" The Boss .. " - A Shark Tale Story ( Mr Sykes x Don Lino )

... Trespassing

Don Lino's thoughts churned like a tempest as he stared out into the infinite darkness of the ocean. His fortress felt suffocating tonight, the once-comforting murmur of the currents replaced by a haunting stillness. The whispers beyond the reef gnawed at his mind, elusive and chilling in a way no enemy had ever been.

He needed to confront this mystery. Lino was not a shark to be haunted by shadows, and whatever lurked beyond his territory was a threat—one that needed to be identified and eliminated.

Still, a nagging thought held him back. There was something more to this than the typical power plays and turf wars. His rivals had always been loud and clear with their intentions, their threats sharp and direct. But this—this felt ancient, primal, as if the very ocean itself was conspiring against him.

As his resolve hardened, a low knock came from the chamber door, a sound so soft it barely registered in the stillness.

"Enter," Lino growled, his voice reverberating through the room.

The door slid open, and Razor, the grizzled hammerhead lieutenant, swam in. His one good eye gleamed with a mix of respect and concern, the scars crisscrossing his body testament to his loyalty and ferocity in battle. Razor had survived countless skirmishes under Lino's command, and if anyone could be trusted in times like these, it was him.

"Boss," Razor began, his voice low and gravelly, "we've picked up some movement near the northern trench. Not the usual riff-raff. Something... bigger."

Lino's gaze sharpened. "Bigger how?"

Razor hesitated, a rare occurrence for the seasoned enforcer. "Not sure. But the scouts are spooked. Said they saw something—something they couldn't explain."

A cold, familiar knot tightened in Lino's stomach. The whispers. He didn't believe in coincidence, and whatever his scouts had seen, it wasn't just some stray predator encroaching on his territory.

"Gather the enforcers," Lino commanded, his voice firm. "We're heading out. I want eyes on whatever's out there."

Razor nodded without question, already turning to relay the orders. The loyalty of his lieutenants was one of Lino's greatest strengths. They followed him not just out of fear, but respect. And tonight, that respect would be tested.

As Razor left, Lino swam through the corridors, each stroke of his powerful tail bringing him closer to his decision. The shadows beyond the reef were growing bolder, and if he didn't act soon, they would find their way into his empire. He passed through the operation's nerve center, where Luca was still overseeing the logistics of the day's dealings.

"Boss," Luca called out, tentacles still busy with the ledgers, "heading out again? You sure that's a good idea? There's been talk—things moving out there in the dark."

Lino paused, his eyes locking onto Luca's. "That's exactly why I'm going. I don't wait for problems to come to me, Luca. I deal with them."

Luca hesitated, then nodded. "Just watch your back. Not everything out there can be dealt with by brute force."