1

Starting a new job can be and usually is nerve wrecking but it can also be exciting at the same time. However Zakia was feeling more excited than nervous about the new job she had been accepted for. She was to start working at an advanced aquatic science research facility isolated in the middle of the ocean called White Wave. She was to be the new diver at the facility and would be swimming with sharks but had yet to be told what types of sharks exactly.

When her Aunt Netanya found out she was shocked and asked Zakia if she was insane. However she didn’t mind, in fact sharks were her favorite kind of fish so when she found out she would be swimming with them she was ecstatic. It wasn’t just sharks that she loved though, no, Zakia loved all kinds of fish. Ever since she was a child she had always had a love of the ocean and aquatic life. Her love for the sea was only encouraged by her parents who had been marine biologists and they would buy her all kinds of books to help her learn more.

That love continued to grow stronger throughout the years even with the death of her parents at sea seven years ago when Zakia was fifteen. They had went diving one day and never came back, their boat ‘Oracle’ had been found ninety miles farther then they had mapped out. It was still unknown on where they are but her Aunt Netanya and herself, believe that they had vanished into the sea. Most people are shocked that Zakia didn’t cry at their funerals but she knew they died in the place they loved most, the sea.

The plan was that after she took a plane from New York to California she would take a company boat to White Wave along with a few other people who would be staying at the facility. There was a residency cycle at White Wave, every two weeks the staff would switch out. After two weeks a boat load of staff would come onto the facility to live there for two weeks while the other half would go to the mainland for two weeks. However depending on your job you would have to love permanently at White Wave and seeing as Zakia was a diver she would be one of those people and every six months she was allowed to go to the mainland.

As soon as she stepped off the airplane she immediately had to squint and shield her eyes form the unforgiving Californian sun. Pulling down her sunglasses Zakia moved down the steps and into the airport. Looking around she nodded at the flight attendants who were greeting people at the door and made her way to baggage claim. Grabbing her duffle bag and suitcase she made her way out of the airport and hailed a taxi, directing him to the port. Checking the dashboard she relaxed into the seat and saw that she had plenty of time to reach the port on time.

On the way to the port the driver and her made idle chit chat as they drove along the coast. Zakia couldn’t help but to smile and look around interested as she hadn’t been anywhere like California before, mostly staying in New York and along the East Coast. After thirty minute drive they pulled into the port and she thanked the man and paid before shouldering her bag and walking further into the port. There were a few people docking a white and blue boat and moving closer she saw the words ‘White Wave Aquatic Research’ printed in big bold blue lettering.

People were climbing aboard and appeared to be checking in with a man in front of the boat with a clipboard. Walking onto the ship Zakia walked over to the man slowly and smiled tentatively at the large, intimidating man. He seemed to be of African descent with dark skin and was about six feet tall. His build was solid and he had large dark eyes that were watching her closely.

“Name” he said. His voice was thick with a heavy Nigerian accent.

“Zakia Delta” she replied nervously and fidgeted slightly in her spot.

            Looking down the chart his eyebrows rose in shock as he saw the job position next to her name. He looked at her surprised, there was no trace of indifference on his face anymore it was now replaced with surprise.

“You’re the new diver?”

“Yes, I am”

The man shook his head and mumbled something before sighing “My name is Obiwan and I am the captain of this ship. I am the one who travels the staff of White Wave every few weeks.”

“It’s nice to meet you Obiwan” she shook his hand and smiled politely, in her mind she couldn’t help but think about how is hand dwarfed hers in comparison.

“I wish to tell you good luck Zakia. You sure got your work cut out for you girl and I hope you remain safe.

She tilted her head confused and asked him what he meant.

“Did they tell you what happened to the last diver, Jim?”

She thought for a moment before shaking her head. They hadn’t told her much in the letter and over the phone when they checked to make sure everything was in order.

“No they didn’t.”

“Of course not,” Obiwan laughed humorlessly. Taking a deep breath he began to tell Zakia about how Jim had been focusing on one of the sharks who needed to go to the lab. He hadn’t noticed that another two were coming towards them. One took a bite out of his side and shook him like an old ragdoll. The second shark had bitten his right leg and left arm clean off. Poor Jim was now in the hospital in San Diego in critical condition, he wasn’t expected to live through the next few days as he already had lost too much blood.

As Obiwan told her about Jim she couldn’t help but to wonder what she had gotten herself into with accepting this job. The thought of that maybe Jim hadn’t had much experience crossed her mind and she hoped that was true. That thought was dashed from her brain however when Obiwan told her that Jim had been working there for twelve years. Zakia thanked Obiwan for telling her about Jim and walked away so that he could set sail for White Wave as she had been the last passenger.