A Fictional Parallel?

"To save you the effort of asking the computer, Doctor, I can tell you that, out of the crew of 430, 126 are female."

"We're going to have to scan them all, Jim. Can you arrange for them all to make appointments, please?"

"Well, I can't compel them, Bones, but I'll strongly encourage them all to come and see you and your colleagues. I agree that we need to know just how big this problem is. Even with the ones we know about, it's bad enough, but if it's substantially more then it will almost cripple the Enterprise... Nurse Chapel, are you all right? You look very pale."

"I'll be fine, Captain. It's just that I've been having a bit of morning sickness lately. Yes, I'm one of the twelve - thirteen if you include Lieutenant Uhura."

"Well, make sure you don't overdo things," Kirk said. He turned to his Science Officer. "Spock, do you have any theory that might explain this?"

"Negative, Captain." (Behind his back, McCoy muttered: "Why can't he just say 'yes' and 'no' like a normal person?") Spock continued: "I will ask the computer whether it is aware of any parallels." He activated a terminal and asked: "Computer, are there any known instances of a large number of women all becoming pregnant almost simultaneously and apparently without the involvement of a man?"

The computer replied, in its pleasant female voice: "No. However there is a possible parallel in a twentieth century novel called 'The Midwich Cuckoos' by the Earth writer John Wyndham."

"Do you have the text of that book?"

1. "Yes."
2. "No."
3. Fred did not stay to hear the computers's answer. No longer the centre of attention, he took the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
4. Before the computer could reply, they heard a voice say: "Don't bother with the book. I can tell you precisely what is happening and why."

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