𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 // 𝑱𝑱 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒌 \\

Chapter Thirteen

It was the next day. The pogues had all stayed the night at the Château. Early in the morning, John B and Kiara were underwater testing the drone's camera. Pope worked on the camera as JJ leaned on the fence. Valerie, still half asleep, laid on the deck floor away from the ladder that would help Kiara and John B get up. "God bless geeks, Pope. Truly, man." JJ commented. Kiara and John B resurfaced. "What would we do without you to control the drones?" JJ asked. "Technically, it's not a drone. It's an ROV." Pope said, but JJ interrupted him. "Shut up. Shut up. It's too early for that right now." Valerie chuckled on the floor as she shielded her eyes away from the light.

"Hey, once we get footage of the wreck, we'll bring it to a lawyer in town and file a formal claim." John B said, still in the water. "It's bullshit. Why do we have to do that?" JJ asked. "Well, there is maritime salvage law. You can't just go to the ocean floor and scoop a bunch of stuff up." Pope stood up and walked next to JJ. "I know. I know. It's just lawyers aren't cheap, bro." JJ replied.

"As soon as they see the footage, they'll work for a comp. Hey, Val, you listening?" John B asked the girl who was still laying down. Everyone turned to look at the girl who didn't respond. "Nah, man. She's asleep." JJ replied. "How do you know all of that?" Kiara asked John B. "'Cause my dad said it, like, a million times." John B responded. "Yeah, that's fair." Kiara swam towards the ladder.

"This tether is, like, really long. In the wrong weather, this thing could get pushed around." Pope said. "Then, we'll go at dead calm." John B said. Not even a second later, thunder rumbled. "At slack tide?" Kiara asked, climbing up the ladder. JJ moved out of the way towards the ramp. "So now, we just gotta wait for the right weather." Pope said. "And today is not that day." Pope added. JJ turned to Valerie who was still asleep on the ground. "Okay, princess." JJ leaned down and picked the girl up bridal style. "Let's get you somewhere comfier." JJ walked down the deck and started to head into the Château. "Hey, JJ!" Pope called before JJ was inside. "Yeah?" JJ yelled back. "You're still helping my dad, right?"

"Yeah, man. Give me a sec." JJ shouted as he walked inside and placed the girl on the pull out couch where they had slept that night. JJ went to walk away, but he turned to the girl sleeping peacefully. He kissed the side of her forehead before walking out of the Château. After a few hours, Valerie stirred awake.

"Valerie? Val! You're up. We're getting ready to go surfing. JJ and Pope should be here soon. You coming?" John B asked. "Yeah." She stirred awake, sitting up. "Great. Your boards outside." John B grabbed Valerie's hand, pulling her up from the couch. Valerie already had her bathing suit on, all she needed was her board. Kiara was already outside. "Here." Kiara handed Valerie her board. "Thanks." The three swam into the water. Before they would surf the waves, they waited for JJ and Pope. John B, Kiara, and Valerie sat on their board, their legs on either side.

"Hey, do you remember... when you kissed me?" Kiara started. Valerie shot her head up and stared at the two. "Yeah. Yeah I remember." John B responded awkwardly. "Did you tell JJ?" Kiara asked. "Um... I had to. I mean Pogues don't lie to Pogues, right?" John B started. Kiara looked around. "Some pogues do." Valerie stared straight at Kiara. "Sorry." Kiara whispered. "And plus, JJ just laughed at me because you shot me down, so--" John B looked at the water. Kiara scoffed. "I didn't shoot you down. I mean, It was really bad timing. You were freaking out, right?" Kiara asked John B. Valerie looked around not knowing what to say.

"Yeah. Yeah, no, I-- I was freaking out. I was freaking out." John B said. "Why do you ask?" John B added and glanced at Valerie who was playing with a necklace. "Just wondering. Its not--" Kiara didn't know what to say. "Oh, okay." John B responded. Valerie sat there feeling really awkward. Luckily JJ and Pope got there just in time. "Hey! Save some waves for us!" JJ shouted. "Hey, where you been?" Kiara shouted with a smile. The five pogues spent the rest of the day surfing and laughing together. It was dark out when everyone finally sat down. Pope and John B sat next to each other in chairs. JJ and Valerie were on one side of the hammock while Kiara was on the other. The hammock slowly moved side-to-side. JJ threw his arm around Valerie, pulling her into him.

"You really think it's out there? Like, no bullshit?" Pope asked, breaking the comfortable silence. "My father thought it was." John B responded. "But do you?" Pope asked John B. "After hearing his voice on that tape...I think I do." John B leaned his head back. Valerie moved her head onto JJ's chest. JJ noticed the girl and shifted a little so they could both be more comfortable. "Only one way to find out." Pope said as John B and Pope did the pogue handshake.

"Look, we're gonna find it, you know?" Kiara spoke up. "Yeah, even JJ believes." Valerie smiled as she looked up at the boy. "Oh my god, JJ, do you really believe?" John B asked. "Totally. Wait. Are we talking about four mil?" JJ asked. "Four hundred mil." Pope and Kiara whispered quietly. "Jinx." Kiara whispered with a smile. "I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks." JJ said as he leaned his head back. Valerie quietly laughed as she leaned her head back onto JJ's chest. Kiara chuckled. "Goodnight, Bird!" JJ called out. "Goodnight, bird shit!" John B replied in the same tone as JJ. Valerie snorted as JJ pulled her into him more. JJ held up his middle finger before putting his arm around Valerie again.

The next day, the pogues were out on Heyward's boat. There wasn't any thunder in the distance, so today was a good day to put the drone to use. "Alright, JJ. Pin it here." John B called to JJ who was in control of the wheel. "Roger that! X marks the spot." JJ called. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen. To going full kook." John B put the drone in the water. Kiara and Valerie worked on the tether. Pope was controlling the drone while John B would be shouting directions at JJ. "Alright, JJ, we're right over it. Ten seconds northwest." John B called out.

"Got it! Ten seconds northwest."

Kiara lowered the tether. Each time Valerie saw the red tape wrapped around the tether, she would call it out. "One hundred feet." Valerie said as she grabbed the chalk and wrote one tally mark on the side of the boat. Pope gasped causing John B to freak out. "What? What, what, what, what?" John B hopped next to him. "It's nothing." Pope concluded. John B groaned as he went back to his seat. "Don't do that to me, man." JJ said. "My bad..." Pope whispered. "And to quote The Hobbit "Down, down, to Goblin Town. Down, down, you go, my lad."" Pope spoke. Valerie scrunched her face in confusion. Kiara noticed her expression as she laughed. After a while, the tether was getting lower and lower. "Four hundred feet." Valerie called out again adding another mark to the boat. "Hey, Val." Kiara looked at the water. Valerie looked at the water and noticed the same thing. "The tide's turning." Kiara said.

"Hey, JJ."

"Yup?"

"Ten seconds easy, alright? South-southeast." John B called out. "Copy that."

"JJ, 20 seconds mid-speed, alright? South."

"Copy that! Aye, aye."

"Keep the tether out of the prop." Pope told Kiara. "I'm trying!" She said back. "JJ, keep going." John B told him as thunder rumbled. "So much for doing this on a clear day." Valerie whispered. "John B, is that good?" JJ asked.

"We're good! We're good." He responded. "Okay, seven hundred feet." Valerie added multiple tally marks onto the boat. A big wave hit the boat causing it to rock to the left. Valerie and Kiara were slightly shot forward almost going into the water. "Jesus." Kiara whispered. "JJ, hold it steady!" John B shouted. The tether was going really fast. "Okay, nine hundred!" Valerie shouted out. "JJ, we're gonna turtle in this storm, man." John B called. "920!" Valerie shouted.

"Crank it north by northwest! Ten seconds!"

"Almost there." Pope said.

"John B! There's too much current, we're gonna lose it." Kiara shouted as she held onto the tether. "South, southwest, JJ! Hard!" John B shouted. "Half speed. Steady at the bearing, JJ! What do you see, Pope?" John B asked. "Nothing! A whole lot of nothing!" Pope responded.

"You should be right above it, brother." John B spoke from beside him. "Valerie!" Pope shouted. "960!" She responded. "970! 980!" Valerie continued shouting as Kiara lowered the tether.

"I'm at the bottom! I'm at the bottom!" Pope shouted. "Okay, steady here, JJ!" John B called out. "Steady here. Quarter speed, alright?"

"We should be seeing something." Pope whispered. Valerie and Kiara got up from the tether and walked to Pope and John B. Kiara leaned over Pope while Valerie leaned over John B. "Oh, good god." Pope whispered again. "See anything?" JJ asked. John B chuckled. "It's the royal merchant."