"And Miss Shore! this is a pleasant surprise."

And just like that Atlanta regretted coming along on this oil field mission. Mr Preston wasn't to look at, a pig. With his friendly face and nearing middle age, he could have been just a guy or someone's dad. Only his way with words gave her the big clue and made her feel uncomfortable from the off. Much as she tried not to judge people before meeting them.

Atlanta had unfortunately met more than her share of fellas like this. It might be the twenty sixties; yet somehow, they still existed unfortunately. As if they'd just rolled out the nineteen sixties. Or earlier. The WASPs had come a long way in equality from the get go; whereas the other World Patrols and services had dragged their heels. But there was always, always a dinosaur somewhere around.

"Ladies stay off the boats."
"Not bad... For a girl."
"A female captain?"
"Women shouldn't be in the control tower."

And the rest like it. Atlanta had heard it all before.

Then there was the sort who started acting like Neanderthals forgetting all respect around any of another gender walking by. The sort of fella where you can almost see their brain dropped into their trousers.

Rigs and contractors, she supposed, were no different at sea then on land. Unfortunately, she'd met many many men like that. Trouble was you never knew men 'like that' until they opened their mouths and said something stupid. You couldn't identify who was going to be weird or creepy with lights codes or engine sounds. Much like Preston, those sorts of men simply looked like everyone else.

Tagging along on the mission seemed a good idea when she'd boarded Stingray. Not so much now she'd disembarked.
"Lieutenant Shore." Atlanta corrected sweetly. And extremely acidly. She was the same rank as Phones for goodness sake, albeit in different departments.

"Nice to meet you." She lied. Unlike Preston, however, it was no longer a pleasure. She felt her heart sink into the pit of 'Disappointed to be working this shift' kind of place. What a waste of radio training and years' experience! If Preston was so quick to dispense with her rank it wouldn't be much of a leap to assume he might dismiss her actual skills too. Especially given she was here only as a surface base. Nothing dazzling or out of routine.

Pres grinned back and tipped his cap to her. and that might have been the end of it. but then there was a whistle. The crew turned, Atlanta Squinted against the sunshine. Up on the rig on a platform way above them could just see the drill itself and a couple of barely visible figures silhouetted against the sky. There was a Jack on the team, she knew having skim read the files. Clearly thought himself a 'Jack the lad'.
"Hey there miss!" one yelled. He'd taken off his hard hat and was waving to her with it.
"You coming to work with us? We'll look after you!" called the other bloke.

"Hey now." Phones chuckled, but he frowned up as well, bemused. But thankfully he didn't seem much amused.
"Yeah. That ain't very polite. " Troy agreed. Then turned to Pres. "They greet all your guests like that?"

"Just a couple of jokers, Captain, Miss Shore. nothing to worry about."
"Oh It's fine." Atlanta smiled with gritted teeth. Rigs and contractors, She thought again.

"That's their way of saying hello." Pres continued, turning back to Troy."You're a lucky guy Captain."
"Yeah, I know." Troy replied and flashed her a brief smile. Unfortunately flattering as it was to hear some acknowledgement from Troy, it rubbed her up the wrong way. She didn't dignify whatever Pres was getting at with a response. Not that it mattered with him talking about her as if she wasn't in front of him. If Preston had been an aquanaut and Atlanta said she wasn't Troy would have called him out better than that, she was sure of it heck if he'd been a rank lower then her she'd have been able to do it herself. But Mr Preston wasn't a WASP, so there was little to be done, she supposed. They were working for him after all.

"So that's our little crew huh?" Preston smiled.
"Well, not quite," phones said, as the fourth member of the team chambered up the out stingrays Hatch. "meet Marina."
Atlanta hadn't realised Marina had hung so far back. Either she was being cautious around strangers, Atlanta thought. Or, sourly, she was wanting to make an entrance. she certainly had a knack for that. And then Atlanta felt bad and berated herself. Because of course it was a caution on Marina's part! Everything was still new to her. Marina wasn't shy but she sure was skittish at times. She still flinched every time a plane flew over the tower or launch stations sounded.

Besides, even if Marina hadn't meant to make an entrance, she did. Preston turned just as Marina straightened up.

"Wow!"

Wow Seemed to be the first thing that was said every time Marina entered a room or met someone new. Not always for the better.

"Heh, this is a REAL pleasure " Preston said.

As Atlanta thought it might The whistle came again from above. What she hadn't predicted was that it'd be Followed by A wolf whistle. Along with a couple of catcalls.
"Hey baby!"
"You got a boyfriend miss? Would you like one?"
"You coming up to meet us too? not just the boss, Right?"
"We've got a better view up here!"

This time Phones' "Hey now!" was louder. And he gave them the universal gesture of "What the hell man, shut up!" to the two lads.
"That ain't very polite at all!" Troy scowled. "Mr Preston-? This isn't professional towards my crew."

"Huh oh yeah well Boys will be boys." Pres reasoned not taking his eyes off. Marina, perhaps picking up on the tension and tone, did not come any closer. Instead she looked to the other crew mates.
"Boys will be held accountable for their actions." Troy snapped.
"And Boys wouldn't be holding positions of adults." Atlanta agreed. the grossness of the whole thing was really irking her And she muttered. "Anyone would think they were lonely sailors who hadn't seen their wives for months!"

Perhaps because of her tone, Troy gave her a funny look. before turning back to Preston.
"Tell them to cut that out, would you?"
"Yeah yeah. Sorry captain. Hey cool it lads!" he said finally looking away from Marienville's own 'Girl from the Sea'.

And alright, Atlanta did admit she was a little jealous of Marina…

Maybe more than a little.

Okay fine! Atlanta was a lot jealous.

Atlanta couldn't help it. She was hoping at least to be one day (preferably sooner than later) less like petty rivals and more like friends. Especially after that nasty business with the plant! Atlanta had wanted to make amends but other than a piano lesson she barely got to see Marina. Or at least friendly colleagues. They'd be working with each other for the foreseeable future after all. Her in the tower. Marina on stingray.

But that was the issue wasn't it. Marina would be on Stingray. A real member of the 'little crew'. Not a temporary one like she'd been teasing yesterday in saying Marina got all the fun, that wasn't just what Atlanta was missing. Despite not being an aqua naught, Marina got to see action and wonderful things. Getting Troy's attention being one of them. Atlanta was sick of vying for it, even though that was Marina's fault. And In her short time being His pocket mermaid she had racked up more sea time and on-board stingray then most, Fisher included. Poor guy had kept pestering the Commander just to get time in the training model.

Plus, Marina was pretty. real pretty. Beautiful even, strange as she is. With her green hair, slightly odd doll-like features and mysterious demeanour. But she didn't deserve this gawking and literal howling. She was still human- well no Atlanta corrected. There was something very inhuman about her. alien even. but Marina was still a person.

a person who seemed Oblivious to the effect she had on people. It was hard to tell though, given she never spoke or gave much away.

"Hi there, Marina! Nice to meet you!" Preston called.
Only he pronounced it as one might awooga. Atlanta rolled her eyes.

Marina waved back in a stuttered jerky motion. Then Glanced at Atlanta. And made Another smoother smaller wave low with her other hand. Atlanta frowned, but had no idea what that meant.

"Is she shy or something?" Preston asked. Troy shrugged.
"Marina comes from the sea, Pres. She can't talk." He said dismissively. But it was what happened next that made Atlanta fume. Because Preston then said something very stupid.

"A silent woman, huh? That's even better-!"
"That's enough!"

Now Phones and Troy could be gossipy at times. And then be hypocritical in calling her one. Both guilty of making the odd complaints of women before. Even the odd joke at Atlanta expense for chatting too much. Her father too. Atlanta might not like it not all the time or if it went too far, but she knew them to be jokes at least.

But for Preston to say that? to Marina. It crossed a line.

"Knock it off!" Atlanta added, openly glared at him, appalled. Phones and Troy gaped at her, shocked by her outburst. Marina too.

"I meant nothing by it-?" Preston frowned, hands up on the defensive, like she was the crazy one. But even both the male Aquanauts cringed at that.

"No. You leave Marina alone." She told him. And then Calling up the two men on the rig. "And you can stop with the whistles too!"

"Ooo-oooh!" and "What a hot head!" they jeered. But didn't say anything else to her. Or Marina at least.

"It was just a joke. No harm meant. And those two, Boys will be boys even if they're thirty huh?" Pres smiled nervously. Then gulped realised no one was laughing at his little 'joke'. "But er- sorry miss?"

Which 'miss' he was lamely apologising too, Atlanta neither knew or cared. Marina thankfully didn't seem to have understood what was occurring. So Atlanta thought best to leave it at that, folding her arms.
"You heard the lady. shall we get started?" Troy said, abrupt cutting introductions. Phones was giving the guy his best disapproving 'what the Heck man' look. And Atlanta heard the swish of skirts as Marina moved past behind her to Troy's otherside, Putting herself between phones and the captain.

"Guess we all got off on the wrong foot there." Preston tried, with a smile; showing them the way to the crew room. "Hey Jack, get down here!"

The four left Stingray's bows with Phones putting himself squarely between the girls and Preston. Atlanta followed Troy. And Seethed. Why had it been up to her to call out Pres and the pack out? Honestly it wasn't the twentieth century or the nineteen sixties to late noughties anymore.

But Atlanta smoothed down her uniform, gathered her equipment and put her anger aside, pushing it all down. Although it rose up again when Mr Preston dug himself a deeper hole later. Preparations for the third drilling attempt went ahead. Troy was looking over the charts in the corner, Marina at his side. and Atlanta got on with her work Unpacking her portable radios and scanners in the Pigsty of an office come quarters come kitchenette. (it hadn't been operational long enough for this mess to accumulate, surely!)

Pres was standing at the sink while Phones was fixing himself a coffee when Jack, another normal looking guy sidalsed over to him. (the other nameless guy had stayed on the platform.)
"Give me two of weird green fish people anyway." Atlanta thought, sitting down at the desk to make some adjustments and looking over the two of them. Not that she'd actually met any underwater people aside from Marina before. But Troy's descriptions of the Aquaphibeans left little out.

Pres glanced over at her as she looked away. But she caught the way he nudged Phones.
"Sheesh, guess we know who wears the trousers." Preston muttered. It wasn't a big room; it wasn't very subtle, or as quiet as he thought he was being. "She got her Daddy's temper, huh? "
"Is Her ladyship jealous of the green gal or something?" Jack smirked, clapping Phones good naturedly on the back.

Her ladyship? Well At least he hadn't called her a bitch or something as nasty. Atlanta was Refusing to rise to that. But glanced back, making sure he knew she'd heard. Thankfully she didn't have too.
"No. I think Lieutenant Shore's right, buddy." Phones said stepping out from the hand, emphasising her rank. Atlanta could hear how angry he was even if these guys didn't. His drawl was slow and that southern accent was very pronounced, like a flick knife in a pocket. "Mr Preston, You two and your rig mates took that too far back there. I say we all focus On the job at hand. "

"Lieutenant Shore?" he called, even though the table wasn't all that far away. It got Troy's attention too. "Is it possible to keep the radio on throughout? If anything happens during this time, we can evacuate right away."
"and keep the tape running Please. If something happens up here you might pick up. We can listen back if need be." Troy agreed. Marina nodded too.
"P w o r. " Atlanta confirmed, knowing that the facade was complete nonsense and unnecessary. The point of her acting as base was to control the radio and The tape would have been running regardless. But knowing it was might keep Pres quiet. Jack finished his coffee and headed back out with barely a nod.

"Thank you Phones. That was really sweet of you." She whispered. Phones touched the peak of his cap but made no further mention of it.
"We can cancel having a Base if you want to stay on Stingray." Troy asked. " or one of us can stay up here?"
"Don't tempt me." Atlanta scoffed. "No, I came all this way, Troy. I can handle it."

"Well if you're sure." Troy shrugged. And turned to their forman. "Shall we get out there?"
"Surethingletsgo." Preston said suddenly in a rush to get out the office.

The Stingray crew headed out. while Troy ran over some last minute checks with Preston; Phones stood on Stingray's bow making adjustments to his head set to limit the echoes from the drill. Atlanta hung back in the doorway waiting to see them off. Marina …

Marina drifted, not interested in any of the talk with exception of a map. One moment Atlata noticed she'd been right behind Troy. the next Marina was at the chain link railing as if she'd had been looking out over the ocean this whole time. Marina had her usual unusual look and air about her. Like she had her head her clouds while also being extremely focused on something. Nothing ill at ease Atlanta noticed. Maybe she'd taken Preston and Jack's remarks as a compliment? But still….Troy had turned and walked around the drill site for one more inspection. And atlanta noticed Preston wasn't a hundred percent paying attention.

He was looking at Marina. While Marina was looking out to sea.

Atlanta had been exceptionally calm about the whole thing. Really, she had. But now she wasn't. Troy would be done soon, five maybe ten minutes tops. He'd head to Stingray. Marina would be trailing behind him. and the idea of Pres's or jacks or the other guys eyes following Marina's back left Atlanta with a squirmy bad gut feeling. Did Marina know to recognise such things? Decision made for better or worse, Atlanta Moved closer to where the other girl stood.

"Marina? Hey." Atlanta said Quietly, so as not to be overheard or spook her; aware Preston was now watching them both. while trying to look like he wasn't. Marina turned to her. But not fully looking at her. Her gaze left the water at the last possible second, flickered to meet the lieutenant's eyes. Then slid away from Atlanta's focusing vaguely in her direction but not quite. Marina wasn't one to make a lot of eye contact, Atlanta had learnt. Or sometimes she made to much and it was too intense. But more often, it was little to none. The mermaid would hold your gaze anywhere that wasn't direct eye contact. Atlanta often wondered if it was a cultural thing or just a Marina thing.

"Can I have a word Real quick?" Atlanta asked. "in private?"

There wasn't really much private space on a flat mostly featureless deck. But Marina Followed her to the corner of the little rig hut anyway. Pres at least had recovered his brain cells enough to slump off and take up post elsewhere. Atlant turned back and marina looked up at her with those Big eyes, her Blank passive face as doll like as ever.

"What Preston said earlier; when we introduced you." Atlanta said. "Are you alright?"

Marina did seem alright, sure . But Atlanta thought she'd best check.
Marina Tipped her head to the side slightly, and considered the question. She Frowned ever so too, perhaps confused. But nodded once, twice slowly.

"Okay. Good. Good to hear. Know." Atlanta said, suddenly feeling very awkward. "Well. I'm sorry I lost my temper there. No that's a lie, l'm not. but I'm sorry if I upset you though. But will you let me know if he or any of the two rig fellas make you uncomfortable? Or if they say anything esle dumb- I mean! Anything Stupid. Or rude."

Marina nodded again. Still frowning.

"Okay." Atlanta said again. "Well… you know where I'll be. Troy and Phones too, stick with them. I guess I'll see you when you all surface."

She gave a little see you late wave and made to head back to the office. But Marina caught her arm. (Oh wow. Strong grip there.)
"Ow! Oh. What is it, Marina?"

Marina Cocked her head again, but at a harsher angle now. and pointed to Atlanta.
"Me?"

Nod nod. And then Marina made Funny little palm up Gesture

"Er I'm alright?" Atlanta tried. "I will be, I mean. Is that what that means?"

Marina nodded once. then Shook a slight no. Marina then started to Look about frowning Quite hard. No not looking about. Looking for something.

"Sick Bay?" Atlanta asked when Marina Pointed to the only other room on the rig. "Are you ill?"
Marina Shook her head and let go of atlanta. She Moved closer to the door sign itself and Tapped a letter. Then when Atlanta didn't understand Marina covered two letters with her hand.
"Bay. Y. Oh 'Why'?"
Marina nodded.

"Why- wouldn't you be alright?" Atlanta asked. And got the yes no nod shake head again. "Or Why did I ask?"
Marina shook her head. Atlanta barely concealed a Groan, although she reckoned her expression mirrored Marina's.
"Why ... why would they make you uncomfortable?" She said.

Marina Nodded. Just nodded. And looked just as Relieved as Atlanta felt.
"Third time lucky." She thought, glad to have got in two or three guesses if not one. Given the countdown to operations starting, Atlanta Didn't really have time for a game of Charades.
"Well honey Let's just say I think he's- well all three of them have been at sea too long." She smiled. "If you get my drift?"

Marina's face said it all. She absolutely didn't get Atlanta's drift. maybe the phrase didn't mean the same for someone who was from under the sea? Atlanta pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. She'd have to ask Phones how they communicated on Stingray. there's no way the fellas went through this bother every dang sentence!

Must be an even bigger pain in the rudder for Marina though, Atlanta thought. being unable to get us to understand? I'm fed up now; how does she do this daily? With everything?

"Okay forget that then. I don't know how you- well your people ...address each other? And strangers?" Atlanta tried, unsure how to put it. "But up here, or at least in public, that was sort of a rude thing to say. Especially on a first meeting. For a man to say that."

"You know That silent woman thing. Just because you're a girl-" she continued. "I mean you are silent but the way he put it... Look It's complicated. but I can't say that sat right with me. I'll explain later if you need me to." Atlanta sighed. Troy was waving to them both. "You better head to Stingray before they wonder what's the hold up."
Atlanta turned to go again. But Marina Did not head to stingray. She Stepped in front of Atlanta, blocking her way and grabbed her with both hands at her elbow this time.
Atlanta looked down at her Even more confused. Marina looked up at her Searching her face for- well Atlanta wasn't sure what she was looking for. but now she seemed Worried. Atlanta Cringed. she hadn't meant to spook her. It didn't help that Marina looked in this moment such a petite worried little thing. All dainty in a timid way Atlanta knew she wasn't, not all the time at least.

"Look." Atlanta said, placing her free Hand on Marina's shoulder which then became an awkward pat. " I didn't mean to worry you. you're gonna be fine, Marina. Sorry. Just- ..just Don't ever let no one up here make you feel less? For being a woman, from being from the sea. Or for you being quiet. Or let them make your whole worth just your looks. Any of it. "
Marina slowly nodded. She was Looking at Atlanta's hand but didn't shake it off. and then looked back up, then down to her feet. And back up again, to the sea behind Atlanta's shoulder.

Atlanta was Unsure of where the surge of protectiveness had come from. But she rolled with it anyway and continued.

"You're a member of the WASP now. Wasps look out for each other, especially your own team and crew. And us WASP girls look out for each other too. if You hear any other man make a suggestion like Preston or that Jack guy did? I don't even care if it's Troy Phones or anyone here or at base." Atlanta added firmly. "Anything that sounds sketchy or makes you uncomfortable, You come and find me and I'll tell them off for you, Marina. Is That alright?"

Marina did something very unexpected. She Nodded. Well that was not unexpected as such. No, Marina Nodded; And smiled at her. really smiled.

Marina didn't smile often. And she didn't smile with her teeth and grins. just a little tug of her lips. Most people when they smile, it softens their features. Marina's sharpened, as if pulled in to focus, highlighting Cheekbones and dimples.

Atlanta by now had seen it directed at Troy and phones a good few dozen times. And in a sort of general way. At the dinner party they'd first met. (Phones had said that was only the second time he'd seen her smile.) And Marina had smiled at Atlanta when she'd gifted her the unknowingly dangerous sea plant. she'd gone all shy and looked away so the smile wasn't exactly at Atlanta. Not like she did now.

Because what really Made the floor lurch out under Atlanta's feet, was Marina's eyes. It was as if the rig was going down for a third time. When Marina smiled her eyes flitted to Atlanta's and boom Eye contact hit her like sting missile. Her eyes, those big doe eyes somehow even bigger. and they sparkled even brighter than Atlanta even knew was possible? If her smile sharpened her features then her eyes lit them up, transforming Marina's useal passive pretty face. Real pretty. Real gosh darn pretty. And sweet. And genuine.

Oh. Wow. Atlanta thought with a gulp. No wonder the two boys would do anything for Marina. Who needed siren's songs or sunken treasure when The Girl From The Sea gave you a smile like that?

"We ready?" Troy called. Atlanta Blinked out of the smile induced stupor. "Drill in four?"
"Okay, T- Captain!" she called back.
"I-I better go and get set up." Atlanta said in a rush, shooing the other on. "Go on Marina, get ready for launch."
Marina gave Atlanta's arm a last squeeze with one of her vague hand gestures. Then hurried off, hopping up to Stingray's front like she'd done it all her life. She gave one more wave back to Atlanta, her face its unpassionate mask again. Atlanta waved back bemused before Marina disappeared into the hatch, Troy boarding behind her. Then Atalanta Smoothed down her uniform. And walked taller.

There was Excitement in the air. As well as the smell of grease and engine oil and machinery sounds. The team stood with bated breath waiting to see if the drill would strike home at last. Atlanta too was excited to be on the mission again. Even as just a base. Even if Marina got to be on Stingray.

But Pres had at least had the decency to look embarrassed as Atlanta strode past him to her post. She put him out of her mind as the crew set for launch stations. And everyone focused on their work hoping the drill wouldn't go all wibbly wobbly again.

"Increase the depth!" Preston hollered in his megaphone. "Keep it going!"
"Stingray from Base, You are clear to dive." Atlanta said into her mic.
"Base from stingray, understood." Troy replied, "here we go. Okay phones, dive"
"dive dive dive…" came Phones' easy going response. And the super sup was Off on another patrol.

"This is where the fun normally starts," Preston quipped to her not long after. But it didn't start. Nothing stopped the drill. Atlanta sat back in the chair feeling A bit better about the situation. Both on the rig and off it. Even She'd have to put up with Preston. But yes she felt better about this job.
And even a little better about Working with Marina too. Maybe even Less like petty rivals and more like friends? or at least a better footing than before.

Marina hadn't had it easy. And it wasn't going to, as she'd have to navigate life above the waves. There would always be men like Preston unfortunately whom she'd have to put up with. There would be translation troubles and struggles in trying to be listened to.
But Atlanta believed they had more of an understanding between the two of them. in a world where some thought that wows and catcalls were appropriate greetings Marina could do with someone looking out for her a bit more.

And Atlanta didn't have long to wait to find Marina had her back in return...