by Greig Beck
“Air,” Mironov said.
“Yes, we’re running out, fast.”
“Understood.” Mironov still smiled. “There is no type of tube or line we can run over to the Alvin to replenish your air supply. Added to that, our auxiliary tanks are certainly not compatible with yours.” He turned in his seat to Cate, still smiling, “What you really need is a workshop with parts and supplies for an Alvin class submersible. Know where we can find one of those?” He raised an eyebrow.
Cate began to grin, getting it immediately. Sam snorted in the background.
“Of course, of course! We’re actually pinned to the Archimedes that has parts and supplies …” She groaned. “But it’s separated from us by a hundred feet of high pressure water. No ADS suit, remember?”
“But we have ADS suits, and we also have you, who can direct us. Our suit will pick up your comms. Though our suit cannot enter the Alvin ADS airlock, it can certainly deliver a spare oxygen tank – six hours of breathable air. If we can locate one, it could work.” Mironov tilted his chin.
Sam looked down from her window and then back to the vertical deck of the Archimedes. “I like it, but how? The angle of the ship’s deck makes it impossible to gain purchase in an ADS.”
“In your suits maybe. But my design has some minor self-propulsion. We could float there.” Mironov’s smile dropped as he turned to Williams.
“Dr. Williams.” Mironov’s lips pressed into a line for a moment. “Given your experience with an ADS suit, and prior time working in deep water, you are the best person on the Nautilus to undertake this task.” He lifted his chin. “If you say no to this, then I will fully understand. There is no way to paper over the fact that this mission is as high risk as it can get.”
Williams turned slowly in his seat, looking along their faces. He began to smile. “If any of you had the experience, I know you wouldn’t hesitate.” He slapped his thighs. “Suiting up.” He got to his feet and headed for the rear compartment.
Mironov also stood. “Jack, take over. Mr. Brenner, let’s assist Dr. Williams with his suit preparations. Time is of the essence.” He turned to the console. “Ms. Britt, talk us through the ship’s layout, and what Dr. Williams will actually be looking for.”
* * *
The Megalodon shark had followed the huge metal ship as it slid down the side of the trench cliff face, only abandoning the race when the ship collided with the bottom. Even after the impact the sensors packed into its huge snout could detect the life signs of the small creatures inside, and the signals drove it mad from both hunger and territorial defensiveness.
It soared away into the red warmth of the sea bottom, already aware that other denizens of this deep place would be attracted by anything coming to rest on the bottom – it usually always meant food, shelter or a threat.
It might need to fight for its prize. But there was nothing it feared other than its own kind.
CHAPTER 34
“We’ll be with you every step of the way.” Valery Mironov
The Anastasia slowed and then stopped. Sonya Borashev had glasses up to her eyes as she scanned the dark, flat ocean. She saw exactly what she expected to see – miles and miles of pond-flat seawater.
The sunrise wasn’t far off, and it looked calm and peaceful. But Sonya knew that below the surface was the most monstrous killer that ever lived. Also down there was Valery, and their sonar put them at around 21,800 feet. When she had been told the Nautilus was sliding into the trench she had feared the worst. But the Nautilus was still returning life-sign pings, and its distress beacon wasn’t activated, meaning its hull hadn’t been breached.
Somehow, some way, Valery and his crew had survived and were now at the trench’s very bottom. There was no possibility of communicating through that much seawater, unless she could somehow reach down further. She felt the knot of tension in her belly and placed the glasses on the console before her.
“When we’re closer, lower a communication pod and send it down to its maximum depth.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The crewmember turned away.
She checked her wristwatch, feeling that coiled snake of impatience giving a few more turns in her stomach. She shut her eyes for a moment and concentrated on her breathing. They’ll make it, she thought. They have to.
* * *
Williams stared through the helmet bubble covering his head, feeling hot and uncomfortable, and tried to blow sticky hair from his forehead. The suit was glossy red, and had armor-plated fingers to increase its dexterity. It was a modern suit of armor designed to do battle with the extremes of a high-pressure environment.
He perspired behind the glass but knew once he stepped into the transition chamber, he could engage the life support, and the coolers would bring his temperature to a satisfying seventy-two degrees – strange, because the outside temperature should be zero, and it was the heaters he should have been deploying.
“Nothing is more important than your life,” Mironov said, holding the suit’s shoulders. “The Alvin crew will walk you through the layout of the Archimedes, but I want you to use all haste in making your way to inside the ship. Complete your task only if it is feasible to do it successfully and safely. Understood?”
Williams grinned. “Don’t worry; whether I spot that shark out there or not, I intend to set the underwater record for sprinting in an ADS suit.”
Valery’s smile returned. “You’ll do fine.”
Cate, Jack and Michael Brenner crowded in close to the hatch, which separated the pressure chamber via a massive bulkhead door. The suit-wearer would enter, the chamber would be flooded, and then the pressure equalized. Only then could the outer doors be opened.
“Good luck. We’ll be with you every step of the way,” Mironov slapped his enormous armored shoulder, and then Cate and Jack gave him a small salute.
Williams nodded. “Thanks.” He knew his words would echo from an overhead speaker, but he only heard the syllables trapped in the helmet with him.
He turned as the huge doors closed with a thump then a hiss as they sealed. Even though he was already encased in the suit, a few seconds of claustrophobia rushed in at him, and he closed his eyes and sucked in a few deep breaths. The chamber immediately started to flood. In no time, the pressure was being equalized, and for a moment the huge door complained as 975 pounds per square inch pushed against it.
He moved heavy feet. Below him the door to the red watery world would soon open, but for some reason he prayed there’d be a malfunction and he’d have to come back in.
Calm down, he told himself. He repeated Mironov’s words in his head. You’ll do fine.
* * *
Once the chamber was flushed after Williams had left, Michael Brenner opened it up to make sure there was no debris or anything else that could interrupt the mechanism’s smooth operation. He held a rag, a chisel-like object, and a bag for collecting anything up.
The doors opened, and he checked the seals, the hatch, and immediately spotted a small spiked ball. He frowned, and reached toward it with the chisel. The ball immediately unrolled, and fired several darts toward the tool, and his hand.
“Shit.” One stuck in the back of his hand, and the pain was excruciating. He brought the chisel down on the spiked ball, which unrolled again. It was some sort of weird and angry-looking crustacean. It hissed defiantly, so this time he obliterated it, smashing the chisel into it until it was a broken mess.
“Fuck you.” He looked at his hand, baring his teeth. He pulled out the spike and squeezed out a drop of blood. “Damn it, be careful, you dumbass.”
Brenner scraped the creature into the bag and wiped up its blood. “Fucking nightmare.” He headed back to the bridge.
* * *
Valery Mironov moved back to the front of the Nautilus. “Let’s follow him from the bridge.”
Cate and Jack quickly took their places back in their cockpit seats. Cate opened the link to the Alvin.
“He’s launched, Sam. Once he’s at t
he Archimedes, he’s in your hands.”
“Understood,” Sam responded. “Francis, can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear,” Williams responded.
Sam turned to give the Nautilus an A-OK signal through the bubble glass. “The deck cargo bay doors have already popped open, so you won’t need to try and cram the ADS suit through any narrow doorways. Can you see them?”
“That’s an affirmative,” Williams replied.
“Good; I’ll wait until you’re there.”
“On my way.” They heard a hissing sound and then Williams appeared out from underneath the Nautilus. The shining metallic ADS now bathed in the red glow and even though the suit looked formidable and heavy, he floated ghost-like across the few dozen feet of deep ocean. Twin lights on either side of his helmet looked like headlights on a tiny man-shaped vehicle.
“How is it?” Jack asked.
“Dark, creepy. Never thought I’d be one to suffer from agoraphobia, but …”
“Just think,” Jack said. “No one has ever been in a manned ADS suit at this depth. You’ll be in the record books.”
“I’ll trade it all for being back in my seat, dry and with a hot coffee.” Williams floated closer toward the open hatch and held out one arm. In another few seconds, he caught the railing edge and clung on. He tilted forward to look inside.
“As I expected, it’s a freaking mess in there.” He straightened. “Okay, Sam, tell me where I go next.”
“Ah,” Sam had a hand up to her forehead. “Okay, if you can drop down and face toward the bow. Once there, follow the hoist floor railing, and you should see some racks where the heavy replacement parts are kept stacked against a bulkhead.”
Together they watched Williams lift off and then float down into the Archimedes’ open hatch. Mironov turned to Brenner and raised his eyebrows.
“All clear on all scopes,” Brenner responded.
Mironov frowned. “What happened to your hand?”
Brenner raised it, displaying a bandage. “Nothing; just cut it back there a while back.”
Mironov grunted and turned away.
“I’m in, and following the railing along the wall, which used to be the floor – going up.”
Cate tried to imagine Williams inside the hull of the huge ship sitting nose down against the wall of the trench. It would be dark, and added to that she bet …
“The racks are empty,” Williams said.
… everything would be chaos after the impact.
“Should have expected it – everything must have shaken loose from the impact.” Williams exhaled. “Okay, going back down toward the bow. I can see there’s a huge pile-up of debris down there. So, Sam, you’re gonna need to describe to me exactly what I’m looking for.”
“No problem, Francis. Basically, you’re looking for cylinders, four feet long by eighteen inches wide. They used to be sitting in an oblong frame for protection … and there should have been four of them.”
“Good, the more there are, the better the chance of me at least finding one of them. Color?” he asked.
“Silver, with a single flammable logo on the side,” Sam replied.
“Copy that. Sounds good.” Williams began to whistle and Jack turned to grin at Cate.
“Shit, look!” Brenner pointed.
“Holy crap. You’re gonna have company, Williams.” Jack craned forward.
A spider crab, which must have been fifty feet across, climbed up over the hull of the ship, paused for a moment, before moving toward the hatch opening. It crawled in.
“Williams, Williams, do you read me?” Mironov spoke urgently.
“I see it.” Williams sounded out of breath. “Jesus, it’s big. Body the size of a small car.”
They waited, just hearing Williams’ breathing growing deeper and faster.
“Talk to us, Dr. Williams.” Mironov’s eyes were half lidded as he stared at the hulk’s deck, as if looking through its metal skin.
“I think it sees me” – more heavy breathing – “It’s coming across the roof.”
More rapid breathing, a sound of movement – then grunting.
“Get out of there,” Cate said.
“I’m taking cover.” Williams grunted deeply, and there came the sound of iron scraping as if he was trying to squeeze himself in somewhere tight.
“Damn it; it’s still coming,” he whispered.
“It’s your light,” Cate said. “Turn them off.”
“I’m not turning my lights off in here with that big fucking thing on the loose.” Williams’ voice sounded high and bordering on panic.
“Calm down, Dr. Williams.” Valery opened a hand, one finger up. “I have a suggestion.”
“Great! What is it?” Williams was breathing like a sprinter now.
“Stand your ground.” Valery smiled.
“What?”
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
Valery held his finger up to Jack. “It’s simple, Dr. Williams. The crab is large, but has an exoskeleton comprised of chitin and calcium. While your exoskeleton is super-hardened titanium blended with steel.” He steepled his fingers again. “Like I said, stand your ground. It should soon find you inedible and lose interest.”
“Should? That’s a big damned bet you want me to place, boss.” Williams was almost shrieking. “Jesus, it’s climbed down here with me now.”
“Get him outta there!” Jack roared.
“No.” Mironov waved Jack away, and concentrated on the mic. “Francis, listen to me, fight your fear.” Mironov made a fist and raised his voice. “And if need be, fight the beast. That’s an order.”
“Jesus.” Williams’ voice sounded more frightened than anything Cate had heard in her life. She crushed her hand tight and held it to her lips as she felt her own fear rise in sympathy.
“Do it!” Mironov yelled.
“Okay, okay … I can do this.” There came the sound of scraping, and then more grunting. “Oh god, here it comes.” More grunting and scraping. “It’s … urgh. Trying to get a grip on me.”
“So what?” Mironov bared his teeth. “You get a grip on it – finish it!”
There was groaning and whimpering, and then the sound of Williams straining, with all his might, followed by a loud crack.
Everyone froze, waiting.
“Ha ha, it broke.” Williams’ laughter was bubbling with relief. “I fucking just broke one of its claws off.”
Mironov sat back, turning to Jack, his eyes half lidded. “Believe in yourself, Jack. If it comes down to technology over nature; bet on technology every time.”
“It’s retreating.” Williams whooped. “Kicked its ass, man.” More whooping. “I love this suit!”
Jack fell back into his chair and shook his head. He grinned a little sheepishly. “Hey, Francis, I’ll add that to your list of record feats: Man beats giant crab in stand-up fight.”
“Ha-ha, get it printed on a t-shirt for me.” Williams sounded euphoric.
“Well done, Francis,” Mironov said. “Now, we have some work to do. Find that cylinder and get it to the Alvin, quickly now.”
“You got it, boss.” Williams whistled in his suit, which made for weird echoing feedback.
“Found one … found two,” Williams said.
“One is all we can accommodate,” Sam said. “Besides, we’ll have run out of power by the time the new oxy-tank expires. And the Archimedes didn’t carry spare Alvin batteries.”
“Grab the one, and come back,” Jack said. “Got that hot coffee waiting for you.”
“I heard that.” Williams chuckled.
They waited while Williams huffed and puffed inside the hold of the Archimedes, and then the gleaming head of the suit finally appeared at the broken hold door.
“There he is.” Cate pointed. “Good job, Francis.”
“Hey, is that another crab?” Brenner was looking up from under his brows. “Climbing from the silt; look.”
They followed his gaze. Cate co
uld see something oval-shaped, segmented, and, given the ship for scale, around five feet in length. It used multiple legs, each ending in a sharp, hooked talon to grip onto the steel.
“There’s another one,” Brenner said.
“What is it?” Williams had paused at the door of the hold.
“Nothing to worry about,” Mironov said. “Just more inquisitive crustaceans.”
“I’m not so sure … about that not worrying bit,” Cate whispered, and motioned for Brenner to turn the mic off. “These are the giant isopods I mentioned. Though there’s never been any recorded of this size.”
“Because no one’s been down here before,” Jack said. “Those giant spider crabs are like ceramic plates on stilts. But these things are armor-plated, and from what I know of the little ones, they have four mouths, each like buzz saws. The little guys, just the size of your thumbnail, have been known to make divers’ hands bleed.”
“Really?” Mironov stared as even more of the slater-like bugs climbed from the silt. He flipped the mic back on. “Just hold your position for a moment, Dr. Williams. Then back off.”
“One more thing, they’re carnivorous, and even been known to force their way into clam shells,” Cate said.
One of the isopods released itself from the side of the Archimedes, and started to use a fringe of muscle around its edges to undulate higher up the vertical ship’s deck, where it then reattached. It was now within fifty feet of Williams. At the base of the ship, the silt was stirring as even more of the giant bug-like things lifted themselves from the ooze.
“So many,” Cate breathed.
“The ship striking the bottom must have brought them from all over,” Jack added.
“Too many.” Mironov leaned forward. “Mr. Andrews, laser online, please.”
The answer was almost immediate. “All laser batteries charged and ready, sir.”
Once again Mironov brought up the crosshair targeting, centering on the closest isopod.
“Ack, I can’t properly rotate the barrel as the arms are still warped and locked onto the Alvin. Might just be able to hit a few who wander into our line of sight … like now.”