Title:Sins Beyond Forgiveness
Author/pseudonym:Alex and Kubi
Rating:pg-13
Status: new
Archive: Please Archive
E-mail address for feedback: silver_bell@Elf.zzn.com
Series/Sequel: none
Other websites: Chance's Ultamite ELF Archive www2.crosswinds.net/~chance1562/index.html
Disclaimers: seaQuest is not mine (unforunately). Everything about Knightton Colony is mine and if anyone wishes to use it (why they would is beyond me) ask and ye shall receive.
Notes: I mess around with Lucas' past, but what ELF doesn't every now and then
Summary: The sQ crew goes to Knightton Colony to rescue the SG's grandson and stumbles across a horrible conspiracy.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: First part of new fic. Feedback is demanded, or I'll send Kubi (who returned a short while ago, but refuses to tell me where he'd been) after you!
Disclaimer: Don't own seaQuest or anything related. Everything that has to do with Knightton Colony is mine. I'm not getting anything from, except for maybe a few flames here and there. *this means italics or personal thoughts*
SINS BEYOND FORGIVENESS
By Alex and Kubi
Lucas sighed as he looked around the table at the bridge crew. They had been waiting for Captain Bridger to arrive for half an hour.
"Does anyone know what this is about?" Tony Piccalo asked in an annoyed voice.
"Well, Mr. Piccalo, you're about to find out," Bridger said as he walked in.
Tony jumped in surprise, embarrassed at having been overheard. the others laughed nervously. Everybody was still tense after the whole Avatar incident.
"Captain, if you don't mind my asking, what *is* this about?" Commander Jonathan Ford asked in his usual take-charge voice.
"Good question, Commander. Micheal James was kidnapped one week ago." At the blank stares he received, he elaborated. "Micheal James is Thomas McGath's grandson." Ahh! Now they understood.
"And he wants *us* to find him, right?" Miguel Ortiz asked.
"Actually, McGrath has a pretty good idea where the boy is," Bridger answered.
"Then what's the problem?" Doctor Wendy Smith asked.
"Section Seven is involved." He didn't need to continue.
They had all heard the horror stories of Section Seven. Lucas was the first one to speak up. "Section Seven took the Secretary General's grandkid?"
"Not Section Seven, but someone who make a deal with Section Seven."
"But the Section doesn't make deals." This was from Lieutenant O'Neill
Exactly! So what does this tell us about what we're up against?"
"We're screwed?" Tony couldn't help but comment.
Exactly, Tony."
After a few minutes of contemplating, Nathan asked, "Has anyone ever heard of the Knightton Colony?" The group shook their heads. "Lucas, call up the Knightton Colony." After a few minutes Lucas looked up, confused.
"It's not there, Sir."
"Of course it's there!" Brody objected. "If it exists, it's on the map!"
"But if Section Seven is involved-" Bridger started.
"Which they are" This from Jonathan.
Bridger nodded and continued, "And if they have access to our computers..."
"they could manipulate the data and make it appear like the colony wasn't there on the maps." Lucas finished.
"They could do that?" Lonnie asked in a small voice. Everybody just glared at her. "Sorry!"
"Wait a minute! You mean Section Seven has access to all computers on seaQuest?" Tony demanded.
"Basically, yeah."
"Even our private stuff?" Brody inquired.
"Unless you have an unhackable system."
"I thought you said nothing was unhackable." Brody stated.
"That's true, But the best anti-hacker systems are built *by* hackers, and I'm one of the best!" Lucas said, defensively.
"Okay people. We're getting off track here. This is an undercover mission. Getting in isn't the problem, it's getting out safely with the kid. I can take five people with me. Jonathan, you have to stay on the ship. Tony and Brody are coming with me. That leaves three people. Any volunteers?"
I'll go!" Lucas immediately piped up.
Nathan just shook his head "no, it's too dangerous."
Lucas was about to object and Nathan knew it. "I said NO! Now, I need you to find out all you can about the Knightton Colony."
* * *
"NOOO! It's too dangerous! You might make break a Goddamn nail!" Lucas mocked, angrily typing on his keyboard.
"Lucas, can I talk to you a minute?" Nathan asked, stepping into the room.
"I'm busy!"
"I think you can take a break," Nathan said, turning Lucas' chair around. "Now, what's your problem?"
"I don't see why I can't go!"
"You know why!"
"No, I don't! give me one valid reason that has nothing to do with my age and I'll leave it alone."
"You're not experienced enough."
"Neither is Tony," Lucas pointed out, "In fact, I'm more experienced than he is."
"I need you here."
"Why?"
*Damn all geniuses* Nathan thought. "You're just not going, okay?!"
* * *
"Are your men idiots?!" Captain John Jameson screeched. "You kidnapped the grandchild of the leader of the most powerful government in HISTORY!"
"Calm Down."
"Do NOT tell me to calm down!"
"And you do NOT yell ant me! Must I remind you who outranks whom?" General Henry Atkins reminded him. "The UEO is powerless here. Not even seaQuest is stupid enough to attack us."
"Don't be so sure."
"I'm positive! Nathan Bridger is many things, but a fool he is not! Speaking of which, seaQuest is coming here."
"What?!" Jameson looked up, surprised.
"Yes, Apparently to check you out to see if you're right for that training job you applied for. He and five crewmen will be staying a week."
"This is a bad idea." Jameson said, sitting down in defeat.
"Now why would you say that?"
After staring a few moments in silence, Jameson offhandedly commented, "Parker had another nightmare."
"I know." At Jameson's questioning look Atkins explained, "Resh told me. He heard and came to tell me."
"She's going to take you down." Jameson commented, matter-of-factly.
"Who? Parker? She loves me!"
"Loves you?! You took away the one thing in this world that she had and made her think it was her fault!:
"W hat she doesn't know won't hurt her."
"she doesn't see it, but the other ones do. They hate you. But, in the end, she'll be your downfall."
Atkins gave him an evil smile. "Then I'll take you with me. Trick or treat." He called as he walked out of the office.
* * * *
Lucas had been searching for nearly four hours. Currently, music was blasting from the headphones on his ears. Lucas saw the message flashing, saying his search was over. Lucas pulled the headphones off his head and sat at his computer.
"Let's see what we have here." He rubbed his hands together and activated the screen. As he read, his curious expression turned to one of horror.
He reached for his PAL.
"C-Captain?"
"Yes, Lucas. What is it? Did you find something?" Nathan asked, concerned. Why was Lucas' voice so shaky?
"I think you'd better take a look at this, Sir." Nathan glance at Wendy and Jonathan and saw the same concern mirrored in their eyes.
"We'll be there in a minute."
When they entered Lucas' quarters he was sitting at his desk. He was so inraptured by what was on the screen he hadn't heard them enter. Nathan gently laid a hand on Lucas' shoulder and quickly pulled bacl when the boy jumped up and screanme.
After he finally calmed down Lucas glared, Why'd you sneak up on me like that?"
Nathan smiled, "Jumpy, aren't we?"
"You read *that* and see how jumpy *you* are." Lucas pointed towards the screen. He motioned for the other three to read what was on it.
"My God!" Wendy whispered after a few minutes.
Rage raced through nathan's veins as he continued to read. This changed everything. "Those bastards. Those stupid, conceited BASTARDS!"
PART TWO
"Kids?" Timothy O'neill asked in a shaky voice. "The UEO kidnapped all those kids and *sold* them?"
"Not sold, traded." Nathan corrected. He himself was still trying to understand. The only one who *did* seem to understand was Lucas, and that scared him more than anything else.
"Traded for what?" Jonathan inquired.
"Peace." Lucas spoke up for the first time. "Ironic isn't it?"
"What's ironic?" Nathan demanded.
"I read the agreement between the UEO and the Knightton Colony. Apparently, the Knightton Colony promised not to attack any UEO ships on two conditions. One: They never interfere with the Knightton Colony's life, and two: They supply the Knightton Colony with as many children between the ages of five and seven that they want. They have made similar deals with at lest two other major governments and five third world countries. The UEO is supplying them with soldiers that we're afraid will attack us."
"If they're so powerful, how come nobody's ever heard of them? Saw them? If I was that powerful, I'd want everyone to know who I was." Tony mused.
"The same reason most outside people have never heard of Section Seven. The same reason we don't just bust up into a place when we're on a mission. It gives them an edge. If you knew there was a group out there kidnapping children, that there was a chance you would never see your child again, would you let them out of your site?" Nathan answered.
"Not just any children." Lucas commented. His cold, removed attitude was starting to get to Nathan. He wished the boy would yell, or scream, or even fight. Anything was better than his current attitude at this point.
"What do you mean, not just any children?" Wendy inquired. She could sense Lucas was upset about something, but he was keeping his feelings closed off (as usual) and she figured it was just the subject of this particular mission.
"I looked over the lists of the children they kidnapped. There was something they all had in common." It was obvious he wasn't going to continue without prodding, so someone had to give him a push.
And that someone was Miguel. "And that would be...?"
"They all have an I.Q. over 200." This got everyone's attention.
"This is bad isn't it?" Lonnie asked.
"Way bad." Lucas commented.
"I still don't get why they kidnapped kids, though." Tim stated.
"Well, Lucas, since you seem to know so much about this, you answer." Nathan said.
Lucas gave him a glare that could freeze hell itself. "Fine. It's basically the same concept the army uses. Do you want to train an older person to be a soldier or a younger person?"
"A younger person." Miguel answered.
"Why?"
"Because they learn easier than an older person and they generally ask less questions."
"Exactly! So by starting at a young age, instead of having to wipe out everything the person has learned and reprogramming them, you just teach them what you want them to know. In this case, it's how to kill without guilt."
"Instant cold-blooded murderers...Okay, so children learn better. But adults still have knowledge children don't. It would seem easier than taking care of children and teaching the basics."
"Adults have something else children don't." Lucas tried to explain. "They have knowledge of fear."
"I don't get it." Lonnie complained.
"It's their belief system. They believe fear is a learned reaction. It's like John Simon said: Get emotional, get dead. They teach kids not to care. Instant warriors. Plus there's the whole genius factor."
"What do you mean?"
"Imagine a colony full of geniuses. I've seen their technology. it's amazing. They have fighter-subs that are smaller than the Stinger and stealth. Sensors wouldn't know they were there until they were gone. They can make the fighter-subs seem twice the size of seaQuest. Their technology is so advanced, it blows *my* mind."
Nathan stared at the boy specutiveley. Something was definitely wrong. The had to have noticed, except for perhaps Lonnie, she was a bit slow. But, Lucas usually tried to keep a low profile. Even when he was upset, he tried to stay out of other people's way. Trying not to be a problem, he would say. Nathan had news for the boy. He wasn't a problem, he was a gift from God himself. The boat would have sunk the first day if not for Lucas. Usually, the only time he acted so insolent was when he either wanted attention or it had something to do with his father. Lucas had been getting plenty of attention ever since the whole Avatar situation, and he knew the boy hadn't heard from either of his parents in at least a month. nathan felt a fresh surge of anger and hatred as he thought of what that monster had done to his son, continuously beating him all of Lucas' life, until finally sending him away as though Lucas had done something wrong.
He came back to reality and realized Lucas was staring at him expectantly.
"I'm sorry, what did you say, Lucas?"
"I asked if I could leave." Lucas declared in a patient, patronising voice as though talking to a small child, slightly rolling his eyes.
Nathan had to bite his tongue to keep back his remark, figuring the last anyone needed was he and Lucas getting into yet another fight.
"Hold on." Nathan said, pointing at the computer screen. "See if you can find out what OA means. it might be important, okay?"
"Sure, whatever."
------------
"Okay, talk!" Nathan demanded as he stood in front of Lucas a few minutes later.
"What?"
You heard me. Don't act as though you don't know what I'm talking about, because we both know something's wrong, I just don't know what it is." Nathan was prepared for *anything*, fighting, yelling, crying, anything, but what he got.
"There was another list." Lucas whispered in a nearly inaudible voice.
"Excuse me?"
"There was another list!"
"What kind of list?"
"It was a list of possible 'candidates'."
"What does this have to do with you?"
"My name was on it."
"What?!"
"My. Name. Was. On. The. List."
Nathan quickly sat down. They had considered Lucas, *HIS* Lucas, for *that*! Nathan didn't understand. Lucas couldn't hurt a fly, much less KILL somebody in cold-blood. Lucas wouldn't...couldn't...NEVER!
"I could if that was all I knew." Lucas said, seeming to read his mind.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Nathan gently whispered, "Why?"
Lucas gave him a small, ironic and somewhat sad smile. "The report said I was too "accident" prone." Lucas didn't have to explain it to Nathan. *So,* Nathan thought, also wondering in the irony of it all,*by suffering at the hand of his father, Lucas had been saved from a much worse fate.*
"I always wondered why..." Lucas mused.
"Why what?" Nathan asked.
"Why God made me suffer like that. I still don't see why *I*, of all people, was spared."
"Maybe." Nathan sighed, cursing fate and himself for what he was about to do, "It's so you could save the others."
For the first time in too long, Lucas smiled. "I can go?"
Nathan gave him a defeated look. "Yes, you can go." Lucas let out a loud whoop of joy and ran off to find Tony. He stopped at the door and looked at Nathan. "Thank you." he said. Neither had to ask what for. It was for everything and nothing. For being there. Nathan just smiled and nodded. His smile quickly disappeared after Lucas turned the corner. He knew that Lucas could take care of himself and that the whole crew would protect Lucas with their lives. Realistically, he knew he had no reason to worry. But he couldn't help but feel as if this would be the biggest mistake of his life. And the end of Lucas'.
PART THREE
Parker could feel herself falling until she finally hit the water. The shock of the icy impact of water made her draw breath to scream, but no sound came out as she inhaled the liquid death. Valiantly, she struggled, trying to reach for the blissfully warm sun and breath the sweet air into her lungs. Her struggle was futile, though, and she watched, for the last, time as the brilliant sun went black with the rest of her world.
Suddenly, she was staring at a green dot on a screen. She didn't know what it meant, but she knew that it held her life inside. She could hear the person in sub-fighter breathing over the intercom and then suddenly the intercom was silent and the green light disappeared. She waited. It could have been seconds, it could have been years. Time lost meaning. She waited for an answer. They all waited breathlessly.
Finally the answer came when sound of of static filled the room. She barely acknowledged a pair of arms wrapping around her waist as she sank to the floor. She screamed. She screamed a scream filled with anger and grief and self-loathing. With all her heart and soul she screamed. "NOOOOOOOOOO-
===
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Parker screamed as she sat up in bed. *It was only a dream* she told herself, trying to calm her racing heart. She ran a hand over her face, only to find it soaked with sweat, and listened to see if someone had heard her scream. She bolted for the bathroom.
There she threw-up that nights dinner. She slowly picked herself up. She looked at herself appraisingly in the mirror. She didn't need anyone to tell her she looked horrible. More often than not she ended up on the floor of her bathroom in the middle of the night. It had been two months since she had slept through the night, and even then she was plagued with nightmares. Some might say she was on the edge of a breakdown, some would say it was nerves. She knew it was grief, plain and simple. Not just grief over the loss of a friend, but also grief the loss of hope, and joy, and love. Grief over the loss of her life.
She knew no one noticed, except for perhaps Resh, because she was better than ever at what she did. No one noticed she was the last to go to bed and the first awake. No one noticed the shadows under her eyes, the abruptly ended conversations, the half eaten meals. All they cared about was winning. She knew she was slowly killing herself. She also knew that was what made her so good. She didn't care.
*Someone PLEASE save me* she screamed internally. Parker instantly realized her mistake. If a psychic were to hear...*I'd have to kill them. They won't have it any other way*
She thought about *Them*. She watched in the mirror as her eyes became cold and hard with resolution. *They* would never let her go. Never.
She felt a tinge of fear as she punched the mirror. She put all the anger and hate and grief into that punch as she could and felt satisfaction as blood trickled down her hand.
======
"What's wrong?" Wendy asked, concerned.
"Excuse me?" Nathan asked, confused at the sudden turn of conversation.
"Didn't you just ask me to "save" you?" Wendy was now confused herself.
"Are you okay?" Nathan asked. Now *he* was getting concerned.
"It must have been my imagination," she dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
Lucas burst into the Mess Hall door and looked around for Nathan. Having spotted him, Lucas weaved through the tables until he reached the table where Nathan and Wendy sat.
"I found it!" He proudly announced, flopping down into a seat.
"Found what?" Nathan inquired.
"What OA meant." Lucas answered, disappointed that Nathan had already forgotten.
"OOOH!" Nathan paused for a minute. "Hey! Didn't I ask for that yesterday?"
Lucas rolled his eyes and stole one of Nathan's fries. For the moment Nathan would forget it. "It was a little harder than I anticipated. There wasn't anything on the public databases, so I had to spend all night searching private records." He instantly realized his mistake and mentally prepared himself for a lecture.
"Lucas, I thought we discussed this! Didn't you tell me you were going to be more responsible?" Wendy demanded.
"At least I ate this time." Lucas said reasonably.
"What exactly did you eat?" Nathan asked. He already knew the answer. He had seen Lucas in the mess hall early this morning after Nathan had just come off shift.
Lucas glared at him as Wendy asked, "Well?"
"Coffee and chocolate," Lucas muttered.
"Well no wonder you can't sleep!" Wendy cried. As much as Nathan was loving this conversation, they had more important things to discuss.
"Lucas, what did you find?" He quite obviously changed the subject. This earned a thankful glance from Lucas and a glare from Wendy. He could see the thought forming in Lucas' eyes even as Nathan himself thought them. *I sense...I sense...Anger.* Wendy glared at them both as a giggle escaped Lucas' mouth.
"Anyway," Lucas said, all business now, "I ended up in the most peculiar of places. The adoption agency. But we'll get to that later. OA Stands for Order of Alequi."
"Alequi?" Nathan asked.
"Yep. She was a goddess. The Serimionians were a tribe that lived deep in the South American rain forests. They believed that there were separate gods for children and adults. Amdera was the god of adults and Alequi was the goddess of children. The adult generation had become lazy and basically turned their children into slaves. Alequi got angry, killed all the children. The adults had to promise to revere the children and teach them wisdom because the children brought hope and life. The first born of every family was to be given over to train for a special army that would protect the tribe for all time. That army was called Order of Alequi."
"So it's a religious thing?" Wendy asked.
"That's what I thought at first too. But the Serimionians were destroyed in the early '90's. They sent a group of soldiers into the forest because *something* was killing all of the troops that were sent in there. Safety in numbers, you know. They weren't expecting to find that mere *children* were killing their soldiers. Anyway, there was a battle, and all the Serimionians were killed. Except a little boy! The boy was later adopted by, get this, Jacob and Marsha Knightton."
"The same Jacob and Marsha Knightton who bought out Microsoft, Disney, and all of the Turner stations?" Nathan asked, incredulous.
"One and the same. In July of 2000, Jacen, that's what they named him, disappeared. From what I can tell, one year later the Knightton Colony opened for business."
"So he's the one who's running it." Wendy reasoned.
Lucas shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "Knightton died in '03."
"Then who...?" Nathan wondered out loud.
"A General...Atkins, I think" Lucas tried to remember.
"Henry Atkins?" Nathan guessed.
"That's it. How'd you know?"
"Damn." nathan whispered. He looked up to see Wendy and Lucas staring at him curiously. "I worked with him years ago. Before UEO. Before seaQuest even. He's an unscrupulous bastard that will do anything as long as it benefits him."
Nathan glanced at his watch. "I have a meeting with McGrath. I'll talk to you later." As he picked up his tray he said, "Oh, and let's keep this just between us, okay?" With that, he walked out of the Mess Hall.
PART FOUR
In the end, Nathan decided to take Lucas, Tony, Brody, Wendy, and Miguel. They were greeted at the colony's launch bay by a young girl around twelve years old. She simply nodded a greeting and motioned for the crew to follow her.
Her name tag read TATTERN, and her uniform was solid black with the exception of the name tag and two other patches on her upper arm. The top patch showed a picture of a lion's head thrown back in a roar with writing in a circle around it. Nathan wished he had brought along O'neill to translate the strange writing around the lion's head. Nathan could only guess that the second patch was a badge of rank.
Nathan saw Wendy shudder and whispered in her ear, "What's wrong?"
"Theres a darkness here, Nathan. I can't explain it. It's like...I just can't explain it! Almost as if it's pure evil." Wendy tried to make Nathan understand what she was feeling.
"This place destroys innocence. In many people's eyes, that is the epitomy of evil." Nathan answered back.
"We're here," the girl said in a curt voice before Wendy could answer Nathan's comment.
She had led them to the top floor of a large building not far from the launch bay. They stood in front of a large door labled: Director of Colony. Nathan looked around for the girl, planning to ask her what next, but she had disappeared. Nathan just shrugged and knocked on the door.
"Come in!" called a voice from within.
--------------------
"Captain Bridger!" General Henry Atkins called as the door opened. He immediately got up to shake hands. "Nathan, it's so good to see you again. How are Carol and Robert?"
"They, uh, passed away a couple of years ago."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. You know how out of touch we are down here. Aren't you going to introduce me to your crew?" Atkins asked.
"Yes, of course. How inconsiderate of me. This is Doctor Wendy Smith, Lieutenant Jim Brody, Sensor Chief Miguel Ortiz, Tony Piccalo, and Lucas Wolenczak. This is Henry Atkins," Nathan said, introducing Atkins to the crew, "We used to work together." Atkins went down the line, shaking everyone's hand. When he let go of Lucas' hand, the boy drew it back as though he had been burned. Nathan shot him a warning glance, purely out of reflex, but Atkins just laughed.
"Kids. They're so fickle! But, I love them. Now, Nathan, down to business. I'm afraid you've come at a rather inconvenient time. Neither I nor Admiral Jameson will have much time to spend with you. You will have an A Level security clearence. If a door or building does not have a big A written on or near the door, you can *not* go in it. Every morning-"
"General, could we please go over this in the morning? We've spent all day traveling and I think all of us need to rest." Wendy commented, nodding towards Tony, who were leaned against the wall, almost asleep.
"Of course, Doctor. Just let me get someone to show you to your rooms."
Two teenagers were outside the door, quietly discussing something on a datapad.
"Parker, come here for a moment." Atkins called. They both looked up. The girl nodded to the boy, who then walked away.
"Yes, Sir?" she called from the doorway.
"This is the crew from seaQuest." He named them all. Parker felt a light buzzing in the back of her head and realized someone was trying to scan her. She quickly glanced around the room and discovered it was the doctor.
Wendy net the young girl's frozin gaze and for the second time that day she shuddered. She wasn't used to such...non-emotion. On seaQuest, everyone was an open book. She was used to seeing people running up and down the halls, and laughter, and talking. Everything here was so *quiet*!
Nathan once again noticed the patches on the uniform. This one was a picture of a huge bird with a golden ring sewn around it. Nathan guessed it was a falcon. In it's talons was a banner that read "Order of Alequi". Under that patch was another that was identical to the one the other girl was wearing.
"I want you to take them down to Launch Bay to get their things and then take them to their rooms." Atkins ordered. "Dismissed."
The young girl quickly came to attention and saluted the general.
"Follow me" She quickly commanded.
------------------
Lucas was intrigued. This girl was definitely something else. He decided to try and get her to talk
"So, what's your name?" Lucas asked.
"Parker," she replied shortly.
"Is that a first or a last name?" he tried again.
"Just a name."
As they entered the Launch Bay commotion surrounded them. Tony shot a quizzical glance at Parker.
"Monthly supplies. We don't grow our own food like most colonies do, so we get our food and other supplies from surrounding colonies' surplusses. Where are your things?" Nathan led her over to the seaQuest shuttle."You guys believe in being prepared, don't you?" she asked, looking at their various bags. "We're going to need some help." She looked around the launch bay and spotted who she wanted. "Reed, South, get over here!"
Nathan watched two boys instantly drop their boxes and run over. They both had patches with the bird on them like Parker's, but their rank patches were different.
"What can we do for you, Boss?" the one named South asked.
"This is Captain Bridger and his crew. They'll be staying with us for a couple of days."
Reed's eyes became as big as saucers. "But...what about...?"
"Later," she promised. "I need help-"
"Oh my God!" Reed interupted, "She finally admitted she needs help!"
"Yes, this we have known all along." South conceded.
"Guys, be serious." Parker said. "I need you to help us get these bags to their rooms"
-----------
From there they walked to a building about half a mile from Launch Bay. Lucas learned that the colony was four miles in diameter and had a population of approximately three hundred throughout the year. He also learned Parker was a Commander of one of the armies, and from what he could tell, she was a very good Commander.
"Are we drilling any this week?" South asked.
"I think we might tomorrow, but it's purely optional. "Parker answered.
"You see, the thing is my aim is off by a couple of degrees."
"Really? I didn't notice last week." Parker commented.
"You had other things on your mind."
"I still should have noticed. It's my job. We'll work on it tomorrow."
As they entered the building, Parker went to talk to the guard at the front desk. When she returned, she held out three slips of paper.
"There's a slight problem. We're doing renovations on some of the rooms so we only have three rooms available. You'll have to share rooms and we need to know now who's staying where."
Lucas inwardly groaned, knowing he would be stuck with Doctor Smith. It was the price he paid for being the youngest.
"Well, I guess the easiest way to do it would be me and Tony, Brody and Ortiz, and Wendy and Lucas," Nathan said. He noticed Lucas rolling his eyes and shot him "the look". This caused Lucas to roll his eyes yet again.
----------
"Someone will be here tomorrow morning to get you. If you need anything, I'll be right across the hall and there's always a guard down stairs. We wake up at six o'clock here and lights are supposed to be out at eleven." Parker instructed as she showed them their rooms.
----------
Parker woke up in the middle of the night again, this time soundlessly. She trembled from the pounding of her heart and realistic images from her dreams. She felt a light buzzing in the back of her head again and decided to give the doctor a piece of what she wanted.
Parker let loose a blast of emotions so powerful, Talents for a hundred miles radius could feel it.
-----------
Parker was summonded to the General's office in the middle of drilling.
"Parker, come in." Atkins called.
She walked into his office and flopped in a chair. "She's a psychic." she stated, point blank.
"And he's a hacker," Atkins said, throwing Lucas' file on his desk. "He also knows too much. I want you to take care of him."
"He's just a kid.: Parker said with a flip of her hand. "He's harmless."
The general raised an ironic eyebrow. "A harmless child? This from the girl who at six years old stabbed her Commander in the back?"
"He had it coming," she said reasonably.
"You literally took a knife and stabbed him in the back!"
"And if I hadn't I would be dead by now! Survival of the fittest. Isn't that what you teach?"
"Look, I want this boy dead within twenty-four hours or else!" Atkins demanded.
"Fine." Parker answered.
"Now what's the rules?"
"Quick, clean, painless."
"Good." The General leaned back in his chair. "Twenty-four hours."
-----------
Lucas was walking down the hall when a hand grabbed him and pulled him into a room.
"Don't say a word." Someone whispered harshly.
PART FIVE
/I shut my eyes in order to see ~ Paul Gauguin/
Lucas felt the cold metal against his throat, the sharp edge pressing against his tender skin.
"What do you want?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"I thought I told you not to say a word," the voice again spoke. He knew that voice, he just couldn't place it. The hand let released him and he twisted around to see Parker.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he yelled, forgetting who he was talking to.
"Keep your voice down or I will kill you!" she shot back.
"You're crazy, sneaking up on a guy like that!"
"You're just now realizing that?!" They stared at each other, Parker wondering how he had managed to engage her in a shouting match, only one other person had ever made her let loose like that; Lucas wondering if Parker was going to kill him; he was surprised to find that he didn't believe she would. Last night he had tried to find out more about the Order of Alequi and had found out some very interesting facts about Parker, who was the Commander of that particular army - before Wendy had threatened half-jokingly to sedate him if he didn't go to bed.
Parker had been kidnapped from Admiral Jacob Matthew and Anna-Maria Parker at age five. Her full name was Virginia Josephine Parker, and she was from California. What he found astonishing was that the good Admiral was in charge of Section Seven. In fact, he had signed the contract between the UEO and the Knightton Colony. He had also found that Parker's test scores were some of the highest ever recorded. She had an IQ. that was off the charts. She had been in therapy from the age of three because her parents were worried that her above-average IQ would impair her socially. Jacob and Anna-Maria had divorced shortly after and Anna-Maria had suffered a mysterious 'accident' the day after she had signed the divorce papers. Her journal had recorded that a meeting with a reporter had been scheduled for 30 minutes after her death.
The rest of the reports had been a dry, detached recital of the faces. Parker had killed her Commander when she was six. She had stabbed him in the back and watched him die. She had punctured his liver and severed several important arteries. She had risen through the ranks quickly after that, everyone seemed to be afraid of her. Except one person. Casteel. Now *that* was a tragedy.
"Look," Parker said, breaking the stare, "I just came to tell you to get your friends and leave before something bad happens."
"Like what?" Lucas inquired.
"Like I have to kill you all. Just please leave and forget you ever came here. We'll all be better off."
"Why? What happens if we don't leave?"
"You get injected with this," Parker said, pulling out a syringe. "It's a new drug, virtually untested. What's supposed to happen is it should kill you instantly, but with new drugs you never know. It could be quick and painless...OR it could be a long, slow, agonising death."
"You can't kill me."
"Why not?" Parker asked, genuinely surprised. Not many people thought her incapable of murder.
"I remind you too much of Casteel." Lucas blindly tried.
He was not prepared for what happened next.
PART SIX
/Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought~Henri Bergson/
Lucas was scared. He had expected anything but laughter. Dry, ironic laughter. The look in Parker's eyes was one he had never seen before. Her eyes were completely empty, yet filled with unnameable emotions at the same time. The next thing he knew, Parker had him pinned against the wall, with the knife to his throat again.. He knew this time she wouldn't hesitate in killing him.
"You don't get it, do you?" She said wildly.
"Get what?" He asked quietly, afraid that if he spoke too loudly she would do something stupid.
"This place, me. I could kill you right now and never think of you again." She said with more bitterness and sorrow than pride. "You're saying you remind me of Casteel? I killed Casteel."
"No you didn't." Lucas answered immediately.
"What?" Parker demanded, thrown off track for a minute.
Lucas handed Parker a computer-disc from his pocket. At that moment, the seaQuest crew decided to burst in. Nathan took one look at the scene and freaked out. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded as he pulled Parker away from Lucas. "Are you okay?" he asked, but Lucas didn't here him. He was concentrating on Parker.
"Read it. Help us, please. If not for yourself, then for Casteel." Parker just stared at him as Brody and Tony pulled him out of the room.
-----------------------------------
"What happened?" Wendy asked as they all sat around the table.
"Nothing." Lucas answered.
"It didn't look like nothing to me." Nathan commented.
"Nothing." Lucas repeated.
"She had a knife to your throat, Lucas, and you say nothing happened?" Miguel asked.
"Look, I said something I shouldn't have and she got upset. I was never in any danger."
"Yeah, you looked like you were never in any danger." Tony sarcastically commented.
"I think I know..." Lucas stopped as Parker entered the room. She threw the disc on the table in front of him and leaned over, bracing her hands on the table.
"Let's fry their asses." She said, anger flashing in her eyes.
PART SEVEN
/You can't hit and think at the same time.~ Yogi Berra/
"Give me one good reason why we should trust you." Nathan demanded.
"I'll give you three." Parker said. "One, I could have killed Lucas if I wanted to. Two, I want something from you that they won't give me. And three, you need me." Parker gave Nathan that smug, self-confident, invincible smile only a teenager can give.
"We need you?" Nathan asked.
"You don't actually think you can get out of here by yourself, do you?" Parker asked incredulously. A siren sounded started to wail and shouts could be heard.
"What's going on?" Wendy asked.
"An attack."
"On us?" Wendy asked.
"No. We're attacking someone. Probably a small commercial sub that got too close for comfort. Nothing to worry about."
Ortiz, Brody, and Piccalo entered the room, carrying supplies. Nathan had sent them to collect some materials from Lucas' room while he and Wendy talked to Parker.
"Okay," Nathan instructed, pulling out a map, "Where are the children?"
"Not so fast," Parker said.
"What?" Lucas asked.
Parker stood still, stared at Nathan. "Why are you here?" She asked him.
Nathan glanced at Lucas. "I thought you knew."
"Yeah, the children, I know." she said sarcastically, "Now I want to know why you're really here."
"What's she talking about, Captain?" Tony asked.
"I don't know what she's talking about, Tony." Nathan answered.
"Tell me, *Captain*, what makes your government any better than my own?" Parker wanted to know.
"What does she mean. Captain Bridger?" Lucas asked. Nathan couldn't even look him in the face.
"Explain yourself now!" Nathan demanded, glaring angrily at Parker.
"Oh, come on! Secret government agencies, spies, secrets, lies, secret weapons, putting innocent people in situations and making them believe they're fighting for something they believe in, but instead they're fighting for something completely different? Any of this sounding familiar to you?"
Parker's voice had steadily risen to an all out scream and anger flushed her usually pale, unreadable face, making her seem as if she were a different person.
The deafening silence in the room was penetrated by a loud scream of anguish and horror. Parker took off running for the Launch Bay. She knew that sound, for it had once filled her ears. It was the sound of death.
She barely registered the seaQuest crew running behind her ash she cut a corner. When Parker entered Launch Bay, a group of people were surrounding a young boy of about thirteen years old. She turned her head, not wanting to look at the boy. She knew this scene all too well. The boy was now useless, his spirit broke. They'd have to execute him now. Why she wasn't executed, she did not know. She felt a fresh surge of anger and turned towards the nearest exit...
...Only to run into Admiral Jameson. The anger in her surged to new heights. She could feel it coursing through her veins, tinging her vision red. If she didn't get out of there soon, she would do something she *wouldn't* regret and that was the problem. The fact that she wanted to hurt Jameson. Hurt him so badly, he wouldn't think of hurting anyone ever again. But she just looked at him, the fire in her eyes quickly turned to ice. Too quickly for his comfort as realization dawned on him. SHE KNEW.
As Parker walked out of the room she glanced at Resh, catching his gaze. She gave him a slight nod, hoping he had understood her.
---------------------
"She knows. I don't know how she knows, but she knows." Jameson said, pacing worriedly around the office. *The b**** could ruin everything. EVERYTHING!*
Atkins looked up from the papers he was looking at. "So?"
"So?! What do you mean so? We need to get out of here, leave."
"Why?"
"Because she's going to kill us. Her and those UEO people."
"Oh, I think you'll be safe. From the UEO people, at least. As for Parker...well, I'll just say it. You've done the poor girl bad. When she decides to finally come after you..." Atkins trailed off, leaving the thought hanging.
"What do you mean, from the UEO people?" Jameson asked, silently praying to all the nameless gods of the world as he framed the question.
"You're UEO aren't you?" Atkins asked, already knowing the answer, "Section seven, I do believe."
Jameson felt the blood drain from his face as a nauseous, light-headed feeling took over."But-How?" he asked, starting to panic.
Atkins just smiled. He reached over to the intercom, flipping it on.
"Attention, all personnel. You are to apprehend all seaQuest crew members, as well as all the Order of Alequi crew. They are to be considered extremely dangerous. Use whatever force necessary, including lethal force on all except Lieutenant-Commander Resh, Commander Parker, and Lucas Wolenczak. I repeat, they are extremely dangerous." Atkins glanced at Jameson, an evil smile on his face. "Bring them to interrogation room three."
part eight
Resh had seen the look Parker had sent his way and quickly assembled all ten members of the Order of Alequi army. They quickly travelled to Parker's room which was just down the hall from all of their own. Resh entered without knocking, knowing Parker wouldn't mind.
Parker was sitting on her bed, staring at a drawing pad. Without looking up, she ordered, "Everyone else go to the seaQuest crew's room that's across the hall and wait for us." They needed no explanation. Everyone knew she wanted to talk to Resh alone.
When the door shut, Resh stared at her, waiting for Parker to begin.
"They killed Casteel." She flatly announced.
Resh sat down. He had expected this was coming for a long time now, but he still didn't know how to deal with it. He decided humor was the best way to go. "Took you long enough to figure it out. I was starting to worry."
She looked at him, a light in her eyes that Resh had not seen in a long time. "Those bastards killed my best friend! And now they're going to pay."
"What are you saying, Parker?"
"You know the rules of this game, Resh. Hell, we invented most of them ourselves."
"An Eye for an Eye." he said, recalling the game they had played as children. It was one of the few fond memories he had. It was perfect, they'd never know what hit them.
"So you'll help me?" Parker asked. Resh shook his head in amusement.
"Parker, how can you even ask that after all we've been through together?" At that moment, a voice came over the intercom system.
"Attention, all personnel. You are to apprehend all seaQuest crew members, as well as all the Order of Alequi crew. They are to be considered extremely dangerous. Use whatever force neccessary, including lethal force on all except Luietenant-Commander Resh, Commander Parker, and Lucas Wolenczak. I repeat, they are extremely dangerous. Bring them to interrogation room three."
Resh glanced at Parker. "I guess this is our cue to leave, huh?"
"I think so." she agreed.
----------------
When they entered the room they found the seaQuest crew on one side of the room and the OA crew on the other side. Parker took immediate control of the situation.
"I need to speak to my people alone for a few minutes. Will you take your crew into one of the other rooms, please?" she asked.
Wendy and Nathan exchanged looks and Nathan nodded. "Sure."
"Lucas, can I see that disc again?"
"Yeah, and my computer's over there if you need it." Lucas said, pointing to the dresser.
"Thanks," Parker said, watching the seaQuest crew walk into the adjoining room. She walked to the dresser to get the computer and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and silently praying for courage. She turned to face the small group who had formed a circle on the floor.
"This," she said, pointing to the text that appeared on the screen, "Is the personal diary of General Atkins." They all silently read the words from the screen, and all felt the same anger and disgust.The group glanced at her in astonishment, not daring to speak until she gave them permission. Years of practice had taught them how to be perfect soldiers. She simply nodded and pulled out another disc from her pocket. "And *this* is his plans for the future." She took out the other disc and sat the new one in it's place. A set of blue prints and a text outlining the machine and what it was came up.
"How did you get this?" South asked.
"Lucas gave me the first one."
"And the second one?"
"A friend." She mysteriously replied, not wanting them to know the whole truth just yet.
"How do you know that this 'friend' didn't make it up?" Reed asked.
"Come on, Reed, you don't believe that any more than we do." Resh answered.
"Why don't we remember?" Dorian asked.
"They gave us drugs that would wipe our memories clean." Parker informed her.
"Is it true, what they did to you, to all of us?" Lopez asked Parker.
"Yes."
"They tortured us?"
"Yes."
"Just so we would...we wouldn't...?"
"It was to seperate us. To tell who would make it and who wouldn't. And to see what would happen if it came down to one of us getting captured. Who wants a soldier who will spill their guts at the first sign of pain?"
"And they used the ones who didn't cut it to test biological weapons?"
"Yeah."
"A biological weapon." Resh whispered, astonished. "How?" He asked.
"I don't know. But Ido know that we have to stop them."
"Why?" Micheals asked.
"Why?!" Parker said, "Because if we don't, we're all dead. You think they'll just let us go when they're in power? Not a chance. They'll keep us until we die or they decide they don't need us anymore and kill us." Parker took a deep breath. "Are you going to help me or not?"
One by one they all thought it over and agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly. Parker nodded to Resh, who went to get the seaQuest crew.
In the other room, the seaQuest crew was having a discussion of their own.
"Can we trust them?" Nathan asked the group.
"I don't know," Wendy answered, "I don't sense deceit, but then, I'm suddenly a little wary of going inside Parker's head."
"I don't think we should trust them. I mean, these people are killers - aren't they?" Brody asked.
"That's like sayin' I shouldn't be allowed to serve, 'cause I struck a commanding officer." Tony shot back.
"This is completely different, Tony." Ortiz commented.
"Why? Oh, yeah, 'cause they were *forced* into this."
"You know what we mean."
"Okay, okay. Stop." Wendy commanded. "Why don't we ask Lucas what he thinks. He's spent the most time with Parker." They all looked expectantly at Lucas.
Lucas thought about it a few minutes, then hesitantly replied, "I think we should give them a chance. I mean, what have we got to lose. And they know this place a lot better than we do."
"Alright, we'll give them a chance." Nathan reluctantly agreed as Resh appeared at the door. They joined the others and Nathan turned a questioning glance to Parker.
"Well?" Nathan asked.
"We'll help." Parker promised.
---------------------
"Here's the deal. Right now we're wanted all over the colony. We're going to need help." Parker said, leaning over the papers strewed around the table.
"I think it would be best to keep our numbers small." Nathan suggested.
Parker shook her head. "No, right now, none of us can show our faces in public or we're all dead. We need people we can trust and who can trust us. Any ideas?" Parker looked expectantly around the table at her crew.
"How about McNair from the Lion's?" Resh wondered.
"No, I think we should stay away from the Lion unit." Parker answered.
"Why?"
"Tattern." Parker explained. Nathan remembered the small girl from his first day at the colony.
"Why do you want to stay away from her?" Lucas asked, obviously also remembering the girl.
"She's Atkins' personal aid. She would be on us before we could turn around." Parker explained again. "What about Harding?"
Resh looked up. "Can we trust him?"
"Yeah, he owes me a favor."
"Do I really want to know?" Resh asked.
Parker looked at him for a minute then shook her head. "No, you *really* don't."
They continued discussing the subject for an hour. Suddenly, Lucas looked up.
"Why haven't they came here if they're looking for us?" He asked.
"They wouldn't find anything even if they did." Parker said.
"Why not?"
"There's a trap door in the closet. It leads to a lower level. If they don't push we won't go, but if we ever got down there, they'd never find us."
"Why don't we go?"
"It's dangerous, okay. Leave it at that."
"So dangerous that they won't send an army after us?"
"Leave it alone, okay?" Parker told him. "Are we ready?" she asked the group.
"Yeah, I think that's it." Reed answered.
"Okay, I want Reed, South, Daniels, Mason, and Lewis to go with one of your people," she said, nodding to Nathan, "to the names we can trust. Then come help the rest of us."
"I'll need Tony and Lucas to come with me, but if you want someone else to come, they can. We need to go and disarm the weapons and the Apollyon-"
"The *Apollyon*?!" Lucas burst out. "What's that?"
"You haven't told them yet?" Parker asked Nathan incredulously.
"I haven't had time."
"Well, now's as good a time as any." Wendy suggested.
"The real reason we're here is to destroy a weapon called the Appolyon." Nathan explained.
"Apollyon. As in Apollyon from Revelations?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah."
"What is it, like a biological weapon or something?" Nathan's only answer was silence. His expression said it all. "No! No-that's impossible!" Lucas cried. Wasn't it? Could a person really be heartless enough to build such a weapon intentionally? *And why not?* the scientist part of Lucas demanded, *If people are capable of the Holocaust and other mass murders of history, why not a biological weapon?**Because,* the child in Lucas argued,* It's just wrong, inhumane. They could wind up killing themselves and everyone they care about.* The scientist just laughed bitterly, having won over the child yet again, and the child receded further into his dark corner.
Part 9
"Okay, guys, is everyone ready?" Parker asked as the group grabbed their weapons. Parker handed Lucas his gun and showed him how to set it.
"Lucas, you be careful and listen to Parker and Tony." Nathan instructed, trying his best to swallow his apprehnsion. He wanted to demand that Lucas go with him and the others to get the children, but Nathan knew that Parker needed Lucas' help and, if she could truly be trusted, that he would be safer with her than with Nathan.
"Here's the plan. My crew, do you remember An Eye for an Eye?" At their nods she continued. "This is going to be like that. Strike fast and deadly, but make sure they're not on our side first. If anyone gets hurt, you have to answer to me. Despite what some may think," she shot a glance at Nathan, "The children are the most important things, so try your best to keep them safe. Any questions?"
"What's an eye for an eye?" Ortiz asked.
"It's a game we played when we were younger. Someone will explain it to you later." Parker answered.
"Hold on. I want Ortiz to go with you." Nathan said. Parker stared at Nathan for a minute, making him uncomfortable under her knowing, cat-like eyes.
"Fine," she finally said. She looked around to see if they were missing anyone. The groups seemed pretty evenly balanced, considering what each of them would be doing. One team would be going to get help; another, Captain Bridger's group, was going to start getting the children; and the last, her's, was going to disarm the weapons and destroy Apollyon. She caught Resh's eye and nodded her reassurance at his questioning gaze. "Let's go."
-------------------
Lucas was starting to get nervous as they dropped from the fire escape. They couldn't very well go out the front door, after all. He felt a hand squeezing his shoulder and turned around to see Parker.
"Are you okay?" She asked, noticing his suddenly pale skin.
"Yeah, just a little nervous." He explained. She nodded her understanding.
"One last thing, Wolenczak. Whatever you do, don't get shot, okay?" She instructed.
"I'll try." He sarcastically replied.
She gave him a small smile, "I have a feeling you'll do just fine."
"I'm so glad you have such confidence."
"Just keep close and shut up."
-----------------------
As they entered the building where the main computer was stored, Parker started to get worried. Lucas was a little too jumpy for her taste, Ortiz was eyeing her as if she had just stolen his popsicle, and, if she didn't know better, she would say Piccalo had finally lost what little he had to begin with from the way he was giggling at every little thing. She turned around angrily as he erupted into another fit of giggles when Lucas made a remark she couldn't quite hear. Lucas looked rather angry himself, she thought.
"Piccalo, if you don't shut up, you're going to be our bait if we need it." she informed him.
"I'm..." He was cut off by another giggle, then, as seriously as possible, "I'm sorry, it's a nervous reaction."
"Try chewing gum." Lucas suggested.
"What's gum?" Parker asked as she keyed in a security code.
"You're kidding me, right?" Lucas asked.
"I'm completely serious."
"You've never chewed gum?"
"Not that I can recall. Then again, if I don't know what it is, I wouldn't know if I've ever tried it."
"It's something that you, well" Lucas tried to think of a way to explain it, "you put in your mouth and you don't swallow it. You just chew it and, sometimes, you can blow bubbles."
"You don't eat it?" Parker asked.
"No."
"You just chew it?"
"Yes."
"*Why*?"
"I guess because...It's just something to do. Some people do it because of stress, sometimes boredom, sometimes it's a habit." Lucas answered as he moved to break the last security code before entering the room with the main computer terminal.
"Okay, Ortiz, you stand outside and watch our backs. If the door starts making a beeping noise, whistle." Parker ordered as she and Lucas took their places in front of the computer terminals.
"You work on getting Apollyon down and I'll do the other weapons." Parker instructed Lucas as they turned on the computers.
Lucas was about to argue, but he decided not to waste his breath. He silently started typing, wondering how Captain Bridger and the others were doing.
-------------------------
General Atkins paced angrily aroung his office, occasionally glaring at the young girl sitting in the chair.
"How could this happen?!" He demanded, "I thought I told you to keep a close eye on those...those... *people*!"
"Yes, Sir, you did. But I-" Tattern started to explain.
"No buts! I don't need excuses. I need Parker and those people caught!"
"Where's Admiral Jameson?" Tattern asked, wanting to distract his attention away from her.
"He had some, uh, unfinished business to take care of."
"You killed him, didn't you?" Tattern asked.
"You don't worry about what I do, you understand?"
"And what's his purpose? Certainly not keeping Parker and her gang under control."
"No, no...His purpose is something much greater."
Tattern looked down at the desk and noticed a message had appeared on the computer screen:
AN EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES, AND THEY'LL ALL KNOW THE TRUTH!!!
"Uh, I think you should take a look at this, General." Tattern suggested. Atkins walked over to the computer screne and read and re-read the message, just to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him.
"Damn," he muttered.
---------------------------
"Okay, weapons are off-line," Parker announced.
"Luke, how ya doin' with Apollyon?" Tony asked.
"Don't call me Luke." Lucas complained, basically out of principal. "I need a few more minutes and I should have it done."
"Need help?" Parker asked.
"Yeah, sure. Get on the other computer and let's see what we can do together."
"So, Wolenczak, what are you doing on a sub full of grown-ups?" Parker asked. She glanced at Lucas' face and saw a dark scowl forming. "Or is it one of those 'don't go there' subjects?"
"No, I just have a slight aversion to talking about my past with a complete stranger."
"Really? You look like the type that has a slight aversion to talking about his past with anyone." At his silence she continued, needing to spend the time doing something other than type on a keyboard. "Come on, you already know my history. Hell, you know more about me than I do. Besides, there's a good chance we might very well die here. You don't want to die knowing that you denied me this one small pleasure, now do you?"
"Uh, Parker? Somehow that don't make me feel much better." Tony commented while Lucas just stared at the computer. Parker was beginning to wonder if the boy had tuned her out completely.
Lucas just stared at the computer, trying to ignore Tony and Parker. He didn't want to talk about his past or anything else. He just wanted to get out of there and back to seaQuest. The colony was just plain freaky. Lucas pushed back his chair, frustrated. "Nothing's working. I can't get into the program to break it down."
"Here, let me try something." Parker tapped a few key commands and a picture of fireworks showed up on the screen with a question mark and she quickly tapped y. "Okay, let's go."
"What did you do?" Lucas asked.
"You'll see." Parker quickly replied. "Come on, we're on a tight schedule. They've probably figured out where we're at by now."
As they stepped into the shadows outside the building, she turned to them.
"Okay, stay close and don't get lost," she instructed pulling out her weapon. They slowly began to make their way to the other side of the colony. Parker pulled up short as she saw a group of people. The group quickly spotted them, drew their weapons and fired them. Instinctively, Parker, Ortiz, and Tony fired theirs while Lucas stood there, not quite sure what to do. Parker saw this and pushed Lucas and yelled for the others to follow her. They quickly ran away from the other group, taking short-cuts others didn't know existed. Finally they were safe when Tony realized what was wrong. Lucas.
"Where's Lucas?" He asked, looking frantically around.
"He's not with us?" asked Parker.
"No."
"Did he follow us in here?" Ortiz questioned.
"I don't know." Tony answered.
"Lucas?" Parker called, starting to get worried.
"Lucas!?" Tony and Ortiz tried.
"Lucas!" They continued calling...
PART TEN
Lucas was thrown into the room and the door slammed behind him and his captors.
"Mr. Wolenczak, how nice of you to join us. Sit down." General Atkins ordered. When Lucas didn't immediately obey, Atkins motioned to the people who had brought Lucas in the room. Lucas was jerked up and was slammed down in a chair. "Now, Mr. Wolenczak, I'm going to ask three *very* simple questions, and then you're going to answer them. Understand?"
Lucas' only answer was a glare that could freeze the devil himself.
Atkins laughed. "Quite rebellious, aren't we? Waiting for your captain to save you? I've got news for you. Your friends? They're all dead."
Lucas' head shot up, disbelief in his eyes
"And Parker?" Atkins continued. "She sold you out."
*No, it's not true,* Lucas silently begged whatever god might be listening.
"She was playing you all along, reporting back to me with what she found out. The minute you were out of sight, our people killed yours. You're *alone*, Lucas, so answer the questions and we *might* let you live." Seeing that the boy wasn't going to resist, Atkins continued. "Where is seaQuest?"
"In the water." Lucas answered, not wanting to rat on his friends.
"I'll only ask this one more time: Where is seaQuest?"
"In an ocean."
Atkins slapped Lucas across the face. "Do *not* play games with me, boy!" He took a deep breath and seemed to calm down almost immediately. "Let's move on, we can always come back to that later."
"Now, I know you know this. What are the codes to the UEO's maximum containment lab at the Center for Disease Control?"
"Huh?" Lucas asked, not completely sure if he had heard correctly.
"Well, I guess since you're not likely to be in the condition to tell anyone, I'll explain." Atkins took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "We've been trying to form a disease...And we've been pretty successful so far but we can't quite get what we need. Lucas, I'm not a cruel person. I don't take lives needlessly-"
"No, just when it benefits *you*," Lucas interrupted. Someone grabbed his arm from behind and gave it a hard twist, making pain shoot up his arm and making Lucas cry out.
Atkins continued as though Lucas hadn't spoken. "You see, we've produced countless diseases, but no antidotes. Now, say the virus got out of control. We'd be virtually unprotected. As would the public. I mean, what's the use of ruling the world if there's no one left to rule. Therefore, we need the codes to get a virus with an antidote."
Lucas thought about it for a minute. "6-6-6." he stated.
Atkins punched Lucas in the jaw this time, knocking him out of his chair. "my patience is wearing *very* thin, Lucas. You have one more question, and you have three chances to answer it correctly." He turned to the soldiers and motioned for them to leave.
"Where is Parker?" Atkins demanded. Lucas looked up. Atkins had just made a serious mistake.
"Beats me." Lucas answered.
Atkins kicked him in the stomach and Lucas let out a groan as he doubled over.
"Where is Parker?"
"How the hell should I know?"
Lucas received five more kicks, four in the stomach and one square in the chest.
"Where. Is. Parker?"
"Right behind you."
-----------------
Nathan saw Ortiz and Tony running towards him and knew instantly something was wrong.
"Where's Lucas and Parker?" Nathan asked worriedly.
They both tried to catch their breath and Ortiz was the first one to speak.
"It's Lucas, Sir."
"What about Lucas?"
"He...He disappeared."
"What do you mean, disappeared?!" Nathan demanded.
Tony, who had now calmed down enough to speak, answered Nathan's question. "There were some people, Sir, who shot at us, so we began to shoot back. Only, Lucas wasn't shooting, so Parker told us to run - only when we stopped, no Lucas."
"So where is Parker now?" Wendy inquired.
"She told us to go find you and then she took off the other way. Said she might know where Lucas is."
"Wendy, call seaQuest. Tell them to get here as fast as they can. Ortiz, Piccolo, Brody, come with me." Nathan ordered.
"I'm coming, too," Resh told him.
"No."
"Look, Parker is my friend and my Commanding Officer, so I have a right to go, and you know it."
"Sir, he's got a point." Ortiz quietly said. "If it were you that was missing, think of how we would feel."
"Fine." Nathan said, wondering why God had surrounded him with children who knew too much for their own good.
END PART 10