Nathan Bridger was lost in thought as he traversed the corridors of seaQuest. He had just seen Raleigh Young and Jesse Fagan off in a launch of the mainland. He was surprised Kristin hadn't been there. In fact, no one had seen her since she had left the bridge.

Bridger found himself smiling a bit as he remembered her retort to Noyce's suggestion that she pay for the extra torpedoes, used to save the six people on Menudo. Six, that included Young, Jesse and Jonathan Ford. Bridger shook his head in awe, it had taken a lot of guts on Kristin's part to jump into things and take charge. More than, she herself realized, he suspected.

Entering through the hatch on to Seadeck, Bridger caught part of a whispered conversation. He shook his head as he recognized the voices.

"Kristin. Hero." Darwin spouted exuberantly, slapping his tail.

"No, Darwin, not really." Kristin Westphalen remarked her tone etched with sadness.

"Why?"

Kristin looked at the dolphin with surprise. She squirmed a little as she tried to find the words to say what she was feeling. The problem was she didn't know how to feel. Yes, she was happy that Ford and the others had been saved, but at what cost.

"Because, I didn't do it right, I suppose. At least, that what the Secretary-General seems to think."

"Damn the torpedoes!" Bridger said as he approached.

Kristin jerked her head up as she heard his voice.

"Nathan, I didn't know you were there."

"Obviously." Bridger deadpanned as he took in the pained expression on Kristin's face. "Kristin, didn't let Bill get to you. You did the right thing."

"I know but--"

"But it bothers you."

"Yes, I don't know how you can do it. The power it gives you. It's so overwhelming." Kristin ventured quietly.

"The trick is... not to let it." Bridger told her as he sat down next to her on the steps beside the Moonpool. "It's the mark of a fine officer, to be able to take all that's given to him or her, and not be swayed by the absolute of it."

"You're saying, power corrupts and absolute power, corrupts absolutely." Kristin ventured.

"Yes, it can and many a time it does. seaQuest was built to be a powerful force. But she was also built to save lives and make new discoveries. That how you used her, that's what I try to do. Sometimes, it's not black and white. Shades of gray slip in there, the idea is to step back and see the end result. Then the action needed becomes clear."

"So, you're saying, even though I used NINE torpedoes and blew up a mile and a half of ocean floor, six lives were still saved. That's all that should matter."

"Yes, Darwin was right. Kristin is a hero and the best kind, a modest one."

Kristin chuckled at that, "Tell that to Phillips and Ortiz. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been able to do anything."

"Both men are good officers, they could see immediately that you were only trying to prevent a disaster."

Kristin nodded and stood. Bridger followed and watched as she picked up the sword that Fagan had given her. Her caressed the blade absently as she raised her gaze to meet his.

"Nathan, would you do something for me?"

"Sure--" Bridger replied automatically. "What do you need?"

Kristin took a breath, "Show me how things work. If something like this happens again. I want to make sure, it's done right."

"Are you sure? It gets a little complicated."

"You're hedging Bridger. Afraid for your job?" Kristin teased, yet her eyes were serious.

"Never. Report to Chief Weapons Officer Phillips at 0500 in morning."

"Aye, aye, sir--" Kristin acknowledged snapping a smart salute and doffing her sword to him. "Permission to return to quarters, sir."

"Granted--" Bridger responded a smile crinkling his eyes.

Kristin gave him a grin and a sharp nod, pausing a moment to place a kiss on his cheek and whisper a thank you before disappearing through the hatch. He watched her slim form exit and found himself visualing the crew reaction to seaQuest's newest recruit. Somehow he had the feeling, life on this boat was never going to be the same again.