Special Note: This chapter contains an excerpt to the first seaQuest Novel, which was also based off the pilot episode To be or Not to Be. No infringement is intended as it was the only way to really recount the past in a reliable manner. You will know it when you see it, and if not it will be called out. Also, in parts of the chapter, Yamamoto decided to help out in writing to help get this chapter done, as well as the next, and last chapter, of the End of Time series.

Chapter Eight:
Eden - Act One

November 20th, 2034
seaQuest DSV
wardroom

Commander Timothy O'Neill could only describe the current situation as 'How many Bridger's could you fit in one room?' Except for him and Lieutenant Commander Miguel Ortiz, every last person in the wardroom was related to Nathan Bridger in some sort of fashion. Or, in the case of Nathan, was the man himself.

On the vidscreen was Admiral Katherine Hitchcock, now the acting Secretary General of the UEO, and the impromptu conference was about the incident in New Sao Paulo.

"Geoffrey Harpe is calling this a great breach of trust and is claiming that we jumped our rights as the UEO to," she took out the papers. "Steal industrial secrets, kidnapping, causing bodily harm, causing property damage in the amount of half a million dollars American."

"Katie, what about the kidnapping, the causing bodily harm, and the attempted murder on his end?" asked Robert. "He kidnapped Michael, Gator and Savannah were hurt, and nearly killed my father."

"Not to mention the island," murmured Cynthia.

"Oh yes, and the property and ecological damage of razing an entire island to the ground," pointed out Nathan, who had heard Cynthia. "I think that damage alone, to fix it and restore the island, would be in excess of a few million."

Hitchcock nodded her agreement, "Oh, don't worry, our lawyers brought that up too. Just don't be surprised if you get called in to testify or something like that. Harpe doesn't strike me as the type to give up easily."

"Trust me," said Nathan. "He isn't. Thank you, Madam Secretary. You know, that has a ring to it, Katherine."

She made a face, "Too much of a ring to it. Colonel Yamamoto, Jennifer sends her regards. Oh, speaking of which... congratulations are in order. I don't know where you found the time, but Jennifer is pregnant."

Colonel Jason Yamamoto, who had been standing off to the side drinking from a bottle of water suddenly choked on his water. "Wha?" Jason was well known for his self-control and confidence under pressure, but the look on his face was clearly of shock. "She is?"

Hitchcock nodded, and Robert stood up quickly and gave Yamamoto his chair because it appeared the man's knees were about to give out from under him. Giving the man a hearty clap on the shoulder while he was at it, but all Yamamoto could manage was a slight nod of his head in complete shock.

Yamamoto managed a weak smile and a node of thanks to Robert, but was still a little to shocked to say a word. Everyone at the table have given Yamamoto a congratulation and shook his hands.

She took a breath and said, "Other than that, good work on getting Michael out. When can I see him?"

"Dr. Levin wanted to check up on him," answered Robert. "He took a few tests when it was apparent that Harpe has ties to Reuben Zellar."

Kristin Westphalen-Bridger looked up in shock, "What?"

Tim stood and finished, "Lieutenant Shan and I clearly saw him, Admiral. He's there. And Harpe has too many scientists in and around New Sao Paulo. My feeling is that he's planning something."

"That news is rather disturbing," Hitchcock creased her brows. "Hitchcock out."

The vidscreen blanked out to show the UEO insignia and Nathan laid a hand on Kristin's shoulder. Cynthia walked over to him and hugged her mother and then him with a broad smile on her face, "I'm going to see Michael again. Catch up with you for lunch."

ACT ONE:
WAKING DREAM

PART ONE: The Road Home

November 27th, 2034
England
English Naval Base
17:00 hours, local time

Nathan stepped out into the dismal and cloudy day from the launch. As usual, since he had taken the office of the Secretary General, there was a cloud of reporters right behind security barriers. Guards lined the walkway that would take him and his family to the car that would take them to the Westphalen estate. Nathan sighed at the irony of the situation. His first impression of the UEO had been one of skepticism. He still had his moments where he doubted the ability of the UEO to actually make a difference, but then he had wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. Now... well, he was still skeptical but he was so involved now that there was no way out of it.

Kristin walked from the launch next, then finally Cynthia, Michael, Lucas and JJ. He wondered how that young woman felt about everything. He knew she was nervous around him, due mainly to the fact that she felt that she was no one that special to constantly be in the company of the Secretary General and his wife who held claim to an estate, and title, in England. But as usual, JJ Fredericks-Bridger handled the entire thing with total aplomb. No one could crack her cool shell.

When they entered the car, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. "That had to be the most difficult thing I've ever done," said Fredericks.

The car drove past many fields but finally they came to see the massive stone castle that had likely housed the Westphalens for many years. Nathan was the first to exit the car and he stopped and stared. "Kristin, this place is huge."

She smiled as she stepped gracefully from the car, "Yes. I used to think that too. Come on, my family wants to meet you."

Lucas, who helped JJ from the car even while she swatted at his hands, said, "They haven't even met Dad yet?"

Kristin smiled, "No. They couldn't come across the pond for a trip at that time. And it was rather short notice. Nathan, don't be surprised if they demand another go."

"I won't be," came his answer as they all walked to the door.

She opened the door and walked into the entrance hall. "Hello?" she called. "Melissa? Walter? Is anyone here?"

A clicking sound of a pair of hard heels could be heard practically running to the doors on the stone floors. A woman not too far off of Kristin's age ran into the entrance hall and the others, except for Cynthia, were left trying to pick out the accent. "Kristin!" You're home!" she hugged Kristin, then saw Cynthia and Michael. "Oh, Cindy! And little Michael too, although you're not so little anymore..."

She finally took notice of Nathan, Lucas, and JJ. "Oh my, Mr. Secretary!" her hands flew to her mouth and she bowed a slight bit before standing straight and taking his hands and shaking them. "Welcome to England and Trisbane Manor. We're so honored that you've come. And who are these people? Kristin, this is wonderful, you've brought guests."

"Nathan, JJ, Lucas, this is my younger sister, Melissa Trisbane," Kristin answered as she locked arms with her sister. "Melissa, this is my husband Nathan Bridger, now retired, so you can stop looking at him like that, his son Lucas Bridger and his wife JJ."

"My goodness, Kristin," came another voice, this one male but no less English. "Quite the family you have here!"

"Walter!" cried Kristin happily. "Everyone, this is Melissa's husband, Walter Trisbane. Walter, this is..."

Walter laughed, walked over and shook Nathan's hand, then Lucas's, then finally he gave JJ a friendly kiss on the cheek, "I know who they are. I was at the top of the stairs when you introduced them to Melissa."

"It's nice to meet you," said Nathan, speaking for the other two also in unfamiliar surroundings as they were still a bit speechless.

"A pleasure to have the Secretary General under this roof," Walter winked. "And you standing there as if it's an honor for you to be allowed here. When Kristin told us she had married again, we were a bit surprised to say the least. But I've watched you on the news. I must say I liked you the S-G better than that McGath fellow. Never had a good feeling about him..."

"I'm sure Secretary General Hitchcock will do a much better job than I," said Nathan, a bit uncomfortable. "She's younger and more able to handle the stresses than I ever was."

"And he's modest too," said Melissa. "Wherever did you nab him, Krissy?"

"On the seaQuest," answered Kristin. "But we can relate that story later, right Nathan?"

"Definitely."

A chiming was heard and Melissa said, "You're right on time for lunch. You know, Linda still makes these fantastic little sandwiches..."

Nathan hung back as Kristin was practically dragged away by her sister and Lucas came up beside him, "Dad, this place is huge..."

"I can see that," agreed Nathan.

"Nathan..." Cynthia made a 'get-on-with-it' motion with her hand, and they noticed that Michael had already taken off for the dining room.

"I feel like I'm..." Nathan began as the trio made their way to the dining room. "I feel like those ten years were too long."

"My sentiments exactly," echoed Lucas.

Freddie remained silent, but in reality she felt as lost as the two men did. She was a little more used to the English and their ways as she had also lived in England. But she had lived in less... opulent... conditions. Student living was not near the comfort level as this castle was. She knew what that meant. Lady Kristin was just that. And if Melissa was the younger of the two that meant that all this was Kristin's unless there was an older sibling still around. And from what she knew that was not the case.

Lord James Westphalen had been killed years ago by Dr. Reuben Zellar.

The same Zellar that Harpe employed. That gave her the willies just thinking about it. But now they were in the dining room and taking their seats. Fredericks hurried to do the same beside Lucas.

She noticed with some bemusement that Nathan seemed just as, if not more, uncomfortable with the place than she was. But lunch was being served.

And what a lunch it was. Whomever this Linda was she believed that company meant going all out. JJ's stomach growled with some fierceness when the soup was served. Silently thanking her mother for teaching her which spoon was for what she began to eat after she noticed that Kristin had begun. When that course was finished, and JJ definitely noticed that they were using courses, the sandwiches arrived. The two-bite sandwiches appeared to be some sort of fish with a crunchy vegetable to give it some bite. Fredericks listened to the conversation as the two sisters caught up with each other.

Finally, as they moved into familiar history, and one that greatly interested Fredericks, she listened a bit more intently. Melissa buttered a toast and bit into it, "So, about you and Nathan... you said you met him on the seaQuest. Do tell."

Kristin sighed, and looking over at Nathan, who merely shrugged his indifference, she answered, "Well, I was only on the seaQuest for a few days. This was, of course, back in 2018 when the seaQuest had just only been lent to the UEO from NorPac and they had decided to convert most of it to a science and research vessel."

"Much to my surprise," interjected Nathan.

Kristin smiled at him, "Yes, it was a rather surprising move, dear, for all of us. Anyway, I was only on the ship a matter of days and was going over the deck plans and where the labs were going to be. I was in the middle of moving some rather delicate equipment when I noticed that there was military personnel in my labs."

"Oh dear," Melissa gasped. "What did you do?"

"She went ballistic," answered Nathan.

"Not quite," pointed out Lucas. "But close enough. I was sort of helping her. She simply demanded to know who was in charge of this, and they answered that 'Commander Ford' was."

"I thought you were the Captain, Nathan?" asked Melissa curiously. "Why would have Ford been?"

"I wasn't at that point. In fact, I wasn't even interested in taking command. A point I reminded the Commander of every chance I could get," answered Nathan, then Kristin cleared her throat. "But, uh, I think Kristin was telling this..."

"Oh, indeed," Melissa turned her attention back to her sister. "Continue."

"Anyway, I stormed off, hands still in my lab gloves, to find this 'Commander Ford' and give him a piece of my mind, and remind him of what kind of ship this now was," continued Kristin. "I found him, eventually, just outside of the botany lab, showing this beachcomber around the ship. I ignored the bum..."

"Thanks ever so much..." interjected Nathan. "Those were some of my better casuals."

He ignored the glare as she continued again, "And told Commander Ford exactly what I thought..."

September 2018
seaQuest DSV
Outside Botany lab

from the novelization of 'To Be or Not to Be'

From down the hall, a voice shouted, "Commander! Commander Ford!"

"Oh no..." Ford turned around with the expression of a man presented with one more problem he desperately doesn't want. Nathan shut his mouth and waited to see what happened: in the middle of his own annoyance, he was beginning, in a cockeyed way, to enjoy Ford's discomfiture.

The woman coming toward them now was wearing a science-team uniform: a handsome lady in her mid-forties, very brisk, very businesslike, and at the moment, from the look of her face, very angry indeed. She shouldered past Nathan as if he weren't there, put her face right up to Ford's and said, "That's it! Enough! Let's get something clear, shall we? My people will not be treated like so much– cargo! We are scientists, capable of independent thought– not some mindless military drones–"

Ford didn't give an inch: his eyes narrowed, and right back into the woman scientist's face, he said, "Your point, Doctor?"

"Your people have occupied areas clearly designated as research laboratories. I want them removed immediately!"

"May I remind you, Doctor, that you are aboard a military vessel. And your orders are to–"

The woman's eyes flashed scorn. "Orders? I don't take orders! This is a research and exploration vessel. We outnumber you. One hundred and twenty-four to eighty-eight."

"That sounds like a threat."

"Well, at least you have a grasp of the obvious!"

"Understand this–"

"Don't you point your finger at me–!"

Nathan couldn't keep it in any longer. He had been watching in silent hilarity up until now, but that last bit of business broke the dam. He started to laugh– and immediately the scientist whirled on him, discarding her old argument in favor of a refreshing new one. "You find this amusing?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Though he tried to make it stop, the laughter kept coming back. "How does anybody expect a lasting world peace when your two teams can't even agree on anything?"

The woman looked Nathan slowly up and down, not bothering to hide her scorn that this scruffy character should venture such an opinion. I'm getting tired of this reaction, Nathan thought ruefully, I'm really going to have to do something...

"What are you," she demanded. "Some kind of stowaway?"

"My name's Bridger."

November 27th, 2034
Trisbane Estate
England

Kristin only shrugged as Melissa and Walter stared at the two. "And that's how you met? My God, you trampled on the poor dear!"

Nathan, although he appeared to be eating a sandwich with all his concentration, was looking at his wife with amused eyes. "I don't see a halo in your hair, Nate," she mock-growled. "I treated him fairly well after that, though."

Lucas, through his barely stifled laughter, said, "I thought it was a rumor that you tried to take on the entire military arm of the UEO. I didn't expect that you really did."

She shrugged, "I was merely standing my ground. Anyway, even though Nathan and I had similar science backgrounds, we still butted our heads throughout that entire affair with Stark. And, amazingly, even though we were very close friends, we never truly got together until the very end of the tour."

"It seemed like the end of time," said Nathan. "When I realized how much I couldn't really bear to not have her with me. But I still couldn't... I wasn't ready at that point, I guess. It wasn't until recently, until Michael..."

At this point Michael beamed, "I got them together again!"

"Yes, you little dear, you did," Melissa tickled him and then hugged him. "Why don't I get Linda to show you to your rooms?"

Kristin stood and Nathan stood as well. "That would be nice. The trip was rather tiring, even if Nathan won't admit to it," said Kristin as Linda opened the doors to the dining room and back to the hallway. JJ watched Lucas as he came over to her and said, "Amazing place, eh?"

"Yeah," she said. "It would certainly be that..."

November 28th, 2034
seaQuest DSV
Bridge

Ever since being made the third in command, Lieutenant Commander Miguel Ortiz had not really had time to sit at the sensors unless general quarters were called. This was a welcome break. He half listened to the various sounds around the ship that sonar picked up and watched the screen in front of him that the WKRS's saw. He could freely admit that he was bored stiff.

It wasn't that he wanted action. There had been enough of that already. But maybe something in the way of research like the old days.

Oh God, he thought. That made me sound so old. But it was true. Now everyone was easily at least ten years his junior. All those he had partied with were now responsible adults, including him, or were settled down with families. It was depressing. Commander Tim O'Neill, whom he had always been half of the 'Dynamic Duo', was asleep until he had to get up for his own shift on the bridge. Krieg was in command, and had already left for his quarters. No one he had spent time on the bridge with was there anymore. It was third watch, the shift where the more experienced crew were on the bridge, but the least experienced of the command crew. Granted, he was more familiar with this crew than Commodore Krieg was, or even Tim. Poor Tim, mused Miguel. So scared of command yet so completely saddled with it....

"Sir..." Lieutenant Anna Maria Serrano's voice interrupted his train of thought.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" he asked.

"I'm getting a strange reading," she said as he walked up to her station beside engineering. "Loner just disappeared."

"Disappeared?" he wondered, and with one glance, he looked over at Lieutenant Commander Ron McGregor, the engineer. "Lieutenant Commander, could you see if there is a problem with our sensors?"

"Aye sir," he acknowledged and walked off the bridge, heading for the WKRS bay.

"Now, about this 'missing'' WKRS..." he began as he leaned a bit to look at the screen. "Sometimes Loner is a bit touchy. Although never as touchy as Fruitloop.... What the...?"

While he thought that maybe the hapless WKRS had merely dropped off her screen, or that perhaps the WKRS view was a bit strange and so she wasn't sure what to make of it. He certainly wasn't expecting that it was gone. Disappeared without a trace as if it had never been. "What happened right before it disappeared, Lieutenant?" he asked.

"Well, I had sent Loner over to that ridge..." she moved Mother, while still a good distance away, so that the sensors showed the spot where the WKRS had been. "See that dark hole in the cliff face, sir? Loner was doing some readings there and he picked up a heat signature. As I reported the reading he simply disappeared."

Ortiz's lips compressed into a thin line, and he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Keep a WKRS in the general area. If anything moves, I want to know about it. Just don't let them get too close."

"Aye sir," she agreed. "I certainly don't want to lose anymore.... unless it's Fruitloop."

Miguel laughed, "Oh, he isn't that bad!"

Her groaned answer, "Oh yes he is!"

Miguel walked to the command chair and said, "Lieutenant Johansen, contact Captain Krieg..." God, that still sounded funny... "... and tell him to meet me in the wardroom. Lieutenant Serrano, I would like your readings right before Loner disappeared sent to the wardroom."

"Aye sir. Do you think this is a problem, sir?"

"I hope not."

Commodore Benjamin Krieg was in the middle of a dream involving his girlfriend, Lonnie Henderson, when his PAL chirped and demanded he wake up. Mildly cursing as he pulled himself from his pleasant dream and to the waking world, he grabbed it and said, "What?"

"Sir, Commander Ortiz called a meeting in the wardroom with you and Commander O'Niell," came the communications chief's, Lieutenant Mara Johansen, voice.

"What about?" he asked as he sat up and pulled on a white undershirt over his bare chest.

"He would rather discuss it there, sir," she answered right before signing off.

"Great," he muttered as he quickly dressed and ran a hand through his hair to straighten it.

What could be so important to wake him? He sighed and knew that the chance of not actually sleeping a full night was a hazard with command of the seaQuest. Slipping on his shoes, he walked across the corridor to the wardroom and found Commander Miguel Ortiz already there. "Where's the fire?" asked Krieg.

Just as Krieg asked, O'Niell came in. He was clean, but wearing a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt that was wet from sweat. "I was working out," he explained. "I was about to get a bite to eat and go to bed. What's up?"

Ortiz, now that the two he needed were here, explained, "Lieutenant Serrano picked up a strange heat reading right before Loner disappeared."

"Say again?" asked Krieg. "How did we lose a WKRS?"

"That's just it, we don't know," answered Ortiz, who, now that they were sitting, punched a button a replayed the reading on the screen right before Loner dropped off the face of the Earth. "Now, see that dark hole in the cliff?"

"Yeah," said Krieg, then the flash of a heat signature was seen right before the recording ended. "What the Hell was that?"

"Lieutenant Serrano's strange reading," answered Ortiz. "But that's not the weird part. Check out what happens when we slow it down long enough to see the shape of the signature."

Ortiz pressed a few buttons and the playback was slowed to almost frame by frame, until the heat signature was on screen, at which point he froze the recording. Krieg slowing stood and O'Niell muttered, "Lord have mercy..."

On the screen was the serpentine shape of sort of underwater snake.

PART TWO: Loch Ness

December 20th, 2034
Near Inverness
Sheraton Hotel

The hotel's decorations were perhaps both the oldest, and the most expensive that Nathan, Lucas or JJ had ever seen. Kristin was seeing to their reservations and they all went to sit in the lounge as their rooms were prepared. "So, why did you decide to pull us all the way out to Scotland, again?" asked Lucas for the dozenth time.

"Because..." came her answer. "It's tradition. We always got away from home for the holidays. And we usually came here. I remember James and I always tried to find Nessie."

"Nessie? As in the Loch Ness monster?" asked JJ incredulously, then she muttered. "Given our luck, we will..."

"Hey, are we seriously in that area of Scotland, Kris?" even Nathan was a bit surprised. "You know the seaQuest's luck with finding things that everyone thought should not be..."

She turned on them and said, "If you want to go back to Trisbane, that can be arranged. But I'm spending it here."

"No problem," said Lucas with a placating gesture of his hands. "We're just teasing."

She sighed, "I know. But the last time I was here I was with James. I haven't been back since. I'm sorry for snapping at you."

Nathan laid a hand on her shoulder, "It's not a problem, Kris. But you really want to spend it here, considering that?"

For a moment, she didn't answer, then she turned and said, "I think I can leave that in the past."

On the seaQuest, things were not so peaceful. Ben Krieg was stymied, and even with his best friend on the vid screen, the feeling was hard to dispel. Robert was leaning forward, his elbows propped on his desktop, and his fingers interlaced and over his mouth. The expression was of deep thought. Ben did nothing to interrupt the Admiral's train of thought. Finally, Admiral Bridger looked up and said, "And nothing in the books match this?"

"None," affirmed Lieutenant Anna Maria Serrano.

She was far too young to be pulled into this conversation, but considering the circumstances there was no one else to pull to explain what they were seeing on the side screen.

"So..." Robert leaned back in his chair. "Any move to the cavern will mean that we lose another WSKR, or the HR Probe. In that case, tell the Specters to steer clear of that area."

Ben nodded in acknowledgment. Then it seemed like Robert had a sudden flash of insight. "Ben, what is Captain Phillips's position on the Orpheus?"

"Sir?" asked Ben in surprise and confusion, then it dawned on him and he smiled. "Of course. Well, he could be here in a matter of days."

"Very well, keep me informed," said Robert. "I'm going to let Captain Phillips know about your rather interesting problem."

December 21st, 2034
The Orpheus

Captain Zachary Phillips walked to the bridge. It was a cramped little bridge and totally unlike the seaQuest. One person could pilot it in a pinch. Granted, it would mean that there would be no one to see to the weapons. At the moment the standard complement was four on the bridge.

One was the commander who had to oversee everything and make sure everyone worked as a cohesive team. The second was the actual helm's person, who also, due to the lack of crew members, had to double as the navigation officer. The third was the weapons officer (and that also doubled as sensors), and the fourth the engineer. Phillips, when on duty, tended to double as the weapon's officer since it had always been his specialty. Whom ever had the responsibility of working engineering was also communications.

"The Orpheus," he heard his engineer, Ayame Furishima, say into her headset. "Yes sir, he is right here."

The next statement was directed at him, "Sir, Admiral Bridger is on your headset."

After that it was a given that the person on his headset was Admiral Robert Bridger. "Admiral," acknowledged Phillips.

"Captain," came the Admiral's voice. "I have an assignment for you. Head to England and contact the seaQuest DSV who requires the Orpheus on a mission."

"Aye sir," acknowledged Phillips again.

There really wasn't anything else to be said, and Admiral Bridger signed off. Phillips found himself wondering what the Admiral looked like to sound so much like Captain Nathan Bridger...

It took one day for the Orpheus to get from the Pacific to England.

Phillips took one big breath of air when he stepped into the seaQuest's spacious launch bay. It was funny. Before the seaQuest had seemed cramped. But after the Orpheus it felt like a football field. "Ben, it's great to see you, again," he said as he took Krieg's hand and shook it.

"You too, Zack," he answered.

They began to walk to the wardroom and Ben, once there, showed them the sensor logs. "As you can see, the cavern is too small for the seaQuest, and whatever is in there is too large for anything we have. Not only that, we have no idea how far we'd have to go in to find the damn thing."

Phillips looked at Krieg, "A snake, Ben? Is this like your squid in the Tonga Trench?"

"That actually existed," pointed out Krieg. "And whatever this is, it does too. We need the Orpheus to get in there and find out what ate Loner."

"Ate Loner? Ben, this thing destroyed a two hundred thousand dollar piece of equipment, and you want me to take my ship, and my crew, in there?" Phillip's jaw slacked in surprise.

"We don't think it's bigger than you are," countered Ben. "Come on, Zack, the UEO wants to know what it is."

Phillips held up his hand and said, "Okay, so we go in. We find it. Then what? Ask it to come out and meet us?"

"Nah, get some readings, confirm what it is, get out," answered Ben. "Try not to attract its attention."

"I still don't like this, Ben," Phillips sat down. "If I don't come back, tell Admiral Bridger I think this stinks."

"Will do," said Ben.

December 23rd, 2034
England
Heathrow Airport

He supposed he was lucky. He managed to get through customs without a hitch and he could begin to track down Lady Westphalen. While this contract was beginning to stink, it was leading him to some very interesting locales. He had never really been in England before as most of his contracts always were in the United States or the equatorial countries.

As the cab took him to the same town where Lady Westphalen was reputed to be, he mentally went over what he would have to do to get close. Her husband, the Secretary General, he had ESP. That would present a problem. Same with the son-in-law and the grandson. If he could make sure that they would not be in the area...

But it was going to be Christmas in a matter of days. Families would be gathering together. Knock off the old man first? No, that would bring down the son and the rest of the UEO.

He couldn't risk attention on anything but the woman.

He reflected on the task to come. This had to be the hardest one yet. Just to get close enough was even more difficult than any he had done so far. But he would succeed. He had to succeed. Success was survival. Strange as it was, there was always another assassin for hire if one failed, and he knew of another going by the name of the Jackal that would be waiting for him to slip up.

This assassin snorted at the utter unimaginativeness of that name. Anyone could see that it was from a Tom Clancy book.

When he got to the hotel where the massive castle could be seen, he went through his paper files again. While they were risky to carry around, they were also the hardest to detect in a airport scanner. Electronics sent too many alarms off. Finally able to see a picture of the Secretary General in full light he was amazed to find someone he knew.

Jesus, not Bridger again! he cursed. How come every time I have to contend with this man?

The man once known as Leslie Farina sat back in his chair and sighed. That meant that the Westphalen woman in question was that dratted Dr. Westphalen. They would know him on sight!

As soon as he had the idea he almost immediately rejected it. Then he thought about it some more and the more he thought it through the more it made more sense than trying to not be noticed. Why the Hell not? Bridger may not trust him, but he would be too busy trying to make sure that Farina wouldn't 'lift' something from the old castle. He would automatically not trust Farina.

He just wouldn't be looking in the right direction.

Farina laughed at the stroke of brilliance. It was too simple. Too perfect. He had to be sure that nothing would go wrong. More research was required.

So he went to the Internex and searched everything he could on the UEO and the Bridger's.

That boy, Lucas, had given up his name to become a Bridger. So be it. The kid seemed to have had the potential but he gave it up. But, it seemed, that he would be there as part of the family. Good.

That was Farina's way in.

December 24th, 2034
Inverness, Scotland

When he learned that they were in Inverness, Scotland, Farina nearly threw a fit. All this way and they were still just out of reach. So, he took a day and traveled to Inverness. To his pleasure, that was worth the drive in more ways than one. He could imagine the country in the summer and what he imagined was God's country. Endless fields of heath and of sheep and ancient stone walls built by the Romans to keep the Saxons at bay.

When he reached Inverness, he wished it was summer just so he could see the lake that was rumored to hold the Loch Ness. Maybe some day, if he succeeded, he would come back and see it. Sit at the shore.

He found the hotel they were staying at and booked a room.

The better to run into them by.

For once in his life he was actually dressed as a normal human being. Showing up at the airport as the Regulator would have been a very bad idea. Who knew? Maybe they wouldn't even recognize him.

The rest might not, but Nathan Bridger definitely would.

Finally the little blonde boy that the pictures shown identified as Michael Bridger came into the restaurant part and picked a table close by the fire. A few moments later, he saw a young black woman who looked very pregnant walk in and sit at the table indicated by the boy, "Is this okay, Aunt Jess?"

"Yeah, it's fine," she answered.

Aunt Jess? Robert didn't have any brothers or sisters... Farina settled himself to watch. Finally Lucas walked in and kissed Jess squarely on the lips. Farina understood. Bridger must have adopted Lucas, and Jess was Lucas's wife. A small part of him was jealous of Lucas's success in life.

Then Dr. Westphalen, his target walked in. Now, he could have made his move right then. His gun was within reach. But he had his limits and killing the young boy's grandmother in front of his eyes was distasteful even to him. A few moments later he missed any opportunity when Bridger walked straight to his table and leaned on it. "And what are you doing here, Leslie?" he asked.

"Nathan!" he exclaimed and then he stood up and hugged the old man. "Man, it's great to see you."

"I... wish I could say the same," remarked Bridger was released from the hug as he promptly checked to make sure that he had everything he owned still on him. "That's a first..."

"What, you honestly don't think I would steal from you, do you?" Farina smiled innocently and handed back Bridger his twenty. "Sorry, old habit."

Nathan took the money back from him, and then asked, "That still doesn't answer the question."

"Vacation?"

"You don't take vacations."

"Oh, well..." Farina thought for a moment. "Then maybe I should start. All work and no play..."

Bridger rolled his eyes. "What are you up to this time, Leslie?" he asked.

"Why do I have to be up to anything?" Leslie asked defensively. "Okay, there's this little job I have to do here. But once its done I'm out of here."

"Why am I not surprised," said Bridger. "Fine. You won't tell me either. But I know all about you and if I find anything missing you'll find your ass in jail, Leslie. And I mean it."

"Crystal, Nathan," said Farina.

That had been easy. Now Bridger expected something, but what he should be suspecting was the farthest thing from his mind. Of that Farina was sure. Farina whistled as he went up to his room and began the next stage of this little job. When he closed his door he saw the Jackal standing there in the room. "What was that about?"

"Jesus, Quint, you could quit doing that," answered Farina. "It's called 'bait and switch'. Basic distraction. I knew Bridger would recognize me. If not him, then it was a matter of time before Lucas or Westphalen did. I got that messy detail out of the way."

"They know you?" Quint Black, otherwise known as the Jackal was livid.

"Relax, like I said, distraction," reiterated Farina. "They know I'm a thief. That's what they'll be watching for. They won't suspect this. He thinks I'm up to something, but he doesn't know what. He probably thinks I'm out to rob the hotel safe or something."

Black walked around a moment before saying, "A bold, but very cunning move. I like it. What are you going to do next?"

Farina thought a moment and shook his head, "I don't know."

Black turned around and simply stared and Farina shrugged, "I have to wait for my moment. I hope it's not in front of that kid, or Lucas. The other two are military. They can handle this. When I see it, I'll take it."

"How can you be so disorganized?" asked Black.

"I prefer to call it 'instinct'," retorted Farina. "What are doing here, anyway? Checking up on me?"

"Call it making sure you don't screw up."

December 24th, 2034
The Orpheus

Captain Zachary Philips knew he didn't get out much, but when he rolled over to look at the clock and calendar in one on the wall, he cursed liberally. This isn't fair, he thought disparagingly. Tomorrow's Christmas. I should be at home drinking mulled hot cranberry cider with loads of rum in it... or vodka. Something to take the chill off...

Should have known that the words 'seaQuest needs you' meant holidays went bye bye as they were called into action.

He sighed, then sat up on his bunk and reached over to the other side of his cramped quarters. The one thing he did miss on seaQuest was quarters you could at least stretch in. Here, he could brush his teeth, take a shower, and go to the head in one little cramped space in the thankfully private head.

The rest of the crew had to share the two other heads on board, and bunk in the same small quarters, men in one quarters and the women in the other. The Orpheus was only built for ten crew maximum, and they were running at two short of the full complement and it was still close. Ten would have been downright tight. But, the one time Captain Nathan Bridger had been on board, he had smiled, stretched and commented, "Boy, does this place ever remind me of my first command. Only mine was a little bigger than this. Crew quarters were the same though..."

In a way, that made Philips feel better to know that it wasn't an oddity to be in a small ship. There were advantages. Namely, the Orpheus could duck into some trenches the seaQuest could not because of the massive size difference. Granted, in a firefight, the Orpheus's best tactic was run and hide where the seaQuest could handle a fight. Usually.

After Philips had cleaned himself up and done his usual morning routine, he headed for the bridge. "How far are we in?" he asked.

"Well," answered his executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Marianne Torrence. "We're almost to London. The tunnels beneath England are expansive, but most are dead ends. No sign of Nessie, sir."

"Good," said Philips. "Quite frankly, I'm hoping not to find her."

A short bark of laughter from his first officer was the answer to that comment. "The maps we are making, sir, will be useful in shortening shipping lanes," she continued. If anything else, it makes a Hell of a place to hide half a sub fleet."

"If they're all the size of the Orpheus, anyway," he agreed with her on that point after seeing the tunnel work under the island. "Kinda makes you wonder what other tunnels there are under the Earth, eh?"

"Quite frankly, I think only England would have them," she said thoughtfully. "At least, as expansive as this. Other tunnels on other continents would not be as extensive as this."

"Take plenty of pictures, Lieutenant Commander, this is going to be our Christmas..."

December 24th, 2034
Inverness, Scotland

Christmas Eve dinner was going as planned, and Kristin Westphalen-Bridger couldn't be more pleased. She had wanted to show Nathan, Lucas, and JJ a proper Christmas Eve ans she felt that she had succeeded. Nathan was telling JJ of some sort of action he was involved in the late nineties, and she in turn appeared to be totally engrossed in what she was hearing. Lucas was trying to entertain Michael, but wasn't really succeeding as Michael's attention was completely on Lucas's laptop computer.

Cynthia and Kristin leaned against the mantle and Kristin asked her daughter, "Was Robert able to get away?"

For a moment, Cindy hesitated, "No. Something called him back to work, something about the Orpheus."

"Really? I wasn't aware that the Orpheus was UEO."

"It isn't, per se, but NorPac loaned it to us, like the seaQuest, the Aurora and the Avenger," answered Cynthia. "Captain Philips wasn't too pleased about having to lose his Christmas shore leave. But whatever it was, I suppose it was important."

Kristin nodded, but her ears half caught the familiarity of the name Philips, but her mind wouldn't connect it to any face. She mentally shrugged it off and turned her attention to the match between Lucas and Michael, and as Michael neatly won whatever computer game he was playing against Lucas. The look on Lucas's face was priceless. "Now that's a first," mused Kristin to Cynthia. "I don't think Lucas has ever been beaten on a computer before."

"Michael is very good, Mom," Cindy gushed. "Whenever something goes wrong with our computer, he can usually fix it, or at least tell us what happened so that we can call tech support and get it fixed quickly."

"Really?" asked Kristin, surprised. "Well, he does seem to hang off every word that Lucas speaks."

"Oh, Michael definitely admires him," snorted Cindy, then she laughed. "I think Michael will grow to follow Lucas's footsteps more than his father's or even his grandfather's. And I think I prefer it that way."

"Same here," mused Kristin. "Same here."

Caverns below England
December 25th, 2034

They had tried to warn off the intruding people by destroying the sensor probe. For awhile that had worked. Now, though, as they followed the small ship through the tunnels, they were perplexed as to what to do next. The second in command turned to his captain, and in Thai, asked, "What do we do now, sir?"

Still in Thai, the captain of the Chaodai ship answered, "We follow and make sure that they do not find the Oni. If they get too close, we destroy them."

Inverness, Scotland
December 25th, 2034
7:54am, local time

Nathan's wakefulness slowly climbed from the snug dark hole into the full light. Actually, now that he was awake, he realized that it was a light. A flashlight to be more precise. He opened his eyes and saw that his grandson, and his adoptive son, both looking at him in expectation. "What?"

"Grampa!" Michael exclaimed as he rolled his eyes. "It's time to get up?"

"What time is it?" Nathan asked sleepily.

"Almost eight, Dad," answered Lucas. "Michael woke me and Jess up, then he came running in her to wake you up."

"Why...?" then it struck him as he woke fully. "Oh, I remember. It's Christmas morning."

"Yeah! Can we please go open our presents now?" Michael seemed so excited that he was about to burst as he rocked back and forth on his heels.

"You know the rules, Michael, after eight in the morning, we get up, eat breakfast, then open all the gifts."

"It's eight o'clock," Michael pointed to his watch, which was suspiciously not ticking, but most definitely stuck on eight o'clock. "See, Grampa?"

"Uh huh, and on the that watch, how long has it been there?" asked Nathan, mildly stern as he sat up in bed. "Okay, okay, I'm up. Now go help your grandmother with breakfast."

"Okay."

When Michael ran off to do so, Nathan sighed and leaned back into the pillows. Lucas sat on the bed beside him. "I can't believe how fast he's growing," said Lucas.

"Kids do that on us," Nathan answered. "I remember when Robert was that age. I thought that the twenty years it would take for him to grow up would take forever. Suddenly... he was in the Academy. Now, equally as fast, he has a son that will do the same thing on me. Usually, seeing my family like this fills me with joy..."

"And others?" asked Lucas.

"Other times I simply feel old," Bridger frowned. "And I know I am old. Lucas, do you realize how old I turned last month?"

Lucas crinkled his brow, "No..."

"I turned seventy-three," answered Bridger. "And the worst part is that I can't remember most of those ten missing years. Only that they happened, that something momentous happened. And I can't remember them. I feel cheated."

While Lucas didn't know what to say to that. Didn't know what to say to the man he looked up to. Didn't know how to console him. Bridger's hand touched Lucas's elbow, "You don't have to know. Just listening was enough."

"How many times did I tell you that?" asked Lucas with a short laugh. "And how many times did you feel the same?"

"Every time, Lucas, every time," answered Bridger. "Now, could I have a bit of privacy so I can get dressed?"

Moments later they sat down for their Christmas breakfast, and the Inverness Sheraton didn't disappoint. The pancakes and maple syrup, the latter imported from St. Joseph's Island in Canada, was heavenly, and they actually took their time to savor the full breakfast.

Finally, with the dishes and leftover food (of which there wasn't much with two growing boys) cleared away, Nathan knelt in front of the tree and began to hand out the gifts to everyone until they each had their respective piles. Once permission had been given, all attention was, again, on Michael, as he tore into the wrapping on the gifts. When one final gift was to be opened, he began to fight with the wrapping, a perplexed frown beginning to develop.

JJ smirked as this gift was from her, "What's wrong Michael?"

"The wrapping is like tough plastic wrap. It stretches, but it won't tear. And the tape is like packing tape!" he exclaimed.

This brought a round of chuckles, and Lucas said, "An old friend of Jess's wrapped it, Michael. She guaranteed us that it would take at least two minutes for you to open it. You have to unwrap it slow by undoing the folds."

Kristin took the opportunity to snap a few more photos of Michael. It was ingenious really, to use such a tactic to slow down a child from simply tearing through the gift wrap. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh, a college friend," answered JJ. "A writer. She's from Canada. Ever read the Karasa Trilogy by Kristan Cannon?"

"Yes," answered Nathan. "She's a lot like Tolkien."

"Well, she taught for awhile at my school, and we never really lost touch. I went military, and she made it big."

There was nods of recognition, and Kristin said, "Well, she's marvelous at gift wrapping. Will have to meet her one of these days."

Finally, Michael managed to peel back the gift wrap and open the box. Inside he found a lower end digital camera. One that the designers knew would likely end up in the hands of a younger person and was built ruggedly and in bright colors. "Cool!" exclaimed Michael. "Thank you Aunt JJ!"

The rest of the gifts were opened at a more sedate pace. Nathan, much to his un-surprise, got two pairs of socks with a scarf. It was, when Kristin and Cynthia began to laugh uncontrollably, more of a surprise to find the new watch in the socks. His old one had been lost when a prisoner of Macronesia, so having a nice replacement was a refreshing change. Quite frankly, he had been lost without it.

Lucas, with a similar ploy among long underwear, found a new secure flash disk for his computer. He was really happy to see it because now it meant he could use on the seaQuest. "Thanks, Mom, Cindy."

"No problem," then Kristin turned to Jess. "You haven't opened that last gift from Cindy and I...?"

"Well, after seeing what you two did to Nathan and Lucas, I wondering what will happen to me," she smiled, sharing in their mischief. "So I thought, once they got done, they could help me with it."

"Oh, she's a smart gal, Lucas," said Cynthia. "Better watch out."

"Yeah, but I won't be crying either," he quipped back.

JJ opened the present and found baby's mittens and a sweater. They were handmade. "Okay, if you hid another gift in this like you did the others, I'm impressed already. This is really gorgeous. Who made these?" she asked.

"I did," Cynthia held up her hand. "It's a hobby taught to me by my Nana."

"Nana is a genius," said JJ, then she found the box in the mittens. "Now, what have we here?"

She opened it and gasped as she brought out the sister's pride ring, "Oh, you shouldn't have!"

"Of course we should have," said Kristin. "All of us has a ring like that, so now you have one. The empty setting is for little one because we didn't know what month she would be born in."

The Orpheus
Below England
December 25th, 2034

Philips clutched to the side of his command chair, and ordered, "Fire a port spread and get us the Hell out of here!"

An explosion sent the helmsman flying and Philips struggled to take the helm. As he turned the ship hard about, he also moved the small ship into full ahead. Then he saw the alcove and ducked into it as the Chaodai vessels sped by. He sighed a brief sigh of relief then turned to what remained of his crew. "We have to get out of here," he said. "If we don't, we can't warn the seaQuest. It appears that the Chaodai are going to sink England."

PART THREE: Dust in the Wind

December 25th, 2034
Inverness

As sirens wailed the Bridger's looked around in sudden surprise as their holiday was interrupted. So did the rest of the Sheraton's guests, as did the citizens of Inverness. Only two men in a hotel room were not disturbed. Well, one was, but the other wore a small smile. "That's my signal, my friend," said Black as he turned to Farina. "I would suggest finishing your job and then leaving the British Isle. Remember, if you don't or if you screw it up, not only do I take your contract, I take your life."

"I won't screw up," said Farina quietly as Black left.

Without looking, Farina knew that Black was leaving England. If Farina failed today, Black would catch up with Westphalen later. He would also find Farina when he felt like it. Farina cleaned the old type rifle and made sure everything moved the way it ought. That it went back together the way it ought. Satisfied with how smooth it was, he took his position across from the suite that the Bridger's ate their meal and opened their presents.

A part of him regretted the path he had walked to come this far, but knew that it was him or her. And he rather liked breathing.

He closed his eyes for a moment and watched as they calmly left the suite. Shortly they would evacuate the building. When Westphalen came out, he would take his shot.

The Orpheus had seen better days, and they were definitely not this one. Philips and what was left of his crew were barely holding the ship together and the hours were melded together in grim determination. They would duck out of one hole and find another to hide in, trying to keep their sensor sweeps to a minimum for fear of that being detected, but also wanting to make sure that they didn't run across the two Chaodai vessels.

Finally, according to telemetry, they were close to the exit, but instead of making a break for it, their quiet determination grew. Just in case they didn't as they knew there was no alcoves or hiding holes, Philips and his X-O prepared an emergency buoy filled with their data on the Chaodai and the maps on where to find them.

Philips looked at the pretty face of Furishima and said, "If we don't make it out of this, I'm sorry for taking you with me."

"Don't be," she answered. "I was glad to go."

After loading the buoy into a torpedo tube they walked back to the bridge and took their stations. Philips put on all call, "I know we haven't served long and already our little ship is ready for dry dock. I just want you to know that whatever happens, you are second to none in NorPac. Captain Philips out."

He looked over to where Furishima was at the helm, "Move us out at full speed."

The Oni watched as the Orpheus reappeared on sensors, "Sir, we have them."

"Pursue, don't let them warn the seaQuest," ordered the captain.

Nathan led his family down the hall and into the stairwell. Kristin asked him, "We don't get earthquakes, Nathan."

"I know," he answered. "I don't understand either. I'll contact the seaQuest and see if Commodore Krieg knows what's going on."

On board the seaQuest, Krieg was looking over Serrano's shoulder as she pointed out on her screen, "See, two epicenters, both a mile apart. I don't think this was a natural quake."

"It was engineered?" asked Ortiz in confusion.

"The evidence would support it, yes," she answered. "But I'm far from a geologist. My guess is that the Orpheus found what it's looking for."

"How would you figure?" asked O'Niell.

"Well, the telemetry is about right, and the distance would coincide with their speed and where they would be after the time given," she answered after a moment's thought, then her fingers flew across the keyboard and the visual changed. "Sir, there's something coming out of the cavern."

Krieg and the others retook their stations and Krieg called General Quarters. One couldn't be too safe if the something else other that the Orpheus came out of the caverns. At full speed, they saw the heavily damaged Orpheus, and before the other ship could stop and reverse back into the cavern, Mother got a clear visual of a pursuing Chaodai vessel. When the Chaodai saw the WSKR, they fired their torpedoes at it, and the Orpheus.

"Fire countermeasures, and get us between the Chaodai and the Orpheus," ordered Krieg.

The seaQuest barely shuddered as the countermeasures fired and intercepted the torpedoes. The weapons officer called out, "Sir, we have a firing solution on that Chaodai vessel."

"Fire."

In response the seaQuest fired on the Chaodai. A last minute maneuver saved that other ship from destruction, but it retreated to the North and away from the cavern.

"Find out what the Hell happened," said Krieg as he went to the launch bay to see his old friend.

Cynthia took Michael and JJ to the shelter, and looked back once she saw them safe.

A glint of metal across the courtyard caught her attention.

Oh my God! her mind screamed.

Nathan looked as he heard a mental scream. Cynthia's attention was riveted to an upper room. Farina, he knew. Then he realized that he was not the target. Kristin! He ran just as he heard the gun fire.

Kristin also heard the gun fire and stopped in her tracks. Lucas, who was still in the doorway, watched the entire scene in horror.

Nathan ran as if something gave him the sudden ability to fly. Kristin's eyes were wide in horror – Then the bullet hit home.

Only it wasn't Kristin was shot.

Krieg helped Philips to sit as Dr. Levin looked him over. "What happened out there?" he asked.

"The Chaodai got the jump on us. They're planting charges, Ben. I think they plan to set off the charges and sink the entire British Isle, or a good part of it."

O'Niell and Krieg looked at each, just as General Quarters was called again. Then the command staff was immediately called to the bridge. O'Niell and Krieg ran onto the bridge just in time to see Ortiz's stricken look as Hitchcock told him, "An assassin attempted to snipe Dr. Westphalen."

"Did he succeed?" asked Krieg, a sick feeling settling into the pit of his stomach.

Hitchcock looked down, "Not the way he planned it. But he did manage to wound her."

"Is she all right?" asked O'Niell.

"Yes. But Captain Bridger is not," she answered. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this. He... won't live the night."

December 25th, 2034
Colombia
Rain forest

The Colombian jungles were slick and wet with the rains that were pouring into the area for the last week and the dark clouds and lighting streaking across the sky overhead were a sign that more was on it's way. A pair of old four by four trucks and a two and a half ton began the long journey into the back roads that led deep into the country side, they carried several large cargo crates for the mansion that rested and there employer who resided there, not aware that eyes watch there precession from deep in the rain forest. Eyes that watch with only one though on their minds death...

"I love being me," said Colonel Da Costa as she stared out over her estate's, with more then five hundred acres of the finest cocaine fields in Columbia rested under her control her bank accounts grew strong on the poisoning of the weak.

She drank from a wine goblet as she sat on her covered balcony watching the workers in the near by fields laboring in the fields, the rain made the labor harder but still the money must flow. She turned herself around to face her accountant as he typed away on his computer checking and double checking the months numbers. "So what is the good news?" she asked as she walked over to the near by desk where he sat.

"I'm sorry to say that it is not as good as it should be," he was sweating when he said it and not because of the heat, her smile disappeared and was replaced with a look of disgust. "The insurgents?"

"Yes Colonel, they have in the last two months cut production with their attacks in half and we have lost more then a third of your own men hunting them with none of the insurgents ever found dead or alive," the accountant said as he continued to type away.

The Colonel took another drink to come her nerves before saying anything. "True, but my men will soon find the fools who oppose me and they will die it is that simple," she brushed her long black hair out of her eyes before continuing. "My operations around the mansion are still in full swing and are safe and sound, plus the military forces loyal to me have been brought in to reinforce my guards, so as long as the main operation is operation we will make up the money we have lost in three months."

The smile returned to the Colonel face as she felt time itself would solve her problems for her...

The two four by fours and the two and a half ton pulled in past the heavily armed entrance to the compound, they were carrying the much needed supplies for the mansion and so were waved threw as they past. It was as they pulled up to the unloading area that one of the solders on duty noticed something wrong with the two and a half ton truck's cab door, there was a red liquid leaking out from the bottom of the door. "Hey man you got some thing on the door," as he looked closer his eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he realized it was blood, lots of blood.

The realization did little good has the last sound he heard was the zap buss of a laser pistol going off...

The earth-shaking explosion that resulted was the first sign that something was wrong. Colonel Da Costa and her accountant lifted their heads to the chaos outside. It took them a few moments to realize what was going on. Some one had just attacked the compound and the mansion on it. Both of them ran to the balcony to come face to face with war.

Colonel Da Costa watched from her balcony at what was unfolding before her, the two four by fours and the heavy truck she had sent into town were surrounded by men wearing heavy combat armor and wielding heavy weapons that were killing her men no matter which direction they came at the unknowns.

Her troops were in complete disorder as the strange attackers blasted into the disorganized ranks with heavy laser fire, her men under her command, both the body guards and the army personal present were trying to get to weapon emplacements and defensive emplacement but were being cut down before they could get there. It was then she noticed one of the attacker had turned there attention to the balcony where she and her accountant were and the repeating grenade launcher in his hands. " Down!" she screamed as she yanked her account back as an explosion engulfed the balcony and the above ceiling debris rained down on them only to be followed by the rain water.

Colonel Da Costa pulled up her accountant and literally threw him at his still operation computer. "Damn it, send a message to the outpost at the other side of the compound , call Captain Regala and Captain Vega and get the attack helo's airborne now!"

Sergeant Zek lead eighteen members of Alpha Force in the engagement against the drug lord Da Costa's forces and were spraying heavy fire in all directions. Zek himself was having fun redecorating the front of Da Costa Mansion with the grenade launcher. "Keep of fire discipline people," he ordered into his comm unit. "The scum are not walking away from this one."

Several of Da Costa men were trying to get to a pair of heavy machine guns and fire back but were cut down the moment they broke cover. More confusion rained as Alpha Force let louse with grenades blowing apart prepared positions and vehicles, delivering death and mayhem against the drug dealer forces.

"Advance!" Zek yelled as his team spread out and started to attack targets of opportunity, hiding in the vehicles was simple and easy the fools never bother to check there supply vehicles when they came back.

Zek continued to fire grenades at dung in position's around the compound and the mansion itself. With all the fire power Sergeant Zek brought along, as well as the heavy combat armor his team was wearing would stop most of the small arms the dealer had he had to admit it was certainly funny being only the distraction, for the real show that starting within the next ten minutes...

Captain Regala sat in comforted watching the rain out his window while his men enjoyed the latest pirated movies brought in. His crews were enjoying the day off because of the weather and were enjoying the time off when is attention was drawn to his computer and the beeping coming from it. It was then he got the blasting of his life form his boss it took a few second for it to register, the compound was under attack and to launch a counter attack now! He jumped from his seat and yelled at his men. "The Mansion is under attack, find Vega and man the helicopter now."

The men ran out into the paring rain and onto the Russian surplus Military Hind gun ships loaded for war. As the crews piled in they made ready to fly when all they heard when they tried to start the engines was a disheartening clunk and then a splattering noise. All three helicopters were dead it was then they crews noticed the smoke...

"Hehehe," TJ Dasher said to herself as she lay under the raised helo pad the helicopters's rested on.

She had to admit she was enjoying herself. Here she was laying in a half foot of mud soaking wet wearing only camo pants and a stained combat vest holding three spark plugs while hiding not ten feet from men who would kill her if they knew she was the cause for there troubles, and she was loving every minute of it. When she finally signed up with Yamamoto he put her threw the hardest training he could. Before she was just another combat pilot hoping to make it big and then she hooking up with the Shadow Guard operation . Now here she was her twelth assignment for Colonel Yamamoto and that did not include the Seal training they were squeezing in the last few weeks before she started getting field assignments, and more. She had to admit it felt good nailing the scum of the world with out worrying about political backlash.

She kept giggling to herself like a school girl, as she pressed the button on her com unit. "Gentlemen the turkeys are wrapped and ready to go," she said.

Colonel Yamamoto had put her in charge of getting the helo's and told her to do it by any means necessary. So she got creative and now the other eight members of Alpha force were now backed up by Night Creeper squad capturing the three helicopters. Now she began a slow crawl out form under the deck as she heard her strike team jumping on the deck to pull the crews from the helicopters. She pulled her mud stained body up and out hanging back from the copters as her team pulled unconscious men out, another surprise was the gas canisters she hid inside that knocked them cold. As she pulled herself out from under the helo pad one of the solders called out to her, "Great job Streaker."

This was followed by laughter from her fellow solders.

Dasher laughed at that, she had earned that nickname on her first assignment when she was on a simple pick up and delivery when she was splashed with a Molotov cocktail. Thankfully the heavy clothing took the hit but she had to strip them off after bailing down an old side canal in Venice to keep from burning her flesh off and drowning after words. She ended up at the meeting point dressed in her birthday suit with package in hand, a smile on her lips, and a dozen police chasing her down for public nudity and the unit never let it down. She had to admit the best part of that was surprisingly found a place for herself to belong and fit in.

"Cut the comedy clowns, remember I'm your commanding officer," she said with a smile.

"My apologies you're right, Lieutenant Streaker,"Corporal Road said as he returned a snap salute. "Lieutenant Streaker, with your permission we can prep the helo's for launch."

There was a wide smirk on his face directed at her. Despite the dangerous situation they were in it only made Dasher smile more.

"Well get to work corporal." Dasher replied as she returned the salute and the troops dragged the unconscious men out of there machines. She reached over and presses the com button. " Colonel, the birds will be ready in t minis five minutes, the shows all yours,"she said as she passed out the spark plugs for the three helicopters to get them running.

The only thought she had now was if Colonel Yamamoto would allow her to carry out some corporal punishment on Corporal Road...

"I read you loud and clear Lieutenant Dasher, be ready," Colonel Yamamoto said into his mike as he quietly climbed up to the third floor.

His clothing was all black as the mask he wore in a few moments it would all be over for Colonel Da Costa.

Colonel Da Costa was panicked she had called for her personal guards to the room 6 of the best fighter under her command that stood by the accountant as they heard there boss yell over the computer connection across the compound trying to organize a counter attack. " Damn it Vega get to the front of the Mansion now that is where they are, now, now, now!"

Sergeant Zek Team spread out to cover the entire front end of the house as they began to commit a mop up operation. "Clear the out lying buildings first from the gate to the Mansion then we go inside and bust heads," it was then he turned and noticed Corporal Po running towards them with his rifle held high waving at them, the universal sign of trouble.

"Reposition team we got trouble from the let side of the mansion, we got incoming," it was then they noticed the sounds of treads over the pitter patter of rain. It was then they rolled into view. "Shit it is never easy"

Three old tanks rolled around the corner, letting fly with their fire power...

Colonel Da Costa smiled as the attackers scattered at the sign of Vega's tank squad rolling in to kill them. She smiled to herself as they opened fire with a loud blast blowing up the now empty huts as Zek's team scattered under the attack. She had to give them credit though. They were acting like first rate infantry but they did not expect the tanks and had no anti tank weapons she could see so it was simply a matter of time before they all died. She smiled as she turned around as received a smack in the face by something wet. She wiped the stuff from her eyes only to open them to the site of body covering her fingered, a lot of blood. She looked up at a man standing in her office, her six body guards all death and her accountant lay unconscious on the floor. Then she notice him standing there, sheathed in black clothing and armor, blade in hand and a aura of death around him. "I've come for you Da Costa, I've come to ripe that black heart of your out of your chest."

Da Costa heart skipped a beat at thoughts words as she looked into his eyes, meaning every word of it. It was then she remember the pistol she wore and the fact the man in front of her did not have a gun, only the sword. Da Costa smiled and grabbed for he pistol and brought it up to bear. Her attacker just seem to stand there as she aimed and then there was a blear of motion and he stood beside her. She turned on him and tried to pull the trigger only to find her hand not responding. It was then as she watched her hand fall from her wrist, gun and all to the floor. She looked in shock at her wrist as Yamamoto slammed her against one wall. "Now is it time to pay for your crimes against the UEO and the world, you are going to die slow."

Da Costa's mind when racing when he said the UEO, he had heard about stories passed around by officers about a bogie man of the UEO who destroyed any who stood in the UEO's way. The storys about what this guy did still creped her out it was then it came together for her. She started to scream and scream and did not spot till her heart did and that was going to be a long time away...

Sergeant Zek lead his men to play a game of hide and seek with the tanks around the ruble of the front of the mansion for several minutes and still it was a stale mate. Zek could not get close enough to the tanks to kill them with grenades and the tanks could not move across the ruble or risk getting stuck. And so it was like this for several minutes for Captain Vega in the lead tank. "Where is our air support and why can't we get into contact with the mansion any more?" he said to himself as he moved his heavy war beast around th rubble still trying to find a target.

The whirling of the helicopters were a welcome sound to his ears and he activated his com unit and greeted the approaching helo's. "Greetings Regala, so you have decided to help eh?"

The reply was quick and forth coming. "Sorry Regala could not join us today but sends his regards," a soft feminine voice dripping with sarcasm answered followed by the last words Vega heard. "Fire all rockets."

The flight back in the three hinds were filled with the troops in a good mood. The mission went without a hitch with only a few minor injuries. TJ Dasher sat beside the Colonel what she went on the debrief, with the Colonel listening in. "You did good work Dasher but be warned, do not get too cocky that can get you killed."

"I understand sir." she replied quietly.

"But you did good, congratulations on your first operational command in a war zone," he replied. "So do not be afraid to celebrate Dasher, as I understand it many under your command would be glad to party to there victory with the Streaker, Especially a certain Corporal Road you wish to spank."

Dasher face went red as the helo brook out in laughter. "Remember to turn off the com unit when not in use and to not think out load too much," Dasher turned to face Corporal Road who looked at her and seemed to like the idea of her with a whip.

It was then the pilot seem to get a message from command and passed the head set to the Colonel. He listened for several moments before Dasher got a sense of dread from him. It was then that in all three helo's the telepathic voice of the Colonel rang clear. "We are at class one alert, some one has shot Nathan Bridger, as of this moment, we are in alert status. Prepare for war."

December 26th, 2034
Inverness, Scotland
General Hospital
12:04am local time

Kristin sat numbly in the waiting room as the doctors tried to work their magic. She even prayed. But the medical professional in her knew exactly what would be. Nathan Bridger would likely die on the operating table. If he didn't, then he would die sometime this morning. Somehow, knowing his stubbornness, he would live as long as he could. He would wait for Robert to get to England.

Robert Bridger was flying via a Concorde jet and would arrive in about an hour. The shock from being told that this time no miracle would save his father moved him into action.

Also on the way here was the Hudson's, who boarded an express flight from Honolulu. But everyone knew that they would likely be too late. The gesture was reassuring though.

Finally, a doctor came out looking grim. "Mrs. Bridger?"

Kristin stood, her daughter and Lucas on either side in support. JJ held Michael's hand. "He's... in ICU 3. He's holding his own for now, but I will be amazed if he lives through the day."

She closed her eyes and nodded. "Thank you," she said and Cynthia walked her to the small ICU.

Giving her daughter's hand a squeeze, but firmly pushing her hand away, she murmured, "I want to talk to him alone first."

Cynthia nodded in understanding as Kristin walked into the room and sat beside the bed. In the room, Kristin grasped Nathan's hand and whispered, "Nathan, I have too much to say to start now, and I think you know what words I want to say. I think you feel how much I love you, and I always will."

He lay motionless, and a part of her wanted him to open his eyes even though she knew that this would be a mercy. The pain from the gunshot would be excruciating. She leaned her head on the bed and held his hand to her cheek. "Nathan, the two years you were back in my life were the happiest I've had in years. I think you always held my heart. I wish we had longer."

"Kris..." came a near silent whisper from the bed and she looked up to see his dark brown eyes. "I... wish we had longer... too. I... love... you."

Everything flat lined.