Mako Mermaids S2 - Character's Story - Chapter 27

- Erik

After my late-morning swim with Zac, I did however arrive almost on time for work…bar from me having to race home to grab some of my gear and race right back. To which when I arrived I immediately apologies to David who was doing the juicer from behind the counter.
“Same old, same old.” Dave groaned.
“I know I know…..i tried my hardest I just have family business to take care of.” I lied through my teeth. “But I’m really trying.”
Dave sighed. “I know, just try harder next time.”
I mini saluted him. “Yes sir.”
Dave rolled his eyes, then handed me the mini IPad to take orders and gave me the orders in which to take out to the customers and which tables they were at. Phew, my job is saved by the skin of my scales; makes me wonder how I’ve managed to survive on my own on land as a pure merman in land-form. True I could of use it to show the land-world my true form (to make money from my display)…but that would have the rest of the mermaids I’ve secretly met, as they would be hunted for the rest of their lives; so way to risky.

So the old-fashion way was the only means of me to survive was to get myself hired as a job…not an easy feat considering all the risk’s (mostly with water being almost everywhere on land….and it applies the same with the others as well, One splash and then I change into my true form) with me being a merman and all hiding in plain sight of the other land-people, and with the Ocean’s being the only place that was hiring at the time; and true it being a hot spot of for getting splashed. But I guess me sucking in my pride to pay for my living expenses has helped my come a long way, since moving here just over 2-3 weeks ago.

I was then racing around the café like a mad-dog taking order’s, serving out the meals, and cleaning up left-over meals. The cycle was on repeat until I saw my break through; when I was taking an order outside, the sun was so bright and beautiful; I walked out to the table in which I carefully place their orders on the table with a customer stratification smile.
“Enjoy.” I smiled warmly strained I could hear the girls giggling at each other.
“Are, are you new to town?” one of them pipped up in a quizzed question as I was about to head back inside for the next order.
“Yes, I just arrived only 2-3 weeks ago.” I stopped and answered them straight and honest, trying to keep my tongue under control and not revealing any ‘really’ personal.
“Oh, so you’re a newbie….we could show you around town, if you like?” another one smoothed her way into the conversation. Her hard dark skin and heavy make-up caked onto her face (but in a good way).
I wanted to say yes to their ideal if it’ll let me go back to doing my job of serving the other customers, who were waiting….but more to that I really wanted to escape the land-world and wanting to see the smiling look on Ondina’s face of when I chased away he land-divers from their island.
I then looked up and saw Zac heading towards the café. I however was still in the midst of a conversation with the local girls who were trying to ask for my number….whatever that mean.

“Excuse my ladies.” I whispered in excuse myself from the situation (the table) as I made my way over to Zac.
I could hear the girls giggling to each other in the background “He called us Ladies.” They squealed together in a semi-silence manner.
“Hey, feel like hitting the water?” I brought up since with the continuous cycle of serving meals still going on, I desperately needed a break from the land-world for a moment.
Zac leant on the chair that was right in front of him.
“Beating me twice wasn’t enough?” he quizzed.
“I could give you a head start.” I raised my eyebrows.
“Have you forgotten the little problem we had on the reef yesterday?”
“David said the boat is out of action, so were good.” Smoothed over (since I overheard David talking with Evie inside about the event)
“…For now yeah; except Evie’s dad is at the Marina working on.”
‘Seriously?! That land-guy doesn’t know when to quite; I sabotages his boat once, doesn’t he learn…looks like he’s rearing to go for round 2. And this time, when I get my chance I’m gonna make sure that boat stays away from Mako, for good.’ I thought half clenching my fist.
“….Really?” I quizzed him in a sort of dumb tone.
“He might even have it fixed by tomorrow.” Zac dropped his report.
I smirked to myself; well I better make my move by then
“So we’ll go swimming somewhere else, there’s plenty ocean; so don’t stress.” I reassured him in a calm tone. I then smirked as to try and perk up his mood before our swim. “Hey I know what you need? (I playfully slapped him on the shoulder).”
“I’m sure you gonna tell me?” he teased.
“Pineapple juice with a hint of ginger, on the house it will pep you up….might even give me an edge in the race.” I smirked as I then went inside to make his order.


- Zac


I dropped that hint report as a sort of warning to Erik, but since he offered me a second chance at beating a pure merman. Might be able to grab some tips on how he’s about to further accelerate his torpedo mode or how many good spots he knows about those drop-offs (the ones that he showed me before Evie’s dad’s boat showed up). But since he offered me a drink for free, how can I possibly refuse an order like that; I guess since he might have over heard of how when we discovered his true form that to hide it from Cam, we were talking about our faved juices.
So I then took my seat on the one that I was leaning on, picked up the menu card from the table and began searching through the possible snacks that could go with the drink that we was making for me….as I was looking through the menu, I could hear footsteps moving closer to my table, I looked up and saw Sirena and Mimmi as they took their seats right opposite mine.
“Ondina didn’t do that.” Mimmi cut straight to the chase.
I placed the menu card down. “Of course you’ll say that.” I retorted clearly defending Ondina’s innocence.
“We were trapped in the Moon Pool all morning, by divers.” Sirena added in to Mimmi’s statement. “Ondina was with us the whole time.”
“I know Ondina can be frustrating….but she wouldn’t damage anything.” Mimmi further defended Ondina.
Sirena nodded in agreement, I guess Mimmi might know Ondina longer than Sirena….so I guess they know each other’s thoughts on when it comes to land-people coming to Mako.
I looked back at the café, but then if it wasn’t Ondina, nor Sirena or Mimmi….there’s only one person left who could do that sort of behaviour. Though I wouldn’t really know his motives for behind this suppose attack on Mr McLaren’s boat.

As if right on que Erik returned with my drink balancing on a black serving tray.
“Here we are.” He announced as he place my drink right in front of me. The drink was served in a tall glass had an orange-yellow liquid form with a wedge of pineapple edged on the side of the glass.
“Thanks mate.” I thanked him.
Erik then looked up and saw the girls.
“Hey, is Ondina with you?” he quizzed as he began looking around.
Sirena shook her head.
“Sorry, she wanted some time alone.” Sirena explained
‘I can guess why, since I accused her of mutanty for sabotaging Mr McLaren’s boat.’ I thought with a sigh as I began playing with my straw and taking little sips from my drink.
“Do you know where I could possibly find her?” Erik quizzed lifting his eyebrow.
Mimmi shrugged her shoulders.
“Sorry, what she means is that she really needs some time alone…meaning she doesn’t want to see anyone at this point of time.” Mimmi added on to Sirena’s statement.
“Oh.” He sounded a bit disappointed. “Well if you happen to see her….then please me know.”
He then picked up his tray and left us with my drink.
“Sure.” Sirena answered in a soft tone.

“What’s gotten into his scales?” Mimmi quizzed.
“You wouldn’t know, what goes through that mind of his.” I sighed turning back to my drink as I took a long sip.
“What do you mean?” Sirena asked.
“…It’s like Evie has been saying, we don’t know him that very well; so it’s a maze trying to figure him out.” I explained.
I looked up at both of the girls who both were looking at each other and then back at me.
“It means he’s difficult to read, like a book.” I saw a slight nod of the head form Mimmi.
“Ooh….so he like a tough Oyster to creak, you may try so many times but no results yield.” Mimmi added on to my statement
“Ooh now I get; so much easier in mermaid terms.” Sirena exclaimed.
I rolled my head. “Sure as if anything in merterms is easy for us land-people.”
“Hey you may never know, like for example: mer-lip-speech that’s a merterms.” Mimmi pipped in.
“Well more like common knowledge for those who are merfolk.” Sirena explained.
I leant back in my chair just sipping my drink as I was observing the ocean’s horizon. Now wondering of how Ondina is feeling right now, blaming her for something that the others are defending her of not doing.


- Mimmi


Around sundown, I was in the Moon Pool with Sirena as we had earlier searched all over the reef for Ondina. I thought this place might have been the most obvious; but I guess she’s found a new sulking corner either on land or somewhere in the open ocean’s reefs’.
“Do you think Zac believes us about Ondina not sabotaging the boat?” Sirena spoke up.
“I sure he does.” I smirked.
“How could you know that? For all we know he’s a land-boy…”
“We just have to trust him in making the right call on the information we’ve given him.”
“It seems like you trust him more than your letting me on.” She teased.
“I don’t trust him squat…it’s that, he’s the only reason why were on land; were just buying our time until we can figure out a way to break his powers and connection to Mako. Building up his trust is the first step-“
“Hold on…you’re taking the same approach that I, Layla and Nixie did. But at least this time we don’t have to hide our tails; he already knows.” Sirena pointed out.
“And I guess that plan didn’t work out all as you’d hopped….as I heard that when he found you out, he literally turned his back on you.” I smirked, trying to prove that my plan is better than her is. “My plan is to wait him out and then next full moon then draws out his powers.”
“Woe; you’ve clearly thought this through, haven’t you? That still the exact same plan we had.” Sirena exclaimed. “And I can tell you from experience, that it’s never gonna work. First it’s the exact same plan we had and second when he was physically in the Moon Pool; his powers showed no signs of leaving him….so yeah good luck trying to get it off the ground.”
I huffed, there is no way a plan like mine could possibly fail….I’m the genius of the group; but I guess I’ll have to take Sirena’s word for it since she’s been on land longer than any of us before.

Just then we saw what looked like to be Evie swimming into the pool, it was her. She surfaced on the opposite of us in the Moon pool and then slowly turned to face us.
“Where’s Ondina?” she asked.
“She went swimming, it’s impossible during the day with all the divers.” Sirena explained.
I could see Evie lowering her gaze.
“Ondina didn’t do anything to your dad’s boat…. (I looked to Sirena who is still supporting my statement) She was with us.” I added in.
“I know.” She answered softly. “Zac told me…..i just thought we could come up with a way to keep my dad away from Mako, without him losing his business.”
Evie sighed; I can see how much her dad means to me…..i couldn’t really relate to that since I feel no real connection to my mother, since she abandoned me to the Mako pod.
“It’s just like Mimmi said; it’s easy to see why land-people would wanna come here.” She stated. “The fish, the reef; what’s not to love?”
“…True, land-people can’t get enough of marine life. If it’s not scuba-diving, then it’s: snorkelling or whale watching.” I could see her excitement of the sea; it seems to have really grown on her….even before she had a tail.
“Whales are such show offs.” I groaned. “They love to attention and they like to gossip; especially Humpbacks.”
Recounting my last swim to which before the divers came to Mako, swimming with a mother and her calf in tow…of course she was very protective of her youngling, which I can relate to when it comes to our pods young. The calf was only about a year old and yet almost the size of the Ocean’s Café.
“…How do you know all that?” Evie asked the obvious question as I could see her jaw dropping with amazement.
“I speak whale; Blue Whale is a pretty difficult….but Humpback is easy.” I said with pride.
“No way…so you can actually speak to them, like have a normal conversation?” she quizzed.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
“Sort of, I sometimes stuff up a bit in trying to get my point across to them. But yeah I can….”

I saw a look on her face.
“Speaking of talking to whale, I might have an idea of keeping my dad away from Mako.” Evie spiked up.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh really? And how are you gonna pull it off, by keeping in mind that you’re a half-breed mermaid.” I reminded her.
She put her finger to her chin.
“You know how I said about how land-people love Whale watching….well why not use your whale speech to get them to perform for my dad?” she suggested.
“Serious? You want me to use my talent to force whales into a performance?” I asked not liking how this was going. “Against their will?”
Evie placed her hands up in defence.
“No, no…not like that, I was thinking of doing it as like a Chinese whisper type of performance.” She explained herself.
Sirena and I looked at each other.
Evie sighed. “It’s when you pass a message or a tip down the line to other people….so it’ll be like passing the  word around to the whales that a some land-people would like a performance.”
I smirked. ‘Clearly she had thought this through….but it when the performance is gonna be or what place? That’s gonna be the hard bit and worst off is trying to make it look natural to the land-people.’ I thought.


- Erik


Having to use that tip that Zac gave me, to which wither could have been bait to draw out the real culprit or just passing the word, as like a little reminder of Evie’s dad’s next move….but since Ondina’s home was at stack of that boat heads back to Mako with another boat load of land-people; were gonna be back to square one.
I know I was taking a gamble in going for round 2 of sabotage, but have now a higher a risk of getting caught (since I may think of Zac suspecting me); but if it’ll keep Mako safe from those vial land-people invading the island, then I’m willing to risk my neck for this cause.

My action plan took place at the dead of night; I had to use the waterway to make it even the Marina walkway….since they limit Marina dock usage at night, beside from those who have a fisher’s licence. So I got there from my apartment within 10mins from the far dock; as I watched nearing the edge (I was about a couple of boats away from my target) as my head was floating on top of the water and swerving like a snake hunting for prey. As when I declared the coast to be cleared, I then made my move as I made right up to the edge and then placed my hands on the edge of the pier and then pulled myself up as quickly as I could. Once all of myself was on deck, I quickly sucked in my tail spin and then went about getting my land-legs back by using evapouration.
Once that was all done-and-dusted, I thus began my creep like a cat towards my target…please note that some of my steps caused the some of the boards along the pier to creak under my land-weight. Another reason I don’t like legs that much…not as quiet as having a tail (though a tail does make splashing noises….so it’s an even with stuff wrong with both sides of my life). As I was nearing the target, I then began a final sweep of the surrounding’s before boarding the vessel….i did the sweep and a I declared it to be safe, I jumped over the edge of the boat and landed softly on the deck. Walked up to the rear of the boat, before leaning towards the engine; trying to find the right gear, put this whole commission behind us and rightfully protect the island home of the Mako pod.

“Forget something?” Came a voice.
I instantly spike up and looked to see the new party member. The person came into the moon light….it was Zac.
“You gave me a fright.” I stated trying to protect my innocence.
Zac then shoved his hands into his pockets. “You didn’t a good enough job wrecking the compressor.”
I sighed….yep what he said at the café was the bait; and I fell hook-line-and-sinker. So I sighed as I laid my arm on the compressor.
“When did you know it was me?” I quizzed him.
“…I suspected at the café. Then Mimmi and Sirena told me Ondina was with them when it happened; it had to be you.” Zac summed it up as he walked around to the front of the driver’s compartment.
I walked slowly to him. “Smart man.” I commended him.
We stood there in silence, 2 men with different goal in mind….one willing to go the distance for his and then other willing to wait until the iron is hot to strike. Guess which is which?
“Were not ordinary people, Zac….were special (I looked briefly back at the compress and then back to him) we need to protect our secret.” I tried reasoning with him.
“Doesn’t mean we can go around and doing whatever we want.” He said sternly but in a calm manner.
I knew it….he’s the wait-on-the-sidelines kind of guy. Doesn’t dive in until he sees the moment and has a clear and open mind about the consequences of his actions.
I stormed slowly up to him.
“You’re not a real merman.” I began in a stern tone. “You got your tail by accident…. (then my tone lightened) but your still one of us.”
Zac mood or facial expression didn’t change one bit, he had complete composure….the only thing he did was rock his weight from one side to the other.
“…you have to decide were your loyalties lie.” I gave him a stern warning.
“…I already have.” he answered simply.
“Well what are you gonna do?” I challenged him.
Zac then briefly shook his head. “Nothing, for now….but your gonna pay Evie’s dad back, your gonna do more hours at the café and then your gonna make a enormous donation on his website; to make up for the damages you’ve done.”
I stood their silent…I knew his land-side has made him soft and weak. I then jumped out of the boat and continued to walk until I reached the end of the Marina.

“I was right, this land has made you weak.” I commented in a hush tone as I jumped in.
When I surfaced I found Zac hanging above me just with his hand again shaved into his pockets.
“I’m not weak….I’m prepared to make the sacrificing play; but only if and when the situation demands it.” He commented.
I moved closer to the edge of the Marina. “Then why did you stop me?”
He then knelt down to my level as my tail flicked with anticipation of his answer.
“Why should I answer to you, I know next to nothing about you and you know nothing of me…I guess you might have your answer is due course.” He stated as he got up and then dove in right behind me.
I quickly ducked underwater to see him, but he’d already torpedo away from the area; mostly likely to be heading towards his land-home.

But my brain was still trying to process as I made my way home of why did he stop me from protecting all manner of merfolk’s alike….what is his reasoning?