AN: Thanks to Dusk for letting me bounce ideas off of her. Thanks to Teresa, krystalrain, Katie, Joxer, Purple Penguin, Bunny Dee, T, Lisette, reader #212, Gina, GraciePixie, and lucidityditz for their reviews.
As soon as Wendy fell asleep, the dream began. 'Not again!' she thought trying desperately to wake up. Knowing she was dreaming did not help her and she was forced to wait as the familiar scenes unfolded.
Darkness surrounded her swirling in clouds of confusion and despair. Voices called out to her, commanding her to obey them. She spun around trying to identify the voices. They were so familiar. She felt like she should know who they were but again their identity eluded her. She listened harder, fighting growing panic. She could not understand the voices. She did not know what they wanted her to do!
"I don't understand! I don't understand!" she cried terrified of what they were going to do to her for disobeying. They moved closer growing louder but no more comprehensible. They shouted their unintelligible words at her until they echoed in her head. The pressure within her head built steeping higher and higher until she bolted.
The darkness lightened until she could see the maze that surrounded her. Hands reached out to grab her as she ran by them. She could feel pursuers behind her as she ran. She randomly chose directions as she flew through the crossroads never daring to look behind her for fear that they might be gaining on her. She burst out of the maze into a blood red room. The only sound in the room was of her panting. A black-cloaked figure slowly moved out from the shadows and into the light. His shoes clicked softly in time to her heartbeat.
"You," stated the figure raising his arm and pointing a single beefy finger in her direction. His voice gave her chills, raising the hair on her arms. "You did this."
She stepped back in horror as he threw of his cloak. His pasty white flesh was waxy looking and he seemed to glow in the darkened room. His decaying rags could not hide his gluttonous form. He leered at her, taking a step towards her. She backed away slowly unable to look away from his vacant, dead eyes. Hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her kicking and screaming into the darkness. He laughed sadistically bathing her in icy terror. Slowly, a gate of iron bars began to swing shut. Desperately, she struggled to get away, knowing that if the gate closed then she would die. Creaking, the gate inched closer. Almost there. Closer. Closer. She was out of time. It was-
[Scene Change]
"Bill, don't give me the run around," argued Bridger annoyed. He paced in front of the vid-screen. He stopped and met his oldest friend's gaze. "Look, just tell me. Does Wolenczak get to remain on SeaQuest?"
"Nathan, I wish I had an answer for you but this is not a simple matter."
"What is the issue? Either he stays or he doesn't."
"You have a boy who could potentially be one of the best hackers in the world. He would be a very valuable addition to any government agency. Everyone wants him."
"So you are saying no."
"No," replied the Admiral shaking his head. "You know how bureaucracy works. Each organization wants the boy but at the same time most of them desperately want to keep the boy away from their competitors. There are a lot of supporters for the idea of placing him on SeaQuest simply because the move would keep him away from rival agencies. If the boy sets foot off of SeaQuest, he will be claimed by the first agency to get their hands on him and that will end the controversy. Otherwise, things are at a stale mate. In the end, there is a good chance that he will be allowed to remain on SeaQuest because no one could decide who should get him if he is removed from the vessel."
"So you are saying maybe. Great." Bridger ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Thanks anyway, Bill. I know you tried."
"I'm sorry I couldn't have an answer for you yet. Just remember to keep him on the boat."
"I understand. When are the men coming to collect the children?"
"They should have already arrived. It will take a few days before all of the kids are moved."
"We'll be docked for at least a week just waiting on supplies and repairs. Transporting all of those people has decimated our stores." Bridger flipped through the printouts on his desk of all the items on order.
"So you'll have time to come for a visit. Janet will be excited to see you." Bridger glanced towards the door and noticed Dr. Westphalen waiting outside the doorway.
"Tell her I look forward to some of her delicious cooking," he said waving the doctor into the room. "I'm sorry to cut this short but I have things I need to take care of."
"I understand. Just give me a call when you want to come over."
"All right. Bye."
"Bye." He cut the connection and turned to face Dr. Westphalen.
Hi," he said smiling at her pleasantly.
"Are you keeping him?" she asked skipping the pleasantries.
"It's still up in the air. For now it looks like he'll be staying here."
"Why didn't you inform me of this earlier?" she demanded.
"It was Lt. Commander Hitchcock's idea. I felt it best that she inform you."
"Fair enough," she nodded grudgingly. She crossed her arms. "Here's a better question. Why are you trying to keep Lucas?"
"The Commander felt that his well being would be jeopardized if he was taken in by the government. She asked me to help him and I agreed to try." He turned away from her taking a seat behind his desk. She watched him silently with her lips pressed thin in anger.
"So you are telling me that you are bringing a child to live on a war vessel for his own protection?"
"Yes, ma'am. I am."
"Some how I don't quite believe that. I'm sure the fact that he's a hacker never crossed your mind. I'm sure the fact that you can get free labor out of him without anyone protesting did not cross your mind either."
"I'll admit that having Wolenczak aboard will be a valuable addition to the crew. I would not have asked to have him remain here if I thought he was going to be a liability or a drain on our resources."
"His well being means nothing to you. You view him as a commodity just as much as any of the government bigwigs."
"I'm sorry you feel that way," answered Bridger unbothered by her opinion. "The child has a good rapport with my crew. He will be well taken care of by them."
"Unless you order them not to," she spat hiding the instant wince of guilt that occurred. Kristin knew that the crew would not do anything to hurt Lucas. She wished she could say she felt the same about the Captain. "I have half a mind to bring him with me and take my chances."
"You're welcome to kidnap him. We'll see how far you get before you are caught and he is taken away," challenged Bridger sarcastically. She glared at him making him wish that he had better control of his temper around the beautiful doctor.
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction," she replied with a terrifyingly pleasant smile. "No. I think I'll just stick around so that I can keep an eye on you."
"Do you really think I'm that horrible?" he asked sincerely. "Do you really believe that I would abuse that boy?"
"No," she answered. "I don't believe that you would intentionally abuse Lucas."
"Then why this whole argument?"
"You're the Captain. You have to view people according to their skills and use them accordingly. You'll forget that Lucas is a child with special needs. Someone needs to be here to keep you from over working him or sending him into situations he can't handle. That person is me."
"That's fair enough. I can't say that I'm sorry you'll be staying with us. You have a tendency to bring out the worst of my personality but you're an excellent doctor and a great dancer." He smiled at her holding out a hand. "Welcome aboard, Doctor."
"Thank you, Captain," she said with a smile completing the handshake.
[Scene Change]
"Please pass the quiche," asked her mother from the end of the table. Lonnie gently set down her wine glass and handed the dish to her mother. While the conversation had remained polite, the entire dinner was a reminder of why she had hated eating with her parents as a child. The mahogany dining table was draped in white lace with candles arranged in a centerpiece. She could barely pick up her food for fear that she would drop something and ruin the wood. The crystal and fine china only made the dinner that more unsettling.
"Is something wrong, Lenore? You aren't eating very much."
"I'm fine, Father. I'm just not very hungry. I went out to lunch with some of the crew earlier."
"You should have told us," admonished her mother. "We would have told Douglas not to prepare as much."
"I'm sorry, Mother. I did not think it would be a problem."
"It's just one meal," answered her father ending the discussion. "So. How do you like SeaQuest?"
"The past few months have certainly been exciting," she answered truthfully. "I think we'll all miss having the children aboard. I have been helping test them so they can start school right away."
"But I thought you were supposed to be flying around in the water," replied her mother confused.
"Your mother's right. You joined the Navy to be a pilot not to tutor orphaned slaves. Why weren't you fulfilling your duties as a pilot?"
"I have been prohibited from using the fighters," admitted Lonnie softly.
"What did you do wrong?"
"I disobeyed my superior and endangered his life because I went into battle before I was ready," she whispered staring at her lap. She did not have to look up to feel her father's disappointment.
"I see," he replied with a heavy sigh. "Why weren't you ready?"
"I need more practice before my skills are sufficient for battle."
"You graduated at top of your class. You do not need more practice."
"My superiors feel otherwise."
"Then maybe you shouldn't stay on SeaQuest." She looked up at her father with a panicked expression on her face.
"But."
"Don't you want to pilot?"
"Of course."
"Good. Then it's settled. I'll make the arrangements to have you moved somewhere they'll be more appreciative of your skills."
"Yes, sir," she whispered defeated. She had hated being assigned to SeaQuest but now the thought of leaving made her want to cry. Silently, she picked up her fork and began nudging the food around her plate for the remainder of the meal.
[Scene Change]
Wendy took another swallow of her coffee and rubbed her forehead. She had a headache from all the caffeine she had been consuming the past few days but it was the only thing that was keeping her awake. Even with the constant coffee, her head felt fuzzy and dull from the fatigue.
"What's wrong?" asked Kristin taking a seat beside her.
"Just tired," she replied massaging her temples.
"Rough day?"
"No. I just haven't been sleeping well."
"I know what you mean. I'd kill for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Sometimes having Lucas in there is as bad as keeping an infant."
"What do you mean? Lucas is very well mannered."
"He has nightmares. I keep having to get up and wake him. He woke me up three times last night before he finally gave up on trying to sleep."
"He has my complete sympathy. I've been plagued with bad dreams since the slavers' meet so I know how he feels. I didn't get any rest last night because every time I fell asleep I had another nightmare."
"Sounds like Lucas," she nodded. "You must be exhausted. Why don't you take the afternoon off to go relax and take a nap? I can cover for you in Medbay."
"Oh, thank you! You are such a saint." Wendy smiled gratefully as she got up and left the room in search of a soothing, hot shower.
[Scene Change]
Jeremiah Kinsport looked over the crowd of children standing before him and stifled a yawn. He was bored out of his mind. This was not what he had expected to be doing when he joined the Navy. "Next."
"Anna Lee." The young girl watched him warily through her hair.
"Age?" he asked uninterested as he wrote down her name on the list.
"Twelve." He waved her on to join the line of children behind him.
"Next." A younger version of the first girl stepped up to take her place. "What's your name?"
"Becca," she said taking her thumb out of her mouth long enough to speak. At the sound of her voice there was a rustling behind him. He spun around catching movement out of the corner of his eye. He moved closer and saw a boy trying to hide behind some equipment.
"Whoa. Where do you think you're going?" He reached down and grabbed the boy's wrist pulling him out of the small space. The boy stared up at him with wide frightened eyes. "What's your name?" he asked roughly causing the boy to flinch. The child shook his head stubbornly refusing to answer.
'Typical hacker,' thought Jeremiah staring at the boy's tattoo. A tug on his pants diverted his attention to the little girl who was clinging to his pant leg.
"Dat's Wucas," she said pointing. "He don't talk."
"Wonderful," he muttered writing down the name. "All right, kid. Go stand in line. We'll let head quarters worry about finding your identity."
"Wucas's nice," chattered the little girl as he watched to make sure the boy stayed in line. "So sad," she said shaking her head to herself. "Doctor Wady neber let him pway wid us."
"That's nice," answered Jeremiah absently. The hacker moved down the line that led off of the boat. As the boy disappeared into one of the waiting transports, Jeremiah turned back to the girl. "All right. What's your name again?"