1. Chapter 1

The three-story mer-cannon loomed over the Realms of Neptune show pool. Jayna Cooper pulled herself from the water as the Sirens of Atlantis closing musical number echoed through the aquatic theater. Adrenaline pumping, she positioned herself on the cannon's backstage launch platform. Out in the performance tank, her castmates sang and swam their way towards the show's grand finale.

Roxie, the stagehand in charge of the cannon, rushed to inspect the latches at the back of Jayna's glittering turquoise top. Jayna checked her matching silicone mermaid tail and the thick exomuscle sheath that enveloped her legs and feet.

"Better turn it down to five tonight," Jayna said. "We've got toppers in the front row." She hated having to pull back on the show's big finish just because entitled people with more money than sense didn't understand the concept of a splash zone.

Roxie made a sour face. "Yeah, I saw them," she said in her light Australian accent. "Obsidian something or other. Handsome bloke, but apparently none too bright, sitting so close to the water with his crew dressed like that."

Jayna hadn't gotten a good look at the man or his group, but it was clear even from a distance they were seriously over-dressed for an amusement park. "They probably think the red seats are left over from pre-mermaid days when the show was all about whales and dolphins."

"That's why you gotta give them the Cannonball. Show what a mermaid can do."

Jayna smiled at the thought. She had dedicated hours to perfecting her signature Bionic Cannonball dive. With a little help from the mer-cannon and a slightly modified tail she could drench the first three rows of section D. A giant show-stopping splash would not only bring the toppers down a notch or two, but it would also boost streams of the performance on the Myst and increase the dynamic royalties paid to everyone in the show.

Out in the theater, the song modulated as it built towards its climax. "I'd love to give them a splash they'll never forget, but the last thing I need right now is to have Carter drag me through the coral for offending ‘important people from the higher lists.'"

Roxie scowled at Jayna. "But it was Carter who told me to set the cannon on high."

Jayna must have misheard. "Carter told you what?"

"Yeah. Surprised the detritus out of me when he popped up right after the opening number. He said it's a special show tonight, so make sure we give it everything we've got."

Jayna rushed to process this new information. The park's owner and general manager had made an unprecedented appearance backstage to ensure the cannon was set to full power, even though some very important-looking people were seated directly in the line of fire.

Carter was up to something, and Jayna hated the idea of playing along. His subtle but persistent bullying had been a source of aggravation ever since she'd rebuffed his unwanted advances years before. Things only got worse when he inherited the park from his father.

But Jayna didn't have time to analyze Carter's motive, so if it meant giving herself and her coworkers a little boost while dealing some comeuppance to a group of toppers, she'd give Carter—and the audience—the finale they wanted.

"What are you waiting for?" she said to Roxie. "Turn this thing up to eleven!"

Roxie let out a whoop that was nearly drowned out as the music swelled towards its final crescendo. The mer-cannon roared as a torrent of water filled the large, thrumming flexiglass pipe. Jayna put the merbreather into her mouth, drew in a breath, and dived headfirst into the breach. She was instantly caught up in the jet of water. Seconds later, she launched into the air high above the aquatic theater.

The crowd gasped and cheered as Jayna soared over the show pool, her bright red hair streaming behind her. Adrenalin pumping, she adjusted her trajectory. This cannon shot was more powerful than any she had experienced, and the additional height was thrilling.

As she reached the top of her arc, Jayna tumbled and twisted through the air like an Olympic diver, her turquoise tail glittering in the bright theater lights. She struck the water with a satisfying thump and slapped the surface with her tail for added effect, throwing up a torrent that was one for the record books.

The backs of Jayna's legs stung from the impact, despite the thick prosthetic tail and layer of synthetic muscle surrounding them. When she broke above the surface for her final bow, she winced at just how thoroughly the splash zone had been hit. While the regular park guests cheered and laughed at their drenching, the well-dressed group in the front seemed understandably upset, and she felt a twinge of regret.

Jayna pushed down the guilt rising inside her chest and reminded herself that the splash was part of the show. Those stunned, soaked toppers were the ones who had chosen to sit in the splash zone. But she still felt bad for them. Carter was devious and manipulative, and she regretted that, whatever his game was, she had played right into it.