A Merman's Tale 38

Chapter 38: A Surprise Promotion



  Natalie threw herself wholeheartedly into learning the ins and outs of her new way of life as a human fish. She attended every sign language class she could, both at and under the surface. Perhaps because she had no other way to communicate, she proved to be a quick learner and impressed not only her classmates but Paul as well. He later told Diane and me that he was very favorably impressed at how well we had taught her the basics during our time in the Cornwells' pool and the Lady Lexie's holding tank.

[Thank you, that will help make things easier for her.]

  It came as no surprise that Tara was delighted when she learned of Natalie's interest in oceanography. She had no difficulty persuading her to join with the other Mers working on the research station in the Sutherland, and the various 'kelp farming' and other field work outside the ship. She also encouraged Natalie to look up the websites for the Gulfport Aquarium and her alma mater when weblinks were established in our watery home.

  [There is so much you can learn on the web...you can even take many courses online! We won't make you live on campus in a pool and come to class in a fish tank. We might even bring your classmates to meet you here...don't be surprised if some of them end up wishing they had tails and could breathe water. Some of my colleagues wish they could have become Mers too...]

  As yet we did not have any waterproof laptops or other devices that would let us maintain continuous contact with the surface world, but the vessels that visited us now had at least a couple waterproof touchpads which could be used on or near the surface to send or recieve emails, texts, and such. Strictly speaking they were not waterproof, but were encased in a watertight layer of clear rubbery plastic. Because the Silent Sisters could neither talk nor breathe air they, and now Natalie as well, were offered first dibs on their use whenever a ship came calling. On the Monday after her arrival at the Sutherland a research boat came to pay us a visit and also send a team of 'normal' human divers down to get a first hand look at what we Mers had thus far accomplished. Natalie was a picture of happiness as she exchanged messages with her parents and sister just a few feet below the surface. Diane and I had been watching from a respectful distance when she suddenly doubled over in silent underwater laughter. After regaining her composure she waved at us to join her, then showed us the message her mother had just sent her.

  {You're making us wish we could live in the sea with you.}

  Natalie grinned, then tapped out her reply.

  {I don't think that will work out unless you can swim faster and breathe water!}

  Jackie Blue and Natalie quickly became like best friends, as only sisters who are also best friends usually can. It was more often than not they were seen together, as they renewed their old friendship. Jackie helped Natalie get over the occasional mental pang of longing for her family, and Natalie in turn proved adept for her age at diverting Jackie's thoughts away from her strained relations with her own parents. Just as Natalie was starting to look at a possible future career in marine biology or 'aquaculture,' Jackie was becoming intrigued by the idea of becoming a rescue swimmer. The father of her Orlando roommates had once been a Navy SEAL, and she herself had always enjoyed playing in the water and swimming. Diane and I were hopeful that that longtime love of the water would buoy them well in the future.

  Natalie lost little of her curiousity about the world above as well as below the waves when she traded her legs and lungs for gills and a tail. Any time a ship came to visit and she was not busy (Diane also made sure she got some 'class time'), she was always among the first to the surface. While she still couldn't easily communicate unless a telepathic Mer was available to relay her thoughts, she enjoyed listening to the other Mers talking and hearing the latest news from the ships' crews. Most of all she wanted to hear whatever any visiting oceanographers and divers had to say to us. They were as pleased as Tara to learn of Natalie's interest, and likewise gave her encouragement. Despite being unable to talk she often managed to get many of her thoughts across without help.

  "We would especially love to have you as part of the team...those of you who can only breathe water would especially know the importance of keeping the oceans healthy..."

  [I wonder if I will ever be able to go on any of those trips?] Natalie asked Diane and me after the three of us had spent part of an afternoon talking on the surface with a group of visiting researchers; among other subjects they told us about the progress being made developing the underwater communication system that would enable us to trade messages back and forth 24/7 from within the Sutherland Express and our families, air-only breathing colleagues, and other surface world contacts.

  [If you really want to go I'm sure they will find a way] Diane answered.

  [Yes, I would like that.]

  [Hawaii might not be practical for you, but there is so much in the Gulf or the Caribbean to see and do] I now told Natalie.

  [Might there also be some way I could enjoy that waterpark on Paradise Island...including the slides?]

  [Maybe...there just might be a way...] I told her.

  [I think there already is a way] Diane said.

  [What would that be?] Natalie wondered.

  [Several years ago some of us went to one of those waterparks, the one outside Nashville I think. They had just built a series of new waterslides and the construction elevator was still in place. The base was only a few feet from the water and the top was right next to the top of the slides. It was big enough and looked strong enough it could take a couple tubs at once. You would have no problem crawling from there to the slide, and they could run a hose from the tub to the slide so you can take a breath before going down the slide...

  [Ooo...that will be fun!]

  Diane and I waited a week before calling Marlon again, although we had had multiple opportunities to call him sooner. As well as Natalie was already settling into her new life and as well as we and Jackie Blue were bonding with her, and as level a head as she had on her shoulders, we still felt rather like parents seeing their child off to college or otherwise leaving home for the first time. Try as we might, we still had some difficulty shaking off the feeling of butterflies in our stomachs.

  [If you want to go, go] Jackie finally told us. [We can take care of ourselves while you are gone, and we have lots of friends who can look out for us too.]

  Natalie was also smiling [I don't think the water is going to evaporate anytime soon. I'll be fine!]

  Now it was Diane's and my turn to smile. [You will always be in our thoughts while we are away] she said.



  Diane and I were not the only Mers on the flight that touched down at the Orlando airport early in the afternoon of Saturday, January 13th. Yuki was one of the other Mers on the flight; for some time the Japanese ambassador had been trying to persude her to join a 'legends come to life' tour of Japanese Xanadu survivors in Japan. Yuki did not like the idea at all "I feel like he wants to put me in a traveling zoo!" and had already turned him down, but he had asked for an in-person meeting in Orlando to make a last attempt to get her to change her mind. Takeo was fully supportive of his sister "You shouldn't have to face him alone. I'll go with you if you wish." He was one of those who had greeted us at the airport.

  Debbie and two representatives of the NOAA were also there; we spent a few minutes introducing ourselves to one another before parting.

  As he had nearly two weeks ago, Marlon was there to drive us to his apartment. On the way, he told us Janice had just finalized her purchase of a houseboat at Daytona and put her old apartment on the market, already she had received a tentative offer.

  "I'm going to miss seeing her face and tail every day, but it is best for her that she live on the water if she can't live in the sea as you are" he said.

  Also as before, it was not long before Diane and I were back on the road in my car, bound for our meeting with the Jedi Council.

  Most of the Jedi we had met before were there when we rolled in. Yoda, Mace Windu, John Levy/Kit Fisto and his wife Karyn/Aayla Secura, and Luke Skywalker. Mara Jade Skywalker was absent, Diane and I later learned she had given birth to a boy two days earlier following a difficult labor and an emergency c-section. They were still in the hospital at the time of our visit but both were now resting comfortably. Also in attendance were a Vulcan woman Jedi and her female Vulcan Padawan, who appeared to be in her teens, or the Earth equivalent.

  "Greetings, Master" the Yoda said with a smile. "Welcome you are, both you and your friend."

  Master? Where did that come from? I was so surprised I didn't even think to keep that thought to myself.

  Now it was Windu's turn to smile.

  "We didn't say 'Jedi Master'," he said "and yet, time and again, you have shown a willingness and the ability to help others in need. That is one of the things being a Jedi is really about."

  John Levy/Kit Fisto spoke next.

  "If you can, Mr Scott, can you summarize for us how you have been able to transform others into Mers?"

  "Will anything I say on this matter be kept in confidence? I do not think my power should be made public knowledge, or even casually mentioned in private."

  "Yes" Telar, the Vulcan woman answered without hesitation. "Your caution is most justified. Not everyone would use a power like yours in a responsible manner. Indeed, if some people were ever to learn of your power, you could even find yourself in danger."

  That was a sobering thought, but I told my audience how I combined my mind-melding ability as a Vulcan and the legendary ability of Mers to transform humans into Mers, with my 'clients' desire to be changed, all without having to drown them first.

  Karyn/Aayla next asked me if I had been asked about changing anyone else since we had last met.

  "I have, and I have"

  "May we hear about it, if you will?"

  "Indeed." I told my listeners about Natalie and the circumstances that led her to accept becoming a water-only breathing mermaid. Far from being shocked by what they heard, all had thoughtful looks on their faces, and then seemed to spend a few moments meditating before John/Kit spoke.

  "I must admit I am not sure I would have done what you have done. Then again, I have never had to face a situation like those you have faced, nor do I seem to have that special ability of yours."

  Yoda now spoke again, to his colleagues.

  "Time it is, for our guests to learn why we asked them to come. Master Windu?"

  With that, the Jedi Master stood up, reached inside his robe, and pulled out a lightsaber that looked vaguely familiar.

  "We thought you might like to have this back" he said as he held up the lightsaber as if he were getting ready to toss it to me. Thanks to my earlier movie watching and reading, and Dr Collinson/Gella and the Levys, I was aware that someone who was strong enough in the Force could use telekinesis to summon their lightsaber, for example. I meditated for a few moments, then held up my own hand and thought 'come to me.' The lightsaber leaped out of Windu's hand, sailed through the air, and settled into my own outstretched hand.

  The lightsaber can be a wonderful tool as well as a formidable weapon, but it can also be dangerous to the user if one is not careful. I looked it over first, taking care to never point the emitter end at Diane or myself. Even before leaving Xanadu I had heard that one greenhorn Jedi had accidentally killed himself when he looked at the business end of his lightsaber as he pressed the 'on' switch. Mine looked and felt subtly different, but also much the same, down to the 'Ben-Sa Lem' etched on the pommel cap.

  It was time for the serious stuff. I made sure I had a good grip on my former toy, pointed it up and away from me, and flipped the switch to 'activate.' A blade of pale yellow light about one meter long emerged from the front end, accompanied by a low hum. I contemplated the sight before me for a few moments and slowly waved it in the air over my head, before shutting it off and laying it in my lap and again facing our hosts.

  This time it was John/Kit's turn to smile back.

  "The authorities entrusted that lightsaber to us, on the condition we return it to its rightful owner if possible, and if we thought it was appropriate for us to do so."

  "Already pass that test, you have" Yoda now said.

  "Thank you" I said simply.

  "We could not obtain the crystals needed to restore the original color, so we used crystals which produce the color you now see" Karyn/Aayla said, before explaining that yellow bladed lightsabers were often carried by Jedi Sentinels, a group of Jedi whose skills and talents were less dependent on a strong conection with the Force.

  "Is that acceptable, Mr Scott?"

  "Yes" I answered before asking "Is it waterproof?"

  "It is" John/Kit answered. "We made especially sure it would be, after we learned it properly belonged to you and knowing what we already knew about you."

  Hearing that from John/Kit himself was especially reassuring, I felt no need to go down to the old Lake Xanadu to see for myself before we moved on.

  Throughout Diane had stayed parked next to me, our tailfins touching, but not saying anything, just listening to what the rest of us had to say. Now our Jedi hosts turned their focus to her.

  "Miss Collins...Diane...does your good friend here seek your advice or thoughts when an important decision he has to make?" Yoda asked.

  "Yes, Master, he does, whenever he can."

  "Would you have done what he has done, if you were in his position?"

  "Yes, I would have."

  "Do you think he made the right decision in turning others into Mers?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "Why do you think so, if you wish to say?" Karyn/Aayla asked.

  "All are better off now than they were before. They can't walk of course, but there is much they can do now that they could not do before, even Natalie."

  "You do have something there" John/Kit said. "There is much you Mers can do that even I can't."

  "Would you like Harry to turn you into a Mer?" Diane now asked with a slightly mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

 "No, I don't think that will work out for me. Having full use of my legs is too important in my job...well, maybe after I retire I might consider it!"

 

  It was Luke who this time steered our conversation back in a more serious direction.

  "Harry, Nima Gella, or Dr Collinson if you prefer, has told us she told you you are very strong in the Force."

  "Yes, she told me that after Diane and I had returned to Orlando after we learned about the Sutherland."

  "Everything we have heard about you tells us you are truly dedicated to the Light side of the Force" he said. "We can sense it ourselves too."

  "Pleased, Master Obi-wan would be" Yoda added.

  "And yet, when we listen to the Force, we can have some difficulty determining if you are a lightsider or a darksider."

  "Explain, can you, Master Scott?" Yoda asked. His tone sounded genuinely welcoming, but he also clearly wanted an answer.

  "I believe I can, Master Yoda" I replied. I closed my eyes for a few moments to meditate, then cast my gaze about the room, starting with Telar and her Padawan.

  "You might remember Vulcans were not always the creatures of logic they are now" I said, my comment intended for the non-Vulcan members of my audience. "Indeed, there was a time many centuries ago, when Vulcans were as emotional and violent as all too many of us Earth humans, if not more so. Eventually they decided emotion was simply too dangerous to be allowed to continue to have a place in their society, so they set about to eliminate it and replace it with logic instead...you could say that when they turned away from emotion and toward logic, Vulcans went from embracing the dark side to accepting the light side..."

  "Hmm, interesting, that is" Yoda said.

  John/Kit was the next to speak. "It is probably true, both in 'our' galaxy, and yours, that emotion is the leading cause of wars. Have you ever appreciated how similar Vulcan and Jedi philosophy can be?"

  "I have, Master Fisto."

  "Value wisdom, you do" Yoda now said. "Remember, when there is no emotion, there is peace. Make good Jedi, Vulcans could."



  The meeting lasted well over an hour. The nine of us learned more about one another, including that the Vulcan Jedi and Padawan were a real life mother and daughter. The Jedi Council was most pleased with my preference to avoid combat, yet I was also mindful I might not always have a choice. Somewhat to my surprise, I was not asked to consider entering into a Master/Padawan partnership.

  Diane was in for a surprise of her own when Karyn/Aayla told her she too was strong in the force. In response to one of Diane's questions Aayla told her "The Force is a kind of energy field that flows through all living things, whether they are aware of it or not...what we sometimes call feminine intuition can also be the Force speaking to you."

  Diane pondered that answer for a few moments, then in response to her next question Aayla told her "You and your good friend could both make good Jedi. Both of you value wisdom, and wisdom is one of the central precepts of the Jedi Code."

  "What is it like to feel the Force?" Diane now asked.

  "No two of us feel it quite the same way, and some of us take much longer to recognize the Force speaking to them than others."

  Luke spoke next. "Not everyone who is force sensitive is comfortable with it. For some it can be like sensory or information overload, for others..." He could have been thinking of his sister Leia's unease because of their father, while I thought again of Mike when he had initially been turned into a Vader.

  When the meeting ended and Diane and I turned to leave John/Kit told us "You will never be truly alone. If you ever have a time of trial you must rely foremost upon yourselves, but we will support you any way we can, and remember 'the Force is with you'."



  Diane and I didn't talk much about our meeting with the Jedi Council as we drove back to Marlon's apartment and a welcome dip in the pool. Other thoughts were now pushing their way into our minds, including how Yuki's meeting with the Japanese ambassador might be going. Diane used her cell phone to call Marlon to let him know we were on our way. Although I could only overhear her end of the ensuing conversation, it was soon clear Marlon had some interesting news for us.

  "...yes, we would definitely be interested...when?...this evening would be fine...we're starting to get hungry...and Yuki too?...how many of us?... six...sounds good, she can decide where to go..."

  After hanging up Diane told me "Those people from the NOAA would like to have dinner out with us so we can talk about the Hatteras station project. Debbie will be there, and hopefully Yuki too."

  "I hope Yuki can come. She's one of us, she's been through everything we have, and more" I said.

  Our redirected chatter only came to a halt when we pulled up in front of Marlon's front door, which now had a ramp. Diane and I pulled our chairs out and shortly had ourselves seated in them. Neither of us could resist doing wheelies as we rolled in.