Leviathan

The team of researchers descended to a depth heretofore unreached. Their vessel was the first of its kind. The air practically hummed with the excitement of those on board. Very few frontiers remained unexplored on earth, and they found themselves on the cusp of one of the last, plunging deeper than human beings had ever gone before.

The motley crew consisted of marine biologists, research technicians, engineers, mathematicians, and other disparate adventurers. Despite the team's heterogenous composition, they were all working together, holding their collective breathe as they reached a depth of 36,000 feet. The Mariana Trench was well known, but a recent discovery had found a chasm nestled in one of its lowest valleys.

They had gone deeper than any other manned vessel, and they continued to drop deeper down into this preternatural abyss.

The main deck boasted a huge viewing window that made up the entire front portion of the vessel. Large, powerful spotlights sought to cut through the murk, lighting up the indistinct haze before them like the high beams of car strike the nebulous, thick mist on a particularly dark, foggy morning.

They were forewarned by their highly advanced instruments that there was something quite large below them. And it was moving.

The first strums of fear began to softly play upon the hearts of all those in attendance. Sharp chills began picking out a staccato rhythm upon their spines, giving rise to the so-called goosebumps of which no one is immune.

Human hubris painted a prophetic picture of what lie beneath as ultra-educated researchers punctuated the air with whispers of what it probably was. Every hypothesis was benign in nature. No one wanted to posit that something that large and mobile could also be dangerous. Those who offered their predictions were the ones most shocked by the sight of the creature that slid into view.

It was massive. The color of its leathery hide was an xanadu and gun-metal grey patina. The creature faced them squarely as if it had been awaiting their arrival, moving in slow undulating motions as it maintained its position. It filled the viewing glass, and the sight of it filled every person on board with greater fear than was previously known. It resembled a shark of megalodon proportions, it was easily as large as a city bus. The jaws of the monstrous entity could easily hold half of the crew at one time. One bite against the hull of their protective shell, and they were dead--it was obvious to everyone present.

It loomed before them, appearing ancient and somehow wise. It partially opened its massive maw, revealing rows of vicious teeth. Those that prayed, began to do so in their minds, last ditch efforts at making peace before the time for judgement came. The vessel ceased its descent, although no one adjusted the controls. Then the creature spoke.

Its mouth did not form words. In lieu of regular speech, words were heard in the minds of all who were on board.

At last, you come. You will be the first and last of humanity that will have the privilege of hearing my voice and beholding my countenance. I have a message for you. Listen well, humans.

You have never been in my presence before this time, but you have heard my names. I was made when the seas were first formed. I was created to steward the deeps when mankind shirked their duty. I am the guardian of the oceans; keeper of the deeps.

During the Great Deluge I feasted upon the flesh of mankind who were destroyed in judgement. In those days, I swam across the whole of the earth--no land was inaccessible to me.

When the Ancient of Days spoke of the leviathan to His servant Job, He was speaking of me.

When Jonah ran from his calling, it was I who swallowed him whole and spat him upon the shore three days later. I have been swimming the depths since the beginning, and I know the misdeeds of mankind. I know the neglect. I know the wanton misuse of the stewardship given to you. When you spill your precious oil into my waters, I am aware of its darkness spreading across my domain. I am aware of the exact quantity of refuse that has been dumped into the waters of the earth. When plastic chokes the creatures in my oceans, I feel their pain. I am slow in my anger, but it has been kindled within me. In this age, it has been fed until a living inferno rages within me against those that care nothing for the waters of the earth and all of the creatures that live beneath its waves.

I am held back in my rage until the appointed time, but mark well my words land-dwellers—I will soon be set free to punish the earth in judgement. If your current ways continue unchecked, I will release a wave of such magnitude that you cannot fathom the destruction it will cause. Hear me well, humans: You must warn your brethren of the coming judgement.

The stewardship of the oceans and all of the seas belongs to mankind, yet you have behaved as if the waters of earth were your sewer into which you may spew your waste.

Wake up, sleeper. Awaken from your slumber and care for the waters under your purview before they are taken away from you and used against you. You have been warned.

With that final admonition, the great predator began a slow turn, his massive tail fins sweeping in huge arcs, propelling his gargantuan bulk through the water with ease. Its dorsal fin rose above them like a huge mastless sail; its edges worn, and ancient. The sheer size of the creature, as it turned broadside, left them speechless; shocked into such a state of awe that they hardly dared to breathe. It’s mottled grey-green skin passed by the viewing window like a grand mural depicting the eons it had endured with great patience.

Hearts had melted within chests severely restricted from movement such that the mere taking of a breath had seemed an impossible feat. Knees still trembled as the leviathan disappeared into the murky deeps.

Slowly, the paralysis left their bodies and they woodenly moved about their vessel, barely speaking in whispers as they prepared to rise back to the surface to face the impossible task set before them.