London, England

8:00 AM

Sarah Pomfret had always been uncomfortable with her life as an adult film star. It was a far cry from the life of a respectable historian that she had desired since childhood. Yet, as the story goes, she got into financial trouble during her years at university and was convinced that she would do just a couple of films, get out of debt, and get back to a normal life. However, as it turned out, a couple of films turned into a half dozen and before she knew it, she was highly sought after. Sarah's youthful features that belied her age, coupled with long, silken, blonde hair that was reminiscent of spun gold, earned her the name of "Honey" or "Honey Pot". It was said that no one could surpass her ability to seduce a man. Sarah frankly, had an uncanny ability to entice both bodies and minds. To Sarah, her skills in temptation were a natural product of her love of history.

Sarah had long ago delved into the secretive world of the courtesan, a sort of top-tier in the hierarchy of prostitutes for royal courts during medieval and Renaissance Europe. She was enthralled by the stories of women who took their lives into their own hands, becoming the mistresses of high ranking court officials during an age when women were only mothers or daughters. She read the stories of women who used their feminine wiles to beguile and enchant powerful men so that they could break free of the often hard lives of the women around them. It was fortuitous that Sarah was able to take what she read and apply it to her new profession.

While her popularity in the adult film industry increased, her dissatisfaction with her life did as well. She was miles away from where she wanted to be in her life. She wanted to spend her days with the long-dead people she read about in history books and yet, she was learning about techniques for physical and mental seduction in order to incorporate it into her next film. It was that dissatisfaction mixed with pure curiosity, that lead her to answer an email sent from Curiosum Labs, offering her a job.

She remembered sitting across from Dr. Eric Bajek at the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub eleven years ago. Dr. Bajek was a man in his early forties with short, curly, dull blonde hair that was starting to gray and steely gray eyes. He was one of the top genetic scientists at Curiosum Labs and worked closely with the world-famous Dr. Marius Schneider.

"I have to admit, I'm curious. But I don't understand, Dr. Bajek…" Sarah started, her Scouse accent pegging her as a Liverpool native. "What would a genetics laboratory want with someone like me?"

"Actually my dear, it's right up your alley. You have an incredible talent for being able to seduce men on screen. Not just the men you work with, but those who watch your films are captivated by you. We're hoping you'll be able to tutor someone in those skills…for an experiment."

The money that was offered to her was enough for her to leave the world of adult films behind. All she had to do was teach what she learned. So, she naturally agreed to work for Curiosum Labs, seeing it as a way to leave her old life behind and embrace a new one. What she didn't realize when she signed her contract and non-disclosure agreement, was that she would be teaching the arts of seduction to a strange, human-turtle-alien chimera, working for a highly classified venture called Project Siren. Soon after signing her contract, Dr. Eric Bajek mysteriously left Curiosum Labs. No one knew where or why he left. That strange disappearance, coupled with seeing the small creature, she almost quit right there and then. Yet, it was the intervention of Dr. Marius Schneider himself that stopped her.

Dr. Schneider took her aside and explained what it was they were doing and how important it was. Training the creature called Sonseeahray in the arts of temptation was the best contingency plan that they had in order to destroy four mutant turtles. Once the Turtles were killed, their biology could be used for further experimentation. Plus, they would be out of the way so their ability to create super soldiers that will save future lives when the next alien invasion occurs, would go unhindered.

Sarah stayed on and got to work, doing exactly what she was contracted to do: imparting all of the knowledge that she absorbed over the years in the seductive arts to Sonseeahray. However, as the years passed, Sarah began to see her not as a creature that was created in a lab, but a being who was self-aware and possessed of her own agency. As such, she began to teach her about making choices for herself, which lead to a reprimand from some of Dr. Schneider's fellow scientists who viewed it as "sabotage" of their project. While Dr. Schneider himself, doubtlessly influenced by his feelings for her, refused to get angry and instead chose to reiterate the purpose of Project Siren.

Sarah found one ally within the team of scientists in the person of Dr. Kushala Gouyen. Between the two of them, they did whatever they could under the circumstances to nurture Sonseeahray properly, challenging authority when and wherever possible. She only feared it wouldn't be enough. For all the years she spent admiring the courtesans she read about in books, she was afraid she was still robbing Sonseeahray of her ability to make her own choices about her life.

On this day, she looked at Sonseeahray as the twelve-year-old stood before her. The heterochromia iridium of Sonseeahray's eyes was still striking. No matter how many times Sarah looked upon Sonseeahray's porcelain face, her gaze was stunning: the child's left eye was hazel, in which the bottom half of the iris possessed flecks of green and blue, while her right eye was like a bright blue sapphire.

"Miss Pomfret, you seem to be a bit distracted." Sonseeahray said with a smile that flashed her fangs. The young chimera spoke with an RP British accent.

"My apologies, dear." Sarah smiled back, taking the banana from the girl. "I do have a lot on my mind lately."

At twelve, Sonseeahray was still a tad diminutive, barely reaching five feet in height. She could possibly expect to get a bit taller, but not by much. This, Marius once told Sarah, was because they wanted Sonseeahray, visually, to be physically unimposing. While she had no hair on her head, she did possess very thin, wispy, white-blonde eyebrows that nearly disappeared against the pale creaminess of her soft skin. Her facial features were small and delicate, contrasting against large, dual-colored eyes and lips that were full with a natural pout. Sonseeahray's brown carapace was also slight in size, clinging close to her frame, only slightly perceptible under her laboratory gown. However, her carapace was a bit harder in comparison to her dark yellow plastron, which was more like a hard leather. Only two of Sonseeahray's attributes hinted that she might be dangerous: she possessed fangs, and a sharp claw that could shred both cloth and flesh, on each of her ten fingers.

Looking at the chimera in front of her, Sarah would always be amazed by the fact that Sonseeahray's inhuman appearance did nothing to diminish her loveliness; a loveliness that would only increase as she matured. It was a shame, she thought. Any offspring that Sonseeahray could have produced, though perhaps retaining some of the more turtle-like aspects of her appearance, would have been beautiful. However, Agent Bishop and Curiosum Labs made sure a long time ago that Sonseeahray was sterilized. To her knowledge, no one had ever told the girl of that fact, and Sarah couldn't bring herself to do it now.

"Perhaps the rest of this lesson can wait for another day, then?" Sonseeahray smiled, flashing fangs.

Sarah straightened, "Alright. We'll finish up that lesson some other time." She turned to the scientists and EPF commandos who stood behind her. "I think that's enough for now, gentleman. Can we please escort our little siren back to her room, please?"

The men nodded, but before they could move, the reinforced glass door to the room opened with a soft, "swoosh" and both Dr. Schneider and Dr. Gouyen entered.

Sarah turned and smiled at Marius and Dr. Gouyen. Dr. Schneider smiled back, his happiness tempered by the news that he had just received regarding project Slash. He tried to compartmentalize the morning's events, focusing instead on the beautiful woman before him and the ring in his pocket. "Good morning, my dear."

Sonseeahray, upon seeing Dr. Gouyen, could barely contain her happiness. "Dr. Gouyen!" In response, Dr. Gouyen rushed to the young chimera with open arms, "Come here, pretty girl!" Her arms enveloped the small creature like a mother would a child.

Dr. Schneider could barely conceal his displeasure with the public display of affection for the creature they created. Seeing it, Sarah whispered to him, "Let the girl have some thought of family, Marius." He turned his attention back to Sarah, and in a hushed tone, he stated, "Darling, both you and Dr. Gouyen have to stop this. She is not a child, nor a family member. She is a scientific project and frankly, a biological weapon." He sighed, "I fear that it will hurt the two of you more down the line should something unforeseen happen, if you do not understand this."

Sarah nodded absently.

"Have you two finished your lessons for now?" Dr. Schneider asked.

Sarah and Sonseeahray exchanged a quick glance, "Yes, sir." The chimera stated as Dr. Gouyen released her from a hug.

"Good." Dr. Schneider turned to the scientists and EPF commandos, "Take Sonseeahray back to her room."

"I'll go with them." Dr. Gouyen added. With that, she held out her hand to the small chimera, who promptly took it. The two of them followed the scientists and the commandos out into the hallway and disappeared from sight.

Turning back toward Sarah, Marius held out his hand with a smile, "Come on, darling. Let's forget about work for just a few moments. There's something that I'd like to discuss with you."

Sarah took his hand in hers and walked with him out of the room. "Of course. What do you want to discuss?"

He stopped and turned to her, "How would you feel about being Mrs. Marius Schneider?"

At the other end of the hallway, Dr. Gouyen punched a four-digit code into a keypad by the reinforced glass door that marked the entry for Sonseeahray's room and the door opened. A small plate hung to the right side with both the chimera's given name and her project designation: 145-486 EB.

Before entering into the large room, where a few of her drawings and astronomy posters hung on the wall next to her bed, Sonseeahray turned around and gazed down the hall toward Dr. Schneider and Miss Pomfret. Dr. Gouyen, curious as to what the young child was looking at, turned as well, only to see Dr. Schneider get down on one knee before Miss Pomfret. Dr. Gouyen smiled.

"What are they doing, Dr. Gouyen?" Sonseeahray asked, seeing the doctor's happiness.

"I believe Dr. Schneider just asked Miss Pomfret to marry him!" Dr. Gouyen said with a chuckle, turning toward the diminutive creature.

"They're going to be married? That's wonderful!" Sonseeahray exclaimed as Dr. Gouyen ushered her into her room, the reinforced glass door closing behind them. The two scientists who had followed them from the other room turned and walked down the hall, typing away at their iPads, while the two EPF commandos remained stationed outside, flanking the doorway to the room.

"Dr. Gouyen," Sonseeahray started, hopping onto her bed, "Do you suppose I'll ever be married?"

"I don't know, pretty girl." Dr. Gouyen sat down beside her on the pink bedspread. She stroked the girl's head tenderly like a mother would a beloved daughter. "I can hardly think of anyone who would deserve you. But I suppose a special person is out there somewhere."

Sonseeahray turned to face Dr. Gouyen, pulling her knees to her chest, "I hope so. I was thinking after I get rid of those turtles that Dr. Schneider and Agent Bishop keep talking about, I would very much like to be married and become a mum." She smiled softly. "Sort of like the kind of mum you are with your daughters; baking biscuits and making jewelry together!"

She didn't allow her face to betray her emotions. She knew that Sonseeahray was sterile. That was taken care of shortly before she was brought onto Project Siren. She gazed at the creature before her for a heartbeat. Dr. Gouyen's heart broke. Somehow, she saw one of her own daughters in Sonseeahray then: a young girl with a dream of a fairytale wedding and a happily ever after. Yet it was a dream that was never going to come true for the chimera in front of her. At least, not if Agent Bishop had his way.

Shaking off the thought, she smiled. "Speaking of jewelry…" Dr. Gouyen pulled a small bracelet out of her pocket and wrapped it around the young girl's wrist. Sonseeahray starred at the bracelet for a moment, transfixed at the brilliant sparkle of the beads.

"My daughter Tia made it for you. It's just made from beads you can find at a crafts store…not the diamonds you adore so much, but I think those will do." Dr. Gouyen said with a wink. For years, she knew of Sonseeahray's fascination with jewels, and diamonds in particular. She once heard the young chimera say that the silver-white sparkle of the gems reminded her of starlight. If Dr. Gouyen didn't know better, she would say that somehow the glitter of diamonds triggered some sort of genetic memory of a life among the stars within the alien DNA the girl possessed.

"Oh, thank you so much!" Sonseeahray embraced Dr. Gouyen enthusiastically, face beaming with joy. "Tell your daughter, thank you!"

Dr. Gouyen chuckled, hugging the girl warmly, "You're welcome, pretty girl!" She pulled back from the hug and cupped the girl's delicate chin in her hand. She leaned forward slightly and whispered, "Remember what I've told you?"

Sonseeahray nodded and smiled, enjoying their small conspiracy. She repeated the words she heard Dr. Gouyen repeat time and again in a hushed tone, "I don't have to do anything I don't want to do. Pay attention to what they teach, but my body is a gift to give to whomever I choose."

"Exactly. Don't ever forget that!"

A tapping came at the reinforced glass door. Both Sonseeahray and Dr. Gouyen turned to see a scientist by the name of Dr. Myles Cardwell at the glass. He was one of the younger scientists on the Project Siren team. As such, he tended to be a bit cocky, yet, he was relatively well-liked among his colleagues. He at least had the mind to back up his attitude. His brown hair was cut short, his dark brown eyes were covered by frames that were slightly tinted. His tall, muscular build was hidden behind his lab coat. He motioned for Dr. Gouyen to come with him.

"I better get going, Sonseeahray." She gave the chimera another hug before standing up. "Besides, your martial arts instructor should be here soon to train you."

The small chimera nodded absently before changing the subject. "What are you going to be working on today?" Sonseeahray asked, moving toward her nightstand and picking up a large book on astronomy that laid there.

Dr. Gouyen stood at the door to the room. Turning, she said, "Well, I'm going to check on your latest charts, and then I'll help Dr. Cardwell here grab a few samples from Project Slash downstairs."

At the mention of Slash's name, Sonseeahray's face soured, "Do be careful, Dr. Gouyen! I hear he is ever so mean! He hurts people whenever he can!" While she had never met Slash face to face, she was well aware of his presence. He was notorious for his violent outbursts among the staff of Curiosum Labs. The fear that everyone possessed of Slash was palatable. Sonseeahray understood that around Slash, one must always be on their guard.

Dr. Gouyen smiled, "It's okay, pretty girl. Slash's sickness took his life today. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore." Yet, even as she said those words, she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Why was it that there was a part of her that was unconvinced of her own words? She pushed the question out of her mind and left with Dr. Cardwell.