Chapter Five: Attack

Disclaimer: I don't own seaQuest or the episode "To Be or Not to Be" which some dialogue was liberally borrowed from. And I never will, due to fun hospital bills.

AN: Yes, it's been a century since I updated, but there was much pnemonia involved and hospital visits and such and finally things are back to normal and I can get on with life. This chapter's a little boring, but deal with it. I had to get some boring stuff outta the way.

Not everybody has a brain. Not everybody's going sane. Not everybody wishes well. Not everybody's heaven's hell.
-Five for Fighting – Nobody

"Lucas, I don't know. Are you sure we should be doing this?" Sheila was caught between the worry that they were doing something that could probably be considered illegal and the excitement of eavesdropping on the bridge. Lucas had somehow managed to tap into the bridge communications and they could hear everything that was going on.

"Yeah, sure. I do this all the time." He thought for minute. "Well, not all the time, but sometimes. Anyways, I've never been caught. It's fine. Now be quiet for a minute and listen."

So far all they had been able to tell was that there was a distress call coming from the Gedric Power Station and that the station was under attack.

"We're the only boat within a half-day's sail," Ford said.

"What's our proximity to the station?" asked Bridger.

Sheila and Lucas listened as the crew discussed how far they were from the station. Then Ford spoke up.

"Captain, I'm prepared to offer you command of the seaQuest at this time."

Sheila sat straight up. "What?" she said incredulously at the same time her father said "Come again?" Lucas stared at her and put his finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet so they could hear.

"Would the Captain care to assume command at this time?" Ford repeated.

"I don't think you're the kind of officer who turns his back on a command decision, are you? I'm just along for the ride, remember?"

As Ford started barking out orders, Lucas looked at Sheila, shock evident in his face. "Now there's something I never thought I'd hear. Commander Ford offering to give up command. Something weird's going."

Sheila shrugged. "Maybe he was just being polite."

"No, no, there is definitely something more to it than that." Lucas stared off in to space. "Can't really imagine what it is though."

They continued to listen as the seaQuest approached the station. Nothing particularly interesting happened until the WSKRS started spitting back information on the attacking sub.

"WSKRS are kicking back data. One typhoon class Delta 4," came Ortiz's voice.

"That's a tough little sub," Lucas commented. Then, noticing the worry in Sheila's eyes, quickly added, "But not a match for the seaQuest."

As they continued to listen the Delta 4 moved away from the station, and Ford positioned the seaQuest on an intercept course. When the computer sounded "All hands battle stations" Sheila gave Lucas another worried look.

"Don't worry, it's just a precaution," Lucas said to calm her.

"Uh huh. That's nice." It didn't appear to work.

They listened a little more. "Um. The Delta 8 or whatever is attacking?"

"Delta 4. She won't get past seaQuest's intercepts."

They heard Ford and Bridger argue about whether to go after the sub or save the colony. And then they argued about what exact position to put the seaQuest in. And then they heard that none of the controls would work on the bridge.

"Lucas, this does not sound good. You cannot tell me that this is okay."

"Okay, no I can't. But give me a minute." Lucas grabbed his computer and started typing like mad.

"Lucas. The Delta 6 fired."

"Delta 4."

"Whatever."

The computer voice chimed in. "All hands brace for collision. All hands brace for collision."

Lucas looked up and gave Sheila tight smile. "Hold on to something, okay?"

She glared back. "Really? And I was just gonna stand in the middle of the room on one foot and practice my balancing act."

The seaQuest shuddered with the hit of the torpedo.

"See? That wasn't so bad."

"Yeah, but Hitchcock said we were taking on water. That's not good, is it?"

"Listen, your father's taking command."

"No, he's just helping out."

"He's taking command."

"I already told you, he wouldn't do that!"

"Okay, don't bite my head off. Geesh."

"What are you doing, anyways?"

"Just checking on some stuff."

"Crash dive?"

"I don't think he'd really-"

"See? He just said he wasn't captain!"

"I believe you."

"Hey, the Delta 3's going away."

"Delta 4."

"Whatever."

"Turn off the handset."

"Why?"

"I have a feeling they're gonna come looking for me, and I don't want them to know we were listening."

"Oh. Okay."

For a few minutes, the only sound was the tapping of Lucas' keyboard.

"What makes you so sure they're gonna come looking for you?"

"Oh, please, whenever there's a computer problem, who you gonna call? Lucas!"

Sheila gave Lucas a strange look.

"Just trust me."