A/N: Inspiration for the chapter, One by Metallica: http (colon, slash, slash) www {DOT} youtube {DOT} com (slash) watch?v=WM8bTdBs-cw

Chapter 9

The next morning, Nathan helped Kristin with the children a bit. Although the boat was in a state of chaos, he was realizing that Kristin was right, that the children needed structure. He also knew he'd been absent from their lives lately, and that wasn't fair to them. He was thinking about how much he missed in Robert's life, both when Robert was a child and in the past nine years. When Robert was young, Nathan was out to sea on and off throughout that time. Now that he'd had a second chance with Harry and Kristen, he didn't want to be an absent father once again, didn't want to miss so many special moments.

After helping Kristin drop the children off with Kendall, he turned to her. "Well, I better head to the bridge," he said. "I'd like to say I'll see you later, but I can't say when."

Kristin nodded. "I really appreciated your help this morning."

"Look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I haven't been a very good husband or father lately-" Nathan started to say.

But Kristin placed a finger to his lips. "Sshh," she said quietly. "I know. It's already been forgiven."

That was one of the reasons why Nathan loved her so much; she loved him no matter what. All he could do was say, "I love you."

"I love you, too," she confirmed. "We'll survive this."

Nathan took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "And we'll be stronger afterwards," he whispered. Then he released her. "Good luck."

"You, too," Kristin said as she started in the opposite direction.

On the bridge, things were uneventful until the word came that Secretary Nyugen would be arriving in launch bay.

As Nathan waited patiently, Chief Crocker yelled, "Secretary on the bridge."

An older, Asian man appeared before him. Nathan saluted respectfully, along with the crewmen there.

"At ease, Captain," Secretary General Nyugen replied. He held out his hand. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet the great Nathan Bridger."

"I wish I could say the same," Nathan said.

"Excuse me?" Nyugen asked.

"No disrespect, sir," Nathan said. "It's just that I'm not as familiar with you as you are with me," he explained.

"Oh," Nyugen stated, softening a bit. "Well, I can honestly say that by the end of this, you will know me. And I am confident you won't forget again."

With that, Chief Crocker escorted Nyugen to his quarters while Nathan tagged along. Once there, Nathan dismissed the chief and turned to Nyugen. "Uh, I suppose we should get down to business then?"

Nyugen nodded. "Yes, it seems you've discovered our little secret."

Nathan was trying to be as kind as possible, but he was having difficulty. "No one told us we weren't supposed to be there until it was too late. And we weren't about to leave sick and dying people alone."

"That's very admirable of you, Captain," Nyugen stated, but Nathan didn't like his tone of voice. It was almost sinister; it made him uncomfortable.

"We can resolve this little matter and be out of your hair in no time."

"Wait just a minute," Nathan replied. "I'd like them to have a choice in the matter. They're human beings; they're not cattle."

Nyugen laughed. "No one ever said they weren't humans."

"Then why are you holding them against their will?" Nathan challenged.

"You fought in the war; you know why."

Nathan sighed, remembering the gruesome details of the war. It was no secret that these underwater colonies served as refuge. "But the war isn't going on anymore."

"That doesn't mean we can't be ready if another one starts again," Nyugen stated.

"So, you trick people, allow them to think a war is still going on…and you operate on them against their will?"

"Who says it's against their will?"

"The fact that none of them seem to know what's happening to them," Nathan said.

"I can assure you that every one of them agreed to it."

"Even the children?"

"Parental permission," Nyugen stated. "They all signed waivers."

"How many?" Nathan asked.

"What?"

"How many colonies are there?"

"Seven," Nyugen answered. "But Alpha was the first; there haven't been as many breakthroughs in any of the others as there have been in Alpha."

"Breakthroughs?"

"The Alpha residents have had the best reaction to the chips."

"You call death a good reaction?"

"No, but up until now, they'd been doing remarkably well," Nyugen explained.

"Why would you have them chipped in the first place? What was the point?" Nathan asked. "Was it really all mind control?"

"You make it sound barbaric. It really wasn't. The one who created the chip saw a definite need for improving the United States soldier. Through the chip, yes, all those chipped would be controlled. However, the benefits to it were far greater. They'd have a collective mind, meaning they'd be able to strategize better, fight better, and incidentally, win," Nyugen explained.

"But the early mind control experiments held people against their will, didn't they?" Nathan challenged.

"That was before I got involved, but yes. However, we've come a long way since then."

Nathan was silent for a moment, letting Nyugen's words sink in. He wanted to ask the question that had been weighing on his mind. He took a deep breath and willed himself not to strike out at the answer. "Were you aware that my son was in your colony?"

"I was," Nyugen said honestly.

Nathan stared at him in disbelief for a moment. "You knew that we, my wife and I, were lead to believe he was dead?"

"I think I heard something about that, yes," Nyugen stated, rather apathetically.

"I was in a depression for years because of it," Nathan said, getting angrier. "How can you sit there and not care? How could you do that to me? How many other inhabitants happen to be somebody's missing child?" Nathan yelled.

"You will remember that I am your superior," Nyugen reminded him. "And I beg to differ with you; I do care. I lost a child in the war myself. But look at you now. You're captain of the UEO's most powerful submarine. You have a good life. And I've heard you've recently remarried…and you adopted two children, haven't you?"

Nathan was taken aback. "How did you-"

"It's my job to know these things. I realize it's not something you want everyone knowing; obviously, you don't want any harm coming to them, now do you? Your secret is safe with me," Nyugen replied.

Nathan quickly composed himself, pushing his shock aside. "The fact I've remarried and have two children isn't the point. You took my son away from me."

"I did nothing of the sort; he knew what he was getting himself into when he arrived in Alpha."

"I don't believe you," Nathan said.

Nyugen sighed. "Why don't we head to medbay? I'd like to see the patients."

Meanwhile in medbay, Kristin and Wendy found that many of the younger patients had completely recovered. Being that the patients were no longer in quarantine, all the available rooms were full. While Wendy checked on other patients, Kristin went to check on Robert. She knocked on the doorframe gently.

Robert looked in her direction. "You can come in," he said.

"I just wanted to inform you that Michael has almost completely recovered." She motioned to the young boy sleeping in the bed next to him.

Robert gave her a small smile. "I don't know how to thank you for that."

"You're quite welcome," she said. Then she asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "Physically, my head and neck hurt, but they've been giving me pain medication for that. Mentally…well, I'm not sure. Sometimes, I can remember; other times, no." He paused for a moment as if trying to determine what to say next. "You and my father…you're married?"

Kristin hesitated a bit. "Robert, I-"

"You don't need to sugarcoat anything," he informed her. "I just want to know the truth."

"I understand that, but maybe it would be best if-"

At that moment, Nathan and Secretary Nyugen walked in, interrupting them.

"Excuse me for a moment," Kristin said to Robert. She walked over to Nathan and the secretary and ushered them into the corridor.

Nathan said, "Kristin, I'd like to introduce you to Secretary Nyugen. Secretary, this is Dr. Kristin Bridger."

Nyugen nodded. "Your wife, I know. I've heard a lot of good things about you, Doctor," he said, shaking her hand.

Kristin returned the handshake. "Thank you."

"Tell me, how are the patients doing?" Nyugen asked.

"Well, the younger ones are doing wonderfully. It's the adults who seem to have taken a turn for the worst. We lost a woman yesterday. We're hoping you'll be able to shed some light on how to go about removing the microchips," Kristin explained.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Nyugen stated.

"Well, why not?" Kristin asked in disbelief.

"Because I'm not the one who created it."

Kristin sighed in frustration. "That's the same thing Dr. Davidson said. Why the big secret? It's revolting for a scientist to create something like this, something with no way to remove it," Kristin said in disgust.

"Revolting, maybe. But you're closer to the creator than you think," Nyugen confirmed. He nodded his head toward Robert's room.

Nathan and Kristin stared at him in shock.

"You're saying that my son-" Nathan began.

"Yes, Captain. Your son is the creator; only he knows how to remove it, if it's even possible," Nyugen informed them.