part eight
Lucas' fingers feverishly worked the wires together, peeling off layers of insulation and connecting circuits. He wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand, tossed his head to get the hair out of his eyes, and went back to work. A few moments later a smile spread across his face.
By the time Mia and Mike arrived, Lucas was turning in the last screw holding the metal plate on the wall. "Are you ready, Lucas?" He nodded and held out his hands as Michael pulled out a pair of handcuffs. After securing them on Lucas' wrists, Mia led the way out of the room, followed by Michael with Lucas in tow. They proceeded down the hallway, towards the docking bay.
The air was tense as they turned the corner and approached the ensign guarding their path to freedom. Mia held her breath, hoping the he would just let them pass, but much to her dismay, the guard moved in front of her and placed a hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry, Miss Mitchell, but we have orders not to let anyone into the docking bay."
Mia tossed her head and put on her best "captain's daughter" routine. "And you think that applies to me?" She paused. "We have orders also, Ensign." She put a particularly hard emphasis on the word "ensign." We have to transport this prisoner off the ship." She gestured to Lucas. "He is a POW- and if you have any brains at all, you'd realize that gives me and Ensign Young as his convoy authority from the president himself." The Ensign pondered that for a moment, took one more look at Mia's determined expression and moved aside to let them enter. "Thank you, Ensign."
The group entered, and as soon as they were out of earshot of the ensign guarding the door, Mia let out a sigh of relief. Her cool exterior melted for just a moment as she let herself enjoy the success of the first stage of their escape.
Mike immediately ran over to the docking controls and engaged the docking system. The silver doors to the docked mini-sub slowly pulled open. Too slow, Michael thought. This is taking too much time! He tapped his foot impatiently in the floor as he waited for the green light.
Lucas adjusted the handcuffs on his wrists and took a few deep breaths. His heart was pounding, The moment seemed to last forever, Mike's anticipation and anxiety having spread to the others; but in reality, it was only a few seconds before the light came on and the three were able to enter the shuttle.
"Come on!" Mike whispered to Mia as he pulled Lucas along behind him. He let her climb into the ladder and down into the sub before turning to Lucas to uncuff him. But before either of them could climb down into the mini-sub, the voice of the ensign at the entrance could be heard. Quickly, Mike smacked the control panel beside the doors leading to the sub and pulled Lucas down underneath a dry sub, sitting out of the water for repairs. The door pulled shut just as Mitchell and a group of New Australian soldiers walked into the room.
"Captain Bridger will be here momentarily, sir."
"Thank you, Ensign." Mitchell turned to his XO, Commander Dirk and spoke quietly in hushed tones, though they were close enough to Lucas and Mike for them to be overheard. "I've been waiting 18 years for this day, Commander. Finally both my country and I will be avenged."
Dirk eyed her captain warily. "Sir, what are you planning on doing once the Captain arrives?"
Mitchell smiled. "Don't worry, Commander. I don't go back on my promises; I told Nathan I wouldn't harm him, and I don't plan to." He paused. "But, if it just so happens that the unfortunate Captain is involved in a tragic accident while on board, well, that's out of my hands." Lucas' heart sank at the captain's laughter. He couldn't leave Bridger here to die-not after he had come here to save him! His anger once again started to overflow. Mike, sensing Lucas' tension and uneasiness at Mitchell's words, laid a hand on his arm, slowly shaking his head from side to side, and mouthed the word "no."
Lucas gave him a pained expression but pushed the anger down so far that tears came to his eyes. Mike's heart went out to the kid. Lucas hadn't asked to get involved in this situation-Mike had enlisted. He had followed orders to do things Lucas couldn't even imagine. But now he would make things right. He couldn't tell the kid how or what, but he wasn't going to let Mitchell win. Not this time.
The duo could hear a sudden grinding noise and both knew the docking doors were opening. Mike could only pray that it was Bridger's sub and not Mia, wondering what was going on. In a few moments he knew that it was indeed Bridger as Mitchell moved forward, into their view.
"Nathan. It's been a while."
"Yes, it has." Bridger responded, not at all comfortable with the situation, thinking to himself, not long enough, you egotistical maniac. "Let's dispense with the pleasantries, Joe. Let me see Lucas." Mitchell laughed.
"Nathan, Nathan...two people meet each other again after, what, 18 years? And you can't even appreciate the moment. How sad..." He looked at Bridger's face and straightened up. "In due time, Bridger. In due time. But before we get to that, why don't we adjourn to my office to discuss thisÉ situation more thoroughly?"
"How do I know you will keep your word?"
"I am a man of honor, Nathan. I told you that I would not harm you." He looked wounded. "I'm hurt, Nathan, that you wouldn't trust me after all this time."
Bridger gave him an "I wonder why" look and responded, "Let me guess. Just the fact that you left Kathryn 18 years ago because of a grudge." Lucas was once again left shocked. Bridger had known his mother?
"Oh, Nathan. Leave it up to you to simplify things. That boy is here, his life in danger, because of you. Don't you feel the least bit guilty? Or do you still not consider your actions to be wrong?" Nathan hadn't been ready for this argument yet. His heart ached at Mitchell's words, but the didn't let it reached his face.
"I don't want to argue with you, Joe. I just want to get Lucas and get out of here." He paused. "However I have to."
Mitchell's eyebrows went up. "Was that a threat, Nathan?"
"Take it any way you want it, Joe." During the conversation, the two men had inched closer and closer, so that now only a few inches separated their anger. Bridger seemed about ready to punch Mitchell's lights out, and Mitchell was at that point if not past it. The tension in the air was tangible. Bridger was the first to speak. "Go to hell, you pompous bastard." The speed of Mitchell's response practically gave Bridger whiplash.
"Then I'll meet your son there." He said it so softly that even Mitchell's XO, who was standing beside the two, had to strain to hear it.
The events of the next few moments seemed to happen in slow motion. Bridger's already clenched fist pulled back to gain momentum for the punch just as Dirk reached with her hand to the gun strapped at her waist. Lucas couldn't bear just to watch anymore. He saw what was occurring and couldn't let it happen again; the scene looked too familiar, a haunting image from the past. He felt himself move but it was not his doing, more of an involuntary action than anything under his control. He heard a voice yell "No!" and was shocked to find that it was his own.
"Lucas!" He heard Mike's voice cry out but continued to run towards Bridger. Nothing would defer him in his course now. Mike slammed his hand down onto the floor. That damn kid! He thought. Without a moments thought he pulled out his gun from his waist and ran from his hiding place.
Lucas reached Captain Bridger just as Dirk pulled the trigger in her gun. He pushed Bridger out of the path of the laser and felt the heat of it singe his side. His face contorted in pain as he slammed to the floor, but seconds later gained control and tried to forget about the pain.
Ducking and firing, Mike made his way to the door control panel and flipped the switch to make the bay doors open. "Come on!" He yelled.
One of Mike's shots hit a man near Bridger, and he picked up the gun lying in the limp hand, grabbed Lucas' arm and, not realizing he had been hurt, pulled him to his feet. Using his own body as a shield for Lucas, Bridger made his way towards Mike and the door to freedom.
Mike hit the door controls and motioned to Bridger and Lucas. "Get inside! Go!" He waited until the door was almost closed and then dropped to the floor and rolled inside the docking port.
Inside the shuttle, Mia was sitting at the controls when the trio jumped inside.
"Gee guys, what took you so long?" She smiled as Mike collapsed into the chair beside her. He returned her smile with a stern look.
"Just get us the hell out of here."
"Yes, sir, Ensign Mike." Her hands flew across the controls and moments later the group could feel the lurch in their stomachs as the shuttle de-coupled from the Phoenix and started in their way home.
Mitchell was furious. He had had them both right in his hands-the day he had been dreaming of for 18 long years had been torn from his grasp by his own ensign, none the less! One he had known mercy to only a day earlier. But even worse, his son was gone; again. He had never even thought about the kid. Until he had shown up. Back in his life. He had looked so much like her...
Giving command of his ship to Commander Dirk, Mitchell hopped into a mini-sub and set off to destroy the past that kept haunting him and hopefully to create a new future that would leave the ghosts behind.