Beach Trip

Allie most definantly did not think that this would be the way she was spending her last few days of freedom. A trip to the beach with her parents was not in the plans . She just knew she would be partying and hanging with friends up until the moment she got on the boat .So far her mom ,dad and Ms. Wilma were getting along. "Whos idea was this again?" Allie questioned in her mind. Allie takes a long drag on the joint . She slowly exhales .She belts out a solid cough as she fans the remaining smoke from her face . She wasn't even quite sure she was making the right choice for herself and this was confusing and just making it harder .

None of her friends seemed to be available in the days leading up to her leaving to the rest of her life. No-one seemed as scared or confused as she was . She couldn't be too mad though because all of her friends threw that big kick back for her when she got sworn in . Her best friend Tay stayed all night with her last night . Tay would have come on the trip too but she had to work all week. " I guess my leaving does not stop her life" Allie thought , she still wished Tay was with her . Her and Tay had been together since birth, two months apart . She always remembered there child hood when there moms were best friends, those were the best times. Their moms weren't best friends anymore. Not since shortly after the divorce . Tay and Allie weren't even sure what had gone bad between those two, or why. Something about some money or a man .They were sheltered from that ridiculous truth but they knew what ever it was it wasn't worth it . There moms seemed like they were made to be friends , partners even. It was sad to Allie and Tay that it couldn't be that way anymore . Back then , they were the fantastic 4. The separation of the moms only drew Allie and Tay closer.

Allie sat in silence, with just about every memory she ever had swirling around in her head. The sound of the waves from way up on the hill were a sweet lullaby. No-one went on the beach anymore not since the last attack. Yet she was about to go to the very place everyone else feared .The big red signs that read "Beware of Mammoth Killer Sharks ,Sharks Will Beach, Walking and Sun Bathing Strictly Prohibited , Swimming Strictly Prohibited" were clearly visible from where she was sitting. "Sharks will beach " she read out loud to herself in disbelief. It had been 4 years since the " Incident" . She knew the sharks were even bigger now. Full of radiation and gorging themselves on any and everything they could fit in there mouths. Plastic bottles ,bags, trash ,fish, plants ,humans they would devourer anything in the water. Even tipping boats to get the delicious bathing suit wearing treats. A human would feed one shark for a week . The sharks had taken over the over the ocean , the last man standing they were. Allie was jealous , atleast the sharks got to taste fish, something she hadnt tasted in the last couple of years. The radiation in the water was so bad the fish that did still exist were too far down in the debts for humans to get to . The term fisherman had a new meaning , trying to find fish was now a dangerous and well paying job. The fish were hiding from human destruction and of course the whale size sharks . She used to love seafood being from the coast, that was all a memory now and she was taking the job of fighting the very thing that humans created.

"The National Alliance of Marine Collection Corps" would be all that Allie knew for the next 6 months. According to her recruiter basic training was the easy part, actually getting in open ocean would be the kicker. The NAMCC gladly accepted Allies 780 test score. She had gone back and forth several times between college and the military in her mind over the last couple of years . At the end of the day college bored her, but it was what all her friends were doing . Her brilliantness and boldness lead her towards NAMCC. The 60,000 dollar signing bonus didn't hurt either. You had to be special and smart to get in , and bold to stay alive. Since this branch of the military had only been open for a few years , and the ocean was dying more by the second they were recruiting like crazy. She tried to drag Tay with her, but Tay could not even make it to the point to take the test . After all Allie was the tomboy and Tay was the extremely feminine one . Allie reconsidered her decision, but Tay reminded Allie of there differences and took a job as a shore guards men .Tay was good at pushing Allie, but this time was different . Allie felt like Tay was safe on shore and she was left to defend the ocean all by herself. This was one of the hardest decisions Allie ever had to face. Even harder because there was no Tay , and there had always been a Tay.

Allie took another long drag on the joint, coughing and choking as she blew out a choppy stream of smoke. "Easy there" Her fathers deep voice vibrated from behind her. Allie didn't even hear her father walk up thru the weed smoke and loud thunder of her own thoughts. "Dad I'm a vet at this " Allie smirked. Her dad gave her a warm smile and sat on the ground beside her over looking the forbidden beautiful beach. He reached out his fingers to take the quickly burning joint from her hand, he too took a long drag and blew a huge OG plume of smoke over the cliff. Allie smiled. Eddie was a veteran himself, serving 2 tours in Africa during the "Freedom War". Handsome ,tall and dark, he was a force. He also had not been the biggest talker, Allie and Eddie always had communication issues. She also knew even though he couldn't say it , he loved her. She had to admit he had been her biggest cheerleader in the months leading up to her deployment. Going with her to every meeting , and signing he had been by her side every step of the way. Eddie and Allie had not had the best relationship since he left her mom for Ms. Wilma when she was 10 . He always would come see her and spend time, even when Allie was mean to him , but it wasn't the same as him being there, in the house. Ms. Wilma was refreshing and a beautiful soul. Completely full of Korean culture Eddie met Ms. Wilma over seas . She was like a real second mom, she called Allie "lil boop", coordinated birthdays with Allies mom , and made her eat Kimchi . Allie believed the two moms liked each other more than they liked her dad and they got along great despite of . Eddie was always kind and loving to Allie and her mom but Allie felt as if her dad had made some really selfish decisions and her mom had to pay the price.

"Your mom is looking for you, and driving me crazy" Eddie smiled.

"I'm coming , I'm just.." Allie drops her head

"Your what Allie?" Eddie gently wraps his huge arm around Allies shoulders "Scared?".

"Yea maybe a little, I just don't want to leave , I'm not going to know anyone there dad" Allie proclaimed with a slight attitude.

Eddie gently turns Allies face towards his with one huge finger "Allie , we have been preparing for this for months, save the ocean.. remember?" Eddies eyes deepen with concern.

Allie brings her eyes to meet his.

"Can I really help save it dad? I mean really? I mean lets be honest I'm going to probably be eaten , I'm just a little fish myself out there" "How much can I be trained not to be eaten dad, and you.. you just seem like you cant wait!"

Allie places her head in both hands as the tears start to flow.

Allie lets out a sigh thru the sniffles .

"I just don't know if I'm doing the right thing.. I'm leaving everything I know and just literally putting myself in danger.. for what really Dad? You dont know me as well as I know myself ....and I just dont know if I'm strong enough" Allie sobs.

Eddie removes his arm from Allies shoulders , takes a puff, and flicks the small smoldering joint off the cliff. He turns his massive body to face hers, avoiding blowing the remaining smoke in her face.

"Allyson " Eddie speaks softly and looks Allie deep into her eyes " When you told me you were going to be a Marine Collector in the military I was so proud" "My daughter, so smart so strong, going out in the unknown to try to save her planet" " I never once thought of you being eaten, only of what you could accomplish" .

Eddie takes a deep breath and continues " When you were explaining to me what a collector does and how it would replenish the earth, everything I knew about you made sense"" How you were always tough, playing with the boys, never afraid to try and would often win, how you were a life guard all those years and loved the water, how you were a straight A student, how for years your mom and I replenished your fish tanks on your birthday , because the eels always ate all your betas"

Allie giggled at the thought of all the Nemo's that were devoured at the hand of Sampson the eel in her childhood fish tanks.

Eddie smiles " You always knew exactly which "Nemo" was missing" he chuckled as if he read her mind and pinched her cheek, Allie smiled "because that's you "" You have always cared for the fish, been brave, been strong, been smart , you have always paid close attention and loved the water"" You brought this to your mom and I , you told us how safe it was now and the protection the NAMCC has set up for you"" You being brave about it convinced us to be brave ""I was a soldier for what I thought was right Allie, I know you , I am not surprised you are a soldier for what you think is right as well" "You may not like me all the time or understand but you are still a piece of me.. and I know you from before any life happened to you." "I am here taking your moms and Wilmas shyt at the same time aren't I , and I wouldn't do that for just any reason , I knew you might need me " Eddie and Allie let out a much needed laugh.

Allie smiled Listening intently. She had never had her dad talk to her like this . So real , so honest.

"Allie, I could loose you today, right now, so I'm not afraid of that" "I don't want you to live a life afraid either ""You have to try to seek out your own destiny" "If anyone can save these fish its you Allyson, and if it your destiny you will have to do it alone, If its calling you go for it , and if its too big for you Me, Mom, Tay, Wilma , the whole family will be here to give you a hero's welcome home"" and if its not to big we will watch you live out a hero's life, full of adventure and fulfillment and service to all man kind. There is no failure in the try Allie only failure when you never try.. live life abundantly Allie, your life your terms" "I believe in you and I love you".

Allie smiled as Eddies large hands grabbed her by the the head and he gave her a huge kiss on the forehead. She held on to his shirt for leverage . Eddie stands, his large 6'4 frame shadowing her as he smiled down at her .She felt a peace come over her ,his love. She was very happy she was here. She knew now why this is how her last few days of being a civilian would be.

"You know your mom and Wilma gonna kill us right, I know the food is cold.. and we high" Eddie snickered.

"I know , I'll make it up to them , we still got 5 days, but come on dad if she was about to go fight off mammoth sharks while she collected small fish and plants from 5000 feet under the ocean she would probably be high too"

Eddie laughs as he grabs Allies hands and pulls her up to standing.

They turn to head back down the hill to the cabin, feeling a sense of togetherness and peace. Almost as if life had come full circle for both of them. Allie was finally sure.

Allie stops " We will tell them it was a lot of pollen" Allie gives a side eye and smirk towards her dad.

'That's my girl" Eddie laughed as he lead his daughter thru the woods back down the path to the family that loved her and the start of her destiny.