Author's note: I'm so happy you guys are behind me on this! I'll try to post a couple times a week, but it'll depend on how crazy life and work get.

When Nathan walked into the kitchen, he was grateful to see another pot of coffee just finishing brewing. Lucas poured a mugful and handed it to him, eyeing him carefully. Nathan offered him a warm smile, feeling guilty for storming away from him earlier. "Thanks, Kiddo. When everyone is fully awake, we need to have a meeting."

"Is the Doc in trouble?" He asked apprehensively.

"She's safe at the moment, but the sooner we get involved, the better." Nathan turned away from the young man's questioning stare, after giving him a comforting pat on the shoulder.

He saw Tim and Lonnie talking quietly in a corner. Tim was blushing, but looked pleased while Lonnie smiled brightly and softly rubbed his arm. The two of them had vanished from the party early on, and Nathan tried his best not to speculate on their current behavior.

After a few minutes, everyone was more or less awake and sipping on their own coffees. Nathan caught Commander Ford's eye. It was an expression Jonathan knew well, and he took position behind his captain to offer support for whatever was coming. Wendy, as well, sensed his troubled mind. She watched him carefully, but stayed where she was, talking to Lucas and Tony.

"People," Nathan began, easily attracting their attentions. "I know we are officially on shore leave, and many of you want to see your families, but there is a situation I think we need to investigate."

He paused, waiting for a reaction, but only received attentive stares from his crew. "We have reason to believe there is something attacking colonies. All reports point to this being biologic, but we need to check it out for ourselves. If it is an animal, it's huge, possibly one hundred feet long."

There were several gasps of surprise, but only Lucas spoke up. "The only thing out there that large is a blue whale, and they're peaceful. A colony running some kind of sonar could confuse it though, I guess."

Nathan nodded, "good thinking, Lucas. Keep that in mind, but reports that have come in say it was… a shark. But," he held his hand up at the noises of disbelief from his crew. "We all know how an eye witness' testimony can be inaccurate during a panic. A few of us will be visiting the sites, while the rest can work from here."

"Why not all of us, Cap?" Tony voiced the question on everyone's faces. "If you gotta fight a giant fish, the ship shouldn't be on no skeleton crew."

Nathan cleared his throat, "if we were using the SeaQuest, that would be true. But we will be on a private vessel is much smaller."

"Not using the ship?" Wendy spoke for the first time. "They are only refitting some of the sensors, that must be able be put off until this thing is stopped."

"This… isn't exactly an order from the UEO, they want no part of it." Nathan explained, he paused to allow the angry muttering to stop. "The brass informed me, 'We won't stop you from going anywhere on your own time, but this nonsense will not be sanctioned for use of UEO equipment.'"

"But the SeaQuest is your ship." Lucas interjected in frustration. "It's not like we're looking for Nessie."

"Well…" Nathan started slowly, "it's been reported as… as a megalodon."

Commander Ford lost his normally tightly controlled composure and snorted loudly. "That's not possible. The most recent fossil they've found is 10,000 years old. That's not as old as the dinosaurs, but there can't be any around without being seen before this."

"That is why this isn't sanctioned, if we find creditable evidence, they will back us… they say." Nathan told him with a sigh. "Until then, we are on our own. And, I won't order anyone to help with this, if you can't, it won't be held against you."

Of course, no one spoke up to refuse aid, and Nathan smiled proudly at his crew. "Alright, Commander Ford and I will be deciding who goes where. In the meantime, start brain storming. I'd like to have some ways to deal with this creature in a nonlethal fashion. Killing it will be a last resort."

Lucas was already opening his laptop as the captain finished speaking. Trying to ignore the discussions around him, he started to type. "Can ya believe this?" Tony muttered to Tim, "we've seen some crazy stuff out there, but a giant dino shark?"

"Says the man with the gills." Lieutenant Brody snorted. "There is a lot we don't know about the oceans, the whole world for that matter." He added mysteriously.

Tony gaped at him before starting to laugh. "You're one of 'em, aint cha?" He struggled to keep his snickering from interrupting what he wanted to say. "You think Bigfoot and mermaids are just hanging out waiting for us to find 'em." Jim didn't voice a reply, instead glaring at the seaman. Tony chose to push his luck. "How 'bout aliens? Are they kidnappin' the people who have the proof 'bout Nessie? Hidin' the truth from us all?"

Tim decided to intercede before a punch was thrown, and judging by Brody's face, it would be soon. "There is some interesting evidence for alien interference in human civilization. Sudden technological advances for instance."

Tony shook his head, still laughing. "Oh man I need more coffee for this crap."

"Tim's right, but not just technology, people too." Jim slowly told him, trying to keep calm. If they hadn't been on shore leave, he could have slapped Tony in cuffs and tossed him in the brig for a night for his attitude. Now, he could only hold his ground and hope to save face. "Many times in history, people who save mankind have turned up right before or during a crisis. They call them star-children, geniuses who had new ways to solve problems. People so smart, everyone around them have a hard time even talking with them. Where did they suddenly come from if not…"

He crossed his arms triumphantly, daring Tony argue. Lucas looked up from the computer before either man push the discussion further. "Did you just call me an alien?"

Jim blinked and dropped his arms, "um…"

"Because that would be pretty awesome." Lucas grinned before going back to his work.

"And it'd explain a lot…" Tony muttered, watching the teen's fingers fly across the keys.

A half hour later, Nathan called his troops attention again. "What have you found?"

"Not much," Lucas reported forlornly. "I don't think many people care about keeping sharks alive when they're being attacked. Making a bubble curtain looks promising, but they learn to not be afraid of it. And it would have to be huge to work. I've found some information diving suits colored to look like poisonous sea snakes, but I don't think that'll help with something this big."

"I'll put an order in for a few, it might help if we have to dive." Nathan nodded his thanks.

"I should be able to make the WSKR's mimic the sounds and reflectively of a bubble wall." Offered Ortiz, "if we can get the ok to use them." In an undertone, he added, "or sneak them out."

"Can you link one to Kristin's sub?" Nathan asked, interested in the idea. "I'd like some protection, even if it's a minor."

"Kristin?" The crew members who had worked with the doctor looked at him in surprise and excitement, but Ford was the only voice he heard. The tone of that voice was confused and mixed with a small part of irritation.

"Yes… She is working with my cousin and brought this to my attention." Nathan said cautiously, he knew Jonathan and Kristin didn't often see eye to eye and hoped they wouldn't have a problem with this particular mission.

The commander nodded curtly and turned away to address the rest of the group. "I'll be heading the home base crew. Lieutenant Brody, Dr. Smith, and Henderson, you'll be with me."

Miguel stepped forward, "sir, if I stay in the area, I can run the remaining WSKR's to look for this thing around here." Nathan and Ford exchanged a look before nodding. "I'll just borrow Lucas and Tim for a short time before you leave to link up the one going with you."

"Deal," Nathan clapped his hands together. "We'll leave as soon as possible. Everything clear?"

"Um… Captain Bridger, sir?" Dagwood looked around the corner of the wall. "Where am I going?"

Nathan looked startled, "oh, I'm sorry Dagwood. We… didn't think of you. Where would you like to go?"

The large GELF looked around the room carefully, "you told me to watch Lucas, I will go with him." He finally decided.

Lucas hid a grimace, "great, a three hundred pound babysitter…"

"Maybe he can keep you out of trouble for a change." Nathan smirked, then laughed outright. "No one else can." Everyone turned away from Lucas' scowl, fighting to keep their laughter under control.