A survivor's story

Chapter One

"Alexandra!" Howled a familiar voice. "Hurry up! The boat leaves in an hour!"

"Well, Max, why don't you try carrying a suitcase full of rocks! And please call Alex! You know how much I hate it when you call me Alexandra. It makes me feel like I'm five years old again." I argued

"Okay Alex. Also they are rock samples, completely different"

"They're really not." I said bluntly. "Max can you please give me a hand with this?" I made gestures to the offensive case. He gave a sigh and picked it up, giving a grunt at the weight while doing so. As much as he denies it, he is getting older. He claims that he is in his late thirties but I happen to know (by using basic maths) that he is in his fifties. His short hair is starting to go grey. Even though he is broad and tall the lines on his face give a subtle clue about his age.

"If you weren't Mark's daughter I wouldn't have to put up with this." He declared in his posh Edinburgh Accent. That's true. My father Mark Cavendish was Max's closest friend. They were navy buddies back before I was born. "I promised that I would keep you safe on this expedition and I intend to keep that promise."

"Okay, batman, calm down it is just a suitcase."

"Well, if you think it is that easy to carry it then maybe you should carry it on board." Before I could word a response he shoved the foul case in my arms and wandered off. I sighed and lugged it on to the boat.

After dumping the case with one of the reluctant crewmen I try to open the door to my cabin. I say try because the door had gotten stuck after I jammed the key in the lock. "great" I sighed. I started to ram the door when a voice rang out behind me

"Need some help?" I jumped and turned around. I can now see the voice came from a guy standing before me with a surprised expression on his face. "sorry, didn't mean to scare you." he said as he ran his hand through his messy brown hair.

"No, no it's fine, I just didn't expect anyone to be standing behind me." I laughed.

"Well, it looks like I am going to be your neighbour I'm in cabin 20. My name's Nick, Nick Black." I shook his hand and introduced myself

"Hi I'm Alexandra Cavendish but you can call me Alex." I started "I'm the head archaeologist and historian for the expedition."

"Well it's very nice to meet you Alex, I'm the head engineer for the ship." He had a New York accent that sounded strange to hear. Growing up in Edinburgh you don't hear many American accents (well except from some confused tourists). I smiled and leaned on the post beside my very stubborn door.

"That sounds great. Erm, do you think you can help me open my door, I got the key stuck in the lock and now it wont open."

"sure I'll take a look" It took several minuets but the stubborn door finally opened.

"Thanks Nick, I'll see you at the head of departments meeting. I think it's in half an hour."

"yeah see you then." and with that he opened the door next to me and went inside his cabin.

As it turns out the cabin was alright. The 10X12 space had grey walls, slate flooring and uniform navy blue bed sheets. There was a charming view of Aberdeen harbour from the porthole. Decorating the room was a wardrobe, a large desk, a couple of shelves and a small locker. The small bathroom at the side of the cabin held a shower, toilet and sink. The cabin, in a word, was functional.

All of my suitcases were gutted and the contents placed in the correct places. I looked in the floor length mirror placed upon the wall. I swept my brown hair into a ponytail and lined my green eyes with eyeliner and changed into a pair of black skinny jeans, a faded white t-shirt advertising a 'Killers' concert along with my favorite pair of red high tops. I glanced at the clock balanced precariously on top of stacks of books on the shelves and saw that the heads of departments meeting started soon.

It took me a while to find the main deck through the labyrinth of corridors but when I arrived I am greeted with a spectacular site. A large room with a giant, steel round table in the centre with chairs surrounding it, some of them were already filled with people for the meeting. One wall was covered in screens showing everything from the ships exact nautical coordinates to the temperatures of the cabins. In front of the cluster of screens was a large control board that looked very complex. The floor was slate grey and the walls the same navy blue that decorated my cabin. To the left hand side was a small kitchen that had a microwave, a coffee maker and a fridge. To the right was a wall decked with shelves overflowing with books and charts. A researchers playground. Smaller rectangular steel tables were dotted around the room had an array of scientific equipment just waiting to be played with.

I walked up to the large table and took a seat next to Nick who looked just as fascinated by this wonderland as I did. I took a quick survey of the people sat around me. There was a small man with reddish blonde hair, a woman with dark skin and has short black hair that fell like silk and a large man with tan skin and very striking brown eyes. Before I could survey the rest of the table the doors burst open to reveal a tall man with short blonde hair. The man strode over to the table and sat himself next to me.

" Okay." Max began "I think we should start this meeting by introducing ourselves, while I have your attention I think I will start." he continued "My name is Max Collingwood and I will be your captain for this expedition. I am 42 an-"

"55" I discreetly added under a well timed cough. That got me a few giggles and a death stare from Max.

"yes, thank you Alexandra..." he hissed "I retired from the Navy a few years ago and I always put my crew members first." With that he sat down and didn't utter another word. I took this as my que and stood up.

"Hello, I'm Alexandra Cavendish and I'm the head archaeologist and historian. I recently graduated from Cambridge University and I am originally from Edinburgh." I smiled and sank back down into my seat. The blonde man next to me stood up and started to speak

"I'm Christian Lowery and i'm the head of geology and paleontology. I am from L.A. and graduated from Stanford a few years back." He gave a smug smile as if he knew something we didn't and slumped back down in his chair.

Nick was the next to rise from his seat. "Hi, everyone, my name's Nick Black and I'm from New York. I graduated from Columbia University a couple years ago, and I am the head of engineering." as Nick lowered himself back into his seat I got momentarily distracted by a blinking light on one of the many screens that covered the far wall. Something to do with the temperature changing in the canteen.

My momentary distraction caused me to miss two of the peoples introductions. There was something to do with a guy graduating from M.I.T and another who recalled a funny story about a snake... or was it a cake? I rejoined the conversation when the last person rose from their chair, it was the woman with luxurious black hair that sat at her shoulders.

"Hi there, everyone, my name's Jessica Washington and I'm here as the head of meteorology. I graduated from the university of Alabama." she had a warm southern accent that reminded me of old movies. she then gracefully sat back down into the seat. Suddenly a screen on the wall of plenty lit up. Max glanced at the screen and said,

"Ladies and Gentleman, I call this head of departments meeting to a close." he started "I suggest we gather on the top deck because I believe we are about to cast off."

Almost all of the ships crew were gathered on the top deck on that cold Aberdeen morning. As I gazed upon the city of Aberdeen my thoughts turned to the future. In a few months we could be credited with the discovery of a lost civilization. Years and years of lost history would be unearthed.

I took in my last breath of the salty Aberdeen air as we cast off. It was time for an adventure.