Disclaimer: Ocean Girl and all its characters and places are the property of Jonathan M. Shiff Productions. I am a fan of the show and this is my own personal take on what could have happened if there had been a Season 5. Please also note: English is not my native language, therefore, please forgive me for any linguistic mistakes.

Neri got up early to head to ORCA to change for her meeting on the mainland. Charley picked up on her excitement and teased her when she stopped for a moment to greet him. Neri smiled and agreed with him; she was definitely excited to see Jason, but also nervous about meeting with the group of executives. Charley reassured her she would be fine. He reminded her of the times she had helped protect the oceans and marine life before. Neri gratefully petted his fin before she swam on to ORCA.

Once at ORCA, Neri joined Cass and Dianne in the Commander's quarters. Dianne helped pick out the clothes to wear, and Cass was carefully brushing through Neri's thick hair.

"You look beautiful!" Cass exclaimed when a radiantly smiling Neri got up and turned around to face them. Dianne nodded in agreement, and squeezed Neri affectionately.

"Cass is right, you look lovely! Now, let's head up to the pontoon, the shuttle will be there soon."

"I am ready."


Shortly after Neri and Dianne boarded the boat at ORCA, Jason reached the pier on the mainland. He parked the car he had borrowed from Mick for the occasion and went to the area where the ORCA shuttle should arrive. Impatiently, he looked at the clock above the terminal, slowly ticking away. Another 30 minutes until the shuttle was scheduled to arrive. His eyes focused on the horizon for the first sign of the boat from ORCA.


The shuttle slowed down as it approached the mainland terminal. Neri's eyes were scanning the pier for Jason, but it was Dianne who spotted him first.

"See, there's Jason; he's looking for us, too."

They both waved their arms to get his attention, and succeeded very quickly. He ran towards the docking location, and as soon as the shuttle's engines were turned off and doors opened, Neri stepped off to run towards him, and they embraced each other tightly.

"Have you missed me?" Neri whispered.

Jason looked deeply into her eyes.

"What do you think?" There was no more need for words as he pulled her in to kiss her tenderly.

Dianne slowly walked towards them and cleared her throat to get their attention. Jason smiled sheepishly as he broke away from Neri to hug his mother.

"Hi, Mum, thanks for bringing by Neri."

"It was an opportunity for me to see you, too. How are you? How do you like driving?"

"I'm fine Mum. And driving's fun, actually! One thing I am going to miss when I return to ORCA. How are you and Brett doing?"

"We're fine, we miss you though! Thankfully, we got Neri, Cass and Winston to keep us company."

Jason smiled at Neri and squeezed her hand gratefully.

Just then, an announcement was made that the ORCA- bound shuttle would leave shortly.

Dianne sighed. "Alright, I better get back on the boat, or Officer Danton will report me to Headquarters for tardiness. Good luck at the meeting! Brett and Cass will meet you here later to take the shuttle back with Neri."

She placed quick kisses on Jason's and Neri's cheeks and hurried back to the boat.

"Bye, Mum."

"Thank you, Mother!"

Jason and Neri waved at her while holding hands, and once the shuttle left, Jason pulled Neri back in closely and leaned in for another tender kiss. Eventually, a sound from Jason's communicator pulled them back to the here and now.

"We better get going, or we'll be late for the meeting." Jason's fingers interlaced with Neri's as he gently pulled her to Mick's car. Gallantly, he opened the passenger door for her. Neri climbed in and looked around herself curiously. Jason closed the door behind her and ran around to the driver's side.

"Forgive the mess, Vanessa is on Mick's case about this driving junkyard, but I was grateful I could borrow it from him. I'd have hated to ask my dad for a ride." He started the car and drove off the lot.

Neri picked up on the slight tone of bitterness when Jason mentioned his father. She didn't say anything, but the questioning look in her eyes prompted Jason to explain.

"I haven't talked to my dad for a while. He doesn't approve of us getting engaged."

"Why?"

"He and Mum were quite young when they married, he thinks we are making the same mistake."

"He cares about you and wants to protect you."

"Yes, I guess." Jason briefly looked at Neri, then focused his attention back to the road. "I just want him to understand that I'm not like him. Can't he just be happy for us?"

Neri smiled at him warmly. "I think he will be with time."

Jason shrugged, unconvinced.

They approached an office high-rise building, Neri leant forward and tried to look up all the way to the top.

"Is the meeting in the tall house?"

Jason nodded. "It's a government high security building, we're to meet on one of the higher floors."

Jason entered the parking structure. He came to stop at the valet. "My name is Jason Bates. Princess Neri of the Ocean Planet and I are expected by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities."

The valet signaled for a security officer that stood close-by to come over.

"Princess Neri, Mr Bates, I am Officer Narut. The minister is expecting you. Please follow me."

They followed the Officer to an elevator, which took them up to the top floor. Neri felt nervous again. Her hand found Jason's who re-assured her with a warm smile and a squeeze of her hand. They let go when the elevator doors opened shortly after, and the Officer motioned for them to step out.

The Minister came to greet them. He bowed to Neri and extended his hand to shake Jason's: "Princess Neri, Mr Bates, I am Minister Jones. I am very pleased to meet you. Thank you for joining us for the meeting today. The Maysun Hotel delegation has already arrived and set up in the conference room. Would you like to briefly freshen up before joining them?"

Jason looked at Neri to check if she needed to wet down, but she shook her head slightly to answer his silent question.

"We are ready, Minister."

They followed the minister into the conference room where two men and one woman got up as they entered the room. The Minister made the introductions: "Princess Neri, Mr Bates, may I introduce John Castos, President of Maysun Australia, and his colleagues, Angela Hobbs, VP of Marketing, and Thomas Gordon, VP of Maysun Public Relations." Neri and Jason shook hands, then sat down opposite of the hotel executives who started their presentation.


The meeting had taken so much longer than anticipated. Jason looked sadly at Neri when they were back in the car. "I fear the last shuttle to ORCA is departing soon, so I better drive you straight back to the pier. Brett and Cass are probably already waiting for you."

Neri's heart was heavy. "When can I see you again?"

"I hope very soon."

Neri nodded, trying not to reveal any of the sadness she felt.

Silently, they drove back to the pier, where indeed Brett and Cass have been waiting for them.

Brett was really happy to see his brother and rushed over to say hello. Jason gave him a big hug. He realized just now how much he has missed his brother.

"So, what's new with you?"

Brett shrugged. "Not much, but what about you? How is life at university? Are there any cute sorority girls?"

Jason laughed, and his hand slipped into Neri's. "Not that I noticed. You gotta come by and check for yourself."

"How did the meeting go?" Cass asked Neri and Jason.

"It was long, much talking, but not much good information. Jason asked for - " Neri looked at Jason for help.

"An unbiased scientific report. Their ecological impact study was conducted by a group of scientists they hired, so we asked for the study to be conducted by an independent oceanic research institute, such as ORCA." Jason added: "The executives we met overloaded us with a lot of unnecessary information about the project, actually. It felt as if they tried to tire us out before we got to the point of the ecological impact their project would have. Neri won't meet with them again until after a proper scientific research study is completed."

Cass was the first to respond: "I bet Winston will be psyched to take on the project."

"And I bet Mum will be itching to get in on it. I think she's getting a bit tired of the commander gig and cannot wait to get back to the lab." Brett said that, looking at Jason.

Jason was not entirely surprised to hear that. "Has Mum mentioned anything to you?"

"Not really. Just an observation. Maybe Dad can get her out of the contract earlier."

"Let me talk to her first, Brett. Don't mention any of this to Dad."

"Well, if I don't, who will? It's not like you are talking to him right now."

"Just hold off until I have discussed it with Mum, that's all I'm saying."

Brett nodded in consent. An announcement was made at that moment that the shuttle would leave in three minutes.

Cass looked at Brett. "I think we better say good-bye now."

She hugged Jason, and waited for Brett to say his good-bye to his brother before she pulled Brett a little distance away.

Neri and Jason still held hands, neither of them able to say anything for a while.

"Thank you for coming with me to the meeting today. I could not have done it without you." Neri said at last.

"I think you could, Neri. But I'm glad I was there with you, and I'll always be at your side to support you." Jason gently pushed a strand of hair that the wind has blown in her face behind her ear, and kissed her.

"I'm sorry, Neri, but we need to get on the boat now!" Cass said from a little distance.

"Love you, Neri." Jason said in parting.

"I love you."

Neri stole one last kiss, then turned to join Cass and Brett. Jason watched them board the boat, and he wished so badly he could join them. With a sad look at the boat that was increasing the distance to the shore, he turned around to return to the parking lot for the long drive back to university.