Jumanji-seaQuest Style
by Shell Lee
Bridger sighed as he felt the transport shift into autopilot. They were out of there. He had helped save all he could. He couldn't help but think that there might've been something more he could've done, someone else he could've saved. Maybe if he had done something differently Jim and Miguel would be here on this transport.
He could maybe and could've that particular situation to death, it wouldn't make the reality any different. Bridger looked at everyone in the transport. He did something, and it felt good. He could've done nothing and have let the game run its course. He knows what'll happen if-no, not if when-they finish.
"Penny for your thoughts, Captain." He looked at the person talking. Wendy, he should've known such an introspective mood would bring her over.
"You'd be wasting your penny."
"I don't think so. I think," she swallowed, "I think, sometimes, we have to unburden ourselves of our thoughts onto another from time to time." Bridger perked up. This didn't sound like she wanted to find out what he was thinking; this was beginning to sound like she had something she wanted to talk about. "I mean sometimes things happen that we have no control over, things that we can't help but feel like we are responsible for."
Wendy let out a sob. "He was right there. If I had been two minutes faster, no two seconds, I know I could've saved him." Wendy was crying now, big fat tears of grief for the lives she couldn't save. "I could've saved him. I could've saved them all."
Bridger didn't say anything to this. He just drew the crying woman into his arms and comforted her the best he could, as all the frustration, guilt, and grief poured out of her soul. She had been strong for everyone else now she just needed to have someone be strong for her this one time.
Bridger's own thoughts turned to Jim and Miguel, and their dead bodies laying still on the seaQuest. "I could've saved them."
Soon his own tears joined Wendy's.
***
Lucas flew through the air and around the room a few times before finally being flung into some sort of air eddy. The wind hadn't stopped there, but it was greatly diminished.
He groaned. That hurt. Was it too much to ask to be knocked out cold just this once? Just one time so he could avoid the pain?
Lucas raised his eyes just enough to see where he had landed. Tony's body was blocking his view. "Tony! Tony!" he shouted, but Tony could've heard the words when Lucas himself hadn't. The wind was just too loud. He lowered his head again. There wasn't a chance in hell that he was going to get up right then and there.
Eventually though he realized that sooner or later, he would have to get up. More than likely sooner because Tony was simply not moving. Lucas took a deep breath to gather up all his will power and rolled over onto his knees. He crawled a few steps towards the unmoving body of his friend. He groaned again, because he still hurt.
Lucas' eyes were pointed down at the floor, to avoid getting the flying debris in his eyes. So that was why he saw the game board before his knee found it. 'That wasn't there before,' he thought. 'Probably just missed it. At least we won't have to go looking for it.'
An eternity later he made it to Tony. Lucas' finger found his throat, and there was his pulse. Lucas let out a sigh of relief. Thank God, by all rights Tony probably should be dead by now. They all should. Twice over.
Lucas examined his roommate, and after he had reassured himself that Tony was only unconscious and not seriously injured, did his thoughts turn to how in the world he was going to get himself, Tony, and the game board out of there. The only thing he had going for him was he could see the door.
An idea popped so quickly into Lucas' head that he swore if anybody was around or conscious they would be able to see the light bulb over his head. Lucas pulled his pretty much intact shirt out of his pants and shoved the game board underneath it. Thankfully there was just enough room for it, but he couldn't tuck the shirt back in. Oh well, he'd just have to be careful.
Lucas maneuvered Tony into a place where he could carry him and make sure the game board didn't fall out. Tony made some sort of sound. The one arm that Lucas had managed to fit over his shoulder tightened slightly its hold.
"Hold on! I'm going to try and get us out of here!" Lucas yelled in the semi-conscious man's ear. He yelled so loud that at any other time Tony would've had trouble hearing afterwards. As it was, however, Lucas couldn't be sure that he was heard. Tony gave no acknowledgment.
With one hand holding on tight to Tony's limp body, the other with a death grip on the floor, and the game board tucked up inside his shirt, Lucas got up the courage to move out of his sheltered space.
Going with the wind instead of going against it, he made great time getting to the door, where he and his precious bundles were propelled out into the hallway.
Panting Lucas collapsed against the wall. Damn, Tony was heavy.
When he looked up there were Ford and Tim. Tim held one end of a cord; the other was wrapped around Ford's waist. It was obvious what they were about to do, and the looks on their faces were priceless.
He was safe, his friends were safe, and he had just saved not only himself but also his friend, while the cavalry had been getting ready to come to the rescue. For some reason nothing seemed funnier.
Eventually, Tim and Ford joined in. And the ravaged walls of the seaQuest rang with laughter.
***
"Where should we go from here?" Tim asked. After the outburst of laughter, Tony had woken up and was pissed that he missed all the fun because he had been knocked unconscious _again_. But other than the not-so-new attitude problem, he was all right.
It was Ford's turn and the discussion had turned to where would the next turn be taken.
"You know what, I just want to finish this game. Give me the dice. I'll take my turn right here, right now." Ford demanded.
"Don't you think we should find a better-"
"No, we always end up running. If he takes his turn out here-"
"I think we should-"
"in the hallway we can just run that much further and faster."
"find some place that we can finish the game from."
"I agree with Tim."
"We always end up running."
"Maybe we shouldn't-"
"Shut up!" Ford thought his head might explode. That had gone down hill fast. He knew that if they didn't act like a team, they were all likely to die and any hope that might come with the end of the game would be lost forever. "Let's take a vote. Everyone who wants me to take my turn here?"
Tony and Ford raised their hands. "Anyone who doesn't?"
Tim and Lucas' hands went up.
"Now what?"
"I don't know." Ford was out of ideas. He had long since tired of the game. He just wanted it over.
The silence reigned for several minutes. Everyone just looking at each other, trying to find some sort of compromise. Finally Tony broke the imposing silence.
"I think it's alive. I mean it's not like just a game. It knows we're here, and it knows our fears. It didn't want to be left behind so it hit me on the head, back down when I was trapped in that room. It knew."
"That's just silly. It's only a game." Tim sounded almost like he was holding on to the last truth left to him after all the others had been striped away.
"I agree. It wanted to be picked up and brought out of that last room. It wasn't there and then it was. If it's not alive then it's at least somehow sentient." Lucas' words rung true in Ford's ears. "I want to end this as soon as we can. I'm changing my vote." Lucas took the game out from underneath his shirt and set it down on the floor. He opened it up.
Ford took the dice out from the game.
The dice clattered against the game board. Coming to rest with the numbers four and two.
The token that had been designated Fords moved forward.
A new rhyme swirled into existence.
"A tiny bite
Can make you itch,
Make you sneeze,
Make you twitch."
Ford looked up his brain already trying to figure out what the words could possibly mean and knowing all to well that he would find out soon enough. So he saw it when a mosquito about as big as his fist came around the corner. He saw it when that mosquito bit one of the moneys that had been sitting some distance away.
The monkey very soon jumped up and jerked around like it was having a seizure, or maybe it was some puppet, with the puppet master having the seizure. Another one came around the corner.
"Run. Run!" And the four ran, like they had before but like they wouldn't again.
"What the hell are we running from?!" Tony yelled out the question as they ran.
"The flies from hell!" Ford yelled back.
Ford led them around a few more corners and into another room. Quickly he kicked some of the debris out of the way of the door. He put his shoulder against the door and pushed.
"Will you help me out here?" Tony immediately responded to the more-command-than-question question and put his shoulder along side his. Tim started pulling on the side. Lucas pulled out the debris Ford had missed. Together they managed to move that mangled door into place. It wasn't a perfect fit, but with the "donation" of a few shirts, it was sealed. Not a moment too soon, because the mosquitoes were right out side. A few managed to make it in but were quickly killed.
Ford looked at his friends, standing there breathing heavily. They had just escaped death once again. It was time to put his foot down; they had to make a stand. Not like they had much of a choice. He straitened his back and squared his shoulders. Time to make his drill sergeant proud.
"No matter what happens from here on out, we _don't_ stop the game, ok? We can't afford that now. The only way out is if-no when-we finish this game." Ford met each person's eyes. "We don't stop the game. Is that clear?"
A few mumbles followed his statement.
"What did you say?"
More audibly this time, at least from Tim and Tony, "yes sir."
"I can't hear you!"
This time Tony and Tim straitened up and said crisply, "Sir Yes Sir!" Lucas was a beat behind with his, "Yes Sir."
"People are counting on us to finish this game. People have died because of this game. Now are we going to finish this game?"
"SIr Yes Sir!"
"Well then let's do it!"
"Sir Yes Sir!"
by Shell Lee
Bridger sighed as he felt the transport shift into autopilot. They were out of there. He had helped save all he could. He couldn't help but think that there might've been something more he could've done, someone else he could've saved. Maybe if he had done something differently Jim and Miguel would be here on this transport.
He could maybe and could've that particular situation to death, it wouldn't make the reality any different. Bridger looked at everyone in the transport. He did something, and it felt good. He could've done nothing and have let the game run its course. He knows what'll happen if-no, not if when-they finish.
"Penny for your thoughts, Captain." He looked at the person talking. Wendy, he should've known such an introspective mood would bring her over.
"You'd be wasting your penny."
"I don't think so. I think," she swallowed, "I think, sometimes, we have to unburden ourselves of our thoughts onto another from time to time." Bridger perked up. This didn't sound like she wanted to find out what he was thinking; this was beginning to sound like she had something she wanted to talk about. "I mean sometimes things happen that we have no control over, things that we can't help but feel like we are responsible for."
Wendy let out a sob. "He was right there. If I had been two minutes faster, no two seconds, I know I could've saved him." Wendy was crying now, big fat tears of grief for the lives she couldn't save. "I could've saved him. I could've saved them all."
Bridger didn't say anything to this. He just drew the crying woman into his arms and comforted her the best he could, as all the frustration, guilt, and grief poured out of her soul. She had been strong for everyone else now she just needed to have someone be strong for her this one time.
Bridger's own thoughts turned to Jim and Miguel, and their dead bodies laying still on the seaQuest. "I could've saved them."
Soon his own tears joined Wendy's.
***
Lucas flew through the air and around the room a few times before finally being flung into some sort of air eddy. The wind hadn't stopped there, but it was greatly diminished.
He groaned. That hurt. Was it too much to ask to be knocked out cold just this once? Just one time so he could avoid the pain?
Lucas raised his eyes just enough to see where he had landed. Tony's body was blocking his view. "Tony! Tony!" he shouted, but Tony could've heard the words when Lucas himself hadn't. The wind was just too loud. He lowered his head again. There wasn't a chance in hell that he was going to get up right then and there.
Eventually though he realized that sooner or later, he would have to get up. More than likely sooner because Tony was simply not moving. Lucas took a deep breath to gather up all his will power and rolled over onto his knees. He crawled a few steps towards the unmoving body of his friend. He groaned again, because he still hurt.
Lucas' eyes were pointed down at the floor, to avoid getting the flying debris in his eyes. So that was why he saw the game board before his knee found it. 'That wasn't there before,' he thought. 'Probably just missed it. At least we won't have to go looking for it.'
An eternity later he made it to Tony. Lucas' finger found his throat, and there was his pulse. Lucas let out a sigh of relief. Thank God, by all rights Tony probably should be dead by now. They all should. Twice over.
Lucas examined his roommate, and after he had reassured himself that Tony was only unconscious and not seriously injured, did his thoughts turn to how in the world he was going to get himself, Tony, and the game board out of there. The only thing he had going for him was he could see the door.
An idea popped so quickly into Lucas' head that he swore if anybody was around or conscious they would be able to see the light bulb over his head. Lucas pulled his pretty much intact shirt out of his pants and shoved the game board underneath it. Thankfully there was just enough room for it, but he couldn't tuck the shirt back in. Oh well, he'd just have to be careful.
Lucas maneuvered Tony into a place where he could carry him and make sure the game board didn't fall out. Tony made some sort of sound. The one arm that Lucas had managed to fit over his shoulder tightened slightly its hold.
"Hold on! I'm going to try and get us out of here!" Lucas yelled in the semi-conscious man's ear. He yelled so loud that at any other time Tony would've had trouble hearing afterwards. As it was, however, Lucas couldn't be sure that he was heard. Tony gave no acknowledgment.
With one hand holding on tight to Tony's limp body, the other with a death grip on the floor, and the game board tucked up inside his shirt, Lucas got up the courage to move out of his sheltered space.
Going with the wind instead of going against it, he made great time getting to the door, where he and his precious bundles were propelled out into the hallway.
Panting Lucas collapsed against the wall. Damn, Tony was heavy.
When he looked up there were Ford and Tim. Tim held one end of a cord; the other was wrapped around Ford's waist. It was obvious what they were about to do, and the looks on their faces were priceless.
He was safe, his friends were safe, and he had just saved not only himself but also his friend, while the cavalry had been getting ready to come to the rescue. For some reason nothing seemed funnier.
Eventually, Tim and Ford joined in. And the ravaged walls of the seaQuest rang with laughter.
***
"Where should we go from here?" Tim asked. After the outburst of laughter, Tony had woken up and was pissed that he missed all the fun because he had been knocked unconscious _again_. But other than the not-so-new attitude problem, he was all right.
It was Ford's turn and the discussion had turned to where would the next turn be taken.
"You know what, I just want to finish this game. Give me the dice. I'll take my turn right here, right now." Ford demanded.
"Don't you think we should find a better-"
"No, we always end up running. If he takes his turn out here-"
"I think we should-"
"in the hallway we can just run that much further and faster."
"find some place that we can finish the game from."
"I agree with Tim."
"We always end up running."
"Maybe we shouldn't-"
"Shut up!" Ford thought his head might explode. That had gone down hill fast. He knew that if they didn't act like a team, they were all likely to die and any hope that might come with the end of the game would be lost forever. "Let's take a vote. Everyone who wants me to take my turn here?"
Tony and Ford raised their hands. "Anyone who doesn't?"
Tim and Lucas' hands went up.
"Now what?"
"I don't know." Ford was out of ideas. He had long since tired of the game. He just wanted it over.
The silence reigned for several minutes. Everyone just looking at each other, trying to find some sort of compromise. Finally Tony broke the imposing silence.
"I think it's alive. I mean it's not like just a game. It knows we're here, and it knows our fears. It didn't want to be left behind so it hit me on the head, back down when I was trapped in that room. It knew."
"That's just silly. It's only a game." Tim sounded almost like he was holding on to the last truth left to him after all the others had been striped away.
"I agree. It wanted to be picked up and brought out of that last room. It wasn't there and then it was. If it's not alive then it's at least somehow sentient." Lucas' words rung true in Ford's ears. "I want to end this as soon as we can. I'm changing my vote." Lucas took the game out from underneath his shirt and set it down on the floor. He opened it up.
Ford took the dice out from the game.
The dice clattered against the game board. Coming to rest with the numbers four and two.
The token that had been designated Fords moved forward.
A new rhyme swirled into existence.
"A tiny bite
Can make you itch,
Make you sneeze,
Make you twitch."
Ford looked up his brain already trying to figure out what the words could possibly mean and knowing all to well that he would find out soon enough. So he saw it when a mosquito about as big as his fist came around the corner. He saw it when that mosquito bit one of the moneys that had been sitting some distance away.
The monkey very soon jumped up and jerked around like it was having a seizure, or maybe it was some puppet, with the puppet master having the seizure. Another one came around the corner.
"Run. Run!" And the four ran, like they had before but like they wouldn't again.
"What the hell are we running from?!" Tony yelled out the question as they ran.
"The flies from hell!" Ford yelled back.
Ford led them around a few more corners and into another room. Quickly he kicked some of the debris out of the way of the door. He put his shoulder against the door and pushed.
"Will you help me out here?" Tony immediately responded to the more-command-than-question question and put his shoulder along side his. Tim started pulling on the side. Lucas pulled out the debris Ford had missed. Together they managed to move that mangled door into place. It wasn't a perfect fit, but with the "donation" of a few shirts, it was sealed. Not a moment too soon, because the mosquitoes were right out side. A few managed to make it in but were quickly killed.
Ford looked at his friends, standing there breathing heavily. They had just escaped death once again. It was time to put his foot down; they had to make a stand. Not like they had much of a choice. He straitened his back and squared his shoulders. Time to make his drill sergeant proud.
"No matter what happens from here on out, we _don't_ stop the game, ok? We can't afford that now. The only way out is if-no when-we finish this game." Ford met each person's eyes. "We don't stop the game. Is that clear?"
A few mumbles followed his statement.
"What did you say?"
More audibly this time, at least from Tim and Tony, "yes sir."
"I can't hear you!"
This time Tony and Tim straitened up and said crisply, "Sir Yes Sir!" Lucas was a beat behind with his, "Yes Sir."
"People are counting on us to finish this game. People have died because of this game. Now are we going to finish this game?"
"SIr Yes Sir!"
"Well then let's do it!"
"Sir Yes Sir!"