Chapter 3: There's Something in the Water (Protip: It's Mermaids)

Sitting on a crowded boat, beside someone who may or may not betray me in the near future, while being escorted by a pack of mermaids, is a rather surreal experience. If it weren't for the fact that the Colony Maker had spent most of the night and a good chunk of the morning putting together disguises and backstories, I'd probably be a lot more jumpy. But even then, I can probably just blame the invasion for that, right?

The Colony Maker and I had shucked our bodysuits and scavenged clothes that -while they didn't fit perfectly- fit well enough to make it appear that any discomfort was due to nerves. The cyberoid bodies we have (and that's disconcerting) are geared towards stealth, and they came equipped with the ability to change the colour of our eyes and some minor facial details if need be. This fact allowed for her and I to coordinate our disguises to appear as if we were related, and facilitated our story of being siblings (Me being the older, but a bit more restless one and her being the younger, sadly born deaf one) fleeing to stay with our parents who had retired to the west coast of Zoo's northern island.

I was currently sitting near one of the railings on the starboard of a decently large passenger ship, the Star-vader having gone to investigate the ship under the guise of looking for a bathroom… Or a vending machine, I didn't have a good grasp of the sign language she was using, but we're able to improvise pretty well if push comes to shove.

Why was the Colony Maker pretending to be unable to hear, and speak properly in her own right? Because that habit of her saying what she she intended her words to be made it a bit difficult for her to blend in with people.

She returned soon enough, not bearing any form of food or drink, so I guess it was a bathroom trip. As she sat down next to me, her face away from everyone, she murmured in my ear, "Statement: Aurora Star, Coral is on the ship, apparently having decided to quell any nerves with her presence."

I make a low humming noise, not very loud, but enough to be considered a simple noise of exertion as I scooted over, trying to make it look natural. Luckily (and somewhat surprisingly), we didn't stick out too much, except for the Colony Maker's 'disability', and even then only the crew member who welcomed us aboard really knew…

Still, Coral's a powerful member of the Bermuda Triangle, and game mechanics wise, the Bermuda's are a pain to deal with as they constantly bounce on and off the field. What that actually means for Coral, I've no clue. What I do know, is that she's leading the group guarding a ship carrying refugees, something that they wouldn't allow just anyone to do. If she approaches us, we'll have to hope that she doesn't cotton on to us…

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You know those times when you're really feeling the crunch? When you're being pressed in on from all sides and there's no where to escape from it? Well, that's what it feels like to be an introvert on a crowded ship, looking after a sentient weapon from an army hellbent on the enslavement of an entire planet's population and the destruction of the planet itself.

Well, there's actually a good deal of panic mixed in, seeing as the bloody Colony Maker had decided to wander off while I was grabbing some food. This meant that I had abandoned the food in the room we'd been assigned to before bustling out and searching for her, jogging around the ship looking for the wayward Star-vader. If it weren't for the fact that I remembered that our cover involved her pretending to be deaf, I'd have been shouting.

I wasn't really watching for anybody, which is probably why I ran right into someone and fell back on my ass. Cursing a little under my breath, I scrambled to stand up, only to pause when a melodious voice cut through my thoughts.

"Excuse me, are you okay?"

Looking up at the source, I'm perfectly able to admit that I feel a bit like a school boy as I take in the sight of her. Long, blue hair cascading down her shoulders, kind blue eyes set above full lips, a heart shaped face, and a body that could only be defined as stacked. If this is Coral, then dear god, what is with the beautiful people on this planet?

"Hey, are you okay?"

Snapping out of my stupor, I gave a quick jitter before answering, "Yeah… I mean, yeah! Yup, I'm okay!"

"Glad to hear it!" She's smiling now, a small grin as she bends a bit and offers her hand to help me get up. Grabbing the proffered appendage, I expect to see her list a little as I pull myself up, instead, she hauls me to my feet with ease.

I stumble a little at the sudden change in position, but I'm able to keep my footing. Oh no, she's strong too! If she princess carries me, she'll own my heart!

"Um? Are you sure you're okay?" She's giving me a questioning smile, and I've been spacing out, haven't I? Bugger.

Shaking my head, I answer, "Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit distracted…"

"Oh? Is something the matter?" She asks, and damn it, she's tilting her head to the side cutely, it's super cute. But it makes me wonder, is it a conscious action, an ingrained one, or a natural action? Maybe a result of years of bing an idol? Gah, I can't afford to be distracted, there's a rogue Star-vader on the loose!

Wait, aren't I the rogue Star-vader at this point?

…Screw it.

…And she's staring at me again. Scratching at the back of my head, I manage, "Well, I'm looking for my sister. I went to go get food for the two of us, but when I got back to our room, she wasn't there."

"Did you try calling for her?" She asked, frowning a little as she thought over what I said.

At this point, it's a bit difficult not to sound snarky, "A little difficult to broadcast sign language."

"Well that's tru- Oh, you mean she's deaf?" Ah yes, the look of dawning realization, it seems that mermaid idols are just as capable of it as us unwashed masses.

Nodding, it's about all I can do seeing as I'm feeling like I'm about to puke from the nerves of lying to someone who could likely crush me, I said, "Yeah, if she wasn't, I'd probably be shouting like a moron."

"Mm, that would definitely stir up some trouble~" she answered, a thoughtful frown drifting across her face. Straightening up, she burst out into a smile, "Well then, I'll help you find her!"

What.

"I said that I'm going to help you find your sister, but maybe she's not the only one who's hard of hearing, eh?" Oh, I said that out loud. Bugger. Well.

Isn't this getting dangerous? I mean, yeah, she's offering to help me find the Colony Maker, but do I want to risk that? Oh fuck it. Shaking my head, I answer, "Well, if you're sure… I mean, don't you have to lead the escort forces, though?"

"Heh, the perks of being in charge include delegating things!" She cheered, beaming at me.

Is that something she can do? That sounds really irresponsible! I open my mouth to tell her as much, but she cuts me off, "Don't look down on idols. We're quite powerful despite our occupations, and besides those girls aren't slackers who'll let anything happen while they're on the job!"

"Alright, alright," I reply, holding my hands up in surrender. Apparently, she's made an executive decision and I'm going to have to live with it. Oh well, time to find the Colony Maker. Straightening up, I nod my head in the direction she came from, "I already checked all around behind me, so I was going to check down the way you came, is that alright?"

"Of course! Now, let's go find your sister!" She cheered, wheeling on her heel after flashing a grin at me. How can people so peppy exist?

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"…I mean, that's just thing, you're a very talented singer and all, but I'm not really into the J-Pop sort of music that you and the rest of the Bermudas specialize in," I explained to the mermaid as we walked through the halls of the ship. Shaking my head, I continue, "I tend to prefer music that's more on the rock side of things. Of course, I'm also a giant nerd who likes video game soundtracks."

"Well, everyone is entitled to their own tastes, even if they aren't the best," Coral sniffed primly, apparently deciding that she could forgive me for not being too into idols and their ilk, though the small smile on her face betrayed her amusement.

I was about to retort when I caught sight of my quarry, giving a wave at the Colony Maker, I nodded to my new acquaintance before declaring, "Looks like we'll have to put our conversation on hold, that's my sister."

In the Star-vader's hands, there were a few bundles of food meaning that she had also gone to get some food while I was in the bathroom. Why would she? I said that I was going to, and seeing as she doesn't believe in eating, it just makes no sense. Her face screwed up into an approximation of a rueful grimace, trotting over and shoving the food into my hands. She signed what I understood to be irritation at me, as well as questioning why I was there. Either that or she was going on about the food choices. If we're going to keep this act up, I'm going to have to get better at sign language or we're just going to have to go with her being mute.

…Why didn't we do that in the first place?

I was about to shove the food back into her hands to reply, when Coral started signing, apparently introducing herself and saying that she kept me out of trouble. Well, that or that she had made sure to get me into trouble. The Colony Maker's face shifted into a facsimile of a smile -it looked so plastic- she and the mermaid started avidly signing to one another.

Shaking my head, I can't help but wonder how the rest of the trip is going to go…

NOTE: Anywho, thanks as always to AbZHz101 and Peanut.007 for their work betaing this chapter!