Chapter 6

"I think we should listen to Jamie and divert, Lee. The men can cope."

"Do what Jamie said with the gauze and tape my hand to the console. I'd suggest using the high grade aviation duct tape."

"Lee, I know it'll be uncomfortable aboard Seaview, but you heard the Doc. You could lose your hand."

"Bumps and bruises, my ass. There will be broken bones too. Boat gets tossed around like a rag on the surface too long, other things will go wrong. It's decided. Get me taped up and we push her to Mach 2."

"That's going to hurt like hell and you know it."

"Maybe I'll get lucky and pass out. Use lots of tape. No, belay that. Do we have bolt cutters aboard?"

"We should."

"Get them."

Chip retrieved the bolt cutters and brought them near Lee. He held them beside Lee's hand and assessed the possibility. He shook his head. You'd have to back your hand off the spike for me to fit these in and that might lead to bleeding out."

Lee took the bolt cutters from Chip and performed his own assessment. "Duct tape, it is then."

Chip did his best to tape the hand down without covering any instrument controls they might need. After, Chip made certain that Lee was as packed into his seat as possible. "Are you sure about this."

"Let's just get it over with fast."

"Maybe you should initiate the program. I haven't done supersonic protocols before. Since you know what to expect, maybe you'll be in a better position to control your reaction."

"You have a point, not that it will really help that much. She's going to buffet. You'll start to worry she's falling apart, but the stabilizers will kick in soon and she'll hold together." Lee patted the console with his left hand. "Here goes nothing."

Moments later, as the violent vibrations began, Lee's eyes rolled back in his head. He'd passed out. Chip was thankful for it. If Lee hadn't warned him, he'd have been certain that FS1 was about to disintegrate. After about twenty seconds, however, she settled into a smooth ride. Chip was awed as he watched from the window. It was as if FS1 was still, but the earth moved as a block beneath them.

Lee lolled back to consciousness. Instinctively he pulled back, but the tape stopped him. "Damn."

"Glad that's over, I bet?"

"Round one goes to the hook."

"We could turn around and head for Honolulu."

"No. No point. Call Seaview. Check in."

"You just want a distraction."

"You think?"

"Be careful what you wish for," Chip said as he turned his head to the side to track an alert.

Lee tried to turn, but his awkward position made him stop short. "Let me guess. Our air circulation system just failed."

"Yep."

"Here I thought I was sweating because my hand is impaled on the console."

"This is now officially the day from hell," Chip said as he opened the panel. "Hope we don't regret not waiting that hour for the voltage regulation module."

"Won't make any difference. Break out the air tanks and the duct tape. Attach them to the backs of our chairs as tightly as you can. When we go back to normal speed, they will rattle around like hell."

"Not to mention when we dock on Seaview in the rolls. I have to agree with Doc. I don't see how you're going to handle that action."

"We'll deal with that when the time comes."

Chip quickly daisy chained two tanks behind each chair, securing them with abundant duct tape. "Here's your regulator. I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to tape it to you, just in case."

"No, I'm already feeling too much like a mummy. Just leave it under my armpit."

"I'd feel better if you put it on and we secured it."

"Stand down, mother. We've got at least thirty minutes of decent air left in here before we need to resort to the tanks."

"Lee, there's no need to push it. We've still got an extra ninety minutes apiece if we utilize FS1's regular tanks."

"Fine, in fifteen minutes, I'll put mine on."

"Thank you."

"Now I've got two more requests from you, since I'm sort of stuck here. I'd like some water to drink."

"No problem." Chip brought it to Lee post haste. Lee sipped some, then poured some over his head. Chip looked at him with concern but said nothing.

"Now bring me the hacksaw."

"No, Lee. Jamie would have suggested that if he thought it was a good idea. You and I both know that it could cause further damage."

"I promise that I won't use it now. I just want it available as an option. The way things are going . . ."

"You promise?"

"Yes."

Chip brought Lee the hacksaw. Both stared wondering what to do with it. After a moment's pause, Chip cut off two more pieces of duct tape. He taped the saw just beneath the left side of Lee's chair.

"Now, call Seaview."

"That's three things. You said two."

Lee rolled his eyes at Chip. "My patience is wearing thin. So is the ibuprofen."

"FS1 to Seaview."

"Seaview here."

"What the situation, Sparks?"

"A lot of sailors are green around the gill, sir. We're also taking aboard water at the hatches. Pumping it out in these waves is proving a challenge."

"Is Mister O'Brien available?"

"He's back on his feet for now, sir. Here he comes."

"Sir?"

"How are you and the crew holding up, Mister O'Brien?"

"Staying up is a problem. The crew will be fighting over the strapped chairs soon."

"May I assume that you are now heading toward calmer water?"

"Aye, the Admiral finally relented, but at surface speed, I doubt we'll make much headway toward it."

"Hang on, then. We'll be there as fast as we can, two hours or so."

"Yes, sir. Anything else?"

"Where's the Admiral?"

"In his cabin, pretending to sleep, I think."

"You should take that as a compliment. It may be unpleasant, but he believes you have it under control."

"I'll try to view it that way. Could you hold for a moment, sir?"

"Yes."

Dr. Jamison's voice was the next one Lee heard. "How's the hand, Lee?"

"Hurts like hell. How about I hacksaw the shank off?"

"I wondered when you'd get around to thinking of that after you figured out that bolt cutters wouldn't help. Stow the idea. The movement of the saw could be agonizing, not to mention the damage shifting the shank could do."

"Doc, you've never flown FS1 supersonic. There's a lot of turbulence in the shifting."

"Oh. Still, the sudden torque of snapping through the metal seems to me a whole lot more dangerous. I really encourage you to hold off unless you have no choice."

"I'll make sure of that, Doc," Chip offered.

"How's the crew doing?" Lee diverted.

"The sooner you get here, the better for everyone. I'm already out of Dramamine. Air casts will be gone soon too."

"If we hurry, promise you'll save me a spot in line?"

"Promise, Skipper. Got to run. Another patient beckons."

"FS1 out." Lee turned toward Chip. "Let's push her to Mach 3, Chip."

"Are you sure?"

"No, so let's just do it before I can give it a rational thought."

"I'm on it."

Lee swallowed deeply, intending to hold his breath as the ship shook. Instead, he puffed it out almost in rhythm with the vibrations that tore at his hand, sending waves of pain through his hand. His breath gave out as the shaking ended, well short of his typical abilities. He gasped in a fresh breath, making no attempt to hide his discomfort.

"You okay, Lee?"

Lee answered with a glare.

"Okay, stupid question. At least you aren't reaching for the hacksaw yet."

"I don't know if I can do that again."

"Not much choice, and trust me, even if you had the hand free, you'd just be grasping for the chair arm with that hand." Chip released his death grip on his as proof of the fact.

Lee shook his head. "Since I have no prayer of sleeping, why don't you take a nap. You're going to be a busy man when we get to the boat."

"As you lounge in Sick Bay?"

"I won't exactly be useful with this wound."

"I know you. You'll find a way, at least until Will corners you."

"Sleep, Chip. I'm not in the mood for small talk."

"Okay, I'll try." Chip decided that a power nap was a good idea, even if it left Lee brooding by himself. Damn him for being right.