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AN OCEAN AWAY
Upon discovering a familiar face from my primary series fandom in another series, I felt like this story had to happen. In some ways, Kim Vernon is my version of my OC Katheryn Beaumont from my "Legacy of Thunder" series. I hope you all bear with me as I break into a new genre with a limited but quickly growing knowledge of the seaQuest television series. I have recently finished watching the series, and I look forward to seeing where this story takes me in the future. It is a new fandom for me. So thank you for bearing with me as I get my sea legs. THANKS!
Lieutenant Kim Vernon steadied herself against the force of the moving transportation device and closed her eyes tightly. With a deep sigh that she hoped would settle her shaken nerves, she opened her eyes again and nodded to her fellow passenger. She gave the gentleman a firm, single nod and tight-lipped smile before glancing around herself and inspecting the container. She was about to mentally make note of the intricacies of the ship when the transporter came to a sudden stop. Instantly she placed a hand against the wall, slightly disoriented by the inertia her body was resisting.
"I haven't eaten lunch," Kim lied to her fellow passenger, hoping the silently curious man would not read the nervousness in her eyes or see the lump she just swallowed before smiling again.
Silently, Kim hoped the man would exit before her. And he did. Then applying what courage she could muster for this first assignment, she stood to her feet and stepped forward and over the exit into the seaQuest.
"Thank you for riding MagLev. Please watch your step," the computer-generated feminine voice emanated from the doorway as Kim stepped across its threshold.
"Smart aleck," Kim smirked as she paused to look around herself. Immediately, her nerves and sarcasm were replaced by gentle observance and awe. Before her was a swarm of sophistication and technology. Cleverness and ingenuity crossed back and forth in front of her in the forms of the crew members of this vast ship. It had always been a desire of hers to see one of these vessels in action ever since her father had been the helmsman of a maritime vessel in his younger days. Now that he was older and retired, he would often reminisce about the old days to his daughter, implanting a fascination in her to see it all unfold before her. Now, she just might get her chance.
"Lieutenant Vernon I assume?"
Kim wheeled around to face the voice that spoke to her and smiled, briefly ashamed for her lack of proper civility. She straightened her posture, remembering to salute her superior officer. "Oh, um, yes. Do forgive me, sir. I mean, captain. I was just in awe of your vessel, s—captain."
"That's quite alright," Captain Nathan Bridger nodded firmly and offered the young woman a warm smile to welcome her aboard. "Do follow me."
Coming to the entrance of the bridge a few paces away, the doors whirred open, and another entire layer of awe made her slow her step as she entered. She looked left, right, and straight ahead. She didn't want to miss one thing. Every aspect of the vessel would have to be embedded in her mind before leaving, she insisted silently as the doors shut behind her and the captain.
"Everyone," Captain Bridger announced, drawing most of his available crew's attention to himself as he stood above them. "I would like you all to meet Lieutenant Kim Vernon from the UEO. Lieutenant Vernon has been sent via the mutual interest of both the UEO and Admiral Noyce to oversee us in action and report back her findings. Although…I feel it's a way for the dear Admiral to spy on me at the same time."
"Rest assured, sir," Kim began, finally stepping up beside the captain. "I have no interest in spying. I'm a writer. And writers write not spy."
"They also investigate," Captain Bridger smiled subtly, lifting his finger for emphasis.
"True. Very true, captain. So, where shall I begin?"
"Well, I suppose if you are to get to know the integral goings on of a ship such as the seaQuest, you should begin right here on the bridge. It's the hub of life of this vessel."
"Very well, captain. I look forward to working with you all."
"That's nice. Just see to it that you do not get in any of our ways." Captain Bridger nodded to Kim, indicating for her to follow him to the sensor chief's station. "Sensor Chief Ortiz will keep you informed and in the loop. If you have any questions, he should be able to help." Commander Ford then stepped up next to his superior officer. "And Commander Ford should be within your reach at most times also. Mr. Lucas Wolenczak here will show you to your quarters."
Kim's forehead creased as she peered over the two men for a glimpse of this person named 'Lucas' but saw no one. A light chortle caused her to turn completely around to face a grinning teenager with shining blonde hair and a winner's smile. She returned it with what she was sure looked about as awkward as it had felt.
"Now I must leave you. I have to take a rather important call from my own superiors."
Kim turned back around to face the captain.
"A Captain's duties are never quite fulfilled I'm afraid." Captain Bridger smiled and then proceeded across the bridge alongside Commander Ford.
Commander Ford lit up with a grin and leaned into the captain as they left the bridge. "Does Admiral Noyce's curiosities entice any fears in you, sir?"
"No, not at all," Captain Bridger stated, half sarcastically and half for certain. "Everything will work out as it should."
Kim watched as the captain and commander left the bridge together before she returned her focus to the activities of the bridge, observing the various goings on before settling her gaze on Sensor Chief Ortiz and his steady work. Immediately, she was impressed.
Although she made no physical indication of her presence, Ortiz quickly noticed her standing there and removed his headset. "My apologies, miss. No rest for the weary."
"That's quite alright. I can imagine you hardly get a moment's peace here as the Sensor Chief."
"Very true," Ortiz smiled but quickly stifled the action. "But when you enjoy the work you do, it isn't so bad. And what about you? What brings you here?"
Kim sighed as she recalled her father's unanswered plea. "Dreams. And pleasing Admiral Noyce, with all due respect. I suppose that means I shouldn't make small talk."
"Nonsense," Ortiz insisted. "You've been good company. From what I hear, you will be staying with us?"
Lieutenant Vernon nodded. "For at least three days so that I can undertake a detailed analysis."
"Then I look forward to seeing you around," Ortiz concluded with a nod that laced their brief communication in a sense of finality.
"So do I," Lieutenant Vernon agreed just before the Sensor Chief's indicators began flashing and alerts began to sound all around them.
Ortiz dialed for Commander Ford and pressed a few buttons. Something like an x-ray visual of the seaQuest appeared onscreen that Kim immediately centered her attention on, dividing her intrigue between it and Ortiz's careful actions.
"Commander," Ortiz spoke into his headset. "I'm picking up a distress signal from a nearby vessel." Ortiz returned his focus to the monitor before Commander Ford arrived on the bridge moments later.
"Ortiz?" The Commander alerted the Sensor Chief to his presence.
"Commander, I'm picking up a signal coming from a colony nearby. I believe they are under attack, sir. I'm deploying WSKRS for further evaluation."
The Commander nodded and turned his gaze to the screen as footage from the pair of deployed WSKRS began streaming into the bridge. Suddenly, the screen went black.
"Ortiz? What's the problem?"
Ortiz tried getting the WSKR footage to come back online but failed to do so, lifting one hand in the air in surrender. "The enemy vessel must have taken them out."
Lieutenant Vernon mused before she spoke. "What do you mean by an enemy vessel? How do you know?"
"It's the USS Delta Major, Lieutenant," Ortiz replied while still focused on the blank screen in front of them.
"The Delta Major?" Commander Ford repeated, immediately taken back with the words as a layer of shock glazed over his face. "It couldn't be. Are you absolutely certain, Ortiz?"
"Yes, sir," Ortiz nodded firmly. "The pings emitted could only match that vessel, sir. They are rather unique to themselves."
"I'll tell the Captain." Lucas dialed up the captain on his V-PAL, darting away and through the automated entrance of the bridge before Commander Ford or the Lieutenant could stop him.
"I wish he wouldn't have called the captain," the Commander admitted.
"Why is that?" Kim queried, looking to the commander with innocent ignorance gleaming from her eyes.
"I just don't want the captain to do something he regrets."
"Like what?"
"It's a long story. But…I'll tell you this. That ship was never supposed to have been built. It was Commander Stark's brain child back before the seaQuest was built. You see, she wanted to build a ship just like the captain did. But she never was able to. One of the crew helped her begin building a prototype several years before she was relieved of command of the seaQuest. We've since discovered this ship to be the closest one in existence to what she started. It has its own ping that is unlike any other ship. You can't mistake it."
"Why is it here, commander?"
"That, Lieutenant Vernon, is a very good question." The commander scanned over the surrounding area, sinking into his own thoughts as memories of the past seemed to take him miles away from the ship.
Lieutenant Vernon wasn't sure what she should do. Something inside of her made her feel as though she needed to do something to help. Yet she had no authority except that which Admiral Noyce had given her. She had to do her job. She had to put aside her inexplicable care for these perfect strangers and record all her findings as they happened. That was what she was sent here to do. And removing her digital display from her backpack, she set to work to do that very thing.