Nilbog Island

"One of you sit down." Scarlett snapped. Both Billy and Duke were pacing and it was making her dizzy.

Neither sat, but Duke at least stood still. "Two Joes are dead, a local deputy's in the hospital asking snarky questions, and we've got three...alien bodies in the morgue plus whatever was on the Baroness' face." He whirled on Billy. "And how long did you know she was here?!"

"My daughter is missing." Billy snapped back. "I really don't think now is the time-"

"You're lucky we don't have you in a cell right next to hers. We've been tolerating your having contact with her, holding on to a bit of plausible deniability, but don't think that lets you off the hook. When this is over we're all gonna have to have a long talk."

Scarlett finally rose and put a hand on Duke's arm. "After this is over. Billy's family Duke. And like it or not, the Baroness is part of his. Right now the priority is getting Anastasia back safe and getting the Commander."

The head of the Joe teams covert operations reigned himself in. This whole situation was just a little too bizarre for him, and he'd focused on something he could comprehend.

"Just what are we dealing with here Kessler?"

"Your guess is as good as mine at this point Agent Hauser. Those things I shot tonight were not human, we can all see that. They could be the result of some weird genetic experiment, actual aliens or...something else."

"Something else?"

"Gail...Dr. Covington says that they match certain descriptions from local mythology. And that woman that attacked us affected me with her voice. If Helen hadn't thrown that tire iron so well and knocked the sword out of my hand we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"So. Sea monsters and sirens." Duke groaned. "Terrific."