Pearl Harbour, Hawaii

Admiral Noyce's home.

Bill stood up from the table and walked into the kitchen to pour himself another cup of tea. He heard the phone ring in the other room. He secretly hoped the call was for his wife, Janet. It had been a rather long day at the UEO, and he just wanted to sit in his favourite chair and read a book.

"Bill, the phone is for you," called Janet from the dining room. Bill sighed, irritability. The day just kept giving. He sauntered out to the kitchen and took the phone from his wife. She smiled at him warmly and left the room.

"Noyce here," replied Bill gruffly.

"Admiral Noyce, sir. This is Lieutenant Commander Tanner. I'm sorry to bother you at home, but we are receiving an odd code from SeaQuest." stated the Commander. Bill raised an eyebrow in concern.

"SeaQuest? That's odd. The ship is dry docked in Port Everglades. No one is onboard. What kind of code Commander?" he inquired.

"It's nothing I've ever seen Admiral. I don't recognise the coding at all, sir," replied Tanner.

"Perhaps it's a glitch, Tanner. Did you call Port Everglades?"

"No, sir. The code came over a private, encrypted UEO security channel. It's meant only for you, sir and it came directly from Captain Bridger."

"Bridger? Was there a message attached, Commander?"

"S.O.S."

"That's it?" demanded Bill, suddenly alarmed. He felt his pulse speed up in unease. Nathan Bridger and he had been friends for thirty-five years. They had attended the academy together in what seemed like a different lifetime. Bill knew Nathan as well as he knew himself.

"Yes, sir."

"Contact security in Port Everglades, Commander and get me a secure link. I need to talk with whoever is in change right now!" commanded Bill.

"Right away, Admiral, sir."

Bill strode to his office and sat behind his desk waiting for a secure vid-link with Port Everglades. He had no idea what was happening, but he did know that only Nathan and Jonathan knew that emergency code and neither one of them would use them unless they or SeaQuest was needed help. It was a very old code that Nathan had programmed into SeaQuest himself. Academy graduates today would have no knowledge of such codes and wouldn't know what to make of it. Bill shook his head in confusion. The code made no sense to him since SeaQuest as dry docked and not even in the water. The last he had heard, Nathan and Lucas were out at the Island bonding and relaxing on shore leave. Why would Nathan be sending him a SOS? There was no way that it was a computer glitch. It could only be activated manually with a password and a key. What was going on in Port Everglades?

Outside the Mag-lev

Nathan and Miguel worked at manually moving the Mag-lev backwards to bring it closer to the opening. Everything was so much more complicated when the ship was not in service. The lift seemed stuck fast. No matter how much they worked at moving it, their attempts seemed futile. Both men were becoming soaked with perspiration with very little to show for their efforts.

"Damn it,' cursed Nathan pounded the door in aggravation. He leaned against the door frame catching his breath. Miguel squatted to rest.

"Mr. Ortiz, you're going to need to get us some back up. We can't open this thing on our own." Miguel nodded his agreement and took off down the corridor. Nathan leaned into the doorway and called out Lucas' name.

"Lucas, we can budge the door, but Ortiz went to get some back up. Hang tight, okay?" called Nathan into the lift. Nathan waited but didn't hear a reply.

"Lucas," he called again, worry in his voice. Had the teen lost consciousness? He wasn't sure how injured the kid was. Still no answer came to him.

"For crying out loud, Mr. Wolenczak, answer me!" he demanded again. Nathan banged on the door with his fist, hoping to revive the kid if he had passed out. Nathan listened closely and still received no answer. With renewed vigour, Nathan tackled the door again, yanking and pulling with all his might. He had to get the lift moved enough so he could get inside.

Inside the Mag-Lev

Clemens stuck his hand out and instantly grabbed the gun from Lucas' grasp. Lucas tried to inch backwards, but Clemens managed to sit up quickly and grab his arm roughly. Clemens held his hand to his face indicating that Lucas stay silent when Captain Bridger called his name. Lucas stiffened and attempted weakly to get free of Clemens' grip. Clemens rubbed his face groggily and pulled himself to his feet. He stumbled slightly and sat down on the seat behind him. He felt dizzy and was having a difficult time remembering how he hit his head. He glared at Lucas who was still on the floor. Clemens glanced round and began to read the signs written over head. Suddenly he put everything together and glowered at Lucas.

"You brought me here on purpose, didn't you?" he demanded, wincing at his own voice. "You planned for me to bash my head, you son of a bitch!" he seethed. Lucas attempted to crawl backwards, but Clemens kept a tight grip on his wrist. His head hurt like hell and his vision was off. He had really cracked his head hard on the seats. He felt a lump forming on his temple. Clemens looked at Lucas with hatred and managed to stand up, pulling Lucas to his feet. "That was your last mistake," whispered Clemens ominously. He raised his arm and smacked the teen as hard as he could. He watched as the kid went flying, smacking his face on the side of the lift. He landed with a sickening thud, sprawled out on the floor in an awkward position. He glared at the annoying kid and looked for the exit. Forget the damn kid, he was nothing but a nuisance and a liability. He would find his own way to the Bridge and hack his way in. He'd launch the friggen ship himself. He stumbled to the exit and realised he was trapped in the lift. He could hear the lift being pried open. He readied himself for someone entering the lift.

Nathan heard footsteps behind him and turned to see several men with his Sensor chief. Nathan was relieved to have the manpower to maneuver the lift enough to squeeze inside. He surveyed the room to see Clemens with his gun pointed at the unconscious teen sprawled on the floor. Nathan made a move to go to Lucas' side but was stopped in his tracks when Clemens grabbed the kid by his arm roughly.

"Stay back, Captain. He's alive for now," stated Clemens, looking raged and unpredictable.

"What do you want, Clemens?" thundered Nathan, feeling every nerve in his body tense up. Nathan watched as the man pulled Lucas to his feet roughly and wrapped his arm around the boy's neck and shoulder to keep him upright. Lucas' eyes fluttered open and he choked loudly. Nathan cast a sympathetic look his way trying to reassure the frighten kid from afar. Lucas gained his footing enough to take the pressure off his throat.

"Good morning, sunshine. Say hi to your captain," remarked Clemens snidely taking a step further back and resting his body against the wall. "I want a launch, Captain, and I want time to escape. I never asked for the UEO to breathe down my neck."

"You're a gutless coward, Clemens. Terrorizing children who can't defend themselves?" countered Nathan, waving his hand behind him to keep the men outside at bay. He knew they would be raring to come in, and they wouldn't be able to hear what was being said inside the lift. "Remain as you are, Ortiz," he commanded firmly behind him.

"Children," scoffed Clemens, shaking Lucas hard enough to make his teeth rattle. "You are fooling yourself, Bridger. This 'child' is smarter than you and me combined. He could captain this boat better than you!" Lucas's clear blue eyes stared at Nathan, pleading with him. His face was bruised, all around his eyes were red speckled and his breathing was raspy. Nathan could tell it had been a rough ride for Lucas. The kid was barely holding on.

"Let the kid go, Clemens. I'll get you out, I give you my word," stated Nathan, genuinely meaning every word. The man laughed and shook his head.

"Yah, right. Lucas thought I was an idiot too. Well, I'm not!" Clemens tightened his grip on Lucas causing him to gasp for air and choke.

"Can't you see, the kid can't breathe? Damn, ease up on him, for Pete's sake!" shouted Nathan, fighting every urge he had not to snatch Lucas away come what may.

"Get me off this damned lift and onto the bridge NOW! I'm finished playing games with you people." He roared pointing the gun at the ceiling and firing it off several times in rage. Nathan held up his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright. Calm down, I'll get the lift open. Relax, okay," Nathan turned to squeeze out the door again. Clemens relaxed his grip on Lucas and the kid pulled away with a jerk. The gun remained poised on him.

"Captain, don't try to be a hero," warned Clemens as Nathan left.

Once outside, Nathan explained the situation to the men. He ordered them to stand down and to do nothing to jeopardize Lucas' safety. The men worked to pry the lift sideways more. After what seemed like forever, the lift was forced sideways enough for the occupants to walk off. Clemens entered the corridor holding Lucas tightly in front of him, like a shield. He ushered the Captain forward towards the bridge.

"I can't launch this boat, Clemens," replied Nathan as he walked slowly towards the bridge. "It's locked down." Clemens groaned in annoyance.

"I don't believe you," he snapped. "Lucas already told me that you designed this boat. If you can't launch it, then no one can." The men came to the bridge and Nathan punched the codes necessary to allow the entry onto the bridge. He turned to face Clemens, his heart aching for Lucas. Lucas wasn't saying anything but his eyes were wide with fear.

"I designed it, but I didn't build it. There are fail-safes that even I have no control over. C'mon, you should know that. This is the UEO we're talking about!" urged Nathan, feeling his own desperation. Clemens' face burned with anger, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Get it in the water, Captain or this kid dies."

A/N -Well readers, this as much time as I have; the story is coming to a close soon. I will just need to complete it as I have time in January. I did my best to finish but life happens