"It is your choice," he said, stepping so close to me that our lips were almost touching. "Either do what I say - or get another job." My heart stood still as I gazed up into his deep, dark, dangerous eyes... In a world where women's only role in life is to sit at home and look pretty, Lilly is determined to fight for her freedom. There's only one problem: a powerful man blocking her way.

The Institute for Cetacean Advancement quietly controls Earth, harnessing the intelligence of captive whales and dolphins to solve human problems. Dr. James Morris is their leading bioengineer. His best friend is Coda-9994, the genius and potty-mouthed hybrid sperm whale destined to be sent off to the ocean planet Ouroboros. With humans having rendered Earth's ocean uninhabitable, the ICA insists it's the only way to find a new homeworld to serve mankind's needs. But Coda doesn't want to go. He grows angrier at Jim with each passing day for doing nothing. Desperate to redeem himself in Coda's eyes, Jim finds himself tangled in a conspiracy to bring the ICA to its knees. But how willing is he to get his hands dirty? How far will they go to break humanity's cycle of self-destruction? Based on the short story that took first place in National Geographic's "Planet or Plastic" contest. *Contains some foul language.* ______ Dream Awards - 1st place Sci-fi Majestic Awards - 1st place Sci-fi