Lost and Forgotten

A thousand days had passed since Jeffrey took this job and he could take it no longer. He knew the disrespect his staff showed him, and what they said behind his back. He knew by the way they stared at him, the jokes, and mockery. He couldn’t tolerate it any longer, this had to end.

Then the intercom sounded “Captain, please report to the bridge.”

Jeff took one last drag off his cigar and exhaled the smoky air. It slowly drifted away into the dark ominous clouds above. Off on the distant horizon, a volcano was spewing ash into the fading red sun creating eerie shadows. Beautiful! Jeffery left for the bridge.

“What is it Jessica?”

“Headquarters dispatched a message. Guests are saying that they are dissatisfied with our service.” said his XO, a young hispanic woman.

“Did they say why?”

“They said that the champagne is all gone.”

“How is that possible? There should be two days' stock remaining.”

“I know. The guests got excited last night.”

“Do I need to ask why?”

“Last night the 49ers won the championship.”

“I wasn’t paying attention. Last night the engineer interrupted my dinner to explain that the main diesel engine is overheating. It is probably corrosion in the heat exchanger. He will do his best to fix it with the available spare parts, but power is down thirty percent.”

“What about the backup engine?” replied Jessica visibly concerned.

“It is running in the meantime, but can’t propel the ship at full speed.”

“That reminds me, corporate is ordering an immediate detour to Fiji for restocking.” said Jessica concerned.

“That is two days out of our way. Four days at half speed.”

“I am aware of that Captain.”

“Did you make the course correction?” replied Jeff annoyed.

“I can’t without your permission.” said Jessica.

“Go ahead and do it,” he said concealing his frustration.

Jessica went to a computer terminal and typed in a few commands. “Matthew, set a new course southeast.”

“Captain, we have a problem. There is a tropical storm three hundred miles west of Fiji. It could collide with Fiji in the next week.”

“Maintain course, and recheck the survival gear.”

“Corporate won’t tolerate us navigating into a storm.” replied Jessica with rising anxiety.

“I’m aware of that, update me daily. Jessica, you have the bridge.”

Jeff made a quick dash for engineering, he needed an update on the situation. How could this be happening? The ship is only seven years old. Is this a plot against him? Jessica must be colluding for the captain’s seat with the engineer.

Jeff was back on the deck early the next morning socializing with the passengers. He found rising early to be a breeze, because he couldn’t sleep anymore. With all his anxiety, how could he? They knew! They were taunting him! They knew he was a fraud, and they were conspiring against him.

“Hey Captain!” shouted a dark haired middle aged man gleefully. It was Patrick Stevens, his longest riding passenger. Jeff had first met Patrick a year ago on his first voyage. He had earned a fortune in the sale of automotive sensors and wanted to explore the world. This would be his fifth trip.

“I should commend you for your job. This voyage is amazing! The sights and the food! When are we expected to arrive in Auckland?”

“I apologize for that Patrick, we will be running a week late. Last night the corporation ordered me to divert to Fiji for resupply and maintenance.”

“But my family was anticipating visiting a music festival,” replied Patrick annoyed. Then his blond haired wife arrived in a red bikini that struggled to hold her breasts.

“Sarah, Jeffrey says that we are diverting to Fiji.”

“But captain, we’ve made plans already!”

“I’m sorry Sarah. The stocks are running low, and I have my concerns over the engine.”

“Are we in danger!?” replied Sarah.

“Not at all Sarah. Hollywood is propelled by twin engines. We could navigate the Pacific ocean on one engine alone. Headquarters only wants the best experience for you. I promise we will make up the time once the engine is repaired,” said Jeff.

“That is unaccepted Jeff! You need to continue to Auckland. I’m calling your boss!”

Patrick gently touched her bosom, and calmed her like a cat with yarn “It’s okay Honey. It is better to arrive well fed and safe than risk any complications.”

“You are completely safe Sarah. This ship carries the latest satellite communications.You can radio shore at any time,” said Jeff.

Is Patrick fucking with him? Was it him that whined to corporate? He is a wealthy customer and he can take over this whole boat.

Still concealing deep anger, Sarah commanded “Okay, that is acceptable. Please get me a margarita!”

“Yes Miss.”

Jeff made a dash for the bartender “I need a margarita for Sarah.”

“Really! Aye sir,” replied Tony, a young energetic African man with dreadlocks. Jeffrey had originally met Tony at Puerto Rico shortly after the hurricane. He had desperately needed work and could mix music well, alcohol even better.

“How so?” inquired Jeff.

“That is her third in the past hour and I’ve never seen anyone get as abusive as her over breakfast tacos. I really don’t know what he sees in her.”

Jeff turned around “I could guess. Any concerns for the other passengers?”

“More whines over the champagne. They assume that we have a private cache. How I wish that were true. Some weed would be awesome.”

“You don’t have weed?” interrupted Jeff probing.

“No captain!” replied Tony blushed and embarrassed.

“Good, because I really need a hit. You let me know if you find anything exciting,” commanded Jeff with a grin.

“Aye sir!” replied Tony finishing the margarita. Jeff took it over to Sarah and she offered a false thanks. Then Jeff continued socializing with the passengers, but he was suspicious. Patrick had every reason to lie to him. He had wealth and that ditzy wife.

This job was infuriating! There can’t be anything more insulting than the way his staff teased him. Standing there at their stations on the bridge in the morning with their perfectly pressed uniforms.

“We got a problem Captain. That storm is still on a collision course with Fiji. The service forecasts a near miss in the next 24 hours. They are expecting 40 knot winds and heavy downpours,” said his surprisingly cheerful XO Jessica.

“What are our options?” asked Jeff, sipping his unstimulating coffee and admiring the hostile shadowy clouds on the horizon.

“At our present speed we can’t make port before the storm strikes.”

“I am also not permitted to dock in a storm,” interrupted Jeffery.

“The fuel stores are more than adequate for waiting out the storm at sea. We could turn west and come about in a day.”

“How about the food?”

“At our current rate the drinks won’t last an extra day. Everything else is plentiful.”

“My passengers won’t tolerate any more reductions. I need another option,” commanded Jeff.

Then Matthew interrupted “Captain, you could also navigate the edge of the storm.”

“That is forbidden Matthew and you know that!” interrupted Jessica frustrated.

“Please explain,” demanded Jeff.

“The gale force winds and downpours are confined to a forty square mile area south of Fiji. Outside of that zone the winds are breezy with rain. No worse than any ordinary showers at sea. Navigated correctly the trip could be cut in half.”

“That could work Matthew. Are you confident that you can avoid the brunt of the storm?” Jeff asked inquisitively.

“Aye sir, the weather radar on this boat is fully modern with mile length resolution.”

“I must oppose this Captain! You are playing the rules very close,” barked Jessica angry.

“Your objection is noted. You may proceed Matthew,” commanded Jeff.

“Thank you captain,” replied Matthew.

“Jeff, the passengers will not be happy sailing through rain,” said Jessica, still annoyed.

“They will go apeshit once the booze is gone,” retorted Jeff.

“Matthew, what is your ETA?”

“We can reach port in 16 hours. Probably hit the edge of the storm within the hour,” replied Matthew.

“Proceed with caution. I need to update the passengers.”

He knew it, but then he had always known it. Jessica was conspiring against him. Surly with Donald to sabotage the ship. Then when the passengers were irate, she’d come in like a hero and replace him.

Broadcasting incredible glee and confidence, Jeff walked into the unoccupied officers mess hall located two levels below the bridge. With machine precision, he opened a cabinet door revealing a large grey steel safe.

Click, click, click, click

He opened the door, exposing an array of firearms and ammunition. He pulled out two Winchester pump-action shotguns and shotshells.

Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, he loaded the guns. Then he retrieved two Glock pistols and inspected each. Then he checked the hollow point ammunition and began loading.

Click, click, click, click, click

“Captain, is there a problem?” asked Jessica standing next to the door frightened and perspiring.

“I got an alert from the Navy of a ship hijacking in the region. This is a precaution.”

“What are your orders?” replied Jessica relaxing.

“Lock and load.”

With a hint of glee, Jessica pulled a shotgun from the shelf and inserted five shells.

“Take guard at the stern and alert the other crew members! I intend to alert the bridge and chart a new course.”

“Yes captain!”, replied Jessica, leaving.

Jeffrey raised his Glock and fired.

With a thousand-yard stare Jeff stumbled across the deck of the Hollywood. Blood dripped from his uniform while he made his way across the deck. A light rain fell from the sky and smeared it. With practiced skill he removed a large orange lifeboat. It inflated automatically with the pull of a string and he threw it into the rolling ocean. Then he took one last look around the blood splattered deck and jumped in.

Then with a metallic thud, a breath of flame like that of a dragon tore open the deck of the shiny white yacht. Then silence followed as the gaping hole exhaled a thick white cloud of smoke.

“Hummmmm.”

Disappointed, Jeff looked forward and continued rowing. Then an ear shattering blast tossed him from the raft. Rising for air, he saw a crimson explosion rise from the broken superstructure. With ears ringing, he rose above the swirling ocean. Parts of the flaming boat rained down from the rolling black cloud.

With all his effort, he remounted the orange raft. He could already feel the blistering rain of the storm as it erased the remnant of Hollywood.

Deranged and exhausted, he awoke in the cold steel cabin of a ship. The space was lit by a single lamp and the soft orange glow of a candle in the window. Jeffery could see that the blistering ocean spray of the storm outside the window. Then a sailor opened the steel hatch and the door complained with a metal groan. The man must have been in his thirties with an unkept red beard and a bald head.

“Hello Jeffrey. I’m the chief medical officer of the US California. We rescued you from the sea yesterday.”

Jeff looked around disoriented.

“It’s okay Jeff, you're safe. What happened to your ship?”

Then a young sailor with a childish face and shiny blond hair entered with a pistol holstered in his belt. Shit, they know. They’re waiting for my confession.

“What happened to your ship?”

“Jessica, she hijacked the boat,” he replied faintly.

The two men inched closer. They know!

“My crew bravely fought back, but she shot down most of the crew on the bridge.”

Why were they tormenting him? They knew! They were playing with him.

“Following an hour-long gunfight I cornered her in the engine compartment, then the ship exploded.”

“Do cruise ships normally transport explosives?”

Jeffrey sprung for the pistol but not before the young sailor grabbed it.