by T. C. Edge
“I promise no one will know you helped us,” I say, whimpering. “Unless we succeed...then we'll be indebted to you forever. If we don't, no one will know...please, my friends are everything to me.”
With a final flourish, I sniff loudly and begin to break down, letting a single tear roll from each eye. Getting in on the act, Drake reaches over and hugs me.
“My daughter has lost so much already, Mr Duke,” he says. “Knight has taken everything from her. Everything.”
Duke looks on at the scene. I never would have thought an arms dealer would have a heart at all, but he appears quite moved by my words. Perhaps it's something that's come with age. Maybe in his twilight years he's grown more compassionate.
Eventually, he begins to nod, and then speaks, his words slow and deliberate.
“OK,” he says. “I will help you get into Eden, but no one can ever know, do you understand me.” He takes a moment to look at each of us. We all nod quickly. Then his gaze turns to Stein, and a smile reserved for an old friend rises on his face. “Tell me, Aeneas, what is it that you need?”
That afternoon, we stay hidden in the depths of the ocean in Cassius Duke's building, waiting for the cover of darkness. Every hour, I tell myself, is crucial. Every minute that passes, Ellie and Jackson and Theo will be being interrogated on Eden. The thought of them being tortured for information is an ever present threat in my head.
But, at the same time, it gives me the strength to go on, to focus on the task ahead. And having wavered from side to side in my convictions, now I have only one idea seeded in my mind; save my friends, kill Knight, stop my vision from ever becoming reality.
First, though, we need to infiltrate the city. Duke supplies us with the tools we'll need for the job; underwater suits and mouthpieces that will allow us to breathe beneath the surface, cutting lasers designed to slice through any material, waterproof packs to carry our things. He even provides us with use of his personal subaquatic vehicle.
“You'll be able to reach Eden underwater without ever being seen,” he tells us. “They won't know you're coming. I will have one of my men pilot the ship and drop you off. However, he won't stay. Once he's gone, you're on your own.”
Soon, word comes to us that night approaches. Duke offers us some final words of encouragement, as well as a thinly veiled threat to never mention his name should we be caught. Then he takes Stein's hand warmly and sends him on his way with a sincere: “good luck, old friend, you're going to need it.”
We descend further down the building in the lift, moving several more levels to one that acts as a launch pad for the submarine. Moving through an airlock, we enter out of the building and straight into the ship. I feel immediately on edge as I look through the large windows to the blackness of the ocean outside.
It's quite small inside, but there's enough space for us to fit comfortably as we travel. Behind us, the door slides shut and locks, and we detach from the building. It's a strange sensation as we float for a moment, before the whirring of the engines sends us away into the darkness.
Sitting next to me, Stein still holds that little half smile on his face.
“You did well earlier,” he tells me. “I don't think he'd have helped us if you hadn't intervened. His a big softy really, always was. You have good instincts, Cyra.”
“Thanks,” I say. “I'm a bit confused though. You said you were a lot older than him, but he looked older than you?”
“Ah, well, looks can be deceiving, my girl. Back on Eden, as with many wealthy and important people, I had gene therapy to stay younger. I was almost twice Cassius Duke's age when I dealt with him, but appeared younger. Naturally, age has caught up with me during my time on Tartarus.”
“I remember being told on Eden that Knight was really old. He looks so young, but you can see it in his eyes.”
“The eyes always tell the story, don't they? Augustus will stay a young looking man forever if he can, but those years will register in his mind, and in his eyes. You can always tell.”
Our pace is slow, or at least that's how it seems. Having spent much of our time so far travelling by air, travelling beneath the water feels laboured and arduous. Around us, there's nothing to see but black beyond the windows. I can't tell how deep we are, but with the sky above now dark, no light descends to this depth.
I sit quietly and look out into the nothingness. I imagine I'm in space, staring into the abyss, or that I'm standing out and looking up into the night sky. And as I look, little lights appear, as stars on the empty canvass. Some are of simple white or bright yellow. Others appear, more colourful, flashing and dancing against the black.
“They're fish,” says Stein, looking out over my shoulder. “Strange fish that live deep in the ocean. At night, they come up higher to feed.”
“What are the lights?” I ask. “So they can get around?”
“They're to attract prey mostly. Some fish cannot resist the lure of the glow.”
I think of my friends, taken by Knight. Are they the lure? Am I the prey? Am I just a fish, sucked into the web of a more dangerous predator?
I guess, soon, we're going to find out.
The journey takes time, time we spend mostly in silent contemplation. As we get nearer, however, our thoughts turn to infiltration. Most of all, I wonder just how Stein is going to manage in the water and with the other physical aspects of the mission.
Stein gives us a brief background of the structure he helped build and expand. His knowledge hasn't been dampened by decades in prison, and remains remarkably fresh. By the time he's done I feel a little more confident in our ability to get inside, if a little nervous about venturing out into the open ocean to do so.
Markus, it appears, is the most fearful. He asks numerous questions, often repeating himself and getting the same answer, and appears particularly nervous about the prospect of exiting the submarine and entering the open ocean.
It was always common back home in Agricola for people to feel uneasy at the thought of the great, endless seas. Most people never leave the region and, therefore, never even see the sea or learn to swim. I can only imagine that it's the same for Markus, having grown up in the Deadlands.
Drake, however, appears calm and clear-headed. His life for many years has been nothing but this. It's led to this moment, to this point in time. I wonder if he ever thought it would go this way.
Eventually, the pilot up front calls back to us.
“We're coming up on Eden. I'm going to start moving towards the surface. You can exit underwater to avoid detection.”
“Thank you,” says Stein.
Out of the thick glass windows now, I see the shadow of the structure in the distance. The enormous metal metropolis stretching down towards the ocean depths. Below the base, large pylons fix it to the ocean floor. I recall Leeta telling me how Eden was built on top of an old underwater mountain, the raised portion of rock rising up from the depths.
We continue to approach, and gradually rise. Soon, the colour of the water changes, growing lighter as the warm glow of the moon and stars above penetrates down through the depths.
“OK,” calls the pilot, “move towards the exit hatch. I won't stay here for long.”
We move to the back of the submarine and quickly double check we have everything we need. Then we climb into the small exit hatch and place the mouthpieces under our lips. According to Stein, they act like fish gills. All we have to do is breath normally and they'll do the work.
I can feel my heart beginning to pound harder within my underwater suit as we squeeze into the tight space. I hear the pilot shout: “good luck,” from ahead, before the door above us slides shut. Slowly, the hatch begins filling with water.
“Just follow my lead,” says Stein. “It'll be a walk in the park.”
Drake's eyes remain set and up for the task. Markus looks like he's about to throw up. Soon, the water fills the entire chamber, and for the fist time I take a breath through my mouthpiece. It's a strange feeling at
first, but I have no time to dwell on it. Before I know it, the bottom of the exit hatch is opening up, and the open ocean below us is being revealed.
We drop out, drifting into the depths, as the hatch shuts once more and the submarine begins whirring away into the darkness.
We're alone.
Floating in the middle of the ocean, I look around in the deep silence and see the giant structure of Eden immediately ahead. It stretches left and right as far as my eyes can see through the dark water. Next to me, Stein floats, searching the base. Markus appears to be struggling a little, his arms thrashing and legs kicking. I reach down and take his hand, and see through his goggled eyes the terror inside him. I smile reassuringly as best I can and nod at him, trying to calm him. Drake slides in beside him and takes his other hand. Soon, we're all floating together, kicking gently and drifting towards Eden.
Stein leads us on. My concerns about him, I realise, were unfounded. It takes little effort to move around down here. With our suits creating enough buoyancy to keep us from sinking into the murky void, all we require to move are some gentle kicks. Soon myself, Drake, and Markus are working it all out. Stein looks to be a seasoned pro.
He propels himself forward with grace and ease, and we follow a little more clumsily. Soon, he's spotted what we're here for; a maintenance hatch. He glides towards it, moving down a little. As we near, I can tell he's aiming for what looks like Underwater Level 3. Lines along the base appear to partition off the levels.
I think back to my time on Eden. What was down on Underwater 3? As we swim it comes to me – research and development. At this time of night, it will be quiet, empty. Hopefully we'll be able to enter unseen.
When we reach the metal base, I get a good look at the hatch for the first time. There's no handle, no crank or lever, seemingly no way of opening it from this side. It makes sense I suppose. With the heavy water pressure, pulling open a hatch door down here would be nigh on impossible.
Of course, it's not a handle we're looking for. We're not going to be entering the shaft via conventional means. On Drake's back, inside an underwater rucksack, is the cutting laser. With a tap on the shoulder from Stein, he passes it to the old man.
Shaped like a simple rod, Stein presses a button at one end. Immediately, a red light begins to shoot from the other. The water around it begins bubbling lightly as Stein aims the tip of the light down one side of the hatch. He begins working across the metal, cutting through it, as more bubbles begin to flow up to the surface. I look up and wonder if they can be seen with the ocean being so calm tonight.
There's no place for such concerns. Soon, one side of the door begins to creak open a little. Water beings seeping in, and the air from inside begins pouring out, sending out further bubble barrages that obscure my vision as I watch. It doesn't last long, however, and when they clear I see that the hatch has been opened fully, the locks from inside cut. Stein knew exactly what he was doing.
He reaches forward and pulls the door open. We're ushered inside what appears to be yet another airlock, now filled with water. At the end of the small chamber, there's another hatch on the roof. We float inside as Stein works to pull the hatch door shut. Drake joins him, and together they manage to fasten us inside. Then Stein flips a switch on his laser rod and begins working on the lock again. This time, he appears to be welding it shut.
We wait as he works in silence, looking at each other through our goggles. Markus' eyes appear to have lost some of their fear now that we're inside. Still, neither he nor Drake can possibly know what to expect when we get inside the city.
Stein doesn't take long, and soon seems satisfied that he's managed to lock the door tight. He then gestures towards the door at the back, operated by a twisting crank. Drake swims to it, grips it tight, and begins turning. After a few hard rotations, it loosens up, and then, suddenly, falls open above us.
I look up. There's a passageway above, filled with air. No more water. Drake climbs up first, and removes his goggles and mouthpiece. Markus does the same and takes a huge breath, as if he's been holding his the entire time. I follow, before Stein joins us, and we all look left and right along a passageway filled with pipes and electronics.
A smile rises on Stein's face, and he looks at us.
“We're in,” he says. “Welcome to Eden.”
27 - Back on Eden
“OK, morph masks on.”
I dig into my waterproof bag, pull out the masks, and hand them around.
“I'm not sure how well they'll hide us here, but they're better than nothing,” continues Stein. “OK, follow me.”
He begins moving down the maintenance passageway to the left. By the looks of things, it stretches around the perimeter of the level. I hurry my step alongside him as he goes.
“We're on Underwater Level 3, right Mr Stein?” I ask.
“Yes we are, Cyra.”
“And that's a scientific level for research and development isn't it?”
“It certainly was when I was last here. We didn't want to come out on Underwater 2. Military personnel live there.”
“Military personnel?” asks Markus. “Do you think the place will be well guarded?”
“I suspect it will be,” says Stein. “Eden is a place of routine. At night, it's always quiet, no matter what. But even so, I'd imagine a curfew will be in place. If we're seen walking around, it will be incredibly suspicious. If possible, it's best we remain hidden.”
“And how do we do that?”
“We just have to hope we don't get spotted, dear boy. The city is large. Plenty of places to hide. You broke me out for a reason. I know this city better than anyone, don't fret.”
Once more, I consider the very possible option that a Watcher has seen our arrival. If we get into any sort of scrapes with the local guards or soldiers, that will surely have been seen. If, however, we can sneak around quietly, we might just go unnoticed.
On we go, along the passage, circumnavigating the city.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“You told me your friend, Leeta, is a Tester?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, she'll have accommodation in the South West quadrant on the deck. As I recall, that's where the Testers used to live. Unless you know something different?”
“Um, no...she never told me where she lived exactly. How will we find her?”
“Her name should be on the board at the base of the building, in the foyer. Again, that's as long as things haven't changed in my absence.”
We rush on, before reaching a passageway that turns slightly inwards.
“Aha, here we are,” says Stein.
Ahead, I see a ladder reaching up towards the level above. Once again, it's blocked by a hatch door with a circular handle.
“Drake, if you don't mind,” says Stein.
Drake climbs the ladder and turns the handle until it opens up. We all follow him into the level above. There, another ladder extends up to Underwater Level 1. We go through the motions again, climbing the ladder, opening the hatch, and emerging into another passageway on the level above.
“How many are there?” asks Markus.
“We're up to Underwater 1 now,” says Stein. “There are 8 surface levels.”
And here was me thinking Stein would lead us straight onto the actual level to use the lift. Most likely, they're being monitored at night, and Stein knows it.
Instead, we climb, level after level, moving up through the city in secret. Each time we open a new hatch and appear on a new level, I clench my fists and hold my breath, expecting to see a team of solders greet us. But each time I'm left relieved, with only a welcome party of silence and emptiness appearing before us.
Soon, we're up to Surface Level 8, and I think of all the people just through the walls, crammed into their basic accommodations, and the room that I used to go to when I was feeling low and alone. So much has happened since then, so much has changed. But once more, here I am, back in the city I vowed never to
return to...unless it was to burn it to the ground.
“OK, the deck level is just above us now,” says Stein, dragging my attention back to him. “We're near the South West quadrant. Follow me, we'll get as close as we can.”
Instead of climbing up the next ladder and emerging onto the deck, he begins moving once more around the passageway. Down here, everything looks the same. Same pipes, same blocks of wires and electronics, same shape to the passages and ladders and doors. If it was me, I'd be completely disoriented and would have no idea where I was in the city. Stein, meanwhile, seems to have everything perfectly mapped out in his head.
We continue back around the perimeter, and I can only assume that there are ladders at various points leading up to the deck. Once again, he uses his almost clairvoyant ability to sniff out the right path, leading us inward and then towards a ladder that doesn't appear quite as high as the others.
We climb it, up through the opening, and find ourselves in a much tighter space that requires us to either crouch low or move to our hands and knees.
“Where are we now, exactly?” I ask.
“Aside from the maintenance passages around the perimeter of each level, there are also these smaller spaces between the levels, used for ventilation and insulation. There are numerous exit points to the deck.”
“So, we can just crawl straight to Leeta's building?”
He turns back to me with a childlike smirk.
“Exactly. Didn't I say, best to remain unseen...”
We start crawling through the shafts beneath the deck, with Stein once more following his nose as we go. At certain points, he stops a moment to consider our location, closing his eyes and thinking hard. Then, onward we move, creeping through the dusty conduit, the metal beneath us clinking and cranking with each fresh hit of our palms and knees.
At several points, we reach exits, and I look up through the grates to the deck. Through the thin slats, I can make out the high buildings and snaking rail links running between them, the large roof above, sparkling with starlight.
Eventually, Stein stops at one of them.