Ocean Girl

Well, that’s the validation. Congratulations to you all.

You can now handle any vessel up to laser cat..

Are you sure the test was hard enough?

Some of the jobs are good. Some are dead boring.

What jobs?

You get a boat licence, Jason, you get responsibilities Now, let’s check the file.

There we are. There’s one scheduled for this afternoon. Drift net.

About 10 kilometres north. It’ll have to be marked so it can be sunk later.

What’s the big deal?

Well, they’re illegal for a start. Should be a visual reference here somewhere.

There you go. Snags anything bigger than your hand.

The harder they try to get out, the more they get stuck, everything drowns. So - you volunteering?

Now, I’m not sure about letting juniors handle this one, carlyle. Surely it’s a senior crew job?

Doesn’t seem so difficult. I’ll do it.

I don’t get this, Jason.

When we first got here, you did nothing but complain about how much you hated the place, how bored you were.

Now, all of the sudden, you’re taking diving lessons, driving boats

So I’m looking for things to keep myself occupied on this dump. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? What?

All right. You be careful.

Hey! I know what I’m doing. See ya.

Bye-bye.

Now, what on earth is he doing?

No idea.

That product is temporarily unavailable.

Never was available. The dietician’s put a ban on all chocolate until further notice.

The dietician’s put a ban on everything worth eating.

Wait a minute. There may be a way we can override

That computer knows you and it doesn’t like you one little bit.

I’ve got the message. I’ve got another idea. That computer knows you and it doesn’t like you one little bit.

I’ve got the message. I’ve got another idea.

Come on, Brett.

Hey, we’re doing something here.

Excuse me. He’s busy.

Looks like you and me will have to tackle this one by ourselves. Come on.

Why me?

I need someone to pass me the marker buoys.

Besides, it gives us a chance to get away from everybody and talk privately.

About what?

About her, dummy.

Couldn’t we just tell one person? Like Froggy or Zoe or someone?

Get real. Even if they did believe you, do you think they’d be able to keep their mouths shut?

No, I guess it’d be over ORCA in a day.

Yeah, you can bet on it. And every kid on board would be out searching for her.

Probably scare her right off forever. So just keep your mouth shut.

But we’re still going to look for her.

Why do you think I got the licence, thick head?

I figure this way we can quietly snoop around the place without anybody looking.

Maybe you can remember the island if you saw it again.

Gee, I don’t know.

Well, not today anyway. We got that stinking net. So, let’s get it over with.

One more to do for this section.

Look.

Bubbles. Probably just an air pocket or something.

What if something’s stuck down there?

Like what?

I dunno. You could go and take a look.

I don’t want to be here all day.

What if it drowns down there?

All right. But if I bring it up, you’re the one who’s going to play nursemaid to some sharks.

I saw her! She was down there! She saw the knife and freaked out!

Look.

Are you okay?

She does know how to speak english, doesn’t she? We want to be your friends.

My friends. You hurt.

It’s not our net. We’re trying to get rid of it. Cut it up. Wait! Putting it down, see?

You hurt with - thing.

I think she means the whale tag. No. We wouldn’t do that. We wouldn’t harm him.

Brett?

She remembers you!

He’s telling the truth. No bull.

So, Neri - I hear you live on an island. How about showing us?

I saved your life and this is the thanks I get?

We’d just look. We wouldn’t hurt anything, Neri.

I ask Charley. I come back when sun is overhead.

Tomorrow?

Here.

Shut it! Quick!

Oops!

You got it. A saucepan?

Food supply section. A tick is go. Triangles can be ordered with commander’s code.

Items coded with a cross can’t be ordered at all.

Try it.

Easy to change the orders.

Activate the item - set the quantity required - and designate a time for delivery.

You can’t send them to the galley!

This thing’ll pick them up the minute they come over the counter.

Good point. We’ll send them to one of those storerooms on level kilo.

No one will ever check there.

Better make it a couple each. Well, we are trying to prove a point, aren’t we?

Oh, yeah.

Froggy, you’re a genius. I’ve got to go.

I bet you she’s not going to turn up.

Sounded like she was going to to me. Soon as she’s talked it over with Charley.

Who is this Charley anyway? Her boyfriend or what?

Oh, probably a what.

Plenty of what’s around these days. I mean, whatever happened to all the how, what, when and whys?

I don’t think I’ve met this Charley.

Presumably he’s the competition? Mmm. No comment.

And the young woman in question? Who’s this? A friend you’ve made?

A passing acquaintance? we’re not talking marriage here?!

Oh, get a grip, mum.

Puh-lease! Oh, get a grip, mum.