Thank You so much for reading my story. I give my apologies for the length of time it gives me to post. I have surges of inspiration and then I go months where I try to find the right words. But here is Chapter 3 …
CHAPTER 3
A flood of memories ran as ice in Kaia's veins, grief, anger, depression and ultimately the numbness that had become her mirage for several years. She made a rapid escape from the Galley, uncaring of the table's startled glances, Jim's continued shock, and Wendy's apparent concern. Only slightly aware that the latter followed her.
"Kaia," Wendy's sweet voice was laced with concern and confusion. "Is everything…"
Kaia closed her eyes, wishing her distress dormant. "Sorry Wendy, I totally forgot about something I needed to do. Could we do lunch another day?" Wendy looked unconvinced, her psychology degree rattling on the wall to be used, to her credit she did not give voice to her questions.
"Absolutely," Wendy laid a hand on her arm, "and if there is anything…"
"Thanks Wendy," Kaia couldn't let her finish, thoughts to another time when so many had uttered those same words. She shook away the memory and walked slowly away, ignoring the feel of Wendy's curious eyes on her back and instead brought into focus the name Rubin Zellar. He was her nightmare, the main instrument in destroying her life, a mass murderer who still lived while his victims fell into the passage of time and after thoughts and pushed the living into becoming mere shadows of what they once were. With the Death Sentence deemed inhuman years before his trial, he had instead been given life on ice, encased in a cryogenic prison for all eternity. Kaia sneered to herself, the justice system had ensured that he would live for years to come, she failed to see how this was a punishment. A plan, revenge, long in the making seemed within her grasp.
The rumor mill in the close quarters of a submarine, even one of SeaQuest's size, moved quickly. Within an hour of Captain Bridger receiving the Prison's SOS the entire crew whispered the name Rubin Zellar. It was a whisper that reached David Junse's ears as he was just entering the Sea Deck for his shift. Normally engrossed in his work, he cared little to take part of the ship's gossip, so it was to the shock of the two whispering Science Tech's that he asked, "What was it that you just said?"
"Captain Bridger is responding to an SOS from a Cryo Prison, the one holding Rubin Zellar."
The name barely hit his ears as David turned and rushed his way back into the corridor. He knew that he had to find Kaia. He startled many Crew Members as he asked if any had seen her, he rarely spoke to anyone outside of the Science and Medical Teams and knew in his frenzy he wasn't making the best first impressions. Part of him hoped that she hadn't heard, but as he approached the zombie in the hallway, he knew his wish hadn't come true.
He met her slowly, "Boss…" Determined eyes looked at him, making him more nervous as he had expected the hollow and numb ones he had encountered years ago when life had first tipped on it's axis.
"You heard." He knew it was a stupid thing to say, but his normal way was awkward and in times of trial that was just expounded upon. He fell in stride with her, waiting for her to speak.
"I heard." There was a purpose to her gate as they retraced David's walk back to the Sea Deck. "But we have a lot of work to do so I don't think we should let ourselves get distracted." He stopped surprised as they reached the hatch, she turned towards him expectantly "So… back to work."
"Kaia don't you think…" it was unexpected for him to use her name. Kaia looked into the eyes of her friend and knew the concern that he held. She placed the mask on her features, "David, I'm fine." She pled. "I just need to get back to work."
The mask didn't full him for minute, knowing her too well. It was quiet for a few moments as David warred whether to press, determining what a Best Friend should do in such a situation. He gave her what she wanted, "Okay Boss, back to work it is." They stepped through the hatch, David hoping he was doing the right thing for her sanity, Kaia hoping she had the strength to carry on and do what she had to.
James Brody to his Crew Mates was normally a man of confidence which had at first shown itself as bravado. It was the callous he had let form to get him through life, only when he had been aboard the SeaQuest for a few months, did he feel the ease to let his true self show. He remained private and committed to his duty, but he had dropped the arrogance and now when giving his viewpoint or offering recommendation he spoke from experience instead of being a man trying to show himself best to the world. To Captain Nathan Bridger he had become an asset and valuable member of his crew, so it was with true concern that he approached the Lieutenant, "Everything okay Jim?"
Jim startled at the hand the gray-haired Captain laid on his shoulder, "Uh… yes sir." He straightened in his chair and placed his hands to the controls in front of him.
Brown eyes searched for the truth but did not press, "Okay Lieutenant, just wondered since you've been staring at a blank screen for the past ten minutes."
Jim had failed to notice the monitor in front of him had nothing on it, "Just lost in thought, won't happen again Sir." He lied, his world was anything but right. His head was full of voices and laughter he knew he would never truly hear again; memories flashed and were relived. He closed his eyes to push them away, stroked his jaw, pushed his hand through his hair and put himself to work, hoping that being busy would stop the turmoil. He thought of Kai and knew she was probably doing the same. It was their way, what drew them together and he grieved, what ripped them apart in the end.
"Sir, we are within range of the Prison." Tim O'Neal's voice rang across the quiet Bridge and pulled the Captain's attention from Jim.
Miguel Ortiz' voice came next, "From what WSKRS are showing me it looks like they are imminent danger of losing integrity, they will be completely flooded within the hour"
Captain Bridger acted quickly, "Mr. Brody please lead a security detail to the Prison, evacuate the Warden and any prisoners."
Jim stood, always quick to comply with an order, but then stopped himself preparing for an action he had never taken in his life, the Officer in him knowing it needed done. "Sir," Bridger gave him his attention. "I believe that I need to be relieved of duty."
Captain Bridger turned to the Lieutenant, his surprise apparent, "And why is that?" All ears were open, waiting for the answer. Eyes looked back and forth between each other, trying to determine if this moment was real.
"I want Zellar to drown." He let the monster out and gave voice to it's greatest wish. He looked towards the view screen which now showed the ice prison, bubbles floating where integrity was already crippled. "Let it become his coffin."
Bridgers sun weathered face softened to sympathy, "He did a lot of horrible things, I think we all feel that way to some degree..." Jim felt patronized and quickly spoke, no longer caring to hold himself in check, he gave voice to the nightmare in a harsh whisper, "He killed my son."
The bridge sat silent.