The Intruder

by Michelle Pichette & Holly Cushing

    Lee sighed as he glanced at his watch. It was just going on midnight. “What a way to spend Christmas,” he muttered, looking at the Seaview’s Control Room. Normally, it was one of his favorite places to be, but not this time of year and not because someone else did not seem to understand the meaning of the season. Or, perhaps, that someone had understood it very well indeed and had decided to change it forever.

    The Seaview had been called upon to help hunt down a submarine that a terrorist had purchased from a struggling Russian government, then armed with nuclear missiles he’d bought on the black market. The terrorist had announced his intention to bomb several holy sites on Christmas Day, including Vatican City. They had stopped him in time, but now there was no way that the Seaview would be back in Santa Barbara before Christmas was over. Lee knew the men had been looking forward to spending time with family or friends, but no one had complained. They hadn’t even been the ones to eventually catch the terrorist’s sub, though they had chased it down into the waiting path of the Australian Navy. There was nothing left of the boat but a broken hull on the bottom. It wasn’t a very Christian thought, but Lee wished that they’d been the ones that had sent it there.

“Merry Christmas, Lee,” Chip said in a low, tired voice.

Lee looked over at him and offered him the cheeriest grin he could muster. “Merry Christmas, Chip. You look done in. Why don’t you go get some sleep?”

Chip shook his head and opened his mouth to reply when a sound echoed through the Control Room. A rapping sound that seemed to start at the nose of the Seaview and run along her submerged deck.

“What was that?” Chip asked as Lee moved swiftly to the periscope to take a look. “Sonar, radar, hydrophone, are you people asleep? What hit us?”

The three men all looked equally shocked and surprised, one stammering out, “Sir, there’s nothing... Everything’s clear.”

Lee scanned the deck and sure enough, it was empty and undamaged from stem to stern. He scanned the area around the Seaview, but the ocean was as clear as the screens indicated they ought to be.

“He’s right. Everything is clear. I don’t know what that was, but it appears to be gone.”

Chip frowned. “Well, we all heard something hit us, or at least bump across the hull.” He gave a pointed look to the men he’d just addressed. “Keep your eyes open.”

“Yes sir,” came a chorused reply, but Chip didn’t look any happier.

“Probably just some small debris in the water. Something that slipped past the radar,” Lee reassured him. He didn’t see the sense in getting all upset about it. There was no damage to the boat and nothing to indicate trouble.

“I don’t know about that, Lee. Every time something like this happens, it means trouble, major trouble, usually from some weird something or other,” Chip grumbled.

Lee knew what Chip was saying was true, but he had the strangest feeling that it just wasn’t the case this time. “I know, I know, but what would else would you suggest it was?”

Chip shook his head. “It sounded like something running across the deck, but we’re five hundred feet under water, so we all know that’s not possible. It’s bad enough we’re away from home on Christmas. We don’t need any hostiles to top that off. Maybe we should report this to the Admiral.”

“Report what? That we heard a noise. I don’t think he’d be happy about being woken up for something as silly as that,” Lee said.

“Okay, Lee, okay, but I still think something weird is going to happen. You remember I told you that,” Chip said.

Lee grinned. “Sure, Chip. I’ll remember.” He went back to the plotting table and looked at their position. The absolute middle of nowhere, that’s where they were. Why would anyone want to bother them here? Lee shook his head, knowing full well that had never seemed to bother anyone before this. Somehow, though, he just couldn’t work up an anxiety over what had happened.

* * *

Riley had been asleep, having the absolute greatest surfing dream ever, when he woke to something thumping him on the chest. Groggy, he started to sit up in his bunk, hearing barely coherent complaints starting to sound off around him.  Something slid down his chest and into his lap. He rubbed his eyes and looked down, seeing a small, brightly wrapped box in his lap. Riley looked around at the other men in the other bunks and they all seemed to have received a surprise gift as well.

    Shrugging, Riley decided to open his. He popped the ribbon off and opened the box. A grin spread across his face as he saw what was inside. Several small tins lined the box and Riley lifted one out. It was wax, surf board wax, but from a company that had gone belly up years ago, when Riley had first gotten into surfing. It had been his favorite wax, though, and he’d been depressed when the small supply he’d managed to squirrel away had finally given out. He’d always wished he had a little more, just for competitions, and now he did!

“Way cool!” Riley beamed, then examined the box to try and find something to tell him who’d given him this great present. Attached to the ribbon was a small tag that he hadn’t noticed before. It read simply: Santa. Riley laughed and wondered if the Admiral or the Chief or somebody was playing some sort of joke or rewarding everyone for a year’s hard work. Either way, Riley didn’t care. He loved his gift and he’d keep thanking people until he found the person who had given it to him.

                                                                          * * *

    Admiral Nelson had been fast asleep when a noise woke him up. He had always been quick to wake up, which had turned out to be a blessing many times in his life, and he was almost positive that what had roused him had been his cabin door closing. He looked around quickly, expecting some sort of trouble, when his eyes fell on his desk. There, in the center, was a gingerbread house, an elaborate, beautiful one, much like the ones his mother would make at Christmas time when he was a child. She would spend hours at it, meticulously working every detail. As Nelson took in the one on his desk, he could smell his mother’s kitchen as it smelled around the holidays. The Admiral breathed in deeply the scent of ginger and apple pies and turkey cooking. It made him feel for a moment like he was home.

Shaking off the sensation, Nelson moved to his desk to get a better look at the gingerbread house, thinking perhaps he would find out who had left it. There, on the board that supported the construction, was a small card that simply read: Santa.

“Santa, ay?” Nelson chuckled, wondering who had gone to all the trouble to surprise him.

How could they have hidden such a thing or gotten aboard or even have known they’d still be out at sea on Christmas day? If they hadn’t gotten that emergency assignment, they would have been back in port days ago. This was odd, Nelson decided, but at the moment it didn’t seem life threatening. He decided the best course of action was to go talk to Lee about it. With that thought, Nelson turned and got dressed.

A few moments later, as he started down the spiral steps into the nose of the Seaview, Nelson could hear the buzz of voices before he saw what the commotion was about. In the nose next to the Flying Sub entry rail stood a magnificent Christmas tree, complete with ornaments, tinsel, and lights. Everyone in the Control Room was talking at once and gesturing toward the tree.

    “Lee, what is this? What’s going on here?” Nelson asked as he walked up to the Captain where he stood at the plotting table.

“Your guess is good as mine, Admiral,” Lee told him with an exasperated sigh. “One minute, everything’s normal, then we hear this tapping on the hull, then all of a sudden we started to get all these reports of strange things happening all over the boat!”

    “Strange things like someone putting up a Christmas tree in the nose?” Nelson questioned, nodding to the tree.

“But the thing is, no one put it up!” Lee exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “It just appeared!”

“Like magic?” Nelson said, but this time with a chuckle.

“First the tree, then we get a call from the Crew’s Quarters that everyone who was asleep suddenly found themselves pummeled with presents, then O’Brien reported the same thing, and the Doctor! Then, I looked back at the tree and saw the gifts under that, one for each of the men here on duty in the Control Room. After that, I started getting calls from all around Seaview that the men on duty were finding gifts at their work stations and they wanted to know what to do about it. The final straw was Cookie calling to tell me that several cooked and dressed turkeys were now in the Mess Halls, along with all the trimmings. Plenty for everyone, it appears. None of this makes any sense, but nothing harmful has happened. Frankly, I don’t know what to make of it,” Lee said, still waving his hands around in frustration.

“Wait, you said a tapping on the hull. What made the sound?” Nelson asked.

Lee looked down and put his hands on the plotting table, probably to bring them under control. “We don’t know. Nothing showed on any of our monitoring systems.”

    A funny thought tickled Nelson’s brain, but he shrugged it away for the moment. “All right, is there anyone you haven’t heard from? Any station that hasn’t reported in with these presents and weird happenings?” he asked, thinking maybe all of this sudden good fortune was a distraction, steering them away from something more dire. That’s how things usually seemed to work.

“I was checking on that. Chief, how’s that list coming?” Crane asked. 

Nelson looked up to see the Chief there reviewing something on a clipboard. Sharkey was in a robe and pajamas and Nelson assumed he had probably been off-duty when all this had started and had brought the report of what had happened in the Crews Quarters to the Captain personally. Kowalski was standing with him, his jumpsuit wasn’t fully closed and his hair was mussed, and Nelson assumed he’d come up with the Chief and was helping him organize the reports.

“Let’s see. We’ve heard from everyone but Hendricks in the Missile Room and Patterson in the Engine Room,” Sharkey reported.

Nelson cast an uneasy eye over at the failsafe controls, but they were all shut, as they should be. He picked up the nearest mike and clicked it, saying, “Missile Room, Engine Room, report status.” There was a moment of silence, then Nelson repeated, “Missile Room, Engine Room, report.” Still there was no reply. “Hendricks, Patterson, report in now!” Nelson said, the pleasant holiday atmosphere suddenly growing sinister. Nelson put down the mike, saying, “Sharkey, come with me. Lee, we’re going to the Engine Room. Send a security detail to the Missile Room and check there.”

Sharkey nodded and started to follow Nelson as he turned to go, and Lee said, “Kowalski, let’s go check out the Missile Room. Chip, let me know if anything else appears suddenly.”

With that, the four of them left the Control Room. Nelson began to hope all the sudden holiday cheer wasn't going to turn to tragedy as he and Sharkey made their way to the Engine Room. He didn’t know what to expect, but what he saw as he and Sharkey rushed into the Engine Room was totally unexpected. Patterson was sitting at one of the monitoring stations with his face in his hands, his whole body shaking. Nelson froze and blinked twice. Patterson was crying, he realized, and he approached the young man, gently laying a hand on his shoulder.

“Patterson...” Nelson started softly, not sure what to say beyond that.

Patterson seemed to snap out of whatever daze he’d been in and wiped his face violently. “Sorry...” he murmured. “Sorry, sir... Sorry...”

This shook Nelson and he was at a loss as to how to respond. Patterson was usually quiet and perhaps a bit self-conscious. He got angry sometimes, he got indignant very occasionally. He was strong and reliable, but not ever what Nelson would describe as weepy.

Sharkey rose to the situation and moved to Patterson, gripped him gently by the shoulder, saying in a soothing tone, “It’s okay, Patterson. It’s all right. What happened, kid?”

Patterson wiped his face one last time, then drew a deep trembling breath and seemed to pull himself the rest of the way back together, but he wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

“Sir, I was watching the boards. Everything was quiet. You know how it is most times late at night. Then I heard this voice say, ‘I know you wanted to say good-bye. He knows what you would have said if you’d gotten the chance.’ I turned around, looked all over, but no one was here. Just that voice. I looked out into the hall, but it was empty. When I turned back, here, that box was there.”

Patterson nodded behind himself to where a small velvet box sat on one of the panels. It was open and there was a pocket watch in it. “The watch was my father’s and his father’s before him. He had it on him when he was killed. It was smashed... I took it everywhere, trying to get it repaired. See, I knew how much it meant to him, but all the repair shops told me it wasn’t repairable. And now here it is, working perfectly...” Patterson stopped and shook his head, looking at the floor. At least now Nelson understood what he’d witnessed when he’d walked in. Pat had been letting go of grief that he probably hadn’t realized he’d been holding in. Nelson felt a shiver pass through him all the same.

    What was happening? First, he got to revisit his mother’s kitchen, if only for a moment, now Patterson and his father’s watch and what this mysterious voice had told him. He could only assume the other gifts were similarly personal, but it didn’t explain who was doing this or why.

“Patterson, are you all right? Do you want me to send someone down to relieve you for a few minutes so you can get a cup of coffee or something?” Sharkey asked, squeezing the sailor’s shoulder again.

Pat shook his head and gave the two of them a sheepish look. “I’m okay, Chief. I’m sorry, Admiral. It won’t happen again.”

Nelson waved off the apology, knowing he’d likely be a bit emotional himself if he’d been in the young man’s place. “It’s been a rather interesting night for all of us. Chief, I’m going aft to the Missile Room to see what’s going on there. Why don’t you and Patterson double check everything here, make sure our mysterious visitor didn’t do anything besides leave a gift.”

“Yes, sir,” Patterson said. He seemed to be feeling better and now that he had something to devote his attention to, Nelson was pretty sure he’d be fine.

“You don’t want me to go with you, Admiral?” Sharkey asked.

Nelson grinned. It was just like Sharkey to worry about him. “I’ll be fine, Chief. Just make sure the Seaview will be.”

“Aye, sir,” Sharkey said a bit begrudgingly and he and Pat began to check systems as Nelson turned to go.

He walked quickly to the Missile Room and was just coming through the hatch when he skidded to a halt, not believing what he saw. It was as if the Missile Room had been converted to the living room of someone’s house. Hendricks was standing at one end, opposite a woman, from whom a small child was unsteadily walking in the direction of Hendricks. Lee and Kowalski were stopped just into the room as well seemingly frozen in place, and a little past them was a stout man that Nelson could only describe as Santa Claus, right down to long white beard and the red suit. Nelson glanced back over his shoulder and could clearly see the rest of the Seaview behind him, so whatever was happening seemed restricted to the Missile Room.

The Santa Claus double was smiling broadly, his blue eyes fairly twinkling and his rose cheeks glowing with cheer as he watched the scene before him. He in no way appeared to be a threat to anyone, but all the strange things that had gone on unnerved Nelson and he started to question the man as to who he was and what he thought he was doing.

“What I always do, Harry, granting Christmas wishes. Some wishes were easy. Yours, to revisit simpler times, for instance,” the man commented before Nelson spoke a word. His voice was deep and gentle and, if such a thing were possible, palpably loving, as if the man had never had an ill thought of anyone in all his life. “But Edward here, all he wanted was to hear his daughter’s first words and see her first steps. It’s only an illusion, but for him, it’s real. And you know who I am.” He turned slightly and gave Nelson a wink.

Nelson frowned, beginning to get seriously concerned because this person could obviously read his mind and was capable of manifesting near-perfect illusions. The man chuckled, his whole body seeming to join in on the laugh.

“You needn’t be worried, Harry. I would never cause harm to another living thing. I only thought that you, your crew, indeed all men and women who bring a little safety and sanity to the craziness that claims this world in these troubled times, deserved thanks and a little joy on this day. This is my last stop on your vessel, then I will be gone. I am truly sorry if my presence, and my presents, have disrupted things here.”

Hendricks laughed suddenly and Nelson looked up to see him now holding his daughter in his arms, joy pretty much radiating from the man. Nelson thought about what the intruder had said, about what his intentions were. He still wondered why.

    “Because that’s what I do, Admiral. Granted, usually for children, but I think you and your crew have seen enough strange things that I doubt my appearance will cause any long reaching physiological difficulties. Would that I could do it for everyone who deserved it, young or old, but...” He paused and shrugged, seeming to grow a little sad, then looked back over at Hendricks and he smiled warmly. “Most adults, they’re more than capable of achieving their fondest wishes without my help. It’s actually refreshing to see that even in this jaded world, some men still see the worth of the simplest of things.”

With that, the illusion faded and the Missile Room once again returned to its normal self. Hendricks was still kneeling on the deck, but he was blinking his eyes rapidly, looking a bit dazed.

The intruder was suddenly at the escape hatch and he winked at Nelson again and said, “Merry Christmas and peace on Earth to men of good will.” He closed the hatch, then Nelson heard a sound, like something knocking across the hull of the Seaview above them.

“‘The prancing and pawing of each tiny hoof,’” Nelson murmured and suddenly Lee and Kowalski seemed to spring to life.

“Hendricks, what in the... Admiral, how did you get here so quickly?” Lee asked as he took in the room around him. Nelson wondered how he was going to explain what he’d seen to Lee and not be thought insane. Kowalski crossed quickly to Hendricks and helped him to his feet. Nelson and Lee followed him over.

“I don’t know what happened, sir. Must’ve gotten lightheaded or...” Hendricks murmured, rubbing his eyes.

“It’s all right, Hendricks. Are you all right to resume your duties?” Nelson said, wanting to set the man’s mind at ease.

Hendricks nodded. “Yes sir. I’m sorry. I really don’t know what happened. It’s like I was here one minute and back home with my wife and daughter the next. I can’t explain it.”

“Just go back to your watch, Hendricks,” Nelson said, giving the sailor a clap on the shoulder. “Oh, and Merry Christmas.”

Hendricks grinned sheepishly. “Almost more like Halloween, sir, but thank you. Merry Christmas to you, too.”

Nelson laughed softly and Lee gave him a funny look. “Carry on, Hendricks,” was all Lee said, then he turned to go. Nelson left with him and Kowalski followed.

“Ski, go on and get some sleep. Thanks for pitching in,” Lee told Kowalski as they neared the crew’s quarters.

“Uh, yes sir. Are you sure you won’t need me for anything else?” Kowalski asked, sounding unsure. Nelson didn’t blame him.

“I think everything’s under control now, Kowalski,” Nelson told him. “Happy Holidays.”

“Yes sir. You too, sir. And to you, Skipper,” Ski said.

Lee nodded to him, then Kowalski walked away. “So what just happened, Admiral? And don’t tell me you don’t know. I know you too well and I know that look on your face,” Lee said once Ski was gone.

The Admiral knew that Lee wasn’t going to back down and he also knew that Lee did deserve some sort of explanation.

“We had an visitor, but a benevolent one for once. He’s gone now and he won’t be back,” Nelson replied. Lee didn’t look at all satisfied by that explanation. “Lee, have you ever read the story, ‘A Visit From Saint Nicholas?’”

Lee let out an exasperated sigh and said, “Of course, but what has that got to do with what’s been going on tonight?”

“Let’s just say that we should treat this pretty much the same way as the man in the story did and leave well enough alone,” Nelson said.

Lee frowned for a moment and said, “If you say so, Admiral, but if anyone reports reindeer swimming around the Seaview, I’m scheduling the entire crew for a psychological screening.”

“I don't think you’ll have to worry about it, Lee. I doubt our visitor will be back,” Nelson said, then a grin formed on his face. “Oh, and Lee, Merry Christmas to all.”

    Lee shook his head to Nelson’s joke and finished for him, “And to all a good night.”

The End