My God, they haven't aged a day. Through long practice, Lucas kept his emotions supressed under a cool veneer of professional detachment.

Picolo looked at Hitchcock, incredulous. "Uh, Ma'am, Lucas is a 20 year old boy." Picolo attempted not to sound patronising. From Hitchcock's glare it was obvious he had failed.

"Don't you think I know that Tony!? It's Lucas."

Ford had been studying the young officer in front of him. "Prove it."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. Nice to know some things haven't changed. He turned the terminal on the desk to face the prisoners - that was what they were, after all, at least until he determined to his own satisfaction that they were who they said they were - that they were really back. For all I know, this could be some kind of elaborate scheme by Bourne - but then human cloning isn't this far advanced yet. Lucas typed in a command, and a prompt came up on screen:

Supply DNA sample.

Lucas placed his thumb on the reader and waited. The terminal pinged, and beneath a UEO seal, his service mugshot came up next to a summary of his career:

Name: Wolenczak, Lucas

Rank: LCDR, UEON

Born 28 Feb 2002

05 Aug 2018: Appointed Chief Computer Analyst (civilian), UEO seaQuest 4600, CAPT Nathan Bridger commanding.

12 May 2022: Granted commission of ENS UEON following loss of UEO seaQuest 4600-II with all hands. Assigned to UEO Leyte Gulf for training cruise, CAPT Rebecca Bernard commanding.

09 Nov 2022: Training cruise completed with distinction. Assigned as design consultant to R&D Dept., UEO Subsurface Warfare School, Faslane Naval Base, Scotland, CDR Oliver Hudson commanding.

14 Jun 2023: Granted early promotion to LT (j.g.) on recommendation of CDR Hudson.

17 May 2024: 'Renegade' Macronesian attack on Faslane Naval Base. Mobilised prototype Poseidon-class destroyer, defended Faslane with skeleton crew of trainees. Breveted to LT by CAPT Oliver Hudson for duration of Macronesian incursion.

20 Oct 2026: Granted early promotion to LT on recommendation of CAPT Hudson.

09 Jul 2027: Assigned as instructor and design consultant to newly formed UEO Subfighter School, Cape Cruz, CDR Darren Westerguard commanding.

27 Aug 2027: While leading 107th Subsurface Fighter Squadron on training mission, intercepted Macronesian attack force breeching UEO waters. Led defense of Knossos Colony.

12 Jan 2028: Transferred. Details from 12 Jan 2028 to present day classified Top Secret - Eyes Only.

28 Feb 2029: Granted early promotion to LCDR on recommendation of <CLASSIFIED>.


Decorations:
Purple Heart (3)
Bronze Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (Subsurface)
Silver Star (2)
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Cross (2)
Medal of Honour

Individual citations classified.

For a moment, no-one spoke. The three prisoners had paled visibly - Even Commander Ford, Lucas noted with surprise. He looked at them coolly. "What were you expecting? The 20-year-old geek you sent back alone?" A cynical snort.

There was another silence, longer this time. "How long has it been?" Ford sounded shaken.

"Today's date is September 17th, 2032. It's been ten years, four months and five days." Lucas couldn't keep the bitter edge out of his voice.

Tony looked at him. "What's wrong with you Lucas? We asked Tobias to send you back because you were a kid! You had your whole life ahead of you!"

"Still as outspoken as ever, Seaman?" The emphasis on Piccolo's rank was subtle, but it was there nonetheless. The detachment returned. "Some life. You didn't even ask me."

Hithcock looked at him. "What happened to you? What happened in the last ten years to do this to you? You used to be so..." She trailed off.

"Happy?" Lucas smiled that cynical smirk. "War happened, Commander. Nothing less." There was a knock at the door. "Enter!" Lucas barked.

Another stone-faced marine walked in and handed a report to Lucas. He shot a suspicious glare at the prisoners, at which point Ford noticed something. Why is everyone walking around armed if this is a UEO facility? He felt unnerved by his observation. Is this war really that bad? Lucas, meanwhile, had suddenly become even more alert and intense, if it were possible. Ford voiced the obvious question. "What's happened?"

Lucas looked up and smiled in his cold way. "It appears, Commander, that the three of you are not alone." He looked down again and began reading from the report. "Ensign Henderson has been found in the Miami Hilton that you were in. Lieutenants Brody and O'Neill appeared in the same strip joint in Bangkok that we found Piccolo in." Tony had the good grace to blush. "Darwin and Dagwood were discovered at SeaWorld, of all places. Various other crewers are popping up all over the place..." Lucas' face became unreadable. "And the seaQuest has reappeared."

"Where?" Three voices asked the same question.

Lucas ignored them and turned to the marine. "Have someone sent to Bridger's Island - I'm willing to bet the Captain and Doctor are there. And tell the pad to prep a Dragonfly - full marine detachment to beef up security around the site, with room for four passengers. Have the rest of the seaQuest crew flown to this location." He tapped on the portable display.

The marine snapped to. "Sir, yes sir!" He turned on his heel and left, almost at a run.

Lucas turned to the others. "We're taking a little trip," he said amiably. His voice and manner cooled noticeably. "Try anything and you will live to regret it." He opened the door. "Follow me." He turned abruptly and began walking at a fast pace.



Lucas moved through the building quickly - though he had never served at this base, he had taken the liberty of memorising the routes to key locations as soon as he had arrived on station. He occaisionally looked behind to make sure his guests were keeping up.

Hitchcock was amazed what had happened. When Tobias had told the crew he was putting them into suspended animation until he could return them to Earth, she had no idea of how much time might pass. I should look on the bright side - at least it was only 10 years... what if it had been 100? Added to this, while her gut was convinced the man in front of her was the boy who once had a crush on her, her mind was still adjusting. He's so... military! None of the crew had ever considered Lucas to have military leanings; now it looked like he was a lifer. He returned the salutes of crewers they passed seemingly without thinking, and his gait was unmistakably the product of a spell in bootcamp. As for the people they passed, most seemed intimidated by Lucas and suspicious of them. They attracted stares from everyone. One man in particular, a technician by the look of his greasy coveralls, stared at them intently while he worked...

The next thing Katie knew she was being shoved bodily to the floor by Lucas, who yelled "Gun! Intruder alert!" There was the crack of a pistol firing, and the distinctive 'ping' of the bullets ricocheting off the metal walls. Katie risked lifting her head and saw that Tony and Jonathan had also hit the deck. She saw a blur in the corner of her eye, and turned to see Lucas moving quickly toward their assailant. A knife appeared in his hand from some unknown location, and he threw it expertly, knocking the assassin's weapon from his hand, all the while closing the distance between them. Lucas moved like a shadow, fast and silent, and launched a vicious punch to the attacker's gut. The man countered, and for a brief moment the two sparred, a flurry of blows and parries, before Lucas connected with a roundhouse kick to the head that sent the attacker sprawling. By this time ten armed marines had arrived from the nearest guard station, and they trained their rifles on the unknown attacker, who stood and glared at them with hatred. Lucas meanwhile had somehow managed to get hold of the attacker's gun. It was over.

"On your knees! Put your hands behind your head and lace your fingers!" Lucas' voice sounded terrifying. It had no effect on the unknown assailant, who merely glared harder. He reached behind him suddenly and the sound of two shots rang out, punctuated by a scream. The assasin fell, blood pouring out of holes in his knee and shoulder. Lucas looked coldly down at him over the still-smoking barrel of the pistol. "Have it your way. Sergeant!"

A grizzled looking marine stepped forward. "Sir?"

"Escort this prisoner to the brig. If he tries anything you are authorised to use your discretion - just don't kill him, I want him alive for interrogation. Treat him as a captured spy, log him as being charged with treason." The sergeant nodded and gestured to two of his marines, who moved to pick up the prisoner. Lucas meanwhile had pulled out his PAL. "This is Wolenczak. An attempt has just been made on the lives of the seaQuest crew here, sir." He listened for a moment. "Presumably he's a Mac. He's in custody, awaiting interrogation." Another pause. "Recommend all facilities be placed under lockdown and all UEO forces be placed at DefCon 3 until seaQuest is in blue water." His eyes narrowed. "Aye, sir. Proceeding as planned." He looked over at the others. "Anyone hit?"

No-one had been. So, this is the Lucas that earned all those medals. Ford asked the obvious question. "Who was that?"

"A Macronesian agent, most likely. Which means, knowing our luck, that Bourne is aware of seaQuest's return." He saw the blank looks on their faces and sighed. "I'll brief you with the rest of the crew. You've all got a lot of catching up to do." He turned to Hitchcock and gestured at her forehead. "You're bleeding."

She lifted a hand and wiped it across her face. It came away bloody. "I must have hit my head."

Lucas had walked over to the wall and opened one of the first aid kits that were spread along the corridors of the base at regular intervals. He walked over to her holding an antiseptic wipe and a pressure bandage. "This will sting." He sounded guilty - not much, but a little. He cleaned away the blood from the wound, gently but firmly holding her head when she instinctively shied away from the stinging sensation. After he was satisfied that the wound had been cleaned sufficiently, he removed the backing from the pressure bandage and pressed it firmly onto the wound.

He stepped away, and his cool gaze melted somewhat. "Sorry about that Commander." An apologetic shrug. "I just reacted."

She looked at him, surprised by his relatively tender manner. This is the Lucas we knew. He's still in there, somewhere. "Forget it, Lu-" she corrected herself "Commander, you probably saved my life."

"Perhaps." He held her eyes for a moment, then they both looked away. "Let's get going." His voice was cold - the good soldier was back.