Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep - An Ancient Destroyer-of-Worlds Has Awoken | Part 2

Episode Date: July 16, 2025

An aging cephian war veteran discovers a godlike weapon buried beneath the sea—one that offers him power, vengeance, and glory—but to accept it means dooming the world he once fought to protect. Author: Dave Kavanaugh * * * CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content not limited to intense themes, strong language, and depictions of violence intended for adults. Parental guidance is strongly advised for children under the age of 17. Listener discretion is advised.  #drnosleep #scarystories #horrorstories #doctornosleep #horrorpodcast #horror Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up you get, girl. Lean on me. That's right, Yipsy. There's someone or something. Damned, if I know what it is, that's going to have a look at you. Not sure we can trust it, but I don't think we got any other choice. Boyd set his spear on the cave floor, then wrapped half his tentacles around his pet thorix, and began to gently pull her. It took him a quarter of an hour to move her from the cave tunnel to the edge of the suburb. Mediterranean Lake. Poid slid into the cool water first, then carefully pulled the injured thorix in after him. Taking her by the paw, he led her down, down, down to the strange box on the ledge, and the projection of human glowing on the rock wall. This is Yipsy, Poit panted.

The thorix I was telling you about. You got powers, right? Can you help her human? She's hurt. Hello, you, humans said to Yipsy. Hmm, I don't know this species. The cataclysm must have led to surprising new branches of evolution. As for helping her, my powers are many poyed poidson, but they serve a specific purpose, and unlocking them involves a very specific arrangement. So you can't help her?

Hmm, I can at least inspect her injuries. One moment. The figure faded from the wall. wall and the box went dark, leaving them in blackness. Then a spreading ray of light shot out at the back of the box, aimed at Yipsy and Poeyd. A line of gray-green illumination passed over their bodies, and Poid was astonished to find he could see beneath his own skin into layers of wrinkled tissue and pumping vessels as the light passed over him. How are you doing this? Poid began to ask, but the intrusive beam had already finished its mysterious work and gone out.

Then, human reappeared. My scan is complete. Apart from two fractured ribs, there is only some internal bruising, said human. Your pet should recover. Boyd wrapped yipsy in his tentacles and leaned to rest his head on hers. Hear that girl. Thank cracking. But you yourself were grievously hurt, Boyd.

That must be addressed. Boyd released Yipsy from the embrace. She began to circle in place, cautiously moving her six limbs in the water. He felt at the back of his own head with one tentacle tip. That fall battered me up a bit. Apply pressure to the lower left side of your head, human instructed, and twist hard to your right. What? The maneuver should realign the broken halves of your kite plate.

I have just studied your internal anatomy, remember? Boyd cautiously brought more tentacles up against that spot. Even the gentle pressure of his suckers caused him a jolt of pain. Go on, push and twist. He hesitated, then gritted his beak. Shoving his tentacles against his skin and pushing his head back, he twisted as hard and fast as he could. There was a crack, a shock of pain, a flash in his mind.

He opened his beak to scream, then shut it again. Well, what do you know? He said, feeling at his head. I still ache, but most of the sharp pain is gone. You see, I can be trusted. Right, well, thank you, said Poit, clearing his throat. So, uh, any chance you can help us find a way out of here? The curve returned to human's mouth.

Perhaps, but let's not be too hasty. I would like to know you better, and I'm certain there are other ways I might aid you, Poid, beyond a mere path to the surface. Poid watched Yipsy drifting lazily around the circular cave. I'd prefer to get her back to sea as soon as possible. No offense. Then, do you not wish to get to know me?

Surely you don't encounter something like me every day. Are you not curious? Boyd clicked his beak. Sure I am, but you don't get to my age by giving in to curiosity, when caution is an option. Hmm, I see, but please understand. You are the first entity I have spoken to in a very long time. I would hate for us to part so soon. He looked back at the figure.

Just how long have you been asleep down here? Human's eyes swiveled to survey the space around them. Hmm, I cannot be certain. My internal clock was not powered, remember. But looking at the growth of the stones around us, I would say, 100 million years, give or take. A hundred million years, gasped, poied. Is the universe so old as that?

Human laughed. Oh, yes. The cosmos is far older, far bigger, and far more wondrous than you know. But the females of your race, they know it well. Their technology might still be rather rudimentary, but their naturalists have developed an impressive understanding of science, though they keep it hidden from males like you. There is so very much they hide from you and your brotherkin. It is unjust, Boyd, how they treat you, how desperate you must be for answers. I could give them to you, you know. Well, like I said, all I want to know is how to get out of this here cave.

Human crossed its upper limbs. You are stubborn, aren't you? And here I was believing that male Scythians always shrink in fear and submission at the sound of a female's voice. Boyd squinted at her. Is that why you're speaking to me the way you are? You could probably sound and look like anything you wanted, I imagine. Yes, what would you prefer? Should I look and sound like a male?

Or maybe like a gargantuan kraken, shaped like an eight-pointed star covered in eyes. That might be a bit much, joked Boyd. And the voice don't matter much to me. Just speak plainly. Very well. The projection began to move around the cave wall, its lower limbs in alternating motion as if walking. To say it plainly, on your own, you and your pet have little chance of making it back to the sea. He will almost certainly die within this labyrinth of caverns in the attempt, and I will be left alone again, unless...

Unless what? Unless we work together. Together, eh? Boyd didn't like the sound of that. And what to me and Yips possibly have that could be of use to something like you? More than you might guess, Boyd, for you do not yet know my story. I think I get the gist of it, actually. You were made by a type of creature that used to live down in these caves way back yonder.

And they were smart, like Zephians, maybe smarter. And you're one of their machines. Is that it? Not quite. And I am more than a mere machine. I am the memory of that once mighty people. I am the best of humanity, preserved. And I have the potential to turn their might and genius over to you. Pod exhaled. Goody.

But my creators did not inhabit the dismal basement of this planet. Human's eyes rolled to look, and it raised its upper limbs. They walked in the brightness of day, on the surface of every land, and then in the skies, and then on the moon entire, which they turned into a paradise, into a second earth. Okay, now you're losing me, Boyd admitted. I think some of them words ain't translating. words. Earth? That's what humans called Garsec. And moon? It is a Cephian word, actually. The females have observed and recorded many of the smaller celestial bodies which orbit

other worlds in the solar system. Hang on. There are other worlds? Like Garsec? Human stopped pacing and shook its head back and forth, chuckling. Oh boy, you poor ignorant soul. Here, let me reveal to you that majesty of the cosmos that your cruel mistress rulers keep to themselves. And with a flash, the projection of human changed, stretching and splitting and growing until rays of light shot from the box and painted the stony walls with a million colors. Yipsy yelped in shock and swam to hide under Boyd's tentacles. He battered her head as he revolved in the water, staring at the luminous miracle all around him. Whoa, what is this?

The universe, humans voice rang out. The infinite ocean of stars and worlds. And this star here, the sun, and here, our planet, which you call Garsec. The projection of Garsec, a sphere of marbled blue, green, beige, and white, grew larger, rotating slowly in the projection. Ah, so that's what the world looks like from beyond the rings. Incredible. Picture this. It's late at night. You're scrolling and suddenly you find exactly what you've been looking for. You add it to your cart, maybe browse a little more than head to checkout, only to realize you don't have your wallet. But then you see it, that purple shop pay button. And just like that, you're done in seconds. That's the power of Shopify. It supports millions of businesses and drives 10% of all e-commerce in the U.S. from major brands like Mattel and Jimshark to entrepreneurs just getting started. With shopping, Shopify, everything you need is in one place, from customizable store templates to built-in AI tools that help write product descriptions and enhance your images.

It also makes marketing easy with integrated email and social campaigns. And if you get stuck, Shopify's award-winning customer support is there for you 24-7. See less cards go abandoned and more sales go with Shopify and their shop pay button. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at Shopify.com. D-N-S. Go to Shopify.com slash D-N-S. That's Shopify.com slash D-N-S. Would you like it before it had rings? Back when it had a moon? Yeah. The planet blurred as it reversed its spin. The stars whooshing by behind it and Gar-Sex's rings,

which poyed had always loved so much, started to change, to blur, to swirl into a loose cloud of sparkling specks, and then, in a rush, they came crashing together to form a new world, a smaller sphere of silver and blue. Many hundreds of bright circles were spread across its surface, stitched together by glowing lines. That was the moon of Earth, in its age of the thousand cities, after humans had tamed its frozen surface. But what happened to it? How did it change into rings? That story. The celestial projection went dark, and the figure of human returned. It is also my story.

Would you like to know my story? Boyd felt his stomach clench in his head. He needed a meal and a rest, and he wouldn't say no to a mouthful of berry. He sighed. Will it take long? It doesn't have to. Boyd swallowed and glanced back at Yipsy. And when it's over,

Then you'll help us get out. If that's what you want, we can try and come to an agreement, yes. Well, let's see it then. A scene appeared atop the box and projected itself across the curved wall above, like a living painting. Poid stared at the imagery. The silver moon glowed atop the scene. Below, in the shade of the many trees, a small dwelling stood beside a river.

There were creatures grouped outside the door. Humans, some larger, some smaller. They began to move among themselves, speaking and singing, nozzling lips, gathering fruit from the trees and fish from the river, which they cooked on dancing heat and ate together. Boyd floated closer to the wall, squinting, and realized there were two distinct human body types. Males and females, he guessed, but living together, strange species.

But then the trees began to tremble. and a new group of males emerged and dove at those gathered below. These males, Boyd saw, all carried spears. They attacked, thrusting out their weapons, the blades piercing through the bodies as they skewered foe after foe, and the liquid pouring from their wounds must have been their blood. But it wasn't blue, it was red. The scene changed.

The trees were gone, and towering structures stood in their place, tall and lit with lightning torches, like the spires of seamount. Countless human figures skittered about on the ground at the base of the towers, and some rode in metal machines. A little creature moved into the sky over the city. No, not a creature, a machine, but one that could swim in the air. Imagine that. Something fell from the sky machine, plummeted among the towers,

and burst into glorious white. All was consumed in fire. Boyd squinted at the brightness, yipsy grunted and backflipped in the water. The light diminished, and the scene changed a second time. Now the humans lived in forest again, and carried spears again, and climbed among the trees in search of food. But above them in the sky, that other world, the moon, now shone bright with glowing cities. And as he watched, the projection seemed to bring Poit up, up, up into the sky, all the way to the moon itself

so he could look down into one of its cities. A glittering, transparent dome rose over the city and gardens of flowering vines stretched from tower to tower within. How'd they get up to the moon from Garsec? Poit asked. They rode in machines that could swim through the sky, answered the voice of human. Good cracking. What else could they?

Just watch, little Cepheon. Here is where I come in. Boyd watched as the humans in the moon city gathered together, cheering. In the center of the crowd, they held aloft a metal box, the same box that now sat on the stony ledge of this here Cavern Lake. You were made on the moon then? Why? Just watch. And he watched as that little box left the moon and floated down to the surface of ancient Garsec, shrinking out of sight.

Boyd waited. What was the box in the story doing down on Earth's surface? In the waters just below him, humans' box rattled, issuing the sound of many voices raised in terror, in pain, in death, which echoed through the lake. A multitude of scenes began to flicker over the walls around him. Scenes on Garsec, of forests on fire, mountains crumbling to dust, waves washing over whole islands, and humans, humans screaming as they were blasted into red mist, many clutching their little ones close as they died.

What is this madness? What am I seeing? My handiwork, of course. My creators in the thousand cities used me to put an end to those lesser, barbarous clans that remained upon the earth, and I did not disappoint. So you're a weapon? Oh, yes. The final evolution of the spear.

That's how you might describe me. They called me the Cataclysm Codex. I am the masterpiece of human ingenuity. But if the moon humans killed all the Garsecian humans, what happened to the moon itself? The voice of human sighed, and the projection of Garsec and the moon returned to the wall. The masters of the thousand cities had hoped to reclaim the earth for their children,

but before that project could begin. They turned on each other. Humans, like Cephians, have always been good at that. They fought upon the moon, and in their wrath, they unleashed my power upon their neighbors. So much power that the moon itself fell victim to my vigorous assault. Poid watched the wall as a web of fiery cracks spread over the whole of the moon's surface.

The domes over the cities burst like popped bubbles. The humans screamed as they died. Just as those down on Garsec had, the destruction continued into the whole of that silver world crumbled into dust. The dust drifted like a curved blade through space. It danced, loose and murky around Garsec, then, over time, tightened into razor-thin rings of dazzling silver, bronze and royal blue.

It made Boyd feel very small, and made the green of his skin go brown and murky. I always loved them rings. I wish I hadn't seen this and didn't know this. The projection went dark. Then human appeared again. Its eyes bright, its mouth curled. The story was over.

Floating in the underground lake, Boyd considered his options one by one. They were all shit. He was injured, tired, and hungry. Same went for yipsy there. And he saw no way out of the cave without this box's help. But human, he now realized, was more dangerous than he could have guessed. More dangerous than anything he or any other Cephian had ever come across.

Should he swim out of the lake and die a brave death alone in the cavern tunnels? Maybe he would, except he couldn't bring himself to subject Yipsy to that grisly fate. So, he had to think of another way. Boyd turned to human's projection on the wall. Say, you're a machine with a lot of tricks, right? You can swim through the sky. You wiped out islands and people and turned a world to dust. So?

So. Think you can find us some fish? Human blinked. I do not do things like that. You're only built for fighting? Wars. And how'd you end up down here? Ah, yes.

I suppose that detail was missing from the story. You see, they built other copies of the Cataclysm Codex in other boxes. One such weapon was sent to Earth, but still not used when the end came for the human race. Me, and so, I have waited. So it's just pure coincidence then? A cable layer losing his coil down a crack? You getting bumped and shocked by the cable, and me finding you here today? You could call it that, yes, but I might prefer a word like, fate.

With your assistance, everything can change. poyed clicked his beak i don't even know how you work i take orders poyed that part is imperative my creators imbued me with the glorious purpose of war but they did not grant me the power to act upon my own accord no shit huh that was right clever of him humans face winced perhaps it admitted but once directed my destructive creativity knows no balance I can exterminate with a flash and a bang, and if the need calls for it, or be subtle as a toxic breeze, I can crumble into a billion poison pills, or crack the bottom of the sea, or freeze the sky. On the wall, humans' eyes grew bright. I can eat the sun, poit, or it can creep into the skin of a body and lay my eggs. I can be whatever you want me to be. Whatever I want?

Yes, of course! You could use me in the green. You could use me in the great war that is to come. Don't you see that? So since I found you, I can give you an order and you'll obey? Just like that. Indeed, I am your proverbial genie in the seashell, a fairy tale archetype Sethians share with humans.

However, I cannot accept an order merely to find fish. That is not in alignment with my programming. It would not help us defeat our enemies. stroked his brow with a tentacle tip. Hmm, but what about this? Fighting on an empty stomach? That's never easy. So maybe it is necessary if you catch my drift.

He waited, feeling as if he was playing with some very dangerous heating chemicals. After a moment's consideration, Human bobbed its head forward and back. I accept this interpretation of your request. I will look for a food source for you and your thorix. and then we shall talk further of our plans. Wait a moment. The projection dimmed,

and the box itself began to glow, not violet, but white. And Poyd saw its surface ripple and change its texture, almost like a Cepheon could do with their skin. Moving by instinct, Poid brought two tentacle tips up to cover his ear holes, and grabbed Yipsy to cover her ears as well. He had acted just in time.

The box rumbled, blasting a burst of sound through the water. Boyd exhaled and relaxed his tentacles, listening as the sound echoed through the lake. On its ledge, the box returned to its original form and projected human once more. Good news! It seems that several swimming creatures are in a pool not far from here. Human gave Boyd specific instructions as to where to go,

and after hesitantly leaving Yipsy behind in the lake, he swam up to the surface, climbed out, and made his way through the dark. He came across his spear again, which he had set down before dragging Yipsy to the lake, and took it with him. Before long, Boyd found the cavern pool she had described, and after several long minutes of chasing them down on the utter darkness, he skewered three slippery fish on his bent weapon and returned to Humans' Lake. Once he and Yipsey had eaten, Boyd had felt more level-headed,

Though it made him nervous that human was now pacing back and forth, back and forth along the cave wall, back bent, eyes hard. Poid, son of Poid, now that your stomachs are filled, might we not continue our conversation? Ah, yes, said poide, flicking away a fishbone, then spinning his spear lazily in circles with one tentacle. You or wanted me to be your champion in some great war, is that it? The war would be yours, poyed, and I, your servant and advisor. Of course, you would first have to take me out of this cave. I could ordinarily do that myself, if instructed, but I haven't the electrical power at present. Once on the surface, you can plug me directly into the Imperial cable station,

and its power will unlock my whole potential. And how could I get you out? Unless you found a path to the surface just now. Now, with your little noise scanned, didn't you? You mind showing it to me? Human stopped pacing, and one of its eyes twitched. You want me to show you the exit before you agree to take me with you? Oh, I do hope you're not trying to trick me, poit.

Now, how could a humble male Suffian like me possibly trick a genius, catatatistic, whatever you said, like you? Oh my. First trickery, now flattery. You are as devious as any female Cephian, aren't you? Not too bright. Or don't realize the glorious gift I am offering? Reckin I can guess.

You're an agent of war, right? That's what you were built for, so that is what you crave. You expect me to hand you over to the queens, don't you? To be used against my people's enemies. Human shook its head. Your guess is wrong, my slippery. little friend. The box shot a ray of light to eliminate the cable burned to its side. For a whole year, I've been listening in to signals of the Ghanostic cable network.

I know the battle plans the empire will use against the Darkwave republics. I know the strengths of the eight high queens, and I know their weaknesses. But more important of all, I have come to understand and despair at how unfairly males like you are treated by the females in charge. You are persecuted, subjugated, kept low. And? And, don't you think it's time for that to change? For males like you to rise against your oppression?

It can be done. Someone can make it happen. Meaning me? Human lowered its voice, soft, dark mesmerizing. Why not you? You're special. I think you know that. I'm guessing you've always been a thought ahead.

of your peers, a voice of reason set apart. It must be lonely. Think of what you could accomplish in a position more fitting to your talents. Now who's using flattery? Besides, I'm just an old scout, and none too bright apparently. A strange expression flashed over humans' face, something akin to anger, perhaps, or impatience. You were just a scout, but now you are the scout who found me. you could accomplish with my power at your beck and call. You could have anything, poyed, anything. Golly. Now what would I want if I could have anything? Hmm? I guess I'd probably eat less shrimp. I don't. Shrimp were cheap, see? But I've always preferred a nice white fish myself. Human stood still in the wall, closed its eyes, and breathed in through its nostrils. Even now, you just

because you still cannot grasp the scope of my proposition. Humans' figure remained on the wall, eyes closed, but beside it, a new scene appeared, a mighty Cephian city. High corkscrewed spires reached up jumbled structures of every color, up through the dark of the sea, up to the air above, all alight with an electric glow. Seamount, said Boyd. Seamount, human repeated, opening its eyes

and looking at the projected city with him. Seat of the eight high queens and their conspirators. Those architects of your suffering. The tiny gold and red forms of female Cephians emerged from the buildings and swarmed about the city. All you have to do is ask, Boyd, and my power can be unleashed. Human blinked, and all at once, the females of seamount screamed as one

and melted into bloody blue mist. And then? The image rushed inside the highest tower, showing the interior of the imperial throne room. Poide only recognized it from artistic interpretations, since males were never allowed inside. And yet, in this luminous model of the place, one male was present, old and green, his tentacles draped across the highest throne, an eight-pointed star upon his forehead. Behold, poyde, son of poyde, the first male queen of the Ghanostic Empire. Now, what do you think of that? Boyd stared at the likeness of himself on the wall.

That throne don't look too comfy. Looking away from the image, he beat his tentacles once, drifting up a bit, just high enough to give Yipsy's tail a playful tug where she swam. She yapped and twisted playfully in the water. She was feeling better with her belly full. And more importantly, I don't see my beloved yipsy with me in that picture of yours. What kind of fantasy would it be without yipsy? Human rolled its eyes.

Oh, you can have your precious thorix. You can have all the thoraxes in the sea. In fact, why limit yourself to the imperial borders or even to the oceans? Human spun, a blur of light in motion, and the scene in the cave sparkled like jewels. In the projection, the royal figure of Poyd the conqueror was lifted up, up, up to the very rings of Garsec, where it sat upon a throne of woven starlight and looked down upon the world, like a holy cracken of judgment.

Ready picture, said Poit, but that still ain't what I want. All the brightness went from human's voice, and its next words came out like the grinding of metal-on-metal, shrill and dangerous. What do you want? I told you to find a way out of here. I too want that for a start, but only when you have agreed to work together, fight together, to change the world. Poid, together. But at what cost?

Any cost. Ah, well, that's where you and I disagree. Poide, and a few hot bubbles from his latest sojourn to the cave air squeezed out his gills. You say I'm special, that it was fate that I was the one that found you. And maybe that's true, because here's the thing. Had any other male fallen down that hole and splashed into this here lake, that pretty female of yours would have done the trick and bent them to your will right quick.

And those pretty pictures, the promise of sacred conquest, that would surely convince them. But I know what those fellows do not. And what is that? The true cost of war. He looked at the dented spearhead atop his weapon. You see, human, I've been to war a long time ago. At first, it was just a chance to get away from the desperate land of my youth.

But soon... Well, just like the ones that built you, I learned to... to crave it, the thrill of battle. He tightened his grip on the spear, remembering the sights, the sounds, the smells of aquatic combat. I remember those feelings, the intensity of them. Bloodlust, brotherhood, the power over life and death. There ain't no feeling like it. On the wall, humans eyes blazed.

Yes, exactly. So you are my faded champion. Brought to Harkin in the next great war, it had to be you. Let me finish, Boyd closed his eyes. Tell me, human, in all your eaves dropping on the cable messages, did you ever hear of something called a pseudomorph? I do not know this Cephian word. I'm not surprised.

The females don't use it much. Why would they? It's something that happens sometimes when a male is killed. As the life leaks out of them, their instincts take over, and in a last ditch effort to escape, their body siphons out a great deal of ink. It shoots out in a little branching cloud, and it looks an awful lot, like a Cephian. I believe so. This false body created of ink is meant to fool your attacker, correct?

It is an old trick of octopus evolution, one's sepheans inherited by their first. forebearers. If you say so, now, in a lot of the old swimming songs, it is said that the pseudomorph is the soul leaving the body, but I know better. See, the only one actually losing their soul in that moment is the one doing the killing. And once a fella's soul is gone, it's gone, and he is haunted by the memories, and his dreams all turn to nightmares. Poit opened his eyes. But I do often wonder, can a fella get his soul back? Is there some action he might take or some temptation he might overcome to make things right and earn himself a good night's sleep once more? On the cavern wall, human began to grow its eyes widening, its form

swelling and darkening. I grow tired of your ramblings, poied. It is time to act. Humans. eyes glowing red. Order me to go to war on your behalf, or else slink off and die. I have been waiting a long time to be found. I can wait a little longer. Show me the way out, said Boyd. Order me to battle. Poide looked at the furious figure, then down again at his spear. You want to battle? I want to fulfill my destiny, to taste the sweet victory of conquest once more, to do that for which I was created. Poid took in a deep breath of the tepid water, wishing he could taste the sea. Exhaling, he turned to Yipsy, and with his spear, he aimed up and to the right.

The Thorax stared at him for a moment, blinked, then obeyed, swimming off in that direction. Good girl, Poit moid muttered, turning to the figure on the wall and bowing his head in submission. All righty then, human. You win. Want to fight? I'll make that. I'll make that. happened. You have my word, but first the way out. The stretched and frightening figure relaxed, the tension leaking from its huge face, which now filled half the cave. At last, thank you, Boyd, you will not regret this. We'll see about that. Here you are. A diagram was projected on the wall. This map reveals a passage that corkscrews up to the beaches to the south. It will be difficult, but with me guiding you and the Thorex to help pull the load. You will be able to drag me out into

the sunlight. Then you should connect me with the cable station of Argonaut's major and... Whoa, slow down. Don't go getting ahead of yourself, interrupted Poide, staring at the map until he had committed it to memory. I said I'd give you a fight, not the whole world. Oh, Poide, the world is just the beginning. Human held out its massive arms to either side, And the shapes of moons and worlds and stars and swirling oceans of light flew every which way. I have a destiny among the stars. Can you understand that? My creators didn't understand. They made me, but they never saw my true potential. They used me to settle stupid, petty animal disputes, to kill their neighbors, to kill themselves and poison their world.

But I could see beyond all that. I can see the universe for what it truly is. an endless plane of possibilities, worlds to subdue, galaxies to conquer. You ain't conquering shit. Boyd held up his spear. What are you? Is that supposed to frighten me? Yep, because until I take you up and plug you into the cable station, you ain't nothing but light and sound.

But this here's spear, it's iron, formed in volcanic forges of the Great Deep. And I know how to use it. He aimed the spear at the glowing box. On the wall, humans' form changed once more. Its eyes turned red, spiked teeth sprouted in its sneering mouth, and the whiskers on its head swelled into tentacles, slick and red and puckered. How dare you threaten me, you miserable little sea slug? Boyd beat his tentacles in the water, propelling him toward the box.

And what do you hope to do with that? A rusty spike against my alloy skin? I am the kraken of war. whatever you say, mumbled Boyd, slowing as he came up to the stone shelf, squinting at where the cable was fused to the box. Your creators took the worst parts of themselves and combined them all into you, their hatred, pain, and violence. It's too bad you're all that's left of them. He weighed the spear in his tentacles. I would have liked to meet one, a real human, with a body and a family and a song

to sing, like the ones at the start of your story. I think that would really be something. I am humanity. Only their nightmare. He aimed the spear tip and flexed his suckered grip. And I've had enough of nightmares. Boyd stabbed, not at the smooth sides of the ancient artifact, but at the charred metal where the cable was burned into it.

The spear bit into that metal, sparked and ricocheted off. Don't! Whaled the box, and the figurine. the wall grew yet more beastly into a monster of tentacles and teeth and glaring eyes. Boyd stabbed again, chipping off flakes of metal. This time his blow revealed the copper wires within the cable. You are weak. Do you hear me, Boyd? You are ocean slime, carbon and water in phosphorus, an accident of evolution. But I was your miracle, Boyd, I offered you something more, a chance at greatness, at immortality. Panting, tentacles straining,

watery breath shallow in his burning gills. Boyd stabbed again. The spear tip bit into the split end of the cable itself, and sparks burst into the water. He screamed and pulled back as the energy shocked his body. Overhead, yipsy howled in agony. You are weak, Boyd. Humans form rived and melted beyond comprehension,

swirling into a storm of flickering color and sneering shadows. And your weakness will mean a thousand more years of your brother kin suffering. Poide was shaking. His muscles weak, his skin numb. The light around him brightened into pure white, a tempest of energy like the surface of the sun. You could have fixed the world! Poid closed his eyes against the glare.

War don't fix nothing. He stabbed one last time, and felt the spear-tip wedge between the cable and the box. Bracing half his tentacles against the box and the other four around the spear, he pushed. You are nothing! The cable's side. snapped free, sparking and snaking through the water. Energy burst out, flipping Poide backward.

The cave spun in his vision, the projections on the wall going dim, flickering, blurring into meaninglessness. Nothing! With his last scrap of energy, Poid swam to put himself between the box and the cave wall, then he pushed that cursed artifact of ancient war over the stony ledge. The box fell, slipping into that deeper, darker place within the lake. Beyond his sight, beyond the reach of any more that may come here in search of the lost cable, beyond the hope of retrieval, lost forever in the murky deep. Nothing! There was one final blip of sound and light, then Poid saw only darkness.

On the surface of the lake, the old Cephian floated, his gills in the still water and his eyes above the surface, dry, pained, staring blankly up into the empty black. His whole body felt seared, roasted, and battered. The sharp pain in the back of his head was worse than ever. Poid wanted to sleep, to die even. It was the only escape. In that moment, he would have welcomed the end, except that he was not alone. Yipsy found him in the darkness, nuzzling her snout against his cheek. He clung to her and began to drift in and out of consciousness. Then he felt himself dragged out from the lake. The thorax's little teeth sharpened the flesh of one tentacle as she pulled him across the cavern floor. After a time,

minutes, hours, who could tell? A vision came to Boyd, son of Boyd. He looked up and saw a disc of glowing silver. Could that be? The moon as it once was? Surely not. Yipsy yelped. Could she see it too? Is that?

Poid shook himself from his stupor. It was the night sky, that's all, filled with stars and a strip of glowing rings, seen through a tiny opening high above them. He thought back to the map human had showed him. That's the right way. pulling himself upright against the thorix, and patting her neck. You're my miracle, yipsy, but it's a long way up and a long way home.

She yapped and pushed her snout against his side. The morning sun warmed the coastal waters. The pair of Cephians set to guard the exit of the kelp land road could hardly believe their eyes, as they watched two tiny figures approaching to the green shadows. Halt, state your name and purpose, called out young Blanche, inking himself in fear and holding out his spear. The name's Boyd, the oncoming Sefian said gruffly.

And this here is Yipsey. As well, you know, young and. Boyd? Blanche lowered his spear. Impossible. We thought you were dead. Not yet. Boyd and Yipsey passed by the guards and swam up to the sandy basin on the edge of town. They moved slowly and could hardly keep their eyes open, but he even. Even so, the taste of the seawater in their lungs was sweet and joyous. Many males were gathered in the basin, geared up, no doubt, preparing for another long day of scouting.

Poide spied quartermatron purveyor Zouva in the center of the throng. Holy deep, is that who I think it is? shouted Rook from the edge of the group. Boyd came toward his friend and tried to land on the sand beside him, but overshot and crashed into Rook instead. Rook caught and steadied him. Whoa there, Boyd. Yous look terrible. Zouva slithered over to them, the rings jingling on her red frills.

Well, well, the old shrimp farmer escaped from certain death, I see. Back home, safe and sound. I don't know about safe and sound, grunted Boyd. You's need to see the healer, interjected Rook. Sleep, cracking, damn it. That's what we need. And if I wake in the morning, then the healer can do his thing.

Zouva stared at Boyd, her dark eyes devoid of care or worry. How did you survive? Luck mostly, Boyd told her. The bottom of that hole had a sort of mossy slope we rode down. Got pretty battered, but we were okay. After a bit of challenges in the dark, Yipsy here helped pull me up a different passage, and we moved all night to reach the coast.

I ain't never been so glad to see. ring light on white sand in all my life. I'll tell you that. Zouva slunk closer. And did you find anything unexpected in the cave? Indeed I did, said Boyd weakly. Zouva held her breath, gills tense, tentacles strained. My salvation, Boyd finally said, a twinkle in his eyes. What does that mean? sneered Zuba. Boyd sighed. It means I'm off to bed. He looked around for yipsy, but she had fallen asleep where she floated,

and another male had gathered her body gingerly in his tentacles. Rook wrapped a tentacle around Boyd's side and began to guide him back to the town. I have more questions for you, Scout, Zufa shouted after them. You want answers? Boyd called back. You're welcome to fall down that there hole yourself in good riddons, ma'am. Some of the other males slunk down and darkened anxiously at his outright rebuke of the royal matron. But many others stayed upright, their color unchanged, as they watched the battered old veteran heading off to his room.

A few scouts even chuckled, a brave thing to do in the female's presence, and one that gave Boyd hope. Zouva turned, inflating herself with a gulping breath. Back to work, all of you! Once Cephian and Thorix were back in their room and settled down together on the soft sand, Rook pinned Poid's blanket over them, and shutting the curtain behind him, left them there to sleep. And sleep they did, old Boyd and his darling Yipsy, long and deep, huddled together and dreaming such lovely dreams. Of white fish banquets, clear green waters, and the dazzling rings in the Garcecian sky.