Jake Carter felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as he boarded the plane that would take him to the Bahamas. He had packed his bags and brought his passport, as Morgan had instructed him. He had also brought the map and the letter, which he had hidden in a secret compartment in his backpack.
He had left a note for his roommate, telling him that he was going on a vacation with his uncle. He had not told anyone else about his real destination or purpose. He knew that this was a dangerous and secretive mission, and that he had to be careful and alert.
He wondered what awaited him in the Bahamas. He wondered who Morgan's team was and what they were like. He wondered what kind of submarine they would use and how deep they would dive. He wondered what they would find at the bottom of the ocean.
He also wondered if this was real or a hoax. He wondered if Morgan was telling him the truth or lying to him. He wondered if this was safe or dangerous. He wondered if this was wise or foolish.
He tried to calm himself and focus on the positive. He reminded himself that this was his chance to fulfill his destiny. This was his chance to find Atlantis. This was his chance to find his father.
He looked out of the window and saw the clouds passing by. He closed his eyes and imagined what Atlantis looked like. He imagined a magnificent city of gold and crystal, shining under the sun and the sea. He imagined towering temples and palaces, adorned with statues and paintings. He imagined gardens and fountains, filled with flowers and animals. He imagined streets and markets, bustling with people and activity.
He opened his eyes and smiled. He felt a surge of hope and curiosity.
He couldn't wait to see it with his own eyes.
Jake arrived at the Bahamas after a few hours of flight. He took a taxi from the airport to a hotel near the beach, where Morgan had booked a room for him.
He checked in at the reception and received a key card for his room. He also received a note from Morgan, telling him to meet him at the hotel lobby at 10 p.m.
He went to his room and unpacked his bags. He took a shower and changed into fresh clothes. He checked his phone and saw that he had no messages or calls from anyone. He felt a pang of loneliness and isolation.
He decided to go out and explore the surroundings. He left his room and walked along the beach, enjoying the warm breeze and the sound of the waves. He saw many tourists and locals, having fun and relaxing. He felt out of place and alienated.
He wished he had someone to talk to, someone who understood him, someone who shared his passion for Atlantis.
He thought of Aria, the princess heir to the throne of Atlantis, who Morgan had mentioned in his letter. He wondered what she looked like, what she sounded like, what she thought like.
He wondered if he would ever meet her, if he would ever talk to her, if he would ever like her.
He shook his head and dismissed these thoughts as silly and unrealistic.
He focused on his mission and his goal.
He returned to his hotel room and waited for Morgan's call.
At 10 p.m., Jake's phone rang. It was Morgan.
"Jake, are you ready?" Morgan asked.
"Yes, I'm ready," Jake said.
"Good, good. Come down to the lobby then," Morgan said.
"Okay, I'm coming," Jake said.
He hung up the phone and grabbed his backpack. He put on a jacket and a hat, as Morgan had told him to do. He wanted to blend in with the crowd and avoid attracting attention.
He left his room and took the elevator to the lobby. He saw Morgan waiting for him near the entrance. Morgan was a tall and thin man in his sixties, with gray hair and beard, wearing glasses and a trench coat. He looked like a typical professor or scholar, but Jake knew that he was much more than that.
Morgan smiled when he saw Jake.
"Jake, my boy, you're here," Morgan said.
"Professor Morgan, it's good to see you," Jake said.
They hugged briefly and exchanged greetings.
"Are you ready for this adventure?" Morgan asked.
"Yes, I'm ready," Jake said.
"Excellent, excellent. Follow me then," Morgan said.
They walked out of the hotel and got into a black van parked outside. The driver was a young man with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a leather jacket and jeans. He nodded at them as they entered the van.
"This is Max," Morgan introduced him. "He's our pilot."
"Hi, Max," Jake said.
"Hi, Jake," Max said.
They drove away from the hotel and headed towards the outskirts of the city. They passed by many buildings, shops and restaurants, but they did not stop or look around. They kept a low profile and avoided any unnecessary interaction.
They reached a secluded area, where there was a large warehouse surrounded by a fence and a gate. Max stopped the van and honked the horn. The gate opened and they drove inside. The gate closed behind them.
They got out of the van and entered the warehouse. Jake saw that the warehouse was actually a secret base, filled with various equipment and vehicles. He saw computers, monitors, radios, cameras, scanners, generators, batteries, wires, cables, tools, weapons, suits, helmets, masks, tanks, tubes, valves, pumps, propellers, torpedoes, missiles, rockets.
He also saw a submarine. A large, sleek and shiny submarine that looked like a futuristic spaceship. It had a cylindrical body with a pointed nose and a flat tail. It had four fins on the sides and two propellers on the back. It had several windows and hatches on the surface. It had a number and a name painted on the side: 007 - Atlantis.
Jake was speechless. He felt awe and admiration.
He looked at Morgan and saw that he was smiling proudly.
"This is our submarine," Morgan said. "This is Atlantis."
"Wow," Jake said.
"Wow indeed," Morgan said.
They walked towards the submarine and met the rest of the team. There were four other people waiting for them near the hatch.
They were:
Lisa, a woman in her forties, with brown hair and green eyes, wearing a lab coat and glasses. She was the scientist and engineer of the team. She was responsible for designing and maintaining the submarine and its systems.
Sam, a man in his thirties, with black hair and brown eyes, wearing a suit and tie. He was the financier and sponsor of the team. He was a wealthy businessman who had invested in Morgan's research and expedition.
Alex, a woman in her twenties, with red hair and blue eyes, wearing a leather jacket and jeans. She was the diver and explorer of the team. She was an expert in underwater exploration and navigation.
Jack, a man in his twenties, with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a leather jacket and jeans. He was the security and weapons expert of the team. He was a former soldier who had joined Morgan's mission for personal reasons.
They greeted Jake warmly and introduced themselves.
"Welcome to the team, Jake," Lisa said.
"Thank you for joining us," Sam said.
"We're glad to have you here," Alex said.
"You're one of us now," Jack said.
Jake felt welcomed and accepted. He felt like he belonged to this group of people who shared his vision and enthusiasm for Atlantis.
He thanked them and shook their hands.
Morgan gathered them around him and gave them a brief speech.
"My friends, we are about to embark on the most important expedition of our lives. We are about to make history. We are about to find Atlantis," Morgan said.
The team cheered and clapped.
"We have worked hard for this moment. We have prepared well for this mission. We have everything we need to succeed: knowledge, skills, equipment, courage," Morgan said.
The team nodded and agreed.
"We also have something else: we have each other. We are not just a team; we are a family. We trust each other; we support each other; we protect each other," Morgan said.
The team smiled and hugged each other.
"We are ready for this adventure; we are ready for this challenge; we are ready for this discovery," Morgan said.
The team shouted "Yes!" in unison.
"Then let's go find Atlantis!" Morgan said.
The team cheered louder and followed Morgan into the submarine.
Jake followed them too. He felt excited and confident.
He felt ready for this adventure; he felt ready for this challenge; he felt ready for this discovery.
He entered the submarine and closed the hatch behind him.