Author: MacKynzie
Rating : PG-13
Part: 4/6
Disclaimer: SeaQuest and all her crew aren't mine, I'm just borrowing them.
A Hidden Past - part 4
" Kid. Hey, kid, wake up, we're here. Hey, come on kid, get up will ya'? I've got places to go!"
Lucas frowned as he was roused from an unpleasant sleep. " Yeah, yeah. I'm up, I'm up. How much?" Lucas asked the disgruntled taxi driver.
"$23.50" the cabbie stated. Lucas handed over $25 as he grabbed the duffel bag that was pretty much carrying his life. Getting out, he heard the cabbie mutter," Gee thanks. Cheapskate." As the cab roared away, Lucas rolled his eyes in digust. He had been tempted to grab back the five and give the rude cabbie the exact amount. Maybe next time.
Lucas turned around and gazed at the mammoth ship that he called home. Before, it had been comforting and homey. Now, it was uninviting and foreboding. Lucas shuddered at his dark thoughts but he couldn't shake the depression that had settled in. He used to love the SQ. The computers and his friends. But now, he didn't feel anything. Nothing at all. It wasn't only the SeaQuest, either. Lucas Wolenczak felt nothing for anyone or anything. It was if someone had come in and ripped out his heart and replaced it with a big, black nothing. NOTHING. The word resounded in his head and echoed around. Nothing. 'That's all I am, anyway. I need a cigarette.'
Lucas looked around briefly, searching for a place to smoke. All he needed now was some righteous do-gooder to see him smoking and feel the need to report his sins to the Captain. 'Wouldn't that be perfect?' Lucas asked himself as he slipped behind a large skid containing various supplies for the behemouth of a ship. As he did so, Lucas missed the arrival of another taxi. But this taxi was unlike any other. This taxi carried what would become his worst nightmare.
* * *
Gaia Romanov stepped from the taxi and stared in abject awe. She was beautiful. She was magificant. The SeaQuest was gorgeous. Gaia grabbed her bags from the trunk and paid the cabbie. The cab roared away and Gaia just stood there, taking in the mammoth beauty. In Russia, her father had been an avide seamen. When Gaia was born, he moved to America with his wife , and taught Gaia everything there was to know about the sea. Well, her father had been wonderful, and then he wasn't so wonderful anymore. He was different now, he was different when she was a teenager. He had changed and so had she, it was probably him who had helped to destroy her life.
'Enough of that,' Gaia thought, shaking herself out of those thoughts. "Uuunngg!!" Gaia grunted in exertion. 'Man! That bag is heavy! What did I pack in it?!' she asked herself. Since it was obvious she wouldn't be able to carry them all, Gaia grabbed the smallest one and made her way over to the docking bay. Seeing a man wearing a SQ uniform, she walked up to him and said, " Um, excuse me?" The tall man turned around and Gaia saw that his name was Krieg. "Yeah?" the man peered over his clipboard at her and it was obvious he didn't like being disturbed.
"Uh, I need some help with my bags, if it's not too much trouble."
"Oh? Is that right?" he asked snidely. Gaia swallowed and nodded. 'Get a grip on yourself, Romanov! You're not some teenager, you're a respected scientist!' With that, she nodded again, but with more resolve.
"And you are?"
"Romanov. Dr. Romanov." Krieg looked down at his clipboard. Checking a sheaf of papers that were firmly attached there, he lifted one up and looked at her. Looking from the paper to her, Krieg frowned. He repeated the motion once more.
Obviously satisfied with whatever was there, he said, "I'm sorry, Dr., but we're on a tight schedule right now. If you could sign this please." It was not a request, but an order.
Taking the board she looked at the paper he indicated and took the proffered pen. "What is this for?" Gaia asked, even as she was in the middle of signing it.
"It's just for security reasons. Shows us that you arrived and signed the release form." he responded, his gaze focused on a point behind her. "Ahhh! Johnson! Not like that!" he took a step away from her, infuriated with the poor soul name Johnson.
Gaia put her hand on his arm quickly. "Mr. Krieg? What about my bags?" He waved a disinterested hand in the direction of her bags. "Uh, I'll have someone get to them." Krieg responded and walked briskly away, muttering things under his breath about worker imcompetence.
Gaia frowned. Apparently she was on her own right now. 'Oh, well,' she thought, 'time to find someone who cares about guests.' Gaia looked around her at the hustle and bustle. Personal were milling around, and it was obvious everyone was very busy with something. Gaia sighed, it didn't look anyone would care right now.
* * * *
Knock! Knock! Gaia rapped loudly on the steel door marked Captain Nathan Bridger. She swallowed the lump in her throat as a voice called out, "Yeah, come in!"
Gaia pushed the door open and walked in, her head held high. She waited until the brown head looked up from the papers to say anything. "Yes?" Nathan asked, not having looked up.
She cleared her throat. "Captain Bridger?" Brider's head snapped up at the unfamilar voice. "Oh, hello. Can I help you?"
"I'm Dr. Gaia Romanov. I'm part of the 'exchange program.' I was told I should report to you first."
Bridger's face was blank. He had no idea what she was talking about. Gaia could tell he was clueless, but she didn't want to say anything, lest she offend him.
"Exchange Program?" Bridger asked. A knock sounded at the door, interrupting whatever reply Gaia had been about to form. "Yeah, come in."
"Nathan?" An auburn head poked in. The women stepped in. "Oh, I didn't know that you had company. I'll come back later." The women's voice was distinctly British, and Gaia had a little trouble understanding her. Bridger apparently had none, however, and he quickly said, " No, wait Kristen." The women stopped her retreat and turned back around to face him. "Yes?"
"Uh, Kristen, this is Dr...."
"Romanov." Gaia quickly supplied.
"Dr. Romanov. She said she's part of some 'exchange program.'"
Kristen looked at her. "Yes, of course." She smiled warmly at the obviously uncomfortable Gaia. "I'm Kristen Westphalen." she addressed Nathan. "You remember, don't you Nathan? Some scientists, in cooperation with the UEO, are exchanging positions. I believe Dr. Romanov, here, is switching with, uh, Dr. MacDuibhil, right?"
Gaia shrugged, she had no idea who she was switching with. "How long is this for?" Nathan questioned. "6 months, Captain." Gaia responded.
"I assume that you have papers of some sort."
"Oh, yes of course." Gaia quickly opened her handbag. She reached into it and pulled out a sheaf of papers. Gaia handed them to Nathan, slightly nervous but not knowing why.
Nathan looked them over and glance up. He smiled at her, "Well, I think everything here is in order, Dr. Romanov. Now, Kristen, why don't you show the Doctor around SeaQuest. I'm sure that she would love a tour of her home for the next 6 months."
Gaia nodded affirmitavely, "I wouldn't want to impose on anyone, though. There will be plenty of time for that if you're busy right now."
"Nonsense" Kristen clucked. "It would be my pleasure."
"Very good. It's settled then. I'll have Commander Ford issue you a PAL soon. Now, if that's all ladies, I really have a lot of work to do."
Kristen smiled at Gaia, "Shall we, Doctor?" Gaia smiled, she had a feeling they would become very good friends.
* * *
Gaia plopped into her bunk, exhausted. It had been a very long day. Fun, but very long. After they had left the Captain's office, Kristen had proceeded to give her the grand tour. The very long and detailed grand tour. But Gaia didn't mind, Kristen had showed her essential things that she would definitly need to know. The two had talked and laughed for several hours as they roamed the huge ship. They had breaked for dinner and Kristen had introduced her to all of the senior officers. Gaia tried to recall their names. Hmm. There was Krieg, who she had already met. He had tried to apologize, but she had dismissed it, Gaia knew how she could be when she was trying to get things done. Who else? Oh, yeah, O'Neil and Ford and.....oh, who cares?! Gaia thought. It was her first day, she didn't need to know everyone's name! And with that Gaia effectively shut her mind down. It had been a long day.
* * *
"Gaia?" a soft voice questioned. Gaia turned and saw Kristen Westphalen leaning on the door jamb. "How long are you going to sit at that microscope?"
"Well, as long as it takes I suppose." she replied
"How about dinner?"
"Maybe tomorrow Kristen? I really want to get a lot of this done."
"Sorry hon, but that wasn't a request. As doctor of this fine ship, I hereby order you to accompony me to dinner."
Gaia sighed as she contemplated the stubborn woman before her. She knew that it was a losing battle. Gaia sighed again but she flicked off the scope and got off the stool.
Kristen smiled, "Now I knew that you would see it my way."
* * *
Lucas frowned as he stared at the computer screen. He sat back and rubbed his very tired eyes. His stomach growled an instant later.
'Yep,' he thought 'it's time for some chow.'
* * *
Gaia looked down at her tray in disbelief. "Is this really food?"
"Uh, well, unfortunetly yes." Ben Krieg responded in equal disgust.
Ben looked up and greeted Tim O'Neil as he sat down, also looking resignedly at his palate.
"Hey, man, what's up in your corner of the world?" Krieg asked.
"Not a whole heck of a lot. You?"
"Oh, you know, same old same old; yachting in the islands, spending money like it grows on trees, dating beautiful women, laying on the beach with a blonde bombshell on my right arm and an awesome tropical fruity drink thingy on my left. You know, the usual." Krieg responded
"Yeah, right, whatever. Hey, doc," Tim turned to Kristen," have you seen Lucas around lately? He promised that he'd help out with that virus protection program, but I haven't been able to find him anywhere."
"No, Tim, he hasn't been in the lab all day. Did you check his quarters?"
"Yeah, but then again I only looked once or twice. He's always in and out of there." Tim said
Gaia, who had been following the conversation, said," Who's Lucas?"
Kristen looked over at her in surprise. "You've not met Lucas?"
"No, I haven't. Why? Is he someone special?"
"Oh, yes, he's very special. He's only probably the smartest one on this entire vessel." Kristen replied.
"Really? He may be smart, but why is he so special? What exactly does he do?"
"Well, he's practically a computer genuis and he's always doing work and experiments in the lab. Are you sure that you have not met him? He's in there all the time."
"No, I'm quite sure I've never met him, but you still haven't explained what's so great about him." Gaia said, very intrigued.
"Would it help if we mentioned the fact that he's only 16?" Krieg asked, finally getting to the heart of the matter.
Gaia did a doubletake. "16? On a ship like this? You're kidding me!"
"Not at all, Doctor. Lucas is very much a teenager." Kristen said, a little peeved at Ben for stealing her fire.
"Speaking of boy wonder, here he comes now." Tim pointed out, waving Lucas over to their table.
Gaia, facing the wall, had her back turned to anyone approaching. Just as she was about to turn around she heard a very familar voice. Very familar.
"Hey, guys, what's happening?" Lucas asked as he took a seat next to Ben Krieg.
"Lucas, I'd like you to meet someone." Kristen said, pleased that he had showed up.
Only then did Lucas notice the woman sitting next to Kristen. A very familar woman. One he had met. And one that was staring at him in shock.
Lucas' eyes widened in shocked bewilderment. What was she doing here, anyhow? Then his eyes narrowed and in them was something that could only be described as cold fury.
Kristen, oblivious that anything was wrong, continued in her introduction. "Lucas Wolenczak, I'd like for you to meet Doctor Gaia Romanov."
* * *