Ocean Pulse Chapter 1

 Chapter 1: Crossing Paths

  

    The tanker "Neptune Star" lay anchored off the coast of Tramandai, Brazil, its vast hull swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. Jules, an able-bodied seaman (AB), stood at the aft of the ship, leaning against the rail as he stared out at the horizon. It had been a month since he’d come aboard, and the days had begun to blend into one long, monotonous stretch of routine. Work was repetitive, the isolation deep and the silence between tasks was something Jules had grown accustomed to.

     A distant hum caught his attention as a service boat appeared on the water, cutting its way through the gentle waves toward the ship. Jules knew it was bringing fresh crew members. Rotations happened every so often, and while Jules didn’t typically concern himself with the arrivals, today he watched with a hint of curiosity. Maybe it was the need for a change—anything to break up the long days at sea.

     He squinted as the boat approached, focusing on one of the figures standing at the bow. A young man, nervous but trying to appear confident. Jules smirked. It wasn’t hard to spot a newcomer. The guy looked fresh out of maritime school, not yet hardened by life at sea.

     The boat finally pulled up alongside the tanker, and the crew began boarding. Jules watched from his vantage point, noticing that the young man, likely one of the new cadets, kept glancing around as if trying to take everything in at once. There was something endearing about it—he remembered his own early days, full of nerves and anticipation.

     Hours later, after the new arrivals had settled in, Jules continued with his rounds. He preferred to stay out of the way, letting the junior crew find their footing without much interference from the seasoned hands. But as he made his way toward the engine room to check on some maintenance work, he spotted the new cadet again. Troy stood near the doorway, intently studying the safety plan posted on the alleyway wall. The large, laminated sheet, filled with diagrams and instructions, seemed to fascinate him as he traced the routes with his finger, his brow furrowed in concentration.

     "Cadet," Jules called out, his voice cutting through the quiet corridor. The young man looked up, startled, before quickly gathering himself.

     "Uh, yes—sorry, I’m just trying to find the engine room," he stammered, waving the map. "I’m Troy. Engine cadet, first time on a tanker."

     Jules smirked, crossing his arms. "Figured as much. I’m Jules, AB. Been on this ship a while. Engine room’s down that way," he said, pointing in the right direction.

     Troy smiled gratefully, his tension easing a little. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

     "Don’t mention it," Jules replied, about to head off when something made him pause. Troy had that wide-eyed look of someone eager to prove themselves, mixed with a touch of uncertainty. Jules remembered that feeling all too well—the need to make a good impression, to be seen as competent in an environment where mistakes weren’t easily forgiven.

     "You’ll get the hang of it soon enough," Jules added, surprising himself with the reassurance. "Just take it slow. Don’t try to impress anyone too quickly. You’ll end up making a fool of yourself if you rush it."

     Troy chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, I’ve already felt that today. It’s a lot to take in."

     Jules gave a short nod. "It’ll settle in. See you around, Cadet."

     With that, he walked away, but as he turned the corner, he found his thoughts lingering on the brief exchange. Troy had a certain energy about him—an eagerness that hadn’t yet been dulled by the grind of ship life. Something about that struck a chord in Jules, though he wasn’t quite sure why.

     That night, Jules found himself standing on deck again, watching the stars as the tanker rocked gently with the waves. The faint glow of Tramandai’s lights was barely visible on the horizon, a reminder that land was out there, though far enough away to feel distant. The sea stretched endlessly in every direction, a constant reminder of the isolation that came with the job.

     His mind wandered back to Troy—the engine cadet. There was something about the kid that stuck with him. Maybe it was the way he had tried so hard to hide his nerves, or the way his smile seemed so genuine. Jules wasn’t used to feeling drawn to new crew members, especially not the cadets. It was easier to keep a distance, to maintain the hierarchy that ship life demanded.

     But there was something different this time. Something about Troy’s presence, his enthusiasm, made Jules feel… curious. He knew better than to let that curiosity get the best of him. Life on board was complicated enough without adding unnecessary distractions. Yet, the thought of the cadet lingered, even as the night stretched on and the sound of the ocean filled the silence around him.

    Maybe it was the boredom of long voyages, or maybe there was something more. Either way, Jules knew that this wasn’t the last time he’d be thinking about Troy.