MAG.E 3/MAG.E 3 (Disk 2 of 2).adf/106/106

Text File | 1992-09-02 | 188.3 KB | 3,975 lines

@6THE DOCTOR AND THE ENTERPRISE
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@2PART 1
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@1     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.


@2PART 2
======

@1     "How long will it take to repair?"    Kirk asked.  the
Spock and Scott-exchanged glances, then    Spock spoke. "On the
life support system itself, the    engineering portion, about
three hours, on    the secondary computer memory system, about
five hours.
     Kirk looked over at the Doctor who    was still perched on
the bridge steps. "Doctor, can you get out of here in your
TARDIS?"
     "I    could but. .." The Doctor gave Kirk a quizzical
look.
     "If we cannot complete our    repairs    in two hours and get
the secondary system back up, this ship    will begin a self-
destruct sequence.  So I would suggest that you    be prepared
to leave."
     "That is one alternative, Captain,    but there might    be
another." The Doctor said calmly.  "Tell me, Mr. Scott,
Commander Spock, how many people would you need    to complete
repairs    on your    systems?"
     Scotty thought for    a moment. "About five for the life
support    engineering."
     "And the Computer system?"    The Doctor turned to Spock.
     "Myself and one other.  The working area is small,    and
most of    the time would be involved in testing."
     "Well then, Captain," the Doctor stepped down to stand
next to    Kirk's chair and lean on the arm. "If you only had a
crew of, say 8 - in three areas    - I assume someone would
have to    control    the bridge - and you could shut    down all
other areas completely - how long would    your life support
last?"
     Kirk nearly made a    remark about pointless questions,
but there was something    in the Doctor's    tone of    voice -
"Scotty?"
     "10 hours."
     "So that's    your answer." The Doctor exclaimed
gleefully, turning around.
     "Doctor." Kirk tapped him on his shoulder and waited
until he was facing him    again.    "We have a crew    of 430 - and
250 additional passengers. We do not have enough space suits
for everyone."
     "But my TARDIS is on board." At Kirk's blank look he
hastily    continued. "Put    422 of your crew - and your
passengers - inside her, and the rest should be    able to
pilot your ship    and make the necessary repairs."
     Kirk took a deep breath before speaking. "Doctor, are
you trying to tell me that that    box of yours can hold over
600 people?"
     "She's quite a bit    bigger on the inside than it would
seem from the outside. She'll hold your    people - and she has
her own    life support."
     "Captain,"    Spock had been doing some calculations.
"The time to evacuate to the TARDIS would require full life
support    for the    major part of the time.     Estimating that
against    the repair time    shows that we will have    total oxygen
depletion one hour before repairs could    be completed."
     "Spock - you require less oxygen than a human." The
Doctor stated.
     "Spock nodded.
     "Aye, three of them."
     "And I can    manage quite comfortably with less life
support    than you presently provide."  The Doctor turned    to
Kirk. "And you do have enough space suits for the humans
involved?"
     Spock turned back to the computer.    The Doctor smiled at
Kirk.
     "Spock?"
     "The Doctor's calculations    are correct, Captain.  The
time margin would be sufficient."  He looked at    the Doctor.
"You would be assisting    me?"
     "I    am somewhat familiar with computer systems."
     Kirk turned to Uhura. There seemed    to be no doubt that
the command decision had been mad' and he was simply to
enforce    it.  "Order all    crew and passengers except Mr.
Scott's    engineers to follow evacuation order 5 - using
Transporter Room 2."  He turned    back to    the Doctor. "Doctor,
if you will open your TARDIS, we will proceed."
     When they arrived at the TARDIS, they found McCoy
waiting.
     "You will be taking your injured in first?" The Doctor
asked.
     "Yes," McCoy looked skeptically at    the box. "If you're
sure there's room."
     "Oh yes, quite enough." The Doctor    opened the door    and
led Kirk and McCoy into    what seemed to be a very modern
control    room.  Kirk looked around with amazement.  The room
was well over twice the    size of    the box    they had entered and
several    doors indicated    even more rooms    beyond.
     "Now, Dr. McCoy, if you go    through    that door and turn
right and then right again, there is an    area which you will
find suitable for caring for your people while we fix your
ship."
     He    turned back to Kirk and    Spock who were looking at
the large six-sided control panel in the center    of the room.
     "Fascinating," said Spock,    circling the device. "I
should like to discuss its principles and functions with you
sometime, Doctor."
     "Well, the    TARDIS usually does what I want    her to."
Kirk had a feeling that    Spock was not going to be able to
satisfy    his curiosity about this device    very easily.  "Why
don't you start    on the computer    repairs, and I'll join you
shortly."
     "A    logical    suggestion." Spock turned and left.
     "Curious little devil, isn't he," commented the Doctor
to Kirk.  He apparently    accepted Kirk's    silence    as agreement
as he went on. "Now, Captain, I    assume that there will be
some time to evacuate those of us left after you begin your
self-destruct sequence?"
     "There should be."
     "In case there isn't - who    of your    crew members could
quickly    learn some of these" - he motioned toward the button
and lever studded panels.  "To remove the TARDIS and the
passengers in it to safety?"
     Kirk smiled. The Doctor knew that he would    be the one
remaining on the bridge    until the last minute. "Lieutenant
Sulu."
     "Your helmsman - very good. If you    would get him down
here."
     Kirk opened his communicator. "Sulu, come down to the
transporter room."
     "Yes sir."
     McCoy appeared at the door    looking    stunned. "Amazing -
there's    a whole    city in    here!"
     "Not quite, Bones,    but it will serve your needs.  I
would suggest that you begin your evacuation." The Doctor
stepped    over to    the control panels and began setting some of
the controls. Kirk and McCoy exchanged glances.    It was clear
from the Doctor's manner that he was accustomed    to people
being amazed at    his ship - and was delighted in    that
amazement.
     The evacuation began in an    orderly    fashion. After the
injured    had been moved in the of the crew started to come.
Lt. Stephans was the first inside and the Doctor turned    away
from the controls.
     "Oh, Dorcy    - if you would lead the    rest of    this group
down the stairs, turn left, right, and left and    right, there
is an area that    you all    should find satisfactory.  Please
help yourselves    to the food supplies, you may have a long
wait."
     Lt. Stephens look at Kirk who nodded. "Very well
Doctor."
     When Lt. Sulu came    in the Doctor was standing back    from
the controls apparently    satisfied with what he had done.
     "Lieutenant Sulu."    The Doctor motioned Sulu over to
stand next to him. "I have preset the controls so that you
can use    these."    He motioned to an array    of buttons and a
single lever in    one of the control panel sections.  "If    you
should have to remove the TARDIS from here, just push these
buttons, and then this lever. Understood?"
     "Yes sir."
     "I    have programmed    the TARDIS to land on a    small
Earth-type planet.  You    should be able to handle yourselves
there."
     "Sulu," Kirk said.
     "Yes sir."
     "If we do not make    it back    you are    to follow the
Doctor's orders    explicitly. Keep your communicator handy and
I will inform you if you are to    leave."
     "Yes sir. Good luck, Captain."
     "Thank you    Lieutenant."
     Kirk watched as the crew continued    to file    past and
down the stairs.  He could hear    laughter coming    from the
lower level.
     "Well, Doctor, I suggest that we get to work."
     "My sentiments exactly."
                 ++++++++++
     On    the Bridge, seated in the helmsman's position,
wearing    the new    X-E life support suit, Kirk had    the feeling
that he    was piloting a ghost ship.  Behind him he could    hear
Uhura moving around as she' systematically shut    down life
support    as areas of the    ship were vacated.
     "All areas    evacuated, sir.     Life Support shut down
except in engineering, computer    memory control and on the
Bridge."
     "Have you picked up any transmissions?"
     "No sir."
     "Very well.  Go down to the TARDIS, Lieutenant.  After
you leave I'll shut off    life support here."
     With Uhura    gone, the `ghost ship' feeling became even
more oppressive. In an effort to dispel    it, he called Scotty
to check on how    the repairs were going.     Scotty    informed him
that his crew was progressing `as well as might    be expected'
and from the tone of his voice,    Kirk knew that any further
interruptions would not    be welcomed.
     He    had heard nothing from Spock and the Doctor.
Neither    one would be inclined to report    until something
decisive had happened, and, even more so than Scotty, would
resent `unnecessary interruptions'.  Kirk decided that he
could just open    the communication link to the Computer
Memory area.  If he couldn't be    there, at least    he could
hear what was going on.
     "Are you ready to retest this bank    again?"
     Spock's voice, as calm as if this were routine
maintenance check.
     "Quite ready."
     "Running the diagnostic program now.  It should
complete a successful pass in five minutes."
     "Or fail in less."
     "Exactly."    Spock paused for a moment. "Doctor, why    did
you leave your people to go to Earth?"
     "What makes you think I did that?"
     "While you    were unconscious in the    Transporter room, I
inadvertently entered into a mind meld with you. That
information was    there."
     "You're a touch-telepath?"
     "Yes. I must apologize..."
     "Oh nonsense, don't bother. I've had my mind invaded by
nastier    beings.    Why did    I choose Earth?    Well, I    like Earth
people - compared to most of the other races I've met."
     "They are a most emotional    race."
     "Do you think so?    They're    certainly not as emotional
or as illogical    as some    I've met.  They're a bloody nuisance
at times and quite indomitable - they can also cause more
trouble    than almost any    other race if you let them get
started. Of course, things may be different in your
universe, but what I like about    the people from    Earth is
that by    and large they care."
     "Is caring    such an    important thing    to you?"
     "Yes, when    it means that the people can reach outside
themselves to care for others -and especially for others not
of their own species - that's extremely    rare.  And, somewhat
surprisingly, Earth people can quite astonish you and do
just that."
     "And what of your own people?"
     "They stopped caring about    anything a long    time ago -
so I left."
     "Did your people agree with your leaving?"
     Kirk suddenly had the feeling that    he was listening to
a bi-level conversation. Was Spock trying to interrogate the
Doctor - or the    Doctor,    Spock?
     "Oh no.  I    - borrowed - the TARDIS    and then they caught
me and exiled me on Earth.  Until they needed me."
     "Needed you?"
     "Well, they were determined not to    interfere - but    when
you know what is going to happen, interference is sometimes
needed.    So I helped them out."
     "And now?"
     "Well, I could go back to Gallifrey, settle down, take
my place on the    Council, even teach in the Academy - but I'm
not ready for that. There still    seems to be so much more to
learn.    Whatever a professor might say,    you don't learn    -
especially about yourself - in the Ivory Tower." The Doctor
paused.    "What about you?"
     "Me?" Kirk    could almost see the uplifted eyebrow.
     "Yes, you.    You know, one of the reasons I left was
because    of Vulcan.  When the Time Lords    did not    interfere, I
felt that a very valuable people had been lost - needlessly.
I am very glad to see that my supposition was correct.
Although I should not base my decision on you alone. You're
half human."
     "I    am Vulcan."
     "You mean that you've chosen the Vulcan way over the
Human way when you had to - I know that    much about you at
least -    apparently the mind meld worked    two ways.  Why
weren't    you allowed to become the best of both worlds -
instead    of having to choose one    over the other?"
     "It is not    possible to be both Vulcan and Human."
     "Has anyone ever tried before? I suspect that you may
be . .    . is that board    supposed to be smoking?"
     Spock muttered something that Kirk    couldn't catch.
"Powering down.     There must be more trouble here than our
first analysis showed."
     "If the person who    did your last maintenance servicing
had used the right servo-fuse, that power surge    wouldn't
have affected this area    at all."
     "It is unfortunately a common human characteristic    to
use the    most expedient way and avoid the difficulty of the
required way."
     "Surely a characteristic not limited to humans."
     A pause. "Agreed."
     "That board looks pretty bad. Do you have another
replacement?"
     "We have no more spare memory storage modules of this
type."
     "Spare parts, then?"
     "There is a bench testing system over there and spare
parts are available.  The new memory bubble domes will also
have to    be reprogrammed."
     "I'll start on it now."
     Kirk turned off the intercom link and analyzed the
conversation carefully.    While not an expert in the hardware
maintenance of the Enterprise's    computer system, he did    have
enough basic knowledge to realize what had happened.  During
their last scheduled maintenance, someone had used the wrong
servofuse in the secondary life    support    memory control.     The
`new' fuse was unable to prevent a power surge from coming
through    and damaging what had at first appeared    to be the
three boards that Spock    had identified.     The Enterprise
carried    a number of spare boards for the computer system,
but not    an infinite supply.
     Apparently    additional damage done by the power surge
had resulted in    what would be a    longer repair time than
Spock had originally estimated.    He looked at the
chronometer.  Half an hour left    before tee tertiary system
would begin the    self-destruct sequence.
     The intercom sounded.
     "Kirk here."
     "Repairs completed    in engineering,    Captain. Waiting for
computer control."
     "Very good, Mr. Scott.  Computer Control is not yet
repaired.  Can you handle things down there when it is?"
     "Aye, Captain."
     "Then send    the rest of your people    to the TARDIS.
They'll    have to    wear X-E suits until they get there. Kirk to
Spock."
     "Spock here, Captain."
     "Scotty reports engineering repairs completed. What is
your estimated time for    repair of the computer system?"
     "Previously undetermined damage to    the backplane area
has necessitated rebuilding one    of the spare memory boards
that was damaged.  I am    about to replace the backplane now.
Repairs    should be completed in fifteen minutes."
     Fourteen minutes later Spock's voice came over the
intercom. "Diagnostic test on computer systems successfully
completed, Captain.  Bringing up memory    systems    to
engineering."
     "Mr. Scott, Mr. Spock is bringing up your computer
memory system."
     "Well, if he is, Captain, there's nae anything on the
asynchronous signal interface monitor."
     "Spock, did you hear that?"
     "Affirmative, Captain.  There appears to be an
additional problem.  We    are investigating."
     Kirk could    hear the sound of someone whistling in the
background as Spock was    speaking.  He wondered what the    hell
the Doctor could find to whistle about.
     "Spock," the Doctor said, "Look at    this."
     "The drivers on the fiber optic bus cable?"
     "Looks like they were hit in the power surge too.
What's your replacement    procedure for them?"
     "Difficult.  We have to run a new bus cable over to
engineering through the    inside conduits    of the ship."
     "You don't    use a cable connector?"
     "Not with this cable. The bus bars    get hung too
easily."
     "But you do have a    spare bus cable?"
     "Yes."
     "Then let's get going."
     "Spock," Kirk broke in, "in 12 minutes the    tertiary
system will default to the main    computer and initiate the
self-destruct."
     "And we cannot bypass the main system to halt the
self-destruct after that point,    Captain.  The Doctor will
attempt    to connect the cable from here to engineering.    I
will remain here to bring up the computer system if the
connection is completed    in time."
     "Very well, Mr. Spock. Doctor, you    realize    the risk you
are taking?"
     "He has already left, Captain.  I can assure you that
he is well aware of the    risk involved."
     The minutes crawled by.  Five minutes left.  Kirk had a
sudden vision of living    out his    life on    one earth-type
planet,    with no    way to return home, and    the Enterprise
destroyed.  It would be    as though all he had struggled for
during the last    five years had counted for nothing.
     Four minutes.
     "Captain, the Doctor's coming through now,    I've got the
cable."
     Two minutes.
     "Cable attached, Mr. Spock."
     "Bringing up your computer    control, Mr. Scott."
     One minute.
     "Secondary    support    system is activated, Captain.
Tertiary is cut    off."
     Kirk looked at the    chronometer.  There had    been thirty
seconds    left.  He opened his communicator.  "Sulu, as soon
as all life support is back to normal, you will    evacuate the
TARDIS."
     "Yes sir!"
     In    the background he could    hear what seemed to be party
noises - laughing, singing.  Well, whatever the    crew was
doing at least they had    not had    to wait    alone through the
agony of the last hours.  And one of Spock's and Scotty's
first projects when they were out of this mess was going to
be to find some    way to bypass that tertiary system self-
destruct. He'd be the one to decide what heroics were
suitable to his    ship.
++++++++++
     As    the Enterprise wandered    among alien stars, most    of
the crew were involved in repairing the    damage from the
storm and the subsequent battle.  But all their    duties were
routine    compared to the    assignment of the Science and
Engineering officers - find the    way for    the Enterprise to
return home.
     Both Spock    and the    Doctor were on this team, and its
first efforts were devoted to analyzing    the physics of the
Enterprise's entering the alternate universe. After this had
been discovered, the team could    decide what needed to be
done to    reverse    the effect.
     Neither Spock nor the Doctor needed as much sleep as
the humans on the team.     Spock,    of course, spent his time in
additional work    and research, but the Doctor did not seem to
be so inclined.
     Kirk had offered the Doctor his choice of a room on the
Enterprise or staying on his TARDIS.  The Doctor had chosen
the Enterprise.     He had    pointed    out that he would be in
closer touch with the happenings by being closer to the
Enterprise communication system    - and anyway - he'd never
been on    a ship like the    Enterprise before.
     Kirk was beginning    to wonder if he    was really taking
the work he was    supposed to be doing seriously - if he took
anything seriously. He seemed to `work'    with the scientific
team for only ten to fifteen minutes at    a time.     When Kirk
sat in on the sessions he noticed that most of the Doctor's
time was spent in looking at the- results that the
Enterprise team    had generated, staring into space for a    few
minutes, and then making some minor change in one of the
currently generated equations, and leaving the room.  While
the team did not seem to be upset with this `working style',
Kirk was beginning to seriously    wonder just what the Doctor
was contributing.
     He    would be walking down one of the Enterprise
corridors and spot the Doctor doing tricks with    a yo-yo    in
one of the branching halls - usually with a crew member
watching. He had also managed to find out from someone how
to program the food computers to produce what seemed to    be
his major source of sustenance -the ubiquitous jellybabies.
Unfortunately, his programming had resulted in everyone    else
who ordered something getting at least one jellybaby too.
Kirk suspected the programming was deliberate.    He stared at
the small red shape next to his    fruit salad, looked at the
other crew members who seemed to be happily eating theirs,
and decided that he had    better discuss the situation with
McCoy.
     "Jim, I've    still got 23 seriously injured people to
take care of - and I can't say that anything in    the Doctor's
behavior has bothered me in my job."
     "I    just have this feeling that he may be helping
himself    more than us."
     "Have you talked to Spock about it?"
     "Spock is busy."
     "Look, if there was a problem with    the Doctor and the
help he's supposed to be giving    the team, then Spock would
have said something. You may think that    he isn't doing
anything, but Spock may    find that what he is doing is
exactly    what the team needs. And I can tell you    this, from
the tests that we've been able to run on him and from Lt.
Stephans' reports, his mind is at least    the equal of
Spock's, if not    better.    Have you read any of the
Lieutenant's reports?"
     "No. Not yet."
     "Well, instead of worrying    about what he is or isn't
doing, why don't you read them?     You're    expecting him to act
as though he was human,    and believe me,    he is not."
     "Excuse me, Captain."
     It    was Uhura.
     "Yes, Lieutenant?"
     "Sir, the crew was    wondering if we    could have a party
for the    Doctor?"
     "A    party?"
     "Yes sir.    We would like to thank him - all of us - for
helping    us with    the life support problem - and letting us
use his    TARDIS and..."
     "Lieutenant Uhura,    the Doctor is supposed to be trying
to find    out how    we can get this    ship back to our own
universe. I hardly think that a    party would be in any way
appropriate."
     "Come on, Jim," McCoy said.  "Considering what the    crew
has gone through, and the Lieutenant's expressions of their
feelings, why don't you    let her    check with Spock and the
Doctor.    If they    have time, it might be a good idea."
     Uhura was looking at Kirk expectantly.  He    shot an
annoyed    glance at McCoy.  "Very    well, Lieutenant.  If Mr.
Spock says that    he can spare the Doctor    and if the Doctor
accepts, you may have your party."
     "Thank you, sir."
     The party started off in an orderly fashion. The Doctor
turned up for the occasion in a    black velvet coat, solid
white scarf, and top hat.  Kirk    assumed    this was his
concession to formality.
     While appropriate beverages and food were in ample
supply,    everyone, including the    Doctor,    seemed to be on
their best behavior. Kirk was somewhat surprised to see
Spock join the party, but also relieved. The presence of his
first officer usually kept an Enterprise party from turning
into a raucous affair.
     Spock had brought his Vulcan lyre with him, and Kirk
was not    surprised to see that he and Uhura were    going to
perform. What surprised    him was    the performance. Uhura had
found an old Earth song    - never    popular    - called "My Friend
the Doctor". With somewhat revised wording, it had the
Doctor laughing    in one minute and the rest of the crew with
him in two.
     From that point on, the beverage consumption increased
considerably.
     Kirk left half-way    through    the evening.  The Doctor had
borrowed Spock's lyre, with Spock's approval, Kirk noticed.
Urged on by Lt.    Kyle, he proceeded to teach the    crew some
early English drinking songs.  Kirk heard that the evening
wound up with a    spontaneous limerick contest.
                  ++++++++++
     Kirk made a point of turning up in    the briefing room
that the Scientific team was using early the next morning.
To his surprise, the whole team    was there, and working,    and,
a few moments later, the Doctor    walked in. He seemed to    be
unusually somber.
     "I    am afraid that you people are going to have to get
out of this universe."
     Spock turned and looked at    the Doctor with    raised
eyebrows.  "Indeed?"
     "Look here, Doctor, this team has been working on that
problem    for nearly a week now,"    Kirk said angrily. "What
makes you say that . . ."
     "I    believe    that the operative words in the    Doctor's
statement are `have to'," Spock    interrupted.  Kirk looked at
him and    then at    the Doctor in surprise.     "What have you
discovered?" Spock continued.
     "I    ran some studies last night, in    the TARDIS, and
unless you're out of here in three weeks, there    are going to
be serious disturbances    on the Space-Time continuum which
will have the gravest consequences for several of the races
native to this universe    and which will result in your
ultimate destruction."
     Kirk looked at Spock.  His    Science    Officer    accepted the
Doctor's statement.  Well, at least it might get the Doctor
working    on the problem with more dedication than he had
previously exhibited.
     Spock turned to the computer and displayed    an equation.
"I believe that    this is    the effect that    has brought us
here."
     The Doctor    studied    it. "Yes, that would do    it."
     "So the question is, then,    to reverse it."    said Scotty.
     The team studied the figures.  Kirk noticed that the
Doctor seemed to be falling asleep.  Then he suddenly sat
up. "Of    course!" He changed some of the    figures    in the
equation.
     "That would seem to be the    desired    effect." Spock said.
     "And we've    got just enough    dilithium to do    it." said
Scotty.
     Kirk breathed a sigh of relief. At    last there seemed to
be a way out of    the trap. And if he had    to thank the Doctor
for it,    he would.
     "Wait a minute," the Doctor said, staring intently    at
the display.  "There's something wrong."
     "I    can see    no error." said    Spock.
     "You're not a Time    Lord," said the    Doctor,    still
frowning at the    display. "No, you can't    use that, but I
can't..." He got up abruptly and paced around the table.
"The Matrix!"
     "The Matrix?" Spock asked.
     "Yes, the Time Lord Matrix    - the summary of all Time
Lord experiences - the answer's    there."
     "Can you obtain it?" Spock    inquired.
     The Doctor    stood still for    a moment, his head flung
back. Then sweat broke out on his face and he stumbled back
into a chair.
     "Doctor," Spock said, "are    you all    right?"
     "Yes - and    no." The Doctor    looked around the table    and
managed    a faint    smile. "I have been exposed to the Matrix,
but it was contaminated, and I - I do not have full access
to all the knowledge that is there."
     Spock raised one eyebrow.
     "Can you explain that more    completely, Doctor?" Kirk
asked.
     The Doctor    hesitated, then, shrugging his shoulders and
exchanging a brief glance with Spock began speaking.  "When
I became a - renegade -    that portion of    my mind    was made
inaccessible to    me. By the Time    Lord Council. Since then . .
.  there are times when    I seem to be able to access part of
it, but    not consistently - and not now."
     "Spock?" Kirk knew    that mind blocks of this kind were
more likely to be familiar to the Vulcan than to anyone    else
on the ship.  Spock's eyes met Kirk's and then he turned to
the Doctor, who    was now    staring    at the computer    display    in
obvious    frustration.
     "Doctor," The Doctor turned to look at Spock.  "You
state that there is a block on certain portions    of your
memory."
     The Doctor    nodded.    "It was    their right to place it    on
me - their means of punishment."
     "Does the need for    the block still    remain?"
     The Doctor    looked surprised and suddenly thoughtful.
"No - no, there    is no more reason for it. No one thought
about it, until    now."
     "Can the block be removed,    then?"
     "Are you a    Time Lord, Spock?  Is there another Time
Lord on    this vessel?" The Doctor got up    and paced to the
other side of the room.     He turned back    and stared at Spock.
"Can you reach into my mind and    remove it? Oh, I know that
you are    a touch    telepath, but can you destroy what Time
Lords of the First Rank    - with infinitely more experience -
made?" He sat down again and this time his smile carried no
humor.
     "Doctor," said Spock, templing his    hands. You are a
Time Lord.  Do you believe that    the block should be
removed?"
     There was a pause.    The Doctor looked at Spock,
obviously puzzled.
     "Or do you    still accept it    as part    of your    punishment?
Would your fellow Time Lords - now - consider it necessary?"
     "Necessary?  No, I    don't think they even remember it.
And until now, I really    haven't    needed it." He looked at the
computer display again with annoyance.
     "As you have observed, Doctor, I am only a    touch
telepath.  However, Vulcans have some ability in these
matters    - if you can cooperate fully with me."
     "You think    you can    remove it?"
     "Not by myself, but with your support. Without your
full cooperation, your own psychic abilities could interfere
and negate our purpose."
     "Then it also carries some    danger for you." The Doctor
looked directly    at Spock.
     "There is that possibility.  The melding of one mind to
another    - especially between different species of varying
psychic    abilities - to remove or change    something in one of
the minds - can    be hazardous.  Either or both of our minds
could be lost.    There is therefore a risk for you too."
     "Not a causal encounter, then." The Doctor    said, and
Kirk thought that he almost seemed to be laughing".
     "No." said    Spock, maintaining the tension.    "Is it your
wish to    make the attempt?"
     The Doctor    thought    for a moment, then turned to Kirk.
"Captain, is what Spock    is proposing as    dangerous to him as
I think?"
     "It could well be.     Spock has never used the mind-meld
casually." Kirk    felt frustrated.  The Doctor was acting    as
though he could    understand everything about his    first
officer, and in    this area Kirk knew that his knowledge was
incomplete.
     "If it were possible for you to remain in this universe
without    harm - or if the time we had to    work in    were longer,
I might    suggest    a delay. As it is..  what must be done?"
     "I    would suggest that we go to Dr.    McCoy and utilize
the isolation area of Sickbay."
     McCoy was not pleased at the idea of the attempt, but
set up the isolation area as Spock requested, a    single bed
and a chair alongside it and full medical monitoring. He
looked at the room grimly.
     "Jim, you realize that we could lose both of them."
     "They've already discussed    that possibility. Our major
concern    at the moment has to be    to find    a way to return    the
Enterprise to our own universe.    Even the Doctor    admits
that."
     "Even the Doctor? Jim, I think that ..
     Lieutenant    Stephans walked    into the room and McCoy    did
not finish his statement. Kirk decided not to ask him to -
if it was important, McCoy would find some time    to talk    to
him about it.  The Lieutenant eyed the isolation area with
as much    distaste as McCoy.  Kirk studied her for a moment.
Of all the crow    members, she had spent the most    time with
the Doctor since he had    arrived. He was    curious    about her
reaction.
     "Lieutenant, you seem to share Dr.    McCoy's    misgivings
about this experiment."
     She looked    up at him in amazement.     "Captain, you do
realize    that of    the two    we are much more likely    to lose    Mr.
Spock if the experiment    fails?"
     Kirk studied her.    While all her records indicated    a
level-headed practical approach    on her field missions, her
reports    on the Doctor had a slight tinge of gullibility.
Obviously the alien Doctor had had as much effect on her as
on the other crew members. "What makes you say that?"
     "Because of the Vulcan regard for the mind-meld, Mr.
Spock has had the least    experience in effecting    a strong
mind probe. That is an ability that develops with practice.
The Doctor, on the other hand, has not only exercised his
ability    to create and maintain a strong    probe, he has also
experienced and    resisted mind probes from other    alien
species."
     "And how do you know that?"
     "Because I    have been studying, talking to,    and
observing him ever since you made that my assignment. Oh, he
doesn't    brag about it, Captain,    but obtaining such
information is my field.  Believe me, his experiences are
not conducive to permitting an alien probe into    the depths
of his mind.  I    doubt that he would even easily    tolerate
such a probe from his own species."
     "With Spock then, what could happen?"
     "It all depends on    the Doctor.  If    he truly trusts
Spock -    not just consciously, but unconsciously, enough    to
allow the probe    to reach its intended goals, then they will
succeed.  If he    does not - or cannot - the defense mechanism
of his mind could snap shut and    destroy    Spock's    mind."    She
started    to add something else but stopped when Spock entered
the room.
     "Is the Doctor here?" Spock asked.
     "Not yet,"    McCoy answered.    "The room is ready.  Spock,
are you    certain    that this is necessary?    Lieutenant Stephans
believes that it is quite dangerous."
     Spock hesitated for a moment.  "Doctor McCoy, it is
quite necessary." He had withdrawn into    his most Vulcan
image. Kirk looked at him. Could the danger the    Lieutenant
had suggested be real? He started to say something to Spock,
when the Vulcan    turned and went    into the isolation room. He
sat down in the    chair, hands templed, withdrawn.
     "You can't    stop it    now, Jim." McCoy said. "It's between
them."
     The Doctor    came in.  He had discarded his coat, scarf,
and hat    and was    once again wearing a cossack-like white
shirt, tweed trousers, and boots.
     "Is everything ready?" he said cheerfully.
     McCoy nodded grimly toward    the room and the silent
Spock within.  "If you two are determined to proceed."
     The Doctor    smiled at McCoy    and started to enter the
room when Lt. Stephans stopped him. "Doctor." He looked    down
at her in surprise. "Remember you must give up the control
to Spock." Their eyes met briefly and he nodded    and went
into the room.
     Kirk felt a sudden    chill of fear, realizing that more
than the life of his first officer, of his friend, lay in
the hands of this alien    whom he    did not    trust.
     McCoy closed the door and turned on the intercom
system.     The medical monitors were on. He looked at Kirk
again, shaking his head    this time - "You can't stop it now,
Jim."
     The Doctor    stopped    just inside the    door and looked    at
Spock.    Without    disturbing him,    he lay down on the bed,
closed his eyes    for a moment and then said "Mr.    Spock, if
you're ready?"
     Spock's eyes opened slowly    and he looked at the Doctor.
The Doctor smiled and closed his eyes. Spock untempled his
hands and then spread them on the Doctor's face.
     "My mind to your mind. . ." came the familiar words.
     The Doctor's body stiffened momentarily. Spock's grip
tightened.
     "The Doctor has to    drop his own telepathic    blocks," Lt.
Stephans whispered.
     Sweat broke out on    the Doctor's fact and Spock's eyes
closed tightly.    The Doctor's body relaxed.
     "My mind to your mind. .."    Spock's    body seemed to
encircle the Doctor's although he did not move.    There was
silence    from the room. Kirk was    waiting    for the    outpouring
of words he was    used to    hearing    during one of Spock's mind
melds.    But nothing seemed to happen.  He looked down at Lt.
Stephans.
     "What's going on?"
     "They are both natural telepaths, Captain.     This is
quite unlike what you have seen    before."
     Perspiration gleamed on Spock's brow. The Doctor's    body
alternately tensed and relaxed.
     Suddenly the eyes of the two opened and met.  Kirk
could almost see some kind of exchange take place.
     "They are in close    contact    now, " said Lt.    Stephans.
"There is only the barrier to be broken."
     The eyes of the two closed    again. From his    own
experience Kirk    remembered the feeling of another mind in
his, and he was    not telepathic.     What would it be like if
that mind was attacking    yours?    And if you had a real
ability    to defend yourself -- for the first time he realized
the danger Spock was willingly encountering was    formidable.
Everything dependent on    the ability of another to relinquish
control, the whole dependent on    the tightest of    disciplines
of the minds involved.
     Discipline    - and the Doctor?
     "Heart rates increasing, Jim," said McCoy.
     The Doctor's head began to    move restlessly    in Spock's
grip.  A scream    emerged    from the Doctor's mouth    but it was
Spock's    voice that sounded.
     "No, it must remain, it is    the penalty. / The penalty
no longer exists: the penalty has been paid." Spock's voice
now in the familiar mono-duologue.  "The punishment must be
complete.  / The punishment is no longer required. You have
earned the right to be free. / I am the    President.  The
Matrix is mine.     The Matrix is invaded.     The -Master.  Death
to all Time Lords. My people. There is danger. I cannot
release    the Matrix. I must drive out the enemy!"
     "Heart rates still    increasing. I don't know how much
longer they can    take it."
     The Doctor's eyes opened and stared blindly at the
ceiling. Spock's voice continued, monologue this time.
"Layer by layer, opening..
     Another `voice' - this time exploding in Kirk's mind.
     "Broadcast    telepathy," said Lt. Stephans, wincing.
"Spock has opened some new ability the Doctor has."
    "*The enemy    has gone, the way is open.*"
     Spock's hands broke contact.  Grabbing the    Doctor's
shoulders, he caught the Doctor    eyes with his own. "You    must
proceed. I will    not probe your knowledge."
     *"I must have your    support, or the    barrier    will not be
fully broken."*
     Spock paused and then resumed contact. The    Doctor's
eyes closed again.
     *"So. . in    this way, slowly. . . "* The Doctor's head
jerked fitfully    in Spock's grasp.  *"You are there, the    path
is open. I enter.*"
     A stillness descended on the room.
     "Heart rates going    down."
     The Doctor    was sweating again; Spock seemed to be in a
passive    trance and Kirk    was reminded of    the first,
involuntary contact Spock had made with    the Doctor.
     "Readings back to normal, Jim."
     "If they can break    the bond now..." said Lt. Stephans.
     Both sets of alien    eyes opened and    met again. Spock's
head jerked back. The texture of the mental voice changed.
*"Yes, so you have joined with us."*
     "No." Spock's hands moved to break    the meld but the
Doctor's hands quickly held them in place. "I am my own. I
am Vulcan."
    *"You are still that. But you are more. It has been
earned."*
     Spock's eyes closed. The Doctor's hands reached up    to
Spock's    face assuming the Vulcan contact points. *"Accept."*
     Spock seemed to nod in the    Doctor's grasp.     Spock's
hands fell away    from the Doctor, then the Doctor's from    him.
The Doctor came    to a half sitting position.  Spock's head
was still bent,    his eyes closed.
     "Spock!" cried Kirk, heading for the door.    McCoy and
Stephans stopped him.
     "Jim," McCoy said.    "You've    got to let the Doctor finish
now."
     The Doctor    took hold of Spock's hands which were lying
limply on the bed. "Spock," the    Doctor called, then louder,
and Kirk could almost feel a mental calling with the verbal,
"Spock." Spock's eyes opened. There was    a depth    to them    that
Kirk had rarely    seen before.
     "What have    you given me?"
     "Something    more than you had before, but nothing you
had not    earned,    were not entitled to, or more than you can
handle.    Why not    ask what you have given    me?"
     Spock's eyes met the Doctor's.  The Doctor    smiled.
"Spock,    I am whole again.  I think that    you can    realize    what
that means.  I know you    - now -    and I know what    you risked.
I risked no more than I    have risked before, and    for no more
reason.     Accept    my gift, my friend, and    look on    it as
repayment for what my people failed to do in this world    for
your people."  Spock looked intently at    the Doctor and
nodded.
     The Doctor    turned to the window.  "Captain, I believe
that I have the    solution to the    problem."
     McCoy opened the door.
     Spock got up slowly. Kirk went to him. "Spock, are    you
all right?"
     "I    believe    so, Captain. It    was a most unusual
experience."
     "Spock," called the Doctor, "come on, we've got to    get
this thing solved."
     "Coming."
     The two left the room. Kirk and Stephans followed.
McCoy decided that he was going    review the medical records
of the happening again.
     "Lieutenant," said    Kirk, walking behind Spock and the
Doctor as they headed toward the briefing room,    "What has
Spock got now that he didn't have before?"
     "It's difficult to    say, Captain. Certainly    some
expanded knowledge or awareness    normally unique    to Time
Lords.    Perhaps    an increase in his own telepathic abilities,
perhaps    some of    the Doctor's sense of humor."
     "Lieutenant, I do not find    that particularly amusing."
     "No sir, but don't    you think it would be interesting?'
     "No."
     "Well, sir, you should be aware that it is    not uncommon
after such a melding for the participants to take on each
other's    characteristics    - for a    time."
     The Lieutenant nodded her head at the two ahead of
them.  Kirk saw    that Spock was accepting one of    the Doctor's
jellybabies.
     "Well, Lieutenant,    if it gets us out of this universe
and back into our own, I can tolerate anything."
     "I    do hope    that your tolerance is up to what might
happen,    Captain."
++++++++++
     Back in the briefing room,    both the Doctor    and Spock
resurveyed the computer    display.  After    a few minutes, the
Doctor started smiling.    Leaning    on the table, he turned    and
looked at Spock.
     "Do you see it?"
     Still looking puzzled, Spock indicated an area of the
equation. "There?"
     "Exactly."
     It    seemed to Kirk that Spock was smiling back at the
Doctor,    but no change was visible except the disappearance
of puzzlement. He glanced at Lt. Stephans and she nodded. So
he was not the only one    to have    noticed    something!
     The Doctor    started    entering some new figures into the
computer and the display changed. "You could probably work
it out,    but you    can see    where using that formula would have
been disastrous    to you."
     "Indeed." Spock nodded.
     "What was the matter?" Kirk asked.
     The Doctor    looked at Spock    and gestured as    if giving
him the    center stage.
     "The Time Factor, Captain."
     "Time Factor?"
     "Yes, in transferring between universes there is always
an inherent Time Factor. Had we    tried to return    to our
universe using the original formula, we    would have arrived
in the correct universe, but 300 years before the time we
disappeared."  Spock turned to the Doctor, one eyebrow
cocked.
     "A    somewhat simplified explanation, but correct.  With
this change, you should    return within five minutes of the
time you left and you will not need to return to the
Sontaran area."
     Scotty had    been eyeing the    changed    equation and
suddenly spoke.    "Captain, I canna say that this    willna do
the trick, but we dinna    hae the    power for it."
     Spock and the Doctor surveyed the equation.  Spock
nodded.    "Mr. Scott is correct, Captain.     The new formula
calls for at least one third again as much power as our
present    dilithium will give us."
     "Could we reverse the polarity?" the Doctor asked.
     "Doctor, ye canna be serious," exclaimed Scotty.
     "I    do not think that will work - this time." Kirk could
have sworn that    Spock was trying to keep from laughing.
     "Well, well, never    a solution but another problem,"
said the Doctor. "What will you    need to    solve this one?"
     Scott had apparently been doing some calculating too
and he answered    immediately. "At least six more    dilithium
crystals. I can    juryrig    a system so that they could give us
the power when we need it, but we've got to have the
dilithium."
     Kirk noticed, without a great deal    of surprise, that
everyone in the    room turned to the Doctor.  Well, after    all,
this was his universe, and he seemed to    like playing the
deus ex-machina    and pulling the    Enterprise out of
difficulty.
     "Well, Doctor, where can we get the dilithium?"
     "There is a planet    in this    area which has a supply    of
dilithium crystals."
     "Can we buy - or trade - with them    to get the
crystals?"
     "I    don't know." the Doctor    sat forward pensively,
templing his hands in front of his face.  Kirk felt a slight
shock at this Spock-like gesture.  He glanced over at Spock
and felt his shock compound as he saw that Spock was leaning
back in    his chair looking ready    to put his feet    up on the
table.
     He    felt Lt. Stephans touch    him gently on the arm and
heard her whisper "Tolerance, Captain."
     The Doctor    untempled his hands and    stood up.
     "This planet is highly unusual, even for this universe.
Apparently a humanoid race started to settle it    about a
thousand years ago.  It    should have been a normal settlement
- everyone working together in the early years,    wars and
other problems coming along later - you    know the patterns."
     Kirk saw Lt. Stephans nodding - apparently    what the
Doctor was saying was something    familiar to CS&C.
     "Instead a    split occurred very early. Some    of the
colonists were determined to maintain a    high level of
technology in spite of almost impossible difficulties, and
others wanted to live the basic    `back to nature' life that
seemed to fit the planet."
     "So we have to deal with one group    or the other?" Kirk
asked.
     "More than    that. There were certain aspects about the
planet which caused an abnormal    development of what you    call
PSI powers in some of the people - on both sides. The `back
to nature' group accepted these    and encouraged them. The
technologists ignored and repressed them. The two groups
have now developed two totally opposite    ways of    dealing    with
any type of problem.
     "I    don't see that that makes a difference." Kirk felt
that the Doctor    was seeing problems where there    weren't    any.
     "It wouldn't - if it hadn't been for the invasion."
     "Invasion?"
     "Yes - an utterly ruthless    race recently tried to
conquer    the planet and both sides ultimately joined together
to defeat the invaders."
     "Then we only have    one side to deal with."
     "Well, when the would-be conquerors left, they wanted
to take    revenge    on the planet and the people that had
withstood them - to prove that ultimately they could win.
You know the type."
     Kirk saw Spock nod    out of the corner of his eye and,
glancing over at him, saw that his feet    were up    on the table
now.  He was about to say something when a kick    on the shins
diverted him. He glared    at Lt. Stephans    who was    staring
innocently at the Doctor.
     "At any rate, Captain," the Doctor    went on. Kirk was
certain    that he    had missed none    of the byplay.    "The
invaders placed    several    fission    type bombs around the planet
in such    a fashion that at irregular periods for    the next
five years the orbits will decay and a bomb will come down."
     "And if they simply explode the bomb, they'll create a
ring of    radiation around the planet that will eventually
destroy    them." Scotty said.
     "Exactly."
     "Sounds like we might be able to help." Kirk said.
     "We can certainly remove the bombs    from their orbits
and dispose of them somewhere else safely." said Scotty.
     "Would that be sufficient for a trade for dilithium?"
Kirk asked.
     "Possible." The Doctor seemed to be studying his hands
again. "Does your Prime    Directive prevent you from helping
other people?"
     "No.  Just    from interfering with the natural
development of an indigenous culture."    responded Lt.
Stephans.
     "Well, on this planet, the    dilithium crystals are mined
and controlled by the back to nature group - the Norms,    as
they call themselves. They can use the dilithium to expand
and amplify their psychic abilities. And it was    one of their
cities that was    hit by the first bomb that fell." The Doctor
looked at Kirk expectantly.
     "Are you suggesting that we supply    medical    aid?"
     "Yes. Can you agree to that?"
     Kirk responded without hesitation,    "Yes."
     "Very well, then, let's get to the    planet and do some
horse trading.    The coordinates. . ."  The Doctor punched up
some figures on    the computer display.  "What," said Spock
sitting    upright    again, "is the name of this planet?"
     "Lightunder," said    the Doctor.  He    started    out the    door
and stopped.  "One more    thing, you know    I told you that    some
of the people had psychic abilities?"
     "Yes." Kirk failed    to see why the Doctor was
reemphasizing a    point.
     "Well, apparently the ability is tied to a    recessive
gene, because you can usually recognize    a psychic by their
physical appearance too."
     "How?" Lt.    Stephans asked.     Kirk supposed that such an
item might be of interest to a xenobiologist.
     "By the color of their hair." The Doctor started out
the door.
     The Lieutenant looked puzzled for a minute    and then
shouted    "What color is it?"
     The Doctor's head reappeared around the corner. His
grin reminded Kirk of the Cheshire cat in the old story.
     "Green." He said and disappeared.
          ++++++++++


@2PART 3
======

@1Kirk was concerned about his crew's morale.  They had, after
all, been overdue for R&R before starting the return trip to
Earth, and had had a succession    of emergencies in a rather
short time.
     He    spent the evening walking around the ship, visiting
areas where the    crew was stationed and gathered.
     In    the gym    Sulu was practicing what appeared to be    a
new and    difficult series of fencing moves. "Improving your
technique, Mr. Sulu?"
     "Yes sir.    The Doctor showed me some offensive moves
that I'd never heard of    before.     The problem is    to try to
master them."
     "The Doctor?"
     "Yes sir, he said he learned them from a Captain in
Cleopatra's army."
     Kirk watched as Sulu went back to his practicing.    He
knew his history well enough to    know that at the time of
Cleopatra the swords used were not the epee Sulu used.    But
Sulu seemed to find the    whole thing credible, so Kirk
decided    not to try to argue about it.
     Passing through the Engineering section, Kirk saw that
Scotty seemed to be involved in    analyzing a silver object
about 13 centimeters long and 3    centimeters in diameter. He
knew that Scotty had been working on the designs which would
implement the extra dilithium crystals and he walked over to
see what was going on.    The silver object `Has something he
had never seen before.
     "Something    new, Scotty?"
     "Aye, Captain. It's a Sonic Screwdriver, and it's a
beautiful wee bairn."
     "A    Sonic Screwdriver?" The    term sounded more like an
exotic bar concoction than something that would    fascinate
his Chief Engineer.
     "Aye, it's    the Doctor's."
     "The Doctor's?"
     "I've been    trying to persuade him to let me look at
that TARDIS of his, but    he doesna seem to want to let me do
that."
     "So how did you get this -    Sonic Screwdriver?"
     "`Yell, he    says that if I can duplicate it, then I    can
look at    the TARDIS."
     "Can you?"    Kirk was confident that    nothing    mechanical
was beyond Scotty's skills.
     "Not yet. Oh, it's    a bonnie wee bairn. So far I've
found thirty uses for it, but I    canna yet make another one."
     "Did the Doctor make it?"
     "Well, he designed    it."
     "Well, Scotty, if you keep    at it, you'll find the
secret."
     "Secret! Nae, Captain, this is pure engineering genius.
And an honor it    is to be working on it."
     Kirk walked out shaking his head. The Doctor certainly
seemed to have found the way to    keep Scotty away from the
TARDIS.
     One of the    Rec rooms had been turned into what Lt.    Kyle
explained to Kirk as the site of the Starfleet Yo-Yo
Championships.
     "Where did    all the    yo-yos come from, Lieutenant?"
     "Oh, the Doctor gave them to us."
     "Did he set up the    rules for this - competition?"
     "Set them up? No sir. He told us what the rules were -
back on    Earth."
     "Will he be participating?"
     "No sir. He said he'd already won his championship    in
1923."
     Kirk watched an Andorian ensign attempt a `walk the
doggie.'
     "All the Andorians    are very good at this, sir. They
seem to    have a knack for it."
     "That would certainly be helpful."
     "If you'll    excuse me, sir,    my turn    is coming up."
     "Of course."
     On    his way    to Rec room 4 Kirk mulled over what he had
seem. His crew was alert, happy, and there certainly seemed
to be no cause for alarm.  He decided he would see if Spock
would join him for a game of chess. Certainly they could
both use the break.
     In    Rec room 4 Spock was already playing chess - with
the Doctor.
     Kirk walked over and looked at the    board. It was
obviously near the end of the game and as Kirk neared them
the Doctor made    a move.
     "Check and    mate, I    believe."
     Spock studied the board. "You have    learned    the game
well."
     "It's much    more challenging than the one dimensional
version    I'm used to.  I'll have    to teach it to K-9 when    I
get him    fixed."
     "K-9?" Kirk asked.
     "My dog."
     "Your dog?    - plays    chess?"    Kirk looked at Spock in
hopes of some amplification of the strange statement.
     "Actually,    K-9 is a highly    sophisticated robot." Spock
said, resetting    the pieces on the boards. Kirk relaxed,    at
least his first    officer    was back to normal.
     "However,"    Spock went on, "he is really a very good
dog."
     The Doctor    had looked slightly disappointed at Spock's
mundane    explanation and    now smiled across the Board at him.
Kirk was shocked to see    his first officer smile    back.
     "Spock" - Spock turned to look at him, his    face
expressionless again. "Um - would you say that the Doctor
plays as illogically as    humans?"
     "Captain,"    one Vulcan eyebrow raised, "the    Doctor's
mind works in a    unique fashion.    I would    not compare the
processes."
     "Would you    care to    play the next game, Captain?" asked
the Doctor, starting to    get up from his    chair.
     "No, no." Kirk motioned him back down. "Mr. Spock and I
play quite often." Of course, as their mission was ending,
he and Spock. .     . Well, he thought, at    least the Doctor was
out of mischief. He went back to his cabin determined to
have a talk with McCoy the next    day.
            +++++++++
     "Bones, are you sure Spock    is all right?"
     "Jim, he's    fine. He just had me give him a    complete
physical."
     "He asked for one?"
     "Jim, it was the -    logical    - thing    to do. He wanted to
be sure    that there were    no after effects from that mind-meld
experiment. Made me give the Doctor one    too.  Not that I
needed to add any more of those    strange    readings to my
records."
     "Don't you    find that - unusual?"
     "Before this whole    thing happened - yes.  Now - well, I
don't know what    you're worried about, but Spock    is healthier
- in body and mind than    I've ever seen him.  What are you so
worried    about?"
     "Bones, I don't know. I just have this strange feeling
that something is wrong    - with the Enterprise -    and that the
Doctor is somehow related to it."
     "Well he certainly    has done nothing but help us since
we got in this mess. The crew likes him, I like    him and
Spock likes him. You're    the only one having problems dealing
with him. Jim..."
     "Dr. McCoy, Lieutenant Caffrey is fibrillating again."
Chapel called from inside on of    the sickbay areas.
     "Damn - Jim, I want to talk to you    about this after I
take care of my    patient."
     Kirk started glumly at the    door as    McCoy left. He could
not believe that he was    the one    out of step. Every feeling
that he'd learned to rely on told him that something was
wrong.
     "Captain Kirk." It    was Sulu on the    intercom from the
Bridge.
     "Kirk here."
     "Coming into the Lightunder system."
     "I'm on my    way up."
            ++++++++++++
     Orbiting the planet the next day, the selected landing
party met in one of the    briefing rooms.
     Lt. Stephans had been working with    the Doctor gathering
information about the planet through a linkup of the TARDIS
and the    Enterprise sensors.  "Luckily the Techies - the
technologists -    and the    Norms are still    speaking to one
another," she said. "We    don't want to get involved in a
civil war. Only    one bomb has fallen on a populated area    -
the first one. It destroyed the    Norm city of Metebe and    left
strong radioactive aftereffects. The population    in the area
is suffering from radiation exposure. The Norms    were able to
deflect    the second bomb    as it was falling, but burnt out -
lost - five of their best telekenetics to do it. The area it
landed in was unpopulated, but we will need to do a clean up
of the radiation.  The bombs are too distant for the Norms
to move    them further out, or keep them up, and the Techies
don't have a clear enough understanding    of how the internal
mechanism works    to enable the  Norms to    defuse one as it
comes down. They are in    a desperate situation and they know
it.  However, they are very proud and will resent any
intrusion even though it is intended to    be  helpful."
     "Full diplomacy, then, Lieutenant," said Kirk. He
noticed    that McCoy was staring at him but he had been too
caught up in the plans for the planetary contact - including
a possible use of the Doctor's TARDIS as the `hospital base'
to get back to talk to him. It would have to wait.
     "Diplomacy    in spades, Captain, if we hope to accomplish
anything."
     "Doctor, if you're    ready?"
     The Doctor    had his    feet up    on the table and his hat
over his head. Kirk was    convinced he had been sleeping.
     "What - oh    yes - are we ready?"
     "We will be beaming down into the meeting room of the
capital    city of    the Techies. The leaders of both sides
should be there."  Spock said.
            ++++++++++++
     As    the group materialized,    Kirk could see the surprise
of the men and women in    the room.  He hoped that this
display    of superior technology would give them a bargaining
advantage.  He looked around at    the people.  Even from their
clothing he could distinguish between the two groups.  The
Techies    were wearing military type one piece suits, and    the
Norms were wearing leather and fur garments and    all carried
swords.
     "We have come in peace." Kirk said, spreading his hands
to show    the absence of weapons.    "We would offer    our
assistance. . ."
     "We do not    wish the assistance of aliens!"    shouted    one
of the Norms, a    short but powerfully built man.    Mutters    from
the others in the room indicated that they agreed. Kirk    was
starting to frame another sentence when    the Doctor abruptly
stepped    forward.  He calmly surveyed the group and said    "I
am the Doctor, a Time Lord of Gallifrey.  We have determined
that without our intervention your planet will be destroyed
in 16 months.  We have decided that we will intervene to
save you - for a price."
     Kirk thought that the arrogance in    his tone was
unmistakable.
     The man who had refused Kirk stared at the    Doctor.     His
green hair seemed to bristle. "A Time Lord. We have heard of
you." A    small polished dilithium crystal that he wore on the
inside of his left wrist began to glow as he lifted his
hand. When his hand was    level with his eyes the    crystal
suddenly flashed. Kirk felt what seemed    to be a    momentary
pressure on his    mind and heard Spock take a sudden deep
breath.    The Doctor seemed amused.
     "So. It is    true. What is your price and who are these
people with you    who are    not Time Lords?"
     "Our price    is six large energy crystals - the size    you
do not use because you cannot control them." The scorn in
the Doctor's voice hung    in the air.  "These people have    been
chosen to assist me."
     "What do you offer    us?"
     "Medical help for those of    your people suffering from
the effects of the first explosion. And    we will    remove the
remaining devices from your skies."
     "Will you treat our people    in our own land    - without
bringing in large machines?"
     "We will land our own dwelling place where    you specify.
The machines we    use will be no more to you than    a black    box
that makes noises.  What machines we have in our dwelling
place will be of no concern to you."
     "Will you teach us    so that    we may avoid something like
this happening again?" one of the Techies asked.
     The Doctor    looked at him as if he was some    kind of
lower species of insect. "We will teach    you enough to better
defend yourselves." The    Doctor looked at the group.  "Do
accept our offer?"
     "We must discuss..    ." murmured the    Techie.
     "What is there to discuss!" said the Norm.    "This is a
Time Lord and he speaks    the truth. Must    we discuss if we
wish to    live or    die?"
     There was no dissenting voice from    the group as they
looked ruefully    at each    other. The Norm    turned back to the
Doctor.
     "Very well, Time Lord. We will agree to your bargain.
But those of you who come on our land must agree to abide by
our customs."
     "Agreed." said the    Doctor.     "Where    do you wish us to
place the medical treatment center?"
     "We have established a place of healing in    Besteco."
     "Then we will land    there. After we    remove the devices
orbiting your planet, we will send people to meet with you."
The Doctor nodded at the Techies.
     One of the    Techies    stepped    forward. He was    tall, with
blond hair and a beard.    "I am Lif d'Lewis, head    of my
people.    We will    be glad    to learn all that you are willing to
teach us."
     The Doctor    nodded an acknowledgement of the Techie's
statement.  Kirk could not help    thinking that if they had to
deal only with this man    and his    people instead of the feisty
Norm who had taken over, the whole thing could have been
handled    better.
     "Captain, if you will call    for the    beam-up." The Doctor
turned back to the Norm. "Alert    your people at Besteco.     We
will be    there in one hour." He turned and nodded at Kirk,
obviously concluding the conversation. Kirk opened his
communicator. He felt as though    he was an Ensign again.
     "Kirk to Enterprise, beam up landing party."
     As    the transporter    beam picked up the landing party,
Kirk felt a sudden surge of anger. What    right did the Doctor
have to    step in    like that!  He could feel the emotion
pulsing    through    him as the group materialized on the
Enterprise.  As    he turned to the Doctor, prepared to express
his anger, Spock stepped forward and said "An excellent    job,
Doctor.     I believe you accomplished everything we desired."
     "Even what    you offered the    Techies    is well    within the
limits of the Prime Directive. How did you know    that was the
way to approach    them?" Lt. Stephans asked. The Doctor looked
slightly surprised.
     "It was the - logical - thing to do." He smiled at
Spock, shaking his head    slightly.
     Kirk felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped
on him.     Spock and the Lieutenant were right.  What they had
wanted done was    done - so why did it matter WHO    had done it?
Suppressing an uneasy feeling of having    been in    the wrong,
he turned to McCoy. "Bones, are    you and    your medical team
ready?"
     "As ready as we can be, Jim. It's a good thing that
we'd already expected that we'd    have to    use the    Doctor's
TARDIS as our base. We've installed some of our    medical
computers and laboratory equipment.  The Doctor    and Mr.
Spock have also    arranged to implement a    direct link between
the TARDIS' computer system and    our science computer."
     "You're satisfied with the    arrangements, then?"
     "They're better than most I've had    to work    with under
the Prime Directive on a primitive planet."
     "Bones," said the Doctor. "If you will have your
medical    team at    the TARDIS in -    say - fifteen minutes? Lt.
Stephans and I want to review some of the customs of the
local people. Dorcy has    a feeling that certain aspects of
the local culture were not emphasized strongly enough in the
standard briefing tape she made    earlier.  The Norms are    very
set in certain ways, and we cannot afford to offend them."
     "We'll be there."
     "Captain, if you are planning on coming down to the
planet,    you should hear    this." The Doctor said.
     "I'll have    to get it later, Doctor.  At the moment    we
need to    get this ship ready to dispose of these    orbital
bombs."
     The Doctor    looked at Kirk and, with a slight smile,
nodded.     "Of course, Captain."
            +++++++++
     Beaming down the TARDIS was a learning experience for
Lt. Kyle under Spock's tuition.    Apparently something of    the
unique nature of the TARDIS had    to be calculated for during
transportation and Kirk    was thankful that the beam-down    with
his crew aboard    was successful.
     He    looked at the now empty    transporter pads and turned
to Spock.
     "Why didn't the Doctor take the TARDIS down on its    own,
Spock?    Wouldn't it have been simpler?"
     "With the TARDIS in its present condition,    there is
always the chance that it might    not land where it was
directed."
     "You mean that the    Doctor can't control it."
     "His level    of control of the TARDIS suits him, Captain.
In this    situation, I preferred that we handle the
transportation."
     "Spock, there are some things that    I simply do not
understand."
     "Indeed, Captain?"    Kirk saw his first officer looking
at him expectantly.
     "Not now, Spock, we've got    some bombs to get rid of."
     "But of course, Captain."
            ++++++++++
     The removal and defusing of the orbiting bombs was    time
consuming but relatively simple    for the    Enterprise crew.
The defused bombs were dumped into a sun of a nearby
uninhabited planetary system.  Kirk was    pleased    to see that
his crew was handling the situation in their usual efficient
fashion. Apparently with the disruptive    influence of the
Doctor removed,    things were going to return to normal.
Within a week the Enterprise had returned and was orbiting
Lightunder again.
     Scotty, a team of Enterprise engineers, and selected
members    of the CS&C group beamed down to meet with Lyf
d'Lewis.  Another group    was assigned to    `clean up' the
unpopulated area of the    second explosion. Kirk decided to go
down with Spock    to see how the medical group was getting
along.
     In    the transporter    room, Spock placed a small black box
on the transporter console.
     "Lieutenant Kyle, initiate    signaling sequence
21CQ305260."  Spock said.
     "Yes sir."
     "What's that all about, Spock?" Kirk asked    as they
walked toward the transporter pads.
     "Without the adjustment and amplification that box
provides for our signals, we would not be able to beam down
inside the TARDIS. The Doctor has specifically requested
that landing party at Besteco beam down    directly into the
TARDIS and await further contact."
     "Are you saying that without that device, we wouldn't
be able    to transport into the TARDIS?"
     "The TARDIS has unique defensive capabilities."
     Kirk sighed. He was back in the strange world of the
Doctor's again.    They materialized inside the TARDIS control
room just as the Doctor    was coming in through the outside
door.
     "Oh, Spock," he said, "I'm    glad you're here. Come on
down to    the workshop. I    want to    look at    something."
     Spock and the Doctor started through one of the other
doors when the Doctor stuck his    head back through the door.
     "Captain -    don't leave the    TARDIS until you check with
Lt.  Stephans."    Then he    disappeared again.
     Kirk waited for some time,    his impatience growing.
Other members of the medical team came hurriedly through the
TARDIS control room, apparently    to and from the    area where
the Doctor and Spock were.  They barely    acknowledged his
presence.  Lt. Stephans    did not    appear.
     His patience finally exhausted, he    decided    that it
would not hurt to go and look for the Lieutenant or,
preferably, McCoy.  They probably just wanted to reemphasize
some of    the local customs.  He had already seen    the briefing
tape twice, and    had been taking    care of    himself    on alien
planets    several    years longer than the Lieutenant, but if
they wanted to make some special point,    he'd find them and
let them make it.
     As    he stepped out of the TARDIS, he noticed the
`hospital' seemed to be    a converted large stone    building.
The TARDIS had actually    been located in    a room in the
building.
     The other rooms he    saw as he walked down the hall were
filled with patients.  The medical personnel, both his own
people and some    from the native    population seemed to be
constantly busy. He could not see McCoy    or Stephans
anywhere.
     At    length his wanderings took him to the front door of
the building.  The sunlight and    open air outside looked
inviting after the closed-in aura of the hospital.  He even
seemed to be experiencing a slightly nauseous feeling from
the strange pungency.  All hospitals smell, he thought,    and
decided    to step    outside    and look around.
     Leaning on    the beast-shaped stone structure at the    foot
of the hospital    steps, he looked out at    what seemed to be a
town square. There were    shops on three sides and the normal
activity of people going in and    out with and without
parcels.  Horses - or a    very close facsimile of    the earth
animal,    except for the cloven hooves and horn -    and
carriages were tied up by the stores.
     He    took a deep breath of the planet's air.    It tasted
good.
     He    noticed    a girl - a young woman - standing by one of
the shops, apparently waiting for someone. He looked at    her
intensely.
     Her hair was a dark green,    so dark    as to be almost
black.    The slight breeze blowing against the lightweight
rose fabric of her ankle length    gown outlined a    figure of
delightful proportions.
     She suddenly looked up at him, revealing dark black
eyes formerly masked by    thick and curly    downcast eyelashes.
Her skin was fair, highlighted by a natural rose shading on
her cheeks and lips which Kirk could tell owed nothing to
artifice.  She met his gaze for    an instant and then cast her
eyes down again    momentarily.  He was not surprised when,
after a    brief moment, the open and provocative gaze met    his
again.
     How lovely    she was    - and would be on any planet he    had
ever visited.  The rose    of her cheeks seemed to    deepen and a
faint smile appeared on    her lips and the black eyes seemed
sparkle.  He could not speak to    her, he    remembered that    from
the briefing tape, but he continued to smile into those
brilliant eyes and it seemed that his smile was    echoed back
to him.    It had been a long time    for him, and his thoughts
became more specific. Her body and his,    meeting,
blending .  . . A horrified look appeared in the lovely
eyes and she turned and ran into the shop. Well, you
can't win them all, he thought wistfully.
     He    felt slightly dizzy and    was turning to go back into
the hospital when he saw Spock,    McCoy and the Doctor coming
out.
     "Jim," said McCoy,    "Have you seen Lt. Stephans?"
     "Not yet, Bones." He replied, smiling.
     Spock and McCoy exchanged glances of - irritation?    Why
should seeing Lt. Stephans such    an important matter?
     "Blithering idiot," said the Doctor. "You'd better    get
back inside and    let us look at you."
     Kirk bristled.  What right    did the    Doctor have to give
such an    order and, anyway, they    could just as well look    at
him out    here.
     There was a commotion across the street. The four on
the hospital steps turned.
     Three men were approaching    rapidly.  Kirk saw the girl
he had been looking at being bundled into a carriage with
some other women.
     The men paused, face to face now with the Doctor and
the Enterprise crew.  Kirk recognized one as the Norm who
had been present at the    meeting    in the Techie capital.
     The Norm looked at    the Doctor. "You said that your
people would abide by our customs."
     "I    did."
     "This man," he motioned to    Kirk, "has violated one    of
our women."
     The Doctor    seemed to take a deep breath.  Spock and
McCoy simultaneously exclaimed "Captain!" and "Jim!"
     Kirk looked at them and, with a shock, realized that
they seemed to be accepting the    justification of the charge.
     "Bones, Spock - I just got    here!" He felt a wave of
dizziness sweep    over him.
     "Time is relative,    Captain," said the Doctor. He turned
to the man who had stated the charge. "You are Raul
d'Colm'n, head of the clan d'Colm'n, and you are making    this
charge."
     "On behalf    of my kinswoman, Namona    d'Colm'n, I am."
     "The one charged has the right of defense by
challenge."
     "With swords and knives." d'Colm'n    looked scornfully at
the Doctor.
     "Will your    clan accept the    challenge of defense?"
     "We will -    and the    best of    our warriors will face this
pervert    personally."
     "Where will the challenge be?"
     "In the hall of the d'Colm'n. We will take    the accused
there now."
     "I    am leigelord to    the accused. I shall go    with him."
     "It is your right.     But only you as liegelord may do
so.  And you must leave    all of your alien machines behind.
We have    extra horses; we will leave now.  The challenge    will
be on the morrow."
     Kirk found    himself    clinging to the    sculpture. The
dizziness seemed to be getting worse. Was this a dream?
     The three d'Colm'n    went back across the square. Kirk
heard the sound    of a tricorder behind him.  He turned and
saw McCoy and Spock looking at something on the    screen of
McCoy's    tricorder. They    both looked grim. The Doctor was
coming out of the door carrying    a sword    and knife in a
curious    double scabbard    and a leather jacket. He started for
Kirk when McCoy    stopped    him.
     Odd, the three seemed to be blurring - had    he been
drinking? They were talking.  He heard the words but didn't
want to    bother trying to make sense out    of them.  The stone
sculpture felt cool and    comfortable.
     "How serious is the challenge?"
     "Very. Don't worry    about it, I'll take care of it.
He'll be back to you in    two days."
     Now that was the Doctor talking - he'd take care of it!
He thought he could handle anything. Well, James Kirk could
handle this, and his ship, and his crew, and his friends.
He'd show them - handle    this situation the way he had all
the others there had been and everything would be fine.
     The blurring seemed to be getting worse and he could
barely recognize McCoy's shape coming toward him with a
hypospray. He felt the hypospray going in, but nothing
seemed to happen. The Doctor was putting a leather jacket on
him. He    tried to shrug it off. He wasn't cold; it was too
hot on this damn planet.  Spock's face suddenly    came into
focus and he realized that the Vulcan was pulling the jacket
back on    him.
     "Jim?"
     Was that Spock? He    hadn't called him Jim in a long
time. He tried to listen.
     "Jim - you    must do    what the Doctor    says. Do you
understand?"
     Kirk nodded.  He felt Spock removing his phaser and
communicator.  Of course, even Spock wanted the    Doctor to be
in charge.
     "Doctor, there is a problem."
     The Doctor    had been getting some medical supplies from
McCoy and was stuffing them in his pockets.
     "Problem, Spock?" Kirk felt the blue eyes focus on    him.
He turned away from the    penetrating look. "If he doesn't
cooperate, we will both    be lost."
     Spock turned back to Kirk who had now decided that    he
wouldn't look at any of    them. The dizziness seemed to be
passing, but the feeling of estrangement continued.  He    felt
the Vulcan's hands grasping his    head, turning it so they
were face to face, the hands shifting into the mind-meld
position.
     "No, Spock!" Had he said that, or just thought it?    The
Vulcan's eyes, now close to his, seemed    to soften, but he
felt Spock's mind enter    his.
   You must return to Us alive.    You must do what the Doctor
tells you to do.    has    turned all of you away from me.    He
is an enemy.    is not an enemy. He is our friend.     has
fooled all of you. He has not fooled me.     Jim! You must
not think that.    Now, look back on what has happened. Review
all of it.  Is our friendship so fragile that you can no
longer trust me?     I trust you.     Then trust the Doctor
also. If you do    not, we    will never meet    again.       Your
word?
     \My word.\  An alien touch - mind? - entered. \They are
returning.\
     Spock broke off the meld. "He is in your
hands, Doctor."
     The Doctor    nodded.
     The dizziness had gone now, and Kirk was able to get on
the horse without help.    As they    rode off, the Doctor rode
next to    Kirk and they were both    surrounded by armed men.
     Raul led the group    through    rough paths and    rocky
trails.    Kirk was spending most of his time trying to stay on
the horse. He was thankful when    they arrived at    their
destination.
     A castle-like structure, heavily fortified, stood on
top of one of the smaller mountains. He    noticed    banners
flying from the    turrets    which matched the banners that
several    members    of the party were carrying.  A white sheep
on a yellow and    blue striped background    with a bell inside a
double ring in one corner seemed to be the emblem displayed.
     "Why a sheep?" He could not resist    asking the Doctor as
they got off their horses in the courtyard of the castle.
     The Doctor    glanced    at him.     "You don't know the sheep
on Lightunder.    It is quite an appropriate emblem for this
clan."
     The armed men escorted them to a large chamber. They
left and Raul stood facing the Doctor. Kirk's knees felt
oddly weak again and he    sat down in one    of the high-backed
chairs.
     The little    man looked up at the Doctor and    said "While
you are    not of our people, we will give    you the    guesting
appropriate to the challenge."
     "You honor    us," said the Doctor.
     Raul looked over at Kirk. "Is your    man not    well?"
     "It has been a long trip and he has drunk too heavily."
     Raul seemed to be weighing    the Doctor's words. Kirk
debated    protesting that    he had not been    drinking at all    but
the effort seemed too much.
     "That is no excuse." Raul made the    statement
definitive.
     "It was not given as one."
     Raul nodded as though the answer satisfied    him.
     "Food will    be sent. The challenge will be fought at
cock's crow on the morrow. You will be summoned."
     "Who will be fighting for the d'Colm'n?"
     "I    shall be."
     "As is my right, I    shall fight for    my liegeman."
     "As you wish. I would not have thought him    worth it."
     Raul turned and left the room.  Kirk suddenly realized
that he    limped.     Then the significance of the last remarks
sank in    and the    lethargy was swept away.
     "What do you mean,    you're fighting    for me?    I can fight
for myself!"
     "Captain,"    the Doctor came    over and forced    Kirk back
into the chair.     He leaned over    one arm. "How skilled are
you at fighting    with sword and knife?"
     "I've used    those weapons."
     "Against the most skilled man on a    planet which uses
those weapons?"
     "Him?"
     "Captain -    you must not judge by appearances. For all
his size and his injured leg, he is the    best that this
planet has produced.  You could    not win    against    him."
     The dizziness seemed to be    returning.  Kirk shook his
head, trying to    clear it.  "Can    you?"
     "Yes - most likely. It is our only    chance.    How do you
feel?"
     The words seemed to come out of a distance. Spock had
said `trust him'.
     "Weak and dizzy. What's going on?"
     The Doctor    began rummaging    in the pockets of his coat
and pulled out one of McCoy's hyposprays. Kirk heard it    hiss
against    his arm.
     "That should help.    I'll wake you when the food comes."
     Kirk awoke    to find    himself    supported by the Doctor's
arm.  He was lying in one of the beds.    The Doctor was
spooning some kind of broth into his mouth. He started to
pull away but then relaxed.
     "Well, I'm    glad to    see that Spock got through to you."
The broth seemed to be finished    and the    Doctor offered Kirk
a chunk    of some    type of    whole grain bread and propped him up
in the bed.  "Eat as much of it    as you can.  You need the
energy." The Doctor sat    back in    a chair    and took out a bag
of jellybabies.
     "Doctor - what the    hell is    wrong with me?"
     "You didn't see Lt. Stephans before you left the
TARDIS,    did you?"
     "No. I..."
     "You didn't really    think that it was necessary.  Well,
because    you didn't see her, you    didn't receive the immunity
injection you humans require for the current virus mutation
that's floating    around.    So now you've caught the disease."
     "Then the shots I've been getting are part    of the
cure."
     "The shots    aid in relieving the symptoms, but we have
not yet    found the cure.     The mortality rate is 97%".
     Kirk suddenly lost    his appetite.  The Doctor reached
out and    took the remaining bread out of    his hand.
     "You know,    Captain, there are times when it pays to
listen to someone you don't like."
     "Doctor, I    . . ."
     "Don't try    to excuse it, Captain. I can understand    what
happened, and I    should have recognized it earlier. You're
about to wind up your mission in a blaze of glory, when    you
get sidetracked    into this." The    Doctor made a vaguely
circular motion    with his hand.
     "I    certainly wasn't prepared for anyone like you."
     The Doctor    chuckled. "But surely, Captain,    you must
realize    that one of the    things I did, inadvertently, was to
trigger    some of    the fears you have about what will happen
when you do complete your mission."
     "Changes."
     "Yes - changes." the Doctor said cheerfully,
"separation and    loneliness. And    you are    so bound to your
ship that the separation.  . ."    He became oddly    pensive. "I
think that you had better tell me what happened    in the
square that got    us into    this."
     Kirk related the events as    he recalled them, noticing
that the dizziness and the fog seemed to be approaching
again.    As he finished his story he felt the hypospray
against    his arm.
     The hissing sound of another hypospray awoke him in the
morning.
     "Doctor McCoy will    not be thrilled    with what I'm doing,
but you've got to stay on your feet during the next several
hours. Here, drink this." The Doctor held out a    small vial
of liquid.  Without hesitating,    Kirk drank it.    The effect
was immediate; a feeling of normalcy returned.    He got out
of the bed and saw that    the Doctor was strapping on the
double scabbard. He was    wearing    only the spotless, flowing
white shirt, tweed pants, and boots. The rest of his clothes
were laid in a neat pile. "Can you carry those?"
     "Yes."
     The Doctor    pulled the sword from the scabbard and
looked at it. It was a curious shape. One edge curved
slightly while the other was straight.    Both edges were
honed to a fine    sharpness. The strange blend of    direct and
curved line met    in an elongated    point.
     "That's an    unusual    sword."    Kirk commented.
     "It's designed for    great efficiency.  Because of the
curved edge, you gain an impetus to your blow if you decide
to swing at your enemy - but the point still allows for    the
thrust." His voice seemed quite    academic. "Do you see these
grooves?" He indicated two channels in each side of the
weapon.    "If you    should sink your weapon    into your enemy    to
that depth and then quickly remove it, a suction is created
- which    causes an even greater loss of blood than in the
flat sided weapon."
     With a sudden intuition, Kirk said, "You don't like
weapons, do you?"
     "Aren't all men supposed to enjoy the fight?"
     "You don't    even travel armed - you    were completely
defenseless when you came out of the TARDIS."
     "It has been my experience    that if    you go about armed,
more people are    apt to attack you than otherwise. You humans
seem to    feel an    absolute compulsion to have some weapon    or
another    on you."
     "I    think that for us it is    a form of security - that we
expect more attacks than welcomes. To leave all    weapons
behind - consistently -    would be a step    beyond our
understanding ourselves."
     "I    didn't think that you were a philosopher."
     "Not a philosopher, but as    a Starship Captain I have to
have some understanding    of any crew - and most of them are
human, like me." Kirk smiled wryly.
     The Doctor    looked at Kirk with puzzlement and Kirk
wondered what he had said that had surprised the Doctor    in
some fashion.
     A knock sounded at    the door.
     "Our escorts." said the Doctor.
     They were led down    into a large circular hall.  The
seating    around the sides, sloped so that all could have    a
good view, and the entrances from the front and    back,
reminded Kirk unpleasantly of the ancient Roman    gladiatorial
contests.
     The Doctor    and Kirk stepped unto the floor, their
escorts    falling    back.  The Doctor motioned to Kirk. "Stand
back away from the combat area and do not interfere -
whatever happens. If I am killed, they will be required    to
let you    go."
     "Then you are not certain about winning."
     "Of course    I an," said the    Doctor huffily.    "The
probability that I can defeat Raul is at least - 90%." He
seemed to think    for a minute and then said with    what seemed
to Kirk    to be an incorrigible honesty, "Well, 70% anyway."
He started out for the center of the room and then turned
back to    Kirk, smiling. "At least it's 100% better than
yours!"
     As    Kirk watched the Doctor    turn and walk into the
center,    he realized that he was    nearly laughing. All his
fears and distrust of the Doctor seemed    to have    vanished.
The Doctor was what he was and that was    worthy of all the
trust that Spock and McCoy had placed in him, and that now
Kirk would place in him    too. If    he had been the    better
swordsman, the Doctor would have made him fight    his own
battle.    As it was, the Doctor would fight for him.
     Raul emerged form the other door. He was dressed in
full swordsman's outfit    - leather, silver, the sword and the
knife. The two men accompanying    him stepped to one side    and
Raul, his green    hair blazing, walked to    the center.
     A gong sounded and    both men drew their weapons.
     The fight began slowly, both men circling,    taking
cautious feints    at each    other, looking for weaknesses.
     When the action finally began, Kirk had a few uneasy
moments    as the Doctor seemed to    be outclassed as he faced
the skill of a man trained to live and die with    the bladed
weapons. Then he noticed that the Doctor was consistently
moving more rapidly than Raul, forcing Raul to turn on his
injured    leg. And while Raul was    making frequent    thrusts    and
passes at the Doctor, the Doctor rarely    had to block them -
he seemed to be    moving one step    ahead of his opponent. The,
unexpectedly, the Doctor went on the offense, driving Raul
around the floor. Within seconds, the Doctor gained the
advantage.  Kirk saw Raul fall,    disarmed, with the Doctor's
sword at his throat.
     "Your life    is forfeit to me and mine, Raul, and the
innocence of my    man is proved by your own laws."
     "Then kill    me quickly, in honor."
     "In honor,    I shall    not do that. I would establish the
truth of the matter - for all we have proved here is that I
am a better swordsman than you.    I will give you    leave to
probe the mind of my leigeman for the truth - if you will
agree to verify    it by putting your cousin Namona under the
truthspell."
     "This is not in accordance    with our ways."
     "Is death then more important to you than truth?"
     The Doctor's sword    remained steadily at his exposed
throat.
     "I    will grant you what you    ask."
     A murmur rose up around the hall.
     Raul glared at the    Doctor.    The Doctor moved his sword
to one side and    Raul stood.
     "Quiet. It    will be    as I have said.    Call forth your
man."  Raul turned. "Summon Namona and El Donna."
     "Jim," the    Doctor motioned    Kirk to    the center of the
floor.    He unbuckled the scabbard and let the weapons fall
to the floor.  Kirk moved quickly.
     As    he handed the Doctor his coats,    he whispered "What's
going to happen?"
     "We'll let    them find out what really happened." The
Doctor shrugged    into his longer    outer coat, wrapped his
scarf around his throat, and settled his hat on    his head.
"Raul will mind-probe you.  Just concentrate on    what
happened. He isn't interested in anything else."
     Namona, dressed all in white, eyes    cast down, entered
from the other side. With her was another woman, slighter,
darker,    with a dilithium crystal worn in the hollow of her
neck.
     The two women joined the men in the center    of the hall.
     "El Donna," said Raul, "Place Namona under    the
truthspell."
     "As you wish, Paul." The words were submissive but    Kirk
felt that had she so wished a refusal could as easily have
been granted. She turned to Namona.  "Child, look at me."
Namona's eyes raised and as they met the other's the crystal
at El Donna's throat pulsed with energy. Namona    stood, eyes
fixed on space.    El Donna turned    back to    Raul. "It is done."
     Paul faced    Kirk. Kirk looked down into the    dark eyes
and was    suddenly thankful that the Doctor had been the one
fighting this man.
     The mind contact was sudden and sharp, quite unlike the
feeling    Kirk had ever had with Spock.  This was    a knife
burning    in his mind.  For a moment Kirk    tried to resist.
Then, remembering what the Doctor had said, he concentrated
instead    on the happening in the    square.
     The contact broke off. Kirk felt weakened and was
thankful that the Doctor had moved over    and taken his arm.
     Paul turned to the    wide-eyed girl.    "So, then, is this
how it was?"
     Kirk felt that he could almost see    the exchange between
the two    minds.
     "Yes, it is as he remembers."
     Raul's hand flew forward and Namona reeled    under the
blow.
     Kirk started toward Paul, but the Doctor restrained
him.
     "Fool!" Raul turned to El Donna. "See that    she is
returned to the    nursery    for another year until she is
prepared to live with adults."
     "As you wish." El Donna motioned and two women came and
removed    the now    sobbing    girl.
     Paul faced    the Doctor and ceremoniously bowed.  "All
honor to you and your liegeman.    My home    is yours."
     "Honor to you for being willing to    make a change."    The
Doctor replied,    bowing in return.  He stood for    a moment,
looking    at Raul    questioningly.    "If you    can accept change,
then I would talk to you for a moment before we    leave."
     "Very well." Raul called toward the door. "Pad!"  A
young man stepped forward from the group on the    far side.
"See that horses and an    escort are provided for    our guests.
El Donna, while    the liegelord and I speak, will    you
accompany the liegeman to the horses?" El Donna    nodded her
head in    agreement.  Paul turned    back to    the Doctor.  "No
doubt your liegeman will wish to check that everything is in
order."
     "No doubt," replied the Doctor wryly, glancing at Kirk.
     The Doctor    and Raul walked    off together. Kirk noticed
that while his legs still seemed to be stable, the fog had
returned, edging his thoughts.
     "Captain?"    It was El Donna. "Will you please come with
me? We can await Raul and the Doctor outside."
     She turned    and led    the way    through    the building. As
they reached the entrance, Kirk    was thankful to    see that
there were some    stone benches in front.    The horses and
escort were net    yet there.
     "May we sit while we're waiting?" Kirk asked.
     El    Donna nodded.  He was thankful that she    did not    seem
disposed to chatter, yet he wanted to ask some questions.
     "You have questions, Captain?"
     "Yes. If it would not be offensive. I do not understand
all of your ways."
     "I    think that you understand very few of our ways,    but
you may    ask your questions."
     With an effort, Kirk tried    to concentrate on the main
point.    The fog    seemed to clear    for a minute; he noticed
that the crystal at El Donna's neck was    glowing.  "Why did
Raul hit Namona?" God, he though, that was blunt.
     "A    blunt question is preferable if    it enables the
appropriate answer. Raul hit Namona for    two reasons. First,
it is customary    among our women    - especially those with    high
powers -not to look at any man other than one's    own family
until after marriage.  You seem    shocked, Captain, but I    can
tell you that her bold glances of themselves would have    been
sufficient to require punishment.  As it was, her worst
crime was in claiming forced violation after she read your
response to her    given invitation."
     "You're saying she    read my    mind? What I was thinking
about her?" Kirk felt a    sudden sinking feeling-    his
thoughts? - a mental rape - and    they said she was guilty?
     "But I did. . ."
     "Captain."    The lithe figure turned    to him and dark    eyes
gazed sympathetically but with some hint of amusement into
his. "Have you ever physically raped a woman?"
     "No." *Never had to,* he thought and felt himself flush
as he saw by the answering gleam in her    eyes that she had
caught that additional thought.
     "Our custom of not    looking    at strange men is for our
own protection.    There are some whose thoughts would be
without    doubt -    rape. Your thoughts, on    the other hand - oh
yes, Raul read them, so    have we    all - were flattering,
stimulating, and exciting, for any woman who was the direct
object of them.     You are embarrassed. There is no need to
be.  We    all have our passions and desires, and yours for
Namona was not in any way perverted or debased.    Her
reaction, on the other hand, showed that she does not yet
deserve    to be called woman, but    is still a child, and will
now be treated so. What    she did    could have caused at least
one needless death, had    it not been for    your liegelord.    Can
you understand this?"
     It    was strange but    - "Yes.     Although I must say that I
will be    thankful to leave this planet. I don't like the
feeling    that my    mind is    open to    everyone."
     "Not to everyone.    That would be dishonorable, and
exhausting for the true    telepath. I have just been scanning
your surface thoughts because it seemed    that it    would
facilitate our conversation."
     There was a clatter of hooves, and    Kirk saw that the
horses were being brought round. He wondered if    he was going
to be able to make it back. He felt the    fog disappear and a
soft strength enter his    body. He turned    to the woman beside
him. Her eyes were closed and the jewel    at her throat was
pulsing. The dark eyes opened and looked into his. "You    will
make it    back - and to your home." A gentle smile seemed    to
caress him. "I must go now. Raul and the Doctor    are coming."
     Kirk eyed the horses without enthusiasm.  While he    was
feeling    better,    he was not a horseman.    Somehow    the thought
of subjecting his still    sore muscles to    another    trip on    the
beast was not appealing. Beside    him he heard El    Donna sigh.
"This much too,    then, Captain."    He looked back down at her
to see the crystal pulsing again.
     "What?"
     "It is a small thing, Captain.  A gift from me to you.
That you may have some not-so- unpleasant memories of this
planet." The Doctor and    Raul were coming out of    the door.
She turned and left.
     "Coming, Captain?"    said the Doctor    as he moved past
Kirk and mounted.
     Kirk followed, getting on the horse behind    the
Doctor's. As he    mounted, he realized that somehow his body
seemed to know how to ride and handle the animal. Things fit
- the double reins, the    saddle and stirrups - he was a part
of the animal. Kirk looked over    to the doorway where El
Donna was standing. An enigmatic smile was on her lips as
the group rode away.
     Riding through the    hills he thought about her. The
Doctor had pulled slightly ahead and was talking to the
leader of their    escorts, the young man Paul had    called Pad.
     Why was the armed escort needed, Kirk wondered. There
had been no trouble on the way up and the countryside
certainly seemed peaceful. Now,    at mid-morning,    there was
not even the need for the leather jacket he had    worn on    the
ride up.
     A brilliant flash of light    and shouting broke his
thoughts.  Phasers? The    leading    members    of the party and
their mounts had gone down.  The Doctor    was reining his
horse sharply around. Without hesitation, Kirk followed.
     "Pad," the    Doctor called, "Get out    of here!"
     "We do not    retreat!" Kirk saw that    the remaining party
were pulling out their swords, preparing to attack.
     Swords against phasers?  Kirk kicked his horse into a
gallop and headed down the trail after the Doctor. The light
flared again and the Doctor looked back. He shook his head
and led    the way    off the    trail into a rocky pass.
     "Let the horses go. They'll be good decoys." The Doctor
dismounted and gave his    horse a    slap on    the rump, sending it
on its way.  Kirk quickly followed suit.  As his horse
galloped away, he followed the Doctor up the side of the
mountain and joined him, crouching behind a large rock.
     "What was that all    about?"
     "Daleks," said the    Doctor grimly.
     "Who are Daleks?"
     "The ones who invaded this    planet before. Apparently
they left a small group    behind to keep the pressure on as
the bombs came down." The Doctor cautiously stood up and
looked of the top of the rock. Kirk stayed down, watching
him.
     "You are the Doctor." A metallic artificial voice
echoed from the    rocks.    The Doctor stood completely still,
motioning Kirk to stay down.
     "Exterminate the Doctor!"
     "No. I wish to question him first."
     At    least two of them out there, Kirk thought.  Probably
more. There was    an utterly vicious tone    in the voices. The
Doctor was moving around to the    front of the rock. No time
for plans or signals. Did the Doctor expect him    to follow
and attempt a rescue or    leave?
     "Put that down," said the metallic    voices and a brief
flair of light flickered among the rocks.
     "It's only    a toy,"    said the Doctor    plaintively.
     "You will come with us. You will keep your    hands in
sight.    Now."
     "Well, there's no need to shove."
     Kirk heard    noises as the group moved away.    He peered
cautiously around one corner of    the rock. He could see the
Doctor and four    strange    dome shaped metal creatures about
five feet high moving down the path.  He waited    until they
went around a bend and started to follow.
     As    he came    out, he    saw a mark on one of the rocks and,
looking    down, saw a yo-yo on the ground. He picked it up. A
child's    toy, but the Doctor had    risked something to leave
it.  If    the Doctor had done that, then there might be a
purpose    for it.
     He    continued to trail the Doctor and his captors.    Some
type of    a robot    - but with an independent mind,    he thought.
Certainly an eminently practical design, not at    all
anthropomorphic.  The weaponry they used seemed    to be
built-in as one    of the projections from    the center of the
bulletlike body. The other projection was probably a `hand',
although it bore no resemblance    to anything humanoid.  A
third projection near the rounded top rotated as if the
creature used it as an eye.  He    could not tell how they    were
moving.    The base of the    body was so close to the ground    that
nothing    could be seen.    No wheels in this terrain - maybe
some type of an    air suspension system? However they had    come
about, their creation was inspired and,    with the attitude
they seemed to have, diabolical.
     The group came to a circular stone    structure. A brief


@2PART 4
=====

@1     The group came to a circular stone    structure. A brief
noise and an opening appeared in one side and they went    in.
The opening closed.  Some kind of a forcefield,    he thought.
He crept cautiously up to the sides.  Solid rock, but the
structure stopped about    nine feet up. Where there's a wall,
there's    a way, Kirk thought and    realized that the fog was
pressing on his    mind again. No,    he thought, not    yet, and
pushed it back.    These Daleks did not have feet or legs or
real arms, so they might not be    prepared for someone
attacking from the top of the wall. He found hand and
footholds in the rough rock and    got to the top.    He realized
that he    had carried the    yo-yo in his mouth. Like a weapon,
he thought.  Could it become one?
     Lying down    flat on    the top, he looked down    inside.     The
Doctor was standing in the middle of the structure. A
strange    light surrounded him.
     "Why have you come    here?" asked one of the    Daleks and
the light around the Doctor changed color.  The    Doctor did
not respond and    the light flickered again. It seemed to    be
tightening on him. Another force field,    Kirk thought.
     "I    was just looking around.  What are you doing here?"
The Doctor lifted his head and smiled at the nearest Dalek.
     At    least he was conscious,    and if he was conscious,
then if    the forcefield could be    removed. . . . Kirk moved
slowly along the wall looking for some type of control panel
inside the complex.
     "I    do not believe you. You    will tell the truth."
     "Exterminate!"
     "No.  He may have information we need." The light
changed    color again and    Kirk heard the Doctor gasp.  If    he
didn't act quickly, the    Doctor would not be able to get    out.
Kirk spotted what looked like a    control    panel -    switches,
buttons, and flashing lights. He crawled so that he was
directly above it.  Now    - one leap down.  He glanced over at
the Doctor to catch a definite glance that said    `no'.
     "Do you still like    blue?" said the    Doctor to the Dalek
who was    questioning him.
     "That is not an answer." The light    changed    again.
     Blue?  There was one panel    glowing    that color.  Kirk
looked at the Doctor and then realized that he still had the
yo-yo in his hand. He lifted it. Heavy - maybe not just    a
normal yo-yo then. And on a string. Kirk smiled    at it.
Method in the Doctor's madness.    He tied    one end    of the
string to his finger and sent the weight down toward the
panel. Missed. He pulled it back up and    tried again.
     "You will tell us what we wish to know."
     "Difficult    without    breathing."
     Kirk felt the weight rebound as the yo-yo hit the panel
and broke it. The power    over the complex died and Kirk saw
the Doctor run for the opening.    He slid    off the    wall as    the
Doctor ran around to meet him.    The Doctor pulled him down
behind another rock. "Stay here. They'll be looking for    us
to be running."
     They remained hidden until    dusk came, saying nothing.
The Doctor motioned and    Kirk followed him up further into
the mountains.    A small    cave seemed to be an acceptable
stopping place and the Doctor motioned Kirk inside. Kirk
collapsed on one side and looked at the    Doctor who was
leaning    against    the other wall.
     "Doctor," said Kirk, "Don't you know any nice people?"
     The Doctor    turned to Kirk.    "Where did you learn to    ride
like that in one day?"
     Kirk looked at him, suddenly at a loss.  Oh no, he
thought, he's off on a tangent.    the blue eyes looking into
his were quite serious.
     "I    think that El Donna did    something to me    before we
left."
    "Psychically?"
    "I think so.  I feet better    and I did know how to handle
that horse. I can't think of any other way for that to have
happened."
    "That last bit of riding probably saved your life. And
now. .."
     Kirk waited patiently.  The Doctor    seemed to be in
another    world but now he could accept this as part of the
way the    alien mind worked. They    were alone in a    wilderness
with no    weapons    or communication devices, pursued by Daleks.
Anything the Doctor could think    of would help.
    "Do    have any psychic abilities?" the Doctor    asked.
    "No. I've always tested negative."
    "Tests aren't always the whole answer."
    "What are you thinking of doing?"
    "There is one possibility."    The Doctor stopped and
looked down at his hands.  Kirk    realized that one of them
had been burned    by the Dalek's weapon.
    "If    there is any possibility, I'm willing to try it.
What do    you want me to do?"
    The    Doctor studied Kirk carefully as he said, "El Donna
is the most powerful psychic on    this planet.  You have
recently been in telepathic contact with her. For her to do
what she did, she obviously felt some attraction to you." He
stopped.
    Kirk waited    and when the Doctor did    not continue said,
"The problem is    that I'm not a telepath, so I can't reach
her."
    "You're not    a telepath."
    "Can't you reach her?"
    "I haven't had the contact I need to establish a link.
I know of her -    I don't    know her." The Doctor seemed to    be
studying the side of the rock.
    "Doctor, if    you will tell me what you want me to do, I
will do    it." The Doctor    looked at Kirk and smiled.
    "What I want you to    do is to try to    reach El Donna
mentally.  I will tap into your    mind, enable your signal -
boost it, and then talk    to her through your mind."
    "You want me to be a link between the two of you?"
    "A signal and a link. It will not be easy."
    Kirk looked    at the Doctor intently.    Ne was still
serious.
    "Okay, let's try. What do I    do?"
    "Picture her in your mind.    As clearly and accurately as
you can. When the picture is sharp, call her name."
    Kirk nodded    and leaned back    against    the wall and closed
his eyes.  He felt one of the Doctor's hands resting lightly
on his head. Odd, he thought, he could easily accept the
idea of    telepathy through touch, but over a distance..
    It can be done.    The Doctor's thought in his mind    was
as unique as his voice.     Not like Spock    at all.
    Mind-touch is a matchlessmuteness means of
identification.    Think of El Donna.    Obediently, Kirk tried
to remember her. The dark eyes,    the smile, the tilt of her
head, the mass of dark green hair, the image swirled in    his
mind but he could not seem to stabilize    it.  He    realized
that he    was breathing more rapidly and the Doctor's hand
dropped    away. He opened    his eyes and looked at the Doctor.
The Doctor was looking at the opposite wall of the cave. He
seemed almost discouraged. /Damn,/ Kirk    thought, /we can't
give up    now./
    "Try again?" he said lightly.
    "Do    you feel up to it?  This may turn out to be
physically painful to you, and in your present condition..."
    "I'll make it."
    He closed his eyes again and felt the Doctor's hand    come
back on    his head.  He summoned the image again.     It came,
moving,    refusing to become firm.  He felt weak.     No wonder
Spock was leery    of using the mind-meld if it was as tiring
as this.  Come on, he thought, when have you ever had
trouble    remembering a pretty face?
    /Something is missing./ The Doctor thought.
    /Missing?/  Kirk tried not to look at the image but    to
think about the    woman he had just left.
    /The crystal./ He thought at the Doctor.
    /Of course, the crystal is part of her./    Kirk grabbed
the floating image and placed the dilithium crystal at her
neck. Immediately the image became sharp and clear.  As    if
she was    in his mind, looking at    him.  He felt the Doctor's
mind move in his.
     /NOW! - call her!/
     /El Donna. .. El Donna!/  Without warning, another mind
touched his.  He felt his body double over in spasm and the
Doctor's other hand catch and cradle his head.
     /Captain? Why are you calling me?/  The spasm seemed to
ease slightly as he felt her mind settle into his.
     /The Doctor needs to talk to you./
     /The Doctor? Your liegelord?/
     /Yes. Here.../    Kirk felt the Doctor's mind
move forward and meet El Donna's.  Now he could    sit back and
let these two handle it.
     /The invaders - the Daleks - are still here. A rear
guard, in the mountains./
     /So, the machines have not gone./
     /They have killed our escort. We must join now to destroy
them./
     /Before myself and others of the greatest power
joined with the    machine    lovers - those whom you    call the
Techies. Now the others    of the Power who joined    with me    are
gone. Our powers are diminished. Our weapons cannot equal
theirs.    What can we do??/
     /It is possible that an avalanche could be triggered
on their camp. Do you have enough of the Power left to do that?/
     /I would need the assistance of others. They will have to
come from afar. It will take time./
     Kirk felt himself being stirred from his bystander
role.
    /Doctor./    He could sense that his    body was objecting to the
effort it was taking to    enter the conversation.
    /What?/
    /You are not alone in this./
     /What do you mean?/
     /There is the Enterprise./  The Doctor did not respond.
     /Had you forgotten?/
     /What about your Prime Directive?/
     /To hell with the Prime Directive!/
     He could feel the Doctor's laughter and it    somehow
made the pain in his body ease.
    /Captain, I think I like you./
     /Can we reach her?/
     /Who is this Enterprise?/  El Donna questioned sharply.
     /It is his ship./
     /Strange,to love a    machine    so./
     /Doctor./
     Kirk realized that if they did not act quickly his body
would collapse from the    effects    of the linking.
/Can we reach Spock?/
     /Image him for me, Captain, and I shall reach
him./ El Donna's mental voice was brisk and quite matter-of-
fact.
    Kirk again tried to    summon a mental    image.    This time,
Spock.    His muscles were quivering as if he had    been running
too long.
    /With this image I can help./ The Doctor's mind swept into
his.
    The    image he had been striving for sharpened, became
clear.
    /Captain, I can drop you from the link now./
    /No Doctor.    This time he was the one laughing.  If you
want the Enterprise to fire her phasers on this planet,
I have    to give    the order.
     /If it costs you your life?/
     /If it does - then    it does./ He felt his muscles
contract tightly, almost in spasm.
      /Captain. .. as you wish it./
     One part of his mind seemed to feel the Doctor holding him,
the other brought the image of Spock into focus again.
     /El Donna./ The Doctor called. /The image - can you reach
this man?/
     /Yes./
     And Spock was there.
    /Captain - Jim?!/ Spock's mind seemed reassuringly familiar.
    /Spock.  Full phasers .../  El Donna's mind was there, linked
with the Doctor's and coordinates appeared in his mind.
    /Captain - the Prime Directive?/
     /Spock/  No good to give Spock the answer that had so
readily satisfied the Doctor.  /The Daleks, the    ones who
invaded this planet before - still here - are the violators./
He felt his body spasm violently again and knew that the
three minds in his felt    it too.
    /Jim! Doctor, get him out of this!/
    /My decision, Spock.  You have your orders./
    And the world slid away.
            +++++++++++
    He came to to find himself lying on    the floor of the
cave wrapped in    Doctor's coat. The Doctor was standing at
the entrance looking out.
    "Doctor?" He tried to lift his head.
    The    Doctor moved back and made him lie down.
    "Don't try to move.     You won't have    the strength.  Don't
even try to talk.  Spock will never forgive me if I don't
get you    back safely."
    Kirk took a    deep breath. The Doctor    was right. He didn't
have any strength left.
    "You missed    the fireworks. That's the easiest time I've
ever had with Daleks."
    Odd, Kirk thought, he would    have thought that the Doctor
would be exuberant, but    he seemed strangely subdued.  He was
taking a metal object out of his pocket    - the sonic
screwdriver Scotty had been trying to analyze.
    "I'm setting this to a signal your transporter will    be
able to    home in    on.  We    should be having company soon."    He
smiled at Kirk as a small section of the screwdriver seemed
to extend. "At least you won't have to ride a horse back."
    There was the familiar shimmer of the transporter beam
and Spock and McCoy were there.    McCoy moved quickly over to
Kirk, the medical tricorder going. From    the look on his    face
Kirk knew that the results were    not good.
    "Is    this from that damned mind-meld    of yours?" McCoy
said, turning to the Doctor who    was undeniably looking
guilty.    Kirk caught Spock's eye.
    "Doctor McCoy, the decision    to attempt the telepathic
contact    was the    Captain's."
    "He    couldn't have known it would have this effect!"
    "Bones," Kirk felt that he had to stop the argument.
What was done was done.    "It was    my choice." He had to stop
to take    another    deep breath. "Check the    Doctor."
    McCoy looked at him    for a minute and then swung the
tricorder over toward the Doctor. Kirk nearly laughed as he
saw the    burned hand disappear into a coat pocket.
    "I'm fine,"    said the Doctor    defiantly.
    "Like hell you are.    You've got second degree burns on
your right hand, three broken ribs and what amounts to a
punctured lung."
    "I feel fine." The Doctor smiled at    McCoy.
    "Ha! At least this time I can treat    you properly. And
that's what I'm    going to do!"
    "Doctor McCoy," Spock interrupted, "I would    suggest    that
we return to the hospital with your patients." Kirk closed
his eyes again as he saw the Vulcan bending down to pick him
up. In spite of    the gentleness of the touch, he    was
unconscious again in seconds.
            ++++++++++
    His    next memories were nightmares.    Strange    but familiar
faces hovering over him    shouting, "Hang    on, Captain, hang
on, Jim, hang on. Hang on." Damn it, he    was hanging on!    He
sensed a presence that was not shouting. He opened his eyes
to see Spock standing by his bed.
    "Thanks" he    said.
    "Captain?"
    "You're not    shouting."
    "What did he say?" Another presence    - he turned his    head
- the Doctor.  He looked around    the room. Still    on the
planet,    well, that was where all the medical people were.
    "He    said something about shouting."    Spock seemed
puzzled.
    "Shouting?"    Kirk closed his    eyes again.
    "No    one's been shouting in here." Spock said.
    "Maybe not.     Your medical indicators are showing an
improvement now.  Lt. Stephans!    Come in    here!"
    The    shouting started again.    Worry, concern,    fear echoing
in his mind. "What's happened, what's wrong?"
    "See there!    Now, Lieutenant, get out of here."
    The    shouting stopped.
    "Spock, with the changes in    the DNA    patterns. . ."
    "Uncontrolled telepathy..."
    "Why we're losing all the children.    . ."
    He opened his eyes again to    see Spock and the Doctor
staring    at each    other. The Doctor smiled and Spock nodded.
They turned to leave the room and the Doctor turned back.
    "Don't worry, Captain, there won't be anymore shouting."
    And    there wasn't. From his accidental remark the two had
been able to link the effect of    the infection to the use of
uncontrolled psychic abilities - a relationship    that had
McCoy muttering    for days.
            +++++++++++
     When McCoy    was satisfied that the raging viral
infection had finally been routed, Kirk    was pronounced well
enough to be beamed back to the    ship and the treatment of
the medical crew still on board. Watching the medical team
making preparations to transport him up, he rejoiced in
being able to think clearly again even though lifting a    hand
was exhausting.    Then he    had a thought.    "Bones." At least
speaking wasn't    so bad.    McCoy came over    and stood by the
bed.
    "Jim, don't    try to talk. It'll be quite a while before
you get    your strength back."
    "It's okay.    I want to talk to Spock."
    McCoy looked at him    with relief. "Well, I suppose you'll
cause more trouble if I    don't let you see him. You can have
one minute."  He went out the door and came back with Spock.
"One minute, that's all."
    "Of    course,    Doctor." Spock said and    looked quizzically
down at    Kirk.
    "Spock, I do not want the Doctor to    leave until I get to
talk to    him." Kirk looked up at    Spock intently.
    "Indeed, Captain?"
    "I think he    might try to slip away without - saying
goodbye.  I have to talk to him    before he goes."
    Spock smiled slightly and Kirk was relieved    to see that
some of    the influence of the Doctor's mind-melding was still
at work. At least he wasn't going to get a lecture on the
illogic    of wanting to say goodbye.
    "Captain, Mr. Scott    has not    yet completed the design for
the extra dilithium crystals. Even with    the Doctor's help it
will take at least two days. I am quite    certain    that the
Doctor will not    leave until the    engineering is completed."
    "Very good,    Spock. Just have him see me before he goes."
    "I will see    to it, Captain."
     Kirk smiled as his    first officer turned and left. McCoy
was right. Spock was easier with himself than he ever had
been.  Still, after the    Doctor left, and they returned to
their universe and the effect of the meld had worn off -
could there be a whiplash effect to this? He thought about
it as the medical team transferred him to the stretcher    and
the transporter    brought    them up    to the Enterprise.  He would
have to    talk to    McCoy about it.     If Spock suddenly took    it
into that Vulcan head of his that behaving as he had been
was aberrational, Spock    could wind up throwing away
everything he had finally started to put together.  Kirk
wondered if there were any nut cults on    Vulcan - probably
not.  Still, with Spock's tour of duty coming to an end, he
would be quite free to leave Starfleet.     Well, whatever
Spock decided, he'd back him.  At any rate, he thought,    as
they transferred him to    the bed    in Sickbay, he wasn't going
to be physically fit to    command    a starship for some time.
And his    hair was falling out. He felt a    hypospray against
his arm    and as he fell asleep thought of the Doctor blithely
saying "Changes."               ++++++++++
    The    next day Kirk awoke from a catnap to see McCoy
standing by the    bed.
    "Good morning." McCoy said.
    "Is    that what it is? I've lost track."
    "It's not surprising."
    "Was it that bad?"
    "We    nearly lost you."
    Kirk looked    at McCoy and smiled. After a moment McCoy
smiled back. "I'm getting too  old for these close calls."
McCoy paused for a moment. "I'm    also getting too old to    get
used to    another    Spock."
    "What do you mean by that?"
    "Did anything - unusual - happen on    that little trip you
took with the Doctor?"
    "Nothing you don't know about.  I've listened to the
Doctor's report    and it's quite accurate. Why?"
    McCoy shook    his head. "I can't tell    you anything
specific, but I'm positive that    something happened that
wasn't reported." The events of    the last days on Lightunder
were unexpectedly replaying in his mind.
            ++++++++
     After getting Kirk    settled, McCoy had found that his
other patient had disappeared. He was not really surprised.
The Doctor had demonstrated that he had    as strong an
aversion for being confined for    treatment as Kirk and Spock.
He finally tracked him down in one of the TARDIS'
laboratories.  He and Spock were studying the results of the
most recent gram isolation tests.
    - "Doctor,"    McCoy said, "if    you can    tear yourself away
for about two hours, I can treat you and send you back to
work."
    "I've got more important things to do," the    Doctor
snapped    irritably. Spock looked    at the Doctor with surprise.
    "Doctor, it    is illogical for you to    assume that you    can
work with normal efficiency while you are in pain."
    "Pain?  Don't be ridiculous    - my body heals    very rapidly
and lying around won't speed things up at all."
     McCoy looked at the readings on his medical tricorder
and was    about to respond to the    Doctor's statement when
Spock stood up and walked over to the Doctor. "While Dr.
McCoy's    medical    treatment is quite primitive, I    do not think
that he    will simply have you recline in    a passive state    and
wait for your own healing process to function.    Now are    you
going to accompany him?"
    "Spock, I'm    fine. I    don't need any medical treatment.
I've got work to do." The Doctor turned    back to    the
electronic projection he had been studying.
     Spock glanced at McCoy. In    response to the    uplifted
eyebrow    McCoy just shook his head. He disliked reluctant
patients, but there was    no denying what    his medical
instrumentation    was telling him.  `Primitive' it might be
according to Vulcan or Time Lord standards, but    he had seen
the Doctor's normal readings and what was indicated now    was
far from anything resembling those.
    With one fluid motion, Spock administered the Vulcan
neck pinch and caught the Doctor as he fell.
    "Very efficient, Spock. Let's get him into the medical
treatment area."
     One of the    rooms in the TARDIS had    been converted into
an emergency treatment area. The portable equipment from the
Enterprise which had been installed there enabled McCoy    to
treat almost any emergency. It only took a few minutes to
remove the Doctor's outer coats    and his    shirt and get him on
the treatment table.  McCoy was    thankful that the Doctor
remained unconscious.  In the mood he was in, he would have
been loudly protesting the whole time. As much as McCoy
disliked reluctant patients, he    disliked noisy reluctant
patients even more. By the time    the Doctor was conscious,
had completed his analysis of the damaged area involving the
Doctor's rib cage and was calibrating the Bertod Ray
Attenuator that    would enable a rapid mending.
    "The Platysternidae    is a slow moving creature." The
Doctor said. His blue eyes focused accusingly on Spock.    "You
did something to me."
    "It    is quite illogical for you to attempt to work in a
physical condition that    is below normal." Spock    replied
quite calmly. The Doctor looked    ready to dispute Spock's
statement when McCoy intervened. "Now, Doctor, there's no
sense in getting angry at Spock."
    "Angry? I never get    angry."     The Doctor said, clipping
the ends of his    words in a brusque, precise manner. "Even
when people interfere with what    I want to do, I    don't get
angry!"
     "Well then, you're    doing the best imitation of a man
about to get very angry    that I've ever seen." McCoy turned
the attenuator on.  "If    Spock hadn't dropped you, I would
have." The Doctor looked at McCoy in surprise.    "I can lay
my hands on at least ten things    now that'll put    you to sleep
like a baby and    when, in my medical opinion, Doctor, you
need to    be treated in order to remain a    viable part of this
team, I    will not hesitate to use them.    You may    be the
Doctor,    Doctor,    but I have the full medical responsibility
for this team and I will not evade that    responsibility by
allowing any member to go off on some masochistic ego trip
and ignore his body's own natural warning signs! Now since
your body is so    much better than a human body, it may not
even take two hours to heal under the Berthod ray - but    you
are going to stay here until Nurse Chapel confirms that    your
ribs and lung have healed. Now let me see that hand."
    The    Doctor had listened to McCoy with an awed
fascination and    promptly held his hand out. "Bones," he
said, a    wicked grin unexpectedly lighting up his face, "When
you were in Medical School, what sort of a grade did you get
in `bedside manner'?"
    McCoy heard    a noise    behind him and,    turning, saw that
Spock was leaving the room. Chris Chapel seemed    to be
intensely studying the lower panel of the Attenuator. He ran
the medical tricorder over the Doctor's    burned hand.
"Y'know, I never heard that `bedside manner' was related to
medical    skill."    He looked at the Doctor.  "That's a nasty
burn."
    "The Daleks    do not have a reputation for being nice."
The Doctor looked tired.
     "This won't hurt, but your    hand may be a little stiff
until it heals." McCoy sprayed the burned area and put the
Doctor's hand down. He glanced at the bruised area on the
Doctor's side and noted    with pleasure that the discoloration
had already begun to face.  "Now I know    you're going to    get
edgy just lying    there, so I'm going to give you    a sedative
that will keep you quiet for about an hour.  By    the time you
wake up, you'll    be back    to normal."
    The    Doctor did not protest as McCoy    administered the
hypospray.  "Bones, I wish. .
    "Wish what?"
    "You know,"    from the Doctor's voice, McCoy could tell
that the medication was    taking effect. "No one gets too    old
to learn a new way of being stupid." McCoy looked at the now
sleeping figure    in puzzlement.    He had no idea what
occasioned that    remark,    and he knew that any attempts to
pursue it would    be rebuffed.
            ++++++++++
     During the    next several days, McCoy became    convinced
that the Doctor    was determined to demonstrate his
superiority over the human members of the team.     He worked
without    sleep, running test after test,    trying to find a
clue to    the control of the deadly elusive virus. The only
sign of    fatigue    that McCoy could pinpoint was that his
joking remarks were devolving into the lowest level of
humor.
    Each day saw Kirk's    condition worsen.
    When the Doctor and    Spock happened on the causal
relationship between the effect    of the virus and the
uncontrolled use of psychic abilities, McCoy was convinced
that they were now in complete control of the situation.
The Doctor's natural exuberance    returned as patient after
patient    was successfully treated.
    McCoy could    not enter the room where Kirk lay isolated,
but he was waiting outside while the Doctor and    Spock
administered the treatment. After a longer time    than any of
tee other patients had required    to respond, the    Doctor
emerged    alone.    His face was deadly serious. He    looked at
McCoy and said,    "He's not responding."
    "Not at all?"
    "Not worse - but not at all    better."
    "Even if he    doesn't    get worst, he can't.
    "Three hours - maybe four."    The fatigue that McCoy had
been expecting was suddenly there in his voice.
    "Come on, Doctor, I    think we'd better sit down."
    The    Doctor did not protest as McCoy    led him    into a
nearby vacated room. Once inside, however, another frantic
burst of energy    caused him to pace back    and forth in the
narrow space between the bed and the wall.
    "It    should have worked.  Every test, every calculation -
every other patient proved it."    He stopped and turned to
McCoy. "He's an    unusual    man - your Captain." He    glared at
McCoy as if daring him to dispute the statement.
    "He    is." McCoy stated calmly.  There didn't    seem to    be
any sense in both of them getting upset. "He'll    be the first
Starship Commander to complete a five-year mission with    ship
and crew virtually intact."
    "The first?" The Doctor looked surprised. "Why?"
    "Because he    knows when to go by the    book - and when    to
throw it out."
     "And we're    going to lose him here." He turned to the
door- and McCoy    was not    surprised to see Spock come in.
Spock was carrying one the Enterprise's    recording tablets
and the    skin on    his face was tight against the bone.  The
Doctor reached out and took the    tablet from Spock's hand. He
looked at the notes and    with a suddenness that made McCoy
jump, flung the    tablet to the floor. He    looked at it laying
there and then looked at Spock.
    "I know," he said, as if in    response to an unspoken
comment.  "It doesn't change anything. But then    again,"    he
smiled wryly, "What's the point    of being grown up if you
can't be childish?"
    "Jim?" McCoy whispered.
    "Still alive.  But the treatment is    definitely
ineffective."  Spock's voice was level as always, but McCoy
recognized that    it was not because of a    lack of    feeling.
    "Now what?"    McCoy asked.
    "Try something else." The Doctor bent to pick up the
tablet.     "There's always something else."
    "For what?"    McCoy looked over to see Lt. Stephans
standing in the    door behind Spock. "I don't mean to
interrupt, but it sounded as though someone was    throwing
things around."
    "The Captain seems to be immune to the only    treatment we
have."    The Doctor said    bluntly. "Don't    want to    throw
something around?"
    "If    it would help, I would.    However, I don't think I
could be of much more help than    that here."
    Spock and the Doctor exchanged swift glances. "Explain,"
Spock said.
    "My    field is Xenobiology - the Captain's human. . ."
    Spock's eyes lit up    and the    Doctor shouted "That's it!"
With a leap he was shaking her hand and    patting    her
exuberantly on the back. "Good girl," he said, beaming at
her.
    "Doctor," McCoy said, "knowing why Jim doesn't respond
to the treatment doesn't help us find a    treatment he will
respond    to."
    "Logically.    . ." Spock said.
    "Oh    pooh," interrupted the Doctor. "Logic is the science
of going wrong with confidence.    We've got the same disease,
curable    in individuals of the same species and intractable
in an individual of another species. All we have to find is
the denominator    of difference."
    "Exactly." Spock said.  The    Doctor looked at him and
laughed. McCoy and Stephans smiled at each other.
    "Now then,"    the Doctor said, "We have our best research
sources    right here." With one swift movement he    had McCoy
and Stephans seated next to each other on the bed and
perched    himself    backwards on a chair opposite them. He
glanced    at Spock and Spock pulled up a chair and sat down
too. McCoy looked at them. One was sitting in a    proper and
correct    fashion, leaning forward slightly with interest.
The other was sprawled over and    around the wrong side of the
chair.    Like two sides of a coin, he thought and glanced at
Lt. Stephans, wondering    if the same thought had    occurred to
her. He    couldn't tell if it had.  She was looking straight
at the Doctor. Even her    shoulder length    copper colored hair
was completely still.
    "Now then,"    said the Doctor, "What do we know about    this
virus?"
    "Its effectiveness is directly linked to the use of
psychic    abilities." McCoy answered.
    "The uncontrolled use of psychic abilities." Spock
added.
    "Exactly," commented Lt. Stephans. "An individual with
no active psychic ability - or a superior control - only
contracts a mild case and recovers rapidly."
    "We    haven't    had many of those!" McCoy said.
    "That's strange," said the Lieutenant, "I don't recall
that the Captain was ever identified as    even marginally
psychic."
    "He    isn't -    or he wasn't," McCoy said. "Now, the problem
seems to be that what ability he does have is literally
feeding    the virus."
    "But most of the adult Lightunder people we've seen    have
managed    to pull    through. The major problem has been with the
children - both    in catching the    virus and combating it."
said the Doctor.
    "Not just `children', Doctor," Lt. Stephans    continued.
"Specifically, the break occurs    exactly    with the completion
of puberty."
    McCoy looked at her    in surprise. He    hadn't realized    that
she had    had the    time to    do any research    into the basic
biological cycles on Lightunder.
    "Quite right, Dorcy.  Now, can you detail the
differences during this    time between Lightunderans and
humans?" asked the Doctor.
    The    Lieutenant nodded and abruptly stared into a corner
of the room. McCoy looked at her in increasing astonishment.
    "Doctor McCoy," Spock said dryly, "I believe we are
about to see an    example    of Cultural Survey and Contact's new
eidetic    memory control training."
     "Difference during    pubertal transition - Lightunder and
Terra."    The Lieutenant's voice had flattened somewhat but
there was obviously a human control over the generation    of
the data.  The Doctor beamed at    her with pleasure.  "Onset
of puberty the Lightunder humanoid causes a flux in the
production of an adrenaline-like hormonal substance.  As
production ebbs, the individual's psychic abilities, when
present, overcome the natural balance and cause    dizziness,
spacial    disorientation,    hallucinations,    and, in    extreme
cases, death. As the flux stabilizes to    the adult level, the
individual gradually acquires a    somewhat variant control
over the now active psychic abilities."     She blinked and
looked at the Doctor expectantly. "Does    that sound helpful?"
    "What's the    chemical formula for this substance?" McCoy
asked.
    "CN3H2O2 bonded in a tri-nitrous base of BCzC4."
    McCoy felt his heart sink.    He shook his head.  "Any
mixture    like that would    kill Captain as    surely as the virus
is." The four of them sat in silence.  McCoy felt a sudden
empathy    for the    Doctor's desire    to throw things.
    "But it's still a question of control." Spock said,
leaning    forward    in his chair.  "If the psychic abilities the
captain    has could be controlled    in some    other way.
    "Of    course!" McCoy said. "If one of    you could duplicate
the chemical effect in a chemical fashion..." Spock and    the
Doctor looked at each other. "Can you do it?" He knew the
answer from the    look on    the Doctor's face.
    "No," Spock    said.
    The    Doctor shook his head.    "I seem    to be good at
starting things, but stopping that takes tremendous power
under superb control." His voice was bleak.
    "Isn't there someone on this planet    who could?" The
Lieutenant asked in a level voice.
    The    Doctor's face brightened. "El Donna!" he said
gleefully.
    "Of    course," Spock said. "She could    do it -    but will
she?"
    The    Doctor hesitated for a moment. "Yes, I think she
will.  She took    a liking to your Captain.  I expect most
people do." His    voice had the same edge    of defiance McCoy
had heard before.  This    time the Lieutenant picked it up and
glanced    questioningly at McCoy.     McCoy shrugged    his own
puzzlement.
    "Can she be    reached    quickly?  Our time is increasingly
limited." Spock    looked at the Doctor.
    "I think I can get her attention - with your help."
Spock nodded and the Doctor got    up.
    "If    you two    are going to link up again, Doctor, you'd
better lie down." McCoy    said.
    "Oh, well, if you think so."
    "I think so, Doctor," said Spock.
     The Doctor    laid down on the bed. Spock sat    on one side
and placed his hands in    position on the    Doctor's head. The
Doctor smiled at Spock and closed his eyes.  McCoy took    a
deep breath as he walked around    to the foot of the bed and
watched    them establish their mental communication. It might
be `natural' to    them, but it seemed to set his teeth on
edge. It was something beyond his control, and it made him
nervous. He opened his medical tricorder and, hearing a    hum
behind him, realized that the Lieutenant had started hers.
    "Monitoring    the Doctor," she said.
    McCoy turned his tricorder on Spock    and winced as he
watched    the medical graphic display.
    "They're both on the edge of exhaustive collapse." The
Lieutenant remarked.
    The    readings on McCoy's tricorder went suddenly askew
and he recognized the pattern he had seen before when the
two had    melded.
    "They're in    the meld now," he said.    "I didn't hear Spock
say anything."
    "He    doesn't    need to    any more with the Doctor.  If they
were together much more, this kind of thing would be
routine. Both hearts stabilizing rates."
    "Blood pressure normal. Alpha and Gamma waves peaking."
    Spock took his hands away from the Doctor's    head and
turned to McCoy.  "She's on her    way."
    McCoy looked at the    Doctor.    He was lying very still    and
his eyes were still closed.
    "She and her escort    will be    teleporting here. The Doctor
is acting as a location    beam."
     There was a multicolored burst of light near the bed
and, with a slight popping noise, a woman and two men
appeared.  The Lieutenant quickly shut off her tricorder and
McCoy followed suit. Damn! but she was lovely, McCoy
thought.  Petite, with a slim lithe figure, great dark eyes,
a mass of curly    dark green hair    set off    by a floor length
flowing    yellow gown, and a glow    that gave her a    regal
presence. The Doctor got up from the bed.
    "El    Donna,"    he said    respectfully.
    One    of the armed men with her stepped forward.  McCoy
recognized him - Raul d'Colm'n.
    "We    have come at your request, Time    Lord, to handle    that
which you cannot," Raul    said.
    "Raul, you will speak no more of this. I have already
spoken with the    Doctor on it." A faint but decisive hint of
command    in El Donna's beautifully modulated voice brooked no
hint of    defiance.  Raul    stepped    back.
    "Your pardon." He bowed to the Doctor.
    The    Doctor brushed the apology aside. "The Captain is in
here."    He started toward door.    "Some of our medical
machines are also in the room."
    Raul started to speak but El Donna interrupted. "He    is
yours -
 not ours. The machines    will not interfere."
    "Spock," said McCoy, "Would    it be possible for me to be
there?"
    Before Spock could answer, El Donna    turned and looked up
at Mccoy. The Crystal at her throat was    glowing    dimly.    "You
are his    friend and his physician. You may be with us. And
you?"  She looked at the Lieutenant.
    "El    Donna, I would have no reason to be there save
curiosity."
    "An    admirable trait, but not to be indulged    on this
occasion."  The    two women smiled at each other and the
selected group left the    room.
    They entered Kirk's    room and El Donna stepped close    to
the bed. McCoy looked at his friend and    then up    at the
medical    indicators for reassurance.  The body in the bed was
emaciated, the hair thinning, no visible sign of life. Yet
the medical indicators showed that Kirk    was still alive.
    The    Doctor walked around to    the other side of the bed,
glanced    down at    Kirk and then looked at    El Donna. She did
not look at the    medical    indicators; her    gaze was fixed on
Kirk. McCoy swallowed convulsively and realized    that Spock
was standing next to him. The tension in the room was
palpable.
     El    Donna stretched    her hands out over the bed, palms
down.  McCoy could see a pulsing glow from the dilithium
crystal    at her neck. A phosphorescent swirling fog seemed to
appear between her hands and Kirk's body.  She moved her
hands and the glow followed them, spiraling in a tumbling
pattern    between    her hands and Kirk's head.  For    a moment the
flow seemed to hesitate    and Raul raised    his hand to his
head, the crystal on his wrist glowing.    The flow stabilized
then, moving in    a pulsing rhythm toward    Kirk and then,
abruptly, flowing back.    Three times it pulsed between the
two.  McCoy noticed that the eerie glow    seemed to be growing
brighter.  Then    its movement from Kirk to El Donna's hands
slowed.    McCoy had a feeling that this time it was pulling
something with it. It suddenly broke free and dissipated its
brilliance around the room.
    Kirk's body    heaved with a convulsive spasm.    McCoy
started    for the    bed, but the Doctor was    closer and the
Doctor was the one who held the    body as    the spasm subsided.
    McCoy looked at the    medical    monitors. Their    message    was
clear; Kirk was    now winning the    battle.    The antidote had
taken effect. He felt a    hand grab his arm. It was Spock.
    "He's made it, Spock." McCoy whispered.
    The    Doctor,    still holding Kirk, looked at McCoy and
Spock.
    "Bravo!" he    said with a smile to El    Donna as he lay    Kirk
down again and stood up.
    With a start, McCoy    realized that El Donna's eyes were
full of    tears.
    "That is a terrible    thing that I have done for you,    Time
Lord.  Had you summoned    me earlier, I could have left the
power with him.     Now he    is totally bereft."
    "El    Donna,"    said Spock, "the Captain will not miss what
he never knew he had - and you have saved his life."
    "For my people, Mr.    Spock, what he has lost    is more    than
life.  It may come back    in time, but it    is still a death and
destruction now."
    "He    is alive." The Doctor said.
    "That is because of    your choice, not his. You stand    as
his liegelord and you must answer to him for it. You speak
of change, Time    Lord, and urge such change on us - but will
you be prepared    for the    change that you    must face?" Without
waiting    for a reply, El    Donna stepped back between her two
escorts    and, with a hissing noise, they    disappeared.
    As they disappeared, McCoy heard the Doctor    take a deep
breath and Spock moved quickly over to the bed and looked
down at    Kirk.
    "Pompous, puffed-up    psychics!" said    the Doctor.  "Always
having the last    word.  What does she know.
    "Doctor," said Spock. "I thank you."
    "You're not    everyone, Spock."
    "She is not    the Captain," Spock replied.
    "Neither is    she speaking for me or any of the others on
the Enterprise." McCoy said. He    didn't like the    look on    the
Doctor's face. He had a    sudden hunch that if the Doctor
could have left    in his TARDIS at that moment he    would. "That
the Captain is alive now - and that we're all going to be
able to    return to our own universe is because of you."
    "Because of    me?"  The Doctor said in surprise. "Oh
nonsense anyone    could have. well, almost anyone. . ." McCoy
shook his head,    smiling.
     "If you two don't have anything better to do, I'd like
to get on with taking care of my patient."
    "Doctor," said Spock, "I believe that Mr. Scott has
encountered some difficulty in the design for the use of
those additional dilithium crystals." Spock turned and
walked toward the door.    After hesitating a moment, the
Doctor joined him.  "We    also need to begin the disengagement
of the computer    link between.
    McCoy watched them leave and resisted the impulse to
tell them both to get some rest. He took out his tricorder
and began to analyze Kirk's condition.
            ++++++++++
    "I can see that that's an experience you don't want
repeated, Bones." Kirk said.  "But what    makes you say that
the Doctor is like Spock?"
    "Well, I know he was hurt by what El Donna said. And I'm
equally    as sure    that something else happened to    him on the
trip with you."    Kirk shook his head in puzzlement. "I don't
think that he quite accepted what I said," McCoy continued,
"but since then    I haven't been able to get to him to try and
convince him that I really mean    it."
    "Why not?" Kirk was    perplexed. The Doctor had always
seemed to be quite accessible.
    "Y'know how    Spock uses that    `I am a    Vulcan'    bit when he
wants to shut you out?"    Kirk nodded. "Well, I may be
completely out of line,    but I'd    be willing to bet that the
Doctor uses that clown act of his in the same way. You can't
really touch him with a    ten foot pole."
    "So    you're frustrated."
    "Well, I keep reminding myself that    he's not a member of
our crew, and he's apparently quite capable of taking care
of himself, but..."
    "He's a friend." McCoy nodded in agreement.     "And you
don't like to see your friends hurt." Kirk was beginning to
feel tired again.
    "You'd better get some more    sleep."    McCoy said. "One
other thing, though, what did El Donna mean by the Doctor
having to face a change?"
    "I don't know Bones    - it sounds as though she is seeing
something that the Doctor is going to have difficulty
dealing    with." Kirk recalled the Doctor    going off with Raul
after the duel.     "I suspect that he's been trying to get
their culture to accept    the changes the    war has    made them
face - and I don't think she approves of that."
            +++++++++
    The    next day McCoy announced that the Doctor had come to
see him    before leaving.
    "Spock said    you wanted to see me, Captain,"    announced
the Doctor as he swept into the    room and sprawled into the
chair next to Kirk's bed. In spite of the words, Kirk sensed
that some of the surging exuberance was    repressed. He looked
carefully at the man in    the bulky clothes slouched in the
chair. The Doctor seemed to be studying    his shoes.
    "Doctor." The head came up and the blue eyes stared    at
him warily.  The look was familiar.  "Doctor," he said,
shaking    his head and laughing, "you are    a fraud!" The
Doctor's eyes widened in astonishment. "For all    your
carrying on, you don't like emotional scenes any more than
Spock does. You're embarrassed!"
    "I am never    embarrassed." replied the Doctor haughtily.
    "Of    course not." Kirk smiled. "Then    you're not going to
object if I apologize to you."
    "Apologize?"
    "I misjudged you and I do most sincerely regret that."
    "Oh    that," the Doctor got up and walked over to the
monitor    by the other bed.  Still facing    away from Kirk,    he
said, "It's very difficult to judge people properly all    the
time."
    "I nearly died because of it."
    "Captain," the Doctor seemed to square his shoulders and
turned around. "If I had not stimulated    your latent
telepathic abilities, the virus    would not have been able to
gain the hold that it did."
     "Doctor, McCoy has    already    been through that with me. I
would remind you that I    would have died    at the end of Raul's
sword had not been for you." The Doctor's eyes studied Kirk
carefully and Kirk went    on, "And Doctor, you never made    me
do anything. And what I    did by choice, I would do again."
The Doctor seemed to be    considering Kirk's words.  Kirk
wondered how many humans the Doctor had    outlived.
    "Well," said the Doctor, "It might have been his knife."
He smiled luminously at    Kirk.
    "You're incorrigible." Kirk    laughed.
    "That's what all my    teachers said."
    Spock and McCoy came into the room.
    "Doctor," Spock said, "We will be warping out of here in
twenty-two minutes."
    "Is    there anything we can do for you before    you go?"
Kirk asked.
    "For me? Oh    no, the    TARDIS is quite    self-sustaining." He
settled    his hat    to the back of his head.
    "I don't suppose we'll meet    again."    McCoy interjected.
    "Doctor McCoy, there is a 61.725 percent probability
that the Doctor    will arrive at some time in our    universe."
    Kirk looked    at Spock in amazement and then at the
Doctor.     The Doctor seemed to accept the statement. "Spock -
explain    please."
     Spock and the Doctor exchanged glances and    Spock
continued.  "In    entering and leaving the Doctor's universe,
we will    have created a weakness    between    this universe and
our own. The Doctor's TARDIS utilizes the same principle as
our warp drive.    It is this particular use of power that
enables    transfer between universes. The    Doctor's control of
the TARDIS is not reliable."
    "I like it the way it is," interrupted the Doctor
indignantly.
    "Indeed. You would not permit Mr. Scott to work on it.
As long    as it is in its    present    condition, there is a 61.7..
."
    "All right,    Spock,"    Kirk said. "Doctor, do you agree
with Mr.  Spock's conclusion?"
    "I won't dispute it, Captain."
    "Then I think that there is    something that I can to    for
you."
    "Article 110, Captain?" asked Spock.  Kirk smiled.    His
first officer was certainly reading his    mind today. He
looked at McCoy.
    "Jim - you've never    used that before."
    "I never had any reason to,    Bones. Don't you think that
it would be an appropriate -gift?"
    "Perfect." McCoy smiled as smugly as if he had had the
idea himself. The Doctor looked    uneasy and Kirk    wondered how
many times in his adventures he    had ever been thanked by
anyone he helped.
    "Computer,"    Kirk said.
    "Working."
    "This is Captain James T. Kirk - acknowledge."
    "Acknowledged."
    "Prepare to    implement Command Decision under Article
110."
    "Ready."
     "The individual known as the Doctor is to be considered
a citizen in full standing of the Federation and is to hold
the honorary rank of Commander in Starfleet.  Standard
identification patterns    as follow." Kirk nodded    at McCoy who
took one of the    computer input cartridges from his files and
entered    it in the slot.    The computer hummed as it digested
the information.
    "Acknowledged. Article 110 Command Decision
implemented."
    The    Doctor was looking at Kirk in amazement.
    "Now, Doctor, this obligates to nothing - but if you
should run up against some other muleheaded Starship
Captain, or a government bureaucrat, you can make them call
up this    record.    Not only will it identify you, but it will
provide    you with some authority. If it is ever called up,
the record of what you have done for us    will be    there too."
     "Captain, I. . ." Kirk realized that the voluble Doctor
was at a loss for words.  He abruptly shrugged his shoulders
and shook his head and looked at the three men who were
watching him.  "Thank you." He stepped forward and offered
his hand to Kirk who took it without hesitation. The warmth
of the handshake said more to Kirk than    the Doctor could
have possibly expressed    in words.  "Thank you,"    he said
again and glanced around at all    of them.
    "Doctor," said Spock, "you have ten    minutes    before you
have to    leave."
    The    Doctor stepped back and    settled    his hat    at a rakish
angle on his head.  He smiled brightly.    "Since you people
place such a high priority on saying goodbye, I'm going    to
go and say goodbye to Lt. Stephans. I'll see you down at the
TARDIS in five minutes."
    Kirk watched the tall figure leave the room    with regret.
    "Spock, if the Doctor does land in our Universe, what
are the    chances    - no, on second    thought, don't tell me."
    "Jim," said    McCoy, "You don't need Spock to    figure out
that if    we ever    run into the Doctor again either we'll be in
some kind of trouble, or he'll be in some kind of trouble,
but either way,    we'll all wind up in trouble!"
    "Doctor McCoy," said Spock,    "If you    are implying that
the Doctor has a knack for landing in the middle of
unpleasant situations..    . you are quite    correct    in your
assumption." A slight smile curved one corner of Spock's
mouth. McCoy laughed.
    "Damn it, Spock, I wish we'd run into the Doctor five
years ago."
    Spock cocked a quizzical eyebrow at    McCoy.
    "Gentlemen," Kirk said, "if    you want to see    the TARDIS
off, I would suggest that you be on your way."
    Kirk watched the two leave and lay back in the bed
staring    up at the ceiling. It had all started five years
ago, and now this time had come    and there was the unknown
future still ahead.
    An alien sound seemed to echo through the halls and    he
knew that the Enterprise was going home.

         @2  THE END

@1Jean Airey