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Description
Growing up in the coastal city of Eastpoint, Maine, I’ve always had a fascination with the seas. My mother would always tell me and my sister stories of amazing creatures like giant octopi, and serpentine monsters roaming the ocean’s depth. But there was one mythical creature that has always fascinated me above all.

Mermaids, or merfolk, are half-human sea creature conventionally depicted with the upper body of a human females (though male merfolk are not unheard of) and the lower abdomen of a fish. Mermaids have been the stuff of legends ever since man decided to brave the vast oceans. Depending on which side of the tales you believe, they can either be benevolent – saving drowning sailors, and guiding lost ships back to shore, or malevolent – luring unwary individuals to their demise with their charm, beauty, and voice.

Personally I believe that mermaids stood more on the former. As a kid, I was told that mermaids were hopeless romantics, always waiting by the beaches and on top of reefs, dreaming of their yet unseen “prince”. It was this admittedly childish fantasy that would draw me to the coasts. Armed with my father’s video camera, every day after school I would head out to the old shoreline cliff to seek out for any disturbances amongst the waves. In hindsight, skulking so near the edge of a cliff was probably not such a good idea. Now that I think about it, if weren’t for that one incident, I probably would not have met her.

I can never forget that day. As I leaned forward excitedly after spotting something shiny darting across the waters, the ground beneath me suddenly gave way. Before I knew it, I was plummeting several feet down into the sea below. Salt water started to burn the insides of my throat as I felt myself sinking deeper into the abyss. As I panicked, I flailed my arms desperately but with little effect as the powerful waves incapacitated any attempt for my then frail body to break the water’s surface.

If you asked me, I couldn’t tell how long I was out cold. But when I finally regained consciousness, I was back on the beach cradled in the arms of a beautiful young girl. I thought I was dreaming; or maybe even dead, but I could feel her soft, tangible hand as she held on to me. She had light tan skin which contrasted her long golden hair. Her violet eyes were accompanied by a smile that could brighten even the darkest of hearts. What shocked me the most was when I noticed her lower body! She had a tail that was long and snake-like, ending with a pair of ornate fins which shone like a sparkling sapphire.

It’s no surprise that I was flabbergasted by her appearance, but I was stunned long enough to completely miss her attempts at asking me if I was okay. She must have thought that I sustained some kind of head injury. Two more heads popped out of the water’s surface, calling out to her. Assuming that I was probably going to be okay, the young mermaid responded to them before leaving me at the shore. By the time I picked up my jaw from the floor, she had already swam past the breakwater. I shouted out to her asking for name, to which she replied, 'Artesia' while giving me warmest smile I had ever seen. After a brief acknowledgement, she went with her friends and disappeared into the blue horizon.

I never saw her again ever since. Every attempt at finding or contacting her was fruitless – from messages in bottles, to paper airplanes off that same cliff that nearly cost me dearly. My parents were distraught when I told them about the incident, caring less about my encounter and more on the fact that I almost got myself killed. Even my mother eventually confessed that the stories she told us were just that – stories. Merely myths and legends that were never meant to be taken seriously. As an eleven year old that was possibly the most heart-crushing thing I was ever be told. But deep down inside I knew I was not crazy. A mermaid saved me, and I was going to prove it one day.

The years would go by and the destruction of Eastpoint city would eventually lead to the formation of UNITE. Being re-assigned their agency bureau would give me an unprecedented opportunity and resources to finally answer my childhood mystery. However, I was astonished by how low the number of reports for mermaids was. Those archived were debunked as hoaxes, and many other sightings were discredited due to a lack of hard evidence. The reality of it eventually sunk in and as time went on, I had almost forgone any attempt at this pipe dream. Was I really just imagining things that fateful day? Are mermaids merely a work of fiction? It would be almost four years later that I would be proven wrong.

The following data pertains to the individual named Kai, codename: Hope Diamond, encountered during Operation Bering Strait.

Name
Kai Neu (As with Magilily, I would discover the significance of her last name much later on.)

Gender

Female
Age

Based on appearance, she is presumably around the age of 12– 13 years old.
Appearance

Platinum blonde hair, and Light olive skin of the Type III pigmentation. Based on this, I hypothesize that she may be of Indo-European descent.
As a mermaid, Kai has the upper body of human. In this case, a female child. Her attire is minimal to say the least. Most notable are the large blue gems on her chest and headdress. On that note, the pink tiara on her head appear to be made of some kind of spongy material just like the bracelets on her wrists.
Continuing from above, her mermaid anatomy means she has the lower torso of a fish. The scales on her body while normally a vibrant purple/blue, are capable of changing to a large spectrum of colors. Possibly a camouflage adaptation.
Personality

Brave and courageous in spite of her gentle, passive nature. Kai is never one to start a fight, but you can always be sure she will always be there to stop it.
Her compassionate spirit means that she will readily aid those who in need of help, even at great risk of her on being.
Powers and abilities

Hydrokinesis - Kai has shown exceptional talent at manipulating water in all of three states. Some of her moves include creating ice walls, contorting large bodies of water, and fog generation. Oddly enough, she seems to almost always use her skills as a form of defense, further cementing her passive nature.
Healing - A subclass of her Hydrokinetic powers. Kai is able to alter the properties of water to use as a form of healing. When applied, this ‘Aqua Benedicta’ is able to fully heal any immediate wounds or injuries.
Temperature Control - Another subclass of her Hydrokinetic powers, though lesser known, Kai is able to control the influx of thermal energy of any body of water. Since the air around us is a comprised of a small fraction of water vapor, Kai can drastically increase or decrease of temperature in a short radius around her.
As the average adult human body is comprised of 50-65% water, this also means she can alter the temperature of the human body, something which I will cover below.
Songstress Voice - Possessing the voice of the sirens of ancient mythos, Kai’s is able to not only charm and hypnotize humans, but also calm and subdue even the most savage of beings. The extent of this ability is still unknown, but it is possible that her voice can cause other effects such as sleep, or dizziness.
Her voice not only affects terrestrial beings, but also non-native and extradimensional ones as well. Does not affect shadow beasts however.
Defensive Mist - When threatened or in danger, Kai has the able to release a cloud of pink mist. This mist can either blind, stun, or even cause anyone caught it to fall asleep. Thankfully the effects are temporary, lasting no more than a few minutes.
Other known abilities
[Aquatic Ace] - As a mermaid, Kai is an expert at maneuvering through water with speeds exceeding the fastest of naval vessels. Her mastery of water means that no wave is too strong to cross, no waterfall too mighty to climb.
[Surface Agility] - Unlike traditional mermaids of lore, she is not rendered immobile when beached. If anything, Kai is just as agile on land as she is in the water with movements similar to those of a snake. When slithering on land, her body leaves behind a soapy residue which can trip up anyone foolish enough to pursue her.
[Heat/Cold Resistance] - Kai’s mermaid form is highly resistant to both heat and cold. Not a surprise, considering the extreme temperatures that both the depths of the oceans, and arctic waters can reach.

On [DATE REDACTED], Enforcer Nicolia Kansa and I were assigned to Operation Bering Strait. We were to investigate a disturbance reported by researchers at Summit Station in Greenland. While the personnel there were no strangers to occasional glacial earthquakes in the region, the ones reported were more sporadic than usual, and occasionally accompanied by a terrifying howl. The final straw was when a number of their large all-terrain carriers went missing over the night, only for some them to be found miles away, completely torn to pieces.

We could not rule out the possibility of a shadow beast causing these disturbance despite the lack of any fissures detected in the region. As such, I was authorized access to the Variable Threat Engagement Suit (VARTES), a powerful small-scale combat mech for the operation. We were airlifted from the Godwin-class battlecruiser, USS Sentinel, anchored at edge of Myggbukta, to the research station in the Northeast Greenland National Park. From there we traveled northwest, which was said to be the epicenter of the tremors.

It was around 1202 hours when we reached the northern ice fields. Vehicle parts and debris were scattered all across the barren tundra. But further in the distance we could make out an odd shape against the jagged rocks. As I drove the VARTES closer, it became obvious what it was – a nest. Made out of scavenged parts from the all-terrain carriers. Nicolia got out to investigate the wreckage pile and noted that whatever made this seemed only interested with the interior of the vehicles, as the nest was lined with it seats and upholstery.

I was interested in getting a closer view at the nest when the VARTES’s sensors started flashing of a large thermal reading approaching at high speeds. As it got closer, the ice underneath us started to rumble. I quickly scanned the horizon and saw a large fin slicing thru the ice. Nicolia retreated back to the safety of the VARTES, and not a moment too soon. The ground erupted and out leapt a large hulking monstrosity.

The creature appeared to be a gigantic shark-like creature the size of a bus. But unlike a contemporary Selachimorpha, it had four stocky legs ending in large webbed feet. Its pale blue color matched its white underbelly, and was punctuated with yellow streaks across its fins and tail. A large maw lined with teeth made up the bulk of its head with tiny beady white eyes. I reported the mark’s location back to the Sentinel with an additional request for air support. The Sentinel’s communication officer confirmed the order stating that a squadron of UNTD-01 Hermes drones are currently being prepared for launch, with the explicit warning of Danger Close. The target would be referred to as Abyss-1 for the remainder of the operation.

Initially the battle went as planned. Nicolia engaged Abyss-1 head-on using her Type-14 CIWS, while I provided covering fire for her using the VARTES’s arm mounted guns whenever it came close to hitting her. Because of their size difference, Nicolia was able to take advantage of the beasts numerous blind spots; expertly weaving around its massive claws, while slashing away at its weak points. While Abyss-1’s thick hide was slightly resistant to conventional 20mm rounds, Nicolia’s fire imbued sword allowed her to deal much more significant damage to the creature.

However midway through the skirmish, the creature’s built up rage was unleashed. In a single ear-piercing roar, its body was suddenly covered in a layer of thick ice which caused it to become near resistant to any form of attack. Exhibiting a drastic increase in speed and evasiveness, Abyss-1 used it nigh invulnerability to go after Nicolia first; a swing of its anchor-like tail was enough to leave a large gouge mark on her armor and almost incapacitating her. Deeming the mini-mecha as the next most significant threat, it started to direct its assault on me.

Given its close combat nature. I attempted to maintain a safe distance from it while using the VARTES’s guns to wear down the makeshift armor covering its body. Abyss-1 knew it could not counter me in a long ranged battle and decided to do one better – it fired off an ice beam from its mouth; a move I did not anticipate such a creature to be capable of. The beam struck the right portion of the suit’s hull, freezing its attached arm and leg. Partially immobilized by the attack, I was left open as Abyss-1 one made a quick lunge towards me. The force from the jump combined with both our weights shattered the ice beneath us and into the waters below.

Abyss-1 held on to the front of the VARTES and started biting into the chest section of the suit. While it initially held strong, Abyss-1’s bite force was starting to cause the suit’s armor integrity to fail. The interior was crumpling under the pressure as puncture holes formed from its jaws. Ice cold seawater seeped into the cockpit while numerous emergency warnings started flashing across the suit’s console. I activated the VARTES’s right arm mounted blade in retaliation and began stabbing the side of its head. At first the strikes deflected off its side, but eventually it penetrated through and wounded the creature.

Abyss-1 roared in pain as its blood started to dye the waters red. It fled the battle but not before ripping off the suit’s right arm. Any attempt to pursue it was useless as the damage from the skirmish earlier had crippled the VARTES’s thruster engines. I tried to contact Nicolia but the only thing that could be heard was static pulsated by the occasional distorted audio. I was completely helpless as the mech continued to sink at a rapid pace. By this point the cockpit was almost filled with water leaving very little breathing space. As I kicked desperately against the damaged airlock, I was reminded of the drowning incident as kid, only this time round there was no one to save me. Given my line of work, I knew that every mission could potentially be my last. But I certainly did not expect to go out like this – trapped in a metal box, waiting for either hypothermia or asphyxiation to eventually take my life. On the cracked display monitor, the light from the surface slowly faded the further I sank.

I was about to resigned to my fate when I noticed a small figure dashed across the monitor. It was fast and was circling above me. The closer it came to the VARTES’s main camera, the clearer it became as light from the surface was seemingly reflected off its body. At first I thought the lack of oxygen was causing me to hallucinate, but it became clear that the being in front of me was a mermaid! She drifted in front of the unit’s head and held it steady with her hands, all this time with a concerned look on her face.

After assessing the situation for a moment, she started to make movements with her arms. In a matter of seconds the water level within the cockpit started to subside. Furthermore the sensors indicated a drop in external hull pressure as the entire machine started to rise to the surface. I wasn’t sure what happened during this period, but according to Nicolia, she witnessed the VARTES being lifted out of the water and into the air by a giant bubble of water.

At least I wasn’t going to drown, but the cold from my drenched clothes was still mind-numbing. Just as it seemed like thing couldn’t get any worse, the temperature within the VARTES started to drop rapidly. Ice crystals started forming around the edges of the cockpit hatch, but for some reason did not spread further. Eventually the buildup of ice was strong enough to pop the hatch open. I crawled out of the cockpit to be greeted by a blast of frigid air. The cold had sapped away most of my strength and it didn’t take long before I collapsed to the ground. When I opened my eyes, I found myself once again being cradled by a mermaid. With the clarity of daylight, I was able to get a clear view at her. She had the features of a child,but was no less beautiful than the mermaid I saw all those years back. I blurted out ‘Artesia?’ in a lightheaded state, to which the mermaid chuckled and corrected me; stating that her name was Kai. Despite that, for some reason she still looked very familiar. It felt like I had seen her before somewhere but I just could not put my finger on it.

Slowly but surely, my strength started to return to me as a warm sensation coursed through my body as she held onto my hand. How she was generating such a large amount of heat is a mystery, but I certainly was not going to complain about it. Before long I felt like I was ready to get back up on my feet. Kai gave me a confident smile before turning her attention to the ensuing battle. In the distance, Nicolia was still engaging Abyss-1 in a nonstop fight to the death. It’s amazing that she was able to last this against a being much larger than her.

Kai told me that she was going to try and stop the fighting. Considering that she didn’t look anything like a fighter, I instantly advised her against getting involved. However she replied that she won’t sit by and do nothing. She quickly slithered forward before I could reach out to stop her. As she got closer Kai, placed her palm on the ground. For a moment it seemed like nothing happened, but a few seconds later the ground started to tremble. Out of the cracks that were forming, a wall of ice started to rise up; separating both combatants who were taken by surprise by the intervention. Abyss-1 turned towards Kai; its intentions were certainly still hostile. It let out another roar and started to charge towards her.

What happened next was the most unimaginable thing I had ever witnessed. Any lesser person would have fled given the circumstances. But Kai simply stood her ground with unflinching determination. She took a deep breath and started to sing in a language I had not heard before. Her voice was both enchanting and soothing at the same time. It didn’t take long before Abyss-1 was brought in by that same allure from her voice. It slowed down from its stampede before coming to a complete halt. Kai continued her melody as she drew closer to the creature who laid down its head in submission. She placed her hand over its scarred cranium and started stroking it almost like as if it was a pet dog. I could not believe my eyes; the little mermaid had tamed the beast!

Kai waved at me from a distance, almost as if saying ‘I got this’! I waved back as a sense of relief overwhelmed me. I turned to look at Nicolia who was clearly still enraged by having her fight interrupted. But what’s most important was that the situation is now under control. All we needed to do now was to find a way to transport it back willingly. I wasn’t sure what Kai’s intention was for helping us, but seeing as she was clearly benevolent, I was certain we could come to some kind of agreement. But more than anything else I finally had a chance to speak to an actual mermaid!

As I walked over to her, I could hear a familiar sound in the air. Kai was also distracted by something behind me. As I turned around, I realized what that sound was – the distinct howl from a jet engine. Three UNTD-01A Hermes attack drones were darting towards our location, instantly reminding me of the ‘danger close’ situation. I ran towards Kai and yelled at her to get away, but it was too late. The missile launched from the lead drone streaked towards the beast faster than I could react. Instinctively Abyss-1 used it body as a shield to protect Kai. But no amount of its bulk or makeshift armor could stop the force of a high yield air to surface missile. The explosion was large enough to engulf the land shark, with the resulting shockwave knocking me off my feet.

It took a moment for me to recover my senses with the deafening blast still ringing in my ears. The area was a scene of carnage with smoke and fire lining the landscape. The monster’s massive visage lay sprawling on its side, while the drones hovered around it like vultures eyeing a carcass. From a distance I could see Nicolia, unfazed by her surroundings, approaching a small limp body struggling to stay up. A sense of dread overcame me as I realized the gravity of the situation. Nicolia’s long standing hatred for shadow beasts may be justified given what she’s been through, but that resentment also carried over to otherworldly beings. In her eyes there was no such thing as a good or bad – just us against them. Kai was the missing link I needed to solve my childhood mystery and I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to her.

I shouted at her to stand down, but to no avail. Nicolia loomed over Kai’s bruised body as she tried to regain her stance. From a distance I could not tell what she was saying, but she instantly grabbed Kai by the neck; holding her up in the air single handedly. Kai struggled to break free but was no match for her strength. She must have said something to Nicolia as her expression instantly changed from rage to shock as she tightened her grip on her.

At that moment Kai’s face turned a bright pink before she suddenly exploded in a cloud of equally pink mist. I picked myself up and ran over to her as fast as I could. Nicolia’s face and upper body was dyed pink by the smokescreen. But aside from some wheezing, and watery eyes, she appeared to be fine. I asked her later what they were talking about, but she refused to comment.

On the other hand, Kai managed to escape to a distance amidst the confusion. She turned look at me one last time, clearly despondent by what had happened, before disappearing into the large clefts in the ice before the encircling drones could locate her.

In the end the mission was still a success. The captured monster was later loaded onto the Sentinel for transport back to the mainland. I should be happy about all this, but to me it felt like a hollow victory. For the first time in a long time I finally encountered a mermaid that proved once and for all that I was not imagining things all those years back. But the question of whether Artesia was still out there remains. Either way this isn't be the last time I would encounter Kai and eventually I would discover the true nature of the company she keeps. But while I am grateful of her for saving my life, I sincerely hope that we will never have to meet again under such circumstances.

NAME: Kai Neu

SPECIES: Mermaid/Merfolk

THREAT RATING: C

NOTES: Her existence may be proof of larger mermaid/merfolk communities out there.

NEXT ENTRY: 005 [Arie Neu]

PREVIOUS ENTRY: 003B [Sony Neu - The Human]

RETURN TO DATA HUB

Joshua M. Faithlight,

Class 2 - UNITE Field Agent

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Wow, this one took much longer than I imagined. But if anything, I’m really happy how it turned out! I noticed that I have not done any characters from a front view perspemctive, so this is an attempt at it.

I want to give a shoutout to for giving me a special insight into Kai’s abilities. Otherwise a lot of this would have been guesswork. Thanks once again!

Also, from this point on all the remaining reports with have a continuous overarching story so stay tuned for that! Bonus points if you can guess whats the monster in this episode is, or which series its from~

Unfortunately I won’t be able to deliver on my previous promise of those additional reports within this month, but you will see them real soon. Anyway with March just around the corner, there is one more priority project I need to get up and running before that.

Kai Neu, In the Neu House (c) BRSstarJV

Description
Growing up in the coastal city of Eastpoint, Maine, I’ve always had a fascination with the seas. My mother would always tell me and my sister stories of amazing creatures like giant octopi, and serpentine monsters roaming the ocean’s depth. But there was one mythical creature that has always fascinated me above all.

Mermaids, or merfolk, are half-human sea creature conventionally depicted with the upper body of a human females (though male merfolk are not unheard of) and the lower abdomen of a fish. Mermaids have been the stuff of legends ever since man decided to brave the vast oceans. Depending on which side of the tales you believe, they can either be benevolent – saving drowning sailors, and guiding lost ships back to shore, or malevolent – luring unwary individuals to their demise with their charm, beauty, and voice.

Personally I believe that mermaids stood more on the former. As a kid, I was told that mermaids were hopeless romantics, always waiting by the beaches and on top of reefs, dreaming of their yet unseen “prince”. It was this admittedly childish fantasy that would draw me to the coasts. Armed with my father’s video camera, every day after school I would head out to the old shoreline cliff to seek out for any disturbances amongst the waves. In hindsight, skulking so near the edge of a cliff was probably not such a good idea. Now that I think about it, if weren’t for that one incident, I probably would not have met her.

I can never forget that day. As I leaned forward excitedly after spotting something shiny darting across the waters, the ground beneath me suddenly gave way. Before I knew it, I was plummeting several feet down into the sea below. Salt water started to burn the insides of my throat as I felt myself sinking deeper into the abyss. As I panicked, I flailed my arms desperately but with little effect as the powerful waves incapacitated any attempt for my then frail body to break the water’s surface.

If you asked me, I couldn’t tell how long I was out cold. But when I finally regained consciousness, I was back on the beach cradled in the arms of a beautiful young girl. I thought I was dreaming; or maybe even dead, but I could feel her soft, tangible hand as she held on to me. She had light tan skin which contrasted her long golden hair. Her violet eyes were accompanied by a smile that could brighten even the darkest of hearts. What shocked me the most was when I noticed her lower body! She had a tail that was long and snake-like, ending with a pair of ornate fins which shone like a sparkling sapphire.

It’s no surprise that I was flabbergasted by her appearance, but I was stunned long enough to completely miss her attempts at asking me if I was okay. She must have thought that I sustained some kind of head injury. Two more heads popped out of the water’s surface, calling out to her. Assuming that I was probably going to be okay, the young mermaid responded to them before leaving me at the shore. By the time I picked up my jaw from the floor, she had already swam past the breakwater. I shouted out to her asking for name, to which she replied, 'Artesia' while giving me warmest smile I had ever seen. After a brief acknowledgement, she went with her friends and disappeared into the blue horizon.

I never saw her again ever since. Every attempt at finding or contacting her was fruitless – from messages in bottles, to paper airplanes off that same cliff that nearly cost me dearly. My parents were distraught when I told them about the incident, caring less about my encounter and more on the fact that I almost got myself killed. Even my mother eventually confessed that the stories she told us were just that – stories. Merely myths and legends that were never meant to be taken seriously. As an eleven year old that was possibly the most heart-crushing thing I was ever be told. But deep down inside I knew I was not crazy. A mermaid saved me, and I was going to prove it one day.

The years would go by and the destruction of Eastpoint city would eventually lead to the formation of UNITE. Being re-assigned their agency bureau would give me an unprecedented opportunity and resources to finally answer my childhood mystery. However, I was astonished by how low the number of reports for mermaids was. Those archived were debunked as hoaxes, and many other sightings were discredited due to a lack of hard evidence. The reality of it eventually sunk in and as time went on, I had almost forgone any attempt at this pipe dream. Was I really just imagining things that fateful day? Are mermaids merely a work of fiction? It would be almost four years later that I would be proven wrong.

The following data pertains to the individual named Kai, codename: Hope Diamond, encountered during Operation Bering Strait.

Name
Kai Neu (As with Magilily, I would discover the significance of her last name much later on.)

Gender

Female
Age

Based on appearance, she is presumably around the age of 12– 13 years old.
Appearance

Platinum blonde hair, and Light olive skin of the Type III pigmentation. Based on this, I hypothesize that she may be of Indo-European descent.
As a mermaid, Kai has the upper body of human. In this case, a female child. Her attire is minimal to say the least. Most notable are the large blue gems on her chest and headdress. On that note, the pink tiara on her head appear to be made of some kind of spongy material just like the bracelets on her wrists.
Continuing from above, her mermaid anatomy means she has the lower torso of a fish. The scales on her body while normally a vibrant purple/blue, are capable of changing to a large spectrum of colors. Possibly a camouflage adaptation.
Personality

Brave and courageous in spite of her gentle, passive nature. Kai is never one to start a fight, but you can always be sure she will always be there to stop it.
Her compassionate spirit means that she will readily aid those who in need of help, even at great risk of her on being.
Powers and abilities

Hydrokinesis - Kai has shown exceptional talent at manipulating water in all of three states. Some of her moves include creating ice walls, contorting large bodies of water, and fog generation. Oddly enough, she seems to almost always use her skills as a form of defense, further cementing her passive nature.
Healing - A subclass of her Hydrokinetic powers. Kai is able to alter the properties of water to use as a form of healing. When applied, this ‘Aqua Benedicta’ is able to fully heal any immediate wounds or injuries.
Temperature Control - Another subclass of her Hydrokinetic powers, though lesser known, Kai is able to control the influx of thermal energy of any body of water. Since the air around us is a comprised of a small fraction of water vapor, Kai can drastically increase or decrease of temperature in a short radius around her.
As the average adult human body is comprised of 50-65% water, this also means she can alter the temperature of the human body, something which I will cover below.
Songstress Voice - Possessing the voice of the sirens of ancient mythos, Kai’s is able to not only charm and hypnotize humans, but also calm and subdue even the most savage of beings. The extent of this ability is still unknown, but it is possible that her voice can cause other effects such as sleep, or dizziness.
Her voice not only affects terrestrial beings, but also non-native and extradimensional ones as well. Does not affect shadow beasts however.
Defensive Mist - When threatened or in danger, Kai has the able to release a cloud of pink mist. This mist can either blind, stun, or even cause anyone caught it to fall asleep. Thankfully the effects are temporary, lasting no more than a few minutes.
Other known abilities
[Aquatic Ace] - As a mermaid, Kai is an expert at maneuvering through water with speeds exceeding the fastest of naval vessels. Her mastery of water means that no wave is too strong to cross, no waterfall too mighty to climb.
[Surface Agility] - Unlike traditional mermaids of lore, she is not rendered immobile when beached. If anything, Kai is just as agile on land as she is in the water with movements similar to those of a snake. When slithering on land, her body leaves behind a soapy residue which can trip up anyone foolish enough to pursue her.
[Heat/Cold Resistance] - Kai’s mermaid form is highly resistant to both heat and cold. Not a surprise, considering the extreme temperatures that both the depths of the oceans, and arctic waters can reach.

On [DATE REDACTED], Enforcer Nicolia Kansa and I were assigned to Operation Bering Strait. We were to investigate a disturbance reported by researchers at Summit Station in Greenland. While the personnel there were no strangers to occasional glacial earthquakes in the region, the ones reported were more sporadic than usual, and occasionally accompanied by a terrifying howl. The final straw was when a number of their large all-terrain carriers went missing over the night, only for some them to be found miles away, completely torn to pieces.

We could not rule out the possibility of a shadow beast causing these disturbance despite the lack of any fissures detected in the region. As such, I was authorized access to the Variable Threat Engagement Suit (VARTES), a powerful small-scale combat mech for the operation. We were airlifted from the Godwin-class battlecruiser, USS Sentinel, anchored at edge of Myggbukta, to the research station in the Northeast Greenland National Park. From there we traveled northwest, which was said to be the epicenter of the tremors.

It was around 1202 hours when we reached the northern ice fields. Vehicle parts and debris were scattered all across the barren tundra. But further in the distance we could make out an odd shape against the jagged rocks. As I drove the VARTES closer, it became obvious what it was – a nest. Made out of scavenged parts from the all-terrain carriers. Nicolia got out to investigate the wreckage pile and noted that whatever made this seemed only interested with the interior of the vehicles, as the nest was lined with it seats and upholstery.

I was interested in getting a closer view at the nest when the VARTES’s sensors started flashing of a large thermal reading approaching at high speeds. As it got closer, the ice underneath us started to rumble. I quickly scanned the horizon and saw a large fin slicing thru the ice. Nicolia retreated back to the safety of the VARTES, and not a moment too soon. The ground erupted and out leapt a large hulking monstrosity.

The creature appeared to be a gigantic shark-like creature the size of a bus. But unlike a contemporary Selachimorpha, it had four stocky legs ending in large webbed feet. Its pale blue color matched its white underbelly, and was punctuated with yellow streaks across its fins and tail. A large maw lined with teeth made up the bulk of its head with tiny beady white eyes. I reported the mark’s location back to the Sentinel with an additional request for air support. The Sentinel’s communication officer confirmed the order stating that a squadron of UNTD-01 Hermes drones are currently being prepared for launch, with the explicit warning of Danger Close. The target would be referred to as Abyss-1 for the remainder of the operation.

Initially the battle went as planned. Nicolia engaged Abyss-1 head-on using her Type-14 CIWS, while I provided covering fire for her using the VARTES’s arm mounted guns whenever it came close to hitting her. Because of their size difference, Nicolia was able to take advantage of the beasts numerous blind spots; expertly weaving around its massive claws, while slashing away at its weak points. While Abyss-1’s thick hide was slightly resistant to conventional 20mm rounds, Nicolia’s fire imbued sword allowed her to deal much more significant damage to the creature.

However midway through the skirmish, the creature’s built up rage was unleashed. In a single ear-piercing roar, its body was suddenly covered in a layer of thick ice which caused it to become near resistant to any form of attack. Exhibiting a drastic increase in speed and evasiveness, Abyss-1 used it nigh invulnerability to go after Nicolia first; a swing of its anchor-like tail was enough to leave a large gouge mark on her armor and almost incapacitating her. Deeming the mini-mecha as the next most significant threat, it started to direct its assault on me.

Given its close combat nature. I attempted to maintain a safe distance from it while using the VARTES’s guns to wear down the makeshift armor covering its body. Abyss-1 knew it could not counter me in a long ranged battle and decided to do one better – it fired off an ice beam from its mouth; a move I did not anticipate such a creature to be capable of. The beam struck the right portion of the suit’s hull, freezing its attached arm and leg. Partially immobilized by the attack, I was left open as Abyss-1 one made a quick lunge towards me. The force from the jump combined with both our weights shattered the ice beneath us and into the waters below.

Abyss-1 held on to the front of the VARTES and started biting into the chest section of the suit. While it initially held strong, Abyss-1’s bite force was starting to cause the suit’s armor integrity to fail. The interior was crumpling under the pressure as puncture holes formed from its jaws. Ice cold seawater seeped into the cockpit while numerous emergency warnings started flashing across the suit’s console. I activated the VARTES’s right arm mounted blade in retaliation and began stabbing the side of its head. At first the strikes deflected off its side, but eventually it penetrated through and wounded the creature.

Abyss-1 roared in pain as its blood started to dye the waters red. It fled the battle but not before ripping off the suit’s right arm. Any attempt to pursue it was useless as the damage from the skirmish earlier had crippled the VARTES’s thruster engines. I tried to contact Nicolia but the only thing that could be heard was static pulsated by the occasional distorted audio. I was completely helpless as the mech continued to sink at a rapid pace. By this point the cockpit was almost filled with water leaving very little breathing space. As I kicked desperately against the damaged airlock, I was reminded of the drowning incident as kid, only this time round there was no one to save me. Given my line of work, I knew that every mission could potentially be my last. But I certainly did not expect to go out like this – trapped in a metal box, waiting for either hypothermia or asphyxiation to eventually take my life. On the cracked display monitor, the light from the surface slowly faded the further I sank.

I was about to resigned to my fate when I noticed a small figure dashed across the monitor. It was fast and was circling above me. The closer it came to the VARTES’s main camera, the clearer it became as light from the surface was seemingly reflected off its body. At first I thought the lack of oxygen was causing me to hallucinate, but it became clear that the being in front of me was a mermaid! She drifted in front of the unit’s head and held it steady with her hands, all this time with a concerned look on her face.

After assessing the situation for a moment, she started to make movements with her arms. In a matter of seconds the water level within the cockpit started to subside. Furthermore the sensors indicated a drop in external hull pressure as the entire machine started to rise to the surface. I wasn’t sure what happened during this period, but according to Nicolia, she witnessed the VARTES being lifted out of the water and into the air by a giant bubble of water.

At least I wasn’t going to drown, but the cold from my drenched clothes was still mind-numbing. Just as it seemed like thing couldn’t get any worse, the temperature within the VARTES started to drop rapidly. Ice crystals started forming around the edges of the cockpit hatch, but for some reason did not spread further. Eventually the buildup of ice was strong enough to pop the hatch open. I crawled out of the cockpit to be greeted by a blast of frigid air. The cold had sapped away most of my strength and it didn’t take long before I collapsed to the ground. When I opened my eyes, I found myself once again being cradled by a mermaid. With the clarity of daylight, I was able to get a clear view at her. She had the features of a child,but was no less beautiful than the mermaid I saw all those years back. I blurted out ‘Artesia?’ in a lightheaded state, to which the mermaid chuckled and corrected me; stating that her name was Kai. Despite that, for some reason she still looked very familiar. It felt like I had seen her before somewhere but I just could not put my finger on it.

Slowly but surely, my strength started to return to me as a warm sensation coursed through my body as she held onto my hand. How she was generating such a large amount of heat is a mystery, but I certainly was not going to complain about it. Before long I felt like I was ready to get back up on my feet. Kai gave me a confident smile before turning her attention to the ensuing battle. In the distance, Nicolia was still engaging Abyss-1 in a nonstop fight to the death. It’s amazing that she was able to last this against a being much larger than her.

Kai told me that she was going to try and stop the fighting. Considering that she didn’t look anything like a fighter, I instantly advised her against getting involved. However she replied that she won’t sit by and do nothing. She quickly slithered forward before I could reach out to stop her. As she got closer Kai, placed her palm on the ground. For a moment it seemed like nothing happened, but a few seconds later the ground started to tremble. Out of the cracks that were forming, a wall of ice started to rise up; separating both combatants who were taken by surprise by the intervention. Abyss-1 turned towards Kai; its intentions were certainly still hostile. It let out another roar and started to charge towards her.

What happened next was the most unimaginable thing I had ever witnessed. Any lesser person would have fled given the circumstances. But Kai simply stood her ground with unflinching determination. She took a deep breath and started to sing in a language I had not heard before. Her voice was both enchanting and soothing at the same time. It didn’t take long before Abyss-1 was brought in by that same allure from her voice. It slowed down from its stampede before coming to a complete halt. Kai continued her melody as she drew closer to the creature who laid down its head in submission. She placed her hand over its scarred cranium and started stroking it almost like as if it was a pet dog. I could not believe my eyes; the little mermaid had tamed the beast!

Kai waved at me from a distance, almost as if saying ‘I got this’! I waved back as a sense of relief overwhelmed me. I turned to look at Nicolia who was clearly still enraged by having her fight interrupted. But what’s most important was that the situation is now under control. All we needed to do now was to find a way to transport it back willingly. I wasn’t sure what Kai’s intention was for helping us, but seeing as she was clearly benevolent, I was certain we could come to some kind of agreement. But more than anything else I finally had a chance to speak to an actual mermaid!

As I walked over to her, I could hear a familiar sound in the air. Kai was also distracted by something behind me. As I turned around, I realized what that sound was – the distinct howl from a jet engine. Three UNTD-01A Hermes attack drones were darting towards our location, instantly reminding me of the ‘danger close’ situation. I ran towards Kai and yelled at her to get away, but it was too late. The missile launched from the lead drone streaked towards the beast faster than I could react. Instinctively Abyss-1 used it body as a shield to protect Kai. But no amount of its bulk or makeshift armor could stop the force of a high yield air to surface missile. The explosion was large enough to engulf the land shark, with the resulting shockwave knocking me off my feet.

It took a moment for me to recover my senses with the deafening blast still ringing in my ears. The area was a scene of carnage with smoke and fire lining the landscape. The monster’s massive visage lay sprawling on its side, while the drones hovered around it like vultures eyeing a carcass. From a distance I could see Nicolia, unfazed by her surroundings, approaching a small limp body struggling to stay up. A sense of dread overcame me as I realized the gravity of the situation. Nicolia’s long standing hatred for shadow beasts may be justified given what she’s been through, but that resentment also carried over to otherworldly beings. In her eyes there was no such thing as a good or bad – just us against them. Kai was the missing link I needed to solve my childhood mystery and I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to her.

I shouted at her to stand down, but to no avail. Nicolia loomed over Kai’s bruised body as she tried to regain her stance. From a distance I could not tell what she was saying, but she instantly grabbed Kai by the neck; holding her up in the air single handedly. Kai struggled to break free but was no match for her strength. She must have said something to Nicolia as her expression instantly changed from rage to shock as she tightened her grip on her.

At that moment Kai’s face turned a bright pink before she suddenly exploded in a cloud of equally pink mist. I picked myself up and ran over to her as fast as I could. Nicolia’s face and upper body was dyed pink by the smokescreen. But aside from some wheezing, and watery eyes, she appeared to be fine. I asked her later what they were talking about, but she refused to comment.

On the other hand, Kai managed to escape to a distance amidst the confusion. She turned look at me one last time, clearly despondent by what had happened, before disappearing into the large clefts in the ice before the encircling drones could locate her.

In the end the mission was still a success. The captured monster was later loaded onto the Sentinel for transport back to the mainland. I should be happy about all this, but to me it felt like a hollow victory. For the first time in a long time I finally encountered a mermaid that proved once and for all that I was not imagining things all those years back. But the question of whether Artesia was still out there remains. Either way this isn't be the last time I would encounter Kai and eventually I would discover the true nature of the company she keeps. But while I am grateful of her for saving my life, I sincerely hope that we will never have to meet again under such circumstances.

NAME: Kai Neu

SPECIES: Mermaid/Merfolk

THREAT RATING: C

NOTES: Her existence may be proof of larger mermaid/merfolk communities out there.

NEXT ENTRY: 005 [Arie Neu]

PREVIOUS ENTRY: 003B [Sony Neu - The Human]

RETURN TO DATA HUB

Joshua M. Faithlight,

Class 2 - UNITE Field Agent

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Wow, this one took much longer than I imagined. But if anything, I’m really happy how it turned out! I noticed that I have not done any characters from a front view perspemctive, so this is an attempt at it.

I want to give a shoutout to for giving me a special insight into Kai’s abilities. Otherwise a lot of this would have been guesswork. Thanks once again!

Also, from this point on all the remaining reports with have a continuous overarching story so stay tuned for that! Bonus points if you can guess whats the monster in this episode is, or which series its from~

Unfortunately I won’t be able to deliver on my previous promise of those additional reports within this month, but you will see them real soon. Anyway with March just around the corner, there is one more priority project I need to get up and running before that.

Kai Neu, In the Neu House (c) BRSstarJV