UTEOT 1 - Until the End of Time

CHAPTER SIX:

SILENCE AND SHAME

PART ONE: SPINNING BACKWARDS

February 25th, 2033

Mid Pacific, near Hawaii

seaQuest DSV

seadeck

"Don't over exert yourself so much!" exclaimed Kristin Westphalen. "I just released you and already you're going for a swim. You'll wind up in med bay again. You should be in bed, resting."

"I was in bed, and I was resting," answered Nathan Bridger, as he slid into the warm water in the moon pool.

Darwin chattered excitedly, swimming around him in circles, almost as if trying to push him back out of the water. He probably was. He saw Kristin walk over to the com unit on the wall and punch the open button. "Bridge," came Tim O'Niell's voice.

"Can you get me Captain Bridger please?" came her exasperated voice.

Tim sat there for a second as he thought about what she asked. "Which one?"

"Robert."

Tim typed in the frequency number of Robert Bridger, "Sir, Doctor Westphalen wants to speak to you. She sounds stressed."

"Thank you, Mr. O'Niell," came the younger Captain Bridger's voice.

Robert Bridger leaned back in his chair and put down the pen, picked up his PAL and answered her, "Yes, Doctor?"

"Could you please come to the seadeck and talk some sense into your father?"

Robert sighed, "I don't see how I'll be able to, but I'll come anyway."

Robert left his quarters and walked to the seadeck, wondering why she could possibly want him. When he got close enough to hear the argument he suddenly grinned. He stepped into the chaos that was ensuing on seadeck. What he saw, if he didn't have the necessary self control of a captain, would have caused him to laugh aloud. His father was nonchalantly checking his dive equipment and trying to placate Dr. Westphalen. Westphalen was practically beside herself trying to prevent him from going, so was Darwin who was bodily trying to throw Nathan from the moon pool.

It was nice to see them getting along. When his father first came on board they had nearly killed each other. From what he had learned had it made sense. Sometime ago Nathan and Kristin were an item, and looked like she had nearly been his stepmother, not just his mother and law. But when the next tour had begun no one saw her again. His father wouldn't speak of her and Lucas was as tight lipped. It was as if Kristin Westphalen had disappeared off the face of the planet.

Knowing her, and his father, it had been an argument. A dumb one. One that, finally, a few weeks ago when many of them had thought Nathan Bridger was on his deathbed, the two had talked it over. Now they seemed to be, well, back to whatever normal was for them....

"Dad, as much as I know how you feel, I must agree with the Doctor," he said, when Nathan had noticed his presence.

"Oh come on!" exclaimed Nathan. "I've been cooped up for entirely too long. And the water is warm here."

"Yes, but you could catch a chill," responded Westphalen. "Right now catching a chill could kill you. Look, even Darwin doesn't want you to go."

Nathan put up one hand that signalled defeat and got out of the moon pool. Westphalen wrapped a thick blanket around him. His father seemed to develop an exasperated air. She ignored it and led him away. Robert turned to Darwin, "Are they always like that?"

The answering chitter was undoubtably affirmative.

* * *

A few hours later Robert was on the bridge for his shift. His father was still on board, and while everyone had accepted that Robert was in command, it seemed to cause a near scandalised stir everything he stepped on the bridge. His crew was up to something. He could sense it, but they were keeping a tight dampener on what.

He had no doubt in his mind that they were loyal, and mutiny was far from their minds. That much he could know definitely. He sighed, and resigned himself to finding out when they decided to spring their little surprise. Nonchalantly he scanned the bridge. One thought seemed to be a mantra in Ford's mind. Boy, is he going to be surprised. Boy, is he going to love it.... I can't wait to see the captain's face....

Knowing that Ford meant him, he was doubly curious but tamped down on the temptation to deeper scan the man. He would find out when they sprung it on him. At least that explained the high level of excitement. "Good day sir," said Ford when he saw the captain. "Did you sleep well?"

"Other than my Dad decided to go for an early morning swim and Westphalen, Darwin and I had to dissuade him, yes."

Ford laughed, "I have to admit that he did make life interesting... he is so full of life. Not what I expected at all."

You and everyone else, thought Robert. Trust me on that one, I couldn't believe the change. "Hmm, I've heard people tell me that many times."

"Out of all of us, only Krieg seemed to expect it."

"If you remember, Krieg knew me since the academy, so I told him about my Dad," Robert was wondering where this was leading, and he could tell that it had something to do with his surprise.

Just then, Commander Ford seemed to jump topics, "You know, Dr. Westphalen has been telling me that being the new Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Science Officer since Dr. Smith left is quite a bit of workload..."

"Oh?"

"Yes, she wondering if she could appoint a new Chief Science Officer," so this was where this was leading.

"Who was she thinking of?" Robert knew that this was part of the surprise.

"Well, she isn't sure if he'd take the job... That would be where you would come in. He is highly qualified and even served on the ship for a few tours," Ford leaned on the moon pool coping on the bridge. "But he is also retired. But she is sure that you could talk him out of retirement."

"Okay, I'll bite, Commander. Who does she want and what, and where, do I have to go to find him?"

The grin on Ford's face widened, and Robert knew that the trap had been sprung. "Oh, that's just it. He happens to be on the ship... she wants Nathan Bridger to be the new Chief of Science," before Robert could respond, Ford was already into the next sentence. "You have to admit, he is the perfect choice. He is highly qualified, knows the ship and crew, knows Westphalen and they can work together. So?"

Robert leaned back on his command chair. It was unbelievable really. Having two Bridgers on the seaQuest would amount to chaos. And Ford was right. Westphalen could never talk him into it, only Robert could. His father would see it as stepping on his toes and would refuse anyone... but if Robert asked him he would see it as an opportunity to work as a scientist.

He knew his Dad would leap at it. "I'll do it."

Finding his father wasn't difficult after his shift was up. He already knew that he would be asleep. He knocked on the door and walked in. Nathan Bridger sat up on the bed and half heartedly wiped the sleep from his eyes. "Yes?" he asked, still raspy from sleep and the pneumonia he had just recovered from.

"I have an offer for you, and listen until I'm finished before you jump in, okay?" Robert took a breath and paced a little bit, as he bemusedly realised that his father did the same thing when agitated. "Dr. Westphalen cannot handle both the positions of CSO and CMO. Nor should she. It's too much of a workload. It has come to my attention who she recommended to replace her as CSO."

"Who?"

"You, Dad. And I agree," before his father could raise an objection, which he was, Robert continued. "Here is why. How many degrees do you have? One Doctorate in Marine Geology and a Masters in Marine Geo-Physics. Those are the sciences. In engineering, which is your first love, you hold a Doctorate in Submarine Technology, as well as a host of minors that you have chased to undergraduate degrees completion. So, Dr. Bridger, in grand total you have two Doctorates, a Masters and a skew of others for a total of eight degrees in a scattering of subjects. Who else is as qualified as you to take the position? No one, except Lucas Wolenczak, but he just recently gained one Doctorate. You have the experience and the education."

"What about how the crew views me? Don't you think that it could cause a little bit of confusion?"

"Not to worry, they consider Captain Nathan Hale Bridger retired. They came up with the idea of hiring Dr. Nathan Bridger. Trust me on this one, I would hate to tell them that you refused to work with them," Robert grinned. "I'm their captain. They accepted me as such."

"Dr. Bridger, CSO of seaQuest DSV..." his father leaned back and thought about it for a minute. "And you're positive I'm not stepping on your toes?"

"Yes, Dad. Quite sure. And just so you know, I'm looking forward to working with you again," affirmed Robert.

"I'll have to think about it. But I'll let you know before she lets me leave her sight."

"Sir," cut in Tim O'Niell's voice. "There is a distress call."

"On my way," Robert turned back to Nathan. "Don't think about it too long."

* * *

He walked on the bridge and Ben greeted him with the particulars, "Tim heard it just before he went off shift. He said it was Mandarin Chinese, and this is what it translates out to."

Robert read it and felt as if someone punched him in the stomach.

The transaction is null and void due to dishonest representation. Rho is either given
back to us for an honest business dealing or we shall seek a replacement.

Ben asked, noting his friend's sudden paleness. "What is Rho, Bobby?"

"Not what, who. Call an emergency senior staff meeting, and make sure my father is there."

A scant ten minutes later the senior staff was assembled. Robert seemed to be far off as he concentrated on his steepled fingers as they lay on the paper that contained the message.

In truth, he was.

He was remembering his life as a non-person, a slave. Most of it was unpleasant. What saved him in the end was the fact that the slavers did not know or care who they had, so he had been able to buy his freedom after awhile. Now they did know who he was. He looked up at his crew, and his father. "What I tell you does not leave this room," he began. "It's why my Dad thought I was dead. In a sense, I was. When my ship went down I had two choices. Sacrifice myself to save another, or save myself and let the other person die. We know the answer. The other person was Marilyn Stark. So she could live I essentially killed myself. But that it only the beginning for all of us. I was trapped, and when I came to I was on the deck of a ship. It was no military vessel. The military was finished with the area, now scavengers were coming down to see what they could get to sell on the black-market. They got more than they thought they would."

Robert looked around, some looked horrified, mostly those who served under Stark at Livingston Trench. A few others looked shocked, but kept it under control. "They were slavers also. Those who had survived on either side were taken and sold in the Middle East. I was one of them. Our identities, whatever they were, were replaced. I was named Adu in the Middle East and then I was traded for a young oriental woman. In Northern China I was renamed Rho."

Tim sat back, "You? You're Rho?"

"Yes," Robert passed around the paper. "I won't recount the inhumanities that I suffered. Suffice it to say that because the only name I had was Rho no one knew who I truly was. The skills I was bought for I didn't have, so I was worthless and needed to be trained. At least after a period we were allowed to take on extra and hazardous work in order to try and buy ourselves freedom. It took me a long time... after seaQuest disappeared... to buy myself out of there and contact Ben to get back to the States."

Ben asked, "What do they mean by Dishonest Representation?"

"If they had known I was Robert Eric Bridger, the son of Nathan Bridger, who at that time was the captain of the seaQuest, I would have never been able to buy myself out of slavery. To add to that I have no doubt that they would have tried to trade me for my father," answered Robert. "You see, my 'Master' at that time fancied himself a warrior. He wanted a fleet. My father would have been more valuable, despite that he was older, than me. Or they would have tried to capture him and threaten me to make him do what they wanted."

His father had gone so pale that Westphalen was hovering over him. It wasn't over the fact that they wanted him. It was rage over what had been done to his son. Robert could recognize what rage looked like in his father. A long time ago he had seen it, and his father was falling to it again. The crew was looking at each other. Shan stood up and said, "Then we must protect you and your father at all costs."

"I have a grandson," said Nathan quietly, but everyone was silent enough to hear him. "And there is Robert's wife, Cynthia. They are in danger and could be used as leverage."

Shan nodded, "Then we retrieve them and bring them to seaQuest. Our security is tight enough here."

Robert nodded and said, "Good idea, Chief. Do it."

Shan saluted and left, and Ortiz laid a supporting hand on his shoulder, "Slavery is the bane of existence. I have seen it as well."

People began to go their way, but Westphalen and Nathan Bridger remained behind. Nathan looked at the bowed head of his son and could only imagine what could be running through his head right now. His son had his own brick wall in more ways than one. Nathan sat down beside him, and looked at Westphalen. She didn't need to be psychic to know that he wanted to speak to Robert alone. She stepped outside and closed the door, but remained close. She noticed that a disturbed Commander Ford was there too. "I knew that he must have had some reason for not talking to his father, but I never expected that," came a quiet voice, and they turned to regard Lonnie.

Ford put his arm around her, "I can't imagine... I didn't think slavery existed. But now I know how naive that was. But we won't let it happen to anyone else. Lieutenant Shan is going to get his family so this monster can't get his hands on them. And we will not let anyone take the Captain from us. Not like that."

In the ward room a similar conversation was going on between a father and son. Nathan leaned onto the table and asked, "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"What was I to say?" asked the pained Robert, he was reliving his torture. "I don't want to tell you the rest of it. Not yet. I'm not ready to talk about it."

* * *

PART TWO: Now

She sat up in bed as the pain of a whip struck her back. It took a long time for her breathing to slow back to normal. No dream could have done that and she knew that it was because she was feeling what someone else was feeling. Then she heard the noise. She leaned over to the muscular form sleeping beside her and shook his shoulder.

He awoke and looked in her fearful eyes, one slender finger across her lips telling him to be silent. The other hand was cupped behind her ear. He listened intently and his eyes flew wide open, now completely awake. He got up out of the bed and pulled on his jogging pants and top. He took a few pillows and made it to look like he was still sleeping in the bed and signed, Lie down and hug the pillows like you hug me every night. Pretend you are asleep still.

A nod from her indicated that she understood and she lay down and pretended that she was asleep and the pillows was him. He hid in the closet and grasped the aluminum baseball bat that he kept there to use as a weapon. A trap for a trap was how he had been trained. For a short moment he allowed himself to see the beauty of the slender and lithe woman. His Goddess that pulled him from the very jaws of death my proclaiming her love for him.

While he thought about it he realised that his own love had been there the whole time he had ever known her. He took a breath and held it as the three men came into the room. He gripped the baseball bat even tighter and prepared to jump them. They were getting very close to the bed and he saw the flash of a syringe. At least he knew that they intended to kidnap, not kill. While one made a move to sedate his soon to be wife, the other took out a gun and aimed it where his head should be. Okay, so they wanted her alive but he didn't really matter. Two guns and a syringe. He could handle that.

The one with the syringe walked around the bed to sedate her, and to do so had to walk right in front of the closet where he was hiding. Welcome to my parlour, said the spider to the fly, he mentally monologued. One more step and I guarantee you'll have a headache tomorrow.

Needle boy moved into the right place and he swung the bat before he could sedate her.

A gun went off and the pillow exploded.

In that confusion, a mental push sent the guns flying away. The one with the needle was out cold. The man in the jogging suit jumped over the bed and to the other side where the two men were trying to get to their guns. One made it and turned to shoot while the other now had a broken arm.

He heard the gun go off and Wendy screamed his name. A searing pain tore into Hudson's arm and he dropped the bat. Another shot tore into his upper left chest and that was all he knew.

Oliver Hudson regained consciousness in degrees. He was face down in plush teal pile. Well, it had formally been teal. Now it was dark red. He pushed himself up and noticed that Wendy was gone. Cursing, he pulled himself over to the bedside phone and dialled 911 and collapsed again.

* * *

February 27th, 2033

seaQuest DSV

Robert and Nathan Bridger sat heavily in the chairs in wardroom. Admiral Lexington Fisher Smith looked haggard and tired. "That is all we know until Captain Hudson regains consciousness."

"You don't know anything?" Nathan demanded, and rewarded with a shake of her head. "Lex, we'll do all we can."

"I know, Nate. Can you somehow come and see him? I think if family was here..."

Robert and Nathan looked at each other and then the screen. "Family?" asked Robert. "He isn't family yet, is he?"

"No, but they were about to announce their engagement. And for all intents and purposes they were already together," she took a breath and leaned back in her own chair. "Guys, he had really mellowed since she came into his life. And she helped through the trauma of Mariana Base. He was just getting to the point where he could be in command again. He was recovering! Now this...this is going to destroy him worse than anything."

Robert nodded and said, "I assume you are giving us the required shore leave?"

"Yes, its all been taken care of."

The link severed and he turned to his father, "Wendy... they took Wendy. Dammit, I never even thought about her."

A haunted look met his gaze, "Neither did I."

For awhile the two sat silently and then Robert turned to his father and said, "It's a cunning way to get us all on land, you know. Take the cousin and shoot her boyfriend. When the family rallies take them all in one fell swoop. And we'll be off the seaQuest."

Nathan responded, "I had that exact same idea. It was entirely too much of a coincidence."

"You think Aunt Lex is in on it?"

Shaking his head in negation, "No."

Robert leaned back in his chair, "Entirely too much of a coincidence."

After awhile Robert stood and looked at the clock. "I have to be on the bridge in a half hour, and I'd rather tell the crew sooner than later," catching his father's puzzled glance. "Not everything. Just that Wendy is gone and Oliver is gravely injured... again."

Robert left the wardroom and Nathan sat there for awhile longer. His thoughts kept going round and round. It was bad enough that his son had been a POW, but that he had been sold into slavery. That was enough to make his skin crawl. Now they had Wendy. Thinking of her opened a whole other can of worms.

When they realised that she was psychic the whole family line could be threatened. Not one of them would be safe, even Nathan for how old he was getting. Nathan didn't fool himself. He knew exactly why a Non-Aligned Power would want him. He was the Nathan Bridger, designer of the seaQuest. Military captain and so-called hero with enough security clearance that only Admirals or higher ever had. To add that he was psychic would only be icing on the cake.

And then he was a extremely educated man. Oh, he knew just how valuable he was. It was the same reason that he could sense Alexander Bourne's fear of him. He would do anything to get his hands on Nathan, even if it was to make sure that the UEO didn't have him. The NAP would sell him to Bourne without a second thought and no one would ever see him again. That thought sent chills up his spine. He knew Bourne would never kill him.

Bourne would torture and try to brainwash him, which would result in Bridger becoming nothing more than a vegetable, but not kill him.

And that was just Nathan Bridger.

Wendy was a trained psychic. Trained meant she knew how to use her gift to the maximum of its ability. She also was a UEO scientist, medical doctor, and had her own high security clearance. Not to mention that she could be used against an Admiral who was also her mother.

Then there was Robert who had been there, and was well on his way of following in his father's footsteps more than he cared to imagine or admit. Michael was, right now, only a likely pawn to get to the both of them. Cynthia was, oh god, Nathan put his face in his hands. His family was just plain targets for whomever wanted to hurt the UEO. None of them were just plain average citizens. They were all valued members of the UEO.

A soft knock sounded on the door and Nathan rubbed his face. "Yeah?"

It was Ben Krieg, "Shan is back, and he brought Michael and Cindy. Robert told me to tell you that they're safe. Mike's asking for you."

"Where are they?"

"Sea deck. Michael is playing with Darwin."

"Thank you, Ben," dismissed Bridger, but Ben didn't move. "Yes, Ben?"

"Are you all right?" Ben stepped one step further in.

"Just worried, but one less worry has been lifted," Bridger looked up and Ben nodded.

"Yeah, Bobby told us about Wendy and Captain Hudson," Ben took a breath. "I can see why it would worrying the both of you. But she's a tough nut too, she'll either get herself out or will be there waiting."

Nathan smiled at Ben's attempt to make him feel better, "Anyone ask you who are you and what have you done with the real Ben Krieg?"

That same Cheshire cat grin lit up Ben's face, "Oh, I'm him. He grew up."

With that he left Bridger alone in the wardroom.

* * *

March 1st 2033

San Francisco

Nathan Bridger walked beside his son Robert Bridger as they walked to the ICU in the San Francisco hospital. Admiral Lexington Fisher Smith, Wendy Smith's mother, stood as she saw them walking towards her. She greeted Nathan first by hugging him, and then she kissed Robert's cheek. She almost seemed to draw strength from their contact. "I'm so glad you could come," she said.

"How is he, Aunt Lex?" asked Robert.

Lex shrugged her shoulders, "Well, I have to admit that Oliver is, well, Oliver. At least he appears to be recovering physically. He's extremely angry when I explained it to him, but not at us, or you. He has been asking for you, though, Robert."

Robert nodded and stepped into the room while Lex and his father remained outside. Lex then turned to Nathan once Robert was out of earshot. "Nathan, be honest. What do you think are the chances that we'll be able to get Wendy back?"

Nathan thought a moment. "I'm not the one to ask," he started. "From what I've been told, Lex, not good." She sat down heavily and put her head in her hands. Aware that she was near tears, he said, "But must not give up hope. The minute we do is the minute we will most definitely never see her again."

In the room Robert sat beside the bed. For the second time in less than as many months, Oliver Hudson lay in a hospital bed. Right now he was sleeping and Robert didn't wake him. A few moments later though Hudson's eyes opened a crack, "Your father here too?"

"He's out in the hall, consoling your future mother in law."

Hudson made a motion to shift his position. "Damn these beds, no matter how you lay in them they are still uncomfortable," he sighed and was silent again for so long that Robert thought he might have fallen asleep. "Wendy... I couldn't protect her."

"They had the guns, man, and you didn't. You took one of them out. We found him and he's being interrogated," answered Robert. "Listen. I know who did it. I know why. I afraid they took her to get to me." He relayed the message Tim had received. "If anything it's my fault."

Oliver shook his head, "No. It's their fault. And once I'm out of this bed I'm going to make every single one of them pay for what they are doing to my family..."

"Don't jump the gun, Oliver."

"S'okay," he laughed, and then promptly groaned from the pain that caused. "But... I think I better leave that up to you..."

Then he did fall asleep, and Robert patted his uninjured shoulder. "Yeah, I think you'd better."

He got up and walked back out to the hallway where his Dad was trying to console his Aunt. Nathan was holding her as she cried. Robert had never seen Lex cry. It was sobering. He looked up, "Well?"

"He's asleep again. He was awake for maybe ten minutes," said Robert.

"How is he doing?"

"Well, as she said. Angry at them for taking Wendy and making a wreck of all our lives," Robert sat down on the other side of Lex and she regained her composure.

"Whatever you need," she said. "It's yours. Take these bastards out!"

Nathan looked at his son and back to his sister in law, "Is that an order, Admiral?"

"Yes," she hissed.

A steely gaze, one from twenty years ago, seemed to light in Nathan's eyes, "Robert came to me with a proposition. Evidently Dr. Westphalen is a little overwhelmed in her work as both CSO and CMO. They offered me the CSO position on seaQuest. As you well know that would put two Bridgers on the flagship."

Lex looked up at him, "Did you take it?"

"No, I'd figured I'd be..."

"Why the Hell not, Nathan?" she demanded. "Do you know what you could do there as a the CSO? You'd be the head of R & D. I don't think I have to impress on you what that means to the UEO."

Bridger sat back and thought about it, "I could design more. I would be obligated to."

"Exactly my point. And the security on seaQuest is tighter than any drafting lab we could throw you in," Lex added. "It is the safest place we could put one of most valuable scientists. If I were you Nathan, I would take that in a second."

The three talked for an hour more and then Lex checked in on Hudson. Since he was still asleep she left. Shortly after Robert asked, "Have you come to a decision?"

For a minute his father did not answer, "Who would make sure Cindy and Michael wereprotected? Not that Cynthia Westphalen can't take care of herself, she's like her mother in that respect, but there is also Michael to think about. You asked me to take care of them too, remember?"

"I did, but Crocker said he would, and Savannah," pointed out Robert. "And the day Manilow Crocker can't protect them is the day he in six feet under. You know that as well as I. Do you really think Gator would let anything happen to them? On that, Savannah, for as much as she says she's a scientist, I know for a fact that she has been trained very well. They have the very best guardians you can get, and what's more those guardians actually give a damn. They are not just a pay cheque. They can't be bought by a better offer."

Nathan thought about it for a moment more and said, "You're right. I'm also seventy one years old, Robert. I don't belong on a sub anymore."

"That's bull shit and you know it, Nathan Bridger," came a weary voice from within the room.

The two walked into the ICU to see that Oliver Hudson was a little more awake than he had been a few hours ago. "If I was your age and was being given the second chance to be on a sub you know what my answer would be!" Hudson pointed his finger at Nathan.

"Yes, but you're not my Dad's age. Now stop yelling or the doctors will kick us out," said Robert.

Nathan took the only chair in the room and sat down, "I would ask how you're feeling, but I think I know your answer."

"Oh God, not you too," groaned Oliver. "Is your entire family psychic?"

* * *

His father came back to the seaQuest with him and Robert walked with him to the seadeck. Michael came running over to them the minute he saw them, "Dad! Grampa!"

Nathan scooped him up and hugged him, "Have you been swimming? You're all wet."

"Yeah, Mom and Gramma let me swim with Darwin."

After he handed Michael over to Robert, who teasingly dangled him upside down, he walked over to Kristin and Cynthia. "Busy much?" he asked, kissing Kristin's cheek.

"Oh, he has that effect," answered Westphalen. "Has Robert asked you yet?"

"Yup."

"And?" came in a chorus from both Cynthia and Westphalen.

"I don't know yet."

All of them groaned in exasperation, and then Westphalen asked, "How's Oliver?"

"He's going to live. Which is more than I can say for the people who took Wendy when he gets back on his feet. He's extremely angry," answered Nathan as Robert, and a giggling Michael, came up to them. "I think Darwin isn't finished with him yet, Bobby."

"Oh?" asked Robert in mock surprise. "Should we throw him to the dolphin's mercies?"

"Put me down, Dad!"

"Put him down," Cynthia said in no uncertain terms and Robert gently, but quickly, did so. "You'll have him so wound up that he'll never go to bed tonight."

Cynthia then quietly said to them, "I'll take him and get him ready for dinner, I have a feeling you three have something to talk about."

"Two against one isn't fair!" exclaimed Nathan.

"Neither is three against one, because I happen to agree with my mother."

After which she left the sea deck and Westphalen settled on the same step where they had shared their first kiss. Robert leaned on the hyper baric chamber and Nathan leaned on the moon pool coping. "So..." he said. "Two against one?"

"Three. Darwin would like you to stay too," answered Westphalen.

"Dad, you really have to come to a decision. You know what answer we want, and you want it too. Why won't you do it?"

Nathan took a breath, "Like I said, I would literally be stepping on his toes. These people were my crew, and... what if in a crisis that he gives an order they don't agree with? They could constantly be running back in forth to me to see what I thought. No, we don't belong here at the same time."

Kristin Westphalen sighed and turned to Robert, "What's your take on this?"

"The crew has accepted me as the captain. Before this happened they would have probably wanted him on shore, retired," Robert sighed. "But if you won't admit that they worry about your safety, Dad, I really don't know what else to say to convince you."

"There isn't anything you could say that would change that fact, Robert," said Nathan.

Finally Nathan gave one last throw of the ball to Darwin and went back to his temporary quarters. Westphalen turned to Robert, "After this is over, I can't keep him here. He has practically recovered. He still has his moments, and that will be for many months yet, but I cannot keep him here that way."

"I know, and I hope that he changes his mind."

* * *

Nathan Bridger lay down on his bed. The day had taken quite a bit out of him, and he realised that Kristin had been right about how much he needed to rest to actually get better. Everyone who had been infected with the bacterium were already back on full duty. Of course, he would have to be silly enough to add pneumonia to a problem. He was very aware that he had come close to death.

He was getting better, albeit slowly. If he had enough time to think about it today he would have been asleep hours ago. But with Wendy's kidnapping and the worrying over his family he had not that time. He lay down in the bunk and closed his eyes. Sleep claimed him so fast that he didn't even realise he had fallen asleep until he awoke late the next morning.

Sitting up he stretched, then realised that he wasn't in his temporary quarters. What the Hell? passed through his mind.

The room seemed to not be quite solid however. He was in a plain cell and could see the ocean through the bars. He walked up and looked outside. A pagoda to one side greeted him, and a richly appointed Chinese courtyard. He turned around and saw Wendy in a chair. She didn't look mistreated, yet, but clearly was asleep and very sad.

He walked up to the chair and touched his niece's shoulder. Her presence latched onto his even as it realised she was still asleep, and that he was not really there. She awoke and then he awoke his the temporary quarters, where it was really early morning. Nathan sat up showered, shaved and then got dressed as quickly as he could without giving himself shaving nicks.

He left his quarters and walked straight to Robert's quarters, the quarters that used to be his. Stopping to knock on his son's door, he realised the real reason he didn't want to be the CSO on seaQuest. It had nothing to do with stepping on his son's toes, and everything to do with being the one who was supposed to be the captain's quarters.

If he was on seaQuest those were his quarters. He couldn't really bear to have it any other way. He couldn't be on seaQuest and know that if they called for the captain that they were not calling him. That was why he didn't want to come back.

His son answered him and Bridger walked in and looked around at the changes in the quarters. It was the same yet so different. Robert was not into the same books as he was so the bookshelf was filled with different books. The desk was in a different spot, and the chairs were not the same. "Dad, is something wrong?" asked Robert in concern.

"Yes... I saw Wendy. She is in China I think. She was on the ocean in a cell..." Nathan said after a moment, he then took a breath. "Sometimes I wish the gift was not in our family."

Robert blinked and called the bridge and then Dr. Westphalen. After he got his father to sit down, he asked, "What else can you remember?"

"It was so bright... There were palm trees, and a white beach. It was pretty. The complex where she is being held was in traditional Chinese design, I think," Bridger rubbed his temples, already developing a headache from the strain. "I just woke up and all ready I'm exhausted."

Dr. Westphalen and Chief Shan arrived at the same time. Kristin took one look at Nathan's pallor and asked, "What's happened?"

"My father saw Wendy in a dream with his sight. He knows where she is, or rather he would if he knew where it was he saw," Robert put a blanket around the shuddering Nathan. "Chief, I'm glad you came."

"Lieutenant O'Niell said that the 'vision' was of China," answered Shan. "If he can give me a description of what he saw I can help narrow down where she could be." Cynthia gave him the paper with the notes of what Nathan Bridger had seen in his vision. Shan read them over and said, "Well, that narrows it down."

Westphalen took out a syringe and injected Nathan with it. Within a few minutes he was quiet, and asleep again. "His pulse was racing as if he had run a twenty mile marathon at full sprint, and he was breathing too shallow," she answered to their unspoken questions. "However, it wasn't supposed to knock him out completely, just quiet him.

Robert sighed and Cynthia said, "Well, we'll never get him back to his quarters like that. Here, put him in Robert's bunk for now."

"He must have been completely wiped out from that 'dream'," said Robert. "He ever do that before?"

"Only once that I know of," said Westphalen thoughtfully. "A very long time ago, but we thought nothing of it. In fact, I wrote the entire thing off as a bad dream where he fell out of bed."

"Which was when?" asked Robert.

"Goodness, midway into his first tour on seaQuest," she answered. "When we found the King George. He said he felt invigorated, but it was not even a half an hour later before he was exhausted and lethargic while Dr. Levin was trying to see what he remembered of it."

The four of them managed to move the completely lax form of Nathan to the bunk and Westphalen took his shoes and socks off. Cynthia pulled the blanket up to just over his chest. "How long will he sleep?" asked Robert.

"Mom, how long did he sleep the last time?"

"A few hours at most."

"And this time?" asked Robert as he smoothed the last wrinkles in the blanket from where he knelt beside his father.

"Only a few hours, four or five at most," Kristin patted his arm. "Don't worry, once you come off shift I'll make sure he's in his own bed."

Robert left to go back to the bridge. Kristin asked Shan, "Any ideas where he saw her?"

"Pagodas are usually in China, especially the one he described," said Shan. "I know which one he saw. She's in Thailand."

* * *

March 2nd, 2033

1300 hours

seaQuest DSV wardroom

On the way to Pearl Harbour

Robert listened to Shan as he described where she was being held. "There is only one problem, Chief," pointed out Robert. "That puts her in NAP territory, not only that its right on the border of Macronesia."

Shan nodded wearily, "Yes, I know. But that is where your father saw. Speaking of which..."

"Yes, he's as psychic as she is, and yes, he knows. He's known since early on into his first tour," answered Robert as he leaned forward to face his senior officers. "But he never used to read your minds, ever. He didn't like it when Savannah did it to him, so he wouldn't do it to you."

Ford leaned back, "We know."

"Yeah, Lucas overheard her tell him he was," said Lonnie. "We just found out recently."

Robert gazed at them in shock, "I suppose you're going to tell me that you know about me too?"

"Well, logic does say that kind of thing is hereditary," pointed out Ortiz. "If Dr. Smith is, and she's your cousin, and your father is too... then unless you're genetic code is really screwed up you would be too."

Robert sighed and said, "And using logic you would be correct. I am. But for some reason it was my father who had the vision and not me."

His senior staff looked at each other in puzzlement, then Ortiz supplied, "Maybe it's because your father is closer to her than you are. They did serve together last year, er, ten years ago. That was another thirteen months."

Robert nodded and then brought the speculation back to how they were going to get to Thailand. "Now, we have to figure out a way to get into Thailand to get her out. Somehow I know we can't take in the seaQuest, so we need another ship."

"What about the Calypso? She's a Delta IV and God knows there's enough of them around," suggested O'Niell.

Everyone looked at Tim and Ford said, "That was brilliant. And it's not even registered as being UEO. It's private, Lucas, can you find if Captain Bridger registered it in his name or if he is operating under a private contract?"

"On it," and Lucas was instantly up and running to Mammal Engineering where his computers were.

"When we find out what the Calypso is registered under, I'll bring that idea up to my father. He may have a few more ideas, and maybe he knows a few other retired friends with boats on the water," said Robert standing up. "Dismissed."

* * *

March 3rd, 2033

In the area of Pearl Harbour

On the seaQuest the atmosphere was tense as Robert Bridger handed over command of seaQuest back to his father Nathan Bridger. Nathan shook his son's hand and said, "Don't get too comfortable there, Robert. And don't bang her up too bad either. I expect to be able to use it when you get back."

"Dad, I was about to say the same thing to you, only I was going to say don't get too comfortable in my quarters."

The bridge laughed at this, which was both of their intentions. Robert looked back at the ones who be accompanying him. Commander Ford had practically insisted almost to the point of insubordination, but Robert truly felt better with him backing up. Ben had decided to stay behind only because someone had to stay on seaQuest as the executive officer, which had earned from Robert, "First you're the third in command, and now you're second in command. Eventually, Ben, you're going to be in command!"

His response, "I hope not, I have a business to run."

Other than Jonathan, Shan was going with him because he would fit in the most and could gather information faster than any of them. That was expected on all sides. That meant, of course, that Crocker had slid right back into his old role of security Chief of the seaQuest. When asked if he felt put out by this, and by both Captain Bridger's, Brody had answered, "Hell no. Other than Ford and Shan, who else is going to back you?"

Which meant that Lieutenant James Brody was also going on the Calypso. Dagwood had opted out preferring to run point for seaQuest and the Nezamiah with Fredericks. He had also made the very valid point that GELFs tended to stick out like sore thumbs in NAP territories they were not yet leaving the UEO territory. Deciding on a small team and a small ship, Robert had his team and he was confident in their abilities. His father was safe on seaQuest, as was the rest of his family. Hell, with his Dad temporarily suspending his retirement the seaQuest was in no better hands.

Nathan walked with his son, and his team, to the launch bay, "HQ is going to flip when they find out what we've done."

"Is there a rule against it?"

"Not that I know of," grinned Nathan.

When the other members of the team had boarded the launch Robert turned back to his father, "See you when I get back."

"I'll be here. Good luck, son," responded Captain Nathan Bridger of the seaQuest.

* * *

PART THREE: Chains of Command Redux

March 3rd, 2033

NAP waters, off the coast of Thailand

Calypso

Robert Bridger had to admit that he was rather enjoying piloting the Calypso. The ship was so small that he could be on navigation and the helm at the same time. Hell, he could even look over and see the sensor grid. It was easily a one man ship, but it was much easier to float when two people worked in tandem.

He stretched and looked over to Commander Ford who was on sensors, and well, everything else that was on the Engineering screens. "So, what do you think of this dinghy?"

"An apt comparison to seaQuest?" conceded Ford. "She's okay. Cramped, but a fine little... dinghy."

The two men laughed. "Sir, in your honest opinion, what do you think our chances are?" asked Ford.

"Slim, maybe even none," Robert frowned. "Everything screams trap."

"Yeah, but they are expecting the seaQuest, or some other UEO vessel too," said Ford. "I think they want to start a war and blame the UEO for it. You were just a convenient target. And we are going in as renegades. The UEO, if we fail, can disavow us."

Robert had to admit that Ford was very right. "Then again, an ambush is only and ambush when you don't know its coming," pointed out Robert. "And we know its ambush. We will be prepared."

"I hope you're right, sir," Ford sounded uneasy, then he brightened. "But if we all go missing, God have mercy on the bugger that stands in the way of your father's wrath!"

Robert laughed, knowing that to be true. Then he said, "Go wake Shan and Brody. I think we are about to go ashore."

Moments later Shan and Brody took up the auxiliary stations on the bridge of the Calypso. Shan said, "Find a place to dock. I'll go ashore and see what I can scrounge up in information."

Robert expertly docked the Delta IV and Shan went up world. They waited for what seemed to be an indeterminate time, but in reality it was only about five hours. In those five hours Brody stayed on watch while Ford and Robert slept. They awoke and were back on the cramped bridge when Shan came back. "I think I found her," he said. "Does the name X'ing Paio sound familiar?"

"Yes," answered Robert. "That was my former owner."

"Well, he's part of a renegade group called the Chaodai. They are kind of an up and coming cult, if you ask me," he reported. "When we get back home, our superiors are going to shit. If we thought Macronesia was a threat we haven't seen anything yet."

"And what does Wendy have to do with him?"

"Concubine. He wants to breed her," Shan spat with disgust. "If they get their hands on the genetic code of a psychic they will be unstoppable."

"Then we'll have to prevent that," said Robert grimly.

* * *

Same Day

seaQuest DSV

Nathan sat in the command chair. The irony being that it didn't feel quite the same anymore. The other thing that didn't help was that Ben Krieg was his X-O. Ben was speaking to Lucas about something or another, then he came over to him and said, "Sir, Lucas says that the Calypso was followed."

"Followed? By whom?" asked Bridger.

Ben looked at him and smiled, "A certain dolphin..."

Whatever possessed Darwin to do that? wondered Bridger. But in a way that made him feel marginally better. If Darwin watched over them they would have an unexpected advantage in the water. He was an excellent trap ruiner. Suddenly the ship seemed to shudder. "Mr. Ortiz, what was that?"

Lieutenant Miguel Ortiz was already searching the sensors, "Sir, there's an unidentified ship bearing on us."

"Sound General Quarters," ordered Bridger.

"All hands, General Quarters," Krieg relayed over the ships intercom. "All hands to Full Alert."

"Get the Nezamiah and see if Captain Montail heard anything..." Bridger knew the answer before it came, there was only one reason she had not warned them.

"Sir, we're being jammed. Attempting to break through it now," O'Niell's hands flew over his keyboard.

Bridger gritted his teeth and felt the ship rock again. As Ortiz said, "Sir, we're being boarded." Bridger was already over the com system, "Intruder Alert! Security teams be on the look out for people who don't belong here." He pointed to the clam doors, "Close those doors."

The massive clam doors closed, effectively sealing off the bridge. One last call, "Mr. Crocker, I'm holding you personally responsible for Cindy and Michael."

"Aye, Cap. They'll have to go through me and Savannah," was the burly man's answer.

Bridger turned to look at his bridge crew, temporary as they may, and sighed. "Ortiz, please tell me that Macronesia hasn't suddenly changed their borders and that we are now in their waters?"

Ortiz shook his head in negation, "No sir, seconds before we were jammed we were well in UEO waters."

"Then we know what these people want," said Bridger, turning to Krieg. "They want me."

"I am aware that the UEO does not negotiate with terrorists, sir," Krieg grinned, not his happy go lucky grin, but a hard grin that seemed very out of place on his face. "Which means that those doors remain shut. You will not fall into enemy hands even if I have to arrange it." The grin fell off and he looked truly worried, "But I won't let it come to that."

Bridger only took one minute before deciding, and he walked over to the small weapon's locker on the bridge. "I have a feeling we'll need these. Let's give them a surprise they won't soon forget. Ben, you and Lieutenant Henderson take up two positions on either side of the clam doors. Lieutenant O'Niell, you watch the moon pool with me. Everyone else stay on regular duty but be ready to back us up."

Soon they could hear banging on the clam doors. The bridge crew looked at each other and Bridger said, "It was an honour to serve with you all again... as short as it will be."

The clam doors were being forced by a set of jaws, and those who had been on board the last time the seaQuest had fallen into enemy hands in 2018 remembered. But this time they knew it had to be different. They were expecting them and they were ready. A crack appeared between the lips, and it widened. Soon the doors were jammed open enough that people could fit through and their guns were brought to the ready. One after the other they came through, but they too, were expecting trouble and were using riot shields to deflect the bullets.

After those shields others came in with the weapons and they began firing. But as the seaQuest crew were mostly covered, none managed to hit anybody. Seconds later, seeing as they were in a stalemate, Bridger ordered Kreig and Henderson to open fire. They pinned the shields in the sides and the others fell back, and then the rest with them.

Bridger moved to cover by the command chair, ready to lock out bridge commands to anyone should the bridge be taken. He would not let the seaQuest be taken. Sensing that the end of this was near in one way or the other, his hand hovered over the button he needed to hit.

He didn't need to wait long as a single canister spewing gas was thrown into the bridge. Feeling dizzy moments after he watched Krieg and Henderson faint, his hand hit the button and the computer droned, "Command lock out initiated...3..."

"Get to the computer before we can't do anything about the ship!" ordered a man, and Bridger smiled as his motor control was lost.

"...2..."

He heard running and managed to trip the enemy before they could get near enough. It was a clumsy move, but it worked.

"...1...Command Lock-Outs Complete. Please contact UEO Command to release locks," the computer finished and the lights dimmed.

Bridger's last coherent thought was of satisfaction. If they were after the ship, they would not be successful. When Command Lock Out was used, the ship would automatically send a distress signal, as well as their exact coordinates, to UEO Command. After that, he blacked out.

* * *

Robert followed Shan up to the walls of the complex, and opened his mind to sense for Wendy. She was nearby. Using a natural gift, he closed his mind to sensing, but left one tendril latched onto her. That way only she could sense him, but no one else. Ford used a retracting cord to give them a way to climb over the wall.

The four climbed the wall, and decided that Ford would stay behind at the wall to make sure that their avenue of escape was not compromised.

The three snuck though the gardens, thanking the landscaper as they did so. The garden was what they called 'jungle chic' and was filled with a sorts of flora and assorted trees. It was plenty of cover. Robert found the door into the complex and waited as Shan checked it over for alarms or other traps. After Shan gave the go ahead, they slipped inside.

They searched the rooms and finally came to one occupied. Brody nearly entered but Robert stopped him. Wendy is that you? he sent.

Instantly the figure on the bed stirred and rolled over, revealing that it was Wendy Smith. Shan again checked the door, and clearing it as well as picking the lock, Robert pushed it open. Using the same trick Dagwood had told them about to prevent someone from closing the door behind them, Shan and Robert walked in, leaving Brody on the look out. Shan checked the bed and the room, making sure there was nothing that could give anything away. Wendy whispered, "You should not have come... they want your father."

Robert shook his head and made her follow him as they made their way back to Ford. They had to duck to avoid the guards, and the guards in the gardens. Ford whispered, "I think they were expecting us... they suddenly just started to send out the guards."

"Then let's get out of here," mouthed Robert.

And they did so.

A few hours later the five were on the Calypso, but they were not letting their guard down even then. Robert turned to Wendy and asked, "Did they know what kind of ship we would have?"

She shook her head, "They figured you would come in on a launch, not a sub. I have to admit that this was a smart idea. Where did you find it?"

"It's Dad's," answered Robert. "He took command of it when Lansdowne needed more invasive research. Right now its rigged to look like another ship that registered in Macronesia. So we've got to get out of here before the real one shows up. Commander Ford, get us out of here."

"Aye sir."

The sub slid smoothly out of dock and into the deep water where they submerged and practically disappeared off all radar screens. "Rig for silent running and take us back to UEO waters," ordered Robert.

"Silent running engaged sir, heading for UEO territory," came Brody's answer on nav.

The ship seemed to go silent and Robert very quietly said to Wendy, "Unlike seaQuest, this ship does not have internal dampening. We must be as quiet as the Calypso or we'll be discovered."

Wendy nodded her understanding and mentally, Then we just have to communicate this way. X'ing wants your father. I think he may have sent some of his troops to capture him.

Then we will have to get back to seaQuest and make sure that does not happen, assured Robert.

* * *

March 3rd, 2033

seaQuest DSV

Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Krieg woke slowly and found himself lying to just one side of the command chair on the deck plating. Looking around he saw that a great majority of the bridge crew was in the same predicament. Frantically he looked around for Captain Nathan Bridger, but to no avail. He stood up and a wave of dizziness assailed him. Must remember not to do that very damn often... he thought.

Someone supported him and looked into the face of Crocker. A very worried Crocker. "What is it Chief?" asked Ben.

"Well, sir, we managed to neutralize the threat with minimal casualties. Goes with the territory of knowing the ship that much better than those, whomever they were," Crocker grinned. "We captured one."

"Where's the captain?"

"That's the problem, sir," Crocker stressed the sir part. "He's one of the casualties. You're in command of seaQuest now."

"What!" was not only Krieg's reaction, but O'Niell's and Ortiz's as well.

It was the heaviest weight that he had ever felt descend on him, and its seemed to want to push him through the floor. Ben's tongue cloved itself to the roof of his mouth as he realised the implications of it all. For so long he had been so far down the ladder of command that about five or six people would have had to been incapable of command before he would have had to even worry about it. Now he was the senior most officer able to command.

He didn't have anytime to think about it, just right now. He swallowed, knowing there was no way for him to refuse command either. Only one option. "I am in command of seaQuest," said Krieg in a stronger voice than what he truly felt, more to reassure the crew than himself. Forcing a smile, he continued, facing the rest of the crew, "Come on people, I usually have the second watch. I've done this before. Lieutenant O'Niell, is the jamming lifted?"

"Yes sir," said O'Niell, vaguely relieved to have something to do.

"Then get us UEO Command, and control of seaQuest back," ordered Krieg.

O'Niell's fingers flew over the keyboard as Krieg racked his brain trying to remember who was the next in command, and his eyes settled on Lonnie who was running to her station. "Sir, the Nezamiah is in heavy combat with another sub," came Ortiz's report.

Could things get any better. Not only was he the acting captain, now he was in the middle of a combat situation. "Sound General Quarters," ordered Krieg as he swung himself into the command chair.

"All hands, General Quarters," O'Niell's voice rang out, more sure than he was letting on. "Sir, HQ is asking for confirmation."

"Give it, KB-Alpha-Zero," Ben practically shouted into the headset he was handed, and was relieved when the control board in front of him asked for his identification key.

Slipping it from around his neck he slid into the slot. "Confirmed," flashed on the screen, and the seaQuest bridge controls were released. Ben put his key back around his neck and ordered, "Ortiz, identify the bogie if you can."

Ortiz shook his head, "Unidentified hostile."

"O'Niell, open a channel."

"Channel opened sir," came Tim's reply.

"Unidentified sub, this is Captain Benjamin Krieg of the seaQuest DSV. You are in UEO waters and firing on UEO personnel. Stand down," he looked over to Tim who mouthed, No answer, sir. "I repeat, stand down or we will be forced to fire."

Ortiz, "Sir, they are firing on us!"

"Launch countermeasures," ordered Krieg

"Countermeasures away," answered Henderson. "The enemy torps are going after the countermeasures."

"Targeting solution, Henderson," ordered Krieg.

"Solution gained, we have lock," rang out her voice.

"Arm forward torpedoes in a focus and fire," Krieg felt the words leave his mouth, scarcely able to breathe.

If this is what Jonathan, Bobby and Captain Bridger felt every time they gave this order, they could keep their positions on seaQuest. He sure as Hell was not keen on it. He felt the telltale shudder as the torpedoes fired, and watched as they connected with the enemy sub.

The explosions seemed to shake the sub, and then in broke up and went down. Krieg released the breath he had not even been aware of holding and realised that he had just successfully commanded the ship in combat. Man, I wish Commander Ford were here to have seen that! was his first thought, and his second. I wish this never happened. The bridge looked at him and he said, "Is there anymore bogies?"

"No sir, we're in the clear," answered Ortiz quietly.

"Comm the Nezamiah and apprise them of our situation, but continue our patrol for another twenty four hours. After that we head back to Pearl," ordered Krieg. "And stand down from General Quarters. Lieutenant..." he again went back to trying to remember who was the next in the chain of command. "Lieutenant O'Niell, you have the bridge."

Tim gaped at him, but, thankfully regained control of his surprise to answer, "Yes sir. I have the bridge."

Ben walked off the bridge and through the clam doors where Engineering was fixing the damage. They saluted him, and responding with a salute back, he walked to the mag-lev. He rode the mag-lev in silence and got off just outside the med bay. He walked in and looked at Dr. Kristin Westphalen. "Captain..." she trailed off. "You know, I never thought I would say that to you."

"Me neither," he said quietly as he walked over to Captain Bridger's bedside.

Bridger was in bad shape, and Krieg remembered vaguely that when the intruders had taken over the bridge and found that he had locked them out, he had been rewarded with a savage kick to the skull, and in the ribs. They had shaken him awake and demanded the bridge codes. Moments before Crocker came running in, Ben had taken a shot at the one holding Bridger.

The bullet had struck the enemy in the middle of the back.

Krieg had never killed anyone before, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. He had no doubt that if he had not, Nathan Bridger would have been dead. And then they would have moved on to the others. After that shot, Ben had also succumbed to the effects of the gas.

Kristin moved up by him and said, "You did well."

Krieg nodded, "In twenty four hours if Captain Bridger and the others don't make it back, I have ordered seaQuest to return to Pearl."

Westphalen nodded and went back to her work, while Krieg looked at Nathan once more and walked back, the long way, to the bridge. By all legal rights he was the captain. That had more than one pressing realisation for Ben. He had never really been in command before. In the first tour he had never even been 'Officer of the Day'. His record had not been good enough to be trusted with that responsibility. Now it was significantly cleaner, in fact, it was almost sterling if you looked at the success of his business.

The next day he found himself on seadeck where he leaned on the coping, and a chittering alerted him to Darwin's return. He turned and rubbed Darwin's melon. "Ben sad."

"Yeah, Darwin, I am."

"Why sad? Ben captain."

"That is why I'm sad. Someone was injured today to gain me that position. And in that position I killed people."

"Ben sank metal shark. Would have hurt friends. Ben shoot man shark. Would have hurt Bridger. Not bad. Ben hero. Ben captain of seaQuest. Good captain."

Krieg smiled. As usual the dolphin had a way of putting things into perspective. Yes, people would have died if he hadn't taken command, if he hadn't given the command to fire. In a way, he guessed, that was why Bridger was such a good captain. He had a responsibility to protect. Unfortunately with that protection came the killing. "He's right you know," Ben looked up to see Lonnie Henderson, and she walked down to him. "If you had not taken command, more harm than good would have happened. And I think you really surprised Tim and Miguel. That's all they can talk about."

"Yeah, but it doesn't stop the grief that I probably caused to the families of those people on that other sub," answered Ben.

Lonnie jabbed a finger in his shoulder with each word, "And don't you ever forget that." She stopped and continued, "That's what makes the difference between a good captain and a bad one. A good captain remembers that there are lives on both sides. You did warn them, twice if I remember correctly, and they fired on us first. You acted in the defence of the ship and its crew. You would make a good captain."

She left after touching his shoulder in support.

"Captain to the bridge!" came O'Niell's voice over the speakers.

Aware that he was repeating a phrase that had been said by Captain Nathan Bridger many years ago when he first took command of seaQuest, he said to Darwin, "You know, I think that's me."

Ben jogged onto the bridge and said, "Status, Tim, er, Lieutenant O'Niell."

"It's the Calypso," said Tim grinning. "They got Wendy back."

* * *

PART FOUR: Surreal Reunion

March 4th, 2033

seaQuest DSV wardroom

On the way back to Pearl Harbour

Ben waited in the launch bay until the doors opened and Captain Robert Bridger came out of the launch. Robert looked at him and asked, "Is it true that you commanded the seaQuest in combat?"

"Yes sir," answered Ben as they stood as Ford, Brody and Wendy came on board. "Dr. Smith, it's good to see you again."

She frowned slightly and nodded, "Captain Krieg has a ring to it... are you okay, Ben?"

Krieg's smile slipped and in a partially haunted voice, "I don't wanna to be captain anymore..."

In the wardroom Ford and Robert listened to Krieg's report, complete with the communications logs and sensors logs. Robert echoed what Lonnie said, "Ben, you did the best that you could. In fact, I never thought you had it in you. I wish you did want to be captain."

"Yeah, man," said Ford leaning back in his chair and shaking his head in disbelief. "You did way better than I did in my first combat! I never thought I would say this, but you are command material whether you want to admit or not."

Krieg sat heavily in the chair, "I hope never to have to give that order again. When I said it, I knew that people would die. Oh god, what if they missed and I hit the Nezamiah?"

"We all have those doubts, and those concerns Ben," said Robert. "But you gave the hardest command to give, and seaQuest sustained little to no damage. The Nezamiah is still in the water thanks to you. You saved lives more than you destroyed. And as I've heard, you even gave the enemy the chance to stand down. Twice. You did right."

"It does not make me feel any better," responded Krieg.

* * *

Robert came in where Lucas was talking to his father. Robert hung back, but his father caught sight of him, "Did you get Wendy back?"

"Uncle Nathan!" Wendy cried from the hallway and rushed in.

"I'll take that as a yes," said Nathan under the gentle hug that he found himself in.

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