CHAPTER TWO:
In the Company of Ice and Profit
PART ONE: Roads Not Taken
August 26th, 2032
It was odd to run from all of this. To run from home, to run from security. He watched the people run to the boats that they had hurriedly put in the water. From experience he knew that many would be lost. Most of those tiny boats would never float. He grieved as he watched entire families climb aboard those boats...
Gunfire.
He could hear it getting closer, and the screams growing even shriller. Damn it, it wasn't supposed to be this way! his mind refused to believe what his ears and his eyes were telling him. A little girl, when her mother was shot, went down hard into the shallow water. But the panicked people would trample her. Drown her.
Moving quicker than his old bones would allow, he scooped her up and turned around, shielding her from the gunfire. How he, or she, made it to one of the boats he would never know. Maybe someone was watching over them. He had no idea.
At least he had a clear look at the attacking army. Of course, it fit. All of things in this world profit was first, lives second. Deon Industries.
It was something Manilow Crocker would never forget.
Same Day
seaQuest DSV
Lucas went over the hardware again with Henderson, and they looked at each other. Hearing steps behind them, Lonnie saluted, and he knew automatically who stood behind him. He liked Robert, he was kind of laid back like Nathan. But for some reason he was still treated like a stranger. That frustrated Lucas who had been developing a similar relationship, as his with Nathan Bridger, with him. Different, but similar. Sometimes it seemed that Captain Bridger only hung out with Ben and Lucas. No one else seemed ready to take the leap...
"Captain," he said, smiling as he came up. "What brings you here?"
"It is my ship," a faint smile played across Captain Bridger's face.
Henderson was backing off, and clearly looked like she was going to make a break for it. Lucas drew in a breath as Robert noticed, and with one salute, she was gone. Robert sighed and turned to Lucas, "Did they act like that around my father?"
"At first, but they warmed up after awhile. I warmed faster..." Lucas stopped and realized what he had been about to say.
"I know what you were...are... to my father," it was in a soft voice. "I think you saved his sanity. You and Westphalen. He was not a man that was meant to be alone."
With that he left Lucas there with a dumbfounded look on his face. Dagwood came in and said, "The captain is sad?"
Lucas turned his head and recovered his composure, "Yeah, but look how everyone is treating him. It's like he's a stranger on his own ship. They won't take a chance with him, Dagwood."
"I like him," stated the Dagger. "He's nice."
"I wish everyone else would realize that," Lucas mumbled, and Dagwood heard him. "Then he wouldn't be so lonely. He has been put through something, I just can't put my finger on it..."
"He was a slave," this time, the new voice made him jump and he turned to see Krieg. "I can tell you this because it appears you two are the very few on board who seems to give a damn."
Krieg closed the door behind him and said in a low voice, "Remember how Nathan Bridger, not this Captain Bridger, said that his son was lost at sea?"
"Yeah," answered Lucas, and he knew he was curious to know how Robert had survived.
Dagwood nodded. It was something the entire crew knew with at least a passing knowledge. Ben motioned for the both of them to sit down, and he also leaned up against a bulkhead.
"Well, to make a long story short, Robert pushed Marilyn Stark through a blast door seconds before it closed," he began. "When those doors shut there was nothing Stark could do to save him. Maybe that is what drove her insane because she tried. Maybe she even blamed herself for his death. But he was captured by the enemy, and they sold him into slavery. They didn't care who he was. They never even asked. Eventually he managed to free himself, and make his way to Okinawa. That's where he found out that you were all missing. And so he tracked me down. After it was all said and done, he joined the UEO, got his captains bars, a few commands of his own, and here he is."
Lucas nodded and then said, "So what's your story?"
Ben took a breath and said, "Well, I fared far better than Bobby. I own a small supply company, and make a tidy profit. I could afford to fly him here and get him back on his feet."
"Is that what you meant that you here for old times sake, not for the money?" asked Lucas.
"Yeah, that's what I meant. Granted, I don't come for free either," Krieg grinned. "My time is worth money. I don't volunteer for the UEO. Anyway, I came looking for you because we, my friend, are going on an EVA."
"Why?"
"Well, we're doing a scout..."
August 28th
Wandal Sea, Antarctic Circle
"Hey guys, wrap it up down there," came Tim O'Neill's voice over the PAL. "You're forty minutes past maximum exposure. You've got to be freezing down there."
Lucas looked over at Krieg who shrugged. It wasn't that cold down here. That was the problem. "It's not freezing enough, Tim," answered Lucas. "That's part of the problem. I'm seeing erosion since our last scout."
He could almost see Tim's shrug from here because that is what his tone sounded like, "Been ten years since we last scouted this area."
The helmet of Ben's EVA suit seemed to shake in wonder, and also in laughter. Tony was also laughing. "That isn't funny," God, the these two in the same room, or in close proximity was almost too much.
No, it was too much. He was amazed that Captain Bridger was still sane. Then again, Ben and Robert were best friends. Maybe Captain Bridger was insane, he just had not realized it yet. "Yeah, and I still can't grow a mustache. Glacier stability's deteriorating even faster than I projected. How's your data read?" he asked into the PAL, ignoring Ben and Tony.
In the shuttle, Tim O'Neill marvelled at the fact that Lucas was still sane on a dive with both Benjamin Kreig and Anthony Piccolo. When the second tour started, and Tim and noticed that Ben was not there, he had breathed a sigh of relief. It was not that he didn't like him. No, far from it.... It was just that he had the tendency to land Tim and Miguel in tons of trouble with Captain Nathan Bridger, the current captain's father.
In the second tour Ben had been replaced with the even more mischievous Tony. And this one had no worry if his commission would be pulled. In fact, he had been only there as punishment. There was nothing that Nathan Bridger could do to him, really. He couldn't even kick Tony off the boat. But midway, or perhaps even sooner, Tony had come around and became a very valuable member of the crew. Nathan had that effect on people....
Now the two troublemakers were on the same sub, and Tim didn't need to be a genius like Lucas Wolenczak to know what that meant! Sighing he answered, "Shuttle data reads the same, Lucas."
Tony piped up, "Looks like the middle east is going to get a big iceberg for Christmas. Freeze the bells off Santa's camels."
In an amazingly stern voice Ben retorted, "We're more concerned about flood disaster. You know, big iceberg - big meltdown."
Tony idly kicked around some of the rocks around the seabed, and even bent down to pick one up. Lucas and Ben had momentarily turned around to look at something else, and frankly Tony was getting quite bored. He threw what he had in his hands away, and was just 'standing' up again when Ben looked back at their colleague. "Hey! Tony, put that down!"
"Ah come on! This thing would look great hanging on my wall."
To his surprise, Lucas backed up the Lieutenant, "It's an artifact, Tony."
Krieg finished, "You have to leave them undisturbed in UEO waters."
"You're pulling rank on me?" Tony's jaw dropped.
Tony was surprised. From what he had heard from those who had served on the first tour was that Krieg was... well... he didn't do things by the book. Ben sighed and said, "Just put it back."
"Yes sir. Hey Luke, I thought this guy was the troublemaker...."
"Don't call me Luke."
Tony grinned, and suspected that Ben was too. "How about 'duke'?" asked Tony.
Immediately Ben caught on, "Yeah, the Duke of seaQuest."
Minutes later Tim, from the shuttle they were making their way to, "How about the Duke of Sandwich? I'm starving."
Bottomless stomach... mused Lucas. "It was the Earl of Sandwich and the Duke of Earl, guys. Come on!" explained Krieg. "Jeez, you'd think you would know that...."
They entered the shuttle and peeled off the EVA equipment and Tim finished, or repeated, who knew... "Who cares? Let's eat, okay?"
Tony peeled on layer of wet clothes off and began to warm up and then get dressed in dry clothes while Ben and Lucas did the same. In answer to Tim he said, "Yeah, but someplace nice. I'm sick of eating out of plastic squeeze tubes. This morning I accidentally ate my toothpaste for breakfast."
August 28th
Noon hour
Tip of Chile.
The four walked into the lobby and were practically assaulted by the throbbing dance music. Krieg tried desperately to get them to go someplace, anyplace, else, but Lucas was having none of it. Sighing, he finally relented, "You are never going to get in here, though."
"What are you talking about?" Lucas stopped while Tim and Tony kept walking for a minute until they realized that they were alone.
The two looked at each and shrugged, and walked back to Lucas and Ben. "You'll see..." said Ben finally.
They walked up to the desk and Lucas said staring at Ben, "I told you we'd get in here... it wouldn't be a problem."
"What?" and then Krieg snorted, an uncharacteristic sound from him.
Lucas was so surprised at his old friend. Ben had been like his older brother and spent most of the time in trouble with him too. He was so... mature now. Ben was still Ben, but toned down. Almost tame even. "You know what I mean," said Lucas.
The woman at the counter asked, "And you would be?"
"Um, Mr. Wolenczak, Mr. Kreig, Mr. O'Niell and Mr. Piccolo," listed Lucas.
"Man, don't call me Mister. Makes me sound old," Tony said to Lucas, then he turned to Ben. "Now would be the time to pull rank, uh, Ben."
"Lieutenant Commander Krieg, actually," came Ben's voice, and Lucas didn't have to turn around to know that he was grinning ear to ear.
Oh great, now Tony and Ben were concocting schemes together... the seaQuest is doomed...he mused.
"Yeah, me and my superior used to hang out in this joint about ten years ago. When he was eighteen," Tony put his arm around Lucas, and for his part, Lucas tried to look relaxed.
"Technically, I'm twenty-eight."
"He stays out of the sun a lot," continued Tony, not even missing a beat.
The woman paused and said warily, "Larry Deon founded Deon International only five years ago."
"Is Larry here?" Ben piped up. "I haven't seen him in awhile."
From the dead serious tone, Tim and Lucas turned to stare at Ben. That tone they well knew meant he was telling the bare truth with no embellishment, but the woman didn't know that and naturally assumed that they were still just trying to get into the club, "And I'm afraid this is a private employee's club."
Lucas had finally had enough and he pulled out the science pass that he got when he decided science over military. "You know? And this is an all-access UEO hall pass. Look at that..."
The woman backed down. "Welcome to Deon International."
The four walked into the club and the desk counter woman was surprised at the presence of the duty clerk. "Who's the new talent?" he asked, pointing to the four men.
The woman sighed and said, "Easy, sarge. They're seaQuest scientists, not jarheads."
"I'll take the Navy over the Marines any day."
"They're not company. You know the rules."
"I'm off duty."
At the table, the four men leaned back and relaxed. Tony surveyed the dance hall, particularly any cute girl who walked past. Then he turned to Lucas and said, "You know, I got to get one of those."
Ben answered before Tony had a chance to open his mouth again, or before Lucas could answer, "You either have to be an officer like me and Tim, or a scientist like Lucas."
Tony grinned, almost evilly as he contemplated his new friend. "Well, good thing I was with you, Mr. Lieutenant Commander, or I'd have to wait the car then."
Ben rolled his eyes, as did Lucas and Tim. "You know, he could make you salute him," said Lucas.
"When I'm an officer, I am not going to make any of you salute me."
"When you're an officer, I'm going to be in a rest home," retorted Lucas.
Same day
Deon International HQ
Two men talked in a lavish office. The first man was a caucasian, and even looked young. What aged him the most was the look of utter greed that seemed to perpetuate every expression. All things were meant to be bought and sold, it just depended on the price, and he wanted it all. Thankfully, he was so close to his goal that it mattered little if he didn't have it all yet. He could bankrupt entire companies out of a mere tantrum, should he want to. And he had before.
The UEO feared him even if they didn't admit it, and so did Alexander Bourne of Macronesia. This was the subject of the two men's conversation.
The second man was a black man, and unlike the first man, you could not tell much about him. An enigma in the pay of the first. The first man turned around to the other man, "As far as the world view should go, this is a simple humanitarian escort," he sighed at the cost of it, but at least the profit later would make it worth it. "Deon International is helping refugees, tragic victims of a Macronesian revolt."
The second man's left eyebrow lifted in faint surprise. Larry Deon never did anything unless money was the last factor - and only if it meant more money for him. "Just how is that going to sit with the new Macronesian President Alexander Bourne?"
Deon leaned back in his leather office chair, quite illegal leather chair, and just laughed as if the other man had made a joke, and then realized that his associate did not know how to joke. He grew serious again, "Bourne is a buyer in a very limited seller's market. What is he going to do, purchase solar reactors from the UEO?"
The other man finally grinned and laughed and Deon continued as he got up from his chair. "He has to play nice, or we'll shut his lights off. Rescuing the refugees is great press. The UEO won't interfere in civil unrest, but Deon has a public conscience," he chose to ignore the other man's snort. "It's the smart move."
"Crossing a UEO blockade? They engage us, and we lose big."
Deon rolled his eyes as if it should have been obvious, "And attack a public gesture that might save lives? I doubt it. Everybody on this planet needs a place to live, Bill. We're the good guys on this."
"Just where are the refugees going to live, Larry?"
"Let's move on, Bill. Can we? New business."
The other man sighed. Sometimes working for Larry Deon was like working for a spoiled brat. A rich and powerful one, but a spoiled brat none the less. "Boeing has rejected our bid to manufacture the Teflon turbine. That will impact significantly on Deon's heavy-industry index."
"Buy them," came a half bored answer.
"I, uh, don't think Boeing's for sale, sir."
Again Deon sighed as if speaking to a little child without the grasp of the obvious, "Every public company is for sale, sweetheart. That's how we get rich."
The vidlink chimed and cut into their conversation. An attractive woman showed up on screen, behind another man. Deon sighed, knowing that he may not want to hear what Mason had to say. "We need to talk."
Deon waved the other man away, "Excuse us."
Bill left the room and Deon turned his attention to Mason. "seaQuest has a research team in the Wandal Sea," Mason reported.
"Why?" asked Deon, his interest suddenly piqued.
"Well, it's pretty obvious, Larry," Mason answered. "Our mining operations have violated every UEO environmental regulation since we've opened our door. We caused a Hell of an iceberg to break off that polar cap"
"Natural catastrophe with a profit motive," Deon snorted and waved off the concern. Trust the ever paranoid Mason to jump to conclusions.
"Don't underestimate the seaQuest."
"They've been in drydock for the past ten years. We've got the technology now. Captain Hudson is no bandleader."
"Sir, Oliver Hudson is not the captain of seaQuest," Mason interjected. "And your friend you are so fond of, Benjamin Krieg, he's on board. A Lieutenant Commander. His best friend is the captain - Robert Bridger."
Larry Deon sat straight up in his chair and stared at Mason, "Now why in Hell was I not informed of that bit of news?"
"I just found out when four seaQuest crew members showed up at our doorstep," Mason fiddled with his computer and on Deon's other screen it showed the downloading icon.
"Global access initialized," came the computer's pleasant voice.
Deon surveyed the four men from the seaQuest. So he is there... mused Deon. Somehow having Krieg on board the seaQuest gave him the crawly feeling up his back. He then noticed the blonde young man in a light blue science uniform. "Who's the kid?"
"Apparently the scientist in charge of the research team," Mason answered. "Flashed his way into one of our employee clubs with a level eight UEO security clearance."
"Level Eight, eh? Impressive," Deon sat back in his chair and thought about how to go about this. "Leak the refugee rescue to him. He'll call it in like any new mid-level exec looking for an 'attaboy'. Captain Bridger will think he's out in front of us on this one. And pick up their dinner cheque. I may want to make this kid an offer someday."
Not to mention remind Kreig of just who he is trifling with... an added bonus. Kreig should have never got himself involved with the seaQuest again. Either that or never had involved himself with Larry Deon.
"Yes sir, we can do that."
With that the vidlink was turned off as Deon thought of his association with Benjamin Krieg.
Same day
Deon Employee's Club, Chile
As usual they were watching girls they had no chance with. As Tony liked to put it, that didn't prevent them from looking. The only one that was not, which surprised both Tim and Lucas, was Ben. Tim could hardly believe what ten, no, more like twelve years had done to him. He was still Ben, and he still had his moments where all Tim wanted to do was just throttle him and his quirky sense of humour, but he seemed so much more serious. The most immature person, besides Tony, on seaQuest had grown up.
"What do you think's holding those girls up?" asked Tim, referring to a set of girls that seemed to be floating midair, and dancing at the same time.
Tony never even looked up from the menu they had been brought, "Their legs, Tim."
"I can't believe this. They got t-bones, tenderloins - all kinds of beef been illegal for twenty years," remarked Lucas.
Krieg looked at him and sighed, by far the most far off and saddest expression they had ever seen on the man's face. There was, of course, a reason for his sudden reticence. But he didn't want them to find out here and not like this. Hell, he didn't even want to think about that mistake in his life. "You can probably get anything that is illegal in here," he murmured.
Tim and Lucas froze in shock. That was a tone they had never heard out of him. Regret. Well, Tim had, when Ben thought about his failed marriage to Katherine Hitchcock. The he would seem to withdraw, and instantly try to cover that up with his phony cheerfulness and antics. Now he seemed to not even bother. If he has a regret he didn't bother with the show anymore. Tony broke the moment that he wasn't even aware of, "I wonder if I can get some California Condor Paté."
Tim turned on him without ever taking his eyes off the new Kreig. He and Ben were going to have to have a long chat. Not only was he an expert in spoken languages, but the unspoken. Something told him that Ben was hiding a secret, "Are you completely tasteless, Tony, or is it just an affectation?"
Lucas piped in, and was pleased when the banter drew Ben out of whatever fugue he was stuck in. "Completely."
Just then a waiter brought them a bottle of champagne. Lucas looked up at him in surprise. "Who ordered this?"
The waiter pointed to the woman who had been bantering about them when they came in here who gave off the impression of mercenary from there. "She did," he answered.
"I love a well-armed woman," said Tony.
"Uh, thank you, but we don't drink," the waiter left, looking a little miffed and Lucas turned to Tony. "Well, maybe the lady would like to join us for dinner."
Tony turned around and looked at Lucas in askance, "Uh, I'm not an officer, but she might feel like slumming."
Kreig shook his head and Lucas grinned, "I was kidding Tony. Private army can't fraternize with anyone who doesn't have a Deon company tattoo."
Tony's face fell, "Is this a company or a cult."
A woman's voice answered as they turned to face to woman who had bought them the wine. Her voice was of no nonsense, "We're the largest free market conglomerate in the world."
"I could get a tattoo..." came Tony's voice.
"My guess is that this guy was my replacement," remarked Ben, speaking about Tony, and then he explained. "Her squad ships out at dawn, sailor. Mr. Deon's going to rescue the Macronesian refugees. The UEO is applying necessary sanctions. There's a naval blockade."
Tim said, "He can't do that!"
The woman said, "Mr. Deon can do what ever he wants. At least he's nice enough to give those poor people a place to live."
Ben Kreig sighed and felt it was time to put his own opinion of Larry Deon in. "No," he said a bit forcefully, and in a gentler tone, seeing not only the startled expression on the woman, but also of his friends, "No. Lawrence Deon is a privateer with no conscience, and his companies are turning the world's water supply into sewage."
"Well, our stock options have increased 1700 in the past six months," she retorted stiffly.
"It's going to be hard to drink stock options when the planet runs out of clean water, right?" asked Lucas.
"He'll fix it," she said in a sure voice. "Give him time."
She left them then and Lucas could only shake his head. It was a cult, not a company! As if she couldn't see what he was doing? Was she so blinded by his promises? He could not believe it, and had never believed Ben until he saw it with his own eyes. He looked over at Ben, "You knew, didn't you? You knew what she would say."
Ben shrugged as if this was old news. Perhaps for him it was. Ben's PAL chirped and he answered it, "Krieg."
The unmistakable sound of a not pleased Robert Bridger could be heard, as well as Westphalen in the background. At that moment all four at the table froze and Tony mouthed, Man, he even sounds like his father! "Ben. What have I told you about flashing your clearance tag around?"
"Don't," answered Ben in a nonchalant tone.
"Then why is there a registry saying that a tag from seaQuest was used to gain access to a private club?" asked Captain Bridger, then he seemed to fade out as he listened to Westphalen. "Sorry, Ben. I can see now that it was a science tag..."
"I'm sorry sir," said Lucas, grabbing Ben's PAL out of his hand. "We didn't want to eat out of tubes again, and this was the closest place."
"It's a privilege and a responsibility, Lucas Wolenczak," came Kristin Westphalen's voice. "I can see this one time, and let you off with it... Don't do it again or I will string you up by your thumbs!"
Lucas swallowed, knowing perfectly well that she would do it, or much worse. "Yes ma'am, can I speak to the captain now?"
Robert's voice replaced hers, "Dr. Westphalen tells me that another iceberg chipped off the Antarctic cap."
"I'm not surprised. How big is it?"
"The size of New England, and it's hooked into the Somali current. Speculations please," asked Robert.
Knowing full well that Westphalen was still listening in he answered, "The Somali current will float the iceberg to the Arabian sea, lowering desert temperatures dramatically. Now if the freshwater runoff is left unmanaged when the ice pack melts, continents will flood hundreds of miles past existing coastal flood plains.
Robert Bridger seemed to listen to Westphalen and then he said, "Dr. Westphalen tells me we can expect global and regional famine due to undersea and traditionally based agricultural loss. You all did well. Come on home, and I swear I won't feed you out of the ration tubes..."
"Sir," said a tentative Lucas.
"Yes, Mr. Wolenczak?"
"Deon's private army is defying UEO policy in a rescue attempt to get some Macronesian refugees," finished Lucas.
"Hardly surprising," answered Bridger. "I think I agree on Hudson's opinion that he's a grandstander. Has to be in the centre of attention. I could go one step further and call him a spoiled..."
"Bobby, we're still in their club..." cautioned Ben.
"Good for you," retorted Robert unimpressed.
"Sir, will the UEO assume a military posture?" asked Tim, who was growing to like the new Captain Bridger.
"Yeah right," came his faintly sardonic reply. "No, Deon will go old and retire before those damned bureaucrats get off their asses. Over."
Same day
seaQuest DSV
Captain's Quarters
Robert cut off the vidlink and turned to Westphalen, "So what do you think,Kristin?"
The Chief Science Officer took a breath and shrugged, "Quite frankly, I can't believe how well they are adjusting to the changes in today's world. It such a culture shock to them..."
Robert looked at her and murmured, "As it was for me."
August 31st
seaQuest DSV
Tony and Lucas's quarters
Tony sat in his quarters after returning to the seaQuest a few hours before. It had been a rather uninteresting trip as he felt like the odd man out the entire time. So he had made up his mind that he would try to fit in, but to do so he needed his officer's bars. It was more difficult than he had originally thought. Just apply and bingo, he would be in, right.
Not a chance in Hell.
He had listened to all three speak of a time when they had been a group, a time before Tony. Sometimes he felt like he fit in, other times he was just so... odd. He did not like that feeling. He wanted to belong to their group. In a way he felt he identified with Captain Robert Bridger. He was the odd man out of seaQuest period, except for his friendship with Ben Krieg, and that only due to the fact that they went to the academy together. The two men were so close they were practically brothers.
But that was pretty much the only one he could truly talk to on board. Almost like Tony except Tony knew everyone else and knew that he could depend on them to save his life, as he would for them, not because he was the superior officer, but because they wanted to. In a way, Tony belonged more than Captain Bridger.
Thinking that way, his situation didn't seem so bad. But he still wanted to make it better.
However, his reading skills were extremely lacking. He could hardly read the passage he had been staring at for hours, "Any persons as-aspiring ... to a c-command at sea should study their off-I-cer ... qual-lif-cation... qualification jackets and past a-assign-ments..."
He stared at it some more and tried again with the same success. I can't believe this, he chided himself. Throwing the packet on his bed he went to look at himself in the mirror, and then beat himself down out loud. "You're a stupid, stupid... stupid boy, Anthony Piccolo."
PART TWO: When the Past Meets the Present....
September 1st
Late third shift
seaQuest DSV
galley
The three senior most officers, except for Krieg sat around a table in the mess, almost conspiringly close. Tim leaned back and said, "He... I don't know."
"Captain Bridger... Robert, not Nathan... has not been around enough to get to know us, Tim. I wouldn't worry. Give a chance to get to know your quirks and you his," said Ford, and then he hesitated and Tim didn't give a chance to say what he was going to say.
"It's not that I don't like him... I do... but... I don't know. So much has changed..." asked Tim. "I thought Robert Bridger was dead, now he isn't... and why did he put his own father through that hell? Why didn't he tell anyone he was alive?"
"In his own good time he'll tell us."
"We're different tribes, he's analog, I'm digital..." Tim stopped for a moment. "But then again he was a senior at the academy and I was a junior. I was really geeky then, but I guess I could still be considered that."
The other two looked at him and he continued, "I have a confession to make. In the academy I was on his team. We were on a training mission and told to hide as long as we could against full officers. We were found and because of how fast we were found he had a strip torn out of him by his own father, well, but they were in full professional mode. It was a superior officer telling a junior how it was. I snapped and I told... I told Captain Nathan Bridger what I thought of the situation...."
They looked at him in shock, and finally Ford asked, "What'd he do?"
"That was just it. Nothing. He looked at me kinda funny and stalked off. When I saw him for the first time on the bridge I was scared that he would recognize me as the buffoon who told him off. But he didn't. And... I'm more than a little afraid that his son might remember," finished Tim.
"The whole point is that we have not the chance to really get to know him yet, nor he us. I wish I could say you aren't giving him much of a chance. But if anyone asks this what I want you to tell them: remember what we had to do with Nathan Bridger?" Ford half ordered, half-asked. "We were so used to Stark that we could hardly figure the guy out. We thought he would be so military, but instead we got someone who thought of his command as his children, or his students. Except when someone was breathing down our necks, you could call him by his first name, or even his shortened form without him really caring. We were by far not the typical ship."
Henderson added, "We still aren't, Jonathan. But I can see your point. At least he isn't that by-the-manual Hudson. The record shows that if it wasn't this Captain Bridger, or the former Captain Bridger, it would have been Oliver Hudson."
Tim shuddered involuntarily. "Perish that thought!" he said. "I think I'm willing to give this new Captain Bridger a chance now..."
September 2nd
Early 2nd Shift
seaQuest
Bridge
On the bridge of seaQuest Tim was sweating under Captain Hudson's attention. Seeing as the new Spectres were being trained by his Spectre pilot, he was there to make sure nothing went wrong. He knew perfectly well what they thought of them. He didn't care much either. He did his job, and he did it well. The communications chief, a nervous man Hudson felt never should have made past the rank ensign said, "She's very good, sir. Pretty too."
"She's a fighter, Lieutenant, not a flower," Hudson frowned, but was rather impressed, and smiled ever so slightly, when O'Neill answered him.
"I was referring to the Spectre sf/a-2, sir," came Tim's indignant reply, and then almost as if he realized what he had said, a meek question again lowered Hudson's opinion. "But, uh... I did hear that Lieutenant Fredericks has a, um... psych chip, sir."
"You heard right," he confirmed, then he growled, "You have a problem with that, O'Niell?"
"No, sir. No problem."
"Good," said Hudson, and he tapped on O'Neill's shoulder hard enough to make the man wince each time. "She put a prototype Spectre into a reef at three hundred knots, almost killed her. Had a little trouble climbing back in the saddle. We had a big investment in her training, so we programmed the scare out of her."
"I'll try to remember that, sir," O'Niell swallowed.
"I would if I were you," said Hudson mildly. "Because with no scare in her she scares me too."
O'Niell nodded and smiled, accepting the rare friendly gesture from Hudson. "Punch her in for me, Mr. O'Niell. Fredericks."
Over the com came her confidant voice. "Roger. Lieutenant Fredericks here."
"Is Brody learning how to float that Spectre without hurting himself?"
Her faintly sardonic reply, as well opinion on men in general was a curt, "It's been awhile since his last exercise, sir. But he'll do all right... for a man."
Hudson grinned and ordered, "Peel off for recon, I think Captain Bridger wants me on my own ship now. Hudson out."
Same day
Deon International HQ
Larry Deon's office
Deon was sitting in his chair with one leg hanging over the arm. Mason was leaning up against the desk. I really hate it when he does that, both men were thinking about the other. Deon was listening with half an ear about some reports when Mason Freeman stood up from where he watching his laptop, "seaQuest ETA is 1300 hours tomorrow," reported Freeman and Deon abruptly cut off his vidlink at the conference in mid sentence.
"So what?" asked Deon. "Tell me when you have more interesting news."
"Well, sonar picked up a couple of sub fighters running point."
Deon nodded and as if not hearing said, "Macronesian refugees. At the appropriate time, it will revealed that they were tragically lost at sea - a courageous but misguided humanitarian effort."
Freeman inaudibly sighed and followed the man's convoluted thought process. "So we're prepared, good."
Deon allowed that and continued as if Freeman had never spoke, "Dependent upon what seaQuest is planning to do. An iceberg of that size melting down in the Arabian Sea will be a disaster. Captain Bridger will have no reason to think otherwise, so he'll have to destroy it before that happens. But he'll find his conscience won't let him."
Freeman snorted derisively and Deon simply glared at him. For his part, Freeman only responded with a bland stare back. "He has one - he is his father's son," affirmed Deon.
"You didn't know until a few days ago, when I told you, that Robert Bridger was the captain of seaQuest. You assumed it was that prig ass Hudson," Freeman watched as Deon flushed angerly, but continued anyway. "So how do you know anything about Bridger?"
"I have my sources, Mason, that even you don't know about," shouted Deon, then he regained control of himself. "Processing plants."
"Operational, and freshwater contamination has continued in the Middle East as expected."
Deon sighed and turned his attention back to the sub fighters. They were an interesting problem. They were so ancient... yet the pilots claimed that the older they were the better, so long as they held out the water. "See if we can slow down those sub fighters," he suddenly smirked. "It would be a good tester for our technology before we take it to market."
Same day
Early second shift
seaQuest DSV
Tony stood outside the hatch of Lonnie Henderson's quarters and nervously wiped his hands on his trousers for the dozenth time. He itched to knock on her door, but he was very afraid of the consequences of doing so. She would want to know why he was there. Then he would have to tell her.
She would probably then laugh at him for being such a stupid person for not being able to read. Stop it, she would not! he told himself sternly.
How do you know? She can read. You can't, came his own fearful reply.
Swallowing once more he turned to leave, and stopped. No dammit! Do want to be an officer or what?
Yes, more than he cared to admit. Then he grinned. Lonnie was the obvious choice because he knew her well, the crew knew her. She talked to everyone. That was the other reason he was nervous. Granted, she never gossiped, but not being able to read...
But there was someone on this ship that could be an even better choice if he could work even more courage to go to him. He even had the best library on the whole ship.
Oh yeah right, Tony! If you can't knock on her door what makes you think you can knock on the captain's? He snorted again. Enlisted were supposed to be able to read too, but not as much. At least, he was always able to get away with what little he knew as enlisted. If he told her she would obligated to tell Captain Bridger anyway. May as well take out the middleman.
Well, it was midway through the second shift, and the captain preferred first shift, so he wold be off duty, quite possibly in his quarters.
And if I can't knock on his door, I can always come back to hers...
Well, it was a plan. Most likely he would just keep walking the space between the two quarters until one of the two caught him standing there. I am such a coward.
But he walked to the captain's quarters anyway, and soon he found himself standing right outside of that door in absolute terror. It was almost as if he expected the man to eat him. Oh come on, his best friend is Ben Kreig, for Christ's sake, realized Tony. He's likely more easy going than Lonnie!
As it was he didn't have to knock. A hand landed on his shoulder. "Well, the irony here is that even if you knocked, you wouldn't get an answer, because I'm not in them," came Robert's voice from behind him.
Once, Tony had been told that he had psychic capability. When he had learned to control it a bit he found he could sense the people around him. Nothing special, it just meant that he couldn't be snuck up on. He never sensed the captain come up on him...
"S-sir..." he said turning around and saluting, and then realized that he was out of uniform.
Robert returned the salute anyway, and said gently, "Some captains get a kick out of having everyone formal all the time. I'm not one of them. We're both off duty, please, it's Robert."
"O-okay..." Tony was in awe.
No one had given him that permission before above the rank of Lieutenant, although Nathan Bridger had never said not to either. Maybe it a family thing that they couldn't stand the pomp. Whatever, he didn't care, but he did like it. Made them more human, and him more relaxed with what he wanted to ask him. "Can I speak to you...in private, Robert?" he asked.
Robert nodded, and opened the door to his quarters. Motioning for Tony to precede him in, Robert followed and closed his door, "Now what was it you wanted...Anthony, was it?"
"Tony, sir. Anthony is something my mom calls me, and only when I'm in trouble," responded Tony before he really had a chance to think. Did I just tell him that? Yup, I did. Jeez, what possessed me to do that?
"I think it a mom thing. Although mine tended to use my full name, complete with both middle names," Robert smiled faintly at the memory. "Somehow I don't think you came to talk to me about your mother."
"No, sir," laughed Tony. "Um..."
Robert patiently waited him out. "I uh, I can't read, sir."
The man's eyebrows shot up. "You work on the bridge and you can't read?" he said. "You could have fooled me, Tony."
"Not good, anyway, or I - I can't learn anything I don't already know, and - and I have to if I want to get better, be - be something more than I am, like Lucas has. Will you teach me?" Tony, once he finished mentally flinched.
I can't believe I just poured out my soul to a complete stranger. Here is where is laughs at me... but the laughter didn't come. If anything Robert grew more serious. "Tony, why did you ask me and not one of the crew you served with for over a year? Why not ask Lucas or even Lonnie?"
"Well, sir... I don't know," answered Tony at last. "I stood outside of Lonnie's door for over an hour, but couldn't bring myself to knock on it. I think I would have done the same outside of yours if you hadn't sneaked up on me."
"I see," said Robert, and Tony wondered, Just how the Hell did he sneak up on me anyway? "All right, I teach you."
For a moment Tony was going to thank him for his time and then slink off to his quarters, so sure that he would be turned down that he didn't register at first what Robert had answered. "You will?"
"Yeah, I'll try."
"Thank you!"
Same day
seaQuest DSV
Captain's quarters
Late 2nd shift
A few hours later Robert was reading a book. He marvelled over Tony's bravery to come ask him, the captain, of all people on this boat, to teach him to read better than he could right now. His instinct told him that Tony was someone not used to be able to trust his elders, a trait that ultimately manifested itself when he had originally laid flat his commanding officer and ended up in prison in the first place.
Again Robert felt his father's overpowering shadow at work, except that Tony had never gone to Nathan. Tony's first lesson had given Robert a clear idea of what area's needed work, and he had quickly discovered Tony's dyslexia. It was amazing, given his background, that even learned to read what little he could.
His reading was interrupted by O'Niell, "Sir, there is an incoming call from the mainland for you."
"Seeing as I'm here, pipe it here."
"Yes sir."
He turned his chair, without getting up, or disturbing his book, as the call was on his screen, "Captain Bridger, we have a bit of a situation."
Robert looked up at the vidlink, and at Secretary General McGath. "Why else would you call?"
"The Macronesian refugees are missing."
"How long have they been missing?"
"We don't know. Our surveillance satellites have been jammed since UEO put up the blockade. President Bourne is playing tough."
"How do you know its Bourne?"
"Who else, Captain?"
"Well, Larry Deon put this goodwill rescue effort together. He's not exactly known as a humanitarian," retorted Robert, somehow not liking this at all.
"And what, in your humble opinion, Captain, would Deon want with one hundred war refugees?"
"Well, that depends on their value in the market he creates," Robert felt like screaming at him, Don't you remember what happened to me? "I should have been a POW, but I ended up as something else entirely, if you remember."
McGath swallowed and said, "I was trying not to."
"Maybe the UEO should have thought about them before it sat around debating policy," Robert held up his hand at McGath before he could stick his foot in his mouth any further. Coward, thought Robert. If it weren't for your bungling it would not have truly mattered if seaQuest was gone or not, neither Bourne nor Deon would have gone this far... "We should have gone in and rescued those people."
"That was not seaQuest's responsibility."
"Oh, and I was under the impression that it was!" Robert seethed. Idiot, idiot!
"Captain Bridger..."
"Don't start. I could always let Hudson have this tin can."
McGath shut up so fast that his mouth didn't have enough time to stop moving.
PART THREE: .... Things Can Get Damn Confusing
September 3rd
seaQuest DSV
Bridge
2nd Shift
Robert walked onto the bridge the next afternoon after coming back from a short meeting with Commander Ford. Going straight to the communications where Tim O'Niell sat and saw Tim stiffen in nervousness, "Tim, can you get me Fredericks please?"
Tim could see that Robert wasn't pleased with something, either that, McGath had said something to severely upset the Captain's mood. That didn't surprise him. McGath had the same habit of stepping on Nathan Bridger's nerves too At least his ire wasn't aimed at Tim. "Of course, sir," he punched in the frequency and handed his headset to Robert.
"Fredericks, report."
Fredericks could also hear the unusual terseness in Captain Bridger's voice. If she wasn't a chippy, she would have been intimidated by it. "All's well here, Captain. Just a big piece of ice."
"Any other vessels in the vicinity?"
Where the Hell did that come from, puzzled Fredericks. "Not a one, sir. You expecting visitors today?"
His sigh answered, "There's a ship full of refugees out there somewhere. Stay alert."
"Roger, will do," Robert ended his transmission, and something caught her eye. Dammit! "Brody, do you copy?"
"Roger, Brody here."
"Brody, bandit at 4:00"
A moment later his confused reply, "Who?"
"You got a bandit hot and hard at 4:00! Evasive action now!"
"Is this part of the combat exercise?" came his somewhat stunned reply, and Fredericks lost whatever cool she had with the idiot.
"No, you fuckhead! Roll right now! Do it!" she screamed at him.
On the bridge, Robert caught that last bit and winced. Great, his ears would be assaulted by her swearing over the comlink. "Tim!"
"Sir?"
"Run some options..."
"Brody and Fredericks appear to be under attack, sir."
Appear to be? Isn't that kinda ambiguous, my multi-lingual friend? Robert decided to ignore it even though he felt like beating his head against the console in frustration. O'Niell's record showed that when he knew what he was doing, and he wasn't on sensors, and then the man looked over to the sensors seconds after speaking and Robert had to keep from smiling as he seemed to read the faint to invisible signatures and said, "Incident beyond WSKR range, but they are some unidentified hostile sub fighter."
"That's a start, O'Niell," said Bridger. "Secure channel, combat scramble."
"Channel secured and scrambled sir," answered O'Niell, mentally thanking God that the captain was a patient man.
"Fredericks, what's going on?"
"You tell me, Captain, but we've got company."
Snarky bit... he cut that thought off. "Identify and define."
"Outside current parameters. I can't make a match, but data suggests that the hostile sub fighters are drones, sir," she answered.
"Donuts are unidentified," answered Robert. "Assume hostile and take necessary action."
A snort answered him right back, "I'm out in front of you on that, sir. Put a number up on my scorecard."
Never mind, I will finish that thought. Snarky bitch! thought Robert.
In the fighters, Brody and Fredericks continued to slowly pick off the other fighters. It was harder than she made it look. Brody felt himself to be a decent pilot, but Fredericks was incredible. "Whoa! Who are these guys?" he asked her, thinking perhaps she would know some weakness he could exploit.
"It's a couple of donuts, Brody," she answered, and the image of a sweet with icing on it came to his mind, but the relevance was lost on him at the moment. "Coming back at you."
He shot the other fighter out of the water. "Donuts?"
Her answer still didn't clear things up for him, "Drones. Boy, are you new."
He got the feeling that he had disappointed her.
Ford ran onto the bridge, seconds after the full alert was called. "What did you do? Beam yourself here," asked Robert.
"Beam, sir?"
"Never mind."
Late 2nd shift
seaQuest DSV
"Mr. Ford," came Captain Bridger's voice, and Ford turned to face him.
"Yes sir?" he asked.
"Ready the plasma torpedoes on the iceberg," Robert paused for a moment and then said. "You have the bridge."
"Of course sir," answered Ford. "I have the bridge. Full ahead, Mr. Piccolo."
"Full ahead sir."
Same day
Deon International HQ
"Six hundred million of R and D, and our D17 drone can't slow down a couple of ten year old sub fighters?" Deon yelled.
Someone had screwed up. It was the only explanation. His things could not lose... he was the best therefore they were the best. Mason didn't even flinch in the tirade, "The Spectre SF/A-2 is state of the art, Larry. The seaQuest was outfitted with them when the UEO pressed her back into service."
Deon glared at him, "Need I remind you that we've already pre-sold a dozen of our drones to Bourne and he thinks that they are state of the art?"
Freeman sighed patiently, and cursed silently whatever luck had brought into contact with this spoiled brat that had always got what he wanted, "seaQuest will always be a thorn in your side. That's what she's there for."
"Can we get to him?"
"Bridger is not going to take money," answered Mason, allowing a little bit of his ire filter into his voice.
"That's not what I meant."
Understanding dawned, and Mason smiled, "I can try."
Late 3rd Shift
Captain's quarters
seaQuest DSV
Robert paced his quarters doing what he knew everyone called his very best impression of his father. Except he was not doing it on purpose. An entire life trying not to be just like my Dad, I end up being the first thing that I remind them off anyway.... McGath was following each trek across the floor. "Two of my Spectres are attacked, and you expect me to sit around with my thumbs up my ass," Robert finally said just loud enough for the pick up to catch.
"We don't know who is responsible, Captain."
"Just who the Hell else has that kind of technology? Larry Deon has been developing for the heavy-weapons market for the last three years now. You know that as well as I do. How many times has he tried to buy me from you?" came Robert's derisive response.
"But why would Deon run interference for an iceberg?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, but I don't like it," Robert stood there unfocussed for a moment and McGath waited it out.
He knew as well as Robert, be as it may that he was in serious denial, that he was as psychic as they came. The scary thought was who he could have inherited that trait from. He remembered Dr. Wendy's Smith's startling deduction when she had told him during the infamous, but classified 'Atlantis Incident', that she had known something was wrong with Nathan Bridger only because suddenly she could sense that he was there, and she could also read his thoughts. That was not the scary part. The scary part to McGath was that normally Nathan Bridger was not only impossible to read, but an invisible. He had the skill of psychic stealth.
And he appeared to had passed along his talents to his son as well. Robert came out of it with a shudder, "I have a bad feeling about this. There is just something else."
"I trust your instincts, Robert. As I do Wendy Smith's," he had the satisfaction of watching the younger Captain Bridger shudder.
"Please, not that pile of hooey again..."
But the connection had already closed. Just then a knock sounded at his door. Crap, I forgot about Tony! "Come in, Tony, I haven't forgotten."
"How did you know it was me sir?" asked Tony with a puzzled look on his face.
Maybe it isn't hooey after all... this could be handy... Robert grinned and motioned for Tony to sit down in one of the chairs. "Long story, started with my Dad, I think."
A few hours later and they had one very frustrating moment where Tony had to take it out on his wall. Robert winced as the photograph of President Colin Powell, a gift from Hudson he never did understand, hit the floor after falling off the wall with the impact. Robert walked over and picked up the picture and looked at Tony who looked like he wanted to crawl under a rock. "Tony..." Robert began quietly.
"I'm sorry Captain! I'll understand if you kick me out..."
Robert sighed and held up his hand, then he showed Tony the picture. "From what Hudson tells me that's a genuine, personally autographed photo of President Powell," he screwed up his face and Tony laughed at his expression. "Evidently 'You can't get these anymore!'"
He smiled because it had the desired effect. Tony was laughing whole heartedly at the very accurate impression of Oliver Hudson. "I never cared much way..." he finished as he hung it back up on his wall. "Now, how about we try this again?"
September 3rd
mid 2nd shift
seaQuest DSV
The very afternoon they were scheduled to destroy the iceberg Westphalen came running onto the bridge. "Hold your fire!" she yelled just as Brody was about to hit the very button in question.
Brody looked at Bridger, Bridger looked at Westphalen. "I think I heard you say 'Hold your fire', mind explaining why?"
"Wendy is getting some major life readings up there, Captain," she answered as said Dr. Smith finally caught up with Dr. Westphalen.
"She... she outran me, sir," explained Smith. "But she is right. There are... people up there if I'm not mistaken."
"I believe you."
Both Smith and Westphalen's jaws nearly hit the floor, and Robert smirked. "What, did you expect me to say, 'Not that hooey again'?"
"As a matter of fact..." Smith began.
But Kristin cut her off. "I think you should send a team up there to see what is going on."
"Just who is in command of this boat?" flared Robert. "Be thankful I agree with you, Doctors. Now which one of you is going?"
In unison, "I am."
"One... of... you. Not both."
How had his father managed to keep his sanity with these two? Oh yeah. He didn't have the both of them on board at the same time, or working together. He would have to remember to off load one of them the next time they were in port. No, he needed both of them. Damn it.
"I will," said Smith. "It was me who sensed it in the first place."
"Good, now that we have that settled, Brody, Dagwood..."
"...mmm, I'm not Navy."
Oh yeah. "You wanna be?" asked Robert.
"Okay."
"You sure about that, Dag? It may not be pleasant."
"Can't always help protect friends from outside."
Good point. "Fine, you , Brody, Smith and... Ben! Get over here, now," barked Robert. "You come with me."
"Sir," came Ford's voice. "Isn't it my place to go on..."
Robert shrugged, "I get claustrophobic after awhile. Fresh air will do me good."
The shuttle with the five on it came to a stop on the iceberg. Smith led them to a point and said, "It's over there, whatever it is."
Just then gunshots pierced the air. "Take cover!" ordered Krieg.
A familiar voice ordered the mysterious attackers, and just what the Hell were people doing on an iceberg, anyway? "Surround them!"
"Brody, call it in!" ordered Robert.
Brody calmly relayed to the seaQuest, "We're under heavy sniper fire! Repeat! Heavy sniper fire."
Robert peeked out from behind a jagged edge and saw Dagwood out in the open, and just standing there. Jesus Murphy! he cursed. "Dagwood, get down! Get down! Dagwood!"
The GELF half turned and then was spun around as he was hit by a stray bullet, but somehow he managed to get himself forward. And straight into the face of a shooter. "Hold your fire!" yelled the man Dagwood faced when he saw the UEO insignia. "Hold your fire! Dammit, I said CEASE FIRE!"
As if by magic the shots ended. The same man asked Dagwood, "Who are you?"
"Dagwood."
The man sighed and then in a loud voice, "Go, get out of here."
"You have thirty seconds to get off this iceberg..." Robert brought himself further out so he could see who he was talking to, and his voice failed him. "Christ, Gator, is that you?"
Manilow Crocker stared in equal shock at the ghost before him, "Holy shit, Mary and Buddha. Robert Bridger, you're supposed to be about twenty years dead."
"Yeah, man, no kidding..." said Robert as he stepped out into the open, Crocker continued to stare at the seaQuest logo on his jacket.
Crocker shook his head, "I may be out of touch, but seaQuest was lost at sea ten years ago, all hands lost, your Dad... Jesus, is that you Krieg?"
Ben came out from behind the other ice face, as well as Brody and Smith. Dr. Smith ran to Dagwood and started to minister to his wounds. Kreig smiled and said, "It's good to see you too, Chief. And the seaQuest is back."
September 5th
seaQuest DSV
Moon Pool
Early third shift
Crocker, once assured that the refugees were going to be safe, allowed them all to be taken to the seaQuest with some of the overflow taken to a not so pleased Hudson. At least Veronique on Nezamiah was more lenient. She gladly took those she could.
Lucas walked in to speak to him and Crocker looked up and said, "I never thought I'd see the day where you were actually in a uniform. Science it may be, but uniform."
Lucas shrugged and Darwin swam in lazy circles. "I think he remembers you."
"Yeah, I think so," Crocker rubbed Darwin's melon. "What's the cap doin' if his son has the boat?"
"Retired," Lucas grinned. "Would you believe taking care of a grandson?"
Crocker looked up and said, "A grandson? Really? Nathan's a grandpa? Man, he must be just beaming' in pride."
"You have no idea," came Robert Bridger's voice.
The three looked up to regard the younger Bridger as he walked in from where he had been leaning on the doorframe. The new captain came down to the moonpool and gave Darwin a playful push. "I still can't believe you're alive, Bobby," said Crocker.
"Chief, you should have seen Ben's face. That was a prizewinner. I could have knocked him over with a feather," Robert laughed. "I was surprised my Dad didn't faint."
"He almost did," pointed out Lucas. "However, we had other things to worry about then. Like if we were going to live."
"This is so strange. I feel like I'm talking to the past, the present and the future. Like it all got jumbled up and mashed together," murmured Crocker.
"You could stay," said Lucas, then he turned to Robert. "Right, Captain?"
Robert nodded, "Yeah, he could stay. If he wants to."
"Nah," said Crocker after a moment. "It's not that I don't want to, but... come on, what do these old bones want?"
Lucas was almost begging, "Come on Chief, what are you going to do? Retire?"
"What's Nathan doing?"
Robert and Lucas said, "He's retired."
"Where?"
"His island, as far as I know," answered Robert. "Lucas, do you think he would go back there?"
"Probably. I think he said he was going to rebuild his house," Lucas half closed his eyes in thought.
"Then that's where I'm goin'," said Crocker. "You never know, he might need me."
September 5th
mid 3rd shift
seaQuest DSV
Captain's Quarters
Robert was happily trying again with his book. It was just getting interesting when his door opened and one of the refugees came in, "You know, we usually knock." Robert looked up into the gun trained on him. "Oh."
"Let's go, Captain," said the man, then Robert caught a glance at the skin between the forefinger and thumb.
Deon International. Crap. He might have known that there would be something like this. "So, what does Deon have on this iceberg. There has been nothing but interference."
"To the bridge, Captain. You an I are going to hold the order on that iceberg."
"Really? Then what?"
"Then you are going to shuttle off to the Arabian Sea. When the iceberg gets there, you get to come home," Mason explained.
"Oh, I see. Nope. Can't do that."
The other man just responded by training the laser sight on his head. Robert put a bookmark in the book he was reading and closed it. "Move Captain, or your father, Nathan Bridger was it? Will be mourning you again. This time he'll have a body."
"Fine, let me mark my spot. I have a tendency to lose my page and I end up reading the same thing over again," Robert got up and smiled.
He suddenly remembered how unstable one certain picture was and how to get rid of it and not hurt Oliver's feelings. Not that he cared at the present moment. The man had become unsufferable all of a sudden.
He dropped the book.
Mason Freeman spun around, thinking it was someone behind him and shot the picture on its way down to the floor. Spinning back around again his breath was suddenly knocked out of him by the flying tackle from Bridger. Mason managed to get one hopefully solid punch in, but was rewarded with a few more to the head, and one to his gut.
Robert was relieved when security finally came in and hauled him away. "To the brig, sir?"
"No. Get him off my ship."
"Yes sir."
A few hours later Ford knocked on his door and came in, "What happened sir?"
Robert picked up the picture, or what remained, and said, "Son of a bitch shot the president."
"Mason Freeman," surmised Ford.
Robert nodded and handed the picture to Ford, "Send that to Hudson with my condolences."
"Where is Freeman now, sir," Ford tucked the de-glassed photo under one arm.
"I sent him back to Deon. I want Larry to know that he sent his best, and we sent him right back," Robert grinned.
Just then Tony poked his head in the open door and gaped at the mess, but failed to see Commander Ford. He ran in and checked over his captain, "Robert, are you okay? What happened?"
Ford cleared his throat, and Tony turned around, "Commander Ford, sir...."
"Relax Tony, it's obvious you're supposed to be here," said Ford. "Not that it's any of my business..."
"He's teaching me to read..."
Ford turned around and said, "I thought you could read, jeez, that was a dumb thing for me to say. Sorry Tony..."
Tony shook his head, "Well, I can. Just not well. He's teaching to read better."
Ford nodded his head and said, "Well, if you ever need help..."
Tony was surprised and he swallowed. He knew that everyone supported each other on the boat, he just though it was the officers that stuck together like a clique. "Thank you, sir... and uh, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone..."
"Then what do I say?"
"That I'm tutoring him on officer's school, as it is my job to do for anyone interested in being an officer," Robert answered for Tony.
"Really? Is that what you want Tony?"
Tony nodded and then Ford offered his hand, "Good luck, it's hard."
Tony nodded wordlessly and Robert said, "Well, did you bring your reading material?"