“I can only guess, Captain. It is conceivable that the original Spock did after all reach Organia and found it occupied by the Klingons — or was intercepted by the Klingons in some other way — and that a double who was actually a Klingon agent was sent back along with the original. The fact that no memory of this exists in the original’s mind, nor any evidence of mental tampering, is not diagnostic; we are dealing with totally new and unknown forces here, as Mr. Scott’s bafflement makes very evident.”’
“The possibility certainly can’t be discounted,” Kirk agreed. “And it does offer a motive for what happened with the computer. Spock Two, any comments?”
“One word, if I may, Captain,” Spock Two said. “The word is: nonsense.”
“Again, why?”
“Because it involves too many ad hoc assumptions. William of Occam, one of Earth’s pioneers in scientific method, established that one must not multiply logical entities without sufficient reason. The principle is now called the Law of Parsimony.”
“Currently rephrased to read, the simplest explanation that fits all the facts is the preferable one,” Kirk said. “Have you got a simpler?”
“I think so,” said Spock Two. “There is no evidence that the original Spock was ever transported anywhere. It is far simpler to suppose that what we see is in fact the case: that something went wrong with the new process and materialized a mirror image. If this is what happened, it would involve the deepest levels of the replicate’s nervous system, producing a reversal of personality as well — and there would be the source of your motive for sympathy with the Klingons.”
“Spock One, what do you say to that notion?”
“It has the virtue of simplicity,” Spock One said coldly, “and as such is clearly to be preferred. But Occam’s Razor is only a human preference, not a natural law. And this mirror hypothesis is also an assumption for which no hard evidence exists.”
“Granted,” said Spock Two. “But may I point out, Captain, that though each of these assumptions excludes the other, both nevertheless argue toward the same course of action: the immediate destruction of the replicate.”
“Provided both assumptions are not equally wrong,” Spock One said.
“Or providing one of them is right,” Kirk said, “Either leaves me with the same question I had before: Which is the replicate?”
Neither Spock answered him — and he would not have believed them if they had.
Chapter Five — ON THE OTHER HAND…
From the Captain’s Log, Star Date 4020.8:
I have interdicted further orders from either Spock until the identity question can be resolved — if it can be — although it effectively deprives me of my first officer. This is a long way from being even a satisfactory interim move, however, since even without authority an alienated Spock could work all kinds of mischief. But there is no way of preventing this short of throwing both of them in the brig, a step for which I have no present grounds.
Operating without a first officer was exhausting work despite Sulu’s best efforts, especially under the added strain of Klingon surveillance — Sulu had indeed managed to shake the scout ship that had been trailing the Enterprise, but there could be no doubt that the Klingons now knew she was somewhere in the area, and would be searching for her grimly, tenaciously and efficiently. Nevertheless, when Kirk came off watch he went to the sick bay before turning in.
“Something that Spock Two suggested has been nagging at me,” he told McCoy. “If the replicate is in fact a mirror image, wouldn’t fluoroscopy or an X-ray show it? Heart pointing the wrong way, appendix on the left side, something like that?”
“Afraid not, Jim,” McCoy said. “Anatomically, Vulcans have perfect bilateral symmetry — and no appendix, either. Of course, Spock is genetically half human, but the only influence that has in this particular area is in handedness.”
“I thought of that, but obviously the replicate has thought of it too. If he’s in fact left-handed, he’s counterfeiting being right-handed very successfully.”
“Let’s keep watching for it anyhow. Handedness is a very deep physiological bias — sooner or later he’s bound to slip.”
“Spock? You must be kidding.”
“I guess you’re right,” McCoy said gloomily.
“Nevertheless I agree that watching may be the only answer, and particularly by the ship’s psychologist, meaning you, Doc. If there is a major personality reversal here, there’s got to be something un-Spocklike to be seen in the replicate if we look hard enough for it.”
“Any suggestions?”
“We’ll have to play it by ear. But just for example, I’ll tell you privately that I’m highly suspicious of Spock Two. The emotional pressure he has been bringing to bear on me to have the replicate destroyed is uncharacteristic. The conservative approach Spock One advocates seems more like the old Spock. But it’s not enough to go on. We’ve got to have a test.”
“Easy,” McCoy said drily. “Just order Yeoman Rand to kiss one of them. If he responds shoot him.”
“If we can’t think of anything better, I’ll do just that,” Kirk said. “I’m dead serious, Doc.”
“I know you are, Jim, and I’ll keep my eyes peeled. Watching that human computer was a chore at the best of times, though. Having to watch two of them, under battle alert, is going to be a real cross.”
Kirk left, temporarily satisfied. McCoy would follow the lead; it did not matter that he was sarcastic about it. He could no more avoid that than he could avoid breathing.
After the next day’s watch — uneventful, but nerve-wracking — Kirk visited the engineering deck. Scott’s report was no more encouraging than the surgeon’s had been.
“I’ve been shooting out inanimate objects toward Organia’s coordinates, Captain, and I’ve got quite a collection of duplicate mathoms th’ noo. They don’t tell us a thing we didna ken before.”
“What’s a mathom?”
“A useless object, alas. The things do replicate in reverse, so we can regard that hypothesis as confirmed. But I dinna see bow that helps us. I suppose ye thought of checkin’ the Spocks to see where they were wearin’ their badges?”
“I did think of it, but not soon enough — not when the duplication first occurred. Now the replicate has had plenty of time to think of it himself and take steps.”
“Well, an’ next I’m goin’ to send out an experimental animal an’ give the replicate to Doc to play with. Though he won’t see much in the way of personality reversal there. If it’s a rabbit, maybe it’ll bite him.”
But the next day, all hopes for a testing program became academic — and in fact, impossible.
Spock Two was on the bridge when Kirk came on duty, to the Captain’s rather disquieted surprise. He said at once, “Captain, I have issued no orders and would not be here at all were it not for the gravity of the situation. However, I must report that the entity you call Spock One has barricaded himself in Dr. McCoy’s laboratory, and refuses to come out without a logged assurance of my destruction, and a guarantee of his own life.”
The atmosphere on the bridge was like the inside of an electrostatic chamber. Kirk said, “Confirm!”
“Confirmed,” the computer said.
Kirk snapped a glance at Uhura. “Lieutenant, ask Dr. McCoy to come up here, on the double. Mr. Spock, if you were he — that is, Spock One — what do you think you might be attempting to gain? Beyond, of course, trying to force my hand on the overt demands?”
“There are many possibilities, Captain. Simple disruption of ship’s routine is one. Or trying to force a loyalty crisis among your other officers. Or an attempt to gain privacy in order to jury-rig some form of communication with the Klingons.”
“Could you run up such a rig, in his circumstances?”
“Yes, in any of several different ways.”
