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Derek, Kyle and Lou sit in the waiting room of a hospital, all a bit fidgety, if not nervous.
Lou asks, "So you think having the baby here was a good idea?"
"Actually, yes." Derek responds. "This Thanos fishface would never think we would be so obvious. Besides, there are many other people around, plus the security guys Brandon hired."
Kyle surmises, "I hope you're right, I don't trust anyone."
Derek, thinking out loud, says "This whole thing, mermaids, mermen, this blond-haired freak...I swear, our lives have changed so much since we left the island."
"So, you're sad you're a millionaire?" grins Lou.
Derek answers, straight faced. "Of course not, it's just...just that I have no one. I was going to get married, have a family. But once I got back from the island, it's like all the women want is my money."
"I love it." says a smiling Kyle. "They chase me and I manipulate them. I've never had so much lovin' in my life." he pauses, stares at Derek. "I don't know what your problem is Derek."
Lou nods his head. "Ahhh, to be so young and have your problems...and your money. I feel so sorry for you guys."
Derek raises his eyebrows. "Really?"
Lou stares coldly at Derek. "Not!"
In her hospital room, Treena sits up in bed as she grunts, groans and pushes for the baby to come out. A doctor stands between her legs, his hands rest upon the emerging baby's head. Brandon stands to one side and Jessa on the other side.
The Doctor instructs, "Keep pushing Treena, he's almost out."
Treena pushes, followed by more grunts and groans. Slowly, the baby slides out into the doctors waiting hands. He turns him over to the nurse, who cleans him with a towel. The baby blurts out a loud cry as the doctor cuts the cord.
The doctor, now concerned and serious, looks to Treena and Brandon. "Before you see your son, I'm sorry to have to tell you he has a birth defect."
Brandon and Treena glance at each other. Brandon, fearful of the answer, asks anyway. "What doctor, what's wrong?"
Treena echoes, "What is wrong with my boy?"
"Well, he's normal in every way except..."
"Except what?" quizzes Treena.
"I'm afraid both of his feet are deformed. He has...uhh...he has what looks like fins where his feet should be." he pauses, checks the baby's feet. "Odd indeed."
The nurse has an uneasy look on her face as she wraps the baby in a blanket and hands him to Treena.
Treena smiles. "You scared me for a minute, I thought it was something serious." Treena smiles and rubs the baby's feet. "Why do you think we named him Finley?"
The doctor and nurse glance at each other in bewilderment.
Brandon reaches out. "Let me hold my little man." He gently takes Finley, snuggles up to him. "The family name shall never die."
In the waiting room, Lou, Derek and Kyle wait to see the baby. All lean back in the chairs and relax. Derek spots Thanos as he mosey's down the hallway toward them. He nudges Lou.
"Hey, isn't that the blond freak they're so worried about?"
Lou glances at Thanos. "Yeah, looks like him."
As Thanos nears them, Lou stands, steps in front of Thanos.
"They can't have any visitor's."
Thanos stares at Lou as Derek gets up and stands next to him.
Thanos firmly replies, "I'm not just any visitor. Sooo, if I were you, I'd step out of my way." Thanos raises his eyebrows and shoots an icy look at both of them. "Things could get real ugly for you two...why don't both of you go ahead and step aside."
Almost as if by force, Lou and Derek take a step backward.
Thanos smiles at them. "You're the two guys who spent time on the island. Let's get together and talk about it some time."
Thanos ambles down the hallway to Treena's room. Two bulky bodyguards stand outside the door. Thanos approaches them as a Bodyguard steps in front of the door, his huge frame blocking it.
Thanos cordially smiles, "My name is Uncle Thanos and I'm here to see my nephew."
The bodyguard folds his arms. "Sorry sir, no one is allowed in there yet."
Thanos waves his hand to the two of them. "Step aside and don't let anyone else in."
The bodyguard nods his head. "Yes sir."
Thanos steps into the room as Treena spots him
and starts to cry out. Thanos waves his hand at her, she becomes quiet. Brandon rushes toward Thanos who waves his hand at him. Brandon freezes.
Thanos shakes his head. "Such hostility." his face turns cold, wicked. "You two listen carefully. I'm not taking Kreios with me...for now. I was anxious to see him. He must remain with you Treena, for two months. He will then have enough strength for our travels." He pauses. "Now, I'll release you two as long as you both behave."
Thanos waves his hand at both of them. They snap out of it, return to normal. Thanos approaches Treena, holds his hands out.
"Please, may I?" he grins. "I won't hurt him...I promise."
Reluctantly, Treena hands him the baby.
Thanos smiles. "You're as beautiful as I knew you would be." Thanos checks the baby's feet under the blanket, smiles.
"Perfect." he proudly pronounces as hands Finley back to Treena. "You have eight weeks Treena, first, enjoy yourself, then, prepare yourself for what the God's have chosen for you."
He turns to Brandon. "Enjoy your baby while you are still able to."
Brandon and Treena, now back in their east coast Florida home, sit at their patio table in the dark with no lights on. Both are dressed casually in shorts.
Brandon holds out his hand, stares at it. "I'm still not used to sitting in the dark."
Treena counters. "Lights on, easy target, lights off, not so easy target."
"He's not giving up. I'm scared Treena. Everywhere I go, I'm looking over my shoulder for this creep." he pauses, "It's just a matter of time before he gets me."
Treena, a bit worked up, responds, "Then let's get him first Brandon. Let's kill him before he ruins our lives...before he takes Finley."
"Right, how do we kill a...a freak spirit over several hundred years old?"
"How did you kill Captain Pardel, a dead pirate?"
"Yeahhhh...that was different. I got no berries for this freak."
"There's someone Jessa and I went to see...she seems to know a bit about everything. Thanos, our world, how things seem to work. I think she can help us."
"Good, you work on that...I'm taking a swim."
"I'm going to check on Finley, then swim with you."
"Naked?"
Treena grins. "Maybe."
Both stroll inside and kiss, then are off in different directions.
Brandon, back at the pool in swim trunks, stares into the pool, where it is so dark he can't see the bottom. "That's just great, there could be a poisonous snake in there and I couldn't see it." he pauses, stares into the dark water. "Here goes nothin'." He throws his arms out, leans into a dive pose, bends his knees, starts to jump but is held back, he can't move. He turns, Treena holds onto the back of his suit.
"Ohh, so you want me naked too?"
"I sense danger, I'm turning on the pool lights."
Treena rushes over and flips the switch, the pool lights glow.
Brandon screams, "Arrggghhhhhh!"
Treena rushes back to the pool, gasps, holds her hand over her mouth. In the pool circles an eight-foot shark, teeth like a great white. He stares up at Treena and Brandon, then shoots like a rocket to the far end of the pool.
Just before he reaches the edge, he jumps out of the water and turns into a giant bird. It "screeches" and disappears into the dark. Brandon and Treena watch him fly away, then turn and stare at each other.
Brandon sighs. "I am so screwed."
Jessa and Treena sit across from Annabelle at her desk.
Treena, dejected, says, "We don't know what to do."
Annabelle consoles, "I can't tell you what to do, you have some difficult decisions to make."
"That's the point." Jessa responds. "We don't even know what our options are. Surely you can give us some direction."
Annabelle thinks. "I would say the first thing is to try killing Thanos. If he dies, your son grows up to be a normal merman and human."
"His magic is too powerful, I have seen it." Treena answers. "He can become anything he wants."
Annabelle again counters. "While this is true, the good news is, it is possible to kill him. He can be in any form, human, merman or beast. There are two ways to do this, both of which are possible...but difficult."
"Tell us of that which is possible." Treena asks.
Annabelle leans forward. "You get the poison from a boxfish, it's called ostracitoxin. You mix it with any type of drink and he dies. He has no defense against this poison."
Jessa sighs. "As you said, possible but difficult. Where do we find this boxfish?"
"The most toxic of this kind you will find off the coast of Hawaii. Once he drinks it, he will die within five minutes."
Jessa exhales a frustrated sigh. "What's the second way?"
Annabelle looks down, then, slowly, raises her head. "The second is much more difficult. The berries are found only on Atargatis Island. You're familiar with the Dragon berry, also known as pirate berries?"
"Is this the berry Brandon ate to fight with the pirates?" Treena asks.
"Yes. It's fatal to his kind but only one way. The berries must be mashed into a juice, then a sword or knife must be soaked with this juice. Once it is dry, Thanos must be stabbed with this sword."
Treena nervously asks, "That is the only way? He has to be stabbed?"
"Yes, within twelve hours of when the berry juice dries."
"So how would we ever get him back to Atargartis Island?" asks a confused Jessa.
Annabelle responds. "I fear this is where he will take your son, this is where he will teach him to be the leader of our race." she pauses, "You know the island is invisible to man's modern machines. He can teach your son without fear of man's interference."
Jessa asks, "And how is it you know this? Did you have a dream?".
Annabelle answers, "I do not know this for sure. It's just that...that it makes sense to take him there."
A concerned Treena says, "But my mother, my sister, so many others will be in danger if he goes back."
Annabelle agrees. "Yes, this is true, he has the power to control all of them. It will be the beginning of our bondage."
Treena murmurs, "We are all doomed for destruction."
"There is another way." Annabelle says.
Jessa, by now getting a bit frustrated, asks, "And what is this way?"
"Treena must kill her son. Everything would remain just as it is now."
"I cannot kill my son. He is part of me, my body, Brandon's body. Our blood flows through him, we are the ones who brought him into this nightmare."
Annabelle again warns, "Should your son live until he turns sixteen, he will bring great destruction upon this world. He will be responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths." she pauses, "slowly, the Human race will perish. Those that do remain will serve the new masters." she again pauses, stares at Treena. "Would you rather be responsible for these deaths?"
"I know how important all your fish and seahorses are to you." Treena counters, "Would you agree to this? Would you kill them?"
"They are like my children. They actually communicate with me."
Treena pushes, "You didn't answer my question. If you were in a situation such as I, would you put them all to death?"
Annabelle sighs. "I don't know what I would do Treena, but, if human survival depended on what I did...I would have to put them to death." she lowers her eyes. "But I would die with them...I could not go on." Annabelle's eyes well up. She walks over to the aquarium. "Thanos killed two of them." she rubs the glass. "They grieve with me."
Jessa, a bit annoyed, asks, "Then what must we do to get your help before he comes back again?"
"I am an old woman and an even older mermaid. My magic has dwindled over the years. I can be of no help to you. Where once I could turn a shark into a crab, now I'm lucky to even catch that crab."
"But if you come back to Atargatis Island with us," Jessa says. "Your powers could be restored."
"I'm sorry Jessa, this is an adventure I do not want to take. Just let an old woman die peacefully, here...in my home, with my children."
"But Thanos knows you are a threat to him if you come back to the island." Treena warns, "He will try to finish you here."
Annabelle replies, "I am no threat to Thanos, he has no reason to come back here."
"This is not true Annabelle, you are the only link between the old world and the new world." Jessa pleads, "You know things...things that could hurt him, slow his quest for Finley." she pauses, "You must help us Annabelle."
"This has tired me. Please, it's time for you to leave."
Jessa and Treena stand, walk to the front door. Jessa turns and says, "We are not through Annabelle."
Brandon and Treena sit at the patio table in their home. Finley sits in a baby carrier on top of the table. Treena rubs his head with her hand as he talks with baby goos and gahs.
Treena smiles at him. "He is so beautiful...how could all of this happen?"
Brandon purses his lips, "I don't know Treena...maybe we were never meant to be together. Maybe all of my dreams of destiny and being a leader were nothing more than a setup to bring Finley into the world."
"Nonsense. Your fate...and mine, was sealed when you left Bermuda on the Mystic. Don't you see Brandon, this was all meant to be."
"You mean, so, uhh... I could die? Is that what it's meant to say Treena?"
"No, I don't believe that, I don't believe you'll die."
"Well, the white-haired fishface albino executioner has other ideas on that."
Finley coos, seems to point to the water.
Treena scans the pool. "He's pointing to the water. I think he wants to swim. Do you want to swim Finley?"
Finley coos and giggles.
Treena smiles. "Such a smart child."
"Yep, a chip off the old block."
Treena asks, "Are you getting in?"
"No, I'll man the life preservers."
"Don't be silly." she counters.
Treena gently picks Finley up, ambles to the pool, steps and slips into the water. Brandon walks to the pool edge as Treena, with both hands under his back, lowers a giggling Finley into the water.
Treena turns into a mermaid as she lets go of Finley. Finley kicks his legs as he swims on his back. He turns over onto his stomach and slides under the water.
Brandon panics. "Watch him Treena, he's going to drown!"
Both watch as Finley's legs transform into a merman's fins. He swims under water as he circles the pool. Brandon and Treena stare at each other in disbelief.
Finley dives out of the water like a dolphin, then back under. He swims a bit more, then circles Treena. He rubs her tail with his. She pulls him out of the water and gently kisses his cheek. "Enough for one day, little man."
Brandon watches Finley cry as Treena leaves the water and dries him off. "You are the bomb little man!"