being alone.
Where I come from,
people dream of it.
Why ? Why are the people
of Gideon like that ?
Gideon ?
I told you, I don't know where
I come from, what my planet is.
- It might be Gideon.
- Does it matter so much ?
Yes. It might help me
pinpoint our location.
And then you might
find your crew.
Being here with you, I--
I forgot there must be others.
I envy you
your sense of loyalty.
I want to ease
your feeling of dread,
your fear that all your crew
no longer exists.
I've got to contact
whoever is manipulating us.
There must be a way !
Odona--
Odona, can you...
remember why your people
dream of being alone ?
- Because they never can be.
- Why ?
What makes it
so impossible to be alone ?
Because there are
so many of us. So many.
There is no place,
no street, no house,
no garden, no beach,
no mountain that
is not filled with people.
Each one of us would kill...
in order to find a place
alone to himself.
Yet would willingly
die for it,
if they could.
Who sent you here ?
No one commands Odona !
I was not sent here.
You have come to kill ?
Odona, have you come to die ?
I don't know.
I don't care !
I only know I'm here.
I only know I'm happy.
Now, all I have to do
is find a medical kit,
and I can
completely cure this.
- Cure ?
- Yes, the irritation would be gone.
What will happen if
you do not find one ?
Will you become sick and die ?
No. Over something
as simple as this ?
No, I-It'll cure itself
eventually, but--
Do you know, uh--
I don't even remember
how this happened.
[Soft Thrumming]
Do you hear that ?
Yes. It sounds like an engine.
No.
The ship's engines
don't make that kind of sound.
But there is something wrong with
the equipment. Could that be it ?
I know every sound
that this ship might make.
That's coming from outside.
- A storm might--
- A storm might--
But you wouldn't
be able to hear it.
Come on.
This is a viewing port.
We'll be able to see outside.
If there's a storm,
we'll be able to see it.
If it works.
People. The faces of people !
And then the stars.
What's happening ?
What's out there ?
[Thrumming Stops]
The sound is gone.
It was like the heartbeat
of all those people,
and thousands upon thousands
more, pressing against the ship.
But you said we were
moving through space.
Yes, I said that.
Then the people
can't be out there.
Yes, they can.
Please don't frighten me.
It could be a mirage.
They could exist in our minds.
You mean that we're going mad.
Or some power is creating
the illusion in our minds...
that we are somewhere
near your planet.
But why ?
I don't know.
I don't know !
I think I have an idea--
so that we won't keep trying
to find out where we are:
that we'll be content
to stay here !
Oh, be content !
Be content ?
Be content!
Not until I find out
what happened to my crew.
- Are they dead?
- I don't know.
Did you kill them so you could
have the ship to yourself?
Captain.
Captain,
something's happening to me.
I never felt like this before.
I've never felt
like this before either.
Is this the way one looks...
when one is developing a sickness ?
There's no sickness
on your planet, remember ?
Now there will be.
There will be sickness.
There will be death.
[Door Opening]
- Hodin !
- Yes, Captain Kirk.
Our experiment has passed
the first stage.
Let me in there.
I can help her.
- We have no need of your medicines.
- But she's ill !
And we're grateful to you
for her illness.
You have done well, my daughter.
Guard the captain well.
We shall need him
for a long time.
I sympathize deeply,
but Starfleet...
cannot override Federation
directives in this matter.
Admiral, the crew
will not understand it.
Has your crew suddenly become
interested in provoking a war ?
That is not Starfleet's mission.
We wish only to save
the life of the captain.
You have not proved your case
to the Federation,
or to Starfleet, for that matter.
I am positive that I can