Mermaid

12:24

The whole van shook vigorously, barely holding together as it brushed across the water, practically numbing their bodies. The rattling of the metal slowly drove them insane, their ears muffled from all the racket.

Making their way toward the solar farms—gargantuan forests of silicon and glass scattered across the ocean—one of the few things that ever got to see the scorching sunlight. They were the backbone of modern society, capable of charging batteries powerful enough to move entire cities. Wars had been waged over the dominance of these plants. The ones closer to the equator were less desirable, even though they held more power due to longer exposure.

A rare few traveled alongside it, and even fewer dared to attempt crossing from one side of the planet to the other in a straight line—it was borderline suicide.

-"He should be heading for the solar plants. He'll need to recharge," Maeve said, barely getting words out between the shaking.

-"I THINK HE MIGHT BE GOING TO THE SOLAR PLANTS TO RECHARGE!" Max shouted.

While they yelled over each other, a thick column of smoke rose on the horizon. It was Blackbeard's ship lying on the water, docked at the power station, replacing the giant batteries.

Closing in, they noticed the gunfire coming from the surrounding ships. They were among the last to arrive.

-"HOW DO WE SLOW DOWN?"Max shouted

-"WHAT?"

-"HOW DO WE STOP THE VAN?"He repeated.

-"WE DON'T! IT'S ON A SINGLE CHARGE! THE TORPEDOES CAN ONLY FIRE ONCE!"Maeve explained casually over the ruckus.

-"SO HOW DO WE STOP?"

They looked at each other, Max expecting an answer. Then, he saw Maeve’s entire expression change as she realized the situation they were in.

- "SHIT!"

-"WHERE ARE THE BRAKES?" Max shouted in panic.

Maeve unbuckled herself from her seat, yelling, "THERE AREN’T ANY!"

As they sped toward the impending devastation, Maeve shouted, "WE NEED TO DECOUPLE THE TORPEDOES!"

- "If I cut properly, we might be able to launch them," Maeve said, gripping her multitool. "I just don’t know how to do it at the same time."

She muttered to herself, "Shit, shit... Breathe, Maeve, just breathe. It's fine. You just need to cut here... You added the magnets... Just don’t do the wrong thing and kill all three of us. No pressure."

As she closed in on the metal sheet, Max yelled her name. "FUCKING SHIT, MAEVE!"
Her mind went blank—I don’t know. Death wasn’t the problem, but the responsibility she felt toward the other two weighed on her like a vice.

Snapping her gaze up, she barely had time to react as Max grabbed her tool and sliced through the brackets holding the freezer down. He grabbed her hand, "HOLD ON!"—yanking her onto the top of the freezer.

-"WE'RE IN THIS, MOTHERFUCKER!"

With a violent slam, he threw the van doors open. The sudden force launched them backward, the freezer skipping across the water like a stone, barely staying intact.

As they finally slowed down, Maeve’s heavy, labored breathing became more noticeable to Max. Without hesitation, he knocked on her helmet, forcing it open. "JESUS, BREATHE!" he yelled, his voice sharp with urgency.

Maeve, still in shock, looked at Max as he yelled, "MOVE YOUR ASS! Twinkle Toes, you okay in there?"

SBlinking for a moment before quickly realizing what he meant, she moved off the hatch, prying it open, the kid dizzy, disoriented, and with a light frost clinging to his hair.

Maeve’s panic snapped into fury. "DID YOU TURN ON THE FUCKING FREEZER?!"

-"HOW ELSE WAS HE SUPPOSED TO BREATHE?" Max shot back.

-"OH, I DON’T KNOW, MAYBE THROUGH THE HOLES WE PUNCHED THROUGH?!"

-"SOOO, HE HAD A.C.—BETTER THAN WHAT WE GOT."

-"HE COULD HAVE FROZEN, YOU IDIOT!"

While they bickered, the child leaned over the side and puked into the water. His tired eyes suddenly widened in alarm. He muttered something in a language only he understood, his shaky hand pointing toward an approaching ship—black,sleek, fast, and unmistakably military.

-"Oh, here comes our ride," Max said, a grin spreading across his face, his expression glazed with excitement.

Maeve shook her head. "We can’t. We don’t have the grappling hook or a harpoon."

Max smirked. "Oh, we have something way better." He pulled out a heavily weathered rope, its origin unknown to anyone.

-"You’re kidding." Maeve glanced at him, skeptical. "And the hook?"

-"You're looking at it," Max replied with a wink.

-Maeve sighed, shaking her head. "Don’t say it."

-Max grinned wider and, without missing a beat, shouted, "OH YEAH BABY,I'M ONE GODDAMN CERTIFIED HOOKER!"

The modern galleon, cutting through the waves, was rapidly approaching. As the tide crashed against one another, Maeve softly spoke to the child. "Okay, buddy, this might be rough or borderline suicidal, so brace yourself."

-"You sure about this?" she added, concern in her voice.

-He locked his helmet in place. "I've never been sure about anything in my life. I’m not starting now."

As the high-speed galleon rushed by them, Max swiftly jumped onto the side of the ship, jamming the multitool into its hull, yanking the two as they skidded across the top of the freezer. As they got closer, the freezer hit the hull, taking it under. Maeve gripped the rope tightly, her feet planted firm on the side of the ship, holding them steady.

The rope barely held as Maeve slid across the side of the ship, the sheer speed pushing her body, forcing her to move sideways toward the closed port window.

-"Knock knock," she said, positioning the double-barrel across the glass.

-Max, raising an eyebrow, called out, "Did you really just say 'knock knock' to no one?"

-"Shut up," she replied, rolling her eyes.

-Max chuckled. "Oh boy, you're more sad than me."

Then the window shattered, the sound ringing in the air as it broke just wide enough for her to fit through.

-"Alright, kid. You first," Maeve said, pushing the child through the opening and following right after.

The kid stumbling along the hall,two sailors in shock began bantering.

-"Bobby, is that a fucking baby on the deck or our ship?"

-"Honestly, mate, it's more of a toddler or a kid even. You really get your ages mixed up."

-"Is that what you're worried about? My ability to guess the age of a child instead of the gypsy that magically appeared on board?"

-"Well, simply put, yes. And I mind the tone, and the fact you keep calling it a gypsy. It could be something else, couldn't it?"

-"Well, it's not a fucking Asian, is it?"

-"Why can't it be both?"

-"Why can't it be both? Jesus, Bobby, it's not fucking Asian, it's light brown."

-"Yeah, but why couldn't a gypsy be Asian? They actually come from Asia, India to be exact."

-"Of course, fucking Asians came from Asia. What are you on about?"

-"No, not Asians, gypsies."

-"WHEN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN ASIAN GYPSY?!"

-"I’M NOT SAYING IT IS OR ISN’T, AND THAT I HAVE OR HAVEN’T. I'M JUST SAYING THERE COULD BE!"

-"Let me get this straight. So what you're telling me is that you believe there are Asian gypsies?"

-"I'm not telling you I believe it. I'm telling you there are."

-"They’re either Asian, or gypsies, or mixed."

-"Gypsy is a way of living."

-"What are you even saying anymore?"

They were interrupted by the sound of grunting and pulling.
-“Holy wowzer, is that a mermaid?” They looked at the child pulling at Maeve’s hand, trying to get her into the ship. She was stuck at her vest, unable to get in.

-“A mermaid, really? Now I know you’re messing with me.”

-“Oh, of course, you didn’t believe in them. You don’t believe Asians can be gypsies either.”

-“Again with this—clearly not a mermaid.”

-“You can’t see her legs, can ya? So how the bloody hell could you know?”

-“Because she has no starfish over her tits, and she’s wearing a fucking military Exo-suit. When have you ever seen a mermaid wear one of those?”

-“So, you do believe in them?”

-“Oh, God.”

As they approached, scooting the child away.
-“Miss, would you be so kind as to tell my deranged friend that you indeed aren’t a mermaid, and we can get on with our lives?”

Before she could answer, a loud yell and knocking was heard.
-“Maeve, will you hurry up? I’m losing grip!” The voice was barely understandable.

-“The hell was that?”

-“It’s the spirit! They follow gypsies, and sea creatures!”

-“The fucking spirits? You’re just having a piss aren't you!”

-"No, I heard about this. There are people who travel with sea creatures, monks and such. Maybe the kid’s one of them, and these are his followers and protectors."

-"See monks? Really? How gullible do you think I am? You and the captain, always making stuff up to make me look stupid. This is just like that time you made me believe there was a thing called 'lemon pie.'... First of all, what the hell is a lemon, and how would you even make a pie out of it?"

-"Do you not believe in lemons?" she said as her helmet opened, speaking back at him.

-"Oh, fucking great. Now you've got the bloody mermaid on it as well. Who’s next, the gypsies? Well, I’ve had it with this."

-"Don’t mind him, love. He doesn’t even believe Moby Dick existed."

-"No, I just said I didn’t believe a whale could write a fucking book."

-"Maybe the whale had some help."

-"From who? The fucking sea monks?"

-"See? Now you're finally starting to make sense."

-"JESUS, we’ve got two stowaways, and this is what you want to talk about?"

-"How do you know they are stowaways?"

"First of all, when have you ever seen them on this ship before? Second—and I do mean this sincerely—THEY’RE CLIMBING THROUGH THE FUCKING WINDOW!"

Before anyone could react, another window shattered. Max came scrambling through, exhausted and out of breath. He tried to yell but barely managed, "Get away from them! I’m armed and dangerous!"

-"Who the fuck is this bloke?"

-"Clearly a friend of the mermaid and the gypsy. I feel like you're not paying attention."

-The first man shook his head in frustration. "WHY do you keep doing this? Do you want me to look like an idiot?"

-"No. Well, not right now at least."

-"Okay, so why do you keep undermining me?"

-"I'm not! I'm just saying you should pay more attention. It’s pretty clear who he is—and that he’s armed. Or whatever. I mean, if a wrench even counts as a weapon."

While they bickered, Max took a hesitant step forward, hoping to go unnoticed. His hope was quickly shattered by a high-pitched squeak from Maeve—reminding him that they were still tied together by the rope.

-"What the hell are you two doing!?"Said the first, angry and suspicious.

-"We’re trying to have a conversation here!" The second man huffed and continued scolding the other.

The first man took a moment to actually assess the situation, but the second had no patience for it.

Whilst the second babbled on, the first took a moment to actually assess the situation—his face growing angrier with every second. Short-statured and clearly short-tempered.

-"That’s enough! We’re killing them!" he snarled, drawing his pistol in one swift motion.

A shot rang out—barely missing Max, ricocheting wildly off the metal walls. Max clenched the tool in his grip for a brief moment, taking a steadying breath.

-"Okay," he muttered softly.

In an instant, his helmet snapped shut, and he bolted—yanking on the rope still tied to Maeve and pulling her with him.

-"Max, what the hell—" she barely had time to protest before she was dragged out the broken window.

A sharp, piercing scream filled the air, momentarily distracting the gunman. But only for a second. With gritted teeth, he refocused and unleashed a barrage of gunfire from his repeater, each shot echoing through the ship.

The bullet whizzed past Max, missing him by a thread as he closed the distance. With a fierce swing of his tool, the final shot left the chamber, slamming into his shoulder. Pain flared through him, but it wasn’t enough to stop the momentum. Gritting his teeth, he powered through, bringing the wrench down in a brutal arc.

The metal struck the gunman’s hand with a sickening crack, sending the revolver clattering to the floor.

Max followed up with a strong kick to the gut, sending the man stumbling backward. He hit the floor hard, skidding to a stop right at Twinkle Toes feet.

Now, Max locked eyes with the man—twice his size, and triple his weight. A grin spread across his face, filled with excitement.

-"So, fatso, wanna dance?" Max taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he prepared for the next move.

Maeve dangled off the side of the ship, desperately reaching for the rope. Each frantic movement from Max sent her swinging wildly, jerking her up and down like a ragdoll.
-"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK ARE YOU DOING, MAX?!" she shouted, struggling to maintain her hold.

-"IN A MINUTE," he yelled back, rolling out of the way just as Bobby followed with a stomp, bending the metal floor beneath him. "Holy shit," Max muttered under his breath, his eyes widening as he realized one wrong move could be his last.

-“You know what I meant to say,” Max muttered, slowly backing away, “Big-boned.”

A higher-pitched voice yelled, “MAX, KEEP STILL!”

-"Which, in hindsight, isn't even that bad," he added, shrugging.

-"I don’t like you."Said the seller, with real emotion in his voice, as if he were genuinely hurt by Max's words.

-"Sometimes, I don’t even like myself," he said, following it up with a deep sigh.

Bobby took a step closer,his arm swinging like a sledgehammer.Max braced for the hit—only for it to stop an inch from his face. A red light flooded the hallway, casting an ominous glow through the ship. The blaring siren echoed through the metal corridors.

-“All hands on deck!” the voice boomed over the intercom. "We’ve got a ship to catch!"

A glimmer of excitement flashed in Bobby’s eyes. "It's the captain," he said with a twisted grin, the thrill evident in his voice. "Get up, Fred. He needs us."

Fred groaned, clutching his stomach, clearly in pain, but still managing to his feet. "I heard him," he muttered, struggling to steady himself. "I heard him loud and clear."

Both passed by, Max ignoring him and Maeve completely, who was once again stuck in the porthole, leaving them struck with blank faces …