AN: I am not going to be having as much time to spend writing so parts may take longer to come out.
"How is he?" asked Jonathan as he sat beside Katie on the beach watching the sunset.
"He's doing better. Kristin had him up and walking today." She laughed and shook her head. "Boy is she something else. I've never seen any doctor so protective and territorial with a patient before. I sure am glad that she's not my doctor."
"Is he talking yet?"
"Nope. Not a word. I see him watching people sometimes and I wish he would show us a little of what goes on inside his head. He's smart. Man, is he smart. We've been testing him with different things. Math, basic history facts, grammar. He did not score too high the first time, which confirms our guess that he was never given much of an education. He could only do the math up through basic algebra but we sat down and worked with him for a bit and now he's doing calculus. Cass is even bringing him some of her old math textbooks from college. He's been pouring over the other books too but he doesn't enjoy them as much as the math. It's like he's a sponge soaking up all of this information. We spent four years taking math courses in high school and he learned all of that in three days. Imagine what he could do if he'd been exposed to this his whole life."
Katie's face glowed as she spoke about Lucas. A stranger would have thought that he was her own son the way she talked. Jonathan did not mind though. He had seen the boy's doctor talking the same way. Everyone who came in contact with the boy seemed to adopt him. Even Lt. Brody made frequent trips to the hospital to check on him. He liked the boy well enough himself. Children made him uncomfortable and this one was even more unpredictable than most so for now Jonathan was keeping his distance.
When Lucas had woken up four days ago, Katie had been waiting by his side to greet him. Her delight turned to concern when he refused to answer her questions. He would nod yes or no but he would not talk. All consequent efforts to get him to communicate failed. Kristin hypothesized that maybe Lucas was not comfortable enough to talk yet. He had been through a pretty traumatic time after all. Another possibility was that Lucas had been taught very early on that he was not supposed to speak no matter what. Either way, Lucas would need a lot of love and support before he would begin to talk. Katie was worried that he might never receive this love and support if he was placed into government care. She just did not know what she could do to stop that from happening.
"Stop worrying about him," ordered Jonathan kissing her gently. "Everything will work out just fine. Now, let's enjoy our time alone."
[Scene Change]
Name: Lucas Alexander Wolenczak
DOB: 03/15/04
Father: Lawrence Wolenczak
Mother: Cynthia Holt
Member of Mensa (05/23/10), IQ: 230+
Record of Sales
6/09/06 Seller: Cynthia Holt Buyer: ID#234903ADHG
11/30/08 Seller: ID#234903ADHG Buyer: ID#567435IYRB
05/30/10 Seller: ID#567435IYRB Buyer: Hackers Guild Code 495X
10/01/11 Seller: Hackers Guild Code 981G Buyer: ID#385432RWLO
02/24/15 Seller: ID#385432RWLO Buyer: ID#928450PIWJ
08/19/16 Seller: ID#928450PIWJ Buyer: ID#472660DKIT
08/23/16 Seller: ID#472660DKIT Buyer: ID#827473GLOF
12/29/17 Seller: ID#827473GLOF Buyer: ID#435092YVKX
Lucas stared at the sheets of paper in his hands. These few sheets of paper contained his whole life's story. These were details that even he did not know. He had a name now. Fourteen years gone by without ever knowing his name. The closest he had ever come to a name before was the time his owner made him use the code name Frankenstein. The things that this file contained were mind-boggling. Stuffed in the back, there was even a letter written by his mother detailing the events surrounding his conception. Some mother she was. Sold her own son into slavery.
According to the note, Cynthia Holt had been one of Lawrence Wolenczak's lab assistants. She was impressed with his intelligence and more importantly with his money. He was apparently fairly big in the scientific community if a little shy on morals. Cynthia Holt eventually became Mr. Wolenczak's lover hoping that he would marry her but he obstinately refused to consider marriage an option. Seeking to force him into the marriage, she stopped taking her birth control and became pregnant. Mr. Wolenczak wanted nothing to do with the child and offered Ms. Holt a substantial amount of money to abort the baby. She had the baby anyway (but most likely pocketed the abortion money) and tried once more to force him to marry her. She was again denied but he did make payments to her for keeping the baby's parentage quiet. When the payments stopped coming, she no longer had use for the two year old and sold him.
When he was little, he used to dream about his parents. He dreamed they were crying for him and searching for him. For a long time, he truly believed that he had been kidnapped and one day his parents would find him and rescue him. He dreamed they would take him away and love him and play with him and sooth away the nightmares. He stopped hoping for a miraculous rescue years ago but the dream that he had loving parents out there somewhere never quite faded. It was gone now. Dried up by the truth. It was a stupid dream anyway. Why should anyone want him? He was dirty and scrawny and always got in the way. The only thing worth liking about him was the tattoo on his cheek. His finger came up to brush against the mark and came away wet. 'Hmm, I must have gotten something in my eye,' he thought as he sniffled reaching up to wipe away a few more stray tears.
'That poor child,' thought Kristin watching him through the doorway. She longed hug him and tell him that everything will be all right but she knew that was more likely to frighten him. He was going to need a lot of love and support to help him heal. One person would never been enough. She wondered if a ship full would even be enough.
"Do you think he'll like it?"
"Of course, he will."
Kristin looked up to see the two officers from Seaquest round the corner. The dark one was Miguel. The other one was…Tom? No, that was not right. Tim. She glanced down at their intertwined hands and smiled. Why was it that the good-looking men were always taken? They still had not noticed her so she cleared her throat. They jumped separating about a foot.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Are you here to see Lucas?"
"Yes, ma'am," answered Tim blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"Lucas, you have visitors," she announced into the other room being careful not to let him know she had been watching him. "Give him a few minutes to get settled before you go in," she whispered to the pair leaving them to their visit.
"Hey, Lucas," greeted Miguel. Lucas smiled shyly at the duo.
"I brought you something," said Tim placing a checkered wooden box in Lucas's lap. Lucas opened it finding delicately carved figures inside the box. He picked up one that looked like a horse. "It's a chess set. That's a knight. Here, we'll show you how to play."
They set up the pieces explaining the purpose and positioning of each one. Tim laid out a few scenarios then demonstrated strategies for dealing with them. He detailed the weaknesses and strengths of each choice. It was obvious to Lucas that chess was something that Tim really enjoyed. Lucas did not really understand why Tim seemed so eager for Lucas to enjoy the game. Shrugging, he watched Miguel and Tim play a game explaining all of their moves. When Kristin returned an hour later, she found Lucas giggling.
"Woe is me. I have been killed," cried Miguel flopping onto the foot of the bed.
"I'd better hurry up and play you to defend his honor before he starts trying to make me play the damsel in distress."
"That will have to wait a few minutes. Right now the Chess Master needs to take his medication." Kristin handed Lucas a cup of pills and a glass of water. She waited until he swallowed them all then left again warning them not to get too rowdy. She was always glad to see the Seaquest crew come to visit Lucas but he sure was going to miss them when Seaquest left port.
[Scene Change]
"Hello, Ensign, what brings you here?" asked Brody taking a seat next to Lonnie at the bar.
"Ship brought a letter from my father today," she answered as if that explained everything.
"And that's occasion enough for you to get drunk?"
"Uh-huh," she replied downing a shot of tequila.
"Why?" He waved to the bartender. "I'll have a beer."
"Because I hate him. I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I never wanted to be in the military and I definitely did not want to be assigned to this ship."
"So why did you join?"
"Father forced me too just like he forced the navy to assign me here. Know what the letter said?" she asked taking another shot. "Said he loves me and told me to make him proud. Oh, and that I can access my trust fund again. How convenient that he'd wait until I was somewhere where I couldn't spend it first."
"So it's about money?" asked Brody struggling to follow the conversation.
"No!" she said raising her voice. "It's about how he loves me so much that he's stuck me in the middle of this war to die."
"I don't think your father really understood what we would be doing out here," said Brody quietly. "He probably did not look past Seaquest's prestigious name and Captain."
"Doesn't matter," she muttered dejectedly. "I'll be dead just the same."
"Lonnie, you have just as high a chance to survive this as everyone else. You're a good pilot. You'll do fine."
"Yeah, that's why you killed me." She shook her head in disgust. "Pathetic excuse for a pilot." Her voice slurred as she poured herself yet another glass.
"You just need more practice. You have good instincts." She still shook her head so he gently tipped her chin until she was looking at him. "Lonnie, I promise to you. We will not send you out to fight before you are ready. You're going to be fine."
"Thanks, Jim," she said softly staring into his eyes. She leaned closer feeling light-headed and closed her eyes. Gently she brushed her lips up against his. She pressed closer deepening the kiss. Abruptly, she was pushed back and her eyes flew open.
"Lonnie, we shouldn't be doing this."
"So?" She tried to slide closer.
"Stop. I'm your superior officer and you're drunk. Come on. Let me walk you back to your room."
"Don't bother," she hissed stalking out of the bar.
"What a mess," sighed Jim paying for both tabs. He hurried out of the bar before Lonnie could get too far ahead of him. She would not let him walk her home but she could not stop him from following her to make sure she made it back safely.
[Scene Change]
"Hello?" she asked flicking on the vid-phone. An older gentleman with gray hair popped up on the screen. "Can I help you?"
"Dr. Westphalen?"
"Yes?"
"This is Captain Bridger of the Seaquest."
"Oh! Pleased to meet you, Captain. Your officers have been very nice to keep coming to visit Lucas. I know that he appreciates their efforts."
"Yes, well," he trailed off shifting uncomfortably. "Mr. Wolenczak is the reason I am calling. Seaquest is sailing out tomorrow and Mr. Wolenczak must be on board. If you'll call when you've finished getting him ready for transport, I will send some men over to get him tonight."
"Lucas is not going anywhere. I am his doctor and I refuse to allow him to be moved."
"I'm sorry ma'am but my orders are to transport all of the rescued children to Washington."
"And what about his health?" she demanded glaring at him.
"Seaquest has excellent doctors," reassured Nathan trying to calm her down some.
"No, he's not leaving. I am not going to allow that boy out of my sight."
"Unless you come aboard with him, that's not going to happen," he snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"Fine. I will."
"What?!" he spluttered.
"Since you refuse to let Lucas stay with me, I'll just have to stay with Lucas." She smiled sweetly at him knowing that she had caught him.
"OK! Fine! You can come too just make sure that Lucas is ready to transport tonight." He cut the connection with a sigh of relief. He could not believe the never of that woman. Rubbing his forehead, he grimaced again. Now he was going to have to be on the same boat with that infuriating woman. He paled. They might even run into each other face to face.