A Question of Trust
Chapter 3
By Kiddo
In Loving Memory Of Jonathan Brandis
Disclaimer:
I don't have any rights to the TV show "seaQuest." I also don't own the different characters like Bridger, Lucas, or Darwin. I'm not making any money with this story; I'm just writing for my own pleasure.
A spezial „Thank You" goes to Jackie for beta-reading and to Sam, Wolenczak2004, KatKnits00 and dolphinology for their reviews.
Sam: Thanks for your kind words.
Wolenczak2004: Thanks, I hope the waiting wasn't to hard.
KatKnits00: Thanks fort he review. Yeah, I also think that it is a bad sign that Darwin swimms away.
dolphinology: Thanks for your review. That's the question, what does Darwin know but don't say?
The next day, the two teenagers were sitting on the edge of the Moon Pool, talking to each other. During the morning, Oliver had had a chance to meet the rest of the senior crew who had been very friendly to him.
Lucas ran his hand through the water of the Moon Pool. Darwin was out in the ocean, hunting fish. "How do you like New York?"
Oliver fumbled with his shoelace. "The city is really great, and I finally can do what I want. I'm out of the reach of my parents, and they can't control me anymore. And, I've met some really cool people there!"
Lucas brushed a few strands of hair out of his face. "How are you financing collage? Are your parents paying, or do you have to work for it?"
"My dad pays half, and I pay the other half."
"I imagine that can get pretty stressfull."
Oliver shook his head. "No, not really, you just have to find the right job, and then it's no problem,"
The young genius raised his eyebrows. "What kind of work are you doing?"
The older teenager acted mysterious. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you!" Then he started to laugh and turned the conversation in another direction. "And how did you finance Stanford?"
The blond boy smiled. "I had a scholarship. If I didn't, my father would have probably had to pay the money. You know, there are laws against child labor!" Both had to laugh at the last comment.
Oliver suddenly looked Lucas over very closely. It was time to start his little game. "I think a friend of mine might have mentioned your name some time ago. Until now, I hadn't thought you could be the same Lucas. But actually, it's really quite obvious. I should have realized it the moment I met you."
The young man looked curious. "Who and what are you talking about?"
"Just someone that I knew from New York. You've been to Node 3, right?"
Lucas nodded. "Yes, but not long. Who are you talking about, and what has this person told you?"
Oliver gestured with his hand for Lucas to keep his voice down. "It's nothing, forget it. It's not really important."
The computer genius knit his eyebrows together, his tone of voice more persistent. "Who?"
"It's nothing!" The dark haired teenager heard steps coming towards them. He flashed a short smile at Lucas. Suddenly, he let himself fall back into the Moon Pool. Water splashed everywhere. Lucas jumped up in shock.
At that moment, Captain Bridger stepped into the room. He only saw Lucas stepping to the edge of the Moon Pool, and then his nephew appeared at the surface, snorting.
The blond teen bent over the edge of the pool and held his hand out to help Oliver. Nathan moved over next to the blue-eyed boy and saw with relief that his nephew seemed to be okay.
Oliver looked Lucas, who still held his hand out, up and down. "Forget it! I won't forgive you that easily!"
Bridger stood up and took notice: what had happend between the two boys?
Lucas looked curiously at the older teenager. "What?"
Oliver climbed out of the pool, water dripping off of him. "Don't pretend to be an angel! You know exactly what I mean!"
Captain Bridger cut into the conversation. "Could somebody please explain to me what just happend here?"
Before Lucas had the chance to say anything, Oliver began to speak. "We were just talking. Then I made a stupid comment, and before I know it, Lucas pushed me into the Moon Pool!"
The young genius' eyes became as big as saucers. "I did what? Are you off your rocker?"
Oliver looked crossly at Lucas. "You know what I'm talking about. You could at least admit what you did!"
Nathan looked from one teen to the other. Which one should he believe? Lucas, who he had known for four months, who he felt responsiple for, and in whom he saw a kind of son? Or his nephew, who he had known since his birth? Neither of the boys had ever lied to him before now. Lucas was not one to answer with violence when he was provoked. The young man's weapons were intelligence and and a quick wit. Words were his self defence. But Oliver was also not someone who made up stories just to harm someone else. And why would his nephew do this?
Who should Bridger believe in this case? "Oliver, could it be that you just lost your balance and that it only seemed like Lucas pushed you?"
Oliver looked at Nathan with an insulted expression on his face. "Great, just great. My own uncle thinks I'm a lier!"
The captain shook his head. "I haven't said that I believe one of you over the other. I just have to think of every possibility.
The dark-haired teenager nodded. "Okay, I'm sorry, it's just that I can't stand unfairness."
Lucas gave the other boy a look that told exactly what he thought of him.
"Perhaps we're both to blame. I shouldn't have made that comment. It was really mean of me!" Oliver lowered his eyes.
"What did you say to Lucas?"
"I really don't want to repeat it. I'm not proud of it. Maybe if I had been in his shoes and his age I would have also reacted that way."
Nathan now looked to his youngest crew member. "What did he say to you?"
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. He hasn't made any mean comments to me, and I didn't push him in the water. Please, you have to believe me!"
Oliver looked disgusted at the blond teenager. "Coward! If you've done something, you have to accept the consequences of it."
Anger was rising in the genius; he felt the unfairness of the situation rising. "Are you nuts? Dammit, what are you doing?"
Captain Bridger looked reproachfully at Lucas. "Watch your tone!"
Lucas looked darkly at the captain; now he really felt like he was being treated unfairly. He was used to the fact that his parents never believed him or listened to him, but now it seemed that Bridger was turning against him. He hadn't expected that. He had to get out of there. "Thanks! I should have known that you take his side!" The teenager turned around and walked angrily towards the exit.
Nathan called after him. "Lucas, I'm on no one's side!"
Before the computer genius made it out of the room, he turned around one last time. "If you say so." Then, he disappeared.
The captain turned to his nephew. The boy in front of him was still dripping wet. Bridger felt the guilty part of his conscience calling. He should have send Oliver to change his clothes before anything else. He just hoped the boy wouldn't get sick; the water in the Moon Pool was very cold. "Go and change into something different. When you're dry again, you come to my cabin, and we'll talk about the whole thing."
As they both went their separate ways, Oliver couldn't hide his smile.
To Be Continued …
Written Spring 2003 / Translated Winter 2005