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                               THE EVIL MEN DO
                                Silvia Casale
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   Timeline: After "SeaQuest 2032" (after 3rd season)
   Author's E-Mail: silvia.casale@ukonline.co.uk
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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Copyright E.Casale 1997

OK, I know I've been promising to send this. I just got back from the USA
yesterday and I'm really jetlagged so I hope this is all making sense and
that I don't forget anything.

Disclaimer and Notes

First of all, I'm just borrowing the characters that are from the series.
They are the property of Universal Television, and the sci-fi channel, as is
SeaQuest.

This story and all subsequent parts are copyright to E.Casale, 1997.

This is my first attempt at doing something for the list and anything this
long. I've just had my exams and so I didn't have the time or the patience
to really research this properly- especially the bits about the computers-
sorry, if I'm completely inaccurate!

All comments/suggestions/criticisms/advice etc. are welcome, but please
send them to me personally at silvia.casale@ukonline.co.uk so that they
don't have to go on the list and bore everyone. I'm not sure how often to
send out the parts, or if anyone will want me to send them out after the
first part! Suggestions on this are also very welcome. Please note that I'm
dyslexic and I have particular problems with names.

The story begins just after the events shown in the season three episode
"Good Soldiers". The UEO set up for their councils/ joint chiefs, etc. I
completely made up, as no one seemed to know exactly how the UEO was
arranged for this and it made things a lot easier, so just bear with me.

Another thing- it's a really odd coincidence but 2047 have a story out at
the moment with a Dr. Alexander. The one in this story is my invention, and
I didn't know that they would have one too, otherwise I wouldn't have
written him with a different name, but it's too late now. But they are
completely different people.

Final point (I hope): When I didn't have a name or detail I put in *****.
I think I got rid of all these bits, but I'm not sure. It should be fairly
obvious what I meant if I haven't (most of them were for 'Howard').

There's probably something that I've missed but I can't think of anything. I
hope you all enjoy it. Sorry if it's a load of trash, but at least I had a
go, right?

Lx

Copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 1  =====================================


copyright E.Casale 1997

I'm flipping out that part one did't go out- very sorry- had the most awful
jetlag, as I sent it off just after I got in from an overnight flight from
the USA. Please send any comments, suggestions, advise about how often to
send it out, encouragement etc. So anyway, here's part one and when I know
how often people want the rest I'll send it. Also my keyboard is not working
properly.



==========================================================================


THE EVIL MEN DO


" The evil men do lives after them,
  the good is oft interred with their bones."

                     Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare

Chapter 1

As the two spectres hovered on either side and then slowly dropped back to
glide in to the docking port, just behind the shuttle, he breathed out
slowly and then checked his console for the final docking manoeuvres. When
they were finally still they rose and in silence opened the airlock and left
the shuttle. A repair team came over to check for any damage from when they
had hit a rock wall, trying to get into the base- 4 metres and good driving,
and all for a cause he didn't want to think about.

One of the docking port crew came over; no one he recognised.

"Captain Bridger, Captain Hudson would like to see you and Commander Ford
in the wardroom."

Bridger nodded.

"Thank you, Ensign."

He turned and looked at the other two.

"I think you can go back to your quarters and change, for now. Captain
Hudson will probably want to see you later, though."

He waited for an answer and got a belated,"Yes,  Sir," and "Um... OK." He
never looked straight at them, though. Then he nodded. "Commander." And
they left.

"We can go now?"

"Yes, Dagwood."

As the docking port doors closed, Lucas looked back at the stealth craft and
the team checking it. Neither talked as they walked and waited for the
Mag-Lev. When he reached his quarters Lucas looked at his friend. He still
didn't have anything to say. He smiled, tired and grimly and gently squeezed
Dagwood's arm as he passed.

The room was empty and Lucas sighed in relief that Tony was still on duty.
He was too tired to change into a fresh uniform, there didn't seem any
point... in anything. He sat down by his computer and stared dully at the
blank screen. Somehow he felt a desperate ache of grief. For the moment he
decided to just sit-not knowing what to do next, how to feel. He didn't
want to move, just wanted to let time pass slowly- it felt wrong to carry on
as before without this- anything would be wrong, so he stared at the blank
screen. He could think later, feel later, move later... much later.


Tony gave a triumphant shout as he got down from the spectre and waited
smugly, grinning hugely for Fredricks to come over. She was smiling too as
she eased off her helmet and rearranged her hair- always pristine.

"Not bad, Piccolo."

Tony looked like he had been deflated- well at least robbed of his moment of
glory- of her exorbitant praise.

"Not bad...not bad?!"

He waited, for her to show how impressed she was.

She looked at him sideways, making him squirm. She had a way of making you
feel that she knew exactly what you were thinking- maybe there was more to
that chip of hers than no-fear.

"Don't push it, Piccolo." She started to leave, turning crisply and walking
with her confident swing.

He was astonished- He was so sure that now she would have to say that he was
a good- no, great pilot- what a great first combat mission... "Not  bad?!"
His smugness was infuriating and his ego would never be contained if she
gave more praise, she told herself. And knew that a good part of it was her
'never admit to your emotions' code. The chip didn't block guilt. So she
turned.

"Not bad at all."

He smiled at her like a person, not a gloating cat, then. "Why was that so
difficult" she asked herself- "blame the chip", "yeah like you blame it for
everything else?" She sighed and put it away from her- she knew where that
conversation was going and she didn't have eternity to walk around in
circles.

Tony caught her up. "Do you know what the captain wants now?" he asked.

She looked at him confused from her inner monologue. "The captain didn't
say anything. I think we can go back to our quarters for now. We'll go over
the mission later, like we do for training manoeuvres- I'll show you what
you did wrong." He looked crestfallen again. "But it shouldn't take too
long, this time," and the smile was restored.

Tony walked back to his quarters whistling and going over his success: his
first combat flying and he got a kill. Maybe he was getting somewhere after
all. He was still whistling when he got to his quarters.

"Hey, Lucas- did you see that with the Macronesians- I had this torpedo on
my tail..."

Lucas composed his face before turning and tried to listen to Tony's babble.

"... Why are you sitting there in that stuff ? Captain Hudson won't like it
much if he calls you and you haven't changed."

"I was just... tired." Besides he didn't care what Captain Hudson liked or
didn't like at that time.

"You OK?" Tony paused, concerned.

"Yeah, just tired." He got up and stretched and started clipping the extras
off his combats.

"You look it. Why don't you get some rest- I'll wake you if Hudson wants
you, that might not be for a few hours, if you're all this tired."

"Thanks."

"I'm just going to the mess- I'm starving after all that. I mean what a
rush though..."

Lucas smiled and gave up with the combats and flopped onto his bunk. At some
point Tony's chattering ceased and he must have left. He never thought that
he would sleep- that he would lie there thinking. He had been planning to
just get up after Tony left and find something to do, but somehow the bed
was comfortable- he could rest for a minute, just ten, just... sleeping was
easier- so much easier.

"Hey, Lucas."

"Huh?.... Go 'way, Tony." It was so comfortable, so warm, so peaceful being
asleep.

"You've gotta get up, Captain Hudson and Captain Bridger want you in the
wardroom- like 5 minutes ago."

"OK, OK. I'm going." He groaned and got up. "What time is it?"

"22 hundred hours."

"Huh?" He struggled into a fresh uniform. "It can't be, I haven't been
asleep for that long."

"I hate to disagree... Hey, you gonna wash some of that dirt off your face
first? How'd you get so filthy in the first place?... OK, forget I asked-
section seven and all that "classified" s**t."

"Sorry." Lucas turned back in the door, "Thanks for getting me up."

"Aw, it was such a pity- you look so cute when you're asleep."

Lucas glared, but without malice and shut the door. As he walked to the
wardroom he tried to order his thoughts- damn! He shouldn't have slept so
long- he needed to have thought things through before this.

Ford, Bridger and Hudson were waiting when he got to the wardroom.

"Sorry, I'm late, Sir."

"Sit down ensign. Captain Bridger has been over all the details of the
mission that section seven allows me to know." He really hated being in the
dark. Lucas almost expected Bridger to say something but he was sitting
impassively. "I will let Captain Bridger finish your debriefing." He ended
rather abruptly, "Captain, Commander," nodding to each, before leaving.

Bridger stood up. "I've spoken to Dagwood, already... The mission was a
...success and you all performed very well." He paced for a few seconds.
"Section Seven security means, of course, that you cannot discuss this
mission with anyone without section seven relevant clearance...Thank you for
your help, Commander, Ensign. I know this wasn't easy." He didn't seem to
know what to say, the sentences coming as disjointed facts, while he tried
to keep some formality in the proceedings. He turned to Commander Ford, "Is
there anything you wish to add, Commander?"

Ford looked up from the surface of the table, "No, sir." It was the first
time that anyone had met eyes, so far, in the meeting and the tension was
almost audible, visible, tangible, mixed with so many other emotions, so
much confusion. To Lucas they both looked tired and old: with the mission
out of the way there was nothing else to focus on but their thoughts and
feelings.

"If there's nothing else then... you're dismissed." The formality was so
out of place that they all paused for a few seconds, caught out of time, and
then they rose.

"Lucas, can I have a few minutes?" Bridger asked.

He didn't want to stay, but he didn't really have a choice. Ford shut the
door softly behind him and the room closed in. Bridger paced a little more
before sitting and looking at him, trying to catch his eye. Lucas sat
avoiding this, watching the blank vid screen.

"Lucas..." he couldn't find the words. He didn't know what it was that he
wanted to say, that he could say, and he wasn't getting any help. They sat
in silence, and the room continued to grow smaller; the air was heavy and
sultry, preventing all movement and sound, deadening it, like it does before
a storm- Lucas almost laughed at the cliche, somehow even that would not be
out of place. There was so much that he wanted to say and ask, but not
without thinking first. This was too important, no too vital. He could feel
Bridger looking at him, as they waited. Then Bridger moved briskly, reaching
over to pick up the despicable object that Lucas had avoided even
acknowledging.

"Dismissed."

Lucas was so startled that he forgot and looked up. He knew what Bridger was
holding, and he couldn't keep the hate out of his eyes, freezing them both.
Bridger dropped his eyes first and Lucas almost ran for the door. He kept
walking, shutting it behind him, even though he heard Bridger start to
speak. He needed somewhere to hide- that instinctual desire when
frightened. But there was nowhere- Tony could be waiting in their quarters.
Even the moonpool was out, Bridger could well go there, as he often did, to
relax with Darwin.

"Ensign."

Bridger's voice behind him stopped him. He turned back and walked past
Bridger back into the wardroom- he couldn't refuse, there were too many
people in the corridor.

"It was a long time ago, things were different, I was a soldier, I followed
orders..." He picked up from the middle of a conversation that had never
happened but they both knew the words to.

"Only when you wanted to... it's not an excuse, I don't think that there is
any reason that justifies.... this... what you did."

"We all make mistakes. You've made plenty..." He was pleading, but
aggressive in self- defence.

"Yes, I have. But not like this, nothing like this."

"I've given you a second chance many times- I think that I deserve one
too... I don't have to justify my actions to you." He broke off suddenly
attacking back- like an animal when scared.

"Not to me."

"Then why... I'm sorry if I'm not living up to your expectations. What is
it that you want from me?" His tone alternated quickly from begging to
angry. Lucas breathed out slowly at the floor and didn't reply. "You're in
the military now, somethings you just have to accept - like the decisions of
your superior officers." A pause. "Ensign if there is anything you would
like to add to the record as regards your opinion on this mission, on my
orders... Ensign Wolenczak..." He was hiding now behind his rank and using
it to control the situation.

"Nothing." He straightened up. "Is that all Sir?" He answered polite and,
outwardly, perfectly calm.

"God damn you, look at me when I'm talking to you!"

"Yes sir." He tried to keep the pain out of his voice and face, but his
eyes were furious and betrayed. Bridger had never pulled rank on him, not on
a personal basis.

"What do you want me to say?" It was a plea, this time.

"I don't know. I just want to have...time to think. I just don't know what
I feel about anything right now... Permission to be dismissed, Sir?"

"Go." And that was all.



"It was good seeing you again Captain," there was still some tension
between the two, but Ford managed a sincere smile.

Bridger was fidgeting and looking around.

"Is there something you need, Sir? I thought someone had picked up your
things."

Bridger looked up, tense, but trying not to show it. "No everything is
fine, thank you, Jonathan. It was good to see you to." He looked round a
final time and started off to the shuttle. Then stopped and looked back.
"Say goodbye to Lucas from me?"

The pain in his voice was so evident that Ford just nodded, astonished. "I
think he's on bridge duty... but I'm sure that Captain Hudson would let
him..."

"I think I've disturbed Captain Hudson's routine enough for now," he
replied with humour in his voice and they both smiled, neither deceived for
a minute. "Well, I'd better go and report to McGath- he wasn't impressed
with Hudson's convenient com systems overhaul." He waved and got on the
shuttle.

Ford watched as the doors cycled shut for the outer port to be opened. He
was still amazed that Lucas hadn't said goodbye. Maybe he hadn't known...

"Commander Ford to the bridge," the com systems announced. He sighed and
left. Henderson was walking down the corridor and caught up with him when
she saw him frowning.

"Everything all right? Did Captain Bridger's shuttle get off OK?"

"Huh? Oh, fine."

"Earth to Jonathan Ford. Penny for your thoughts?"

He sighed, "It was just... never mind." She cocked her head at him and held
his arm to stop him. He looked at the floor for a minute and then shook
himself and smiled at her. "It's fine. Not my problem." She looked at him
dubiously and they continued.

On the bridge Hudson nodded at him, "You have the con commander."

"Yes, Sir."

The Whiskers showed only the usual contours of the sea floor, nothing
exciting in this area. Besides, they were going too fast. The bridge was
quiet, everyone concentrating on their panels, but not too hard. Ford could
still feel the change in tension level when Hudson left the bridge, the
flowing of emotions, always suppressed when he was there. He walked over to
Lucas' station, he had a message to deliver.

"Captain Bridger just left. You could have asked to be excused for a while.
Hudson wouldn't have minded too much," he wanted to know, though he knew
that really it was none of his business. 

Lucas stared at his screen, intently as if there was something of vast
interest to be observed there instead of the most mundane readings.

"I said goodbye before I came on duty."

Ford was surprised at how easily the lie came out. Usually Lucas could never
hide that he was lying, but then it was always his eyes that gave it away,
and they were trained on the keyboard in front of him. Ford patted him on
the shoulder and walked back to the centre of the bridge, not sure whether
to offer advice or even show that he knew that he was lying.

The deep changing and merging hues on the sea and the rolling terrain below,
sometimes intruded upon by a sting-ray or a scattering shoal of  fish,
filled the main monitor and the walls of the bridge flowed with the
different refraction of the light from so far above, and they passed on
though the darkness.


===========================  PART 2  =====================================


Copyright E.Casale 1997


Chapter 2

The next month was non stop action, a whirling through the prison colony and
Osirus base, assassinations and finally the mysterious Choadi. None of it
seemed to make an impact, but flowed by with emotions in the present only,
and mainly of easily raised anger. The time that he was going to spend
thinking he filled in with unnecessary reprogramming of systems and
pointless checks. And all the time he felt the urgency of something vital
and unfinished, something that he was neglecting and in so doing perjuring
his duty and beliefs. He felt it more in the one time that he had to face
it, when Dagwood came and asked for his help in watching the information in
the crystals. Somehow the task of plugging it in seemed impossible. In the
end he couldn't turn it on, couldn't stay to watch and simply indicated the
button to press. He felt the pressure to say something, but there was
nothing that seemed to be fitting or to mean anything. He just squeezed
Dagwood's arm as he left. He didn't ask what his friend had decided about
the information, the shards by the pool told him clearly enough and Dagwood
asked for no further help. Tony soon calmed down from his first success in
combat and everything continued as normal, or seemed to for everyone else.
He didn't speak to Bridger or send a message, neither did he receive any,
though before they had been talking at least once a week, and for this he
was grateful.

Tension was renewed over the Choadi, but after a few weeks of patrolling
without further sightings or even long distance readings they were called
off and moved to help the relocation of a research outpost in the Adriatic.
Kimura was accepted as an officer, though generally avoided and tended to
bring with her a coldness in the atmosphere, though whether it originated
from her or was generated by the reactions of the crew to her, there was no
way to tell.

No one seemed to notice Fredricks' death for more than a few days.

It was this that finally seemed to push him to sort out the emotions that he
had buried for the last month, to take them out and inspect them rationally,
rather like a long lost possession, turned over, wondered at and reminisced
with; but he knew what he would have to do to complete this detached and
mathematical assessment- he would have to have all the facts. Once he knew
what it was that had happened, he could decide how he felt. 

With the Choadi technology to be examined, compared and filed, no one took
any notice of the time he spent on the computer. The first place to start
were the UEO files. This was easy enough, as he had long ago created a
backdoor into the programming and a code echo to shortcut the hacking. The
lower security levels had little information on the original GELF
experimentation. Most of the files on the creation of the GELFs had been
"deleted" and were lost in the dark age of genetics. "Deleted" was the term
because he knew they were there somewhere in one of the zones where the
bureaucrats stored their dirty laundry along with memos detailing all their
most sordid crimes. They thought this gave them security, if anything came
out; what it gave him was access.

Dr. Veraczek had a list of credentials seven pages long (in brief). Lucas
groaned, but it was the best place he knew to start from. The number of
projects listed started to drop off towards the year of his "death", and
after this there was nothing, on that level. There was a brief summary of
the beginning of his work at Banaba. It gave a general description of the
facilities as a weather station and also the names of the other main
researchers involved. After checking through the other info, he returned to
this list and selected the first name. Dr. Ruthers, had a similarly long
list of projects and degrees. Bored Lucas skimmed through to see what he was
working on now, if he was still alive. He wasn't - Death by misadventure,
13/6/2009, a few months after Veraczek 'died'. There was also a list of
press clippings on it. Lucas wondered if Veraczek and Ruthers had both
'died' through the UEO, and how many of the other had disappeared in the
same way.

"...the open casket funeral, attended by many of the world top scientists..."

There was also an autopsy, a detailed autopsy, with gaps and no inquiry
report. Curiouser and curiouser...

Out of the other ten names, 2 had committed suicide (the newspapers giving
the reason as guilt over their involvement in the creation of the GELFs with
various references to Frankeinstein and the ethics policy), 4 had died by
misadventure (one drowned when his shuttle sank after hitting a hidden
reef, another was killed when an experiment went wrong and the lab
collapsed, the third died in a climbing accident and the fourth in a vehicle
crash), 3 were murdered or assassinated (one by his abused wife, the other
by religious terrorists, feeling their gods threatened by man's creation of
man, the other by a student who said that his research had been stolen) and
the last had been "lost and presumed dead after seven years" when he
disappeared while fishing (his boat was later found drifting unmanned
several hundred miles from his starting point). All had autopsy reports and
news clippings attached and all had died within a six month period around
the time of Veraczek's death. Veraczek was the only one without an autopsy
report, the only one whose body was discovered by military personnel, the
only one whose organs weren't donated to research, one of two who had closed
caskets. 

The eleven other members of the team had certainly died- he checked for
research on their donated organs and through the autopsy reports. There was
too much medical information to be made up and when he checked in a higher
level security he found pictures (he checked these for digital enhancement,
but they were all untampered with). The only thing that didn't fit was the
lack of inquiries (only in one of the suicide cases, in the terrorist
assassination, in the case of the lab collapsing and strangely in the case
of the lost scientist, fishing on his holiday) and the neatness of these
reports- the full disclosure of all information to the press, the complete
innocence on behalf of the military, the way all the cases had a neat
solution, a convicted killer, a faulty launch, all except the "fisherman"- a
Dr. Alexander.

Lucas sat back and suddenly realised how tired and cramped he was, looking
at his watch it was five hours later- ten minutes until he had to report to
bridge duty. He looked back at the screen and quickly brought up a macro to
save his clearance and the info on the files and did a last sweep before
logging off to check that he had left no trace.

No one seemed to notice how far away he was on the bridge. He filtered the
information at his station and followed the necessary commands almost
without knowing it, several times forgetting he had even done it. When they
finally docked he was dismissed to check over a list of equipment being
brought on board. The four hours of his shift seemed to last no time and
forever. When he finally got back to his quarters he didn't even notice Tony.

"Fine, ignore me then," he said good humouredly, not really annoyed.

"Oh, sorry. I was thinking about something else," Lucas replied going
straight to the computer and pulling up the chair.

"Like that's new," but Lucas was already intent on the screen. Tony flopped
back and continued labouring through his lieutenant's exam book.

Time to try a higher level and he hit a new link on Veraczek's page. The
screen flashed briefly and came up with a password box. Lucas drew the chair
closer to the computer. The link had been for Veraczek's family- family. And
the code was obvious- blatantly, arrogantly and stupidly obvious and he
never believed that it would work for a moment. It was one of the most basic
things you could learn about hacking- the top of the list for passwords not
to use- GOD. 

He pushed the chair back again when the link finally brought up the document
with a section seven cover page. Instinctively he looked round, but Tony was
mulling over a confusing sentence, trying to get the letters in the right
order. He looked down the contents menu and selected Banaba. There was a
plan of the facility, details of the equipment needed and an approval of the
expenses authorised by Thomas Neal, the now General Neal heading the secret
ops division, and on the council one level below the joint chiefs of staff.
The page had only been up for a few seconds when the alarm system went off
and they began their trace. He knocked over the print outs beside the
machine trying to avoid them locking on directly to his signal. He got out 3
seconds before they completed the trace, leaving a marker behind. He sat
back in a daze of relief.

"Hey, you OK?" Tony asked, coming over to help pick up the scattered
papers. "What was that all about?"

"God."

Tony looked at him as if he had suddenly appeared wearing a suit of
fluorescent pink armour. And in his relief and growing fear Lucas started to
laugh.

When Tony had stormed off, after Lucas refused to explain the reference, he
sat looking at the blank screen as he had done when returning from Banaba.
He found himself, with amazement, most puzzled over the arrogance of the
security. It couldn't be stupidity, even taking into account how much easier
he found all security systems- it was beyond that, by a few millennia. But
somewhere in the back of his mind he was starting to get scared- more than
he had been in the Bermuda Triangle or when Freeman had explained that he
was going to kill him, but he couldn't place it immediately- it was
something that he had seen and not yet registered, as with a subliminal
message.  Then he realised. It was the 'active order' that flashed up on the
corner of the expense authorisation sheet just as the page was closed by the
security.

And he felt cold- the room felt cold, though it was always the same
temperature- regulated though the computer system. He felt fear tightening
his chest. He turned off the computer and left the room. He didn't want to
have to deal with this: it wasn't his problem. He stopped at the door. He
knew, it was his problem- his duty. The phrase seemed so stupid, such a
summit to all the cliches-but it was true. It was the rule that he applied
at Banaba, to Ford and Bridger, and it was right; they knew and they should
have done something. He couldn't accept their excuses as he could not accept
his. To live, you first had to be able to live with yourself and he hated
the knowledge.

In the mess he sat cradling a cup of strongest artificial coffee, more for
its warmth than for the boost it gave, though he needed both. The password
was easy to figure out- Veraczek must have put it in as his personal link
and section seven would never have known, otherwise it could never have been
level three security- section seven would have more blocks than a simple
password, a lot more. After all, if someone thought that they could act as
"god" and create other people, it was hardly surprising that the password
displayed the ultimate arrogance. Maybe the 'Active order' was a mistake-
the base was definitely Macronesian manned. The order could have just been
transferred to another part of section seven to avoid asking for the new
expenses, maybe to hide their purpose. But what could be worse, so that they
would have to hide it in that?  Besides, the order would have been cancelled
when the base shut down automatically, unless...

He pushed away the coffee and went back to his quarters. He had set up a
simulation program to follow his movements through the UEO files, so that he
could see what security sweeps they had and to save the pages to look at
later, if he had to make a fast exit, as in this case. He froze the frame on
the expense sheet. The claim was a month ago for some computer equipment.
The destination was obscured by the security cut in, but it started as
"Westlake Po...." He ran a check on any military base with this in its name
or location. It came up as a complete blank. There was one more check. He
set up an imaginary terminal and bounced his signal off five satellites. He
then used the Veraczek link to get into the section seven system and used
the search. The security crashed the link before it could even start the
connection and traced through three of his signal diversions in the five
seconds, before he crashed his link and unplugged the machine from the
energy terminal. It took only thirty seconds to reboot before he could start
picking away the layers of security. He brought up two screens and picked
apart the data from the expense order and from the 'Westlake' search. The
security fence codes were the same for both and he managed to find the
position of both pages. They were files under the folder "GELF".

He needed some help, someone to confirm what he was now starting to be
afraid was the truth about the expense sheet, someone would know something.
If it was true, someone would be missed... GELFs would be missing. 'Just say
it, damn you!' But saying it made it real or at least as real as he was
capable of feeling at that time. If it had been ten years ago, he could have
called in favours from a good number of the confederation heads of the UEO.
He needed someone who was involved, someone who would know who was missing
out of their number, but the only GELF he knew was Dagwood, who had never
been on GELF island, who had been on the SeaQuest since they were granted
citizenship and freedom; Dagwood never used the internex, he had never met
any of the other GELFs, except Rachel when they were trying to find missing
haulers. On the base Dagwood had said that she had told him that "monotones
did horrible things to Daggers". She was his best bet and he had to know,
now, he couldn't leave it or avoid it.

Dagwood was talking to Darwin by the moonpool when Lucas finally found
someone who knew where he was.

"Lucas play?" The vocorder asked.

"Not now, Darwin. Dagwood, can I..." Dagwood titled his head at him, "I
need to.... I need you to help me." He finally got out.

"What can I do?" He asked, always willing to help.

"I need to talk to someone. I need to talk to Rachel."

"Hmm, I don't think she would like to talk to you."

Lucas winced at the irony of how right Dagwood was, without knowing it. "I
know, but it's important."

Dagwood didn't reply.

"Its about what we saw on Banaba." He was so afraid that Dagwood would
remember how much he hatred all of them when he saw the facility. "If I
don't talk to Rachel, what happened there will..." he couldn't voice what
he thought and knew yet, "...it won't be remembered."

"I will remember it."

"Dagwood, please. I need your help. I can't help unless you help me first."
There was nothing more he could think to say, so he just waited for the
reply.

"OK." Dagwood said finally.

He turned back to his friend. "Thank you." It was that simple.


After talking to Dagwood he had to run to the bridge to arrive on time for
his second shift. He was so tired by all that he had learnt and had yet to
do that it was enough just to concentrate on his job. They were going to New
Cape Quest now to drop off the scientists, and would probably get some shore
leave- at least a day and that would be all he needed. Sometimes when you're
doing something good, things or at least somethings go your way (or at
least you like to think that) and New Cape Quest was where Dagwood had told
him he could find Rachel. The only problem now would be getting away from
Tony and the others.

"So what'll we do when we get off this tin?" Tony was trying to pick a
'look' for going into the city.

"Sorry, Tony. I kinda got plans." Lucas told him, shaking his head at the
hat Tony was trying on.

Tony was too curious to be disappointed. "Plans?"

"I'm meeting someone."

"Like who someone? Come on, Lucas, you have to tell me." He even turned
away from the mirror for the answer.

"I don't and I'm not going to."

"Aw, come on."

Tony pestered and begged for half an hour and got absolutely nowhere, just
rather annoyed.


When they finally stepped out into the fresh air and then went their various
ways, Lucas was careful to see that Tony didn't follow him, it would be just
like him. Dagwood, leading him silently through the streets, seemed tense
and nervous, an unusual state for him. Twice Lucas had to tell him to slow
down when he found himself nearly running to keep up. When they reached
"The Dagger's Sheath" they were in the poorer part of the city and Lucas
kept a close eye on all that was happening around them. Dagwood stopped
him outside the club.

"Um, you can't come in. There are no 'monotones' allowed." It was an
apology as well as a statement.

"Dagwood, I need to talk to Rachel."

"Um, I don't think they will like it if you go in."

"OK, Dagwood. Can you ask her to come out here and talk to me, if I can't
come in?"

"I will try." he replied relieved.

"Thanks."

The bouncer, who had been eyeing Lucas with some aggression, somewhat
reluctantly let Dagwood pass. Lucas paced outside, keeping his distance
from the club and the bouncer who had continued to watch him. Dagwood
eventually emerged with a young GELF woman.

"Him?!" She asked, indicating Lucas, who turned hearing her voice. He
walked over. "What is this," Rachel was asking Dagwood.

"He wants to talk to you."

"Yeah, well I don't want to talk to him. What are you doing bringing his
kind here?"

"I'm sorry if the fact that I'm a 'monotone', as you call us bothers you,
but I think you'll want to hear what I have to say."

Rachel looked at Dagwood angrily. "He's a UEO officer. We can't trust him."

"I am UEO," replied Dagwood. Rachel cast a furious glance at Lucas, as if
that were his fault, and then back at Dagwood. "He is my friend."

Rachel sighed angrily. "OK. What do you want?"

"Can we go somewhere more... private?" Rachel looked around and thought.
"It's important." There must have been something in his face or in his
manner, for she nodded suddenly and led him to the club, they turned off
into a side street where Rachel knocked on the side door. The man who
answered it looked dubiously at Lucas, but Rachel nodded, "He's OK," and
they were allowed to pass.

Rachel led them through the back part of the club and into a smaller room
with a table and some chairs. She turned on the dim lighting and ushered
them in. "I don't want to be disturbed, "she said to the loitering man who
had opened the door. "It's OK," she added and then shut the door. Lucas
looked at her and then at Dagwood. "Dagwood, there's that band you liked
when you came last playing tonight. Why don't you go and listen: I'll come
and see you when we're finished here." Dagwood looked at them both and
seemed relieved to leave. When the door had closed after him, the two sat
looking at each other for a few minutes, each deciding how to continue.

"Lucas Wolenczak," he said finally holding out his hand.

Rachel ignored the proffered hand, still doubtful. "What do you want, Mr.
Wolenczak." she was unco-operative and sullenly defiant.

Lucas sighed. "Some information."

"And why should I help you?"

"To help yourself and other GELFs."

"You're going to get the UEO to give us the rights that they gave us on
paper but never meant to acknowledge. You're going to change things so that
we're treated like proper human beings?" The scorn in her voice was biting.

"No. I'm going to try and stop the UEO violating its code against human
rights for GELFs, its crimes against humanity."

"Why are you doing this?" She folded her arms, but at least she sounded
curious, not just aggressive, now.

"For varying degrees of selfishness. If I don't do anything, I just pretend
that I don't know, that makes me a part of it and I can't live with that...
and I want to pay a debt for someone I care about."

Rachel sat back and watched him. She finally seemed to come to a decision.
"What do you need to know."

"I'm not sure... if anyone has gone... missing.?" It was a guess, but it
made sense.

"Yes." She got up and talked leaning against the wall. "In the last few
months five of our people have gone 'missing' as you call it. We tried
talking to the police and the UEO, but they don't want to know. They give us
all these excuses about "freedom to go where they choose", "wanting to see
the world after being in prison for so long". They say that they are
looking, but they never find anything- they never tell us anything. But we
can feel them," she said leaning forward on the table, now. "You probably
don't believe that."

"I had a friend who was psychic." Rachel sat down again, but this time they
both watched the table surface, tracing the false grain in the plastic.
"Could they ... make/create other daggers?"

"No. Enough of the data was wiped out for that to be impossible."

"But you can't be certain, what the UEO says..."

"No, it's certain." Lucas looked at her, waiting. "One of the top
scientists, decided that it was wrong- that he couldn't let it continue and
he wiped the data, stole it, or destroyed it. He knew everything about it,
so he knew what he needed to do to stop it. After this all of his team were
killed and he was thought to have drowned in a fishing accident..."

"Dr. Alexander."

"You knew?"

"No. Only that one of the team was lost while fishing. You said "thought
to have drowned."

"He's been helping us since we were freed. It was hard accepting it from
him, but he seemed to mean what he said and did, and we didn't have much
choice," she added bitterly. "So does that answer your questions?"

"Yes. Thank you." He made the gratitude heard in his tone.

"What will you do now?" She seemed surprised at the sincerity in his voice.

"I need to speak to Dr. Alexander. After that I still don't know. I'll just
do the best I can."

She nodded at the answer, accepting its validity. "He's at apartment 145,
tower block B, St. Michael Street, here in the city."

"Thank you. Thank you for trusting me."

She paused, as if testing him, to see if he were lying or trying to trick
her. "I think you might just do what you said." She turned and opened the
door. "I doubt that you'll want to take Dagwood. Besides I want to talk to
him. I'll make sure that he gets back to the boat on time."

She led him to the door and opened it onto the street. He turned on the
step. "I know that it doesn't help, that it doesn't make any difference,
but I'm sorry."

"It does make a difference," she said. "And it means that you'll do what
we need, but can't do," and she closed the door.


When he got outside the night air seemed blissfully clear, and he looked up,
but the reflection of the city lights off the sky blocked out the stars and
dimmed the imperial velvet of the heavens. It seemed so impossible that he
was strolling along down the streets, taking in the sights and sounds around
him, enjoying the freshness after the ventilator air of the sub, having just
confirmed his fears: having learnt that the organisation that he had sworn
to uphold, that he had fought for and needed so much to believe in, was
doing these unspeakable things and he was somehow going to have to do his
best to stop it. The idea of going up against the UEO was ludicrous, stupid
and laughable. What exactly could he do? He reached in his pocket and pulled
out the map print out that he had got over the net earlier. It wasn't far to
the address that Rachel had given him and he put the UEO's crimes out of his
head- it seemed like a game, not real, or a rather bad fantasy whose end
could only be happy with complete distortion of reality. 

The tower blocks loomed up from the downtown urban sprawl. When he found the
entrance to Block B it was shadowed completely by the too close neighbouring
blocks and the air seemed damp and cold. He pressed the button for 145,
there was no neat lobby here to report to. The old  intercom gave a burst of
static and then a disembodied and mechanical voice asked, "Yeees?" slowly
and with much deliberation.

"Rachel sent me," He didn't know what else to say. Dr. Alexander would never
let in an unknown UEO officer in the middle of the night.

There was no reply but the door buzzed and he slipped inside quickly, afraid
that the doctor would change his mind. The noises of the descending elevator
were ominous, but it was 14 floors up. His stomach seemed to have stuck
somewhere around the seventh floor and the corridor seemed to be undulating
under his feet when the lift finally groaned its way up to and collapsed on
the 14 floor, slightly under the level of the corridor, so that Lucas had to
step up to get out. When he found flat 145 he knocked softly, there didn't
seem to be a bell.

"Come in."

Lucas opened the door and stepped inside, trying to adjust to the light
after the poorly lit corridors. He raised his hand to shade his eyes, "Dr.
Alexander?"

"How did you get this address?" the voice was old, but vaguely melodic and
full of authority.

"Rachel sent me," he repeated.

The room finally formed itself into an expectedly spacious square, with
little furniture and a plush burgundy pile underfoot. Dr. Alexander was
sitting by the windows in a large and comfortable looking armchair. He was
a rather small man, with hair of a dark wiry grey and small gold framed
glasses, but powerful. He regarded Lucas with some interest and even a vague
sense of amusement. He gestured to the chair next to him and Lucas walked
over slowly, waiting for Alexander to finish his inspection and make up his
mind about him. "Rachel has never spoken to a "monotone" when she didn't
have to, let alone trusted a UEO officer." He paused. "I would be very
interested to know who you are that wrought such a change in the
unchangeable." The inflection of his tone was ironic and humorous, mocking
conventions in everything, even in his speech.

"Lucas Wolenczek," he replied, still rather confused at the archaic
phrasing. "Ensign," he added, in reference to Alexander's comment on his
UEO military status.

"Ah," he said, smiling wider, "Now all is clear." This was accompanied by
an expansive gesture, so that Lucas blushed and started to mumble an
explanation, that Alexander halted, raising his hand just slightly. "Why
did she send you." His voice was clear and precise, while still remaining
gentle.

"I need to find out about the GELF experiments. You were on Banaba Island.
You were the only one apart from Veraczek who survived."

Alexander regarded him closely again. "What do you want to know? Or don't
you know that yet?" His astuteness was incredible and Lucas simply nodded.
"I was part of a team of scientists on Banaba. We were working on the GELF
experiments- under pretence of monitoring meteorological events- I
understand the Macronesians are actually using it as a weather station now.
Back then we were still trying to sort through all the data after the second
"batch" of GELFs were created. We were trying  to test their intelligence
levels, their neurological processes... All the tests were harmless in
accordance with the Geneva conventions. What we were doing were things that
were being done on ordinary people all the time- nothing much more intrusive
than one of your Medicals for the UEO. At least, that's what we thought. The
base had tunnels that we didn't know about underneath it. That was where
Veraczek was conducting his "research". His methods were...unacceptable.
For a while I knew and gave in- helping him with some of the less- less
horrible research. Eventually I told the others and we agreed to destroy the
most important part of our research so that no more GELFs could be created
to suffer like that. We thought that there would be safety in numbers. After
that, the Island was shut down and we were a threat to security, to
important people in the UEO, who had sanctioned our experiments. We thought
that once the UEO knew about Veraczek he would be arrested and we would
simply be reassigned. When the first few on the team died I tried to warn
the others, but most of the deaths were not released to the press for
several weeks, by which time 9 of us were dead. Ruthers was killed trying to
get away-' misadventure'. After the first two- the only two I heard about
until after I was "dead", I decided that I couldn't wait. It was very easy,
really. I simply transferred my money, took a bag of disks of my research
and left. I spent several years in what is now Macronesia and at various
mining colonies. When the GELFs were finally given their freedom ten years
ago, I decided that I could finally make some amends for my mistakes. I am
old now and I have no family; my work could no longer be of an important
nature. My last wish is to die without regrets of my end. What I did then I
cannot change, and it cannot be forgiven, but I can do what I can now,
though it doesn't even begin to make up for my mistakes... crimes." He said
it with complete detachment like a well rehearsed speech.

He sat back looking into the past. Eventually he looked up at Lucas. "And
now, Rachel has told me that some of her people have gone missing. I have
not known for long- understandably she still does not fully trust me- except
when she has to. I cannot help, I no longer have access or friends in the
UEO, and I am too old. But I see more in your face than needing to know the
past. How committed to this, you are, I do not know; neither I think do you.
How far you will be willing to take it."

Lucas hadn't thought about it- had made sure he hadn't, but he had always
known what the answer would be. "As far as I can. I know and if I do
nothing, that makes me a part of it and I won't be a part of this."

"Like some other you know?" Lucas looked up at him sharply. "You cannot
pay other people's debts for them."

"But I can try and clear up their mistakes, to put right what I can." Lucas
got up and went to the window and stared into the folds of the curtains.
"If I do nothing I cannot live with myself. If I cannot live with myself
then everything else will be pointless. I don't want to have some thing in
my past that I could have done differently, that will follow me, that I can
never put right. I'll do what I can. I don't see any way that I can make a
difference." He looked back at Alexander, still waiting, "But I can try."

"Rachel is a clever woman," Alexander said filling the words with meaning
and approval. "Sit down and tell me how you knew about this, and how on
earth you ever managed to get Rachel to talk to you," curiosity finally
breaking through and lightening the air.


Lucas sat back and waited as Alexander finished clearing away the things. He
had made coffee, real coffee for them, from dark Brazilian beans with a
gently lacing of grand marnier and cream. The bitter beans accented by the
sweetness of the liquor brought back his sinking energy and he sat sipping
slowly and enjoying the smell and taste, quietly. When Alexander finally
finished and sat down again beside him they drank in companionable silence
and mutual determination.

"How did you get here?"

Lucas breathed out slowly and put his cup back on the table. "I was part of
a team that went to Banaba to pick up some medical archive crystals. We
brought one back, but it was... destroyed." He paused but didn't look up.
Technically he had just committed treason. "I wanted to know more about the
involvement of... several other people from the mission." After this it was
easier, just facts. "The first thing I did was to look at Veraczek's files.
There was a link to his colleagues from Banaba, so I checked those files-
they all died in ways that didn't quite add up. I then tried a higher
security link- it had a password box- I think Veraczek set it up as his own
private quick access. It got me some details about Banaba and an expense
authorisation form signed by Thomas Neal- I only had it for a few seconds
before section seven cut in- but I have this program that plays back
everything that I've done and seen. It was an active order- used only about
a month ago. It seemed to indicate that...there's another base, but I can't
find out anything about it. So then I went back in and set off their alarms.
Their security codes were the same for the order and for Veraczek's files,
under the heading GELF. For the order to be active, there had to be some
sort of science ops on GELFs. So I persuaded a friend- a GELF- to tell me
where I could find Rachel- she's the only other GELF that he's really close
to and I needed someone that I could trust. Rachel didn't want to talk to
me, but Dagwood persuaded her. She told me that GELFs had been disappearing
and then she gave me your address." He watched Alexander, trying to guage
his reaction, but he was staring towards the window, impassive.

"And now?" Alexander asked the night sky.

"I need proof." Alexander stared off into space. "Veraczek had his own
private link- did you? Veraczek's wasn't shut down- they never knew it was
there."

"I never had that level security- only Veraczek. What you have told me ties
in with what I know."

"Do you know who else was running the Island?"

"There were various minor people- Neal was the main person. It was his name
on all the orders, except- there was one-it was a code name only- "Ares".
But I have a feeling that he was the higher of the two. Neal was too stupid
to hide things so well from the UEO. Someone who could hide the experiments
from us when we were on the island and who prevented any leak would never
have signed his own name on the orders." He pulled his eyes away form the
window and back onto the practical questions that Lucas was asking him.

Lucas had to agree. "I can try hacking into the files again- I didn't
really do that with Veraczek- I just used his link."

"It won't be enough. All information that you need- the proof- will be
stored in the Section seven files. It has it's own system that cannot be
accessed from outside. The security immediately cuts in for even the
periphery files. The main folders and directories can't be reached unless
you are in the building." Alexander took off and cleaned his glasses slowly
and methodically.

"Then I'll have to go. I need to find that base. Without that the rest
useless. If I just show them orders, by the time they find where it is,
section seven will have packed it away like it never existed." They both sat
locking eyes. He couldn't believe that he'd just said that, without even
feeling afraid. "I need them to invite me," and he knew how to do it."
Where should I look for the files?"

"The names we had were "family" and "Eden" not very creative, or true.
The code name for the science staff at Banaba was "River Lethe"; in Greek
mythology, people rose from the underworld to new life here- they were
re-created."

"What system were they using?"

"They had that specially designed, by some brilliant young hacker. He also
worked for the FBI and CIA- Microft." That was a blessing. He wouldn't need
nearly so much time planning if he could get Microft to tell him about the
system.

"What do I do with the proof?" If I get the proof... he didn't feel ready
to say it yet.

"That I cannot answer for you. You can give it to the UEO, but unless you
can find out first, you will not know who to trust; or you could give it to
the media, or both. Or you could throw it in the harbour." Alexander's voice
was sympathetic. Lucas stared at his hands. "Even if you get the
information and give it to someone who will stop this, it will not be over
for you. There are people involved who will be destroyed- people who can
command the UEO's armies."

"If I get the information- if I get it to the right people. It's
statistically almost impossible. I doubt that I'll get that far." He sighed,
"Who can I send the information to if I can't get it out?"

"You can send it here to me. But you will need someone else that you trust."

Again they sat silently. Eventually Lucas looked down at his watch.

"I have to go, or I'll be AWOL," he said getting up, suddenly. "Dr.
Alexander, thank you for all your help."

"I think, that I should be thanking you for giving me this chance to help
and for renewing my faith in the UEO." Alexander walked him to the door,
stopping to note down his net address. "Good Luck," he said earnestly as
they shook hands and Lucas left to brave the elevator once more. 

He had to hurry through the streets this time to arrive at the port in time.

"Lucas! Commander Ford thought that he was going to have to tell Hudson you
were AWOL. Man is he impatient."

"Ensign!" Commander Ford came up looking angry. "You had one minute to
spare- I was about to report you AWOL."

"I'm sorry. Sir." He was out of breath.

Ford sighed. Lucas was technically on time- just. "Try to get here a little
earlier next time, Ensign."

"Yes sir."

Ford turned away and spoke into his Pal. "All present and accounted for,
Sir." A pause for the reply.
"Yes sir."

"So?" Tony was itching with impatience as they walked to the launch.

"So, what?"

"So, as in what were you doing that took so long?"

"Tony," he stopped and turned to face him, "I'm not going to tell you, so
just give it up." There was something very final about the way he said it.

"Fine!" Tony walked off fast towards the launch.

Lucas sighed, all he needed was Tony in a mood while he was trying to thwart
some of the most powerful people in the UEO.

Then Tony was back. "You gonna give me a clue?"


Copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 3  =====================================


copyright E.Casale 1997

Please keep sending comments, etc. Thanks. more to come- advice as to when?



Chapter 3

The UEO logo flashed up and then disappeared as the computer booted up.
Lucas stretched and then started the link into the Veraczek files. From
there he selected a high security link and started to hack it. In the lower
security levels of section seven, he used the search to find the directory
for special ops missions 2009. He halted the link midway into accessing the
file and started to filter through the information to find the path. The
security gate was easy to bypass from this point in the programming. Once in
he searched for ops connected with Banaba and with the code names Eden and
Family. Of the list that came up he found 8 immediate correlations to the
dates of death of the Banaba science heads and their locations. Each had a
"Mission successful" or " objective accomplished" in the status box; for all
eight the mission target was code name "River Lethe". Also under this list
was a search and inquiry into the disappearance of Dr.Alexander, they wanted
to be sure of their "luck". And all were ordered by code name "Ares".

He then tried to find the mission reports but the message that came up only
confirmed Alexander's information: "Access denied. Files only accessible
via Section Seven terminals." There was no path to hack or to follow for
these files. He would have to go. He tried  a search on "Westlake Po..." as
a research/science centre. Westlake Point, Section Seven research base, code
number 2003546. There was no location or links to more information, though
he had to hack another security level to get that far. He tried a search on
the name and the number, but neither brought up any information, just a
"Not found. File names are case sensitive" message. He saved his hack, in
case he needed to repeat it and then logged on to the net and searched for
Microft and his aliases. He was surprised at how quickly a match was found
and what it showed when he tried it. Microft was working at a UEO base for
training and educating Gifted Children. Another node 3? He skimmed through
some press on it and was pleased to find that it was an open facility. Some
of the projects were fascinating and he would have liked to read more, but
he didn't have time. He brought up his vidlink and typed in Microft's
address, after checking that he had a secure channel, and sat back to wait
for a reply. Eventually the screen opened and Microft appeared.

"How can I...." stopped dead when he saw Lucas, then smiled. "I didn't
believe it when they said that you were back, that you hadn't aged. We were
all sorry to lose you, Lucas." Stared at him for a while, still trying to
accept what he saw. "I take it this is not a social call?" he said getting
back to business.

"I need your help, but we can't talk like this. Is there a room that's
completely secure, where we could meet?"

"Use your code from node 3, from the red square zone of the internex. I'll
be there. It's good to see you, Lucas," Microft added softly before
terminating the call.

He felt guilty about asking so much and for the risk that his friend would
be taking if he agreed to help, but had to ask. He needed the help. It was
always such a shock to see people aged from what seemed to him only a year
or so: another thing that he had avoided thinking about. Microft hadn't
changed much. He had a few strands of grey above his ears and a new calmness
about him. He just hoped that he hadn't changed too much or persuading him
would be very difficult. He connected and followed Microft's instructions
and the page opened.

"Hello again. What can I do for you?" the electronic voice asked.

"I need some information, but it's... sensitive. It could get you in a lot
of trouble."

"What type of trouble?"

"Section Seven."

"I'm out of the stuff now. I'm a teacher and a researcher. I stopped
intelligence and security work before I went to node 3."

"But you designed the Section seven computer system."

"I didn't- don't have much choice about that. They still ask me when they
have to update it and because it's section seven there's nothing I can do
but agree."

"I need you to give me specs on the system: how it's written, what the
security blocks are, where they are..."

"I told you, Lucas. I try to stay out of that. I only do the section seven
stuff because I have no choice."

"You once said that you wanted to change the world and make it better. That
you wanted to make up for your work in intelligence. Well, this is your
chance. I can't tell you what it's about. You'll just have to trust me that
it's worth it- that it very important. I'm sorry that I have to ask but I
don't have a choice. I can't do this by myself." Microft didn't answer.
Lucas didn't want to use it, but he needed Microft's help, "Remember
node 3?"

"Bit below the belt for you, isn't it?"

"I told you I don't have a choice. I need your help."

A pause. "OK. Why do you need the specs?"

"I need to write a virus for section seven and I need you not to fix
it...to tell them to get me to do it."

"You're going to get yourself killed."

"I'm going to stop something that's wrong."

"I hope it's worth it."

"It is. I just wish I could tell you what is it, so that you'd know how
much you're helping people."

"I don't want to know. The more I know the more trouble I'll be in when you
get caught. Just don't' get caught."

"I wasn't planning on it. You know where to send it- secure."

"This is insane," another pause, "but I trust you. Just don't let me down
and take care. It was bad enough losing that brain of yours once. We need
some time to pick it before we can lose it again. It was good to hear from
you. I hope that I will again, soon."

"I might just take you up on that. I'd love to see the base, it sounds
great."

"I'm finally making a difference. I'm not changing the world in one day, but
I'm helping and working with some of the next generation who will, perhaps."

Neither spoke for a while.

"I just sent it through."

Lucas checked his in-mail. "Yeah, I'm just starting to get it. Thank you."

"Will you quit thanking me and go and save the world with this?"

"I'll try." Lucas exited the room and started to scroll through specs,
thinking. Pushing away the bitter sweet memories that were crowding in. When
he had finally printed out all of it, he took the pile to the mess for a
very strong coffee. The artificial beans tasted like an oil change from a
1980's car, but the caffeine was needed.

"Hi." Henderson sat down opposite him. "Lucas?"

"Oh, sorry." He said looking up and turning the pile face down.

"What're you working on?"

"A new program."

"For...?"

"Huh? Oh, um, it's an update on the vo-coder." It was obvious that he was
making it up as he went along.

"Is everything OK? You seem, I don't know, somewhere else lately. You don't
talk any more."

"I'm just tired, busy. I'm trying to work some things out and I've had a
lot of extra work trying to figure out the choadi technology. It's so far
beyond what we have..."  He saw Kimura enter, "And Miss Yin-and-Yang isn't
exactly a joy to spend extra shifts with."

"You know, I can't help wondering if, well, if she'd be nicer if we were.
But then when you try to be nice, she looks at you like your something she's
trodden in when she wasn't looking where she was going and is now trying to
find some grass to wipe you off on."

They both laughed. "Yeah, it does feel like that sometimes. What time is
it?"

"Uh, 16:00."

"I have to go. Got a shift on the bridge in 15."

"Good Luck. Hudson seems to be fuming about something."

"That bad?" he grinned.

"Oh, yeah."

"Great. That's all I need."


He knew that he should concentrate on his station more, especially as Hudson
was in a bad mood, but he kept running the plans through his mind, trying to
come up with something that they wouldn't be able to break, no matter who
they got to do it, until they called him. Luckily Hudson seemed as
distracted as he was annoyed and so Lucas managed to get away without
reprimand for being a few thousand miles away.

When he got back to his quarters Tony was on the floor amid a huge scatter
of papers- the specs on the Section Seven computer system.

"What they hell are you doing?" he shouted.

"Sorry, I was looking for a pen."

"In my locker?" he asked furiously.

"Hey, no need to be so touchy. Anyway what is all this stuff," he asked
trying to figure out which way up the print out belonged.

"None of your goddamn business." He snatched the paper away. "Just leave
it and stay the hell out of my stuff."

"What is it with you anyway? You've been acting like a complete jerk lately."

"Well, maybe if I have some privacy...," he sighed, he didn't have the time
or the energy for a fight. "I'm too tired to fight about this. Just back
off."

"Hey, we're sharing these quarters remember?" Tony was on the warpath now
and was going to stay angry and aggressive for a while.

"How could I forget." He finally finished piling the papers and grabbed the
stack, slamming the door shut. Brody was coming down the corridor and called
something to him, but he ignored him, heading for the moonpool.

The gentle slapping of the water against the sides of the pool gradually
calmed him. Darwin was out feeding so the room was quiet and empty. He sat
trailing his fingers in the water and watching the ripples distort the shape
of his hand and the gentle pattern of colour that the water made on the
walls with the lights low. He sighed and sat back against a support column
and closed his eyes. He couldn't concentrate any more, his mind seemed to
have shut down and the specs rushed in a meaningless mess of numbers and
command lines past his eyes. He wasn't going to get anywhere like this, no
matter how long he spent. The gentle noises of the water, its rhythms of
sound and slowly changing patterns of light were comforting and familiar and
he let them wash over him until he slept against the cold metal.


Tim woke him, gently shaking his shoulder. "Lucas!"

"Huh? Oh, hi." He tried getting up, finding himself very cramped and stiff.
His hand, that had been trailing in the water as he slept, was numb and he
rubbed the fingers to get the blood going.

"Why are you sleeping down here? Is it particularly comfortable, or
something?" he teased gently.

"Uh, not exactly. Tony was just really bugging me, so I came down here. I
didn't mean to go to sleep," He said yawning.

"Is everything all right, Lucas?" Tim was trying to be tactful, "You just
seem really distant lately."

"I've just been trying to think some things through. There were some
decisions that I had to make," he replied non-commitally.

"But it's OK now?" Tim was quiety concerned, but trying not to pry.

"Well, I've decided. I just have to see how it works out."

"Well, if you need any help..."

Lucas smiled, "I'll ask. Thanks Tim. I know I haven't been much fun to be
around lately."

"You and half the boat," he sounded bitter.

"You need some help here?" Lucas asked leaning against the pool beside Tim.

"It's just Kimura. I don't know how to feel about her, about having her on
board, about having to work with her." He sighed. "I just don't know how to
act. I really thought that she was someone special. I'd never met anyone
like her before..."

"She just seemed to understand everything about being different." They said
it together and Tim made a wry face.

"She's not the only person out there who will be able to understand how you
feel. I thought that for a while about someone I knew, but it wasn't true.
Anyway, most of the way she knew exactly what I wanted in someone was
because she'd researched me." Thinking about Sandra he wondered if she was
out of prison yet, then he stopped himself. He didn't want to think about
her or how he felt about her.

"I thought I was close to few enough people ten years ago. I can't even
contact most of them. For them it's over ten years ago. For me it's
yesterday or a few months..."

"And most people just don't want to know any more. I don't think there's
anyone on this boat who doesn't feel like that, except Hudson." And
Fredricks, had she been alive.

"It doesn't make it any easier though."

"No, but at least you're not the only one going through it." He squeezed
Tim's arm in comfort.

Tim looked at him and laughed, then, "And I came down here to talk about
your problems! Thanks. Hey, you gonna come to the bridge before Hudson bawls
us out for being late."


With the specs from Microft the virus was progressing fast, but he still had
to make it watertight so that no one could break it. He still wasn't up to
date on the ability of other hackers yet. And they had to call him quickly-
this was simple enough. He included a countdown marker for 3 days: a day for
them to get him there and 2 for him to get the information he needed. The
virus had several functions: it ate memory in a fairly basic way and
corrupted files (only temporarily). The countdown was until the files
would be irretrievable and he built in a function saying that a selection of
files would be sent to various media stations at the end of the countdown.
He also programmed it to crash the diagnostics systems within the computer
and the security sweeps. That way they would not even be able to tell what
the virus was doing and how it was moving about. But he had to do it so that
it wasn't too obvious that he knew all the details of the system; and he had
to send it so that it couldn't be traced back to its start. It took him all
his time between shifts to do it in two days. He managed a few hours sleep
in between, but not much.

"Hey, Lucas! You've been sitting at that thing for two days. You gonna get
some sleep or what?" Tony had forgotten to stay pissed at him.

"Later," he wasn't really listening.

"Yeah, like later everything- meals, sleep, talking. The only thing you
seem to stop for are your shifts. You even listening to me?"

"La... Huh? Oh, yeah... sort of. I'm sorry, I just have to finish this," he
continued typing.

"Today? What's so important that it can't wait a few hours- a few minutes."
Lucas didn't answer. "Come on, take a break. Come to the mess with me." Tony
got up and walked to the door.

"Later," he insisted, jotting down an idea.

Tony slammed the door, Lucas looked round and sighed, and then turned back
to the screen and the nearly finished virus. When Tony got to the mess,
O'Neil waved him over and he dropped into a chair at the table, next to
Henderson and Ford. 

"No luck," he sighed. "I thought you said you talked to him, Tim."

"I did, kind of," Tim replied a little sheepishly. "Anyway, he's always
been like this, when he gets something into his head. He hasn't forgotten a
shift yet."

"No, but he knows that Hudson would fry him alive if he did."

"I don't know which is worse- his constantly reminding everyone to call him
"Ensign" or his just not talking- I mean it's not like he's rude, exactly..."

"He sure as hell got pissed at me when I knocked over his papers," he
couldn't keep the hurt and anger out of his voice.

"You were going through his things, Tony," Henderson tried to pacify. Men!

"Yeah, well, he didn't have to get quite so mental about it," he said
stubbornly.

"Can I continue," Tim asked. "Thank you. Like I said, he isn't exactly
rude. It's just like he's not there. I did try and talk to him. We just got
into another subject. Look, I've known Lucas for longer than anyone,
except Ford, on this boat. He talks about things when they're bothering him-
to someone."

"Does anyone know exactly what he's working on?" Tony was not going to let
it go.

They all shook their heads.

"I just assumed it was something to do with the Chaodi technology."
Henderson ate a forkful of peas, wincing at the taste.

"He said something like that to me," O'Neil agreed.

"I don't know, but I just hope he finishes it soon..." Tony broke off from
what was going to be a long whinge as Lucas came in. He was staring at
something a few feet in front of him- and all in his mind. He helped himself
to a coffee and walked out again without once seeing the room or the people
in it.
"Very soon."


Lucas walked slowly back to his quarters running through the last steps of
the virus and finally satisfying himself that it worked. He sipped the
coffee, not tasting it (thankfully) as he programmed in the last parts and
sat back, exhausted, with the finished virus saving on screen. When it had
finished saving, he flipped off the machine, set his alarm and tumbled onto
his bunk to sleep until his shift. Tony came in a few minutes later.

"I brought you a sandwich..." he stopped seeing Lucas asleep. "Well, at
least you've got the sleep part figured out, now." He sighed and left the
sandwich on the table and left for his shift, after checking that Lucas'
alarm was set.

Walking down the corridor after his shift finished, Tony found Lucas coming
down the corridor, looking awake and focused.

"You look bright and perky today."

"I finished the thing that I was working on."

"Good," Tony said slowly, not fully convinced that this would change things.

"Look, Tony, I'm sorry that I've been so busy and so quick tempered. It's
just, this is really important and it got me pretty stressed out."

"So long as you don't start doing something else now."

"I'll work on it. I have to go." He turned towards the Bridge. "Hey, Tony,
thanks for the sandwich."

"You're welcome."


With the virus finally finished he just had a few more things to do; one was
writing a smaller virus, in case anything went wrong at section seven- it
would shut down all their comm. links for half an hour to give him some
time... for whatever he needed to do. He also hacked into the programming
and left a backdoor for himself. He would have to be quick about getting the
files. They were sure to be watching him. Finally he set up the links and
ghost links to hide the signal path which he would send the virus on.

After this he made up a list of the equipment he would need. Most of it he
had in his quarters or could borrow from the science labs. No one would
argue with him or even notice that it was gone. Luckily the labs had extra
cameras, vidcameras and audio equipment, and with the new technology they
were small enough to fit in the one bag he would be allowed to take when
section seven came for him. The thought of this stopped him short for a few
minutes. With all the preparations- the writing of the virus, planning what
he needed to get- he had been able to put the reality of what he was about
to start out of his mind, but now, he only had the virus to send and then to
wait- a short wait. But once he sent it, he was committed. Damn it! he told
himself. You're already committed. You made that choice when you went to see
Alexander, when you went to see Rachel... when you decided to hack into the
files in the first place. He was furious with himself for being so close to
backing out, and so afraid, "but you won't back out!" He found an empty
locker in the science labs and stored the stuff there, taking the key. No
one would look there anyway. There was no one else on the boat who gave a
damn about science and research anymore- except perhaps, Dr. Perry, but she
was still busy going over Kimura's neurological implants and the data she
had collected from them. And he was ready.

He was trying to stay calm, but even from the back of his mind the knowledge
of what he was going to have to do crept up into his consciousness and he
fought hard against the rising nausea that it brought with it. On the bridge
he had to fight to concentrate, but with everything ready and nothing left
to do he could only keep his mind on his duties, to keep it off his fears.
He figured it would take them two days before they asked for him- two days
of waiting.

He sat in front of the screen for a long time, the virus ready to send, his
hand hovering over the key. Finally he swallowed and pressed it. "Message
sent," it said, almost immediately. He shut off the screen and sat back
holding his hands under his chin, trying to accept that it was done. He
desperately wanted someone to talk to, to comfort him. But he couldn't let
anyone see him any different. He was not supposed to know that section seven
would be coming- it would ruin everything, but he had no idea how he was
going to manage to "act normal" for the next two days. The only other thing
was sleep. That way he couldn't think; and once he got to section seven he
wouldn't have much of a chance for that. But sleep wouldn't come. Even
though he was completely exhausted his mind kept jumping around, flying off
on tangents and then returning to the thoughts and feelings that he was
trying to forget. After half an hour he got up and went down to medbay. Dr.
Perry looked up as he came in and sat back from her microscope.

"Can you give me something to help me sleep," he asked.

She got up and went to a cabinet. "Normally no, but you look like you need
it. One should do it. Just take it with some water and then go to bed. Don't
wait for it to work first."

"Thanks," he smiled at her gratefully.

"Any reason you can't sleep?" She was trying to ask casually, making a note
of it on the computer.

"I don't know. I guess I've just been working too hard and now I can't
relax."

"Now, is that a surprise! Come back and see me if this happens again, and
make sure you take a bit more time off. I mean real time off." He was lucky
that she was busy, otherwise she wouldn't have let him go so easily.

"OK, thanks."

With the help of the pill he managed to sleep for a blissful ten hours,
until Tony woke him.

"You're on duty in ten minutes!"


"You really slept you know." They were on their way to the bridge.

"Yeah, Dr. Perry gave me a pill." Tony looked at him sideways. "Thanks for
getting me up."

"You sure I shouldn't have just let you sleep?"

"With Hudson around? No, I feel fine now."

"It's poker night tonight. You in?"

"Sure."


"I'll see that 50 and raise you another 10," Tony sat back gloating over
his cards.

"Lucas?"

"Um, fold."

"OK... Tim what do you have?"

"High pair, two jacks."

"Three ladies." Tony spread out the cards and grinned like the Queen of
Heart's Cheshire cat. He gathered up the cards, shuffled with great flourish
and dealt again. They all threw in their kitty chips and then asked for
cards, Tony had to prompt Lucas again at his turn. " Um, one."

"You sure you even looked at those yet?" Tony paused. Lucas nodded. "OK."
He threw in a twenty chip to start and sat back to watch the others. Ford
folded, Brody raised, Lucas stared off into space. Tony rolled his eyes at
the others. Ford motioned to him to stay calm. "Lucas, you with us tonight?"

"Sorry. Fold." He tried to pull his mind back on to the game but it
wandered again immediately,

Brody won the round and Tony gathered up the cards again. "Lucas, you had
three of a kind, why'd you fold?"

"Huh, sorry, guess I wasn't paying attention." The others shifted with
annoyance. "I'm sorry guys. I just don't seem to be with it."

"You can say that again," Tony mumbled.

Lucas looked up at his tone and then rose. "I think I'll just call it a
night."

"OK, see ya," Tony said trying not to sound too annoyed. Lucas left. "Man,
am I fed up with his attitude."

"I thought you said that he had finished," Brody looked at him accusingly.

"He has. At least he hasn't been stuck to that machine all day. I don't
know, maybe he's just drowsy. He slept for ten hours before coming on shift-
got a pill from Dr. Perry. Hey, this is supposed to be fun." He would not
let this spoil his evening. Besides, he was losing and had to concentrate.
He put on a cheerful countenance and dealt again.


Lucas wandered down the corridor, finding his steps taking him to the
moonpool. He hung over its side and let the water run through his fingers/
Darwin swam up and circled slowly in front of him and then settled to be
stroked. Lucas flipped on the vo-corder when Darwin started to speak,
"Lucas sad?"

He was always surprised how the dolphin could pick up his moods. "No, not
sad. I don't really know how I feel."

"Lucas play?" He was about to reply with his usual, "I'm too busy or not
now," but there was really nothing for him to do but wait and no reason not
to. It might even help him forget for a bit- and he needed to. He felt like
he was about to explode. "OK. I'll be back in a minute." Darwin swam happy
circles as he waited for Lucas to return. The water felt cold at first but
then as he swam it warmed to a gentle caress. It felt wonderful and he
played like he used to on the first tour, forgetting everything around him.
He spent several hours with Darwin, not realising it, and arrived on the
bridge with his hair still wet. Hudson eyed him dubiously and with some
distaste, but said nothing as he tried to slip unobrustively into his seat.
After his shift ended he slept again, finding it easier after his swim. 


When he woke, he wandered around the ship's corridors for a while, trying to
find something to occupy his attention. Henderson stopped him as he went
past, lost in his fears.

"Lucas, can you help me in engineering? There's some sort of problem with
the Mag-Lev power supply."

"Sure," Anything to take his mind off section seven.


"Try it now," Henderson called after making some more adjustments. "Lucas?"

"What?"

"Try it now?"

"Oh, right." The Mag-Lev groaned but still didn't move. "Try the forward
connection valve."

"OK. Yeah, I see it. That should do it. OK, try it again." He was drifting
again. "Lucas!" This time the Mag-Lev moved off smoothly. Henderson got up
wiping her hands on her overalls. "Thanks." He was still staring at the
read out on the diagnostics check. "Hey," she said squatting down beside him.

"It worked?" He sounded exhausted.

"Yeah. Lucas, what's wrong?" she asked concerned.

"Nothing." It didn't even convince him, but he was too tired to care. He
sighed and got up. "I just don't really feel like talking." He started to
leave. "Thanks, but I'm OK, really."

"So long as you know I'm here to listen if you need anything," she still
looked worried.

"Thanks. But I'm really OK." This time he tried too hard. He smiled back at
Loni and then left.

Henderson sighed and got up. "Like either of us believe that."



"Captain, there's a shuttle approaching from the north."

"Identification?"

"It's a UEO shuttle, but there's not meant to be anything out here at this
time."

"Hail them, Mr. O'Neil."

"No reply, Sir."

"Mr. Wolenczak, what is their heading?" Lucas was staring at the main view
screen and didn't reply. "Mr. Wolenczak," he almost jumped at Hudson's
voice and looked down at him, "Their heading," Hudson prompted
sarcastically and annoyed.

"208 degrees... Sir."

"Sir, I've got them," O'Neil looked up.

"On screen." A middle aged Officer appeared on the screen. "This is
Captain Hudson of the SeaQuest. Please identify yourself."

"This is Lieutenant Matheson on board the UEO shuttle M17 from New Cape
Quest. We've been having propulsion trouble and we've been drifting for
about fours hours now. I have several scientists, from the SeaView Research
facility on board en route to a meeting at the Marine Institute at Pearl."

"I'll open the docking port and we'll get someone to look at your shuttle.
We'll contact Pearl to say that you'll be delayed."

"Thank you, Sir," the lieutenant looked relieved as he severed the link.
He'd probably been expecting to be eaten alive by his superiors.

"Mr. Wolenczak, I don't expect to have to repeat my orders," Hudson said
grimly.

"No Sir."

"Don't let it happen again."

"Yes Sir."

Hudson gave him a last look to reinforce the message and then turned back to
the front of the bridge. He'd got off really easy this  time. "Lieutenant
Brody?"

"They've just docked."

"Good. Send down a repair team and send a message to the Institute."


He was lucky, very lucky. Hudson must just have been in a good mood. He
breathed out slowly and gently, relaxing from his fright. He had thought
that the shuttle was section seven- just early. They probably still wouldn't
come for another twelve hours, and he was already a nervous wreck. You're
such a bloody wimp! he told himself. Pull yourself together. He sighed. It
wasn't working. All the time he seemed to feel his fear as a tightness,
almost a pain centring around his breastbone. It ached and then stabbed at
each reminder, bringing with it a flush of heat. It filled his thoughts and
froze his mind from everything else. He felt tired. It was giving him an
incredible headache and he was starting to wish that Section seven would
just arrive, and get it over with. Suppose he had made a mistake and they
didn't come. Suppose they had worked out who had sent the virus. But he knew
he was better than that. He just wished that intelligence could somehow over
come fear. He ached to talk to someone, anyone, but he knew that that was
impossible. Most of all he wanted to talk to Bridger- for comfort and in
case something went wrong at section seven, as it probably would. He didn't
want to leave that relationship with a fight. But Bridger was the last
person he could talk to about this, anyway. He still didn't know what he
felt about what he had learnt at Banaba. He just hoped that somehow doing
this would help him to resolve that.

He sighed. He needed some energy, and though he wasn't hungry- even the
opposite- he forced himself to the mess and to start through a plate of
pasta. Brody and Tony came up to join him. 

"Boy, were you lucky on the bridge. I thought Hudson was going to explode."

"He must have been in a real good mood. What were you thinking anyway. You
were a million miles away."

"You looked like you'd just eaten a wasp."

"I just wasn't thinking."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Too right. You know, I really thought that Hudson
was going to... I don't know, do you thinks he's getting worse?"

"He's hasn't thrown anyone about the bridge lately," Brody put in.

They were all silent thinking the same thing, what most of the crew thought,
but it was tacitly agreed that it would not be said. Tony said it, looking
around first to check who was listening, "I really miss having Bridger as
our Captain." He looked over a Lucas, who was staring at his plate, swirling
the strands around in aimless patterns. Brody looked at Tony pointedly- he
was breaking the rules, "It's true. You think so to- s'just no one says
it," he added defensively.

"Excuse me." Lucas stood up suddenly and left.

"Hey. What'd I say?" Tony called after him. Lucas kept walking. "Well, I
guess we know what's eating him." He sighed. "I'd better see if he wants to
talk. It ain't gonna change unless he does and I'm getting plenty tired of
all this."

"Good Luck," Brody said, doubtfully.

"Yeah," Tony raised his eye brows, not looking too happy or sure that he
wasn't going to get into a real fight. "Hey, Lucas, wait up." Lucas didn't
wait. "So you going to talk about it?" he asked when he finally caught up
with him. That came out well, Tony thought, kicking himself.

"No," Lucas replied sullenly. Tony pulled him up short and blocked his way.
"Get out of my way, Tony," Lucas warned.

"Not until you tell me what's going on." Lucas stared at the wall. "I'm not
moving until you talk to me. Look, I just want to help."

"Ever thought that I mightn't want your help." He was being aggressive now.

"I'm fed up with the way you're acting!" Oh, well put, Piccolo, start a
fight, that will really help. Lucas turned and started to walk back the
other way. "No you don't- you're not getting out of this, Lucas," Tony said
running around in front of him.

"I told you to get out of my way!" This time he shouted and all the other
people in the corridor looked round. "Damn it, Tony." He didn't move and
Lucas gave in, looking around tensely, "Can we at least go somewhere...
more private?"

"OK," Tony agreed. Embarrassing him wouldn't help.

Tony held open the door, while Lucas walked into their quarters. He sighed
and shut it behind them.

"OK. So what's going on." Lucas stood and stared at the wall with his back
to Tony. "Goddamn it, look at me when I'm talking to you," Tony shouted
before he could stop himself, unwittingly saying the same thing as Bridger.
Lucas spun round and stood staring wide eyed at him, breathing quickly,
emotions flowing over his face, burning it scarlet. Then he dropped his eyes
down to the floor. and turned away, not trusting his control.

"Please, just leave it, Tony." He sounded defeated, like he didn't care.

"No," he said and then waited. Lucas stood turned away still. Eventually he
looked up at the ceiling and then down again. "Lucas..." he started gently.

"I know you're just trying to help, but please, just leave it." Lucas
turned and looked at him, pleadingly. "Just not now."

"I'm fed up of everything being 'later'." Why couldn't he stay calm? He had
to learn some control, he told himself.

"Tony, I can't talk about this yet. Can't, but believe me I want to," Tony
started to protest. "I mean it Tony. I can't tell anyone yet. That's it." He
sat down.

He sighed, relenting. "Well, just make sure you do when you can."

"Thanks, Tony. Really... thanks. Just... don't tell anyone that- that I've
been..."

"No problem." They smiled at each other. "So long as you know I'm here for
you."

"Uhuh," Lucas was staring fixedly at a mark on the table, but his voice
didn't sound too even.

Tony considered for a minute, but Lucas made no further attempt to talk. He
didn't seem to want anyone around, so he got up. "Well, if you're not going
to 'regale me with intellectual discourse' I'll go and finish my meal."

"Sorry about that," Lucas tried to grin but it dropped quickly.

"No sweat. Anytime," Tony said gently, too worried to be angry at how
difficult his friend was being.

He didn't look up until the door had closed. He desperately wanted- needed
some comfort, but he'd been careless enough already- Stupid! just let
everyone figure out that you knew section seven was coming. But they
wouldn't. He hadn't been that stupid, though not talking had been the
hardest part of the task so far. It's going to get a lot worse, he reminded
himself. And he wished Tony would come back. No, he didn't. If he came back
he would tell him and that would be the end of it. He wouldn't be doing what
he could, he would be letting himself become a part of it and that would be
worse than anything he was feeling now. His thoughts strayed back to
Bridger. What would Bridger think of all this? What would he find out about
him? He didn't want to answer this question. He would wait until he had the
facts and then he would face them. Would he care if he didn't come back?
Would anyone? Aren't we feeling sorry for ourself! His mind taunted, good as
ever at attacking him. He looked at his watch. A few more hours only until
he could expect them.


"Captain Hudson we're getting an encoded security message. It's section
seven, Sir."

"On screen," he said reluctantly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Today was
going to be a bad day.

"Captain Hudson, this is Captain Lawrence. I have an urgent message for you."

"O'Neil, secure this line. I'll take it in the wardroom. I'll be with you
in a minute, Captain. Commander Ford, you have the con."


"How can I help you, Captain?" He was trying to be polite, but not
expecting anything pleasant- the opposite.

"This is a secure line?" Lawrence asked unneccessarily.

"It is," he replied patiently.

"I need to borrow one of your crew members." Hudson waited for more
details, watching Lawrence squirm before proceeding. "We're having some...
difficulties at section seven HQ and we think that you crew member could...
resolve them." He looked very uncomfortable, embarrassed with the admission.

"Which crew member?"

"Ensign Wolenczak." Hudson's face darkened slightly.

"What difficulties does section seven need my ensign to resolve, Captain?
Wolenczak is a science officer, with no combat training, and I fail to see
what section seven would need with him." He had to work hard to keep his
voice and face neutral.

Lawrence shifted uneasily again. "We're experiencing some computer...
glitches."

"My experience of section seven has always been that it could take care of
its own 'glitches'."

"Our systems have been infected by a very powerful virus, which none of our
systems experts has been able to... deal with, so far. Wolenczak was
recommended by secretary McGath, personally. He's a computer genius, one of
the top minds in this field and frankly, we're running out of time and
options." He was clearly very worried.

"I've never known section seven to ask for anything they needed. My
experience of working with section seven was that you took what you wanted,
no questions asked. Are you saying I have a choice in this matter?" Hudson
didn't like or trust section seven and he wasn't going to be helpful or make
this easy. He was busy getting a perverse glee from Lawrence's growing
embarrassment.

"I'm afraid that the answer is no, but we would like your co-operation and
agreement." Hudson turned away angrily. "We are sending a vessel to
collect Mr. Wolenczak. It will be docking with you in half an hour. I'm
sorry, Captain, but that is all the information that I can give you. We
should be able to return your ensign within a couple of days, assuming that
he is successful. He will be briefed when my men collect him, but I would
appreciate it if you could arrange for him to be ready when they arrive."

"So I get to tell him that you 'require his services'." Just like section
seven to pass the buck where they possibly could.

"Yes. I thought that it would meet with a more favourable reception, coming
from you. I understand that Wolenczak has worked with section seven before."

Hudson looked confused. "That base at Banaba," he said slowly, remembering.

"So he should already know our rules regarding security," he said
pedantically.

"I will go over them. Will there be anything else?" he asked with great
sarcasm.

"No, thank you Captain. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated," Lawrence
seemed oblivious to Hudson's aggressiveness bordering on rudeness.

Hudson severed the link disgusted and worried. Some days he wished that he'd
stayed commanding the tanker. He hated having his hands tied, hated having
to agree to whatever section seven asked, without knowing what it really
was, but knowing that it was probably very unpleasant and dangerous. Most of
all he felt that he was betraying his responsibility to his crew. He didn't
have any choice and that was the end of it, he tried to tell himself, but
today it didn't seem to work. He refused to admit that this was harder than
it should be. He trusted Wolenczak and his abilities, but he wasn't trained
and he didn't want to hand him over to section seven for any reason without
someone else going. Partly it was because of his age and partly because of
his lack of training, he told himself, but it was also something more. He
wasn't going to play favourites with his crew, though. He didn't want to do
it, so he forced himself to- to prove that he wasn't avoiding it, that it
wasn't a problem. "Commander Ford," he said over his Pal, "Please ask
ensign Wolenczak to report to the wardroom, ASAP."

"Yes sir."

He shut down the link and sat trying to think of what to say.


Copyright E.Casale 1997



===========================  PART 4  =====================================


copyright E.Casale 1997

I'll be away for a day or so and hopefully I'll have sorted out my computer
by then- please keep sending messages though, as I will be able to collect
them- part 5 will go out ASAP. Thanks again,

Lx


======

Chapter 4

Ford closed the com link and looked over at Lucas, already watching him,
with a worried look on his face, thrown into relief by the blue light of the
instruments at his station. Ford walked over to tell him; he didn't need the
whole bridge to hear.

"Captain Hudson wants you in the wardroom," he said quietly, leaning over
the display so that Henderson at the next station couldn't hear.

"Yes, Sir." Lucas took off his headset and got up.

"What's going on here, Lucas?"

"I guess I'm about to find out," he replied, slipping past a confused Ford,
who continued to stare after him as he left the bridge, walking calmly but
decisively.

"Commander Ford?" Tony looked at him, the question written across his face,
as it was over all of those on the bridge.

"I have no idea, what's going on," Ford said in reply to the silent
question. "But I don't think that I'm going to like it."

The bridge settled back to work, all agreeing with him, and waiting.


"Come in," Hudson called in response to the brisk knock. He sighed, turning
around in his chair. Lucas came in and stood in front of him.

"You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"Sit down, Ensign." He aligned a book and some papers on the already
pristine desk. "I just got a message form section seven. They want your
help with a computer 'glitch.'" He stressed the word with some derision.
"Apparently none of their 'experts' can sort out this 'glitch'- some sort of
virus. McGath recommended you, personally'."

Lucas stared at the desk for a few minutes, counting the time. When he
thought enough had passed he looked up. "When do I leave."

Hudson raised his eyebrows, but replied neutrally, "They will be docking
with us in half an hour. They want you ready to leave by then." Lucas
nodded. "They asked me to remind you that this is highest level security
and that you are not to discuss it with anyone." He paused for
acknowledgement. "Good. I'll meet you in docking bay 3. You have twenty
five minutes." Lucas rose silently. "Wolenczak," Hudson stopped him before
he reached the door. "I am sorry about this, I would have liked to be able
to give you a choice."

"Thank you, Sir. That's just the way section seven works." He shrugged in
acceptance.

"And I appreciate your co-operation." He paused, and Lucas dropped his eyes
quickly, so that Hudson resumed, "They said that they will probably only
need you for a few days. That's all the information I have. The team coming
to escort you to HQ will brief you on the rest. Dismissed."

"Yes, Sir."

Hudson was surprised that he hadn't argued, hadn't even questioned him, but
then he had worked with section seven before and knew that it was useless to
disagree or fight them. It just didn't seem to fit with what he knew of him,
but then geniuses were meant to surprise you. He sighed and turned on the
com link. "Mr. Ford, can I see you in the wardroom?"

"Yes sir."

"And you 'd better tell navigation that there will be a shuttle docking
with us in about half an hour- docking bay 3."

"Yes, Sir."

"And Mr. Wolenczak will not be finishing his shift." He shut down the link
before Ford had a chance to reply.


"There will be a shuttle docking in half an hour, bay 3. Brody, you have the
con." He stopped Brody as he came up to the centre of the bridge. "You'll
need someone to finish Lucas' shift."

"Why? What's going on here? What does Lucas have to do with it."

"I don't know yet." He patted Brody's arm and left, before he had to listen
to any further objections.

"Baker?" Brody addressed the crew woman, who had taken Lucas' station."
Can you finish Wolenczak's shift?"

"Yes Sir," she replied with surprise.

"Good." He stood up and looked around, shrugging at the others and trying
to make some sense of it all.



Lucas already had his bag packed; all he had to do was pick up the equipment
from the med labs. He had just finished packing it when Dr. Perry came in.

"You going somewhere?" she asked looking at the bag.

"Yeah," he answered, closing the bag, before she could see it's contents.

"Any particular place?"

"It's... classified," he said awkwardly. "Sorry."

She quirked her eyebrows at him. "Hm," was all she said, "well, whatever
it is, take care of yourself."

"Thanks," he tried not to laugh at the irony of it all- taking care was the
last thing he was doing. "I should be back in a few days. Bye." He smiled
at her, but she was still trying to read his expression and he left quickly,
not knowing what he was giving away to those sharp eyes. She watched him as
he left, worried. She would talk to Hudson later about this.


He was early arriving at the docking bay, but Hudson was already there,
pacing uneasily and somewhat angrily, as he always was when he felt that his
authority was being usurped or when he was being kept in the dark.

"The shuttle has docked, Sir," Ford announced over his Pal.

"Very good. Open the air locks."

As the air locks opened, two section seven officers were getting out of the
shuttle.

"Captain Hudson?" The senior officer approached them and stopped in a
formal stance. "Section seven reporting to pick up Ensign Wolenczak."

"Ensign," Hudson called him over.

The section seven officers looked at him amazed for a second, only regaining
their professional detachment with some difficulty.

"Thank you, Sir. Our orders are to return with Ensign Wolenczak immediately."

Hudson nodded, "You'll be cleared for Launch as soon as you're on board."
The two officers turned and walked back to the shuttle. "Good Luck, Ensign."

"Thank you, Sir." He wished that everyone would stop saying that as if he
were about to be put on trial and then fed to a pride of hungry lions in an
amphitheatre. The two officers were waiting for him at the shuttle, their
expressions of surprise replaced by ones of distaste and mistrust vaguely
mixed with derision. He ignored them and boarded. They indicated where he
should sit and he strapped himself in. The shuttle was actually a stealth
craft, very new and high tech on the inside, and he studied its displays
with interest as the section seven officers prepared to launch.

"You are cleared for Launch," Piccolo's voice came over the com.

The officers didn't reply, but the craft gently lifted up and glided out of
the port.

"What's our ETA?" Lucas asked.

One of the officer turned and looked at him as if to say, you'll be there
soon enough - you won't last a minute. "In 2 hours. At 15 hundred hours."
The craft was moving at over a hundred and fifty miles an hour, but its
movements were graceful and even. The two officers didn't speak to him or
each other again, but concentrated on their displays. "HQ, this is stealth
craft 2060. We have our passenger and are en route. ETA 15 hundred hours."
Lucas couldn't hear the reply and that was the last word spoken for an hour.
He checked his compass discreetly at intervals, but they were proceeding on
a south westerly course, with no indication of deviation. He took out his
laptop and punched up a map, plotting the course heading and estimating the
distance they would cover at their present speed. The location was somewhat
north of New Cape Quest. He wrote a quick macro to pull up the maps of the
area- marine and land based.


"That's all I know commander." Hudson was still pacing. "And I don't like
it any more than you do."

"Why Lucas? I know he's great with computers, OK, he's a genius, but it
doesn't seem likely that section seven can't sort a simple virus for
themselves..."

"I have thought about that, Commander, but Captain Lawrence seemed to be
very embarrassed by the situation. No, I think for once section seven is
being honest about their objectives."

Ford sat back still not convinced. "What are you going to tell the crew?"

"What I told Dr. Perry. That section seven needs some help with their
computers."

That hadn't been an easy meeting. The doctor was not one of section seven's
ardent followers, and like any scientist she wanted the facts, all of them,
laid out neatly. She had also reminded him of his responsibility to the
crew; he was already feeling this and her curt reminder only served to make
him more worried and to feel more useless, a state that always made his
temper short. 

They stared at each other. They both knew something was wrong- apart from
the fact that section seven automatically created that (justifiable)
feeling. Ford couldn't help feeling that there was more going on- that he
was missing something he should be aware of. It also brought the mission to
Banaba back to the surface and all his unresolved feelings about it, that
he'd thought he'd laid low and thought he'd conquered when he'd gone to see
Veraczek at New Cape Quest. He also cared about Lucas and knew from
experience that no mission with section seven was going to be easy or
pleasant. Banaba had been bad enough. Thinking about that, he realised that
they hadn't spoken since- apart from orders and short discussions on duty
regarding what they were doing at the time. He was worried, very worried.
The problem was that he knew it was with good reason.


"That's all that I and the Captain know. He should be back in a few days."

He was sitting with Loni, Tony and Tim in the mess. They looked at each
other, seeming to agree that he had told them everything.

"This sucks," Tony looked round at them angrily, "Who do they think they
are coming here and saying we want you there and everyone has to go running.
You don't even seem to care."

"Yes I do." It came out fast, loud and angry. Ford breathed deeply,  "I'm
just as worried as anyone. I've worked with section seven," he reminded them.

"What did happen about that mission with Capatin Bridger anyhow?"

"You know I can't answer that. Look, Captain Hudson seems to think they're
on the level..." Tony snorted. "OK, so they can't sort out their own
systems, but it shouldn't be too hard for Lucas and then he'll be back here
in a few days."

"Do you really believe that?" Loni looked at him seriously. He wanted to
lie, but he couldn't. They all sighed and were silent again.

"I don't know about you, but I have a really bad feeling about this," Tony
said looking round. They all seemed to agree.



Lucas stared out of the front screen. They were moving too fast to see the
shoals of fish that they passed except as silver glitter. Larger animals
like whales, moved off from the ship, but not far, as it cut so gently
through the water. He could see three as dark shadows falling back now on
their left. He sighed and leant his head back against the wall. It had been
an hour now, a silent and strangely peaceful hour. Now that the waiting was
over he had relaxed, almost as if he felt that the whole mission was over,
when really it had only just started. Then one of the pilots stood up and
came and sat opposite him.

"Lucas Wolenczak," he offered his hand.

The section seven officer ignored the overture and narrowed his eyes at him,
"Aren't you kinda young for this?"

"For what?"

"Serving on the UEO flagship." What he really meant was, to be the person
we need to sort out our computers, when we can't. He was used to the
hostility of people threatened by his age in addition to his ability.

"I haven't had any complaints so far. This is my third tour." The officer
smirked as if to say, caught you lying, "But I was a civilian on the first
two." The grin dropped off as he realised that it was true.

"You ever worked with section seven before?" He was trying very hard to
intimidate him and it wasn't going to work.

"Once." He wasn't going to let himself be baited over this. The officer sat
back and looked at him for a while, then he seemed to drop some of his
unpleasantness.

"So what's it like, serving on the SeaQuest?"

"It's great," he answered out of reflex, but it was true, most of the
time. Anyway, there's wasn't anywhere else that he'd rather be. "It was
better, though, when we weren't at war, when we were more of a science and
research vessel."

The officer looked confused for a minute, then his face cleared, "You were
there when she went missing?"

"Yes." The section seven man leaned forward, curiously, but Lucas wasn't
going to tell him anything else, it was still classified.

"What's he like, Captain Bridger I mean."

Lucas was momentarily non-plussed by the question, coming out of nowhere.
Then he remembered that Bridger was now somehow involved with section seven,
and that he had been in the past. "He's..." what exactly was he? A month
ago he would have answered straight away, would have known the answer, but
he wasn't sure who Bridger was any more. His experience was of one person
and then a month ago he met a completely different one. The two sides seemed
irreconcilable. Just thinking about it was painful. He closed off his mind
and replied in an avoidance, "He's different from Captain Hudson, but
everything was different then." He sighed. "So what is it that I have to
fix?"

The officer became professional again, "Our computer systems were crashed
two days ago by a virus. We still haven't been able to locate the source.
All the computer internal sweeps and diagnostics have been crashed, so we're
not even sure what the virus is doing. All we know is that all the files are
being corrupted- that they will be irretrievable in a day or so. Why did
they send for you?"

"I guess they think that I'll be able to help."

"You a hacker?" It was the only explanation that he could accept for Lucas'
youth and his evident ability.

"Among other things."

The officer gloated knowingly, turning and getting up quickly when the other
officer called him over and conferred with him. Lucas knew that it was about
him- something about the other officer being 'too friendly' though Lucas
would hardly have classed it like that- more like not completely hostile.
The officer regained his seat at the front and they continued in silence.

Half an hour later the senior officer, the less friendly one (and that was
saying a lot) said, without turning, in a flat monotone of complete
disinterest, " We'll be docking in quarter of an hour." He turned back to
his display and opened a link. "This is craft 2060, requesting permission
to dock."

"Permission granted."

Once they had docked the officers disappeared, without speaking and he was
left confronted by Captain Lawrence.

"Ensign Wolenczak, I'm Captain Lawrence." He offered a hand first. "It's
good to have you here. I trust that you know a little about our problems?"

"I've been told that a virus has crashed your systems and that internal
diagnostics are down. Also your files have been corrupted and that it has a
timer."

"That's about all we know. Without the internal diagnostics we can't work
out what the hell is happening- where the virus is, how it's being
transferred. Secretary McGath said that you might be able to help, and
frankly we have no choice." He obviously didn't want him there, but he was
being polite and not unfriendly. " You'll need to wear this."  It was an ID.
"This will give you access where you need it."

"I might have to re-wire some parts of your systems." Lawrence looked at
him dubiously. "I don't have much time from the sound of things and that
might be the only way that I can save your files. Of course I can do it all
through the systems eventually..."

"I'll clear you to all parts of the base." Lawrence clearly was not
pleased. He sighed. " Here are the system codes. You do understand that
this is all strictly highest level security. That you must not, under any
circumstances, reveal anything that you see, hear or even smell here."

"Yes sir."

"I'll take you to our main systems room and introduce you to our team
there."

Lawrence lead him out of the docking bay, nodding to the security officer at
the door, and proceeded down a long white corridor, where their footsteps
echoed dully. Section seven staff eyed Lucas doubtfully or with open dislike
as they passed. There were security checks on all doors, but apart from that
there were few security officers in evidence, even their vidcam system did
not cover much of the corridors. Lucas wondered if this was because all the
staff were trained to act as security and if there were any doubts about
your access, you were just shot on sight. It seemed more like the arrogance
he had found in Veraczek's password, though. They probably believed that,
once you were in there was no way that you could be a threat. Besides you
would be spotted instantly; after all this was section seven. They didn't
need extra security. Yeah, like you can sort out your own 'glitches', Lucas
thought. 

The whole place was oppressive, the air heavy and recycled too many times.
All the colours were cold- grey floor, white walls, light, steely- blue
uniforms. Everything pristine- on the outside. Staff walked past them freely
and Lucas was surprised at the number of people who seemed to be endlessly
traversing the corridors.

"You must excuse our staff if they seem a little... reluctant. We are not
used to having to ask for help." Lawrence was clearly hugely embarrassed by
the situation. "Also, they won't be expecting someone quite so... young."
At least Lawrence was being blunt. "I must admit I was very surprised when
I looked over your file after McGath recommended you. Your work in this
field- technology, artificial intelligence, whatever you call it, it is very
impressive. I just hope that you'll be able to stop this virus before our
files are lost completely."

"I'll do my best, Sir." He needed to remain quiet, but effective, polite
and as unobrustive as possible. He also had to impress, quickly. They
stopped at a two barrier security check. Lawrence cleared them through the
first, showing Lucas how to identify himself and use his ID and the door
locked behind them. Then Lawrence cleared them through the second. The room
they were now in was overflowing with equipment and filled with frantic
systems staff, print outs lying strewn on the floor. One person, noticing
Lawrence, signalled to the others and the room was suddenly still and
silent. Twenty pairs of eyes glanced from Lawrence and settled on Lucas,
most with complete confusion.

"This is Lucas Wolenczak, the officer from SeaQuest. He's here to help us
with our... problem." The expression changed to astonishment or deepened
into a despairing confusion. Lawrence led him forward to a group that was
obviously the senior staff. "Ensign Wolenczak, this is Lieutenant Andrews,
my XO and Lieutenant Piper, coms and systems." They shook hands mutely.
"And Corporal Haywarn, security. They are our chief computer officers and
can show you around from here." They were all looking at him now.

"Which terminal has direct mainframe access and control." Andrews showed
him over to a station. The officer working there slid away to let him sit.
He typed in a command and randomly selected three files in turn and watched
the progress of the virus. He then looked at the failed diagnostics and
scanned through the temp files to get the last proper diagnostics read outs.
It was obvious where the virus had started and he quickly cross-referenced
to find its first few links. "These were the files first infected," he said
scrolling down the list, quickly using a tool button to order it
chronologically to infection. He peeled back a layer of memory. "It seems
to be moving through the applications in order of their files manager
listings and then selecting the files using some mathematical function to
pick the file number within the placement of the application." He ran the
last diagnostics again and took off the second layer. "It's using a basic
sequencing function. That's the general term," he said pointing. "It's
based on integrating a function based on the binomial distribution. The
factorials mean that the numbers get very large very quickly, so it's hard
to see the pattern. Of course that can only work with executable files,
until..." he typed furiously, "it reprograms your file names and the way
the files are dealt with. Then it can attach and infect any file. It's
really a very complex virus- multipartite, so that it infects all types of
files. It also has a stealth function. It'll take me a while to get through
to that to find where it's vulnerable. And it looks like a polymorophic. It
probably has a randomly repeating set of effects on the files that it
infects. That's why you haven't been able to figure out the first level. Do
you have a rescue system, disks?"

"No, but most of our most important and sensitive files have hard/ paper
copies. They're in the storage unit. Disks can get stolen too easily."
Andrews frowned at the corporal.

"It's all right, Andrews. Ensign Wolenczak has full security clearance for
the information and computer systems."

"The first thing it did was to disable your protection programs, but I
think that your system halted for a few seconds before the virus overrode
it..." He trailed off. At some point Lawrence left, silently, the group
around Lucas' computer reforming wordlessly trying to follow his movements
through the system and parts of the virus.

After ten hours of circling in the system, but trying to make it look like
something was happening, most of the staff started to leave. They all looked
like they'd been working solidly for the last few days and getting nowhere.
Andrews and a junior staff member stayed behind, to help and to watch him.
Not necessarily in that order. Eventually he turned and addressed Andrews,

"I need a print out of the base's design." She folded her arms and narrowed
her eyes at him, waiting for a reason. "I can't get past one of the virus
blocks- not without a few more days. The only way to by pass it is by
re-wiring. We did something like it on the SeaQuest once and it worked. I
need the plans to figure out what part of the building the wires I need
are in."

"I'll get on it. It should only take me a few minutes," reluctantly, adding
a warning tone to her words.

She left and the junior member slid closer, visibly relaxing. "You had to
re-wire the SeaQuest?"

"Only parts. We had a virus in the core and, like now, we didn't have much
time." Lucas was focusing on the screen again. "Where are your inoculation
files?" The young officer pointed.

"But they didn't help us any." He looked round, "Andrews has been on the
warpath. This is her turf and she's a real climber. This isn't exactly going
to look good on her record," he confided sotto voce.

"She doesn't seem too pleased with me." Lucas replied in kind, trying to be
friendly.

"She's like that with everyone, but... it doesn't look good that you can do
what she couldn't. No offence, it's just she's meant to be the expert and
you're so much... younger. Anyway she hates anyone that's not Section Seven.
She's really hard core. There aren't many, but she's one. Most of us are
just doing our stint. As soon as my sixth months are over I'm applying for a
transfer. Working here.. it's a good career boost but... well, the
atmosphere isn't exactly friendly. Between you and me I'm not even sure what
section seven is really doing. You hear about teams going off on secret
missions, but you never really know. I guess..." He stopped quickly as
Andrew returned with a bundle of papers. She dropped then on the table, by
Lucas' computer.

"Enjoy," she said sarcastically.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. This will be very helpful," Lucas replied, unfazed
by her rudeness. He started to spread out the sheets in order and Andrews
threw herself into a chair, wanting a fight but, when she didn't get it,
having no intention of helping. "OK..." Lucas typed on the computer again.
"That should be it. Are there any stripers here? I need a connection wire
with some croc. clips." The younger officer, Jeffries, leapt up to get them
and Andrews rolled her eyes. "Lieutenant?" Lucas turned to her, "Can you
watch this reading. It should drop off and then re route." She nodded
reluctantly and motioned for Jeffries to go with him as he left. She wanted
to keep tabs on him, but she had zero faith in Jeffries abilities, even to
the point of understanding this type of computer reading. "She really
doesn't like me." Lucas didn't sound bothered. He wasn't. He was just trying
to continue the conversation, as they left. He noted the guard outside the
door.

"Join the club. I've only been working here a few months, but she doesn't
even think that I can understand those path readings."

"I wouldn't worry, you'll be out of here soon, when you get that transfer.
What section do you want to be in?"

"Well, I'd like to do something more... well, more effective, to see what's
going on. I think I'd like to be on a sub or something." He looked at Lucas
for approval, to acknowledge the compliment.

"Well, it's not all fun and games, but it is exciting- sometimes too
exciting," he said eagerly.

"But you're right there. You have an effect. You get to change things."

Lucas smiled wryly at this, "Not often enough. I'm beginning to feel that
what we do change is irrelevant, compared to what we should be doing. OK,
here we are." He glanced down the corridor to see who was about. "OK, I
have to get into that air vent." Together they managed to open it and
Jeffries gave him a quick leg-up. "Thanks. I should only be a minute."

"Are you sure you're OK up there, Sir."

"Fine, Jeffries. It's an air vent, not a cliff." He laughed as he crawled
further in. He unclipped his torch, hitting his elbows on the sides of the
vent and shone it on the plans. Lawrence's office was about twenty feet
down. He crawled, quickly, but so as not to make a noise, until he got to
the right panel. He slid it back and looked through the grill into the empty
office, then he clipped the audio transmitter onto the side of the open
grill and the tiny, remote optical fibre vidcam. Then he pulled the panel
nearly shut. Lawrence would be too distracted to notice, not that he would
have under normal circumstances, and hurried back along the vent and dropped
back down into the corridor.

"Did you do it?" Jeffries asked as Lucas tried to brush some of the dust of
his uniform, with no significant progress. He sighed. It might be one of the
most secret bases of the UEO with the most dangerous missions, but it sure
as hell was filthy. It just wasn't immediately obvious till you started to
crawl around in the inner workings- in a lot more ways than one.

"No problem." They started back. He had programmed a suitable set of
readings for Andrews to observe in among the other things he was doing.
Everyone was too tired, too relieved and confused to see it, even though he
had had to do it right in front of their eyes. Andrews was waiting for them,
swinging in her chair. Well, she was sitting, so she couldn't do an arrogant
swagger. "What were the readings?" he asked.

"Like you said." She was not going to show approval or anything else,
except to remain as quietly unpleasant and unhelpful as she could. "Can you
get our files back yet?" It was a challenge.

"We're getting closer," was all he said in reply and she scowled. He was
getting somewhere and fast. She hadn't even got to the starting line.

"How long will it be?"

"I can't tell exactly. At least another seven hours." She got up, as he had
hoped.

"I'll be back in six and a half," she said, determined not to miss
anything, but clearly needing a rest. She only let herself leave as she knew
nothing was happening, and she wouldn't be able to watch him effectively
later, when it mattered, unless she did. "Jeffries, you stay." And she
swaggered on the way out. Lucas watched her confer with the guard, who then
remained, pacing back and forth at the door. She wasn't going to leave him
unattended.

Jeffries sat back exhaling loudly and stretching. He'd been standing
formally while Andrews was there and even saluted when she left. He wasn't
going to let her have anything to complain about- a smart move. "So what's
it like on the SeaQuest. Don't you miss everyone- your family, I mean."

Lucas winced and avoided the second question. "It's fine, so long as you
aren't claustrophobic and you don't mind the food. Mostly it's fine, you
just get really desperate for shore leave." Jeffries sniggered blackly,
obviously thinking in one direction only. "I mean, you get tired of the
lights, you need sunshine and fresh air. You need to be able to get away
from the other people."

"Anyone like her?"

"No, all of the crew are fine- nice. You just end up living on top of each
other. There's nowhere really to be private- not if you're sharing a cabin."
They talked casually as he typed, not needing to concentrate on the screen.
He just circled through the programs. After an hour he stopped and sat back.
"I'm beat," he looked towards the door. "I don't think that I can leave.
Andrews probably told the guard to keep me in here." Jeffries looked at him
with sympathy and then started to say something about 'he was sure that
wasn't the case', not sounding in the least bit convinced. "I don't want
any trouble. Can you just get me a coffee?"

"Sure." Jeffries left quickly, eager to do his bidding and Lucas turned
back to the screen smiling, "How do you want it, Sir." A blushing Jeffries
asking returning.

"Lots of sugar- I'm going to need it."

As soon as Jeffries had left and he had waited, to check that he would not
be returning immediately Lucas turned over to his backdoor for the virus and
searched the files. With the files unreadable and with the left over
security nets complicating the process all the security levels had been shut
down and the screen quickly brought up the GELF folder and uncorrupted the
files. He flicked through the files. One file had rotation lists for the
staff for the duty code 2003546. The code that had corresponded to the
'Westlake Po...' files. The next rotation was set for tomorrow with a number
for the transport vehicle, which he noted down quickly. There was no
location for 2003546, but he did manage to find plans of the building, which
he printed out. He had to hurry, Jeffries would be back soon. He managed to
print the active order expense sheet with Neal's signature. There was also a
staff list for the Westlake base, which he ran off a copy of. He then tried
for files under code names 'Eden' and 'River Lethe'. "Hard copy only. Not
available through system," was the message he got. The same message flashed
up for the mission reports from the 2009 murderers as he could now call
them. There was no data from the experiments given. He checked his watch and
switched the screen back to a systems check and peeled away some more of the
virus to show the programming for one strand. Jeffries returned precisely
one minute later.

He was walking very slowly carrying the tray with great care. He set it down
finally and handed Lucas a cup and they sat sipping, feeling the caffeine
start to take effect. "I'm sorry I took so long. Security."

"Not a problem."

Jeffries looked over at the screen and his eyes widened, "You found it." He
was at once excited and disappointed at having missed it.

"Part of it. I haven't started to break it down yet. That's when you really
start to see what it's doing. If I can trace it back to the core, I might be
able to find a way to detach it or simply destroy it there, but I also need
to reverse its programming, so I know where files will have to be deleted or
cleared and what programs will need to be reformatted where I can't reverse
it."

Jeffries was clearly impressed. "So where do we go from here?"


He scanned through the plans and finally found the storage rooms. They
occupied a two hundred metre square area in the centre of the building,
probably for security. He looked across at Jeffries who was waiting for him
to decide on the next move. "I need to do some more rewiring. Do you think
we can convince the guard out there to let me out." They both grinned,
though Lucas felt far from the boyish sense of adventure that was clearly
Jeffries' state of mind. The guard stood to attention as Lucas opened the
door and stepped out with Jeffries.

"ID please." Lucas handed it to him. "Lieutenant Andrews would prefer for
you to stay here, Sir."

"Do I have clearance to leave?"

The guard shifted his weight uneasily from one foot to the other, "Yes."
was his monosyllable reply.

"If Lieutenant Andrews asks where we are you can tell her that we will only
be a few minutes." The guard relaxed at this. She wouldn't be back for a
while yet. "We have to do some more re-wiring."

The guard watched them as Jeffries lead them down the antiseptic hallways.
"Where are we going?"

"The storage rooms."

Jeffries stopped. "We can't... I mean it's only highest level security."

"Captain Lawrence said that I had full clearance for the computers and
information. Well, I need to get in there to re-wire."

Jeffries didn't seem too convinced. When they approached the rooms there
were two guards on permanent duty and the door automatic security to get
through. Lucas showed them his pass. "Why do you need access?" The guard
asked studying the security clearance codes. "Re-wiring." The guard raised
his eyebrows.

"I need to bypass a system. You can ask Captain Lawrence if there is a
problem."

The guard stiffened at the name and then relaxed. "How long will you be?"

"Fifteen minutes max."

The guard nodded. "He'll," indicating Jeffries, "have to stay here."

"It's OK, Sir." Jeffries said, when Lucas looked over to see if he minded.

The guard let him pass and he ran his ID through the door. The rooms were
huge, but luckily the files were ordered and coded. Lucas had turned off the
security cameras before they had left so he could walk freely down the
aisles. The GELF files were all listed under codes close to the Westlake
2003546 code. The file box was empty except for the files that he had
already found on the system. In the 2003546 folder there was only one sheet
of paper, saying that Lawrence had all these files. Thank God for
bureaucracy. He had probably come and taken all the most sensitive files
when the system collapsed. The security systems were part of the main
computer system and they had been unsure as to whether and when they would
be effected by the virus. Lucas heard the door click and he hurried to a
panel and loosened it. When the guard strolled past he was just replacing it.

"That should do it." He said, joining the guard to be let out. "Thank you
for your co-operation."

"I just want to know when our systems will be back on line. With all the
security systems vulnerable we've got all our staff on double shifts. All
the doors have to have personel 'cos Captain Lawrence said we wouldn't know
until if it was too late when the automatic security would fail."

"I'm getting there. It should be back to normal in a few days at the most."
And I'll be out of here by then, hopefully. He'd been lucky so far, and he
was worried that it was too easy, that he was getting too confident. But
then with none of the systems certain to be reliable, the base was
completely disoriented. And then there was the section seven mentality that
no one was going to mess with them. Well, that was true for everyone else.
Section seven said you went there and you did (you didn't go to section
seven, unless you were a complete idiot). Section seven was the most covert
UEO branch and also the most dangerous. They didn't believe that the rules
applied to them and they had enough power to make that seem true.

No, he just had to figure out how to get the hard copies from Lawrence.
"Hello, Captain, I was just wondering if you could give me a copy of..."
Actually, it was the best idea he could come up with. The real question was
how was he going to find out where the second base was. It obviously wasn't
part of this one, as he had supposed. Even if he did get to Lawrence's
files, there might well be no location given. There was one option: the
transport that was leaving with the latest staff rotation the next day. That
would be later today, he realised, looking at his watch. And it was time to
get back before Andrews did and started getting curious. He sighed and told
Jeffries to lead the way. They got back five minutes before she arrived,
fresh and pristine as ever. The rest didn't seem to have improved her mood.
They heard her snapping at the guard outside the door for not standing at
attention, before entering. He muttered some apology and she grunted and
slammed open the door. Luckily for all of them she didn't ask him anything
else.

"What's your progress report?"

"We've isolated one of the virus functions. We've been trying to trace it
into the core. I should be able to see some of the other strands soon."

"Good. Carry on." She settled herself to watch. "Do you have an estimated
time for restoring our systems?"

"Not yet. But I'm pretty sure I'll be able to save your files. The rest
shouldn't take more than a couple of days at the most after that. I'd say
about two days until I can remove the virus, after that it depends on how
much of the programming I can reverse. Otherwise you might have to go
through it file by file, but I doubt that. There will probably just be a few
loose ends to tidy up. So I'll be out of your hair soon, Lieutenant." He was
getting tired, but provoking her would only make things worse. "I need a
few hours break. I'll start again after that." Andrews looked like she was
going to object. "I can't work effectively if I'm asleep."

"Jeffries can take you to your quarters. Is there anything we can be
working on in the mean time?"

"No. Just make sure that no one starts to interfere with it. I think I've
managed a very basic containment. There should only be minor new problems
from now on."

"I'll see to it personally."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

"Your welcome, Ensign." He couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or if
she was trying to be 'nice'. It didn't really matter either way. He was
silent as Jeffries lead him to another part of the building, where they had
arranged for a room for him.


"If there's anything you need, Sir..."

"I'll call. Thank you," he said tiredly, closing the door behind him. The
room was surprisingly spacious, probably one of the few rooms available for
'guests' which must be a rare occurrence apart from high ranking military
and government, which explained the comfort, even luxury he found himself
surrounded by. He put his bag down and sat back into the plush sofa. The
carpet and walls were all of the same light blue, but seemed a little less
metallic than that of the other section seven blues, with the dimmed
lighting. He sighed comfortable against the cushions, too comfortable. He
didn't have time to sleep yet. It was all going so incredibly well- so far.
It hardly seemed believable that treason was so easy. He struggled with his
hazy brain and his closing eyes, then got up. There was a coffee machine at
one side of the room- decent stuff and he sat back down, sipping slowly as
he got out his receivers for the fibre optics vidcam and the audio
transmitter. He turned them on, pulling on his headphones. Lawrence's office
was silent and there was no one there, so he quickly switched tapes and then
fast forwarded through the pre-recorded data. Lawrence had returned to his
office briefly after leaving him in the computer room. He had placed one
call to McGath's assistant saying that Lucas had arrived and that he would
keep him informed. Then he sent an encoded message to code name Ares. After
that Lawrence picked up some papers and left. He didn't return for three
hours. When he did he typed in a password on a wall pad, checked his ID
through it, did a voiceprint/handprint recognition check and opened a safe
on the ground behind his desk. He put the papers in and secured it. Looking
at the system it must be a separate one from the main computer system. It
was probably a one function program capacity, which would make it impossible
to override, unless he came up with something new. He sighed, he wasn't
thinking straight, even with the coffee. He fetched the plans of the
building. The transport bay was on the other side of the base. Then he took
a tracer out of his bag, a pair of wire strippers and connection leads, just
in case anyone queried him.

He turned on the com link and asked for Andrews. "Lieutenant, I've just had
an idea of something that might help, but I'm not sure. I'll be going down
to the transport bay to look at the wiring to check it out. I just thought I
should tell you first."

"Yes. Tell me if you need any help."

"I will, thank you." Then he shut down the link and left the room.

He took several wrong turns in the labyrinth of identical corridors, before
he finally arrived in the transport bay. Lot 2344B-7 was at the end. There
were few people about and he leaned against the truck looking at the plans
and surreptitiously dropping them. He attached the tracer on the far side of
the wheel cover as he collected them and then opened a panel in the wall as
a uniformed guard strolled past on patrol. The guard at the door had already
checked his ID and asked him what he was there for. The guard watched him
closely as he passed, but continued on. He looked back and forth from the
plan to the wires he had uncovered for a few minutes and then shut the panel
breathing heavily, but trying to keep it quiet. Then he walked back across
the bay and out into the main building. The guard that had followed him from
his room followed at a discreet distance. He really wasn't that noticeable,
except that Lucas had been watching- and expecting him, hence the cover-up
techniques. Even section seven wasn't that lax. He didn't breath properly
till he got back to his room; the guard stopping at the turning after his
quarters, to remain relatively out of sight. But he hadn't stopped him, or
used his Pal. He checked the tracer quickly, seeing it motionless on the
grid display. Then he continued with the tapes from Lawrence's office. 

Lawrence had worked in his room for a few hours, reading reports on the
temporary security measures and filling in the necessary forms for the
everyday running of the base. After that he spent a while reading a romance
novel, hiding it when his aide came in with a new set of reports and papers
to sign. After that he left, presumably to sleep, for he looked like he'd
been up since the crisis had begun. For the next seven hours the room was
empty. The aide entering occasionally to put papers in the in tray. After
that Lawrence returned with his aide. He checked with him about developments
and minor problems, gave the aide orders for the important messages and
then left to have breakfast. An hour later he was back and started to read
through the reports and follow his usual admin duties. He spent some time
checking the rotation arrangements for 2003546, then Andrews came in. She
must have reported to him right after he left the computer centre for his
'rest'. She repeated tonelessly what he had told her and Lawrence nodded,
looking relieved.

"He went out of the room twice- once to a ventilation shaft and once to
the archives. Both times there were readings to confirm some sort of systems
bypass. He also left his quarters about a quarter of an hour after arriving
there. He went to the transport room and looked at one of the panels and
then left. He did contact me first on the coms link to tell me that he was
going to check out another link there, but that he wasn't sure that it would
work. He has made significant progress with the virus," she admitted
grudgingly.

"So far he's everything that McGath said he would be," Lawrence stated, but
looked at Andrews to confirm it.

"He does appear to be dealing with the virus, Sir."

"Very good, Lieutenant. I would like you to continue with the security
measures. But I don't want him to know about it."

"Yes, Sir." She seemed pleased with this at least. After she left, Lawrence
continued to work silently through his in pile, and that was all the tapes
showed so far. Lucas stretched and looked at his watch. He'd been gone two
hours from the computer room now. He could sleep for another two. Hopefully
he wouldn't stay drowsy afterwards. Then he would have some time to plan his
next move and report back to the main computer room.

He loosened his uniform and lay down on the bed fully dressed, just in case
and let himself drift easily off into sleep. His alarm woke him two hours
later and he reluctantly staggered over to get another coffee before he
could face the world with eyes fully open. He checked the latest
surveillance of Lawrence's office. He had left after a silent and boring
hour and hadn't returned. He replayed the tape of the safe system, but still
couldn't find a way round it. The system had one function only and could not
be reprogrammed. There was nowhere to bypass the checks with a system that
simple. Shutting off the power or even overloading it would have no effect
on opening the safe. He could think about it as he typed rubbish and circled
through his virus, getting a little closer to appease Andrews.


Some of the other staff were back when he returned, milling about and
waiting for him. They watched eagerly as he started to clear some of the
virus layers, using only half his mind. With the other half, trying to
figure out how to get the papers. It was possible that they would tell him
nothing, but he needed a direction for the base. For the exact location he
could track it, using the tracer on the transport, but he needed a direction
to collect the signal from as the overall radius would probably be too
short. If he could point the receiver in the right direction he would be
able to follow it a lot further. His plan until then was to get the
information he needed (from the computer, he had thought, before he had
heard about the paper copies) and then destroy the virus, realign their
systems and get them to escort him back to the SeaQuest. He could probably
get Lawrence out of the office, but how he was going to get into the safe he
didn't know. He was punching at the keys in his frustration, only realising,
when the staff started to shift uneasily and one asked if there was
something wrong. He sighed and left to take a break and see if there was
anything going on in Lawrence's office that could help him with his problem.

The tapes showed him nothing new and he fast forwarded through them. In the
last two minutes Lawrence's aide came in looking nervous.

"You have a message, Sir, from Ares."

Lawrence looked up sharply. "Secure line," he said and then turned to the
vidscreen. "Sir!"

"I got your reports on the next rotation to 2003546."

"It leaves tomorrow. Everything is proceeding as normal, Sir." Lawrence was
very nervous, clearly trying to impress.

"Has this security breach with the computer systems put our project in
jeopardy or affected its security in anyway?"

"No, Sir. I removed the really sensitive files from the computer. I have
the hard copies in my office- the system for the safe cannot be overridden.
It is separate from the main computer system."

"Good. There is no chance of this being intercepted?"

"Of course not, Sir. I have kept Neal up to date on all the main points. He
hasn't questioned the arrangements... your orders. He still believes himself
in command of the project. He knows nothing about your... overseeing it."

"Good. No one is to know about my involvement-that Neal is not the
commander for this operation."

So it was confirmed that Neal wasn't the head man. The optical fibre showed
Lawrence's face and most of the room, but he had turned the vidscreen so
that it was facing away and Lucas could not see Ares. He typed in his access
code and started to move the fibre for a clearer picture.

"Yes, Sir, understood," Lawrence was saying.

"Good, continue with the rotation. I will expect a full report on the
arrival at the base of the new troops. I expect you to take good care of the
debriefings and too inform me if there are any... problems that will need to
be illuminated for security."

"Yes, Sir..." Lawrence whipped round as the moving fibre knocked some dust
down onto his papers. He looked up and saw the gap in the grill and hit the
security alarm. "We have a breach," he said to Ares and shut down the
link, before the fibre had moved round enough. He was sweating and pale now,
hitting the com link as his aide ran in. "Get me a security detail and deal
with that"- he pointed at the grill. He flicked on his Pal, "Andrews?
Location of our guest?"

"In his quarters, Sir. Is there..."

He cut her off, "Bring him to my office, now. We have a security breach and
shut down all the exits: all the exits. No one is to leave this base, until
I say so."

"Yes, Sir."


copyright E.Casale 1997



===========================  PART 5  =====================================


Copyright E.Casale 1997

Any comments, etc.? Anyone like this? Anyway- I'm back and here's some more.
Sorry the chapter was too long to send as one, so there's parts A and B.


Chapter 5A

Lucas tried to think but it was impossible. He automatically threw his
things into the bag and left his room. The guard followed him, pausing as
his Pal chirped: that would be Andrews telling him to "secure him". He kept
on walking, faster until he was running, but not attracting attention in the
swarming mass of people thrown off balance by the general security alert
alarm and trying to find their way back to their base section or to their
emergency security posts. He couldn't hear the guard running behind him amid
the noises of the alarm, confused shouts for orders and the other staff, all
running. He didn't even know where he was going now. He couldn't get off the
base. His ID wouldn't have covered that in any case. Once he was there he
was there to stay until section seven escorted him off and away. Well, that
was out, unless it was in a horizontal box. There wasn't time to be truly
scared. At the joining of two main corridors he stopped, trying to figure
out which way to go. Somehow one corridor looked more familiar and he
continued down there.

He turned as he ran and recognised the guard closing the gap. Ahead two
uniformed staff were leaving a room. One of them was carrying and examining
his bugging equipment. Lawrence's office. Well, he couldn't be in any more
trouble- he might as well try and get the files. It would also be the safest
place to be. Besidesb he wasn't going to get out of the building without
help. He made a burst for the door and swung himself inside.

"Wolenczak!" Lawrence froze.

Lucas swung himself behind the door and slammed it on the guard's arm as he
came in, and then swung it shut behind him, hitting him on the back of the
neck and pushing him to the centre of the room. The guard fell dizzily onto
the floor beside Lawrence, as Lucas bent down to pick up the weapon he had
dropped.

"Captain Lawrence, " he said,  raising the gun at him, "I was just
wondering if you could get me your hard file copy of the GELF folder." So
it wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"What hard..."

"In the safe, behind you."

Lawrence didn't argue again, but bent down to open the safe. Lucas moved
round so that he could still see him and the guard who was still kneeling on
the floor trying to clear his head. He looked up at Lucas and then at
Lawrence, "Captain..."

"Just do as he says." The guard looked up at Lucas again. "I thought you
weren't combat."

"I'm not. Sorry about that, but," he looked pointedly at the gun, "I
didn't have much choice."

Lawrence stood up with the folder in his hand. Lucas held out his for it
and Lawrence gave it to him.
"This is crazy."

"Yes." Lucas glanced down at the file and it's contents. "OK. We're going
to leave now. You," he pointed to the guard, "Are going to walk in front of
us. If anyone asks you're escorting us off the base for safety. Captain
Lawrence and I will be walking behind. We'll need some sort of
transportation- whatever the Captain usually uses will be fine.
Understand?"

The guard looked over at Lawrence who nodded. "Do as he says, soldier." The
guard opened the door and they left, Lucas and Lawrence walking closely
together, side by side, to hide the gun. It wasn't far to the exits and the
parking for the land vehicles. At the entrance to the long hanger- like lot
they were stopped briefly by security, who saluted to Lawrence. The guard
repeated his message and they allowed them to pass with no further
questions. Lawrence had a sleek black car at his disposal. Lucas motioned
for the guard to drive and he got in with Lawrence in the back, making sure
that the screen to the front of the car was open. They were stopped as they
reached the exit point and again at the base perimeter fence. The first time
a look from Lawrence was sufficient for them to pass. The second time, at
the perimeter the guard squatted down by Lawrence's window. "Our orders
were..."

"Just open the gate, soldier." Lawrence ordered with total finality and was
obeyed.

Once the guard raised his hand to the alarm switch in the car, but Lucas
stopped him.

"I don't think that the Captain would appreciate that," he tried to sound
menacing, but really it was too fantastic to seem anything but funny. He was
pretty sure that he was now midway between shock and hysteria; he kept on
wanting to laugh, but that would spoil the mood. After he judged they'd gone
about ten miles he told the guard to stop the car.

"Out," he said. He motioned for Lawrence to drive. "And I'll need the
uniform." The guard looked helplessly at Lawrence and then took off the
outer layer and handed it over. "Go," Lucas ordered Lawrence and the car
slid smoothly away. Lucas sat back, glad to only have to concentrate on one
person, now. "We're going to New Cape Quest." he ordered, "But not so
fast. I don't want to get pulled over for speeding."

Lawrence glanced across at him. Then glued his eyes back on the road.
"You've effectively just signed an order to have yourself killed. What the
hell are you trying to do?" He was furious.

"I'm trying to stop the UEO's crimes against humanity, to stop these
experiments and God knows what else."

"You haven't got a chance of doing it. We're going to have to stop sometime
and as soon as you get out of this car they are going to shoot you. They're
going to kill you and they won't think twice about it. And they'll probably
shoot through me," he was scared as well as angry. "It isn't worth it..."

"Isn't worth it? What is worth it. I think stopping experiments, torture,
murder is the most worthwhile thing I can do."

"But you won't." He looked over frustrated, "You think you're going to get
those papers to someone who will do something about this- maybe take them to
the media. You won't get there. The people involved, they're too powerful...
yes they are, you won't know who to trust... but you won't get that far.
There's simply too much at stake for you to have a chance. And if you think
that being a UEO officer, or being on the SeaQuest is going to help, you're
wrong and you're going to be dead." He sighed and hit the steering wheel.

"You think that I shouldn't try? I should just sit back and ignore it,
ignore what I know. Well, I can't. I will not be a part of that. I can't
live with that."

"Well, then, you'll die with it." They were both silent for while. "Do you
think that I don't want to change things? I do, but I'm not going to throw
my life away for something that has no chance, no chance in hell of success.
Yes, I am part of something terrible, but I also do a lot of good."

"It doesn't work like that. It doesn't make up for the other things. You
can't say I'll be perfect here and bad there and think that in the scheme of
things it will somehow 'even out'. Whatever else you do it doesn't change
this, and it doesn't make it any better."

"If I thought I could change things I would. But there isn't a way to do
it. And yes, I'm scared. If you knew all that I know about section seven you
would be. How can you sit there and be so calm about this?"

"I am scared. But I don't have a choice; not one that I can live with. I
think I'm too scared to be anything but calm. I don't really believe in this
at the moment. It doesn't seem real."

"It will be real when they shoot you. It will be real when you feel the
pain. You know you're going to get me killed too. You think that's right?
You're not giving me a choice here. They will pull the trigger, because of
what you're doing now. They won't care that you're sitting there with a gun,
they won't care that I had no choice. Even if I didn't give you the papers
I'd still be dead. That base is my command... it's my responsibility. Don't'
you know who that person was?" He looked across at Lucas, " The vidlink....
you didn't see it. You were moving the camera..." he suddenly realised and
the car swerved as he suddenly went limp with relief.

"Who was it?" Lucas leaned towards him. Lawrence didn't answer, a look
almost of hope on his face.

"Who is code name Ares?" He repeated.

"If you knew, you'd never be doing this,"Lawrence said dazed.

Lucas felt a stab of fear. No, it couldn't be McGath, he would have
recognised the voice. It was somehow familiar and it wasn't Neal. So who?
Someone important- great that narrows it down a lot.

"Who is code name Ares?" he repeated with an insistent motion of the gun.

Lawrence didn't answer for a moment. "I am sorry," he said finally. Lucas
frowned confused. "I wish I could help but... I like being alive and I
might still be able to keep it that way if you didn't see the vidlink, if I
can persuade...," he trailed off. "I admire what you're doing," he said
sincerely, "But I'm not in a position, and I'm not the type of person, who
could do it. You could do a lot you know... but if you're dead..."

"I'm doing a lot now."

"If doesn't matter. You won't get anywhere," he reiterated.

"I'm doing what I can, and I will know that."

"You really will die for that," he looked across at him completely amazed.
"Well, I don't want to die. I'm not ready and I'm not willing. But it's not
my choice to make." He paused, laughing cynically, "You know, half of me
really wants you to do it. But then..."

"I am sorry that you're in this position, but that can't change what I have
to do. You had a choice. You chose your safety over these people. They had
no choice and no chance. They are innocent in this and what's happening to
them is infinitely worse than dying. What you're doing is a crime that
involves everyone- it makes everyone guilty. It's a crime not only against
the individuals, but against their people and the UEO and all the citizens
of it." They were entering the edge of the city suburbs now. Lucas sighed
and switched his mind back to the task. "Go to the park." In the centre of
the city the first trees and green carefully tended grass brightened the
view, somehow bringing him hope. "Stop here," he ordered. He didn't know
what else to say.

"Wolenczak." Lawrence was facing the park, not looking at him. "Good Luck."

"Thank you. For you too." and he opened the door and stepped out, walking
away across the park, tucking the gun away into his pocket.

Lawrence sat immobile at the wheel. He knew there was a weapon under the
dashboard. He probably could get it out and shoot Wolenczak before he
disappeared, but somehow he couldn't move and the moment passed. A uniformed
Police officer came and tapped on the window waking him from his daze. "
Sir, this is a non parking zone. I'll have to ask you to move on." Lawrence
nodded dully and started the engine. The sleek black vehicle pulled away. He
drove aimlessly for a while, not believing what he had just done. He could
have killed Wolenczak. It would probably have saved his life. He still had a
chance, but not one he believed in with his logical mind. Ares wouldn't risk
it. The papers that Wolenczak had were enough for an investigation, but not
enough to destroy the organisation. If he had shot him at the park, he would
probably been able to continue with his career. He would not have just
signed the order for his death that he had warned Wolenczak about such a
short time ago.

He slammed on the brakes, realising that there was a pedestrian crossing in
front of the car. The man noticing the UEO plates, refrained from the
gesture that he was immediately tempted to. Lawrence still couldn't figure
out what had happened in the park, as he drove on. He couldn't actively help
Wolenczak or do anything to stop the experiments, but, when faced with the
choice he couldn't act against someone doing what he knew needed to be done.
A large part of his life he'd spent afraid, doing what he had to to stay
alive, but he hadn't had to pull the trigger on anyone, though he had
processed enough orders for others to do it. Maybe it wasn't for all the
most admirable reasons, but in the end he had done the right thing, and it
was going to cost him. He thought briefly about trying to disappear, but he
knew he wouldn't get far. He wasn't prepared and he wouldn't be able to get
to his family in time and he couldn't leave without them. He shut his eyes
and breathed for a few moments before he opened the com link and secured a
line.

"Captain Lawrence, what is the situation?"

"We have a security breach, sir. My office was bugged by the officer from
SeaQuest. He had video and audio equipment, but he wasn't able to see the
vidscreen. He also has the paper copies of the GELF folder. He kidnapped me
to get out of the building." It came out completely without emotion.

There was a long pause. "Where are you now?"

"New Cape Quest. I'm on the seafront. Wolenczak got out in the Park. I
didn't see where he went."

"Stay where you are. I will come out to meet you. We need to discuss what
action to take next. Have you talked to anyone else yet?"

"No."

"Don't, until we have had time to discuss this. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir. Thank you. I'm very sorry about... all of this." The link was
severed before he had finished speaking. Lawrence rubbed his eyes and sat
back to wait, pulling over at a less crowded spot on the seafront. It was
only about ten minutes before the black car pulled up behind him. He got out
of his car and went yo the other one, climbing in the door that was opened
for him.

"I have looked through the files. There is no exact location given for
Westlake and the experiments described could all be from the Banaba Island
post and from twenty years ago. This is still potentially very serious. I
need you to inform Neal of what has happened and then talk to the police. We
will need to put out on APB on Wolenczak. You'd better talk to Hudson, in
case Wolenczak tries to contact him for help and we will need a list of his
family and closest friends. Use all the men you need to find him and make
sure they are neat when they do. We have to know if he has made copies or
sent the information to anyone else, but his death has to look natural. I
don't want any unexplainable marks on him."

"Yes, Sir."

"This is very serious, Captain Lawrence, and your handling of the situation
so far has been... inept to say the least. I expect you to handle this next
part with speed and great success. Your second in command- Andrews?- fill
her in on all the details and let her organise the operation. You will
oversee it. I expect to have good news by tomorrow. Jenings will accompany
you back and he can advise Andrews on the details of the operation. He is
very efficient at handling this type of problem."

"Yes, Sir." Lawrence got out of the car, which pulled away, immediately.
Jenings, Ares' officer, held the passenger door open to Lawrence's car and
then went round to the driver's side. He drove off without a word and asked
for no directions. Lawrence was surprised about the lenience towards him so
far, but it was easy to exaggerate fears and he knew that if the next stage
was not a success his original thoughts would prove correct; but for now he
settled back, carefully  planning each detail.

When he got back, he talked first to Neal, explaining the situation and his
plan. Neal, as usual, agreed without argument, severing the link abruptly at
the end. Then he talked to the New Cape Quest police, who agreed to put out
the APB. If arrested Wolenczak was to be held in solitary comfinement until
a section even officer arrived. Andrews listened carefully, but
unobtrusively, in the background and when he finished she left with Jenings
to plan the section seven operation for the retrieval of the files. Those
calls had been quick, professional, easy. He had been the one with the power
in both, but he knew that the next and last conversation would not be so
easy. He called in his aide and ordered an expresso, then asked her to place
the communication to the SeaQuest on a highest level security line.


The time since Lucas' departure had been uneventful. They had checked out a
minor distress call for a farming base, worried about the Macronesian
patrols on the nearby border. There had been no hostilities so, with a
little reassurance and some help on mending a broken reactor (which was
probably the real reason for the request for help) they left. Now they were
off to check the borders to make sure that the Macronesians were abiding by
the treaties. It had been less than two days, not enough time to hear back
from section seven, but Hudson was still worried. He had been waiting
impatiently, from the time that the stealth craft had left. He didn't trust
section seven. He was pacing silently about the bridge when the message came
through.

"Captain, I'm getting  a secure message from section seven," O'Neil looked
up waiting for his orders.

"In the wardroom, Mr. O'Neil."

"Yes sir."

Ford stopped him just as he was leaving, "Captain..."

"Very well, commander. But I might have to ask you to leave."

"Understood, Sir."

They walked quickly to the ward room. Ford switched on the Vid link and
Lawrence's picture appeared replacing the UEO logo.

"Captain Lawrence."

"Captain Hudson," Lawrence sighed, he looked dishevelled.

"Is there a problem, Captain?"

"I'm afraid we have a situation here." Hudson's jaw tensed. "We've had a
high level security breach." He sighed again. "Captain Hudson, your Ensign
has stolen some very sensitive files. He kidnapped me and a guard on my
staff in order to get off the base."

"This is a joke, right?" Ford asked almost laughing, but not without some
fear in his voice.

"No, it is not. This is a very serious matter. We have an APB out on Ensign
Wolenczak and the police have been involved. We would like your co-operation
to help with our investigation."

"What I would like is to know what the hell is going on there. I know my
people..." Hudson was shouting.

"Apparently you do not, Captain Hudson."

"These charges are ridiculous. I want to know what is really going on and
how my Ensign is involved," he demanded. "What're you trying to cover up
with these lies?"

"We are covering up nothing, Captain. You're ensign has committed treason,
among various other very serious offences. Now, are you going to co-operate
with our investigation? I don't think that I need to tell you that this
reflects very badly on you and SeaQuest," he ended primly.

He breathed out slowly and regained his composure. "What files is he
supposed to have taken?"

"Highly classified files of a very sensitive nature. Captain Hudson, I am
ordering you to comply with my requests. You will inform me immediately of
any communication you or your crew receive from Mr Wolenczak. I will also
need a list of any friends that he might contact. Have I made myself clear?"
Beneath his self-righteous indignation he was clearly scared.

"Yes, Sir." Ford looked over at his Captain, who was quietly fuming, though
he answered politely enough.

"Sir..." Ford began, but Hudson held up a hand.

"I will comply with your 'orders'. But I am going to do a little
investigating of my own and if you have harmed my crew member in anyway or
are holding him against his will I will see to it personally that you are
arrested and court martialled. I do not believe these charges for one moment
and I will find out what is going on. What I do find incomprehensible is
that section seven should invent such bad lies to cover up their mistakes.
Unless you are saying that section seven security is so lax that a 17 year
old boy, with no combat or intelligence experience, could walk out of your
building with these 'highly classified and sensitive files'. If that were
the case, then I doubt very much that you would be having problems with my
Ensign, but with every terrorist and anti -UEO spy on UEO territory." Hudson
spoke very quietly but determinedly, throughout. "Have I made myself clear."

"Yes, Captain. I will expect that list from you within the hour and a
report that you have interviewed your staff in case they have received any
messages privately and to ask if they can help us in anyway."

Lawrence cut the link before Hudson had time for a further tirade. Hudson
immediately flicked on the com link the bridge, "Mr. O'Neil. Get me a link
to Secretary McGath." He turned off the com and then hit the table. "Damn
it." He looked across at Ford and straightened up, running a hand across
his head and sinking down into his chair. Ford didn't know what to say. He
was having trouble processing the information. The com link chirped.

"Sir, Secretary McGath is on line."

"Put it through, Mr. O'Neil."

McGath appeared on the screen. "Captain Hudson. I have just been talking
with General Neal. He says that your Ensign kidnapped one of his seniors
officer, forced him to hand over some very sensitive files and then to drive
him off the base. Is this true, Captain?"

"That is what section seven has told me. But I'm afraid that they are
trying to hide something else. Ensign Wolenczak is not the type of officer
who would betray the UEO under any circumstances. I also fail to see how it
is possible that he could, with no combat or intelligence training, have
possibly managed to do any of the things he is accused of," he explained his
point reasonably.

"Do you have any suspicions as to what they are 'covering up' as you would
have it," McGath was frowning deeply, forseeing battles to come.

Hudson sighed, "No. But I'm afraid that this will turn into an excuse
for... Wolenczak's 'disappearance'."

McGath and Hudson stared each other down. "I find these charges extremely
unlikely. I know Lucas, not well, but enough to find this close to
unbelievable. I agree with you that there is certainly much more going on
here. For the moment you must be prepared to follow section seven's
requests. I will arrange for there to be non- section seven UEO personnel
looking for him and that the police will not hand him over to section seven
without my clearance, if and when they find him. If he is trying to avoid
section seven and is free, we'll just have to hope that when he is arrested
it is not by section seven. I'm sorry, Oliver. Without proof that the
allegations aren't true, there is nothing else I can do. I can't simply
ignore some of the top people in the UEO because I "don't think that he did
it." You see my point?"

"Yes, Sir. Captain Lawrence has asked for a list of Wolenczak's friends-
they will have his family listed in his file. They want me to interview my
crew, the people he works with most, to see if they know anything and they
want to know if we hear from him."

"I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you to give him what he wants for
now. But if you send me the information I will pass it on to my people as
well. That really is the most I can do until I know more about this. Keep me
informed and I will give you any new information that I can."

McGath's image disappeared and the UEO logo returned. "Mr. Ford, can you
prepare me a list of crew that I should talk to and timetable the meetings
so that they don't disrupt the shifts too much. I'll also need you to make
me a list of any other people he might contact, because I'm afraid that I
have no idea." He looked very tired. "I feel responsible for this mess," he
said suddenly and bitterly. "I should never have agreed to let him go."

"With all due respect, there's nothing you could have done. You know the
section seven rules- they can draft anyone they want, for anything, at any
time," Ford told him sympathetically.

"Thank you, Commander, but I do have a responsibility to my crew, no matter
what section seven rules are, and I failed to fulfil it. Do you have any
idea what this could be about?"

"Could there possibly just be some misunderstanding?" he asked pointlessly.

"I would like to believe that, Commander. Could it have anything to do with
the section seven mission that Captain Bridger took you, Wolenczak and
Dagwood on?"

Ford closed his eyes and then cupped his hands in front of his face. "As
much as I don't want to think it... it makes sense." Hudson looked at him
for an answer. "It's classified... I'm not meant to talk about it, Sir..."

"I will take full responsibility for any problems that might arise from
your telling me."

Ford looked at him, grateful for the support, "Thank you, sir, but it's my
responsibility. I've made the same mistake of not saying anything twice over
and it probably cost lives. I won't make that mistake with Lucas." He took a
deep breath. "The mission was to Banaba Island- it's a Macronesian weather
station, but before it was a section seven facility. They were conducting
illegal experiments on GELFs in a secret part of the base." He couldn't look
up, afraid of what he would see on Hudson's face. "When we went back it,
was to retrieve data crystals from the experiments. Bridger had been working
in section seven at the time, so they asked him to run the operation. Both
Lucas and Dagwood were very... upset by what they saw there. We managed to
bring back the crystals. I don't know what happened to them. I didn't want
to know," he re-phrased. "And I'm pretty sure that there was a degree of
unpleasantness between Lucas and Captain Bridger. I should have talked to
him about it- about all of it, but the way he looked at me, when I told them
about what I had seen, that I'd done nothing about it...," he didn't
elaborate on this and left it unexplained. "Several of the crew have
mentioned to me that he's been very withdrawn. I kept avoiding it, though. I
never thought that..." He was struggling to keep himself under control,
feeling that he was revealing too much of his emotion, that he wasn't been
professional, that he was betraying secrets that he shouldn't have even
known about. "I can't help feeling that he didn't react... well, just
didn't react when section seven asked for him. He didn't really look
surprised or worried. He was just so matter of fact and the way he got up-
it was almost like he had been waiting for it." Ford stared at the table,
thinking about what he had finally put into words and thoughts at the same
time, horrified at the meaning that seemed to fit the facts all too well.
Finally he looked up at Hudson. He was glad to see that he was too lost in
thought to register any expression. Ford hated to admit fear, but he had
been, and still was, afraid that he would see disgust and disappointment in
his Captain's face.

"I think you're right about this. He knew they were coming. When I told
him, all he asked was when- not why, no objections. I was surprised.
Wolenczak never seemed too impressed with section seven or being ordered
anywhere without a choice."

"Could some one have warned him? Maybe someone asked for advice and then
recommended him" Wishful thinking, Ford knew. He looked over at his Captain.
Hudson looked sad and distant for a moment, then glancing towards Ford and
seeing him watching him, he quickly brushed his emotions away and took on
his brisk military air.

"I don't like where this is leading. It means that he knew about the
virus..."

Ford sighed frustrated. "We're sitting here while he's out there with
section seven after him, if even that's to be believed, and we haven't
even got a clue what's going on!" He tried to calm down, "I'm sorry, Sir."

"That's all right commander." Hudson switched on the com to the bridge.
"This is the Captain. I want all messages to SeaQuest- military or personal-
monitored and I want to hear immediately if Ensign Wolenczak tries to
contact SeaQuest or any of the crew. When you go off duty I expect you to
pass this along. Henderson, O'Neil, Brody and Piccolo to the wardroom,
please." He turned to Ford, "After this we'll go through any other of the
crew. I'd better talk to Dr. Perry and Dagwood; he went to Banaba and it's
the best connection we have." Ford nodded reluctantly. There was a knock at
the door. The main crew were assembled and Hudson motioned for them to sit,
which they did, uneasily.

"What's going on, Captain?" Brody broke the silence, impatiently.

"I don't know how much you know already, but two days ago Ensign Wolenczak
left on a high security assignment. Section seven requested his help in
dealing with a virus that had attacked their computer systems." The tension
increased to worry and anger at the mention of section seven. "Now section
seven are accusing Mr Wolenczak of treason..."

Several of the crew laughed... "Is it April fool's day or something 'cos I
sure missed..." Tony trailed off. "This is a joke, right?" He looked from
Ford to Hudson.

"No, Mr Piccolo, this is not. The allegation are that he kidnapped a senior
officer and forced him to hand over some very sensitive and highly
classified files."


"OK, OK. You had us going there. I wouldn't have expected you to...
Captain?" Brody was talking loudly and with large gestures, trying not to
believe it. "But Lucas couldn't possibly... he's got no combat training...
It's like you can't just walk in with a gun and say, give me those files..."

"I have talked with Secretary McGath. Neither he nor I can see this as at
all likely, both practically and knowing Ensign Wolenczak, but section seven
are insisting on their story. They have contacted the police and there is
an APB out on Wolenczak. The problem is that we have no idea what is going
on, though we are working hard to get to the bottom of it. For the time
being we have been ordered to comply with the section seven investigation
for the retrieval of Ensign Wolenczak and the files."

"Retrieval? Captain... If section seven are accusing him of this, if they
find him..." Loni said, panicking.

"Secretary McGath is arranging for non-section seven UEO troops to look for
Ensign Wolenczak. We just have to hope that they find him." He looked around
at his staff. Ford was truculent and frustrated, Henderson looked in shock,
Piccolo was looking angry and obviously fighting for control, not trusting
himself to speak yet. Brody was looking completely confused and O'Neil was
lost in thought.

"Why would Lucas do any of those things?" O'Neil looked up, "It just
doesn't make sense."

"Do they think that's he's working for Macronesia? Who would he give the
information to?"

"I don't believe for a moment that Mr Wolenczak is working for Macronesia
or any other government. But apart from that I can't see what reason he
could have for stealing these files. We also can't be sure if section seven
is lying. If... and this is only speculation, something has happened to
Wolenczak or for some reason they regard him as a threat, it would be an
easy way for them to explain away any 'difficulties'. It frees them of any
blame or argument about their 'methods'. But we don't know this, we simply
do not know what has happened.  What I need now is any information- anything
at all that could help to explain what is going on." Hudson was now calm and
practical.

"Lately Lucas was... distant. He was working very hard, but he just didn't
seem to be there when you were talking to him and he was very distracted,
especially just before he left." Henderson looked round at the others who
nodded.

"I tried talking to him, but... he just didn't seem interested," Tim added.

Tony sighed. "Right before he left, I tried to talk to him. He was really
upset about something, but he just said that he couldn't tell me... yet. But
he was really upset. Sir, Lucas talks about things, when he's upset, but
this time he said he 'couldn't'. And he meant it. I really tried... but he
just wasn't talking. He was doing a lot of stuff on his computer, every
minute he wasn't on the bridge and he had this pile of papers. I knocked it
over and he went mental about it." Tony shrugged, helplessly. "I knew
something was going on but I..." He looked around for support. Brody patted
his arm.

"Anything else?" Hudson was tired and clearly desperate for some more
information to work with. No one replied. "I need a list compiled of all
Wolenczak's friends among the crew and people he might go to if he were in
trouble. I realise that this will be difficult after ten years, but we'll
just have to do the best we can. Mr. Ford will be making the list, so you
can give any names to him. Henderson, I want you to try to access
Wolenczak's computer. See what he was working on. O'Neil I want you to
monitor all communications to the ship- anything that could help us. If no
one has anything further to add... dismissed."  Hudson turned and stared at
the picture on his wall. The others looked at each other around the table
before they got up and left to return to their duties or to follow Hudson's
new orders.
"I'll need those lists within the hour, Mr Ford."

"Yes, Sir,"  He said from the door, shutting it when Hudson still didn't
turn.


"Damn it! I knew there was something really wrong. He was just so...  final
about it, but like he was trapped. He told me that he wanted to talk and I
could see it. Maybe I should have pushed more. It just seemed that it would
only make things worse..." Tony stopped, too upset and angry with himself to
try to make sense of it all.

"It's not your fault Tony, You did what you could. It wasn't anyone's
fault." But O'Neil didn't sound convinced. Finally he said what he was
thinking. "How could Hudson just send him there? I mean something like
this is just routine with section seven."

"There wasn't anything he could do about it," Ford tried to pacify. "He
didn't want to send him, but he didn't have a choice."

Tim snorted, "He's the Captain of the UEO flagship. Lucas is his officer."

"It doesn't work like that with section seven. This isn't going to help us
or Lucas."

"What exactly can we do? We don't even know what's going on- what section
seven are trying to hide. We don't know where he is. We don't even know what
trouble he really is in. I don't see what we can do expect wait: for the
police to find him or section seven... I feel so useless," Loni voiced what
they were all thinking.

"Who else would know what was happening?" Ford tried to redirect their
attention; if they could think logically and clearly it would calm them down.

"Captain Bridger?" Tony suggested, but Ford started to shake his head,
"Come on, Commander, Lucas talks to him all the time..."

"You seen him sending any messages lately?" Ford tried to avoid stating it
directly.

"No, but so what. I don't see everything that..."

"I don't know exactly what happened, but Lucas and Captain Bridger weren't
exactly getting along when he left. Lucas didn't even say goodbye to him."

"You didn't tell us?" Loni asked, hurt.

"It didn't seem like it was any of my business. I didn't want to interfere
and I didn't want to spread private problems across the ship."

"But you knew he was upset. If we knew what it was about, we might have
been able to help."

"What happened? What were they arguing about? Sure they've had
disagreements before, but Lucas would never not say goodbye."

"It's classified," Ford said testily and instantly. The others sat back
with angry expressions on their faces.

"Section seven classified?" Ford nodded unhappily. "And you didn't think to
tell us? We've been sitting here trying to figure it out and you knew?"

"Look, it's classified. I told Hudson. That was a bad enough breach of
security. We talked about it but he can't see how it could be connected. If
you knew the details you'd see that it has nothing to do with what's going
on."

"You want to let us decide that?" Ford looked stonily back at him, "You
don't think that, just this once, you might have missed something?" Ford
swallowed, clearly struggling with the conflicts over his emotions and his
military responsibilities. "What's so terrible, so classified that they
would still involve Lucas. But that's what Lucas and Bridger were fighting
about?" Ford nodded.

"There were some things about my past, about Captain Bridger's past
that...came up, not things that we are proud of. Lucas didn't agree with
some of the things he found out about us, about the UEO. But it was all
over, long ago. "

"What things? Jonathan, we need to know," Loni pleaded. "Don't you want to
help Lucas? Whatever section seven is doing, what they say he's done is
obviously all lies. I don't want to even think about what they are trying to
cover up with it..."

"I can't. I just can't!" He said it very quietly but with obvious pain,
standing while he was still speaking and leaving without meeting their
eyes.

The rest sat back worried and frustrated and utterly helpless.


Ford cursed under his breath as he left and went back to his quarters,
slamming the door shut so hard that it bounced back without catching and he
swung his weight onto it to shut it properly, then sank down onto the floor
against it. He was being forced to confront things that he had avoided, even
at the time, even when they had gone to Banaba. He had thought that he had
settled it by seeing Veraczek, but he hadn't. He had just transferred the
blame to someone else and not faced it in himself. Damn it! You have to
think about this. But he didn't want to know how guilty he really thought
himself to be. He didn't want to know what could have arisen from it that
could have Lucas in so much trouble. But he would have to think about it
now.

Yes, he had known that there were experiments going on. He had worked out
that they had been using torture. No, he had not told anyone. No, he had not
let the GELF out of the room when he had begged him. He looked up at the
ceiling. Bridger was right about the GELF- he would never have gotten off
the base. It would have been a futile gesture to let him out. They would
both have been killed, he knew that, but it didn't make it right. It just
made it explainable. There is nothing wrong with fear; there is nothing
wrong with valuing your life and not throwing it away. It was a truth that
he always had problems with. He sighed and went over the facts, weighing
them up. Yes, it was an understandable decision. There were good reasons for
what you did. It was not right, but the other option, where they both would
have died, was not right either and he had already chosen. He just had to
accept the validity of his choice and the responsibility for it.

The second part was not so easily dealt with. "You knew about this and you
didn't do anything?" He could still hear the disbelief in Lucas' voice, his
horror. Ye, I knew and I didn't do anything, but I was scared. How much of
his life had he spent trying never to give in to that again? How much had he
spent trying to prove to himself that he wasn't a coward, that he was
capable of doing it differently? How often had he gone beyond his duty
trying to make up for the one thing that was his duty, nothing more or less,
but that he had failed? Could I have changed anything? Would anyone have
listened? Would I even have been able to tell anyone? How would I have done
it? How would I have done it without being shot first. At the base you
couldn't send messages- only through the main coms and those were all
military. There was no way he could have taken proof off the island. All he
had was what he had seen. He could have told someone, but they might well
not have believed or listened to him. A lot of the UEO knew anyway. They
could have just buried it and him. And that was if he got that far. The
chances of his getting to someone, finding someone who was not part of it,
being believed against one of the most powerful UEO sections, weren't
likely. Section seven would have cleaned out the base before anyone had got
there to get evidence. It was such a small chance, such a very small chance,
but wasn't what he knew too terrible not to take it? He didn't know and he
couldn't change it if he did. Now he had the picture. He knew the arguments.
He recognised his motivation for his actions. He just had to accept it. It
all came down to that again.

He sighed. How could this be related to what was going on? It couldn't be
that Lucas wanted to expose it- There was no point. It was over. Besides, he
could have done that before: he wouldn't have waited for over a month. He
hadn't seen anything that the rest hadn't, so it couldn't be that they
feared his knowledge from the mission. He had been a much less likely
security problem than Dagwood. What else could it be, though? What could
have developed since Banaba? There was nothing that he could think of. He
would have known if there had been any other section seven messages. Maybe
it had nothing to do with the mission at all, maybe it was just his own
involvement with it that made him feel that it must be connected. Maybe if
he had more of the picture a few more pieces, he could work it out, but so
far it made no sense. He gave up trying to figure it out. He wasn't getting
anywhere. He looked down at his watch. He had to have the list written up
for Hudson in ten minutes. Today was not a day to be late.


"Come in," Hudson called before he had finished knocking. He was looking
very edgy and thoroughly annoyed. Ford handed over the list. "Thank you,
Commander. Have you been able to find out anything else?"

"No, Sir."

"I talked to Dr. Perry. She said the same as the rest of the crew: that
Wolenczak had been distracted. She said that he asked for a sleeping pill
once, but that was all. The only thing is that she couldn't tell me what
Lucas was working so hard on." He thought about her sitting angrily opposite
him, with eyes that blamed him. She had just said that it was what you had
to expect from section seven, simply perfectly obviously that he should
never have sent Wolenczak, and that he should have had more of the facts
first. And she was right. She remained furious throughout, asking him, at
the end, what he was doing about it and nodding at his answer, knowing that
he was, at least now, doing all that he could. He still felt raw from the
conversation, especially from the expression in her eyes. "I asked her to
talk to her staff. They don't know anything new. I also got her to check
with... the dolphin. Sometimes people tell pets things that they don't tell
other people." Ford decided that it wasn't the time to remind Hudson that
Darwin was actually a UEO officer. "You can stay for the other interviews if
you want."

"Yes, Sir."

They were mostly very quick, all the people saying much the same thing: that
Lucas had been distracted, busy, but no one knew exactly what he had been
working on. The last but one interview was with Lieutenant Kimura. She sat
stiffly, slightly back from the table, with her hands palms down on her
knees, showing no emotion.

"I'm afraid that I do not know anything that can help you, Captain. Why am
I the last person to be informed of this? I am a senior officer now, and I
expect to be notified of event that involves the ship and its crew."

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I was busy trying to get to the bottom of this mess
and I thought that as you have not been here long and so don't really know
Ensign Wolenczak, you would not be able to help us. Dismissed." He had too
many things to worry about without her indignation over not being included.
She left, walking with her careful, graceful but slightly mechanical style.
There was immediately a knock on the door that caused the loose objects in
the room to vibrate for a moment.

"Come in."

Dagwood shuffled round the door looking anxious. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes. Have a seat."

"Which one?" he asked confused.

"Over here, Dagwood." Ford motioned to him and Dagwood sat tensely. Ford
looked at Hudson , but he motioned for Ford to continue. "Dagwood, We need
you to help us. Lucas left to help someone with their computer, but now he's
in some trouble..."

"Lucas is OK?"

"We don't know yet, Dagwood. But we need you to tell us if you know
anything that Lucas was upset or worried about- if there wasn't anything
unusual going on." Dagwood was very quiet. "Dagwood? Is there anything that
you know about that might have gotten Lucas into trouble." Dagwood still
didn't reply. "This is very important. And I need you to tell me if there
was anything at all." Dagwood looked at Ford, head to one side, considering.

"I do not know what you want me to tell you," he said at last.

Ford sighed and looked over at Hudson again. "That's OK, Dagwood, you can
go now."

"Thank you," he said and left. The picture shook again as he closed the
door behind him.

"That's everyone, Sir. Here's the list of any other people we can think of
that he might contact." Hudson studied the list. "Sir?" Ford sounded
pensive, "I've been thinking about Banaba." Hudson looked up at him. "I've
run through everything about it that could be related to this and it doesn't
make sense. I just can't see the link."

"But you think there is one?"

"I don't know. I'm too close to this to be able to see it objectively...
but, yes, I do think that it has something to do with this."

"Hm."

The com link chirped. "Sir?" It was Henderson, "I've tried accessing
Lucas' files, but I can't get to anything. They've all got password systems
and I can't break them. I looked at the computer log though and he wrote
several huge files recently and sent several messages. I can't trace them,
but one had an attachment of the file he was writing."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." He turned off the link and sighed. "I guess I had
better talk to section seven and give them their list. I want you to send a
copy through to McGath."

"Yes, Sir." Ford left quietly.

When the room was empty again, he asked O'Neil to get him a link to
Lawrence. The screen opened, but it was a young woman in a pristine section
seven uniform who addressed him.

"Captain Hudson. Do you have the lists that we requested?"

"I want to talk to Captain Lawrence." He was angry that he was being fobbed
off on a junior officer.

"I'm afraid that will be impossible," she smiled fakely.

"And the reason for this?"

"Captain Lawrence is dead. He committed suicide earlier. We believe that he
felt guilty for his responsibility over this matter. He didn't try to stop
Wolenczak and ordered the other officer involved to obey him. I've been
assigned as his replacement. Now, I believe that you were going to prepare a
list for us?"

He was momentarily shocked into silence. "I'm sending it through now," he
said blankly. "How did he die?"

"He committed suicide," she repeated in a patronising tone, "By shooting
himself with his weapon, shortly after he spoke with you. Has Wolenczak
contacted you?"

He felt sickened by the way she moved from the death (he was not prepared
to accept suicide yet) to business. "No," he answered shortly.

"Thank you for your co-operation, Captain." And she cut the link.

"Commander Ford to the wardroom," he said over the com and sat back trying
to place this piece into the frame of the picture that was slowly forming.
He was liking the overall picture less and less.

"Sir?" Ford came in again. "I sent the message."

"Captain Lawrence, the officer in charge at the section seven headquarters,
the one that Lucas is supposed to have kidnapped, is dead. His replacement
says that he committed suicide out of guilt for the stolen files and for not
trying to resist."

Ford sat down. "How long ago?" His voice was hollow with shock.

"Apparently just after I spoke to him." He checked the time. "That would be
about four hours ago. But I don't believe that Lawrence was the type of man
who would kill himself. This whole thing just got a lot worse."

"You think that we can believe anything they say? This just doesn't make
sense, any of it."

"There's certainly a lot more going on than a renegade Ensign. Suppose they
are telling the truth- some of it at least. What could be in those files
that means that they have to kill the commanding officer of their
headquarters?" Ford shook his head. "All I know is that it's getting worse
rather than better and I'm still sitting here not doing a damn thing about
it!" Hudson ran a hand over his face in frustration. He opened a link. "Get
me McGath." He ordered.

"Captain Hudson, I'm afraid that there have been some disturbing
developments," McGath started as soon as they connected. Hudson and Ford
tensed, "Captain Lawrence..."

"I'm aware of Captain Lawrence's death," Hudson interupted.

"I was told it was suicide. I have no reason to believe that section seven
would lie, and what you're suggesting..." Hudson's face had expressed his
views quite clearly. "We still haven't been able to locate Wolenczak,"
McGath continued. "But I don't believe that section seven has or is any
closer. I will make sure that there is an investigation into Lawrence's
death," he conceded.

"I would be grateful if I could see the autopsy report."

McGath nodded. "It shouldn't be doing any of this. Damn it, they're still
UEO."

"But you don't trust them any, more than I do." Hudson was determined to rub
it in.

"You know I can't answer that, Oliver." Hudson smiled grimly. "I will not
have you suggesting, publicly, in any way, that I do not trust my own people
or that you believe them to be lying."

"What are the files that are meant to have been taken?" he reverted to the
problem.

McGath shifted, "I have not been able to...determine that for certain.
Captain Andrews, Lawrence's replacement, says that they were papers copies
and that only Lawrence would know what was taken."

Hudson snorted. "How can we possibly know what to believe when we don't
even have half of the facts?" He was breathing heavily in anger. "I'm sorry
sir, it's just I'm responsible for my crew."

"I understand your position, Oliver and, believe me, I am doing everything
that I can. You do and will continue to know everything that I do."

"Thank you, Sir." McGath switched off his end of the message. Hudson turned
to Ford. "Any suggestions, Commander?"

"I wish I had." Hudson sighed. He looked exhausted and old. "Sir, I think
you should get some rest. I'll inform you if there are any changes."

"Thank you, Commander."

But when he got to his quarters, he did not sleep immediately, as he knew he
should and needed to. He sent a message on the vidlink and waited for the
reply.

"Oliver!" Nathan Bridger looked at him with surprise and then worry. "Is
there something wrong?"

Hudson was surprised that he didn't know yet. But then he had only just sent
the list to section seven and McGath was probably avoiding this call as much
a s he had. " Yes. It's about Ensign Wolenczak."

"Lucas? What's happened? Is he all right?"

"We don't know."

"Don't know? You don't know if your crew is all right?" Bridger was
beginning to panic. "Where is he?"

"We don't know that either. Two days ago section seven requested him to
help them with a computer virus that had crashed their systems. Now they
have an APB out of him for kidnapping a senior officer and stealing some
highly classified files. McGath has been informed and he has troops out
looking for him. I have no idea what is going on." He paused, "And the
officer that he is supposed to have kidnapped has died. Section seven said
it was suicide." How could he know so little and have so little control
over the situation and what was happening to his crew.

"But you don't believe that... don't worry about answering that." He was
trying to keep himself in control. "This is ridiculous," he burst out.

"Neither I nor Secretary McGath believe these charges. But we have no
information to go on- no way to work out what is happening," he was forced
to admit.

"What were the files?"

"I don't know. Neither does McGath. They are claiming that the only one who
did is the dead officer."

"Very convenient. Where were you during all this?" Bridger asked, accusingly.

"I was only informed after the fact... Lucas was at section seven HQ when
all this occurred."

"What the hell was he doing there?" Bridger was shouting now.

"It told you: they requested his help to sort out this virus."

"And you just let them take him?"

"What was I supposed to do, Nathan. You were section seven for a while and
did you ever know them to not get what they wanted?" He was getting angry as
well now, trying to defend himself, from an attack that he was very
vulnerable to.

Bridger looked at him furiously. "He should never have been there in the
first place. Damn it, Oliver, I trusted you with my crew, my boat, I don't
just expect you to hand them over to section seven... Damn it!" He looked
away and closed his eyes for a few moments. Then spoke more calmly. "I'm
sorry. This isn't your fault, but... I do know section seven. Whatever is
going on, Lucas is in a lot of trouble. It sounds like a typical section
seven cover up for something: paint the person that they need to...
remove... as a criminal, a traitor. It means that no one looks into their
methods too carefully and there is very little press. Treason isn't good for
the UEO image." His voice was edged with bitter sarcasm.
"Why're you contacting me?"

"I wanted to ask if you knew anything that could help us figure out this
mess- figure out what section seven are trying to do. They will probably
contact you too. I had to give them a list of all Wolenczak's friends that
he might contact." Bridger looked as if he were going to make another
outburst, but he stopped himself. "Could it be anything to do with Banaba
Island?"

Bridger looked up abruptly, pain and sadness washing over his face briefly.
"I don't see how it could be. Banaba was a mission to recover something
from an age that is long dead. The last time I spoke to Lucas, we had a...
disagreement over the morals of what happened there, but I don't see how
that could be involved here. What are you doing now?"

"Waiting. I don't know what's going on, because I don't know what has
happened. Until I know that, I can't even begin to figure out why this is
happening or what to do about it." They stared at each other, each the
mirror of the other's fear, worry and despair for what they saw before them.
Both not daring to admit what would be the likely outcome. "If you have any
suggestions..." Bridger knew how much it would have cost Hudson to make the
request for help, though he didn't put it as such.

"I can trying talking to some people from section seven, but I hadn't
worked for section seven for more than 15 years, when I was on the SeaQuest.
Now it's more like thirty. I doubt that there will be much that I can find
out or do that will help, but I'll try. I'll tell you if I get anything.
Will you keep me informed?"

"Yes." Hudson was clearly working up to something, "Could I have refused?"
he asked at last. It was not a request for comfort, for reassurance, though
it might have been from someone else. Oliver Hudson would only deal with the
facts. And if he had been wrong, then he would deal with that to. But the
fact that he was asking for help, the second time in one conversation and
this time personally, showed how much he was feeling.

"You could have refused, but it wouldn't have made any difference. They
would have just been ruder and less co-operative. Once section seven got
involved, you had no control over it." He wanted to give him some
reassurance, but he would  not have believed it and it would just have been
insulting. "Thank you for telling me before section seven," he said and
then cut the link, knowing the Hudson was still struggling with the backwash
of having asked for help.

Bridger sat back feeling cold and more scared than he had been since he had
watched Carol die. He knew the routine and section seven was very
'successful' at what they did. Well, it was easy when you didn't care about
laws, rules, morals: when you could do anything you wanted and then simply
bury it. One UEO ensign would not create too much of a problem. With Lucas
it would be harder to cover up but not impossible. He didn't want to think
about that. He needed to think of what he could do. All he could think about
was the last time they had spoken, most of all of the look that Lucas had
given him, and that he hadn't said goodbye. Bridger knew that was his fault
as well as Lucas'. He had just been too scared to face the pain that he had
felt when he had seen someone he cared about so much looking at him with
such horror and hatred, such disappointment. He was also too proud; Nathan
Bridger would not beg, for forgiveness, for love, for anything. And he felt
that, despite what he had told Hudson, Banaba was somehow the key to it all.
And that would mean that whatever happened next he would be partly
responsible for it- for taking Lucas to the island and for not talking it
through with him afterwards. He had to get up and do something: he couldn't
just sit there. But it seemed too great an effort, so he just sat with the
pain of his fear and dread for things that he would not/ could not allow
himself to consider.

Hudson sighed and let himself lie down. He had to use all of his training to
make himself sleep. He wouldn't be able to continue to be effective unless
he did. Besides, he would not be doing anything. He could only wait, getting
more frustrated and worried as the time went by. His thoughts kept wandering
and his emotions interfered, as he had to clamp down, harder and harder,
until he drifted off into an unwilling and uneasy sleep.

copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 6  =====================================


Am I sending this out too fast? Well, here part 6 anyway.

copyright E.Casale 1997

Chapter 6

The sun was out and the park was full of picnickers, sunbathers and
tourists. A few passing UEO people glanced at his uniform: he would have to
change. He crossed the park watching the rippling effect, of water, on the
grass when the breeze blew it softly: the gentle patterning, like lacework
that the leaves produced shadowing the long strands. A few clouds blew by
very fast, cutting off the sun and plunging one part of the field into shade
for a few seconds and then moving on. It felt good to be walking in the sun,
in the fresh air. It cleared his mind. It took him a full fifteen minutes to
cross the park at that point of it, though he wasn't walking slowly, rather
at a moderate pace; a running UEO officer would be noticeable here. On the
other side he stopped at one of the tourist souvenir stands and bought a New
Cape Quest baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses. After that he ducked into
a quiet alley and changed his uniform jacket for a civilian shirt that he
had brought. With that and the baseball cap he wasn't noticeably UEO: the
trousers could just be slacks unless you were looking closely. The main
thing was that he stood out because of his hair and his eyes. He could never
hide his feelings with his eyes, which sometimes made life in the military
very difficult indeed. He had already decided where he was going to go, but
he wanted to think it through first to make sure that it was the right step.
He knew that no one had followed him; Lawrence hadn't been able to notify
anyone and he would have already been arrested if that were the case. A
pursuer would have been obvious as he was crossing the park, anyway.
Besides, there would be people out looking for him. He needed somewhere to
stay, to think about what he was going to do next, somewhere to sleep. He
sighed and started off across the city. He was too tired now to be scared;
his earlier terror had wiped out his emotional capacity for the time being
leaving him strangely alert and clear headed.

For some reason he was comforted by the crowds, the swell of people in the
streets and he had a sudden urge to sit at one of the tables in front of a
cafe and watch them passing by. As he walked through the different areas of
the city, the number of people slowly died off until he was walking through
the dreary downtown area. In the dark it hadn't seemed quite so worn and
sad, but then he rounded another corner and was into the housing district.
There were children playing in the streets there, with families sitting in
their doorways chatting and calling to one another as they passed. The older
generation playing cards, chess or sewing. The mother gazing on from their
groups to check their children and watch them playing. At the end of another
street there was a little patch of grass with carefully tended flowers.
There a young couple were sitting leaning against each other happily as they
sat on a bench. And suddenly it didn't seem dreary or sad and the worn faces
of the houses simply looked lived in and homely, unlike the antiseptic
pristine houses of the centre and its richer areas. He was both happy at
this and sad; it revived his spirits but with a bittersweet pleasure, as it
reminded him of what he had missed and would never have. Overall it left him
pensive as he walked the last part of the way, not noticing the surroundings
now.

The tower block looked forbidding, rising out of the small patch of flat
ground and he looked around before he pushed the intercom. It crackled and a
digitalised voice asked "Yes," in a slow drawl.

"River Lethe," he said. He couldn't rationally think of any reason that he
should be secretive here, but paranoia was not inappropriate in this
situation.

The door buzzed, "My door will be open," was the reply and he made his way
up, losing his stomach again on the way up. The door was open and so he let
himself in. Alexander was making coffee in the kitchen area, grinding the
beans by hand and gently infusing a vanilla pod into the milk. "I'm very
glad to see you," he greeted him warmly.

"I should have warned you that I was coming first," Lucas apologised,
putting his bag down and taking off the hat and sunglasses.

"I expect that you did not know until you were already on your way. You
were not followed?" It was half a question, but mostly a statement, a check.

"No. They would have had to follow me across the park."

"Have the coffee before you tell me," he was speaking calmly, moving slowly
about his kitchen without any sense of anxiety. Lucas sat gratefully in one
of the deep chairs sipping his coffee. They were sitting in silence as they
had on the first night they had met- the only other time and yet he trusted
this man completely. He was putting him in a lot of danger, but he knew that
Alexander didn't mind, that he was even grateful for it and that he would
never betray him. For a while he could let someone else take the
responsibility and have control. Alexander waited patiently for him to be
ready. At last he set down his cup- earthenware with a shiny dark gloss coat
to it. Lucas reached down for his bag and took out the folder, the
surveillance tapes and his portable computer.

"I gave them a virus, one that I knew they couldn't solve for themselves. I
arranged for someone to recommend me to deal with it. They escorted me to
section seven HQ. The people there weren't too impressed with my being there
to start off with, but I sorted out a few things and started making progress
on it, so they didn't mind me too much. They were also all very tired;
they'd obviously been working on it since I sent it, about 48hrs before I
arrived, so they all drifted off. There was one person left to 'oversee' it
all, to watch me. But she left for a bit too; then it was just this
Corporal. I sent him for coffee while I found the files I wanted. It showed
that there was a staff rotation to this other base leaving tom... today. I
also got a staff list. The other files were all "hard copy only". Then I
bugged the commanding officer's office. I said that I needed to rewire some
things because it was the quickest way to get around the virus, so I just
stuck the stuff in the ventilation grill. After that I got into the storage
room for the files, but the folder was empty. Lawrence, the commanding
officer, had signed out the files. He'd probably taken all the worst stuff
off the computer when the virus started." He paused for breath. Alexander
was staring at the carpet with slight interest. "He had the files in a safe
behind his desk; I saw that from the tapes I made. He talked to General
Neal, as well. I couldn't have got into the safe without a bomb or
something, so I just put a tracer on the transport that will be leaving
today for the base. Then I did some more on the virus. The next time I
watched the tapes Lawrence was talking to someone, code name Ares. He seems
to be the one who's really running things. Neal is just some sort of fall
guy, in case. Well, I could hear him, but the camera wasn't facing the right
way to see who it was, so I tried turning it with the remote. Lawrence must
have heard it or something, because he jammed on the security alert and sent
someone to 'escort me to his office.' I just started walking through the
corridors. There were a lot of people running everywhere so no one really
noticed me, except there was one guard who was following me. Then I saw some
people coming out of Lawrence's office. I needed to get out of the corridor.
The guard was getting too close so I ducked in there and slammed the door on
his arm as he came in. Then I used his gun to get Lawrence to give me the
files and to get me out of the base. I got the guard's uniform and then I
told Lawrence to drive me here to New Cape Quest." He turned on the machine
and brought up the tracer map. "The transport should be leaving in an hour.
I haven't looked through the files yet. I need to know what direction the
base is in though, because I can trace it for a much longer distance that
way." He looked up to watch Alexander's reaction.

"Let me hear the tapes," he said. As he listened Lucas read through the
files. There were details on the Banaba experiments that made him nauseous.
For Westlake it just said that it was a continuation of exploring the data
obtained. There were also the reports for the Banaba science team- military
reports for the missions. There was a list of code names used, but Ares was
not among them. There were also reports on the building of the base and a
printout of the design of the base, showing clearly that it was land based
with one side on the ocean. There was also a mention of being just above the
Melbourne fishing grounds, backed by rough grazing and above the built up
coastline to avoid the busy centres of population and traffic. He brought up
a map and it pointed to an area between New Cape Quest and the Melbourne-
Fort Lauderdale line of cities. He typed in the appropriate trace area for
the transport. The tracer's radius was large enough to cover it.

"I found the base area and the tracer will reach. I can get an exact
location when the transport leaves in twenty minutes."

Alexander looked up from the tapes. "I recognise the voice of this man,
Ares, but I cannot place it." He shook his head in frustration. "Let me see
the files. You sleep for now and then we will talk. You can use the room
that is the first door on the left." He pointed and Lucas nodded tiredly,
leaving the room. He almost fell on to the bed, suddenly too tired to
undress or even loosen his clothes.

When he woke it was dark and in the strange room he was momentarily lost. He
held out his hands and worked his way along the wall to the door, rubbing
his eyes against the lights in the corridor. When he wandered sleepily into
the main room Alexander was sitting with the files open in front of him
staring straight ahead. He looked up as Lucas came in and sat down on the
other chair. "There is a great deal of information here," he said, cleaning
his thin rimmed glasses. "But it is not enough. By the time that anyone got
to the base- even with an exact location- there would be no proof. The rest
of this- the staff, the expenses, the base- can all be explained as having
some other function. The Banaba island files and even the killings of the
staff there will have no effect. That is too long ago. Whatever has
happened, they will not drag it up after all this time. Whoever Ares is, he
is too powerful to let what this implies be followed through. For success
you need to prove that the experiments are still going on."

Lucas sat trying to digest this. It was what he had known in the back of
his mind all along. So far it had been too easy, through luck mainly, but he
knew that he would have to fight hard to get anywhere with this. There was
evidence of experiments but there was no proof that they were on GELFs. They
could well be on the data collected back then and so the only crimes would
be the ones already committed at Banaba. He knew that those would not be
revealed. There was no point and it was too old. Alexander was right. By the
time he spoke to someone and they got to the base, it would be cleared of
anything that even suggested human rights violations or crimes against
humanity.

"There is another thing," Alexander was sympathetic as he talked, calm but
factual and honest. "There is an APB out on you. You cannot ask your UEO
friends for help. But you knew this already."

"Once I kidnapped Lawrence and got away with the files, I knew that they
would be doing everything they could to find me, even involving the police
and the rest of the UEO. They have to assess the possible damage first, but
they also need to find me to be sure of what I know and what I have told
other people. I came here because I needed somewhere to stay where they
couldn't find me- that no one at seaQuest could know about. I needed time to
think about who I could trust. You were the only person I could trust
without having plenty of time to think about it." Lucas smiled across at him.
"I know that I have to get the proof. I don't have anything that I can
return to unless I do. I can't even just disappear, it's too serious now.
Do you think that they will have cleared out the base already?" he asked,
suddenly thinking of this possibility.

"I thought about it, but I do not believe that they would. Section seven's
arrogance and pride will prevent them. They will not want to have to scurry
about hiding things and disrupting their work for what they see as an
insignificant adversary. Ares is not the man to allow himself to be beaten
by a young UEO officer who has no military training. This man is someone who
started off as a soldier. What he asks people to do is no more than he has
done himself. You are missing, no one knows where you are and so far there
has been no indication of a threat to security beyond your having the files.
He will know the contents and that the worst that can happen is that he
will, eventually, have to order a clean up. The most he will do now is to
prepare his people for this. No, I do not think that he will even tell the
scientists. They will continue as normal. He will be concentrating all his
efforts on finding you and making sure that you do not have the chance to
contact anyone or pass on what information you have." He had been
conisdering the situation and possibilities carefully, while Lucas had
slept, weighing up all the factors.

Lucas nodded, staring at the files- how far he'd come but how far he had to
go. Alexander would not tell him what the next step was; they both knew. But
he had to voice it for himself. If he didn't, Alexander could not. He would
feel that he was forcing Lucas to accept it, when he had to make the choice
and commitment for himself. He sighed, his eyes alighting on the computer.
"The tracer..." he started, "What time is it?" He looked at his watch and
then turned the screen on. The flashing red marker was off to the south,
about a hundred miles along the coastline. He typed in a command and the
ruler bars narrowed to cross, flashing up the longitude and latitude, with a
clear map of the area on one side. He locked eyes with Alexander for a
moment, needing the comfort and understanding he found there, the message
that said, It is your choice. And what ever you decide I will think no worse
of you and I will still help you. He needed to feel that it was still a
choice, though really, the other options were impossible. "I need evidence
from the base." He said it as a statement. "How do I get there and how do I
get in?"

Alexander smiled. "I have a car. I don't mind whatever happens to it. If
you have to leave it there it won't matter. How you get in... Well, that was
what you got the uniform for. That will help."

"They will probably have the same sort of ID security. I can get into the
HQ files and then program a new ID for myself and a new clearance level. It
already has my info, so I can just copy it on to another ID and program in
the number of the pass they gave me. It will clear for whatever I change it
to. Then I can send a message through section seven HQ saying that I'm
coming. I'll do it so that it appears to have arrived earlier but really
I'll send it just before I go in, that way they wont have time to check it.
They will never think that I'm going there. They won't even be looking." It
was the last place that any sane person in his position would go. "I wrote a
second virus. It will shut down all their communications so even if they
know I'm not meant to be there, they won't be able to talk to each other or
send my picture through. It should give me some time. Then I just have to
figure out how to get out." His enthusiasm died here. "If I can't get
out... I'll try and send you what information I can. And if I don't...
you'll have the files that I got from the HQ and you can think what to do
with them. If..." He couldn't say it again, hearing it over and over was
racking his emotions, increasing the fear that he knew was perfectly logical
in this situation. "Can you send it through to seaQuest? They might be able
to do some thing with it; at least they will be able to see what I was
trying to do and not think that I was... I don't want them to think that I
was trying to betray the UEO. That's what section seven are saying, aren't
they? Paint me a traitor or a spy and it means that they can explain away
anything that they do to 'remove' me and what I know." He had to calm down,
he was getting close to hysteria, but he was so frightened- just of the idea
and not even thinking of the details of what he was about to do and what
would probably happen to him. He couldn't look up at Alexander; he wasn't
going to let him see how close to tears he was. You're such a coward! was
all he could shout at himself, silently.

Then Alexander was taking his cold hands in his, rubbing them gently to
increase the circulation. "You have done more than you need to. This part is
not your duty. It is a choice. You do not have to do it. You have nothing to
make up for and nothing to be ashamed of. But if you want to return to your
life on...'seaQuest' you have to go on. It is a choice. If you decide not
to, I will find somewhere for you to go."

"Thank you," Lucas said a little unevenly and looked up, "But I decided to
do this when I came to see you, when I first decided to look through those
files. I wasn't looking for this; I was looking for comfort from something I
didn't want to accept. I made myself involved and that was my choice. My
choice now is to have no regrets. I just wish I wasn't such... a coward." He
looked away then, ashamed at the admission, especially to someone who was
risking a lot for him, he wouldn't want to be taking those chances if he
knew what Lucas was really like.

Alexander put a hand under his chin and forced him to look him in the eyes.
"You are not a coward. Being afraid is not being a coward. Bravery isn't
not being afraid; it is doing things when you are afraid. If you have no
fear you do not care about life and so risking it is no sacrifice, it has no
meaning. I have never been more impressed with one person and had so much
admiration for anyone. I had lost my faith in people and the UEO. You
restored that and gave me hope when you came here and asked for my help. You
have given me a chance to help that I would never have had otherwise. It
cannot make right what I have done, but I have the chance to do it right
this time. I will know that I have changed and if I can change for the
better, I can accept my actions of the past." He was surprised that he could
be so eloquent, so honest, especially about his emotions. He had never done
that before, had rarely had any use for his emotions over the last few
decades, but he knew that part of his 'doing it right' this time was to help
this boy to do what he was no longer in a position to do, himself. Lucas
sighed softly, his eyes smiling with hope, comfort and surprised pleasure at
the praise. "And now it is time for a hot meal."

Lucas leaned against the counter watching Alexander work. It was incredible
how a man could be involved in such terrible things and yet now be so
different; how he could cook for over an hour, lovingly preparing the food
with accuracy and grace, knowing exactly how to do it and which ingredients
to use without once consulting a recipe. It was clear that this was one of
his main occupations and pleasures.

"Before I 'drowned' I never really cooked for myself, but since then I have
discovered it. My only problem is that there is rarely anyone to cook for
and eating without company is sadly unsatisfying. But it is something that I
can do alone and it gives me a sense of company..." He talked on, slowly in
his gently melodic voice, about that and other things that had no real
relevance for them at that time. The 'mission' had eclipsed normal life and
made it seem oddly pointless and irrelevant. After the meal he went into the
section seven computer system and prepared his ID and security clearance.
Then he prepared the message that he would send just before he arrived at
the base. It said that he was there to check on the system after the virus
problems at HQ. Then he slept again.

When he woke, Alexander showed him the car and its controls. It wasn't flash
or expensive, but it would do to get him to and into the base without
suspicion. After that Lucas set up his computer to have direct link to
Alexander's and they prepared a secure link between the two. He typed in the
last commands and everything was ready. They sat looking at each other for a
few moments and then Lucas got up and went to change. The uniform was a bit
large, but not so that anyone would really notice. He looked at himself in
it in the mirror for a moment to get it into his head that this was
happening. He looked just the same as ever, but everything was so different.
Alexander nodded as he came back into the room and then they went down to
the basement garage together, silent. He loaded in the equipment and set up
the computer monitor so that he could send the message, as he approached the
base, without stopping and so that he could check the map for directions.
Then he straightened up and they shook hands, finding it easier not to talk.
There was nothing that they needed to say now. Lucas got into the car.

"Good Luck," Alexander said as he closed the door. He watched as the car
pulled out and away, torn between hope and admiration, fear and despair. 

As he drove South from New Cape Quest the inlet and waterways gave place to
a direct view of the ocean, with Cape Kennedy on the horizon. It was
overcast now, with temperatures around 15 degrees, not one way or the other,
not raining and no sun; it reflected his mood and all his uncertainties.
Between New Cape Quest and Melbourne the other side of the road was bordered
by woodland and light grazing ground, but once he had passed the city and
Cape Kennedy disappeared on the left, the woods on the right were replaced
by the rough grazing ground mentioned in the files and the occasional patch
of marsh. He kept well within the speed limit, opening the window for fresh
air. He felt the fear rising and clenching into a knot in his chest as he
drew closer. The clouds seemed to drop closer on the horizon, pressing down
on the land and darkening it, but there were still light blue patches and no
rain. When he was close, the road suddenly veered away from the sea so that
that side was now shielded by woodland. He checked the map and then,
reaching over to the passenger seat, pressed the send key. "Message sent".
The screen flashed cheerfully as he turned off on to the side-road that lead
to the base. A few hundred metres down there was a 'Private land. No
trespassing' sign and then a military base sign. Another half mile and there
was a security gate with four armed soldiers waiting at it. He rolled down
his window and handed one of them his ID. The man studied him for a second
and then took it to run it on the security computer link. After what seemed
like ten years he returned and handed it back through the window, nodding
for him to proceed. The barrier and gate opened and he went through,
watching it close behind him in the rear mirror. In front of the buildings
there was another gate, and he repeated the check before he was let through.
Neither time did anyone speak and he longed for some sort of human sound. He
drove down where he was directed and a soldier pointed him to a parking
space. He put the computer back in his bag and, locking the car, walked
towards the main building. In the entrance they checked his ID again.

The guard then cross checked the computer to see what he was doing there.
She seemed surprised to find the message there, but shrugged it off as just
having missed it. "Do you know where you need to go?"

"Yes, thank you," he said and she continued with her work. He had checked
his print out before he left and had memorised the route to the labs he
needed. On the elevator he found himself panicking in the press of people,
feeling everyone watching him, but no one commented as he stepped off on the
second level down from the ground floor. A guard checked his ID again and
then finally he was in the science section of the base. He walked around,
looking through the doors for an empty lab and finally finding one. Then he
typed in Veraczek's name and password, sure that now he was 'alive' again he
would have requested access to the systems and equally sure that nothing
would have changed about his arrogance and that the password would be the
same. It was. If it hadn't worked, he would have hacked the files
eventually, but he knew that he needed every minute. That was it. It was
that simple. All the data for the experiments was in front of him: all the
recordings, all the videos, all the reports. He connected his laptop and
going to the file manager pressed the download for the whole folder. He had
readied the memory to have capacity for as much as he needed; any excess
could go through to Alexander's. He'd also set the download speed to the
maximum, altering some of the programming to make it even faster. A password
box flashed up. He panicked not having expected this, I don't have time! his
mind screamed. Think! he ordered himself. He had two chances; after that he
would have to hack it or bypass it and that would take time that he didn't
have. He got it on the second try with River Lethe. The rebirth from the
underworld. Veraczek still trying to be clever: the rebirth of the
experiments, could now be added to its unpleasant meanings. The download
started but the folder was huge. He tried to wait calmly and be patient, but
with every moment he felt more light-headed and nauseous. Five times he
nearly pulled the connection as someone passed the door.  90%... 91% and he
started to relax.

"Who are you?" It felt like his heart stopped for a full two seconds and he
couldn't face the science technician, who had come into the room silently,
speaking suddenly, close behind him.

"I'm here to check your computer system. HQ had a security breach with a
very powerful virus. They wanted to check that it hadn't filtered through to
here," he got out in a surprisingly calm tone.

"I haven't heard about this. Why didn't you ask someone where to go?" She
was irritable with overwork.

"I just needed a terminal- any one, really, to check it. Besides, everyone
seemed really busy. HQ didn't want everyone to know about the virus. They
thought it would start a security scare; they were pretty embarrassed about
it." He was finally able to turn and face her, hiding the screen from her
view. "Captain Lawrence told me that he had sent a message ahead." He smiled
fakely.

She frowned at him and then turned on her Pal. "David is there a record of
a message for someone to come and check our computer systems?" She waited
impatiently tapping her foot. "Uhuh. Yes, all right." She turned back to
him. "You really should have asked someone before just coming in here." She
was quick tempered and busy. "How much longer will you...." Her Pal chirped
again. Lucas looked back at the screen 99%. When he turned around again he
knew that there was something wrong.

"I'm nearly done here." He said, trying to smooth it through. "Is there a
problem?" he asked politely, with a vague hint of patronisation in his
voice. As he expected she reacted to that, but her question surprised him.

"When did Captain Lawrence tell you to come here?" She looked at him
suspiciously.

He knew there was a catch, but he couldn't figure out what it was. "A few
hours ago. I had to get my..." Her eyes widened with a mixture of victory
and a got-you expression.

"Security, to lab..." She made for the door, but he stopped her, pulling
the Pal out of her hand and taking out his weapon, the one that he had
stolen from the guard at HQ, for once glad about section seven's rules that
all personnel could carry a weapon at any time. He hadn't even been
questioned about it when he had come in. So long as it was section seven
issue, they didn't care. Her eyes were frightened but she was still smirking. 

"It won't make any difference. You'll never..." He turned off from her
frightened and bold threats.

100%. He pulled the connection loose and quickly inserted the virus disk.
Then he walked to the door, leaving it in to download. She watched him
carefully as he left. He closed the door behind him, shooting the lock and
then hurried down the corridor as two guards ran past him. A few seconds
later the general alarm went off. He carried on walking fast, waiting for
the virus to take effect. Thirty seconds later the alarm died as did the
security stations power connections. Several officers passing him were
trying to talk on their Pal's to find out what was happening, but he had
jammed the signals on that frequency. He had been able to work it out from
the Pal that he had stolen from the HQ guard. People started wandering out
of labs and offices, milling around confused in the corridor and sending
junior staff running to get an explanation. When they had checked about his
presence it would have been with the front exit; whatever they had found out
would have come from there. He would have to find another exit. He thought
wryly that at least he had permission to leave Alexander's car; he knew that
Alexander would have removed anything that would allow them to trace it back
to him. He had been hiding for too long to miss anything like that.

He pulled out the plans of the base as he walked. The closest exit was the
sea route and it was on the same floor. As he came to it the guards at the
security station were standing around thoroughly confused and bewildered. He
gave them his ID and they looked at it, trying to analyse it and then let
him through. They had no way of checking it with the machines down. In the
bay he made his way to the water and chose a motor boat. If he could get
down to the West Palm Beach sea-front he could lose himself in the pleasure
and tourist craft there. He jumped down into the boat, quickly opening the
mooring locks. Behind him someone started yelling something and he quickly
turned on the panels and started the engines. As he pulled away he could see
a group of soldiers running towards him shouting to each other. He pushed
the controls to maximum and the boat sped out from its docking bay. He was
astonished to find that it was dark when the boat finally exited the tunnel
from the base. He hadn't checked the time and he realised that that was why
the sky had been getting darker when he was driving to the base. He had
thought that it was a storm. There was no time to try to send the files
through, he needed both hands to control the craft at that speed. It was
bumping over the waves now, moving too fast to go through them, but hitting
their tops and almost ricocheting off them. He looked behind and saw lights
bursting out from the tunnel mouth. His craft had been the logical choice:
it would not need clearance to launch it and once he was into the coastline
by the cities he would be perfectly safe, once he reached that stretch of
coastline. He watched the lights behind him for a few moments and knew that
he would not reach the coastline, in their glow he could see them setting up
a weapon- some sort of mini rocket launcher. He turned back to the open
ocean in front of him. The base tunnel had jutted out into the ocean and he
was now at least ten miles from the coastline. He changed the angle so that
he was moving slightly towards it. He couldn't turn directly towards it as
that would close the gap between him and the other craft too much. 

A shoot of water washed over the boat as the rocket ploughed into the sea
beside it. He panicked looking around. When he looked ahead again he was
confused by a small light- another craft coming to intercept him- he
thought, freezing for a moment and then realising that it was a marker buoy
for the shipping lanes that ran nearby. He didn't think about his decision
he just took it, grabbing his bag, and then jamming the controls in the
opposite direction before jumping. The boat would cover the jump from the
sight of the other craft. 

The water was very cold and he struggled to the surface, gasping and
flailing wildly. The explosion that rocked through the water burying him
beneath its wake acted like a sharp slap and he swam slowly to the buoy. The
other craft circled about the area where the last burning  debris of the
boat were sinking. The boat had pulled away from the buoy with its sudden
change of course and the debris were drifting fast with the momentum of the
boat and impact. He watched the craft as it circled from the opposite side
of the buoy, looking through it's metal frame. They cut their engines and
drifted over to where the boat had sunk and waited for a few minutes,
calling orders to each other that he couldn't hear. Eventually they
restarted the engine and pulled away back to the base, satisfied that he had
been killed when the boat had exploded and that he wasn't going to surface
now.

It had sunk completely now, the warm glow it made on the water,
extinguished, fizzing as the flames were quenched, a cloud of smoke still
drifting above it. He clung limply to the buoy for a while, still too
frightened to move. Eventually the quiet slapping of the water and its chill
broke through his haze of fear and panic and he was once more able to move.
He clipped the bag onto his uniform, grateful that it was waterproof. And
then he looked towards the shore. In the most direct route it was still over
five miles. He had no idea what the currents were like and the water was
cold. As it got later it would get colder still without the sun to warm it.
He started to panic again and had too lean into the buoy again trying to
breath naturally. No one knows you're here. They all think you're dead. You
will die out here if you don't at least try to get to the shore. I can't
swim that far! Try! If you can't you'll drown either way, so what's the
difference? Besides they might come back- to try to get the wreckage, to
make sure about the files. It was that thought that loosened his arms from
the metal and he struck out, swimming slowly and rhythmically, sometimes
floating, gently skimming his hands through the water to keep himself
afloat. Lying on his back looking up at the sky he was astonished at the
beauty of the stars. Most places the reflection from city lights hid them
and dimmed their light, but here they were majestically ethereal. Then he
turned over again and swam some more. Every two hundred strokes he paused,
watching the stars. He refused to let his mind think of defeat, but simply
concentrated on the sections: two hundred strokes, pause to count to one
hundred and then again, and again. After a while he was too tired to think
any more, he simply watched the bobbing shore line and tried not to swallow
the water. There was a current and it was pushing him sidewards slightly,
but the tide was going in so he drifted slowly closer to the shore.

He lost all sense of time, the stars merged with the waves, with the lights
far ahead on the shore and it was cold. Every time he stopped he realised
just how cold, causing his limbs to ache all the more. Somewhere in his
mind, where he could still think, he knew that he would not reach the shore,
but he carried on: two hundred strokes, pause, two hundred strokes, pause,
too tired to leave the rhythm, to decide that he would just let himself
sink. He didn't have the power to choose anymore so he was stuck with his
choice: two hundred strokes, pause. He was on ninety of a new set when he
gave into the pain and drifted for a few minutes, turning over and staring
at the stars, coughing bile into the sea from exhaustion. He closed his eyes
for a while, breathing water, when his arms forgot to skim the water to keep
him afloat. He was treading water to cough, being able to keep his head
higher that way, when his arm got stuck in something. Somewhere his mind
broke through to tell him that it was a strand of kelp. He tore at it,
starting towards hysteria when he couldn't get loose and then realising that
it was too hard to be just kelp. He opened his eyes and drew away the strand
and felt unbelievingly along the rope beneath it. He pulled himself along it
for a few metres and then it was broken by a plastic bubble. it was the top
of a cordon that separated section seven's beach line. For a moment he could
not believe it, wondering if he was imagining it, but when he tried pulling
himself along it again it was still there. Now he had only to fight the
current and move slowly along it towards the shore. He didn't look up to see
how close he was, just pulled steadily, sometimes pausing, hanging over it
to keep himself above water.

When he next allowed himself to look up the shore line was not more than a
mile, and half way between him and the beach there jutted out a rough
promontory. He struggled on, finding the rope ending tied off on the
promontory. The current suddenly grew stronger as it was forced around the
sharp strip of land. He found it hard to keep his numb arms over the rope
and had to cling to it. There was a sudden drop in the current and then it
pulled him sharply off the rope and washed him against the rocks. He gasped
in pain as he was thrown against the rough surface, scrabbling for a hold,
breaking away and then being thrown back on to it, before he managed to get
a hand hold and pull himself up out of the water. His wet clothes made it
almost impossible to move, but when he tried easing his hold on the rocks he
started to slip back into the ocean. With a last effort he pulled and
crawled up the rocks, until he lay gasping near the top, drifting slightly
below consciousness.

He woke again when he found himself lifting slightly, realising that the
tide was now starting to flow over the top of the rocks. He coughed as he
breathed in water instead of air. A larger wave rose over the edge of the
rocks and he felt himself scraping along the rocks back towards the water.
He reached out clinging desperately. He would not be able to pull himself
out again, he knew, and he would just be battered against the rock. The wave
fell and he pulled himself forward back onto the top of the rocks and
started crawling towards the beach. The rocks were topped by a fence to keep
people of the section seven land, as the rope, and the net screen that it
topped, did for the ocean. Gasping and sobbing he pulled himself up against
the fence and staggered along it, leaning his weight into it, falling
several times. When he finally reached the beach he let himself fall onto
the soft sand and crawled from there up to the cliff and the higher ground.
He let himself lie there. He didn't care any more about the evidence or if
the tide came in that far and washed him out to sea, so long as he could
just be still and drift off into the warm darkness where he could not feel
pain or cold or fear.


"Lucas! Lucas, wake up!" It was a strangely familiar female voice calling
to him, concerned but comforting. He turned slightly enjoying the comfort of
sleep and warmth. "Lucas!" the voice insisted and he sighed, opening his
eyes. Wendy was sitting next to him, smiling, and he sat up, trying to clear
his head, knowing that there was something not right, but still too sleepy
to realise what it was. He seemed to be sitting on a beach that stretched
out into the distance in a line of golden haze and off into the distance all
around him. Apart from that there was no sea, only a caerulean sky and Wendy
waiting for him to look back at her. For some reason it seemed perfectly
natural that they were sitting on this beach without a sea, that she was
sitting there waiting for him to wake up. He knew that there was something
that he wanted to ask her, that for some reason it was not all normal and
natural, but he was too comfortable and hazy to work it all out; he could do
that later. "You have to wake up soon," she told him and he squirmed.

"I don't want to," he whinged.

"But you have to take the evidence to New Cape Quest."

"Can't be bothered. I can do it later."

"No, you can't. You have to take it soon. You have to take it to the
meeting of the joint chiefs. That's the only way that you can be sure that
it will get out- that they won't have time to cover it all up and remove the
evidence first."

He turned away, petulantly, annoyed at her. "I don't care."

"Yes you do. You wouldn't be here otherwise." Suddenly the sky became dark
with clouds and the horizon started spinning. A shoal of fish seemed to swim
slowly past Wendy's face and then they were standing at the top of a cliff
in the near dawn, the sun just rising up over the sea.

"You have to wake up now! Call Alexander!" She commanded. He looked down
feeling dizzy as things started to blur. He started to remember, "Wendy..."
He wanted to ask her something and then he was falling softly. He closed his
eyes and waited for the impact. There was no brief millisecond of pain,
rather a dull ache that was growing with his awareness. He felt a breeze
against his cheek, felt the air moving past. He tried to move, but the pain
was growing and for a while it was everything. He moved slightly gasping. He
opened his eyes and looked out across the sand. The tide was going out now,
slowly pulling away from the beach, clinging and then being pulled further
away. He rolled over, using his momentum, rather than his muscles. Then he
tried sitting up, but his arms would not move and his head started to spin
so he fell back onto the sand, waiting for the dizziness to subside.

Then he looked around at what he could see without moving. He was lying
close to the cliffs, on something hard. He pulled it from under him in slow
stages. It was his bag. He lay back knowing that he had been told to do
something... "call Alexander". He was too tired to try to work out why, he
just knew that he could trust this order, that was somehow the right thing
to do. Everything seemed hazy as he unzipped the bag and pulled out the
computer watching it boot up as if he had never seen it before. The link to
Alexander's computer was set up with the link secured and the address
programmed in. He sent the message blank, too tired to write anything or
even remember how, keeping the signal open and connected. Alexander could
find him by triangulating it from different positions. He sighed and let the
haze close over him again, knowing that the voice would let him sleep again,
now that he had done what it wanted.

copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 7  =====================================


Chapter 7

Alexander was cooking when he heard the computer beeping in the next room.
"Incoming message" it said on the link that he and Lucas had set up between
the two machines. He waited anxiously, but the message continued to flash
with the signal open. It didn't make any sense beyond the fact that it
propbably meant that Lucas was in trouble. Alexander's worry deepened, as he
realised this, but at least he could use the signal to find Lucas' location.
He had given Lucas the car so he didn't have any means of transport. He
quickly grabbed a coat and locked the flat taking the computer with him. He
walked very fast through the streets, finding it strange to be going so far
afield. He hadn't been out this far in many years; he even had his groceries
delivered. He slipped into the alleyway and knocked on the back door. The
young man, who opened it, looked at him with annoyance and was about to shut
it again, when he jammed his foot in it.

"I have to talk to Rachel." The man looked at him with derision and doubt.
"She will see me," he pleaded, when he heard her voice.

"Who's there, David?"

"Rachel! I need to talk to you!" Alexander called, relieved to hear her
running to the door.

"It's OK, David. He's a friend." She looked at him anxiously and around the
alley before letting him in. "I heard on the news about Wolenczak..."

"He came to me. He got evidence from section seven." She turned hopefully
to him, then her face fell, " And..."

"It wasn't enough. He went back- to another base, where he thinks that
they're doing the experiments." He was tired and terribly worried. "We set
up a link for him to send me the information if anything... I got a message.
It's just a signal, but it's still on. I think he needs help and I can use
the signal to find where he is. I gave him my car, so I..."

"Wait here. I'll get David to come with us. Are you still safe, no one
knows he came to you?" She asked out of reflex.

"No, I'm certain." She patted his shoulder and then hurried off calling for
David, talking with him in a hurried whisper. Rachel returned a few minutes
later with a bag.

"I've got a medkit. Just in case," she added. Alexander nodded and
followed her out into the street where David was already waiting in a
battered car. They climbed in and the car sped off. "Where are we going?"
she asked.

"I don't know yet. I have to get three positions on the path of the signal
and then I can triangulate. Go south." After twenty miles he compared the
path of the signal from his flat with the one he was receiving, noting where
they crossed. "Keep going south." Another twenty miles and he confirmed the
location. Then he sat back still tense.

"When did he leave for the base?" she queried, trying to take his mind off
his worry.

"A few hours ago- five? I don't know. He had to get there as well." He was
rubbing his finger obsessively as if that was what would make things all
right.

"What was the evidence you have so far?" she pushed, impatiently.

"Expense orders, plans of the base, a list of some code names, some stuff
from the experiments at Banaba and about the science staff that were killed
afterwards." He looked out of the window and back, nervously.

"We'll be there soon," she comforted. "If he sent the signal he must be
all right. It's still on right?" He nodded, wanting to believe her.

"It was a miracle that he got into and out of the first base alive... I
should have... I..." He faltered there, taking off his glasses to clean
them.

"You did and you're doing what you can. Don't start imagining things;
that's always worse than the truth." She was frightened by his anxiety,
not used to seeing him like that.

"You're right," he said at last, pulling himself back to his usual self.
"I'm just worried. I almost wish I hadn't let him go, but it was his choice
and it's something that's necessary. I just hope that..." he trailed off and
they sat in silence. After forty minutes they heard a siren behind them.

"Damn it! " David said from the front and pulled the car over. The officer
came over and David opened the window. The officer seemed surprised,
stopping short for a moment.

"You were speeding- 100 in a ninety zone. I'll have to give you a fine. Can
I have your licence?" David handed it over and the officer ran it through
his hand held processor. "Thank you, I'm afraid that you will be debted."

"I'm sorry about that, officer."

"Just try driving a bit more slowly." The officer nodded to the passengers
and went back to his vehicle. David waited for him to pull away before he
restarted the engine and proceeded more slowly. After a while they relaxed
again, Rachel laughing nervously.

"They always did say that the worst criminals were caught speeding." Then
she added more soberly, "but we're not criminals, they are." She leaned
forward to David. "How far?"

"Another twenty miles. We should be there in less than twenty minutes."

Rachel sat back and smiled at Alexander. "OK, we're a hundred miles south
of New Cape Quest. Whereabouts from here?" she asked.

"The signal is from the coast- the beach. Pull over here." He checked the
signals again. "It should be about five minutes back along the beach from
here."

"David, you stay with the car. We'll walk from here. This is the first
place we can get down to the beach from. The cliffs get too high back
there."

The sun was making its way slowly up to the centre of the sky. It was only
nine a.m. though and the beach was deserted as they clambered carefully, but
quickly, down the steep hill, which rose sharply after that point to become
a cliff. They left their shoes at the bottom, finding them sinking into the
sand too much. It was easier and quicker to walk barefoot. "I only wish I
could enjoy this." The sky was a light blue, with only strands of cirrus
cloud to mar it, the sun wan but steady. "What's that?" Rachel pointed to
something under the cliff a way off and they both started running.


"He's alive." He heard a voice speaking over him and someone gently holding
his wrist. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the glare of the
sun. "Lucas?" He, looked over at Alexander, and smiled tiredly.

"You got my message," he whispered. Alexander nodded as Lucas looked over
at the other person kneeling beside him. "Rachel?"

"Hi. Nice to see you again," she said softly.

Lucas looked over at Alexander confused. "You took the car," Alexander told
him to explain her presence. Lucas sighed, closing his eyes again, and then
tried to sit up. Alexander helped him, supporting him gently but firmly as
the blackness cleared. Alexander wrapped a coat around his shoulders and
between them they helped him to his feet. It took all his effort just to
keep his feet moving. For a while they asked him questions, but gave up
when he didn't reply.

"Sorry," he gasped out, finding the walk more like a marathon.

"There's nothing to be sorry for. Just don't make us carry you." They
stopped to let him rest before climbing the hill. When he got to the top,
everything was swinging slightly. He followed their guidance as they helped
him into the car and then he sat back and slept.

"Can we take him to the Sheath? Even in my neighbourhood people will notice
if we try to get him up to my flat. You can't drive up to the door."
Alexander asked quietly.

Rachel nodded. "Of course. Will he be OK?"

"I think so. We'll have to see when we get him somewhere safe." He looked
down at the boy sleeping against his shoulder. They drove on in silence,
pulling up in front of the back door. Alexander was about to wake him when
he felt David's hand on his arm.

"Let him sleep," he said and lifted Lucas easily out of the car. Rachel was
holding the door open for them and then hurried to hold the next. Lucas
shifted as David lowered him on to the bed, but he didn't wake. "I'll put
the car away," he said, leaving the room, closing the door quietly.
Alexander pulled the blankets over Lucas and sat to check his pulse and
breathing. He had some small grazes on his cheek from the rocks, but
otherwise appeared unhurt.

"He should be fine. I'll stay until he's out of shock." He sighed and
settled back to watch him. "I don't want to wake him yet. We'll have to
wait to ask him any questions." Rachel nodded.

"I'd better go and explain things. Don't worry. I only need to tell a few
people and we can trust them. If you need anything, just ask someone for me
and I'll come and sort it out." She smiled and left him watching Lucas as he
slept.

He called her five hours later, looking up as she came in. "Can you stay
here while I get some things from my flat?"

She nodded. "Is there anything I should do," she asked.

"He's fine. Just let him sleep and keep him warm. He probably won't wake up
before tomorrow." He paused in the door, watching the sleeping form before
he left, unwillingly.


"There's a message from section seven for you, Sir."

"Put it through," McGath sighed. He was fed up with section seven and
especially their latest disaster. Andrews appeared smirking. "What is it,
Captain?"

"I thought that you would like to know that the security problem has been
resolved."

"You have found Wolenczak? Where is he?" McGath asked eagerly.

"I'm afraid that we were obliged to... destroy the marine craft that he was
trying to escape in." McGath's expression turned shocked and then furious.
"He broke into another- broke into our base again. He was trying to steal
some more information. I hardly think that you would prefer for Macronesia.."

"This has nothing to do with Macronesia. I have no idea what exactly is
going on, but it is espionage. I have been uneasy about section seven
methods for quite a while and there is going to be a full investigation into
this," he said angrily. "Now I want you to tell me what is really going on
there. You don't really expect me to believe that a 17 year old, with no
training, broke into your base twice. Why the hell would he break into it a
second time, with most of the UEO and section seven out looking for him? Not
to mention the police."

"I do not know why he returned, Sir. I only knew that it was necessary to
prevent this information from falling into the wrong hands."

"By killing him? How will you know now whom he has told," he asked, trying
to show her the logic of it.

"It seemed necessary."

"To you, maybe."

Andrews ignored this comment and continued unfazed. "We are working on the
recovery of the wreckage."

McGath reordered his papers, hitting them hard on the desk. "Who have you
informed of this?"

"This is my first call, Sir, after General Neal. I thought that you would
be pleased to hear that we have resolved the problem."

"I will inform Captain Hudson. You are to tell me before you talk to anyone
else about this matter. Is that understood, Captain?" he demanded, then
sighed. "Are you certain about this?"

"Yes, Sir. We blew his boat out of the water with a rocket 4569 model. It
was a direct hit. My people stayed until the wreckage had sunk and for a
while after. It was an open top boat. It had no diving equipment; he didn't
have any with him when he got on it either. No one came up. He was on that
boat when it was destroyed. There is no way he could have survived. We are
sending a recovery team but the boat was completely destroyed and with the
currents we might never find half of it anyway." She spoke with a soft,
tightly hidden, but not tightly enough, glee that disgusted him.

"I want a full report on everything that has happened at the base- and I
want details of the files 'stolen'. I also expect an autopsy report for
Captain Lawrence on my desk by 1200. That gives you three hours. And, I
repeat, you are to inform no one else of this without my express permission.
Understood!"

"Yes, Sir," she seemed surprised at his vehemence, but still smirked
sadistically, it seemed to him, and he slammed the link off. His aide looked
around the door, worried at the sound of violence. "Get me a link to the
seaQuest. I want to speak to Hudson in private." The aide left quickly. She
knew the signs of McGath's moods and so recognised this to be one of the
worst for the careers of anyone who happened to be around when he was
feeling like that. 

"Captain, you have a message from Secretary McGath. He is requesting that
you take it in private, Sir."

"In the wardroom," Hudson ordered abruptly, ignoring Ford's questioning
glance and his half started request. Ford was tempted to follow him, but
thought better of it. Hudson had clearly not slept enough for a few days and
his impatience and tension were growing. It had started to affect the crew
as well, watching him nervously as he stared off past the data on the main
screen into his thoughts, occasionally asking a half hearted question about
location and speed. They were on a routine patrolling course, checking the
currents in the Florida drift, but they all knew it was an excuse for
something else. Hudson had arranged it with McGath to be able to stay near
New Cape Quest in case they needed to intervene with section seven's
'activities'. McGath had been against section seven for a long time. He was
doing everything he could without opening himself to question over not
trusting a whole section of the UEO, and one of the most important at that.
It did nothing to relieve Hudson's tension, though. He pressed the button to
open the call. McGath looked very tired, but there was something else in his
manner, a reluctance that was uncharacteristic. Hudson frowned deeply.

"You have some new information?" he tried to keep the eagerness out of his
tone.

McGath sighed. "No- Yes." He sighed, again and reordered his papers.
"Ensign Wolenczak is dead," he said finally in a flat monotone.

"How?" Hudson gasped, leaning forward. It was instinctive and then he
winced slightly, standing back up straight. "Section seven?" the fury and
hatred in his voice not fully covering his evident pain. McGath shuffled his
papers. "Was it section seven?" Hudson repeated, hissing the words through
his teeth. McGath looked at him shocked, then regained his politician's
composure.

"Yes," he answered measuredly.

Hudson sat down heavily. "How?"

"He was trying to... escape in an open top boat- some sort of speed boat/
civilian craft. They destroyed the boat with a rocket missile." McGath
shuffled some more. "I'm very sorry." Hudson looked at him furiously, about
to burst out wrathfully. McGath saw this and cut in first. "I value good
officers too, Oliver and I knew him- not well, but I knew him. And this
won't just go away. Whatever we find out, section seven are going to have to
explain themselves over this. If I can find out what happened,"  he ended
wryly. Hudson looked up sharply at this. "They say that they blew up the
boat to prevent him escaping from the section seven base, again. I know,
it's ridiculous. It's too ridiculous to be a complete lie. The new Captain
is far too intelligent for that. I think it is the truth. We just have to
figure out how. I'm on it. Believe me, I am doing everything  I can. I doubt
that we'll ever know what was really happening. But I won't let this just
go, even if I can't get them on this." Hudson was surprised to see him so
upset, that he cared about one individual. McGath seemed to read his mind,
"I'm not that bad. I just have a job to do. Most of the time it doesn't
allow me to get involved, but this is a wider issue and the evidence is so
obviously contradictory. I don't suppose it means much, but it will give me
something to start an investigation, review and maybe make changes to
section seven and their authority. This was not necessary!" McGath sat back
rubbing his chin. He felt deeply saddened by the loss of such a young life,
especially as it was someone who had a lot to offer. If the boy had to die,
at least it shouldn't be by corruption. They both were silent, busy with
their own thoughts.

Hudson closed his eyes, "I want to be allowed to arrange the... services/
burial. Where should I arrange  for... where is the... body?" He finally
managed to ask and still keep his tone even.

"They haven't recovered it yet."

"What??!" Hudson almost leapt up, a strange expression on his face.

"They haven't been able to recover anything and they will be lucky if they
find any ... parts of the boat. It will be spread over half the ocean,
especially with the currents in that area. Besides, it was completely
destroyed.

"They don't have a body," Hudson said almost to himself, expressions of
wonder, then determination passing over his face. "Until they find some...
direct evidence of his death, I will not just... give up on him."

"Oliver..."

"If they have been lying so far, why wouldn't they lie about this?" he
insisted, willing it to be true.

"They probably are lying about most of it, but why lie about his death?
Maybe about the... method, the reasons, but not the event. They knew
that it would create problems, it wouldn't be worth it," McGath admitted
reluctantly, sorry to have to crush his hopes. He didn't want it to be true,
either but he was a realist.

"Until we know why they have accused him of these other crimes we cannot
know if it is worth it or not. I will not believe anything without proof-
that I can see or hear or touch," Hudson continued stubbornly.

"He is dead. Nothing else it just... you wouldn't question this about
anyone else. The part of you that's Captain of the seaQuest knows that this
is... you just have to accept it. Don't put it off by believing something
that cannot possibly be true."

"I do not believe it because I can't trust anything that section seven
says. Yes, I want to believe he is alive... Yes, it's personal and yes,
it's unlikely. But it's not impossible and I will not give up on that
possibility. This will be very damaging to my crew. I do not want to say
anything until I'm certain or I have some of the facts. What I choose up
till then is my business. At least give me time to get some sort of
explanation before I tell them," he requested.

McGath nodded. "You will have to tell them. But it will be easier if you
can tell them more than what we know now. I will make sure that this doesn't
get out. Yes, I can do that. I still have some control in the UEO. If
section seven contacts you again, refer them back to me. I don't think that
they have any real position on asking for your help or 'co-operation' any
more. I'll do what I can from here. You'll be kept informed." He sighed.
"I am truly sorry."

"Yes, Sir." McGath's image disappeared, but Hudson remained sitting in
front of the blank vidlink. He should get back to the bridge, do something.
He shouldn't just be sitting there. He didn't seem to be able to feel
anything, but he was clamping down on it as hard as he could with all his
military training. He realised that it was because he didn't want to feel
anything. He knew that this was going to hurt, a lot. More than it should.
One of his crew had been... had died, maybe, probably. But he was not
reacting to it like a Captain- sorrow for a moment and then professionally
dealing with it and the consequences, filling the place, notifying family,
the crew, arranging the funeral, preparing some dull speech (always
basically the same). But he did not feel like he had lost a crew member; it
was personal and he was angry at himself and at Wolenczak for the fact that
he did care. Damn it! You are meant to be a soldier. You are not meant to
get involved. You're meant to be tougher than this, more detached. You are
not meant to need anyone this much. The clamp was rising and he pushed it
down again, harder. There was a growing coldness about the room and inside
him, a type of dread not attached to any fact, just there and growing,
shouting to be heard. Oliver Hudson, Captain of seaQuest did not act like
this. He would never, ever feel... destroyed and wholly without purpose. The
clamp wasn't working and he got up quickly.

"Commander Ford to the wardroom." He sat to wait, his emotions clearing
into military professionalism. No matter how he felt he had far too much
pride and self control to ever let a subordinate officer see him like that.
But somehow he was ashamed of his action, it was almost as though he were
running away from something and betraying something- someone by not
admitting to these feelings. He shook himself a final time to be free of
those thoughts and feelings, as Ford knocked and entered on his command.
"Take a seat, Commander." Ford sat expectantly, hopefully, and he almost had
to check himself again. For once he wished he could forget his duty to tell
his second in command, forget regulations- ignore them or simply pass the
buck. "I'm afraid... I have some... 'bad' news." Nicely put, he sneered at
himself and then sighed, taking the direct route like McGath, echoing his
words, not wanting to have to form his own. "Secretary McGath has just
informed me that Ensign Wolenczak has been... killed." So that was how you
say it, he thought, it was so easy. Ford was staring at him with his mouth
slightly open, aghast and in shock, but not fully understanding. He
swallowed painfully and Hudson continued, "However they have not...
retrieved a body and until they do I am not going to accept that statement
as fact." Ford looked up then and breathed out, sitting back holding himself
to relieve the pain of the shock- the sudden change of heart rhythm,
forgetting to breathe, the hot and cold waves of fear and despair. He still
wasn't able to speak. "According to section seven, Ensign Wolenczak was
escaping from breaking into their base for a second time, when he was
killed."

"As second time- they're saying he broke into the base again? Captain,
that's ridiculous, it's impossible!" Ford cut in disbelief.

"That's one of the reasons that I am not accepting, without proof, that
Ensign Wolenczak is dead. What they are saying is so inexplicably stupid
that they must be lying, but the problem is, of course that no one, even
section seven, would lie that badly. It just doesn't make any sense." His
tone darkened. 
"The other problem, of course, is that it is unlikely that they would lie
about the actual death- they'd lie about the.... method, the reasons, but
they know that killing him would bring down a whole load of trouble. I'm not
sure what to believe about all this. I know what I don't want to believe and
I'm worried that I'm letting it affect my judgement." He was starting to
ramble, to get too personal. "But I am not going to tell the crew until I
know this for a fact, or if there is no way to have proof, then at least to
be able to give them some answers." He was trying to convince himself of the
validity of this course of action.

"If they won't supply an... autopsy, then... How is he supposed to
have...?" Ford was still too dazed to be coherent.

"He was escaping in an open topped boat, which had no diving gear. They used
a rocket missile to destroy the boat. It was a direct hit. The craft was
destroyed and sank. They continued to wait, but they say it was impossible
for anyone to have survived the explosion. And with the currents in that
area, and the fact that the craft was completely blown apart, they say it
will be unlikely that they will recover much. They have a team out there
now."

"What the hell is going on here?" It was a rhetorical question, spoken
angrily to relive some of the pent up emotions that he was trying to deal
with He sat back deflated by the outburst. "What can we do?"

"McGath is trying to find out the facts from section seven." Ford rolled
his eyes. "He's got a better chance than we do and he says that he is going
to start an investigation and review of section seven over this. I don't
know what else we can do, at least we don't have to co-operate with section
seven anymore. Even if... at least something good might come out of it if
there's a review." Thinking on the positive side of this wasn't working.

"Do you believe them?- that Lucas is dead?" Ford was pleading to be
reassured that hope was not out of place, looking for someone else to tell
him if he was just hoping in vain, not wanting to accept and so ignoring all
the facts. But Hudson couldn't answer him: he was in the same position.

"I don't know." He sighed, "If we had more information then... Wolenczak
is my officer, one of my crew and I am not going to give up on the
possibility that he is alive without proof, when there is evidence to
suggest that section seven has lied about nearly everything so far." He said
it to convince himself, but there was strength behind it. It was not a
question; it was a statement of intent. "I'm afraid that I'm going to have
to ask you not to talk to anyone about this- none of the crew. McGath is
going to keep it a secret until there are more facts. I'm sorry, I know that
this is hard for you and that having to go through it alone won't make it
any easier."

"It will be better not to tell everyone until we know for sure. I think it
will be easier alone." That way he would not have to pretend to be strong,
to comfort others; he just had to take care of himself and his pain. "If
there's anything we/ I can do..." he offered tentatively.

"We'll do it and I'll let you know."

"Thank you, Sir."

"I think it would be better if you did not return to duty today." Ford
looked about to argue, in principle only. "That way if anything comes up, I
won't be disturbing the rest of the crew if I have to call you." Ford
nodded, content with this excuse; neither of them were taken in by it.

"Yes, Sir," he replied formally. "Thank you, Sir," he said it from the
door as he closed it, not wanting there to be time for a response. Without
his duties to return to, he wasn't sure what to do. For a minute, he
remained standing in the corridor. His immediate pain, the realisation of
loss, was gone, but a dull aching dread and uncertainty had replaced it. He
needed to do something to keep his mind elsewhere. He spent two hours in the
gym after that and then slept. Not thinking was the best way around it: the
best way if he was to be Commander Jonathan Ford, officer, UEO navy, at the
same time. When he found it hard to sleep, he lay in the darkness telling
himself that they didn't know anything for certain, that assuming the worst
was stupid: it was a waste of worry and energy. But it wasn't assuming the
worst, it was assuming what was likely, what had been likely from the moment
that... whatever had gone wrong, had happened. It was an offence to his
military orderliness not to know, not even to have a vague idea. This time
he couldn't look at the facts and arrange them in a line. All there was was
his own imaginings. When he did sleep it was light and uneasy. He dreamed of
being back at Banaba, of running down the corridor being pursued. In his
dream he let the dagger go, opening the vault door and guarding his exit.
But when he reached the corridor it was empty and he was running alone. When
he looked back there was no one behind him, but he could hear people, hear
their heavy footsteps as he ran, beating the metal floor in unison, feeling
it vibrating under his feet as he paused, unsure of where to go when he came
to a junction. He ran to the right and suddenly there was a cool breeze
whistling past him down the corridor and then the corridor ended and he was
looking out over a cliff, watching the first glimpse of the sun over the
horizon, from his elevated position.

And he felt no fear to be standing at the edge of the cliff, feeling it fall
away beneath his toes. It would have been so peaceful, except for the live
wind circling around him one moment, blowing past towards the sea the next,
and then back to the base. He looked around, but the corridor was no longer
there, only another identical vista. He looked down. He was standing with
his toes and heels on the edge of two similar cliffs on a tiny strip of
headland, no more than a hand's width, and still he was not afraid, but
watched as the sun slowly rose higher, washing its first light down the
cliff as it rose, the drifting clouds cast moving shadows on the sea below.
Then the wind dropped and the sun started to set again before it had risen
more than a finger's width above the sea, dying down in a sudden blaze of
scarlet, coating the sea, the cliff, with blood red. The sea went still, not
moving, no currents, no waves, no ripples denting its surface and then it
was slowly gathered up, folded like a square of cloth and flung out in a
thin sheet, rising on the air in jubilant bliss. He looked up watching it
gently gliding, hovering on the air above him and slowly descending; there
was no gap in it but it fell around him, not covering him and was perfect,
with no breaks beneath his feet, rippling still with a breeze he couldn't
feel.

And it was all around. And all around people started moving, circling and
weaving in two circles around him, concentric, but with waved edges so that
one circle passed closer with one person in it and then the second circle
swung closer with the next. It closed slowly until they all started directly
towards him. There was crimson beneath his feet and in the air hanging like
rain, but in drops so small that the whole air seemed red, as if the heavens
had been cut open and were bleeding red gases into the atmosphere. Then they
stopped, no more than a hundred metres away: all ages, male and female, and
suddenly the air was no longer red, but patterned in bronze patches, olive,
cream, flesh pink, all no more than the size of a hand. Then they turned
away, their backs to him and slowly sank down. The crimson  plain beneath
his feet flowing like the sea again, rippling as they went under. And the
sky cleared to dawn again and the sun started to rise. He was back on the
cliff, a two- sided pinnacle, then just one cliff facing out to the sea and
the sun continued to rise. He looked down. On the beach a youth was standing
in the middle of a group of people, his blond hair standing out from the
black and brown heads around him. The group looked up and, seeing him on the
cliff, they beckoned with patterned hands. Not welcoming, but accepting,
like a first meeting of two cultures, both bemused but willing. 

And then the sea rose up over the group on the shore, rose up over the sun
and flowed around his bare feet, cool and revitalising. He bent down and the
water stilled to a translucent mirror and his face was young there in the
water. It was somehow cold and warm at the same time, perfectly clear and it
drew him. He lifted some in his cupped hands tasting its purity, its frozen
crystal quality and then he lay down in it, feeling it reaching his ears,
and he lay listening to its sounds, its tiny currents a caress, comforting,
embracing, sensuous. After that he must have dreamed on, for he continued to
sleep, all he could remember was the warmth of the water, that was somehow
not a feeling, a touch on his skin, but came from inside him.

The com link beeped. "Yes?"

"Sir, there's a message for you from Captain Bridger."

Hudson's hand paused over the papers before him in mid sentence. "Tell him
that I'm asleep and asked not to be disturbed."

"Sir?... Yes, Sir." Tim faltered, surprised at this response.

"If he has any information, he should send it through on a secure link,"
Hudon added. Then he disconnected, ashamed of himself, but not wanting to
hear any questions which would force him to reconsider his actions, which
would force him to take the message, as he knew he should. He was shocked at
himself for the lie, for running away from the situation. But somehow he
knew that he was making the right decision for him, and for once that was
enough. He was not ready for this. He was not capable of it and no matter
how ashamed of the fact, how angry he was with himself, it was true. The com
link beeped again, and he found himself almost panicking, afraid that he
would have to face Bridger after all.

"Captain Bridger said that he had no new information, but asked that you
talk to him when you have time or when you 'get something'." O'Neil was
obviously completely bewildered as to the meaning of the message.

"Thank you," he said. And he could breathe again.

copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 8  =====================================


Sorry I didn't send this, but as you all know the list was down. Hope you're
enjoying it. More to come when you tell me when.

Copyright E.Casale 1997

Chapter 8

He woke slowly, savouring the peace around him, the stillness and the quiet,
the comfort of the bed and the sheets, supreme and unreal. He could feel the
light in the room. He turned slightly, reaching his arm over his head to
feel the delicious freshness of the air. Then he opened his eyes. The room
was a small one, with light brown walls. A large open window was gently
letting the air and the breeze flow through the room. Under the window there
was a table with an open book on it- face down, bending the spine, with a
slip of newspaper to mark another page. But the room did not seem lived in;
it had none of the trinkets or implements of everyday life. He lay studying
the woman in the chair next to the table, slowly realising who she was,
where he was, through the haze of sleep. He brushed his hair off his face,
realising that his arm ached with the simple movement. His hair felt strange
from the salt water that had dried with and small particles of sand still
clinging to the strands. Rachel was sitting staring out of the window, a
slight frown creasing her forehead and her mouth vaguely sad. She sighed and
looked over at him, starting almost when she realised that he was watching
her and then smiling.

"Good afternoon."

He stretched leisurely, wincing slightly at his stiffness and the ache of
his overused muscles and then settled back, not quite ready to get up. "How
long have I been sleeping?" he asked, realising that he didn't even know
what time of day it had been when they had come for him on the beach.

"Half a day." He looked at her in astonishment and then worry. "It's OK,"
she comforted. "You're safe here. Besides, you needed it."

"But the files, I have to take them..." but there was no rush now and
whatever he did next would need careful planning. He would have to be
thinking clearly. "Where's Alexander?"

"He went back to his place to sleep," she saw his confusion. "You're at
the Sheath. We couldn't have got you up to Alex's flat across that bit of
lawn, even in that neighbourhood," she added jokingly.

Lucas sat up slowly and then leaned back, resting his head against the wall,
realising that he wouldn't get much further for the time being. He looked
around him and then took a long drink from the glass beside the bed on the
edge of the table. His throat was sore from the salt water he had swallowed
as he had swum. Rachel got up and went to the door. "I'll get you something
fresh. Coffee?" He nodded gratefully. "Hungry?"

"No, but I think I'd better have something." She smiled.

"We've got an Italian baker next door. He should have some fresh rolls
about now."

"Sounds wonderful," he smiled in return. "Rachel," he called as she was
shutting the door. "Are you sure that this is not... I'm not putting you in
any danger? I mean, I know..."

"We're all safe here. No one knows and no one will come here. Don't
worry. You need to take it easy for a bit," she reassured him.

"Thanks- really." He stressed it smiling his gratitude, his eyes telling
her all that he wanted to say. For the moment she didn't reply, but left
quietly. Lucas stared out of the window, trying to get his thoughts clear,
remembering what had happened. Suddenly he panicked, momentarily sucking in
breath. The action made him cough and gasp, each breath increasing the
pain, until he forced himself to breathe slowly and carefully. When he could
open his eyes again he saw the bag sitting on the floor by the table and
relaxed, tired again by the small stress. His chest still ached and he
wondered how much water he had swallowed the night before. He could remember
going to the base, the security checks, finding the lab, waiting for the
files to download, hurrying through the corridors, the boat and the start of
the swim to shore. He didn't remember how he had gotten from there back to
New Cape Quest, though. The last thing he remembered was a rope and the
rocks rushing up as the current flung him forward. And he knew that there
was something else: a message, something he had to do, someone telling him
something important. He sighed frustrated, wincing as he was reminded to be
careful of his breathing. How had he gotten here? He remembered Alexander
and Rachel leading him across the beach, but how had they known where he
was?

There was a knock at the door and a young man poked his head around the
door. He looked at Lucas shyly and uncertainly, then came into the room a
bit. "I heard that you were up," he said. "I'm David." He held out his
hand, grasping Lucas' firmly but not too tightly. "Can I..?" He made a
motion to a chair.

"Of course. Do you know how I got here?" Lucas asked still confused.

"Alexander followed the signal from your computer. He triangulated and we
drove over." Lucas frowned not remembering sending any signal, but then he
didn't even remember reaching the shore or the drive back to the city. David
shuffled nervously and then said abruptly, "I was not sure if I should
trust you. I do not trust UEO. But I am grateful for what you have done. I
am grateful to know that not all UEO are bad. It's very hard thinking that
there is no hope because you have no power and the people who do, don't
care..." He broke off as Rachel came in with a tray, She frowned darkly at
him hearing his last words.

"Not now, David! He needs to rest," she fussed.

"I'm fine really. It's all fine. I'm just grateful to you for everything."
Lucas tried to explain that he didn't mind. She set the tray down next to
him. "Thanks." David had left embarrassed. "Really, he wasn't bothering me
or anything. I need to know how he and you feel about all this."

"But not right this minute," she said good humouredly. "I guess it's a
male thing: everything right now."

Lucas drank deeply from the coffee mug. The door opened slightly and
Alexander came in smiling. "I'm glad to see you're finally awake. Don't
apologise," he laughed, seeing that Lucas  was about to. "You needed it,
you deserved it. Now eat that up and then we'll see where we are."

Lucas ate slowly and laboriously. "How did you get the signal from my
computer?"

"You sent me a blank message with the line open," Alex replied confused by
the question.

"I don't remember," Lucas explained.

"I'm not surprised. You were completely exhausted when we got there."

"I had to swim. I was trying to get away in this boat, but they, section
seven, had a much more powerful craft. They shot some sort of missile at me.
They were very close with it so I jumped, but I was a long way from the
shore-at least five miles, and I'm not a very strong swimmer." He started to
recount the events in a rushed, haphazard manner. "I don't remember getting
to the shore, but there was a rope, after a few miles. It cordoned off the
section seven water, with a screen anchored to the bottom from it, so I
didn't have to swim all the way. I couldn't have. Then..." he struggled with
the blankness in his mind. "There was someone there, or at least I thought
so, and they told me something that I needed to remember. Damn!" He winced
again. Shouting was out. Alexander noticed this and picked up his wrist,
checking his pulse. "I'm all right," he insisted. "I just can't seem to
remember..."

Alexander frowned. "Your pulse is still a little slow. How do you feel when
you breathe?"

"Fine... I just can't shout," he lied.

"I'm pretty sure you had hypothermia when we found you, and that wouldn't
have been the worst stage. I can't tell how much water you breathed in. I'm
not a doctor."

"I'm fine, just a bit tired still." Alexander looked at him trying to
decide if he was telling the truth. "Really," he insisted, laughing.

"Up to some questions?" Alexander was bursting to know what he had found out.

Lucas nodded and smiled. "I got the evidence- just." He shook his head. "I
can't figure out what went wrong. I got in fine, but this woman found me,
when I was downloading the files. She called down the main security people
and said that my orders were fine, then... there must have been something
about the way I wrote the order- the permission  for me to check their
computers, because all of a sudden she was shouting for security. Luckily
the files had finished downloading, so I just left. The security guards on
the door to the sea bay were so confused with all the machines going down,
they just let me through. I gave them a virus," he explained, laughing at
the memory of the guards' bewilderment.

"Have you looked through the evidence?"

Lucas stiffened and grew serious. "No. I guess... we have to," his face
growing even more gaunt at the memory of what he had seen at Banaba.
"Rachel... I don't know if you want to... I mean..."

She came and sat beside him on the bed. "I want to. Whatever I see, it
can't be worse than I have imagined." Lucas looked unsure, flashing a
glance at her. "I'm sure," she repeated firmly.

Lucas sighed and the three bent around the computer as Lucas opened the
first file. They watched several files of the actual experiments and read
through the reports on them. After that they silently and grimly read the
other files on the admin and the missions to 'recruit' GELFs for the
experiments. There was a report on Bridger's mission to Banaba, saying that
it had been successful, but that all the crystals had been destroyed. Many
of the documents were signed by General Neal, although some of the most
secret and 'sensitive'ones, like the missions to kidnap GELFs, were signed
code name Ares. None of the files gave any further information about him.
There was no ID for his code name and the people with whom he had been in
direct contact numbered three: Lawrence, Andrews and Reggs, who turned out
to be the commander of the second base. They sat in communal horror, close
together, but not touching; the atmosphere electric, but with terror and
pain rather than recriminations, anger or blame. Lucas looked up at Rachel
and tentatively touched her arm. "I am so sorry."

She looked back at him and smiled, through quiet tears. "You have nothing
to be sorry for. What you've done will change this- will stop it. You don't
need to ask for our forgiveness. Just accept our thanks."

He sighed. He was too tired for all this, to cope with it all, and as they
sat looking at each other, Rachel moved closer to him and hugged him gently,
crying silently, without sobs, grieving for her people and the cruelty to
them that was so staggeringly horrible, so impersonal. Rachel looked across
at Alexander over Lucas' head, but he was staring away, not facing them. He
got up after a few minutes and the other two broke apart, Lucas looking to
Rachel for her to react; it was her choice. "Alex, I need to thank you,
too." He turned to her, amazed, his cheeks lightly streaked, his eyes old.

"I can't ask for your forgiveness. It is not possible to forgive this."

"You weren't a part of this."

"I was a part of its past- what made this possible."

Rachel thought watching him for a moment, but a moment only. "You were
involved, but even then, when you knew the... the extremes, you did
something."

"Not enough. If I had done something more then- revealed what was
happening..."

"Back then the UEO knew, not all, but a lot. They wouldn't have done
anything. What matters is that you are not the same person now- you are
doing it this time- you are doing everything possible. What you have
contributed has been vital." She looked at Lucas and he nodded.

"I would never have known what to look for or where to look. I needed
someone to talk to- I couldn't have got off that beach by myself. Section
seven would have found me and they would have the evidence now," he
confirmed.

"We owe you our thanks- my people do- for what you are doing now. And I
never thanked you before for the other things: all the help, the advice, the
support you have given us. And you have done that for more than ten years.
You have been there for us with anything that you could do, any amount of
time. You have given us the last ten years of your life. Whatever you did
then, you cannot change. But now you are doing this and it is a lifeline for
us. You have to accept what has happened. And now I want you to accept our
thanks, because they are given freely and with pleasure. If you deny them,
you are denying us and what we have, all of us, been fighting for, and what
we have achieved so far." She held out her hand, no longer crying, but
smiling and looking to the future. "Please."

He bent gallantly and kissed her cheek. "May I thank you, too?" he asked
shyly.

"Yes. And you're welcome."

Lucas had been listening to this last exchange through faint haze and now
he sighed softly, cutting the sigh short, when he realised that he had
forgotten to be careful. Then he settled back and slept again.

Rachel looked down at him. "We should have waited."

"Probably," Alexander sighed. "He'll sleep again now, and that's the best
thing. Now we are on the last step. To get that over will be a relief. From
now on it is not easier, but it is different. This is when we have
everything we need and now we can start to use it and change things. You go
and get some rest, I'll stay here for a while." He looked at Lucas sleeping,
pale and drawn, not just from watching the files from section seven. He
frowned, pulling the covers over Lucas as he slept.


When he woke again it was eight hours later and Alexander was just leaning
over to check his pulse again. He looked relieved, as Lucas frowned sleepily
at him. This time it was not the same pleasant waking, but rather he felt
short tempered and uncomfortably hot and hazy. He grunted at Alexander,
annoyed at being woken and rolled over away from him. "Go 'way," he said
childishly, not caring: he was too tired. Alexander refused to let him roll
over again, checking his pulse with his watch. Lucas sighed loudly and then
regretted it. He struggled to sit up and reached for the water, spilling it
with uncertain fingers. Alexander held the glass steady for him, letting him
drink. Then he lay back again, staring at the ceiling. "I want to sleep,"
he said dully, without the whine in his tone. Alexander nodded, watching as
he closed his eyes gladly and relaxed again. Rachel opened the door, but
stopped there when Alexander motioned for her to stay there. Then he joined
her outside, shutting the door against the noise of their talking.

"What's wrong?" she asked worried.

"Probably nothing. Just the shock wearing off and his body temperature
returning to normal. I just don't know enough to be sure. I'm an old worry.
It's just with everything else, it's easy to get carried away."

"I'll sit with him now. You need some sleep too," Rachel coaxed.

"I think I'll just doze in the chair. I won't be able to relax otherwise. I
know I'm getting over the top about this, obsessing a bit, but I have good
reason for it. Besides, I want the company, even if he is asleep."

"OK. Just ask if you want anything." She smiled reassuringly at him,
deciding not to argue, and carried on with her usual activities. Alexander
went back into the room and stood by the open window enjoying the breeze,
trying to picture all his stress being blown away. It was a good theory, but
it didn't work, though the breeze did help clear his head and its caress was
comforting.


The aide knocked at her door nervously. "Come in," she snapped, fed up of
his cowering fear of her. "Yes?"

"There's a message from Captain Reggs at Westlake Point. He says that it's
urgent."

"Put it through. And then get me a glass of orange juice- fresh."

"Yes, Sir." He got out, almost bolting for the door in release, like a
trapped rat, she thought and flicked on the vidlink.

"What is it, Reggs?" she asked with all her usual charm.

"We've found the vehicle that Wolenczak arrived in." Andrews smiled
eagerly. "We're running a trace on it now. We'll probably find that it's
been stolen, but at least we'll have an idea of what areas of the city he
was in."

"Good. Call me the minute you have the results. Andrews out." She sat
gloating again, replaying her picture of the boat explosion. That was such
a neat end for a traitor. It was less that she liked the violence of it,
though that certainly had appeal. It was the fact that it was a bad soldier
getting his just deserts. And it tidied up the mess that he had made, her
humiliation for being an officer on the base that had been broken into. But,
then again, Westlake Point had also met with the same fate. And she hadn't
been commanding. She had even warned Lawrence- simpering, useless coward
that he was or rather, had been. It was under her command that Wolenczak was
executed and the files destroyed. She had lived up to the man she had been
serving for years, as underdog to keep his interests alive. Ares had chosen
her, had honoured her with the knowledge of his identity, that few, she
knew. It was a thrill to know the power that the man had, without anyone
realising it. And he organised with such precision. There were no mistakes
in his operations. They were so thorough. She was not letting him down, but
proving his faith justified. His praise over her quick resolution of the
situation had been worth more to her than anything. He was the man that she
admired most and she would serve him with the devotion he deserved.


Ford was back on duty, still waiting. He knew that the longer they heard
nothing, the less likely it was that it would be good news when it came.
After another five hours, Hudson got a message from McGath that the recovery
team had found nothing more than a few small pieces of the boat. There was
no body and no files. McGath ordered an examination of the parts recovered,
but they told little, only confirming that the boat had exploded violently,
concurrent with a rocket missile. Shortly after this the APB was cancelled.
Somehow this seemed a confirmation of Lucas' death, but it was still not
certain. It could just mean that they knew where he was and Ford pondered
darkly that that would probably be worse.

"Commander Ford!" He looked up at Brody.

"Huh?" He woke up from his reverie.

"Are you OK?"

"Um. Just thinking about something." Brody looked at him unsure. "What is
it lieutenant?" he asked irritably.

"We've finished collecting the data on the Florida drift." He waited for
Ford's orders, but he seemed lost in thought again. "Sir?"

"That's fine. I'll... go and tell the Captain."

"Yes, Sir." It was more of a question than a statement. "Jonathan, is
everything all right?"

Ford looked back at him, only partially covering his pain. "Stand by for
orders." He left the bridge walking slowly and heavily.

Henderson and Piccolo looked over at Brody. "What's going on?" Henderson
asked, curious and a bit worried.

"I have no idea. He looked like someone had just died. Something personal,
I guess."

"Do you think I should..." Loni looked after Ford, wanting to follow and
comfort him, if he needed her. If it was something personal, she should know
about it.

"No. Not now," Brody replied, laughing a bit, "I don't think he'd
appreciate it. Later, when he's off duty," he recommended.

She nodded, knowing it would not be smart to ruffle Jonathan's military
feathers. Sometimes it was very trying, that aspect of him.

"You don't think that there's something... they're not telling us." Brody
and Henderson looked at Tony confused. "Captain Hudson and Commander Ford
have both been really... Do you think that they know something about Lucas?"
He got out finally, with difficulty, not wanting to have to say it out loud;
it somehow made it real to do that. Brody and Henderson both looked scared
by the idea.

"They wouldn't not tell us." Brody didn't sound convinced.

"They still haven't told us what's going on. Unless you believe that Lucas
did those things," she reminded him.

Brody cast her a look of derision. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but
we're probably getting worked up for no reason here. Being worked up about
the stuff we do know is bad enough. All we know is that Lucas is in a lot of
trouble and no one has a clue why. If you want to add to that, that's your
problem." He paused, " I'm sorry, I'm just worried. We all are. I'm fed up
of not having any answers, of not even knowing the questions- like Miguel
and Wendy."

"It's not like that," Tony said violently.

"Yeah, maybe, but we don't know, right?"

"Just calm down," Henderson hissed at them, looking round the bridge at the
other people who were now looking up from their stations. "It'll be fine.
We just have to wait a bit." She wished she could believe it.

Their shifts ended at the same time and they made their way to the mess
together. Ford was sitting in a quiet corner, staring at the wall rather
than his meal, which he had pushed aside half eaten. They converged eagerly
and pointedly.

"What's going on commander?" Tony demanded.

Ford looked at them bad temperedly. "What do you mean?"

"Why are you walking about like... Something's happened and we think we've
got a right to know."

"It's personal," he lied determindly.

"Then why is Captain Hudson bothered by it too?" Tony pointed out, just as
stubborn.

"I don't have time for this." Ford pushed back his chair and got up
angrily. Henderson hurried to catch up with him.

"Jonathan!" she called, but he didn't wait. "Jonathan!" She pulled him up
short. "What is it?"

"I can't... I can't talk about it right now." She wasn't satisfied with
this. "I really can't."

"You mean it's classified."

"Hudson asked me not to say anything, yes," he was starting to snap again
and he sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just..." He couldn't face a fight right now.

"I want to help. I don't want you to have to go through, whatever it is,
alone," she pleaded. He looked at her, wanting desperately to tell her, but
knowing that her pain would only add to his. He wanted her to hold him, to
comfort him, like a child. He was too tired and too worried to feel ashamed
of these needs which he usually forbade himself. "Is it about Lucas?" He
looked up, his face pinched. "Jonathan, what is it? What's happened?" She
sounded scared now, shaking him slightly, but he pulled away.
"Jonathan!" He uncurled her fingers from his arm, when she tried to make
him turn to her, and walked off, without another word. Loni looked back at
the mess and then at his retreating figure and leaned back against the wall
to get control of her breathing. Brody looked out of the door and hurried up
to her, when he saw her alone in the corridor.

"What happened," he asked, concerned when he saw her nearly crying.

"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me." She straightened up, rubbing at her
left eye. "It was just the way..."

"What?" he prompted.

She looked at him for a moment and then down the corridor where Ford had
gone. What she feared from his reaction was not fact. It was probably just
a mirror of her own worries that she was seeing.
"Nothing. He wouldn't tell me," she replied and led him back to the mess.

"What's happening? Are they doing anything?" Tony looked at Loni.

"Jonathan wouldn't tell me what's going on, but..." she broke off thinking
about his reaction. She shook herself. Don't let your imagination take over,
she told herself. "He said that he and Hudson are doing everything that
they can, but there's not really anything that they can do, until they have
more information or until someone finds him."

"I just hope that the someone isn't a section seven someone. Whatever is
going on, we know they're lying." Brody looked around. "Unless any of you
seriously think that Lucas would do any of the things that they are saying.
Why are they doing this? What could they possibly be afraid of? I just can't
see what else it could be," he ended frustrated.

"We should have heard something by now. Don't you think that Hudson would
have said something about it? He hasn't even mentioned it. I hate not
knowing. I'm sure that Ford and Hudson know more than they're telling us
and I don't think that's good. Whatever the reason they want him, I don't
like his chances with section seven and I'm not going to sit here and
pretend like it's OK. It's not OK and we need to do something," Tony was
starting to yell again.

"You tell us what to do and we'll think about it," Brody spat at him.

"Enough!" Loni interrupted. "We have been doing this every meal for two
days and it's not helping. I don't know that we can help. The only thing we
can do is wait, try to stay calm and help each other while we do," she said
earnestly. Brody and Tony glared at each other and then carried on with
their meal.

Tony knew that they were worried: that it didn't help to get angry and
fight. He wanted to talk to someone, but Lucas wasn't there. It felt strange
having the room to himself, silent without the hum of the computer, the
sound of the keyboard tapping. He stamped about their quarters for a while
and then went for a very fast swim pulling hard through the water, feeling
it flow by, quickly parting, the pull of it and the feel, almost of another
person's touch as he cut it. He wasn't good at coping without problems in a
non-aggressive way. Being completely passive was hell. He just didn't know
how to sit and wait. It was like a betrayal not to do something but, like
Brody had said, there was nothing that he could do. He wished Wendy were
there: he could talk to her and then he regretted the wish. It made him
think and he didn't want to have to think about losing someone else. Since
he'd been gone for ten years relationships with his family had been
disconnected. He still hadn't pushed himself to get in touch with his
parents. He had spoken to his nieces and nephews, but it wasn't the same. He
had been gone for too long and they had had to move on with their lives. He
couldn't blame them, but they no longer needed him and it hurt. The only
people who were the same were those who were on the boat, who had come back.
They at least knew what it felt like. And he was close to Lucas. They'd
shared a room for two tours now and you got used to people being there.
Enough things had changed and he needed some things constant for the sense
of comfort and security that this gave him.

It didn't help that he felt guilty. He had known that there was something
serious going on. He knew that his friend had needed help. He hadn't helped
because he hadn't been allowed to, but he could have told someone, should
have told someone. Maybe he should have pushed more. Maybe... It was a
difficult word because he wouldn't know. He just had to wait and hope
because now it was out of his control.


Throughout the following day the tension rose: Hudson scowling more darkly
at any mistake, snapping his orders impatiently. He hated waiting. McGath
had no new information for him and it was looking like he wouldn't get it,
that the whole thing would be neatly buried, that he would have to tell his
crew that another one of them had died. He hadn't replied to Bridger's
message and, if he had his way, he wouldn't, not unless a miracle occurred.
If not, he would eventually have to make the call, he knew. He couldn't pass
it on to someone else, and he dreaded the possibility, the probability, even
more than having to tell his crew. But not without some answers. He was
furious with himself and very confused. The military he believed in, devoted
his life to and followed, nearly always without question, was showing itself
unacceptably corrupt. If what they said was true, he could accept it, but it
wasn't, that much was clear. It was the fact that they could brush a death
away, a person, without ever revealing the facts to him or even to the
leader of their organisation. That was another very frightening part: the
disintegration of the chain of command. He was terrified by what that would
mean, knowing that without answers he could no longer continue to function
as he did before, serve as he did. He would have to look into his whole
perception of the UEO, what he was fighting for and what things meant to
him: what was important in his life. He didn't want to. He knew that what he
would find would mean that he would have to change all his views. He didn't
like change and he didn't want to look too closely at his life and what his
actions meant, especially within the confines of the new UEO that he was
starting to see. Change was difficult and he would have to do real emotional
work; work which he had not had to do, because he had avoided it for years.
He didn't even know the rules anymore. He wondered if he could even remember
the basics of the language. But all he could do for the present time was
wait, and Oliver Hudson was not a patient waiter.



"Captain Andrews, I have the results of the investigation on the car. It
wasn't listed as stolen. Wolenczak does not have a car- at least no papers
for one. It appears to have been 'wiped clean', as it were. The fingerprints
are from Wolenczak and another person whom we can't identify. But we did
find something- a system that the police implemented for a trial period,
without notifying people. Cars were tagged with a system that would only
show up under an infra red scanner. This car was tagged, probably without
the owner knowing it. We're working on the data now. It appears that the
owner at the time of the tagging, sold the car, quite legally, to another
person whom we are still trying to trace. We should have the results very
soon."

"Good. Call me as soon as you do- and Captain, don't tell anyone about
this. We might need to arrange something that we wouldn't like to... be
pre-empted."

Reggs smiled unpleasantly. "Yes, Captain. How are you enjoying your
promotion?"

"I just wish I'd been in charge from the beginning, I could have prevented
this whole mess."

"Well, it has had an appropriate conclusion. Rather like Lawrence's, I
hear. I envy you the... 'execution' of that duty." He approved of her
actions, they had the same 'code'.

"I see your humour hasn't improved. But yes, it was satisfying. Your men
handled the Wolenczak situation well, too. It's good to know that it isn't
our people who are at fault, only one bad officer. Get back to me on that
report. I have to finish up the reports on our dear departed commander." She
cut the link, too busy to chat even about her promotion and Lawrence's
fault. She had to sort out the legacy of disorganisation.

Looking around the room and starting to wake fully, he knew that he had to
get up and finish what he had started, but he longed to just continue to lie
quietly in the warmth. His head ached with fatigue still, as did his
muscles. He got up slowly and unsteadily, putting on his UEO uniform, which
was hanging over a chair. His movements seemed heavy and awkward. When he
had finished, he went barefoot into the corridor, trying to figure out which
way to go. From one end there were sounds from a kitchen and he made his way
there. When he entered the room, the four GELF men looked up with surprise
and some hostility. They seemed disconcerted. They were not used to
accepting UEO officers as friends and had never allowed a monotone, apart
from Alexander, into the building, out of choice.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was looking for Rachel. Is there
somewhere... could I possibly get myself a coffee?" he asked politely,
trying not to be disruptive.

One of the men bestirred himself to get up and pour him a cup from the
machine. It was obviously freshly made and Lucas took it gratefully.
"Thanks."

"Is there.. anything else we can get you?" They were fighting hard against
their instinctive reactions to him.

"I'm..."

"Lucas, you're awake! What are you doing up?" Rachel came over to him,
fussing.

"It's about time I got up. We've got things to do."

"I think you should go back to bed. You still look very tired."

"I'm all right. Besides I can't stay in bed forever," he said practically.

"John, can you get us something to eat and bring it to the other room?
Thanks," she said, speaking to one of the young men, all of who were still
staring at Lucas. She frowned at John and he blushed, turning to prepare
something. "OK," she agreed when she had turned back to Lucas. "But at
least let's sit somewhere private to discuss things," she said.

Alexander was coming out of the room, looking worried, as they approached.
"I was wondering where you'd got to," he said relieved. "How are you
feeling?"

"OK, a bit tired, but I'm fine. I just want to get this finished."
Alexander nodded.

"Well, we have everything that we need..."

"Except for one thing." Alexander looked at him confused. "Code name Ares.
He's the one who's really in charge of all this. If we're going to stop it,
we've also got to stop him. In the conversation I taped, the one between
Lawrence and Ares, I couldn't see him because of the angle of the vidscreen.
But what was said then showed that he was the one in charge, but Neal
doesn't realise. That bears out what we know so far: that only a few people
know who he really is. One of them is Lawrence." He sighed. "I guess we'll
just have to go through it all again," he said reaching out to the files,
reluctantly. "Without him, it won't mean anything to expose this." They sat
in silence, reading through all the reports, but they gained no new insight.

"Who is this person?" Rachel dropped another file on the 'done' pile
frustrated and fed up.

"He must be very important within the UEO, not just in secret, otherwise he
could never do this without them knowing. He must be at least at Neal's
level." They sat digesting the fact. "The only way that I can see to
identify him is if I can match the voice print that I got from his
conversation with Lawrence."

"So at least two of the joint chiefs are involved. How do we know that the
UEO doesn't know about all this?" Rachel asked.

"I don't think they do. Ares would not need to be so secret otherwise and
Neal would know," Lucas pointed out.

"Have you decided what you are going to do with the evidence yet?"
Alexander asked the question, curious to know how far Lucas had thought
about it.

"I'm going to take it to the UEO, to McGath. I don't think he's involved
and I think that he will do something about it but... if something goes
wrong I want you to send it to seaQuest. I have friends there who will make
sure that this isn't buried. We need to make two copies. I want to go to the
UEO first, to give them a chance to do the right thing. If the UEO doesn't
act within twenty four hours I want you to take it to the media." Rachel and
Alexander looked at him in surprise. "We have to make sure that everyone
knows this time," he explained. "Only a few high up UEO people knew about
Banaba and so it happened again. Unless everyone knows, unless the UEO has
to take drastic action to show that it will never let anything remotely like
it happen again, we can't be sure that it won't." He rubbed his cheek. "I
just wish I didn't have to; I feel like I'm betraying them, the UEO. But I
would be betraying a lot more if I didn't." He looked at Alexander for
confirmation that he was right and his friend nodded gravely, but gladly.

"I shouldn't be surprised any more, but you continue to amaze me. I know
that this will be very hard for you. Knowing something is right doesn't make
it easier, when it is a conflict like this. But you are doing the right
thing," he reassured him.

"I know... The next problem is how to get to McGath. What we really need is
to get to the joint chiefs all together. That way no one can give an order
and have the base cleared up before they can get further evidence," he said
remembering something. "There's a meeting of the joint chief soon, a few
days or something. When I was asleep, Wendy told me that I had to go there."

"Who's Wendy?" Alexander asked completely confused.

"A friend." Lucas looked sad for a moment. "How did...?" He trailed off.
Then he got up, turned on his computer and started to hack his way into the
UEO files. He did this regularly and had several backdoors to short cut some
of the more lengthy procedures. It still took some time, but eventually he
brought up the page he needed. "Tomorrow... There's a meeting of the joint
chiefs tomorrow. We've got about nineteen hours before it starts. How did
she...? I was dreaming," he mumbled, then shook his head. "I must have
known about it somehow. My dreams are often ways of figuring stuff out:
realising solutions to programs or something. But I don't..." He put it away
from him; he could figure out what he believed about that another time.
"That will be perfect. I can find Ares when I'm there using the voice print
match. He must be one of them. But I have to get in first."

"Do you know what the security checks are?"

"The ones into the building, yes. But there will be a lot of extra ones to
get near the room where they'll hold the meeting."

"Let's go through the first ones."

"Well, I've got my UEO ID with me. That will probably get me into the
building. After that I don't know."

"It won't even get you that far probably." Rachel spoke and the other two
looked at her in surprise. "I don't know anything about the UEO security
checks, but section seven thinks you're dead, right? They destroyed the
boat. They've probably told the rest of the UEO and there was an APB out
on you." She broke off. "I'm sorry..." she started to apologise.

"No, I'm glad you pointed it out." Lucas sat shocked by the thought,
wondering what his friends were thinking, wondering who would care and how
much. "If section seven told them. They could well have done; in which case
I'll be stopped at the front door, as it were. Damn it!"

"Is there any other way in?"

"Not without an ID. I could probably write myself one, like I did for the
section seven base, but I don't have the virus to cover me. They'll notice
if I start to alter those files. I can't get around that part of it."

"What if you hid in somehting to get in?"

"There is no way to get into the building, like in a transport or
something. Their sensors would show my heat signature. The only way is if I
got someone to take me through security. It would have to be someone
important, who could bypass the usual rules, like Lawrence did when he took
me off the base." He didn't want to have to ask that of anyone. They would
have to be UEO and if something went wrong it could destroy their career and
put them in a lot of danger. He had already accepted that his 'career' would
be over, when he did this. Besides he wasn't sure who he could ask who was
that important. I'm sorry but it's a lot to ask someone and if I do they
have to know what they are doing. I'm sorry, but I can't just use someone,
especially a friend, even for this." He looked to Rachel for her to
understand.

"It's all right. I wouldn't have expected or wanted it different. I value
your integrity. That's why you're here. I wouldn't want you to go against
it. That's not who you are."

"Thanks for understanding," he smiled at her, gratefully.

"Probably the best thing to do would be not to plan and take it as it
comes- that worked fine for getting out of section seven HQ and Westlake
Point. If the worst comes to the worst, I can call Hudson and get him to get
me a talk with McGath." He didn't relish the thought of this. "Actually, if
they think I'm dead and I suddenly turn up, he will probably ask to see me
anyway- especially if they had an APB out on me."

"I'd better start copying this stuff. I'll need some disks for the tapes
and the files on the computer. Is there somewhere you can copy the paper
files without being seen?"

"I can do it at my place," Alexander offered.

"Good. We'll do that last. We need to sort out how we're going to get the
files to the media, if it comes to that. I'll have the link for seaQuest
ready. Is that all right?" They nodded and got to work copying the files. It
took three hours to finish and another two before they had everything
planned out. Lucas was finding it hard to concentrate, his head still ached
and he was very tired. His mind wouldn't work properly and all the facts
were slightly blurred. As he read the screen part of the sentences would
start to fade, so that he couldn't see properly what they said. But they
were just about to finish by then, so he carried on, trying to ignore it.

"We've got another fourteen hours before the meeting starts, but I want to
start off before then. I'll give myself an hour to get there and into the
room. Is there anything else we need to do?" he checked, not wanting to have
missed something.

"Nothing," Alexander concurred. "I just have to go and copy those files."

Lucas nodded, "I'm sorry. I have to sleep again, otherwise I won't be any
use at all. Will you wake me at seven? That will give me three hours before
I have to leave, in case there's something we've missed." Rachel nodded. He
coughed painfully and lay down again, trying to get his breath back.

"I'll go and do the copies of the files, in that case. I'll see you some
time in the morning." Alexander and Rachel left him to sleep. He sighed and
stretched out on the bed, desperately needing to rest now. The numbness
faded quickly into sleep with little to mark the transition.


Though he had been sleeping most of the time since Rachel and Alexander had
brought him back from the beach, Rachel still had to wake him ten hours
later. "Lucas," she called patiently, several times before he looked up at
her. "It's seven."

"Um." He rubbed his eyes, feeling confused.

"Here," she said handing him a fresh cup of coffee. "Better?" She asked
when he had drunk some.

"Yeah." He felt cold, except for his head, like having slept through a
storm when it does not break fully so the humidity just stays the same. It
would take him a while to wake up properly. He still ached, but mainly it
was his head and the slightly confused feeling that he still had.
"Everything still OK?"

"Fine. Alexander isn't back yet. He should be here within the hour. Are you
all right? You look kinda strange."

"I think I'm just nervous," he grinned.

"'Nervous'? I'm terrified!" She joked about it, but it was true.

He didn't seem to feel it any more. He just knew that he had to get this
over with. It felt like an unpleasant chore and nothing else. He was too
tired for fear. "I guess I'm just too stupid to be afraid." He'd said that
before, only this time the danger was from people, his people.



The vidscreen suddenly flicked into life. "Andrews!" It was Reggs and her
annoyance at not being warned before the call opened was put aside when she
saw the excitement in his face. The aide started in, trying to explain and
apologise, but she waved him away.

"What is it?"

"I've found the car- the owner. The person listed is meant to have died in
2009, but we have a current address. We were also able to match the prints
to Dr. Alexander from the science staff at Banaba Island! He is meant to
have died in 2009, as well. Apparently he took over this other person's
identity. I have a team on their way now. I have ordered them to eliminate
Alexander, after checking if he has the files or copies. They are very
thorough and will.. tidy up when they are finished. There won't need to be
any explanation here. The man is already dead. His location is in New Cape
Quest, so it seems likely that that is where Wolenczak went. The area is
such that he wouldn't have been noticed."

"Keep me informed. I want this finished and all loose ends tidied up."


copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 9  =====================================


Ok, I'm sending this early as there was a long break over the week end. Hope
you like it, etc., the usual. More? When? Do people keep it and read it when
it's all through or is it backing up in people's mail unread, or what?

Anyway....
copyright E.Casale 1997


Chapter 9

Alexander was cooking again, glad of the space of his own kitchen, unused to
so much company. He had copied the files and they were waiting neatly ready
on the table. He just wished that he could do more. The next part would just
be sitting and waiting. He wanted to be part of the action at the end, to
help ease this last part, but it was impossible. There was nothing he could
do to help Lucas at the meeting. He could not even go with him there without
causing disaster. But he felt pangs of guilt all the same for sending him
there, alone, again. He sighed, worried. He might still have to do something
if anything went wrong. He could send off the files and fight, but it would
be much harder that way and there would probably be nothing he could do to
help Lucas at that point. Everything has gone so well so far, he told
himself. There is not useful point in this worry. It is not logical and can
only make problems rather than solutions. He looked up suddenly hearing
shouting below.

"What the hell are you ba*****s doing driving on our lawn?!" a disembodied
voice yelled.

Alexander crossed to the window smiling, always amazed at the territorialism
of his neighbours and their possessiveness towards the tiny stretch of brown
and patchy grass. The scene came into view, knocking the breath out of him.

"Get out of here. Section seven, military business!" The officer, just
getting out of the vehicle, ordered.

The other man backed away. "Hey, sorry. No problem," he said appeasingly,
then ran. Another section seven soldier got out of the vehicle and they
picked up their weapons and made for the door. Alexander didn't wait to hear
the crash as they broke through it, but ran to the table and picked up the
files. He grabbed some tape and leaning out of the window, after he had
checked that the section seven men were no longer outside, he taped them
against the wall, below the ledge so that they couldn't be seen. Then he
turned back into the room and typed frantically on his computer. He doubted
that Rachel or Lucas would come, but they might, worried when he didn't
return with the files and he was not going to let section seven get them. He
was not afraid. There was too much to do before section seven arrived for
that. He was old and had long ago accepted death as something inevitable. He
had just hoped that it could be in a worthy cause: that it would be more
than just dying in his sleep one day and not being discovered, which would
probably be the case, as few people ever came to visit him. He would not
mind dying alone, but he wanted to die with peace and self forgiveness. If
his life was needed he would gladly give it, because then he would have
perfect peace of mind for the end and it would achieve something. He didn't
even think of escape. There was no point. He pressed the send key and the
message went. Then he took the computer and threw it out of the window in
case there was anything on it that could give them away.

He turned back to the door. He did not have long now, he knew, and once they
arrived he wouldn't fight them. He had no weapon and it would be pointless.
He thought about Lucas and Rachel, praying to a God that he no longer
believed in, that they would be successful, sorry that he would not be able
to see this through to the end. He stood waiting for them to come, suddenly
afraid: just a reaction more physical than anything. He knew that he was
going to die now, and he was afraid, wanting to cling to life as though he
was losing something infinitely precious. But he knew that part of his fear
was that they would kill him slowly and painfully, that he would tell them
where Lucas and Rachel were and about the files. He sighed, going slowly
over to the cupboard and swallowing a small item from a bottle there,
feeling the coolness of the water as he had never done before. Then he sat
again in his chair by the window. He had chosen now, there was no room for
doubt, for hope for uncertainty. He tried to focus on how this was good. He
was making up for things, it would achieve something, his life had been
worthwhile, but he could only feel irrational animal fear and then they
broke through the door.

The two men started, seeing just the old man, then quickly did a sweep of
the flat, one keeping a gun on his at all times, as if he would try to run
or somehow be dangerous. The officer approached him with a preditory look. "
Where are the files? Where is the person who took them?" Alexander looked at
the two men, silent, unblinking. "Where are they?" The officer raised his
gun at him and then moved in fast, checking his pulse. "Damn it!"


Lucas had changed and was typing in the link to seaQuest, in case anything
went wrong, arranging it so that it would not be traced back to Rachel's
computer, when suddenly the computer beeped,
"Incoming message." It was from Alexander.

"Section seven here. Files taped outside window, below shelf. DO NOT COME
until they are gone. This is my choice! Respect me enough to accept it and
stay away."

"Rachel!" he shouted and she came running. When she came in, he was already
picking up his bag, which had been waiting, ready. "Alex is in trouble. If
there's nothing on the news by 11 a.m. tomorrow, send the files to seaQuest
and the media. It's enough without the paper files," he said running out of
the room.

"Lucas wait!" she called, following him.

"There isn't time. I need to go alone. I need you to stay and be my back up
here. I /we can't fight section seven. The only way we'll be able to help
Alex will be by stealth and one is less noticeable than two."

"At least let David drive you," she asked, giving in. He nodded: it would
save time. Rachel ran off down the corridor and returned less than a minute
later with David, who left to get the car. Lucas was about to follow him out
of the door, when Rachel pulled him up short. "Thank you for everything,
Lucas," and she kissed him, in friendship and gratitude. "Good Luck."

He couldn't find a reply and he had no time to think of one, so he just
squeezed her hand and left. David was waiting with the car outside. They
pulled away before he had even shut the door.
"Drop me off at the street before the apartments and then go back," he
ordered. David didn't argue, trusting Lucas' judgement, concentrating on
driving.

"Good Luck," he said as Lucas closed the door.

"Thanks." The car pulled away, but he was already walking towards the grass
that fronted the tower block. There was a section seven vehicle pulled up on
it and the door had been broken down. Lucas looked around and then ran
across the grass and into the building. The lift took forever, but climbing
the stairs would have taken longer. He also didn't think he could have done
it. He was finding that even the slightest exertion made it hard to breathe.
Not now, he thought. I don't have time for this. The lifts doors opened and
he looked out into the corridor. There was no one there. It had taken him
only 15 minutes to get there once he had read Alex's message. 15 minutes was
still too long, he knew. He took a deep breath and continued down the
corridor. The door to Alexander's flat was ajar, the wall beside it singed.
There was no one in the corridors: no faces even peeking out, not in this
neighbourhood, but then the section seven people were being very quiet. It
was only as he stood looking through the door to get a picture of the room
and the people in it that he could hear them searching the flat.

"Nothing in here, Sir," one voice called.

"Try the bathroom."

"Yes, Sir." There were no other voices, just two people. One came into his
view through the door, obviously the ranking officer. He stood surveying the
room. Lucas raised his arm quickly and shot him with the weapon that he had
taken from the section seven officer at their HQ, on stun, and then moved
into the room. The younger soldier hadn't heard because the sounds of the
search continued as he crossed the room. "Sir?" He called, then again.
"Sir?" He would have put down his weapon to search and Lucas moved closer,
quickly, not wanting to give him time to pick it up again. The soldier must
have seen him or a movement through the slit between the hinges and the door
frame for he suddenly slammed the door open onto Lucas and came around it,
but his weapon was large and Lucas managed to grab it swinging him against
the wall, then reaching for his weapon, which had dropped onto the floor
when he had put out his hands to stop the door from hitting him as the
second soldier had swung it open on him. They locked together, just as Lucas
grasped the weapon and, twisting it shot it, pressing it against the man as
he did so. The section seven soldier fell back sharp, on to the floor and
Lucas let himself drop on to his knees, gasping and fighting for breath,
hoping that the stun would last because he was helpless and couldn't have
done anything. It was fully five minutes before he could stand and his
breathing was less pained, but his chest was still very tight as he went
slowly across the room. Alexander was sitting in his chair by the window,
his eyes open, no pulse. There was no blood.

Lucas leaned back against the wall, sliding down it, allowing himself a few
silent tears as he waited for the section seven men to wake. In a daze he
fetched some rope from the kitchen and tied their hands and legs. He was too
numb to be able to feel grief for Alexander, only shock. He was too tired
and had too much to do before he could rest. Everything else, including
grief, would have to wait.


Rachel had been pacing for three hours in the kitchen, people stepping back
from their work to stay out of her way, silent. They knew better than to
annoy her when she was in a mood like this. David had arrived back and she
had immediately snapped at him, "What happened? Where's Alex? Where's
Lucas?"

"I don't know," he told her calmly. "I dropped him off a few streets back,
to be safe."

"Safe! We- I should never have let him go. And this is the third time! How
much luck does one person have? And it was luck. This has been too easy all
along. We should all be dead by now. It's beyond improbable and way into
impossible. How could I be so irresponsible!" she ended despairingly.

"It isn't your responsibility or your choice. Lucas decided that he would
be the one to go and he had the right to chose that. Thinking that he and
his choices are your responsibility is an insult to him and what he has
achieved."

"Where are the keys?" she demanded, standing over him as he sat impassively
on a stool.

"In my pocket, but you're not going and neither am I. We simply have to
wait now," he said firmly.

"How can we do that! Don't you feel guilty just sitting there? Don't you
want to help him? After all that he's done for us, we can't just not go!"
she shouted, pleading with him to agree.

"We cannot, will not and should not go. If we go now, and get caught, who
is going to take the evidence to the press, if he isn't able to? Do you
really think he would want us going over there and wrecking his chances for
getting this revealed? We can't go because it would be against everything he
has done for us. What could we do, anyway? We have to stay here and keep the
fact that we have the papers and who we are secret in case. There's too much
at stake for us to risk the backup. We could have gone instead, but we can't
now that he has. It's as simple as that. And like I said, he's done it all
so far and so he has the right to choose to go. Really I don't see what he
can do except get himself killed, but with a backup he can try, because the
mission will get finished," he persevered, against his longing to give in to
her and his own guilt about not helping.

Rachel looked at him and sat down, suddenly, crying. "I'm so tired, and I'm
scared. I hate being scared. I don't get scared!" she said, leaning into him
as he came and put his arms around her.

"You wouldn't be nearly so nice if you didn't," he said gallantly and she
laughed and sighed.

"I'm sorry, it's just that..."

"Hey, this is hard for all of us, remember. Getting our freedom and our
rights, stopping torture, murder and kidnapping is no cup of tea. Hopefully
after this we won't have to do it again. We just have to get through the
next few days. We have got the evidence and it will get known. Whatever
happens, we've already won the first battle."

She brushed back her hair and smiled at him. "Why do you always have to be
so sensible and right and sweet at the same time?"

He shrugged: "All part of being perfect, I guess," and that made her laugh.
"Know what? I'm terrified too and if I didn't have to be here restraining
you, I'd be out of that door before you could blink. But it just wouldn't be
right."

She rubbed his hand comfortingly and nodded her head against his arm.
"Right doesn't make this any easier."

"No, it doesn't." David pulled up a second stool and they sat together in
silence for a while and then started to prepare the next meal, glad to be
busy. After ten hours they put the TV on and waited. The whole place was
filled with tension and everyone spoke in whispers, unless they were trying
to lighten the mood by joking and then the false and forced laughter rang
out hollow and jarring, echoing off the smooth surfaces. Once David started
to fidget and got up quickly heading for the door, reaching into his pocket.
Rachel barred his way, knowing instinctively what he was planning.

"We all wait," she said. "It won't be long now. Come and help me with the
carrots." He nodded and followed glumly to the mundane task. That day the
onions were very fine in the sauces and the hamburgers particularly flat,
and they waited.



After about ten minutes the senior officer started to wake up. He shook his
head and looked groggily at Lucas, an expression of surprise and then
disgust on his face. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded. Lucas wasn't sure
what to answer, so he just sat waiting for the man to become less
aggressive. "You have no idea what trouble you are in. When my CO told me
about this mission, he said that it was his old commander who ordered it,
that I would be helping one of the most powerful men in the UEO. Whoever
you are, you're dead."

"I've been told that before, by another section seven officer. You seem to
make a job of underestimating me and overestimating yourselves. Only the
most arrogant set of idiots would not be prepared for someone to challenge
them here. You can't just expect to murder with impunity," he paused for
breath, finding it still short.

"An idealist. Terrific! And a child. I didn't know that any confederation
recruited so young. What's your training?"

"Science."

"I mean military," he said patronisingly. "Combat? Intelligence?"

"None." The officer gaped at him and grew furious, his pride deeply dented.
"This is your own fault for not covering your back. You weren't even
looking for someone. You had your hand weapons over on the table. All I had
to do was get close and your guns were too large to fire in time." Lucas
sighed and glanced over at the other soldier, still unconscious. Being shot
at such close range would have him out for a while longer. But he couldn't
leave the officer in the flat: it was too much of a risk. He would have to
take him with him. Slowly he started to see a new and more promising plan
for getting into UEO HQ. It was risky, but if it worked, it would be the
best thing he had come up with so far. There was something he had to know
first. "How did you kill him?"

The officer looked up confused and then realisation dawned. "I didn't. He
was dead when we got here."

The fury that he had somehow managed to bury in the urgency of the moment
started to break loose again. "I asked you how you killed him!" he shouted,
sititng back, coughing painfully.

"And I told you that he was dead when I got here. For all know he probably
had a heart attack. Look, that's the truth. I would have killed him, but I
didn't get the chance."

Lucas sat back and studied the man in front of him for a few minutes. The
man stared back, defiantly, and Lucas found himself beleiving him. Maybe
more for the fact that if he hadn't he didn't know what he would have done.
He felt no guilt about using this man, even if he hadn't killed Alex because
he would have, but he needed to make him trust him to make this work. He
also needed some way to stop himself from simply shooting him in rage and
pain. That was another thing that he couldn't live with.

"Who are you?" repeated the officer.

"I'm UEO. I'm doing some... covert work. You kind of got in my way." He got
up and squatted beside the officer, getting out a knife. The officer looked
at it, blinked, then looked back at him with bravado. Lucas cut the ropes on
his feet and then his hands, stepping back as he did so, out of range and
raising his weapon. He walked to the window and opened it, reaching below
the shelf, while watching the section seven officer carefully. He pulled the
package loose and tucked it into the bag at his feet.
"We're going to leave now. If you try anything at all, I will shoot you
again, and then let your people eat you alive for being captured by a non-
combat junior officer. If you co-operate with me, I could just be able to
save your career, your reputation and possibly your life. Section seven
isn't going to be too pleased with you over this. Now move." He followed
behind the man, standing apart from him in the lift, watchful when they came
to doorways. "I want you to drive to UEO HQ." The officer got slowly into
his vehicle, thoughtful, and they pulled away.

"Why UEO HQ?" he asked perplexed.

"I told you, I'm UEO. I've got a message for McGath and I need your help to
get it to him." The officer looked over at him uncertain whether to believe
him or not. "You can help me or not, but if you don't, section seven will
probably have you court-martialled and jailed for life, if they don't just
decide to shoot you. If you help me you could avoid that and continue to
serve. It's up to you." The officer kept glancing at him. He knew section
seven and he knew the penalty for a failure of this kind, but he didn't know
whether or not to trust Lucas. He still didn't know if what he was saying
was true; he didn't even know who Lucas was.

"Why did you attack us?" he asked, trying to see if Lucas' story made
sense, before he made up his mind to trust him.

"I thought you were... the enemy. I didn't know if I could trust you. I
know that there's some corruption to be dealt with in section seven. I
wasn't sure how much you were involved," Lucas answered carefully.

"What's your mission?"

"To get evidence of the corruption in your section." The officer sat
digesting that. It added up and he wanted to believe it, that was the most
important thing.

"I told you, I'm UEO. That's all you need to know." Lucas repeated firmly.
He breathed deeply, finding it increasingly painful.

The officer nodded. He was used to not being given all the facts, after all,
he was section seven. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to get me into UEO HQ. I can't explain fully except that the
corrupt officers are trying to keep me away. If I can get to McGath,
everything will be fine."

"How can I know if you're telling the truth; if you'll help me after I help
you?"

"You'll just have to judge that for yourself."

The officer considered and then nodded. "OK. How do we do this?"

"I pretend to be your prisoner. You say that you've finally arrested me and
that McGath will want to see me immediately about the security leaks and
treason accusations."

"They will know who you are?" the officer checked, practically.

"They will know my name- Wolenczak." If the man accepted this he would be
safe and could be trusted, for the time being. The officer nodded again.
"If they don't believe you or they aren't sure, tell them to call through to
McGath, to interrupt the Joint Chiefs' meeting, that he won't mind. Say that
if they don't, they will have to answer to McGath." Lucas just hoped that
McGath would tell them to let him pass, if it came to that. "If they don't
accept it, then we'll just have to do the best we can, but I have to get to
McGath. The files you were sent to get: they are vital to UEO security." He
looked at his watch. The meeting was due to start in fifteen minutes.

"Your name is familiar," the officer said, still uneasy.

"Maybe. I've been involved with section seven before." They were just
pulling up to the gates now. The officer rolled down his window and handed
over his ID. They were waved through and directed to a parking bay. Lucas
sighed ready, now. "Here," he said, passing the officer's weapon back to
him and hiding his own in his bag. It was a risk but it would clinch the
officer's doubts. The man looked at him trustingly now. Lucas handed him the
bag. "You'll have to carry this for me, I'm afraid. OK. Let's go." Lucas
walked slightly in front as they crossed to the front entrance and the
officer handed over his ID. The guard looked at it and then at Lucas and
stared; the officer didn't notice the stare.

"I have been instructed to arrest this man," he explained and the guard
nodded, letting them past. Inside, Lucas gave directions in an undertone.
They were cleared through the second check without further problems. Then
they turned into the corridor that connected to the meeting room. It should
be starting just now, Lucas thought. The team of guards stopped them this
time, firmly, the ranking one ignoring the officer's proffered pass.

"Sorry, Sir. No one can go through for a few hours."

"I need to see the Joint Chiefs." The guard looked surprised that he knew
about the meeting. It was highly classified. "I need to take the prisoner
to Secretary McGath. He's charged with treason."

"I'm sorry, Sir. We were not notified of this."

"He's only just been arrested. Look, if you don't let us through, there's
going to be hell, and then some, to pay. Ask McGath if you have to, but he
will want to see him." The guard looked over at the others, who shrugged.
Interrupting the meeting for no reason would be a serious blow to his
career, but the officer wouldn't have suggested the call unless he was
telling the truth. He could only stand to lose by it, unless he was on the
level.

"Who is the prisoner?" The officer stood back and the guard looked at Lucas

"Ensign Wolenczak?" The guard was amazed, having been assigned to
organising the search for him, before it had been cancelled and he had
reported to do security duty for the meeting. The officer looked up at the
rank and then at Lucas, but he was staring ahead at the shut door to the
meeting. "You can go through," he told the officer. "What's in the bag?"

"The files that were stolen. McGath will want them returned to him
personally." The guard let them pass and they walked to the end of the
corridor and opened the doors. The joint chiefs looked up at them.

"Wolenczak!" McGath sat staring at him with his mouth open, just like a
fish, Lucas thought inappropriately. The other people murmured, confused,
and looked to McGath.

"Mr Secretary, what is gong on? Who is this?"

Lucas turned to the section seven officer. "Thanks, but I think you'd
better leave." The man nodded and shut the door behind him quietly, as Lucas
turned back to the assembly, getting out his weapon. "I'm very sorry to
interrupt your meeting but I have some file that I want you to look at. I
would appreciate it if no one tried to reach for security buttons or tried
to contact anyone outside this room until we are finished."

"You're threatening us?"

"If I have to. General Neal, I would appreciate it if you, in particular,
could sit back from the table and keep your hands in plain sight on it," he
ordered calmly.

"McGath, who is this child? Are we going to sit here and do nothing while
he holds us hostage? Who are you working for?" he asked, turning to Lucas.

"The UEO," he replied simply. The whole situation had become a surreal
farce.

The murmurs and exclamations in the room rose. "Then what are you doing
interrupting a meeting of the Joint Chiefs? How the hell did you get in
here?" Neal demanded.

"The officer, who just left, brought me through. The guards at the door
knew that there were people looking for me; that several of you wanted
me in relation to very serious offences."

"You're the officer from seaQuest, the one who kidnapped my officer from
section seven and forced him to hand over confidential files!" Neal gasped,
suddenly realising.

"What I want to know is what the hell is going on here?" One of the Joint
Chiefs, a middle aged woman with greying hair, made herself heard over the
general noise. The room went silent, waiting.

McGath looked up at Lucas. "That's what I want to find out. Are the charges
true?"

"Yes," Lucas answered bluntly and honestly. A murmur and several
exclamations ran around the room.

"You admit this freely," Neal was perplexed, "Do you understand the
gravity of these crimes?"

"Yes, but I don't believe that what I did was wrong, in the circumstances."

"You don't believe that being a traitor is wrong? Breaching security,
giving information to the Macronesians."

"The Macronesians?" It must be a section seven lie to cover what he was
really doing. "I didn't give anything to the Macronesians. I'm not a
traitor to the UEO."

"You don't call what you've done treason?"

"No."

"Mr Secretary, this is absurd..." Neal began, blustering in his panic.

"Then what were you doing?" McGath cut into the objections and the hostile
atmosphere.

"Getting evidence to prove corruption in the UEO. Section seven has been
committing crimes against humanity and violating nearly all the UEO's human
rights laws and conventions." He walked over to the vidscreen display and
inserted a disk. "I needed proof, because I will not let what happened be
buried, this time."

"This time?"

"The UEO let the same crimes take place in 2009. Eventually, when a full
discovery was made, they were ended, but never revealed. Banaba Island was
forgotten and buried." He open his bag and took out his computer, placing it
on the table and activating the voice print search.

"Banaba..." McGath mused softly, frowning as he recalled what had happened
there.

"The illegal experiment and torture of GELFs in a section seven project
headed by Dr Emile Veraczek. Those experiments aren't over, though; they've
been continuing at a secret section seven base, about a hundred miles south
of here." Don't think about Alex.

Murmurs of "What?" and about lies filled the room.

"General Neal?" McGath looked over at him in horror, showing more emotion
than Lucas had ever seen him display.

"This is nonsense..." Neal started to dissemble.

"I don't think so," McGath interrupted, cutting through his exuces.
"You're meant to be dead, Wolenczak." McGath turned back to Lucas, as did the
shocked faces of the other people in the room. "Captain Andrews at section
seven HQ said that you were killed escaping from a base by boat. Section
seven HQ does not have a direct port on the surface. I just didn't think of
that at the time. But, it didn't make sense that you'd return to the same
base." He was thinking it through as he spoke, starting to find the pieces
fitting to form a logical pattern.

"Isn't Lawrence Captain at section seven HQ and Andrews is his lieutenant?"
Lucas asked, confused.

"Andrews was promoted after Lawrence committed suicide."

Lucas stared aghast."So that's why..." they knew I wasn't meant to be
there, at Westlake. I signed Lawrence's name on the order, he finished in
his mind. Aloud he said, "He told me that they would kill him." He felt a
stab of guilt at his involvement, knowing that it was because of his actions
that Lawrence had been killed. But he knew that really he hadn't had a
choice. It was about more than his life or that of a section seven officer.
If he had died or been captured, then the experiments would never have been
exposed. It wasn't hard to see which side of the scales was more heavily
loaded. Even though Lawrence had been involved, he hadn't deserved to die,
unless you believed in the death penalty. And it had been clear that
Lawrence was only following orders to stay safe, that he hadn't liked what
he was party to.

McGath looked over at Neal, enraged. "Unless I'm much mistaken, the UEO
doesn't discipline or reprimand its people by execution."

"I know nothing about this. Andrews sent me a full report. This whole
situation is preposterous..." Neal denied self-righteously.

"You're saying that there's no second base?" Neal looked round, puffing
himself up to bluff and then deflating. He couldn't possibly hope to keep
the base hidden now. They could clear it out, but not demolish the buildings.

"There is a another base," he admitted reluctantly.

"Without our knowledge? Just when were you thinking of telling the rest of
us?" one of the other chiefs demanded, furiously.

"Our work there is very... it's highly classified. We thought it would be
easier for security..."

"Easier for you to be able to do whatever you wanted. What you have done is
completely illegal. It violates nearly all our laws of government," the
female chief put in. Neal reached for the intercom button.

"Please don't do that, Sir." Neal looked up at him and continued. Lucas,
raised his weapon. "Sir!"

Neal looked over at McGath, pausing. "You're allowing this!"

"Put the weapon down, Ensign," McGath ordered him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let him warn the base, give them time to clear it
away and execute everyone there. No one is leaving this room, until I have
promises that this is going to stop!"

"My men outside..."

"The guards are section seven?" Lucas asked, panicking. He hadn't thought
of that.

"Yes, I had thought that they were my best, but they'll do to deal with
you," Neal sneered.

"No, they won't," McGath interrupted. "How could you do something so
completely..."

"They were already part of section seven activities when I took over, I
never really had to do anything except sign a few papers." Neal's excuses
were only making the others angrier. "When I get out of here, you are going
to pay for this!" he shouted at Lucas.

"I don't have enough men I can trust here to stop him." McGath looked up at
Lucas. "I really don't know who I can trust on this," he admitted,
defeatedly.

Lucas nodded and typed a few lines on his computer. "Message sent." There
was a pause and a return message. He shut down his link. McGath looked up at
him, questioningly, "Captain Hudson and a team from seaQuest will deal with
what we need here. You won't be able to trust most of your staff when it
comes to arresting..." Lucas started to explain when Neal cut in.

"Arresting?" Neal gasped.

"You may be a Joint Chief of staff, but you broke all the laws of the UEO,
failed your obligations, your duty and committed terrible crimes against
humanity. You are subject to those laws like everyone else. You are going to
be arrested, court martialled and then you are going to spend the rest of
your life in prison!" McGath ended vehemently. Neal sat back, stunned and
pale. Hudson turned back to Lucas.
"When will Hudson get here?"

"Three hours, ETA. By that time I need a reply as to what you are going to
do. I need you to tell the guards to let Hudson and the others in when they
arrive."

McGath flipped on the intercom, "Lieutenant Mitchell? This is secretary
McGath. Captain Hudson from SeaQuest and some of his crew will be reporting
here, arriving in about three hours. I want you to let them through, no
questions asked. Understood?" He waited for an assent before closing the
link. " You said you have evidence."

Lucas nodded. "Expense sheets, plans for the base, staff lists, rotation
lists from section seven HQ, mission orders for the executions of the Banaba
staff, and details of the experiments themselves. I think you should see
those first, see what we're really dealing with." He attached his computer
to the main vidscreen and let the tape of one of the experiments play over.
He turned away and tried not to listen, watching the reactions in the room.
The experiment was to find a way to make soldiers immune to nuclear
warfare. The man being tested was almost unrecognisable as human after the
burns, the medical data horrific with injuries and cancer. "Subject
deceased following tests. Data will be examined before proceeding," was the
note that flashed up at the end. The expressions of disbelief and confusion
faded to nauseated shock, then horror and terror. The file ended and the
room was silent. All stared, transfixed, at the screen. Lucas waited for
them to have time to think: for it to sink in further and their outrage to
deepen. At last he interrupted the silence. "I have other tapes and reports
on the experiments. I can give you an exact location for the new base, if
you need more proof." He laid the files out on the table and the Joint
Chiefs slowly looked through the information, frowning, growing grimmer and
more angry as the time went by. Lucas sat back and stared at the box on the
side of his computer screen. There was still no voice print match, but then,
only three of the staff had spoken singly. When everyone was speaking
together there was no way to tell if there was a match. He sighed. He needed
to know in order to be able to get all the facts on the table. Neal sat back
staring into space, unbelieving of his future. But whoever he was, Ares was
keeping cool. He knew that only his men knew who he was.

"Who is code name Ares?" The female general looked up at him with sharp
dark eyes, perfectly in tune with his thoughts.

"I don't know." Lucas had to admit. "But he's the one who is really
running this."

"But this is section seven and Neal is in charge..." she told him, confused.

"Thought he was in charge," Lucas corrected.

"Of course I was in charge." In his pride he was just damning himself
further. "Are you saying that I couldn't even control my own bases!"

"Neal didn't know about Ares," Lucas addressed the room. "Only a few
people did: Lawrence, Andrews and Reggs, the Captain from the other base."

"How could Neal not know?"

"His officers simply told him what they were doing. He just signed the
orders they prepared. Ares was the one who was giving them the orders. Do
you really think that someone intelligent enough to hide this base from you,
to keep its very existence secret from you, would sign his own name straight
on to orders for things that were so corrupt and illegal?" The assembly sat
back thinking for a while. Lucas went over to McGath and spoke in a whisper
to him. "I don't know who it is yet, but he's here." McGath remained
impassive.

"We need to know and we need proof. An educated guess won't do," he
whispered back, keeping his face neutral.

"I can tell you and prove it, but I need everyone in here to speak at some
point by themselves. I've got a voice print for him, I just have to match
it."

McGath nodded very slightly. "If you don't get him in an hour, I'll see
what I can do."

"How did you get all this?" Jenter, the female chief asked, interrupting
their quiet discussion.

"I took the paper files off Captain Lawrence. Some of the other stuff I got
off the section seven HQ computers. The data from the experiments I got from
the new base, Westlake Point."

"But how did you get in to these bases, unless the security as well as the
principles involved were equally lax?" She was watching him shrewdly, but
not unpleasantly.

"Well, Section seven invited me to their HQ. I sent them a virus. Sooner or
later I knew they would ask for me." He didn't mention Microft, not wanting
to involve him more than necessary. "For Westlake I wrote myself an ID in
the section seven computer system to get in and sent a message through their
channels, that I was there to check their computers after the problems at
HQ. Unfortunately I signed it with Lawrence's name. By the time they
realised I had managed to download the files I needed."

"You realise, all those activities are highly illegal," she asked gravely,
but her eyes were amused.

"Yes. But what I was doing was more important. I'll accept whatever you
decide about the way I got the evidence."

She nodded approvingly at him. "You're currently assigned to SeaQuest?"

"Yes, as science officer/ computer analyst." He said it slowly, talking was
becoming difficult and it felt like there was a heavy weight on his chest
pressing down on him.

"And your military training?" Lucas looked confused and she rephrased the
question. "You have no combat/intelligence training?" He shook his head.
"Well, Neal," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm, "You seem to have been
running a very poor security network. I can well believe that there is
someone else involved. How we never knew about this before, with security
like that, is beyond belief."

"Not really. Section seven just thinks that no one will challenge them and,
if they do, they just get killed," Lucas explained.

"But you're still alive," she pointed out.

"They tried."

"How did you survive the explosion?" McGath asked. "Or were they lying
when they said that they blew up the boat you were using to escape?"

"They did destroy the boat, but I'd already jumped. I swung the boat around
first, so that they didn't see me. There was a marker buoy nearby, so I hid
behind that, until they left and then I swam."

"The boat was destroyed 6 miles out," Neal stated blankly.

"It was a long swim. Luckily the tide was going in." He pushed away the
memory of it.

"So what are we going to do about this?" Jenter asked, as abrupt as ever.
"I take it that part of the reason you're still holding the gun is to demand
something."

"First, we want the base cleared and the experiments stopped. Then we want
new legislation on human rights and new rights for the GELF nation, rights
that are actually enforced, not just on paper." He closed his eyes
momentarily. Now for the hard part. " And full disclosure of the
experiments."

"Impossible," one general said. "It would destroy us!"

"Not if you show that you didn't know about it if you show that you will
never let it happen again, by arresting those involved, regardless of their
rank, and changing the laws and rules that let this happen."

"Of course we will stop these atrocities, but we can't disclose this," the
general objected.

"It will be better if you make a full statement of it. If you disclose it."

"Or you will?" Jenter picked up.

"My friends have copies of all the evidence. If there is not a full
statement, and action taken, within twenty four hours from the start of
this meeting, they will send it to the press. I came here to give you the
chance to do it first. That's the only way you can save any belief in the
UEO."

"Do you want to destroy the UEO?" the general asked angrily, feeling
himself backed into a corner.

"No, but I won't let this happen again. When Banaba was discovered, you
buried it. You changed a few laws, but it happened again. I will not let
that be a possibility. The only way we can be sure that this is the end is
if everyone knows."

"You are an officer in the UEO navy. You can do this, but you cannot say
that you aren't betraying the UEO by it."

"The UEO isn't the people at the top. Leaders come and go. They change with
time. It's the principles that the UEO was built on and that I swore to
uphold when I became part of it. Those principals are based on a democracy.
What has been happening here is the furthest you can get into dictatorship.
The people voted for what the UEO stood for. We are fighting a war at the
moment and one of the UEO's main reasons, at least the one they've given us,
is that they cannot agree with Macronesian laws on and abuse of human
rights. How can you expect us to fight a war against something we are doing
ourselves? I will fight to stop violations of human rights, but I won't do
it while my own government needs to be fought first. Stopping this is not
betraying the UEO. It might be betraying the corrupt organisation that it
has become, betraying its corrupt leaders and refusing to follow orders from
these people, but it is being true to what the UEO really is." He found he
was out of breath after so much talking and leaned forward on the table for
support. And he saw the computer screen. " Voice print Match- 99%"


copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 10  =====================================


Ask, and you shall......

copyright E.Casale 1997

Chapter 10

Lucas stared for a while at the man who was Ares: the man who had hidden a
base from the government it belonged to, a man who permitted and even
ordered the torture of and experimentation on a nation without rights,
whose people could kill with impunity. There was nothing about him to
suggest any of this. He looked like a thousand other military men, slightly
more so, having been on active duty in special ops of some sort. He was
medium build, medium height, with thinning but not balding hair, of a light
brown, mousy tone. His eyes were grey, cold and unemotional. How he could
sit there so calmly was what was incredible. Obviously his usual arrogance
had won out. He did not believe that he had left the slightest room for
error: for discovery.

"Do you feel any guilt about what you did?" Lucas asked, genuinely curious,
somehow not finding the question odd.

Ares/Joint Chief General, M. Howard looked up at him, confused and then he
realised. His face suddenly went totally blank, but only for a millisecond,
and then the powerful mind behind it set to work. "The UEO had no knowledge
of any of this." He said stuffily and pedantically and started to gloat;
somewhere in those grey eyes Lucas could see it, or maybe he just felt it.
He was pleased that Lucas knew. There was no proof, or it would be on the
table, so he was safe. A mere accusation would do absolutely no harm,
especially when Lucas' actions had been illegal, albeit for a good cause,
but still illegal.

Lucas felt a wave of hatred for this man and then nothing. He was too tired
and he just wanted this to be over. He had the last piece now; all he had to
do was put it on the table and wait for the answer. "I taped your
conversation with Lawrence," he stated it, with no triumph. "I have a 99%
voice match for it. That and the content of the conversation is enough." The
other chiefs were watching the two of them now, knowing instinctively that
there was a battle going on in the room. Lucas reached over and turned on
the tape and a dead man's voice came over the speakers to accuse his killer
from beyond the grave.

"Of course not, Sir. I have kept Neal up to date on all the main points. He
hasn't questioned the arrangements... your orders. He still believes himself
in command of the project. He knows nothing about your... overseeing it."

"No one is to know about my involvement, that Neal is not the commander of
this operation."

"Yes Sir. Understood."

"Good. Continue with the rotation. I will expect a full report on the
arrival at the base of the new troops. I expect you to take good care of the
debriefings and to inform me if there are any... problems that will need to
be eliminated for security."

Lucas stopped the tape and watched the revelation pass over the faces of the
Joint Chiefs: their astonishment, thinking it through and realising that it
was logical, perfectly logical, and that they should have seen it coming. "
I would appreciate it if you could place your hands on the table, like
General Neal, Sir."

Ares complied without blinking, not in the least upset or perturbed. The
council sat about the table, each talking to those next to them or just
silent, deep in thought.

Lucas suddenly felt himself go limp. It was over, nearly. They just had to
give him a reply. He forced himself to stand straight and, finding this
hard, leaned against the wall, still watching Neal and Ares. He found that
it was hard to keep focused on them, that his eyes wandered. He kept feeling
strange shivers run through him, almost cramps; his stomach muscles seizing
suddenly and then relaxing. He wanted to sleep more than anything. He leant
his head back against the wall and then stood up properly again. He knew
that he would fall asleep if he allowed himself to relax or get comfortable
now. The room seemed cold: he felt cold, except for his head. He could not
seem to shake the fog in his mind and he seemed to be in a sort of hot,
sleepy daze. He looked down at his watch. Hudson would be here soon.

It made sense really. Ares was in charge of the military budget and
promotions. They should have seen the danger there; it was obvious. He could
get whoever he wanted into power and once they were there he could give his
people all that they needed. So long as it was secret, he could do what he
wanted. And he had. Lucas realised then, for the first time, how hard it was
going to be to do something about all this. Ares controlled huge sections of
the government and a lot of people would support him. Arresting him and
keeping him in prison would be nearly impossible. They certainly wouldn't
have found anyone in the building to arrest him. Calling SeaQuest was the
only way they could have achieved that. There was going to have to be huge
changes in the UEO and a massive upheaval would follow their disclosure of
the facts. And that was just for the UEO. He didn't want to think what this
meant for him personally. Besides, he was too tired to think and certainly
too tired to get depressed.

"You have to get rid of section seven." As he said it the room swung around
to him. "They have too much power. You need to split the functions, the
legal ones, that section seven covered over other areas. It's too dangerous
to have something like section seven where the rules don't apply; where they
are the ones dealing with all the covert things, where they have all the
secrets and can hide them. It's not just about the experiments that section
seven is corrupt in. They kill people: murder or execution, it's still
illegal. And that's only the crimes indicated in the evidence relating to
the experiments."

"This much I am in full agreement on," Jenter put her position forcefully
and several other people nodded.

"We will have to think about how the budget is managed and who controls it.
We need a new system for promotions." McGath wearily started to plan
everything that would have to be changed: all the legwork, the meetings,
this would involve. "We're going to have a hell of a lot of work to do over
this." He looked around at the others and then at Lucas.

"Are you going to do it, though? Everything?" he asked.

McGath looked around the table. "Give us a while to discuss the
implications."

Lucas nodded. "Not more than an hour. When Hudson arrives we will have to
get," he motioned to Ares and Neal, "them out of here quickly. If you want
to get to the news first, you have to be on air in less than 22hours."

"That doesn't give us much time," Jenter argued.

"That was all I could afford, to be sure that it got out. I can't change it
now," he told her.

She nodded. "Then let's think this through, people."



"Captain, there's a message coming through from New Cape Quest, UEO
headquarters."

"On screen."

"It's written, Sir," O'Neil explained.

"Then what does it say Lieutenant?" Hudson asked impatient and patronising.

"'Situation in progress in meeting of Joints Chiefs. Send security
detachment immediately. This situation is not to be disclosed. You will be
allowed to proceed to the room on arrival. What is your ETA?' That's it,
Sir." O'Neil turned around to watch his reaction.

Hudson was still scowling at the main screen. "Sir?" Ford came up beside
him. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, Mr Ford. Mr O'Neil get me UEO HQ, ask if there is a meeting
of the Joint Chiefs."

O'Neil worked his station for a while, talking into his headset, finally
turning. "Yes, Sir. From 11 this morning."

"Ask if there were any security problems."

O'Neil talked into the headset again. "No, Sir... wait... A section seven
officer delivered a prisoner to the meeting just after eleven." He paused.
"They think it's Lucas."

Ford and Hudson suddenly sighed in relief, smiling. Thank god, he thought.
"Our ETA, Mr.Brody?"

"Three hours, Sir."

"Tell them, Mr O'Neil. Helm, plot course to New Cape Quest. It'll take too
long to dock the whole boat. We'll go ahead in a launch, while you dock.
Mr. Brody, ready a security team," Hudson ordered almost cheerfully.

"Yes, Sir."

Ford turned to Hudson. "I want to go."

"So you shall commander. I think we can leave Henderson in charge here."
Ford looked at him, surprised. "I'm not going to miss all the fun." Hudson
said and left Ford completely bemused. Hudson? That was Hudson talking? Ford
watched him as he left the bridge purposefully. He hadn't realised how much
he had been worried about Lucas. He hadn't thought that he would really
care, that he really cared about anyone.

"Commander, what's going on?" Loni was sitting on the edge of her seat,
bursting to know.

"You have the con lieutenant," he replied distantly, already heading off
the bridge.

"But I..." He had already left by that point. "I am so fed up of that,"
she pouted, sulking and angry.
"Something is going on. Hudson and Jonathan have been walking around for
the last few days like, I don't know. They haven't even talked to us about
Lucas. And now this. I just don't understand what's going on and I hate
being kept in the dark like this."

Tim ignored the 'Jonathan' slip and carried on. "I know what you mean, but
none of us know anything more. If it's classified they can't tell us anyway.
It's not like it's their fault. They don't have a choice."

"How come you're always so reasonable!" She smiled at him. "I'm sorry. I
was just worried. At least we know that he's all right, I guess." She looked
anxious again.

"Well, Hudson and Ford will be there soon. I'm sure that they'll be able to
sort out whatever it was that happened." He wasn't sure that he believed
that it would be that simple. He just wished it were. He had been doing a
lot of praying and it finally seemed to have had an effect, maybe. But Lucas
would still be in a lot of trouble. He was certain that it was just section
seven lies, but it would not be easy to go against them. to get Lucas out of
whatever trouble he was in. If it was so bad that they had to put out an
APB... Don't do this, he told himself. Just wait a bit more. Once Hudson
gets there... He was surprised by the thought, that he trusted him so much.
He might be military and anal compulsive, but he would take care of his
crew. He would make sure that no one, especially section seven, disregarded
their rights. Tim looked over at Loni again. She seemed to be thinking,
frowning at the air. He wondered just how much was about her relationship
with Ford and how much she was actually worried about not knowing.

Loni was trying to get that straight in her mind, getting more frustrated.
It wasn't just that she didn't know. She was used to classified projects
coming up and she had never been so angry about it before. Partly it was
her worry for Lucas, but a lot, she knew, was because she felt, maybe
unreasonably, that Jonathan didn't trust her. Rationally she knew that he
was just doing his job and that it was important for their relationship not
to lead to things like telling her classified information, as she wished he
would now. They had to be able to stay professional. But it still hurt and
she was still angry. So long as she kept that to herself, as her problem.
She sighed and tried to concentrate on her job.


Ford looked across at Hudson as they sat in the transport. He was still
scowling, but not with the same depth of pain that had been behind his worry
before. He knew that he would do everything he could to stop section seven
and to protect his crew. They had both been so tense over the past day or
days. He couldn't remember how long it had been since they had been told of
the explosion, avoiding people where they could, sitting silently in their
private hours and then forcing themselves into action, to take their minds
off what they had feared. There was a feeling of understanding between them
and sympathy. They had been the only ones who had heard, but more than that,
they were both men who did not want to admit what they had felt over this,
the depth of the pain. 

They had both feared what would happen if he was dead, how they would have
had to re-evaluate what they stood for, where their duty and their loyalty
lay, what it was they were serving and if they should be. If he had died
the blow to their belief systems would have been mortal. It would have rocked
the foundations of what they lived and fought for; what they believed in and
lived by. They were both afraid to find out what would be left of themselves
if they couldn't believe in the Government they served. And they had both
been doing a lot of thinking, no matter how much they had tried to avoid it.
It had been lucky that their hopes had proved right, letting them off the
hook. They were both very glad that they had decided not to tell the others
and now they would not have to.

It had been a very trying few days. Hudson had tried calling in all the
favours he could think of but no one had been able to help. In fact no one
seemed to know what was happening, any more than he did. He had finally come
face to face with one of his weaknesses: the one area where he put what he
should do aside. He didn't want to have to think where he stood as regards
relationships and the fact that he couldn't continue to live without being
close to or caring about anyone. It simply wasn't possible. He even found
himself envying Bridger the way he could captain without being removed from
his crew, how he could be friends with people off duty and still in complete
control on duty. Part of him was afraid of losing control, afraid that being
friends with his crew would mean that he didn't have the same authority. The
other part didn't want to try, because they would see what and who he really
was. He wasn't afraid when on duty, not afraid of dying or anything else;
but he was terrified of his emotions and he hated the fact. It made him feel
weak and so he avoided them when he could. Lately he had found he couldn't.

A while back Ford would have been having the same problems. Admitting his
feelings for and carrying that through with Loni had taught him a lot. It
was still hard and new, each step learning more and having to change his
perceptions, but it was the first step that was the hardest. Somehow he felt
more complete, happy that he could admit how scared he had been. He was
still confused, wondering what they would find when they arrived, but
knowing that they could deal with whatever it was.

"Sir, what should we expect when we arrive?" Brody turned round from the
front of the high speed launch.

"Nothing and everything. We have to go to the meeting of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. The message simply said that we would be allowed to proceed to
the room, once we arrived. I have no idea why they want us there. I assume
it has something to do with section seven and the situation with Ensign
Wolenczak."

Brody nodded and turned back again. The other crew members on the team
shifted in excitement, murmuring. A situation was one thing; fighting, but
not knowing what you were up against and in the middle of the UEO HQ, was
another. Why did they need "security"? Didn't they provide that for
themselves? Why couldn't they tell anyone? He sighed and checked his
weapon.


Lucas leaned back against the wall, forgetting for a moment, to stay
standing, watching Ares. He was amazed at how calm the man was. Not only
calm, but completely uninvolved and uncaring. He was about to be arrested
and would be imprisoned for life, after ruling large parts of the globe,
doing what he wanted, when he wanted, having pretty much complete power.
Ares studied him in return, when he felt Lucas' eyes on him.

"This won't be over when your Captain Hudson arrives. This won't be over
for you. It'll only just be beginning. Did you really think that you could
betray and expose me and expect to survive it? Not all my people are
incompetent, you know." There was no anger or threatening note in his tone.

"I didn't betray anyone. You did that, to the UEO and the people it's meant
to serve- not just the GELF nation, but all the people of this democracy."

"You've said that before. It's sentimental mouthwash, not worth the air it
takes to say it."

"Not to you, maybe. But it's what I believe in and live by."

"And die by. Are you ready for that? Willing to die rather than just 'serve
your cause' by sneaking around and deceit?"

"I did what I thought I had to, but it was a choice and I'll accept the
consequences."

They had been talking quietly so none of the others had heard. The rest of
the room was, as a group, discussing their plans, trying to decide their
response to what Lucas had asked. He looked at his watch. It was still
another half hour before he could expect Hudson to arrive. It seemed to be
passing very, very slowly.

"Rather impatient." Ares was still watching him. "Or don't you think
you'll be able to keep this up? You don't exactly seem to be...
concentrating. Do you really think you can watch us until Hudson arrives?
Do you think you'll be able to stay awake for that long? If you just gave
up now..." he coaxed.

"No," Lucas said forcefully, too forcefully because he started coughing
violently and painfully. He had to lean back against the wall to try to
control it, while still trying to watch Ares, who was smiling again, sitting
with his arms crossed, his face saying, "I'm waiting, I've got time. You
don't. And when you run out, I'm going to pounce."

McGath looked back at Lucas from across the room, then seeing him get
himself under control, carried on. Lucas stayed leaning against the wall
this time, trying to keep his head up, longing to rest it. He looked at his
watch again: 27 minutes. He wished that he didn't feel quite so nauseous and
that he would stop feeling as if he were standing on gently rippling ground.
He hugged himself tightly for warmth, using his left hand to support the
hand holding the gun. He rubbed his hand quickly over his eyes, trying to
stay awake. He longed to just lie down on the floor and sleep: to be close
to the ground, to stop everything from swaying. At least the shivers had
stopped, but he felt hot now and that was adding to his drowsiness. 25
minutes. He managed the next ten without falling asleep. Only 15 to go and
then the room seemed to grow slightly darker, he closed his eyes for a
second and it was normal again. Must just have been the lighting, he
reassured himself. Ares was looking now at a spot on the wall, but Lucas
could tell that, really, he was still watching him, waiting for an
opportunity. 10 minutes to go. He knew that it was three hours ETA and
estimated could well mean more. But he couldn't stand the thought. He would
get through the three hours and then he would see.

The room was getting darker, or rather it was growing fuzzy. Tiny spots of
grey, like on an old TV screen, were appearing, getting larger, merging. His
breathing was getting more painful and with the growing darkness he could
feel his heart beating heavily. He stood with his eyes open and waited,
desperately hoping that he wouldn't pass out, hoping that Ares would not
realise that he couldn't see. After what was probably only a minute his
vision started to clear again and he sighed, relieved. But it was still not
time yet and he knew that he wouldn't be able to stay awake for long. If he
could get McGath's promises, it would probably be all right if he couldn't
stay awake until Hudson arrived. All McGath had to do was keep Ares in the
room and wait. They could do that without him.

"Secretary McGath, I need to know if... you are going to... comply... agree
to what I have asked." If breathing hurt, talking hurt more, bringing cold,
aching contractions in his chest, where he was short of breath.

McGath looked at him uncertainly. "You have placed us in a very difficult
and explosive situation. We will inform the media first. If we can get there
first, we can probably survive the reaction. If we tell them the truth and
put out all the facts, people will at least know that most of us didn't know
anything about this. Then we just have to show that we mean to change
things. If you hadn't forced us into this position with the media, we
probably would not be revealing this, like Banaba, and so we would be making
the same mistakes that we made in the past. So, in a way, I'm grateful for
your actions. Besides, this is a democracy and the people have a right to
know. If we're to restore the principles which section seven were violating,
then we have to stop hiding the truth when it is unpleasant..."

Then he could hear footsteps outside the door. It must be Hudson. Then it
opened. Brody came in first covering the room and then a second soldier whom
he didn't know. "Clear!" Brody shouted and the rest walked into the room,
stopping short.

"What the hell is going on here? Wolenczak put down the weapon!" Hudson
demanded.

Lucas was still waiting for McGath's answer. "Lucas put the gun down!" Ford
repeated the order, worriedly.

"McGath?"

McGath turned back to him, from watching Hudson, raising a hand to stop any
action that the newcomers might make in their confusion. "You have a deal."

Lucas nodded, not able to speak, trying to keep watching Ares through the
pepper and snow effect that filled his sight. He motioned the gun towards
Ares and then looked up at Hudson. McGath nodded.

"Mr Secretary, what is going on here?" Hudson was looking around the room
in confusion and with dark looks at Lucas' weapon. "What are you doing with
that Weapon?"

"It's all right, Captain. Mr.Wolenczak has been watching the... prisoners
for us. I would appreciate it if you could place Generals Neal and Howard
under arrest."

Lucas sighed. He had been longing to hear those words. And he let his hand
drop with the gun. Hudson stared at McGath, to make sure that he meant the
order and that it was not being forced on him. McGath nodding to confirm it,
understanding Hudson's reservations. "Lieutenant Brody..." Hudson prompted.

"Yes, Sir." Brody and one of the team went over to Neal and Howard, waiting
for them to stand and then walking with them to the door and watching them.

Suddenly his head seemed to swell. The voices seemed to echo, as the
blackness started to descend again. He knew that Hudson was still asking
questions and he heard McGath's voice answer but he couldn't make out the
words. It was OK. He could sleep now. It was over. McGath would do the rest.
There was nothing more he could or needed to do. Ares was not his problem
any more. He didn't have to watch him. It was hard to adjust to the idea
that he was finally allowed the sleep he wanted so desperately. The spots
became larger and closer together and then the whole picture flooded with
red and he let himself drop down in the blackness that was waiting
impatiently.


copyright E.Casale



===========================  PART 11  =====================================


copyright E.Casale 1997


Chapter 11

When they finally docked, Hudson left the launch, walking at a pace that had
some of the team jogging to keep up. The UEO soldiers and guards watched
them as they passed, some muttering under their breath, others openly
curious. Several made to stop them for questions but Hudson brushed them
by, oblivious. They crossed the launch bay, a wide high roofed hall, and the
guards let them through into the main building. Inside, the secretaries,
business men, politicians and other UEO people carried on about their work,
busy, fast, disinterested. Some looked up from their work momentarily at the
SeaQuest uniforms, simply wanting to relieve the boredom of the admin work:
the endless amount of paper and leg work. Others just walked on down the
corridors passing them in the opposite direction. Several of the team had
never been in the HQ before and stared wide eyed at the building and its
details, the people passing them, and Brody had to urge them forward. Hudson
was not in a mood to excuse their excitement.

The building was light, with many windows supplementing the artificial
light. In the main atrium area that stretched through the centre of the
building, they looked up through the multi panelled glass roof at the sky,
light streaming down and reflecting off the shining polished graphite floor,
encouraging the plants at the sides, between a few benches, to grow and
blossom, with bright tropical flowers that would need their own team of
staff to take care of them. The building looked clean and new, impersonal
and business like, but not cold like the section seven building. Here the
main colours were still white and black, but the plants gave the place a
feel of life and the glass or transparent plastic doors and windows and
elevators added to the impression of space and brightness.

They followed Hudson, who was still walking fast, not pausing to look for
his way or ask directions. They turned on to another corridor and then off
on to a second. A team of guards paused them at the entrance to the
corridor. The ranking officer stood forward and looked Hudson over.

"Captain Hudson, you've been expected. You can go through to the conference
room," he said, displeased, feeling his authority, and the honour of this
duty, being usurped. Hudson noticed his expression but ignored it and passed
by, almost without pausing. The other guards stepped back silently and
watched them almost malevolently. Brody could feel the team bristling in the
tense air.

"Sir?" He stepped up to Hudson as they arrived at the door. "I'd better go
in first."

Hudson nodded and let Brody organise his men and waited while they opened
the door. Brody stepped inside and scanned for danger, the second man
stepping in beside him to cover the other half of the room. The Joint Chiefs
looked up from one end of the long conference table. Lucas was standing at
the other end of the table opposite two of the Generals not included in the
main group. He was leaning forward, resting a weapon across the top of a
chair and watching them. He looked up and relaxed with evident relief when
he saw Brody, but did not put down the gun. Brody did not understand the
situation but there seemed no immediate danger. "Clear!" he called and the
others filed into the room.

Hudson was momentarily shocked when he saw the Joint Chiefs and Lucas
standing at one end of the room with a weapon. His relief at seeing him
alive faded and his face darkened. "What the hell is going on here?
Wolenczak, put down the weapon!" He would not be able to get him off for
holding up a meeting of the Joint Chiefs, which was how it appeared. Seeing
the weapon, he was momentarily panicked, wondering if what section seven had
said was true: that Lucas had turned against the UEO. But then why was he
only covering two of the generals? And why were the others not frightened?
He could feel an incredible electricity of voilent emotions in the air. The
situation was worse than he had thought it would be, but at least Lucas was
alive.

"Lucas, put the gun down!" Ford shouted, stepping up beside Hudson, almost
frantically. Lucas ignored them all, after taking in that they were there,
and turned back to McGath calling his name, questioningly, waiting for
something.

McGath turned to the team, raising his hand to stop them. "You have a
deal." He told Lucas, who sighed tiredly with huge relief, and then made a
motion towards the two generals on whom he was holding his gun.

"Mr Secretary, what is going on here?" He wasn't sure who was the danger.
"What are you doing with that weapon?" he asked Lucas, worried about how
calmly he was holding a gun on two of the Joint Chiefs of staff.

"It's all right, Captain. Mr Wolenczak has been watching the ...
prisoners," McGath explained. Hudson and Ford, and indeed the rest of the
team, opened their eyes wide at that and blinked several times in disbelief.
"I would appreciate it if you could place General Neal and Howard under
arrest," he continued.

Hudson shook himself into action. He was not going to stand there in shock,
omiting to follow the General Secretary's order, no matter how bizarre.
"Lieutenant Brody..."

"Yes, Sir." Brody was confused but it was a direct order, so he walked over
to the generals. He motioned them to stand up and move over towards the
door, where they were covered suspiciously by two of the team. There was a
grim atmosphere in the room, one of foreboding. He didn't know what was
going on, but then neither did Hudson or Ford, by the look of things.
Whatever it was, it was pretty serious if two of the Joint Chiefs were being
arrested. At least Lucas seemed to be safe. He didn't understand why he was
standing there with a weapon, but McGath did not seem to be angry about it,
but rather looked as though he agreed with the situation.

Hudson turned back to Lucas. He had let his arm, holding the gun, drop and
was leaning heavily on the back of the chair on which he had been resting
the gun, looking incredibly drawn. Then he collapsed.

"Captain Hudson..." McGath started. Then Ford was running past him and
round the table to where Lucas had been standing. Jenter was already
kneeling beside him, checking for a pulse.

"Arthur, call a doctor," she said calmly, but urgently.

McGath flipped on the intercom. "I want a med team to the conference room
now. That's a med team not a security team," he clarified and slammed it
shut again.

"Commander?" Hudson started forward, cold with unexpected dread.

"We've got a pulse and he's still breathing, albeit with difficulty. I'd
say those were both good signs." Jenter stood up stiffly.

Ford looked up at Hudson, seeing his fear and his desire to wait by Lucas
for the medteam but knowing that Ford was the one who had to control the
larger situation. "He's alive. I'll take care of him," he said and Hudson
nodded reluctantly and turned back to McGath, trying to bury his newly
awakened fear in getting to the bottom of the situation. Brody found his
eyes flicking over to Ford and Lucas, and he had to force them back on to
his charges, tyring to choke down his fear.

Ford sat by Lucas, worriedly. He was very pale, a vague tint of blue about
his lips, his head very hot when he brushed the hair off his face. One cheek
was grazed slightly and bruising purple, his uneven breaths light and fast,
with evident difficulty, wheezing slightly. "Lucas," he called quietly,
rubbing his hands, with no response. He closed his eyes. Just when he had
thought it was OK. Having this happen after his relief and elation at seeing
him alive and safe, made it worse than if he had just had his fears
confirmed. Now he had to wait again, not knowing. He couldn't see how Lucas
was hurt, he seemed more ill, but he wasn't a doctor and he couldn't tell.
What's' taking so long?! he thought. He no longer cared why they were there
and what Hudson was finding out; he didn't even bother to listen. He just
sat, talking in whispers to the unconscious boy beside him, feeling the
pulse race lightly beneath his fingers. He was too occupied with his fear to
care what was happening around him, to listen to the conversation to find
out what had happened.

Hudson forced his mind back on to the room and the Generals sitting around
in disarray, grim faced and angry. He ignored his team standing bewildered
and guarding the two 'arrested' generals. McGath gave a last worried glance
towards Ford and Lucas and then gathered himself to explain the situation
for the first of many times that day. "We have a very serious situation
here, Captain."

"How are we- me, my people and Lucas- involved?"

"We needed people we could trust with..." he looked towards Neal and
Howard, "with arresting two of the Joint Chiefs. Howard put through the
promotions for half of the people in this building, so I wasn't going to
find anyone here who would put him into custody. Why put him into custody?"
he asked, pre-empting Hudson's question. "That is a question I am going to
have to explain to the people of the UEO shortly. Your Ensign has seen to
that, and I am not looking forward to it..."

The med team came in then and Hudson watched as they checked Lucas' vitals
sign and lifted him on to a stretcher. "I'll go to the hospital," Ford said
as they passed. "I'll keep you informed," he promised.

Hudson nodded. "Thank you, Commander." He hated not to go himself but it
was out of the question. He turned back to McGath, reluctantly. "What is it
that you have to explain, Mr.Secretary," he asked wearily.

McGath looked over at Neal and Howard. "Can your people take them out of
here and to the holding facility on the other side of the base? Can they
keep that secure? There might be problems," he added pointedly.

"Can your team handle that, Mr Brody? Do you need more crew?"

"We can handle it, Sir," he replied, firmly.

"Good."

"You can get one of the guards outside to show you the way," McGath added.

Hudson motioned for them to leave him alone with the Joint Chiefs and Brody
ushered out the two generals. Neal went still with glazed eyes, Howard
perfectly calm, not wanting to be hurried, smoothing his suit and
straightening his tie, before allowing himself to be escorted out of the
room. He made the threat clear, though he didn't say a word. Hudson frowned
after him. "OK, let's all sit down," McGath said tiredly. He sat for a
moment before meeting Hudson's eyes. "Your Ensign has uncovered some
section seven activities that are highly illegal, to say the least. Section
seven have been committing gross violations of our human rights laws. They
have been experimenting on GELFs, without our knowledge, at a secret base,
of which we also had no knowledge until a few hours ago. Your Ensign managed
to get information about this and then went on to bring us irrefutable proof
of these crimes. It also seems that we might have to add murder to the list.
Neal was assigned as the head of Section seven, but it seems that it was
really Howard who was controlling things, through a few of the top section
seven staff, using section seven as his own private army, science labs,
whatever he wanted. Not only did Wolenczak bring us the proof, but he also
made sure that we would do everything possible to prevent this from
continuing, as it did after Banaba or ever occurring again under the UEO. We
have less than 20 hours to make this public before his 'friends' do. I can't
help but praise this action, though. This way we can't bury it and it
shouldn't be buried. He had a very comprehensive set of demands." Hudson
made to say something, but McGath cut him off. "But I think that we all
agree with what he said. Even the way he did it was warranted. I'll talk to
you more about what we'll do about that side of it later. For now, I need
you to send teams to take control of the section seven bases and arrest the
senior staff there, before this gets out and they clear all evidence and
disappear. I know this isn't really part of your duties, but I don't think
that I can really trust anyone else with it. I also need you to continue the
security on Neal and Howard. There will, almost certainly, be attempts to
release them."

"Yes, Sir. I'll talk to my people now." Hudson managed to swallow the
statements without argument, for the time being. That could wait. There was
urgent action to be taken first.

"Thank you, Captain. I will give you the exact location of the bases and
arrange for special security passes for you and your men."

"And women," Jenter added. McGath flashed a smile at this. "Thank you,
General." He turned to the table and, picking up the maps, handed them to
Hudson. "When you have control, please report back here, Captain, and we
will discuss our strategy."

Hudson nodded and, turning sharply, left, flicking on his PAL as soon as he
was out of earshot of the guards outside the room. "Lieutenant Brody?"

"Sir? Everything is secure here. We have arrived and placed the generals in
separate holding cells."

"Good. I need you to secure that part of the base. All other prisoners are
to be removed, as are all non seaQuest personnel. When you need more men,
arrange it with Henderson, and anything else you need. I want you to be
prepared for attempts to free the Generals, probably by UEO personnel. If
there are any problems with people questioning you, tell them to talk to
McGath. If there is anything else you need, talk to me or McGath directly.
If there is any trouble, I want you to tell me immediately."

"Yes, Sir."

"I will explain this later. I'm sorry but I don't have time now. I'll talk
to you in a few hours, if there are no difficulties. Hudson out." He
cancelled that  signal and then patched through to SeaQuest. "Lieutenant
Henderson, I need two teams of combat crew, fully armed, and I want them
ready to leave for action in fifteen minutes. I also want to talk to the
team leaders now: Patrick and Graham."

"Yes, Sir."

"Graham? Patrick?"

"Yes, Sir," they replied together.

"Patrick, I want you to take one team and go to section seven Headquarters
and take over the base there. Graham, you are to take over a second section
seven base. I will meet you at the UEO HQ launch bay to give you the
authorisation papers you will need. I need you to arrest the senior staff
there. Make sure you have the commanding officers: Andrews at the HQ and
Reggs at the second base. There shouldn't be too much resistance from the
normal staff. Take as many men as you need and whatever weapons. There will
be some things that you will find when you get there that will, shock you,
but I want you to carry on with this mission regardless; just preserve the
evidence as it is. There isn't time for a full briefing now. But you won't
be able to trust anyone, UEO or not, who isn't part of the SeaQuest crew. Is
that understood?"

"Yes, Sir," the chorus answered.

"I'll be in the UEO HQ launch bay in fifteen. Take whatever craft you need
and meet me there. I will give you maps and locations for the bases when you
arrive. They are both land based, with a docking entrance. The section seven
HQ sea docking is underwater. Any questions?"

"No, Sir."

"Good." He cut the link and hurried back to the conference room, the guards
letting him pass, just standing in the corridor bewildered. "You're
dismissed," he told them as he passed.

"Sir..." the senior guard started to argue, angrily.

"That's an order!" he shouted and then entered the conference room. The
Chiefs looked up at him, all tense and anxious. "I need security clearances
and orders for my people to take over the bases."

McGath nodded and turned on his intercom, "Susan, I want you to write up an
order for Captain Hudson's crew from SeaQuest to take control of section
seven HQ and of WestLake Point Base." The aide on the other end started to
reply in confusion, but he shut off the link.

"You'd better arrange for some new security here. I dismissed the section
seven people," Hudson told him.

"Good riddance," Jenter said as McGath got back on the link.

A few moments later the aide came running into the room with the papers,
wild eyed. "Thank you, Susan," McGath said dismissively, taking them and
reading through quickly before signing them.
"When you've given these to your team, please report back here for a
briefing." McGath turned back to the conversation in progress without
waiting for a reply and Hudson left silently. He was waiting for the
launches when they arrived. Graham and Patrick got out to meet him. He
handed them the papers and they looked down at them, briefly. "I'm sorry
that there isn't time for me to give you more of the facts. Be careful," he
told them and then left, abruptly. They looked at each other and Patrick
shrugged. Then they set off for their respective missions, both feeling
honoured to be in charge of something that was obviously so important,
having a chance to prove themselves. Hudson would have preferred to send two
of his senior officers, but they were all needed elsewhere and while these
two had less experience, they were still perfectly capable, he knew.

The Chiefs were just finishing their discussion when Hudson re-entered the
room. All but McGath got up and left, preoccupied, to arrange the press
interviews and the meetings that would have to take place: changing laws,
arrests, trials... It was going to be very busy for a long time and none of
it would be easy, though they would all do their best. But there would have
to be a lot of positive PR work.

McGath turned to Hudson. "I want you to arrange for UEO people to deal with
whatever they find at the bases. We want all the files brought here:
everything on the computers, in safes, all of it. We also need everything
documented and recorded. Then we'll need a full personnel list for each
base, details of the equipment, the functions being performed... I think you
get the gist. I also want you to continue to run the security for the
arrests and the trials. If you need more men, talk to my people here. You
can see anyone's files, interview them, whatever you need to do to make sure
that you can trust everyone on your teams implicitly. I might need you to
give reports on these activities for the media and for various meetings,
conferences and summits that are now being arranged for immediate action
over this. The press is going to have a field day." He sighed. "But we
should be able to control it, if we speak first. I think you had better see
for yourself exactly what depths of atrocities we are dealing with here."
He typed a command on a keypad in the table and the tape of the experiment,
which Lucas had shown the meeting earlier, started to play over. "It seems
that your Ensign planted the virus in section seven to get in to find proof.
He managed to get some files before he was discovered. He forced Captain
Lawrence to take him off the base and to hand over files to him. After that
we don't know what he did, but a day or so later he went to the other base,
where the experiments were being conducted, to get more proof. The files he
got from the HQ were not enough to warrant such action as was needed, and by
the time we had got to the second base, the evidence would have
disappeared. He wanted to make sure that that didn't happen so he brought it
all here for us on a silver platter. This is one of the tapes that he
brought us." McGath outlined the facts as the tape played over so that he
wouldn't be able to focus on it. Neal had signed his name on a lot of the
orders, but Howard only as a code name. Lucas had taped him, talking to
Lawrence, and he did a voice print match. I should have known something like
this would happen, at least have been aware of the danger of letting someone
be in charge of the budget and of promotions. I guess I never really focused
on it. He was so efficient and did it so well." He looked down embarrassed.
"But that's not an excuse." He watched a few moments of the tape.
"Nothing excuses that." He wrenched his mind away from the tape, back on
to the briefing. "The guards, outside the meeting on security, were section
seven. Wolenczak wanted to make sure that Neal and Howard didn't get away
with it, so he called you to make sure that they were arrested. He had
already set up some 'friends' to take the evidence to the press if we didn't
by 11 a.m. tomorrow. No one liked it, but we all know that it was
necessary, and right. I doubt that we would have done it if we hadn't had
to. " He paused disgusted with the truth of this. "We've been discussing new
policies and laws: ones that should have been implemented, for all human
rights. And we will set up a committee to see that GELF rights are upheld
from now on. Section seven will be disbanded and the necessary functions
that it covered will be reassigned to other existing sections of the UEO. We
will then start looking into everything that section seven did- what we can
find of it. Arrests will be made where necessary. Those will probably be the
leaders and some of their senior staff; from what I've heard, the junior
officers and soldiers acted under fear and duress." He paused again. "This
is going to be a very hard time for the UEO." The tape finished and Hudson
sat staring at the blank screen.

"I can't believe that you knew nothing about this," he said tonelessly.

"We didn't. We let section seven have all the power it wanted and needed.
It's our fault. Maybe if we hadn't buried what had happened at Banaba...
That's what Wolenczak thought would happen here. That's the other thing-
Wolenczak."

"You can't mean to punish him for what he did. I know that it was illegal
but..." Hudson rose in his defence.

"No, I didn't mean that. " McGath assured him. "But it all boils down to
him and Howard isn't going to let it go. I need you to make sure that he has
all the security necessary. It took an untrained child to wake us up and to
make us do the right thing and I'm not going to let him pay for our mistakes
any more than he has. We have to show that the UEO will not tolerate this
and that we are going to change things. We need to prove that not all the
UEO knew, and accepted it, when they did know. If anything happens to him,
we will have no credibility."

"You want me to protect him because of the PR! This whole thing is..."
Hudson tired to calm himself down, but his pent up worry of the past few
days and the fury and horror, which the tapes had roused in him, were
stronger. "What he did here was more than anyone in the UEO has done.
Plenty of people knew, high up people: people who could have done this
without nearly so much risk, people who at least knew what they were doing.
The chances of success for him doing this were... nearly impossible, but he
did it because he believed in the UEO and what it is meant to stand for. If
all you can think about now is PR, I'm not sure that I want to help. I'm not
sure that I want to be a part of an organisation that is so careless, so
corrupt and so cowardly that it not only let this happen, but let it happen
twice! We are meant to learn from our mistakes! I'm a soldier. I've always
believed and fought for the UEO, been willing to give my life in its
service, but..." He looked back at the screen, the horror plain on his face,
"I don't know how I'm going to find the faith to keep doing that," he ended
despairingly.

"Perhaps you will find it because it was someone under your command who
stopped all this. And even more because, it was the least trained and the
youngest person under your command. Doesn't that say what you have to
offer?" McGath asked earnestly.

"This wasn't about my command. This was about Wolenczak's personal beliefs
and faith in the UEO."

"Well if he managed to have faith enough to do this, then you should take
your belief from his. He didn't just get the evidence, he came here to UEO
HQ, with everyone looking for him, to give us a chance to make our case
first. He seems to believe in what the UEO can do and be, even though what
it has done lately has been terrible. I think that you owe it to him not to
give up on it," McGath told him with a surprising depth of passion. "Now I
have to go and talk to the press and change things: start making this an
organisation that we can be proud of. We'll confer later about developments."
He stormed to the door, pausing before opening it. "I'd also like you to
check on Wolenczak."

Hudson looked up, but he was gone. He rose slowly and left the building,
turning on his PAL as he cleared it, waiting for a reply. "Mr Ford?"

"Sir. I'm at the Memorial Hospital, ward 11. I still don't know..."

"I'll be right over," he said, shutting down the link. He thought about
returning to seaQuest, but he could be there almost immediately, if he was
needed, and he could relay orders over his PAL. Besides, everything seemed
to be proceeding fine, otherwise his crew would have called him. He trusted
them to do what was needed. Now he could do what he needed to and had been
waiting to do since the meeting hall and before. He went back into the
reception and asked for a driver. A young officer quickly arranged it and
within minutes he was sitting in the front seat watching the city pass by.
It seemed odd that the sun was shining. There were a few lazy, voluptuous
clouds moving idly across the sky and people seemed unaware of the tragedy
he had just seen. He was still deeply shocked. He knew he would never forget
what he had seen, though the images had faded already. What he would
remember were the impressions of impossible horror, of absolute terror, even
as a spectator one remove. His faith had been shaken and uprooted, but not
for the reason he had expected. These were not the horrors of war but the
horrors of corruption and abuse of power. And it was the organisation he had
believed in for the larger part of his life which had let it happen, had
done those things. He looked out at the world and it did not seem like the
one he had known an hour ago; he wondered if that was how his crew had felt
when they had woken to find it was ten years into the future. As he stared
out of the window for the five or so minutes of the journey, a passage from
'The Great Gatsby' played over in his mind:

"He must have felt that he had lost the warm old world, paid a high price
for living too long with a single dream. He must have looked up at an
unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a
grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon the scarcely
created grass. A new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts,
breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about..."

His life had been the UEO; his aims, his ambitions, his emotions, his
relationships. It had all been empty and now he would need to find something
to take its place. It could never fulfill what he looked for in it. Now he
would have to find how to live in this new world. He sat pensively as he was
driven towards what might turn out to be his future.


copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 12  =====================================


copyright E.Casale 1997


Does anyone want any more of this? If you do send me a mail and and I'll
send it.


Chapter 12

The driver dropped him at the front doors of the hospital and went to wait
in the parking lot, not having spoken once, even in reply to Hudson's
thanks. The hospital was an antiseptic, impersonal white structure and very
busy. He stood in front of the hospital map trying to find where he wanted
to go and then took the elevator up the 6 stories. The ward was just on the
right as he left the lift and he stopped at the reception, impatient as the
nurse on duty talked about samples and prescriptions over a comlink. The
nurse looked up at him, finally, as he waited for a reply. "Can I help
you?" He was polite but rushed, filling in forms at the same time.

"I'm looking for Ensign Wolenczak..." The nurse stared at him blankly.
"UEO personnel would have brought him in a few hours ago." He watched as
recognition dawned.

"Just down the corridor on the right." He looked as Hudson's uniform.
"There's one of your men there, waiting."

"Thank you," he replied, following the directions.

Ford looked up, from leaning against the wall, as he came round the corner.
"Sir." He stood up straight. "The doctor's in with him now. They haven't
really told me anything yet."

Hudson sighed and looked at his watch. "Is there anywhere to get a coffee
around here?"

"I'll go and ask," he replied, leaving to go to the front desk. He came
back a few moments later with two luke warm cups. "Best I could do," he
apologised, wryly.

"I wasn't expecting anything more drinkable," he screwed up his face as he
drank. "This is worse than I remember it. I guess I haven't been in a
hospital for a while. Makes you realise that the SeaQuest coffee isn't as
bad as it seems." Ford smiled slightly. Hudson looked over at him as they
leaned against opposite walls. "I guess you'd like to know what's going on.
Let's find somewhere to sit, first." They walked to the end of the corridor
and found a waiting area with a few chairs, a table laden with ancient
magazines and a dying plant. Hudson sat back against the hard back of the
chair, while Ford sat on the edge of his, leaning his arms on his knees.
Hudson sighed again before he began reluctantly, not wanting to put what he
had seen and what he knew into words. "It seems that section seven has been
continuing the experiments, which they were conducting at Banaba, in a
secret base, about a hundred miles from here." Ford put his cup down on the
table and sat back, looking out of the window, tense and breathing hard.
"The base was secret; not even the Joint Chiefs knew about it, except Neal
and Howard. It turns out that Howard is the one who's really been running
things. Somehow Wolenczak found out about this. He sent the virus to section
seven to get proof of what was happening. He did force Lawrence to take him
off the base, after being discovered, but the files he got there weren't
conclusive, so he went to the second base and downloaded copies of the
experiments: all the evidence that they could have needed. He took it to the
meeting of the Joint Chiefs today because he wanted to give them a chance to
talk to the press first, but he'd already arranged for someone else to take
the information to the media if the UEO did not act within twenty four
hours. He thought that unless everyone knew, the same thing would happen as
over Banaba. Neal and Howard are under SeaQuest security now, as you know.
I've sent two teams to take over the section seven bases. We have papers
from McGath, so there shouldn't be any violence- possibly from the senior
staff, but not from the other personel."

"How did he... find out that it was going on? How did he manage to get the
information?... What was..." Ford trailed off.

"We don't have all the details yet. The important thing is that he did it
and now the UEO are being forced to act. To survive this they will have to
take measures to make absolutely sure that nothing like this could ever
happen again. Section seven is also being disbanded. The problem now is that
this is going to affect a lot of very important people. McGath thinks that
Howard will try to escape... and that he is still potentially very dangerous
to Wolenczak, even if he is in jail. I want you to take care of getting some
security here. Move him to another ward if this isn't safe enough. Like
McGath said, this isn't just about him. He's going to be a symbol of the
new UEO and if we can't protect him..."

"You're worried about the media?!" Ford asked, stunned at his apparent
callousness.

"No. I'm worried about the future of the UEO. This is beyond individuals.
But I am also very worried about the safety of one of my crew, otherwise I
would not be asking you to be in charge of this. I wouldn't give this task
to my second in command at a time like this, unless I was worried and I
wanted to be sure of his safety," Hudson explained earnestly.

"We never talked about what happened at Banaba." Ford was staring at the
floor. "I should have, I know, but... I was- am- so... ashamed of what I
did then that... I could have helped him. If I'd just made the effort. I
could have found out whatever it was that lead him to these experiments."

"Maybe," Hudson said, and Ford looked up at him, in pain, wanting comfort.
"Maybe not. All I know is that this has been exposed and it is going to
result in changes to the UEO which will benefit everyone. All that happens
now can only be for the good. Whatever he had to do to get the information,
he did it and that's what matters. We don't know about 'maybe' and 'what
if', and right now we certainly don't have time for them."

"How do you face someone who had the courage to do what you couldn't, were
afraid to? Lucas did everything he could, more than anyone could have asked
and he's 17 and untrained. I was a soldier and I still couldn't even tell
anyone about what I knew was happening at Banaba." He stopped suddenly,
realising that Hudson didn't know any of this.

"What did happen at Banaba?" Hudson asked quietly, with sympathy and
understanding in his voice. Ford looked away. He wanted Hudson's respect and
if he told him, how could he continue to respect him or trust him, as his
second in command. "I am not going to think any less of you for something
that happened decades ago," Hudson told him gently. Ford looked him in the
eye for a few moments and saw that he meant it. And he needed to talk to
someone.

"I was an Ensign." The obvious parallels to the present were painful to
acknowledge. "I was assigned there on a thirty day rotation. One day I was
told to take a body to some other labs for post mortem experiments, but
it... he wasn't dead. He asked, begged me to let him go, but I didn't. And I
never told anyone." He sat, not daring to look up. Eventually he forced
himself to.

"What you did was understandable, not commendable. It was a human mistake.
It was a choice and one that hundreds of UEO soldiers have been making, from
Captains down to enlisted men, all these years. None of them said anything,
but a lot knew. It makes you no worse than them, and no better. It is a
mistake that you made a long time ago. If you had known about these
experiments now would you have done something?"

"Yes," he answered immediatly. He wasn't just assuming that or thinking
more of himself than he should, he knew. He would not make that mistake
again, not when he had had to live with it once.

"Then you've changed. It's what you are, and what you would do now, that's
important. If you have learnt from Banaba then at least what happened there
wasn't wasted."

Ford let out his breath slowly, incredibly grateful, feeling better about
himself than he had in a while. Thinking it through was one thing, deciding
for yourself, but, when you were too close to things, you had to know what
other people thought, you needed confirmation. " Thank you, Sir. I
appreciate your..."

"Confidence and trust in you?" Hudson supplied. "It's earned and deserved."
They smiled briefly at each other.

"I guess, I'd better go and arrange for some security here." Hudson nodded.

"Who ever you need and whatever equipment. If there are any problems about
the location here or with moving him, I'll clear it. I'm afraid that we
can't trust UEO personnel, until we've checked them out one by one, only
SeaQuest crew. Any efforts at... retribution will be co-ordinated and very
serious."

"Yes, Sir. I'll make sure we are prepared." He turned on his Pal.
"Henderson, this is Ford. I need ten crew members, armed and with sensor
equipment for security purposes. I need people who have experience and who
are fully trained. I don't want anyone who will make mistakes or get too
trusting.... I can't explain all of it, but we have arrested several high
ranking UEO generals and we don't know which UEO personnel we can trust
here. I don't want anyone who doesn't have the experience to deal with
whatever comes up. I want people who won't let anything by them, even if
it's only to be sure... As soon as possible... Yes, Hudson's here... There
will be a briefing later. Right now I just want those men over here...
Memorial Hospital, New Cape Quest, Ward 11. Ford out." He didn't give her a
chance to ask him why they were there. He didn't want to have to answer
before he knew for certain that Lucas was all right. "They'll be here in
less than an hour," he told Hudson.

"Howard won't get a chance to arrange anything by then. The teams will only
just be arriving at the bases."

A young woman looked around the corner and then came towards them. "You're
with the UEO officer?" she asked.

"Yes. Captain Hudson, SeaQuest," he introduced himself, standing anxiously.
"How is... his name is Wolenczak, Ensign Wolenczak," he told her realising
that she didn't know.

"He's going to be fine. Right now he's still unconscious. I don't think
he'll be awake for at least another twenty four hours." She came into the
waiting area and sat down gracefully. "He's suffering from complete physical
exhaustion and at some point I think that he was in cold water for a long
time. He had severe hypothermia some days ago and wasn't treated for it. He
also inhaled a certain amount of water, not enough to cause full secondary
drowning, but certainly enough to make breathing very difficult and painful.
Cold and the fatigue make the body very vulnerable, so he was open to
infections and that added to the breathing problems. We've controlled the
fever and he's breathing more comfortably now. There was a lot of extra
pressure on his heart and other organs so we're giving him medication for
that and there should not be any long term problems. He will be OK, but it
might take a few weeks for him to be fully back on his feet. Apart from
that, there were some minor abrasions, bruising, nothing serious. I'd like
to keep him in for several days. We can't tell when he will wake yet, but
there's no harm in his sleeping for as long as he needs. After that I'll
have to see about when he can go back on duty. But for the moment, no
stress. We'll keep him on sedatives, if that's a problem. He'll just need to
be careful until the medication course finishes. Like I said, a few weeks
and he should be fine." She smiled at them and they sighed in relief.

"Thank you very much, Doctor. I'm afraid though that there may be some
serious security problems." She frowned worried. "As you will see later on
today, there have been some... serious upsets in the UEO and Wolenczak will
need security. Commander Ford and his team will provide that. But we might
have to move him to another room if this part of the building isn't safe
enough. I would like you to continue as his consultant and would appreciate
it if you could make sure that there are only one set of nurses involved. It
will be a lot easier if we know who is meant to be around."

"Will there be any danger to the other patients?" She was naturally very
concerned, but remained calm and practical.

"I doubt it. But it might be better if we could isolate him more, in case."
She nodded. "I would also appreciate it if you could avoid giving his name
to anyone or any details surrounding the security measures."

"Of course. I'll get you a list of the nurses and ID photos- if you need
additional 'tags', that can be arranged. If you do need to move him, I will
arrange it. Otherwise, I can clear this end of the corridor."

"Thank you very much for your help," he said, deeply grateful.

"That's my job, Captain." She smiled at him and rose.

"Can we go in?" Ford asked her, eagerly.

"Yes, but don't try to wake him. When he does wake up, call for one of the
nurses. And don't be surprised if he's fairly disoriented for a while. Just
make sure that this security doesn't bother him."

Ford nodded and she left, walking gracefully down the corridor at a fast
pace to arrange things with efficiency and thoroughness. Together they
walked to the room and pushed open the door. Lucas was lying quietly, still
very pale but no longer with the same bluish tint. His face was still drawn
but not pinched; dark shadows under and around his eyes. His wrist was
attached to an IV and a machine monitored his vital signs. He didn't stir as
he slept. Hudson watched him for a while and then turned back to Ford. "I
have to go and brief the others." He sighed. "And then be available if
McGath needs me. There'll be a lot to be arranged about the bases."

"I'll take care of things here," Ford repeated, quietly.

"I know you will. I'll be back later if I can. If he wakes up or anything
changes..."

"I'll tell you." Hudson smiled and left, walking more certainly and with
more spirit than he had in a while. Ford settled down in a chair beside the
bed to wait for the team to arrive. After a while flicked on his Pal,
leaving the room so as not to disturb Lucas. "It's Ford. Have they left? I
was wondering if you could get Tony to join the group, I want to have
someone else whom he knows when he wakes up..."

"Jonathan, why are you at the hospital? When who wakes up?"

"Lucas, but he's going to be fine," he added hastily. "We just talked to
the doctor. Hudson's on his way back to brief you now."

"Is he really all right? What happened?" she asked, worriedly.

"I'm not really sure. Hudson will tell you what he can, but he's really OK,
just sleeping."

Loni sighed at the other end. "I'll get Tony to get his things. The team
night be a few minutes longer arriving," she warned him.

"That's fine. Thanks." He shut down the connection and re-entered the room.
He watched the boy sleeping with a mixture of pride and fear. How would he
react after going through all this to someone that couldn't even take the
first step? Would he ever listen to him again, take orders, trust him? His
main feeling was relief, though. So long as he was alive, they would get
through whatever happened. He wondered briefly if he should call someone.
He'd mention it to Hudson later, but he doubted if Lucas' parents would
care. They hadn't ten years ago and now... He wondered what Bridger would
think about what Lucas had done. Then he put his thoughts aside and focused
his mind to going over what he would have to do to secure the room, what
precautions he needed to take.

Hudson made his way out of the clean, artificially lit hospital, into the
warm sunlight and across the concrete to the parking lot where the driver
was waiting, leaning against the car watching the life and beauty around
him. He snapped to attention when he saw Hudson approaching and opened the
door for him. Then he ran round to the driver's side. "I need to go to the
seaQuest docking bay," Hudson ordered. The driver set off without saying a
word and pulled over on the quayside a few minutes later.
"Thanks," Hudson said as he got out of the car and went towards the correct
docking port where some of his crew were waiting, on guard. They saluted as
he walked by and down the link into the boat. The crew stared at him in the
corridors, still not knowing what was happening. He went straight to the
bridge. "Henderson, O'Neil, Kimura. I need you in the wardroom for a
briefing. I also want Graham, Patrick and Brody over the com. I don't have
time to do this four times."

"Yes, Sir," they replied, following him. O'Neil quickly set up the links
before leaving his station and running to catch up with the others as they
reached the wardroom and sat down around the table. Hudson quickly outlined
what had happened. "Now we just have to wait to see what the Joint chief
decide, where they want to go on this. The press conferences should start in
about three hours. Until then, we continue as we are. Are there any
questions?"

"Is Lucas really OK?" Brody asked before the others could, though they were
clearly about to.

"He'll be fine. I stopped at the hospital before coming here and talked to
the doctors there. Ford will make sure that there isn't any further danger."

"How did he get in and out of the section seven bases? Don't they have the
most secure bases in the UEO? If they were doing all this stuff, how could
they not have extra precautions?" Graham asked from the base. The papers
from McGath had cut through security for them there, so he hadn't been able
to judge this for himself.

"Until I have talked to Mr Wolenczak I'm afraid I can't answer that. I
assume that they were just incompetent and thought that he was not a
threat," he added wryly.

"How did he know that this was going on? I mean, he must have known first,
if he went there to get the evidence." Tim was still very confused.

"Probably from something at Banaba, the base he visited with Captain
Bridger on a mission into Macronesia, about a month ago."

They were silent for awhile, fully occupied by all the new facts, too busy
trying to digest them to think of  the questions that hadn't been answered
yet.

"How could they let this happen?" Henderson looked up at him, distraught.
"I thought..." She trailed off sadly, disillusioned.

"Corruption, fear, too much power and not enough care, allowing section
seven to do what they wanted with no questions asked... A lot of things that
make it hard to believe in the UEO, but I think that this will change that.
The UEO will have to change and improve if it wants to survive," he answered
as optimistically as he could.

They all turned their thoughts to their beliefs, trying to reconcile the
horrors their government had committed with their trust in it and their
sense of duty. The comlink beeped and they were all grateful for the
interruption. "Secretary McGath for you, Sir," the crewman at the comms
station informed him.

Hudson turned it on to the main screen. "I was just briefing my staff,
General," Hudson told him when he appeared on the screen.

"Good. I've arranged for some trustworthy UEO and other people to go to
Westlake Point and take over there, gathering the evidence and dealing with
the section seven people. I've arranged for the same at section seven HQ.
I'll be sending you the codes for the staff who will take over, so that you
know who to expect. We appreciate your crew's help over controlling this
situation. It would be very helpful if the senior staff arrested at the
bases could be taken over to the prison block where Neal and Howard are
being held, and if you could continue to provide the security there."

"Yes, Sir." McGath looked around the room making it clear that he wanted to
talk to Hudson alone. "Graham, Patrick, Henderson will give you the codes
for the UEO personnel who will take over at the bases. I would like you to
take the officers whom you have arrested and hand them over to Lieutenant
Brody in New Cape Quest. Do you have enough men, Lieutenant?"

"Yes Sir," Brody replied.

"Good. Any questions?" There were none. "Henderson, I want you, O'Neil and
Kimura back on bridge duty. Dismissed." He closed down the links to the
three outside teams and waited for the other officers to leave, before
turning back to McGath. "General, how else can I help?"

"I would like you to stay in the city for a while. It doesn't have to be
at HQ but I would like to be able to have you there and at the news
conferences, should it be necessary. We are all very grateful for the part
that SeaQuest has played in getting this situation under control. It gave us
time to gather people we could trust." He looked very tired and frustrated.
"How is Wolenczak?" he asked suddenly.

"Fine. Well, he will be in a few days. They want to keep him at the
hospital to be sure, after he regains conciousness. Commander Ford is
handling that situation and I have every confidence in him."

McGath nodded. "Keep me up to date. I need to talk to Wolenczak as soon as
possible."

"The doctors said that it would be best for him to sleep and that he should
have no stress for a while," Hudson warned him.

McGath snorted. "I doubt that that will be possible." Hudson frowned. "If
you think it would be less stressful for you to talk to him and find out the
details of what happened, that is fine," McGath continued, appeasingly. "I
also want you to keep a close eye on what happens at the prison. Neal and
Howard lawyers will be going over soon. You'd better warn your men to expect
them. After that there will be problems. What sort, I don't know, but we
need to be prepared. If I don't need you over here, make sure that you watch
the press release: 10 am tomorrow morning. We're holding it an hour early to
make sure that we get there before Wolenczak's people. I need to know who
they are, by the way."

"I'll do my best to find out and I'll watch the other things," Hudson
confimed.

"Thank you again, Captain." McGath smiled wearily, but sincerely at him.
"I'm not sure if this is a great day for the UEO or a terrible one. Certainly
what we will reveal is terrible, but it will mean a new future." He sighed
and grimaced. "Can't say that I'm enjoying it much though. Do you have any
idea of the number of meetings we're going to have to have?"

"No, Sir." Hudson tried not to show his amusement at the General
Secretary's whining tone.

McGath caught his amusement and shut down the link with a last, "Keep me
informed," injunction.



When they finally got off their shift O'Neil and Henderson walked back along
the corridors together.
"Lucas did that?" Tim sounded amazed. "I can't believe it... I mean..." He
shook his head disbelievingly. "He's just lucky that the Joint Chiefs didn't
decide to arrest him for forcing them into that situation with the press. I
just don't want to believe that the organisation we're fighting for could
let this happen. How could it take a 17 year old kid to change things! It
doesn't exactly inspire confidence. I'm just glad that Ford is over there
with a team. Howard is not just going to walk out of his career and away
from all that power without someone paying." Henderson looked worried again,
"I'm sure that Ford will handle it, though," Tim reassured her, not
realising that she was worried about Ford, not the fact that he couldn't
handle it.

"Um," was all she grunted, preoccupied.

"Oh, shit," Tim said flatly. Henderson looked up surprised: O'Neil didn't
swear, ever.

"Tim," she began, about to tease him, then trailed off. Dagwood was coming
down the corridor towards them. How were they going to explain this? What
could they say  that would help or stop him from hating them?

"Hello," Dagwood drawled slowly. "I cannot find Tony. He said that he
would show me how to play poker." He sounded hurt and offended.

"Tony's... on duty in the city. He had to go and..." Dagwood waited
patiently for him to explain.
"There have been some..."

"Captain Hudson needed Tony to help him with something at HQ," Henderson
finished neatly and smoothly, smiling comfortingly. Tim knew that she was
forcing it, but Dagwood didn't seem to realise.

"When will he be back?"

"I don't know. I'll tell you when I find out, OK?" she said kindly.

"OK." He replied and they carried on down the hall, not speaking for a while.

"Who's going to tell him? Do you think Hudson will...?"

"I don't know. So long as I don't have to. I know, but what exactly am I
going to say? What would you say?" he asked.

Loni looked at him helplessly. "Someone's got to tell him, before he hears
it as a rumour. Ford, Tony, Lucas and Hudson are in the city somewhere.
Brody's is with the generals. Unless you think that Kimura could do the job,
it's got to be one of us, or both."

Tim sighed. "You're right, but I still don't know what we should- can say,"
he admitted heavily, dreading it.

"Whatever we feel and the facts. That's the most we can do. Look, he
deserves to know."

Tim nodded. "OK. Now?"

"Yes." She said miserably.

"Hey, Dagwood! Wait up!" Tim called and she smiled at him sadly, as they
walked back to join him.
"Dagwood, we need to talk to you about something."

"What is it?" He asked innocently. Tim looked around, nervously.

"I think we'd better talk in private. You can come back to my quarters,"
Loni suggested. It was cramped in the small room as they sat about, Dagwood
waiting, while the other two tried to get the other to start. "We need to
tell you something. It's about the UEO and GELFs." She sighed. "About a
month ago you went to an Island in Macrosnesia," she prompted.

"I am not supposed to talk about it," Dagwood said worriedly.

"It's OK. We know about it now," she reassured him.

"They did things, horrible things, to daggers. Captain Bridger said I had
to choose about the 'da-ta cryst-al'. I broke it. Nothing good can come from
that," he stated, very upset by the memories.

Tim and Loni looked at the floor. "I'm so sorry," she began and then
stopped to get control. "What happened there, it's been happening again at
another base, near here. That's why we're here. You know Lucas left a few
days ago? Well, he was getting evidence of what was happening so that we
could stop it."

"They are hurting Daggers?" Dagwood got up and started to pace, wringing
his hands slightly.

"Yes, but now that we have the evidence we can stop it. We can make sure
that it never happens again..."

"But it did! You just said it did! Why are they hurting Daggers? Why are
they not punished for hurting daggers? I don't understand." He was
shouting now.

"They will be punished this time. I don't know why either. It's just some
people in the UEO, they didn't tell the rest of us. They just did it."

"But you are UEO. Why didn't you tell them not to? It is your kind that do
this to daggers. You are meant to be my friends; then why do you hurt my
kind?" he turned to them for answers that they didn't have.

Loni was crying silently. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that humans have been doing
this, but we are your friends and we would never do it. We are doing
everything we can to stop it now and change things," she insisted, pleadingly.

"This is why Lucas left?" He asked slowly.

"Yes. He got the proof so that we would know, and now we know we can stop
it."

"Is that why he wanted to see Rachel?"

"Rachel?" Loni asked, wiping her eyes. She looked at him confused, trying
to recall the name from all that they had been told. She looked to Tim, but
he shook his head, uncomprehending, as well.

"I thought you knew. You said you knew about it," he said, frightened that
he had betrayed a secret.

"We know about this and Banaba. Dagwood, who's Rachel?" she persisted.

"I am not supposed to tell you."

"Dagwood, Lucas has been helping you. Now you need to help him. Who is
Rachel?"

"She is my friend, a dagger. Lucas asked me to take him to see her. And
they talked for a long time. She said that I must not tell anyone about it."

"It's OK, Dagwood. You did the right thing. How can we talk to her? It's
important. It's to stop people from hurting daggers..." she added to
reassure him that they meant well in wanting to talk to her.

"She lives in New Cape Quest."

"Where?"

"In the Dagger's sheath. It's a bar."

Loni looked up at Tim. "Thank you Dagwood. That will really help us a lot."

"Can I come too?" Loni looked puzzled. "You want to talk to Rachel? I want
to come," he stated reasonably.

"OK. I just have to check with Captain Hudson, before we go. You can come
with me while I check and then we'll go to the Dagger's sheath together.
OK?"

"OK," was his simply rejoinder.

"Dagwood, I'm really sorry. I know it doesn't help to say it but..."

"It does help. It means that you do not like that they are hurting daggers.
It means that you are sorry that they are hurting daggers," he insisted,
fervently.

"Very sorry," Tim affirmed.

"Thank you," Dagwood said simply. Tim and Loni turned towards the bridge,
very quiet and sad. they didn't reply to the simple assertion of gratitude;
neither knew how to reply. On the bridge Tim motioned the crewman on duty
away from his station and sat down, putting on the head phones as he
connected to Hudson's PAL.

"Sir, this is Lieutenant O'Neil. Lieutenant Henderson and I would like
permission to go into the city. We've located a GELF friend of Lucas and
Dagwoods whom he talked to recently. She might be able to help..." Hudson
must have interrupted, as the next thing he said was, "Yes, Sir. Thank
you... As soon as we know anything." He pulled off the headset and let the
crewman take over again. "He said we could go, but that we should take
weapons, and if we met any other UEO personnel, we shouldn't trust them. He
wants us to report back to him with whatever we find." They paused briefly
for Henderson to put Kimura in charge. She hated doing it, not sure if she
was fully to be trusted, but there was no one else available. Then they
stopped to get some weapons in the docking bay.

The fresh air was wonderful after the recycled air of the sub and they
walked slowly along the quay enjoying it. "Can we walk?" Loni asked.

"Yes. It is not very far," Dagwood replied, smelling the air. "The sun is
nice," he observed. Tim wished that he could forget what they had just
discovered as easily, but maybe it was just another way of coping. They
quickened their pace after leaving the quay, looking around them at the life
in the streets. When they turned off the main streets and the back streets
grew poor, Tim was glad that they had been ordered to take weapons with
them. He didn't like the darkness between the buildings, not after the
events of the day. He needed the light for a while, the sunshine, to
convince him that he could manage this, that they all could. When they
turned into the mini square, Dagwood stopped.

"We are here," he said unnecessarily as there was a large, clear sign over
the door. "You must stay here. Monotones are not allowed in." He walked on
up to the door and talked briefly to the bouncer, who disappeared inside.

"Monotones?" Loni whispered to Tim.

"Us," he replied, amazed at her surprise. The bouncer returned and gave
Dagwood an answer. He returned to his waiting friends.

"We must go around the back," he said and they followed him into a narrow
alley, waiting in the chill of the shadows. The door finally opened and a
young GELF woman looked out.

"Dagwood," she explained delightedly, then her face fell and grew terrified
when she saw Tim and Loni and their uniforms.

"It's OK. They are my friends," Dagwood reassured her.

Rachel looked unsure whether to close the door or not. "It's OK," Loni told
her. "We're on your side. We're from SeaQuest. We know about the... about
section seven. Dagwood said that Lucas came to talk to you and we wanted to
know..."

"Lucas got through with the evidence? It's OK?" she gasped in relief,
letting the door fall open.

"The press conference is due to start in a few hours. I guess you're his
backup."

Rachel nodded, stunned. "They're really going to do it?"

"Yes. They're going to disband section seven, as well, and change the laws.
We're doing everything we can to stop this and make sure that it's
impossible in the future. Neal and Howard, the Generals responsible, have
been arrested."

"I can't believe it," her voice devoid of emotion with shock.

"We've very sorry about..." Tim started, but she cut in sharply.

"Lucas- is he OK? Where is he? How about Alex?" She looked between them,
anxious for news.

"Alex? I don't know who that is. Lucas is fine. He's in hospital, but he's
going to be OK."

Rachel looked worried. "I knew he wasn't well, but... Can I see him?"

Loni looked at Tim. "I think so," she said slowly. "I'll have to check
with Captain Hudson. They are worried that someone will try to get to him
because of the evidence he got." Rachel nodded. "Give me a sec." Loni
turned away switching on her PAL. "Captain? We've arrived. It seems like
the 'friend' is the one who had the backup copies of the evidence. She wants
to see Lucas.... Yes, Sir. We'll be right there." She turned back to the
others. "Hudson says that it's fine. That it'll be a way of protecting you,
as well. He wants to ask you some questions. He's still not sure exactly
what happened."

"Thank you." She looked towards Dagwood and Loni nodded to show that she
had told him. Rachel smiled gratefully at her. She would talk more to
Dagwood about it later and it would be better coming from her. "I'll just
tell David where I'm going and that we won't have to go to the press." She
turned and disappeared into the building, returning a few moments later
smiling hugely, her eyes shining. "I'll drive us there. It'll be quicker
and I don't exactly want to be roaming the streets at the moment." Tim
nodded, glad at the sensible suggestion. Luckily the car was spacious,
though old, and it was not too tight a fit. Rachel drove in silence, Tim and
Loni still thinking and Dagwood staring out happily at the city as they
passed by. They parked and then went into the hospital. Ford was waiting to
meet them in reception.

Loni smiled at him and turned to Rachel. "I don't think we were ever
introduced," she realised, laughing. "Loni Henderson, Lieutenant Tim O'Neil
and Commander Jonathan Ford," she said indicating each in turn.

"Rachel," she replied, smiling at them. It felt odd to feel so well
disposed to monotones, but Lucas had changed her perception of people,
and these were his friends, so she trusted them. It was odd how trust
was catching.

"You had the files to take to the press in case...?" Ford enquired, as he
led then to the lift.

"Yes. Lucas stayed at the 'sheath' after the second base. We picked him up
from the beach. He couldn't have got anywhere by himself at that point." She
looked around, seeing how confused they were. "He was trying to get away
from the base. Section seven blew up his boat; but he had jumped off before
that. Then he swam back to shore, but it was nearly 6 miles. He was lucky
that the tide was going in. He managed to send an open signal to Alex and we
triangulated to find him. Then we took him back to the 'sheath'," she
explained in brief.

"Who's Alex?" Ford asked, confused.

"Dr Alexander. He was a scientist on the team at Banaba. Section seven
killed all the others, but Alex arranged his own 'death'. They thought he
had drowned. He's been helping us since we got our freedom ten years ago.
Lucas talked to him before he went to the first base and then went back to
his place after he got out of there. I don't know what..." her face grew
pained. "Lucas got a message that section seven had found him. He left and
went to Alex's before going to UEO HQ. He told us not to go over, that we
had to stay safe. I still don't know..." She trailed off. "We had to be
able to take the files, in case the UEO didn't do anything. We couldn't
jeopardise everything..." she stopped there, realising that she was
insisting to convince herself.

"Where was Alexander when section seven found him?" Ford questioned,
patiently.

"At his Flat: 145, Tower block B, St. Michael street," she told them,
putting aside her instinctive distrust and desire not to tell them.

"I'll send a team over," Ford said comfortingly. He smiled at her and spoke
over his PAL to Kimura.
"I need you to send a team to 145, Tower block B, St.Michael street. If you
find a Dr.Alexander there, have him brought here, to the hospital. Tell them
to be careful. We think that section seven was there earlier. They might
still be." He turned back to Rachel. "They'll be there very soon," he
affirmed.

They arrived in the corridor and the guards stepped back when they saw Ford
and the others with him. Hudson came towards them.

"Captain Hudson, this is Rachel: the friend who had the other copies of the
files." Ford intoduced them and they shook hands, gravely.

"Can I see Lucas now?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes, but he's still asleep," Hudson warned her. She nodded and looked in
at him from the door, for a while, then turned back to Hudson.

"I expect you want to ask me some questions. Can we go somewhere where we
won't disturb him?" she suggested practically.

Hudson led the way. "Sir," Ford called after him. "I've sent a team to
find one of the other people involved, a Dr.Alexander." Hudson looked at
Rachel, confused.

"I'll explain in a minute," she said and he nodded consent to Ford. They
talked for about an hour before they were interrupted by Ford coming up to
them and waiting by for attention.

"Commander?"

Ford glanced quickly at Hudson and then back to Rachel. "I'm very sorry,
but your friend, Dr Alexander," he paused, reluctant to tell her. "He's
dead," he told her finally, deeply regretful for having to give her the
news.

Rachel shut her eyes and then looked up at him, through her unshed tears.
"How?" was her simple question.

"I'm not sure. We'll have to do an autopsy," he said gently, feeling her
pain. She nodded.

"He always wanted to die for a good cause, preferably ours." She sniffed
and got out a handkerchief.

Hudson's Pal beeped, making them all start. "Yes?" he snapped, angrily.

"Hudson." McGath was in a hurry, and ignored the rudeness.  "A young
soldier just reported back to section seven HQ. He said that he had been
jumped on a 'mission', by someone matching Wolenczak's description. He was
meant to be 'dealing' with a scientist from Banaba who had escaped the
assassinations..."

Hudson cut in. "I know. Dr.Alexander. My people were just there. He's been
killed." He kicked himself as soon as he had said it, realising that Rachel
was still there, listening, and that he had probably sounded completely
callous.

McGath sighed. "It seems that Wolenczak tricked the officer from section
seven, who brought him into the meeting, after he found him at this doctor's
flat."

"It makes sense." Hudson agreed. "So he knows," he realised, relieved. He
hadn't wanted to have to tell Lucas that his friend was dead, especially
after the no stress rule from the doctor. "Is there anything else?"

"No. We're just trying to tie up some of the loose ends before the
conference."

"I've got the 'friend', who was the backup for the media with the evidence.
We'll protect her here. That's the safest thing. She's been able to fill in
some of the background details."

"Good. I don't have time now, but I'll talk to you, and her, later." He
severed the link.

"I'm sorry to keep you here, but I think that it'll be a lot safer for
you," Hudson explained sympathetically.

"That's fine. I want to be able to talk to McGath." From the sounds of it
it wouldn't be a conversation that he would enjoy. "I just wish that Alex
could have known about this. It's what he spent the rest of his life
fighting for, after Banaba."

Ford smiled quietly, at last at peace, hearing her say that. From her he
could take it as the truth. After all it was her people who had been
suffering and their losses. He knew that such an example of forgiveness was
a rarity and that he would never find another. He promised himself that he
would never again make that mistake, or one like it.


copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 13  =====================================


copyright E.Casale 1997

Like I promised.....

Chapter 13

For the next few hours everything was quiet. There were no security problems
at the prison or the hospital and they waited for the press release that was
close at hand, feeling the lull before the final storm. But in some ways the
worst storm was already over. Ford had arranged for a television to be
brought into the waiting area and they sat around in a semi circle. The
newscaster shuffled her papers.

"Tonight we are interrupting our usual schedule on all channels for a
special broadcast from the UEO: Secretary General McGath, addressing the
People of the UEO." The picture changed from the studio to a press hall with
McGath and many of the other Joint Chiefs at a table before a crowd of
cameras and flashes, amid a veritable fortress of microphones.

"Tonight the UEO will talk to the people it serves, but it is something
that none of us want to do. Earlier today we were presented with evidence
of terrible crimes against humanity, violations of all our civil and human
rights codes. And even worse than this, these crimes were committed by
serving UEO officers. In 2009 at a small base that is now a Macronesian
Weather station..." the address continued. They didn't show the files of the
experiments or describe them in detail. They didn't have to. At the end of
the speech there was silence and McGath continued, giving a list of the
meetings and conferences called to deal with the situation: to change the
laws, to disband section seven, to try Generals Neal and Howard. And he
finally ended with a pledge from the UEO to its people and the GELF nation.
The was silence when he had finished: no flashes, no questions.

Finally one reporter spoke up. "Who brought in the evidence?"

"Ensign Wolenczak, currently assigned to the SeaQuest."

"Can we talk to him?"

"In a few days. Ensign Wolenczak is resting after the... the stresses of
the past few days."

"How did he get into the bases for the information?"

McGath answered their questions honestly, even if only to say that he didn't
know. The conference picked up for a few minutes before it dropped off
again, the reporters shocked into silence by the facts that they were not
ready to ask questions on, yet. "Once again I and the UEO want to apologise
to everyone, particularly the GELF nation, of course. We have failed
abysmally in our duties, but we hope that we can learn from this and make
some good come out of it. The fact that we did not know what was happening,
or even of the existence of the base, is inexcusable. We hope that the
measures we will now put in place will make the UEO an organisation which we
can trust, in the future, with good reason. Nothing we can do can make up for
what has happened. All we can do is look to the future and make it better,
for what we have discovered today. Thank you." He left the room as the
cameras lingered on, finally pulling back to a bewildered and crumpled
studio host, her hair sticking out at wild angles and her suit badly
creased. She stared blankly into the cameras, not seeming to hear the
half-hearted prompts, and the screen turned over to a pre-recorded
basketball game from the night before.

For the next few days reports on the experiments and the UEO's reactions
flooded the news. There were meetings and summits of all nations to write
new covenants, changing the UEO laws, reassigning section seven's functions
to other parts of the military and discussions with the GELF nation. Teams
of UEO personnel went through the section seven files, discovering numerous
assassination missions and other evidence of corruption: funding,
promotions, agreements with business interests. The science staff went
through the experiment data and dealt with the corpses they found- three
GELFs. The man who had died after the experiment which Lucas had shown the
Joint Chiefs, a woman who had been murdered when the SeaQuest staff had
arrived to take over the base and a two month old baby. The mother had been
in the hospital when the doctors gave her an anaesthetic and made the
husband leave the room. Later they told her that the child had died. Shock
and horror continued to build, but with the meetings televised and put on
all channels, the efforts to push through new legislation and a charter of
rights, the shock was gradually put aside, as people began to look to what
they could achieve out of this. A moving speech from a GELF nation speaker
confirmed that they had accepted the actions being taken and agreed that
they were satisfied with the new laws and changes to the system, and that
they would continue to accept the UEO as their government.

"We cannot undo what has happened or forgive. We can move on, knowing that
it was the UEO who did this, but also the UEO who eventually ended it and
are making sure that this type of horror will be impossible in our future.
Regardless of the anger we feel, we cannot blame the whole of the UEO, as
they did not know what was happening. It would be pointless and only add to
the suffering of all people if we let our rage stop us from accepting and
recognising this new government which will, I believe, be one of the best in
the world for human and GELF rights, after this atrocity. It cannot make it
worthwhile, nothing could; but it lessens the pain to know they, our people,
didn't suffer pointlessly and that it will never happen again. Thank you."

The GELF nation held a day of mourning and remembrance and, without any
prompting, thousands of people converged on the civil rights memorial in the
city park, to leave flowers and light candles. Some stayed for a while in
silence, under the trees, in the darkness. The next day was a celebration
for the new rights which they had been given and the new covenants which
would ensure their safely and these rights. It was almost a second
liberation day. This time they would be able to exercise the rights they had
been given. For those two days the whole city stopped working and a national
day of commemoration was announced. The two nations mingled cautiously,
mostly staying in groups of their own kind, but with overtures, if not of
friendship, of tolerance and acceptance. There was no violence or
retaliation though there were several marches to support the action being
taken. Overall the people of both sides seemed satisfied, though they would
be watching their government carefully.


That it was very still all around, was the first thing he noticed, and the
quiet. He was floating somewhere just below being awake. He didn't want to
wake up yet, but he knew that he wouldn't sleep again until he had asked the
question. He opened his eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the light and
then looked around the comfortable room. There were no windows; for security
reasons a location deeper inside the building had been necessary. Ford was
sitting beside the bed, staring at the television screen, with the mute on.
It was showing a scene from the park and the memorial. Lucas shifted slightly, 
"Commander?" His voice was rasping still.

Ford looked over surprised. "Lucas, you're awake!"

"Umm. Did McGath, the press release... what... are they doing?" Talking was
still not very easy. His throat was dry, though the breathing part was not
very painful any more.

"The press release went out a day ago. They've disbanded section seven and
are meeting to change the laws and sort out the mess that section seven left
behind. The GELF nation have accepted the terms." He looked at the screen. "
Last night was for mourning. Today they are celebrating the changes..." He
trailed off as Lucas sighed and closed his eyes again, to sleep. Ford waited
to see if he would wake up again and then went to the door. "See if you can
find Dr. Peters," he told one of the guards. She arrived shortly, coming
into the room to check his pulse and breathing.

She nodded. "He's fine. He's sleeping properly, now. He'll be sleeping a
lot for a few days still, but he'll start waking up for longer, though he
might not be totally 'with it'."

"Thank you."

"Just remember what I said: no stress." She frowned at him, without
animosity and left. "Call me again when he wakes up next."

Ford nodded. He moved over to the door and turned on his PAL. "Captain?
Lucas woke up a few moments ago. He's asleep again now, but the doctor
thinks he'll be up again later."

"I'll be over there in a few hours. Any security problems?"

"None. Not even a hint of trouble."

"Stay prepared, Commander."

"Yes, Sir." For the next few days it would only become more likely for
something to happen. It would be a few months before they could really
relax, but they wouldn't have to stay in New Cape Quest for all that time
and they would be much safer on the move.


The next time he woke he was ready for it and he opened his eyes, focusing
more fully.  "Hey, good afternoon!" Tony leaned forward from the chair next
to him. "How're you feelin'?"

Lucas looked at him sarcastically, "Perfect, never felt better."

Tony smiled at his tone as he got up and went to the door. "Go get Ford,
will you? Oh, and the doctor." Then he came back and re-seated himself.
Lucas shifted stiffly and then rolled over, pushing himself into a sitting
position against the wall and reached over for a drink. The water was luke
warm, but it was wet and that was what mattered. He frowned at the IV as he
got tangled in it. Tony for once seemed to have nothing to say. He looked
like he wanted to say something, but couldn't get it out. The door opened
and Ford came in.

"Hi. How're you feeling?" Lucas rolled his eyes, knowing that he would be
asked that question a million times, when the answer was obvious.

"Better," he replied patiently. "What're you grinning at?" he asked Tony.

"Just glad to have you awake again. Do you know how boring it is to watch
someone sleep?"

"Why are you here? I mean, aren't there a million things for you to do?" he
clarified.

"We're here to protect you. Howard isn't going to be too pleased at being
arrested. There's a good chance that he'll try something." Ford frowned at
him. "What?" asked Tony, innocently.

"He's in prison?" Lucas wanted to be certain.

"Yes. Brody is over there making sure that that's where he'll stay until
the trial. Everything's going through as you asked. The UEO is going to
survive this. The GELF nation accepted the terms last night. They've been
granted new rights and there will be a new supervisiory body to check that
they get them." Lucas smiled. "Rachel was here earlier. You can ask her
when she comes back," Ford added.

"Rachel? How did she...?"

"Loni found out when she was talking to Dagwood. They went to bring her
here for protection. She's fine, just sleeping in another room."

Lucas was staring off into the distance sadly, remembering the other friend.
"Hey, what's up?" Tony asked him. "You OK?"

"Yeah," he said slowly, pulling himself back to the room and the present.
He closed his eyes and sighed. "Another friend, Dr Alexander..."

"We know. We went to his flat." He watched Lucas carefully, trying to work
out if he knew.

"How did he die?" He said softly. It didn't help that he knew that Alex had
been willing to die, that he would have wanted to die 'doing something'.

"We don't know yet. The autopsy might be a while, because of all the
other... things." Lucas nodded, staring at a blank space on the wall. He
leaned back and closed his eyes, tired already. Tony looked across at Ford,
worried.

"I heard that you were up." Dr. Peters walked into the room brightly and
Lucas looked up at her confused.

"I'm Dr.Peters. I've been treating you." She sat down and checked his
pulse, then the IV. "How does your breathing feel?"

"OK."

"Does it still hurt? Is it hard to breathe?" She asked patiently.

"No, not really." She looked at him sideways. "Maybe a little, but not
much," he admitted.

"You had a fair amount of water in your lungs. With that and being in the
water for so long, you managed to develop an infection. Your body was simply
too tired to deal with it, which meant that it progressed very fast. But you
seem to be responding very well to the medication. I want you to try to
sleep as much as possible, and no stress. Your organs, particularly your
heart, were under a lot of additional strain because of the breathing
difficulties, and you need to take it easy until the medication can repair
that."

He nodded tiredly. "I feel a bit out of it."

"That's the medication. We'll cut it down in a few days, but for now it'll
just help you sleep and that's the best thing. Is there anything else that
is uncomfortable: anything hurt, ache?"

"No, I'm just tired. Do I have to keep this?" he asked waving the IV.

"Yes, it's the best way to give you the medication. Sorry. It should only
be a few more days. Now I want you to lie down and sleep. You shouldn't be
sitting up all the time yet." Lucas frowned at her, having no intention of
obeying.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure that he behaves," Tony grinned at the
attractive doctor and Ford rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

"Hmm," she replied. "I'll be back later." She turned to Ford. "And I don't
want too many people cluttering up this room. If he's staying awake because
there are people here, you'll have to get them to leave."

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied meekly. She folded her arms at his tone, not sure
whether he was being polite or gently sacrastic, and then left.

"Lie down and go back to sleep." Ford told Lucas and he shuffled down,
trying to look disgruntled but really very grateful for the order.



Later he was watching the news developments with Rachel, when Hudson came
in. "It's nice to see you awake," he said, pulling up a chair.

"Thank you, Sir," Lucas answered neutrally, not sure how his Captain was
feeling about what he had done. Rachel looked at Hudson and then got up.

"I'll see you later. I told David that I would help him back at the bar.
We've got a lot more people than usual." She smiled warmly at him and left,
picking up her coat.

Hudson watched as the door closed slowly behind her, then turned back to
Lucas. "McGath told me to tell you that all your 'demands'," Lucas blushed
deeply at this, "are being met. When you're feeling a bit better, he wants
to come and talk to you about things." Lucas nodded, uncertain for a moment.

"Do they" he paused, "want to press charges?"

Hudson stared at him amazed. "No, of course not. He wants to thank you, and
get you to fill in a few details."

Lucas was shocked now. "They don't mind: about the press and everything..."

"Actually they are very glad that you did it. It forced them to take
actions which they otherwise would have avoided for expediency. The UEO is
weathering this very well. It's showing that it's doing everything that it
can to change the things that allowed this to happen," he reassured him.

"Mm. Rachel told me." He frowned, thinking. It all seemed too good to be
true, impossible that it was over and that he had been successful.

"I wanted to tell you... how much I admire and respect what you did,"
Hudson said with difficulty. Lucas stared at him, amazed. Hudson had never
praised him for anything. He smiled, stunned and proud of this compliment,
knowing how much it was worth. "I just wish that you could have come to me
for help," he added.

"I didn't want to get anyone else in trouble. I thought that if anyone
knew, they wouldn't let me go. I didn't want to force anyone into helping,"
Lucas explained carefully.

Hudson nodded. "I honestly can't think of another way of doing this that
would have been so successful. It's incredible that you managed it, though.
How did you get into the second base?" They sat for about an hour talking,
Lucas explaining the details of what had happened. When he got to the end,
Hudson realised how tired he was looking. "Get some sleep, Ensign," he
ordered. "Well done," he said, before finally leaving. Lucas rolled over,
glorying in the praise as he drifted off to sleep, which was still very easy
with all the medication.


He was playing poker, the next day, with Tony, when Rachel came in to see
him, as she had for the last two days. But that day she was dressed all in
black and looked sad, though she smile brightly as she came in.

"Why the black?" Tony asked, betting another chip.

"I have to go to a funeral."

Lucas, watching her as she sat down, laid out his full house without even
waiting to see Tony's reaction. "Alex?" he asked quietly and she nodded.
"What time?"

"I have to be over there in an hour, so I can only stay for a while," she
apologised.

"I'm coming," he stated.

"Whoa, a minute. You're not going anywhere," Tony negated, firmly. Lucas
ignored him, slowly getting up and standing unsteadily. "Get back in bed
right now! Ford'll kill me if he sees you wandering around."

"Then we'll have a double funeral," Lucas replied forcefully. Walking
across the room a few times to get himself used to it, and then looking in
the cupboard for his uniform. It should be dress whites, but he wouldn't
have time to get those.

"You're not meant to be up yet. You know the reason why we're here the
whole time, with ten other crew members, is for your safety. Exactly how do
you think we're going to be able to keep you safe in the middle of an open
field, unless you're going to spend the funeral squatting behind a grave
stone." He was looking around nervously, expecting Ford to walk in at any
moment.

"I'm not going to hide behind a grave stone and I am going. Look Tony, none
of this would have been possible without Alex. I owe it to him as a friend,
in respect for him and for saving my life, to go. This is the one thing that
I can do for him and I'm not going to let him down. I'm also not going to
spend the rest of my life hiding. If Howard decides that he wants to get
someone to kill me, I'll just have to hope that they don't manage it, but
I'm not going to hide from the world for ever, and that starts now." He
turned to Rachel. "Excuse me while I change," he said and she nodded,
leaving. She looked worried at his insistence but could understand and
respect it. Lucas started to dress slowly. "Stop making me stress," he
blackmailed, wickedly, teasing.

Tony looked at him, infuriated and helpless. "Ford is not going to let you
go." Lucas ignored him and he left. He hurried down the corridor, not
wanting to have to explain what was going on, but knowing that he could not
avoid it. "Commander?" Ford was sleeping in another room. He sat up,
rubbing his eyes and then sitting up straight.

"What happened? Has some one tried to get in the building?" he asked sharply.

"No. It's not that. You know this friend of Lucas', Dr.Alexander, who got
killed. Well, his funeral is today and Lucas says he's going."

"And you said no, right?" Ford's tone was ominous.

"Yeah, but he wouldn't listen to me."

Ford gave a Do-I-have-to-do-everything-myself sigh and left the room with
Tony trailing behind, giving excuses. "OK, I'll deal with it." Lucas was
sitting on the bed looking pale but determined, already dressed, talking to
Rachel. They stopped when Ford came in. "I'm sorry, I understand how you
feel about this, but I cannot let you go. It's simply not safe."

Lucas looked up at him, tiredly. "Like I said, I'm not going to hide for
the rest of my life because of this. I'd rather that they'd just shoot me
to begin with."

"Lucas, it isn't just you. If anything happens to you, it will just prove
that the UEO can't protect anyone or do anything about Howard and section
seven." Ford tried to convince him, by showing him the larger picture,
knowing that he wouldn't give in on the basis of his personal safety.

"And if that's true? If you apply that argument the UEO will just be hiding
from what has happened and what they need to do. People have died, including
Alex, for this and I'm not going to let him down. I'm not going to let him
down by not being there. This is personal. The UEO doesn't have authority
over that. I'm not on duty at the moment, so unless you're going to keep me
here by force, I'm going. And I'm sorry if this puts you in a difficult
position, but it's my action and my responsibility," he insisted firmly.

"Hudson and McGath are trusting me to protect you. It's my responsibility,"
Ford replied, equally stubborn.

"They can't assign someone to baby-sit me for ever. My actions are my own
and I will accept and deal with the consequences." He was breathing hard
now. "Look, I'm not feeling up to arguing over this."

Ford paced furiously for a while. "OK, God damn it, but you do what I say!"
Lucas nodded, silently. He knew not to push his luck by even a simple reply.

copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 14  =====================================

copyright E.Casale 1997


Chapter 14

Rachel had arranged for Alex's ashes to be buried near the memorial in the
park which had been the centre of the mourning and celebration meetings.
Mostly people were back at work, the holiday over, the UEO trying to
re-establish a normal routine for the people, while their hectic schedule of
meetings continued. A group of the GELFs from the 'Sheath' were there and a
few others, their family and friends, people whom Alex had had contact with
and had helped. Rachel stepped forward, from the small gathering.

"Dr Alexander was a man we all knew and cared deeply for. He was a man who
was reborn at the age of forty and dedicated his life and his new self to
helping our people. For ten years he guided us and helped us in any way that
he could. Three days ago he gave his life for our cause: for our freedom and
to win our rights. What he did taught him how to do better and I forgave any
injury against our people a long time ago. If it is possible to repay a debt
of that kind, he repaid it tenfold, if not more. I will miss him very much,
but what he gave his life for will grow and develop. It will give us and all
the other people of the UEO a better government to live under. This was what
he stood for and believed in. We will never really be without him, as his
influence and deeds will remain in the laws, which are being written as we
speak. We won't forget him and his contribution. I know that what he wanted
most from life was to die in peace, feeling that he had repaid what he
could. He wanted his death and his life to achieve something and they did. I
know that, however he died, he died happy in his greatest wish." She bowed
her head for a few moments and they stood in the still air, under the light
grey sky, no wind, no sun, no storm clouds, simply a quiet patch of sadness.

Then she turned to Lucas and he held her close for a few moments, smiling at
her. David came towards them and shook hands silently with Lucas, gently
squeezing Rachel's arm. "I wanted to say how grateful we all are for what
you did," he said, smiling but still deeply saddened.

"Thank you. I wish it hadn't been needed." David nodded and moved on. The
other people waiting shook hands with Lucas, some thanking him, others just
looking at him silently and pensively, needing to see his skin, to accept
that he had helped them and that humans would fight each other on their
behalf. "It's good to meet you," several said. The last group was a family,
with a little girl standing, rather confused by the solemn proceedings,
between her parents. The father and mother shook hands, as the child
continued to stare at Lucas.

"Mummy, why are you shaking hands with a monotone?" she asked innocently.

Her parents looked at Lucas, deeply embarrassed and ashamed. "It's not
polite to say that, darling," the mother told her.

"But you do," the child objected.

The woman looked at Lucas helplessly. He smiled. "Let's just hope we can
give you a reason to change that view. Unfortunately it's been justified
so far."

"No, it hasn't," she answered. "It's like saying all GELFs are good. They
aren't and neither are all people. It's just a pity that it's the ones in
power that are the bad ones, but that is changing. I am glad to be wrong,
here. It's not just the UEO that needs to change. We are very grateful for
what you have done. It was my child," she stopped, "our child they took."
Her eyes were bright, as were Rachel and Lucas'.

"I'm so very sorry," he said simply with deep emotion in his voice.

She held out her hand uncertainly and he took it, then she looked at him and
smiled. "I needed to know that not all people are like that. Believing that
all people were evil meant living without hope. That's not really living.
I'm glad that it was you who did this and I'm very glad to meet you. It
really means a lot to me. Things will change and that will mean that my
child didn't die for nothing. I can't ask more than that without changing
the past. At least we have a future. It just won't heal in a day."

She let her hand dropped and put it through her husband's arm. "We are very
grateful," he reiterated and they led their daughter off, still confused.
Lucas nodded, knowing that accepting this, without comment, would ease the
difficulty and embarrassment that was still tangible in the atmosphere.

"I don't understand," the little girl said and the couple looked at each
other before starting to explain, the sound of the voices audible for a
while in the still air, but not the words.

Lucas turned to Ford and Tony, waiting behind him, still looking around for
any danger. "Thank you. I needed to be here," he said, gratefully.

"Let's just go while we're still in one piece." He nodded tired, swaying
slightly. "OK," Tony said, gently supporting him as they started walking
back. " I think you've been up long enough for one day." Lucas smiled and
let his friend lead him back to the car. It was hard work keeping awake for
the five minutes drive back to the hospital, but he knew that once he slept
he wouldn't wake again for a while. He was very grateful for Tony's arm
supporting him as they finally arrived back at the ward.

"Where the hell have you been?!" Hudson shouted at them, getting up from
his seat in the corridor, furious.

"I..." Ford started to explain.

"It's my fault," Lucas looked at his Captain directly, stating it so as to
stop any further argument on this point. "Commander Ford just came along to
make sure that I was safe."

Hudson looked him over and saw how exhausted he was. "What the hell were
you thinking of, Commander. He's not even meant to be out of bed yet!"

"I told you. This is entirely my fault!" Lucas repeated loudly and very
forcefully. The other three stared at him, surprised at his confronting
Hudson like this. "It was Dr.Alexander's funeral. I refused not to go. Ford
and Tony came along to make sure I was all right, while I was being reckless
or stupid, as you would probably have it. I'm not on duty, so I had every
right to choose to go. And, as I told them, I'm not going to hide from
Howard and the world. It doesn't say much about the UEO's chances of
changing things if the strategy is just to hide." He sat down heavily,
coughing, The others looked at him worriedly, as Peters ran in and knelt
beside him.

"What the hell has been happening here?!" she asked Hudson.

"I went to the funeral of one of my friends," Lucas gasped.

"You shouldn't have let him go." Peters was still talking to Hudson.

"He didn't know and they didn't have any choice," Lucas said exasperated
and fed up of repeating himself. "There was no way that they were going to
keep me here without violating my rights and I think there's been enough of
that lately."

She frowned at him. "Stop talking and get your breath back," she admonished
him. He did as he was told, as she checked his pulse and reconnected the IV
that he had pulled out before. "I'm probably going to keep you here at
least another day because of this." She shook out some pills from a bottle
and obliged Lucas to swallow them. "You really have to take it easy for a
while if you want to get over this. Otherwise it is going to take a lot
longer than it has to." She sighed. "We'll let you sleep now and I'll check
on you later." She bustled the others out of the room, as Lucas lay back on
the bed. In the corridor she folded her arms and scowled at them; they all
dropped their heads, cowed by her angry looks. "I don't want this to happen
again. I meant it when I said no stress and that includes his getting up and
exerting himself, before he's had a chance to rest and recover. He will be
fine, so long as he does nothing for a few days, that's all. Surely the CO
and XO of the great SeaQuest can manage to keep one teenager in bed. Hm?"
she added, sarcastically.

"It won't happen again, doctor," Hudson assured her.

"Good." She turned crisply. "And make sure you don't disturb him," she
called, still walking away.

Hudson turned to the other two and stared them down. "Nothing happened,"
Tony told the floor, nervously.

"You were lucky, then. Next time you're not going to get off so lightly."
They stared at him surprised. "He may be just a teenager, but he's also just
stirred up the whole of the UEO, resulting in two Joint Chiefs being
arrested, numerous changes to the law and the re-structuring of an entire
section. That's a formidable force to go up against and I can see how it
would have been hard to stop him. This is going to be hard. Wolenczak is
right when he says that he can't hide forever, but the next few days are
going to be the worst. Let's just make sure that they stay uneventful."

Ford and Tony nodded, relieved to be let off so lightly. "Yes, Sir. Thank
you."

"I need to talk to him when he wakes up. Right now I'm going to get some
sleep too. Think you can handle things?" Ford blushed at the barb, but it
was said teasingly.

"Yes, Sir."


Lucas slept for another twelve hours after the the funeral. When he woke,
Ford was watching him. "I was wondering when you'd wake up. Are you feeling
better?" he sounded concerned, still feeling somewhat guilty for letting him
go.

"Yeah," he sat up, shaking his head blearily. "I just need to wake up."

"You up to a visitor?"

"Huh?"

"Secretary McGath wanted to talk to you."

Lucas opened his eyes at that. "When? What for?"

"He said as soon as you woke up, if you were feeling up to it and Dr.Peters
has agreed. I don't know what it's about, but I wouldn't worry. He would
have told us if it was something really serious." Lucas still looked uneasy.
"If you're too tired, I can tell him to wait a few days," he offered.

"No, it's OK." Best get it over with, he thought.

Ford nodded. "I'll be right back. I'll send Dr.Peters in to check on you."

She sauntered in a few moments later. "Well, how are we feeling?" She sat
down beside him and looked him over. "I expect you're feeling the effects
of doing too much too soon." Lucas didn't answer. "Luckily you don't seem to
have done yourself any additional damage, but from now on you must really be
careful. It'll only be for about a week, but it's important that you do take
care. OK?" She waited for a reply and he nodded reluctantly. "OK," she
said. "Commander Ford told me that you have a high-powered visitor coming.
If you get too tired, or you start to feel stressed, you are to call me, OK?
There's a button by the bed and I'll come in and get rid of him, so you
don't even have to do it yourself. All you have to do is be sensible."

He smiled at her gratefully. "Thank you- for everything. I don't think I've
said that yet," he realised, embarrassed by the omission.

"Actually it's a pleasure. I feel very honoured to be able to treat you
after what you've done for everyone. I was starting to feel very
disillusioned with the UEO, but they really are doing everything that anyone
could ask. It's nice to have a bit of hope for once. I'm not sure if it's
well founded hope, but we'll see."

Ford knocked and came back in. "Is it OK if he comes in twenty minutes?"
Lucas looked at Dr. Peters and then nodded.


McGath arrived perfectly on time, looking very weary and not slightly
irritated. "How are you feeling?" he asked predictably.

"OK, thank you, Sir." Lucas replied. He was sitting in a chair by the bed,
feeling less vulnerable there.

"Good. I need to talk to you about... well, about some ways in which you
can help us. The media and various other people have asked to talk to you.
It's not surprising, since you were the one who started this infernal mess."
Lucas started to look worried at his tone. "Not that there's a problem with
that; it's just that it's been a hard few days," he reassured him, quickly.
"We thought that you could talk to people at the ceremony." Lucas looked at
him blankly. "Hudson didn't tell you?" he asked, confused, then his face
lightened. "I guess I forgot to tell him. You're getting promoted and we
want to award you a medal for bravery." Lucas stared at him for a moment and
blinked. "You don't seem very... pleased or honoured," he observed with
some amusement. "Most people would at least say thank you."

"I don't want to be promoted and given a whatever it is, at least not for
this," he added. McGath looked at him stunned. He had never known anyone not
want to be promoted.

"Why not?" he asked, honestly curious.

"I'm not ready. I have a hard enough time doing my job as an Ensign, let
alone being promoted. I'm not ready for any type of command position and I
don't think I want one either."

McGath laughed aloud at that. "You continue to amaze me." Then he grew
serious. "This is important. We need you to accept this. We need to show
that we value what you did, that we appreciate it rather than regret what,
some people will think, it 'forced' us into."

"Even if it's true? I am not going to be promoted for political expediency!
That's part of what got you in this position in the first place and I will
not be the start of a new 'trend' in it!" Lucas said furiously. "What I did
was to stop UEO corruption, not become it," he was speaking now with great
disdain and disgust in his voice. "I am not going to accept something that
is meant to be an honour. It insults the people who earned those honours,
for it to be used like this. I will not accept something that I haven't
earned and I don't deserve." McGath, who had been growing angry, drawing
himself up into his official position, was trying not to laugh again, by the
end of Lucas' speech. "I don't see that this is very amusing," Lucas
snapped, thoroughly disregarding their relative ranks.

McGath looked him in the eye. "I have never met a situation where someone
deserved this more. What you did no one else of any rank had the courage to
do, and there have been over two decades for people to try. There were lots
of people who could have done this, without nearly so much personal risk.
What you did was truly one of the bravest things I have seen. And the way
you handled it means that Neal and Howard are in custody and will go on
trial as soon as possible, though that will probably be at least three
weeks. The laws will be changed. You even gave us the chance to stop this
from destroying the UEO, which it would've done, had it come out
differently. We are very grateful, not just for the chance to continue to
govern, but for the fact that we will be doing it as a better government. I
am not quite so corrupt as to offer this to you, after the scandal about
Howard and his promotions, had you not earned it. Lucas, you deserve this. I
won't deny that it is good, politically, but it wouldn't be if it wasn't
only what you've earned for yourself. I want you to accept this as token of
our gratitude and our admiration. I would be disappointed in you, after what
you've shown me so far, if you accepted for another reason. I guess I should
have expected these doubts, but they only do you further credit." He waited
but Lucas didn't answer.

"I just don't know," he said at length. McGath sighed and got up,
exasperated but not angry, and walked to the door, shaking his head. "There
is no legitimate reason for you to refuse. If you can't trust me, ask one of
the others; ask your doctor, ask anyone. They'll all give you the same
answer, but if you'll trust it more coming from them, that's fine." He left
before Lucas could argue with him again. Lucas was still sitting, thinking,
when Hudson came in a few moments later.

"McGath told me you didn't want to accept the promotion." Lucas was annoyed
that he also seemed to find it highly amusing.

"Why does everyone find that so funny," he asked, iritated.

"You think that they're just doing this for a PR exercise?" Lucas nodded.
"You really don't seem to realise how remarkable what you did was. How much
it will change things. If you're worried that you don't deserve this, it's
absolute nonsense. You talked about it being an insult to people who had
earned it. Well, it's insulting to them and the UEO for you not to accept
what you have earned." Lucas looked up at him. "If you're worried about not
being able or ready to deal with the responsibilities, I will make sure that
you get the training and experience you need and that your duties won't
change until you have that."

"You think I should agree?"

"There's no reason not to and every reason why you should and feel proud of
it."

Lucas smiled at him, "Thank you, Sir." Hudson nodded and went to the door
to get McGath, who came back in looking relieved.

"Glad to hear that you've agreed. Now we just have to talk about the
arrangements..." He shifted into business mode.

"There's one- two conditions," Lucas interrupted. Hudson stared at him,
hearing this, but he was looking at McGath, determinedly. "I want you to
give the same- whatever it is- to Dr. Alexander, posthumously, and to
Rachel. I couldn't have done it without them and if I deserve it, then so
do they."

McGath nodded, slowly. "I have heard about Alexander's part in this, and
Hudson filled me in about this 'Rachel'. I agree with you and will arrange
for it. Where can I find her?"

"She said she'd be back," Lucas looked at the clock, "in about an hour
from now."

"Good. Anything else you want?" Lucas refused to be embarassed by it and
simply shook his head.
"Captain Hudson will provide the security, but there will be press, heads
of state and other UEO people, who will want to talk to you." Lucas nodded
reluctantly.

"So long as it isn't too long or too stressful. You'll have to clear that
with his doctor," Hudson reminded McGath, who made a gesture to say that
that wouldn't be a problem. Little did he know about getting around Dr.
Peters.

"I'll schedule it for tomorrow. So you'd better get some sleep." McGath
turned to leave. "Before I forget, I wanted to show you this." He opened his
briefcase and took out a framed picture and handed it to Lucas. It was an
old photograph of two young men, standing in front of a fighter plane,
holding their flight helmets under their arms and grinning at the camera.
One was McGath, but the other Lucas couldn't identify until he looked
closely at the helmet and the plane behind. Both had Ares, and a ram's horn,
emblazoned proudly, in gold paint. "We did a stint flying from a carrier.
One day something went wrong with the controls, but Howard managed to land
her. It was a miracle that, neither we, nor the plane were damaged. He
always said that his birthday was lucky." He looked at the photo for a
moment and then Lucas handed it back. "I just thought that it might help if
you could see that other side to him, see him as human. Then you could
understand how I made the mistake of trusting him with so much power. I
trusted him as a friend, and because of flying together. We were even at
boot camp at the same time. He was always... he always wanted to be in
control, but I could trust him. And the way he was superstitious about the
zodiac, it kind of made him seem less violent, though he was, even back
then." As he rose to leave, Lucas still couldn't think of a reply. "This
really is only what you've earned," McGath said kindly, and earnestly,
as he left. Lucas wished he could have thanked him. He had seen the pain
in the older man's eyes, as he handed over the photo and talked about
his friend, whom he would be sending to prison for the rest of his life.
It made it easier to understand how he could have made such a mistake.
It was the type of mistake he could see himself making. It also meant
that his praise could now be appreciated and enjoyed.


"I can't believe you didn't want this," Tony burst out, as they travelled
through the streets to the ceremony.

Lucas looked nervous and sick at the thought of it all. "I don't think I
want to do this," he wavered.

"Too late," said Hudson from the front seat and Lucas glared at his back.
When they got out of the car in the underground parking lot, security people
surrounded them. They were escorted up into the main building and from there
into a huge assembly hall. Rachel was already waiting for them, at one end,
and she smiled as she came towards them.

"You look more nervous than I do," she whispered to Lucas. He nodded,
wondering if he would throw up. They waited for a sickening half hour for
everything to be ready and then McGath a stirring speech, which he didn't
listen to a word of. The next thing he knew, Hudson nudged him and he stood
up for McGath to present him with the medal and shake his hand. He looked
blankly at him and at the shiny ribbon, then sat again.

"Smile!" Rachel hissed at him, sitting down again beside him. "I just wish
you hadn't gotten me into this too! I didn't really do anything. Alex I was
glad about, but I..."

"None of this would have happened if I'd stayed on that beach and I
couldn't possibly have got off it without you. And what would have happened
if I hadn't managed to get to the Joint Chiefs?" She shrugged. "Look,
neither of us feel comfortable with it, but... I just don't feel like it's
me." He giggled stupidly, smothering it quickly, as Hudson glared at him,
sideways.

After that the press asked him a few questions, which he answered on
automatic pilot. None of it seemed real, more like some bizarre fantasy and
he couldn't stay serious. Peters had forbidden McGath to let him stay for
more than fifteen minutes of questions, so, after that, McGath took over,
while Hudson ushered them out of the hall and drove them back to the
hospital. Peters was waiting to check up on him.

She seemed satisfied. "I want you to take this," she said handing him a
pill and a glass of water. "It's a sedative. You won't feel it now, but if
you don't sleep, you'll be exhausted again." She was very disgruntled at his
going out, even for a while, regardless of the reason, before she thought he
was ready. "By the way, congratulations," she added, smiling.


copyright E.Casale 1997


===========================  PART 15  =====================================


copyright E.Casale

Chapter 15

He spent the next few days being made to follow her instructions to the
letter. After another two days, Peters said he could leave the next day. He
sat in the waiting area, impatient for the day to pass. He was fed up of
kicking his heels. Ford came down the hall. "Can I get you something- a
drink, something to eat?" he offered, patiently.

It couldn't be much fun for him either, Lucas thought, especially as the
security was proving unnecessary. "A diet pepsi would be great." Ford nodded
and left to get it. As he reached the end of the hall, he saw one of the
guards hurrying towards him.

"Sir, Captain Bridger is here. Can we let him through?"

"Of course," he said exasperated and then he remembered his injunction not
to trust anyone in the UEO; the guard was just doing his job properly. "I
mean, yes. Captain Bridger is an exception. Well done for asking, though,"
he added. He walked back with the guard and found Bridger waiting in the
reception area, looking tense. "It's good to see you, Sir," he said,
smiling warmly as they shook hands.

"Likewise." Bridger looked around nervously and followed Ford, as he
started to walk back down the hall. When they were out of earshot of the
guard, Bridger stopped him with a hand on his arm. "I wanted to see that he
was all right. I mean, I'd heard that he was, but I just wanted to be sure.
I don't know if he'll want to see me," he said, sadly.

"Of course he'll be delighted..." Ford started before remembering that
Lucas and Bridger hadn't parted well, and that it had been because of
Bridger's section seven activities. "I'm sure he'll want to see you, Sir,"
he replied confidently, secretly unsure, and Bridger looked hopeful. "He's
sitting around at the moment, bored out of his mind. His doctor said that he
can't leave until tomorrow." They had reached the end of the corridor by
then. "Lucas, you've got a visitor," Ford announced and then left.

Bridger waited as Lucas looked up and saw him, afraid about how he would
respond, but Lucas smiled broadly at him, and got up to shake hands. "It's
good to see you, Captain," he told him, earnestly.

Bridger felt himself finally relax. He looked the boy over, needing to see
for himself that he was safe and then they sat. "I was at the ceremony, but
I wasn't sure if you would want to see me."

Lucas frowned, thinking about the last time they had spoken. "I needed time
to... get some things straight."

"Save the world, thwart section seven..." Lucas grinned and blushed at
that. " I'm really..." Bridger started and then fumbled. "I'm really
impressed by what you did. You really deserved that award and the
promotion. I know that you'll do a lot of good with it."

"Thank you." Lucas smiled at him, enjoying the pride he saw in Bridger's
eyes and the warmth in his voice.

"Lucas, how much of this had to do with Banaba? How did you know to look
for something happening now?" He had to know.

"I didn't. I was looking for something else." Bridger was waiting for the
reply, "I needed to know exactly how much you were involved in what happened
there, how much you knew about it, but I wasn't ready to ask you for
myself," he explained.

Bridger sighed; it made him feel responsible. "Did you find what you were
looking for?" he asked heavily.

"No, I didn't have time to keep looking. But now I don't need to. Just tell
me if I'm right: you knew about the base and about the experiments, but you
didn't know that they were being tortured; you thought it was basically
painless stuff, not so... horrible."

Bridger nodded. "I honestly didn't know about that. When I started to get
close to it, they moved me on to another section. I never really knew the...
lengths that they went to until we went to Banaba. I did know that it was
going on and I didn't say anything. I asked my superiors about it, but only
once. I'm sorry I let you down," he answered, honestly.

"You didn't. What you did had nothing to do with me. I just needed to
accept that you had done it in your past, but that people change. You were
at the ceremony. You heard that Dr Alexander was awarded the same medal,
well, he was one of the scientists from Banaba and he showed me how
different people can become. He was my friend. He saved my life, more than
once. He was dedicated and I admired him. Maybe it's easier to accept things
about people when we don't know anything. I don't think I could ever be
disappointed in you. I know you better than that. One mistake in your past
can't cancel out all the other things you've done, not just for me, though
you've done so much. I just needed to be able to think it through." Besides,
that relationship was too important for him to lose. He just wasn't ready to
say that aloud yet. There wasn't a lot that he would be unable to forgive
Bridger for, and Bridger would never do any of those things.

Bridger looked him in the eye, then, and saw that he was perfectly sincere.
"It means a lot for you to say that, especially after what you did. I
don't think that I would or ever did have the guts to do anything like it.
It's really an honour to have served with you." He didn't tell him how he
hadn't slept properly since Hudson had told him that section seven had an
APB out on him, his fear in every waking moment, his frantic efforts to find
out something, to help; how he had thought he was about to die, when he
heard that Lucas was in hospital and then the incredible relief of being
told that he was all right, how afraid he had been to come here that day:
that he would be rejected, that Lucas' wouldn't have been able to forgive
him. It was a relationship that he needed. He watched Lucas closely, letting
the relief sink in and the tension slowly fade away.

They smiled at each other and then sat back to talk about all that had
happened. Lucas felt at peace for the first time in over a week; he
realised, suddenly, it had been that long. In all the confusion he hadn't
had a chance to resolve the issue that had started it all. A conclusion to
that was well overdue. He felt that the world wasn't quite such a bleak
place, as he had thought, when he'd found that, suddenly, he was ten years
in the future and everything had changed. He didn't like what he'd found
then, but he'd changed that.


"I'm... um, I'm here to give Captain Andrews some papers from her lawyer."
Jeffries stood nervously, shifting form one foot to the other, wishing that
he didn't, still, have to carry these damn messages, especially with what he
knew about section seven now. But a fair government meant a trial for
everyone. He sighed. At least he was trusted. They wouldn't let any of the
others in here, so at least the UEO knew that he was a good guy, just doing
this felt like he wasn't.

Brody turned on his Pal and talked in an undertone with someone at UEO HQ.
Then he closed the Pal and flicked through the papers. "OK, you can go
through," he said, leading him down the corridor, past rows of empty cells.
"OK, hand them over, but do it slowly and keep your hands in sight," he
ordered, stopping in front of a cell at the far end of the corridor.

Jeffries looked at him, confused. "Sir, these papers are for Captain
Andrews." Brody frowned in turn and turned on his PAL.

"Who's in cell 2003?" He nodded at the answer, adding a "thank you,"  and
shut off the PAL.
"What's the problem?" he asked, impatiently.

"That isn't Captain Andrew," Jeffries told him, indicating the woman, in
section seven uniform, watching them from the corner.

"Are you sure," Brody asked forcefully.

"Of course. She was my XO and then my CO. She hated my guts," he added to
show that he really was one of the good guys. Brody wasn't listening. He
went up to the bars.

"Who are you?" He demanded of the woman, then turned back to Jeffries. "Do
you know her?" Jeffries shook his head and Brody turned back to the occupant
of the cell.

She looked up fearfully. "Corporal Davis, section seven. Captain Andrews
said that I had to pretend to be her, that there was something corrupt going
on in the government and she needed time to get away to deal with it." Her
voice wavered. "She said that I would be serving the UEO and that it was
very important and that I...." she stopped, about to cry.

Brody slammed his hand against the bars and whipped out his PAL. "Captain
Hudson? This is Brody, over at the prison. We have a problem. The CO from
section seven HQ, it isn't her, the prisoner I have. They arrested the wrong
person. I've got some Corporal Davis here. Andrews tricked her into
masquerading as her." Hudson took a sharp breath on the other end. "I've
got someone from the base here, delivering papers. He seems to be OK; well,
they wouldn't have let him come if they hadn't checked him out, first. I'll
see if he knows the other people, but I think you'd better get me pictures
of the prisoners I'm meant to have here," he suggested grimly.

"I'll have them to you ASAP. Stay with things as they are, but try checking
with this other officer. Hudson out."


Hudson looked up from his conversation with Brody. He had been in a meeting
with McGath, when the call had interrupted them. "Sir, we have a problem.
It seems that the CO of section seven HQ got a junior officer to pretend to
be her. We don't have the real Captain Andrews in custody. We need to send
pictures over, for Brody to check about the other prisoners."

McGath looked aghast and pushed a button to call in his aide. "I need you
to get pictures of all the personnel on the arrest list." (That was what
they had named the list of all the main officers who had to be kept in the
prison, with Howard and Neal, for security.) "Now!"

The secretary ran out and could be heard shouting to other members of her
staff. McGath turned on his intercom and connected to the people, who were
now in control of the section seven base. "Western? This is McGath. Andrews
is missing. We thought we had arrested her, but turns out it was one of her
junior officers whom she talked into taking her place. I need you to put out
a search for her and see if she took anything from the base or if she's
hanging around there, somewhere." Western was in charge of dealing with, and
reassigning, the personnel from the two bases, deciding if they were fit for
further service: who had agreed with what was happening at the bases, who
had known, all the details that the UEO needed to have, before they could
trust their personnel without checking individual files, each time they
asked them to do something. The secretary came back in and handed him a
folder of pictures.

"I'll take those over to the base myself," Hudson offered. I want to see
what this Davis girl knows. Tell me what you find with the search."

"Make sure that Brody and Ford have her picture." McGath shuffled through
his papers trying to figure out how to deal with this new problem. "Tell me
immediately, if there's anyone else that we should be looking for." Hudson
nodded.


It turned out that Davis knew nothing more, than she had already told Brody.
Andrews was the only senior officer missing. Western reported back from the
base that fifteen members of the personnel were missing from her base, ten
of whom had been out on training or patrols at the time of the arrests and
hadn't returned. All were combat trained. They had managed to take weapons,
two launches and two subfighters, spectre class, with them. Among the files
they found records of a medium sized vessel that Howard kept free for his
use. This and its fifteen man crew were also missing. The search for any of
these craft or personnel was unsuccessful. They waited nervously, keeping
tight checks on security.

The talks proceeded, the laws continued to be amended and changed, the
scientists started giving reports on the data from the experiments and the
UEO staff finally finished looking through the section seven paper work and
checking its staff.

The trials were set to start in another two days and SeaQuest stayed docked
to provide the security at the prison, until the verdict.


"Sir," the young officer, strutted up to her, still in awe of her, but
honoured by being chosen as one of her few. "The trials are set to start
in two days." She nodded, swivelling in her brand new, high tech, lumbar
support, officer chair." The marauder has been refitted as you ordered; so
has the launch. We've co-ordinated our systems to have further sensor back
up, from here." Again she nodded, pensively, spreading her hands out across
the smooth mahogany desk. " We're all behind you one hundred percent, Sir."

"Section seven will not tolerate treachery and disloyalty, in any section
of the UEO. I have an unfulfilled order. Did you know that in all of his 500
missions, Howard never once failed to achieve all objectives? He had a one
hundred percent success rate. No one ever got away from him. Although it
was not under my command at the time, it is disturbing to me that someone
escaped the base I was assigned to. I do not want a blot on my record
sheet. I have an example to live up to and I will make sure that I do. No
paltry little traitor is going to stain my record." She stabbed a blunt
pencil though the stack of papers on her desk, shattering the lead, and the
wood surrounding, up to five centimetres. Then she continued quite calmly. "
You are keeping a note of any change in Howard's location and the main
targets?" The officer nodded. "I haven't decided when I will complete that
mission. It will be so much of a pleasure. I think I will do it a day or so
into the trial. That should disillusion the jury and other witnesses,
nicely. I just have to decide how I want to do it, now." She watched her new
XO closely to guage his reaction but he stayed impassive. She approved.
"It's a pity that I can't consult Ares directly." She felt a rush of pride
thinking about him and her plans to rescue him. They would time that to have
the most destructive effect on the UEO. For the moment she would spend her
time proving her loyalty, dedication and ability in a way that he would
appreciate. It was truly an honour to be able to do this for him. And, like
she had said, it would be such a pleasure. She rather fancied herself as a
weapon of revenge, a distributor of justice and punishment.

I think that a knife would be the best. I don't know why, but somehow it
seems appropriate. And it means that I will have to be close. I can watch
his fear and his death, knowing that I'm the last thing he will see- watch
him as he realises that he will pay for his crimes., I can watch the life
leave his traitor's eyes and the blankness replace it. If I choose I can
make it last. It would be  symbolic, too;  sacrificing the impure to
her'God' so that they could move on, purified, into a new regime. Yes, a
knife would be very appropriate.


-The End-
==========================================================================
copyright E.Casale