MONDO EXTRAS

Lying awake that night, thinking of Spock, Kirk comes to a decision. He calls up Chekov and wonders how late they'd be to Altair VI if they re-altered the course back to Vulcan at full speed. You know, in all my Trek watching, I have never seen any crewmember have a comfortable bed. Except maybe Phlox's in "Two Days and Two Nights." Hey -- something Enterprise gets right: beds! Chekov tells him they're already on their way to "Wulcan" (again), by Spock's orders. Kirk thanks him and hangs up the viewscreen.

Hands on hips, Kirk stands on the bridge and requests a word in private with the Vulcan. Remember, Kirk doesn't have a Ready Room, so where Picard or Quantum would have just ordered the crewmember in question to that Ready Room, Kirk has to have an uncomfortable turbolift ride with them. In the turbolift, Kirk looks closely at Spock, who stares straight ahead. I also look closely at Spock, who seems to be growing a shadow of a 'stache. I think it's supposed to be another wispy indication of his unhinged mind. Kirk asks him why he changed the ship's course back to Vulcan. "Changed the course?" Spock repeats. Kirk asks him if he denies it. "No. No, by no means, Captain," Spock says, half-awake. "It is quite possible." Kirk wants to know why he did it. "Captain, I accept, on your word, that I did it, but I do not know why, nor do I remember doing it," Spock rasps out. The turbolift doors open, and Spock turns to Kirk, asking him to lock him away. "I do not wish to be seen," Spock pleads. I know what his problem is; he's getting a pimple. Remember when that happened to Worf? Alien zits -- not the prettiest things to look at. Like Gallagher, they're loud, they're kind of scary, and if you're not careful, you could get splattered. Spock insists that no Vulcan could possibly explain further what his major trauma is. Kirk reminds Spock that he's trying to help him, but Spock says, "Ahsk me no further questions -- I will not ahnswer!" Kirk orders him to Sick Bay for a full examination, and adds that Bones is waiting for him. Spock's frown deepens, and he gets off the turbolift. He wanders a bit down the hall, turns into another corridor, then backs up and acts confused.