Chapter 41
They continued to search for the black box. Meanwhile, Spock had them each visit the five Youngs, and guess which was the real Young. He even had the wives do likewise. The vote was not unanimous, not even close. Three favored the Young in cell #4, including Spock himself. Two guessed #2, and the other three each got one vote.
Reluctantly they staged a breakout, by cutting the power supply to the brig. As predicted, Belsham took the opportunity presented. He ordered each of the Youngs to accompany him. Apparently he didn't know which one wouldn't obey him.
Three Youngs followed Belsham to Aux Control, where they were again apprehended. The Youngs in Cells 2 and 4 refused to escape. Spock interrogated the three proven imposters. They each still maintained they were the real Young, and they didn't know why they had a compulsion to obey Belsham.
Spock then melded with Belsham, learned what the black box looked like, where he'd gotten it, and what he'd done with it. It was inside one of the consoles in Aux Control. Spock spent ten hours dismantling, studying, and analyzing the black box. He put it back together and took it to Dr. McCoy's office.
"Come in, Spock. Have you got that thing figured out yet?"
"I believe so, Doctor. I won't go into the physics, but I believe the process can be reversed. I wish to conduct an experiment before attempting to use it on the Captain."
"If you need a guinea pig, I'll volunteer."
"No, Doctor, I shall use myself as the object of the experiment. I merely require you as a witness, in case this does not work as I expect. I am going to create a duplicate of myself. As soon as that duplicate appears, you will spray his hand with an insoluble dye for identification. I expect that duplicate to obey me as his creator. If I am wrong, you will stun him with this phaser, even if you have to stun us both. Once the duplicate is created, I will reverse the process. Any questions?"
"What if he doesn't want you to reverse it?"
"That is part of the experiment. However, do not hesitate to use the phaser at the first sign of violence."
"All right. Give me a minute to get some red dye."
McCoy was back in moments. Spock pressed a few buttons on the black box, scanned himself, and pressed some more buttons. A second Spock appeared facing the first, nose to nose. They each took a step backward. McCoy stepped forward with the dye. Spock #2 held out his hand without a word. McCoy applied the dye and stepped back. The two Spocks stared at each other, or so it seemed to McCoy, even though they couldn't see.
"Fascinating," Spock #2 spoke first.
"Indeed," echoed Spock #1.
"Even though I know my existence began mere seconds ago, I have complete memories as though I were the original."
"My impression is that you are not part of me, nor I of you. Each is a complete and separate being."
"I concur. You would not be damaged were I to be destroyed by some means other than the reversal process."
"Will the Captain Youngs object to being reversed?"
"Probably. Any being objects to its own destruction."
"Why don't you?"
"Because you wouldn't. You created me for that express purpose. Do not be tempted to allow me to live. The potential of this technology is too dangerous. Evil forces much worse than Belsham would abuse its power."
"Very well. How can I know for certain which Captain Young is the original? Two of them refused to obey Belsham."
"The compulsion to obey the creator is strong, but if the command violates what the original would do, the compulsion can be overcome."
"So if I told you to kill Dr. McCoy, you could and would refuse?"
"I cannot be absolutely certain, but probably."
"What about mind-melding?"
"Do not meld with me. It would be like melding with yourself. Dangerous for your mind. As for the Captain Youngs, most of the risk is yours. The original has melded with you on numerous occasions. The integrity of the duplicates' minds is not an issue. I would eliminate the replicas by phaser anyway, rather than reversal. It is safer for the original."
"What danger is there for me to reverse you?"
"You will very likely retain my memories as well as your own. It would disturb Captain Young to remember himself as five beings rather than one."
"And what danger to me of melding with the duplicates?"
"Keeping five sets of identical memories separate and complete is probably beyond your capacity. There is some danger to the original of contact with co-mingled minds. As for you, spacing the encounters and erecting multiple shields may provide adequate protection."
"Thank you for your assistance."
"I am glad to be of service, nor am I surprised that you want to remember me."
Spock had raised the black box. McCoy wondered how Spock #2 had known. Spock pressed a button and Spock #2 immediately disappeared. Spock turned to McCoy.
"Thank you, Doctor. I am grateful the phaser was not required."
"What are you going to do now, Spock?"
"Meld with the Captain Youngs, of course."
"Security to Commander Spock."
Spock turned to the intercom. "Spock here."
"Belsham and the three Captain Youngs have escaped, sir. Indications are they're heading to the Hangar Deck."
"On my way. Spock out."
The speed with which Spock moved continued to amaze McCoy. No indication whatever that he could not see. They dashed for the lift.
Moments later, they were on the Hangar Deck. Belsham and the Youngs were boarding a shuttlecraft. No sign of Security as yet. Spock took on the four of them single-handedly. McCoy thought he was nuts, but watched with open mouth as Spock waded in. Belsham he downed with a nerve pinch. He threw one Young against the side of the shuttle, and grabbing the second off his back, threw him into the third.
While they disentangled themselves, the first Young launched a second attack. Spock delivered a chopping blow to the neck, and Young #1 was out cold before he hit the deck. As the other two Youngs resumed the attack, a security detail rushed in.
They could get no clear shots, so they held their fire. McCoy advised them to stay out of Spock's way.
"So far, he's winning. And he knows there's only enemies in the fight. You try to help, and he'll be hindered by not knowing which body is an enemy."
So they watched. Accustomed to seeing Spock and Young fight together, this was far different. Not just because it was two to one, but because nobody was trying to be nice. This was magnitudes more ferocious, and much less elegant.
Suddenly Young #3 broke off and dashed to Belsham. He picked up the body, slung it over his shoulder, and made for the shuttlecraft. But this move gave Security a clear shot. Young #3 collapsed in a heap as the stun charge hit him. Spock overwhelmed the remaining Young in a few minutes. The fight was over.
xxxx
A half hour later, Spock entered Briefing Room 3, where the two remaining Youngs were being held by a security force. He dismissed the guard and sat down between the two Youngs, who stared at each other in silence.
"Computer, please maintain an audio and visual recording of this meeting," Spock ordered.
"Acknowledged. Recording as ordered."
"Gentlemen, one of you is the original Captain Young, and the other is an exact duplicate. There are three other replicas, who as a result of attempting to obey Belsham, their creator, are in various states of disrepair."
"Spock, what happened?"
"Did they injure anyone?"
"The only other injured parties are Belsham, and two security guards, who will be sufficiently recovered shortly to receive a formal reprimand for allowing them to escape. However, the matter we must address is determining which of you is the original Captain Young. I believe there are certain minute differences in your memory of recent events that would provide the proof I need. I realize each of you thinks he is the original. Are you willing to be proved wrong?"
They pondered it in silence briefly. The Young on Spock's right spoke first.
"You're talking about a mind-meld."
"Yes, sir."
"Is it safe for you to do that?" The Young on Spock's right continued.
"I believe so."
"In other words, probably not, but you're going to do it anyway, if we agree?"
"Yes, sir."
"And when you find out which is the duplicate, you will kill him."
"I have not killed any of the three I know to be replicas."
"But you will. You have to."
"Yes."
"So agreeing to a mindmeld is a death sentence for one of us. But living in limbo like this is no good either. We need it settled. I vote do the mindmeld."
"Thank you," Spock turned. "And you, sir?"
"Spock, I've been pondering that question ever since I walked in here. I was sure I was the original, until I saw how exact a replica he is. I assume they all are. So what if I'm deceived, and I'm really not the original? Am I willing to die if that's the case? Do I trust you to know for sure?" He took a deep breath. "Yes, Spock, I trust you. And I'm willing to die if I'm the duplicate. Do the meld, Spock."
Spock melded with the left Young first.
*This will only take a moment.*
Spock probed for the memories he needed.
*Thank you, Captain. I believed all along that you were the original, and I will not have conclusive proof until I compare his memories with yours. If he becomes violent, stay out of it.*
Spock withdrew. Aware that the second meld was the dangerous one, he erected protective shields. Taking three deep breaths, he established the second link.
*Thank you for being willing. I must compare your memories with his.*
Spock probed and encountered resistance. This Young had blocked his own memory of the visit to his office with Belsham.
*You are resisting me. I must know, you must know, what occurred in that office.*
*The fact that I'm resisting means I'm the duplicate.*
*It is probable.*
*But I remember - how can I know all this if I'm not the original?*
*The memories are transferred along with all the rest of what makes you Joshua Young. There is one memory in particular I call to mind. You gave me a certain status following a previous mental encounter.*
*Yes, I remember it. I owe you my life.*
*I, Spock, ask this of you, Joshua Young, not because I need it, but because you do. Show me what occurred in your office.*
Young did. Spock saw him enter the office in front of Belsham. He blacked out. Then as if there was a glitch in the program, suddenly he was standing there, looking at Belsham, who was holding a black box. On hearing Belsham's instructions, he went back to the party.
*So I'm the duplicate.*
*Yes, you are. I'm sorry.*
*Why didn't I obey Belsham then, when he wanted to escape?*
*It was not something the original would have done.*
*Why did you say I needed to know? You're the one who needed the proof.*
*I could have forced my way in. It was better for you to let me in.*
*What difference would it make? You're just going to kill me anyway.*
*I treat all sentient beings with respect. I regret that I cannot allow you to live. Your existence would advertise the existence of this technology. It cannot be allowed to get into the hands of those who would use it for evil.*
*I suppose I should rant and rave, and violently object to your killing me.*
*My duplicate did not.*
*What do you mean?*
*I have the black box. I created a duplicate of myself for the purpose of testing the reversal function. I retain the memories of my duplicate. If the original agrees, I will reverse you also, and he will retain your memories.*
*Well, you can ask, but don't pressure him. It doesn't make that much difference to me.*
*Very well.*
Spock withdrew and explained to Captain Young what he had in mind. The Captain readily agreed and the deed was soon done. Young's eyes widened as he took in all the extra memories.
"What about the other three, Spock?"
"I do not recommend this with them, for two reasons. Your mind can cope with one extra set of memories, but quite possibly not with four extra. Also, their behavior suggests they are much more closely tied to Belsham than this one was. I recommend they be destroyed with phaser fire, without further conversation with them.
"All right, Spock. Let's get it over with."
Young insisted on doing the deed himself, saying it wasn't fair to make anyone else do it. McCoy then insisted on a complete physical before declaring Young fit to command. Afterwards, Young, Spock, and McCoy gathered in the doctor's office.
"Well, Captain, I don't find anything physically wrong with you. So I'm declaring you fit. But if you find those dual memories disturbing, come talk to me. Don't try to ignore the problem."
"Understood, Doctor. I think I'm okay with it. But I have a question for Spock."
"Indeed?"
"You said you thought you knew which was the original. How did you know?"
"Difficult to explain, Captain, and it was not objectively supportable evidence. Due to our frequent mind-melds, I sense the presence of your mind. The echoes of their minds were subtly different from yours."
"Is that how you managed to fight all three of them?" McCoy asked.
"Yes, Doctor, I sensed their minds as well as their bodies."
McCoy told Young what he had seen Spock do on the Hangar Deck.
"I'm impressed. Spock, you came out of that fight unscathed?"
"I did require a change of uniform."
"I guess all the practice in the gym paid off then."
"Yes, Captain, I thank you."
"You're welcome, Spock."
xxxx
The day came when Konti received word that the new mindsifter was ready. They had a show scheduled for that night, so the appointment with the mindsifter was put off until the next morning.
Just before the show, Kirk prayed for Konti, who was quite distracted. The Lord gave them all grace, and the show was completed without problems. The four of them held a late-night meeting at Konti's house.
Kirk unofficially chaired the meeting. No one thought it unusual. "The show went well. Thanks especially to Konti, who managed to hold it together in spite of how upset he is. Now we're all tired, so let's cover the essentials as quickly as possible. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss what we're going to do after the mindsifter tomorrow.
"As I see it, there are three, maybe four, possible outcomes. I may be back to square one, having to relearn absolutely everything. If so, it'll take me a few weeks. A second possibility is that God will miraculously heal me again. If that happens, we need not make any changes. Of course, it's possible that the machine will malfunction and kill me on the spot."
Konti frowned at that idea.
"A fourth possibility is that the machine will only take my recent memories. If the machine does what Korn said it would, then by the time they get back to my teen years, they'll know the machine has failed once again to retrieve what isn't there to be taken. If they take the rest of it, it'll just be for spite, 'cause they already have two tapes of all my early memories.
"Bottom line is we may be dealing with a 16-year-old mind. If so, I will not know the Klingon language, though I may recognize that you are Klingons. I will not have an active relationship with Jesus Christ, and I won't know that you aren't enemies." Kirk gazed at each of them before continuing.
"Your task will be difficult: to convince me to trust you in spite of the circumstances. The only advice I can give you is to be completely and totally honest. But know this: if you are not absolutely certain that I trust you, you must kill me."
Konti opened his mouth to protest, but Kirk didn't give him a chance. "If you accept outward compliance as good enough, it will blow up in your faces. Because if I do not trust you, I will be plotting against you. And do not expect a 16-year-old to accept the fact that escape is impossible. Any questions?"
"Given your ability to act, how am I supposed to be certain you trust me?" Konti asked.
"Ask the Lord for discernment."
"What about the lab sessions?" put in Koh.
"Korn may again be pressuring you to break me. In which case, it should be eminently easier. I assure you, I did not know at age 16 what I know now about pain."
"That may be, but how am I supposed to get you to trust me while I'm subjecting you to unbearable agony?" Koh's reaction was more clinical than Konti's, but equally uncertain of success.
"Complete and total honesty. If I can't separate the person from the pain, then you can't trust me. But I've just thought of another problem. How fluent are any of you in Standard?"
Konti answered for them all. "I'm good enough to get by, Koh has the basics, and Kezak understands some, but doesn't speak it at all."
"Could be better, but we'll manage. A crash course in Klingon would be among the first priorities. Kezak, how many shows are already booked, and how soon is the next one?"
"I have six definite bookings, requests for ten more, and they're starting to pester me about bringing it here to the capital. The next show is scheduled for the day after tomorrow."
"Not much lead time. I hope you don't have to cancel. It'll be up to Konti to decide if we can pull it off or not. Anything else we need to talk about?" Silence. "Then before you go, let me say this. If I die tomorrow, do not grieve. It's been great fun, and it lasted a lot longer than I expected it to. Remember this: the Lord Jesus Christ loves you. He wants to know you, and He wants you to know Him, even as I have sought to know, and be known."
After Koh and Kezak had gone, Kirk decided to write himself a letter. He pondered for almost an hour as to what he could say that would convince his 16-year-old self to trust Konti. Then he wrote quickly, and gave the completed document to Konti, with instructions to give it to him, if he was dealing with a teenage mind.
Kirk rose early the next morning and spent some time in prayer. When it was time to go, both Kirk and Konti were operating in the peace of the Lord. No final words were needed. Kirk knew Konti would do what the Lord told him to.
In due time they arrived at Headquarters, got the same stubborn guard as before, secured permission from Korn for Kirk to enter unrestrained, and calmly walked down to the mindsifter room. Korn was waiting for them. He could see that Kirk was curious rather than apprehensive.
"This will be lots worse than the last two times. The machine will probe as long as necessary until you give up those Federation secrets."
"What will you do when the machine can't find any?"
"We will find them if it takes all day!"
Kirk turned to Konti.
"Talk to Kezak about how to do the show without having to tell me much of anything. By the time I get out of here, we may have only a few hours."
Korn was astonished. "You expect to do Kezak's show after this?!"
"If you leave me with a teenager's mind, yes. Konti will explain it to me."
"Even if you believe him, you're not likely to be in any shape to go anywhere."
"We'll see. And Konti, don't hang around here watching all day. Get Korn to call you when I'm done."
Konti stayed until they turned the machine on. Kirk remained relaxed and peaceful. Konti left, confident that there would be nothing more to see. He sought out Kezak, and they talked in the park for two hours. Kezak thought it doable, and they discussed what Konti would have to do differently. They went to the club for an early lunch, and were joined by Koh.
"I expected you to be glued to the mindsifter all day," Koh retorted.
"No. There's nothing to see. Korn will call me when he's done."
"There wasn't anything to see the last two times either. Have you finally become callous?"
"No, just confident and peaceful."
Koh looked at him oddly, but said nothing more. Konti explained what they'd been discussing. Koh reported that he'd just come from the mindsifter.
"Kirk's the only peaceful one in there. Everybody else is tense, angry, frustrated, or all of the above. Still look pretty determined though. Nowhere near giving up yet."
"Kirk thinks it'll go on into tomorrow."
"It just might. Wonder how much trauma he'll be in when they finally let him out of there. Assuming they do."
"Kirk thinks he'll be fine."
"He always thinks that. What's amazing is how many times he's right."
xxxx
Korn returned to the mindsifter after a late lunch. Still no positive news to report. He studied Kirk, who looked as if he was asleep.
"Is he conscious?" he asked the medic.
"Yes, though how he can stand it, I don't know."
"Has anybody talked to him?"
"No, sir."
"Kirk, can you hear me?"
"What?" Kirk's reply was in Standard.
Korn switched to Standard.
"Kirk, if you're faking it, you're going to be sorry."
"Faking what?"
"Kirk, I will have those Federation secrets. You can't hold out on me forever."
"What secrets?"
Korn snorted in disgust and turned away. Several hours later, he tried again, with no more success. Kirk was becoming obnoxious, instead of the respectful submissiveness Korn had become used to. He asked Koh about it when he stopped in.
"Just means he's tired, bored, and impatient. Also, you're getting a teen's responses. Wouldn't be surprised if he thinks the whole thing's a nightmare."
"How long before he's exhausted?"
"In that position, you can't exhaust him. Dehydration will set in long before that, and his mind will just shut down. If you put in IV's to keep him hydrated, he could sit there for a week or more without getting exhausted."
"What about mentally exhausted?"
"I've yet to find anything that will exhaust him mentally, and I've tried for a long time. Even on the point of physical exhaustion, his mind is still going strong. I'm sorry that's an unsatisfactory answer, but it's the truth."
Kirk got more sleep that night than Korn did. Even the next morning, Korn had to wake Kirk up in order to talk to him. And his responses were still flippantly obnoxious.
"Whoever you are, go away and leave me alone. This nightmare is going on too long. Besides it's boring. My head hurts. Go away." And more of the same.
Yet he never struggled against it, never screamed. Even his voice remained calm, in spite of the obnoxious content.
At noon, Korn gave up. The machine was obviously not working. The longer he left Kirk in it, the more of a fool he looked, as Kirk continued to defy its power over him. He called Konti, and when he and Koh arrived, gave the order to turn off the machine.