Black Fire

Black Fire Read Free Page A

Book: Black Fire Read Free
Author: Sonni Cooper
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difficult, Christine? I've had no experience with non-Terran patients at all."
    "Mister Spock is a most unusual man. We all admire him very much. I'm sure that Doctor McCoy can settle him down. You might hear some shouting though—just ignore it."
    As if cued by Christine's warning, McCoy's raised voice could be heard as he lashed out at Spock. "What are you trying to do? Kill yourself? Do you think we put you back together to have you destroy yourself? Get back on that bed! That's an order!"
    "I have no intention of lying here while the ship is in jeopardy, Doctor. I will ask you to not interfere."
    "Well, I am. And you don't have the strength to stop me."
    "Just don't force me to… ." Spock raised his supporting hand from the bed and faltered a step.
    "Look! You can't even stand up unsupported. Listen to reason, Spock. Now is no time for your Vulcan stubbornness."
    Having sublimated the pain as much as he was able, Spock was feeling stronger. He slowly straightened up and took a tentative step. "I'm fine, Doctor. The discomfort is completely under control now." His voice reached its normal tenor. "You can set aside your bigotry."
    "Bigotry? Why, you overgrown walking string bean, I have no time for … Wait a minute, Spock. I'm not about to start one of our verbal fencing matches." McCoy's anger subsided. "Listen to me, Spock, to McCoy, the physician. I know you respect that part of me even though you won't admit it. This is a medical judgment, not an arbitrary personal assessment. In this
I
am the authority. Now, please listen to me."
    Spock leaned wearily against the bed, gathering the strength he knew he would need.
    "I told you about your injury. Every movement you make jeopardizes your life. If that sliver moves, it could kill you, or leave you paralyzed. That's a fact. You can't just sublimate it or wish it away. You may be able to control the pain, but that fragment is inside of you. Pain is your friend now, Spock. Feel it! It indicates a real physical danger. You can suppress it, but you're fooling yourself. This time it's a signal, a signal warning you, trying to prevent you from further injury. If I can't convince you, let yourself feel that pain. Don't fight it. The severity of it will tell you that I'm right about this."
    "I know what I am doing, Doctor," Spock answered with conviction. "I know what I must do." He then slowly walked out of the room, ignoring McCoy, almost achieving his usual dignified, erect bearing.
    Spock turned toward the rest of the temporary sick bay ward. Sulu was gingerly testing his repaired limbs, facing away from the First Officer.
    The Vulcan casually addressed the helmsman. "I see that you are recovering well, Lieutenant."
    An astonished Sulu turned. "Mister Spock, you're all right! Rumor had it that you were seriously injured."
    "Humans do have a propensity for rumor, Mister Sulu. As you can see, I am quite well. I have not come here to talk of my health, although it is an important consideration. How are the others?"
    "It's a miracle we weren't all killed. It seems that the trainees from the Academy took the brunt of the blast. Except for you and the captain, we were all shielded from it by our students. We'll all be back on duty in no time." Sulu quieted. "I feel guilty about being alive at their expense."
    "Yes," Spock said thoughtfully, "the trainees. Mister Sulu, do you remember anything unusual happening on the bridge before the explosion?"
    "No."
    "Are you sure? No one unfamiliar?"
    "Who could have been there, Mister Spock? We're all Starfleet-cleared."
    Characteristically, Spock did not respond. He sank deeper in thought. "Mister Sulu, I have an idea, but I require more information. Will you help me?"
    "If it means finding out what happened on the bridge, I'll do anything you ask."
    "Good. I suspect you saw more than you are able to recall. I believe the shock may have blocked your memory. If you will allow a limited mind probe, I might be able to draw out the

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