technology.
V'Ger has knowledge
that spans this universe.
And yet...
with all its pure logic...
V'Ger is barren...
cold.
No mystery.
No beauty.
Should have known.
Known?
Known what? Spock.
What should you have known?
What should you have known?
Jim...
this...
simple feeling...
is beyond V'Ger's comprehension.
No meaning, no hope.
Jim...
no answers.
It's asking questions.
''Is this...
all that I am?
Is there nothing more?''
Bridge to Captain.
Kirk here.
A faint signal
from Starfleet, sir.
Intruder cloud has been located
on their outer monitors...
for the past 27 minutes.
Cloud dissipating rapidly
as it approaches.
Starfleet reports forward velocity
has slowed to sub-warp speed.
We are three minutes
from Earth orbit.
I'll be right there.
I need Spock on the bridge.
Dalaphaline, five cc's.
Captain, Starfleet is sending
this tactical on V'Ger's position.
V'Ger is transmitting a signal.
Jim.
From V'Ger.
V'Ger signals the creator.
Spock?
A simple binary code...
transmitted
by carrier wave signal.
Radio.
Radio?
Jim.
V'Ger expects an answer.
An answer?
I don't know the question.
The creator has not responded.
All planetary defense systems
have just gone inoperative.
Sir, Starfleet computes
the devices are proceeding...
toward equidistant positions
orbiting the planet.
They're the same things
that hit us.
They are hundreds of times
more powerful, Captain.
From those positions...
they could devastate
the entire surface of the planet.
Why?
The creator has not answered.
The carbon unit infestation is to be
removed from the creator's planet.
Why?
You infest Enterprise.
You interfere with the creator
in the same manner.
Carbon units
are not an infestation.
They are...
a natural function
of the creator's planet.
They are living things.
They are not true life-forms.
Only the creator and other
similar life-forms are true.
''Similar life-forms.''
Jim, V'Ger is saying
its creator is a machine.
A machine.
Captain.
V'Ger is a child.
I suggest you treat it as such.
- A child?
- Yes, Captain.
A child...
evolving, learning, searching...
instinctively needing.
- Needing what?
- Spock.
This child is about to wipe out
every living thing on Earth.
Now, what do you suggest we do?
Spank it?
It knows only that it needs,
Commander.
But, like so many of us...
it does not know what.
The carbon units know why
the creator has not responded.
Disclose the information.
Not until V'Ger withdraws the
devices orbiting the third planet.
Captain.
I'm losing Starfleet.
Interference from V'Ger.
Kirk unit,
disclose the information.
Why has the creator not responded?
No.
Secure all stations.
Clear the bridge.
Clear the bridge, Captain?
- That was the order, Mr. Sulu.
- Aye, sir.
Your child is having a tantrum,
Mr. Spock.
V'Ger requires the information.
Bridge, secure all stations.
Move out.
Jim, what the hell
kind of strategy is this?
All ship's functions
going to automatic, Captain.
If V'Ger destroys the Enterprise...
the information that V'Ger requires
will also be destroyed.
It is illogical to withhold
required information.
Kirk unit!
Kirk unit.
Why do you not
disclose information?
Because V'Ger's going to destroy all
carbon units on the third planet.
They have repressed the creator.
The information
will not be disclosed.
V'Ger needs the information.
Then V'Ger must withdraw
all the orbiting devices.
V'Ger will comply...
if the carbon units will
disclose the information.
It learns fast, doesn't it?
Captain, the vessel-- V'Ger--
obviously operates from
a central brain complex.
The orbiting devices would be
controlled from that point, then.
Precisely.
The carbon unit's information cannot
be disclosed to V'Ger's probe...
but only to V'Ger directly.
Forward motion, Captain.
Tractor beam.
Captain, what's the next move?
The question is, Mr. Decker...
is there a next move?
Resume duty stations.
All personnel,