CHAPTER FOUR:
Phoenix Rising

PART ONE: World of Pain

December 12th, 2032
Time unknown, probably early morning

He lay on the cold floor. It was all he could do. They had beaten and electrocuted him. Just mild shocks, but painful all the same. He swallowed and licked his too dry lips. Right now he didn't know who he was, where he was, or why he was. There was not one area on his body that wasn't in pain, but that wasn't the reason either.

He didn't want to know. In knowing lay a pain not of his body, but of his soul. Screams would lace his thoughts forever if he remembered. Sometimes he still heard the screams, but if he refused to let them in, he could deny that they had anything to do with him.

In remembering lie his lost identity, one that would be one of shame.

Guilt would forever lace through him and his thoughts.

No more. Who he was before would die here even if he did not.

December 15th
21:34 hours
seaQuest DSV

Captains Robert Eric Bridger, Veronique Montail, and Admiral Katherine Hitchcock sat in the wardroom of seaQuest around the table. None spoke. It was a vigil of silence for a fallen friend. Only Robert's brandy was being passed around.

They were the only three in that room, and while the brandy was being passed around, it was not in any great quantity. In fact, only a sip would pass their lips and the bottle was closed and stored away again. All three were lost in their own thoughts of what they remembered of Oliver Hudson, Captain of the downed submarine Viscount. As far as they all knew the entire crew was dead. They had no chance to get to any escape shuttles.

It had happened that fast.

The irony was that a Commander from Macronesia had even joined them via vid-link to share in their mourning. "We sent a ship to destroy the base, thinking that you had done this on purpose. Imagine our surprise when the Viscount joined that ship's mission. You had told us that the missile launch was not authorized. We should have believed you... and now two ships and their crews rest beside each other on the bottom."

"We didn't know what was going on either..." admitted Montail. "But this tragedy perhaps could lead to peace. After all, we both went in to prevent terrorism, and we both failed. We both fell together as allies."

"Evidently, we also have much to lose if this isn't resolved," responded Commander Daltrey, and then an attractive, and mischievous, grin lit his face. "Anyway, I hear the seaQuest and the Nezamiah has been sent to resolve the problem. Maybe we may meet.... Daltrey out."

The three UEO officers leaned back in their chairs and Hitchcock said, "That conversation may have broken a few of UEO policies."

"And probably more than a few Macronesian ones, too," Robert pointed out. "I think I like Commander Daltrey. I hope I do get a chance to meet him."

"You may," Montail stood and nodded and Hitchcock. "From what he said, so obliquely put, was that he was going to be at the Mariana's Base to 'help' us."

With that the captain of the Nezamiah left the wardroom. Robert looked over to Katherine and asked, "How are you holding up?"

"This is the first time that one of my officers has been killed right under me. As well as one of ships going down," she took a shaky breath. "It isn't a nice feeling."

December 16th, 7:00 hours
Beginning of First Shift
seaQuest DSV
Bridge

Robert walked onto the bridge. A great majority of his crew did not know that Hudson was even dead, and one member should hear it from him before she heard it from anyone else. He actually dreaded telling her. Hudson demanded, and received, almost fanatic loyalty from his crew. She was really no different. Walking up to communications, he quietly ordered Tim O'Niell, "Recall Lieutenant Fredericks and tell her to meet me in the wardroom the second she is on board."

"Yes sir," Tim turned to the headset. "Lieutenant Fredericks, come on in, and the captain wants you in the wardroom the second you're in."

"On my way."

Robert nodded and officially relieved Ford of his watch and sat down in the command chair. Waiting until Ford was off the bridge, he said to Brody, "You have the helm until I get back, Lieutenant."

"Yes sir."

Robert walked to the wardroom and entered. Of course she had made it there before he had, and she stood and saluted him. He knew she thought that she was in trouble, "As you were."

Confused, she sat back down. "You wanted to speak to me sir?"

"Yes I did," Robert paced a bit, then turned back to her. "You haven't spoken with anyone else yet, have you?"

"No sir... May I ask what this is about?"

"Yes, you may. Stay seated JJ. I don't like what I am about to tell you," sitting beside her he tried to be as supportive as he could, and as unthreatening. "The Viscount went down. All hands were on board. My guess is that they never even knew what hit them. I'm sorry."

She simply stared at him in disbelief. No way... Captain Hudson... "Are they all dead?" she asked, her hard exterior cracking as Captain Bridger nodded his head.

Fredericks knew she was going to cry if she didn't get out of here soon. The entire crew was gone, all her friends. The ship itself was her home. Now all of it was gone. "Sir," she asked, barely keeping her voice steady. "What will happen to me now?"

"You will be a transfer to seaQuest DSV. A part of this crew until the end of the tour. Then, if you want, you can stay longer," putting one hand on her shoulder. "But with your skills you could be on any ship you wanted. I will understand if you don't want to stick around."

"Thank you, Captain. I think I want to be alone for awhile if that's all right with you."

He nodded and left. Right before he closed the door he heard all pretense drop from her and the sobbing begin. I rather suspect she had more than a few feelings for Oliver, he realized. This is going to be very hard on her.

Lucas wandered for a bit before his shift and happened on the sound of bitter crying in the ward room. He opened the door a crack and saw Lieutenant Fredericks. Taking a step in, he said gently, "Hi."

She looked up, her eyes reddened, and she made a futile effort to wipe the wet stains off her cheeks. "What do you want?"

"Do you want to talk about it? It might make you feel better."

Fredericks was really surprised that he would even care, but he looked sincere. She motioned for him to come in and close the door. Which he did, and he took the chair that had been previously occupied by Captain Bridger. "My captain is dead, and my ship went down with all hands on board," she began, grasping his hand in a iron grip. He didn't pull away. "I have never told anyone this, but I liked Oliver Hudson more than just as my superior officer. I never even told him. I really should have."

There was really nothing he could say that could possibly console her. But at least he could do something... Lucas stood and held out a hand to her, "Come on. I think you come see a friend of mine. He's always good to see in a situation like this."

Fredericks looked up at the young man in puzzlement, but didn't move. "Well, come on," he insisted again, this time actually grabbing her hand and pulling her from her seat.

From there she let herself be led to the mag-lev. They rode in silence, and then the doors opened and she could smell the salty air coming from the sea deck and the moon pool. What could she be doing here? But he led her up to the moon pool and the right almost in it. She leaned against the coping, and asked when she saw him move off to tinker with a hand held unit she couldn't recognize, "So who is here?"

Just then she was throughly soaked and she turned to glare at the culprit. Fredericks expected a human guilty party, not a dolphin she saw. "What the...?"

"Darwin come when needed. Lucas say Darwin is needed," the synthesised voice answered.

Fredericks had heard of Darwin, who hadn't? But her source was Hudson, and he did not see much use of a dolphin on board. She somewhat shared his idea, but the creature had a certain charisma to him. The eyes almost pleaded with her. "So you come when called?" she asked.

"He doesn't always," answered Lucas.

"Darwin comes when Darwin comes."

She laughed at the near contrite tone out of the speakers. "So this is who you wanted me to see?" Fredericks asked Lucas.

It was Darwin who answered, "Freddie sad. Darwin cheer up Freddie."

"Of all the presumable things..." she trailed off in shock and took a sudden breath. "And just how do you plan to do that?"

That rewarded her with another, and quite thorough, soaking. She laughed as she couldn't believe what she was doing. Here she was, the bad ass Spectre pilot, talking to a dolphin after crying her eyes out. What was going on? What surprised her most was that she was enjoying herself, and she even reached out and petted the melon shape of his head. The dolphin chittered, she presumed in pleasure but couldn't be sure since it wasn't translated.

She was never aware of being snuck up on until she was pushed into the water with the dolphin. Darwin brought her up to the surface and swam lazy circles around her. He got her revenge by soaking Lucas with one hefty splash with his tail. While Lucas was wiping his eyes, she reached up over the coping and pulled him in.

Time passed with a few games of Keep Away and Tag with Darwin, and they became gradually aware of the fact that they were being watched. Fredericks stiffened when she caught Captain Bridger watching them. "Well, a member of our crew told me that there was a rousing tussle match in the moon pool," he said, almost like he had his tongue in his cheek. "I had to see it with my own eyes."

"Captain, it's my fault. I knew that Darwin would cheer up the Lieutenant, so I brought her here," Lucas answered.

"Did it work, Lieutenant?"

Fredericks nodded and a smile spread over Robert's features. "Good, then. Darwin, I hear from the crew, has that effect on everyone."

With that the captain disappeared. Fredericks climbed out of the moon pool and said to Lucas, "I really should be getting back... I have a patrol to finish, and I'm soaking wet."

Lucas hung on to the coping, still in the water, and dangled over. She sat next to him on the steps that were even to it. "I'm glad I could help."

It was totally unexpected, but Darwin seemed to push Lucas into her. The look on his face had been comical, but he ended up half in her lap anyway, and his head in her chest. He pushed himself out and said, "I'm sorry... Darwin!"

Fredericks laughed, "Okay, I've got to get going now... See you around... Lucas."

"Yeah, you too."

"Freddie, like Fishface here says, is fine."

"Okay, Freddie. See you around."

Fredericks left the sea deck, and took a breath. Okay, that was not good. They had almost ended up in each other's arms, thanks to that... perceptive... dolphin. A faint smile on her lips, she went to her quarters to get changed to finish her shift.

Meanwhile, Lucas watched her leave in mute surprise. Then he turned around to regard the grinning Darwin. "Do you mind telling me what that was about?"

"Freddie sad. Darwin do only so much. Lucas make Freddie feel better. Not Darwin."

Oh God. Darwin thought she was his girlfriend. How could he possibly explain to him that she liked Hudson. Granted, Lucas kind of did like her once he got past that military exterior, and the bluffing that she built herself up with. She was cool. And half of that bragging she did was not unfounded. Her skill in a Spectre was unparalleled. He grinned. Well, that could be his trump card.

He got out of the moonpool. Freddie never even had a shift, Captain Bridger had taken her off duty for today. They still had about a day until they would be in range of the Mariana Base. Lucas never ran so fast to his quarters to get dressed in his off-shift clothes so fast. His shift, luckily, was not until the late afternoon.

He found Freddie in the galley, eating a sandwich. She looked near finished, and so he asked when he came up to the table, "You busy today? The captain took you off duty, remember?"

Freddie thought a moment, "Then I guess I'm not. Why, who else am I going to meet today."

"No one. I have something really cool to show you. You're going to love it!"

She looked leery, "What?"

"I called it the Stinger."

Her brows creased, but when she finished her sandwich she followed him to the moon pool again, this time following him behind it and up by the launch bay. Up here she saw a shape under a tarp, and he removed the tarp with a flourish. Her breath caught for what she saw looked much better, sleeker, than the Spectre she usually flew. "What is that?"

"This is the Stinger. Katherine Hitchcock and I designed, and built, it during the first tour," he answered. "It's faster and more manoeuvrable than the Spectre. But I don't have any weapons. This never made it past the prototype stage."

Too bad. "Can we take it for a spin?" she asked.

He nodded, "I'll just clear with the captain..." he moved over to a wall mounted PAL unit. "Lucas Wolenczak to Captain Bridger."

"Bridger here."

"Freddie and I would like to take the Stinger for a spin. Can I show her what a real machine does?" Lucas developed one of his old grins.

"Yeah, be back in two hours and don't go to far."

The connection closed and Lucas opened the canopy. He checked a few of the instruments first and then moved it over to the launching mechanism that would put them in the water once they were in, "You wanna drive?"

"Duh!" was her answer.

He climbed in behind the pilot's seat, and it looked like a very cramped fit. She sat in the pilot's seat and pulled the canopy shut. From where he was he shimmied it tight. There wasn't enough room for them to jockey position, and putting on the headset she said, "seaQuest, this the Stinger. Launching."

Pushing the button to launch, the Stinger slid into the water and sank. Right before she hit the bottom of the moon pool she engaged the engines and it hovered for a moment. "seaQuest, open bay doors."

The moon pool cover closed and the bay doors opened to the ocean. She engaged the thrusters and the Stinger shot out like a bullet. It reacted faster than a spectre too, it seemed. "We're away, seaQuest. Call you in two hours."

Lucas said after a moment, "Okay, I have myself secured. Test it out."

Freddie grinned in glee, "Roger that!"

She moved the speed to maximum and gleefully laughed as it raced faster than the Spectres that tried vainly to keep up with it. She slowed down and let one catch up, "Hey, Brody that you?"

"Yeah."

"Tag. You're it."

She kicked the thrusters and the chase began. The Stinger was faster than the Spectres, and more manoeuvrable, but not by much. Brody kept up with her. Freddie had to admit that he was learning pretty fast. But now she was used to the Stinger's unique feel, and left him in the dust. One hour went by, and then two, and she piloted it back to seaQuest and laid it carefully back into its cradle.

Opening the canopy, she slid out and fell bonelessly to the floor. Lucas lay right beside her, "You know, I don't think I have ever been in the Stinger when it was piloted quite like that. That was cool."

"Yeah, that was. Man, we are going to have to do that again!" she said, sitting up. "Thanks Lucas."

"No problem, and you're right," he said as she got up to leave. "We are going to have to do that again."

He went back to his quarters, thinking about her the whole time. If he had aged the ten years, they would be the same age. Maybe he would even be older than she was. No, he thought. She's Hudson's.

Yeah, but Hudson is dead, whispered back his mind. Besides, he's too old for her

No...

But there it was. He was attracted to her, and he rather suspected, she was to him. Darwin even picked up on that, and he was only famous for pushing together couples who were interested with each other. Never once had he ever pushed anyone together when the other party was not as interested. And he had literally pushed Lucas into Freddie.

Then for her sake, he would not force anything. He would be there, but he would let her mourn Captain Hudson and when she was ready... When she was ready Lucas would be waiting.

December 17th, 1200 hours
Mariana Base

Dagwood remembered his friends that would likely be waiting for him and wondered how he was ever going to get back to seaQuest to see them again. This mission had been a trap. He was the only one alive out of the entire team. The others had been taken to an arena and killed in one on one combat.

Well, except for Hudson. The man may not like Dagwood, but he knew that he had to somehow save him if he could. Except that Dagwood could not find Captain Hudson. He had been taken somewhere else in the base. Dagwood had followed as close as he could, but after a point he would have been discovered.

And so he waited out near where Hudson was taken. He heard his screams that were soon silenced. Dagwood had nearly thrown caution to the wind to save the man, but knew that they would never escape unless it was Dagwood who kept the cool head. He knew Hudson was still alive... that Commander Loper had said so. But what shape he was in was debatable.

After awhile he saw his chance and slipped into the inner base where Hudson had been taken. Keeping himself in the shadows he listened for any clues on where Hudson was. It was the low moaning that clued him into the right area. Two guards stood outside the door, weapons in hand and at ready. Dagwood knew that meant they knew he was on the loose, and would probably try to save Hudson.

He hung back and thought a moment. If he went for Hudson, he would likely end up a prisoner too. They were obviously expecting him to at least try.

What if I don't do what they want? he wondered. Shaking his head, he knew that answer. They would still have Hudson, and judging by the moaning he was doing, they would be even nastier to him. This Vanalden must truly hate him, Dagwood realised. Hudson couldn't tell them anything. His ship had been destroyed. Now they tortured him for fun, and Dagwood was queasy at the thought.

More waiting, and Dagwood's internal clock told him that it had been hours. Finally one guard left for something to eat, and the other seemed to be nodding off. That could be a trap. But Dagwood instincts, the ones bred into him, told him different. Silently he moved up behind the man and caught him in a choke hold until he went limp. Holding him a few minutes more to make sure he was out cold, Dagwood then let him slip to the ground. He looked into the cell. It was Hudson all right.

Dagwood checked the door to make sure that it was not trapped, and suddenly grinned. Sometimes the half-witted act really worked well. People were more likely to underestimate him then.

Dagwood was more than just the prototype, he was also the very first complete success. Except that the other scientists had not wanted so much compassion -- that was why the changes in the rest of the GELFs. But Dagwood was in fact no half-wit. Very few people knew the truth. Only one person on all of seaQuest knew because... well, in truth Dagwood had no real idea why Nathan Bridger knew that Dagwood's halting speech and simple mind was an act. That suited Dagwood fine. Captain Bridger had not told anyone else and so his secret remained safe.

There were no traps, no alarms to go off if he opened the door. Dagwood opened the door and looked in. Seeing that he was alone, he slipped in and wedged a piece of metal in the hinges so the door couldn't be shut if someone caught him before he could get Hudson out of here. He hissed in anger at the abuses to the man. Oliver Hudson was one big nasty bruise.

Dagwood picked him up and slipped silently out the door again. Putting Hudson down in a shadowy corner, he switched uniforms on the guard and Hudson. Then he gave the man one good punch and dragged him it that room and rolled him over so it looked like the guard was Hudson. He left, remembering to take out the wedge in the door and he let the door swing shut.

Then he remembered that it would look suspicious if the there was no guard. Hastily he scribbled a note, "Went for dinner. Your turn to watch him," and pasted it on the door.

Gently picking up Hudson he slipped away.

PART TWO: DUST IN THE WIND

December 17th
seaQuest DSV
Mariana Trench

Robert Bridger stood just off to one side of the moon pool, his eyes closed. His cousin, Wendy Smith was on the other side of the moon pool, her eyes also closed. Lucas watched them in curiosity, even as he was aware of the flickering tendrils that occasionally touched his mind. That was okay, he had been warned that while Dr. Smith was training Captain Bridger in the use of his new found skill that if Lucas was in the room, he would be used as a subject. But they promised not to pick his brains, just touch his mind.

Used to that kind of thing from Dr. Smith from the previous tour, he didn't mind. So long as they only touched his outer mind and surface thoughts. Right now he knew that Bridger was only being trained on how to mind speak with other psychics who knew they were psychic. A smile lit Wendy's face and they both opened their eyes.

"You're getting better," she said.

Bridger rubbed his temples ruefully, "I amazed you can do this. It gives me a headache."

"That's because you're not used to it yet. It's like jogging for ten miles without ever having jogged before. But if you exercise, it will become almost second nature to you," she smiled. "But I think that is enough for today."

"I'm still getting used to the idea of a psionic captain," mentioned Lucas. "But thanks for letting me in on it."

Wendy smiled and took a playful swipe at his shoulder, "Everyone has the capability. There are just certain blocks that are more pronounced that others. And some who hardly have any. In our family, we are the 'hardly have any' when it comes to those blocks."

"Interesting."

"Be as that may," cut in Bridger. "But I think I have to be on the bridge shortly."

Bridger left and Wendy sat down heavily in her chair. "Yes Lucas, it's true."

"Huh?"

"I'm his cousin. and no I didn't need to read your mind for that. The question has been on your face, as well as everyone elses's," Wendy Smith smiled. "But, if you want to know, it's not my mother who is related. It's my Dad. Aunt Carol was my father's younger sister. Uncle Nathan was dating my mother, but it wasn't really working out well. So Dad, who, with my Mom, decided that Aunt Carol was more of a match for Uncle Nathan. My Mom told Nathan that a friend of hers wanted to double date, and he reluctantly agreed. My Dad brought his sister Carol as his 'date'. From what my parents tell me they hit it off almost immediately, and the rest is history."

Lucas nodded and said, "Okay, that makes sense. I was wondering since Admiral Smith was Lexington Fisher-Smith."

"That would be why," she rubbed her temples. "I think I'm having sympathy pains for my cousin, and my shift ended. Have a good day Lucas."

"You too."

He laughed after she left. Oh man. And they had thought Nathan Bridger was a walking soap opera before. Thinking about him made his smile drop off. Lucas tried to quash the mood that was coming over him, but it was no use. Sometimes he hardly even noticed that Captain Bridger was not on seaQuest anymore, and other times the ship practically echoed with the loneliness that only Nathan could ever dispel.

Walking into his quarters and thanking his lucky stars that Tony was elsewhere, he turned on his stereo. He picked up a CD that he had bought for Nathan, but never had a chance to give him and ripped off the cellophane wrapper. CDs had by far gone out and were replaced by chips or mp3 players. But some still used the ancient CD players. One such person had been Captain Bridger even though he had all the recent electronics. It had been a hard search to find this one particular album.

He remembered Captain Bridger telling him once that his wife had bought him a Sarah Brightman album, Eden, if Lucas remembered correctly. But he had lost it when the first seaQuest sank. It had been in his quarters along with many other mementos of Carol.

Lucas had searched for nearly three full years when the new seaQuest was being built, and then on every shore leave. Finally he had enlisted Tony's help and had the CD. He just never found the right moment to give it to Nathan. A sad smile crossed his features. May as well see why it had been his favourite CD. Reading the booklet inside he pushed the selector ahead to Deliver Me. The lyrics seemed to fit his mood. The opening strains began and Lucas frowned briefly when he realised that it was classical, but an interesting cross with pop music. Whatever it was he liked it.

Lucas sighed and remembered when he first caught sight of the old man. His hair had been so long, and still Noyce seemed to be trying to get this old codger to take command. Lucas had not been impressed with what he saw. The old man was clearly past any prime he had, and didn't even appear to be the slightest bit interested in being the captain. At that point Lucas didn't even know his name.

But in spite of all of that, there seemed to be a sadness akin to Lucas's own. They both seemed to be cut adrift of any family. When Darwin had surprised the both of them by calling Bridger's name. At that moment Lucas had known who he was - and he looked deeper. Even though he answered him flippantly, he could get the feeling that, even though Nathan had frowned, that the bond had began then.

At that precise moment they both knew that they were the father and son pair. They had to be. Darwin had brought them together, and the dolphin seemed to always be a good judge of character.

That very night Lucas hacked into the UEO central computer to find out more about Nathan, and saw the awful truth. While Lucas had been dumped there at the age of fourteen by parents who could truly care less, Nathan had lost his family through death. Well, his son had never been confirmed, but his wife had just died thirteen months before.

Lucas had shut down his computer and let himself feel a little sympathy for the man, and began to plot a way to either get him to stay, or make him take Lucas with him when he left.

Thankfully, Nathan Bridger had decided to stay. After the Delta IV hit bottom, and Bridger went off duty, Lucas had gone looking for him. He found him in his quarters looking at a picture in the holoprojector. Lucas knew that it was his wife, and the look of pain on Nathan's face had cemented Lucas to him only more. He vowed to make him forget his former life, and failing that, at least get him to smile again.

It had taken nearly an entire tour, and manipulating Westphalen into needing Bridger's arms, to complete his plans. Lucas sat in his quarters until Tony came in and asked, "What is this, Luke?"

"She's Sarah Brightman."

Tony noted the look on Lucas's face. "You okay?"

"No. I miss Captain Bridger senior. Junior just isn't the same."

Tony sat down and listened to the music, which by now had gone into opera. "Is this the CD you were looking to give the Captain?"

"Yeah, it was his birthday present from his wife. He listened to it... sometimes. I think he only did when he really missed her."

"While it's not my thing, I have to admit she can sing," Tony grabbed the booklet and looked at the centre of the booklet and the full length picture of Sarah Brightman in the centre. "I kinda get the feeling he liked looking at Brightman too...."

"She's pretty. Rather, she was pretty. She was killed in an accident," Lucas frowned as her rendition of Guns N'Roses Dust in the Wind began. "I've never heard this sang like that. She can make anything really pretty."

Tony listened with Lucas in the companionable silence, "You know, you could call him. I'm sure he would like to hear your voice."

"Maybe I will."

December 18th, 2032
Mariana Base

Dagwood carried Hudson to the launch bay. One way or the other they were getting out of here. Hudson showed no improvement and he needed medical attention or Dagwood's efforts were all going to be in vain. It was time to take a risk. Dagwood loaded Hudson into a launch's passenger chair and strapped him in. Dagwood himself sat in the pilot's seat and looked at the controls in perplexed fear.

Come on, Dagwood, you've seen this done nearly a kazillion times. Dagwood reached for the control that would seal the minisub... and the minisub sealed itself and came under its own power. Loading the little surprise he had liberated from the supplies he opened the hatch and placing his hands on the control yoke, he pushed it forward...

And the sub sank to the bottom.

Brilliant manoeuver, he chided himself. You forgot to start the engines. Muttering, he started the engines and brought the sub up and headed at full speed to the doors that were cycling shut. Hearing the scraping sounds that denoted he had pulled that much too close, he throttled the engines to full speed.

He had outrunning to do, and he hugged close to the floor and the ridges to prevent him from being an easy target. The trench thinned and the subs that were chasing him suddenly broke off. Looking up he saw the reason and thanked whatever God might be listening.

It was the seaQuest.

Piloting the sub into the seaQuest's launch bay, he unsealed the doors and unstrapped Hudson. Wendy was already down here, and she noted the change in Dagwood's face. "Dagwood, what happened?"

"Does the seaQuest have the torpedoes trained on the Mariana Base?" he quickly asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"Good. Fire them now," he picked up Hudson. "Captain Hudson needs medical attention. For some reason I can't get a response from him. The lights are on but nobody's home."

Wendy followed him out and relayed what Dagwood had told her to Ford, who spoke into his PAL and the Dagwood could hear the torpedoes launch. I hope it was soon enough... he reflected. Dagwood knew that Wendy was having a hard time keeping up with him, but he didn't slow his pace. Reaching the med-bay, he lay Hudson down on the closest bed. Westphalen looked him over. "There is severe trauma to the head and chest."

"Will he be okay?"

Wendy Smith finally caught up, and she came running in. With a glance she led Dagwood over to another bed and said, "Dagwood, what happened to you?"

He grinned, "You mean, why am I not a half wit? I never was one. It was an act."

She started at this, and he held up a hand, "I never meant any harm, but it was easier than trying to fend off those who wanted me in that glorified zoo that Brody used to be the warden for. So I acted like a half-wit to stay out of there. Can you blame me?"

Wendy shook her head, "You could have told us. We are your friends, I think."

"Yes, I should have," he sighed as he lay down on the bed. "I have been doing it for so long that I forgot how to be normal. I forgot I could be normal. Oh, and speaking of which. I think there is something seriously wrong with Hudson."

Wendy nodded her head and watched the exhausted GELF sink into sleep. He must have been going at least three days straight. But sleep, from what she could see, was all he needed. She walked over to where the others were practically buzzing around Hudson. After awhile she saw that the activity calmed down.

She had been scared. She could admit that. When Dagwood had carried Oliver Hudson through those launch doors it was if a large weight had been lifted from her, only to be dropped on her again when she saw the condition of Hudson. But now she could see that he was asleep...or at least, he appeared to be. Being a psychic she knew better. He was trapped so deeply within himself he may never find his way out again. He was hiding from his pain.

What she knew about Oliver Hudson was similar to what Fredericks knew about him. He wasn't all bluster and severity. That was mere armour. She laid a hand on his forehead. Hudson had been cleaned up and his clothes changed to something more comfortable, and dry. It the hospital whites he looked almost fragile.

Fredericks ran in and stopped dead at the sight of him. She walked slowly in. "Is he..."

Wendy only shook her head, and she sensed the depth of Frederick's love for the man. Except, and Wendy was kind of glad, that it was not a romantic love. In fact if anything it was closer to like what Bridger and Lucas was. Speaking of Lucas, she picked up some heavy guilt...

So... Fredericks and Lucas. But Fredericks felt enormous guilt over the feelings for Lucas because she felt she was also in love with Hudson.

Wendy said, "Dagwood tells me that he was catatonic when he found him. I think he is hiding from the pain."

Frederick's lip trembled, and she grasped his hand, "You can't do this..."

Wendy put one hand on her shoulder, "He can't hear you, you know. But there is a way."

Fredericks only stared, "How?"

"You have to go in with me and tell him what you feel for him. That will bring him back."

"Let's do it," Fredericks grasped his hand, and Wendy tightened her grip on the woman's shoulder and then touched Hudson's forehead.

Both closed their eyes.

Fredericks stood and coughed in the smoky air. Where am I? she wondered. She could hear shouts and knew that one of those voices was Oliver. "Liv!" she screamed and ran in the direction of the voice.

Just then the mists took a definite shape and she found herself watching Oliver face down Pamela Loper. "Captain Oliver Hudson of the Viscount. I'm here to see Admiral Vanalden."

The woman Fredericks had only heard about seemed to stare at Hudson, and the image of Hudson blurred. "A clown and his circus," she stepped forward some more and Oliver's features swam.

The muddy image of Hudson turned to Dagwood and the Ensign that had come with them. Liv, keep fighting, I'm here with you! cried Fredericks, but she seemed to have no voice that they could hear.

She ran up to Loper and the realised how she was to help Hudson. She stepped into the space that the nameless Ensign had taken up. Instantly she was a part of his memory. That's a smart move, Freddie. Now that you are in the memory, try and get in contact with him. Remember that you are in his subconscious. Things are not as they appear... came Wendy Smith's advice.

Hudson stepped closer to Loper and she and Dagwood were just one step behind him. She tried to give him as much mental support as possible, but more armed men appeared Loper. Fredericks moved one step closer to Hudson. Just then Loper turned to Fredericks and blinked. At that moment she heard Oliver's voice clearly say, "You aren't supposed to be here."

Both Wendy and Fredericks opened their eyes with a snap. "Well, that was interesting," said Wendy. She turned to Fredericks and said, "I think we are due for some rest. Why don't we do this in the morning?"

Fredericks nodded wordlessly and then leaned close to Hudson's ear, "I will bring you back to me. Just you wait. Good night, Liv."

PART THREE: DELIVER ME

December 19th
Underway back to Pearl Harbour
seaQuest DSV med bay

Fredericks meditated. It was something she did every morning to clear her mind so that she could better focus on her Spectre. Now she did it to focus on Hudson. She would bring him back to her. Lucas had heard about the return of Hudson, and had even visited. He had handed her a CD. She had listened to it going to bed. Smiling, one song would follow her into Hudson's mind.

Deliver me, Liv.

Wendy Smith came back in and they retook the same positions as they had last night. This time she was already the Nameless Ensign.

"He always knew you'd come, Oliver. He knew from the start," visions of Vanalden seemed to superimposed themselves onto Loper.

Oliver walked straight to Loper, but before he went too far a guard moved in front of him with a gun. For some reason the distance seemed stretched, and Hudson was miles away from Fredericks. She realised that was because she was. "You're relieved, Commander. Give your weapon to the Ensign. The rest of you stand down. Put your weapons on the shuttle now."

They wouldn't listen to me.

"The UEO doesn't exist here, Oliver."

"It does now!" screamed Hudson and Fredericks together.

The same guard seemed to slowly slam the butt of the gun into Hudson's midsection. Fredericks felt the pain as if it were own, but she kept running to reach Hudson. Loper again turned to Fredericks. "You can't do anything, you know," Loper was right in front of Fredericks, while Hudson seemed to be stuck far away with the gun still connected to his gut.

Fredericks turned on Loper and said, "The Hell you know!"

Loper turned into Hudson, only he was dressed in black this Hudson. "Oh, I know a lot," Fredericks stared at this new development. "After all, I'm him."

"Liv? Come on, we can help you..."

The darker Hudson turned back to Loper and then she said, "Then truly join his memory."

The gun finished slamming into Hudson and he doubled over. Dagwood attacked the guard and Fredericks ran to Hudson's side and grasped him around the shoulders. "Dagwood! Dagwood! No," ordered Hudson when he caught his breath.

After which the guards pulled her away and they were all detained. "Take him away... The Dagger comes with me."

She was forced to follow Hudson, and Dagwood was practically dragged off behind Loper.

Just then the force waves struck the base and they turned to a window to watch the Viscount break up and sink. Hudson was nearly inconsolable when they were finally thrown into a cell. Fredericks took his head into her arms and cradled the shocked Hudson. "I am here with you..."

The mists came up again and she watched a young Hudson on the Valiant as he cleaned his quarters. She watched as Vanalden, on a dress inspection, found a shirt that wasn't exactly folded right. Hudson then had to follow Vanalden to the laundry room, where he folded shirts until he finally got it right.

Then she was on the Valiant beside Hudson. I'm living those memories... she realised. All of them. It was the Debron Colony, and the Macronesian Alliance had invaded it. They were in the Northern Quadrant on the forty-eighth day. She watched the sub make straight for them, no evasion or trying to avoid detection. Vanalden order Hudson to fire... and he refused. She knew the slap was coming, but reeled from it all the same. Loper took Hudson's place.

But just then the radio signal came through. The sub was full of refugees.

He relived these moments here, she knew. Vanalden still had that much of a grip on him. Then the guards came and tried to take him away. She knew that if she lost sight of him now, she would never get him back. He was retreating further.

The corridor seemed to be hazy and misty, and Hudson's features swam again. No, not again. I will not lose you. Just then she came into the office of Vanalden. The crux is here! came Wendy's voice. Here is where you win or lose Oliver.

Vanalden stepped out of the shadows and Hudson stared at him. "Have you come to kill me Oliver?"

"No sir. I'm here to relieve you of command."

For a moment Vanalden's voice sounded more like Hudson's than the Hudson she stood beside. His subconscious... Oh my God, Fredericks came to a realisation and stepped in front of 'Hudson', and regarded Vanalden. "I've come to bring you back to the surface."

I don't want to.

"Liv, it wasn't your fault. It was Vanalden's trap. He lured you here..." she watched as her surroundings became mist, and the constructs even became mist.

Where Vanalden had been stood Oliver. "Liv?"

He looked at her. "I failed, Freddie. I failed you, I failed Vanalden, and I failed my crew. The entire time he was right... I am worthless. Let me go..."

"No," Fredericks and Hudson looked at where Wendy Smith had suddenly appeared. "Can't you see she loves you, Oliver? Loves you enough to come here and feel your pain, blow by bloody blow. And if her love is not enough, what about mine?"

Hudson's eyebrows shot up a pace, "Your love?"

Smith's catlike smile grew, "Yes, my love. Fredericks sees you as a father she never had. I see you as something different. You never knew about me, and you were not exactly sure of the depth of Freddie's feelings. How many more do you think you might have missed that want, and need, you back?"

Mist met them, and Fredericks opened her eyes to look into Oliver's brown eyes in the med bay. He was awake. She squeezed his hand and said, "Don't you ever do that to me again..."

Hudson looked up at both of them and said, "It wasn't a dream was it? You two actually were in my head?"

They nodded. "You actually meant what you said?" he asked.

Again he was met with nods. He closed his eyes and fell into a true sleep.

December 20th
seaQuest DSV
In Pearl Harbour

Captain Robert Bridger watched as JJ Fredericks hugged Oliver Hudson and Wendy Smith. Most of the crew that had known Wendy were there. Ford hugged her first, then most of the crew shook her hand, except for Fredericks who practically hugged her so tightly that Smith looked like she turned blue for a second.

When it came to Robert's turn, he asked, "Are you sure?"

Wendy nodded, "He can't stay here. And he needs to sort things out and get over his loss. He will need support. I... will be that support."

Don't push yourself too hard, he admonished and was greeted by a smile.

I won't... she then went to the launch doors and waited for Oliver Hudson. Robert glared mockingly and gave a scowl. "Now, she's my cousin. Practically my little sister..." he began.

Hudson put one hand over his heart. "I won't lay one hand on her... unless she wants me to," he grinned and the two men shook hands. "It was an honour serving with you, Commodore."

Robert shook hands with Oliver. "And with you, Captain."

The two left on the launch and the crew dispersed. Ford walked silently with Robert to the bridge, and halfway there he asked, "I never thought that would happen."

"She was..." Robert sighed. "I never thought it would happen either."

Good-bye Wendy...

DELIVER ME

Deliver me, out of my sadness. Deliver me, from all of the madness. Deliver me, courage to guide me. Deliver me, strength from inside me. All of my life I was in hiding. Wishing there was someone just like you. Now that you're here, now that I've found you, I know that you're the one to pull me through. Deliver me loving and caring. Deliver me, giving and sharing. Deliver me, the cross that I'm bearing. Deliver me, Deliver Me, Oh deliver me.

DUST IN THE WIND

I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone. All my dreams pass before my eyes in curiosity. Dust in the Wind. All they are is dust in the wind. Same old song. Just a drop of water in an endless sea. All we do crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see. Dust in the wind. All we are is dust in the wind. Don't hang on, nothing last forever but the earth and sky. It slips away and all your money won't a another minute buy. Dust in the wind. All we are is dust in the wind.