What sleeps in the deep

Ch 11: Who are you?

The cargo ship that was helping us,  traveled quickly home. Something that for a brief moment felt distantly optional for Bwen and his daughter. The salty breeze filled their lungs as if getting away from that place was a true relief. Watching the sun reflex itself on the water as if giving it own shimmer was breath taking in itself. Stella and Kilo dared not move from the main deck. As both contemplated their view Luis was finally stepping out of the captain's quarters and was laughing with Paco.

Paco stepped back into his quarters while Luis advanced towards Stella and Kilo. It was time for business.

"Hey kids."
"Luis, you have no idea how happy we are seeing you."
"Yeah son, I came as quickly as I could."
"I know man..Means the world. We gotta a lot to talk about."
"So I've heard."

The three headed below deck and were setting up in the kitchen area. Stella unloaded her back pack on the table and started piecing everything together.
"Luis, look. Do you know about this?"

She presented the proposal to Luis. He grab the packet of papers and examined it. Scratching his head he briefly glanced through the words.

"Wow- This is weird!"
"Exactly!"
"I mean the guys told me some new tech guys were coming in and out of the place. Even the lights went out and everything. But this project is too big to go unnoticed. Not even I heard about this."
"This isn't good."
"No kidding hun....maybe we can ask around. Most of the guys working there hang out at Mickey's bar. That's our best bet."

Stella sat back with deep exhale. This whole project might take longer than anticipated. But worst, this might be a bigger than removing a wild animal.

Finally, what felt forever the gang touched land. All three waved their goodbyes to the kind captain that dropped them off home. As the three of them walked out of the active docks and straight into the busy town. Swerving through loaders and market stands, the atmosphere was lively. 

"Luis, the animal we saw was not normal."
"Yeah, man. It was as big and long as a whale but the body didn't add up."
"I think, I might just know what you guys are talking about. My place ain't too far from here. Follow me."

Luis then swerved through some tight streets with ease and made some quick turns through some alleyways. When they reached a street that looked like a dead end he made a sharp left and an alleyway appeared. What looked like the back of a tall building a small door and a red light bulb lantern and an old wind chime made of seashells adorned his door.

He pulled out his keys and welcome the two into his humble home. 

"Damn Luis I really like your set up."
"Thank you boy."
"Hey if you don't mind me asking whats with that red light by your door?"
"You mean my lantern?"
"Yeah, is it for good luck or something?"
"Ha! A lot of people may not know this but red lights help your eyes adjust to the darkness much faster than normally."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

"Hey guys! Focus!"
"Right right. So tell me Stella what were you able to find."
"Okay, so here is everything that I was able to get. But the real capper is these usbs."
"Cool, let check those out first. Don't mind my computer it's a little old."
"No problem Luis."

As Stella quickly sets herself up on Luis's computer she hit the keyboard and the computer does not react. 

"Huh?"
"Oh! you gotta plug that in kid."
"Um, okay? Were's the plug?" 
"Right on top of the computer."

She moves some books out of the way and find the fat black cable that was needed to revive the old PC. As soon as she plugged it the computer fans starts whirring and the system turns on with the loading page. In anticipation all three stare at the loading bar as if focusing on it would make it go faster. 

Ding! the page finally fully load and Stella now jumped to action. 

"Damnit, where's the program to read this crap!"
"Stella! this computer is ancient you have to look through the settings."
"Kilo can you do it please!"

Stella looks at Kilo pulling up some files and started connecting both usbs. Then some more time waiting for the computer to read it. 

"Oh my God Luis. You been needing a new computer."
"Now, I warned you guys it's old. It still gets the job done."
"Yeah, I'm gonna make another visit and get you a REAL update."
Both laughed.

The files finally uploaded. 

"Hey Stella which one do you want to see first."
"Let try the one the guard gave us as a surprise."
"Ok!"

Click, Click...

The video started to play. 

It was dusk in the video and one of the guys recording was laughing at the guy sitting at the ledge of ship with a bucket of dead fish. As the ship rocked in place the man on the ledge causally toss some dead fish in the sea.
"YO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" HAHAHAHA
"I'm feeding Betty!"
"Bruh stop lying!" 

The camera man started to come closer and watched the dead fish land in the sea. Seeing that it was still floating there. The camera man joked that the Betty got bored of him. Until, his tone changed into shock when the many dead floating fish disappeared. The man with the bucket turns toward the camera man and tells him, "Wanna see something cool?"

The hangs the dead fish over the ledge and started calling Betty with some clicking noise. After a minute and a half the neck of the beast extended out of the water calling out to the man's name. The man tosses the fish at the beast and then shouts, "Good Girl!" The camera man recorded the whole event in shock. "OH MY GOD!" 

The beast was smaller than what appeared in the security video. It was even more playful than the beast Stella and Kilo first knew. After a few minutes of watching the beast play in the water as it swam in circles near the man. It finally cuts off. 

"Someone made contact with these animals?!"
"Apparently?"
"Damn, he's the only one. We gotta find that guy!"
"Yeah but, who is he?" 

"Stella can you print a picture of this kid. I may get some answers if I ask the right people." 

Finally, the crew had a way in to solving this case.