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"Hell in a Handbasket" is the 52nd issue of DC Comics' first series of TOS comics. This fifth story by Peter David showcased the bridge crew of the USS Enterprise-A descending through a vast illusion of Dante Alighieri's Nine Circles of Hell in order to save the ship. The story was collected in DC's omnibus Who Killed Captain Kirk? in June 1993.

Description[]

If you think things went badly for Captain Kirk [last] month, wait until you see him lead a band of crewmembers into the very bowels of hell itself. Castille's mind has everyone — even Spock — convinced that the Enterprise has been transformed. Can they reach Castille in time, before the starship is accidentally destroyed? And what happens when Kirk faces the devil himself?

Summary[]

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Log entries[]

Captain's log, supplemental
The Enterprise, and her entire crew, are in the grips of a hellish nightmare.
For reasons at present unknown, Lieutenant Castille, the Mentite super-telepath, is projecting illusions throughout my ship... Illusions of increasing severity.
And now, with some sort of psychic blast, he appears to have rendered the entire crew insensate, with the exception of the bridge crew.
It is therefore up to us to descend into the deepest regions of the ship — Castille's last known location — and bring him out of it... Though hell itself may bar the way.
Captain's log, stardate unknown.
We've lost all track of time as we descend further into the Inferno. But time is something we don't have... A plague-ridden planet urgently needs our help — help we cannot provide until we have reclaimed the Enterprise. I am haunted by doubts. These illusions are so powerful, they've infiltrated our very minds. What if our descent itself is illusion? What if we're nowhere near the lower sections of the ship? But we have no choice. None. And meantime, our efforts are beginning to take an overwhelming toll.
Captain's log — stardate 9000.4.
After thorough examination and research, Doctor McCoy believes that Castille suffers from an extremely rare Mentite disease — showing up in one in three million — called Le Guin's Syndrome. Similar, in the aspect of seizures to the old Earth disease epilepsy.
He believes that Castille can be treated, but it will take time. In the meantime, Castille is wearing a neural dampener to keep his mental powers in check.
All is back to normal, but many crewmembers look shaken, even haunted. I am not sure that, with time's passing, they can leave their unpleasant individual revelations behind them.
I hope I'm sure.
It is comforting to know, however, that some things remain impervious to mental assault — including the single-mindedness of honeymooners.
We are on course for the plague-ridden planet Chapin One and expect to deliver the serum within the hour. Computer, end log entry.

References[]

Characters[]

ArexWilliam BearclawBloemkerBertran de Born (illusion)Nancy BryceCastilleCerberus (illusion)Charon (illusion)Euclid (illusion)Furies (illusion) Geryon (illusion)James T. KirkMartellLeonard McCoyMedusa (illusion)Minos (illusion)MinotaurM'RessPhlegyas (illusion)Plato (illusion)Socrates (illusion)SpockTannerNyota Uhura
Referenced only
Dante AlighieriJesus ChristLuciferKonomVirgil

Starships and vehicles[]

USS Enterprise-A (Enterprise-subclass refit Constitution-class heavy cruiser)

Locations[]

Illusions[]

Abominable SandsDisLimboMalebrancheNeutral ZoneNine Circles of HellPhilegethonRiver of AcheronStyxunderworldWood of the Suicides
Referenced only
Chapin IEarthheaven

Races and cultures[]

CaitianCentaurdemonEdoanHumanKlingonMentiteVulcan
Referenced only
Melkotian

States and organizations[]

FederationStarfleet

Science and classification[]

arrowbiobedbody armorbowenergyJefferies tubematterneural dampenerphaserspacestarshipswordthrustertransporterturbolift

Occupations and titles[]

captainchief medical officercommandercommanding officercommunications officercrewmandoctorengineerensignfirst officerhelmsmannavigatorofficerscience officersecond officersecurity chiefsecurity guardtactical officerweapons officer

Other references[]

afterlifebloodbotanical gardensbridgecaptain's logcaptain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A), 2286clothingcommunicationsdirtdiseaseDivine ComedydogFederation Starfleet ranks (2270s-2350s)firegovernmentInfernoinsectItalian languagekarateLe Guin's Syndromelog entrymedical logmedical log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)plagueplanktonrabiesrocksecuritysickbaysleepstardateStarfleet uniform (2278-2350s)telepathyThanksgivingVulcan nerve pinchwaterwitch

Appendices[]

Background[]

  • Quotes from Inferno were reprinted by permission of the 1982 Bantam Classics English language translation of the poem by Allen Mandelbaum. Dante's guide Virgil was not named in the story, but was addressed by Dante in Inferno passages to his master and guide.

Images[]

Connections[]

Timeline[]

published order
Previous story:
#51: Haunted Honeymoon
TOS comics
(DC Comics, Series One)
Next story:
#53: You're Dead, Jim
Previous story:
Haunted Honeymoon
Stories by:
Peter David
Next story:
You're Dead, Jim
chronological order
Previous adventure:
Haunted Honeymoon
Memory Beta Chronology Next adventure:
You're Dead, Jim