22

"I suppose I don't blame you," the man says solemnly. "To be honest, it is too good. We're leaving the Eternity Orb unguarded to save you all out here. We're banking on this being an all-in, instead of a distraction." He looks around nervously, then smiles and slaps your back, pretending to agree with something you just said. "That's the spirit!" he says, then pulls you along.

Almost all the whales in the pod have beached themselves and are slowly crushing themselves to death with their own weight. You and the squadron take out the blockade first, clearing the way for the whales. Then the other merfolk push the whales back into the water while you work defense, making sure to keep the way clear. You take a moment to pause, watching in the cold water. You were a part of this. You did OK for your first time out. You close your eyes and tilt your head back up toward the sunlit rays from above, feeling the ocean current clean away the taste of blue blood and black ink.

Then you shock awake to the sensation of the cold, deep water, the sandy seafloor, and the pain of a hundred tiny cuts. The squid controlling you must have released you, and all around, you can feel, see, that the squid hive mind stored you all in a close cluster. You see them release dozens of others just like you. Your body moves too slowly, too stiffly, to pursue. They've accomplished what they wanted, and now they're releasing their immortal hostages. The rest was just a squid-induced dream.