Jackson and Riggs watched the group board the helicopter. Jackson had his facial scars treated, but he still had to wear a cast on his arm for the rest of the week.

"I'm gonna miss those guys." said Riggs. "Those people were an...interesting group to travel with."

"So after all the pain and suffering we had to deal with and losing Tori," said Jackson. "we're just going to let them go?"

"That's right, Bobby." said Riggs. "General's orders. Besides, we already have everything we need from Katsuma and Mutio."

"And what about the others?" asked Jackson. "Did we get anything out of them?"

"They're civilians, Bobby." said Riggs. "They don't know any more than we do."

"That's what I figured." said Jackson. "So, I guess we better check out those Riptides."

"Riptides?" repeated Riggs.

"The SEALs brought some of them back here when they brought me, Hayami, and Kino back from Florida. Their leader was using an experimental exosuit, made by our military."

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah. He made an ass of himself with it." said Jackson. "I'm starting to think that the exosuit might be connected with this airship that everyone's talking about."

"So you think the Riptides might be the ones attacking the Musucas?"

"Hell no. I'm saying the Riptides might be doing someone else's work. I remember Legoria telling us that the Riptides went straight for the Musuca in Florida, and they were deliberately killing survivors. And then the Riptides attacked Miami the day after, when Legoria brought Mutio back to his city. Whoever controls that airship obviously wanted to make sure their job was finished. But they were clearly in a hurry, so they settled for local help. And they sure as hell got it."

"Whoa..." said Riggs. "Yeah, we definitely need to get down to those holding cells, and get answers from those Riptides. Let's go."


The group departed from Mount Weather, with all the equipment they had on them since they arrived. Since Walsh and Riggs weren't joining them, they gave the extra uniforms from the Coolidge to Kino and Hayami, who then rejected them as they already had their own uniforms. So they decided to keep them stored in case they picked up more recruits on the way.

They had the Grampus attached to the bottom of the King Stallion, and were instructed to fly to the destroyer USS Thunderball, which would bring them halfway to Nova Scotia.

As they flew away from the mainland and over the Atlantic, Katsuma started shuddering. The gills on his torso started opening and closing uneasily. After a moment, they stopped.

"Katsuma, what's wrong?" asked Luke.

"I don't know." said Katsuma, putting a hand on his chest. "I…I hope we land soon. I think I need water."

"I wonder why that is?" inquired Kino. "Mutio doesn't seem to need water."

"I think now would be a good time to get the Grampus back into the ocean." said Hayami. "Katsuma, Mutio. Maybe you'd like a swim, too?"

"Sounds good." Katsuma nodded with a grin.

"Taking her down." said Rockefeller.

The helicopter dropped in altitude so that they could unhook the Grampus, and let its two pilots get inside. The submersible descended. Katsuma removed his tank top, then leaped from the helicopter's ramp and into the water to join them. Mutio followed immediately after. They swam alongside the Grampus, flanking it like guardians as it sped through the depths of the sea.

Hayami, who sat in the pilot's seat, looked out into the ocean. There were large schools of fish, along with octopi and sea turtles all around them, in that endless blue undersea realm. Katsuma and Mutio were silhouetted against the blue, although the latter was distinguishable by her glowing red eyes. She swam closer and closer to Hayami's cockpit, and peered through the glass just to smile at him. Hayami looked back at her as the fins in her arms and legs were unfolding and expanding fluidly. Katsuma was doing the same on the other side of him.

Katsuma watched Hayami and Mutio as they stared at each other, a sense of loneliness tugging at his heartstrings. Then he bowed his head down and looked at the fish swimming below him.


"Cyrus, it looks like I'm short of a sidearm." said Campbell. "Walsh made me give his Beretta back to him right before we left."

Cyrus went over to the boxes of equipment they took from the Calvin Coolidge; they were fortunate that Walsh had let them get the weapons and other supplies back after Mount Weather's security confiscated it. He produced a Glock 19 and magazine, and gave both to Campbell.

"There you go." said Cyrus. "Anything else on your mind, Rick?"

"Yeah." said Campbell, loading the magazine into the gun. "I can't believe I'm finally going back home. It's been so long."

Cyrus nodded. He knew that Campbell was from Canada. He was a tourist, visiting from Montreal when the floods rolled in. He was unable to get home for all that time. It was fortunate for the Floridians that Campbell knew a few things about using rifles, especially ones that were scoped. He helped protect Miami from so many threats during his time there. Now this was a chance for him to come back home, and walk away from all of this. If there was still a home to come back to, that is.

"I wonder how my mom's doing." said Campbell. "I hope she's okay. Will she even recognize me?"

"Oh, of course she will." smiled Cyrus. "Don't talk crazy, Rick."

Campbell loaded a magazine into the pistol, pulled back the slide, and then let go. Then he switched the safety on and holstered it.

"It's just...well, I was remembering what Dr. Cameron said to me."

"What did he say?" asked Cyrus.

"He told me how he worked at a Blue Fleet base in British Columbia." said Campbell. "He said that it was raided by Zorndyke's forces, and he was one of the few survivors. I'm worried that what happened to his town might have happened to mine."

"Montreal's practically on the other side of the country from British Columbia." said Cyrus. "Just have some faith."

At that moment, Rockefeller had turned around.

"Guys, we're here!"

Five minutes later, the helicopter landed on the destroyer, and the Grampus was being raised out of the sea on a crane. The group disembarked from their vehicles, and were greeted by the ship's crew. Their commanding officer, a short, middle-aged woman with brown hair tied in a bun, stepped forwards.

"So you're the group from Blue Fleet that Mount Weather told us about?" asked the captain. "Welcome aboard, I'm Captain Regina Burrows. And I see you brought some…company with you."

She looked suspiciously at Mutio and Katsuma.

"Don't worry about them, ma'am." said Kino. "They're all with us."

"I've already contacted the Royal Canadian Navy." said Captain Burrows. "They're sending the HMCS Aronnax. They'll pick you up as soon as we're in Canadian territory, and then they'll take you to Nova Scotia. In the meantime, please make yourselves comfortable. And try not to make a mess."

The last sentence was directed at Katsuma and Mutio. As the group left, Burrows stopped Mutio, waving a Ruger Redhawk in her face.

"Now listen, and listen good." she growled at her. "Stay out of trouble, or there will be trouble. I've dealt with your kind before, especially you mermaid-things. One of your sisters screamed into my ear during the Battle of Boston, and it's been ringing to this day. You're nasty little bitches, but I'm nastier."

"And bitchier, by the sound of things." said a voice behind Burrows.

It was Hayami, with Rockefeller behind him.

"We got a problem here, ma'am?" Hayami asked.

"Nothing." said Burrows, turning around. "Nothing's wrong. Now get away from me before I have you all thrown in the brig."

Mutio and Rockefeller both nodded, and Burrows lowered the revolver. Mutio hurried after the others, frantically trying to get away from the captain.

"Mutio, what's the matter?" asked Campbell.

Mutio made no response, but she eyed Captain Burrows nervously.

"The captain was threatening Mutio and talking smack to her." said Rockefeller, who caught up to the others.

"Was she?" asked Campbell. "Well, I'm gonna have a talk with her about this."

Cyrus stopped him.

"No." he said. "She's not worth the trouble. We'll be off this ship before you know it. Mutio, why don't you stay with us? Try not to talk to any of these people."


After a couple days passed, they were finally leaving American waters, and were nearing Canada. Right on cue, another warship was nearing them. It had the Maple Leaf flag at the bow.

"Wow, I thought I'd never get to see the Canadian flag again." said Campbell, who had a wide smile on his face. "I am finally coming home."

They departed from the Thunderball, and boarded the Aronnax. Mutio was especially glad to be away from Captain Burrows, who had been leering at her during the whole trip. But at least she was comfortable knowing that Cyrus and the others would be able to stop her if she did try harming her.

When they came aboard the Aronnax, the group were all given warmer clothes to wear. This was quite fortunate, since it was early March, and Canada was suffering one of the coldest, longest winters it had faced in decades. Not that it bothered Mutio, since she was used to the ice-cold temperatures of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. But most of the others, who were mostly accustomed to the warm tropical regions of Miami, were coughing, shivering, and sneezing on and off during the entire trip.

Of the group from Miami, only Cyrus and Campbell didn't seem to mind the cold. While the others were warming up in their designated quarters, they met with the captain to discuss the Musuca with Hayami, Katsuma, and Kino.

"So what's the story with the Musuca?" asked Cyrus.

"Our patrols found the Musuca stuck in the shoals near Devils Island. Twenty-six passengers confirmed dead, the rest missing. Based on reports from the war, we believe that there should still be eight-to-twelve out there somewhere."

"Devils Island, huh?" asked Hayami. "Nice name."

"Were there any survivors?" asked Kino.

"And what about Kumos?" added Katsuma.

"Well, it's unconfirmed…" said the captain. "But we received reports from locals about Chimerans traveling inland. But like I said, it hasn't been confirmed by government officials. As for the...what do you call 'em...'Kumos'? Well, we found seven of them near the Musuca. All of them were damaged beyond repair, and their pilots slain or missing."

"A Musuca typically has about a dozen Kumos." said Katsuma. "The rest can't be too far away."

"Anything you can tell us about the area?" asked Cyrus.

"Well, it's located near Halifax Harbor." said the captain. "But of course, Halifax itself was wiped out years ago by the Army of Chiron."

"The what?" asked Campbell.

"It's what they call Zorndyke's navy." said Kino.

"The city was destroyed, and everyone there either died or evacuated inland." said the captain. "But there are still refugees coming up there from the United States. There's a whole town of them on Devils Island. Nogadsville, I think it's called."

"Nogadsville?" repeated Campbell. "Weird, I never heard of that."

"That's because it was founded by refugees that came up from Maine after the floods. A couple hundred people, from what I heard, that prefer to keep to themselves. They're not what I'd call hostile. They'll let ya stay for a while, but you'd better not stay long."

"Why's that?" asked Campbell.

"There's something that ain't right about them." said the captain. "I had a brother that stayed there a while back, I think three months ago. Came back telling me how the people have this weird look to them. Probably some disease that got kicked up from under the ocean during the floods, or from the war."

"Can't be any worse than the Riptides." said Cyrus. "Anything else we need to know?"

"Well, a number of trenches and caves have opened up in that area since the flooding began. Probably from the bombardment caused by Zorndyke's forces. It is possible that some Chimerans might be hiding in those caves. We've already had our Marines check out most of them, but there's even more of them on the surface that need to be explored. And of course, since our Marine Corps. is pretty new and isn't what you'd call 'experienced' with amphibious operations, they'll need some proper supervision from people who are experienced in that kind of field."

"Maybe Mutio or Katsuma could help us there." said Hayami.

"We should split up the team." said Cyrus. "Some of us should check out the town, while the others search for the Kumos underwater."