Disclaimer: See part one.
Here's part seven… hope it's up to standard. WARNING: Some mild violence at the start of this chapter. Don't read it if this isn't your cup of tea.
*****************************
Smack! The whip smacked against Lucas' bare back, causing the boy to moan. Breathing heavily, Lucas prepared himself for the next blow. Smack, Smack! Two blows that time.
Again Lucas let out a moan, his breathing quickening due to the pain. "Learned your lesson yet son?" Lawrence asked. Lucas couldn't answer even if he'd wanted to; he was in too much pain. Lawrence took his silence as a 'no'. "Guess not eh son?"
Lawrence continued the torture for another ten minutes, finally stopping when Lucas let out his tenth loud scream and passed out. Deciding that this activity wasn't fun any more Lawrence left Lucas tied to the table and left the room locking the door behind him. Lucas could feel some blood flowing down his side, but it wasn't that bad because the blood was flowing slowly. The cuts would probably heal themselves unaided.
*****************************
For a whole day, Lucas had nothing to do except stare at the table until his father came in. Like Lucas, Lawrence had decided that the cuts he had caused were not serious so he left them alone to heal.
"Lucas, you'll be very pleased to know that I have withdrawn you from college, although they were a bit concerned about your attendance rate, I think they were going to chuck you out anyway." Lawrence said almost happily.
Lucas didn't respond to or acknowledge his father; he just kept staring into space.
Lawrence untied Lucas' arms and legs and then forced him to sit in a chair. He then tied Lucas' arms to the arms of the chair and his legs to the chair legs. Lucas knew this was 'phase two' of Lawrence's punishment.
"Right Lucas, I think a week down here will be sufficient. No noise from you or I'll make it longer." Lawrence warned. Lucas nodded. He knew Lawrence would come down three times a day. All three times he would help Lucas to the toilet and he would feed him on two of the three visits.
*****************************
Lawrence walked upstairs and switched on the TV. 'Thank god he'll be gone in a month. I should thank my lucky stars that the seaQuest refit is ahead of schedule.'
*****************************
Lucas on the other hand, stared fixedly at a spot on the wall. He too was thinking. 'Why did I make such a fuss about going to seaQuest? I'll finally be free, I won't dread every waking moment, unless of course someone on the boat turns out to be just like my father!" Tears snaked their way down his cheeks. One thing he really wanted to do before leaving was to ask his father why he did what he did. Was it him or something else?
Lucas knew he could ask the question and probably get an answer, but there could be repercussions, but that was a risk he had taken before and he could take it again.
*****************************
One week later, and to his word, Lawrence let Lucas out. The first thing Lucas did was to have a nice, long, hot bath. When he had finished, he looked at his back in the mirror. He could see all the old scars as well as the new ones. 'Quite a collection' Lucas thought. One of his doctors had said that three years ago. 'I wonder what he'd say now. He'd probably have a heart attack!'
*****************************
Three weeks later and Lucas stood in hid bedroom looking at the walls for, probably the last time. Today was the day Lucas left for the seaQuest. He was actually fortunate, his father hadn't so much as shouted out at him for three weeks. That was even rarer than not being hit for three weeks.
"Time to go Lucas." Lawrence said. He'd actually taken time off work to take Lucas to seaQuest. Lawrence wanted to make sure Lucas was out of his hair personally, until the first shore leave anyway.
Wordlessly, Lucas put his bags in the boot of his father's Mercedes. He thought it was strange, but he was going to miss the car the most. It was the only thing that didn't hold painful memories for him. Maybe he'd own one of his own some day.
*****************************
Lawrence pulled up by UEO Headquarters and the seaQuest dock. "Well son, looks like it's time for us to part company." Lawrence said. "You know where to go. Get out! I'll be here if there are any problems." Lucas thought about asking 'the question' but considering his father's mood, he chickened out. He'd rather ask it when he could fight back.
Lucas did as he was told and went inside carrying his bags on a trolley he'd found. He calmly walked up to the reception desk. "Excuse me, could I see Admiral Noyce please?"
"Is he expecting you?" The female receptionist asked. She was a typical military receptionist, dressed smart, cold and very unpleasant. The only thing warm about her was her hair. A nice shade of red. Reminding Lucas of a sunset color.
"Yes he is. I'm Lucas Wolenczak. He'll know me."
"Just a moment."
The receptionist chatted on a private line, before turning back to Lucas. "Just wait over there, the Admiral will be out in a minute."
Lucas had a seat and after a minute the Admiral came out and went over to him. He shook Lucas' had in a friendly greeting. "And how are you Lucas?" Noyce asked.
"A little frightened sir." Lucas answered nervously.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. We're not that bad." Noyce said reading Lucas' nervousness. "Well, I'd love to show you in but I've got a meeting in ten minutes. Just walk through the access tunnel and show them this." Noyce said giving Lucas a very official looking document. "When you get on board try to find either Commander Ford or Doctor Westphalen. Their photos are attached to the document and on the back you'll find where your room is." And with a pat on the back, Noyce left heading for his meeting.
Lucas walked back out, dragging his trolley behind him. He saw his father's car in the same place as it was when he got out and gave his father an 'ok' sign. His father quickly drove off. Officially disowning Lucas for the next three or four months. Lucas then dejectedly walked over to the access tunnel. The tunnel which led to his home where he would stay until his father was no longer in charge of him and Lucas could make up his own mind. seaQuest Deep Submergence Vessel. Lucas stared dejectedly at the walkway and took his first step towards his new life… if only for a few years.
*****************************
Sorry this part took so long, but I've been a bit down lately. This might sound sad, but being a McLaren F1 supporter I haven't had much to celebrate and also college has taken up a fair amount of my time. But it's eater break and I have two weeks to write more!
This is the end for this story but a sequel is on the way, describing Lucas on the SQ so watch this space!
Here's part seven… hope it's up to standard. WARNING: Some mild violence at the start of this chapter. Don't read it if this isn't your cup of tea.
*****************************
Smack! The whip smacked against Lucas' bare back, causing the boy to moan. Breathing heavily, Lucas prepared himself for the next blow. Smack, Smack! Two blows that time.
Again Lucas let out a moan, his breathing quickening due to the pain. "Learned your lesson yet son?" Lawrence asked. Lucas couldn't answer even if he'd wanted to; he was in too much pain. Lawrence took his silence as a 'no'. "Guess not eh son?"
Lawrence continued the torture for another ten minutes, finally stopping when Lucas let out his tenth loud scream and passed out. Deciding that this activity wasn't fun any more Lawrence left Lucas tied to the table and left the room locking the door behind him. Lucas could feel some blood flowing down his side, but it wasn't that bad because the blood was flowing slowly. The cuts would probably heal themselves unaided.
*****************************
For a whole day, Lucas had nothing to do except stare at the table until his father came in. Like Lucas, Lawrence had decided that the cuts he had caused were not serious so he left them alone to heal.
"Lucas, you'll be very pleased to know that I have withdrawn you from college, although they were a bit concerned about your attendance rate, I think they were going to chuck you out anyway." Lawrence said almost happily.
Lucas didn't respond to or acknowledge his father; he just kept staring into space.
Lawrence untied Lucas' arms and legs and then forced him to sit in a chair. He then tied Lucas' arms to the arms of the chair and his legs to the chair legs. Lucas knew this was 'phase two' of Lawrence's punishment.
"Right Lucas, I think a week down here will be sufficient. No noise from you or I'll make it longer." Lawrence warned. Lucas nodded. He knew Lawrence would come down three times a day. All three times he would help Lucas to the toilet and he would feed him on two of the three visits.
*****************************
Lawrence walked upstairs and switched on the TV. 'Thank god he'll be gone in a month. I should thank my lucky stars that the seaQuest refit is ahead of schedule.'
*****************************
Lucas on the other hand, stared fixedly at a spot on the wall. He too was thinking. 'Why did I make such a fuss about going to seaQuest? I'll finally be free, I won't dread every waking moment, unless of course someone on the boat turns out to be just like my father!" Tears snaked their way down his cheeks. One thing he really wanted to do before leaving was to ask his father why he did what he did. Was it him or something else?
Lucas knew he could ask the question and probably get an answer, but there could be repercussions, but that was a risk he had taken before and he could take it again.
*****************************
One week later, and to his word, Lawrence let Lucas out. The first thing Lucas did was to have a nice, long, hot bath. When he had finished, he looked at his back in the mirror. He could see all the old scars as well as the new ones. 'Quite a collection' Lucas thought. One of his doctors had said that three years ago. 'I wonder what he'd say now. He'd probably have a heart attack!'
*****************************
Three weeks later and Lucas stood in hid bedroom looking at the walls for, probably the last time. Today was the day Lucas left for the seaQuest. He was actually fortunate, his father hadn't so much as shouted out at him for three weeks. That was even rarer than not being hit for three weeks.
"Time to go Lucas." Lawrence said. He'd actually taken time off work to take Lucas to seaQuest. Lawrence wanted to make sure Lucas was out of his hair personally, until the first shore leave anyway.
Wordlessly, Lucas put his bags in the boot of his father's Mercedes. He thought it was strange, but he was going to miss the car the most. It was the only thing that didn't hold painful memories for him. Maybe he'd own one of his own some day.
*****************************
Lawrence pulled up by UEO Headquarters and the seaQuest dock. "Well son, looks like it's time for us to part company." Lawrence said. "You know where to go. Get out! I'll be here if there are any problems." Lucas thought about asking 'the question' but considering his father's mood, he chickened out. He'd rather ask it when he could fight back.
Lucas did as he was told and went inside carrying his bags on a trolley he'd found. He calmly walked up to the reception desk. "Excuse me, could I see Admiral Noyce please?"
"Is he expecting you?" The female receptionist asked. She was a typical military receptionist, dressed smart, cold and very unpleasant. The only thing warm about her was her hair. A nice shade of red. Reminding Lucas of a sunset color.
"Yes he is. I'm Lucas Wolenczak. He'll know me."
"Just a moment."
The receptionist chatted on a private line, before turning back to Lucas. "Just wait over there, the Admiral will be out in a minute."
Lucas had a seat and after a minute the Admiral came out and went over to him. He shook Lucas' had in a friendly greeting. "And how are you Lucas?" Noyce asked.
"A little frightened sir." Lucas answered nervously.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. We're not that bad." Noyce said reading Lucas' nervousness. "Well, I'd love to show you in but I've got a meeting in ten minutes. Just walk through the access tunnel and show them this." Noyce said giving Lucas a very official looking document. "When you get on board try to find either Commander Ford or Doctor Westphalen. Their photos are attached to the document and on the back you'll find where your room is." And with a pat on the back, Noyce left heading for his meeting.
Lucas walked back out, dragging his trolley behind him. He saw his father's car in the same place as it was when he got out and gave his father an 'ok' sign. His father quickly drove off. Officially disowning Lucas for the next three or four months. Lucas then dejectedly walked over to the access tunnel. The tunnel which led to his home where he would stay until his father was no longer in charge of him and Lucas could make up his own mind. seaQuest Deep Submergence Vessel. Lucas stared dejectedly at the walkway and took his first step towards his new life… if only for a few years.
*****************************
Sorry this part took so long, but I've been a bit down lately. This might sound sad, but being a McLaren F1 supporter I haven't had much to celebrate and also college has taken up a fair amount of my time. But it's eater break and I have two weeks to write more!
This is the end for this story but a sequel is on the way, describing Lucas on the SQ so watch this space!