Chapter 13

Savage Garden Dungeon

As soon as Zellar left her, Kristin found herself sobbing uncontrollably due to what she had just learned. "I can't believe how stupid I was," she muttered to herself through her tears. And, to top things off, she started shivering. It was so damn cold in there. She wrapped her arms around herself to try and keep warm as she cried. After a while, she calmed down, feeling empty and exhausted. She sat down on the bed, hoping it might be warmer, but it wasn't. "Well, I've made my bed," she said to herself, "and now I have to lie in it." And, with that, she tried to get some sleep.

She must have fallen asleep because someone was rudely trying to lure her out of bed. As she sat up, she began coughing.

"Kristin?" she heard Antonio say.

"Go away," she said.

"Keep your voice down; I'm not supposed to be here."

Kristin coughed again.

"You're sick," he said.

"What do you care?" she said.

"Look, Kristin, I came here to apologize."

"Apologize? Oh, now you decide to find your conscience?" she asked, coughing once again.

"H-here," he said, pushing a blanket through the window. "I know you must be freezing; I'm sure that's why you're sick."

Kristin wasn't about to forgive him, but she accepted the blanket gratefully. "Thank you," she muttered, as she opened it and wrapped it around herself, "but I'm certainly not about to forgive you for what you've done. How could you do this to me? I thought you cared about me. And, now I find out it's all a lie, that it was an act."

"Look, Kristin, I know that what I did was inexplicable. From the moment you met us, you were our advocate; you never once faltered. You defended us so many times; that's something that Dr. Blood told us would never happen. He taught us that the outside world was cruel and that we would never be accepted."

"So, you've always lived in Savage Garden?" Kristin asked.

"No, the story I told you wasn't a lie. We all used to be human until the scientists came to Blackwood. But, one of the scientists did survive the uprising. Dr. Blood, well Dr. Curry at the time, helped us to escape. We knew we had to leave the country, so we came here. He was the only one who would help us for a long time. He helped us eat, made sure we weren't discovered. After Dr. Zellar came, it was easier to find willing victims. Dr. Blood told us that other humans, in their right minds, would never accept us nor allow us to drink from them," Antonio said. "But, you showed me that wasn't true."

"So, you just thought you'd help Dr. Zellar to show me how much you appreciated it?" Kristin said sarcastically, coughing again.

"Are you getting warmer?" Antonio asked before he explained.

"Y-yes," Kristin answered.

"I'm glad," Antonio said. "And, I agreed to help Zellar before I knew you, before I knew how kind you were, before I knew what a wonderful person you were. And, Kristin, I am so sorry. You have to believe me."

Kristin wasn't sure what to say. "Well, I just hope, for your sake, that you are," she said. "But, your apology doesn't really help me at the moment."

"I know," Antonio said. "But, if you're willing, I can help you."

"H-how? Why?"

"Well, let's just call it my way of admitting I was wrong and trying to atone for that. But, you need to listen and do everything I say, understand?"

Kristin coughed again. "Y-yes."

"First of all, don't eat or drink anything they give you; it's drugged. Dump it down the toilet or something, but don't get caught. Don't worry; you won't starve. I'll bring you food and drink when I can. Secondly, the injections."

"When do they start?" Kristin asked.

"I would think they would have started already, but I've already messed with the serum; yours will just be a placebo. They don't know it, though. But, you have to pretend."

"What type of reaction am I supposed to have?"

"Dr. Zellar's makes one forget how he or she came to Savage Garden in the first place. Not only that, you will become a willing participant no matter what they ask of you. You cannot falter on this even once."

"Alright," Kristin said. "Let's say I do what you ask. What happens when I play along and I'm on that stage? Am I supposed to just tell you to kill me like the others did?"

Antonio sighed. "You'll have to pretend there too. Can you trust me?"

Kristin thought for a moment. She didn't think she could trust anyone here after what happened, but she didn't know how else she would get back to seaQuest. "I don't have much of a choice," she answered, coughing once again.

"I'll see if I can bring you some cough medicine when I bring you something to eat," Antonio said.

Kristin coughed again in response. "How about antibiotics?"

"It's that bad?"

"I'm a doctor, remember? Unfortunately, I believe it's a lung infection, possibly pneumonia. This fact that it's freezing in here doesn't help. Tell me, is it their goal to make all the victims ill?"

"I don't think they really care. I'll see what I can find," he promised. "Oh, and make sure you hide that blanket when you hear them coming."

Kristin laughed slightly. "There aren't many places in here for that, but I'll manage."

"Well, anyway," Antonio said, "when we're on stage, I'll be sure not to kill you. You'll just have to act that way."

"Alright," she said. "What about Nathan? They're planning to get him here, you know?"

"I know," Antonio said. "Once he gets here, I'll have to find a way to tell him the truth."

"Why can't I-"

"No," Antonio interrupted. "You cannot get out of character, even once, even if you are alone with him for some reason. But, it's too much of a risk. If you're discovered, they'll kill you...and possibly him as well. I'm sorry, but it's for the best."

"Alright," Kristin said, not particularly liking it, but knowing Antonio was right.

"Well, I suppose I should go," Antonio said. "I'll come back later. Try and get some rest."

"Thank you for helping me, Antonio," Kristin said gratefully.

"It's the least I can do, Kristin."

And with that, he was gone. Kristin just stood there for a few moments, reflecting on what Antonio had said. Then, she went back to the bed to lie down, wrapping the blanket around her and feeling happy to be warm.

seaQuest Bridge

"Captain, you've a call from an external link," Tim O'Neill informed Nathan.

"Who's it from?" Nathan asked.

"I'm not sure, Sir. It's coming from Siberia."

Nathan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was Kristin. "I'll take it in my quarters. Thank you, Mr. O'Neill. Ford, you have the bridge."

"Aye, Sir," Nathan heard Ford's reply as he headed to his quarters. Once there, Nathan hit the vid-link screen button. "Bridger," he said.

"Captain," Dr. Blood said. "How nice to see you again."

Nathan felt disappointed that it was not Kristin after all. "Doctor, what can I do for you?"

"Well, I was wondering if you might be able to do us a favor."

"Us?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, well, my associate here-he tells me that you and he are old friends, and he'd like to see you." Zellar came into view of the screen at that moment.

"Zellar?" Nathan said with both shock and anger in his voice. "What the hell are you doing there? I thought we took care of you."

"Oh, Captain, the key word is 'thought'," Zellar said. "But, that's also your downfall."

"Look, I really don't have time for riddles here," Nathan said, rather annoyed.

"Fine, we'll just cut to the chase then, hm?" Zellar said. "Well, I'm sure you are wondering about your dear Kristin. She's fine, for now."

"You stay away from her Zellar," Nathan warned.

Zellar laughed cruelly. "I'm afraid it's too late for that, Captain," Zellar said as he picked a vial up from a nearby desk. He made sure Nathan could see it as he squirted a bit of the contests out for effect. "This," he said, waving the vial around, "is all part of the game."

Nathan turned to Dr. Blood. "Doctor, do you realize who this man is?"

"Captain, I know of Dr. Zellar's past, but he has helped us tremendously. I'm only following the rules. Dr. Westphalen was nominated."

"Who the hell would do that to her?" Nathan demanded.

He was met with another evil laugh by Zellar. "Someone who wanted to watch her suffer," Zellar answered.

"I can't believe you," Nathan said, lunging at the screen.

"Calm down, Captain. We haven't hurt her yet. We're waiting for you. Don't worry; we'll give you a chance to save her," Zellar said.

"Done," Nathan said. "I can be on a launch in twenty."

"Captain?" Zellar said.

"Yes?"

"You come alone."

"Understood," Nathan answered. "Bridger out."