Daughter of the Deep(83)

My mouth tastes like the bottom of a barbecue pit. Dev isn’t worried about me or any of the other lives on the Nautilus. He really is someone I don’t know.

‘Engine room,’ I say. ‘Nelinha, status?’

No answer. I can’t even be sure the engine room is still in one piece.

Over the comm, Dev snaps at his comrade on the Aronnax’s bridge. ‘Boarding party on our approach again. Now back off, Karen!’

Karen’s exasperated sigh could ignite kindling. ‘If the Nautilus tries any more tricks, I will blast her to pieces, whether or not you’re on board!’

My bridge crew looks at me with a mix of desperation and hope. I must have another idea, another ace to play. Except I don’t.

My heart compresses into a lump of nemonium. ‘Prepare for boarding. Issue Leyden guns to any of the crew still willing and able to fight. We’ll have to –’ I gaze out of the window – ‘wait.’

‘Wait?’ Ester asks, confused.

I fumble to unlatch my seat belt. I run to the giant bug’s-eye dome to get a front-row view as our payload returns from the deep.

Why he chose this exact moment to emerge, I don’t know, but the ways of lovesick giant octopuses are mysterious. Romeo’s enormous tentacles wrap around the Aronnax, pulling her into an embrace. Our comm fills with screams from the enemy sub. I imagine her entire crew tumbling sideways into the starboard walls.

Romeo’s bulbous head pulses with excitement as he shows his new friend some affection. I’ve heard all about you, he seems to be thinking. You need a hug.

At the same time, as if the Nautilus has a sense of humour, our cold-fusion reactor decides to come back online. The purple bridge lights glow. LOCUS displays flicker to life.

Nelinha’s voice says, ‘Sorry, Captain. Still not at full power, but …’ She falters, probably checking her external displays. ‘VIXE MARIA what –? Oh, YES, BABY! That’s my cephalopod!’

Cheers echo through the corridors of the Nautilus. The bridge crew gathers round me to watch as Romeo drags the Aronnax down.

‘I bet they’ll try electrifying their hull,’ Gem says, ‘right about now.’

The Aronnax does not disappoint. Green lightning dances across their hull, putting the glow of romance in Romeo’s eyes. Our octopus friend squeezes even tighter.

‘Nautilus,’ I say, ‘open a channel?’

She responds with a cheerful triangle ding. She’s clearly pleased with herself.

‘Aronnax, this is Ana Dakkar,’ I announce. ‘You need to abandon ship immediately.’

‘Ana!’ Dev shrieks. ‘What is that? What have you –?’

I feel the implosion in my gut. Romeo snaps the Aronnax like gingerbread. Fire and sea churn together. Giant silvery air bubbles, some with people inside, billow towards the surface. Romeo has broken the submarine’s heart.

My crew hoots and hollers, but I don’t feel like celebrating. We haven’t won anything if we take more lives.

‘Ester,’ I say. ‘Gather the Orcas. Suit up and get out there for rescue operations. See if you can get Romeo to stand down.’

She nods. ‘I can do that.’

‘They’re Land Institute,’ Lee-Ann points out. ‘The people who destroyed our entire school.’

‘Yes,’ I agree. ‘And we’re going to save them because we’re not Land Institute. Lee-Ann, go with them to help.’

She gulps. ‘Aye, Captain.’

On their way out, they get Virgil to his feet and escort him from the bridge. Halimah and Gem return to their stations.

‘Captain,’ Halimah says, ‘the enemy skiff has veered off.’

‘Picking up survivors?’

‘No …’ Halimah frowns. ‘They’re heading for the mouth of the underwater tunnel.’

I curse. I’ve been so focused on the Aronnax, I’d forgotten about Lincoln Base. I’d hoped that watching a monster octopus crush his ship would stun Dev into submission, but he’s as stubborn as ever. He hasn’t completely changed.

Knowing the way he thinks, I imagine Ophelia, Luca, Tia, Franklin and Dr Hewett are still being held prisoner on the island. Dev is racing to take charge of his hostages personally so he can use their lives as leverage.

I check Gem’s readout. ‘Can we disable them –?’

‘Cannons are still offline,’ Gem says. ‘Besides, it’s too late.’

The purple blip of the skiff disappears into the tunnel.

‘Our people will be guarded,’ Halimah warns. ‘When Dev arrives, he’ll dig in for a stand-off.’

‘Which is why we’ll attack now,’ I decide, ‘before he has time to regroup.’

Gem frowns. ‘Ana, the Nautilus is in no condition –’

‘The Nautilus stays here.’ I put my hand on the console and continue in Bundeli. ‘Nautilus, I’ve got to try to save our people. If anything happens to me, protect your crew. They’re your family now, whether they are Dakkar or not.’

Halimah raises an eyebrow. Aside from me, she’s the Dolphin on board who’s most fluent in South Asian languages, so she understands Bundeli well. ‘You think the Nautilus will listen to us?’

‘Absolutely.’ I hope I sound more confident than I feel. ‘Halimah, you have the bridge. Gem, you and I are taking the skiff. We’re going after Dev. We’re going to end this. Get all the guns you can carry.’