Chapter Text
Not many dared to explore too deeply into the Atlantis Abyss. A strange formation in the Atlantic Ocean recently rediscovered by the 21st century people. Once there was a great continent known by the Romans and other Ancients, that mysteriously sank into the sea. Until now it was a place of pure myth, no evidence of its existence. Then, as if a magical spell was broken, the abyss appeared.
Now, the abyss wasn't a complete void of nothingness. The opposite, really. However the strange oceanic storm that kicked up sand, created an illusion that there was nothing but an empty expanse of open waters. It was when a few basking sharks had dissolved into this illusion only to reappear weeks later, that interest in the area began.
Inside of this mysterious section of unexplored ocean, the environment drastically changes into a vivid ecosystem of previously undiscovered and cryptic creatures. Most notably, sirens, a mermaid-like species that had few reports in the past were now proven real. These mythic creatures came in all types of breeds and shapes. To categorize them all would be an almost impossible task.
They ranged in size. From 1 foot long to a leviathan length of nearly 80 feet. Most however grew no larger than 10 to 12 feet in length, before competition or predators would end their lives. It is unknown if the oldest of the sirens were the biggest or they simply were a rare subspecies that just grew to extreme lengths.
With funding from the Sea Heaven Explorers Group, or SHEG, scientists hope to fully understand this elusive underwater race. To identify if they are truly more man than fish, and to see if contact could be established.
Currently only a few of the sirens so far haven't been hostile towards the submarine drones sent to spy on their lives:
A small pod of three individuals nicknamed the “Vees” as they consisted of:
- Valentino, the colourful Lion Fish siren.
- Velvet, the lovely Mandarinfish siren.
- And finally, Vox, the juvenile Megladon siren.
Valentino is estimated to be the biggest of this group at the max size of 10 feet long. However Vox is expected to out grow Valentino by over 8 times his size, being of the largest species recorded so far in adult hood. Currently Vox is estimated to be less than 8 feet. Velvet is the smallest at 5 feet.
Next pod is larger consisting of 4 individuals with 5 other “frequent visitors” to their territory:
- Charlie, the royal Queen Angelfish siren and leader of the pod.
- Vaggie, the brave Banggai Cardinalfish siren and protector of the pod.
- Angel, the flirty Hogfish siren and most curiously social of the pod.
- And Husker, the elusive Ribbon Eel siren and pickiest of eaters in the pod.
These four seem to consist of two mating pairs, however it seems the two females and males are in homosexual pairings. Making the pod stranger, as they consist of different subspecies, as well. Though it's speculated that the sex and subspecies of sirens is mostly an illusion as much as the storm that encircles their underwater lands. Seemingly homosexual behaviours, still can result in successful offspring being created, and the type of siren born relies more on the condition, temperature, and environment the eggs are kept in during development.
The next group observed isn't as close as the other two. Containing 3 of the “visiting” individuals, plus one solitary female:
- Lucifer, the small, but regal Clownfish.
- Alastor, the proud and crafty Cuttlefish siren.
- Niffty, the tiny, but quick Dumbo siren.
- And lastly, Rosie, the patient Vampire Squid siren.
This group's only outlier is Lucifer, being not related to the Celopod subclassification. Niffty & Rosie's tolerance of SHEG equipment, also became a factor to Alastor's tolerance, as the mostly secretive Cuttlefish previously would destroy any equipment he spotted in his territory, until observing Niffty & Rosie's reactions. Alastor’s curiosity and intelligence has so far surpassed the research team's expectations in the siren species.
The final known sirens to not be hostile to observation currently is a mated pair who make up the rest of the “visitors” to Charlie's pod:
- Sir Pentious, the bashful Moray Eel siren.
- And Cherry Bomb, the firey Flame Angelfish siren.
All of the observed individuals occasionally have interactions with each other in this study. The Vees being antagonistic to the much larger group. It's speculated that Vox's aggressive behaviour, favours bullying other sirens into getting whatever he desires out of them, making it extremely difficult for all but the most tolerant of sirens to invest time with him. The potential of size and therefore protection, might be a factor on which both Velvette and Valentino, remain in Vox's pod despite the risks of injury occurring from the juvenile's aggressive disposition towards others.