"I can see why the Captain likes you," said Finski, his entire tone seeming to change, "you're almost too smart for your own good." He glanced at Harry. "And I guess he was wrong about you. Sure, it took you a little longer, but you caught on fairly quick."

Harry scoffed. "Oh, thanks."

"Dr. Finski, how could you!" shouted Irene.

"How could I not? I was running out of grant money, and the mermaids were a little bit more stubborn than I thought, a little harder to find. Not only that, but Vandal knows that mermaids are real and wants to help me find them. I wouldn't have to use cetacean research as a guise for my search for mermaids."

"And Vandal would put you in charge of ICS instead of my grandfather."

Finski smiled. "Oh you bet."

Jack growled. "You don't deserve that position. You hurt Poipu!"

"Only because that dolphin was too stubborn to leave!"

"Only because he was trying to protect me!" Jack swung and Finski dodged. He swung and caught Jack's chin. Jack took a step back, dazed for a moment. Then he rammed in Finski.

Robby glanced at his watch. "Harry, it's time." Harry pulled out the key and unlocked their cell. Jack and Finski continued to fight while he quickly unlocked Billy's cell too.

"Enough!" Finski threw Jack off of him and pulled out a knife. "I'm going to have to disagree with Vandal about you. He shouldn't keep you around, even if the two of you are distant relatives."

Jack put up his fists. "I think that's the one thing we agree on."

"Good," said Finski. With a yell he charged, the knife raised. Harry unlocked their cell. Billy reached in and pulled out Jack. Harry quickly shut the door and locked it before jumping away, the knife falling mere inches from where he had stood.

Finski panted. "How did you get that key?"

Harry walked to the brig door. "If my hunch is correct, you're about to find out." He opened the door, and there stood Lillibulero over a pile of unconscious bodies.

"Took you long enough," said Lillibulero. "Help me get them in." Harry and Robby immediately went to help while Jack, Billy, and Irene dropped their mouths and stared in shock. Irene shook from her stupor first and rushed in to help drag the unconscious men into the open cells.

"What the . . . who the hell are you?" said Finski, shocked by how many men were being dragged in.

Lillibulero paused in dragging a guy across the floor and gave a quick bow to Finski. "Lillibulero from the International Bureau of Police. You must be working for Vandal too. You are all hereby under arrest." He went back to dragging the sailor into the cell.

Robby went to grab and drag another guy into the brig. He glanced at the other bodies. "Um, Mr. Lillibulero, where's Vandal?"

"He's on the bridge, blissfully unaware of our taking over of his ship," said Lillibulero as he went and dragged another body into a cell.

"Why didn't you take him down too?" asked Irene.

"I didn't take down any of these men until they had done their jobs," said Lillibulero. "We're not able to run this sub by ourselves. Three of you are too young to have gotten training in submarine tech, and two of you never got it. So, you know, it's best to let them do their jobs long enough before we need to take them out."

"So, where are we going, then?" asked Robby. "If you're letting them drive us somewhere before taking them out."

Lillibulero smirked. "We are heading to Devil's Hat. Vandal is hoping to find the treasure and the entrance to the mermaid city tonight."

"That mermaid city is called Naiale," said Irene.

Finski's head turned slowly towards her. "You've been there?"

"Of course I have," said Irene. "I am a mermaid."

Finski grabbed his cell bars, eyes growing wide. "A mermaid? A real mermaid?"

"Yes, and I'm glad Robby figured out you were working for Vandal because we don't need people like you spreading false rumors about us."

"So then why'd you stay hidden all this time?" asked Finski. "How did you stay hidden all this time?"

"We mermaids have our secrets," said Irene, "and they are not to be shared with the likes of you. As for why we've stayed hidden, for the same reason why people stayed away from the water, out of fear of the inhabitants. We have stories about you humans just like you do about us, and it has taken decades of painful change and growth for us to even get to the point of being comfortable with some of us living on the land. Only to find out we really had nothing to fear after all. We were still cautious, though, and opted that, since we were able to blend in so well with our legs, that we would just observe the human race for a few years. We gathered as much information as possible over the past couple of decades, Uncle Billy has been quite helpful to us with that, and have only reached a decision in the past couple of years. We wanted to slowly spread the realization that we were real before revealing ourselves, considering it took us quite a while before we convinced you that we weren't real. And now you and Vandal have made us rush forward with our plans." Irene gave him a sarcastic clap. "Good job, you've got your wish. Mermaids will now be revealed to the rest of the world. But we're still going to do it on our terms, not yours."

By the time Irene finished her speech, Billy and Jack had snapped out of their stupor and helped drag the rest of the sailors into the cells. Jack stopped so he could listen to Irene's speech while Billy helped Lillibulero get the men in one cell situated. When she finished and was taking a few breaths, they were closing the cell doors.

"Well I for one am glad your people took the chance on our kind," said Billy.

Irene smiled softly. "Of course you would, you wouldn't have met your wife."

Finski stared at Bily. "You're married to a mermaid?"

Billy grinned. "It's why I go searching for the treasure every Saturday, so I can see my family."

"Well I for one can't wait to see the city," said Robby.

"And this time no pirates are going to kidnap you and interrupt our visit," quipped Harry. "Speaking of, what's the plan for getting into the bridge?"

"How many people are on the bridge?" asked Billy.

"Six," said Lillibulero. "As for the plan itself, I want Jack and Billy to go in first and say that Finski let them out."

"What?" exclaimed Finski.

Lillibulero ignored him. "You two will say that you've changed your mind and will work with Vandal."

"And if Vandal asks about me?" asked Robby.

Billy shrugged. "We could say that Finski is working on getting you to his side."

Lillibulero nodded. "That could work."

"But what will we be actually doing?" asked Harry.

"You will be waiting with me outside the bridge. We'll take down anyone who leaves the bridge." Lillibulero nodded at Jack and Billy. "See if you can't try to get at least three people to leave the bridge."

Billy nodded. "We'll do our best."

"That's all I ask," said Lillibulero. "And see if you can at least get them close to the treasure and the gates of Naiale, I have contacted the police to have them meet us there. Once we've arrived, we'll attack."

Jack glanced at Finski. "Are you sure this is a good place to talk about our plans?"

Lillibularo glanced at Finski as well. "Oh don't worry, Harry has the spare key he was supposed to get." He smirked. "Vandal sure was starting to go crazy trying to find it."

Harry looked at the key before pocketing it. "Ah."

"But we should get going, they're going to get to Devil's Hat in a few minutes," said Lillibulero, holding the door open. The group quickly walked out and Lillibulero closed the door behind them. They waited for him to get into the lead, and he led them through the several corridors to the bridge.

"Oh, what should we tell Vandal should he ask how we got out?" asked Jack.

Lillibulero shrugged. "One of the guards let you out. Since, you know, Finski doesn't have the key."

"True that," said Billy. They paused in front of a pair of large doors. "Well, here goes nothing."

"Good luck," said Irene.

Jack scoffed. "Thanks, because we are definitely going to need it. I don't know how good Uncle Billy is at lying, but I know I'm not the greatest."

"You are going to have to do your best then," said Lillibulero. "But you need to get in there, we are almost at Devil's Hat."

Jack huffed. "Alright, here goes." He straightened his shoulders before he and Billy walked into the bridge. Lillibulero and the teens pressed their ears up against the doors.

"Well, well, well," said Vandal, "has Finski brought you to your senses?"

"He made a very persuasive argument," said Billy.

"So where is he?"

"Still in the brig, working on convincing Robby," said Billy.

"Apparently living in the ocean gives you a different perspective on things, or so he says," said Jack. Robby smiled. He would in fact say that.

"So, you will help me find the treasure and the gates to the mermaid city?"

"We can do our best," said Jack.

"What do you mean? Mr. Silver has been to the mermaid city every week for the past thirty years."

"He means the treasure, lad," said Billy. "Just because I visit with merfolk every week doesn't mean I know where the treasure is."

"You have a valid point," said Vandal. "So, where to? We're almost at Devil's Hat."

"The entrance is on the southeast side of Devil's Hat," said Billy. "It's possible the treasure is on that side too." Irene nodded, indicating that it definitely was.

"Very well, southeast side it is." Vandal barked out some coordinates and his helmsman answered in the affirmative. "However, if I find out that you're lying to me . . ."

"You'll see in a few minutes if that is the case," said Billy. "But don't worry, we're not. I did search for the treasure for some time before coming across Naiale. Jack and I swapped notes. That's the only place the treasure could be."

"Naiale?"

"It's the name of the city."

"Ah, that makes sense."

"We're coming to our coordinates, sir," came the helmsman's voice.

"Good. Roberts, Stevens, go round up the men, get them ready to dive."

"Aye sire."

Robby and Harry grinned at each other. Two coming! They quickly backed away from the door and found adequate hiding places. The two crewmen walked out of the bridge. Lillibulero waited until they were a few feet away from the doors before attacking them and rendering them unconscious. The teens helped him drag the two sailors to Vandal's office and locked them in. Lillibulero pocketed the key before the three dashed back to the bridge. They pressed their ears up against the door.

"Now, how did Finski convince you again?" The three teens glanced at each other, uh-oh, they didn't come up with a good argument that would have convinced Uncle Billy or Jack to switch sides. The two of them were going to have to come up with something really good. There was a slight pause.

Jack sighed. "He promised me that I would get to continue my work at ICS and that no one would be told of my connection to our infamous ancestor."

"Oh, he told you about our connection, huh? Well, if it helped to convince you to help me, then that's fine. And I shall keep that promise." There was a pause. "But Uncle Billy, you've been listening to the siren song for the past thirty years. However did Finski convince you?" The hearts of the teens were beating hard and fast with anxiety, and they thought they were beating so loud that everyone on the bridge could hear.

"You'll have to talk to Finski, I promised I wouldn't tell," came Billy's reply. Irene clapped a hand over her mouth and snorted softly. Robby and Harry grinned. Well, that was one way of avoiding that question.

"Interesting," said Vandal softly. The teens turned to grin at Lillibulero and realized with a start he was gone. Where did he go? When had he left? Hopefully he would come back in time for him to take out the final four ni the room. tackle whoever else came out the door or even for them to go in and tackle the last four. The next instant, the doors were opened and they went sprawling on the floor. They glanced up. Vandal was surprised to see them, but pleased.

"Well well well, what have we here? Have you decided to join me, Mr. Hoenig, and brought you friends along with you?" He glanced at Irene. "And one of them is a mermaid, perfect."

Harry blinked as he stood up. "Wait, what makes you think she's a mermaid?"

Vandal scoffed. "You mean you haven't figured it out?" Robby and Irene stood up and shared a confused look with Harry. "Come now, it's pretty obvious." He pointed at her legs. "There's a soft shimmer to her legs."

Irene gasped as she glanced at her legs. Robby and Harry glanced at them as well. They gasped. Vandal was right, her legs were shimmering just a bit! It wasn't noticeable at first, but it was definitely there. "I had never noticed that before!" Harry exclaimed.

"Obviously," said Vandal with a scoff. He pulled a gun out and aimed it at them. "Now, come on in." Robby glared at Vandal before stepping on the bridge, followed by Harry and Irene.

(Author's Note! Just two chapters left! Woohoo! I was hoping to have had it all completed by today, but I got called into work on Thursday, and that really threw me off. Plus, I lost internet for a couple of days, so that didn't help either, lol. Got it back later yesterday and just have been catching up on social media and getting YouTube videos uploaded before I lose it again. It's still working today, obviously, so I'm just posting two of the chapters today. Hopefully the final chapter will be done later tonight and I will post it when it is done, if not, then tomorrow for sure. Then it's on to Valley of Diamonds and Clue of the Broken Blade. But I'm thinking those will be uploaded whenever I'm finished with the chapters. I have to get started on the two new fanfictions as well as Matthew's Universe and 1001 Nights of Red. So expect delays on updates on those two, but I do aim to get them done at least by the end of next month. Though, with the way Valley of Diamonds is working out, that one might be done either this week or next. The other thing is work, I don't have the time now to focus on just writing, plotting, and brainstorming. Which is enough of an incentive to at least get Treasure at Dolphin Bay done, as well as the fact that school is starting. So, yeah, hopefully this last chapter will be easy enough for me to knock it out before bed. Until then, you have chapter 19. XD Thanks so much for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day! God bless!)