Smallville Virtual (TC) Season Episode 11- Atlantis

""...and the unearthly lovely weep,

In lament of the music they make

In the sullen courts of sleep:..."

from 'Sunk Lyonesse' by Walter de La Mare

The order of underwater society was divided in four groups. The politically ambitious, the wealthy and the nobility lived in the ancient and regal surrounds of Poseidonis, the religious, the learned and the magi lived the cool Northern region of Lyonesse, and the young, the brave, the fortune seeking and the reckless took their chances in New Venice. The fourth major group, considered by the hoi polloi of Atlantean culture to be barbaric, lived along the fringe of that society and had no set place to call their home. They were a rough breed, hardy and tough, adapting to their rigorous environments by evolving just as their non-mammalian counterparts had. And, as every other people on Earth from the dawn of time had done, it was from this wild rabble and the poor that the military of Atlantis was formed.

The royal house of Atlantis was large, the family a small army all on their own, with branches reaching out across the continent to all of the major cities of the realm. A.C., Lorelai and Gisela were from the Poseidonis branch, all heirs to the throne. Morgaine and Rowan were of the Lyonesse branch, although their mother had been a social climber from New Venice in her day. Persephone as well, drew her roots from the chaotic and creative atmosphere of New Venice. All of them were, for their society, cultured, well bred ladies, with expectations for their future. And, then, there was Callista. Hand chosen by Lorelai's wise and protective mother, Hylde, the common born Guardian had reluctantly followed the more innocent girls on their land walking adventure, and had been the cause of it's abrupt end. Failure had not been part of their agreement, and Callista knew the price for her Callista sat on the floor of the airplane cabin, hugging her knees to her chest, steeling her inner strength and trying not to look at Lex. He shuddered and groaned, his skin coated in the saline sweat that all land bound beings shed when they perspired. The venom was not meant to be so strong or last so long, but Callista knew that was an effect of the radiation she'd been infused with. She looked up and around at the others. Morgaine and Rowan were asleep, Persephone tracing circles on the oval window, and Lori deep in conversation with his Highness, Prince Oren (Callista could never allow herself to think of him familiarly), Oliver, Chloe and Clark. All of them were studying the map spread across the table, arguing about going to the portal of New Venice. Oliver and Clark kept calling it the Bermuda Triangle with a fear based awe that she found very amusing. Callista looked away, and without meaning to, met Gisela's eyes.

"He's going to live, Callista." Gisela said, gently reassuring.

"You say that like it matters to me." Callista snapped, and Gisela shook her head. The sadness in her green eyes grew deeper. "You can't fix me, Gisela. Don't try."

"There is nothing wrong with you that I could help." The younger girl replied. "The damage done to you at that Cadmus is almost healed."

Callista got up, strode over to Gisela and sat down again beside her, avoiding Lex. Taking the other girl's hand in her own, she dropped her forehead down into Gisela's palm. Shocked and overwhelmed, Gisela tried to draw back, but Callista held her hand still.

:READ. SEE. KNOW. I FEEL THEM. THEY ARE FEEDING. IT IS COMING. YOU SAY YOU WANT TO HELP – MAKE THIS GO AWAY.: Callista's voice ripped through Gisela's mind, all finesse and skill gone. Lamely, Gisela struggled, but the images Callista shared were too powerful to break free from. Finally, Callista let go, and Gisela drew back, rubbing her wrist and blinking from the residue of the horror she had just witnessed. Callista nodded silently, and Gisela looked down at Lex, whose troubled sleep had eased as she laid a gentle hand on his chest.

"What have we done?" Gisela whispered, as Callista's dark eyes finally filled with large tears. "Triton of the Gods. We are lost."

The black green hulk of the Leviathan pushed the water away, as it rose to take in air. Not strictly mammal, and certainly not all fish, the thing defied description. Miles and miles away from land, the huge creature raised it's head, letting a single eerie cry sail across the vast ocean. Snorting out the water from it's flat nostrils, it sounded again, pausing to listen. Diving, the Leviathan began the journey toward shore. Below it, the rest of the oily black harbingers flowed from the chasm left by the Leviathan's rise, heading toward the populated areas of Atlantis.

It was the fastest weather had changed in the history of modern meteorology. And yet it all followed the rules, no storm simply appeared. Pressure systems moved along their tracks as predicted – they simply got stronger. The jet stream intensified, carrying along with it more rain than anyone could remember falling. In Kansas, this change had manifested in punishing rains that beat down the crops instead of nourishing them. Tornadoes were predicted, but none had appeared yet.

Lois Lane shook the drops of water from her hair as she walked into her apartment. After dropping Martha Kent off at the farm, Lois had driven home just ahead of the this latest storm. Just as she had gotten out of her car, the deluge began.

'My hair is going to frizz and I…" She muttered, dropping her bag and keys on the table. A small sound made her turn to see Lana, sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. "Lana? What are you doing here?"

"Lois, I'm sorry." Lana replied, I had no where else to go, and I didn't think you'd mind." She wrapped the blanket around her more tightly. "I needed to come someplace that felt like home."

"You're always welcome. Hey, I'm renting it from you." Lois said, sitting down next to Lana on the couch. "But you were in the lap of luxury at the Luthor mansion."

"I left Lex, Lois." Lana replied. "I can't go back, either."

"No one said you should." Lois assured her, "Hey, I never liked the guy anyway. He's creepy." She stood. "I'll make some tea, and we'll watch chick flicks. I think I still have "Practical Magic"."

'No, I think I can live without movies about witches, thanks." Lana smiled and Lois shrugged, rising to her feet.

"Well, pick whatever, and I'll be back in a minute." She walked off toward the bathroom, complaining of frizzy hair and ruined blouses.

When Lois was gone, Lana took out the padded envelope that had been delivered by courier. Not wanting to consider how Lex had known she would come here, Lana opened the black velvet box, and stared down again at the sparkling contents. Chloe had told her about Lex's trademark gift of earrings for his discarded playmates, but Lana could not breathe. Her box held a diamond solitaire necklace, the stone the size of a largish pea. Whatever it meant, Lana was certain that it put her in a class of her own, and she was also sure it was not a class she wanted to be in. She snapped the box shut, then pulled out the letter that had been enclosed. It was a cryptic little note, and Lana felt a chill run up her back reading it.

"Lana,

I'll explain everything. Let's talk.

L."

The note was typed, not in Lex's usual elegant penmanship, and Lana sighed, shoving the box and letter back into the envelope. Even if this gesture was accomplished via phone call, it was obvious that Lex wasn't going to let her go easily, Lana thought with a sigh. The teakettle Lois had put up to boil started to whistle, so Lana got up to make the tea. If her new, independent life was ever going to start, today was the day.

Hal had gritted his teeth as larger planes also jockeyed for landing positions on the single runway at the Key West airport, the weather getting so bad that even continuing to the larger airport in Miami was not really an option. But the screech of the landing gear on tarmac was the most welcome sound in the world, Hal thought. He flipped on the intercom into the cabin.

"Welcome to beautiful Key West, Florida. The local temperature is 80 degrees, local time, 2:30 p.m. The crew and I would like to thank you for flying Ferris Airlines. Please remain seated until we come to a full and complete stop at our final disembarking area..."

"And would you just shut up?" Oliver's voice from behind him was cheerful. "When did you get a crew?"

"Did you get everyone settled?" Hal asked as he taxied the little jet over to the area reserved for private planes. "Hand out snacks and put on movies?"

"Yeah." Oliver replied. "So?"

"Welcome to the crew, Ollie." Hal grinned. "Sorry I don't have one of those little aprons for you."

"I wonder if the union knows about your hiring practices?" Oliver replied, shaking his head. He turned and went back out into the cabin. Chloe sat in one of the leather club chairs, the overhead light casting halos on her golden hair. She was working on her laptop, and looked up when Oliver approached. He'd tried to get her to agree to stay behind, but Chloe had outright refused, and by the stubborn lift of her chin, Oliver was pretty sure she had not reconsidered, either. A smile softened the resolve in her eyes.

'We landed, I take it." Chloe looked out the window. "It looks nasty out there."

"Oh it's getting to be heavy weather." Oliver replied calmly. "Not at all the kind of weather I want you out at sea in, but," He shrugged and slid back into the seat, resting his head on the back of the chair. "You do what you want."

Chloe smiled. "You are not guilting me into staying back at some hotel, Oliver. I want to see Atlantis for myself."

"I'm not trying to guilt you into anything." Oliver closed his eyes. "I asked you nicely."

"Nicely?" Chloe closed her computer and leaned toward him, clearing her throat. Oliver did not open his eyes. She cleared her throat again, but he did not respond. "Oliver. Look at me."

"Hmm?" One eye opened, and Oliver half turned his head so he could see her. Chloe tipped her head to make eye contact and Oliver smiled. "I want to keep on looking at you, Goldilocks. Call it selfish."

"And stupid. What good is keeping me 'safe' going to do if something happens to you?" Chloe rejoined calmly. "Why shouldn't I go if I can help?"

"Oliver." Lori's voice cut through the tension gracefully. He swiveled the chair to look at his friend, who was seated with Clark on the small couch. Lori shook her head, clasping Clark's hand. "Let her come with us." The chair spun, and soon, Oliver's back was to both girls. "You can't hide from me, Oliver Queen." Lori laughed, and Chloe tossed a pencil at him. "Or from your true feelings."

"Stop reading me." Oliver said, his back still to Lori. 'I'm not hiding from anything."

"I could, but I don't have to." She told him. "And you are." The chair spun again, and Oliver sat forward.

"Okay, here's the deal." He looked at Chloe. "You can come." Chloe smiled, victorious. "But, you stay on the boat. If anyone goes down to Atlantis itself, it's not you." Chloe opened her mouth to protest, but Oliver fixed her with a stern, no nonsense eye. "Final offer. Otherwise, I make Hal fly you back to Metropolis right now."

Clark laughed, and Chloe turned, glaring at her friend viciously. "I'm sorry, Chloe. I'm on Oliver's side here."

"Big help you are." Chloe replied, as Clark grinned at her. "I'll remember YOU when you want a favor." Clark laughed again, and Chloe shook her head, amused in spite of herself. "Go Google yourself, Clark."

The small town of Neputne's Deep was probably not much different than any other on land, when it came right down to it. Their main source of income was agriculture, farming kelp and different types of fish for consumption. Three merlads, tending schools of tuna were swimming near the chasm that given the settlement it's name, keeping their charges from wandering away. When the shadow passed over them, they were unimpressed, having lived with human fishing boats their whole lives. It was part of the day to day life of the merfolk – being ignored by the surface dwellers. A quick slice of a dagger would usually free a school of tuna that belonged to one of the wealthier patrons, but today, the boys found themselves watching as a long, black shape appeared from the gloom, rising with fury to bring the tuna boat down. There had been no warning, and the boys watched in terror as the human survivors tried to flee with their lives, only to get gulped down by the huge monster. It swam silently past them when it had done feeding, barely leaving a wake to disturb them.

:Look: One called to the others, :What is that: He pointed to the prow of the fishing boat, where something shiny taunted and beckoned.

:We aren't supposed to swim the wrecks.: The oldest of them said sensibly. :Come on, we'd better get back….: His eyes grew wide and he pointed from the direction the great beast had come from. :Harbingers! HIDE NOW:

Forgetting their flock, the boys swam for the wreckage, peering through the tattered hull to watch the shining black school rip past them, ignoring the three boys completely. Other prey had caught the eye of the school leader.

:I wonder…:The youngest one began, and the two older boys shook their heads, covering their ears. Every merchild knew that the harbingers were real and they knew the charm against them. Stay still and silent. Do not even think of being afraid, because the evil things will come back. The oldest one bravely swam again to the top of the hull, searching for any sign of the mass of fish. There were none. And their flocks, the plump and almost ready to eat tuna the boys had been guarding? All that were left were scales, floating through the water, glistening with rainbows as they drifted to the ocean floor.

"Wow." A.C. laughed, hopping on to the old shrimping boat. "This is a piece of junk."

"Yeah, hell." Oliver shook his head. He looked at Hal. "Can you pilot this thing?"

"If it has wings, I can fly it. Wheels, I'm your guy. This?" Hal laughed. "Geez, Ollie, where's your yacht skipper."

"Drunk in some bar on Duval Street." Oliver spat. "Well, now what?"

"How hard can it be?" Clark asked, carrying Lex onto the boat and setting him down on a pile of nets. "It's like driving a car."

"Not quite, Clark." A.C. laughed, and then, his eye fell on an large, schooner style sailboat. "That ship right there, that's a beauty."

"It belongs to some guy from Gotham City." Oliver turned, nodding enviously. "It's sweet."

"Please." Chloe pushed past the men into the control room, taking the key from Oliver's hand. "Clark's right." She smiled charmingly at the four men. "Will some one please cast off?"

Clark grinned and A.C. saluted smartly, both younger men moving to untie the boat from it's moorings. Oliver and Hal watched her in shock as she started the engine of the old boat up and slowly sailed it out of it's mooring. The mermaids cheered, laughing as Chloe steered the shrimp boat out into the harbor.

"Well, shiver me timbers." Oliver laughed, coming into the control room behind Chloe. "Tell me, Goldilocks, what can't you do?" He stood behind her, putting his larger hands over hers, gently reasssuming command of the boat. "Captain Chloe, the fiercest pirate queen this side of the Tortugas."

Chloe leaned back against Oliver's chest. "I had to do at least that. We spend the whole flight from Metropolis obsessing over getting there, saving the day and you idiots drool over some other guys boat. Really, how old are you all?"

Oliver chuckled. "Well, my birth certificate says…"

"Ollie?" Chloe looked up at him.

"What?"

"Shut up." She grinned. "Get us to the Bermuda Triangle."

"Aye aye, Captain." Oliver grinned, hugging her close.

Lana walked into the Luthor mansion just as the tank maintenance people left. She walked into the study, and threw the envelope with the necklace in it on the table.

"Lex!" She called, looking around. "Where are you?

"He's not here, Ms. Lang." Lionel's voice startled her, and Lana turned. Lionel Luthor stood on the balcony over looking the study, with a large book wrapped in his long hands. "It's just as well, since I really did want to talk to you."

Lana looked down at the padded envelope. "You sent this?"

'I did." Lionel acknowledged. "Not to your taste, Ms. Lang?"

"Well, no, it's not that at all." Lana replied, a little out of her depth. "I just thought…"

"Lex sent it. Well, if he had any kind of manners, after your loyalty and devotion to him these last few weeks of course." Lionel made his way down the stairs. "I sent it, Ms. Lang. I have a business proposition for you."

"Why should I trust you?" Lana asked, putting her hands on her hips, trying to cover her nervousness.

"Why indeed." Lionel smiled, nodding. "I concede we have not had an easy relationship, Ms. Lang. But I'm willing to let bygones be bygones."

Lana blinked. "Bygones? What is this about?"

"I want to help you have a future, free from my son, Ms. Lang." Lionel set the book down on the bar, and poured himself a drink. "I am planning something that requires you to stay with Lex just a little longer." He held the bottle in Lana's direction and then shook his head. "Oh, of course not, I forgot. Please excuse me."

"What?" Lana replied. "You can't be serious."

Lionel sipped at his drink. 'I'm deadly serious, Ms. Lang. I never joke about family matters."

"Free of Lex? Forever?" Lana asked.

"Absolutely. And you only need tolerate his, um, eccentricities a little longer." Lionel agreed, putting his drink down. "I will financially support any change you are willing to make in your life if you will help me with this one last father to son lesson."

Lana sighed. "I'll help you."

Clark leaned against the railing, looking down into the water. He had never been on a boat like this before and it was kind of a thrill, even though the situation was pretty serious. He'd already been down in the hold, working with Hal to get the small two man submersible operational. A.C. and Oliver had been working in the control room, setting their course and heading. For now, though, Clark was glad to be standing here, alone to watch the water pass by them. Aside from his one quick trip to Miami with Bart, this was his first real exposure to the ocean. He loved it, about as much as he hated flying in an airplane. When this was over, Clark thought, it would be nice to come back and enjoy himself.

"There should be dolphins, you know." Lori said, breaking Clark's contemplation. "They know the fishing boats and swim with them." She stood beside him, leaning her arms on the rail too. The salt breeze blew her hair away from her face, the red-gold strands catching the last traces of sun that leaked out from behind the charcoal clouds. Clark was overwhelmed by her. Lori, feeling his eyes on her, blushed and cast her eyes down to wake the boat caused as it cut through the water. Lori smiled thoughtfully, imagining the sight of the mischievous creatures as they raced the boat, gently projecting the image to Clark sharing with him the undiluted joy of the dolphin pod as they raced man's ships.

:Can you see them: Lori asked, and Clark nodded, seeing the blue grey creatures as the sped along side the boat in his mind, the sun glistening in opalescent shimmer across their flanks, suddenly as real as Lori herself was. :They are as enchanted with the surface dwellers as your people are with them. They thrive on the smiles and cheers of humankind. Of all sea life, these are our ambassadors.: One of the dolphins in the vision Lori was sharing leapt, sending crystalline drops of water everywhere and Clark smiled, holding Lori close as she gently closed down the connection between their minds.

"Aren't they afraid they'll be caught by the fishermen?" Clark asked, looking down into the water, hoping a real dolphin would appear. The awe in his voice was immeasurable.

She leaned her head against him and sighed. "No. Dolphins are smarter than that. They follow the boats because they like the thrill of swimming so fast, and, they get fish to eat. They are really kind of silly about it. It's a bad sign that they are gone, Clark." Lori's blue eyes scanned the waves. "There's nothing out here now. Everything is hiding."

"From what? The Leviathan?" Clark asked, and Lori shuddered as if cold, though he had his arm around her shoulders. "We're going to stop it, Lori."

"There are things as deadly to our kind, our world." Lori shook her head. "I never believed in them, but I can 'feel' them now, Clark. They are ancient, evil and dark. Those are the things that A.C. and I dread. Much will be lost by their onslaught."

"What are these things?" Clark turned to face her, the wind picking up and ruffling his dark hair.

Lori shook her head fearfully. "I have never lain eyes upon an actual one, Clark. Grandparents use them to scare children from swimming too far from home, and you imagine you see them in every shadow. Even their name means something on the surface world, Clark. The harbingers bring suffering with them and sorrow trailing behind in their wake."

"Lori!" A.C. appeared from the control room, undisturbed by the increasing wind and the intermittent rain. "I want to go to New Venice and see if I can find Nuada. If Luthor is going to live, we can't wait. I can be there and back before you get to the portal." He walked toward them, pulling off the t-shirt he had been wearing.

"Nuada Silverarm?" Lori put a hand on A.C.'s forearm. "She lives in Thierna Na Oge, doesn't she?"

"I'm hoping she hasn't changed her mind about a visit to New Venice this week." A.C. told her, putting his hand over hers. "I'll be back with Nuada as soon as I can. Oliver knows the heading." With a cursory nod at Clark, A.C. stepped up on to the railing and dove off into the water, instantly vanishing from sight.

"Who is Nuada Silverarm?" Clark asked, and Lori frowned, looking out in the direction that A.C. had disappeared in.

"Some say a powerful sorceress and wise woman. Others say a fraud." She shook her head. "For Lex's sake, I hope I'm wrong about her."

Because the weather had gotten worse as they moved further away from shore, Lex had been moved into the cabin, and Gisela, who had been with him every moment since he was injured. Occasionally, he'd open his eyes and stare in her direction, but Gisela could tell from his thoughts that he was not seeing her. At times, his eyes would register her heart shaped face as a narrow one with almond eyes, framed in thick, dark lashes. Other times, she was an elegant beauty with a careworn, bitter smile. He'd see her as either of these women, ignoring her long green hair as it fell around him, then his eyes would widen in horror, trying to get away as the nightmare of Callista transformed would swim through his mind. Gisela would sing to him then, soothing the nightmare away. The toxin was too strong for her to cure, so she stayed with him, easing the pain it caused as it expanded through him. Callista stayed nearby as well, listening to Gisela's songs, her pain as devastating as Lex's.

Of the others, Gisela knew little, focusing her attention where it was most needed. Lex began to stir again, speaking fast in a language Gisela barely remembered.

:LATIN: A voice from Lex replied in Gisela's mind, answering her the question just as it bubbled to the surface of her mind. :The fool invokes his god.:

:Prayer is never foolish: Gisela replied to the voice. It chuckled, low and rumbling.

:Little fish, he is not worth saving. Useless….grasping….:

:It's you….:She recognized the blackness within Lex from Callista's mind. :Let go of him. Let him get well and go away, evil thing.:

Again the horrible grumbling laugh reverberated through her mind. :My dear girl, it is too late for that now. I AM HIM.: A small smile twitched across Lex's slack mouth and then vanished. Gisela swallowed her fear, and brought a hand to Lex's cheek. :Please live: she whispered in Latin. :Please live and fight that awful thing inside you, Lex. It's still not too late.:

The Leviathan turned, sensing the ship. Feeling the presence of the Guardian, it paused, confused. It sang in question, and Callista rose, leaving the cabin to run to the bow of the fishing boat, her breath coming in deep gulps.

"Callista, what is it!" Lori, Morgaine and Persephone came after her, and she pointed, reaching for any reassuring hand available.

"It's coming. Great Mother, it's too late." She brought her hand down on the railing. "I have to stop it."

"You can't alone." Morgaine said, pulling on her shoulder. "None of us can."

Clark and Oliver appeared, Hal just behind them. "What is it?" Oliver asked, his eyes scanning the horizon. Clark also, looked over the water, and saw the black shape far in the distance, the head and neck that rose from the surface sending a wave of shock through him. Chloe had come out from the bridge to the deck above to look out toward the shape, her camera pointed in that direction, recording every moment.

"It's not moving." Clark said, and Callista turned to look at him, her eyes black and wild.

"It knows we're here. It's waiting." She turned back toward the hulking shape that turned it's reptilian face toward them.

"For what?" Oliver asked, peering through binoculars. "To ugly us to death?"

"For my signal." Callista whispered, awed by the realization. She embraced Lori. "I'm going out to it. I woke it up, maybe I can send it back."

'No, no." Lori clung to her friend. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't." Rowan piped up from behind them. She shook her head sadly. "There must always be a siren with a Guardian." Looking at her twin, she smiled.

"Rowan.." Morgaine went to her sister, and took her by the shoulders. "It's supposed to be US."

"Only one, Morgaine. I've heard it singing for hours." Rowan said. "Did you?"

Persephone snorted. "This is ridiculous. Let it take everything away. Clear our sea." She glared at Oliver, Hal and Clark. "You foolish land walkers think you own everything. Ignore us, treat our home like your waste dump." She opened her mouth. "I am a beacon..it will find me."

"Bwria 'ch i lawr myfi ai bradychi ni pawb fel." I will strike you down myself if you betray us all so. Callista's words were simple and to the point in the inflected and ancient tongue of Lyonesse itself, and to reinforce her intentions, she grabbed Persephone by the throat. "Dwi bwylledig 'r 'n isaf chennym pawb , namyn heddiw Chywilyddia chennych , 'ch Gras." I am considered the lowest of us all, but today I am ashamed of you, your Grace.

Persephone snarled, and the others tried to pull Callista away. "Gwna 'ch 'n waethaf , budra hun. 'ch a eiddo ydy 'r hysgum chan 'n chymdeithas. Bendefig chrau acha 'ch balfau moddion addoed." Do your worst, foul one. You and yours are the scum of our society. Noble blood on your hands means death. Persephone nodded, as Callista's hand eased their grip. "Arswydi addoed , Gwarcheidwad? A , o leiaf ydy 'n brudd." You fear death, Guardian? That, at least is wise...

"DDIGON CHAN HON! ILL DAU CHENNYCH! CA 'CH 'N DDIAU AR GOLL 'CH HYSTYRON? MAE HYCHWANEG AM BERYG 'MA NA 'N BITW FFRYGYDAU!" ENOUGH OF THIS! BOTH OF YOU! HAVE YOU TRULY LOST YOUR SENSES? THERE IS MORE AT RISK HERE THAN PETTY SQUABBLES! Lori had straightened, and Clark watched her change, grow taller and more regal, her eyes a hard and glittering blue. Her tone resounded with steely command. "ARCHA 'CH ILL DAU AT DARFOD HON AWRON." I COMMAND YOU BOTH TO END THIS NOW.

All eyes were on Lori. She was beautiful and terrible, regal and powerful. Callista slowly removed her hands from Persephone and both mermaids fell to their knees as thunder began to roll around them and the clouds became black and heavy with rain. Never losing her grip on the camera, Chloe watched the scene before her. She would never tell a living soul about it, except for Clark and Oliver later, but the feeling of suddenly stepping through a portal in time into a fairy tale made her mind spin. Clark, Hal and Oliver said nothing, and the other mermaids had fallen to their knees as well, heads bowed.

"Forgive, Highness." Callista muttered, and Persephone did not speak. Lorelai smiled, and placed her hands on the kneeling mermaids before her.

"Ni cannot ad 'n gwahaniaethau bod beth weakens ni , 'm ceraint. Beryg anwireddau rhagom , a ni must gwna beth ddisgwylir chennym. Bardyna 'ch Callista chan 'r Sher'Hedeen. I mewn 'ch role fel Gwarcheidwad , gwnaech mo ballu. A 'ch Persephone , ferch chan 'r 'n Frenhinol d , 'ch brad ewyllysia ca 'i s addef gwobrwya. Dydy mo ata at chosba 'ch careddau heddiw." We cannot let our differences be what weakens us, my friends. Peril lies before us, and we must do what is expected of us. I pardon you, Callista of the Sher'Hedeen. In your role as Guardian, you did not falter. And you, Persephone, daughter of the Royal House, your treason will find it's own reward. It is not for me to punish your crimes today. Lori took their hands in hers and raised them to their feet, a warm smile breaking the spell, returning her to her normal state. "We must work together, my friends." She looked out at the Leviathan, who had come closer, still watching, as if it too, had been surprised at the show of power from the mermaid girl. They could see her large purple head, with it's armor of shining green, black and violet scales, as she trilled again, calling. Callista backed to the rail, and Rowan as well, dove from the fishing boat.

"'n fawr Achlesydd chan Atlantis! Chrefwn 'ch at d at 'n chyfnertha i mewn 'n amsera chan beryg!" Great Protector of Atlantis! We implore you to come to our aid in our time of peril! Persephone sang smiling triumphantly as Callista and Rowan had entered the water, their transformation to their natural state taking place immediately. Callista came up first, and hurtled toward the Leviathan, her song drowned out but the rush of movement from the beast. Rowan also appeared, racing through the clear water. But they were too late, the Leviathan heard the call of distress, ignoring Callista's pleas for mercy, and Rowan's equally powerful shrieks of warning. The great beast reared, it's wings pulling it up from the water with a searing cry that shook the fishing boat. Morgaine dove over, as did Persephone, one immediately racing to the aid of her friends and the other, with a small backwards glance, swam toward New Venice and safety.

"Get below deck!" Oliver cried, running to the bridge. "Chloe, get below, NOW!"

She nodded, but did not move, filming the progress of the beast as it swatted with a large clawed hand the two mermaids desperately trying to calm it down. Clark leapt, snatching Chloe from the upper deck as a wave crashed over the fishing boat, from the wake of the Leviathan's rise. With a grace Chloe barely believed possible, Clark deposited her in the hold, next to the sub. Before she could get her breath, Clark was gone, back up on deck with Oliver and Hal. Chloe could hear Oliver's voice, strong and assured even as he called out instructions to the others. Feeling foolish, Chloe climbed up the ladder and ran into the cabin. Lori and Gisela clung to Lex, trying to get him to the hold, dragging him while trying to keep their balance on the wet deck.

The Leviathan screamed again, as Morgaine got closer. The mermaid rose out of the water, her song piercing and the monster dove, trying to silence her.

"Morgaine!" Rowan called as her sister was lifted from the sea, a prisoner of the massive claws.

Lori's head snapped up, and she scrambled to the railing, falling on her way. Morgaine was smaller than a doll in the beasts grasp, and she screamed, again causing it to turn and pause in it's wrath to stare at her. It seemed to acknowledge her presence, but would give no quarter. Morgaine was released, falling with a sickly splash. The Leviathan drew closer, eyeing Lori, it's curiosity piqued.

"Cer , 'n Hen hun , ddychwelyd at 'ch bwyso. 'r amsera achos 'r hela ydy mo awron. 'r beryg at Atlantis comes chan 'ch addef arwyrain. 'r harbingers rhyddheir , 'n Fawr Achlesydd , a pawb chan Atlantis weeps am 'n hwy yn d." Go, Ancient one, return to your rest. The time for the hunt is not now. The danger to Atlantis comes from your own rise. The harbingers are freed, Great Protector, and all of Atlantis weeps at their coming. Lori cried, raising her arms over her head. She repeated it over and over, causing the beast to come to face her. The monster chirped, and dove, causing more waves to pour across the deck of the ship, breaching the surface not more than a mile away. Clark and Hal paused, staring as the monster seemed to bow to Lori. The shining scales glittered, viridian, iris and jet as it lowered it's head, plunging into the depths again, in search of the most primary and immediate threat to Atlantis, the harbingers. But Lori felt the monsters reluctance to spare them. She would be back, and there would be no stopping her from hunting them down.

"Leapin' Lizards." Oliver gasped, as the giant tail slid into the sea, barely making a sound. "Everyone okay? Sound off!"

"Here!" Clark said, going to Lori and folding her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head gently as she turned to seek her friends in the ever increasing gloom. Callista had gone after Morgaine, and Rowan followed suit, but the song that returned to the ship over the waves was not one of happy reunion.

"I'm alright!" Hal said, standing up. He had lost his balance with the last set of swells from the Leviathan's dive. "Next time, I'm drinking with the yacht skipper."

"We're fine in the cabin!" Chloe called, her arms around Gisela, whose sobs had begun the moment Morgaine had landed with a neck breaking splat, and had worsened as the mournful song drifted to them on the breeze. Lex's breathing was deep and even, and he muttered in his sleep, something Chloe recognized from her brief career in Sunday School, and she said them aloud with him, because never in her life would she have ever for a second believed them to be true.

"Lo, let the night be solitary, let no joyful cry be heard in it. Let them curse it who curse the day who are ready to awake the Leviathan."

Persephone knew the place well. The money lender would not be happy that she had come to him empty handed, but the promise of something much greater might sway him to see things her way. The information had fallen in her lap, back in the hotel in Metropolis. The human girl's thoughts had been so unguarded, so easy to see, and yielded such a fat prize unknowingly. Conflict over her new feelings for Oliver battled with the girlish longing for the one that Lori had fallen in love with. Clark. It was he that Persephone planned to use to pay for her debts, a true Otherworlder, an oddity of tremendous value. Thank you, Chloe Sullivan. Persephone reached into her pocket and came away with a ring, stolen from the pocket of Callista's human, where it had been hidden in a little lead box. She smiled at it joyfully. She knocked at the door of the dwelling, the wreckage of a battleship lost in some surface dweller war that didn't matter at all. It swung open, and she swam inside to make her deal and sell the information that would free her from the money lender forever.

The first time Clark saw real dolphins, it was a pair that bore the broken body of Morgaine back to the fishing boat. They had chatted companionably with Lori as Clark carried her up the ladder. Rowan had come behind the dolphins, allowing Hal to carry her up the ladder after Clark had taken Morgaine to the makeshift sickbay in the cabin. Lex was stretched out on one long bench, Morgaine on the other, her long purple hair in wet coils that stretched everywhere. Gisela bent over her new charge, barely controlling her grief. And all of them stood and watched as the young healer worked feverishly to save her friend. Rowan sat silently, her sister's head resting on her legs, crooning. Soon, all that could be done was done, and Gisela dropped to her knees, weeping. Lori slid to sit beside her sister, and they began to sing. Morgaine's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled, taking Gisela's hand.

"You and I have been friends from the day of our spawning." Morgaine said, and Gisela looked up, nodding.

"We have. But that is the beauty of being family." Gisela smiled through her tears. "You are going to get well, and I promise I will swim the East Australian Current with you this year."

"Ah." Morgaine closed her eyes again, blocking out the waves of pain that washed over her. "I think I will not be doing such things anymore."

"'Gaine.." Rowan whispered, "Please…Mother and Father…"

"Will be proud of how I died defending you from the Leviathan." Morgaine smiled gently, slightly teasing in her old way. "I finally amounted to something. Recklessness pays off. I always knew it would."

Chloe choked on a sob, burying her face in Oliver's chest, and the mermaids turned at the sound. "Come, you all." Morgaine released Gisela's hand and waved them over. "Be with me." Hal shook his head, and backed out of the room, retreating to the ship rail, but Clark, Chloe and Oliver dropped to their knees beside the bench. "Go on, Gisela. Show them. It doesn't hurt. I saw it with the doctor. Please. I have the right to choose."

"I can't." Gisela wailed. "I can't. Please don't make me, Morgaine. Please let me help you live. You are young, your soul still is strong."

"Ah, little one." A woman's voice said from the doorway, and the Queen of Thierna Na Oge smiled at Gisela sadly. "I have come too late." Lori rose, as A.C. entered the cabin with Nuada. "Stand aside, sweet one." Gisela rose, and Nuada kissed her forehead in blessing and then knelt beside Morgaine. "You are ready, Ocean child, to return to the Great Mother?"

"Aye, revered one." Morgaine took the sorcerer Queen's hand in her own. "May she grant me speed to my rest."

"Then we shall sing you to it." Nuada said, leaning forward to kiss Morgaine gently on the lips, the formal Kiss of Peace. She turned her silver eyes to Lori. "You, Princess, must begin."

Lori nodded, and began to sing in a language older even than Atlantean, soft and strong, her voice being joined at first by Gisela, then A.C. and Nuada herself. Finally, Rowan began to sing as well, tears streaming from her eyes. Morgaine smiled one last time, and her eyes drifted shut, first into sleep and then forever.

Clark closed his eyes, holding Lori's hand in his own. He could hear her weeping and he took a deep breath before he opened his eyes. Callista was watching them, sitting on the opposite bench at Lex's feet. She had not spoken, and Nuada rose, and went to her.

"You, daughter of the Sher'Hedeen. Your loyalty has redeemed you from your disgrace. Rise, and do not trouble yourself further." Nuada touched Callista's lips with a long white finger. "The tests you have thus far encountered are nothing compared with what is to come. Will you face them bravely, as you swore?"

"I will." Callista straightened and nodded sharply. "Revered one."

"Then I will grant you a boon." Nuada said, looking down at Lex. "This creature has a hold over you?" She looked back into Callista's face. "Tell me or don't, child. I see it plainly. So be it. But let me ask you, you have seen the evil thing that dwells behind his eyes, and yet you desire him still?"

"Only that he be spared, Revered One." Callista whispered. "I ask nothing for myself."

"Even the knowledge of his feelings for you? You do not seek this? It would give you great power over him, my child." The sorceress said, and then turned to Clark, her face intense. "And you, this creature has wronged you at every turn, in ways that you cannot possibly begin to be aware of. And yet you are as fervently wishing I heal him. Why?"

Clark looked at her, stunned. "What do you mean?"

Nuada nodded. "All surface dwellers are the same. Easy to read. Ah, it is of no matter. For you, daughter of the Sher'Hedeen, I will grant this man his life."

Nuada knelt beside Lex, and put her hand to his wound, which seemed to be healing quite nicely. She did not speak, but quietly concentrated, and finally broke away with a gasp. Rising, she wiped her hand on her gown and turned to Clark again.

'I hope, Otherworlder, that you do not someday regret this day." She smiled at him. "Your path amongst the surface dwellers will not be an easy one, and this, creature will have a great deal to do with that."

Clark nodded solemnly. Nuada held out a hand to Lori and Gisela. "Come with me, Princesses. There are things I must say to you that are for your ears alone." Rowan had risen, and Nuada embraced her, whispering in her ear. Rowan nodded, and then sat again by her sister's body. Lori and Gisela followed the Queen from the cabin, with A.C. following behind. Moments later when they returned, it was decided that the merfolk would return to Lyonesse with Morgaine's body. All the others could do would be to wait with Callista on the boat. Clark kissed Lori goodbye and watched her swim away with her family. He stood at the railing, amazed at the stars above him. Even on the farm, there was too much light to appreciate how many there were. He could hear Chloe and Oliver talking in hushed tones in the galley, and he chose not to intrude further. Hal was tinkering with the sub, and Callista sat with Lex, her hands wrapped around his. Given the day, Clark was glad to be alone.

Thinking of Lori, Clark was distracted enough to not hear his kidnappers as they climbed up the side of the boat, and surprised enough that they had somehow managed to subdue him, the magic song of a mermaid lulling him into submission. The next thing Clark knew, the weight of the water was folding in around him, and then he could see nothing at all.