Removing her glasses, she reached across the desk and gently pressed the button on the console. No more than two seconds later, she found herself gazing into a smiling pair of blue eyes.
“Lucas! Well, this is quite a surprise…how are you?”
The young man had the grace to look ashamed as he answered, “I’m really sorry about not answering any of your calls, but it’s been really hectic around here.”
Kristin nodded in understanding and smiled. “I know…so, tell me all about it? How’s the new boat?”
For the next twenty minutes, she listened as Lucas enthusiastically told her of the new SeaQuest, which was even bigger and more advanced than the first, the new crew, which consisted of a G.E.L.F., and an ex-convict named Tony Piccolo, who also happened to be his roommate, and some of the missions they’d been on.
“So uh, how’s everything on your end?” He asked as he finished his speech.
Kristin laughed and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m sorry to say that I haven’t had nearly as much excitement as you have. But, I’ve managed to stay busy enough.”
“Can I ask you a question, Doc?”
Kristin arched an eyebrow at the seriousness of his tone, but nodded her head. “Of course. What is it, Lucas?”
“Why didn’t you request an assignment onboard the new SeaQuest?”
Kristin sighed and answered, “By the time the new boat was put to sea, I had already committed myself to this post. It wouldn’t have been fair, or professional, of me to suddenly change my mind. It was not a decision I took lightly, believe me Lucas.”
“So, it has nothing to do with Captain Bridger?”
“Of course not.” She lied. “Whatever makes you think that?”
“Well, don’t forget that I caught the two of you in a rather compromising situation before the end of the first tour. I just assumed that when I got back from visiting my dad, you two’d be married or something.”
“You were only gone for three months, Lucas.” She chided.
“But you and the Cap were close the entire tour…I don’t know. I thought at the very least you’d be dating.”
Kristin smiled and shook her head. “We never got around to it. He was too busy in hearings…and then designing the boat. And I…well, I was busy too.”
“When’s the last time you spoke to him?”
“It’s been awhile.”
“How long is a while?”
“A year.”
“You haven’t spoken to him in a year?” He asked incredulously.
“Lucas…as I said earlier, we’ve both been extremely busy. Besides, I don’t think we have much to talk about.”
“You two were friends, though.”
“Well, sometimes friends drift apart. It’s a fact of life.”
“I guess. But don’t you miss it? I mean being on the SeaQuest?”
Kristin smiled and leaned forward. “Everyday. But I think it’s only fair to give someone else a shot at heading the science team. How is Joshua doing, by the way? He’s as bad as you are about returning calls.”
“Just between you and me, I don’t think he realized what he was getting into when he accepted the position. But at least he doesn’t have to worry about infirmary duties anymore.”
“Yes, how is Dr. Smith working out? I’ve heard nothing but good things about her.”
An uncomfortable look crossed Lucas’ face, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “She’s great.”
“Mmm hmm…what is it that you’re not telling me?”
“Nothing big…it’s just not the same without you here, Doc.”
“I miss you too, Lucas.”
“Well uh, I better go now. It was good talking to you.”
Kristin smiled and nodded. “Don’t be such a stranger. Maybe we could get together on your next shore leave?”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll let you know what’s up. Bye.”
Kristin stared at the dark screen for a few moments, deep in thought about the last night she'd seen Nathan Bridger.
Kristin sighed impatiently and glanced at her watch for the tenth time in the last five minutes. She wondered whether she should call the restaurant and move back the time of the reservation, or cancel it all together. In the end she did neither, but continued to gaze out of the window facing the driveway.
He would have an excuse of course, he always did. She’d lost count of the number of times he’d shown up late, or not at all, for one of their dates. She’d always been understanding of course. She knew he’d been held up in inquiries regarding the destruction of the SeaQuest and she’d leant a sympathizing ear to his rants. However, the hearings had been over for almost a month now and his tardiness continued. Now it seemed he was in and out of finance and design meetings for the new boat, and other engagements lost their importance.
She poured herself a glass of wine and sat down heavily in one of the cushioned easy-chairs. Kristin decided that tonight she was drawing a line. She loved Nathan, of that she had no doubt, but she refused to be brushed aside any longer. If she was able to find a balance between her work and their relationship, then he should be able to do the same. Unless of course their relationship wasn’t as important to him as it was to her, which had crossed her mind on several occasions.
She’d almost gone through the entire bottle of wine before she heard the jingle of keys at the door. A few seconds later, Nathan entered the room, tossing his briefcase on a vacant chair and turning on the lamp. He seemed surprise to find her sitting there in the dark, but flew into explanations right away.
“I’m sorry Kris. Noyce and McGath wanted to go over some last minute details…just give me a few seconds to change and—“
“Don’t bother. I canceled the reservation.” Kristin said dryly.
Nathan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, maybe we can go somewhere else.”
“I seemed to have lost my appetite. Besides, you’d be hard-pressed to find something decent open at eleven o’clock.”
“Look, what do you want me to say? I told you I’m sorry—“ Nathan started defensively. Her tone was slightly irritating, and he knew a fight was forthcoming.
“Are you?” Kristin asked angrily as she rose to her feet. “Because, I think if you were, you’d make more of an effort to be home on time.”
“Let’s not do this, Kristin. It’s late and I think we could both use some sleep.” He said just as he noticed the wine bottle on the small round table. “Did you drink all that by yourself?” He asked. It would explain her agitated manner.
“Don’t try to change the subject Nathan…you and I are going to talk.”
Nathan thought it best to humor her in the present situation and nodded his head in assent. “Ok…we’ll talk. Why don’t you have a seat, and—“
“Don’t patronize me, Bridger. I am going to talk and you are going to listen.” When he offered no protest, she launched into her diatribe. “When we started this relationship two months ago, I knew that we wouldn’t have much time together initially…I mean with all the hearings and inquiries. I accepted it.”
“I know.” Nathan whispered.
“But it’s not the hearings that are keeping you away now…it’s design specifications and finance tables.”
“It’s my work, Kris—“
“I know that. I know your work is very important to you, I’d be a hypocrite to criticize you for that. My work is very important to me as well. But it doesn’t seem quite fair to me that I seem to be doing all the work in this relationship.”
Bridger remained silent because he had no comeback. She was right. Instead he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly. Kristin walked over to the window and turned her back on him. “I need to know that I figure just a little in your world.”
“Of course you do.”
“Then why don’t you act like it? Just once I’d like to feel more important than your boat.”
“Don’t ask me to choose Kristin.” Nathan whispered.
Kristin turned to face him and wrapped her arms around herself protectively. “I’m not asking you to choose…I’m asking you to put a little more energy into our relationship.”
“I can’t right now. Once things get off the ground with SeaQuest, I promise that we’ll be able to spend more time together.”
Kristin sighed and spoke so softly that Nathan had to strain to hear her. “I can’t accept that. I can’t always come in second.”
“It’ll only be for a few more weeks—“
“That’s what you told me a month ago, Nathan. No…I know where your priorities lie now.”
“So what…your ending it? Just like that?”
“No, you’re ending it.”
Nathan exhaled loudly in frustration and crossed over to her. “I don’t want it to be like this.”
“I don’t either.” She admitted softly. “But, I don’t have any other choice. When you’re ready…if you’re ever ready, for a relationship…well, you know where to find me.”
Nathan pulled her into a loose embrace and rested his forehead against hers. “I promise you that this isn’t over yet, Kristin. I’ll come for you when things calm down.”
But he never did. He’d moved all of his things out of her beach house two days later, and never came back. Kristin tried to convince herself that she had made the right decision, that it would have ended sooner or later between the two of them. However, nights spent alone in the spacious bed near drove her crazy, and she wondered how she had ever gotten on without him for so long.
She resented the fact that he seemed to be able to move on so quickly without her. Suddenly, she slammed her fist down on her desk and stood up. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to get any work done once she started thinking about Nathan, so she grabbed her briefcase and hurriedly exited the building. When am I ever going to get over him?
Admiral William Fuller Noyce paced impatiently inside of Kristin Westphalen’s office and lightly trailed fingers over various awards and plaques. He didn’t see eye to eye with the good doctor on most things, but even he had to admit that she was one of the greatest minds in the UEO, perhaps in the world.
He glanced at his watch and realized that she was twenty minutes late. Her secretary, a young man of no more than twenty-five, gazed curiously in the office window and smiled in embarrassment when he realized that the older man was staring back at him. Noyce was just about to take the young man up on his offer for coffee when a familiar voice reached his ears.
“Good Morning, Marcus. Sorry I’m late, but you wouldn’t believe the traffic out there. When you get the time, please make sure that everyone gets a copy of the research schedule…I had to revise it last night. Send out a memo that I’m moving the staff meeting to three instead of one. Please hold all my calls unless they are extremely urgent, and remind Michael and Elise that I still need their proposals. Call Jake and tell him that I’m going to have to cancel lunch…I don’t have the time. Tell him I’ll get in touch and reschedule though. Also, could you send these out with the mail? Thank you.”
Bill smiled as Kristin entered her office, not giving the young man a chance to inform her of the visitor. She was almost to her desk before she even noticed his presence. “Admiral…good morning. I didn’t see you there.”
“Tell me Doctor, do your mornings usually start out this exciting?”
Kristin smiled in response as she set her briefcase and the armload of folders onto her cluttered desk. “Actually, today is pretty tame compared to what it usually is. I really don’t know what I’d do with out Marcus.”
The young man suddenly appeared at the door and crossed the room to Kristin. He handed her a steaming mug of coffee and looked to the admiral. “Are you sure you don’t want any coffee?”
“I’m trying to cut down on the caffeine.” He responded as sat down in one of the cushioned chairs facing Kristin.
“Thank you Marcus, can you please close the door behind you when you leave?”
Marcus nodded and pulled the door behind him. Kristin sat down in her chair and took a grateful sip of the hot beverage. “So, what can I do for you Admiral?”
“You get right to the point, don’t you Doctor?”
“It’s all part of my charm…well that, and the fact that I’m swamped today.”
“I understand, believe me.” Noyce cleared his throat and leaned forward. “We were contacted yesterday by a mining colony in the pacific…Southern Light. Have you heard of it?”
Kristin shook her head. “Never.”
“They don’t have a very large profile…small company. We usually get our mineral supplies from their competitor, Echo Canyon.”
“Now, I’ve heard of them.”
“Yes, I thought you might have. As I said, we were contacted yesterday by Southern Light…it seems they’re having problems with some of their extracts.”
“What kinds of problems?”
Bill sighed. “They’re accusing Echo Canyon of secretly and purposely contaminating their mines with toxins.”
“What?”
Bill shrugged and met Kristin’s gaze. “Apparently they’ve been competing for some of the same contracts…after Southern Light sealed a deal with Cochise Enterprises, they started encountering trouble with their samples. They don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“Echo Canyon is worth billions of dollars, I don’t think they’d go to the trouble of tampering with another company’s mines over a lousy contract or two. Especially one as small as Southern Light.”
“I agree, but the UEO has to appear neutral and un-biased since we are customers of Echo Canyon. Which brings me to the point of my visit. I need you to assemble a team to go and investigate the claims.”
“Investigate?”
“Yes, study the samples, figure out the source of the toxin. For all we know, it could be something in the water.”
“Not likely.” Kristin shook her head.
“Well, that’s what you’ll be there to find out. You’ll be accompanied by a military contingent…they’ll be doing interviews and that sort of thing. If they were purposely sabotaged, then they could have done it themselves to cast blame on Echo Canyon.”
Kristin nodded and set her coffee mug down upon the desk. “When should we be ready to leave?”
“The SeaQuest will be in port the day after tomorrow to pick your team up.”
“The SeaQuest?” She blurted.
“Yes…is there a problem, Doctor?”
“Um…no. I was just…surprised.”
“Like I said, we have to appear neutral in all this. By sending the SeaQuest, and the very best scientists we have to offer, I’d say they have to admit that we are dedicating enough attention to this claim.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Well, I’ll let you get started on your day.” Noyce said as he stood up and walked over to the door. “I don’t know how long you’ll be staying…so pack at your discretion.”
Kristin nodded her head, but wasn’t really paying attention to his last words. Her mind was still reeling from the knowledge that she was going to have to spend the next few days on a submarine, captained by the one man she never wanted to see again.
