The Folded World

The Folded World Read Free Page A

Book: The Folded World Read Free
Author: Jeff Mariotte
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cough. “Red-eye whiskey, Bones?”
    â€œI remember you telling me it was his favorite. Not one of mine.” McCoy took the visitor’s chair and poured them both another shot. He sat looking down, swirling the whiskey along the sides of the glass.
    â€œSpit it out, Doctor.”
    â€œI just had a visit from Petty Officer Tikolo,” McCoy said.
    â€œHow’s she doing?”
    â€œWithout jeopardizing patient confidentiality, I can say that she’s better than she has a right to be.”
    â€œAs the captain of this ship, I have a right to know about crew—” Kirk began, but McCoy cut him off.
    â€œI know, Jim. You’re the captain. I’m the chief medical officer. That means I have to balance priorities. I’m tryin’ to thread a needle, here.”
    Kirk settled back in his chair. “Thread away, Bones. Tell me what you can.”
    McCoy leaned casually on his right armrest. “You’re aware of her situation.”
    â€œOf course.” About a year ago, a Romulan bird-of-prey had violated the Neutral Zone, established after the Earth-Romulan War, and had attacked a series of Federation outposts established to keep an eye on the zone. The Enterprise had destroyed the Romulan ship—learning, in the process, that the Romulans had developed cloaking technology that, despite some flaws, was more effective than anything in Starfleet’s bag of tricks—but not before the Romulans had vaporized several of the outposts.
    Miranda Tikolo had been assigned to Outpost 4 for just over a year when the attacks came. A skilled pilot, she had been flying a cargo run between Outposts 3 and 4 when the Romulans struck. Witnessing the destruction of the outpost and her crewmates—and, via her instruments, the pitched battle between the Enterprise and the Romulans—she had shut off all the shuttle’s systems and drifted in space, hoping not to be noticed. Once the battle was over, she had hailed the Enterprise . They had picked her up, astonished to learn that there was even a single survivor from Outpost 4.
    Tikolo had been appreciative, and had enjoyed her time on board the starship. When Starfleet’s medical personnel cleared her for duty, she requested assignment to the Enterprise, which the captain had gladly approved. She had been part of the security detail for seven months now, and Kirk was happy with her performance.
    â€œGiven what she went through—all those hours in the dark, alone, floatin’ in space, watchin’ her crewmates killed right in front of her—it’s no surprise that she continues to have some psychological scarring. Those scars don’t go away.”
    â€œBones, are you saying there’s a problem?”
    â€œI wouldn’t call it that, exactly. She’s been havin’ nightmares. I think they were prompted by that Ixtoldan battle cruiser accompanying us on this trip. She’s only had a glimpse of it, and while it doesn’t lookmuch like a Romulan bird-of-prey, I expect she’s conflated the two in her mind.”
    â€œShe can’t expect to serve on a Starfleet vessel and never encounter an alien ship,” Kirk said.
    â€œI’m sure she doesn’t. And I should add that I don’t believe she’s a danger to herself or anyone else. It’s just that the bad dreams bothered her enough that she felt it necessary to tell me about them. It’s classic survivor’s guilt, Jim. I can say that I understand, but—”
    All at once the captain understood what his friend was asking. “Doctor McCoy, you are overstepping—”
    â€œNo, I’m not. The crew knows about Tarsus IV. Tikolo needs someone she looks up to. She needs an Uncle Frank.”
    Finally Kirk said, “Okay, Bones. As soon as I get a chance—”
    The boson’s whistle announced a call from the bridge, and Uhura’s voice followed. “Captain,” she said.

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