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The Cloud Minders

Kirk: CAPTAIN'S LOG, STARDATE 5818.4--

A BOTANICAL PLAGUE IS DEVASTATING A PLANET

IN THE QUADRANT OF THE GALAXY

WHERE THE ENTERPRISE IS OPERATING AT PRESENT.

IT THREATENS TO DESTROY THE VEGETATION

ON THE ENTIRE PLANET,

LEAVING IT UNINHABITABLE.

UNDER FEDERATION ORDERS,

WE'RE PROCEEDING AT TOP WARP SPEED TO THE PLANET ARDANA,

WHERE THE ONLY KNOWN SOURCE OF ZIENITE EXISTS.

IT IS THE ONE SUBSTANCE THAT CAN HALT THE PLAGUE.

CAPTAIN, THE HIGH ADVISER OF ARDANA

IS READY TO RECEIVE YOU ON STRATOS, SIR.

ON STRATOS?

THAT'S THEIR CLOUD CITY, ISN'T IT, MR. SPOCK?

IT IS, CAPTAIN.

THERE MUST BE SOME MISTAKE.

DO YOU HAVE THE COORDINATES

TO THE MINE ENTRANCE AVAILABLE?

THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED TO THE TRANSPORT OFFICER, CAPTAIN,

ALONG WITH THOSE OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE HIGH ADVISER.

KIRK TO TRANSPORTER ROOM.

Scotty: READY TO TRANSPORT, CAPTAIN.

MR. SCOTT, ARE YOU LOCKED IN ON THE MINE ENTRANCE

OR ON THEIR CLOUD CITY, STRATOS?

THE MINE ENTRANCE. THAT'S WHAT YOU ORDERED, CAPTAIN.

FINE.

UHURA, TELL THE HIGH ADVISER

THAT, UH, WE REQUEST

TO DISPENSE WITH THE WELCOMING CEREMONIES,

DUE TO THE EMERGENCY,

THAT WE'RE BEAMING DIRECTLY DOWN TO THE MINE ENTRANCE

IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE FASTEST POSSIBLE DELIVERY

OF THE ZIENITE. THE NEED IS URGENT.

AYE, SIR.

MR. SPOCK, COME WITH ME.

OH, AND TELL THEM THAT WE APPRECIATE THE HONOR

AND THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOME VISIT IN THE FUTURE.

AYE, SIR.

STRATOS, CAPTAIN...

A CITY ACTUALLY FLOATING IN THE SKY.

LOOKS AS TRANQUIL AS ITS REPUTATION, DOESN'T IT?

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING METROPOLISES IN THE GALAXY.

HAVE YOU EVER VISITED HERE, CAPTAIN?

ONCE. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AROUND.

I'VE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

HOWEVER, I HEAR ITS ART FORMS ARE INCOMPARABLE.

YES. ART IS THE POPULATION'S CHIEF OCCUPATION.

IT IS A TOTALLY INTELLECTUAL SOCIETY.

ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.

THERE'S THE MINE ENTRANCE.

THE ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

THOSE TROGLYTE MINERS WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE MADE DELIVERY

WHEN WE BEAMED DOWN.

PERHAPS THERE IS ANOTHER ENTRANCE, CAPTAIN.

PERHAPS.

IT WOULD SEEM THE TROGLYTES HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS ABOUT DELIVERY.

Kirk: SPACE-- THE FINAL FRONTIER.

THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE.

ITS 5-YEAR MISSION--

TO EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS,

TO SEEK OUT NEW LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS,

TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE.

WHO ARE YOU? WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS ATTACK?

INTERFERENCE BREEDS ATTACK, CAPTAIN.

COME ON!

WE'RE HERE BY PERMISSION OF YOUR GOVERNMENT COUNCIL

ON AN EMERGENCY MISSION.

MOVE ON, CAPTAIN.

TROGLYTES, HALT!

SURRENDER OR WE'LL FIRE!

ARE YOU HARMED, GENTLEMEN?

NO. JUST A LITTLE SHAKEN UP.

I'M PLASUS, HIGH ADVISER OF THE PLANET COUNCIL.

CAPTAIN KIRK, ENTERPRISE.

MY FIRST OFFICER MR. SPOCK.

GREETINGS, MR. ADVISER.

MY REGRETS FOR THE UNPLEASANTNESS OF YOUR WELCOME TO ARDANA.

IT WAS RATHER WARM.

UNFORTUNATELY, VIOLENCE IS HABITUAL

WITH THE TROGLYTES,

BUT I ASSURE YOU,

THIS INSULT WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED.

WELL, I'M MORE CONCERNED WITH THE ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT.

WHY WASN'T IT IN ITS SPECIFIED LOCATION?

APPARENTLY, THE DISRUPTERS HAVE CONFISCATED IT,

JUST AS I KNEW THEY WOULD.

THE DISRUPTERS-- WHO ARE THEY?

A SMALL GROUP OF TROGLYTE MALCONTENTS.

ALL THE OTHER TROGLYTES ARE COMPLETELY DOMINATED BY THEM.

IT'S THE DISRUPTERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE

FOR THEIR REFUSAL TO CONTINUE MINING FOR ZIENITE.

THEY AGREED TO THE DELIVERY.

YOUR COUNCIL ASSURED US OF IT.

THEY AGREED, OBVIOUSLY,

AS A RUSE TO GET VALUABLE HOSTAGES.

HOSTAGES?

FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

TO FORCE THE COUNCIL TO MEET THEIR DEMANDS.

ORGANIZE A SEARCH PARTY IMMEDIATELY

AND FIND THE ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT.

MEANWHILE, CAPTAIN, I WOULD SUGGEST

THAT YOU AND FIRST OFFICER SPOCK

BE OUR GUESTS ON STRATOS.

VERY WELL.

I...DO HOPE THE SEARCH WILL BE BRIEF, MR. ADVISER.

WE'LL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT SO.

COME, GENTLEMEN.

REMARKABLE.

THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINED ANTIGRAVITY ELEVATION

I'VE EVER SEEN.

THE SENTINEL TOLD ME OF OUR HONORED GUESTS, MY FATHER.

I CAME TO EXTEND GREETINGS.

A MOST GRACIOUS ACT.

GENTLEMEN, ONE OF OUR PLANET'S

MOST INCOMPARABLE WORKS OF ART-- MY DAUGHTER DROXINE.

CAPTAIN JAMES KIRK.

A PLEASURE, MADAM.

INDEED, YES, CAPTAIN.

AND FIRST OFFICER SPOCK.

I HAVE NEVER BEFORE MET A VULCAN, SIR.

NOR I A WORK OF ART, MADAM.

COME GENTLEMEN THERE IS MUCH TO SEE IN OUR CITY.

THIS IS OUR COUNCIL GALLERY.

IT IS OPEN TO ALL CITY DWELLERS.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST

OF OUR VARIOUS ART FORMS ASSEMBLED HERE

FOR THE VIEWING AND CONTEMPLATION OF EVERY--

DISRUPTERS AGAIN!

HOW DREADFUL. THEY'RE DESPOILING THE WHOLE CITY.

DESPOIL? FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

BY KEEPING US IN CONSTANT TURMOIL,

THEY HOPE TO FORCE THE COUNCIL TO ACCEDE TO THEIR DEMANDS.

WHAT ARE THEIR DEMANDS?

COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE, CAPTAIN,

BUT NOTHING YOU NEED BE CONCERNED WITH.

I MUST CONCERN MYSELF WITH IT IF IT SHOULD INTERFERE

WITH THE DELIVERY OF ZIENITE TO MERAK II.

MR. ADVISER, THE PLANT LIFE IS THE SOURCE OF OXYGEN

ON THAT PLANET.

OBVIOUSLY, IF ALL PLANT LIFE IS DESTROYED,

THE HUMANOID LIFE WILL FOLLOW.

I ASSURE YOU GENTLEMEN YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU CAME FOR.

I HOPE SO. ARDANA IS A MEMBER OF THE FEDERATION,

AND IT IS YOUR COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY

THAT NOTHING INTERFERES WITH ITS OBLIGATION

TO ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FEDERATION.

OF COURSE, AND WE ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY.

WHY DO THEY DESTROY ART FORMS?

THAT IS A LOSS TO EVERYONE.

ART MEANS NOTHING TO THE DISRUPTERS.

THIS IS THE ONLY FORM THEY UNDERSTAND.

THE DISTURBANCES ACCOMPANYING YOUR ARRIVAL

HAVE BEEN MOST WEARYING.

NO DOUBT YOU WOULD LIKE TO REST.

THAT WOULD BE MOST WELCOME, MR. ADVISER.

CHAMBERS HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU.

A SENTINEL WILL GUIDE YOU TO THEM.

I'M SORRY THEY WERE SO POORLY TREATED

ON THEIR FIRST VISIT TO OUR PLANET.

IT'S FORTUNATE THAT THEY WERE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT.

OH, YES, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DREADFUL.

FURTHER VIOLENCE COULD CREATE GRAVE DIFFICULTIES

BETWEEN ARDANA AND THE FEDERATION.

THE DISRUPTERS MUST BE MAD TO ATTACK TWO SUCH CHARMING STRANGERS.

THEY GROW MORE DARING AND DETERMINED EVERY DAY.

NOW THEY SEEK TO FIND ALLIES IN THE GALAXY.

DO YOU THINK THAT CAPTAIN KIRK AND HIS VERY ATTRACTIVE OFFICER

WILL FEEL THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR INJURIES?

ALL THIS TIME, I THOUGHT YOU WERE WORRIED

ABOUT OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.

APOLOGIES, MR. ADVISER,

BUT THIS TROGLYTE WAS APPREHENDED LEAVING THE CITY.

HE IS WITHOUT A TRANSPORT CARD,

SO WE THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO QUESTION HIM.

REMOVE HIS SHIELDS.

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS IN STRATOS, TROGLYTE?

SPEAK! I COMMAND YOU.

MY BUSINESS IS TO REPAIR.

REPAIR WHAT?

THEY ARE DAMAGE TENSIONS PATH.

INDEED? THEN YOU MUST HAVE A REPAIR PERMIT.

WHERE IS IT?

IT WAS FORGOTTEN.

DID YOU ALSO FORGET YOUR TRANSPORT CARD?

IT WAS LOST WHEN YOUR SENTINELS ATTACKED ME.

AND WHERE WAS YOUR CAVERN IMPLEMENT LOST?

COULD THIS PERHAPS BE IT?!

I CAME TO MAKE REPAIRS.

AND YOU SHALL MAKE THEM,

BY GIVING US THE NAMES OF THE DISRUPTERS.

I KNOW NOTHING.

I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR A TROGLYTE.

THE STRATOS CITY DWELLERS HAVE SAID IT.

SECURE HIM TO THE ROSTRUM.

AAAH!

HOW UNFORTUNATE.

HOW UNFORTUNATE.

Spock, voice-over: THIS TROUBLED PLANET

IS A PLACE OF THE MOST VIOLENT CONTRASTS.

THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE REWARDS ARE TOTALLY SEPARATED

FROM THOSE WHO SHOULDER THE BURDENS.

IT IS NOT A WISE LEADERSHIP.

HERE ON STRATOS,

EVERYTHING IS INCOMPARABLY BEAUTIFUL AND PLEASANT.

THE HIGH ADVISER'S CHARMING DAUGHTER DROXINE...

PARTICULARLY SO.

THE NAME DROXINE SEEMS APPROPRIATE FOR HER.

I WONDER--CAN SHE RETAIN

SUCH PURITY AND SWEETNESS OF MIND

AND BE AWARE OF THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE

ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET?

THERE, THE HARSH LIFE IN THE MINES

IS INSTILLING THE PEOPLE WITH A BITTER HATRED.

THE YOUNG GIRL WHO LED THE ATTACK AGAINST US

WHEN WE BEAMED DOWN

WAS FILLED WITH THE VIOLENCE OF DESPERATION.

IF THE LOVELY DROXINE KNEW OF THE YOUNG MINER'S MISERY,

I WONDER HOW THE KNOWLEDGE WOULD AFFECT HER.

MR. SPOCK.

I THOUGHT YOU HAD ACCOMPANIED CAPTAIN KIRK

TO THE REST CHAMBER.

YOUR MOVEMENTS AWAKENED ME.

OH, MY APOLOGIES.

I DID NOT REALIZE THEY WOULD DISTURB YOU.

ONLY VULCAN EARS WOULD FIND THE NOISE DISCERNIBLE.

IT SEEMS THAT VULCANS ARE FASCINATINGLY DIFFERENT...

IN MANY WAYS.

THE SAME MAY BE SAID OF STRATOS INHABITANTS.

VULCAN EYES ARE VERY DISCERNING, TOO.

I HEAR THAT INTELLECTUALLY,

VULCANS ARE AS HIGHLY EVOLVED

AS STRATOS CITY DWELLERS.

WE DO... PRIDE OURSELVES

ON OUR LOGIC.

YOU AGAIN.

YOU SLEEP LIGHTLY, CAPTAIN.

YES. DUTY IS A GOOD TEACHER.

I SEE YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR DRESSMAKER.

RELEASE ME!

SO YOU CAN ATTACK ME AGAIN? THAT WOULD BE FOOLISH.

CALL THE GUARDS IF YOU'RE AFRAID, CAPTAIN.

I'M NOT AFRAID.

IN FACT, I FIND THIS RATHER ENJOYABLE.

I DO NOT!

ALL RIGHT. I'LL MAKE A DEAL WITH YOU.

YOU ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS,

AND I'LL LET YOU UP.

WHAT QUESTIONS?

YOUR WORD FIRST.

I WILL ANSWER.

YOU ONLY TAKE A MATE ONCE EVERY 7 YEARS?

THE 7-YEAR CYCLE IS BIOLOGICALLY INHERENT

IN ALL VULCANS.

AT THAT TIME, THE MATING DRIVE

OUTWEIGHS ALL OTHER MOTIVATIONS.

AND IS THERE NOTHING THAT CAN DISTURB THAT CYCLE,

MR. SPOCK?

EXTREME FEMININE BEAUTY

IS ALWAYS...

DISTURBING...

MADAM.

Kirk: SPOCK?

I DID NOT COME HERE TO KILL YOU, CAPTAIN.

THEN WHY THIS?

TO TAKE YOU HOSTAGE.

AM I...INTRUDING, CAPTAIN?

VANNA.

DROXINE.

WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE?

TO WELCOME OUR HONORED GUESTS,

AS I WAS TAUGHT TO DO WHEN I SERVED

IN YOUR FATHER'S HOUSEHOLD.

HAS SHE INJURED YOU, CAPTAIN?

OH, NO, NOT AT ALL.

IN FACT, HER VISIT WAS QUITE ENLIGHTENING.

OH?

YES. IT SEEMS THE TROGLYTES

ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION

THAT THE ENTERPRISE IS HERE TO INTIMIDATE THEM.

SEND A SENTINEL TO THE REST CHAMBER IMMEDIATELY.

IT IS NOT IMPRESSION, CAPTAIN.

IT IS THE TRUTH.

WE'RE HERE TO GET THAT ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT, AND THAT'S IT.

STARSHIPS DO NOT TRANSPORT CARGO.

IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY, THEY DO ANYTHING,

AND BELIEVE ME,

THIS BOTANICAL PLAGUE IS AN EMERGENCY.

LIES WILL NOT KEEP THE TROGLYTES IN THE CAVERNS,

AND NEITHER WILL YOUR STARSHIP.

YOU TALK LIKE A DISRUPTER, VANNA.

I SPEAK FOR MY PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE AS MUCH RIGHT TO THE CLOUDS

AS THE STRATOS DWELLERS.

THE STRATOS IS FOR ADVISERS AND STUDIERS.

WHAT WOULD TROGLYTES DO HERE?

LIVE...

IN THE SUNLIGHT AND WARMTH,

AS EVERYONE SHOULD.

THE CAVERNS ARE WARM, AND YOUR EYES

ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO LIGHT,

JUST AS YOUR MINDS ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO LOGIC.

UNACCUSTOMED TO LIGHT AND WARMTH?

THAT'S NECESSARY TO ALL HUMANOIDS.

SURELY YOU DON'T DENY IT TO THE TROGLYTES.

THE TROGLYTES ARE WORKERS, CAPTAIN.

OH, SURELY YOU MUST BE AWARE OF THAT.

THEY MINE ZIENITE FOR SHIPMENT, TILL THE SOIL.

THOSE THINGS CANNOT BE DONE HERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY PERFORM ALL THE PHYSICAL TOIL

NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN STRATOS.

THAT IS THEIR FUNCTION IN OUR SOCIETY.

BUT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SHARE ITS ADVANTAGES.

HOW CAN THEY SHARE WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND?

THEY CAN BE TAUGHT TO UNDERSTAND,

ESPECIALLY IN A SOCIETY THAT PRIDES ITSELF IN ENLIGHTENMENT.

THE COMPLETE SEPARATION OF TOIL AND LEISURE

HAS GIVEN ARDANA

THIS PERFECTLY BALANCED SOCIAL SYSTEM, CAPTAIN.

WHY SHOULD WE CHANGE IT?

THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET IS ALMOST UNENDURABLE.

TO RESTRICT A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION TO SUCH HARDSHIP

IS UNTHINKABLE IN AN EVOLVED CULTURE.

THE SURFACE IS MARRED BY VIOLENCE,

LIKE THE TROGLYTES.

HERE ON STRATOS,

WE HAVE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED VIOLENCE.

YOU STILL REFUSE TO DISCLOSE THE NAMES OF THE OTHER DISRUPTERS?

THERE ARE NO DISRUPTERS.

VERY WELL, IF YOU PREFER THE RAYS.

TROGLYTE IS AN ABBREVIATION

OF AN ANCIENT EARTH TERM, CAPTAIN.

ITS TECHNICAL TRANSLATION IS

"CAVE DWELLER."

YES. I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED.

AAH!

MR. ADVISER.

YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO QUESTION VANNA, NOT TORTURE HER.

SHE'S STUBBORN.

AND AS YOU YOURSELF POINTED OUT, CAPTAIN,

THE SEARCH FOR YOUR ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT MUST BE SHORT.

SURELY THERE ARE BETTER METHODS THAN THIS.

PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT IS EXTREMELY PERSUASIVE, CAPTAIN.

YES. BUT I WON'T STAND BY WHILE SOMEONE IS TORTURED.

IS IT PREFERABLE TO SPARE VANNA

AND ALLOW AN ENTIRE PLANET TO BE DESTROYED?

VIOLENCE IN REALITY IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THEORY,

IS IT NOT, MADAM?

BUT WHAT ELSE CAN THEY UNDERSTAND, MR. SPOCK?

ALL THE LITTLE THINGS YOU AND I UNDERSTAND

AND EXPECT FROM LIFE,

SUCH AS EQUALITY, KINDNESS, JUSTICE.

TROGLYTES ARE NOT LIKE STRATOS DWELLERS, MR. SPOCK.

THEY'RE A CONGLOMERATE OF INFERIOR SPECIES.

THE ABSTRACT CONCEPTS OF AN INTELLECTUAL SOCIETY

ARE BEYOND THEIR COMPREHENSION.

THE ABSTRACT CONCEPTS OF LOYALTY AND LEADERSHIP

SEEM PERFECTLY CLEAR TO VANNA.

A FEW TROGLYTES ARE BROUGHT HERE AS RETAINERS.

VANNA WAS ONE OF THEM, AS ARE THE SENTINELS.

THEY'VE RECEIVED MORE TRAINING THAN THE OTHERS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY NO MORE CONSIDERATION.

I FAIL TO SEE THE PURPOSE

OF THIS CONTINUED CRITICISM.

THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL USE THAT DEVICE AGAIN

IS ON ONE OF US.

AN IMPOSING DISPLAY OF PRIMITIVE GALLANTRY, GENTLEMEN.

YOU REALIZE, OF COURSE, THAT THE SENTINELS COULD REMOVE YOU.

OF COURSE.

BUT STARFLEET COMMAND WON'T TAKE KINDLY

TO HAVING EITHER RAYS OR PHYSICAL FORCE USED

AGAINST ONE OF ITS COMMAND PERSONNEL, MR. ADVISER.

WHY ARE YOU SO CONCERNED WITH THIS DISRUPTER'S WELL-BEING?

BEYOND PLAIN HUMANITARIANISM,

MY ORDERS ARE TO GET THAT ZIENITE.

THEN STOP INTERFERING, AND I'LL GET IT FOR YOU.

YOU WON'T GET IT THROUGH TORTURE!

WE WILL GET IT FOR YOU AND IN OUR OWN WAY.

REMOVE THE PRISONER TO CONFINEMENT QUARTERS.

YOU WILL RETURN TO YOUR SHIP AT ONCE...

OR I SHALL CONTACT YOUR STARFLEET COMMAND MYSELF.

AND REPORT YOUR INTERFERENCE

WITH THIS PLANET'S GOVERNMENT.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

Scotty: ENTERPRISE, CAPTAIN.

MR. SCOTT, WE'RE READY TO BEAM UP.

AYE, SIR.

IF CAPTAIN KIRK APPEARS AGAIN...

KILL HIM.

Kirk: CAPTAIN'S LOG, STARDATE 5819.0.

MORE THAN 8 HOURS HAVE PASSED

SINCE THE CONSIGNMENT OF ZIENITE DISAPPEARED,

AND WE HAVE STILL FOUND NO TRACE OF IT.

WE'VE RECEIVED WORD FROM MERAK II

THAT THE BOTANICAL PLAGUE IS SPREADING RAPIDLY.

DELIVERY OF THE ZIENITE IS IMPERATIVE WITHIN 12 HOURS,

OR ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET WILL BE ANNIHILATED.

LIEUTENANT UHURA, ADVISE STARFLEET COMMAND

THAT THE ZIENITE HAS NOT BEEN DELIVERED.

IN MY OPINION, PLASUS' METHOD OF ACCOMPLISHING DELIVERY

WILL NOT SUCCEED.

IF THE ZIENITE IS NOT DELIVERED SHORTLY,

I SHALL HAVE TO VIOLATE PLASUS' ORDER OF NON-INTERFERENCE

AND WIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE TROGLYTE LEADER WITH THE USE OF REASON.

THAT MAY NOT BE EASY, JIM.

MEDICAL ANALYSIS INDICATES

THAT TROGLYTES ARE MENTALLY INFERIOR.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, BONES.

THE TROGLYTES HAVE ACCEPTED PERSONAL SACRIFICE,

A COMMON CAUSE.

MENTALLY INFERIOR BEINGS ARE INCAPABLE OF THAT.

LOOK. I'VE CHECKED MY FINDINGS THOROUGHLY.

THEIR INTELLECT RATINGS ARE ALMOST 20% BELOW AVERAGE.

THEY'RE ALL THE SAME SPECIES.

THOSE WHO LIVE ON STRATOS AND THOSE WHO LIVE BELOW

ALL ORIGINATED ON THE PLANET.

THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EVOLUTION MUST BE SIMILAR.

THAT IS BASIC BIOLOGICAL LAW.

THAT'S TRUE, SPOCK, BUT OBVIOUSLY,

THE ANCESTORS OF THOSE WHO LIVE ON STRATOS

REMOVED THEMSELVES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE MINES.

THEREFORE, THEY AVOIDED THE EFFECTS

OF CERTAIN NATURAL GROWTHS.

NATURAL GROWTHS? WHAT KIND?

I HAD THIS ZIENITE SAMPLE SENT UP FROM THE SURFACE.

NOW, UNSEALED, IT WOULD HAVE HAD DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS

ON EVERYBODY HERE.

INCREDIBLE. ZIENITE IS SHIPPED ALL OVER THE GALAXY--

WHEREVER THERE IS DANGER OF PLANT BACTERIA.

NO SIDE EFFECTS HAVE EVER BEEN REPORTED.

THERE ARE NONE AFTER IT'S REFINED.

BUT IN ITS RAW STATE,

IT EMITS AN ODORLESS, INVISIBLE GAS

THAT RETARDS THE INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING

OF THE MIND

AND HEIGHTENS THE EMOTION.

THEREFORE, IT RELEASES A VIOLENT REACTION.

AND THE MINES ARE FULL OF THAT GAS.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND THE TROGLYTES

ARE CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO IT.

BONES. THE DISRUPTERS, VANNA--

IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE.

THEY'VE OUTWITTED A HIGHLY ORGANIZED,

SCIENTIFIC CULTURE FOR MONTHS.

AS PART OF THE STAFF OF STRATOS,

VANNA WAS REMOVED FROM EXPOSURE FOR A LONG PERIOD.

IT IS LIKELY THAT WITHOUT SUCH EXPOSURE,

THE EFFECT SLOWLY WEARS OFF.

THAT'S RIGHT, SPOCK, AND THE OTHER DISRUPTERS

WERE PROBABLY REMOVED FROM THE EXPOSURE, TOO.

DOES THE BRAIN RETURN TO NORMAL?

ACCORDING TO FINDINGS, IT SHOULD.

CAN YOU NEUTRALIZE THE GAS?

NO, BUT A FILTER MASK SHOULD REMOVE THE EXPOSURE.

FIND ONE. MEET US IN THE TRANSPORTER ROOM.

THIS MASK AUTOMATICALLY ELIMINATES ALL SUBSTANCES

INJURIOUS TO HUMANOID LIFE, CHEMICAL AS WELL AS BACTERIAL.

WE HAVE USED THESE FILTER MASKS FREQUENTLY ON--

AND DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE

THAT THAT MASK CAN ACHIEVE INTELLECTUAL EQUALITY

FOR THE TROGLYTES?

THERE'S EVERY INDICATION

THAT THE EFFECT OF THE GAS IS TEMPORARY,

EVEN AFTER REPEATED EXPOSURE.

HOW CAN A MERE FILTER ACCOMPLISH

WHAT CENTURIES OF EVOLUTION HAVE FAILED TO DO?

DR. McCOY HAS ANALYZED THE ZIENITE THOROUGHLY.

WE'VE CHECKED HIS FINDINGS THROUGH THE COMPUTER,

AND THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY VALID.

AND DO YOUR COMPUTERS EXPLAIN HOW MY ANCESTORS,

WHO ALSO DWELT IN CAVERNS,

EVOLVED SUFFICIENTLY TO ERECT STRATOS...

WHILE TROGLYTES DID NOT?

UNEQUAL EVOLUTION DID NOT BEGIN

UNTIL AFTER YOUR ANCESTORS REMOVED THEMSELVES

FROM CONSTANT EXPOSURE TO THE GAS, MR. ADVISER.

OH! PREPOSTEROUS.

THERE'S NO TIME TO ARGUE ABOUT THE FINDINGS NOW.

I SIMPLY PROPOSE TO TELL VANNA ALL ABOUT THEM.

I DOUBT WHETHER EVEN VANNA WILL BELIEVE SUCH NONSENSE.

THIS NONSENSE MIGHT MEAN A GREAT DEAL TO THE TROGLYTES.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THEM

A SUPPLY OF THESE FILTER MASKS

IN EXCHANGE FOR THE ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT.

I'M SORRY, CAPTAIN.

SUCH AN OFFER COULD ONLY CAUSE MORE UNREST AMONG THEM.

I CANNOT ALLOW IT UNTIL OUR SCIENTISTS HAVE CHECKED THE FINDINGS.

BUT THAT COULD TAKE DAYS!

ARE YOU AFRAID THE FILTER MASKS WILL WORK?

IS THAT WHY YOU DON'T WANT THE TROGLYTES TO TRY THEM?

YOU ARE HERE TO COMPLETE AN EMERGENCY MISSION,

NOT CONDUCT TESTS, CAPTAIN.

I'M HERE TO GET THAT ZIENITE.

IF THESE WILL HELP ME GET THEM, THEN I'LL USE THEM.

AND I FORBID IT!

YOUR FEDERATION ORDERS DO NOT ENTITLE YOU

TO DEFY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THIS COMMUNICATION HAS ENDED.

MY DIPLOMACY IS SOMEWHAT INADEQUATE.

WELL, IT'S PRETTY HARD TO OVERCOME PREJUDICE.

DOESN'T GIVE US MUCH CHOICE, DOES IT?

NOR MUCH TIME.

WE HAVE 10 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES

TO DELIVER THAT CONSIGNMENT TO MERAK II.

BEAM ME DOWN TO VANNA'S CONFINEMENT QUARTERS.

YOU MEAN YOU'RE GOING BACK TO STRATOS AGAINST GOVERNMENT ORDERS?

IF VANNA DOESN'T HAVE SOMETHING DEFINITE TO GAIN FOR HER PEOPLE,

SHE'LL DIE RATHER THAN TURN OVER THAT ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT.

THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT CONVINCE HER.

CAPTAIN, IF YOU ARE APPREHENDED

DELIBERATELY VIOLATING THE HIGH ADVISERS' ORDERS,

HE WILL BE WITHIN HIS RIGHTS TO HAVE YOU EXECUTED

IF HE CHOOSES.

IF YOU'RE ABOUT TO SUGGEST THAT YOU CONTACT VANNA,

THE ANSWER IS NEGATIVE, SPOCK.

THAT GOES FOR YOU, TOO, BONES.

ALLOW ME TO POINT OUT THAT A FIRST OFFICER

IS MORE EXPENDABLE

THAN EITHER A DOCTOR OR A CAPTAIN.

OFFICIALLY, YES,

BUT THIS MISSION IS STRICTLY UNOFFICIAL.

NOBODY IS TO HAVE ANY PART IN IT,

ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, BUT MYSELF.

THAT'S AN ORDER, SPOCK.

YOU HAVE THE CON.

STAND BY TILL I CONTACT YOU.

VANNA...

I'VE BROUGHT YOU A GIFT.

THERE'S A DANGEROUS GAS IN THE MINES

THAT AFFECTS THE DEVELOPMENT

OF THE TROGLYTES EXPOSED TO IT

FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

THIS MASK WILL PREVENT ANY FURTHER DAMAGE.

GAS FROM ZIENITE?

YES.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WHICH IS NEITHER SEEN NOR FELT

CAN DO SO MUCH HARM.

THAT'S TRUE. BUT AN IDEA CAN'T BE SEEN OR FELT,

AND THAT'S WHAT'S KEPT THE TROGLYTES IN THE MINES

ALL THESE CENTURIES--

A MISTAKEN IDEA.

WOULD...

ALL THE TROGLYTES WEAR THESE MASKS?

YES. I'LL SEE TO IT

THAT THE FEDERATION ENGINEERS CONSTRUCT THEM.

SUPPOSE PLASUS DOES NOT AGREE?

PLASUS IS NOT THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT.

THAT IS TRUE.

BUT THE CITY COUNCIL...

WILL NOT LISTEN TO TROGLYTES.

AS SOON AS THE ZIENITE IS DELIVERED TO MERAK II,

I'LL COME BACK.

I'LL REQUEST PERMISSION

TO MEDIATE FOR THE TROGLYTES.

VANNA...

YOU MUST TRUST ME.

I GIVE YOU MY WORD.

CENTURIES AGO, STRATOS WAS BUILT BY LEADERS

THAT GAVE THEIR WORD

THAT ALL INHABITANTS WOULD LIVE THERE.

THE TROGLYTES ARE STILL WAITING.

THE ZIENITE CAN BE DELIVERED IN A FEW HOURS.

YOU WON'T HAVE LONG TO WAIT NOW.

HOURS CAN BE CENTURIES,

JUST AS WORDS CAN BE LIES.

VANNA...

YOU MUST TRUST ME.

IF YOU DON'T, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL DIE--

A WHOLE PLANET.

THIS ZIENITE IS ALL THAT CAN SAVE THEM.

THIS FILTER MASK IS ALL THAT CAN SAVE THE TROGLYTES.

TRUST ME.

PLEASE.

VERY WELL, CAPTAIN.

I WILL TRUST YOU.

THE CONSIGNMENT LIES DEEP IN THE MINES

IN A PLACE KNOWN ONLY TO TROGLYTES.

I CANNOT DIRECT YOU. I MUST TAKE YOU THERE.

YOU ASKED FOR MY TRUST, CAPTAIN.

ARE YOU UNWILLING TO GIVE YOURS?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

IT'S THE SENTINEL WITH MY REFRESHMENT.

WAIT. WE'LL NEED A TRANSPORT PASS TO LEAVE THE CITY.

MIDRO. VANNA.

ANKA.

YOU HAVE RETURNED.

AND I'VE BROUGHT WITH ME A HOSTAGE. SEIZE HIM!

WE HAD A BARGAIN. WHY DID YOU BREAK IT?

DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD TRUST YOU, CAPTAIN?

I'M NOT SUCH A FOOL.

I TRUSTED YOU.

YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD TRICK ME

WITH YOUR TALK OF YOUR FILTER AND YOUR UNSEEN GAS.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU ANY MORE THAN PLASUS DOES.

THEN YOU ARE A FOOL.

THESE MASKS WILL FREE YOU, JUST AS I SAID.

OUR WEAPONS ARE OUR FREEDOM,

AND YOU'VE JUST FURNISHED ME WITH TWO VERY VALUABLE ONES--

YOURSELF AND THIS.

HOLDING ME WON'T HELP YOU.

MY MEN WILL STILL COME FOR THAT ZIENITE CONSIGNMENT.

WITHOUT YOUR COMMUNICATOR,

YOU WILL BE HARD TO LOCATE.

THEY'LL STILL COME.

PERHAPS.

IN THE MEANTIME, TASTE OF OUR EXISTENCE, CAPTAIN.

DIG AS THE TROGLYTES DO. AS THE TROGLYTES DO--

WITHOUT THAT MASK I HAVEN'T--

WITH YOUR BARE HANDS, CAPTAIN.

Spock: CAPTAIN'S LOG, SUPPLEMENTAL. STARDATE 5819.3.

FIRST OFFICER SPOCK REPORTING.

CAPTAIN KIRK BEAMED DOWN TO STRATOS

TO ATTEMPT TO WIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE REBEL TROGLYTES.

UNLESS HE HAS MADE HIS ESCAPE FROM STRATOS TO THE MINES,

HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER FROM THE HIGH ADVISER.

THE CAPTAIN HAS NOT INFORMED US OF HIS PROGRESS.

FOR OUR PART, WE MUST MAINTAIN SILENCE.

WE CAN BE OF NO HELP TO HIM WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING HIS LIFE.

YOU DIG WELL, CAPTAIN.

THE UNSEEN GAS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HARMING YOU.

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR ITS EFFECTS TO BE NOTICED.

NEVERTHELESS, YOU WON'T BE NEEDING THIS.

ANKA, DEPOSIT THIS ON THE TRANSPORT PLATFORM

SO PLASUS WILL KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING MORE VALUABLE

TO BARGAIN WITH THAN OUR MORTAYS AND THONGS.

Anka: YOU ARE CLEVER, VANNA--VERY CLEVER.

THE SEARCHERS WILL BE COMING SOON, MIDRO.

GO TO THE OTHER MINES

AND TELL THE TROGLYTES TO POST WATCHES.

WHAT OF HIM?

I WILL SEE THAT HE DOESN'T ESCAPE.

IF WE KILL HIM, THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO SEE.

A DEAD HOSTAGE IS OF NO VALUE, MIDRO.

ONLY THE TROGLYTES WILL KNOW.

I BROUGHT HIM HERE, AND I WILL SAY WHAT IS TO BE DONE.

YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY DISRUPTER.

I, TOO, CAN SAY.

AND YOU DO NOTHING BUT ARGUE?

THE SEARCHERS WILL BE HERE SOON.

WHEN ANKA RETURNS, WE WILL ALL SAY.

IS THAT WHAT YOU DISRUPTERS ARE BARGAINING FOR--

THE RIGHT TO KILL EVERYONE?

MIDRO IS A CHILD.

THE MASKS CAN CHANGE THAT.

RETURN TO THE DIGGING, CAPTAIN.

HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON KEEPING ME HERE?

PROVIDING MIDRO DOESN'T KILL ME, OF COURSE.

UNTIL WE HAVE HELP IN THE MINES

AND OUR HOMES ARE IN THE CLOUDS.

THAT'S QUITE A WHILE--

LONGER THAN I EXPECTED.

[RUMBLING]

[COMMUNICATOR BEEPS]

WE'RE SEALED IN!

COMPLETELY.

BUT SOON THE ATMOSPHERE WILL GO. WE'LL DIE!

DIE? FROM SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE SEEN?

YOU ASTOUND ME, VANNA.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

ENTERPRISE, COME IN. KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

ENTERPRISE, COME IN.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

SPOCK HERE.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE CONTACT, CAPTAIN.

IS ANYTHING WRONG?

NOTHING, MR. SPOCK. ARE YOU LOCKED IN ON ME?

LOCKED IN AND READY TO BEAM UP CONSIGNMENT.

CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE A SLIGHT VARIATION, SPOCK.

STANDING BY FOR INSTRUCTIONS.

HOLD ON THESE COORDINATES.

LOCATE THE HIGH ADVISER

AND BEAM HIM TO THESE COORDINATES IMMEDIATELY,

WITHOUT ADVANCE COMMUNICATION.

REPEAT--WITHOUT ADVANCE COMMUNICATION.

HAVE YOU GOT THAT, SPOCK?

INSTRUCTIONS CLEAR. I SHALL CARRY THEM OUT IMMEDIATELY.

SPOCK OUT.

YOU WOULD SEAL PLASUS HERE, ALSO?

FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

I'M PREPARING A DEMONSTRATION...

ON THE EFFECTS OF UNBELIEVED GAS.

BEAM THE HIGH ADVISER DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, DID HE SAY?

THAT'S NOT AN EXACT QUOTE, MR. SCOTT.

HOWEVER, IT DOES EXPRESS THE THOUGHT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ADVISER'S FACE.

YOU WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THE CAPTAIN DID SAY IMMEDIATELY, DID HE NOT?

NOW, THAT IS AN EXACT QUOTE, MR. SCOTT,

AND I SUGGEST YOU HANDLE THE TRANSPORTER YOURSELF.

THIS COULD BE VERY DELICATE

AS A PROBLEM IN TRANSPORTING FOR US

AND IN DIPLOMACY FOR THE CAPTAIN. AYE.

SOMETHING'S UPSETTING YOU, DROXINE.

NO, FATHER.

WHAT IS IT? TELL ME.

NO, REALLY, I'M NOT UPSET.

I WAS JUST STANDING HERE LOOKING INTO SPACE

AND WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT HE WOULD RETURN.

HE WILL NEVER RETURN. I'VE SEEN TO THAT.

BUT THE ZIENITE IS SO IMPORTANT TO HIM.

HE MUST HAVE IT.

IT WILL BE DELIVERED

IF WE HAVE TO KILL EVERY TROGLYTE BELOW,

IT WILL BE DELIVERED.

BY THAT TIME, IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

PERHAPS HE DOES HAVE A METHOD--

HE KNOWS NOTHING

EXCEPT HOW TO DESTROY OUR POWER AND OUR SOCIETY.

I FORBID YOU EVER TO SPEAK OF CAPTAIN KIRK,

EVEN TO THINK OF HIM.

Scotty: TRANSPORTER ROOM TO MR. SPOCK.

SPOCK HERE.

I'VE LOCKED INTO THE COORDINATES

OF THE CLOUD CITY COUNCIL GALLERY.

READY TO TRANSPORT THE HIGH ADVISER.

WE HAVE TO DELAY.

WHAT'S WRONG.

I'M PICKING UP TWO LIFE FORMS IN THE GALLERY.

THEY ARE INSEPARABLY CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER.

WE CANNOT TRANSPORT ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.

DID YOU SAY THE WORD "IMMEDIATELY"

WAS AN EXACT QUOTE OF THE CAPTAIN'S ORDER?

PRECISELY, MR. SCOTT.

WELL?

ARE WE GOING TO DO IT AS IN THE ORDER?

UNTIL THE HIGH ADVISER IS ALONE

OR CAN BE ISOLATED,

THE CAPTAIN WILL HAVE TO WAIT,

UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.

I'LL GIVE IT FURTHER THOUGHT.

I WASN'T THINKING OF CAPTAIN KIRK.

IT'S THE ONE WITH THOSE EXQUISITELY-SHAPED EARS.

HIS NAME IS SPOCK.

HE'S THE ONE I WAS THINKING ABOUT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT HE HAS THE MOST INCREDIBLY SENSITIVE HEARING?

WHY, I ALMOST BELIEVE IF I STOOD HERE

AND CALLED OUT TO HIM,

HE WOULD HEAR MY INVITATION

TO COME AND VISIT WITH US FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

OH, HE'S NO BETTER THAN HIS FRIEND.

SHALL WE TRY?

WHAT IS IT?

THE DISRUPTER VANNA HAS DISAPPEARED.

HER GUARD WAS FOUND HALF-UNCONSCIOUS.

HE'D BEEN ATTACKED BY CAPTAIN KIRK.

WHERE IS CAPTAIN KIRK?

HE DID NOT KNOW, SIR.

HE DID NOT REGAIN HIS SENSES UNTIL I CAME TO HIS AID.

THIS IS THE KIND OF REASON THEY USE TO PERSUADE US.

THEY ARE DESPERATE.

I WILL HEAR NO MORE DEFENSE OF THEM.

I'M SURE MR. SPOCK WOULD NOT BEHAVE SO.

LEAVE HERE AT ONCE. GO TO YOUR MUSIC.

FATHER, ARE WE SO SURE OF OUR METHODS

THAT WE NEVER QUESTION WHAT WE DO?

SPOCK TO TRANSPORTER ROOM.

SCOTT HERE.

LOCK IN ON COUNCIL GALLERY COORDINATES.

LOCKED IN, SIR.

ENERGIZE.

AYE, SIR.

ENERGIZING.

HOW ARE YOU DOING, MR. SCOTT?

FINE, MR. SPOCK. THE HIGH ADVISER

IS MATERIALIZING ON THE PLATFORM.

BEAM HIM DOWN TO CAPTAIN KIRK IMMEDIATELY.

ENERGIZING, SIR.

HE'S ON HIS WAY TO THE CAPTAIN.

GOOD WORK, MR. SCOTT.

THE ADVISER LOOKED MIGHTY ANGRY.

I HOPE HE DOESN'T GIVE THE CAPTAIN TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

THE CAPTAIN WILL EMPLOY HIS USUAL DIPLOMATIC BALM.

ABDUCTION OF A PLANET OFFICIAL IS A SERIOUS CRIME.

YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS, I PROMISE YOU.

NOT UNTIL YOU'RE CONVINCED OF THE EFFECTS

OF THE ZIENITE GAS, MR. ADVISER.

WHAT EFFECTS? I'VE BEEN HERE NEARLY AN HOUR

OF YOUR EARTH TIME-- YOU AND VANNA EVEN LONGER.

I SEE NO CHANGES IN ANY OF US.

PERHAPS YOU NEED CLOSER EXPOSURE.

FILL THAT CONTAINER.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT I DIG ZIENITE?

I INSIST.

YOU WILL INDEED PAY FOR THIS.

YOU, TOO, VANNA.

YOU, TOO. DIG!

[COMMUNICATOR BEEPS]

KIRK HERE. WHAT IS IT?

CONTACT CHECK, CAPTAIN.

IT HAS BEEN OVER AN HOUR

SINCE YOUR LAST COMMUNICATION.

YOUR ORDERS ARE TO STAND BY.

NOW CARRY THEM OUT! KIRK OUT.

STANDING BY, CAPTAIN.

HOWEVER, LET ME REMIND YOU WE HAVE ONLY 5 HOURS LEFT--

THAT WAS VERY UNLIKE THE CAPTAIN.

CAN THE ZIENITE BE AFFECTING HIM?

Vanna: I GROW FAINT.

THE OXYGEN IS GOING.

SHE'S RIGHT. KIRK, TRANSPORT US OUT OF HERE.

WE'LL LEAVE WHEN THE GAS HAS EFFECT.

IT WILL NEVER TAKE EFFECT!

TRANSPORT US OUT OF HERE!

DIG!

IMBECILE. WE'LL DIE!

I SAID DIG!

I AM HIGH ADVISER OF ALL THE PLANET.

I WILL TAKE NO MORE ORDERS!

ONE MORE STEP AND I'LL KILL YOU.

THE GAS. CAPTAIN, YOU WERE RIGHT.

IT'S TAKING EFFECT!

CAPTAIN, YOU WERE RIGHT.

ARE YOU AS BRAVE WITH MORTAY

AS YOU ARE WITH A PHASER?

BOTH WILL KILL.

[COMMUNICATOR BEEPS]

Vanna: ENTERPRISE.

ENTERPRISE, HELP!

ENTERPRISE!

ENTERPRISE. SPOCK HERE.

Vanna: THEY'LL KILL EACH OTHER! HELP US!

HELP US!

Vanna: ENTERPRISE! ENTERPRISE!

CAPTAIN! THE ZIENITE GAS HAS AFFECTED YOU.

CAPTAIN!

THE ZIENITE GAS!

THE ZIENITE GAS.

LOOK OUT, JIM!

WELL.

IT SEEMS MY LITTLE DEMONSTRATION WAS...

QUITE A SUCCESS.

I DON'T LIKE FILTERS

OR EVEN MASKS.

I LIKE THE WORD "PROTECTOR" MUCH BETTER.

DON'T YOU?

IT IS LESS TECHNICAL,

THEREFORE LESS ACCURATE,

BUT PERHAPS MORE GENERALLY DESCRIPTIVE OF THE FUNCTION.

IT APPEARS YOU HAVE WHAT YOU CAME FOR AFTER ALL.

Vanna: THE CAPTAIN WILL HAVE HIS ZIENITE, JUST AS I AGREED.

AGREED? THERE'S NO SUCH WORD

IN THE TROGLYTE VOCABULARY.

THE CAPTAIN WILL HAVE HIS ZIENITE.

NO THANKS TO ANY AGREEMENT BY YOU.

IT HAD TO BE OBTAINED BY FORCE.

BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY

WE CAN OBTAIN WHAT IS DUE US.

HOW ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION? WAS THAT BY FORCE?

IT SERVED YOUR PURPOSE AT THE TIME.

YOU COULD HAVE HAD THOSE FILTERS,

FOR ALL THE GOOD IT WILL DO YOU.

THEY WILL BE VERY EFFECTIVE, SIR.

THEY'VE BEEN SEVERELY TESTED,

AND THE TROGLYTES WILL NO LONGER SUFFER FROM RETARDATION

AND EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES.

THEY WILL ALL BE LIKE HER--

UNGRATEFUL, VINDICTIVE.

YES. OUR DEMANDS HAVE JUST BEGUN.

HERE IS THE ZIENITE, CAPTAIN...

JUST AS I PROMISED.

THANK YOU, VANNA.

STRATOS IS SO PLEASANT AND SO BEAUTIFUL.

I THINK I'M AFRAID TO LEAVE IT.

THERE IS GREAT BEAUTY IN THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT LIES BELOW...

AND ONLY ONE WAY TO REALLY EXPERIENCE IT.

I SHALL GO TO THE MINES.

I NO LONGER WISH TO BE LIMITED TO THE CLOUDS.

IS...

YOUR PLANET LIKE THIS ONE?

NO.

NO, VULCAN IS QUITE DIFFERENT.

SOMEDAY I SHOULD LIKE TO VISIT IT.

PERHAPS SOME FORM OF MEDIATION CAN BE HELPFUL

IN YOUR DIFFICULTIES.

THE FEDERATION BUREAU OF INDUSTRIALIZATION

MAY BE OF AID TO YOU.

I WILL TOLERATE ABSOLUTELY NO INTERFERENCE.

YOU WILL NOT SET FOOT HERE AS LONG AS I RULE!

BELIEVE ME, SIR, I HAVE NEITHER THE TIME NOR THE DESIRE

TO RETURN HERE.

ONLY ANSWERING YOUR CHARGES AGAINST ME WILL FORCE ME BACK.

AND I SHALL PRESS THEM!

YOU ARE GUILTY OF ABDUCTION, CAPTAIN.

AND YOU'RE GUILTY OF ATTACKING A STARSHIP COMMANDER

AND PLOTTING AGAINST HIS LIFE!

CAPTAIN, PERHAPS BOTH INCIDENTS ARE BEST FORGOTTEN.

YES, VANNA.

THEY NEVER HAPPENED. MR. ADVISER?

MR. SPOCK, LET'S GET THAT ZIENITE DELIVERED.

I BELIEVE WE ONLY HAVE 3 HOURS LEFT.

2 HOURS, 59 MINUTES, TO BE EXACT, CAPTAIN.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE. KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

MR. SCOTT, BEAM US UP.