The Atomic Sea

by Jack Conner

  “I want you to be honest,” Hildra said.

  “I have not lied to you,” Layanna said, and even Avery could tell that there was something evasive in her tone.

  “But you haven’t told us the truth, either, have you?” Hildra leaned forward, her face deadly serious. “If you want my help, that’s my price.”

  “What truth do you require?”

  Hildra’s eyes glittered. “Just what are you, sunshine? And don’t give me that line you used before. You’re kin to that ... that thing that killed Mu. Just saying you’re an extra-whatsit, that’s not gonna cut it. I want to know exactly. What the fuck is a Collossum? Byron asked you, but you wouldn’t tell him, and now he’ll never know.”

  Layanna glanced to Avery as if for shelter, and he hid a twinge of discomfort. Even now, she didn’t want to give up her secrets.

  Keeping his voice gentle, he said, “It’s time, Layanna. We need to know. Please. We’ve earned that much.” When she hesitated, he made himself smile and patted her on the shoulder. She regarded him warily. “It will be all right,” he said. “If it helps, I can guess some of it. You’re ... when you said you weren’t from here, you didn’t mean Urslin, did you?”

  Layanna appeared surprised. “No. I did not.”

  “What gives?” said Hildra, her gazing flicking from Layanna to Avery, as if they shared a secret.

  To Hildra, Avery said, “Remember the salamander people that used to live near your hometown? The Suulm?”

  “Yeah ...”

  “It was said that they hailed from another world. You believed it.”

  She nodded, slowly. “Yeah. I guess.” Her gaze moved back from Avery to Layanna. “You sayin’ that’s where she’s from? Up there?”

  “It was true with the Suulm,” Avery reminded her.

  Layanna, with a visible effort, made herself look Hildra in the eye. It was clear that, finally, she was ready to come forward with the truth, and in spite of everything, Avery couldn’t resist a surge of anticipation. Now, at last, he might get the answers he’d been seeking since he helped pull her out of the water long months ago. She began to speak in low, clear tones, and he translated as best he could. The others listened raptly.

  “The universe is stranger than you think, Hildra,” Layanna began. “The fabric of space strains, twists, rips. There are folds, hidden abysses, vast labyrinths and honeycombs where voids emerge from voids, where dimensions shift and merge and tear. Where I come from, reality is different. Our race, the R’loth, was vast and strong, advanced beyond your ability to understand. I’m sorry if that sounds patronizing, but ... .” She sighed. “We delved too deeply into ... well, you might think of it as arcane lore. We plumbed the secrets of ancient mysteries. You cannot imagine our creations, our cities, our worlds, our gods. A vast empire, with cities and its inhabitants spanning a myriad of worlds, dimensions, our machines and our very natures capable of twisting planes and spheres, of existing across them. But we delved too far, explored too recklessly.

  “We investigated the depths of distant abysses, seeking answers to mysteries hinted at in our scriptures. We dredged them, the great gulfs in the fabric of the voids, and brought forth things ... beings. Some thought them gods. We thought they could be our allies. Gods or not, they worshipped the same over-deities as we. But they turned on us. A great war consumed Luz’hai, the Forever Empire, and we developed more and more devastating weapons to combat the Muug, the H’ss’rul, the beings we had summoned. At last we sundered that which we sought to save, and the Muug, greater and more awful beings than we, at home amidst the splintered and twisted fabric that had become of Luz’hai, inherited the ruins.

  “We, the few survivors, fled from our quarter, our universe, our planes. We fled through the twisting labyrinths of the voids, and at last passed into your quarter. We found your world, a world with a great sea, which we required, and something else, which we desired. The latter proved impossible, but the former, viable. So we came here. We inhabited your depths, built anew our cities. Much of our civilization is irrevocably lost, of course, but it is a beginning. We’ve had to transform your world into one that could sustain us. Our natures are different from yours. Thus ... we changed the sea.”

  Hildra gasped, and Avery blinked rapidly.

  “Gods damn,” Janx said.

  “It ... it was you,” Hildra said, her eyes riveted on Layanna. “You made the Atomic Sea!”

  “We changed it into what it is, yes,” Layanna said. “And with it the world. Now the planet can begin to sustain us, be a reflection, however pale, of the worlds we left behind.”

  “Amazing,” said Avery.

  “But we needed more,” Layanna continued. “To rebuild our civilization, we needed to conquer the stars, to spread throughout the galaxy, then beyond. But to do this swiftly we needed to strip this world, to denude its resources. We knew we would leave behind only a burning, naked rock, and that your kind would resist us—unless they were under our power. Thus, in time we selected a nation, a mighty nation, Octung. It would be our herald on the surface world. It would subdue the surface people, bring about order so that we could rule, so that we could have our slaves carve up the planet for our needs. We gave the Octunggen leadership, technology—religion.

  “In order to do all this, we needed to deal with humans directly. And in order for them to treat with us, we had to make ourselves into forms that they would find appealing, desirable, worthy of respect, not flee from in terror. Thus a small segment of our race was ... changed. Changed so that our material representation in this plane appeared human. This ...” she pinched the skin of her forearm “... this is not how most of my kind look. I am human, at least on this plane. I have been fundamentally altered. I still require the sea, or things from the sea, but as long as I do not bring my other facets through very often I can exist on dry land.

  “Those of us that were altered became the ambassadors of our kind. The Octunggen hailed us as gods, as we had intended. We became the Collossum and dwelt in a great temple in Lusterqal. There we were revered and worshipped for many years. Then, finally, after eons of planning, we engineered the war. Octung would subdue the world for us.”

  “But something changed,” Hildra said. “You didn’t go through with it. Well, a few of you didn’t.”

  “Some of us, a small segment, began to see the war as evil. Millions were dying because of our labors, and though that might not have mattered to us in the beginning, that was the price we paid for being human—we’d come to appreciate humanity. This awakening came at a very inconvenient time, of course—the war was already launched, and Octung was winning handily—but it was too late. We’d already sided with humanity. So we decided to stop it—the war.

  “We broke away from the Collossum. They called us blasphemers, heretics, denounced us as the Black Sect while they were the True. Debate and intrigue gripped the temple, and at last most of us were forced from it. We worked against them when we could, sabotaging their efforts, whittling away at their priesthood, but it was not enough. The human powers in Octung began to stir. Fearful, knowing we must act quickly, a group of us ventured to the sea, returned to our greatest city in the depths. There we petitioned our Elders to end the war. In secret, however, knowing they would refuse, we used the petition as a ruse while some of us scoured the city for certain information. Information to build a machine, a wonderful, powerful machine. I was one of those so tasked, and I have that knowledge in my head.

  “The Elders refused our request, as we knew they would. But then they did something that we had not planned. They found out about our investigations ... and moved to destroy us. Having no choice, we fled through the sea, and they gave chase. They crushed our ship and killed most of us. Some were scattered. I was wounded, and I drifted, dying, in the depths. A whale devoured me, began to digest me, and I was too weak to heal or even wake. I would’ve died. And yet, and here is the strange part—the war that I tried so hard to stop saved my life. Whalers after the hot lard
of the whale, a tool for war, killed the whale, and you know the rest.”

  She lapsed into silence, and the only sound to be heard was wind hissing over the dirigible.

  Janx rubbed his stubbled head. “That’s quite a story, darlin’.” He looked at Avery. “What do you say, Doc?”

  Avery frowned. “I ... think she’s telling the truth, incredible as it is. However, the question I’m wondering is this—if you are telling the truth, Layanna, what was the Mnuthra? Why did you think it would help?”

  Layanna bowed her head. “Yes, the Mnuthra are not as I thought.”

  “What are they?” asked Hildra.

  “Fellow Collossum,” Layanna said. “Or they were. The Mnuthra went rogue centuries ago and disappeared from Lusterqal. Or at least we thought they’d gone rogue. When I was engaged with Uthua, as I said, I touched its mind. I discovered it and the others weren’t acting independently. The Elders had dispatched them. And there are others, throughout the mountains, the caves, the forests of the world. They gather the mutants, the ngvandi and their like. It’s the mission the Elders have sent them on. It’s why they departed Lusterqal in secret so long ago.”

  “What for?” asked Janx.

  Layanna leaned her head back against the dirigible wall. She looked spent. “Apparently my kind intend to nurture the mutants, make them our people, our instruments. They’re superior to humans in that they are creatures of the sea. As such they can be used as sacrifices.”

  “Sorry I missed out on that,” Hildra said.

  “This is what I discovered when I touched Uthua’s mind. If certain programs are not far enough along, my people intend to betray the Octunggen once the war is done. They will use the Octunggen to weaken, divide and depopulate humanity, and then they will allow the technologies gifted to Octung to stop functioning. The Octunggen, now rulers of the surface world, will be defenseless when the ngvandi rise up—when the ngvandi destroy and devour and rape and burn them. That is what the Mnuthra are doing, organizing the ngvandi to serve the Elders and one day rise up against the Octunggen—to destroy humanity once and for all.”

  Janx, Hildra and Avery shot glances at each other.

  “What happened to the other Black Secters that survived the destruction of your ship?” Avery said. “The ones we came to the Borghese to find?”

  “My friends and I’d planned to regroup where the Mnuthra lived if we were ever separated. We thought they, as rogues who had abandoned our kind, could be our allies, aid us against the Collossum. But it was a trap. The Mnuthra were not independent as we’d thought; they were still part of the Collossum—high members, even, on an important assignment. As I touched Uthua’s mind, I felt what he had done. Uthua had ... he had killed them all. All of my friends.”

  “I’m sorry,” Avery said, meaning it.

  “Yeah,” said Hildra.

  Layanna took in a deep breath and let it out. “Now I’m the only one left who knows how to build the Device.”

  “So how do we do it?” Janx said. “What’s our next step, darlin’?”

  “The only resources available that can assemble the Device are in the hands of the Collossum—and the Black Sect. The members that did not accompany me to the city in the sea are in hiding in Lusterqal, striking at the Collossum when they can. With my knowledge and their resources, we can build the Device. We can end the war.

  “I’d hoped the Mnuthra would let me use one of their altars, but now I realize that is impossible. But there is one I can use at the temple to the R’loth in Cuithril. If we don’t reach it, if we fail, all of humankind will be washed away, and my people will go on to rule the stars.”

  Hildra visibly shuddered. “And you don’t want that, honey? For your people to win? I don’t get you, sister.”

  “We brought the Cataclysm on ourselves,” Layanna said. “We may do it again. I think ... I think perhaps the only thing that can save us is not to overreach ourselves this time. To stay small. And I believe your people are worthy—worthy of life, at least, and freedom. You have potential, and I would not take it from you.”

  “This is some messed-up shit,” Hildra said.

  “There’s more,” Layanna said.

  “What?”

  When Layanna spoke, her voice held a grimness Avery had not heard before. “The Octunggen cannot be allowed to capture me alive.”

  Avery shifted uncomfortably. “Why not?”

  “Two reasons. Both important. The rest of the Black Sect, those being hunted and in hiding in Lusterqal—only I know how to find them. If the Octunggen capture me, not only will I be unable to build the Device, but I also might be forced to betray the others. Then all hope of resistance against the Elders will die.”

  “What’s the other reason?”

  Her voice hardened. “The research I did that enabled me to design the Device, it could be used for ... other purposes. I’ve designed the Device to null the abilities of the Octunggen’s extradimensional technologies. But the plans could be used to ... amplify them.”

  “You mean ...?”

  “Yes. Octung would be able to win the war that much sooner. If they catch me alive, nothing can stop them.”

  “Hell,” said Janx.

  To Avery, she said, “You’ll do what must be done?”

  He knew what she was asking. How can I kill her, though? She’s our only hope.

  He nodded.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Shit,” Janx said suddenly. Pointing, he said, “We’ve got company.”

  Avery looked, and instantly wished he hadn’t.

  * * *

  Three rays swept toward them over mountain jags to the south. They must have been among those that had pursued Avery and the others. Now, huge, indomitable, the creatures glided over the snowy peaks toward the dirigible. Red light fell across great, broad delta-shaped backs, each a mile wide, across the innumerable troops that clustered there, glinting on armor and helmets, rows and rows, and on the weapons, some of them unconventional, bulky and strange. Bathed in crimson light, the three great rays aimed directly at the small dirigible and increased speed.

  “Shit,” said Hildra.

  Avery didn’t waste time agreeing. Though he suddenly began sweating, and his fingers trembled, he gripped the wheel tightly. He pressed a button. Mashed a pedal. The dirigible lurched to port, then shuddered upward. Janx was flung against the gunwale. Hildra slammed into Avery, nearly knocking him over.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she said, pushing herself off.

  “Sorry.” Sweat stung his eyes. He tried again. This time he angled the ship down, toward the nearest mountain peak.

  “You’re gonna crash us,” Janx warned.

  “Maybe. But I’m not going to let us get caught.”

  The rays were miles behind them, ten or fifteen at least, but they were moving faster than the ship, and sooner or later they would overtake it.

  Avery shoved the dirigible down. Breath caught in his chest. The mountain peak loomed ahead, its tip glittering white with snow. The glare stung his eyes.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” said Hildra, hanging onto the ropes that wound along the gunwale. Hildebrand clung nearby, shrieking.

  Avery swung the dirigible toward the mountain tip. Clustered further down from its pinnacle, the ruins of some castle huddled, its broken battlements encrusted with snow, its sides stained with time. The mountain approached, blotting out all else. Carefully Avery edged the dirigible to the side, pumping pedals and jerking gears. The craft swung clumsily and edged around the great bulk. Jagged towers of the castle heaped below, scratching at the gondola as it passed. Avery was so close he could see the piles of bones in the centers of rooms whose ceilings had collapsed and the stir of giant batkin roosting along the edges, hanging upside down and still dripping blood.

  Avery risked a glance over his shoulder. The rays sped forward. Metal winked from the lead ray’s back—some weapon, surely pirated from Octung.


  An eerie green light fell over the gondola. Immediately, as if the light contained heat, Avery felt his skin blister. Pain suffused him. He cried out and nearly sank to the deck. Only his grip on the wheel kept him up.

  Beside him, Janx and Hildra screamed. They crumpled, still clutching at the gunwale. Blisters bubbled under Janx’s skin. One popped on his arm, spurting blood. Avery felt similar blisters sprouting on his own flesh. Hildra clawed at her arms and screamed in confusion. Hildebrand hopped around like a mad thing, but he showed no signs of the blisters.

  The dirigible listed toward the mountain. ramparts of stone rearing ahead, ready to smash the ship to splinters. With a grunt, Avery jerked the wheel, swinging the dirigible away. The ramparts receded.

  The green glare intensified.

  Burning pain filled Avery, nearly crippling him. Only dimly did he notice the green light had no affect on the wood and rope and canvas of the dirigible. It targeted human flesh alone.

  Gasping, he flew the ship back toward the mountain, this time in a controlled veer. The dirigible, with painstaking slowness, slipped around the back of the mountain, finally blocking out sight of the rays and their weapons. As soon as it had arrived, the green light faded, and with it the pain.

  Avery panted and slumped against the wheel. The blisters on his arms and hands began to grow less livid but did not disappear. He felt like steam should be rising from him.

  Janx stared at his arms, horrified and amazed. Sweat drenched the whaler’s face. “Fuckers aren’t playin’ nice, now are they?”

  Avery noticed Layanna’s skin was slightly flushed, but that was it.

  “They’re using stolen Octunggen weapons against us,” he said. “We can’t allow them to catch us in the open again.” He aimed the dirigible at the next closest peak, maybe ten miles away.

  “I wonder if Sheridan’s on one of those rays,” Hildra said.

  “I’m sure she is,” Avery said. “As an admiral now, she’s probably leading them. Remember what we overheard at Claver’s. She controls Haggarty. That means she controls the Navy, and those rays are the Navy’s prize pets.”