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Wink of an Eye

SHIP'S LOG, STARDATE 5710.5.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SCOTT REPORTING.

WHILE EXPLORING AN OUTER QUADRANT

OF THE GALAXY,

THE ENTERPRISE RECEIVED DISTRESS CALLS

FROM AN APPARENTLY UNINHABITED,

INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL CITY ON THE PLANET OF SCALOS.

CAPTAIN KIRK AND A LANDING PARTY

HAVE BEAMED DOWN TO INVESTIGATE.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

WHAT DO YOUR SENSORS READ?

THEY REGISTER SOMETHING, SIR,

BUT I'M BLESSED IF I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.

SPECIFY.

I CAN'T GET A FIX ON IT.

SENSORS DON'T PINPOINT A LOCATION.

WE MAY HAVE A MALFUNCTION.

AND I WANT TO CHECK CIRCUITS, SIR.

YOU DO THAT. LIEUTENANT UHURA,

DOES THE LOCATION OF THE DISTRESS CALL

CORRESPOND WITH THIS AREA EXACTLY?

YES, SIR.

I AM STILL RECEIVING VISUAL CONTACT.

I CAN SEE THEM, BUT I CAN'T YOU.

[KIRK] CHECK COORDINATES.

IS IT THE SAME AREA?

COORDINATES CORRESPOND, CAPTAIN.

WELL, APART FROM THE LANDING PARTY,

THERE'S NO ONE HERE.

THERE ARE NO SCALOSIANS.

THE DISTRESS CALL IS VERY STRONG, CAPTAIN.

THEY ARE PLEADING FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

CHECK CIRCUITS FOR MALFUNCTIONS. KIRK OUT.

IT MUST BE A MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A BARREN WORLD.

THERE'S HARDLY ANY VEGETATION, NO APPARENT ANIMAL LIFE.

WHEN WE RUN ANALYSIS, WE SHOULD

HAVE SOME EXPLANATION.

BUT THERE IS AN INSECT LIFE.

MY TRICORDER DOESN'T REGISTER IT.

IT REGISTERS IN MY EARS.

[HIGH-PITCHED TONE]

NOTHING, MR. SPOCK?

EVIDENTLY, A CIVILIZATION OF HIGH ORDER,

RATING NUMBER 7 ON THE INDUSTRIAL SCALE,

HUMANOID IN APPEARANCE, ACCORDING TO THE PAINTINGS.

AN ABUNDANCE OF LITERATURE,

WHICH I SHALL HAVE TRANSLATED AND PROCESSED.

CERTAIN STRUCTURES HOLD EVIDENCE

OF RECENT OCCUPANCY

WHILE OTHERS ARE APPARENTLY LONG ABANDONED.

NO SIGN OF PRESENT LIFE.

INSTRUMENT READINGS INDICATE LIFE FORM,

BUT OF A HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND INTERMITTENT NATURE.

THEY HAVE NO DISCERNIBLE FORM OR LOCATION.

A MOST PUZZLING PHENOMENON, CAPTAIN.

I SHALL HAVE TO STUDY IT FURTHER.

SOMETHING WAS HERE.

WE SAW THEM ON THE SCREEN.

LIEUTENANT UHURA IS STILL GETTING A DISTRESS CALL.

WHAT HAPPENED?

UNKNOWN AT PRESENT, CAPTAIN.

MR. SPOCK, I WANT YOU TO RUN A SURVEY--

A COMPLETE SURVEY OF THE PLANET

USING ALL SHIP'S AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTS.

COMPTON!

WHAT HAPPENED?

I WAS LOOKING AT HIM.

I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM, AND HE...

AND THEN HE JUST WASN'T THERE!

SPACE-- THE FINAL FRONTIER.

THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE.

ITS FIVE-YEAR MISSION--

TO EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS...

TO SEEK OUT NEW LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS...

TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE.

LIEUTENANT UHURA, START A REPLAY OF THE DISTRESS CALL.

SCOTTY, ARE THE TRANSPORTER CONTROLS FUNCTIONING NOW?

AYE, SIR. IS MR. SPOCK STILL DOWN THERE?

NO, HE'S IN SICK BAY. DR. McCOY'S RUNNING A CHECK

ON THE LANDING PARTY. WHAT IS IT, LIEUTENANT?

MALFUNCTION, SIR.

MR. SULU, I WOULD LIKE--

CAPTAIN.

IT CORRECTED ITSELF.

CAPTAIN, THERE'S SOME TROUBLE

ON THE HANGAR DECK.

THE CONTROLS ARE FROZEN.

HAVE THE REPAIR CREWS BEEN ASSIGNED?

YES, SIR.

THE TAPE IS READY, SIR.

PLAY IT.

TO ANY AND ALL SPACE TRAVELERS

PASSING WITHIN RANGE OF THE PLANET SCALOS,

I SEND YOU AN URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP.

MY COMRADES AND I ARE THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBERS

OF WHAT WAS ONCE A THRIVING CIVILIZATION.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE LEFT

HAVE TAKEN SHELTER IN THIS AREA.

WE HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO US.

OUR NUMBER IS NOW FIVE.

WE WERE ONCE A NATION OF 900,000.

FREEZE IT.

IT IS LOGICAL TO ASSUME

THAT THIS DISTRESS CALL WAS PRERECORDED.

WHAT WE RECEIVED WAS EVIDENTLY A DELAYED TAPED MESSAGE.

THAT WOULD EXPLAIN OUR CONTINUING TO RECEIVE IT

WHILE OUR SENSORS PICKED UP ONLY THE LANDING PARTY, SIR.

NEVERTHELESS, THE FACT REMAINS THAT WHEN WE BEAMED DOWN

THERE, WE COULDN'T FIND THESE PEOPLE.

THEY WERE THERE, AND NOW THEY'RE NOT.

NOR IS CREWMAN COMPTON.

IT WOULD SEEM THAT SOME FORCE OR AGENT

ONLY PARTIALLY DISCERNIBLE TO OUR INSTRUMENTS

MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE.

MR. SULU, I WANT THE SHIP ON STANDBY ALERT

WHILE WE CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION.

SIR, NOW I HAVE READINGS THAT DEFLECTORS ARE INOPERATIVE.

THE CONTROLS ARE FROZEN.

SCOTTY, ASSIST.

MR. SPOCK, EVER SINCE WE BEAMED UP FROM SCALOS,

WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF MALFUNCTIONS.

I WANT AN INVESTIGATION AND AN EXPLANATION.

[INTERCOM SIGNAL]

McCOY TO CAPTAIN KIRK.

CAPTAIN'S PRESENCE FOR EXAMINATION IS REQUESTED.

CAN'T IT WAIT, BONES?

YOUR ORDERS, JIM. YOU'RE THE LAST ONE.

WHAT DO YOU READ SO FAR?

CAN WE DISCUSS IT HERE?

ON MY WAY.

MR. SPOCK, YOU HAVE THE CON.

WHAT IS IT?

TELL THE CAPTAIN WHAT YOU TOLD ME.

SOMETHING'S GOING ON, CAPTAIN.

SOMEBODY'S OPENED ALL THE MEDICAL SUPPLY CABINETS.

ANYTHING MISSING?

JUST DISORDERED, AS THOUGH SOMEONE

HAD PICKED UP EVERYTHING AND EXAMINED IT.

THANK YOU.

LIE DOWN, JIM.

WELL, THAT FITS IN WITH OTHER DISTURBANCES.

BONES, WHAT DID YOUR READINGS SHOW UP

ON THE OTHER MEN?

ALL PERFECTLY NORMAL.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO COMPTON DOWN THERE

APPARENTLY HAD NO EFFECT ON ANYONE ELSE.

ANY OF THEM REPORT ANY UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE SINCE BEAMING?

NO. THERE'S NO MENTION OF IT.

[BUZZING TONE]

I'M NOT FINISHED YET.

HOLD ON.

BONES...

COULD SOMETHING BE MAKING ME HALLUCINATE?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I MEAN THAT TWICE BEFORE SOMETHING TOUCHED ME.

AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.

AND IT'S JUST HAPPENED AGAIN.

COULD I BE IMAGINING IT?

WELL, PHYSICALLY, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU.

BUT AM I HALLUCINATING?

I'D SAY NO.

THEN WE DID BEAM SOMETHING ABOARD.

[BUZZING]

SOMETHING HAS INVADED THE SHIP.

[INTERCOM SIGNAL]

KIRK TO SPOCK. COME IN.

SPOCK, COME IN.

CAPTAIN, I HAVE A READING

FROM LIFE SUPPORT CENTER...

SPOCK, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

CHECK YOUR CIRCUITS. IS THERE A MALFUNCTION?

[UHURA] CAPTAIN, THE INTERCOM SYSTEM IS BREAKING DOWN RAPIDLY.

LIEUTENANT, SHIPWIDE ORDER,

USE COMMUNICATORS INSTEAD OF INTERCOM.

ISSUE PHASERS TO ALL CREW MEMBERS.

SPOCK, REPEAT.

I HAVE A READING FROM LIFE SUPPORT CENTER.

ALIEN SUBSTANCES BEING INTRODUCED.

MEET ME THERE ON THE DOUBLE.

SPOCK?

IT IS A FORCE FIELD, THE NATURE OF WHICH I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

I'M GETTING READINGS OF AN ALIEN PRESENCE

SIMILAR TO THOSE OBTAINED ON THE PLANET'S SURFACE,

BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE NO EXACT LOCATION.

PHASERS ON STUN. SWEEP THE AREA.

IT WOULD SEEM, CAPTAIN,

THAT THEY INTEND TO ALLOW

ONLY THE TWO OF US TO ENTER.

I SHOULD ADVISE CAUTION.

WHAT IS IT?

UNKNOWN, CAPTAIN.

BUT IT IS EVIDENTLY A DEVICE OF ALIEN ORIGIN.

HOOKED INTO THE LIFE SUPPORT.

DESIGNED TO AFFECT IT?

LIFE SUPPORT IS STILL OPERATING.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE INSTALLATION IS INCOMPLETE.

DISCONNECT IT.

[STATIC]

DESTROY IT.

THAT WAS NO FORCE FIELD. SOMETHING SHOVED ME BACK.

THEY'RE IN HERE.

YOU!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY SHIP?

SHOW YOURSELVES!

[BUZZING]

[ZZZZ]

[ZZZZ]

IT SEEMS THAT WE MAY LOOK AT IT, CAPTAIN,

BUT THAT IS ALL.

A SHOW OF STRENGTH.

YES. EVIDENTLY, THEY'RE CONVINCED

THAT WE CAN DO NOTHING TO STOP THEM,

AND THEY WISH TO IMPRESS UPON US

WHAT THEY CAN DO TO US.

HAVE YOUR READINGS BEEN FED INTO THE COMPUTER?

AFFIRMATIVE.

READ OUT.

COMPUTER, ANALYZE AND REPLY.

HAVE WE BEEN INVADED?

AFFIRMATIVE.

NATURE AND DESCRIPTION OF ENEMY FORCES.

DATA INSUFFICIENT.

NUMBER OF ENEMY FORCES.

DATA INSUFFICIENT.

PURPOSE OF THE INVASION?

IMMEDIATE PURPOSE-- SEIZURE AND CONTROL

OF FEDERATION STARSHIP ENTERPRISE AND CREW.

DATA INSUFFICIENT FOR DETERMINATION

OF END PURPOSE.

IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS

AND COMPTON'S DISAPPEARANCE?

DATA INSUFFICIENT.

ARE WE AT PRESENT CAPABLE OF RESISTING?

NEGATIVE.

YOUR RECOMMENDATION?

IF INCAPABLE OF RESISTANCE,

NEGOTIATE FOR TERMS.

WE WILL NOT NEGOTIATE.

DO YOU CONCUR?

AYE.

MR. SPOCK?

YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, CAPTAIN?

YEOMAN, IS THAT COFFEE AVAILABLE,

OR HAVE THOSE CIRCUITS BEEN DAMAGED AS, WELL?

MY RECOMMENDATION?

MAKE THEM TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

[BUZZING]

SPOCK?

CAPTAIN.

WOULD YOU MIND EXPLAINING--

WHO ARE YOU?

DEELA.

THE ENEMY.

YOU'RE THE ENEMY?

YES.

YOU BEAMED ME ABOARD YOURSELF WHEN YOU CAME UP.

A RIDICULOUSLY LONG PROCESS,

BUT I'VE TAKEN CARE OF IT.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY MEN?

NOTHING.

NOTHING?

MR. SPOCK?

SCOTTY.

THIS IS NOTHING?

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.

THEY ARE JUST AS THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.

IT'S YOU WHO ARE DIFFERENT.

LIEUTENANT.

SULU.

THIS IS NOTHING?

WELL, THEY CANNOT HEAR YOU, CAPTAIN.

TO THEIR EARS, YOU SOUND LIKE AN INSECT.

OH, THAT'S YOUR DESCRIPTION, CAPTAIN.

ACCURATE, IF UNFLATTERING.

REALLY, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

CHANGED YOU.

SO YOU ARE LIKE ME NOW.

YOUR CREW CANNOT SEE YOU OR ANY OF US

BECAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION.

WE MOVE IN THE WINK OF AN EYE.

WELL, THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION FOR IT,

BUT ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS IS THAT...

YOU CAN SEE ME

AND TALK TO ME...

AND...

WE CAN GO ON FROM THERE.

WHY?

BECAUSE I LIKE YOU.

DIDN'T YOU GUESS?

OR ARE YOU SO ACCUSTOMED TO BEING KISSED

BY INVISIBLE WOMEN?

UH...

UM...

DEELA.

IS THIS WHY YOU SABOTAGED MY SHIP?

OH, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN SABOTAGED.

WE...WE HAD TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN IT

TO ADJUST IT TO US.

YOU SAID WE?

YES, OF COURSE.

MY CHIEF SCIENTIST AND HIS CREW.

I AM THEIR QUEEN.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE THEIR KING.

YOU'LL ENJOY LIVING ON SCALOS.

WHAT ABOUT MY SHIP?

MY CREW?

OH, IN A FEW OF THEIR MOMENTS,

THEY WILL REALIZE THAT YOU VANISHED.

THEY WILL LOOK FOR YOU,

BUT THEY WILL NOT FIND YOU.

YOU'RE ACCELERATED FAR BEYOND THEIR POWER TO SEE.

SO THEY'LL GO ON WITHOUT YOU.

DON'T BE SO STUBBORN.

YOU CANNOT GO BACK TO THEM, EVER.

IS IT SO DREADFUL A PROSPECT?

THIS WON'T KILL YOU,

BUT THE STUN EFFECT IS NOT VERY PLEASANT.

BUT--BUT THAT WON'T WORK.

WELL, YOU GO AHEAD. TRY.

POINT RIGHT AT ME.

MY REACTIONS ARE MUCH TOO FAST

FOR SUCH A CRUDE WEAPON.

AND I AM QUITE GOOD AT SELF-DEFENSE, TOO.

THIS CAN BE SET FOR STUN AND DESTROY, TOO, LIKE YOURS.

PLEASE...

ACCEPT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE IT.

IF I AGREE TO GO WITH YOU,

WILL YOU SET THIS SHIP TO RIGHTS?

TAKE OUT THAT DEVICE IN THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM?

DON'T BE SO SILLY.

YOU'LL FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT ALL IN A LITTLE WHILE.

IT ALWAYS HAPPENS THIS WAY.

THEY ARE VERY UPSET AT FIRST,

THEN IT WEARS OFF,

AND THEY...

THEY LEARN TO LIKE IT.

YOU WILL, TOO.

HE'S ON HIS WAY TO YOU.

BE GENTLE WITH HIM.

CAPTAIN. CAPTAIN KIRK!

HE'S GONE!

LIEUTENANT, DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED?

WELL, HE WAS SITTING THERE.

HE'D JUST DRUNK HIS COFFEE AND SET THE CUP DOWN.

SEE, IT'S STILL THERE.

AND THEN HE VANISHED.

MR. SULU, DO YOU VERIFY?

THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT HAPPENED.

HE WAS THERE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE WASN'T THERE.

CAPTAIN KIRK, YOU'VE MADE IT.

COMPTON, DID THEY ACCELERATE YOU?

YES, SIR.

THEY'VE HOOKED SOMETHING INTO THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM.

THEY'RE IN THERE.

WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF IT.

LET'S GO.

I'M SORRY, SIR, ENTRY IS FORBIDDEN.

BY WHOSE ORDER?

THE COMMANDER SIR. YOU'LL HAVE TO STEP BACK, PLEASE.

I'M YOUR COMMANDER, COMPTON.

AND I ORDER YOU TO LET ME IN.

OH, I'M SORRY, SIR, YOU ARE NO LONGER.

WHO IS, DEELA?

IS THAT WHO YOU'RE WORKING FOR?

AT FIRST I REFUSED.

BUT THEN AFTER A WHILE, I FOUND THAT

I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF.

I MET THIS GIRL. SHE'S ONE OF THEM.

I'VE NEVER KNOWN ANYONE LIKE HER.

SHE BROUGHT ME ABOARD AND I SHOWED THEM THE OPERATION OF THE SHIP.

BRIDGE CONTROLS, LIFE SUPPORT.

SHE EXPLAINED THAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AT FIRST.

BUT I DO NOW.

SO WILL YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, COMPTON.

STUN.

YOU WERE ORDERED TO STOP HIM.

WHY DID YOU DISOBEY?

I TRIED TO STOP HIM.

YOU HURT HIM.

HE WAS VIOLENT. HE HAD TO BE SUBDUED.

HE WAS MY CAPTAIN.

CELL DAMAGE.

ANOTHER WILL BE SECURED FOR YOU.

I'M GETTING A TRACE READING

SIMILAR TO THAT ON THE PLANET.

MR. SULU, DID YOU DRINK YOUR COFFEE?

YES.

DID ANYONE ELSE?

I HAD SOME.

MAY I?

WAS IT THE COFFEE?

ARE WE GOING TO GO, TOO, JUST LIKE THE CAPTAIN?

I CANNOT GIVE YOU THAT ANSWER

UNTIL THESE HAVE BEEN ANALYZED.

WELL, BY THAT TIME, IT'LL BE TOO LATE--

I SUGGEST THAT WE RECALL THE CAPTAIN'S WORDS,

"MAKE THEM TAKE THE NEXT STEP."

IT WOULD SEEM THEY HAVE TAKEN IT.

AND WE MUST DETERMINE EFFECTIVE COUNTERMEASURES.

MR. SCOTT, YOU HAVE THE CON.

I SHALL BE IN THE MEDICAL LAB.

I HATE WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM

WHEN THEY'RE DAMAGED.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR TEMPER, RAEL.

I DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO THIS ONE.

IF THEY ARE SO STUBBORN A SPECIES,

PERHAPS THEY WILL LAST LONGER.

IT MAY BE.

I HOPE SO.

THEY ALL GO SO SOON.

I WANT TO KEEP THIS ONE A LONG TIME.

HE'S PRETTY.

HE IS INFERIOR, DEELA.

OH?

I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU CANNOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL AN ATTACHMENT TO SUCH.

I CAN ALLOW MYSELF ANYTHING I WANT.

OH, RAEL, DON'T BE LIKE THAT.

AM I JEALOUS OF WHAT YOU DO?

I DO MY DUTY.

SO DO I.

AND SOMETIMES I ALLOW MYSELF TO ENJOY IT.

HELLO.

WHAT IS THAT DEVICE DOING ON MY SHIP?

DEELA WILL EXPLAIN IT.

I WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW.

AND YOU'LL APPROVE OF IT.

APPROVE OF IT? WE'RE YOUR PRISONERS.

HARDLY. YOU'RE FREE TO GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO.

GO AHEAD, CAPTAIN.

IT IS NOT YET COMPLETELY LINKED TO YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM,

BUT IT IS IN OPERATING ORDER.

STUDY IT IF YOU WISH.

I SUGGEST THAT YOU DO NOT TOUCH IT.

[ELECTRICITY]

[ELECTRICITY]

HE TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH IT.

LOOK AT YOUR HANDS. THEY'RE ALMOST FROZEN, AREN'T THEY?

IT WILL PASS.

THE UNIT HAS ITS OWN SELF-DEFENSE MECHANISM,

AS YOU SEE.

YOU SHOULD'VE HEEDED ME.

IN YOUR STRUGGLE WITH COMPTON,

SOME OF HIS CELLS WERE DAMAGED.

THOSE NEWLY ACCELERATED TO OUR LEVEL

ARE SENSITIVE TO CELL DAMAGE.

THEY AGE VERY RAPIDLY AND DIE.

HE WAS SO YOUNG.

WAS.

IS THIS WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR US?

WE ALL DIE...

EVEN ON SCALOS.

WHY DID YOU LIE TO HIM?

HE DID NOT DAMAGE THAT ONE,

YOU DID.

PERHAPS HE WILL BE LESS VIOLENT NOW.

I SEE NO REASON TO MAKE HIM

FEEL ANY WORSE THAN HE HAS TO.

WHY DO YOU CARE WHAT HE FEELS?

RAEL, HE'S NOT ONE OF US.

HE'S TEMPORARY.

WHY, HE'S GONE TO THE MEDICAL LABORATORY.

HE'S TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE VULCAN.

HIS SPECIES IS CAPABLE OF MUCH AFFECTION.

I HAVE NOTED THAT.

I WONDER IF THEY WILL DEMONSTRATE IT TO US.

OH, RAEL, STOP SULKING.

ACCEPT IT.

WE'VE HAD TO ACCEPT IT ALL OUR LIVES.

DON'T MAKE IT WORSE.

GO BACK TO WORK.

KIRK TO SPOCK,

I HAVE FED ALL THE ASCERTAINABLE FACTS

INTO THE COMPUTER BANKS.

GO AHEAD.

YOU WON'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING,

BUT IT MAY BE HISTORICALLY VALUABLE.

HYPER-ACCELERATION IS THE KEY.

I HAVE COUNTED ONLY FIVE OF THEM ABOARD,

BUT THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE SHIP,

AND WE ARE UNDER THEIR CONTROL DUE TO THIS ACCELERATION.

THEY ARE ABLE TO SPEED OTHERS UP TO THEIR LEVEL,

AS THEY DID COMPTON AND ME.

PRESUMABLY, THIS IS... ENSLAVEMENT?

THOSE SO TREATED

EXIST AT THIS ACCELERATED LEVEL,

BECOMING DOCILE EVENTUALLY.

BUT WHEN...

DAMAGED.

DAMAGED...

THEY AGE INCREDIBLY FAST,

AS THOUGH ACCELERATED LIVING...

BURNS THEM OUT.

BURNS THEM OUT.

COMPTON WAS BURNED OUT.

THE DEVICE ATTACHED TO THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS

PRODUCES AN EXTREME

NUMBING COLD.

IT IS MY BELIEF

THAT THEY ARE TURNING THE ENTERPRISE

INTO A GIGANTIC DEEP-FREEZE...

FOR PURPOSES ONLY THE SCALOSIANS KNOW.

QUITE CORRECT.

THE UNIT HAS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD

WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESTROY IT,

BUT ITS DESTRUCTION IS IMPERATIVE.

THE UNIT WILL BE ACTIVATED.

BY THE TIME THEY HEAR THIS,

IT WILL BE TOO LATE.

YOU HAVE REMARKABLE REASONING POWERS, CAPTAIN.

YOU WERE QUITE RIGHT IN ALMOST EVERY ASSUMPTION.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?

IN A LITTLE WHILE, IT WON'T MATTER TO YOU AT ALL.

YOU'LL BE QUITE HAPPY ABOUT IT,

JUST AS COMPTON WAS.

I REALLY WANT TO KNOW.

OH, DEAR. YOU ARE SO STUBBORN.

IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO YOU THAT WE'RE DOING IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.

A LONG TIME AGO--

IT IS IN OUR HISTORY--

WE USED TO BE LIKE YOU.

THEN OUR COUNTRY WAS ALMOST DESTROYED

BY VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.

THE WATER WAS POLLUTED.

RADIATION WAS RELEASED.

THAT CHANGED US.

IT ACCELERATED US.

THE CHILDREN DIED.

MOST OF THE WOMEN FOUND THEY COULD NOT HAVE ANY MORE.

ALL OF OUR MEN HAD BECOME STERILE.

SO WE HAD TO MATE OUTSIDE OUR OWN PEOPLE.

WHENEVER A SPACESHIP CAME BY,

WE'D SEND OUT CALLS FOR HELP.

BUT ACCELERATING THEM TO OUR LEVEL BURNED THEM OUT.

DON'T YOU SEE, CAPTAIN?

DO I HAVE TO GO INTO EVERY DETAIL?

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU DOWN WITH US.

PERHAPS ONE OR TWO OTHERS OF YOUR CREW.

WE HAVE TO.

OH, WE'LL BE KIND TO YOU.

I WOULDN'T HURT YOU, CERTAINLY.

I DO LIKE YOU.

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF MY CREW?

THEY WILL REMAIN HERE IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

OH, IT WILL DO THEM NO HARM.

WE ARE SAVING THEM FOR WHEN WE NEED THEM IN THE FUTURE.

WELL, YOU WILL NOT LAST FOREVER.

YOU KNOW THAT, CAPTAIN.

CAPTAIN, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SURVIVE.

NOT BY KILLING OTHERS.

WELL, YOU WOULD DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

YOU CAME CHARGING DOWN INTO THAT LIFE SUPPORT ROOM

THE MINUTE YOU KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE.

YOU WOULD'VE KILLED EVERY ONE OF MY PEOPLE IF YOU COULD'VE.

YOU INVADED MY SHIP. YOU THREATENED MY CREW.

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!

YOUR TROUBLE IS IN YOU.

WE DID NOT ASK FOR IT. WE ARE NOT TO BLAME.

WE ARE HANDLING IT IN THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW HOW--

THE WAY OUR PARENTS DID, AND THEIR PARENTS BEFORE THEM.

DID THEY SOLVE ANYTHING?

HAVE YOU TRIED ANY OTHER WAY?

DEELA, HAVE YOUR SCIENTISTS DISCONNECT, DESTROY THAT UNIT.

I PROMISE YOU,

WE'LL USE EVERY SKILL WE HAVE TO HELP YOU.

WE'LL MOVE YOU TO ANOTHER PLANET IT THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.

WE'LL CALL ON THE MOST BRILLIANT MINDS

IN OUR FEDERATION TO HELP.

WE'LL DO--

WE HAVE TRIED OTHER WAYS.

WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THE TRANSITION TO YOUR LEVEL.

SOME OF US, THAT IS.

THOSE WHO MADE THE ATTEMPT DIED.

WE ARE TRAPPED, CAPTAIN,

JUST AS YOU ARE TRAPPED NOW.

I'M SORRY FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU,

BUT I CANNOT CHANGE IT.

YOU CANNOT CHANGE ME.

[BEEPING]

GO TO THE TRANSPORTER ROOM, DEELA.

SIGNAL ME WHEN YOU'RE THERE AND BEAM DOWN.

WITH THE CAPTAIN?

YES.

I'LL ACTIVATE OUR UNIT AND FOLLOW YOU.

I'M SETTING IT TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL OF US

TO GET OFF THE SHIP.

PLEASE DON'T DELAY.

JUST WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WOULD DO THAT?

THE CAPTAIN'S GONE.

WELL, GO AFTER HIM, DEELA.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, SPOCK.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

THE SAME SUBSTANCE IS IN THE CAPTAIN'S COFFEE

AS IN THE SCALOSIAN WATER,

AND THERE'S NO TRACE OF IT ANY OF THE OTHER CUPS.

HMM.

WHY DID YOU RUN?

I PANICKED.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

I'D LIKE TO LEAVE BEFORE HE ACTIVATES

THE SUSPENDED ANIMATION DEVICE.

WE'RE IN THE TRANSPORTER ROOM.

YOU CAN ACTIVATE.

BEAM HIM DOWN AT ONCE.

CAPTAIN?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THE TRANSPORTER, CAPTAIN?

IT WAS WORKING BEFORE.

TRY IT AGAIN.

THE TRANSPORTER ISN'T WORKING.

WHAT'D HE DO TO IT?

NOTHING, HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME.

IT MUST BE A-- WHAT DO YOU CALL IT--

A MALFUNCTION.

YOU'D BETTER NOT ACTIVATE THE UNIT YET.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IT IS, CAPTAIN?

THE TECHNICIANS REPORTED A LOSS OF POWER.

THAT MUST BE IT.

THE CAPTAIN SAYS HIS TECHNICIANS--

I HEARD HIM.

YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE HIM?

I EXPECT YOU TO CHECK INTO ALL POSSIBLE CAUSES.

IF I HAD A SUSPICIOUS NATURE, CAPTAIN,

I WOULD SAY THAT YOU SABOTAGED THE TRANSPORTER

TO BUY TIME.

YES, OF COURSE.

I'M GLAD WE'RE BOTH INNOCENT.

I DESPISE DEVIOUS PEOPLE, DON'T YOU?

OH, I BELIEVE IN HONEST RELATIONSHIPS MYSELF.

NURSE, PROGRAM THE INFORMATION

AND DETERMINE WHETHER WE CAN FIND COUNTERAGENTS.

[BUZZING]

DOCTOR,

DID YOU JUST--

I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT WHINE

EVER SINCE WE BEAMED DOWN TO SCALOS.

MM-HMM.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

WE BROUGHT IT WITH US FROM SCALOS.

IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, DOCTOR,

I SHALL BE ON THE BRIDGE.

YOUR QUARTERS ARE QUITE LIKE YOU, CAPTAIN--

AUSTERE AND EFFICIENT...

AND IN THEIR OWN WAY, HANDSOME.

A ROOM SHOULD REFLECT ITS OCCUPANT.

ABSOLUTELY.

MAY I FRESHEN UP?

ALL THIS RUSHING ABOUT HAS LEFT ME WINDBLOWN.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ALLOW YOURSELF SOME COMFORTS.

ARE YOU MARRIED, CAPTAIN?

NO FAMILY? NO ATTACHMENTS?

I KNOW--YOU'RE MARRIED TO YOUR CAREER,

AND YOU NEVER LOOK AT ANOTHER WOMAN.

WELL, IF SHE'S PRETTY ENOUGH,

I'LL LOOK.

I WONDERED WHEN YOU'D SAY SOMETHING NICE TO ME.

AM I MORE PRESENTABLE NOW?

A BIT.

IT WAS QUITE DELIGHTFUL KISSING YOU

WHEN YOU COULDN'T SEE ME.

BUT NOW...

BUT NOW...

OH.

NO.

I WOULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THAT,

NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TRUST EACH OTHER.

BUT I WOULD'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED

IF YOU HADN'T TRIED.

WAS I...TOO CRUDE?

JUST DON'T TRY IT AGAIN.

YOU'RE FAR TOO VULNERABLE TO SKIN DAMAGE.

ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SCRATCH YOU.

YES, I KNOW.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US

IS THAT YOU WILL COME AROUND

TO OUR WAY OF THINKING SOONER OR LATER.

BUT IT'S BETTER SOONER THAN LATER.

LIEUTENANT, WILL YOU REPLAY

THE SCALOSIAN DISTRESS CALL ON MY VIEWER?

AYE, SIR.

TO ANY AND ALL SPACE TRAVELERS

PASSING WITHIN RANGE OF THE PLANET SCALOS,

I SEND YOU AN URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP.

MY COMRADES AND I ARE THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBERS

OF WHAT WAS ONCE A THRIVING CIVILIZATION.

COMPTON!

WHAT HAPPENED?

I WAS LOOKING AT HIM.

I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM,

AND THEN HE JUST WASN'T THERE!

THOSE OF US WHO ARE LEFT

HAVE TAKEN SHELTER IN THIS AREA.

[SLOWING DOWN] WE HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO US.

[REWINDING]

[SPEEDING UP] THOSE OF US WHO ARE LEFT

HAVE TAKEN SHELTER IN THIS AREA.

WE HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO US.

OUR NUMBER IS NOW 5.

WE WERE ONCE A NATION OF 900,000...

THE CITY ALONE HOLDING A TOTAL POPULATION OF 113,477 CITIZENS.

OUR PLANET, SCALOS, ON WHICH EXISTED SEVERAL CULTURALLY ENLIGHTENED

INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS...

[FAST FORWARDING]

[SPEEDS TO BUZZING]

THERE IS INSECT LIFE.

MY TRICORDER DOESN'T REGISTER IT.

MY EARS REGISTER IT.

THIS IS A BARREN WORLD-- LIMITED VEGETATION,

NO APPARENT ANIMAL LIFE.

[HIGH-PITCHED TONE]

[BUZZING]

McCOY TO SPOCK.

SPOCK HERE.

I FOUND A TAPE IN THE COMPUTER DOWN HERE.

AND WHEN I TRY TO READ IT, ALL I GET IS A WHINE.

BRING IT TO THE BRIDGE AT ONCE, DOCTOR.

THIS DEVICE ATTACHED TO THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM

PRODUCES AN EXTREME NUMBING COLD.

IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THEY ARE TURNING THE ENTERPRISE

INTO A GIGANTIC DEEP-FREEZE.

THE UNIT HAS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD

WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESTROY IT,

BUT ITS DESTRUCTION IS IMPERATIVE.

[DEELA] THE UNIT WILL BE ACTIVATED.

BY THE TIME THEY HEAR THIS,

IT WILL BE TOO LATE.

LIEUTENANT UHURA, NOTIFY THE REST OF THE CREW.

AYE, SIR.

CAN WE USE PHASERS TO CUT THROUGH THAT WALL, BYPASS THE

FORCE FIELD AND GET AT THAT UNIT?

MR. SCOTT, WE CANNOT COPE WITH THEM ON OUR LEVEL.

CAN WE FIND SOME WAY OF COPING WITH THEM ON THEIRS?

THAT IS A VERY LOGICAL SUGGESTION.

PLEASE STAND BY IN THE TRANSPORTER ROOM.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG ELSEWHERE, SIR.

SUFFICIENT ENERGY FOR BEAMING DOWN.

THIS IS THE ONLY DAMAGE?

WELL, GO GET THE OTHERS AND BRING THEM UP HERE.

[NECKBAND BEEPS]

DEELA?

DEELA!

DEELA!

RAEL!

RAEL, STOP.

NO.

NOW STOP IT.

DID HE DAMAGE YOU, CAPTAIN?

NO.

HOW VERY FORTUNATE FOR YOU, RAEL.

DON'T YOU DARE DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAIN.

IT'S CONTEMPTIBLE.

THEN DON'T TORMENT ME. YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR FEELINGS ARE.

I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THAT ASPECT OF IT.

WHAT I DO IS NECESSARY,

AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO QUESTION IT.

ALLOW ME THE DIGNITY OF LIKING THE MAN I SELECT.

IS THE TRANSPORTER REPAIRED?

NO.

I HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

DON'T YOU THINK YOU'D BETTER DO IT?

HE LOVES ME.

I ADORED HIM WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

I SUPPOSE I STILL DO.

I MUST SAY, YOU BEHAVED BETTER THAN HE DID.

YES, I HOPE SO.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

I SAID I HOPED I BEHAVED CORRECTLY.

AND NOTHING BOTHERS YOU NOW?

WHY ARE WE HERE?

OUR LEAVING WAS DELAYED.

DON'T YOU REMEMBER?

YOU DAMAGED THE TRANSPORTER.

OH, YES.

THAT WAS WRONG OF ME.

YES, IT CERTAINLY WAS.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO SCALOS?

DO YOU WANT TO?

OH, YES.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CREW?

AREN'T YOU WORRIED ABOUT THEM?

THEY'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

OH.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

NOTHING.

YOU'VE COMPLETELY ACCEPTED THE SITUATION, HAVEN'T YOU?

YOU EVEN LIKE IT.

AM I BEHAVING INCORRECTLY?

NO.

I LIKED YOU BETTER BEFORE.

STUBBORN AND IRRITATING AND INDEPENDENT,

LIKE RAEL.

THOSE ARE UNDESIRABLE QUALITIES.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY I LIKED YOU SO MUCH.

BECAUSE YOU WERE LIKE HIM.

RAEL?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CAPTAIN.

HE'S MADE THE ADJUSTMENT.

FINISHED.

YES, IT COUNTERACTS THE SUBSTANCE MOST EFFECTIVELY.

MOST EFFECTIVELY UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS,

BUT THE QUESTION IS, WILL IT WORK IN THE HUMAN BODY?

AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE GET IT TO THE CAPTAIN?

BY DRINKING THE SCALOSIAN WATER.

BUT, SPOCK, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'LL DO TO YOU.

IT IS SOMEWHAT...

STIMULATING.

YOU SEEM TO BE MOVING VERY SLOWLY, DOCTOR.

FASCINATING.

HE'S GONE.

JUST LIKE COMPTON.

[BEEP]

I'VE BEAMED THE OTHERS DOWN.

IS IT REPAIRED ALREADY?

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?

IT WOULD'VE BEEN AN INTRUSION.

COME UP WHEN YOU WISH.

SIGNAL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY.

WHERE WILL YOU BE?

IN LIFE SUPPORT. I HAVE TO ACTIVATE OUR UNIT.

RAEL, WAIT.

I'M SORRY.

I KNOW.

WELL, COME, CAPTAIN. IT'S TIME TO LEAVE YOUR PRETTY SHIP.

[NECKBAND BEEPS]

THE UNIT IS ACTIVATED, DEELA.

BEAM DOWN AT ONCE.

YOUR CREW WILL BE ALL RIGHT. YOU SAID SO YOURSELF.

I'M SORRY.

[NECKBAND BEEPS]

HE'S BROKEN AWAY.

HE'S ARMED.

I'M READY FOR HIM.

YOU ARE VERY CLEVER, CAPTAIN.

YOU TRICKED ME.

I SHOULD'VE KNOWN THAT YOU WOULD NEVER ADJUST.

WHAT SHALL WE EXPECT FROM YOU NOW?

WE COULD PUT YOU IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION

UNTIL WE DETERMINE WHAT TO DO WITH YOU.

YOUR SURVIVAL DOES NOT DEPEND ON THAT.

NO, IT DOESN'T.

WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO WITH YOU?

DON'T MAKE A GAME OF IT, CAPTAIN. WE'VE LOST.

IF I SEND YOU BACK TO SCALOS,

YOU'D UNDOUBTEDLY PLAY THE SAME TRICK

ON THE NEXT SPACESHIP THAT PASS BY.

THERE WON'T BE ANY OTHERS. YOU'LL WARN THEM.

YOUR FEDERATION WILL QUARANTINE THE ENTIRE AREA.

YES, I SUPPOSE IT WOULD.

AND WE WILL DIE AND SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM THAT WAY...

AND OURS.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM, CAPTAIN?

AND YOUR VULCAN FRIEND?

IF YOU WILL DEVOTE YOURSELF EXCLUSIVELY

TO THE CONCERNS OF SCALOS, MADAM,

WE SHALL BE PLEASED TO REMAIN

AND TAKE CARE OF THE ENTERPRISE.

YOU COULD STILL FIND LIFE ON SCALOS VERY PLEASANT.

AND VERY BRIEF.

IT'LL BE JUST AS BRIEF HERE.

YOU CANNOT GET BACK TO YOUR OWN LEVEL.

NO ANSWER, CAPTAIN.

DO I DISPLEASE YOU SO MUCH?

OH, NO.

I CAN THINK OF NOTHING I'D...

RATHER DO...

THAN STAY WITH YOU.

EXCEPT STAYING ALIVE.

ENERGIZE.

GOODBYE, CAPTAIN.

[TRANSPORTER ENERGIZES]

WELL, MR. SPOCK, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

DR. McCOY AND I HAVE SYNTHESIZED A POSSIBLE COUNTERAGENT

TO THE SCALOSIAN WATER.

REGRETTABLY, WE DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST IT.

LET'S TEST IT.

NOTHING'S HAPPENING.

YOU DO SEEM TO BE MOVING VERY SLOWLY, CAPTAIN.

[SLOWED-DOWN VOICE] MISTER...

SPOCK.

CAPTAIN KIRK, WHERE THE BLAZES DID YOU COME FROM?

OUT OF THE NOWHERE, INTO THE HERE.

AND MR. SPOCK, IS HE COMING, TOO?

SCOTTY.

CAPTAIN'S LOG, STARDATE 5710.9.

MR. SPOCK HAS REMAINED IN ACCELERATED TIME

SO THAT HE MIGHT EFFECT REPAIRS TO THE SHIP MORE RAPIDLY.

[SULU] SOMEBODY'S REPAIRING EVERY CONSOLE ON THE SHIP.

[SCOTTY] THIS PANEL IS BEING RECIRCUITED

AT INCREDIBLE SPEED.

I THINK WE'VE LOCATED MR. SPOCK.

LIEUTENANT, ARE YOUR CIRCUITS CLEARING?

YES, SIR.

CANCEL RED ALERT, MR. SULU.

AYE, SIR.

OPEN ALL CHANNELS.

CAPTAIN TO CREW,

REPAIRS ARE NOW BEING EFFECTED BY MR. SPOCK.

THE SHIP WILL RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

MR. SPOCK, MY COMPLIMENTS TO YOUR REPAIR WORK AND YOURSELF.

THANK YOU, CAPTAIN.

I FOUND IT AN ACCELERATING EXPERIENCE.

YES.

NO MALFUNCTIONS ANYWHERE?

LIEUTENANT.

OH, I'M SORRY, SIR.

I TOUCHED THE TAPE BUTTON ACCIDENTALLY.

I'LL TAKE IT OFF.

THAT'S...

NO MALFUNCTION?

NO, SIR.

GOODBYE, DEELA.