The Hand of Wrath, chapter 4 [PG-13, seaQuest, Bridger/Westphalen, WIP]
apologies for the delay in posting this here. school has started for me. chapter 5 will be hopefully coming VERY soon--it's only a few scenes from being ready for beta!
index post
A/N: My information on the Aleut language, mythology and art used in this chapter was pulled from a few different sources. They include Native-Languages.org, Omniglot.com, the Kate Shugak novels written by bestselling author (and Alaskan native) Dana Stabenow, and various sources linked from Wikipedia's articles on the Aleutian people and their culture. The mask described in detail is called "Raven Stealing the Sun" and was done by artist Jerry Laktonen. You can google his name to see more of his beautiful creations.
Chapter 4 ~ Tacita Ultio
Anchorage, Alaska
"Are you sure you don't mind staying here all by yourself?"
Charli smiled in mild amusement. It was the fourth time Kristin had asked her that same question that morning. Most of the crew were taking what little time there was for a day of shore leave. "Honest, Doctor, I'll be fine. I really need to work on my thesis anyway."
"Very well, then." Kristin shut down her console. "Then I suppose I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, Darwin will want to go out to eat in about two hours. And since we're docked, no need to pressurize the moon pool, either. When he comes back in, check his tail if he'll let you, just to make sure the bandages have stayed in place. I know he's been rather contrary of late." She cast a fond look in the direction of the moon pool. "If there are any problems, just contact the bridge and they'll get ahold of Doctor Levin or myself."
Charli waved good-bye and watched the doctor head out the door. She counted five minutes while listening to the odd sound of near silence that encompassed sea deck before opening a communication link on her console and typing in a brief message:
Cuz,
I think I will have time for lunch, after all. I'll meet you in about three hours at that café you mentioned. But don't forget, I have to return to the ship no later than 1700.
C
(*)
"Are you sure you don't wish to go ashore, sir?" Jonathan Ford studied the captain's profile, noticing the tension in his posture. He had not missed his superior officer's dark disposition of the past few days. He figured it had to do with Darwin's recent injury, but wondered if something more was going on, as he knew that the dolphin was healing well.
Nathan shook his head. "I'm not in the mood right now. I can wait until we get to Japan. Go enjoy yourself, Jonathan."
After his first officer had departed, Nathan sighed, staring at the WSKR view onscreen without really seeing it. He hadn't spoken to Kristin in three days. The only times they'd seen one another had been in passing; she had either avoided his gaze or nodded politely. He sensed she was still annoyed with him. In hindsight, he didn't blame her. She had been right about the patient being first priority, and he had completely ignored that.
Their argument had spoiled his initial plans to ask her to dinner. He had even had a location in mind: a small, family-run Italian place that overlooked Prince William Sound. The late sunsets always painted the glaciers with a myriad of colors and there was usually a chance of seeing otters or sea lions on the rocks below.
He idly wondered if she had intended on taking any shore leave. He didn't remember her mentioning it, so hopefully, she was still onboard. It wouldn't be what he'd originally had in mind, but if she accepted his apology, at least they could spend some time together. Opening the audio link, he entered the code to sea deck.
"Sea Deck, this is Barrett."
"Miss Barrett, is Doctor Westphalen there?" he asked, doing his best to hide his disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Captain Bridger, but she went topside about a half hour ago. Was it urgent? I could try paging her PAL."
"No, that's all right. Thank you." Closing the link, he sighed again, this time in discontent. He would have to wait until tomorrow, it seemed.
(*)
Despite spending all morning and most of the afternoon walking about Anchorage, Kristin couldn't shake off her glum mood. She hadn't talked to Nathan since their argument the day of Darwin's incident. Both of them had been no more busy than usual, but every time there was a free moment, she found herself putting it off, not willing to get into another argument should he still be angry with her.
Hopefully, the upcoming weeks while they headed towards Japan would prove to be a welcome distraction. Charli was sketching out a timeframe to do her glacial studies and had already told Kristin she was welcome to join her. Arrangements were already in place for Lieutenant Krieg to drive a seaCrab and be her escort. The girl was truly a delight to have aboard seaQuest. She got along well with everyone she interacted with, though there were no signs of forming any sort of close bonds with anyone, which was a bit puzzling. Normally, on long tours, people made friends quickly so they had companionship for the months ahead.
Shrugging the thought away, she paused before the display window of a shop that was showcasing various forms of Aleut art. The delicately woven baskets were first to catch her eye, but the masks were what drew her inside the shop. She circled the shop's interior, studying each of them, but found herself returning to one that was part of a larger display in the shop's central area. It was round and painted mostly black, with black feathers attached around the edges. The red paint used to create the mask's face seemed to be glaring at her and gave her a momentary chill down her back.
"Aang, anything I can help you find?" The young Aleut girl who had been behind the counter stepped out onto the floor. Her name tag read "Katya".
Kristin shook her head. "Not in particular. I came in for a closer look at your masks. They're quite exquisite."
Katya nodded. "My uncle's work. He has been creating masks for almost forty years now. Each one is inspired by ancestral tales. Does any one in particular catch your eye?"
"They're all beautiful, but this one...." Kristin brushed her fingertips over the round mask's black feathers. "It is just as beautiful, but at the same time, almost....sinister."
"That is Qanglaagix. Raven, the trickster," the girl explained. "But he was not evil. He always ended up helping the people; he simply caused a lot of trouble in the process." A faint smile curved her lips.
Kristin found herself smiling as well. "Sounds like Lucas." At Katya's questioning look, she added, "Lucas is one of my research assistants on the ship I work on."
"You are a UEO officer? For some reason, you look familiar."
"Oh, no, I'm not in the military. I'm a doctor on a UEO ship, though."
Katya's eyes widened. "That is why you look familiar! You are the seaQuest's doctor. I saw the stories about your award on the news. It must be very exciting to sail all around the world."
Kristin smiled at the girl's exuberance. "It can be, but it's not all excitement and new discoveries."
"I suppose that is true. Much work must be done before the rewards of the harvest can be reaped." Katya waved a hand. "But you are not here to listen to me chatter like a chickadee, obviously. So if there is anything I can help you find or that you wish to have a closer look at, let me know."
"Well, my daughter's birthday is coming up in a couple months...." Kristin's gaze fell on another display of carved wooden figurines inside a glass cabinet. One immediately caught her eye, that of a dolphin jumping from a wave.
Katya's gaze followed hers. "Some of these are also my uncle's work. His favorite animals to carve are the otter and the dolphin."
"The dolphin is actually the one I was looking at." Before Kristin could even ask, Katya had ducked behind the counter and opened up the case, removing the small wooden dolphin. She handed it to Kristin, who turned it over slowly in her hands, admiring the details in the craftsmanship. "Such lovely work. I think I'll take this one for Cynthia."
The faint jangle form the door made Katya look up. "Aang, be with you in a moment." After ringing up the transaction, she wrapped the carved dolphin carefully in protective paper, then secured it in a box. "Here you are. I hope your daughter likes it."
Kristin took the box and gave Katya a final smile. "Oh, I'm sure she will. Thank you."
"You are welcome. It was nice to meet you."
"The same. Have a good afternoon, Katya."
"And you, Doctor. Ukudigada."
"Excuse me." Kristin was almost to the door when the words got her attention. She turned to face a dark-haired man about her age. His expression was one of worry. "Did I hear the shop clerk say you're a doctor?"
"Yes, I am."
The man sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God. Could I get your help with my friend? We just got into town and, while I was parking the car, he started complaining of chest pain. I tried to ask him how bad it was, but he passed out."
"And you've called for assistance?" Kristin followed the man as he led the way outside and towards a light-colored vehicle parked nearby.
"I have, but they seem to be taking a really long time. And my friend--he has a family history and all...." The man gestured helplessly and opened the car door, stepping back to allow her access.
"Well, I can look him over and anything I can determine, I'll inform the paramedics when they arrive." Kristin peered inside the car. A young Aleut man sat slumped over in the seat. His face was unnaturally pale and he was breathing shallowly. The sight made her climb in next to him without thinking. She pressed two fingers to his neck and barely had time to feel the steady beat against her fingertips before she was roughly grabbed from behind. A wet cloth was pressed to her face. Recognizing the nauseatingly sweet scent, she tried in vain to jerk her head away from it. But the little she had already inhaled was enough to send her spiraling down into unconsciousness.
(*)
The launch bay was a hubbub of activity that evening, with many of the crew returning from their day of shore leave. Charli climbed up the ladder and quickly descended the steps to the ID scanner, ignoring the chaos around her. Unshouldering her backpack, she dug out her ID card and passed it under the scanner. The scanner chirped in response and she returned the card to its place. Turning to leave the launch bay, she suddenly paused with a frown. Reaching back into the pocket she'd placed the ID card into, she removed it again and looked more closely at it; then shook her head in self-deprecation and rifled through the pocket again.
"Hey, Charli."
The greeting made her jump. She forced herself to take a deep breath before she turned to face a member of the science team.
Ensign Alisha Williams stood behind her, her own ID card in hand. "You okay?"
Charli swiped the newfound card under the scanner and waited for the confirming chirp. "Hey, Alisha. Nothing's wrong, but I just tried to use my university ID to check myself back onboard." She didn't see it...did she? No, she couldn't have.
Williams smiled and swiped her ID before putting it back in the pocket of her jeans. "Yeah, I don't think that will work."
Okay, she didn't. That's a relief. "Oh, the computer told me so in no uncertain terms." The two young women laughed together as they left the launch bay.
(*)
As seaQuest crossed from the Cook Inlet into open water at 0210 the next morning, a small craft was docking on a distant island in the Aleutians. Were anyone able to see through the cloak of fog blanketing the island, they would have noticed two figures climb out of the craft supporting a third, and a fourth figure come out of a nearby building to meet them.
"Took you long enough."
"C'mon, Len, cut us some slack. The currents around Unimak were a bitch to navigate."
"I'm not interested in your little problems. Did anyone follow you?"
"If they had, would we be here right now?? No, we'd be leading them on a wild goose chase."
"Don't get smart with me. I need to ensure that no one finds out we're here, or that we have her until I'm ready for them to know."
"They won't. The hand-off was taken care of. Long as it made it to the receiving end, we're good."
"Her communication device?"
"Tossed off the docks before we left. Far as anyone will know, she's still in Anchorage."
"Perfect."
index post
A/N: My information on the Aleut language, mythology and art used in this chapter was pulled from a few different sources. They include Native-Languages.org, Omniglot.com, the Kate Shugak novels written by bestselling author (and Alaskan native) Dana Stabenow, and various sources linked from Wikipedia's articles on the Aleutian people and their culture. The mask described in detail is called "Raven Stealing the Sun" and was done by artist Jerry Laktonen. You can google his name to see more of his beautiful creations.
Chapter 4 ~ Tacita Ultio
Anchorage, Alaska
"Are you sure you don't mind staying here all by yourself?"
Charli smiled in mild amusement. It was the fourth time Kristin had asked her that same question that morning. Most of the crew were taking what little time there was for a day of shore leave. "Honest, Doctor, I'll be fine. I really need to work on my thesis anyway."
"Very well, then." Kristin shut down her console. "Then I suppose I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, Darwin will want to go out to eat in about two hours. And since we're docked, no need to pressurize the moon pool, either. When he comes back in, check his tail if he'll let you, just to make sure the bandages have stayed in place. I know he's been rather contrary of late." She cast a fond look in the direction of the moon pool. "If there are any problems, just contact the bridge and they'll get ahold of Doctor Levin or myself."
Charli waved good-bye and watched the doctor head out the door. She counted five minutes while listening to the odd sound of near silence that encompassed sea deck before opening a communication link on her console and typing in a brief message:
Cuz,
I think I will have time for lunch, after all. I'll meet you in about three hours at that café you mentioned. But don't forget, I have to return to the ship no later than 1700.
C
(*)
"Are you sure you don't wish to go ashore, sir?" Jonathan Ford studied the captain's profile, noticing the tension in his posture. He had not missed his superior officer's dark disposition of the past few days. He figured it had to do with Darwin's recent injury, but wondered if something more was going on, as he knew that the dolphin was healing well.
Nathan shook his head. "I'm not in the mood right now. I can wait until we get to Japan. Go enjoy yourself, Jonathan."
After his first officer had departed, Nathan sighed, staring at the WSKR view onscreen without really seeing it. He hadn't spoken to Kristin in three days. The only times they'd seen one another had been in passing; she had either avoided his gaze or nodded politely. He sensed she was still annoyed with him. In hindsight, he didn't blame her. She had been right about the patient being first priority, and he had completely ignored that.
Their argument had spoiled his initial plans to ask her to dinner. He had even had a location in mind: a small, family-run Italian place that overlooked Prince William Sound. The late sunsets always painted the glaciers with a myriad of colors and there was usually a chance of seeing otters or sea lions on the rocks below.
He idly wondered if she had intended on taking any shore leave. He didn't remember her mentioning it, so hopefully, she was still onboard. It wouldn't be what he'd originally had in mind, but if she accepted his apology, at least they could spend some time together. Opening the audio link, he entered the code to sea deck.
"Sea Deck, this is Barrett."
"Miss Barrett, is Doctor Westphalen there?" he asked, doing his best to hide his disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Captain Bridger, but she went topside about a half hour ago. Was it urgent? I could try paging her PAL."
"No, that's all right. Thank you." Closing the link, he sighed again, this time in discontent. He would have to wait until tomorrow, it seemed.
(*)
Despite spending all morning and most of the afternoon walking about Anchorage, Kristin couldn't shake off her glum mood. She hadn't talked to Nathan since their argument the day of Darwin's incident. Both of them had been no more busy than usual, but every time there was a free moment, she found herself putting it off, not willing to get into another argument should he still be angry with her.
Hopefully, the upcoming weeks while they headed towards Japan would prove to be a welcome distraction. Charli was sketching out a timeframe to do her glacial studies and had already told Kristin she was welcome to join her. Arrangements were already in place for Lieutenant Krieg to drive a seaCrab and be her escort. The girl was truly a delight to have aboard seaQuest. She got along well with everyone she interacted with, though there were no signs of forming any sort of close bonds with anyone, which was a bit puzzling. Normally, on long tours, people made friends quickly so they had companionship for the months ahead.
Shrugging the thought away, she paused before the display window of a shop that was showcasing various forms of Aleut art. The delicately woven baskets were first to catch her eye, but the masks were what drew her inside the shop. She circled the shop's interior, studying each of them, but found herself returning to one that was part of a larger display in the shop's central area. It was round and painted mostly black, with black feathers attached around the edges. The red paint used to create the mask's face seemed to be glaring at her and gave her a momentary chill down her back.
"Aang, anything I can help you find?" The young Aleut girl who had been behind the counter stepped out onto the floor. Her name tag read "Katya".
Kristin shook her head. "Not in particular. I came in for a closer look at your masks. They're quite exquisite."
Katya nodded. "My uncle's work. He has been creating masks for almost forty years now. Each one is inspired by ancestral tales. Does any one in particular catch your eye?"
"They're all beautiful, but this one...." Kristin brushed her fingertips over the round mask's black feathers. "It is just as beautiful, but at the same time, almost....sinister."
"That is Qanglaagix. Raven, the trickster," the girl explained. "But he was not evil. He always ended up helping the people; he simply caused a lot of trouble in the process." A faint smile curved her lips.
Kristin found herself smiling as well. "Sounds like Lucas." At Katya's questioning look, she added, "Lucas is one of my research assistants on the ship I work on."
"You are a UEO officer? For some reason, you look familiar."
"Oh, no, I'm not in the military. I'm a doctor on a UEO ship, though."
Katya's eyes widened. "That is why you look familiar! You are the seaQuest's doctor. I saw the stories about your award on the news. It must be very exciting to sail all around the world."
Kristin smiled at the girl's exuberance. "It can be, but it's not all excitement and new discoveries."
"I suppose that is true. Much work must be done before the rewards of the harvest can be reaped." Katya waved a hand. "But you are not here to listen to me chatter like a chickadee, obviously. So if there is anything I can help you find or that you wish to have a closer look at, let me know."
"Well, my daughter's birthday is coming up in a couple months...." Kristin's gaze fell on another display of carved wooden figurines inside a glass cabinet. One immediately caught her eye, that of a dolphin jumping from a wave.
Katya's gaze followed hers. "Some of these are also my uncle's work. His favorite animals to carve are the otter and the dolphin."
"The dolphin is actually the one I was looking at." Before Kristin could even ask, Katya had ducked behind the counter and opened up the case, removing the small wooden dolphin. She handed it to Kristin, who turned it over slowly in her hands, admiring the details in the craftsmanship. "Such lovely work. I think I'll take this one for Cynthia."
The faint jangle form the door made Katya look up. "Aang, be with you in a moment." After ringing up the transaction, she wrapped the carved dolphin carefully in protective paper, then secured it in a box. "Here you are. I hope your daughter likes it."
Kristin took the box and gave Katya a final smile. "Oh, I'm sure she will. Thank you."
"You are welcome. It was nice to meet you."
"The same. Have a good afternoon, Katya."
"And you, Doctor. Ukudigada."
"Excuse me." Kristin was almost to the door when the words got her attention. She turned to face a dark-haired man about her age. His expression was one of worry. "Did I hear the shop clerk say you're a doctor?"
"Yes, I am."
The man sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God. Could I get your help with my friend? We just got into town and, while I was parking the car, he started complaining of chest pain. I tried to ask him how bad it was, but he passed out."
"And you've called for assistance?" Kristin followed the man as he led the way outside and towards a light-colored vehicle parked nearby.
"I have, but they seem to be taking a really long time. And my friend--he has a family history and all...." The man gestured helplessly and opened the car door, stepping back to allow her access.
"Well, I can look him over and anything I can determine, I'll inform the paramedics when they arrive." Kristin peered inside the car. A young Aleut man sat slumped over in the seat. His face was unnaturally pale and he was breathing shallowly. The sight made her climb in next to him without thinking. She pressed two fingers to his neck and barely had time to feel the steady beat against her fingertips before she was roughly grabbed from behind. A wet cloth was pressed to her face. Recognizing the nauseatingly sweet scent, she tried in vain to jerk her head away from it. But the little she had already inhaled was enough to send her spiraling down into unconsciousness.
(*)
The launch bay was a hubbub of activity that evening, with many of the crew returning from their day of shore leave. Charli climbed up the ladder and quickly descended the steps to the ID scanner, ignoring the chaos around her. Unshouldering her backpack, she dug out her ID card and passed it under the scanner. The scanner chirped in response and she returned the card to its place. Turning to leave the launch bay, she suddenly paused with a frown. Reaching back into the pocket she'd placed the ID card into, she removed it again and looked more closely at it; then shook her head in self-deprecation and rifled through the pocket again.
"Hey, Charli."
The greeting made her jump. She forced herself to take a deep breath before she turned to face a member of the science team.
Ensign Alisha Williams stood behind her, her own ID card in hand. "You okay?"
Charli swiped the newfound card under the scanner and waited for the confirming chirp. "Hey, Alisha. Nothing's wrong, but I just tried to use my university ID to check myself back onboard." She didn't see it...did she? No, she couldn't have.
Williams smiled and swiped her ID before putting it back in the pocket of her jeans. "Yeah, I don't think that will work."
Okay, she didn't. That's a relief. "Oh, the computer told me so in no uncertain terms." The two young women laughed together as they left the launch bay.
(*)
As seaQuest crossed from the Cook Inlet into open water at 0210 the next morning, a small craft was docking on a distant island in the Aleutians. Were anyone able to see through the cloak of fog blanketing the island, they would have noticed two figures climb out of the craft supporting a third, and a fourth figure come out of a nearby building to meet them.
"Took you long enough."
"C'mon, Len, cut us some slack. The currents around Unimak were a bitch to navigate."
"I'm not interested in your little problems. Did anyone follow you?"
"If they had, would we be here right now?? No, we'd be leading them on a wild goose chase."
"Don't get smart with me. I need to ensure that no one finds out we're here, or that we have her until I'm ready for them to know."
"They won't. The hand-off was taken care of. Long as it made it to the receiving end, we're good."
"Her communication device?"
"Tossed off the docks before we left. Far as anyone will know, she's still in Anchorage."
"Perfect."