Chapter 3
Christine Chapel arrived in McCoy's office and gently reminded Doctor McCoy that his two colleagues Geoffrey M'Benga and Helen Triss were waiting for him.
I'm saved by the bell!
In Sickbay, infected crewmembers had been divided into three groups.
McCoy had chosen to personally take care of Spock and Scotty. He spent his day to observe the disease's progression from his friends. He regularly had made blood tests and new scanners. Moreover, he gave those appropriate cares, comfort and painkillers they needed.
All scientists were requisitioned to solve this problem. Naturally, precautions were taken to not be contaminated in their turn.
None microscopic fungus or bacterium and no virus caused the disease. No treatment seemed to work and wounds were spreading to other parts of the body.
In the afternoon, all infected crewmembers were put in quarantine and separated, women on one side and men on the other side.
Having to share a room with all his colleagues wasn't annoying for Scotty. After all, he was already sharing their fate.
For Spock, it was another story because he was a private person. His injuries were in an awkward places. Spock had tried desperately to hide them. He was so ashamed that he wished to be alone!
Fortunately, he was under McCoy's care and the good doctor had quickly moved him in a recovery room. There, he explained it would be better for him to re-create Vulcan's atmosphere than to freeze with the others.
Spock was not saying anything but Leonard was able to read Spock's gratefulness in his eyes.
No problem, my Vulcan friend!
One problem resolved! He thought until he discovered that Admiral Jones had arrived aboard the Enterprise!
McCoy was right! Admiral or Doctor Jones was an 82 years old man who immediately claimed to be called "Supreme Chief of operations"…And this was not a joke. He had also taken his quarters in McCoy's office to oversee his team's actions!
God, save us!
It was clear that Doctor Jones had not practiced medicine for a long time and wanted to show his superiority to his young colleagues like McCoy.
"I want your report now…" He ordered. "What did you find? Bringing relief is good but it's better to cure them. Your priority is to find the origin of the disease! Then, you have to find its main mode of transmission…It seems to me that even a first-year student knows that …" He muttered while looking intensively at Dr McCoy.
"Well …My report…" He began. Leonard, keep calm!
The crew was infected by direct contact with broken skin or a plant that contained a toxin. That's what McCoy and the others had understood while hearing the story of those who had been teleported on Regalis 8. This team was composed of 8 scientists and 4 security guards under Spock's orders.
They had only eaten and drank what had been packaged aboard the ship. The majority was first wounded on their hand (the minority was Spock himself!)
So, what did they touch? Stones, plants and flowers? Of course, this was their job!
What about the other infected crewmembers? In fact, all were scientists who studied samples collected by their team-mates. And none were wearing gloves! At first, they had pins and needles in their fingers. One week later, they complained about painful and hideous wounds.
But for Scotty, why and how was he contaminated? Touching a tiny wound on a security guard's arm was a really stupid action. Scotty gave him that advice: "go and show this to Doctor McCoy, lad!"
Some days later, he had to do the same!And now, Scotty could not use his hands anymore.
Jim Kirk came back in Sickbay to cheer up his chief engineer and his crew members. He had heard Admiral Jones shouting on nurses and doctors. All were too young and incompetent for his taste! Jim also hoped to see Spock. It was so strange to know that he was ill! The Vulcan was rarely missing on the bridge. Captain Kirk stopped walking in front of Spock's isolation room. He saw his First Officer through the open door. He was walking on both his legs but something troubled him. His walk was not his. Jim knew he was suffering.
Spock was leaving the bathroom when he saw Jim Kirk. He quickly went to bed and covered his legs. McCoy was there too. He locked the door in front of Kirk's worried face.
Fifteen minutes passed and McCoy re-opened the door. Jim Kirk had not moved one inch. Spock was always in his bed, trying to hide the urinary catheter between his legs. He was as white as a sheet.
Jim smiled. He was uneasy. He was waiting an invitation to enter but the invitation never came.
Eventually, McCoy left the room. The atmosphere was suffocating in here but not only because of the high temperature.
McCoy located Jones in a corridor and tugged kirk's sleeve in the opposed direction. They ran to McCoy's office.
"Tell me Bones! How is he?"
"He's not well. He's still moving his legs but in a few hours…Jim, I had to help him with painkillers. He doesn't control anything… Jim, it's like gangrene! If other parts of his body are infected …If the main organs are infected …"
"Don't say it!"
Jim's mind was boiling! What is he trying to tell me? That he should cut his legs?
Jim tried to divert the conversation by asking what they had found about this disease.
Leonard McCoy took a slow breath to regain his calmness.
"We discovered that a toxin contained in a small bush of Regalis 8 was the cause of the problem. One contact with leafs is not immediately itching but it become after one or two days. Samples have been distributed in different laboratories. And do you know why I'm so angry, Jim? Those scientists who were infected were not wearing gloves! That's all! Luckily the majority has taken this precaution."
"So, there is no danger to have other victims?
"None."
"But …I have seen Scotty's and Spock's hands …If they had to touch this bush to be infected…Why Spock's injuries seemed to be located in his legs?
"Jim…"McCoy sighted. "Why do you ask again? Please…It's a little embarrassing."
"Bones! I want an answer!"
"Damn it! He's infected in both his legs but it began …well…in a zone between his legs…"
"Uh-oh…You mean…"
"YES! Jim… Vulcans drink like us and …well …He has pissed against a bush. Shit! He has heard someone's footstep so he came nearer and …That's all! It was a stupid accident." He chuckled a little, his face flushed. "Poor guy…"
Yes. This was confirmed by Spock who recognized the bush's picture. If Spock had not been so badly affected they would have laughed louder.
"And now?"
"Now…We have to wait. My colleagues are searching for an antitoxin. We need to make some tests before we can use it but I'm confident. It's only a matter of time… a few hours at most." McCoy said while putting his hand on Kirk's shoulder. "And Jim …I have no intention to cut his legs…I'm a doctor, not a butcher."
Jim smiled. Unfortunately his smile did not last very long.
"Doctor McCoy! Doctor McCoy! Admiral Jones is insane! You must stop him!" Nurse Chapel was shouting while Dr M'Benga was running just behind her.
