Chapter Seven

Captain Bridger awoke, feeling like he had been out for a night of heavy drinking. His head ached and his stomach still felt like he was going to be sick. He tried to sit up but the events of the previous day came back to hit him full force and he lay back on the bed. Lucas' bed. He had no idea how he was going to face this day but his years of military discipline took over and he got up anyway. His crew needed their captain to pull himself together.

After stopping by his own quarters to wash his face and get a fresh uniform the captain made his way to the bridge. As he walked briskly through the clam doors he spotted Kristin talking to Lieutenant Krieg. The faces he saw before him mirrored his own. Dark circles under the eyes, many of them red-rimmed from crying. He had to give them full credit that they were reporting for duty as expected. He had only been on the bridge for a few minutes when a typed message appeared on the main viewscreen.

Q: What should a damsel in distress do?

A: ?

O'Neill looked up from his station and said, "I'm sorry, Sir. I have no idea where this is coming from." He typed in a few commands but each time he deleted the message from the screen it re-appeared. He tried tracing its origin but he was being blocked.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Ford demanded to know. His face looked like thunder. This wasn't a good time for a practical joke.

Bridger stared at the screen in disbelief. Confusion mixed with hope ran through his mind. Nobody else had been with them after the movie the other night to hear the conversation. It couldn't be, could it? The message continued to stare back at him from the screen.

As O'Neill tried again unsuccessfully to delete the message the captain walked around to his station and laid a hand on his. Tim stopped and watched as the captain typed in one word.

Chill

What?

All eyes looked to the screen to see what would happen next. Another message began to scroll out onto the screen.

While I take care of the bad dudes

Captain Bridger let out a laugh in spite of himself as he shook his head. He felt his heart skip a beat as he realised it really was Lucas. Nobody else could have known about that. Before he could say anything to explain this another message appeared.

Captain arrest Petty Officer Anderson

Bridger turned to his security chief and simply said, "Chief, place that man in custody." Anderson looked around wildly as he read the message on the screen and realised its implications.

As Crocker moved towards the Petty Officer, Commander Ford stepped up to his captain. "Sir, what's going on? Why are you arresting Anderson?"

"Because Lucas told me to, Jonathan." Bridger let out a slow breath and looked calmly at his XO. "Chief, escort Mr Anderson to the brig. I'll let you know what the charge is as soon as I know myself."

Chief Crocker had known Bridger for longer than anyone else on board and even though this order made no sense he moved quickly to follow it anyway. If Bridger ordered it, he did it. He marched the Petty Officer off the bridge. Anderson looked panicked but kept his mouth shut as he walked out the doors.

Ford faltered for a second, wondering how to respond to that. Obviously Bridger was grieving and maybe a little disorientated but that didn't explain the messages or what the captain was saying. As he opened his mouth to speak again the main screen came to life.

'Sir, I don't know where it's coming from but we are broadcasting on the UEO emergency band! I can't shut it down." O'Neill just frowned at the screen in frustration because he was locked out of his own station.

The recording from the admiral's office was playing on the screen. It was also broadcasting out to anyone who had a UEO receiver within a range of two thousand miles. The crew stood and watched as the scene played out before them. Seeing Lucas on the screen brought fresh grief as they watched in disgust as a bully threatened the kid and their captain.

Krieg stood with his fists clenched and thought about what he would like to do to the admiral. He had always felt a brotherly protectiveness towards Lucas and now he just wanted to flatten the guy!

Bridger was putting the pieces together as he finally understood the reason for Lucas' strange behaviour. None of it mattered now because he was alive! The captain felt he had lost ten years in a matter of minutes.

As the recording finished and the screen went blank the crew looked at their captain in utter confusion. What the hell was going on? Everyone started talking at once trying to work out just what was happening here.

"Uh, Captain…" Ford started but was cut off as the captain turned back to O'Neill's keyboard and began to type again.

Where are you?

It only took a few seconds before the answer came back.

On my way to the bridge. Just chill will ya!

Bridger laughed out loud. Oh this was Lucas all right. There was no doubt in his mind.

Ford was eyeing up his captain trying to decide if he needed to do anything drastic like relieve him of command. Bridger's behaviour was bizarre but given the stress he was under it was understandable. And who the hell was he talking to?

In the midst of the confusion nobody noticed as an officer slipped off the bridge and headed for the brig.

Bridger turned around to find Kristin standing beside him. She too was eyeing him with concern.

"It's OK, I'm not losing the plot Kristin," Bridger grinned at her. "That was Lucas and he's on his way to the bridge."

The doctor exchanged worried glances with Commander Ford and she cleared her throat nervously, getting ready to speak. If she could just think of something appropriate to say.

"Nathan … I know you have been under enormous emotional strain but …" she started.

"I know what you're all thinking but, just trust me, Lucas is alive." Bridger stood his ground as if he was defying any of them to question him further. He knew what he knew and there was no doubt in his mind that Lucas was on his way to the bridge right now.

"Talking about me behind my back?"

Lucas stood just inside the clam doors and grinned at the looks on the faces around him. He was covered in grime after crawling through the access tubes and his damp hair was plastered to his face. Dark circles under his eyes betrayed his lack of sleep but in spite of it all he looked his usual cocky self.

Bridger seemed to make it across the space between them in one move as he grabbed hold of Lucas and enveloped him in a bear hug. He couldn't believe he'd been given a second chance. Kristin ran to his side and was quickly pulled into the embrace as well. The three of them were completely oblivious to the commotion going on around them as the bridge crew reacted to what they were seeing.

Before Lucas had any opportunity to explain anything O'Neill announced that Admiral Noyce was calling through on a secure channel. Bridger turned to face the view screen without letting go of Lucas. He was never going to let him go ever again!

The anxious face of the admiral appeared on the screen. "Nathan! It's good to see you. We've just seen the most extraordinary broadcast here. Care to explain?"

"Before I get to explanations, Bill, you to need to take Rogers into custody. Now!" Bridger fairly spat out the man's name.

"Already being taken care of, Nathan. I've already sent the MP's down to his office. He isn't going anywhere. Now, what the hell has been happening out there and why does half the world know about it?"

Lucas stepped up closer to the screen and tried to find a straightforward way to explain what had happened.

"Well, Sir, you just saw what happened when I came into Headquarters and it's taken me until this morning to work out who was behind things here on seaQuest."

Lucas continued to give an edited version of events while the captain and crew listened on in amazement. Suddenly there was a commotion behind the admiral and an aide rushed forward to whisper in his ear. Noyce frowned and then turned back to face the vidlink.

"Nathan, the MP's went to take Rogers into custody and…."

"And what, Bill?"

Lucas stood glued to the spot. And what?

"A sniper took him out as they were leaving the building! Whoever he was working with obviously didn't want to give him any opportunity to talk. Don't worry Lucas…we'll get to the bottom of this. I'm just relieved to see you are both alright. I'll get back to you, Nathan as soon as I can."

Bridger turned to look at Lucas, waiting for his reaction to the news. Lucas just shrugged his shoulders, trying not to let on how much he was bothered by it.

'I guess he got what he deserved huh?" Lucas calmly answered. "Except now we don't know who he was working with!"

"Captain, I know you all have lots of questions but do you think I could grab a shower before I fill you in? I kinda stink!"

Bridger looked at his young friend and laughed. "Anything you want, Kiddo. But I'm sure Kristin is going to want to check you out too."

Lucas grimaced as he looked over at the doctor who was nodding sternly in his direction. He couldn't help but notice the glimmer of mischief in her eyes and he just rolled his eyes in return.

"I expect to see you in Medbay just as soon as you are done, young man."

Bridger walked over to Krieg and quietly said, "Lieutenant, please escort him to his quarters. I need to check in on our prisoner and inform him of the charges he will be facing. I'll catch up with you both in Medbay."

"Yes Sir," Kreig hurried over to Lucas and grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Hey Lucasman. You gave us a helluva scare, kid." Without caring what anyone would think he grabbed Lucas and hugged him.

"Uh, Ben! You're squashing me!"

"Don't care!"

"C'mon Ben, I need a shower," he laughed. Lucas wriggled out of Ben's arms and headed out the door for his quarters.

Bridger and Crocker walked into the brig talking about what charges to bring against Anderson. Treason was enough to send him to prison for the rest of his life. The sight of the guard lying on the floor in a pool of blood set off alarm bells in both of them. Where was Anderson? How had he overcome the guard and escaped? Crocker ran into the cell to check while Bridger rather futilely felt for a pulse on the guard. He had already bled to death but Crocker's face was furious as he came back out of the cell.

"Cap, he's still in there. But he's dead too!"

Realisation dawned on both of them that there was another traitor on board and he'd just silenced Anderson – their only link to the truth.

Lucas!