It was dark. There was a low fog swirling around his feet. A wan moon gave an eerie light that came and went as dark clouds moved across its face. Lucas looked around and saw stones jutting up out of the ground. He moved toward one and touched it. Suddenly he realized it was a headstone. A cemetery? Where was he?

In the distance, there was a dark, forbidding-looking house. Lucas felt compelled to head toward it. As he walked, he heard a sound ahead of him, a low, droning sound. As he came closer, the sound grew louder and louder –

Suddenly, a figure jumped out from behind one of the headstones, holding a chainsaw, just as a cloud covered the moon, throwing the scene into darkness. "This is it, boy! This is the end!" the figure yelled. The cloud passed by the moon and in its glow Lucas saw the face of the figure.

"Captain Bridger!" he gasped, backing away. "Captain – please –don't!"

But Bridger just came nearer, gunning the chainsaw, laughing maniacally –

Lucas came awake with a gasp. His heart was pounding, keeping time to the throbbing in his head and side. "It was just a dream!" he said tremulously, but he could still hear the sound of the chain saw – wait, it wasn't a chain saw. It was a motor. A boat motor! Had the Captain managed to repair the boat engine? Lucas didn't think it was possible, but he knew what he was hearing.

Pulling himself to his feet, Lucas began to cautiously make his way back toward the house. His side ached with an intensity Lucas had never known before. Each step sent a stabbing pain through him. But reaching upon reserves Lucas had never known he possessed, he continued his journey.

Reaching the edge of the jungle closest to the house, Lucas slipped to the ground, panting and dizzy. After catching his breath, he found a vantage point where he could look out without being seen.

The boat at the remains of the boat dock was still as he had last seen it. There was no movement to indicate its motor was running. But he still heard the sound.

Looking out past it, Lucas saw the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. A boat! A boat was heading toward the island! Lucas didn't care who it was; all he could see was help coming.

A wave of relief washed over him. He looked toward the house for Captain Bridger, but saw no sign of him. The house and its surrounding environs were still and quiet.

As the boat came closer, he could see two figures in it. He couldn't see who they were yet. Looking around again for signs of Captain Bridger and seeing none, he stepped out into the open and began moving toward the remains of the boat dock as quickly as he could, clutching his side and ignoring his pain as best he could.

"Do you think they'll mind that we came unexpectedly, Jonathan?" Kristen Westphalen asked as the boat sped toward the small island. "It's just that it's a little worrisome that we can't raise them on the radio. I'm sure it's nothing, but I'll feel better to know for sure."

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Jonathan Ford replied as he expertly steered the small craft on its course. "Captain Bridger gave me a standing invitation to stop by and help with the seaQuest redesign whenever I could. So I was glad to get your call and have an excuse."

As they drew nearer to the island, Kristin frowned. "What happened to the boat dock?" she asked. "It's all in pieces! What could have done that?"

"I don't know," Jonathan said, frowning. "But let's find out."

As they came closer and throttled down the engine for docking, Kristen saw a small figure heading toward them from the interior of the island. "Is that Lucas?" she asked, squinting. "Why is he all hunched over like that? Something's wrong!"

The figure reached the shore and stood waiting for the boat, waving frantically. As Jonathan and Kristen came nearer, they could hear him shouting. "Dr. Westphalen! Commander Ford! We need help!"

As Jonathan eyed the remains of the boat dock, looking for a place to tie up, Kristen gave a startled gasp. "Lucas!" she screamed. "Look out!"

A disheveled figure had jumped out from behind a large nearby rock and was rushing toward the boy. As Kristen and Jonathan watched in dismay, the man knocked the boy down and began grappling with him.

"Jonathan! Hurry!" Kristen begged.

Jonathan ran the boat toward the shore, beaching it on the sand. Kristen and Jonathan could now see that the disheveled figure was Nathan Bridger. He had pinned Lucas to the ground and was straddling him to hold him down. As they watched in horror, he raised his arm above him and they could see that he held a knife.

"Nathan!" Kristen screamed, as Jonathan leaped from the boat.

Bridger was momentarily distracted, but quickly recovered, sending his knife hand plummeting downward. The distraction had been enough, however, to allow Lucas to frantically twist and try to roll away. The knife that was aimed for his chest hit his shoulder instead. He screamed out in pain.

Jonathan tackled Bridger a moment later, knocking him away from the boy. "Captain Bridger! What are you doing?" he yelled in disbelief. He was stunned when Bridger growled and attacked him. "Captain! Captain!" he yelled, trying to hold Bridger still. When Bridger continued to fight him, he was finally forced to hit Bridger in the jaw, knocking him out.

While Jonathan grappled with Bridger, Kristen had rushed to Lucas, who lay barely conscious on the ground. "Lucas! My God, what happened to you?" she exclaimed, running her eyes anxiously over the battered figure before her.

"It's not his fault - he's hurt - he hit his head. Help him," Lucas murmured. His eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.

"Jonathan!" Kristen yelled. "I need the first aid kit - now!"

Jonathan was still staring at the still figure of Captain Bridger in disbelief, but at Kristen's call, he snapped out of it and headed for the boat at a run. Grabbing the medical kit, he ran to Kristen's side. "How is he?" he asked.

"He's alive," was the terse reply. "I need to get this bleeding stopped in his shoulder, and then I need to see what's under these bandages." She glanced over at Nathan Bridger. "What about Nathan?" she asked.

"I had to hit him," Jonathan said guiltily. "He wouldn't stop fighting me. I don't understand what's going on here?"

"Neither do I," Kristen said tersely. "But you better watch Nathan while I take care of Lucas. Something is terribly wrong."