Authors Note:

I finally got an idea for the sequel and am now going to write and post it.

So before you read this story please go and read my first story in this series "Then there were 5." I don't plan to do much in the way of recap so if you don't read that one you won't know much of what has happened or who my OC is.

Please enjoy.

Chapter 1:

NEW JOB

My name is Laura Westbrook and currently I am laying on the floor of the bathroom half fish while my roommate is holding her side and leaning against the wall laughing at me. I'm not mad at her, heck I don't even blame her for doing it. If our positions were reversed I'd be laughing myself to tears too. I guess I should back up and explain to you how I ended up like this.

Well first I guess you should know I'm not a morning person, never have been, most likely never will be. I've learned to deal with this by making my alarm clock out of a coffee brewer that has a timer and setting a second alarm for when it's done to get my attention. However it's currently 5:45 AM and even after two cups of coffee I was still asleep enough to try to get the last of the sleep out by splashing cold water on my face.

Now normally that would be a great idea for someone to do. Just not someone like me. See I'm a mermaid and when I get wet I grow a tail. So this is actually a very bad idea for me. Yet I was still asleep enough to do it. Hence why my roommate, Bella, is currently laughing herself silly. She's also a mermaid, so she knows I should have known better.

Now as for why I'm up at what I consider an extremely unholy hour, I have a new job. Starts today. Orientation is at 7:30 and I am not licensed to drive here in Australia yet so I have to walk. It's at Sea World and it's a bit of a walk from here, and if I want breakfast I have to get up extra early. Hence the sleep induced stupidity.

"I know this is funny to you, heck if I was standing there I'd think it was funny too." I said. "But I really need to get dressed and eat before work so a towel would be nice."

"I still can't believe you actually did that to yourself." Bella said as she grabbed a towel from the hall closet and tossed it to me. "Dry the floor while you're at it too." She was still laughing as she said this.

I felt a strong urge to just bang my head on the floor but I resisted and started to dry myself off. "Sorry I woke you when I fell. I was trying to be quite so you could sleep."

"Well I guess that since I'm awake now I might as well stay awake. I'll make some food while you get dressed. Least I can do I suppose." She walked off, a few chuckles still escaping from her as she did.

I just groaned. It took me the better part of twenty minutes to get both myself and the floor dry, and then I hurried to get dressed for my first day of work. By that time Bella had a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs with some toast and bacon ready. I was really grateful for her help, if she hadn't offered to cook I'd have had to skip breakfast after my little mishap to get to work on time. After eating I grabbed my purse and my shoulder bag with all my paperwork for today in it, promised to meet with the girls at the cafe afterward to tell them how it went, and rushed out the door. I made it with fifteen minutes to spare.

I got my degree just last week. I was now a certified marine biologist. All my work over the past year and a half had fast tracked me and I'd only needed one semester to finish a degree. Now I was to be the junior marine biologist here at Sea World. I was glad to have been given the offer as it kept me local with my mer-sisters, and even after most of a year with them I still couldn't get enough of it.

"Hello there," a well dressed middle age woman greeted me. "You must be Laura. I'm Director Parker. I just took over here a few months ago so I'm relatively new here as well. Do you need anything before we begin?"

"Hello." I replied, "it's nice to meet you Director Parker. And no thank you, I'm good for the moment, but thanks for the offer."

"Well if you follow me we'll get started and then I'll have someone show you around. Just one thing before we begin. I noticed you didn't include copies of your divers certificates, we'll need them for our files for legal purposes."

"I don't have any, to be honest. I've never actually been certified, never needed to be. I am a good free diver though." I wasn't going to say I was a mermaid and that I could probably stay underwater longer then anyone with an air tank could, and go deeper to.

"Well that might be a problem. With some of the work we do here you won't have the luxury of having to keep coming up for air. Would it be too much trouble for you to get trained?" She asked me politely.

"I'll find out and let you know ASAP. That work for now?" I hoped that would be enough to buy me some time. If it was such a big issue that I'd be replaced this could be a problem.

"Yes. I know it might take some time to sign up for a class. Well if you'll follow me please we'll get started."

I followed her and spent the rest of the morning filling out a pile of forms. Almost as many as back in the States. I was glad I'd gotten citizenship here. Actually I had gone for dual citizenship even though the fees had been quite a bit higher. It was worth it in my opinion. After the forms I was introduced to some of the staff I'd be working with. That was followed by a short break for lunch and then was a tour of the parts of the park only accessible by employees and I was done for the day.

I had a few hours to kill before Cleo got off her shift and we were scheduled to meet at the cafe. So finding myself with the choice between falling asleep and missing the meeting and going swimming I hit the water. I stayed close to the main land so I wouldn't be too far out if I lost track of time. Even so I was surprised to run into Rikki while swimming among some of the local coral reefs. She waved to me in greeting then after pointing towards Mako held up three fingers and lowered them one by one. I rolled my eyes but as soon as she lowered the her last finger I took off just as quickly as she did.

It was close but she did beat me there. I guess the early morning was making me sluggish even now. At least that's the reason I'm sticking too. We pulled up on the beach. The moon pool was still a wreck and since none of us could bare the sight of what had become of it we no longer went there.

"Ha!" Rikki crowed. "I win!"

"I'm still half asleep you know." I said.

"Pfft. You lost just admit it!" She countered.

"I had to get up real early today for work. I'm still tired." I said I was sticking to it.

"Yeah. Heard about that." Rikki's grin was one of barely restrained mirth. "I'd really like to know the mental process that convinced you that would be a good idea for us. I'm sure it'll be a great story."

I groaned and slumped back against the rocks we were sitting next to. "Obviously there wasn't any or I'd have realized it was a bad idea before doing it. Can we never bring that up again, please?"

"Oh no. This one's way too good. Only one Bella hasn't had a chance to tell yet is Cleo, but only because she was at work early today." Rikki chuckled. "But don't worry. We'll fill her in."

"I guess no matter what I say it won't stop you will it?" Rikki shook her head. "OK, fine. But it stays between the five of us. No telling the guys."

"Too late. Ash, Zane, and Will were all at the cafe when Bella told Emma and me." I banged my head against the rocks. Rikki just laughed more. "At least the only one that actually saw you was Bella."

"Actually that's been the best part of having her as a roomie, I don't need to hide this from her like I would with anyone else."

"She says the same thing." Rikki said. "Anyways it's about time to head back. Cleo should be off work soon and as Emma and Bella are both at the cafe already we should definitely head there. Race you back?"

"If I said no would it make a difference?" I asked already knowing her answer.

"Nope!" Rikki didn't disappoint me. I sighed and we got back in the water. I was more awake now after the first swim and I actually beat her back.

"Told ya I was just still sleepy that first time." I told her as she dried us both off.

"I let you win." She said.

"You nose is growing," I said. "I've never known you to ever just let someone win."

"Well if you were too tired the first time then I let you win the second time." She gave me a hard stare. "Understand?"

"Yep. I understand ya just fine." We both laughed and now dry headed to the cafe.

"Hey guys." Emma greeted us as we walked in. "Just grab a booth I'll be right with ya soon as I get changed."

We smiled and headed to our favorite booth off to the side. Bella waved from the stage where she was in the middle of a new song she was rehearsing. It sounded good and I couldn't wait to hear the final version once they got all the kinks ironed out. We took our seats and Ash came over and asked if we wanted our usual or something different today.

"Usual's fine for me." Rikki said.

"I'll take anything as long as it has a lot of caffeine in it and a small plate of any type of pasta you have, I could use the energy boost." I said.

"Sure thing, but isn't it a bit late for that?" He jumped back as I took a mock swing at him and he walked back to fill our orders laughing the whole way.

"I swear I'd kill her for this except that if it had been one of you I'd be doing the same thing, and I would hate to feel like a hypocrite." I muttered. Rikki just chuckled.

Emma came out of the back room and after placing a drink order with Ash, and stealing a quick kiss, joined us in the booth.

"Hey there sleepy." She greeted me, unable to keep a grin off her face

I glared across the room at Bella, who just shrugged at me without loosing either her place or tune. Girl had talent that's for sure.

"I'm never gonna hear the end of this am I?" I groaned.

"Nope." Rikki and Emma answered.

Cleo finally arrived just as Ash had finished delivering our orders and Bella called it a wrap for the day and joined us. Ash quickly got them drinks as well and they joined us.

"So I'm sure you all want to hear about my day at work." I said before anyone else. I was attempting to delay them from filling Cleo in on my morning mishap as long as possible. I should have saved my breath.

"Actually I think Cleo should have a chance to hear about what you did this morning." Rikki said. "Bella you were there so if you don't mind?"

"Not at all!" Bella was grinning the whole time.

"Really? With me sitting right here too?" I asked.

"Oh that will just make it even better!" Emma said.

I dropped my head to the table and thumped it three or four times. "OK what is so bad that you would do that?" Cleo asked.

"Well..." Bella filled her in on all the details.

"You didn't?" Cleo was holding her sides from laughing. "Oh you did, I can see it in you face."

"Did what?" Lewis said from behind her.

"Oh sure let's just tell everyone." I gripped.

Bella took that as permission and told him. He tried not to laugh out loud, it came out as a snort instead and his whole body shook.

Usually I got along well with Cleo's boyfriend, we both loved science, but this wasn't one of the usual times.

"Lewis I know I haven't known you very long, but if you want to keep laughing please do it elsewhere." I told him.

"I'm sorry." He said trying to stop. "But how out of it do you have to be to forget the most important fact of your life?"

"Very!" They said at the same time as I said, "Don't ask!"

They all laughed harder at that. I just groaned.

"OK, OK." Emma finally said. "So how was your first day of work?"

"Paperwork mostly, a tour, and introductions to the staff. I was amused when they introduced me to you Cleo." I said. She nodded her agreement to that. "But the big problem is I have to either get dive certified or spill."

"Yeah. I have the same problem." Cleo said before anyone else could comment. "I've reached the limit of where I can go unless I'm willing to get in the water with the dolphins now."

"So what are you going to do?" Emma asked.

"Your not gonna say anything are you?" Rikki asked.

"Well that's why we're talking about this. If we do agree to do it, it will only be if we all agree." I said. "It's not like they don't know we exist so it's not as bad as it used to be."

"But we'd still have to give up our anonymity." Cleo added.

"And if you don't?" Bella asked.

"Well I might have to look else where for a job but most would require the same." I answered between bites of food. "Which leaves me with one option and she's on a job in the south."

"South of what?" Rikki asked.

"Wait you don't mean that south?" Cleo asked.

"Yup. That south. As in the coastal waters of Antarctica." I said

"Well that would turn you into a fish Popsicle rather quickly." Lewis said.

"Yeah. Which means I'm kinda screwed here." I gave them a wry look. "But I won't do this if we can't agree about it. It's not just my secret. We're in this together and so we'll do this together."

"Same for me." Cleo said. "Even if I did tell them I could still keep from entering the water during shows. In fact it might actually be better that way so they don't try to force the issue in front of a crowd." Cleo shuddered. "I could just see it, they give me a gentle push into the water as encouragement and it's all over."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Bella said. "Well seeing as we can't be exploited, I think it wouldn't hurt too much if you told just your direct supervisors. That would allow them to help get you off the hook if anyone else tried to 'force the issue' as you say."

"I don't like this." Rikki said. "But I've had time to think about it, a lot of time, and I figured this would happen sooner or later."

"You did?" Emma said.

"I do think about stuff you know." Rikki said.

Emma just raised an eyebrow.

"Now is not the time for this guys." I said hoping to keep them from getting started in their usual bout friendly antagonism.

"Right," Emma said. "Well I agree with Bella on this. Keep it small for now. We are protected, and I say it's time to make that work for us."

"Never though Denman would actually have done something helpful." Lewis said. "Last time I met her she locked me in the hold and used me as bait for a trap."

"Yeah. About that," I said to him, "if you're willing to hear her out she's willing to apologize."

"I'll believe that when I hear it." He answered me. "For now I say go with it. It's had time to sink in to the general public so they probably won't over react to much, and it'll make things easier for you at work. I mean look how well it works for Emma, Bella, and Rikki with Ash and Zane knowing here."

"Actually that is a good point." Rikki said. "If a spill happens here and we have to get away they can actually cover for us rather then get in our way. Very helpful."

"So that just leaves one question." Emma said as usual a few logical steps ahead. "Do you want the rest of us there for support?"

"Not this time." I said. "My boss will know about me and Cleo's can know about her. Actually it might be funny to watch them try to cover for one of us to the other, but that's something else. The fewer people we actually have to tell the better."

"True." Cleo backed me up. "This way they only know about us. You guys will still have your anonymity."

"That works. Well just have to play it by ear from there." Rikki said.

"Well now that that's settled I do have one other bit of news for you guys." I said. "Denman told me there's a guy somewhere in Europe that's using the research on us to attempt to invent a dive suit and air supply that can withstand greater depths. If he's successful we get 10% each of the profits, anonymously of course, and as the two leading researchers Denman and Simmons split 10%."

"Wait? We get what?" Rikki eye's went wide.

"10% of all profits. Each. It's called royalties. And it was in the contract he had to sign with Denman when he got the relevant research notes about how our bodies react to depth pressure." I answered.

"And how much will that come out too?" Bella asked.

"Well if he succeeds I know the US Coast Guard will jump on it with both feet for search and rescue missions on downed ships." I pointed out. "And the US military has a very big budget and a lot of people to outfit and train."

They all sat stunned.

"Nice to know that it's going to be used for something good at least." Lewis commented.

"Yup." I nodded.

The conversation turned to more mundane topics after that, such as who was the fastest swimmer, who could hold her breath longest, and more jokes about my morning adventures. Little did we know that we were sitting on a time bomb that was about to blow our secret wide open. I don't think we had fully thought through what it would mean if everyone knew what to look for about spotting mermaids. We really should have.