The Delta Anomaly by Rick Barba

Author:Rick Barba [Barba, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Media Tie-In, Action & Adventure, General
ISBN: 1442412410
Google: TdpUZ2G5eeAC
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Published: 2010-11-02T07:00:00+00:00

CH.8.12

City Lights

Spock stood in the ICU waiting room, hands clasped behind his back. He didn’t pace or fidget, despite his unsettled emotions. This was due to the calming techniques he’d learned as a boy from his mother. Ironic that a Human woman so often guided by deep feeling could teach a Vulcan male to find such peaceful, meditative corridors in his consciousness.

One of his older colleagues on the science faculty, Dr. John Telemark, stepped up beside him.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine, Commander,” he said.

Spock nodded. “Yes, the medical team took both male cadets off their ventilators almost immediately. I was told they’re alert and doing well.”

“Good news!” said Telemark. “And the girl?”

“Stable but still unconscious, according to the last report,” replied Spock, quickly glancing toward the double doors leading into the care unit where Uhura was.

Telemark gestured in the opposite direction, down the corridor to the hospital’s main lobby.

“Quite a few cadets keeping vigil out there,” he said.

Spock allowed himself a thin smile. “The cadet corps has an intriguing social psychology,” he said.

“How so, Spock?” asked the older professor.

“Cadets spend an inordinate amount of time devising ways to humiliate one another,” he said. “It is a most peculiar practice. And yet when one of their own is imperiled, they become as protective as a Hyborian mite colony.”

Telemark smiled. “Well, as a distinguished recent gradu-ate, I guess you’d know,” he said.

“Cadet training was an interesting time,” said Spock.

Dr. Telemark glanced toward the lobby again. “That Delta team captain is out there, I forget his name. They say he’s an impulsive fellow. I don’t expect he’ll fare well in Tanika Station next week.”

Spock bowed respectfully, but said, “I’m learning that Human decision-making is often a curious process. In certain subjects, decisions that may seem illogical at first often turn out to be tactically sound.” He frowned. “The Human brain seems to be a mystery to itself. It makes what appear to be snap judgments and rash choices that, as it turns out, have in fact been sufficiently processed subconsciously.” He looked at his colleague. “I believe you call it intuition.”

Telemark smiled again. “I call it flying by the seat of your pants,” he said.

Spock raised an eyebrow. “An interesting metaphor, Doctor,” he said.

“Well, that young cadet from Iowa thinks he’s ready for your Kobayashi Maru scenario.” Telemark chuckled. “But frankly, I don’t think he’ll get past Tanika Station on Monday.”

As Spock began to reply, Dr. Griffin burst through the ICU doors and approached with his shock of white hair and a crooked smile.

“Hello, gentlemen,” he said.

“How are they, Doctor?” asked Spock quickly.

“Hard to say definitively,” said Dr. Griffin. “They certainly seem well enough. Cadet Uhura suffered the worst inhalation trauma, but there’s no thermal damage to her airway passages. Most of the problem seems to be the metabolic acidosis, and a bit too much tissue-level oxygen debt.”

Spock and Telemark looked at each other.

Dr. Griffin smiled. “Sorry,” he said. “Ah, her blood’s a little out of whack. But we’re fixing it. In any case, she’s resting comfortably on a ventilator and her vitals look good.

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