Yes.
It's an obsession.
An obsession that can blind you...
to far more immediate
and critical responsibilities.
Your reaction to Decker
is an example, Jim.
- Bridge to Captain.
- Viewer on.
Signal from a Federation registered
long-range shuttle, sir.
She wishes to come alongside
and lock on.
For what purpose?
My security scan shows it has
a grade-one priority, Captain.
Non belligerency confirmed.
I suspect it is a courier
of some kind.
Very well, Mr. Chekov.
See to it.
Viewer off.
Your opinion has been noted.
Anything further?
That depends on you.
Security scan.: one boarder.
Identity: Starfleet, inactive.
- Permission to come aboard, sir.
- Granted, sir.
Granted.
Why-- Why, it's Mister--
Spock!
Spock.
Commander, if I may?
If-- Oh.
I've been monitoring your
communications with Starfleet.
I'm aware of your
engine design difficulties.
I offer my services
as science officer...
with all due respect,
Commander.
- If our exec has no objections.
- Of course not.
I'm well aware of
Mr. Spock's qualifications.
Mr. Chekov, log Mr. Spock's
Starfleet commission reactivated.
List him as science officer.
Both effective immediately.
Mr. Spock.
Well, so help me,
I'm actually pleased to see you.
It's how we all feel, Mr. Spock.
Captain, with your permission...
I will now discuss these
fuel equations with the engineer.
Mr. Spock.
Welcome aboard.
Captain 's Log.:
Stardate 7413.4.
Thanks to Mr. Spock's
timely arrival and assistance...
we have the engines rebalanced
into full warp capacity.
Repair time.:
less than three hours.
Which means we will now be
able to intercept intruder...
while still more than
a day from Earth.
Warp .8.
.9.
Warp 2, sir.
Warp 3.
Warp 4.
Warp 5.
Warp 6.
Warp 7.
Science Officer Spock,
reporting as ordered, Captain.
Please, sit down.
Spock, you haven't changed a bit.
You're just as warm
and sociable as ever.
Nor have you, Doctor...
as your continued predilection
for irrelevancy demonstrates.
Gentlemen.
At last report,
you were on Vulcan...
apparently to stay.
Yes, you were undergoing
the ''Kolanear'' discipline.
Sit down.
If you are referring to the
Kolinahr, Doctor, you are correct.
Well, however it's pronounced,
Mr. Spock, it's the Vulcan ritual...
that's supposed to purge
all remaining emotions.
The Kolinahr is also a discipline
you broke to join us.
Will you, please, sit down?
On Vulcan I began sensing
a consciousness...
from a source more powerful
than I have ever encountered.
Thought patterns of
exactingly perfect order.
I believe they emanate
from the intruder.
I believe it may hold my answers.
Isn't it lucky for you that we just
happened to be heading your way?
Bones!
We need him.
I need him.
Then my presence is
to our mutual advantage.
Any thought patterns
you might sense...
whether they appear to
affect you personally or not...
I expect immediately reported.
Of course, Captain.
- Is there anything else?
- No.
Jim?
If this super intelligence...
is as important to him as
he says it is, how do we know--
That he wouldn't put his own
interests ahead of the ship's?
I could never believe that.
How do we know about any of us?
Bridge to Officers' Lounge.
Captain Kirk.
Revised estimate on
cloud visualcontact.:3. 7minutes.
On my way.
Order new backup settings there.
Present status.
Give us apriority, Commander.
Bridge Communication to Flight Conn.
Check your subspace alignment.
Standard light, Engineer.
- Full mag on viewer.
- Full mag, sir.
Lingua code?
Continuing friendship messages
on all frequencies, sir.
All decks and divisions confirmed.
Status red.
Captain, we are being scanned.
Do not return scan, Mr. Spock.
It could be misinterpreted
as hostility.
Intruder scans emanating from
the exact center of the cloud.
Energy of a type...
never before encountered.
There's no response to
friendship messages, sir.
- Shall I go to battle stations?
- Negative.
We'll