Enterprise Log Entries 91

102 Pages·1994·4 MB·English

by  ScotPress

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CONTENTS
The Balance by Karen Sparks P 3
(M cCoy feels he mil do more gcx:d IiI all emergency wlit.>
The Last Chance by Simonetta Mostarda P 18
(Sped fakes a group (if cadets 011 a s1lturu(I/ fest.)
Spock by Maureen Frost P28
Perceptions by Jean Sloan P29
(A mind-blind Vulcal1 wO/11a11/ries fa tmp Spak liS b01dmate.)
A Ship's Engineer by Gillian Fry P-l7
Monsters by David Cameron P-l8
(HllllucinatiOlls Ilfiect pellce talb will! the COni.)
·W Eridani by M. Sadler P 57
Space Fall bv Matthe\\' Conw,)V P SR
CAll aliell :-.hip compels Kirk /0 rei/IiI' DaMeI' o,f the Mil/d.)
Scotty's La.111ent by Christine Jones P 67
The Mitrea Incident by Rita Drake P 68
(A f('I(,~Xlthic race Ims i~ CR.VII df'fCIICI!s rlSllillst Ihe ROl11ulamU
Silver Dreams bbyv G~'ile Wood P 76
The Torture Chamber Sandy Cdtchick P77
{Young Srxxk has II lot 10 {earl/about H tlllltIlIS.)
I Feel by Joyce Devlin P SO
The Shining Ligh t by Helen Cake bread P 81
(Visitors from mlOthcl' I1l1jucr::r -Spock ,md McCoy {II'C womenJ
'l"hy'la by Christine Jones
Siren Song by Jean Sloan
(Kirk iSlIlissillg. ,lind II Imdy Illieu finds hrr mille)
Newsflash - by Helen Connor PIOI)
Illas Lynn Henricks -Cover
C. Richert -P2
A ScoTpress publication
Editor -Valerie Piacentini
Typing - Kathyrn Boag, Sandy Catchick, Matthew Conway, Valerie Piacentini,
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Proofreading -Janet Quarton, Sheila Clark & Valerie Piacentini
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ENTERPRISE -LOG ENTRIES 91 is put out by ScoTpress and is available from
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ScoTpreS5 -Sheila Clark, Valerie PiacE'ntini, ]<met Quarton & Shona
2
3
by Karen Sparks
McCoy was trying as hard as he While he was watching the readings
knew how to banish the dreadful images stabilise, he was startled by a loud crash
from his mind, struggling to reduce the coming from the adjoining lab. He raced
horrors he had witnessed to words nl1 next door to find his head nurse staring
tape -an official report for Starfleet which disbelievingly at the floor littered with
might, if things moved fast, procure a broken glass and spreading pools of
Federation medical team in several coloured liquids.
weeks' time. By then how many more
thousands would have died from lack of \!1cCuy racked his brain frantically
the most basic care and supplies? for a few seconds, trying to remember
whether any of the spilt substances were
There was a Inovement in the harmfuL ei ther singly or when mixed as
doorway. He looked up to see Nurse they now ,>vere, and then moved towards
Chapel standing there. She had been her.
with him on the planet and had
conducted herself with her usual caIrn, She lifted horrified eyes to him and
professional efficiency, but he wished she suddenly dropped down onto one knee
hadn't had to be there. His heart went and began to gather the nearest shards of
out to her as he noted the tension in her glass into Cl heap, babbling, ''I'm so sorry,
face and the haunted look in her eyes. He Doctor, I don't knm.y· ... the tray just
should have talked with her sooner - but slipped. .. "
what was there to say?
"Christine, don't touch that glass for
She stood in front of his desk. "Lt heaven's sake!"
Bradley's last medication is wearing nif,"
she reported. "He's becoming very Glass cfunched beneath his boots as
restless." he reached her side. He half lifted her to
her feet, and blood from a long cut on her
McCt)V rose immediately but palm stained her unifonn. He took her to
paused in the doorway to look at her. his office ,u1d treated and bound the
Her eyes dropped benea til his gaze and injurY. Then he just held her while she
he saw that the hold she had over her cried', softly and uncontrollably. Once,
emotions had become very fragile indeed. through her sobs, she managed, "I'm
sorrY .. .it was the children." McCoy
"Stay here, Chris. I'll be back in a hugged her closer and waited patiently
minute." for her to finish.
She shook her head. "J'm in the It was the memory of the children
middle of clearing away an nld that waS haunting him the most, too. He
experiment in the lab. I'll come back kept pushing their horrifying images to
\-vhen I've finished if that's okay." the back l~f his mind, together with ,1
decision he knew he had to make, both to
"That's fine," McCoy agreed, ,md be dealt with whenever he went off duty.
wen t to a ttend to Bradlev. He refused to ,1dmit to himself that h'is
unwillingness to face up to that could
possibly have anything to do with still "I sent the initial urgent request for
being on duty more than thirty six hours aid as soon as we returned, but they will
after their return from Belos. require your detailed report as soon as
possible."
He turned his attention back to
Chapel as she began fumbling for a "I know, Spock, I'm working on it,"
handkerchief. He handed her a tissue and said the Doctor, eX.:lsperated.
she scrubbed at her tearstained face. "1
must look awful." The Science Officer hesitated. "It is
now 11.30 pm. You have been working
McCoy smiled. "Well. it might just on it for one point seven days."
start rumours that 1 beat up my nurses.
Now I want you to get out of here and "Oh, well done, Spack. You can
take tomorrow off. Try to relax and look count and tell the time. I always knew
after yourself a bit, okay?" that computer in your head would come
in useful one day."
He over-rode her protests and
apologies, but she paused on her way out. Silent for a mome.nt as he
"Whose shoulder do you cry on, considered the heavy sarcasm, Spock's
Leonard?" gaze rested on the heap of computer
record-tapes abandoned on the desk.
McCoy grinned and said, "Hell, McCoy followed the direction of his gaze
when you get to my age, you don't need and said defensively. "They didn't come
one. C'night, Chris." out right. I had to do them again."
The Doctor's cheerful air fell awav Spack refrained from asking why he
He
from him as soon as the door closed. had not simply erased the unwanted
slumped into his chair and rubbed his material. He had learned that logical
eyes, He returned to the thankless task of questions often produced highly
completing the report, sinking deeper irrational responses from Humans,
into despair as he relived once again the especially in times of stress. He looked at
terrible scenes engraved into his memory. the ship's doctor, who had evidently not
slept since their return from the planet,
At some point later he became and thought dispassionately what
aware that he was no longer alone. With inadequate defences these Humans had
a great effort he dragged himself out of against unpleasant ordeals, and how little
the nightmares In his mind. He peered time it took for them to look as exhausted
blearily over the untidy piles of discarded and tormented as this one did now.
notes on his desk and scowled at his
visitor. He tried to be diplomatic. "If there
is a difficulty, I would be willing to write
"Wh.:lt do you want?" the report."
"I came to see whether YOU have "It would be easy for you, wouldn't
finished the report for Starfleet," Spock it?" Hared McCoy. "Well, I may only be a
stated. lowly Human, but I can still do my job."
"Does it l{)ok like it?" demanded "I did not intend to imply that you
McCoy irritably. "I'll send it up to the could not," Spock said stiffly, and turned
Bridge when it's ready." towards the door.
5
McCoy watched him leaving with meditate. Chris bottles it up for a while
something close to panic, He hadn't and then has a good cry. The emergency
meant to say any of those things." Spack team we left behind there will be working
wasn't to blame, and he knew in his heart so hard they won't have time to feel
that the Vulcan hadn't been quite as anything much."
unaffected by the bloody scenes on Belos
as he would ha ve liked people to believe, "And you, Doctor?"
Spock's acute hearing caught the "Me? Oh, I manage," said McCoy
whispered apology, and he turned back to drearily.
face desperation in the blue eyes, "No
offence was taken, DoctOI', Do you IN ish Spock took a risk, "You shut
to discuss anything?" ' yourself away from your friends and
work yourself to the point of exhaustion,
McCoy gestured helplessly, and at the end of which period you generally
began to fiddle with objects on his desk. become intoxicated in your quarters."'
He badly needed to talk to someone, .. but
Spock wouldn't want to listen. He McCny grinned very tiredly, "It's
wouldn't understand, and if he did known as drinking oneself into (\ stupnr,
manage to start talking and then Spock Spock:'
\-vent all Vulcan and distant him, he
l}l1.
felt he wouldn't be able to stand it, He "Ah, yes, I recall the collolluiai
shook his head. "No, it doesn't matter. expression," returned Spock gravely.
Thanks anyway."
McCoy's gaze rested on the
Spock studied the Human cnrefuIl),. discarded (omputer tapes and there \vas
He was extremelY tense and it was defeat in his voice as he asked, '''fell me,
painfully obvious' that something was what's the point of writing this report?
troubling him deeply, so why did he not There's nothing I can say to make Some
say so? Should he try to persuade him to desk~bow1d bureaucrat realise what it's
talk in an attempt to relieve the visible like down there. It will end up at the
a.gitation, or should he obey the bottom of a heap of appeals for aid on a
unconvincing words and leave? He desk somewhere, and if anything is ever
sighed inwardly and wished, not for the done about it, it will be too late for
first time, that Humans would say what thousands of people, Meanwhile we just
they meant. He decided to try just once. sit here on our backsides doing nothing .. ,"
Quietly, he said, "You have not "They will send emergency aid as
forgotten that I was also on Belos?" soon as they receive our preliminary
report," Spack reminded him. He realised
McCoy closed his eyes. "I know," even as he said it that logic was not what
After a long pnuse, he said, "1 guess you McCoy required just then and perceived a
just deal with it better." change in the atmosphere as the Doctor
withdrew into himself.
Spock sat down, "Each person must
find their own way of bearing the "You're right, of course, said
unbearable. " McCoy briskly, "WelL I can't sit here (111
night gossiping, I've got to finish this:'
The Doctor looked surprised at the
<ldmission, (Ind ~aid bitterl~l, "Sure, You This was dearly a dismissal and
6
Spack did not know what had "He seemed to be furious. I pointed
precipitated it. He rose. "j bid you out that it was hardly within a Starship
goodnight, Doctor." CMO'S remit to stay on some gOd
forsaken planet in the middle of nowhere.
"Goodnight, Spack." We left a large and perfectly competent
medical team down there."
The Vulcan turned in the doorway.
"Plense do not omit to go to bed tonight. Spack took a sip of his herbal tea
One more night without sleep and your and did not reply, but another piece of the
appearance will surely cause a relapse in puzzle had slipped into place for him.
any unfortunate patient you may attend."
Kirk continued thoughtfully, "I
McCoy snorted indignantly as the know he must have been upset about the
doors closed after Spock. state of things on Belos, but he doesn't
usually let things get to him that badly.
As the Science Officer walked to his Have you seen him, Spack? What do you
quarters, he was certain that McCoy had think?"
not spoken of what was really troubling
him, but he now had a faint idea of what "I saw him last night." Spock
it might be. If his conjecture was paused to steeple his fingers in front of
accurate, he reflected, he would hear him and regarded Kirk gravely.
about it soon enough. "Knowing the good Doctor as we do,
would it be so very strange if one day he
found he could not walk away from
The next morning, Spock and Kirk people who need him more than we do?"
happened to arrive at the rec room at the
same time. After selecting their Shock registered momentarily in
breakfasts they sat down at their usual Kirk's eyes and he choked badly on a
table and began to discuss the day's mouthful of coffee. Spock rendered the
routine. Spock noticed that Kirk glanced appropriate back slapping treatment.
towards the door each time it opened; his
curiosity was satisfied when he remarked "For heaven's sake don't be so
very casually, "j wonder if McCoy will be dramatic! Are you trying to give me
joining us this morning." heart failure?"
Spack was privately sure that he "Indeed not, Captain," Spack
wouldn't. Kirk continued half to himself, assured him.
"I hope he's all right. j haven't even seen
him since we had that argument after you "Well, don't go around dropping
all returned from Belos." photon tubes like that into the
conversation. I'm sure you're reading far
Spack inclined his head quizzically. too much into it. Bones wouldn't want to
"Argument?" leave the Enterprise, that's ridiculous. He
couldn't possibly." There was a
"Mmm. Didn't I tell you?" Kirk determined set to Kirk's chin that SpaCk
buttered his toast. "He wanted to stay on recognised with inner disquiet. Kirk
the planet. Got very uptight about it." stood abruptly. "Enough of McCoy and
his possible problems. You and j have a
"Could you define 'uptight'?" Spack ship to run."
asked.
When it was almost time for their "Ah, Doctor." Kirk smiled at his
shift to end, Kirk informed Spock that he friend's discomfiture; this wasn't the first
was going to Sickbay to check on McCoy, time he'd caught McCoy dozing at his
and would report back later. Spock desk after a hard mission. "Your head
watched him enter the rurbolift with nurse said you were busy. I see she was
illogical unease. He mentally shook right."
himself as he returned his attention to his
scanner. Kirk was McCoy's friend ,md McCoy frowned and moved to get
undoubtedly understood him far better up. "Christine's out there? I told her to
than a Vulcan ever could. Certainly Kirk take today off."
would adjust his approach accordingly
when he saw how vulnerClble the Doctor "HolLi hard, Bones. Just stay there
N
seemed at the momen t. you look as if you need to. You can get
back to hassling Christine presently. First
In Sickbay, Kirk \'\'as intercepted by I'd like you to teil me what's \vrong."
Chapel, who hurried to greet him.
?vkCoy said defensively, "VVhy
"Good afternoon, \Jurse Chapel," he should anything be wrong?"
responded. "What have you done to
yourself?" He nodded towards her Kirk studied McCov closely. "Oh,
b<1ndaged hand. just little things. I haven't seen you for
two days, you look like you haven't slept
"Oh, it's nothing serious, sir. Can I ur eaten for weeks, and our illustrious
help you at all?" First Officer is dropping cryptic hints that
you might want to resign."
"No, thanks, I've come to see Dr
McCoy." He took ,1 step to one side to gl) :VicCov shifted uncomfortablv.
around her but sl1loothly, apparently After a long pause he said in it low voic'e,
quite innocently, she moved with him "WelL 1101V that you mention it, I was
and still blocked his way. comin' to see vou later." He concentTated
on rolling <1 ~tylus between his fingers.
"He's actually very busy cIt the "Jim .. .! don't know how Spock knew
moment, Captain." because r sure didn't tell him ... but he'~
right."
·'Hmm." Kirk was familiar with
Chapel's protectingNherNboss mode. "Is he Kirk sat down verv suddenly. "No!
with a patient?" You're not leaving.
"No," she admitted, rather "Yes, I am, Jim." McCoy spoke
unwillingly. quietly. "I've been here long enough."
"Then I'll just see if he (an spare me "\!Vhat are you talking about?
,1 few minutes." Bones, you can't leave. 1 thought you
were happy here.' There was desperation
Chapel gave up and ['he doors to in Kirk's voice.
McCoy's office upened to reveal the
Doctor, very dishevelled, lifting his head "r have been happy here," snid
from his arms resting on the desk. He \!1cCoy gently. "But r never intended to
!
looked confused and blearily rubbed an stav here forever, and it's tirne (or me [0
eye. "Ah, Jim." move on."
8
"Move on to where?" leave the Enterprise."
McCoy squared his shoulders. "I'm "The fact that you don't believe it
going to join one of the Red Cross Mobile doesn't surprise me in the least," said
Emergency Units. They're always very McCoy with some bitterness.
short of volunteers." "Nevertheless, it happens to be true."
"Well, of course they are " they all "It isn't really this bad, is it? Why
end up getting killed! Bones, they go to haven't you said anything before?"
planets in the middle of wars and plagues
and famines ... " "You never asked," McCoy
answered with great weariness. "Jim, you
"Precisely," said McCoy quietly. didn't see what it was like on Belos. If
you had, you'd understand... Everything
"Bones, you can·t. What would I.. here is so unimportant compared to what
We need you here on the Enterprise." they're going through."
Kirk's hands clenched together in his lap.
"Everything?" Kirk felt very cold.
"No, you don't. That's the whole He reached across the desk towards
paint. I am not needed here. Don't you McCoy. "Bones, surely we can .. ,"
see, Jim'" Blue eyes begged silently for
understanding. "You and Spack belong The Doctor flinched away from
here. You always have and always will." Kirk's touch. "Don't. You're not going to
change my mind."
"I thought you 'belonged' here too."
Kirk sat rigidly for a moment.
"But I don't," McCoy said There was so much he wanted to say but
desperately, "I belong wherever I can he couldn't form the words, and the blue
help people the most. If I joined that Unit clad figure in front of him didn't look in
I could save more lives in a day than I do any condition to discuss the issue further,
here in a year. I could ... " McCoy wrapped his arms across his
stomach as if it hurt. "Do me a favour
"Bones, you're not thinking straight, and get out of here, Please,"
You're very tired and upset - you'll feel
better after a good night's sleep," Kirk stood up slowly and took a
last, disbelieving look at the grey-faced
"Don't patronise me!" McCoy's fist Doctor before leaving the office, Walking
slammed onto the desk "You're not through Sickbay, he was unaware of the
listening, Do you want to know just what anxious glances Chapel was directing at
my job consists of, Captain, sir? What ten him. He stopped at an intercom in the
years of training and a lifetime of medical deserted corridor,
experience have led to? Half my time is
spent sitting in here on my backside, "Kirk to Bridge,"
filling in endless reports and forms, Some
days it's a really big event if someone "Spock here,"
comes in with a headache or a strained
muscle. I can do more than this with my "Spack." Kirk rested his forehead
time." for a moment against the smooth
bulkhead. "[ think McCoy could probably
"I can't believe you really want to use a friendly face in a few minutes."
9
"Are you not on your way to see started to lift his head but reality lurched
him?" Kirk detected faint surprise in his warningly again.
voice.
"Dropped something," he mumbled
"I have seen him." Kirk swallowed in explanation.
painfully. "J couldn't help. Perhaps you
might ... ?" Someone sat on the couch beside
him and fingers rested lightly on his
"Understood, Captain. shall pulse. McCoy forced his gaze a little past
proceed immediately and report to you the lean hand and found two rows of gold
later." braid on a blue sleeve.
"Go away, Spock. I'm all right." He
couldn't even summon the strength to
McCoy hunched forward in his feel embarrassed at being discovered in
chair, . exhausted beyond imagining, this condition.
waiting for the storm of violent shaking
to pass. Visions of the starving children He heard a scanner whirr, and
of Belos rose again before his eyes and the Spack asked, "Are you in any pain?"
heart-wrenching sights crowded his
mind. Huge piles of rotting corpses; yet "No, I'm not, don't fuss," replied
the dead were to be pitied less than the McCoy faintly. "I'm perfectly all right."
survivors of this terrible chemical
warfare. People of all ages stumbled "You are patently not all right,
around in severe shock, many blinded or Doctor. Your readings ..
bearing raw, open burns on their skin,
searching for missing loved ones. Fires "Not here, Spack. I'm still on duty,"
raged through towns, destroying the few
areas which had remained free of the The Vulcan studied the trembling
choking gas clouds, killing those who had figure and identified the need for dignity
been moved there for safety and were too and privacy. He nodded. "Very welL 1
badly injured to escape. 'Lost children recommend that you go off duty now. I
clutched at him as he passed, pleading shall escort you to your quarters."
with him to find their parents or siblings,
begging him for food, for safety. He Spack's assistance was required to
heard a.gain the pitiful pleas of dying get him there, in spite of McCoy's
mothers to save their babies. protestations that it was not, and was
given dispaSSionately. At their
And he had left them. destination, McCoy dropped wearily onto
his bunk and waved Spock towards the
He just made it to the bathroom chair.
adjoining his office before he was as sick
as it is possible to be on an empty "Siddown, Spock". that is, if you
stomach. He dropped back onto the haven't got to go ... "
couch as the world began to swim blackly
arow1d him. He leaned forward, trying to 'Thank you." Spock sat back,
stop shaking, and felt guilty for being regarding the Doctor thoughtfully. "I
alive. came to tell you that the first medical ship
is on its way to Belos."
The door to his office opened. He