Tim stared at the limp body in Ben arms. It didn't make sense to him, he was sure the short message he received was from the computer genius. And no one else on the ship could have manipulated the systems like that. He tried to understand what could have happened while watching what was unfolding on the bridge.

York opened the chamber of his revolver and pulled four the remaining bullets out. He closed it with a snap and spun it around. "I hear you like to play poker, captain. What about roulette?" Nathan glared back, not honoring the man with a response. "Now, I'm told the kid's is probably brain dead, but there is always hope that he'll wake up, right? Would a rather large hole change that hope?"

He raised the gun suddenly and pulled the trigger. Ben dropped to his knees and hunched his shoulders, trying to protect Lucas when he saw the gun come up. There was only a hollow click, and he looked up into York's laughing face. The man spun the chamber again and started to aim. Ben knew he couldn't get off the floor fast enough with the extra weight in his arms. He closed his eyes, waiting for the shot to come.


Jayde picked up the used dart that had fallen from the guard when she searched him. When she saw it unscrewed, she pulled it apart and used a needle to refill it with her medical supplies. She wasn't sure about the dosage, but didn't think anyone would die from it Killing someone was not something she ever wanted to deal with again.

She tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for the vo-corder to give her the signal. After working out a quick plan, Lucas left to see what was going on with other crew members. That was several minutes ago and she was getting worried.


The vid-screen on the bridge turned on and everyone stopped to looked up at it. York kept his gun aimed at Ben and Lucas but watched as well. "This better not be another call." He warned Tim.

The communications officer shook his head. "N... no it isn't out going, it's coming from somewhere here, on the bridge."

Words came up on the screen. Stop what you're doing, they can't fix the problems. Only I can, and I won't help you if you hurt them in anyway.

"Who are you?" York snarled, turning around searching the bridge.

I am the crown prince of SeaQuest, and I am here to save the normals.

"What the hell does that mean?" York screamed.

Ben's head swiveled from the blonde person in his arms and the screen, he started to laugh, ignoring the confused expressions around him. "Of course it is." He closed his eyes and sat on floor heavily, unable to stay upright on his knees. "Good job kid."

Kristin took a step closer but hesitated, fearing Ben was reacting to feeling a last heartbeat from the teen. "Ben," Nathan started cautiously, staring at his morale officer as if he had finally gone off the deep end. "Who is that?"

"It's Lucas." Tim pipped up. "I don't understand how, but I know it's Lucas. He said nearly the same thing to me a while ago."

"But... but how?" York was changing back and forth from rage to shock at every moment.

You did it, when the interface electrocuted me. I have become one with the SeaQuest. Ben snorted loudly when he read the last statement and dissolved into laughter again. I'll have to thank you, this is very cool.

York shook his head. "No, it could be anyone. Just because words on a screen tell you something, it doesn't make it true. Anyone can pretend to be someone else and make up whatever they want. Tell me where you are and my men will come get you. If you don't, I'll start killing people."

You've already killed someone. The computer pointed out.

"He was my man, he was mine to kill. It's his own fault for trying to turn on me."

So you'll shoot some one who wants to help you just because they question your motives? That's pretty messed up man. You should think about seeing some one. York started to sputter and couldn't formulate a response.

The screen went back and new words appeared. Ben, put me down. I look like a six year old.

Ben laughed again and slid the teen's body off his lap. "Better kid?"

Yeah, thanks. That was embarrassing.

"Lucas? Um, what are you doing?" Nathan asked quietly. Kristin placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him silent support.

Don't worry Cap, Doc, I can control everything. He isn't going to hurt you.

"I'm not?" York bellowed. "If you are actually who you say, you know how many men I have here. I can kill your whole crew."

And I can explode the ship.

"You won't, why would you kill your crew to keep me from killing them? That doesn't make any sense." York was working himself up into a fury.

"You've never argued with a teenager have you, York?" Nathan asked. He was worried Lucas would push the man to far and some one would be hurt soon. "Logic isn't always a big part of what they want."

Let the crew go, we'll talk after. The vidscreen went to black, and York looked to the faces around him for some kind of answer.


"Ok, Jayde, I bought you some time." The vocorder came to life, startling the girl.

"On it. Wish me luck."

"You'll do fine."

Jayde poked her head out of the doorway and saw the path was nearly clear. One armed man was about to turn the corner away from her. She waited a few seconds and tried again. He was gone. She scurried down the hall to where the hostages were being kept. She came to a stop before the last corner and risked a look. Two guards, both facing away. Jayde brought the tranquilizer gun up and squeezed the trigger. The man she was aiming for grunted, and took a step. The next dart was flying before he hit the ground and his partner soon followed him.

She raced around the corner to see Jonathan watching her in shock. After digging around in the pockets of the sleeping men, she pulled out handcuff keys and started to free Ford. "How did you get away?" He asked in a hushed whisper, taking the keys to unlock the rest.

"That's a long story, all you need to know is Lucas is in control of the ship." She searched and then stripped the guards of their weapons quickly, checking the magazines in the process. She handed the rifles to Ford. "You take these. I like my gun."

He nodded at her with wide eyes, someone that young didn't normally know how to search a person that well, or shoot that well. He had a some questions for the girl when this was over. Jayde pulled out the empty darts and refilled them without pausing. "Do we know how many there are?"

"I'd judge about twenty."

She nodded, "Lucas said there are five on the bridge."

"Six now, another went there with Ben and Kristin." He blinked at her when the realization hit him, "and Lucas... did he wake up?"

"Um, kind of... it's complicated. I'm not even sure how much I believe right now."

Ford didn't like the vague answer but didn't have time to argue. "You should hide, we can take it from here." He unlocked Ortiz's cuffs and handed him a gun.

Jayde shook her head. "No, I won't hide. I can handle this."

"Do you have a plan?" Rylie asked, leaning forward so she could be freed as well.

"Kinda. You're suppose to get to the computer in the science labs to send out a message. Lucas will turn it on for you." Jayde explained.

"And us?" Katie asked with an upraised eyebrow. She wasn't thrilled that they were taking orders from a teen, but no one who had been knocked out on the bridge crew knew just what they were dealing with.

"You're suppose to get everyone off the ship." Jayde shrugged, "Once we take out the guards, Lucas will unlock all the doors. He's buying us some time right now."

"Do I want to know how he's buying us time?" Ford asked her.

She shook her head. "Probably not."

"Katie, you and Ortiz take port side. Jayde and I will take starboard. Rylie, take a gun, be careful." Ford ordered, taking control. His people nodded and Jayde followed him down the corridor.

"Where did you learn to shoot?" Ford asked quietly.

"Intensive military survival training camps. I did it every summer since I was thirteen." She answered uncomfortably.

He slowed his step and looked at her. "Survival training? Why so young?"

She chewed her lip for several seconds before responding. "Kristin suggested it. To help with my PTSD."

Ford came to a full stop. "PTSD?"

"Uh, yeah... from when and my parents and I were abducted and held hostage for a month... I um... I was ten, I got pretty messed up after."

The commander stared at her in shock, "oh." Was his quiet reply.

She fidgeted with her tranquilizer gun, looking at the floor. "Can... can we keep going?"

Ford shook him out of his surprise. "Yes, sorry." They started walking again.

"I had to kill someone." She volunteered after a few minutes of silence. "I... I probably would have been ok, if it hadn't been for that."

"You had to... when you were ten?" Ford struggled to reconcile the image of this teen girl and someone who had taken a life, in any circumstance.

She shrugged. "I don't really remember most of it. He... he..." She took a deep breath and let it out. "He strangled my mother... and I just kind of snapped."

Ford let out his own breath and they continued walking without speaking anymore.