Chapter 6: Tunnels

as we descended further down I feel the voice becoming faintly stronger..

I can't keep track of how many different shades blacks I've seen in the last few minutes

the black abyss, while still dark felt like it opened up by alot

now it the feels like a void

staring back at you

except I can see little aquatic life that has evolved to withstand the immense darkness and pressure float by the ship cameras and into my view

" your highness we have arrived at the chamber" cal informs me, I could have already guessed that.

I stretch my hearing to the limit

listening

trying to discern a direction

...

...

..

" there " I finally point cal in a direction

I can't see what im pionting at

but knew that I could faintly hear the voice coming from that way.

..

..

I can't tell me are moving

until in my view a large tunnel comes into view

I can see the entrance as cal has the light from the ship splayed on it

it was large and the opening was rimmed with a strange green moss flowing and waving at us

though large the entrance was not a big as the tunnel we used to access this chamber

" are you sure this is the way your highness " cal asks me after a beat

I nod my head " yes I can feel the voice coming from this tunnel clearly why do you ask cal " I look at hole in front of me and wait for cal respond as the ship wasn't moving yet

" your highness I must inform you that a section of this tunnel has collapsed and there are hot spot further in before it gets to a chamber just big enough for the ship to get in" cal finally tells me

hhmmmm ...

I tap my finger on my chin thinking over my options

I could leave it at that and go back to the cradle

but then this voice would keep distracting me

..

..

.

" cal can the laser be used to clear away rocks blocking the way " I ask cal after some deliberation

" yes your highness it can, that's its main job"

cal says

" can the ship withstand the hot spots" I also ask cal

" yes your highness, as the ship was make to be able to "explore" in different extreme planets. the temperature is nothing to worry about on the ship " cal answers

" than why worry cal?" I ask as cal may see something I don't

" it's... nothing your highness, moving the ship into the tunnel now " cal says as the entrance to the tunnel gets bigger

before we dive right into its inky darkness

we move along the tunnel and this time I can see the tunnel walls due to it being narrow so the ship light can reach them

I see them move fast

how fast?

I can't really tell down here

but eventually I see a dim red glow coming up quickly

I didn't know what it was until cal informs me

" coming up on the first hot spot your highness"

I look to see the walls in this section of the tunnel to be glowing red and I can tell the water is hot

there is no life leading up to this point and i would guess none after

we move past this section as quickly as we can

before we come across a wall of rock blocking our way

" cal " I simply state

" yes your highness " cal proceed to fire up the laser in front of the ship

I see a beam of red and sand shifting in front of the ship before cal stops the laser

I can't see due to the now wall of sand and dirt

but cal can

he moves us through and out of the other side of the blockage

and I can't help bit gasp

Green lights everywhere...

....

..

different shades of green light up my view as I see differnt aquatic plants and little sea creatures darting in and out of view the ship and mine

....

I can't help but think able the way we just came....

why was this down here?

I can now hear the voice clear as day, almost as if it was on the same room as me

" cal "

" yes your highness "

the ship moves forward again and as it moves I can see different plants and aquatic life along the walls with soft green dots of light sprinkled through

" we are coming up on the next hot spots your highness" cal says and all can think is how?

my question is soon answered as a see the red dim light from here

but instead of it driving away the plants and sea life

it's more like they are drawn to them

around and in the hot spots life was thriving

i couldn't tell you how

I could only watch in marvel ...

...

as we get closer to the end of the tunnel the plant life grows even more absurdly

.

when we reach the end the plants have formed a solid wall blocking all from entering

I can also hear the the voice was come from whatever was behind this wall

while I didn't want to hurt the life here

I still needed to get through

" cal " I say again and he immediately knew what I wanted

" yes your highness "

cal fires back up the laser

but it was softer.. less intense this time

cal directs the laser to gently cut away the plant wall

once it's clear enough for the ship to pass through we did

and are met with an even more unbelievable sight