so.
The prime ingredient.
Where did they go?
I believe they were never
actually present, Doctor.
It was a mirage.
Where's Kirk?
Jim.
What are you doing here?
Where's Scotty?
Captain, it was a mirage.
Captain Kirk!
We have decided that one specimen
will be sufficient.
You will come with us.
What about the others?
We've no interest in them.
They may go.
Very well.
You can't go back.
You'll end up like the other two.
Captain, I request permission--
Denied!
But, Captain--
You have your orders.
What happened to my men?
They are safe.
You said one specimen!
What happened to my men?
Indeed, the prime ingredient.
Where are they? Tell me!
You said you'd let them go!
Mr. Sulu,
will you give us an estimate
of when those solar flares
will subside?
Aye, sir.
Readings now indicate
2.721 on the Ritter scale.
At the present rate of decrease,
we'll have to wait
at least 17 hours more
before we can even attempt
to enter orbit.
Aye.
Well, as long as we're stuck out here,
we might as well relax
until the storm passes.
The storm's already lasted four hours
longer than we've anticipated.
Do you suppose our landing party
could be in any danger?
That's not likely.
The planet's atmosphere
will give them ample protection.
And if I know Captain Kirk,
he'll be more worried about us
than we are about him.
Aah!
What is it you want to know?
We seek no information as you mean.
Your civilization
is yet too immature
to have knowledge valuable to us.
You don't need any knowledge from us,
yet you're willing to kill for it.
Is that what happened
to Linke and Ozaba?
We did not kill them.
Their own fears killed them.
Well, what did you expect from them?
And what do you want from me?
We've already observed
the intensity of your passions
and gauged your capacity
to love others.
Now we want you to
reveal to us your courage
and strength of will.
Why?
What is it you hope to prove?
If my death is to have any meaning,
at least tell me what I'm dying for.
If you live, you will have your answer.
Aah!
Uhh!
Come on, Spock,
the passageway was there before.
It's got to be there.
I'm unable to lock in
on the previous readings.
I can find no exit out of here.
Captain!
Jim, what is it?
What have they done to you?
Help him!
Don't be afraid to help him.
Jim.
You lie still.
I'll check her out right away.
Will she live?
She seems fine now.
Can you explain what happened?
Complete empathy.
She must be
a totally functional empath.
Her nervous system
actually connected to yours
to counteract
the worst of your symptoms.
With her strength,
she virtually sustained
your body's physiological reactions.
But she weakened.
I could feel it.
Is her life in danger?
It's impossible to say yet,
but supplying your body
with life support did drain her.
Her withdrawal seemed to suggest
the fear of death, Doctor.
Only your urging her on
caused her to continue.
That's true. Fear would naturally
be her first reaction.
Perhaps she doesn't know
our captain well enough yet
to offer up her life.
Could the strain
really have killed her?
Yes. However, I'd assume that
her instinct for self-preservation
would take over to prevent it.
How do you feel?
I'm...
tired.
Can you recall what happened, Captain?
I remember the laboratory,
and they wanted to know something.
But l... I can't remember.
Take it easy.
What's the matter with me?
You have all the symptoms of the bends.
Nitrogen bubbles in your blood
caused the pain.
Now how would one
get the bends down here?
You'll have to ask the Vians.
Will I live?
Well, you could use some time
in a decompression chamber.
Otherwise, I'd say your recovery
is about miraculous.
I wish I could take the credit,
but she did the work.
Captain, I noted
that a light preceded you
at the moment you were returned here
from the laboratory.
Why do you have to
get so analytical--
He's right. Continue.
I conclude such a light
is an