"Oh come on, Ben, you're just doing this because you finally get to have some power. Don't be a jerk." Lucas scowled and huffed angrily, cornering the man outside his room.
Ben returned the glare, but the lines around his eyes crinkled as he smirked. "Part of my job is to give supplies out evenly. I'm just making sure you don't abuse your friendship with me."
"Abuse?! It's a freaking movie!" Lucas snapped, he was well aware that Ben was trying to rile him up, and that fact annoyed him even more. "You got some in, I saw it. I just want to pick something good before they're all gone."
"Download something," Ben returned off handedly.
Lucas slowly released a breath through his nose. "You know I can't. I don't have a good enough connection when we're underway."
"Oh, that's right, how terrible."
"Ben…" Lucas looked at him sadly, forcing himself into a pout. "Please?"
"Oh, that's just not right." Ben backed himself into his doorway and mockingly made a cross with his fingers to ward the youth off. "You know that look isn't fair."
It was Lucas' turn to smirk, and it twisted patronizingly. "Fine, if you don't let me look, you leave me no choice. I'll do it."
"Do what?"
"I will sing the coconut song."
"You wouldn't…" Ben hissed, "that's just cruel. You know how hard it is to get that song out of my head."
Lucas took a deep breath and started to hum. "Ok! Ok! Oh god, why did I make you watch that movie?"
"Because, you said 'it was the best movie ever, and no kid could be truly happy without seeing Lion King.'" Lucas retorted, grinning now because he knew he had won easily.
"Fine!" Ben turned on his heel and opened the door for him. "But don't tell anyone I have these until I can catalog them."
"What's my depth?" Jonathan's voice crackled over the bridge's intercom.
"Approaching three thousand meters, Commander, you're still good." Nathan replied tensely. "What do you see?"
The crew watched the WSKR view closely. The sunken ship filled the screen, the tear in the side measured all of three meters. Plenty of space for a man, but little else. "A lot of ice, but no mermaids yet." Jonathan reported drily.
"That's a good sign, although we could probably use her for this," Nathan snorted, giving himself a moment to glance at his people and breath.
"I'm in," Jonathan announced unexpectedly. The crew tensed, which was actually quite a feat since they were already at such a high state of alertness.
"Reports?" Nathan demanded softly.
Miguel spoke up first, "I can see him, but the hole is pretty jagged. Do you want me to follow? I might knock something loose."
"Can you get in with the probe?" He directed to Katie.
She nodded, "yes, sir. Right behind him."
Nathan considered, "keep the WSKR close, but don't go in."
"The nearest ship is about a hundred kilometers way, sir." Tim called out next.
"Good, tell me immediately if they, or anyone else, approaches."
Nathan glanced to Lucas. "No changes, Captain. The ice is staying put."
He nodded, and fell into silence. Jonathan gave periodic reports, backed by the probe. Finally, he was at the cargo bay. "It looks like nearly all the crates are in one piece. It's a mess in here though. It'll take a while to stack them and bring them out."
"Take your time Jonathan. We can always come back." Nathan allowed one lungful of relief out.
Moving slowly, the commander brought the boxes to the tear in the ship, because they were so light, it was easy to bring several at once. Jonathan only had to watch the ceiling and walls of the ship. He loaded them onto Ben's Seacrab quickly. They worked well together, although Jonathan would never admit it. Once Ben had all he could hold, he took the short trip to the SeaQuest's airlock, and Jonathan would go back for more.
"How many are left?" Nathan asked, from his current post looking over Lucas' readings.
"I'd say a couple dozen, sir." Jonathan's tired voice called back. "The few damaged crates are already onboard."
"I think we should call it a day then. After you get some sleep and warmed up, we can finish."
The gratitude was evident in Jonathan's voice, "yes, sir. On my way now."
"I'll meet you and Ben at the airlock." Nathan nodded to Tim, who cut the bridge wide audio feed. Before leaving the area, Nathan took the time to clap a hand on Lucas' shoulder. "See? No problems."
Lucas glanced at him sideways, trying to look annoyed, but a grin crept over his lips. "It's still early."
Shaking his head at the cynical young man, Nathan took his leave. Lucas sat back, and began rubbing his tense neck. "I guess it wasn't so bad." He admitted to Miguel, after ensuring the Captain was too far away to hear.
The sensor chief only nodded, his eyes glued to the WSKR screen. Lucas decided to further stretch, getting up and crossing to Tim. The man was quietly talking to Commander Ford via his earpiece. It sounded to Lucas like they were discussing the merits of a warm bed over some movie time as he approached the ship. Lucas reached for the extra headset hanging off Tim's station to offer his input.
"I know Ben got some new disks in with the other supplies." Lucas volunteered, "don't tell him I said anything though."
Jonathan groaned through the radio, "It'll be some gangster movie or just a gross out comedy."
"Nope, he actually…" Lucas started to explain, but was cut off by a short gasp. "Commander?"
"Is the Captain still on the bridge?" Jonathan's voice came back tight sounding.
"No… he went to meet you and Ben. What wrong?" Tim pushed his earpiece in and gently pushed Lucas to the side so he could work. "I'll get him."
"You might need to get Krieg back too," Jonathan suggested. "But give me a minute, it might be nothing."
"What is it?" Lucas asked, scanning the screens around him. Miguel had already brought all but Loner back to the ship, and the probe was parked. Even in the suit, Jonathan looked very small and very alone surrounded by ice and water, under the belly of the ship.
They saw him walking to the bottom of a piece of ice the length of a small cot, floating under the SeaQuest. "I think there's something in there. We must have kicked it up with our engines. Or the cargo ship knocked it loose."
"Something? Like what?" Tim squinted at the screen. The rest of the bridge crew caught their tones and expressions. Miguel quickly zoomed in on the scene.
Jonathan was close enough to see, even if Loner was blocked by the LSD suit. Lucas and Tim were dumbfounded into silence when they heard Jonathan speak again. It was simply a very clear, very alarmed, "shit!"