we made," the Doctor said, "they should've been a
puddle of jelly on the floor when the rest of us recovered.
They won't survive another leap, not a hope of it. What are
we going to
do?"
114 "There's only one thing we CAN do," North answered, "praise The
Lords Of Hades for the Ain't Been There Yet! Now, at least I won't have
to vaporize her! Have they been told yet?"
115 "No."
116 "Then I'll handle it," North insisted. "Who are they?"
117 "Mighty River, a young Engineer; according to our records one of
our most promising ones, and, Sweet Meteor, one of my young Nurses.
Neither one's over fifty. They haven't even had their first
rejuvenation."
118 "They're always young with Leap Syndrome, aren't they?" North
asked. "I think I read 82% of the cases are under 75."
119 "True," agreed the Doctor, "though it can happen at any age, it
usually strikes young people first. Only about 2% of those that enter
the Service are afflicted by it. But everyone is checked after every
leap."
120 "Alright," said North,"the Ain't Been There Yet has already been
checked from bow to stern. She's fully functional. I want you to update
the medical facility, though. Give these kids every chance we can.
Doctor, I want you to take cell cultures from every crewmember, sperm,
and eggs. Make a gene bank for them. It might not be important to them
right now, but it will be to their children."
121 "Yes, sir!" the Doctor snapped. She left and I.S. returned. North
was glad for his company.
122 The next morning the two young Officers were ordered to the
conference room. They sat down opposite North, the young Engineer
joking with his female companion. The Doctor waited outside the door in
case she was needed.