Dangerous Waters

Chapter 11

Cleo pulled her jacket tighter around her body as the driver pulled through the main gates of the research compound she'd come to call home. This was going to be interesting... As they pulled up to the main doors, she heard laughter from the back cabin and shook her head. 'Was I like that at their age?' she though as the van came to a stop. "Start getting their bags inside, please, Jen. Get Gemma and Joe to help you," Cleo told the driver. "Yes, ma'am! Right on it!" the young intern replied and tossed her the keys. Cleo opened up the back of the van and smiled. "Welcome to my home, where you'll be staying awhile, my friends, so make yourself at home!" Six faces stared back in awe at the huge compound.
Lyla hopped out first, backpack in tow. "You should really see your faces. You all look ridiculous." The gang laughed and followed her actions. "Head straight throw that automated hangar door and you'll see a few of our interns bringing in your luggage, just follow them. I'll be right behind you." The group nodded and shivered, teeth chattering as they followed Cleo's instructions. Rita hung back, and walked with Cleo. "So where's Rikki and Emma?" "We went our separate ways," the young woman replied, throwing her curly hair in a bun, "they still stop in every once in a while, to check up on the happy couple,"she said with a smile, and they both laughed as they passed into the hangar.
"Wow, this place is huge!" Cam said and Zac checked out a plane in one of the corners. "Alright guys, lets not get too excited, ok? We're on a mission here, and that is-" Nixie interrupted excitedly, "to find out more about our powers!!"
Cleo cleared her throat, "that can start tomorrow. Right now the goal is to get sleeping arrangements figured out, and get some rest!" The group of teenagers groaned simultaneously as they scattered to find their own luggage and head to the rooms.
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"These rooms are crazy!" Cam said to Zac. "Eh, they're normal," the merman replied with a laugh. Nixie peeked her head in. "You guys all settled?" The two boys shrugged, "almost, I guess. You?" Zac asked in return. "Well finish it later and come on," she motioned toward the hallway, "Cleo wants us all in the main lab," she said and headed down the hallway as she called out, "Come on!" Zac and Cam shared a look and shrugged as they followed her. They walked in at the same time as Rita to see The girls, a blonde man and a redheaded woman.
"Lewis!" Rita exclaimed as she hugged the man, and Cleo smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Hey Principal Santos! Long time, no see!" "Call me Rita now. Girls, ahem- and Cam and Zac, this is Lewis, Cleo's husband, and also a former student of mine."
Lewis went around the group and shook everyone's hand and got their names. "Nice to meet you all! Not to brag, but I'm sort of the head honcho around here, this is my lab, and my wife and I like it to run smoothly. Not that we can't have a little fun, of course!" Lewis laughed and grabbed Cleo's hand.  "Allright, there's one more person we'd like you to meet. She the other mermaid on board here," Cleo added, "everyone, this is Charlotte. She's mine and Cleo's assisant. If you need anything, ask her." Charlotte smiled. "Hey guys, great to finally meet you all! I've heard a lot about you. I trust you're settling in well?" A chorus of affirmation went up, along with a growl from Cam's stomach. He looked up with a laugh. "Sorry, it's been a good bit since lunch." Charlotte smiled, "follow me, I'll show you all around to the areas you'll need to know," as she held a door open and the group headed through it, minus Rita.
Rita looked at all the equipment, slightly overwhelmed. "I thought you all hated her?" Cleo smiled, "It's a  LONG story. She's not so bad." Rita raised her eyebrows, "we have time.." Cleo and Lewis laughed, "Long story short, then, since you're so interested, she showed up at our lab in Barbados, injured by an unknown type of arctic coral, begging for help. Lewis and I did tests and research, then found out it was here in Greenland. It had similar affects to the coral that pricked Emma back home, so we did similar tests to that, and that when we found the ruins down below us," Cleo paused and took a deep breath, "so yeah."
    Rita laughed, "long story short, huh?" Lewis nodded. "There's other details, but we'll spare you the boring bits. Let's join the kids on the tour, shall we?" The trio headed after the group, with Lewis in the lead, pointing out rooms and hallways, giving Rita a rush tour on their way. Rita only caught bits and pieces of it though, to be honest, she was a bit overwhelmed. She was about to find out quite a bit of her past she had no idea existed. She took a deep breath and nodded and smiled every so often, trying not to stress out too much.
    A pair of door opened in front of her, and she followed Cleo into a large room full of scattered tables and seats, and a few leather armchairs and couches. It reminded her of a mix between an office waiting room and a dining room. "And THIS," Lewis gestured to the room, "is our rec/relaxation room. We come here to chill out, eat, talk, whatever. That concludes our tour, Miss Santos," he said with a laugh and a bow, kissing her hand. She laughed and curtsied, "thank you, Lewis." "Rita! Look at these fish! They're so-" Nixie paused, searching for the right word. "- Plain," Lyla finished blandly, uninterested. Nixie glared, rolling her eyes, "I was GOING to say shiny." "Those would be Arctic char, or as the locals call it, Eqaluk. THAT majestic beauty that just swam by was a greenland shark," Nixie's eyes widened and Cam put him arm around her shoulder, "they're very independent and aggressive." Nixie took a deep breath. "SO..... Let's all go rest from our flight and talk more about the shark in the morning?" Everyone laughed and Cam held Nixie's hand all the way to her room. She was so nervous, she didn't even fight it.