Chapter One:
Angels Cry

It was one of those days no one wanted to repeat. The day when the world seemed to shake and he didn't know much else after that. She didn't want to know much else after that. Even after the one woman she hated most right now was the first to arrive on the scene to try and help her sort though the mess her life just became.

For Admiral Katherine Hitchcock, her world died in fireball the restaurant was now. She had been lucky, she knew that. Lieutenant Commander Lorraine Henderson tried to lead her away from the mangled heap, but Katherine was determined to stay. She wanted to know, and also was afraid to know the answer. "Come on, Admiral, please," pleaded Lonnie. "You really don't want to be here when they... they bring him out."

"Yes I do," answered Katherine quietly, barely above an answer. "I owe Jonathan that."

Lonnie didn't argue, and she stood quiet, flanking her as the fire department pulled out body after body. Finally, after one last body bag was removed, a fire official walked over to them. "Admiral Hitchcock?" he asked.

"Yes?" she said, barely able to believe that she could remain so calm.

"I need to follow me," he turned and she followed him to that one bag and he knelt. "He has UEO identification tags..."

Katherine made herself look as the official drew out the tags. They were sooty and blackened, but unmistakable. She found herself on her knees clutching the tags as if they were her lifeline. "Jonathan..."

PART ONE: All Good Things

September 2nd, 2034
San Diego
UEO Secretary General's residence

Nathan didn't like to host these kind of parties but considering he had three more years until his term ended he figured he could live with it. Kristin was as charming as she could get, thankfully taking some of the weight of the attention from him. As much as he hated these kind of parties, it was nice to smile after...

When Lonnie Henderson had called him, he hadn't needed to be psychic to know why she was calling. Her stricken look had said everything.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Secretary, to be the one to bear such news, but Katherine is too... There was a terrorist attack... Jon... he's dead," Lonnie had blurted out right before breaking down herself.

His smile fell off, and Kristin caught his eye, and he sighed. It was like being told your right hand had to be amputated. In all honesty, Nathan thought it was going to be himself who died first out of them all, and that only due to how old he was in comparison. Jonathan Ford was simply too young... but that had no bearing in this kind of a world.

The funeral had been quiet, and respectful. Much like Jonathan had been. That still hurt to refer to him in the past tense. Jonathan's younger brother had been there, and he was the most shocked. In fact, he had put it best, "You just used to having him back and now he's gone."

"Hey, Nathan," Kristin came up to him. "Keep frowning like that and you're going to scare away all the guests."

"I can't help but think about him..." said Nathan.

"Captain Ford," Kristin shook her head. "I miss him too. Try to enjoy the party. He wouldn't want us to mourn him too long. Remember, yes, mourn no."

He hugged her and said, "You're absolutely right, of course."

Nathan looked out over the ocean, to where he knew that somewhere the seaQuest patrolled the ocean. The Avenger and her crew remained on shore leave for psychological reasons. It was simply too soon to put to sea after losing their captain. The crew of seaQuest had opted to go back right away. His son had put it aptly: What better way to do justice to his memory than to find the bastards who killed him?

He only wished he was there with them. Looking at Kristin, and out to the sea... He knew that his fingers would like to wrap themselves around the throats of those responsible.

September 3rd, 2034
seaQuest DSV
Bridge

The mood on the bridge was hard to lift. Most had served with Ford and were very grim. Robert wanted to give them time to mourn the loss, but they had been waiting for him on board, waiting to go after Ford's murderer. So they put to sea.

Commodore Robert Bridger was still left with a conundrum. He knew perfectly well that Katherine was choosing to retire and he was willing to bet where he was about to end up. Not that he was going to leave the seaQuest.

Fat chance, and he grinned at the thought. "Lieutenant Johansen, put me on ship wide."

"Yes sir," she answered. "You're on ship wide."

"Attention crew. This is Commodore Robert Bridger. For those new to the seaQuest, that means I am your commander, and I welcome you now to the seaQuest," Robert took a breath. "As many of you know, we lost a former member of our crew to a senseless and random crime. We mourn his loss, but we can't do that forever. I don't think Jonathan would have wanted that. We will never forget him, but we must move on. A memorial service will be held on the seadeck at 14:00 hours. That's all."

The ship wide ended and he caught a few of the side glances in his direction. "Commander O'Neill, you have the bridge," after O'Neill nodded his affirmative, Robert left the bridge for the seadeck.

As he walked to the seadeck he reflected on things he hadn't though of since that day. He had not spoken to either Katherine or Lonnie since she called him. Nor had he spoken to Ben. He sat on the catwalk above the moon pool, and smiled wanly into the water. He always seemed to come to this spot to think, and Darwin usually showed up right about...

...Now.

The dolphin swam under him, then began to swim lazy circles in the tank. "Robert sad, miss Ford."

"Yeah, but so do many of the crew," reflected Robert. "Compared to them, I never even knew the man."

"Not true," came a subdued Lucas.

Robert looked over to the younger man and he joined him on the catwalk. "Captain Ford would have never gained those stars had you not pushed him to it," said Lucas. "He would have stayed here."

"And so I killed him," Robert leaned back. "I guess that's a habit with this family."

"You never killed him," Lucas seemed somewhat peeved by the answer. "Both the seaQuest and the Avenger was in for shore leave. It would not have made any difference. As you said, it was completely random. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. So is it true? Is Katie really choosing to retire?"

It took a minute for Robert to catch up with the sudden change of topic. "It looks it," he answered.

"So what will ship will you lead the fleet from?" asked Lucas.

"How do you know that I'm going to be an Admiral? It could just as easily be Captain Hudson," retorted Robert.

"Hmm, let's see. I do believe you just answered that!" came the slightly sarcastic response, and Robert lifted one eyebrow. "You're the Commodore, and he's still only a Captain. Besides, could you see him going that far away from Wendy? Every time an opening on shore has come up he's taken it, not to mention the opening on the Avenger. Either Krieg or Brody has that, Hudson takes the Baycourt if anything, and you command the fleet from here. Granted, that means a new captain for the seaQuest... again."

"Maybe Krieg will command the seaQuest, Brody on the Avenger, and Hudson on the Baycourt," Robert said thoughtfully for a moment. "Assuming they don't promote Tim..."

The look on Lucas's face was priceless. "Ben Krieg? The seaQuest?" he sputtered then took a breath. "Okay, granted, he's changed. It was just the mental picture I suddenly had."

The laugh shared between the two relieved some of the tension that was in the room. But this was short lived as many of the crew that had served with Jonathan Ford filed into the seadeck. Robert stayed where he was beside Lucas and looked over his crew. Unconsciously they were split into the 'original' first tour crew and the 'additions' of the second and the third. He frowned at this, remembering the rumors of the same split between the science and military during the first few missions of the first tour. For them to fall into the habit, again, was not a good sign on morale. He stood and said, "I think we should all start with a few memories of the Captain."

"He was strict," came Tim's answer. "But that was because he found it reassuring. It was easier to sort out a problem when it involved the rules."

"Yeah, but he mellowed out after Captain Bridger came on board. How was he supposed to be so wrapped up in what the manual said with someone who went by instinct?" pointed out Miguel.

"I remember his voice," said Johansen. "Deep, authoritive..."

"...Sexy..." finished another female crew member. "A shame he was taken."

Johansen nodded her agreement, and subsequent regret. "I remember that he was still someone who knew the rules well," came Lucas's addition. "There were many, many times when Captain Bridger relied on what Commander Ford knew about the UEO regs."

Many nodded. "'He was my right hand... And my left'," quoted Robert. "I can't say how much I agree now that I look back. They always promote the good ones to the position they deserve. And Captain Ford was no different. Even though I still got a good X-O after him, even Krieg and O'Neill couldn't fill those shoes."

"Can't physically either. Ever see the size of that guy's feet?" said Shan.

The crew laughed then, and Miguel then remembered, "Remember when Dr. Westphalen sent him a few days leave because he saw a mermaid?"

"Yes, and we all remember when he saw the Alantean ghost," said O'Neill. "I think we all can remember that mission..."

"Cuban kitchen knife," laughed Piccolo a little nervously. "I was so amazed that a person could be so calm. I mean, he was even dead calm when he had to relieve Captain Bridger of command."

"He had to what?" asked Robert, as this was the first time he had ever heard of it.

"Long story," answered Dagwood. "Both Migs and Captain Bridger were... infected and were very, very ill. We try not to remember that too often."

Robert could see why. He listened to the others remember Ford, and when they had exhausted what they could remember, he called it a day after a few moments of silence. Looking over to the clock on the wall he was startled to see that it was well after 17:00 hours. He could sense that many still had memories, but they were all too private to share. "Everyone, get a bite to eat even if you feel up to it," he ordered. "Those not on duty, get some rest, take out frustrations in the gym, I don't care unless its illegal. Those still on duty, finish your shift and then do the same. Dismissed."

A few filed out, except for JJ Fredericks who put her arm around Lucas soothingly. There were times, like now, that he was very glad that NorPac and the UEO, as well as other confederations, had done away with the no fraternization rule as obsolete. Personal relationships developed no matter what and you were only wrecking a team if you split them up once they got to know, and sometimes even like, each other. Granted, some interchange was good as you didn't want the crew and relationships to develop into a clique.

He shook away those thoughts, and turned to look over to Lucas and JJ once more before heading back to the bridge. Lucas was in her arms, finally letting the tears fall. She was shedding some of her own.

Robert was not an unemotional man, though he rarely cried. In that he shared a common trait with his father. The loss of Ford was irreparable, and Robert was angry at the senselessness of it. Someone had planted that bomb, and he, she, or they, had not only killed a very good man, but countless innocents... Just people that had stopped there for lunch. Some of the staff as well, if he had understood correctly.

This was why the seaQuest was here, to stop that from happening. Even as he thought it he wondered if it was enough for just the seaQuest to patrol the oceans. There were others like Bourne and Deon in this world. The Secretary General, his father, had told him about one such man.

PART TWO: Walking in the Shadow

September 4th, 2034
San Francisco
Harpe Worldwide Head Office

Geoffrey Harpe watched the NewsNet with silent approval. The test he had given Mason Freeman, his new aide, had only proven the man's loyalty. Granted, he was a little disappointed that the woman had escaped relatively unscathed, but the look of sheer emotional agony was perfect. All the better if she was so torn up. Maybe, with a little luck, she would resign.

Watching the good 'Captain' on the News at the funeral had been a little bit much. Of course he would be stoic. He and that damnable son of his. Why couldn't the brat stay dead? Had he not paid enough money to bury him in the deepest, darkest, hole in existence right after he had been humiliated?

Harpe clenched his fists.

And the seaQuest was already in the water.

This would just not do. The whole point was to keep the seaQuest out of the water just for awhile longer while he could get his boats on the water. Mason came into his office.

Freeman, for his part, had finally found an employer worth his time and talents. Where Deon had been a whiny good-for-nothing dweeb with only an insatiable greed in both money and adulation, Harpe was a whole other conundrum. He was ruthless, with only an insatiable want of control. Amassing money was not his aim, no, that was a bonus. Granted, a bonus that gave him only more control. But there was something else underneath that placid face, but only Freeman could recognize it for what it was - Hatred.

Harpe hated the seaQuest with such a fierceness that he was willing to kill an entire restaurant full of people to kill two former seaQuest crew members, just to hurt one man. Deon would have never done that as that would have cost too much money. Harpe didn't care so long as the objective was done.

"You didn't kill the woman."

It was a simple statement, one that meant that Mason had failed. He would not make any excuses as that would not fly with Harpe like Deon had allowed, or even Bourne. "But, the look of agony... that was well worth it," the vid on the screen froze to the look on Katherine Hitchcock's face. "Well done. It may end up better in the end. But make sure the next time I tell you to kill someone, make sure they are dead."

"Yes sir."

"Unfortunately, the seaQuest is in the water. Commodore Bridger decided it would be best," said Harpe.

"Bridger is not to be underestimated," stated Freeman. "But taking him down will be a pleasure."

"It is too soon to go after Robert," said Harpe, leaning back in his chair. "And it will be very difficult to get to Nathan and Kristin. Though, I want that particular woman alive. Everyone with the name of Bridger will be wiped from the face of the planet. Then you kill Robert, and then after Nathan Bridger is the last, you bring him to me and I want the pleasure of killing him."

Mason stayed silent while he edited his former thought. Hate was putting it mildly, and while curious as to why, he knew better than to ask.

Hudson watched as Vanessa played with the toy he had brought her. While he had never served on the same boat as Captain Jonathan Ford, his wife had. Wendy was upstairs in the home office, likely talking to her Uncle Nathan about what had happened. Probably slipping into the easiest role of counselor.

"Uncle Nathan, I know you have a feeling on who might have done this," said Wendy. "I feel it was done on purpose."

"Really?" came Nathan's response. "I have a feeling, yes, if it was planned. But I have no proof. Hell, for all I know it was random."

He sighed and ran his fingers through his now whitening hair. While she was concerned with how stressful the job of running the UEO must be, especially considering that he was showing distinct signs of that stress, she was hot on the trail of a hunch. "Katie doesn't remember much before or after the explosion, Uncle Nathan," Wendy let him know, as many thought she did.

"I figured that might be the case," he responded, then after a moment. "If she feels the need to get out of Honolulu, send her my way. Kristin and I would love to have her."

"I'll let her know. She's staying with Ben and Lonnie," right after she said that she realized her mistake as her Uncle mouthed, Ben and Lonnie? "Uh, yeah, that's kind of a long story."

"No..." he made the one syllable word trail off somewhat sarcastically. "I thought it was Jon and Lonnie... I didn't know about that development."

"You don't approve?"

"Not that," her Uncle leaned back in his chair. "I must be extremely out of the loop to have not picked up on that one."

Wendy laughed, "Trust me, you didn't have to be too far. We never knew until just recently either. But it explains why it was Katie and Jon in that restaurant."

Lonnie Henderson looked into the bedroom again in concern. Her boyfriend, Ben Krieg, came up to her and asked, "Has she moved at all?"

She shook her head. "No," she turned to face him. "You know her better than I do. What should I do? How can I help her?"

He pressed his lips into a thin, and very concerned line. "I don't know."

In the bedroom, laying on the bed, was Katherine Hitchcock. She heard the conversation outside the door and knew that it was about her. But a part of her refused to let it in. Aware that she was only hiding from the problem she briefly thought about returning to the living world, but promptly decided that it was just too soon. Too soon. How that described the entire mess!

A knock took one of the 'guardians' away, and then she was aware of another presence beside her bed. One that was wholly unwelcome as it meant responsibility. "Admiral, you must get up," came Colonel Jason Yamamoto's quiet voice.

"I can't," she whispered.

"You can," he soothed, and then a sigh. "I never told you why I came after Shining Waters, did I?"

Turning her head in surprise, as this meant he was about to tell her something about him that he often avoided: his own past. "No, you didn't," she said.

"In a way it is similar to this instance," he began, and the door closed at his signal. "Admiral... Katherine... My parents were murdered by the man known was Joshua Steel, the leader of Shining Waters. I was only seven, and my brother and sister younger than I. We were sent to my Uncle in Japan to be raised."

"Where you learned... how to fight," she said.

"Hai, yes," he answered. "I was raised with the concept of revenge in my blood. I saw my parents murdered, you see. By siblings were spared that sight."

"I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be," Jason continued then. "There is a saying, 'What does not kill you-'"

"'Makes you stronger'. I've heard it before," she sat up slowly. "I don't know if I can... continue. I think I have more in common with Captain Bridger than you, I'm afraid."

He sighed then, "But where would you go, Katherine? What place would hide you from this tragedy. Take it from someone who knows, and learn as well from your Captain Bridger: There is no where on God's green Earth you can hide from yourself or your grief, and no place off of it either. No, Katherine, you cannot run from this."

She looked at him, into his eyes, which were compassionate even while they were logical. Katherine took one breath and then another. "There is no place I can hide..." she murmured, looking out the window.

September 17th, 2034
San Diego, California
UEO Headquarters

Secretary General Nathan Bridger sat down in the large office and sighed. While he understood why she was doing it, he was truly sad to see her go. The former Admiral Katherine Hitchcock stood off to one side, looking out into the autumn rain that fell outside. It was amazing how much the weather was like both of their moods. "Are you sure there is nothing I can say or do that will change your mind?" he asked somberly.

Katherine was out of uniform, in civilian clothes, but she still had the bearing of an Admiral. "No, Mr. Secretary, there is not," she answered almost formally.

"Then I... decline your resignation," he got up and took her by the shoulders, ignoring her stunned look. "Look, Katie, don't make the same mistake I did by running."

A small smile greeted him, "But it worked out so well..."

"Yes, it did," he conceded. "But I was damn lucky. I know you need time, so here is what I am going to do. How old are you, Katie?"

"Forty-four," she answered.

"How does an early retirement strike you? Or a sabbatical? Anything but this," he tapped the resignation letter. "That way, if you decide to, and when you are ready, you can come back."

"Retire?" she asked, then nodded her head. "Very well, I can accept that."

He held out his hand and she shook it using her other hand on top of his as if deriving strength from it. A common bond was now between them, one of bereavement. Both had gone through a similar change in life, and both had felt as if their souls were torn in two by it. If anything their friendship had deepened by it.

She hugged him, and then she was gone. Nathan looked at the door for a long time, and then shook his head as he tore the resignation letter into pieces.

PART THREE: Waking Potential

September 20th, 2034
seaQuest DSV
wardroom

The entire senior crew listened in, the vidscreen split screened four ways so all the ship in the small vanguard could listen in as the Secretary-General of the UEO announced the promotions on all the ships. In fact, it was on the all-call so the entire crew could hear it should they choose. Robert had a feeling that unless they were sleeping for their next shifts, everyone was on the very tips of their toes to listen.

"The decision was a very difficult one," began Bridger. "When Admiral Hitchcock took an early retirement, that left two large spots to fill, an new Admiral, and also who will command the Avenger. I'm not going to make a large speech, as I'm not very good at it."

This brought out a few laughs from the crew and the ones in the seaQuest wardroom clapped, and a few said, "Yeah right!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Nathan made a wry face and continued. "Given the vote in the upper echelon of command, the decision was near unanimous. Promoted to the rank of Admiral is Commodore Robert Eric Stephan Bridger of the seaQuest DSV. Congratulations, son. Now, of course, that makes two empty positions: Captain and commodore."

After Robert was congratulated by his crew and those on the other ships, everyone quieted. "I was very surprised at the decision of who would become the next Commodore, and their choice of ship," Nathan shrugged. "But definite congratulations are in order, once we pick him up off the floor. Captain Benjamin Krieg, congratulations, you are now the Commodore in command of the vanguard. I can't believe you get the seaQuest, but congratulations."

The stunned look on Krieg's face was priceless, as was many of the crew's reaction. "Crash Krieg?" asked O'Neill with a snicker. "Commodore Crash Krieg..."

"The Nezamiah will be captained by Captain Ishtiaq Nalepa..." continued Bridger. "Now we offered the Avenger to Captain Hudson, but he refused as that would take him too far away from Wendy and Vanessa. I can definitely see his point. So he stays in command of the Baycourt."

The crew looked around, as Bridger waited them out, the suspense he knew had many of them on the edge of their seats. "The Avenger was as prominent a post as the seaQuest to fill, but I feel that this is the best choice: Congratulations Captain James Brody."

"Thank you, sir," came Brody's response.

"Admiral, this is your fleet, Commodore, I judge you have some work to do," he shook his head again at the still stunned look on Krieg's face. "Captains, I suggest you get to your ships and familiarize yourselves with your new crew."

The vidlink chimed and Robert tapped the communications pod on the desk. Hudson was there, from his home office in Waikkiki, "So, Admiral, how does it feel?"

"Knowing that you passed on another promotion so I could have it, I don't know, Oliver," Robert shook his head. "When are you actually going to take a promotion that we are competing for, and that you should really have?"

"You should have it," pointed out Hudson. "I don't have the time nor the inclination anymore. Thanks to you, I've found something more important."

Hearing the hidden connotations under that comment, Robert chose to only raise an eyebrow and ignore it. Sometimes, as much as Oliver was his friend, he could get a little high and mighty. "What if I refused too?" asked Robert.

"You didn't..." came his shocked reply, and Robert began to laugh at the incredulous look on the man's face. "Dammit, sometimes I really hate you, Rob."

"Ah, it was too easy," Robert said. "Well, there had to be another reason for calling me, Liv. What else is on your mind?"

"What else? Katie, I hear she's moving away from Honolulu. I was hoping you would convince her otherwise," answered Hudson. "Wendy and I tried, but she won't listen. We can't even get her to tell us where she's going. And she's refused Nathan and Kristin's offer as well."

"If her mind is made up, I can't see what I can say to change her mind..." Robert sighed. "Okay, I'll see if there is anything I can do. Don't get your hopes up though."

"That's all I'm asking. Suggest your father's island to her... maybe the relative solitude will help as well. The carefree Caribbean sun... the white sands..."

"Good-bye Oliver..." said Robert as he cut off the vidlink connection.

He turned to his former crew. "Comm... Captain, what is the ETA of Commodore Krieg?"

A knock sounded before Tim could answer and Ben walked in and then smiled. "So... Admiral Bridger... that really has a ring to it."

"So does Commodore Crash, er, Krieg..." quipped Tim, and ignored the glare from Ben.

"I've learned not to back things into ridges, Tim," Ben retorted. "And in case you haven't noticed..."

"Hey, demote me and I'm still stuck here, and I'm a pain in your butt by being your X-O," pointed out Tim, and Robert laughed at the two friends.

September 22nd, 2034
seaQuest DSV
Bridge

Commodore Benjamin Krieg sat in the command chair of the seaQuest DSV, and marveled over that very large change since the first time he ever stepped foot on the bridge of the seaQuest. Has it been that long, he mused as he watched his new crew. New tours always denoted change, but he had not expected this big a change. Granted, some of the crew remembered him.

Oh, how they remembered him.

Krieg-lite, Crash-Krieg, Supply and Morale Lieutenant Krieg.

Cheeseburger in paradise. At least that particular memory was pleasant. Most were when it concerned Captain Bridger.

Ben and Katie.

He sighed then, noting his new X-O concerned glance. Ben smiled, "Commander O'Niell, what is our status?"

"Ready to cruise, sir," answered Lieutenant Commander Tim O'Niell, who remained the executive officer of the seaQuest.

"Is the Admiral ready?"

"As always, Commodore," answered Robert, from his new post on the Aurora, where Katie should have been.

Even though they had gained promotions, they were still in agreement that the Admiral should have been still Katherine Hitchcock. Ben figured that it worked out well. Robert had a family and as an Admiral it meant more ashore time in an office. He could now work out of the New Cape Quest base. In fact, that was where all his belongings were being moved, and his family was much closer, only mere hours away by ferry.

The promotion was better for him in the long run family wise anyway.

"Ben... safe sailing," with that Admiral Bridger signed off.

"Helm, lay in a course..." ordered Ben, finally settling into his new place.

Sometimes change was not a bad thing...

... Sometimes change meant finding who you truly were, and finding that place where you truly belonged.