Star Trek - TOS 38 Idic Epidemic Read Online Free PDF Page B

recently come to know and respect, had to call for help, the situation must be dire indeed.
    With complete calm he replied, “I am here to serve, Commodore. What aid does Starfleet seek?”
    “There’s an epidemic out of control on the science colony Nisus. The residents request medical person nel with knowledge of interspecies medicine. You and Dr. Corrigan are specifically named in the request, as is your daughter, the xenobiologist T’Mir. The USS Enterprise will return to Vulcan for you in two-point- seven days. I have been able to contact all Vulcan medical personnel that Starfleet has requested, with the exception of Lady T’Mir and Dr. Corrigan. Do you know their whereabouts?”
    “I do.”
    “Excellent. Please give me their communications codes.”
    “That is not possible,” Sorel replied.
    “What? It has to be possible! Corrigan’s a doctor; he has to be reached in emergencies. And surely you can contact your daughter.”
    “My daughter and Dr. Corrigan are recently mar ried,” Sorel replied. “They are in Seclusion.”
    “You mean honeymooning?”
    Someone off-screen grabbed Bright’s arm and tugged. He shook off whoever it was in annoyance. “I’m afraid this emergency takes—”
    The hand was back on Bright’s arm, followed by a body in a blue Starfleet uniform. It was a Human female, middle-aged, wearing commander’s stripes. A protocol officer, Sorel judged as he watched impas sively, using his strongest controls to curb an inappro priate amusement.
    “Commodore!” the woman whispered sharply, pulling Bright away from his console. “Nothing can take precedence when married Vulcans are in Seclu sion!”
    Sorel, accustomed for many years to judge Human abilities by Corrigan’s, realized that a Human could not have overheard the woman’s voice.
    Bright frowned at her. “Dammit, Miss Frazer! I don’t care what planet it is, vacations don’t take precedence over medical emergencies!”
    “It’s not—” She gave a quick glance at the screen, and must have remembered Vulcan hearing, for she tugged Bright right out of the picture.
    Sorel could no longer hear her words, but after a pause he heard Bright’s blustery protest, “But this Corrigan is Human!”
    The man’s obtuseness irritated Miss Frazer enough to make her raise her voice, for Sorel heard her whisper angrily, “We don’t know anything about how these things affect Vulcan women, sir! And with Vulcans, when it comes to biology, you don’t ask!”
    Then both voices were too low for him to hear, although there was a soft hum as words were swiftly exchanged.
    Finally Commodore Bright appeared on screen again, red-faced and sweating. He cleared his throat. “Is there any way to get a message to Dr. Corrigan and the Lady T’Mir?”
    Nisus, a colony of the best scientists the galaxy had to offer, would call for medical aid only in the gravest emergency. So, “Yes,” Sorel replied. “I can do so. And,” he added, “Daniel and T’Mir can travel in two days’ time, should the situation warrant it.”
    “Thank you,” Bright said in obvious relief. “If you will set your console to record, I will send you the information we have on the Nisus plague.”
    The screens of data flashed by too quickly for even a Vulcan to follow—but the last one lingered for a moment, burning itself into Sorel’s brain.
    The mortality figures.
    Quickly, Sorel called up the summary of the disease and its pattern of spread. What he saw told him why he and Daniel were needed.
    When Commodore Bright reappeared on the screen, Sorel said, “We will come, Commodore. In this situation I can speak for my partner. Although I cannot speak for my daughter, I expect her to be honored to be requested. I will verify with them, and notify you within the hour.”
    “Thank you,” Bright repeated, and gave Sorel the communications code.
    There was, of course, no biological reason for Daniel and T’Mir to be in Seclusion, but Sorel had no intention of