GRAND BANKS OF NEWFOUNDLAND SEPTEMBER 1, 1985 02:00
Knorr had one eye on the stars and one on the water beneath her keel. A part of her wanted to run and hide, for fear that she'd bring the wrath of the Ancient's down on her. Some ships liked having their wrecks discovered and some did not. Another part of her was hoping something would happen. The consistent pacing back and forth over the same stretch of ocean was growing tedious. It was about 10 after 2 am that she got her first sense that something was going on. Turning her attentions inward she noticed that several of the video feeds were malfunctioning. Quickly, Knorr checked her circuits. Everything seemed to be working well, almost too well if you asked her. "Hmm.." She murmured.
Just then Pellegrino rushed in. "Robert!" He shouted to Ballard. "Someone's hacking into our video." "Find the source and take care of it." Ballard ordered. It was then gleeful laughter filled Knorr's sound systems. "Serves you right!" A heavily British accented voice snapped. "That was a rather nice little nap I was taking until you shown a light right in my face! Shame on you, waking a lady in such a way!" Ballard's eyes went as wide as saucers. "RMS Titanic?" He asked. "Who else?!" Titanic snapped indignantly. "Now turn off those lights!" "Do it." Ballard ordered his team. Reluctantly, they shot off the bright search lights. "Thank you, now what do you think you're doing way out here?" She asked. "We came out here to find you." Ballard replied. "Well you did obviously. Congratulations. Now leave me alone!" Titanic snapped. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the sediment." muttered Pellegrino. "I heard that!" Titanic snapped at him. He threw up his hands pacifyingly. "Okay, we're hoping to raise you." He said. She snorted. "Figures. Last bunch of idiots that came out here looking for me were being nosier than Southampton in rush hour!" She sniffed. "You'd of thought there was a war going on." She said. "How long have I been under here?" She asked. "73 years." Ballard replied. "73... is anyone I know still alive? My sister, Olympic? Even that insufferable brat Lusitania?" She asked. "Lusitania sank in 1915 and Olympic, she was scrapped in 1936." Ballard replied sadly. "Oh Olympic..." Titanic murmured. "I-I never got to say goodbye." "Don't focus on that now. You have some catching up to do, on both good and bad but worry about that later. Right now, I'm gonna get some crews down there to start patching you up." He said. "Sir, I cannot feel my stern. Was my spinal chord somehow broken when I sank?" She asked. Ballard bit his lip. "You're in two pieces Titanic. Frankly I did not expect you to be alive at all but somehow you are. Your stern section is in bad shape so we'll have to raise your bow first. It'll take a while to get the stern up." Ballard said. Titanic whimpered. "It's dark down here, go ahead. Use as many lights as you want." She said. "Thank you." He said and immediately started giving orders.
He then turned his attention back to the video feeds which Titanic had given up her control over. "After 73 years, you still look beautiful, RMS Titanic." He said. The great ship was grateful for the darkness to hide her blush. "Flattery will get you no where, sir." She replied. "Call me Robert." Ballard laughed. "Then it's just Titanic for me. The RMS becomes a pain after a while." She grunted. "So be it then Titanic." He replied.