The USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, travels at warp speed to a nearby
planet. On the Bridge, Captain Kirk says an Earth-style distress signal and recognizes it as
SOS. The communications officer reports that all attempts at responding to the distress call has
failed and he's tried all frequencies. From his station, Spock reports that the source of the
transmission is not from a vessel, but rather a ground source. The communications officer
informs them that the planet is directly ahead and still no response. Kirk tells Spock that
they're hundreds of light years from Earth. Spock reports that the signal is coming from the
third planet in this solar system.
As the Enterprise moves closer and closer to the
planet, Dr. McCoy enters the Bridge and joins the crew. As McCoy joins the crew, Spock reports
that he has the measurements for the planet now. Reading from his scanner, Spock reports the
following measurements. The planet has a circumference of twenty-four thousand, eight-hundred
seventy-four miles; Mass: six times ten to the twenty-first power tons; Mean Density: five point
five one seven and atmosphere. Spock pauses, and finishes, oxygen-nitrogen.
When Spock announces the atmosphere of the planet,
Yeoman Janice Rand tells everyone that it is the Earth. Kirk says that it isn't the Earth, but
another Earth. Curious, he asks the crew if it's possible for another Earth, as Kirk and McCoy
react to the news. On the viewscreen, a planet similar to the Earth can be seen.
------
As the Enterprise orbits the Earth-like planet, the Captain's Log
informs us that in the distant reaches of their galaxy, they have made an astonishing discovery.
An Earth-type radio signals coming from a planet which apparently is an exact duplicate of
Earth. It seems impossible, but there it is.
On the Bridge, the crew watch with awe as they see
an exact duplicate of the Earth on their viewscreen. Kirk orders Spock to put them in a high
orbit of the planet. After Spock obeys, Kirk asks communications if there's still no response to
the distress call. Communications confirms. Kirk soon tells them that they'll beam down to
investigate and for communications to alert security. He orders communications to inform the
Transporter Room to beam down a landing party. He tells his crew that they'll beam down to the
vicinity of the distress call that they are receiving. Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Yeoman Rand head
for the Turbolift.
On the planet, the away-team consisting of Kirk,
Spock, McCoy, Rand and two security guards beam down. After beaming down, the crew begins to
look around at the exact duplicate of their own planet. Kirk sends the two guards to explore the
planet further. As the guards begin exploring, Kirk tells the crew that this is a remarkable
duplicate of their own planet. He estimates that they are witnessing their own planet in the
early nineteen-hundreds. Spock accurately puts the timeframe to around the nineteen-sixties.
Yeoman Rand wonders where everyone is. Spock replies that evidence would suggest that natural
deterioration has been taking place for several centuries. Rand wonders if Spock means that
there is no one alive. Spock says that this is inconclusive. This would indicate that the
distress call was automated. As Kirk pushes ahead, McCoy tells the two that this is a remarkable
conglomeration of antique artefacts that he's seen.
As one of the security guard continue to explore
the planet, he doesn't realize that someone is watching him from behind, inside a building. As
Kirk and his team continue to explore the planet, they come across a mound with a broken bicycle
on it. Kirk picks up the bicycle and tests it. He orders Spock to come and explore the bicycle
with him, which Spock does. After Spock looks at it, he puts it down, disliking the antiquity of
the bicycle. As the three move on ahead, Dr. McCoy goes to the bike to examine it. After McCoy
puts down the bike, there is a sudden sound from the corner, as a scraggy creature comes
screaming toward them.
Kirk, Spock and Rand react to the noise, as they
see the creature approach McCoy, yelling "Mine!" As the creature knocks down McCoy, Kirk and the
others come to McCoy's aid. Kirk punches the creature to pry him off McCoy. After Kirk knocks
him down, the creature begins cradling the bicycle and says that it's broken. Somebody has
broken it. McCoy says that somebody will fix it. Spock reports the creature is obviously
humanoid, despite the distortion. Suddenly, the creature starts shaking uncontrollably. When
Kirk asks the doctor what's happening, the doctor says that it's a seizure of some kind. As Kirk
tries helplessly to calm him down, he tries to reassure the creature that they want to help. The
creature yells out, "Liar," and continues to have a seizure. Suddenly, the creature stops moving
and Dr. McCoy checks on him. McCoy reports that he's dead.
Dr. McCoy starts scanning the dead creature and
says that it's incredible. When Kirk asks what is, McCoy answers that his metabollic rate is
unusually high. He says that this individual has aged almost a century in a short period of
time. Suddenly, the group hears a sound in the distance, as Kirk urges them on. Soon, Kirk and
the others give chase to the noise in the distance, however, they lose track of it at the other
end. As they look around, they hear the noise in one of the buildings, as they give chase.
When they enter the building, there doesn't seem to
be anyone there, as the guards check different sections of the building. Kirk and Spock goes up
to an antique piano and asks Spock, how old is this thing. Spock answers that it is
three-hundred years old. Soon, they hear the noise again, this time coming from one of the rooms
in the building. Kirk, Spock and the others take guard outside the door, as Kirk tell the
intruder to come out, as they won't hurt them. Inside the door, a frightened girl's voice can be
heard. When the girl doesn't respond to Kirk, Kirk opens the door. When Kirk opens the door, a
frightened young girl tells them not to hurt her, as she didn't do anything. Kirk says that they
aren't going to hurt her and leads the frightened girl out.
As Kirk leads the girl out, the girl continues to
tell them not to hurt her. As Yeoman Rand tries to calm her down, Captain Kirk orders Spock to
take the guards outside to scan for signs of radiation, chemical pollutions and any other signs
of life. As Spock leads the guards outside, McCoy wonders what happened here that would frighten
the girl of them. After Spock and the guards head outside, Spock orders the two guards to take a
look in the far direction. Spock begin taking readings on his tricorder, and when he does, the
tricorder alerts him to the building in front of him. Inside the building, a hand wipes away the
dirt covered window, as Spock peers inside curiously.
Back in the building with Kirk, McCoy, Rand and the
little girl, they listen as the girl recounts the tale of how she remember the grups hurting,
yelling and burning. Kirk says that they didn't do anything like that. The girl asks them if
they're not going to hurt. Kirk says of course not, they are only here to help. The girl says
that grups don't help. Yeoman Rand reassures the girl and says that they will. Kirk asks the
girl what happened here and where is everyone. The girl says that they've got a foolie here, is
that it. She then goes on to say that she doesn't know how to play. She's got to know the rules.
McCoy wonders what a foolie is and the girl says that it is a game, and adds that they can't
play a game without rules and that grups ought to know that. Kirk wonders what are grups and the
girl says that they are, when the onlies grow old. Yeoman Rand figures this out and says
grown-ups.
Kirk soon asks the girl that she said the grups
starting yelling, hurting and burning, and wonders if that is the reason why there aren't any of
them around. The girl agrees, saying that they started getting sick in the before time. McCoy
asks the girl that she said that the grups got sick and wonders why there aren't any around. The
girl answers yes, and says that they hid in the closets and then they were all gone. McCoy soon
guesses that it could have been the plague and that would explain a lot. Kirk then wonders if
the awful things didn't affect them. When the girl says that they're here, Kirk wonders if there
are more of them and where they are. The girl eludes the answer and says that they're
everywhere. She soon wonders if she's doing all right and Kirk says that she's doing fine.
Kirk soon excuses both Rand and McCoy, and when the
two move off, Kirk has a one-on-one personal chat with the girl. Kirk soon asks the girl what
her name is. When the girl answers that her name is Miri, Kirk tells her that it's a pretty name
for a pretty girl. The girl asks him, pretty and Kirk concurs, as he says pretty girl. The two
soon begin making a connection.
Meanwhile, outside, Spock and the two guards
continue to explore Miri's homeworld, as they look for other signs of life. Spock leads the
guards down an alleyway and orders them to continue searching. After Spock passes a stairwell, a
noise from above startles Spock as he calls for the guards. When the guards comes to assist
Spock, Spock orders the guards to cover him. Spock starts climbing the staircase from where the
noise came from. As soon as Spock starts climbing, the noise returns but from another direction.
Spock jumps down from the stairs. As Spock and the guards start moving, someone from above start
throwing rocks. Spock and the guards take cover, as the children start chanting, "nyah, nyah,
nyah." Spock and the guards look up curiously.
Spock returns to the building that contains Kirk,
Miri and the others. Spock reports to the captain that there were children, lots of them. Spock
then says that when they tried to get close to them, they seem to scurry away, like frightened
animals. He says that they are all children. Kirk tells Spock that Miri said that all the
parents died of a disease. McCoy tells them that the creature that attacked them was certainly
no child, and suggests that it died of the disease that Miri is talking about. Kirk soon guesses
that there must be a record somewhere of what happened here that could explain a lot.
Kirk goes to Miri and asks her if she could take
them to where the doctors and nurses worked. Miri says that's the place where they worked with
them pills and things. Kirk wonders if Miri can take them there. Miri tells Kirk that that's a
bad place. When Kirk says that it's important, Miri acquiesces. Kirk takes Miri's hand and helps
her out of her seat. As Miri gets up, she wonders if Kirk has a name too. When Kirk says that
his name is Jim, Miri says that she likes that name too. Kirk reminds Miri that he likes her
name too, and that he likes her too. When Kirk goes to touch Miri's face, Miri notices a blue
spot on Kirk's hand as the disease that ravaged her people. She reacts with fright as she says
that she knew that the disease would be contracted by the other grown-ups. Spock, McCoy and Rand
reacts as they see the disease too. Miri tells them that the virus will attach to them when
they're young and spread fast. Kirk reacts to the blue spot on his hand, as Miri continues to
cry...
------
As the Enterprise continues to orbit Miri's planet, the Captain's
Log explains that the building that Miri led them to also housed an automated transmission
device, which sent out the distress signal that drew them here. He also adds that the blue
spots, which is characteristic of the unknown disease, have appeared on each of them, with the
exception of Mr. Spock. Kirk also reports that the building also housed a well equipped
laboratory. He says that Dr. McCoy took tissue samples of each person affected to isolate the
organism responsible for the disease.
In the building that Kirk's log mentions, Kirk,
Spock, McCoy and Rand are going through the records to determine what happened here on the
planet. The unaffected Miri wanders around the room. Dr. McCoy looks into an ancient microscope
and informs the landing party that they are dealing with a veritable zoo of bacteria. Dr. McCoy
soon contacts the Enterprise and informs them to beam down a portable biocomputer and an
electronic microscope. If he's going to be dealing with a disease, he needs to work with better
equipment than the ones down here, in conjunction with the ship's computer.
The lieutenant at communications, acknowledges. He
soon contacts Captain Kirk and informs him that they have volunteers to beam down to assist them
if necessary. Kirk replies to the lieutenant and orders him that under no circumstances are
anyone permitted to beam down to the planet, they can't risk further contamination. The
lieutenant becomes worried and asks what happens should they become too sick. Kirk says that his
orders still stand and orders the lieutenant to clear the computer banks to help them down here
and to stand-by, and ends communications. Kirk, with a folder in hand, goes up to McCoy who is
studying an ancient microscope and asks the doctor, why hasn't the disease affected Mr. Spock.
McCoy explains that whatever this disease is, it has no liking for the green blood that is
inside Mr. Spock. Spock ignores the doctor's insults and simply states that human blood
obviously has its disadvantages.
Spock soon goes to Dr. McCoy and tells him that
he's got another museum piece. Spock starts to describe the archaic devise, saying that it is a
lens type, manually operated and light activated. McCoy tells Spock to spare him the analysis,
it's just good to him that it works for him. As Spock moves away and McCoy goes back to the
microscope, he notices that the blue spots have spread on his hand. Miri, who has been with the
doctor, tells him that it spreads real fast and covers them like anything. Miri leaves, leaving
the doctor pondering. Kirk soon finds the answers to their problem, as he reads from a file:
Intermediate Experimentation Report Project on Life Prolongation. Spock soon reads another file:
Progress Reports, Genetics Section, Life Prolongation Project. Yeoman Rand and Dr. McCoy join
Kirk and Spock, as the yeoman claims that's what it was. McCoy repeats the project gone wrong
and adds that they didn't have much luck did they.
As the Enterprise continues to orbit the planet,
the Captain's Log reports that Dr. McCoy's biocomputer and a portable electronic microscope have
been beamed down to the planet. He adds that they will be used in conjunction with the ship's
computer banks.
Back on the planet, McCoy contacts the ship and
describes the disease to them. He says that it's tubular, with extreme multiplicity and an
affinity for nucleic acids. He tells them to give them what they have. Kirk and Spock,
meanwhile, discuss the predicament of the planet. Spock tells Kirk that this happened at least
three-hundred years ago. Kirk reminds Spock that all the adults on the planet died, only the
children left alive. Spock reminds Kirk that children become adults. Kirk says that they have,
up until now. With this in mind, Spock goes to Dr. McCoy working on the microscope and asks him
a question. Spock asks the doctor if there are certain glandular changes when a child enters
puberty. McCoy says of course there are and that Spock should've known that. He also adds that
there are changes to the entire body.
Spock soon hypothesizes that the reason why there
are no adults on this planet is because the children die when they enter puberty. Kirk says that
that could explain why there are no adults on this planet. McCoy repeats that it's glandular,
post-pubescent and could very well be what they're after. Spock says that it's illogical and
does not follow. He says that all the children on this planet die when they enter puberty. He
adds that there are children on the streets, running around like animals. McCoy wonders how do
they keep the line going. Before Spock answers, Yeoman Rand interrupts and asks them a question.
If Miri has been a little girl and a wild animal, how do they explain the reason that she wants
to stay with them. Kirk answers for the yeoman and says that it could be out of loneliness,
curiosity, her instinctive need to be told right from wrong. Spock says that there could be
other factors at work here. McCoy says that she likes the captain. Spock adds that Miri is
becoming a woman. They look at Miri, as she starts reading a book.
Later, Spock receives a call from the
communications officer, who tells him that he has the figures he asked for. As Spock receives
the figures, he enters it into Dr. McCoy's biocomputer. The communications officer gives the
following figures to Mr. Spock: twelfth to the tenth power; metabollic rate, seventy-two
percent; production of nucleic acid reduced to thirty-three percent normal and conventional
chronological progress, one-hundred by three point six. After Spock receives the last figure, he
closes his communicator and tells the captain that he has the final figures. Kirk is with the
two security guards going through the records, when he gets Spock's attention. Kirk orders the
guards to check outside again to see any sign of the other children. When he goes to the others,
he tells Miri to clean up the desk.
When Kirk arrives, McCoy, Rand and Spock gather
together to hear Spock's results from his calculations. Spock tells them that his calculations
reveal that what the scientists here were trying to achieve was to reduce their aging progress
by an average of one month per one hundred years of real time. An astounded Yeoman Rand repeats
Spock's claims and Spock once again, concurs. Spock further explains that through some
miscalculation, this virus annihilated the entire adult population, leaving only the children.
Yeoman Rand says that if Mr. Spock is right then these children, could very well be immensely
old, Spock finishes. Kirk says that that would explain why there are no adults on this planet.
McCoy says that it answers it too well.
Yeoman Rand chimes in and says that imagine that,
no adults, eternal childhood, no responsibility, only eternal play. She says that it almost
sounds like a dream. Kirk cautions the yeoman to consider that dream carefully, as it might not
turn out to be pretty. McCoy says that a few days, they could've been the creature that attacked
them. He adds that a child entering puberty, is a death sentence for them. Rand wonders if Miri
knows, but Kirk thinks that she doesn't. Rand says that if Spock claims they are as old as he
says they are, Kirk interrupts saying that they may be immensely old, however, they are still
children and that there are no adult interpretation for it. Kirk says that he's got to do
something about the others. Spock says that it's difficult, he couldn't even get a glimspe of
them. They know the area all too well, like mice.
Kirk tells Spock that he's going to try. Kirk soon
calls out to Miri, who is cleaning up a desk in the far corner. When Miri replies and comes to
Kirk, Kirk asks her if she would like to go somewhere with him. Miri enthusiastically answers
yes, and soon, Kirk leads her out of the building. As Kirk and Miri leave the building, Yeoman
Rand turns to Spock and says to him, "That little girl..." Spock finishes her thought and tells
the yeoman that Miri is at least three-hundred years older than she is. He tells her to think
about it.
In another building, two children watch the
streets, one wearing a mask. One of the children go up to a leader named Jahn, with scraggy hair
and tattered clothes, and where the other children are gathered. Jahn says that Miri is with
them and wonders why. The other child seen earlier asks him why, and what is she going to do.
Jahn says that he doesn't know, but they do know what they gotta do. Soon, Jahn says that there
could be more of them somewhere, up in the sky maybe, as they talk to each other all the time.
Jahn tells them that they know the grups. The hurting, yelling, killing. The other child says
that he remembers. Jahn says that's right, the way it was in the before time. He soon deduces
that they speak to each other all the time, with those little boxes. Now, if they didn't have
those little boxes, they'd be all alone.
Jahn's friend says that they don't see them, as
they hide. He then starts running around the room, yelling and soon, the other children join in
the yelling. Jahn interrupts his friend and tells him that it's real, and not a game. He tells
them, don't they understand. They're grups and that they're dangerous. Soon, the other boy by
the window yells out to Jahn, as he sees Kirk and Miri in the streets. Outside, Miri doesn't
seem to be co-operative with Kirk, and soon Kirk sees the children's shop in the distance and
points at it. The other boy asks Jahn what they should do. Jahn says that they should hide and
they all hide, as Kirk and Miri head for their store.
When Kirk and Miri enter the building with the
children hiding, they don't see anyone. When they advance further, they hear a sound. When Kirk
turns around, he sees a girl with the symptoms as they have. Miri screams and soon the children
come out from their hiding and run around them. After the children clears the room, the diseased
girl jumps behind Kirk and grabs onto him. Kirk desperately tries to shake off the girl and when
he does, the girl is still hysterical. Kirk soon fires his phaser at the girl, killing her
instantly. Kirk does not understand why the girl is dead, as his phaser was set to stun only. A
frightened Miri tells Kirk that the girl's name was Louise and was no older than she was. She
begins crying and then hugs Kirk.
Back in the laboratory, Miri is sharpening some
pencils, while Spock is on the communicator. The lieutenant on the ship tells Spock that data
has been fed into the ship's computer and tells him to stand-by. Spock acknowledges and closes
the communicator. Miri soon asks Kirk if the pencils she sharpened are enough. Kirk tells her
that they could do with some more, if she doesn't mind. As Miri continues sharpening, Kirk goes
to Spock with a note from one of the records and asks him if there could be any doubt about his
findings. Spock says that he presumes his calculations are correct. There's no doubt about what
he found and the notes date back to when the disaster began. He also says that he disregards the
person's notes, as the person wrote himself that he wasn't sure if he wasn't already mad and
afflicted with the disease, and Spock agrees with him. Based on these notes, he knows how much
time they have left. The ship's computers will verify his assumptions.
Dr. McCoy joins in the conversation and says that
it's only a matter of time before they all go mad, until there's nobody around but to destroy
themselves. Kirk looks at the disease on his hand with distress. After looking at his hand, Kirk
asks Spock, what about Miri. Spock answers that their guess was correct. The children on this
planet contract the disease as they enter puberty and when their metabolism change. Spock adds
that the disease remains acute in children before becoming active. He estimates that they have
approximately five to six weeks left until they show signs of the disease. McCoy asks Spock what
about them. Spock answers that the older the victim, the disease becomes more rapid.
Kirk soon tells Spock that the disease doesn't seem
to be interested in him. Spock differs and says that he is a carrier, however, and he cannot go
back to the ship, for fear of infection. Spock adds that he does want to go back to the ship.
Kirk is sympathetic to Spock and replies with, "of course, Mr. Spock." Kirk soon says that they
don't know what they're fighting. McCoy says no, but he knows what it is and how fast it does
it. He also informs them of what to expect. High fever, pain in the extremities, fuzziness of
vision. McCoy adds that those are the early symptoms, but there will be more. As Kirk takes all
this in, he wonders if Spock is sure about how much time they have left and if he isn't
mistaken.
Before Spock can answer, his communicator beeps and
the lieutenant contacts the landing party. When Spock answers it, the lieutenant confirms his
findings and tells him that they have at least one hundred and seventy hours left. After Spock
acknowledges and closes the communicator, he tells his ship-mates that they have seven days
left. The stunned crew react...
------
The Captain's Log indicate it is the second day to the seven days
given to them. He says that they've found nothing. The Enterprise is standing by with its lab,
computers, ready to assist them. However, there is no data, no starting point...
In the lab, Dr. McCoy tells the captain that he's
found something. Kirk orders Rand to take Miri outside and the yeoman acquiesces. As Rand takes
Miri outside, Kirk goes to McCoy and asks him that if he's found something. McCoy tells the
captain that these notes that he found contain their answers, which is still intact, however,
with some missing pages. Kirk asks what McCoy's found. McCoy says that the scientists on this
planet were creating a series of diseases, that could cause a chain reaction and create a super
disease to prolong their life. Spock soon says that they weren't obviously successful, as they
have seen the results. Kirk soon gets an idea and tells the pair, that they have to recreate the
scientists's thinking. If they can isolate the virus responsible for the disease, they can
create an antidote. McCoy wonders if that is all, as they only have seven days left. Kirk
agrees.
Suddenly, the children starts chanting, and soon,
Kirk, Spock and McCoy rush out to find the children, leaving the room unguarded. As Kirk, Spock
and McCoy goes in search of the children, Jahn, the child we saw earlier, enters the laboratory
via a duct. Jahn soon sees the little black boxes lying on the tables and grabs them, and puts
them in his pocket, while carrying the others. Jahn soon heads back toward the duct where his
friends are. Outside, Kirk and the others reconvene outside the lab. Kirk asks the others if
they found anything and both of them answer no.
As Jahn heads back out, he accidentally makes a
noise, alerting Kirk and the others. As Kirk and the others rush in, they are too late as Jahn
has already left. Spock soon looks around and notices the missing communicators, and notifies
the captain. McCoy tells the captain that they've absolutely got to have those communicators
back. Without those communicators, they've got no computers. Without the computers, they've got
no chance at all. Kirk reacts to McCoy's statement.
Later, the Captain's Log reports that they have
three days, seven hours left to them. The log indicates that the investigation of the planet has
found that the food supply is running dangerously low. Unless something is done, the children
will starve within a month. In addition, the disease is working on each of the crew, according
to Dr. McCoy's prediction. Their tempers are growing short and they are no further along than
when they were two days ago...
Back in the laboratory, Captain Kirk paces back and
forth, clearly affected by the disease. Spock watches on without any emotion. Kirk goes to
McCoy, who is on the computer, and asks him if he's found anything yet. McCoy, affected by the
disease, angrily tells the captain if he would like to take a crack at it, and walks off. After
his confrontation with McCoy, Kirk goes to Miri, who has been witnessing their confrontation, to
comfort her. After comforting Miri, Kirk then bumps into Yeoman Rand, who is holding two
beakers. When Kirk makes Rand drop the beakers, Rand cries and bolts for the door. Kirk goes
after Yeoman Rand, who continues to sob.
Kirk goes to Yeoman Rand, who is outside crying and
tries to comfort her. Yeoman Rand sobbingly tells Captain Kirk that back on the ship, she used
to try and get him to look at her legs. She tells him to look at her legs now, as she uncovers
her legs to reveal the blue splotches. Miri watches the exchange between Kirk and Rand from the
doorway and starts becoming jealous. Kirk then proceeds to hug Rand and tells her that they're
all frightened by this disease. As Kirk continues to hug Rand, Miri gets jealous and leaves the
laboratory. As Kirk continues to hug Rand, McCoy yells out for the captain inside the lab.
When Kirk comes back in with Yeoman Rand, McCoy
tells the captain that he's found something. Due to the disease affecting his reaction time,
Kirk interrupts and tells him never mind that, and urges him to get on with it. McCoy says the
last slide revealed that they have a chance, a small chance, but now it's a question of time.
Time which they wasted discussing it. Yeoman Rand asks the doctor if there's a chance and McCoy
says yes. Kirk soon hugs Rand again and Miri sees this through the doorway, she gets jealous and
walks away.
In the toy shop, Jahn tells a returned Miri, that
she had them made a foolie of them and wonders if it'll work. Miri tells Jahn that she knows,
she knows. She tells them that she's heard the grups talk and wonders if they don't realize that
she knows what they're planning, this dumb thing of theirs. If they can get this one person of
theirs away, this yeoman, they'll have one less person to worry about. Soon, the boy with the
mask seen earlier asks Miri how she's going to get her away, if they have this big emergency.
Miri says that it's easy. She tells them that the yeoman keeps asking her about the other
onlies, the young ones. She always asks her where they live, what they eat and what do they do
when they get sick. Miri says that she'll simply tell her that one of them got hurt and fell
down the stairs. Jahn's friend, seen before, tells her to say it was him and Miri agrees.
Jahn reminds Miri that these are grups and that
they know what's going on. He says that they could probably do this task with one person less.
Miri says not one, but two and says that he'll come for Yeoman Rand. Jahn's friend wonders who,
who will come for Yeoman Rand. Miri answers the captain, Mr. Lovey Dovey. Jahn's friend soon
says, "Mr. Lovey Dovey. Bonk, bonk on the head." He soon smashes the hammer he's holding onto
the ground. Soon, the other children join in Jahn's friends chanting, as Jahn and Miri look on
with glee.
------
Back in the laboratory, Spock is holding up a vial of fluid. McCoy
tells Spock that it looks right. Spock says that it has to be, as the nitrogen cycle seems
right. McCoy then wonders what the correct dosage is for the vaccine. Spock agrees and says that
is a very good question. Next to them, Kirk is drilling Miri on the location of Yeoman Janice
Rand. Kirk asks Miri where Janice is, and if something has happened to her. When Miri says that
she doesn't know and how should she know, Kirk grips his nose, clearly the disease is affecting
him. Miri asks Kirk if he's feeling all right and Kirk says no, none of them is feeling all
right and wonders if Miri can't see that. Kirk asks Miri again, but all Miri can say is that she
doesn't want anything to happen to him.
When Kirk doesn't get any answers from Miri, he
goes to Spock and McCoy, and tells them that he's got to find Janice. Spock says that that's not
all. They've also got to have those communicators. Kirk tells Spock that they're trying and if
he can't see that. McCoy shouts back at him, saying that that's not good enough. He shows Kirk
the vaccine and says that this could be it. Kirk asks Spock if that is the vaccine. McCoy says
that's what the computers will tell them. Spock explains that without the computers to tell them
what the dosage is, it could be a beaker full of death.
Kirk goes back to Miri and asks her if she heard
them. Kirk adds that they're running out of time. Miri is unrepentant and says that she doesn't
care. Kirk says that she's got to care. Kirk tries a different tact with Miri. Kirk tells Miri
he's going to tell her something. He tells Miri that everyone on the planet, the onlies and the
grups will die of the same disease if she doesn't help him. Miri says that that's not true. It
just happens sometimes. Kirk shouts that it happens all the time. He tells her why she doesn't
look at her friends the way she used to, and why she doesn't like playing games anymore. It is
because she is becoming a young woman. When she becomes a young woman, she starts to get the
disease. Miri says that's not true and it doesn't happen all the time. Kirk vehemently tries to
get Miri to listen and says that they'll get it all the time. Kirk says that she'll become like
the creatures that they're afraid of, like Louise. Kirk says that it's starting to happen to
her, as he forces her to look at her arm. Miri screams, as she sees the blue splotches on her
arm. Kirk hugs her to comfort her.
Meanwhile, in another part of the planet, the
children are gathered together in a school-like environment. At the teacher's desk, Jahn's
friend seen earlier is seated, as Jahn stands around and a young blonde girl sits nearby. Jahn's
friend, at the teacher's desk, says blah, blah, blah. Jahn tells his friend that he's got the
game all wrong. He says that he's the teacher, and what do the teacher always say. The friend
says yeah, and suddenly says study, study, study, or bonk, bonk, bad student, striking the
hammer. The children all yell and clap, as Jahn heads towards a tied up Yeoman Janice Rand.
Janice tells Jahn that that's not funny. Jahn laughs it off and says that it's a foolie, a game.
Janice wonders what they're going to do to her, and Jahn ignores her and says if she thinks they
would tell her, she's mistaken.
Suddenly, the door to the school opens and when it
does, Jahn can see that Miri is standing in the doorway. Jahn asks Miri what she's doing here,
as she's not supposed to be here. Jahn asks Miri if something went wrong and Miri shakes her
head no. Jahn then tells her not to stand there in the doorway and tells her to come in. Soon,
the door opens fully and Captain Kirk walks in, causing a reaction from Janice. Miri tells Jahn
to listen to her. Jahn tells Miri to listen to him. Miri says that she did and asks him why does
he think she brought him here. Miri tells Jim to tell them, and at the insistence of Jahn, the
children start chanting, "Tell them, Jim, tell them, Jim." Captain Kirk soon moves into the
classroom and looks around the room sternly, while the children chants away.
Soon, Kirk shouts out, "Listen to me!" Jahn says
that Kirk is yelling in the classroom, a very bad citizen. Kirk tells them that this isn't a
game and that there never was a game. The young blonde girl calls out, "call the police," as
Jahn's friend says that he is the police, bonk, bonk, bad person and strikes the hammer. Jahn
thought that his friend was a teacher, but his friend says that he's got two jobs and continues
the bonk, bonk and strikes the hammer. The children soon start yelling, "blah, blah, blah!" Kirk
continues to tell the children to listen to him. He says that they've got their communicators,
the boxes they talk into to communicate with their ship. He says that they need them to talk to
their ship. The children continue to taunt the captain as they chant, "blah, blah, blah!"
Kirk says that this is no blah, blah, blah and says
that if they don't have their communicators back, they won't be able to help them. He continues
that if they don't help them, there won't be nobody left on this planet. No grups, no onlies,
forever and ever. Soon, Jahn signals a friend, to which his friend signals another friend.
Janice sees this and warns the captain. The captain turns around to see a young boy, carrying a
weapon, head toward him. When he sees this, he grabs the boy and turns him around, without
harming him. Kirk continues to beg the children to give him back the communicators and for them
to help them. He urges them to let Janice go. Jahn continues to ignore the captain's plea, as he
steps down from the desk he was standing on. He soon starts chanting a different tune, "nyah,
nyah, nyah!" The other children join in.
Kirk continues to plead his case and says to them
if they have seen one of their friends not change. Change into the creatures they're afraid of.
The children starts getting closer and closer to the captain, as they continue their chant. Kirk
tells them that they'll turn into one of the creatures, one by one, like Louise. Like the
creatures that they're afraid of. One of the children actually manages to spit at the captain.
Jahn's friend says bonk, bonk, kill him and strikes the hammer. Soon, the children start
attacking the captain with whatever they hold in their hands. Miri sees her friends attacking
the captain and cries out for help. But the captain manages to break out of the attack, goes to
Jahn and tells him that the disease is waiting for him. He's got maybe months left before it
attacks. Miri tells Jahn that he's telling the truth.
Jahn says that Kirk thinks he's funny, as his
friend says, bonk, bonk, kill him. Kirk tells them to look at his arms, as he rips open his
sleeves and shows them the blue blemishes. But this doesn't get through to Jahn, as he tells his
group that he's a grup, they should kill him. Soon, a young girl clings to the captain and as he
picks her up, he tells them what's going to happen to them once they're gone. Once they turn
into creatures like Louise. They'll still be here, but not for long, because the foods all gone.
They've eaten all the food. They'll only have months to live. Miri begs Jahn to listen to him
and shows him her arm and the disease. She says that it's happening to her. Jahn's friend
ignores her and continues to say, bonk, bonk, kill him, striking the hammer. The other's join in
and continue the chant.
Kirk interrupts them and asks them if they want a
foolie. He'll give them one. As he goes up to Jahn's friend who is standing on the teacher's
desk, he says he dares them and double dares them. He soon drags Jahn's friend to the ground and
grabs his hand. He tells them to look at the blood on his face and then look at the blood on
Jahn's friends hand. He says that it's not the grups who doing the hurting, killing anymore, but
it is them. As they are slowly turning into the creatures they dislike. Kirk begs them to let
him help them, before it's too late. He says that he's a grup and that he wants to help them and
begs, as the children begin to start considering.
Back in the laboratory, McCoy tells Spock that they
can't wait for those communicators any longer. Spock says that they must, as the vaccine could
be fatal. McCoy angrily reminds Spock that the disease certainly is fatal. He wonders how long
they have, hours, minutes and wonders how long Spock is willing to wait. Spock says that this
bickering is pointless and tells McCoy that he'll check on the captain's progress. As Spock
heads out, McCoy sees the vaccine left on the table. After hesitating a bit, McCoy picks up the
hypospray and then injects himself with it. After a while, the vaccine has an effect on McCoy,
as he reacts violently to the vaccine. As McCoy doubles over, he shouts Spock's name, before
collapsing.
Spock and the security guard rushes in, to find
McCoy unconscious. Spock grabs the hypospray and takes out the vial of vaccine and hands it to
the security guard. The security guard asks Mr. Spock if Dr. McCoy is dead. Spock answers him,
not yet, as he checks his vitals. Soon, Captain Kirk, Yeoman Rand, Miri and the other children
come rushing in to the laboratory. Kirk has gotten back his communicator and as he communicates
with the lieutenant aboard the ship, he says that they have three hours and eleven minutes left.
He orders the lieutenant to keep this channel clear and clear the computers. He soon reacts to
McCoy on the floor and goes to Spock and the security guard. Kirk asks Spock what happened, and
Spock explains that McCoy injected himself with the vaccine and they found him unconscious.
As they look at McCoy, Kirk notices the reaction to
McCoy's face. Spock looks at his face and says that the blemishes on this face are beginning to
fade. Soon, the blue blemishes continue to fade, until it no longer registers on his face. Kirk
is relieved as he stands and heads toward the children. Spock says that he will never understand
the medical mind. Kirk smiles at Miri and pats the head of one of the children. As Kirk wanders
off, Jahn asks Miri if this is supposed to be a good thing and Miri confirms that it is.
The Enterprise leaves orbit of Miri's planet. On
the Bridge, the fully recovered crew reminisce about their latest adventure. Yeoman Janice Rand
tells the captain that simply to leave the children there with only the medical staff, seems
wrong. Kirk reminds the yeoman that they may be children, but three-hundred years old. Kirk
tells them that he's contacted space central to send the planet teachers and advisers, and
truant officers, McCoy adds. Kirk says that they'll be fine. Soon, Yeoman Rand tells Kirk that
Miri really loved him. As Kirk acknowledges, he reminds her that he never gets involved with
older women. As the two react and head off, Kirk orders Spock to jump to warp factor one. Spock
acknowledges and soon, the Enterprise jumps to its next adventure...
