Chapter 137

The following month passed by with seeming normalcy. The adults went to work and the children went to school, preschool, daycare or stayed at home with an adult who was off work. There was an air of anticipation that was bordering on excitement. The article was going to be publsihed soon. There were nerves and worries, but eagerness to see what the public might think. They wondered about how the news would be taken, about whether people believe straight away or write it off as being fiction or an exaggeration of facts.

The article was due to be published online on the 21st September 2026. They submitted the article on the 1st of August and the peer review took around nine weeks (this is a standard length of time as peer reviews typically take 7-12 weeks). In 2023, like many of its peers, the Journal of Animal Science and Zoology made the move to a continuous publication model, rather than only publishing for journal volumes. This meant that articles can be published as soon as the production process is completed and they become more easily accessible. The group were uncertain about whether broadcasting the article as more 'easily accessible' would be a good idea, but they also knew that the media would pick this up in droves regardless of where or how it was published, naturally drawing attention anyway.

A few birthdays occurred in this period of research and waiting for the article to be published (July – September). Cleo turned 34, Ben turned 35, and Madeline turned five years old. She was very excited to be starting at kindergarten.

Jessie was now six months pregnant and was very much looking forward to meeting her baby - likely in early December. Jessie and Alan had decided to wait to find out the sex of their baby (even though they could use the ultrasound machine Lewis got over ten years ago) – the couple were excited for the surprise. Jessie was planning to go on maternity leave at the start of November. It was such a blessing for Alan and Jessie to have their friends on Mako. Having 16 mer-children in the group already, their friends were very experienced when it came to delivering mer-babies. As this was Jessie's first, it was so great to be able to ask questions to people she didn't need to hide her secret from. She did wonder about the mermaid research they were publishing and whether it would ever mean mers would be able to go to hospitals safely. That kind of progress could be incredible for all mers.

Through this same time period, Katya and Linda with Vera's help, had been working closely with various agencies who could work to provide the best possible protections for mermaids once their existence was known to the world. This was all spoken about in-confidence and could be made public in the days following the publishing of the article. Katya and Linda started by talking to the Australian Department of Conservation to consult around protections for mermaids in Australia, who introduced them to key people who could help them talk with other groups. Soon there was a working group including representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme, World Wildlife Fund, and the Australian government. The representatives were all very excited to be part of the discussions. They understood the concerns that Katya and Linda had about potential exploitation. Mermaids would be covered under existing Australian acts such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (protection of threatened, migratory and marine species, including whales, dolphins and seals) and were included in the United Nation's stance against the illegal trade of wildlife. They discussed how mermaids could have an official conservation status making it illegal to exploit or trade mermaids for any reason. Katya and Linda agreed about this, but also asked the others to consider having a unique status for mers. Katya and Linda shared how mermaids were just like humans. They shared about the mermaids that had been involved in their research study. They were mermaids who lived on land, working everyday jobs just like any other human. Katya and Linda were very careful with their words so they did not reveal too much.

The working group agreed that this indeed changes how mermaids should be classified, but that would have to wait until mermaids were well known to the public. It would open up a whole new discussion about citizenship and legal status, and this could become very political.

It was decided that mers would have a latin genus name like all species and would be added to the conservation lists with the status of 'vulnerable'. Populations unknown.

It was agreed that Katya would have the honour of choosing the exact words: Syreni Mermayde, known in conversation as "Mer people" or "Mers".

Syreni (Latin for mermaid/siren) was chosen as the genus name with Mermayde (From Old English mere (lake/sea) and mayde (maid)) as the species name. Katya thought about using Mermann as the alternative (as 'mann' was gender neutral in Old English, used for both man and woman), but agreed that that it would be simplest for the public understanding to use the Old English spelling of mermaid.

The working group continued working through the details until each organisation had something to publish for when the article was released.

After work on the 21st September, the Mako residents, Jessie and Alan, Katya, Linda, and the Jacksons all met up at Rikki's Café. They were gathering to celebrate the hardwork of all involved in the publication. They weren't sure how quickly the media would catch on – their article was being published by a journal, not a tabloid in the first instance, so someone who reads journal articles would need to alert the media to a story.

From the outside of the café, it looked like they were having a pizza party…well, with the sheer number of people in their group, it really was a pizza party.

The kids were at a few different booths, chowing into their pizzas. The adults had a mixture of pizzas and salads to eat. They sat together chatting.

"It's all still so crazy to me," Linda commented. "So much has changed over the years. All those years ago I was ready to reveal mermaids to the world in the worst way. I never should have had this research opportunity with you – the people I wronged. I don't deserve it. And yet, we are now family." she continued, welling up with emotion. "Thank you for allowing me in to your circle. Especially you Lewis, Cleo, Emma and Rikki. Thank you. I have grown and learned so much."

Alan reached over and gave his aunt's hand a squeeze.

"Thank you for helping us with this research," he said. "And being the face of it – along with Katya here,"

"Your contribution has been invaluable, Linda," Katya began. "I don't know all of what happened in the past, but it has been so great to work with you on this project. Thank you."

"I may have had serious reservations about you at the beginning…and in the years following," Emma responded, "but you really are part of our family now. You as well, Katya. That's what this is," Emma gestured at all the people in the room. "This is family."

The Mako group made the decision to get up a bit earlier the next morning to check the headlines. Maybe the news will have gotten out by then.

OoOoO

The next morning, they opened Google together in the dining hall. On Zane's laptop, they looked at the headlines. This showed them that everyone would be talking about mermaids ad nauseum for the indefinite future.

The group took in the large range of headlines for articles, opinion pieces, videos and other news pieces. Scrolling through headlines such as "Myth or Fact – Mermaids. Evidence Emerges"

"New evidence of the existence of mermaids emerges from well respected scientific researchers"

"Evidence of Real-Life Mermaids! What does this mean for world mythology?"

"Mermaids exist today! Proof – Click here to read more"

Zane clicked into one of them.

'Are Mermaids Real? Scientists have found evidence of modern day mermaids! For thousands of years, stories of mermaids have existed across many cultures all over the world. Journal of Animal Science and Zoology has published a peer reviewed academic article which provides evidence for the existence of mermaids. Researchers and marine scientists, Dr Katya Alekhin and Dr Linda Denman, alongside their teams have written this ground breaking article...'

It went on. All the media was in an excited frenzy about mermaids. There were many posed questions of reality or fiction, questioning mythology in general, and looking at the validity and evidence of the research (which made the media even more excited because Katya, Linda, Alan and Lewis had done a great job of making this watertight and it added fuel to their fire storm). Somehow overnight, Dr Katya Alekhin and Dr Linda Denman had been thoroughly researched, with articles up about them as people. As both are well respected in the scientific community, the media presented them as scientific heroes for providing ground breaking research on a topic that had been ridiculed as a field of scientific study for decades. It was all highly sensationalised of course, as most media is.

Many media outlets stated that they would endeavour to keep their readers updated as they got more information.

As they were scrolling through the media articles, they received a text from Katya with a few links. The United Nations, Australian Department of Conservation, Australian government and World Wildlife Fund had announced the planned statements. The group were impressed. The statements made it clear that the UN, Australia and WWF were supportive of mermaids and that it was now illegal to hunt for or take captive mers in Australia, and the United Nations representatives (and the countries involved in the UN) would be working world wide to ensure the protection status of mermaids. Media outlets inquired about the speed of the response, and the groups were able to share about their collaboration with the relevant parties prior to the research publication.

The mers knew that having protected legal status wasn't going to stop mermaid hunters or poachers – just like with illegal elephant ivory poaching, but it should give them ability to seek outside help. If they could be seen like humans – rather than 'just creatures', then they would have even more protection. But first they would have to get through this next week of media circuses.

"This is crazy," Will said, looking up from scrolling on his phone. "It's everywhere!"

"I'm so glad we've done this anonymously," Rikki commented, eyebrows raised. "Look at this article on Katya and Linda,"

Rikki turned her own phone around to show them: 'Dr Katya Alekhin & Dr Linda Denman – Everything you need to know!'

"Look, it even has the high schools they went to and the places they grew up!" Rikki screwed up her nose. "Talk about privacy invasion!"

Bella sighed loudly. Everyone looked at her.

"What is it, Bella?" Emma asked.

"I had really hoped the world had suddenly changed," Bella replied. "Alas, it hasn't."

She showed them all the headlines and photos online that were focusing in on how 'beautiful' or 'pretty' Katya and Linda were – obsessing over their looks.

"It would have been so nice to just have articles focusing on the science!" Cleo sighed. Everyone nodded their agreement.

"I wonder how many times we'll hear about mermaids at work today," Anna mused.

"Ooh, let's make it a competition," Rikki began. "Customers count!"

"Aw that's no fair," Anna chuckled.

OoOoO

The gang of mer-children arrived at school. They parted ways and headed to their classrooms to await the start of the school day. Jenny, Jake, Leila and Charlie were all in the same Year 5 classroom so they headed there together. Eric went to his Year 4 classroom, and Alex, Jay and Ariana went to their Year 1 classroom. Daniel and Andy, while both in Year 2, were in different classes.

As Andy approached her classroom, she was greeted by an energetic Evie. Evie ran to meet her and gave her a big hug.

"Andy!" Evie greeted with a smile.

"Hi Evie," she replied warmly.

"Did you hear the news?" Evie stage-whispered, wide-eyed. "Mum read it out this morning! Mermaids exist officially!" she said the last word like she was trying it out for the first time.

"Yeah it's crazy!" Andy replied. She leaned over to speak directly into her friend's ear, hands covering her mouth. "It's okay that people know about mermaids. It's really important that no one knows about me or my family though- it is not safe,"

Evie nodded.

"Makes sense," she replied. The duo turned to enter their classroom.

Kids were hanging up their school bags or were sitting down on the mat. However, no matter where you focused in the room, you could hear 'mermaids' being talked about by different groups. Andy grinned. It was strange but exciting that people would actually be able to believe in and talk about mermaids without strange looks.

All the other children had similar experiences entering their classes. Mermaids were the talk of the school (and everywhere else with access to the news!).

A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you have enjoyed this chapter :D It took me quite a few writing sessions to get it finished (a lot of research and thinking).

Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter / story - I love reading all your comments, observations and theories!

Thanks so much to the following people for leaving reviews - I really appreciate it!

kaitoechizen211, Icy-Petals, Eleanoodle, Crazy Hayniac

See you all next time!