The Enterprise Parasite

(Brief note: Any inaccuracies are the author's own fault. This story is being published as it is written, so chapter length may be inconsistent.)

The desert planet, dried and cracked by two suns and the constant wind, had no name. As there were no sentient inhabitants, either, and nothing of value for the Federation, the windswept expanse would remain nameless a while longer.

First Officer Spock took one last look around him, and, after nods from Lieutenant Sulu, Ensign Chekov, and security officer Jameson, flipped open his communicator.

"Mr. Scott? Spock here. We're ready to beam up."

"Aye, sir," came Second Officer Scott's voice. "But just a minute, Spock. I'm getting some strange readings from Jameson, though I cannae tell you what they mean."

"Is that so? Mr. Jameson seems to be in perfect condition. However, I will check with the tricorder. Thank you. Spock out."

As Spock closed the connection, Jameson stepped forward. "I feel healthy, all right. I don't know what Scotty could be picking up on. And Sulu was with me the whole time—did you see anything?"

"No, I don't think so," Sulu said. "Though there was the one time you stepped off behind that rock to—"

"Thank you, Mr. Sulu. As the scanner is not indicating any unusual signatures, biometric or otherwise, I believe we are ready to leave. Mr. Scott?" Spock didn't wait for Scott's response, pocketing the communicator before the next fierce gust of wind could blow it away.

As the transporters began their dematerialization, Spock saw some movement in the distance, within tricorder range. As the team's scanners had already established a lack of sentient life, Spock gave a mental shrug and decided to simply file away his observation as a routine and minor anomaly. He would mention it to Captain Kirk later, when the opportunity arose.

---

As the away team rematerialized aboard the USS Enterprise, Scott frowned at his console. The abnormal energy readings he had picked up earlier were still there, and it seemed like they were stronger now. Still, when Jameson stepped down from the platform he showed no signs of illness, so Scott—reluctantly—concluded it must be the console's machinery.

"Spock, when you see the captain, could you tell him I seem to be having a bit of trouble with the transporters? I'm still getting those odd readings," Scott said with an annoyed sigh as he patted the display panel.

"Certainly, Mr. Scott. But first I plan to take Jameson to sickbay for a thorough workup," Spock said, putting a hand on the security officer's red-shirted shoulder.

"But, sir—" Jameson's protest was shortlived, however, quieting as Spock's left eyebrow rose.

"Better go along with him," Sulu said. "I can't vouch for the one time I didn't see you around, and if Bones can't find anything then we're in the clear!"

---

"Captain's log, stardate 3402.6. The search of the first of several unknown planets in the Tronu Quadrant has yielded no results for the Federation to act upon, so our exploration of this sector continues. There is the possibility an officer from the away team may have contracted something while on the planet, and he is currently being examined—" The insistent beeping of the intercom interrupted Kirk's recording, but as the incoming message was from chief medical officer McCoy, he switched over without delay. "Bones, what news?"

"Well, Jim, it's the damndest thing. Half of what I've got says there's something weird about him, and the other half says there's nothing wrong at all. Short of cutting him open, there's nothing I can do but send him back to duty." McCoy's voice sounded perplexed, then suddenly shouts erupted from the intercom.

"Bones? Bones, what's going on down there?" Kirk half-rose from his seat, readying for action if needed.

"Chekov—He—Chekov came in for a routine checkup—" Crashing noises drowned out McCoy's voice. "—Started attacking him for no reason, going to try to—" The connection went dead.

"Bones? B—" Kirk leapt up, anxious for the fate of his friend and crew. "Security, send a team down to sickbay immediately. Spock, come with me. Scotty, you've got the bridge."

---

As Kirk, Spock, and the three-man security detail flanked the doors of the sickbay, the captain motioned to have phasers ready.

"Set to stun. Jameson may still be alive, but under mind control. I want to know who—or what—is doing this to him. All right, after me."

Kirk barged through the doors, as much as one can barge through an automated doorway, and what he saw astounded him.

"Bones, you're—you're all right!"

"Of course I am. I'm not a doctor for nothing," McCoy said dryly. "Jameson, now, he's another matter." He gestured to the back room with a sigh.

"And Ensign Chekov, sir?" Spock gestured the security officers through to the ICU as he waited for an answer, which didn't seem to come easily.

"Hmm. Chekov is… I can't rightly say, to be honest. He's alive, that's for sure, but whether he's all right is for you to decide for yourselves," McCoy said. As if to punctuate his statement, an agonized groan and a string of Russian curses erupted from the back room.

"What happened to Jameson?" Kirk said, holstering his phaser and waving Spock on through.

McCoy pulled a face. "He's dead, Jim. Do you need me to spell it out for you?"

"All right, all right," Kirk waved his hand irritably. "But what happened? I heard crashing, shouting—" A scream from Chekov cut him off.

Wincing, McCoy shook his head. "I must have triggered something in Jameson when I made that remark about cutting him open. What I triggered, I still don't know. It wasn't like anything I've seen before or even read about, Jim, but I can tell you this: it's incredibly dangerous." Seeing the confused look on the captain's face, McCoy continued. "It seems to be some kind of parasite that got into Jameson when he was on that planet. When it got triggered, it started controlling him and made him attack Chekov, then it just…burst out of him—it was terrible, Jim—and then it went on attacking Chekov and, well, go look."

Spock, having returned to hear McCoy's story more clearly, nodded. "The doctor is right, Captain. It is…difficult to describe what this presumed parasite has done to the ensign."

Kirk looked at both of them, but it was clear no further explanations were forthcoming. Another scream decided it for him—he would see just what had happened and, from there, figure out how to stop the monster now loose on his ship.