A Glimpse of the Enemy

McCoy grimaced. "I don't have to be reminded of that fact, Spock. The proof is in front of me." Spock cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at the doctor, who replied, "Take a look at what's left of LeClerc's embryo."

Spock stepped around the table to see, as did Fred, Sulu & Chekov.

"Bozhe Moi!" Chekov exclaimed. "Vhat - vhat eez that, Doctor?"

The embryonic remains, sealed behind a Class 1 stasis field, could best be described as resembling a giant pink maggot, with one large eye in the middle of its head. Various tendrons were exposed that leaked a viscous fluid, now puddled at the bottom of the field.

"I wish I knew," McCoy said, sounding puzzled and sad and outraged all at once. "Our scans all showed perfectly healthy human infants - at least in the humans - for everyone. I was as shocked as you when I got Martine open and found that!"

Fred felt her stomach turn, and tasted bile in her mouth. "Doctor McCoy, is, is that what's in me?!?

McCoy didn't quite look at her. "It's quite likely, I'm afraid. And I know your next question is how soon you can get it out. But until we know more about exactly what it is, I don't dare."

"Agreed, Doctor," Spock said grimly. "This individual organism was somehow damaged or imperfect. Any attempt to remove a healthy one from the Lieutenant - or any of the others - may prove fatal."

Just then, as Fred contemplated what had happened, and was again finding herself longing for the days when an evil carnivorous dragon was all she had to worry about, Ensign LeClerc gave a small moan. McCoy ran his medscanner over her, then looked at Spock. "Remember, gentle questioning only."

Spock nodded. "Ensign LeClerc, this is First Officer Spock. Can you tell us what happened to you?"

For a moment, she said nothing, then she blinked and said:

1. "Mr. Spock? It - it's gone! Oh, thank God! I'm free!"
2. "Oh - oh God! My baby! Where's my baby?!?" Then she collapsed into tears.
3. "Wh- what happened? The last thing I remember, I was on shove leave on the planet."
4. "The former shell is no longer needed. I control this body now."
5. Nothing. She continued to stare blankly at the ceiling.

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