So, here is the next chapter, once again a big thanks to Alimoo! :)
I hope you all enjoy this and if you do so, leave me a comment, I would be delighted by that! :)
"Good morning, Sir!", Buffer greeted the CO as they entered his cabin. Mike was seated at his desk, flipping through some papers.
"Morning, I hope you enjoyed your evening off!"
As the small cabin only had one chair Spider and Buffer stood by the wall opposite to Mike´s bed.
"You two wanted to talk to me?", Mike asked and closed the folder that he had been working on, fully turning his chair to face his sailors.
"Yes, Sir. We heard some things yesterday that woke our concerns... It seems like someone is planning a attack on the Malu Intruder."
"Malu Intruder? Where did you hear this name, Buffer?", Mike wondered and pointed on the folder. "The Malu Intruder is our next assignment, it is a nuclear waste ship that we will escort through these waters."
"We were on our way back to the ship when we eavesdropped a conversation between two men... Buffer wrote down the bits that he remembers and we also have a record. They mainly talked about attacking the Malu Intruder, but also about the navy not being a harm", Spider started to explain while Buffer produced a piece of paper out of the pocket of his uniform trousers. "We also took a look on the boxes they had been carrying and shot some photos. They were full of explosives, SEMTEX, Sir. The same that we found on the fishing vessel."
Buffer handed the paper and also the USB stick over to Mike and went on with talking:"They also had automatic weapons and something that looked like a bomb. And now that you said that we will be the escort for the Malu Intruder I am sure that they will attack us too. I suggest that we radio the Malu so that they can search the boat for any explosives."
"What would help them is the knowledge that it could be in a box with paper towels", Spider pointed out as Mike reached the photo of the bomb. "It is likely that they will hide it inside this."
"Good idea, Buffer", Mike said while he clicked through the pictures on his laptop, then they listened to the recording that Buffer had done. "This looks really suspicious. I will talk to NAVCOM about this, I am sure they will be as interested in this as I am! We need to act fast on this one."
Suddenly, the telephone next to Mike´s desk rang and he hurried to pick up after apologizing to Buffer and Spider.
"Yeah? Ah, Nav, okay... Yes, please put them through! Buffer, Spider, I am sorry, this is the local police. Buffer, could you go to the bridge and radio the captain of the Malu Intruder and tell him to search the boat for anything. They left the port at 7 am, so it could be possible that something came aboard, hidden in the supplies or maybe through a crew member."
"Yes Sir, I will", Buffer nodded and they left the cabin. Kate was coming down the hallway, wearing black sweatpants and a gray oversized navy sweater, her hair being summoned in two braids. Her outfit and her pale skin definitely showed off that she was still feeling sick. She gave them a weak smile and a nod as they respectfully greeted her before she went into the cabin of the CO. Just as they had closed the door behind them, Spider said:"That was a short meeting."
"I already figured out that we would not need much to convince the boss, our evidence is more then clear. I need to go to the bridge, see you later!"
"Sure", Spider answered and looked after the bosun before he turned. His heart stopped for a second in shock as Bomber was suddenly standing in front of him, hands on her hips.
Mike was still talking on the phone when Kate entered. She quietly sat down on Mike´s bunk, watching his concerned expression while he listened to his conversation partner.
"Thank you, officer. I will call you as soon as we have organized everything."
"Something wrong?", Kate asked as he had ended the call and covered his eyes with the palm of his hand.
"You won´t believe this. I had to ask twice to be sure that this is not a hoax! Robert has been arrested last night."
"What?!"
Kate stared at him, not able to believe what he was saying, but he nodded confirming and came to sit next to her.
"What did he do? I can´t imagine Robert doing anything that would be against the law!"
"He drove a golf cart through a tourist resort. So, this would be vandalism and additionally he was extremely drunk. He has been in prison over night. However, our biggest problem is to get him out there, the damage repay is clearly over the limits of money that we have aboard, but they won´t release him without getting the money."
"Damn it", Kate hissed, shaking her head in disbelief. "This just doesn´t sound like a thing that RO would do... On the other hand, if he was drunk..."
"We will worry about the 'Why' later, I have to gather the crew, we need to get the money as soon as possible, we have a assignment. Another question: Why are you not in your bed?"
"I am boored...", Kate pouted like a child and gave him her best puppy dog eyes. "I feel so useless, couldn´t you give me something to work on? I will not do to much, I swear."
Mike felt his heart melt over Kate´s expression, but also about her looks – the braids made her look even more cute. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and she leaned in, putting her head on his shoulder with a sigh, but did not stop to look at him begging. Mike groaned, then he stood up, taking his laptop and the folder from his desk and put it in front of her – he simply could not refuse anything to Kate, she was able to wrap him around her finger within a second.
"So, in the folder there are the information´s about our new assignment and on my laptop are photos and recordings of a suspicious conversation that Buffer and Spider eavesdropped on last night. It is possible that a attack is planned, maybe they already brought a bomb aboard the Malu Intruder. Oh, and our supply list, make sure that it is correct and that it is picked up by Buffer before 10 am, okay?"
She nodded, glad that she had something to do. She would have gone insane if she had to lie in her bed for only one more hour.
"Good, I will go and inform the crew about Robert now... Oh, and Kate, promise me to take a break if you feel that it is to much!"
She smiled at him and assured him:"I will do as you wish, Sir! Now go, we don´t have time to waste!"
Mike chuckled lightly and could not stop himself from giving her a short kiss on the hair and then, as he shot a last glance at her, he recognized the sweatshirt that she was wearing as one of his. He had to give a lot of energy to prevent the smile from staying on his face permanently.
"Spider, do you have a spare minute? I need to talk to you. Now!", Bomber said in a tone that did not allow any contradiction, so Spider followed her into the wardroom that would allow them the right amount of privacy.
"So, Spider, you said that you don´t remember much from last night... I want you to think hardly, what did you do about Buffers tattoo?"
"Bomb, I don´t know what you are talking about?", Spider wondered, but he shut his mouth as he saw the glare in her eyes, feeling guilt overwhelming him because he had tried to lie to her. She drilled one finger into his forehead and hissed:"Think. Think!"
"Okay, okay then... I... I guess I did bribe Pauly so that he would... that he would change the picture slightly... It was a joke..."
"A joke, Spider? Oh come on, grow up! This is not some prank that everyone will smirk on a few days later, this can ruin careers! I never thought that you would be so mindless! This is more something of 2Dads kind!"
She saw how his eyes, that had been wandering around the room, suddenly fluttered to look at her as she mentioned 2Dads and Bomber held her breath for a few seconds as she realized that she was right.
"Oh no, Spider, please, tell me that I am just having a random idea! Please, don´t tell me that it was some sort of a stupid bet!", she hissed, staring him down once again and Spider felt like a kid that had destroyed the favorite piece of china of its mother. He knew that it had been wrong, more then wrong, but he had not seen any other way anymore, 2Dads had literally dragged him into a corner from which he had not been able to escape.
"I don´t think that I like your silence!"
"I... I am... so s-sorry, Bomb", Spider stuttered and drove one hand through his dark hair, thinking about a possible way to get around the real reason why 2Dads had been able to convince him to take up this stupid bet. "He just..."
Her death glare scared him and he hurried to add:"Okay, okay, he has something to use against me and he said if I don´t do what he has in mind he would tell everyone on the goddamn Hammersley about this!"
"And that would be?!"
"Don´t you understand that if I am doing things like the one with Buffers tattoo to keep 2Dads' mouth shut I would like to keep the information he has away from anybody here?!", Spider hissed, desperately rowing against a current that was dragging him into waters that he did wanted to sail, but not like this. Bomber crossed her arms in front of her chest and said:"No, I do not understand this right now! Buffers career, Navs career and their friendship are threatened if anyone else sees this part of Buffers body! And if they find out, especially if Nikki is getting angry, you. Are. Screwed!"
"Bomb, you won´t tell them about this?! And please, stop asking about the reason why 2Dads was able to get me into this", Spider worried, trying to dry his sweaty hands on his pants. Bombers observing eyes were making him even more nervous, that was obvious to her as she saw how his breath quickened a little bit and his hands began to shake just a little bit.
"Hey Spi, calm down! No need to jump through windows!"
Her gentle touch on his upper arm made him calm down a little bit and he shot her a thankful look as she sighed:"Okay, let´s forget the 'Why' for now, we just have to prevent a disaster..."
"And how?", he mumbled curiously. "I mean, we can´t glue the shirt to Buffers body. Or can we?"
Bomber had to admit that she did not have any idea. They could win time by telling Buffer that he had to leave the gauze over the tat, but soon Swain himself would like to take a look on the slight infection and that would be the end. Swain had a loose mouth and Buffers tattoo would be enough to make him run around the whole ship screaming the news out. They did not had any more time to think about their problem as the voice of the CO resounded through the ship:"All crew muster boat deck, all crew muster boat deck!"