What Lies Within Us

Chapter 21

A/N: I don't have time to type out and proofread the epilogue today, but still felt like posting. Thus, here's the last chapter, minus the epilogue.

"So, I'm thinking red balloons," Tony called out from his bunk. The seaman was currently lying on his stomach, leafing through an old magazine. Lucas wasn't sure what magazine it was, only that it was full of many pictures of nearly-naked women. Of course, that was nothing new. It was a new sign that Lucas wasn't the slightest bit interested in what lied within those pages. His disinterest in both the subject of the conversation and the context of Tony's magazine was due entirely to the research that Lucas was currently conducting on his computer.

"Tim says we shouldn't use red balloons. Something about how they used to be symbols of communism or nuclear bombs, or something," Tony continued.

From everything Lucas could tell, adamantium hadn't been created at all. Even the basic elements didn't appear to be in any state of research. That was a little odd. Something as impressive as adamantium was supposed to be should have some sort of precursor a decade before hand.

"But I like red balloons. Dagwood suggested purple. But I don't think Brody would appreciate purple. Do you?"

Lucas had searched every scientific and military database – in, near, or around Macronesian territory - and was still coming up empty.

"Brody's one of the macho men, right? Macho men aren't known for their love of purple."

Which didn't make any sense, unless adamantium hadn't originated in the Macronesian territories after all.

"We could do yellow. As long as it was a bright yellow, that shouldn't question Brody's masculinity, should it?"

Lucas quietly thought to himself that Brody was likely to ditch all of them and head straight for the prettiest woman willing to look twice at him, so all this talk about his "masculinity" was stupid. With that thought in mind, he expanded his search to include non-Macronesian territories.

"Tim's pulling for green. But green doesn't seem like a very Brody-like color to me."

It took a moment, but the expanded effort worked. Some scientist named Gabriel Adler had done some research on vibrantium, an element that looked suspiciously like the main one in adamantium.

"Miguel suggested white, but white doesn't seem quite colorful enough to me."

Adler was one of Stark's minions. In fact, he had died in the lieutenant's explosions. Part of Lucas suddenly felt relieved. Because, obviously, Adler and possibly Stark, had originally had something to do with the creation of adamantium in the lieutenant's timeline. Since they were both dead, it was impossible for that to happen. That was great, except. . .

"What do you think?"

. . . Except that there was still a Macronesia, still a President Alexander Bourne, and the lieutenant had said that adamantium was only one of the factors that allowed the Macronesian-Chaodai-UEO war.

"Hey, Luke, are you listening?"

Also, Lucas- and everyone on board – still remembered everything the lieutenant had said and done. Granted, that was probably only because time wasn't as linear as some believed. Most scientists specializing in theoretical applications of physics liked to compare the concept of time as a tree branch, each possible outcome resulting in a different branch. . . but. But Lucas couldn't help think there might be a darker reason that all of their memories were still in tact. What if the timeline hadn't changed at all, and the lieutenant – and the future he came from – remained in tact?

So engrossed was he that the teenager didn't even notice the magazine flying through the air until it made contact with his head.

"Ow. What was that for?"

"Because you weren't listening to me."

"I was listening to you, Tony," Lucas assured his roommate.

"Sure. Which is why I've asked you the same question twice."

"They're balloons, Tony." Reaching down and picking up the magazine, Lucas sent the article on a return flight across the room. But not before noticing that Miss Sunshine probably wasn't a natural redhead.

"Yeah, so?"

"So, is there a reason you've developed sudden Obsessive Compulsive Disorder over balloons?"

Tony pushed the newly crinkled edges of the magazine down and glared in his roommate's general direction. "I'm surprised you don't know, since you've been obsessing over your computer for the past two weeks."

Ever since the lieutenant had left. Still, Lucas bristled. "I'm not obsessing. I'm researching."

"Yeah, and what are you researching? Something to do with the lieutenant, right?"

"Yes. Which, in case you hadn't noticed, is a lot more important than the color of balloons."

Tony rolled his eyes and sat up on his bunk. "Look, I know you're trying to figure out a way to stop the impending doom the lieutenant warned us about on your computer. And that's cool, but I can't do that. All I can do is make sure that my friends know how much I appreciate them . . . in case everything Grumpy Old Luke warned us about actually happens."

Well, that made sense. A lot of sense, actually, and Lucas felt pretty bad about not taking Tony's discussion more seriously. "Go with blue. They're vibrant enough without offending Brody's masculinity."

"Blue. Huh. Thanks, Luke."

"No problem, and Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"I appreciate you, too."

Lucas unconsciously leaned closer to the computer screen as his findings revealed a new source of hope: apparently, Bourne's leadership was being challenged. Some sort of resistance movement was growing, primarily in the northern Macronesian colonies.

"Sure you do. Who wouldn't?"

Apparently, Bourne's company needed a computer technician. Hmm. Lucas was more than qualified to be a computer technician, and such a position would give him more than ample access to Macronesia's inner workings, as well as to their reactions to the resistance movement.

It would also require him to leave SeaQuest.

In the end, Brody's birthday "party" wasn't really much of a party, after all. A few stale beers, a cheesey outdoor beach club, and several brightly colored blue balloons which all looked out of place. The most notable event to come out of the "party" was its aftermath: Brody discovered his mom, an elaborate plot to have her killed, and corruption within the UEO all in less than a week. In the same week, Lucas came to several important decisions.

He loved his place on SeaQuest. He enjoyed his job. It was a place of belonging, after so long of not. But most importantly of all, he cared about his friends. It was because of the last fact that his decision to leave SeaQuest came so easily.

Thus, the day Alison Brody went back into a cryogenic sleep, Lucas made one quick trip to the beachfront bakery before returning to the boat. Upon arrival, Lucas and his package took one of the last trips down the bustling corridor to the Captain's cabin. Bridger was busy with some sort of paper work, but waved Lucas over to sit down. Lucas dropped his package on the Captain's desk before sitting down.

Bridger looked at him quizzically before opening the white pastry dish. He peered down at the contents, then slowly placed the dish back on his desk. The cream cheese frosting had melted during Lucas' journey back to the boat, and the strawberry cake was tilting dangerously to the left. The entire slice sat high atop a well hidden spoon, whose plastic tip barely peeked out from beneath the bottom of the mound.

"This doesn't look like a very good sign."

Lucas squirmed in his chair a minute before hading a single sheet of white paper to the Captain.

Bridger accepted it wearily. "What's this?"

"My resignation."

"You know that this will take up to two months to go through."

"If you force me to use the official channels. Are you going to?"

"That depends. Why are you doing this, Lucas?"

There were a couple of different ways to answer that question. But there was no way he was going to tell Bridger about the resistance movement. "Because I discovered over the past week that if I stay here, I'll spend all my time wondering if I could be doing more to help SeaQuest, the crew, or the planet elsewhere."

Bridgers' fingers tapped a silent beat against the wood of his desk, which contrasted nicely to the march Lucas' own fingers were doing against his jeans. "How much does this have to do with the lieutenant?"

Well, only everything. "A lot," he admitted.

"Lucas-"

"Captain, I have to do this."

"I know you think you do, Lucas, but –"

"No, Captain, I do." Lucas winced at his own forceful tone, and then said more softly, "I'm sorry if that disappoints you."

Bridger shook his head firmly. "I'm not disappointed in you, Lucas. I'm merely concerned about how SeaQuest will get along without you."

The teenager flushed. "I'm sure the ship will get along just fine, Captain."

"I was thinking more along the lines of the crew than the boat."

"Well. . . they're pretty strong people, Captain. I think they'll realize that sometimes you have to do what's right, no matter how much you don't want to. You know?"

"I think I might have heard that somewhere before." Bridger swallowed hard before he continued. "We're in dock for another two days. Is that enough time to say goodbye?"

No. But it'd have to be. "Yeah." Lucas stood, wondering how he was going to say goodbye to all the friends he'd made on SeaQuest. But before he made the door, the Captain stopped him. "Lucas, do you remember the Regulator?"

"Um, yes."

"Then you know he developed an obsession early in life and it follows him to this day. Don't let the experience with the lieutenant cause you to do the same. It would be a waste of your talents, and it'd be a waste of the fine young man you've become."

"I won't. And, Captain, while I'm . . . figuring things out, I'll look for you. . . for Robert."

Bridger picked up his pastry dish. "In that case, I hope you're successful on both fronts. Thanks for the cake."

"You're welcome, and I hope so too."

With that, Lucas turned and left Captain Bridger's cabin one last time.

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TBC. . .

Reviewers are fabulous.

Teresa – Sorry about the cake. It has no real importance. Just girly, emotional sap (see above.) As for Robert and Nathan, well, at least one of them makes a guest appearance in the epilogue. I'm glad you noticed the personality change! I was going for subtle, but still changed, because no one could survive meeting Season 3 version of themselves and not change. And if the tummy ache has returned, I promise it will ease up by the end.

Blue Eyed Dragon Girl- You have no idea how long two years is. Actually, it's been 25 months. There have been many, many times I wanted to quit along the way, or just wrap it up all nice and neat. But I figured that would be rude, since an odd number of people have actually commented positively on it.

Randomleigh- All sap should be "aww." And that's all the last three chapters of this fic are, basically. Time travel flavored sap. ;) I can't believe it's almost over either. Kind of feels like I've been in labor for the past 2 years.

Stalker of the written word – Wow. Well, firstly, I'm glad you caved in and read it. I'm even more glad you enjoyed it. And you're description of older Luke meeting himself was pretty much what I was going for throughout the whole fic. I'm glad to see I was successful. Yes, there will be a tiny peek at the future. Oh, and it was my pleasure to kill off Hudson.

Escargoat – Glad you liked the update. But, um, the lieutenant is no more. His timeline went bye bye.

Dolphinology- Of course there's hope. Even if it isn't immediately obvious in this chapter.

Lynnp – Well, he is still Lucas, even if he did his best to try to hide it.

ALS – Well, that's the question, isn't it?