Andee the Aquanaut: Transcend Beyond Limits

By S J House and Zoran Zlaticanin

Zadora’s magic has become more powerful than anyone could have ever imagined. She plans to flood the world’s cities, engulfing them in tsunamis hundreds of feet high. Only the young Aquanauts, Andee and Indee, dare to stop her in what will be the greatest battle of their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S J HOUSE
• Release date: Oct 16, 2019

Book preview

Chapter 1

THE BLACK SEA

Lightning flickered below the surface of an oceanic alien world. Non-terrestrial intelligence whizzed past as laser fire crisscrossed the deep. Monstrous roars blasted from megalodons. Aquanauts and dolphinoids zoomed in hot pursuit.

There’s a sea cave up ahead, Andee shouted. It’s the entrance to the Black Sea! Dorphieus, we must stop them from entering!

Zoid, zoid, zoid!

Mermen took aim from the mouths of the great whites. One by one, the sharks swished their tails inside the cave, disappearing into a vortex current.

Come on, after them! Andee yelled. We can’t let them get away!

Electric-blue streaks zapped from his fists, striking a shark. The shark roared in agony, sinking to a smoky death as mermen and gold spilled from its jaws. The last dorsal fin snaked into the cave as cries echoed. A torrent of lasers lit up the walls. Dolphinoids charged.

Zadora’s shark swung round, warding them off with Yolanda held in her grip.

Snarling at the loss of one of her precious pets, Zadora stamped her trident, casting a spell. Aquaremoness!

A shockwave pulsed from the shark’s mouth, flaring over the dolphinoids, sending them tumbling out of the cave as an unknown force etched itself across the entrance.

STOP! shouted Andee. Nobody move. It’s a laser field!

Zadora cackled inside the cavernous tunnel. Her shark swung its tail, vanishing from sight.

Outside the cave, dolphinoids gathered beside Indee and Andee in silence. In a fit of rage, Andee clenched his fists and charged forward.

No! Indee pulled him back. It’s too dangerous. You saw what happened to the dolphinoids.

But they’re getting away! Dorphieus, what can we do?

Dorphieus closed his eyes, channeling Zadora’s dark magic. This laser field is indeed powerful. We must be cautious. Everybody, swim back now. We have to destroy it from a safe distance, combining all our firepower.

They lashed on flippers and fins, away from the entrance.

We’re ready, Dorphieus. Indee and Andee nodded with courage in their eyes.

Brace yourselves. Be prepared for a backlash of force. Dorphieus raised his fins. On my count. One, two, three—FIRE!

ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! Jet streams of plasma exploded onto the force field, detonating a massive underwater eruption.

Shields! ordered Dorphieus.

They instantly encased themselves in a ghostly barrier. Coral rocks slammed into them like an asteroid field.

Then, it stopped. Slowly, the silt and ash cleared.

Andee opened his scrunched-up eyes. It worked! The force field is gone!

Hurrah! they cheered.

Charge! commanded Dorphieus.

They swarmed inside to the Black Sea.

Indee suddenly stopped, holding her hands to her head.

What’s the matter, Indee?

I don’t know. I just had a strange feeling about the others—

Richard? Our parents?

Yes, I felt a sharp spike in my senses like something’s happened to them. It’s gone now though. I’m not sure—

Maybe you should contact them, Andee, Dorpheus said. See if they’re okay. These oceans are no place for mortal humans.

Andee nodded, lifting his dive watch to his chin. Richard, come in. Richard? After a pause, he turned to the others. There’s no response.

I hope they’re okay. Indee sighed.

I’m sure they’re safe in the sub.

They hovered among prehistoric plants. A distant roar tremored the currents.

We’re close, whispered Andee. These sea creatures are perilous. All of you stay vigilant. Come on. He kicked with his flippers. This way.

A merman soldier stood behind Zadora, Yolanda immobilized in his grasp. My queen, the Aquanaut army has penetrated the water shield and is advancing this way. Before long, they will reach the castle grounds. What are your orders, Your Majesty?

Zadora stood proud with her trident held high, watching her beloved creatures lurch onto the loading docks. Merman soldiers jumped from their mighty maws, the sharks regurgitating their haul. Muscle and sweat loaded it into carts. She cackled. Soon we will be the richest, most powerful race on Earth. Now, tell me of the progress of Krackuess and his men.

They’re breaking through the seabed and destroying the continental shelf as we speak, your majesty.

Good, good. Soon New York City will be gripped in a watery grave, held under hundreds of fathoms. There’ll be no more land, only sea, which I will rule. Commence building the oxygen prisons at once. We will hold captive the important humans for when the time for bargaining is right.

Yes, my queen. It shall be done. And what of the Aquanaut army?

Zadora sneered. I have a surprise that will shock them in their path. Now go! You have your orders.

You’ll never get away with this, Yolanda cried. Andee will stop you!

Zadora hissed, You’ve served your purpose well, my girl, luring your foolish friends to their demise. I have no further use for you now. Lock her in the water dungeon and throw away the key!

Yes, my queen. As you command. The merman bowed before dragging Yolanda by her heels.

No! No! Yolanda screamed.

Zadora turned her back, closing her eyes. With her trident raised to the sky, she muttered to herself. Dark clouds rumbled overhead. Thunder roared as lightning struck her spears, igniting with electricity. She continued to chant, harnessing billions of volts. Then she opened her shark eyes wide with hunger, releasing a charge more potent than a thousand storms. It struck the Black Sea, magnetizing the surface.

Sniggering, she marched away.

What’s that in the distance? Indee slowed to a stop. The others did the same.

Lightning? Under the ocean? Andee gaped as the Black Sea danced in flickers of light.

It’s coming closer, Dorphieus warned.

Can you get thunderstorms under the sea? Indee asked.

Anything’s possible down here. Andee tried to make sense of the igniting sea. His expression snapped from curiosity to fear as ghostly outlines of giant serpent heads appeared, red eyes gleaming. With protruding fangs, their jaws, sparked like subway tracks, billions of volts in a single bite.

It’s not lightning. Andee pulled his hands into fists. They’re electric eels. This ocean is about to shock us into oblivion! Indee! Activate shields now!

Dolphinoids, Dorphieus commanded. Fire!

Hissing, the electric eels puffed their scales twice the size and spit cannonballs of lightning plasma. The globules shocked the dolphinoids, illuminating their skeletons.

Dorphieus gritted his teeth. The electricity—it’s piercing our shields. What sorcery is this?

A swarm of eels descended upon them in an electrical feast, fangs shocking them to the core, the Black Sea illuminating an army of skeletons.

Though Andee tried to resist, he was too stunned to move. He slid his eyes to the right. Dorphieus and his men, all paralyzed, were about to be devoured by the eels. Indee floated unconscious while they savaged her legs.

Indee! No! Andee tried to reach out. How can I help her if I can’t move? Lightning bolts struck his suit, illuminating his bones. He blacked out.

This power is too great, Dorphieus bellowed. We must retreat. Pull back! Pull back!

Amid the mayhem, a voice whispered its way through the currents penetrating Andee’s mind.

Andee? Can you hear me, Andee?

Andee left his organic body. His phantom outline shimmered away from his former self as he watched the eels attacking. Unable to help Indee or the dolphinoids, he understood they were all doomed.

Andee, can you hear me? repeated the voice.

I hear you. What’s happening to me? Have I died? I need to get back into my body and stop this—Indee is dying! And the others, they’re all going to perish!

Andee, the Wise White Dolphin spoke. You must retreat NOW! Return to the sub. You and Indee have seconds to live! I’m going to use your astral Aquanaut powers to make you transcend. Zadora’s magic is too powerful here!

In the background, Dorphieus shouted for retreat. Magnetizing plasma was heading straight for them.

Now, Andee! the Wise White Dolphin shouted in his mind. Take Indee’s hand!

Gritting his teeth, Andee used all his might to desperately reach out, locking his fingers into Indee’s hand. A white light engulfed them. He cried out in agony as the eels consumed their bodies.

Chapter 2

MANHATTAN ISLAND

Dark, thunderous skies rumbled over the city’s financial district. A torrential downpour bounced off the sidewalks while a woman hurried down the street. When she reached a café, she shook off her umbrella and stepped inside.

Hey, Tony, she said, droplets of water running down her face, which glinted a rich, deep sepia under the fluorescent lights. Can I get a cappuccino to go, please? Imogen Robinson wore black-framed glasses that went well with her red lipstick and dark eye shadow. She wiped the lenses now, clearing her vision. Though thankful for her umbrella, the wind gusts made it almost pointless.

Sure, coming right up, Imogen. He wiped his forehead.

Imogen tapped her nails anxiously on the counter, glancing at the drenched people sitting at tables. She flicked her eyes to a clock on the wall. 8:58 a.m. Her meeting was at nine, and it was still another fifteen minutes’ walk to get there. With a sigh, she reached for her smartphone. She couldn’t be late; she was already on the watch list. If she didn’t produce results for the insurance company soon, she’d surely lose her job.

Hey, Rachel, she spoke into the handset, it’s me. Listen, I’m running late. I—

Rachel’s muffled voice interrupted her.

I know, I know, Imogen apologized. But this rain isn’t helping. Please, don’t start without me.

Imogen, Mr. Skinner doesn’t like to be kept waiting! And we’re already running behind!

"I’m sorry. I’ll be there just