Deep Blue Blackmail
Chapter 11
By Kiddo
In Loving Memory of Jonathan Brandis
"Don't fix a broken heart. Who really wants to forget?" (Joseph Fiennes)
"I always will remember you by real good moments." ("Real Good Moments" by Christian Wunderlich)
Disclaimer: I don't have any rights to the TV show "seaQuest DSV," and I am not making any money with this fanfiction. Mike Erikson is my own creation.
A big "Thank You" goes to my beta reader Jackie and everybody who reviewed.
Reviews and feedback are always welcome.
That afternoon, Bridger took a quick peek into Lucas's cabin to see how the teenager was feeling. He said down on the chair next to the bed. "How are you doing?"
The computer genius shrugged. "Not any better than this morning."
Nathan nodded sympathetically. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I spoke with Admiral Noyce yesterday." He paused briefly but then went on. "I talked with him about our computer system." Bridger smiled; he knew that this next piece of information would brighten Lucas's mood. "In the future, you are going to be the only one who is allowed to install any new programs or make any changes to the ship's systems. I'm not too keen for something like this whole Erikson mess to ever happen again."
The blond teen nodded. "Cool." He tried to suppress a cough.
"And it gets even better. You are allowed to design a new anti-virus program for the seaQuest."
Lucas's eyes got big. "Really?"
Bridger nodded. "Yes. I can remember quite clearly that somebody mentioned to me in passing that the best programs against hackers and viruses were written by hackers themselves, and that means I came to the right place."
The teenager practically lit up. "Absolutely! I can't wait, I'd get started this minute if I could!"
"I dare you! The only thing you will be doing right now is concentrating on getting well again," said the captain, his tone serious. He studied his youngest crew member closely. "Promise me that you won't get started on this until Dr. Westphalen gives you a clean bill of health." He knew that he could trust Lucas's word.
"Okay." The teenager looked curiously at the older man. "Do you know anything more about Mike Erikson? For example, why he put the virus in our system?" He grabbed a tissue and blew his nose.
"The admiral called me an hour ago to explain that," answered the captain, nodding. "They caught Erikson and interviewed him." Bridger slowly shook his head in disbelief. "The whole thing is very confusing."
Lucas wrinkled his forehead for a moment but then winced in pain; it was better to keep his facial muscles relaxed as long as he wasn't feeling well. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, Erikson planned out the whole thing to get more money and recognition. He thought nobody would find out that he was the one who installed the virus in our system to begin with, and he wanted to turn up as the savior of the seaQuest. He didn't even think about the fact that he blocked our communications to the outside world and that it wouldn't be possible for us the ask the UEO for help. Oh, and he also hadn't counted on you in his plans," explained Nathan.
The teen thought about this for a moment. "In other words, he brought the seaQuest to a stand still on purpose. He thought that no one on board could do anything to fix it and that you would call the UEO and beg for help. The UEO, in turn, would go to Erikson because he was already familiar with our system. A shuttle would have brought him here, the doors would have been forced open somehow, and Erikson would have solved all of our problems in a second and would be the big hero!"
The captain nodded. He had long ago given up being surprised by how quickly the boy grasped concepts. "The way you say it almost makes it sound logical." Nathan's glance fell on the Aqua Tube where the dolphin was swimming. "Has Darwin already been outside to hunt for fish himself?"
Lucas shook his head as carefully as possible; every quick movement made his head feel like it would explode. "No, I wanted to send him out but he refused to go."
Bridger nodded in understanding. His wet friend had taken the teenager quickly into his heart. You almost always saw them together. Maybe it was just the dolphin's instincts that told him he had to stay with Lucas because he was sick. After all, out in the wild a dolphin would never leave one of its own while it was sick The captain picked up the Vocorder. "Hey, Darwin, swim to the Moon Pool. I'll meet you there."
It looked like the animal was shaking his head. "No.Darwin stays with Lucas."
Bridger looked at the dolphin speechlessly for a moment. So much for Darwin being his dolphin; it seemed that the majority of his loyalty now lay with Lucas.
The computer genius shrugged and looked at the captain. "Don't look at me, I already told you." The boy turned to the window. "Hey, Darwin, you really can leave me. I'm going to try to sleep. You'll only get bored here. And maybe you'll see something nice out in the ocean that you can tell me about later."
The dolphin hesitated for a moment but then swam slowly in the direction of the Moon Pool.
The captain shook his head in amazement, then, he stood up to follow Darwin. "See you later, Lucas."
"Sure." The teenager leaned toward the computer and started "The Lord of The Rings" audio-book where he had stopped it the last time.
When Bridger reached the Moon Pool, he bent down so that his elbows were resting on the edge of the pool. "I'll open the doors so that you can go out to eat and swim." Of course the dolphin could swim through the entire seaQuest, but the ocean just gave him more room to move around.
Again, it seemed like the animal was shaking his head. "No. Darwin stays with Lucas."
The captain sighed inwardly. He'd assumed that they had already sorted this out, but it seemed that he had assumed wrong. "I thought you agreed to leave the seaQuest to go hunting."
It took a moment for the Vocorder to translate the clicks and whistles. "Darwin stays with Lucas. Take care."
Nathan smiled. "That's really nice of you, but you don't need to do that. Dr. Westphalen and I will take care of him."
"Darwin Lucas friend."
"I know, but I'm also his friend, and I will take care of him just as well as you. You really don't need to worry. It's okay to leave him for a bit." Somehow, he had to convince Darwin that it was okay to swim outside to hunt.
Again a head shake. "Never leave small dolphin alone. Shark will come. Never leave sick dolphin alone."
Bridger's forehead wrinkled in thought. It seemed that this was not going to be easy. "Lucas isn't a dolphin child, he's a human child. And with humans, it is okay to leave them alone from time to time when they are sick. Sometimes it's even important to do that because that's when they can really rest. And besides, there are no sharks on the seaQuest." On the submarine there were other dangers, but since it was relatively peaceful at the moment with no major crisis in sight. The greatest danger was probably a sometimes-shifty supply officer.
"Darwin stay."
Nathan sighed; the dolphin was more stubborn than a pack of mules. "Darwin, you have to go outside to eat and go to the surface from time to time, otherwise you'll get sick. And if that happens, Lucas will be very worried about you and will probably blame himself. He really doesn't need that right now. Do you want that?" Okay, that felt a little bit like blackmail.
The animal shook his head. "No."
Bridger nodded. "Good. So you'll swim out when I open the doors?"
"Yes."
The captain smiled. "Okay."
To Be Continued…
Written 2005 / Translated Spring 2006