Primitive Life
by Barnett C. Hsu, 1990-1

Chapter One

     "How are the repairs going, Mr. LaForge?"  Captain Jean-Luc Picard
asked.
     "Another three hours and we'll be ready, sir."  LaForge responded.
     "Sir, a distress signal is coming in from the Federation Kyron
outpost."  Worf said loudly.
     "On main viewer, lieutenant."  Picard said as he walked from the
back of the bridge to his usual place in front of the viewer screen.  He
watched as the neutral display of stars was replaced by the transmission
from the Kyron outpost.
     "Any Federation vessel, this is an emergency.  Repeat, this is an
emergency."  said the man on the screen.  He wore an admiral's uniform.
     "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise.  Can you
hear us?"
     "Enterprise!  This is Admiral McCoy of Starfleet Medical. Contact
Starfleet for me and tell them that there is a meningitis outbreak on the
planet, and the inhabitants are blaming the disease on us.  They are
arming to attack us."
     "Understood.  We will contact you when we have more information
for you.  Picard out."
     Picard turned around.  "Lieutenant, do as the admiral said." He
sat down at his seat, pressed a button, and said, "Senior officers to the
conference room, please."

     The relief personnel, Ensign Bob Mitchell and Ensign Mark Wilhelm,
 were both recent graduates of Starfleet Academy, and both the best in
their class.  A claim which can be proven by their record achievements in
the Begins simulator, a simulator test required of all students before
graduating from the Academy as of stardate 47516.9.  They took their
places at the helm and ops.


     "We're ready to go.  All functions normal.  Diagnostic checks
clear."  LaForge told the rest of the senior officers.
     "Starfleet Command has given us permission to delay our current
mission and to head to Kyrona.  A medical supply ship is headed this way
from Starbase One Seven Four, but will take several days."  Riker said.
     "Did the admiral specify what caused the panic and the decision
to blame the malady on the Federation outpost?"  Data asked.
     "No, he did not.  However, he did say that there were several
deaths at the outpost as well.  Several of the dead had supposedly been
innoculated against the disease.  But they caught it and died.  There is
an Ensign Rodriguez among them."
     "I remember her.  She was a medical supervisor stationed on the
Enterprise in Engineering two years ago.  Last I heard, she had been
transferred to a starbase.  And yes, she was innoculated.  In fact, I did
the innoculation.  The innoculation was supposed to last at least five
years."  Dr. Crusher said.
     "Bad batch of medicine, perhaps, Doctor?"
     "Possible, but I don't think so.  There were others who were
innoculated on the same day, and they still have the antibodies against
meningitis."
     "A strange mystery, indeed."  Picard said.  "Dismissed."



Chapter 2

     "Approaching Kyron sector now, Captain."  Data announced.
     "Standard orbit, Commander."  Picard replied.
     A minute later, Data announced, "Standard orbit, sir."
     "Number One, Data.  Prepare to go down to the planet in a
shuttlecraft to see Admiral McCoy.  The Kyrons lack transporter 
technology."
     "Aye, Captain."  Riker responded.  He was standing next to
LaForge at Science Station One.
     The relief, Ensign Bob Mitchell, took over Data's position at ops.
Data headed for the turbolift.  Riker followed.

     "Deck Ten."  Riker told the computer.
     The turbolift began moving.  But just as Riker was about to say
something to LaForge, the turbolift stopped and the lights went out.
     "Power is now off in all nonessential decks."  the computer
announced.  A second later, the computer added, "RED ALERT..  INTRUDERS IN
TURBOLIFT TWO."
     "Wait a minute!  That's us!!"  LaForge said.
     "Riker to bridge."  Riker said into his communicator.  There was
no response.  LaForge tried his.  Also no response.
     "Data, is there any way to override from here?"  Riker asked.
     "No, sir.  Any tampering will raise the security alert level."
Data replied.
     "Computer, reactivate turbolift two."  Riker shouted.
     "ALPHA CLEARANCE REQUIRED...  RED ALERT... INTRUSION LEVEL TWO IN
TURBOLIFT TWO." the computer announced.
     "The computer thinks we are intruders.  Our normal security
clearances are invalid now." Data told the others.
     LaForge leaned on one of the turbolift walls and said, "I wonder
how long before a security team gets here."
     "DANGER! INTRUDER AFFECTING SHIP INTEGRITY. INTRUSION ALERT LEVEL
THREE IN TURBOLIFT TWO."
     "We must be careful now.  Any further move which the computer
considers dangerous will result in the computer firing bolts of
electricity at us."  Data said.
     "I know, Data." Riker replied.
     "Yes, sir."

     "Sir, intrusion alert in turbolift two."  Worf announced.
     "Deactivate the sirens.  Continue red alert." Picard responded.
     "Aye sir."
     The red alert klaxon became quiet.  The flashing red lights
continued to flash.  Picard nodded at Worf.
     "I have ordered a security team to go to turbolift two." Worf
said quietly.

     "How could a Kyron get on board without our knowledge?" Ensign
Jimmy Dong asked the lieutenant commander which led the security team.
     "I don't know, but we'll find out.  Those Kyrons have triggered
every single security alert available.  I wonder how long it will take
Engineering to repair the damage to the turbolift."  Lieutenant Commander
Johnson replied.
     They got off on deck fourteen.  As far as they could tell,
the deck was quiet and dark.  Johnson realized that this was one of
the decks the computer had selected for deactivation.  He remembered
how Picard had reacted when the computer indicated that too much power
had been used up.  The computer had activated automatic power shutdown
much to Picard's surprise.
     They reached the turbolift where the intruders were located
Johnson looked at Ensign Dong.  Dong lifted his tricorder in response
and began keying in clearance codes.  The computer was slow to
respond.
     "Ensign Pratt and Donalds, have your phasers on stun. Lieutant
King and Taylor, have your phasers on kill.  We must be ready for whatever
occurs.  Ensign Dong, are you ready to pop open this door?"  Johnson asked.
     "Aye, sir." Dong responded.
     The door opened.  The turbolift was halfway on deck fourteen and
halfway on deck fifteen.  The four men with the phasers got as close to
the doorway as they could.  Dong backed away and stood there.  Johnson
moved into a position that allowed him to see the occupants.  His mouth
opened wide.
     "Commmmmander!  We-e-e didnnn't knnow." Johnson stammered.
     "It's okay.  At ease!!" Riker ordered jovially.
     The security officers lowered their phasers and helped the three
senior officers out of the turbolift.  As soon as they were out, Dong
entered the codes to temporarily put the turbolift out of service until
Engineering had the time to repair it.
     "Should I call Sickbay?" Johnson asked.
     "No.  We'll go to Shuttlebay One as scheduled.  Let the bridge
know we'll be late getting down to the planet."  Riker said.
     "That kind of malfunction should be impossible."  LaForge muttered
to himself.

     "Sir, the security team reports they rescued the away team from
turbolift two."  Worf said.
     Picard's eyebrows went up.  "Thank you, lieutenant."  he said
softly.
     "Sir, we have a problem.  It seems the power shutdown trapped some
people on Ten Forward, and on holodeck two."
     "Get them out, lieutenant."
     "Sir, the woman on holodeck two is dead."