Christine Chapel
Christine is Dr. McCoy's chief medical assistant. She was engaged at one time, but her fiance', a well-known scientist, was lost on an expedition. She entered the Service, hoping against hope that possibly in her travels as a nurse with the Starship she ould find some indication that he was still alive. She eventually discovered he had found a civilization which had perfected androids to the pint that they were almost "human". Her fiance' was alive only in the sense that his had been deposited in an android body that looked precisely like him. In that adventure he ultimately died.
Like many women aboard, Christine is desperaltely in love with Mr. Spock, but it is an unrewarding relationship. Mr. Spock is not insensitive to her feelings, but knows that it can never work out. He tried to spare her as much as possible by remaining totally unemotional and detached toward her.
Dr. McCoy knows how Nurse Chapel feels toward Mr. Spock,
but he never chides because she is not only his most efficient assistant,
but he feels fatherly affection for her. She is certainly an efficient nurse.
The loss of her fiance' has broken all emotional ties with Earth. Now she
is totally dedicated to the Service. Christine Chapel is well-educated for
her task, with a doctorate of her own in Bio-Research. Her rank is Lieutenant,
and she will probablymove up in Star Fleet medical service.
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