EPISODE XXII - NIGHT OF THE LIVING SOLID GOLD DANCERS
Meanwhile...
Reed stood, his open hands outstretched before him placatingly. "Let's not do anything hasty, Doctor", he said evenly.
Egan sighed, "There is no other way. I'm truly sorry, Commander.", he said, though his voice was devoid of emotion.
The disrupter flared to life, shooting forth a small beam of pure, white-hot energy. Reed dove for cover, though little was found given his sparse accommodations. Covering his head, he hit the ground
hard and rolled. The stench of ozone filled his nose, but he hadn't been hit.
He risked a glance toward the doorway and saw Egan staring down at the instrument. The doctor engaged the device again, and again the destructive beam burst forth but refracted and dissipated when it encountered
the force wall. Reed sat up, understanding slowly creeping into his racing mind. He recalled a lesson from his academy days, a lesson he wasn't aware he'd retained.
"All organic and inorganic material", his droning instructor had said, "may pass through one side of an energy field, but not both. The only exception to this", he'd explained, "is light.
Light is a variable that is able to drift both into and out of an energy shield, however, it must drift, it cannot be forced."
He was amazed he'd remembered, and even more surprised that he could recall what happened when such an attempt at forcing light was made. He stood and walked the few steps to the door as Egan cursed and threw
the cellular disrupter to the floor. The doctor looked up to findReed standing directly before him, a curious expression on his face. Reed slammed his fist against the field, causing Egan to flinch
despite the protective barrier between them. Again Reed hammered the transparent wall. Egan stood his ground, straightening his jacket as he regained his composure.
"Really Commander", he said bitterly, "you're embarrassing yourself."
Reed drew his arm back for another blow.
Egan continued, "Brute force has never solved anythi..."
Reed's fist rocketed forward, meeting no resistance, and connected squarely with the doctor's jaw. Egan slammed back against the opposite wall and slid to the floor, dazed. The Commander stepped out
of his cell and scooped Egan up by the lapels of his lab coat, pinning him roughly against the wall.
Egan looked everywhere but at Reed, "What...but...how?"
"Simple physics, Doctor.", Reed said pleasantly, their faces mere inches apart, "It's impossible to force light through an energy field", he adjusted his grip on the Egan's jacket, "and when attempted
from the wrong side, it only serves to weaken the structure."
Egan sagged, but Reed held him up. The Commander reached down and retrieved the cellular disrupter from where it had been discarded and placed it in the pocket of his uniform.
"Let's go, Doctor.", he said pulling Egan behind him as he moved down the corridor.
"W-w-where are we going?"
Reed flashed an evil grin at the doctor, "To the bridge, of course. I've got a ship to run."
