Chapter Four

Abandoned Adderman facility, twenty minutes later…

"All right," Bridger instructed the launch team. "We get in, search the place, and get out. Understood?"

"Aye, Sir," Crocker said, and then ordered his men to ready their weapons.

The launch docked and they exited, beginning their search in the cargo bay of the facility.

"Its all clear so far, Captain," Crocker told him. "No sign of—"

"Is someone there!" a voice yelled out. "Please, you gotta help me! This place is gonna blow!"

Bridger and Crocker looked at each other, and then as one dashed toward where the voice was coming from.

"Keep talking," Bridger yelled out. "We'll find you!"

"I'm in here!" the man shouted.

They reached the door where the voice was coming from and found it locked, but there was no port hole to see inside.

"Captain?" Crocker asked, holding up his weapon.

"Blow the lock, Chief," Bridger ordered. "Get me in there!"

Crocker nodded and then he aimed his weapon at the door and fired, blowing the lock off it.

"Stand at the ready, men," he ordered his officers and they obeyed, aiming their weapons at the door.

"After you, Chief," Bridger said, patting his old friend on the back.

Crocker nodded and kicked the door opened. He entered the room.

"All clear, sir," he called back, "except…"

The captain frowned as the man's voice trailed off and entered the room to see what was wrong.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his eye wide with disbelief.

Chained to the wall by bolts of restraint was his son.

"Robert," he said, his voice sounding hollow in his own ears.

The young man, his blonde hair to his shoulders and a beard to match, gazed at him with large blue eyes.

"D-Dad?" he asked, relief in his voice. He then started thrashing, trying to break free.

"You gotta get me outta here!" he exclaimed, shouting. "Those bastards have the whole place rigged to blow any second!"

That sent the captain into action.

"Get him out of there, Chief," he ordered. "On the double!"

"You got it, sir," Crocker said, and aimed his weapons at the chains.

Once free, Robert stumbled and would have fallen had his father not rushed forward to catch him.

He smiled at him.

"T-Thanks," he said, weakly. "You always were good at catching me when I fell…"

Bridger could barely see through his tears.

"Oh god," he breathed, crushing the younger man to him. "W-We thought you were dead!"

"I know, Dad," Robert said, weakly. "T-They played our funerals for us—to show us there was no one coming for us."

"Sir," Crocker said, urgently. "We need to get back to SeaQuest!"

"SeaQuest?" Robert said, smiling. "You finished it?"

"I didn't," Bridger told him, quietly. "But it got built all the same and now I'm her captain. Let's get you outta here, son."

"That's the best news I've had in a long time," Robert said, sighing. "I'm so tired, Dad."

"Then rest, Bobby," Bridger breathed. "Just rest, son…"

Robert nodded and then his head fell limp, as did the rest of him.

Crocker moved to help support him.

"We need to get him to Kristen immediately," the captain said, and the team made its way back to the launch.

"SeaQuest, this is Bridger," he called on his PAL. "We need Dr. Westphalen to meet us at the launch bay. We have a man in need of medical attention."

"Sir?" Commander Ford asked. "Is it…?"

"It's Robert, Commander," Bridger said, smiling. "I'm bringing my son home."

"Aye, aye, sir," Ford said. "Everything'll be waiting for your arrival."

"Mr. Crocker," the captain said, sitting down to cradle his unconscious son's head on his lap. "Get us out of here."

"It'll be my pleasure, sir," Crocker said.

The launch disengaged from the facility and headed back toward SeaQuest.

A few minutes later, the facility exploded.

They had just barely managed to make it.

Bridger glanced down at Robert.

But we did make it, son. Both of us.

…TBC…