2

Commander Katie shifted uneasily in the virtual-reality sub as she guided it around the underwater facility. Machinery seemed to have been shut down rather than broken down. Few lights shone from the seabed bubble, and she could barely see but a few feet ahead. As she neared the facility, however, Katie could see that there was something terribly wrong. No mini-subs patrolled the outside, no maitnence crews drifted around outside, and no workers were visible in the shielded sea mineral fields. The whole plant appeared to be a ghost town.

"Commander?"

Katie glanced up at the Captain. "No signs of life at all. I have a bad feeling about this place, sir."

Captain Bridger looked uneasy, but he said to the crew, "Let's get a launch down there to check everything out. If there's any sign of danger, abort immediately. We'll call for backup."

There was a chorus of "Yes, sir," as most of the senior crew and a few security majors began preparing for the launch. Captain Bridger leaned slightly on a nearby column, feeling older and wearier than he had in years, since he had received the letter about his son's death in-action. For a reason that Bridger couldn't say, he felt inconsiderably nauseous and short of breath.

"Captain?"

It was Crocker, looking gently concerned and worried. He set a hand on the captain's shoulder.

"You don't look good at all, sir. Maybe you should check into the infirmary for a bit. At least get some rest."

Bridger stood slowly, lightly shrugging off Crocker's meaty hand. "I'm just fine. Thanks for your concern. I'm getting too old for this job." He managed a dry chuckle.

Crocker grinned good-naturedly and clapped Captain Bridger on the shoulder. "Naw, you got too much vampire in you. You're not coming with us?"

Bridger shook his head. "Not this time."

Crocker nodded, dropping his cap onto his balding head. He hurried over to the departing launch and hopped in. Bridger watched him leave without envy. Exhaustion had overcome him with uncommon rapidity, and for some reason, Lucas's face surfaced in his mind's eye. His face was pale and…covered… with something. Bridger shuddered, shaking his head a bit. Why had that disturbing image come to mind?

As if supernaturally summoned, Lucas shuffled into the main cabin, brushing the sleep from his eyes. He'd clearly just awoken from a deep sleep.

"Captain?" Lucas called from the sliding doors. He rushed up. "Can I go? I swear I won't get in the way and I won't interfere and I—"

"It's too dangerous, Lucas," Bridger said wearily. "I can't let you go down there."

"But captain, there's nothing else to do down here. I mean, I finished all those labeling and sorting jobs Dr. Westphalen set out for me. I mean, please, I'm begging you…"

He wore the saddest, most pleading face that he could manage. Considering the fact that he greatly resembled a puppy to begin with, this feat wasn't a very difficult one.

Captain Bridger sighed for about the fifth time that evening. What could he do? Lucas was a young man, fresh and wily, with a desire for adventure. He was an aging man, tired and spent, with a desire for his bed. How could he deny him? Bridger was aware that exhaustion might be clouding his judgment a bit. Nonetheless, he had faith in his able-bodied crew, and Lucas may actually have some use in this expedition.

Bridger exhaled deeply…and then nodded. "Go ahead," he said reluctantly. "Just, don't try anything fancy. This is going to be a quick in-and-out mission. If there's security trouble, you all are out of there. Understand?"

Lucas nodded eagerly, grinning brightly. "Yes, sir. Don't worry." Then he paused. "Sir, you don't look so good. Maybe you should check into—"

"Lucas," Bridger said, clapping a hand on the youth's shoulder and guiding him toward the launch. "You might want to mind your own business for once, seeing that I have just granted you a huge favor."

Lucas closed his mouth and nodded. "Thanks, sir."

"Don't mention it. The Admiral would have my head."

Lucas hopped into the main cabin of the launch, grinning like a little kid at Christmas. Bridger couldn't help a small, contented half-smile. If he couldn't drag himself out of this pit of misery—where had that come from?—maybe he could help out the boy.

Lucas settled into a launch seat and locked the seat belt across his torso. Commander Katie frowned thoughtfully as she slid into the seat next to him.

"Did the captain say that you could come?" Katie asked Lucas, puzzled, her fair brow furrowed.

"Yeah. It took a bit of—uh—convincing, but I think I handled it well."

"Uh, huh," Katie said doubtfully. Lucas glowered at her.

"Don't worry about it, okay, Commander?" Lucas told her. "It's just for, uh, future observations on military tactics."

The lieutenant commander continued to look ambiguous, but said nothing more. Lieutenant Ben Krieg dropped down into the seat opposite of Lucas and slapped high-fives with the teenage boy. The dark-haired man's cheerful reaction sparked a disapproving look in Katie's eyes, but she proceeded to sit silently.

Commander Ford and Tim O'Neill sat at the controls, O'Neill already pulling out into the departing bay. Commander Ford called back, asking if everyone was buckled in. The response was mutual, and so the two senior officers guided the miniature ship out of the seaQuest's entrance portal and down toward the silent plant.

Krieg struck up a joke with Lucas, who chuckled obligingly and shot back another. Tim O'Neill snorted unwillingly and coughed into his fist. Katie appeared to flame with anger, and Ben stifled a snicker with hack. Commander Ford scowled and rolled his eyes for Katie's benefit.

None on the sub suspected the ultimate horror below, or the dread and pain resulting because of it. None knew just how close all of them would swerve toward death within the next few days.