[Closed to disassembling MERTRASH

[windowbuster]

He wasn't supposed to be out so soon during the aftermath of a storm, especially one that was as big as a hurricane. Especially not one of this magnitude. But his body, after the series of treatments containing nasty tasting potions as concocted by Erskine had worked, was strong and new to him, and he loved doing all the things that his weak and sick body couldn't do before.

One of those things were riding the still-strong waves in search of interesting human artifacts to bring back to the clan. There was always more floating around after a storm, especially the bigger pieces, from shipwrecks and things that humans have left carelessly unsecured on their ships when a storm hit. Now he's actually strong enough to bring the bigger pieces home and could go further than he could before. Some of the more interesting pieces he will keep for himself but other would be given to friends or traded for other things.

In the far distance under the sunshine that was starting to peak out from the clearing storm clouds, he spotted the glint of metal and started to swim towards it, eager to find out what his first find of the day would be.

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[windowbuster]

Steve kept up easily with the other mer, his body moving on automatic even as his thoughts swirled around his mind frantically. He ignored the bared teeth even as his flared instinctively in response. "But why?" He demanded, baffled at why would any mer would work willingly with humans, especially since these ones don't seem like the type to treat one well. "You don't have to go back. You can stay here, out of reach." Human couldn't reach them easily so far down in the deep after all, not often and not with the aid of machines or clumsy gear.

[disassembling]

This mer was annoyingly persistent when he had made all of his warnings and intentions clear. The flare was as good as a reaction he had managed, and he glared as he tried to put some distance between them, but the other could keep up with him easily.

"No, I can't. I have to go back," he replied coldly, shifting his grip on the briefcase and pulling it closer to his body in an attempt to stream line his form. "I don't expect you to understand. Now go away. You following me will only end in pain for you."

[windowbuster]

Steve was well aware he was being pest but this was just to wrong for him to let go. Just what was in the briefcase that the other mer was retrieving for humans didn't matter any more, just that he was doing it. And all the warnings about pain being in store for him if he followed only convinced Steve that whoever these humans were, they're not treating the dark haired mer well.

"Well, since you're not explaining anything, I don't see how I could understand. I can be very very stubborn." Stranger or not, Steve wasn't the type to let anything he sees walk willingly into pain and suffering for no reason.

[disassembling]

"I work for them," he finally clarified, which was the simplest explanation and also the least confusing. It wasn't entirely the truth either, but he could see no other way to convince the other mer to leave him to his mission. He was not about the risk another of his kind to be captured and enslaved, even if it was difficult to mentally call himself that.

"I'm not in physical condition to fight you or drive you off, so I expect you to be gone before we hit the shallows of your own volition."

[windowbuster]

That really didn't clarify much for Steve; he already guessed he other mer worked for humans. What he wanted was details, the whys and the hows. Maybe then he could understand and make his arguments on why the other mer should get himself away as far and quick as possible.

"That doesn't explain anything at all." Steve complained even as he continued to swim, matching the other mer's slower pace. "I know how to hide from humans, thank you very much."

[disassembling]

He turned his head to regard the other mer still diligently keeping up with him, and even with his continual struggling, he had to admire some of that tenacity. It annoyed him too but he respected it too. Chasing off this particular specimen was going spectacularly. Normally it only took saying that he worked for humans to get a snub and a hiss of insult for his apparent life choices.

"And they know how to catch merfolk," he replied coldly. "I have a time limit; if I haven't made contact at that limit, they will come to find me after paralyzing me. If they don't come fast enough, I drown." There was way more to it than that, but it was the basics.

[windowbuster]

His innate stubbornness was what kept him alive to this day, or so many people have told him. Steve had long since learned to turn it onto anyone and anything, and right now that subject is the other mer still fighting against the currents to his destination. It will take much more than horrifying tales and a cold demeanour to get him to go away once he's interested.

And he IS interested. There was just something about the other mer that fascinates him and Steve doesn't want to go that easily.

The other mer's were appalling and that made Steve all the more determined to get him away from the nasty humans. "I know people...wise people...I'm sure they can help with that." He said desperately. Erskine was old and he didn't travel far from his isolated home any more but his mind was still clear. Erskine had helped him, Steve was sure he could help this mer too.

[disassembling]

"There won't be time," he growled, flicking a glare at the blond that persistently followed and questioned. "I've been trapped under wreckage for hours. I have to report in." He fully intended to check in, hand off the package and would get looked over once he was hauled out of the water.

Yet, he twisted in the water to face the blond, showing all of his sharp teeth. "I think you've misplaced your concern for me. I don't need your help. If you stay or follow me, you're going to get hurt or worse captured."

[windowbuster]

"I think it's YOU that have misplaced your concern for me. I can take care of myself, even around humans." Steve hissed back irritably at the further sign of aggression, fins flaring once more. He'd never met anyone so resistant to being helped. Never mind the fact Steve himself had hated being 'helped' when his body had been small and weak. But he had also accepted help when he really needed, like that time he was so sick he couldn't keep any food but this particular kind of seaward. (His body was far less picky now and he was very thankful about that.)

"Have you tried leaving before?" Was that why the other mer wouldn't leave? Or they are blackmailing him with something, Steve thought darkly to himself, his general opinion of humans going downhill the more 'ideas' his mind came up with.

[disassembling]

He hissed and showed all of his sharp teeth in reply, his fins making an attempt to rise in return threat but his dorsal ones caused a spasm up his spine. He shook himself out in the water to rid himself of the ebbing tingling. "Then take the risk and if you're caught or killed, you can't blame me for what happens to you."

He might not remember everything that happened to him, but there were signs. The scars, the pools where he lived and how they were specifically set up to drag him from the water when necessary. There were specific matts and fans to blow the water from his body, to force his scales to dry and crack so that he could assume human form if necessary for land missions.

"I don't know, but I suspect that I have," he replied.

[windowbuster]

Steve, other than his first instinctual response to threat displays is to return with one of his own, has never been impressed with them otherwise. And the other mer's wasn't particularly threatening to him either, not with a visible spasm that interrupted it, despite the sharp teeth shown. "I already told you I'm not going to blame you no matter what." He sniffed.

And no one, human or mer had helped the other mer escape, Steve thought sadly. Or other mer might have taken his word that he needed no help and humans...well, it was already humans who was doing this to him. "Oh...well, maybe we can change it this time around." He said brightly. Because two heads is better than one, right?

[disassembling]

"The only way to change any of this is for me to get to land before I drown, and on land, I am vulnerable for awhile. I don't suppose you go wandering up on two legs, huh?" It was highly scandalous to do so except for specific hunting purposes for occasionally for mating when the pickings were slim or unfavourable. He spent as much time on two legs as he did in the water, but at least he could breathe above the waves when his gill slits sealed over.

So he continued to head to the shore, aware that it was a source of survival. The fact that the blond was still persistently following was less of an irritation and more of a curiosity now. Few mers were so forceful.

[windowbuster]

"O...occasionally." Steve answered evasively, eyes shifting guiltily away. He really wasn't supposed to but his curiosity got the better of him the few times he snuck landside and explored topside on two legs. Never too far away from the shore or too long of course, and always making sure no humans were nearby too see. Or any other mers either for that matter. He would never hear the end of it if someone actually spotted him, especially as there wasn't anything he was hunting and definitely not for a mate.

It wasn't curiosity that drove him onward this time but sheer stubbornness added with concern. Some was say (and probably even the mer in question) would say the concern was misplaced but Steve was a firm believer in doing what was right. And helping was the right thing to do.

[disassembling]

The Soldier turned his head and revealed his sharp teeth at the evasive answer, a knowing grin if there ever had been one. He might not have all of his memories intact, but he knew from experience the taboo nature of just wandering around for the sake of trying out one's legs. "So you have no idea how to even blend in while on land. You'll only bring more attention to me."

And they were fast approaching land. There were the wide mat of floating debris on the surface from and the sea was more restless the closer to shore they came. He struggled less in the currents because everything was pushing towards the shore now, and he dipped closer to the sandy bottom to keep from touching the debris from the hurricane.

[windowbuster]

"Or maybe, that's what we should do, exactly." Steve said, pausing mid-stroke. "Instead of blending in, if I draw off all their attention to me, then you can have a chance to recover then escape." Steve can be impulsive, especially after having decided on an action that he believes firmly should be done, but it didn't mean he was going to charge in blindly into a situation he doesn't know. "What do they do exactly after you go up to land..." His voice trailed off as one hand flapped to the side in a gesture that meant 'you know what I mean'.

He picked up his pace again, following the other mer's lead in ducking closer to the bottom. There were quite a few debris floating on the surface that he usually would be interested in picking through for something new to bring home, but now his attention was fully on the other mer.

[disassembling]

"That's a good way for you to get captured and tortured," he replied but didn't discount the idea now that it was clear that he would be followed right up onto the land. It was an emergency situation where technically Steve could make sounds enough to warrant investigation for injury and then head off the agents that would be retrieving him. "Normally, a team is dispatched to collect me. They guard me until I can obtain my legs and then walk me to transport to be taken back to the current base of operations. I give a mission report and am checked over."

He slowed his pace only to look around for landmarks on where he was supposed to haul himself up. The briefcase would not leave his grip until he had handed it off. "I may receive a medical once over while I wait to change."

[windowbuster]

"They'll have to be able to catch me first. If I stay in water, and draw their attention that way you can get away, right? Even if it's in shallow water I'll have the advantage." Steve said confidently. "And if they're that eager to catch another mer, I should have no problem keeping their attention." He paused for a moment, then added. "How many guards?" He was good but even he couldn't fight against too many humans with their weapons. Hopefully there wouldn't be too many.

He frowned at the words 'medical once over'. It all sounded so cold, but he suppose he couldn't expect much more of humans who would force a mer to work for them against their will. "Will that be enough time for you to recover?"

[disassembling]

"I'm not certain that will work," he replied but thought there was a chance. After all, he did not associate with his own kind much, but he was certain that he was always the prize for capture. There wasn't any specific memories associated with multiple captures, but it was an impression that he had. "Standard tac-team," he replied before glancing over. "Ten to twelve men on the ground to collect me and remove evidence I ever existed."

He swam slower in the water, sensing that they were getting closer to shore. He could breathe if he had to should his time be up. All it took was shoving through the debris with his head and taking a deep breath. "I need approximately ten minutes to dry off on sand. If there is too much debris, it will take longer."

[windowbuster]

Neither did Steve really think there was one hundred percent chance of it working. Maybe fifty-percent chance it would work. The rest would simply be luck. He did however made a face at the idea of facing ten to twelve men all at once. "You must be important, if there's going to be a dozen humans just to clean up around you." He said dryly, half serious and half jokingly. And not just important, but also dangerous. But all mer were dangerous, one way or another.

"Alright. I'll stay under around here out of sight until your...humans...show up, then get their attention." There were a lot of debris here right now, Steve was sure he could find something to use here. It was too bad he was no siren and can't use his voice to entice them. Oh well, he would have to work with what he had.

[disassembling]

"I am," he replied simply. Every time he was released for a mission, he was informed on the vastness of his importance, of the service he was providing, of the people he would eventually be saving. "It shouldn't be long, so keep a weather eye out. If you decide to leave as well, so be it." He was given the impression that that was an alien concept to the other mer once committed to some course of action.

The Soldier swam to the shore, pushing through the mat of debris and dragged himself up onto the beach. It too was littered with wood, plastic, kelp and everything else the hurricane had dragged up, but he shoved around the debris until he had a spot of pure sand and began to slide in it and roll around, shedding water from his scales. He hurried as much as he could, eyes always actively searching and the briefcase not far from where he worked to leave his scaled hide behind.

Within ten minutes, they came. Ten men in military combat gear, all moving down the beach to him as if they had every single right to be there. Two carried a stretcher between them, and he hissed at the sight of it. He disliked that device more than having to be escorted off the beach on two bare legs.

[windowbuster]

Important as in the only person who could be forced to do things others couldn't. It was despicable really. Steve made a face at the other mer at the completely unsubtle reminder that he could leave, at any time and really should have been long gone. "I already told you I'm not leaving." He's not going to give up that easily, especially when he hasn't even made a first attempt yet. Besides, he wasn't the only stubborn one here; the other mer was just as stubborn as he himself was, with all the unsubtle attempts at getting him to go away.

It wasn't too hard for Steve to keep out of sight as long as he wasn't hear the surface, especially with the debris that was liberally scattered everyone along this stretch of seashore. And while the other mer started drying himself off in the sand, he began to gather things he could throw at the enemy humans. Things with sharp edges and heft. There was plenty of choice. Then at the bottom of the sea, a glint of metal caught his eye that wasn't like any of the other objects he's picked so far.

A flat round disc made of metal. Out of instinct, he picked it up as well.

[disassembling]

He flicked his tail, slapping it against the sand as if in threat, but he knew the drill by now even if he couldn't remember it. He would put up a front and the team would 'talk' him down and then bait him with food so that he could be scooped up. So he rose up onto his hips where his human half gave way to the scaled one, hissing as the men spread out around him and offered various expressions that ranged from amusement to wariness.

"Come on now, Winter," one of the men called. "Settle down and I'll give you this." A shiny necklace was held up, swinging from gloved fingers. It would be cheap, hardly worth taking, but he was always attracted to shiny things. It was a merfolk trait.

He glanced towards the water, searching for Steve even as he settled back on the sand and returned to sliding his scaled body along the beach to dry it faster. A few of the group pretended to be looking for something while the rest moved in as they always did. He slapped his tail once but it was obvious token resistance.

[windowbuster]

Steve's eyes were good, even through the distortion of the water and the air and even the random objects that floated on top. Ten humans, as the other mer had told him. Most of their attention were on the mer drying off on the beach with only a few facing the water. Which would change he knew, as soon as he started throwing things. He's not going to expect too much help from the other mer, given that having a tail on land was more a hindrance than an aid.

The humans were all covered in from head to toe in some dark and heavy material, except for their faces. So that's where Steve was planning to aim. He plopped up out of the water quickly, threw one of the heavy and sharp objects he'd picked up earlier directly into the face of one of the men and quickly dropped down underneath again and rolled to another position, not bothering to wait and see if his hit and downed the person or not.

He didn't wait too long; soon he was attacking again, and dodging the hail of projectiles the humans were sending at him.

[disassembling]

"SONUVA....!"

The Soldier twisted as one of the agents reeled back from being struck, and then he settled down on the sand as half of the agents turned to assess the situation out in the water which was still a mat of debris. Unless or until Steve rose, the other mer was hidden, but by now, the team was aware of what a merfolk could do and at least two glanced at him pointedly as if he had arranged this whole mess.

He snapped his teeth together, spotting Steve rising to throw more projectiles. The team backed away from the edge of the water, quickly coming to the conclusion that it was indeed another mer who was making efforts to dissuade them from taking him.

"Ha, Winter got himself a boyfriend this time around?"

"We'd be rewarded for bringing in another one."

"Hey, we aren't equipped to deal with more then one, and our instructions were clear on getting in and getting out fast. This data is the most important..."

"If he likes Winter so much, order Winter to go and contain him."

He curled his tail around his upper half carefully as his scales were starting to soften now that he was drying well. He glanced at the water where Steve was hailing everyone with projectiles and issued a hiss at the other merfolk, a warning and perhaps a bit of a threat. The team was both concerned with another mer around making efforts to free him but confident in their ability to contain him.

The stretcher was set down on the sand next to him as the team considered their options, most of them raising hands to avoid being hit in the face with the deadly accuracy of Steve's throwing.

I hope you're feeling better soon. And as usual, no rush on this.

[windowbuster]

These humans were stubborn. Most, Steve thought, would have run away already, or threw stuff back. These ones dodged and covered their faces, but didn't run. At least there was no incoming attack yet, though by the warning hiss he heard from the other mer still drying himself off, it would be soon. Even humans wouldn't stand around just discussing things forever while under attack.

In the meantime, he kept up the pattern of projectile, then duck and move to a new spot, then another projectile. There were plenty of sharp and dangerous things to throw and he was careful not to pop up out of the water in any discernible pattern. At least to Steve. All he he hoped right now to buy another time until the other mer dried off enough to get his legs. Or even lure a few humans into the water directly where he had the advantage.