by 07(lit)
"And I will love you," he said. He kissed her; and she said weakly, "Each kiss is like the... the first..."
Her voice failed on the last word. The hand on his fell away.
He bent again to kiss the dead face.
McCoy laid a hand on his shoulder.
"It's over, Jim. But in our way we kept their peacefulness for them."
METAMORPHOSIS
(Gene L. Coon)
It was not often that the Enterprise needed the services of her shuttlecraft Galileo, for usually the Transporter served her purposes better; but this was one of those times. The Enterprise had been on other duty when the distress call had come from Epsilon Canaris III, well out of Transporter range, and not even the Enter-prise could be in two places at once.
Now, however, the Galileo was heading back for rendezvous with the mother ship, Kirk at the controls, Spock navigating. The shuttlecraft's passengers were Dr. McCoy and his patient, Assistant Federation Com-missioner Nancy Hedford, a very beautiful woman in her early thirties, whose beauty was marred by an almost constant expression of sullenness. The expres-sion did not belie her; she was not a particularly pleasant person to be around.
"We have reached projected point three, Captain," Spock said. "Adjust to new course 201 mark 15."
"Thank you, Mr. Spock... Doctor, how is she?"
"No change."
"Small thanks to the Starfleet," Nancy Hedford said.
"Really, Commissioner," McCoy said, "you can't blame the Starfleet-"
"I should have received the proper inoculation ahead of time."
"Sukaro's disease is extremely rare, Commissioner. The chances of anyone contracting it are literally billions to one. How could we predict-"
"I was sent to that planet to prevent a war, Doctor. Thanks to the inefficiency of the medical branch of the Starfleet I have been forced to leave before my job was done. How many millions of innocent people will die because of this so-called rare disease of mine?"
Privately, Kirk was of the opinion that she was over-estimating her own importance; her senior officer could probably handle the situation alone-or maybe even better. But it wouldn't do to say so. "Commissioner, I assure you, once we reach the Enterprise, with its medical facilities, we'll have you back on your feet in no time. You'll get back to your job."
"And just how soon will we rendezvous with this ship of yours, Captain?"
"Four hours and twenty-one minutes."
"Captain," Spock said. "The scanners are picking up some kind of small nebulosity ahead. It seems to be- yes, it is on a collision course."
"It can hardly matter," Kirk said, "but we'll swerve for it anyhow."
This, however, proved impossible to do. Every time Kirk changed the Galileo's course, the cloud did also. Soon it was within visual distance, a phosphorescent, twisting blob against the immensities of space.
Spock checked the sensors. "It appears to be mostly ionized hydrogen, Captain. But I would say nevertheless that it is not a natural object. It is too dense, changes shape too rapidly, and there is a high degree of electrical activity."
"Whatever it is, we're about to be right in the middle of it."
He had scarcely spoken when the view ahead was completely masked by the glowing, shifting cloud. A moment later, the controls went dead. A quick check showed that communications were out, too.
"Readings, Mr. Spock?"
"Extremely complex patterns of electrical impulses, and an intense magnetic field-or rather, a number of them. It seems to have locked onto us."
The craft lurched, slightly but definitely. Kirk looked down at his console. "Yes, and it's taking us with it."
"Captain!" the woman's voice called. "What's hap-pening? I demand to know!"
"You already know about as much as we do, Com-missioner. Whatever that thing is outside, it's pulling us off our course for the Enterprise."
"Now on course 98 mark 12," Spock said. "Heading straight into the Gamma Canaris region."
"Jim!" McCoy said. "We've got to get Miss Hedford to the Enterprise-her condition-"
"I'm sorry, Bones. There's nothing we can do."
"I am not at all surprised," Miss Hedford said coldly. "This is exactly the sort of thing I expect from the Starfleet. If I am as sick as this dubious authority claims I am-"
"Believe me, you are," McCoy said. "You may feel fine now, but nevertheless you're very ill."
"Then why are you all just sitting there? I insist-"
"I'm sorry, Commissioner," Kirk said. "We'll do what we can when we can-but right now we're help-less. You might as well sit back and enjoy the ride."
The Galileo was put down-there seemed to be no other word for it-on a small planet, of which very few details could be seen through the enveloping nebulosity. But the moment they had grounded, the cloud vanished, leaving them staring out at a broad, deserted sweep of heathlike countryside.
"Bones, Mr. Spock, get some readings on this place." Kirk snapped a switch. "Enterprise, this is the Galileo. Kirk here. Come in, please. Come in... no good, we're not sending. That cloud must still be around someplace. Any data, anybody?"
"The atmosphere is almost identical with that of the Earth," Spock reported, "and so is the gravity. Almost impossible for a planet this small, unless the core is something other than the usual nickel-iron. But suitable for human life."
"Well, I guess we get out and get under," Kirk said."Bones, phaser out and maintain full alert. Commissioner, best you stay inside for the time being."
"And just how long a time is that?"
"That's a very good question. I wish I could answer it. Mr. Spock, let's go."
Outside, they went to the rear of the shuttlecraft and unbolted the access panels to the machinery, while McCoy stayed up forward. Checking the works did not take long.
"Very strange," Spock said. "In fact, quite impos-sible."
"Nothing works."
"Nothing. And for no reason."
"Of course there's a reason. We just haven't found it yet. Let's go over it again."
While they were at it, Nancy Hedford came out and headed for them, looking, as usual, both annoyed and officious. Patience was evidently not her strong point, either. Kirk sighed and straightened.
"Well, Captain?"
"Well, Commissioner?"
"Where is this strange powerful force of yours, which brought us here? Or could it be that you simply made a navigational error?"
"There was no error, Miss Hedford," Kirk said pa-tiently. "For your information, our power units are dead-so I judge that the force you refer to is still in the vicinity."
"I am not interested in alibis, Captain. I insist that you get us off this dismal rock immediately."
"Commissioner, I realize that you're ill, and you're anxious to receive treatment."
"I am anxious, as you put it, to get this medical nonsense out of the way so I can get back to my assign-ment!"
McCoy, looking rather anxious himself, had joined them. He said, "How do you feel, Commissioner?"
"I wish you would stop asking that stupid question." She strode angrily away.
Kirk managed a rueful grin. "As long as she answers you like that, Bones, I guess she feels all right."
"But she won't for long. The fever's due to hit any time."
As Kirk started to reply, there was a long, hailing call from no very great distance. "Halllooooo!"
They turned, startled. A human figure had emerged from over the horizon, which on this small world was no more than a mile away. It waved its arms, and came toward them at a run.
"Bones, I want a physiological reading on-whoever that is."
The figure disappeared behind a rise, and then ap-peared at the top of it, looking down on the party. It was a young, sturdy, tall, handsome man in his mid-thirties, dressed in a one-piece suit of coveralls. His expression was joyful.
"Hello!" he said again, plunging down the rise to them. "Are you real? I mean-I'm not imagining you, am I?"
"We're real
enough," Kirk said.
"And you speak English. Earth people?"
Kirk nodded. "From the Federation."
"The Federation? Well, it doesn't matter." He grabbed Kirk's hand enthusiastically. "I'm Cochrane. Been marooned here who knows how long. If you knew how good it was to see you... and a woman! A beauti-ful one at that. Well!"
Kirk made the introductions. Cochrane, still staring at the Commissioner, said, "You're food to a starving man. All of you." He looked over to Spock. "A Vulcan, aren't you. When I was there-hey, there's a nice ship. Simple, clean. Been trying to get her going again? For-get it. It won't work."
He began to circle the shuttlecraft, admiringly. Kirk said in a low voice to McCoy, "Our friend seems to have a grasshopper mind."
"Too many things to take in all at once. Normal reaction. In fact, everything checks out perfectly nor-mal. He's human."
"Mr. Cochrane!" The newcomer rejoined them, still beaming. "We were forced off our course and brought here by some power we couldn't identify-which seems to be here on the surface of the planet at the moment."
"Could be. Strange things happen in space."
"You said we wouldn't be able to get the ship func-tioning again?" Spock asked.
"Not a chance. Damping field of some sort down here. Power systems don't work. Take my word for it."
"You won't mind if we keep trying?" Spock per-sisted.
"Go right ahead. You'll have plenty of time."
"How about you, Cochrane?" Kirk said. "What are you doing here?"
"Marooned. I told you. Look, we've got lots of time to learn about each other. I've got a little place not far away. All the comforts of home." He turned to the woman. "I can even offer you a hot bath."
"How acute of you to notice that I needed it," she said icily.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Cochrane," Kirk said, "I'd like a little more than just the statement that you were marooned here. This is a long way off the beaten path."
"That's right. That's why I'm so glad to see you. Look, I'll tell you everything you want to know. But not here." He eyed the shuttlecraft again. "A beauty."
"You've been out of circulation a while. Maybe the principles are new to you. Mr. Spock, would you like to explain our propulsion methods to Mr. Cochrane?"
"Of course, Captain. Mr. Cochrane?"
As the two moved off, McCoy said, "He talks a lot but he doesn't say much."
"I noticed," Kirk said. "And I noticed something else. There's something familiar about him, Bones."
"Familiar?... well, now that you mention it, I think so too."
"I can't place him, but... how about Miss Hed-ford?"
"No temperature yet. But we've got to get under way soon. I guarantee you it'll develop."
"You're sure there's no mistake? It is Sakuro's dis-ease?"
"Positive. And something else I'm not mistaken about. Untreated, it's fatal. Always... well, what do we do now?"
"I think we'll take Mr. Cochrane up on his offer. At least we can make her comfortable."
Cochrane's house was a simple functional cube, with a door, but no windows. The surrounding area was cultivated.
"You built this, Mr. Cochrane?" Spock said.
"Yes. I had some tools and supplies left over from my crash. It's not Earth, of course, but it's livable. I grow vegetables, as you see. Come on in."
He led the way. The house contained a heating unit which apparently served as a stove, a climate control device, and some reasonably comfortable furniture, all decidedly old. Miss Hedford looked around with distaste.
"What a dreadful, dingy place," she said.
Cochrane only smiled. "But I call it home, Miss Hed-ford."
"Where did you get the antiques?" Kirk said.
"The antiques? Oh, you mean my gadgets. I imagine things have changed a lot since I wrecked."
"Not that much."
"Must you keep it so terribly hot?" the woman asked.
"The temperature is a constant seventy-two degrees."
"Do you feel hot?" McCoy asked Miss Hedford.
She flopped angrily down in a chair. "I feel infuri-ated, deeply put upon, absolutely outraged."
"It was quite a hike here," McCoy said. "You're tired. Just take it easy for a while."
"I'll rest later, Doctor. Right now I am planning the report I will make to the Board of Commissioners on the efficiency of the Starfleet. I assure all of you it will be very, very complete."
"Captain! Doctor!" Spock called from the door. "Look at this, please!"
Alarmed at the urgency hi his voice, Kirk crossed to the door in one bound. Outside, perhaps half a mile away, was a columnar area of blurry, misty interfer-ence, like a tame whirlwind, except that there was no wind. Faint pastel lights and shades appeared and dis-appeared inside it. With it there was a half sound, half feeling of soft chiming music. For a moment it moved from side to side, gently; then it disappeared.
Kirk turned quickly to Cochrane. "What was that?"
"Sometimes the light plays tricks on you," Cochrane said. "You'd be surprised what I've imagined I've seen around here."
"We imagined nothing, Mr. Cochrane. There was an entity out there, and I suspect it was the same entity that brought us here. Please explain."
"There's nothing to explain."
"Mr. Cochrane, you'll find I have a low tolerance level where the safety of my people are concerned. We find you out here where no human has any business being. We were virtually hijacked in space and brought here-apparently by that thing we just saw out there. I am not just requesting an explanation, Mister. I am demanding it!"
Cochrane shrugged. "All right. Out there-that was the Companion."
"The what?"
"That's what I call it. The fact is, Captain, I did not crash here. I was brought here in my disabled ship. I was almost dead. The Companion saved my life."
"You seem perfectly healthy now," Kirk said. "What was wrong?"
"Old age, Captain. I was eighty-seven years old at the time. I don't know how it did it, but the Companion rejuvenated me. Made me-well-young again, like I am now."
Kirk and Spock exchanged glances. Spock's eye-brows were about to crawl right off the top of his fore-head. He said, "I would like to reserve judgment on that part of your story, sir. Would you mind telling us exactly what this Companion of yours is?"
"I told you, I don't know what it is. It exists. It lives. I can communicate with it to a limited extent."
"That's a pretty far-out story," McCoy said.
"You saw the creature. Have you a better story?"
"Mr. Cochrane," Kirk said. "Do you have a first name?"
Cochrane nodded. "Zefram."
McCoy's jaw dropped, but Spock had apparently been expecting the answer. Kirk said, "Cochrane of Alpha Centauri? The discoverer of the space warp?"
"That's right, Captain."
"Zefram Cochrane," McCoy said, "has been dead a hundred and fifty years."
"His body was never found," Spock said.
"You're looking at it, Mr. Spock," Cochrane said.
"You say this Companion of yours found you and rejuvenated you. What were you doing in space at the age of eighty-seven?"
"I was tired, Captain. I was going to die. And I wanted to die in space. That's all."
McCoy turned to Miss Hedford, whose eyes were now closed. He felt her forehead, then took readings. He was obviously concerned by the results.
"These devices," Spock said. "They all date from the time indicated. From your ship, Mr. Cochrane?"
"I cannibalized it. The rest--the food, water, gardens, everything I need-the Companion gives me. Creates it, apparently, out of the native elements."
"If you can communicate with it," Kirk said, "maybe you can find out what we are doing here."
"I already know."
"You wouldn't mind telling us?"
"You won't like it."
"We already don't like it."
"You're here to keep me company," Cochrane said. "I was a
lways pretty much of a loner. Spent years in space by myself. At first being alone here didn't bother me. But a hundred and fifty years is a long time, Kirk. Too long. I finally told the Companion I'd die without the company of other humans. I thought it would re-lease me-send me back somehow. Instead, it went out and obviously brought back the first human beings it could find."