Chapter 3:
A/N: I know this has taken forever, for which I am sorry, but I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own SeaQuest or the characters, just my own.
~*~
Stryder lay on her bunk, staring at the ceiling. It was dark in the room, but she couldn't sleep. Levi's plan had her stomach in knots, a tight sensation pulling at her chest. She sighed, rolling onto her side. Realizing she wasn't going to fall asleep any time soon she sat up, swung her legs over the side of her bunk and hopped off. Under normal circumstances she would have been able to land lightly, but her thigh was still healing and her knee buckled when she landed. She bit her lip, waiting for a moment to assure that the young girl lying below her would not wake.
The little girl stirred under her covers, but didn't open her eyes. Stryder grabbed her clothes and dressed quickly, holding her boots till she was outside. It was late, the sub was running its graveyard shift, so barely anyone was roaming. Chirs shoved her hands into her pockets and wandered aimlessly, eyes cast down on the floor.
She'd spent the last two and a half years toiling in the mines. Not one person there ever got a break, cut some slack. It was slave labor, no matter what any of the mine owners said. And since the mines lay outside UEO jurisdiction, workers and wages were not sanctioned. When she and Levi had first met he had been a sort of refuge. Levi was brash, bold and he stood up for himself, despite the consequences. He'd banded the children together.
Chris had been secure in the knowledge that finally there was someone willing to lead. When he first tossed out the idea of an escape she had been the first to agree. Then she'd learned his true nature and things began to change. Bold he was, but also cold and ruthless. She shuddered as she remembered the pilot's face the moment he died. And then had come the SeaQuest.
One day on the SeaQuest had become two, two had become three and suddenly a week had passed before she even realized. And as hard as she tried to keep herself distant from the crew and officers, she felt herself letting go, relaxing. Lucas has taken her around, introduced her to the crew. They were good people, honest, loyal, everything that no one in her life had ever been.
Henderson was friendly enough, but the brunette seemed almost to nice to be believable. Commander Ford seemed far too much like an authority figure for her to be comfortable. Bridger was much the same. She disliked the doctor rather intensely, perhaps more for the fact that she continued to demand regular visits to the sick bay than her nature. Something about Brody made her uneasy, and she sensed distrust from his side as well, though Lucas insisted she was crazy. Besides Darwin, whom she visited most days, she liked Tony and Dagwood the best.
Stryder smiled thinly. How appropriate that she best got along with the outsiders, the outcasts. She'd almost come unglued when she'd first met Tony, as the young crewmen had been swimming through the tubes. He'd come up in the moon pool and frankly, the gills had been something of a shock. Dagwood was sweet, he reminded her of an innocent child.
The conversation she'd had the day before with Levi plagued her. They'd all gathered together in his quarters to lay out a plan of action. Levi wasn't satisfied with getting away from the mines. Chris wasn't happy, she was totally out of the loop. Sam and Levi already seemed to be acting, and she didn't know on what.
Stryder rounded a corner and nearly ran head on into a familiar figure. "Damn it Levi, you scared the hell out of me!" Stryder pressed a hand to her forehead and growled. She immediately backed away from the older boy, and he followed her. She glared at him, and scooted past him, ducking under one arm. her boots rang on the metal grates, his steps falling just behind. After another few yards she halted, spinning on her heels.
"Have you done what I told you yet?" His eyes gleamed with something sinister, his lip curling.
"Levi, I already told you I think it's a bad idea. We just need to sit it out and wait for them to drop us at a port. You're gonna get us caught."
"And I told you to find something we could sell. This tug is renowned for it's technology and research. There has to be something here we can use. You know how much we could get for UEO tech?"
"It ain't worth shit if they don't let us off. We could end up back in a brig somewhere, is that what you want?"
"So don't get caught. You used to be good at this."
"I'm still good at it, but the difference is back then I did it to survive. Now I don't have to, and I won't. Styder sneered. "You can't do what you're planning. You can't scuttle the SeaQuest, it's not possible."
"I don't need to scuttle her, just disable her and give us time to get away. But I want that UEO tech, and you're gonna get it for us."
"We don't need you anymore Levi, we're out, so get used to it. Screw you."
A flush rose up Levi's neck. Faster than she could react, Levi grabbed the front of her shirt in both fists and shoved her backwards. "You'll do it, or so help me I'll make your life miserable. You're getting too comfortable here Chris, you think you're fitting in, but they don't know you like I know you. Do you think any of these people would help you if they knew?" Stryder's face paled. "Think your buddy Lucas would even look at you?"
Chris felt her chest swell with anger. Her eyes burned and she twisted out from Levi's grip. She jabbed out with her right, striking Levi square in the gut. The boy grunted, doubling over. She struck again, this time in a roundhouse with her left. Levi's hands flew up to cover his face. He ducked a shoulder and charged, lifting her off the ground.
Stryder felt herself sail through the air, landing heavily at the top of some stairs. She heaved herself onto her knees, but Levi was already on top of her. A booted foot met her side and she flipped over, biting her lip to keep from crying out. She gasped, sucking in a weak breath. Levi grasped her collar again and thrust her down the stairs. She flipped end over end and wound up on her back, gasping for air. Levi stood over her, lifting her head and shoulders up. Then he struck her in the face.
Stryder writhed on the ground, hands covering her face. She curled tightly into a fetal position. She felt Levi's breath against her ear. "Find me something we can use, something we can sell. Leave disabling this tug to me. And if you don't do it, your new friends are gonna be the ones to pay." He stood and she heard him stalk away.
--
Lieutenant Brody strolled through the mass system of corridors on the SeaQuest. These night patrols were some of his favorite times on board the sub. Not that he didn't enjoy interacting with the other members of the crew, but it was different at night. In a sub, even one as large as this, it was very hard to find time for ones self. Night patrols offered him time alone, to think.
This night he was thinking about the sub's newest passengers. He had never been much of a kid person, Lucas excepted. The young ones were quiet, though he had caught one of their number, Sam, down on the engineering level. His shaking voice had told him that he had gotten lost, but there was a quickness in his gaze that Brody didn't trust. Still, he hadn't been able to find anything amiss with the equipment.
Levi, the oldest seemed fairly laid back. He spent most of his time wandering around the mess or in his bunk. They hadn't spoken personally, but none of the crew found anything amiss with the young man. In reality, the girl Stryder was his only real concern. It was in her that the kids' story didn't hold water.
She was the eldest, but resembled neither her mother nor her father. Where the young ones were what he considered appropriately mourning their parents death the girl seemed unfazed. She was also rarely with her siblings. She offered them no comfort. He expected some anger from her to be sure, but some remorse as well, and there was none lurking in her eyes. He'd bumped into her once, quite on accident, and she'd jumped away from him, crouching slightly, hands up in a defensive posture. Her eyes burned with anger and distrust.
He'd been busy in the last dew days, running a routine security check. Also, the SeaQuest had been called to the site of an oil spill, and the rotating duty rosters for security crews fell to him. But the next, he promised himself, he was going to take a closer look at the tug the kids had come in on, if only to assure himself once and for all that he was being paranoid.
Outside the gym he halted, cocking his head slightly to the left. Muffled grunts escaped the hatch. Who could possibly be working out at this hour? Everyone was either at their assigned posts, or asleep. He pushed open the hatch door, treading lightly as he made his way past weight machines and treadmills. Off in one corner of the room a punching bag swayed slightly. A slender figure worked the bag methodically; chin tucked down, hands up, moving lightly off her toes.
Stryder was flushed, her breathing ragged. A slick sheen of sweat covered her face and shoulders. Her shirt clung to her back. Brody took a few steps closer, eyes narrowing. Her fists were bare and her knuckles had spilt, bleeding freely. She attacked the bag with each jab. Brody was just behind her now. "You beating on anyone in particular or do you just not like our bag?" he inquired.
She dropped low to the floor, one leg extended out. She spun, catching the Lieutenant by surprise as she swept his legs out from underneath him. Brody's reactions were ingrained through years of service. The moment he struck the floor her rolled away from his attacker, leaping nimbly onto his feet. Stryder rushed him, but the Lieutenant was by far the more skilled in hand to hand combat. Stryder soon found herself, one arm held behind her back, Brody's arm around her throat.
The young officer didn't miss the slight hiss of pain that escaped her lips as he drew her arm behind her back. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Since when is working out a cause for interrogation?" she snapped back.
"At 0200?"
She stopped struggling. "I couldn't sleep," she told him simply.
Brody released his grip. The girl leapt away as though stung, pushing an unruly lock of hair away from her face. Getting a good look at her for the first time, he grimaced. Her face was swollen and bruised. A rather impressive black eye caught most of his attention, but he didn't miss the scrapes on her cheek of the bloody nose. She watched him edgily. Her eyes betrayed her as he had seen the same expression before. Her eyes lurked with something haunted, something hunted.
"You feel like telling me what happened?"
"What do you mean what happened?"
"To your face," he elaborated.
"I fell," she answered breezily. "You navy people put stairs in the most inconvenient places."
He snorted. "Oh yeah, that's original."
She shrugged, never letting down her guard. "Who needs original when the old standbys work so well?"
He tried another tack. "You ought to go see the doc."
"You mean Doctor Wendy? No thanks, I think I can get to sleep now." She edged past the Lieutenant, eyes down. He let her go, realizing he wasn't about to get a straight answer. All the same, the conversation had left him more questions than answers and he was even more determined to find out the truth about what had happened to the kids they were now boarding. And he was going to start with Chris Stryder.
--
Lucas led Chris down to the bottom levels of the SeaQuest. Most of the science team's research was conducted here, as well as a few experiments of Lucas' own. Stryder hung just behind his shoulder, taking careful note of the code he'd entered to gain access. She felt a surge of guilt wash over her. She was using him and she knew it. He was the first person she'd considered a real friend in a long time and she was using him.
The wandered the arboretum, and Lucas pointed out several hybrid plants that were being developed. They were genetically designed to better survive at extreme depths and grow in artificial sunlight. Stryder nodded politely. Sure the plants were interesting, and meant fewer people in the world would go hungry, but it was definitely not what Levi was after when he said UEO tech.
Lucas kept sending quick glances back over his shoulder. He chewed the inside of his lip. He'd gone to visit her in her quarters that morning, and had done a double take when he'd seen her face, now utterly black and blue. But when he'd questioned her on it she'd gotten defensive, even a little angry, and he was loathe to bring up the subject again. All the same, she was acting oddly quiet, even for her.
He'd noticed Stryder's unease slip away in the last few days. At first she'd been quiet, almost shy, especially whenever she met another member of the crew. But as he spent more time with her she'd relaxed, and even told him a little bit about working in the mines. A few times her voice had become soft, eyes dropping as she slipped away from the moment. Then she'd seem to remember where she was and she'd snap out of it, usually with a forced laugh and some self-derisive joke.
Stryder had taken to hanging out in Lucas's quarters when he wasn't working, staying down by the moon pool and Darwin if he was. He did find it a little odd how little she new of current events and trends, but brushed the thought aside. The mines were hardly a Mecca of new tech and voices from the outside world. And besides, he got a real kick out of seeing the look on her face as she heard new music and played the newest computer games. When she smiled her eyes came alive. He really wished she wasn't going to have to leave soon.
Tony complained about the girl invading his sanctuary, but Lucas knew the crewman was teasing. Tony liked the girl almost as much as Lucas. She was quick witted and held a razor tongue, and they often took to good natured sparring. But here, today, that funny, happy girl was gone. The blank, distant look on her face had returned in full force.
They moved out of one lab and into another, still not talking. "You sure you're okay?" He questioned.
She huffed, smiling thinly. "I told you I'm fine. It's embarrassing that I'm such a klutz you know." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Temporarily satisfied, Lucas started to show her around the lab. The science officers all knew him, and allowed him free access. "Ah, you'll appreciate this." His eyes lit up as they moved to a station on the far end of the room. Stryder followed, eyes open for anything of interest. One of the science crew was in the middle of a test run.
In a tub that was almost ceiling to floor deep, filled with sea water, sat a small black device. It resembled a pocket flashlight, maybe eight inches long and with a three inch diameter around the cylinder. On the other end of the six or so foot long tank was a large slab of stone perhaps six inches thick. Lucas directed her back behind the tank. "Just watch this."
The science officer pushed a button on the remote she was holding. Almost immediately the device began to buzz, sending rippling currents along the water. A narrow beam of light sailed through the water, hitting the stone in the center. Sparks flew and died quickly in the water. The beam only lasted five or six seconds, but when the officer shut it down there was a quarter sized hole burned all the way through the stone. Stryder's eyes widened and her throat tightened.
Lucas turned to her. "Can't you just think about what this could do?"
Stryder knew exactly what it could do, but somehow she didn't think Lucas was quite on the same train of thought. She swallowed the tight lump in her throat and answered breezily. "Make really good holes in a giant wedge of Swiss Cheese?"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Haha, very funny. That water is just a degree or so above freezing. And that laser is just a small prototype. Once all the kinks are worked out it'll be an precision instrument for underwater mining. There would be accurate drilling, and less damage to the surrounding environment than conventional methods."
'Or it could make for a totally devastating weapon,' she thought but did not say. This was exactly what Levi had been angling for, she had to go tell him. "Hey Lucas, can we hook up a little later. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night so I want to go lie down for a while."
"No problem. Swing by later and we can watch an old movie or something. I just downloaded a new data stream. It's a real old movie, 'Dumb and Dumber' I think, a classic."
Stryder nodded as she walked quickly for the door. "Sounds like a plan. I'll see you later."
--
Lieutenant Brody climbed into the dark confines of the old sub. Brody held his flashlight in front of him as he moved slowly down the main corridor. He had to get to the control panel before he could get even minimal power running through the sub. The entire place stank like used oil and rotting meat. He touched the walls gingerly and his fingers came away slick with grime. The ceiling dripped from condensation.
He entered the bridge, pushing open the door. The beam from his light passed over a patch of dried blood on the floor. Brody took the small flashlight in his teeth when he sat down at the helm. He flicked a switch on the control panel and there was a heaving groan form inside the belly of the sub. Lights overhead began to flicker dimly. He hung his flashlight back on his belt.
The metal panels were rusty, a few hanging loosely by a bolt or wire. Brody decided to come back to the bridge after he had searched the rest of the vessel. The scowl on his brow furrowed deeper as he walked the length of the sub. As far as he could see, of the four living quarters on the main level only two appeared the have been used recently. He stopped outside the last room on the hall.
Pulling out his light once more, he ran the beam down the doorframe, following with his hand. About halfway down the metal had buckled and the paint had been scraped away. The door had been forcibly opened. But what, he wondered, could they have been after? All he saw were cargo boxes full of supplies, hardly worth the trouble to break into. And since when did raiders bother to break into a room and yet not take anything?
Brody held onto the rail as he made his way into the sub level of the ship. The belly contained the mess and the head. He entered the cargo hold. Immediately a strong stench halted him in his steps. The room reeked of sweat and blood. Blankets were piled in one corner. Brody felt his stomach heave an he headed back up to the bridge.
Brody sat heavily in front of the helm, the toe of his boot striking one of the panels. The metal clattered to the floor. The Lieutenant crouched, resting his forearms on his knees and shone his light into the panel. Two thick wires had been disconnected. An idea formed in his head. He reached forward, connecting the wires to their places on the chip boards. He tried starting the engine. There was a small jolt as the ancient engine began to spin.
Brody stood, eyes dark. When they had received the distress call the young person on the other end had said they were dead in the water. His jaw clenched; they'd just made it look like they were dead in the water, but why? What were these kids hiding?
--
Lucas blinked sleepily. His vid screen was blank. He groaned and ran his right hand over his face. The room was dark, he must have fallen asleep during the movie. Tony was working a late shift. He shifted, but something lay on his left side, weighing him down. He ducked his chin and a slow smile spread over his face. Stryder had her head resting against his shoulder, hair falling over her face.
He reached out with his free hand, carefully moving the hair out of her eyes. "At least you're not awake to hit me," he joked quietly. Gingerly, he removed himself from under Stryder's sleeping form. He stood, stretching his now tingling left arm. He sat down at his computer, flipping on the screen, the dim light filling his cabin. He didn't turn on the overhead. He would let Stryder rest.
A few minutes later a bleary eyed Lucas stopped typing. A noise had interrupted his train of thought. Another soft groan came from behind him. He swiveled in his chair. Stryder was where he had left her, but she was curled in a tight ball, fist clenched just beneath her chin. She whimpered, body jerking reflexively.
"No, no," she mumbled, twisting her shoulders. Her eyes were still tightly shut. Lucas moved toward her slowly. "Get away!" A tear slipped from beneath her lashes. It was immediately evident that she was in the throes of some horrific nightmare.
He crouched beside her, "Chris? Hey." Lucas reached out, his fingers just touching her shoulder.
Her eyes flew open, and she balled even tighter. "Don't touch me!" She screamed, leaping at him as if from some coiled spring. her fingers just missed his throat as they fell back. His head snapped back on the floor. She rolled away, jumping to her feet. Wincing, he sat up slowly. Chest heaving, the wild look seeped from her gaze. "Oh my God, Lucas." Her hands trembled at her sides. "I'm so sorry."
"What the hell was that?" he questioned, rubbing the back of his head.
She shook her head tightly. "I'm so sorry." Then she wheeled and fled the room.
Chapter 3
I am soo sorry it took me this long to write this, I was completely stuck there for a while. Hope you enjoyed reading it, and if you did, or didn't, feel free to review.
A/N: I know this has taken forever, for which I am sorry, but I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own SeaQuest or the characters, just my own.
~*~
Stryder lay on her bunk, staring at the ceiling. It was dark in the room, but she couldn't sleep. Levi's plan had her stomach in knots, a tight sensation pulling at her chest. She sighed, rolling onto her side. Realizing she wasn't going to fall asleep any time soon she sat up, swung her legs over the side of her bunk and hopped off. Under normal circumstances she would have been able to land lightly, but her thigh was still healing and her knee buckled when she landed. She bit her lip, waiting for a moment to assure that the young girl lying below her would not wake.
The little girl stirred under her covers, but didn't open her eyes. Stryder grabbed her clothes and dressed quickly, holding her boots till she was outside. It was late, the sub was running its graveyard shift, so barely anyone was roaming. Chirs shoved her hands into her pockets and wandered aimlessly, eyes cast down on the floor.
She'd spent the last two and a half years toiling in the mines. Not one person there ever got a break, cut some slack. It was slave labor, no matter what any of the mine owners said. And since the mines lay outside UEO jurisdiction, workers and wages were not sanctioned. When she and Levi had first met he had been a sort of refuge. Levi was brash, bold and he stood up for himself, despite the consequences. He'd banded the children together.
Chris had been secure in the knowledge that finally there was someone willing to lead. When he first tossed out the idea of an escape she had been the first to agree. Then she'd learned his true nature and things began to change. Bold he was, but also cold and ruthless. She shuddered as she remembered the pilot's face the moment he died. And then had come the SeaQuest.
One day on the SeaQuest had become two, two had become three and suddenly a week had passed before she even realized. And as hard as she tried to keep herself distant from the crew and officers, she felt herself letting go, relaxing. Lucas has taken her around, introduced her to the crew. They were good people, honest, loyal, everything that no one in her life had ever been.
Henderson was friendly enough, but the brunette seemed almost to nice to be believable. Commander Ford seemed far too much like an authority figure for her to be comfortable. Bridger was much the same. She disliked the doctor rather intensely, perhaps more for the fact that she continued to demand regular visits to the sick bay than her nature. Something about Brody made her uneasy, and she sensed distrust from his side as well, though Lucas insisted she was crazy. Besides Darwin, whom she visited most days, she liked Tony and Dagwood the best.
Stryder smiled thinly. How appropriate that she best got along with the outsiders, the outcasts. She'd almost come unglued when she'd first met Tony, as the young crewmen had been swimming through the tubes. He'd come up in the moon pool and frankly, the gills had been something of a shock. Dagwood was sweet, he reminded her of an innocent child.
The conversation she'd had the day before with Levi plagued her. They'd all gathered together in his quarters to lay out a plan of action. Levi wasn't satisfied with getting away from the mines. Chris wasn't happy, she was totally out of the loop. Sam and Levi already seemed to be acting, and she didn't know on what.
Stryder rounded a corner and nearly ran head on into a familiar figure. "Damn it Levi, you scared the hell out of me!" Stryder pressed a hand to her forehead and growled. She immediately backed away from the older boy, and he followed her. She glared at him, and scooted past him, ducking under one arm. her boots rang on the metal grates, his steps falling just behind. After another few yards she halted, spinning on her heels.
"Have you done what I told you yet?" His eyes gleamed with something sinister, his lip curling.
"Levi, I already told you I think it's a bad idea. We just need to sit it out and wait for them to drop us at a port. You're gonna get us caught."
"And I told you to find something we could sell. This tug is renowned for it's technology and research. There has to be something here we can use. You know how much we could get for UEO tech?"
"It ain't worth shit if they don't let us off. We could end up back in a brig somewhere, is that what you want?"
"So don't get caught. You used to be good at this."
"I'm still good at it, but the difference is back then I did it to survive. Now I don't have to, and I won't. Styder sneered. "You can't do what you're planning. You can't scuttle the SeaQuest, it's not possible."
"I don't need to scuttle her, just disable her and give us time to get away. But I want that UEO tech, and you're gonna get it for us."
"We don't need you anymore Levi, we're out, so get used to it. Screw you."
A flush rose up Levi's neck. Faster than she could react, Levi grabbed the front of her shirt in both fists and shoved her backwards. "You'll do it, or so help me I'll make your life miserable. You're getting too comfortable here Chris, you think you're fitting in, but they don't know you like I know you. Do you think any of these people would help you if they knew?" Stryder's face paled. "Think your buddy Lucas would even look at you?"
Chris felt her chest swell with anger. Her eyes burned and she twisted out from Levi's grip. She jabbed out with her right, striking Levi square in the gut. The boy grunted, doubling over. She struck again, this time in a roundhouse with her left. Levi's hands flew up to cover his face. He ducked a shoulder and charged, lifting her off the ground.
Stryder felt herself sail through the air, landing heavily at the top of some stairs. She heaved herself onto her knees, but Levi was already on top of her. A booted foot met her side and she flipped over, biting her lip to keep from crying out. She gasped, sucking in a weak breath. Levi grasped her collar again and thrust her down the stairs. She flipped end over end and wound up on her back, gasping for air. Levi stood over her, lifting her head and shoulders up. Then he struck her in the face.
Stryder writhed on the ground, hands covering her face. She curled tightly into a fetal position. She felt Levi's breath against her ear. "Find me something we can use, something we can sell. Leave disabling this tug to me. And if you don't do it, your new friends are gonna be the ones to pay." He stood and she heard him stalk away.
--
Lieutenant Brody strolled through the mass system of corridors on the SeaQuest. These night patrols were some of his favorite times on board the sub. Not that he didn't enjoy interacting with the other members of the crew, but it was different at night. In a sub, even one as large as this, it was very hard to find time for ones self. Night patrols offered him time alone, to think.
This night he was thinking about the sub's newest passengers. He had never been much of a kid person, Lucas excepted. The young ones were quiet, though he had caught one of their number, Sam, down on the engineering level. His shaking voice had told him that he had gotten lost, but there was a quickness in his gaze that Brody didn't trust. Still, he hadn't been able to find anything amiss with the equipment.
Levi, the oldest seemed fairly laid back. He spent most of his time wandering around the mess or in his bunk. They hadn't spoken personally, but none of the crew found anything amiss with the young man. In reality, the girl Stryder was his only real concern. It was in her that the kids' story didn't hold water.
She was the eldest, but resembled neither her mother nor her father. Where the young ones were what he considered appropriately mourning their parents death the girl seemed unfazed. She was also rarely with her siblings. She offered them no comfort. He expected some anger from her to be sure, but some remorse as well, and there was none lurking in her eyes. He'd bumped into her once, quite on accident, and she'd jumped away from him, crouching slightly, hands up in a defensive posture. Her eyes burned with anger and distrust.
He'd been busy in the last dew days, running a routine security check. Also, the SeaQuest had been called to the site of an oil spill, and the rotating duty rosters for security crews fell to him. But the next, he promised himself, he was going to take a closer look at the tug the kids had come in on, if only to assure himself once and for all that he was being paranoid.
Outside the gym he halted, cocking his head slightly to the left. Muffled grunts escaped the hatch. Who could possibly be working out at this hour? Everyone was either at their assigned posts, or asleep. He pushed open the hatch door, treading lightly as he made his way past weight machines and treadmills. Off in one corner of the room a punching bag swayed slightly. A slender figure worked the bag methodically; chin tucked down, hands up, moving lightly off her toes.
Stryder was flushed, her breathing ragged. A slick sheen of sweat covered her face and shoulders. Her shirt clung to her back. Brody took a few steps closer, eyes narrowing. Her fists were bare and her knuckles had spilt, bleeding freely. She attacked the bag with each jab. Brody was just behind her now. "You beating on anyone in particular or do you just not like our bag?" he inquired.
She dropped low to the floor, one leg extended out. She spun, catching the Lieutenant by surprise as she swept his legs out from underneath him. Brody's reactions were ingrained through years of service. The moment he struck the floor her rolled away from his attacker, leaping nimbly onto his feet. Stryder rushed him, but the Lieutenant was by far the more skilled in hand to hand combat. Stryder soon found herself, one arm held behind her back, Brody's arm around her throat.
The young officer didn't miss the slight hiss of pain that escaped her lips as he drew her arm behind her back. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Since when is working out a cause for interrogation?" she snapped back.
"At 0200?"
She stopped struggling. "I couldn't sleep," she told him simply.
Brody released his grip. The girl leapt away as though stung, pushing an unruly lock of hair away from her face. Getting a good look at her for the first time, he grimaced. Her face was swollen and bruised. A rather impressive black eye caught most of his attention, but he didn't miss the scrapes on her cheek of the bloody nose. She watched him edgily. Her eyes betrayed her as he had seen the same expression before. Her eyes lurked with something haunted, something hunted.
"You feel like telling me what happened?"
"What do you mean what happened?"
"To your face," he elaborated.
"I fell," she answered breezily. "You navy people put stairs in the most inconvenient places."
He snorted. "Oh yeah, that's original."
She shrugged, never letting down her guard. "Who needs original when the old standbys work so well?"
He tried another tack. "You ought to go see the doc."
"You mean Doctor Wendy? No thanks, I think I can get to sleep now." She edged past the Lieutenant, eyes down. He let her go, realizing he wasn't about to get a straight answer. All the same, the conversation had left him more questions than answers and he was even more determined to find out the truth about what had happened to the kids they were now boarding. And he was going to start with Chris Stryder.
--
Lucas led Chris down to the bottom levels of the SeaQuest. Most of the science team's research was conducted here, as well as a few experiments of Lucas' own. Stryder hung just behind his shoulder, taking careful note of the code he'd entered to gain access. She felt a surge of guilt wash over her. She was using him and she knew it. He was the first person she'd considered a real friend in a long time and she was using him.
The wandered the arboretum, and Lucas pointed out several hybrid plants that were being developed. They were genetically designed to better survive at extreme depths and grow in artificial sunlight. Stryder nodded politely. Sure the plants were interesting, and meant fewer people in the world would go hungry, but it was definitely not what Levi was after when he said UEO tech.
Lucas kept sending quick glances back over his shoulder. He chewed the inside of his lip. He'd gone to visit her in her quarters that morning, and had done a double take when he'd seen her face, now utterly black and blue. But when he'd questioned her on it she'd gotten defensive, even a little angry, and he was loathe to bring up the subject again. All the same, she was acting oddly quiet, even for her.
He'd noticed Stryder's unease slip away in the last few days. At first she'd been quiet, almost shy, especially whenever she met another member of the crew. But as he spent more time with her she'd relaxed, and even told him a little bit about working in the mines. A few times her voice had become soft, eyes dropping as she slipped away from the moment. Then she'd seem to remember where she was and she'd snap out of it, usually with a forced laugh and some self-derisive joke.
Stryder had taken to hanging out in Lucas's quarters when he wasn't working, staying down by the moon pool and Darwin if he was. He did find it a little odd how little she new of current events and trends, but brushed the thought aside. The mines were hardly a Mecca of new tech and voices from the outside world. And besides, he got a real kick out of seeing the look on her face as she heard new music and played the newest computer games. When she smiled her eyes came alive. He really wished she wasn't going to have to leave soon.
Tony complained about the girl invading his sanctuary, but Lucas knew the crewman was teasing. Tony liked the girl almost as much as Lucas. She was quick witted and held a razor tongue, and they often took to good natured sparring. But here, today, that funny, happy girl was gone. The blank, distant look on her face had returned in full force.
They moved out of one lab and into another, still not talking. "You sure you're okay?" He questioned.
She huffed, smiling thinly. "I told you I'm fine. It's embarrassing that I'm such a klutz you know." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Temporarily satisfied, Lucas started to show her around the lab. The science officers all knew him, and allowed him free access. "Ah, you'll appreciate this." His eyes lit up as they moved to a station on the far end of the room. Stryder followed, eyes open for anything of interest. One of the science crew was in the middle of a test run.
In a tub that was almost ceiling to floor deep, filled with sea water, sat a small black device. It resembled a pocket flashlight, maybe eight inches long and with a three inch diameter around the cylinder. On the other end of the six or so foot long tank was a large slab of stone perhaps six inches thick. Lucas directed her back behind the tank. "Just watch this."
The science officer pushed a button on the remote she was holding. Almost immediately the device began to buzz, sending rippling currents along the water. A narrow beam of light sailed through the water, hitting the stone in the center. Sparks flew and died quickly in the water. The beam only lasted five or six seconds, but when the officer shut it down there was a quarter sized hole burned all the way through the stone. Stryder's eyes widened and her throat tightened.
Lucas turned to her. "Can't you just think about what this could do?"
Stryder knew exactly what it could do, but somehow she didn't think Lucas was quite on the same train of thought. She swallowed the tight lump in her throat and answered breezily. "Make really good holes in a giant wedge of Swiss Cheese?"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Haha, very funny. That water is just a degree or so above freezing. And that laser is just a small prototype. Once all the kinks are worked out it'll be an precision instrument for underwater mining. There would be accurate drilling, and less damage to the surrounding environment than conventional methods."
'Or it could make for a totally devastating weapon,' she thought but did not say. This was exactly what Levi had been angling for, she had to go tell him. "Hey Lucas, can we hook up a little later. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night so I want to go lie down for a while."
"No problem. Swing by later and we can watch an old movie or something. I just downloaded a new data stream. It's a real old movie, 'Dumb and Dumber' I think, a classic."
Stryder nodded as she walked quickly for the door. "Sounds like a plan. I'll see you later."
--
Lieutenant Brody climbed into the dark confines of the old sub. Brody held his flashlight in front of him as he moved slowly down the main corridor. He had to get to the control panel before he could get even minimal power running through the sub. The entire place stank like used oil and rotting meat. He touched the walls gingerly and his fingers came away slick with grime. The ceiling dripped from condensation.
He entered the bridge, pushing open the door. The beam from his light passed over a patch of dried blood on the floor. Brody took the small flashlight in his teeth when he sat down at the helm. He flicked a switch on the control panel and there was a heaving groan form inside the belly of the sub. Lights overhead began to flicker dimly. He hung his flashlight back on his belt.
The metal panels were rusty, a few hanging loosely by a bolt or wire. Brody decided to come back to the bridge after he had searched the rest of the vessel. The scowl on his brow furrowed deeper as he walked the length of the sub. As far as he could see, of the four living quarters on the main level only two appeared the have been used recently. He stopped outside the last room on the hall.
Pulling out his light once more, he ran the beam down the doorframe, following with his hand. About halfway down the metal had buckled and the paint had been scraped away. The door had been forcibly opened. But what, he wondered, could they have been after? All he saw were cargo boxes full of supplies, hardly worth the trouble to break into. And since when did raiders bother to break into a room and yet not take anything?
Brody held onto the rail as he made his way into the sub level of the ship. The belly contained the mess and the head. He entered the cargo hold. Immediately a strong stench halted him in his steps. The room reeked of sweat and blood. Blankets were piled in one corner. Brody felt his stomach heave an he headed back up to the bridge.
Brody sat heavily in front of the helm, the toe of his boot striking one of the panels. The metal clattered to the floor. The Lieutenant crouched, resting his forearms on his knees and shone his light into the panel. Two thick wires had been disconnected. An idea formed in his head. He reached forward, connecting the wires to their places on the chip boards. He tried starting the engine. There was a small jolt as the ancient engine began to spin.
Brody stood, eyes dark. When they had received the distress call the young person on the other end had said they were dead in the water. His jaw clenched; they'd just made it look like they were dead in the water, but why? What were these kids hiding?
--
Lucas blinked sleepily. His vid screen was blank. He groaned and ran his right hand over his face. The room was dark, he must have fallen asleep during the movie. Tony was working a late shift. He shifted, but something lay on his left side, weighing him down. He ducked his chin and a slow smile spread over his face. Stryder had her head resting against his shoulder, hair falling over her face.
He reached out with his free hand, carefully moving the hair out of her eyes. "At least you're not awake to hit me," he joked quietly. Gingerly, he removed himself from under Stryder's sleeping form. He stood, stretching his now tingling left arm. He sat down at his computer, flipping on the screen, the dim light filling his cabin. He didn't turn on the overhead. He would let Stryder rest.
A few minutes later a bleary eyed Lucas stopped typing. A noise had interrupted his train of thought. Another soft groan came from behind him. He swiveled in his chair. Stryder was where he had left her, but she was curled in a tight ball, fist clenched just beneath her chin. She whimpered, body jerking reflexively.
"No, no," she mumbled, twisting her shoulders. Her eyes were still tightly shut. Lucas moved toward her slowly. "Get away!" A tear slipped from beneath her lashes. It was immediately evident that she was in the throes of some horrific nightmare.
He crouched beside her, "Chris? Hey." Lucas reached out, his fingers just touching her shoulder.
Her eyes flew open, and she balled even tighter. "Don't touch me!" She screamed, leaping at him as if from some coiled spring. her fingers just missed his throat as they fell back. His head snapped back on the floor. She rolled away, jumping to her feet. Wincing, he sat up slowly. Chest heaving, the wild look seeped from her gaze. "Oh my God, Lucas." Her hands trembled at her sides. "I'm so sorry."
"What the hell was that?" he questioned, rubbing the back of his head.
She shook her head tightly. "I'm so sorry." Then she wheeled and fled the room.
Chapter 3
I am soo sorry it took me this long to write this, I was completely stuck there for a while. Hope you enjoyed reading it, and if you did, or didn't, feel free to review.