Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) s03e05 Episode Script

1
♪
Previously on Star Trek:
Strange New Worlds
This is Dr. Korby.
At first she was a fellow,
but she quickly became more.
She was running the excavation
site on Vadia Nine with me.
SPOCK: Vulcans have an ancient technique
of regulating pain through meditation.
(SCREAMING)
When we joined minds,
I absorbed your pain.
I saw something.
- It felt both a part of you and not.
- Was it Gorn?
SPOCK: This openness to new
life experiences suits you.
Okay. Who's this?
ORTEGAS: My little brother.
Starfleet's Public
Relations. They may commission
a feature-length
documentary of Starfleet.
GAMBLE: Junior medical
officer's log, stardate 2184.4.
Reporting from the USS Enterprise.
(CHUCKLES) Enterprise. I will
never get tired of saying that.
The last six months stationed
here have been awesome.
Today started out like
any other day here,
me working in sickbay.
But after today
I know my life is never
gonna be the same again.
Oh. Exciting, isn't it?
Yeah, if you're into that sort of thing.
Nurse Chapel and Dr. Korby
are about to make history.
Well, this could change
the way we view mortality.
And Korby's work on molecular memory
and corporeal transference.
The idea that ancient man's fascination
with resurrection and reincarnation
could all be based on
forgotten technology? I mean
If you're into that sort of thing.
I may have read some of his papers.
Should I expect a transfer request
- from you to archaeological medicine?
- Never.
I mean, as fun as it
sounds to dig up old worlds
and find lost medical science,
I like where I'm at.
Well, you can make
your own mark on history
by charging the dermal wands
at all the biobed stations
before Captain Batel gets
here for her treatment.
Gotcha, sir. On it.
(CHUCKLING SOFTLY)
You're sure the
Enterprise's deflector array
won't overpower the magnetic anomaly?
How many times do I have to promise you
- it's all gonna be fine?
- I know. I know.
You, uh, you let Pike know
how-how sacred this place was
- to the people here, right?
- Do you really think that
Starfleet is just
gonna waltz on in there,
phasers blasting, and
obliterate a heritage site?
(CHUCKLES) Uh, no. But-but-but
can you blame me? I mean
sometimes people that-that
are used to giving orders
struggle when-when receiving them, huh?
God, you're so right. I'm just
gonna go and hypospray Captain Pike
so he doesn't give us,
like, any trouble at all.
How much Tarazine is sublethal?
Just always get the
numbers all mixed-up.
- You having fun?
- Maybe just a blow to the head?
Command function's left lobe, right?
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Okay, look, maybe I'm
being a little paranoid.
Oh, you, my dear? Never.
Okay.
I know how much work
you've, you've put in,
lobbying Captain Pike to help.
There's just no getting below
the planet's surface without a starship.
And I am more than grateful.
- It's just that I always get nervous
- You always get nervous
- before a dig.
- before a dig.
I know.
I'll see you soon, Roger.
Yes, you will.
Hurry down.
- Don't make me wait.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
LA'AN: Chapel.
Uh, quick question.
How's Spock doing?
Fine?
I haven't seen him today.
Has he, uh, said anything
about Roger being here?
Um
I mean, I know you guys have been
spending more time,
- getting closer these last months.
- Oh. No.
No, please don't be one of those women.
This is why I don't do this.
Oh, me? No. Oh. (CHUCKLES)
Heck no. (CHUCKLES)
I'm good.
Spock and I made it very
clear with each other.
No labels, no complicated expectations.
Just fun times.
Please don't make it weird.
Uh, y-you're good with that?
Look, if you're really worried
about Spock behaving around
Korby, then just ask him.
- We're all adults here, right?
- Mm.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
(INDISTINCT P.A. ANNOUNCEMENT)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
It's amazing. With Spock's brain,
M'Benga's research, and
Chapel's genetic expertise,
- frankly, it's a
- Don't say "miracle."
Okay.
- Top-notch science.
- (DOORS WHOOSH OPEN)
How's my favorite patient doing?
Great, actually.
Thank you, Joseph.
What you've done here,
I owe it to all of you.
How are the dermal wands looking?
All accounted for, sir. Every
biobed station fully charged.
And the remote synthesizers?
I thought you would ask,
so I recharged them, too.
Good. So you won't be late.
- Uh, late for what?
- The mission brief.
- The landing party's meeting soon.
- The landing party?
On Vadia Nine?
You've requested away
team assignment six times.
- You've earned it.
- (EXHALES)
Just don't embarrass me with Dr. Korby.
(EXHALES)
I'm sorry. I'm just so excited.
Go. They'll start without you.
(GAMBLE CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Mm!
Whoo!
(CHUCKLES)
GAMBLE: My first official research
mission on an alien planet.
I've been dreaming of this
since I was first accepted
to the Starfleet Academy.
And now it's my time to shine.
- (DOORS WHOOSH SHUT)
- (TURBOLIFT CHIMES)
Lieutenant Spock.
(EXHALES) Why are we always
so quiet when we need to talk?
Is there something to discuss?
I am
glad to see you and
Lieutenant Noonien-Singh
spending more time together.
She is an excellent dance instructor.
That, too.
Um
Roger's feeling
nervous about the dig.
And, um
you know, I know you guys
are, like, friends now
A relative term.
I just want to be s-sure that things
are gonna go smoothly down there.
You do not trust me.
Not to worry, Christine.
I have instituted certain safeguards
to ensure it will all go smoothly.
What do you, what do
you mean, "safeguards"?
- (TURBOLIFT CHIMES)
- (DOORS WHOOSH OPEN)
Ah, great! Crewmates!
(DOORS WHOOSH SHUT)
I don't have to go
into the briefing alone.
I interrupted something, didn't I?
CHAPEL: The M'Kroon have
declined Federation membership
on multiple occasions, which
is why they're only allowing
a small landing party.
PIKE: All right, Chapel,
you'll be boots on the ground.
Give us the go-ahead once the
signal amplifiers are in place.
Has the science team finished adjusting
- the deflector arrays?
- SPOCK: Yes.
And I will be monitoring
the adjustments in real time,
here aboard the Enterprise.
Monitoring from the ship as a safeguard.
You're not coming down to the planet.
PIKE: Chapel, this is your
mission. Any last (STAMMERS)
- thoughts or words?
- (STATIC)
BETO: Could you do that again?
Mr. Ortegas.
Sorry. I just needed to
adjust for subspace static.
- It interferes with my
- UNA: Mr. Ortegas,
Erica promised you
wouldn't be a problem.
You'll get better footage
if you just keep it quiet.
Sorry.
PELIA: Young man,
if there is anything you
want to see in Engineering,
anything at all,
I am more than comfortable
around a camera.
- You know what, Pelia, let's not encourage
- Ensign Gamble,
would you kindly read the first
paragraph of our mission brief?
(STAMMERS SOFTLY)
"To commemorate the
Federation's centennial,
documentarian Humberto Ortegas
has been given security clearance
to record Enterprise's
current roster of missions."
Okay, according to that,
we're stuck with each other.
But maybe just try to keep
the cameras out of the way.
Let's go dig up the past.
♪
N'Jal.
Thank you for allowing
us to document this
- historic occasion.
- It is such an honor to meet you.
I hear the M'Kroon have
a unique vocal range.
Come.
Let me show you. Hi.
- How are you?
- Good.
CHAPEL: Our magnetic anomaly?
KORBY: You were right about this place.
There is indeed some form
of advanced technology
hiding beneath us.
(CHAPEL SIGHS)
Let's set up,
see what it is.
- Okay.
- (PYLON WHIRS)
They keep you busy, huh?
Uh
We don't all get to play with toys.
(CHUCKLES) Come here.
Let me show you something.
(UHURA SIGHS)
So, it's intuitive.
A.I. lenses track movement
and inflections in speech
that indicate strong emotions.
Uh, it clocks nonverbal cues?
BETO: It's always looking
for the subtext, the heat.
Could be why it's
focused on us right now.
(UHURA LAUGHS)
(BOTH CHUCKLING)
CHAPEL: Done here. Uhura.
How's it going over there?
(SIGHS)
- (WHIRS)
- Finished.
Chapel to the bridge.
The pylons are set.
Ready when you are.
PIKE: Copy. Stand by
for deflector beams.
(CHUCKLES)
(COMMS CHIME)
Captain, we're gonna need
a bigger landing party.
PIKE: 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 one has gone before.
♪
♪
♪
I knew you'd have to come down
and see this all for yourself.
What'd I tell you? You owe me a drink.
The M'Kroons vetoed our
request to send more personnel,
so Spock and I are the only ones coming.
(SIGHS) Copy that.
UHURA: Uh, we found an access panel
with symbols in an unknown language.
These symbols are the interface?
Maybe. Or instructions.
Or a warning.
They have a remarkable similarity
to the M'Kroonian alphabet.
So, five years ago, hundreds
of light-years from here,
I discovered this.
I believe it is a royal insignia.
So this place could be some
sort of temple or palace.
All I know is, I found
this ring on Polaris 12.
But there are similar
symbol sets on Praetorian.
Where we found tablets
That Christine matched with
ancient texts here on Vadia Nine.
CHAPEL: We think the M'Kroon
are the direct descendants
of an advanced civilization
that could travel
across multiple galaxies.
- Ancient astronauts?
- KORBY: We don't know,
but they claim to have
achieved immortality.
A common myth.
A fantasy many cultures share.
But in this case our research suggests
that their secret to immortality
Had something to do with
creating quantum instability
at a molecular level.
- Fascinating.
- Right?
UHURA: Okay, so I
cross-referenced the symbols
with Praetorian and ancient M'Kroonian.
"The path to absolution,
only with blood given freely."
Blood given freely?
A ritual sacrifice. An
offering to the gods.
Blood magic.
On M'Kroon, our
ancestors would sacrifice
to stand before the deities of time.
Whoa, hold on.
Just take a moment before we
choose the dramatic option.
(CLOSES KNIFE)
Don't.
(RUMBLING)
Really?
It worked.
Nothing foreign detected
in your bloodstream.
- Any pain, symptoms of any kind?
- I'll live, Ensign.
Well, Chapel, this is your party.
I'm guessing you want
to come with me on point.
LA'AN: Watch your footing
and try not to touch anything.
Sadly, that would defeat my
entire purpose here, Lieutenant.
Well, you know what I mean.
(COMMS CHIME)
Comms on the ship are down.
Which means we'd have to
go outside to report back.
More importantly
We cannot transport
from inside this chamber.
- Far from ideal.
- UHURA: It's open here.
Huh.
Some kind of light barrier.
Yeah, whatever it is, I don't like it.
- Scared of El Cucuy?
- (CHUCKLES)
I'm not five, and it's not my bedtime.
Hey, what's that, an oversized ?
Bag. I was gonna say bag,
but, nope, it's a body.
LA'AN: Well, they're not immortal.
The readings indicate these
remains are centuries old.
Cause of death appears to be starvation.
LA'AN: They were trapped down here.
Just a hunch, but it looks to me
like they were trying to rob the place.
This discovery raises the
threat level of the mission.
We must exit, report
this to the captain,
- and reassess our investigation.
- Hold on a second.
Isn't Christine in
charge of this mission?
Actually, Spock is the
senior science officer.
Well, I don't answer
to Starfleet, now, do I?
CHAPEL: Look this
is not the first time
that a landing party mission has faced
escalated but not lethal danger.
Starfleet protocol clearly states
a landing party must alert the ship
to any clear and present danger.
- But nothing dangerous has happened.
- Spock,
wh-what we can discover
here is important.
Not just to me, not just to Roger.
Not even just to science.
N'Jal, the M'Kroons,
this is their history.
As you've stated, this
is not just about us.
N'Jal, we are your guests here.
Would you prefer if we cease or proceed?
Tika-mak chan tario pik-tah.
Vika, chan tario tah.
Eek lok to, ma vika tario.
Closest translation:
"My people have a deep desire.
We wish to know the core of our being."
Trust is a two-way street, Spock.
We will continue with the mission.
I got you.
CHAPEL: Roger.
It's a memory stone.
- It's just like the ones we found on Praetorian.
- Mm-hmm.
KORBY: Christine, this
this is exactly what
we came here to find.
Careful.
- (GAMBLE SCREAMING)
- CHAPEL: Gamble!
Gamble, Gamble, Gamble,
Gamble, you okay?
(SCREAMING)
(GROANING)
Easy, easy. I've got you.
(SIGHS)
We just sent the fragments
to Pelia for analysis.
The orb triggered when he picked it up.
PIKE: Gather the rest of the team
and beam back aboard immediately.
Understood, Captain.
- UHURA: How's Gamble?
- CHAPEL: He's stable.
M'Benga's already working on
bioengineering him new eyes.
UHURA: We found something.
I think this is some kind of register.
There are thousands of names here.
KORBY: Some of which are
actually on the artifact
you found among the dead.
Guys, this is great, and
there's so much to learn here,
but it's time to go.
- We got to get back to the ship.
- KORBY: Um
N'Jal and I are, are gonna stay behind.
Waited my whole life
for a find like this.
(SOFTLY): Roger.
BETO: Hey.
- Look at this.
- What is it?
I sent a camera through the doorway.
Before or after we said to pull out?
- That's the next chamber?
- Mm-hmm.
Mika-tah, Vezda-pah.
Um
- What's he saying?
- "Danger."
Mika-tah, Vezda-pah.
Not "danger."
- "Evil."
- N'Jal, what's wrong?
We're all gonna die.
N'Jal. N'Jal!
(MECHANICAL WHIRRING)
♪
The door.
GAMBLE: Hello? Who's here? (GRUNTS)
Why is it dark?
Try not to sit up.
(PANTS)
- Is this why I can't see?
- No.
Your bulbus oculi were ejected
from their orbital sockets.
- I lost my eyes?
- This should be regenerating them.
But right now it's just keeping
them from deteriorating further.
When was I injured?
You were injured on the planet
by a grenade of some type.
We're still analyzing the fragments.
- The landing party? Are they okay?
- The others are fine.
They should be back here any minute.
My short-term memory was damaged.
Hopefully, it's not permanent.
A post-traumatic stress response.
- Status?
- Conscious. Alert.
And scared but happy to be alive.
Well, that's understandable.
Rest.
I'll be right back.
PIKE: All right, what's the full report?
M'BENGA: I've shifted
my initial assessment
from flash burn to some kind of agent.
- Biological weapon?
- Maybe.
And before you ask, he's not contagious.
But something is preventing
his eyes from regenerating.
Okay, how are you holding up?
I'm fine.
You know, when Gamble
came on to replace Chapel,
it was supposed to be temporary,
- but she came back.
- And he stayed.
It's no secret I'm fond of the boy.
He wasn't ready for away missions.
Joseph, you know more than
most, we can't protect everyone.
But if anyone's going to help
him, it's going to be you.
(DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN)
(CHIMES)
(CHIMES TWICE)
CHAPEL: It's locked.
- Why now?
- The structure must have engaged a safety protocol.
Christine, it didn't trigger when
you and La'An took Gamble through.
Or when you came back.
When you unlocked the door,
it took a sample of your DNA.
You were scanned.
And we all entered together as a group.
Your biosignature kept us safe.
So, N'Jal tried to leave without me.
Well, if the door liked me
then, it's done liking me now.
No, no, there has to be another way out.
We know what happens if
we try to wait things out.
You are suggesting we go
deeper into the structure?
KORBY: We stay here and we starve.
Either way is a risk.
I prefer the one that keeps us active.
May I?
Yeah.
UHURA: La'An.
Beto's camera's still showing
the feed from the other chamber.
It looks safe, relatively.
So that chamber is on the
other side of this door?
BETO: Yes.
Okay, let's try it.
Chapel?
Maybe this door still likes you.
(GASPS)
CHAPEL: Okay.
That worked.
As a precaution, we should use
the same formation as before.
Yeah.
Precaution against being
incinerated by burning light?
Chapel with me. Uhura, Beto.
Spock and Korby, you take up the rear.
CHAPEL: Look at it.
Roger, this
They're gone.
Wait.
Let's think about this.
- We could get separated, too.
- Yeah.
Huh, what about comms?
I know we can't reach the ship, but
Maybe, maybe the interference is
coming from the building itself.
(COMMS CHIME)
(OVER COMMS): La'An to
Spock, do you read me?
Spock here, I read you.
Dr. Korby and I appear to
be in a room by ourselves.
We copy, too. It's Beto and I.
Also alone.
Together but alone.
We have comms.
I'd call that a silver lining.
LA'AN: Okay. Stay put wherever you are.
UHURA: No arguments here.
SPOCK: Agreed.
Do you guys have a giant statue
in the middle of your chamber?
KORBY: Our room looks
just like the one we left.
Dead grave robbers and all.
Perhaps we should surveil
our respective areas
- and report back.
- All right.
Let's reconvene on comms in ten minutes.
And stay alert.
(SOFTLY): Inconclusive.
(GRUNTS) That tickles.
You're awake.
(EXHALES) This isn't
doing anything, is it?
No, it's not.
What's happening to me, Joseph?
Hmm.
You used my first name.
I'm sorry. Dr. M'Benga.
- You're right, I
- No, it's good.
It's more than time you
feel comfortable around me.
I guess a close call like that
- can really put some things in perspective.
- (DEVICE BEEPS)
This reading
Hold on.
♪
All right, let's try this again.
(DEVICE BEEPS)
- (SIGHS)
- What?
What is it? What does it say?
- We need more tests.
- Doctor
Joseph, just tell me.
There's no other way to put this,
- your brain is dead.
- (GASPS)
The scan shows entire
lobes, electrons, neurons,
- all shut down.
- No.
That's impossible. How am I alive?
- I-I'm awake, we're talking.
- Yes, I know. Exactly like I said.
- We need more tests.
- I'm not dead!
- Hey, take a breath, I didn't say that.
- No, but, but,
- but (HYPERVENTILATING)
- I'm giving you a sedative. Relax.
But
- Stay calm.
- (EXHALES)
I'll figure this out.
- LA'AN: Chapel.
- CHAPEL: Hmm?
Why is there an Earth language
at your ancient dig site?
CHAPEL: It's Chinese.
"Here stands the Beholder,
sentry of eternal bridges."
A biosignature?
This thing has a life sign reading.
(PHASER WHIRRING)
Doesn't act very alive.
Oh, well, technically,
it's both alive and not.
Also, it's not really here.
Hmm, well, I'm looking
right at it, so
On a quantum level, the-the
particles that make up
this Beholder are in constant flux.
Both here and not here.
(LAUGHS SOFTLY)
Quantum instability
at a molecular level.
Great.
So what does that mean?
Not a clue.
Brilliant.
KORBY: Is this really the
same room we were just in?
Perhaps, but look.
I wouldn't go that way
after what happened to N'Jal.
Do you really think it's a fantasy?
You balk at the idea of immortality?
You don't think that the science exists
to prevent our
consciousness from fading?
I do not balk at your ideas, Dr. Korby.
I merely believe you neglect
to take the proper precautions.
Huh?
- I said you neglect to take the proper
- No, no, no, no, look here.
Above the names, this-this
word, it means, um,
parasites or hitchhikers.
And-and this word, it means well or pit.
- This word Vezda.
- Vezda.
The M'Kroon word for evil?
Yes. Only here it's
used, Vezda, it-it
it isn't singular.
(VISOR TRILLS)
(VISOR TRILLS)
- Fascinating.
- What is it?
(VISOR TRILLS)
KORBY: What do you see?
Thousands of them.
(SCREECHES)
Our landing party never came back.
My brother didn't sign up for this.
All of the M'Kroon
liaisons on the project
have suddenly gone radio silent.
The locals have cut us off.
So send down another landing party.
Aye. They cannot keep us
from getting our people back.
Unfortunately, they can. We're here
with a special access agreement.
I can reach out,
if the ambassador is no
help, we will go down there.
What do we know about
the explosive device
that we encountered?
- SCOTTY: Technically it's a
- It's a, it's a containment unit.
SCOTTY: On its own, the orb
should not have exploded.
It's possible it got separated
from its power source and weakened.
But best we can figure is
that the energy source inside
of it forced its way out.
Forced its way out, how?
Could it have been sentient?
SCOTTY: Oh, we don't know.
Pelia, what aren't you telling us?
This thing
is older than anything I've ever seen.
PIKE: What do you
think was inside of it?
I'm not sure.
And I have no scientific
way of putting this,
but whatever it is,
it gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Ensign Gamble.
Captain to Security. Meet me in sickbay.
♪
Rukiya, what a beautiful name.
It's a shame you had to let her go.
I never told you about Rukiya.
Hmm, you're right.
My mistake.
Do you think that woman who came
to you was really your daughter?
Or do you think it was
something wearing her skin?
Something that drank her
tears and fed off her screams?
Who am I talking to right now?
(GASPS) What the hell?
What was that? (PANTING)
A foreign intelligence.
Inside me? How was it
talking? It had my voice.
I don't know yet.
- Why would it say those things?
- Relax.
- Take a breath.
- Joseph
I'm having a reaction,
feels like a migraine.
You.
Cali-katchna!
- Mika-tah, Vezda-pah!
- Captain
(ALARM BLARING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(GROANS)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(GASPS)
(GAMBLE GROANS)
Marie!
(GRUNTS)
Marie.
Marie, it's me
♪
GAMBLE: I don't want to have to do this,
- everybody just leave me alone.
- Easy, easy.
- Gamble, it's me.
- Dr. M'Benga?
(ALARM BLARING)
I didn't mean to do that.
I believe you.
Please, put the phaser down.
Why is everybody trying to hurt me?
They are not, we're trying to help you.
Stand down.
Give him room.
If I let them take me, will you fix me?
I just want to be me again.
I've got you, don't worry.
(GRUNTS)
REX: Sickbay or the brig, sir?
♪
Scans are showing this pillar is
shifting in and out of this reality.
You mean the freaky underground
hell hole gets even freakier?
We're just going to die here
like those explorers we found.
Hey.
Look at me.
I've been where you are right now,
and I know that all you can focus on
is how bad this all feels.
All I can think about is being
trapped down here alone with
We're not alone.
We are going to find
our way out of this.
Together.
Just breathe.
(BOTH BREATHING DEEPLY)
Thank you.
UHURA: I'm seeing the impossible.
Look.
Uhura to landing party, I
think I've got something.
We have some interesting finds, too.
Indeed, there is much to discuss.
The statue in here is giving
off unstable phase variances.
And it has a life sign.
Korby and I discovered the
presence of sentient life.
Curious, I do not recall this injury.
UHURA: Look, all of that is amazing.
This whole place is, but the thing is
we are all still together.
How is that even possible?
The intuitive software,
it's-it's picking up our
biosignatures and placing us
- all in the same room.
- This is layered dimensional space.
CHAPEL: We're not in different rooms.
This is different planes of existence.
We never left the first chamber.
If subatomic instability was being
utilized as a means
to immortality, then
Then maybe this place is a lab
or a-a fountain of youth?
SPOCK: I fear it is not that simple.
Spock found life-forms
trapped inside orbs,
just like the one that injured Gamble.
The tablet called them
parasites. Hitchhikers.
Unwelcome guests.
It is possible phase-shifting
through dimensions
to achieve immortality
had a side effect.
Of bringing something through.
What kind of something?
Somethings from somewhere else.
What if this place
isn't a palace or a lab?
What if it's a prison?
♪
I'm sorry, but we'll have
to look after you from here.
GAMBLE: It's okay. I understand.
What's gonna happen to me?
I wish I could say.
♪
This inscription reads
"Here and not here."
♪
On Praetorian, artifacts were
sometimes set into pedestals like this.
KORBY: Component parts.
Together they might be the key
to unifying the dimensional shift.
SPOCK: The relief there.
- KORBY: The signet ring.
- I still have it.
LA'AN: Okay, but how do we get those
two things to work together
whilst stuck on different
dimensional planes?
Put the tablet where it says tabernacle.
Done.
Uhura, the ring.
UHURA: Okay. What now?
I'm the key to all of this, right?
♪
(WHIRS SOFTLY)
(WHIRRING)
Christine.
(RUMBLING)
SPOCK: Curiouser and curiouser.
Okay, so we're all back together, but
how do we get to the door?
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
How are you?
In case I go off the rails again?
Mm.
M'Benga didn't want to
release you to the quarters
without knowing it was safe, and
I knew I wouldn't need it.
Chris, I don't know
what happened in there.
Something inside of me just snapped.
How's Gamble?
In custody.
He's not quite himself, either.
I remember seeing him, but it
It wasn't him.
He was something else.
And I felt
like something else.
What?
I can't describe it.
I just had this overwhelming
desire to kill
no, to exterminate him.
Well, you're back now.
Has anyone else reacted to him this way?
No.
We have to consider
that it's an expression
of the Gorn DNA in your body.
We don't know all the downsides.
This feeling I had,
I can't explain it,
but it felt old.
Okay.
Whatever it is, we'll figure it out.
- The landing party?
- Still missing.
UNA: Captain, I've got the M'Kroon
Ambassador on standby for you.
Patch it through.
Okay.
So, we got to find a
way to get to the door.
(SLICES)
SPOCK: Of course.
In this reconstituted dimensional space,
inverted causality coexists.
Uh, yeah, you're gonna have
to walk me through that one.
Inverted causality is a dimension
where effects can happen before cause.
It's, uh It's paradoxical.
Yes, and theoretical, but
also scientifically possible.
When Dr. Korby and I were separated,
there was a bridge here.
And that panel by the
door was glowing white.
Well, it's red now.
Yes. So we must have turned it on.
Effect before cause?
So you're saying No, no.
(CHAPEL CHUCKLES)
No.
- What? "No, no" what?
- SPOCK: Yes.
We must walk across this empty space
and turn on the bridge.
GAMBLE: Guard. Guard!
Your mother. She's in pain.
Something's hurting her.
What?
Her name it's Jara.
She wants to tell you
what's hurting her.
Who told you that?
(CHOKES, SPUTTERS)
(JARA'S VOICE): You did.
You let me die alone.
(NECK SNAPS)
(PHASER WHIRRING)
(ALARM BLARING)
Nope, I-I'm not doing that. No way.
Our other option is to
remain here and starve.
A sound tactical argument.
So you lead, I'll follow.
Just don't step on my toes.
I am also willing to take this risk.
However, I believe
that we must, in fact,
commit to doing this all together.
And Nurse Chapel is the key.
KORBY: Don't do it, Christine.
Theoretical doesn't mean you
can just go and walk on air.
SPOCK: Nurse Chapel,
I may no longer have your
confidence on many things,
but this is a matter of science.
And what hangs in the
balance is our survival.
We are on a two-way street.
And now I'm asking
you to simply trust me.
Roger, it's time to go.
No.
Christine, listen to reason.
Yes, it is a risk walking out there,
but in the short time
that I've known you,
you've never been afraid
of taking a chance.
Remember what you said to
me, all those months ago?
BOTH: "Nothing in life is guaranteed."
That's what makes life worth living.
Okay.
Roger, leave the relic where it is.
It's the only thing keeping us together.
♪
Okay.
So this is where you saw it?
Yes.
Okay.
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
Well
let's go.
LA'AN: Let's get out of here.
♪
Hey. We're alive.
Take the win.
Senior officer command codes,
please, or I will kill you.
What? What are you saying?
I have the boy's thoughts, his memories.
You can take control of
this vessel from Engineering.
Lanthanite child.
- Wha
- Perhaps I take him instead?
Hmm?
- Or him?
- (PHASER WHIRRING)
- Hurt them and you die next.
- (SCOFFS)
Oh
you couldn't kill your
favorite ensign now, could you?
(GASPS) Help, please.
Dr. M'Benga, it's me, it's really me.
Don't hurt me.
Fight it. You can fight it.
No, Joseph, I don't think
he's really in there.
(GASPING, SOBBING)
He is.
Let the boy go.
Please.
Take me.
- (PHASER BLASTS)
- No!
(MOANS)
(GROANING, GURGLING)
W-Where did you send it?
Nowhere.
Thanks to Pelia and Lieutenant
Scott's quick thinking,
we should not be seeing the Vezda again.
Are you sure it'll hold?
Until we learn more about this entity,
the transport buffer is
the best proxy we have
for a layered dimensional prison.
What about the rest of them?
Starfleet and the M'Kroon
are already working together
to establish a security
perimeter around the site.
Apparently, they're starting to see
the benefits of the Federation.
You know, if Ensign Gamble, or
rather, the entity inside of him,
had taken hold of the
ship's phaser banks
M'BENGA: He could
have set them all free.
An army of cosmic beings like
that set loose on the galaxy?
I'm sorry, Doctor,
I know you were fond of
the boy, but he was gone.
BETO: Were they evil, Captain?
I saw the recordings of what Gamble did,
and the things he said.
Good and evil are relative terms, son.
Nonsense. There is
evil in this universe,
as sure as there is good.
A-As sure as there is matter,
as sure as there is light.
I know
that being was ancient.
Malevolent.
The desire to malign, to pervert
and consume,
given corporeal form.
If any of those things
ever escape that well down there
God help us all.
You want one for the camera?
No. No, I'm good. Thank you.
Suit yourself.
♪
- (COMMS CHIME)
- UHURA: Dr. M'Benga?
I have the subspace relay to Earth.
Thank you. I've got it from here.
Hello, I'm Dr. Joseph
M'Benga of the USS Enterprise.
I've asked to be the one to call you.
- (CRACKLES)
- It's about your son,
Dana Gamble.