The Cohen Loop
Max & Carver, B
copyright comidacomida 2016

Lab that day was vastly different than their previous sessions.  Although the initial presentation of the day's project was practically a carbon copy of all the others, once Warm Shallows Drifter finished explaining what they'd be doing he had everyone sit down.  When everyone at a table had done so he stepped around his own and announced "That will be all for lab today."

There was scarcely more than ten minutes of lab, and that declaration was enough to make all of the students pause and reflect.  Hunter recovered first, and slapped his tail against the water.  "Warm Shallows Drifter, why are we learning how to do this project if you're not having us do the project?"

The instructor faced Hunter and spoke plainly in Phin, accentuating his whistles, clicks and chirps curtly to denote that he was answering out of courtesy, not because the question had any right to an answer.  "At this time I would expect that the class would fail the project.  You are learning about it now as a primary control toward future education."

Jackson smacked the water with his palm.  "If we are done with class then what are we going to do for the rest of today?  Do we have an after-class assignment, or--"

Warm Shallows Drifter didn't let him finish, interrupting with an attention-getting chirp instead.  "The rest of the afternoon is yours to do with as you please, but there will be a night class to make up for lost lab hours."

Greg slapped the water next.  "So... we're going to come back to the lab tonight when class starts up again?  What time?"

The Longos in charge turned to regard the Human.  "We will be meeting in the class room, not the lab.  After dinner I will expect everyone to report immediately to class."

The students around Max mumbled and whispered softly to one another, but the voice he heard was Carver, who used English to speak quietly.  "I think we should take a nap, Max.  If we're starting class after dinner we won't get much sleep tonight."

Hunter's clicking was audible enough that his discussion with Greg was not as subtle. "We have an entire afternoon?  I think Warm Shallows Drifter wants us to spend that time studying the upcoming lab project."

The instructor gave no clarification.  "Class dismissed."

The various partnerships each chose their own way of handling the unexpected free time.  In Max's case, he and Carver were joined by Angel and Seraph in the common area to compare notes and go over the various files that were handed out selectively.  The two pair became three when Angie Mae and Roller sat down as well and they were seamlessly absorbed into the group.  The study session continued to go well up until Tailor sat down beside Max and Jackson sat across from her, taking the space that was left between Angie Mae and Roller.

At first the tension started out as occasional glances and a subtle, almost sub-aural grumbling trill from Roller.  The more Jackson and Angie Mae looked to one another during the study session the worse it got until eventually Roller stood up, swung his legs over the bench, and splashed down into the water.  Without a word he smacked his fluke and propelled himself off and down the hall.  Angel didn't help the situation by smirking.  "Oh... I think someone's a lil bit jealous."

Angie Mae shot the black man a dirty look.  "It's not like that."

Angel wasn't about to relent.  He'd come to be friends with Roller and hadn't been subtle about his displeasure that Angie Mae seemed, by all accounts, to not be giving the Longos a chance.  "Oh?  And what IS it like, hon?"

Max quickly stepped in before things got out of hand. "Hey, guys?  We're studying here.  Come on.  Let's not do this."

Jackson intervened as well. "Yeah... Hou jou bek, bru!"

That didn't sit well with Angel.  "Not sure what you just said, but you can besa mi kulo... bru."

There was no telling if things would have escalated from there but it all deflated the moment Angie Mae spun around on the bench, surged to her feet, and stormed out, water spraying around her legs as she waded off.  Jackson shot a glare at Angel, then stood and went after her.  Seraph glanced to the black man and mumrmured quietly "You didn't help, dear heart."

Angel rested his hand against the big Longos' arm.  "Yeah?  Well it's better than not sayin' nothin', Boo... Roller deserves better'n that."

Max fidgeted.  "I'm not sure that's any of our business."

Carver was right there to support him. "Max is right.  Angie Mae and Jackson are working through losing their partners.  None of us know what they're going through as much as they do... Roller didn't lose his in the same way."

Angel crossed his arms and slumped in his seat.  "Well, I know if I lost MY partner I'd be devastated... and I'd want someone there to help me through it."

Seraph gave the black man a light poke to the side of his head with his beak.  "I'm not going anywhere, my little otter."

Tailor, who had been sitting off to the side watching the entire drama unfold finally spoke up.  "Jackson and Angie Mae found a common current.  They relate to each other and spending their time together helps them cope with their loss."

Angel turned to her for the answer.  "Then what about Roller, Boo?  Is he just gonna deal with all this on his own?"

Tailor had no true answer and just shrugged, but Charlie, who had been sitting at the next table over was quick enough to add in her own two cents to the discussion.  "He has us-- or, he should... but all we do is sit here every time he disappears."

It was one of the few times when Max heard Charlie actually take the opportunity to insist on  anything, and she made a very good point.  He was quick to agree, and slapped his palms on the table for emphasis  "Right.  I'm gonna go find him."

Carver turned to him.  "Good idea.  I'll go with you."

Despite the fact that Max would have enjoyed having his partner along for support he realized that they did have limited time.  "One of us has to stay here to get notes, Carver.  I'll be okay... besides, Roller and I've always got along, right?"

Max smiled, standing up so he could kiss Carver's cheek before going.  His partner reached out to gently encircle his forearm with a large hand, adding.  "When you find him tell him to come back and join us.  He doesn't have to spend so much time alone."

The two exchanged a quick hug and the Human waved to the rest of the gathering before trudging his way through the thigh-high water in the direction Roller had gone.  There was no way Max was going to catch him unless the Longos chose to slow down and, based on Roller's attitude when he left that was exceedingly unlikely... unless Max had an idea where the runaway Phin was headed-- which he did.

Back in F-3 Roller had mentioned that he and his ex-partner Chrissy often spend their free time at sunset near the bow of the Land Earth Unity Centre.  Was it too much to imagine that he might go to a similar spot on Water Earth?  He wasn't sure, but it was his best guess, and Tailor was right: he was part of their group-- their POD, and they weren't doing right by him by making him go through everything alone.

The trip through the hallways was long and convoluted; it didn't help that Max wasn't completely sure he was going the right way.  Just as he was about to give up, however, his search ended with success.  Not only did he find access to the overlook, but he was fortunate enough to also find the exact deck, balcony, and railing where Roller had chosen to take up position.  The Longos glanced back in his direction before returning his gaze to staring out over the choppy sea, not seeming the least bothered by the froth that was shot up into his face as the waves broke against the bow.  "What're YOU doing up here, Max Snyder?"

Max moved up to take a spot on the railing next to the lone Phin.  "I was looking for you, Roller."

"You have found me."

The Human slowly reached out and placed a hand on the Longos' forearm; like Carver he had the smooth, rubbery skin but the limb was much smaller, much more Human sized.  It felt strangely frail, and that impression grew all the more when Max felt the faint reverberation of the subsonic sounds the Phin was creating-- Roller was crying.  It only took one more step and the extension of his free arm before he had the Phin in his arms, and at that point Roller no longer tried to hold it back.

The sobbing, shoulder heaves of a Human never factored into the equation; unlike a Human, when a Phin was at their worst emotionally their body remained stock still with little more than a faint nodding of their head-- that was what Max felt at that moment... that, and the tooth-aching subsonic wailing.  Roller grabbed him tight, pulling their bodies together as the unheard sound passed through the Human like an ephemeral banshee.  It repeated twice more, each time leaving Max feeling as though a cold dagger of emotional pain had pierced his chest. 

Roller had to deal with it alone; judging by how tightly the Phin had held him it was apparent that the Longos may have avoided the contact but he desperately needed it.  It was then that Max realized that every time Roller had left the group he had likely gone to that spot to be by himself and cry.  That afternoon was the first time anyone had sought him out, which meant that all other times Roller's desperate need for companionship was ignored.  There was no excuse aside from what the Human had to offer.  "I'm here now."

A number of minutes passed before Roller composed himself enough to speak.  When he did so, he loosened his grip on Max, but only a little.  "I'm sorry you lost your calf, Max Snyder... I know you wanted it."

It wasn't a non-sequitor... not precisely.  The comment did come out of left-field however and it caught Max by surprise, hitting him an emotional spot he'd thought had healed, but apparently hadn't.  Tensing slightly, the Human slowly disengaged from the Longos and leaned back against the railing.  It didn't take much of a leap of logic to realize that Roller still wasn't over Chrissy.  "Not all Humans are like Chrissy, Roller... everyone has their issues they have to deal with and hers were... well... they just didn't help matters any."

Roller let out a chirp of acknowledgement and moved toward the airlock leading back inside the Centre.  "I suppose it is my fate to always have a Human partner that does not accept or understand me in the way I do them."

Max quickly drew away from the railing, putting his own emotions in check; he'd have time to handle them later but Roller was the more immediate concern.  "Angie Mae isn't like that, Roller... she's really nice, and she's one of the smartest people I know."

The Longos clicked negatively.  "She does not want a new Phin partner-- she wants Walker."

The Human reached out and took hold of Roller's wrist.  "Roller... she's committed to the Programme and she knows that means she needs a Phin partner.  Both of you are relying on one another to make this work.  She knows that-- I'm sure of it."

Looking down to Max's fingers around his wrist, the Phin slowly raised his arm and inserted the fingers of his opposite hand into the Human's, holding it.  "What she knows and what she feels are different things, Max Snyder.  She is more comfortable around Jackson Robberts.  I can see that, and I am certain you can as well.  I can accept that I will not replace Walker as her partner in all the ways Jackson Robberts does; all I can do is try my best to stay out of their way."

Roller continued walking, keeping Max's hand in his.  A dozen or so steps passed before the Human could think of a response.  "That just plain sucks, Roller... that isn't right and it isn't fair, and I'm pretty sure you know it."

The Longos offered up an almost fatalistic chuckle-sounding series of clicks before he spoke up in retort.  "Fairness is not what life is about, Max Snyder... I have understood it since I found myself in love with a Human who did not love me back and did not want my calf.  Besides... it is much less painful to be a partner with a Human who would rather have another Human as her partner."

Max wasn't always good with words and didn't know all that much about relationships... or even interpersonal communication for that matter, but he was trying to learn.  What he felt at that moment was the realization that there wasn't anyone else around to help so he had no choice but to rely on his own mediocre skills.  He stopped, and let go of the Phin's hand.  "Roller?  How did you get your Human word name?"

The Longos stopped and about-faced, a questioning whistle coming out before he responded-- a Phin equivalent to a raised eyebrow.  "Why am I called Roller?  For as long as I could remember I've enjoyed swimming among kelp and rolling arm over arm among the blades.  I still enjoy it, when I get a chance."

"Does Angie Mae know how you got your name?"

The hint of curiosity in the Phin's expression drained away immediately for one of indifference.  "She has never asked, no."

It was the kind of an answer Max expected, so he considered that a so-far-so-good moment. "Okay... and what do you know about HER?"

Roller stood there for a moment, tail languidly swaying forward and backward in the ankle-deep water of the sloping hallway.  "I know her name... and that she lives with me... and that she lost her last partner during the Spearcast-- I know she likes Jackson Robberts."

Max quickly interjected before the Longos continued listing the obvious or, worse, became bitter about Angie Mae's closeness to Jackson.  "Have you asked her anything about herself?  You two haven't spent ANY time talking?"

"I think she hates me because Christina Valentine was carrying my calf and was ejected from the Unity Programme."

The young man paused at that statement for several seconds, working to wrap his head around the leap of logic, but also the emotional implications.  When he finally came to grips on the best way to proceed Roller had started walking again.  He trudged forward to catch up, the water having risen to his knees by the time he did.  "You don't even know for sure?  You mean, you two haven't talked about it?"

Roller slowed, then came to a stop.  "It is painful for me to talk about, Max Snyder.  I doubt it is something she would want to discuss."

Max shrugged.  "Maybe it SHOULD be discussed anyway.  Antiseptic hurts when you put it on a cut but it still helps... right?"

Roller offered a noncommittal double-click and lowered himself into the water.  "We should return to our hall.  Can I offer you a ride, Max Snyder?"

It wasn't exactly a breakthrough, but the Longos was talking again, and, by all accounts, was agreeing to return to the group.  He readily agreed.  "That WOULD be faster, sure.  Thank you, Roller."

Although Roller was smaller than Carver the method used when being carried through the water was essentially the same, and the Longos didn't appear to have any more difficulty with the Human riding along than the Amplus had.  The return trip, therefore, was much faster than Max's solo trip out.  That and, he reminded himself, he didn't know the way to the top deck and Roller knew the way back.  They arrived at the entrance to the Tier Six hall almost an hour after Max had originally left; he hoped nobody was worried.

Roller kept pace with him as the two trudged down the hallway toward the cafeteria and, just before they reached the doorway, the Longos reached out and took hold of his wrist.  "Max Snyder?"

Max turned to regard his friend.  "Yes, Roller?"

The Longos fidgeted.  "I am worried that she may hate me."

The assessment caught him off-guard.  "Angie-Mae?  No... I'm SURE she doesn't."

Roller slowly released his arm.  "How can you be sure?"

Max shrugged. "I can't... but I'd like to think I know Angie Mae, and I'm pretty sure she's not the kind of person who'd hate anyone... least of all a cool Phin like you.  I mean... you're a great guy, and I'm sure she'll see that if you give her a chance."

The Phin remained staring at him for several seconds before he clicked in acknowledgement, then leaned forward and brushed his beak against the side of Max's face.  "Thank you, Max Snyder... even if we are not in F-3 together any longer, I still think of you as a friend."

The Human fought back a blush, and reached out to rest a hand on Roller's shoulder.  "F-3 or not, you're still my friend too... I mean... we can even still be a Pod without being in F-3, right?"

That statement immediately restored some of the Longos' verve and levity.  He click-whistled an affirmative "Right."

Maybe, Max thought, he wasn't as bad with people as he used to be.

* * * * * *

Despite the issues that had struck them earlier in the day, the rest of the afternoon passed surprisingly easily.  Max and Roller slid right back into the study group as if they'd never left with the Human taking a seat beside Carver and the Longos taking a spot next to Tailor.  While they'd been gone the group had reviewed the majority of the Station Zero BRD file, which meant they were able to jump right into the selectively distributed memos and notes.  What they discussed was incredibly enlightening.

In addition to all of the scientific review on the comparative biology of Humans and Phins there was also a comprehensive study of Phin, Human, and mixed parentage offspring.  From the humidity sensitivity of Phin calves to the weak skull spots on a Human baby, the files even discussed the increased lung capacity of half-Phins and the little physical hints that indicate the mixed parentage.  Max often found himself glancing over to Swimmer, who had been Andy, and admired the way the teen must have carefully hidden those traits for so many years.  Swimmer even caught him once, and the Human was blown away when his classmate spoke so perfectly in Phin "Eyes on the notes, Snyder."

Max's last name did not have a direct translation in Phin, but the rest of the staff had always used \>!=..i to represent it, which was something of a trill-whistle-trill-whistle-whistle-click and had always sounded pleasant to the Human.  He found himself blushing, not just because it had come from Swimmer, who had previously had as much trouble speaking Phin as any of them, but mainly because he'd just inadvertently embarrassed himself by staring.  Fortunately, that was the most trying moment that afternoon... but things got much more intense that evening.

The Tier 6 students formed up again after dinner in the classroom.  Angie Mae and Jackson returned to their respective partners without event and Max was heartened to see that Roller appeared to be engaging Angie Mae in conversation a lot more than he had in the past.  At first, she seemed marginally distracted and off-balance but by the time Warm Shallows Drifter called everyone to silence she seemed just as amiable with Roller as anyone else and, Max was happy to note, she had smiled.  It was a lukewarm reintroduction, but it was progress, and he was willing to consider that a win.

When class began, despite it being at an odd hour the lesson progressed like any other.  They did what Warm Shallows Drifter called a 'final review' of the information they'd received and everyone received an opportunity to discuss all of the files as a comprehensive whole.  The vast majority of the students were ready for it and kept right up; Jackson and Angie Mae had a little more trouble but Tailor and Roller were able to step in and help with their respective partners.  All in all, Max was pleased... especially when Carver gave his hand a knowing squeeze; the Amplus had noticed too.

Although there were no windows providing any sight of outside Max realized it was dark by the time their evening lesson came to an end, yet Warm Shallows Drifter gave no indication that he was going to release then to their evening.  When there were no more files to review, their teacher instead had them review their data pads and run updates on the software.  Another twenty minutes passed with busy work before Charlie struck the water with her palm.  "Warm Shallows Drifter, is there any reason you're keeping us here rather than ending class?"

Rather than respond with any sense of indignation or displeasure the Longos turned right to her.  "Yes, there is, Charlice Brenner.  I appreciate your attention to detail."

Charlie paused for a moment, then rephrased her question.  "Why are you keeping us late?"

The Longos offered a beaky smile.  "You were given a break in the middle of the day to make up for an extended class session tonight.  In another five minutes we will be heading down to the skiff docks to collect your next set of study files."

The simple, matter-of-fact comment caught the entire class by surprise and everyone fell completely silent.  A minute or two passed while Warm Shallows Drifter straightened up his desk and when someone finally did speak it was Angel, after a polite slap of the water with his palm.  "Uh... teach?  Is this the info you said they'd be bringin'?"

The Longos at the front of the class looked up and locked gazes with Angel, providing the black man a single decisive affirmative click but, adding a half second later "That, and the next set of study material.  You will also be meeting the final pairing for the Tier Six class, who will be waiting for us down at the skiff dock."

Another round of silence flowed from the class as everyone exchanged glances with everyone else.  The final pair of students would finally be joining them?  Max's mind began to work fervently trying to figure out who it was.  He had a number of thoughts as to who from his prior classes might warrant a Tier 6 education but, as his eyes fell on Jackson he realized that he was underestimating the size of the student pool on which they could draw; the final pair could easily have been chosen from the university level students... or even someone like his foster brother Ethan from back on Land Earth-- except Ethan would be back on Land Earth with his Phin partner. 

The thought still brought a smile to his lips regardless, and he leaned over to address Carver.  "I had a funny thought-- what if my foster brother Ethan and his partner were the final partnership to join Tier 6?"

The Amplus looked his way.  "I had thought Ethan was not yet even ten years old... that would be a little young to learn about cross species fertilization, wouldn't it?"

The truth of Carver's statement immediately brought a fierce blush to Max's face; considering everything they were talking about, maybe it WAS for the best that there'd be no way Ethan could join them.  He didn't have any more time to consider it however when the chirping alarm of Warm Shallows Drifter's data pad went off.  The instructor quickly cancelled the alarm and picked the item up along with a backpack-like chest satchel that was placed beside it.  "Follow me.  The skiffs have arrived."

Rather than showing any real sense of urgency, Warm Shallows Drifter instead strolled out of the room and across the cafeteria toward the entryway.  From there he continued wading out into the Tier 6 hall without any speed to his steps.  Directly behind him was Hunter (with Greg grabbed by the wrist), looking in all ways like a race horse chomping at the bit.  Max was content to be toward the back of the line directly beside Carver and right in front of Angie Mae and Roller; he was surprised to see that, rather than being side-by-side with Jackson, the two friends and their respective partners were separated by Charlie and Clicker.

Upon leaving the Tier 6 hallway, Warm Shallows Drifter took an unexpected turn to the left; Max distinctly remembered that the lifts were to the right.  Hunter seemed to come to the same conclusion and even opened his beak to bring up that fact, but their instructor spoke first.  "We are taking a staff transport tube."

No further explanation was provided and none was requested.  The tube Warm Shallows Drifter had chosen was almost twice as big around as most Max had recalled seeing in the Water Earth Unity Centre, smaller only than the initial lift they'd used when entering the Centre on their first day.  The transport's metal platform was submerged beneath the water level in the tube by about two feet and it wiggled slightly as Max stepped onto it but it was more than large enough for the full class and it held their weight without further complaint.  The entire set up was different than the ones with which Max was familiar.

Warm Shallows Drifter opened the chest pouch he wore and began to hand out small cylindrical metal tubes to the Humans.  Max had used a rebreather before but he'd hardly expected to have to deal with one onboard the Unity Centre.  Several other Human students looked just as confused.  The instructor explained.  "The staff tube does not work in the same manner... gravity is going to take us down to the lower level and from there we'll be swimming to the airlock that leads to the docking bay.  I anticipate a three minute trip in total."

It was all Max needed to hear, and apparently the same rang true for the rest of his non-Phin classmates.  Everyone quickly put the rebreathers into their mouths and once everyone was ready, Warm Shallows Drifter pressed the button to activate the tube.  The sensation of the metal floor falling out from beneath him was what Max registered first, but the backflow from the intricately holed metal did a surprisingly good job of creating a vortex that sucked him down with it.  Although it wasn't as perfect a method for descending as the use of gravity, the forces at work were amazingly efficient.

As the grate slowed, the Phins in the group added in their own motion to descend the rest of the way, assisting their Human partners as they did so.  Since they were underwater, the Phin language was most reasonable to use, and so Warm Shallows Drifter used that for the next set of orders.  "Humans, take hold of your Phin partners... we are swimming from here."

The deck of choice, Max noted, was five or six levels below the usual skiff port.  He didn't specifically know why all the secrecy was involved, especially considering the deeper bowels of the Water Earth Unity Centre weren't particularly Human accessible, but he assumed it had something to do with the select nature of the Tier Six education.  Upon reaching the airlock, however, he didn't have to wonder any longer.

The Human students all removed their rebreathers once the water had finally drained around them, leaving them standing on a wet not-quite-stone floor gazing ahead into what looked to Max like a super villain's underwater submarine base.  There were two skiffs pulled up to a dock and appeared to be securely in place, with a third around which much activity was taking place.  Large boxes were being loaded and unloaded simultaneously and all of the Phin dock workers moved at an almost frenzied pace.

Among the hustle and bustle were two figures that stood out because they, unlike the dock workers, wore wet suits.  What was even more surprising was the fact that one of them was a Phin... and a very odd looking one at that.  It was hard to tell what was different about the newcomer at first because his swimsuit, just like that of the Human woman were in the Human color scheme rather than that of the Phins.  As he turned to regard everyone else, however, it became readily apparent.  It was Angie Mae that voiced the observation aloud.  "That-- He's... he's a TIKK!"

Warm Shallows Drifter about faced in front of the group and motioned to the Tikk and his Human counterpart.  He was slightly larger than a Longos with a much longer beak and noticeably wiry build; she appeared to be about Max's age, with brown hair and pale skin and an eerie bluish-green shimmer to her chestnut colored eyes.  Before Max could guess, the instructor spoke up.  "Class, this is Aiden Cohen and Heather Cohen.  They are joining us from Station Zero as our final set of Tier 6 partners."