I'm back from vacation. But I have so much to do now, like grading exams and working on my students' 5th marking period grades. This will not be pretty. But you're not one of my students so no worries for you. Enjoy the story.

I do not own the show.

When the room finally filled with water and equilibrium was reached, Six swam out. He frantically looked about to see if he could spot Holiday's plane in the water. Aimi swung her electric torch around but the beam was too narrow. Six could feel panic starting to overwhelm him. Outwardly, however, he showed nothing. He swam to the surface. When he broke through he pulled the apparatus out of his mouth and yelled into his comlink.

"Rex, where did she go down?"

"Six!" Rex flew over to him on his boogie pack.

"Didn't Holiday tell you not to make your builds?" He asked treading water.

"Oh, I took the thingamajig off Aimi's plane before I blew it up."

"You what?" Aimi yelled as she too surfaced. Rex looked sheepish.

"Rex, where's Holiday!" Six snapped bringing his attention back to him.

"Over there." He pointed to where the warship was now anchored. Six dove down and swam in that direction. Aimi followed. As Six got closer he saw the debris from his jet floating in the water. He narrowed his eyes as he saw something glittering on the bottom.

When he got closer he realized it was the cockpit of his jet. The wings and tail had broken off. He made out the still figure strapped in the seat. Holiday! His heart froze in his chest as he brought out his blade. He neatly sliced through the hatch and then the seat belt. He grabbed her unconscious form now free from its restraints had started to float up. Aimi swam next to him and together guided her body up to the surface.

When they broke through the surface Six was reluctant to relinquish her to anyone but it was necessary since he couldn't help her in the water. The sailors on the ship pulled them aboard. Six refused the blanket offered him. He pushed his way to where they had laid Holiday. One of the men probably a doctor was performing CPR, pumping water out of her chest and air into her lungs. For a second Six felt insane jealousy as the man dared put his lips on her. He mentally shook himself and knew that he needed to let the experts help her. But as she lay lifeless on deck, unresponsive to the medical attention, he began to panic. He resisted the urge to shove the doctor aside and start CPR himself.

Aimi watched Six carefully. His face was passive and on the outside was a picture of calm. But the fists balled at his sides showed him to be otherwise. She remembered her reaction when her car erupted into flames with Robert in it. She was hysterical. Hands had to keep her from throwing herself into the fiery carnage. Finally, they had to sedate her. How long she was out she couldn't remember. Hours blended into days into weeks. Thirst for revenge snapped her out of it. She went out looking for the cowards but found that even when they were dispatched it did not salve her wounds. She marveled at her brother's control until she realized it was just a mask to cover the tumult of emotions just bubbling under the surface.

Rex was the only one expressing anything they were really feeling.

"Please doc wake up. Please." Tears streamed down his face as he knelt next to the doctor. "We can't do this without you. Can we Six?"

He turned his tear stained face to his mentor. Six didn't answer seemingly lost in his own world. When he finally looked like he was about to answer, a choked cough brought their attention back. Holiday was coughing water out of her lungs. She gasped as she tried to fill her lungs with life- giving oxygen.

The man administering the first aid moved away. Rex already had the good doctor in a tight embrace. "You're all right!" He exclaimed.

"Rex, too tight, need air." Holiday gasped.

"Oh sorry." He said sheepishly as he let go. Holiday took deep breaths and looked around. To her relief she saw Six and Aimi.

"Are you guys all right?" She asked them.

Aimi blinked. She had almost died and she was asking if they were all right?

Six moved deftly to her other side not answering. Holiday looked up at him in surprise but what came next totally floored her. He gently gathered her into his arms and picked her up as if she weighed nothing. He looked at Aimi. "Is there someplace she can lie down?"

"Not really this is a warship but there might be benches down below." Six nodded, grabbed some blankets, and walked towards the stairs leading to the lower deck.

"Six, I'm fine. I don't need to lie down. I need to take more readings and I need to know what happened down in the rig." Holiday protested.

"It was ZAG-RS. We stopped the AI in the rig but I don't think this is the end." Six kept walking with her in his arms. " ZAG-RS said something about the other programs."

Holiday pushed against his chest but his grip on her tightened.

"ZAG-RS! We need to contact Caesar immediately. And Rex! We need to keep it away from him." She tried to free herself from his iron grasp.

"Keep what away from me?" Rex was behind them only half hearing.

"ZAG –RS," Six answered.

"What? Where?" Rex asked alarmed before realization hit him. "Wait it all makes sense now! We need to go get Caesar."

"I will contact Caesar. Holiday will rest. Rex will stay with you." He ignored both their protests. "I will take care of it." Six insisted as he located a bench and carefully placed Holiday down.

"Why do I have to stay?" Rex whined.

"I don't want ZAG-RS to know you're here. Last time she almost… erased you." Six faltered a moment as he looked at the two people in the world that meant everything to him. "Holiday, you almost drowned. Just rest a second. If anything happens I'll get you… I promise."

Holiday was shocked at how gently he said it. All she could do was nod. Rex was too busy pouting to notice the looks the two adults were giving each other.

Holiday and Six snapped out of their trance when the ship lurched violently. Holiday was thrown off the bench by the sudden movement but Six caught her and placed her back down. He firmly but gently pushed her down before tucking her in tightly with the blankets. He gave Rex a warning glare as he flipped out his blades and raced up the stairs.

When Six reached the top deck, he paused. The sky had darkened ominously. The slate-grey clouds had swirled in the sky. Those, however, were not what made him stop in his tracks. Looming over the warship was a 20 foot serpent made entirely of water. It roared and attacked the ship.