The Aquarium:

Green, covered with algae, the water in the little pond around the aquarium stunk. Nothing could be seen, but things were rotting underneath. These things particularly didn't want to be seen by the three figures that crossed the metal bridge into the large, domed building.

None of them spoke. The atmosphere seemed to suppress anything cheerful or alive. Julio led the way, hastily striding across the bridge. Liza followed, her face covered with sweat, causing her hair to cling to her tanned skin. Calvin's footfalls echoed in the silence, but they, too, seemed only like a hammer muffled by fleece before it smashed into metal.

The words were still over the double doors, brightly colored and decorated with sea life. They pronounced "AQUARIUM" as if it might have once been a place of life and excitement where you'd want to go. Liza shivered and reached out her hand, steadying herself on Julio's shoulder as he stopped to open the doors.

They flung open without a problem. However, the stench that assaulted them inside the huge, main section of the aquarium made Liza swoon. Huge tanks were on one side of the dome, but couldn't been seen, but there were tanks near the entrance. They were also coated in scum, but this place wasn't open to the air.

"Let's make this really fast," Liza whispered hoarsely. Calvin secretly was very glad he couldn't smell the decay. He didn't notice that he lacked a sense of smell before he went to eat. He just couldn't smell a damn thing, be it food or rot.

"If what Deyana said is correct, up those stairs," Julio said as he pointed to a pair of metal stairs near the outside of the dome. They were a decent set of what might have been a wide, winding, metal staircase. Now, they were covered with a film of slim, and had the same disgusting feeling as everything in the building.

Calvin looked around at the tanks as they walked between them. Liza shut her eyes, not wanting to see anything. The tanks were higher than their heads where, even Calvin's, but he thought there were things floating on top. He kept his eyes looking downwards at the film of scum on the floor, not wanting to catch a glimpse of anything dead, either.

Julio began to climb the stairs, and grabbed the railing with his free hand. The other carried a cooler, which Deyana had given him to transport the DNA back to the lab. "They're slick," Julio noted as he slowly made his way upwards, looking down at the steps, hoping not to fall. If he fell, he knew the other two would go down after him. No, risking his team on this relatively easy mission wasn't something he counted on doing.

The door loomed ahead, slightly green, but it looked normal. Calvin and Liza stared out the murky side of the dome, hoping to catch a view of something that wasn't decaying. It was an unpleasant trip, Julio thought, but there weren't going to be any creatures here, hopefully.

Julio turned the knob, and the door opened fluently. There was a soft light inside, gleaming on the floor, and the air had a slight chill to it, completely different than the almost sub tropical feel of the aquarium.

"It's cool in here," Liza sounded relieved. Then, she stepped into the room and looked to her right. "Oh!"

It was a huge terrarium, with the scene of huge, white glaciers painted in the background. Artificial rocks stood in what used to be a massive environment. The water hadn't become too disgusting because of the cooler temperatures, but they could see them.

"What are they?" Calvin asked timidly as he stared at the floating corpses. Some of them were lying on rocks. The rotting process hadn't gotten too far with the ones on the rocks, though, so they were still recognizable as something, even though their skin was bare and looked like parchment.

"Penguins," Julio said as he walked across the viewing area where people stood to read and watch the birds. He headed towards the door at the other end. "They were birds that could swim."

"I don't think I want to go on," Liza whimpered, turning away from the birds. Calvin could feel her shaking right in front of him. He put his hand on her shoulder, as gently as possible. It snapped her out of her fear, making her stagger forward to keep up with Julio.

"The lab is over here," Julio walked to another door, this one black, barely visible. He took out a key and opened the door, and then, entered a code into a panel. The second door slid back, and they were met with the blinding lights of a lab.

"Okay, you two wait while I grab the DNA," Julio said as he closed the door to shut out the horrors of the penguin habitat.

The lab was a sterile place, free of any type of creatures that were decaying. Liza breathed a sigh of relief at the clean air as she slumped against the wall. Calvin stood over her, watching the girl press her head against her knees. There were no appropriate words he could say to make her feel better about this situation. It was beyond his powers of comfort now, he felt. It would sound useless, like the clanging of a gong.

"Let's go," Julio commanded as he shut the cooler chest. He punched in the code the door opened. Liza stood reluctantly, turning away from the corpses as they proceeded through the cold environment.

But worse than the environment of the penguins was what lay outside their door. Julio opened the door, preceding cautiously down the stair. However, when going outside, you naturally looked out over almost the entire domed structure, and could even glance one of the huge tanks that continued around to the other side of the building.

"Holy shit, don't look at that," Julio muttered, making sure he looked only at his feet. It was a disgusting sight, but unfortunately, Liza and Calvin had stepped out of the door to behold the vista too soon.

"It's . . ." Calvin barely got the word out because there really was no other words for what he saw. The huge, massive form of a sea beast lay, floating in slimy rot, flies and other fish that out lived it long finished with their meals. It was bones, covered with slim, and rotting pieces of organ and flesh that hadn't been devoured.

Then, Liza vomited, and Calvin reached out to grab her as she lost her balance. She fell, and the off balancing of weight made Calvin slip, tumbling like a lead rock down the coated staircase, right into Julio. The railings were high enough that they rolled for a while, slipping downwards, trying to grab a handhold for what seemed endlessly. Then, Calvin's hand found a hold, and he stopped.

"I told you," Julio muttered from his place on the floor. Liza groaned, a few steps below where Calvin had stopped. He staggered up, not affected by the grotesque smell, but slightly queasy because of the massive corpse.

"The cooler chest," Julio moaned as he raised himself up. It had flung from his hand in the tumble, landing over by one of the tanks. Calvin found himself closest and went to retrieve it.

"Are you Greg? Are you my lover?"

The voice made Calvin jump, it made his mind freeze and run cold. The sweet feminine voice had come from between two tanks, right by where the chest fell.

"No," he replied hesitantly, looking over as the woman approached him. She wasn't a girl in appearance. The long, wavy strawberry blond hair clung to her fair, rose tinted skin. The soft, gray eyes and full, plush strawberry lips defined her gentle, yet distinct face.

However, the most distinct thing about her, to Calvin, was her swollen stomach. She was heavily pregnant and soaked with water and sweat. Her barely there pink nightgown clung to her stomach and her well formed breasts. Calvin felt a slight shiver, mostly in his mind, realizing he was staring at those.

"Then who are you? No one usually answers me," her voice was light yet naïve. Yes, she was still a girl in some ways, but very much a sexual woman in others.

"Calvin," he replied, transfixed by this demirep that had suddenly shown up in this horrible place.

"You're pregnant," Liza whispered, walking over to the girl. It startled Calvin that she'd get that close, but he realized he was just being foolish by standing there. Julio was up again and briskly walked towards the cooler. He examined it and nodded, finally turning towards the girl.

"And you are?" Julio asked. Liza had taken the girl's hands, then put her arm around the girl's thin shoulders. She'd walked her over to the two other them, standing slightly apart.

"Kelley," she replied quietly, looking between them. "Do you know my Greg?"

"No," Julio answered starkly. "We don't. We need to go. I think we've lingered long enough here."

"She's coming," Liza interjected. Kelley looked over quizzically at the girl, then her glance fell back on Calvin. She'd caught in staring, he realized. He couldn't turn away, though, and maybe she knew he'd been staring at her the entire time.

"Of course. We're going some place safe," Julio spoke more gently to Kelley this time. She smiled and nodded at this comment, but she never took her eyes off Calvin, as if evaluating him.

"We're really under water?" Kelley's sonorous voice asked, for she certainly didn't believe that's where they were. The hallways didn't look like the dorms with their putrid colored linoleum and thick, beige concrete walls. The metallic floor, however, chilled Kelley's feet, as she had no shoes.

"Yes. We can't be touched here," Julio responded as he led them briskly toward the lab. He stopped at the door, debating with himself whether to take Kelley in or not. No, he decided, too much hastle right now. "Deyana!"

"What? Did you run into problems? I thought the place was abandoned?" Deyana replied as she strode away from the four tables, one covered with a white sheet.

"No, I'd like you to meet Kelley. She's pregnant," Julio introduced Deyana quickly. "Kelley, this is Deyana."

"Hello," Kelley replied politely as Deyana surveyed her.

"How many months?" Deyana asked quickly as she kept her eyes fixed on the girl's swollen abdomen.

"About seven," Kelley answered as she too, studied the age in Deyana's face. She'd never seen a woman that old before. Even as old as Julio is, this lady looks older, Kelley thought.

"Have you had problems with the baby?" Deyana asked as she took the cooler chest from Julio.

"No, I haven't," Kelley replied in the same light, sweet voice. Deyana nodded quickly as she again looked over to Julio for an assessment.

"No damage, and we didn't meet a creature, but I advise not taking many missions to that place," Julio summed up their venture. Liza nodded in agreement as she looked down the hallway towards the shower. God, she was mentally and emotionally drained. Not since her incident with Stelo had she felt so emptied.

"Okay, I'm going to put this away and spend the night in the lab. I want the rest of you to sleep. In about ten hours, we're going to get together for a meeting. Julio, you Calvin can go rest. Liza, please make sure Kelley has a shower and clean clothing and put her in with Theresa," Deyana snapped out the orders quickly before spinning on her heal and taking the cooler chest into the lab.

Calvin turned, watching Liza lead Kelley towards the showers. He turned, opening the door to his room. The darkness was like pitch, almost like a substance within itself. He stripped his armor and sat down on his bed, wrapping the three, thick brown wool blankets around himself.

The room wasn't cold, just wrapping something around himself always had made him feel protected. It was a stupid notion, he knew. Blankets couldn't protect him from a damn thing. Still, he lay there, wrapped up in them, slightly uncomfortable in the bed, which was too small.

He needed to sleep, but sleep just wouldn't have him. The darkness, like a void, was almost silent except the hum of the generators. He hated the emptiness because it brought to the front of his thoughts things he tried to ignore: Drum, Liza, the dorms to name a few.

In the dark, his mind wandered, hitting painful patches of memory. Everything seemed to cause pain. It was all stained now with his inability to be completely human. The physical barrier of his damn body got in the way any time he tried to emote. In my heart, Calvin thought bitterly, there's a void darker than this room.

The door moved, as if by a phantom, and a little strip of light cut across the floor. Then, as silently, the door closed, and if she hadn't spoken after the door closed, he thought he'd hallucinated.

"Hello," Kelley's soft voice seemed deafeningly loud. "I couldn't sleep."

You're not the only one, he thought. Still, what was she doing in here? Liza was to have taken care of her. No part of him could rationalize her behavior.

"Do you mind?" She asked politely. Calvin paused, wondering what she meant. Then, he heard her moved in the darkness, step by quiet step, towards his bed. She moved the blanket, and his mind reeled in a sudden shock. Like the unstoppable moment before an explosion, she slid her clean, cool naked body right next to his.

"What?" Calvin asked hoarsely.

"I've been lonely, and it's so quiet here," Kelley whispered. She made herself comfortable, and he realized there really wasn't a choice, so he let her lay. She positioned herself on her back, so her stomach faced upwards. Then, she positioned her head against his side instead of on a pillow.

Calvin took his arm, putting part of it under her neck, hoping to make her maybe a little more comfortable. He couldn't see the slight upturn of her lips in the dark. She turned her head towards Calvin, who knew he'd never sleep, now.

"You've had a lover before, haven't you?" Kelley's question almost made him sit bolt upright. However, he found himself glued into his spot, unable to move or respond.

"No," he choked out after several minutes. She laughed lightly, finding his jaw line. She ran her hand over his face, his neck, just gently examining him, as if there wasn't anything disturbing with what she was finding.

"No one ever answered me," she whispered as she ran her hand across his arms and chest. She continued to explore, very sensually. Calvin was wondering why his body wasn't exploding and on fire. His mind was spinning, wheeling in hot, fantastical circles. It figured that he couldn't feel anything in his body, but now, he was partially glad.

"Why?" he asked.

"I feel safe with you," she muttered. Irrational was the only word that came to Calvin's mind.

"How do you feel?" Kelley whispered as she leaned in closer and stopped her explorations.

"Fine," Calvin barely replied. She laughed her Tinkerbell laugh again as she reposed against his body, in the nook between his arm and chest. Eventually, her breathing leveled out, and Calvin knew she was sleeping. He felt his mind relax finally, drifting off into the sound the generators and her breathing.

There was a mist floating above the water as the gray began to dispelled to a softer, warm pastel color. The gentle sunrays shown pale and clear, causing the ocean water to gleam golden where they touched. However, deep at the bottom of the bay, these rays didn't reach Calvin's window, but Kelley stirred, opening her eyes.

It's so quiet, she mused. She didn't moved, and she couldn't see in the darkness, but she fancied she heard noises. She turned her head in Calvin's direction. I could have sworn he'd loved someone before, Kelley thought.

Then, yes, the door definitely did move. The little Hispanic girl opened it and switched on the light. She turned to talk to Calvin, but her mouth gaped open as Kelley sat up, covers sliding below her breasts.

"What?" Liza asked stupidly as Calvin jolted awake in several quick seconds. He looked between Liza's shocked face and Kelley's calm, sleepy one.

"That's so bright," Kelley said sweetly. Liza's mouth closed, pursing into a thin line. She raised her eyes and bawled up her fists.

"What? What the hell is going on? What did you do?" Liza looked between them, and now, she looked authentically angry and disgusted. Calvin felt caught, trapped between the two women.

"I couldn't sleep," Kelley's smooth voice answered.

"What? So you decided to . . . romp?" Liza let the last word fall as a sickened expression came over her face.

"Well, it's so quiet and lonely," Kelley sighed as if just stating a fact.

"And you come in here, and I can't believe you," Liza turned towards Calvin. He just stared at Liza, suddenly feeling ashamed. He didn't think he'd done anything, but somehow, now, he felt embarrassed.

"I don't see anything wrong," Kelley said sincerely.

"Really?" Liza put her hands on her hips and asked sarcastically. "Well, besides being gross and wrong, it's okay."

"Well, what do you want?" Kelley replied calmly. It didn't seem to her actions were inappropriate, and she frankly didn't know what the girl meant.

"I think you should leave," Liza spat at Kelley. The girl slid out of bed and walked across the room to where she'd left her nightgown. She put in on and gently walked out of the room.

"Why did you let her stay?" Liza lashed at Calvin. He stared at her, not sure how to answer this rage.

"She didn't really leave a choice," Calvin muttered. God, he'd just gotten on Liza's better side.

"Really?" Liza fumed, shut the door, and stormed down the hall.

This is the new chapter, I hope it's liked. I just like this story, it releases so many thoughts out of my mind. If you review, thanks, MorganRay