Stalled Negotiations

The silence stretched thin, intensified by a sterile hum of the machinery. Warm, calming aroma wafted from the three untouched cups of mulled kelp brew. Ray sat rigid and upright, avoiding eye contact, hiding his tightly clenched fists under the table, concealing his galloping thoughts behind a controlled expression.

Marlin fidgeted, tapping his fingers, adjusting his muffler, scrunching his lips, uncomfortable on a chair, but too uneasy to take his usual place atop the counter in front of the guest.

"There is no point in delaying," Koi swung one leg over the other. "I won't start on repairs until you bring me back to Anchor’s Reach. And this ship won't last a journey to anywhere else with such a severe malfunction."

She slouched in a chair across from Marlin, looking straight in front of her at the wall. Her chin resting on her palm.

"I'm terribly sorry for the mess we put you through. It's all my fault," Ray put on his gentle, sad face. "You should be so scared and confused right now. But! Believe me, we won't let any harm come to you. If you could only-"

"And it can be much worse. You better not forget I'm a mechanic," Koi continued measuredly without blinking. "The oxygen system is quite old: at least three weak points I can exploit without as much as a screwdriver. The pressure detection system has twenty modules across the hull. Disrupting even one of them will tie the ship into a knot. Not to mention a hundred and one ways I can wield the soldering iron. Maybe I already did something," she shrugged. "Bring me back to Anchor’s Reach. Your time is running out."

Marlin jumped up, knocking over his chair. "No way! Are we super in danger?" he hopped in place, hands planted on the tabletop. "What do I do, boss? Knock her cold? Hack the system to figure out in what cool way we're gonna die?"

"Move any closer and this submarine will sink forever," Koi wrapped an arm around her tool belt.

"What a delightful company we have today," a smile sliding from his face, Ray sighed, and raised his hands to pacify both sides. "Please, everybody, calm down and stop hurrying to an early and uncomfortably wet grave. Why don't you enjoy your hot drinks while I talk to myself for a bit?"

He paused, massaging his temples. Coming clean wouldn't salvage the situation, but opening up might be the only way to gain a sliver of mechanic's cooperation. Not that any of his previous smiles or tricks had any effect on her. Exhaustion weighting on his shoulder, Ray steadied his breathing and collected his thoughts.

"I'm looking for my sister. She is a fighter for hire, mostly working with the gangs. She's been in business for the longest time. I don't doubt her abilities. She's come back with six broken bones, a gun wound a hair away from her lung, a shark bite on her leg. But she did come back to me. Every time."

Ray ran his tongue against his parched lips and tried to stifle the trembling of his hands, but the more force he used, the more he got reminded of all those time Coral would stumble through the door, covered in blood or scars. It had been painfully obvious where she'd got hurt the most. She would cover the spot with her arms or her backpack, awkward, guileless, silly. He'd always wondered if it would have been better to pretend he hadn't noticed. He'd never been of help anyway when he'd attempted to treat her wounds. Those useless hands, never ceasing their sorry shaking.

"I put a tracker on her as soon as I've saved enough money. Made me worry less, maybe. At least I could see where she was and rush to her if things didn't go as planned. She always told me the details of the upcoming job. Knew what a worrywart I was. Except," he dragged his hand across his face. "For the last time."

The sweet and crispy spices from the brew smelled of happier, nostalgic times. Marlin sat on the counter, swinging his legs and swaying side to side as he sipped the hot drink, seemingly unaware of the serious conversation happening right before him. Keeping her mechanical arm in her lap, Koi warmed her other hand against the cup while casting unsure glances in Ray's direction.

"I was about to be sent back to the rainbow anemone site when the tracker got destroyed. The craft assigned to me wasn't built for long-distance travel, so I hopped into the most advanced ship at the docks. All I wanted was to be by her side. Who knew the search would take so long. I'll accept any consequences, but not before I find Coral," Ray looked Koi in the eyes. "I can't get caught yet."

She turned towards him. "Alright, I won't sink your... this submarine, but you still have to bring me back."

"Do you have siblings, Koi? Other family?"

"My dad. He passed away during last year's upwelling."

"I'm sorry. Wouldn't you have done anything to bring him back?"

Koi shook her head. "My dad is never coming back. Your sister might have you, but I have no one. Only I can take care of myself," she raised her chin defiantly. "For how long will you be chasing ghosts? I don't have the time. Will this stolen ship be apprehended tomorrow? I don't want to be mistaken for your accomplice."

"There should be something you need help with," he almost managed a smile. "We'll make it a fair trade."

"You can't help me."

Ray's eyes wavered. "With no repairs, we won't swim far."

"I'll do maintenance so you'd reach the next port. But only while we're on the route to Anchor’s Reach. I'll input the coordinates."

***

The cabin stayed dim, the shrimps asleep. The muted hum of the systems felt eerily quiet and distant as the submarine was running, or rather crawling, in energy-saving mode. Ray sat on the floor, leaning against the cold wall. His senses heightened. His muscles tensed. Ready to jump into action. Every so often he would glimpse Marlin through the doorway, pacing across the rooms and passageways, impatient and jittery.

"It's almost time," Koi walked into the room, a grimy impression of a cog on her forehead. "Turbine reinforcement is complete. Should get you to Saltspire Harbor if you never exceed the ship's current speed. And when the engine's temperature goes into the red zone, shut it off. I drew you a chart."

"Thanks. Still won't relent and swim part-way? We'll open the hatches for you."

"I hate getting wet."

"A hydrosuit solves-"

"I hate getting wet," she interjected, her tone and expression unchanged.

"Got that part," Ray sighed and stood up. "The mystery is what makes you smile. Haven't seen you do it once."

"Would you smile at your abductors?"

"Abductors!?" he pointed at himself in mock horror. "Well, as a matter of fact, I would. What better way to charm them and earn my freedom?"

Koi raised an eyebrow. "The question was rhetorical."

"The answer was completely genuine. Is it just me, or are we starting to get along?"

Koi's dispassionate face didn't inspire confidence. She opened her mouth. A siren blared.

"Two of them," Marlin burst into the cabin, bumping headfirst into the mechanic's back. "Coming from our stern side. Trying to corner us against the city walls."

"Marlin, initiate plan B," Ray hurried to the cockpit. He couldn't hear what Koi was saying.

The situation just got worse, but he felt better. Operating the ship, in control of something. He checked their trajectory. All in order. Should get there before the pursuers could catch up. The chasing vessels weren't accelerating much, cautious and alert. Countless screen alerts blinked and screamed at Ray.

"The engine will explode!" Koi stared at the read-outs with bulging eyes, her inhales stumbling over each other.

"We're good for another minute or two," he smiled.

"And after?"

He turned to her slowly, bemused. "I thought you wanted to sink this ship?"

Koi yipped. Her stomach flipped. The submarine lurched into a nosedive, gaining speed. The mechanic slid down, and Ray caught her by the waist, shoving her into the helmsman sit. A dark, ominous haze grew larger in the front porthole. The engine shut down. A murky cloud swallowed the ship as the water whooshed and sizzled around them.

"The best ride of my life!" Marlin was sprawling face down on the floor, gripping at the base of the thermal station and kicking his feet.

"Welcome to Erebus Vents, the largest cluster of black smokers," Ray cheered.

The seafloor welcomed the submarine, jolting and bending it. A roar turning into a groan pained their ears. Then everything went still.