ADDED WARNING: This chapter goes beyond the previous chapters in its violence. For that reason this one chapter has been bumped up to PG-16. While it isn't an R, it is definitely a bit more than any of the other chapters. This chapter deals with beating up on the hapless Krieg and Lucas.
I also did part of it on a 'challenge': What if Stark was not as evil as everyone thought her to be, and why would she not be?
CHAPTER SEVEN:
Business, As Usual
PART ONE: It's a Living...
March 5th, 2033
Oahu, Hawaii
Ben Kreig walked to his office as soon as he could get off the seaQuest. While the ship was in drydock for three weeks he was determined to catch up on as much paperwork as he could before April Tax time was too close. He unlocked the door and took a step into the warehouse. His warehouse.
He took a breath. This was familiar to him and he was familiar to it. This was where he belonged despite all the advice he was getting to contrary. He sighed and walked up the steps, hearing the metallic echo of the stairs, to his office. Again he reached for his keys and unlocked a door. He sighed as the peace within his office washed over him.
That was its design. The hectic day to day operations were usually held in the conference room that was adjacent to his office, but this was where he could work and relax at the same time. It was his sanctuary. The muted tones of the office were a far cry from what his quarters had been like on the first tour of seaQuest, as was the minimalist decorating and the tidiness. He closed the door behind him and walked to his chair behind the mahogany desk. Sinking into the semi-plush chair he sighed.
In his younger day he had dreamed of owning a leather chair like this, but after awhile he found that it was impractical, and uncomfortable. They needed to be cleaned and well, the chair he had breathed. His butt liked it better as well. He leaned back and opened the drawer to his right and took out the remote control of his stereo and turned it on.
He pushed the selector to gentler music than what he listened to. Ben needed something to calm his nerves, and Delirium and Enigma always filled that void. Delirium more than Enigma, but the albums were still a quiet moment listening, and did the trick as he allowed himself to relax.
A soft knock sounded at the door, "It's open."
He was really surprised to find Lucas standing there, and the young scientist came in and asked, "I heard what about what happened on the bridge. I was going to see if you needed anyone to talk to but you left too damn fast."
Ben smiled, "Lucas, sit."
Lucas sat in the chair opposite to Ben and waited him out, "I left because I have a mountain of paperwork to do. And because I had to get off the ship and re-prioritize. When I was forced to take command I didn't even have time to think of the implications of what I was doing. Now that I have that time, I know."
Lucas leaned back and said, "The implications I know is that everyone who knew you before have seriously revised what they think of you. The fact that is has been ten years really nailed it to us through you."
Krieg nodded and slid into his own thoughts again, not wanting to confirm what Lucas was thinking. What he himself was coming to realise. "Lucas, I came back here to bury myself in my work. To see if I am selling myself short or not. Before I took command of seaQuest I never gave it any thought. Now I seriously wonder. My God, whatif I am command material? Should I go back into the UEO? Now that I'm proven myself under fire, where could I end up?"
"If its any consolation, even with the scant six hours he was the X-O, Tim is going over the same options," said Lucas softly. "He has never really had that much responsibility thrust into his hands before."
Kreig laughed, "One fateful moment is what it took to make us wonder is we are all selling ourselves short."
A noise in the warehouse made them stop and Ben shrugged it off. "My employees are coming to work," he said, looking at his watch. "It's that time of day. Say, why don't you be by personal assistant for the day? See what my typical day was like before Bobby turned it upside down again."
Lucas nodded and followed Ben out to the walkway above the warehouse. Sunlight was filtering into the windows, and Ben explained, "I didn't black out the windows because I like the way the sun plays on the floor. And it puts everyone in a brighter mood. I played with the idea of putting in a few skylights, but they were unfeasible. I had to settle with the one is the employee lounge."
Lucas nodded. The employees laughed and joked as they got to work. Ben was right. If they were in better moods, they worked better too. Hell, maybe they even liked coming to work. One greeted him, a manager by the looks of him, "Hey, Ben! You're back!"
"Yeah, someone has to do that mountain of paperwork," joked Ben back. "When I walked in there I thought I would be buried."
He made the motion of shovelling, and the other man laughed, waved, and went back to what he was doing. Lucas smiled. It was kinda like following Captain Bridger around. Ben really had never realised his potential, and Lucas shook his head. If he only knew what comparison that had popped into Lucas's head he may change his tune. After awhile he heard everyone leave for lunch and Lucas decided to tell him. "Ben..."
"Yes?"
"You know, I really enjoyed that..." he began and trailed off . Ben picked up on the hesitation but didn't push him. "But, really, it was a serious sense of deja vu. It felt just like the first time I followed Captain Bridger around."
Lucas looked at Ben and his pained expression. Ben looked away and out his windows, his lips compressed in a thin line. Lucas waited him out, but before Ben could respond they both saw the shadow that passed over the building. Ben was standing and then running to the door, pulling it open it time to watch the roof cave in.
But it was no accident.
Uniformed soldiers poured into the opening on ropes as they descended to the floor. Ben slammed the door shut, locked it, then jammed it shut with Lucas's chair, long since vacated. Looking over to Lucas he said, "Hide under the desk, and whatever you do, don't come out."
Lucas hid under the desk and pulled the chair in to complete the hiding place. There was no worry about being seen as the thick wood was all the way to the floor and there was no spaces to be seen. It was a complete hiding place, and if Lucas pushed himself all the way to the back (the desk being this huge) he was completely hidden in the shadows.
Ben leaned on the desk and waited. He had recognized the uniforms as Deon International. Knowing that this day would come, he steeled himself for the encounter. Moments later the sound of his door being forced sounded and he took out his gun. If he was going to have to go down, then by God it was not without a fight. And he had Lucas to protect.
He only hoped that Lucas would not have to hear him die. He hoped he would die that quick. Finally the door was pulled off the hinges and Krieg ducked to one side to pick off those who came in. But they had expected that, he supposed as he felt one sharp pain and his legs turned to rubber. Dammit, they don't want me dead, Ben realised.
Mason Freeman walked through the office door, tranquillizer gun in hand, "Mr. Kreig. Terribly sorry for having to use that on you." He picked the gun out of Ben's nerveless hands. "But I had to be sure that you wouldn't do anything stupid. Mr. Deon has things to discuss with you."
"I... have... nothing to discuss... with him," Ben retorted.
"Oh, but your don't have a choice," said Mason, then he ordered. "Take him back to HQ. Treat him nice, he's an old friend of Deon's. In fact they used to be business partners."
From behind the desk, Lucas's eyes grew wide. He had not known that. No wonder Ben refused to talk about his past if he used to be in business with that privateer. Ben at least had a conscience. Deon did not. The next order sent a thin thread of fear into Lucas, "Burn it down."
"No... wait. I'll go with you willingly if you spare the place," came Ben's choked reply. "Just leave the warehouse alone."
Mason picked him up and said, "I think you're hiding something... check the office."
Lucas pressed himself into the very back of the heavy desk. The chair was flung out and he went very still, not realizing that at the same time Ben had gone stock still. A light was shone in his face and someone said, "Sir, that kid from seaQuest. He's hidden under the desk."
Mason ordered, "Bring him too. Deon would like to meet his acquaintance as well."
Robert Bridger sat in the temporary office he had been given in Pearl Harbour, enjoying the quiet, and filling out the never ending requests for reports. Every Admiral had chewed him out for going into enemy territory for one person, but once the facts were known they had been more in fear of that enemy. In more than one way was Wendy's rescue mission successful. Not only had they got her back, and relatively unharmed, but she had come back with valuable information about the leader of another emerging power: The Chaodai.
In fact, it was in the Chaodain president's home she had been held. Robert shook his head. It was too easy, he reflected. They wanted us to get her out. But why?
Also in his reports was the annotated reports of his various bridge officers who had been on duty at the time of boarding, and the subsequent submarine battle afterwards. Even though he was a close friend of Benjamin Krieg's... no, because he was a close friend... he had to read those over three times to truly believe what he read. A knock sounded on his door, and a secretary poked her head in, "Sir, an Admiral Noyce to see you."
"Isn't he retired yet?" asked Robert.
"I am, but I had to see you with my own eyes," came the answer and Robert looked up to see the oldest, and closest, of all his father's friends.
Robert stood and saluted, then with the formality out of the way, he offered his hand, "William."
William Noyce shook his hand and pulled him into a hug. "That is for coming back alive," he said when he released Robert from the bear hug and then he went and sat down on the couch. "I read the report. What you went through... no one should have to. Then I heard that you freely gave back command of the seaQuest to your father."
"I did."
Noyce just stared at him. "May I ask why?"
"The Chaodai kidnapped my cousin Wendy. Seeing as I was the one who knew them best I decided I would lead the rescue team," answered Robert simply.
Noyce pulled himself up and said, "I think you had better give me your full report."
And so Robert did, also showing him the reports of the crew that were still on the bridge of seaQuest. Noyce paled during the description of Nathan Bridger's torture, and clenched his fists at the Chaodai's gall. He had to ask Robert to repeat, more than four times, when he was told that it was Kreig who had commanded seaQuest after all this until Robert could return to his ship.
"As in Lieutenant Benjamin Krieg?" asked Noyce and Robert nodded. "The same Ben Krieg of the Tonga Trench incident?"
Robert nodded again and Noyce shook his head in disbelief. "The difference twelve years makes," was his low whispered tone.
Shrugging, Robert said, "I always thought that if he gave himself a chance he could do it."
March 6th, 2033
Deon International HQ
South Panama
Larry Deon was pleased with himself. It had taken a long time to plan out his once business partner's, now rival, fall. He watched the surveillance video of the cell he had both men in. The young man, Lucas Wolenczak, was an unexpected bonus.
Lucas paced the cell that he and Ben had been put in. Ben seemed to have given up. He was sitting in one corner, knees drawn up and head down. Whatever past he had with Deon was now catching up with him. Lucas refused to give up and had tried many times to snap Ben out of his melancholy but to no avail. "How about telling what the Hell Deon wanted with you!" he snapped, finally at the end of his patience. "Why did he want to ruin you at the warehouse?"
Ben finally looked up and he looked the most haunted that Lucas had ever seen. "Do you really want to know?"
"If it helps me understand, yes."
"Fine, I'll tell you."
It was in the summer of 2024 that things started to go downhill. We had our shaky starts, Hell, I can remember the business almost going under. But that was not the problem. Things in that department were going well.
It was the personnel.
But I digress. Worse yet, I'm not starting at the beginning. I don't know what happened to you Lucas. All I know that in 2022 the seaQuest disappeared, and everyone on it. Everyone assumed that she sank. After all, things had been tense in that area. At that time I was a mere under-manager at a struggling Thenlu Import and Exports. I was so wrapped up in my work that I never even heard.
I was drove home and there were cop lights all around my home and Dr. Kristin Westphalen was half leading them in a search for me. But when I drove up her relief was evident. She told me.
I was shocked and the Military Cops had a lot to ask me, but, in the end, I couldn't tell them any thing much either. I had served on seaQuest for one tour under Captain Bridger and, well, I was on it when Stark was there too.
Don't get me started on Stark. I knew her before. It was after Bobby 'died' that she built up her ice towers. After that she changed, and one might call it revenge lashing out at the wrong targets.
For three weeks after seaQuest disappeared off the face of the planet I was a wreck. It came so close that I was nearly fired, but when I was taken in the office to be fired something in me snapped and said, "No, Ben. Letting life happen is what had gotten you to this point. It's time to step up to the plate."
I had been saving for something, not really knowing what, but I had a pretty tidy nest egg. My boss said, "Ben, you're fired."
I responded with, "No, I'm buying you out."
I wrote the cheque and never looked back. After that day I owned Thenlu. Granted, it depleted my funds to the breaking point, but you know me. The ever resourceful Krieg. It was time to pull one of my miracles. After a year Thenlu pulled out of its slump and got better. The profits soared for that kind of an market bracket. Then, maybe, I made my error.
A young man, fresh out of university with a BAcc, of only maybe nineteen came to my door. I hired him on the spot as my assistant manager, and we did well. At that time he reminded me of you. But soon the differences became apparent. He was a shark.
He is now known as Larry Deon.
Things were great. Profits soared faster than I had ever seen them do, and we were getting rich. My nest egg was fatter than it had been before, and still growing. Then I saw the differences in the way the company was run. Deon only wanted strict loyalty from the employees. They bought from Thenlu or its partners and no one else.
Although it was handy for us, I didn't like that one bit. I told him so and we argued. Finally he agreed with me that maybe his loyalty was a touch overboard. So I let it slide.
A few months later our chief competitor's warehouse burned to the ground. The owner was in it and he left behind him a family. I grieved for them. Then I was told the fire had been deliberately set. After being questioned by the police I began to suspect the depth of Deon's obsession with absolute loyalty.
It was confirmed when he brought me the brass lighter he had used to light the blaze.
I fired him on the spot.
He laughed in my face and said, "Ben, you don't fire your future boss. Someday you will regret this, and on that day I'll be there." I always knew that he would come after me, I just didn't want anyone else there when he did.
Thenlu will likely be burned to the ground, like the other. And I will be as dead.
March 6th 2033
Deon International HQ
Lucas lay on the cold cement floor. It was hardly surprising that Ben would get himself mixed up with something, it was just that this time he had not been trying to get mixed up. This time he had been the one fooled. Looking across the room at the now silent Krieg was unsettling to say the least. After he had finished telling his history he had refused to speak of it anymore.
In fact, he had gone completely silent and wouldn't speak at all except for when Lucas asked him if he was okay. That met with a saddened gaze and a, "No."
Krieg was sure he was going to be killed. Lucas didn't doubt that one bit. Larry Deon had a grudge and would likely torment Krieg before killing him. Of course, Lucas expected that he would part of that torment.
As if on cue the doors swung open and Mason Freeman stood there. Krieg stood up, but Freeman pushed him back down again, "Did I say I came for you? No, I don't think I did." He turned to Lucas, "Deon wants to speak to you."
The guards hauled Lucas up and practically dragged him out into the hall, but Lucas drew himself up and said, "I can walk. Just lead the way."
He didn't miss the look of pride in Ben's eyes. Krieg wasn't the only one who grew up.
They walked down the hall and Lucas looked for a possible way of escape. Unfortunately he didn't see any and when Freeman nudged him into an elevator he had no choice but to enter the space. The doors closed and he felt himself moving up and for what seemed an indeterminable time.
Finally the elevator came to a stop and he was again nudged to exit the elevator. Lucas walked, this time in obviously the upper levels of management, through the halls until the came to a set of French doors. Freeman knocked imperiously twice and pushed them open. Lucas was pushed through and forced to his knees. His breath caught in terror of who sat to one side of Larry Deon's desk.
Marilyn Stark.
Please God, I hope she doesn't know who I am... ran though his mind at least a couple dozen times before he finally recovered. He cleared his throat and forced his eyes off her and to the privateer Deon.
He was surprised, albeit not very, to see a face that might have been his own age if not for the ten years he was missing. "So..." Deon stood and walked around his gigantic desk.
Lucas stared defiantly back. Deon turned to Stark, "I hear this is the young man that keeps the seaQuest's computers running. Amazing the... coincidences in life."
Stark coolly gazed back, "He's younger than what you told me. I do have my limits."
"He's older than he looks. In fact he's twenty eight," Deon laughed. "Just a few years older than me."
Also leaving her seat, Stark gave Deon a push out the way and pulled Lucas to his feet. He felt like he was being inspected for something. He gazed coolly right back. What was the worst she could do? Kill him? If she did there would no place she was safe. "Bridger always did have a weak spot for strays," Stark took his chin in her hand and turned his face one way and then the other. "But to his credit, he is no coward. If he has been on seaQuest he would have heard of me, but see how he doesn't flinch. What I would have given to have you serve under me."
"I'm not military. I'm a scientist, a Computer Programmer," said Lucas with a little bit of bite in his voice, insulted that she thought him military, and he let that carry over.
Her face seemed to change from the emotionless state to a furious one, then it changed back and her false smile, "You are more military than you think. But I think I have a use for you." She turned to Deon, "I'll take him."
What? he was puzzled, and to his horror he realised what was going on, "And he's yours."
Lucas was practically dragged out by Stark and she said coldly, "Listen, You're mine now to do with what I please. Do what I want you to and when, and we'll get one great." A slow smile spread, "I may even reward you. Since going private my funds have increased. Join my team willingly and I can guarantee you will want for nothing."
"I am not a pirate!" and her nails dug painfully into his arms.
"Don't do what I want and your screams will be loud enough that your precious seaQuest will be able to track you by them."
The elevator did not descend as far and he found himself out in sunlight and being led to a car. She pushed him into the back seat and slid in beside him. Lucas was more scared than he had been in his entire life. If there was only a way he could call for help. But he knew that there was no way.
Until he got near a computer anyway.
Ben sat with his back against the wall until Mason Freeman came for him as well. Ben stood and demanded, "Where is Lucas? What have you done with him."
"Forget your friend. His new life began today courtesy of Marilyn Stark," Freeman bound his arms as the despair washed over him.
He was walked to the elevator that took him to Deon's private office and pushed to his knees. Gleefully Deon stood in front of Ben and said, "I said this day would come, didn't I? Do you see what is possible if you had only listened to me?"
"What is possible is that in your greed you are destroying your planet and everyone on it. You kill for money. You wreck lives."
"Spare me, Ben," Deon brushed off his comments. "You are as bad as I am. We are both business men. If we were not greedy we wouldn't have business."
"Working for a living and providing for needs in one thing. Destroying lives is another."
Deon seemed to pick up on another topic as he watched something out the window. "Greed is what makes the world go round, Ben. Wake up. Oh, your little friend is about to come into contact with the worst kind of greed. You see, Stark just bought his services."
"You lie," Ben eyes grew wide.
"Oh, no, I don't lie about this. So now you don't have to worry about him. He's just a distraction anyway."
Ben grinned, a hard grin that didn't match him unless he was truly angry about something. And right now he was incensed. "Jeez, what a pity. I only hired you because you reminded me of him. What a mistake that was. You are not half the genius he is and you never will be."
Deon spun on his heels, breathing hard. "How dare you!" he practically shrieked. "I am much more intelligent than that dweeb!"
Krieg saw the motion of Deon's hand and knew that Freeman was behind him. "Take him back below," ordered Deon. "Show him what happens to those faithless to Deon International."
PART TWO: Walking with Terror and History
Screams of pain, and those of terror not voiced woke him in the night. He sat up and tried to sense where they might be coming from but that was the most he could do. All there was to do was wait and see.
But Robert Bridger was like his father Nathan in that respect, and patience never did come easy.
March 7th, 2033
Lucas sat in the small cell, or as it actually was, the closet. Stark had thrown him in there after she had researched him. He cursed silently, knowing what she planned. But he was curious.
Every time he had said he was from seaQuest to someone, they had asked him about Oliver Hudson as if the knowledge of Robert Bridger was not widely known. When he corrected them, they scoffed, "He's dead. Why do you think Nathan Bridger ran off to that island off the coast of the Yucatan?"
Clearly that was Stark's belief as well. Either this or she was that out of the loop. He didn't feel like adding an advantage to her court. Finally he heard the scraping noise of the heavy, whatever she had used to wedge the door shut, out of the way. The door opened and Lucas winced in the bright sunlight that flooded in the windows.
"Get up, boy," she hissed. "It's time you earned your right to live."
Lucas stood and massaged the cramps out of his legs and he was led to a computer. "I need money," she said. "You were rather expensive. Hack into a small bank and get me that money."
Lucas sighed and sat down at the computer. At least it was not a hard request. It only took him a half an hour to hack though the codes and he had an account, "How much do you need?"
"Enough to live for a few months. Let's go for one hundred thousand," she said, grinning. "I did promise to reward you, didn't I?"
Lucas's skin crawled, but she had indeed promised rewards for doing what he was told. He could live with that better than what Deon had planned. Sure enough, one hundred thousand was put into the account and in a false name that she also now had fake ids for. When he showed her his work, she nearly purred in pleasure, "Well now, that is more like it. I do wish you had been transferred to seaQuest during my time. Oh well, you're mine now."
He shrugged indifferently. She frowned but didn't do anything. Inside Lucas was a turmoil of doubt. What was he doing? He was helping her and if the police, or the UEO, ever caught up with them he would be an accessory as she was rewarding him. But he knew that to refuse her would be death. Well, he did know more about computers, and he could, somehow... someway..., track what he was forced to do to put her away for a long time.
Which he did, leaving a subtle trail that another computer hacker could follow to its source and well as a binaric message: Help me. Stark is forcing me to steal under pain of death.
He breathed an inward sigh of relief when she missed that. After looking over her new ids she said, "Now, we're leaving."
Again the car was brought around and he was put in the back seat. "Crouch down so no one sees you, Lucas."
It was the first time she had ever used his name, and it was not filled with scorn or hatred. Lucas felt one sliver of doubt enter his mind, What if everyone judged her wrong? What if she was not as bad as everyone thought?
No!
She had tried to destroy the seaQuest, and she had fired on defenceless civilians in order to lure out the seaQuest. Hell, she had even almost caused a major ecological disaster. Marilyn Stark was the very definition of violence and hate. No, she had been judged fairly, and Lucas would not let himself be sucked in.
But he crouched down anyway.
March 7th, 2033
Deon International HQ
Ben Krieg was in the worst pain of his life. Mason Freeman had used him as a human punching bag a few hours before, and a few of the guards had lowered the temperature to almost freezing in his cell.
He couldn't even lay on the bed, they had removed all such luxuries. So he sat shivering in the cold against the wall in the one corner farthest away from the door.
He heard footsteps and knew that only more torment was at the other side of the door.
The door opened and he looked into the face of Larry Deon. "You know, I could end this," said Deon. "All you have to do is relinquish ownership of Thenlu Imports to me."
"No."
Deon shrugged, "I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this."
Deon gestured and Mason Freeman dragged him up to his feet and another guard stripped him nude. His clothes were taken out of the cell. Deon left and Freeman put Krieg in handcuffs and then proceeded to secure the handcuffs on a hook in the ceiling. Freeman then secured his ankles to the ground on a similar ring. Ben stood stretched out and naked in the cold cell.
With that they left him alone.
Kreig gritted his teeth and mentally thanked his military training. If he had not been trained to bear almost anything he would have been whimpering in the corner. And there was the matter of this thing called pride that wouldn't let him do that. He was aware of time passing, and then Deon and Freeman came back.
"Change your mind yet, Ben?"
"No."
Deon shrugged and sighed, leaving again, "See what you can do to convince him."
Freeman wordlessly nodded and Deon left. "Amazing, he doesn't have the stomach to watch this. And he calls me the coward," Ben called out, loud enough to be heard.
For his pains, Freeman sucker punched him the stomach. Ben would have doubled over if he could have, or thrown up if he had anything to throw up. Soon the beating began and the blows rained down on him. He felt a rib crack and Freeman laid off that side. Okay, so he only wanted to cause pain. That meant that Ben would live even if he didn't want to. After awhile the blows stopped and he heard Deon say, "I can make it stop, all you have to do is say the word..."
"No."
Finally Ben heard someone scream and he realised that it was him before the blackness of unconsciousness flooded over him.
Robert, on a hunch, went to see Ben at work and stopped dead as he saw the police tape cordoning the warehouse off. He ran up to the officer and showed him his UEO identification and demanded, "What happened? Two of my people were supposed to be in there."
The officer said, "And they are gone. Some commandos raided the place and wrecked it. They took the owner, Ben Krieg, and his assistant that day, a Lucas Wol... Wolenzack."
"Wolenczak," corrected Robert. "A scientist on the seaQuest, and a close friend of Krieg's. Krieg is an officer on my ship. In fact, my third in command. Any idea on who the commandos were hired by?"
The officer showed him a scrap of fabric. "Deon..."
March 9th, 2033
Lucas defiantly stared back at Stark. I am not afraid, he repeated to himself. What is the worst she could do?
"You have been deliberately leaving a trail of electronic breadcrumbs, haven't you, Mr. Wolenczak?" she glared at him and he had no doubt that usually she was used to everyone shrinking from her.
In truth that is what he really wanted to do. "Excuse me, Queen Marilyn, but I was kidnapped by Deon. I didn't want to be sold to you. Oh, and its Doctor Lucas Wolenczak, CPA," he informed her scathingly. "And I can't wait until Captain Bridger finds out that you have me. He'll rip you limb from limb. The both of them, Nathan for even threatening and Robert for depriving him of who keeps the computers on seaQuest running!"
She seemed to be about to slap him for his insolence then a change seemed to come over his face, and he found himself in the closet again. That had been two days ago.
Then he remembered there was one other thing he could do...
Granted in was a shot in the dark, quite literally, but he had to try.
He closed his eyes and concentrated on Captain Nathan Bridger, and he relaxed, remembering what Wendy had said when training Robert, "Relaxed minds are easier to read than tense ones. It is even easier when your subject is asleep."
But Lucas was not trying to read minds, he was trying to touch one. But, since it was quite dark, he knew it was night time and Nathan would be asleep. He hoped it would be easier to touch Bridger's mind. And then he remembered Wendy's other admonishment, "Focus on what you want to say, or show, who you are sending to. Too much distractions will only make it too hard for the other psychic to read."
Everyone had the potential. It was getting over the inner blocks of disbelief.
One blind act of faith, Lucas realised. Is all I need in a world of logic and science.
Lucas focused on his breathing until his mind cleared to only that. He opened his eyes and...
He was on the seaQuest, on seadeck actually, sitting in the quiet. Lucas had found Bridger there on a couple occasions in the past when what he wanted was quiet. Nathan, he felt, did not know that Lucas was even in trouble. Lucas sent images, one after the other, of the warehouse and Freeman. Deon and Stark. Stark locking him in the closet, and one image of where he thought he was....
Nathan was lying down on the walk behind the moon pool on seadeck. Darwin swam lazy circles below him while Bridger was laying with his eyes on the ceiling letting the water patterns that were reflected onto the walls soothe him. For the past couple of days he had felt anxiety. Soon, Westphalen would release him and he could go home. Or he could assume the position of CSO on board seaQuest.
Then for some reason he felt fear as it ripped through him and he gasped in surprise. Moments later, as if someone had taken Polaroid pictures of events, four in total. He sat up afterwards and realised that it had been a conscious effort by Lucas to cry for help.
But that was not what sent the sliver of fear down in gut. It was who had him, Stark. He calmed his beating heart and reflected that maybe getting Savannah to train him was not such a good idea.
He got up and left the seadeck and fairly jogged to the bridge. When he came up the three steps and through the clam doors, Tim O'Niell turned and saw him, "Good day sir."
"Tim, can you get me Robert. Tell him its urgent."
"Yeah, sure..." answered Tim, sliding into the comm's station and typing in the sequence for Robert's PAL, and few moments later, Tim handed him the headset.
Bridger put it on his head and said, "Robert."
"Yeah?"
"Have you seen Ben and Lucas?"
A sigh on the other end and Bridger kicked himself for not having more faith in his gifts. "No, but I saw what was left of his office. I think..."
"It was Deon," cut in Bridger. "I know it. Meet me on shore with your senior crew that you can spare and I'll explain."
A half an hour found them on the shore. Robert looked around at his senior crew that could assemble. As usual, there was Brody and Shan, Fredericks, when she had heard that Lucas was involved had leapt in. Commander Ford stood there as well, and he asked, "Where is Ben?"
"I can answer that," said Bridger. "Deon took both Ben Krieg and Lucas from Ben's office. I don't know why, but I suspect that Marilyn Stark is involved."
The faces of those who had served under her darkened, and Robert looked pale. "Deon and Stark..." he breathed. "Why?"
"My guess is that Deon also deals in the slave trade, and he sold Lucas to Stark. I got a few images of Lucas hacking for Stark, but for some reason now she's abandoned him," answered Bridger.
"Got what she wanted," snorted Ford.
Just then Robert's PAL chirped, and he answered, "Bridger."
The familiar voice of Marilyn Stark greeted him, "So it is true. You are alive. Tonight come to the Point, alone."
"Where is Lucas?" asked Nathan.
"Oh, you're both there," she seemed genuinely surprised. "The young Dr. Wolenczak warned that might be true. Robert, come alone and I'll release Lucas to you."
With that the connection closed. Ford had turned a ghastly shade of ashen, "I can't let you go alone."
To his dismay Robert Bridger seemed to develop the same stubborn expression his father Nathan could be really famous for. "No, she said alone, Commander. I intend to follow those instructions to the letter," his father seemed to draw himself up and Robert put up a restraining hand. "We want Lucas back in preferably one piece. And I... she won't hurt me."
She can't hurt the one she has been on the endless crusade of revenge for all these years, he added to himself. His father and Commander Ford were still dead set against it, but Robert knew that they had no choice really. They would have to do as he bid. He walked to the rental car and slid into the drivers seat and drove away, seeing the stricken look on his father's face.
Deliberately paying him no heed he backed the car up and drove the car through town to the Point and parked the car. Walking up to the trail he threaded through it until he came to the cliff that made the Point. He waited and heard the motion behind him. Somehow he was not surprised to see her there.
"Marilyn, you've changed," he murmured softly as his heart clenched, there had not been one day of his entire servitude when he had not thought of her.
The cold exterior cracked and she hugged him, and he knew that the same could be said of her. "I never forgot you, even when the rest of the world did," she answered in a low voice when the hug broke. "I thought the Wolenczak kid was lying to me to save his skin."
Robert sighed and sat down on a rock, "Marilyn, I've heard about Livingston Trench from everyone else. How about you tell me your side of the story?"
"People do funny things in the name of revenge," was her simple answer. "The enemy that I thought had taken you from me... I faced down at Livingston Trench. That one shot would have wiped them off the planet."
"For me? You did it for me?" Robert was flabbergasted.
For the longest moment she didn't say a word, "No. I did it for me. I did it for my crew. I did it for glory. I did it for all the wrong reasons, when I should have done it for you. It was after I listened to the news I realised that I had the chance to blow the bastards out of the water and Ford stopped me." She said his X-O's name like a curse. "But I swore that one day I would have the seaQuest back. She was mine. And now that I knew where to actually aim my revenge for you I fully intended to use her to wreak it. And then your father stopped me..."
Robert watched her face change as she smiled and shook her head, "I went ballistic for awhile. I swore that I would kill him... kill him and destroy the seaQuest if I couldn't have her back."
"What stopped you?" he asked quietly.
She was silent for a few minutes before she turned back to him and kissed him full on the lips, "You did. I dreamed I had done it... and then you came back to me. You saw what I had done and spurned me. I never set foot on a ship afterwards. I had gone too far. I was seeking to avenge you by killing the one person who was as hurt as I was. What kind of revenge, or even justice would that have been?"
Robert recited the lyrics he had once heard, "Gioia nel cuor trovero, Con te il ciel raggiungero, Pace ci sara..." He paused and said, "Lyn... how much do you know of me now?"
She paused, "I did my research. I know you are married to Cynthia Westphalen, and you have a son named Michael. Know this, so long as I draw breath, your family will be guarded."
"Where is Lucas?" he asked. "He holds a special place in my father's heart. While I was thought dead, Lucas helped my father learn... well, let's just say my father needed a son and the boy needed a father."
Marilyn turned and said, "That I didn't know. He's at 144 Bresco Street, in a closet. He's not hurt too badly. There is some injuries that were there when I got him from Deon."
"Did you see Ben Krieg?" asked Robert anxiously. "He was with Lucas."
She shook her head sorrowfully, "No, but I can possibly help you."
A few hours later Robert found himself back on the docks, alone, but he had plenty to think about. The address Marilyn had given him was written on a slip of paper that he played with as he walked through the security checkpoints. Finally, one concerned MP asked, "Sir, what's on the paper that's got you so worked up?"
"None of your business," replied Robert coldly, and then he sighed, stopped and turned back to the MP. "Sorry... a bit preoccupied... you didn't deserve that."
The MP saluted and kindly answered, "Sir, I saw the news. If my best friend was missing under such circumstances, I'd likely be as pissed off at the world as you are right now. I hope they find the bastards before you do, for their sakes. But if you find 'em, well, I'm sure no one will blame you for what happens next... sir."
A very cold smile was the MP's answer, but so was a nod of agreement.
He finally re-entered the conference room where everyone was gathered and put the paper down on the table. He grinned, although it was still cold, at their shocked expressions, and Ford probably voiced what they were all thinking, "In all due honesty we didn't expect you back here under your own power."
"Like I said, Stark would never hurt me. In fact, I got confirmation of where Lucas is, and he's safe," he batted his father away from the paper. "And information on where to find Krieg, too. In fact, I enlisted some 'inside' help... now, everyone. Promise me you won't, ah, jump to conclusions."
Ford said, "Any help is better than no help."
Robert looked over to his father, and Nathan said, "Very true."
He handed the paper over to Ford... and Ford turned ashen when he saw the handwriting. "This is Marilyn Stark's handwriting," he confirmed.
Robert nodded, "It most certainly is. She gave me that address. That's where Lucas is. He is free to come back, no catch, and she is letting him go... again, with no catch."
Those who remembered Stark and the fallout from her command of seaQuest in 2018 looked at him in puzzlement, but it was Nathan who said, "There is always a catch with Stark. She would not just let him go. I don't like this. And what are you not telling us?"
For the first time, everyone saw the glare that Nathan received from his own son. Ford caught it, and got the sudden inkling that Robert not only believed Stark, but also trusted her. Had from the very beginning. What the hell is this? he screamed inwardly. What is she to you? What are you to her? Robert Bridger met Ford's eyes and he saw a glimpse of a very different, harder, colder, Robert Bridger. But also of a happier Stark. He suddenly understood, "You have a history with her."
Everyone looked at Ford in shock and Westphalen exclaimed, "Commander Ford!"
O'Niell's eyebrows were nearly in his scalp, "Please tell me that you just sniffed something you shouldn't have."
"He's right," answered Robert, and the focus was ripped away from Ford as the horror sunk in.
"You and... Stark?" his father seemed the most horrified. "When?"
"Right before I disappeared, Dad. I, uh... pushed her through the bulkhead airlock into the escape pod and..." Robert looked down at the table and the paper. "This isn't the time for this. Commander, I believe you need to be on Bresco Street."
Commodore Bridger handed Ford the slip of paper. "This is the address. Assemble whatever team you feel the need to have and go get Lucas. You have your orders, Commander."
Ford saluted and promptly left the conference room, taking a very puzzled Brody and confused Henderson with him. Nathan stared at the wall as the implications of the bombshell sank in. Very quietly he said, "Before you disappeared and we all thought you dead, just so you know, I might have approved of her. I sponsered her, after all. Now, I guess all of this is a shock. Are you sure she still feels the same as you would like to believe she does?"
"Without a doubt in my mind, Dad."
Westphalen looked from father to son and back again, "I cannot say I remember what she was like before, nor even who she was after. But I do know that the woman must be brought to justice. Nothing she says or does now will matter. She must pay for her crimes."
Robert nodded, "I know. She is from a part of my life that I closed the book on twenty years ago. But don't expect me to take this easily."
March 10th, 2033
Deon International
The extraction team did not have to wait long, and Robert grinned when the car pulled up at the meeting point agreed on. Ford was still very nervous, "Sir, I still say this is a bad idea."
Robert sighed, looked at him, "Duly noted, Jon. Give the woman a chance. What would you do if the same was done to you?"
"Same thing, maybe," admitted Ford. "Well, maybe not as spectacularly, but I get what you mean."
Stark slid out of the driver's seat and the tension immediately increased as Ford and Stark stared each other down. Neither gave in, but Stark broke the silence, "Commander Ford, you have... matured much since we last met."
"I really wish I could be like Commodore Bridger, Ma'am, but I'm afraid that would take a very long time after what you did to the seaQuest," answered Ford with no preamble, but then he extended his hand. "But I can't say that I don't understand it either."
She accepted his hand silently. No apologies would have been accepted and so none were offered. Everyone turned in surprise as another car pulled up beside hers and Lucas got out. "I want to come to. Ben's... he tried to save me again. I won't be left behind on this. And you will need me."
Much to everyone's greater surprise, it was Stark who refused him flatly, and she pulled him aside, "Absolutely not. Go back to seaQuest where you're safe, Doctor."
"Remember what I can do? It was me who found and defused your virus on seaQuest," he responded with equal stubbornness. "I can make sure the security systems never even know you're there."
"Nathan, do you want to come and talk some sense into this young man before he gets himself killed?" she asked.
Bridger walked over and found himself agreeing with Stark. "No, Lucas, hack in from seaQuest." Walking away they could hear him muttering, "Now I agree with her? My God, what am I getting myself into?"
Lucas chewed his lower lip and he heard Stark murmur in his ear, "Take care of him. If you don't you'll have to contend with me. See that he finds someone that loved him like Carol did. He was not a man meant to be alone." She looked over to Robert, "None of them are."
She walked away to pack her own kit and Lucas was left there to marvel over what she had said. Man, she was a walking tragedy where Bridger was a walking soap opera. Abruptly he decided to follow anyway. They would need him whether they realised it or not. Not everything he could hack from the safety of the seaQuest.
When the small team, only consisting of Robert Bridger, Stark, Brody and Shan, Lucas followed at a distance. Inside he hummed the Mission Impossible theme. Watching from a distance he saw Stark drive up to the front entrance and imperiously demand to see Deon, and right then and there. The argument reached fever pitch with her, "And if you don't talk to me right now about the merchandise you sold me, I'll tell everyone what you're doing!"
The gates opened about ten seconds later, and Lucas grinned. She could be a bitch, but she knew when it made the biggest impact. While the gates were still open , Lucas slipped in as well, making sure to avoid the security cameras he knew would be there. The car pulled up to a bush and he could see three people jump out and hide in the bushes. Lucas touched one of their legs and was pulled into sight of them and Ford cursed, "Sir, it's Lucas."
"Dr. Wolenczak, I thought we all agreed that you would be on the seaQuest..." Robert hissed. "What are you doing here?"
Lucas sighed and answered, "Some things I can't hack into from there. You'll need me."
Robert shook his head, "My Dad is going to kill me, and you."
They waited a while longer as Stark entered the building, and then they crept into the building as well. Lucas went straight to a terminal and loaded it up. Fingers flying across the keyboard and brows crinkled in concentration, he said, "We were underground... ah ha. Got it. Room 2567, Etre wing, sub basement 2."
Robert sighed and said, "Well, that certainly cuts off the time in searching for him. Can you get out of here now?"
Lucas grinned, "Hell no, I have to stay here and make sure that the cameras are in a loop at the right time so you don't get seen."
Ford volunteered, "I'll be his look out."
Nodding in agreement, Robert and Brody headed off, map in hand of the Deon International Complex, thanks to Lucas. Robert, while being slightly disappointed in Lucas's tactics, was secretly glad the young man had snuck his way into their team. Not being seen was going to be a huge advantage. Brody decided, "Sir, it would be easier to spot us in the stairways. We should take the elevator."
"You've been playing that damn Perfect Dark again?" demanded Robert. "Stairs."
"Yes sir."
They walked silently down the stairs, listening for any indication that they had been discovered. When they reached Sub-basement 2 Brody listened at the door and then opened it a crack, "All clear."
Robert slipped through the door first and then Brody, who closed the door after him to allay suspicions if someone walked past the door, "Etre wing," noticed Robert. "Huh."
Counting down from 2876, they found room 2567 and listened at it. Not hearing anything, Robert opened it a crack and gasped in shock. He swallowed against the bile that rose in his throat. Deon would have much to pay for. He went in the room while Brody kept watch. "No..." murmured Ben. "Thenlu..."
"It's me, Bobby," reassured Robert. "We're getting you out of here."
Ben seemed to straighten, "Lucas."
"Safe."
Ben nodded and Robert cut him loose and wrapped him in loose clothes that he found in a corner. Supporting him, Robert half dragged him out to the hall. Turning to Brody as he helped carry Ben, he said, "Now we use that elevator."
They hid behind a pillar as the elevator opened and revealed Mason Freeman who walked as if he had a one track mind to Ben's former cell. Using that time to run to the elevator, Robert closed the doors and pushed the button for the main floor. A few minutes later those doors opened to reveal two guards who were very surprised to see them.
Brody shot one before she could recover, and Robert knocked out the other one. "Time to be leaving," quipped Brody.
They ran as fast as they could to the entry point just as, "Intruder Alert, Etre wing. Intruder Alert. Use force if neutralize."
Robert prepped his gun and Brody did the same as they came up to Ford and Lucas. "We're out of here!" exclaimed Robert.
They went to Stark's car and were greatly relieved that her keys were left in it, as well as the note, "With your shield or on it."
For a moment Robert stopped breathing. Oh, Jesus no! was his reaction. Just then the entire top of the Deon International Complex exploded into flames and smoke. He knew where she was, and what she had done. "Sir?" asked Ford. "We should get out of here while we can."
"Drive, Commander," answered Robert quietly, and Ford drove them out and back to the UEO boarding docks.
March 14th, 2033
EarthNet Broadcast
And our top story Larry Deon, the CEO of Deon International, was killed when the top floors of his Complex exploded four days ago. Police say that Marilyn Stark is suspected as the killer as she was the last visitor Deon had before his death. Our resources tell us that Stark came looking for Deon in a fit of anger, quite ready to deal a crippling blow to Deon.
Her body was also found in the rubble, she died at the scene.
The song quoted in the conversation between Robert Bridger and Marilyn Stark is Solo Con Te by Handel:
Giola nel cuor trovero, Con te il ciel ragguingero, Pace ci sara, Giola nel cuor trovero, Con te il ciel raggiungero, Pace ci sara, Giola nel trovero, Con telil ciel raggiungero, Un mondo nuovo con tel vedro.
English Lyrics: I will find joy in my heart, With you I will reach heaven, There will be peace, I will find joy in my heart, With you I will reach heaven, There will be peace, I will find joy in my heart, With you I will reach heaven, With you I will see a new world.
AUTHOR'S NOTE 2009: There was a scene in this chapter that didn't make any sense when I wrote it, nor even after I posted it originally. I spent a few years mulling over a better way to address it and only now found that better way. The scene in question, which is changed, was the one where Robert returns to the seaQuest to tell everyone how his meeting with Stark went. In the original scene, he had brought Stark with him, through the security checkpoints (albiet wrapped in a blanket) to the wardroom and then revealed her after a bit of a buffer conversation. Somehow, she was never arrested. It made absolutely no sense at all, but it stayed that way for a few years. This time around I changed it so that all Robert brought back was a slip of paper written in her handwriting. It had the same affect as her showing up, but without the reality departure. To keep the same general storyline afterwards, she met up with the extraction team at Deon International HQ.