Double Helix 03_ Red Sector - Diane Carey [45]
“Look, don’t you think I know pity when I see it? Guilt? It’s not Eric Stiles they came after. It’s their own reputation for not leaving a man behind.” Stiles huffed. “I grew up back there. I did leave Starfleet behind. I could handle myself. I didn’t want to be rescued. Starfleet can’t just fly in and order me to leave when I don’t want to go.”
“Well, actually, Ensign, they can. You’re still on the duty roster”
“What do I care? And I told you not to call me ensign. All this is just a joke on you anyway. I don’t care how many famous people they send after me, Starfleet’s not getting its pound of flesh out of Eric Stiles. I’ll never make it home.” “Oh? Why not?
“Because I’m dying. There’s hardly a pound of flesh left. Can this boat turn around? Do these yellow guys have a reverse button?”
The old man wiped his pale, gnarled hands on a blue towel. “You’re not dying, boy. I just cured you.”
Stiles rolled his head on the pillow and challenged the codger with a glower. “I’m too far gone for that.”
“Not too far for me. You had a viral infection of operational tissue. Your heart, your muscles, intestinal walls, a few internal organs… it’s just something that hits humans on that planet. We had to watch out for it back when we maintained an embassy. To the Pojjana, it’s barely a common cold, but to humans, it eats muscle. In five or six months, with some physical therapy, your tissues will be rebuild. You’ll be young again, kid. Just call me the fountain of youth.”
“Starfleet sent us on a mission to a planet with a humankiller virus?”
“They had a vaccine, but didn’t bother to vaccinate the evacuation team. You boys weren’t supposed to come in contact with any native Pojjana during the evac mission, and that virus requires twelve weeks of repeated exposure. Nobody expected any of Oak Squad to stay there for four years. You probably got it from the food supply at the prison.”
Stiles stared at him. “How do you know so much about me?” “Ambassador Spock sent me. Ring a bell?”
Taken unaware by the dropping of that name, Stiles heaved up on his elbows-and then the second shock came. He was up on his own elbows! “What’s wrong?” the old man asked.
“I haven’t been able to sit up by myself for…” All at once Stiles dropped back on his pillow, but not from weakness. He stared at the old man and watched decades peel away before his eyes as he suddenly realized- “Ambassador Spock sent you…of course! You’re-you’re-my God, you’re-“
“Yes, that’s who I am. The Supreme Surgeon. The Mighty Medicine Man. The Hypo-Hero. The Real-” “McCoy ! Doctor McCoy !”
“You can have an autograph later.” The elderly man snapped the top back onto a bottle and placed it back on the nearest shelf. “Now relax before you have a bacterial flareup. Where’d I put that sedative?” “Are you Doctor Leonard McCoy? The Doctor McCoy?” “Betcha?’ “Then it is’ an official rescue?”
“No. I convinced the consul general to remand you into my custody. When we cross into Federation territory, you’ll be officially handed over to Starfleet.” “You gave the Pojjana some kind of medical help?” “That’s the short version, yes.” “Then you broke the Prime Directive?”
“Sure did” the esteemed elder proudly confirmed. “You would’ve too. The P.D.’s been through so many incarnations and reinterpretations in my lifetime you’d think the thing was written on rubber. In a changing galaxy, you’ve got to have that.” “But you’re a Starfleet surgeon-“
“Retired. If I come into Red Sector, it’s my own affair. I’m a free agent. Took me a year and a half to get the Pojjana to owe me enough to get you out. It’s a damned shame what happens to you kids who get caught in the crossfire-“
“I’m not that kid anymore,” Stiles bristled. “I’m an old man now. I can stick up for myself.”
Leonard McCoy lasered him a scolding glower that cut him off in mid-thought. “Boy” the doctor said, “I got socks older than you.”
Perfectly intimidated, Stiles settled back and shut his mouth. He’d have to keep it shut until he figured things out. How much had changed out there? Four years in prison