Disclaimer: Not mine

Bittersweet Lullaby

Admiral Gallagher Jameson sat at his desk with his fingers laced together. He was trying very hard to keep his anger under control.

Standing in front of him was the captain of his private ship and long time friend, Thomas Brady. The man nervously wrung his hat in his hands.

Behind him, stood the member of his crew that had discovered Marina was missing.

"Run this story by me again, please." The admiral ordered. "I find it very hard to swallow."

Tom finally met his eyes and explained for the umpteenth time what had happened. "…And when we got back to port her room was empty."

"Did you ever stop to check on her?"

"Well, actually, the door was locked." He stared at the floor, mentally cursing himself for not thinking that something was wrong.

"Didn't you try knocking on the door? Didn't you find it odd that she never left her room?"

"Yes, I knocked countless times but there was no answer. I just figured she was depressed and didn't want to be seen. She's done this sort of thing before. Remember that trip to Bermuda?"

"That's not the point." Gallagher snapped, slamming a large fist on the desk. "I asked you to look after her and you completely shirked your duties."

Tom looked up in shock. A thought had just struck him. "Do you think she might have committed suicide by jumping overboard?"

Admiral Jameson stood up from his chair. "I highly doubt that. She's not the type to do such a thing. No, something else is going on. Do you remember anything else? When was the last time you saw her?"

"Well, I noticed that her trunk was missing. That was a bit strange. As for the last time I saw her, it was in the Antarctic ocean. Do you think that has something to do with her disappearance?"

Admiral Jameson's eyes narrowed. "Where exactly were you in the Antarctic ocean and why were you there in the first place?"

"We went there because one of the crew suggested we see the glaciers. I thought she might like it so I agreed. Come to think of it, I think we were near the place Zorndyke had…created his chimeras." His eyes widened in realization. "Oh, damn. You don't think-?"

"Yes. Marina must have been kidnapped by those monsters."

"But why?"

"I don't know but there is little chance she is still alive." His broad shoulders sagged a bit.

"You can't just give up on her now." The crew member spoke up. "There could be a chance that they're holding her hostage.

The admiral took a moment to mull this over. "I guess that's a chance we'll just have to take." He sighed and looked out the window. "I promised my little brother that I would keep her safe if anything should happen to him. I've failed him." His eyes glossed over for a moment.

He cleared his throat and turned back to the other men with a new determination. "Alright, we need someone who has been to that place before. Someone with experience handling their kin." An idea sprang to mind. "Get me Blue Six."

After the meeting, the man who had accompanied the captain snuck into the men's bathroom. He checked to make sure each stall was empty.

Once satisfied the coast was clear, he pulled out a cell phone from his pocket and dialed a number. "Hey it's me. Yeah, they went for it. Plans are being made to have Blue Six leave as soon as possible. I heard the captain say that not all of the crew would be joining. I think I can put in a good word for you with their captain. Listen man, I don't know what you had against this guy's niece but buddy you better watch yourself." The man warned softly. "This admiral guy looks like he could fight a grizzly bear and win. He's built like a freaking gorilla. I thought for sure he was gonna order the captain executed or something. If he ever found out I helped you, I'd be a dead man for sure." He paused to listen to the voice on the other end. "Yeah, I can get you credentials but it will cost you double. Okay, meet me on the docks tonight at 9:30. I'll have your stuff by then." He hung up and walked out of the room as if nothing had happened.

Captain Iga stood on the docks with his bodyguard, Deidson. "When is this guy coming? It's been an hour." Both were waiting for a new recruit that had volunteered to assist them over the phone that morning.

Deidson scanned the crowd of fishermen and finally spotted a man in a green turtleneck sweater and carrying a briefcase walking towards them. He immediately felt a tinge of unease at the sight of this man.

The man had short, shaggy brown hair that framed his face and two piercings embedded in his left ear.

The things that unsettled Deidson though, was the man's skin color and his brown tinted glasses. His skin was a strange olive color that Deidson had never seen on a person before and the glasses concealed the man's eyes, giving him an alien quality.

Once the man reached them, he extended his hand and greeted them both. "Hi, I'm Ash Talbot. I called you this morning on the phone."

Captain Iga scrutinized him then glanced over at Deidson. He spotted the other man's look of unease. "You seem to have come to us highly recommended. Do you have credentials?"

"Right here." Ash pulled out a stack of papers from his briefcase. "I hope everything is in order."

Captain Iga and Deidson looked them over, both astonished and impressed. "Well, you seem to be just the man we need on our crew. You're hired."

Ash Talbot's glasses concealed the dangerous glint in his eyes.

Marina walked down to the beach wearing another of her bikini collection and a light jacket. Her camera case swung crazily on a strap slung over her shoulder.

Katsuma, Delphine, Mutio, and Amonyushuu were waiting for her on the sandy beach.

"I found it." She flopped down next to Mutio and Amy and handed Katsuma the camera.

He looked it over with a curious Delphine leaning on his arm and pushed a few buttons. "Wow, it's waterproof and digital. They didn't have these back in my day. This must have cost a fortune."

Marina smiled, amused at his obvious fascination. "They don't cost as much as they used to." She said, pulling off her royal blue ballet flats and shaking out the sand. She set them down by her towel. "You want to try it out?"

"Yes I do." He pointed the camera at the three girls. "Delphy, sit next to Mutio, I'll take everyone's picture."

Several pictures were shot of all the girls in various poses and funny faces. "The camera loves ya babe. Hold that pose. That's it." As he took pictures, Katsuma explained to Delphine how the camera worked and showed her pictures that had been taken.

Marina finally had to take the camera away from him before the battery went low. Katsuma pouted. "I wanted to play more with the camera." He whined. "You brat."

Marina stuck her tongue out at him and stashed the camera away.

"Hey, killjoy, I just thought of something."

"Yes?" Marina replied, lying down to soak up the sun's rays. "I assume you're referring to me."

"Do you remember when we first met?"

"How could I forget?" She blushed at the memory. "I almost knocked you over." She sat up and shook her finger at him. "You really shouldn't have been standing in the middle of the track, you know that."

"I know." He shrugged. "But I wanted to get a good look at the famous Nereid."

"Oh, knock it off you liar." She slapped him playfully on the arm. "I wasn't famous."

Katsuma grinned. "Yes you were. The mess halls were always buzzing about the Commander's niece." He continued, gesturing wildly. "The girl who had to be half fish because she could hold her breath for over ten minutes underwater. The girl who passed every grueling test thrown at her. The girl that…"

"Okay, we get it." Marina snapped. "I was pretty good at stuff. Sheesh, next you'll be writing sonnets about me." She hated it when people boasted about her. It made her uncomfortable. She cocked her head to the side. "I just wish Uncle Gags would have let me enlist instead of just learning with the others. He was always so much more protective of me. Like I could break at any moment or something. I guess can't really blame him though. He and my dad were really close and he had promised he would look after me. But can you believe he wouldn't even let me date? Come on, do I really look that fragile and helpless to you?"

Katsuma shook his head. He knew just how rough and tumble she could be. "I still remember when you flipped that guy onto his back in the mess hall. I thought I would have to step in and teach him a few manners but you beat me to it and he had to be at least twice your weight."

The other girls stared at Marina. "You really did that?"

Marina smiled sheepishly. "Well, I didn't exactly hurt him. I think I just knocked the wind out of him. Serves him right though. He wouldn't take no for an answer. I don't like pushy guys."

"Wow." Amonyushuu whispered to the other girls. "No wonder Verg doesn't like her. I bet she could do that to him."

The other girls nodded.

"If your uncle wasn't so protective," Katsuma piped in. "Who would you have gone out with? Come on, be honest."

Marina blushed again. "Well, I-uh, you actually."

"Me?" He gave her a look of skepticism. "This, I gotta hear."

Marina twiddled her thumbs, not daring to look him in the eye. "I used to have sort of a crush on you."

"Really? You're serious?"

"Dead serious."

"Why me? I didn't think I would be your type."

"You were one of the only people that helped me forget my troubles. When I was around you I found myself smiling more and feeling more carefree. It was nice to have that again."

"Well, I'm glad I made you feel that way but I figured you would go for someone like my friend Hayami. I wonder how he's doing by the way." He added as an afterthought.

"Hayami?" She started. "He used to be terrified of the water, right? I can't go out with a guy like that. Besides, after you disappeared, I kinda…..blamed him for your death and stopped talking to him or being in the same room as him." Katsuma gave her a look. "Hey, I had no idea of what had happened. How was I supposed to know. I guess I owe him a big apology." She looked down at her hands. "He does have some good qualities though, I can see why Kino likes him."

"Yes." Mutio nodded. "He spared my life and took me back to the sea." She remembered his hands gently lifting her body off the ground and returning her to the water. Even though she was the enemy and she had bitten him when he touched her, he had still rescued her. She would be eternally grateful to the human for his kindness.

"That's what I've heard." Marina replied. "I guess it wasn't just a rumor."

"Who's Kino?" Amonyushuu asked.

"She's the girl that came here with Hayami." Marina didn't want to say anymore about the topic. She knew what had transpired.

Amonyushuu frowned, her ears pulled back. "I remember her now. She was scary. She pulled a gun on me."

Marina frowned with worry. She hoped Amonyushuu did not hold a grudge against her other friend. "I'm sorry she did that to you. I know she didn't show it at the time but she's usually really nice."

"Then why did she do that?"

Marina paused, thinking of what to say. She would have to choose her words carefully. "She was hurting inside. She lost her family because of the war and she wanted revenge. I think she learned here that killing Zorndyke would not ease the pain." She took Amonyushuu's hands in hers and looked the cat-girl in the eyes. "Kino is my friend just as you are. Please don't be angry with her, she's not a bad person."

"I've already forgiven her because she didn't kill Papa after all." Amonyushuu said. "I just wanted to know why she did it and why she had been so angry towards us."

Marina hugged her. "Thank you and I'm very proud of you for forgiving her. That was a very grown up thing to do."

Delphine, who had been pondering something for a while now, finally spoke up. "Marina, do you still love Katsuma?"

"What do you mean?"

"You said you used to have a crush on him and he told me once that a crush meant love. Do you still love him?" She was worried that Marina still had feelings for him and that his love for her would make Marina jealous. She didn't want to cause a rift between the two.

"I love him as a friend but not how you two love each other." Marina smiled reassuringly. "You two make a wonderful couple and I wouldn't take that away from you for the world."

Delphine and Katsuma linked hands and looked at her with appreciation for her blessing.

The group talked for another few hours until the sun started going down. Marina and Amonyushuu bade everyone goodnight and headed for home.

On the way, Amonyushuu mulled over something that had been troubling her.

After a few minutes of silence, she summoned enough courage to say it. "Marina, I know that someday you have to go back to the other humans, but I wish you could stay here. You're like family to me."

Marina studied her for a moment and then spoke. "I wish I could too but you and I both know that Verg won't stand for it. Besides, I don't think my family will approve."

"I wish there was some way we could all live together." Amonyushuu whispered, staring at the ground.

They both entered the house.

Marina nodded in agreement. "You know, I've been thinking about that too and I've been fantasizing about an idea that I came up with." She sat down at the kitchen table.

"What is it?" Amonyushuu sat down too to listen.

"It sounds ridiculous but here me out. I've been thinking about a large city with beautiful gardens and beaches built between the two territories where humans and chimeras could interact in peace." She put her elbows on the table in thought. "I know it's an impossible dream but it is nice to imagine what life would be like."

The cat-girl tried to imagine humans and chimeras living together but failed. "What would the city be called?"

Marina tilted her head in thought. " Ooh, I've got it. We could call it Atlantis."

"Atlantis?" Amonyushuu raised a brow ridge.

"Yeah, after the lost underwater city. I think it's perfect."

"I guess so but I don't think it will happen anytime soon."

"You're probably right." Marina nodded sadly. "It really is just a fantasy."

"Human!"

Startled out of their reveries, Marina and Amonyushuu turned their heads to the source of the outburst. Marina rose from her chair, fearing the worst.

An angry Verg stood in the entrance to the kitchen. In one hand, he gripped Zorndyke's journal.

Marina felt a twinge of unease at the sight. Crap, I forgot to close the door.

"I found this on your bed." Verg growled. "You've been reading it haven't you?

"I was just-."

"This book is not meant for the eyes of a filthy human." Verg snapped. "How dare you read something so sacred."

Marina felt the urge to retort but her parents had taught her long ago that fighting was not the way to settle differences. It was best to just apologize. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it meant that much to you."

Verg fought the urge to snap her neck for her insolence. The only thing holding him back was seeing Amonyushuu sitting there. She was watching him with unease.

He turned and walked away in a huff.

Both girls flinched as the door to his room slammed shut.

"I'll go talk to him." Amonyushuu said softly. She left the room while Marina sunk back in her chair. "What have I done?" Marina whispered.

Later that night, Marina put on her pajamas and crawled under the blankets. She stared up at the ceiling with a worried frown.

Her chances at Verg finally liking her were now slim to none.

Besides that, she dreaded falling asleep. She knew what was to come…

Marina awoke to a stinging sensation in her right cheek. She touched the tender spot to feel stitches sewn into her flesh.

As she lifted her hand, she noticed an IV line inserted under the skin of her hand.

She cringed at the sight, she never liked needles, and tried to find something else to look at.

It was nighttime, she noticed, and she didn't know how much time had passed.

Dazed and disoriented, she looked around at her surroundings and wondered where her parents were. From what she could see, she was sitting on an ambulance stretcher with a lady paramedic standing next to it. The woman was busy with the infusion pump and did not see that she had woken up.

Marina sat up more to look for her parents. She scanned the surrounding area and finally spotted what would haunt her memories for the rest of her life.

There in separate stretchers, only a few yards away, lay the bodies of her beloved mother and father.

At first, she had thought they were merely unconscious and she smiled in relief. She was about to call out to them to let them know she was okay but her voice quickly died in her throat. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't look sweetie, don't look." The woman said softly, trying to shield her from the sight.

Marina didn't hear her. All she could hear was the terrible ripping sound of a zipper. She watched silently as the handsome face of her father was covered by the dark fabric of a body bag…

Marina awoke with hot tears running down her cheeks. She pulled at her hair and curled into a fetal position. Her breaths came in sobs as she mentally screamed. I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore, I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. This has to stop. She sat there for several moments before finally making up her mind.

She got up and stood on the wooden floor. She shivered as her feet touched its cold surface. Pausing only to slip on her ballet flats, she walked out of the room as silently as she could.

Out in the hall, she stopped to listen for the sounds of her housemates. Nothing. Good.

She quietly crossed the floor, mentally cursing as the boards creaked under her weight. She paused again.

Nothing. She started again until she reached the door.

She left the house without looking back.

Verg could not sleep. His mind felt as if it was being torn in two. One part was glad that he did not have to fight anymore and felt relief that Papa was gone but the other yearned for him and missed him terribly. What could he do? How could he find peace? He stared at the ceiling as if it had all the answers.

He was abruptly snapped from his thoughts by a creaking noise. His ears perked up and he tried to listen for the source of the sound. What could that be?

He went over to the door and peeked into the hallway to find the cause of the noise.

His sharp eyes quickly caught sight of Marina walking as quietly as possible towards the front door.

As soon as she left the house, he quickly followed suit. What are you up to now, human?

Once she reached the beach, Marina looked back at the house. "I'm sorry kiddo." She whispered. "But I can't stand this anymore. Its tearing me apart."

She kept walking until she reached the water's edge.

For several moments, she scanned its surface for any signs of life.

No one seemed to be out tonight. Perfect. That would make this less difficult.

Before she could set a foot into the icy waters, a strong hand grabbed her arm.

She spun around to glare at the owner. "Let me go Verg. You and I both know you want me dead."

Verg growled in response. "Your death would make Amonyushuu sad. I can't allow that to happen. If it were up to me you would be floating dead in the water ages ago, you filthy human. It was your kind that killed Papa and took him from me."

"Shut up, just shut up." Marina screamed, tearing her arm from his grasp. "You think you're the only one who has suffered loss? Thousands of people have lost their families because of this damned war."

"And I suppose you are one of them." He scoffed.

Marina's face softened and she looked away. "Yes, actually. I lost my parents a long time ago."

"And you blame me?"

She turned back to him. The anger and pain back on her face. "No, I blame your damned father. My parents were good people. They were against the war from the start and wanted everyone to see both sides of the story. They wanted to talk to Zorndyke and try to reason with him. Someone killed them because of it and it's all his fault. I hate him."

Verg glared at her. How dare she speak of Papa that way. He wanted to kill her right then and there but something stayed his hand.

"I was going to be a big sister too." She continued. "We were going to announce my mom's pregnancy later at the party but we never had the chance." Tears trickled down her face. "I should have run like my dad told me to do. But I just stood there, gawking up at the house like an idiot. They would have survived if I had just run."

Verg watched her in silence. He didn't know what to say to that.

"It haunts me." She said softly.

"What?"

"Every year, for the past twelve years, the memory comes back to haunt me. It takes over my dreams like a disease. I can't take it anymore. I want them back. Give them back." She fell down on her knees and wept.

Verg knelt down beside her and reached out to touch her. To his shock, she threw herself onto his chest and cried. He felt warm tears fall on his skin as she clung to him desperately.

He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair, not knowing what else to do. We've both felt the pain and suffering from the loss of our loved ones. He thought. I guess we're not so different after all. With that realization, he hugged her a little closer to him.

Soon her sobs subsided and she fell into a weary slumber.

Gently, Verg picked her up and carried her back home. As he walked, he studied her face. He'd never really looked at her for more than a brief period. There was something about it. Something so familiar that he just couldn't put his finger on. What was it?

A memory of the first time he met her face to face flashed before his mind and he remembered….

It had been a long time ago. Back when he was still small enough to sit on Papa's lap.

Papa had just finished reading another chapter of Twenty-thousand leagues under the sea and was putting the book away, when Verg had decided to ask a question that had plagued his mind for quite some time. "Papa, what is a mother?"

Papa picked him up and set him on his lap. "A mother is a female parent. She loves and takes care of her children. What brought this on?"

"I heard some of the little mutios calling the big mutios that." He cocked his head. "How come I don't have a mother?"

Papa's eyes looked distant for a moment and did not answer his question right away. "That's not important." He smiled and ruffled Verg's hair. "But if you did have a mother, what do you think she would look like? Describe her to me."

Verg had to think about that. His eyes shone as he pictured the image of his perfect mother. "Well, I think she would look like the mermaids in the fairy tales. She would have long hair that flowed like waves and eyes the color of the sea."

"She sounds very lovely."

Verg nodded. "Her eyes would be like yours."

"What do you mean?"

"Her eyes would have that same thoughtful look. Like she's thinking about something real important."

"What would you two do together?" Papa asked.

We would go swimming together everyday and she would patch me up when I get hurt and she would always have time just for me." He closed his eyes, visualizing the woman. "Oh papa, I wish you could see her, she's so beautiful."

"I'm sure she is." Papa nodded. "Come on, it's getting late and it's time for bed." He picked Verg up and placed him in his little bed.

Verg pulled the covers over his body and eagerly awaited his bedtime hug.

"Goodnight Verg." Papa said softly, hugging him close. "Pleasant dreams."

"Goodnight Papa, I love you." Verg whispered, hugging him back.

Papa just smiled absentmindedly, turned off the light, and closed the door behind him.

Verg nestled down in the soft blankets and thought of the beautiful woman he had envisioned. He would dream about her for several weeks after that until one fateful day, Verg decided to tell his big brother Marcello about his mother.

To his surprise, Marcello had laughed at him after he had finished his story.

"What's so funny?" Verg demanded. His little fists balled at his sides.

"You are you stupid boy. The whole idea is ridiculous. What human woman in her right mind would want you as her son?" He laughed again. "You should stick to trying to earn our father's pride instead of daydreaming about imaginary mothers." The mocking laughter echoed in Verg's ears long after he had run away.

When he reached his room, he hid under the bed. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he drooped his head in shame. Marcello was right. What human would want him as a son. "It was a stupid dream." He whispered sadly. "Just a stupid dream."

From that day forward, he had pushed the thought of a loving mother into the back of his mind and focused on winning his father's pride and love. It soon became an obsession which took over his life, while the vision of his doting mother quickly faded away to nothing…

Verg studied Marina's face again. She looked so much like his vision. She even had the same eyes. Amonyushuu had told him once that Marina would sometimes get a distant look in her eyes when they were together. As if she was thinking about something important.

No, he told himself, his mother would patch him up if he got hurt. But, hadn't Marina done just that?

Well, she would also love to swim. Marina loved to swim didn't she?

She would also spend time with him and help him. She probably would if he didn't push her away.

He could argue with himself all he wanted but Marina was the very image of his dream mother.

An overwhelming feeling of affection swept over him as he acknowledged this. After all this time, you're finally here, He thought. His lips curled up in a smile and he held her a little closer to his chest. I'm sorry I've been so blind. I promise I'll make it up to you.

Once he reached her bedroom, he set her down on the bed and pulled the covers over her, being careful not to wake her up. He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight Marina," He whispered. "Pleasant dreams."