Chapter 1

Location: deep in the Amazon rainforest

Date: December 21, 2005

"Where is this lagoon, Professor?" A man carrying a large rifle asked. "I assure you that it's just passed these bushes." "Hmph. Well, this creature you talked about had better be worth the trip." "Believe me, it is. Just try not to blast it like you did those frogs from earlier." "No guarantees there, heh heh." "Whatever. Alright, here we are." The professor said, while pushing apart some bushes. "Well, I'll be. That's a lagoon, alright. Now, where's the creature?" "In the lagoon, I assume." "Alright then. Men, set up camp around the lagoon." The hunter called out to his crew. The men hurriedly set up camp around the lagoon. "Get those spot lights on the lagoon, now!" The professor yelled. "Tell me, Prof. Why do we need those spotlights, when it's as sunny as it is?" the hunter asked. "One, because the water is extremely murky. Almost black in color. Hence why it's called the black lagoon. And number two, the creature seems to be drawn to florescent light." "So we shine lights on the water's surface, and it should come up to investigate?" "That's the plan." "I see, I see. So, Prof. Tell me again. What's this thing look like?" "Imagine a man with scales and other fish-like features and that about what it looks like." "Wow, I got a really scary monster pictured in my head. Oh, this'll be fun." "I'm only going to ask once more. Please, don't shoot it." "Why not? A little bang-bang and ta-da, one less monster for the world to worry about." "I need it alive." "Why though? I thought you science types are just as happy studying dead things as you are living." "I need it because it might e the only living specimen left from my father's work." "Your dad made monsters?" "It wasn't supposed to be that way. He was working for the government, trying to develop, believe it or not, super soldiers." "Super soldiers? Like, Captain America or something?" "Well, yes. But, my father was in charge of making a sort of underwater version of the soldier. My father worked here in the forest and eventually tried fusing man with fish. Many of the subjects didn't change as he hoped. But, some did. He called them the gill-men. But, before he could take them to the states, there was a terrible fire that destroyed his lab. Most of the experiments died, but some may have survived. And that's why we're here." "Wow. Uh, no offense Prof, but, your dad was nuts, and I'm starting to wonder about you. I'm starting to question why I agreed to finance this." "Don't worry. The money this creature will rake in will more than reimburse you. Plus, you got to hunt some rare animals." "Heh, that I did. That I did." the hunter said, looking down at his gun.

Suddenly, one of the men started yelling. "Sir! Sir! We've got bubbles! Something's coming up!" "Oh here we go!" the hunter cried, aiming his gun at the water. "Don't!" the professor said, pushing the gun down. "I'm not taking any chances, Prof!" Suddenly, a head emerged from the water. True to the professor's word, it did look like a humanoid fish. "Men, the nets!" the hunter yelled. Two men threw metal nets over the creature. "Charge'em!" the hunter yelled. Suddenly, a large electrical charge ripped through the nets. The creature was electrocuted into unconsciousness. The men then hauled the creature onto land. "Wow, look at it." the hunter said. "Wait a second." The professor said. "What is it?" the hunter asked. "The tribes people I talked to talked about a 'fish man'. This creature looks female." The hunter looked closely. Sure enough, he noted the outline of the female form in the creature. "Well, you can't tell for sure until your this close." "Hmm, I guess that's true. Alright, let's get the specimen back to the holding tank. And remember to tread lightly. We're on guarded ground." As the men took the lady creature away, more, unseen bubbles came to the surface of the lagoon. A pair of eyes came up to see the lady creature being taken away.

Meanwhile, the chipmunks walked the halls of their school. About two months ago, they had tangled with the vampire king, count Dracula. But now, they were preparing for some well deserved R&R. It was time for winter break. The munks were all excited by the idea of spending Christmas together. "Man, I can't wait till Christmas." Alvin shouted. "Me either. This year's going to be great. Imagine it, Alvie. Our first Christmas together as a couple." Brittany said. "I know. It's going to be great. Too bad we have to come back after new years." "Yeah." "Well, we have to come back at some point, Alvin." Simon said. "We can't stay out of school forever." "Says who?" "The school board, for one." "Ah, my nemesis." Alvin said, shaking his fist in the air. "Whatever." "Oh, hi guys!" The munks heard as they rounded the corner. Debbie Ortiz stood before them. "Oh, hi, Debbie. You lookin' forward to winter break?" Alvin asked. "Of course I am. Isn't everybody?" "Touché, Miss Ortiz." "Well, I got to take care of some club business before lunch is over. Be seeing you. Oh, hey, maybe we can hang out later, girls?" "Sure." the chipettes said. Debbie nodded and left. "You know, when she's not being mind controlled, that Debbie's a pretty good kid." Alvin said. "Alvin, she's the same age as us." Simon said. "Do you have to critique everything I saw, Simon?" "Sorry. But, your right. She is really nice." "Hey, has anybody figured out why she suddenly passed out after Alvin beat Dracula and the spell was broken?" Eleanor asked. "Well, I'm no expert on mind control or 'spells', but, near as I can figure, her mind received a shock when the spell broke and it needed time to 'reboot' as it were. Hence, she lapsed into a state of unconsciousness." Simon said. "Eh, that makes about as much sense as any other theory, so let's go with it." Alvin said. "Here, here, Alvie. Hmm." "What is it, Britt?" "I just now realized, when we get back to school, it'll be 2006." "Yeah, and?" "Well, remember what year it was in that future Simon's time machine showed us? You know, Alvie. Where we were married and had two little boys that looked like you?" "Um, 2010 wasn't it?" "It sure was. So, Alvie, are you going to make me wait four or five more years?" "For what?" "Ugh, God, your clueless. For a ring, silly." "Oh, um, no. Maybe three, cause we're not allowed to get married until we're eighteen." "I'll hold you to that, Alvie. I will hold you to that." "Yeah, you do that, Britt." "Well, while you two plan your future wedding, I'm wondering what Dave meant when he said this morning that he had big news to tell us after school." Jeanette said. "Well, knowing Dave, it's probably some gig. Question is, where?" Alvin said. "Must be somewhere big or important, for him to call it 'big' news." Theodore said. "Maybe it's someplace like Washington D.C. That would be cool." Eleanor said. "Well, we'll just have to wait till after school to find out. Now, let's go get some lunch." Alvin said. "Right."