They were deep into the Underbelly, beyond the subway channels. The walls around them were crusted with dirt and vegetation, the air earthy and moist. Water dripped from high above, creating streams that cut through the muck of the tunnel floors. She had never ventured so deep before and had no idea what part of the city they were under. The feeling of isolation was surprisingly intense, a stifling sensation of claustrophobia that threatened to overwhelm her. The labyrinthine network of tunnels was nearly primordial, completely cut off from even the memory of civilization. She hadn't felt so uneasy since her first rookie bust.
Easily loping alongside her skimmer, Isaac glanced at her. "You okay, Cap?"
"I'm starting to regret not waiting for backup. You can hide an entire army in here."
"True. But no worries so far. My radar scans indicate no immediate movement around us. Anyone comes close, and I'll spot them. No one will get the jump on us."
Before he finished the words, a phantom materialized in front of them, sweeping the darkness aside to reveal gleaming black armor and a helm that pulsed with scarlet light. Ronnie veered wildly, would have tumbled from her zip-scooter if Isaac didn't support her with a steady arm. Slowing to a wobbly halt, she looked over her shoulder. Vigil was still there, looking like a dark demigod in its natural habitat. Castle stopped a few yards ahead, peering at Vigil with satisfaction that his helmet couldn't hide.
Vigil glanced at him, then turned to Ronnie. "Captain Banks."
She took a deep breath to steady herself. "Vigil."
She almost said Jett by mistake. Looking at him, she still wasn't sure if Isaac was right. Vigil looked larger than life, imposing without making a move. Every movement, every step he made looked poised on sudden violence.
He drew closer. "We have a common enemy and little time to stop him. I suggest that we join forces. Your squad and mine against whatever Janus throws at us."
Folding her arms, she looked up at him. "Agreed. But a fair warning: I have tactical units on the way for backup. I've left markers for them to follow. So whatever you plan on doing, it has to be now."
"It will be. My people are just ahead. They've found out where Janus is going."
"Your people." She sighed. "Okay, let's see who the scourge of the underworld is hanging out with."
She groaned when she saw Vigil's associates. "You gotta be kidding me."
Vigil glanced down at her. "Now isn't the time for regrets, Captain Banks."
"Well, that was before I knew you partnered up with a serial killer." She glared at Heretic, who gave her a dismissive look in response.
"I'm not a serial killer."
"Really? Well, what would you call all the bodies you've left in your wake?"
"Divine retribution."
Ronnie looked at Vigil. "I don't think I can do this."
Castle strode past her, peering into the mouth of the nearest tunnel. "Like the man said — too late to back out now."
Vigil stared at him. "Do I know you?"
"The name is Castle. I worked with Vigil back in the day. You're not the same man, or you'd have recognized me."
Vigil hesitated before responding. "We'll discuss it later."
"Later is fine with me. You said you know where Janus is?"
"I know where he's gone. In there." Vigil jerked a thumb at the tunnel. And old inscription was stamped into the stone: Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate.
"Anyone know what that says?"
Heretic stared at the engraving. "It's Latin. It means 'Abandon all hope, you who enter.'"
"That's not ominous at all," Ronnie muttered.
Isaac strode toward the tunnel. "Let's do this."
She stared at him. "How are you okay with this?"
He looked over his shoulders, electronic eyes glowing from the shadows of his face. "This is why I'm in this state, Ronnie. A vegetable operating a robot body through remotely-linked brainwaves. We tried investigating Styx, and I paid the cost for it. We both did. I'm not turning back now. We need to see this through."
She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Right. To the end."
"To the end." Taking point, he turned and entered the darkness of the tunnel.
Vigil motioned to his other partner. "Spitfire, you're up. I'm right behind you."
Spitfire had her face concealed by a tactical mask, but Ronnie still felt the distrust as the woman stared before following Isaac. Ronnie took a closer look. Spitfire was small, moving with the lanky strides of an adolescent. Another junior partner? It was hard to tell.
She glanced at Vigil, trying to see past the armor and concealing helmet. Was it really Jett behind the mask? She tried to dismiss the idea, but her eyes kept focusing on the dark-armored figure in front of her. It took everything to keep herself from calling out Jett's name just to see how Vigil reacted. But it wasn't the right time or place. Their unlikely alliance had to hold together for the moment because the deeper they went into the Underbelly, the stranger things became.
They entered a station where a chasm that looked like the mouth of the mythical Abyss was surrounded by a tall aluminum fence reinforced with concrete blocks. A yellow metal cage was suspended over the hole by a gigantic winch. Vigil entered the cage and motioned for them to follow. Ronnie reluctantly followed, aware of the metallic creaking, the rust specks on the winch cable, the nauseous buoyancy as the group of six squeezed in together. She peered down into the void, trying to see if a bottom was visible. The only thing that greeted her was unmeasurable darkness. Vigil placed a hand on the lever controls.
"Going down."
The cage descended into the shaft with a stomach-churning jerk, dropping into the gloom with a squealing sound. Ronnie glanced at the others, but their faces had the luxury of being covered by masks. There was no telling if any of them felt the queasy nervousness that affected her.
Visibility became extinct as darkness swallowed the surface light. Vigil's red visor pulsed softly, tinting everyone crimson. Sounds became unnaturally loud — dripping water, harsh breathing, the ominous groan of the cable over their heads. The digital display on the controls showed how far they dropped: fifty feet, then a hundred. Then another hundred ticked off. Still, they descended.
She glanced up at Vigil. "Where does this go?"
"To the dark city. The true bottom of Neo York. Always under a state of construction. Always one disaster away from a catastrophe, while the residents above go about their business with no idea."
She nodded. "I heard about this. The workers who care for the waterways are called sandhogs."
"Normally, they'd be operating this lift. Looks like someone gave them the day off."
"Yeah, what a coincidence."
They continued downward, four hundred feet down. Then five hundred. The air grew even warmer and even more humid, thick with dust. It seemed like their descent would never end, but at around six hundred feet, lights finally bloomed, illuminating tunnels that looked like they were carved a millennium ago. The lift came to a shaky halt, and they exited into the bottom of the shaft. Ronnie stared at the vast, chaotic display of hewn tunnels, cable bundles, rusty valves, and aqueducts ranging from ancient to newly repaired. Mud and corrosion were everywhere, and water dripped from leaky pipes like dirty rain. The ground was wet and steaming, creating a haze that limited visibility beyond a few yards.
Vigil gestured to the byzantine aqueduct system, dimly lit by retro-style light bulbs that cast waxen light into the foggy surroundings. "Want to bring the city to its knees? A few well-placed explosives and everyone above will have no water for months. It's shocking how vulnerable this system is. I was afraid that Janus was down here to hold the city's supply hostage."