Chapter 26

Captain’s Log, Enterprise, Supplementary. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott in temporary command. Captain Kirk and First Officer Spock, together with the Zaran-ah- passenger, Sola Thane, remain missing. Communications reports no contact, in spite of the fact that Sola Thane was equipped with a working communicator. Sensor scans of the planet below are unable to distinguish their life-form readings from the extremely high level of background biological activity.

We are no closer to any means of detecting or combatting the takeover of Enterprise crew by either the Zaran Totality or Ambassador Gailbraith’s Oneness. Personally, I am not a’ that sure which is worse.

I myself believe that I remain clear of both of them, but I am certain of no one else. Perhaps not even of myself. Doctor McCoy believes that there is a latency period in which even the victim does not know or remember that he or she has been taken over. Victims continue to think and act as before, but their actions may unconsciously serve the Totality, or they may blank out for a moment something they are made to do.

If that is true, it may be that I command a ship of aliens who wear all the familiar faces of family.

McCoy came onto the Bridge to hear the last of Scott’s log dictation. He saw the Scot turn toward him with the slight, guarded speculation which said: Are you One of them?

Then Scott nodded to him. “Any progress?” he asked. McCoy noted that Scott did not even use his name.

McCoy shook his head. “That’s right, Scotty. I may be One. Or you may. Meanwhile, I think I may have bought us both some time. Anything on Jim? Spock? Her?” He saw Scott’s negative. “Or about the Totality stronghold?”

Scott sighed. “It’s a sweet piece of engineering. Short of blowing up the planet-or at least touching off an active volcano, I’d say it’s impregnable-“

“What if you touched off the volcano?”

Scott shrugged. “For all we know the Captain is sitting on top of it. Or-in it. I’d say the Totality would have an auxiliary escape mechanism. Transport capability-and likely a ship. And if we attack, they’d more than likely be all over our Bridge the next moment-if they aren’t already.” He turned to look around the Bridge. Uhura sat at communications, looking darkly beautiful, as always. But was she One? Communications would be a prime target.

McCoy looked at Scott, who might also be One. “Scotty,” he said deliberately, “I’m going down. If those three-or any of them-are alive down there, I think they’ll sooner or later turn up at that volcano. That may be what this test is all about. But God knows what kind of condition they’ll be in. I’m not going to miss this.”

“And just what do y’ count on to keep you alive, Doctor?”

McCoy looked him in the eye. “I’m taking Gailbraith. And Mr. Dobius.”

“What?” Scott said. “But Gailbraith is just as likely to glom you for the Oneness as look at you. And you know Dobius has been taken by Gailbraith and the Totality. Though just how they expect him to think with two heads I dinna ken.”

“That’s the point, Scotty. He’s the only one I can be fairly sure isn’t totally controlled by the Totality. So long as he’s controlled by himself or by Gailbraith, I’m all right. And if we need to contact the Totality, it can probably be through him. Besides, he’s the strongest candidate to survive down there.”

“I do na’ like it, Leonard,” Scott said.

McCoy grimaced. “Neither do I, Scotty. But I have to go. And I can’t let you stop me, even if I wanted to. You could be controlled.”

“Aye.”

“Don’t worry about me, Mr. Scott,” McCoy said. “By Gailbraith’s calculations, in less than two hours the Totality should have total control of the Enterprise.”

“Doctor,” Scott said, “over my body.”

“That,” McCoy growled, “is what I’m afraid of.”