"Agwean, could you show Mr. Sulu the controls of these ships?" said Kirk. "He's a very good pilot."
"Certainly," said Agwean. "Do you think—" he hesitated—"he could teach me to fly the ships?"
"I'm sure he will," Kirk replied, smiling. "But first, I'd like to speak to you, if you don't mind. It's about Princess Zila. I believe she's the key to all this."
"I'll answer any questions you have," said Agwean, as they began to walk to the control room.
"Princess Zila said something about Kida wearing green for Harry Easton, but now she wears red and he wears white."
"Ah," said Agwean, grinning knowingly. "Well, Captain Kirk, in Meinuitian tradition, every color has meaning. Green is the color of love, and if someone wears green for another, it means they love that person. Of course," he chuckled, "it was—what is the word?—mischievous of Zila to say such a thing. Don't tell Kida I told you what green meant."
"All right," said Kirk, smiling. "How about red?"
Agwean's voice grew sober. "Red is the color of sadness and mourning," he said. "We all wear it now, for the Federation men, for our lost king and queen, and for those of us who have fallen prey to the Phobotians' disease."
"I see," said Kirk. "And white?"
"White is the color of sleep," said Agwean.
"Captain's log, stardate 52:43.7: it has now been six days since we arrived on this ship. Mr. Sulu's hearing is failing, and Mr. Spock is doing very badly. Dr. McCoy says he has little time left." Kirk put down his tricorder and turned to look at Spock, who lay on a cot nearby.
"Captain," said Spock hoarsely.
"What is it, Spock?" asked Kirk, going to his side.
"I've been thinking—Princess Zila," Spock managed. "She said—she understood—all clear. The rest fell asleep. But she was all clear."
"Yes, Spock," Kirk said urgently. "Go on."
"I was hit first. She—does better—recovers—not catching it. Her mind—my mind—logic—logic…" His voice trailed away, and his sightless eyes closed.
Kirk turned away, thinking. Suddenly, he looked up, comprehension shining in his face. "Logic," he said softly.
Just then, McCoy burst into the room. "Jim, I've isolated the disease," he said.
"Perfect, Bones," said Kirk. "Give it to Princess Zila."
Normally, McCoy would have responded, "What? Jim, are you out of your mind?" But he didn't. Instead, he said calmly, "I assume you have a good reason, Jim, so I'll do it."
Kirk stopped. "That's not like you, Bones," he said. "I thought you'd ask me if I was out of my mind."
"It did occur to me," McCoy admitted. "But I thought better of it."
"Yes. You did," said Kirk thoughtfully. "It fits. Come on, I'll explain it to you on the way."
"You see," Kirk said as they walked quickly down the corridor, "Princess Zila told us—albeit rather obscurely—that the Phobotians gave the disease in concentrated form to those they took onto their ships. Remember, she said, "Can't you hear me? Can't you see?" and, several times, "Wake up!" She also mentioned Captain Easton in connection with the color white, which represents sleep to the Meinuitians."
"All right, I see what you're saying," said McCoy.
"She also said that when those around her were succumbing to the disease, she understood, she saw what was real, and the voices in her head were gone."
"Yes," said McCoy.
"Now look at Spock and Princess Zila," continued Kirk. "They're complete opposites. Spock is logical; he has a completely ordered and rational mind. Zila's mind was in chaos, completely irrational. I suggest that this disease cannot easily attack an irrational mind. First it has to affect the mind in some way to make it more rational, and then it can begin to take away the victim's senses. Thus, Spock is immediately affected, far faster than usual, and Princess Zila's mind improves when she is exposed to the disease. Even you and I, Bones, who have lost none of our senses, are displaying the effects of the disease. We find ourselves less inclined to react emotionally and more inclined to reasoned response. What do you think, Bones?"
"I think," said McCoy, as they entered the lab, "this theory of yours is very well reasoned. And, if I may borrow the term from Spock—" he smiled. "Fascinating."
"I think the disease—or cure, depending on how you look at it—will have had effect on her by now," said McCoy. "I just hope I got the dose right. If I gave her too much, she'll be blind or deaf. Shall we go see her?"
"After you, Bones," said Kirk. They entered the room.
It was immediately evident that Princess Zila was different. She was now dressed much like Kida, in a red robe with red circles painted around her eyes. She was seated next to Kida, but rose to greet the two men as they entered.
"How are you, Princess Zila?" McCoy inquired.
"Much better, thanks to you and Captain Kirk," said Zila. "And there are a few things I need to tell you if you are to rescue those taken captive—I'm not sure if I told you before."
"Go ahead," said Kirk.
"When we were taken onto the ship, they did give us the disease," she confirmed. "They were testing it. They were going to use it as a weapon against the Federation, since Phobotians have an immunity to it. I was an important part of the experiment, because they wanted to see if it would have an effect on the insane. Of course, it did, but not the one they had hoped. I thought they had helped me on purpose, although I didn't understand why they had put my parents and the others to sleep. They told me—I think—some story about how my parents were sick with a contagious disease which wasn't the Phobotians' fault, and that was why I couldn't see them, although they—the Phobotians—were doing all they could to help them. I believed them," she said bitterly. "The vile bruxexani—" Kida laid a comforting hand on Zila's arm. Zila took a breath, then resumed her tale. "They took blood samples from me and ran other tests. I was compliant, since I thought they were my friends. Since I was so cooperative, they let me roam around the ship, and they had me do odd jobs for them. After a few days, however, they had finished their tests on me, and they no longer wanted me around. They gave me the antidote to the disease so I would be insane again, because they did not want me to remember all I had seen on their ship. Then they returned me to my people. But now that you have helped me, Doctor, I remember all that they wished me to forget." She handed Kirk a piece of paper.
"What's this?" said Kirk, studying it.
"A plan of the lead Phobotian ship, as well as I remember it," she replied. "I'm afraid I don't know what the cure for the disease is, but I remember where it is kept. I also remember where the prisoners are—Hold E, right there," she said, pointing. "That's the room we were taken to when the disease was given to us, and they were never moved."
"Thank you, Princess Zila, this is very helpful," said Kirk. "Would you happen to know whether any guards are kept around the room with the cure and the room where the prisoners are kept?"
"They kept guards there when I was on the ships," said Zila. "Undoubtedly they do so still."
"Well, Bones," said Kirk, as they left the room, "It's time to put these logical brains of ours to work. Let's see if we can come up with a plan."