Author's Notes: Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
This is the first episode of Season Three. I actually saw this Season before I saw Season Two so some of the changes to the characters didn't stand out to me until I saw it again recently.
I like Hudson, other than man-handling Tim out of his seat in Episode Two.
I have major issues with what they did to the others – Brody especially somehow became completely useless despite his introduction in Season Two.
And don't get me started on Henderson.
I do have a plan for the full season so enjoy.
Silence was suddenly interrupted by a sea of noise waking Kate with a start, she sat up gasping in a lungful of air looking around confused to find herself in a crowded bar. She managed to focus after a few seconds and quickly took stock of her situation the way Harkens had trained her. Thankfully other than being soaked to the skin she wasn't injured in any way.
Kate looked around the bar and instantly spotted Tony, soaking wet, surrounded by women and gambling.
"Typical," she murmured but at least it was one member of the crew, "Where are the rest of you?"
Grabbing some napkins off the bar she quickly wiped her face, wondering how she ended up so wet but knowing it was something she would have to leave until later. Right now she had to find the others.
She saw a balcony and slid through the crowd, dodging several guys who tried to talk to her but thankfully she didn't have to do anything else. She mounted the first few steps and relief filled her to see Tim and Brody were sitting not that far from her. While they were both still looking around confused she pushed her way through the crowd.
"Tim," she cried, grabbing him in a tight hug, "Are you okay?" He nodded relief in his eyes at seeing her. Without letting him go she turned to Brody, "What about you?"
Brody nodded, "Have you seen anyone else?"
"Just Piccolo," Kate motioned with her thumb, "No one else. Do you guys remember what happened?"
"One minute we were getting shot at," Brody told her, "I think I was hit but then…"
"Nothing," Kate finished grimly.
Brody nodded, "What about you two? What about the Seaquest?"
"We were hit by a mine," Tim told him, "I remember an explosion but then nothing. Kate?"
She shrugged, "The same. Why don't we get the gambling wonder over and see if he knows anything since he obviously woke up first."
They turned as silence suddenly descended on the room and several soldiers with the UEO insignia walked through the doors.
"I don't think we'll have time," Brody noted.
x
They were taken to a building not far from the bar and allowed to have a shower then change into some clean dry clothes. Tim chuckled when he thought of what Kate would say to being given a uniform to wear. He remembered the tirade she gave when a visiting Commander made a comment that as a bridge officer she should be wearing one. The guy had avoided her for the rest of his time on the boat.
"Commander," Tim felt relief fill him when Ford walked in followed by Henderson both still in their soaking wet uniforms, "Lonnie. Are you okay?"
Ford nodded, "A little confused but no injuries. Who's here?"
"Tony, Brody, Kate and me," Tim listed, "No sign of the Lucas, Dagwood, Miguel, Wendy or Captain Bridger."
Ford motioned Henderson to go get cleaned up, "Is everyone alright?"
"We woke up soaking wet in a bar," Tim briefed him, "None of us have any idea how we got there."
"Well I woke up in a shower," Ford told him wryly, "So I'm betting I was wetter than any of you. Have they given you any information?"
"No, sir," Tim replied, "Just gave us a place to have a shower and a clean uniform. Told us to stay here for now. I'm the only one ready so far."
Ford nodded, "I'll be ten minutes. Keep everyone calm and we'll get some answers as soon as I'm ready."
"Yes, sir," Tim replied just as the other man left him alone once more with his cup of lukewarm tea. He took a drink and sighed, "What is going on?"
x
Not long after they'd all taken a seat a man in uniform, balding with dark eyes and a stern look on his face appeared suddenly, "I'm Captain Oliver Hudson," he introduced himself, making all but Kate jump to their feet.
"Captain," Jonathan stepped forward as the highest ranked, "Can you tell us what's going on?"
Hudson stared at them all, his eyes resting on Kate for a few seconds. Jonathan assumed it was because she was sitting staring at him and hoped Bridger was found soon because he knew he couldn't control her.
"There's no way to break this to you easily," Hudson stated after motioning them to sit down again, "So I'm just going to tell you. It's been ten years since the Seaquest went missing."
"Ten years?" Henderson gasped in horror.
"Prove it," Kate snapped.
Jonathan turned to her holding up his hand to calm her catching something in Hudson's face but didn't get a chance to examine it.
"That will come," Hudson told her, "Right now we're heading to the Seaquest."
Relief filled the room at those words.
"You found it?" Brody asked relieved, "Where?"
x
The chopper they were sitting in landed and they jumped out into a cornfield to find the most astonishing sight before them.
"Gotta say," Kate spoke first as she saw the Seaquest sitting in the field with the WSKRs scattered nearby, "It's not something you see every day."
Tim arrived at her side now the doctor was finished with him. Kate glanced up and gave him a quick smile when he looked down at her. She was not looking too deeply into her reasons for sticking to him right now. She kept her mouth shut as Hudson and Ford argued over getting the boat back in the water. After a while she ignored them and moved to the WSKR sitting near her, wondering where Miguel was.
"Alright," Hudson called from behind them, "Let's get onboard."
Kate caught up with Ford as they started towards the boat, "What is with this guy?"
"Until Bridger shows up," Ford grimaced, "He's the captain of the Seaquest."
"Jonathan," she noted softly as they walked towards their home, "We're still missing more people than just Nathan."
Ford nodded, "I know. Look, I need you to be Kate Foster right now," he said softly, "You can't be anything else until we have more information."
She frowned.
"We don't know where Bridger is," Ford reminded her, "We have no idea if Noyce is still alive. Everyone who protects you could be gone."
"I know," she doesn't mean for the fear to come through in her voice but couldn't stop it.
"So let me protect you," he continued softly.
Kate nodded, "Okay."
"Get to your station," he told her, "Be my engineer right now."
The bay door opened and the two occupants of the shuttle appeared before them.
"Nathan," Kate breathed in relief, she pushed past Hudson and caught him in a hug. Not that she wasn't truly relieved to see him but, at Ford's request, she was being Kate Foster and this is what she would do under the circumstances. She then turned to the second occupant, "Lucas," she hugged him quickly before looking at what he was wearing, "You know orange isn't your colour right?"
He grimaced but didn't say anything.
"Captain Bridger," Hudson spoke up, "I think now would be a good time to adjourn to the ward room."
Nathan nodded, "Good idea. Lucas, go get changed and meet us there."
Lucas gave a shrug before he headed away, clasping hands with Tony quickly on the way past. Ford started the rest of them moving to the ward room leaving Nathan and Hudson to talk quickly.
Kate entered the room and took the seat beside Tim grimacing when two security guards appeared just before the two captains.
"Okay," Hudson stated, "Bourne has Nexus so we need ideas to get him out."
x
Tim listened to everyone throw out ideas wondering how this had happened. There were two people missing from the table, two people that they would never see again.
"As well as Alexander Bourne," Hudson continued, "We also have to deal with Lewis Kincaid telling him the way the UEO works."
"Kincaid?"
Tim winced hearing the horror in Kate's voice at the fact the man who had tortured her was free once more.
Hudson turned to her, "Your father has always been persuasive, Miss Kincaid."
Every one of them turned to him at those words; Tim glanced at Kate seeing anger in her eyes.
"What did you just call me?" she demanded standing to face him.
Hudson shrugged, "Sophie Kincaid, it is your real name. Correct?"
Tim looked around the room and saw amazement on every face except Ford who just looked worried.
"About a month after the Seaquest disappeared," Hudson explained not waiting for Kate to speak, "Lewis Kincaid announced that his dear daughter had been abducted by the UEO and brainwashed to denounce him. He then claimed that the Seaquest disappearing was done to take her from him once more just as they were reconnecting."
Tim stared at Kate before he shook his head in disbelief, "Kate?"
"Firstly," Kate stated as though Tim hadn't spoken starting to move around the table towards Hudson, "He is not my father. He is my step-father. I have no biological connection to the psychopath." She continued walking as Tim and the others stared at her, "Secondly, my real name is actually Sophie Patterson. If you have to use something other than the name I have chosen then use that."
"The name you've chosen?" Hudson asked not backing down, "And which one exactly would that be? Because the list I have is extensive. Let me see," he picked up his tablet, "Kate King, Anne Malcolm, Donna Evans, Kate Tolstoy - I take it you had been reading when you came up with that, Kate Robertson and my personal favourite Kitten."
"Kitten?" Tony cried in astonishment.
Tim turned to him but it was Lucas who asked, "What?"
"Kitten is a legend," Tony continued to stare at Kate who was still glaring at Hudson, "According to what I heard in jail she is basically a ghost who can get in and out of anywhere she wants. One guy I met had worked with her and actually shuddered when someone asked."
At this Kate threw a smug smile at Ford while she continued closer to the door, he rolled his eyes before she turned her attention back to Hudson.
"So," Hudson continued before anything else could be said, "The question appears to be where to send you now, Macronesia or prison?"
Kate took a breath before she grabbed the gun from the first security guard; she kicked the second just at his knee making him stumble before slamming her elbow into the first's face. She took the gun from the second guard shoving him into Hudson before she aimed the two weapons at the three men.
"Kate," Ford stood before ordering, "Enough, stand down."
She shook her head, "Not a chance."
"You have no way off this boat," Hudson told her getting to his feet.
Kate smirked at him, "I helped design and build this thing, I know every inch of the ventilation system and I know six ways from this room alone to get to the launch bay."
"Captain," Ford turned to Bridger who had been sitting silently throughout.
"Kate," Bridger stood and moved to her, "That's enough. No one is sending you anywhere."
She looked at him, the weapons didn't waver.
"Oliver," Bridger turned to the other Captain, "Kate is under my protection and this should be noted in your file."
Hudson nodded his eyes dark as he kept his focus on the weapon Kate was still holding on him.
"Kate," Bridger said again this time using the tone they all recognised as what Lucas called his 'I'm the Captain you will do what I say' voice, "Stand down, now."
Slowly she lowered the weapons letting Ford take them from her. Hudson nodded to the security guards they could leave. Both looking embarrassed they had been beaten by the young woman who barely reached their chests.
"Nathan, let me go to Nexus with Ford and Brody," Kate said intently.
Hudson frowned at the other man, "I don't think that is a good idea."
"Actually, Captain," Kate replied, her voice clipped and cold, "It's a great idea. Bourne is protecting my step-father so let me spook him. Kincaid likes to be in control and he's created this story portraying himself to the world as a victim. I appear it's going to complicate things for him and Bourne."
"I'm fine with her coming," Ford spoke up making Brody stare at him surprised, "Kate isn't a helpless civilian, she knows what's she's doing."
Kate smiled smugly at Hudson.
"Alright," Bridger finally said, "But be careful and listen to Jonathan. He's in charge."
Kate nodded, "Of course."
x
Jonathan smiled amused at the look of amazement on Brody's face when Kate took out three guards without blinking.
"If you're going to do that every time she makes a move," Jonathan told him, "We're not going to get to Bourne."
Brody nodded still looking a little stunned.
"Are you guys sleeping?" Kate demanded making them turn to her, "Come on."
They moved slowly through the colony, removing the guards that were in their way finally finding their way to the prize.
Alexander Bourne.
Even held under guard Bourne was still smug. Jonathan glanced over to the door where Kate was standing out of sight. She was watching everything, waiting for an opening to make her entrance. She would deny it vehemently but Kate could be quite a drama queen.
"It's nice to know the Seaquest made it home safely," Bourne noted after Bridger advised they could let him go, "My sources have told me however that you did not return with all members of the crew."
"Someone in particular you're worried about?" Brody asked sarcastically.
Bourne chuckled, "Not me. But a friend of mine will want to know about his daughter."
"You mean step-daughter," Kate spoke up finally moving into line of sight, "Don't you?"
Bourne's surprise was palpable as he moved out of his chair staring at her.
"So," she said walking towards him, "A sociopath and a psychopath working together. Your conversations must be fun."
"From what I've been told," Bourne replied, "You have many special skills that my government would be grateful to have. I'm sure we could work out a good remuneration package."
"Are you serious?" Kate chuckled humourlessly, "Let me clear one thing up for you, I would rather stick needles through my eye than work for someone like you."
"You're a thief," he reminded her.
She shrugged, "And unlike a politician, I have scruples. Nathan," she called over her radio, "Are you sure you want to let him go? I can arrange a little accident."
"Let him go," Bridger's voice came over the radio, "And Kate, I want him in one piece."
Kate finished packing her bag just as Tim knocked on her door.
"Is there a reason you're here?" she asked folding her arms across her chest.
Tim frowned at her, "Captain Bridger asked me to let you know he'll be leaving soon."
"He asked you?" disbelief filled Kate's voice, "You didn't volunteer?"
"Why would I?" Tim asked the slight grimace on his face revealing his attempt to bluff.
Kate stared at him, "Because I lied and you want to know why," she looked up at him challengingly, "Don't you?"
Tim frowned at her before he sat on the bunk, "Okay, yes I would like to know why someone who is always telling me to be honest about myself did nothing but lie to me."
Kate gave an annoyed laugh, "Did you not hear everything Hudson blurted out? You saw what Kincaid did to me and you want to know why I didn't tell you my real identity?"
"Yes, I saw what he did," Tim argued back, "Because he shot me to get to you."
Ice filled Kate's eyes when she snapped, "I knew it. All that talk about how even if he had been after me then it wouldn't be my fault," disgust filled her voice, "You are such a hypocrite."
"Because I'm confused?" he demanded beginning to pace, "I fell in love with you, Kate but I don't have any clue who the hell you are. What I saw you do to those guards, that wasn't my friend. That wasn't the woman I have spent the last few years talking with, laughing with. So who are you?"
Kate shook her head, "This conversation is completely pointless, Tim. No matter what I say to you, you're never going to accept it. Why do you think I never told you who I really was? Or what I really was?"
Grabbing her bag off the bed she marched past him.
x
Tim stood with the rest of the crew listening to Captain Bridger explain what had happened to them on Hyperion. At the mention of those they'd lost Tim's eyes drifted to Miguel's station, the absence of his friend a fresh wound. Turning his attention back to Bridger he caught sight of Kate standing slightly to one side. Her eyes cold and hard, she no longer looked like his friend, dressed all in black with her long hair pulled back from her face in a ponytail. He hated that their final conversation had been harsh and filled with anger.
Bridger finished speaking and turned, walking off the bridge slowly. Tim watched Kate as she spoke softly to Ford clasping his hand with a smile before she turned. Catching her eye Tim held her gaze for a few moments before he mouthed, "Be careful."
"You too," she mouthed back before she waved to the others and walked away without looking back.
Taking his station Tim started running a diagnostic, looking up when Ford touched his shoulder.
"Don't be too hard on her," the Commander said, "She's been protecting herself for a long time, it's hard to stop."
Tim grimaced, "How long have you known, sir?"
"A few months after they came on board I stumbled into the knowledge of her criminal past," Ford chuckled, "Took me some time to trust her but Kate proved to me that she was loyal to Bridger and the Seaquest."
"What about..."
"I found out her real identity the day Kincaid grabbed her," Ford explained when Tim trailed off, "Bridger made us all promise never to tell anyone."
Tim looked confused, "Who else knew?"
"Westphalen and Crocker," Ford told him chuckling at the amazed look on Tim's face at the revelation, "Apparently Crocker knew all along that Kate wasn't who she said she was. Westphalen found out after I did."
At the new Captain calling for him, Ford clapped Tim's shoulder before leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Kate smiled to find Lucas standing waiting for her at the launch. Without a word she hugged her 'little brother' tightly.
"So," he grinned at her, "Tony told me about this Kitten you're supposed to be."
Kate chuckled, "I'd normally tell you not to believe everything you hear but in this case I worked hard to get that reputation."
"What are you going to do now?" he asked
She shrugged, "I'll stick with Nathan for a while, see what my options are. It's a whole new world, Lucas don't forget that."
Before he could say anything Kate entered the launch and hit the button to close the door. Closing her eyes for a moment Kate took a moment to mourn the life she'd just lost while she strapped in for it to launch. She thought of the friends she had made on the Seaquest and how much she would miss them. She thought of Tim and how their last conversation had gone before it slid back to the words he'd said back on Hyperion.
"Kate," Nathan's voice brought her back to the launch.
Kate sighed, checking they were far enough away from the Seaquest she pulled out the gun she'd lifted from a security guard and aimed at him.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded.
"Kate…"
She gripped the gun tighter, "Nathan Bridger was well aware of absolutely every part of my past. When Hudson blurted out my real identity you were shocked. So, you have until the count of ten to tell me who the hell you really are or I'm going to shoot you. You may look like Nathan Bridger but you're not so I have no issues doing it."
"Kate…"
"One," she took a step forward, "Two…"
Before she could get any further the man before her shimmered turning into the last person she expected to see.
"Tobias?"
x
Tobias LaConte smiled slightly as the young woman before him was lost for words for the first time since he'd met her.
"Do you want to sit down?" he asked before glancing at the gun still held loosely at her side, "And put that away."
Kate placed the gun in her bag before she sat beside him, "Where is Nathan?"
"I'm sorry, Kate," Tobias whispered, "I couldn't save him."
Kate let out a sharp gasp and he watched her force herself to not lose control. He piloted the shuttle while she took time to get her head around the news he had just given her.
"Why have you been pretending to be him?" Kate asked finally.
"Because by letting everyone think he's alive means I have access to the Seaquest," Tobias explained continuing before she asked, "And we're going to need it so that we can change this."
Kate stared at him bemused, "Change what?"
"Everything," Tobias told her, "If I'm right then we can make sure Seaquest isn't missing for ten years and no one dies."
Kate stared at him for several minutes before she asked, "How?"
Tobias smiled and explained his plan to her. He let her absorb the information for several minutes before he asked, "Are you in?"
Kate nodded grimly without hesitation, "I'm in."