Chapter 33

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of violet and crimson, the group prepared to embark upon their daring nighttime mission. Under a blanket of indigo, the sea transformed into a dark expanse that seemed to stretch on for eternity. This was the perfect time for the group to approach the abandoned platform, hidden under the cover of darkness.

A rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, provided the perfect vessel for a stealthy approach – small and agile, yet sturdy in the inexorable waves. The boat's motor purred in the background as they navigated the turbulent waves, blending with the harmony of the vast ocean surrounding them. Salt-laden smells assaulted their nostrils, a reminder of the uncharted abyss beneath them.

From a distance, the looming platform appeared as a shadowy sentinel, and its abandoned, skeletal silhouette loomed ominously against the moonlit sky. As the RIB crept closer, details emerged, revealing signs of decay, rust, and disuse. The sounds of waves crashing against the metal structure created an eerie symphony, and the scent of rust and dampness hung heavy in the air.

Ardia shivered, not from the cold but from the anticipation bubbling within her. She squeezed Homer's hand, seeking comfort in the warmth and solidity of his strong grip. The wind whistled softly around them, making her hair dance in wild tendrils around her face. The haunted beauty of the scene before them felt like a portent of what lay ahead.

O'Conner and Razmik exchanged tense glances, knowing the gravity of their mission. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation. As they weaved among the harsh waves, they found themselves ever closer to the forgotten platform, its creaking, groaning melodies punctuating the silence around them.

The RIB slowed to a near halt, allowing the team to scrutinize the platform for the best point of entry. From their vantage point, it was obvious that the platform hadn't been used in years. The iron framework, eaten away by the ferocious saltwater and battered by countless storms, now hosted pale whispers of what it once had been.

As the boat moved closer to the platform, the engine's low purr was reduced to a near-silent hum, making the journey almost undetectable to the ears of any potential onlookers. The RIB, skillfully piloted by a trusted contact of Razmik, gently navigated the increasingly treacherous waves that grew more turbulent in the close proximity of the platform.

Guided only by the gentle moonlight, and with the inky darkness providing additional cover, the boat weaved its way through the maze of metal structures below the platform. The once-impressive oil rig seemed to have transformed into a haunted cathedral beneath the surface. Columns of rusted steel framed an atmosphere reminiscent of an ancient crypt, trapping the echoes born from the surrounding waters. The rhythmic creaking and groaning of the platform served as a dissonant hymn of foreboding.

As the boat drifted underneath the towering structure, the shadows cast by the platform felt oppressive, as if trying to smother the team's resolve. The scent of oil hung in the night air, clinging to the damp mist that kissed their faces. Chilling goosebumps spread across Ardia's skin, fueled equally by the cold air and her trepidation.

As they neared a crumbling ladder, Homer's long, ape-hybrid arm reached up, snagging something unseen. Within moments, he vanished up into the darkness. Ardia wanted to bark something after him, but the darkness and silence held her tongue.

The RIB bumped against something, causing Ardia to start. O'Conner's voice drifted out from the inky black, "This is our way up. Normally, I wouldn't apply 'ladies first' in these circumstances, but you might be the most able to test the ascent."

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Ardia moved past him, the boat swaying with her shifting weight. She found the ladder with her hands, the crumbling texture rough and gritty beneath her fingertips. In a teasing tone, she asked, "Will that ease your conscience when something snaps, and I plunge to my death?"

O'Conner responded, "I doubt that's possible. Even if it were, I think we both know your hulking angel is hovering somewhere nearby, ready to swing in and save the Jane to his Tarzan."

Ardia couldn't deny the thrill it gave her to imagine the scenario. Always the strongest and most powerful being in any room she had entered, there was a strange thrill in having another who could scoop her up and protect her. She didn't like to acknowledge the feeling, and a strange sense of shame accompanied the delight that danced within her chest.

Razmik interrupted her reverie, a note of impatience in his voice, "Can we proceed now, or should we wait for more idle chit-chat?"

Ardia sighed, and began her ascent. Despite the ladder's crumbling surface, it felt surprisingly sturdy beneath her grip. As she neared the top, she could feel the vibrations of the others climbing behind her.

Ardia hoisted herself up as she mounted the edge of the platform. The cold metal met her touch, and she suddenly became keenly aware of the slight shiver that ran through her body. As she stood on the solid surface, the night wrapped around her like a cloak, blending seamlessly with the vast sea that stretched out beneath her.

The cold air brushed against her skin. Her breath formed ghostly wisps in the cold night air, the exhalations seeming to disappear instantly into the surrounding darkness. For a moment, Ardia stood in silence, drinking in the sensory experience.

As her eyes slowly accustomed to the darkness, the faint glow of the distant moon illuminated the strange landscape of the metal platform. Along with its warped and rusted visage, she noticed odd furrows and scorched indentations in the metal as though something incredibly hot had once lingered there, carving out its own twisted design. The graffiti of time and inattention, it seemed, had left its mark on the abandoned infrastructure.

As she stood there, the rest soon arrived upon the platform, making as little sound as possible. Ardia could tell that they too were experiencing the ethereal impact of the unfamiliar environment. Unspoken anticipation coursed through them all as they prepared to uncover the mysteries veiled beneath this forgotten vestige.

Like a giant owl, Homer dropped silently alongside her. He said, "I don't know what we expect to find here. This thing is long abandoned."

Razmik, now beside them, added, "It's strange. Looks like an oil platform, but there's no equipment, and it's too small."

Ardia pointed to a peculiar structure and said, "That thing seems to go down. What is it? It doesn't look like a drill."

O'Conner stepped closer, examining the structure. "If I didn't know better, I'd say it looks like an elevator."

Ardia peered closer. "An elevator that goes down into the sea?"

"I didn't say it made sense," O'Conner replied. "But that's what it looks like to me, and it sounds like that's what it looks like to you. If it looks like a fish and smells like a fish, it's probably a fish."

Homer strode towards the structure, oblivious to the dark and without any sense of fear. Ardia called out to him, "Homer, wait!"

He turned to face her. "Wait for what?"

Without a reason, she said, "I don't know, but just... wait for us. Let's look together."

Homer, a creature of the jungle—Batman on all the steroids the world had to offer—waited in evident frustration. Ardia moved to join him, and the others followed closely behind. In barely more than a whisper, yet loud enough for them to hear, she said, "There's no reason to think we'll actually find some great revelation here, but I have a sense that this is something important."

In the darkness, Razmik's voice agreed, "It is certainly strange. Why would someone make something so strange?"

Then, a new voice emerged from the blackness, an incredibly deep and resonant tone, familiar.

"That is something none of you will ever find out."