The phasers fired into the void of space, hitting nothing. "Roberts?" Kirk said, his breath caught in his throat. Another missile made its way to the Enterprise, the jolt this time sent a deeper shudder through the ship.
"Shields at fifty four percent," the ships computer chimed in.
"Rescanning sir."
A trickle of sweat clawed down his cheek but he couldn't bring himself to wipe it away, the sound of the scanner behind him seemed to echo around the bridge as Roberts did his work. Was that Uhura's breathing he could hear in the background? After a pause that felt like an eternity, he fired again. The phaser beam seemed to graze off something before it fizzled into nothing, "I got them sir!" This time, three torpedoes snaked across subspace.
"Hold on!" Kirk yelled. The torpedoes slammed into the ship, smoke exploded on the bridge, personnel catapulted across the bridge. At least one ensign slammed into his console and was knocked clean out. "Roberts! Get a lock on that ship and fire everything we've got!"
"Aye sir." He shouted already hammering at the buttons on his station.
"Sir!" Scotty's voice drifted over the comm. System, "We've taken a direct hit, shields are out, main power shaky."
"All right Scotty, can we warp?"
"I'd not risk it, it might cause more serious damage."
"Locked on sir," Roberts said.
"Fire!" This had better work. He watched at the phaser beams slammed into the invisible ship. The area around it wavered, shimmered and then relinquished what it was hiding. "Don't stop firing until they tell us to." Kirk said. He let out a breath and sagged into his chair. Nausea washed over him once more and he swallowed, his throat parched. "Spock," he said punching the communication button on his chair, "You need to get up here."
Alcohol was the key. The reaction from the worm was cataclysmic. McCoy watched as the thing writhed and bucked, trying to get away from the devastating liquid. The thing appeared to be choking, with a final buck, it became still. McCoy gave the air a punch in triumph! The crew were going to love this cure. He grabbed a nearby hypospray and altered the settings. Dashing over to Chekov, he waved Jenny out the way. He leaned over and applied the spray to his friends arm. It hissed as it administered the drug – a mix of alcohol and sustaining fluids. The effect was noticeable after only a few minutes. Chekov's pulse began returning to a normal level, his temperature fell rapidly. "Jenny!" he said. "I need you to administer this formula to everyone who has the virus."
"But this is-"
"Alcohol, yes, I know, it kills it!" he said. "I'm glad we arranged that drink more than ever now."
"Of course," she said with a coy smile, "Right away, Doctor" she said. She strode off to find the right equipment. McCoy had returned to tending the other patients in the sick bay, it hadn't come a moment too soon either.