Author's Notes – Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.

The alarm blared suddenly as Kate neared the launch bay. Hearing the voices she didn't know she started back into one of the labs and, after tossing her bag into a cupboard, pulled herself up into the ventilation shaft above. She'd been relieved when Nathan had agreed to let her wander the ventilation system, in some way it made Seaquest feel even more like her home than it had before.

Crawling through she swore seeing the commandos, annoyed that they were invading her home but it also meant her plan to go see the Cary Grant movie marathon with Tim was now out of the question.

It was what he wanted to do for his birthday and she was the only person who was happy to join him. They were planning on meeting everyone else for dinner afterwards.

She decided to head up to the bridge to see if she could find out what they were doing here because she was not letting these idiots come into her home.

x

"This way," Kate stopped as she heard Ford's voice below her. She grimaced for a moment torn between getting to the bridge and helping Ford. To her annoyance helping Ford won so she slid back to follow him.

"Come out. Hands up, or I shoot," one of the invaders ordered in the room beneath her.

Kate gently moved the grating as Lucas slowly emerged from hiding with his hands in the air. Ford appeared and smacked the man in the back of the head, Kate dropped down as they fought moving Lucas back. When the commando managed to get the best of Ford Kate tapped his shoulder, the other man turned confused and Kate slammed the heel of her hand up before sweeping his legs out from under him. Ford grabbed the gun and nodded at Kate.

"You broke my nose," the man snarled trying to stop the bleeding.

Kate smirked before realisation flooded her that she knew him and anger filled her, "You broke my arm," she snapped back, "How about I make us even?"

As she started towards him Ford pushed her back, "Not now."

Anger simmered in her but she stayed back while they tied him up. As Lucas fixed the tape over the commando's mouth Ford pulled her to one side.

"Are you okay?"

Kate grimaced, "He broke my arm and I'm pretty sure he also cracked a few of my ribs."

"I know you're angry," Ford said, "I know you want to make him pay but we have more pressing issues right now."

Kate glanced over at the squirming man before turning back to Ford, "Okay. I will focus on saving the Seaquest and once we've done that…he's mine."

x

"We've been trying to contact you," Nathan said the moment he appeared on the screen.

"That wasn't a research submersible, sir," Ford reported, "We've been taken over by commandos of some kind."

"What?" Nathan grimaced, "Who are they? What do they want?"

Ford shrugged, "I don't know. Lucas, Kate and I are the only ones free. So far, they control the bridge."

"All right, Commander," Nathan stated, "Basics."

Ford nodded, "Identify the enemy, determine his objectives, counter his plan."

"Good," Nathan nodded, ""Now, I'll have some aerial sub destroyers sent to you as soon as possible, but you realize, if they try to activate any of our long-range weapons…"

"Understood," Ford nodded, "Lucas says I can call you from anywhere on the boat with this. I'll keep you apprised."

"I'll take to the ventilation system," Kate told him, "I can get round most of the boat without a problem."

Nathan hesitated before nodding, "Okay, be careful."

She gave him a quick smirk, "Don't worry."

Nathan grimaced slightly at her before turning his attention to Lucas.

"I'm alright, Captain," the teenager told him.

Nathan frowned, "You stay in your cabin, and lock the hatch."

Ford clapped Lucas on the shoulder before he moved Kate out the door, "If you get a gun can you handle it?"

"I prefer a knife," she replied, "But yeah I can handle it."

Ford clapped shoulder, "Be careful. I'm going to get Krieg and Crocker. Start messing with things so they can't get off the boat with what they've stolen."

"You know usually I'm on the other side of this?" Kate couldn't stop herself saying.

Ford nodded with an amused smirk, "Hopefully that means you can anticipate what they'll do."

Kate chuckled, "Give me a boost."

Kate dropped down into Nathan's cabin, smiling as Krieg jumped in shock at her sudden appearance.

"Well?" Ford asked her.

Kate nodded, "I took out two of their guys and I've been messing with the systems."

"Good," Ford smiled at her proudly before pushing the button to contact Nathan again, "Captain," he greeted when Nathan appeared on the screen before them, "Lucas left a message for us with Professor Martinson, I thought you should see it with us."

Nathan frowned, "Where is Lucas now?"

"He's on the bridge with Hitchcock," Ford reported.

"Lucas is fine," Kate assured him.

Nathan paused for a beat before nodding, "Proceed."

Ford activated the Professor Martinson hologram, "Before Lucas was interrupted, he was feeding images from the bridge into my video enhancer. I direct you to the other monitor. UEO personnel scan, active search. Colonel Schraeder, recently retired from the UEO's environmental enforcement division."

"All of the security codes that they've stolen are from industrial polluters, grade six and above," Nathan told them.

"Why?" Kate asked.

"Blackmail?" Ford suggested.

Nathan shrugged, "We don't know yet. Check in on intervals."

As he disappeared Kate sighed, "I really don't like this guy. What's the plan?"

"Whoa, Chief," Krieg caught Crocker.

Crocker jumped awake, "Yeah, right here, right here."

"We've gotta get him to med bay," Krieg said.

"No," Crocker waved him away, "I…I go with you guys."

"I've been playing with the wiring for the launch bay," Kate told them, "Chief, can you pick up where I left off?"

"Easily," he told her, "I'll get it down."

Kate winced as they watched him leave unsteadily.

"We won't count on him," Ford told them, "You two up for some trouble?"

Krieg shrugged, "Always."

Kate chuckled, "My middle name."

"I've got to shut down the hull siphons," Ford explained, "And then open the Maglev sea valve. I need some time."

"I can play fox to the hounds," Krieg told him.

Ford nodded, "Okay, Kate let's go."

x

"When I open the sea valve they're going to panic," Ford told Kate as they started along the corridors.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Be ready to get Lucas out," Ford told her, "If I have to deal I want to make sure I hold all the cards."

Kate smiled, "Stack the deck. I can do that."

"Be careful," Ford told her, "Bridger won't be happy if something happens to you. Neither will Noyce."

Kate nodded, "Give me a boost."

Once he'd helped her up into the shaft above them Kate looked down at him, "You be careful too. We need you around here to corral the nut cases."

With a cheeky grin she started crawling leaving him chuckling softly.

Kate stood watching the commandos as they were arrested. Her eyes narrowed as the one she knew had once been part of Lewis Kincaid's hired hands walked past.

"Not him," Ford called stopping the MP from taking the goon.

Kate turned to him confused.

"Admiral Noyce wants to speak with him personally," Ford assured her, "He isn't getting away. I promise."

Kate licked her lips, "Then I need to see Bill."

"Kate…"

She grimaced, "If that guy remembers I am here then I will have to leave the Seaquest."

"Then let's go," Ford said.

x

"Bill, I need the chest," Kate stated the moment she entered his office.

Noyce frowned at her, "Are you okay?"

"I will be once you give me the chest," she snapped.

He frowned confused, "Why?"

Annoyance covered her face, "I will answer every question once you get me then DAMN chest!"

After a moment he nodded and stepped over to the safe, he quickly entered the code and brought the chest out for her. Kate placed it on the desk and opened it digging through she found a small bottle of purple liquid.

"What is that?" Noyce demanded.

Kate smiled, "Harkens amnesia in a bottle."

"I can't inject some unknown substance into a prisoner," Noyce told her.

Kate rolled her eyes at him, "I can."

"Kate…"

"If he manages to tell someone I was on Seaquest it will get back to my step-father," Kate reminded him, "And then I am dead. This is the only way I can ensure my safety."

"You have two minutes."

"Only need one."

x

Kate sighed in relief as she headed back to the dock having ensured that she would be safe. Nathan was standing waiting for her.

"I'm fine," she said before he could say anything.

"What did you do to the prisoner?" Nathan demanded.

"Bill called you. Typical," Kate let out a snort of annoyance, "I made sure he wouldn't remember my presence on the Seaquest. That's it. Even if I did want to break his arm as well as his nose."

Nathan continued to stare at her.

"I'm going to go see Tim," she said annoyed, "I still have to give him his birthday present."

"Kate."

"What?" she demanded, spinning back to him.

Nathan sighed, "What did you use on him?"

"The same thing Harkens used on everyone to make them forget him," Kate explained sighing softly, "Nathan, you knew who I was when you took me in. You knew that I need to protect myself."

Nathan squeezed her shoulder, "Go see O'Neill. I think his birthday plans were ruined."

Kate gave him a quick nod before walking towards the boat leaving him watching her worriedly.