Note: Not a rerun, I'm posting simultaneously to both fan fiction sites. Based upon the third season episode, The Death Watch, please see credits at the end of story.

Until Justice is Rendered

by Lynn

Chapter One

Subliminal Deceit

Admiral Harriman Nelson and Captain Lee Crane sat in the fine restaurant enjoying their coffee after a rather fine meal.

"Any idea of why Dr. Larson wanted us to report this evening instead of in the morning?" Lee asked as the waiter poured more coffee.

"Charles said he just wanted us to be fresh for the tests in the morning," Harry replied, indicating to the waiter he would pass on a warm up.

Lee raised an eyebrow and shrugged a shoulder elegantly. "I guess it doesn't matter, just curious as to why Chief Sharkey isn't reporting in at the same time?" he asked casually.

"It's really quite simple," Harry replied, reaching for a cigarette in his breast pocket. "Sharkey is the "control" in the tests; you and I are the "subjects." We'll undergo Larson's subliminal preparations, but Sharkey will remain untouched by Charles' methods. He'll remain on board to make sure that the tests don't get out of hand, but as the Control element he won't be affected by the subliminal messages broadcasted during the experiment."

Lee nodded his understanding. "I can't say that I'm all that thrilled at turning Seaview over to the computer to run, nor with the idea that I'll be receiving messages to encourage insubordination," he said with a worried smile and a raised eyebrow.

"I agree, especially since my messages will be designed to antagonize you," Harry returned with a tight lipped knowing smile. "But this type of research is necessary if we're going to counter the threat against a real attack of this kind to our servicemen."

"It's hard to believe we could be manipulated by simple flash images while watching a film," Lee noted, their conversation spoken in low tones even though their booth was well away from the other restaurant patrons.

"Charles insists that the flash images are extremely suggestive, the fact that you and I were asked to volunteer is directly related to the amount of respect we hold for one another."

"If Dr. Larson is successful, that respect may be stretched on this run," Lee said with a half-smile as Harry took the last drag from his cigarette.

"Well, I'll promise not to keel-haul you if you promise not to shoot me out of a torpedo tube," Harry chuckled.

"That I can promise, Sir, though it might be fun to indulge in a little petulant insubordination," he joked, as nothing could be further from the truth, something Harry knew full well.

"I won't hold it against you," Harry promised, knowing the parameters of the test could very well produce some rather heated exchanges between the two.

Lee laughed and then turned to a more solemn tone. "I'm just glad no one but Sharkey will be there to witness it, something inside me hopes we both beat the subliminal messages and it won't go that far," he said, letting Harry in on his concern for the tests.

"It's for a good cause, Lee. The other side is engaging heavily in this type of research; we need to know how to counter it."

Lee nodded his understanding, but his expressive eyes were already apologizing for whatever mean, hateful, or spiteful utterances he would soon be directing at his best friend.

"Well now, I think it's about time to head over to the laboratory," Harry said, looking at his watch and noting the time. "We've got an hour and half drive ahead of us."

"Aye Sir," Lee agreed, as Harry reached for his wallet to settle the bill. "If you don't mind, Sir, I'd like to pick this one up," Lee interrupted, as Harry gracefully relented, knowing that Lee was very uncomfortable with the possibility that the test could manipulate his feelings to the point of insubordination toward him.

With the bill settled, they donned their service caps and left the restaurant, ready to submit themselves to the experiment for the good of their country and the hopes of countering a very real threat to the military men and women of America.

# # # # #

"Can't you hurry this up? Nelson and Crane are scheduled to arrive in little under two hours," Dr. Wallace asked anxiously.

"Not to worry, Wallace, he's almost ready," Dr. Charles Larson assured his fellow scientist.

"Will he remember the conditioning? This whole thing will go bust if he remembers even being here," Wallace asked with a nervous twitch to his cheek.

"He won't remember a thing, and his conditioning is far less severe than Nelson or Crane's will be. He'll report into the Seaview without knowledge of the tests and will change the subliminal tape reels without even knowing he's done it, extending the experiment past the original parameters. No one will know that the role as the Control in the tests was affected by pre-conditioning, they'll positively assume he was caught up in the messages himself."

Wallace rung his hands, his nervous energy nearly taking over. "I hate all of this intrigue. What if they discover what we did?" he whispered, his eyes searching to the right and left making sure their conversation was private.

"Relax Wallace, don't fall apart on me," he threatened more than advised. "It will all be over soon. Nelson will be dead and Crane will take the fall with Chief Sharkey there to witness it all. The test parameters don't call for violent acts so everyone will believe that it was Crane's own natural desire to kill Nelson and not the experiment itself. It's the perfect frame-up."

"I just hope all this is worth it, there's got to be easier ways to eliminate these two."

"Others have tried and failed many times before and besides, I get the feeling my employer likes to do things very elaborately. He's making it well-worth our time."

"You may be doing this for the money Larson, but you know I'm only in it for my wife... she needs that medical treatment and it's not approved yet in the US. Once we're done here, we're on a plane to South America and we're never looking back."

Larson shrugged his shoulder. "You spend your money your way Wallace, but I have other plans for mine."

"It looks like the reel is almost finished," Wallace said noting the projection reel was nearing its end.

"Fine, as soon as it's over we'll test his responses," Larson said turning toward the small projection room and smiling at their test subject sitting dumbly, watching the screen with a blank face and receiving a full download of instructions hidden in the simple documentary about the migrating habits of monarch butterflies.

# # # # #

Chief Sharkey sat in the screening room watching the film, his attention glued keenly on the screen. His face was expressionless, his eyes scanning, drinking in every visual flash suggestion made while his brain processed the subliminal messages without his knowledge. He had been called in to receive instructions for the experiment and had spent three hours in the preparation room before being led to the screening room. He was a sponge, receiving very different instructions than he'd originally been briefed for when asked to participate.

At the end of the film he continued to sit, watching the blank, white screen with absolutely no urge to move.

"Is he still under the influence of the conditioning?" Wallace asked, concerned that everything could blow up at any moment.

"Of course he is," Larson glared back. "Just look at him, he's still staring at the blank screen and hasn't moved a muscle, and he's still in a highly suggestive state. I assure you, he'll remain that way until we dismiss him."

"Then let's get this over with before Nelson and Crane arrives," Wallace said, checking his watch again.

Larson just smiled, but there was no humor behind his eyes, just ill-intent as he walked to the front of the screening room to stand in front of Sharkey's line of sight.

"State your name," Dr. Larson ordered in a rather monotone voice.

"Francis Ethelbert Sharkey," he replied without any regard for the fact that he never used his given name, preferring just Sharkey or his initials when pressed.

"Very well Francis Ethelbert Sharkey, are your instructions clear?"

"They are clear," he repeated almost robotically, his eyes glazed and his voice monotone.

"Repeat them."

"I will report to the Boat in two days as ordered. I will change the tapes as instructed."

"Very good Francis. You will not remember your visit here."

"I will not remember my visit here," Sharkey repeated obediently, completely accepting his orders.

"You will not remember the experiment at all."

Sharkey nodded his understanding.

"Now who gave the order to retrofit the Seaview with the new computer?" Larson asked, checking Sharkey's programming.

"Admiral Nelson," Sharkey replied.

"Who ordered the crew's shore leave?"

"Admiral Nelson."

"What are you testing, Francis?"

"The new automatic warning system," Sharkey replied, the real parameters of the experiment completely lost to him at this point.

"Very good, Chief Sharkey. You will now return home, go to bed, and you will not remember your visit here or speaking with me at all. Is that clear?"

Sharkey nodded dumbly.

"You're excused, Chief Sharkey," Larson said as Sharkey stood and moved slowly for the door. He headed straight for his car and obediently returned to Santa Barbara. Once home, he readied himself for bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow he was asleep, obeying his instructions without question. He had no recollection of his visit, the bright lights that had assaulted him in the preparation room, or the film he had watched with the subliminal messages dictating his instructions. The day after tomorrow, he would head to Seaview completely unaware of the experiment he was participating in, or the part he would unknowingly play in Dr. Larson's plot to kill Admiral Harriman Nelson by the hand of his best friend, Captain Lee Crane.