Chapter Seven - Outbreak

After another pretty sleepless night, Aurelia was taking a nice hot shower to try and wake herself up. She heard the door creak open behind her and moments later two warm arms wrapped around her middle and a naked body pressed against her from behind.

"Ooo, good morning," she chuckled.

"Good morning." Orm nuzzled her neck.

With going back to work and the new realities of parenthood on top of that, she and Orm had not had any time to themselves. And not only that, post-giving birth, her sex drive had been all over the place, but she was definitely in the mood this morning.

Things were just heating up when a chirpy beeping noise sounded from their room, the little device that the Council used to communicate with them when they were on land. Looks like they were being summoned.

It was like the Council knew the worst times to contact them, and then proceeded to do so, Date night? Summoned. She was taking some time for herself? Summoned. Family game night? Summoned. She and Orm were getting it on? Summoned.

The two pulled away from each other and groaned, the moment broken.

"Rats - we'll have to be quick then," she said.

"Aurelia-" He appeared regretful, but the truth was, they had to go.

She pouted. "Fine. But this had better be so important."

"A plague outbreak?"

Faster than she would have liked, they were dressed and back in Atlantis, back in the Council Chamber more specifically, and Karshon and the rest of the Members had just delivered a bombshell.

And okay, so it turned out it really was quite important. Like really important.

"Like the Renaissance?" she asked.

"There hasn't been an outbreak like this in centuries." Orm said. "So why now?"

"Increased ocean acidity, decreased oxygen levels, toxic algal blooms, take your pick," Karshon responded. "At first just a few people became sick, and it was easy to overlook, but now it is becoming quickly widespread, and all because your precious Surface has been poisoning our atmosphere for the last century."

Right, humans and their Industrial Revolution, their modernization.

"Is it contagious?" Orm pressed, all business. "Do we need to enact quarantine measures in the medical wings?"

"It does not appear to be contagious, My King, at least not as of yet. And we can only hope and pray that it will stay that way. But we cannot be too cautious - something My Queen does not seem to understand or realize, or take seriously enough."

Okay, that was a big jab. Point for Lady Karshon and the Council.

"Hey, you can't expect the Surface to care about us if they aren't allowed to connect with us, and us to them," she argued. "Yes they now know we exist, but we need to do more. If you want to be part of the conversation, we need to take our seat at the table. We are a nation of this planet as well, just as they are."

"Your Majesty is well aware of the Council's position on this."

Yup, well, well aware. Here we go again... "We can't back out of the partnership, especially not now with this new outbreak. Listen, we can talk to their scientists and combine our technologies to reverse the damage that's already been done, and stop any more from happening." She turned to Orm in his seat next to her. "Babe, you're a scientist, this could work, right?"

"It has the potential to yes," he agreed, and she silently cheered. "So long as everyone is cooperative."

Hell yeah! Point for King Orm, Ocean Master. She turned back to face the Council.

"But that is just it: the damage has already been done. A century is a long time."

"Well then if science isn't the answer, then let's try god-magic: let's try the trident - ha, try-dent!" They didn't appreciate the joke as she did. "It's helped heal injuries before." Like the fatal stab wound inflicted on Orm by his own father.

"You may wield the Trident of Poseidon, but you do not wield the powers of the Sea God himself. The damage is done, and so we must stop it at its source: the Surface."

"And let me guess, by that you mean war. Can we just go one day without wanting to destroy the Surface please? One damn day?"

"Our wrath upon them is justified, you well know."

"I know, and I know this goes against our traditions, but the world is changing, is shrinking, and the old ways aren't going to protect us anymore. Times have changed, and Atlantis wants this. There's a whole generation out there that don't want to hide anymore, who want to know more about the Surface and I'm prepared to give it to them. And I'm telling you there are people out there who want to help, and who can help if we just let them."

The other Council Members were muttering amongst themselves, but as for Lady Karshon, she remained firm. "Our position on this matter in unchanged: as far as we are concerned, the only reason we should be involving ourselves with the Surface World is to eradicate it, not to co-exist."

Aurelia stiffened, about to give Karshon a piece of her mind. Orm reached over and took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He would do this when she was just about to lose it, along with a loving, reassuring glance. This did calm her - at least for now.

The rest of the day was spent in long meetings about what immediate action should be taken. Aurelia was so happy at the end of it all to go back to the lighthouse and just snuggle Opal.

"A plague outbreak?" cried Atlanna when they at last, at long, long last, returned home and shared the news. "There hasn't been one in centuries."

"Yeah, the Surface is to blame and guess what? The Council is ready to declare war." She groaned. "I'm so tired of this! I really want a beer..." She just really wanted to kick back, relax and have a cold one, all while cuddling her daughter. "Karshon said we have to stop it at its source, but to do that would be to go back a hundred-plus years, which we can't do." She heaved a heavy sigh - just when she thought this job couldn't get any more stressful. "And wait, if it's affecting Atlanteans now, does that mean it could affect humans too? Our physiology is different."

"It could. It could quickly become a global problem."

"Shit." She looked down at Opal. "Sorry, Baby Girl." But her daughter was snoozing away, oblivious to the matter at hand, as well as her mother's foul language.

"Can Daddy have some time now?" Orm reached his arms out for Opal.

"No. It's Mummy time."

"You've been hogging her!" he pouted. They were like children fighting over a toy. "Sharing is caring."

"Who taught you that? No fair! My baby!"

"My baby!"

"My baby!

"My baby too!"

"Oh my God you two are ridiculous," Arthur groaned. "Just make another one."

"Maybe we will."

Arthur made a face. "I thought you said you'd never give birth again."

"I did, but then I met our little princess! Just wait until you have one of your own."

He just shrugged at this.

As for her husband, who still had his arms extended out for their daughter, she poked her tongue out, but gave in and handed over the baby. "Fine, Daddy can have some time too."

"Thank you." Orm happily took Opal into his own arms.

"Don't forget, Opal and Grandpops are having Māori lessons later," Tom said.

"Try to take her from Daddy, I dare you," Aurelia told her father.

Orm met eyes with his father-in-law across the room, and snuggled Opal closer.

As for Opal herself, she just soaked up all the praise, as she should.

There came a knock at the door then and Aurelia, now hands-free, went to answer it. She was surprised to find Vulko standing there on the doorstep.

Not only that, but he appeared very distressed. "Vulko, what is it? What's wrong."

He spoke, his voice breaking. "Aria has contracted the plague."

Things are taking a turn...

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)