So I messed up my hand pretty bad, but wanted to get this out even if it isn't perfectly the way I want. Sorry for any mistakes in grammar, when you're typing in an awkward way, certain things just get passed over. Enjoy.
Mars LeConte felt the adrenaline leaving her body and the aching pain return. The Chaodai would never know that she had been the one to kill the Commander they had sent; in fact they would probably believe it had been the SeaQuest crew who had done it. That was fine, let the UEO take credit for it and her involvement stay within the whispers and rumors of the SeaQuest. Mars slowly walked to the upper decks, having to pull herself up on the corridor railings at the stairs. Her chest felt tight and breathing was difficult, but if the Commander was right, there would be no permanent damage. Hell, Alex had done worse in the years she had been by his side and current injuries required nothing more than a bottle of tequila and a good dose of painkillers.
The survivors were gathering up on deck and a mayday probably had already been sent to inform whoever was closest that they had retaken the ship. Mars found her way to her bunk and sat down, just to rest for a minute. Noticing the cold creeping into her muscles and bones, Mars found a pair of black cargo combat pants and an old worn black matching jacket. The pants were new, a thin red line down the side indicating the uniform of Macronesia. The jacket was the same material but well worn, patched in a couple places, and a multitude of patches sewn on. Scott Keller had given her a Wayfarer patch that he had worn on one of his mission uniforms. On the collar was the Marine Corp pin that had been her stepfather's. The newest patch was that of the Orion-Mars mission, still stiff and bright. Grabbing one more item, a small bone carved necklace she had taken off for the night, Mars headed back up to meet with the rest of the survivors.
On the way up she thought about the look Dr. B had given her after she had shot the Chaodai soldiers below. It had been a look of such disappointment it broke her heart. True she had become accustomed to the company of death and being the one who let him in the door, but Dr. B himself had been a career Navy man, a soldier, who was in the process of hunting the same men. Had she been a UEO officer would he haven given her the same look? The only difference was she had met them face to face, instead of shooting them from behind. It still did not change the fact that Mars had admired the man for many years as the creator of the SeaQuest and as a good friend of her godfather and disappointment from him cut deep.
Mars blinked as she stepped out into the morning sun, took a deep breath, and did what she always did, put one foot in front of the other and moved forward in life.
Lucy Nunn was trying to avoid everyone that she could, which wasn't too hard as most were up in the mess, but she heard some voices as a few people ran for clothing or items of comfort through the ship. Quietly stepping into the biology lab, she found a small radio tracker, noted its frequency, and attached it to the sphere she carried. Just as quietly, she exited out onto the open air, checked to make sure no one was around, and dumped the satellite into the deep waters below. Making sure no one had seen, she turned and went in search of Tim.
Tim O'Neil was shaking. He could not recall ever killing someone. Sure people had died in combat with the SeaQuest, but that was by torpedo and or in the subfighters. Tim had never pulled the trigger on a living being. With shaking hands, Tim crossed himself yet again and said another prayer. He had seen the others come above deck and making sure his crewmates were all safe, went in search of the medical doctor he had fallen for. He saw her coming down the side of the ship, a narrow part of the deck between railing and bridge. She had been looking backwards at something as she walked, but when he saw her turn and lock eyes he broke into a run, practically picking her up in his arms as he wrapped around her and the two held each other in the morning breeze.
Lonnie Henderson never kept track of how many died at her hand in the various combat situations she had found herself in over the years since joining the SeaQuest. Most of the time things were so hectic she would have never known who fell because of her puslerifle anyways. She did know who had fallen beside her in the years though. Miguel, Wendy, the Macronesian kid, Jim. Today though, it had been none of her friends. She was sad for the St. Helens crew who had died, but she had not known them, they had not been close. Their mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, would cry for them, they would be the ones to mourn. But for today, Lonnie would return with all of her friends, Tim, Tony, Lucas, and even Captain Bridger was coming back to the SeaQuest for a time. For the first time in a while, Lonnie felt sure of herself, felt calm in her knowledge that she had survived.
Lucas felt useless. He had been ordered to stay in the mess to protect the survivors, which had meant doing nothing. He wore a uniform now and yet he was still placed away from danger it seemed. It wasn't just that he had been ordered to stay behind, but he felt upset that Captain Bridger had ordered him. Did the man really still think of him as a sixteen year old kid? He and LeConte had taken charge of the situation, and Captain Bridger hadn't told her to stay behind. Maybe if Lucas could show the man he was a soldier like Mars, Nathan would look more proudly on him, after all, even Robert Bridger had been a soldier.
Nathan Bridger was getting too old for this. He thought about how he should be on a beach in the Gulf of Mexico watching his grandson run around collecting seashells. Then he thought about how his son should be there with him. Then he thought that if it hadn't been for finding out Bobby was alive, he would probably still be Captain of the SeaQuest and right where he was currently. Nathan had never believed everything happened for a reason, especially after the loss of his only son and wife. No, life was what it was, a random collection of events grouped together for better or worse.
Taking in a deep breath of salty air, Nathan looked at his crew out on the deck from his spot within the bridge. A Macronesian vessel had answered their mayday call and was hours out from reaching their location. Something was bothering Nathan though as he scanned sonar. They had slowed the boat, trying to decide whether to move directly back into UEO waters or parallel the UEO-Chaodai border and move closer to Macronesian waters and the rescue on its way.
Nathan heard someone come onto the silent bridge and turned briefly to see Mars LeConte come in, now looking every part the soldier in Macronesian battle dress uniform, combat vest, one weapon holstered to her hip and another under her arm at her side. She was braiding her hair and securing it above her collar. Suddenly Nathan desperately hoped that Lucas would grow weary of a military life and leave. If Mars was a reflection of his possible future, Nathan wanted more for the kid. No, man. He was a man now. Yet Nathan had already lost one son who he had allowed to walk willingly into combat, he didn't want to lose Lucas too.
Tony Piccolo sat with his back against the cold metal staring out at the horizon and the sun to the east of them rising ever more above the horizon. It was not something he would ever admit to anyone, but he loved this time of day. This was the time he used to go surfing in Florida, just so he could watch the morning start. If he ever told anyone they would make fun of him, just like the kids had made fun of his reading in school. There was nothing to do now though except wait, so he sat down and watched the ocean and sun move in their ceaseless patterns, currents and orbits. Lonnie sat next to him and he could feel her shiver slightly even though the morning was already warming. Lonnie he knew would understand if he told her, but he never needed to tell her. He wrapped an arm around her like he had with his younger cousin when she had needed comfort. Together the two sat quietly.
"We're moving south?" Mars asked Nathan as the two stood on the bridge.
"Yes. Figured it would get us to the rescue ships quicker, some of these people need more medical attention then we can give." Nathan didn't look at the woman next to him.
Mars had picked up a pair of binoculars and was scanning the horizon.
"See anything?" Nathan asked.
"No." Her voice was weary, hesitant.
"What is it?"
"The Commander said something, told me I hadn't survived yet."
"You think they would place a ship in our waters? That sub could have made it well into their territory."
"No one would have guessed the Chaodai would do something like take a ship well within UEO waters, placing another ship out here wouldn't surprise me at this point."
Silence fell as they continued to set course for the south. It became awkward with quick looks at each other while the other was looking away.
"I know you don't approve of me Dr. B." Mars finally spoke.
"It's not…it's…"Nathan stammered trying to find inoffensive words.
Mars raised an eyebrow at him.
"You were a brilliant engineer, you could have been head of any aerospace program you wanted. And yet here you are…." Nathan trailed off.
"Being a soldier just like you and your crew? The only difference between you and me Doctor B is the side we're on, and even that can get blurred at times. And tell me Captain Bridger, did you hesitate to pull your trigger? You, who taught battle strategy at Annapolis. You have no higher box to stand on. My life is what it is, and trust me, we all keep our own secrets. You know me by name and by my father, but you do not know me. Just because I'm a genius at one thing doesn't mean that's what I wanted to truly do." Mars was angry and she stood firm.
"And to be at the side of a man who plans to conquer the world?"
"I made my bed and was lying in it long before Alexander Bourne let the world or me know his plans. But like most bedrooms, I guarantee again you have no idea what goes on in it."
"Why did you marry him?"
"Question should be why did he marry me?" She was calming down, sitting in one of the bridge chairs, her feet on the console.
"Why?"
"Because I was the only woman he's ever been with who could protect him in his sleep." Her hand rested on the handgun at her hip. "I've heard every reason why I would decide to marry a man who was over twenty-years my senior and known philanderer. But really it just came down to ambition. We were both ambitious, don't get in our way type of people that could offer something to the other. It was more like a business transaction then a marriage."
"So why stay with him even after divorce, especially if he's not in your son's life?"
"Because I was also the only woman who could kill him while he slept too. Alexander Bourne likes to keep potential problems under a close watch, just look at what happened to Larry Deon. One thing is for sure, Alexander Bourne will never have 'beloved husband' written on his headstone." Mars gave a cocky grin to the older man, and Nathan had to laugh.
The laugh was cut short by a soft beep on the sonar screen, a little dot momentarily appearing. Nathan and Mars fell silent, not even daring to breathe. Heartbeats passed and then another soft beep. Hearts skipped their beats. Then a faster beeping appeared, and a second dot moved quickly forward from the first, straight towards their position
"He was right, we haven't survived yet."
The torpedo was not a direct hit, but hit the twin propellers of the St. Helens, sending everyone not sitting flying in all directions as a fireball and smoke shot from the stern of the injured ship. There had been no time to warn of the impact. The ship came to a complete stop, metal screeching and smoke filling corridors and screams rang out and already frazzled crew began to lose their grip on sanity.
"Get everyone into the lifeboats!" Max was shouting, already heading to the boats still secured.
The need for evacuation pulled the crew back together. Lifeboat drills were a regular part of their time on the ships, it was second nature, and the required steps of evacuation gave some sort of order to the erupting chaos.
"There's the Chaodai zodiac too. Get people into it!" Tony yelled as a fire hit something inside the ship and a new explosion rang out.
It was becoming noticeable to everyone at that point that the ship was sinking, and fast. She was taking on water at her stern, the bow beginning to rise from the water along with the entire port side deck getting leaning closer to the water line. With a diminished crew number, the two rafts that went over were not even full and the zodiac had managed to get four people in before needing to be cut loose because of the steepening angle of the bow. Everyone was off except the two inside the bridge in just two minutes.
Nathan could feel blood dripping from his forehead and thought perhaps he might have broken a rib. He had been thrown forward into the bridge consoles first, and then back against the metal hatch closed behind him. Mars lay crumpled on the floor and he thought perhaps she was either unconscious or had finally succumbed to injuries and fatigue and had given up. Attempting to open the hatch as the boat neared a twenty-five degree angle, he found the hatch would not budge. As he tried again, two new hands wrapped around the hatch wheel attempting to add more leverage, but it was no use. Giving up on the hatch Mars moved to the side window, now easier to reach then the forward ones.
The windows were meant to withstand hurricane force winds and debris flown around in such winds, so they weren't simply going to be busted open. However, each of the large windows had emergency release handles that could release the window from its frame. Even these though would not release, the metal buckled with the impact of the torpedo.
"Shit, the impact must have twisted the frames." Mars was yelling as she scrambled for footing in the quickly tilting cabin.
To their left they could see the two large life rafts with the zodiac. They knew not to bring the smaller zodiac near the sinking ship, otherwise they would chance getting sucked in with it. At sixty-degrees tilt, the boat was now quickly sliding backwards in the ocean as it filled with water, the port windows completely submerged as the ship was completely on its side. Mars remembered something from some Asian philosophy book, the Tao she thought, that her dad had liked to read all the time. Something about water being patient and going where men could not. She wondered what the Tao had to say about drowning.
Bracing against the ceiling that was now to her back and a bolted in cabinet, Mars un-holstered her handgun and shot all her rounds into a tight circle on one of the side panes. Placing the weapon back she grabbed the second one, aiming for the same general area, attempting to weaken the strong material used for windows on the ship. Now climbing on the actual metal structure of the window frames she grabbed a fire hydrant and began pounding, but the material held.
Water was seeping in through the hatch and Nathan was following Mars's lead and climbing up the side of the windows.
"Keep firing." Nathan ordered.
"Those were my last rounds."
Suddenly the boat was struck again by another torpedo, and the two were flunk again around the bridge as the boat dropped back level, then capsized completely.
They could not see the sub out in the water that had risen from a deep sea canyon. The water was clear and blue where they were, extending deep below to inky black depths and some of the deepest water on earth. Water was rising so fast now it would only be a few more minutes before there was no air space left. Nathan grabbed Mars, helping to support her as they held to the bolted Captain's Chair on the floor that was now above them. Nathan had in fact drowned once before, but he didn't remember it, yet he was not eager to experience it again. Whatever had kept Bobby from coming back to him, maybe he would come back for Michael now, raise his son right. Nathan only wished he could have found him before he died again.
Mars shook in the chilly water. This was not how it was suppose to end. She wanted to see her boys again, see the man she loved again and have more babies. They had argued about that, whether now was the time to think of having a bigger family or not. Mars hadn't wanted to raise more kids while she was in combat, but now she would gladly have as many babies as he wanted if only to grow old and see them have babies too.
"Not like this, not yet." It was so quiet, the fight gone from her.
The song that began to leave her lips was barely more then a haggard whisper. It was an English hymn, but she sang it in Hawaiian, attempting to find comfort in the language she remembered her mother singing to her as a child before sleep. Nathan didn't understand the words, but then he picked the harmony of the song, the rhythm of it and new suddenly the line she was singing, in peril on the sea. Mars didn't get to finish the song as a shadow passed into the waters below them, another shadow streaking out towards the distance where the hidden Chaodai sub lay.
The old Ohio class attack sub rose from its own hiding spot in an underwater trench. The Chaodai sub didn't even see the torpedo as it made it through counter measures and struck its mark. Two more torpedoes left the new aggressor, the Chaodai sub beginning to sink in its death throws to the deep grave below. The shock waves from the three impacts pushed against the overturned St. Helens and she suddenly heaved once more, her bow meeting the sky straight up. Nathan Bridger and Mars LeConte were to receive one last glimpse of the blue sky and bright sun before they slid to the deep trench below.
Nathan held onto the younger woman, the two comforting each other in the time of their deaths as they tilted their heads back for the last few precious pockets of air.
"Forgive me." Mars said, then gulped for air.
Nathan said nothing.
They were in the dark and the cold. Outside the bridge, light streamed into the ocean casting shadows into the depths. Both could feel the depths increasing as the pressure closed in on their ears, popping as they equalized. Then a crack began to spider out from the bullet holes in the window. One crack splintered into another then another, spider webbing across the pane. Swimming to the cracking material, Nathan leveraged himself against the frame, and pushed with all his might against the window.
Suddenly Nathan felt something pushing against him, his mind was becoming foggy, sleep so welcoming…and then he was on the surfacing taking a gasp of air. The zodiac was buzzing in to pick him up, the other rafts only yards away. And next to them the old US Navy attack sub broke the surface, as hatches opened and people began to emerge.
"It's Darwin!" Lucas yelled as he helped drag Nathan onto the zodiac.
"Where's Mars?" Lucy was screaming, not just to be heard, but out of shear raw hysterical emotion.
The surface was calm except for a small disturbance as air and water was displaced from the sinking ship. It felt like forever when suddenly Darwin's dorsal fin broke the surface, pushing the body of Mars LeConte with him right next to the sub.
"NOOOOO!" It became a wail rising from Lucy as Tim grabbed her in one of the large rafts, holding on tight, but Lucy broke loose and dove into the water swimming for the woman being hauled onto the sub's deck.
Nathan looked away from the body, the young Polynesian features blue, her eyes closed. He forced himself to look back, some day he might be able to tell Tobias his daughter had saved him, and the girl deserved a witness to her final moments. The crew of the sub were not military, they were probably smugglers, dressed more like Spindrift, their faces covered to avoid identification. A large man was giving mouth to mouth to the woman splayed out on the sub's deck. Nathan realized the man was a Dagger, tall and lean against the sudden frail body of Mars. Lucy had been hauled up onto the deck and was kneeling next to the man, her fingers taking a pulse. Another man appeared from the hatch in a hurry, running then sliding the last few feet to the others. His features were hidden by a sandy blond beard, sunglasses, and a Boston Red Sox baseball cap. Nathan took a deep breath realizing he was in fact alive, and he would take Michael to a Boston game some day, a team Bobby had been fond of.
And Mars LeConte took a gasping breath, coughed water, fell silent, then another gasp as another breath was given to her. Coughing replaced gasping and the crew on the sub stopped their frantic movements. The man in the Red Sox cap pulled Mars into a sitting position as he collapsed by her, cradling her body to his chest. Lucy Nunn was laughing and crying at the same time. The tall Dagger was being handed a medical bag and was in the process of getting an oxygen mask over Mars's face. Nathan saw Mars turn her head, the mask fogging up with her breath, but he could see a small weak smile directed at him as she gave him a thumb ups sign before allowing her body to be wrapped in blankets and laid back down. Nathan returned the thumbs up. They had survived.
Whether smugglers, Spindrift, or pirates, the crew of the sub provided medical attention to the survivors of the St. Helens. There was not much that could be done, but some heavy pain medications were delivered, concussions checked, bones splinted, and gashes temporarily closed until stiches could be done. The Dagger and Lucy Nunn had fallen into an amiable relationship of medics treating their wounded. Mars had been moved to the zodiac with Max who watched over as she slept, the oxygen no longer needed, but still wrapped in thermal blankets even under the sun. The survivors had lost track of time, but it had to have been at least a couple hours when the sub crew suddenly withdrew back into the sub and slipped silently into the water and disappeared. Ten minutes later a large Chinook helicopter bearing the Macronesia insignia circled around and dropped two rescue crew into the water. From there it was only a matter of time before the small dot of Macronesian cruiser grew ever bigger and arrived to pluck the survivors, half of the original crew, from the water.
By the time the UEO ships and the SeaQuest had arrived, even the SeaQuest crew were in warm dry clothes and hot food in their stomach. Nathan noted that Darwin stayed with them, swimming around the large cruiser. He had probably been with the St. Helens during the whole ordeal. It was a United States aircraft carrier that came to pluck the original St. Helens crew from the Macronesian cruiser, a jump jet would take them back to solid ground from there. Before anyone left though, heads were bowed, and Amazing Grace was played aboard the Macronesian ship. Thousands of miles away it had already been decided that the water was too deep and the area to dangerous to send a retrieval crew for the bodies that had gone done with the ship. Lawyers were already being called by grieving families. Life was moving on.
Nathan watched as Tim O'Neil wrapped his arms around the lanky doctor and gave a gentle kiss goodbye. He had never seen the shy man so comfortable around a woman and hoped she wouldn't break his heart. His crew was quickly moving on a shuttle to go back to their own familiar sub. Lucy herself was taking the jump jet back with everyone else, telling Tim she had a field assignment for the next two weeks, but she would see him again. After their goodbyes, the woman turned to her cousin and the two hugged each other for a good long time, whispering in each other's ear. Finally they released each other, gave a kiss to the side of their cheeks, and left Mars and Nathan standing on the deck of the Macronesian ship.
"Thank you." Nathan said quietly as he walked up to her, aware he was the last UEO person on the ship.
"For what?" Mars looked perplexed.
"Would have drowned if you hadn't been on that bridge."
"Wish I could say it was altruistic, but I wanted to save my own ass just as much as you did yours, so not exactly a selfish act there."
"True." Nathan laughed with a smile. "You alright?"
"I'll be fine, couple weeks and I'll be back in the thick of things getting beat up again I'm sure. You?"
"The same."
"Doctor B, maybe you should stop looking for Bobby."
"What?" Her comment had been so sudden Nathan wasn't sure if he had heard right.
"You haven't seen him in twenty years. You and your crew come out of nowhere, the SeaQuest in a cornfield, I think that probably would have gotten his attention. He knows you're alive, which means he doesn't want you finding him. May be that he has a reason."
"I can't stop Mars. I need to know that reason." Nathan was mournful now.
"Then I hope Bobby doesn't have to mourn you a second time. Captain." Mars was in military dress uniform now, the Colonel insignia gleaming bright in the sun, and she stood tall, her hand to her brow in a full salute.
"Colonel." Nathan realized his time there was done, it was time to return to the SeaQuest, and he returned the honor of the salute for the only time she had called him Captain.
One more upload and this will be finished I promise