Chapter 1

“I’m so excited to be coming on this adventure!” Squealed Bridgette as she walked around the lab, looking at the many chemicals left scattered on the counters.

“It’s not an adventure, Ms. Hawthorne, it’s a science expedition.” Calvin sighed, packing up the fragile equipment. He reached to a taller shelf and packed another delicate machine in a padded crate. He seemed to have an unusually long nose with a narrow bridge that almost didn’t fit his slender face.  As he moved past Bridgette around the laboratory benches, she caught whiffs of mint and old books.  “Please have some decorum on this trip. It’s vitally important that we get the information we’re searching for.”  He turned to face her, his wide, hard eyes focusing her attention.  He always seemed more classy and calm than she did, but Bridgette supposed it was the French accent that hovered around him like cigarette smoke. 

She shrugged her shoulders and turned down the corners of her mouth. “I will Cal,”  She continued looking about the quiet lab, except for the occasional thumps from Calvin packing up.

He quickly mumbled under his breath scarcely making eye contact, “You wouldn’t be coming if your great uncle wasn’t in charge or hadn’t funded the expedition as head of Hawthorne Sciences.’’ He suddenly straightened his stature and echoed his baritone voice which prompted her to stop and stare at him. ‘’Don’t call me Cal, it’s Calvin. It was my grandfather’s name, and if it was good enough for him then it’s..” 

“Hey, Cal! All packed up?” An older gentleman casually walked in, tapping lightly on his cane, the large gold pinky ring on his left hand glinted dully in the fluorescent lights of the lab.  

“Uncle Jasper!” Bridgette gasped as he startled her. 

“Bridgie! Are you as excited as I am for our great adventure?” Jasper asked as he brushed down the invisible wrinkles on his new suit. Her great-uncle was always very proper in his appearance, she couldn’t think of one moment in her memory he hadn't been wearing a suit. Jasper whistled and two muscular men appeared out of the doorway. They quickly grabbed up the crates and hauled them silently out of the laboratory. Calvin hung his head low. It was going to be a long three-hour drive to the nearest dock, and he wasn’t looking forward to being stuck in such a small space for so long. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his boss. Dr. Jasper Hawthorne was rather handsome and lean with a striking thick white mustache. His great-niece was equally attractive, with the most peculiar upturned nose that softly shelved her rose-colored lips. On the contrary, it was because he simply knew he was more intelligent than both of them and the ride would center on talk of frivolous things that bored him immensely. As they arrived at the dock the water was still, and so blue Jasper commented on how it matched Bridgette’s eyes. Her eyes were like her great-grandmother, her father and uncle would tell her often. She looked out watching the sun starting to set, the beginning of the orange and pink wisping upon the sky, You could get lost in thought staring into the open water, or watching the tiny fish as they came to the surface in search of food thrown in by tourists. All three were exhausted from rigorous packing and the long ride but they were also very determined to start their long-awaited scientific trip.

“Oh, my, Uncle you got a new boat?” Bridgette asked, pushing the dark, curly brunette hair out of her doe eyes just as a gust of wind blew through it. 

“Actually, at this length, it’s classified as a yacht,” Calvin reacted, as he carried up Bridgette’s bright green luggage in both arms, tripping as he loaded them in. 

“Yes Bridgie, and when our adventure is over this boat is yours!” Jasper smiled, bringing down the sunglasses that sat upon his snow-colored hair. 

“No, no, Uncle it’s too much.” She replied, getting into the yacht as her eyes grew larger in wonderment. 

“Now, I think a nice meet and greet is in order,” Jasper’s southern drawl boomed as he pushed back the long tail on his red leather coat, heading down the stairs. “Alright, now that we’re all here we’ll get to know one another because let’s face it, we’ll be with each other for months or maybe years.” He grabbed a chair from out of the corner of the room and sat down motioning everyone to take a seat. “When I was a lad and I went on my first adventure my captain did the same thing, so I think it’s fair I follow in his footsteps. Alright, everyone, I’m Dr. Jasper Hawthorne, most of you know me. I'm the head scientist, founder, and CEO of Hawthorne Sciences, and the reason we’re all taking this little voyage.” He chuckled, keeping his weary eyes on the crew. “Now some of you know my great-niece, Bridgette,” He motioned with his black and silver cane, toward the pale girl sitting in the booth. “And this is my assistant Dr. Calvin Dubois.” He finished motioning to the awkward man with thick glasses standing in the corner with his arms crossed. “But what we don’t know is who all of you are.”

“A’ight, well, the name’s Miles Wiley. I’m an engineer,” Spoke up a broad-shouldered, bald, black man slouching in a chair. His voice was deep and rough, unlike his face which looked calm and inviting. His nose was slightly wider than normal and crooked, but he used that as a way to break the ice talking to new people. “I used to, uhh, play baseball and caught a fastball right to the face.” He clicks his tongue to the roof of his mouth to make a noise similar to a ball being hit. “Hitter thought he had a home run and well, he threw his bat backward and that was it.” He laughed as he motioned his fist hitting his nose “Twice to the nose.” He finished laying his calloused hands on his blue dickies.

“Umm. I’m Dr. Sean MacCleary,” Piped up a rough-looking man with a Scottish accent. “I’m a geologist and marine biologist.” He finished rubbing his weathered freckled hands on his dirty jeans. He didn’t quite fit the description of a person with a doctorate, he had shaggy, curly, auburn hair, a face full of freckles, and a chipped front tooth. He had a very solid build and an unkempt red beard that caught all the food he happened to be eating that day. “I didn’t play sports.” He laughed awkwardly as he looked around the room. 

“And that leaves me, hi, I’m Ajay Gupta, I’m just a few credits shy of getting my doctorate in biochemistry.” A voice from the back of the room squeaked. Ajay was a mere eighteen years old and always smelled of oranges. He parted his coal-black hair to the left with way too much hair gel, and his clothes consisted of button-down shirts in crazy designs and khakis. Ajay was the smartest child in India, at six years old his parents noticed he excelled in all of his school work. The school tested him and every year he skipped grades until he graduated high school at fourteen years old. His parents sent him to Havard, he is going to be the youngest person to receive his doctorate. He explained to the rest of the crew that was all wondering why he was there.

 “Of course, Mr. Gupta is here to help with our work, he’s an intern.” Replied Jasper standing up and moving toward the coffee machine as a yawn slowly crept from his mouth. Suddenly the boat stopped and a siren blared, everyone raced upstairs to see the commotion.     

“Mrs. Watson, oh, my dear Mrs. Watson you came, for a minute I didn’t think you’d make it.” Jasper laughed as he helped this short, stout, older woman on board. He gently kissed her rosy pink cheeks from either too much makeup or the sea wind.

“Oh, Jasper but you didn’t make it easy, did you?” She chuckled as she handed her oversized green purse and mint green peacoat to Calvin, who she mistook for the help. “I see you brought baby Bridgette, oh darling it’s so good to see you, a spot of tea I think dear.” She announced noticing Bridgette by the railing. She always loved hearing her English accent as a child. She took Bridgette by the arm and headed downstairs, while her lime green scarf blew in the wind. She has a slight right limp as she walked and a peculiar sense of humor that most people didn’t understand. 

“Ah, everyone this is Mrs. Clara Watson, my secretary and well, my good friend, I wouldn’t be where I am without this woman.” Jasper relayed, opening his arms wide and motioning everyone back downstairs with a tap of his cane.

“Mrs. Watson, are you sure you’re up for this trip?” Bridgette asked, holding on to Clara’s withered liver-spotted hands, her nails beautifully painted teal.

“Oh, my dear I’m more up for this trip than the good doctor himself!” Clara laughed, her old brown eyes seem to have lived a thousand lives, or one life a thousand ways. Her button nose was still red from the cold wind, and her gray hair was still up in her green tea hat, she patted Bridgette’s hand as they made their way to the kitchen. 

“Yes, I have a few announcements!” Dr. Hawthorne addressed the room as he set his cane against the back of the folding chair. “Dr. MacCleary you will bunk with Mr. Wiley, down the corridor in room four,” He cleared his throat as he turned around to the coffee machine. “Now, where was I? Ahh, yes coffee.” He looked about in the cabinets for the sugar rustling things, finally finding his lost treasure and pouring it into his cup. “Yes, Dr. Dubois you will bunk will Mr. Gupta in room five, as for You, my dear, Clara I have taken the liberty to prepare your room myself dear in room three” He smiled as he handed her the key card. Out of nowhere, a woman dressed in a one-piece white and blue outfit handed Jasper a cup and saucer which he promptly handed them off to Mrs. Watson. The woman doesn’t say a word and turned to walk back out. Mrs. Clara stood up as she reached for the cup and headed out of the doorway. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten you Bridgie, you are in room 2 love next door to mine room one.” He then turned to face the others coffee in hand, “Now as you’ve seen there is a crew on board, staff will be dressed in all white with dark blue stripes running down the side of their uniform. You may ask for anything you need or want, this boat is stocked with everything. The crew will be dressed in dark blue with white stripes down the side of their uniform they are running this big behemoth.” He laughed as he took a sip of his black coffee with two sugars. “Alright I don’t know about any of you but I’m going lie down, feel free to look about.” As the days rolled into months they seemed to be on the boat for what felt like an eternity, laughing, crying, sharing stories, and getting closer together. Just as Bridgette felt like she was going to burst she heard a knock.

“Ms. Hawthorne?” A faint voice came from behind the wall, Dr. Sean MacCleary peeks his auburn hair from around the corner and slowly steps into her room with his hands in his pockets, “We’re by a pod of whales if you’d like to come to see them.” 

“Whales!” She exclaimed, laying her book down on the other side of her bed. As they headed upstairs she heard a shout.  

“Bridgie, look, it’s blue whales, we’re here, Antarctic!” Jasper hit the rails with his hands and then grabbed Calvin, hugging him too tightly as Calvin tried to scramble to get away from Dr. Hawthorne’s shenanigans. They docked the brown and gold yacht, which Dr. Hawthorne named the Experiment, and departed inland. As they head onto the shore Dr. Calvin grabbed the GPS to put in the coordinates, when Jasper snatched it from his hands and put it into the pocket of Ajay’s backpack. 

“We won’t be using the GPS, we'll be using the map of my old leader, Dr. Lonie Anderson. He had the most magnificent findings but went on one last adventure and sadly perished at sea.” He said, taking off his brown fedora and holding it to his broad chest for a moment in silence before continuing by tapping his cane twice on the ice. “Now, in his will he bequeathed everything to me, having no children or family, and at first I sincerely thought he was developing Alzheimer’s or dementia.” He scoffed out loud in humor, putting his fedora back upon his head. “But by doing my own research, findings, and calculations I was able to locate his coordinates and invited you all for this glorious journey.” He laughed, throwing his arms up into the air. His white mustache glistened in the bright sun as his black sunglasses reflected the light sitting upon his long upturned nose. Which happened to be a Hawthorne trait. 

“Hold on a minute Dr. Hawthorne,” Miles said in a southern drawl confused, furling his shapely black brows, taking down the bag he had strapped to his chest. “I didn’t sign up for an adventure, sir, I signed up for a sure expedition.” 

“This is the first I’m hearing of this, Dr. Hawthorne!” Calvin replied, in his French accent barely able to control the levels of his voice. He threw his long arms down in a tantrum, and this was the first time Bridgette had seen him outraged, he always seemed to hold his composer. 

“Now, if you wish to depart the ship is at your ready,” Jasper interrupted him, holding out his cane toward the gray and black boat cleverly named, Shadow, appearing from the fog as if it had been following them the entire time and was waiting for its precise cue to appear, which made it that much eerier. “But, if you wish to stay, know this, I chose you all to accompany me because you’re the best in your fields, and I know we'll make great discoveries!” Jasper shouted, getting overly excited, ending his speech by holding Bridgette’s hand as a big Cheshire cat grin transpired on her alabaster face. 

Ajay peeped out from behind the brutish back of Miles as he shouted, ”I’m in Dr. Hawthorne.” He quickly shuffled towards Jasper and Bridgette, waddling in his oversized navy blue marshmallow puffer jacket and pants. He was very similar to a penguin moving about the snow, as everyone tried to hold in their laughter.

“Well, if the wee lad is staying, then you can count this Scot in.” Dr. Sean piped up heading toward the others in the group, with a black duffle bag strapped to his chest and a shovel in his hand he started throwing over his shoulder.

“You know I’m always up for an adventure, Doctor!” Clara giggled standing next to Jasper, dressed in green from head to toe, grabbing onto his arm. Her smile was so bright it was certainly contagious as Ajay and Dr. MacCleary brightened up heading toward the new group forming away from the docks.

“A’ight, I’m in,” Sighed Miles, grabbing his leather satchel and pickaxe, and walking toward everyone else. Changing his mind as it seemed everyone was excited about going on this journey.

“You, you can’t be serious!” Emphasized Calvin as he pulled down the gray beanie, onto his sandy blonde hair.  

“Oh, come on man,” Miles threw his pickaxe over his shoulder while intensely staring at Calvin.

“Yes, join us, please.” Waved Bridgette, her eager smile soft yet hopeful. She was always eager to show her teeth since she took off her braces years ago.

“No, no, this, this, is not what I signed up for.” Dr. Dubois stuttered, stamping his foot like a child. He wanted to work, not become friends with this poor band of miscreants that didn’t fit well together. He knew his intelligence far exceeded everyone and his IQ would surely drop in the coming months, he thought to himself. 

“Oh, come on, Cal what have you got to lose?” Dr. Hawthorne smiled, as he adjusted his black leather gloves onto his hands still holding onto his cane that seemed to never leave his side.

“Fine, fine,” Calvin said, sounding exhausted and irritated, grabbing his old 1960’s brown suitcase and walking toward everyone, as they all turn ready to embark on the new adventure. “And, don’t call me Cal, it’s Calvin, it was my grandfather's name, and if it was good enough for him, then..”  

“Hurry up now Cal, no lagging,” Jasper shouted interrupting him, with disregard to letting Calvin ever finish a sentence.