The iridescent shimmer of the time portal subsided, replaced by a symphony of seascapes as Gaia's chosen vessel materialised from the heart of the Vician expanse. Kyn, Bertha, and Flora, along with the rest of the team, found themselves no longer on the Athens but gracefully settled upon a teak deck awash in the nascent sunlight. The air thrummed with a subtle energy, a whisper of advanced yet harmonious technology seamlessly woven into the vessel's design.
NeonRays unfurled before them like a liquid dream given form—a 78-foot symphony of nautical grace. Sleek curves cut through the blue waves, the obsidian hull glinting as if reflecting an inky galaxy. Its very presence whispered of speed and timeless sophistication, out of sync with any era yet inherently oceanic in its essence. At its helm's navigation dock, digitally rendered waves lapped across holographic navigation displays, a living map unfolding before them, while bioluminescent accents pulsed with a soft, ethereal glow, illuminating the intricate details of the interior.
Gaia allowed a slow, proud smile to curve her lips. "NeonRays, she was a marvel even in conception, a whisper from Atlantis' depths guiding her form. In the Vician world, I hold a personal oceanic channel—a current that responds uniquely to my will, ensuring the fastest passage across these seas. She is, as you'll experience, the swiftest vessel among the seven seas." A hint of affectionate power coloured her tone. "And in Atlantis, she is more than just a ship; she is an ambassador of both worlds, a testament to our entwined fates."
'So all this time you could have just jumped us straight to Athens but chose violence,' Kyn voiced his thoughts towards Jasmine, who acted aloof to the matter.
"You speak as if you built it." Bertha couldn't help but voice her opinion.
"As a matter of fact, yes, I did build it back in the 1600s. I had gotten bored with my abilities, so I looked for a way to travel in style." Flora replied.
Descending into the heart of NeonRays, one wouldn't just step aboard; they'd enter an ocean-spanning sanctuary. Inspired by leviathans of the seafaring world, like the colossal "Black Pearl," this vessel expanded outward to a breathtaking 106 meters. Sunlight streaming through panoramic skylights above illuminated a symphony of textures and tones usually reserved for opulent palaces, not sailing yachts. The central atrium rose to the height of multiple decks; its sweeping curves echoed in spiral staircases that seemed to have been sculpted from liquid light. Polished ebony floors flowed seamlessly into cream-hued silk settees where Atlantean coral, iridescent and luminescent, served as intricate accent pieces. Above, a constellation of bioluminescent jellyfish tanks pulsed with otherworldly hues, their ethereal glow mirrored in the depths of the onyx infinity pool crowning the top deck.
Aft lay her personal study: an observatory-library imbued with both Atlantean arcane knowledge and the latest terrestrial scientific marvels. Antique astronomical charts hung alongside holographic displays flickering with star charts and subaqueous currents, while a grand curved desk of obsidian flowed into a living sea-coral console housing state-of-the-art instruments. This place was where she navigated not just nautical passages but the intricate currents of both worlds—Atlantis and the outer worlds—as her sanctuary and command centre in one breathtaking expanse.
The air itself hummed with an underlying thrum of Atlantean technology—subtly advanced yet intuitively elegant. The scent of brine and distant coral reefs mingled with a heady whisper of jasmine and citrus, a bespoke oceanic perfume Gaia preferred, carried on a silent current through the vessel's intricate ventilation system. Stepping aboard NeonRays was to step into a world where opulence met scientific wonder, a floating testament to Gaia's vision and Atlantis' unparalleled mastery. The Atlantean capital awaited Gaia, for her homecoming made her not just a guest but a revered architect of its wonders. In Atlantis, her genius was their shield, Poseidon's own protection woven around her like a cherished coral reef.
In the blink of an eye, Jasmine's outfit had transformed into that of a sea captain with a decidedly racy twist - think plunging neckline, tightly-belted cutlass-inspired corseted top paired with cargo trousers riding high on the hips, leaving no doubt about her command over both vessel and heart.
Kyn feigned offence, a playful smirk tugging on his lips. "Captain Jasmine, are we? Fancy setting sail for uncharted territories tonight, Captain?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone laden with innuendo.
(think quotation marks... I googled it.)
Flora, ever the dutiful first officer (though her attire remained more conventionally professional), chimed in with a theatrical sigh and a playful elbow nudge towards Kyn. "You two do realise that there are, shall we say, more conventional quarters for such spirited discussion." She gestured towards the labyrinth of passageways that led to the vessel's multitude of ensuite rooms. NeonRays boasted over 16 state-rooms in total, three of them palatial master bedrooms fit for Atlantean nobility.
Kyn couldn't help but chuckle at Gaia blushing, as they both shared the moment.
Flora led the rest of the unconventional crew to their designated havens with a knowing twinkle in her eye, including a flustered Bertha who could not contain a whispered "Get a room already!" Left at the helm with Jasmine, Kyn allowed himself a lingering look at his temporary captain. The ship, usually a symphony of Atlantean technology and oceanic grace, suddenly felt charged with a different kind of current—a heady mix of playfulness and undeniable desire.
Jasmine, ever the vigilant captain, straightened up imperiously, her amusement temporarily overshadowed by professional gravitas. "Kyn, this isn't a game," she chided, placing a hand on the control console for emphasis. "These temporal currents are notoriously unpredictable. One miscalculation in these waters and we won't just be off course, we'll be *out of sync with our timeline*. We need to thread this channel like celestial surgeons."
Kyn, despite the admonishment, leant back against her with a playful smirk. Though his eyes held a flicker of sheepishness, his tone was laced with mock innocence. "Apologies, Captain. Force of habit, you know? A heart set on adventure cannot help but be impulsive." But as if to further illustrate the point, just as a colossal wave towered before them, he impulsively encircled Jasmine in a tight hug from behind. The resulting lurch sent a ripple of unease through the control room and threatened to throw Jasmine off balance. A moment of tense silence followed, broken only by a muffled, "Watch it, will you?"
The vessel heaved against the onslaught of the wave, but Jasmine regained her bearings with practiced ease, expertly guiding them through the treacherous current. With a final muttered curse at Kyn's overenthusiasm, she focused on the task at hand, navigating towards the shimmering horizon where Atlantis lay veiled. A breathtaking spectacle unfolded before them—a curtain of celestial aurora, like an ethereal northern light, enshrouded the majestic city. This was no mere coastal defence; it was a temporal barrier, a sacred boundary that shielded Atlantis from prying eyes and untoward intrusions. Access was strictly by divine invitation, and Gaia, with her lineage and current standing, held the key to their passage. A sense of awe filled the air as NeonRays, under Jasmine's command, approached the fabled threshold—their entry into another world secured.
Before them stood Atlantis, at its mouth a massive ring gate structure that tunnelled into the heart of the city.
The vessel entered the shimmering watersphere through the ring-like structure, and through the ship's intercom came: "Welcome back, your grace." This Atlantis wasn't sunken; it perched majestically atop the waves, the aforementioned barrier encasing the entire cityscape in a dome of preternaturally clear water that stretched impossibly high into the clouds. It was less a dome and more an intricate, living sphere—an unnatural spectacle of oceanic architecture defying terrestrial logic.
Jasmine, sensing his dumbfounded state, supplied the missing piece with a knowing smirk. "Poseidon's handiwork. That shimmering sphere isn't just a boundary; it's an extension of his trident's power – it holds a good three per percent of his raw oceanic might." She elaborated, her voice laced with reverence. "It generates its own localised gravity, much like a celestial anchor, and keeps the entire city—and its inhabitants—hydrated on a divinely orchestrated scale. A breathtaking display of Atlantean technology, wouldn't you say?" She allowed a touch of awe to colour her tone, for even she, used to the wonders of their world, couldn't diminish the spectacle before them.
NeonRays was now dwarfed beneath this celestial ocean city, its entrance marked not by an archway but by the sheer impossible reality of Atlantis itself—an aqueous marvel in between sky and sea.