In a laboratory, miles from the nearest form of civilisation, a man, one of the foremost scientific minds in the world, was working in a private laboratory, closed off even from the other research assistants in the compound.
Anton Mercer, to the outside world, was known as many things. He was known as a scientist, geneticist, engineer, businessman, philanthropist...but most of all, he was known as eccentric. While it was necessary for him to make public appearances at times, he really wasn't comfortable doing so. Even before his most disastrous failure, unleashing the sinister and evil Mesagog onto the world, he always felt more at home with his work in the laboratory than he ever did attending press conferences or five hundred dollar a plate charity dinners. He had always devoted his talents, his genius towards improving the world, but in the years since the Reefside team had to save the world from his greatest failure, he had been even more devoted to it.
It had cost a small fortune to rebuild his facility on his private island. The Dino Thunder Rangers had been forced to destroy it when they rescued Anton from his own nightmarish creation, but the one thing that Anton had no problem attaining was money. Although it was difficult for the average person to even guess as to his income, and he had been ranked in various places in the Forbes' 500 list in several different places across the years, that was because most of his money was tied up in various charities and businesses he owned shares in to keep his work funded. If he liquidated, he would easily be one of the wealthiest men on the planet.
His institute was the subject of many myths and legends throughout the scientific community. The work done there was kept under wraps by security and data protection that would put the Pentagon to shame. The work that WAS released into the public domain from his research facility was light years ahead of the curve, and the mystery only got made the rumours all the more wild and outrageous. It was all the more reason why the scientific community at large painted it as a paranoid, reclusive lunatic's vanity project, and as a Mecca of the scientific world. Anton had his researchers constantly monitor universities, colleges and even high schools in the search for the finest minds on the planet to recruit. He spent a fortune giving full scholarships to those who would join his team to work on his various projects, out on his private island.
As he was working on his latest project, examining something through a powerful electron microscope, he was interrupted by his intercom. He sighed as he looked to it and pressed the button.
"I asked not to be disturbed." Anton stated.
"Actually you asked us to remind you when you've been working too long." A female voice on the other end reminded him. "You ignored the 12 and 16 hour calls, I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist at the 20 hour warning."
Anton checked his watch, and realised she was right. It wasn't unknown for him to get a serious case of tunnel-vision when he hit a hot streak on his research. He had, for the sake of his health, entrusted some of his most trusted assistants to remind him to eat and to rest when he needed it. It wasn't unknown for him to spend days working non-stop without others to remind him of his own limitations.
"I suppose it's not worth arguing that I could do with another couple of hours?" Anton asked her.
"Not in the slightest." She warned him. "I'm not above breaking into your lab and having you sedated if that's what it takes."
Anton just laughed and started to remove his lab coat.
"Then I suppose I should set up a cot..."
"No, not good enough." The woman answered. "You're heading to that cottage of yours to your own bed if we have to drag you."
"You're worse than my son, do you know that?" Anton asked her. He headed out of the lab, into another room, sealing it behind him. He stopped by one of the lab assistants as he was heading out, holding up his hands defensively.
"Don't worry, I'm going, I'm going." He told him. "How is our guest?"
"Our guest is an ice-cube. He's the same as always." The lab tech informed him. "It's not like he's the only frozen creature that's been recovered..."
"He's the only one that still has life signs." Anton reminded him, taking the hand set from the man. "Metabolism, heart rate, pulse, brain activity...all of them are barely registering, but they ARE registering. As near as I can tell, some power source is keeping him alive. If we figure out how that happened...then it could be the secret to unlocking cryogenics!"
"Well, for how much you're spending on the human ice-cube, I'd hope there's some kind of pay-off at the end." He sighed. "Otherwise that'll be the world's most expensive ice sculpture."
"Sometimes that's the price of science. Do you have any idea how much the Government spent before the Apollo mission finally launched?" He asked. "Anyway, it's time I was heading for the cottage. Keep me posted."
Back at the hotel, the party was well underway. The wedding party had finished with dinner, and they were just saying their goodbyes before heading their own ways.
"I can't believe it's almost time." Eric told Louise as he held her hands gently. "I almost don't want to leave you for the night."
"Well, you don't need to worry; I'm in good hands with my maid of honour here." She replied, putting her arm around Emma. "Just get your rest in; I want you in good shape for tomorrow."
"I can't wait." He assured her. "Gia, Cat, it's time we were getting our cab."
"Say Noah, I caught a look at the movie list in the room, Guardians of the Galaxy is on pay-per-view!" Jake told him.
"Guardians of the Galaxy?" Cass asked him. Jake just nodded.
"It's a super-hero movie, one of the best!" Jake told her.
"You...watch movies about super-heroes?" She asked him. "Weren't you a super-hero?"
"That doesn't mean I can't enjoy watching a talking racoon with a machine gun!" Jake told her. "Come on Noah, let's get going!"
Noah just sighed as he watched Jake heading for the elevators. He shook his head, looking to Quinn.
"We SO need to get him a girlfriend." He told her. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"You know it." She replied as she kissed him, before heading out to get a taxi. Cass pulled in close to Orion.
"Can we go to our room now?" She asked him. "I have many questions about the day."
"Of course." He replied, before looking to Emma regretfully. "Sorry, I guess...my responsibilities..."
"It's alright Orion, I understand. This is all new to Cass. I know I had plenty of questions about the reservation." She assured him. "Besides, it'll give Louise and I some time together."
"You are amazing." Orion told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on Cass, we'll get some lessons in before bed time. It's going to be a big day tomorrow."
As they headed for the elevator, Louise just looked to Emma.
"I have to say, I'm really impressed." Louise told her. "You're showing a lot of restraint here."
"Restraint?" Emma asked her.
"Well, regardless of how it ended, I did love Gia's father." She reminded her. "When I was your age, I wouldn't have been happy if he told me he was staying in a hotel room with some attractive young girl."
"It really isn't like that. He's just teaching her." Emma assured her.
"Come on, you can't be that happy about it surely?" Louise asked.
"Well, let's just say I'm not thrilled." Emma replied honestly. "But I trust Orion."
"I'm proud of you." Louise answered. "Now, how about we order that Guardians of the Galaxy and a bottle of champagne?"
"Seriously?" Emma asked her. Louise just shrugged.
"I haven't seen it!" She answered. "But I did hear one of the characters was a walking tree. What do you say?"
"I am Groot." Emma replied with a smirk.
"I'm guessing that's a thing." Louise chuckled as they headed for their room.
Up in their room, Jake and Noah were watching their movie, with a selection of chips and dips on the table in front of them. Jake laughed as he crunched his way through some nachos with onion dip.
"Well, he's better at this than he was as a wrestler." Noah commented.
"Dude, there's no need to analyse it. You probably won't get stuff like this when you head out to that island." Jake told him. Noah just shook his head.
"Actually, Anton has deals with most of the world's entertainment companies." Noah told him. "Since most of his interns and researchers are on the island for months at a time, he makes sure they're kept entertained and up to date on what's happening."
"Anton?" Jake chuckled. "You're on first-name terms with the guy?"
"Well...not exactly I guess." Noah replied. "I don't really know what he lets his team call him if I'm honest...I guess that's something I need to ask him."
"That might be an idea." Jake teased him. "You wouldn't want to piss off the boss on your first day."
Noah just took a sip of his soda. He smiled as he thought about something.
"Say Jake...what did you think of Orion's neophyte?" Noah asked him.
"Cass?" Jake asked, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know, she seemed nice enough."
"Really? That's all you have to say?" Noah asked. "She was nice?"
"What do you want me to say? She was nice." Jake replied.
"Well, she was kind of attractive don't you think?" Noah asked him.
"I guess so." Jake answered. "Wait...are you trying to set me up?"
"Would it be such a bad thing?" Noah asked him. "You two were talking all night! She laughed at all of your jokes..."
"Everyone does, I'm hilarious!" Jake answered. Noah just sighed.
"Yeah, just keep telling yourself that." He responded sarcastically.
"Noah, I'm not going to just casually hook up with Orion's neophyte." Jake told him. "I'm not even sure it's allowed or whatever."
"Orion's with Emma! They're preachers, not priests!" Noah reminded him.
"I don't know, we just met." Jake answered. "I'm probably not even going to see her after this weekend."
"Why wouldn't you see her, you go out to the reservation at times don't you?" Noah asked him.
"Noah, it's just...it's just..."
"Allison." Noah concluded. Jake just glared at him.
"Don't go there Noah." He warned him.
"Come on dude, that was months ago!" Noah told him. "Sure, it sucks what happened, but you can't let that stop you from..."
"Noah, can you stay out of my love life." Jake stated.
"I would, but you have to admit, you have been different since that all went down." Noah told him. "I'm not saying you have to declare your undying love for her or anything, but maybe you could ask her out to a movie or something."
"You're not going to let this go are you?" Jake asked him.
"The two of you did seem to get along well at dinner." Noah remarked. "If nothing comes of it, what have you lost?"
"If I say yes, will you shut up long enough to let me see the end of this movie?" Jake asked. Noah just nodded.
"No problem." Noah assured him. Jake just turned back to the screen, grabbing some more chips as he did so.
Later at night, in another part of the hotel, Cass woke up in the middle of the night. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up, trying to get her bearings. As she got up to head to the bathroom, she saw that the bed next to hers was empty.
At first, she thought he had gone to the bathroom, and was prepared to wait, but she noticed the door was open and the light was off. Stepping inside, she could see that the room was empty.
"Orion?" She asked. "Orion?"
She didn't get any answer though. As she looked around, she could see something on his bedside table. It was his I-phone. She had seen him using it to communicate with his friends outside of the reservation.
She just looked at it for a moment, finding the screen blank, but after a while, she dragged a finger across it, and it opened up. She could see some writing on the screen.
"I couldn't sleep, thinking of you." She read aloud, beginning to pace. "Meet me at the pool."
As she read this, she looked around the room one more time, and could see that all of Orion's clothes were still in his suitcase. She found herself smiling as she considered his message, and went into her luggage. Remembering the embarrassing encounter with Cat and Gia earlier, she wanted to avoid any more misunderstandings, and looked out a swimming costume, before picking up the room key and heading out of the room.
Out in the hall, Jake was going to the ice machine to get some ice while Noah picked another movie. As he finished filling his ice bucket, he turned, bumping into Cass in the hallway. She just looked up to him, a little flustered.
"Oh...um...Jake, hi!" She greeted him.
"Hi." He answered, seeing her in her swimming costume. "I guess you couldn't sleep either?"
"Uh...something like that." She replied. "So...I should be going."
"Going?" Jake asked her.
"Yeah, I was just heading to the pool." She told him. "So...I guess I'll see you around?"
"Sure, see you around." Jake replied as she headed down the hall. Jake made his way back to his room, completely confused. Noah was still looking through the listings as he arrived.
"About time, where did you go for that ice?" Noah asked.
"Just down the hall...I just saw the weirdest thing." Jake told him. "I saw Cass in the hallway."
"Oh really?" Noah asked him. "Was she getting ice too?"
"Actually, she was in a swimming costume." Jake answered. "She said she was going to the pool."
"She did?" Noah asked him. "Jake, the pool closes at 8."
"Well, she seemed to be pretty adamant she was going to the pool, she had a towel and everything." Jake told him.
"So...why's she going to the pool now?" Noah asked.
"I guess it's an Andresian thing." Jake replied with a shrug. "We can ask her about it tomorrow, she said she'd see me around."
Noah just sighed and started banging his head on the desk.
"Dude, you are so dense!" Noah stated.
"Hey!" Jake protested. "What's that meant to...?"
"She's wearing a swimming costume, going to a closed pool, she'll see you later?" Noah asked. "Dude, she totally wants you to go with her!"
"What would she want me to...?" Jake started to say, before the penny dropped. "Uh...you think so?"
"Here, take these." Noah told him, throwing a pair of trunks at him. "I'll find something to do."
Jake just gathered up a towel and his room key, before heading hurriedly out the door.
Meanwhile, down at the pool, Orion swam up to Emma, putting his arms around her as she smiled at him.
"This was a great idea Emma." Orion complimented her. "How did you...?"
"I picked the lock." She told him. "I picked up a few things as a pirate."
"Wow, I never thought breaking and entering would be such a turn-on." He replied.
"Well, it's not like we've had much of a chance to get some time alone together." Emma answered.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about the whole Cass thing." Orion replied. "Centuri kind of dropped that one on me at the last minute."
"Its fine, I understand." She assured him. "Besides, I know you'll make it up to me."
With that, she drew him into a long, passionate embrace. They suddenly pulled away from each other as they were interrupted by a sound from the door. They turned to see Cass standing in the doorway.
"Orion!" She yelled. "How...what..."
"Cass, what are you doing here?" Orion asked her.
"I could ask HER the same question!" She yelled at him.
"We...we came to get some privacy!" Emma told her. "How did you know...?"
"I got your message Orion; I thought you wanted to come down here with me!" Cass answered. Orion just looked to Emma apologetically, before pulling himself out of the pool. He approached her.
"Cass...that was a message Emma sent to me." He told her. "I must have left it on the screen. I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea."
Just then, Jake arrived, finding the scene before him. Orion just glared at him.
"Jake?" He asked.
"Orion, Emma, what are you doing here?" He asked. "I thought..."
"You thought what exactly?" Orion asked.
"I...I...um..." Jake stammered. Cass just looked back to Emma, then to Orion, finally realising what was going on.
"Wait, are you and Emma...?"
"We're a couple." Emma told her. "Didn't you know that?"
"Orion, this isn't right!" Cass yelled. "You can't be with her!"
"Why not?" Orion asked her. "Jake is here, I thought you liked him!"
"I...um...I...it's not right!" She screamed.
"Cass, why are you so upset about this?" Emma asked her. "I saw how you reacted when you saw Jake, we all did!"
"Just checking...I'm not the only one confused here right?" Jake asked. "Cass...you're saying she DOES like me?"
"How I feel doesn't matter!" Cass stated. "But what they're doing is wrong!"
"Why?" Emma asked.
"Because Orion and I have been matched!" She told them. "We are to be married!"
Orion, Jake and Emma just looked at each other.
"What?" They all called out together.