The Last Emprex (13 page)

CHAPTER 20

GRAY DISMISSED THE REST OF HIS ADVISORS
after they had gone over the events of the day. Only Takiza was left in the small private chamber. Gray had to order the betta to allow himself to be examined by Oceania, a surgeonfish. The white lumo light in this particular cavern cast everything in a ghostly half-light that Gray found unsettling.

“Will you stop your infernal prodding?” Takiza huffed. “The wound is tender. You are not aiding matters by poking it!”

“Hold still,” Oceania said, ignoring the betta.

Speedmeister was on his way to the Arktik. Gray hoped the resourceful little fish would find a way to get there. But could Hideg and Icingholme Shivers even swim from the north to Fathomir in time?

Barkley and Velenka had also managed to slip out during Speedmeister's mad swim. Gray worried that he had sent his best friend on a fool's errand to convince Trank. The stonefish might even decide that capturing Barkley and Velenka and giving them to Grimkahn would be a better idea. And then, of course, there was the continuing threat of the jurassic horde. They came in waves of frenzied swarms, trying to get past Fathomir's defenders.

So far Striiker and the mariners from Riptide United were keeping them out. But they were losing sharkkind. Gray was worried. He never let on to the mariners or shiver sharks, but he couldn't see how they would get out of Fathomir, much less win.

“Can I speak with you?” Oceania asked.

Takiza shook his fins in irritation. “I am over five hundred years old. Do not treat me as you would a pup!”

Gray nodded to the surgeonfish. “He deserves to know.”

She sighed. “I don't know what to do,” Oceania began, looking over Takiza's injured flank. “The rips in his fins aren't the worst of it. Whatever vile force hit him, it's doing something. Something that I can't stop. The wound is getting worse.”

“What does that mean?” Gray asked, his worry increasing.

“It means nothing!” Takiza said, stopping the surgeonfish from speaking. “Oceania, however well intentioned, doesn't know the ways of shar-kata. I could not block all of Hokuu's power burst. Some small bit seeped past my shield. That is all.”

Gray turned his bulk in the small cavern so he could get a better look at Takiza. He didn't look as bright as usual. His rainbow colors seemed to be melting into each other.

“He's correct about that,” the surgeonfish said.

“So? So?” asked Gray. “What does that mean? You're not—you're not—” He couldn't bring himself to say the words.

“No, I am not!” Takiza huffed. The betta could see that Gray was unconvinced. “Rest assured I will be here to see many more of your training mistakes. I will slowly regain my health using shar-kata. Sometimes this requires going into a deep trance. But once we are in the open waters where I can feel the full healing powers of the tides, all will be well.”

“You're sure,” Gray prodded.

“I am,” answered Takiza. “Go and complete your tasks. I will rest. The current is fine here. Would that make you both stop hovering over me like I'm a turtle hatchling?”

“It would be a start,” Oceania said.

Gray nodded to Takiza and swam off, still troubled.

Thankfully there was a lull in the battle. He went into one of the deeper caverns, gliding on the current that filtered in from the front entrance.

In a moment Gray found his mother, Sandy, taking care of the shiver sharkkind and dwellers of Riptide. Nurse sharks were good at that. Lumos gave off light from their positions on the walls and down below the ancient reef. Mosses, lichens, and other cave greenies grew, giving the smaller dwellers a place to rest and feed.

“Hi, Mom,” he said.

She must have seen something in his eyes because the barbels on the sides of her mouth vibrated. She called to Onyx, who was helping keep order. “Can you take over?” she asked the blacktip. “I'd like to speak with my son.”

“Sure thing, Sandy,” Onyx told her. He immediately shouted at a few older pups that were causing a stir. “Hey! What have I told you fin biters about snout-banging each other in the middle of everyone! Get over here!”

Gray and Sandy swam to a ledge below everyone else where they could be alone. They hovered where the current was stronger so they could breathe better. “Tell me how you're doing,” she said, giving him a flank rub with her tail.

This felt wonderful and calmed him. Gray had thought he was too old to be so affected but apparently that wasn't true. “Well, our food supplies are low and Grimkahn keeps sending his frills to try to breach the main cavern—”

Sandy slashed her tail through the water. “I asked how
you
were doing, not how the battle is going.”

Gray didn't have an answer. Finally he said, “Is there a difference?” Sandy shook her head as he continued. “I'm the Seazarein, Mom. I'm supposed to have all the answers. Everyone looks to me to lead. I don't think I'm allowed to say, ‘Well, I feel a little down today. Maybe we could play tag-a-long until I feel better.'”

“You're a shark, Gray,” Sandy chided. “You have feelings. You get to be sad. You get to laugh.”

He forced a grin for his mom. “You're right. See? I'm all better.”

“You know what I mean,” Sandy said.

A dweller poked his head from the mossy greenie and for a moment Gray didn't know who it was. But then the colorful sea dragon opened its mouth.

“Hey, Gray!” Yappy said as his leafy fins moved with tiny micro-currents that only he could feel. “Sorry to listen in but I'm playing hide and seek with Riprap and Ebbie so I heard. They're really good by the way, but I miss the days when you and Barkley used to swim and play around the reef. Sandy's right, you need to smile more.”

Gray chuckled. He couldn't believe Yappy was inside Fathomir. “How did you get here from Riptide's homewaters?”

“Oh, the quickfins help us slower dwellers with directions if everyone leaves,” Yappy said. “It took a while but I made it.” Gray nodded in wonder. The journey for such a small dweller would have been staggering. “How's everything going with Grimkahn?” the little dragon asked.

“Well,” Gray began. “We're safe now. That's all I can really say.”

“You'll win,” Yappy said, nodding solemnly. “You always do.”

Gray looked at all the sharks jammed into the cavern. There were so many, and every single one was counting on him.

“Oh, and I delivered your message!” the sea dragon said.

Gray was confused. “What message?”

“To my cousins.”

Gray still didn't know what the sea dragon was talking about. “You know, the message to my giant cousins from the deep waters of the Dark Blue. I couldn't go down there myself but I sent word. Once they hear about us—I mean, I did call them to help with Finnivus and he's gone—but these fins are worse so they're still needed. They'll come and help you beat all those dumb monsters keeping us in here. You, Takiza, Barkley, Striiker, and my cousins! You'll see!”

Yappy had spoken of his giant cousins that lived in the depths of the Dark Blue since they were pups. Supposedly, when Gray was fighting against Finnivus's Black Wave armada, Yappy had sent a message for these imaginary giant sea dragons to come help. But Yappy also had a theory that the moon above the chop-chop was made of cheese.

Despite the situation Gray let out a barking laugh. He couldn't help it.

“What's so funny?” said Yappy.

Gray couldn't think of anything to say and didn't want to let the sea dragon know he had been laughing at him. Thankfully Riprap and Ebbie saved him.

“Tag! Tag! Tag!” shouted Riprap, skimming by Yappy and touching him with a fin.

“We found you!” added Ebbie.

“You did!” Yappy said. “You guys are definitely the best finders ever!”

Riprap and Ebbie swam excitedly around Sandy and Gray.

“We are awesome,” said Riprap. “That's a fact.”

Ebbie gave her brother a bump to the side. “Quit being such a chowderhead! We only found him because he was talking with Gray.”

Yappy shook his head and fluttered his colorful fins in disagreement. “No way! I was hiding
while
talking! I was—”

Suddenly there was a tremendous rumble. It seemed like the walls of the mountainous cavern were collapsing.

“What's that?” asked Sandy fearfully.

“I don't know, Gray told her. “Stay here and make sure no one panics.”

Gray swam out of the back cavern in a flash. The noise grew louder as he approached the throne area. Had Grimkahn figured out a way in? Was Hokuu using his power to blast a path inside?

“GET AWAY!” shouted Striiker. “CLEAR THE AREA!”

The rumbling grew, shaking the throne cavern violently. Gray saw boulders falling down outside. It didn't stop until Fathomir's entrance was totally blocked.

The noises stopped. The mariners and everyone else were silent.

Striiker quietly said, “I guess Grimkahn wasn't too keen on you sending that quickfin out.”

“I guess so,” Gray answered, staring at the wall of giant boulders.

They were sealed in.

In a moment the current slowed and then stopped. The cavern was large enough for them to survive for a little while.

But only a little. A half day at most.

If Gray didn't figure out how to escape, every one of them would suffocate.

CHAPTER 21

JUST OUTSIDE OF FATHOMIR TERRITORY
Barkley watched as the guards circled in front of the greenie curtain that hid the Stingeroo Supper Club. The patterns they swam seemed random but definitely weren't. They were fiendishly complex and no area was ever unwatched for more than a minute. Yes, he and Velenka could easily swim the distance in less than that, but they couldn't do it without being seen.

“No way in without being caught,” Velenka whispered, also noting the situation.

Barkley nodded but gave the mako a soft fin flick to the flank to be quiet.

She was smart. He would give her that.

Well, I didn't swim all this way for nothing, Barkley thought.

“What are you doing?” Velenka hissed as he left the greenie and headed toward the Stingeroo entrance. He didn't get far before guards blocked his way.

“Club's closed,” a bull shark told him. “Come back next week.” The shark was older but swam with skill and no wasted motion. Probably an ex-mariner.

“I'm not here for the seasoned fish,” Barkley said. “I'm here to see Trank.”

Other guards spotted Velenka and surrounded her. “Got another one here, Rocko,” yelled another guard, a big blue shark.

“Friend of yours?” asked Rocko, who was obviously in charge of this group.

Barkley nodded. “Yep. A setting for two would be nice.”

Rocko smirked and led them inside. Stingeroo was deserted. They were swum to the center area of the club. Barkley saw that Ripper was with Trank.

“You didn't tell me he was going to be here!” Velenka said nervously when she spotted the battle-scarred hammerhead.

Velenka had betrayed a shiver leader named Goblin when Ripper had been his first. Barkley had forgotten that little fact but there was nothing he could do about it now. Velenka tried to hide herself among the guards but these ex-mariners—they had to be, they were very good—didn't allow it.

Ripper saw him first. “Doggie! What are you thinking coming—” The hammerhead stopped speaking when he saw Velenka. His eyes flashed with anger. “YOU!”

He was about to streak at her when Trank yelled, “Hold it! Everyone calm down!”

Ripper's fins and tail twitched in anger. “I'm so glad I get to see you again, Velenka. So, so glad.”

“Take it easy, why don't youse,” said Trank in his odd drawl. No one in the ocean spoke like the stonefish and not for the first time Barkley wondered where he was from.

Velenka hovered close to the old fins guarding her. She didn't want to give the hammerhead a shot at her gills. “Ripper, good to see you,” she said, although plainly it was the last thing she was thinking. “I've always respected you, you know. You should have been the leader of the shiver. I always thought that.”

“Why?” spat the big hammerhead. “So you could put a hit out on me? Yeah, I work for Trank. I hear things.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Trank said. “Let's not dredge up the past. What you doin' here, dogfish? I know you don't like my seasoned fish.” Trank signaled the guards with a fin waggle and allowed Barkley to move forward.

“You know what I'm here for,” he told the stonefish. “Gray's prepared to offer you a hunk of territory, including some of the golden greenie field for your help.”

“Youse can't do anything with new territory if you're dead,” the stonefish said.

Barkley flicked his fins but kept his temper under control. “Help us and you'll be paid well. We're in trouble.”

“Not my problem.”

Barkley slashed his tail through the water. “You're wrong. It's everyone's problem. You think you can ride this current out? No way. Grimkahn won't be satisfied with free seasoned fish.”

Trank gave a noncommittal swish of his fins. “Maybe he's a music fan. We got great bands here. Youse never know.”

“Oh come on!” Barkley said. “Do you really want to take that chance?”

“More than I want to take the chance of making him irate,” Trank answered. “In case youse haven't noticed, I'm not sealed up inside of Fathomir like Gray and the rest of yer pals. I got my tailfin waving free here.” The stonefish saw the confused look on Barkley's face. “Ain't been keepin' up on current events, have youse? I might not have quickfins, but I do pay good fish for information. Grimkahn's bruisers caused an avalanche. Fathomir's shut tighter than a clam. And youse wants me to risk my skin? Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Even with that, it's still the right play,” Velenka said.

“Definitely don't listen to this one,” Ripper interrupted.

The mako swished her tail back and forth. “Sure. Don't listen. But I'm just like you, Trank. I look out for myself. And you should, too.”

“Velenka!” shouted Barkley.

“Let me finish!” she insisted. “When the survivors of the horde tell everyone that you didn't flick a fin one way or the other during this war, everyone in the Big Blue will know it. You think business was bad when Finnivus took over? That'll make what's going to happen look like the good old days. No shark or dweller is coming to listen to music or eat with the traitorous fins that sided with the jurassics.”

Barkley was amazed. Velenka had made an argument he would have never thought of and directed it at what Trank really cared about—his own personal power and wealth.

But the stonefish wasn't impressed. “Youse done?” he asked. “Sorry, dogfish. Made the swim out here for nuthin'.”

“Yeah. What part of ‘no' didn't you understand the first time?” Ripper added, staring at Velenka.

Barkley nodded. “You know I had to try.”

The hammerhead turned to Trank. “Doggie and I have had our differences. Heck, I even thought about sending him to the Sparkle Blue once or twice. I've let go of that. But Velenka is something else. You better believe she could cause trouble later. Let me have her.”

Trank studied Velenka. “She turned on me once, too. I ever tell you that?”

“I don't doubt it,” said Ripper.

The mako's huge black eyes seemed to grow even bigger. “That—that was an unfortunate decision on my part. I—I wasn't—it wasn't my fault.”

“Trank,” Barkley said evenly. “We came here to talk. We came in peace.”

The stonefish stared at Velenka, considering. “Yeah Barkley, but you're lookin' out for your friends. I get that. I
respect
that. Velenka here, she don't look out for no one but herself. Maybe it's time for her to swim off to the Sparkle Blue.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Ripper said with a gleam in his eye.

“Salamanca thinks that would be a grave mistake,” said a huge blue marlin. Everyone looked to the side where he, Jaunt, twenty AuzyAuzy mariners, Snork, and a huge narwhal with a giant, sharp horn hovered. The group had somehow slipped past the guards.

Ripper shouted, “Paddletail, Dorno! Sound off!”

The narwhal, easily the largest fin—or more correctly, flipper—glided forward. He wasn't menacing them with his pointy tusk, but then he didn't have to. “Your guards are alive and only their pride is hurt.”

“Easy boys,” Trank said to the guards. “Don't want any trouble in my place just when I got it lookin' the way I like.” He motioned at the newcomers. “I'm Trank, the manager of this humble establishment. Might I interest youse in a serving of the finest seasoned fish the Sific has to offer?”

“Really?” asked Salamanca. “Salamanca loves seasoned fish. How is it prepared here?”

“Not now, you wonky drongo!” said Jaunt. “Barkley, you okay?”

“We're all right,” he said.

Velenka interrupted. “No, we're not! They want to
kill
me!”

“Whoa, whoa!” said Trank. “I was only thinkin' out loud and hadn't made a decision. Now I have. If Gray didn't send youse to the Sparkle Blue, who am I to do it?”

“NO!” shouted Ripper. “We can take 'em!”

Trank snapped his little tail, and it was louder than Barkley would have thought possible. “Ripper, you're a good fin, but my decision is final. Let it go or it's time for you to swim away from here.”

The hammerhead studied the gathered force allied against him. Even the guards he was in charge of moved away. Ripper gave Trank a stiff nod. “Fine.”

“Was what you said about Gray being trapped true?” asked the narwhal.

“It sure is,” the stonefish said. “Those mosasaurs sent boulders bouncing down the side of the mountain and sealed everyone inside. Gotta be gettin' stuffy in there. If you're gonna do something, sooner is better.”

“We got problems,” Jaunt said.

“More problems,” Aleeyoot added.

Trank swished his tail at the big marlin. “Salamanca, is it? You talk kinda funny.”

“Oh,
he
talks funny,” Barkley said, rolling his eyes.

The blue marlin pointed his bill at Trank and his eyes narrowed on the small dweller. “Is that so? Does the way Salamanca speaks amuse you, stonefish? Does it make you laugh?”

Everyone went silent. Jaunt backed away. “Now you've gone and done it,” she said.

“No, not like that,” Trank said. “I mean no disrespect. But the only Salamanca I ever heard of that speaks in the third person is a bladefish that swims the waters of the northern Atlantis on the Europa side.”

Salamanca dipped his bill with a circular flourish. “Yes, that is me.”

Trank turned to Jaunt and the narwhal. “And you're a narwhal. Only bladefish narwhal I ever heard of is called Aleeyoot. That youse?”

“Why do you want to know?” asked Aleeyoot.

Trank waved his fins in a soothing manner. “AuzyAuzy and their fins are tight with Gray, so I get why they're here. But youse bladefish? I thought youse didn't mess with power struggles in the Big Blue, kinda like me. After all, youse didn't come in against Finnivus.”

Salamanca and Jaunt watched Aleeyoot as he thought this over. After a moment he said, “You're right. We don't usually get involved in wars between shivers. In the end, Finnivus was from the Big Blue. Cruel and evil, yes. But life would have gone on. This threat is different. We felt we had to choose a side.”

“Some of us decided before others that it was the right thing to do,” Salamanca said with a grin.

Trank nodded. “Very enlightening. Best of luck to youse, then.”

Barkley turned to the relieved Velenka and everyone began to swim away.

From behind them they heard Trank add, “And Salamanca, if youse guys end up winning, the seasoned fish is on the house.”