were many that had nothing to do while they
waited for the Engineers to finish their work. A single system engine
was going back together but a frustrated Engineer called North. "Not
one good power converter," he cursed, "not one! We can get the damned
thing back together, but without a power converter it won't work!"
103 "You said The Ain't Been There Yet's system engines draw power from
their star drive. There must have been some kind of converter," North
wondered aloud.
104 "You might be right," agreed the Engineer, "I'll get back to you."
105 An hour later he did. "It's three times the size of anything I've
ever seen!" he announced. "But it's an energy converter and the
fittings match. It just might work! Of course the only way we'll know
for sure is when we put her on and fire her up. We'll have to install
her to do that!"
106 "Then you'd better get at it!" North said.
107 That evening North was resting in his cabin listening to some
music, when the Doctor came in. "You will excuse us, I.S.?" she
insisted.
108 "Of course," the droid answered, and quickly departed.
109 Without waiting for North to speak the Doctor, herself, spoke.
"We've got a problem. We've got one REAL problem!"
110 North felt his joy slip away. He knew everything had been going too
good with the ship less than a week from departure, and the crew's
emotions so high, he had a feeling something would come along to dash
their hopes. "All right," he insisted, "tell me!"
111 "We have two cases," she continued, "of Leap Syndrome."
112 North's depression became even deeper. "Confirmed?" he asked.
113 "I don't know how they survived that long leap