177 As for leaving your sick bay without consent,
you are correct. Such an incident will not occur again! You have my
apologies. I am concerned with this ship and also the other one I sent
following the second trail. It is quite possible, Doctor, that they are
in worse trouble than WE are! If that trail led to the missing ship, or
another one of those mechanicals, they would be terribly outclassed, and that
system is a pebble system; millions of rocks the biggest no larger than
this ship. If one of these things lured them in there with all this on
my mind, I will admit I breached regulations. For that, I apologize."
178 The look on the Doctor's face softened a little. "I can accept
that," he agreed. "I forgot about the scout. Of course you're anxious
to get underway."
179 "The only thing that's holding me," explained North, "is the
emergency repairs. We can't wait to get the star drive or the system
working. As soon as the Engineer is finished welding those supports,
we're going after that thing! I'd like to call my Officers back now,
and discuss the plan I'm working on, if we're through."
180 "We're through," the Doctor agreed, "but just as soon as we're out
of this, YOU go to sick bay. For the next few days you will enjoy my
tender loving care. I want to repair those ripped up nerves in your
leg, and the muscles, too. I'm sure it will make you a lot more
comfortable in the future."
181 "Speaking of comfort," said North, "before the other Officers come
back, do you think you could give me another one of those shots in the
back? Pain ALSO distracts one's concentration!"
182 The Doctor took out an injector and gave North a shot. "Don't try
to stand up," the Doctor warned, "you'll go flat on your face!"
183 North nodded and pressed out the code for the Officer's mess hall.
"Gentlemen," he announced, "you may return to the command deck now.
Also summon Number Two and