Serendipity's Interlude (Sequel to The Call)

Hide and seek

Once I finally wrestle my feet into the human torture devices known as flippers, I can get on my way and start heading towards what we are assuming is the access pipe for the ocean water that should be keeping Ingrid alive. We concluded that it would be most efficient for me to be using flippers, instead of my tail- even though I'd swim faster- as I can't change quickly enough and can't risk that much vulnerability.

I traced the pipes along the ocean floor, watching as they get thicker. As I follow them, I end up against the bottom of a building, where three very thick pipes lead into the building. Thick enough that I could easily slide through.

I clear my mind- and a small bubble around myself. This way I can use the communication device that I was furnished with by Natasha.

"Found the pipes," I inform them. "Just like Alina said. The only issue is that it's pipes, plural."

"Try the middle one," Sam offers.

"What, are you psychic now?" Bucky says.

"Natasha," I say. "Which do you think?"

There's a long moment of near silence, just enough noise to tell me they're still there. 'There' being various locations, not too far out, backed up by as many allies as they could gather. Their mission is to dissolve Parallel, if this building holds as many important assets as Alina claims, but mine is merely to get Ingrid and get out.

"Middle," Natasha's voice rings over the device, and I hear Sam quietly celebrating in the background. I let the water settle again. I push my feet towards the pipes, pulling the fire wand... thing that I was given- out of my waistband and use it to cut open the metal enough to slip into.

"What do you see?" Bucky's voice rings through the device.

"She's underwater," Loki speaks how I imagine an eye roll would sound.

These ridiculous flippers are getting in the way. They are long, and heavy, and while they help me swim faster- they are also slapping loudly against the sides of the pipe. So I slip them off and continue on as they sink to the ground.

"Signal that you're alive, Madeline," Natasha orders. I pat down the front of my uniform until my fingers land on the small metal band on my chest. I press on the raised bar and it flashes blue three times.

"Madeline confirmed," One of the lower level agents says in my ear.

I see light ahead and continue on, coming up to what appears to be some type of grate. It leads into a pool, although I can't see what's inside of it. I wrap my hands around the grate carefully and gently shake it, to see if it will come loose, but it seems to be rather sturdy.

I wave my hand and clear some of the water in front of me, pressing the small button on my earpiece. Even though I can speak underwater, for some reason their technology can't.

"I think this was the right pipe," I whisper. "There's a grate here, it feels strong," I tell them.

"Rip it apart," Rogers orders.

"Quietly," Fury adds. "No unnecessary attention,"

I reach to the water and curl it around the metal, enveloping it in my grip, and shove the water forward, taking the bars with it.

Predicting what they want verification, I pressed the button on my badge, and it flashes blue three times just as expected. I hear Natasha exhale a tense laugh in my ear.

"Thanks, Madeline,"

With the great out of the way, I carefully swim into the collection of water and poke my head above the surface. Just as she said, Ingrid is here. My stomach doesn't slip as I expected it to, really. For the most part, she seems unharmed. That is, aside from the numerous batches of scales written over her skin, her bruised face, and the fact that she appears to be rather unconscious and dehydrated. She still has her tail, but it's likely that she doesn't know how to change – it's a bit of a forbidden scale, it's easy enough to figure out but we really aren't supposed to know how. If I hadn't spoken with Grace so much about the topic, I wouldn't actually know much. It's funny how I never questioned how much she knew about the topic of changing, of the human world. She just knew it, and that was that.