Author's Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for the beta.

This is the first episode that I've deliberately changed.

Enjoy

Nathan frowned when Kate stepped in front of him stopping him from reaching the Stinger.

"I knew you back then," Kate snapped, pushing her had through her hair in annoyance, "And you are a completely different person now."

Nathan stared at her, "What's your point?"

Kate frowned at him, "My point is that the version of you that is inside that boat is basically a hard ass who will follow his orders."

"Kate…"

"You need another plan," she cut him off, "One that doesn't take you off the boat and onto his. Because trust me, that is his plan."

Nathan sighed, shaking his head, "Kate, this is the only idea we have."

"I have another," she told him, "You send me."

"What?"

"I know you're not deaf," Kate stated with the annoying smile she would always give him back in the days before she became his niece.

He frowned at her, "Explain to me why sending you is a better idea."

"Because he will know me," Kate reminded him, "And I know, no matter how much you may deny it, you cared about me back then."

Nathan chewed his lip thoughtfully before shaking his head, "It won't work. The crew believe we only met a few years before we joined the Seaquest. The personality scan was done years before that."

Kate smiled, "Exactly."

"You lost me at the sharp turn you took," he told her.

She chuckled softly, "Think about it. We need a plan that is not from you, something that comes out of left-field."

"This qualifies."

"But the version of you in the other boat will listen to me," Kate continued, "Because we have a history. And the crew can be told that we're using the new relationship with me as a way to prove changes to the old you."

Nathan stared at her for several minutes before groaning, "I don't believe I'm going to agree to this."

Kate patted his arm, "Honestly, neither am I."

The light was low when she stepped off the launch and through the airlock onto the sub. It took all her self-control to walk with even steps through the corridors.

"You are not Nathan Bridger," a familiar voice stated when she stepped onto the bridge.

Kate forced herself not to react at the computer generated image of the man who had saved her life more than once. Instead she placed her hands on her hips, tilted her head slightly and gave a smug smile.

"But you know who I am," she said, "Don't you?"

The image nodded, "Kate King. Thief."

She chuckled naming him Bridger in her head, "That's a very succinct description."

"It is accurate," Bridger replied.

Kate nodded, "For what I did at that time but not who I was to you."

There was a pause, "Explain."

"You have the memories of Nathan," Kate replied, "You tell me."

"This is irrelevant," Bridger told her.

Kate shook her head, "No, it's not. You're going to kill a lot of people because of a decade old program is telling you to. I want to know what you thought of me at that time."

He stared at her.

"You are annoying," Bridger finally stated, "But I worry. You have been hurt in the past but you have potential to be so much more than you are. If you change your life."

"I did," Kate said before Bridger could say any more, "Nathan Bridger saved my life and gave me a chance to be someone new. I'm Kate Foster now. My name is taken from his wife's and everyone knows me as his niece."

Silence filled the room, Kate held herself still as the version of the man she looked up to processed this information.

"Surely Carol is not happy about this?" Bridger asked.

Kate knew this was what she needed so held herself steady, didn't rush the information or he might not believe her.

"Carol Bridger died about eight years ago," Kate stated softly, "I never met her but she is registered as my aunt. Their son, Robert, died two years before that. He was killed in action and Nathan blames himself because he talked Robert into staying at the Academy."

"Where is Nathan Bridger?" the program demanded.

Kate shrugged, "I left him on the Seaquest. Since your plan was to get him here so you can destroy the Seaquest. I'm not going to let you."

"You have no authority," Bridger reminded her.

Kate let out a low chuckle, "Authority? Who do you think you're dealing with?"

"You are a thief," Bridger reminded her.

"I was," Kate told him, "However I am now a fully qualified engineer and I can take you apart with ease."

"Only if you have access to the systems," Bridger replied, "Which I will not provide."

Kate continued to laugh, "Oh, you never trusted me but you always underestimated what I can do. My speciality is security systems and the moment I came onboard I used a little device from my thieving days to hack you. I've had full access to your systems for the past five minutes," she pulled out a tablet and tapped a few instructions, "Your firing systems are now inoperable and you'll be going to sleep in five, four, three…" she trailed off as the ship powered down.

She took a few breaths of relief before activating her PAL.

"Tim," she called.

"Are you okay?" her friend demanded worriedly.

Kate smiled at the concern, "I'm fine. Is Nathan there?"

"What happened?" Nathan came on.

"I managed to shut it down," Kate told him, "You can send the team to take over. I'll head back once they're here."

x

Kate stepped onto the Seaquest and saw Nathan waiting for her.

"Good work, kiddo," he smiled before resting his hand on her shoulder, "Bill is waiting to talk to us."

She nodded and let him lead her to the ward room where Ford was waiting with Bill Noyce on the screen.

"Kate," Bill greeted her, "Good work."

She slid into her seat, "Thanks. Tell me I'm never going to have to do that again?"

"I promise," Bill nodded before turning to the other occupants of the room, "Nathan, the project is being dismantled and I'm working on ensuring that this will never happen again."

"Good," Nathan stated sharply before the screen went blank.

They sat in silence for a moment before Ford turned to her, "So, how did you manage to shut him down?"

Kate gave a soft shrug, "I used my other talents for once. I kept him talking and hacked him; it's been a while since I was able to something that fun."

Ford chuckled, "I'll think we'll go with the story you managed to access the system by confusing the program."

Kate chuckled. Ford gave them a small nod before leaving them alone.

x

Nathan looked at the young woman sitting in front of him, she looked tired.

"Want to tell me?" he asked taking the seat beside her.

Kate shrugged, "It was just odd. Seeing that version of you again, the one where I wasn't your family."

Nathan didn't say anything, he knew she had something else to say and didn't want to distract her.

"When I stopped off to see Dee recently she said something to me," Kate confessed, "It's been bothering me a little."

"What was it?"

"That I was Kitten and pretending not to be would just end up hurting my friends," Kate told him, "What do you think?"

Nathan smiled fondly at her, "I think you've proven that you have both your identities well-balanced. In fact you're probably the only person on board who knows exactly who you are."

He paused giving her a soft smile.

"You did great work today, Kate," Nathan assured her, "I'm proud of you."

Kate smiled back, "So, lunch?"