders of the most influential space agencies, together with the United Nations and a selection of the most prominent mega-complexes on earth, who appointed a committee which had evaluated the recent extraordinary events. As you know, an extraterrestrial life form contacted us three months ago. This discovery was the greatest in human history and has and will have a fundamental impact on all people's lives on earth."
A few hands in front of him rose hesitantly, but Arik made a gesture for them to wait. He rubbed his well-trimmed goatee before continuing.
"What happened three months ago was a beginning in many ways. It was the beginning of our expanded understanding of the universe using the knowledge communicated by the spheres. It was the beginning of a revived interest in space by millions and millions of young talented people. It was the beginning of expanded cooperation between the American NASA, the European ESA and the Russian Roscosmos, which will lift our understanding and knowledge to new heights."
Arik gazed calmly over the hypnotized audience.
"About six weeks after contact with the spheres, at the end of February, the first signs of abnormal seismic activity was recorded on the Moon. It was something unique and did not end there. In the following weeks, an increasing number of Moonquakes were recorded, and we also discovered that Mars was also affected. As said, this group was established to investigate these new seismic activities. And as late as yesterday, a report on unusual seismic activity in southern China came in.”
Arik pressed a remote control on the lectern and a holo-screen turned on behind him.
"The immediate conclusion we’ve reached is that they are a warning."
Several hands rose again in front of Arik, but he ignored them.
"They are a warning that we are faced with change. A change that affects us all. A change that will sweep with violent power through our daily lives. Whatever the reason for this, it may have come too to Earth. And if so, and we are working hard to confirm this, it will have even more profound influence than we previously thought. "
A sea of hands rose eagerly in front of Arik and he looked over them with the gaze of a professor. David had seen enough and turned off the screen.
* * *
The frustration grew, flowed over her like a wave and then retreated. The room was relatively hot and humid, and Melissa closed the door behind her. Her shoes made a slight squishy sound as she walked, and the bare metallic walls reflected it.
Melissa pressed the screen in front of her and a door in the wall opened. She was in the lowest part of Shooting Star, in the space they used to dive. Through a hole in the hull, you could dive straight into the sea without getting up on the deck.
A door in the wall opened and the autonomous underwater robot slowly glided onto two rails that trailed the floor. With a wheezing noise, it stopped in front of her and she squatted down to begin the review of it. Before they could activate it to send it down to the target area, everything had to be in top condition. Melissa worked methodically to make sure everything was
as it should. While she worked, she pondered the incident with David and why he had not told her everything. It was so annoying. MADC was their joint venture, and she had as much to say in the running of what David had. For the last two years, she had been a vital part of the operation, and it frustrated her that David thought he could treat her as he did. Perhaps it was to protect her, she did not know. David was a good man but sometimes his protection instinct could take over. She sighed. She had to address this with him and find a solution. This was not sustainable. She continued to work under silence, reached for a screwdriver and did not hear the door open.
David tiptoed into the room and saw Melissa working with the preparations of the underwater robot. He swallowed hard. He had to ask for forgiveness. He cleared his throat and Melissa turned around and looked at him with a raised eyebrow but said nothing. He looked sheepishly at her.
"I’m sorry. I know I should have said something. It was completely wrong of me to act the way I did."
She did not move a muscle. After what David thought was an eternity, she dropped the screwdriver and rose. She reached for a towel and wiped her hands.
"Why did not you say anything?" Before David could answer, she continued, "You know that we two are equal partners in this. You know that. So why are you doing this?"
He did not know what he would say.
"I really do not know. I was really taken aback when I spoke to Backmann, so I thought that maybe you would burst out laughing when you heard what I had agreed to."
She glared at him.
"Have I ever laughed at you?"
He shifted uneasily.
"No."
She let him squirm for a couple of moments before she smiled at him.
"Don’t do it again, silly. Okay?"
He broke into a big smile.
"Ok. I promise, scouts honor.”
She took a step forward and pulled him close. She kissed him as he took her in his arms. They stood for a few minutes and enjoyed the moment. She looked quizzically at David.
” Now, tell me who's coming here and help us."
He nodded and walked to a holo-shield hanging on one wall.
"The man from the Amber Group is on his way. His name is Jonathan Jarl and he’s an agent."
"Why does he need to come here?"
"I agreed with Backmann that one of their employees would be allowed to join the team."
Melissa raised an eyebrow.
"You don’t think we can manage ourselves?"
He smiled weakly.
"It's not so much that we cannot handle it. It's more that Backmann wanted Jonathan here." He paused, "And he actually has some experience with antiques too. It was him who retrieved the sky disc from Nebra."
"The sky disc?" You mean the sky disc that is used to communicate with the spheres?"
David nodded, activated his holo band and opened a hologram of Jonathan.
Melissa studied the hologram of Jonathan in silence. She turned around.
"Interesting."
David took hold of the hologram and pulled apart his fingers and the hologram grew to full size. He read the text that scrolled down next to the hologram.
"Born in 2029. Son of a French female astronaut and a Swedish air officer. He grew up in Sweden and partly in Greenland. Degree in astronomy and astrophysics from Lund University. Married to Chantelle Lecroix. Father of a child that age one was diagnosed with leukemia. Divorced from Chantelle half a year later when their daughter passed away. Highly intelligent and specialist in space research and in archeology”, David paused a few seconds before continuing, "And had some problems with tablet dependence apparently. Oxycodone. ” He frowned. ” Probably because of their child who passed away and their divorce."
David nodded thoughtfully and took hold of the hologram and pulled it to the side, o it vanished.
"Yes, probably. But it is, in any case, him who Backmann has sent to help with the operation. Jonathan is apparently on his way using hyper transport across the Atlantic. "
David checked the watch on his wrist. It was a classic model like that he received from his father. When David was eighteen he had received a Certina DS as he had ever since but last year he and Melissa had been a week at Fuerteventura for relaxation and when they got home after that week, moisture had gone into the case. David had sent it for repair, but the model had been too old, and the necessary spare part was not left. But as a service, Certina had offered David to buy a newer model for the same price it would cost to repair it. The new follow the old. He chuckled.
"He should be there tomorrow. I guess we'll be notified when he approaches."
Melissa nodded and resumed the laborious work of using the diagnostic program to go through the status of the underwater robot. While David watched, various lights on the robot lit up and turned off and all moving parts were checked. After three minutes Melissa nodded.
"Well, it looks good. We are in any case ready to dive when we get that far."
David smiled at her, leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Should we go through the rest of the mission?"
Melissa got up and shook her head. She did not say anything when she took his hand and led him up the stairs to the bedroom.
* * *
The pleasure after they had made love was almost as intense as during. David felt the heat of Melissa's body against him. He lay on his back and Melissa lay on the side and held him. Her soft skin was smooth on his body and he enjoyed her warmth. Her fingers danced over his chest. He smiled to himself.
"What are you laughing at?"
He shrugged when he noticed Melissa watching him. He smiled at her.
"Just that life is beautiful."
"It's not because you think I forgot what you did?"
Melissa pinched him softly on his throat.
"You're going to tell me everything, is it clear? We do this together and I do not need someone to protect me. Okay?"
He nodded, pulled her tight and kissed her passionately. He mumbled.
"I understand. Sorry."
They kissed. It was always wonderful to make up again after a quarrel. She laid her head down on his chest.
"Do you think we will pull it off?"
"With some luck, we’ll be just fine. Sandhurst is deep down, but we should be able to access her. "
Their goal was the sunken schooner Sandhurst. The last known position of the wreck was that she lay on the edge of the vast Atacama deep just over 4000 meters deep. The vessel's location was almost two hundred meters from the edge. If it laid there, they had a real chance of getting to it by using their underwater robot. If Sandhurst instead had fallen at a different angle, she had slipped down into the more than twice as the deep Atacama and then it would have been out of reach.
David wrinkled his forehead. Even though the ship was within reach of them, it would be a challenging mission for their underwater robot that they named Jack. It was approved down to a depth of 5000 meters and was controlled via a fiber optic cable from Shooting Star. Along the bottom of the Shooting Star was the control board that ruled Jack and David knew that Melissa was the best to control. She had an especially light touch and could often imagine the potential difficult maneuvers in advance and was thus able to navigate around them.
"Sandhurst is within reach, I’ll just hope that she will remain where she is."
He nodded. The area they were in was known for underwater quakes and it was probably only a matter of time before a quake caused it to plummet into the abyss. The Atacama deep was over 8000 meters and that world was out of reach for Jack.
Flor Fria - Macau
March 15, 2049
Death had come to them often lately. Annie Chen noticed how a headache again slowly descended over her eyes. She sat down, closed her eyes hard and massaged her temples to ease the pain. After a couple of minutes, it subsided, and she opened her eyes. She waited until she could focus on the dirty ground in front of her, got up and took a few deep bre
aths. Something black, gooey stuck on her boot and she rubbed it against an edge of a burned-out car.
The stench around her was not as heavy as before, the smoke had become lighter and for every minute that passed, the air circulation continued to clear the contaminated air. She was down in the lower levels of Flor Fria, the mega-complex outside Macau's coast. Here they were as safe as they could now. The Chinese would not find them here. They were effective the Chinese soldiers, but in these lower, catacomb-like areas, the rebels still ruled.
She froze as she breathed through her nose and sensed the terrible smell of burned meat. She heard a weak voice was behind her.
"Annie?"
She recognized the anxious voice, turned around and saw Tanja Wu looking uneasily at her. Annie smiled at the girl.
"Hi, Tanja."
The dirty hair that hung down in front of the little girls’ eyes was tousled and unkempt. The girl's face was covered in a layer of dirt and dust, but when she smiled, Annie saw a full set of pearl-white teeth.
"How are you?"
"I feel better now when you're with me."
The girl's smile became wider and she pointed upwards.
"The others are waiting for you."
Annie nodded and leaned toward the girl, pushed aside some hair from the forehead and kissed her.
"I know. Go and tell them I'm on my way."
Tanja nodded eagerly, turned around and ran off. Annie sighed. That's how it was now. The others would look to her for leadership and be waiting for her orders. But she was not sure she could manage the responsibility. Not sure all. She had not yet been part of the beginning of the uprising. She thought back on the past three months and how her life had changed.
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