Read Star Trek 04 for Free Online

yards."
    "Hmm. Let's go back to the ship. I feel the need for a conference."

    Spock brought with him into the briefing room of the Enterprise one of the strange spherical objects Vanderberg had called silicon nodules, and set it on the table. Then he sat down and stared into it, looking incongruously like a fortune-teller in uniform.
    "I think it's mass hysteria," McCoy said.
    "Hysteria?" Kirk said. "Dozens of people have been killed."
    "Some—natural cause. A phenomenon—and people have dreamed up a mysterious monster to account for it."
    Spock stirred. "Surely, Doctor. A natural cause. But not hysteria."
    "All right. You asked my opinion. I gave it to you. How do I know? Maybe there is some kind of a monster . . ."
    "No creature is monstrous in its own environment, Doctor. And this one appears to be intelligent, as well."
    "What makes you think so?"
    "The missing pump was not taken by accident," Spock said. "It was the one piece of equipment absolutely essential to the operation of the reactor."
    Kirk looked at his First Officer. "You think this creature is trying to drive the colonists off the planet?"
    "It seems logical."
    "Why just now, Mr. Spock? This production facility was established here fifty years ago."
    "I do not know, sir." Spock resumed staring at the round object. "But it is perhaps indicative that Mr. Appel claimed to have hit it with his phaser. He strikes me as a capable but unimaginative man. If he said he hit it, I tend to believe he did. Why was the creature not affected? I have a suggestion, though Dr. McCoy will accuse me of creating fantasies."
    "You?" McCoy said. "I doubt it."
    "Very well. To begin with, the colonists are equipped only with phaser number one, no need for the more powerful model having been encountered. This instrument, when set to kill, coagulates proteins, which are carbon-based compounds. Suppose this creature's 'organic' compounds are based on silicon instead?"
    "Now surely that is a fantasy," Kirk said.
    "No, it's possible," McCoy said. "Silicon has the same valence as carbon, and a number of simple silicoid 'organics' have been known for a long time. And by the stars, it explains the acids, too. We have hydrochloric acid in our own stomachs, after all. But we're mostly water. Silicon isn't water-soluble, so the aqua regia may be the substrate of the creature's bloodstream. And the hydrofluoric—well, fluorine has an especial affiinity for silicon; the result is teflon, which may be what the creature's internal tubing is made of."
    "Do you mean to imply," Kirk said slowly, "that this being goes about killing men with its own blood?"
    "Not necessarily, Jim. It may spit the stuff—and sweat it, too, for all I know. Its tunneling suggests that it does."
    "Hmm. It also suggests that it would have to have a form of natural armor plating. But our people have phasers number two, and I defy anything to stand up against that at high power, no matter what it's made of. The question is, how do we locate it?"
    "I would suggest," Spock said, "that we start at whatever level these silicon nodules were found."
    "Why? How do they tie in?"
    "Pure speculation, Captain. But it would be helpful if it were confirmed."
    "Very well, assemble security forces. I assume that Mr. Scott is already at work on the reactor? Very good, we'll assemble in Vanderberg's office."

    "You will each be given a complete chart of all tunnels and diggings under this installation," Kirk told his forces. "You will proceed from level to level, checking out every foot of opening. You will be searching for some variety of creature which apparently is highly resistant to phaser fire, so have your phasers set on maximum. And remember this—fifty people have already been killed. I want no more deaths . . ."
    "Except the bloody thing!" Vanderberg exploded.
    Kirk nodded. "The creature may or may not attack on sight. However, you must. A great deal depends on getting this installation back into production."
    "Mr. Vanderberg,"