The Siren, the General's Daughter Book One Read Online Free PDF Page A

devices. You saw what happened last time. Yes, Michael, let’s pursue it. No, Samantha, you may not experiment with it. Discussion ended.”
    The commander’s firm, exacting tone made heads turn. Stunned, the lab crew watched their young leader shrink in her chair with a whispered ‘yes, Sir.’ This was a new event to talk about—the ship’s Siren actually responding to a limitation!
    The remaining four hours were spent with frequency adjustments and use of the neuroband. Michael had succeeded in base line communications while his sister had mastered the convergence. They switched to the I-band for ichthyoid communication but were unable to divert the frequencies to make it a repellant. Frustrated, the three called it a day.
    ”Let’s go for a flight,” Michael said to his sister as she stubbornly continued to try to gain a reaction from the lemon shark.
    She looked up hopefully. “You were serious? Cool! Did Daddy say it was ok?”
    “I don’t need his permission for this, but yes, he was fine with you going with me. Go get your wetsuit on- we’ll hit the island. Leave that here.” He added firmly, pointing to the I-band around her neck. She made a face and removed it. Her smile returned when he announced that she could pilot.
     
    ***
     
    Michael held his breath as his sister pulled a hard left bank in the helo before skillfully landing the craft on the beach of a small island head.
    “That was fun. I love to fly.” she giggled, running out onto the sand and plunging under the water.
    Michael waded in behind her as he adjusted his mask. He submerged, looking for where his sister had ventured. Oh shit….  “Samantha! Don’t you dare touch those eels! Don’t put your hand in that rock! Hey, get back here!” he ordered, watching her flip before zooming away. He began his search, becoming more agitated as she hid from him. It was like chasing a six year old through a toy store. Sneaking up from behind, she bit his leg, laughing as he turned sharply.
    “That’s enough! Get over here now!” he commanded, suspended in the water. She defiantly disappeared again. Ten minutes later, his eye caught a leopard shark to the left. Oh no, she wasn’t….
    Yes, she was. Despite his order, she had taken the I-band from the lab to try in open space. Michael’s heart raced as he saw more sharks approaching. Instead of a deterrent, it attracted them! Swearing under his breath, he slowly and calmly approached her, jarring her out of concentration.
    “You are summoning a shiver. Let’s get out of here now before they turn.” he said softly to avoid any sense of panic. Opening her eyes, and biting her bottom lip, she nodded. Calling in porpoise to disperse the sharks, she slowly followed her brother back to the beach and crawled out of the water. Dropping on the hot sand, they both inhaled deeply with relief.
    That was too close for comfort. Gaining his composure, anger welling inside, Michael snagged her wrist with his hand. “What the hell were you thinking? Of all the stupid things…..”
    “Don’t call me stupid!” Sam yelled back, breaking away.
    Michael snarled. “You aren’t stupid, your actions are! You were specifically told not to experiment on yourself! They could have frenzied! You saw the pattern starting!” he yelled, his voice booming. For Michael to raise his voice was a rarity, and one that Sam would not tolerate.
    She stood up to face him, her head tilted back to glare up into his face fearlessly. “I know what I’m doing! I’m not an idiot! And don’t you dare yell at me,” she shouted back.
    Michael stood next to her, his head towering above hers by more than a foot. “What is your major malfunction, Sam? You have never been so rude and nasty towards me for any reason in your entire life. I just can’t believe is how you keep acting like a spoiled brat who doesn’t know what the word ‘no’ means. When Dad finds out about this, he is going to hit the freakin’ roof.” His voice