Dexter stared in horror at the abomination in front of him. Did he just make that? He didn't remember drawing up blue prints for it, or making it at all. He just thought about it and-

The mermaid smiled up at him with almond eyes. "Hello! I'm your imaginary friend!"

Dexter groaned. "I'm never going to hear the end of this." He glanced at his "friend" and looked at her closely. Every scale on her tail was a diamond. An intricate head-piece made of gold was on top of her curly blonde hair. Her swimsuit was something along the lines of a seaweed wrap. Her gills were on each side of her neck, and her neck gently sloped into shoulders under a vest of armor. She had a belt that separated her skin and tail and a sword in its sheath on her right side. She looked like a warrior.

He started to make a pro and con list in his head. He DID need a spy to go into the Fuse base underwater. But it was an imaginary friend. But weren't Eduardo and Wilt, some of his best men? He pursed his lips.

"Okay. I'll keep you as a soldier," he finally decided, running his hand through his hair. "You're name is Alpha."

Alpha giggled. "The first letter of the Greek alphabet, right? Also a term for the 'leader of the pack', in terms of wolves and animals, right?" She snapped her fingers. "Yes. That's right."

Dexter's eyes widened. Well, Alpha DID come from his brain. It wasn't just some mindless doodle. It was a person. Alpha shifted her tail behind her. "I'm a soldier, yes? So I'll be needed in the water, as an undercover operative. I shouldn't be wearing this, then." She took her gold head piece off and her curly hair fell on her shoulders. "If I need to be inconspicuous, then I shouldn't wear that." She pushed it towards him. "I take it, from the situation at hand," she continued, picking up a piece of paper and reviewing the latest battle scenario, "that I will be needed to take out a 'Fuse' base underwater with a team of other scuba divers. They'll need some 'gills' like I have if I am correct in saying that they'll be underwater for a LONG time; longer than any scuba gear could provide."

Dexter nodded. "Yes. Good observation."

"And, a heads up, silver cut wells in water. Silver swords and dark colored lasers. Dark colored lasers will hide the blast better. I'd put a silencer on it, too, so that the vibrations from the gun will be minimized."

"Of course."

"Thanks for listening. Now, what station do I go to? According to this..." Her colorless eyes scanned the page. "I'll be at Sea Station 4?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. Now, I'm off. I'll be debriefed at the station about what I need to do. You've sent the mission stats?"

"I sent them last week."

"Good. Well, bye!" She grinned and waved before disappearing with a POOF.

Dexter smirked. "Oh, now she can disappear, too? Why didn't I think of imaginary friends earlier?"