Begin Part F: Convergence of Fate

On Dryland that same morning, Parker left the base to buy a newspaper from back home. He had Liam and Mauricio trail him just to be safe as suspicion would be focused on him given the kidnapping of Tubarina and Marcello along with other events happening behind the scenes. He knew that it was only a matter of time before UNIT would find him.

Parker went down the street and approached the stall. "Can I get a Herald Sun please?" Parker brought the paper, but just as he turned around, a UNIT truck had stopped across the road and beeped at a passing motorcyclist as the officer in the passenger seat got out and ran over to the stall to buy a paper. Parker turned back around and pretended to read his paper.

"Hey, can I get a Herald Sun please?" asked the officer.

"Sorry, I gave my last copy to that guy," replied the seller, pointing at Parker.

"Aiyo~!" The officer turned to Parker. "Hey, you mind if I borrow your paper for a sec, brother?"

"Sure," Parker said. "Here you go."

"Thanks, man. I gotta see how Victory did last night. Eyy, we won!"

"Hey, we won. Nice!"

The officer turned around to Parker. "You from Melbongkong, mate? You go Victory?"

"Yeah man."

"Aiyo~! I gotta tell ya, everyone in my team supports City but we both know they're shit, ay? I made a bet with them that Victory would win last night against the Sky Blues and guess what? We won!"

"That's nice to hear."

The UNIT truck beeped at the officer. "Oh, I've gotta go. Ah, here's your paper back."

"You can have it. Little reward for your service."

"Thanks man. See ya!" The officer went back to the truck and it drove off, sirens blaring.

Parker turned back to the seller. "Can I get a Yokohama Connection, please?" Once he got his paper, Parker went back to the base with Liam and Mauricio.

A messenger came to the Shark King with a report. "Your Highness, the Turtle and Whale Kings' armies are advancing towards this kingdom!"

The Shark King ordered, "Gather all the troops and prepare for battle! Where are my commanders?"

King Marcos, King Shai, Isa, Nico and Nicole came into the hall. The Shark King had more generals and officers, but most of them had left to join the Turtle King or Whale King if they hadn't deserted or gone back to their families.

"This reminds me of what happened with Thorn," Marcos remarked to Shai.

"Yeah, except this time nobody's sure about what's happening," Shai replied.

"Most of our generals have left us," Nicole said to the Shark King. "Are you sure we can still do this?"

"My plan will go forward even if I am the only man remaining," said the Shark King. "Until then, I appreciate your help."

"So what's your plan?" asked Isa.

"I need you to hold off the Whale King and the Turtle King while I try to obtain the final pieces I need for my plan."

"Understood, Your Highness, but what exactly does your plan involve?"

"You will find out when the time comes. Until then, I want everyone to fulfil their mission faithfully and dutifully."

"Yes, Your Highness," the five commanders responded.

"I've got a pretty bad feeling about this mission," Nico remarked to Isa.

Later, while Parker was reading his paper, a scout ran into his quarters with a report. "My lord! A large UNIT convoy is heading this way! It appears to be led by Kate Lethbridge-Stewart!"

Parker suddenly stood up, slamming his fist on the table and startling the scout. "Which one of youse dogfuckers fucking snitched on me?"

"My lord, please, I'm just delivering a message!"

Regardless, Parker knew that it wouldn't be long until UNIT got to the base and arrested him and his generals. "Spread the message to all units. Immediately begin the advance into Salacia!" The scout stood in shock at what Parker was asking of everyone before Parker frantically yelled at him, "Go! Get back out there!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Everything was closing in on Parker now that UNIT had caught on to everything he did in secret. Would karma come back to bite Parker, or would Parker successfully win against the dictates of fate? Would he be able to reclaim Dryland for humanity or would the salines assert their right to what they believed was originally theirs?

Parker ordered his army to assemble as he gave them their orders. "Today, we will end this war between land and sea. Our eight or fourteen years of suffering will end with this battle. The troops at our other bases are ready to advance as well. Daniel, Kelvin and Windy, I want you three to put this base on lockdown and guard it. Once we leave, nobody else is to enter or leave this base by penalty of execution. Everyone else, we march to Gonzaga Beach!"

The Kongming Army cheered before they prepared to set off. While most of the army was ecstatic to see the end of the war, some of them had their doubts, including the generals.

Windy asked, "Parker, shouldn't we be on the battlefield as well? If this is going to be the final battle then we should be sharing in the glory as well."

Angelina asked, "Why are you locking down the base? You haven't needed to do that when we went out on battles."

Mauricio added, "Shouldn't we call the Yabusaki Army or the other armies for help as well?"

Parker replied, "I know you have concerns about this battle, but rest assured that I have everything under control. I'll give you further orders once we begin marching into Salacia."

"He's going to get us all killed," mumbled Marcia.

"Relax. How many battles have we lost with Parker? He's bound to have a plan for everything," reassured Liam.

"Somehow, that doesn't reassure me," remarked Nikki.

"How am I going to see that Salacian octopus girl if I'm stuck here at the base?" Daniel wondered.

"I'm sure she'll show up one way or another. Let's just focus on our mission," Kelvin replied.

Back in the Shark Kingdom, the Shark, Starfish and Octopus Queens dodged armies of troops as they made their way to where the Turtle King's army was camped. Like the Octopus and Starfish Kings before them, the Octopus and Starfish Queens were willing to help their daughters in any way they could, same goes for the Shark Queen. Miss Marla, Veto, Marcello, Hugo, Tata, the Turtle King and the Turtle Queen were among the first to find the girls when they arrived.

"Sorry we're late, Miss Marla!" apologised Polvina.

"That's okay, girls. We haven't been here very long," replied Miss Marla.

"So, what's our plan?" asked Ester.

The Turtle King explained, "We're going to break through the Shark King's forces so you can head into the Shark Palace and find him."

The Turtle Queen added, "Miss Marla and I will cover you all from the Revengers' assault on the palace. Speaking of which, we should be getting back to our preparations."

"I wish you all luck, sea princes and princesses." Miss Marla, the Turtle King and the Turtle Queen left the royals alone.

Tubarina saw Marcello and Veto and went over to them. "Marcello, Veto, this is Father that we're about to face – the Shark King. I have to ask and I need to know; are you two ready for this?"

"This isn't a question we can answer quickly, Tubarina," said Marcello.

Veto added, "More to the point, I think the real question we should be asking is… well…"

"Are you ready?" the two boys asked together. Around them, everyone came together in support of Tubarina. Marcello and Veto's friends gathered in support of them as well.

"It takes courage for one to admit they're wrong, but it takes even more courage for one to admit that someone they love is wrong," said Polvina.

"Sometimes it's okay to tell someone you love why they're wrong," said Ester. "It's only when you do it too much that you become bitchy."

Veto added, "We know how much you love Father, so it's okay to say you're not ready…"

"...because let's face it, we're not," finished Marcello. "But don't stress it. Everyone's here for our family, and we're here for you, just like you're here for us."

The Shark Queen Mariana came up to the three of them. "Tubarina, Veto, let's go see your father. Let's remind him how much he loves us and how much we love him. Marcello, you can come with us too."

"Thanks Aunt, but to be honest with you, I'm still waiting to see if my parents are going to show up."

"You still think Marcela's going to show up somehow?" Tubarina asked.

"Even if she doesn't, I don't want to let Mother and Father keep worrying about her. It's not good for them or our kingdom. If they don't end up coming, then at least I can say I tried."

"Don't be so sure!" a voice said from nearby. As everyone looked in the direction of the voice, they saw Hammerhead King Macnus and Hammerhead Queen Molly arriving with their men. "I heard what you guys were planning and I want to help. I want to help my brother because he didn't deserve to endure what our parents put him through. And if we don't see Marcela even after this war ends, then maybe it just wasn't meant to be."

His wife added, "I might not be ready for what will happen if we see Marcela, but we're part of the Shark family and if my husband and son want to help the Shark King, then I'm happy to help. I'll just have to let myself be ready when the time comes."

"Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother," said Marcello.

Tubarina had tears welling in her eyes. "Veto, Marcello, I'm so glad I have a brother and cousin like you!" The two boys gave Tubarina a hug. After wiping away her tears, Tubarina said, "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's freakin' do this!"

Polvina and Ester turned to each other as they laughed, "That's our Tubarina!"

Parker led his army down to Gonzaga Beach as they prepared to march into Salacia. While all his soldiers were preparing themselves, moving supplies and inspecting their weapons, Parker had Angelina film a video for Trebon, which he would post online before the Kongming Army set off into the ocean.

"齊邦(Trebon), 我TM來了! Where you at? You got the guts to face me, I'll meet you in the sea. Don't be late. OK?"

Once his army was ready, Parker ordered them to charge and they all followed him into the water.