A PERFECT WORLD

By Jules

CHAPTER 6 – Rescue Plans

Responses to Reviews:

Wildfire's Flame – yes it bugged me to no end that there seemed to be no appropriate ending to that episode – so I went about to rectify that in the only way I know how – write one myself lol. I could use Darwin for the shield, but seeing as how it already happened in the show – was going to do something a little simpler and have someone else do it. That is where the idea came from though.

criminally charmed - yeah, I have been writing a stronger Lucas in a few of my stories lately, but I like the vulnerability too and the angst that comes with a lot of the original lines that I have introduced. I think there is enough for both, depending on the situation. Thank you for reading.

firebunee – this storyline is about to get a whole lot more complicated before it gets told. Buckle up – because there is a lot more twists and turns to come which I hope you will enjoy.

Questfan – I always just sit and write – I usually have a basic outline – but so many scenes just write themselves as I am typing for a lot of my stories. May not be like other authors – but the only way I know how to do it. Thank you for reading – on with the next chapter now.

Ihni – You would think that all the components would be waterproof wouldn't you, but alas I guess for the purposes of this plot, someone got a little careless with the requisitions and equipment. Thank you for reviewing and glad to hear that you are enjoying the story so far.

Lynnp – keep reading – lots of interesting stuff to come – not even to the good stuff yet lol. Thank you for reviewing.

-1993 – Yes, I am afraid I have this problem where Lucas is hurt in most if not all my stories. I don't know how that keeps happening – will have to talk to the writer about that. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

SherryBird - next chapter up now – so glad you are enjoying it – going to get a little scary from here.

Thank you to everyone who is continuing to read this whether you sent in a written review or not. As long as people keep reading, I will keep writing.

And now – on with the next part…….

By Jules

As the overhead hatch closed on the launch, Lucas stopped calling out to his family and friends still stuck behind

the electric security screen.

The descent into the launch wasn't very long, but the sensation of vertigo from standing on the rungs of the ladder

was strong for the injured teenager.

He swallowed slowly, trying to quell the nausea that had returned a short time ago. He with dizziness that he was currently feeling, he didn't want to let go thin metal rung, for fear of falling. Even a fall of a short distance would be a very bad thing.

"Keep moving," Clemens barked from above, still holding the gun. He knew he didn't have much time to get away with the boy.

Lucas wanted to say something sharp back to the man's insistence that he hurry up, but his brain hurt too much to think straight. Any choice words he wanted to retort would have to wait until later.

Mycroft was under no misassumptions that Bridger would indeed be trying to chase him down soon enough. The electronic screen had worked when it suited him at stopping the Captain and his crew from being able to help Lucas. But there was no denying that Bridger was an astute and resourceful man and somehow he would find a way to get himself and the rest of his crew free.

He hadn't underestimated him after Node 3, and now that the crew had discovered that little secret, then he knew timing was definitely not on his side. With Lucas being taken as his reluctant prisoner, Clemens knew he could expect to be looking over his shoulder.

Bridger and his crew would waste no time in trying to find Lucas and rescue him. Mycroft needed to be away from SeaQuest long before that was allowed to happen. He also had to keep the problems of meeting up with the others in the back of his mind as well.

The window of opportunity would not be available to him for very long and with an extra passenger in tow, he would need all of it to mask his entrance into Andromeda without detection by Cavanagh or anyone else.

Mycroft knew there would be many questions asked by the rebels as well about his intentions and methods, but he had taken a chance bringing a hostage, and now he would have to stick with his plan, knowing that is was doubtful that another would present itself as an alternative.

Lucas gave a small wince from the pain in his head as he managed to put his foot down on the next ladder rung.

He went to do the same to the step below when his fear of succumbing to his dizziness and falling almost became reality as he stumbled, a short cry of surprise escaping his mouth. At the last minute he was able to grab a hold of the side rail despite his hands being cuffed together.

Another cautious step down and he reached the bottom of the ladder and was now fully down inside the launch. The teenager allowed himself to let out the breath he had been holding onto. He lifted his head to look at his surroundings, but the lights in the launch stabbed into his skull and the movement caused the muscles in his neck to tighten.

Clemens was only a few seconds behind, pointing the gun at the teenager until he was sure of his own footing.

"Get over there!" Clemens demanded, shoving the injured teenager towards one of the long seats against the side of the launch. With dismay he could see that the young man was almost as unsteady on his feet as he had been earlier on SeaQuest as a result of his head injury.

Clemens could not see any fresh bleeding, but the boy was clearly paler a shade or two as Lucas used his hands to push some strands of blond hair back from his face.

"Sit down, before you fall down," Mycroft ordered harshly.

Mycroft silently gave credit to the teenager thought, surprised as hell before he forced Lucas onto the launch at the teenager's tenacity and determination to defend his crewmates and then a stupid fish. Even when he was the injured party. And since coming aboard the launch, it was clear that Lucas wasn't about to back down now either.

Lucas remained standing, looking back at Clemens with as much contempt as he could muster. His head might be pounding, but he wasn't about to admit any weakness in front of the man.

"Go to hell!"

"Full of charm since waking up aren't you?" Mycroft sneered, roughly shoving his shoulder.

With the sudden push backwards, Lucas lost his balance and fell against the seat on his behind, looking up at Clemens and scowling at the man with a dark look.

"You don't have to do this. Let me go! "

The outburst caused Lucas to wrap his free hand around his head from the relentless headache that wouldn't leave him alone.

Mycroft now grabbed the boy's handcuffed wrists, resigned to the fact that Lucas was not about to co-operate at all.

He used his free hand to unlock one side of the restraints and clicked them around one of the supporting poles on the launch.

"That will make sure you stay put for a bit."

"You are not going to get away with this."

The pole was welded into the launch and ran from ceiling to floor in one whole piece of steel pipe.

Lucas started pulling on the cuff despite Clemens words that he wouldn't be getting free. The metal cuff scrapped against the steel of the pole, and the cuff was loose enough to move up and down with ease, but it would not release its grip around his wrist.

Secure in the knowledge that the teenager wouldn't escape anytime soon, Mycroft now made his way to the cockpit of the launch, ready to leave SeaQuest.

Clemens noted that some of the controls were slightly different than those of his smaller craft, but he had been in various different types of submersibles over the years and when it came down to it, the basics were the same.

Lucas's heart sank a little as he felt the launch's engines start up and the vessel began to move. He looked out the small window and could see through the porthole that the vessel was making its way out of the docking bay.

The speed of the launch was slow to begin with, but as soon as Mycroft sensed they were free of the docking bay and into the deeper surrounding water, he increased the engines.

Lucas found himself having to lean in towards the handcuffs in an attempt to brush the damp hair from his forehead.

The headache was bearable, but only just. The nausea was still present as well.

The pain and dizziness in his head confused his thoughts, but he knew that the danger was very real and he would have to try and escape at the first opportunity.

back aboard SeaQuest:

Ben Krieg quickly grabbed a hold of his PAL communicator, almost fumbling in his haste, "Katie, open the Bridge doors, NOW!" he demanded.

"Ben, what is going on?" Hitchcock replied, hearing the urgency in her ex-husband's voice, but still obeying orders until she had word from Captain Bridger or Commander Ford.

Despite their marital differences in the past, Ben was one of the most calmest people she knew, even in tense situations. It was very strange to hear him shouting at her like that especially aboard SeaQuest.

"Commander, please do what he says, Mycroft is stealing a launch from us and has taken Lucas as a hostage," the Captain explained hurriedly.

"We need you to operate the controls on the other side of the Moon Pool and release the electronic shield, Katie," Ben added.

Katie heard Bridger's statement about Lucas being taken hostage and immediately did as she was asked. If Mycroft had truly taken a launch from the SeaQuest, she didn't know if they would be able to stop it from leaving.

"Bridge controls being returned to normal operation," Hitchcock announced, her fingers dancing over the controls at the Captain's central console.

A short siren sounded, followed by a bell, similar to the ones that had been heard when the Commander was ordered to take all necessary precautions to prevent a breach of the Bridge.

Katie now took off the head set she was wearing and quickly exited through the clam doors. She paused a moment, seeing the senior crew and security staff stuck behind the security shield over the Moon Pool.

"You will need to shut down this security beam from that communications station there, Katie," Bridger instructed. "The remote was tossed into the Moon Pool and short circuited."

Hitchcock raced to the communications console, and began pressing a series of buttons to try and shut off the shield. "Damn it, nothing seems to be working," she cried out in frustration, knowing that time was not on her side or for Lucas.

"Try again, Katie," Ben encouraged, knowing that she was trying her best, but becoming stressed by the situation. It was a rate state for his ex-wife, when normally she could be counted on to keep a cool head and calm in a crisis.

"You can do it, Commander," Bridger said, backing up Krieg.

Kristen was so worried about what be happening to Lucas, that she barely felt the tension of her hands clasped together tightly, feeling useless at a time when she needed to be most useful.

A splash from the other side of the moon pool signaled to those trapped behind the shield that Darwin was still nearby. They couldn't reach him from where he was, but were grateful that Clemens had not carried out any threat to hurt the dolphin.

They all knew just as Mycroft had guessed about how much the Captain and Lucas in particular felt about the marine animal. The teenager considered him more than a pet, Darwin was his friend, and it had shown when Lucas had defended him against any threat from Clemens just as he had done about his friends and family.

"Come on, Katie, come on," Ben urged.

Everyone else in trapped behind the shield was carrying on an equivalent encouraging mantra in their own heads.

With every passing second, the tension was palpable and growing.

"Bridger help Lucas" Darwin chirped through the speaks of the yellow handset mounted on the other side of the shield.

"We are trying pal, we are trying," Bridger called back, but watching Hitchcock's actions anxiously.

"Just a few more seconds, Sir," Katie yelled out to the Captain and other captured crew members, demanding herself to be quicker, but not wanting to make mistakes that would cost more time. A lot of people were depending on her right at this moment, including Lucas.

"We don't have a few more seconds, Kate, come on damn it!" Krieg muttered under his breath, forcing his hands into his pockets.

Ford was watching Hitchcock intently, trying to see what her hands were doing, going over his own mantra, 'Remember your training, you can do this. Remember the emergency drills."

The electric blue field shimmered for another minute, and then faltered. It tried to flicker back on again but then failed completely, freeing everybody from the small area they were contained in.

"Good job, Commander, well done," Bridger said, clapping a hand on her shoulder as they all hurried to the Bridge with only one objective on their mind. Rescuing Lucas.

Ortiz jumped into the chair of his station, knowing that his information would prove to be the most critical.

All of them had felt the vibrations and noise coming from the docking bay that would signify the stolen launch taking off with Mycroft at its helm, and their teenage crewmember as his prisoner.

Ford stood behind Miguel's large screen, whilst O'Neill quickly settled into his own chair, picking up his headphone and immediately trying to pinpoint any noise that would show which direction the launch was headed in.

Bridger sat at his own smaller command station in the centre of the room, with Kristin and Krieg hovering on either side. "Mr Ortiz, any visuals yet?"

Katie Hitchcock was seated at her own command console, awaiting Bridger's next order.

"No, Sir, I am sorry, Clemens must be really moving, because I can't see anything moving out there. You want me to re-route all of the W.S.K.R.S. for the search, Sir?"

"No, don't go that drastic just yet, we need to keep vigil over the SeaQuest too, no matter how worried we are about Lucas. Take two, but rove them out over as much ground as possible without missing anything."

"Aye, Sir," Ortiz replied.

"Tim, can you pick up any engine noises through your set for the launch?" Bridger enquired.

O'Neill paused for a second, listening intently before answering. "I can't be sure, Sir. Possibly, but it is very faint.

Ortiz was right, Mycroft must be really moving the launch taking it out of range much faster than we thought."

Ford was deep in thought, trying to think of something that would give them all a glimmer of hope of catching sight or sound of the stolen launch.

Bridger looked over at Hitchcock briefly and could see her poised, and having an apologetic look on her face at what she was thinking.

"Don't worry, Commander, I know the Probe won't be of much use to us at this stage," Bridger reassured her.

"But I want you to do something equally as important."

Katie showed her professional face, but was grateful that the Captain understood the restrictions of the equipment at her disposal. The hyper-reality probe had helped before and used successfully, but had a limited operating range.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir," Katie replied.

"Commander Hitchcock, I need you to make contact with the councilors at Andromeda, preferably that guy in charge…….," Bridger requested, having to think for the man's name for a moment. "Cavanagh."

"Tell him that I want to speak with him urgently and appraise him of the situation. He may have thought he was superior to us all over there, but let's hope that he is human enough to render assistance when we need it," Bridger relayed.

"Jonathan, I want you to back her up….. just in case," Bridger ordered, apologizing with the tone in his voice about the attitude of Cavanagh to Ford's skin colour earlier.

Ford understood why the Captain asked Katie to attempt making contact first with Andromeda, and could see the distaste in Bridger's eyes at Cavanagh's reasons for excluding his visit.

"Aye, Sir," Katie and Ford almost said in unison. Their minds focused on the rescuing Lucas rather than the out-of-date bigotry of a leader who could say he had experienced much of the outside world.

Turning back and swiveling in his chair, Bridger went about addressing the crew as a whole.

"Keep our eyes open and our ears listening, boys and girls, for Lucas's sake," Bridger spoke out loud, knowing that he already had their full support, but hoping to give them all added confidence that their best efforts would prove successful.

"Sorry, Captain, I am not picking up any further external noises in the water," O'Neill apologized as he pulled down his headset to give his report. "The launch must be too far out of range for the sensors to pick up even the slightest vibration. I will keep trying."

Tim turned back towards his station, ready to run the series of steps needed to monitor the water surrounding the SeaQuest once more, knowing that time was not on their side.

It was Miguel Ortiz, who started thinking outside the normal procedures about what might give them the advantage and work. He paused what he was doing for a moment, his fingers pausing over the switches briefly.

"Captain, what about trying to test the water for a fuel trail?"

The crew focused their attention on Miguel as he continued to give an idea of how to trace the fleeing launch.

"Test the water for a fuel trail, the launch has to leave one, and I can work the sensors to test the sea water for just the right type of fuel, excluding larger vessels like the SeaQuest, narrowing down the search parameters," the young Sensor Chief explained.

"Like we did for Maximilian Scully in that Russian Foxtrot sub?" Ford queried, still keeping half of his attention on what Hitchcock was doing.

"Yes," Ortiz jumped up with a little excitement as he remembered something important, "But the fuel for the launches aboard SeaQuest have a unique dye that was mixed in. We can either discount other fuel trails that we come across that don't match, or we can find one that does have the special ingredient in it and follow it towards rescuing Lucas."

"Hey, I do remember something about that," Ford commented, looking towards Katie who was the other person who had the most to do with the original construction of SeaQuest. Hitchcock was currently trying to communicate with Andromeda so her attention from that task didn't falter.

"Admiral Noyce mentioned something very early on in the construction process about the fuel for SeaQuest and the launches in particular being different from other U.E.O. water craft," Ford explained.

"There was some plan to being able identify our own vessels from other subs under the water against hostile forces.

In the end, from what I was told, an additive was introduced to the fuel systems for the launches. The program was only in its infancy when I came aboard under Stark's command, but I believe that the chemical that was used to cause the colour difference is still an ingredient in the fuel's makeup," the Commander continued.

Bridger grimaced a little at the mention of his predecessor, Marilyn Stark. The sabotage that had taken place due to her own greedy ambitions had not been easy to forget. In the end, it had only been thanks to Lucas that they had been able to detect her ticking time-bomb in the first place, but not before it was responsible for many additional hours of repair time for the majority of the SeaQuest's most important operating systems.

Now was not the time for reminiscing though, good or bad, as they tried to find a way of tracking the stolen launch with Lucas aboard.

"That's great Jonathan. Ortiz do what you have to and get onto it now, with my full approval," Bridger said, pleased that a little bit of luck was headed their way. Lord knows they needed every shred of it now.

Tim and Ford were grinning at Ortiz's sudden brilliant theory, but everyone's attention on the Bridge was quickly drawn to the sound of an annoyed and exasperated voice from Katie Hitchcock who was still trying to contact Andromeda.

"Yes, this is Commander Hitchcock of the SeaQuest, I wish to speak to one of your councilors, it is urgent please," her voice remaining calm, but the volume raising a notch or two.

"I understand your problem, but…………..," she began to say in response, when she stopped abruptly, frowning a little at what she was being told.

"Captain Bridger from the SeaQuest, yes, he and a special party gained access to your facilities only yesterday," Katie explained, the person she was talking to continually interrupting her or talking over the top of her.

Katie paused a moment, "one moment please," she requested as she put the transmission on hold and attempted to regain her composure before reporting to the Captain, the difficulties that she was coming up against.

Bridger could hear the trouble she was experiencing, and except for Miguel and Tim, the other crew members gathered nearer to her work station. Krieg was in earshot of what was going on, choosing to stand behind Ortiz's work station.

In a quiet voice, Katie relayed exactly what she had been told, "Captain, this person on the other side is very reluctant to even let me speak to his supervisor or anyone else there."

"Have you tried explaining this is to help Lucas, Katie," Krieg interjected, knowing he wouldn't be able to display anywhere near the restraint that she was doing had it been him trying to get help from Andromeda.

"You heard me tell them that this was urgent, Ben," Katie said, regretting the edge in her voice that came across to Krieg rather than who it should be directed at.

"Let me take it, Commander," Bridger instructed, allowing her to stand up and step away from her console.

There was small smug look on the faces of Ford and Krieg as they saw Bridger take control. On any given day, the man was quiet and reserved, not demanding anything harshly from his crew unless it was absolutely necessary. Nathan believed in diplomacy and being able to talk through a problem rationally and calmly.

All listened intently, waiting to see how quick the people from Andromeda would be scrambling once the Captain of the SeaQuest introduced himself and made his intentions known.

"Who is this please?" Bridger asked, waiting patiently for the male voice on the other end to respond. It seemed that the person was a little stunned himself to now hear a man addressing him rather than Katie Hitchcock.

"Thank you, this is Captain Nathan Bridger of the SeaQuest, which I am sure you are aware is located not far from your community. I need to speak to Councillor Cavanagh, and I want to do that as soon as possible. Understood?"

Bridger listened to the reply for a moment, a small smile crossing his lips as he looked directly at Katie as he gave a rebuttal, "I am sure that Commander Hitchcock would be very displeased to be addressed in or referred to in such a manner, young man."

Katie's eyes blazed with indignation even though she had not heard the accusation, wanting the Captain to tell her exactly what was being said about her.

She was pretty sure that she could guess at any number of insults about her being a woman, or having any place on a vessel such as SeaQuest. It had happened before when she first joined the U.E.O. academy, but she had soon learned over time how to make the men sit up and take notice that she wasn't about to accept their second class opinions of her or her abilities.

"Uh-oh, she has that look in her eye," Ben Krieg whispered to Ortiz and Doctor Westphalen.

"What look?" Miguel enquired, knowing the Hitchcock was known for being able to display both her academic achievements and her physical prowess and no-nonsense attitude when needed.

There wasn't a seaman aboard SeaQuest that he knew of that would be stupid enough to make a half-assed wise crack or uncomplimentary comment about her that she would find out about. Ortiz would be fairly certain that any such party would be eating out of a straw for a week if they tried.

The possible exception was Ben himself, but she rarely let him getting away with it either without extracting a whole lot of payback.

"The look she uses just before she spoon feeds you your liver," Krieg elaborated. He had been on the end of that look one too many times to not recognize it now. At the time he had deserved it.

Now he liked to think there was an amicable understanding between them. Most of the crew were fairly sure that Ben wouldn't have put up with anybody saying anything against Katie either.

"Been there a few times, Krieg?" Ortiz teased with mirth.

"Just the once," Ben answered and visibly shivered at the memory, making Westphalen and Ortiz both almost laugh out loud.

At hearing the quiet laughter, Katie turned and fixed her fiery gaze on her ex-husband, thinking that he might be responsible for it, but visibly cooling down and keeping her calm, professional exterior in front of the Captain and fellow crewmembers.

Ben put up his hands defensively and put on his best 'deer in the headlights' look, 'I didn't do it' oozing from every pore. Katie shrugged her shoulders and turned her attention back to the task at hands, a brief shake of her head had that 'I don't believe you for a second Krieg' and the ever popular "I will find out what you are up to' meaning about it.

Everyone's attention was drawn back by Bridger's voice, for a moment he sounded like he was getting just as far as Hitchcock. "Lieutenant, please put Councilor Cavanagh on the main screen," he requested, his posture stiff and low in tone.

"Councilor Cavanagh," Bridger greeted the man, his voice authoritive, but to those watching the Captain, they could see the control he was fighting to keep.

"Captain Bridger, I agreed to talk to once more, but I don't know how I or anyone from this community can help you."

Doctor Westphalen sucked in her cheeks to bite back the commentary that she wanted to give in return. Ben's face was a mixture of confusion at the tone between the two men and impatience at the time it was taking to find out where Clemens had taken Lucas.

"Well you could hardly know what help we are requesting yet, because your people won't talk to my crew," Bridger shot back, not ready to be pushed around more like he had been during his impromptu visit.

"A launch has been stolen from my vessel……….," Bridger began before he was interrupted before even finishing half the sentence.

"That news whilst perhaps pertinent to you, Captain, hardly affects this community in any manner," Cavanagh said formally, his arrogance worn like a shroud for all to see.

"If you will let me finish……..," Bridger said, keeping emotion out of his speech as much as possible. "I believe he is headed to Andromeda."

"I hardly think so, Captain," Cavanagh disagreed immediately.

"How would you know, they are probably still headed there now?" Bridger said, his frustration growing.

"Look, this man has taken Lucas as hostage. He is already hurt, surely you understand our concern and the urgency of gaining help in this matter," Bridger stated, hoping that Cavanagh had at least some shred of decency in his 'higher-than-mighty' personality.

"Lucas?" Cavanagh questioned, feigning disinterest once more, but listening intently. "Wasn't he the child that came with you?"

'Great…….Lucas would just love to hear you saying that' Bridger thought to himself at the man's condescending tone towards the teenager that apparently hadn't changed since their visit of the Andromeda facility.

"He is 17 years of age, Councillor, hardly a child by any definition," Bridger said in the young man's defence. "But at the moment, and being a valued member of this crew, his safety and well-being is my first priority. This man has already tried to sabotage the SeaQuest and took Lucas by force."

"Even if what you say is true……….," Cavanagh to say, extracting a strangled gasp of surprise from a couple of the crew members watching the exchange and causing Bridger to narrow his eyes in an hostile glare that anyone would dare call him a liar in front of his crew, and especially about Lucas.

Cavanagh smiled inwardly to himself, knowing that the Captain's cool exterior was beginning to crack just a little.

He had always seen himself as a master of manipulation. The opponent on this occasion was indeed of a higher class, but he could see that the teenager was the man's Achilles heel. He always thought it necessary to work out someone's weaknesses and use them to his advantage.

"Who do you say took this boy?" Cavanagh questioned, trying to figure out as much information as possible for himself.

"A black man by the name of Martin Clemens, also goes by the name 'Mycroft' in some circles………….," Bridger managed to get out before he was sharply cut off again.

"As you already aware, Captain!" Cavanagh said firmly, the man's tone of voice changing to harshness and contempt,
"This facility would never allow such a person to enter its perimeter," he stated, enunciating and giving an edge to each word.

"What the hell does it matter what colour skin Clemens has?" Bridger shot back, losing his composure momentarily at the man's narrowminded views on people of different races. "If he is going to sneak into Andromeda, he will sneak in, whether he is black, white or has pink stripes."

Ford stood rigid and straight behind the Captain, giving his silent and support and determined to display to the Councillor that he was a capable man at any task. It wasn't as if he hasn't come across racism before, but the openness of Cavanagh's dislike set his temper on edge.

Cavanagh appeared to take offense at Bridger's sharp response, but the man's exterior lack of emotional or willingness to show any sort of reaction was admiral to say the least.

"No one, I repeat no one, has ever been able to enter this facility without our sensors being aware. The computer system that you witnessed first hand is of the highest standard and will not allow any unauthorized visitor to merely wander among our community," Cavanagh

To everyone else standing behind Bridger watching the exchange between the two men, the assumption of the unspoken words became more apparent, "Especially a black man' they could almost hear him saying with disgust.

"Look we are wasting time here………..," Krieg interjected, not being able to sit by as calmly as Bridger whilst this guy took away precious time they could be using to find his friend.

Bridger used a restraining hand to signal that he understood how Ben felt, but knew he had to prevent the Moral Officer from saying something that would terminate any sort of contact with Andromeda. If that is where Clemens was headed with Lucas, then they had to be open to all types of assistance, even the unwanted kind.

Ben took a step back, but outwardly showed his displeasure at being effectively muzzled from further comment.

"Maybe there is a way Clemens is able to gain access to your facility without being detected," Bridger now stated, wanting to be brief and to the point, anxious to start searching for Lucas himself. Cavanagh's delaying tactics were not sitting well with him anymore than they were with Kristin or Krieg and the other crewmembers standing on the Bridge of the SeaQuest.

"Impossible!" came the one word reply.

Bridger decided to keep going rather than let Cavanagh win the psychological battle between them that the Councillor was so adamant at keeping score for.

"We heard him make connections with a rebel group, called "Rogue 2" or something," Bridger supplied, looking back at Kristen and other crew members to check he had given the correct code name.

Katie Hitchcock was the only one who didn't nod affirmatively, not being with the rest of the crew at the time.

"Criminal Activity is very rare here on Andromeda, Captain. And I strongly reject any such notions of rebel groups or any such organization within this facility," Cavanagh rebuked.

"Of course you would," Kristin muttered angrily just loud enough for the SeaQuest to hear.

"So you admit your not going to help us?" Bridger accused.

"I have already told you that there is no reason for us to help you, Captain. Despite what you thought you heard or didn't hear as part of a communication aboard your vessel, it has no relevance to this community or its function.

Your suggestion of rebel factions within Andromeda are baseless and offensive. Your statements of undesirable people being able to enter this facility under false pretences is ludicrous, unsubstantiated and unwarranted."

Bridger look liked his had just been forced to swallow a lemon, his face wearing a the distinctive look of "How Dare You!', scarcely able to believe the audacity and righteousness that Cavanagh believed his society to be all knowing and all seeing and most of all 'above all others'.

"May I remind you Councillor, that your facility is a U.E.O. sanctioned operation. The waters that surround you are within the jurisdiction of the U.E.O. and I as Captain of the SeaQuest represent Admiral Noyce and all that the U.E.O. upholds."

"A noble gesture on your part, Captain, I am sure, but an empty façade. This facility is self-sufficient as it was designed to be and currently is able to remain unaffected by the U.E.O. or any of its representatives," Cavanagh snidely commented.

Bridger wasn't about to play with this man any further, "If I find out that you have deliberately kept information from me or my crew at any stage, or intend to disrupt any part of my current investigation into this so-called 'mysterious message' then the U.E.O. will be the least of your concerns."

"Take heed, Captain, that your vessel does nothing to intimidate me or this community and that you nor any member of your crew are welcome here any longer and we have the means to defend ourselves if we deem your actions to be in violation of our laws or intent on interrupting our way of life."

"You have weapons on your community?" I thought you were supposed to be a peaceful people?" Jonathan Ford spoke. From what he had been lead to believe all this time, Andromeda was supposed to be non-violent.

Cavanagh completely ignored the black-skinned Commander, refusing to even acknowledge the question, glancing back at Ford as though he was something he might find on the bottom of his shoe.

"Is that a threat, Councillor?" Bridger asked, his voice calm, but low and clear that he wasn't about to accept any form of intimidation or harassment.

"You have wasted more than enough of my time, Captain. I have nothing further to say to you," Cavanagh stated, severing the transmission.

Bridger and the other crew members blinked and blinked again at the man's brashness and outright rudeness.

"That sanctimonious son-of-a-bitch!" Ben roared in anger, keeping his fists clenched at his side. "If he does anything to stop us finding Lucas, I am going to personally sew him a new liver."

Cavanagh stood in front of the blank screen for a few moments, trying to go over everything that had been exchanged between himself and the SeaQuest.

Whilst he was able to gain some valuable information about the Captain himself, unfortunately he had found himself revealing a little too much about Andromeda as well.

What made him scowl even more was the mention of so-called "rebel" groups on Andromeda. Up until now, he knew of a handful of people that had been causing trouble and needing "correcting", but in recent weeks, their planned attacks and sabotage had become more noticeable and organized.

People were beginning to ask questions, and he didn't like that. Members of the community of Andromeda were supposed to go about their day to day lives until they were told differently. Until they were told what they were supposed to do and it was him and only him that decreed what the rules were.

The other Council members had been making noises recently too, having heard the rumours and wanting confirmation about their existence. He was becoming annoyed at this too. Everything used to be in control, under his control.

Now this SeaQuest and her crew had to come barging in and sticking their nose in where it didn't belong.

"Are you alright, Councillor?" one of the workers asked out of respect, stepping back in haste at the intense glare he received from the man in return.

"Have the leader of the night patrols come to my office immediately, I have some important matters of business to discuss with him," he ordered.

"Yes, Sir," the man said nervously, bowing slightly as he tried to scurry from the room without turning his back on the Councillor.

Cavanagh could see the fibres beginning to unwind and that was unacceptable. The only way to maintain order and discipline in the community was to show the citizens what happened to those who spoke out of turn or refused to obey.

The man made long decisive strides towards his office, the long coat he was wearing billowing behind him with the pace. The large doors to his personal chambers slammed shut with a resounding metallic clunk.

Back aboard the SeaQuest:

"Okay people, we might not like it, but I think it is clear to everyone now that Andromeda isn't going to provide any assistance," Bridger asserted. "Now lets put our heads together and come up with some viable alternatives, because Lucas doesn't have the time for us to be resting on our laurels."

"You don't really think that he knows something about Clemens and is hiding it do you, Nathan?" Kristin asked.

"At this point, I can't be sure. Up until now we assumed that Andromeda wasn't armed with the standard weapons that we are used to seeing. As you mentioned Jonathan, they are supposed to be a peaceful society that turn the other cheek." Bridger answered.

"Seems to me he is hiding something, Captain?" Ford interjected.

"Yes, but we will worry about that once we have Lucas back safely aboard. Until then, let's just focus on finding him alive and well," the Captain agreed.

"What are we going to do if Clemens has taken Lucas to Andromeda, Captain?" Tim O'Neill asked, seated at his communications station.

"For the moment, I am going out in Stinger and scout around as much as I can. Krieg, I want you to send out a few of the crew in the Sea Crabs to see if they can look for any clues as well," Bridger stated.

"You don't want me out there in one looking too," Krieg queried, itching to get going.

"I know how you feel, Ben, but I want you and Kristin to co-ordinate with Jonathan. When we find out which direction the launch went, I want a two part strike force. A single man unit to go in first, consisting of myself. Then a small second contingent, including you Kristin, in case we need further medical assistance," Bridger responded.

Kristin nodded her acknowledgement, all of them already aware that Lucas had been carrying relatively fresh injuries when he was forced onto the launch. The video from Node 3 and the brief displays and outbursts on the Moon Pool deck from Clemens worried her more about what he was capable of when angered or cornered.

"A two part team is not a bad idea, Captain," Ford strategized, knowing that the Captain would be wanting the best method of finding Lucas, but also the best crew members to carry out any sort of rescue attempt if things became hostile and dangerous.

"We have no idea how big this rebel group is that Clemens is working with, and no way of knowing what weapons they have or what their agenda is," Ford pointed out.

"Which is why I need to go in on my own first and why we need a back up plan if things get too hairy. Lucas has to be the focus and is my main priority. Rounding up Mycroft or any of his cronies is an after thought just like Cavanagh

"Ortiz, once I am outside in the Stinger, I want you to keep those W.S.K.R.S moving at all times. If the water becomes murky or too difficult to navigate in, you are going to become my second pair of ears and eyes," Bridger said to the Cuban Chief Sensor Officer.

"Yes, Sir," Miguel replied, getting prepared at his station to help guide the Captain as much as he could through the cold deep waters of the oceans surrounding them and Andromeda.

"Commander, you should be able to keep in contact with me at all times in the Stinger, but don't be alarmed if you lose sight of me. I will radio in my position as much as I can out there, once I get my bearings," Bridger addressed Ford.

"Aye, Sir," Ford answered crisply, stepping into the familiar role of leader in the Captain's absence.

"Let me know the minute we detect any of the additive from the launch's fuel in the water," Bridger requested as he prepared to walk off the Bridge, knowing that the helm and stations were in the hands of experienced personnel.

"Commander Hitchcock, I want you to monitor Andromeda as much as possible. If there is any activity outside of the facility, coming or going. I don't know whether you will be able to detect any communications or transmissions, but I want a pair of eyes watching Cavanagh as much as our instruments will allow. Don't reveal the probe to him just yet though unless it becomes vital."

"Yes, Captain," Katie said firmly, knowing that she would have to be a little creative and imaginative in her monitoring techniques.

"Come on people, this one is for Lucas, we are not going to let him down," Bridger announced, trying to provoke determination into them all for their assigned tasks.

Kristin and Ben left the Bridge in each other's company, Krieg headed off to supply to make sure both teams would have all the provisions and equipment they would need. He would supply Bridger some general items first in case he was able to catch up to Clemens and the launch. Some food and water rations, a medical first aid kit and anything else he could think of that may be useful but small enough to pack into the compact amphibious vehicle.

The second team would be travelling in a launch similar to the one that had been stolen. They were already pretty well self-sufficient with supplies stowed on board. But he would make sure to double check with Ford whether anything special needed to be packed. He assumed that some of them would be armed incase they came across hostile trouble and had to defend and protect themselves.

"Hang on Lucas, I am coming," he said under his breath as he walked towards his own cabin and then the launch bays.

Clemens quickly glanced behind him at the sound of compartments being opened and searched through. He could see the pale looking teenager rifling through the equipment stored above his head. Lucas paused for a moment or two, putting his hand to his head and wincing out loud as the headache continued to make itself noticed.

For a moment the hacker was worried that he hadn't had the time to take the necessary precautions before they started off of searching the compartments himself. He didn't want Lucas stumbling along anything that could be perceived as a weapon and used against himself or to help free the metallic bonds around his wrists.

Lucas became agitated and frustrated when his hands couldn't quite reach all the way, yanking harshly on the handcuffs, and silently cursing when the actions remained futile.

"You won't find anything," Mycroft announced, knowing he couldn't be one hundred percent sure.

"Don't be too sure about that," Lucas shot back turning towards Clemens too quickly, and having to stop short when dizziness assailed him once more. He stopped mid-accusation, too tired and in too much pain to find any further comebacks.

Instead he focused on sitting on the long seat along the side wall of the launch, feeling his legs turning to jelly and not wanting to fall flat on his face in front of his captor no matter how bad the pain in his head was becoming.

Mycroft sighed, knowing that he had done irreparable damage to a fledgling friendship all those years ago on Node 3, and now after everything that had happened today, the teenager was never going to co-operate or trust him again.

"I am not the enemy here, Lucas," Clemens started to say in a quiet tone of voice, hoping to appeal to the computer nerd side of the boy and gain at least some degree of civility between them.

But the words had the complete opposite affect and Lucas jumped hotly to his feet, glaring at the man, "Not the enemy?"

Lucas scoffed, barely able to contain his contempt. "How the hell can you sit there and say that, when I am over here, chained to the god-damned seat!"

"You don't understand Lucas, Cavanagh operates by using force and keeping the people of Andromeda oppressed," Clemens said, reminding himself a little of just why he was willing to take such extreme measures.

"And that is different from you right now exactly how?" Lucas baited, forcing himself to sit down one more and beginning to feel light-headed.

Clemens went to say something further, but at such an honest assessment of the current situation, he found he had no words of defense to offer. He couldn't justify his actions to Lucas in any way that would satisfy the teenager.

"Yeah, exactly what I thought…….," Lucas said with disgust, pulling on the handcuffs once more for emphasis.

His body was tired and his head was aching abominably. He just wanted the pain to stop and go back home. He leaned his head back against the wall of the launch and closed his eyes, waiting for the spinning sensation to stop.

For a moment or two, Clemens thought Lucas might be drifting off to sleep, having seen the bloodshot eyes and heard the grimaces of pain. After a couple of minutes though, it was clear that sleep was not going to come and that the teenager was merely doing his best to cope with the discomfort and gather some strength.

"Your last trip to Andromeda took approximately fifteen minutes, Lucas," Clemens shouted back to the boy. "But I am afraid this trip is going to require taking a little different route."

Lucas started a little at the voice speaking to him, sitting up a little straighter on the seat, rubbing the back of his neck. Even his hair hurt at the moment.

"How Different?" Lucas thought to himself. "Why wouldn't you take the same way as before?" he asked, keeping his voice low as he tried not to aggravate his headache. He partly suspected that it was mostly to put distance between themselves and SeaQuest.

"Last time you and the Captain were invited guests of Cavanagh to Andromeda. I am afraid that this time I have no such permission," Clemens explained, keeping his attention focused on the miles of ocean that they were floating around in outside.

"How are you going to get there then?" Lucas queried, hopeful that any delay might allow Bridger and the crew to find them before they reached the community.

"My rebel group and I have set up a sophisticated tunnel system leading to some caves that will allow me to drive the launch in undetected by Cavanagh's main frame computer. Once inside the cavern will be filled with oxygen and I will be able to settle the launch on one of the rocky plateau's until the others arrive," Mycroft answered with an air of smugness to his voice that they hadn't been caught yet.

Lucas rolled his eyes as much as his aching head would allow, seeing the ego trip that Clemen's brain was taking.

"How can you be so sure that Cavanagh doesn't know anything about it?" the teenager questioned, already seeing first hand for himself the sophisticated main frame that the Councillor had believed was the great and be all of things on Andromeda.

"Because they are the same system of caverns that I used to escape Andromeda when I sent that distress call that the UEO picked up. I must admit that my craft was a little smaller than this launch, but we should still be able to squeeze through the entrance to the caves without any trouble."

"Squeeze through?" Lucas prompted, not liking the sound of that idea at all.

"Well the opening is a bit of a tight fit. Part of the reason why I crashed my craft in the first place I am embarrassed to admit………..," Clemens was in the middle of explaining when launch felt a large jolt.

Lucas grabbed a hold of the seat as best he could, the shudder of the vessel forcing him to his knees.

A number of alarms and sensors were making various warning noises from the cockpit, though the teenager couldn't get a good enough look from his restrained position.

"What the hell was that?" he said, using the pole to pull himself to his feet.

No sooner had he stood up, when he found himself clinging to the pole to prevent ending up on the floor again as the launch lurched again, this time from the other side.

"Shut up and let me think," Clemens barked as he tried to look at the controls all at once and stop the launch from careening out of control.

"Easy for you to say, you are not the one being tossed around back here," Lucas responded. "Let me get up there and take a look and see what is going on," he suggested.

"Uh-uh, no way, Lucas, you know I can't risk you being able to send any kind of signal to the SeaQuest to give away our position."

"The only position we are going to be in if you don't do something is all over the ocean floor," Lucas pointed out plainly.

"Just give me a minute will you, I haven't had the vast experience or luxury with these launches that seem to have," Clemens chastised.

"Oh, I am sorry, did you forget to pack the 'Beginner's Manual', let me get it for you as you wear the control panel. With any luck, we might just avoid slamming into a slab of rock," Lucas said snippily.

Clemens glared back at the teenager and was about to say something else, but the launch was hit by another large jolt and then another in quick succession.

The jolt had caused Lucas to end up on his knees again, "What did we do, side swipe a bus? We are in the middle of the ocean!"

"This far down there are many very strong under water currents. I think that is what hampered me the last time. They seem to act like eddies and swirl around, gaining speed and momentum in pockets." Mycroft

"We are close to the entrance to the caves and they create a vacuum like effect as we pilot through the mouth," Clemens forewarned.

"Even Krieg doesn't drive the launch this badly…….," but Lucas's snide comment was abruptly cut off as the launch began to creak and groan loudly.

"Hold onto something back there, this is going to get very bumpy," Clemens shouted as the noise from the screeching instruments got louder.

'I want to get off the roller coaster……..' Lucas protested avidly as the launch jerked in the grip of the ocean's again.

"Can't you do something……….besides getting us killed I mean," Lucas called out, but above him, a number of the doors to the supply compartments sprang open, dumping and scattering their contents out all over the teenager and launch floor.

Clemens briefly glanced behind him at the startled yelp as the avalanche of various objects descended onto the teenager, but he had bigger problems that needed his attention for the moment.

The control panel was lit up like a Christmas tree with red lights flashing and alarms wailing from every direction.

For the moment, Mycroft was focused on keeping buoyancy and trying to stop the small vessel from being thrown around so violently. It was taking his best efforts just to wrestle for an ounce of control.

Lucas wanted to shout to Clemens to try releasing some of the excess weight from the launch in attempt to make it lighter and hopefully more maneuverable, but the unstable motions of the vessel forced him to concentrate on his own problems for the moment.

The teenager now found himself on the floor, though he couldn't exactly remember falling to get there. He put his hand to the side of his head, feeling at the wound courtesy of Mycroft. He withdrew it at the stinging sensation, looking down and noting the fresh bleeding.

He peered out from his position, squinting slightly, thinking that the lights inside the launch had become awfully bright all of a sudden. Everything looked too close up and blurry, too big.

Everything was scattered over the floor of the launch. With his head feeling like it was full of cotton wool, he gingerly reached out to grab a hold and see if there was anything of use.

Something that would open the handcuff's around his wrist, or some aspirin that might lessen the monster of a headache that was crashing inside his head.

Lucas picked up a small rectangular plastic packet and brought it up close to his face: an emergency sewing kit, complete with spare buttons, cotton thread and a needle or two.

'Great………… in case of an emergency, please sew button onto uniform' a less than impressed he inwardly commented. Then he frowned a little, trying to picture the various uniforms he had seen the crew wearing in the past week, and he swore that he had only seen zippers not buttons.

It briefly crossed his mind that he might be able to use the thin galvanized needles, but that thought was soon thwarted as some part of his brain took notice of how close he was having to look to see the small objects. He tossed it aside and started reaching for the next item.

His hand came into contact with a long thin item, "Darn it, doesn't this crate have anything useful on it," he muttered shoving the adult sized tooth brush away.

'Maybe I could beat Mycroft with it' his too-tired brain thought. He really was beginning to have trouble staying alert. The next item that he reached for was recognizable due to this thin metallic foil covering: emergency rations.

'Great, had enough of those last time thanks' he told himself, a memory of being far too wet and battered about by strong wind glancing across his mind.

His stomach was beginning to feel very nauseous so he wasn't tempted to eat anyway. Part of his common sense reminded him that he should be shoving the morsels into his pockets to keep for later….. but before he could finish the thought, the launch rolled roughly to the side again.

Using strength that he certainly didn't think he had, Lucas scrambled to the side of the launch, peering out the port-hole window to see where they were and what danger they were in.

Before he could open his mouth to shout at Clemens, his breath was stolen away by the fear as a large rock face appeared almost close enough to touch.

The next thing Lucas saw was stars as the launch jerked more violently towards the left hand-side, causing his head to smack hard against the rim of the port-hole. The blow had struck him only a few millimeters lower than the head injury that he had sustained from Mycroft.

The current surrounding the launch was getting stronger and the vacuum effect caused both occupants to be thrown about the cabin area.

The teenager now lay along the seat, unconscious, oblivious to the continual lurching of the vessel from one side to the other. Fresh blood trickled down the side of his face and pooled under his chin as he lay prone on the hard floor.

Back to the SeaQuest:

"SeaQuest do you read?" came the garbled radio transmission from the Stinger.

"We read you, Captain," Ford acknowledged, the other crew members on the Bridge carrying out their duties diligently, but taking careful note of what was happening just outside the SeaQuest.

"Everything seems to be working fine. The instruments are indicating depth, speed and direction. Pressure seems normal for now, but will have to keep a close eye on that," Bridger rattled off, making sure he did a preliminary check.

There was no point in heading out and intending to rescue Lucas if the Stinger failed to follow a trail if they found one.

"I can monitor you from here as well, Captain," Katie Hitchcock informed him. Ford nodded his approval, knowing that she had the most experience and knowledge apart from Lucas about the small maneuverable craft.

"I never realized before how thin the pilot has to be in this thing," Bridger commented, moving about the seat and trying to get a little more comfortable.

The Captain knew he was a lot older in age than the teenager, but this certainly gave you a whole new perspective. Bridger didn't consider himself to be carrying any extra pounds, but a few sessions in the gym once he was back onboard wouldn't hurt either.

"I am pretty sure Lucas designed it that way, Captain," Hitchcock said with a lighter tone to her voice. "So that nobody else would be able to drive it except him."

"I think you might be right, Commander," Bridger agreed, thinking back to the design of the craft and how much input and how much skill Lucas had put in and demonstrated with its creation and construction.

"Launching Stinger now," the Captain announced.

"WOW!" could be heard coming over the radio frequency a few minutes later, "Boy it sure moves, forgetting briefly how long it had been since he had taken a joy-ride.

The crew onboard the SeaQuest gave small grins at the surprise in Bridger's voice at the speed and other aspects of the Stinger. Lucas of course had told them endlessly how good it was, and they had seen the teenager operate the craft on a number of occasions, both under controlled conditions and when he was afforded a little more leeway.

Up until now, there had only been a handful of crew members given the privilege, including Hitchcock, Krieg, the Captain and Lucas.

"For now, let's concentrate on the important things, like finding Lucas," Bridger directed. "Give me a direction, please Mr Ortiz."

"Hold on for a moment, Captain, I think my sensors are picking up something," Miguel said as he held up his hand for those around him to be silent. Adjusting the headphones, he listened a little more, but it wasn't a sound or a noise of an engine that helped him pinpoint a possible direction in which the launch gone.

Looking up at the large screen in front of him, a graph was showing the measurements of various components in the surrounding seawater.

Bridger didn't want to seem impatient, but the waiting was eating away at him. The seconds ticking away and reminding him of just how much closer to finding Lucas that they were not. He ran a hand through his short graying hair and slowly blew out a breath, telling himself to calm down and relax.

Sometimes though, the same methods he used on new recruits and submariners, didn't always work on yourself, when your stomach was twisted in knots.

His mind began to mull over the past couple of horrendous days, about going to Andromeda, putting up with Councillor Cavanagh and then finding Clemens. Now wasn't that a kick in the guts. All this time he had never suspected anything

being wrong, and he had allowed the one person back onboard, responsible for kidnapping Lucas and the mess they currently found themselves in.

'Trips down 'regretful lane' though would have to wait as the radio crackled into life once more……

"Captain, I am picking up very minute traces starting about 100 metres ahead of where you are now. Only a small trace, barely 2 parts per million, but they identify as being similar in chemical make up to the compound that was being added to the launch fuel," Ortiz explained.

"Noted….. I will let you when I find something. Keep those updates coming back to me," Bridger instructed as he began to steer the nose of the Stinger to the where it needed to be.

"Aye, Sir, SeaQuest out," Ortiz responded, continually watching the bar graph increase and decrease as the sampling continued.

Clemens felt the large jolt from the launch, making contact with the rock face and lip of the cavern. He had been pulling on the controls as hard as he could to avoid the impending collision, but the current and vacuum affect from the water did him no favours.

The vessel continued to lurch heavily to the side, Microft fighting for some kind of control the whole way.

"Got to keep it off the sides," Clemens reminded himself through clenched teeth as he tightened his grip on the controls and tried to battle for speed and maneuverability.

"Damn!" he shouted out again, as the launch struck the rock face again. This time however, the current seemed to only increase the loss of control and the launch refused to heed to any of the electronic signals.

Microft attempted to slow the deep sea vessel down and hoped that the increase in decent may help lessen the force of any impact.

Once again though, the vacuum from the current within the cave tossed the small craft about.

Clemens swore loudly as a hydrolic hose connection inside the cabin above the control panel burst, sending out a cloudy jet of air as the rubber hose itself snaked to and fro. He couldn't immediately tell what damage was done to the internal workings of the launch. But it signaled that the air pressure inside the launch was increasing too rapidly.

The launch was in serious trouble and Martin could no longer pretend any differently.

With very little warning, the next jolt to the launch, caused the vessel to veer towards the rock wall of the cave again, and strike it hard. Clemens had not been prepared for the resounding smack of his forehead on the control panel and slumped unconscious in the pilot's seat.

With nobody at the controls, the crash of the launch now became imminent and dangerous to the two unconscious occupants. The back of the launch was beginning to fish tale from left to right in a wide arch as the current maintained its path towards the bottom of the cavern floor.

The launch landed harshly against the rocks, severely bending the right-hand support underneath the launch, causing the vessel to lean very heavily to one side.

Several squealing alarms had still been shrilly sounding in the background as the launch descended rapidly, but they all ceased when the second bounce knocked out the internal power supply. The control panel which had been alight with various different readings and coloured graphs, was now black and void of any helpful information about the critical condition of vessel or the two people inside.

The "zzzt" sound of sparking electrical wires were the only sound inside the eerily quiet cabin of the damaged SeaQuest Launch.

The launch lay partially on its side with the lower part of the front sinking lower into the low tide. When the tide returned later in the day, much more of the vessel would be submerged in the cold current.

On the outside, the launch showed the loud signs of impact in numerous places. Gouges in the metal hull and scratches along its side, witness to the tough fight that she had fought against the rock walls of the cavern in which it was now imprisoned and lay incapacitated.

One of the outside guide lights still gave off a faint yellow glow to show that a small amount of power was still getting to the lighting of the launch. Inside the cabin itself, the emergency lights flickered, trying to remain strong, but the last impact had caused some of her systems to become more than offline.

To the rear of the launch, boxes of supplies that Mycroft had carefully stacked and secured whilst aboard SeaQuest, were now strewn about in a haphazard method, one of the securing ropes that had been in place, now snapped in two.

The ropes at the bottom still held, and those boxes were still in place, although a couple leaning precariously, threatening to spill their contents of fresh water bottles and medical supplies.

Lucas was laying approximately 10 metres away from the scattered boxes and contents, still unconscious from the blow against the porthole frame, and no doubt from the rough treatment his body had received at being tossed about as Clemens finally lost control of the launch.

Further towards the front, at the pilot's console, Mycroft lay sprawled on the floor, a glancing blow at his temple as the launch twisted and faltered knocking him out and causing him to fall into his current position.

His level of consciousness was beginning to return, as the different sounds from within the cabin began to filter into his sub-conscious and his body reminded him of what had just occurred.

Warily, Mycroft raised a hand and rubbed at the raised bruised area that he could feel on his forehead. He could see no blood when he swiped the palm across it and looked, but he had a headache that was throbbing and making its presence well and truly known.

The series of events that had lead to the crash of the launch came back to him slowly, as if watching a movie in slow motion. When he saw the final lurching against the rockface, he pulled himself up, remembering that the force of the current had sucked the vessel deeper into the cavern and he had been unable to stop its rapid descent to its current fate.

Pulling himself into a sitting position, it was when he used his hand for support that Clemens felt the puddle of water that had accumulated about the cabin floor. He frowned at first, wondering if it was sea water and that the outside hull had been breached by the rocks. A smell detected no saltiness to the water.

Looking about the disarray of boxes and equipment, he could see that the water was more than likely from some of the burst plastic bottles that he had taken from SeaQuest.

Crawling on his knees for about a meter, Mycroft was then able to pull himself to his feet, using the back of the pilot's chair as an anchor to grab onto. Taking stock of which parts of his body hurt, he noted with relief that apart from a general ache, the headache was the only lingering effect to be making itself known for the time being.

He glanced down at his wrist, having no idea of how much time had passed since the crash, knowing that his contact unit Company Leader was supposed to be rendezvousing with him at some point. He didn't know if any of the communication or radio equipment would allow for a transmission to them or anybody else for help at this point.

The console was dark and nothing could be seen on any of the screens laid out across the panel. Clemens tried a few switches, but nothing seemed to be working. He had no idea if the launch contained any tools that might prove useful in fixing the problems. Sighing heavily with disappointment, it seemed doubtful that the launch would be repairable anytime soon. This just made his headache throb all the more.

Glancing back towards the rear of the cabin he now saw the still form of Lucas and he reminded himself of why there was a passenger aboard with him. He had remembered seeing pain on the boy's face before the launch had crashed, but was now concern about the lack of movement from the teenager.

Wading across the slipping floor, kicking a few empty bottles as he went, he knelt down beside the teenager, and laid a hand on his shoulder, hoping that the kid would show some signs of waking up. Lucas's wrist was still cuffed to the metal pole, which had probably prevented him from being tossed around further within the cabin.

"Come on, Lucas," Clemens said, shaking the shoulder, noting that the shirt was damp in places, no doubt from the water same as himself. "Wake up," he said, nudging the youth once more.

No response. Using both hands, he cautiously rolled the teenager on his side, trying to gauge any further injuries, noting the pale and slack face that greeted him. Mycroft had to alter his grip at one stage to account for the handcuff. Lucas's eyes remained closed, but he appeared to be breathing on his own.

Pushing the teenager over further, allowing Lucas to lay on his back, Mycroft could see the fresh bleeding and new blossoming bruising that had begun to join the earlier marring to his face. This is exactly what he didn't need, the teenager out of action again. He assumed that Lucas wouldn't have asked for more pain either.

"Okay kid, just rest for a minute to I see what mess I have gotten us into this time," Clemens said, gingerly standing up and trying to formulate in his head, what needed to be done first. For a brief moment he paused and weighed up the option of unlocking the cuffs, but decided against it, not knowing how long it would be until Lucas started to show signs of regaining consciousness.

If Lucas was awake, no doubt he would be looking for the first possible opportunity to escape, and Clemens wasn't prepared to allow that. He would reassess the problem later when became necessary.

Mycroft stumbled back toward the main console, taking the radio mouthpiece in his hand and attempting to hail anybody nearby to their need for assistance.

"May Day, May Day, this is Rogue 2, is there anybody out there?"

There wasn't even the cackle of static through the speaker to convince him that his message was being received by anyone.

"I repeat, May Day, May Day, this is Rogue 2, we need help."

Still silence prevailed; tossing the mouthpiece aside in frustration and watching it tumble across the dead panel in front of him.

"What else is going to go wrong," he berated, thinking that everything was turning out exactly the opposite to how he had planned it.

He had merely wanted to get help for his rebel friends, and with a stroke of luck had managed to stumble across some helpful medical and food supplies that would aid them further.

What he hadn't anticipated was SeaQuest and her ability to thwart any ideas he had of returning to Andromeda with their co-operation. And now he had the added problem of being behind a 'spur-of-the-moment' kidnap plot that now had his captive injured more than once today and still unconscious on the floor behind him. He had no idea if Lucas was going to be able to help the rebels at all, willingly or unwillingly, injured or not.

On top of his current problems of an injured hostage and damaged transport, it seemed that he couldn't radio out for help, even to the SeaQuest even if he wanted to and the need to do so arose. He certainly dreaded any contact with its crew after taking their star pupil by force. Somehow they had also found out about what had happened at Node 3 years earlier, just to add to his list of misguided achievements and crimes in their eyes.

He was under no misassumptions that Bridger would already be on the hunt for his missing cub and that the welcome reception he would receive for causing Lucas to be involved in a crash would not be pleasant.

"Captain, I can't hear you, Sir, you are breaking up too much," Tim O'Neill relayed, pressing the earphone tighter over his ears in an attempt to block out all incoming noises.

The radio crackled a few times ……..not sure………….. current…………….Lucas. The transmission ended abruptly and Tim sighed audibly in frustration.

"What seems to be the problem, O'Neill," Ford addressed, walking briskly up to the Communications Station and looking intently at its operator, hoping for some forthcoming and welcome news.

"Sorry, Commander, I can only get about every third or fourth word at best, and even then it is garbled," Tim said, removing his headset for a few moments, fiddling with the frequency and trying to pick up a clearer message from Bridger.

"I thought he was only a short distance away from the SeaQuest when Ortiz gave him those co-ordinates?" Ford questioned, recalling the conversation the Chief Sensor had with Bridger as he maneuvered the Stinger away from the SeaQuest.

"He was Sir, and for a minute or two after Miguel told him to follow that course, the Stinger was doing that. But now I cannot even get an accurate reading on his position. Something is interfering with any radio message that we get from him. I don't know if it's the depth, or the surrounding rock features, but I cannot get a firm fix on his position for the past 5 minutes," O'Neill explained.

Some of the other senior crew members on the Bridge had stopped what they were doing to hear the exchange between Tim and Ford. All of them wearing grim faces that their problems seemed to be mounting by the minute when they were desperately seeking information about Lucas.

Ford rubbed at his forehead for a moment, deep in thought and putting his years of military training to practice about what to do in such a situation, knowing that more than 1 crew member may need assistance.

"Okay, keep trying to contact the Captain, we still have to believe that he can hear our messages or at least they are trying to get through," Ford ordered.

"In the meantime, I want Captain Bridger's orders about the preparation of a second team to be carried out and that rescue team to be ready to leave on my signal," he addressed the crew, knowing they would be looking towards him and Katie for leadership.

"We will be ready, Commander," Kristin said with confidence, looking at Ben and giving a small smile of determination. She knew that he was just as eager to look for the missing teenager as she was.

"Katie, I need you to take over the co-ordination of the Sea Crab crews and those searches," Jonathan instructed.

"I will work with Tim and Ortiz and try and establish contact again with Captain Bridger."

"Aye, Sir," Katie said, standing up from her console and fully prepared to take over that area of the rescue mission.

She moved over towards one of the helmsmen and focused on the new task she had been assigned, knowing that any part of the plan being carried out correctly, would take pressure of those who were involved in the rescue mission and not having much luck to start with.

"Looks like we are looking for both Lucas and may be even Captain Bridger now people, so let's not disappoint," Ford announced, silently trying to inject some enthusiasm and confidence in his crew.

a few minutes earlier in the Stinger:

"SeaQuest, this is the Captain Bridger from the Stinger, do you read me?"

A loud crackle of static forced him to hold the mouthpiece further away from his ear due to the level of noise, but there was no human response to Bridger's message. At one point he thought he had caught the sound of O'Neill's voice, but couldn't seem to get him to reply again if it had been.

He tried one more time, "This is Bridger, my instruments are all over the place and I am not sure how far I am away from the SeaQuest for now. The current surrounding me is particularly strong in this sector and is pushing this craft around quite a bit. I haven't found any sign of Lucas or the missing launch yet, Bridger out."

The control panel was still operable, but he was beginning to have some doubt about the readings of depth and direction that it was giving him. He was sure he was beginning to drift away from the path that Ortiz had directed him to by a considerable margin, unless his eyes were playing tricks on him. The speed was still respectable, but he had sacrificed it somewhat when the current showed signs of becoming much stronger against the hull.

Peering out into the water surrounding the small submersible, Bridger was grateful of the high-powered lights that Lucas had fought and argued over when constructing the vessel. It had been assumed that they would drain too much energy from other more important systems at the time, but the Captain had never been happier for the teenager's tenaciousness and having things the way he wanted them.

With each passing moment, he was also gaining a whole new appreciation for Lucas to being able to control the sub and enjoy its slim-lined design. He had only been in it for a short time, and had been in it previously, but only just now beginning to understand how claustrophobic it could make one after some time of riding inside it.

Clemens was just about to begin clearing away some of the damaged boxes and supplies from the cabin floor when a knocking sound on the metallic side of the launch brought his senses back to full alert.

He looked about, but save for a few blankets, couldn't lay his hands on a weapon in a hurry. Even the gun he had possession of when he had kidnapped Lucas was now missing and no doubt waterlogged even if he did find it in time.

"Who is it?" Mycroft demanded, looking upwards at the ladder that he and Lucas had descended earlier, "I am armed in here and prepared to use it against anyone," knowing that his statement was full of holes, and hearing it uttered from his own lips only made it sound like a corny line from some old B-Grade movie.

A few more taps on the outside of the launch, and Clemens clenched his fists, not knowing what he was going to come up against. It paid to be wary and ready to do anything after being in places like Andromeda.

"This is Company Leader group," came the voice from the other side of the cabin door.

Mycroft almost jumped with relief at the reply, "Hang on whilst I try the door, it might be stuck from the crash,"

A grating and creaking of the value that sealed the hatch above and a sliver of light could be seen, and then a face glancing back down at him with confusion written across it.

"Is that you, Clemens?" the voice asked, already having heard the man speak, but not entirely convinced of who it was until this moment. The craft that they had seen him use before was much smaller than what he knelt on top of now.

"Yes it's me," Mycroft replied, knowing that the people of Andromeda had yet to learn of his alternate name that Lucas and others used back on Node 3. He had wanted to leave his dubious past just where it was, and he had no need to broadcast he prior dealings and secret operations to anyone from there up until this point in time.

The man came down the ladder, and once standing on the cabin floor, looked up briefly at the second man who had followed his path into the downed launch.

"What happened and where did you get a vessel like this?" the man asked, looking about and clearly impressed with its sophistication despite its damaged condition.

"We crashed," Clemens said simply, not wanting to rehash all of the details of how he had gotten here and waste time. That would have to wait until later and secretly he knew that not everyone within the Rebel group would be happy with how he had gone about it.

"We?" the man asked, still glancing about, until his eyes came across the crumpled form of Lucas still laying on the floor.

Mycroft was going to tell the man to stop, but was only quick enough to see the man walk the few feet and place a worried hand on someone who looked much too young to be where he was.

"Who is this?" the man queried, using his hands to try and determine why the teenager was unconscious and how badly he was injured. He had never seen him before and Clemens had never mentioned bringing anybody back with him in the brief message that the rebel group had received earlier in the day.

"I told you I was bringing supplies and a package," Mycroft replied, hoping it would be enough of an explanation but able to see that it was not by looking at the skeptical expression he received in return.

"That was more than two hours ago, and it wasn't much of a message to begin with," the man challenged. The man now reached where the handcuff was still secured to Lucas's wrist and the pole, and knew that something more sinister was happening.

The man lifted the limp wrist, and jangled the handcuff chain in emphasis, "What the hell is this?" he demanded to know, trying once more to get a response from the injured youth.

"He was injured in the crash, knocked out. He will be alright once we get him out of here and back to the base," Mycroft gave cryptically. In the back of his mind, he was surprised at how much time he had lost to the accident. Two hours, lots of time for the SeaQuest crew to be coming after his young prisoner.

"Still doesn't explain this," the man pointed out, indicating the handcuffs, and at seeing the amount of dried blood on the boy's face and the bruising that was now much more evident, doubted that he was getting all of the story.

The second man had reached the bottom of the ladder and had listened to the exchange between the two men, equally as unhappy to see a young person chained up as he currently was.

"You know he is not going to be happy about this," the second man stated, waiting for a determination on their next move to be made.

"I don't have to explain my every action to you two, or anyone else" Clemens stated, letting the accumulation of the day's events and problems get to him a little. "Be grateful that I am trying my best to help you."

He knew exactly who "he" was and also suspected that he would not be ecstatic to see his latest acquisition, but if given time to explain, hopefully he could convince them to his way of thinking and out of their predicament.

The two men looked back at him as if he had grown two heads, scarcely able to believe that he was dictating terms to them. He was still an outsider. Some of the group saw Clemens as a savior over the past few weeks in what he had been willing to do for them. But even after all of those efforts, very little progress had been made in trying to escape Cavanagh's reach and patience was beginning to fray around the edges for a few of them.

"That kid there may be the very answer to our problems, some of them anyway," Clemens said in a low, angered voice.

"Doesn't look like he is going to be much help at all like you expect," the first man said, not liking the fact that they had an extra passenger at all. "Our supplies and resources are already stretched beyond the limit," he reaffirmed for Mycroft in case he had forgotten their true purpose.

"Don't you think I know that," Clemens snarled heatedly.

"I wonder if you do," the man stated, he was surprised and inwardly grateful for some of the bare necessities that Clemens seemed to have secured from somewhere, but he didn't want to think too hard about their places of origin. Especially if they had come from the same place as the injured teenager at his feet. They had plenty of hungry mouths that could do with these morsels of food and the clean water would be very welcome by their small desperate band.

"Let's get some of this out of here and ready to load onto the truck. That entrance is going to remain open for long and we don't know when we are going to get the next opportunity," the second man reminded his two companions.

"We are probably going to have to carry him," Clemens said with little emotion in his voice, trying to distance himself for his concern about Lucas and his brilliant mind and what it could mean to his cause, and appear as giving a little compassion.

"Keys?" the first man stated abruptly, not liking Clemens casual attitude much at all, but biting his tongue and holding off on any further arguments until they were in a more secure area to thrash things out.

Mycroft hesitated for a moment, before seeing the distinct scowl on the man's face, and reluctantly relinquished the two small silver keys from his pocket to the man's outstretched hand.

"Keep a hold on him, once he wakes up, he is going to be a handful," Clemens forewarned, but not elaborating further about the scuffle that he had already encountered with Lucas back aboard SeaQuest when he had unlocked the handcuffs.

With the handcuff unlocked, the man hoped that gently on his shoulder might rouse the unconscious man towards wakefulness. They would be able to move him much easier up the ladder and out of the launch if he was awake.

But alas his efforts seemed to be in vain as Lucas show no signs of waking and still remained quiet.

The man was still very suspicious about how the youth came to be here and injured in the first place, and wasn't about to leave him with Clemens until he was satisfied with the man's vague answers. He intended to remain with the teenager until the other unloading was completed.

For the next fifteen minutes, Mycroft and the second man worked in tandem to carry and take as much of the supplies as possible out of the launch and put them near a tunnel entrance about 200 metres away. The tide was still low, but wouldn't remain so for much longer, so they were fighting time for the tide as well as the concealed entrance to Andromeda.

The tunnel system was something that the rebels had fought to keep from Cavanagh and his army for some time, and some people had paid for their secrecy with their very lives and their freedom. With the main frame computer as vigilant as always, it was difficult to have such a tunnel system where they could possibly obtain outside assistance.

Clemens had made the first step and presumable escaped to obtain help for them, promising the rebel group and its leaders to return as quickly as possible. But it appeared that those plans had gone awry somehow.

Over time it had been established that the tunnel system was one of the few blind spots to the main frame where activity was not always detected as Cavanagh would like. The tunnel system had originally been designed for disposal of hazardous or dangerous material, but it had never been finished and the funds had been siphoned off for the man's own private projects.

For a few hours a day, the rebels had discovered that they were able to move fairly freely without drawing any adverse attention to themselves or their position. That was what they had to rely on now to return to the city outskirts and their rebel base.

"This is going to be a fairly big beacon for someone else to find," the man working with Clemens stated as they climbed down the ladder for what they hoped was the last of the supplies.

"Not something I had originally planned on, granted, but unavoidable now," Clemens answered. With the systems damaged as badly as they are, I don't know if I can get it to work properly again before the high tide comes back.

"Lucas there might know some of the workings and be able to get the communication systems back online, but that is clearly not an option on our side either," Clemens added.

The two other men exchanged startled glances that Mycroft held the kid's abilities in such high regard, but didn't mention anything out loud.

Mycroft went to grasp a hold of Lucas and lift him to help carry him out of the launch, but the first man was having none of it and stepped in front of Clemens, doing it himself.

"Come on young fellow, let's get you upright and out of here for a minute," the man said in a calm voice. He was surprised to receive a groan of complaint and pain for his trouble, but delighted to see the young man trying to turn his head a little and wake.

"Hey, he might be coming around," the second man said as he was relieved also to see the kid move.

"Lucas, can you hear me?" Mycroft spoke loudly as he stood over him, wanting to stop the display of 'poor injured boy' before it got out of hand. They didn't have time for him to be coddled by these two and Clemens wanted to remind them that the kid was still his prisoner.

Lucas groaned a second time, louder this time and pulled himself into a half-seated position, putting a hand to his head that throbbed unmercifully. He had yet to put a coherent thought together and seemed unaware that his bonds had been removed. He could hear voices around him, talking to him apparently, but couldn't work out what they were saying.

"Lucas on your feet, now," Clemens said gruffly, ignoring the vocal protests of the other two men and pulling Lucas to his feet in one swift motion. He was mindful to keep a firm grip on the kid's upper arm and could see teenager sway dangerously away from him.

Dizziness assailed Lucas and he swallowed harshly trying to keep his stomach under control. He frowned at the person who was grabbing him too tightly and somewhere his aching head reminded him that Mycroft was nearby and responsible for his pain.

"Bite me, Mycroft," Lucas said, but the sting of the words losing all affect as he had to stoop over to avoid fainting on the spot.

He couldn't exactly remember all of what had happened to him, but flashes of a gun being pointed at him, and being assaulted by Mycroft played through his head at various intervals. Enough for him to recall being taken away from his friends and family. The purpose Mycroft intended him for, still unknown and fuddled at the moment.

"See, nothing wrong with him that can't be cured with a firm hand," Mycroft said smugly to the other two men and began pushing the youth towards the ladder, ignoring any choice words that came from his way from Lucas. He could tell that the kid was in pain and wasn't feeling very well, but that couldn't be helped for now.

After expelling the short sarcastic phrase, pain and nauseousness relegated for Lucas becoming very sullen and quiet and compliant with his kidnapper. His hands trembled as he lay them on the side railings of the ladder, and the mere thought of climbing upwards made his head swim with dizziness once more.

By the time he had managed to climb up two of the rungs, he was breathing harshly and his head felt like it was imploding. A sharp jab from Mycroft had him startling and beginning to ascend again, but his vision was beginning to gray around the edges.

It took the two men ascending before him and Mycroft coming behind him to help haul him over the rim of the launch hatch onto the top of the roof. He stumbled slightly and was grateful for one of the men keeping a hold of him and preventing him from falling.

Once the four of them had made it down the side of the launch, Lucas was surprised to feel water lapping at his feet, another sign of just how much his head was affecting his thought and coherency process. The dizziness was getting much worse, and taking another step or two seemed an impossible task.

Mycroft kept pushing him towards the tunnel entrance, not sure if half of the boy's antics were a stalling tactic. He had seen Lucas grasp answers before most people had even thought of the question, so he was not taking any chances.

As they neared the boxes and piles of supplies, Mycroft ordered Lucas to sit and say put. The teenager didn't want to alert his captor to the fact that he probably wasn't capable of taking another step anyway. The action of sitting down caused some of the stiffness of his muscles to protest and he involuntarily moaned at the discomfort.

The three men were talking together in a group only a few feet away, but Lucas found it harder and harder to try and make out any words from the conversation and he found that looking about his surroundings only made his head ache more. He had no idea of how the launch came to be in a cavern of this size, but would ask that question later.

To Lucas, his head felt heavy and touching any part of it caused him to whimper in pain, even if it was just with his fingertips.

Out of the corner of his eye, the second man facing Mycroft, saw the teenager begin to slide sideways towards the ground. The kid had been leaning against a stack of four boxes, but his upper body was now leaning and descending as though to lay down.

Mycroft had his back momentarily to the teenager, instead watching the tunnel entrance and making sure that they were within the correct time block to remain undetected as they moved into Andromeda. It was only when one of the men he was speaking to shouted to Lucas that he turned.

"Hey kid, you alright there?" the man asked as he stepped closer to the youth.

Lucas didn't feel his eyes drooping, and couldn't seem to shake the heavy pull of sleep. He didn't hear the voice calling out to him as he let go and willingly fell into the deep blackness, hoping to escape some of the pain.

"Damn it," the man said as he caught the limp teenager's shoulders as he slumped towards the cavern floor. The man turned his head and peered at the boy's face, not liking the lack of colour.

"Don't worry about that, we don't have time to stop now, even if he is. Leave him until last and then you can carry him between yourselves after we get those two trucks loaded. You two can ride together, put Lucas in the passenger seat of the other one and I will drive it back to the agreed rendezvous area," Clemens ordered.

"He is out again," the man stated plainly enough, his displeasure at seeing someone this young injured and unable to stay conscious clearly evident. "Just what the hell did you do to him?" wanting some questions answered from the man he deemed to be responsible for the kid's condition and treatment.

The man used one hand to grab a hold of one of the blankets piled up nearby and slid it into place under Lucas's head.

Mycroft ignored the question.

To Be Continued………….

So long since update – no writing time at the moment. Have quite a few chapters written that can be posted soon on other stories. I was going to go much further on this chapter and into Andromeda, but there are lots more characters to be introduced – and I have said too much in this chapter already. Not much action yet I am afraid. I couldn't quite get the crash of the launch like I wanted to. Mr man one and two haven't been named yet – but will be.

Apologies for those who don't like long chapters - I can't write short ones it seems.

Not much happening to Lucas in this chapter yet I am afraid. But the unnamed men seemed to write personalities of their own and I didn't originally plan on doing that, kinda just wrote itself.

And as to who "He" is – a very important character for the rest of the story – but yet to be introduced – for a number of reasons. But a character I think you will be interested about as you find out more about him. Still developing Cavanagh's personality yet a little too.

A few of the descriptions of things – like the Stinger – are clues that I have written in for upcoming stories – to tie them together a little more.

The idea for Captain Bridger getting a little lost – was supposed to be a bit longer – and what happens to him was going to be in this chapter as well – but will leave that for the next one.

.Not sure which story to be updated next – but have written lots for some of them – updating as soon as I can.

Thank you for reading.

JULES