Pancake Diplomacy

Squat, craggy towers jutted from the ground around the battered submarine like a miniature volcanic forest, spewing out a thick, dark smoke. It smothered the seabed, obscuring the ship as well as the bustling of weird creatures that lived only in these murky, mineral-rich waters.

In contrast, the crew didn't find their new situation appealing. Initially, the curious scenery had excited Marlin, but he had calmed down a long time ago. Bored out of his mind by numbing inactivity and crowded quarters, he drifted through the corridor with vacant eyes or lounged on top of tables and equipment, drooling all over them.

Koi had promptly barricaded herself in the engine room, ignoring all their knocking, coaxing, bullying, or pleading. Even the tempting smell of spiral shrimps roasted in whale butter failed to unlock the door.

With a grim face, Ray swam into the airlock, shut it tight and pressed the button to pump out the water. Once inside, he peeled off the clinging hydrosuit and walked around the cabins searching for Marlin. The second time around, he spotted the boy's legs sticking from under one of the bunk beds.

"What are you, a hermit crab?" Ray crouched and tugged at Marlin's foot.

"You're back? Great! Can I finally go swimming?" the kid yawned and scratched his chin.

"That was not a pleasure swim, and you know it."

"Managed to patch something up? Or broke something extra?"

"It looks alarmingly more mangled now, as if a megaloshark chewed on our stern. So I reconsidered touching anything before turning on the systems to run the analytics. And that..." he frowned, deep in thought. "Feels a bit too risky. The Neptune guys might still be in the area, trying to hunt us down."

"Or they got bored and scrammed a long time ago. Do you plan on camping here for a hundred years? Just do it!"

"We'll have to. Eventually. Now is not the time. I haven't lost hope to talk it out with our mechanic."

"Our?" Marlin snorted. "Given the chance, she'd sell us out. The talking time has passed already."

"It's never too late. The first impression might have been a bit rough. But who can blame her?" he sucked in his lips. "We do look suspicious, don't we?"

The boy rolled his eyes. "Threaten her. Or better yet, get rid of her. She won't help us. And those shrimps are all cold and soggy now. I told you to let me have them."

"I see. So that was about the shrimps all along," Ray shook his head. "If I promise you salmon pancakes, will you help me with Koi?"

"Me? I'm useless here," Marlin turned away and mumbled. "I did try to come up with a genius scheme."

"Even though my scheme isn't genius, I hope it'll work out either way. You in?" he smiled and extended his arm to help the boy off the floor.

"Fine, but those pancakes should better be stacked extra high," he grabbed the offered hand and bounced up, landing on the balls of his feet. "What's the plan, boss?"

***

When they arrived at the engine room, the scene was unchanged: the door — closed shut, the dish — a soggy mess.

"Ugh, I can't bear looking," Marlin grimaced.

"Hopefully, we'll get inside soon and wouldn't need to anymore," Ray smirked and knocked. "Hey, Koi, you must be hungry. Sorry for not asking earlier. Guess, you're not a fan of shrimps. Anything in particular you fancy? I'll whip it up. We can talk while I cook."

The fans inside the oxygen system hummed. Some tiny bubbles popped and fizzled. A dead silence scowled from behind the door. Ray strained his hearing, put his ear to the cold metal, closed his eyes, but shortly sighed and drew back.

"I promised Marlin pancakes. Would you like some?"

More unfriendly silence. Ray glanced at Marlin, then frowned at the boy and nudged him with an elbow.

"I've been so worried about you, big sister. I thought a pancake will cheer you up. They are my favorites," he declared with a twitchy smile, before glaring at Ray and bringing his fingers to his mouth, pretending to vomit.

Metal hit metal with a loud bang, followed by a rush of hot air surging from inside the engine room.

"Don't think you have me cornered."

A sharp tip of a harpoon glistened in the entryway. Koi blew a strand of hair out of her face as she gripped the gun tighter.

"Wow, careful. You wouldn't want to accidentally shoot a kid," Ray pushed Marlin forward.

"We still doing it? You blind or crazy?" the boy shuffled backwards with wide open eyes.

"She hasn't fired yet, right? Come on."

Straightening up and smoothing down his hair, Marlin exhaled, glanced at Koi, spotted the harpoon, and stared at the floor instead. "It'll make me really happy if you come eat the pancakes with us. So don't be afraid. Would you like me to hold your hand?"

"What in abyss's name is wrong with you two?" Koi froze, frowning, and shifted her aim towards the ceiling.

"That's what I wanna know," the boy threw up his hands. "But pancakes first. I can't take it anymore."

Marlin turned away and stormed towards the kitchen. Then abruptly spun around, came back, and grabbed the sad dish off the floor. "Mine now. You had your chance — no take-backs!" he waved his finger at Koi and left, clutching the spoils to his chest.

"Shall we go too?" Ray smiled and followed Marlin.

Koi had no choice but to join them. Scanning the room, she moved a chair closer to the door and sat down, keeping the harpoon gun in her lap.

"So, how is it?" Ray asked, without looking back, focused on mixing the ingredients.

"What?" she started.

"The engine room. You've spent all the time cooped up there. Fixable?"

"Why would I even care?"

Ray turned and met her eyes. "Cause you're a great mechanic."

She fidgeted for a while. "I'll need to take off parts of the interior plating and scavenge off pieces from other systems. Afterward, the ship will run at eighty percent of its capacity."

"Phew, that's a relief. I wouldn't forgive myself, if you and Marlin had to die here because of me," he looked thoughtful, unsmiling. "Don't hesitate to use us. We'll help with anything not requiring precision."

"And after? What about after?"

"Hmm, what would you want to do?"

"Go back home!" Koi bolted up. The gun fell and skidded across the floor.

"If we do, we'll get caught for sure. Including you." Ray flipped the pancake, unperturbed, his voice soft and quiet.

"But I'm not... I have nothing to do with the theft."

"Will the corporation even care? Plus, you didn't report it."

Koi plopped on the chair and hugged herself.

Ray put out the first steamy batch and busied himself making more mixture. "Anything important you left back home?"

"Important?" she moved her lips without making a sound. "My job?"

"Aren't your skills and knowledge always with you? Anything else?"

"Stuck on this ship, I can't use them to earn money."

"How about I hire you? As a mechanic. The reward will be paid after we find my sister. Equal to however much you estimate you would have earned staying at your garage."

"Well, that-"

"Wouldn't have been much anyway, right?"

Koi gasped. "As if you know anything," she glared at him.

"Sorry, we asked around. I wanted someone desperate for money, so that they'll overlook the paperwork," Ray smiled apologetically. "Don't know any details about your situation, though."

Marlin munched loudly, indifferent to the flow of the conversation. The batter hit the frying pan with a homely sizzle. Sweet umami aroma enveloped the kitchen, driving out any thoughts that didn't involve pancakes. Koi's stomach grumbled. She picked up her first piece.

"Ever since we were kids, Coral and I would have each other's back. Especially, since our strong suits are different," with a smug grin, Ray watched the mechanic eat out of the corner of his eye. "When my talking got me in trouble, she'd come rescue me with her fists. And when her fists got her in trouble, I'd come save her with my talking. If there's anything you need help with, just ask. I'll make it happen."

"Fine, but you have to promise," Koi's stare burned. "You'll get me a new arm," she raised her mechanical hand.

He whistled. "That'll cost an arm. And a leg."

"Haven't you said you're good at talking? If you're short on money, use your negotiation skills to make up the difference."

"Glad we finally agree on something," Ray beamed and extended a plate to her. "Welcome aboard, Koi. I promise, you'll have the shiniest new arm."

"What good will the shine do? Having a different tool in each finger sounds much better."

"The wondrous world of body modifications," he put out the last batch and joined the crew at the table. "Well, let's finish the food and start on the repairs. You too, Marlin."

"Pa-a-ass. After pancakes, I go for a swim," the boy mumbled with bulging cheeks, stuffing one more entire pancake in his mouth. "Got another genius idea."

This evening the pancakes tasted especially flavorsome.