Issue #7 - "Engulfing"
Scene 1: "Marina"
(All of the dialogue in this scene is in the Atlantean language - editor)
Torpedo's trip to Atlantis was uneventful. He liked it better that way -- as opposed to being beaten and left as shark food.
What is Barracuda doing with those surface-dwelling villains? Torpedo wondered as he recalled the situation he and his fellow United Heroes were in the middle of investigating. It's not like him to get involved with non-Atlanteans.
He arrived in Atlantis City and went straight to the Great Library, one of the oldest buildings in the underwater kingdom. The Great Library had survived "The Plunge", the time of Atlantis' great calamity that caused the island continent to sink beneath the waves. Few buildings survived from before the descent, but the Great Library was treasured greatly by the Atlantean people, as they closely identified with the pursuit of knowledge.
The Atlantean hero entered the Great Library through the main entrance, and was greeted by some cheerful Atlanteans who recognized him at first glance. Markandorim appreciated the attention, though he was a little in a hurry to find out more about this Chaos Engine.
Torpedo approached Librarian Eko. "Dear lady," he asked, "Might I trouble you for some information, and perhaps a little direction? I have not been in the Great Library for some time, and I feel a little lost."
She smiled. "Certainly, hero," Eko replied. "You have but to ask."
"I am looking for information about the Chaos Engine," Torpedo began. "I know it sounds silly, but --"
"Not at all," Eko answered swiftly. "In fact, you are not the first person today to ask me about it."
Torpedo was surprised. "Really?" he asked.
"No. A young lady asked me about that dreadful Chaos Engine about ten minutes ago. She's probably still here."
"Which way?" asked Torpedo.
Eko gave him some directions to the area where he might find more information about the Chaos Engine, and Torpedo took off like a shot, hoping to find out who was also interested in this device. Perhaps another villain...
When he arrived, Torpedo found no one in the general vicinity, and realized he must have missed his chance. No matter, he thought. I'd rather not be chasing villains right now. I have research to do.
But he was not alone. Marina was also there, but she had detected Torpedo coming, and seemed like he was looking for trouble, so she turned invisible so as to avoid any confrontation or misunderstanding.
I'd better keep an eye on this guy, she thought. Hopefully, he's not working for Klimordial.
Torpedo pored through the collected texts concerning the legends of the Chaos Engine, and learned much about its origins and history. He realized that the cylinder that the heroes sought was the Redan Cylinder, an essential component of the Chaos Engine.
Marina hovered nearby, watching Torpedo as he did his research. After some time, Marina's earpiece beeped, indicating she was being hailed from Central Command. Marina carefully stepped away from the stacks where Torpedo was still going through his research, but stayed invisible.
"This is Marina," she said.
"Carelvander from Central Command," the voice stated. "We have reviewed the recording you made of that meeting with the dissidents, and have reason to believe that someone is impersonating Klimordial."
"I thought it was odd that he was holding court while he was supposed to be in the Deep Vault," she replied. "How do you know it's not Klimordial?"
"Well, for one thing, Klimordial doesn't appear on your video recording," Carelvander said. "It looks as though the generals are talking to no one."
"That's very strange," Marina replied.
"Also, there's someone lurking in the corner of the room, away from the generals," Carelvander said. "It's dark there, so we're going to enhance the recording to see if we can get a better look at this lurker."
"All right, Marina out."
"Can you keep it down, please?" Torpedo asked, standing right in front of the invisible Marina.
She realized Torpedo must have heard her conversation, and turned visible. "Terribly sorry, Markandorim."
"Now what are you doing lurking around the Great Library, Marina?" Torpedo asked.
"I was looking for a book," she replied.
"Hmm... and in a library of all places," Torpedo joked. "You weren't hiding from me, were you?"
"Why would I be hiding from you?" Marina asked. "Should I be hiding from you?"
"Look," Torpedo said, "I'm not here to play games with you. I have some very important research to complete. Tell me, do you know anything about the Chaos Engine?"
Marina gave him a confused look. "That's what I'm here to look into," she said.
"Interesting," Torpedo noted. "What causes an agent of the Ministry of Information to want to know more about an old legend?"
"All right," Marina said. "But this is very confidential, you understand."
"Got it."
"The Ministry has come upon some information linking a group of generals to Klimordial, the imprisoned ex-general who once tried to overthrow Atlantis," Marina said. "It is possible that these men believe they are following Klimordial, and that he will lead them into some kind of conflict."
"I am also looking for information about Klimordial," Torpedo replied. "He has something to do with this business about the Chaos Engine."
Marina looked around. "Look, we probably shouldn't be talking about this in the open. Let's go back to the Ministry and my supervisors and I can fill you in."
"Agreed," Torpedo said, finding this more interesting as it went.
*************************************************
The video recording finished playing on the large screen, and the lights came back on in the room. Torpedo stood among several key Ministry of Information officials, including Carelvander and Marina.
"Very interesting," Torpedo said.
"You can see why we're concerned," Marina commented.
"Definitely," Torpedo replied. "I wonder why Klimordial doesn't appear on the recording."
"I was the one who recorded this meeting," Marina said. "And I definitely saw Klimordial in that room with the rest of them."
"We have verified that the real Klimordial has not left the Deep Vault," Carelvander stated. "So it must be an impostor."
"I'm sure it must be," Torpedo said, mulling a few things over in his mind.
A young agent named Bril stepped into the room. "I've got a copy of the enhanced lighting version of the recording," he said.
"Good," Carelvander replied. "Play it for us."
The light went dim, and the recording played anew. In the corner, lurking out of sight of the Atlantean generals, was a figure wearing a heavy overcoat and a fedora.
"A surface-dweller?" Marina said.
"He's spying on them," Carelvander noted. "I wonder why."
"I'm not sure he's spying," Torpedo countered. He realized that it was likely the villainous Trickster, but didn't want to make any accusations yet. "Maybe he's creating some sort of illusion to make the generals think Klimordial is in the room."
"Why would a surface-dweller do that?" Marina asked.
"I'm not sure," Torpedo said. "Why would a surface-dweller try to construct the Chaos Engine?"
The two agents were awestruck. "But our information says Klimordial -- or whoever is impersonating him -- is behind the Chaos Engine," Carelvander said.
"My fellow heroes and I believe a villain on the surface has acquired most or all of the components of the Chaos Engine," Torpedo said. "We don't know yet if he plans to use it."
"But only a madman would use the Chaos Engine," Marina pointed out. "It would cause destruction on both the surface world and here beneath the waves!"
"Anyone who knew of the Chaos Engine would certainly blame Atlantis for such destruction," Carelvander said. "It is an Atlantean device after all."
"If my hunch is right," Torpedo said. "You'd better warn the King to prepare Atlantis for war!"
Watch for Scene 2, Coming Soon!
Scene 1: "Marina"
(All of the dialogue in this scene is in the Atlantean language - editor)
Torpedo's trip to Atlantis was uneventful. He liked it better that way -- as opposed to being beaten and left as shark food.
What is Barracuda doing with those surface-dwelling villains? Torpedo wondered as he recalled the situation he and his fellow United Heroes were in the middle of investigating. It's not like him to get involved with non-Atlanteans.
He arrived in Atlantis City and went straight to the Great Library, one of the oldest buildings in the underwater kingdom. The Great Library had survived "The Plunge", the time of Atlantis' great calamity that caused the island continent to sink beneath the waves. Few buildings survived from before the descent, but the Great Library was treasured greatly by the Atlantean people, as they closely identified with the pursuit of knowledge.
The Atlantean hero entered the Great Library through the main entrance, and was greeted by some cheerful Atlanteans who recognized him at first glance. Markandorim appreciated the attention, though he was a little in a hurry to find out more about this Chaos Engine.
Torpedo approached Librarian Eko. "Dear lady," he asked, "Might I trouble you for some information, and perhaps a little direction? I have not been in the Great Library for some time, and I feel a little lost."
She smiled. "Certainly, hero," Eko replied. "You have but to ask."
"I am looking for information about the Chaos Engine," Torpedo began. "I know it sounds silly, but --"
"Not at all," Eko answered swiftly. "In fact, you are not the first person today to ask me about it."
Torpedo was surprised. "Really?" he asked.
"No. A young lady asked me about that dreadful Chaos Engine about ten minutes ago. She's probably still here."
"Which way?" asked Torpedo.
Eko gave him some directions to the area where he might find more information about the Chaos Engine, and Torpedo took off like a shot, hoping to find out who was also interested in this device. Perhaps another villain...
When he arrived, Torpedo found no one in the general vicinity, and realized he must have missed his chance. No matter, he thought. I'd rather not be chasing villains right now. I have research to do.
But he was not alone. Marina was also there, but she had detected Torpedo coming, and seemed like he was looking for trouble, so she turned invisible so as to avoid any confrontation or misunderstanding.
I'd better keep an eye on this guy, she thought. Hopefully, he's not working for Klimordial.
Torpedo pored through the collected texts concerning the legends of the Chaos Engine, and learned much about its origins and history. He realized that the cylinder that the heroes sought was the Redan Cylinder, an essential component of the Chaos Engine.
Marina hovered nearby, watching Torpedo as he did his research. After some time, Marina's earpiece beeped, indicating she was being hailed from Central Command. Marina carefully stepped away from the stacks where Torpedo was still going through his research, but stayed invisible.
"This is Marina," she said.
"Carelvander from Central Command," the voice stated. "We have reviewed the recording you made of that meeting with the dissidents, and have reason to believe that someone is impersonating Klimordial."
"I thought it was odd that he was holding court while he was supposed to be in the Deep Vault," she replied. "How do you know it's not Klimordial?"
"Well, for one thing, Klimordial doesn't appear on your video recording," Carelvander said. "It looks as though the generals are talking to no one."
"That's very strange," Marina replied.
"Also, there's someone lurking in the corner of the room, away from the generals," Carelvander said. "It's dark there, so we're going to enhance the recording to see if we can get a better look at this lurker."
"All right, Marina out."
"Can you keep it down, please?" Torpedo asked, standing right in front of the invisible Marina.
She realized Torpedo must have heard her conversation, and turned visible. "Terribly sorry, Markandorim."
"Now what are you doing lurking around the Great Library, Marina?" Torpedo asked.
"I was looking for a book," she replied.
"Hmm... and in a library of all places," Torpedo joked. "You weren't hiding from me, were you?"
"Why would I be hiding from you?" Marina asked. "Should I be hiding from you?"
"Look," Torpedo said, "I'm not here to play games with you. I have some very important research to complete. Tell me, do you know anything about the Chaos Engine?"
Marina gave him a confused look. "That's what I'm here to look into," she said.
"Interesting," Torpedo noted. "What causes an agent of the Ministry of Information to want to know more about an old legend?"
"All right," Marina said. "But this is very confidential, you understand."
"Got it."
"The Ministry has come upon some information linking a group of generals to Klimordial, the imprisoned ex-general who once tried to overthrow Atlantis," Marina said. "It is possible that these men believe they are following Klimordial, and that he will lead them into some kind of conflict."
"I am also looking for information about Klimordial," Torpedo replied. "He has something to do with this business about the Chaos Engine."
Marina looked around. "Look, we probably shouldn't be talking about this in the open. Let's go back to the Ministry and my supervisors and I can fill you in."
"Agreed," Torpedo said, finding this more interesting as it went.
*************************************************
The video recording finished playing on the large screen, and the lights came back on in the room. Torpedo stood among several key Ministry of Information officials, including Carelvander and Marina.
"Very interesting," Torpedo said.
"You can see why we're concerned," Marina commented.
"Definitely," Torpedo replied. "I wonder why Klimordial doesn't appear on the recording."
"I was the one who recorded this meeting," Marina said. "And I definitely saw Klimordial in that room with the rest of them."
"We have verified that the real Klimordial has not left the Deep Vault," Carelvander stated. "So it must be an impostor."
"I'm sure it must be," Torpedo said, mulling a few things over in his mind.
A young agent named Bril stepped into the room. "I've got a copy of the enhanced lighting version of the recording," he said.
"Good," Carelvander replied. "Play it for us."
The light went dim, and the recording played anew. In the corner, lurking out of sight of the Atlantean generals, was a figure wearing a heavy overcoat and a fedora.
"A surface-dweller?" Marina said.
"He's spying on them," Carelvander noted. "I wonder why."
"I'm not sure he's spying," Torpedo countered. He realized that it was likely the villainous Trickster, but didn't want to make any accusations yet. "Maybe he's creating some sort of illusion to make the generals think Klimordial is in the room."
"Why would a surface-dweller do that?" Marina asked.
"I'm not sure," Torpedo said. "Why would a surface-dweller try to construct the Chaos Engine?"
The two agents were awestruck. "But our information says Klimordial -- or whoever is impersonating him -- is behind the Chaos Engine," Carelvander said.
"My fellow heroes and I believe a villain on the surface has acquired most or all of the components of the Chaos Engine," Torpedo said. "We don't know yet if he plans to use it."
"But only a madman would use the Chaos Engine," Marina pointed out. "It would cause destruction on both the surface world and here beneath the waves!"
"Anyone who knew of the Chaos Engine would certainly blame Atlantis for such destruction," Carelvander said. "It is an Atlantean device after all."
"If my hunch is right," Torpedo said. "You'd better warn the King to prepare Atlantis for war!"
Watch for Scene 2, Coming Soon!
