***    FOUR    ***



           Enterprise shone like a pearl against a black velvet sky.  She
      remained stationary as the smaller ship, dart-like in appearance,
      approached.  Static electricity discharged with various degrees of
      intensity, arcing, almost dancing about them, in bright blue bolts.
      They were enfolded by the dark and dense cloud of particles that
      had once been Elba II.

           On the bridge of the Enterprise, damage control was completing
      repairs to the ship's injuries, sustained while reaching the
      Petroski solar system.

           "Bridge to Engineering. Mr. Scott, repairs are about done up
      here.  How are things coming on your end?" spoke Jim Kirk to his
      chief engineer.

           "We have green across the board, Capt'n.  Though there is
      still an energy flux in me port nacelle.  I cann'a seem to fine
      tune it out, and it's gonna worra me till I do," said the
      Scottsman.

           "Well done, Mr. Scott.  Keep me informed about that flux.  If
      it gets worse, let me know," Kirk said.

           "Aye Sir, Scott out." The channel closed.

           "Mr. Spock,  I believe it's time to go over to the Javelin for
      debriefing,"  the Captain said as he left his chair, "Mr. Sulu, you
      have the Con."

           Spock followed Jim to the turbo-lift.  Sulu rose from his post
      and took the center seat as the lift's doors 'swooshed' closed.

           "Hanger deck," Jim instructed the lift.  He rubbed his palms
      against his trousers, then folded his arms across his chest.  "Mr.
      Spock," he began, "have you finished the detailed report on the
      landing expedition to Holberg?"

           "Yes, Captain,  it is on file and ready to be transmitted to
      Starfleet Command."

           "I'd like to look at it before you have it sent.  I want to
      compare it to my own log," said Jim.  "Not that I mistrust your
      accuracy Spock, I just want to be sure I didn't leave anything
      important out," he continued, hoping his First Officer would not
      detect his uneasiness about the subject.  He wanted to compare the
      two logs because his memory seemed to have lapsed and he did not
      wish it known to his friend.

           Embarrassment crept up inside him as he thought to himself of
      the way he was trying to conceal this fact from Spock, the very one
      whom he should confide in.  His cheeks shone the barest hint of red
      and he could feel the flush of them.

                                       PAGE 21








           So concerned with himself, Jim did not even notice the
      slightly greener cheeks of Spock.

           Spock was hardly pleased to hear Jim's request.  It was not
      difficult to deduce that Kirk had discovered some missing time
      concerning Flint and the Holberg expedition, more to the truth,
      concerning Reena.

           It is considered not only immoral and illogical but quite
      dangerous for a Vulcan to interfere uninvitedly into another's
      thoughts.  Spock's decision to alter his Captain's memory of the
      death of his love was not derived from logic, but one of "brotherly
      affection".  An emotion alien to him before he knew the man James T.
      Kirk, but alien no longer.

           To all who did not know Spock well, he appeared to be
      typically, totally, Vulcan.  A being devoted entirely to logic,
      suppressing or uprooting any inborn emotion, never discerning the
      turmoil inside him of being only half Vulcan.  His human and Vulcan
      sides constantly strove with each other for supremacy in his
      heart.

           Unlike most humans and Vulcans, Jim Kirk had accepted him as
      is, and demonstrated the strength that could be found in the very
      emotions he struggled to suppress.  There is a balance between the
      two opposing cultures that Spock was only recently becoming aware
      of.  Once thought mutually exclusive, he now could see the harmony
      of the two working in him.  This did not, however, make it any
      easier for him to arrive at an explanation as to why James had no
      memory of Reena Kapec.  He would not lie to Jim.  Perhaps he could
      'exaggerate'?

           The lift doors opened to the face of Dr. Leonard McCoy holding
      two flat squares, one orange, one blue.

           "Bones, I was just wondering if you had the medical tapes for
      us," said Jim.

           "I thought I would deliver them personally, Jim.  Governor
      Cory's staff and patient's files are all here though I'm not sure
      how much help they will be.  They are only as current as the last
      time we were here." The doctor placed the squares in his Captain's
      hands.

           "We were ordered to gather all information pertaining to the
      disaster, regardless of how insignificant."

           "I know, I saw all of the equipment and space debris you are
      taking over to the Intelligence boys.  Not much room for the two of
      you, is there?" Bones escorted the two down the corridor.

           "If we had another shuttle craft available, we would have
      distributed the material between the two.  As it is, it will still
      be a couple of hours before our second recon team returns, and no
      ship will be able to use transporters for weeks in this area with
      all the electromagnetic energy around."

                                       PAGE 22








           "'Months' is what Scotty said," added Bones.

           "Two point seven three months, to be more accurate," offered
      Spock, more to irritate the doctor than to assist.  Dr.  McCoy
      was, to Spock, the most emotionally fascinating person to observe.
      It seemed, paradoxically, that the good doctor was most happy when
      most irritated.  As a friend, Spock felt obligated to keep Bones
      'happy'.  "That estimate is of course barring,"

           "Can't you even say a complete sentence without a statistical
      exposition?" griped the doctor.

           Spock raised an eyebrow. "I find a curious satisfaction, if I
      understand the usage, in being as accurate as possible," he said.
      "Especially around you," he added.  "Perhaps I am overcompensating
      for your consistant and general inaccuracy."

           "I can't take you two anywhere, can I?" Jim cut in.

           The corridor ended with the shuttle bay doors, which opened as
      Jim and company reached them.  He led them into the airlock.
      After the first pair of doors closed behind them, the second,
      leading into the hanger, opened.  A lone shuttlecraft sat on the
      turntable with the name 'Columbus NCC-1701/3', emblazoned on the
      side.  The small interplanetary craft hummed softly as the prep-
      technician ran her through pre-warm and pre-flight procedures.

           Spock and McCoy followed the Captain as he walked the 20
      meters to the central rotational platform, then to the open doors
      of the Columbus.  Spock passed his Captain and entered the craft as
      Jim stopped, realizing McCoy was still tagging along, and turned to
      him.

           "I hope you aren't waiting around for a goodbye kiss, Doctor,"
      the Captain stated, in good humor.

           "Very funny!  I was just making sure you've got everything
      needed from medical, and what do I get for it?" came the Doctor. "I
      wonder if jokes like that are what made Vulcans turn into binary
      brains."

           "Calm yourself, Doctor.  What's put you on edge this time?"

           "Nothing's put me on edge.  I just thought you might have been
      able to work me into your schedule without me having to order you
      down to sickbay for a complete physical."

           "I'm sorry, Bones, is there something you need to discuss that
      I don't know about?"

           "I'm sure you are aware of it," he said, "Painfully aware."

           Jim wrinkled his brow.  'What the heck are you talking about
      Bones?', he thought to himself.  Then an echo from his memory spoke
      'bruised ribs'.  Jim then connected that with "Painfully aware"
      and naturally assumed they were finally on the same wavelength.

                                       PAGE 23








      He was wrong.

           "Oh, that!  Well, when I get back I'll stop in and you can
      tell me how I'm doing," Jim said, tugging at his tunic which
      covered the flexi-truss.  "It doesn't seem to be important, though.
      I hardly feel bruised at all."

           "My God, Jim, I thought you were crushed." Bones, on the other
      hand, was referring to Jim's heart, at the loss of the android /
      lifeform / love: Reena Kapec.

           "Crushed?"  Jim could not remember being crushed.  He could
      remembered nothing of how the injury came into being.  "Perhaps it
      looked that way, but really, I'm fine," he said honestly.  "I
      almost don't even feel it anymore."

           Spock, with his amazing Vulcan sense of hearing, naturally was
      in earshot of the entire conversation.  His muscles were
      unconsciously tensed.  His eyes were looking straight ahead.  He
      was listening intently, waiting for McCoy to let the 'feline' out
      of the proverbial 'satchel'.  Then he focused his eyes on the tip
      of his nose.  It was the first time he could recall ever seeing
      nervous sweat on a Vulcan.  "Fascinating," he whispered to no one.

           "Tell that to the Fleet Cadets, Jim, not me.  I know what
      you've been through.  I know it must hurt."

           This was really starting to confuse the Captain.  The doctor
      never made this much fuss, unless it was more serious than he
      thought.  'What is it?  A ruptured spleen?  Punctured kidney?  No,
      Bones would never have let me back on the bridge if there was that
      much damage.'

           Jim looked the doctor directly in the eyes.  "Ok, Bones, I
      think it's time I told you the truth."  He waited for a moment to
      muster his courage.  It is not an easy thing for any Captain to
      admit to the ship's doctor that there is a possibility of mental
      failure.  "Bones, I don't know 'how' I did it.  OK?"  He put his
      hand to his side indicating his ribs.  "I know it aches, but I
      can't for the life of me think of how it could've happened.  I,"

           "Jim, matters of the 'heart' are always like that," Bones
      said, cutting in, "We never know how these things happen.  You just
      have to take it easy.  Now isn't the time to be under stress, so
      don't overdo it, alright?  Doctor's orders!"

           'That's it!' Jim thought. 'It's not my ribs, it's my heart!
      Cardiac arrest could account for my memory loss, and if CPR was
      administered, it would leave my ribs bruised.'

           Kirk now realized, at least he believed he understood, why the
      doctor was concerned, and became very concerned himself.  He had no
      knowledge that his ribs became bruised while in hand to hand combat
      with Reena's creator / lover, Flint.  Spock had seen to it that he
      did not remember, for the pain of her death was more than he
      thought Jim could bear.

                                       PAGE 24








           Jim gulped. "I didn't know it was that bad.  All I remember
      is,"

           "Jim," Bones cut him off again. "It's better you try to
      forget. Let it heal, before you go out and it happens again."

           "Again!?!  Bones, you really think it could happen again!?!"

           "If I know you, James T. Kirk, the next planet you set foot
      on, you'll meet some young filly or 'miraculously' out from a tree
      will pop a former sweetheart and, BLAMO!"

           Jim gulped again.  'BLAMO!?!' His eyes widened a bit.

           Spock could bear the conversation no longer.  As he rose, he
      noticed the imprints his fingers had left on the navigational
      console where he had been sitting.  "Remarkable," he stated, and
      calculated the amount of pressure in kilograms PSI that it would
      take to leave such impressions in the hyper-alloy aluminum 1      
      millimeter thick, as he stepped through the shuttle door.
      "Fascinating," again to himself.  "Captain, the Javelin is awaiting  
      us.  Shall I signal them regarding a temporary delay?"

           "No, Spock, I'm ready." He looked at the doctor, a bit
      frightened by the 'BLAMO' comment.  "Providing the Doctor thinks
      I'll survive."

           "You've got my approval." Bones smiled but noticed Jim's
      hesitation to take him at his word.  "Seriously, Jim, clean bill of
      health," McCoy said, genuinely glad to have had the chat with Jim
      and been able to clear the air of this unfortunate incident.

           "Thanks, Bones.  See you soon." the Captain said, feeling 
      slightly better himself, after McCoy's last comment and finally
      satisfied that his mind was not unduly slipping.  He stepped into
      the shuttle and the doors closed behind him.





















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