========================================================================== FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES Unknown ========================================================================== Timeline: SeaQuest DSV Author's E-Mail: ========================================================================== "Friends In High Places" Summary We open on the _Antilles_ Bridge. Commander Gavina Castillo, a hispanic woman in her late 20's, is directing her crew. Observing is Ambassador Alvin Kessler (caucasian), about 60. He tells Gavina that he applauds her professionalism as they draw into the "Rehoboth Seamount, 800 miles of North America's East Coast". She tells him he sounds a little condescending, and he apologizes--he's used to bigger boats. He gestures to the monitor, where _seaQuest_ is looming, along with several other ships. Gavina tells him that she envies him-- he's going aboard the _seaQuest_. "You'll get your chance," he tells her. "You're a bright young officer. I hope _that_ didn't sound condescending". She took it as a compliment. The first officer tells her that _seaQuest is sending a launch for the delegation. Gavina tells Kessler it's been an honor. He tells her not to reach beyond her capabilities in the upcoming war games, but if she sees an opening, to take it. She thanks him and promises to take the advice to heart. In _seaQuest_'s launch bay, Liana Hays, 30's, in a miniskirt, is taping the arrival of Kessler's delegation. She pesters him for a few minutes about his thoughts as he boards _seaQuest_. She catches Krieg's eye, and he stares. Ford is also, in dress uniform, waiting, with Hitchcock, Crocker, Chief... (get this) "Mundo Ortiz", and... "Lt. Mack O'Neill". He's getting impatient while they wait for Bridger to arrive. He does, in his regular uniform, without Ford noticing. Westphalen lures him into a trap: * * * * * Ford: Maybe not, but these ambassadors want to meet "the Captain." He can't stay holed up in the science lab forever. (Bridger walks up behind him) Westphalen: (leading him) What if he tries? Ford: Then I'll just have to go down there and-- Bridger: (into Ford's ear) And what? * * * * * Ford's surprised, and tells Bridger he thinks a greeting to the Ambassadors would be reluctant. Bridger doesn't want to make a speech. "All they _really_ want to hear is `The Bar's Open." Ford and Westphalen don't find this as amusing as Bridger does. Bridger gives in. Ford gives him crib notes on 3x5 cards. "Just in case." Trapped into the speech, Bridger prepares to make a speech. Krieg has moved closer to Liana. "Uh," Bridger begins, "good afternoon. I'd like to welcome you all aboard the _seaQuest_... I look forward to visiting with each of you, but in the meantime... `The Bar's Open." His speech is greeted with enthusiasm, and he shoots Westphalen and Ford a look. A short while later, Krieg is _still_ staring at Liana. Hitchcock walks up to hi. "Careful, Ben," she warns. "Somebody might trip over your tongue." Krieg isn't concerned by Hitchcock's observation, and asks who Liana is. Hitchcock tells him, "Liana Hays, Earthcast _News_. You remember the news, it's that boring stuff they run between cartoons." "What's with the attitude, Katie?" Krieg asks her. "I don't like to watch you hunt," she retorts. When Krieg asks her if Liana's married, she responds with "Does it matter? She dates wealthy daredevils. Way outta your league." Krieg looks back at Liana. "Daredevils, huh?" He isn't fazed. Hitchcock fills him in a bit more. "Award-winning journalist. Weekend anchorwoman... Quite a notch for the ol' bedpost. If it's still standing." Krieg gives her a look. We cut to O'Neill and Crocker. They're talking about Ambassador Kessler-- he's the man who single-handedly broke the Cairo blockade in '95. O'Neill's unimpressed-- he was _born_ in '96. "You brats ain't got no sense'a history," Crocker says with a dirty look. Every soldier on Kessler's ship was killed or wounded, but they went forward anyway. O'Neill's response? "Does that make him tough and brilliant, tough and lucky, or just tough and stupid?" Bridger and Kessler introduce themselves. Bridger uses the crib notes Ford gave him . * * * * * Kessler: I'm impressed. Bridger: I'm cheating. * * * * * Kessler tells him he applauds the effort, but both know playing host is miserable work. Bridger jokes that Kessler must have eavesdropped on his conversation with Noyce. Kessler says he made the same protests in his day, with the same results. "Any advice?" Bridger asks. "Quit," Kessler tells him. "I tried," is Bridger's response. Joking, Kessler says he could always become an ambassador. As Krieg passes, the camera follows him to Hitchcock and Liana, who are talking. Krieg takes Liana's place as she moves off, and asks Hitchcock, "You tell her all my bad habits? Crackers in bed, playing poker with the rent money?" Hitchcock tells him they weren't talking about _him_. She tells him that he's not Liana's type-- Hays knows enough to steer clear. * * * * * Krieg: Steer clear? You make me sound like a pothole. * * * * * Hitchcock asks him if he really thinks he's Hays' type. He asks what she thinks, and she says she thinks he's in for a shock. * * * * * Krieg: (smugly confident) Really? I bet she spends a night in my cabin before she leaves _seaQuest_. Hitchcock: I'm not interested in your macho games. Krieg: A month's worth of laundry... Hitchcock: (quickly) Two months! Krieg: Deal! Hitchcock: Rules? Krieg: (with a laugh) Rules? Darlin' , rules are for losers. * * * * * With a wink and a competitive smile, he moves off. Next scene. On the bridge, the crew is preparing for the war games. Lucas is helping them figure out how far away the ships could be. Gavina's ship backs off, but she wants to recheck a few figures. Lucas is impatient to get going. She tells him to forgive her if she's a little reluctant-- this is her first war game, and she's a little reluctant to disable her weapons. Hitchcock tells her "don't mind Lucas, God gives in some areas and shortchanges in others." They check the weapons systems again, and put the system on-line. They've got the computer linkup finished. Or so Hitchcock thinks-- Gavina lies about her ship's status. The ambassadors arrive on the bridge, wanting a tour. Crocker isn't happy about having them on the bridge. Liana is also there, and Krieg makes his introductions. He invites her back to the research projects on the Sea Deck. She goes. The ambassadors begin firing questions on Ford, most of which concern _seaQuest_'s weapons. Aside, Kessler, Bridger, and Westphalen talk about having people aboard who _aren't_ interested solely in weapons. Kessler tells him he wasn't thinking of science when he built _seaQuest_. Bridger doesn't deny this, but says that the world's a different place now. Krieg has taken Liana to the Moon Pool. He's a little bolder, a little cockier-- a "daredevil". "I'm underwhelmed," Hays says when he shows her some scuba gear. He insists she call him Ben. "The four deepest dives in history have taken place in this suit, Liana." She's not impressed. "We're off the specs here; out on the fringe. Every time I step outside, I set a new record.... but I have to risk my life to do it." Liana's coldly disgusted, and turns to go. Krieg realizes Hitchcock pulled one over on him, mouths "Daredevils, my ass", and tries to recover. * * * * * Krieg: Would you like to know _why_ I risk my life? (beat, sensitive) To save the ocean's intelligent creatures from monofilament nets... Hays: (starts back to him) Drift-fishing was outlawed in 1995. Krieg: That's what they'd like you to believe, but it still goes on, I'm afraid... And when those renegade fishermen cut their tangled nets loose, they sink to the bottom, drowning everything in their path. Liana: And you go out to rescue them? Krieg: Sometimes, I don't even look at the depth gauge-- it would scare me. A;; I know is, I _have_ to free those fish. Liana: Mammals. Krieg: (covers quickly) Right... (beat) If that makes me a daredevil, then so be it. Liana is beginning to see what a fraud this guy is, but she's attracted to him and decides to go along.... Additionally, there's a sense of nervous fascination overtaking her. Liana: Aren't you afraid after you free them?... I mean, they're so bit, and you're so-- Krieg: Afraid?!.... Dolphins are the gentlest ocean. Have you ever swum with them? Liana: (nervous laugh) Not for a million dollars. Krieg's looks asks the question. She's embarrassed. Liana: When I was a little girl, I saw this old movie-- it wasn't even in holovision-- about a shark that attacked a boat and ate one of the people... Krieg: Jaws?!... That was just a movie, Liana. Besides, sharks and dolphins are totally different. * * * * * She's not convinced. Krieg tells her not to worry about it- -no sharks in these waters. As if on cue, Darwin surfaces at the edge of the pool, chirping. Liana jumps back. Krieg watches her, a plan forming in his mind... On the bridge, Bridger has finally figured out a way to keep the ambassadors of his hair-- he's letting them take over the stations during the war games. At Ford's reservations, he says that the UEO told him to keep the ambassadors entertained. "Do you see an unhappy face?" he asks. "No sir," Ford replies, "But if UEO knew they were _sitting at the controls_--" "They'd hemorrhage," Bridger replies. All he wants to do is show the ambassadors a good time, then get them the hell off his boat. _That_, Ford can relate to. A short while later, Crocker makes his own discomfort with the ambassadors being on the bridge known. Another ambassador gives Hitchcock a hard time: * * * * * Ambassador #1: (patronizing) Do you really know what all these controls do? Hitchcock: Um-hmm. Ambassador #1: (challenging) What's this? Hitchcock: (deadpan) The Self-Destruct switch. Ambassador #1 yanks his hand away as if it's on fire. Hitchcock turns away to hide her smile. * * * * * Meanwhile, Ambassador #2 is looking at the WSKRS displays with Ortiz. They get an incoming "torpedo", and the ambassador raises his hand, waiting to be called on in order to report. On the _Antilles_ bridge, Gavina is told that the war games have begun, and several of the other subs are "firing". She looks around the bridge and confirms that the crew is with her, then gives her order: "Prepare to fire on my command..." On _seaQuest_, the ambassadors are getting a bit more confident. One of them notices a torpedo blip that looks different from the others-- the _Antilles_ has fired a real torpedo! Ortiz takes a moment or two to react to this. The ship dives and sounds collision. In a passageway, Krieg takes the opportunity to grab Liana by the arm and help her hold on to the bulkhead to keep her balance. On the bridge, it's too late to stop the torpedo. The ship is hit. The ambassadors go flying while the crew stays seated. Lucas, in his quarters, is thrown about a bit. Krieg and Liana slam into the bulkhead. The bridge is in chaos, thanks to the ambassadors, until Bridger has Crocker shut them up. Bridger begins giving orders-- the ambassadors are taken off the bridge. They contact the _Antilles_. Gavina surrenders. Ortiz is stunned to learn she was responsible for the attack. As Gavina is brought aboard, Kessler tells her she went too far. She ignores him. Bridger says that the war games are over- -no one argues. Liana asks Gavina for a statement, but Gavina says she'll speak only to the joint assembly of the UEO. Gavina is put in detention quarters, where Bridger talks to her about what she did. She has a great record, and he feels she's just wasted all she's worked for. He asks why she shot at _seaQuest_. She tells him she needed to focus world attention. "After Castro's death in '97, thousands of Cubans living in exile came back to our island. But those who'd endured the communists were afraid their rich cousins from Miami would take control and treat them like peasants," she tells him. "So they hired mercenaries to attack the flotilla. Bridger replies, "The Seven Days of Blood." "Then you know about Cayo Coco?" "Three hundred civilian boats sunk." "_Four_ hundred," she corrects him. 3000 people were dead before the morning mist had risen, all of them on defenseless ships. They were sunk by a mercenary warship, and she's going to give the UEO proof of who commanded the warship. "You want to give me a hint?" asks Bridger. "Ambassador Kessler." Bridger has heard the charge before, but says there's no evidence to back it up. Gavina says that will change. Bridger leaves, and meets Lucas outside the detention quarters. Lucas says he knows that Bridger ran a UEO file search on Commander Castillo. Bridger is surprised that he knew, and Lucas says he's not the only one-- Kessler also knows, too. Bridger tells Lucas he wants Kessler's file, and he doesn't want anyone to know about it. Can Lucas pull it off? "How many rules can I break?" Lucas asks. "Knock yourself out," Bridger replies. Lucas leaves. Within moments, Krieg approaches Bridger on Liana's behalf, asking that the reporter be allowed to interview Gavina. Bridger denies at first, but after Krieg pushes, changes his mind. However, Hays can't transmit until Bridger checks out her interview. Krieg says she won't like that, but Bridger isn't concerned. Krieg leaves to tell Liana. * * * * * Liana: (excited) He said "yes"! Widen to include Krieg, playing the hero. Krieg: Not at first, but... (confidentially) The man jumps through hoops for me... Not a pretty sight. * * * * * Liana's very excited, and says "O'Connor at CNN'll have a cow." She asks if there will be any restrictions, and Krieg tells her it's nothing they can't discuss later. Before she goes, she gives him a kiss on the cheek, and says he's the best. Once she's gone, Krieg says to himself, "You haven't seen anything yet." As he leaves, he bumps into Hitchcock, who's shocked that her "daredevil" ploy backfired. On the bridge, Ortiz is working at his station-- but Crocker is watching him, almost accusatorially. Distracted, Ortiz makes a mistake. Upset, he makes another one when he tries to correct it. Bridger walks over. * * * * * Bridger: They have a mind of their own sometimes, don't they? Ortiz: Not really, sir. The correct term is "Operator Error." Bridger: You wanted to see me... Ortiz: (re: the crew) I know what they're thinking. Bridger: What? Ortiz: Castillo's Cuban. _I'm_ a Cuban. I see her incoming torpedo.... and I ignore it. Bridger: I looked at the Data-Disk... mistakes happen. (pumping him up) They could make a training tape out of your recovery. * * * * * Ortiz isn't convinced. Bridger asks if he and Gavina knew each other. Ortiz says they grew up in the same village. Ortiz's family stayed in Cuba-- Castro "retained" his grandfather, a professor, as a bricklayer. Bridger asks if he agrees with Gavina about Kessler, and Ortiz says he can't condemn a man without proof. Bridger tells him to stop condemning himself. In the lounge, Westphalen and Kessler are arguing about his military background. She doesn't think politicians should be military, but he want s to know if they should come from "The ranks of `science'?" "You make it sound like a dirty word," she says. Kessler thinks that battle can be a cleansing experience, but Westphalen says only for the winner. They're interrupted by Hays, who wants Kessler's reaction to the day's events. Especially Castillo's attack on the _seaQuest_. Kessler asks why doesn't she talk to Gavina, and Liana says she did. This piques Kessler's interest, and Liana "leaks" a bit more information. What Gavina told her had something to do with the Seven Days of Blood, and she wants to insure a media circus, "To expose the person who slaughtered those at Cayo Coco." Kessler asks how Gavina is planning to do this, and Hays tells him that she said she has evidence. "Have you seen this...evidence?" asks Kessler. Liana says no, but she assumes it's on the _Antilles_. And Castillo will only play it at a worldwide press conference." Slowly, the camera draws back, and it becomes evident that Bridger is actually watching a recording of what happened earlier. Alone, he watches Kessler's uneasy reaction to Hays' words. "You bastard," he says, "You did it, didn't you?" Bridger contacts Noyce, who tells him that he has to "give up the sub"-- the _Antilles_. Kessler is sending some people to pick it up. He has the right, as ranking UEO official under fire. Bridger says it wasn't that dramatic. Castillo only wanted to get some attention. Noyce assures bridge that she's got it. But Kessler has friends in high places. "I don't care if they're in orbit," Bridger says. Both of them know this isn't about prosecuting Castillo. Bridger is worried that Kessler will destroy the evidence on the _Antilles_ before they can get ahold of it. Noyca tells him there's a little problem with that-- there was already an investigation into the Seven Days of Blood, and Kessler was found innocent. Plus, he's got 15 years of spotless service as an Ambassador. Bridger believes her, but Noyce says there's nothing he can do. He has four hours until Kessler's cub rendez-vous with _seaQuest_. Noyce is sorry, but there's nothing else he can do. He disconnects. Bridger looks at Lucas, who was sitting right out-of-frame. "You didn't hear that," he says. Lucas grins. "Hear what?" Bridger gives him ten more minutes to pull Kessler's file, even though Lucas tells him it'll take 30. Bridger goes to Gavina and tells her she's got to tell him where her evidence is, or Kessler will get his hands on it, and they won't be able to stop him from destroying it. She wants to know how she knows Bridger won't give it to Kessler. He says she doesn't-- she'll have to trust him. But in a few hours, it won't matter either way. He leaves her alone to decide. On Sea Deck, Krieg is "in a pullover and bathing trunks, drapes his towel over the MOON POOL railing. He's cautioning Darwin about not talking "in front of Liana." * * * * * Darwin: (nodding understanding) Darwin-- talk-- secret. (beat) Krieg-- mate? Krieg: Keep your flippers crossed. Darwin: How-- get-- mate? Krieg: Well, you look for someone... (simplifying the concept) Someone you want to..._swim with_. Darwin: Krieg swim with anyone. Krieg: (reacting) You've been talkin' to Hitchcock. * * * * * He stops talking as Liana enters. She's also in her bathing suit, and pretty nervous. Krieg walks over to her, and says he didn't think she'd show. She looks at Darwin nervously, and tries to get out of this by saying maybe she shouldn't be swimming. "I mean, with this whole Castillo/Kessler thing happening--" She moves to go, but Krieg stops her and says Bridger promised her that if she laid low, he'd hand her a story. She says that's not the way she works. Krieg says it's okay to be afraid. "That's what this is really about, isn't it? Fear?" He tells her she can back out any time, and gently reaches out for her hand. Bridger is in his quarters, reviewing Kessler's file. Kessler interrupts him, and asks how Bridger found his file. Bridger is surprised that he knows, and asks how. Kessler tells him he's _always_ notified when someone accesses his files. Bridger asks if Kessler is is aware of Castillo's charge. "Regrettably," Kessler replies, "`Mass Murderer' has dogged my career for a long time now. But it's never been proven because it isn't true..." He shows Bridger the record of his ship during the Seven Days of Blood-- the "Swordfin". It was a _supply_ vessel, bringing food and medical supplies to Cuba. Bridger asks how many guns the _Swordfin_ had. Kessler says he isn't a very subtle man. Bridger says not about murder. "So I'm guilty, is that it?" Kessler is amused by this. "I _have_ to be the butcher of Cayo Coco... Why else would the doe-eyed commander scuttle her career?" "Good question. I assume you have an answer?" asks Bridger. "You aren't looking for answers," Kessler replies, bith his tone and mood colder and darker. He's right-- Bridger is looking for the truth. There is silence for several seconds, then Kessler tells him that he'll be leaving on his confederation's sub when they arrive. He trusts that Bridger will cooperate with UEO regulations. He leaves. Ortiz visits Gavina's detention quarters. She wasn't aware that he was aboard _seaQuest_. He didn't know she was a commander. "You cut your hair," she says. "I grew up," he tells her. With the small talk exhausted, Ortiz's anger overwhelms him. "How could you do this?" he asks her. "How could I not?" she fires back at him. "Fate put the oppertunity into my hands." In Spanish, from Ortiz, "Don't confuse oppertunity with obsession." From Gavina, sharply and in Spanish, "Who are you to lecture me?" "You think you're avenging an atrocity, but this only puts another people," Ortiz tells her. She flares. "And what are _you_ doing for `our' people?! They give you a fancy uniform and you forget who you really are." "I haven't forgotten anything!" Then he softens. "Every time _seaQuest_ takes food or medicine to an outpost, they see this uniform...but they also see this _Cuban_ face. And they'll remember _that_ long after Kessler's dead and buried." "What about `justice'?" Gavina asks him. "Revenge is not justice," Ortiz says. "Tell Bridger the truth. He might surprise you." On the Sea Deck, Liana drops her robe to the deck. "Oh boy," Krieg says to himself. She sits on the edge of the pool, sticks her legs in, and stands. "There... We can get out now." But before she can stand, Krieg grabs her gently by the ankle. He tells her he's rigth there. After a moment's hesitation, she slips back into the water. Darwin swims up with them, and she makes sure to keep him on the _other_ side of Krieg. She can't believe she's doing this. Krieg tells her to grab Darwin's fin. "Yeah, right!" she tells him. He tells her that going halfway never accomplished anything. She's not trying to accomplish anything, she assures him. "I thought you wanted to get over your fear," Krieg says. "No, she says. "_You_ wanted me to her over my fear. I wanna get out of the water." "Then get out." Krieg's sudden reversal stops her-- she _wants_ him to push her. He tells her that the desire to get over it has to come from inside her, otherwise it's a waste of time. She suhsts her eyes as she takes Darwin's fin. "Oh my God... ohmyGod-ohmyGod- ohmyGod..." "That's it; nice and easy... Ready?" She shakes her head no, eyes still shut. Krieg tells Darwin to take it slow. Darwin begins swimming lasily, and drags Liana along with him, Krieg swims alongside, and they go around the pool. Liana can't believe she's doing this. Krieg smiles. Over the com, Ford tells Bridger, who's in his quarters, that Kessler's sub will arrive in twenty minutes. Bridger wants to be notified when it gets here. He turns on the Martinson Hologram and starts talking to it. He doesn't have a choice about the _Antilles_-- he's got to let Kessler take it. But Castillo's afraid to trust him with her evidence, and Kessler's a good liar. Martinson asks if perhaps Kessler believes his own lies by now--humans have an extrordinary ability to convince themselves of anything, despite what they know to be the truth. Bridger agrees, but the sad part is that so many other people are willing to go along with the lies. "Oh," Martinson tells him, "The others are the easy part, Nathan. Human nature predisposes us to believe... we _want_ to believe. It's so much less complicated that way." This gives Bridger an idea... Next shot: he goes into Gavina's detention quarters... Bridger goes up to the bridge. Ford tells him that Kessler is demanding that they surrender the _Antilles_, _now_. Brider needs a stall, and they've got about ten seconds to come up with it. Before they have a chance to confer, Kessler appears with Crocker. He wants to know why the transfer of the _Antilles_ is being delayed. Bridger says they're having a bit of a problem. Suspicious, Kessler wants to know what type of problem. Just then, a battle siren goes off. Ortiz begins the charade by saying that the WSKRS have gone Bettle External on their own, and the targeting grid is on. Hitchcock continues. The Auto defense systems have been "short-circuted" by the earlier blast. Bridger gives them a "not bad" look. Hitchcock says that it'll take about 15 to 20 minutes to fix. With a wink, Bridger tells her to do what she can. O'Neill says he's got the Turkraine Commander on com, and the commander wants to know why he's been targeted. Bridger says to explain the "malfunction". Kessler realizes they're pulling one over on him, and says he has-- But Bridger cuts him off. "I know... You have powerful friends. Unfortunately, none of them are here for a moment, so why don't _I_ be the captain." Kessler says he has to surrender the sub. Bridger has no intention of doing otherwise, and tells Ford to take a launch to remove their detail from the _Antilles_-- and remove all Castillo's personal property. "Specifically, a video disk," he says, staring at Kessler. "You'll find it behind the loudspeaker baffling on the port side of `C' Deck." Kessler is thrown off by this, and demands that the _Antilles_ be turned over to him. Bridger promises him that it will be, in due time. After the commercial, in the launch bay, Ford says they've got everything off the _Antilles_. And he's got the disk, as well. Gavina is shackled and ready to be taken off the _seaQuest_, but eyes light up as she sees it. Kessler has a completely different reaction. Bridger says he can leave now. Kessler wants to know what will happen to the disk. Bridger wants to know what about it. "Can I see it?" "You mean, Can you have it?! Afraid not. We'll have to screen it, first." "And when you're done?" Kessler asks. If there's anything to Commander Castillo's claim, Bridger will let her present it to the proper authorities. Ford says he'll have the ward room set up for a screening. Liana asks Gavina for a comment. "I'm relieved that the truth can finally be known... That those people at Cayo Coco didn't die in vain," she says. Kessler's veneer melts away. When Bridger suggests they get the viewing over with, Kessler hits the nearest security ensign in the throat, takes his weapon, grabs Gavina by the hair, yanks her in front of him, and puts the gun to her head. He insists that they give him the disk. Gavina says they can't. Kessler tells her to shut up, and tells Bridger that it's not a negotiation. Bridger set s the disk on a railing, and backs off. Kessler grabs it and begins backing down the air hatch, still bringing Gavina with him. They're taking a launch, and no one will stop them. "Is that clear?" No one responds. "_Is that clear!?_" he repeats. Bridger hesitates, but gives in. "Mister Ford," he says. Ford tells the launch bay crew to let Gavina and Kessler leave. They notify the bridge. "You'll never get away with thes," Bridger tells Kessler as the airlock begins to shut. "That's what they said twenty years ago," Kessler tells him. The doors close. Bridger says that he'll be headed for the _Antilles_, since Kessler's sub had to leave the area due to the "targeting problem", and they can get in contact with Kessler from the bridge. On the _Antilles_ bridge, Kessler has lost it. He shoves Gavina into a seat. "Why?" he asks. "Why is a moment two decades ago so important to you? You couldn't have been more than a child..." "I was _six_," Gavina spits at him. "I remember my father putting me into the boat that morning." Kessler realizes why she's so intent on revenge. "You were there..." "After the first assault," Gavina tells him, "I was blown into the ether. I woke up floating in a life preserver. My parents' and brothers' bodies were face down around me in the wreckage... I could hear the screams of the other people in the water... smell the burning oil... But there was one sight I'll never forget." She looks straight at him. "_Your_ face." A light begins blinking on the panel. Kessler activates the viewscreen. Bridger tells him there;s nowhere for him to go. "Who said we're going anywhere?" Kessler asks. Bridger asks him what he wants. Kessler tells him just a moment or two to view what's on the disk. "Don't bother," Bridger tells him. "There's nothing on it." Off his look, Gavina picks up. "There was never any record of what you did. Until _now_... Did you get it all, Miss Hays?" Liana, who is also on _seaQuest_'s bridge, answers with: "Every word." Kessler realizes that he's been set up. Bridger knew about the conspiracy they've used! "Not until a few hours ago." "If I'd just have gone off to my submarine?" "You would have walked free." Bridger tells him he hopes one of his "friends" knows a good lawyer, because he'll need one. Kessler tells him he won't go to court, and arms the torpedos without opening the doors. He looks at Gavina. He's leaving the choice up to her. Gavina says she has to do it. Bridger says she doesn't, but she thinks she's got to see it through. Bridger promises Kessler will pay for his crimes. "But what if he doesn't?" Gavina asks. "There's no _real_ proof. I'll have thrown everything away...for nothing." After a moment of silence, Bridger orders her to disarm the torpedos. But she won't. She puts her hand on the switch, and Kessler puts his over hers. Their eyes meet... "You wanted to be a hero, Commander?" Kessler asks. "This'll make you a legend." He releases her hand. A long second ticks by, then.... She flips the switch. Ortiz screams. "NOOO!!" The _Antilles_ explodes. All that's left when the explosion ends is the torn and jagged tail, which spirals into the depths of the ocean. Everyone watches in horror. Especially Ortiz. Next scene: Krieg's quarters, which are set up for a romantic dinner. "Krieg in dress whites. Looking sharp. A rap at the door. A moment for composure. About to get laid. Open the door. Hitchcock.... _Hitchcock_!?" "Expecting company?" she asks. Krieg looks nervously down the corridoer. "What are you doing here?" "Liana wanted me to give you something," Hitchcock tells him. "Liana?" Where is she?" "She left. She asked me to give you this message." Hitchcock holds out a folded note and begins reading. In the note, Liana thanks Krieg for helping her deal with her fear. Hitchcock editorializes: "Now what could you've had in mind?" Liana's note continues, saying it's so easy to search for a solution, when the real answer is in yourself. She'll never forget him for showing her that. "At least you left her with something that doesn't require medical treatment." Finally, Liana says she's looking forward to seeing forward to seeing him again. Besides being fun to be with, he's wise beyond his years. "Who must _she_ be sating?" Hitchcock asks. Then, she continues with the note. "Say Goodbye to Darwin. Love, Liana. P.S.- Don't forget to use bleach." Kreig looks up. "You told her about the bet! You broke the rules!" "_`Rules'_?! Rules are for losers." Hitchcock gives Krieg a load of laundry. She'll pick it up in the morning. Bridger finds Ortiz on the Sea Deck. The lights are on night mode. Ortiz stiffens to attention, but Bridger tells him at ease. "It's kind of late, isn't it?" "Yes sir," Ortiz replies. I couldn't sleep." "That makes two of us." Ortiz continues staring at the water. "I'm sorry about Commander Castillo. She was a very brave woman." "She was a good officer," Ortiz reflects. "A good friend." Bridger realizes that Gavina is the first person Ortiz has lost. "It's hard to lose people you care about." Ortiz isn't going to let it slide that easily. "I just keep thinking I should have stopped her." "How?" Bridger asks. "How do you stop someone from doing what they believe in? Somebody you care about was killed-- it'll take time to get over that... Believe me, I know from experiance." Ortiz knows Bridger is telling the truth, and agrees. "But," Bridger continues, "You can honor those who've gone by carrying on their work. Tell your children about her. Have them tell their children. That's what she would have wanted." Ortiz is somewhat comforted by Bridger's words. "Yes sir," he says. "Thank you, sir." Smiling, Bridger tells him to get some sleep. Ortiz does so, leaving. Bridger watches him leave... THE END ==========================================================================