The Bermuda Triangle Expedition

The Bermuda Triangle Expedition - Closed

"I am after four people, to join me on a quest, a journey, a sojourn if you like to find out the mysteries of the much fabled Bermuda Triangle. We will be exploring the area for 3 months and there will be monetary gains for the four interested participants. It is a expedition of danger and a possibility that we will not return. Only for people who are in need for adventure and a thirst for the unknown."

"Email me back with interests, background and I will be in touch. I will with the one's interested provide more information in due course."

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Born on the 12-May-1970, to mother Mia Vaughan and father Timothy Thorne, and named Joel Thorne, the boy was a single child in an almost loveless marriage. Where the parents did not show emotion to each other, they showed copious amounts to Joel, lavishing him with gifts, love and attention.

Mia and Timothy stayed together out of regard to their son. They slept in different rooms and lived and worked in different worlds. Mia Vaughan was a computer programmer for CNNI news network, updating data feeds in the computers whilst Timothy was a proffessor of historical scientific theory at YALE.

Joel was born in New Jersey and grew up in the family estate at Pittsburgh. He was given everything he ever wanted and did not lack anything. From the age of 5 he started with computers and had a natural compunction with computer data entry that Mia felt proud.

In 1987 Joel Thorne finished high school with full honours and went onto YALE to take on Computer Programming as a vocation. But in 1990 with one year of his degree to finish, tragedy struck when the plane carrying his mother vanished on its fight back from north africa. The journey took the plane through the fabled mysterious triangle called Bermuda.

Joel promised himself that he would find out what happened to his mother if it was the last thing he would ever do in his life. His father in 1992 died in a similar vain when his boat that was chartering off the Bahama's vanished. Both his parents lifes were unaccounted for and a search found nothing in both cases.

Joel Thorne studied every book, show and media on Bermuda Triangle and in 2002 recieving a expeditionary grant for the surveying and exploration of the Bermuda Triangle , he began the preparations for a indepth expedition.

Joel physical statue at the time of the beginning of the expedition can be described in the following ways; he is 6f3 with pale blue eyes with tinges of gray. Joel has shoulder length straight hair which he wears in a pony tail. Whilst not in particular skiny or overweight, since his college years he has filled out to be solidly built.

Now in April of 2004 he was ready and sent the email.

Janine Radcliffe

.

Proffessor Joel Thorne

Proffessor Joel Thorne sat down with a cup of coffee and turned on his computer in his home office. He wanted to see if there was any interest in his website email offer. If there was he would be happy.

As the computer started up he opened his Expedition folder and his plans for the trip into the Bermuda Triangle were almost finished. Only a few short ends to deal with and the costs were worked out.

When the computer was ready he logged onto his internet email address and saw 4 new messages replying to his email. He opened them up one by one reading their interest in joining and read their backgrounds. They'll do fine, he said to himself.

Sipping more of his coffee and then putting it down he emailed everysingle one of them with the same email message.

From: Proffessor Joel Thorne

To: Janine Radcliffe, James Blakely, Lydia Walker and David Hayter

Date: 12th April 2004

Thankyou for each of your interest in this important scientific/historical and humanistic endeavour. You all are accepted and would like to state welcome.

Please make your way to Miami Harbor Docks. I will meet you all on the 01-June 2004 outside the docks at the marina carpark at 9.00AM.

Please bring clothing and any gear you wish to take with you to help any study with you but limit it to 3 bags. I have purchased a large offshore coastal ship called the Bermuda, which has enough rooms and can hold up to 30 people. There is a crew onboard of 10 people including the captain.

I wish to say thankyou to you all and see you soon.

Regards

P. Joel Thorne

Joel sent the message and smiled. Soon the greatest expedition would begin.

Janine Radcliffe

Janine was the only daughter of Johnathan and Michelle Radcliffe, white-bred middle American family. The dog and the cat and the perfect world of boredom and no life in suburbia USA. She had gone to school and swore to her friends she would leave her town and never look back she wanted to explore the world and rediscover all the old things that no one ever dreamed of anymore.

She graduated at the top of her class in 1997 with a full scholarship to any university she wanted. Her studies lead her to the University of California where so many things where seen but unreported. She began taking any and all classes about paranormal researching. She had heard of different people and one friend told her of Joel Thorne and he desire to study the Bermuda triangle. She quickly gathered the information she needed to contact him when she found out he was going to be traveling there soon with a expeditionary grant.

She checked her e-mail religiously two sometimes three times and hour hoping and praying he would respond and let her join. Finally it came the email from Joel Thorne himself and not some secretary. She giggled slightly to herself as she read the information and then she began to plan for her tip to meet the man at the required destination. She was going to Bermuda.

Proffessor Joel Thorne

23rd April 2004

With just a bit more than a week to go before the launch of the expedition into the Bermuda Triangle, Joel made sure everything was in order. He had finished his university lecture classes earlier today and having approved his grant for the expedition he was now off roster with the university untill he came back. That is if he came back.

His friend would be coming later today to move into his place for 3 months whilst he was on the high seas searching and exploring the triangle with his other expeditionaries. A sense of excitement mixed with cautious adventurism started to build up within the soul of Joel Thorne.

And tomorrow he would leave to meet with the captain of the Bermuda, the vessel they'd be taking into the Triangle. For the next several months his home would be the vessel and the people within that.

Who knows where possibilities could take you? Joel smiled as he continued to pack the last of his much needed belongings for the expedition.

Lydia Walker

Lydia walked into her father's study. She was wearing jeans, T-shirt and boots. She had reciepts from stores around the area where she had just finished purchasing the items she would need for the expedition. She had gotten the email confirming her place in it a few days ago and had spent the time since in preparation.

Her father, Jacob Walker, didn't look up from the folder he was reading as she came in, or even as she slid onto the desk and dropped the reciepts onto the folder in front of him.

For a long moment there was silence and then her father sighed.

"You still plan on pursuing this foolishness, don't you?" He asked, finally looking up and meeting her eyes.

With a smile Lydia nodded. "Come on, it won't be that bad," She said to him, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "And just think, three months of peace and quiet. You might even find yourself a woman and start dating. I know there are plenty of eligible women out there who are dying to get your attention."

Her father snorted. "And there hands on my money."

Sitting back, he stared at her for a long time and then said,"It's not that I don't have interest in the opposite sex, Kitten, it's just that...."

"You are afraid you will never find anyone else like Mom," She finished for him and then rolled her eyes.

"You won't find anyone else like her, Pop," She tried to explain for what seemed the millionth time in the four years since her mother had passed away. "You're not supposed to. The lady you eventually find will be herself. She's not supposed to be Mom. You can't just take up where you left off after she died. You have to dive in and explore and find something new."

Lydia gave him a hard stare. "You need to stop living in the past. Mom loved you and she was great. I miss her too. But you can't spend your life mourning her. And not every woman is out after your money. If you think that than you must not look in the mirror when you shave. You are a handsome man and quite charming when you choose to be."

Jacob Walker shrugged and scooped up the reciepts. He would pay the charges. That had never been in any doubt. And he would not stand in Lydia's way. That, too, was never in doubt. But he had been vocal in expressing his dislike for the adventure. He had lost his wife of sixteen years. He didn't like the thought of losing his daughter as well.

"All I'm saying..." He began but Lydia got up and went over to wrap her arms around his neck in a tight embrace, interrupting what would probably be one of his pat lectures against her excitement seeking.

"I'll be fine, Dad," She said kissing his cheek again. "You made sure of that with all those classes you had me take. Are still having me take. Now, I'm going to go make sure things are ready to go. I still have a ton of arrangments to make. While I'm gone will you please at least think about getting a social life? For my sake if not yours? How am I supposed to sneak any bad boys past you and into my room if you're always here? You're killing my social life as well as yours."

Her father chuckled, knowing his daughter better than that, and returned her kiss. Lydia noticed that the promise of moving on was not spoken and it was her turn to sigh.

"Well, at least talk to Aunt Carmine. I think she has a lady friend that she wants you to meet. And she is throwing that big party the weekend after I leave."

Jacob groaned. "So that's why you want to go on this thing. Not to explore but to get out of one of your Aunt's dull gatherings." He shot her a look that said that if she thought he was going to be sacrificed without her, or even in place of her, she better think again.

"Hey! Whatever works, right?" She grinned at him and started for the door, her laughter hanging in the air even after she was gone.

David Hayter

The green Jeep 4x4 shot through the Arizona desert in a blur; the driver's foot pressing harder on the gas - the acceleration kicking in going 50, 60, 70 on the interstate. Fingers tapped on the wheel as the stereo was cranked up, his lips mouthing the lyrics to the song while green eyes behind a pair of mirrored sunglasses scanned the open road. This was David Hayter.

It didn't take long for David (or Dave to his friends) to hit the road once he read the e-mail confirming his spot on the expedition. A smirk seemed to form on his lips as he kept mouthing the words to the song, then he lowered his right hand to the shifter and quickly shifted into a higher gear - then hitting the gas more, 86 miles per hour!

Then, with that same right hand he quickly grabbed a sheet of paper that was tucked between his seat and the center console. He glanced up from the paper to the few road signs that dotted the lonely road, still lip-synching then tucked it back in place. Switching hands this time, he placed the right on the steering wheel and with the left, tugged down slightly on the black cap he wore over his long auburn hair. "This is it," he thought to himself, "So long, Arizona - I'll see you if I ever return." Sounded almost pessimistic..

Earlier..

"The Bermuda Triangle?!" shouted Jessica, Dave's girlfriend. "Davey, you can't leave me! What about everything we have, you can't just throw it all away now!" "Jessie, Jessie... whoa, cool it, babe..." he started, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I'm not leaving you for good."

"But David Hayter... you've heard everything that's happened at the Bermuda Triangle," she protested, "People end up missing - forever! Why can't they pick somebody else?" He tried to stifle a snicker, "You know me, I'm not all too worried about some myth. You've seen how many times I step into haunted houses that have claimed to kill people that stay in it, or if you eat this and such, and I'm still alive! I volunteered for this, you have no reason to be concerned."

"But I do! I don't want to lose you," she said, fighting back tears now. "Hey, hey, hey..." David said quietly, pulling her into his chest, squeezing her gently, "I know you're afraid of losing me, but you won't." "Jessica, look at me," he said, slightly lifting her chin, "You won't lose me." She finally nodded softly, almost forcing a smile before giving him a peck on the lips, then laughed nervously. "You have everything, right?"

"Yeah... change of clothes, extra canteens for water.. just about everything but the kitchen sink," he muttered slightly. "I feel like I'm taking too much," he said, though he packed everything he needed into only 2 medium sized bags and a medium sized backpack. Jessica slipped up to him again as he began to gather everything, "Becareful.." she said as he tied his long hair into a tail, then put a black baseball cap over his head. "Always," he said with a grin, hearing this everytime he'd head out into the desert for his own exploration.

It must have been his thirst for knowledge of the unknown that prompted David to volunteer for this expedition. He would find that out, and probably more.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Jessica said as he threw everything into his Jeep, while leaning against the doorway of their house. "Don't you do anything I wouldn't do, either," he said with a huge grin then hopped into the driver's seat, starting the ignition. "I love you," he said, sliding those mirrored sunglasses onto his face while looking toward her direction. "I love you, too," she said, almost shocked as he backed out of the driveway - and then, with a few beeps from his Jeep's horn he threw his arm up and waved as he drove off.

Janine Radcliffe

The e-mail was the only thing on her mind as she stood in her dorm room of the university. Her classes were through and she had to find a place to store everything while she would be gone.

Packing up everything and giving most of the rest of it away she didn't seem to care there wasn't anything to keep. Two and a half bags later she was down to the bare essentials.

Dressed for the flight she moved to her roomy the only person she had to say good bye too and gave her a hug,"Goodbye Sally, don't miss me too much."

She teased her best friend since high school. "Janine I still think you are insane going on a trip like this without so much as a by your leave. You don't even know these people you are going off on a boat with."

Janine rolled her eyes and shook her head as she stated,"Hello Sally? Come on you can't stay your whole life in a set of lines, I got excepted because I am good at what I do...please can't you just be happy for me? I am doing something I want to do, something I have dreamed of my whole life?"

Sally shook her head and hugged her friend once more. Finally the cab arrived to take Janine to the airport.

An eight hour flight with a layover in her home town for an hour. Her parents where meeting her there to wish her well and for a short homecoming visit.

Finally arriving home she steps off the plane to be greeted by not just her parents but her whole family. She was a bit surprised at the outcome it was like she were a conquering rather then a student off on an adventure.

Her father dragged her aside though as she began to make her goodbyes for her next flight to Miami,"Janine your mother and I have always wanted the best for you and well I know we haven't always been as supportive as we could have been. Here your mother I wanted you to have this."

It was an envelope with cash in it and she blinked and shook her head,"papa I can't take this...please it is just a short trip and then when I get done I will be home."

Her dad shook his head and sighed,"I know baby I ...we..well your mother and I just want you to be safe and if you need anything, please call us baby."

He took the money back and placed it in his coat pocket as Janine moved in to hug him,"I love you Dad. I will be fine and when I come home I will even stay for a little while OK?"

Her father nodded and kissed his baby girl on the cheek and she was gone.

The two hour flight to Miami was uneventful and she stepped off the ramp into the Miami terminal and looked for the baggage carousel that would hold her things. She looked at the printout of the email she had once more and chewed her lower lip as she looked for her baggage. The excitement welling up in the pit of her stomach was making her slightly shaky, but she was here now and would soon be on her way.

But before going to look for the cab to take her to the appointed place she slipped into a nearby bathroom and changed into a pair of khaki colored shorts and a white tank top. Brushing her hair back into a ponytail she slipped on a pair of sunglasses and then moved to pack all her other stuff back into her bags. Tying off her tennies she grabbed up her 2.5 bags and headed for the doors to the terminal and waved down a cab..... she was on her way finally.

Proffessor Joel Thorne

Miami Harbour Marina

The Morning of Expedition Commencement - 01/06/2004

Proffessor Joel Thorne sat at the Marina Canteen eating his egg and bacon breakfast with orange juice whilst going over the expedition summary. The dawn had been overcast threatening rain but when the sun crested the horizon the clouds seamlessly disipated clearing to a fine warm morning with a soft breeze blowing off the ocean.

Joel Thorne perused the weather report he had been given by the captain of the Bermuda, Mr Olaf Bergsen. The report showed clear weather for their trek to the perimeter of the renouned Bermuda Triangle. There was a Category 3 hurricane called Ellen just off the Yucatan Peninsular of Mexico that would not affect their expedition. It was not forcast presently to change course and direction, and Joel hoped that it wouldn't. For he had planned this trip for a long time and did not want a measly storm to sidetrack this endeavour.

Joel savoured each bite of the bacon and egg breakfast knowing that this would be the last meal he'd be having on land for some time. The next paper he looked at was the expedition members that included two men and two women. He read the information he was given by email from each of them and felt positive that these four were the right members for such an important expedition as this.

But Joel was first and foremost a scientist at heart. On the Bermuda Coastal ship he had set up a room next to the ship control room a scientific control room that housed 10 interlinked computers that were wired to the scientific equipment by feeds. All information gleaned from exploration would be saved on discs incase of any unforseen occurances.

His background in computer programming sciences had allowed him to construct a solid information network web. Joel was optimistic that this expedition would not only be successful but would uncover all the mysteries that the Bermuda Triangle posed.

Having taken his last mouthful of bacon, Joel placed the plate to the side and looked at his watch. It was close to 8.00am, one hour before he would meet the rest of the expedition members. His excitement was growing and very palpable.

The months of planning and soulsearching was almost over. Today was the beginning of a grande endeavour.

Lydia Walker

At 8:45, Lydia's cab pulled up outside the Canteen and she payed the driver before taking her bags, herself, out of the trunk and shouldering them. She may be a rich man's daughter but she was no weakling and she didn't like to act like she was.

Stepping inside, she blinked, trying to make her eyes accostomed to the dimmer light in the place. Looking around, she waved a waitress down and inquired as to where she would find Proffessor Thorne. When the woman pointed out a man sitting at a table, Lydia thanked her and approached the one that was indicated.

"Proffessor Thorne?" She said, setting her bags on the floor at her feet and extending her hand. "Lydia Walker. I am to be on the expedition to the Bermuda Triangle with you."

Proffessor Joel Thorne

Joel stayed sitting at the table inside the canteen looking every few minutes to his watch. It was now well after 8.00am and each moment gone meant it was getting closer and closer to the launch of the expedition.

He reread the small dossiers his new expedition members had sent him in email format about themselves. Joel Thorne was never one to be overtly social but he did enjoy occasions of company and good company at that. The sun had risen highter into the clear crystal blue sjy and Joel's skin was warmed.

Time passed, it went from 8.15am to 8.45am in one go. Time did go quick, Joel was absorbed in his reading that his eyes did not see the roadway and the taxi that stopped.

"Proffessor Thorne?" The soft feminine voice broke through his reading reverie and Joel looked up. His eyes looked up into a young womans face that beheld strong features that showed this lady to be quite pleasant looking. "Lydia Walker. I am to be on the expedition to the Bermuda Triangle with you."

After the momentary lapse by Joel, he stood up quickly and shook her profered hand in a firm handshake. "Good morning and Greetings Lydia. Nice to meet you in person and you are early, I like that." Joel smiled at Lydia and continued; "Just call me Joel, I'm not a man who likes titles that much."

He gave her a chair and bade her to sit down. Joel then sat down himself.

"What made you want to join my Bermuda Triangle Expedition?"

Janine

The taxi driver was an insane idiot, Janine was convinced of it by the time she was brought to the docks and she gathered her things. She drops her bags at her feet and gave the taxi man his money twice what it should have cost she is sure, but she didn't give a tip. Teach him to swindle someone. She turns to face the building she was to meet the rest of the crew.

Eight forty-five, damn she HATED being late, it was like slapping someone in the face when you were late.

Shouldering another bag she moved toward the building and her digital camera swung along her hips as she grabbed for it and pushed in a floppy disk along the side of it. Turning her back to the door she snapped off a few pictures, her attention riveted on the view screen as she walked into the building.

James Blakley

At six A.M. Jim had gotten his wake up call at the hotel he had checked into the night before, not that he needed it, he had already been awake and dressed in light blue joggers shorts that clung to his muscular body like a second skin. Shirtless he glanced in the mirror, running his fingers though his shoulder length blonde hair. He gathered it together and fastened it tight to his head with an elastic tie. His blue eyes gleamed in anticipation of the day ahead, and then he was out the back door and sprinting toward the ocean breathing in the salty sea air he had missed so much. All thoughts of South Dakota disappeared from his mind and he knew he’d never go back there. After this expedition he would use the money to set up his own diving shop and scuba diving classes and live the life he always had dreamed of.

A quick dip and then he ran the six miles around the bay, past the marina where he was to meet with Professor Thorne and back to his hotel room. He glanced at his watch and saw that he had plenty of time to catch a quick shower and dress more appropriately for the interview.

"How did one dress when meeting a professor and one rich enough to finance such an extensive expedition such as the one Jim had been invited to take part in?." He wondered.

He hoped the professor would be a down to earth person. The attire he had brought with him consisted mostly of denim jeans and light cotton shirts, jogging shorts and of course a couple of swimsuits. He supposed that fancier clothes would only take up unnecessary room aboard ship and that being conservative would be advisable. His scuba gear had been certified and waited for him in storage until he found out if the Professor wanted him to bring it on board.

He toweled himself dry and pulled on a pair of faded jeans. A while cotton shirt accented his tanned skin and he was off toward the marina wondering who his shipmates would be. He hoped there would a female or two on board. An all male crew would be boring as hell. He’d had enough of that the four years he was in the Navy. Not that he was expecting more than just to do his job and enjoy the ocean again, but it would be a more interesting trip accompanied by someone of the opposite sex. The sound of a woman’s laughter, the sight of soft skin and bright eyes, scent of a feminine presence.

This thought piqued his interest and his step quickened as he stepped through the doors into the canteen.

Lydia Walker

Lydia accepted the chair and ordered a soda before she answered.

"The ultimate mystery," She said with a shrug and a grin in reply," No one knows...and any who do haven't returned or spoken up."

"The challenge. To be the first to go in and come back out and be able to tell everyone what happened."

She accepted the drink from the waitress and took a sip. "But mostly because of the challenge. I love challenges. They make a person grow and go beyond what he thinks he can do. I've done many challenges in my lifetime but this will be the biggest."

Looking up as the door opened and a man and woman came inside, she mused,"Wonder if that's more of our group?"

Proffessor Joel Thorne

Joel listened to Lydia answer his question and found himself liking the attitude and personality of this woman named Lydia Walker. She seemed like a very down to earth sort of person, something he appreciated and valued in people.

Many people thought being a proffessor meant you were uptight and hard to get along with. But many people as soon as they spent time with Joel Thorne found him to be a entertaining fun and informative person to be around with.

"But mostly because of the challenge. I love challenges. They make a person grow and go beyond what he thinks he can do. I've done many challenges in my lifetime but this will be the biggest." This was the last part of Lydia's statement and Joel nodded sipping his OJ.

He truly also saw this mission as a challenge and one of the biggest hurdles had been financing and organising a expedition of this order and importance. But now here they were hours away from embarking on the biggest challenge - the Bermuda Triangle.

"Indeed Lydia, you don't have a problem with me calling you Lydia?" responded Joel, he always liked first names for they made everyone equal forgetting ranks or numbers or positions. In the end that was all red-tape. Not many Professors in his field thought like him. Indeed Joel was a one and only free spirit within the scientific echelons.

It was then that Lydia's comment about the other expedition members shook him from his musings and he did see what seemed to be a man and a woman looking around with bags in their hands looking uncertain. Joel stood up and waved them over.

This day was beginning on a high note with the meeting of his expedition team members. Only one more person was due in. Joel checked the time and it was 8.50am.

David Hayter

"Maybe I should have taken a plane, instead," Dave thought to himself. "I knew that last stop was going to put me back a few hours," he said aloud, pounding his fist on the steering wheel of his 4x4. His green eyes glanced from building to building as he piloted the Jeep down the road that neared the specified location. "I hope he doesn't suddenly reconsider," he began worrying now.

Then he suddenly spotted the place. With a quick turn of the wheel, he entered the parking lot to the canteen. He debated quickly as to whether he should bring his gear with him, or just leave it in his vehicle until they depart. He threw his cap off his head and threw it somewhere behind his seat, quickly grabbing a shirt from the same area. Pocketing his keys to the Jeep, he locked up and closed the door as he started toward the entrance of the canteen.

The light blue shirt gave him minimal difficulty as he stuck both arms in and threw it over his shoulders, quickly straightening it - leaving it unbuttoned to reveal the white tanktop underneath. Usually, appearances never really mattered to David but given his circumstances he felt it necessary. "Now, to find this 'Joel Thorne,' and company"he muttered to himself.

Janine

The floppy was stuck in the camera and she sides as she ripped it out and the metal clip went flying across the room. She blinked and then looked around to see if anyone noticed. She sighs slightly at the man behind her and blushes as she moves to pick up the piece that went flying. Shoulder her bag up and onto her back she slowly kneels slightly and reaches up and under a table to get the metal clip.

Mumbling her to herself the whole time,"So much for making a good impression Janie...." the young woman spoke to herself as she finally retrieved the offending aluminum clip and then rose to her feet once more dusting off her knees and straightening her shorts before moving over toward Joel Thorne.

"Professor Thorne, so nice to finally meet you and thank ya so much for allowin' me to accompany you on this expedition. It has been a long time dream of mine to go there explorin'.' Her soft voice held a southern twang to it still not lost with her 6 years of college in California.

James Blakely

Jim looked around as his eyes became accoustomed to the change of light inside the canteen. To his left was a table with a half dozen chairs surounding it. In one of the chairs a young man about his age was seated. Next to him a woman in her early twenties was engaged in soft quiet conversation with him. As he stepped closer he overheard bits and pieces of the topic of their discussion. It was obvious that the man was Professor Thorne and the woman was to be a member of the expedition. As their conversation continued Jim noted the informality between them. He smiled in relief and was about to set his bags down and step forward to introduce himself.

A sudden noise caught the attention of all three of them as another young woman entered the canteen. "The third menber," Jim decided as she made her way toward the two that were seated. Jim reached over and pulled a chair out for her. He was about to introduce himself when she began a conversation with the Professor. Respectfully he backed away waiting his turn. A shadow in the doorway told him a fourth person was joining them

Lydia Walker

As the others joined them, Lydia nodded to them, introducing herself and watching each of them, accessing them.

She liked what she saw and came to the conclusion that, as far as she could tell by first meetings, this group would be a good one for this expedition. She did not know why they were here, as the professor...Joel...did, but she would find that out soon enough.

Proffessor Joel Thorne

Indeed the two people, a young woman and man were part of the expedition. Joel looked at the three people already gathered and found himself liking his new expeditionary cohorts. He did notice the beauty of the two women that he could not fail to notice nor would he want to.

"Professor Thorne, so nice to finally meet you and thank ya so much for allowin' me to accompany you on this expedition. It has been a long time dream of mine to go there explorin'. the new woman who was Janine Radcliffe said as a introduction.

Joel extended his right hand and they shook hands. He smiled at her in greeting. "Welcome Ms Radcliffe and thankyou for joining, I am glad that there are people still out there like me who want to explore the Triangle."

The other male who had walked in at the same time as Janine was standing quietly to the side, Joel looked to him and extended his hand to him. "Proffessor Joel Thorne, just call me Joel nice to meet you....?" He didn't know his name yet.

It was then that his eyes looked over to the door as the last member of the expedition entered, another man. This would bring a bit of equality between the sexes.

"When the last member joins us we'll begin a small meeting and please call me Joel folks," stated Joel.

Jim

Jim stepped forward feeling a bit envious of a man who not much older than himself was obviously well educated and in a financial position that he had often wished for himself. When he grasped the mans warm hand and felt his firm grip however his envy turned to respect. He could learn much from Professor Joel Thorne.

“My pleasure Joel, he said sincerely returning Joel's greeting, "My name is James Blakely, my friends call me Jim.”

He relaxed in the comfort of the informality of the introduction and as he turned to the two women he felt this same feeling of warmth. Perhaps it was because of their common goal and the knowledge that the three months ahead of them in the confines of a small sailing vessel would mean that they would need to become friends, that he seemed immediately be bonded to them.

Neither one of them wore wedding bands, he was relived of that. It was often hard to speak freely with a married woman for fear of mistaken intentions.

When the closest woman returned his gaze he held out his hand. “Ms. Radcliffe, It is also a dream come true for me, the Caribbean is an old friend of mine, after three years away from her I am anxious once again to get to know her even better."

The other woman had looked up also and he turned his gazed to her.


“Lydia, I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation earlier. I am eagerly anticpating a challenge too. We can expect an unpredictable welcome from the waters here. One moment quiet and submissive , the next uncontrolable and demanding. Challenging in many ways. He held out his left hand to her.

Janie

A slow soft smile slid along her lips as she took the Professor's hand and she shook it firmly but not with any intention to show strength just to show she had resolve. "well pro...um Joel thank ya again for invitin' me. Ah was so thrilled when ah heard you were goin' I could barely stand it."

Retrieving her hand she slid her camera off her neck as she looked at the other man and then took his hand and shook it as well,"please everyone calls me Janie, calling me Ms Radcliffe is like puttin' a title on a horse, it don't fit." She dimpled a grin to the man and then nodded to the other female on the crew and smiled toward her as well.

Wealth was there you could see it in her clothing and her mannerism but Janie was unphased by that. She liked the other woman right off she seemed friendly and open and that was something that was going to be needed aboard.

Looking over her shoulder toward the door once more Janie looked the new person over and was glad she had decided to go casual herself and then finally back to Joel. "I brought along mah Camera so we can take a pictcha(picture) of all of us before the expedition."

David Hayter

David squinted his green eyes slightly in the darkness of the establishment - compared to the brightness of the Miami sun, anyway - it wasn't very crowded, save for a few individuals spotted in seperate booths. Then, he spotted a group of 2 women and 2 men, and with a deep breath he began stepping toward their direction, gently tugging on the light blue button-up shirt he had just tossed on. One could only assume this was Professor Joel Thorne and company; at least, as indicated by the number of people he counted in the email he received some days ago.

He approached the small group, "Ahh, this wouldn't happen to be Joel Thorne and his group for the Bermuda Expeditionary, would it?" he asked them.

(OOC: Bleh, forgive the shortness of this one - brain decided to quit producing. I'll wrote more later tonight, hopefully)

Lydia Walker

Since no one else answered the newcomer, Lydia nodded her head.

"You're in the right place," She said with a smile,"And since it seems you make the last of the team we get to sit in on the details of this expedition."

Her grin widened. "I've been waiting with anticipation for awhile for this moment. And I have a feeling I'm not the only one."

David Hayter

A soft smile began to grow on his lips, as he felt it necessary at this time to make his own formal introduction to the group. "Well, I just want to apologize to you all, especially.." he paused as he glanced between the two different men in the group; one sitting, the other whom he had seen enter not long before him as he parked his Jeep. "Especially you, Professor Thorne," he said, extending his hand outward to him. "I hope my tardiness isn't delaying anything."

Then he'd acknowledge the two women, and the other man with a gentle nod. "The name's David Hayter - feel free to call me Dave," David pulled up a chair and began to seat himself near the group, awaiting any further words and the details of the expedition.