Island(Working Title)

Banafrit, or Ana as was her preference, wore her noise-canceling earbuds to battle the thunderous sound of the cargo bob outside; it was dropping off a Prefab Shelter Kit for the new security guard coming to the island soon. Most of the team assigned to this international project lived on the FS Marie Curie offshore research vessel, which served as an HQ and their central labs. Her research centered around the island's languages; she worked closely with Professor Stephen Burke, the historian of the group. They had met when she studied abroad in England and became fast friends. Their consistent communication over the years gained her this position in the project.
The French found the island, later dubbing it Maison Island, in the early eighteen hundreds but soon fled from the island and destroyed almost all evidence of its existence in their government’s archives. This saved the local population, three tribes that collectively called themselves the Maison people, from being included in all the following wars and political turmoil. Until it was rediscovered by a US naval vessel, the French flag was ancient, but Avatok, a tribal leader, presented it to them, and things went from there.

Sighing, she put her curly, vibrant red-brown hair up into a messy ponytail to keep it out of her face while she finished packing. Thankfully, she planned on staying with her sister, Chelsea, in London so she could have free access to laundry facilities and pack light. She still needed to prepare for an English summer, though. Chelsea met her now husband, Carry, when she came to visit Ana while she was still studying overseas, and now she was a citizen of the UK.

Carry was a nice guy; they'd met when they shared several classes and got paired up for a project. She ensured he passed, and he showed her the sights and his favorite pub.

Getting her bags together, she dropped them off at the front door by the glass backdoor. The cargo bob was far too loud this close, so she retreated to her room until she heard it head back to the ship. Finally able to pull her earbuds out, she headed for the kitchen for a snack of soda crackers and sharp cheddar. She heard the back door slide open as Burke came back inside.

"I'm in here," she called out.

He tossed his hearing protection on the table as he headed into the kitchen.

"I hate that thing," he said as he stepped up to the other side of the kitchen island.

"You and me both, oh, I grabbed a few things from your room." she always told him when she entered his room. He had a much nicer shower that she frequently used.

"Oh, that's fine. Hopefully, this friend of Captain Rex's world out, by contract, we have to have a security officer posted on the island with us. I wouldn't say I like having the Sword of Damocles above my head constantly, " he sighed.

"That's up to Avatok; he's a picky guy. Rex does seem weirdly optimistic this go around, though. I'm hoping I can get a peek at his file while I'm onboard HQ." she knew there would be a short debriefing any time someone left, but she'd have a few hours while she waited for her helicopter to a base in Africa. From there, it was one very uncomfortable ride in a military plane to France, and then she'd be in first class for the short flight to England.

"True. Too bad you won't be here to witness them meeting Avatok. I got a call just before the cargo bob showed up. One of his flights got delayed, so he won't be here for a day and a half." Burke wasn't looking forward to her absence; he'd been one of her professors, and they'd only gotten closer since then.

"Bet you three dinners he's gone before I get back." she teased him.

"I don't know. It feels different this time… you're on, though, but only because I want edible dinners." he could burn microwave dinners, so he had a valid point. On the other hand, Ana had dated a chef some years back who insisted that she learn the fundamentals of cooking. The relationship fell apart, but the skills still came in handy.

"It's about that time." she sighed. Burke was her ride to the beach to meet the boat out, but he was delaying. As excited as she was to see her sister again, she would miss Burke deeply.

"I know, let's get your things loaded up.'' He tried his hardest to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.