Down into the Depths

Joe Winstanton stood at the prow of the missile cruiser USS Anzio, letting the wind blow through his hair as the ship sliced her way through the early evening waters of the Pacific at full speed. He wasn't entirely sure that he should be standing here, so near the pointy bit at the front, but none of the crew seemed to question his presence as those close enough worked around him.

The ship was currently en route to the South China Sea, it had a planned stopover in the Philipines. General Sho had managed to clear their visit with Beijing, though recently international tensions in the area had been rising. General Sho’s star was also no longer on the ascendant path it had been. Thanks to his UK visit and his deportation in shame by the UK government, he had been returned to Hong Kong International, executive business class. There he had been met by some of his military personnel and caught the connecting flight to Beijing, along with every other senior military officer in the PLA. Thus Sho had significantly lost face, he was no longer in favour of the central party's upper echelons. Rumours had begun to take root that they wanted Sho out and thus were currently only needing a suitable excuse.

Joe thus felt a growing nervousness about the idea of arriving in those waters aboard this ship carrying so many missiles. In the back of his mind, a little voice was calling the act hubris and stupidly provocative, he didn't want to be the flashpoint that triggered a full-on war. The Anzio would be heading into the backyard of a nation that was acting belligerently to its neighbours and had policies antithetical to the nation this ship originated from. Perhaps it would be just another provocation but wouldn’t their arrival carrying their complement of missiles appear as a deliberate action?

The commander, Thomas Palin, had tried to calm Joe’s nerves by telling him how safe he was on board this ship, describing the compliment of missiles in more detail; over one hundred and twenty missiles of mixed types, from ground-to-air interceptors to the genuinely horrifying Tomahawk cruise missile that could be fired from vertical launch tubes just behind him. Joe listened attentively but wondered silently how many could carry nuclear warheads if needed. He spoke to himself as he shook his head slowly, “He tried to tell me about the very things that were causing me to be nervous...to try and stop me being nervous. I suppose his heart was in the right place at least.”

Joe and his friends had come aboard three days ago. After flying from London Heathrow to Washington Dulles and then to San Diego. They caught a connecting flight to Hawaii and Joe had to admit to an overwhelming sense of awe at his first visit to the US, it truly was another world. Everything he had seen, including the people, looked larger than life, or as he said to himself in a mimicked American accent, "super-sized!" Mike had flown ahead and met them in San Diego with his broad smile and mirrored sunglasses, already adorned in a garish Hawaiian shirt that resembled an explosion in a dye factory. He passed on President Trump’s greetings and gave Joe a report about Barron's progress as a novice magus. According to Mike, the boy was making impressive progress. He had already graduated from the simple lightball spell to some of the new stuff and thus might start needing some of the more powerful spells. Joe sighed, he knew the feeling and could already sense the grip that magic was gaining on Barron. Whether he had done a good or a bad thing identifying Barron’s magical ability remained to be seen. Mike then reported an ominous meeting that he had the evening he arrived in Washington, how he had met Jack's Men-in-Red. He passed on their message about requiring an urgent meeting with Joe.

"Why the hell don't they just ask me in person? What is the need for this cloak-and-dagger stuff, creeping around my friends and colleagues?"

Mike smirked, "I don't know Joe. Maybe you scare them? I'm just passing on the message so don't shoot the messenger here OK? The guy I met said he wanted to meet you. This MiR considers themselves to be the protectors of the world, against magic, so they need to talk to you. They stressed the urgency."

"Great!" Joe sighed throwing his hands up, "Now someone else wants to stand in my way. Don't they realise what is at stake here? Anything else?"

"One other thing pal. I'm not sure what to make of it."

"Go on tell me the worst..."

"Well funnily enough that might not be a bad description and mentioning stakes might be highly suitable. It was that MiR guy I met, the one I talked with in the back of his limo. To me, he was very upper echelon, very ornate, very proper; I believe you Brits say born with a silver spoon well this guy had the whole cutlery service."

"OK, so?"

"So the rear cabin of that limo smelled of damp mouldy earth! It didn't fit the rest of his image. He also kept the whole cabin in twilight hiding in the shadows. On the one occasion, I did get to see his face it looked like someone has sucked all the life out of him through a hose. I'll also swear he was sipping on a glass of fresh blood, though it could have been tomato juice in that light!"

"What?" Joe looked puzzled, "Why the hell would the limo smell of that? Why would he look and act like that? How do you know it was damp earth anyway?"

"How do I know? I will tell you later. But why is what's got me a little rattled here?" Mike paused and then sunk his voice down to a whisper, "What do you know of vampires?"

"Vampires?" Joe's eyes bulged as he looked stunned by the question, "Err they are just another form of undead. Some call them nosferatu. They're supposed to be highly intelligent; they live forever, but they do it by drawing off another life force, you could say they are the ultimate parasite! The whole drinking blood thing is to do with that life force transfer. Their longevity and the fact they have to commit murders to gain that longevity makes them devious, and deceitful. Don't try to go toe-to-toe with one either Mike, they are reputed to be incredibly strong and that makes them extremely dangerous."

Mike nodded, "I thought you'd be the guy to ask Joe."

Joe scratched his chin in thought, "If you do ever have to fight one then silver and sunlight are supposed to be deadly to them, as also are running water and magic. The legends say they can't cross running water naturally, not outside of their coffins, I don't know if that includes flying over it at night. Be interesting if it did, suddenly see a vampire fly into an invisible wall!"

"There's something special about those coffins then?"

"Yes and no, the coffin itself is just your plain ordinary wooden box but they carry earth from their home burial plot, their grave at the time they were buried, a piece of the ole country! They have to sleep on it during the day, that's ideal because they can sleep anywhere as long as it is out of the sunlight."

"OK, how about the movie memes like stakes and hammers, garlic and crucifixes and such?"

"Hmm, the traditional wooden stake through the heart works well enough. Hawthorn is the best for that because Hawthorn has an association with Christ, all that crown of thorns stuff. If you ever need to entrap a vampire hawthorn is also ideal as it clings and will tear them to pieces. Digging them up and removing their major organs to burn them also works. Garlic and crucifixes are more debatable."

"That's my buddy a mine of information anyone else would consider useless." Mike clapped a hand on Joe's shoulder as he smiled.

"Is it useless though? Garlic plants were used in medical wards, it has an antiseptic smell to the flowers. Vampirism was thought of as an infectious disease. The cross will ward them off." Mike nodded, "But it isn't the sign of the cross they hate, it's the faith behind it! Have enough faith in anything and you can ward them off. You could, theoretically, drive off a vampire with a physics book if you believed in science that much."

"I see. See I knew you'd be the one to ask. Have you ever seen one?" Joe shook his head, "Hmm, well understand Joe, I ain't certain but I've got my suspicions that the guy in the limo might have been one!"

Joe's eyes bulged again, "Are you serious Mike? You're saying they want me to have an interview with a vampire? I've got a vampire on my trail now. It never rains as when it pours I suppose!"

The ship sped on like a relentless greyhound in pursuit of an elusive rabbit, slicing through the waves at their cruising speed of twenty knots. The Anzio's top speed was just over thirty-two, but that was something Tom Palin called flank speed. Joe felt in awe too of the professionalism and efficiency of the crew as they went about their duties around him. Nat had been, and still was, met by multiple wolf whistles and cat calls of Hey honey, right here baby! Yeah, you know you want me right? Oh my God, I'm in love! especially when they had come aboard with the crew returning from shore leave. Nothing that Nat wanted seemed to be too menial a task. Multiple crewmen would fight over who was going to bring her a glass of water or wine or the salt cellar. If she dropped a hair comb on the deck six sailors would literally drop whatever they were supposed to be doing and rush to pick it up for her, just so they could get the pleasure of her smile as she thanked them. Tom Palin had acquired a female naval officer's uniform and asked Nat to wear it whenever she was not in their cabin. It hadn't helped all that much as the crew still spotted her, though their reactions were now more subdued as they believed her to be a lieutenant. Joe smirked, he could see in Nat's eyes that she secretly enjoyed the attention but also that none of it meant anything to her as her gaze ever returned to his face. Joe had observed with a wry smile that some of the crew were women so where this reaction from the male members came from was beyond him. "Americans! Just over-sexed overpaid and over here!" Joe had to admit though Nat did fill out that lieutenant's uniform in some very interesting ways that he felt he wanted to explore when they were next alone in the cabin together.

As compensation, there was an overall breathtaking view from this position on the prow, at this time of day. The prow with the flat open water to the horizon in every conceivable direction, the sun just about to touch the horizon, the sky on fire with oranges and reds. It felt like flying over the dark green surface! They’d been very lucky with the weather as well, their three days had passed with excessively calm seas, flat as a damn mill pond, Mr Winstanton. I've never seen the pacific so subdued, just hope it lasts! as Tom had quipped. That had meant good speed and no recurrence of Joe’s seasickness, the deck of this Ticonderoga class missile cruiser was steady as a rock so Joe just relished the feeling of standing here as the sunset blazed in the heavens. Joe briefly wondered how this ship felt in heavy storms, but he didn't want to tempt fate. The Pacific Ocean was not, after all, so passive as everyone would imagine from the name. Despite all this positivity though, he still felt that gnawing doubt, like icy fingers creeping up and down his spine. What was he letting himself in for this time?

They had spent only a single day in Hawaii, which had been breathtakingly beautiful. A stay in a palatial hotel right next to a private stretch of silver beach, balmy tropical warmth and a jaw-dropping, Olympic-sized pool to cool off in, if only Joe could swim. Flower leis had been placed around their necks as they entered the hotel reception to go with the pair of leis Joe had received at the airport. Joe had blushed furiously when the girl with his leis greeted him with a cheery Aloha Aina! Mike leaned in towards him and whispered, “That means greetings...and love of the land. Hmm, odd she should use it with you, Joe. Normally she would have just said Aloha. Maybe she’s picking up on all your great balance stuff and sees a fellow believer. The islanders are very big on the environment here, Earth is our mother and we must care for her...”

Joe turned to look at Mike with a smile, “You know Hawaiian Mike?”

“I should!" Mike laughed aloud, "I was stationed in Pearl for a couple of years. It helps to know the local lingo so you can know someone is calling you names behind your back! But, I go where I’m told when I’m told to go, buddy boy. Pearl is predominantly a US Navy base but they have Marines here. Remember when we first met I told you I’ve been everywhere man!”

“OK, then how do I say thank you?”

“Ah, you want to impress her?" Mike bounced his eyebrows up and down a couple of times. "Careful you'll have Nat getting jealous. Well, as a Haole, that's the word for foreigner, the word you want is Mahalo...Ma-ha-lo! If you say it you’ll probably blow her away...” Mike looked Joe up and down with a smirk, "She's not far wrong either, Haole. You need to get with the island vibe pal." Joe returned to looking at the reception girl and nodded forward saying Mahalo while pressing his palms together. That had resulted in her beaming a smile with a small squeal of joy as she kissed both of his cheeks. Mike sniggered, “If you want to use another one try Aloha Wau Ia ’Oe, but don’t try it with anyone other than Nat.”

“Why, what does that mean?” Joe asked as the girl hugged him around the shoulders.

“I love you! Oh and if any of these island boys refer to Nat as their little punani, let me know I’ll punch their lights out!”

Nat had, of course, been the epitome of beauty, but then again when couldn’t the daughter of an elven noble be stunning? She had finally had her chance to wear her new swimsuit getting changed into it almost as soon as they got to their room. She had also deliberately slipped a particular flower behind her left ear, the understanding being that this said she was happily involved with someone. Joe had got changed, a little embarrassed into his ageing swimming shorts and gone out to relax on the sun lounger. He was so white he couldn't have been more so if he had been dipped in bleach. He secretly smiled as Nat emerged though. You could hear the creak of neckbones as every male head turned to follow her, much to the chagrin of the women with them. In the evening Nat had added a simple silken wrap skirt and they had walked hand in hand on the silver sand of the beach drinking non-alcoholic cocktails from coconut shells. It had to have been the most romantic night of Joe’s life. Joe smirked, "Hawaii was a beautiful island with many welcoming happy people. One day was too short a time we have to go back there, for a proper stay.”

Nat was standing beside him this evening looking out over the water as her honey-blonde hair flowed behind her in a golden wave. She nodded, “Hawaii? Absolutely Joe. I said it would make a good place for a honeymoon, didn’t I? And thank you, tiger, I knew you were my man for a reason.”

“Nat!” Joe blushed furiously as she poked a finger into his side teasingly. They had genuinely made love that night in their heart-shaped bridal suite bed and Joe, this time, remembered every moment! His smile faltered, “A beautiful island paradise! But what did we get? Only one day, one blinking day in paradise!" The next morning they had been met, at breakfast, by a pair of naval officers. One was wearing the SP armband of shore patrol and they had been picked up from the hotel after finishing their meal. It hadn't been like they had been arrested as the two officers were very courteous, especially to Nat. There had then followed a whirlwind ride to Pearl Harbour and then they had been grilled for hours, checking every detail about why and how they had arrived and what they intended to do.

“We’ll have more time when we’re finished with old horny Joe. Besides we have another six days of travel before we have to think about our destination. Mike's friend, the Commander, said he needed to stop off in Manila anyway. So we can have a day or two in the Philippines! Aren't we also set to collect that Aussie submarine from there? We might just get a week or more there if we’re lucky, won’t that be good?"

Joe nodded, "I suppose."

"Remember, darling, you and I are effectively immortal now...” Nat teased again as she patted a hand on Joe’s chest and felt the slight, reassuring bump of his amulet under his shirt, “So we will have all the time we need afterwards. Believe me, Joe forever will feel like too short a time with me!” Nat winked and blew Joe a playful kiss.

“We may well be immortal...to old age but we can still die Nat, I can still die! I don’t want to if it means leaving you.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet, my modest hero!” Nat kissed Joe on the cheek, entwined her arm into the crook of his and rested her head on his shoulder. “We’ll be able to tell all of our children, and their children and their children, and theirs and perhaps theirs and theirs and..." Nat broke down into a fit of giggles, "All about the time we saved the universe! We'll be so bored telling the story...”

“Well, then we might have all the time but does Hawaii? Does everyone else? Suppose old horny wakes up before I can get to all of the items from these schools; before I can figure out how to use them and before I can get the Great Magus’ staff. I told Mrs May without that staff we’re sunk! But I’ll still need time to know how and what it can do...”

“Shhh...” Nat giggled, “That is hardly an appropriate word while standing on the noble prow of this missile cruiser darling. I don’t think the sailors like people talking about sinking. But calm down Joe, take things as they come." She giggled again, "Life's too short! I believe in you, so come on repeat it after me...You will get that staff, you will beat old horny, and you will save all of existence!” Nat giggled again as she beamed a smile. “I can’t think of a better man to do it and I will be right here by your side when you do! Do you think I'm going to let old horny get away with putting you on a heart machine for five hours? I have a bone to pick with that particular demon!”

Joe sighed and wrapped his arm around Nat’s waist, pulling her close, “Thanks Nat, I knew I could count on you to lift me. I’m still worried though I don’t think this trip is going to go as smoothly as we all imagine it will.”

“What can possibly go wrong?”

“Well let’s see: Right now we’re on a US Navy missile cruiser. We are carrying God knows how many missiles with God knows how many nuclear warheads aboard. We’re sailing into a disputed region of the world, OK we’ve got permission to be there but the general that granted it could drop out of favour at any time. The main powers in the region don’t like the US over much either, even the so-called friendly ones. Last year, the major power in the area, China, put missiles on islands in defiance of international condemnation, had their fishing fleets banned by the Philippine President, lost a case in the Hague over territorial claims, and then openly seized an underwater drone belonging to the US...and that’s just last year! If I do make it down to the school and manage to find the item what is to prevent that same government from claiming the item is theirs and taking it off me? Forgive my nerves but I feel like we have a target painted on our backs or the words kick me stapled to my rear end!”

“Will you stop it? It will be fine you’ll see. You’re such a pessimist at times, Joe. I’m going to have to work on you about that. Now, come on, Mike says the commander wants us ready for the evening meal. He’s laying on something a bit special for the pair of us, by way of a celebration," Nat leaned in to whisper, "it seems some little bird told him we were newlyweds...”

Joe laughed aloud, “Ha! Little bird? Not exactly the words I’d choose for Mike! Unless you want to call a Roc little!”

“Well we still need to get changed, I’ll see you back in the cabin OK?”