.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Analeah watched as the Sky Devils walked up onto the ship, they were talking loudly and laughing as they made their way toward their own setup. She watched them closely, analyzing their behavior when someone stepped up next to her. "When the Colonel said there was another woman on board, I wasn't expecting it to be you," A female voice pulled Analeah from the soldiers to a woman standing beside her. "Analeah Conrad," Analeah introduced herself as she held her hand out to the woman. "Mason Weaver," Mason replied as she shook Analeah's hand, the two turned their eyes back to the soldiers.

"So what is your special role on the team?" Analeah asked Mason despite noticing the camera around the woman's neck, she wasn't going to assume anything. "I'm a photographer," Mason answered her with a small smile though she noticed how Analeah raised her brow in question. "Right... Well, I'm listed on as an animal behaviorist but my skills are more extensive than that label," Analeah told Mason as her eyes locked onto a young soldier laughing at something the man next to him said. "Did someone catch your eye?" Mason asked with a teasing grin. "Certainly has... but the chances of him being single as a soldier are pretty low. Especially looking like that," Analeah expressed openly.

Analeah Conrad was a seventeen-year-old who knew what she wanted, she knew that she had the power to become whoever she wished to be and she knew that confidence is key but that didn't mean she had to be cocky. And if you knew Analeah Conrad personally, you would know that she will only back down from a challenge when proven it isn't worth the time. But the tan soldier standing with the others, a gorgeous smile on his face, and a carefree demeanor despite all he's probably seen during the war was someone that Analeah was interested to get to know.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"Hello and welcome. I'm Landsat Field Supervisor, Victor Nieves," Victor Nieves spoke as he stepped up in front of everyone playing a role in the expedition. Analeah leaned against the wall behind everyone out of view, she was watching the projector screen closely without noticing the new presence in the room. "This is my colleague Steve Woodward, our data wrangler," Victor spoke as he pointed at the man who Analeah had approached before boarding the ship. "Our expedition takes us to a place every nautical trade route known to man has avoided for centuries," Victor explained as he clicked through the projector slides.

"As our satellites show, the island is surrounded by a perpetual storm system, allowing it to remain hidden from the outside world," Victor spoke as Analeah tilted her head at the image of the island, she had an uneasy feeling about this whole trip but the money was enough to set her up for a long time and she wasn't going to pass on it. "But with Colonel Packard's helicopter transport, we will be the first to break through to the other side," Victor motioned towards Colonel Packard and his Sky Devils, Analeah turned her head to the soldiers and smirked slightly as she spotted the young soldier from earlier.

"We're also pleased to be joined, for the first time, by the resource exploration team led by Mr. Randa, and accompanied by Biologist, Miss San, and Geologist, Mr. Brooks," Victor motioned towards the three who nodded and looked around the room. "Our focus will be on the island's surface, theirs, what lies beneath," Victor spoke gaining the attention of the room again. "Mr. Brooks..." Victor turned to Houston before moving to the side allowing Houston to take over the presentation. "Simple, really," Brooks says as he walks to the front of the room, "We'll use explosives to shake the earth and create vibrations helping us map the subsurface of the island."

Analeah sighed in annoyance, she didn't like the idea of disturbing an unknown ecosystem in such a sudden way that could result in every species becoming defensive considering the outsiders only as a threat. Or even the possibility of there being indigenous tribes on the island that end up harmed or killed by their explosives. "We'll fly in over the South shore, and then strategically drop seismic charges to better help us understand the density of the earth," Brooks explained as he pointed out the images on the projection slides. "You're dropping bombs?" A familiar British voice spoke pulling Analeah's attention to the middle of the room.

Her breath hitched at the sight of her older brother, she looked at Randa who shrugged slightly making her roll her eyes deciding to show herself now rather than later. "Mmm... Scientific instruments," Brooks replied to him. "You hear that, boys? We're scientists now!" The young soldier who caught Analeah's eye spoke with a grin on his face, the others laughing at his words while the Landsat members scoffed. "Wouldn't that be a risky move?" Analeah asked as she stepped out into everyone's view, whispers filling the room as James looked at his sister with shock evident in his expression.

"You want to enter a whole new ecosystem, disturb it without knowing what could be living there, and expect it to be all sunshine and rainbows?" Analeah continued with her British accent coming out thick. "It's a risky situation but it is the necessary move in order to understand the density of the earth as I mentioned," Brooks responded to Analeah but she could practically feel the nerves coming off him in waves, they knew something more than what they were telling them and it made Analeah uneasy. "We'll then land and make base camp for ground excursions led by Mr. Conrad--" Victor motioned towards James before looking towards Analeah, "--Alongside Miss Conrad who will hopefully keep us from being an animals dinner."

"If you're lucky," Analeah said with a faux innocent smile making the soldiers laugh at her reply while Victor looked unsettled by her words. "Major Jack Chapman," Victor introduced before letting Jack take the attention. "All right. Once on the island, the storm's interference will block all radio contact with the ship," Jack began as he looked around at everyone. "That means we'll be by ourselves," Jack warned them all, Analeah looked over to her brother to see him already looking at her with a blank expression; she knew he wasn't happy about her presence there after they hadn't spoken in quite some time.

"Three days later, the refuel team will meet us here, on the north end of the island," Jack explained as he pointed it out on the image of the island. "That may be our only safe departure window for an unknown period of time. So, tip for everybody, don't miss it, please," Jack advised everyone while Analeah huffed a quiet laugh to herself. She let her eyes wander around the room before she locked gazes with the young soldier, she raised a brow with a smirk before winking at him causing him to look away with a flustered expression that made Analeah grin to herself. However, before she could take further pride in it, someone grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the room.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"Can you let go of my arm, James?" Analeah asked her brother before they finally stopped far enough from the room that people were currently exiting. "Why are you here?" James asked his little sister, he didn't know the full risks of this expedition and he wasn't about to let his sister step foot onto the island no matter how capable she is. "Because Randa and Brooks came to me for assistance, they knew about my book and the expeditions that I do and believed that I'd be a great addition to the team," Analeah answered him as she stepped back from her brother, the two were staring at each other.

James looked down with a sigh before placing his hands on his hips, "You do realize how dangerous this is?" Analeah rolled her eyes at James' words, she wasn't a child with a naive belief that everything was sparkles and unicorns. "They're hiding something. This expedition isn't about the wildlife, flora, or the earth's density. They're searching for something and I wanna know what it is plus the money they offered is what I need for the Sanctuary," Analeah replied to him with a shrug. "I'm not daft, James. I know the risks, I may not know them in depth but I certainly know that this could end badly," Analeah added with a sigh.

James let out a breath before pulling Analeah into a hug, she instantly hugged him back melting in his embrace. "It's so good to see you again," James told Analeah with a small smile. "It's been too long since we've seen each other," Analeah replied to him before they pulled out of their embrace. "So I wasn't the only one off about this expedition," James said with an impressed smile. "You forget that we're related," Analeah teased before looking towards the door in time to see the young soldier walk out being lightly pushed by his usual companions. He looked over at Analeah who smiled at him, his cheeks tinging pink prompting the others to tease him.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Rosemary Speaks

How do you feel about Analeah?
Do we like confident Analeah?
Or do you hope to see her flustered?

See you in the next chapter!