Interning on the Aronnax

Discovering Daniels

The Aronnax was at Professor Fiction's lab for three days for repairs. Finn had to stay in the hideout during that time, but he didn't mind too much. He'd been cooped up before. Besides, Fontaine stopped by whenever she could sneak off to check on him, and Finn kept himself busy with his new tablet.

It was still a relief when the Aronnax started up and moved into the open ocean. Maybe it was because he'd been on the move almost non-stop for the last six years, but Finn preferred the subtle vibrations of a sub in motion over stillness.

It didn't hurt that the Aronnax being on the move meant Fontaine was able to slip away more often and for longer.

The two teens spent hours poring over books from Will's study, both teaching the other about the ocean and its creatures. Fontaine tracked down board games as well, since both agreed they'd have to stay out of the ducts for a bit longer.

Fontaine did her best to get pictures of Lemurian runes, but Will rarely took out the Chronicle and she didn't want to cause questions by asking to see the Chronicle. Finn almost hid in the study ducts again, but ignored the temptation.

It was during this time that Finn discovered Devil Daniels.

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"How can you even watch that fake?" Fontaine asked in mock pain a week after the squid incident.

"He's hilarious!" Finn snickered and tilted his tablet. "In an entire episode of 'fending of blood-thirsty sharks' I haven't seen a single shark. Just a bunch of dolphins."

"So, you're watching for the dolphins." One thing Fontaine had learned about Finn, he loved dolphins.

"There's a lot of them," Finn said, ignoring the teasing. "Does he really think that people won't notice?"

Fontaine winced. "Unfortunately, a lot of people don't. They see a fin in the water and panic."

"Too bad. Dolphins are good company." Finn tapped the screen. "Hey, Devil Daniels is live-streaming a new episode."

"Where's he at? I'd rather avoid him," Fontaine said, not paying too much attention while Devil Daniels rambled on about "hunters" and "hunted."

"Not sure. He usually keeps his location a secret."

"Probably so nobody can check his 'facts,'" Fontaine said.

"Yeah." Finn hummed. "He knows Ant?"

"Ant?" Fontaine raised an eyebrow. "Not that I know of."

"Hold on, he's got a link in the description. I guess Ant gave him a tip?"

Fontaine groaned. "Don't tell me my little brother is obsessed with Daniels, too!"

"There's no esca-ah!"

Fontaine jumped when Finn's word turned into a yell. His hands jerked, half-throwing the tablet to the floor.

Fontaine started to rise. "Finn?"

"What was that?!" Finn scrambled to pick his tablet back up. He waved a hand at Fontaine. "Come here, come here. Look at this!"

Fontaine set aside her laptop and leaned to watch over his shoulder. He was watching some sort of ocean camera. The water was clear and calm with a few fish swimming around.

"I'm watching, what are you-"

Something huge swam into view.

Fontaine yelped and jerked back. "What is that?!"

"That's what I want to know!" Finn rewound the recording and watched it again. "It's massive, though!"

"Where's the camera recording?" Fontaine asked. "Wait. You said this was a link in Devil Daniels' latest video?"

"Yeah." Finn checked the screen. "And it's Ant's alright. Devil Daniels must have found it."

"And this is what he's going to hunt?" Fontaine scowled, snatching her laptop as she stood. "Mum and Dad are not going to be happy. I've got to tell them, so they can stop Daniels!"

"I'll keep an eye on things in here," Finn said.

Fontaine nodded, then hopped into the ducts.