Prologue: Neri crawled onto the beach and turned herself on her back.� It had been a long and hard journey getting back to the island in the couple� days that would normally have taken a week, especially with both of them injured.� Charley, get help, she told the whale as she tried to find the strength to� climb farther up the beach to where the waves wouldn't reach her at high tide.� Charley sang his reluctance to leave her but she persisted.� Find Jason and� others.� Go now.� Charley paused for a moment then swam towards Orca at the fastest speed he� could muster.� Neri felt him leave and pull out of range.� She managed to pull herself� above the tideline before succumbing to exhaustion and oblivion.�
Chapter 1�
Summer was almost finally over, beginning an almost constant vigil for any� sign of Neri or Charley.� Everyone who had helped to free Charley last spring wanted to help keep the� vigil, which to the kids' surprise included Jason and Brett's mom and Winston.� Jason took to sleeping in Neri's nest on her island, often with someone else� sleeping nearby on the ground.� This became the subject of a lot of contreversy and speculation on Orca� among the kids who knew who Neri was, but they let Jason alone.� The end of summer forced Jason to move back to Orca so he could return to� school.� There was still no sign of Neri or Charley, making everyone live in� trepidation and worry as whales started returning to the waters around Orca.� About three weeks after school started, Jason, Brett Froggie, Zoe, Jodie and� Vanessa were sitting in the rectreation room talking about school and Neri when Zoe� stopped listening and became spellbound with what was outside the window she was facing.� Jodie was sitting next to her and noticed the change in her attention and� followed her line of sight to the window and what was floating outside of it.�
"Good God," she� whispered, half standing, and causing the rest of the group to stop chatting�
Author's note: excuse the language, I don't mean to offend anyone, and I� couldn't think of another way to express it.� "Jodie..."�
"Jason, if that"s Charley, we've got to find Neri NOW," she said in a hurry.�
"What are you..." he started to say, paused, then turned to fac the window� along with everyone on that side of the table really quickly.�� It was indeed Charley, but he was in really bad shape.� He was missing part� of his tail and he had bite marks all over.� Jason tookcharge of the group, who was still staring in shock.�
"Vanessa,� you go with Froggie and sign a boat out.� Brett go with Zoe and find Mom.� She'll want� to come with. Me and Jodie will go up top and make sure Neri's not up there."�
"Where else would she be?"� Froggie asked.�
"Her island.� Let's tell as few people as possible.� We don't need the whole� base searching for her."� They left the rec room a moment later to go about the tasks.
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Jason and Jodie stood on the platform as they anxiously watched Charley� swimming around the platform.� Neri hadn't been on the platform so they were waiting for the rest of the� group to finish their tasks.� Vanessa had decided to go straight to the Commander, draging Froggie with� her.�
"Commander we need a boat now."�
"Who is this we and why do you need a boat all of a sudden?"�
Vanessa ticked off the names of everyone who had seen Charley and for good� measure, Dianne and Winston and then went into a detailed explanation of what they� had seen.� When she had finished the Commander looked up, and seeing the seriousness� and fear in their faces, nodded.�
"I can see your serious.You can have a boat, but be� careful."� Vanessa thanked him quickly and dragged Froggie with her out the door,� leaving the Commander to chuckle, shake his head and smile, and then go back to his� paperwork.� Brett and Zoe ran into Dianne's lab, surprising her and Winston, both of� whom were working.� They stood there a moment, catching their breath.�
"Brett, what's going on?"� Dianne asked.� Brett caught his breath faster than Zoe.�
"It's Neri Mom.� Charley found us�� maybe five minutes ago.� She wasn't with hi and he's in really bad shape.� We need to� find Neri now."�
"What are you guys talking about."�
"It looked like he had been attacked by a shark Ms. Bates."�
"All right.� But your telling me this why?"�
"Because we know how much you care for Neri Mom and we could use another� pair of eyes for the search."�
"Would you like my help too?" Winston asked.�
"We need all the help we can get.We've got to leave now though."
"I saw Charley a while ago on the screens but without Neri with him I thought he was just a curious whale."
"Mom, there's no time for that now, we have to find Neri," Brett said,� grabbing Dianne's hand and dragging her out the door, leaving Zoe and Winston no choice but to� follow them.�
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Ten minutes later, everyone was on the boat getting ready to leave.� Dianne� was pacing the length of the boat.� Jason was watching her.�
"Mom, sit down.� Your� going to wear yourself out doing that and we need your help to find her," he said, leading� her to a bench and sitting next to her.�
"We should never have let her go on migration.� What kind of mother am I?"� she asked as the boat started moving.� Winston, who was sitting on her other side, put an arm around her shoulders.���
"Your a mother who realizes that you can't control everything that your children do,� or what happens to them," he said. "What would have you done to keep her here anyways, Mom?� Locked her up at� Orca? She would have forever hated you for that," Jason said, squeezing her hand� comfortingly.� The rest of the trip was spent in silence.
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They finally reached the island after what seemed like an eternity, though� it couldn't have been more than 45 minutes.� Jason took control of the group, knowing he was the only one with really� intimate knowledge of the island and that his mom was in no condition to do it� herself.�
"We need to split up," he said as everyone left the boat.�
"Vanessa, you and� Jodie got to theleft along the beach.� Brett and Froggie go to the right.� Mom, you and� Winston go to her camp.� Me and Zoe will stay here.� If any of you find her come tell us,� we'll get the others."� No one argued with him except Zoe, who wanted to help search with the� others.� Jason quelled her though, convincing her they had just as an important job as the� others.� Everyone headed off in their respective directions, leaving Jason and Zoe to� wait by the boat.�
Vanessa and Jodie had been walking for a few minutes when Jodie noticed a� figure laying in the sand.�
"Pleas no," she said as she ran over to where Neri was laying face down.�� Vanessa was right behind her and helped Jodie turn Neri onto her back.� Vanessa� immediately checked for a pulse, and finding a very weak, but steady pulse let out a breath she� hadn't known she'd been holding.�
"She's alive, but her pulse is really weak.� We need to get her help."� Jodie stood up and took off runnning in the direction of the boat.� Vaessa used the time that Jodie was gone to give Neri a more thorough� examination.� She wasn't any expert, but she didn't need to be.� Neri's dress was caked with dried blood, making Vasnessa think she had lost� a lot of blood.� She was about to peel Neri?s dress off when she realized that she didn't� know if Neri wore anything under her dress.� Vanessa decided to wait until the rest of the group joined her which wasn't� more than a minute later.�
"Is this how you guys found her?"� Dianne aske as she, Jason and Winston� knelt down next to her.�
"Just about.� We had to turn her face up.� I would have taken her dress off� to check her injuries but I'm not sure she's wearing anything underneath."� Everyone looked at Jason, who put his hands up in defense.�
"Don't look at� me, I really don't have any idea, but if you want my opinion, I don't think she owns� anything else but her dress."� Brett, Zoe, Froggie and Jodie came running up then, hurrying to catch their� breath.�
"All right, here's what we're going to do.� Brett, you, Zoe, Froggie and� Jodie go back to the boat."�
"But Mom..." Brett said, whining.�
"Don't mess with me right now.� Just do it," Dianne said in a no nonsense� tone of voice.
"Winston, would you go with them?"� Winston patted Dianne on the shoulder and herded the kids back toward the� boat, ignoring their pleas to let them stay.�
"So what do we do?"� Vanessa asked.�
"I take it you sent away the younger� kids because we're going to have to take off her dress right?"� Dianne nodded.� Vanessa put a hand on Dianne's shoulder.�
"You want me to do it?"� Dianne covered Vanessa's hand with her own.�
"Thank you.� I'm not sure I� have the strength right now to do it myself."� Jason moved to where he could give his mother more support, as Vanessa moved� closer to Neri.�
"I'm just going to pull it to her upper chest.�
"I'll go farther if I need� to but that's a good starting place."� Vanessa took a deep breath and started peeling back Neri's dress, which she� literally had to do.� Neri was indeed naked under her dres.� Vanessa didn't let it phase her for� more than a moment though.� As she kept peeling up Neri's dress, she couldn't help wincing.� Neri had� deep teeth marks all along the left side of her body.�
"How did she survive that?" Dianne asked, whiping a tear from her eye.�
"Charley," Jason said quietly as Vanessa pulled Neri's dress back down.�
"Now what do we do?" Vanessa asked a moment later.� Dianne thought a moment� before answering.�
"We really need to get her back� to Orca. The problem is, we don't have anyone on the medical staff who knows who she� is."
"We'll just have to tell someon who's trustworthy.� We can't treat her� ourselves," Jason said.�
"How do we get her to the boat?" Vanessa asked.�
"I'll carry her," Jason said.�
"You sure you can do it?" Dianne asked skeptically.� Jason nodded.�
"I'm guessing she can't weigh more than 100 pounds.� Anyways,� I'm her best friend so I think it's kind of my duty."� "Let's get going then.� It looks like she lost a lot of blood," Dianne said,� starting to stand up.� She whiped her hands on her pants as Vanessa stood and Jason moved to� pick Neri up.�
"She's even lighter than I expected," he said as they started walking.�
"Whales lost fat on migration.� Neri probably loses weight."� Five minutes later, they reached the boat.�
"Mom, how is she?" Brett asked as they climbed on board.�
"She's alive, but how, I can't imagine.� She's got deep bite marks down her� whole left side of her body.� Charley must have saved from being bitten in half.� We� need to get her to Orca for help," she said as Winston go tht boat started.� "No one on the� med staff knows who she is so we'll have to be careful what we say.� We'll have to� tell someone though.
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A long 45 minutes later they finally reached Orca.� Winston had radioed� ahead so there was a medical team waiting on the platform.�
"I'm Dr. Jennifer Crane.� Who is this?"�
"Her name is Neri.� It looks like she was attacked by a shark," Jason said� as he stepped out of the boat and put Neri on the waiting gurney.�
"Where did you find her?"� That stopped Jason in his tracks, along with most of the group.� Jason felt a hand on his shoulder a moment later.�
"Tell her the truth.� I� think we can trust her," Dianne said.�
Jason nodded.� "Her island."�
That caught Jennifer by surprise.� "Her island?!� The only islands around� here are uninhabited!"�
"That's ture, except for one island."�
"How come I never heard about this?"�
"We've kept her a secret for a year now with good reason," Dianne said as� they waited for the lift to return for them.� "What do you mean?"�
"I should say only that she has a friend who probably saved her life out� there."�
"A friend?!� The only thing out there is whales!"� Dianne grinned and pointed out Charley, who was sitting 50 feet out from the� platform, one eye on it.�
"Jennifer, meet Charley."� Jennifer took a good two steps back at the sight of Charley.�
"She's friends� with... him?"�
"Why else would he be this close?" Brett said, a smile on his face.�
"Actually I don't know that much about whales," Jennifer said as they� entered the lift.�
"Well, they usually don't hang around human installations like he is right� now."�
"How long have you guys known her?"�
"Brett and I have known her a year now.� Mom for about half a year, and the� rest of us about a quarter of a year," Jason said.�
"And how many other people know about her?"�
"Just the Comander and his daughter.� We've kept it pretty secretive, and� we'd like to keep it that way."� A couple minutes later, they reached the medical center.� Another doctor was� waiting for them.�
"I'm Dr. Riker.� Your the ones who brought the girl in right?"�
"Yes.� How is she?"�
"She'll be all right.� Any blood she lost she seems to have regenerated by� herself.� Her only problem really is she's extremely exhausted.� She needs to sleep.�� She'll be fine after that."�
"What did you do with her dress?" Jason asked.�
"You mean that thing she was wearing?� We had to take it off her, but we're� not exactly sure what we should do with it.� Who is she anyways?� I've never seen� anything like that before.� And on top of that she didn't have anything on underneath it!"�
"Dr. Riker, I'll take over Neri's care from here.� I know more about her� than you do, and they want to keep this as quiet as possible," she said pointing over her� shoulder to Jason the rest of the group.� After a moment of thought Dr. Riker nodded.�
"All right.� I can live with� that."� As Dr. Riker moved away, Dianne whispered to Jennifer:
"If she's only� exhausted, can we move her to my quarters?"� Jennifer shrugged.�
"I don't see any reason why not.� It wouldn't cause as� much of stir certainly if you have her there."� With that Jason entered the area where Neri was laying and picked her up.�� Someone had already dressed her in an Orca uniform.� Dianne followed him and picked up� Neri's dress.� Jennifer put a hand on Dianne's shoulder as she passed by.�
"There's no way� of knowing when she'll wake up.� You might want to have someone with her until she� does.� I'll come check on her tomorrow before I start work.� When she does wake up, she� might want a familiar face there."�
"Thank you.� For everything."� Jennifer nodded and entered the medical center leaving Dianne to follow the� rest of the group.�
"Let's put her in my room," she said as she joined the rest of the group in� her quarters.�
"We should go.� Our parents will be wondering where we are," Vanessa said,� speaking for all of the kids.� A few of the kids looked like they were goign to protest but when they saw� the look on Vanessa's face they kept quiet and filed out.� "I thought you guys might want some time to yourselves," Vanessa said just� before she left.�
"I should go too," Winston said, putting a hand on Diannes's shoulder.�
"Thank you for your help today Winston.� You didn't have to come with us you� know."�
"I wanted to.� Besides, she's my friend too," he said, squeezing Dianne's� shoulder and leaving the room.� Dianne entered her bedroom where Jason had placed Neri on the bed.�
"Mom, where are you going to sleep?" Brett asked.�
"A chair in this room, just like I'd do if one of you were sick."�
"What about tomorrow?� Who stays with her?"� Brett asked�
"We'll take turns.� I can't miss work tomorrow, so you take a turn Jason."
Chapter 2�
It was aquiet evening, with Neri sleeping the entire night.� Jason was studying in the chair next to her bed when he heard a voice.�
"Jason," Neri said, just barely loud enough that he could hear.� Jason smiled as he put down his book and looked at Neri whose eyes were open.���
"Hey there...� How are you doing?"�
"Tired... dry.� Too dry."�
"Let's get you into the bathtub then," he said, picking her up.�
"Where I?"�
"Orca.� We found you yesterday after Charley found us.� We brought you back� with us after that.� Neri, what happened to you and Charley?"� Neri took a deep breath as Jason eased her into the bathtub which was� actually more the size of a hottub, and turned the water on.�
"Shark attack.� Bite me, Charley� bite, save me."� Jason pulled a chair over to the tub as it finished filling.� He turned off� the water.�
"Neri how much blood did you lose?"� Neri had closed her eyes and was leaning against the edge of the tub.� At� the question, though, she opened her eyes and turened to face Jason.� She paused a moment� before answering.�
"Lot.� Lot� of blood.� Did not help hurry home... finish trip two� days, take week."� That surprised Jason.�
"No wonder your exhausted."�
"Where mother?"�
"She had to work today, since we spent most of yestreday afternoon looking� for you."�
"You mad?"
"No, none of us are.� I mean, we were just surprised.� Charley certainly� scared us yesterday."�
"I send to find you.� No now why hurt."�
"Well, your home now.� You can stop worrying...Neri, would you be willing� to teach me how to swim like you?"�
"Why?"�
"I think mom will agree with me that you should have someone else with you� when you go on migration next year.� She can't, obviously, because of her work.�� Brett's too young, he needs to continue with school.� That leaves me."� Neri was silent a moment as she thought about that.�
"Take lot time.� Need� build power. Can move island?�� Teach there.� Too deep here."�
"I'll talk to mother.� I'm old enough to make my own decisions.� She'll just� have to understand.� Let's get you back into bed," he said, standing up.��
"Mother not mind I wet?"�
"No.� It was her idea to put you in her bed in the first place," Jason said� as he pickd her up.�
"But I wet!"�
"Don't worry about it," Jason said as he set her back in bed, and covered� her with a blanket.�
"If it makes you feel better, I can get you a towel."�
"Towel?� What that?"� the question surprised Jason but then he realized there wasn't any way Neri� could know what a towel was.�
"It helps you dry off when your wet," he said as he got one from the� bathroom and handed it to Neri.� A minute later, Jason took back the now soaked towal from Neri and went to� hangt ip in the bathroom and when her came back, Neri was asleep.
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The next few days were basicaly the same routine, except everyone took� turns.� Jason often argued with his mom about learning to swim like Neri so he could� go on migration with her and Charley the next summer.� Finally after much debate� and thought, Dianne agreed.�
"All right, you can do it, but just because your living on Neri's island,� that doesn't mean your education has to suffer. You keep up your studies until you go on� migration all right?"�
Jason nodded.� "As long as I can go."� That ended that.� The only problem left was really Neri's nightmares.� A couple nights after� she arrived on Orca she started waking Dianne up, who was still sitting next to the bed,� thrashing and moaning.� Dianne would hold Neri until she fell back asleep.�
"She still is so much like a child," Dianne commented to Winston one day� while they were working.�
"Does it bother you?"�
"No, it gives me the chance to have the daughter I never had."�
"Actually, it does not surprise me. that she is more of a child than she� should be.� Before Jason met her, she hadn't had human contact for years.� That means no chance� to learn, no chance know life outside of her island.� No chance to grow."
"These nightmares are really hurting her."�
"Have you talked to her about it?"�
"We talked as a family.� It helped, I think.� She's only waking up once a� night on average now."�
"That's good to hear.� She probably is read to go back to her island."�
"Jason's going with her."�
"What?!"�
"He wants to learn to swim like she does so he can go with her and Charley� when they go on migration next spring."� "And you're comfortable with that?"�
"Not as comfortable as I'd like to be, but it's his decision."
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A week later, Neri and Jason moved to her island.� It wasn't easy to learn to swim like Neri did.� They spent a few hours a day� building Jason's breath control, stamina and swimming ability.� They were also working out a mutual sign� system that would be useful under water.� All that time together added an interesting twist to Neri and Jason's� personal relationship.� Jason had been feeling like Neri was becoming more than just a good friend� for a while, but because Neri's mind was almost like a childs', he wasn't sure he should� say anything about his feelings.� Jason had been teaching Neri to read, which she had asked him to do in� exchange for the swimming lessons.� Jason thought that was a pretty fair exchange, so he had� been teaching her.� Jason had gotten a wetsuit from Orca, allowing him to keep much warmer while swimming than if� he had just been wearing a swimsuit.� As his swimming got stronger, Neri started taking Jason out into the ocean� to swim with Charley and go on longer swimming trips.
"Today go to Orca, Neri said one morning as they ate breakfast.� Visit� mother."
"You think I'm ready?"� Neri nodded.�
"Been ready.� Ultimate test.� Go on migration soon."� A half hour later they were swimming toward Orca.� Dive, Neri signed when they reached the platform.� Jason nodded, broke the surface for a fresh breath and then dove with Neri.� When they reached the bottom half of Orca, Jason signed he wanted to find� Dianne's lab.� Neri grinned and signed to follow her.� A half minute later they were floating in front of the lab window.� Winston� and Dianne had their backs to them so Jason knocked on the window.� He could see Dianne� say something to Winston, him head to the door, open it, look out into the� hallway, and say something to Dianne, who paused, said something and turned to the window.� Jason had to grin at the look on Dianne's face.� He waved to her as she� said something. Apparently she was trying to tell him something, because, from what he could� tell, she said the same thing over again.� Jason shook his head and pointed to his ear.� That sent Dianne into a flurry of activity.� Winston finally handed her a� piece of paper, which she frantically wrote on.� When she held it up where Jason could read it, it said, Meet us up top on� the platform,� Jason nodded and signed to Neri what it said.� She nodded and headed to the� surface, leaving Jason to follow.� Five minutes after they arrived on the platform, the lift door opened.�� Jason and Neri were still in the water as a precaution in case someone came up before Dianne� did.�
"Where are you Jason?"� Jason and Neri climbed out of the water and onto the platform.�
"We're right� here Mom," he said, giving her a hug.�
"Were you trying to give me a heart attack down there?" Dianne asked as she� gave Neri a hug.�
"Sorry mom.� Of course we didn't mean to."
"What heart attack?"
"It's where your heart stops," Jason said.�
"Aren't you teaching her that kind of thing?"�
"Yes, but sometimes it's just easier to just answer her questions."� Dianne noddd.�
"When do you leave?"�
"Charley says seven day at sunrise.".�
"I'll try to be there to see you off.� If I'm not, can you stop here before� you head out?"� Neri nodded.�
"It on way out."�
"Will you wait for us on the platform?" Jason asked.� Dianne nodded.�
"Sure.� I'll see you, one way or the other."� She hugged both Neri and Jason one last time then watched them dive into the� water and swim off towards the island before she turned back to the life.�
Seven days later she was on the platform at sunrise with a sleepy Brett� standing next to her.� Winston was also there but not so close to them.� A few minutes later Jason and Neri surfaced and climbed onto the platform.�
"So you guys are rally heading out huh?" Brett asked, surprising both Jason� and Neri with his presence.�
"I just wanted to say goodbye and goodluck," he said,� shrugging it off.� Dianne hugged Neri and Jason for a long minute.� Brett came forward then and� gave Neri a hug.�
"I packed a couple things for you to take with," Dainne said, handing a� airtight backpack to Jason.�
"The backpack is waterproof so it won't harm what's inside.�� There's a satellite phone in there so you can call me here if you need to, that's also� watertight.� There's also a few candybars in there in case you get sick of living off the sea, Jason,"� she said, sniffing.� Jason took the pack from Dianne and gave her a long hug.�
"Thanks Mom.�� We'll be back before you know it."� He turned to Brett, who was standing next to Dianne and ruffled his hair a� bit.�
"Watch out for Mom, all right?� Your the man of the house now."� Brett grinned.�
"I've been the man of the house since you left to live on� Ner's island. Goodluck."� Neri put a hand on Jason's shoulder.� "Charley say we leave now." Jason nodded, gave his mom one last hug and waited as Neri did the same.� He said goodbye one last time, and then turned with Neri to dive off the� platform.� Winston came from where he had been standing near the door to the lift, and� put his hands on Dianne shoulders.�
"You are't going to get much sleep until they� return are you?" he asked.� Dianne shook her head.�
"We might as well go back.� They're goine and� everyone will be awake in a bit."� The three of them left the platform and entered the lift a moment later,� with Dianne taking one last look out to sea.
Chapter 3
Jason smiled at Neri as they neared her island.� I had been an uneventful� migration, at least according to Neri.� They had almost had a couple run-ins with tourist boats who were watching� the whales migrate, but they had been able to avoid any contact and continue on their� way.�
"Charley say good to be home," Neri said as they climbed onto the beach.� It was late evening so they had opted to go to Orca the next morning instead� of then.� They walked to camp and were surprised to find it in good shape, despite the� months it hadn't been in use.�
"It was probably just Mom," Jason said as he walked over to the firepit,� where a white piece of paper was folded in half and taped to a rock.� Jason picked it up and unfolded it.�
**Jason and Neri, I hope this note finds you in good health.� We're all doing fine here on� Orca.� Comve visit us soon.� Mom** Jason read it to Neri, who smiled.�
"Sleep now, visit tomorrow," she said,� turning to climb the tree in which their nest was in.� Jason sighed at the thought of going to bed so early, but followed her up to� the nest.� He had professed his love for her a couple of weeks before, just before they� had gone to sleep, and to his surprise, she had not been embarresed but signed that she� loved him too.� Jason gave Neri a kiss before they fell asleep.
Chapter 4
Jason was woken up by Neri, who was gently nudging him.�
"Time to go visit."�
"Neri, your just a stickler for waking up early aren't you?"
"Stickler?"�
"I mean, there's no chance you'll ever let me sleep in is there?"� Neri grinned and shook her head.�
"Didn't think so.� Will you at least let me eat some breakfast first?"� Neri nodded.�
"I join you," she said and turned to climb down the tree.� 30 minutes later, they were at Orca, treading water near the platform.�
"Give mother heart attack again?" Neri asked, smiling.�
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Jason said, grinning.�
"Let's dive."� Jason followed Neri down to the lower levels of Orca.
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Once again they found themselves in front of Dianne's lab window. Dianne and Winston were both working hard at a nearby table, both their� heads bent over something so they couldn't see Jason and Neri.� Jason smiled at Neri and knocked on the window.� Winston once again went to the door of the lab and looked out� into the� hallway making Jason roll his eyes.�
"When will they stop checking the door when they hear a knock?" Jason signed� to Neri, who just shrugged.� Dianne and winston turned back to their work, making Jason roll his eyes in� annoyance. He knocked again and when Winston opened the lab door again, jason knocked a� second time, making Winston turn to the window.� Jason waved to him, he grinned and said something to Dianne which made her� turn to the window.� Jason waved and Dianne smiled and turned to a microphone near the window.�
"Well hey there," she said, and Jason and Neri could actually hear her,� scaring the heck out of them.� Dianne chuckled. "Everyone thought I was crazy to want a speaker outside my� lab. We'll meet on the platform all right?"� Jason nodded and led Neri up to the surface.