Disclaimer: Don't own the Pretender or the Seaquest
o o o
Chapter Three
o o o
Ben got off his head, standing right in front of Jarod. He had seen many movies, and knew that what he had just seen wasn't a movie. He saw the fear in the kid's eyes, and knew that was not acting. That kid was really scared. Ben looked at Jarod's panicked expression, he didn't know why Jarod was scared. That's what was worrying him. After three months, he had never seen Jarod scared. Not even when the Seaquest was nearly destroyed. He had never seen the fear that he was seeing now.
"Jarod?" Ben asked a little bit more calmer.
Ben knew that what ever it was, it was scaring Jarod. But he was still angry. There was one thing that really upset Ben, and that was children being miss treated.
Ben remembered sadly about the time when he and Katie were married, how even though they wanted children but they wanted to work. So they decided not to have children, till they finished with their work. But as they worked, they drifted apart. Resulting in a divorce. The saddest part about it, was that he would never have children with Katie. He knew that it would be better that way, but it still hurt to know what he was missing.
Ben looked at Jarod who was looking at his feet.
"Jarod what is going on? please tell me, I might be able to help," Ben offered.
"Well, you see, it's hard for me to say. I don't think I can," Jarod said honestly.
Ben had a feeling that this would be hard.
"Well, can you tell me who this kid is?" Ben asked.
"His name was Lucas," Jarod said sadly.
"Was?" Ben asked softly.
"He died three years ago,"
Ben saw the pain in Jarod's eyes, and knew that it was hurting Jarod.
"What did I just see?" Ben asked.
"If I tell you, you must promise not to tell anyone, please," Jarod begged.
Jarod couldn't believe that he was going to tell someone about his secret. He had never told anyone. He was scared, but after spending three months with Ben, the longest time he had spent at the same place. He began to trust Ben, just like Ben had trusted him. He was shocked when Ben had told him that he was married to Katie, and how he used to be friend's with Nathan's son. Ben had told him everything about his life, but Jarod never said a word. Till now.
"What you had just seen, is something that happened eight years ago. You see, there is an organisation called the Centre. It takes children that has a high IQ, they test the children, taking only the brightest of them all. They tell the families that the children died, they tell the children, that their parents died," Jarod said sadly.
Ben's mouth dropped open, not believing what he was hearing. He couldn't believe that anyone would tear a family apart.
"Well, that's what happened to Lucas. Lucas was the brightest child I have ever meet. His field was with the computers. He could hack into anything. He even designed a few programmes," Jarod said with a smile as he remembered the little seven year old designing all these things.
"You meet? Are you telling me that you worked at the centre?" Ben asked.
"No! I would never work for them!" Jarod said angrily.
Ben paled when the realisation hit him. If Jarod didn't work for the centre, that meant that he was...
"Yes, I was taken when I was a child. I was told that my parents were killed," Jarod said when he saw the expression on Ben's face.
Ben looked at him with horror.
"So it's really real, there is a place that takes children from families. But what did they do to you, to Lucas?" Ben asked.
"They make us do tests, simulations, anything and everything. We solve problems, find new ways of doing things," Jarod replied bitterly.
"What does the Centre do with the things that you solve?" Ben asked.
"They try it out, they test them to make sure that it works. Do you remember the Ernst crash?" Jarod asked.
Ben searched his memories, trying to remember. He did recall a crash, that wiped out the cities lights, sending the city into chaos. That crash killed a hundred people.
Ben looked up at Jarod with disbelief.
"You're not telling me that a child came up with the Ernst crash! that crash killed a hundred people!" Ben said in shock.
Jarod lowered his head in shame.
"I didn't know what it was being used for. I didn't know what my ideas were being used in reality. I didn't know," Jarod said sadly.
Ben felt like he was being punched in the stomach when he saw the shame in Jarod.
"It wasn't your fault. You didn't know, it was the Centre's fault," Ben said as he put his hand on Jarod's shoulder, trying to give the young man some comfort.
Jarod looked up at Ben.
"You believe me?" he asked in hope.
"Yes, I saw the tape, and I can see it in your eyes. It's hard to take in, but I believe you," Ben said honestly.
"I haven't told anyone, ever since I escaped, I've haven't told a soul," Jarod explained.
"You escaped, you mean, that they were still holding you?" Ben asked in surprise.
"Yes, once you enter the centre, you stay there forever," Jarod said.
They spend the next three hours, just talking about their different childhoods, Jarod went on to explain all the things that he came up with, and how many people's lives he was responsible for. Ben told him that it wasn't his fault, and after those hours, Jarod was being to believe Ben.
"You blame yourself again and I'm going to have to beat the crap out of you," Ben threatened.
"Ha, ha, you do know that I'm trained basically in everything?" Jarod answered .
"Doesn't matter, I know how to fight dirty," Ben joked.
"Same here," Jarod joked back.
"Hey, Jarod, you told me about how you're looking for your family, why don't you ask Kirsten? she knows a few people?" Ben offered.
"Sure, I'll try that," Jarod said honestly.
Ben smiled, grateful that he could help. A frowned formed on his face when he thought of something.
"Hey, Jarod, you said that you escaped three years ago? while, how come you're an Lieutenant ?" Ben asked.
"To be honest, I'm not an Lieutenant, never was," Jarod answered.
Ben's mouth dropped. He just couldn't believe it. He wouldn't have thought that Jarod wasn't a Lieutenant.
"What? but how? I mean, how the hell did you get on the Seaquest? and how do you know all the navy stuff?" Ben asked in confusion.
"I'm a Pretender, I can become anyone I want to. I can become a Lieutenant, a fireman, a dentist, a doctor, anything. I can perform brain surgery just by reading a book," Jarod explained.
"How that's just scary. Your not joking, your completely serious about this?" Ben asked.
"I'm telling you the truth,"
"Damn, I wish I could do that. Do you know how better my school marks could have been," Ben said in awe.
"Well, you do know that you still had to read?" Jarod joked.
"Why you little!" Ben threatened as he managed to get Jarod into a headlock.
It didn't last long, as Ben found himself lying on the floor.
"Damn, that Centre sure makes you prepared to fight," Ben said as he rubbed his aching shoulder.
"Sorry," Jarod said as he went to help Ben off the floor.
Ben had just managed to stand up when an alarm went off. Ben and Jarod looked at each other, then ran to the bridge. As soon as they reached the bridge, they were faced with a worried Captain.
"Lieutenant Brook get working, we got another virus," Nathan ordered.
Jarod nodded, and quickly went to his station as he began to type.
Katie put it on screen so everyone could see. The screen was in a shape of a chess board.
"Looks like it's your move Lieutenant ," Nathan said as he looked at the screen.
Jarod smiled as he moved his piece.
The fight for control began.
Four ever long hours went by, everyone was watching in excitement. Everyone wanting to know who will win the battle of wits. Of course they were hoping that Jarod would win, but whoever was playing against Jarod was good, very good.
Nathan watched as each player moved skilfully. In his mind, he moved his pieces, but soon discovered that if he had been the one playing, he would have lost.
This made him appreciate Jarod, and made him interested in the attacker.
Nathan could see the end was near, both equally standing the chance of winning.
The final move was made.
"YES!"
The bridge was filled with shouts of joy as Jarod had managed to defeat the enemy.
Nathan smiled, his crew was the best. There was not question about that.
Something was bothering Jarod. He knew those moves, he had played those moves before. That's when it hit him, he knew who the attacker was.
All blood drained from his face as he realised what that had meant.
o o o
to be continued...