Katsuma carried Giorgia to a quiet section of the submarine, and brought her into a small room. Before he closed the door, he told a passing crewman to stand guard outside. Once the door was shut, he put a scaly hand on Giorgia's head, and patted it gently.

"You must've been hit hard." Katsuma muttered.

Giorgia slowly opened her good eye, and stirred herself slightly.

"Looks like you're awake." Katsuma smiled at her.

Giorgia gasped, slapped Katsuma across the face, scratching his cheek in the process, and tried to break for the door. But Katsuma grabbed her by the waist, and restrained her just as she rushed past him.

"Calm down! I'm not trying to hurt you!" said Katsuma.

But Giorgia wouldn't listen to him. She started kicking back with her feet, but only managed to hit the metal wall behind them.

"Listen, you need to stay here!" said Katsuma. "I know you're mad, but you need to relax. I'm not going to let you hurt Mutio."

But Giorgia wouldn't comply with him. She started hissing and growling like a ravenous beast. There was a knock at the door.

"Mr. Nonaka, is everything all right in there?" called the crewman outside.

"I've got things taken care of in here!" said Katsuma. "She's just having a bad day! But stay close if I need help!"

"Aye-aye!"

Kino went down the corridor, looking for Huang. She came upon three crewmen standing outside of a closed door.

"What's going on here?" she asked.

"Mr. Nonaka is in here with that nereid. The blue-eyed one." one of them said. "She's angry about something."

There was a loud screech from inside, and the sound of banging metal.

"So why aren't you in there with them, Shen?"

"Because he wants to talk sense into her first." Shen told her. "If they get too rowdy, then we'll be forced to intervene."

"Have you seen Huang anywhere?"

"I'm here, Kino." piped in a small, timid voice.

Kino turned and saw Huang standing to her left, bracing her teddy bear in her left arm.

"What are you doing here?" asked Kino.

"I sensed that Mr. Nonaka needed help, so I came down." said Huang, half-whispering. "I...I thought he might need someone with my abilities."

"I don't know, Huang." said Kino, stooping and putting a hand on her shoulder. "I think this is something Katsuma needs to take care of by himself-"

"Shen! Get Huang! I need her right now!" Katsuma's voice called from the other side of the door.

"Well, I guess you're needed in there, then." Kino said, sheepishly.

Huang was allowed to enter the room, where Katsuma had Giorgia in a headlock. They were both sitting on the floor so that they were level with Huang.

"Use your psychic abilities to pacify her for a minute." Katsuma told her.

"Are you sure?" Huang quivered. "She looks like she might try to bite me."

She was right; Giorgia was gnashing her teeth and kicking her feet forward until Katsuma wrapped his other arm around her knees. But she didn't try lashing out with her arms since both of her hands were trying to pry Katsuma's arm.

"Then do it quickly."

"Okay..."

Huang reached out with her hand, and placed it on Giorgia's brow. Huang closed her eyes, and exhaled softly. The nereid stopped trying to break free, and began to relax. Katsuma released her, and gently propped her against the wall. Huang paused and looked at her.

"Wait, I know her." said Huang. "I've seen her once!"

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Katsuma.

"During the war, I had a vision of a nereid swimming towards me." explained Huang. "She was just a dark shape, except for one blue eye that was visible."

She looked at the scarred eye, and so did Katsuma.

"Well, I guess that explains why you didn't see the other eye..." muttered Katsuma.

Giorgia's good eye widened, and she turned her head to face Huang. She leaned forward.

Kino stood outside with the other crewmen, waiting for something to happen.

"What do you think they're doing in there?" asked Kino. "It's gotten very quiet in there now."

"I have no idea." said Shen.

Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps and someone came up behind Kino. Another crewman had arrived.

"Message from the captain! We've made contact with the person who sent these robots!"

"So what do you think Tornovich will do with us, doc?" asked Erik.

"Hopefully, nothing too rash." said Dr. Cameron. "He may be getting on in his old age, but I don't think he's crazy enough to want to kill all of us unless he has a strong reason to. Remember that his quarrel is with Zorndyke's creatures, not us! But I don't think he'll let us go so easily, either. Hopefully, we'll find out what he plans to do with us soon."

The panel opened, and Tornovich stepped out to face the refugees from Nova Scotia.

"Well?" asked Dr. Cameron.

"I have decided to send Verg away from Site-G." said Tornovich. "One of my associates in Europe will take care of him. In an hour, he will be completely out of my hands."

"Are you afraid that his navy will tear Site-G apart?"

"Not at all." said Tornovich. "In fact, my defenses just drove back a squadron of Kumos. They will think twice before attacking again that way."

"Then why send him away?" asked Patel.

Then Lucya interrupted.

"Master, I have some news for you." said Lucya, in a joyful singsong tone.

"Yes, my dear?" asked Tornovich. "You sound very happy."

"Well, I found out that one of the drones sent to sabotage Blue-6 was reactivated." Lucya continued, trying hard not to get too excited. "Next thing, I was talking to this young man. A very handsome one, an American. He was very excited to hear my voice, and he was very nice to me when I told him who I was. But I'm droning on, pardon the pun. Anyway, he told me that the captain of Blue-6 wants to talk directly to you, using the drone as a means of communication."

"I suggest doing it." said Dr. Cameron. "They have every right to know about what's going on."

"Of course." said Tornovich. "Lucya, tell your new...boyfriend that I will talk to Captain Iga."

"It would be my pleasure, master."

"So what's the story with that female AI of yours?" Erik spoke up. "She sounds like she's got a crush."

"Well, it would seem so." said Tornovich. "I've wanted my dear Lucya to be able to meet other people from outside of the Eternal Robotics staff."

"So you don't want her to only have eyes for you?" asked Erik. "You seem the lonely type."

"Dear heavens, no!" growled Tornovich. "I created Lucya myself! That basically makes her my child! In fact..."

"So do you have one of those 3D holograms of her?" asked Campbell, curiously. "You know, to give us a visual representation of her?"

"I never was a fan of holographic technology." said Tornovich. "I prefer concrete matter. Something you can actually touch and feel. Now if you will excuse me, I must instruct NEROC to escort Verg to his transportation."

Tornovich turned back and approached the large screen. The screen turned on, and NEROC's expressionless metal face took up most of the center, since he was the only one Tornovich was speaking to.

"NEROC, Verg is to be sent to Norway, alive and undamaged."

"Yes, master." said NEROC with a salute. "It will be done immediately."

"Thank god, he's been glaring at me for the past ten minutes." said Kyra, who stood nearby and approached the screen to address her boss. "Dr. Tornovich, if you don't need me for anything, I'm going back to my room."

"Very well, Ms. Lane." said Tornovich.

Kyra was about to turn around, when she paused. She leaned to the left to see the people who were standing behind Tornovich.

"Who are they?" she asked him.

"Displaced civilians and military personnel from Nova Scotia. I'm going to be unloading them somewhere safe at the nearest opportunity."

"I see...hey, wait a minute." said Kyra. "That young man over there, the brown-haired one with sunglasses. I want to see him."

"Of course." said Tornovich, turning and beckoning Campbell to approach him. "Please come here for a moment."

Campbell looked at the others in his group. He looked in their eyes, and saw the same thought in them as was in his own mind: What could he possibly want with him?

Whatever it was, Campbell slowly approached the screen to where this mysterious robotic woman was now directly staring at him from the center; NEROC already left to check on Verg. As soon as he was next to Tornovich, Kyra's mouth opened wide as she leaned forward.

"Oh my god...Richard!" she exclaimed, removing her hood. "You're still alive! I was worried sick about you!"

"What the..." Campbell removed his sunglasses. "How did you know who I'm...wait a minute! Mom?! Is that you?"

"Yes!" said Kyra. "It's me!"

"But...what happened?" asked Campbell. "Why do you look like that?"

"It's a long story..." said Kyra. "But I'll explain as best as I can. My human body was dying of that plague, so Dr. Tornovich put my brainwaves inside a new robotic shell just before I would've expired."

"It's true, Richard." said Tornovich. "I did what I could to save her original body, but it was impossible to do it with the technology I had. I specialize mostly in robotics and artificial intelligence, not medicine."

"So does that mean...?"

"My human self is dead now, but my mind still exists in this body. Kyra Campbell, maiden name Lane. Born in 2016 in Whitehead, Nova Scotia. You're Richard Devon Campbell, my son with the late Douglas Campbell, and you were born on May 15, 2036, in Ottawa."

"You're just reading a profile." said Erik. "Anyone could do that. We're going to need actual proof that you're really his mom and not just some dumb fembot pretending to be her."

"Erik, shut up!" snapped Campbell. "I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Just saying, Rick!"

"Holy shit! It is you!" Campbell said, awe-struck. "I can't believe it: My mom is a robot!"

"Son, I know it's a lot to take in..."

"This is awesome!" said Campbell. "If that's really you, then you just became the coolest mom ever!"

"Well..." Kyra said quietly, shifting awkwardly in place. "This was a huge relief for me."

"Mom, where are you? I wanna get to you."

"I'm at Site-G in Greenland." said Kyra. "But don't bother, son."

"Why not?"

"Because the entire area is irradiated. You wouldn't last five minutes outside. The only reason why I'm able to stay here is because I'm a robot now. But don't worry about me. Aside from being bored out of my titanium skull, this place isn't that bad. Or at least it won't be once that shark guy is out of here."

Then Kyra shook her head slightly.

"But what about you?" she demanded. "What are you doing with my boss? Last I checked, you were down in Florida. I was worried that you drowned with the rest of the state!"

"Well, mom. It's a long and complicated story!"

Tornovich cleared his throat.

"And he will tell you more about that story when I have everything else taken care of."

"Okay, boss." said Kyra. "Sorry for taking up your time. Disconnecting now. Bye, son!"

The screen turned off. Campbell went back to the rest of the survivors.

"Lucya, have you contacted the captain of Blue-6 yet?" said Tornovich.

"Yes, master." said Lucya. "I can patch you through right now."

"Good."

There was a sound of radio static.

"This is Captain Tokuhiro Iga of Blue Submarine No. 6, the Ryuoh." said Iga."Requesting parley."

"Request granted, captain." said Tornovich.

"I am also requesting that you identify yourself."

"Very well. I am Dr. Grigori Tornovich, CEO and founder of Eternal Robotics."

"Tornovich? Is that really you?"

"Yes it is. Explain your situation to me, Blue-6."

"Over the past three hours, we have been attacked by your robots and several of our crew are now injured or dead."

"A most unfortunate accident, but Blue Fleet has no business trespassing on my private property. The machines that were sent after you were doing what my company has designed them to do. To protect my company's interests from those whom seek to destroy them."

"Well, we have no quarrel with Eternal Robotics." said Iga. "We have voyaged all the way from the Caribbean to follow the trail of dead Musucas you left."

"The Musucas and the Chimerans who use them are enemies of Eternal Robotics. In light of the outbreak that has occurred since the melting of the arctic glaciers, We have viewed the Chimerans as a threat to the preservation of humanity for as long as they choose to migrate towards the North Pole. We don't need more people dead because of them."

"But don't you realize that you risk restarting the war that Blue Fleet has worked so hard to end?" asked Iga. "This will not go well. I expected better from someone of your caliber."

Tornovicch closed his eyes, and gripped his mask. He inhaled, then exhaled.

"I realize this, captain." said Tornovich. "But in light of recent events, it was a necessary evil. Are there any survivors with you?"

"Yes." said Iga. "We have a few aboard our vessel, as well as Musuca-26 and a few from Musuca-12."

"Then tell them that I will stop attacking them if those that remain change course and return South, where they belong."

"I don't think that they will be so quick to cooperate; you seem to have taken their leader Verg prisoner. For as long as he is in your captivity, they will continue to enter this area to rescue him."

"Then inform them that I will be sending him away. He is being deployed to Norway to enter the custody of an old business associate of mine. I advise heading there if you wish to find him."

"Very well." said Iga. "But don't think that you're getting off easy, Tornovich. Your actions have endangered many lives, both human and Chimeran. The American and Canadian governments alone will want your head for this. Not to mention Blue Fleet."

"I am months away from turning ninety, and have seen more horrors than you can hope to believe, even before the flooding began. I am not intimidated by you."