Threat Level Rising

Chapter Four

Malcome had sunken into the ocean like a stone, and while Glenn could still make out his form beneath the waves, she was beyond grabbing ahold of him. Despite Glenn always considering herself a strong swimmer she had never saved anyone from a drowning death. The distance between the sinking Malcome and Glenn's was substantial but not impossible to overcome with enough effort. Glenn's fortune upon piercing the blue sheath of ocean when she dived into it from the Majestic amidst the chaos was to at least spot Malcome once she went under. Once Malcome had been spotted, Glenn could not live with the guilt of not bringing him back to the surface. All she had to do was catch up to Malcome, to grab ahold of him, a limb or anything and bring him up! She had to do it!

As Glenn swam towards Malcom's sinking form, she began to have a sinking feeling of her own. That sinking feeling was becoming more evident with each stroke that Glenn took. Despite her strong legs pushing her body towards the murky figure of Malcome neither her legs nor her arms could refill her lungs with oxygen. Glenns eyes widened with the terrible truth that she was overexerting herself in her dire effort to save a life. The pressure of being under the ocean depths in her highest anxiety was causing Glenn insurmountable stress! Thats when Glenn allowed her body to come to a halt. Overcome with the pain that she had to resurface for air Glenn watched the sinking form of Malcome.

To her shock, Glenn started to see a much larger shadow start to engulf Malcom.

In disbelief, Glenn saw the now merged shadow rising up towards her.

Instinctively, Genn began to swim up towards the surface of the ocean and away from the perceived anomaly not fully knowing if it was a threat to her as well. Though as it turned out, the object was rising steadily faster than she was. In addition to Glenns relief the object posed no threat to her either.

Malcom was actually conscious as he lay on top of what appeared to Glenn a submersible vehicle. As Glenn made eye contact with Malcome she was reassured by his still somewhat glossy blue eyes to not be fearful. So, Glenn let her body relax in order to receive the same ride that Malcome was on.

As Glen gently landed on the roof of the small sub, she immediately hugged Malcom's thickly plated torso. The metal armor that Malcome wore must have contributed to his decent Glenn thought as she hugged him. Glenn felt Malcom's large hand pat the back of her head as she buried it into his shoulder.

As the sub breached the ocean's surface both Glenn and Malcome welcomed the life-giving oxygen into their bodies. They were safe now atop the small sub as they hyperventilated in the fresh air. The sub itself now floating before the Majestic as it was busy hauling up the seaman that had been knocked into the ocean upon their attack by Merman and his sea creature.

A latch opened nearby on the sub, revealing the familiar silver helm of Duncan as it stuck out.

"I have tracked the direction in which the assailant of the Majestic has sped off in." Duncan said.

After coughing, Malcome replied, "Then you had better get off after him."

Duncan did not want to leave in pursuit so soon with at least knowing the welfare of both Malcom and Glenn.

Malcome already knowing why Duncan was delaying pursuit waved him away," Were fine! Go after that scoundrel! It must have been Merman that attacked us!"

Shouting came at the top of the Majestic as they had spotted the submarine. Which was soon followed by rope ladders with scaling seamen being led by Master-At-Arms Zarek.

"Very well!", Duncan replied back," Tell Zarek to head towards the island of Anwat Ghar! That is the direction in which your attacker was last heading."

Then Duncan summarily closed the dorsal hatch of his submarine in order to follow suit.

The sub was then steered over to the side of the Majestic where the rope ladders were lowered. Glenn was the first to be helped up the ladder by Zarek who was surprised at how quickly she scaled up given her ordeal. Malcome utterly refused any assistance from two other seaman and quicky climbed a rope ladder in his own right.

The sub only remained until everyone made there away back onto the Majestic before being lowered once more under the ocean. Where the chase would soon be on!

Duncan, who was immediately in the cock pit of his Aquascout once again steered in the direction of the tiny red blip which was blinking faintly.

"I have to hurry before the signal is lost!" He said to himself as he propelled his tiny submersible onward!

A battalion of large gray humanoid creatures with striking copper horned helmets as well as plated armor were making their way towards Snake Mountain. In the line of this battalion were several large gray tank-like vehicles which treaded along in-between rows of armed soldiers. Atop one of these tanks near the lead stood three figures with only one standing apart in physical appearance.

"I can spot the coils at the base of Snake Mountain at this distance without the aid of my vizor." A yellow eyed creature wearing a bronze helmet with two white horns sticking out observed.

As if speaking to an insubordinate the gray skinned creature at the formers right shot back," As can I Tataran, we still press forward until I decide otherwise."

"Of course, General Harkan, it was only an observation." Tataran replied.

The taller General Harkan who wore a large golden helm in the shape of a large, fanged mouth agape smugly spat," If this mission is too difficult for you to stomach then you can be dismissed this instant."

Deciding to remain silent no further, the long red-haired man in a yellow shirt, to Tatarans left spoke up," Tataran may be right to proceed with caution from this point. The powers emanating from within Snake Mountain were enough to gain my attention days ago. When last I detected such vast power it was some time ago."

"Yet you detect nothing now?" General Harkan asks.

"Not at the levels that I previously did." The man replied.

Suddenly a bolt of brilliant blue energy strikes at the front of the line of soldiers! Its glow lighting up the valley of jagged rocks for a great distance!

In the bolts wake is a smoldering black spot of crackling energy. The surgical precision of the bolts strike was distinct enough to only be a warning shot which halted the tank at the front of the line.

General Harkan yelled out," Halt!", despite the line already having stopped.

"I believe that the occupier of Snake Mountain has presented themselves." The man in the yellow shirt declares.

General Harkan demands, "Damon, don't just admirer our attacker smoke them out!"

"Patience, this is just a demonstration. The tank would have been destroyed had its presenter wanted otherwise." Damon dully replies.

As if on cue the soldiers surrounding the line of tanks are besieged by a barrage of black winged Wolf-Bats!

Screams of pain are heard as the Wolf-Bats leave their marks on the soldiers! Until the attack is over.

"Radio Kronis at the front!" General Harkan tells Tataran.

Upon his instruction, Tataran promptly clicks a transmitter on his consul in front of him. Though before he can say anything a voice responds back," There is an army of demonic creatures directly in front of me!"

"Yes, I see that we are surrounded by them as well." Damon says as he sees the nightmarish creatures whom Skeletor had created from the fusion of wreckage from the Rainbow Explorer and the long-suffering enslaved spirits trapped within Snake Mountain.

Then the image of Skeletor's disembodied face also appears above the trespassers in the valley surrounding his home.

"I am Skeletor!" The chilling voice announces.

Skeletor continues unabated, "Tell me why you have come here. Though beware that if I am unsatisfied with your answer my Skelcons will be unleashed upon you!"

"This ghoulish...gloating..."General Harkan begins to speak but is cut off by Tataran who begins to tell Skeletor unabashedly," I am Tataran a humble soldier in the Goblin army of General Harkan. We have acquired the services of a sorcerer who detected your power several nights ago. We came to investigate this power for no other reason than to see what benefit it could bring to our Goblin forces."

After a brief moment, Skeletor responds," I will allow only Tataran an audience with me."

General Harkan lambasts Tataran," I see no alternative in the situation. Though we will discuss disciplinarian actions upon your return. That is if you do come back."

Tataran quickly climbs off the tank on a ladder built into the side of it. Then as Tataran touches down from the ladder an oval portal of energy opens before him.

"Please, Tataran, enter the doorway to my throne room."

Without hesitation, Tataran enters through the manifested portal to meet with Skeletor.

Prince Randor was finally brought to an undersea grotto not far from the coast of the island of Anwat Gar. Merman directed his Octobarb which was still snuggly holding its thick tentacled appendage around the midsection of Randor proceeded to place him on a small perch above the waters inside the cave.

A soaked Randor stood helpless on his stone perch as the slimy tentacle of the Octobarb slithered off him. Merman, who was still riding the bulbous back of his Octobarb came in closer to take off the breathing bubble that he had placed around Randors head. The saucer shaped eyes surrounded by yellow scales peered at Randor who stood petrified as Merman used his tri-pronged trident to tap his bulb dome.

After Randors bubble was burst the trident remained aimed at his throat.

"You are my prisoner now prince Randor." Merman proclaimed, "This secret hideout of mine is where you will stay until my associate is informed of your capture."

Randor wanted to ask who Merman was referring to, but he did not want to incur his anger lest he spear his jugular.

Finally, Merman took his weapon away from the prince's neck to add," I cannot tell you the name of my associate until he lists his demands for your return. The only thing that I will tell you about him is that his power will bring Eternos to its knees."

After a gasp, Randor refuted his captor's threat," Your lust for revenge against my kingdom has always been thwarted before and it will be the same this time around! Neither you nor your secret ally is a match for Eternos' might!"

"You have no idea how wrong you are...prince." Merman scoffed.

Then Merman pointed his trident once more at Randor as he shouted," Octobarb! Take the princes sword! As he has little chance with or without the weapon! I would still rather he have no chance at all!"

Randor seeing the tentacles of Mermans creatures reach for him once more grabbed the hilt of his broad sword!

Though before Randor could unsheathe his sword from its scabbard the tentacles forcibly prevented the action!

"Argghh!" Randor screamed in pain as the Octobarbs tentacles forced open the tight grip that he had on the sword which caused it to drop into the water below. Where it immediately sank to the bottom.

Merman laughed at Randors humiliation before saying," Unfortunately, I must take leave, otherwise I would have my Octobarb play with you awhile. For now, the creature will simply keep watch over you until I return. So don't be foolish as my Octobarb can be lethal!"

The threat was meant to dissuade Randor from trying to escape. Though so long as Merman's pet was in the water below Randors thoughts of escape seemed futile.

Prince Randor did find some relief once Merman dove into the pool of the cave to finally take his leave.

A small red blip appeared on Duncans screen then proceeded to vanish.

"That tiny blip sped off in the opposite direction of where the original blip had stopped." Duncan affirmed aloud.

Duncan continued, "That must be where Randor is being kept."

A transmition was immediately opened to the Majestic which was not far away from Anwat Gar itself," Aquasub to Majestic come it..."

"I read you Duncan, what have you uncovered?" Zarek spoke back.

Duncan answered," Nothing yet...though I am going in to investigate. It appears as if Merman has placed the prince in an undersea holding. Probably a cave for which are numerous around the island. I will keep you posted...over."

As Duncan zeroed in on the point where the previous blip showed up before vanishing the stout sub cast its headlights to see outside as well.

The floor bed was not teaming with sea life as Duncan would expect as his sub neared a series of underwater rock formations.

Duncan went to the control panel to switch on another screen that created a three-dimensional graph to outline his subs pathway towards what he hoped was where Randor was being hidden away.

"By Eternia!", Duncan said as the high beams of his sub showed a small opening at the base of a large rock face partially covered up by strands of purple plants.

Unexpectedly, a red hue could be seen emerging from the cave as it passed in-between the purple strands of plants.

"The Octobarb!" Duncan said alarmingly as he looked at his radar screen to once more see the big red blip. The dot did not pulsate, indicating its close proximity to the sub.

Duncan was prepared to dive into the cave from his sub as the Octobarb shot out from behind the purple fauna towards his location. Though he had to get in a better position to do so as the creature burst towards him!

The Aquascouts only defense was explosive depth chargers which could be shot out of the subs port side. Duncan timed a hard right turn in the hopes that his sub could outmaneuver the Octobarb before it grabbed ahold!

As Duncan raced his sub towards the cave opening, he also released a depth charge! When Duncan veered the sub to the left, the hope was that the Octobarb would not anticipate the sharp turn in time, while taking the blast instead!

The aftershock from the depth charged explosion shook the sub while also separating the sub from the Octobarb! When Duncan looked on the radar screen, he saw the big red blip, though it was not moving towards him. Duncan had no idea if the Octobarb was dead or just stunned. Though as Duncan brought the Aquascout towards the entranceway of the cave he noticed that the subs stabilizers had been damaged from the depth charges blast. Then saw the big red blip start to move again.

Duncan was barely able to pull the Aquascout near the entranceway of the cave the way he wanted to because of the stabilizer damage it had taken. Though once he was able, Duncan lowered the sub on the seabed inside the cave while also turning off the head beams. The Aquasub was now partially hidden by the purple fauna. Duncan had a thought before preparing to hurry to the back of the sub where the ejection porthole was for exiting and entering the sub while underwater. As Duncan watched the red blip slowly coming closer to his location, he knew that when the Octobarb got a hold of his now damaged sub that the creature would surely destroy it along with him. Duncan could not really on his vehicle as a means of escaping this situation, let alone with prince Randor. So, what if he used the Aquascout as a sacrificial weapon to the destroy the Octobarb once and for all.

Duncan presumed," I think that I should prepare this sub properly for Merman's pet."

In order to achieve this, Duncan was going to turn his sub into a lethal bouquet of bombs to defeat the creature. However, the timing of Duncans plan had to be precise in every conceivable way.

First Duncan went to the back in order to retrieve another tank of air for Randor as well as prepare his tank. Then after placing his web flippers on, he started to set each depth charge at his disposal manually. Once the depth charges were set, he gently placed them in a large container. Duncan then hooked his specially made air tank to the back of his yellow armor while then locking on a helmet perfectly fitted to lock atop his armor as well.

Duncan then sped to the cock pit to check on his incoming attacker.

There was not much time left as Duncan could actually see outside the window the Octobarbs red hue emerging from the purple fauna once more though much more slowly.

Duncan wasted little time exiting his sub from the dorsal opening with Randors extra oxygen tank, respirator, and flippers. The charges were already set for detonation inside the sub. Once the Octobarb attacked the sub the charges would detonate.

Duncan dived towards the darkness of the cave, while looking back at the Aquascout as he did.

Randor could see another cave across the pool of water. Though he did not want to chance trying to get to it with the Octobarb on guard. Although, Randor had not seen the beast since Merman made his departure some time ago.

The explosion of the Aquascout was instantaneous, once the Octobarb wrapped its many tentacles around the tiny sub! The shockwaves from the explosion caused debris to fall from the cave as well. Though thanfully not enough to cause a cave in.

Duncan watched the exploded carcass of the Octobarb float amidst the wreckage of his Aquascout. The creature was finally a non-factor.

Duncan used a handheld lance to light his way around the cavernous area he was now in. Then he saw an object floating down not far away from him. Duncan swam towards the object and as he shown his light on it, saw what it truly was. It was the red breast plated armor of Randor with the jeweled golden cross emblazed on it. Then not far off Duncan saw Randors broad sword resting on some coral rocks. In conclusion, Duncan began to swim upward with the eagerness to find the prince himself.

Randor was on the land base that he spotted from on his former perch having decided to chance it and make a break for it.

Though before Randor dared to venture further into the he spotted a light glowing in the pool below. Then as the glow grew larger a familiar face broke to the surface!

"Duncan! My friend, it is truly you. By Eternia am I glad to see you!" Randor shouted.

In reply, Duncan urged Randor," Quickly my prince put this air tank and respirator on so that I can get you out of here!"

"What if we go the way that I intended instead?" Randor proposed.

"It is risky, we have no idea what lies through that passageway. We are pretty far down, though if we leave now, I can get you back to the surface from the ocean floor." Duncan interceded.

The risk of uncertainty was a wager that Randor could not risk as there was no time for exploring. So, the prince strapped his air tank on while hooking his respirator to his mouth and prepared to be carried under the water. It would not be the first time today that he would be under the ocean.