The Entropy Effect

“I’ve been thinking,” Kirk said. “And what I think is that it’s about time we talked about making sure your record reflects all the responsibilities you have, not just the formal ones. It would be a damned shame if somewhere down the line you wanted a position and it went to some semi-competent instead just because they went up the ladder in the usual way and you didn’t.”

Sulu’s expression gave Jim considerable excuse for self-congratulation.

“The solution isn’t to normalize your record,” he said. “It’s to make it unique, so you have to be judged on your own terms. I think a good first step would be a field promotion to lieutenant commander. There’s no question but what you’d get the promotion anyway in a few years, but a field promotion is unusual enough to stand out even to a red-tape shuffler.”

“Captain ...” Sulu sounded rather stunned.

“It would mean more responsibility, of course.”

“That would be all right,” Sulu said. “I mean—it would be wonderful!”

“Good. Let’s get together and talk about it. You give fencing lessons in the afternoons, don’t you?”

“On alternate days. The other times I take a judo lesson from Lieutenant Commander Flynn.”

“What time are you finished?”

“About sixteen hundred hours, sir.”

“Then, what do you say to seventeen hundred, tomorrow, in the officers’ lounge?”

“I’ll be there, Captain! Thank you, sir.”

Kirk nodded. They reached the turbo lift, got on, and started upward toward the bridge.

“By the way, Mr. Sulu, I think that’s going to be a very distinctive mustache once it gets a little longer.” Color rose in Sulu’s cheeks.

“I mean it,” Kirk said.

“I wasn’t sure that you’d approve, sir.”

“I grew a mustache myself, a few years ago.”

“You did? Why didn’t you keep it?”

“I’ll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone else.”

“Of course I promise, sir.”

“It came in red. Brick red. Most ridiculous thing I ever saw in my life.”

He laughed, and so did Sulu.

“I don’t think mine will come in red, Captain,” Sulu said.

The lift doors opened and they went out onto the bridge. Kirk grinned at Sulu.

“No, I don’t suppose you’ll have to worry about that possibility.”

Kirk took his place; Sulu relieved the junior helm officer and checked over the controls.

“Mr. Sulu,” Kirk said, “plot us a course out of here.”

“Yes, sir!”

It took him only a few seconds: he had been prepared to get the ship away from the singularity at almost any moment; he was ready for any sort of emergency.

“Course entered, sir, warp factor one.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sulu.”

Like a freed bird, the Enterprise sailed out of the grasp of the singularity, through the flaming curtains of disintegrating matter that surrounded it, and out into deep space.

Captain’s log, Stardate 5001.1:

We are now a day away from the singularity, and the unease that gripped the Enterprise and my crew throughout the entire mission there has faded, leaving In its place a feeling of relief and even contentment. Morale Is better than it has been in some time, particularly in the security section: though I personally find the new commander rather prickly, she does her job splendidly.

I have decided to take the Enterprise through the border region between Federation space and Klingon territory, which Is guarded by Captain Hunter’s fleet. The Klingons have been more aggressive than usual; they have inflicted some losses on the squadron, and until replacements arrive, the appearance of a ship of the line in the area cannot do any harm.

Administrative notes: I have forwarded to Starfleet my recommendation for Mr. Sulu’s field promotion to lieutenant commander. As this will make him one of the youngest officers of that rank without formal front line experience, I may have to wrestle down a few bureaucratic hair-splitters in order to get it approved; on the other hand, If serving on the Enterprise doesn’t qualify as some form of front line experience, I don’t know what does.

On the recommendation of Lt. Commander Flynn, I have also approved the transfer of Ensign Jenniver Aristeldes from Security to Botany, and Mr. Spock has asked her to take charge of a project he wants to begin, that of growing more bioelectronic components. Before now, Aristeides always seemed to me to be hardly any more the emotional type than Mr. Spock, but she is clearly delighted by her new job.

Mr. Spock is recovering from severe overwork. He has assured Starfleet that the singularity will soon wipe itself out of the universe. My science officer shows no more sign than before that he is willing to discuss the “unpredictable events” that occurred during his observations. Despite a certain temptation to ask him if this is Information we were not meant to know—a question that would undoubtedly grate upon his scientific objectivity—I’m not inclined to press him for more answers. It’s possible that he simply made some sort of mistake that would humiliate him to reveal.

Whatever did happen seems to have involved only Spock himself; whatever It was, it has not affected the Enterprise at all.