Lucas couldn't believe it had finally happened. Ben was dead. Five gunshots to the chest had ensured that his best friend wouldn't be getting up any time soon. His body was laid out on a bed in sickbay, the result of Doctor Westphalen's ultimately futile efforts to save him. His uniform was stained dark red with his own blood.
It took the teenager a moment to realise that he wasn't alone anymore. Standing beside him was Tim O'Neil, the quiet communications officer whom Lucas knew to be close to Ben.
Lucas' breath froze in his chest as he realised that Ben would never again enjoy the zeal of life that he once did. Even though his over-the-top persona made Lucas like the guy, it occasionally annoyed Tim and some of the others, it royally irritated the straight-laced XO of the seaQuest to the point where Commander Ford had given Ben some really horrible fitness reports. And it was well known what his ex-wife had thought of his zeal... Oh, god! Katie!
Lucas spun around as the brunette engineer stepped beside him, her blue eyes as expressive as her face was unreadable. Katie Hitchcock's gaze was locked onto the still form of her ex-husband. He took her hand in his own, and she jumped at the contact. He squeezed, as much for his support as for hers and was relieved when she squeezed back.
Lucas still couldn't bring himself to contemplate the fact that he would never see Ben and Katie interact again. The two had undeniable chemistry, even though it was occasionally explosive. Ben and Katie were often the most entertaining thing for the sub crew to watch and gossip about. The gossip and rumours ranged from wondering if they were still in love or not, to wondering if they were still sleeping together!
Beside Katie stood Commander Ford, adding his silent support to his friend, even though he didn't like her ex-husband one bit. Lucas knew the Commander found Ben to be an annoying, lazy, irritating who had absolutely no self-discipline at all. Those were qualities that Lucas found... had found... in his friend that made him who he was. Ben was an adult that had no trouble being immature and playful when it suited him. He had absolutely no trouble in making a perfect fool of himself if it got him what he wanted, or just a laugh. In fact, that's what made him... had made him... a perfect morale officer, his ability to make people laugh when they were feeling their worst.
Even the Captain of the boat made an appearance. Ben had been good friends with Captain Bridger's late son, Robert. Ben and the captain had spent many off-duty hours together, regaling each other with tales of mischief and misanthropic adventures stemming from Robert Bridger's life.
Two enlisted crew members also joined the small party in the Medway: Miguel Ortiz and Manilo Crocker, the sonar chief and security chief. Lucas knew them to be as annoyed with Ben as much as Tim, but that they also found his zest for life irresistible and his sense of humour infectious.
When Dr. Westphalen and walked in to join them, the Brit sadly shook her head, and was the first to break the silence. Turning to Katie, she softly said, I'm sorry, there was nothing that could be done for him. The damage was just too extensive, the blood loss too great.
With the silence at last broken, it was if nobody could keep from talking.
How did this happen? Chief Crocker asked.
It was supposed to be a simple supply run. No one thought he'd be mugged on his way back to the boat, Ford returned.
Mugged? That's a lot of firepower for a simple mugging, Crocker shot back indignantly.
Is there anyone we should notify? Any family? the Captain asked Katie, apparently embarrassed about not knowing that information about his own officer. The young woman shook her head side to side.
No one still alive. The rest of his family died long ago, the Chief Engineer said, her voice oddly steady and calm. Lucas turned to her in shock at the apparent disregard for what had just happened. Ben died! Didn't she care about that at all?
Apparently, Lucas wasn't the only one to pick up on that. Commander Ford laid a hand on her shoulder and lowered his voice. It'll be all right, Katie. This may hurt for a while, but things will turn out okay.
That's not it, Jonathan. It's just that... she trailed off, unable to say what she had on her mind. You'll see, she eventually managed out. You'll see that things won't be okay, they're already okay.
Lucas finally blurted out. Ben's dead! Can't you see that? He's gone! How can things be okay?
It's just that... you'll see, she answered, unable to say what was on her mind. Lucas could see Ford struggling to not shake some sense into the woman, a sentiment Lucas shared. If she cared this little about Ben, why didn't she tell him to buzz off long ago, instead of playing the game that she did with him.
And it was a strange game, indeed. At times, it seemed like Ben was still pursuing her and she brushing him off; at other times, it was she who was getting the brush off. Either way, it still looked like Ben and Katie were flirting, if such a tame term could be applied to them. Divorce notwithstanding, the two officers still cared very deeply about each other, as proven by their behaviour during the Broken Ridge incident. Although he knew better, Lucas occasionally thought, hoped, that the rumours of Ben and Katie sleeping together were true. He wanted his friends to be happy with each other again.
But Lucas couldn't reconcile her current behaviour with what he knew she felt for Ben. It just didn't fit, which made Lucas wonder what Katie was doing.
What's up? he asked finally when he was unable to come up with any reason. Katie only smiled softly and pointed at Ben's body.
Just watch.
Lucas turned and looked at the body, tears stinging his eyes. His friend was dead... and Katie was nuts. That's all it could be, shock at Ben's death. Lucas nodded to himself, turned and looked at the adults around him. He could see that conclusion coming to them as well, it was the only one that made sense.
Captain Bridger stepped forward and took Katie's free hand in his own. I'm really sorry for this.
Just wait. You'll see.
What are you talking about? What are we going to see- Commander Ford started, but was interrupted by Benjamin Krieg's dead body gasping in a lungfull of air and lurching off of the examining table.
Six pairs of unbelieving eyes and one pair of expectant eyes turned to look at the good Lieutenant, who was sitting up and heaving for breath. No one spoke for a moment, until Lucas was unable to stay silent any longer, having to confirm what his eyes just told him happened.
he croaked out. His friend's head snapped up, as if taking notice of his audience for the first time. Ben looked at them for a long moment, then down to his chest. He pulled off his uniform tunic and looked at the six puckered marks where bullet holes had been but moments before. Back up at the collection of people. Back down to his chest. His eyes widened as he understood what was going on.
Aw, crap, he muttered.