21 "I'm sorry," insisted Morn, "but I must remove
you and put in fresh personnel. We're going to be doing some swift
work, and you won't be up to it."
22 The Engineer nodded. "I suppose you're right," he agreed. "We'll be
standing by."
23 "Computer," questioned Morn, "where's our visitor?"
24 "Just leaving engineering," the computer answered, "heading back for
the pod. I tracked its path. It visited each person in engineering,
then headed back towards the pods. It seems to travel by attaching
itself magnetically to the walls, and pulling itself along. It can do
this quite rapidly."
25 "I don't doubt it!" Morn acknowledged, "Keep it under observation!"
26 Morn looked over to the synthesizer unit. The Doctor was filling the
last of ten plastic containers, holding about half a gallon of liquid.
He put the cap on the last one. "Give me some of those!" insisted Morn.
He gathered up six of the containers while the Medic grabbed the other
four. They headed for engineering. There, they met the Officers waiting
to replace their weakened comrades. "I appreciate your volunteering,
"Morn said. He thought to the implant in his head. "Ship, where is the
alien?"
27 "Just completing its circle," answered the computer, "at the far end
of the pod."
28 "Then we're safe for now. Let's go, gentlemen! " He led the
replacements in and ushered the prime crew out. "Listen," explained
Morn to the Second Engineer, "I want one of these containers set
beneath the four computer sensors down here. The rest I want put on
each entrance level to the pod." The Officer nodded. "And once they're
in place," ordered Morn over his shoulder, "take the caps off."
29 "Yes sir!" the Officer acknowledged as Morn disappeared through the
hatch heading back for the Command