The Argument

A WHN to the fourth season episode, Blow Up

Chapter 1

Admiral Harriman Nelson, head of the Nelson Institute for Marine Research and owner of the submarine Seaview, strode quickly from his office in the Administration Building of his institute located above the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean and headed down a gentle slope to a two-story building that housed the newest addition to the ever expanding NIMR campus: the Bioprospecting Research Division.

Entering the squat building quickly, he glanced about in appreciation at the array of vegetation that greeted him. Palms, ferns and cactuses were the most obvious varieties that he saw but closer inspection revealed an assortment of flowering plants as well as containers of what looked to be mosses, liverworts and algae. The whole area was lit by different colored lights along the roof of the building: an apparent experiment in determining what color light produced the best results for growth.

His perusal of the structure and its living occupants was interrupted by the enthusiastic call of one of his newest employees.

"Admiral! Oh, I'm so glad you made the time to come down and see what we're up to!" Doctor Ben Haggens called in what Nelson thought was a way too perky tone for such an early hour.

"It's my pleasure, Ben," he replied with an easy smile as he watched the young, bearded and bespectacled researcher approach at what he could only describe as a cross between a walk and a skip. "The new Bioprospecting Division of NIMR is a bit of a gamble on my part but I'm hoping you and the other teams will make me appear to be a genius."

"Well, you're already that, Admiral," Ben laughed easily. "What I wanted to show you was some of our most promising research so far."

Handing him a clipboard, Nelson studied the data with interest. "I'm impressed, Ben," he said after a few moments going over the latest research from the team. "If we keep seeing the results evinced here, we can begin the new protocols as early as next week on some of the projects."

"I think so, too. I'm very excited about some of the findings! A few of our plants are showing a lot of promise in controlling inflammation from conditions such as arthritis, lupus or even psoriasis. A few even show promise in helping asthmatics!"

"Asthma? I don't see that here, Ben. Do you have a report handy on that?"

"I do! I'll get it right now," he replied enthusiastically, turning away and heading to a computer behind Harry who continued to look over the simple listing of the ongoing research in the department. He smiled as he saw how much the team had accomplished since he'd last been able to find the time to make his way down to the relatively new building.

The research and the success of at least this team in the new Bioprospecting building was a balm to Nelson's soul. So much had gone wrong in the last few weeks that any good news was a relief. Budget problems and personnel issues seemed to dog him at every turn, but the guilt that filled him over the circumstances of the last mission seemed to consume his very soul and he found he was at a loss at how to let it go.

"Here you go, Admiral," Ben called, handing him more than a few pages. "I also printed out the research we just started on possible cancer treatments."

Pulled from his dark thoughts, Nelson smiled at the reams of research the young scientist had handed him. "I must say again, Ben that I'm impressed. Even if NIMR doesn't come up with actual cures or treatments, the research you're doing will be beneficial to others."

"Well, if it's all the same, I'd rather NIMR gets the credit."

"I agree of course. I just wish the other division team was producing the same results," he added sadly, a pang going through him like a knife when he remembered the events that had occurred there a few months ago.

"I'm sorry for what happened, Admiral. I never saw it. I never had any inkling he was, well you know."

"Yes, I know, Ben. No one saw it I'm afraid," he sighed trying to push the dismal thoughts away as a wave of remorse and anger washed over him. "Perhaps if I'd been more focused on the Institute instead of, well, personal concerns, it may have been discovered earlier. Not that it would have made that much difference I suppose. I chose poorly in whom I appointed as head of that team."

"It wasn't your fault, sir! He had a greedy, dark side he just never showed to anyone. Some people are chameleons I suppose."

"Yes, chameleons. That's a good analogy. Well, I just want you to know how happy I am with…"

The shrill ringing of a phone nearby interrupted Harry.

"I'm sorry. Let me get that," Ben apologized as he hurried to pick up the phone. "Bioprospecting, Haggens speaking. Yes, he is. Just a moment. Admiral? It's for you. It's your secretary."

"Thanks, Ben," he frowned, unsure what Angie could be calling about. "Angie? What's…he is, huh. Angry is he? Tell him I want him in my office by the time I get back to the Admin Building. No excuses. Tell him to wait; I don't care what he has on his agenda. I'll be there shortly."

"Problems, sir?"

"There are always problems it seems, Ben," he sighed. "Keep up the good work and touch base with me next week about stepping up your research."

"I will and thank you for giving me this opportunity!"

Nodding, Nelson strode quickly from the research building, anger burning inside him and propelling him up the hill to his office. A few minutes walk and he began to slow down, his irritation fading a bit. It wouldn't do to confront the man waiting in his office in his current mood. Stopping, he took several deep breaths before he felt himself calming down. He only hoped the man waiting for him had done the same.

Running up the stairs to the executive level of the building, he strode down the hall and opened the door to his office with a yank. Stopping by his secretary's desk, he asked brusquely, "Is he in there?"

"Yes sir. He came in about ten minutes ago. He looked angry," Angie Wood, Nelson's private secretary, replied with a frown, knowing something was wrong.

"He's not the only one," he responded as he headed for his office, opened the door and closed it with just a touch too much force.

~O~

It didn't take long before the two obstinate men inside the office began bellowing, each trying to outdo the other. Angie Wood covered her ears in an attempt at blocking out the argument raging in the admiral's office.

She'd always thought the admiral's door impenetrable to his deep, often loud, voice. But judging by the fact Chip Morton was suddenly standing by her desk, a concerned look on his face, it seemed it wasn't.

"What are they arguing about now?" he asked gesturing to the door.

"Guess," she replied unhappily.

Nelson's voice carried through the closed door. "Not only did you not supervise the repairs on Seaview in dry dock, you missed the last meetings concerning those repairs, as well as a briefing on our next mission. Your presence wasn't a mere suggestion, Captain."

"I'm sorry. I thought you understood."

"Understood? Understood that you chose once more to put ONI over your duties as Seaview's captain? Is that what you mean?"

"Yes! Yes it is. Admiral Johnson informed you I was..."

"Informed! Not asked. Informed! And well after the fact I might add and before I had a chance to do anything about it."

"You know how important what I do for ONI is. At least I was under the impression you did. I thought…"

"You can't keep taking these missions, Lee! You come back injured or in some dark mood or other and no good to the crew or the Institute for days…weeks!"

"No good to…thanks a lot," Crane yelled sarcastically. "I'd have thought you of all people would understand. You ran the same types of missions when you…"

"But that was my job! My only job! That was what I was ordered to do. You have another job. One I thought you were happy with!"

"I am happy with it! But it's duty, Admiral. You know what that means. You yourself…"

"Leave me out of this. Yes, I did run missions. Too many missions. And I paid a heavy price for each and every one. A price I'm trying to get you to see will catch up to you eventually. You're going to need to choose! Are you Seaview's captain or are you an ONI agent?"

The abrupt sound of the door opening caused both Morton and Angie to look up in surprise. They watched as Lee turned back, his face red in anger and pointed a finger at Nelson. "Don't ask me to choose, Admiral. You may not like the choice I make. In fact, I guarantee you won't. But if you want me to choose now, then I choose duty to my country over Seaview. And you. And if that isn't good enough for you, then to hell with you and the Institute!" he yelled as he slammed the door closed and stalked out without acknowledging the two in the outer office who stared at him in shock.

"Did he just say what I think he said?" Chip asked quietly.

"Yeah. I think he just quit," Angie answered softly.

"Damn. I'll go after him. Maybe you should go talk to the admiral."

"Trade you," Angie muttered as she watched Chip walk out.

Sighing, she rose and walked to the door to Nelson's office, putting her ear to the wood, listening. When she didn't hear anything being thrown, she knocked tentatively. Hearing a soft "Come in," she opened the door, expecting to see the admiral behind his desk. Instead she saw the man standing by the window, the drapes pulled aside and his gaze fixed on something below.

"Admiral, are you all right?" she asked hesitantly.

"I'm just fine, Angie," he murmured as he felt her come up beside him and look over his shoulder to the scene he was watching being played out below. The unmistakable form of Lee Crane stalked from the main door of the Administration Building and pulled up short when he was grabbed by Chip Morton and spun around. She could tell from here Chip was laying into Lee who stood with his arms folded arrogantly over his chest and she smiled slightly; glad someone had the admiral's back.

"I'm afraid I let my anger get to me again," Nelson murmured as he watched the two men yell at each other.

"Not you, sir. I've never known you to lose your temper," Angie replied with a slight grin.

Turning slightly he saw her smile and shook his head. "He was pretty mad. I should have found another way of presenting my case to him but the budget requests I have waiting for me and the lack of money for them didn't leave me in a very good mood. Nor did it help that I talked to Admiral Johnson this morning about his last mission and how close Lee came to not coming back," he said, knowing Admiral William Johnson, head of ONI, was reticent to answer his questions about the operation but finally gave in after some heated discussion.

"He'll settle down. He always does," she replied loyally.

"Maybe. Maybe this is the one time he doesn't come back for more," he muttered as he watched Lee throw up his hands, push Chip away and stalk to his car. In sadness, he watched his captain, and one of his best friends, tear off down the road.