Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2015 03:36:19 +0000 (UTC)
From: Andrew Bailey <feare909@yahoo.com>
Subject: Aquata Cove - Chapter 41

Aquata Cove
Chapter 41: Thirst For Help


A van drives in the dark road, bypassing thick trees on either side of the,
with only the moon as a source of light, as the headlights of the vehicle
are shut off.

"Are we there yet?" Came a light voice.

"Hell if I know," Answered a deeper voice, "She only said to keep moving
until we find a large block. Dudn't she know from buildings?"

"I can... Feel somting" Came a foreign accent, "Eet ees vedy hard to
hold... We might be close..."

"How can ya tell? Ya's psychic or sumtin?" Came a raspy, Irish voice.

"No, I eesn't, psycheec."

"Can't we go any faster?" Said the lighter voice again, "I'm going to have
a heartattack if we don't get there soon."

"Anyone near by?"

"..." There came a short pause, "No hyuman nears," Said the other voice, "I
feel contained lightning right forward. Eet ees vedy deestracting"

"Contained lightnin?" The Irish voice said, "What teh feck does that mean?"

"I think she means the building," The light voice said. "Lets find
someplace to park, and make our way there. It shouldn't be too far now."

"Aight." The dark voice replied. The van turned from the lone road, and
road carefully into the woods.


~~~


The clock reads 2:13 am, and the scratching of pen and paper etches in the
room as Erin writes down on the requested forms she had. It's been a few
days since Adam's shock treatment. From what Kaiser had reported, he did
NOT go easy. It's a miracle Adam can still walk after what he was put
through.

As she said, Erin had taken steps to report Nigel for all the cruelty he
has dealt out -- given the chance, she'd have him done away with a long
time ago, and his stunt with the electro-shock has given her JUST the edge
she needs to report him.

However, like ALL allegations and paperwork, it takes time to receive the
needed applications from the fax machine, and God forbid these sorts of
papers could just be sent and printed off an email -- confidentiality is a
bitch sometimes. Not to mention having to force the necessary people to
write and sign as witnesses -- Nigel has been the warden of the Agency of
Oceanic research for almost 20 years, and he has ruled this building with
an Iron Fist. He has everyone so afraid of him, they barely have room in
their heads for opinions. 

Erin shook her head,
reflecting that she too was so afraid of him, so damn meek as to do nothing
while Nigel tortured these two innocent men.

And now she finally has the means to write up a report. The pen stroked and
moved as she began to write in the margin for what Nigel Quinlan is being
accused.


[Nigel Quinlan, through testimony of many of the employ of the Agency of
Oceanic Research, thus the evidence attached, is guilty of violation of the
8th Amendment: Administration of Cruel and Unusual Punishment of]


She paused. Erin glanced her eyes at another folder full of special
paperwork she had requested -- these ones in particular, having needed a
lot of strings to pull. After taking a few seconds, she continued writing.


[two American Citizens, both of which have committed absolutely no crime,
carry no criminal records]...

Erin took a moment to yawn. She's been busy all day and night, committing
every minute she has to trying to get Adam and Merrick to walk free out of
the Agency. She only hopes Merrick can forgive her long enough to leave
this place.


~~~


"Dammit... For God's sake..." Jacob irked as he searched high and low in
the lab, careful not to disturb any of the equipment. Daniel walked in, not
surprised to see his boyfriend in the deserted lab at this time of night,
holding a couple of Red Bulls in his hands.

"Hey, Jacob," Daniel said. He noticed Jacob looking flustered and agitated
as he moved about the lab. "What's going on?"

"I can't find my notes." Jacob said, "I've been looking for them for the
past few days, and I can't find them anywhere!"

"Which notes would they be?"

"The analyses and the chemical pin-points on the merman tears," Jacob
continued searching.

"Where did you last see them?" Daniel asked as he set aside the drinks, and
began glancing around too.

"Right on THIS table!" Jacob said as he patted the spot where he last was
working on the notes, "I took the rest of the day off because I felt
terrible about what's been going on, and I forgot to put them away, and
they've disappeared!"

"Maybe one of the other scientists took them to work on?" The guard
suggested.

"No, none of them would even think about picking up someone else's work
around here."

"What about Dr Kaiser? Did he scold you for not putting your findings
away?"

"He probably might have, but he's been too busy in his study to unlock the
door." He said, "Could you help me? Tell the other guards to try and find
them?"

"You got it," Daniel said as he picked up his communicator.


~~~


"Mnnnhhh..." Adam rolled to his side as he blinked slowly. Ever since Nigel
had him electrocuted, he's been stuck in this little room. The staff were
at least nice enough to keep feeding up at least.

He can't get the image of Merrick in his head. His poor merman, half
butchered and half bandaged. He nearly killed him in cold blood -- twice!
Even if they manage to escape this awful place, how is he going to make
things better now? Merrick's mental state seems so delicate and destructive
now. What if he wakes up one morning, and Merrick just starts screaming and
ripping him apart? What if he goes after Yuri and Jamal? Is there any way
to heal him, both physically AND mentally?

Adam cringed as he moaned, his eyes feeling sore.


~~~


Merrick growled as he smoothly loomed and circled around in the
tank. Swimming is the only way to keep his mind focused, and to ease the
boredom -- his mind circulating every memory of his time in Adam's house,
pressing it firmly in the front of his head to keep from thinking of
anything else.

The humans barely have enough courage to come in here, and drop a fish into
the tank for him to eat. At least they were tasty, but the bones littered
the tank's bottom, since the humans are terrified that he'll strike them
dead if they even try to take him out.

He feels so much pain and hatred right now... Cowards doing the bidding of
a monster, they're all monsters. The only demon who meant anything to him
in this prison is that Erin, and she was almost as bad as that Nigel --
Lying monsters are always the worst. What sets her apart from Nigel is the
fact that she at least sheds tears for him.

Merrick continued to swim in circles in the tank, managing to keep his
wrath under control.


~~~


In the outside of the Agency, the lights are beginning to switch off. As
each light turned off, four black figures quickly snuck in the plentiful
shadows. They headed towards a lone door on the back of the building --
possibly either a back door, or an emergency exit.

Each figure is wearing black clothing, and a ski mask with only eyeholes
into it. One by one, they made it to the wall.

"You sure you ready fo this, Double-O 70?" The tallest figure
whispered. The thicker figure chuckled.

"Shon, yur talkin to a lady who snuck out of her house more than any spider
trou a hole -- I broke in and out of places you wouldn't even tink of!" The
Irish voice said proudly.

"Aight. What bout chu, Pink? Meds?"

"Lets just hurry," The light voice said, "We've waisted enough time."

"I ees ready." Said the thick voice.

The taller figure nodded, before he held up a phone, and switched on its
light. It shone a lock without a doorknob. The shorter figure walked in,
brandishing a hairpin in her gloved fingers, and inserted it into the
keyhole.

Within seconds, the door clicked, and the door creaked open, "Heh heh!" The
Irish whispered, "Ain't a door alive can keep ME out!" She mumbled.

"Aight. Pink, you first." Said the tall figure, "We'll follow close
behind."

"Yees." The other figure nodded before stepping in -- slipping deliberately
in with a smooth grace. Meds hissed as the hinges of the doors squeaked, as
she quickly slipped in. OO70 stepped into, before J-Man snuck in last, and
closed the door, placing a pebble to keep it ajar JUST enough to keep it
hidden.


~~~


Sarah the guard sighs as she watches the security cameras. Nothing on, as
usual -- besides the fact that she was ordered to overlook any and
everything that Erin does when going to visit the merman.

She gets up to begin her break, when her communicator activated. She took
it from her belt, and held it up to her mouth, "Responding."

"There seems to be a breach at the North-East exit. Could you check it
out?"

"Alright." Sarah typed onto the keyboard of the computer, and brought up
the cameras at the North-East Sector of the facility. Everything is so
dark, she can barely make out anything-

"Hhh!" She spotted a four dark figures scurrying down a hallway on one of
the monitors. She retyped on the keyboard, and brought up more of the
angles from a handful of cameras. The burglars could be seen appearing,
running into random screens. She picked up her walkie, and pressed the
button. =KSSSH= "..."

"=Yes?=" Said the other side. Sarah hesitated. The figures hid behind a
wall, as one of the scientists happened to be passing through, "=Well?="

"... It's nothing." Sarah said as she spotted the figures in another
monitor, "I don't see anything out of the ordinary."

"=Yeah, it was probably just a glitch or something.=" Said the other guard,
"=I'll keep you posted.="

"Over and out..." Sarah said before she put the communicator back on her
belt. She groaned a bit as she put her hands on her head and watched as the
four dark intruders make their way through the maze of the Agency. "I hope
they're what I think they are..." She mumbled. Every fiber of her being is
telling her to follow protocol, and report this new development, "... Ahhhh
jeeez..." She nervously moaned. If she lets this slide, and gets caught,
she'll lose a LOT more than just her job...

"Dammit, just please make this quick..."


~~~


The four intruders jogged down each dark hallway. They stopped to give OO70
a moment to catch her breath. Meds came over to her to make sure she is all
right, bringing up her ski mask just over her mouth to give her some air.

"Which way, Pink?" J-Man asked as he looked to the one who is
leading them. Pink holds her hands out, her eyes closed as she focused out
on sensing the trace of their target.

"... I feel heem."

"Aight. You ready, OO70?"

"Aye," She panted. Meds helped her up, and they continued on.


~~~


*Click-CHK* The lock opened to the hairpin, and the four of them quickly
entered. They looked as light in the tank illuminated the contents -- a
paled blue and silver merman curled up at the bottom of the tank, with fish
bones littering the tank.

"There he is." J-Man said. Meds came up to the tank, and gasped as she
looked. Merrick's body seemed so... Ravaged. A lot of scales are scattered
along with the fish bones. The majority of his tail is a little flayed,
with his tailfin half butchered, torn apart, "Aw man... What did they do to
you, man..."

"This is so awful..." Meds whimpered as her eyes watered up.

"Aight," J-Man walked up to the tank, and knocked on the glass a few times.

"Stop that!" OO70 said.

"Wut? I'm bein careful."

"Fish don't like tat, Shon!"

"He gotta know we here, lady." J-Man muttered. He slapped the tank a few
more times, before Merrick's arm moved, and his fist SLAMMED against the
glass, creating a very loud THUD. They jumped as Merrick's arm went back
down.


~~~


"Humans..." Merrick growled, "Is it not enough they have caused me pain?
Now they disrupt slumber..." He flinched as the humans persisted on
knocking on the tank. "By the DEPTHS that's annoying!!"

Then, the knocking started to go into the rhythm of `Under The Sea' from
Little Mermaid. He growled as he swam up, his tail unfurling and undulating
up. He turned his gaze to where he was just sleeping, and saw humans here
that he does not recognize -- if they're even humans! They look like
creatures born of shadows!

One of them pulled up the blackness from his head, and showed a face with
dark skin, brown eyes, and thick lips.

Merrick gasped as he swam down, his eyes widening in shock. "Jamal!"
Another one of the dark creatures came up beside him, and pulled up the
darkness from her face, revealing a very fair complexion and narrow eyes,
"Yuri!" They both waved to him as he started to cry.


~~~


Merrick pressed his palms against the glass, whimpering and moaning in his
merfolk sounds.

"Lord, have mercy..." OO70 gasped as she saw the aquatic creature push
against the glass. A real live merman... He looks so tattered and
damaged. Who would do such a thing to a beautiful creature?

J-Man put his ski mask back on. Merrick swam to the side, and patted his
hand onto the closed hatch. "Ah man..." J-Man commented as he looked at
Merrick's hand. They're supposed to be webbed, but it looks like someone
had severed all of the webbing on both of his hands, "I think this is where
he gets out." He walked around, and felt at the hatch, and at the lock.

OO70 came up with her trusty hairpin, and fiddled with it, "Eghh..." She
growled. The pin won't go into the metal tab. After about 5 minutes of
trying, she shook her head, "No use, hairpins don't work on these." She
said.

"Aight. Pink," J-Man turned to the other person, "You got this?"

"Yees" Pink said as she came up to the hatch while taking off one of her
black gloves, and held two fingers straight, aimed at the little lock. A
sharp light shot from her fingertips, and seared at the lock like a small
blowtorch. Merrick swam to the middle of the tank to keep out of the way,
while OO70 went to the door, and peered out of it.

Meds went over to the large mechanism between the full tank, and the empty
tank. She hesitated as she looked over the machine, "What the heck IS this
thing??" J-Man walked to the thick wheel. He put his hands on it, and
grunted as he tried to turn it.

"HRRRRRGGGGG" It wouldn't budge. J-Man tried it in both directions, but it
still won't move, "Gah, dammit." Meds walked to the other tank, which is
completely dry and empty.  
"... I think this tank keeps the
water from there..." She said as she pointed to the tank Merrick is
occupying, "If anything I'm thinking it right, this is probably what they
kept him in while they..." Meds shook her head, "And this thing..." She
indicated the machine, "Filters the water..."  
"Any shot we get
it up and running?" J-Man asked.

"No clue," Meds replied, "This looks so complicated... Like the controls of
an airplane or something."

"Gurl, ain't you used to this kinda tech? Don't they have this stuff at he
uh..." He Fumbled for the words, "School?"  
"Nothing like
this." Meds said.

"Aight. Pink?" He asked.

"Ees..." Pink looked, and scowled at the lock. The metal is glowing, but
shows no signs of melting, "No good."

"Maybe cut the glass?"  
"No!" Meds said, "J-Man, that'll just
flood everywhere! This is a COVERT operation!"  
"What else can
we do?"

*SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP*

OO70 clicked her fingers four times as she strode away from the door.

"Aw shit, hide!"


~~~


"What??" Merrick watched as the hour figures ran off to different spots,
"No, stop!" He swam around, trying to spot them, "Don't leave! Where are
you?!"


~~~


"Dammit..." Jacob groaned as he strolled down the hall. He and Daniel have
been looking all over the place for his notes, but he can't find so much as
a single page.

He sighed as he walked past the door to the tank room, but stopped. He
looked, and noticed that the door is slightly ajar.

`That's odd...' He thought to himself. Jacob opened the door, and entered
into the tank room. He immediately noticed that the merman is swimming
quickly around in his tank, "Huh?" He approached the machine, "What's
gotten you all riled up?" He idly asked.

The merman saw him, and glared at him. Merrick swam to the back of the
cramped tank, his eyes locked onto the scientist.

Jacob came up to the tank, and looked at the lock. It's completely black,
as well as the glass around it. He looked up at the curled up merman,
before backing away, and trotting over to the door.


After he left, OO70, Meds, Pink, and J-Man came out of hiding. OO70
returned to her post on keeping watch, while Meds and J-Man went to the
machine, and Pink returned to torch the lock.


~~~


Erin finished the report on a court order for Nigel, and she placed them
into an envelope. She put a stamp onto the corner of it, and wrote in the
address. "Now..." Just when she picked up another folder with more
paperwork in it, she glanced at one of the monitors that were in this room
-- almost all of the offices in the Agency has monitors and
surveillance. Nigel always had a thing for omnipotence.

"What??" She stood up, and saw that four intruders have entered the tank
room! "Oh damn," She scowled as she put the other paperwork away, and stood
up. It figures that this office is clear on the other side of the whole
building!


~~~

"It's no good." Meds said, "This thing needs a password." She finally
figured out how to turn on the machine, but is no closer to making it work.

"C'mon, you're smart, gur- Meds!" J-Man said as he kept trying to turn the
wheel, "Shouldn't you know this kinda stuff?"

"I don't work here, J-Man. And if I hear a stereotype joke right now, I'm
going to slap you." She said. "Pink, any luck?"

"No," Pink said as she held her hand as she tried to cut the sharp flare
into the tank itself, against Meds' advice, since the lock doesn't show any
signs of melting, "Eet won't go hot." Her hands shook as the prolonged
attempts were beginning to put a strain on her.

"Dammit..." J-Man said. He put a hand onto the tank, "Hang in there, kid,"
He said as Merrick looked at them with begging eyes.


*SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP*


OO70 clicked her fingers again as she trotted carefully away from the door.

"Are you kidding me?" Meds said as they once again had to hide, making this
the fifth time they had to hide.


As soon as they all found hiding places, a security guard walked into the
tank room, along with the scientist from before. He strode to the middle of
the room, and put his hands on his hips.

"Alright, let's cut the Hide-&-Seek," He said, "We know you're in
here. You've broken an entering, and you're trespassing on government
property. Come out with your hands up." He ordered. It took a few moments
before J-Man, Meds, Pink, and OO70 came out of their hiding places, holding
their hands up.

Daniel smirked, "Alright, now relax, I've just always wanted to say that."
He walked to the tank, and took a look at the singed lock, "You guys
weren't going to get anywhere with this without a key." He turned to the
scientist, "Jacob? You wanna..."

"On it." Jacob said as he went to the machine, and began typing in the
password.

"Wait," J-Man said, "You helpin?"

"You're not going to arrest us?" Meds asked.

"We're probably going to get in huge trouble for this..." Jacob said as he
worked a few of the knobs, "But... It's complicated."

"We didn't sign up for this," Daniel said, "And besides, the boss is
getting written up for... A few things he's done here."  He adjusted his
cap, "You know, we're not supposed to be interfering and all, but I think
the guilt was gonna kill us before our boss had a chance anyway."

"What teh fuck kind of place IS tis?!" OO70 asked.

"It's a research facility established and supported by the
U.S. Government," Jacob said as he worked a few more switches, "That pretty
much gives the higher-ups the idea that they can get away with a lot of
things... And they have..." He stepped back, "Ok, you can turn it now."

J-Man took the wheel, and grunted as he finally moved, "Yeah, THERE we go."
As he turned it, the machine started to rumble awake. Meds eeped as the
contraption got louder.


~~~


Merrick looked up as he could feel the water disappear! Could
this really be happening?! Is he finally getting out of here?!


~~~


"Can't we make this thing quiet?!" She asked.

"No, maintenance already checked it out." Daniel said, "The only to make it
quiet is to get a new one."

"Er, you may want to get some towels," Jacob said, "The air pumps are
broken too, so there's no other way to dry him."

"We got it handled." Meds said as Pink stood by.

"Stand back. Recently, he's been VERY volatile" Daniel said as he went to
the hatch, and inserted the key. He unlocked the door, and pulled it open.

Merrick reached out as he pulled himself. Pink hissed as she drew her fake
neon fingernails down his back. Merrick shuddered as water collected and
ran off of his body. His injured blue flesh turned peach colored, the
mangled fins on his head turned into matted blonde hair. He grunted as they
helped him to his feet.

He whimpered as he ran straight for J-Man, and hugged him, "You came!" He
sobbed as J-Man hugged him back. Meds came up, and embraced him
too. "Please, get us out of here!"

"We workin on that."

"A-And you!" Merrick went over to Pink, and pulled off her ski
mask. Merrick sobbed as he smiled, shaking his head, "Never in all of my
life have I ever thought I would be glad to see you!"

Belinda grinned and snickered as Merrick cried with joy. He turned around
to the other humans.

"Wait," Jacob went to Belinda, "Aren't you..." He blinked, "Do you, by any
chance spend a lot of time at the Kele-Kolika Pier?"

"Yees, I do," Belinda said as she nodded.

"We have a file on you too."

"What?"  "What?"  "What?"

Jamal, Yuri, and Belinda said at once.

"We've had a few suspicions on you whether or not you're a mermaid," Jacob
said, "We need to get all of you out right now."

"Wait!" Merrick said, "Th-They have Adam too! He's-"

"We know," Yuri said, "We're going to get him out too. Here," Yuri then
produced a pair of blue satin boxers, "Put this one real quick."

"Alright, I can take you to him," Daniel said as Merrick bent over, and
pulled up the smooth undershorts, "But we need to make it fast." All of
them left the tank room in a hurry.


~~~


Adam sighed as he curled up on the cot. He can barely sleep anymore... Just
thinking about what they've done to Merrick.

Why hasn't anyone stand up for him yet? Sure, that woman stopped that crazy
doctor from blowing his mind up with electricity, and she said that they'll
be out of here in a week... But why would anyone even think about allowing
such madness? How could ANYONE condone this? Is Nigel really this
desperate? Anyone in their right mind could figure out what Nigel is trying
to do is impossible to achieve in the few years he has left.

He jolted as he heard the lock of his door click. He sat up while the door
opened, and gasped as Merrick came rushing in. "Merrick!" Just when he
stood up, he gruffed as he felt Merrick embrace him tightly. Adam started
to sob as he held onto his lover, just hearing Merrick's soft cries.

"Are you ok?!" Merrick asked through his tears, "I saw them... They put
lightning into your body, are you ok!"

"I'm fine, Merrick, I'm fine." Adam croaked as he held tighter.

"Ye FECKIN igiot!" Came a loud, raspy voice, followed by a swipe at Adam's
head.

"Ow! Hey!" He staggered, and saw his grandmother, wearing black clothes,
and holding a ski mask in her hand, "Gramma?! What are you-"

"When were you going to tell me about HIM, eh?!" She said as her old eyes
watered, "And when were ya plannin to tell me you were arrested, eh??" She
sobbed a little, "I haven't seen ye for years, and you git yourself in
trouble??"

"Gramma, I didn't, I just, it's complicated," Adam stammered before he
hugged her.

"When we git home, I'm gonna feckin kill ye, making me so worried."

"We're leaving???" Adam asked, still unable to believe is grandma is here,
just out of the blue. He looked over, and saw one of the security guards, a
scientist, and three other burglars. The figures in black pulled up their
ski masks, and revealed themselves as Jamal, Yuri, and Belinda, "Jamal!
Yuri?!" He smiled excitedly, "How did you find us?!"

"No time," Daniel said, "You guys need to go now!" Adam looked at the guard
in disbelief.

"Wait, you're actually getting us out?"

"Yes, now we need to MOVE." He said.

As they left, Grandma took out an old black cat cutout, and put it on the
cot. Back when she was a teenager to young adult, she used to break into
all sorts of places -- shops, houses, and the like, and steal various
items, leaving behind a black cat calling card. She'd return the items the
next day on the doorstep, but it was just the thrill of breaking into
houses without ever being caught that she loved. This rescue mission is
just like old times.


~~~


While Jacob had left to tend to a few loose ends, Daniel quickly escorted
Adam holding Merrick's hand, Jamal, Yuri, Belinda, and Grandma to the exit
where they came from. Daniel had reported a fake breach on the other side
of the building, so no one would disturb them -- which went easier than
expected, as Sarah didn't question the situation at all.

`Almost there...' Merrick thought as sparkling tears seeped from his eyes,
`This spiraling nightmare... Is almost over...'

"Wait!" Everyone halted as Erin had suddenly ran from the hall with them,
blocking the door, "You can't go yet..." She said.

"Erin..." Merrick shook his head as a mixture of anger and sorrow filled
his chest. He let go of Adam's hand, and walked to her, his fists
clenching.

"I'm sorry to do this, but I-"

"NO!" Merrick said, "I don't know when you started deceiving me... Or if I
can ever forgive any human in this dwelling," He told her, his eyes
narrowing, "But if you have any sense of honesty and mercy in your
heart..." Merrick's throat began to growl again, "Step aside."

"M-Merrick," Adam came up to him, sensing that he's about to do something
VERY dangerous.

"If you would let me finish," Erin said, holding up a small box, "I'm sorry
to do this, but I can't let you go yet... Without these..." She held the
box up to Adam.

"Huh?" He accepted the box, and opened it. He blinked as he saw the
contents of the box: The shirt, shorts, socks, and shoes he was wearing
when the agents brought him here, along with his belt, wallet, and
cellphone.

"And this..." Erin said as she took Merrick's hand, and put back his silver
bracelet -- the only thing he had when he was abducted, the little trinket
Adam bought him on their very first date to the pier. Merrick looked up at
her, "I don't blame you if you never forgive me, or anyone here. Everything
I did, I did because you don't deserve to be here, or what they put you
through. If I had my way, I would have let you go home on Day One. And just
know that Nigel is going to answer for everything he's done, and I will
NEVER let him do this ever again."

Merrick sniffled as he moved in, and hugged her. "I won't forget..." He
cried as he stepped back, "I won't forget what you've done for me..."
Whatever humans do, or bow to, whatever they're forced to do, Merrick at
least now as a feeling that Erin wasn't completely dishonest.

Daniel opened the door, finding it already unlocked, and let everyone out.


~~~


Merrick cried freely as the group ran through the half deserted parking
lot, holding Adam's hand tightly. Adam too felt emotional as they quickly
made their way in the night. He could barely stand, let alone run, just
from feeling the air rushing around him for the first time in weeks! The
night sky as NEVER looked more beautiful! The moon is as bright and
luminous as ever.

After so long of undergoing possible search entries, pinpointing the mail
locations of the video messages, Yuri's worry now can come to an end --
Adam is one of her very best friends -- they've been together ever since
their teen years. She and him have always , and Merrick is like her sassy
gay friends that always could carry a conversation -- that merman has more
in common with her than she ever could have thought.

Despite the escapades that he had to try and ease the uncertainty and fear,
and with him and Nick breaking up, Jamal has never felt more alone... Not
since his childhood in Los Angeles. His type just lashes out to hide his
pain. Merrick was always good to hang and talk openly about personal stuff
-- naked chatting was always a great few hours. And Adam is more than a
signer to vouch for him because of his probation -- he's has always been
more of a family to him than his own kin ever was.

Though they never quite saw eye-to-eye, Belinda and Merrick can respect
each other. Belinda is the only way Merrick is able to make small trips
past the shore, as she is able to repel the Capricorn, and he has more than
once helped her. The pier was never the same either, without Adam around.

After an entire moon... Adam and Merrick are going home...


~~~


Erin and Daniel walk down the hall after the exit had been closed.

"So," Erin said, "What are you going to do once this place closes?"

"Same old same old," He replied, "Probably gonna be a guard else where --
heck, I might sign up for the police."

"Me... I'm still not sure." Erin looked around, "This place is likely going
to be demolished. I'd hate to see it go to waste..."

"There's enough resources here to do anything, isn't there?" Daniel said,
"Why not use it as a warehouse or something?"

"It's not that simple-"


WEEEOOOEEEEOOOEEEEOOOEEEEOOO


"HOLY SHIT!" Daniel jumped as red lights flashed everywhere.

"What the heck?!" Erin shouted as she turned it around.

"Who turned on the alarm?!" Daniel said.

"I don't know!" Erin yelled, "They must've triggered a line outside!"