I'll Take That Bet

Kapitel 3

By Kiddo

Disclaimer:

I have no rights to the TV show "seaQuest DSV," and I am not making any money with this story.

A big "Thank You" goes to my wonderfull beta-reader Jackie and everybody who gave a review.


A short time later, the two rivals entered the science section of the seaQuest. Lucas looked around, but when he spotted the doctor, Krieg suddenly pulled him in the opposite direction. "Uh, Ben, I don't want to disturb you, but you're going in the wrong direction."

The moral officer shook his head. "In a minute, I just spotted Dr. Webber. We'll ask her too." Dr. Webber was one of the oldest people on the seaQuest, and he hoped to be successful with her.

Krieg put on his friendliest smile. "Good to see you, Dr. Webber. Lucas and I have had a little disagreement over two books. Could you please tell us which book you like better?"

The scientist nodded. "Which two books are you talking about?"

""Gone With The Wind"and "The Little Prince.""

Dr. Webber's eyes began to shine. "Oh "Gone With The Wind" is one of my favorite books, and I absolutely love the movie. I don't really like "The Little Prince." That book just doesn't speak to me."

Ben was grinning. "Thanks a lot. You have been a great help."

"My pleasure."

A beaming Lieutenant Krieg and the teenager now went over to Dr. Westphalen. When the doctor heard the two approach, she wasn't sure if she should be happy about their visit or if she should be worried.

Lucas put his hands in his jeans pockets. "Did the captain tell you about our bet?"

Kristin nodded. "Indeed he did. Am I right in thinking that you want to ask me about something because of it?" She didn't say that she thought the whole thing was a terrible idea.

Benjamin nodded. "Yes. Which book do you like more, "Gone With TheWind" or "The Little Prince?""

Westphalen wrinkeled her forehead. "Oh, I think "Gone With The Wind" is too maudlin for my taste. Most people have only read it because of the movie anyway. But "The Little Prince" is wonderful. I read it to Cynthia when she was a child, although I wouldn't call it a classic children's book."

The blond teenager was grinning from ear to ear. This point went to him. Now the score was 2 to 0.

Krieg's face drooped. 2 to 0. That meant that he could only tie if he won the next two bets. And a tie was as good as a defeat for him. He couldn't believe that a 16-year old virgin was wiping the floor with him!

But, nevertheless, the moral officer wouldn't admit defeat in the case of Dr. Westphalen. He and Lucas had made another bet that was similar to the book bet, but this time it was about movies. "We also have another question that you might be able to help us with. Which movie is more likely to make you cry, "Titanic" or "My Girl?""

The red-haired woman had to think hard for a moment. "That's not so easy. I saw "Titanic" in the cinema and thought the movie was just wonderful. It was my favorite movie at the time. But when I watched it on video, I didn't like the movie as much. I couldn't understand why I had loved the movie so much. I think it only looked good on a big screen. A TV screen just didn't capture it. Now "My Girl," on the other hand, was never one of my favorite movies, but nevertheless, there is this one scene that I always cried at. So if I really think about your question, I have to say "My Girl.""

The computer genius gave Kristen a brief joyful hug. "Dr. Westphalen, you are fantastic!"


A while later, Lt. Krieg and Lucas Wolenczak met Lt. Commander Hitchcock in one of the seaQuest's many corridors. Benjamin had timed it so that they would "just happen" to meet her, because he knew exactly what her favorite movie was. "What a surprise, glad to run into you! We just have one more little question for you." Krieg had put on his most charming smile.

Hitchcock rolled her eyes in annoyance. "What do you want?"

"You only have to tell us which movie makes you cry more, "My Girl" or "Titanic?"" asked the moral officer.

Katie looked irritated for a moment. ""Titanic," of course, but you already knew that." She shook her head in disbelief and walked away.

Lucas folded his arms over his chest and fixed the older man with an accusatory stare. "You knew that she would take this corridor now, that's why you dragged me here."

Benjamin tried his best to look innocent. "I don't know what you mean. What kind of husband would I be if I didn't know my ex-wife's favorite movie? And that she just happened to pick this corridor to go down... I had nothing to do with that."

The blonde computer genius shrugged and shook his head; it was clear that he didn't believe a word. "Yeah, sure Ben." But he decided to say nothing else about it. After all, they hadn't made any special rules about things like that. He also suspected that Krieg didn't know his ex-wife's favourite book. Otherwise, he would have tried to include her in that bet too.


When they got to the next corridor over, they met another female member of the crew. It was the youngest nurse from medbay. She also happened to be one of those unfortunate women with whom Krieg had tried his luck at flirting; needless to say, he had been met with a rebuff from her. Ben just wanted to pass her by when Lucas stopped and started talking. "Hi, we just have a quick question for you. Could you spare a minute for us?"

Liz Cline nodded. "Is it about your bet?"

Both nodded. "How did you hear about that?" asked Krieg.

"Word gets around fast on a submarine like the seaQuest. I think nearly everybody knows about it. After all, you haven't exactly been discreet," said Liz. "So, what do you want to know?"

"Which movie makes you cry more, "Titanic" or "My Girl?"" Benjamin looked hopefully at the nurse.

"Is "Titanic" the movie with the young Leonardo DiCaprio?"

Kreig nodded. "Yes."

Liz Cline wrinkled her nose. "I can't stand that guy. I don't know what the woman saw in him. But "My Girl" gets me every time. I just need to see the scene where Vada steps up to Thomas J.'s coffin, and I'm in tears."

Lucas grinned wickedly, gloating since he had just won the whole bet. "Thank you, you just helped me to a point."

The nurse looked from one to the other; it was really interesting trying to interpret their expressions. "What's the result of the bet?"

"3 to 0 for me," said the teenager.

"Pure beginner's luck..." was the only thing that Krieg could say. He didn't like it at all that he was exposed in such a way.

Liz laughed. "Uh oh, beaten into the ground by a teenager. Yeah, Lucas really is a big exception to the rule. Normally, a guy either looks good or has a brain, but our junior here has both en masse." She ruffled the teenager's hair briefly. "Oh boy, if I just was a few years younger..."

Laughing, Liz headed away and turned the corner, leaving behind an angry looking supply officer and a severely blushing computer genius.


To Be Continued…

Written October 2004, Tranlated Winter 2005/2006