The Secret Saturdays Ep.3 (Slow Realizations Come Fast Consequences?)
Zak breathed heavily, all this confused him so much. "Animals can't change into humans! Or is it… humans can't change into animals? This goes against science completely! That rules out asking dad about this..." Zak thought. Wadi had followed Zak, so would have his parents but Maboul started a conversation with Doc and Drew.
"What are you doing? We did~ let them go, you know." Wadi said.
Zak nervously turned away from the paw prints in the sand, "Nothing, nothing. I just wanted to know which direction they left in. That's all. Heh-heh."
Wadi rolled her eyes, dismissing Zak's weird behavior for being shy around her. "Sure~," she said. "Well. Since you all are here, I was wondering if I could hang out with all of you for a couple days."
Zak blushed a bit, "Umm, su-sure. I can ask mom." Zak and Wadi walked back to the others.
Doc was busy talking to Maboul, "So when was the first time this 'Caitlyn' person tried to break in?"
"Well. When Wadi saw her trying to break into the entrance was about 5 days ago. But since 'Caitlyn' did say she had been watching us for a while, I cannot tell you if she has tried before." Maboul replied sadly, obviously he feels bad for not being able to realize that there was a spy among the Hassi.
"Well," Doc thought. "I'll try to do my best to learn more about her. Starting with what her real name is. "
Maboul looked confused. "But where will you start? The only information we have is her acronym name, or nick-name."
"Well, she looked like she was from Kumari Kandam. Even though her hair did throw me off, that and her voice. Ulraj probably has records of his citizens and maybe even logs of the ones who leave the city. If anyone, he has the largest chance of knowing." Doc said. Maboul nodded.
Wadi reached Drew before Zak. "Mrs. Saturday? I was wondering if I could hang out with all of you for a couple days. May I?" Wadi asked.
Drew looked at Zak, then Wadi. "Uh? Sure. Why not? But you have to ask your father." Drew smiled.
It Didn't take long for Wadi to start tugging at Maboul's sleeve,"Daddy? May I please stay with the Saturday's for a couple of days?" She innocently smiled.
Maboul looked down at his daughter, "hmm…. Fine, but as long as you don't cause any trouble for the Saturdays."
"Thank you, father." Wadi smiled.
Fiskerton looked at Zak. "Ooh~, Isha waa~." He then proceeded to make kissy sounds at Zak. Zak playfully pushed Fiskerton away from him.
Zak saw his father formally shake Maboul's hand, a symbol of agreement and closure, and his father walked back to them. "Okay, so we have a next stop."
Next Day 12:30 P.M
Above Kumari Kandam, Indian Ocean.
The Saturday airship hovered above the beautiful crystal blues, and emerald greens of the water. All of the colors swirled around in its mighty current. Zak and Wadi looked out the windows of the ship.
"You told Ulraj we were coming right?" Zak said.
"Yes. He said he would try to come to us this time, and told me to wait about here. He seemed troubled." Doc answered.
"Oh no, don't tell me Ulraj is having troubles too." Drew spoke as she walked through the room to them; she had only heard the last part.
"Is that it?" Wadi asked as the crown of the Sea serpent rose from below the water, slowly revealing the rest of the head of the giant snake. And there Ulraj was, sitting on top of the Serpent's head; it appears he had tamed the beast very well sense the Saturdays helped keep the Atlas Pin safe. Ulraj waved up to the Saturday's ship, even though he couldn't actually see anybody.
Transition.
Ulraj walked the Saturdays and Wadi down a long hall. "So her name was Cait-lyn? Doesn't sound like one of the names I've heard around here."
Doc nodded, "That's what we all agreed was so strange, that and her hair. None of your people have black hair, do they?"
"Well, no. My people only have this greenish blueish colored hair. The only way I could think that her hair was black is that….. Well. Never mind, forget what I just said." Ulraj turned into a room.
Zak walked faster and up to Ulraj. "Wait. What were you thinking?"
"Nothing. I don't really feel like talking about it."
Wadi was walking around the room, and opened a fancy cabinet like drawer. It was filled with files and labeled names. "Is this your census room?" Wadi asked.
"Yes. Even thought I doubt this girl lives here, I should check the records. It's the least I could do, you guys did save my city about 2 times now." Ulraj started to flip through documents on the other side of the room.
Zak looked over his shoulders at some of the profile pictures. All the people on the pictures looked burley, angry, and some just plain scary. "Ulraj? Are you looking through criminal files?!"
Ulraj just stopped... and waited a bit, he was thinking if he should lie or not. "Would they figure it out easily if I said no? If I didn't, I would have to explain everything…." He thought.
"Ularj? Is there something you want to tell us?" Asked Drew.
He slowly turned around from the cabinet. "Well, Mrs. Saturday… A king is allowed to have secrets. But I do suppose you'll all be able to figure out mine sooner or later. This girl, Caitlyn; I fear she is someone from a enemy Kingdom. And to know they are brave enough to go on land THAT far away from water, and by themselves worries me. Most of the times, when I hear something like this, we've been attacked."
"So this has happened before?" Doc wondered.
"Yes, if fact we got attacked a couple weeks ago. It was a light attack. The closer the attacks are together, the smaller the attacks are. So far, we haven't even been able to try and stop them, they're too fast. But this time, we have a warning. After you called me around last night, I told all my guards and they have been on the lookout since."
Just as he finished, two guards rushed to the door. "You're Highness. There has been a breach in the left side of the City; no one is hurt so far." The first guard addressed.
"It seems they are heading toward here." The second guard said.
Ulraj rushed out of the room but was stopped by Zak's hand on his shoulder. "We can help."
Transition.
The Saturdays, Wadi, and Ulraj were outside, along with a couple of guards. You could hear some screaming and some short loud booms. "Which way is it coming from!?" Shouted Wadi.
"The guard said that they entered from the left side of the city but it seems like they actually came from all directions around us!" Ulraj calmly shouted. The booms stopped. And all was quiet for a moment.
" It… it stopped." Drew said, as she lowered her sword.
"Are they gone? Did they retreat?" Zak asked, even though no one could answer.
"Maybe, they got what they wanted." Doc said, also lowering his hand.
Zak turned to Ulraj, "What is the Kingdom that always keeps attacking you?"
Ulraj didn't really want to answer but he knew he would have too. "The Atlantians,"
Some of the family members gave a gasp, but Drew. She all the sudden lifted her sword and batted something back into alleyway. And a huge explosion accrued. A coughing young 'man' fell onto the ground; he was the one who first threw the bomb at Drew before she hit it back. His long blond hair was pulled back into a pony tail, and at first he appeared dead.
Ulraj was the first to notice he was still living and yelled, "Guards! Seize that man!" Which they did and held him up. "This is one of the Atlantians. Finally, we have one. " Ulraj said walking closer to him.
"The Atlantians? But why!? Why are they attacking the Kumarians?" Drew asked, "I thought they were a friendly race."
"It's-It's a long story." Ulraj stammered out. "It started a very, VERY long time ago. And can be very difficult to explain."
Ulraj turned to the guards holding up the Atlantian boy, he looked young; maybe a couple years older than Zak. "But if I must tell you the history. I would feel more comfortable if this criminal was held captive; somewhere he could not do more damage to the city, or my people."
Ulraj said as the two guards took the hint and carried him off (Probably to the prison). Something harsh was in Ulraj's tone, like he had become darker. Not really in his actions, but if someone was bombing your city wouldn't you throw that person in jail too (no matter what age)? Yes, but it was in his voice and eyes.
Drew and Doc nodded. And Ulraj along with some of the other guards started back to the palace/castle (However it would properly be called). The Saturdays gave a curious glance at each other and Wadi who also looked at the Saturdays, maybe hoping for them to give an answer? But of course no one yet knew what was really going on. They followed Ulraj and his guards.
Ulraj took them to a private room in the building, placing 4 guards outside the door. The Saturdays quickly picked up the hint of "WOW, this must be something pretty serious ". Even in the protection of the secured room Ulraj felt the need to wedge a chair under the door knob so it would be harder to open. He sat down in front of the group and sat in silence thinking for a minute, Ulraj looked really perturbed.
Finally someone had to speak up, and it was Zak. "You know Ulraj… if this is maybe too hard for you to say, you don`t have to. You can~ just leave it at, 'The Atlantians hate us'."
"No." Ulraj finally said, "I want to try my best to tell you the truth." He held up his hand in protest. "Well… I will tell you what I know, but I don`t know all of it."
Thus started Ulraj`s rambly explanation. " Many, many years ago there was only two Mer-people groups. My people, the Kumari, and the Migrating Mer-people most recognized by humans as mermaids. All I know is that during this period of time, the citizens did something to get exiled from the city. But once they got exiled all those years ago, they learned to live with humans and their DNA mixed together, creating the current Atlantian species. I know when they first made their city, it was up in what`s known as Southern Italy. But they were forced to move because a disaster and now they are located somewhere in the East Atlantic Ocean. And truth is, they`ve never forgiven us for kicking their ancestors out of Kumari Kandam. So every so often … they`ll randomly attack us, just-just out of the blue. When I was appointed King, one of my first concerns was the Atlantians, and how I might be able to make peace with them. Your description of this Cait-lyn sounds what most Atlantians I`ve seen look like. "
"Whoa… We didn`t know you where under all that pressure. I, most certainly, thought you didn`t have to even deal with wars. Well, except when we asked you for your help when all the cryptids went wild. "Zak looked sad, like he didn`t credit Ulraj as much as he should. Wadi felt the same too.
Drew spoke out after contemplating what Ulraj said "So, Caitlyn may be an Atlantis citizen…? "
Ulraj nodded "That`s what I`m afraid of."
Just then a guard knocked on the door and spoke through, "Your Highness, the prisoner has awoken from being knocked out. Would you like to question him now? "
Zak stood up "I want to help you question this guy!" Says strongly.
Ulraj looked up at him, " But you`ve already done so much."
Doc, stands up too,"But we`re like family. And Family helps one another out. We`ll all go with you."
Zak looked at Wadi "Even Wadi will go."
"WHAT!?" Wadi said in shock.
Zak looked sternly at her, "You ARE going… right?"
Wadi sighed, "Fine, I`ll help too."
Ulraj stands up, "Great, I thank you for all sticking by my side. Let`s go to my questioning room."
In his mind Zak thought, " I wonder if Ulraj has a room for everything…?"
