Authors Note:
We're coming up on the end here. Including this chapter there will only be three more till the end. After that I'll see if I have enough ideas to possibly do a sequel story. Suggestions are welcome once I'm done here.
Chapter 12: Made Public
The week following the disastrous full moon found us heading to Sea World for the presentation of the research we'd all participated in. We would be standing before a council of five members, all marine biologists with their doctorates, to hopefully convince them that we needed to be protected. We were all justifiably nervous on the way over. This would either go well and we'd be safe to live our lives or it would go bad and we'd be running for the open ocean and fleeing for years to come. Either way we'd passed the point of no return.
The meeting started with introductions, honestly I was so nervous at this point I didn't remember any names, and we proceeded with Denman presenting her findings. There were many questions for her, probing for details and clarifications as necessary. Denman did her best to plead her case for us to be declared a variant of the human race and not a sub human race, as well as endangered.
Once she was finished Dr. Simmons proceeded with his report on his own findings and how they coincided with Denman's and thereby validated her findings. He also answered many questions, and in the end he made the strongest case for our protection as well. He also backed Denman on her standing that we were not in anyway less then human but a true variant simply adapted to life both in and out of the water.
Once he finished the five of us were called forward. We were questioned as well. The questions for us centered more on our own view of ourselves, our lifestyle both in and out of the water, and if our participation truly was voluntary or not. We answered to the best of our ability, and at the end were asked if we would demonstrate the change as final proof that the research was not being fabricated. After we had dried off again, the council thanked us for our time and told us they would have a decision for us in a weeks time. Until then we were to keep the topics of the meeting confidential.
The following week was even worse in the case of nerves then the day's prior to it. All of us, even Emma, Cleo, and Rikki, stayed close to the ship in case of a double cross. Denman did her best not to impose on them overmuch, but they told her that after her actions on the full moon she'd earned a true second chance with them. The whole time we couldn't help running over what might happen at the end of the week. We tried to stay positive but invariably we ended up running worst case scenarios until we'd managed to scare ourselves near to death.
The guys visited us as often as they could and anytime any of us needed to show up for a work shift any of us not also working spent the day shadowing them. This might have been a bit paranoid but we all agreed better safe then sorry. Finally the day came for us to once again stand before the review council and hear their decision.
The response they had for us was full of a lot of technical terms and jargon, but it was the final statements that were what we most wanted to hear. They validated the existence of mermaids as a species and declared us endangered, furthermore they would announce to the public only that mermaids existed and that they lived somewhere on the coast of Australia. Our names and faces would be kept out of any public report and any further requests for studies would continue to require our consent and cooperation. Denman was credited with the primary research but she declined credit for our discovery saying that belonged to Lewis McCartney. They thanked us and departed, after asking for autographs, somethings are just human nature I guess.
"So now everyone's going to know about us. We'll never be able to have a moments peace again," Cleo groaned as we walked out. I snickered at her.
"You were listening to what they said right?" I asked her.
"Yes, we all were." She said.
"We didn't miss anything. They said they were going to let it be known publicly," Rikki said.
"Yes, mermaids will be publicly recognized as a new species, we won't be." I said.
"But we're mermaids so we will be announced." Emma said, then slapped her forehead. "Oh wait! I get what you're saying. That part at the end. They won't give out our names. People might know there are mermaids but they won't know who."
"Exactly. Unless we actually tell them ourselves they only know that mermaids exist." I said.
"So we can live normal lives as long as we keep our names out of it." Bella asked.
"More or less that's exactly how it works girls," Denman said. "Now if you end up exposed in a hospital or somewhere similar you will be protected by law from being turned over to the media or locked in a tank."
"Cool." They all said.
"Well I'd like to invite you all out to the ship tomorrow for a going away party for Dr. Simmons, and to thank him for his assistance." Denman said. "I hope you all can make it. It's at 8 in the evening so I hope that will be after any work shifts you have."
We all promised to be there and the other girls all left to head home and collapse now that the stress of waiting was done. I went for a swim to excited to sleep.
The next day was crazy. As I went around picking up supplies for the party that night I got asked no less then six times if I'd heard the news. Mermaids were real and they lived somewhere around the coast of Australia. Everyone seemed to be hyped on the news but since there was so much coast no one was going around trying to get everyone soaked just to see if they were a mermaid. Well it was either that or the part where harassing people on the suspicion was still harassment and frowned on. Either way no one went out of their way to splash anyone, even me.
When the girls arrived for the party they were amazed at the outcome of the day and how the news was received.
"It's so cool." Emma said. "Everyone is actually thrilled by the idea instead of hating it."
"I know. I honestly expected people to start protests," I said. "They usually do that in the States."
"Well it looks like people are more open minded here." Cleo said. "I might even tell my family, Dad and Sam took the news well. Kim was the only one that threw a fit and she was scolded for it too."
"My parents already know," Bella said. "Hard to hide things when you're nine and all. If they hadn't found out I don't think I'd have made it nearly as long as I did otherwise."
"My Dad thought it was kinda cool too. He's real cool that way. I guess I can trust him with it after all." Rikki mused. "What about your family Emma?"
"Mom and Dad were positive about it. Elliot wants to ask one on a date. I told him he's probably too young for one. Didn't seem to phase him though." Emma said with a laugh.
"Boys!" The rest of us said and then we all broke into laughter.
"Ah good you're all here." Denman said coming up onto the deck. "Dr. Simmons and I each have something for you." She walked over and placed five envelopes on the table in front of us. Each one had one of our names on it.
"Yes. These are for you." Dr. Simmons also placed more of the same down. "You young ladies have earned this."
I picked up my two and simply held onto them. Having worked as Denman's assistant for the past couple of years I had a good idea what they contained. I was therefore more interested in the reactions of what the others would be when they opened them. I was not disappointed.
"Are you serious?" Emma just stared.
"We can't accept this." Rikki said.
"Yes you can. It is standard to reimburse people for their participation in any type of study, be it research or other." Dr. Simmons said.
"But the amount. It's rather large." Bella claimed. "Surely it's too much."
"Not really. We did need to preform many tests and collect a large and varied amount of tissue, blood, and DNA samples from you. Such is considered standard for those." he countered.
"We did however pay any taxes up front that would be levied by the governments of your home nations though." Denman said. "Thus that full amount is yours, you don't have to report it as income."
"Just say thank you and let it go girls." I advised. "After two years I've learned that you shouldn't turn down a pay check just cause you don't think you did enough work. She usually just ignored my protests anyways."
"Well then thank you," Cleo said. "Now, Dr. Simmons, what's this card for?"
"Ah that." He took a seat. "That contains information that will allow you to contact me should you wish to talk or arrange to visit. I have enjoyed meeting you girls and discovering what you can do. You have done a great thing for me. I am old, in my late 60's if you should know, and I am aware that my time is running short. I have seen and done many things in my life and I would have met the end with no regrets, but now I shall also meet it with a sense of satisfaction that I have participated in something great. The discovery, validation, and protection of a new species of life. One cannot ask for more out of life. And so I thank you and welcome you to talk with me or visit anytime you should desire to do so."
"Your welcome," we all said. "We'll make sure to keep in touch."
"Well then, I believe we assembled here to celebrate the success of our research as well as the end of my stay here in your home country. So let us begin." Dr. Simmons said. "And for tonight we shall dispense with formalities so please call me Randolph."
We spent the rest of the night enjoying ourselves and in the morning accompanied him to the airport for his departure. We wished him well and waited till he had passed security and gone out of sight before heading back. Over the next few days we spent a lot of time at the cafe, listening to talk about mermaids and how cool it would be if they would come and visit, and planning the best way for the girls to tell their families. In the end we decided the best way would be for each of them to do all the explaining personally but that the rest of us would be there for both moral support and if necessary additional proof. That left us with the tough task of deciding which family to tell first . In the end we simply pulled names out of a hat and Emma was going to be first, Cleo second, and Rikki third. We then agreed to meet at Emma's next weekend.
Things were going well. Mermaids were public but only the guys knew that we were them and they wouldn't tell. We'd gotten the best we could have ever hoped for, acceptance and anonymity both at the same time.
