Lee Crane woke instantly as the giant submarine rocked and rolled.
“Captain, this is Morton. Please come to the bridge sir, we have a problem,” the intercom alerted him.
“On my way,” he replied. Quickly he threw on a uniform. In the corridor he met the Admiral.
“What’s up Lee?” he asked as they moved quickly towards the control room.
“Don’t know sir. Chip’s just called me.” Seaview lurched again.
As they descended the spiral staircase the voice of the Exec was prominent amongst the general noise. “I don’t care what you can’t see, tell me what you can see. Chief, get a repair crew on that leak.” Morton indicated the fractured pipe that was spraying water over the sonar station.
“Mr. Morton, what’s going on? What’s causing this turbulence?” Crane demanded
“I don’t know sir. We were continuing the drilling as ordered when suddenly an unknown force disconnected the drill and the turbulence started. Sonar, hydrophones and fathometer have nothing to report, cameras are out as well and something is trying to access our computer memory.” To reinforce his statement, Seaview violently tilted to port.
Nelson, Captain and Exec all tried to remain standing with varying degrees of success.
“Lee, can we get the nose camera working... or any blasted camera? We need to see what’s going out there,” the Admiral shouted with frustration. Seaview rocked again.
As the Captain helped the Exec to his feet they heard Kowalski at sonar call out, “Skipper, I’ve got something very large off our port side. It’s moving slowly towards the bow, sir.”
“Captain this the bow lookout. There’s something out there sir.”
All three senior officers moved to the giant Herculite windows.
“Can you see anything Lee?” the Admiral peered out into the dark waters.
Crane was looking carefully. “Kowalski, where is it now?” he called.
“It should be coming into view any second now, sir.”
Chip Morton could not believe his own eyes. “ Are you seeing... what I’m seeing?”
“I guess we are but… is it what… who we think it is?” Lee Crane said incredulously.
Outside the large windows… floating in front of them was… something or someone that looked incredibly like… Poseidon!
Chapter Two
“My God, it can’t be,” Harriman Nelson whispered.
“I think you're wrong, sir. We can all see it… him. This is real alright,” Morton muttered.
The figure floated silently outside… looking at them on the inside.
Suddenly it disappeared. All three officers moved forward and looked all around the window. Nothing.
“What happened, where is it?” Nelson was confused.
“I am here, Mortal!”
They spun around as the voice sounded behind them and slowly a figure formed in front of the plot table. He stood about six feet tall, had shoulder length white hair and a full beard. His clothing consisted of a flowing white and silver loose fitting gown, secured at the waist by what appeared to be a spun silver cord. There was a soft glow emanating all around him.
“What are you doing in my Domain?” the figure demanded.
The Admiral and his officers walked slowly forward. “Your domain? Just who is it that you think you are?” Nelson asked with sarcasm.
“You know who I am! Ignorant Mortals. I am the God of the Oceans! The God of all that lies beneath the surface. I am the God... POSEIDON.” His voice thundered throughout the boat.
The officers looked at each other. Nelson looked sceptical, Crane carefully assessed the potential danger of the visitor and Mr. Morton merely raised his eyebrows and kept a blank but watchful expression.
“I see,” Nelson responded. “Do you expect us to believe that you are a Greek mythological God?”
“I don’t expect anything of you, Admiral. Oh yes, I know of your names and the inflated titles you give yourselves. You are only mortals to me, I have existed for eons. Your life spans are but a blink of my eye.”
“Why have you shown yourself now? After millennia of silence?” the Captain asked cautiously.
“You are destroying my oceans. You are an irritation in my Domain. It will not continue. I have decided that it shall be no more!” Poseidon declared.
“Just how do you intend to stop us?” Nelson challenged.
“I shall destroy your technology. Turn it against you. I shall prevail.” Poseidon turned to survey the control room. Slowly he lifted his hand and aimed at the computer consol. A laser beam of light shot forward and the panel exploded. Crewmen scattered in all directions.
As the panel fizzled and smouldered Chip ran to attack. He reached out to grab the intruder’s shoulder when suddenly he was propelled backwards by an unseen force. He slammed against the spiral staircase and landed unconscious on the deck.
Crane went to him, as did Kowalski and Riley. “He’s hurt pretty bad Skipper,” the sonar man said.
“Get him to sickbay now!” the Captain ordered, concern for his first officer and friend evident. The two crewmen and Patterson gently picked up the Exec and carried him away.
“What did you do to him?” Crane demanded.
“He was foolish. He suffered the consequences of his impetuous actions.” Poseidon appeared uninterested in the fate of the first officer. He did however seem to have lost some of his superior attitude. “You will leave this place. You will never return, or you shall suffer the consequences of defiling my realm.” With that he disappeared as instantly as he had arrived.
The Captain was the first to recover. “Chief, get that fire put out. Blow all ballast. Helm, ten degree up bubble.”
“I’m sorry sir, the helm won’t answer and we’re dead in the water.”
Nelson looked at the controls. “They’re frozen Lee. Nothing’s responding. Dammit he’s managed to knock out all our controls. We only have life support.”
The Captain surveyed the control room. He saw the concern on the faces of his men. “Chief, get this place cleaned up and get the repair crews working. Mr. O’Brien check the damage to the rest of the boat and report it to me.” He went to stand by the Admiral and in a low voice said, “What are we going to do? How do we get our boat operational and stop that madman?”
Nelson ran his hand through his hair and looked frustratedly around the scene. “I don’t know Lee… I just don’t know.”
Chapter Three
Dr. Will Jamison stood before his commanding officers and gave his report in detail.
“Well, he doesn’t have a concussion but he does have a headache that he’s trying to hide. His upper back and shoulders are badly bruised but no broken bones, he’ll be sore for a while, the painkillers will take care of both…”
“Doc, will you stop talking about me like I’m not here?” Chip Morton interrupted.
“He… does however have first degree burns on his right hand. They look like some kind of high-energy electrical burns. They will heal, quicker if he remains here… but,” he continued, as the Exec tried to interrupt again, “I know he won’t so I’ll release him to light duties and I emphasise… light duties.”
“Chip what were you thinking… Why did you attack him like that, you saw the power he had!” Nelson asked incredulously. He was used to his Captain behaving recklessly but not Morton.
“He was destroying the computer sir,” Chip said defensively.
Admiral, Captain and Doctor looked at each other and laughed. “He attacked your ‘baby,’ is that it?” Lee asked, smiling. Chip Morton had shown a remarkable ability with the new technology and the computer had become his ‘baby’.
“We need that computer if we’re going to get out of here.”
“Chip’s right Lee. What I don’t understand is how did you burn your hand. Did you actually touch him Chip?”
“ No sir. I just felt… well it was kind of like a force field surge.” Chip looked down at his bandaged hand, he could still feel the burning sensation.
“That’s interesting. That… glow around him seemed to dim when he used his power to destroy the panel and when you tried to touch him, the glow almost disappeared. He went quickly after that. You would think he would hang around to... boast a little.” Nelson was thinking out loud.
“Do you think he’s a... fake, Admiral, not who he seems?” Crane asked hopefully.
“Of course he’s not Poseidon, Lee. The Greek Gods of Olympus were myths, inventions. What he really is I’m not sure… but we have to find a way to neutralise him.”
“How? Unless we know how he does it. How does he appear and disappear at will? Use God-like powers?” Lee Crane paced sickbay restlessly.
“Lee, it must have been him that was accessing our computer files when this all started. Why? If this… being… is really a God, why did he need to find out about us? He would already know. What if… what if he’s not from here? What if… and I know this sounds really screwy but what if he’s from… out there!” Chip Morton looked carefully at the officers in front of him. Would they think he was crazy?
All three looked astounded but then Nelson suddenly jumped up from his chair. “Of course! That would explain the strange abilities he has. The force field… everything. He obviously needs to hide his presence. For some reason he needs to get rid of us. There must be a ship or something close by. Our drilling may even have disturbed it.” Nelson looked at the faces of his staff, “Don’t you see? If we can locate it, we can use it to find him.”
Chapter Four
Captain Crane was carefully plotting co-ordinates on a map and watching his first officer, one handedly type in those co-ordinates to the partially repaired computer console. “Any luck Mr. Morton?”
Just then a voice sounded around him. “You dare to defy me, I ordered you to go!”
The figure materialised in front of the Seaview’s large windows.
Nelson descended the spiral staircase and carefully observed the visitor. “So you’re back.”
“You have chosen to disobey me. You should have gone when I ordered it. Now you will remain forever.” ‘Poseidon’ raised a hand towards the instrument panels above the sonar station…
“No wait! We... eh… we couldn’t leave. Our repairs are not completed. We still have damage from your last visit,” the Admiral finished firmly.
‘Poseidon’ assessed the men before him. He lowered his hand and looked slowly around the control room his eyes rested on Chip at the computer consol.
“You… the one called Morton. You have repaired your technology?”
Chip stood slowly, keeping his eyes on the figure. “Not completely, no,” he replied neutrally.
“You understand this instrumentation?”
Chip looked to the Admiral and Captain, they both looked as confused as he was. “Yes,” he said carefully.
‘Poseidon’ stared at him then straightened his back and turned to Nelson and Crane. “You will leave this place now.”
“And if we cannot?” Crane asked defiantly.
“You will go or I will call down the Gods of Olympus upon you. You will be destroyed…”
“Oh give it up. We know you are not a God… in this world at least. We believe you to be from much farther a field… say... outer space?” The Admiral eyed the visitor’s reaction.
‘Poseidon’ looked angrily at him then his expression became calmer. “You are mistaken… I am a God of Olympus, have I not demonstrated my powers?”
“You have demonstrated that you have powers, not necessarily God-like but we know that you are not a God!”
At this the being glowed almost white and took a new form. He now appeared in a silver suit and was clean-shaven with shorter hair. “You show remarkable intelligence for such a backward species.”
The officers and crew were astonished by the transformation.
The Admiral stepped forward and stood in front of the new figure. “Thank you… I think. Who are you and where are you from, why are you here pretending to be a mythical God?
“I travel this Universe in exploration. I am called Kantaris. My technical crewman was injured and died. I am unable to operate my craft without repairs. I await help from my own kind. I wish to remain hidden from your species. You are not yet advanced enough to interact with us.” He turned towards Chip. “ However that one may be of use to me.”
Both Crane and Nelson started to protest. “Now wait a minute, you cannot...”
“Silence!” Kantaris spoke loudly. “He has technical knowledge that I do not possess. Yes, he will be of use.”
With that Kantaris lifted his hand and silence descended.
Chip looked around him. The crew were frozen in stillness, as was the Admiral and Captain. The instruments were still also; nothing moved in the eerie silence.
“What have you done? Are they alright?” Chip demanded.
“I have merely stopped the time continuum. They will not be harmed but they must not be allowed to interfere. You will come with me to my craft and effect the repairs I need.”
“What if I can’t?”
“You will try!” Kantaris said firmly. He raised his hand again.
Chip felt a cold sensation travel through him. He felt his body growing heavier and then he became aware of feeling so tired.
When he finally adjusted to his surroundings, he was lying on a transparent clear bench. He slowly sat up, boy did he feel disorientated.
“It will pass. My environment has been adjusted to your requirements.” The voice was just behind him. Morton turned quickly and was rewarded with a dizzy spell.
“How did you know what I was thinking?” he asked quietly.
“Here it is much easier for me to focus on your brain wave patterns. You need not voice your thoughts I can read them well enough.”
“Yeah… well, I prefer my own way of talking thanks.” Chip was not feeling very co-operative right now; he wanted to go back to Seaview.
“I have brought you here to repair my craft. You will leave only when you have completed your task.”
“I wish you would stop reading my mind.”
“Your species is so backward in your forms of communication. We have perfected our abilities.”
“Bully for you! What is it you need me to do?” Chip decided to get on so that he could get away faster.
Kantaris looked at him carefully. “You will co-operate?”
“Do I have a choice?” Chip said irritably.
“No, none.”
Slowly Chip stood and walked over to Kantaris. “ I don’t see any instruments. How can I repair what I don’t see?” The room appeared empty except for the bench. It was stark white and hurt his eyes a little.
Kantaris touched mid air, slowly the light dimmed and Chip could see panels appearing all around him. “Wow, that’s a neat trick.”
Kantaris eyed him in confusion.
“Forget it. For me this is just like a visit to the Twilight Zone. Explain what you can to me.”
Chip was not sure how long he had worked but he realised that he was slowly becoming familiar with this advanced technology. “Damn!” he muttered as he hit his hand for the umpteenth time.
“Your hand, it is in pain? Why?”
“Your little trick with the force field burnt it.” Chip Morton was tired and his painkillers had long ago worn off.
“Why did you not tell me? Unwrap it.” Kantaris was holding a device in his hand.
“No. I’d rather not. It may become infected.” Morton held his hand protectively.
“As you wish but I would be better able to repair it without the wrapping.”
“Repair it. You mean you can cure the burn?” Chip sounded incredulous.
“Yes. It is only a minor wound.”
Chip weighed his options. Why not take a chance on a cure? “Okay.” Slowly he took the bandage away and held out his hand to his companion.
Kantaris inspected the red swollen skin that was already beginning to crack. He brought the device over the limb and a blue light emanated down. Chip felt a tickling sensation and was amazed as his skin turned paler and the swelling decreased. Within moments the burns had completely disappeared. As he flexed his fingers, he muttered to himself, “What Doc wouldn’t give for one of those.”
“It would not work beyond my craft’s power range,” Kantaris stated.
“I was only… never mind. Thanks anyway.”
Kantaris nodded slightly and returned the device to a drawer.
They worked together steadily for a period of time and then Chip turned to Kantaris and said, “I’ve done as much as I can. If you want to test it and see if it works, we can at least try.”
Kantaris went to another panel and pressed buttons, adjusted dials and slowly Chip could hear a low hum start.
“It is sufficient for me to leave your atmosphere and meet with my species.” He turned to Chip, “You are skilled. It would be possible for you to join me on my journey.”
“Now wait a minute, you promised me I would be returned to my friends!” Chip stood quickly.
“If that is what you wish. However you could travel the Universes with me. I would treat you well.”
Chip assessed Kantaris and realised that the offer was a genuine one. “Thanks but I’m not the explorer type. Maybe one day when we travel into space to explore ourselves but I like the Seaview and my friends.”
Kantaris reached out a hand to the human that had restored his freedom. “This is the way your species says thank you and goodbye, is it not?”
Chip smiled and took the proffered hand in his. “It is and you’re welcome. Only next time…if there is a next time... try asking first. We might just say yes, without the need for the dramatics.”
“I will return you to your vessel.”
Chip felt the familiar cold sensation and the heavy feeling of tiredness.
Epilog
“Come on Chip, wake up. That’s right, open your eyes.”
Slowly consciousness returned. “Where am I?” He looked up. “Aw no. Doc. Not sickbay again.”
“Thank you Mr. Morton. I know I’m not your favourite crewmember but remember I do have my uses.” Doc Jamison looked slightly put out.
“It’s not personal Jamie. I just don’t like sickbay confinement.” He struggled to sit up.
“I know, I know. Take it slow. You may experience some dizziness.” Jamie helped steady the Exec.
“Chip are you okay?” Lee Crane asked with concern.
Chip looked to see both the Admiral and Captain watching him carefully.
“I think so. Yeah, I am. How long have I been out?”
“Well a couple of hours since we found you. One minute we were talking with Kantaris, the next, we saw you lying on the control room floor, unconscious,” Crane replied.
“The only thing is, we seemed to have lost three days somewhere in between!” The Admiral sounded very confused.
“Three days! It didn’t seem like I was over there that long,” Chip said slowly.
“What didn’t seem that long? Over where? Doc is he really alright?” Lee demanded.
“As far as I can tell. I could run some more tests.”
“No, no, it’s alright Jamie. Just let me explain, then you will understand.” So he proceeded to fill in the missing three days.
“That’s some story. I have to admit, I did wonder about the healed hand.” Jamie was inspecting the fingers and palm of Mr. Morton’s right hand.
“Are you saying that he offered you the chance to travel in space? Weren’t you the least bit tempted, Chip?” Nelson asked with disbelief.
“No sir, I wasn’t. After all I don’t really go in for too much excitement. Give me the dull routine of our cruises any day!”
Their laughter echoed around Seaview’s corridors.
The end
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