Unfinished Business

Chapter 13 : Carbon-Based Units

March, 2273

Kirk reached the quarters where the intruder had been located, Spock and a security guard right behind him. There was someone in the shower. He went to the panic buttons set into the wall near the bunk, and pressed the button that would bring McCoy or one of his staff running here on the double. And then they could see, through the sonic curtain, the shape of Ilia. Only this Ilia had a glowing object of some sort at the base of her neck, and her voice, when she spoke, echoed strangely. She informed them that she had been programmed by V'ger to observe the carbon-based units which infested the USS Enterprise.

McCoy entered just as whatever it was that looked like Ilia exited from the shower, wrapped in a short white robe, demanding to know what was going on. Kirk pointed to the figure in the white robe and said only one word. "Tricorder."

While McCoy checked her out, Kirk tried to obtain information, but the answers he got did not help at all. To the question "Who is V'ger?" he got the nonsense "V'ger is that which programmed me." There was no information or help at all in that answer.

McCoy spoke, a tone almost of delight in his voice. "Jim, this is a mechanism!"

Spock added "A probe, captain."

Kirk looked at them, puzzled. And when Spock observed that she was no doubt recording everything they said and did, he was concerned. Who was it that was observing them, and what did that being intend? His question about the real Ilia yielded an answer he did not really want to hear. And Decker would be more than pissed at him now.

The security guard queried what 'carbon-based units' were, confused. And McCoy answered him. "Humans, ensign Perez. Us."

The next piece of information they obtained was just as mysterious. They still had no idea who or what V'ger was, and why someone or something called 'the Creator' by V'ger would be on Earth was an even greater mystery. Kirk's face was furrowed, and neither McCoy or Spock could give him any idea what these answers meant.

The so-called exchange of knowledge continued in circles. V'ger was that which sought the creator. The creator had created V'ger. V'ger would 'join' with the creator and become one. None of this made any sense at all. Even Spock was having difficulties in forming questions which were helpful. But he did come up with the idea of examining the probe, in the hopes of determining something about those who had manufactured it. But she would not go with McCoy until Kirk assured her that the examination was a normal function of the carbon-based units.

They had her on the scanning bed in sick bay, examining her, when Decker walked in. He stood quietly near her head, just looking at her. She turned her head, focused on him, and spoke his name hesitantly.

Spock spoke immediately. "Fascinating. Not Decker-unit."

Kirk turned his head, looking at Spock. And Spock just looked back at him. Perhaps there was something there that they could use. Decker was still staring at the probe that appeared to be Ilia, not speaking. Kirk stepped over to him, and took his arm, and lead him out, following Spock. They went into an observation chamber, and Spock sealed the door, so that they would not be disturbed. Decker wanted to know what had happened to Ilia. Spock ignored him, speaking directly to Kirk. "This probe may be our key to dealing with the aliens."

"Probe?" There was question in Decker's voice then, and perhaps just a touch of panic.

There followed a short but intense conversation, as they explored the possibility that beneath the surface programming, the probe contained the real Ilia's memories and feelings. Decker was as volatile as Kirk had feared he would be. But none of the three expected what happened next. The probe punched through the bulkhead as though it were made of paper, and walked into the small observation room where they stood.

When the probe demanded that Kirk let her perform her programmed function of observation, he quietly told her that Decker could assist her more efficiently, and then told Decker to carry out his assignment. Decker looked at him, mockingly, and agreed, following the probe out the door and into the corridor, with only one more backwards look at the two officers standing there.

"I am concerned with that being our only source of information, Captain."

Kirk looked at Spock. Had his voice seemed slightly more normal? It was hard to be sure. There was still no visible expression on his face. He was not happy with the state of things, either, but he did not know what else they could do. And they had only a few hours left to do it in.