|| An Expendables Survival ||

DOCKING AND ARRIVAL

As I woke up from my Propofol induced sleep, my body laid on the frigid metal gratings and stumbled upwards to gain footing, as-well as to understand where I was. For which my purpose was here was to be an expendable in a secret mission.. whatever that meant.

My legs trembled as though they hadn't been used for months, yet it was just the drug wearing off that had been used on me. My vision started to clear up, and I could start to see the place I currently was situated in. A vast, open area, as large as an airport terminal.

Spanning over half a mile probably, I could see cranes, and several docks with a dozen or so submarines. Some people who I presumed to be prisoners like myself, wearing a uniform I had seen somewhat before, it was of my contractors. As I glanced in awe, the intercom came on.

"Welcome, to those who have arrived. We are sorry that we have had to sedate you, but that is to ensure that our docks are under immense secrecy. You currently are situated in one of our entrée points, which is the Faroe Islands." He took in a breath of air before continuing.

"At the current moment, every one of you are wearing our PDG's.. short for Prisoner Diving gears, trying to tamper or forcefully take them off will lead to detonation, at which a shotgun shell will be blasted, into your skull. Do not try to flee the site, as it will also lead to the same fate."

Yet in the background, someone began to climb over the railing that was beside two different marked submarines, before diving in and trying to flee to freedom. A low hum of ticking could be heard, before a loud bang erupted in the waters.

Its deafening screech causing me to cover my own ears, as some others took suit.. The backpack which was on their back detaching from the corpse and floating on the waters. Whilst a Crimson red hue could be seen spreading through the surroundings as the prisoner had been killed whilst trying to flee.

"Disappointing. It seems like some of you do not heed to what we are saying, well that is another life lost. It's not like they matter anyways. Well, each one of you will be made to take a submarine that will lead to different entrances of our Blacksite."

"That is to ensure the highest odds of collecting the crystal. Yes, that means that you, alongside many others will be made to scramble to the core of the facility, in order to gets the crystal. Which in modern terms, means that there will be a free for all."

Some of the newly uniformed prisoners stared at each-other. Their Dagger shaped pupils stabbing at one another's as they had now essentially become rivals. The intercom could be heard in the background whilst inmates bickered. I began to walk around from my spot, and stared at the surroundings, being in a cave, with lots of equipment scattered. on the dock.

Soon after, the final message directed towards us was finally uttered.. as the intercom began to speak. "Reminder to EXR-P's. You are still regarded as prisoners, and thus will be treated as such. Failure to comply with orders will be not taken lightly and will be swiftly dealt with."

This final message, although quite unpleasant, made some sort of sense. As we'd only be stripped of our title as inmates till after we'd returned with the crystal.  After all, that was our reason that the majority of us had signed up in the first place. To not be treated the same as before.

I overheard the intercom, as it stated "Reminder to personnel, do not attempt to board any of the expedition submarines, whatever belongings that you left are not worth you going back down to the Blacksite and risking your life. Thank you."

Before which it turned off, leaving me and over a dozen other inmates alone. I could hear some attempting to reason with each other, their charismatic personalities trying to win their allies trust over, and soon enough I could see teams forming. But I knew, that it would be risky.

Who knew if they would backstab you, or each-other. There would be nobody knowing of what occurred down there anyways. Keeping my ground, I declined those who gave me offers. With their disgruntled faces showing on full display, they turned away and returned from where they had come from. Some others had also realised this, and followed suite to be alone.

I believed that by staying alone, I'd have the highest chances of obtaining the crystal, as there was no opposition from anyone. I could hear in the distance that some people were already entering submarines, and in mere moments had left to go towards the site. 

One by one, groups of people left till only a few of us were left. Taking deep breaths of air. I decided it was my time to descend into the Blacksite. Waves lightly crashed against the ash grey docks, as I said my goodbyes to the land, and welcomed the sea with open arms. 

Entering the submarine, designated with the number thirteen, its ebony-black interior made it hard for me to see how the interior looked. But I could notice the handrails and benches lined against the roof and flooring. The dim, crimson lights shone at the metal gratings of the floor panels.

Staring outside, I noticed as the hatch began to close. And soon, all I could see was but the metal door. Obscuring my vision as though it were a blindfold. Now, the submarine began to submerge itself into the waters. Traversing through the unknown, by myself.

I sat in the vessel, alone with no one by my side, as it delved into territory that I had not known of till now. Encapsulated by metalwork, I waited inside the pod, waiting till I reached the site. Never had I gone underwater, and especially not this deep. 

All I could do was count, and wonder about what state of the facility was.. All I could hear anyways was the flow of silent water, and jet engines that roared alive.  Yet the engines began to spin at a faster rate, and I could feel the pressure tightening around me, whilst I clung onto the seats.

The speed of the submarine, now had already go above any vehicle I had ever been on.. is it even possible for a submarine to be as fast as a supercar? I had thought to myself, but now was definite proof. Its speed had already surpassed even supercars from Bugatti or Koenigsegg.

Speeds and G-force loads that I had never even felt before was pushed onto my body. With it moving at now almost four hundred miles per hour, or six hundred and fifty kilometres per hour, it had now effectively broken through an invisible veil.

This veil, differentiated the ocean from the unknown area called the 'Let-Vand' zone. Which acted as blockade. Yet with the usage of jet engines, submarines could easily pass through like a hot knife against a stick of butter. Yet after passing through the veil, the vessel began to slow down in speed. 

This is because.. it began to reach its destination, designated as the Hadal Blacksite. I began to feel the submarine slow down, as I caught my breath. I took a sigh of relief, as the submarine began to enter the building, and re-emerged from the waters. 

Water trickled down its fuselage, and the hatch began to open, with it connecting itself to the bay. I began to observe the site. Walking outside, I could finally breathe fresh air. Even though knowing I was deep, I truly couldn't comprehend how it was possible.. "Doesn't the water pressure get higher the deeper you are?" 

I had asked to myself rhetorically, yet I couldn't ponder about it for long. As soon after leaving the submarine, it re-submerged itself back into the waters, as though to collect another prisoner. I could now notice the text, and in bold letter that stood around four metres tall, said 'Dock #13'.

Which had effectively confirmed what the intercom was saying, as there were other docks, meaning different entrances. Walking away from the pier, I began to look around. Lockers, and drawers, and tables could be seen against the walls. With forklifts and crates scattered around the dock.

Yet they all looked to be firmly shut. Yet I was soon to be disturbed, as the intercom went on once again.. "As discussed during your briefing in both the prison and main docks, your primary objective is to retrieve the crystal and bring it back. Whilst your secondary objective is to secure loose assets."

"As many loose assets as possible, as they are useful for us. You are allowed to check drawers, and tables. Even if they are laying around in strange places. You have also been equipped with a diving gear, which would allow you to traverse through potentially flooded areas of the Blacksite."

"You have also been equipped with a small backpack, light in weight yet can store lots of equipment or assets without feeling heavy. Finally, you have been equipped with a crystal container, used to secure the crystal tightly without it being dislodged ..if, erm, when you reach the core."

"We have permitted you to use any sort of equipment that may be of use whilst you traverse through the site, such as flashlights, which are useful in rooms that may have lost electricity. But, you are not allowed to take any sort of weapons, as it will lead to PDG detonation."

"Our Navi-Path AI system which has been installed into the entire facility, will give you the shortest route to your primary objective. Though, you will be left alone for the majority of the time. As we are currently having to manage several different teams, from different divisions."

"Which does include some of you EXR-P, who decided to band together. We will decide to tune into your travels from time-to-time. If you are ready to proceed onwards, you can use the key-card which has been left on the left side of the dock. Please note, that the shortest route, does not mean it is the safest.. be ready for anything."

Before signing off.. the intercom played a loud scramble of letters. "Lbh ner gur bar jub jvyy ergevrir gur pelfgny.. Lbh ner qrfgvarq gb qb fb." Yet, it seemed like not even the one managing the intercom had known about this incident.. Only I did.

Now left to myself, I began to scavenge through the several lockers, and drawers. Walking forward, I could see two tables, four drawers and three item lockers. Opening the first drawer on the lone table, it were a bust. Nothing, yet in the rest of the drawers, I found four USB's and a single document file..

Yet without knowing their value, I decided to place them into my backpack nonetheless, shuffling them to the very bottom to conserve space. As I began with the item lockers. Yet with two of them virtually empty, with only two extra documents.

I prayed for something useful in the final item drawer, and luck had actually been on my side. With a incandescent lantern inside of it. I instantly took it and packed it in my bag. It was light and only weighed around three hundred and seventy five grams. Feasible as it only weighed a little less than a pound, or less than half a kilogram.

Looking around, I could see nothing much else. But noticed another document with a few USB's besides it. Collecting them, and placing them back into my bag. I moved towards the left side of the dock, and noticed what I had come here for.

A key-card that was numbered with the same number as the door, which was serial one. Several crates covered the path, and I was forced to crawl under them. A slightly miniature spot but was quite easily to go under. Grabbing the key-card, I went through the other two drawers there that were there. Finding only two USB's, which was disappointing. 

Now going back, I looked back at the waters. Before turning my back towards it, and staring at the door. Placing the key-card inside the door, I waited for it to let me enter.. And soon, it let me pass..