Chapter Three

SeaQuest, along the Atlantic African coastline, two days later…

They had located the signal's origin and followed it to a supposedly abandoned water-purifying facility.

"I've got something on the W.S.K.R.S, Captain," Miguel informed Bridger.

"Bring it up on the screen, Mr. Ortiz," Bridger instructed.

On the screen, they saw the facility with the name Adderman across it.

Getting out his PAL, the captain dialed Lucas.

"Lucas, I need you to find out anything you can on the name Adderman," he instructed his adopted son.

"Sure thing, Dad," the boy replied. "Give me a sec…"

"Bring it to the bridge when you're finished," Bridger told him. "And, son? Hurry, please."

"Don't I always," Lucas replied, and clicked off his PAL.

The captain smirked and shook his head.

"Smart aleck kid," he muttered, grinning proudly.

Ten minutes later, Lucas arrived on the bridge.

"I got it," he said, smiling. "The Adderman Facility was a water purification plant until it went bust—it was abandoned six years ago and taken over by an anonymous buyer."

"Anything else?" Bridger asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Only, um," Lucas said, hesitantly. "Only that the ship your son—uh—Robert was on went down not too far from here."

"Yes," the captain said, "I know…"

"Sir," Miguel said, urgently. "There's a sub trying to flee the facility!"

He flicked some switches and they saw an image of the sub through the W.S.K.R.S.

"Well, somebody sure is in an all out hurry," Chief Crocker commented, raising an eyebrow.

"Mr. O'Neill," Bridger instructed. "Open a channel and hail them."

"Aye, Sir," Tim said, and hit some buttons.

"Unidentified craft," the communications officer called out to the sub. "This is the SeaQuest. Please, respond. I repeat: this is the UEO flagship SeaQuest. Please, respond!"

They waited, but nothing happened.

"No response, Captain," Tim reported, "and there's no interference—they're just ignoring us."

Bridger sighed. He was hoping he wouldn't have to use force.

"Very well," he said, "Commander Ford, prepare to fire a single torpedo—let's disable her."

"Aye, aye, Sir," Ford said, looking at weapons' control. "Flood tube one and prepare to fire."

"Tube one ready to fire, Sir," the weapons' tech said, a moment later.

"Fire," Bridger ordered, watching the view screen.

The torpedo was launched and hit the fleeing propellers dead on.

She was dead in the water.

Bridger was about to order a launch sent to apprehend the crew when the rogue sub exploded into a thousand pieces.

The blast rocked SeaQuest and scattering debris everywhere.

Once everything calmed and everyone righted themselves once more, Bridger frowned at the spot where the sub had been.

"The torpedo we launched couldn't have caused that, Sir," Commander Ford said, certain.

"The people inside must have hit a self-destruct of some kind," Katie stated, quietly.

"Why would they kill themselves?" Kristen asked, stunned.

"That's a good question, Doctor," Bridger said, frowning fiercely. "And one I'd like to find out. Chief, get a security team ready. I want to check out that facility."

"Aye, aye, Captain," Crocker said and rushed to do as ordered.

Lucas glanced at him, expectantly. He opened his mouth to speak.

"No," Bridger told him, holding up a hand to forestall his request. "You're staying put."

"But I could help," the boy protested. "C'mon, Dad, please?"

"Lucas, I said no," the captain told him, firmly. "And that's final."

Lucas glared at him. "Fine," he growled. "Whatever." He turned to storm off the bridge.

Bridger sighed, shaking his head.

"I'll talk to him," Kristen said, smiling.

"No," the captain told her. "Let him be. He's just testing me."

"To see how far he can push?" Kristen guessed, nodding. "It's fairly common in newly adopted children."

"Sir," Ford reported, a few moments later. "The security team is ready and the launch is waiting to take you to the facility."

Bridger nodded. "The bridge is yours, Commander," he told him, turning to leave the ship.

"Do you think you'll find him?" Kristen asked, curiously.

He stopped and looked at her. "I don't know," he answered, honestly.

"I'm here for you," she told him, placing a hand on his arm.

"Thanks, Kristen," he said, pecking her on the cheek. "Make sure Lucas doesn't blow something up while I'm gone, okay?"

She laughed. "Will do," she said, mock saluting.

"Everybody's a critic," he said, smirking, and turned to head for the launch bay.

If his son really had survived and was in that facility, he was going to find him.

…TBC…