Well, here's the last part of this chapter. Just a word of advice, the next two chapters (or at least the next full chapter and the start of the one after that) will be up TODAY, for reasons important to me. So, without further adieu, here we go!
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Nigel and his team have found a golden opportunity for a rescue: a whale carcass has attracted a hoard of carnivores to them, giving them a chance to save a colossal number of species. Unfortunately, the carcass has begun to sink, and if they can't figure out a way to stop it, their targets will soon disperse.
"Any ideas on how to stop it from sinking?" asks Michelle.
"Not right now," remarks Tristan. "The carcass is so big we can't just put pontoons on it and start inflating, and besides, there are too many predators around it. They'd probably shred the pontoons to pieces."
"True. We can't do that," replies Nigel. "...But there is something we can do..."
Tristan and Michelle turn toward the zoologist. "We're listening."
"The aquatic portal can be opened up quite a distance away from the ship, and in just about any orientation. I think I can object it so that the carcass will fall through it."
"...Is there a catch?" asks Michelle.
"Yes. I need some way to figure out where the carcass is. I can used a radio transmitter, but that still means someone will need to go and attach it to the bottom of the carcass."
"Alright then. I'll go," remarks Tristan.
"Me too," remarks Michelle. Rather quicly in fact.
Nigel and Tirstan both stare at her for a moment, confused.
"Well, someone needs to back you up in case things go wrong."
"...Point taken. Let's get diving!"
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Beneath the waves, the great predators have been demolishing the carcass. The underside is now a practically unrecognizable mass of flesh, with what appear to be hagfish digging into the carcass. Occasionally, a Megalodon or Eurhinodelphis swims in to take a chunk out of the carcass. The only reason the water hasn't turned red is that the carcass has been bled dry.
Ignoring all of this, Tristan and Michelle descend toward the belly of the beast, or rather, what used to be its belly, to ready the transmitter. Already, the carcass has stopped bobbing and begun to drift down. A few fish swim away, hoping to avoid the predators of the deep. Some, however, swim right past the pair bewildering them. Luckily, they quickly regain their composure and press downwards
As the approach the target point, Tristan readies the transmitter. He's already noticed the perfect site to embed it: a small bite into the belly, just big enough to hold it. Knowing he will lose his chance fast, he rushes towards it.
Before he gets the chance to end it, however, he collides with a large whale. The whale mostly ignores him, its attention focused on the fleeing fish. The impact, however, stuns Tristan for a moment, and pushes him away from the bite.
As he recovers, he notices Michelle staring worried at him, unsure of how he is. He quickly assures her he is fine. Then, he realizes that she had swum closer to the carcass while he was recovering. After a moment of gesturing, she heads toward the bite and successfully embeds her transmitter.
Nearby her, a requiem shark tears into the carcass, knocking loose a piece of meat in the process.
Michelle gestures for the two to return upwards, as sentiment, Tristan agrees with. As he looks up, though, something surprises him, and he begins rapidly swimming downward toward a very confused Michelle, who he grabs and begins to drag away. Michelle, completely confused by this, tries to fight back, only for Tristan to yank her...
Just as a Megalodon snatches the meat the requiem shark dislodged, mere inches away from them.
Michelle looks at the shark, then back at Tristan, before pulling him into a hug.
Below them, the portal opens, taking the carcass, and its consumers, into the present.
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After getting back on the boat, returning to the present, getting checked for injuries, and taking relaxing showers, Michelle and Tristan go out to see how the new arrivals are settling in.
After moving over several tanks filled with sharks, the away team teens arrive at a large pen holding their target species. Several of the dolphins are chasing after fish, while some are playing in the waves. A trio have even begun playing with a ball.
"Well, I guess o=some things never change," remarks Tristan.
"Indeed. Want to train them to do tricks?" asks Michelle.
"Not today."
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AN: Finally, it is done.
Anyways, Trivia will be in reviews, but here is the list of species rescued
Eurhinodelphis (10 males, 13 females, 7 juveniles)
Megalodon (2 males, 3 females)
Galeocerdo aduncus (requiem shark) (5 males, 6 females)
Leptophoca (20 males, 40 females, 10 pups of unknown gender)
Cynelos (3 males, 5 females, 6 pups of unknown gender)
Archaeophippus (7 males, 10 females, 3 calves of unknown gender
Metaxytherium (3 males, 5 females, 2 calves)
Metopocetus (2 males, 5 females, 1 calf of unknown gender)
A few others
