Where the Current Took Us

The kid froze. "Trade? For the stolen thing?"

"Rude! I've spent 300 shells on this. I as good as bought it."

"You didn't buy shit. I put it in your pocket for safekeeping. Not my fault you're into charity."

"If banks take interest for storing goods, don't see why I can't do the same."

The boy turned away, trembling. His fists tightened, shoulders stiffened, eyes closed.

"Forget it! I don't need the stupid thing. Can't believe that I..."

Ray's expression softened. "Kids are so impatient. Obviously, you don't have money or anything of value. So! Let me offer you a job."

"Like hell, I'll agree to your shady deal!"

"I'm looking for my sister. She always had a knack for getting into trouble. And this time she got into one so far away that I wasn't there in time to get her out," Ray leaned in and looked the boy in the eyes. "I'd like you to help me find her."

"Me? You make zero sense."

"This job comes with unbelievable benefits — a bunk, on a smaller size, but so are you; three meals, I'm open to suggestions, but my genius is limited by the ingredients we have at hand; and, most importantly, an adorable pet to melt all your stress away."

The kid wrinkled his nose. "Pet? You aren't talking about that yucky blob of jelly?"

"Angie's not a blob! She's a majestic sea angel. Tell me you haven't made any hurtful comments to her after breaking in?" Ray pressed his palms to the sides of his face in horror.  "She must have been absolutely terrified."

"You're way more terrifying now."

"You'd be better off leaving Sunken Arbors anyway. I'm sure you are a splendid swimmer, but I can give you a lift. Anywhere in particular you are heading?"

"I go where the current takes me. Go push your lift on someone else. The ocean always takes care of me."

"That current of yours has brought us together. Not gonna trust it this time?"

"Being stuck in this can..." The boy pouted.

"Can always quit at the next stop."

"Maybe it isn't all bad."

"Or you can stay with me all the way and get your pendant back," Ray beamed and jiggled the trinket around.

"It's so mine! Just you wait. I'll steal it back before we reach the next station, plunder this ship for all its valuables, break the engine, piss on your bed, and disappear."

"No, please, do your worst, but don't take Angie away from me!"

"Who'd want that slimy monster?"

"Ray. My name's Ray, by the way," he extended his hand.

"It's Marlin."

The boy hesitated, chewing on the muffler, before finally putting his hand out without looking at Ray. His grip was firm despite the reluctant display.

"Welcome aboard, Marlin."

***

Ray was mumbling calculations, setting their next destination, while Marlin perched on the control panel, swinging his legs, and turning his head around, occasionally blocking parts of the holographic screen.

"You done yet?" Marlin grumbled.

"Patience, I'm checking it."

"The last three times I've asked, you said the same thing. You stuck?"

"Go look outside. Play with Angie." Ray waved the boy away.

"Stare at the water or poke the slime. Your idea of entertainment sucks. Done checking?"

"I'll finish soon. And then check a couple more times."

"More? Why check even once? Wait, how many times have you checked already?"

"Five. It's the standard procedure."

Marlin doubled over, slapping the side of the panel as he laughed. "By whose standards? This chunk of gems and wires is fully automatic. I thought you were a paranoid mess when I hacked the door and saw its settings. But now it's clear. Your problem," he poked Ray in the cheek. "Is on another level."

"Aha," Ray's gaze was glued to the screen.

"You can't ignore me!" Marlin shook Ray by the shoulder. "And you promised me lunch. And I'm bored. The ship doesn't have shit on it. What is this, a museum showpiece?"

"Ahaa."

"And you're a stuffed exhibit dummy."

"A-haaa."

Marlin squinted. "And your pet's just squid bait."

"Mhm..."

"Time's up! I'll go cook myself. Burn my lunch and your kitchen. Whatever."

"Burn?!" Ray jumped in his seat, his eyes darting between the shimmering screen and yawning Marlin. "Fine, I'm ready to go. Almost. Stop the engine. Release the cleaner fish. Half an hour should do it," he swiped the settings closed and hopped out of the sit. "Please, tell me you do eat sea urchins."

"Nice try, but you'll need to think harder if you want to find a meal I'll turn down. Not picky really. But I'd rather it be warm. It's a miracle to get food that isn't cold all through."

"Noted. I'm not making you a kelp cold noodle salad with pan-seared shrimps under the octosauce. No matter how much you beg," balancing all the ingredients in one arm, Ray locked the supply cabinet.

"The name of the dish should be small, but the portion — big. That's the way."

Seeing Marlin itch closer to the kitchen counter, Ray scattered the food items around the tabletop, leaving as little room as possible.

"Have you already forgotten you aren't picky?"

"I live strictly in the present." Marlin grabbed a handful of wakame and stuffed his mouth.

"Live any time you want, but eat in the future. When it's all assembled together. Snacking on them separately is a waste of food."

"Only not eating is a waste of food," he busied himself with the spice bottles, picking them up and giving each a shake. "I had enough waiting through your obsessive checking. Not gonna wait through your obsessive cooking too."

Ray aptly handled urchins, splitting them with a knife and taking the soft parts out. "There is a difference between being thorough and obsessive."

"Exactly my point," Marlin poked the yellow urchin meat that was floating in the water.

"Have interest in cooking? I can teach you."

"Much good will it do me," Marlin frowned as he turned away. "So, what's the deal with your sis?"

"Coral, that's her name, she does... dangerous but lucrative things when no one's looking."

"Why so bashful? Drop the fluff. What gang she's in?"

"No particular affiliations," eyeing several timers, Ray stirred the urchins on the pan, mixing them with herbs and spices. "She works for hire. Pass me that bottle, please. A bit higher. Thanks. We move around a lot."

"You in the same business?"

"No, she tries not to get me involved. We both act a bit overprotective towards each other," he looked down and grinned, lost in thought for a moment. "Oh, sorry, forgot to ask. You good with spicy? I already added it though..."

"Wouldn't go out of my way to steal it. But if I find it lying on the ground, I'll eat anything."

"My bad, I'll make salmon pancakes for dinner. It's my usual get-out-of-jail-free card when Coral is mopey."

"Your sis and you..." Marlin scanned Ray from head to toe. "All human?"

"No genetic or cyborg augmentations. Both of us," he cast a sidelong glance at the boy. "Not that having any makes one less human. We were just," he shrugged. "Fortunate."

"Still don't get it. What happened to your sis?"

"She accepted some kind of five-star heist offer. So top-secret, she refused to tell me the location. At first, even tried to hide the fact she was leaving for a job," Ray poured sauce over the urchins. "She's usually more chatty, likes to brag, won't shut up when she's excited. And she definitely was, with such a payout."

"So she disappeared? Wouldn't she be dead by now?"

Ray's hand jerked, nearly spilling the food. He finished serving the stirred-fry urchins on the plates, chopped the dry seaweed, sprinkled it over the dishes, cut slices of kelp bread with seeds, put it on the side with anemone garnish.

"Thanks for waiting. Go on, before it gets cold," they sat at the small round table. "I used some fish broth to soften the spiciness. How is it?"

Marlin fidgeted, barely eating, not meeting Ray's eyes. "Good."

"Back to my sister then."

The boy coughed, a piece caught in his throat.

"She was last in Driftmoor Exchange. I know because... please, don't tell her, she won't speak to me for a week. I planted a tracker on her, a long time ago. Earrings for her birthday present. She likes them so much, she never takes them off. And she's too careless to suspect anything.
"Coral stayed there for two days until... the tracker imploded. It recorded elevated pressure and heat before going offline. I raced to Driftmoor, thought she crashed her ship, but nothing. Some shady guy told me she's fine and directed me to Atlanopolis. Not that I trust the info. The chances of accidentally finding the tracker are abysmal. Specifically looking for it is beyond suspicious, plus the tech for that is prohibitively expensive."

Ray noticed that Marlin licked the plate clean and pushed his untouched portion towards the boy.

"She never should have taken that job. Should have relied on me more. I should have..." he squeezed his eyes shut. "Whatever she got herself into, I have to find her."