mention of positive fuel, Helm wasted no time. He
resumed his course to their desired leap point.
13 "It blew!" screamed Firing Control, "It just went up; just
vaporized! Most beautiful positive fuel explosion I ever saw! What a
beautiful fireball!"
14 A feeling of joy shot through North. Then he noticed the
Communications Officer listening to his head set. "What is it,
Communications?"
15 "A transmission from the automatic, sir, just before it exploded.
It's in old standard, and I can barely read it, but I think it says
'Damned good maneuver! Well done! ' I don't understand, sir. It's
complimenting us on destroying it! Doesn't make sense!"
16 North smiled. "It was programmed by Hashons," he explained, "they
respect courage and ingenuity. They're not above praising an enemy,
even when he's destroyed them. Rather strange people!"
17 "I'll say!" agreed Firing Control.
18 North felt a sting in his arm, and looked up to find that the Doctor
was out of his safety harness and had just given him an injection. "The
emergency is over, Commander," the Doctor stated, "you're going to sick
bay for awhile. I'll have you back on deck when we enter the other
system."
19 North tried to remain conscious, but whatever the drug was the
Doctor had given him, it took him out in moments. The last thing he
remembered was being lifted from the chair. He woke up the next day in sickbay, floating in a med
corn, a soft light glowed around his left leg. As he turned his head,
he saw the Doctor lying on a moveable couch next to the com. "Don't
you ever sleep?" North asked.
20 "I did while YOU were," the Doctor answered. "By the way, we're
three hours away from leap, but you stay in there until it's over."
21 "How's my leg?" North asked.