Chapter Five

Lucas entered the hold where the SeaQuest lay. Without the sea water the regenerating skin had yet to heal itself. Yet he had come up with a way that might be able to get the skin to heal itself. An hour later he was please that it worked and the skin where the barrier mine had hit started to repair itself.

"Good job kid." One of the techs replied as he stood beside Lucas and watched as the skin slowly repaired itself.

"Thanks," Lucas said glancing at the man. "What about the damage inside?"

"We've gotten to most of it, but the wiring is what's slowing us down." The tech replied.

"I can do that." Lucas replied seeing the man nod. Going inside he noticed that they had to reboot a few of her systems in order for the repairs to continue. Finding the technical readouts he need for the wiring he starts on the repairs.

"Do you need help?" A young tech asked stopping behind Lucas.

"Sure." Lucas said looking over the young man. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes. "I'm Lucas."

"I am Baldric." He replied. They worked quietly for quite a while, and Lucas realized that they worked well together. Lucas was lost in his own mind as he checked computer readouts, and adjusted wires.

Baldric watched the human who he worked with. He could see the way he concentrated at the task. And the fact that he loved the boat that he was working on, Baldric could see it with everything the boy did.

"Lucas?" Baldric said seeing the boy stop and turn to him. "It's time to eat, we should go."

"I um…" Lucas stopped at seeing the techs look. Of course he needed to eat. "Yeah we should go,"

"Good." Baldric replied as they left the hold and headed towards the mess hall. Grabbing what Lucas figured as fruit they found a place to sit. They ate in silence for a while before Baldric breaks the silence. "You have been on many adventures?"

"Adventures?" Lucas asked looking up and smiling. "Yeah you could say that."

"Tell me about one." Baldric asked quietly. He could see that Lucas was a bit reluctant. "Please?"

"Alright," Lucas said smiling. "But first I have to tell you about my friend Ben Krieg."

XXXXX

Lucas sat next to Bridger's stasis tube; his eyes focused on something other then the face inside. He had so much he wanted to say, yet couldn't find the words. With a sigh he closed his eyes and a smile came to his face.

"You know Captain," He started. "I'm learning a lot."

Lucas stopped his eyes going to his Captains face. He wanted this all to be over, but the last six months had been a lot of hard work. Tobias had been great, and he had become close friends with Baldric. It would only be another couple of days until the SeaQuest was fully repaired.

"I miss you guys, I never realized how much you all came to mean to me." Lucas said resting his elbows on his knees. "Tobias doesn't know how long it will take yet, they have tech trying to figure it out."

"I'd like to help, but I can't speak or read the language." Lucas paused as he heard someone coming into the room.

"Hello Lucas." Tobias replied as he walked over.

"Tobias." Lucas replied.

"How is SeaQuest coming?" Tobias asked stopping beside the young man.

"Good, we should be finished in about three days." Lucas replied his eyes scanning the room.

"Good." Tobias said not mentioning that after that Lucas would have not choice but to go into stasis. "You need a hair cut Lucas."

"Yeah I've noticed." Lucas replied. "So what will happen when we get back to earth?"

"It's simple, me and my people will place you where you need to be." Tobias replied. Lucas nodded, it sounded so much easier then it probably was.

"You can't put SeaQuest in the water, not without her crew and her systems on." Lucas said looking up at Tobias.

"Yes I know." Tobias replied smiling at him. "Come it's time to eat."

"Alright." Lucas replied standing and following after him. They made their way to the mess hall, and Lucas was surprised to see how empty it was. Most of the time it was packed. Sitting down Lucas picked at his food he wasn't really hungry away.

"Something wrong with your meal?" Tobias asked.

"No," Lucas replied setting his fork down. "I was just wondering are you going to swipe my mind also?"

"I have to Lucas, Nathan wants it that way." Tobias said.

"I know," Lucas replied. "I just hate to lose all that I've learned here with you."

"I know." Tobias replied with a smile.

"I think I'm going to head back and finish up the wiring." Lucas replied getting up and leaving the mess hall. He walked to the hold deep in thought about what it was going to mean when he got back to earth. He wondered if his parents missed him.

Going into the SeaQuest he went back to where the wiring needed to be finished. He was amazed at how well they could reproduce the wires and stuff that they needed to fix the SeaQuest.

"Lucas?" He heard Baldric said and turned towards the tech.

"Hey." Lucas replied as he stopped what he was doing.

"I hear we are almost finished." Baldric replied.

"Yeah." Lucas replied going back to checking the wiring. He worked for a bit until he realized that Baldric was watching him. "What?"

"Are you afraid?" Baldric asked.

"Afraid of what?" Lucas asked knowing what he was talking about. Yet he hopped that he was wrong.

"Of going into stasis?" Baldric said watching the look on Lucas's face.

"Yeah, I guess I am." Lucas replied nodding his head. "The thought of sleeping for an unknown amount of time is a little undoing."

"I guess it can be, but it's safe." Baldric said. "Plus it's a better why to travel."

"I suppose," Lucas replied going turning his attention back to the wiring. "I thought I had life all figured out Baldric."

"At such a young age?" Baldric asked smiling.

"Well I figured that I would stay on SeaQuest, become a great scientist. You know make the world a better place." Lucas said pushing a few buttons on his portable computer. He then glanced up at Baldric. "You know make a difference like Captain Bridger."

"You like your Captain?" Baldric said stating the obvious.

"He's like the father I never had." Lucas said. "He's my role model."

"Ah," Baldric said. They feel into a comfortable silence, they worked well together. Lucas realized that he should feel some sort of resentment towards Baldric, without his help Lucas wouldn't be as far as he was. Yet he couldn't find any resentment towards him. He was a friend that Lucas didn't want to lose but knew he would.

XXXXX

Lucas rolled over and sat up, the dream that he had been having was creepy. Shaking his head he got up and walked slowly around the room. In a few hours all his stuff would be returned to his quarters aboard SeaQuest and he would be put into stasis.

He felt a shiver at the thought, but the rest of his crew had been in stasis the last six months and they were doing ok. Even Darwin seemed to be fine. Walking over the desk he started to pack up his stuff, they had finished the SeaQuest and re-shut down all her systems.

"Come in," Lucas said hearing a knock on his door. He smiled at Tobias as he finished packing his stuff. "I'm all set."

"Good." Tobias said taking the bag from Lucas and handing it to Baldric. They left Lucas's temporary quarters and headed towards the stasis room. Lucas walked back with Baldric following behind Tobias.

"Something wrong Friend?" Baldric said.

"Yeah, in a few minutes I'm going to forget all of this, and you." Lucas said keeping his eyes on Tobias's back.

"AH yes your Captains wishes, that your memory of this be erased." He replied shaking his head. "It's very sad."

"Yeah it is." Lucas replied glancing at his friend. They entered the stasis room and Lucas said goodbye to Baldric and Tobias and then went with a tech. Stepping into a tube he turned around his eyes locking with Tobias.

"Sleep well Lucas." Tobias said as the tube door closed, and soon Lucas felt very tired. Closing his eyes he willed himself to stay calm.

"He's in stasis, sir." The tech replied.

"Good." Tobias said walking over to where the tech was laying the stasis tube flat to place it next to Bridger's.

"Do you have to swipe it all?" Baldric asked also walking over.

"Yeah I do," Tobias said holding his hand above Lucas's tube. As he lowered his hand he saw the look that came to Baldric's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Baldric said nodding to Tobias and leaving the room. Tobias looked back down at the boy. With a sigh he left the stasis room.

XXXXX

Nine and a half years later:

"Tobias we are close enough to Earth to start sending people back." A tech said as Tobias entered the bridge.

"All right, leave the bridge crew and Lucas until last. And Wendy, we don't know where to send her yet." Tobias said turning to Triennia. "What have you learned?"

"That a lot has happened on Earth in the last ten years." Triennia replied. "Captain Bridger is a grandfather, and needs to go the embassy his grandson is at."

"Alright, what of Wendy." Tobias asked.

"Wendy's family is gone, we have found something." Triennia replied pulling up readout.

"Castlestone, it's a research facility. With a full medical staff, and is completely undetectable." Tobias read. "Crysta Anderson, owner and operator. It sound perfect, she has some ties to the SeaQuest. It will work."

"Lucas is need at the emergency summit," Triennia said. "He is the most known, several of the leaders know who he is. It will tell McGrath that the SeaQuest is back."

"And the SeaQuest?" Triennia asked, as Tobias looked around. With a smile he pointed to a place on the map. "That's a Iowan cornfield Tobias."

"Yes Ironic isn't it?" Tobias said with a smile. "We're aliens, where else would we put it?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Triennia replied failing to find humor in placing a deep submergent vehicle in a cornfield thousands of miles from the ocean.

"Trust me." Tobias said as they left the bridge and headed down to the stasis room to see how everything was going.

"We are almost finished." The tech replied.

"I will deal with the bridge crew." Tobias replied walking over to where Ford, Piccolo, Ortiz, Henderson, Brody, and O'Neil were. With a wave of his hand they disappeared from the tubes. He walked over to Bridger, and within seconds he to was gone. Lucas was next, and then Tobias walked over to where Wendy was. "I have a message I want to send back with her."

"Alright." Triennia replied watching as Tobias recorded the message. Giving them the option of learning what happened, and thanking them for their untold sacrifice. Placing the device with Wendy he placed his hand over her forehead and then she was gone.

"The SeaQuest is in the cornfield sir." Tobias heard.

"Alright then, let's go home." Tobias replied as he and Triennia headed back towards the bridge.

XXXXX

Crysta sat back as the room came into focus again. Taking a deep breath she looked around the room and saw that most of the people were suffering the same effects that she was. It wasn't like watching it, but it wasn't exactly like living it. It was somewhere in between.

Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and then opened her eyes again. She turned to look at Lucas who looked ill. She smiled weakly at him. Reaching over she gently touched his hand.

"That was interesting." Kristen said quietly as a tear slipped from her eyes.

"Yeah." Miguel replied shaking his head. He stood his eyes briefly came to Crysta as he prepared to leave the room. She nodded quietly and he was gone, several of the others also left the room.

Crysta stood also and left the room, she made her way across to the elevator and made her way to the hydroponics. She smiled sadly at Cookie as she walked past him. Opening a door she made her way into a small well-lit room. The sounds of birds were almost deafening. Walking over she sat down beside one of the trees that grew in the room.

She couldn't think past the idea that ever one of the two hundred crew, excluding Lucas, Dagwood and Darwin had experienced death. It was no wonder that Wendy was crazy; she was connected to them all.

"You gonna hide in here all day?" Lucas asked from the doorway as he watched the birds.

"I'm trying to sort out what I learned Lucas." Crysta replied looking at him.

"I can't believe that I helped them with the SeaQuest." Lucas said sitting down next to her. After she had left he had felt the need to be with her. He wasn't sure why but he felt the closest to her.

"I can't believe that Tobias picked me to care for Wendy." Crysta said reaching out to take his hand.

"I can, you're very good at taking care of people." Lucas said smiling at her. He reached out to gently touch her cheek. "You took care of me."

"Lucas," Crysta said pulling back from him slightly. "I didn't take care of you Ann did."

"You held me that first night," Lucas replied. "During the purging when I felt bad."

"I know." Crysta said not telling him that it meant a lot to her that he let her comfort him. She turned away from him to look out over the room anything to avoid looking at him.

"We should get back." Crysta said quietly as she stood. Lucas also stood, but he took a hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him.

"Crysta." He said bringing her eyes to him.

"Lucas please don't." Crysta said quietly slight panic in her voice. Lucas looked at her wondering at what she was afraid of. It couldn't be of him; no it had to be of what he felt.

"Okay." He replied stepping back.

"Thank you." Crysta said reaching up to hug him. She felt his arms go around her as he held her close. It was a while before he let her go. They left the room and walked back down to the recreation area. They saw that most of the crew was there talking with each other.

"Crysta." Nathan said coming up to her. "I want you to know that I am grateful for what you have done."

"Thank you Nathan." Crysta said looking out over the people. "I'm just sorry that it happened like it did."

"I'm glad we have cleared some of this up." Nathan said moving away from her and Lucas.

"I wonder how he feels about the decision he made." Lucas said.

"He figured it was the right thing to do at the time. He most likely never thought ten years would pass." Crysta said looking up at him.

"Yeah I guess." Lucas said smiling as he looked down at her. Crysta felt a flutter in her stomach at his smile. She turned away from him before he could see the slight pinking of her cheeks. "You okay?"

"Yeah just worn out." Crysta said keeping her eyes on the floor.

"Oh." Lucas replied even though he wasn't totally convinced that was why she was staring at the floor. He looped an arm around her shoulders and leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "I'm having a hard time believing you."

"Lucas." Crysta said blushing even worse.

"Don't Lucas me." He said into her ear.

"Commander?" They heard from behind them. Crysta turned to see Devin standing there dressed for recon. She raised an eyebrow at him. "We have a situation."

"Alright," Crysta said pulling away from Lucas. "Excuse me."

"Can I help?" Lucas asked. Crysta looked at Devin who shook his head, then back at Lucas.

"Sorry Lucas but not this time." She replied leaving with Devin. They walked to the elevator in silence and Crysta waited for the door to close before she asked. "Well?"

"We have the ship you chased last month, trying to poach in your waters again." Devin replied smiling at her.

"Really?" Crysta asked as they arrived at her office. Devin nodded as she entered her room; he went to sit by her desk. After a few minutes she emerged wearing a black pair of cargo pants and a black tee shirt.

"Ready?" He asked as they made their way from her office to the launch bay. She smiled as she met with Ben and Miguel. They entered the submersible and were launched in a matter of minutes.

"Bogy dead a head." Ben said as the poaching boat came into view.

"All head full, Lt. Lets knock on their door and asked them what they're doing." Crysta replied. "Load forward weapons."

"Weapons loaded Sir." Devin replied.

"Fifty percent target their propeller." Crysta said feeling the rush of adrenaline.

"Target locked." Devin replied.

"Fire." Crysta said seeing Devin fire the weapons. She waited for it to hit, and smiled as the small charge went throw the boat.

"Their systems are down Commander." Miguel replied. "They're hailing us sir."

"On screen Chief." Crysta replied seeing the screen light up with a face she hadn't seen in years. A smile came to her lips; she should have figured he would have some fifty-cent boat.

"Well hello Crysta." He said.

"Derrick," Crysta said shaking her head. "You're poaching, that's illegal, and what's worse you're doing it in the middle of my research area."

"Yeah so?" Derrick asked with a smug smile.

"Surrender." Crysta said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Not likely." Derrick said shaking his head.

"Load torpedo tube one, Lt." Crysta said never taking her eyes off Derrick.

"Tube one loaded." Devin replied.

"Target their bridge." Crysta said seeing the smile on Derrick's face fade a bit.

"Target locked." Devin said.

"Prepare to fire on my mark." Crysta replied now seeing much of Derrick's bridge crew panicking. "You have five seconds to surrender."

"Crysta." Derrick started.

"Five."

"Come on Crysta." Derrick tried again

"Four."

"I will not."

"Three."

"Crysta."

"Two."

"All right I surrender. Don't fire." Derrick said seeing his crew let out a breath they had been holding.

"Good, prepare to be boarded." Crysta said as they docked with the other boat. They loaded the boat and Crysta took Derrick into custody. They placed his crew into the holding area of the submersible.

"Clear." Ben replied as he moved the submersible away from the other boat.

"You pay a lot for that heap?" Crysta asked looking up at the poacher.

"Yeah I did, everything I had." Derrick said.

"Good, Fire torpedo Lt." Crysta said.

"No." Derrick hissed but it was to late and he was forced to watch as his boat was blown to bits. "You bitch."

"Next time don't poach in my waters." Crysta said pushing him towards the hold. Ben had to smile, hell Derrick had gotten off easy so far. The last poacher they had caught probably wished it were just his boat Crysta had destroyed.

Once they were back and had most of the people take down to lock down Crysta was standing in the hallway arguing with Derrick.

"I can't believe you blow up my boat." Derrick yelled. Crysta just shrugged. What he believes really didn't matter to her. "I thought we were friends."

"Poaching illegal Derrick you know that." Crysta said.

"I have to make a living." Derrick said glaring at her.

"Maybe you should find something that puts you above my radar." Crysta said seeing Lucas get off the elevator and head their way. Derrick noticed her attention was taken away from him and turned to see what she was looking at.

"Well now what is this?" Derrick asked with a whistle. "Lucas Wolenczak back from the dead."

"Can it Derrick." Crysta said seeing Lucas look wearily between the two.

"Come now Crysta you always said one day you wanted to meet him." Derrick said.

"Shut up or I'll send you back to your boat." Crysta said.

"You're not very nice." Derrick said looking down at her as smirk on his face. "A bit of a cold one huh?"

"Derrick." Crysta warned.

"Does she warm up when you touch her Lucas, does she burn for you? Me I've always found her severally co…" His last word was cut off as Crysta's fist caught him in the chin shutting him up. He wiped the blood away with the back of his hand. "Still touchy too I see."

"Get him out of here." Crysta said pushing him towards two guards.

"I be careful Lucas." Derrick called back as they led him away. "She's as cold as the frozen north, but not as compassionate. Cross her and she will kill you."

"Crysta." Lucas said worried at the look he saw on her face. He believed that if Derrick said another word Crysta would beat him bloody.

"I have things to do." Crysta replied walking away. Lucas watched her go, wondering at what had happened between the two of them. Shaking his head he headed down to SeaQuest to see how they were doing.

XXXXX

Crysta sat at her desk her mind not focused. It had been two days since she had stopped the poaching boat and she couldn't seem to get out of the slump she was in. She snapped at everyone. Tomorrow was they day they would launch SeaQuest for the fist time and yet she couldn't sleep.

Getting up she made her way down to the mess hall figuring she could grab something to eat. Maybe some tea to calm her nerves. Anything to take her mind off how horrible she's been the last two days.

XXXXX

Lucas entered the mess hall his intent on finding something to help him sleep; he stopped at seeing Crysta seated by her self in the dimly lit room. He watched her for a few minutes wondering at her mood. She had been distant ever since she had brought that poacher here. With a sigh he walked over to her.

"Mind if I join you?" Lucas asked seeing her jump slightly.

"What?" Crysta asked looking up at him. She watched as he sat down beside her, his face worried.

"You OK?" He asked.

"Fine." Crysta replied again staring at what she was eating.

"What are you eating?" Lucas asked.

"Hot fudge sundae." Crysta said not looking up at him. "What a bit?"

"No I can't sleep now." Lucas replied with a small smile. "If I eat anything like that I certainly won't be able to sleep." They feel silent as Lucas continued to watch her. He was very worried about her, and didn't know how to break her out of the slump she was in.

"When I was little," Crysta started seemingly talking to herself. "And I couldn't sleep my mom would make me this warm drink because I would get a cold spot and this drink would help."

"Do you remember what the drink was?" Lucas asked seeing Crysta jump again. She shook her head no. "Why don't you call her and ask her?"

"My mother is dead," Crysta said her face blank and her voice emotionless. "She died a long time ago, she was very sick."

"I'm sorry." Lucas said quietly reaching out to touch her shoulder.

"I'm not." Crysta replied and Lucas felt a chill run through him at her cold words.

"Your father?" Lucas said.

"My father," Crysta said with a humorless laugh. "The only thing I got from my father is the advice 'never let anyone get to close, then they won't have the mean to destroy you'."

"But you need people to be close, it's human nature. It's what makes us happy." Lucas said seeing her eyes come to him. He could see that she hadn't sleep in a while.

"Happiness is not something a person needs, it is nothing more them a elusion of completeness in ones life." Crysta said her voice hollow.

"And love?" He asked.

"A fabrication women convinces themselves of so they don't have to be alone." Crysta said meeting his eyes.

"I honestly don't believe you think that's true." Lucas said. "If you had someone."

"Ha, my life had no room for complications Lucas." Crysta replied realizing that considering what she did, and who she was she couldn't let love in. Not that she would now how to anyway.

"Complications? Is that how you see love?" Lucas asked reaching out to touch her cheek.

"See Lucas," Crysta said hating herself for telling him. She stood and started towards the door. "The truth is never pretty or what you want to hear."

Lucas also stood he wasn't about to let her think that. He caught her just before she left the room; grabbing a hold of her he turned her to face him. Reaching up he grabbed the back of her head as his lips descended on hers.

Crysta stood stone still; she had no idea of what she had said to get this reaction out of him. She felt his hand tighten on the back of her head, but she was afraid to react. She didn't know what he wanted. He pulled back to look down at her.

"Were you trying to prove a point?" Crysta asked her voice icy.

"You are cold." Lucas said letting go of her and walking out of the room. Crysta stood there for a few minutes. Tears formed but didn't fall no she would not cry. Going back to her office she dialed Dr. Carter. She paced as she waited.

"Crysta why are you calling me at 3:30 in the morning?" Dr. Carter asked with a yawn.

"Am I cold?" Crysta asked.

"What?" Dr. Carter asked watching as Crysta continued to pace.

"Am I cold?" She asked again stopping to look at him.

"Tell me my dear what is bothering you?" Carter asked worried about the way she was pacing. Crysta paced when she had something on her mind, but this was short and halting.

"I know sometimes I can come across cold, considering my line of work. But I'm not heartless am I?" Crysta said taking a deep breath. "I have responsibilities that need my attentions, I can't be expected to just show feelings at every little thing, I mean for god sake I'm a trained assassin."

"Crysta?" Carter started but saw that she wasn't finished.

"I do what I must to survive, I don't ask people to understand that. But they don't have to throw it back in my face do they? I have people to take care of, it's to hard to let them in." Crysta said she stopped to look at him. "I saved his life and he thinks I'm cold."

"Crysta you're not cold, you just have trust issues." Carter replied.

"Trust? Ha like that's ever going to happen." Crysta snorted.

"You hid behind what you are so you don't have to take the chance of getting hurt." Carter said. "You've been hurt and you over analyze, sometimes you need to just feel."

"Really?" Crysta asked slumping into her chair.

"Yes," Carter said. "You build walls around yourself when someone gets to close."

"Built from pain and sadness." Crysta muttered.

"Give him a chance Crysta, give yourself a chance." Carter said yawning again.

"Thanks doc." Crysta said as the vid-link went dead. With a sigh she went down to hydroponics hoping the relaxing environment would help calm her.