The Sugar Rush sailed through the concealed trenches of the Caspian Basin, the eerie glow of bioluminescent flora creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Still recovering from the intense encounter with the Rogue AI's, the crew remained vigilant, maintaining a watchful eye on their surroundings.

However, Sugar's hologram interrupted the subdued atmosphere, breaking through the quiet tension. "Captain, Captain!" Sugar exclaimed as she entered the cockpit. Austin, absorbed in studying old world maps with Nobuko, initially didn't acknowledge her. Annoyed at being ignored, Sugar tugged on Austin's sleeves, "Austin!".

As Austin snapped back to reality. "What’s wrong?" Taking his eyes off the map, he looked out to the Caucasus range, where the watery grave of Tbilisi, the cracked bubble, lay, as light and shadow danced across the remnants of Tbilisi Bubble.

Despite its destruction, Tbilisi Bubble had taken on a new life as an underwater habitat, home to a resilient and diverse ecosystem. The remnants of the bubble provided shelter for marine life, and the enclosed space offered protection from the colossal monsters that roamed the depths of the ocean. The once-grand structures within the bubble, now covered in algae and coral, served as a surreal backdrop to the thriving underwater world that had reclaimed the city.

Nobuko, looking on in awe at the remains of a sunken city, questioned with a hint of fear in her tone, “Can’t we travel on the surface?”

Austin smugly replied, “You are truly a princess. A sub wouldn’t survive five minutes up there.” knowing better, they’re defenceless to pirates, or surface cities on lotus pads.

Referring back to the map, Austin suggested, “Circling south via Anatolia would be the quickest route.”

Nobuko had a sudden flashback to Boyle's last interaction, expressing concern “we can’t go into African Mediterranean Caliphate territories.” Pointing to the map, she noted that the AMC had recently conquered Anatolia. Nobuko then pointed to Ukraine and suggested, “Could we circle far to the north, via the Slavic Alliance?” Gloating eagerly, she said, “My people are on friendly terms with them.”

Austin muttered, “You’re definitely from royalty.”

She asked confusedly, “What do you mean?”

Austin explained, his tone firm, "You've been sheltered from reality. Of course, the Slavs didn't tell you. You can never trust them; it's a house of cards up there."

Austin swiftly displayed a dozen articles on the holographic display, highlighting the hidden truth from Nobuko, "There's a hidden ongoing civil war within the Slavic Alliance that your people might not be aware of. Several bubbles are rebelling against the surface habitats." The holographic articles painted a grim picture of internal strife, revealing a conflict that had been concealed from the outside world. The revelation left Nobuko visibly surprised

Sugar, jumping up onto the table, struggled to reach and pointed on the map. "Unusual number of colossal monsters in these areas," she remarked, her holographic map highlighting several blips of concern.

Sugar tells them “Our only option is to head south along Anatolia’s then across the frontlines into Europe,”

Austin muttered to himself, “hoping the Caliphate doesn't catch us.”, under his breath “Fuck”, whispering in an apologetic tone “I am sorry Boyle, we have to risk it.”

Meanwhile in the dimly lit confines of the ductwork, Boyle sobbed with his head tucked into his knees. The red hue cast an eerie atmosphere as Milson, spider monkey, attempted to offer a wrench with a cheeky grin.

"Go away, Milson," Boyle said, pushing him aside with frustration.

Milson screeched, dropping the wrench, perturbed by the rejection, and retreated deep into the crawl space, casting a final glance before disappearing into the darkness.

It’s not all bad," Boyle muttered to himself, wiping away tears. Determination replaced despair as they spoke aloud, "Austin won’t hand me back to the Caliphate. The princess’s reward will secure my freedom!" Clutching the wrench, Boyle declared, "Let’s get her to Madrid. The faster we get paid, the faster I am free!"

The submersible violently rocked, and Boyle was thrown around within the cramped space, colliding against the unforgiving metalworks. Static interference crackled over the radio, disrupting the communication. “Boyle! Boyle! Report in! Fuck, if you hear me, just hunker down.”

“Austin!” Boyle shouted desperately into the radio. “I’m coming back to the cockpit!”

“No!” Austin's voice echoed through the commotion. “Someone needs to be on the turret!” The urgency in Austin's directive was evident.

Boyle manoeuvred through the narrow ductwork, heading back toward the pulsar turret cockpit. The dim red hue barely illuminated their way as they navigated the confined space. Austin's erratic piloting caused Boyle to violently bounce around the ducting, but he pressed on, driven by the necessity to reach the pulsar turret to face the unknown enemy.

Boyle sat in the turret chair in awe. "It's real, the megalodon," As they peered through the reinforced glass, the colossal shadow of the ancient sea predator emerged from the dark depths.

Sugar materialised next to them, equally excited. "It's a little over 30 metres and estimated to be 120 tons," she announced. The faint glow of bioluminescent flora highlighted the megalodon's form,

"Hold tight, I’m activating the emergency burners," Austin ordered.

Boyle, gripping the turret controls, couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety. "Are you nuts?!" he cursed, his voice a mix of fear and frustration.

The emergency burners roared to life, propelling the Sugar Rush forward with a burst of speed. The submersible surged through the water, leaving behind a trail of turbulence. The crew held on, bracing for the impact of the high-speed manoeuvre.

The distant silhouette of the megalodon lingered, a constant reminder of the relentless pursuit from the depths. As the submersible became visible for miles around, the exhaust glowed brightly in the depths. While the emergency burners had bought them some time, they couldn't shake off the colossal beast.

"Boyle, meet me in the hangar," Austin commanded before abruptly ending the radio transmission. The urgency in his voice reflected the critical situation, and Boyle hurriedly left the turret cockpit, making their way to the hangar.

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In the hangar, Austin stood next to a formidable nuclear fuel core, its metallic surface gleaming with a faint blue hue, emanating a low hum. Milson screeched and pointed excitedly as soon as Boyle entered the hangar.

"Easy, boy," Austin said, soothingly petting Milson. "Boyle! Can you work your magic and turn this into a bomb?" The nuclear fuel core, a vital source of energy for the submersible.

"What makes you think I can do that? I was only trained as an engineer," Boyle snapped, annoyed.

Sugar chimed in over the intercom. "Pulse weaponry wasn’t enough. We don’t have the fuel to outrun it."

"Fine. I’ll take a look," Boyle said, begrudgingly leaning over the fuel core.

Austin expressed his gratitude, "Thanks. You’re a lifesaver. I’ll go ready a drop pod."

Boyle unstabilized the core of the fuel rod and inserted a detonator. Nobuko's scream pierced through the radio, "It’s catching back up!"

"I’m done," Boyle said, handing Austin the finished product. "I hope it works."

As Austin carefully lowered the improvised bomb into the drop pod, he muttered, "Hope so too." Urgency in his tone, he called out, "Everyone to the cockpit!" The crew swiftly gathered, a sense of anticipation and tension hanging in the air as they prepared for the dangerous gambit against the pursuing megalodon.

Sugar's radar displayed the tracked trajectory of the drop pod, and Nobuko voiced her concern, asking, "Are we clear of the blast?"

Austin replied, a hint of uncertainty in his tone, "Sure?"

The explosion reverberated through the underwater canyons, creating a shockwave that momentarily cleared their path. In the cockpit, the crew watched the sonar readings, waiting to see if the megalodon had been vanquished by the daring manoeuvre. The waters around them remained eerily quiet, the distant silhouette fading into the depths. The crew exchanged uncertain glances, the true fate of the monstrous pursuer remains shrouded.

The tense atmosphere escalated as Sugar's radar pinged again. She reported with concern, "Unknown Submersible on interception course. Our afterburners are still boiling. I can't hide the heat output, and relying on backup generators, we can't outrun them."

Austin, gripping the helm with determination, analysed the situation. The crew, on edge after their encounter with the megalodon, now faced a new threat. "How fast are they closing in, Sugar?" he asked, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.

Sugar, her holographic form flickering with unease, responded, "At this rate, they'll be on us in less than five minutes the way I am limping.”

Nobuko, seated in the cockpit, glanced at Austin, her eyes reflecting a mix of fear and determination. "What do we do?" she asked.

Austin, weighing their limited options, instructed, "Boyle, prepare the pulse turret. We might need to fend them off. Sugar, divert all non-essential power to the thrusters, see if they'll disengaged ”

The Sugar Rushes afterburners roared to life, leaving behind a trail of turbulent waters as they pushed the limits of their escape. The unknown threat closing in, the crew navigated the concealed trenches of the underwater terrain, hoping to outmanoeuvre their pursuers and escape the clutches of the unknown interceptor.

However, it was a gamble too far. Without nuclear power, they didn't stand a chance as the interceptor came into range, sending a hail to the Sugar Rush. The insignia of the Caliphate was displayed, striking fear into Boyle. Nobuko, sensing his distress, went over to comfort him.

"Boyle, it's okay," she said reassuringly.

Pushing Nobuko away, Boyle behind gritted teeth said, "It's fine, princess." Turning away, he hid behind a chair as the Caliphate vessel came into visible range. The tension in the cockpit was palpable as they awaited the communication from their potential captors.

The display flickered to life, revealing a male AI with dark hair and a tanned complexion, clad in desert camo attire. Beside him stood a captain, a senior officer in a military uniform. The captain's voice carried authority as he addressed them, "Nomad of the Sugar Rush? We've been looking for you." The captain wore a greedy smirk, anticipating the rewards that capturing the Sugar Rush promised.

Annoyed, the AI continued with a stern tone, "Our orders are to escort you to Cairo. Now, come quietly." The demand hung in the air

Smugly, Austin replied, “I’d like to, but you heard that explosion? That was my last fuel core. I’ve only got enough power in reserve to get us to Demarcus.” The reality of their situation sank in.

As the AMC interceptor captain issued his directive, Sugar's sideloaded radar displayed a giant blip rapidly approaching. Austin, recognizing the imminent threat, held his nerve. Annoyed, the AI stated, “My captain has granted you permission to refuel at Demarcus, where we’ll take you cairo ourselfs.”

The blip drew nearer, and Austin had to think fast. “I’m shutting down. I’ve got to make repairs before we leave.” Nobuko and Boyle exchanged confused glances. Sugar, with a smile and a cheery tone, remarked, “Bye-bye.”

The AI from the Caliphate interceptor reacted aggressively. “Stop! You’re not permitted to do that. Don’t you dare cut our connection…”

As Sugar initiated the shutdown, powering down everything but the critical functions, the Caliphate vessel activated its searchlights in an attempt to locate them. The Sugar Rush slowly descended to the seabed, concealing itself in the depths. Austin held their breath, hoping that his submersible's shutdown would go unnoticed, hinting he knew what the bip was.

Austin and Sugar stood looking out the cockpit, faces pressed against the windows, with Nobuko and Boyle joining them. "Austin, what are you doing?" Nobuko asked, confused.

Austin, with a mischievous grin, said, "Shh. We need to be quiet." Puzzled, they all watched

As the Sugar Rush lay dormant on the seabed, Boyle's frustration boiled over. "We're not going with them. I'll fight them,alone if I have to," he declared defiantly.

Austin, placing a hand on Boyle's shoulder, said, "Easy, Boyle. We don't need to fight. Nature just did the job for us." The submersible rumbled as a massive silhouette passed overhead. The floodlights faded as explosions rippled above them. The megalodon was back. It was toying with the Caliphate patrol vessels before finally consuming them. The ominous presence of the colossal creature sent shivers through the crew of the Sugar Rush.

Surrounded by the aftermath of the megalodon's sudden assault on the Caliphate patrol vessels, Nobuko's eyes widened with a mix of fear and fascination. She whispered, "What is that creature?"

Austin, still grinning with a sense of awe, replied, "That, Princess, is the megalodon. A force of nature in these waters, feared by all who sail the deep.”

The megalodon continued its powerful display, its immense form casting a shadow over the wreckage of the Caliphate vessels. Austin noted the burns scarring his body, it was the one they nuked.

Sugar Rush, her holographic form flickering slightly, replied, "The megalodon has eliminated the Caliphate patrol vessels. We're no longer in immediate danger, but we should remain here. At least till the Megalodon leaves."

Boyle, a sense of triumph in their voice, declared, "Let’s leave these slaver bastards."

After what felt like hours, Sugar Rush, monitoring the surroundings, reported, "The megalodon is moving away. I recommend we use this opportunity to make repairs and continue our journey. We shouldn't overstay our welcome."

Austin felt a pit forming in his stomach, knowing that Boyle wouldn't like what he was about to say. “I'm sorry, kid, but we really need more fuel,” he said, addressing Boyle's concerns. “Demarcus is the closest bubble.”

Protesting, Boyle retorted, “I'm not going back in a pen!”

Austin tried to reassure them, patting Boyle's head. “You're not,” he said. “Relax, listen. Stay on the sub. I'm old friends with the governor. It should be fine.” He moved toward the navigation panel, muttering under his breath as he plotted the course to Demarcus.

The Sugar Rush hummed with activity as Austin, Nobuko, and Sugar focused on their respective tasks. Despite the recent encounter with the megalodon and the Caliphate patrol, the crew maintained a sense of determination. Boyle, still hesitant, stayed near the hangar area, wanting to be alone.