CAIN AND ABEL
CHAPTER SIX
Hudson, Piccolo and Ford sat in the small examination room near med bay. Ford looked very tired and Hudson looked more than annoyed.
“They poisoned him as well,” Hudson confirmed.
Perry nodded, looking at the results of the test, “Looks like it.”
“What do you mean it looks like it?” Hudson demanded, his patience unusually thin.
“Well he’s definitely been poisoned,” Perry explained, “It’s called midstrence. It contains the lethal poison cyanide but it has a few other ingredients as well. I assume the people who gave it to him expected to keep him for a few days and wait until he started begging for something to stop the pain.”
She looked at the grim faces in front of her, “It saves resources for an interrogation,” she stated matter-of-factly. The look on Tony’s face suggested it was a little too matter-of-factly.
“How bad is it?” Hudson wanted to know.
“We need an antidote,” she told them, “But that is on the black market just like the poison itself.”
“Is there another way?” Ford asked her.
She shook her head, “I don’t know. I am working on it. But if he doesn’t get it he’s going to die.”
Tony looked grief stricken. Hudson nodded determinedly, “I’m contacting the UEO. Somebody better start talking,” he warned. Then, as an afterthought he turned back to Perry, “ How long does he have?”
Perry shook her head, “To be honest I’m not sure. It would surprise me if he lasted more than two weeks without treatment. Even then, that would be counting on the painkillers working and him not dying of shock.”
Hudson looked at Ford, “Would you contact any family Ensign Wolenczak has?”
“I think that’s just Nathan Bridger, sir,” Ford told him.
Hudson looked mildly surprised, “What about his mother?” he asked turning back around to face Ford a bit more.
Tony scoffed in the background. Ford nodded, “Like I said.”
Hudson nodded his head, “Alright then. Thank you Commander.” He turned to leave.
***
Ford hesitated by the commlink. Lucas’ continuing illness was making him a little numb. He wasn’t sure if he was beginning to care less about Lucas because of the constant worry for just one person. He concluded that it wasn’t that he cared less; he just wasn’t going to allow it to worry him as much. Lucas had gotten through everything else fate had thrown at him. Granted, the recent ordeals had been tighter scrapes, but all the same, Lucas was a tough kid, and he had a stronger network of love and support than he realised.
He clicked the link open and began to dial up for Nathan Bridger. Ford wondered what he was going to tell him. It seemed a bit strange that he was calling up his ex-commanding officer as Lucas’ guardian, and Bridger didn’t know about Lucas’ previous hospital experience. He decided to tackle one thing at a time.
The Bridger’s phone rang on, unanswered. Ford began to worry that Bridger wasn’t home, and that he would have to ring again. He really hoped that he could get this over with as soon as possible.
Jonathan was relieved when the screen light up with Nathan Bridger’s face. The relief must have shown on his face because Nathan Bridger smiled back at him.
“Jonathan?” he greeted, pleased but curious, “How can I help you?”
Jonathan answered as quickly as possible, his face not as serious as it should be, “Nathan, I’m calling because Lucas is sick.”
Nathan lifted his eyebrows in shock, he wasn’t expecting this at all, “Lucas is sick?” He was extremely worried about exactly how sick Lucas was for it to warrant a call from the ships Commander.
“He is experiencing severe stomach cramps,” Jonathan told him, “Perry thinks it may be the result of poison.”
Nathan was so upset that he almost felt like he was going to cry, although it did not register in his face, “Who would poison him? And how serious is this?”
“He was recently… kidnapped and missing for nearly a day. We think he may have been poisoned then.”
“What? Kidnapped?” The stress was apparent in Nathan’s voice. The last time Lucas was kidnapped it was to threaten him.
Jonathan responded quickly and calmly, trying to get his ex-captain to relax, “ It was to do with internal problems with the colony.” It was a bit of a lie, really, but Jonathan did not want to overload the other man with more than he could handle.
Nathan visibly relaxed, “I asked you how serious it was,” Nathan asked.
Jonathan nodded and sighed deeply, “He’s very sick,” he said as he looked at Bridger carefully.
Nathan nodded, “I’m on my way.”
***
Hudson stalked onto the bridge, moody and frustrated. Commander Ford calmly but hastily gave up command.
Many of the bridge crew turned towards Hudson, waiting to be addressed. Those who hadn’t heard about Lucas were concerned about the SeaQuest’s and the UEO’s position in regards the Macronesian prisoners. Hudson shifted some papers on his desk, not looking at anyone on the bridge. Ford, who was standing to attention beside him, began to shift his feet. There were a few other fidgeting movements from other members of the crew as it began to look like Hudson was not going to say anything.
“The SeaQuest will be returning the Macronesian citizens that we have immediately,” Hudson announced, “After that, Macronesia will have no need to attack SeaQuest specifically. However, I want you all to still be alert and on guard,” he warned.
“Many nations within the UEO are requesting that all the prisoners be returned. The majority of the world believes that this time, we are the bad guys.” Hudson stated, trying to keep as much emotion out of his voice as possible.
The crew remained silent, their eyes fixed on their Captain, “Unfortunately, we are not certain exactly who has taken these people or why,” Hudson continued, “UEO headquarters believes that it may be Section Seven.”
“I thought it was none of our business, sir,” Ford asked, remembering Hudson’s last conversation with McGath.
Hudson sighed and turned to his second in command, “They can hardly claim that when Bourne was so close to blowing us out of the water.”
The Captain turned back to his crew, “Alright then. Carry on.”
“Sir?” O’Neill piped up, “What about Lucas?”
A few of the crew stopped their work to look at him, “Hopefully, once we find who took these people from Macronesia, we should find an antidote for Ensign Wolenczak,” Hudson stated officially, his voice void of emotion.
“Hopefully,” Henderson muttered quietly as she slowly went back to her work.
***
Nathan Bridger arrived on the SeaQuest late the next morning. He was greeted by Commander Ford, who told him that Lucas was stable but still very sick. Bridger immediately made his way down to med bay, making it clear that he wasn’t concerned with whether or not Lucas was awake; he just wanted to see him.
Lucas was only dozing when Bridger entered with Ford. The boy was propped up against the pillows. He came awake slowly and seemed surprised at who was in the room.
“Bridger?” Lucas asked weakly. He hadn’t had any visitors yet and he couldn’t remember much of the previous day.
Nathan smiled at him gently as he walked towards him, “Jonathan called to tell me how sick you are. I was worried. I wanted to see you.”
Lucas smiled as happily as he could in his condition and tried to move his free arm for a hug.
Jonathan smiled at them both and left them be. Lucas settled himself back into the pillows and looked at Nathan who sat in the chair near him.
“How are the stomach cramps?” Nathan asked him.
“Painful,” Lucas replied, “Horrible. I just want them to go away,” he groaned, almost whimpering.
Nathan felt hurt for him but he didn’t let it show too much. He brushed Lucas hair from his face, “I know, kiddo. I’m sure they’re working on it. Did they tell you how they think you were poisoned?”
“When I was kidnapped from Toya,” Lucas told him.
Bridger nodded gently, “Jonathan told me. He said they knocked you around a bit,” he nodded at Lucas’ sling, “What happened?”
Lucas stared at him, ‘Thanks, Commander,’ he thought, ‘How is the Captain going to react to this?’
“Yeah,” Lucas said uncomfortably, “I was hospitalised for over a week after.”
Bridger narrowed his eyes in concern, “What did they do to you?”
Lucas licked his lips, “Tied me to a chair. One of the men had a suitcase with some stuff in it.”
Nathan felt his head go dizzy, “What kind of stuff?”
“Toys. To hurt me,” Lucas said with difficulty.
“What?” he whispered in horror.
Lucas could see the questions forming on Nathan’s lips, “There’s something covert going on,” Lucas explained. Then he sighed deeply bringing his bandaged and burned hand up to rub his face, “It’s all very messed up. I’m glad you’re here.”
Nathan looked down, extremely upset. There would be time for tears later, though. Right now he needed to look after Lucas. He leaned towards Lucas and drew him into a hug, partly to hide his tears, partly to reassure himself that his boy was okay. Lucas returned the hug gratefully. When it broke, Nathan brought his hand up to cup the side of Lucas’ face gently, allowing Lucas’ head to hang down.
“It was alright,” Lucas tried to reassure him, “They took me to another room, and later on another man came in. I think that he believed who I was and I was released.”
Nathan noticed that the last part was a bit rushed. He felt that for some reason Lucas was very hesitant about what he told him, “Why would this man believe you?”
Lucas became extremely uncomfortable; “I don’t want to talk about it okay?” Lucas told him irritably.
Nathan was a bit suspicious about the reaction until he saw Lucas squirm uncomfortably, holding his stomach, “Is your stomach hurting?” Nathan asked him, concerned.
Conveniently for Lucas, it was. The pain was not so convenient however. It settled itself heavily into his stomach.
“Here, lie down,” Nathan moved toward him to help Lucas adjust himself in the bed. After a few moments the pain went away and Lucas relaxed a bit.
“That wasn’t so bad,” Lucas breathed in relief. Nathan gently stroked the side of Lucas’ hair.
“They think I was poisoned during the interrogation,” Lucas stammered weakly, explaining his current condition.
An awful numbing feeling when through Nathan Bridger, “The what?” he asked, looking as sick as he felt.
“The interrogation,” Lucas nodded, slightly amused and sarcastic, recovering quickly, “That’s what most people like to call it.”
The words struck a cord. The awful feeling didn’t go away, but each of Nathan’s senses was fading away slowly.
With Lucas’ words he heard his son’s voice in memories ear, ‘I ordered a fairly serious interrogation.’
“Captain?” Lucas asked him, “Are you okay?”
Nathan shook himself out of the feeling he was in, drawing Lucas in toward him for his own comfort, “Lucas?” he asked while he still held him. He pulled himself back to look at Lucas, “The man who you said believed you. The one who came in to see you after the interrogation.”
Lucas paled barely noticeably but looked at Nathan with a frozen and almost guilty, fearful expression, “Yes?” he whispered.
Nathan had noticed Lucas’ reaction but pressed on, “He oversaw your interrogation?”
Lucas pulled himself away and sat up, trying to get down from the bed, “Lucas!” Nathan reached out to grab him, “Where are you going?”
“I feel like I need a walk,” Lucas murmured.
“Now?” Bridger demanded, “We’re in the middle of a conversation!”
Lucas turned around irritably, “Yes, the man over saw my interrogation,” Lucas confirmed defensively, “So what? I don’t want to talk about this.”
The realisation dawned on Nathan that Lucas must know. He must be right then. His heart fought against the possibility but his mind had other ideas.
Lucas turned away and got up to leave. Nathan followed him quickly and grabbed his arm, “My son did this to you?” anger, shock and hurt filled his voice so much that Lucas didn’t want to answer.
He didn’t have to.