Somewhere Over the Straight of Florida

Nathan was startled when his cell phone rang loudly, amazed he had any service. The last time he'd looked, he'd had none. He had attempted to contact Kristin again but had no luck. He made a mental note to switch providers. His service lately, even on island had been terrible. He removed his headphones to answer the call.

"Bridger." Nathan was surprised to hear the voice of Miguel Ortiz.

"Hi, Cap, uh, you didn't happen to notice that Lucas was missing did you?" replied Miguel carefully. He felt horrible being the one ratting out the kid. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Lucas nor could he figure out Lucas' last comment about the bar thing. It was almost like Lucas was giving him permission to rat on him. Still, Miguel hated being a tattle tale.

"You saw him?" asked Nathan, relief in his voice.

"I feel like I'm snitching on my little brother," began Miguel hesitantly.

"It's ok, Miguel," sympathized Nathan. He was well aware that most of his crew did a good job protecting Lucas. Somehow they all managed to keep most of the boy's shenanigans under wraps. Nathan wasn't blind to how often one of them covered up for the kid. In some ways, he found it endearing. They had adopted Lucas like a kid brother. They made sure he had fun but stayed safe. Having the youngster on SeaQuest had turned the crew into a family of sorts. Most of the time, it was a nice feeling.

"He's on SeaQuest, Captain. He said he was just hanging with some friends. But, I can't explain it. Something is just off. He sort of gave me the impression that he wanted me to call you," explained Miguel, struggling to clarify what he felt. Nathan scratched his head thoughtfully. "I'd check on him, sir, but security is so tight. They wouldn't even let me back onboard."

"Understandably. Uh, Miguel, I hate to ask you this, but is there any way you can sneak aboard?"

"Sir,"

"It's not an order. It's a favour," assured Nathan quickly. He'd never order one of his crew to do something he wouldn't do himself if he could.

"Understood. I have a few ideas up my sleeve. Anything you want me to do when I find him?" inquired Ortiz.

"Just check to make sure he's okay. I'm on my way. I owe you one," answered Nathan, feeling helpless and far away.

"No problem, sir." With that, Miguel ended the call and headed towards security. He had some good ideas, and one of them was sure to get him back onboard SeaQuest. He chuckled to himself. He never thought he'd find himself sneaking onto the submarine. He often envisioned himself escaping it when things were tense. Life had a way of playing tricks on you.

Nathan dropped his hand to his lap. He felt some relief to know that one of his crew was close by Lucas. The teen liked Ortiz and trusted him. In some ways, it was easier to own up to something when it wasn't someone in authority over you. Nathan glanced at Jonathan who seemed to be waiting patiently for an explanation.

"Lucas is on SeaQuest." Jonathan looked visibly relieved as well. At least they weren't running blind now. His hunch had been correct. If they only knew why Lucas was there. Nathan found it hard to believe that the teen would just blatantly take off without some logical reason. It wasn't like Lucas to do stuff like that. The kid had a college degree, for crying out loud. He might have been 15 years old, but he wasn't a rebel without a cause. Nathan willed the helicopter to speed up. He didn't know how much longer he could sit and wait.

Ward Room

Aboard SeaQuest

Martin locked the door behind him and shoved Julianna into a chair. He looked around the room in approval. The room must have be some sort of senior meeting room. He envisioned Bridger and his crew making vital decisions in the room. He noticed Nick standing on the other side of the table looking uncertain. Martin enjoyed the feeling of surprise. He didn't want to hurt the kids. He just wanted to shake them up. He wanted to keep the upper hand. Once he knew what they knew, he would feel better. He already found a new group of people that he hoped to rescue from their own greed and corruption. It wasn't about money to Martin. It wasn't even about power. It really was about making things better. Why couldn't people understand that? Martin looked at Lucas who was glowering at him. It was apparent to Martin that he had really frightened the kid. He hadn't meant to lose control of himself. He made a mental note to keep his cool this time. He needed to not lose control. Nothing would be accomplished if he lost control. One death on his conscience was enough for a lifetime.

"Let her go, Mycroft," demanded Nick in anger. "Can't you see how scared she is? She didn't do anything to you." Martin spun around and glared at Nick.

"She was my guarantee. Relax, I didn't hurt her. Did I, kid?" He nudged her arm and she shook her head, blinking back tears. Lucas patted her shoulders to comfort her.

"H-He just told me to scream when he pointed at me. H- he said he would do something to make me scream," acknowledged Julianna softly. Lucas let out a puff of air, feeling relief. When he had heard her scream, it had made his skin crawl. He knew how frightened he felt still and didn't wish that fear on anyone.

"Look, what do you want?" snapped Lucas.

"I want to know what the hell is going on? You told me to disappear, and I did. Why does the UEO keep hounding me? What did you tell them?" demanded Martin, pounding his fist on the table in frustration. Lucas felt himself jump nervously. He didn't know what Captain Bridger might have informed the UEO. He couldn't be sure of anything.

"I didn't tell them anything!"

"Don't lie to me!" snapped Martin, walking closer to Lucas.

"I can't even sleep since you nearly choked me to death," mumbled Lucas bitterly, not moving as the menacing man stepped closer.

"It was a mistake, Lucas. I never meant to hurt you," groaned Martin, feeling deep remorse.

"Then just go away, damn it!" hollered Nick.

Lucas glanced at Nick across the room. He could see his friend was nervous as well as frightened. Lucas felt nearly paralysed with fear. If it wasn't for Julianna trembling and looking so vulnerable, he felt sure he would have lost his composure. He had to keep his wits about him. Julianna needed him to keep calm and not lose it. Lucas couldn't be sure what Clemens would do. The guy still had a gun on him. He had killed a man already, and Lucas felt sure the man had nothing left to lose.

"I had to say something. Clemens. How did you expect me to hide that you choked me?" retorted Lucas, swallowing hard.

"You're a smart kid, Lucas. I knew you'd think of something."

"Well, you're wrong. Captain Bridger isn't an idiot. He figured it out." Clemens cursed loudly and pointed his gun at the back of Julianna's head ominously.

"What did you say, kid? Tell me, NOW!" shouted Clemens. Lucas stood up bravely. He stared at the gun feeling helpless.

"Bridger figured it out himself. I just filled in the blanks," insisted Lucas wide eyed. Clemens swore again and tightened his grip on Julianna. Lucas felt a mixture of anger and fear.

"Tell me exactly!" shouted Clemens, shoving the tip of the pistol into Julianna's head. Lucas held up his hands.

"Alright, take it easy. I told him I shut down the Node…"

"Did you tell him we broke into the World Bank?" Lucas nodded hesitantly. Clemens groaned. "Son of a…" A loud noise from outside the Ward room door made them all jump and stare at the door. "I thought you said this boat was empty," snapped Clemens angrily. He stalked towards Lucas grabbing his arm roughly and twisting it behind his back. He poked the revolver against the boys head menacingly.

"It is! No one can get onboard without security clearance," insisted Lucas, just as surprised by the interruption. Nick made a move to help Lucas, but Clemens pointed the gun at him.

"Don't be a hero, Wolfman," warned Clemens dangerously. Nick sat down at the table across from Julianna in defeat.

"L-let me go look. Maybe it's just a technician or something," suggested Lucas cautiously. Clemens shoved Lucas harshly away pointing the gun back and forth between Nick and Lucas. Lucas struggled to keep his footing. He rubbed his arm.

"No, Nick can look. Don't get any ideas, or your friends will pay the price," threatened Clemens, pointing to Nick and then the door. "GO!" Nick stood up and silently unlocked the door and slipped out.

Nick looked around the corridor. He had no idea where to look. All the corridor's looked the same. Just grey metal walls. He walked slowly down the hall to the first set of stairs. He called out a few times to ask if anyone was there. He also felt frightened of getting caught by a security guard. He had no idea how to explain how he was on SeaQuest. He wasn't even sure if he could find his way back to the Ward room. The submarine felt like a maze to him.

"Psst, kid!" whispered a voice from a side room. Nick whirled around to see a dark-haired man that appeared to be Cuban peering out at him. Nick felt his heart in his throat. He wasn't sure who the man was, and he felt frozen in fear. "Kid, it's ok. I'm a friend of Lucas'" Nick nodded and walked towards the man. The man grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room closing the door.

Clemens paced round the room trying to figure out his next move. No one could hide from the UEO anywhere. He would need to go under to another colony. He frowned angrily at Lucas in annoyance. The new community he had found was promising. They were remorseful and ready to make amends for their greed. Clemens felt hopeful. Now he'd have to start again. He sighed in irritation. What was taking that kid so long to look around?

"He probably got lost," mumbled Lucas, guessing what Clemens was thinking. "SeaQuest can be like a maze if you don't know where you're going. Every deck looks the same. All the doors are locked so he could wander for hours and not find his way out." Clemens cursed loudly causing Julianna to jump.

"To hell with him, I don't need him anyways. I need to know what the UEO knows," demanded Clemens, glaring at Lucas. Lucas shrugged.

"I don't know," insisted Lucas. Clemens groaned again and walked up to Lucas shaking his fist in his face.

"I don't want to hurt you, kid." Lucas' eyes widen and he took a step back. Everything felt surreal. All the dreams that he'd had were flooding in on him. He felt his knees go weak. His stomach was flip-flopping. The only thing that was keeping him together was Julianna's presence. Oddly enough, her look of terror was keeping him from losing his equilibrium.

"They want me to make a statement. I won't. I'll refuse," stammered Lucas. "They can't force me to talk." Clemens tapped the gun on Lucas' chest threateningly.

"Why don't I believe you?" he retorted crossly. Lucas took a few steps backwards and found his back against the wall. His stomach dropped to his feet. Just like in his dreams, his back was always to the wall with no escape. He took a quick look at Julianna who stared at him wide eyed and silent. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. Lucas wasn't sure what Clemens had done to her before he had brought her to SeaQuest. Julianna hadn't spoken much. It appeared like she was in shock. Lucas had to make some sort of move. He had to do something. Somehow, he had to get the gun away from Clemens. Clemens was a lose wire. Lucas couldn't tell when the man would blow his top.

"Bridger won't force me. They can't force me to make a statement. I'm a minor," insisted Lucas. Clemens turned and walked towards the table where Julianna sat trembling. Lucas felt his nerves relax a bit when Clemens walked away. He glanced around the room seeing what he had at his disposal. A buffet table was fully stocked with glasses and plates. He slid himself slowly towards the buffet. He kept his eyes on Clemens but his back to the buffet. Slowly he gripped a glass in his hand. If he could get one good shot in, the glass might knock the man out long enough to escape.

"Don't fool yourself, kid. Bridger coddles you. That's not the real world. They can force you to do whatever they want. You're a UEO puppet. Don't you see that?" blurted Clements tapping the pistol on the table firmly. Lucas frowned.

"You're wrong, Clemens. I'm not just someone to be controlled. I earn my way." Clemens chuckled at the remark. The kid was cocky, and he admired that.

"It's such a waste you are here, Lucas. You have the most incredible mind. It's such a mystery to me that they can't comprehend what a treasure you are. And if they do, it's a crime that they don't help you reach your full potential." Lucas was momentarily chuffed by the words. There were times he wished people could see his true potential and look past his youth.

"They take care of me," Lucas insisted quietly.

"They smother you," countered Clemens. "I've seen the projects you've been doing. They are simply awe inspiring." Lucas squinted at Clemens in confusion. How could Clemens know the projects he was working on? Most were highly classified, and many he hadn't even shared with Captain Bridger yet. Clemens noticed the look of shock on the kid's face and smirked.

"Lucas, you forget, I'm a hacker. It's what we do. As you well know, nothing is as exciting."

"That doesn't give you a right to spy on me!' retorted Lucas, fingering the glass in his hand and embracing the anger building within him. Clemens continued smirking at him and pacing across the floor.

"Don't worry; I haven't been able to see the more complex stuff you've been working on. You're much too good at keeping things under wrap. It's any wonder Bridger can even keep up with you. You're brilliant, kid," approved Clemens. Lucas felt more anger well up inside him. He managed a brief smile at Julianna who looked up wearily.

"You could come with me, Lucas. Together, we could do so much good. You have the potential to save this sad planet." Lucas couldn't believe his ears. The man had most certainly lost his mind.

"Are you mad? Here you are again," shouted Lucas, his anger taking over his fear. He couldn't believe the insatiable desire that Clemens had to get involved where he shouldn't. "Have you no learning ability? This is the same way you were back at the Node. For crying out loud, you don't have some magic ability to save the world. It doesn't need to be rescued by you."

Clemens was becoming dreamy in his speech, almost undetached from the room as he stared into space.

"It's so damned unfair how people are treated, Lucas. Call it hacker's pride or something, but maybe that's why I lost it on you at the Node. Afraid that I wasn't the best anymore because I was defeated by a kid." Lucas screwed up his face not believing what he was hearing. Clemens was talking like a jealous middle school kid who was showed up. Since when had it become like some twisted competition of who was better at hacking.

"Since when is life fair, Mycroft? It's not. Trust me, I know. Life sucks sometimes. But you can't just meddle in people's lives." Lucas ignored the comments about being defeated. It would be a waste of energy to try and make Clemens understand. The man couldn't even understand how morally wrong it was to make such huge changes that affect people on a grand scale but only benefited a select few. Clemens suddenly snapped to reality again.

"You're just a kid; you know nothing!" he snapped. Clemens glared at Lucas and started to stalk towards him. Lucas gasped out loud. He swallowed his panic as visions of the Node flashed before his eyes. Clemens had the same look on his face. The same black rage. Lucas gripped the glass in his hand tightly and with a burst of courage, whipped it at Clemens's head.