CHAPTER FOUR:
Revelations

PART ONE: Freefall

September 15th, 2033
seaQuest DSV

Home is a one way ticket into Hell sometimes, realized Lucas Wolenczak. So far he had learned that while he had been missed that things had gone straight to Hell. The weird part was that for some reason it seemed so familiar. Like two Lucas's could exist and he saw both ways of living.

He stood outside Commodore Robert Bridgers quarters with his letter of resignation in his hand. For some reason this seemed familiar as well. He was leaving his civilian life behind so that he could stay on a fully military ship. After awhile he knocked, and the Commodore's voice answered. Taking a breath Lucas walked into the younger Bridger's quarters. Robert turned to face him after getting up from his desk, and saw the somber look on his face.

"What is it, Doctor?"

"I don't want to... Commodore I'm here to hand in my resignation."

"You don't have to do that," Robert started, but Lucas cut him off.

"I want to join up."

"Come again?" Robert was a bit surprised.

"I want to join the navy. I want to..." Lucas stopped realizing he didn't really want to say why he was truly signing up. I want revenge. I want to make Bourne pay for every second that Captain Bridger and I spent in Hell.

"I see," Robert sat down at the desk and brought out a few forms from a file folder. "Has Dr. Westphalen cleared you yet?"

"Yes sir, she has."

"Does she have any idea of what you are asking me to do now?"

"No sir, she does not," answered Lucas.

"If you don't mind me asking, do you think she will approve?"

Lucas turned back to face him, his face the hardest expression he had ever adopted on his face. It made him look closer to his true age of twenty-eight than any other he owned. The expression was suited to someone in the military. "Right now, I could hardly care. It's what I want."

Robert nodded, "Very well. You're in luck. A few have left and I haven't been able to fill the positions. You will start out as an Ensign. Have you given any thought to what area you want to specialize in?"

For a moment Lucas thought about it then shook his head, "Perhaps engineering?"

"A good choice, but you have a skill that it is in higher demand than that at the moment," Bridger leaned back in his chair. "How about Specter Pilot?"

The younger man took a moment then said, "I would work alongside Jess, wouldn't I?"

"Yeah, in fact Lieutenant Fredericks would be your direct superior officer. Your orders would come from her," Bridger filled out another box. "Any thought on whether you would eventually be interested in command track?"

"As in eventually I would get my own ship?"

"Eventually, yes, I can see that."

"May as well, I didn't think that far into the future," answered Lucas. "Yes, I'm interested in command track."

Nodding his head in approval, Bridger continued, "That will take more training, but that will come later. Right now you have a paper to sign, Mr. Wolenczak."

Robert Bridger slid the form over to Lucas and Lucas hesitated a moment, "No going back, sir?"

"No going back, I can say you made a good choice in a career change, Mr. Wolenczak."

With that said, Lucas slid the forms and the pen in front of him. Picking up the pen, he signed his name where he had to and put the pen back down and slid the forms back over to Robert. "Your last chance, Lucas."

"I've made up my mind, sir."

Robert stood up and put the forms through the fax scanner and the machine did the rest. After which Robert filed them away in his filing cabinet. "Well, Ensign, I think you have to go pick up your uniforms now."

Lucas stood and saluted, Robert saluted back, then offered, "How about I walk you there? A little tradition in my family. My Dad did the same for me."

Turning with a smile, Lucas said, "The company would be welcome."

September 16th, 2033
seaQuest DSV

Fredericks held her third meeting of the Gold Specter Wing and was surprised when Lucas walked in. The second surprise was the dark uniform of NorPac that he was wearing. She walked over to him before the other Wing members started to get there. "Mind telling why you're wearing our uniform," she asked.

"I signed up, Jess. It's Ensign Wolenczak and I'm now a part of your wing," he answered. "I know, I should have told you first."

She shook her head and her eyes lit up. "Why? This is a wonderful surprise. I can use another pilot of your caliber. Kimura is going to be toast the first time we have a drill."

He laughed and hugged her. She leaned in and kissed him, then broke the contact before they would be caught by any of the other members of the Wing. He took his seat and opened his notebook as the other members of the Wing entered. Piccolo noticed him and walked straight over and sat beside him. The next to walk through the door was Dagwood, and he too, had a bit of a double take but took the seat on the other side of Lucas. A young woman entered and sat in front of him, noticing that he was even there, but she pretended that he didn't affect her one way or the other. "That's TJ Dasher, Luke," whispered Piccolo. "She beats your record for being the youngest to serve on board."

"Really?" he asked, impressed when Dagwood backed up Tony with a nod.

Fredericks cleared her throat and said, "As you can tell, at this stage of the game, tighter swimming is going to be needed or we are going to be quite dead and likely those we are running interference for is going to be dead in the water too."

She pointed at Lucas and said, "Right now the presence of our newest member is highly classified. Any banter over the comm will not include his name, only rank and maybe his call sign: Frankenstein."

The team nodded and Dagwood said, "That's cooler than Wolenczak."

Lucas punched Dagwood's shoulder and Dagwood said, "Not too hard to do anyway... find a cooler name than that."

His response was another punch, this one harder. "You call that a punch?" teased Dagwood I've seen better punches from girls... uh oh, was this a foot in mouth moment?"

Freddie walked over and slugged him this time and he playfully ducked his head and put his arms over it as if afraid of what she would do to him. "I give up!" he exclaimed. "Women don't play fair anyway... ow!"

The tension in the room dissipated as this time it was Dasher who slugged him and they all laughed at his contrite expression. He turned to Tony, "See, never tell a lady what you really think. If you do, be sure to sleep with one eye open. Like I will be for now on."

September 16th
later on
seaQuest DSV

Robert was just exiting the maglev when he heard, "Commodore Robert Eric Stephen Bridger!"

Uh oh, he turned and saw the extremely irate Dr. Kristin Westphalen head down the corridor. I wonder if she knows yet about Ensign Wolenczak? Oh yeah, that's what I'm about to get chewed out for...

"Kristin! What a pleasant surprise at this hour. Usually you're in bed now..." he winced at her not pleased expression... Okay, downright furious expression. She was really scary when she got like that...

"Don't 'Kristin' me, Commodore. You just couldn't resist sinking your military hooks into him, could you? 'Oh look, the young genius has resisted torture, let's sign him up!' Let me tell you, Robert Bridger, that if one hair on his head gets singed and I'll hold you personally responsible," she drew herself up to her full height and her index finger, had been closer and a bit higher, would have been up his nose it was that close.

"Would you listen..."

"I'm not finished. He is not like the rest of you. He was never meant to be military!"

"Like the rest of us?" Robert grasped her hands and took a deep breath. "He came to me. Honestly, I made sure that he was sure. Kristin, there was no talking him out of it. As for the 'rest of us', we made our choice. As did he. I'd hate to sound like this, but get over it, he is one of us."

Her lips compressed into a thin line, "You're wrong."

"He's not a kid anymore, Kris. He's a man. A young one to be sure, but a man. Let him be one, scientist or military. Granted, he is an excellent addition to our team, but he will also be a tremendous loss to the science team when the war ends," he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "Not all of us dive into the violence, Kris. Is Katie or Ben like that? Is Tim? Is Miguel? Jonathan? Hell, even Oliver has his moments. Is my Dad? We do what must be done. Would you have us change and let people like Alexander Bourne walk over us in the name of peace?"

She was trembling and he released her. He watched as she stalked off. Hopefully he had given her something to think about if he hadn't changed her mind. Robert snorted. Nothing would ever change her opinion of the military. Robert walked the rest of the way to his quarters. Just before touching the latch he found himself not in the seaQuest, not on the sea. Oh no, not again! he cried out in his mind, but was also relieved. The visions meant that his father was still alive and fighting.

Hands supported him and he found himself looking into Ben's concerned face. "Are you all right? Do you want me to get Dr. Westphalen?"

"No!" he answered as he picked himself off the deck plating. "Who I want to see is Colonel Yamamoto."

Ben helped him into his quarters and Robert sat heavily in a comfortable chair not too far away from the hatch. After letting his racing heart calm down, he waited until Jason Yamamoto knocked and let himself in. "I understand you requested my presence," Yamamoto said as he entered.

"Close the door, Colonel," said Robert. "I have confirmation my father still lives, and has not broken yet. But we are going to have to move fast. The torture is worse."

Yamamoto nodded his head, "I have a confession to make, Commodore. I requested that I be allowed to take the Shadow Warrior and my team to infiltrate the base. It was denied... Can you forgive me for going over your head?"

Robert was silent for a very long time to Jason, and he idly wondered if he had misjudged the man's patience. But his answer came, "I can for the motive you did it. Kindly not do it again. There is a reason they call it a 'chain of command'. It helps us understand what the left hand is doing so I don't do something to jeopardize your mission and not know I did it."

Jason bowed slightly, "Of course, sir. It will not happen again."

"She denied the request? Why?" there was no doubt to which 'she' Bridger was referring.

"The Admiral felt that it was too easy an escape on Lieutenant Shan and Dr. Wolenczak's part. I happen to agree. This could be a trap."

"Could, Colonel? I know for a fact that it is."

PART TWO: The End Nears

September 17th
Stewart Island
Macronesia

It had been a long time since he had last personally inspected a prison since he became the President of Macronesia, but it was a special case. It was not every day that his special forces captured such an auspicious prisoner of war, and even out of said prisoner's home territory. President Alexander Bourne stared through the bars of the small window at the man within. At the moment he was asleep, or unconscious from the repeated beatings and other torture Bourne could think up. A small smile of satisfaction lit his face. This man was the key that would unlock the rest of the Pacific.

All Bourne needed was for him break, and the information would simply flow from him. Bourne could hardly wait for that moment that Stassi promised was soon. "When exactly do you think the Captain will break?" he asked.

"It's only a matter of time," Stassi gestured at him. "Look at him, he doesn't have the strength to lift his head anymore. All the reprieve we give him he spends like that. He used to pace. Killing the boy was the best way to crack his composure."

"You are sure he is dead? It would not do for him to live and make his way back..."

"I am sure. He fell off a cliff..." Stassi sighed. "He took my best camera man with him and killed one of my other men. I underestimated him. Doesn't matter now, anyway."

"What about the supposed failed attempt to take the other Bridger?"

"I apologize for a fracas. Davidson got too eager with this successful grab. But I did gather more information through it from the agent that was in the meeting. Evidently Section Seven is in on it," answered Stassi. "And they seem to have had an agent in here too. Someone named Frankenstein..."

Stassi froze as Bourne threw him into the other wall, and with a choke hold on Stassi's neck, Bourne hissed, "You fool! That is Wolenczak! That is his call sign as a hacker. He is rather famous for it. Do you realize what that means?"

"That Dr. Wolenczak is still... alive?"

"Yes. That also means that our dear Captain Bridger is not as... civilian... as we have been led to believe," Bourne released Stassi with a smile. "That works out to out favor after all. Commend your men on the brilliant feint. Oh, and lean into Bridger a little harder. Use whatever we have to your disposal. I want him broken in two days."

"Two days! That is impossible. The only method we have would kill him," Stassi again stilled from the icy glare that Bourne fixed him with.

"Then I suggest you use it," ordered Bourne before he walked away.

"Of course sir," Stassi turned to Commander Daltrey. "You heard the President. Go prepare the good Captain for the final stages."

"Yes sir," Daltrey saluted and walked towards the cell.

His hands shook as he put his hand on the cell door. Leaning against it for a moment, he realized that both Stassi and Bourne were insane. What am I doing here? he asked himself. Bridger was never going to break and they were going to kill him for nothing. His conscience whispered for him to defect, and his fear for his family made him not.

He opened the door and stopped. Hissing through his teeth at the abuse of the older man that lay on the floor of the cell, Daltrey decided right then that he was out of here.

He motioned to the guards to prepare him and then walked out of the cell and back to his sub. His ship was the peak of the latest Macronesian technology. He idly remembered an old movie that seemed to fit the situation. The only reason Daltrey had never been turned in was his crew who believed the same as he... he laughed again and turned to his third in command once he was on board, "Time to Red October."

The third in command saluted sharply and they left the docks. Once out in open water the ship wide went out, "Attention, Code Red October is commencing. All personnel not cleared for this operation please head to the escape pods."

An hour later the X-O said, "Sir, all those who have not been cleared for departure are off ship."

"Make way for UEO territory."

"Yes sir."

"Actually, where is the seaQuest?"

"Sir?"

"Meet up with them. I intend to join their fleet."

"Helm, come about, head for the last known coordinates of the seaQuest DSV."

"Aye sir," came the helm's answer.

September 17th
seaQuest DSV
Bridge

Lieutenant Miguel Ortiz was at his peak now that his station was the focal point in this mission. If something was out there to stop the seaQuest's progress into Macronesia waters, it would be him that noticed it first.

Miguel a little disappointed.

Nothing had showed up. Nothing interesting had happened and he was feeling a little bored. He stifled it though. The minute he lost his focus would be the very moment that something would sneak up on them and likely blow them out of the water.

His ears prickled at the noise on the sensors that he could just barely hear, and ship noise that didn't belong to any of theirs. Miguel's eyes trained on the sensor's aware that in his change of posture that Commodore Bridger was doing the same.

Miguel, when he had time, found that this Bridger was different from the last. For instance, he was the first captain Ortiz had even had who knew as much about sensors as he did. "Getting something, Migs?" asked Bridger quietly and Miguel put his hand up to silence him and turned up the volume.

"Just barely on my ability to hear is ship noise that doesn't belong, I'm trying to get a fix on it now," a hand patted his shoulder.

"Good job Lieutenant, let me know what you find and I'll scan the com frequencies until Johansen gets back from lunch," said Bridger.

A few moments later, Robert's eyes flew open, "Migs, check your 2 o'clock."

Ortiz sent Mother to the 2 o'clock area of seaQuest, and there found, "Sir, it's a Macronesian Dragon Class sub making way for us at 20 knots."

"Sound General Quarters. Helm, bring us about..."

"All hands General Quarters. General Quarters..."

"Sir, I'm getting an incoming link with Commander Daltrey of the Macronesian ship Killashandra," came Miguel Ortiz.

"Patch it through, Lieutenant," ordered Robert.

Daltrey stood there, out of the Macronesian uniform. "Commodore Robert Bridger? I am Commander Richard Daltrey. My crew and I request political asylum and bring the Killashandra as a gift to NorPac."

A few hours later
seaQuest DSV

Daltrey stared around at the wardroom of the seaQuest. He had never been on it before and now that he was he found himself not regretting his decision in the least. He sat facing the door. A moment later and an attractive middle aged woman with shoulder length silky black hair and icy blue eyes in a tan uniform that did nothing for her, then again, had she been dressed in a potato sack she still would have made it look like a fashion statement, walked into the room. An Asian man in a simple black NorPac uniform came in behind her.

"Commander Daltrey?"

"Yes."

"My name is Admiral Katherine Hitchcock, this is Colonel Jason Yamamoto. We have a few questions to ask you," at least he had a name for the woman, and her reputation preceded her. What he hadn't expected was how beautiful she was.

"Of course, Admiral. I will do what I can to help," Daltrey answered quickly.

Yamamoto sat to the side of him and Admiral Hitchcock sat facing him, "Have you seen Dr. Nathan Bridger?"

Daltrey's face darkened, "Yes, I have. That's why I defected. They are planning to make him break in two days, and they have the method to do it. My inkling is that he will cheat them of that and die in the attempt. Unfortunately that limits the time you have to rescue him. In two days he will have either broken or died."

Yamamoto leaned forward, "Have you seen a woman by the name of Jennifer Fowler Yamamoto?"

Daltrey shook his head, "No. I was only there when Captain Bridger was brought in. He was moved to the subsurface part of the base. She could be on the surface."

Hitchcock steepled her fingers, "About Bridger."

Nodding Daltrey leaned back in his seat, "He is one very tough man, but this new method has worked every time they used it. Usually in two days, the subject has broken and Stassi can get what he needs from them. In this case information on just about every ship in NorPac, especially the seaQuest and the Avenger. So far the Captain has not even given the location of a single rivet."

"What does this new 'treatment' entail?" asked Yamamoto.

"I haven't seen it but I've heard rumors," Daltrey took a breath. "From what I hear a barrage of drugs is used, then electro-shocks until the subject is so confused as to location and the identity of the interrogator that the subject has no idea where and who they are speaking to. This is fairly standard. It's the next step."

Hitchcock nodded reassuringly to encourage Daltrey to continue, "They find out as much as they can about the subject before they start the torture, and they use whomever they can to get them to talk. They find a double for someone close to the subject, someone that the subject trusts. They get that doppleganger to ask the questions. Because of the mental confusion through the drugs and the electro-shocks, the subject is duped into believing that the doppleganger is truly who they believe they are."

A drawn breath from Hitchcock made him pause, "They believe that they have the perfect doppleganger to affect him. Guaranteed to make him talk."

"Who?"

"They found a blonde woman that looks a remarkable bit like his late wife, Carol. If she doesn't work for some reason they will bring in someone that looks like Commodore Bridger," looking around the table Daltrey looked uncomfortable. "I was supposed to be the Robert Bridger doppleganger. I hope that by leaving that will foul up their plans. You see, I was to ask him to tell me the codes for the seaQuest's computers so that I could sneak under Macronesia's radar and save him."

Hitchcock stood and Yamamoto did as well, "Your information is helpful. Thank you."

"There's one more thing, Admiral. They know about Ensign Wolenczak. That ploy has failed. There was a mole in your staff meeting," Daltrey was faced by two stares. "I don't know who they were though."

Yamamoto exited the wardroom so fast that it was like a shot and Hitchcock sat down again, "A mole on seaQuest? How were they getting so many on board? Do you know?"

"That a single mole has been clearing passage on board," answered Daltrey. "It will have to be someone in the command crew, or someone with direct access to it. As for who, I do not know. I'm afraid I have told you all I can."

Hitchcock shook his hand, "Commander, what you have told us was extremely helpful. Return to your ship. The Nezamiah will escort you to the border and another ship will escort you to Pearl. Welcome to NorPac."

"Just do me a favor and finish Bourne and his cronies so I can return home with my crew. Oh, and my family..."

Hitchcock smiled, "We've already taken care of that, Richard. We have our own supply of moles."

September 2010 A/N - Wow, am I dragging my butt at this. I promise I'll retouch the rest before X-mas this year. For those who haven't picked up on the minute references, the Killashandra is actually the name of the main character in Anne McCaffrey's book "Crystal Singer" and, of course, Operation Red October is a direct nod to the book "Red October", in which a Russian captain defects to the US taking his advanced sub with him. The crew of the Killashandra used it for obvious reasons ;)