A Question of Trust
Chapter 8
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 wolenczak2004, Sammi, KatKnits00, dolphinology, sweet me, Swasti, Helen88126, Teresa and sunnybunny for their reviews. You made me really happy with this many reviews.
wolenczak2004: Thanks! You are so right!
Sammi: Thanks for your kind words.
KatKnits00: Thanks! You are kind of right with your review.
dolphinology: Thanks! Wow, I kind of feel honoured that I made you almost cry.
sweet me: Thanks! You will read what will happen.
Swasti: Thanks! Yeah, trouble is written all over this. You have a good reason to be worried.
Helen88126: Thanks! Just scroll down to the text and you will read what Oliver has done.
Teresa: Thanks! Yes, I also think that Oliver is a good name for the teenager. When I named him I did it without any spezial reason, but a few minutes later I realised that this was also Captain Hudsons first name. (Have I mentend that I hated this character?)
sunnybunny: Danke! Thanks fort the review to my german version of this story, I was kind of surprised to find a new one there. Ist es nicht praktisch wenn man gleich alles lesen kann und nicht auf die Übersetzung warten muss? Übrigens, im deutschsprachigen Sektor gibt es noch einiges mehr. (Mit dem Zaunpfall winkt und Werbung macht.)
Finally, they reached the bridge, but what Nathan saw there threw him for a loop. There was no sign of Lucas, but there were three armed men standing on the bridge. Their guns were aimed at Lt. O'Neill, Lt. Cdr. Hitchcock, and Chief Crocker. Tim O'Neill had a bruise on his face, and the glasses that he normally wore were nowhere to been seen.
All three crew members, like Bridger, were standing there in only their pajamas or other nightclothes. They had all been pulled out of their sleep.
"What's going on here?" asked the captain in an anxious tone of voice.
A man stepped up next to him. "We are the ones asking the questions here. Let me introdruce myself - my name is Major. Bert Major, and I'm the leader of this nice group here." Major made a sarcastic bow.
"What do you want with my crew?" Bridger looked the man in his cold, green eyes.
"Oh, your crew is fine. Or rather I should say, is fine for now. If you wish it to stay that way, you better do what I ask you to do. Your doctor and four of the other scientists have been arrested and put in the brig. The other ones were able escape, but it is only a matter of time before we catch them too."
Nathan let out a small, inward breath of relief. This meant that Ford, Krieg, Ortiz, Lucas, and one of the scientists were still free. Hopefully, they wouldn't get caught and could help them. Only now did Bridger think of his nephew and looked questioningly at Oliver.
Oliver Stevens was looking unashamedly at his uncle. "Don't look at me that way! Heven't you realized what's happening here? I'm working with them. Did you really believe that I was just visiting you because I wanted to see my old uncle again?" Oliver laughed scornfully. "Of course not! But this was the perfect way to get your submarine. Letting the others on board was a piece of cake!" The teenager smiled wickedly at Nathan.
Captain Bridger looked shocked and unbelievably disappointed with his nephew. "Why Oliver? Why are you doing this? You've always been..."
The dark-haired teenager didn't let him finish his sentence. "Yes, I was always mom's and dad's little darling. But that stops right now! I'm fed up with playing somebody that I'm not. I have finally found real friends in New York who let me be who I really am! Now I can be who I really am."
Nathan shook his head. "This isn't you and these aren't your real friends. They just used you to get the seaQuest!"
Oliver got angry. " Shut up! You don't now who I really am, and you've never really seen me! Since Robert died, you just see an image of him in me. You don't know anything about my friends, so you can't judge them. Maybe they're just using me, but that doesn't matter to me. I feel better around them!"
The captain felt a stab in his heart. Oliver had played a game with him and made Lucas look bad. Why hadn't he believed the genius when he had said that he was innocent with what happened at the Moon Pool. "Lucas was telling the truth about the Moon Pool!"
Oliver laughed. "Of course he was. But it's been so much fun driving a wedge between you. It's been a long time since I had so much fun!"
Bridger looked sadly at his nephew. "Why?"
The dark-haired teenager gave another scornful laugh. "Why? What a wonderful question. This little basterd has everything anyone can wish for. He's intelligent, he has rich parents who probably give him everything he wants, his future is seccure because of his inventions, and now he has you! And besides that, you all have been completely distracted! Nobody noticed that I brought weapons on board, and nobody noticed when I let the others on board tonight. But the main thing is, it was fun! It was so nice to see you and little Lucas suffer!"
Before Bridger could say anything, Bert Major interrupted. "That's enough for now. Let's get straight to the point. We want the seaQuest. Your Lt.," he gestured to Tim O'Neill, "was unfortunately smart enough to shut down the whole computer system. I want you to bring it up again so that we can control the boat."
Nathan shook his head. "Who are you exactly, and what do you want with the seaQuest?"
"That's none of your business. Start the system!"
The captain shook his head again. "I can't. If the system is shut down in an emergency like Lt. O'Neill has done, it can only be activated after 6 hours have passed."
Bert Major smiled. "Do you really think I didn't know that? But there is also another possibility. You can activate it using a special password. So, give me the password!"
Bridger looked him in he face. "No!"
Anger was rising in Major. He pointed his weapon directly at Bridger. "Give me the password or you or another member of your crew will die. It lies in your hands."
But again, the captain only shook his head. "You know that you are threatening my crew to gain control of the seaQuest. This a terroristic act, and the UEO forbids negotiations with terrorists."
Suddenly, a smile flashed over Oliver's face. He turned to the leader. "Let them bring in young Wolenczak. I'm sure he'll talk then!"
Nathan looked at his nephew, shocked. He didn't recognize Oliver anymore. How could the young man be so cruel? He knew what Lucas meant to him. Bridger had no idea what to do. He couldn't negotiate with the terrorists, but on the other hand, he couldn't put the submarine over the young man's life. But again, thousands of other people could also be killed if the seaQuest fell into the wrong hands.
Bert Major looked proudly at Oliver Stevens. "That's a brilliant idea." He gripped his walkie-talkie. "Daniel, bring the boy to the bridge, and hurry!"
A few minutes later, the blond teenager was led by two armed and muscular men onto the bridge. A large bruise was starting to form on the right side of his face below his eye. It was obvious that Lucas hadn't gone with the men voluntarily. The boy was wearing his typical night clothes, boxer shorts and a t-shirt.
Captain Bridger had prayed until now that his youngest crew member had been able to escape, but now his hopes were shattered. One look at Lucas told him that the boy had no idea what was going on here.
Bert Major walked towards the blond teen and stopped directly in front of him. "So, you are the son of the famous Dr. Wolenczak. It's an honor to met you, Lucas!"
The computer genius looked at him with contempt. "Unfortunately, I can't return the compliment. See, I hate it when somebody drags me out of my bed and threatens me with a weapon. And what is this about, anyway?"
Nathan closed his eyes for a moment. He could only pray that Lucas' sometimes fresh mouth wouldn't get the boy into any more trouble. Bridger couldn't bear if anything happened to the teen!
But to Bridger's relief, Major smiled. "I can see that nothing's happened to your mouth. But nevertheless, it's none of your busines what is going on here." He turned away from Lucas and stepped over to Captain Bridger. "So, will you now give me the password so that we can finally activate the computer system?"
"I have already told you that I can't and won't give you the password!"
Major gave Oliver Stevens a sign and nodded to him. Oliver, who meanwhile had retrieved a weapon, aimed his gun directly at Lucas' head. "Either you give me the damned password, Captain, or the boy is dead!"
Nathan Bridger looked first at Bert Major, then at his nephew, and then at the rest of the crew. O'Neill's, Crocker's, and Hitchcock's looks all indicated the same thing, that he should tell the terrorists the password. None of them could allow the teenager to die because of this, and Major had sounded like he reallly meant what he had said.
At last, the captain's eyes met the young genius's. But in contrast to the others, the boy shook his head. Bridger could see in the blue eyes that Lucas was afraid, but the teen still shook his head. The young man didn't want Bridger to give the password away. Lucas understood what was going on on the bridge and knew what the password meant. The moment he had been led onto the bridge, he had noticed that the computer screens were all black. The youngest crew member knew that the terrorists would be able to control the boat if they found out the password, but he couldn't let that happen. Who knew how mutch damage they would cause with the seaQuest.
Bridger exchanged a last look with Lucas, then he looked away and closed his eyes. "I can't give you the password."
Major gave a short cry of annoyance. "Then it's your fault that the boy dies now. Only your fault, Captain Bridger." Bert gave Oliver a sign.
Oliver Stevens turned off the safety on the gun, and his finger went to the trigger.
To Be Continued …
Written Spring 2003 / Translated Winter 2005