This is my first story - be kind :) english isn't my mother tongue so please excuse mistakes. Hope you enjoy my story
"Hey guys, need help?"
Startled the two sailors looked at the redhaird head that just popped out of the water in front of their boat.
"Buffer, is this...is this a mermaid?" the younger one asked. His voice sounded weak and hoarse. Slowly the other one shifted his body to the left, trying to get a better look at the girl that was swimming next to their small tender. Both seamen looked pretty shaken in their wet clothes with wet hair, sunburned skin and chapped lips. Eyes red from seawater contact looked at her with confusion.
"I'm not sure, mate, … are we dead? 'Cause then that must be an angel."
"Who are you two and how long are you out here, anyway?" The young woman didn't wait for an answer, clearly the men weren't able to think strait ahead any more. "I'm back in a minute," she said and soundlessly she disappeared in the waves.
Shortly after, she was back with a small bottle and howled herself over the starboard railing. Both men looked at her with astonishment. The woman had a small slender but feminine figure, red hair and was wearing a short wet suit. "Everything at the right place," Buffer thought to himself, "but no fishtail, so no mermaid," he concluded. The Redhead kneeled down and helped first the older one then the younger with the bottle. "Easy boys, not too much at a time. You look pretty dehydrated. You're navy, aren't you? I managed to contact a vessel in near proximity, it will be here in about twenty minutes. Robert seemed to be really glad to hear from you, you know."
"Which ship did you talk to? How did you know..." The sentence trailed of as Spider tried to concentrate on the horizon. You could already imagine a small figure coming closer. It was the HMAS Hammersley on their way to help them. Finally, they were getting rescued.
The unknown woman helped Buffer sit up and then turned 'round at Spider again.
"I didn't introduce myself, I'm sorry. My name is Sara River. I'm a marine biologist and actually studying the flora and fauna of the reefs 'round here. And no, I'm not a mermaid," she smiled at the young sailor. "My research station lies in a depth of about 4m. That's no hard dive so I came up here without gear. You know, I already noticed your tender yesterday, but at first, I thought you were fishermen. I got curious when you didn't made an attempt to flee the storm last night and then Robert asked me to keep an eye open for two missing sailors this morning and that's why I came up to have a look. Luckily it seems. What are you doing out here with such a small tender? Without any radio or supplies? That's pretty stupid, you should know, you're navy after all."
Buffer cleared his throat, you could imagine the slightly red cheeks under the sunburned skin.
"Long story short, a plan didn't work out as is should. We were due to bring the FFV LOTUS to Cairns, but it wasn't seaworthy after all. That we discovered too late obviously." He coughed again and groaned. "My head is killing me."
"You have a sunstroke, I guess."Sara, who had looked after Spiders scratches while the older sailor was talking, looked up. "These are not deep but you should clean them thoroughly nonetheless. You could easily get an infection with these kind of scratches and sea water."
Spider shuddered. "I know, believe me. That won't happen again."
"Oh, well then. Let's have a look at you", she said to Buffer, who tried to stand up and wave at the closing in Hammersley. "You shouldn't stand up. Nor try to do that on your own. No wonder your head hurts. Take it easy, I help you."
She steadied the seaman and together they watched the warships approach. The tender started to roll as the waves of the ship's propeller reached them.
"Hey there, everything alright?" A clear woman's voice sounded over the water.
"I've got two sailors down here who are in need of medical treatment. I guess these are the two you are missing?" Sara answered with a question on her own.
"Yes, thank you, Miss River. Are they able to climb aboard or should we sent the RHIB?"
Buffer pushed Sara's hand away, that still steadied him and squared his shoulders. "We climb, X," he replied himself before Sara could speak a word. The seaman helped Spider up and together they stood weak-kneed as the rope ladder was lowered.
"Made friends already? Only you two could get lost in a storm and be found with a beautiful girl at your side!" A grinning blonde seaman gave Spider a hand, helping the exhausted young man aboard the Hammersley. "You gave us quite a scare, you know. Good to see you two well and around." a female voice sounded from above. Buffer looked up to the railing, from where the last sentences came. "Thank you X. We're glad to be back too." He turned around to the girl, who had climbed aboard after Spider. "X, this is Sara River, she's a..." "...marine biologist, we know", a tall sailor interrupted him. "We already talked, welcome on the Hammersley, Miss River. I'm Mike Flynn, the CO of the Hammersley." "Thank you, Sir. By the way, permission to come aboard?" she asked with a stunning smile. "That's what you guys ask, is it not? I want to do this the right way, after all this is my first navy ship." "Permission granted", the CO smiled back at her then turned around. "Swain, take a look at them, just to make sure everything is alright." he said to another sailor who was standing at the deck next to him. "Sure, come on guys, lets get you two checked and under a shower" Swain said implying to screw up his nose. "You both need one I'd say." "You're the physician aboard?" Sara asked. "They're both dehydrated, possible sunstroke, sunburns and some scratches that need cleaning, but nothing too serious as far as I can tell. Oh and some bruised rips, so probably light duty for him" she said while pointing a finger at Spider.
She looked at the surprised faces around her. "You have to learn some stuff when you're at a research station and on your own for some weeks. I guess you can call me the stations paramedic or at least kind of." "Well then we're kind of colleges" Swain replied, smiling at her. "I'm not a physician but the first medical officer aboard. I heard you were alone down there, so your job must be boring some times?" "You know, usually we are two or three down there. But it's holiday season, so we're taking terms to keep the reef under constant surveillance. Next month, my college is coming and taking over and I'm off for two nice months without work. Looking forward to it, I have to say."
The seamen nodded sympathetically. If someone knew what it meant to be away from home for a long time, it was them.
"How are they?" The X sticked her head around the door of the wardroom. Swain looked up: "X, they're fine. As Sara already said, a few bruises and scratches, nothing serious. And light duty for Spider, he has in fact some bruised ribs." "Well then go take a shower and get yourself something to eat and a good nights sleep. We can talk tomorrow. CO and I want to know what went wrong." Spider and Buffer looked at each other, then Spider said: "This is going to be unpleasant."
Buffer just nodded in agreement.
"And this is the wardroom" a young female voice sounded in the passage outside. Sarah peeked over the shoulder of a brownhaired small sailor. "I see." She looked around curiously. "So this is your domain", she asked Swain. "Cool, wish we had something like that down there. You got a pretty nice ship." she said turning to the X. "Thank you. We hadn't been introduced, I think. I'm Lieutenant Kate McGregor, the XO. Did Bomber already show you everything?" "We were on our way up to the bridge, X." the young sailor answered instead of Sara. "Well then I will accompany you two. Bomber, lead the way please." The three women left the wardroom. Spider turned round to Buffer. "You're really sure she isn't a mermaid?" But Buffers answer was interrupted. "Guys, go take a shower and leave my domain", Swain emphasised the last two word,"I still do have other things to do then listening to your daydreaming." He laughed. "I tell Bomber to bring you something to eat."
"Welcome to the bridge, Miss River." The CO was standing in front of the command chair. "This is Leading Seaman Leo Kosov-Meyer" he pointed at the blonde sailor at the seat in front of the EOD, she recognised him as the one that helped her on board earlier "and these are Officer Andy Thorpe and Leading Seaman Robert Dixon, our RO. I understand you two already knew each other?" "Oh really, RO why didn't you tell anybody you have such a stunning friend?" The young blonde sailor stood up and hold out his hand. "You can call me 2Dads." Sara shook hands with everyone and then turned 'round to the RO again. "Nice to meet you finally in person" she said. "I couldn't quite imagine a face to the voice up 'till now. Thanks for the warnings, our equipment wouldn't be intact if it wasn't for you." Sara faced the others. The X and the CO seemed to know what she meant, the others had confused looks on their faces. "Was this a secret? I hope not, I'm sorry if I'd spoiled something." "No, it's ok" Mike Flynn answered. "RO was informing Sara and her colleges of the last two naval exercises in the region so they could get their equipment out of the water." he explained. "We do have some pretty sensitive hydrophones down there and with your ships testing sonar equipment..." The sentence trailed of. Sara looked astonished. "Sorry but this is stunning, I should have done this much earlier. Coming on the bridge of such a big ship I mean." The scientist was looking out of the front window where the sun sets and the ocean was shimmering like liquid mercury in front of a bright orange and red sky. The upper part of it was already coloured in a darker blue. The Seamen smiled. They didn't notice the beauty most of the time, but they all could remember their first sunset on the bridge. It was impressing. "It's getting dark really fast out here, you shouldn't dive anymore. What do you think about testing our ships cook? You could stay on the ship overnight and go back to your research station tomorrow morning." "Thanks a lot, Sir. I didn't brought a torch with me and company while having dinner, you definitely got me with this. I already started talking to the sea turtles down there. Last time I didn't eat alone was... I don't even remember. And what ever your cook is making for dinner, I'm sure it's better then the tinned food I had for the last four weeks. Supplies are coming only ones a month and there's not much fresh food because we don't have any storage room left."
"You're welcome. RO, could you inform Bomber that we have a guest for tonight? And Lieutenant McGregor can show you where you can change." Sara looked down at herself, she was still wearing the short wet suit, the upper part lowered so you could see the bikini top under it. Standing there with bare feet and the towel around her shoulders, Seaman Kosov-Meyer, 2Dads she corrected herself, had given her earlier when she came aboard the ship, she felt suddenly pretty awkward. Being alone for her one for most of the last two month, she made a habit of staying in her Bikini all day, just drying herself just enough to not making everything wet because she hated to change every hour to look after a malfunctioning hydrophone outside the station. She blushed. "Thanks again. I guess I stayed alone for too long. Turtles don't keep an eye on style, you know." "Come with me, let's see if we can find you something dry and more comfortable." Kate turned to leave the bridge. And definitely something that covers more, she added silently after noticing the looks the male sailors sent after the biologist.
Five o'clock the next morning, Sara stood at the ship's stern and let her gaze wander over the waves. It was dawning but a few last stars could still be seen on the lightening sky. When she massaged her temple she looked pale and tired. Hearing a scratching sound behind her she swung around hands up in defence. The coxswain stood in the door, holding his hands up with a soothing gesture.
"I'm sorry, don't get a fright, it's only me, Swain. I saw you from the bridge. You're up early. Couldn't sleep anymore?" "I tend to stand up early" the young woman replied then paused. "Well no, to be honest, it's the ship. It was heeling the hole night, it still is. It makes me feel dizzy and sick. I thought fresh air would help but it hadn't quite the effect I hoped for. You should think a marine biologist would have sea legs, no? I feel sick and I'm really angry with myself. I'm out on the ocean for over two month now and not for the first time at all. Why do I get sea sick? That's embarrassing!" Swain smiled sympathetically. "Come with me, I can give you something that stops the dizziness and should make you feel better in no time. I won't tell anybody I promise. And you know, technically your not on the ocean, your on the bottom of it. Your research station doesn't heel, right? So your body didn't get a chance to get used to it." They reached the wardroom without anyone taking notice and Swain opened a small cupboard, handing over some pills to Sara. "Take these with some water and you should feel better. Don't mention it" he said when Sara started a reply "we're kind of colleges after all, so we should stick together, shouldn't we?" She smiled. "I guess we should."
"So tell me, who did you two end up in a small tender without any equipment? We left you on a FFV that seemed to be seaworthy, no problems with the motor or the bilge-pump. There where no fishermen on the ship, all you had to do was bring it back to Cairns. Buffer, you checked the ship with Charge yourself. I hope you have a good explanation." Mike Flynn was looking at the two sailors in front of him, trying to show his best I'm-really-angry-with-you-look. In fact, he was glad to see them both well and alive, he had reproached himself for not checking weather conditions before allowing them to bring the FFV to Cairns. Had he known of the approaching storm, he hadn't allowed anyone of his crew to be on board of this old ship. Spider looked like a child who was told there would be no Christmas this year. He felt obviously uncomfortable with the situation. Buffer answered at last: "Yes Sir, Charge and I checked the LOTUS, seemed ok. I thought young Spider and I could have a nice trip to Cairns, no problems visible." "Visible? Did you actually check the bilge-pump? Or just look at it?" This was the X joining the conversation. Buffer looked at Spider then Charge. "It was my fault, X. I thought we wouldn't need it, weather looked fine, ship looked fine. I told Charge I checked it." "But you didn't?" "No, X, I didn't. I know this is inexcusable."
"Yes it is. What did you think. You nearly get yourself and Spider killed. One should think an experienced sailor as you are would be paying close attention to such things. Of all personal aboard the Hammersley, I thought you would be the last one..." The sentence trailed of. Angrily the CO banged his fist on the table. Everyone flinched. "What was it, Buffer?" "It was me, Sir." Spider squared his shoulders but was unable to look in the eyes of his superior officer. "I'm sorry, Sir. I guess I was just excited to get the opportunity to be on this mission with Buffer and I talked a lot and I kind of diverted him. He wanted to check the bilge-pump but I wanted to go off fast so I... it was stupid." "Yes it was! From both of you. This will be in your record and I want an official report from both of you. And now go before I find something else."
Buffer and Spider left the room as fast as they could without running. Kate turned round to Mike. "When did you last check the bilge-pump of a FFV?" "I would do if I had to stay on it for a longer time." Mike answered. He sighed. "I'm sure this won't happen again any time soon. You know, I should have checked weather conditions. I'm as much responsible then they are." He rubed his eyes and sighed again. Kate wondered if she should pat his shoulder for support but didn't dare because the door was standing open and anyone on the passage outside could see them. "Something else. What about our guest? NAVCOM asked me to thank her for helping us with this oficially before she leaves." "I saw her with Swain this morning, it seemed they had some chat among colleges. And Bird said she would show her where to get breakfast so she could be in the juniors mess."
"Now tell us, how did you end up in this tender, mate?" 2Dads was pacing the mess impatiently. "How did you met her?" He pointed with his head in the direction of Sara, who was standing outside in the passage talking with Bomber over the counter of the galley and smiled innocently when the biologist turned around with a plate of fresh fruits and one of Bombers famous muffins.
"May I sit down with you two?" Both sailors made room and adjusted a chair for her. Sara smiled and sat down at the bench. She smelled at the muffin and sighed. "Rebecca you sure you don't like to come with me? I'm going to miss this. I like your ship, really. Well everything except the heeling and rolling thing. But for this" - she looked at the muffin and the fresh fruits - "I could get used to it." She looked at Spider. "I overheard you where going to tell the story about how you ended up in the tender? I'm curious."
Spider looked embarrassed. "It's not something you want to talk about, really." "Oh please, tell us." Able Seaman Rebecca Brown, called Bomber, joined the three.
"Ok, I tell you but just because I think Sara has the right to know. Not you two" he pointed at his crewmates. "It all started like any other transferral. The night came and with it the storm. It hit us really hard and there was a lightning-strike that short-circuited the radio and then the bilge-pump started to splutter and stopped and we had water ingress. We tried to stop it but it was too much. The ship started to sink. I tried to launch the tender but a wave washed me overboard. I hit the ships hull thats where I got my ribs bruised. Buffer throwed the lifebelt to me managed to get me back on board. We launched the tender together and then had the worst night ever. Belive me I don't want to make this experience ever again in my whole life. We waited the whole next day for the Hammersley, our radio was left on the LOTUS when it went down. I left it at the bridge when the water came in and we tried to get the bilge-pump working. And then there was the mermaid... I'm sorry, Miss River..." Spider blushed and stammered. "I mean... you...you know..." "It's ok, Spider, I'm kind of flattered. No-one ever called me mermaid. Kind of matching, isn't it? I' mean, I did live under water for most of the last two month. And mermaids are cute and beautiful so I take this as a compliment." She looked up when someone was clearing his throat outside the mess. "Commander Flynn, good morning. Thank you for letting me stay overnight. Are we still in range of the station? I got the feeling we drifted the whole night." "No, everything is as it was yesterday, we are right on top of your home."
to be continued