Hi guys. Hope you're liking it so far. Please do keep reading and reviewing if you have anything to say about the story but constructive criticism please. Thanks for reading. X
"Ma'am I'm getting a message through." Nav suddenly said to the rest of the bridge.
"Where's it coming from?" Kate asked.
"It's the ship that sent the mayday." Nav sighed.
Kate looked at Buffer. It couldn't be!
"But I thought another ship was looking after it." Kate said, a little concerned.
"So did I." Nav said getting more information on the situation.
The rest of the bridge crew jumped to attention when they had heard this. It would also mean they would probably have to respond if the other ship that had offered help had gotten into trouble.
"Anything Nav?" Kate asked going over to her colleague.
"Yeah. They've sent another mayday." Nav said, confused.
"Why would they need to do that?" Buffer asked from his point on the bridge.
"Maybe I should go and get the captain." Spider offered before anyone else could.
"Leave him. Swaine needs him right now." Kate said shrugging Spider off for now.
Spider and Bomber looked at each other. Both of them wanted to see the captain again but if Kate said no then they would have to stay where they are.
"Let's get there." Kate finally decided.
"Is that the best idea? I mean if one ship has got into trouble.." Buffer started.
"We'll be fine." Kate reassured him.
Buffer took that reassurance and sat down in what was usually Kate's chair. Kate still hadn't gotten used to Buffer sitting there but just took it in her stride. She then sat down in the captain's chair.
"I think I'm going to see the captain." Spider whispered to Bomber.
"Spider, you heard what the X said." Bomber hissed under her breath.
"It's the best chance we have to have him up here."
"But…"
Spider wouldn't listen to Bomber on a normal day and today was no different. Spider slowly got out of his seat. Bomber watched him open mouthed as he made his way down to the sick bay. Bomber stayed as she didn't want to get told off.
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Spider had only just made it off the bridge without being spotted. He liked trying to get past people; it also meant that he could get secrets off of the most secretive people on the ship.
"Spider?" A voice came from in front of him.
"Oh no." Spider thought.
RO was in front of him. RO was also very good at sneaking up on people so it was no surprise he had managed to do this.
"RO what a surprise seeing you here!" Spider said.
"It's a surprise seeing you too." RO said with squinted eyes.
"Well must be getting on."
Spider tried to walk past RO but RO was having none of it. He stopped Spider in his tracks and brought him back to in front of him. Spider wasn't going anywhere fast whilst RO was in the same corridor.
"Where are you going exactly?" RO asked looking around the corridor they were on.
"Nowhere." Spider said, putting his hand behind his head.
"Sounds interesting!" RO said sarcastically.
"It's not really." Spider said, shrugging.
RO walked around Spider in a circle. It was clear to Spider that RO wasn't going to budge.
"Look I'm going to see the CO okay?" Spider finally admitted.
"You know Swain won't let you anywhere near him." RO said.
"Well I can try can't I?" Spider said, shrugging.
"Good luck." RO chuckled as he stepped to one side and carried on going about his business.
Spider watched RO walk off. RO was never like this, maybe he's changed since being in lockdown on the Hammersley. Ha yeah right.
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Kate and the bridge team were speeding their way to the ship that had called mayday. Kate was still worried about what condition they would find the two ships in when they got there. Buffer was more concerned in keeping the Hammersley afloat if they got into trouble! He had tried and tried again to make Kate to be a bit more careful but nothing had worked.
"What are we going to do when we get there?" Buffer asked Kate for the seventh time.
"See who needs help." Kate answered again.
Buffer shook his head but out of sight from Kate. Kate could already tell that Buffer had done this but didn't give it any notice. She had to keep going, if nothing else but to keep the crew's minds on something.
"How far are we now Nav?" Kate asked.
"Not far now Ma'am." Nav said, sighing.
"Is there anything we need to be careful of when we get there?" Buffer asked before Kate could say another word.
"Doesn't look like it." Nav said looking at her radar.
Kate turned to Buffer with a smug face. Buffer just brushed it off, he was sure something would happen to them if they weren't too careful. He would just have to make sure they were careful.
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Spider made his way along the corridor to the sick bay. He didn't really know what he was going to say. I mean how was he going to get past Swaine! Swaine was scary when he was angry. He got to the sick bay and knocked on the door.
There came no reply. That's different! Swaine treated everyone in the sick bay, even the CO. Swaine did this so he could make sure everything was sterile which was quite hard on a ship like the Hammersley. Spider looked up and down the corridor to make sure no one was watching and opened the door to the sick bay for clues.
"Wow." Spider said quietly.
The sick bay was spotless. Spider wasn't too surprised but the clean surfaces would make anyone step back in amazement. He went over to one of the cabinets to see what Swaine had taken.
"Should you be in here?!" A voice came from the door.
Spider jumped out of his skin when the voice spoke. This was the second time that day someone had sneaked up on him! He turned around to find Jim standing at the door.
"Well are you going to answer me?" Jim said walking into the sick bay.
"I was looking for Swaine." Spider said in a high pitched voice.
"Everyone says that."
"Well it's true."
Jim put his head to one side. This made Spider aware that Jim knew something he didn't but wasn't going to ask otherwise the X would have his head on a spike.
"You're looking better." Spider tried to change the subject.
"Yes thank you." Jim said looking Spider up and down.
"So I'm sure you'd like some space…" Spider said, going towards the door.
Jim wanted to say something else but just let Spider leave. If he wanted to find Swaine then Jim wasn't going to stop him. Jim looked around the room once Spider had left. Nothing had been touched but Spider had obviously been looking for something that didn't belong to him.
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"We're coming up on the vessels now." Nav said to the bridge.
The crew looked up from their work. There in front of them were the two ships. Something was odd though, both seemed fine! Why would they send out a mayday call if they were fine?!
"Send out a message to them to find out what's going on." Kate said to Charge.
"Yes Ma'am." Charge said in reply.
The sound of typing made the bridge fall silent as they waited for a message to come back. Something was up, they just had to find out what.
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Spider had made his way to Mike's quarters. If Mike and Swaine weren't in the sick bay this was the only other place they could be. He went to knock on the door when he heard Swaine's and Mike's voices come from within.
"Are you sure this will work?" Mike's voice asked.
"It's the best chance we have." Swaine answered.
A gasp came from Mike as Spider listened in to their conversation. What was going on in there? Spider knocked on the door.
"Yes?" Mike's voice said, sounding out of breath.
Spider stopped for a moment before entering. He heard Swaine pack something away and then opened the door.
"Spider. What can I do for you?" Mike asked as Spider came through the door.
"The X sent me down." Spider said, looking around the room.
"Did she want something?" Mike asked again.
"I think she wanted Swaine." Spider lied.
Swaine looked back at Mike. he then nodded to Spider to take him up to the bridge. Spider nodded back and went with Swaine up to the bridge. Mike rolled his sleeve back up again and then went back to his bed.
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Spider and Swaine had only made it half the way to the bridge before Spider stopped. Swaine turned to him to see what was wrong even though he really wanted to go to the bridge.
"What's the matter with the CO?" Spider asked, looking down at the floor.
"Just a bit light headed." Swaine answered trying to walk on.
"I know it's more than that."
Swaine stopped in his tracks. Spider never missed a trick and this time Swaine didn't think that he could think of another lie to tell the young sailor.
"Okay promise not to tell anyone else." Swaine said giving in.
"Promise. Now what's wrong?" Spider urged the medic.
Swaine took a deep breath in. This wasn't going to be easy to tell anyone especially Spider as he seemed quite close to Mike. Spider watched Swaine and waited for an answer for the question he had been dying to get an answer to.