Chief Crocker fought with the cuffs a few moments before he could open them. After spitting out a large mouthful of blood, he stood and started for the door. Crewmembers still stood in the hall, trying to figure out what was happening. "Get to yer rooms, damnit. Don't just stand around gawkin'." He bellowed hoarsely, brushing past them.
He went to the medbay first, assuming he would find the help he may need. Tim looked up at him in surprise. "Have you seen Dr. Westphalen? Katie really needs more medication." He chewed his lip at the soft moans of pain coming from her bed.
"No, but I think I know where she is. I need both of ya. Come on." Tim didn't ask questions, and helped him lift Katie up.
She whimpered, looking at them with bleary eyes. "I know it hurts, sweetheart," Crocker said quietly. "But you are the only two around that'll know anythin' about all the toys he has in his room."
Katie tried to pull away and return to the relative comfort of her bed. "Wake up sailor! We got a mission!" He snapped, shaking her.
Her eyes sprung open fully. "Yes, sir! I'm awake. What's going on?"
Crocker quickly explained what happened in the security room between coughing and gagging on blood. Tim started to ask if he could manage, but was silenced by a dark look. As they made their slow way to Lucas' quarters, the hallways were much emptier.
"Well, what'da know, they listened." Crocker wiped a stream of blood off the side of his mouth. Tim's eyes widened when he saw the frothy bubbles hidden in the red. He knew it couldn't mean anything good.
They stopped outside the door, and swung it open. Kristin jerked with fear when she heard the noise, struggling against her bindings to see who it was. The three who had the duty of seeing her in that state, swallowed their revulsion.
"It's us, Doc, we got ya." Crocker tried to console her, as he surveyed the room for possible booby-traps. After he deemed it clear, he allowed Tim and Katie to enter.
Tim quickly spied the tablet computer showing the scene on the bridge. "We need to stay quiet, I think they can see us."
Katie all but fell on the bunk. "Let me have it, I might be able to freeze or loop the image." She whispered almost silently. After a quick check of the screen to ensure no was watching, she delved into the program.
"Just hold on for us Doc." Crocker reassured Kristin softly. "We'll get ya down as soon as it's safe."
Lucas backed up until his legs hit the edge of the bridge's aquatube. He leaned backwards, cowering under one arm, and once again watched as Hans hesitated in front of the bomb. A good part of the fear was real, if Hans grabbed him too quickly, he wouldn't be able to escape. Lucas hoped seeing him react this way would give the man a small measure of satisfaction. He had no idea if Ben's hastily made plan would do more harm than good, and was honestly terrified by the punishment Hans was threatening.
Before either of them could complete any other actions, the water behind him erupted. A small dark mass climbed out, nimbly avoiding Lucas' nearly prostrate body. Everyone but Hans quickly backed away, he could only watch the dripping orangutan in utter bewilderment. Using the distraction, Lucas dove into the water, holding the explosive to his chest.
It took Hans a few seconds to understand what was happening. When he saw Lucas was gone, he screamed in rage, leveling his gun first at Vern. When he realized the action was fruitless, he then moved on to the people around him. "What is this? Get Icarus back! Tell him I'll kill you all!"
Ignoring his temper tantrum, Ben simply laughed loudly, and shouted. "Vern! He took your bananas!"
Vern, who had been shaking himself free of the water clinging to his hair, froze. He raised his upper lip in a frightening snarl, revealing sharp teeth, and launched himself at Hans. Rather than simply watch the show of the now terrified German grappling with the red ape, Jonathan and Shan ran to him, and quickly disarming him.
"Vern! Get back!" Leslie ordered, still observing from the vid-screen. "Krieg, you better explain what's going on." He snapped.
Ben was still giggling to himself. "I just made your orangutan a hero, chill."
Nathan didn't have time to enjoy the humorous scene, flipping the laptop to face him. "Kristin? Can you hear me? We're coming." He was horrified by the stillness of her form.
The image flickered, and she was replaced by Crocker. "We got her, Cap. Taking her to medbay now. Everythin' under control up there?" He raised an eyebrow at Hans being handcuffed by Shan.
"Yes." Nathan felt so relieved his knees nearly buckled. "Mostly. Once we get Lucas back and figure out how to disarm the bomb, we'll be done with it."
Hans tried to twist free, kicking at the men holding him. Shan lashed out with a tight punch, dropping the young man to his knees. "Am I still your favorite?"
Looking up through a quickly swelling eye, Hans snarled back. "This is not finished, soldier."
Shan took a step closer, and roughly lifted him to his feet. "No, it isn't. Remember I still owe you for what you did to the Doc and to Lucas."
"Try not to kill him, we still need him." Nathan said drily, only half meaning it. He looked at the aquatube with new concern. "Lucas should have been back by now."
"He could be going all the way to the pool." Miguel pointed out. "Or…" He ran to the WSKR station, bringing the view to the main screen. "Sir… he's outside."
The large picture showed Lucas struggling to swim quickly away from the ship, still holding the bomb in his hand. He looked back once, and opened his fingers, letting it descend out of sight into the dark water.
When he dived into the water, Lucas knew he probably only had one chance at this. He had to make up for allowing Hans the chance to do this. For hurting his friends and crew, for the giving him opportunity to take the ship.
He popped up in the moon pool, giving the air tanks stacked at the side a forlorn look. There wasn't time to attempt strapping one on, and he didn't think he'd be able to complete the task with one hand anyhow.
Taking the deepest breath he thought possible, Lucas dived again, heading for the outside world. The light was dim, but they were close enough to the surface that he wasn't crushed. Fumbling through the entrance usually reserved for Darwin, Lucas kicked away from the ship. He gave himself a precious moment of time, slipping off his sneakers in annoyance, and watching them sink away.
The slightly lighter weight helped, as did being able to spread his toes out for more power. He swam until his lungs were bursting, then, he finally allowed himself to let go. Lucas started to count without even realizing he was doing it. At three seconds, there was a roar. A visible shockwave churned the silt filled water as it flew towards him.
He was tossed in the water, flipping over and over. Coming to a stop with ringing ears, black spots danced in front of his eyes. The last of his air escaped in bubbles from his mouth, and Lucas drifted limply in the currents.