The Last Ship~ Season 1

Chapter 6~ Lockdown

Weighing anchor, I turned my bow for the open sea, setting a course for home. I was both excited and worried of what I might find. Would Arleigh still be alive? Had he contracted the virus? If he had, I sure hoped Dr. Scott would have a vaccine ready. So far, though things were not looking up. The monkeys kept on dying, meaning that the right combination between the primordial strand of the virus, and the vaccine had not been found yet. "Not looking so good I see." I said as Dr. Scott dumped overboard the dead monkeys. She sighed. "Unfortunately, the prototype is trickier to work than I thought." She replied. "You'll figure it out eventually." I said. "I know, thank you Nathan." She said. I nodded. "Anytime." I replied. She gave me a kiss and headed back inside. This did not go unnoticed by the two lookouts who whistled. "Shut up." I grumbled. "Looks like you've got a girlfriend." One teased. I glared. "I said shut up!" I snapped. They did and I found myself wondering just what I was thinking, falling for Dr. Scott. For one thing, she was human and while I loved her dearly, I really had to watch myself. I was a lot bigger than her, I was a lot stronger than her and one wrong move could hurt her. Also, I found myself thinking of New York. It'd been over a year since I'd last had any contact with the San Antonio-class vessel. I couldn't say for certain if she was alive or not. If she was, by loving Dr. Scott, was I being unfaithful? I mean, it's the end of the world and I'm in love with a human. I doubted I'd find an answer anytime soon. Feeling tired, I yawned and shook my head a few times to ward off sleep. I had to keep sailing, sleep was a commodity that I often never got. Unlike my crew, who could rest and recharge after a long 12 hour shift, my engines had to stay running 24-7. I kept moving through the water, day in and day out. The only times I could ever have a rest is when I dropped anchor or when I made port and lately, port wasn't the safest place in the world so I was lucky to get even an hour of rest. I decided to force the subject from my mind. It was only making me sleepier. Yawning again, I swept my gaze across the horizon. A glance at my radar told me all was well and the sonar reported no submarines though as much as I hate to admit it, a submarine would be welcome company right about now. Lowering my head back level I sailed on through the night.

The night was unusually long for the tropics and cold but I suppose that was because I was making to cross into cooler waters as I sailed further north. Around noon I dropped anchor, ready to either continue on for the states or turn back to Nicaragua to get more monkeys. Personally, I'd be happy to never see that country again! Feeling very tired all of a sudden, I closed my eyes, hoping to get some rest. Though the sun provided a good warm temperature of around 80 degrees, I still felt cold and I shivered as I settled down for some rest. Rest wasn't something that would come easily to me though as I coughed, tasting blood. Fear filled me. Did I have the virus? Surely not! Dr. Scott tested everyone regularly when we left port, including me and I'd turned out clean. But what if she missed something? I didn't know what to do or say so I kept quiet, the only noticeable sign of my illness being when I lowered my head slightly to cough. What happened next is a bunch of details that I don't remember exactly. So I'll let Dr. Scott explain it from here.

DR RACHEL SCOTT

Thank you Nathan, you're always so generous. Nathan was too sick to remember what went on so I'll tell the story to the best of my ability. After a few more hours at anchor, it was raised and Nathan was underway again. He didn't get a hundred yards. Halting suddenly, he groaned and rolled on his port side, unable to keep upright any longer. The crew grabbed on to anything they could reach. On the bridge, Chandler was shocked but it only lasted for a moment. If we were in rough weather, he'd say Nathan'd capsized and would've set about helping him to right himself. But the seas were flat calm and the sun was shining. Not a cloud in the sky. He knew that something was terribly wrong with the ship, as did I. "Dr. Scott, report to the bridge!" He shouted. I was in my laboratory when Nathan rolled and I didn't need Chandler's call to go into action. Racing down the halls, I was running on the walls which had become the floor, due to the 90 degree angle Nathan was at. Using the equipment, I hauled myself across the bridge one handed, my medical case in the other until I reached the starboard side. I opened a window and crawled out onto the bridge wing. Nathan's eyes were fixed on me, clearly worried. "N-no don't Rachel." He moaned. "If I have the virus you'll get it too." "You don't have the virus and if you did, we're all dead anyway." I growled, making my way down towards his bow. He just looked awful. Sweat gleamed on his hull, running down his sides in watery trails, beads of it lined his forehead and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. I stroked his cheek gently. "Why didn't you say anything?" I whispered. "I didn't want anyone to worry..." He replied, coughing. "Rachel, please..." "You don't have the virus. It's something else." I growled. He sighed and closed his eyes. Taking out a needle, I stuck it into his shoulder and pulled it out, full of blood. A quick test proved the results. "You're clean." I said and the crew seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "If he doesn't have the virus, then what does he have?" Chandler asked and I turned to see him right behind me. "Well, all the symptoms seem to be consistent with derungoid fever." I replied. "What can we do?" He asked, clearly worried for his ship. "Some rest, water and medication in regular six hour doses should do it. The next 24 hours are crucial." I replied. He nodded. "Anything I can do to help?" He asked. I nodded. "Gather at least half a dozen sailors all with cool rags. We need to bring his temperature down." I said. He turned and walked back up to the bridge, barking orders to the waiting officers. Nathan lifted his head, his muscles tensing as he attempted to rise but I shook my head. "No, stay down." I said. He turned his eyes to me. "I can't just lay here." He said. "You can and you will. If you want to get better, you'll do as I say." I growled. He sighed but agreed, closing his eyes once more. I stroked him gently, one hand free the other with a cloth soaked in seawater. "You'll be alright." I whispered. "In a few days, you'll be fine." He wheezed a bit as he breathed, and the sound reminded me of Black Beauty when he had colic, it was so similar. His eyes flickered open briefly. "Just rest." I said. He didn't say anything but he closed them again and while the wheeze was still there, his breathing had evened as he fell asleep. "Good boy." I said and leaned forward to give him a kiss on his muzzle. He stirred a bit but he didn't wake. He must've been exhausted. Chandler was working nearby, he'd seen everything and gave me a stern look as he passed me a Gatorade bottle. Pulling back Nathan's gums, I poured a little into his mouth. He swallowed and I backed off, moving to his shoulder where I took out a needle. Pressing gently on his hull plates, I found a vein and gently stuck the needle into it before releasing the medicine. "There, that should hold him for a while. I'll give him another dose in six hours." I said. Chandler nodded. "You might not be navy, but he is." He said. "I know what I'm doing." I said sternly. "There is no one else more qualified than you to find a cure but that's not what I mean." He replied. "Oh, I know what you mean." I growled. "But if you want to punish anyone, punish me." I said. "I kissed him first." "Doesn't matter, he knows the rules." Chandler said. "You mean the rules that he must stick to his own species?" I asked hotly. "Such a relationship is dangerous, you know that." Chandler replied. "I'm well aware of the risks, but so is he. He's aware that he's much bigger and stronger than I could ever be. And he knows what could happen if we decide to get intimate." I snapped. He nodded. "Nathan has shown that his love for you doesn't distract him from his duties. As long as it remains that way, I will say nothing." He said. "But be warned, if your relationship endangers the lives of my crew, I will be forced to take disciplinary action on both of you!" I nodded and he left.

I stayed with Nathan for most of the time. When I wasn't working on the vaccine, I was sitting on the bow, a cool cloth and Gatorade bottle in hand, caring for him. For a while, his fever kept going up instead of down. I wished I could up the dosage but the medicine would damage his liver if I did. I was already giving him the maximum safe limit as it is. Around midnight, he stirred and opened his eyes. "Rachel?" He croaked. "Right here." I replied, setting the rag down and stroking his cheek. "Thirsty." He rasped. He raised his head a bit and I lowered the water bottle to his mouth with one hand while the other supported his head. I squirted a bit of Gatorade into his mouth and he grimaced, coughing. "I know, it's not that good but you need it." I said. He nodded and steeled himself for another drink which I gladly gave him before he rested his head back down on the water. I found myself stroking his muzzle, admiring the softness of it compared to the rest of the hull. He'd told me it was because of the little hairs there that made it that much softer and running my fingers through it, I could tell. The stresses of the last few months had taken their toll and I could see several hairs turning white. "You might wanna think about dying that when we get home, or else you'll look a lot older than you are." I said. He chuckled. "I'd have to get a human to do that. I have no way of dying my muzzle." He said. "I could do it." I replied. He smiled. "How kind of you Rachel." He said. "Think nothing of it." I replied. "I heard you and Chandler arguing earlier." He said. I winced. "How much did you hear?" I asked. "Everything." He replied. I sighed. "I'm sorry if I got you in any trouble." He said. I shook my head. "You didn't. I'm not navy so he can't do anything to me. I'm more concerned about you." I replied. "What's he gonna do, make me do laps around New York harbor?" He asked and I laughed a bit. "No, he didn't seem quite ready to deliver any kind of punishment. He just said to be careful and discreet." "No different than what we have been doing, then." He murmured. "Exactly." I replied. "Though of course I didn't tell him that." He laughed before his face turned serious and he asked "What am I going to do with you Rachel? I mean, I have a mate. USS New York is her name but I don't even know if she's alive." I shrugged. "I can't help you there Nathan. It's up to you." I replied. "I'm such a selfish creature." He scolded himself. "Why did I have to fall for you? Why could I just have told myself to keep clear?" "Could you have?" I questioned. He sighed and thought for a moment. "No." He said at last. "No, I couldn't ignore you or my feelings, no matter how hard I tried." He replied. "I do love you Rachel, there's no denying that but I just feel so unfaithful to New York..." I sighed. "I'm sure wherever she is, she would want you to be happy." I said. "If she loves you, she'd be hoping you were alive and well and having a good time." Nathan looked at me and smiled. "Thank you Rachel." He said. I chuckled. "Anytime." I replied.

He moved so quickly I didn't have any time to react and before I knew it, he was kissing me. My shock lasted for only a second and my arms flew around him and I was kissing him back. He rolled again slightly so I was resting atop him. After a minute, I pulled back and I looked down at him. His eyes were bright and he was smiling. "Hmm, that was lovelier than I thought it would be." He murmured, as he nuzzled my side gently with his nose. It amazed me how gentle he was. Holding me gently, he rolled again, so now he was completely upside down. "NATHAN!" Chandler shouted. Nathan pretended he didn't hear as he leaned forward, his muzzle just inches from my face. "I love you." He whispered. "I love you." I replied. He kissed me again, more calm this time, not as frantic. Chandler's shouts and curses faded into the background. All the noise, all the worries, they all faded away. All that mattered to me, was right then. Me and him, together.