He thrashed despite exhaustion of trying for the last hours to remove himself from the current predicament. He had stirred up more than enough sand around him but still remained trapped even as he clawed with his metal hand at anything that might prove leverage. Nothing ever did, yet his head jerked up at the call of a voice in the waters.

Another mer was approaching, one he didn't recognize. He shouldn't be seen, but there was little choice in the matter. He needed assistance to escape, and only that thought alone settled him to peer at the approaching merman. He looked up and gave one more thrash even as his flesh hand kept its death grip on the briefcase.

"What do I owe this kindness?"