Author's Note: Very long chapter, but it flowed so nicely. I really hated to break it up. Sorry. Also, this is the chapter with the creature. Again, I am not an expert. Details may not be entirely accurate.
1315 Words
Chapter Three, The Barracuda Bites Again
Jess turned to the comm and spoke into it, "Alright guys, I've got a Captain Peters and his boat standing by."
"Thanks, Jess," said Matt. "What about vacationers and house boats?"
"No worries. You'll have all the privacy you need. I've put out a toxic algae alert."
"You're scary, Jess."
"Thank you, Becker."
"What about our boat captain?" asked Abby.
"He's in the loop, according to Lester."
"How is our leader?" asked Matt.
"Hiding in his office," said Jess. "No predatory fish sightings on this end."
The team laughed.
"We're here Jess."
"Copy, Matt."
They boarded the boat, and found the captain briefed, as promised. "I take it the toxic algae story is a cover," said Captain Peters.
"Blame his girlfriend," said Matt, gesturing to Becker.
Captain Peters laughed. "She's efficient but persuasive. I wouldn't like to get on her radar."
"No, you wouldn't," said Becker.
"Be nice. I'm listening, you know," said Jess.
Becker shushed her. "Whenever you're ready, Captain."
Peters smiled. "Yes, Captain. Make yourselves comfortable, and let's go fishing."
He started up the boat.
"I don't like marine anomalies," griped Connor.
Becker smiled. "Don't like fishing?"
"You get attacked by lots of prehistoric fish, Becker?" Connor shot back. "If you knew what lived in prehistoric waters you wouldn't be so gung-ho. Besides, I almost lost Abby once."
Abby nodded, and moved next to him, hugging him.
"I read the file," said Jess, over comms. "It was horrible. Lay off him, Becker."
Becker smiled. "Yes, dear."
"Ugh. A domesticated Becker, scary," said Matt.
"Matt, lay off Becker," said Jess.
Matt smirked. "Yes dear."
The others laughed. "Any sightings yet, Jess?"
"None reported."
"What about your toys, Connor?"
"Toys, Becker? I'll have you know this is a top of the line scanner. It can reach practically to the bottom."
"Is it picking up anything?" asked Becker, unimpressed.
"No. Not yet," said Connor, hurt by Becker's lack of awe. "Hold on…I take that back. We've got blimps."
"Blimps?" asked Matt. "How many and how big?"
Connor read the screen. "Three. Can't tell the size."
"I see them!" cried Emily, pointing across the water.
Through the depths, the team could make out a long, lean fish, with a large snout-like head.
"They're saurichthys, a Triassic fish. Most closely related to sturgeon but resemble barracuda, with the narrow body and pointed snout. "
"Connor did you say barracuda?" asked Jess.
Connor smiled. "I did. Odd, huh?"
"So, this is Stella's ancestor, is it?" asked Matt.
"Funny," said Connor. "They aren't related to barracuda, just resemble them."
"They don't resemble Stella at all," said Abby. "They're magnificent."
The team laughed. Then there was splashing and churning in the water.
"Look at them go!" cried Becker.
"Hmm, clearly they're fast, powerful swimmers," said Matt, looking over the side of the boat with Becker.
"They are quite small. Compared to the creatures we normally encounter," said Emily.
"Yeah, about three feet long," said Connor. "Compared to Giant Barracudas which can grow to six feet, they do look kind of puny. Mind you, if we were small fish, we'd be terrified."
"Connor, I'm detecting more blimps," said Jess.
"Oh, Cool! Maybe we'll get to see if the theory that they hunted in packs is true!" Connor scanned the water. "Darn! Just more saurichthys; nothing for them to attack."
Becker smirked. "Stick your leg in."
"Becker, be nice," said Jess.
"Uh…Guys. I think they're curious about us," said Abby. "They're getting awful close."
"This could be a problem," said Connor.
The fish swam around the boat several times. Then they each made a passing swim, and slammed into the boat.
"That one tried to bite!" cried Connor, excitedly. "Here comes another!"
"Hold on!" cried Captain Peters.
He swerved the boat to avoid the attack, but more fish attacked from the other side.
"Tricky little things," mumbled Peters.
"I think they are attacking together," said Emily.
"I know!" cried Connor, grinning with excitement. "It's great!"
"You have issues, Temple," said Becker. "We got more incoming!" He braced for another blow.
"Did you see the teeth that time?" asked Peters.
They all nodded.
"No damage to the boat," said Matt.
"Yet," said the boat's Captain.
The team was shaken about as the attacks continued. Then the fish swam off a ways, but did not leave.
"Is the boat still intact?" asked Emily.
"Looks like it," said Abby, looking over board.
"For now," agreed Peters.
"They're trying to figure out what to do," said Connor, still observing the fish. "And what we are."
"I don't care," said Becker. "Hold still," he mumbled, as he took aim with an EMD.
"I don't think we're close enough," said Matt. "And they're too far under."
"If you want to pull us closer, or jump in and pull them out, be my guest," said Becker. He aimed and fired. One of the fish spasmed and fell limp.
"Got it!"
"That's no good," said Connor. "Not unless you want to dive in and retrieve the body."
"He's right," said Abby. "We have to return them through the anomaly. Now that fish is falling to the bottom."
Becker rolled his eyes. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Why didn't you both say something before I zapped it? I'm a soldier, not a fisherman."
Abby laughed. "Sorry, Becker."
"Any nets on board?" asked Matt.
"You bet," said Peters, digging in a bunk head. He tossed them several large nets.
"Here's what we'll do," said Matt eying the fish, still off in the distance. "Becker and I zap 'em, then Abby and Emily lay out the nets. Connor, you watch the fish, direct the girls where to lay the nets. Peters, keep the boat even."
"Will do."
"Ready?"
They all nodded. Peters eased the boat in, just off from the fish.
"Here they come!" called Connor.
"Right. Becker?"
"Ready."
Zap!
Zap!
"Two fish down on the right!" cried Connor.
The girls dragged the nets down and scooped the fish up.
"There is another one," said Emily.
"I think it's the one Becker shot before."
"I have it within the net," said Emily.
"Two more swimming on the left," said Connor.
"Got them!" cried Abby.
"More on the other side," said Connor.
This went on for a few minutes: zapping and netting.
"Anymore?" asked Becker.
"I don't see any," said Peters. "How about that scientific toy? It pick them up?"
Connor made a face, and went over to his 'toy.' "All clear," he said.
"That was productive," said Becker, looking at the mass of fish in the boat.
"Yeah, and we proved that they do hunt in packs."
"That's wonderful Connor," said the soldier, sarcastically.
"We need to hurry," said Abby. "These fish can't stay out long."
"On our way," said Matt.
"Make for the light thing?" asked Peters.
Matt nodded. They drove toward the anomaly and threw the fish out of the net, through the glowing ball of light.
"Excellent," said Becker. "Let's get back to Jess. Uh, I mean back."
Everyone snickered and laughed.
"Come on home, " said Jess. "Well done."
"Now that was an adventure," said Peters.
"Thanks for your help. And your discretion," said Matt, shaking his hand.
Peters laughed at the young Irishman. "People round here are used to fish tales, Mr. Anderson. It's not going to be hard to keep this story in the realm of the fantastic."
Matt nodded and laughed.
"Becker, what are you doing?" asked Connor, looking at the distracted Captain.
Becker turned red. "Nothing."
"You're acting like…" began Connor.
"What?"
"Like your listening to something in your comm," said Abby.
Connor laughed. "I know what it is."
"Shut up Temple."
"Jess is whispering sweet nothings on a private line, isn't she?"
"No," said Becker, turning his back to the others. His ears, though, tinted a light shade of pink.
"She so is," said Connor.
End of Chapter Three