CHAPTER TWO

Megan stood by the moon pool and watched Darwin as he swam by the edge watching her intently "girl sad."

Megan smiled and patted Darwin "smart animal."

Darwin lifted his tail in the air and brought it down into the water, which spilled over the side and splashed Megan, she jumped back in surprise "hey!"

"Girl happy now, play with Darwin."

She started grinning "I guess no one can stay sad with you around."

*

Jackson and Hernandez, two of Culver's goons walked along the halls of the SeaQuest looking for the two mechanics they were to replace. Hernandez stopped outside the mess hall he nudged his partner and they both walked silently into the room, Jackson sat down at the table where the two mechanics are eating breakfast, they looked up and nodded "hi there."

Jackson grinned and moved his hand towards his boot. As the mechanics turned to leave Jackson grabbed the one nearest to him and took the knife out of his boot then plunged it into the mechanics heart. The other one, Jacob grabbed Jackson and decked him he fell back into a nearby table sending a chair clattering to the floor. Hernandez picked up a chair and smashed it over Jacob's head.

*

Megan turned around when she heard footsteps behind her, she saw Lucas standing a couple of feet in front of her "why are you following me!" She turned to walk away. He walked over to her and knelt beside the moon pool and petted Darwin "I told the captain I'd show you around so you don't get lost."

She looked at him exasperated "do I look lost to you!"

He thought for a second before answering "okay so maybe you just need a friend."

She shook her head and looked away "I'm fine on my own."

She pushed past him and Lucas not wanting to be deterred walked after her, as he left the Moon Pool he heard Darwin say "good…luck."

"Yeah thanks Darwin" he continued on after Megan. "Look, I don't know why you're upset or angry but shutting people out isn't going to help…believe me I've tried."

She laughed "so have I and it's worked great for me so far. A loud cry not far from them interrupted their conversation, Megan's face drained of it's colour "oh no."

*

Jacob ran down the corridor, tripping over his own feet, he was thrown backwards and he felt someone grab his shirt collar. He struggled to move forward and he elbowed his captor, he clambered toward the Mag-Lev and slammed his fist on the button, he rushed inside as soon as the doors opened. Once inside he lay back on the seat in relief. The doors began to close when a hand pried it open and Hernandez' grinning face looked inside "didn't think you could get away that easy, did you?"

*

An unfamiliar looking man in his early twenties stood in between Lucas and Megan as he chased her down the corridor "who are you?" Lucas demanded to know.

The man smiled all nice and friendly and held out his arm to shake Lucas' hand "the names Jason, pleased to meet you."

Megan looked at them both and backed away as Jason turned to face her, he smiled broadly "well hello there little lady."

She smiled weakly and Lucas looked at her "are you feeling okay?"

She nodded like nothing was wrong but Lucas wasn't convinced, Jason looks from Lucas to Megan to whom he gives a warning stare "did I scare you kids? The yell that was me I fell and banged my head."

Lucas gave him an inquisitive look "what do you do here on the SeaQuest, Jason?" "Oh I'm a scientist, I'm gonna be putting some of my ideas into practice."

Lucas looked at him with a spark of interest "what kind of work?"

Jason looked at him with an annoying grin "top secret…anyway I'd better get unpacked." He stopped and looks at Megan as he walked past her "I'll be seeing you around."

As soon as he was gone Lucas confronted Megan "What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Megan just shrugged and started walking away in the opposite direction to Jack "nothings wrong I just feel a little queasy that's all" Lucas watched her leave and kept a mental note to ask Bridger about Jason later.

*

Jason, Hernandez and Jackson stood outside the supply room talking quietly, Jason looked at them angrily, he grabbed hold of Jackson by the neck and pushed him back against the door "I told you to capture the mechanics not kill them!"

Hernandez shrugged "they put up a fight it couldn't be helped."

Jason backhanded him across the face "next time try harder or they'll be hell to pay, I guarantee it" he spoke in a quiet but furious tone of voice now. "Get back to work…SeaQuest work." Jackson's face started to return to it's normal shade as Jason let him go, they hurry off out of his sight and he looks at them in disgust, he bumps into Ben as he rounds a corner and Jason pushes him back "watch where you're going!"

Ben looks at him indignant "hey you bumped into me, buddy."

Jason stared at him through narrowed eyes "I'm not you're buddy."

"Thank God for small miracles…wait a second, don't I know you?"

Jason straightened up and looked at Ben "never seen you before in my life."

"No, no…Washington, you worked for Senator Roberts I saw you in a bar with him right before he disappeared."

Jason looked shocked momentarily "you got the wrong person." He pushed past Ben he carried on walking, Jason spoke through his PAL Communicator and he heard Hernandez "I want you to keep a look out for someone, he could get in the way."

*

Hernandez watched Ben as he moved around, talking to various people on the bridge, Ben noticed Hernandez out of the corner of his eye. Seeing Bridger was nowhere around he walked over to Ford "Commander, have you noticed anything odd about the new guy?"

Ford turned and looked from Hernandez to Ben, Hernandez seeing Ford watching him turned away and high tailed it off the bridge. "I think being on that ice berg made you paranoid Lieutenant."

Ben looked at him seriously "and what about this Jason, what do you know about him?"

Ford sighed "Lucas was asking about him earlier too, he checks out, he's clean graduated university with honours, Med school--."

"That doesn't mean he isn't dirty."

Ford looked at him half smiling "Krieg get back to work."

Ben looked slightly annoyed that he wasn't being taken seriously, Lonnie looks across at Ford "is he alright? I haven't seen him act so…paranoid before."

Ford smiled at her "he's fine."

Lonny shrugged "whatever you say."

Tony upon hearing the conversation, joined her "if you ask me, he's up to something." "Tony you're both paranoid."

*

Ben walked along the corridor, aware of Hernandez following behind him he took a left towards the moon pool, and bumped into Jason, he smiled evilly "hi Ben, we need to talk."