CONTINUING EDUCATION

Door 7

By Kiddo

In Loving Memory of Jonathan Brandis

Disclaimer:

I don't have any rights to the TV show "seaQuest DSV," and I am not making any money by writing this.

A special "Thank You" goes to my wonderful beta-reader Jackie and Lynnp, Cass and dolphinology for their Reviews.

That evening, the seaQuest crew was sitting around the table in the living room of their suite. Everybody had a glass of something to drink in front of them, and a big bowl of popcorn sat on the table.

Westphalen and Bridger were sitting on one of the sofas, Hitchock and Ford shared the sofa next to theirs, and Ortiz and O'Neill were sitting on the last sofa. Crocker and Krieg were both sitting in the easy chairs. In spite of the fact that there was still room on the sofas for a third person, Lucas had chosen to sit on the floor with a big pillow.

Everyone was watching the TV where a quiz show was playing. They tried to answer the questions faster than the contestants.

Tim had a paper and pencil in front of him and scored the points that they got by answering faster than the contestants. After only 15 minutes, Dr. Westphalen, Captain Bridger, Lt. O'Neill, and Lucas were ahead of the others. And 20 minutes after that, it was neck and neck between Dr. Westphalen and their computer genius.

By the end of the show, Lucas had beaten the red-haired woman by 5 points.

The teenager put a piece of popcorn in his mouth and looked questioningly at the others. "I'm going to go down to the beach and swim for a bit. Does anybody want to come with me?" He stood up and drained his glass.

Crocker looked at his watch, his face expressing his surprise. "Now? Do you have any idea how late it is?"

Ben stood up also. "I'll come with you. After all, someone has to make sure that junior here doesn't drown."

The blond teenager gave him a scathing look. "Yeah right! What universe are you living in?"

Everyone knew that the supply officer could never keep up with the 16-year old in swimming. Together with Ford and Ortiz, who had been members of their school swim-teams, and Hitchcock, who had been part of a synchronized-swimming team, Lucas was among the best swimmers on the seaQuest.

Krieg, on the other hand, was a whole different story. He had a very strange swimming style. People who watched him always believed that the man would sink at any moment, but in Ben's defense, he never had.

Manilow shook his head in disbelief. Swimming at this time of the day? The youth of today amazed him.

Bridger started to nod. "I don't have anything against swimming a few laps. I'll come with you."

Ortiz grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Me too."

Written November 2004 – Translated November 2005