The IDIC Epidemic (Star Trek: The Original Series) by Jean Lorrah

Author:Jean Lorrah
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek
Published: 2000-09-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK walked the corridors of his ship, silently cursing the virus attacking his crew and his friends. The closed system that ordinarily protected them was now providing a perfect environment for the virus to spread. Short of redesigning the ship, there was not a thing to do about it.

He longed for an enemy he could face man-to-man, outfight, or outwit. How was a starship captain supposed to combat the unseen menace of a virus?

"Captain Kirk," came Uhura's voice.

Kirk walked over to a wall unit and punched the button savagely. "Kirk here."

"Message from Dr. McCoy."

"Put him through."

"Jim, we think we've found—" McCoy began.

The red-alert claxon drowned out whatever the doctor was going to say. "Bones, we've got an emergency. Contact you later. Kirk out."

He punched intraship. "What the hell's going on?"

"Intruders in engineering!" came a voice he didn't recognize. "Captain, they're—" A yelp, a muffled thud.

Kirk punched the button. "Engineering! Status!"

There was no answer.

"Computer! Give me engineering status!" he demanded.

"All systems operational," the calm mechanical voice informed him. "Alarm manually operated. Access to engineering closed."

"Get those doors open!" Kirk demanded, starting to turn away and head for the turbolift.

"Access to engineering locked and both computer and manual override disengaged," the computer informed him.

"Damn!" He punched the intercom again. "Scotty—"

But his chief engineer was isolated in sickbay.

So was Spock.

The captain of the Enterprise remembered to turn off the intercom before he swore vehemently, then turned and ran to the turbolift. "Engineering deck!"

The doors opened into a locked room. In all three directions, the emergency doors were closed across the corridors. Kirk could not go farther than ten meters from the turbolift in any direction.

Two men and a woman from security were slumped on the floor. Kirk quickly checked that all were breathing.

The engineering intercom came to life, Scotty's voice demanding, "What's goin' on doon there? Who's muckin' about with my engines?"

"I don't know yet, Scotty," Kirk told him. "Whoever it is has secured the emergency doors. Stay put. I'll let you know what we find out."

The turbolift doors opened. Lieutenant Nelson and three more security personnel hurried out, armed with phasers.

"They're all alive," Kirk quickly assured them as they glimpsed their fallen comrades. "Must've been stunned."

"No," said Nelson, pulling open one man's shirt to show the bruises. "Nerve-pinched. It's those Vulcan rebels. Shoulda carried 'em in the brig from the start."

"That's where they'll make the rest of the trip!" Kirk vowed. "Get them out of there!"

"Aye, Captain," Nelson said calmly. "Olag, schematics for these doors. Corcoran, find all engineering personnel not trapped in there and put them to work on—"

Just then one of the emergency doors slid open.

They all turned—to see the limp bodies of the engineering crew lying in the corridor, and behind them the next emergency door, securely shut.

All of these people were also alive, also unconscious.

Kirk left Nelson there and went to the bridge.

Soon the rebels were ready to communicate.

Sendet appeared on the screen. "Captain Kirk, we have control of your engineering section. As you know, the entire ship can be operated from here.

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