10- Bait

--This Chapter is rated "G", with a moment of minor sci-fi violence--

"A message to be delivered to the Princess."  The night-shift guard looked her over once.
"Which one?"  The adult mermaid looked at the note in her hands.
"Uh… the youngest one.  Princess, uh… Ariel."
"I'll take."  The guard took the note to the Palace.  A few minutes later, the wrapped-up note found its way under a bedroom door.  It sat there for almost 10 hours before the room's sole occupant noticed it.
After she had slept for most of those 10 hours, Ariel almost swam over it.  She reached down and opened it.

Go to the same place you were at the end of yesterday, and you will find another note being held by an old sea turtle with a large black spot on his back.  He will ask you a question.  Reply only: 'I'm looking for an old friend of mine.'  When he gives you the note, follow the instructions on it.

Tell no one about this.  Your friend's life depends on it.

Ariel folded the letter.  There was no name on it, and she didn't recognize the handwriting.  Had someone found Orion?  If that was true, why hadn't they said it?
Quickly, Ariel swam to a tall rock face under which there was a small cave that was only a few minutes from the Palace.  Once there, she took the little summoning disk, pushed the button, and sat on a rock to wait.  Like the two days before, it took Aqua Explorer-4 a few minutes to reach the cave.  Once it arrived, Ariel told it what had happened.  After a few moments, the AE directed her to hang on to its arms.
20 minutes later, the companions were miles north of the Palace.  Ariel let go and began looking for the turtle.  The AE searched as well.  The Princess's heart was banging away.  What was this about?  Did someone know about what had happened to Orion?  The AE returned.  It had found a large sea turtle with a large dark spot on its back.  She followed the robot as it led her to the turtle.  Its wrinkled head turned when it saw the mermaid approach.  His voice was quiet, and it cracked when he spoke.
"Well, I can't believe my eyes.  I haven't seen a young lady such as yourself out here in a long time."  Ariel opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly stopped.  He had to ask her a question before she could say anything.  The old turtle circled once.  "You know, I remember back long ago when children your age would come here and frolic about the ruins of the old ships."  He looked about.  "Then old Triton came along and told them to stay away.  Ahh…  I miss the sound of the young children playing together.  It was nice to hear, especially in my old age."  Ariel turned her head.  There was the wreak of an old wooden sailing ship in the distance.  The sails had long-since rotted away, and the hull was on the verge of collapse.  A tickle ran up Ariel's spine.  "I have lived here for nearly 100 years.  And in all that time, never had I seen such poison infect such a lush and fertile land as this.  The death of the Queen of Atlantica changed all that, though; when she passed away."  He shook his long neck.  "A sad day that was.  All creatures of all the Oceans wept with the news.  I found it a particularly hard day to forget.  Even after 16 years, her death still haunts my dreams sometimes.  And to this day, her death continues to haunt the land here."  The turtle found a nice large rock and lay down upon it.  "Sit down, young lady."  Ariel did as she was told, remembering not to say anything.  The old turtle coughed and spoke again.
"You know, there was a time when all of this belonged to someone else."  She looked at him.  "Long ago… the Great King Poseidon ruled all the Sea with a mighty fist, and a kind heart.  He fought hard to take back what was rightfully the possession of all free creatures.  But even his mighty power was hard challenged by those who wished to rule the world as we know it.
"They came from the south, perhaps even from the giant land mass that humans call Antarctica.  They were perhaps the foiled creation of the Gods, but we'll never know.  They were a terrible race of creatures.  Monsters, almost.  They killed anyone who would stand in their way.  And because of this, there was a great war to end all great wars.  King Poseidon and his followers won, and they built a grand palace to commemorate their success.  And they created a Kingdom that, to this day, bears the name of the Ocean in which this war was fought, and won.  And they built it far from the fields of death and destruction that had once been the homes of peaceful people.  No one knows what happened to the evil forces.  Some say they were completely destroyed, some say that Poseidon banished them from all the Oceans for all time.  And some say that that they had been beaten into submission.  But me?  Heh…  I say, they are still here, and that they never left.
"Oh, they may have been beaten back, but they were not completely lost.  They bide their time.  They have grown patient all these thousands of years.  But their thirst for revenge and their wish of conquest will never be ignored."  The turtle looked at the mermaid, a sad look in his eyes.  "I wish they had never been made by the Gods.  They scare me, and I am afraid that one day, they will set fourth again to fulfill their evil destiny of long ago.  But until then, we must be ready for when they do return.  Now, may I ask what are you doing here, young lady?"
It took Ariel a moment to realize that he had asked her a question finally.  "I'm looking for an old friend of mine."  The turtle smiled.
"An old friend you have found in me, Princess Ariel of Atlantica."  He bowed his head and then pulled it into his large shell.  It came out a moment later.  In his mouth was a small piece of paper.  She took it from him and opened it.  "Very few people remember the past, Princess.  I am fortunate to know the truth."  Free of her order of silence, Ariel spoke.
"You said that the people who tried to conquer the world are still alive?"
"I would not be here if they were not.  Good day to you, Princess, and have a safe journey."  He got up and slowly swam away.  Ariel watched him leave, then turned her attention to the note in her hands.

Go north until you see a large wall of rock.  Do not go either east or west, for there is danger there.  From the wall, you will look to the east, and you will see a crack in the wall.  Go inside it and follow it until you see light.  There, you will find a human who cannot move and cannot speak.  With him, you will find a necklace with a glowing gem around his neck.
Take him to his home.  He needs much rest.  He will survive without air, but you must hurry because he cannot live without it forever.

Ariel looked at Aqua Explorer-4.  She read the note aloud so that it would understand.  With the mermaid hanging on to the robot's utility arms, the pair headed north to look for a giant rock wall with a giant crack in it.

---

"Your Highness?"  The Empress looked up from her reading material.
"What is it?"
"The girl is here to see you."  The book was closed.
"What girl?  I did not summon anyone.  Do not interrupt me again."
"Your Highness, she says that she was ordered here by you."  One of the Empress's eyebrows went up.  No one ever contradicted her.
"Oh?  I shall see.  Send her in."  The man bowed and left.  Before this mysterious girl entered, the Empress put her book aside and took hold of her staff.  But she was quite angered when she saw that it was one of her slave girls who entered.  "How dare you intrude upon me, slave!"  Before the young woman could speak, a bolt of lightning was hurled at her from the staff that the Empress held in her hand.  The girl withered in pain as the powerful energy coursed through her.  She screamed and was slammed to the floor.  The lightning stopped.  The slave cried out in pain.  The Empress withdrew her staff.  "What are you doing here?"  The girl could barely speak.
"Your Highness… I-I have done what you asked of me.  AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"  Again, the lightning flowed through her helpless body.
"'What I asked of you'?  What do you mean 'What I asked of you'?"  The staff was lowered again.
"For-forgive me, Your Highness!  I was wrong in my words.  Forgive me!"
"Hmm.  Yes.  You were.  Try again."
"Yes, Your Highness.  I have done as you commanded me to do.  The human knows nothing."
"Well…  That is the first right thing you have said yet, girl."  The Empress reclined in her throne.  She thought for a minute, half-enjoying the sound of the slave girl's labored breath.  Finally, she got up and used her long powerful tail to move in front of the girl.  Using the tip of the power staff, she tilted her head up.  The girl closed her eyes so as not to make eye contact.  Her eyes had tears of pain flowing from them.  The Empress didn't even notice them.  "You have served me well."  The girl sobbed quietly.  The Empress leaned down and got close to the girl's face.  "Do you serve me now?"
"I w-will always serve you, Your Majesty."
"Are you unfaithful to me?"
"No, Your Majesty."  The Empress leaned down, stopping only an inch from the girl's head.
"And why should I trust you?"  The girl gasped in surprise at the question.  If she answered wrong, she would be severely punished.
"I am loyal only to one, Your Majesty.  I serve only one, Your Majesty.  I will never fail you.  I promise!"  The Empress considered this.  She looked at the girl's young body, strewn out on the floor of the Throne Room before her.  She was attractive, even to the Empress.
"Good.  You are confined to your quarters until further notice.  Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness."  She didn't let a muscle twitch.  Being confined to her quarters meant that she wouldn't have to do anymore work for now.  And that was wonderful.  It also meant that she would starve until she was let out, but that was a small price to pay.  The Empress moved away and swam back to her throne.
"Do not think that I am completely without mercy, though.  You will remain in your room until tomorrow.  At that time, you will report to me immediately after my breakfast."  She waved a dismissive hand.
"I understand, Your Highness."
"Leave my sight."  The girl slowly picked herself up.  Then she turned and began to limp out of the room; every muscle in her body screaming.  It was even difficult to breathe.  Half way to the large double doors, the Empress stopped her.  "Do you know how I treat you?"
"No, Your Highness."
"I treat you very well.  If it had not been for your foolish parents, you would not be alive today.  Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness.  I thank you for your mercy."
"I should hope so.  Be gone."

The slave girl managed to make her way alone to her chamber.  Not even a full room, it had three walls of cold stone and a fourth made of cold metal bars.  The floor had something similar to a giant pillow, and that is all that she was given for any type of decoration.  It was just above the quality of a jail cell.  For that matter, it was a jail cell.  Or it had been a long time ago.  There were others just like her in other cells, but they had to live with the bare walls.  The Empress was right- she was treated well, if not fairly.  She got better bedding than her fellows, she wore more stylish clothing, and she ate marginally better food.
The girl opened the door and went in her room.  Her body was still trembling from the shock she had received.  Closing the door behind her, she collapsed onto the giant pillow in the middle of the room.  She winced as her skin came into contact with the soft material.
One of her own kind, a little blond girl only 8 years old, tapped on the metal bars.  When they weren't serving their masters, they could mingle with one another.  It seemed to make for more productive slaves.  This little girl hadn't known any other life than this.  She wore a thin cloth around her upper body.  This was mostly to cover many of the scars she had received for displeasing her Master.  They all had them, but most of them were healed up.  These were fresh because she was still young and inexperienced.  She spoke in a small, soft voice.
"Are you ok?"  The sweet sound stirred the older girl.  She turned her head and smiled.
"Yes.  I will be ok.  Thank you for asking."  The little one swam over her and moved onto the older girl's back.  Using her dainty little hands, she began to slowly massage the young woman's back and shoulders.  It hurt, but she didn't say so.  She didn't want to turn down the child's kind-hearted efforts.  "How are you doing today?" she tried asking, trying to keep her condition secret.
"I'm ok."
"Hey, what did I tell you about saying things correctly?"
"Oh.  I'm- I mean, I am sorry."
"That is better.  You are not supposed to use shortened words, remember?  We have to talk like they do, or we will be punished, understand?"  By shortened words, she meant contractions.  The young woman slowly and painfully rolled onto her back.  The little girl sat on her belly.  There was so much that this little girl was missing out on in life that it often brought tears to her eyes.  She reached up a hand for the child's rosy check.
"Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are?"  That brought on a smile.
"Only you."  She reached for the older girl's necklace and held it in her hand.  "Tell me again, please."
"Well, it is a beautiful place.  There are no walls, and everything is beautiful… just like this is.  Just like you are."  She took back the necklace.  She stared into the center of the small clear blue crystal attached to it.  It was the only item she was allowed to call her own.  No one else had anything to call his or her own.  And, because she was treated differently, she had been granted this small allowance.  It was all that remained of her past life.  Any of her kind who saw it was instantly reminded of what had happened long ago.  Really, it was all that was left of what had been lost.  So it was only fitting that she should wear it.
After sending the little girl away, the young woman tried to go to sleep.  But a combination of the pain and her memories from the last few days kept her up most of the night.  I had been ordered to do it, she kept telling herself.  If I had refused, I would have been killed.  It had been scary at first, dealing with a human, but she had gotten used to him after a few days.
In the end, the only thing about the whole experience that she regretted was forcing herself to come back to her Masters.  The fact that she was in such pain now was evidence of that.  Everything else was from her cruel training from over the years.  Her cruel and sick training.  The training that had turned her into the perfect slave; one who did not question orders and would withstand anything.  She had been forced to train herself to ignore her inner voice when ordered to do something, and that was how she had been able to do what she had done.  But now that she thought about it, her time away had been, well- fun.  She couldn't even remember the last time she had had fun.  Probably not since before all this had happened to her.  She could barely even remember what it was like to have fun.  But somehow, she knew that the last 3 days had been fun.
There was something else, though.  He hadn't acted like she thought he would.  She had expected him to be as cruel as her current Masters, if not more so.  But he had been kind, generous, and even considerate to her.  Those were qualities that she hadn't seen in someone different from her own kind in a very long time.  When she thought about it, she had almost enjoyed her time with him.  But he was different from her.  He was human, she was not.  She could breath underwater, he could not.  They lived in two different worlds.  That was obvious when she had scared him so badly.  But in the end, it didn't seem to have mattered much to either of them.  Probably as far as he was concerned, she had just been a method for his captors to find out what they needed.  So he probably still hated her.

---

"A.E., you need to stop.  I'm getting tired."  Aqua Explorer-4 decreased speed to allow the mermaid to let go of its arms.  Ariel watched the robot slow to a halt, then turn around to face her.  Never in her life had she ached as much as she did now.  She almost felt like she could sleep for the next week without any trouble.  But, of course, she couldn't sleep now.  They were close to finding Orion, although how far that was, neither she nor the robot knew.
They'd been traveling for hours, and there was still no sign of the rock wall that had been described in the note.  Ariel had been wondering if they had passed it by mistake, but surely her companion would have known if they had or not.  Her Daddy might have known.  On the other hand, her Daddy wouldn't have given two shakes of a tail about Orion to begin with, and would be very upset about his youngest daughter looking for a human.

--Princess, there is a large cliff approximately 2.5 miles from our current position.  It is in the direction specified by the note.  We must continue--

Ariel looked in the direction they had been traveling.  Like the rest of the land around them, there were sunken ships all around and most of them were punctured by large thin rock formations.  But far in the distance, she could barely make out a thin dark rise in the landscape.  The Aqua Explorer moved over her again, and she once more took hold of the thin gray arms.

They arrived at the 400-ft high wall minutes later.  It was the largest change in the land for the last hundred miles-or-so.

--Stay here, Princess--

Ariel gladly let go and drifted down to the base of the wall.  The AE took off and headed east.  It returned a few minutes later.

--There is a hole in the wall similar to what was spoken of in the letter.  Will you confirm?--

Sighing, she got up and followed the robot to a large crack in the side of the wall.  It started at the base and rose 50 feet above them.  Ariel looked at the inside.  It was pitch black inside.
"Is this it, A.E.?"

--It would appear to be so--

"It's so dark in there.  I can't see anything."  Suddenly half the crack was illuminated with white light.  Ariel turned to the robot.  There were two powerful lights built into it on either side of its large dark eye.  There was seaweed, kelp, and many types of shellfish lining the entrance.

--Aqua Voyager has been deployed to this position.  Estimated Time of Arrival: 8 hours 53 minutes 25 seconds.  You are to wait here until it arrives--

"But what if he's hurt?  We don't how far in we have to go until we reach him.  Can't we look to see how far it is?"  The AE conveyed the request to Aqua Base's computers.  The reply took only a minute.

--This unit will explore the cavern.  There may be unforeseen dangers within the cave.  Wait here--

Ariel watched as Aqua Explorer-4 turned off its lights and entered the large crack.  As she watched, it got smaller and smaller.  She moved to the entrance as the walls muffled the sound of its two motors.  Far in the distance, she saw that it had rolled up onto one side.  It finally disappeared around a curve.  Ariel turned around and sat on a boulder to wait for the AE's return.  She looked at her shoulders and hands.  They were red from all the energy she had exerted on the trip.  The muscles in her stomach were sore too.  She turned to look down the crack.  There was no sign of the AE.  Sighing, Ariel lay down flat against the boulder and closed her eyes.

To be continued…