A/N Due to issues with the length I chose to split the next part of the story into three chapters.
"Well it sounds like we have to go back to reality," Robert mumbles as his alarm blares. The reason why he is in this mood is because yesterday we came back from a pleasure cruise around the reef. Before you can ask I somehow convinced Robert that it would be a good idea to charter a boat to sail through the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately, I was unable to bring up the fact that we need to consider what the fraternisation rules mean for our relationship. It was due to the fact that we had a Mayday to respond to and then I got distracted by other things.
"I know," I say before stretching. After a few minutes, we are finally ready to go.
"Ro can you drop me off at my place before you head to the Hammersley?" going in separately seems like the best way to hide our relationship for now.
"Of course," Robert responds. Thankfully it doesn't take long for Robert to drop me off. After dumping my stuff I grab the last bits of my stuff and my car keys. After a quiet ten-minute drive I made it to the dockyards. It doesn't take long for me to be intercepted by Mike. He seems a little annoyed.
"What can I do for you boss?" I ask.
"What do you know about psychosis?" Mike asks.
"Not as much as I would like but I can treat it why?" I reply.
"We have been asked to transport someone for a psychiatric assessment and the doctors suspect psychosis. So I wanted to make sure you were prepared," Mike responds. Well, it looks like reality has another nightmare installed for us.
"Thank you for the heads up. I will do some research on our way to the destination," I confirm as we part ways. It doesn't take long for me to reach my cabin. With a few swift movements, I change into my uniform. Instead of heading to the bridge like I normally do I head to the comms room. I quickly log onto the computer.
It has been a few hours since then and we have made it to Stokes Island for the prisoner transfer. Despite my research, I am apprehensive. There is something off about the community.
"I thought the police would be here to meet us," I remark.
"The local cop here's in hospital on the mainland. Apparently the prisoner we are transporting put him there," Swain confirms. As we walk across the pier we are met by four guys in a ute. One of them has a sack over his head. My heart sinks. The man may be a psycho but there are basic standards of care.
"They can't be serious. How long do you think he's been like that?" Kate beats me to it.
"Apparently he is violent and unpredictable," Swain replies.
"That's no reason to treat him like an animal," I speak up.
"I can't blame the town's people. He took a cop's ear with his teeth. These guys said they'd like to tie a slab around his neck and throw him off the end of the wharf," Swain explains the problem. Based on what I heard I am surprised they haven't done so already. Once the prisoner is in Dutchy's hands I follow them to the Hammersly. After a minute we made it to Austere.
"Let's start by getting the sack off him," I order. With a few swift movements, Swain and Dutchy take the sack off revealing a scared young man.
"Dutchy get rid of the fencing wire. We will restrain him with cuffs," I say as I pass him the wire cutters. As soon as his feet are free the man lunges at me. I try to move back but there is not much room. Luckily for me, Swain and Dutchy are able to pull the man away from me.
"Are you ok Hoppo?" Swain asks.
"I'm fine…I'm fine," I respond. Of course, I am a little rattled but I have a job to do.
"Did he get you?" Swain asks again.
"No…Just make sure he is well secured," I respond as I pass some zip ties to the pair. Once he is secured I head to my cabin so I can write my report and forget what I saw. I find myself sighing. I know for a fact that someone doesn't go crazy like that without a reason.
It has been a couple of hours since then and Mike has asked me to take some lunch to the prisoner. As I prepare him for his feed I notice something weird. He is not responding to my voice. Because of that, I check his breathing and his pulse. Nothing. I make a mad dash to the bridge.
"Boss we have a problem. Our prisoner is dead. There was nothing that I could do," I announce.
"Ok, Ro contact NAVCOM. Brief them on what Hoppo discovered. Hoppo, Swain go over the CCTV footage to see what you can find," Mike gives us his orders.
It has been a couple of hours since then and I am being interrogated by Maxine. I get why she is questioning my abilities but I know we did everything by the book.
"Ma'am the correct protocols were followed in restraining the prisoner and continuous recorded surveillance was maintained," I give her my report.
"And you've watched the whole tape?" Maxine continues her questioning.
"Yes ma'am both Petty Officer Blake and I reviewed the tapes. We both agreed there's nothing to indicate a point where the prisoner actually died," I reply as I pass the USB stick to her.
"And at no point was he sedated?" Maxine adds.
"No Ma'am," The only other person who has the skill and authority to do that is Swain but I know he would have checked with me first.
"Was any excessive force used before the tape started rolling, Bosun?" Maxine turns her attention to Dutchy.
"No Ma'am," Dutchy replies.
"Thank you. That will be all, Lieutenant, Petty Officer," Maxine dismisses Dutchy and I. With that, we leave. As we leave I turn my attention to Dutchy.
"I don't like this Dutchy. Something is going on at Stokes Island," I announce.
"What makes you say that?" Dutchy asks.
"You don't go psycho then just die out of nowhere," I say. It sounds weird but the symptoms just don't add up.
"Is this your personal opinion or your medical opinion?" Dutchy asks.
"Both," I answer. After excusing himself Dutchy and I part ways.
It is the day after and we are on our way back to Stokes Island. The good thing for me is the fact that I will get a chance to investigate as I am the one in charge of dropping off the supplies. I am hoping that nothing serious will happen. Kate soon joins me.
"Hey X you can let Mike know that everything is good to go for the supply drop? I'm just waiting on something from NAVCOM," I ask.
"Of course," Kate responds before leaving again. After a minute Robert joins me. In his hand is the results of the preliminary results of the autopsy conducted on our prisoner.
"Here is the copy of the report you asked for," he remarks as he offers me a piece of paper.
"Thank you, Ro," I responded as I took the piece of paper. I quickly read it. As soon as I am done I sigh.
"What's wrong?" Robert asks.
"I was right. I told Dutchy that you don't just go psycho and die without a reason and that report contains the answers that I was looking for," I explain. This is the one time where I don't like the fact that I am right. I can't believe the doctor on the Island missed a diagnosis as obvious as a brain tumour. I guess I will have to ask once we drop off the supplies.
"I'll be back," Robert excuses himself. I guess he is going to give Mike another copy of the report.
It has been a couple of hours since then and I am finalising a few things at the clinic. As we wait for the Island's doctor a little girl walks past. The first thing I notice is how sick she looks. Kate and I greet the little girl as she drops off a picture at the reception desk. After she greets us she sits down next to her mother.
"Can I help you?" Who I assume to be the doctor finally joins us. The first thing I notice is the man's body odour. It smells as if he had alcohol in the past twenty-four hours.
"Yes. we're waiting to see Doctor Wallace," Kate confirms.
"Of course you are. McGregor and Hopper, the sailors with the trucks. Oh…Ruby that is beautiful," The man gets distracted by the picture. The girl seems to cheer up a little at the compliment.
"Do you know where he is?" Kate asks as the man pins up the picture.
"You're looking at him. John Wallace, GP," The man formally introduces himself as he turns his attention back to us.
"Come along then I've got patients to see," John gestures for us to follow him. As he leaves Kate turns her attention to me.
"Do you know what these drugs are for?" Kate asks.
"Yes. They are used in chemotherapy," I reply. I guess now would be a good time to ask him about what is going on. I quickly excuse myself so I can catch up to John. After a few seconds, I catch up with him.
"Hey doctor the young cancer patient, are you treating her?" I ask as I join him.
"Ruby Johnson?...well I'm giving her all of the right drugs if that is what you mean," John replies. He is not happy.
"I guess there is no chance that she would recover. I'm also guessing that her family doesn't want to take her to the mainland," I say.
"No, but I assure you, Doctor Hopper, I am doing everything I can to help her," John snaps.
"I trust that you are. I have a few questions because the prisoner, Barry Rozelle died of complications resulting from an undiagnosed brain tumour," I say causing John to stop.
"Do you know what kind of tumour?" John responds.
"Other than the fact that it was a brain tumour…no," I say. Before John has the chance to say anything Swain joins us.
"Doctor I will need your signature on the inventory," Swain remarks as he taps John on the shoulder.
"Look, there is something in the water," John says, explaining the connection. That would explain a lot; however, I need evidence to be fully convinced. After some back and forth we part ways. After a few minutes of walking, I made it back to the Hammersley. As I make my way to the bridge I am intercepted by Mike.
"How was the supply drop off?" Mike asks for an update.
"It was successful however I encountered an interesting problem. I asked Doctor Wallace about Barry Rozelle he seemed a little defensive. He then claimed that there is something in the water that is making people sick," I respond as we make our way to the bridge together.
"Do you think that is possible?" Mike asks.
"Well…yes but I need proof that backs up a claim like that and that is where the problem lies Boss. Doctor Wallace didn't think to give me the evidence while we were talking," I explain. There are too many things not making sense to me. After some back and forth we reach the bridge. Before I have a chance to take my position at the EOD station Dutchy speaks up.
"Sir there's a contact on the Radar. A possible FFV,"
"How far?" Mike responds as he takes a seat in the captain's chair.
"Just over the horizon. It's stationary. It could have long lines in the water," Dutchy confirms.
"Let's see if we can get a visual to confirm it's a fishing vessel. X standby with a boarding party," Mike gives his orders. After a couple of seconds, I have the picture on the EOD. It seems too quiet. We will have to see what the boarding party can find. After a few minutes the radio crackles to life.
"X-ray 82 to Charlie 82 we have a situation. Tell hoppo to meet us at the boat deck," Kate radios in.
"Copy that. Charlie 82 out," Mike confirms.
"I'll grab a couple of med kits," I respond before excusing myself. After a quick detour to the wardroom, I reach the boat deck. What I see catches me by surprise. The entire crew of the FFV has been struck by some kind of illness. I get to work.
"X, how did you find them?" I ask as I check the nearest crew member.
"We found them semi-conscious. They had finished eating lunch so I would assume some kind of food poisoning," Kate fills me in. At least we have a differential diagnosis. I soon notice a catch. The man that I am examining has some kind of burn. After what feels like an eternity I feel comfortable enough to transfer the patients to Austere. Thankfully that is an easy task compared to the task of stabilising them.
"Swain, do you mind helping me?" I ask.
"Of course not," Swain responds. We soon get to work.