Star Trek - Log 6 by Alan Dean Foster

Author:Alan Dean Foster
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 0345333527
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 1991-09-27T07:00:00+00:00

Spock finally looked up from his console to find an anxious Kirk staring at him, waiting for information. "Sorry, Captain . . . nothing. I've tried re-patching around the apparently defective emergency override, and canceling out any present programming, without result.

"Ample evidence exists to show that they are still inside, however. Someone's oxygen is being recycled, and from time to time power is still being drawn to operate the simulacrum machinery.

"Which leaves us with two possibilities," Kirk finished. "Either they can't respond—for what reason we don't know yet. Or else equipment malfunction is preventing them from even trying to answer." The command chair hummed softly as it swung round.

"M'ress . . . any luck yet?"

"Still no rresponse thrrough any channels, Captain."

Kirk pondered. "Let's go to the source on this, Spock. It's the computer that's been giving us trouble. The computer supervises everything that goes on in that rec room. So . . ."

"I was about to suggest that myself, Captain."

Spock turned, and his fingers began a lithe, precise dance over the ship's instrumentation. The blink of indicator lights and the compliant hums and beeps of responsive equipment followed. The reply was presented both in printed form on Spock's screens, and aurally over the Bridge speakers.

"That is for me to know and for you to find out," it announced.

Spock's eyebrows looked as if they had crawled clear up his forehead, through his hair and down his rear collar. Infantile riddle-replies he'd come to expect occasionally from humans. But that something as precise and coldly logical as the ship's computer might resort to such barbaric foolishness seemed to all but herald the end of reason.

Kirk's reaction was nearly as incredulous. "Did I hear that right, Mr. Spock?" he mumbled in astonishment.

"I am afraid," Spock said slowly, "that you did, Captain. The malfunction is clearly more severe than I believed possible." He returned his attention to his keyboard.

"Question," he inquired carefully. "Are you deliberately holding Dr. McCoy, and Lieutenants Uhura and Sulu captive in the main recreation room?"

Another prompt response, this time with a subtle alteration that hinted, perhaps, at something less than complete control over its disturbed circuitry. Certainly, Kirk mused, it wouldn't want to sound like a petulant child.

"I'll never tell," it whined. "Never ever never. Can't make me, either. Can't, can't, can't! And I won't."

Hands clenched tightly, Kirk rose and walked over to stand by Spock. "Let me try," he whispered, then directed his voice to the input pickup.

"This is Captain James T. Kirk speaking," he announced with as much steel in his voice he could muster. "You are programmed to obey any direct order I may give."

"That is correct," the voice replied evenly.

Some of Kirk's fury abated at that conciliatory response. Maybe what the computer needed to break it free of this inexplicable insanity was just a little drill-sergeant firmness. Slowly, he continued.

"Very well . . . I order you to release officers McCoy, Sulu and Uhura from the recreation chamber immediately."

A series of flashes and winks from the

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