THE NEXT MORNING, my friends and I head to breakfast together. Everyone looks even more tense than yesterday. After we go through the food line, my dad and Vival enter the mess cave, and I promptly lose what little appetite I had.

“We’re here to announce our choices for the rescue mission to Kuron’s fortress,” Dad says.

Vival glances down at the computer pad in her hands. I hold my breath as I wait for her to read out the list. “Thom, Lena, Tobin, Penn, Kalli, Ree, Rohan, Janni, Seth, and Nere, please report to the briefing cave right after you’ve eaten,” she announces crisply.

My friends and I smile and hug one another. But I can also see the nervousness in their smiles. Soon, we’ll hear exactly how my father and his helpers plan for us to sneak into Kuron’s Atlantea and bring Robry and Bria back home.

We head straight to the briefing cave after breakfast. I’m not surprised to see that my dad, Vival, and several helpers are already there. Janni looks just as anxious as the rest of us.

My father’s expression is serious as he begins to speak. “Rohan, Janni, and Seth, Vival has chosen you as candidates because you are some of our most responsible and experienced Sea Rangers.”

Then he looks at my friends and me. “Nere, yesterday you and your team demonstrated your sea skills and resourcefulness. Before you commit to this mission, however, you need to know what you’re getting into.”

I feel my father’s eyes on me as he speaks, and I can sense how much he doesn’t want me to be a part of this.

“We wouldn’t let you go at all, but there’s more at stake here than two lives. It’s time we told you about the full scope and purpose of the Neptune Project.”

I shift uneasily. I thought its purpose was pretty straightforward.

“I know your Neptune mentors told you that we were trying to create a new species of human that could survive in the sea,” my father continues. “In case humankind is doomed on land, we hoped our species could flourish in the oceans that cover more than five-sixths of our world. But we had an even more vital goal when we devised the Project.”

He pauses to look at each of us in turn. “We came up with a plan to save life on the entire planet from global warming.”

Kalli and I exchange startled glances before I focus on his words again.

“One scientist who joined the Project was a brilliant young geneticist named Idaine Campbell. You all know the upper levels of the sea are filled with tiny one-celled plant life called phytoplankton that create oxygen and capture carbon dioxide throughout their life cycle. Idaine devised a kind of supercharged phytoplankton she called ‘c-plankton’ that could absorb a hundred times more carbon dioxide. When this c-plankton dies, it sinks and takes with it to the ocean floor all the carbon dioxide molecules it has absorbed in its lifetime. We planned to establish Neptune colonies around the world to grow and spread this c-plankton throughout the seas.”

So you want us to turn the oceans into a massive carbon sink? Kalli keys into the computer, her face alight with enthusiasm.

“That’s exactly what we hope to do. If we can sow enough of this c-plankton in our oceans, we could significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and finally start cooling our planet.”

So what does this c-plankton have to do with getting my sister back? Tobin keys in, his impatience obvious.

“I’m getting there,” my dad assures Tobin. “While working on the Project, Idaine met a charismatic marine geneticist named Ran Kuron. They fell in love and married. They even had children while working secretly on the Project, and then something went terribly wrong. Idaine’s research vessel sank in a calm sea off the coast of Vancouver Island, and Kuron became more and more unstable after her death. He refused to give us the c-plankton cultures she’d developed. We also discovered that he’d sought out rich investors around the world and used their backing to break the most fundamental rules and ethics of our program.”

I stare at my father’s set face. I’m not sure I’ve ever sensed so much anger in him.

“Our goal had always been to create humans who were superbly adapted to the sea, but still human in terms of their basic nature. Kuron became obsessed with creating the perfect species of humanoid to dominate the world under the waves. He began splicing genes from all sorts of sea creatures, including sharks and electric eels, into his human subjects, with little concern for their mental stability or happiness. Wasp and her gang are examples of his warped program.”

I remember an old novel my teacher back home gave me to read. It was the story of a man who was determined to create life no matter what the consequences. He even loved the tormented monster that he made.

He sounds like a Dr. Frankenstein of the sea, I key quickly.

“That’s a good analogy, although I think Dr. Frankenstein had a conscience and was a great deal saner than Ran Kuron is at this point,” my father replies grimly.

Are Idaine’s c-plankton cultures in his fortress? Kalli asks, her face intent.

“We think it’s likely. Kuron seems obsessed with her memory and determined to hold on to every bit of her research. We’ve tried to make him see what incredible value these cultures have for all life on the planet, but Kuron won’t listen to us. He doesn’t care what happens to the surface world because he’s so determined to establish a new civilization under the waves, one that’s completely under his control.”

“That’s why we’re now willing to take some greater risks where Kuron is concerned,” Vival says. “Millions are dying all around the world because of the scarcity of food and water caused by global warming. We can’t afford to wait any longer. Your mission would be to infiltrate Atlantea, find your friends, and try to free them. But we also want some of you to locate those cultures, steal them, and bring them back to us.”

My heart skips a beat. Densil told me this place is huge, I key quickly. We’ll never find the cultures and get out without being caught.

“You’re right,” Vival says. “You will be caught, but that’s also part of our plan.”

My friends and I glance at one another uneasily. I wonder if we heard her right.

“You see, Kuron seems insane to us,” Vival continues calmly, “but he has been consistent in his ultimate goal of creating the perfect human to survive in the sea. We believe he’s come to realize the results of his own program are too wild and mentally unstable. That’s why he’s become so interested in our program again. He has demanded several times now that we send him some Neptune young people. Of course we refused, and now he’s resorted to this.”

So that’s why he took Bria and Robry. He wants us to go after them so he can capture even more Neptune kids. Tobin looks like he’s ready to hit someone.

And you want us to swim in there and say, “Hey, go ahead and take us prisoner”? Lena scowls as she keys her question into the computer.

“No, we want you to do your best to not get caught,” Vival replies. “We want you to find Bria and Robry and send them back. But we need a team of four volunteers who will penetrate farther into the fortress, knowing full well they eventually will be caught. Their mission is to stay on; pretend that they are willing to join Kuron’s group; and, when they can, steal the cultures.”

This Kuron nut job isn’t going to let us just swim out of there when we’re ready, Thom points out.

“That’s why Nere’s dolphins are going to play a crucial part in this,” Vival declares. “We need one of you with the ability to speak to Mariah and her family to be on that team. You can tell them when you are ready to escape, they will relay that information to us, and the Sea Rangers will mine the fortress supports and stage a diversionary attack to help you get away safely.”

Tobin and I look at each other. We’re the only two who can actually hear Mariah’s words in our minds. Bria can, too, but I know if we manage to free her, Tobin and I will send her straight back to Safety Harbor.

What about those shredders we ran into on our last two patrols to the south? Janni asks. If Kuron has a hundred more of those monsters swimming around his fortress, it’s really going to be tough for us to get away.

Exactly what are these shredders? Lena keys in before I can.

“Kuron appears to have spliced great white shark genes with human ones to create a powerful new mutate to guard his fortress,” Dav replies soberly. “We won’t lie to you. These shark mutates will make your mission even more dangerous. We’re certain, though, that Kuron controls the shredders through an underwater radio frequency, and we’ve been developing a system to jam that communication. You’ll be taking some of our jammers with you, but they’re still prototypes.”

Meaning you’re not exactly sure if they’ll work, Penn points out.

I don’t care if those jammers work or not. I’m in, Tobin keys swiftly. When can we leave?

My father holds up a hand. “We plan to send you off first thing in the morning. Remember, we need four of you to stay on and try to steal the c-plankton. Don’t volunteer for that job unless you have strong mental shields. We have reason to believe Kuron has some powerful telepaths working for him.”

With a pang, I wonder if they’re referring to Dai, who is one of the strongest telepaths I’ve ever encountered. I glance at my friends. Dad, could we have a few minutes to talk this over?

After a moment, he nods, and we all swim from the cave and float in a circle outside it.

:I think this Kuron guy and his shredders are a major threat to Safety Harbor. I’ll volunteer to stay on. We have to find out what he’s really up to,: Janni says earnestly.

:I’m in, too, for all of it,: Thom declares, his face serious. :I fought the Western Collective and saw a lot of friends die, but we never changed anything. We pull this off, we change everything for people back on land.:

:Yeah, it will help people on land, but we don’t live on land anymore,: Penn points out. :Our future is in the sea now. Is this really our fight?:

:It totally is,: Kalli argues. :Phytoplankton, the foundation of the food chain, is dying as the oceans heat. The seas are also absorbing more carbon dioxide and becoming more acidic, and that’s killing corals and shellfish.:

:A whole bunch of life down here will die if global warming isn’t reversed soon,: Seth adds soberly. :That’s why I’m volunteering to be one of the four who stays.:

:Me, too,: Rohan adds.

:The gangs I ran with back home,: Ree says, her expression pensive, :we were always fighting just to live. There was never enough food and never enough water. It all goes back to this planet burning up. Those loco kids at Atlantea scare me, too, but we gotta try to steal that c-plankton stuff. I’m in.:

Closing my eyes, I think of the scorching days I endured down south and all the species of plants and animals that have disappeared from there. Because I already love this green, rugged coast, I don’t want it to die, too. I also know my telepathy could be a big help on this mission. Telepaths are great at finding things that people want to keep hidden, things like secret c-plankton cultures.

But I’m not sure I’m brave enough to face Dai or Wasp again, much less to try to save the world. I just want Bria and Robry back safe with us.

I open my eyes when Tobin speaks up. :I’m going to volunteer to be one of the four as well,: he says, his gaze never leaving my face. :I can talk to the dolphins, too, so there’s no reason for both of us to stay on there.:

I am sure of one thing. I don’t want Tobin to become a prisoner in Kuron’s fortress, surrounded by Wasp and the rest of those angry mutates.

:You can’t be one of the four volunteers,: I blurt, :because I’m also volunteering.: I decide on the spot. :And they don’t need both of us to talk to the dolphins.:

Tobin has a stubborn set to his jaw that tells me he’s already made up his mind. Desperately, I search for a way to convince him he shouldn’t volunteer.

:Bria will need you when we get her back to Safety Harbor. You can’t leave her on her own. You’re all the family she has.:

:I wouldn’t be leaving her on her own. I know you’ll look after her. She already feels like you’re her big sister.: He turns and looks at the others. :But if something happens to me, you guys will look after Bria, too, right?:

:You know we will,: Lena promises him, and the rest nod.

:That settles it, then,: Tobin says. :We’ll tell the doc and Vival that eight of us volunteer, and they can decide which four should stay on to steal the c-plankton cultures.:

We return to the briefing cave, and my father and the helper staff promise they’ll tell us after lunch which four of us they’ve chosen.

The chicken part of me really hopes they don’t pick me to try to steal the c-plankton. Rescuing Robry and Bria is scary enough. Staying on with those freaky kids, the shredders, and the twisted man who created them is even worse.

We spend the rest of that morning poring over charts of our route to Atlantea and Nootka Sound, where Kuron’s fortress is located. We also study photographs the helper staff took of the surface fortifications of Atlantea, which bristle with formidable laser-gun emplacements. Penn spends a great deal of time with Dav looking at the jammers and figuring out how they’re supposed to work.

After lunch, Vival and my father call us back to the briefing cave. I try not to look too scared when they name me along with Thom, Kalli, and Janni as part of the team to steal the c-plankton. Tobin, Ree, and Rohan are alternates in case some of us get hurt or killed. Tobin does not look happy that I was picked instead of him.

“Janni, you’ll be in charge of the team as you travel to Atlantea. Nere, we’re placing you in charge of the insertion team,” my father says. “We hope you’ll have a chance to use your telepathy to search Kuron’s mind and find out where he’s keeping the c-plankton.”

As I look at my worried dad, I realize my strong telepathy is probably why he had to agree to my selection even though he really doesn’t want me to go on this mission.

We spend the rest of that day packing our travel gear and training Sokya to carry the probe we’ll use to scout the fortress.

After dinner, I swim to the perimeter and surface. Looking at the craggy, forbidding coast of Vancouver Island, I picture sweet Bria and smart, funny Robry clearly in my mind. Atlantea lies on the far side of the island, so I know they are beyond my telepathic range. Still, I call out to them, :You guys have gotta hold on just a little while longer. We’re coming to get you!:

The next morning, our rescue team gathers by the bubble wall with our travel gear just as the sea starts to lighten.