Chapter Seven

"Do vee beam zem?" said Chekov.

"Let me try them again," replied Scotty but no-one was answering. "Chekov, send a message to the bridge. No-one enters or leaves this room unless wearing protective gear."

"And vat about those who 'ave come into contact with the ensigns?" he worried.

"I think this is enough to be gettin' on with," said Scotty. "After all, we can't even be a hundred percent sure this toxin is actually dangerous to us. But yer know, better safe than sorry."

Suddenly, a voice was received.

"Beam us up!" shouted Bones, against a whoosh of air. "NOW!"

"Aye," said Scotty, beginning the materialisation process. Nothing could prepare him for the sight that came next. Jim was sprawled out on the floor, with a ripped shirt (he did plan to write a message about the unreliability of Starfleet uniform but he just hadn't got round to it yet). Spock, exhausted, was knelt next to him, eyes still white.

It took a couple of seconds longer to beam the doctor back, and when he finally thudded onto the platform, he looked like he had just fallen a thousand feet through a hoard of hungry birds.

"What took you so long?" he snapped, trying to catch his breath but he had no energy left for shouting. He was just glad he hadn't ended up like the unfortunate ensign whose body was still splattered on the surface of Incendium.

A team from the medical bay arrived, all wearing protective uniform. First, they were all scanned for the toxins but it seemed that they had finally found a disease that Vulcans were more susceptible to than Humans, rather than the other way round.

"What are the odds?" muttered Bones as this revelation came to light.

"Precisely one point two eight-" began Spock.

"Oh just shut up," said Bones, trying to disguise his smirk.

Once it was found that nobody else was at risk of the disease, quarantine was lifted but Jim was yet to be glad. They still had no idea what they were up against, if the disease could be cured or not, what was going to become of Spock. If they could find a cure, would they be able to cure all of the creatures, or would they become just another extinct species in a universe that could do nothing but die?

Much to his annoyance, though he would never admit to being annoyed, Spock was cooped up in the medical bay. Uhura and Jim were his main visitors. Bones spent most of his time in his office, trying to find some sort of antidote. Jim, who had not yet been cleared for duty due to his injuries, had nowhere else to be. Uhura was there whenever she wasn't working on the bridge and often when she was meant to be. Jim often had to remind her and however much he insisted, she would not take any time off. It kept her mind occupied. Jim understood. Besides, Spock was becoming less and less responsive as the days went on and Jim doubted if he was even aware of anything that was going on around him.

It was late on the third day and the Enterprise was still patrolling the planet of the living dead (what the crew had decided to call it). The atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense until Bones came bursting out of his office, black bags under his eyes.

"I've got it," he said.

"You sure it's safe?" asked Jim.

"Safer than doing nothing," he replied, preparing to inject the serum into Spock's arm. They waited. And waited but nothing was happening. "Damn it," muttered Bones.

"Where's Khan's super blood when you need it?" said Jim.

"You know very well," said Bones. "We can't just defrost a dangerous man every time someone gets injured. I would've taken more samples had Starfleet allowed it but you know, regulations and all that. Besides, I very much doubt the 'super blood' is compatible with his."

"Well I'm not a doctor," said Jim. "Was just an idea." He slumped in the chair next to Spock whose vitals appeared unchanged.

"I'll get back to work," said Bones disappointedly. Jim was about to turn around and tell the doctor to remember to look after himself too, but then he saw it. Spock's pulse was rising, his brain activity soaring up to normal levels and Jim smiled.

"You're a doctor," he said. "Not a worker ant. Take a break."