X-NEWS: spcvxb alt.startrek.creative: 1263 Relay-Version: VMS News - V6.0-3 14/03/90 VAX/VMS V5.4; site spcvxb.spc.edu Path: spcvxb.spc.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!wupost!spool.mu.edu!mips!pacbell.com!att!cbnewse!jeana Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative Subject: The Doctor And The Enterprise Pt1 Message-ID: <1991Nov8.165812.16274@cbnewse.cb.att.com> From: jeana@cbnewse.cb.att.com (jean) Date: 8 Nov 91 16:58:12 GMT Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Keywords: text Lines: 988 Prologue: In 1979 I started writing a *fanzine* story in which the Doctor (from the "Doctor Who" universe) met up with the crew of the "original" "Star Trek" series. It was the first thing I'd written since graduating from college fifteen years before, and, with the assistance of an excellent author and very good friend, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, was able to finish it. The result turned out to be an enjoyable reading experience to a number of people. The story was not intended to be a satire, it was intended to be an honest representation of what might happen if these two particular universes met. It was intended as a fanzine in the most classic tradition of that particular genre. Unfortunately that popularity resulted in the ultimate "ripping off" of the story without my permission into a highly priced "book" format (in one version) and to a complete travesty of the original in yet another. For some years now, I had been offering to make copies available at the cost of postage -- and was willing to "post" copies to the electronic networks. However, I did not want to rekey the whole rather lengthy document. After a recent discussion of the 'zine on the network, Marc Barrett offered to scan the original into an ascii file. (Many thanks to him!) With some editing (Proportional Space type resulted in some unique versions of McCoy's name! along with some other anomalies.), the following files are being posted to the net. The following are the rules for use of these files. A) You may read it -- FREE. B) You may print it to a printer -- FREE. C) You may make copies for your friends -- FREE. D) You may redistribute to other electronic networks and databases, including ftp archives FREE. E) The text carries my copyright from the date of original publication and "publication" of these files in this format does not grant anyone anywhere permission to make copies either electronically or in print which carry *any* charge to anyone of any type for that copy. F) Any reproduction of the text (print or electronic) must carry this notice with it. An individual editing for a single copy for their own records is not bound by this requirement and may edit this paragraph out. Paper copies with the original artwork (including the marvelous cover by Gail Bennett) are available from me. SASE for details. Some dealers may also have appropriately priced *authorized* copies available (STARTECH is one of them). Not everyone is on a computer network! With regrets for being so picky -- but I've been burned on this enough. Read and enjoy! November 8, 1991 Jean Airey 1306 W. Illinois Aurora, IL 60506 USA START OF TEXT __________________________________________________________________ PART 1 THE DOCTOR AND THE ENTERPRISE by Jean Airey copyright 1982 Jean Airey The alien sound pierced Kirk's ears. He stopped, alone in the corridor, trying to pinpoint its origin. The transporter room. He turned and ran towards the door as the klaxon alarm of a Red Alert sounded. Damn! he thought. It seemed that the Enterprise could not even make the final trip back to Earth after completing her five-year mission without complications. First an emergency rescue of a Cultural Survey and Contact team and the crew of the liner that had been transporting them, then a freak magnetic storm that had buffeted the ship unmercifully and taken out the subspace radio, and now... As he entered the room, Lt. Kyle was staring at a large boxlike structure that stood on several of the transporter pads. It was about eight feet tall with small opaqued windows at the top, a white light on the roof that was rotating slowly, and lettering above the windows that said `POLICE PUBLIC CALL BOX'. "Report, Lieutenant." "It just appeared, sir." "The transporter wasn't activated?" "No, sir. We were performing signaling tests, but it was not activated." The door at the front of the box started to open. Both Kirk and Kyle had their phasers out as a man emerged. Over six feet tall, he was wearing a heavy coat over clothing that reminded Kirk of the earth styles of the 18905. A long scarf was wrapped around his neck, hanging down in front on both sides to the floor. A floppy hat partially covered an abundance of brown curly hair. His blue eyes seemed to focus suddenly on Kirk and Kyle. One cheek looked bruised, and he swayed slightly. "Oh bother," he said with a decided British accent, "this isn't London." "Just stand there and keep your hands where we can see them," Kirk said. He did not seem to be a menace, but Kirk had seen his ship threatened too often to take any chances. "No need to panic." The man raised his hands slowly and eyed the phasers as if he recognized them. The door behind Kirk opened, and two security guards took positions on the right and left while McCoy and Spock came over to Kirk. "Captain?" Spock already had his tricorder going. "The box materialized in that position - and he -" Kirk motioned with his head to the stranger who was watching the proceedings with curiosity, "came out of it. He hasn't made any hostile moves. Oh, Spock, the transporter wasn't activated." The stranger eyed the assembly as if he were accustomed to weighing the odds against him. Kirk did not miss that look. In spite of the stranger's unimpressive appearance, he felt uneasy. He could hear the combined tricorders of Spock and McCoy humming behind him. "Spock?" "The - box - would seem to be a representation of a middle twentieth century English Police Call box. However, there are some anomalies..." "He's not human, Jim." McCoy interrupted. "Captain," said Spock, "I am getting some unusual readings from inside the device." As Kirk was realizing that the `box' had now become a `device', the stranger moved quickly towards its door. The security guards fired instantly, but he still managed to close the door as he fell, collapsing on the transporter step. "Kyle, see if you can get that door open. Spock, is he armed?" Kyle moved up to the door of the device, but the door would not open. Spock was carefully analyzing his tricorder readings. "Captain, the pockets of his coat are filled with a great many objects. I am unable to ascertain if any of these might be some type of weapon." "Empty his pockets." Kirk ordered one of the security guards. "Captain, in view of the quantity of items present, it might be more expedient to remove the garment." Kirk nodded and the security guards moved to comply. As the security guards were removing the coat and jacket, one of them let the unconscious body slip slightly. Spock caught the head just before it hit the floor again. He stiffened suddenly as the contact was made, his head snapping up and his eyes abruptly glazing. It took a moment before Kirk realized that somehow, without willing it, Spock had mind-melded with the alien. "Spock!" Kirk moved quickly and tore Spock's hands from their grip, letting the alien's head fall back to the floor. "Are you all right?" Spock's eyes remained glazed for a second and then he responded, "Quite all right, Captain." "What happened?" "He has - unusual - psychic abilities. Unconscious - I unwittingly established the mind- meld." "What did you find out?" Spock looked at Kirk reproachfully. "Captain, the mind-meld was made accidently." Kirk realized that Spock had in some way violated his sense of ethics by entering the meld, and now Kirk was compounding the situation by asking questions. "Does he present a danger to the ship?" Surely Spock could at least answer that. "No, Captain, he does not." Spock seemed to have retreated behind the thickest wall of Vulcan reserve. "Bones, what is he?" "Nothing I've ever seen or heard of before." McCoy moved closer to the unconscious body, clad now in a white shirt, vest, pants, boots, and with the long multicolored scarf still wrapped around its neck. "He has a double circulatory system, - not like Spock's, literally two hearts, one on each side of his chest, some kind of a double breathing system, body temperature 17 , blood pressure almost nonexistent. I can't tell you what he is, Jim, but even his response to the phaser fire was abnormal - he was still conscious as he fell. As a matter of fact, I believe he may have sustained some type of head injury." McCoy ran the medical tricorder over the stranger's head again. "He did - but it looks like it's an aggravation of a recent previous injury. And that's unusual - his skull is very thick, so what could have caused the original injury..." "How long will he remain unconscious?" "Jim, I can't say - longer than normal, with a combination of two phaser stuns and at the very least a severe concussion." "Doctor," said Spock, "your ability as a prognostician would seem to leave something to be desired." Kirk and McCoy looked at the stranger. His eyes were open, and he was very apparently conscious. "Gentlemen," he said, eyeing the security guards as they moved back into their `alert' position. "Don't you think that some two sided conversation might be more informative than your one sided version?" He smiled, as if finding their reactions deeply funny. Kirk noticed with surprise that the security guards were relaxing. "Do you feel well enough to talk to us?" "Yes, of course. I love to talk - if you are willing to talk and not shoot. I really hate stun guns." Glancing at McCoy and Spock and receiving an answering shrug of shoulders and a tilted eyebrow, Kirk turned back to the stranger and said, "We can talk in one of our briefing rooms." The stranger got up slowly, accepting McCoy's help. "Kyle," said Kirk, "come with us. Spock, have you been able to clear up that subspace communication problem yet?" "No, Captain, the fault is not in the computer scanning system. Lt. Uhura and Commander Scott are continuing to work on it." "I want to be informed as soon as anything is found out about what caused it - and I want it fixed." "Yes sir." Spock turned to relay the order to the bridge, informing them that the Captain could be reached in briefing room 4 at the Transporter level. The security guards moved to either side of the man. He glanced at them and then over to Kirk. "Do you consider me so dangerous?" "I have seen danger come to my ship in many forms - I prefer not to take chances." In spite of Spock's statement, Kirk was not ready to relax his guard. Their eyes locked, and the stranger smiled in amusement again. Kirk's eyes narrowed and then, suddenly returning the smile, he motioned the guards away. "Kyle, keep your phaser ready." "A compromise - a very judicious choice." "What is your name?" asked Kirk. "Oh, I'm the Doctor." "The Doctor?" said Kirk as the group left the room. "Doctor who?" asked McCoy. "That's right," said the Doctor, beaming at McCoy. McCoy looked baffled. "Doctor McCoy," said Spock, "I believe that the `name' was `The Doctor' - and I should assume that it is in the nature of a title, and can be most appropriately used without any surname. However, the Doctor apparently is accustomed to the human desire to attach at least two names to all sentient beings. If you wish to use a duonomen form of address, he would not object if you refer to him as Doctor Who." The Doctor had been listening to Spock with an infectious smile impossibly growing on his face and Kirk began smiling too. Somehow an individual who could appreciate Spock at his most precise did not seem to be a threat to the Enterprise. They went into the briefing room and sat down. The Doctor was looking at Spock closely. "You're not human either?" "I am a Vulcan." "Vulcan? From a planet called Vulcan?" An eyebrow raised. "Yes. Do you know of it?" "From somewhere - I'll think of it." "Well, Doctor," said Kirk, "you must realize that the first question that we need answered is, what are you doing here?" "I don't know." The Doctor grinned as Kirk winced. "You mean that you did not control the method of your arrival on this ship?" asked Spock. "Exactly. I was expecting the TARDIS to return to London - in June of 1980, and instead she materialized here." "Is the TARDIS the device in the Transporter room?" "Yes. Ever since I've been using her she doesn't always go where I expect her to - and I can certainly assure you that I was not expecting to arrive on your ship." "What planet are you from originally?" asked Kirk, hoping to get a simple answer that might help solve the mystery. "Gallifrey." "Spock?" Kirk had never heard of it, but that did not mean that it did not exist. "No record of any planet by that name." The Doctor was studying Spock intently. Spock looked up from the science computer viewer. Under his breath, Kirk could hear him mutter "Vaksh, Vogan, Voord, Vulcan!" He turned to Kirk suddenly. "What year is this - Earth time - say, since 1980?" "224 years." The Doctor looked puzzled. "Captain, it would seem that we both have something of an enigma on our hands. You have me, and I have a Vulcan surviving centuries after his race - and his planet - was utterly destroyed in a massive civil war." Spock turned and stared at him. "Parallel Universes," said Kirk. "You are familiar with the theory?" "I - we - have experienced the phenomenon before." "Can you give me the coordinates of your planet?" Spock asked. The Doctor could. Spock entered them into the computer and looked at the response with resignation. "That planetary system was destroyed when its sun became a red giant 140,000 years ago." "So my people do not exist in your universe." "It would seem unlikely. There are very few intelligent, space travelling races that are completely unknown, and the Doctor - Doctor McCoy - has no record of any race of your type. What do you call yourselves?" "Time Lords." Spock's eyebrow raised, but Kirk decided to interrupt before his first officer's curiosity could be indulged further. "It would seem that what we need to do is to find out how to return you to your own universe." "No, Captain, I think that the first thing we must find out is whose universe we are in now." The intercom beeped. "Bridge to Captain Kirk." "Kirk here." "Sulu here, Captain. We've got what appears to be a large group of ships just within scanner range." "Is the subspace radio fixed?" "No sir. We have not been able to obtain any transmissions on any standard Starfleet frequencies." "I'll be right up." Kirk turned to the Doctor who had been listening to the conversation with a curious mixture of interest and amusement. "Doctor, would you care to join us? This might prove to be the answer to your question." "I'd be delighted." McCoy scowled. "Jim, I don't think that the Doctor should be moving around too much until I can tell "Oh, I'm quite all right - really. I've almost gotten used to being stunned by something or another." The Doctor smiled at McCoy. "I would suggest that, given the circumstances, the Doctor's presence on the bridge could prove of some benefit." Spock interjected. "Very well, then, the Doctor will join us. Kyle, record your report on this and then you're off duty. I want all other transporter personnel alerted in case we acquire any other visitors." On their way to the bridge, Kirk noticed that the Doctor took in the usual sights and sounds of the starship with interest but without amazement. He seemed to note with somewhat increased interest the presence of two Andorrians - commenting to Spock - "So you have other alien species in the crew." Spock did not seem to think that the remark was worthy of response, but Kirk observed that the Doctor found Spock's lack of response an apparent cause for thought. His only other comment came when they got into the turbolift system and Kirk said "Bridge" causing the turbolift to begin its usual forward and upward motion. "Voice controlled?" Kirk nodded. "How convenient." "We find it so," said Spock. "A logical approach?" said the Doctor smiling at Spock and, surprisingly, winking at Kirk. Spock did not respond, which seemed to afford the Doctor more amusement. Kirk began to wonder if the Doctor pictured himself as some sort of intergalactic comedian. The door opened on the bridge and Kirk moved to the navigational console. "How close are those ships?" "I can pick them up on visual scanning now, sir," said Sulu, adjusting the controls. "Put it on the screen - highest magnification." "Yes sir." A swarm of small ships came into view. Globe-like, they seemed to fill the viewscreen like dozens of small stars. Kirk heard the Doctor take a deep breath. "Identification?" Spock was checking the readings at the Science Station. "Type of ship unknown to our computers, some type of alien lifeform within - also unknown." "Captain," said the Doctor, stepping down beside Kirk. "It's my universe, and I would suggest that you move away from those ships as rapidly as possible." All traces of the comedian had left. "Why?" Kirk asked. "They're Sontaran - freight and shipping vessels from the look of them and the number, but they usually have some armed escorts." He glanced around the Bridge, taking in the assorted personnel, seeming to weigh their experience and the possible reception of what he was saying. Having apparently made some kind of a decision, he continued. "Have you ever met a race whose greatest joy was to enslave other people? To conquer, kill, torture and maim - often for the joy it brings them? Who value their own individual lives as nothing - and the lives of other races as less than that?" By now the Doctor was speaking with a seriousness that surprised and impressed Kirk with its deadly concentration. Indeed, the Doctor seemed to have lost the concern for his `audience' and was speaking almost to himself. Kirk glanced around the rest of the Bridge. All of the crew had been listening intently, their attention completely on the Doctor. Even Uhura and Scotty had crawled out from under the communications panel where they had been working. As the Doctor finished speaking, eyes moved to the viewing screen where the alien vessels were growing larger. That the Doctor was sincere Kirk could not question, that in some situations discretion was the better part of valor he had never doubted. "We've run into people like that. Spock - get as much information as you can from the scanners. Sulu, warp six 1800 out of here. Uhura, Scotty, you can stop working on that radio. Start scanning for any communications on bands outside the Starfleet band, they apparently don't use that high a range here." The Doctor was smiling again as Kirk finished. "Well, Captain, you and your crew are certainly both quick and efficient." He glanced around with approval at the organized effort going on on the Bridge. "Doctor," said Kirk, "I think that you and I need to have a talk." "But of course- at your convenience." The Doctor leaned casually against the bridge rail and smiled at Kirk as though he were in complete control of an ordinary situation. With a feeling of exasperation, Kirk turned to Spock. "Have you been . . ." He heard a crash behind him and as he turned around saw that the Doctor had collapsed and McCoy was bending over him. "Bones?" "Cerebrovascular hemorrhage - we'd better get him down to sickbay." "Go ahead." McCoy was calling for the sickbay team when Spock turned to Kirk. "Captain, armed vessels from that fleet were attempting to pursue us. We have outdistanced them. However, long range scanners indicate similar vessels throughout this area." "How long can we maintain evasive action?" "Difficult to say, Captain. We have no familiarity with these ships or their capabilities. If this is indeed a parallel universe, we cannot even determine with certainty where we could go in relative safety until we can effect our return." "In other words, we need the Doctor." "If he does possess the knowledge he claims, and if he is willing to assist us - then yes, we need him." The sickbay team was removing their patient. Kirk looked at the unconscious form. "Scotty, you have the con. Keep us clear of any involvement with anything. Spock and I'll be in sickbay. If I can get any more information from the Doctor, I'll tell you." ++++++++++ Down in sickbay, McCoy scowled at the indicators over the bed where the Doctor lay. "How bad is it?" asked Kirk, concerned that the only source of information about this alternate universe would be unavailable. "Jim, I don't know what normal is for him - so I can't tell how badly the hemorrhaging is affecting him - except that he is unconscious, and I would say that if the injury is doing that then it's very bad indeed. There seem to be previously damaged areas in that part of the brain, and while he also seems to have a remarkable healing ability, what's happening now is more than his own body mechanism can handle on its own. "What are you going to do?" "I suspect that, even with the damage, given time, he would recover without my doing anything." "Bones, we don't have time." McCoy still looked unconvinced and Kirk continued his argument. "He is the only clue we have to where we are and possibly how we got here - and how we can get back in one piece. I need him conscious - and well - as soon as possible." "Jim, there's a large blood clot between his skull and his brain. It covers quite a large area and there is active bleeding from inside the brain to that area. That clot has to come out and the bleeding stopped." "You've treated our crew for that kind of thing before." "I've been able to treat them medically. I know what medications I can use on our people - even Spock - mostly. I wouldn't dare use any of them on him. 1 have absolutely no way of determining what the possible side effects would be. The only possible thing I could do would be to operate and surgically remove the clot and cauterize the bleeding." "Then you'll have to do that." "Without anaesthesia? I've got the same problem with what we normally use for pain killers. Damn it, Jim, you saw that even the phasers didn't have the normal effect on him. If I use a drug, I could kill him. If I don't use one - Jim, I'm a doctor, not a butcher." "Doctor?" McCoy turned. The Doctor's eyes were open but still slightly glazed. He looked at McCoy. "What's the problem?" McCoy explained. "Normally I could tell you what would be effective - but I don't think I'm up to that. I have been trying to get into a catatonic trance - which would enable you to operate humanly, but I suspect the area involved. . ." McCoy nodded. "It would interfere with your ability to do that." Kirk noticed that the Doctor's speech had become slightly blurred. It was obviously an effort for him to talk, and the pain indicator was rising higher with each effort. "You are proposing a manual procedure." McCoy nodded. "That would seem to be the the acceptable alternative." "There is a possibility that you will not be unconscious during the operation." "I quite understand that - but from what I saw out there - we have little time to spare." McCoy still looked reluctant. "Come now," he snapped impatiently, "surely you are as skilled as your own Incan physicians. The operation must be done. I would suggest that you strap..." He slipped into unconsciousness again. "Okay Jim, we'll try it. Only pray that he stays unconscious." "I thought the brain had no nerve endings," Kirk said. "Yours doesn't," McCoy said grimly. With the restraints in place and the Doctor turned on one side to expose the operating area, a sterile field was established and McCoy began the delicate operation. opening the skull, his opened again. Kirk saw his hands move against the restraints. Suddenly Spock moved and took them. The eyes of the two aliens met and something was exchanged between them. "Sometimes it helps to have someone to hold on to." Did Kirk really hear that? Almost an answering smile came as the Doctor's eyes closed again. But Kirk saw the pressure of the hands grasping Spock's and knew that the man remained aware of McCoy suctioning out the area. Only when the laser cauterizer was used did the hands relax again and full unconsciousness return. "That seems to be it. Chapel, were you able to make a repair patch from those skull fragments?" "Yes, Doctor." McCoy carefully molded the `patch' into place. Only a small area of bone had been removed and the patch, made from the patient's own tissue and bone, would rapidly fuse the open area with as much protection as the original. "Jim, I think we did it." McCoy looked at the indicators carefully. "Pain is down, both hearts in sinus rhythm, blood pressure stable, alpha rhythm flowing. Was he conscious at all?" "Yes." "Damn. I still feel like a butcher having to operate like that." "Not at all, Doctor," came the voice from the bed. "It was a very well done job and I thank you." The Doctor looked as though he was going to get up as soon as Chapel finished removing the restraints. "You stay right there," barked McCoy. "But Doctor McCoy," the Doctor said in a hurt/injured tone, "I feel very well now and there are things..." "Don't tell me how you feel. You're staying there for at least another 24 hours- - and if I have to keep the restraints on you, I will." The Doctor's gaze and McCoy's clashed. The Doctor raised himself to a half-sitting position and McCoy moved forward. Kirk looked at the indicators; they were starting to move again. Spock stepped between the Doctor and McCoy. "Doctor, I would suggest that you follow Doctor McCoy's prescription. I do not think that the time need be wasted. We can provide you with a tie-in to the library computer from here. If you are going to help us, you will need to know quite a bit more about us." McCoy glared at Spock. "Bones," Kirk said, "you know that he isn't just going to lie there." "Very well," McCoy turned back to his patient. "But you're not to get up." "Agreed - Bones," and traces of the old smile appeared as the Doctor lay back. Spock started toward the door. "Oh, and Spock," Spock turned back and looked at the Doctor questioningly. "Thank you. I have not often come upon a gesture made as appropriately and as willingly." Without waiting for a reply the Doctor turned and smiled at Nurse Chapel. "Do you have a listing..." "Nurse Chapel," McCoy interrupted. "I want the biolab to do a full analysis on him. And Doctor, before you start playing around with the computer, you tell Chapel all about your medical history. It you're going to be around here I want to know how to treat you." For a moment Kirk thought that Spock was going to make another remark, but he turned and went out the door. "Bones," from the grin on the Doctor's face, Kirk suspected that he was about to say something that would provoke a reaction from McCoy. "Do you really think it essential to have all my medical history? I'm 749 years old, and as charming as Nurse Chapel is, that might take more time "If you could restrain yourself to the pertinent facts, I think that the time will be sufficient. I'm sure that in 749 years you've learned to restrain yourself when it's necessary." Score one for McCoy, thought Kirk. "And in the next 24 hours, I expect you to rest - or sleep - or whatever you do - for at least eight," McCoy continued. The Doctor looked quizzical and McCoy paused. "Six?" No response. "Four?" "Four hours should be sufficient. At the end of my stay here, Captain, I would suggest that you and I and your chief officers get together." Kirk had an uneasy feeling that the control of the ship had been transferred but reminded himself that the Doctor was only expressing what he himself had already decided. "As soon as McCoy says you're fit, I'll call the meeting." Kirk and McCoy walked toward the sickbay door. "What was that last part to Spock about, Jim?" "If the Doctor travels around alone - as he would seem to - he must often find himself fighting on his own in unpleasant situations. How old did he say he was?" "749." "Spock should find that. . ." "Fascinating!" As Kirk entered the Bridge, Spock got up from the command chair. "Report, Spock?" "We seem to have outdistanced the Sontaran fleet. However, scanners indicate considerable activity in most of the space in this area. We have been following a path which would seem to lead to an area of comparative inactivity. When the Doctor recovers . . ." He tilted a questioning eyebrow. "We can expect the Doctor to be available to us in 24 hours. Until then, we will simply have to avoid making any sort of contact with the ships and people in this universe." "Captain," said Uhura, "I am now able to receive transmissions from vessels in the area. We are unable to translate them coherently, however." "Very well, Lieutenant. Let me know as soon as possible when we can tell what they're talking about. I want all senior officers in briefing room 2 in one hour." "Yes, sir." Uhura turned back to her communications panel. ++++++++++ Inside the briefing room, Kirk looked around at the officers already gathered. McCoy was late, and they were waiting for him. For five years I've been with this crew through all sorts of adventures - bizarre and commonplace, he thought. I've lost 92 crewmen, and for all my command experience, I'll never accept those deaths as being necessary. This ship and its crew is my life, and whatever it takes, I'll see that they get back to their own universe. It's part of my mission, any responsibility. No glory in doing that, it's part of the job. And when it's completed? He decided not to try to guess what Starfleet would do then. Anyway, McCoy had arrived and they could get working on the current problem. "Sorry I'm late, Jim," McCoy said as he came in and sat down at the briefing table. "I finally managed to get my patient settled." "Was there much of a problem?" "Not much more than I'm used to," McCoy looked at Kirk and Spock accusingly. "Although I must say that you two don't generally involve Chapel with fantastic tales of wild adventures, persuade the Medical staff - and all my other patients to join in a feast at jellybabies.. ." "Jellybabies?" asked Kirk. "Some kind of candy about two centimeters long, shaped like a swaddled infant, and in assorted flavors. He seems to have an infinite supply and he's got everyone in sickbay munching on them. In between passing out candy and talking to Chris, he's been running through the data on the library computer - at fast speed. I finally had to tell him that I'd put him in isolation with no computer before he agreed to rest." "Will he be able to talk to us tomorrow?" "Yes. Although if he disrupts my sickbay much more, I might let you have him earlier." "If I might make a suggestion, Captain," Spock said. "I think that both Doctor McCoy and I would welcome it, Spock." "When we rescued the passengers and crew of the liner Crotone, there was a Cultural Survey and Contact team on board." Kirk nodded. CS&C was a recently created specialized division in Starfleet. They had their own chain of command, but while on his ship they were under his command. Since the rescue, they had been quite helpful in keeping the Crotone crew and passengers out of his own crew's way. The addition of some 250 `passengers' stretched the Enterprise's normal resources to an uncomfortable limit. "Do you think they can help us, Spock?" "The Lieutenant who is in charge of the team has an exemplary record in initial survey expeditions and on this last expedition has been credited by the other members of the team with enabling them to be retrieved by the Crotone after their Captain was killed. Since we have a member of a new culture on board, it would seem logical to assign her to `study' him." "What's her background, Spock?" McCoy asked. "She has a PhD in Xenobiology and is also a certified paramedical technician." "Well, I'd certainly be glad to have her assigned to him." McCoy said. "What's her name?" "Stephans, Lt. Dorcy Stephans," Kirk answered. "As soon as we're through here, I'll notify her of her new assignment." McCoy nodded with relief. "The sooner the better." "Now, if we could come to the main concern of this meeting? Scotty, what is the current damage report?" "We had some minor problems immediately after that storm, mostly caused by the vibration. They've all been checked and cleared. But there seems to be something going off balance in the matter-antimatter mix when we're at warp speed. As long as we stay at warp speed, I can't try to clear it up." "You want to go to impulse power?" "Aye, Captain." "Spock, is there any sign of an enemy vessel in scanning range?" "Negative, Captain. We are presently in an area of space which shows no signs of any lifeform activity." "Very well, Scotty, cut back to impulse power, but remember that we could have to cut in warp drive on short notice." "Aye. We'll leave an emergency cutin - but we still won't be able to tolerate high warp speed until we find the main trouble." "Captain," Spock said, "we also have another problem with the computer control to engineering life support." "I thought that was all in a separate system with full emergency backup? Wasn't that what we just had installed?" "We now have an independent primary control and a secondary control which is a complete duplicate of the first. We also have a tertiary system which can provide up to two hours of full support. During the storm, the PROMs on the primary control were erased. It will take 35 hours to reprogram and reinstall them on the primary system." "Then we're running on the secondary system with the tertiary as the backup." "Exactly. However, if something happens to the secondary system, and the tertiary system exceeds its life span, a failsafe back to the main computer will start a half-hour countdown to destruct the ship." "Now whose bright idea was that?" McCoy asked. "It's supposed to force an organized abandonment of the ship's crew to the nearest M- type planet - with a rescue robot beacon detached, and no chance of the ship falling into the `wrong hands'." Kirk smiled at McCoy. "Starfleet is apparently discouraging heroics." "But Jim, we don't even have enough spacesuits or evacuation equipment for everyone now - with the people from the Crotone on board." McCoy said in concern. "And there are no M-type planets within transporter range," Spock added. "And what good would a robot beacon do us here?" McCoy continued. "Gentlemen, aren't we looking at the worst possible circumstances?" Kirk said. "In 35 hours we'll have the primary system back up, by then Scotty will have us underway at full warp power, and in only 24 hours the Doctor will be able to at least guide us around this universe in safety. We should have ample time to figure out how to get back to our own universe. All we have to do is to stay out of trouble for a very short while." "Aye, Captain," Scotty said, "it would be a mighty strange set of circumstances that would get us into trouble again that quick." He stopped and thought for a moment. "But Captain, do you really think that we can trust the Doctor?" "What do you think?" "Well, he's an alien. His travelling device is of a type we've never heard of. We dinna know anything about him - but he seemed to assume that we'd both be on the same side against a bunch of people like the Sontarans. He seems to have had considerable experience in dealin' with humans - but we dinna know how he got it." "What makes you assume that he has had such extensive contact with humans?" Spock asked. "Well, Mr. Spock, it might not be your kind of logic, but it seems to me that anyone who can accept the fact that the natural reaction of a security guard would be to shoot has got to have been around humans for quite a while." Kirk looked at Spock who nodded in agreement. He knew better than to ask Spock outright how far he felt the Doctor should be trusted. But he knew enough of his first officer. . . "We've given him complete access to the library computer. In spite of his disruption of sickbay, he seems to be as concerned with our situation as we are." Scott nodded. "It canna be denied that we'll need all the help we can get to get back to our own universe in one piece." "And if we're going to do that, Mr. Scott, we'd better get to work on what we know we have to do. Meeting dismissed." As the group got up to leave, Spock walked over to Kirk. "Incidently, Captain, I could not help but notice that at times the Doctor seems to have a very charismatic effect on humans." "I had noticed that too - but I don't think that it's going to become a problem." Spock turned to leave. "Oh Spock, did you hear how old he is?" Spock turned back, an eyebrow raised. "Indeed, Captain, and have you determined what his total life span would be?" "No, but. . "I would venture to say that he is still quite young according to his present age measured against the normal longevity of his race." Kirk stared at Spock's departing back and shook his head in amazement. If Spock was right, and the Doctor was still `young', perhaps that explained the seemingly inappropriate bursts of humor. Maybe all Time Lords went through this stage before stabilizing into serious adults. At least he did not seem to demonstrate the childlike cruelty that Trelaine had. Somehow Kirk felt that his reasoning might not be completely correct, but it was a comforting thought. All he needed on the ship at this time was a comedian, and an alien one at that. ++++++++++ In the briefing room the next day, Kirk, Spock, Scott and Lt. Dorcy Stephans waited for Dr. McCoy to arrive with the Doctor. McCoy had reported that Lt. Stephans and the Doctor were working quite well together and that there had been no further major disruptions in sickbay. "Kirk to bridge." "Uhura here." "If you pick up any significant transmissions while we are here, alert me and patch them through." "Yes, Captain." The door opened and the Doctor and McCoy entered. Kirk noticed that the Doctor had reacquired his overcoat, jacket, and floppy hat. Well, he thought, with such a low body temperature, the Doctor might well feel cold in the earth normal environment of the Enterprise. "Good morning, everyone," said the Doctor blithely, taking the seat at the table opposite Kirk. Kirk noticed as he sat down that it was as if the `head' of the table had suddenly shifted. Well, Spock had warned him. Whatever the Doctor had, it was there, it was `natural', and it affected humans - Vulcans too? He wondered. "Good morning, Doctor. I don't think you've been introduced to Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott." "Chief Engineer," the Doctor responded, rising and offering his hand to Scott. Somewhat surprised, Scotty responded in kind. "And Lt. Stephans and I have been having some fascinating conversations." The Doctor smiled. The Lieutenant smiled. "And of course I am already acquainted with Mr. Spock and you, Captain." The Doctor glanced over at the Captain quizzically. "Well, Captain, could you fill me in on our present status?" McCoy snorted. Kirk gathered that the Doctor had not been idle during his confinement in sickbay, even after the disruption had stopped. He probably knew the situation as well as anyone else. "Spock?" "We have been able to successfully avoid all contact with any alien vessels. This is our present position." The computer viewers glowed, indicating the Enterprise and the present star position. "In our universe, this was part of the area controlled by the Klingon Empire." "So you don't have much information on it?" "Very little. Are you familiar with it?" "Yes, I've been around here before. In this time - in this universe - the Sontarans are trying to conquer this area from the Rutans." "Our long range scanners indicate considerable vessel movement." "Doctor," asked Kirk, "What would happen if we met up with a Sontaran fleet?" "It would depend on how many of them there were. With your offensive and defensive weapons you could probably escape an attack of, say, 20-40 of their ships. More and they could destroy you." He cocked his head at Kirk. "20-40?" queried Spock. "I can't give you a more precise number." The Doctor smiled at Spock. "There are a significant number of random factors." "How large are their fleets?" asked Scotty. "It depends on what they're attacking. A massive effort and they think nothing of sending out 400." Spock looked skeptical. "They don't care how many may be destroyed," the Doctor went on, "they only want to win." "Don't they value their own pilots and crews?" asked Kirk. "Oh no, you see, they're clones." "Clones?" "Yes. They reproduce by cloning. So any individual life means nothing to them, and they don't think much of races who do respect individual life - especially humans." Stephans was frowning. "But cloning would. . . " "You must allow for the environmental factors, Lieutenant," interrupted the Doctor, leaning forward on the table. "So many are raised to be leaders, others to follow orders and die." "Doctor," Kirk said, trying to return the attention of the conversation to the topic he felt to be of primary concern. "You must realize that our primary interest at the moment is to return to our own universe without any entanglement in yours." "I can certainly sympathize with that." The Doctor leaned back in his chair and put his feet on the table. "If our positions were reversed, I should certainly feel the same way." He grinned. "And a further consequence of this interest is that we do not want to do anything that might alter the course of events in this universe." "Ah yes, I have come across that desire to be detached observers before. Your Prime Directive, I believe you call it." The group nodded. "That might not be so simple." He sat up straight again. "The Sontarans' scanners have a slightly longer range than yours, and if you have been detected, they will not choose to merely observe you. And Captain, I can also tell you this, you cannot allow your ship to fall into Sontaran hands." "Possible effect?" asked Spock. "With the knowledge they could gain from the engineering and weaponry of your vessel, you would enable them to conquer the galaxy quite easily." He leaned back again and glanced around the table as if weighing the quality of the people he saw. "I see," said Kirk. The Doctor sat suddenly upright. "As a matter of fact, you might check the activity in the area surrounding your ship - at the very edge of your scanner range." "Spock," snapped Kirk. "360 degree scanner - alien vessels at the edge of the third sector now." "Captain," it was Sulu. "We have vessels closing in on us from the third sector. Uhura has not been able to complete translation of their transmissions." "Red Alert, Mr. Sulu. I'm on my way. Well, Doctor, if you're right, it looks as though we'll be fighting our way out of this one." Kirk turned to leave. "If you take a heading of 185 degrees, Captain, you should be able to get into a relatively safe area," shouted The Doctor as Kirk passed through the door. ++++++++++ On the bridge Kirk found his crew alert and ready for battle. The glow of the red alert light gave an eerie highlight to the area. "Mr. Scott, do we have warp speed?" "I can give you up to warp 2, sir, but beyond that there is still an unstable factor in the matter anti-matter mix." "How fast are the Sontaran vessels, Mr. Spock?" "Presently travelling at warp I, Captain." "Increase to warp 2, Mr. Sulu." "Aye, sir." "The Sontarans can reach the equivalent of your warp 3, Captain." Kirk looked around and saw that the Doctor had seated himself on one of the bridge steps. Wonderful, he thought, 0w I have a back-seat driver.* "Sontarans increasing to warp 2 also, Captain." Spock studied his science console viewer closely. "Now at warp 2.5 and gaining on us." "Mr. Sulu, make a 180 degree turn and slow to warp one." "Aye, sir." The Enterprise turned smoothly and as she headed back toward the small globe-like ships, they scattered in front of her, eventually forming a circular pattern around her. "Impulse power now, Mr. Sulu. How many of them are there, Spock?" "53, Captain." "Well, we'll let them look us over. So far they haven't done anything that is overtly hostile - let's return the favor." "Captain, the Sontarans are not going to decide that a vessel of this size can be ignored. If you fire now, you could catch most of them by surprise." The Doctor looked quite serious. "Unless, of course, you enjoy playing sitting duck." Kirk ignored the statement. "Chekov, arm the photon torpedoes, wide range. Sulu, set the phases for a maximum sweep. You are not to fire except on my direct order." For several moments, it looked as though the stalemate would be indefinitely maintained. Then simultaneous bursts of fire emerged from all the Sontaran vessels. "Photon missiles have been fired at us, Captain. Time to impact, 12 seconds." Spock said. "Sulu, Chekov, fire - NOW!" Between the wide sweep of the torpedoes and the following burst of the phasers, most of the enemy's missiles were destroyed before they reached their target. A number did get through, however, and Kirk could hear the damage reports coming in. "Now, Chekov, I want a series of photon torpedoes with a narrow burst directly at those ships. Sulu, set the phasers on tracking and pick up any stragglers that the torpedoes miss." The battle strategy seemed to be working effectively as thirty-five of the small vessels fell to the coordinated offense. Some of the others, however, began moving rapidly directly toward the Enterprise. They seemed to be making no effort to fire their weapons. Their swift zig-zag motions enabled them to evade any direct hits. "They're going to smash their ships into your shields, Captain. That will put all of their weaponry and their ships' reactors into a direct explosion on your main defense shields." The Doctor said. "Kamikaze?" Kirk said in amazement. "That's what you call it - they call it fighting for the glory of the glorious Sontaran Empire." "Scotty, full power to the shields! Sulu, try reaching them before they reach us. Chekov, keep the ones still on the perimeter under full torpedo attack." A sudden violent rocking warned Kirk that the kamikaze technique was proving effective. "Damage reports, Mr. Spock." "That last hit was in the main power link between Engineering and secondary computer control. Exact level of damage cannot be determined. .." Another blast rocked the ship, but Sulu and Chekov simultaneously fired their weapons and let out a yell of exaltation. "All enemy ships destroyed, Keptin." "Very good, gentlemen. Heading 185 degrees, Mr. Sulu. Battle stations, yellow alert status. Damage reports, Lieutenant Uhura." "Sickbay reports thirty wounded - two dead." "Life support systems damaged further in that last attack, Captain." Scotty was regarding his display panels with dismay. "How badly?" "Less than 60% life support capability left." "Captain," Spock turned from the Science console, "The computer area has also received extensive damage to the secondary life support control memory system. With the direct damage to life support itself, we have about two hours of life support left on the tertiary system." Silence engulfed the bridge.