He was wondering if he had the flu----some new kind, maybe. He felt a little odd, somewhat disoriented. Hikaru Sulu, a modest-sized young man of Japanese extraction, sat slightly hunched over his readout monitor in the vast Mission Control room in Houston.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQe9yTrH1M
On the large TV screen on the far wall, only a test pattern showed.
"This is Robert Sarnoff, Enterprise Control. We are a T-plus 2 days, 4 hours, 31 minutes into the flight. Some 9 hours since TMI. The Command Module is still linked with the Landing Module, on top of the S-4B third stage. At T-plus 2 days, 4 hours, 32 minutes Lt. Colonel Pike will activate the onboard television camera. That should be in about 30 seconds. In 3 minutes Colonel Kirk will detach the Command Module from the S-4B, turning it around so it faces the Landing Module and then perform a docking maneuver. After that the Command and Landing modules will jettison the S-4B. We're coming up on T-plus 2 days, 4 hours, 32 minutes."
The test pattern snapped off the giant screen and was replaced by crackling snow.
"Enterprise IX, this is Houston."
"Roger, Houston," came Kirk's voice.
"We have hash."
"Activating the camera now."
Wavy lines took over the screen.
"We have transmission, Enterprise IX."
A picture formed. There were Kirk, Pike, and McCoy, strapped into their couches.
"How is it?" asked Kirk.
"We have a good picture now."
"Roger, Houston."
Pike said, "CSM on nominal azimuth."
"Houston," said Kirk, "we're ready for CSM-S-4b separation."
"We read you, Enterprise. You are go for separation."
Hikaru Sulu frowned. He rubbed a palm over his forehead. It didn't seem too warm, so maybe it wasn't the flue, although there were a few strains of flue where you didn't run a fever. He shook his head, blinked and again studied the digits on his screen. He leaned back in his chair and glanced around the room, ignoring the maneuvers which were taking place on the wall screen.
Sulu punched out another sequence on his keyboard. Numbers flashed across his small screen.
He raised his hand to his mouth and coughed. Even if he was on the brink of the flu, he knew he wasn't seeing things. "What the hell---?" he whispered to himself.
Sulu bit his lip. He leaned back in his chair, unhitched his headset, and again glanced around the room.
"Roger, Enterprise. It looks good here. The flight director advises you are go for landing."
"Inspection complete," said McCoy.
"Inspection complete. Good job, Enterprise."
The big wall screen went black. You could feel relaxation spread through the room. The people manning the monitors let themselves ease back. There was a scatter of conversation.
Sulu nodded his head twice and got out of his chair. He walked along an aisle of monitors and up to another level.
Dr. Jeffries was a tall, gray-haired man in a conservative blue suit. He was standing and watching the darkened wall screen when Sulu tapped his arm. "Yes, Hikaru?"
"Um," said Sulu, "Can I please talk to you, Dr. Jeffries?"
"Sure. Something wrong?"
Sulu glanced back at his monitor. "Um....well, there's something I....something...."
"Are you all right, Hikaru?"
"Well, I think maybe I've got a bug or something," said Sulu, "but that's not the problem, doctor. It's my readout."
Jeffries's eyes narrowed. "Your readout?"
"Something's not making sense, sir."
"Can you be more----specific?"
"I was running a check on my own," explained Sulu, "on the transmission signals."
"On your own?" Dr. Jeffries rubbed his chain. "I admire your dedication, son."
"Now, on the readout," said Sulu, "well, the television signals are coming in ahead of the spacecraft signals. It's like they're closer, much closer."
"Couldn't be, Hikaru," said Jeffries. "Sounds like you've got a bug in your equipment. Either that or the fact that you're feeling a little fuzzy."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW21XgKsQg
Sulu shook is head. "I don't think so, Dr. Jeffries," said Sulu. "And to make sure I wasn't off, I double-checked the console by...."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnzIGIHOBn
"Which console are you on?"
"Number 47."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCWGBsKLvZ
"Well, there's the answer." Jeffries patted him on the shoulder. "We've been having some problems with the circuitry on 47."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRKjQT6yaQ
"No one told me."
"That's our fault, Sulu. I'll make sure that it's repaired at once," Jeffries assured him. "Meanwhile, why don't you take the rest of the day off. See if you can shake the flu, okay?" Another pat on the shoulder. "Thanks for telling me about the problem. It shows a real initiative that I like. Bye now." He turned and walked away.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlABFKt3w5P
Sulu watching him, slowly shaking his head. "It's not me," he said. "And, dammit, it's not the console."
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