The Unforgiving Sea

Research

Today was the day. Sink or swim as the saying goes. We graduated and now I will be sailing out with my two friends. Luna Jensen and Celestine Woods. We had written about the new species of Plankton our professor had discovered for our thesis. He was pleasantly surprised by our findings and requested we continue our research upon graduation. He retired to the classroom due to an injury that occurred while out at sea but whenever hearing him speak you could always tell how passionate he was about marine life. My friends and I would head out together and sail to the last known location of the plankton. Professor Oliver and Cortez both assured the three of us that the Plankton would be most active this time of year. We already had plans to work and scrape up enough money so we could buy a boat together and sail to do research. We now have the opportunity to skip that and go straight to doing research. I'll be forever grateful to professor Oliver for funding the expedition. He believed different species would be coming to consume the plankton and we might get our first real look at a whole new ecosystem if we made it in time. Even though communication would be limited he was just as excited as the rest of us to learn about any new specimen that could possibly surface.

"Hey, Elena! Are you excited!?"

I turned to see Luna and gave her a warm smile when I saw her running directly at me. She seems forever unchanging in her baggy cargo jeans and band T-shirts. There was almost never a time she didn't have a collection of bracelets on either wrist and at least four gold chain necklaces with miscellaneous pendants hanging on each one.

"Of course I'm thrilled to be heading out to sea with the two of you!" I shouted as she approached.

I had always been better friends with Luna than with Celestine but that may be mostly because we've known each other longer and like a lot of the same things.

"Did you get the equipment I asked you to pick up before we head out?"

Luna's eye widened and I knew immediately she had forgotten to swing by the campus to get the extra items from Mr. Oliver. I groaned, mentally rolling my eyes before checking to make sure the boat was properly secured for the 100th time before jumping on to the dock. Even if Luna was forgetful I always overcompensated by planning ahead. Luna and I turned since we heard someone yelling from the top of the dock.

"Got everything you asked for! Peter will bring it down right now he's just finding parking."

I sighed in relief as Luna giggled sheepishly. I had also texted Celestine and she remembered to pick up the equipment from Mr. Oliver.

"The professors gave me some extra equipment. They gave me a satellite phone and a new radio for the boat."

Peter walked up to the boat and placed the equipment on the deck then turned to his girlfriend Celestine. Planting a kiss on her forehead he asked, "Are you guys going to install the radio before taking off?"

"Yes actually I'm going to install it tonight and at sunset we'll set sail." I replied before Celestine could answer him. Celestine smiled and chimed in, "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

I glared at her out of the corner of my eye and she continued smiling as if she didn't notice. This was supposed to be a girl's only trip not to mention Celestine always slacked off when Peter was around. Before any of us could respond he replied with excitement, "Really?!? I was totally going to ask if I could come but I didn't want to overstep any boundaries you guys might have!!!" It was Luna's turn to glare at Celestine. I sighed, what's done is done I suppose. "Celestine you and Peter go to the store and pick up some more nonperishables to last the full trip also get any toiletries we might need." Celestine took off with Peter squealing in delight back up the dock all the while exclaiming how excited she was. I laughed when I looked over at Luna who was now scowling at the couple. "Come on. Help me install this Radio and get everything set up so we can head out at sunset." At the mention of setting sail she brightened up and leaped on board leaving me standing on the dock. I chuckled and shook my head looking up at the sky. Crystal clear with the exception of a few strato-form clouds. Nothing to worry about I said to myself under my breath. We were staying up to date on any incoming storms. Professor Oliver would also keep us updated surely, ever since his accident he was more cautious especially when it came to his students, or so we thought...