The blond haired boy was working furiously at the keyboard in his quarters. If his idea for the
new security system aboard the SeaQuest worked, then he would receive praise all round for the
innovative system he had just created. Not only did it form a stable and very secure barrier to
most of the sensitive components of the SeaQuest's mainframe computer, but it also provided him
with a little light hearted relief from the mundane routine of the ship's he found himself
falling into every day.
He secretly hoped that Commander Ford would be pleased with his efforts. He had been very
flattered when the Commander had chosen him over the regular computer people aboard to
design a new security system. Inwardly he needed to prove himself to the Commander as well as
the rest of the crew that he could carry out assigned tasks as good as any military personnel. The
urge to prove himself often became strongest whenever the Captain was away and unable to
defend his often different and outlandish solutions to problems. He had now been aboard the
boat a total of three years and was seventeen years of age. He and the current crew had been
through a lot of tight scrapes but sometimes all of that seemed to account for nothing when you
were the youngest aboard.
With Captain Nathan Bridger away off the boat with Doctor Kristen Westphalen at a U.E.O.
meeting, he had been able to work almost non-stop for the last three days without being
constantly interrupted with the little annoying things of life such as eating and sleeping and
generally taking care of himself.
He had started feeling a little bit under the weather since lunch time yesterday, but he put most of
the symptoms down to lack of sleep. He had a headache that only compared with his head
exploding. His eyes felt red and itchy but that was probably from watching the screen too much.
He occasionally had a dry rough cough but that could be explained away to any minor ailment.
Couple of aspirin and he'd be back to normal in no time he promised himself as he swallowed the
tablets with a mouthful of coke. He was due on the bridge in under ten minutes and hoped his
little presentation would be ready in time. He just had to stay awake during his shift and then he
could finally get some sleep before the Captain returned in a few hours and caught him out.
In the launch bay of the boat, Commander Ford was just scratching his head at the latest
shipment of supplies that was coming in. He had no prior warning that any of this was coming.
Two boat loads of fresh supplies including some long life stuff seemed to be coming aboard
and he had absolutely no idea why.
He eventually gave up trying to understand this sudden and unexplained invasion of his boat
and decided to go back to the bridge and make himself occupied. He was hoping that Lucas
was working on the new security system for the boat. He didn't like the idea of the ship's
whole computer system reliant on somebody so young, but under the circumstances he didn't
have a choice. Nobody else had volunteered to designing a new array of safety procedures.
And after Marilyn Stark's efforts, he was determined to make the system so that nobody
unauthorised could get in and fiddle with the boat's main frame computer.
As he left the launch bay area he was unaware that one of the crew members trying to unload
the new supplies, was trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. He wasn't a regular crew
member. He had on an old style U.E.O. uniform but hoped to be on the ship only long enough
to carry out his assigned task and leave again before anybody got suspicious or started asking
questions about himself.
He walked into the ship's galley area and placed five tins of canned peaches on the shelf where
there other canned goods were stored. He put them right at the front so that the chef would
choose them first when preparing the evening dessert. He wasn't sure about how long the
stuff inside the tin was supposed to work. Hopefully just long enough for them to carry out
their assigned mission.
Back on the Bridge, Commander Ford kept looking as his watch and noted that Lucas was
now almost twenty minutes late for this rostered shift. He knew that the boy was not a regular
crew member. But if he expected to be treated as one of the crew he needed to start acting
like one. The boy needed some discipline and somebody to watch over him and make sure
he wasn't goofing off too much.
Just as he glanced at his watch again, Lucas came running onto the bridge. His shirt tail hung
loosely over the top of his jeans and it didn't look as though he had combed his hair anytime
recently.
"Running a little late this morning Lucas?" Ford said trying to keep the sarcasm to a minimum.
If he had been one of the regular crew, he would have raked him over the coals about being
late for his shift.
"Um yeah, sorry Commander. Just finishing off something" Lucas stammered as he ran a
hand through his blond hair and took his seat at his post.
He was almost bursting at the seams to tell the Commander that the new security system was
finally finished, but he wanted the Commander to see the results for himself before taking the
praise. He had set up the system for a test run that would automatically come on in about five
minutes. That was the reason he was late in the first place. He had a difficult time setting up the
intended demonstration just right. He wanted all of the crew to see his genius at work and note
the sophistication that he had now added to the system. He had also inlaid a little fun to break
up the complicated lines of code involved with a little light hearted relief he thought the crew
might all enjoy.
Lucas sat nervously at his station waiting for the demonstration to begin. He looked up almost
every five seconds to the main screen only to see the face of Commander Ford watching him
with a displeased look on his face. He gulp and swallowed a little and put his head back down
again wondering why the Commander felt in such a bad mood today.
Commander Ford was checking some logistic problems with Miguel Ortiz about the W.S.K.R.S.
system when the main video screen suddenly lurched into life with some music and a picture
of some sort forming.
Lucas kept his head down to hide the smile and laughter he couldn't suppress.
Commander Ford knew only too well that music like that had to come from Lucas. It was
the new age loud stuff that only the teenager would enjoy listening to. What annoyed him
more was the picture that was now clearly visible on the screen. He could see the figures
talking to one another but because of his shock and disbelief he failed to hear anything that
the figure were saying to each other.
The other crew members had heard the music and also knew that Lucas was the cause
but instead of being annoyed at the figures on the screen, they were all intrigued.
Lucas had designed the system but added life like characters of each of the crew members
at the beginning to explain the systems. He had set up the demonstration like a mock
bridge scene where his own crew members were talking about the new system and how
it worked. He found it very difficult to create the little life like figures but was pleased
with just how real to his friends they actually seemed in the end. From the smiles and grins
he could see on their faces, his friends seemed to get a kick out of it too. Most of them
were like Commander Ford and failed to actually listen to what was being spoken. Most
of them were just admiring their own images on the big screen in front of them and marvelled
at how real Lucas had made the little characters appear.
He seemed to even have their very own personalities portrayed into the little figures. O'Neill's
character was wearing glasses and had the same style haircut as the Lieutenant. Tim was
one of the only ones actually listening to the dialogue and understanding what Lucas's little
demonstration was all about. He knew that the teenager was using a different format than
usual to explain how the new system work. But that was just Lucas. His methods might
be off the wall sometimes, but he didn't for one moment disbelieve the kid's ability. As he
listened to the new changes that the characters explained had been made, his eyes grew
wider at how such a young person with no military experience could create something so
incredibly complicated. Every line of instruction was now encoded in such a way that
no outside hacker or terrorist could hope to unjumble. However, with the right expertise
and instruction, the right people with the right knowledge would be able to access the
same information with the same level of accuracy as before but easier. How does he do
something like this? Tim found himself asking himself secretly.
Ben Krieg's character was trying to be suave and charming as always and just like in real
.life not really pulling it off at all.
Lucas just about jumped out of his skin when he got barked at from Commander Ford.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS LUCAS?" Ford yelled angrily.
Lucas stood up to meet his adversary but listened before making any further comment.
Inside his soul was dying to think that Commander Ford didn't like what he had taken
so long to create and design.
"I KNOW YOU MIGHT NOT BE MILITARY, BUT HONESTLY LUCAS. I WOULD
HAVE THOUGHT THAT SOMEBODY OF YOUR INTELLIGENCE WOULD KNOW
AND UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE WORD RESPONSILIBITY"Ford
continued with his hands placed on his hips and in an accusing stance.
"I ASK YOU TO DESIGN SOMETHING THAT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS
SHIP AND ALL YOU CAN COME UP WITH IS SOMETHING THAT HAS MADE US
ALL INTO COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS. IF THE TASK WAS TOO BIG OR TOO
MUCH FOR YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING AND I COULD HAVE
ASSIGNED SOMEBODY ELSE TO THE JOB." Ford said.
"LUCAS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN ROOM TO MOVE AROUND HERE AS FREELY
AS YOU LIKE BECAUSE OF CAPTAIN BRIDGER, BUT HONESTLY YOU MISUSE
A MILLION DOLLAR COMPUTER SYSTEM TO CREATE A BUGS BUNNY CARTOON.
YOU TURN UP LATE TO YOUR SHIFT AND EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO JUST
TAKE IT IN THEIR STRIDE. IF YOU WERE ONE OF MY CREW........" He got through
saying. He failed to notice that as he spoke, the colour of Lucas's face changed initially from
the white due to the shock of being addressed in such a manner before the entire crew now to
blood boiling red and he was accused of everything under the sun. The comments about
him being allowed to do what he like because of the implied relationship between him and
Bridger just incensed the teenager to new heights.
Tim O'Neill could Lucas's face and knew that this normally mild mannered teenager who
kept his emotions to himself was about to explode in anger. He tried to intervene and
explain that he had completed the task assigned better than anybody else could have possibly
hoped to so "Um Commander" he said in a quiet voice.
"Not this time Tim" Ford yelled back to the Lieutenant without turning his attention from
the teenager he was yelling at "It's about time somebody told this boy a few choice words
about his responsibilities to this crew and this ship............"
"My responsibilities to this ship and crew" Lucas now returned trying to keep his voice
calm, but the more he spoke the louder he got. He had never been so angry at anybody
before. This was a man who he had thought was he friend.
"Let me enlighten you about a few things Commander" he said with venom in his voice.
"Firstly, what you see on the screen is not a Bug's Bunny cartoon as you so blatantly
put it. It is actually probably the most sophisticated security system anybody had ever
designed but I knew that your feeble little mind would need another way to try and
take it all in so I designed this little demonstration to make it easier for you." he was now
yelling back at an impossible level and still very red in the face but he needed to be heard.
"Secondly, if you think that I am some juvenile delinquent aboard this ship that doesn't
do anything to help out. Then the next time something goes wrong with the computers
on this ship you can just whistle dixie if you think I am going to come running and fix
them for you again." Lucas continued.
"I have been working non-stop for three days on this project. I haven't slept or eaten
much during that time because I knew how important it was to try an get it finished before
we set off again. Something like this would have taken somebody else weeks possibly
months to design if they ever come up with the idea in the first place." he interjected.
"I pull my weight around here as much as anybody else, normally without complaint
and certainly with no appreciation. Nobody says 'Gee thanks Lucas for fixing that today.
You don't have to do that but thanks for it anyway. Lucas, did I tell you what a great
job you on that project.' I work just as hard as anybody else on this ship, sometimes long
into the night when your all tucked up in bed. Not because I have to, but because I want
to. I thought you respected me for what I could do with the computers. Obviously I
was wrong." Lucas still shouted.
"As for being on your crew Commander," Lucas said trying to hold back the tears that
threatened "Forget it. If that's how you feel about me and my work, then I don't want
to be a part of it." he said.
Lucas was so out of breath by the time he was finished that he was breathing very hard
and had actually started coughing harshly at the burning sensation in his lungs.
Commander Ford stepped back a little at the anger that he had seen in the teenager.
He like the other crew members were shocked out the sudden and ferocious outburst .
Now, watching the teenager coughing because of his angry speech he felt a little pang
of guilt and after what the explanation he heard, he wanted to take some of what he
said back again.
"Lucas are you alright" Ford asked in a gentler tone as the teen finally stopped coughing
and stood up with eyes blazing back at Ford again.
"WHAT DO YOU CARE IF I'M ALRIGHT" Lucas shot back angrily.
"That's not fair Lucas" Ford said and tried to make amends for what he had said by
putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. But before it could touch the fabric of the teenager's
checkered shirt, Lucas pulled his arm suddenly arm back so that the hand missed his
shoulder and he made one final comment before walking off the bridge towards his quarters.
"No it's not fair Commander" and he left, leaving everybody looking sadly after teenager
and then back at Ford with a little anger of their own at what he had said.
"If you weren't my Commanding Officer right now" Ben Krieg said as he walked up to
Ford "I'd punch you out for what you just said to him." and he too left the bridge trying
to catch up to the fleeing teenager.
Once Lucas was out of sight of the others from the bridge he had literally run all the way
to his quarters and once inside, locked the door and threw himself on his bed and let the
tears of frustration finally come out all at once.
Ben Krieg had tried to enter the teenager's room to tell him that no one else felt the same
as Commander Ford. He was surprised to see that the door was locked and a little more
concerned now about the emotion state of the boy inside.
Commander Ford now stood behind Krieg attempting to apologize to the teenager after
such ugly words. Most of them were not really true. He had just let his frustrations of the
day out on the first person he came across and that unfortunately was Lucas.
He knew that the boy worked twice as hard as most of the crew. He knew that Lucas would
have done the best job possible to create the new system. He wanted to tell the kid that
he still had respect board the boat and was still needed more than ever.
"I can't get the door open" Krieg said to the Commander "He's locked it from inside and I
can't get it open."
Both of them had failed to hear footsteps behind them and now jumped a little at the sound
of Captain Bridger's voice.
"Why is Lucas's door locked" he asked with a little wariness in his voice. "What's happened
here Lieutenant Krieg?"
Ben looked at the Captain and knew that he wanted a no nonsense answer to why something
was wrong with Lucas, the person he cared most about.
"Um Captain, I think you had better ask Commander Ford" Krieg said and scurried away
before any more questions could be asked.
"Well Commander?" Captain Bridger now asked with warning in his voice "What is wrong
with Lucas?"
MORE TO COME .............................