Caught in the Ripples

They finally reached it: the oldest city of the underwater world, the stone citadel of humanity, Atlanopolis. Carved into the highest mountain, the structure snaked and spiraled around it, at times firmly clinging to the rocks, at other precariously jutting out. Almost all its surfaces were covered in giant oxygen globes. They breathed the water in and out, churning it with a heavy, rhythmic clang, their ancient lids rotating with the tenacity of Atlas.

The crew gathered in the control room, marveling at the great metropolis. Marlin monopolized the porthole, pressing his face into the glass, as he incessantly urged others to look at this silly-looking barnacle formation with a seaweed beard or at that cool observation platform under a huge dome.

Koi stretched and stared passively at the citadel, her hands stashed comfortably in her pockets, dispassionately grunting in response to Marlin's excited calls. Her eyes flicked repeatedly to the holographic screen, checking the systems, musing about how she could tune them for better efficiency.

"It's impossible to find a single person in this massive city. Do you have no other leads?" she frowned at Ray.

Rubbing his brow, he sighed and shook his head. He couldn't sleep the night before, equal parts excited and terrified. Reaching Atlanopolis meant getting one step closer to Coral's whereabouts. Finally, a tangible proof of progress in his desperate search. But what laid beyond that step? If there was nothing for him to find in this vast megapolis, what would he be supposed to do next? The harder he clung to hope, the bloodier his fingers, the more strength it took to keep on holding.

"Sorry, that's the best I got," he squeezed out half a smile. "The plan is to go to the lowest layer of the city and ask around about the local gangs. They should have connections here, if they sent Coral on a mission to Atlanopolis."

"Or it's a trap," Marlin's eyes sparkled.

"Or they simply lied to get rid of you," Koi offered matter-of-factly.

"Reassuring to know you both share my confidence," Ray's eyelid twitched. "Anyway, after sniffing out the right people, I'll approach them, pretending to be sent by Ripley. As long as I get to see my sister, talk to her. The rest doesn't matter."

"It does! You promised me an arm, and the Vulcan HydroTech headquarters are in Atlanopolis. There's no better place to bargain for a cybernetic prosthetic. The largest storage facility is here. We may be able to find a couple of cheaper, malfunctioning models. And I'll refurbish them into a superior working limb."

"I haven't forgotten. But it doesn't have to be today. How about-"

"What if tomorrow is too late? You can be captured by the mob, by Neptune, a pipe can fall and crash your thick skull. What am I left to do?"

Ray rubbed his chin. "Dismantle the submarine and sell the parts. Should be enough for an arm and to start a humble repair shop. And, I know he's a handful, but can you look after Marlin, please?"

"Hey! In this crew, I'm the least trouble," the boy pouted.

"Quit drafting your last will and make plans that will keep us all alive," Koi glowered, folding her arms. "And we are stopping at the tech office today."

"Let's see how it goes," he waved his hand. "At least no demands from you, right, Marlin?"

"Don't care. I'm a lone shark this time."

"Too dangerous. If there's someplace you want to visit, we can come with you."

"Cause you make me feel so-o-o safe, Mr. I'm-not-much-of-a-fighter," Marlin pretended to swoon, then stuck his tongue out. "Not my first swim. I'll manage. And I heard you ask the same questions so many times, you practically bashed them into my brain. We'll catch more fish this way," the boy turned around, flapped both arms good-bye, and scuttled away.

"The kids. They never grow up these days," Ray covered his mouth with his palm.

"You should stop wasting time," Koi passed him by without a glance and got off the ship.

***

Barely any light reached the walkway. Most of the shrimps in the tubes were floating belly-up. The bottoms of the shoes stuck to the path with every step and broke away from it with wet squelches. Pipes, walls, railings, even people — everything was covered in a thin film of a glossy, mucous liquid.

"Let's hope that this one-eyed informant actually holds useful clues. And that we'll find him before the rotten fish smell gets soaked into our bones," Ray shivered.

They'd been treading water for hours: picking out words from whispered conversations, exchanging veiled comments with ragged vagabonds, scanning seedy taverns for suspicious clusters of rogues.

Koi nodded. "Right, wouldn't want to show up at the tech office smelling like that. Will hurt our prospects for a successful negotiation."

He dragged a palm across his face. "You don't have to answer to all my comments with a Vulcan reference. My memory works fine."

"I'll stop. When you affirm that we're going there."

"You're in a real rush, aren't you?" Ray glanced at her.

"That..." Koi chewed on her lips. "You wouldn't keep an inoperative mechanic."

"There's only one mechanic I would keep. You!" he beamed, pointing both index fingers at her.

"Just words. I might be convenient right now, but when this scrap of metal breaks down for good," she rubbed her mechanical arm. "You'll have no reason to keep me around."

Ray tilted his head. "Do I really need a reason for that?"

"If you aren't a fool."

"Then here it is."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I need you to stop me from making foolish decisions."

"I'll try harder from now on."

"Don't make such a serious face. It's terrifying," his mouth gaped in horror. "And what I said... it wasn't... meant literally. I tried to express how-"

She elbowed him in the ribs.

Ray grimaced. "That really-"

"It's him," Koi hissed, leaning closer.

In-between the metal paneling, on top of a large heating pipe, lounged a man with a long, curly, gray beard. A thin, red scar ran the length of his face, crossing through his eye.

His lazy gaze swept over them. "Customers! I am always happy to make new friends," he croaked and beckoned with a wave of a hand.

"Faceless Cusk, I presume? Pleasure to meet you. I'm Ray," he flashed a confident smile and shook the man's hand.

"It is mutual, I assure you," his eye turned to Koi. She simply bowed her head with a blank expression. He looked back at Ray. "So, friend, you do not know how to give up, do you?"

"There are things I'll never give up."

"Ah, the ardor of youth — truly inspiring. Perhaps, I'll even find myself dancing tonight, after a good glass of rum," his eyes crinkled. "Cannot tell anything about the girl, but I do know a thing that should satisfy your idle curiosity. A freshly dredged rumor about our great technological giant."

"We might have planned to pay them a visit, but..."

"Well, that would be one jolly coincidence," his laugh tumbled out, dry and rough.

"We aren't really interested."

"We are," Koi stared daggers at Ray.

He sighed. "When we negotiate for your precious arm, I beg you, not a word."

"Do not be so harsh with your lovely companion. Honesty is a trait worth cultivating," the man winked at Koi.

"I bet it's worth a lot to you. But costs as much to your friends," Ray shrugged.

"It costs them as much as they are willing to pay. A fair trade," he closed his eye. "Two thousand shells."

"That's..." Koi gasped.

"All you have left."

She threw a worried glance at Ray. "You're right. I'm sorry. We don't need the information."

"Deal," Ray didn't smile, a glint of steel in his gaze.

"What? We just talked about foolish decisions."

"You have a keen eye for value, friend. Treasure it," he tapped his scarred eyelid. "Money first."

A heavy pouch traveled from Ray's pocket to the man's outstretched hand.

"The unexpected setback the corporation experienced with their new venture was no accident. A sabotage so meticulously planned, the ripples are yet to settle."

Ray spun on his heels and stormed off. Confusion clouding her face, Koi hesitated before rushing to catch up with him. He marched forward with a grim scowl.

"Upset about throwing away all our money? You should be! Why would you pay such a ridiculous amount? And it isn't even about your sister."

He met her eyes. Koi flinched under his gaze.

"It's the opposite. The only reason he demanded so much was because this was about Coral," his face blanched. "Oh, please, let the cause of your vanishing be that you're in hiding, sister. Not that you got caught."

"You can't be sure. She might not be involved in that sabotage."

"Rejoice, Koi, it's your lucky day. We are going to shop for cyborg arms tonight after all," his smile looked wrong.