INTO THE BLACK

“A legendary sea creature of gargantuan size, the Kraken has made appearances in many famous fictional works,” the voice from the stingray's monitor informed the ship's occupants as Abe glanced out the cockpit window nervously.

“Perhaps one of the most celebrated appearances by the fearsome sea monster is in the poem The Kraken by Tennyson:

Below the thunders of the under deep,

Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,

His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep

The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee

Sounds scary – but don't worry, you're safe behind the barrier,” continued the chirpy voice.

“I can't see any sign of it,” said Justice as he scanned the ocean.

“The barrier?” asked Abe.

“No, the Kraken. If it's so massive, why can't we see it?”

“I've got a theory,” said Google.

“They made it invisible, didn't they? When will they ever learn!?” moaned Abe.

“No, I think we're going to be ok – I think maybe it's died off. A lot of genetically-engineered creatures have short life spans,” Google continued.

“Nice to see you were paying attention in our science classes,” said Justice.

“We hope you enjoyed the Kraken. But, the fun hasn't ended just yet. If you look to your right, you'll be among the first to discover the mysterious Loch Ness Monster,” instructed the voice from the monitor. “Nicknamed Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster is a debated, mythical creature said to inhabit what once was Loch Ness in the Scottish highlands. Fun fact! Nessie was commonly speculated to be from a line of long-surviving plesiosaurs.”

“Fun Fact: Is it a meat eater or vegetarian?” Abe spoke back to the monitor.

“Plesiosaurs were carnivores,” Justice answered.

“Oh great!”

“Well it looks like it's another carnivore that has died off,” said Google.

“Um, guys, what if these sea creatures didn't have short life-spans... what if they were eaten by something bigger?” Abe asked as a giant shadow passed over the cockpit window.

#

“Well that could have gone better,” said Harvard as the chant of 'Hang them' finally started to die down.

“So what now?” asked Liberty. “They won't really hang us will they.”

“No, we don't allow capital punishment on Mars, but if you're still here when Mykur's kill order is passed you won't last long. But not to worry, Belle and I have worked out an escape plan.”

As he finished his sentence green lights started flashing around the chamber as a shrill siren violated the air.

“Is that part of the plan?” asked Liberty.

“No. No, that's... that's worrying,” Harvard said before racing back to his balcony.

“What's going on!?” Liberty asked Jupiter.

“Clearance sale,” he replied.

“If you think you can make it to the south side exit in the next ten minutes to evacuate, please do so. Everyone else, gather your family and friends and head to the bunker under Mr Softy's Ice Creamery. We're under attack,” Harvard said into the microphone. Liberty glared across at Jupiter.

“Oh, wait, that's right... The red alarm is for clearance sales.”

#

“The Megalodon were giant sharks that lived around ten to fifteen million years ago during the late neogene period. Some believe these ancient creatures could grow up to 100 feet long and mainly dined on whales. Fun fact: Megalodon means big tooth in Greek,” informed the voice on the monitor happily.

“Oh great, a dinosaur shark. How the hell do we kill that?” asked Abe.

“Meteorite?” suggested Google.

A loud screeching noise filled the air as oversized teeth sliced their way into the submersible. With violent force the stingray was tossed around around like a rubber duck floating in a bathtub when a fat person hops in.

“Quick! We need to force the teeth loose. The 'ray can't take much more of this. We're getting tossed around like a rubber duck in a bathtub when a fat person hops in,” yelled Justice.

Abe started punching one of the teeth with his fist as hard as he could.

“Owwww!”

“What?”

“It's very sharp!” he yelled back as he looked down at his now bloodied fist.

“New plan,” said Justice as he unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled out his blaster. “Let's see how it likes having its teeth drilled.”

Taking aim at the tooth closest to him, Justice gave it the full brunt of the laser until it turned bright red and start to crack. With a violent jerk, the metal groaned as the teeth came free from the roof.

“Well, that's one problem solved,” Justice said calmly as water started to flood in at an alarming rate through the holes now left in the submersible.

“Arrgggghhhhh,” screamed Abe. The others turned to face him.

“What is it now!?

“The water's really, really cold,” Abe said sheepishly.

#

Belle came running down the steps of the auditorium, pushing her way through the panicked crowd heading in the opposite direction. As she arrived she tossed two blasters to Jupiter and Liberty.

“I snuck these in. Had a feeling you might need them.”

“What's the situation?” Liberty asked as she examined her blaster.

“Looks like the kill order was rushed through. Feel like taking on an army?”

“Always up for a challenge. How big's the army?” Liberty asked.

“Small - by army standards. It won't be long before someone spills that you're here. We need to get you off this planet ASAP. I'm guessing they've got armies scouting for you everywhere.”

“It's always nice to feel wanted,” muttered Jupiter.

“So what's the plan? SurfWorld exit? Sneak them off on the The Love Bug?” asked Harvard.

“Exactly. I'll get the twins and Billy from your parents. You take Jupiter and Liberty to the fountain. I'll meet you there. Don't stop for anything – if they start to shut down the city, there's no way past the barriers,” Belle said before giving Harvard a kiss. “I love you,” she added before turning and running back up the auditorium stairs.

“Quick, follow me. I know a short cut,” Harvard said as he slidback part of the floor revealing a secret entrance.

#

“Look there's a seaport to the right. Head there!” Abe yelled to Justice over the sound of water rushing in and smoke coming from the sub's damaged roof.

“I can't! Atlantis's computers are still overriding our system,” he replied as a burst of sparks exploded above them.

“What was that?” asked Google.

“The override system?” asked Abe full of hope.

“Afraid not. We're going to get fried or drown if we stay here,” Jupiter said.

Google looked around the ship for solutions.

“What do you suggest?” he asked.

“We need to swim for it. We should be able to fit through one of the holes.”

“That thing out there bit a hole big enough for us to swim through and you want to go out there!” exclaimed Abe.

“It's that or drown in here. Your choice.”

“I really, really hate Atlantis.”

#

Harvard led Liberty and Jupiter back up onto the street as alarms continued to sound.

“Some of my ancestors helped design the original Southland – thanks to them I know a few handy secrets,” he explained. “Now if we just wait here, Belle should...,” Without warning he pulled out his blaster, pointing it directly at Jupiter's head.

“Duck!” Liberty and Harvard shouted together.

Jupiter did as told. Blasts fired out, putting pay to two soldiers dressed in black fifty feet ahead.

“Nice shooting. You got the one on the right,” Harvard said.

“Like hell! I got them both,” Liberty replied with a smile. “You aim a little high. But not bad.”

Jupiter casually picked himself up from the ground. Harvard spied the dead soldiers nervously.

“If they've made it inside. Belle...”

“Relax, here she comes,” Jupiter said, pointing at Belle approaching them from behind. She was running as fast as she could while carrying a couple of five year old girls.

“Belle!” Harvard yelled and went running off to greet her and the kids.

THWACK!

Without warning grated barriers came smashing down in front of Liberty and Jupiter, separating them from the others and the rest of Southland.

“Oh great! They've shutting down the city. Now what?”

But Jupiter didn't answer. Instead he just stood staring blankly ahead through the barrier as Harvard hugged his girls; Jupiter's face going whiter than a blizzard.

“What's the matter?” Liberty asked.

“Those girls... they're about five years old, right?”

“So?”

“I left Belle less than five years ago.”