CHAPTER THREE
Ben woke up in a darkened room about twenty minutes after he'd been cornered by Hernandez and Jason, he remembered being thrown into a supply room and fighting off the two goons before being hit over the head from behind, where he was at that moment he had no idea. He rubbed the back of his head and he felt a dampness in his hair, he tried to get up but he couldn't move, his eyes widened in panic when he can't open his mouth to shout out.
A dim light was turned on and he could just make out the shape of a man standing by a metal door at least I'm still on SeaQuest he thought before turning his attention back to the man who had begun to walk towards him.
"Don't try moving, you can't, not for a while anyway, just until we've finished our work, then maybe we'll let you go" Jackson spoke in a low voice making it hard for Ben to hear him, he tried again to speak but could barely manage a mumble. Jackson smirked and backed away out of the room, making no noise whatsoever.
*
Megan watched the vid link, patiently waiting for Culver speak to her, his sudden need to speak had panicked her and now sitting waiting was not helping. A grinning face suddenly appeared in front of her "so have you done it yet" he asked hopefully but seeing her face he suddenly became angry when he realised the answer "it's a simple job, Megan, even for you, just attach the transmitter to--."
She looked at him her face showing no expression, she spoke calmly "it's not that…do you have to use SeaQuest?"
His face turned red in frustration and anger "if I have control of SeaQuest people will listen to me, no one will get in my way, I can finally get rid of all the goody two shoes work your father did!" She bit her lip and stopped herself from speaking out loud he continues not noticing her too wrapped up in his own speech. "Controlling the underground isn't enough, people following me because they believe the political bullshit I told them isn't enough…the only thing that stands in my way is the UEO, with SeaQuest they'll have to listen to me."
She looked at him, pitying him "you're a lunatic."
He smiled, his smug smile that grated on her nerves "but you have to do as I say…do it!"
He terminates the link and she sat back in her chair trying to gather her thoughts, she looked across at a picture of a man vaguely resembling Quentin Culver though slightly younger "please forgive me." She stood up and slowly made her way to the bridge.
*
In his room Lucas watched the now blank screen of the computer "oh this is not happening!" He quickly ran to the door and hurried in the same direction as Megan.
*
As Megan neared the bridge she saw it more crowded than before, she could see Ford at the helm while Bridger spoke to Crocker who then started shouting orders to six crew members including a worried looking Dagwood. Megan stopped Lonnie as she hurried past "what's going on?"
"Ben's missing, I gotta go."
Lucas heard what Lonnie said, as he gets to the bridge he looks to Tony who was standing nearby "Ben's missing? He was here a little while ago."
Megan looked across at Lucas who motioned for her to come over, she did, a little hesitantly, Tony pulled Lucas into the corridor "Lonnie and I are gonna search C deck."
Lucas nodded "I'll be there in a minute" Tony hurried away to join Lonnie who waited patiently for him.
Lucas turned to face Megan "do you know where Ben is?" She shook her head in answer, no. "I heard you're conversation with Senator Culver." She suddenly started running away down the corridor knowing she can't run anywhere anyway, Lucas grabs her by the arm "you can't do what he asks."
She looks away from him "I know I'm not…I was going to but I didn't agree to kidnapping."
"Well what did you agree to?"
She doesn't have time to answer his question when the lights suddenly go out and SeaQuest stops and they hear Ford speaking "Sir she's dead in the water."