“You wanna talk about what had you screaming in the middle of the night?” Sophie shoves a forkful of French toast into her mouth and stares at me expectantly.

I sigh and stare at my waffle. Syrup oozing around a mountain of chocolate chips. “Not really.”

Sophie purses her lips. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with your claustrophobia, would it?”

“Morning, ladies.” Nathan says, saving me from having to answer that question. He drops his tray of food on the table, dragging a chair in his wake. “How was your first night on board?”

Sophie grins. “It was good when we weren’t getting lost.”

I force a smile. “What about yours, Mr. D?”

Nathan quirks a brow. “Mine was great. How about I give you two the formal tour after this? Perhaps save you from getting lost again.”

Sophie laughs. “That would be awesome.”

I nod around a bite of my breakfast.

“Mind if I join you?” Xander Lucas asks, his blond hair tickling his cheekbones. Combing his fingers through it, he stifles a yawn.

Nathan smirks and gestures to a nearby chair. “Still not much of a morning person, are ya?”

Xander grins, taking a seat. “I don’t think I’ll ever be one, D-man.”

Nathan chuckles. “Xander, this is Emily and Sophia.”

“It’s nice to meet you, ladies. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Lucas.” I extend an unsteady hand. Not only was Alexander Lucas one of the top scientists in Oceanography, but he’s also one of the best underwater explorers in the country. His family owns half of the United States and is practically American Royalty.

“Please, call me Xander. Mr. Lucas is my father.” Xander shakes my proffered hand before shaking Sophie’s.

“Nathan, I don’t think you ever said. How do you know each other?” Sophie gestures between them with her fork.

“Xander was a student.” Nathan pats Xander on the shoulder.

“Oh, really?” I look at Xander with wide eyes.

Xander nods. “Top of my class. Nathan used to take me on missions, too. So, when he suggested bringing you guys along, I was game.”

“It’s awesome y’all kept in touch.” Sophie scoots her empty plate to the side.

“Yea, well, Nathan is the best archaeologist there is,” Xander explains.

Nathan laughs. “I’m pretty sure you’re the only one who thinks that.”

Xander shrugs. “Because I’m right.” His phone beeps and he pulls it out. “I’ve gotta go down to the Hangar. You wanna come?”

Nathan dips his head. “That’s the perfect place to start our tour.”

“Tour?” Xander’s eyebrows knit together.

“The girls were getting lost yesterday. Thought it would be helpful.”

Dropping our trays by the trash, we walk to the elevator.

“So, what’s the Hangar?” I watch as Xander pushes the button for Deck One.

He glances my way. “It houses all-excursion crafts, including our deep-sea submersibles and drones.”

“Sounds dope,” Sophie declares.

I snicker. “Nobody says dope anymore, Soph.”

She huffs. “Well, I do.”

The elevator chimes and we enter a room made for giants. Motorboats, submarines, and ROVs begin and end together in the expansive space. Large yellow arms hang from the ceiling, assisting with the equipment when needed.

“Wow, this place is massive!” Sophie exclaims.

“And this used to be a cruise ship?” I turn to Xander, noticing for the first time how his gaze follows me.

His eyes hold mine before they sweep the room. “Yes, she’s the first of her kind. Depending on the success of this mission, we may create a new line.”

“What would you call a successful mission?” I arch a brow.

Xander smirks. “The discovery of a lifetime.”

“That’s rather ambitious, don’t you think?” I challenge.

“Ambition runs in my family, darling.” He counters, his bright eyes shining.

“What’s that for?” Sophie points to an immense hatch in the stern.

“That’s for embarking and disembarking on excursion crafts.”

A loud screeching draws our attention forward.

“Mr. Lucas! We’re having trouble with the Hangar Doors.” A petite crewmember heaves as she wipes water from her face.

“This isn’t good.” Xander follows her through a group of crew members assessing a small leak in the entryway. He squats to get a better look. “Is it reparable?”

Another crew member wearing a wide-brimmed hat sets a toolbox near everyone’s feet. “You know I can fix anything, X.”

“If anyone can fix it, it’s you, Rhodes.” Xander paces. “This is the third problem this morning. We even tested everything before we departed.”

“What other issues have you had?” Nathan chimes in.

“A few of our deep sea ROVs were having electrical trouble. Rhodes resolved the issue before it started a fire. Then, our computers kept crashing. We had to reboot the entire system to get it working again.” Xander expels a breath. “How about you finish out your tour while I get this taken care of?”

“Alright. Let’s go, ladies.” Nathan guides us towards the stairs.

We come to a room overlooking the Hangar. Every wall is made of glass. Crew members in bright white lab coats drift through a maze of microscopes, chromatographers, and Bunsen burners.

“They have both wet and dry lab facilities for all of our research needs.” Nathan guides us through the blindingly white space.

“What research will we be doing here?” Sophie asks, running her palm along one of the many stainless-steel countertops.

“We’ll be taking samples from the wrecks and any flora and fauna we come across.”

I nod as we pass the refrigerator and freezer, the hulking metal boxes extending up to the ceiling.

“And down that hall is the medical center.” Nathan gestures to a sliding glass door as we move to the elevator.

“You don’t think that’s a sign, do you?” Sophie asks, softly.

I frown. “A sign of what?”

She bites her lip. “Of the mission going badly.”

Nathan grunts. “Just some minor bumps in the road. Everyone has them.”

Sophie nods.

“You both know Deck Three well, since we were just there for breakfast. Deck Four and Five are cabin decks. Let’s head up to explore the Promenade Deck.” He presses the button for Deck Six.

“Promenade Deck?”

“It’s the deck we boarded on,” I offer.

“How many decks does this ship have?” Sophie wonders.

“Eight.”

We enter in front of Passenger Services, which is open to guests and crew while we acclimate to the mission. The cool salty air fills my lungs. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that smell.”

Sophie grins. “Same!”

We follow Nathan down a long hallway.

“Oh my god, is that a pool?” I open the door as heat blasts my face and the scent of chlorine fills my nostrils.

Sophie giggles beside me while we race inside.

“And hot tub.” Nathan points to a doorway on the opposite side of the room. “There is a Fitness Center through there.”

“This is my favorite deck, so far.” I tap my foot on the blue and white tiled floor.

A shrill cry breaks our glee, and we rush towards Passenger Services.

“What’s happening?” Nathan demands from a frazzled attendant standing at the desk.

“There’s been an explosion in the Lab!” a crew member yells, sprinting past.

“Are we going to sink?” Sophie and I squeak, together.

Editor: Michelle Naragon