Maelstrom Forming

The day after Seaview set sail the morning scientific briefing was disturbing even to an astute inquisitive mind like that of Admiral Harriman Nelson.

"Do you really mean that you can not only copy memories into an android but transplant them wholesale?"

Nelson, Crane, Creager and Dr. Brand were ranged around Nelson's lab leaning against the fitments and discussing the programming of the android.

"Yes, yes. That's exactly what I can do." Brand was obviously thrilled with the advancements he had made on Ulrich's work. "Obviously that's not what we are doing on this project but the technology is available. It is the same technology we are using for this space launch just not used to its full potential. With the advances I've made by combining my recent research with Ulrich's previous work it can be done. Think of it as taking a razor sharp sword severing the mind of a person, that unique essence, from the brain then implanting that essence into memory chips in an android body.

"Imagine the potential. Death need not end a man's ability to continue his work. We could transfer all that knowledge into an indestructible robotic chassis and let him continue. Just think of the most brilliant scientific minds on earth, Admiral. That knowledge would not be lost when that person grew old. Need not be lost to senility; we could transplant all knowledge and memories at the first sign of deterioration of the brain. Think of that! Knowledge built up over a lifetime of learning not lost to the frailties of human mortality. The possibilities are staggering."

Lee shifted from foot to foot in frustration at those words but hid his troubled thoughts behind his lowered lashes. The intervening years since Brand's last trip aboard Seaview certainly hadn't tamed his exuberant and rather reckless enthusiasm.

Creager just listened observing all the interactions. It wasn't his place to comment.

Nelson rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He found the concept more than a bit troubling.

Brand continued, "Imagine if this technology had existed and a polymath like Leonardo da Vinci's knowledge and brilliance was still available. Or a physicist like Einstein. Or even if we had Dr. Tabor Ulrich's knowledge still … "

Nelson cut him off abruptly. "Ulrich was insane."

"Yes, yes, he clearly had issues but he was brilliant. His work has value that we can still benefit from, but it would have been so much easier if he were still around to explain and guide."

Nelson glanced across the room at Crane who was grimacing and had inadvertently brought his left hand across to cradle his right forearm. Ulrich's cyborg had shot Crane in that arm. Lee noticing Nelson's gaze on him, flushed slightly, and returned his arms to a neutral position.

The Admiral figured Lee wouldn't be too thrilled to imagine Ulrich still building his army of cyborgs to take over the world.

Nelson had his own deep concerns as well. What ethics guided the granting of immortality? Wasn't the finite nature of an individual's life what gave life its glory? What gave it its most precious value? And if that ethical question was answered adequately, then which lives deserved immortality? Which didn't?

Brand continued, "I determined how he copied a person's memories into his main computer. From that matrix I can slice down and extract a person's very personality and mind to extricate all his knowledge and transfer it to one of my androids."

Nelson grimaced as well remembering the physical discomfort the memory download had caused him.

"Thank you, Admiral for getting me onto Delambre Electronics. Thanks to DE's miniaturised memory chips I can download a person's entire knowledge and memories directly into the android itself. It doesn't have to be controlled by a larger computer. In addition incorporating Dr. Ward's work on energy cells for androids makes it possible to keep an android running independently for centuries, millennia even. Between the memory chips and the power cells the android will be completely autonomous."

Brand practically bounced on his toes as he contemplated that. "Using the exact equipment installed here on Seaview I can make a man immortal, Admiral." He smiled in satisfaction.

Nelson's voice was adamant, "I cannot condone that, Doctor. I will not allow that to happen on Seaview. Not until the ethical issues can be addressed."

"No, no, no. That's not the scope of this project, Admiral. I was just explaining the potential."

Crane interrupted, his voice stern, "Then why is the toggle switch for a complete transfer included in the installed components, Doctor?"

"Oh!" Brand looked startled that Crane would know that. "It's there simply because it acts as a placeholder for all the other components. It would have taken too much time to rebuild the system without it. You understand that we have some time constraints on this launch of course."

Crane grimaced and thought angrily, Yeah and teach me to suck eggs.

Brand continued, "If you are worried you can install a guard plate over it but the wiring stays because it's completely integrated into the device."

Brand looked at Crane and drew back a bit. He was astonished to be on the receiving end of one of Captain Crane's highly intimidating command glares. The Captain didn't look at all happy.

"Very well. A guard will be installed over the switch, Doctor." It wasn't an agreement. It was an order.

Nelson, sensing his Captain was wound up tight, brought the discussion back to the specifics. "So, Doctor we are clear that this project copies memories only. There will be no transplant."

"Yes, yes of course. For this launch we will only download Dr. Creager's linguistic abilities and memories into our android so it could quickly learn to communicate with any alien species it might encounter."

Nelson frowned, then said with more than a hint of displeasure, "I thought this android was to return to earth with radiation data?"

"Yes. That's correct but it won't hurt to make it capable of so much more."

Nelson glanced uneasily across the room at Lee. Lee looked like a thundercloud already, better to not start talking about communication with aliens too. Nelson wanted to keep Lee out of that discussion entirely or the Captain might scrub the entire mission. "So we are clear on the scope of the memory transfer. Addressed your concerns, Lee?"

His dismissal was apparent. "Yes, sir. A secure guard plate will be installed on the switch." Crane nodded, his severe command face firmly in place. He left the lab wondering why they had really selected the linguist as the memory donor for the android.

Nelson watched him go feeling just a bit more than irritated. He hadn't liked playing referee between Crane and Dr. Brand. He looked at Brand now in troubled contemplation. Brand was barely confining himself to the scope of the project and if Brand could do what he said there was a sword of Damocles hanging over all of humanity.

Well, Nelson thought, at least Lee hadn't aborted the mission. For a while he had thought Lee was going to scrub it when Dr. Brand had gone off on one of his 'this work is too important' tirades. Despite Brand's pushing all the wrong buttons, Nelson had managed to mediate the discussion and the mission was still a go.

He was upset with his Captain but Lee was just doing his job, considering all the ramifications and addressing them before a mission went south. So why was he was taking his frustrations out on Lee, the person most dedicated to his ideals? Well, he didn't have time to think about that now. The mission was still a go and he had work to do.

Before he left Creager said, "I am surprised you keep your Captain, Admiral. If I owned a submarine like this I would prefer someone a bit more supportive of the work." It was a subtle dig but Creager was adept at manipulation.

Nelson humphed. Crane was the best. He didn't feel the need to defend his choices.

Lee walked out of the lab lamenting that he was always the one that saw the possibilities for harm that others didn't notice. Somehow it made him feel like a Cassandra.

During lunch Doctor Creager looked across the wardroom at Mary. She was sitting with some junior officers engaged in very decorous conversation. She was the spitting image of Lani. He looked at her but he saw Lani. Remembered Lani, as she bent toward him. Caressed him. Kissed him. Oh there had been so much more … so much pleasure … He looked at Mary, but remembered Lani.

Lani was why he was here. Why he inhabited a dying and already corrupt body. Creager possessed the credentials and money Krueger needed to get to this point. Here on Seaview was an indestructible android body just waiting for his thoughts, his memories, his being. He needed to transfer his essence into that incorruptible body to brave the heavens in search of Lani.

Krueger looked at Mary. He had known Maria before she changed her name to Mary. Known her in the biblical sense. He remembered the sensations back on Mulayo. The pleasure. He wanted her again. He stifled the thought. There was no point in pursuing something that couldn't happen.

Creager came down the spiral stairs to the observation nose and was pleased to see Admiral Dodd sitting in one of the comfortable chairs. Dodd had turned the chair so he could watch the men in the control room instead of out the massive windows. Creager walked over and asked politely, "May I join you, Admiral?"

Dodd looked up without standing and waved a hand at the other nearby chair. "Of course, Dr. Creager."

Creager smiled as he turned the chair and sat down. Now to work on Dodd.

Admiral Dodd had spent the morning observing. That was his purpose here after all. He had inspected the communication centre, the launch centre and had walked through the boat observing the crew. He was having some interesting thoughts now about Commander Crane triggered by this conversation with Dr. Creager, who hinted that Crane was hiding some sort of health issue. Creager also implied that Admiral Nelson was aiding and abetting this nondisclosure, consigning the Seaview to lack of consistent leadership by not addressing it.

After Creager left the nose Dodd pondered the insinuation that the boat and crew deserved better. Dodd then quietly made some inquiries of his own and discovered that Commander Crane had indeed spent several months on sick leaves of some sort or other over the past two years. In fact he had been on a two-month sick leave recently returning to full duty just four months ago.

Dodd pondered ways and means of discovering more.

Crane sat at his desk in his cabin fidgeting with his pen. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. Sighs were a Crane trademark. He had a different sigh for almost every eventuality. Right now it was a resigned sigh. A troubled sigh. Morton's presence here an indicator of the building tempest he needed to navigate.

The first item Chip had reported was a conversation he had with Admiral Dodd. He recounted it and was worried that Dodd was out to get Lee.

Lee had thanked him for the information but didn't think there was much he could do about that Admiral. The other Admiral however …

Brand and Nelson were almost joined at the hip this cruise and Creager was an extension of Brand. Nelson certainly admired the amazing progress Dr. Brand had made in his android development but had also voiced his concerns on the ethics of memory transfer.

Nelson, however, was not being very supportive of the crew. After the tense briefing this morning he had been so unsettled he had snapped at a detail in the launch control centre as they tested and retested a circuit. Then he had been very short with Mr. Morton in the control room, dressing him down in front of the crew over an insignificant item.

Chip was here in Crane's cabin now expressing his worry about that behaviour.

"I know, Chip. His short temper is now a problem with the men. It's not really you or the men. He's disturbed by the project and perturbed with me. He seems to think I have not been projecting an appropriately commanding presence with the guests and been a bit too harsh in my questioning of Brand's plans. He and I haven't talked things over as much as we usually do this mission. We are all overworked and there just hasn't been the usual time to work things out. Leave it with me. I will speak with him this evening. See if I can sort something out. In the meantime let's check the control room before the command performance of pre-dinner chitchat with our guests."

The guests were beginning to gather in the Observation Nose before dinner and Creager, standing near the port bulkhead, was watching Mary. Even housed as he was in Dr. Creager's dying and diseased body he burned with a tempest of desire. He couldn't stop thinking of Mary. Remembered her firm body and tender curves. Remembered smoothing his hands over her skin. Ah …

But no, not his hands, Crane's hands! He had worn Crane's tall, lean, agile frame when he touched Maria.

Creager closed his eyes and sighed ever so softly remembering what it was like to wear Crane's body, to be broad-shouldered, young, strong and virile. Remembered the excitation, the intense arousal. He recollected the act. He had taken Maria. He had, not Crane. His will had controlled the body he had inhabited. He was the one who had enjoyed her charms.

Creager opened his eyes, feasted them on Mary. She looked just like Lani.

A sudden clatter to his right brought him back into the moment. The protractor and pencil Captain Crane had been working with had dropped abruptly onto the plot table. Crane was watching him with a disturbed considering eye. Without meeting that intense gaze, as if just glancing around the room, Creager let his own eyes slide past Crane further starboard toward the spiral stairs where a set of feet was clacking downward. Admiral Nelson was arriving for the usual pre-dinner confab. He was glad of the distraction. Crane had seemed far too discerning. He would have to be careful of his daydreams around Crane.

As his borrowed face smiled a welcome to Nelson he thought he might just need to brush up against Crane at every opportunity. Make lots of seemingly unplanned physical contact to suck his vitality away. Keep him off balance and weary but not too badly damaged.

He moved over toward Nelson to continue his subtle undermining of the Captain.

Creager managed to seat himself beside Captain Crane in the wardroom at dinner. It was perfect. He could reach for salt or pepper and brush against the Captain's arm or ask for something to be passed and then let their fingers touch as the item was handed to him. It was even better when the Seaview's Doctor joined them on their side of the table a bit later and they all scooched closer together. Creager scooched close enough that their thighs were almost touching.

Creager smiled to himself. He could almost see the Captain getting paler by the minute.

Crane knocked on the Admiral's cabin door, paused for the acknowledgement, then walked in. He didn't perch his haunch on the edge of the desk as he might normally when discussing a mission with the Admiral. He stood straight and tall in front of the desk. "Sir I need to speak with you."

Nelson looked up at him noting the subtle tension. He frowned slightly Crane almost looked … frail. It inexplicably annoyed him. "So it would seem. What's this about, Lee?"

"I have a concern I would like to address before it causes any more issues with performance and the success of the mission, sir."

Nelson stood up and walked around the desk to stand in front of his Captain. "And just what is it that is about to affect performance?"

"Sir, I am sorry to say but our own communication has been a bit less than stellar and unfortunately it's beginning to affect the morale of the crew."

"Crew morale is your purview, Captain." Nelson looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Yes it is, and that's why I am here to discuss the root cause, sir."

Nelson had been glowering at Crane but at that he scoffed, turned away and rubbed the back of his neck. He turned back and gave Lee a twisted smile. "Yes I'm afraid I've been a bit short with everyone but especially you, Lee. I'm sorry. This mission has been so rushed. I've been feeling the pressure and trying to curb Dr. Brand's overzealousness.

"But the fact you are here means I haven't succeeded. But, dammit, his work is brilliant. His enthusiasm sucks me in. Then I push you and the crew. I've pushed too hard. The men have worked hard."

Nelson paused to look intently at Crane. "Are you okay, Lee? You don't look well."

"I'm fine, sir." Crane didn't bother to smile at the 'fine'. He didn't actually feel fine but no way was he admitting that to the Admiral when he had come here to confront a problem.

"Okay … " the Admiral said doubtfully with a keen look at his Captain. He continued on with his thoughts almost as if reading Crane's mind, "Having Admiral Dodd along is no help to my own morale either. He sets my teeth on edge. He's never liked that Seaview is a private boat." He paused, "Mm hmm. That's a story for another day. Anyway I can't promise to not fly off the handle but you have done your duty and brought the issue to my attention. Will that suffice?"

Lee gave a wry smile. "Sorry, sir. I didn't want to have to bother you. Thank you."

Lee started toward the door, opened it then paused looking back.

"Something else, Lee?"

"Ah." Crane paused uncertainly then turned back and shut the door again. "I'm just concerned about Dr. Brand's memory transfer device." He tsked, shaking his head. Then continued, "Because if it can do what he says it can … well … it scares the hell out of me."

Nelson met his eyes and Crane saw nothing but sincerity there. "Me too, Lee. Immortality? It's terrifying. Brand doesn't seem to understand the implications of the technology he claims is ready to go now. He doesn't appear to understand the ethical firestorm such a device could cause."

"Sir, if, and I truly hope it's a big if, his device can do what he claims I just hope that in his enthusiasm for the launch he really does keep to the mission parameters."

"All right, Lee. Message received. Loud and clear. I will do my best to keep safeguards in place and not let his enthusiasm get carried away … and not get carried away with him."

"Thank you, sir." Lee gave a ghost of a smile and turned once again toward the door. "Good night, Admiral."

"Good night, Lee." The Admiral watched Crane leave and thought again that the man didn't look well.

Lee walked down the passageway to his cabin, paused, and leaned his shoulder against the bulkhead as a wave of weakness washed over him. He took a breath and rubbed his hand over his head. I really must be tired, he thought.

He was relieved that two of the three things bothering him were dealt with. It was never fun to call out the Admiral for his occasional abruptness with the men but he was a decent man to work with. They were on the same page now and additionally they were both in agreement to be on the alert to keep Dr. Brand on track.

The thing still bothering him was the disturbing look he had intercepted earlier from Dr. Creager toward Mary. It was not his business to referee people's attractions but there had been something less than wholesome in that look. He decided he really had no business to worry but he would unobtrusively keep an eye on things.

Two days to spacecraft launch

Early, before going to breakfast, Dodd approached Morton at the plot table and gestured him forward into the nose. Dodd spoke rather softly as he preferred to not be overheard. "Commander, might I have a word?"

"Of course, sir. How can I help?" Morton gave the Admiral his full attention.

"You have served on Seaview since her ceremonial launch I understand." Dodd smiled as he said it.

"Yes, sir. I am a plankowner."

"And your role has been Executive Officer the whole time?" Dodd sounded sceptical. As if that was unlikely.

"Yes, sir. I have had that honour."

Dodd looked at him even more sceptically and murmured. "Ah."

"Sir?"

Dodd pivoted away and then back rubbing his chin and speaking as if to himself. "So Nelson hasn't developed your career beyond your current position."

Chip didn't think that comment warranted an answer so he waited. He was good at hiding his thoughts and he was very good at waiting.

Dodd muttered, but loudly enough that it was obvious he intended for Chip to hear. "Odd that you are still the Exec when your Captain can't seem to stay healthy for any length of time. You have to fill his shoes often and for extended periods. Might give an XO with any ambition ideas."

Chip started to bristle but knew no answer was called for so he stewed inwardly instead.

"Nothing to say, Mr. Morton?"

"No, sir."

"Humph. You are a good little Exec aren't you?" Dodd turned around and sauntered away aft clasping his hands behind his back.

Chip fumed, took a breath, and carried on.

In the wardroom Creager slid into the seat beside Crane and across the table from Mary Smith. Another perfect opportunity, Creager thought, to further his plans.

He looked deeply into Mary's eyes, but after a moment her gaze strayed to Crane who was communing with his cup of coffee. Well, Creager thought, Crane was much easier on the eyes than this diseased body was. "Ready for another day, Ms. Smith?"

"Yes, Dr. Creager. Today is the final testing of the conveyer system from the memory transfer station to the space capsule. We will use the actual android frame to test the logistics of getting it into the capsule. This is the only part of the entire setup that has not been used before, but of course you already know that." She smiled politely. "I am ready to document the entire test procedure. That's my responsibility for today's efforts."

"Ah, yes, I recall." He smiled gently. "Dr. Ulrich did memory transfers before and Seaview has been a space launch platform in the past." Creager turned toward Captain Crane and laid a hand on his forearm in a friendly manner. "I understand you have upgraded your ballast tanks for this launch?"

"Well not actually the ballast tanks, Dr. Creager. We have upgraded the sensors for the trim tanks. In simple terms those are the tanks that maintain our orientation and stability. The upgraded sensors will quickly sense any subtle changes in our trim that the forces of the launch could trigger and immediately activate solutions to keep us stable."

Crane enjoyed talking about his boat but he was suddenly inexplicably light-headed. He needed to get out of here. He stood up "If you will excuse me I must be getting to the control room."

"What? Aren't you eating, Captain?"

"I'm fine. Have a good morning."

"Of course."

Crane walked out of the wardroom trying not to let on how weak he felt. He thought he managed it just fine.

Mary's eyes followed him. Creager's eyes watched Mary.

Captain Crane came down the spiral stairs slowly, rubbing his jaw in perplexed thought. Mr. Morton watched him with a considering eye. Lee looked tired in a way he rarely did. Not just tired but drained. He took note and figured he would address that after report.

As Crane came and stood beside him at the plot table he handed the Captain a mug of coffee. "Good morning, Skipper."

"Thanks. Morning, Mr. Morton." The Skipper took a sip of the coffee, set the mug down and looked down at the charts, "What's our position?"

Morton pointed out a position on the chart, "We are here, on course, on time, depth is ninety feet, running at standard, as ordered, sir."

As Crane glanced around the control room taking in all the panels and their indicators he said with a slight sigh, "Good. That's good, Chip."

Morton took the use of his first name to be an opportunity to be a bit less 'navy' with his superior officer and lowering his voice asked outright, "How are you, Lee? You look a bit … "

Crane turned back from his perusal of the control room to look at Chip. "Look a bit what?"

"I don't know, like forty miles of bad road. Are you okay?"

Lee steepled his open hands lifted them to his nose then separating them swiped them out over his cheekbones, down in front of his ears, then in over his jawbone to meet fingers steepled again, forefingers tapping his upper lip. He dropped his hands to the plot table with a sigh and asked quietly. "That bad?"

"Yeah."

"Damn."

"That's not an answer." Chip glanced at him quizzically.

Just then they heard the clatter of oxfords on the spiral stairs. Crane straightened up and murmured, "No, but it's all your getting now."

They both turned toward the Admiral, ready to give report.

"Out with it, Lee. What's up? Not sleeping?"

"No. That's not it. Actually, I can hardly wake up. I just feel … I don't know … heavy … my body feels like lead. I just have no energy. I sleep like a dead thing, so that's not it."

The two men had moved to the observation nose after Nelson had headed aft.

"Do you think you should see Doc?"

Crane glared at him and glanced around hoping no one had overheard. "I already have enough trouble maintaining credibility with the Admiral, Admiral Dodd and our various other guests without going off to see Doc. Not happening, Chip."

Chip also looked around before meeting Crane's eyes. He lowered his voice even more and went all navy. "Sir, if you are not fit for duty, I need to know."

Lee glared at him. "Not you too, Chip," then with an angry growl turned and retreated up the spiral stairs.

Sharkey magically appeared at Morton's shoulder, he looked after the retreating Captain and then at the Exec. "Ah, Mr. Morton, sir … is the Skipper … "

Chip glared at him with his most severe XO frown, "Not now, Chief."

"Ah, no, sir. Of course, sir." Sharkey disappeared.

Creager managed to spend the entire test time that morning at Mary's side. As the memory donor he needed to be cognizant of the procedure but he was not an active participant in the test of the conveyor system. He stationed himself near the note-taking Mary as if by chance and stayed by her side throughout the entire morning of testing.

The spirit inhabiting Creager savoured the scent of her cologne, the sight of her form, the swing of her hair when she moved.

By the end of the morning and conclusion of the testing he knew he no longer wanted an android body to hunt for Lani. He wanted … something else. He pondered the problem. Creager's body was worn out and decaying from the inside. Too far gone for him to rejuvenate. That's why he had wanted an android body with human senses.

Now though he worried a new problem like a dog worrying a bone. Then it hit him. With blinding clarity he realized why he no longer wanted an android body, it was because he wanted Mary.

He wanted Mary.

He wanted her not as the body for his consciousness but as his partner in pleasure, as the mother to children he had never hoped to engender. It didn't matter that she was his granddaughter. He had broken that taboo already.

At that moment Captain Crane, carrying a clipboard and pencil, stepped over the knee knocker hatch to the launch area. Creager noted the look in Mary's eyes as Crane nodded his acknowledgement. It wasn't infatuation but there was a momentary flicker of attraction before her professional demeanour snapped back into place.

He looked over at Crane with a calculating eye. He wanted … Crane's body … so he could have … Mary.

Nelson thankfully managed to disengage himself from Dr. Brand; the man was like a limpet. Nelson really needed a break and was headed to his cabin from some solitude, but Dodd was hanging around in the passageways looking for his opportunity to waylay Nelson.

"Ah, Harry, if I could have a word please."

Nelson rubbed the back of his neck as he continued down the passageway. "Can it wait, Cary?"

"Now would be better. I only see you getting busier in the next couple of days."

"Mm hmm, that's true," replied Nelson with a rueful smile. "How can I help you?"

"Not help me. I have a word of caution which might help you."

Nelson ushered Dodd into his cabin, closed the door and sat down at his desk. He waved an inviting hand toward the guest chair and Dodd sat down. Nelson gave a mental sigh. The last thing wanted right now was a word of any sort from Dodd. "What is it?"

"It's about your Captain, Harry."

"My Captain?"

"Harry, you have the best submarine on the planet bar none." He paused.

"Yes, I do actually. That's not news."

"Yet you insist on having Commander Crane as the commanding officer."

"Crane's the best there is."

"He may be good, better than most, but you need to consider his track record, and think about what message that sends."

"Message? What message?"

"Harry, don't be obtuse. I've looked into things a bit. Your Captain spends an inordinate amount of time on medical leave. Almost twenty percent of the time the past two years alone." Dodd shook his head. "There are many excellent commanders out there. Ones that can give you better value for money."

"It's not about money, Cary. Crane is the best and I want the best for Seaview."

"I know you do, but is that how it appears to the rest of the Navy? The rest of the world? Just think about it, Harry."

"I am content with Crane. That's all that matters."

"Is it? If you want to maintain and improve your relationships with the Navy, the Joint Chiefs, and those who fund your boat and your ongoing work, you need to consider the optics." Dodd stood up to pace up and down the cabin as Nelson snatched a pen off his desk and started to roll it between his palms in irritation.

Dodd turned to look at Nelson. "Think of this then. Crane has sunk your boat requiring all hands to abandon ship. Potentially leaving all that technology to the first to get on site to salvage her. Sunk it! Not once, but twice!"

Nelson looked up in anger. "Now just a minute … there were extenuating circumstances … both times … "

"No! Think about it, Harry. Back in forty-five our Navy, in its wisdom, court-martialled a skipper for losing his boat to enemy action in a time of war. Court-martialled, Harry. Where does that put Crane?"

"That sentence was remitted."

"Yes, yes, but seriously, Harry. When a skipper bumps his boat into something he loses command, let alone sink it. How did Crane avoid losing his command not once, but twice? It smacks of favouritism. Or perhaps … " Dodd's eyes narrowed. " … Crane has something on you."

Nelson's head snapped up as the pen flipped across the desk. "Are you implying … "

Dodd lifted his hand abruptly to cut him off. "Optics, Harry." Dodd moved to the door and opened it. "That's all I'm saying, you can make things right, just think about it." He stepped out and closed the door.

Harry bent over to the desk and laid his head in his hands.

Day before spacecraft launch

Mary was sitting at the conference table in the nose, sipping her morning coffee and collating her notes. Creager eased down the spiral stairs, paused when he noticed her, stood watching her back for a few moments then finished his descent.

"Still hard at work, Ms. Smith?"

"Good morning, Dr. Creager. Yes, it will be a busy time from now until the spacecraft leaves our atmosphere. I'm just making sure my part is completely up-to-date and ready for tomorrow."

At that point Crane and Morton entered the control room from the aft hatch and spent a few moments reviewing the stations. Crane then moved up to the plot table and grabbed the chart and the protractor, busying himself with the details of today's final run to the launch co-ordinates.

Creager sat down across from Mary. "You'll need to be careful not to overdo it Ms. Smith. You won't want those beautiful eyes to look tired, especially as you have your own cabin and don't have to listen to others snoring." He smiled slightly at her.

Mary stifled a sigh. This was not what she needed right now. A leering old man drooling over her, but he was a key financial sponsor and the memory donor, she needed to be polite without encouraging him. "I'm fine, Doctor. Thank you for your concern."

Crane glanced up from where he was bent over the chart. For some reason Creager's interest in Mary made his skin crawl. She seemed to be managing Creager all right so far. He looked back at the chart but his ears were tuned to the conversation in the nose.

Creager turned to look out the windows. "You like it here, where you can see the ocean don't you?"

"Yes, I do love to see the water, and the waves when we were on the surface. The water never stops moving. It's captivating."

"Yes, I believe you like waves." Creager was determined to toy with her now. "You like Hokusai's Great Wave as well," he said with an inquiring tone.

Mary looked up at him with the beginnings of a frown. "Why do you say that?"

Creager's face smiled triumphantly. "A tattoo of The Great Wave."

Mary jumped to her feet, gathering up her notes as she did so. "Excuse me, Doctor. I'm going to my cabin, I have work to do."

"Work? Yes, I'm sure you could work in your cabin." Creager leered at her as she turned away and started up the spiral stairs.

Creager headed aft and brushed past Crane laying his hand on Crane's shoulder and giving it a friendly pat as he walked by.

Weakness washed over the Captain and he braced his hands on the edge of the plot table. Crane closed his eyes and stood stock-still breathing deeply to steady himself. Then he turned his head to follow Creager's departure out of the aft hatch.

He knew what Creager meant. He knew that tattoo. He knew where it was on Mary's body. He turned his head back to the chart. Closed his eyes, trying to think. The sounds of the control room seemed to fade.

Then Chip's hand was on his shoulder. "Lee, are you okay? Not falling asleep on the job?" Chip's voice was very soft so as to not attract attention.

"Ah, no, I'm fine." Crane blinked rapidly to clear his eyes and his mind. "Uh, I'll … ah … I'm just going to … check on the trim sensors again. Could you finish verifying the course please, Chip?"

"Aye, sir." Chip watched with concern as Lee walked hesitantly to the spiral stairs, stopped briefly to rub his head then slowly climbed up to officer's country.

Mary paced back and forth in her cabin restlessly. She was angry. She was Brand's secretary, what was Dr. Creager doing making insulting insinuations now of all things? And even more importantly how did he know about her tattoo? He'd never been a client. She hadn't met him until she was working for Dr. Brand.

Her hand fingered her necklace, as she was wont to do when thinking. Suddenly her head lifted at a memory; Dr. Creager the first time they met. She fingered her necklace and wondered.

There was a knock on her cabin door. "Yes, who is it?"

"Crane."

She went to the door and opened it and backed up to let the Captain into the cabin.

"Ms. Smith, I just came to see if you are all right."

"Of course, Captain."

"Because if you need a place to work without interruption that can easily be arranged."

Mary sighed and shrugged her shoulders and fingering her necklace with one hand flung the other out to indicate the cabin. "I can work here, Captain."

"I'd hate for you to feel you had to be isolated in here."

"It's okay. I don't mind. It's just … "

"You shouldn't have to stay in here. I would like to have a crewman assigned to you."

Mary started to protest.

Crane lifted a hand in a gesture of dismissal. "He won't breath down you neck, won't bother you, he'd just be nearby to field anyone who might disturb your work."

"All right. Thank you, Captain." Just then her necklace seemed to undo and slipped to the floor. Before Crane could get there to help she stooped to pick it up and fumbled with both hands trying to refasten it.

"I wonder, Captain, if I might trouble you to fasten this for me?" She held out the necklace.

Crane hesitated for a fraction of a moment, "Of course." He took the necklace from her hand, and Mary turned her back to the Captain.

Crane tied the ribbon swiftly and immediately stepped back. Mary turned and smiled. "Thank you."

Crane nodded with a shy awkward smile and quickly beat his retreat to the door. "I will send up a crewman, then you can go anywhere you need to without being troubled."

"Thank you." Mary watched as the rather shy Captain hastily departed. She touched her necklace again and a puzzled frown appeared on her beautiful face. The necklace had not sizzled when Captain Crane touched it. She wondered.

Lee walked down the passageway away from the guest cabins, and rubbed his jaw deep in thought. Then he changed directions and headed to the Admiral's cabin.

"Admiral, might I have a moment?"

Nelson looked up from the papers in his hand. "Of course, Lee."

Crane walked over and parked his haunch on the corner of the Admiral's desk. At that Nelson allowed himself a private smile. Things weren't so tense between them when Lee sat on his desk.

"Sir, I've been having some troubling thoughts and I … I'm sorry, sir, I don't have my thoughts together. I shouldn't waste your time. Please forgive the intrusion." Lee stood up and strode quickly to the door.

"Lee. It's no intrusion. Please don't go, tell me and perhaps together we can sort out whatever is troubling you."

Just about at the door now, Lee turned back. "It's about Dr. Creager, sir."

Nelson sighed anticipating another round of calming and placating his Captain.

Hearing that sigh Crane paused. Although he felt an urgency to inform the Admiral of his concerns, he really didn't relish another round with the Admiral about their guests and what they might want to achieve.

Just then there was knock on the door.

Lee glanced at the Admiral and then turned and opened the door. Dr. Creager stood there.

"Ah, Captain Crane." He laid his hand on Crane's shoulder as he brushed past him and toward the Admiral's desk where he sat down in the visitor's chair.

Nelson spoke in a firm voice, "Excuse us please, Dr. Creager. My Captain and I were in a meeting."

"Oh, there is no need to excuse yourselves, the good Captain is here to talk about me." He turned to look at Crane who was still standing near the door. "Aren't you, Captain?"

Crane debated on whether to say what was on his mind. He realised that he must although it would insult the academic, embarrass the Admiral, and probably ring the death knell on his employment with NIMR. It had to be said.

"Dr. Creager. Excuse me if it is impolite to point it out, but you do not look well. If you had entertained hopes of a transfer of your 'essence' into the android while aboard Seaview I am letting you know now, that will not happen on my boat."

Crane glanced over at Nelson who was looking completely poleaxed. Then the Admiral's expression changed. Now Nelson looked at Crane as if his Captain had just uttered a heresy. Obviously the Admiral had not entertained that idea. Hadn't considered it.

Creager jerked out of the chair knocking it over backwards in his indignant haste. He acted every bit as insulted as Lee had feared he would. "I beg you pardon? What did you say?"

Lee looked at him, meeting his eyes, and knew he had been right. The indignation was an act. Creager wasn't here as a memory donor. He was deathly ill and sought a transplant.

Creager was facing the Captain now; the Admiral couldn't see the Doctor's face. Creager glared at Crane telling him silently that he, Creager, would succeed.

Over my dead body, Lee thought. As if Creager heard his thought he smirked at Crane and gave a small acknowledging nod. Like sealing a pact.

Ignoring Creager now, the Captain spoke directly to the Admiral begging forgiveness, not for speaking his mind, but for the rude insult to a guest on the Admiral's boat. "I'm sorry, Admiral."

That possibility had not dawned on him. Nelson's startled expression said so. Speechlessly he thought, of course Lee would foresee any danger to his boat. Even something like this.

Lee searched the Admiral's eyes. Getting no response from him, Crane's heart sank; he'd probably just wiped out his career.

Lee had dropped a bombshell implying an ulterior motive for Creager's presence aboard Seaview. Shocked into silence Nelson watched Lee go.

Dr. Creager hid his satisfaction at the rift he had just opened between the two officers and turned toward Nelson to act indignant and angry; like the insulted sponsor of a major project.

Nelson was left to gather up his social conventions and calm the sputtering Dr. Creager.