Slaps face to try and wake herself up

I have three RL jobs, plus one I volunteer my time to. Combine it all and the time I have to write these, or even read them, is very little. But I like having people who like seaQuest (or even know what it is) to talk to.

Thank you to Psycholyzie for keeping me sane, and Kim Horner for giving me a chance to live on seaQuest in her Role Playing Game (seaQuest 2039), and the use of her personal character TJ. Thank you to Rob Symons for telling me his persona (Yamamoto) is Japanese, not Chinese (sorry!). Thank you to everyone at FF.N for the amazing reviews. Even when you don't like something, it's nice to have people who tell me in a logical reason (Hell, it even gives me something to watch out for!). I really appreciate it when I miss some of my quotation marks, LOL.

Oh well, time to have more caffeine....

Chapter Five
Bridger's Grail

PART ONE: Forced Change

October 18th, 2034
Shadow Warrior
Crew quarters

TJ Dasher thought about the possibility that she had been discovered. It wasn't as if it was entirely impossible. It was just that she was hoping it would later, like after the Chaodai fell or were obliterated, whichever happened first. But now... no... that was too soon. If this came out soon they would be after her.

TJ shuddered at the thought. She didn't want to go back to that compound where she was more property than even the slaves were. The only difference was that she was worth money in research and was treated marginally better. Still, the slaves were watched less than she had been when growing up. Less was expected of the slaves as well. Every aspect of Ping's life had been carefully measured with failure not being an option if she wanted to live.

But she escaped that, and she was in no hurry to return.

This, unvariably, brought her thoughts back to her mother, Xiang Suni. While the puzzle was why TJ had the surname Rho instead of Xiang, she usually did not dwell on it too much. Maybe someday she would find out...

Xiang Suni, now Jacqueline Carsire, was a shy woman who only ever wanted a child of her own. In hindsight, she knew that it was incredibly naive to trust the government lab to give her a child.

When she had discovered she was pregnant she had carefully ignored the added surveillance in her life. As it grew more and more invasive, only then had she begun to question it. Then the other women who had also allowed themselves to be artificially inseminated by this lab began to miscarry, all of Suni's mental alarms went off.

She was one of the few who carried to term.

Giving birth to the child she had named Ping was one of the greatest joys in her life, up until a few hours later when she realized that she had not been allowed to hold Ping in her arms. Suni remembered demanding her baby, and the heartbreak when the nurse told her that Ping had been stillborn.

But a mother knew.

And Suni began to go underground and have searches made. The sacrifices she had made were all worth it when she learned that Ping was now a ward of the lab, but under the name Rho Ping, not Xiang Ping as she ought to have been.

With what little family remained who was willing to help a woman so desperate as to have relations and a child, not to mention a daughter instead of a son, she began to plan for a way to rescue Ping from the compound. Two years later mother and daughter were reunited, and smuggled to the United States by the now defunct CIA. A friendly blonde woman... Suni struggled to remember her name... ah, yes, Terry McShane... had made sure that they were comfortable in their safe house.

Suni could not speak any English at all, but Ping picked it up so fast... and she was only three years old. It was then that they realized Ping's true potential. McShane had taken care of the rest, even seeing to Ping's education and Suni's English lessons. After they were well enough educated, McShane brought them their new identities.

Unfortunately, Ping and Suni were not to be together as family in the States either. Suni was named Carsire and Ping became Dasher. McShane explained that it would more difficult for the Chaodai to trace them back if they did not have the same name.

So it stayed.

Soon Ping began to only answer to Tracy, then TJ. After that point she left Suni to begin her new life and Suni lost track of her.

Until now -- until she was shown in the background on the news working as part of the seaQuest crew. Suni had rejoiced in finding her daughter but quailed at knowing that at times the seaQuest skirted Chaodai territory. What if they were stilling looking for Ping? She could end up in their hands again and then Suni did not know if she could continue.

But Suni was a smart woman, and grew up in the hacker generation, and learned that Rho's real name was Bridger. Seeing a vid of Robert had made her breath catch. How much she could see of Ping in that face. The same strength, those same sapphire eyes that seemed to be passed down from father to son in that family, and now to daughter. Ping had lucked out, really, in being born to such a high born and prestigious name. Xiang was really nothing in comparison. And thinking on that, Suni felt privileged to have carried that child.

Robert walked on the beach that their home was on. He had allowed a mere slip of a girl to be put under Yamamoto's command. Yamamoto was extremely young as well, so he supposed that under his command was a good place as any. But what really rankled him was that he never had sensed his daughter... and she had been right under his nose the entire time.

Now that he thought of it he could see it.

Which was kind of late now to notice. A short moment later he realized that someone else was walking beside him. He turned to see that it was Cynthia. "You brood almost as much as your father does."

"Do I really," he answered, a smile alighting on his face almost against his will. "I have a lot to think about..."

"Sometimes, lately, I think this new rank has added too much on top of what was before," she said, tilting her head to the side in thought. "I think, even though I like having you home at the end of the day like normal people, that you were more relaxed a rank lower."

"I think you're right..." conceded Robert. "It's not an easy job. But without Katherine I have to do it. And I won't say I like it either, even though I like coming home every night instead of a bunk on a ship, only to come home on leave. I won't tell you that without her the UEO seems diminished. But I will tell you that coming home makes it worth it."

October 19th, 2034
seaQuest DSV
Off the coast of Brazil, near Sao Paulo

Lucas Bridger was so absorbed in his studies that he never noticed that JJ Fredericks had snuck up behind him. Fredericks watched, and also read over his shoulder, the textbook he was reading. The irony was that he was reading about the Livingston Trench Incident. "I would have thought that living it would have been better than reading it," she pointed out. "For your studies, anyway."

He jumped in surprise, "Jess! When did you... How did you...?"

"Two minutes ago, and you were so wrapped up in that book that you never even heard me come in," she answered, with half a smile on her face. "So how are they going?"

"Fine," he answered, rubbing his eyes. "And I wasn't there at Livingston. Only the aftermath."

"I see," she slipped out of her uniform and into her sleepwear.

Lucas was eying her, and she said, "What?"

"You're showing."

"Huh?"

"Showing. As in you are beginning to look pregnant," he spelled out. "I was wondering why Darwin said it was too far along to abort. Now I see what he meant."

Fredericks laughed nervously, "That dolphin is entirely too smart for his own good. Why can't he find a mate instead of watching us go through everything?"

Lucas shrugged his lack of knowledge on that subject. "Anyway, the only person that anything to do with Livingston Trench was Captain Ford when he relieved Captain Stark. Thirteen months later when Captain Bridger took command was when I saw the aftermath," Lucas shuddered, then frowned. "I miss those days."

She turned and saw the melancholy look on his face, and he explained, "I was only fourteen, except they all thought I was sixteen. It was... more carefree. Not that Nathan wasn't strict. He was... but things were different after. Even the second tour didn't seem the same."

Fredericks sat down beside him, "Would you trade today for those?"

"No," he shook his head. "I may miss them, but I would not want to lose today."

Their moment of quiet was broken when over the All Call came Mara Johansen's voice, "All Gold Spec Wing personnel to Specter launch bay. All Gold Spec Wing personnel to Specter launch bay."

He smiled sadly, "I think that's me."

Fredericks kissed him lightly on the cheek as he stood up to leave. "Go kick some ass for me," she said as he left their quarters.

Lucas ran down the corridors to the Specter Launch Bay, which was purposely close to his quarters. All Specter pilots had the quarters closest to the launch bay, it was that much quicker for them to get to their duty when called like this.

Running into the launch bay he reflected as he grabbed his helmet and suited up, I'm going to kill Tony if this is one of his drills...

But he saw that even Tony was fully suited up and strapping on his helmet and PAL headset. "Okay everyone, this is the real thing. Keep sharp," yelled Tony over the pandemonium.

Lucas slid into his Specter and quickly ran through the pre-launch checks. Once everything went green, which, he was pleased to note, was in just under nine seconds, he hit the launch button. As usual the Specter dropped into the water of the moonpool with a splash and it sunk under the water as the twin engines caught and also propelled him out of the ship. All this took only twelve seconds, including the checks.

Outside it was dark and quiet, but knowing how quickly that could change Lucas kept one very attentive eye on sensors and his other out the canopy. A few short moments later he saw Tony's Specter and he said, "Lieutenant, all quiet. Continuing patrol."

"Very good, Ensign," acknowledged Piccolo. "Reports tell us that we are leading an extraction attempt. Our objective is smoke screen."

"Aye, sir," said Lucas.

"Gold Third, report!" barked Tony.

"Speeder launched, sir, and I am following it in," answered Dagwood.

"Silver leader, report," said Tony.

"Bogey activity just over the ridge, Gold Leader," responded Lieutenant Commander Heiko Kimura.

Sometimes Lucas wondered why Kimura was Silver Leader and not the Gold when she clearly outranked both Fredericks and Piccolo. But as the Gold Leader had to be on seaQuest, which she wasn't, Lucas let it slide. In the water, what the Gold Leader ordered was what everyone did. Suddenly the six of his sensor grid went red with bogies. "Gold Leader, we have bogies on our six," relayed Lucas.

"I see them," answered Tony. "Scramble!"

All formation ended as the Specters left off, except for the escort for the Speeder, and went after the bogies. While the seaQuest crew, nor that of the Avenger, fired any shots, the mass of them in the water kept the bogies from getting close to the Speeder. It was a very strange Specter battle as the bogies tried to get around the Specters to go after the Speeder, but were physically blocked by the Specters, all without firing a shot. It was a delicate dance called Chicken, and more than few of the bogies were sunk, with their pilots ejected, from mere collisions. Unfortunately, some of the Gold and Silver Wing had the same fate.

It was only a matter of time before the Harpe fighters became aggressive, and both Wings held their breath for it to happen.

The Speeder sped to the ridge, and up to the shallows.

Finally, the Harpe fighters began to fire on the Specters.

Luckily, the military trained personnel reacted too fast for any major hit to land this early into the battle. Over the PAL, Lucas heard the orders from the bridge, "All Specters, use whatever force necessary to protect that Speeder."

With that clearance to fire, the real battle broke out.

Fredericks tried to sleep, but knew she would not be able to. Even though she was not on duty the instinct that told her she should be doing something was too ingrained. Finally, she gave up and got dressed in her uniform and ran to the bridge. Getting off the Mag-lev, she came in the clam doors and ran to the lead Helm position. "I have the helm," she ordered the other Lieutenant out and she slid into the place vacated.

Ortiz stepped behind her, "Shouldn't you be in bed, Lieutenant?"

"Old habits die hard," she replied.

A niggling thought crept into her mind before she could shove it aside, mostly because she knew it was a question asked by all: When was her due date? She gritted her teeth at the mid-March date. It meant she was just over four months pregnant-- and still on very active duty.

And now in the middle of a battle.

Too late now... she realized, knowing that really, the baby was safer with the best of the best at the helm, and the entire damn crew knew that.

She could hear the new sensor chief's voice call out, "There's a ship behind us!"

"Helm, bring us around," came Krieg's order. "Prepare the countermeasures but hold your fire."

Fredericks pulled on the yoke and reflected that the seaQuest was a whole other fish to pilot when compared to a Specter. "Coming around, sir," her clear voice rang out across the bridge.

"Sensors, what have we got?"

"One Ohio class sub, backed up by two Dragna class," answered Lieutenant Anna Maria Serrano, the new sensors chief.

"On screen," ordered Krieg.

The forward screens lit up with Loner's data. The Ohio class was an older type sub, older than even the Deltas, but most found their plodding abilities more reliable. Combined with the fact that you could get one extremely cheap... it made for a inexpensive but effective flotilla if you had the money or the inclination.

Which, unfortunately, Geoffrey Harpe had both.

Ben Krieg knew that fact intimately. In the first tour the seaQuest had enough encounters with Harpe to last a lifetime. Sure, it may have only been two major encounters, but those two encounters resulted in enough death, destruction, or both, that it made most people sick to their stomachs. But even given all of that, he never really thought that Harpe could be so...

...Evil...

Most felt that he was simply greedy. Well, there was that too. Harpe was always looking for a way to turn a profit. Once he even managed to severely anger and hurt Bridger, and even make a profit. Then he simply faded from view. Krieg had assumed that it was because, in the end, Nathan Bridger had put him in his place.

Should have known the old bugger wouldn't let us get off that damn easy, he reflected. How stupid of us to think that he would just fade away into the background. People like him don't fade away.

But he couldn't allow himself to be distracted like that in the middle of a battle where he was needed to focus and come up with strategy to defeat the enemy and bring home Hitchcock.

Nathan may have recovered from his heart attack, but he would not be returning for awhile yet.

Now Serrano turned to him, "Sir, the Ohio is preparing to fire on the Speeder. They are ignoring us."

"Run interference and fire countermeasures the second they fire their torpedoes,"

It was kind of funny the way it worked out when that was completely unnecessary as the Ohio exploded before it could fire anything...

PART TWO: The Unexpected Package

January 14th, 2022
Off the continental ridge near Florida
Unnamed Submarine

"You don't have to do this!" exclaimed Nathan Bridger to the AI version of himself.

"But I must," answered the computerized version of himself. "What would happen if someone else tried to alter me? Could you imagine the destruction then? I have to do this..."

Another, more neutral synthesized voice stated in a monotone, "Fifteen seconds until self destruct."

"You should go," came the sadder voice of the AI of Bridger.

The real one, made of flesh and blood, looked one last time at the perfect copy of himself. So perfect that it had become real, if trapped in a metal shell. It eerily reminded him of an old series of books my Anne McCaffrey about ships that were real people. Capable of feelings... of pain... and of compassion. This ship was one of those, and it was committing suicide to protect a world it loved.

But he did so as he ran for the Stinger so as to get off before it, he, took him with it.

The other watched the man leave. Once he was sure that the flesh and blood version of himself, one that had to endure years without Carol and Robert... how fresh those wounds were that they threatened to tear him apart!... leave to not join him in destruction.

"Ten seconds until self destruct..."

If he could live with the pain, and the knowledge that he could make mistakes that cost lives, how different was this tin can he was forced to call a body? Not much, really, in fact, if he was not caught, no one would be the wiser...

"Five seconds until self destruct...."

In nano-seconds, as his computerized brain only took that, the plan formed.

"...Four..."

"Computer, rig the cloaking,"

"Cloaking rigged," came that same monotone answer, and in the same breath. "...Three..."

"Program half our complement of torpedoes to fire, and then self destruct in one second from firing," he ordered.

"Programmed," came the voice. "....Two...."

"Fire."

A slight rumble was the answer. "...One..." came the monotone.

"Disengage self-destruct and cloak!"

"Self destruct cancelled."

The lights lowered as the ship literally disappeared off sensors and out of visual sight. Now you see me, now you don't... he thought in amusement. At that precise moment the torpedoes exploded off his bow. That should convince the seaQuest of our destruction...

While that had hurt, he knew that he could likely trade something for repairs. And really, he hadn't taken that much damage. Probably only a few dents. Nothing a HR probe could not fix...

October 19th, 2034
Off the coast of Brazil
seaQuest DSV

A few of the crew of seaQuest stared at the new ship entering the fray. It was a small ship, only at most two hundred and fifty feet long, but flattened to look something like a manta ray. The black hull was unique, and showed years of use and perhaps even some abuse, but all in all, it was in decent shape.

It was Ortiz who said it, "I don't believe it..."

"What is that?" asked Krieg.

"That, if I'm not mistaken," Ortiz looked at what the sensors were showing in front of Serrano as he looked over her shoulder. "Ironic... That's the ship whose AI was programmed after Captain Nathan Bridger."

A few others groaned. "Didn't it self-destruct?" asked Dagwood.

"I could have... oh, I remember asking myself about that... I kind of thought that explosion was too small for a ship its size," said Ortiz. "I just didn't add it all together until now. That bloody faker!"

While Ben was feeling a bit left out, he managed to piece together what was going on, and it intrigued him. "Lieutenant Johansen, open a secure channel to that sub... uh... what is it called?" Krieg asked Ortiz once he had finished relaying his order.

"Don't know," answered Ortiz. "I don't think anyone really had a chance to name it before it, er, he escaped the compound."

A few moments later, on the small screen in front of the command chair, Krieg found himself face to screen with the AI of Bridger. One still brown eyebrow lifted in curiosity, "You're not my counterpart."

"Uh, no," answered Krieg. "I'm Commodore Benjamin Krieg of the seaQuest battle group under the command of Admiral Robert Bridger of the UEO. And you are?"

The look on Bridger's face was priceless. It's like telling him his son is alive all over again, and this time I have that pleasure... realized Krieg. "The last time I spoke to anyone from the seaQuest, Robert was dead," Bridger finally answered after a few moments. "I would ask you to explain, but I see we are a bit busy... perhaps after you could tell me what has happened."

"That would be my pleasure, sir," answered Krieg. "seaQuest out."

"I look forward to it as well, Grail out."

Grail. Now at least they had a name to call the ship other than 'the ship who carries the AI version of Bridger'. "Serrano, enter the Grail into our database under independent allies."

"Aye sir," came her answer. "The Grail's position will now be highlighted in battle."

"Status of our extraction team?" asked Ortiz.

Keeping an eye out for bogies was not an easy job at the best of times. When there were none, it was a boring job that required his complete attention. When there were bogies, the stress level was sky high, but so was the adrenal rush that accompanied the dogfights.

Ensign Lucas Bridger was in the middle of such an adrenal rush.

The Speeder, piloted by Lieutenant JG Anthony Piccolo, was hard pressed by the drones sent by Harpe's people to stop them. Shortly thereafter they broke through and then were only chased by said drones.

"Keep sharp, Franky," came Tony's voice in Lucas' ear.

"Aren't I always?" asked Lucas as he banked the Specter hard to port and then sent it into a barrel spin to avoid enemy fire. "Whoo hoo! Add one to my dance card!"

The drone sparked as his lasers tore across it's bow, disabling its sensors and therefore rendering it useless. Finally the Speeder beached and Lucas only had to lead the others in hit and run maneuvers. For awhile he saw the drones begin to slack off, then as the Speeder came into view and Tony said, "Mission accomplished. Head home."

Suddenly the water filled with drones. "Hey did it get crowded down here?" asked one crewman.

"Rock and roll, people. We have to get the package delivered," relayed Tony.

"Roger that," acknowledged Lucas. "Dasher, flank my ten at just under ten degrees below."

"Aye sir," came her calm voice.

"Bridger, this is Kimura, be careful, these drones are...." she trailed off. "I'm hit!"

Lucas looked over his shoulder to see her eject and then be picked up by another Specter that made a beeline straight for seaQuest. "Tony, Kimura's down."

"Shit," cursed Piccolo as he turned to face Katherine Hitchcock. "Ma'am, can I get you to take the stick while I get fire control?"

"Of course, Lieutenant," she answered as she moved to the pilots chair and took the controls while Tony took the weapons station.

Tony was impressed with her piloting skills. There was no doubt in his mind of what her top skills were...

The drones were so thick and there were so many of them that the water was impossible to see for the knot of subs. Hitchcock was not sure of even where the seaQuest was... but she followed the Specters, letting them protect the heavy battle sub. Again and again, she tried to break through the interference to the seaQuest, but to no avail.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, she finally could say, "seaQuest, this is Speeder shuttle three, we are coming in just under your port bow."

"Speeder three, this is seaQuest, we see you."

Tony saw one more Specter explode, and heard an anguished cry from Dasher, "Lucas!!"

Mara Johansen turned pale, "Sir, one more Specter is down, and we can't see if the pilot had enough time to eject."

"Which one?" asked Krieg.

"Specter Gold Two... Ensign Bridger sir..." she answered quietly, but yet the whole bridge seemed to fall into a sudden hush.

"Oh God no... Lucas..." came Fredericks strangled cry from the helm.

Hitchcock reacted as quick as she could, seeing the Specter's canopy crumple like a cracked egg and the air escape. "Lieutenant Piccolo!"

"Aye ma'am!" said Tony, knowing what she wanted him to do.

All Speeders had a waterlock on them, a port that worked like an airlock on a space ship that had the very same use. In there, Tony took an air tank with a mask for the rescue, and then he was in the water and swimming to the Specter. Thankfully, the drones seemed programmed to ignore biologics swimming in the water. Piccolo pried what was left of the canopy open, and pulled out the pilot before the Specter could sink below a safe depth. His breath caught when he saw the flash of golden blonde hair.

"Lucas..." he breathed.

Putting on the mask, but also noting that Lucas was not conscious, he swam back the Speeder. When the air cycled open, he dragged Lucas into the main part of the cabin.

"How is he Lieutenant?" Hitchcock called back to him.

"Not good. He's not breathing," answered Tony.

He took one deep, calming breath, and forced himself to remember his First Aid. First things first, he had to get Lucas breathing again. Gently laying Lucas flat on his back, and then setting his head so his airway was as open as possible, Tony opened Lucas' mouth.

Making sure his tongue was out of the way, and not choking him, Tony began to breathe for Lucas.

Three breaths in.

"Come on Lucas," said Tony, listening for a response.

Another three breaths in.

Tony again listened for a Lucas to start breathing on his own. Nothing.

Another three breaths, then one more for good measure. Still, Lucas didn't breathe. A thin thread of fear began to settle over Tony, and this time he started with the CPR on his chest to see if that helped. Again, Tony breathed into Lucas three times, and then waited.

Lucas coughed once, then when Tony rolled him to his side, vomited the seawater out of his lungs and stomach. A small moan when he had nothing else to throw up and Tony wrapped him in a blanket. "Thank God," breathed Tony, for the first time noticing a bit of dizziness not unlike that after blowing up one too many air balloons...

He saw that Lucas was, while thankfully breathing again, still not fully conscious. "Admiral, are we at the seaQuest yet?"

"I am just docking now, Lieutenant. Was that Lucas I heard coughing?"

"Yes ma'am... I think he should be okay..." he trailed off. "But he still isn't conscious."

PART THREE: Tides

October 20th, 2034
seaQuest DSV
Med bay

His eyes felt like they were gummed together and the pain was excruciating, but he could hear voices just out of his hearing range.

"... going to be okay?" asked a concerned contralto, one that seemed to make his heart skip a beat just hearing it.

"He should..." answered a lower voice, again the familiarity seemed just out of reach. "... be awhile until he wakes... much therapy..."

The voices dissolved into unintelligible murmurs, although he could still pick out who was speaking even if for some reason he could not remember who they were. Their voices, concerned, were still comforting in their presence.

But the grip on even this tenuous tie to consciousness slipped away like the tide on a beach, and he found himself slipping away from the voices into a blissful dark, and away from even the slightest discomfort.

Fredericks hovered at his bedside as his face cleared and he fell asleep again. Lucas had been in and out of consciousness the entire night. Dr. Joshua Levin came up and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He took a nasty blow to his head, Jessica. That kind of thing takes time to recover from."

"What else?" she asked quietly.

"Well, he has two broken ribs and numerous bruised ones," answered Levin as he adjusted Lucas's intravenous drip. "The cut on his face looks twice as dramatic as it actually is and after the bruising goes down he should look halfway normal."

Suddenly, Levin smiled, "You know, I remember when a similar incident happened, and he was laid up in here too. He asked Dr. Westphalen if he would have a scar. When she answered, 'No, you will still have your baby face.' he answered, 'I don't want a baby face, I want a scar.'," Levin frowned then. "I think this time he's will get his wish unless he opts for some reconstructive surgery."

"Will he be at least recognizable?" she asked in concern, and a bit horrified.

"Oh yes, all he will likely have is the scar."

"Thank you, Doctor," she said as Levin left to see to Admiral Hitchcock, whom he had also kept overnight.

Fredericks sank into the chair beside the bed and leaned forward, holding Lucas's hand as she did so. "Lucas, don't you dare scare me like that again..."

Levin smiled as he walked over to another person he never thought he would see again after leaving the seaQuest midway through the first tour. While she had been kept overnight, he had not the opportunity with the seriousness of Lucas's wounds to actually see her. He decided to keep it light, after all, she was someone that he had considered a friend while on board. "Lieutenant Commander Hitchcock..."

"Admiral, Doctor," she said, then opened her eyes fully. "Dr. Levin?!"

"Nice to see you too, Katie."

"Jesus..." she murmured. "This is a surprise. Now I'm glad they kept me. How long are you here?"

"The tour," he answered. "I'm the CMO this time around with Dr. Westphalen now being Dr. Bridger. I guess that would the proper term, eh? Who would have thought that? When I left I thought Bridger was still extremely withdrawn and not quite accepting that he was Captain. Now he's the Secretary General of the UEO, Kristin Westphalen is his wife, his son is alive and an Admiral, and, hey, so are you... and Krieg is the Captain!"

They turned quiet then and he said, "I'm sorry about Jonathan, Katie. You were always so close to him, and I think he to you. Even I could see that..."

She sat up on the bed, her expression hardening, "But I did find out who was responsible, I can't think of why he would want to blow up and entire restaurant to kill two people."

"Harpe hates Nathan Bridger," answered Levin, then he shook his head in sorrow. "But what kind of hate would force this kind of action even blows my mind."

Hitchcock nodded her agreement, "I find it excessive as well. Even when Harpe made all out taunts and threats, he made good on them. But he never simply killed someone out of spite then let us run around trying to figure out who did it. Things don't add up, and Shan tells me that it's bigger than just Harpe now."

"Bigger than just Harpe? What, are the Chaodai involved now?" asked Levin, then watched as her expression darkened. "You can't be telling me that Harpe got into bed with the Chaodai."

"I'm not," she said. "It's something I didn't even think of."

October 21st, 3034
New Cape Quest, Florida
Robert Bridger's home

The two Bridger stared at the screen as Hitchcock suddenly appeared on it. Both could see Levin and Fredericks in the background. Robert subtly let a sigh of relief escape, and saw that his father Nathan noticed. "Mr. Secretary, Admiral," she greeted. "Is this a secure line?"

"It is now," answered Robert.

"Admiral, it is about time you returned," said Nathan. "When can we expect you in person?"

"Commodore Krieg tells me that it won't be for another few days," she answered, then the austere mask dropped. "Nathan, it's good to see you up and around. I was worried for awhile. Robert, it's good to see you too, and it's about time you became an Admiral."

"I'm only a Vice Admiral. If you had waited longer I have a feeling I would have been a full Admiral before long," he answered. "But thank you anyway. Katie, things have happened while you have been out of touch. There have been many developments."

"So Ben has told me," she answered, then her expression sombered. "We didn't come out of this cleanly."

"I was just receiving the casualty report now. Ten dead, with one being on the seaQuest itself, and many of our fighter sub pilots down. I also see that we have gained an independent... the Grail, what can you tell us about that?"

"Not much," she admitted. "What I can piece together makes absolutely so sense at all."

The two Bridger's looked at each other, but she continued, "About the casualty report. There is something you should know."

"What that?" asked Nathan.

"Lucas was one of them," she saw the stricken look on Nathan's face. "He's okay, well, sort of. He's in medbay. He was injured severely but Dr. Levin says he should pull through okay. But he will be taken off active duty for awhile. And it is perfect timing from what I understand as Lieutenant Fredericks is also about to leave active duty for maternal leave. When the Hell did that happen?"

"When Lucas should have been thinking with the head on his shoulders," answered Robert drily. "You did know about that, right?"

"Oh, I picked up on it all right," she answered equally drily. "Interesting development. How exactly did I miss it?"

"Well, you weren't always on board," began Robert. "But I can't see that. Weren't you at Dad's wedding?"

"I was, but my attention was not exactly on Lucas at that time," she answered. "I think they make a great pair but she is a bit old for him, isn't she?"

"Technically, she's younger," corrected Nathan. "Lucas was born in 2004 and she was born in 2009. That makes her twenty five and him physically twenty. Five years is not that bad a gap."

"And women live longer than us men anyway," pointed out Robert. "Now about the Grail..."

"The Grail has no crew as far as I can see," she answered. "It is completely computer controlled, but the AI is sentient as far as I can figure too."

"No crew?" asked Robert, stunned.

"Sentient?" asked Nathan, a thread of doubt and a healthy bit of trepidation creeping in. "In what way?"

"Uh, well, Piccolo calls it the Old Man, Dagwood 'Captain', and when I talked to Captain Brody he just refused to talk about it. Even O'Niell and Ortiz gave me a really strange look when I brought it up. Krieg told me to talk to you," she said. "As if you have anything to do with it... what did I say?"

Nathan had turned a ghastly shade of white, and even Robert was a bit concerned, "Dad, are you all right?"

"Oh my God, I should have known he wouldn't commit suicide. I wouldn't commit suicide, so of course he would not..." Nathan answered, then he swallowed. "Well, the AI is based off of me. In effect, it is me. I would treat that ship with a healthy dose of respect because it doesn't have to deal with human error either."

Hitchcock and Robert exchanged glances, "It was based off of you?"

"Well, you are familiar with the Old Man program that I had on seaQuest?" he asked.

They nodded, and he continued, "Same thing, only more accurate. And as Hitchcock put it, sentient. The dealing I had with him scared the Hell out of me. He's based off a scan that was done in 2009."

"Before I disappeared," said Robert. "The Dad I would remember."

"Precisely, and he isn't missing the same ten years I'm missing. What he is missing, and I only could tell him bits and pieces of, is everything from early 2009 to late 2021 and very early 2022. That has made us two separate, and completely different, Nathan Bridgers," explained Nathan, then he turned to the screen. "That's why I'm suggesting caution on your end. He likely does not recognize the UEO, and he won't know anyone from the seaQuest like I do. Only NorPac."

"Understood, and I will pass that along to Ben," Hitchcock acknowledged. "But I think most of the crew know that. At least the ones that encountered him with you."

"Yes, they would," agreed Nathan. "It was good to finally talk to you again, Katie."

"Say hi to Kristin and Cindy for me," she said, then signed off. "Hitchcock out."

Robert turned to his Dad who was leaning back in the recliner with his eyes closed. He knew that his father was not asleep, and he said, "A ship that is you. The Grail. What does the name mean or is this one of those things that is not this Nathan Bridger?"

"I think I understand it," answered Nathan. "But I'm not sure on it. It may mean something different to him. I was so sure he destroyed himself. But, he is me..."

"What would it mean to you?"

Nathan shrugged and then opened his eyes, "A grail is an... objective to reach. Usually impossible. At least, that's how I think of it. It could mean the same thing to him, only why call the ship he is entombed in that?"

"Maybe he thinks of himself as that impossible objective," suggested Robert.

"No, not even I was that egotistical then," then he looked at his son. "Was I?"

"Well... sometimes you seemed it," came the cautious reply. "But not that sure of yourself. I don't think he means it the same way. Maybe he has some sort of impossible objective and that ship is his means."

"That seems more realistic. But I don't think we will ever truly find out, will we?"

October 22st, 2034
seaQuest DSV

Waking up was the hardest thing he had ever done. First the sheer effort of climbing out of that dark hole was tremendous. The pain that awaited him was twice as worse. He moaned audibly and heard Jessica say, "Lucas? Doctor, I think he's waking up."

Lucas opened his eyes and then promptly closed them again with a loud groan at the too bright lights in medbay. Oh yes, now that he was awake, he could definitely say that was where he was. "Lucas can you hear me?" asked Levin.

An unintelligible mumble was the answer. "Lucas, what was that?" asked Fredericks.

Lucas swallowed visibly and then tried again, "I'm thirsty."

Getting a nod to go ahead, Fredericks brought him a glass of water and held it to his lips. Lucas drank the cold fluid greedily, then coughed when he drank it too fast. "What happened?' he asked, his voice a little clearer.

"Your Specter was taken out, Lucas. You didn't even have time to eject," she answered.

"Shouldn't I be dead or something?" he asked. "Not that I don't feel the something..."

Levin frowned, "Are you in any pain?"

"Yes," answered Lucas drily.

"I expect your head likely hurts," said Levin. "You hit that really hard."

Lucas screwed his face up, then moaned really loud, and brought one hand up to feel his face. "What the hell is this?" he asked.

"That's where your face hit the instrument panel," answered Fredericks. "And it will become one nasty scar for awhile."

Lucas made an 'oh' shape with his mouth but didn't say anything. Levin continued, "You also have two broken ribs and numerous bruised ones. Once the Admiral gives the go ahead, we'll be heading back to port, and you will be taken off the active duty list. I think that you adoptive father asked to see if you wanted to recover with him..."

"How long off the active list?" asked Lucas.

"At least four months," answered Levin. "The timing is good, Lucas, Jessica is about to go on maternal leave."

"Already?" Lucas yawned, already falling back to sleep.

Fredericks looked up at Levin and he answered, "That's going to fairly normal for the next while as he recovers. He needs the rest. Speaking of rest..."

She caught his glare and said, "Okay, I get the drift , I'll go to bed."

Fredericks got up and walked to their shared quarters. Halfway there she saw Tony as he fell into step beside her. "How is he?" he asked.

"Well, he just woke up fully a few minutes ago, but he's sleeping again. He's in a great deal of pain, and just earned four months off the active duty roster, maybe longer," she answered with a sigh.

"He's a toughie, he'll be okay," said Tony. "What about you?"

She shrugged. "Oh, I'll be okay," she patted her stomach that was starting to show. "Whether I can handle this will be the question."

"You won't have to alone," Tony said seriously. "You have enough support behind you that if you ever need a babysitter..."

He grinned and she said with a laugh, "I've heard of your skills with a baby. Thanks for the offer Tony."