[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/WelgViK.png[/img][hr][hr][b][colour=6f4a50]Event:[/colour][/b] Castaway: Back to the Wreck [b]|[/b] [b][colour=6f4a50]Location:[/colour][/b] Waters under Mehameha[hr][hr][h3][url=https://youtu.be/y2ai5Sp_vdo?si=8JkryyEMdXKgE1pq]♫[/url][/h3][/center]

Maura sat in her submersible, attending to the situation from afar. The resistance Marz and her puppet faced indicated life on the ship. Could this be the Meerami they were warned about? She sensed powerful sonic energy, reminiscent of Ayla’s abilities, used in the attack. Their intent seemed to incapacitate rather than kill.

Time passed, and Maura heard a slight squeaking noise as a partially humanoid head crept into view of the observation window. She focused on the creature as it moved further into view. The sparse interior lighting barely illuminated the figure as it slowly crept to the centre of the viewing glass.

Maura gently increased the light, shining it on the Meerami. She waved her hand toward the creature. [colour=C0C0C0]“Olá sou Maura,”[/colour] she said, using a touch of sonic magic to help her voice carry through the submersible's shell and into the water. She held a token in her hand, signifying her friendship with the locals.

The Meerami, startled by the lights, swam back a little. The creature appeared to be a tween, covered in orange and black fish-like scales. She began to use a similar sonic attack, directing it toward the submersible.

The outer hub groaned under the force of the sonic magic, but otherwise resisted it. The old man puppet next to Maura adjusted some controls. [colour=C0C0C0]“Make sure to compensate, Papa Joey, or the bath tub, as Marz call’s it, will be made aware to everyone's senses.”[/colour] The puppet gave a perfunctory salute and continued turning the dials.

The Meerami looked puzzled at the crew through the window, watching them remain unaffected. She swam in a circle, perplexed by the situation. Taking a deep breath, her gills vibrated as water passed through them, preparing for another volley.

Maura wagged her finger side to side and shook her head, gesturing at the Meerami. [colour=C0C0C0]Little Nicky, change the colours of the light.”[/colour] The puppet obeyed, switching the lights to an alarming red. [colour=C0C0C0]“Something more serene!”[/colour] she called back, and the puppet hurriedly adjusted the lens to light green and blue. [colour=C0C0C0]“That’s better. Hopefully, it knows we are not aggressive.”[/colour] The dragon puppet marched up beside Maura as she handed it the token from the locals, then it hurried off toward the back. [colour=C0C0C0]“Now, a slow release.”[/colour]

There was a clank as the torpedo tube loaded, followed by a burst of air as the trinket was pushed outside, floating toward the Meerami. The girl inspected the token in the water, swimming around it before taking it in her hands and examining it closely.

Maura waited until the girl appeared satisfied, coming to a mutual understanding. The Meerami nodded toward Maura and gestured, swimming toward the wreck, then stopping and signalling for the submersible to follow.

[colour=C0C0C0]"It looks like she wants us to follow her,"[/colour] Maura said, turning to the old man puppet. [colour=C0C0C0]"Back into the wreck, and steady as we go."[/colour] The puppet adjusted the controls, and the submersible began to move slowly toward the wreck, following the Meerami's lead. Maura watched closely, her eyes flickering between the Meerami and the path ahead.

When the submarine resurfaced in the same empty plantroom, Maura opened the hatch to see the Meerami sitting by the water's edge. She tensed up for a moment as if prepared for a fight. But she relaxed quickly, maybe it was Maura's disarming demeanour, maybe she felt more in control given the merchant girl left her soundproof defence.

[color=e09109]"Ya all don't seem like the other bozos coming to loot tha wreck."[/color] She said with a playful smile while sitting back. [color=e09109]"Who are ya anyway?"[/color] Her accent sounded familiar.

Maura struggled to maneuver herself into a more visible position, her rollerchair making it a bit challenging. Perhaps looking vulnerable might have a disarming effect in this situation.

[colour=C0C0C0]“My name is Maura Mercador, a Biro of Ersand’Enise,”[/colour] she said, offering her hand. Unsure if the gesture was understood, she bowed her head as a backup.

She had her own thoughts about the looters targeting the wreck, but she focused on her primary mission. [colour=C0C0C0]“Our goal here was to protect the wreck from looters,”[/colour] she sighed, [colour=C0C0C0]“but things changed. The locals wanted items from the wreck to pay for all those ships you see around you to leave.”[/colour] She gestured to the surrounding waters. [colour=C0C0C0]“The other students volunteered to help, trying to resolve the matter.”[/colour]

[colour=C0C0C0]For myself, the locals mentioned that your people are seeking refuge beneath the wreck and were in danger. So we hoped to make contact to see how we could help you.”[/colour] She smiled warmly at the Meerami girl, her gesture inviting and sincere.

The Meerami shook Maura's hand. [color=e09109]"Ersand'Enise huh. I flew the coup from that old place years ago."[/color] The youth of the girl made her exagerations fairly transparent. [color=e09109]"Most of the other Meerami are at these islands to hide away, but I'm just stopping by for a visit."[/color] She was trying to look cool with the way she spoke as if trying to impress the older girl in front of her.

[color=e09109]"You're here to protect the wreck but we've been doing fine enough on our own so far. A few of those Virangish come in and we put 'em to sleep, they wake up on shore come morning like nothing ever happened. Seems something has changed out there, but not sure why we'd need you."[/color] She kept a playful demeanour in spite of her words. She seemed to be enjoying the conversation.

Maura smiled at how they handled the Virangish. [colour=C0C0C0]"That sounds hilarious! That definitely explains the tales we've heard about your people."[/colour] She was clearly amused by their antics.

[colour=C0C0C0]"The situation out there is coming to a head. The Virangish now have a powerful slaver among their number, who seems to have turned the battle around with the other ships. Very dangerous man, stronger than the students on your ship... single-handedly stronger than all of them together."[/colour] She shook her head ruefully. [colour=C0C0C0]"You might have to fight, for real."[/colour]

[colour=C0C0C0]"Look,"[/colour] she gestured toward a puppet of a boy who raised his head from the submersible and brought out a map. [colour=C0C0C0]"This island here, just south of ReTan and Nikan. It is called Longwan. It is my island."[/colour] She marked the location. [colour=C0C0C0]"If you need a place to flee, you can have refuge here."[/colour] The boy walked over to the Meerami, offering the map to her.

[colour=C0C0C0]"We recommend reconsidering your stance on not asking for help, but we won't force it. We want to be friends to your people, but if my presence has overstayed its welcome, we will leave and respect your decision."[/colour] She bowed respectfully to the girl.

The Meerami stuck out her tongue and gave a wink. They both had fun with the idea of setting looters to sleep.

She accepted the map from Maura and had a look over it. [color=e09109]"Don't think I'll need this but the others could. It would be a risky migration, kinda a last resort thing. Eeaiko scouts are pretty common around these waters, ya know."[/color] Her mood turned as the gravity of the situation was slowly dawning on her. [color=e09109]"If what you say is true about the Virangish, we might be able to fend them off but they'll definitely know we're here."[/color]

Her eyes drifted down weighing her out the options. [color=e09109]"We still have a job to do here. Most won't leave until its done... It seems time is short now. If the locals trust you, we could use the help."[/color]

Maura smiled at the turnaround. [colour=C0C0C0]"What needs doing?"[/colour] she asked, her curiosity piqued. [colour=C0C0C0]"My submersible might be able to carry things or pull them along, if it's a matter of transport. We also have torpedoes if you need... you know, if required."[/colour] She tapped a finger on her chin thoughtfully. [colour=C0C0C0]"It sounds like we need to help move things along for your people."[/colour]

The Meerami didn't smile back but clapped a hand a couple of times against the metal floor. [color=e09109]"Well, I got here after this big thing washed up on shore. But from what I heard, it was run by a bunch of Hegelans hopped up on Sirrahi tech. When the ship crashed, they took what they could and abandoned ship to get outta sight. But they left a few things behind in a hurry, some that the world ought not to know about yet."[/color] She trailed off but Maura seemed to wordlessly understand that the Meerami was referring to the nuclear reactor.

A cheerful facade was donned to continue the conversation. [color=e09109]"We're scouring the ship and making sure they didn't leave anything behind that could cause trouble. The Meerami here are a little... proud. But I think they'll see reason and take the help."[/color]

[color=e09109]"I'm sure we could give you some trinkets to pay off those on shore if you can help us get rid of the actually dangerous stuff. Might find some loot for yourselves too."[/color] She gave a cheeky wink.

Maura thought for a moment. [colour=C0C0C0]"Well, if that is the goal, there could be some easier solutions."[/colour] She drummed her fingers on the armrest. [colour=C0C0C0]"You could always blow it up—that usually hides evidence. But given what we sensed in there earlier, we can understand why that wasn’t an option."[/colour]

She mulled it over for a moment. [colour=C0C0C0]"You could always put the wreck out to sea."[/colour] She gestured with a pulling motion, as if tugging on an invisible rope. [colour=C0C0C0]"We could pull it from the island and allow it to sink to the bottom of the ocean. Obviously, you can continue to work on it down there, but us humans would have great difficulty."[/colour]

Maura paused in thought. [colour=C0C0C0]"The issue would be what sank the wreck. We want to hide your involvement..."[/colour] She snapped her fingers. [colour=C0C0C0]"Kaureerah! She can sing and dance around the top. They would think the Eeiako stole the wreck."[/colour]

The Meerami giggled along with Maura's first two suggestions, amused by the grand bombastic solutions and not entirely scrapping them either. [color=e09109]"I think you're gonna want to take that up with the other Meerami first or else you might get chased up and down the ship for it."[/color] She joked then extended another hand to shake. [color=e09109]"The names Ashileen, by the way. Don't think I mentioned."[/color]

However, the Meerami's brow furrowed when Maura implied an Eeaiko was in their number. Her eyes darted side to side as if about to disclose a secret. [color=e09109]"Wait, you didn't bring an Eeaiko with you, did ya? Did she come to the wreck too? Some of these Meerami here have bad, bad history with them."[/color] Worry was painted on her face.

Maura shook the offered hand, thrilled to have a handshake with a real life Mermaid-Dragon. So cool! She maintained a composed smile, or at least the best she could muster.

[colour=C0C0C0]"Kaureerah is a good girl. She is exiled from her people, and she would keep the secret. Which is a good thing, as she already knows it. The locals weren’t exactly subtle in trying to hide it."[/colour] She placed a hand on her face, shaking her head side to side at their terrible attempt. [colour=C0C0C0]"Told her to stay away. Didn’t want to put her life in danger due to a misunderstanding."[/colour]

[colour=C0C0C0]"She would probably do the idea, though. She would like to resolve this without a fight. She abhors violence."[/colour]

[color=e09109]"Yeah, it ain't exactly *our* safety I'm worried about if she comes aboard..."[/color]

Her mood turned for the better, Maura sensed the girl fronting confidence. [color=e09109]"Anyway, I'm not exactly the lady who can give you the go-ahead to start sinking this thing. You're gonna need to ask the big boss."[/color] She jumped a little, remembering the commotion echoing through the halls before she left. [color=e09109]"Say, you got friends here, don't you? They're probably enjoying a nice nap at the moment, we oughta go tell the other Meerami that your friends."[/color]

[colour=C0C0C0]"We have a puppet with them at the moment. Is there something we can do to let your friend know we come in peace? A word or symbol they can draw?"[/colour] Maura questioned, hoping for an easy solution to the problem. [colour=C0C0C0]"Interpretative dance may be difficult otherwise."[/colour]

Ashileen seemed distant for a moment as she focused on sensing the fight on the ship. She has expected the scene of a bunch of students snoozing in a hallway, what she perceived instead caused her eyes to widen.

She began to get up with haste, not sparing a second more with idleness. [color=e09109]"We need to go, now. If you have a puppet, try to keep your friends safe with it. I can help you navigate this place while you focus on that."[/color]

Maura blinked for a moment as Ashi started to slither away. She took one look at the vessel, as she instructed the puppets back into their piloting positions, then she began to roll herself through the vessel, making it more accessible with the gift as she went as she followed her new friend.

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