Yay! Chapter three finally. First I would like to say that this chapter would likely not have been posted for quite some time if it weren't for the encouragement I received from Celticmusebooks. So she's to thank. Actually the first time I wrote this chapter and saved it, I lost the whole thing and had to redo it. Sadly, I think it was better the first time around oh well.
Disclaimer. Since I've now used segments from the bantam novelization of this episode I feel I should do this. I in no way claim to own any of James Blish's work and no infringement is intended. I make no money from my fanfiction works.
Captains log Stardate 2713.6. The building Miri lead us to also housed an automatic transmission station which sent out the signal that drew us to this planet. We also discovered something else that the blue splotches characteristic of the unknown disease had appeared on each of us with the exception of Mr Spock. There was a well equipped laboratory in the building. Lieutenant Chapel took tissue samples of each of us in an attempt to isolate the organism responsible.
Christine frowned as she worked theknobs and dials of the archaic microscope found in one of the labs. The crowded windowless room was made all the more oppressive by the layer of dust that lay an inch thick on every surface. There was no sight sadder than an abandoned laboratory.
As per her instructions, McCoy had taken biopsies from the lesions; some of the samples he stained, others he cultured on a variety of media. The blood-agar plate had produced a glistening, wrinkled blue colony which turned out to consist of active, fecund bacteria strongly resembling spirochaetes. Christine however, was convinced that these were not the cause of the disease, but only secondary invaders.
"How bad is it?" McCoy asked darkly, leaning over her shoulder. He at least had studied briefly in microbiology before becoming a surgeon and was proving exceptionally helpful. Mr Spock's area of expertise on the other hand was physics and she'd eventually grown so frustrated with him that she'd banished him to the file cabinets to help Captain Kirk sift through the records there for some answers.
She straightened up from her hunched position at the microscope, rubbing her eyes. "Difficult to say. It's absolutely crawling with bacteria". She reached for the open communicator, directing her next comment to the ship.
"I need you to beam down an electronic microscope and a bio computer. There's only so much I can do with what we have down here".
"Yes sir- uh mam" Lieutenant Greene hastily corrected himself. "Captain Kirk."
Kirk flicked open his chirping communicator. "Yes lieutenant?
"I've got volunteers standing by ready to help you sir".
He admired their loyalty, misplaced as it was. "Under no circumstances do I want anyone to beam down from the ship. We can't take any chances with further contamination". He declared firmly.
"But Captain If you become too ill..." Greene protested.
"My orders still stand Lieutenant you can help us best by clearing the computer banks and standing by. Kirk out".
He was immensely thankful of his own forethought in including Nurse Chapel in the landing party. There was only so much they could communicate to the ship's computers without error and Spock, smart as he was, was no biochemist.
He turned to Christine, who was once again absorbed in her analysis. "Nurse, why do you think the symptoms haven't appeared on Mr Spock".
Dr McCoy jumped in before she could launch into an in depth description of the infection process, preventing what was sure to have been a lengthy speech. "I don;t know". He said, looking pointedly at Spock. "Probably the little bugs or whatever they are have no appetite for green blood".
Christine looked a little annoyed at the Doctor's oversimplification of her research but conceded with a nod that he was essentially correct".
"Being a red-blooded human obviously has it's disadvantages". Spock replied to McCoy's jab, before turning his attention to the Nurse.
"There you have a museum piece." He said gesturing to the primitive microscope that was nearly identical to it's ancient terran counterpart.
Christine smiled fondly at the microscope as though it were a beloved pet. "I know". She said, touching it almost reverently. "I used to see pictures of them in my history books. There was one on display at a local museum where I grew up. I always wanted to try it out". She seemed to have forgotten for the moment about their dire predicament.
"You don't suppose they have a centrifuge here do you?" she asked suddenly, looking up.
"Try to focus on the task at hand Nurse". Spock admonished. "Relic hunting will have to wait".
Dr McCoy was only half paying attention to the conversation. His attention had been caught by the sight of the blue lesions on his hand which seemed to be growing exponentially with each passing minute. He was brought back to reality by Miri who, caught his hand with hers to get a closer look as well.
"It spreads real fast I know. When you're old it covers you like anything". There may have been some truth to her words. Although they hadn't discovered the reason yet, McCoy, the oldest of the group seemed to most affected. While Christine, being the youngest showed a noticeably lower rate of infection.
Lucky us. McCoy thought darkly. If anyone can solve this it's her. At least she'll have the most time. It was impossible to forget though that while she may last the longest, she would eventually succumb to the creeping blue death.
His attention was immediately taken by Kirk, who was reading aloud from one of the hundreds of primitive file folders that he and Spock had been sifting through for the last few hours.
"Intermediate experimentation report project on life prolongation." He glanced through the rest of the folder quickly, daring to hope that they'd found what they were looking for. His hopes were realized when Spock shared his own discovery from the same stack of folders.
"Progress report: Genetic section, life prolongation project".
"That's what it was". Christine said , taking the file from Kirk for a closer look. While Dr McCoy looked over Spock's shoulder.
"Life prolongation". He said, letting the irony of the statement sink in. "Didn't have much luck did they".
... ...
Captain's log. Dr McCoy's bio computer and a portable electronic microscope have been beamed down from the Enterprise. They will be used in conjunction with computer banks onboard ship.
Even with the added benefits of the Enterprise's computers, it was slow going. there were simply too many variables when dealing with alien bacteria. Christine sighed and mentally checked yet another possibility off the list. Only about ninety-nine billion more to go. She thought tiredly.
Every one who was not assisting with the chemical analysis was doing their own research, helping out in any way that they could. Except for Spock who had paused in his search and was tapping a file folder thoughtfully against his chin in a very human manner. Kirk, who figured he would share his ponderings when he saw fit, waited patiently.
"This was three hundred years ago Captain". He seemed to feel that one statement was sufficient to outline the puzzle that they were faced with.
Kirk, who'd been wondering the same thing, continued for him.
"All the adults are dead. Only the children are left alive".
"But children become adults". Spock protested stating the obvious contradiction that was staring them in the face.
"At least they have up till now." Clearly Spock was thinking the same thing as him. This could be the key that Christine needed to unlock the mystery disease they were all suffering from. The two must be related somehow.
Spock seemed to consider this for a moment before he abruptly stood and headed over to the makeshift lab table that Christine was using to conduct her studies. He leaned in to rest his arm on her electron microscope, demanding her attention.
"Nurse. There are certain glandular changes which take place upon entering puberty Are there not?".
Christine looked up momentarily irritated by the interruption of her work for such a mundane question. But the look of irritation was quickly replaced by one of weariness. She rubbed her eyes, aching and tired from the long hours with the primitive equipment before she answered.
"Of course, there's at least one period of extreme hormonal shift in every humanoid species ever recorded. Why?"
"Is it not possible that these children here as they enter puberty, contract the disease". He suggested.
"That would explain why there are no adults", Kirk finished for him.
Christine's eyes were now focused downwards on her microscope but she didn't see it, so deep in thought was she. Her next words were not directed at her companions but seemed to be her own thought spoken out loud without conscious realization.
"Glandular. Post pubescent. Could be". The gears in her mind were already turning, sifting through a lifetimes worth of knowledge, discarding some possibilities and noting others for closer examination later.
Spock's voice broke in on her thoughts, scattering them with one logical observation.
"It's illogical", he was saying. "Does not follow. All the adults on this planet died three-hundred years ago. Yet there are children in the streets".
"Who die when they enter adolescence". Kirk pointed out.
"But how do they keep the line going", McCoy who had been silent up till now, asked the disturbing question that was on everyone's mind.
When no one had an answer, Christine changed the subject to one that she felt was too obvious to be ignored.
"One thing Captain". She said, her voice pitched low, so that it couldn't be heard by Miri from where she stood. The three men took her hint and leaned in closer to catch her words. "If she were a wild animal ever since she'd been a little girl. How do you explain that she wants to stay with us".
Kirk was hardly an expert on children, but his experiences as a leader had given him certain insights into the human mind, so he took it upon himself to answer the Nurse's question.
"Loneliness perhaps. I don't know, curiosity. I think children have an instinctive need for adults. They want to be told right and wrong".
"There may be other emotions at work Captain", Spock said pointedly. The look that Kirk gave him invited further explanation.
"She likes you Jim". McCoy said, glancing pointedly at the girl who seemed to realize they were talking about her. She watched with guarded eyes and a cautious smile as Spock voiced the dark realization they had all come to.
"She's becoming a woman".
The implications of his statement regarding their earlier topic of discussion hung in the air around them long after his words died.
Sorry these chapters are so short. They seem much longer when I'm writing them.
