Star Trek II: Distress Call Read online

  Plot-Your-Own-Adventure Stories(TM)

  STAR TREK II®

  Distress Call!

  BY WILLIAM ROTSLER

  Illustrated by John Speirs

  For Fran Evans, who came

  through when needed,

  as usual

  Copyright © 1982 by Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. STAR TREK is a trademark of Paramount V Pictures Corporation, registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

  This Book is Published by Wanderer Books, a Simon & Schuster Division of Gulf & Western Corporation, Under Exclusive License from Paramount Pictures Corporation, the Trademark Owner.

  All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form Published by WANDERER BOOKS

  A Simon & Schuster Division of Gulf & Western Corporation

  Simon & Schuster Building

  1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020

  WANDERER and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster

  Designed by Stanley S. Drate

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

  Rotsler, William.

  Star trek II distress call.

  (Plot-your own-adventure stories)

  Summary: Aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain Kirk and Mister Spock respond to a distress call from the planet Varda III. The reader is allowed to make decisions which determine how the plot will proceed.

  [1. Science fiction. 2. Literary recreations]

  I. Title. II. Title: Star trek two distress call. III. Title: Star trek 2 distress call. IV. Series.

  PZ7.R753Sr 1982 [Fic] 82-13584

  ISBN 0-671-46389-6

  Page 1

  CAPTAIN’S LOG

  Stardate 8001.4

  The U.S.S. Enterprise, on routine patrol, has received a distress call from the vicinity of Varda III and we are responding as interplanetary law requires. Admiral James T. Kirk, commanding.

  “Mister Spock?”

  “Yes, Captain?” The lean, dark science officer turned toward the commander and raised his pointed eyebrows.

  “What do we know of this Varda III?” Kirk asked, knowing that the Vulcan would have retrieved the information from the ship’s computer once the distress call had been received.

  “An Earth-type planet within five points of Terran norm,” Spock said. “It is believed to have once been the base for a race of space-traveling humanoids, now thought extinct. The call could only have come from an archaeological team from Luna University, who are conducting a dig there.”

  Kirk frowned and rubbed his jaw. “Pretty far out, aren’t they?”

  “Not unusual for such research teams,” Spock responded.

  Turn to page 2.

  Page 2

  From page 1.

  “Lieutenant Uhura, keep trying to raise them,” Kirk said.

  “Aye, sir, but their fading call indicated either a power failure or…” She hesitated. “Or interference.”

  Kirk thumbed his command intercom. “Lieutenant Commander Chekov to the bridge!”

  In a few moments the elevator door hissed open and Pavel Chekov walked quickly to Kirk’s position. “Keptin,” he said briskly.

  “Mister Chekov, prepare a team of six security men and a medical assistant for planetfall in—” He looked at a clock. “Two hours.” Kirk looked at Spock. “Any precautions needed?”

  Spock shook his head. “No, Captain, at least none are indicated.” His eyebrow went up. “But I should point out that there must be some reason for the distress call.”

  Kirk nodded and gestured at Chekov. “Go armed and alert, and keep in touch.”

  “Yes, Keptin!” the young officer replied. He turned briskly and strode into the elevator. He did not smile until the doors had closed behind him, then a happy smile broke across his face.

  Action! He thought. My own command on an unknown planet!

  If you follow Chekov directly to the surface of Varda III, turn to page 3.

  If you first reconnoiter the planet, turn to page 4.

  Page 3

  From page 2.

  Chekov used Spock’s lifeform readings as a target and brought the shuttlecraft directly down toward the crescent of green along one of the many oceans.

  The security men tumbled from the spacecraft and set up a defensive perimeter. Starfleet had long ago determined that there was danger in even the most innocent-appearing of alien planets and had prescribed certain precautions.

  The jungle was a tangled web of tubular plants, each fighting for precious water and sunlight. Leaving two men on guard, Chekov took the rest of the landing party through the jungle toward the spot indicated by the lifeform readings.

  They emerged into a man-made clearing and saw the domes of the Terran archaeological team near the sharp angles of the star-shaped buildings they were excavating. Medic Narva Moktar pointed out an entrance in the structure and suggested they investigate.

  If you decide to go immediately into the star-shaped building, go to page 6.

  If you decide to look around a bit first, go to 7.

  Page 4

  From page 2.

  Chekov assembled a team of red-clad security men and a combat nurse, Narva Moktar, a slim and attractive medic from Liberia, United States of Africa, Earth. He hustled them aboard the shuttlecraft, and they soon dropped away from the orbiting Enterprise and began circling the planet.

  “Two small moons,” reported Narva. “Varda’s gravity is point eight of Earth’s, so we’ll be a little light.”

  The shuttlecraft spiraled closer to the surface as Chekov watched through telescopic sensors. “Rather an arid planet,” he said. “Deserts, with strips of green along the many oceans.”

  Although they listened carefully, they heard no further messages on the interplanetary distress channel. “We’ll go lower and see if we can spot anything,” Chekov reported to the Enterprise bridge.

  “There are intermittent lifeform readings in Sector Twelve West,” Mr. Spock told the landing party by radio.

  “Aye, sir, we’ll investigate.”

  The shuttlecraft flew in low over the bleak hills of the western desert, then came upon the green coastal strip. Narva pointed out the overgrown ruins of some kind of ancient structures ahead, and the shuttle was set down in a clearing.

  Continue on page 5.

  Page 5

  From page 4.

  The security men leaped from the ship and immediately set up a defensive perimeter, their phasers at the ready. Leaving two men to guard the vessel, Chekov took four men and Narva toward the low buildings they saw ahead.

  The jungle around them was different from anything Chekov had seen before. The plants were like soft cactus, built to soak up and retain all the moisture they could. There were short, fat tendrillike plants that moved sluggishly, weaving toward the Terran intruders.

  The landing party broke through the jungle into an area that had been cleared by phasers and saw before them the partially unearthed archaeological site. Nearby was a cluster of inflated domes and the usual tools and necessities of an archaeological dig.

  But before them was a series of star-shaped buildings, tier rising upon tier, made of shaped stone and with an entrance at each inner joining of the triangular sections. Narva held up her tricorder so that Chekov could read it. “Some kind of lifeform readings in that building,” she pointed out.

  Chekov nodded and flipped open his communicator to report in.

  If you go directly into the star-shaped building, turn to 8.

  If you decide to investigate further before entering, go to page 10.<
br />
  Page 6

  From page 3.

  Chekov watched with admiration as the lithe, dark-skinned Narva Moktar strode ahead, her large, liquid eyes alert. She was from the same Terran nation as his old shipmate Nyota Uhura—the United States of Africa—but not from the same area. She was a good medic, which was why he had chosen her from the several Dr. McCoy had suggested, but he also knew she had, in American terminology, a “good head on her shoulders.”

  They entered the passageway and turned on their lights. Cold stone, ravaged by the ages, formed the corridor. It was almost featureless at first, but soon they came upon a mural carved into the stone, then another. The passage slanted down, and they followed it.

  Chekov unaccountably felt a quiver of fear. There was something about this long-dead temple or building or whatever it was that made him uneasy.

  “Sir!” the security man in the lead called out. “Look at this!”

  Chekov hurried ahead. What he saw made his eyes widen. In niches built into the ancient wall were nine human beings. They stood erect, their hands at their sides, eyes closed. They were dressed in worn Luna University jumpsuits.

  If you want to look around before rescuing the scientists, go to page 14.

  If you are in a hurry to rescue them first, proceed to page 15.

  Page 7

  From page 3.

  “We’ll circle, first,” Chekov said. The ground had been cleared only along a hundred yards or so of the building. Further on it was jungle, with vines creeping up the tiers of the star-shaped buildings and small bushes and trees growing from crevices.

  “A very ancient structure,” Medic Narva Moktar said, looking at her tricorder. “Twenty-five to forty thousand years old, at least.”

  There were strange tubelike plants big enough to swallow a human, and buzzing insects in many colors and shapes. The flowers—if indeed they were flowers—were small, rather dull in color, and plentiful. Some kind of small armored creature scurried away through the leafy underbrush as they approached.

  Chekov halted the party and peered ahead. “More of the same,” he said. “Let’s go back and enter one of the cleared entrances.”

  If you want to go in the first entrance, go to page 12.

  If you decide to enter the second entrance, proceed to page 13.

  Page 8

  From page 5.

  Chekov’s eyes slowly adjusted to the dim interior of the ancient structure. On the walls of the passage were carved murals of humanoids and strange beings, which may have been animals or aliens.

  They proceeded cautiously, their flashlight beams probing every nook and cranny. It was cool but not cold, the air dry and faintly scented.

  Chekov flipped open his communicator. “Chekov to bridge.”

  “Bridge here,” Captain Kirk responded. “What have you found?”

  “Nothing yet, Keptin, just some murals and—”

  Suddenly the floor seemed to drop away. Narva screamed, and the lights of the security men went out as they plunged into darkness.

  On the bridge of the Enterprise, Captain Kirk called out Chekov’s name several times, then stood up from his command chair. “Mister Spock! Order Doctor McCoy to meet me at the transporter room! I want a fully armed security team as well!”

  Turn to page 9.

  Page 9

  From page 8.

  “Yes, Captain,” Spock said. “May I point out, sir, that you may have need for a science officer?”

  Kirk grinned at him. “That’s as good an excuse for getting into the action as any, Spock. Come along. Mister Sulu, you have the conn!”

  “Aye, sir,” Sulu said, moving to the captain’s chair. At the transporter facility Captain Kirk assembled three teams of armed security men. “Doctor McCoy, you will take Team One; Mister Spock, you will command Team Two; I’ll take Team Three. We will land in the areas I have selected and proceed to investigate.”

  Dr. Leonard McCoy’s face bunched up in annoyance. “Jim, I’m not a combat officer, let me—”

  “Bones, they may need your help. Rely on Lieutenant Castora.” Kirk briskly stepped toward the transporter disks. “Let’s go, everyone.”

  If you choose to follow Dr. McCoy and Team One, go to page 18.

  If you choose to follow Mr. Spock, go to page 19.

  If you select Kirk’s team, go to page 21.

  Page 10

  From page 5.

  Lieutenant Commander Chekov led his team along the side of the ancient star-shaped building. They noted the small insects and the odd little flowers, suspicious of anything, as was proper on a totally new planet. “You never know your friends—or your enemies—on new planets,” Dr. McCoy had often told them.

  “Sir,” Narva Moktar said, pointing to another entrance into the structure.

  “All right,” Chekov said. “With two ways in, we can hope there are two ways out.”

  They entered the building cautiously, stepping over pieces of broken rock and flashing their lights along the dark, silent corridors. The passage took a turning, and they were out of sight of the rectangle of light that marked the exit.

  Chekov put in a call to the bridge of the Enterprise. “We have seen nothing yet, Keptin,” he said. “We are—”

  On the bridge they heard his yell of surprise, then the sounds of frightened men…and then silence.

  “Chekov!” Lieutenant Commander Uhura said sharply. “Come in, please!” She made several more attempts, then looked at Admiral Kirk. “We’ve lost contact, sir.”

  Continue on next page.

  Page 11

  From page 10.

  “There is something in the stone of the building, Captain,” Spock said. “Without a specific guiding beam we can’t focus, and therefore cannot beam them up safely.”

  Kirk slapped his armchair controls. “Security! Two teams, fully armed, to the transporter room immediately! Mister Spock, you’ll take your own team down! Mister Sulu, you have the conn!” Kirk all but leapt toward the elevator door, which hissed open before him.

  If you follow Mr. Spock and his team to the surface of Varda III, go to page 16.

  If you follow Admiral Kirk, go to page 17.

  Page 12

  From page 7.

  They hesitated a moment at the first entrance, flashing their lights down the dark stone passageway, then proceeded with caution. Almost at once they heard a scuffling sound, and into their light beams hopped a rabbit as big as a Shetland pony, complete with top hat and a big watch.

  “Oh, no! “ groaned Chekov, remembering what he had been told of an incident long before he came aboard the Enterprise, of a shore leave on a planet in the Omicron Delta region. There a computer programmed a thousand years before by a now-dead race fulfilled various fantasies of its visitors.

  It couldn’t be, he thought. Omicron Delta was light-years away.

  The rabbit stopped and peered nearsightedly into their lights. “I’m late,” he said, and hopped off down a dark side passage.

  “No,” moaned Chekov, shaking his head.

  “What, sir?” Narva Moktar asked, her dark-skinned face anxious.

  “Didn’t…didn’t you see that?” Chekov asked. “Please say you saw it.”

  If you want Narva to have seen the rabbit, go to page 24.

  If you don’t think Chekov saw something real, proceed to page 25.

  Page 13

  From page 7.

  They approached the entrance cautiously, entering slowly. But the passage contained nothing more dangerous—or exciting—than some carved murals.

  The corridor slanted downward, twisting and turning. Here and there they found niches with many balls, cones, cubes, and other shapes, glowing in soft colors. They put their lights into a room filled with soft tubular forms hanging from the ceiling, then into another chamber filled with fuzzy lumps of blue.

  Chekov stared, realized they were not some sort of mutant tribble, and ordered his team to go on. The passage branched a short distance ahead.


  Proceed to 23.

  Page 14

  From page 6.

  “Commander Chekov!” Narva Moktar said, pointing down her light beam.

  Chekov blinked in surprise. There were more niches in the wall, as far as their beams shone. A few were empty, but most were filled. A figure stood in each niche, seemingly dead on his or her feet. Chekov recognized two Klingons and a Romulan at once, then a hairless Deltan. Two Vulcans were opposite, a plantlike Phylon, then four Dohlmen, two Argelians, and an armored Thrix. At the edge of the beams Chekov could just make out several blue-skinned Andorians, their white hair gleaming in the light.

  “It’s…it’s a museum,” breathed Narva Moktar.

  “Are they alive?” Chekov asked intently. Moktar ran her sensor over the first figure, a bearded man in his middle years, then nodded. She went down the line, then tested the Klingons.

  “All alive, Mister Chekov, but…in stasis.”

  If you believe Chekov can break the stasis, go to page 26.

  If you think he might have difficulty, go to page 27.

  Page 15

  From page 6.

  The point man called out to Chekov that there was something he had to see. Chekov’s light bobbled as he hurried forward, then his light steadied on the same target as the security man’s.