Hello, hope everybody is staying safe and healthy.
Maria and Barbara have returned to their cabin, the former sharing all about her day's adventures. Barbara's intrigued with every detail, but also cautious about the possibly of another mermaid in the area, but alone on an island? While not completely unheard of, it's extremely rare for a mer-person to stay on land, even amongst wild human-born turned merfolk and half-breeds.
Then there's the matter of the picture album and its photos, of Dr. Diane Bates and her boys, plus a mysterious girl, the "bunker", and then of course Charlie. Maria definitely believes Charlie to be special, and most surely would know something about the island's mysterious inhabitant. If only she could make out his words.
"Remember when you first started talking with dolphins, seals, and sea lions;" Barbara reminds her; "You didn't understand them at first either. It took time."
Maria nods; "I know, but this is different. Charlie's been deliberately trying to connect with me, as in telepathically."
Barbara nods; "From what I've heard, Charlie has stronger telekinesis then most whales, and is unusually solitaire for even a male humpback. Some years he even skips migration altogether, although not every year."
Maria opens the closet; "Let's go explore the island right now!"
Barbara looks at her daughter like she's crazy; "It's getting dark, plus there's a storm with hurricane, or cyclone force winds as they say down here, coming."
Maria lets out a small huff; "Rather late in the year for those down here isn't it? What about tomorrow after church? Let's camp out!"
Barbara sieges; "If you want to camp out, the earliest I could get overnight field clearance is Tuesday, if I put it in right now. I've got the perfect project, and it'll have to be at least three nights."
Maria's excited and crosses her fingers. It's been over 3 months since they've had an overnight camp out! Maria's always felt much more at home in the outdoors and the water from a young age, which have only intensified since that night three years ago.
22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Neri finds Jason, Brett and Cass exiting the galley. They are quite surprised to see her back so soon.
"Neri, missing us already?" teases Jason.
"There's a mermaid."
The three teens are caught completely off guard; "Excuse us;" says Brett.
"There's a mermaid, here on ORCA."
Her friends look at each other, perplexed. "Neri, are you ok?" asks Brett; "Why would a mermaid be on ORCA?"
"I do not know;" replies Neri; "Charlie saw her first. I saw her through Charlie's eyes, we followed."
"Are you sure Neri?" ask Jason, "I mean I know that you've been all excited about them and all."
"Not kidding Jason;" replies Neri in a very firm tone; "Charlie told me all about her, says tail turns to legs. I do not know how, but she's here now, Charlie and I followed. She came to my island, found my pictures.
"What did she look like?" asked Brett, curiously.
"Gold tail, perfectly human up top" Neri answers; "Only saw face for second, through Charlie. Big beautiful dark brown eyes, hair same color, like Mera. Juvenile, younger then Cass and Brett, body just barely growing."
Cass' eyes bug out and she nearly gasp; that description matches Maria. Nah it couldn't be, could it? Dr. H and her daughter mermaids? How's that even possible, mermaids are just fairytales? Besides, they both look perfectly human. However, maybe they are like Neri, but how does that explain the tail Neri says she saw, or rather Charlie? Well, Neri can easily be mistaken for mermaid, so maybe it was her imagination. Wait, all this is silly. Maybe it wasn't even her.
"Cass, what are mumbling about?" ask Brett.
"Oh;" Cass hadn't realized she was mumbling out loud; "Ah nothing. I just, nothing."
They all stare at Cass; Neri asking if she's ok.
"Of course Neri, please continue." Despite her sixth sense, Neri doesn't ask her friend any more questions and says she wants to search. The boys agree, despite not knowing what to think. However, they know better than to doubt Neri, and Charlie for that matter.
Cass suggest they split up, intending to look for Maria or Dr. H herself secretly, however, she gets stuck with Brett searching the upper decks. The Hernandez' cabin is on the lower decks.
Wait, why do I even want to look for them. This is silly. Still all those weird things that have been happening since they arrived, and Maria's extremely private and anti-social? It wouldn't hurt to check her out, just to put my mind at ease.
"Cass, you're mumbling again;" informs Brett, "you seem in deep thought, is there something you want to tell me?"
Cass is caught off guard again; "What? Oh, no. Everything's fine. I don't suspect anybody." Whoops! That was a dumb thing to say.
Brett stares at her; "Cass, do you know something? We promised never to keep secrets from each other, remember?"
"Well," Cass twitches her thumbs; "It's just that….I have to use the dunny!
Brett's taken aback; "That's what's wrong with you? Then go! Sometimes I really don't get girls."
"Ok, you check the upper floors and I'll check the bottom ones. We'll meet up again later. Oh and by the way, you sound like a sick frog, see ya."
"What? Hey, that's not funny! You come back here!" Brett runs after her, but Cass disappears around a corner. He shakes his head; "Cass sure is acting weird, even for her. Oh well, what's this supposed mermaid look like again?"
222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Maria and Barbara exit their cabin and head for the lift. As it opens, Cass is on it. "Oh, there you are. I mean, good evening Maria, good evening Dr. H. I was just coming to see you both."
They glance at each other awkwardly, then back at Cass. "What is it Cass?" ask Barbara; "Do you want to join us for dinner?"
"Oh, I already ate;" Cass replies; "Actually, I wanted to ask Maria if she'd like to hang out for a little while, go to the library before it closes. They've got some great new books on recently discovered ship wrecks in the Gulf of Mexico, even a new video documentary on them called Drain the Oceans. Would you like to check them out?"
Actually, Maria's been intending to check those out. Cass of course has no idea that she's actually explored some of those wreck sites herself.
"Well, can I Mama?"
Barbara gives her daughter the caution look, as Cass seems to be acting funny, yet turning her down right now would cause suspicion on their part.
"Just don't be too late, I'd like for you to finish that math assignment tonight. I'll bring your dinner to the room."
Maria sieges, nods and takes off with Cass. On the way, Cass ask her what home-schooling's like.
"I love it, what's traditional school like?"
Cass is caught off guard by that question, but explains that she's never really been to "normal" school either. Most of her early schooling alternated between small private schools, semi-home schooling, and onboard research vessels with only two or three other students. On one such vessel in 3rd grade, she went to school with 6 other students, including her sister, all older and in different grades, one of the worst experiences of her life. For the past 3 years, Cass has been going to school onboard ORCA institutions, which she prefers.
"Do you think you may ever join us in class Maria?"
Maria shrugs her shoulders. Her abnormal shyness, selective mutism, and anxiety of being around other people is the reason she started home-schooling in the first place. Looking at Maria now, it would be difficult to believe that in pre-school and kindergarten she was diagnosed as "failure to thrive" and as a "slow learner". She never even spoke one word in school and never liked being within arm's length of any other child. She could talk, but she only talked to her mother and grandmother for several years. Once she started home-schooling, she did a complete 180 and is now regarded as a genius and gifted, most of her work being at 8th and 9th grade levels.
And all this started years before her metamorphosis.
They arrive at the library and start looking through books. They find the research magazine with a recently rediscovered long-lost WW2 vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. Maria had to hold back her giggles as Cass read out loud about how hard it had been for scientists to find the wreck when it had been so easy for her and Gabby.
Cass then starts going through book titles on the shelf, purposely playing it cool. After naming a few titles, she finds "The Little Mermaid" and tells Maria that it's Morgan's favorite book (which it is).
"Say Maria, do you like "The Little Mermaid"? Morgan used to read it aloud to me all the time. I really got sick of it and really didn't like it until Disney's version came out." Getting no reaction from Maria, Cass continues; "Would you like to watch "The Little Mermaid" with me sometime? You've seen it haven't you?"
Maria makes sure she doesn't give much of reaction, only briefly looking up from a book and shrugs her shoulders; "It was ok, I guess." She hopes that Cass will move on from the subject, and to her relief she does. She's wondering why Cass seem to start talking about "The Little Mermaid" all of a sudden, and she had taken a suddle approach to it. Dose Cass expect something? Maria sure hopes not, as she's actually starting to enjoy Cass' company.
While she have to distance herself from Cass again, or would avoiding her just make Maria seem even more suspicious?
Then again, it is possible this is just a fluke, maybe.
2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Neri and Jason have been searching ORCA for over an hour, going to every public hang out (they checked the library just minutes before Cass and Maria arrived) and seeing just about everybody onboard between the ages of 10 and 14, nobody matching the description of the supposed mermaid. Neri looks a bit dishearten. Jason places a hand on her shoulder.
"It's alright Neri, if there's such a kid on ORCA, she'll show up sooner or later."
Neri looks up; "Sorry Jason, I just got so excited about seeing a mermaid. Still have time, Brett and Cass may see her. If no, I come again tomorrow, early."
Jason gets a look of concern; "Well Neri, there's a late-season cyclone up there, and it's almost dark."
"You saying I can stay the night Jason?" Neri gets a little smile.
Jason nods; "Well ya, for your own safety, not that you can't handle it I know. I know you really wanted to get back to the island, but what's one more night?"
"And we can keep looking for mermaid!" smiles Neri; "Yes, I did want go home to island, but can wait till tomorrow."
Jason smiles; "Ok, now that's settled, let's get you something to eat, you must be starving. Since its dinner time, she may appear in the galley."
Neri nods; "Yes, we eat, then find her."
On the way to the galley, Brett yells at them from down the hall; "Hey guys, wait up."
"Hey Brett, any luck?" ask Jason.
Brett shakes his head; "No, and get this, Cass just ditched me. She said she had to use the dunny and that she'd find me later, but I haven't seen her in over an hour. I think she ditched me on purpose. And she said I sounded like a sick frog."
"You do not sound like a frog;" says Neri.
"Figure of speech;" says Jason.
"How long will Brett's voice keep doing that?"
"A few months at least. When it's over, you won't recognize his voice."
"I'm right here you know;" says Brett, voice cracking.
222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
After being allowed to stay in the library half an hour after it was supposed to close, Cass and Maria exit. Maria says she should get back to her cabin. Cass, however wants to show her something cool. Two floors down, they are in the gym locker room.
"The locker room?" ask Maria.
"Yes;" answers Cass excitedly; "Come look at this."
Cass shows Maria the sauna, who wonders what's cool about that.
"They're brand new! They just installed them three weeks ago;" Cass opens the door; "Check it out. Finally we have a sauna here on ORCA, and they're not those wet steaming ones either, they're dry ones. I can't wait to try it out."
"Aren't you too young?"
Cass shakes her head; "No, you're old enough too. We must try it out when it's open. It has a faulty connection or something and isn't working properly. The people should be coming next week to fix it."
Maria feels her eyes widening and catches herself; "No thank you Cass."
"Why not? It's fun?"
Maria shakes her head; "Cass, I really need to get back."
"Do you always do what your mom tells you to do?"
Maria stops in her tracks as they exit the locker room. Nobody's ever asked her that before. Cass notices that she's twitching her fingers.
"I didn't think so. Come on its Saturday night. Do you like air hockey?"
Suddenly out of the blue, something hits Maria on the back of the head and she falls forward. "MARIA!" Cass gasp really loudly and checks her friend, blood is coming from the back of her head and she seems unconscious. Cass notices and picks up what had hit Maria, it's a light-weight brick! Suddenly, she too is hit on the semi-side of her head and falls on top of Maria. Harold and Larry, one of his two companions, come out laughing. Leroy, Larry's twin, looks a little worried.
"They aren't hurt are they?"
"Of course not;" assures Larry; "Those were gentle hits, but weren't we targeting the Olsen brothers?"
"I thought that was a rather quick shower for them;" says Herold.
"What do we do now, boss?" ask Larry.
Herold looks at the still open girls' locker room door and gets an idea; "I think I heard them mention the new saunas. Let's allow them to try it out."
"But guys, won't they dehydrate?" ask Leroy.
"We won't leave them in there for long;" assures Herold; "15, 20 minutes tops."
"Maybe I need to agree with Leroy on this one;" says Larry; "Didn't they say there's a glitch with those saunas connection are something? That's why there not operating them yet."
"I've already fiddled with them;" says Herold; "I know what I'm doing. Now come on you two sissies, get them in."
They drag the girls into the sauna, close the door, and turn it on. While his two comrades go ahead of him, Herold turns back, makes sure the door is locked, and turns up the temperature snickering.
222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Barbara's inside her cabin, her daughter's G.R.I.T.S are getting cold and she's keeping the raw shrimp and oysters on ice. She closes Maria's math folder, having already decided that she can finish it tomorrow. It's not often that her daughter has somebody to hang out with, plus its Saturday night, so she'll cut her some slack, as long as she returns to eat her dinner before it goes bad.
Ironing the shirt she intends to wear for church tomorrow, Barbara suddenly gets a feeling that something isn't right. Never one to question her instinct, she decides to look for the girls just to make sure everything's alright.
Neri's having her dinner while the boys look on slipping sodas. Diane and Winston arrive and are surprised to see Neri.
"Neri?" says Diane; "Is something wrong?"
"No Mother's, nothing wrong."
"Oh Mom, Neri's spending the night on ORCA, if that's ok with you."
That is a surprised to Diane, somewhat, but she's happy to have Neri for at least one more night. The kids were going to mention the mermaid suspicion when Winston spots Barbara and signals for her to come over.
"Diane, Jason, Neri, and Brett, it's my pleasure to introduce multi-field specialist, Dr. Barbara Hernandez. Barbara, this is my partner Dr. Diane Bates, Diane's boys, Jason and Brett, and our assistant, Neri."
They exchange greetings, Diane reminding Barbara that they meet briefly two weeks before, Neri especially thinking that she seemed familiar.
That's correct, I do remember. Wasn't there a girl with her?
"Oh yes, I remember;" says Barbara; "Winston has told me so much about you Dr. Bates, and you guys too."
"I knew you were coming;" replies Diane; "I had Winston showed me some of your essays. I'm really impressed by your research."
"Thanks. Oh Winston, have you seen Maria or Cass lately?"
"No, not in the past hour, or is it two hours."
"I haven't seen Cass since she ditched me;" adds Brett; "That was like an hour and a half ago."
"They left the library about 35 minutes ago;" says Barbara; "I'll go check the rec room again, I buzzed Cass' cabin and got no answer."
Brett nearly spits out his drink. What? She ditched to hang out with the newbie."
Winston decides to help Barbara look, but tells her to relax. Before they leave, Neri has a question; "Dr. Her….na…"
"Just call me Dr. H;" smiles Barbara; "It's much easier to say."
"Dr. H, is Maria your daughter?"
"Yes she is."
"How old is she?"
Barbara's surprised; "She's 11. Why?"
"Just, wanted to know."
That was strange. Barbara briefly recalls what her daughter told her earlier about the mysterious photos on the island of the Bates' and a young lady. However, Barbara can't shake her uneasy feeling that's something's not quite right and will have to think about that later.
Neri starts to get up; "Come, let's follow."
Jason grabs her hand; "Chill Neri, we'll meet her."
"Neri," ask Diane; "Why the sudden interest in Dr. Hernandez's daughter?"
"They came when we left. That's when Charlie says mermaid appeared."
Diane's very surprised; "Did you must say mermaid?"
"I can't believe Cass ditched for that girl;" says Brett; "Why didn't she just tell me she didn't want to hang out with me?"
Everybody gives Brett strange looks.
22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Cass opens her eyes, she feels hot, sweaty, sticky, and nauseous. Her head is pounding like migraine, and as she tries to lift her head, she feels dizzy, plus she also sees only red through one eye. She feels her head and realizes that it's blood. What happened? The last think she remembers is….
"Maria!" Cass notices her right a few feet away, she them realizes how hot and sweaty she feels and realizes where they are. "The sauna!? They didn't!" Cass fights through pain to find the door, but its sealed shut, nor are there any control panels on the inside, and it seems to be getting even hotter. How long have we been in here?
After banging on the door for a minute, Cass checks on Maria, who's on her stomach and blood flowing from her head. Cass rips off her undershirt to rap around her friend's head and tries to wake her, but Maria doesn't respond. It's only then that Cass notices that there's not a single drop of sweat on Maria.
"She's not sweating! Just like….NERI!" Cass tries wiping the blood and sweat from her eyes to get a better look, and realizes that patches of dry, red rashes are covering Maria's skin, and getting bigger and redder, something she's never seen on Neri. "NO MARIA! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"
Cass desperately bangs on the door, yelling for help. Unseen to her, deep within Maria, something opens as her desperate soul cries for help.
2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Herold and his twin companions are messing with the security cameras again. Leroy was shocked when he asked about the girls and their leader revealed they'd been in the sauna for nearly twenty minutes. Herold seems unconcerned and says they'll be fine for a few more, but Larry too is starting to get worried and begs to go back and check. Herold convinces the twins to keep doing what they're doing while he goes back to let the girls out.
"I'll go with you, Boss;" says Leroy.
"No you don't;" answers Herold sternly; "you get those cameras override and I'll meet you guys at the lift."
"What are we doing again?" ask Leroy.
"Weren't you playing attention bro?" says Larry; "We're taking a little trip up to the pontoon."
"What?" shouts Leroy; "but the winds up there are like 80mph gust and getting stronger. The lift should be on lock-down right now."
"That's why I'm overriding it. Easy when your Dad's commander."
"He's the commander's assistant, not the commander."
"Close enough."
"Do you think Herold's really going to let them out?"
"Chill bro;" assures Larry; "Even Herold wouldn't go that far."
2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Jason, Neri, and Brett exit the galley discussing what to do next.
"Neri, you up for a little game of ping pong;" ask Jason.
"I'd like to watch "Little Mermaid" again, and hear more from book."
"Come on Neri let's give it a rest for a little while;" says Brett; "Hey look at that dolphin. Something's got him, or her, excited."
Neri gets a worried look on her face; "Pink dolphin should not be down here, she'll run out of breath;" then the dolphin taps on the glass as if to get their attention; "Dolphin worried. Something wrong."
The boys have seen dolphins enough to realize the dolphin's movements mean danger. True, there's a cyclone above, but they all have a feeling, especially Neri, that something else is wrong.
Barbara too had seen Ariel just a few minutes before and knows for sure something's wrong with her daughter. She's trying to get the bridge to search for the girls, but they're busy monitoring the storm and figuring out what's going on with the security camera and the main lift. They largely brush her off and send several officers to the lobby instead, but two do agree to help her search.
Herold's taking his time on the way back to the saunas. Halfway there, he's intercepted by the officers. He keeps quite about the girls.
Neri suddenly hears Charlie; "Jason, Brett, Charlie." The message is blurred, and Neri closes her eyes to concentrate.
"What's he saying Neri;" ask Jason.
"Humanfish, Cass, danger!" The boys look at each other in shock.
"Humanfish? The mermaid?" ask Brett.
"What kind of danger?" ask Jason.
"Shh!" says Neri; "Heat, dry, dying!" Neri opens her eyes.
"DYING!" repeats the boys. "Where are they, Neri!"
Neri feels shaken, but must remain calm; "Charlie where are they? Here on ORCA."
"Where?"
"Heat and dry?" ask Brett; "What does that mean? The boiler room?"
"It's not hot in the boiler room;" replies Jason; "It's not even a boiler room. What, heat and dry. Sounds like...the dry saunas!"
They take off, getting a few glances in the process. "I though those things weren't working yet;" says Brett.
"Malfunctioning!" responds Jason. They make it to the locker rooms in record time, Neri breaks open the door while Jason turns the sauna off, discovering it on full blast. Cass is passed out at the door, completely soaked to the bone in sweat, some blood, and dehydrated. Jason picks her up while Brett gets damp towels, knowing they must take her to the sick bay immediately. Neri tells the boys she'll take care of the other girl as they rush out with Cass. Maria's skin is completely dark dry red and is peeling like a sunburn, she looks like a dried out flower and isn't breathing. Neri knows this must be the mermaid, and she needs to be wet down immediately.
Neri places Maria in the shower and turns it on. Within secrets of the water hitting her, Maria's body transforms into mermaid right in front of Neri's eyes, causing her to gasp. However, Neri has no time to get lost in awe when she's suddenly startled by a scream.
"MARIA!" It's Dr. H, she practically shoves Neri out the way to get to her daughter; "MARIA NO!"
"Dr. H, I friend;" explains Neri; "She was locked in sauna. Boys took Cass."
"She's got to get to the salt water!" explains Barbara; "Quick get some towels. She can't be seen like this."
Neri gets several towels and is surprised when told her not to wet them. Instead, Barbara carefully and gently dries off her daughter, wrapping her wet hair in towel, and when Maria's dry enough, she returns to human form, clothes and all. Neri offers to pick Maria up and Barbara quickly but carefully leads her first to the back lift, then down a stairway to the diving platform, where Ariel is anciently waiting. Barbara takes her daughter back and jumps into the sea water, Maria's human form again returning to mermaid form. Neri too jumps in and helps Barbara hold her daughter's head above the water.
"Will she be alright?" ask Neri. Barbara looks at her only briefly, unable to speak, not really hitting her just yet that a stranger just saved her daughter and found out their secret. She then starts whispering 'The Lord's Prayer' and then sings 'Amazing Grace' to her daughter. Neri has heard both before, but doesn't remember the words. However, she says her own prayer. Ariel speaks real softly, as in singing a soft tune, and occasionally touches Maria with her snout.
Maria breathes shallowly and her skin slowly starts to improve, and after sometime in the water, Maria's breath returns to normal and she whispers; "Mama." Barbara lets go of her emotions and cries for joy, embracing her daughter, Ariel squeaks for joy too. It's only then that she remembers that Neri's there too.
"Thank you Neri."
"She good?"
"She should be."
"Charlie's relieved too. You should thank him, he told me where to find her."
"Charlie?" ask Barbara amazed; "How did Charlie know?"
Neri looks at the mermaid. Barbara's mouth drops open and she too looks at her daughter.
"Maria?"
