6. Maya

Chapter six

Maya

B ack in my room, I replay the day on the water with Levi. I'm impressed by his expertise, and despite myself, comforted by his steady presence. Our shared history is a current I can't ignore.

I spread out the day's samples and data on my worktable. The patterns are beginning to tell a story, but there are pieces missing. I jot down notes and ideas for tomorrow's dive, needing to focus on the science. Not the man behind the wheel.

My mind drifts occasionally to Levi, his laugh when I accidentally splashed him, his hands confidently steering the Island Dreamer. I shake my head, frustrated. I'm here for the turtles, not to dredge up what-ifs and might have been.

Alone again, I have my dinner on the balcony, my gaze lost to the horizon. It's there that I find a moment of peace, away from the chaos of the day and the complexity of Levi.

As night falls, my resolve strengthens. This is bigger than me, bigger than Levi. It's about a species fighting for survival, and I'm their voice. I need rest, clarity, and purpose.

I head to bed listening to the sound of the waves, a reminder that I'm here to make a change, to protect and serve the world beneath the waves.

***

The early morning light stretches across the dock as I walk toward it with the events of yesterday playing on a loop in my mind. The discovery of the container has added a layer of urgency to our work, and I can feel the weight of it pressing down on me. I spot Levi already on the deck of Island Dreamer, checking the equipment with a focused intensity that mirrors my own.

"Morning," I call out, stepping aboard.

"Morning," he replies, looking up from the dive tanks. "I was just finishing up the prep. Ready to go over today's plan?"

I nod, appreciating his professionalism despite the tension between us. "Absolutely. We need to cover as much ground as possible. The more data we gather, the better chance we have of identifying the poachers' activities."

Levi pulls out a map of the reef, laying it flat on the table between us. "I was thinking we could start here," he says, pointing to a section near where we found the container. "Then work our way outward in a spiral pattern. That should give us comprehensive coverage."

"Sounds good," I agree, noting his practical approach. "I'll have my team focus on documenting any irregularities in the coral structure and marine life behavior. If there are more containers, we need to find them."

As we finalize the plan, the rest of the crew arrives, their expressions a mix of determination and concern. Hank, Adam, and the others gather around, listening intently as Levi and I outline the day's objectives.

"We're looking for anything out of the ordinary," Levi explains. "Containers, damaged coral, signs of sedatives—anything that could point us toward the poachers.

"Okay crew, let's go see what we can find," Levi says with deep determination

The gentle hum of the engine vibrates through the floor as we make our way towards the reef. The morning sun bathes the ocean in warmth, transforming the water into a shimmering expanse of turquoise. I stand at the bow of Island Dreamer, the salty breeze tousling my hair. Beside me, Levi is focused on steering, his eyes scanning the horizon.

"I don't remember the water being this clear," I say, my voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "It's beautiful."

Levi glances at me, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, it is. You always loved the ocean. I remember how your face would light up when we talked about diving."

I return his smile, feeling a familiar warmth. "Those were some of the best times. I missed this. The sea, the thrill of discovery, the feeling of being part of something bigger."

"It's good to have you back," he says, his voice sincere. "We make a good team, you know?"

I feel a pang of bittersweet emotion and look away, focusing on the horizon. "Yeah, we do."

The silence between us is comfortable, filled with the sounds of the ocean and the occasional call of a seabird. Despite the years and the distance, being here with Levi feels natural.

Once anchored near the reef, we gear up and prepare to dive. The water is cool and clear as we slip beneath the surface, the familiar embrace of the ocean both comforting and invigorating. The world above fades away as we descend, replaced by the tranquil beauty of the underwater realm. Sunlight filters through the surface, casting patterns on the coral below.

Within minutes, we reach the first site. I signal to my team to begin their work, and we fan out, each pair taking a section of the reef. The vibrant colors and bustling marine life are a stark contrast to the underlying threat we now know exists.

While I document a section of healthy coral, my mind wanders back to Levi. Despite our past, his dedication and expertise are undeniable. Working together like this, it's almost as if the years apart never happened… Almost.

As we continue our dive, exploring the reef and gathering data, we find more signs of disturbance-broken coral, and traces of chemicals in the water. It's clear that the poachers are more active than we first thought.

At one point, I spot a particularly stunning coral formation and gesture for Levi to join me. He swims over, his eyes lighting up with appreciation. We hover there for a moment, taking in the sight together. In this underwater world, our past and present blend seamlessly, the weight of unspoken feelings carried away by the current.

Every so often, Levi's hand brushes against mine as we exchange equipment or point out a marine creature. Each touch sends a thrill through me, a reminder of the connection we once had and might still find again.

Eventually, our tanks indicate it's time to ascend. We make our way back to the surface, breaking through with a shared sense of accomplishment. The boat is a welcome sight, and as we climb aboard, Hank and Adam are ready with questions and equipment checks.

"How was it down there?" Hank asks, his eyes alight with curiosity.

"Amazing," I reply, pulling off my mask and shaking out my hair. "Most of the reef is in great shape. We got some fantastic samples. What's odd though is while the reef looks healthy, we still found strange disturbances that aren't natural." I explain with concern in my voice.

Levi nods in agreement. "It's looking healthy, but something just isn't right."

Levi and I take a moment to debrief. We compare notes, our heads close together as we discuss the data and plan the next steps. Despite the professional nature of our conversation, there's an undercurrent of something more, a promise of what might come if we're willing to take the risk.

Later, as the sun begins to dip towards the horizon, we gather on the deck for a brief meeting. Everyone is energized by the day's success, and the camaraderie is palpable.

"Great job, everyone," I say, addressing the team. "We've made a solid start, and I'm confident we're going to achieve our goals."

Levi adds, "Let's keep this momentum going.

As the team disperses, Levi and I continue to discuss the plans for tomorrow.

"It's good to be back out here," I say softly, the beauty of the moment making me feel reflective.

Levi replies, his voice equally soft. "And it's good to have you here, Maya. I've missed this. I've missed us."

The ride back to shore is filled with a tense silence. Each of us lost in our thoughts, trying to piece together the puzzle. Once we're docked, we head straight to the OceanLife center to report our findings.

Sarah listens intently, her expression showing concern. "I'll coordinate with the local authorities to ramp up patrols and see if we can identify any suspicious activity around the reef."

As the meeting wraps up, Levi and I linger, our shared concern forging a temporary truce in our personal tension. "We should review the footage from today's dive," I suggest. "There might be clues we missed in the moment."

Levi nods. "Agreed. And let's get those samples analyzed as soon as possible."

We spend the rest of the day poring over the footage and analyzing the samples. It's painstaking work, but every detail could be crucial. We're making progress, slowly but surely.

Exhausted but resolute, Levi and I finally call it a day. As we leave the lab, I turn to him. "Thanks for all your hard work today. I know this isn't an easy job, given everything."

He meets my gaze, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. ". We'll figure it out Maya."