Author's Notes: Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Here is the final episode of Season Two. I will be taking this through Season Three but there are no transcripts out there so I will have to watch the episodes again.
Until then enjoy.
They were discussing the WSKR upgrades when the message came. Kate stopped mid-sentence as the hologram of Scott Keller appeared in the lab she and Miguel were using.
They turned to one another at the end of the message, "Bridge," they said in unison before running out the door just as Tim's voice came calling all senior staff.
Stepping onto the bridge they headed for their own stations, Kate gave Tim a quick nod when he saw her making him smile slightly. It was the warmest she'd been to him in several weeks.
Nathan caught Kate's shoulder before she sat down and moved her to one side.
"Something about this is odd," he started.
Kate grimaced, "You can say that again."
"I want Kitten as well as Kate to keep an eye on things," Nathan told her quietly, "Let me know if anything pings either radar."
Kate nodded, "No problem."
He patted her shoulder propelling her gently back to her station.
x
Nathan was pacing trying to make sense out of Scott's message. It had been months since he'd left with Tobias and this was not how he expected to see him again.
"We're nearing the Christmas tree trench, sir," Henderson's voice suddenly cut through the silence of the bridge.
Nathan moved to O'Neill's side, "We picking up anything?"
"Just static," his communications officer replied, "It's almost like we're being jammed."
A grimace covered his face, "Could we punch out a message if we had to?"
O'Neill shook his head before answering grimly, "No."
Suddenly the entire ship shuddered.
"Damn," Nathan grabbed a hold of the seat in front of him to steady himself, "What's that?"
"Feels like an energy pulse coming from overhead," Ortiz called from his station.
Nathan turned to him, "Get me WSKR view."
There was a pause before Ortiz let out an annoyed sigh, "I can't. We're losing power."
"Emergency power," Nathan ordered, "WSKR view."
"On screen."
"Oh my god," Ford gasped as they saw a spaceship above them, "What is that?"
x
Kate was trying to focus on her job as the entire ship was suddenly somehow on another planet. Her training was kicking in with every part of her telling her to run, to get away but she forced herself to remain at her station.
"Captain," Miguel called out, "I'm picking up something dead ahead."
Nathan nodded and the screen jumped alive.
"What the hell is that?" Ford mused leaning on Kate's chair as he studied the vessel coming towards them.
"Looks like somebody's idea of a submarine," Nathan replied, a grimace on his face.
Kate could see he was worried, he'd answered a distress call from his friend only for everyone he was responsible for to be abducted and he had no idea who by or for what reason.
"It's docking with our launch bay," Miguel spoke up.
Nathan tapped Kate's shoulder before nodding to Ford and Wendy, "Come on."
Kate followed on seeing Tim looking confused that she had been asked to join Nathan but right now she didn't have the time to worry about any of that.
They reached docking bay three just as the occupants of the submarine emerged.
"Ah, Nathan," the leader greeted them with a smile.
"Tobias?" Nathan and Kate demanded in unison.
Tobias smiled at them, "Thank you for coming my friends."
Nathan grimaced at him annoyance seeping into his voice, "You didn't give us much choice," he glanced behind the other man, "Where's Scott?"
Tobias frowned confused. "Didn't you get his message? I thought that's why you were here."
"Oh, we got your message alright," Kate grimaced.
Nathan rested his hand on her shoulder pulling her back, "He didn't say anything about being transported to another planet."
Tobias grimaced, "Oh, yes. I'm sorry, but we didn't have two-way communication equipment to reach you and there was very little time." He stopped and turned to the doctor who was watching him confused, "Wendy is there something wrong?"
Wendy jumped a little in surprise, "I just realized you can see."
"Yes, well," Tobias gave a slight shrug, "It's amazing what a little travel can do for you. Particularly when there's no longer a need to pretend you're fully human. But I will answer all your questions."
Kate glanced up at Nathan, something was bothering her about this. He nodded softly understanding her concern but turned his attention to Tobias once more.
"First," Tobias said motioning to the other with him, "Allow me to present the leader of, well, half our nation, the better half."
Nathan sat in his quarters thinking, not surprised when someone knocked.
"Come," he called waiting a moment before asking, "So, what are you thinking?"
He turned to where Kate stood leaning against the closed door, "I have no idea," she replied with a shake of her head moving to sit by his side, "But my spidey-sense is tingling."
"Mine too," Nathan replied patting her arm before sighing, "Their story is…"
"Pretty incredible," Kate finished for him when he hesitated.
He shrugged, "That's one way to put it. Okay, Kitten let me hear what you have to say."
"There's just something," Kate grimaced, "Something about this whole thing that feels off. I wish I could give you more than that but there's nothing solid. Just a gut feeling."
Nathan nodded, "Well, I've always trusted your gut, kid. So, if I do decide to go and meet the war council, I want you there."
"That could blow my cover," Kate noted.
Nathan looked at her, "Do you care?"
"No."
They both looked up as the intercom sounded.
"Bridger," Nathan said hitting the button.
"Captain," Ford's voice came into the room, "You better come to the bridge."
They grimaced looking at one another before Nathan asked, "What's up?"
The pause made them both wince before Ford came on again, "I'm not sure, but I think we're under attack."
Kate and Nathan sighed in unison before they headed up to the bridge to see what was happening now.
x
"Sir," Tim said after they destroyed the torpedoes fired at them, "I'm getting a signal. It's coming from right above us."
Bridger took a breath, "Let's see it."
"Aye, sir," Tim nodded bringing up the message. They all stared to see a Stormer on the screen before them.
It growled at them and Bridger turned to Tobias, "What's he saying?"
"Because you've chosen to come from Earth and fight with us," Tobias translated, "We have a gift for you."
The screen moved Tim felt his chair move slightly as Bridger leaned heavily on the back of it in shock at the sight of his friend tied up.
"I'm sorry, Nathan," Scott said, "I never should have got you into this."
The creature growled again and Tobias spoke up cutting through the silence, "The Stormer says to say good-bye."
"No," everyone could hear the panic in Bridger's voice, "No. Tell him we want to talk."
Tobias started talking in the language of the creature but it didn't help. The Stormer shot the hostage then laughed at them before the screen went blank.
"I'm so sorry, Nathan," Tobias said softly, "I thought with you here they'd never dare to kill him.
Silence filled the bridge as no one dared make a sound, all eyes on their captain who was pacing slowly. He stopped beside Kate and placed a hand on her shoulder. She reached up and rested her hand on his for a moment.
"Mr. Piccolo," Bridger called suddenly.
Piccolo moved efficiently, "Yes, sir?"
"Ready my shuttle, please," Bridger ordered tapping Kate's arm, "It's time to meet their war council."
As he left the bridge Tim frowned a little confused that Kate followed on. He shook his head assuming that she was going to comfort her uncle at the loss of his friend before he met with the War Council.
Kate stood watching Nathan talk to his friend, the one they thought dead not that long ago. She listened in Kitten mode to the explanation, her arms folded across her chest. Leaving Scott to rest Nathan motioned her to join him.
"Well?" he asked when they reached the ward room.
Kate shook her head, "You've already made up your mind, Nathan. You don't need to ask my opinion."
"But I value it," he reminded her.
Kate nodded, "You're planning on going after Tobias and I agree you should. Want me to come?"
Nathan shook his head, "No. And," he stopped her before she could say anything else, "It has nothing to do with keeping your cover. If we don't succeed they will come after the Seaquest. Ford will need you here."
"You remember my abandonment issues mean you have to come back," Kate told him with a half-smile, "Don't you?"
Nathan didn't say a word as he pulled her into a hug.
x
"Kate."
Kate sighed, turning back she saw Tim coming towards her, "What do you want, Tim?"
"To talk to you," he replied, "I need to tell you why I left."
Kate shook her head, "This is not the time."
"Well we could be dead soon," Tim retorted, "So there might not be another one."
Kate rubbed her hand over her face tiredly. She missed him but she wasn't sure she could forgive him just yet.
Shaking her head Kate turned and started away, "Just get to the bridge and if we survive I will give you five minutes."
She was about ten steps away from him when Tim spoke up, "I left without a word because I fell in love with you."
Kate stalled before turning slowly to him, "What?"
"It's…I…" he stammered slightly before taking a breath, "Kate, I didn't want to ruin our friendship but I thought if I spoke to you before I left then…"
"Stop," Kate held up her hand before he could continue his sentence, "Right now we have to survive the Kra-taks. We'll talk after if we live. Okay?"
Tim nodded. Without a word he walked past her and onto the bridge to take his station again. Kate watched him leave before leaning against the wall and closing her eyes. Pushing her hand through her hair Kate pushed it to the back of her mind and headed to the bridge hoping they survived but dreading the conversation if they did.
x
Kate listened to the chatter over the radio as they sat waiting for the team to return or for further orders.
"Commander," Nathan's voice came, "Listen. We are completely cut off. "
Ford bounced to his feet, "We're coming in."
"No, no, you can't," Nathan told him, "There's nothing you can do for us. You've got to stop this Mothership any way you can. Do you hear me? Any way you can."
Ford took a deep breath, "You know what they said at the academy, Captain? Always kill two birds with one stone," he focussed his attention on the bridge crew, "All ahead emergency. Darwin, leave the boat. Follow Lucas away from it."
"Whoa," Lucas cried stunned, "What? Wait a minute."
Ford took the young man by the arm, "Listen, take the Stinger and go. There's a tiny point of land bearing south, southwest of here."
Lucas shook his head, "I'm gonna stay here, Commander. I'm gonna fight."
"No," Ford shook his head, "You're not. Dagwood, get him to the Stinger."
Dagwood stepped forward, "Aye aye, sir."
"No," Lucas cried trying to pull away, "No…Dagwood, don't do this."
Kate slipped out of her seat and moved to the young man she thought of as her younger brother, "Lucas, you have to go."
"Kate…"
"Hey," she caught him by the shoulders, "There's no choice in this. It's Nathan's orders and if you don't go with Dagwood then I will knock you unconscious and he will carry you. Got it?"
Lucas nodded, he hugged her suddenly and Kate patted his shoulder. He let her go and with a deep breath Lucas left with Dagwood while Kate slid back into her seat.
After a few minutes Tim spoke up, "Stinger's clear."
Ford nodded to Jameson on helm, "All ahead full."
"On our way," Jameson replied.
Ford took out the key Nathan had given him and with a deep breath entered it into the slot, "Computer."
"Computer on."
"Arm all weapons," Ford ordered, "Unlock code 826242."
"Permissive Action link confirmed," the Computer stated, "Conventional weapons armed. Nuclear weapons armed. Pulse energy weapons armed. All weapons armed."
Ford took a final breath, "Target the Mothership above our people's heads. We're going to try and flood out the Stormers."
Tim nodded. "Aye aye, sir," he started entering the commands, "Lasers up. Torpedo's up."
"Commander," Jameson called suddenly, "What's that?"
"Son of a…" Kate gasped.
"A barrier mine," Ford grimaced.
Tim stood and gripped his crucifix, "Huh. I guess they had some underwater technology after all." He dropped back into his seat as the mine came towards them, as they all knew there was nothing they could do.
Kate watched the thing that was going to kill her along with the people she had come to care about, without looking away from the view-screen she reached out to the man sitting just to one side of her. Feeling Tim's hand slide into hers Kate held onto him tightly as the world exploded around them.