Those Whom the Gods Would Destroy

I'm really sorry for the long wait in posting this chapter. I appreciate you sticking with me!

"Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature?" – Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs

Chapter 2: Chance of a lifetime

Veronica Daniels was trying her best to read and it just wasn't working. If anyone had seen her flipping sightlessly through the pages of the Journal of Marine Annelids, they would have thought she was bored by the subject matter. In actuality, the article (by Harriman Nelson himself) was of great interest to her and she'd already studied it carefully during her weeks of training at NIMR. Nelson's writing style was a breath of fresh air in an academic journal: casually erudite, eminently readable. She'd found herself chuckling a couple of times at his turns of phrase, the sly persuasiveness of his arguments. He'd been a legend to her and her fellow post-docs. Even senior marine biologists held him in awe and she'd decided in her second year at Woods Hole that she'd join the crew of Seaview and work for him someday. She'd been a Navy ROTC cadet in college who had continued to become a seasoned diver and a promising researcher—a perfect fit for his team.

Then the rejection letter arrived. It was a form letter, not even sent by Admiral Nelson, but from Captain Lee Crane or, she suspected, his secretary. Thank you for submitting your application. Unfortunately, it is not possible to hire you for the SSRN Seaview, as a submarine is an unsuitable environment for a woman, except under short-term circumstances.

Her mother always said it was a man's world, but Veronica knew the country had changed tremendously since her mother was her age. To her disappointment, she realized the admiral shared her mother's viewpoint and not the forward-looking attitudes of her own generation. Naïvely, she'd thought that because she'd heard stories about Nelson and read his publications, she knew something about the man himself. But what did she know, really? There were less flattering stories to match the ones extolling his genius—researchers who complained about his arrogance, his dismissiveness, who accused him of showboating. She'd always written them off as envious and petty, but the rejection letter was the first crack in the heroic image she'd fashioned.

Admiral Nelson was a scientist who appreciated facts, who could see the truth in data, so she made sure her second application contained even more detailed information about her work. She laid her accomplishments out like goods in a marketplace, hoping at least one would be shiny enough to capture the great man's attention.

The second rejection letter she received was almost as terse as the first, except a sentence had been added at the end. Perhaps you should apply for a position at NIMR.

Veronica had stared at that letter for two days, wondering. Had Nelson written the invitation himself, or was it that Captain Crane again? Should she settle for a diminishment of her dream just to get her foot in the door? It would be the prudent thing to do.

Her mother often lamented that she wasn't sensible. Veronica waited a week, then sent another application to join Seaview's crew as a junior officer/scientist. She knew the opportunities to be found on the submarine couldn't be duplicated on land. If the admiral could just see her, could understand how long she'd been trying, how hard she'd worked, perhaps he would give her the chance to prove herself. "Just one mission," she'd pleaded in her last application. "Just give me a chance to show you what I can do."

And then, miraculously, Nelson had written to her, inviting her to join Seaview's crew. It was a hand-written note this time, accompanied by a slew of forms and waivers—indemnity in the case of drowning or dismemberment, hazardous duty insurance, an application for security clearance. She'd signed them all without thinking. It was the chance of a lifetime and the only thing that mattered was that she would be on Seaview.

Finally ensconced in her cabin on the boat, Veronica flipped through the journal, unable to focus. She'd been training in Santa Barbara for eight weeks for a deep-sea collection mission. So far, she'd only seen Nelson when he'd given the scientific staff a brief pep talk about the importance of the project. He was as energetic and enthusiastic as she'd imagined he would be, and a feeling of pride swept over her when he'd smiled approvingly at her. There'd been no doubt in her mind that she'd finally been accepted, even if she was a woman. No doubt until today.

Veronica dropped the journal listlessly, giving up any pretense of reading. A few minutes ago, the executive officer informed her that the admiral was bringing his twelve year-old daughter on the mission and would appreciate it if she would share her cabin with the girl.

Veronica ground her teeth together, trying to hide her disappointment. She'd tried so hard to make them accept her as a scientist and an equal and now, on her first tour of duty, she was being asked to be a companion for a rich girl on summer vacation! She'd have to put up with all the trappings of adolescence: make-up and pop music magazines and whining, no doubt, about how boring and stupid the submarine was. There would be no privacy, no peace, and if she even looked crossly at the girl it would probably be tattled back to the admiral.

There was a brisk rap on the door. Sighing resignedly, Veronica pulled it open.

A thin, dark-skinned girl stood before her holding a battered leather bag in one hand and a large, plush shark in the other. A tall crewman waited behind her with a suitcase, his hand poised to knock again.

For a moment they stared at each other, then the girl pushed forward into the cabin. "I'm Cloud Nelson." She turned to the man. "You can drop my things anywhere, Ski. I'll put them away."

When he was gone, she turned to Veronica. "You're surprised." Her eyes were fathomless, unreadable, as she scanned the woman's face.

"No!" When Cloud sniffed contemptuously, she added, "Well, yes… I suppose. I'm sorry." The words were inane, inadequate.

Cloud's expression softened. "It's all right. I don't guess Harry told you he's not really my father? Or asked how you felt about sharing your cabin?" She laid the bag and the shark on the empty bunk across from Veronica's. "Harry's inconsiderate, sometimes," she added matter-of-factly, hoisting her suitcase with a grunt. "He doesn't mean to be, but people's feelings don't always occur to him."

Veronica shook her head, trying to decide what to make of her outspoken roommate. Cloud continued unpacking, undeterred by Veronica's silence. "I don't mind staying with you—if you don't mind having me—but I don't see why I can't just stay in Harry's cabin. He says it isn't proper, but we slept together in the jungle, so I don't see what the problem is."

Veronica blinked rapidly, wondering if the girl had any idea what she'd just said. She couldn't believe—wouldn't believe—the implications of the casual comment, but Cloud's irreverent way of talking about the admiral confused her. It wasn't the way any child she knew spoke about her father, much less a respected figure like Harriman Nelson.

Cloud had turned and was watching her closely, so Veronica forced herself to smile. "Of course I don't mind having you. I've just never been on Seaview before and I hardly know anyone, so I suppose I'm a bit out of my depth today."

"It's hard to get used to a new place," Cloud observed, "especially if you're different." She flopped on the bunk, pushing her luggage aside, and stared up at the ceiling. "I've only been on Seaview once, but everyone was very nice to me. I remember thinking, These are good men." She caught Veronica's gaze. "They are good men, Lt. Daniels. All of them."

X X X

"Who do you think the intruder was?" Lee Crane settled back in his chair, his expression worried.

"How the hell should I know?" Nelson ran a hand over his eyes and smiled tightly at his captain. "I'm sorry, Lee. I don't mean to be so curt. I just have too many problems right now and not enough solutions."

"How can I help?"

"I don't know that you can, unless you can talk the Navy into changing the sonic beam's test site."

"If you can't manage it, I certainly can't."

"I know." Nelson took a sip of coffee. "This intruder just adds another layer. Maybe he was a PR agent, but maybe…" he broke off, scowling.

"Maybe what?"

"Are you my man, Lee?" Harry studied him closely. "Can I always rely on you?"

Crane frowned, taken aback by the question. "I wouldn't think you'd have to ask."

"Good." Nelson took a deep breath. "I know you are. I'm just… checking."

"What is it you suspect?"

"What if the intruder were sent by our government to tap my phone or bug my house? Maybe I stopped him before he had time to do it. There are people in Washington who are jealous of me, Lee. Jiggs said so. He warned me."

"There are always people who are jealous of you." Lee's frown deepened. "Why are you worrying about them now? You don't usually give them a second thought."

"I don't know." Nelson's brow furrowed. "I really don't know. It just occurred to me." He took another sip of coffee and heaved a sigh. "Well, the intruder didn't accomplish his mission, whatever that was, and we're on Seaview now. My submarine, my crew."

"Speaking of that," Crane said, "your experiment with Lt. Daniels is going well so far. I haven't heard any complaints from the men yet."

"We've only been out a day."

"True." Lee smiled. "How's Cloud settling in?"

"Fine, as far as I know."

"As far as you know? Haven't you checked in on her?"

Nelson set his cup down a little too hard and coffee sloshed over the sides. "I've been busy— busy trying to solve all these problems! I don't appreciate the criticism in your tone!" He stopped at the shocked expression on Crane's face and when he spoke again his voice was silky, conciliatory. "You're my right-hand man, Lee. I depend on you to be beside me, to help me out. Cloud's fine—she's got Ski and Pat— and Lt. Daniels. The child has to know she can't command my attention all the time, doesn't she?" He eyed Crane seriously. "We're busy men, you and I, doing important work. The sooner Cloud understands that, the better."