Tech Planet (Project NightStorm Book 2) Page 11

  "Dust storm," Books said grabbing the last of the equipment from her transport. The storm was approaching so quickly, she barely had time to make it into the entrance. She didn't pause but flung herself head first into the large pool of water beyond the door.

  Arri watched as Books disappeared beneath the surface of the water creating large waves that rippled outwards from the impact zone. Seconds later Echo and Grayson followed. Galdan seemed transfixed and stood directly in the storms path, eyes locked on the deadly wall of air, packed with debris and green forked lightning.

  "Move," Arri yelled, the rumbling still strangely quiet. Springing into action he tackled Galdan catching him with a shoulder charge straight to his midsection. They crashed into the water together as the storm struck with supersonic force, whipping small rocks and jagged shards of metal into the area they had just been standing.

  They plunged together into the dark, falling deeper heading towards three small tiny lights.

  "Sorry captain I got distracted," Galdan said, he could still feel Arri's arm around his waist.

  "No problem, I only just realised how quickly that thing was moving."

  Arri released Galdan swimming down towards the rest of the party.

  "Nice of you to join us," Books said. "Now some basics, your suit has a lighting system, mode three you can adjust the brightness. Also, the suits have propulsion, place both arms by your sides and the speed can be controlled by sensors in your gloves, just clench your fist tighter to go faster. You will also need these." Books handed long thin rods out, first to Arri and then to Galdan.

  Arri tested the jabbing motion of the spear he noticed one end slightly thicker than the other. It did, however, cut through the water easily although swinging from side to side it encountered a lot more resistance. He reached to the small band at his neck, pressed the fourth button three times to select mode three then the second button to increase the brightness of the light.

  "This is the first dungeon I've entered that's underwater, you know we get the honour of naming this place," Echo said, she was experimenting with the suits movement system, darting forward in a shower of bubbles, before coming to a rapid full stop as she made her body bigger by assuming the standing position.

  Visibility was poor in this underwater world, at least near the entrance, the storm above had deposited a lot of dirt.

  "We should probably explore first, get a feel for the place before we name it," Arri said, he had sunk to the bottom of the opening, his feet currently in contact with the metal floor.

  "There is only one way to go," Books said pointing into the darkness, "follow me."

  Arri swam following closely behind Books, behind him, Echo, Grayson and Galdan. The light from the suits started under the chin emanating from the neckband but somehow seemed to bend and point straight ahead when they were swimming. The light puzzled him it was almost as if there was an invisible mirror controlling its direction, his mind struggled to work out the bending of nature.

  Controlling the suits jet underwater propulsion was very intuitive, he was able to easily increased and decrease speed, by tilting his body he was able to control direction.

  Books dropped back becoming level with Arri, "The rod I gave you earlier is an advanced laser harpoon."

  "A what now?" Arri said.

  "Harpoon gun but instead of metal spears, it shoots laser bolts so hot they burn through water, effective for around twenty-five feet."

  "They burn out after that distance?" Arri asked.

  "Well, they can still do a bit of damage, but not so effective, the further from the target the worse the outcome for you. They are fully charged so you should get quite a few shots can't say how many as each one is unique."

  "What?" Arri said.

  "They were made from recycled parts we found in another dungeon, but they should be good for a few shots at least," Books brought herself to a complete stop, "up ahead."

  From the floor of the dungeon glowing molten red splurges bubbled the water with intense heat, smoke poured forth from the top.

  "Hydrothermal vents, we probably don't want to swim through those," Arri said.

  "Don't really see we have much choice, that storm above could last for days, we need food water and a place to sleep," Books said.

  "What's a hydrothermal vent?" Echo asked.

  "Well, in this case, something very hot below the floor is reacting with the water," Arri said, "do you know if this planet has a molten core?"

  "The planet is so large no one knows, we are not sure how the atmosphere above stays in place. Or what's keeping the gravity of this planet from crushing us to death. Or why our technology is dampened on the surface. Or why AI has such a difficult time working within a million miles of the planet," Books said.

  "That's a lot of unknowns, this was an AI world, is it possible its still alive, maybe just sleeping?" Galdan asked.

  "Well, our best scientist determined that this world we found was dead, whatever consciousness was here is gone, long gone," Books said.

  "If we swim close to the top, the suits should be able to take the heat," Grayson said his voice betraying an accent that was un-placeable.

  "Stay here, I'll give it a try and call back if everything is ok. If I am burnt to a crisp, well let's not think about that," Arri said.

  He gently closed his fists pushing his arms to his sides forming a torpedo-like shape he surged upwards. The roof of the dungeon came into view along its surface small creatures glowed with bioluminescence giving off a pale blue light. He slowed his ascent placing his hands before him to stop the impact with the roof. For a moment he floated there taking several breaths, readying himself for what was to come.

  15

  Water Base

  Arri felt the heat through his recently acquired aqua suit. The smoke obscured his vision muddying the waters it streamed through, reflecting back off his light it created a very bright environment. He kept one hand above his head gently bouncing his palm off the roof of the dungeon. The journey across the top of the smokers took what seemed an eternity, he couldn't move at full speed in case the roof suddenly dipped. Rendering himself unconscious and dropping to the bottom slowly being cooked alive didn't appeal to him.

  "I made it, the water is a lot clearer on this side," Arri said, his hand now glowed a pale blue the colour coming from the small creatures he had crushed while skimming along the top. "Keep to the top it gets a little bit hot but nothing too bad."

  Above him a dark patch came into view, he swam towards it, with every passing meter he expected the roof to appear but it never came. Arri broke the surface of the water, waves rippled out-wards from his exposed head. The beam of light under his chin lit up the carven, reaching high to reveal a smooth metal roof and at his head height a ledge which was free from water.

  "Once your past the smokers sorry hydrothermal vents, head straight up there's a small chamber there," Arri said as he pulled himself out of the water. "its just big enough for us to make a small camp here, give us a chance to rest from the swimming before we continue to explore this place."

  "Do you see any devices?" Books asked.

  "No its empty just a small room." Arri's light bounced off the walls as he walked around the room, finally he chose a spot and sat down resting the harpoon gun across his lap.

  He watched as the surface was broken by head after head as the team popped into view and climbed up to sit beside him.

  "Any thoughts what this area was used for?" Arri asked.

  "In the dungeons, we have found before, these would be monster area's," Grayson said.

  "Monster areas?"

  "We call them monsters, more like system drone defence robots that are released when the dungeon is compromised," Grayson said.

  Arri looked down into the depths of the water, "so if this area is empty then whatever was here is now down there."

  "Probably happened when we broke the seal," Books said.

  "What do you say me and you go investigat
e, while the others wait here. Give us a chance to test out these aqua suits to the max and maybe I get to fire my harpoon gun," Arri said, patting the side of the harpoon.

  "Sounds like a plan, we'll find out what we're up against. Take care of it, or call in the big guns," Books said looking at Grayson and Galdan.

  Arri stood up stretched out his body and performed a competent dive into the gloomy waters, he kicked out propelling himself down. He felt the pressure wave of Books entering behind him. He touched the floor and looked back at the Smokey waters and the direction of the entrance.

  "Are there usually more than one way in and out of these places?" Arri asked.

  "The more complex dungeons often have several, I bet this one has at least two, the main tunnel we just came through and a back door emergency escape route," Books said.

  "The people who put them here were expecting trouble?"

  "From everything we have found they were at war," Books replied.

  "Did you see that?" Arri asked, "something up ahead it reflected the light back, but not from the walls it's in the water."

  Books pulled back increasing the power of her light, the water at this point was much clearer, the smokers had provided a barrier to the dust dropped by the storm.

  "There, many movements. Reminds me of a school of fish. Is it getting denser?" Arri asked.

  "Never done an underwater bust before," Books said, "heard stories though, there was one about a giant creature with razor-sharp teeth. Moved through the water like a guided missile."

  Arri concentrated using the zoom feature of his contact lenses, his technology was still working. The school became clearer, small fish-shaped objects swimming past each other forming a giant flowing pattern. The fish stopped moving and as a unit turned to face Arri and Books.

  "Think we might want to get out of the water, they are looking at me," Arri said.

  "Scared of a little fish?"

  "First some of those creatures are massive, with teeth you wouldn't believe even the ones that roam rivers. Second, those are not organic fish, they have a metallic look. Third I think we just found what was in that room we left the guys in," Arri said.

  "They don't seem to be-"

  "Swim," Arri said forcefully, as the school exploded into movement the patterns rapidly undulating. The fish headed directly towards their location mouths opening and closing to show needle like teeth.

  He slammed his arms to his side and clenched his fists, rolling backwards in the water he kicked his legs jetting back towards the perceived safety of the room.

  He followed Books, pushing the bubbles generated by her suit out of the way, keeping his body as straight as possible allowing for an increase in speed, noting that Books was doing the same. He glanced back the small fish were closing at an alarming rate he could almost hear the chomping of their jaws.

  Arri pointed the Harpoon gun along the side of his leg, firing it back into the school. A bream of bright green energy burned through the water, disintegrating four of the leading fish, it was not enough to have any sort of impact.

  His head popped through the surface sending waves crashing in every direction, he swam with all his might flinging himself onto the ledge out of the water.

  Echo let out a scream, as it left her lips Grayson was moving, bringing his rod down in a sweeping arc aimed at Arri's legs. Arri looked eyes wide as the harpoon smashed two small fish away. He turned looking back at the water, it was bubbling, every few seconds a small metal object would break out, razor teeth grating from side to side.

  "Thank you," Arri said, "that was a bit of a close one." Running a finger over the teeth marks of the aqua suit he checked for punchers. He then turned his attention to the smashed fish, picking it up it fitted within his palm. The harpoon blow had broken a part from the side, showing the internal workings they looked as complicated as any robot he had ever seen.

  "Ever seen anything like that before?" Echo asked.

  "Strangely I have, in a history textbook, I believe they are called piranha. Fish that swarm to devour their prey, stripping their flesh away from their bones. I seem to recall they destroyed a whole town once," Arri said.

  "Don't think our suits will survive those teeth," Books said, "these were only designed to be waterproof provide heat, air and light, oh I almost forgot propulsion underwater as well."

  A wave of tiredness struck Arri he slumped back down onto his elbows eyes becoming so heavy he had to close them.

  An image of Niko formed in his mind, he was sat by the edge of a peaceful lake. In one hand he had a can of soda in the other a small pineapple-shaped device. With a touch of his finger he set small lights flashing on the top, he carefully placed the soda down and pulled his arm back throwing with all his might. The device disappeared into the water, a second later a boom sounded the water ripped apart and several dead fish popped to the surface.

  "Now that's the way to fish," Niko winked and the memory faded from Arri's mind, with the passing of the memory the tiredness he had experienced vanished.

  "We need a way to neutralise those things," Arri said, "what did we manage to bring with us?"

  "Everyone's got a harpoon rod," Books said.

  "I managed to grab a bag of supplies," Grayson said.

  "Just me," Echo said.

  "Just me as well, brought into this watery hell hole," Galdan said, "did I mention I really hate swimming."

  "There was a saying back on earth, shooting fish in a barrel," Arri said, "many thought it was due to there being lots of fish in one place that you couldn't miss. However, tests showed what killed the most fish were the shock waves. So we just need to blow these up."

  "Blow them up how," Books asked forehead crinkling.

  "We could re-wire one of those Harpoons, they seem to give out a lot of energy and if we could just short one out it might explode," Echo said.

  "Sounds like you've done this before," Books said.

  "Maybe a time or two, sometimes in dungeons you have to improvise."

  Arri picked up Echo's harpoon, turning it over in his hands searching for any point of entry into the power pack. At the base of the rod where the material was the thickest a small seam could be felt. The aqua suits provided almost lifelike touch feedback through its surface.

  At first he pulled at it, then he punched it with his fist, finally, he placed the end on the floor and brought his heel down hard on it. The back of the rod smashed open, revealing the power pack and focusing lens inside.

  He picked up the remains, "looks to be sealed."

  "Why not shoot it with another Harpoon gun just as it hits the water," Grayson said.

  "That would be one hell of a shot without a tactical overlay," Arri said.

  "Lucky I have one of those," Grayson said, "part of the reason Books keeps me around."

  "That and your conversation," Books said.

  "How is your technology working down here?"

  "My overlay is one of the first ever created and I never got round to updating it. Seems newer versions have something this planet objects to."

  "But that would make you over two hundred years old."

  Grayson smiled, "Two hundred and forty-two."

  "Well old man, you need to hit it about one foot underwater. This will hopefully maximise the shock wave, which should take those fish out assuming it explodes at all," Arri said.

  Grayson took up position holding the harpoon across his arm for support, he pointed toward the centre of the school of fish.

  Arri gauged the weight of the power pack and with an underarm throw lobbed it into the centre of the school. A pinpoint of brightness formed at the end of Grayson's gun, followed by a discharge of light that blazed past striking at the centre of the bubbling mass.

  "Dam," Grayson said, adjusting his position this time holding his breath as he fired a second.

  Water exploded upwards showering the party with heavy droplets and a few dead fish. The floor beneath their feet shook slightly as energy wave afte
r wave rebounded through the school of fish. It took over a minute for the water to calm returning to a mirror-like surface, the frenzy of the school gone.

  "Good shot," Arri said.

  "Thanks," Grayson said.

  "Anything we can use in that bag of yours?"

  "Food water, the problem is we don't know the quality of the air."

  "Let me check, I got implants a long time ago that enables me to breathe most atmospheres," Echo said. She fiddled with the button on the band around her neck. The hard surface of the helmet shield disappeared exposing her head to the air outside. She opened her mouth and stuck her tongue out tasting the air.

  "Well?" Books said.

  "Tastes normal, but musty, like its been sat here a while. You will be OK."

  Arri pressed the first button on his neckband the shield protecting his head vanished. Grayson was handing out bottles of water which he accepted. He took a long drink allowing the clear liquid water to flow down his throat. Grayson also offered him a small snack bar which he declined.

  "How bad do these dungeon busts get?" Arri asked.

  "Well that was quite a tame problem by dungeon standards," Books said pulling at a fish tooth trying to pry it free. "Thing is we normally have a lot more equipment, guns, armour, shields and gadgets to help."

  Arri placed the bottle down and pressed the button to reactivate his shield, "I understand if you want to stay up here."

  "Lead the way captain," Books said.

  He took two steps and dropped back down into the darkness.

  The small metal fish littered the bottom of the dungeon reflecting Arri's light back at him, he glided silently past harpoon gun pointed at their broken bodies. The underwater world was lit gently by the pale blue light of a million little creatures. The floor below sloped downward into darkness.

  "Its so quiet down here," Books said.

  "You don't spend much time in space," Arri said, he glided to a stop. The passage ahead narrowed considerably. Part of the wall had been crushed in-wards as if struck by something large from the outside.

  "That's new," Books said, "strange that the wall didn't crack just dented."