The young policeman stood up and carefully surveyed the entire landing team, pausing especially to take in Spock's appearance, before he turned to once again address Kirk.
"Hooker, I don't know who your new friends are, and I don't know why you're dressed like an old sci fi movie, but I've got to continue my circuit - make sure those freaks can't get in."
Kirk looked around at his team, then back to the policeman "Why do keep calling me Hooker... and... who are 'the freaks'?"
"Good one Hooker. But really, I do have to check on all of the doors, Gio said he saw a load of those things massing outside when he was on lookout earlier...you and these new guys are more than welcome to tag along though." Romano said, already quickly moving away from the newly chained door.
"I suggest we follow him Captain" Spock quietly said after Romano was a few steps away. "He may be able to give us some vital information...but Captain...there's something else..."
"Come on Hooker, keep up, we don't have much time!" Romano shouted back to them, halting Spock momentarily.
"Tell me in a moment Spock, we had better go...at least he seems friendly." Kirk said.
The Enterprise crew followed a short distance behind Romano, keeping him in front, watching him. After a minute Romano stopped at the next fire escape door. He carefully inspected the lock, pulling and pushing it, satisfying himself that it was secure. He moved off again, jogging deeper into the shopping mall.
Kirk and the others continued to follow, taking in their surroundings. They passed darkened shops as they went.
"Jim, this place...it's all mind blowing. What do you think Spock ?" said McCoy. He looked towards the Vulcan who remained quiet, deep in thought.
Romano stopped again at another exit door. As the police officer was carefully checking that this entrance was still barricaded, the away party stood off to one side. Kirk picked up the front page of a newspaper that had been discarded near by on the floor.
The headline proclaimed "THE DEAD RISE".
"Have you seen this ?", he said as he showed the paper to the rest of his group, "what can this mean ? and why did this... Romano think he knew me?"
"Captain", said Spock, finally speaking up "I believe I have a working theory"
"Go on", replied Kirk.
"Well, we know we have somehow gone back in time..."
Kirk nodded.
"Well, assuming that is true then it is also possible the entity that we passed through also caused us to have entered a different dimension. We know that this city should not look like this, it fits the facts."
McCoy exclaimed "A different dimension? Are you out of your crazy Vulcan mind Spock ?"
"I am not Doctor... but thats not all. If this is indeed a different dimension, then logic dictates that it's entirely possible that we each have...dopplegangers...people that look identical to us, and yet are quite different. Each of us living different lives here."
On hearing this McCoy was the first to speak "You mean to tell me there could be another one of you running around here somewhere Spock - tell me it isn't so!"
"Quite so doctor" replied Spock, "and don't forget another one of you - a thought that equally fills me with dread'
"Ok you two, that's enough" interrupted Kirk, "are you sure about this Spock ?"
"As sure as I can be Captain, but I believe we are going to find out soon enough either way..."
