Whoop! So all comments so far have been amazing and I am sooo pleased! Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews and please keep reviewing, I love hearing from all of you. So hopefully the excitement begins here! Bring on the whump next chapter and don't worry those of you who don't particularly like Catherine, don't worry, she's going to be mostly out of the narrative soon.
Nothing was going to go wrong.
The sun was just setting below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the calm ocean and bathing everyone's faces in fiery light. Kono enjoyed the blissful heat on her skin as she sipped leisurely at a cocktail, lounging idly on the sunbed; Grace stood at the front of the boat, staring out into the ocean. The evening had been fantastic; the whole team going diving and snorkelling, throwing themselves into every activity and challenging each other in small, private competitions. Well, technically it was Steve, Chin and Kono going head to head while Catherine observed amusedly from a distance-cheering on Steve-and Grace and Danny splashed around in the cool, revitalising water; just enjoying their quality time together and taking great pleasure in each other's company. It was times like that when Kono half-wished she had a child of her own to cherish so fondly but deep down she knew there would be plenty of time for that, granted her dangerous occupation didn't get in the way rather permanently. When dinner was finally announced, 5 0 were the last ones to climb out of the water, and they all emerged-including Danny surprisingly-rather resentfully but soon cheered up as they caught the delicious scent of the freshly cooked meal on the light breeze.
The dinner had been divine. Setting alight everyone's taste buds in a blaze of flavour and aromatic seasoning that they had all sworn was one of the most delicious things they had tasted in their lives. These trips weren't expensive for nothing. After they all ate their fill and even Catherine had a slight bloated bump on her slender stomach, they sat back in the chairs and toasted Chin's birthday together, as a family, an ohana. Music began playing and soon everyone was on their feet and dancing, swaying and jumping around in rhythm along with a majority of the other guests and after an hour Kono became incredibly hot and dizzy as she finished another extravagant spin and collapsed into Chin's arms.
"Thanks cuz'," she gasped breathlessly, fanning her flushed face "I'm just going to go outside for a bit, get some fresh air."
Grace appeared beside them and seized Kono's hand in her sweaty palm and looked up at her innocently "Can I come with you Aunt Kono? I'm really hot and it's really crowded in here."
Kono smiled warmly, wrapping an exhausted arm around the little girls shoulder, ushering her through the dancing crowd and empty tables-collecting her cocktail from their table- and out onto the vacant deck. Grace instantly ran up to the very front of the boat and leant against the metal railing as Kono flopped onto an unoccupied lounger, drinking the sweet liquid in her cup and staring at the clear, open skies all around. She was just getting her breath back when suddenly there was a heavy clunking sound and the New Hope began to slow into a crawl, the harbour just visible in the skyline ahead. Sitting up straight, Kono strained her ears to hear the sound of the engine or any other kind of mechanical activity, but instead discovered silence. The other passengers began to notice and tentatively crept out on deck, interrogating the staff for answers for which they had none. The rest of the team slunk among the crowd, uttering calming words and flashing their badges in promises to find explanations for their unexpected halt. Kono waved Grace over and the group collected in the middle of the deck, huddling up so the conversation was more private.
"Danno, what's going on?" Grace asked softly, concern sparkling in her bright, energetic eyes.
Danny glanced at Steve and put his hands on his hips, shifting uncertainly "I don't know Monkey but don't worry Danno, Uncle Steve and Uncle Chin will go check it out."
"Yeah Gracie," Steve continued with a weak smile "Stay with Aunt Kono up on deck while we go take a look around. Catherine, do you mind checking with the Captain and seeing if they need any assistance?"
Catherine nodded her face stern and serious "Of course," and she nodded before hurrying off toward the bridge, pushing through the steadily growing crowd.
"Danny, Chin-you guys take the upper decks while I check out the engine room. If we don't find anything in ten minutes we'll rendezvous back up here with Kono and Grace." Steve ordered briskly, waiting for the others to nod in acknowledgment before they all split up.
Kono put a reassuring arm around Grace and steered her toward an emptier area on the deck, relaxing against the rail whilst still scrutinising the crowd that shifted around uncertainly, chattering nervously and creating a hubbub of quiet, panicked noise. Grace cuddled closer to Kono and made it obvious she could sense the insecurity amongst the other guests, whilst still appearing relatively calm and maintaining the carefully perfected mask of bravery she often wore when she was away from the intimate company of her father. Ruffling her hair comfortingly and giving her a small squeeze.
Kono opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted as a massive explosion rocked the boat, sending everyone sprawling against the decking and Kono was almost thrown over the railing. Wood splinted and sprayed outward and there was the sound of metal creaking and tearing as the boat lurched to the side and Kono had to grab Grace's arm so she didn't tumble into the now murky water. Everywhere there was screaming and chaos and the air was filled with the smell of burning as the ship listed further and people scrambled around the deck. Clutching Grace tightly against her, Kono ignored the acrid air being inhaled into her lungs and began yelling orders, directing everyone into the life boats. Fortunately, everyone followed her like vulnerable cattle to the herd and soon everyone was piling into the various lifeboats around at dropping down onto the choppy water as the vessel continued to sink. Lifting Grace to safety, Kono momentarily hesitated deciding whether or not to go look for the others but concluded that her prerogative was to protect her teammate's little girl staring at her tearfully. With a heavy heart, Kono elegantly hopped on beside Grace and proceeded to lower the group to the water before organising all the boats a few hundred metres away from the smoking, dying ship as the waves slowly scaled its sides. Along the way they scooped up a couple of drifting survivors and Kono managed to catch a glimpse of a bedraggled looking Catherine along with a man she assumed was the Captain being hauled onto another boat nearby. Her eyes scanned the wreckage and the blackening water but she couldn't spot the rest of 5-0.
Nothing but the New Hope slowly sipping below the waterline.