Free Corona by Greg Bear Page B

injured," Spock said, getting to his feet with McCoy's help. The dome interior was empty, the flat gray aggregate flooring marked by pressure and skid marks where supplies had once rested.
    Kirk flipped open his communicator and ordered a thorough maintenance check on the transporter.
    "Am I the only one affected?" Spock asked.
    "I'm fine," Chapel said, aiming the diagnostic tricorder at Spock's chest. Chekov agreed that he, too, felt no ill effects. Kirk turned to the group awaiting them.
    "I apologize for a very clumsy arrival," he said. "But it appears to be a minor problem. I'd like to introduce the ship's doctor and his assistant, Dr. Leonard McCoy and Lieutenant Christine Chapel. I'm Captain James Kirk, this is Ensign Chekov, and this … as I'm sure you are aware," he said to T'Prylla, "is my first officer and the science officer of the Enterprise , Commander Spock."
    "Welcome to the Black Box Nebula, Captain," T'Prylla said, extending her hand. Her grip on Kirk's hand was firm and dry, warmer even than Spock's. "If it is possible for the members of such a small team to welcome anyone to such a vast territory. My husband has already extended his appreciation, and I wish to reiterate. I am T'Prylla. This is our assistant astrophysicist, Anauk." The Vulcan male divided the fingers of one hand in the traditional greeting. "This is his clan-mate, T'Kosa. And our son, Radak, whom some of your crew have already met. Our daughter, T'Raus, is involved in a project at this time."
    "Our first priority is to give all of you a thorough medical exam," McCoy said.
    "That will not be necessary," Grake said, nodding graciously at McCoy. "We have an excellent medical center here. I am afraid those who most need your help, are quite beyond it."
    "If you're referring to the sleepers," McCoy said, "we may be able to save them. And as for your health, Starfleet regulations require that I make my own judgment."
    "Dr. McCoy is right," Kirk said. "And while he and Nurse Chapel are doing that, I'd like to begin the de-briefing."
    "Of course," T'Prylla said. "Anything we can do to oblige our rescuers. Though we must warn you, the situation is not nearly as desperate as it seemed when we issued our distress signal."
    McCoy asked to be taken to their medical facilities. Grake led the way, and Kirk turned to Spock and Chekov. "I want you to keep an eye on Radak," he said when the others were out of hearing.
    "Is there anything wrong with the boy?" Chekov asked, puzzled.
    "He isn't a ghost. Just watch him."
    "Yes, sir."
    Kirk took a deep breath and motioned for Spock and Chekov to come along. Spock was interested in Kirk's tone of voice. As usual, Kirk was attuned to the same incongruities as his first officer, though he reacted quite differently—with an irritated, almost angry brusqueness. "Spock," he said. "I seem to recall that this dome was supposed to be full of emergency supplies."
    "It is so described in the inventory of Station One," Spock said.
    "Then where is all of it? Would they have used it all by now?"
    "It is conceivable, Captain, though not if damage was as low as we're being led to believe."
    They walked to the hatch leading out of the storage dome and into the reshek corridor. "What does your tricorder say about Radak?"
    Spock held up the instrument and showed Kirk the readout. "He is a quite normal fifteen-year-old Vulcan boy. His data are very distinct."
    Kirk nodded and increased his walking speed. Chekov broke into a short run to catch up.

    The station medical center had been altered drastically. McCoy looked around in dismay at the barely concealed evidence of tampering, rebuilding of equipment, removal of furniture and diagnostic machines. "This place is a shambles," he said to Chapel. "What in God's name happened here?"
    Grake stepped forward and removed an unfamiliar chromium sphere from a plain black metal box. "T'Kosa has made important advances. This is the only device we use for medical attention now. The rest of the