Chapter 13.

8 years later…

Baz, who fought long and hard for custody over Lucas, had eventually won on the grounds that it was 'the best interests of the child.' Lucas was happy and content living with Baz and was even visited by Mandy and Bob, his road side rescuers. The only thing Lucas regretted was that Matt wasn't around. Matt could only come for a few visits every year, as both he and Lucas were busy with his college studies and further education. Matt was just glad to get away from Amy, who was busy controlling his life.

    Lucas had just graduated from college and he had started to work on a project in the aquarium, which if he could make it work, would allow humans to communicate with dolphins.

    "Hey Baz!" Lucas cried, dumping his bag in the hallway and ambling through the lounge, where he knew he would find his uncle, as he now referred to his guardian. Lucas has kept his surname, in honour and memory of his mom. "What's up?"

    Baz looked up from a pile of papers, which were spread around the room and gave the kid a quick smile.

    "Nothing much." Baz paused for a second, before studying Lucas for such a long time it made the youth nervous.

    "What's wrong?" Lucas tried not to sound nervous, but was curious as the elder shook his head and returned to his paper work. Baz worked in the UEO now and was high up in the ranks. Lucas shrugged and trudged upstairs to work on his vocorder problem.

***

    Over dinner Baz was unusually quiet, as though he wasn't quite concentrating on what Lucas was saying. Lucas deliberately dropped his knife into his nearly empty plate, making Baz jump.

    "What's wrong? You've hardly said a word and you haven't eaten much. Now when you don't eat, I know something's gotta be wrong!" Lucas added cheekily.

    Baz chuckled before he got up and left the table, walking over to a pile of papers left to one side. Lucas watched curiously, as his uncle pulled out a big official-type letter and placed it down in front of him. On the envelope was Lucas' name, printed in large letters. Baz had a far away look on his face, before he collected the plates and took them to the kitchen. He began to make the dessert.

    Slowly Lucas tore the envelope. It had a UEO label on the front and looked very official. Inside was a letter. Skimming through, Lucas quickly read and then re-read the letter, not wanting to believe what he was reading. It was a letter almost forcing him to stay on the SeaQuest. Lucas suddenly realised why Baz was so upset, if he went to the SeaQuest Baz would be all on his own and Lucas wouldn't know anyone there.

    Lucas walked into the kitchen with a look of shock. Baz started to speak, without even turning around. "There's more. The UEO want me to go on a mission, where I'll have to go under cover for about a year. You're going to have to lie about some parts of your life too."

    "So I'm not getting a choice in the matter, is that it? I just have to go wherever I'm sent, is that it?" Lucas's face had gone bright red with anger and Baz turned round to face the young man.

    "No, that's not it at all. I didn't want any of this to happen and I only found out today as well. I have to do it… They've got my hands tied behind my back on this one. If there was anything I could do, I would do it… But I haven't got that choice."

    Lucas didn't hear the rest, as he broke into a run towards his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him. In the kitchen below, Baz knew somewhere in his heart that he had made the right decision. He didn't want to go, but he had no choice.

***

    Lucas didn't speak to Baz for the next week; in fact he avoided him completely and his bad mood showed there was a problem to the people working with him in the aquarium. They were all worried about him, but didn't know what to do to sort it out.

    Lucas returned to home late, to avoid being seen by Baz. He was surprised to see Baz waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs as soon as he walked in the front door.

    "Lucas…" Baz began.

    "I've got nothing to say to you!" Lucas told Baz sharply. Baz looked hurt.

    "Listen to me. You can't avoid talking to me for the rest of our lives, and I know this is hurting you but I told you before. I don't have a choice. The decision is out of my hands. I wouldn't do this if it wasn't essential. Don't you see?" Baz pleaded with Lucas to be forgiven.

    "No, I don't see. All I understand is that the person I thought loved me and cared about me is going to give me like all the other people I've known in my life. I thought you were different! I thought you cared for me! I guess I was mistaken." With that, Lucas stormed past his guardian and upstairs into the safety of his bedroom. Lucas placed his hands over his face, slid down the door into a crouching position on the floor and began to cry.

'It's not fair! It's not fair' Lucas thought. 'Why me? Why now?'

To be continued.

 I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I should get the part next done pretty sharpish. Please review cos I'm not sure how I'm doing in 'the later years' of this story.