Chapter 119
"Hello, Ryan Tate speaking," Ryan answered.
"Hi Mr Tate, this is Dr Katya Alekhin. I am interested in your research proposal,"
"Oh wow, Dr Alekhin! Thanks for getting back to me," Ryan said eagerly.
"Please, Katya is fine," the researcher replied. "Your letter regarding the investigation of mermaids was intriguing. I have been a researcher in the fields of deep ocean science and marine mythology for many years now, and have a personal interest in proving the existence of ocean creatures talked about in cultural myths and legends. If you have some real evidence of mermaids, I am very interested,"
"I do. But, you won't just want to hear me talk about it. I can bring you some very real evidence – a biological sample from a mermaid,"
"Fantastic. Before we go any further, I believe it will be prudent if we meet in person to discuss. That way we can talk legalities if necessary," Katya replied.
Ryan and Katya organised to meet a few days later. Both were equally excited.
OoOoO
Jake, Jennifer, and Leila were in a clearing near to the mer-village. They were playing catch with a hardened gel-water ball.
"How was Perry's house?" Jennifer asked Jake. The boy had visited his friend's house after their basketball game on the weekend. Perry and Jake were the best of friends. Along with the Jackson's being long-time family friends, Perry was born a merman as well – there were no secrets between them.
"It was really fun," Jake replied. "We played outside, and went on the tramp!"
"Oh cool, I like trampolines too," Leila replied.
"Ooh," Jenny exclaimed. "Do you think we could make one, Jake?"
"Make a trampoline?" Jake asked for clarification.
"Yeah, you have elastic powers right? I think we could do it!" Jenny said.
"Okay, let's give it a go," he replied.
Jenny concentrated. She formed the frame of the trampoline with water first.
"Gel it, Jake," Leila instructed. The frames stood in the clearing.
Jenny then crafted a thin sheet of water above the frames.
"It's a bit too high, Jenny," Leila said, "Lower it a bit…slowly…yes! Perfect,"
As Jenny held the water in place, Jake focused deeply. He turned it into an elastic gel, and fused it with the frames.
"Cool," Leila said. She reached out and shook the makeshift trampoline. "It doesn't seem to be falling apart," she said with a laugh.
"I'm keen to try it," Jenny said with a grin. Jenny created a step (which Jake cured with gel) to fix the problem of not being able to get on the tramp from the ground.
Jake got up first.
"Well it's holding you," Jenny said. "That's good,"
"Moment of truth," Jake said. He jumped.
Jake landed and went flying up again.
"Woohoo," he cheered. It was even springier than a regular trampoline.
"Okay, we're coming on too," Jenny said.
The three kids cheered as the structure not only took their weight, but also let them bounce again and again, high into the sky.
OoOoO
Katya and Ryan met on Ryan's house. Katya brought her lawyer with her just in case. Ryan had considered meeting on his houseboat, but he realised he would have to explain where the damage to the walls and roof had come from. It would have been difficult to explain that the holes and slashes were from a mermaid fight on the first meeting.
"Welcome, Dr Alekhin" Ryan said with a smile. He shook Katya's hand.
"Great to meet you, Ryan. Please, call me Katya," she said. "This is my lawyer, Vera."
Vera and Ryan shook hands.
"Please come inside," Ryan said. He led his guests to the dining room table.
The trio sat down.
"I just want to thank you again for meeting with me," Ryan said, "Most look at my research proposal and laugh. Thank you for at least giving it a chance,"
"It is definitely very intriguing," Katya said. "As you know, my secondary research is creatures from historical myths and legends. The idea that you have found evidence of the existence of mermaids is exciting."
Ryan nodded his agreement.
"So, how did you want to do this? Do we need to have an agreement before we start? Do I just start sharing the information with you?" Ryan trailed off.
"I can give you my verbal agreement that our discussion today will be confidential. We will not share any information without your consent, or pursue our own research as a direct result of your evidence," Katya said, "We can discuss more significant legal agreements moving forward if required,"
"That sounds great,"
"Are you happy with a verbal agreement, or would you like it written and signed?" Vera asked Ryan.
"Verbal is fine," Ryan said. Vera scribbled this down in her notepad. Dr Katya Alekhin was known to be trustworthy and ethical in the scientific community. He had no reason to distrust her at this time. Besides, Ryan really just wanted the mermaid secret to be revealed in whatever way - ultimately proving wrong those who humiliated and ridiculed him about his mermaid obsession. He wanted to make a good impression on this potential research partner. Ryan did think it was a little ironic that after all his shady behaviour to get this evidence, of the scientists he wrote to, the most upstanding one replied.
"Okay Ryan, let's talk mermaids," Katya prompted.
"Myths about mermaids have existed for thousands of years across different cultures all over the world. There are many different versions and accounts of what mermaids are like. But there are common themes, for example, mermaids are half human and half fish in appearance. Many myths talk about mermaid power over water – calming the seas or creating storms. I have proof that these myths and legends are based on fact," Ryan said proudly. Katya let him continue. "I have video recordings of mermaids swimming, and DNA – biological evidence."
Ryan opened the lid of his laptop and brought up the videos that obscured the mers' faces. He chose a clip which just had the adult mers in it. He turned the screen around and hit play.
"This is a real recording of mermaids swimming. I promise it is not CGI," Ryan continued.
"They are so elegant," Katya said breathlessly. "If this is real, how did you obtain the footage?"
"I placed small cameras in the water where they often swim,"
"You mean that you have other angles as well?" Katya asked.
"I do- but I'll save those until later, if we decide to work together,"
"That is fair," Katya said.
"Come with me," Ryan said. "I will show you the biological sample in my office,"
Katya and Vera stood up and followed Ryan into his office. It was more like a mini-lab than an office. There was mostly geology equipment, but Katya recognised the microscope at the desk. Ryan turned on the large monitor so the microscope image would present there.
Ryan picked up a microscope plate. He showed the two women what was on it.
"It looks like skin?" Katya questioned.
"It does," Ryan said. "Watch this,"
Ryan placed the plate under the microscope. He took a syringe and dabbed a little bit of water on the skin.
"It takes a few seconds," Ryan said. "Keep watching,"
Katya's eyes stayed glued to the screen. They widened in a comically slow way as she realised what she was seeing.
"I've never seen anything like it!" Katya exclaimed in awe. "It completely changes structure,"
Ryan brought the plate closer to them again.
"Wow, now it looks like a scale!" Katya said. "I've never seen one like it – and I've seen a lot of scales,"
"I think it changes from skin to scale," Ryan said. "I think mermaids can go on land when they dry out,"
"That is definitely a strong theory," Katya said, examining the scale. It turned back into skin a few seconds after Ryan wiped it. "Can I try the transformation?" Katya asked eagerly.
"Go for it," Ryan replied.
Katya added water to the skin-like piece and waited. It again changed into a scale.
Katya looked back at Ryan from the microscope.
"Well, Mr Tate, you have convinced me. Let's talk about how we do this,"
A/N: Hello everyone! How are you going? We're getting close to Christmas. Where on earth did this year go? lol.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter - please let me know what you thought :) I love hearing what stood out to you/what you liked.
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. Thanks to the following people for leaving a review on the last chapter:
CrazyHayniac, Rock Mint Swirl 22, Icy-Petals, ZikkiLightwoodShadowhunters, Skalo, Sammiloveschoc, and Seaside21.
I love you all.
See you next time!