#606 words

Obviously, it was related to Frederik – whom she still owed due to the breeding program – and to Levil, who clearly provided at least some of the genetic material.

But now, she looked at him… ‘in the name of peace’.

It seemed important to him.

Unlike any other supernatural being, he had an attachment to his body.

Mmmh.

The man in front of her…. fretted.

It was really the only explanation.

Explanations started and stopped. About how he needs to know everything. And doesn’t. About how he doesn’t want to ruin people’s lives.

How they should have talked it over with him – for someone so full off demonic politics that was almost laughable – and how he doesn’t really want to interfere.

But his DNA was HIS and his responsibility.

It shouldn’t even be possible!

The body – and DNA he was given belonged to HER and it shouldn’t be his problem. Just his own and no one else’s. And-

“Alright, Metatron. You are upset. I can give you all information you need to find your clones. And I can destroy any and all material that might be at Frederik’s disposal. Is that… acceptable?”

The man stared at her.

Still in her kitchen. Still not much further from the morning paper.

And he nodded. Curtly. Once.

“As long as it is out of his hands,” he said.

And she nodded. Apparently, his impression had not been a favourable one.

“Genetic material is easiest; he does not usually work with human. It’s easy to distinguish and easily destroyed. Developed cells are inside their eggs. But one is… living, actually. Not in the sense I would think critical, but she was born with your DNA. With interesting side effects, surely, but no conclusive data”

He stared some more.

It really was a strange fellow, this one. First going and trying to hire her as a hitman… and that in the morning… visiting her without weapons if you think she HAS that capacity. It was strange.

Also that he thought she WAS doing to help him.

… not that she WOULDN’T, but…

The assumption alone….

It was the strangest morning indeed…

“So… you can destroy the genetic material?”

She took a tiny sip of coffee: “Yes”

“And you can hand me over the eggs?”

She nodded sagely: “Yes”

“… AND I can meet the… uh… female… clone of myself?”

“Yes”

More staring. A blink. Then: “This… went better than… expected?”

“We are rather organised, thank you very much.” She raised her brow. It was a tiny slight after all.

More staring. Odd, really.

“… is there something else?”

He frowned, then: “… I think… it’s not a bad idea… to… talk to them. Meet them. The… female one?“

“Further in Frederik’s hand, yet still entirely possible. This week? Any favourable time for that?” – she still has not yet received any reassurances, but alright.

“…Wednesday?”

She nodded: “Alright. I think that would be all?”

He stared some more.

“I think so, at the very least. It might be the best idea to go home now, yes? Lay down for a while? It’s a bit of stress, I’m sure”

It was as polite a throw-out she could do.

He seemed to understand. At least with his searching eyes.

Very confused.

He hopefully had someone to go to.

It was not her.

I checked the route and... yeah, we had reached the destined area. This was the place where all the ships had sunk since... well, since forever. And now... I needed to investigate. That was the objective of this little voyage.

Possibly even make sure it didn't happen again.

And for that... it was important to wait for the signs... and keep on the look-out.

Because there had always been signs, before the ship had been sunk. And this time... this time there was more opportunity to check.

The reports had told of unusually hard sailing for a while, despite the weather being... windy, but not catastrophic. And then... well... the ship gets lopsided and then... sinks.

Thankfully, not all are actually killed by it anymore, there is air support by now.

And I... have another advantage: Cameras!

All over the bottom of the ship. Plus nets.

Usually, no one would take it serious, but: I had funding and I merely spoke of an investigation and so... I was allowed to go on a mission... to find a mermaid.

The island had enough legends about them... and sightings, too!

The legends definitely involved the more vicious of mermaids: Drowning people, sinking ships, the works.  

And I... I was interested.

So this boat would swim about in the waters that the islanders avoid.

And I looked at my laptop monitors since two days, puttering about and changing shifts with my colleague... who didn't exactly believe me, but humoured me... for a fee, of course.

In the end, I was sleeping when there finally were some more alarming signs... and Alice shook me awake with the words: “You were right! Come and DO something!”

I picked my glasses off the nightstand and stumbled towards the laptops.

The sight was one to behold. Slightly different from the usual depiction of mermaids... sharper edges and stronger muscles. I was impressed.

But now... I looked... and saw that yes, they did actually make contact with the ship and that meant...

I smiled. And pressed a button.

An hour later, we had one more passenger on the boat. In a special room. Thankfully, some shipwrights were familiar with pumping systems that kept the seawater in an aquarium fresh... better for the specimen zoologists caught. So this is what was installed. Just that it was open at the top. And the 'aquarium' was behind bars. Strong bars. Secured with electric current.

There were life monitoring systems attached to the foreigner. They... seemed fine, if a little cold. And sure enough... she woke up after three hours.

It didn't take them long to orient themselves.

They weren't happy.

This tail was strong and the bulletproof glass... well... I was not sure if it would actually hold long. But there was hope. And we knew that electricity worked.

I waved at them. They knocked against the walls, maybe experimentally.

They... were not happy. Anger made the sharp teeth a liiiittle bit more apparent.

The noise the tank made didn't exactly inspire trust.

But they got out of the water, leaning an arm on the top: “Think before you speak,” they hissed, “the last person who didn’t lost more than his tongue.”

I... put the notepad behind my back and rocked back and forth on my toes, taking the advice into consideration, listening to the light growl before I said: “Hello... my name is Roshan... and I would like to ask you to stop sinking ships”

I thought it was a reasonable request...?