This chapter had the worst formatting issues by far *sigh* KLC - 2009
CHAPTER TWO:
The Devil's Dues
August 21st, 2033
4:00 hours
seaQuest DSV
Bridge
It was hard to look at the seaQuest and not see the beauty of her. He seemed to float between consciousness and unconsciousness. His dreams seemed to be full of these visions lately, it was understanding why. A reason lay just under the surface, he knew it had to. It was figuring out that reason.
A buzzing sound interrupted the dream and it faded. Opening his eyes he found himself in his quarters and Robert sat up in bed. There were times when he wished that his cousin Wendy was still on board and this was one of those times.
"Sir, you have a incoming message from Admiral Hitchcock," came the voice of Tim O'Niell.
"Thank you Tim," Robert rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and sat up. "Give me two minutes and pipe it here."
"Yes sir."
"Commander?"
"Sir?"
"Where is Johansen?"
"Off duty sir, I have the bridge and I usually have the com when I'm on shift," answered O'Niell. "Is that okay or did I...?"
"Nah, it's fine. Usually I have the sensors when on shift," Robert sighed. "I'll let you get back to your shift, Tim. Bridger out."
Robert hurriedly dressed and made himself presentable. The NorPac logo appeared on the screen moments later, then Hitchcock was on the screen. "Commodore, how is the tour so far?"
"Having its share of quirks, Admiral," answered Robert, and the formality was out of the way. "How is Wendy holding up?"
Katherine shrugged. "She is holding, and curious if you are having better luck mind speaking your father."
Robert was silent on that end and Katherine knew that something was up. After awhile he turned and faced the screen again. "What I see I cannot explain," he answered. "I will let you know the minute I know anything."
"Thank you, Bobby. NorPac command is sending you a specialist. He comes highly recommended..." she paused. "He is an excellent agent and if anyone can get your father out, he can."
"Agent?"
"Yes... he is Section Seven," and Robert stifled his groan of dismay. "Now come on, if I can respect, even like him, you sure as Hell can."
"Section seven?"
"I'm sorry to do this to you, Commodore, but you are ordered to let him on the seaQuest and to cooperate with him as much as possible. If it's any consolation, he really dislikes Macronesia," she grinned as if to take the bite of the order.
"That could be said of any free citizen, although that does bring my respect for him up a notch," Robert conceded and then made a surrendering motion with his hand. "Okay, fine, I'll cooperate. What does he have against Macronesia?"
"I'm not at liberty to say. Ask him when he gets there. Expect him within the hour, Hitchcock out."
Robert stood there for a few moments before uttering, "Shit."
Same day
8:37 hours
A few hours later Robert stood in the launch bay as the new crew member, albeit Section Seven, came through the launch bay doors after climbing up the ladder. The first thing he noticed was that he was of Asian descent. The second thing sent all his mental alarms off. Oh come on, not another frickin' psychic! he stood there in disbelief for a few moments.
He rose out of the hatch, his head topped with a Black navy cap and dressed in a simple dark blue command jumpsuit, in one hand he carried a large brief case and the other a small ruck sack, but what Bridger was staring at was the strange sword slung over his shoulder that had a black square cross guard and was held in a black sheath. He came before the captain and spoke "My apologies Captain Bridger but circumstances prevented me for arriving earlier to assist in the mission, he said with a deep and respectful bow.
"Colonel," Robert found himself warming up to him. "I understand you can help us."
"I will serve in the best possible capacity for Admiral Hitchcock on this mission" Yamamoto replied. "I have dealt long and hard with Macronesia and other bands of terror mongers."
Can you mindspeak? Robert sent.
A powerful presence filled his head followed a voice in his mind as soft and smooth as the Colonel's, When it suits my needs Captain. Tell me is your crew ready for the hardships ahead and will they handle the stress of the mission?
"Capable as any I know, Colonel," answered Robert and they began to walk to the wardroom where the other senior crew waited. "I can't hold a really long conversation before it gives me a headache."
It takes long and hard hours of training ahead to break such a barrier Captain, Yamamoto spoke into his mind. "But what of Hudson, is he still acting like an overeager schoolboy over his wife?"
Robert nodded, "Oh yes, and it's reflexive too. He does it unconsciously and has to actually make an effort to drop it."
A gentle laughter came across there mental link and despite the fact that the man was a member of Section Seven, Bridger could feel a strange connection to him.
They entered the wardroom and Robert was greeted with salutes from not two captains but three. "Captain Hudson?"
"Wendy decided that it was time," grinned Hudson. "One of us has to be directly involved in this or we'll go crazy."
Robert thought for a moment with his tongue in his cheek, "So what are you commanding?"
"The Baycourt," answered Hudson.
Nodding Robert sat down to begin the meeting, "Everyone, this is our newest addition to the battle group, Colonel Jason Yamamoto of the Shadow Warrior."
The colonel bowed respectfully to the captain's crowded around the table. "I only hope I can be a worthy member of this task force", he said.
"He's a special situation," answered Robert. "Colonel, why don't you introduce yourself?"
"My name is Colonel Yamamoto, I'm Head of Admiral Hitchcock's Section Seven Division and current commanding officer of the Spec op sub Shadow Warrior." Colonel Yamamoto said. "The reason I am here is to let you know what I know about what is going on."
The Colonel reached into his pocket and pulled a small data disk from his pocket and placed it into the wardrooms player suddenly the wall mounted screen flashed to life showing several faces including images of both Nathan and Lucas. "For the last year or so Macronesia has been preforming several what they like to call 'smash and grab operations' where they rush in and grab what they want. In this case the best and brightest the UEO and NorPac have to offer." Yamamoto said as he scrolled down the ever extending list of names and faces. "Their mission is simple, gain any edge in intelligence they can on the UEO and NorPac to use against us."
"Most of the time they use the cover of kidnapping or piracy to take who they want, in fact this is the first time they used overt capture. We also discovered dissent with in the Macronesian command structure on how to proceed over the problem. Section Seven also believes this decension caused the two torture tapes to be released before the higher ups could decide on how the problem could be handled," The Colonel continued on as the names and faces continued to roll behind him.
"Through analyzing the torture tapes and cross referencing information known about their prison set-ups we believe they are being held on the New Zealand island of Stewart Island. New Zealand's third largest island, Stewart Island is an ornithologist's delight: tuis, parakeets, kakas and bellbirds abound. The kiwi, rare in both the North and South Island, is common over much of this island, particularly around beaches. A good network of walking tracks and huts exist in the northern part of the island while the south is largely undeveloped and isolated. The people are hardy, taciturn and suspicious of mainlanders. The prison itself is built on the southern most point of the island both above and below the water."
Captain Jonathan Ford interjected, "What a lovely little place to put Hell."
"It is well defended for Hell..." Yamamoto's brows lifted in appreciation of Ford's dry comment. "With four squadrons of sub fighters, half dozen surface patrol boats with depth charge launchers, four heavy duty helicopters rigged as both transports and sub killers, and the Delta IV class attack sub Wellingtons Vengeance. The base itself has defensive mine fields (surface and subsurface), foot and armor patrols in the southern jungle, and several anti-ship and anti-aircraft guns round out is defensives. In fact most of the defenses are new and were another clue that high important prisoners are their in their holding," the Colonel told his captive audience.
"Rather blatant, Colonel," agreed Lieutenant Commander Ben Krieg.
Yamamoto nodded his agreement and continued his debriefing, "As well several of the ships both surface and sub surface of the Ninth Macronesian fleet are around New Zealand at all times. The Ninth is primarily used as a support and training fleet and most of the combat vessels they use are older model vessels late twentieth and early twenty-first century."
As Robert sat there with the other captains, he happened to glance over at Hudson and noticed sweat running along the side of his face the room was a cool eighteen degrees Celsius, then came the subtle sounds of knuckles cracking as Hudson looked forward at the presentation while nervously rubbing his hands together. The Captain gently reached with his mind and scanned his surface thoughts, fear, anxiety, nervousness, and it was all directed towards Yamamoto. Bridger tried to probe further only to have his connection broken with a loud slamming of the hatch. He turned his view to the now open hatch and the four men holding assault rifles facing them.
Captain Ford leapt up from the table, "What the hell is the meaning of this Lieutenant Davidson?"
"Sorry sir," Davidson replied. "But like any good Macronesian agent, I always take advantage of the situation."
Robert stood to confront the intruders, "Your advantage will come to naught."
"I don't think so, Commodore. You are as valuable as your father Nathan Bridger is."
A sideways glance at Yamamoto confirmed it, if anything they would attempt to take everyone alive, but if they had to... those guns would begin shooting. He saw Yamamoto finger the pommel of his katana just out of the sight of Davidson and his cohorts. Subtlely, Robert moved to block any view of Yamamoto from the intruders. Good thinking, Commodore. I was wondering how to make a move.
I can be observant when I choose to be.
Like any good military commander.
Do you think we can take them? Robert asked him, sizing up Davidson.
Of course we can.
Yamamoto did not even turn around, more to cover the drawing of his sword than anything. "Gentlemen, I will ask this only once, drop your weapons or face my wrath," his voice was quiet and yet forceful.
One of the men assisting Lieutenant Davidson barked back, "Jack ass we're the ones with th...."
A even more subtle motion from Bridger, one from long years of service together, told Ben Krieg to act just then. Krieg, who sat with his back facing the door, sent his elbow into Davidson's groin. Davidson went down with a groan of surprise, while Krieg also wrested the rifle out of his hands.
Robert wasn't wasting any time either. As Davidson went down, he rushed forward to make a grab for the gun of one of Davidson's cohorts. As his hand seized the weapon, and moved the barrel to the cieling, he heard a gunshot. A red hot fire caught him in the upper left shoulder, but his adrenaline made him continue the motion. Someone threw him out of the way, and another person, Hudson he saw as he looked up at him, laid him gently on the deck, "You stupid son of a Bitch."
Grinning, Robert said right before things went black, "Like father, like son."
Hudson watched for a second and turned to watch as Yamamoto dispatched the last Macronesian agent. Knowing what was expected, he stood up and drew himself up to full height. "Commander Kreig, call medbay and get aid for the Commodore."
"Yes sir," Krieg then pulled out his PAL. "Medical emergency in the wardroom. Security to the wardroom."
Hudson nodded and turned to Ford, "Apprise the Admiral of what just happened. I trust you can do that from the Avenger?"
Yamamoto touched Hudson's arm, and he recoiled from the touch. "I'm sorry Captain, but who put you in command?"
"NorPac manual, Colonel, I suggest you read up on it since you're going to be here awhile," Hudson responded sharply.
Yamamoto looked as if he was going to say something, but thought better of it. "Of course, sir. You are the highest ranking Naval officer in the battlegroup. That would make you acting Commodore and the Baycourt is temporarily under the command of your X-O while you take the seaQuest."
"Glad to know you are familiar with how we operate, Colonel."
"Of course, Commodore..." Yamamoto added so only Hudson would hear, "The Admiral will hear of this."
Hudson shrugged, "She can't change the manual either, Colonel, so if or until Commodore Bridger recovers the seaQuest is mine."
Yamamoto fell silent, and Ford came up to Hudson, "The Commodore is going to recover, right? It would kill Nathan if..."
"Of course he is, Captain," answered Hudson as Kristin Westphalen, preceeded by a few bulky security personnel, entered the wardroom. "Doctor, I'm afraid we were..."
"Save it Oliver."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Yamamoto could only stare at the older fiery haired woman. She was by far not military, and definitely not NorPac. The fact that she chose to remain aboard was a shock to Jason. He had met Dr. Westphalen once... and the memory of the meeting was extremely difficult to forget. He knelt beside her and said, "I tried to prevent this from happening, Doctor."
For the first time she took notice that he was even there. "Jason?"
The young man had looked extremely innocent despite the blood that covered him and Westphalen made very effort to piece him back together. Hitchcock had made no bnes about the fact that he was extremely valuable. The incident still played trough Kristin's mind everytime she closed her eyes. It was supposed to be a simple dinner with most of the UEO upper echelon.
The only reason she had been there was the fact that, as usual, she was trying to get funding for her research.
The gunmen had simply started shooting.
Then there was just this one young man who was killing the other gunmen. His martial arts skills had not impressed Kristin. It was the fact that he saved Katie's life over many others who had been there. When Kristin had also been the first response in that instance as well.
And now he had walked back into their lives again.
August 25th, 2033
Mid-second shift
MedBay
seaQuest DSV
Why the hell did the Admiral send this psychotic into the mix, a man she claimed held her respect and even liked him and that even I would like him, he said to himself staring out over the rail, his fist clenching an datapad in his hands containing the mission briefing, he had been straining at it trying to figure out the Colonel's angle why was he on this mission. Robert sighed and let himself relax as the pain in his shoulder flared into life again. Hudson walked into medbay and straight over to his bedside, "How are you feeling, Robert?"
"I'd feel better if I understood what the Hell just happened in the wardroom with Yamamoto."
Silence greeted him and Robert could guess what that meant. "You've met Colonel Jason Yamamoto before, haven't you?"
A short moment later, Hudson nodded. "Yes, I have."
"Mind sharing so I know what is happening on my own ship? Who did I just let on here?" Robert asked wearily.
Hudson sat in the chair, a gesture Robert understood to mean that it would be a very long story.
Captain Hudson had seen the man's work before, and it terrified him, but with that he said, "I'm very glad he is on our side."
August 31st, 2033
Captain's Quarter's
seaQuest DSV
22:25 hours
A few days later, and although his arm was in a sling, Robert was released from the medbay. He grinned and knew that being released by far did not mean out from under Kristin Westphalen's watchful eye. Taking his left arm out of the sling he leaned back in his chair in his quarters.
On that desk lay numerous reports of what had happened in the past couple of days after Robert had been temporarily taken from duty. He was extremely glad that Hudson had been as decisive had he had been. A moment of indecision would have spelled disaster for the entire battle group. As it stood, while Robert was yet cleared by Dr. Westphalen to be on full duty, that Hudson was still technically the Commodore. Robert sincerely hoped that Hudson enjoyed his short spell as the commander of seaQuest while it lasted.
He took another look at the information as it cross the small screen just letting his intuition guide him. It led him to hopping from file to file almost at random, going this way and that cris-crossing the files to land in the personnel listing of the hostages and to have a name blink at him from the screen. He sat up straight realized what he held and made his way towards Colonel Yamamoto temporary quarters on the seaQuest.
As he walked down the corridor towards the Colonel quarters he began to hear a soft melancholy tune floating through the corridors and it grew stronger as he approached the Colonels quarters, the music bore such pride and yet such sadness as to it, it touched Roberts soul. He noted that the hatch to the Colonels room was opened a crack and it was it letting the music out, as he walked over to knocked on the hatch a voice came out from behind it. "Please enter Captain, we have much to discuss," Colonel Yamamoto said from within his room.
Bridger pulled the hatch open and entered Yamamoto's world. The room was Spartan in appearance with its latest resident bringing little to the table. As he looked in the room he noticed a small vid disk collection sitting on the shelf to one side, a laptop computer resting on the desk, and Colonel Yamamoto standing in the middle of the room playing a guitar, music seaming to rise from him as he continued to play. "We need to talk," Robert said as he walked in.
"Of course Captain," Yamamoto replied as he kept playing. "This song I play is called the Devil's Requiem. It is said in the legend that in the final battle between heaven and hell before he was cast down, that the Devil played this song to spur his troops onto greater glory and in defiance of the forces of light, it was said that the angel that battled him wept at it's beauty," Yamamoto continued to play softly on while the Captain Bridger looked straight at him.
"I said talk to me," Robert's voice was mildly sardonic. "Not stand their playing like some second rate street player."
Yamamoto calmly looked over at the Captain, staring into his eyes with his own bloodshot one. "Captain the dead must be given their prayers to put their souls at rest and onto the next world, one way or another."
If the remark confused Robert, he did not show it. "There is something you need to know," he said and then looked Bridger straight in the face.
To that day in the wardroom he returned.
Only this time he saw things from the unfortunate accomplice of Davidson's. The sword that sliced into his chest he felt with vivid clarity.
Robert picked himself up off the deck, the sharp pain that had been there was gone, as if it had never been in the first place. Yamamoto helped lifted him from the deck. "I apologize, Captain, but it was the only way for you to understand," Yamamoto said as he lifted him from the deck. "That is the price I pay with every kill."
Robert looked at him for a few moments before the realization came to him. "You understand the consequences of every action, of every life you take," it more a simple statement than a question.
"Yes it is good to see that intuitiveness runs in your family Captain," Yamamoto said. "Beware Captain as you develop your own abilities more you will have to pay for the consequences of your actions, as it is in all life."
"Like your wife," Robert replied as he handed the datapad over to the Colonel.
"Yes," Jason was silent for a long moment as he stared at who he felt to be the most beautiful woman to whom the Earth could ever give life. "The only fault on my wife's part was being born on the wrong side of the border. But she has served NorPac well as a double agent. She is now sitting in a cell not three doors down from your father awaiting her fate."
He placed the pad down on the table, "As was my only fault was failing to protect her and others in the past, it is my sin that I live with..."
Jason turned to Robert and said, "We still have much to talk about and time waits for no one." Directing Robert to a nearby chair. "So let us begin we have much to do before we pay the devil his due."
September 12th, 2033
seaQuest DSV wardroom
12:00 hours
Thankfully, from what I was told, the second attempt at a senior staff meeting went better.
Katherine Hitchcock stepped out of her launch and was aided by Jason Yamamoto up the ladder. She didn't need the help out but Jason had old morals and even older view of chivalry. Although she wished the circumstance in which they met had been different she never regretted it. "Jason, a pleasure as always."
In his own peculiar way, he dipped his head and said, "My pleasure is serving the Lady."
She grinned, knowing this exchange to be an old joke between them. "As always, you seem to be the most charming person on the ship."
Knowing that he was taking an extremely protective stance behind her, as he always had considered himself her guardian since that day he saved her life, she walked to the wardroom. Jason was raised by an Uncle in Japan and as such he picked up the old man's habits, beliefs, and manners. While Jason had been born in Hawaii, he was more traditional Japanese than anything else and he lived by the old code of Bushido, a fact known to very few.
Seeing Robert, who still had the sling on his arm, about to enter she caught him before he did, "Commodore, the Colonel told me what happened. You handled it as well as you could. Did you get anything from the traitor?"
Robert shook his head. "No, Admiral," then he grinned. "And yes at the same time. This is what the meeting is about. It's nice to have you here."
"The next meeting is on the Clinton," she answered with a matching grin.
"When am I getting my Doctor back?"
"That eager to be back under her watchful eye?"
Robert snorted, and said, "No, eager to have the best doc NorPac has access to back on my boat."
"Today, she was just finishing up on the Clinton and will catch the next launch in."
The trio entered the already full wardroom and those able to stand without hitting someone with the chairs they sat in did so to salute her entry. Sometimes, although she by far didn't like to rest on the pomp, it was nice to be noticed. "As you were," and they returned to their former positions.
Hudson stood up and let her take his seat, while Ford let the still injured Bridger take his. Of course, Krieg and O'Niell lost their seats to Hudson and Ford, but that was how things worked in the military. Yamamoto preferred to stand just behind Admiral Hitchcock. "First let me say it is a pleasure to see so many of the original faces here who are not originally NorPac," she began. "I'm also gald to hear that Colonel Yamamoto has been getting on so well with the rest of you. But as we know that is not why I am here."
"You have recieved clearance to strike the island?" asked Hudson.
"Yes, I have," she answered. "Not that we would have been frowned on if we had gone in earlier."
A smile lit her face as a knock came at the door and a wearied Westphalen entered, "How is he, Doctor?"
"Exhausted. He also has two broken ribs and and numerous bruises," she answered. "But he has some interesting information on Stewart Island."
The door swumg open more to reveal two men, one of Asian descent and the other a younger Caucasian man who looked worse for wear. Fredericks stood from where she sat in wordless shock. Robert also stood, for the first time hope alighting in his eyes.
It was Ford who managed to say anything...
"Lucas!"
Character Notes
June 2009
There are two, totally original, characters from the previous two chapters that deserve explanations. Both are from an online, play-by-email, role-playing game where you could either take an existing character and play them (in my case, believe it or not, I chose Hitchcock and Nathan Bridger... just to help keep the game active... instead of creating my own) while two friends of mine, plus a few that did not end up in this season, nor the next, but I was thinking... if I wrote a 4th part to this... of adding them then.
The first, of course, is the Spectre pilot TJ Dasher, who was created & played by the game's creatrix & "Game Master/Referee", Kim. The second is the rather infamous Colonel Yamamoto, created and played by a friend of mine from way back in high school (dates me, doesn't it, lol?) who has been my friend for near 10 years so far. The game was on Yahoo Groups and was called "seaQuest 2039", and, according to Kim's background, was on board the Redeemer DSV, a new ship of the seaQuest class of ships. Her timeline was a direct continuation of what had happened canonically in 2032, but (obviously) 7 years later. Ford was the captain, and many of the ship's crew had obviously moved on in rank. Lucas still kicked around, and was obviously still military.
When I started writing Until the End of Time, I asked Kim if she minded that I borrowed TJ, and she said "Of course not". Eventually, 2039 was merged with Until the End of Time and the timeline "jiggled" to match my version of history to her vision of 2039. While we haven't by far hit 2039, nor seen the Redeemer's keel laid, the inclusion of these two characters are my nod to Kim and her game that I was much honoured to be allowed to include myself as part of.