Star Trek: Gemini by Mike W. Barr

Author:Mike W. Barr
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
ISBN: 9780743400749
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2003-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“I ASSURE YOU, DOCTOR,” said Spock, from a bed in sickbay, “I am, as you would put it, ‘fine.’”

“Shut up, Spock,” replied McCoy, his bewilderment over what had happened to Spock eclipsing his pleasure at being able to have the Vulcan under his thumb. “Until I find out what’s wrong with you, you’re not going anywhere. You collapsed on the bridge, do you call that ‘fine’?”

“My assessment was of my present condition,” said Spock, lifting his head to indicate the diagnostic screen overhead. “As to what caused my temporary collapse, I have no idea.”

“What did you feel, Spock?” Kirk asked.

“Who’s the doctor here?” said McCoy to Kirk, acidly. “Well, Spock? What did you feel?”

“A momentary numbness,” said Spock, “almost a sensation of coldness in my mind, if such a description could apply to tissue which is unable to register any such sensation. Not so much pain as a sudden absence of sensation, one might say.”

“None of which is much help,” said McCoy, almost to himself.

“My apologies, Doctor,” said Spock, with every appearance of sincerity. “I assure you, this incident troubles me as much as it troubles you.”

“I’m sure it does,” said McCoy, absently. For years, Kirk knew, McCoy had harbored a dread of Spock needing medical attention of such magnitude that he would be unable to provide it. Occasions such as this brought those feelings to the surface.

“What can you do?” asked Kirk.

“I don’t know if I can do anything,” replied McCoy. “He’s right, all his readings are textbook, for him. It’s that momentary lapse on the bridge that bothers me.”

“Wouldn’t it have left some residual effect?”

“I don’t know, Jim. I’ve gone over him with the cortical scanner, but those readings have to be compared to a cross section of readings, it’s not a diagnosis that pops up in a few seconds. However—” He played a medical scanner over Spock, examining its readings thoughtfully. “—even a preliminary scan indicates that his encephalographic readings are way above his norm.”

“A telepathic attack of some kind?” asked Spock.

“We can’t rule it out. Even an illogical human like me,” McCoy said, dryly, “knows better than to try to chalk what happened to you up to coincidence. Not with everything that’s gone wrong the last few days.”

“Bones, you’re telling me that the faction that wants the princes dead has another weapon?”

“That’s my best guess, Jim. But,” he said, as Kirk opened his mouth, “I know you want more than a ‘best guess,’ so give me a little time.”

“I’m not sure how much of that we have, Bones. Isn’t there anything to indicate how the attack was launched? Anything to say where it might have come from, or—”

“Jim, right now there’s nothing except our memories to show that Spock was ever out of commission at all. And I can’t promise that I’ll find anything that will, unless it occurs again.”

“Most inefficient,” murmured Spock, raising a brow.

Nurse Chapel entered. As always when Spock was present, her professional manner was at its most precise. Kirk assumed she thought that was how Spock would wish to be treated on an occasion such as this.

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