There were no people around to witness how our own true history started so long ago. On a black starlit night, the skies parted and the first of many fiery comets spattered into the ocean. It was only a prelude to an enormous meteor quickly descending upon the planet. Monstrous waves shot out in every direction when the meteor finally crashed into the sea and sank slowly into the murky depths. The waters began to calm only after the transient meteor reached its final destination on the ocean floor. It laid in dark silence for thousands of years until a deep-sea hydrothermal vent formed nearby. Seawater seeped into cracks and fissures and became superheated from molten magma hidden deep below. As the water boiled and expanded, it dissolved minerals and chemicals as it was spewed back out. This chemical mixture provided a life-sustaining energy for many of the newly developing plants and animals of the sea.
This life giving “soup” was mysteriously drawn into the meteor, feeding dormant eggs of an ancient alien life form hidden within. Eons after this strange combination of events, a new form of life emerged from the meteor: sentient, humanoid aquatic beings.
As these Aquatics adapted to their environment, two separate races evolved from the meteor, or Sea Stone, as it came to be known. One race settled into the eastern hemispheres of the oceans while the other race chose the western hemispheres for their homes. Each race realized the need for its own leader. King Neptus became the first ruler of the eastern areas called Atlanticus, while King Podon started his reign in the western areas, known as Pacifico.
Measuring more than seven feet in length, Aquatics’ streamlined bodies were made for swimming. This only magnified their incredible strength. They possessed many traits similar to their fellow sea creatures. They were born with their legs joined by a thick-skinned membrane that eventually would separate after time. With webbed hands and feet that featured long talons, they feared no other creatures in the ocean. The Atlantics had bioluminescent scales that glowed bright blue, while the Pacifics’ scales were brilliant green. Both races could deliver electrical bursts through their hands, which were far more intense than any eel’s. Thermal vision aided them in navigating through the darkness of the ocean depths. They had the ability to blend in with their surroundings, and were virtually impervious to the temperatures and pressures of the sea. Sonic vocal resonation evolved for defense, communication, and to create fog, snow, or rain.
The two races came to depend on each other. The most important tasks required both races to work together in maintaining the balance of the world’s ocean temperatures. Constant regulation of the temperatures coming from hydrothermal vents and undersea volcanoes had to be maintained in order to keep the earth’s fragile food chain alive and well.
Their life span was rarely a concern because they lived so many thousands of years. When any Aquatic did reach the end of life, either by trauma or old age, his or her last breath was a deep, resonant death rattle sensed throughout the ocean by all Aquatics. This final death rattle would trigger a spawning that reverberated throughout the sea. The compelling force of the spawning would urge a number of Aquatics to return to the sacred Sea Stone for a ritual mating dance bonding couples for life. Only a select few of these couples produced children to replace the lives of those who perished.
From the beginning, the Sea Stone’s unknown forces influenced aquatic life in many ways. Spawning rituals had always called only one race for a mating and kept the Atlantics and Pacifics separate for many thousands of years. In time the races were mysteriously drawn together. The first to be chosen from each realm were King Neptus’s daughter, Hestia, and King Podon’s eldest son, Proteus. Their union brought forth a new breed of Aquatic never seen before. A crossbreed; a hybrid! They named him Oceanus.
There was another child born on the very same day as Oceanus. Her name was Rhea, and the two of them played together as children do. But as they grew, Rhea watched curiously as the overseers kept him from the others, taking him to other unspoken places for special testing and research projects. One day Oceanus didn’t show up for their usual playtime and Rhea asked her mentor, Triteria, what had happened? Triteria answered the young girl in a gentle voice.
“It’s OK, Rhea. Of all the children, I’m sure you know how special Oceanus is. His speed and strength have surpassed all the other kids, even the older ones. I’ve been chosen to monitor and record his developments. He’s receiving two years of advanced training at our Atlantic testing facilities. When he’s done, he’ll be coming here once a month to undergo other tests I’ll be administering.”
“I’m really going to miss him.”
“I know, child. But you’re young and you have the whole world ahead of you.”
“It won’t be the same without Oceanus.”
“Well, it’s come to my attention that you want to become a healer like me. Is that true?”
“Yes! Why?”
“Because I gave your name to the council and you’ve been approved to start training with me as your teacher. What do you say?”
“Of course! When can I start?”
“Come with me to the coral caves and we can get started.”
*****
Rhea trained under Triteria’s instruction for the entire time Oceanus was gone. When he finally returned she couldn’t wait to see him, but Triteria was under strict orders from the overseers to keep all his testing confidential. His appointments at the medical clinic were only for one hour, each month. Rhea was allowed to accompany Triteria only on her daily rounds, not when she examined Oceanus. She still hadn’t seen him since they ushered him away so long ago. Curiosity got the best of her when she showed up early for her training one day. Triteria was already there talking with a young man in the coral medical clinic. The multi-colored reef that surrounded the lab area contained many gaps and cracks of different sizes and shapes. Rhea peeked through a small opening, hoping for a glimpse of the other person. All she could see were some tables and shelves with different healers tools and jars filled with the many potions they created. Unable to see him, she listened silently as they talked.
“So, Oceanus, you’ve grown bigger, stronger, and faster than your peers, yet some of your abilities still remain a mystery. Other Aquatics are starting to rely on you for your ability to withstand the harsher environments within the ocean. Are you getting along with the other Aquatics at your work stations?”
“Yes, yes. No problems, Triteria. I like the people I work with. Some of them aren’t sure about me, though. But that’s their problem.”
“That’s because you’re different from them. Don’t let that hold you back, Oceanus.”
“Yeah, different. Check this out.”
He reached down and grabbed a fistful of sand and held it up. Triteria looked on quizzically and spoke.
“Sand. All right, Oceanus. What am I looking at?”
“Keep watching.”
He gritted his teeth and squeezed the sand as hard as he could. After a few seconds, he moved his hand in front of his mouth and let out a low humming tone. Then he started using both of his hands like he was shaping something. When he was done he opened his hand for Triteria and looked directly at the opening in the coral where Rhea was peeping in.
“It’s called a bird. You know. One of the flying land animals my parents discovered.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it! You actually compressed the sand into glass and heated it into that! Oceanus, that’s incredible!”
Oceanus stepped closer to the crack in the wall where Rhea was waiting.
“You should see what I do with a piece of coal!”
Oceanus winked at the coral wall as if he was looking right at her. Rhea ducked down and held her breath.
“Does he know I’m here?” she thought to herself.
“This is the exact reason we’re keeping a close eye on your development, Oceanus. Let me know if you find out anything else about yourself like this. There are others being born who may have the same abilities as you. They need to know what they may be capable of. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“No, that’s it. Just a little sand trick! It didn’t seem like such a big deal at the time. Would you give it to Rhea for me, since she’s not allowed to be here and see all this?”
“Of course, Oceanus. She’s been asking about you ever since you left. I’m going to ask the high council if she can assist me in my assessments of you. That is, if you don’t mind. She’s really learned a lot since you’ve been gone.”
“I’m sure she has. I’d like to see her with or without the council’s blessing.”
Triteria smiled and swam over to him.
“Then it’s settled. Next month Rhea may be right here helping me, and you two can catch up on old times.”
“I’ve got to get back to the Atlantic testing facility. I’m already late. Please make sure to get that bird to Rhea for me. And tell her I can’t wait to see her.”
Oceanus shot out of the coral reef at a blur. Rhea could only look wide-eyed at the faded remnants of the whirling eddy he left behind.
Triteria’s petition to the high council was successful, and Rhea was finally allowed to participate in monitoring Oceanus’s development. The very next month Rhea waited in the same spot until Oceanus appeared. She pulled him aside and put her finger to his lips.
“Shhh! Triteria is already here. I just wanted to thank you for the present you left me. It’s so beautiful.” She held out the glass bird.
“I just wanted you to have something to remind you of our time together.”
“Last month, did you know I was outside spying on you?”
“We all have our secrets. Now come on. I don’t have much time. They need me back at the testing facility.”
They smiled at each other as they heard Triteria calling out their names. During the next few months, they found time to reminisce between all his testing. After many years, playful adoration turned to genuine affection as Oceanus grew into Aquatic manhood.
Even though they both cared for each other, neither dared reveal their true feelings for fear of losing a valuable friendship.
It was during this same time that King Podon’s youngest son, Hyperion, was also becoming infatuated with Rhea. But Hyperion was born during a rare galactic alignment that occurred only once every six thousand years. The unfortunate timing of this event had a terrible impact on Hyperion. The gravitational pull of the moon felt like it was pulling his brain from his skull. With each full moon, the child had painful migraines, which lead to uncontrollable fits of paranoia and delusions. Rhea would accompany Triteria when she was summoned to care for him. Triteria noticed that, when Rhea sang to him, her soothing voice calmed him. Her voice became the only source of peace in his life. As he grew older, his paranoia turned into a subtle madness that increased his physical aggressions. Rhea and Triteria continued to care for him through the decades but realized their healing powers alone were not enough. Hyperion had become an incurable, hostile man.
As Rhea grew into a beautiful woman, Hyperion became more and more obsessed with her. He always found some way to spit out barbs about Oceanus and Rhea being together. She knew he was extremely jealous of Oceanus’s abilities, and she dreaded the possibility that Hyperion might try to harm him. During Rhea’s last visit, Hyperion ranted on about how he would seize his father’s throne by whatever means possible.
“Oceanus’s father, my dear brother, doesn’t deserve the throne. He’s nothing but a worthless scientist. All he cares about is making new discoveries. When my son grows up, he will inherit the throne after me, and Oceanus will learn his true place in my kingdom.”
“But you have no son,” said Rhea.
Hyperion placed one hand on her face and stroked her hair with the other.
“Oh, my dear, dear Rhea. You shall be my queen, and together we will make an heir to the throne. The seas will be ours and ours alone!”
Rhea froze when she felt his cold hands move down to her shoulders. Hyperion kissed her on the cheek and said, “That will be our future together.”
Rhea couldn’t wait to get away from his ranting and tell Triteria what had transpired. Triteria advised Rhea to seek out the queen’s council on the matter.
When Rhea stepped into the royal palace, she wondered how to tell the queen about Hyperion’s threatening comments. After treating her son for so many years, she knew she had gained her confidence, but Rhea also knew the queen had always held onto some hope he could someday be cured.
Rhea entered the main chamber and glanced at the portrait of the king and queen hanging above the two golden thrones adorned with silver and pearls. Her eyes followed a large group of colorful fish swimming in a circle at the center of the room when an Aquatic female swam up and greeted her.
“Queen Lyra is expecting you. This way, if you please, my lady.”
They swam further into the great room where Rhea’s attention was drawn past all the statues and carvings to a large fountain in the center made of coquina shells. She was fascinated with all the different streams of bubbles, slowly rising upward to the iridescent abalone ceiling.
“Wow! The fountain is magnificent.”
“Oh, that’s right. You haven’t been here for some time now. King Podon had it specially constructed for the queen.”
“It’s absolutely beautiful!”
Rhea followed her through a multicolored, coral-reef-lined corridor leading to an extravagant room. The first thing she noticed was the queen, who was surrounded by a school of brightly colored, black-and-yellow striped angelfish. When the queen saw Rhea enter, she immediately motioned for the other female to leave.
“Rhea, it’s so good to see you again. Is this a friendly visit or is there more unfortunate news of my son from the healers?”
“I’m afraid the news I have is a bit troublesome, Your Majesty. Hyperion is becoming more unstable. He’s making claims that he will rise to the throne in place of his brother, Proteus. He says Proteus is weak, and insists he will become the next ruler of Pacifico no matter what the cost. He follows me everywhere and says we will have a child together. He tried to give me King Podon’s bracelet; when I refused it, he said the next time I see it, Oceanus will be no more and all Aquatics would be dead. I don’t know what to do, Your Highness. I fear he will only become more delusional and violent with time.”
“I see. This is not the first I have heard of this. Are you sure there’s nothing else the healers can do for my son?”
“I’m truly sorry, Your Majesty. We’ve tried every possible cure known to us, but none of the healers have ever dealt with such a sickness as this.”
“Then I will call another meeting with the king about our son. You are not alone, my child. There have been other complaints. Your concern for Oceanus is strong. Don’t you think you should tell him how you feel?”
Rhea shyly looked down at a sea turtle nudging her leg and said, “We have been friends for a long time, Your Majesty.”
“No matter. I believe the Sea Stone has its own plans for the both of you. I’ll meet with the king today and discuss the next step with our errant son.”
“Queen Lyra, I wish there was something more I could do. I’ll be leaving for my parents’ home. I think it’s best for me to distance myself from Hyperion for the time being.”
“I understand, Rhea. I’ve always appreciated your honesty and all the years of devotion you’ve shown to my family. I’ll send word to you of our decision.”
“Thank you for hearing me, Queen Lyra. I’ll remain with my parents until your decision has been made.”
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