Scotty looked away from the large viewing screen on the bridge of the Enterprise. He stood in front of it looking out towards the rest of the crew, but he motioned with his thumb back towards the image of the glowing yellow entity.
"That beastie is definitely changing colour slower than it was before. Mr Sulu, run some more tests on it, I don't like the look of it."
Sulu acknowledged the Chief Engineer's request before turning his attention back to his console.
Scott walked back to the Captain's chair and sat down, thumbing the communications button as he did so "All departments. Please give me a status update."
"A...zombie ?" Kirk wondered aloud, his voice barely audible, even in the relative silence the men now stood in.
Spock spoke up "Captain, in our universe a 'zombie' was a name for the reanimated dead. This of course was a myth. It was commonly used in several of your classic Earth movies and extensively in your literature. Other planets have similar creatures that have appeared in their own..."
"Yes, I know Spock..." Kirk held his hand up to stop him talking, "but judging what we have just seen, here it seems as though things are more real than myth..."
The conversation was interupted as Romano and an older thin faced man came back through the door, bolting it after them.
"It's all taken care of Sarg and we've done a quick reccy, there doesn't seem to be any more in the area for now..." started Romano.
"Thanks junior, that's good to know. Come join us. I think we need to sit down and talk with these guys that you found", interrupted Hooker, as he looked beyond him at the thin man "York, could you go and see if Officer Sherridan has returned yet with the scavenging party, she's running very late".
He waited until the man had walked away before he turned back to Kirk and pointed at him, "'our universe' your man just said...and come to think of it, he also said 'your Earth'...what is he talking about? Where exactly are you people from? Are you aliens or something ? And give me the truth..."
Spock looked at Kirk with a raised eyebrow, and McCoy shrugged his shoulders and finally spoke. "You might as well tell him Jim, it's only a matter of time before he mentions Spocks ears anyway..."
"I told you earlier doctor. When we return I shall make it my business to always pack a hat..."
"Enough guys..." Kirk said. "This is serious..."
Hooker stared at the three men, watching their interchange. He smiled as he spoke to Kirk "You people...you are so strange. McCoy is rright though Jim...to be honest, I have been wondering about the ears. I was just too polite to bring it up..."
Kirk looked around; most of the other survivors were either too far away from them, or were too busy with their own activities to overhear him. He was sure those people would not be able to hear what was said. The few that were in earshot looked as though they were far too worried about what had just happened to care either way. He sighed. "ok Hooker, but in return I want the full story about what is happening here afterwards..."
