RETALIATION AND A ROBOT
Upon leaving the Armory, Spock led Robinson and West to a Jeffries Tube connecting that part of the ship to Sickbay. As they crawled along the tube, he explained his plan to the other two men. "Logically, the key thing is to reanimate the crew. By superior numbers, we should be able to defeat them easily." Robinson spoke up "I have some familiarity with bio-chemistry, Mr. Spock, maybe I can help." Spock nodded as he crawled, "That would be appreciated, Professor."
Emerging from the tube, the trio ran around disabled Enterprise crew members and reached Sickbay. Inside Nurse Chapel was standing rigid before a medical computer, a vial of some greenish liquid in her hand. Spock set her gently in a chair and out of the way of the computer. He immediately began running an analysis of the immobilizing gas. "Theragen derivative with 153 parts per million impedrezene. If we counter the effect with a cortical stimulant, " the Vulcan began, "We should…" He was interrupted by Hiran's first announcement over the intercom.
The Romulan had barely finished "…the male child here will be killed by my guards. I will then execute a new hostage every ten minutes after that, from youngest to oldest", when John Robinson and Don West both exclaimed "Will" and turned to the door. Spock stopped them. "Wait, the Romulans do not yet know how many that entails. Their sensors will not be able to penetrate the ship's shields still active." Robinson injected "But they're going to expect someone to show up, obviously they know there are those non-effected." Spock agreed and began to lay out how they would send West back as a decoy.
Unfortunately, Hiren's second announcement came soon after. As he finished mentioning them by name, West's face grew red. "Smith! That son-of-a…" Spock interrupted him. "Obviously, we all three must surrender now." Robinson nodded slowly. "However," the Science Officer began again, "There are always alternatives. Professor, do you know the radio frequency monitored by your Robot?"
With five minutes left to go on his ultimatum, one of Hiren's guards in the corridor opened the door to the Rec Hall and signaled to his commander. Spock, Robinson, and West were walking slowly down the hallway, hands up and unarmed, three other Romulans walked behind them. Hiren met them with two of the guards from outside the Rec Hall. "Humans are extraordinarily sentimental, to their own detriment, aren't they, my Vulcan cousin?" Spock tilted his head slightly. "Only in the most strained genetic sense are we 'cousins'," he corrected, "And your analysis of humans may have some faults to it as well." Hiren smirked with distain and marched them into the room with the other hostages.
"John!" Maureen called and ran up to him to hug him. "It's all right, dear." West walked slowly and deliberately up to Smith and then behind him. He spoke slightly above a whisper. "Smith, when this is all over, I'm going to use that teleporter to scatter your atoms across half the Galaxy." Dr. Smith looked slightly back with a snooty look. "Please, Major. Save your threats. I have new friends now."
Hiran went to Spock, "Vulcans are known not to lie, so I will ask you…are there other non-effected members of the crew?" Spock raised an eyebrow. "While your information is correct, we also can refuse to answer." Hiren smiled. "Still a little Romulan guile left back on the origin-world, eh?" He turned. "Well, it's of no matter. What I need now is the prefix code you naturally used to lock out all the commands to the Ship's Computer." Spock was about to speak, when the Romulan stepped over to Will Robinson again, pistol drawn. Spock then said, "And naturally you will kill the boy if I do not provide them?" Hiren nodded. "Naturally."
Spock spoke clearly, but looking past Hiren towards the Robot. "Omega-5-Delta-3-Alpha-Alpha-Alpha." Status lights changed on the automaton, though the Romulans failed to notice. Hiren smiled oblivious and began to speak to his men. "You three remain here. Anyone tries anything, kill the boy first." He seemed satisfied that that strategy was working well for him. He turned back to Spock and was about to say something when he noticed the ventilation outlets in the wall. A pinkish gas was emerging. Before he could respond, he noticed the entire Robinson party and Spock and his own men collapsing. He attempted to raise his disruptor pistol when he too collapsed.