Chapter 1:
"Aye, sir. Mr. Spock showed me all the reports found on the planet. Those people keep getting ill, and I can't seem to figure out why. All readings say that there is not a single epidemic running throughout the planet's surface, and yet all the readings we've gotten from the ship say these people are ailing from something." Scotty reported. He was sitting at a table in a briefing room with second in command, Commander Spock, and across from them was Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise. The young captain had called a meeting with the top three in command to discuss what to do regarding a new report from Starfleet Command.
The planet of Altius VII was showing signs of its citizens growing sick and dying from some unknown ailment, but it could not be determined by several articles and readings found on the ship's computers, yet the readings that the ship was sensing in the planet's orbit showed that the people were indeed suffering from some sort of viral or bacterial ailment causing thousands and thousands of deaths. The Enterprise had been assigned to travel to Altius VII and to figure out what was going on.
Kirk's face grew puzzled and turned to his second in command. Hopefully, he thought, Spock would have an explanation. It was rare that the Vulcan did not know information on something.
"Spock, an explanation?" He asked.
"Whatever it is that is causing this ailment to the citizens on Altius VII, it must be so widely spread that its people are not capable of making a report to Starfleet Command regarding the ailment." The Vulcan answered.
"If that's true, then how did Starfleet Command get this information?"
"Another ship must have passed by and reported it, sir. If what Mr. Spock speculates is true, then Starfleet Command wouldn't have known about it in the first place," Scotty said.
"Any guesses on what this ailment might be?" Kirk questioned.
"I couldn't tell yah even if I wanted to, sir. I know about medicine as much as I know how to speak Vietnamese."
Kirk turned to Spock.
"Spock," he said.
"Unknown, Captain. There is simply not enough information regarding this matter. The readings the ship's sensors are picking up may detect an ailment running on the planet's surface, but it does not tell us what are the symptoms nor does it say where the ailment is coming from."
"The best person to ask would be Dr. McCoy, Captain. If anyone can give us an idea on what might be ailing these people, it's him, sir." Scotty commented.
"Yes, I suppose you're right, Mr. Scott. Where is he?" Kirk asked.
"If I were to speculate, Captain, he would more than likely be in his quarters. I do not believe his shift in Sickbay for another three hours, seven minutes, and 36.74 seconds," Spock said.
"His shift might have to be put on hold. Follow me, gentlemen."
Doing as told, Spock and Scotty followed from behind the Starfleet captain and made their way up to deck three to find their caring, yet abrasive Starfleet medical surgeon.
In a Starfleet officer's quarters, tiny five month old baby Julia McCoy sat on a bed with a blanket and a few toys she was playing with. She was wearing a white dress with a pink Starfleet insignia with a rattle in the middle placed on her left side at the top while wiggling her little feet. She picked up a plush, yellow duck and tried to figure out what to make him do.
Standing off on the right and standing in front of a mirror, Dr. Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise, was checking his uniform and hair, wanting to look presentable to go to his duties. He ran his hands on his shirt, attempting to smooth out any unwanted wrinkles in his work clothes. McCoy then looked at his reflection and started making a judgment on whether he needed more spiffing up to do or not. He was brought out of his thoughts, when he heard small coo noises coming from behind him.
McCoy turned around and smiled at his baby. He walked over to his bed, sat down gently, and faced Julia.
"What are you doing? Huh? What are you doing?" He cooed.
Julia looked at her father while chewing on one of her ducky's wings and smiled. She made a few coo noises in response.
McCoy grinned, then took his finger and gently rubbed it under Julia's little chin.
"You're such a good girl, did you know that?" He asked softly.
The little baby continued smiling and chewing on her ducky's wing. McCoy smiled at her, then leaned forward and gave Julia a little kiss on the side of her head. As he continued watching his daughter, the doors to McCoy's quarters opened, and Kirk, Spock, and Scotty made their way inside the decent sized living area. The captain and the engineer smiled, while Spock's face remained passive. There was something in his eyes, though, that resembled a bit of happiness. Julia was the only one that could ever bring some sort of emotion out of Spock, but McCoy had been the only one out of the entire crew to witness the Vulcan smiling at her.
"How's my littlest crew member doing today?" Kirk asked, with a grin.
McCoy chuckled.
"Smiling as usual," he said.
The Starfleet doctor got to his feet and made his way towards his co. workers and friends, then stopped and crossed his arms.
"What can I do for yah, Jim?" McCoy asked.
"Bones, the planet we are currently in orbit with, Altius VII, our ship's sensors are picking up that the people below are suffering from some type of illness, though none of our records report of any such thing to Starfleet Command." Kirk began.
McCoy raised his eyebrow, growing curious to this news.
"An undetected illness? What kind?"
"Unknown, Doctor. Our sensors can pick up there is, in fact, an ailment among the Altians, but what it is and where its source is coming from is incoherent." Spock responded.
"Dr. McCoy, it's the strangest thing I've ever seen in me entire life. There is not a single record in our computers reporting an epidemic on Altius VII, yet our ship's reading of the planet are picking up several life forms suffering from something." Scotty added.
"We were wondering if you had any sort of idea on what the cause might be," Kirk said, watching his CMO carefully.
"Can the ship sense what kind of illness it might be? Fungal, bacterial, viral…" Spock cut the country doctor off.
"Negative, Doctor. All we know is what we have just told you."
McCoy stood there, pursing his lips, his mind trying to think of some sort of disease or sickness that could cause such a predicament as the one they were currently dealing with. A disease that has not been reported to Starfleet Command, yet it's detectable by the ship's readings of the planet's current condition.
"I can't exactly tell yah anything unless I know more information about this illness your speaking of. Either that, or I need to examine someone on the planet that's ailing from it. I'm sorry, Jim. I wish I could tell you more," the doctor said sincerely.
"It's alright, Bones." Kirk sighed, then turned to face all three of his friends. "Looks like we have no choice but to beam down and investigate ourselves."
McCoy turned to Scotty.
"Scotty, I'd like you to stay up here and take care of Julia. Lord knows if this illness is contagious or not, and I won't risk my daughter being exposed to it," he said.
"Aye, Dr. McCoy. Julia will be in good hands, I assure yah." The engineer answered.
"Spock, Dr. McCoy, follow me. Grab your tricorders and phasers, and we will beam down to the surface." Kirk ordered.
"Yes, Jim," McCoy said.
"Affirmative, Captain," Spock said.
The Starfleet surgeon turned around and made his way towards his bed, where Scotty was sitting next to little Julia. She looked up at her dad with something in her eyes saying she did not understand what was happening.
McCoy gently picked up Julia in his arms and held her close to him, while rocking her gently from side to side.
"Daddy's gotta go away for a little while, but I'll be back, I promise. Uncle Scotty's gonna take good care of you," he said softly.
Julia made a few coo noises, and McCoy rested his head gently on hers. He gave a kiss on the forehead, then handed her to Scotty. He watched her a little longer, then looked up at the engineer officer. His eyes held worry and a bit of fear knowing he may or may not come back.
Picking it up, Scotty nodded and gave a comforting smile.
"Don't sorry, Dr. McCoy. I'll take good care of her," he said gently.
The doctor smiled and nodded, then made his way behind Spock and Kirk. Soon enough, the three men left McCoy's quarters, leaving only Scotty and Julia behind.