Chapter 3

Cassandra "Cass" Clayhorn sits at a table by herself in the galley. With her best friend Brett, his family and Neri on holiday and most of her friends having recently left, she's feeling a bit lonely at the moment. Her other best friend, Benny, is spending time with his grandparents on the mainland. While relations with her parents and sister, Morgan, has been improving recently (thanks to counseling), they're always working and don't fill the void.

Thank God for Winston, if not for him, she'd be going crazy. If only he didn't have business on the mainland today. Cass will have to figure out how to keep herself occupied until Winston returns this afternoon. Who would have thought that "lazy" (or rather unmotivated) Cass would suddenly become interested in studying computers and wanting to understand H.E.L.E.N, ORCA's center computer, all because Winston wants to improve his own knowledge, and somehow makes it all fun? Maybe Cass has a small crush on corky Winston (as do most of the young girls here). None the less, Cass finds herself really interested in computers as of late, and she has Winston to thank for it.

Still, Cass isn't quite ready to study or visit H.E.L.E.N just yet. As she forces herself to finish her eggs and toast (despite not feeling very hungry), she gets a glimpse of somebody, then does a double take. She sees a lady and a girl around her age, maybe a little younger. She thinks she caught a glimpse of this same duo last night. They seem familiar. As the girl turns and Cass gets a better look at her, she can swear that she's seen her before. When the lady turns around, Cass recognizes her.

Is that lady who mentored (or at least attempted too mentor) Morgan? Cass thinks; what was her name, Dr. H? She had a daughter didn't she? Oh yes, I talked to her a couple of times. Maya, Mia, or was it Mariah?

Morgan used to complain about Dr. H being too nice and friendly, more interested in being a friend to the cadets' rather than giving them orders. Morgan, who for years has been an inflexibly strict, by-the-book, and extremely unfriendly alpha jerk (although she's started to mellow recently after nearly dying from a poisonous stonefish sting with help from counseling) hadn't had any respect for her assigned mentor and always treated her (and everybody else) like dirt. Everybody else, however, highly respected and loved Dr. H, firm and authoritive but very kind and nurturing, even knowing how to have fun with the kids when off duty.

Plus, she never took any crap form Morgan and always put her in her place, which Morgan despised.

Dr. H's daughter, thinks Cass sipping her orange juice; oh yes, I don't really remember her saying much of anything. She always kept to herself. The Clayhorns had transferred from FL to Queensland before Cass really had a chance to get to know the daughter. Still, seeing a familiar face from FL is great. Maybe Maya (or whatever her name is) could use some help settling in. It was hard for me that's for sure.

As Cass gets up, she sees the local band of bullies picking on Dr. H's daughter, and not a friendly sort of way. Cass is so fed up with these guys. Their alpha, Herold, has been terrifying ORCA for weeks. If you dared stand up to this guy, he made sure you'd regret it. Nobody but NOBODY stands up to Herold, not even his own father.

Among poking the poor girl in the chest and pulling her hair, he's about to poor something on her. Cass knows what his is. It's glue, and not just any glue, but the Herold's own special hot glue that burns on contact, pulls the skin off, and leaves red sores and blisters for several days or even weeks. Cass isn't about to let this girl endure that. She'd much rather endure it again herself.

Before Cass gets close enough, however, somethings wrong. The glue isn't coming out. Infact, the cup itself seems stuck to Herold's hand. He hollers, then shouts that it's cold. The cup is "frozen" to his hand! The whole thing is frozen!

Everybody's laughing, including Cass. "What a minute;" she wonders; "how did that happen? Well, serves him right."

Meanwhile, Dr. H and her daughter have disappeared.

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"Good morning Jason and Brett;" greets Neri as she comes out of her room. Both boys gasp at the sight of her. Neri's wearing a sleeveless, blue and white tie-dyed cotton dress with white flip-flops. Her hair is in a pony-tail and she's wearing a bathing suit underneath.

"Are you going to do that every time you see me?" Neri asks with a smile.

"Yea, umm…" Brett looks at Jason.

"We're, just….not used to seeing you in normal clothes that's all;" replies Jason.

"Why?" asks Neri, "I've been wearing them for 3 days."

"Yea, but it's still weird;" says Brett.

"You look lovely Neri;" says Jason (She looks good in everything, he thinks); "Well, shell we get going? The breakfast buffet should be open by now."

"Why is Mum going to a workshop this morning?" asks Brett; "We're on vacation."

"You know Mum Brett;" answers Jason; "she can't help herself."

"Mother will be with us for lunch, right?" asks Neri.

"That's the plan;" answers Brett; "now let's go. I'm star….ving."

Brett's voice suddenly cracks.

"Brett, you ok?" asks Neri.

"Yes, I'm….fine;" goes his voice again; "Not again. It did this last night."

Jason laughs, "Uh oh. Brett's starting to go through 'the change.'"

"What change?" Neri asks, concerned.

"His voice;" answers Jason; "Don't worry, it happens to all us guys. My voice changed at Brett's age."

"Mine couldn't possibly be as bad as yours was;" says Brett.

"Put a sock in."

Neri laughs as they close the door behind them.

After breakfast, the trio ride underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a ferry. Yesterday, they rode across the bridge on bikes, which didn't take Neri long to learn how to ride. They also couldn't resist doing the Bridge Climb to the top of the bridge's arches for unforgettable panoramic views at 135 m above sea level. It was wonderful, but at the end of the day, even Neri was worn out and sore from the bike. Today, they wanted to something a little less strenuous. They take a tram tour, the boys telling Neri to hold her questions until it was over. When the tour was over, she had a hundred questions, maybe 200 hundred.

They then spend some time swimming and snorkeling at one of the turquoise colored beaches. Neri kept trying to remember not to stay underwater for too long, and pretending she needed a snorkel like humans was very, very awkward. She manage to get through it, however, without drawing any attention. She's never swam in water so beautiful, and there's definitely new and different things to see in these waters, but still much sea life that Neri recognizes.

Wearing a human bathing suit also felt funny a couple days ago, but Neri hardly notices it anymore.

After stopping at cheesecake house (Diane's going to kill them for spoiling their lunch, but their on vacation), Diane calls Jason's phone and tells them she's running late. They stop at a smoothie stand (Jason's not going to be hungry anymore after this). Neri comments on how the smoothie taste just like the yellow fruit on her island.

"Your right, it does;" agrees Jason.

"Hey guys, look at this!" calls Brett.

Jason looks at the sign; "Mermaid museum? You've got to be kidding me?"

"Mermaid?" asks Neri, "What's a mermaid?"

"Half human and half fish?" answers Brett; "Kind of like you, but with a tail instead of legs."

"They aren't real Brett;" replies Jason; "Why would they have a museum for them?"

"Let's find out." Brett runs inside, Jason and Neri follow suit.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

4 days, 10 more to go.

Charley is enjoying some krill and a much needed "rest" after defending two female juveniles from some orcas. Orcas rarely, if ever, mess with whales Charley's size, but will sometimes attack smaller juveniles. Charley's thinking of Neri. He misses her terribly when she's away, but knows she'll be back. While he waits, he patrols his territory, protects the local females, and sometimes plays games with the local bottlenose dolphins. Like most male humpbacks, Charley spends most of his time alone, but interacting with the dolphins and black whales from time to time is a nice change, especially when there's a local smorgasbord. He says hellos to some dolphins as they pass.

Charley then hears the vocal of another male humpback in the next territory over. The adult males are solitary animals and generally stay away from each other so they don't conflict over territory or females, but do share important messages from time to time, as well as some local gossip.

Charley's fellow humpback gives him a very interesting message. He says there's a new, strange looking fish in the area. He didn't get a good look at the front of it, but says that it had a long, shining, golden-scaled tale with an up and down motion. The strangest part of that it appeared to have hair floating around like Neri, and seemed to have human hands and arms. It had disappeared behind a large coral wall. The whale said he felt like it was watching him, but he didn't see it again.

This is interesting news to Charley. A creature with a shining, golden tale and human-like features. Charley has heard tales of similar creatures from other whales during migration, but none have ever been seen in this area. The other whale can't confirm if it really was part human-looking or not. Is it dangerous? Is it harmless like Neri? Is it similar to Neri? This is interested indeed. Charley just hopes it's not a threat to anything.

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Barbara removes her diving gear on her research boat. While smaller then her last boat, it's also more advanced, with the latest equipment aboard. While she doesn't start her research projects for another couple of days, she's allowed to just take the boat out and explore the area and get familiar with it. Among the projects she'll be working on is tagging baby dolphins, sharks, turtles, whales, and other animals to study their growth and development. If their fortunate enough find and tag any pregnant animals, maybe even get a camera inside any of them, it would be giant breakthrough on any of these species.

"Maria, where are you?" says Barbara looking at the water and folding her arms. She grabs a device which lets out a signal sound in the water. Just as she's about to place it in the water, she gets splashed, big time. Maria sticks her head above water, laughing.

"You never miss;" says Barbara spitting salt water out her mouth; "And where have you been?"

"Hey Mama, check this out!" exclaims Maria ecstatically. She rises her hands from the water to reveal a sea snake.

"MARIA! Let go of that snake!"

"She's alright;" answers Maria as she lets go and watches the snake swim off; "it wasn't venomous. That was a spine-tailed sea snake. The only eat fish eggs."

"I know. Just be careful;" replies Barbara firmly; "Many sea snakes are venomous and we don't know what that could do to you. And don't bring anymore snakes to the boat. I'm not here to study sea snakes."

"Why not?" asks Maria; "shouldn't we add them to our repertoire?"

"I won't promise that."

"Hey Mama; can we go explore that island we passed earlier?" (Not Neri's)

"I don't see why not."

"Great! Race ya." Maria ducks her head back under.

"Magali Marie! Come back here!" Too late. Barbara quickly goes to the boat controls; "Sometimes I swear that girl's going to drive me crazy."

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"Jason;" asks Neri looking at mermaid drawings and artwork; "why are some so beautiful, some so, scary looking?"

Jason shrugs his shoulders; "I think that depends on the artist."

"Cool;" says Brett reading some info; "I didn't Christopher Columbus and Black Beard saw mermaids."

"They didn't;" exclaims Jason; "it was manatees. They used to be mistaken for mermaids before scientist identified them.

"What do manatees look like?" asks Neri.

"Here's a picture of one here;" points Jason. Neri smiles looking at the picture of the strange looking creature. It didn't look like any of the mermaids. She's really wishing that she could read the words. Maybe it's time she learned how to read.

"Look;" says Brett, "they even have a display on Ariel."

"Ariel looks like one of those cartoons;" says Neri.

"She is;" replies Brett; "she a movie character. Maybe they'll have that movie in the library back at the hotel. We should rent it and watch it tonight."

"I'm interested;" agrees Neri.

"Brett, that's a kid's movie."

"Excuse me, who's idea was it to watch Old Yeller last night?" Brett reminds Jason.

"That movie sad;" says Neri.

"That's different;" replies Jason.

"Sure it is;" giggles Brett.

Jason knows this will lead to defect; "Ok. We'll watch it. If they have it."

"Hey, where did Neri go?"

Jason notices; "She was next to me. Neri!"

They spot Neri a few exhibits away, staring at something.

"Neri;" warns Jason; "you're not supposed to wonder off."

Neri apologies; "Sorry, I saw this."

They look at an artifact that appears to be a mis-shaped pie slice. Its teal-blue colored, might be some kind of jewel, but it appears a little bumpy rather than smooth.

"Look at it;" says Neri, "it looks like part of the Moon."

Jason and Brett take a closer look at it. Now that they think about, it does look like part of the Moon, perhaps a 3rd of it.

"What does…it say, Jas?" asks Brett, his voice cracking again. The other two giggle.

"Hey, cut it out."

Jason reads the description; "Found by the sea explorer robot Nixie in an underwater cave in the Arctic Ocean 40 miles off the shore of Tuktoyaktuky, 1700 m down. Believed to be carved from moonstone. Origin and purpose unknown."

Neri stares at the object intensely; "Wow. Very beautiful."

Jason's phone rings. It is Diane. She's waiting for them up the street.

"Ok. Mum's waiting. Let's go."

Neri looks at the object one last time, then follows the boys. She feels there's something special about it.