The Neptune Challenge

by Polly Holyoke

  I reach out, trying to contact Robry, but he doesn’t reply. I’m still afraid that something terrible has happened to him. A quarter mile from the fortress, the dark sea starts growing brighter.

  :That brightness is coming from the underwater lights on the fortress supports,: Rohan tells us, his mental tone amazingly steady. I’m so scared, my teeth are chattering. I glance around constantly for shredders.

  :Call your dolphin partners in,: Rohan orders. :We’ll cover this last stretch quickly to avoid being detected on sonar. Nere, is the water still clear between here and Atlantea?:

  :The way is clear for now,: I say after checking with Densil.

  I call Sokya back from her scouting. She moves up beside me without any of her usual tricks, while the rest of the dolphins find their towing partners. I think she senses how terrified I am.

  :Let’s go,: Rohan says, and I finally hear strain in his own mental tone.

  Rohan leads off, his dolphin, Luca, pulling him quickly and steadily. The sea ahead of us soon turns to a pale, milky green as we draw closer to Kuron’s underwater lights. I can’t help feeling exposed as the water brightens all around us.

  A black mass appears ahead. It’s one of the metal structural supports for the fortress. Powerful lights along it point out into the sea. That support is so gigantic, I finally begin to grasp the massive scale of Atlantea.

  Rohan leads us straight to a rib of rock protruding from the ocean floor thirty feet from the support’s square cement foundation. We dive behind the rib and send away most of the dolphins. Sokya and Densil remain, keeping a lookout for danger.

  From his seapack, Penn pulls out a small probe he nicknamed “Spyfish.” A tiny video camera is hidden in its mouth. He switches on the camera and sends the probe swimming in a circle to make sure it responds correctly to his commands. From ten feet away, Spyfish looks remarkably like a real rockfish.

  :See if you can contact your little sister,: I hear Rohan say to Tobin.

  :I already have. She’s awake and waiting for us. She says they’re keeping her on the southwestern side of the fortress.: Which is a stroke of luck for us, because we were planning to sneak into Atlantea through its southwestern entry bay.

  :Have you reached Robry again?: Rohan asks me.

  :No.: I don’t understand why we can hear Bria but we can’t hear Robry. I’m afraid if I say any more, I’ll fall apart.

  Ree squeezes my shoulder. :I know he’s okay, and you’re going to see him soon,: she says.

  :Thanks.: I can’t manage a smile. My face is too stiff with fear.

  :Okay, Spyfish is up and working,: Penn tells Rohan.

  :We’re ready for a dolphin to deliver the probe.: Rohan nods to me.

  The day before we left, Sokya practiced carrying a mock-up of Spyfish. It’s her job to deliver it to the closest entry bay. I ask her to come fetch the probe, and she gently grasps Spyfish between her teeth. I bite my lip as Densil leads her away. My dolphin friends look so small compared to the looming dark gray structure above them. Please don’t let them run into any shredders.

  :Way to go, Sokya. Spyfish is now inside,: Penn declares moments later. He begins deftly controlling the probe with a tiny joystick. :Let’s go see what’s happening inside the big house tonight.:

  He and Rohan gaze at the small screen on the controller.

  :Things are quiet. Nothing’s moving inside the entry bay,: Penn reports.

  :Send the probe down the corridor to the right,: Rohan orders, :and head for that deck access that leads to the second level. Stay near the roof of the corridor in case someone comes by.:

  :You got it, boss,: Penn says absently. :Hey, here comes a patrol of five shredders. Looks like Kuron’s using them like watchdogs. Rohan, mark the time. We’ll see how long it takes those shredders to make a whole circuit.:

  While the little probe swims its way to a deck access, the opening that leads to the next level of the fortress, I keep trying to call Robry.

  A lifetime later, Penn says, :Spyfish has reached the deck access, and here comes that shredder patrol again.:

  :So a patrol of five shredders appears to make a circuit of the corridors every five minutes,: Rohan reports to the rest of us. :This group is heading northeast, or clockwise. The lead shredder has a camera attached to its shoulder, and that camera is pointed forward.:

  :Which means whoever’s watching that feed can see ahead of the shredders but not behind them,: Kalli says with satisfaction.

  :Okay, send Spyfish on up to the next level,: Rohan tells Penn.

  :Whoa, here comes another team of shredders, heading around counterclockwise on this level,: Penn says. :Looks like they’re synched to pass the patrol below every two and a half minutes.:

  :The timing’s going to be tight,: Rohan declares. :That shredder patrol should be crossing the entry bay in another three minutes. We’re going to wait right outside and enter thirty seconds after they swim past. That should give us just under four minutes to reach the deck access to the next level.:

  Penn shrugs on his seapack but keeps the probe control in his hand. We call our dolphins, and seconds later, we’re flying up and over the rock rib. We ride on the left side of our dolphins, away from the security cameras mounted on the fortress supports. The dolphins swim closely together to help hide us, but I still feel terribly exposed as we cross the open, well-lit area.

  :I sure hope whoever’s supposed to be watching those cameras is asleep right now,: Lena says.

  Rohan leads us upward until we are skimming along just beneath Atlantea. Its dark gray metal exterior is so new, little sea growth has had a chance to gain a foothold on it yet. Rohan stops twenty feet away from a large rectangular opening that glows with greenish light. The fortress seems to extend forever beyond it into the darkness.

  I let go of Sokya’s fin. :Thanks for taking the probe, and thanks for bringing me here.:

  :be careful in there,: Sokya says as she looks at me with unusual seriousness. :my brother is right. this is a bad place.:

  :You and Densil be careful while you wait. I may be inside here several days before I can leave again.:

  :we will be careful,: Densil promises me. If a dolphin can look worried, he does. I give them both a final rub, and then they flash away from me. All at once I feel very alone.

  Ree extends a small mirror on a collapsible pole to see into the entry bay.

  :Here they come. The shredder patrol is passing over the bay…right now.:

  :Everyone get ready to move fast.: Rohan looks at his dive watch, counting off the seconds.

  :Okay, let’s go,: he says.

  Rohan passes Ree and leads us up into the bay. Trembling, I follow behind them. I wonder if I’ll ever leave Atlantea again.

  I GRIP MY SPEARGUN tightly and ignore the blood pounding in my ears as we swim up into the entry bay. I expect a wave of shredders to ambush us, but the large, open chamber is empty. It’s illuminated with a diffused light that’s just right for our eyes. Two long gray corridors lead off the bay in opposite directions. Several powerful-looking tows and skimmers are moored along one side. An intimidating array of harpoons and spearguns hang on the wall above the skimmers.

  :Whoa, those babies look like fun,: Thom says wistfully, gazing at the skimmers.

  :If you could steal a couple of those, you could get away faster,: Tobin says to me.

  :So could you guys, tonight.:

  :Good point,: Penn says as we kick our way as quickly as we can down the gray corridor. With its solid floor and thick metal bulkheads, the corridor almost looks like a passageway on a ship.

  I’m aware that we’re passing open doorways to workshops and storage bays that appear almost frighteningly clean and orderly. We stop just before a large metal rectangular access that leads to the level above us, and it’s lit with the same pale, diffused light.

  I check my watch. We covered the distance in less than a minute. Penn grabs Spyfish and tucks it into his seapack.

  :All right, the next
patrol should be passing in sixty-five seconds,: Rohan says.

  Ree uses her mirror to watch the level above us. My heart thuds against my ribs. What if the second-level shredder patrol is late? What if we’re still here when the first-level patrol arrives?

  We’d be in for a nasty fight without dolphins to help us. I reach back to my quiver to make sure I still have my boomer.

  :Hey, Nere,: Penn says, :I’m going to hide a jammer for you guys behind this bulkhead.:

  :Thanks, Penn,: I say, hoping my mental voice sounds steadier than I feel.

  :The second-level patrol is right on time. Get ready to move,: Rohan warns everyone.

  Penn hides the jammer and darts back to join us. Thirty seconds after the shredders pass the access, we swim up through it to the second level. We head the same direction the shredders went. As we sprint down a long gray hall, I read the numbers on the doors.

  :Bria says she’s in Sleeping Compartment 214,: Tobin tells us. :They lock her in there every night.:

  We kick our way down the long, stark hallway, searching frantically for the right door.

  :Here’s 214,: Rohan finally calls out and tries the handle. :It’s definitely locked,: he declares. :Thom, you’re up.:

  Thom reaches into his seapack, takes out a small explosive device, and attaches it right above the door lock. Thom’s our demo expert, since he knows all about explosives from when he was a guerrilla fighter.

  :Bria, you need to move back into a corner, on the same wall as the door,: I hear Tobin tell her. :We’re going to use a charge to blow the lock.:

  :Okay,: she says. :We’re out of the way now.:

  We? There’s someone else in there with her? Before I can ask Bria what she means, Thom sets the charge.

  :Everyone, move back,: Thom warns us. :This sucker’s gonna fire in ten seconds.:

  We all dive away from the door. I glance at my watch. The shredder patrol will be back here in less than three minutes.

  There’s a flash of light, a dull thud, and Thom goes to check his handiwork.

  :Think I got it,: he says and shoves against the door. It swings open easily. We let Tobin go through first, but I want to be second.

  Bria is there, her hazel eyes wide with excitement. I’m relieved to see her bright smile. Tobin grabs her in a big hug. Still wondering about the “we” Bria mentioned, I glance around the small room uneasily. Hoping to pick up a stray thought, I listen hard but don’t sense anyone besides Tobin and Bria in the chamber.

  I hug Bria, too. :Sweetling, I’m so happy to see you, but didn’t you say there was someone else in here?:

  :Just Shadow,: Bria says. :You don’t need to worry about her, though. She wanted you to come.:

  A girl materializes out of a shadowy corner. She has large, dark eyes and very pale skin. Her long black hair, moved by stray currents, twines about her face. I raise my speargun to cover her.

  :I’m not going to stop you from taking Bria,: the girl says.

  I stare at her suspiciously. :So…do you know where they’re keeping Robry? We’ve come for him, too.:

  She hesitates. :You’ll never be able to reach him without getting caught. His room is too far inside the fortress. You should just take the little girl and go.:

  I study her for a long moment. Should we trust her? I try to read her thoughts, but she has strong mental shields. :We can’t possibly leave Robry,: I say at last.

  :You really do care about him, too, don’t you?: The black-haired girl eyes me curiously. She has a small octopus shaped like a flower tattooed on her right cheek.

  :We all do,: I say. :He’s a part of our team.:

  A wistful expression crosses her face, but it’s so fleeting, I think maybe I imagined it. I keep trying to probe her mind. She’s definitely hiding something, but I also sense she cares about Bria.

  :Let’s make sure Bria gets away safely before you go after Robry.: The girl crosses to the door, but Rohan is blocking her way.

  :The next shredder patrol is due here in two minutes,: Rohan says.

  :We’ll never get to the deck access in time,: I reply.

  :We’ll close the door and hope the shredders don’t notice the hole,: Rohan decides. :Everyone inside Bria’s room now!:

  Our rescue team piles in, and Lena pulls the door shut. A large round portal sits along the outside wall and a hammock hangs in the corner. The small chamber is light gray, and the metal floor is a darker shade. I’m startled by a beautiful picture, painted on the inside wall, of a dolphin surrounded by flowing lines. It seems so out of place in the otherwise bare room.

  Considering what Shadow just said about reaching Robry, I wonder if it’s time for our groups to separate.

  :Ree, our squads should probably split up soon,: I purposely broadcast on a public send. :Shadow says they are keeping Robry deeper in the fortress. You, Penn, Tobin, and Lena head back out with Bria. The rest of us will go look for Robry. Hold up outside the fortress, and we’ll let you know if you should wait for us.:

  Ree’s gaze flicks to Shadow and back to me. :All right,: she says after a brief pause.

  :Then we should probably say good-bye now,: Shadow says to Bria.

  :Thank you for everything, Shadow.: Bria swims across the room and wraps her arms around the older girl. :I’ll never forget you.:

  I’m surprised when Shadow hugs her back. :Take care of yourself, little fish,: Shadow tells her with a sad smile. Then she stiffens, an accusing look on her face. :Someone in here is bleeding.:

  :Crud, it’s me,: Lena says, staring down at her hand. :I guess I cut myself on the door just now.:

  :Get that bandaged fast,: Shadow says flatly. :The mutates you call shredders are hypersensitive to the scent of blood. They’re even worse than real sharks.:

  Tobin is already moving toward Lena and reaching for his med kit.

  :Ree, Thom, help me hold this door shut,: Rohan orders, :in case the shredders do sense Lena’s blood. Everyone else, stay quiet. The shredder patrol should pass by any second now.:

  He leans over and watches through the hole torn by Thom’s explosive. I hold my breath.

  :They are passing us…they’re past us, and they didn’t hesitate,: he reports. :I think we’re good.:

  I’m not the only one in the room who sighs with relief. Tobin’s already finished putting a small pressure bandage on Lena’s hand.

  :Okay, we’ll see you to the deck access, and then we’ll go find Robry,: I tell Rohan.

  Thom opens the damaged door and we start down the corridor, swimming swiftly. After fifty feet, Ree yells from the rear, :Those shredders turned around. They’re heading our way fast!:

  :Load your boomers,: Rohan snaps.

  :They must have smelled blood after we opened the door,: Kalli cries.

  :Penn, hit your jammer now,: I order him.

  :You got it,: he says, hitting a button on the jammer he has strapped on his belt. I look down the corridor, my throat tight. The shredders keep coming. The scent of blood must be too tempting.

  :Nere and Ree, form a front line with me,: Rohan says coolly.

  :I will protect Bria,: Shadow offers to Tobin as she moves in front of Bria.

  I glance at her as I raise my speargun. Shadow doesn’t look very dangerous floating there with no visible weapon.

  :They won’t get past me,: she promises.

  Her confidence convinces me, but I can’t blame Tobin when he takes up a position right beside Shadow.

  :Pick your targets,: Rohan says as the shredders close the distance with frightening speed.

  :I’ll take the one on the left,: I say. :Ree, you take center; Rohan, you take the right.:

  We fire at the same time. Three of our boomers strike the shredders’ heads. The darts explode with a flash and a dull thud, slowing the creatures’ onward rush. The two shredders behind them keep coming.

  Ree, Rohan, and I dive to the side to give the others a clear field of fire, but the two unharmed shredders are on us. Thom and Kalli fire next. They hi
t the charging shredders on their torsos, but these mutates wear body armor that appears to limit the boomers’ impact. Frantically, I reload my speargun.

  One shredder stops and twists around, distracted by its wounded companions. It starts tearing at the closest, jaws chomping convulsively. The other heads straight for Lena. She fires at his head, but the shredder is moving so quickly that she misses.

  :Lena, watch out!: Thom cries.

  He lunges between Lena and the charging shredder, ramming his empty speargun into the shredder’s mouth—right up to his hand. The shredder clamps its teeth around Thom’s wrist and shakes its head. Before I can fire, Lena darts past Thom and drives her dive knife deep into the shredder’s eye. The mutate finally stops moving.

  I twist around. Its jaw partly blown away, one of the shredders is still attacking. It lunges at Rohan and claws his arm. Before I can shoot it, Ree moves in close and fires a dart deep into its brain.

  All at once, the whole ugly fight is over, and mangled shredders sink to the floor. Lena pries open the jaw of the shredder that attacked Thom. Gingerly he pulls his bleeding wrist from its mouth.

  Tobin is next to Thom in a heartbeat, checking out his wound.

  :Whew, I was afraid that mutate nicked your artery, but you lucked out. I think it still did a number on some of your ligaments, though,: Tobin says, shaking his head as he bandages Thom’s wrist.

  :Thank you so much,: Lena says to Thom, her face still white with shock. :In another moment, I think that monster would have torn me to pieces.:

  :You showed that sucker, though,: Thom smiles at her through his pain.

  :I’m afraid you’re too hurt to keep going on with us,: I tell Thom. :You’ve got to head back with the others now.:

  :Rohan’s too hurt to continue, also,: Kalli says as she bandages his torn arm.

  :Then I’ll stay and help you search for…Robry,: Ree says with a quick glance at Shadow.

  :I will, too. Ree and I are the only alternates left,: Tobin declares.