Dying Summer | JJ Maybank

(9)

The weather was shaping up to be beautiful. The perfect day to go looking for a shipwreck. JJ is in charge of driving Heyward's fishing boat out to where the Royal Merchant is while Val guides him from the electronic navigator. "Alright J, pin it here."

"Roger that! X marks the spot."

John B pulls up the drone and gets ready to place it while Kiara gets the tether ready, "Alright ladies and gentleman." He sets his feet and says before throwing the drone in the sea, "To going full kook."

Val keeps a tight eye on the navigator. "J, we are right over it. 10 seconds northwest."

"Got it V, 10 seconds northwest." He repeats.

Kiara notes, "100 feet down."

Pope gasps as he watches the camera, making everyone stop what they are doing. "What, what, what?" John B asks somewhat frantically.

"It's nothing, just a squid," Pope replies. Causing the group to sigh. "Sorry I thought–"

"Don't do that to me man." JJ turns the wheel tight.

"Come on bro." John B says.

"Sorry guys." Pope apologizes again.

"400 feet!" Kiara says. "Hey, the tides are turning." The clouds that have suddenly rolled in cover the sun.

Val watches the navigator as he calls out to the blond, "Hey J,"

"Yup?"

"10 seconds easy. Alright, South south-east, alright?"

JJ looks at Val to reply with a quick, "Copy that."

Keeping the boat steady while the tide turns is hard for anyone, even JJ. Val calls out more orders, "J, 20 seconds mid-speed, all right? South."

He replies with another quick, "Copy that." and mentions to Kiara, "Keep the tether out of the prop."

"I'm trying." She says with a committed tone.

Val sees the tide push the boat further away from their target, "JJ keep going."

"Val, is that good?" JJ asks as he starts to hover over the right spot.

"We're good, we're good." Val signals a thumbs up in case JJ couldn't hear him over the wind that has started to pick up.

Thunder rolls in.

"700 feet." Kiara mentions.

The waves start to rock the boat more than before, and the anemometer begins to go crazy, signaling the high winds.

Val has to brace himself as a particularly strong wave knocks into the boat, "JJ hold it steady." He yells over the wind and thunder.

Kiara yells, "Okay, 900."

John B raises a point, "JJ we are gonna turtle in this storm man."

"920!" Kiara yells.

Val yells as he looks back from the navigator, "Crank it north by northwest! 10 seconds!"

John B walks over to Pope, "How we doing man?"

"Almost there." Not a great answer.

"John B! The currents too strong, we're gonna lose it!" Kiara yells.

Val is only paying attention to how far off track they are in the navigator, "South south-west JJ, hard!" Val knows the blond heard him since they are slowly getting closer, "Half speed. Steady at this bearing!" Val looks at Pope, "What do you got, Pope?