EVIL IN COMMAND

Disclaimer: I do not own SeaQuest or it's characters. I'm just borrowing them for fun.

After season two ended in Australia, and we had to wait months for season three (only to find it had been axed). I had actually contemplated the effect of Captain Bridger leaving - and his replacement being a cruel and much less caring leader. This a scene with our favourite victim.

The bridge was tense as the Junior Grade Lieutenant attempted to disable the dangerous craft.

"Sir," Ford cut in, "She isn't trained in this area."

"She should be trained," Thomas snapped, "This is the perfect opportunity."

"This is dangerous," Ford started.

Thomas turned on him furiously, "I've had enough of your insubordination, Commander Ford! Another word and I'll have you put in the brigg!"

Ford countered, "Another few seconds of leaving this situation out of the hands of a competent officer and I will relieve you of your command."

General Thomas smirked, "You cannot relieve me of my command. Are you forgetting? I am not within the Naval chain of command, and I’m not your direct commanding officer."

Ford's face turned somber as he looked him, genuinely scared for his crew.

"Now," Thomas turned back to his station, "Do we have control of the craft, Mr O'Neill?"

O'Neill answered, "No sir and it's getting dangerously close to our hulls."

"I will be the judge of that," Thomas cut in arrogantly.

"Sir, people could be killed," O'Neill persisted.

"Lieutenant, would you like to join Commander Ford in the brigg for insubordination?"

O'Neill pursed his lips and looked at Ford who was clenching his jaw, "No, sir."

Lights at the comm started beeping, "Sir, she’s going to explode!" another officer called out.

Suddenly the lights stopped and the static came under control. The bridge breathed a sigh of relief.

General Thomas smiled at the Lieutenant being trained; "See," he said triumphantly, "Everyone can work under pressure."

He moved forward and slapped her on the back. The woman was in her seat not moving, hands slowly moving away from the controls.

"Now why don’t you tell our critics how you worked it out?"

"Uh.. I.. um, I didn’t sir.." she started nervously.

"I did," Lucas' voice resounded from above Thomas through an almost silent bridge.

Thomas’ smirk turned into an angry scowl as he turned to look at Lucas. He stared at him for a few seconds before he exploded, "Get down here, boy!" he yelled, beckoning Lucas over with his arm violently.

Lucas looked at him, but complied slowly, taking of his headset and walking down to the center of the bridge. Once he was there Thomas grabbed a hold of his shirt and roughly pulled him towards him, clenching his teeth.

Several members of the crew immediately made a move, jumping out of their chairs and advancing towards him, before thinking better of it.

"Sir!" Ford called to him.

"You're in the brigg now, Commander!" he called.

He turned back to Lucas, "You do not disobey an order!" he screamed.

He let go of Lucas' shirt and adjusted his own clothing, "I have had enough of all of you, you in particular, Wolenczak! You really need to be taught a lesson."

He grabbed a hold of Lucas' left hand roughly and put it onto the consul, "Put your palm FLAT!" he ordered.

Lucas looked at him, afraid, but did what he was told anyway. The crew looked concerned, but unable to process what was happening they did nothing.

Most of the crew just stared open mouthed when the General produced a hammer from the Captain's draw near them. What would he need a tool like that for? Surely we wasn’t actually going to do anything with it.

Before anyone could react the General raised the hammer and slammed it into two of Lucas' fingers. It happened in slow motion. No one could believe that he would actually do it, even when he raised the hammer. Even when it slammed into Lucas' fingers, every one still thought it must have landed on the table next to his hand to scare him.

That was until Lucas screamed. Mouths fell open in horror as Lucas sank to his knees. Most people either physically jumped or lost all colour in their faces.

The bridge was in so much shock that Thomas was able to hit him again, before Jonathan rushed forward and put his own hand over Lucas'. He glared at the General furiously.

Thomas looked at Ford and slowly let the hammer drop to his side, letting go of Lucas' hand. Lucas sank all the way to the floor, grabbing his left wrist with his other hand and whimpering.

O'Neill darted around the General to tend to Lucas.

"I'll be contacting someone who can relieve you. You can’t get away with violence like that towards a civilian, one of our crew members on the bridge."

The General glared at Lucas and he placed the hammer back into the draw, "You'd be suprised what I can get away with, Commander," he glaread at Lucas who was struggling in pain, "Don't test me."