"But, mommy!" A six-year-old Carlton Drake cried, flopping back on his bed. "I don't wanna go to bed, I wanna stay up and look at the stars!" He complained despite the bags under his eyes and sleepiness clutching his soul.

   Carlton's mother sighed, exhaustion etched onto her pretty face. Her son was simply a ball of energy, always wanting to do something. Unfortunately for her, her son was rather fond of exploring. It seemed no matter what day it was, Carlton was off somewhere, determined to discover or create something new.

   She still remembered the day when Carlton caught a squirrel, painted it bright blue and claimed he created a new animal. He called the 'new animal' a Nut-dog and named it Sam. Mrs. Drake just about had a heart attack when Carlton walked into the living room with a squirrel in his grasp.

   Of course, Carlton was upset when Mrs. Drake demanded he let it go outside, but he got over it the next day when his father bought him his first telescope.

   "Carlton lay down and I'll tell you a story." Mrs. Drake promised, Carlton, giving in and laying down on his bed.

   Mentally cheering that her son would not give her any more of a fight, Mrs. Drake quickly tucked Carlton in, smoothing over his space-themed comforter.

   "I want you to tell me the story about the sirens, mommy." Carlton yawned, his tired eyes drooping, but the bright excitement for the story of the sirens never dimming.

    Mrs. Drake smiled softly at her son, knowing he was going to ask about it. The legend of the sirens was by far Carlton's favorite story, so much so that he asked her to tell him it at least three times every week. Eventually, Mrs. Drake did not even need to take out the book with the story inside it, for she had memorized it by heart with how many times Carlton wanted it read to him.

    Most boys Carlton's age would never want to hear about something as 'girly' as sirens or mermaids, but Carlton did not care. Carlton marched to his own beat, and it was because of this that the young boy didn't have many friends. Carlton was much more clever and creative than any boy his age with an imagination that was boundless. No other six-year-old was ever able to keep up with him.

   "Okay, my darling," Mrs. Drake sat at the foot of Carlton's bed, the young boy watching her with curious brown eyes. "In legend, the sirens were glamouring but dangerous creatures who lured unsuspecting sailors to their death by their mystifying singing voices. Now, don't be fooled, a siren's song may sound alluring, but it is made from the tears of heartbroken lovers. That is why the lustful and the wicked are drawn to her call. Her voice echos the pain and the sadness that their blackened souls yearn for. It is said, that sirens swim at the deepest depths of the ocean, and if you go far enough, you can hear them singing. But beware, because if you get too close, you may just become their next meal!" Mrs. Drake exclaimed, Carlton, giggling as his mother tickled and attacked him with kisses all over his face.

   Turning over in his bed, Carlton released a long yawn, finally allowing the sleepiness to overcome him. "Mommy, when I'm older, I'm going to marry a siren," Carlton said in a determined tone. "I'll tame her, and make her good, then we'll fall in love and live happily ever after!"

   Laughing to herself, Mrs. Drake leaned over and kissed her son on the forehead. "Of course you will, my son."

✰✰✰✰✰

   "Mr. Drake," The now older Carlton Drake was shaken out of his thoughts, his eyes darting to one of his best scientists, Doctor Skirth.

   Doctor Skirth stood wearing her usual work attire with a pristine white lab coat, a clipboard held in her grasp. Fixing her glasses, Doctor Skirth looked up to her unnaturally young boss. It was true, Doctor Carlton Drake created the Life Foundation, one of the most successful scientific programs in the world at the young age of twenty-four. Now, three years later, Carlton already had his a space exploration branch, an earth exploration branch, and an ocean exploration branch.

    For the past few months, Carlton had put most of his attention toward the ocean exploration, determined to find the one thing he had been obsessed with finding all of his life. In Carlton Drake's entire twenty-seven years, he had three goals.

   One: create a cure to a disease, something which he accomplished at nineteen when he discovered a gene therapy tripling the life expectancy of pancreatic cancer patients.

   Two: Make contact with extraterrestrial life forms, something which was in the works, as his rocket carrying the symbiotes, which was an extremely secret mission, was only five months away from touching down on Earth.

    And three: Find a Homoaquatica, or as most called them, sirens.

   It had taken years of research on Carlton's part, but he was finally able to confirm, based on evidence found in the oceans, that sirens were real. And he was determined to catch one and bring it back to the Life Foundation for research.

    "Yes, Doctor Skirth, what is it?" Carlton had his hands neatly placed behind his back, his black suit perfectly pressed.

   Doctor Dora Skirth gulped, knowing her boss was an extremely powerful man. Breathing out, hoping to make him happy, she delivered the good news.

   "We just received a call from a fishing boat just off the Pacific Coast of Washington, a few miles from a small town called Bristol Cove. Apparently, the fishers caught something dangerous and not quite a fish, they say they're holding it in the boiler room, we think it may be what we've been looking for. Do you want to send troops to go retrieve it?"

    If Carlton could fly, he would be doing it now. This had to be the best news ever. Finally, after all these years, he had a shot of catching what he wanted. A siren.

   And it was going to be his.

    "Of course, Doctor Skirth," Carlton grinned, turning his head toward the newest containment cell they created. It was a huge room with a metal door and glass wall, so the scientists could see inside. "Send the troops, I want it brought back without being harmed as quick as possible."