Chapter 7 – Run Silent, Run Deep

Activating my sensors, I do not detect Kraken in the immediate area.

I activate my boosters and right myself, standing with my feet on the ocean floor.

Continuing my scan of the area with my sensors, it would seem Kraken released the cloud to escape and prevent any further damage.

“Computer, are you able to determine the location of Kraken?”

“A scan of the oceans does not reveal a location of Kraken, master.”

Interesting. It would appear that Kraken has some sort of cloaking or stealth ability.

I jump up and use my boosters to navigate out of the black cloud.

Visually tracking the area to see if Kraken is trying to take me by surprise.

“Computer, I have uploaded modifications to the submersible mode of the repair assistance vehicle. Implement them as immediately.”

“Command confirmed, master.”

Just after my transmission finishes four tendrils exit the black cloud and try to grab me.

Activating my thrusters I initiate evasive maneuvers but one of the tendrils grabs my leg and slams me on to the ocean floor and then releases my leg to conceal itself again.

Once again, I stand up on the ocean floor as computer messages me.

“Master, your modifications are complete.”

“Understood. I will need to configure for a stealth setting. Add that to the previously uploaded setting.”

“Command confirmed, master.”

I get some distance away from the cloud waiting for the configuration changes are complete.

As I get some distance away from the cloud it begins to increase in size.

It would seem that the cloud’s properties are what is allowing Kraken’s stealth settings.

“Master, your configuration adjustment has been completed.”

“Understood. Continue your efforts on Continent Midheim.”

“Command confirmed, master.”

I change the repair assistance vehicle back in submersible mode and enter the black cloud.

The main weapon is now mounted on the bottom with the opening protruding in the front.

I activate stealth mode once I fully enter the black cloud.

Visibility is limited to just barely in front of the submersible mode’s front visual dome.

As I finish my visual observations, I activate my sensors to pull up the location of Kraken on my Heads-up display on the visual dome.

Suddenly four tendrils come for me and bombard the submersible mode.

“Hull integrity at forty-seven percent.”

I go full reverse out of the cloud and allow the Vitran particles to regain the submersible mode’s integrity.

Kraken appears to have a way of detecting my sensors.

I will have to forgo any of the sensors on the submersible mode.

Once the integrity is regained, I reenter the cloud and begin the search for Kraken.

I slowly make my way around the cloud when I begin to notice something white.

Firing a shot at it, I quickly change my location to prevent Kraken from knowing my position.

I watch the shot impact and the place of impact recoils into the darkness.

Whether it was the main body or a tendril that was impacted I do not know but I must continue my assault and evasion techniques.

The recoil caused by Kraken creates a back pressure in the water allowing me to move undetected.

I decide to stop my engines and let the artificial current take me where it wants as I continue to survey the area.

Keeping the submersible mode powerless I notice the end of one of Kraken’s tendrils.

I hold off my attack and trace the possible route of the tendril to the body.

Once I have determined the approximate location of the body, I move the main weapon and fire another shot.

The current picks up as I assume it lands.

The submersible mode follows the currents once again.

I continue surveying the area for another opportunity to attack when something hits the hull of the submersible mode.

Quickly, tendrils start to grab the submersible mode and begin to squeeze.

I turn the main gun in the possible direction of the main body and fire two shots.

Kraken loosens its grip from the submersible mode and I restart the engines to continue the assault.

I assume the shots land as the current increases.

The dark cloud begins to dissipate and the visibility slowly increases.

Kraken now at less than half the size than it was originally keeps trying to expel more black liquid to mask its presence but its size reduces the amount expelled and dissipates into the water with little impact.

I fire off another shot which Kraken is able to dodge and comes toward me at full force, its tendrils reaching for the submersible mode.

I restore all power and sensors to the submersible mode and take evasive measures so I can focus my shots.

It’s smaller size and speed allows makes getting a shot off successfully more difficult.

I launch a stun charge to try to slow Kraken down so I can better connect with my shots.

Kraken uses one of his tendrils to bat the stun charge away before its payload can connect.

Even though the stun charge didn’t land it should have caused enough of a distraction so I can get another shot or two off that can land.

As the stun charge explodes harmlessly away from Kraken, I follow up the stun charge with a shot to Kraken’s center mass.

It lands and much like Fenrir when we fought masses are expelled which float upward towards where the tornado of souls is still at.

Kraken’s size is also reduced so that one final shot should be the last.

Reeling from the shot, Kraken decides to call off its attack and begins to flee towards the tornado of souls.

I increase the speed of the submersible mode and follow pursuit while trying to plan my next shot.

My speed is enabling me for shorten the distance between us.

Kraken tries to speed up and weave to try to shake me but it appears that it has reached its limit.

Before Kraken is able to reach the tail of the tornado of souls, I catch up and change back into exosuit mode and use my arms to grab the tendrils in a bunch.

Kraken tries to break free and secrete more of its dark cloud to no avail.

I bring us both back down to the ocean floor and send a message to computer.

“Computer, I need two containment units at my location. A larger one will be for the masses and a smaller one for Kraken.”

“Command confirmed, master. Both containment units are enroute.”

I continue to grasp Kraken tightly as the containment units arrive at my location.

Walking over to the smaller containment unit Kraken continues to struggle to unsuccessfully break my grasp.

Grasping Kraken with both of the exosuits hands, I reach out touching Kraken to the surface of the containment unit.

The containment unit activates absorbing it into the stasis area inside.

With Kraken contained I open a hole on the containment unit and fire one more shot to release the remaining souls trapped within Kraken.

The shot connects and the masses hover in stasis along with the now smaller Kraken.

I reach into the containment unit and grab each mass and transfer them into the larger containment unit.

Once masses are transferred, I close up the hole to leave Kraken in stasis so I can transfer it to the containment back on Continent Asgard.

“Computer, recall the smaller containment unit and bring it outside the secure area on Continent Asgard.”

“Command confirmed, master.”

The smaller containment unit with Kraken exits the ocean and goes to its destination.

I go up to the tornado of souls to survey the situation.

The masses are swirling intermingled with the spectral forms.

“Computer, I will need the modification I used to extract the souls on Continent Midheim.”

“Command confirmed, master. Enhancement modification module enroute.”

I intercept the modification and combine it with my exosuit mode.

“Computer, I am about to begin the spectral extraction but I will need a secure area near the containment unit for the masses to continue their formation.

“Command confirmed, master”

Once the modification is finished, I begin the extraction of the spectral forms.

After some time, I finish collecting the spectral forms I switch the collector’s configuration and then begin collecting the masses and place them in the secure area one by one.

The forms have still not taken their final shape but has bipedal appendages not too dissimilar to the situation with the masses from Fenrir.

I will have to leave the masses secured until I can have computer create the initial stages of vegetation and basal life forms for sustenance.

The tornado of souls did not have any souls of black contained within.

One theory could be that Kraken was the one belonging to this tornado of souls.

I place the final mass inside the secure area.

My time underwater is finished but, I place proximity sensors on both the containment unit and the secure area.

As I did with the tornado of souls on Continent Midheim, I begin a reverse centrifugal force and the remnants of the tornado having already lost some of its power begins to dissipate.

With all of my tasks completed here I head for the surface and walk along the surface of the ocean back to Continent Asgard.