Phase 09

David's Perspective

"I humbly apologize for intruding upon your sanctum last eve," I remorsefully conveyed to Frans as we found ourselves amidst our morning repast.

"Pray tell, with whom did you partake in libations?" Frans inquired as he handed me a steaming cup of coffee.

"Kevin, although I regrettably lost him amidst the teeming throng."

"Was it just the two of you?"

"Indeed, why do you ask?"

"Merely a passing curiosity," Frans responded with an air of peculiarity, but I paid it little mind.

We proceeded to consume our morning meal, and thereafter I retired to my quarters to get ready. With ample time to spare before Mandryx arrived to collect me, I endeavored to recall the events of the previous night. While the details remained somewhat elusive, I was confident in my assertion that I had not committed any egregious acts. Alcohol-induced foolishness, a character flaw of mine, was thankfully absent from my recollection.

"The Director awaits beyond your chamber door," the holographic voice intoned, an hour having elapsed since the announcement.

I approached the door and swung it open, revealing the individual standing without. In an effort to maintain the charade, I promptly adorned my countenance with a smile, to which he reciprocated in a familiar manner.

"Are we prepared for departure?" he casually inquired.

"Indeed, Sir," I replied, feigning a sense of enthusiasm.

"Then let us proceed forthwith," he gestured, prompting me to step out and secure my quarters before joining him.

As we traversed the passageways toward the main area, my attention was drawn to a tattoo adorning his neck, which incited a sense of perturbation within me. Etched upon his flesh was my given name, 'Raiden,' unbeknownst to him that I had elected to adopt my father's surname, a ruse that had proven efficacious thus far, as he knew me solely as Raiden Geil Walker.

"Incidentally, might you indulge me with a favor?" I was snapped from my reverie as he turned towards me.

"P-Pray, what would it be, Sir?" I stammered, swiftly composing myself to prevent any detectable unease.

"Could you refrain from addressing me as 'Sir'? The appellation imparts a degree of discomfort, considering our negligible disparity in years. Simply refer to me as Mandryx," he suggested with a genial smile.

"Mandryx, you say?"

"Indeed. And might you regale me with some details about yourself? I am eager to acquaint myself with you," he remarked.

"I am a mere scientist, harboring a modest aspiration to unveil the enigmatic depths shrouded by the ocean's stygian embrace."

"Why did you volunteer for this perilous mission?"

"Curiosity, despite my cognizance of the inherent dangers that lie herein. And what impelled your decision to partake in this endeavor?"

"My father, one of the triumvirate overseeing this undertaking, deemed it fitting that I join their ranks."

"Their ranks?"

"My stepmother, Director Walker. To dispel any confusion, she stipulated her own cognomen within the contractual agreements, eschewing employment of my father's surname, an act forbidden within the contract's confines."

Our conversation progressed in a manner of amicable discourse, void of any awkwardness. He remained the individual I had known in times past – garrulous, yet possessing a suave conversational aptitude. His ability to effortlessly forge connections with strangers, as though they were long-standing acquaintances, rendered his company most agreeable. Although our discourse retained an air of casualness, I meticulously maintained the pretense woven into each word woven into our exchange.

"Allow me to inspect your safety tether," I turned to him as we arrived at the main area, currently situated within the airlock as it gradually filled with water.

"Should you encounter any perils along our path, I implore you to press onward unwaveringly, steadfastly following my lead to ensure our safe arrival within the cavern. Do you comprehend?" he reminded me, to which I responded with a nod.

As the airlock welcomed us into the watery expanse, he signaled his approval with a thumbs-up, reciprocated by my own gesture. We embarked upon our journey, swimming away from the laboratory until we arrived at the farthest extremity of our outpost, where an awe-inspiring colossal tree awaited. Astonished by its grandeur, akin to the arboreal giants gracing the surface, I pondered the tree's improbable survival in this desolate realm. However, such musings were promptly dismissed, for inquiring about this phenomenon would engender an entirely new topic, leading to protracted discourse. At present, we were navigating a diminutive aperture beneath the tree, just spacious enough to accommodate a solitary individual. The surroundings were cloaked in darkness, rendering our vision impotent. The sole source of illumination emanated from the luminescent emanations of our suits. The cave, although several meters distant, lay within reasonable proximity, as Mandryx had asserted. Nevertheless, the descent into deeper depths continued.

"Are you faring well, Thunder?" Mandryx inquired.

"Indeed," I tersely replied.

Silence prevailed thereafter, as we focused solely on our path. After several minutes of swimming, luminescent rocks emerged, and the narrow crevice we traversed began to widen. Memories resurfaced of Kevin's account from the previous night, leading me to anticipate small, unassuming stones. However, my expectations were shattered upon beholding the sheer magnitude of the luminous formations – thrice the size of a human cranium. The gargantuan nature of the surroundings fascinated me, as their radiance, while not blinding, bestowed sufficient luminosity upon the stygian milieu.

"Pray tell, who was the intrepid soul responsible for the discovery of this cavern?" I suddenly inquired, as it did not align with the locales officially introduced by our company.

"Thirty years past, a junior by the name of Lex, my paternal grandfather, unearthed this wondrous find," he disclosed, leaving me taken aback and momentarily speechless.

"...Indeed, quite astonishing. And, if I may inquire, a rather intriguing fact: my grandfather embarked upon this venture alone during the nocturnal hours when all were slumbering, essentially sneaking out," he chuckled, and I followed suit, mirroring his amusement.

"A lawbreaker, it seems," I teased, not intending to allude to his own college transgressions.

"Indeed he was, much like myself, or so my partner claimed."

His words hung in the air, rendering me silent. I endeavored to maintain an air of normalcy, continuing our conversation while avoiding any further references to personal matters, for the topic was fraught with discomfort. We lapsed into a conversational lull as we reached the entrance of the cave, where a gated passage stood, requiring identification. Regrettably, I had neglected to bring mine.

"I seem to have forgotten mine," I remarked with a crestfallen expression.

"Fret not, take mine," he offered, handing me an alternate identification card, accompanied by a chuckle whose source eluded me.

"I am indebted to you," I replied gratefully.

Thus, we successfully entered the cave. As anticipated, I found myself awestruck by the breathtaking beauty that unfolded before us—countless luminous rocks, labyrinthine tunnels, interconnected chambers, and towering formations of seaweed that, while eerie, exuded an undeniable allure. Divers amidst the seaweed seemed minuscule, akin to fish amidst a kelp forest.

"My grandfather serves as the commanding officer of this outpost."

"Ah, a remarkable revelation. Is he still among the living?"

"Indeed. Shall we proceed?"

Unfamiliar with his grandfather, as he had never mentioned him in our previous encounters, I felt a peculiar unease and apprehension. Memories of the day we revealed our relationship to his father resurfaced—a clandestine affair known only to him. To this day, my own mother remained ignorant, as her homophobic tendencies precluded acceptance of our union. As we swam deeper, the towering seaweed enveloped us, obscuring the view. I observed its structure, resembling surface-dwelling kelp, save for its immense size and prominently visible pores. Presently, we arrived at an airlock requiring identification to access the tower. Minutes passed before we entered the elevator, transporting us to the tower's second floor, where we shed our diving suits, as protocol dictated their removal within the premises.

"Greetings, lad," a man hailed Mandryx upon our arrival.

"John, good day. Pray, where might I find my grandfather?" Mandryx responded.

"In his office," John gestured the way.

"Thank you. Let us proceed," Mandryx beckoned, and I simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Navigating the hallway, we passed various rooms bustling with activity, their occupants engrossed in their respective tasks, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Lush greenery adorned the entire vicinity, a testament to the tower's integration with nature. We halted before an elevator that ascended to the tower's uppermost section, where a solitary door awaited us.

"Greetings, lad," the two guards echoed their salutations to Mandryx, a customary exchange by now.

"Is my grandfather within?" Mandryx inquired, to which the guards nodded affirmatively.

Quietly, I followed Mandryx into the room. Its dimensions were vast, with expansive glass walls granting a panoramic view of the surroundings. The room's dim, red-hued illumination created a warm ambiance, while providing ample visibility of the architectural marvel. We halted at the center of the room, turning to face a man positioned against the wall, gazing outward. Mandryx addressed him as "Grandpa," and his sudden appearance astounded me. Notably, his physique surpassed expectation, boasting a level of fitness that rendered him a veritable paragon of physical strength.

His grandfather turned to face us, his gaze icy and piercing. He appeared remarkably youthful, his chiseled features akin to those of a young man. The resemblance between him and Mr. Hex, Mandryx's father, was striking—so uncanny that they could easily be mistaken for identical twins.

"What brings you here?" the grandfather inquired, his unwavering gaze fixed upon me. I averted my eyes, opting to cast them downward.

"I have volunteered to fill the vacant position," Mandryx replied.

"With whom?"

"Oh! I neglected to mention—this is Thunder David, a newcomer who shall be assisting me."

"Does your father possess knowledge of this arrangement?"

"I have not divulged it to him."

"Then waste no more time here unless you possess your father's permission. I shall not permit your return without his consent," the old man declared, the tone of his voice indicating that Mandryx's previous visits had not ended well.

"He fears I may wreak further havoc, resulting in an explosion," Mandryx whispered, shedding light on the matter. I intended to respond, yet the grandfather cleared his throat and strode past us.

"Is it true, this matter of an explosion?"

"Yes, it caused significant damage to the vegetation."

We refrained from delving further into that particular conversation, as the grandfather motioned for us to follow. Along the way, I couldn't help but notice the ring adorning his finger—the same one worn by my father in a photograph I possessed. I deduced that he, too, had been associated with the airforce, like my father.