The Star Trek Original Series Uchronia
Chapter 4 - An unpleasant surprise
Chekhov looked up briefly as they all entered the bridge together, and then down at the console. That is the real Chekhov, Leonard thought, staring at Chekhov's mop of dark hair before noticing that Howard was unobtrusively steering Bernadette to Uhura's console and Sheldon walked without hesitation to Spock's console. He went to the captain's chair and sat down. I am James T Kirk, he thought. I am actually sitting in the captain's chair! I am the captain! I can boss Sheldon around and he has to do what I say! Oh Happy Day!
"On screen," he commanded, feeling a warm glow inside. The huge screen displayed a planet.
"The Cestus Three Outpost, Captain," announced Mr Chekhov.
That rang a bell. Leonard began to rack his brains but then Sheldon asked, "Cestus Three? Captain, isn't that the Federation outpost that Commodore Travers commands? Aren't we having dinner with him tonight?"
Oh no, Leonard thought. Not that episode!
"Indeed we are, Spock," he replied, trying to ignore the way that his heart had started to pound in his chest and that he was beginning to sweat heavily. He looked at Howard who had also remembered what episode this was, and was staring, in horror at Leonard.
Leonard pulled himself together and said to Sheldon, "Indeed we are, Spock. I'd like to speak to you in the briefing room." He then walked off the bridge with Sheldon following close behind. Once they had reached the briefing room, Leonard swung round and barked at Sheldon, "You have got to get us out of here now!"
"Calm down Leonard," was Sheldon's response.
"Calm down? Did you not hear what planet we are going to? Cestus Three! You know what that means! The Gorn!"
He leant over to the communication module, flipped a switch and said "Lieutenant Sulu to join the captain in the briefing room now." He turned the switch off.
"Have you worked out how to get us back home, yet Sheldon?"
"Hardly. We've barely been here ten minutes."
"Well, you had better get your thinking cap on right now!"
"As I said before, calm down Leonard. This is nothing to worry about."
"Just how do you figure that out?" Leonard asked in amazement.
"Logic, pure and simple. We know what is going to happen. That is a huge advantage. You are cleverer than Captain Kirk. And we have these superior bodies that are much stronger and more athletic than our own."
"Yes, but you're forgetting one important point, Sheldon," argued Leonard.
"I never forget an important point," Sheldon assured him.
"Well, you're missing this one. We may have their bodies but we are not they. I'm not Captain Kirk and you're not Mr. Spock!'
At that moment, the door swooshed open and Howard came in.
"You might want to say that a little louder," he advised. "I'm not sure that the whole ship heard you."
Amy and Penny walked into Sickbay. Dr McCoy was there, examining a Petri dish. He looked up, nodded at them and asked jovially, "Enjoy your little jaunt?"
"Yes," replied Amy. "It was most interesting."
"You know, Christine, I don't want to worry you but you're even starting to sound like You Know Who." Dr McCoy told her.
"I don't know what you mean," Amy said, genuinely puzzled.
Dr McCoy just grinned at her and turned to Penny. She was thinking to herself that she had never seen a man with more bags under his eyes.
"Are you feeling unwell, Yeoman Rand?"
"Yes," Amy responded on her behalf. "She reported feeling a little dizzy and nauseous."
"It might just be a side effect of using the transporter. Have you ever felt like that after using the transporter before?"
"A little," Penny said, hoping that was the correct reply.
"Well, just hop onto a bed and we'll take a look at you, just to be on the safe side."
Penny laid down on one of the white boxes that passed for beds. It was not very comfortable and she felt sorry for people who really were sick here.
Dr McCoy and Amy looked at the diagnosis panel.
"Everything appears normal," Dr McCoy said after a short pause. "No change in pulse or blood pressure, no elevated temperature. Christine, do you notice anything?"
The diagnosis screen fascinated Amy. The low, regular beat and the blinking lights had an almost hypnotic effect on her. She thought how much Sheldon would love to have one of these for his own use and wondered if there was anyway that she could smuggle one home.
'Christine!" Dr McCoy asked more loudly, "See anything?"
Amy blinked. "No, Dr…" there was a pause as Amy frantically tried to remember his name, "McCoy."
"Neither do I but since you're just back from a landing party, I think we'll keep you here for a few hours just to be on the safe side to see if you develop any other symptoms. Better safe than sorry," Dr McCoy told Penny.
He beckoned to Amy and they moved a short distance away.
"Is there a problem?" asked Amy.
"Are you feeling ok, Christine?"
"Oh yes," Amy said firmly.
"Well, keep an eye on yourself and let me know if you start experiencing any symptoms. Like I said to Yeoman Rand, it probably is nothing but I can never forget what happened to that trader ship, the Valiant." Dr McCoy looked at her significantly.
"Indeed, yes," Amy replied, wondering what on earth had happened.
"One crew member reports a slight rash on his wrist and ten hours later, all the crew are dead from the Red Vines. I'm not going to let anything like that happen on my watch. Jim would never forgive me."
It was time to go down to Cestus Three for their dinner. Leonard moved with Sheldon and the other members of the landing party like an automaton. Every one else apart from himself and Sheldon, were laughing and joking, looking forward to the evening. This could not be happening! Even the thought that he would get to experience the transporter could not quite distract Leonard from the thought that he could very possibly get killed. Sheldon had coached him on what to say and he spoke the first line.
"You'll enjoy Commodore Travers, he sets a good table," Leonard said to Dr. McCoy. He couldn't bring himself to be cheerful. Dr McCoy didn't seem to notice.
"I wonder, if he brought his personal chef along with him to Cestus III?"
"Probably, rank hath its privileges," Leonard forced himself to say.
Dr McCoy chuckled. "How well we both know that," he said.
Just then there was a whistle from the intercom. Leonard moved to the transporter station where Scotty was standing. He said "Scotty," and the chief engineer opened communications Leonard was grateful that he didn't have to remember the correct button.
"Travers, Jim. We're waiting."
"Good, Commodore, we're on our way." Leonard wanted to scream, "It's a trap!"
"Be sure to bring along your technical people. We've got an interesting problem for them."
"We'll beam them down immediately," Leonard said, thinking, oh no we won't.
Sheldon raised his eyebrows and said, "Captain, I wonder why Commodore Travers is so insistent that our tactical aides come down."
Leonard gave him a look before raising his own eyebrows. Sheldon knew perfectly well why.
"This colony is isolated, exposed, out on the edge of nowhere. He probably wants additional advice."
"Yes, perhaps Captain but nevertheless.."
Dr. McCoy interrupted him, "Spock, isn't it enough that the commodore is famous for his hospitality? I, for one, could use a good non reconstituted meal." Dr. McCoy smiled.
Sheldon swung round to face him, "You, doctor, are a sensualist." He swung back to Leonard.
"You bet your pointed ears, I am." He nodded at Leonard. "Ready when you are, captain."
Leonard moved his face muscles and attempted a smile.
They all moved to the transporter chamber, Leonard, Sheldon, Dr. McCoy, a red shirt, a yellow shirt and a blue shirt.
He reminded himself that he had to behave like a captain at all times now. Being Captain Kirk had always been one of his favourite daydreams but it seemed now as if it was turning into one of his nightmares. Sheldon had finally convinced him and Howard that they had to play the roles that chance had assigned to them until they could think of a way to get home.
"Otherwise, they might realise that we are not Kirk, Spock, and the gang, think we have all got off our heads and send us to the funny farm twenty third century style. Do you want to go there? I, sir, do not."
It had all made a horrible kind of sense. The landing party beamed down to Cestus Three.