probe may be our key
to the aliens.
- Probe? Ilia?
- Exactly.
It is a programmed mechanism,
Commander.
Its body duplicates our navigator
in precise detail.
Suppose that,
beneath its programming...
the real Ilia's memory patterns
are duplicated with equal precision.
- They had a pattern to follow.
- Indeed.
They may have followed it
too precisely.
Ilia's memory...
her feelings of loyalty,
obedience, friendship...
might all be there.
You did have a relationship
with Lieutenant Ilia, Commander.
That probe, in another form,
is what killed Ilia.
Commander--
Will, we're locked
in an alien vessel...
six hours from Earth's orbit.
Our only contact with our captor
is that probe.
If we can control it,
persuade it, use it--
I have recorded enough here.
You will now assist me further.
The, uh...
Decker unit can assist you
with much greater efficiency.
Carry on with your assignment,
Mr. Decker.
Aye, sir.
I am concerned with that being our
only source of information, Captain.
Captain's Log:
Stardate 7414. 1.
Our best estimates place us
some four hours from Earth.
No significant progress
thus far...
reviving Ilia memory patterns
within the alien probe.
This remains our only means
of contact with our captor.
All those vessels
were called Enterprise.
The carbon units
use this area for recreation.
This is one of the games.
What types of recreation does
the crew aboard your vessel enjoy?
The words ''recreation''...
and ''enjoy''...
have no meaning
to my programming.
Ilia enjoyed this game.
She nearly always won.
Good. He's using
audiovisual association.
This device serves no purpose.
Why does Enterprise require
the presence of carbon units?
Enterprise would be unable
to function without carbon units.
More data concerning
this functioning is necessary...
before carbon units
can be patterned...
for data storage.
What does that mean?
When my examination is complete...
all carbon units will be
reduced to data patterns.
Within you...
are the memory patterns
of a certain carbon unit.
If I can help you
to revive those patterns...
you could understand
our functions better.
That is logical.
You may proceed.
I remember Lieutenant Ilia
once mentioning she wore that.
Put it on.
On Delta.
Remember?
Ilia.
Dr. Chapel.
Will?
Ilia.
Commander.
Commander.
This is a mechanism.
Ilia...
help us make direct contact
with V'Ger.
I cannot.
This creator V'Ger is looking for--
what is it?
V'Ger does not know.
Computer, commence recording.
Captain Kirk, these messages
will detail my attempt...
to contact the aliens.
I intend to calculate thruster
ignition and acceleration rate...
to coincide with the opening
of the V'Ger orifice.
This should facilitate
a better view...
of the interior
of the alien spacecraft.
Captain, Starfleet signals
are growing in strength, sir.
They still have the intruder
on their monitors.
- It's decelerating.
- Confirmed, sir.
Lunar beacons indicate intruder
on a course into Earth orbit.
Sir, air lock 4
has been opened.
A thruster suit
is reported missing.
A thruster suit?
That's Spock.
Damn him.
Bring him back here.
No, wait.
- Get a fix on his position.
- Aye, sir.
I have successfully penetrated...
the next chamber
of the alien's interior...
and I'm witnessing
some sort of dimensional image...
which I believe to be
a representation...
of V'Ger's home planet.
I'm passing through
a connecting tunnel.
Apparently, a kind of
plasma-energy conduit.
Possibly a field coil for
a gigantic imaging system.
Curious.
I'm seeing images
of planets, moons, stars...
whole galaxies
all stored here, recorded.
It could be a representation
of V'Ger's entire journey.
But who or what...
are we dealing with?
The Epsilon 9 station,
stored here with every detail.
Captain, I am now
quite convinced...
that all of this is V'Ger...
that we are inside
a living machine.
Ilia.
The sensor...
must contain
some special