Original subtitles

♪ ♪

BETO: Space is filled with wonders.

Bright and beautiful stars.

We travel among them searching for answers,

investigating the mysteries within ourselves.

Starfleet presents themselves as our quadrant's

shining example of duty,

honor, peacekeeping.

But what separates a "Federation"

from an "Empire"?

Red alert. All hands to battle stations.

- (alarm sounding) - Arm photon torpedoes.

BETO: Both colonize.

Both impose their laws and doctrines on others.

Torpedoes armed and locked on target.

Ready to fire on your command.

PIKE: You threaten one of us, you threaten all of us.

Trust me when I say, you do not want the Federation as an enemy.

BETO: Are they explorers as they claim?

Or soldiers as they appear?

They call their vessels starships.

What distinguishes them from warships?

PIKE: Starfleet officers take an oath.

First, a vow to obey the laws

of the United Federation of Planets,

to defend its security,

and to abide to the principles it stands for.

Second, a vow

to obey Starfleet's orders and responsibilities.

BETO: Tell me about Starfleet.

What can I say?

What does Starfleet mean to me?

No comment. Full stop.

BETO: If you can look straight into the camera

as you feel comfortable. Whenever you're ready.

Violence is an acceptable level of risk.

Vulcans have many more ways to handle this than humans.

BETO: Aren't you half-Vulcan, half-human?

SPOCK: On Vulcan,

being half-human is viewed as a deficit,

something to be excised

or buried so deeply within the psyche

that it will never reemerge.

♪ ♪

SPOCK: As a child, I had a friend-- Sovrek.

He was told by his parents to no longer associate with me

because I was half-human.

In response, I ran away to the desert,

to the Plain of Blood.

(grunting)

Two days later, my father found me in a cave cutting

into my skin with a Vantu blade.

I was trying to cut away my human half.

I have faced far worse

for the benefit of Starfleet.

BETO: I thought the Enterprise was an exploring vessel.

It's space.

It's unpredictable. That's why we don't go

anywhere unarmed.

It's stupid to.

LA'AN: I've had 12 broken bones, a fractured skull,

multiple phaser burns,

radiation poisoning.

Was even slashed open by a Kolaran blade.

All hazards of the job.

I am the ship's security and tactical officer.

But Starfleet's primary mission is exploration.

I don't think killing people is okay.

I think sometimes it's necessary

for the greater good.

Sometimes that means we attack first.

The weapons

Enterprise carries are primarily defensive.

Our goal is to not have to use them.

That doesn't mean we don't fight back if we have to.

BETO: If you were to encounter a ship you've fought with before,

like the Gorn, would you fire first?

Unless you can kill them first,

the best move is to run.

As first officer,

my role is to support the captain and the crew.

When it comes to executing Starfleet's orders,

my job is to offer options, strategy, even alternatives.

But my job isn't to question orders.

Starfleet has

the interests of Federation

and non-Federation worlds clearly in mind.

Our missions and the goals of Starfleet

are always in alignment.

(clears throat)

Time for a mission brief.

It's how we get our orders.

Sometimes

we don't know what we're supposed to do until we arrive.

UHURA: Transport cargo to Lutani VII?

Did Starfleet specify why?

That's classified.

Are there any problems, Ensign?

- No, sir. - UNA: Any other questions?

ORTEGAS: The Lutani used to raid our cargo runs.

Pretty sure they're helping the Klingons.

- Is that a question, Lieutenant? - Are we helping the Lutani now?

PIKE: Yes.

But the why is... classified?

That is correct.

You will find out what you need to know on a need-to-know basis.

Lieutenant?

Crates are filling Cargo Bay 12. Lists on your PADD.

We have armed escorts standing by in case...

anything happens.

Are we expecting anything to happen?

Things do happen, whether or not we expect it.

That's why, when we enter Lutani space,

I've alerted phaser and photon torpedo crews to stand ready.

It's an active war zone.

Thank you.

There is one more important element on this journey.

UHURA: What's a Jikaru?

Technically, it is livestock.

The Lutani intend to use it in their rebuilding efforts.

We shall pick it up and we shall drop it off.

We have to be at half impulse?

We won't be able to run with that on the ship?

It will not be on the ship.

- It will be outside of the ship. - What else do we know about it?

That's classified.

Dismissed.

ORTEGAS: Because it's none

- of your business. - BETO: I-I'm just asking you,

why do the Lutani need Starfleet's help?

Because they're currently at war.

BETO: Any thoughts on that?

No. We received orders to transport cargo to Lutani VII,

a non-Federation world in need of aid and supplies,

and that's what we're doing.

(quietly): What kind of supplies?

Easy guess. They're at war.

- (turbolift bell chimes) - (door whooshes open)

"Jikaru" is the Lutani word for "starlight."

They have lived on the oceanic moon Tychus-B.

Oh, and according to the data,

one of the Jikaru has shown signs of a...

transformation.

Soon, it will be able to move through space.

There are a lot of restrictions around how we have to handle it.

BETO: And Starfleet is helping move the creature to a war zone.

Why?

That's outside of my orders.

LA'AN: We've input the codes

for your orbital containment field.

Una, stand by to lock onto it with a tractor beam.

We'll bring it in close to the ship.

This thing's really gonna fly into space?

There is activity on the surface.

- Containment field is now down. - UHURA: I can get

- visual from the observation lab. - Tie us in.

(creaky bellowing)

(singing)

The Jikaru will be in orbit soon.

Tractor beams are ready.

(singing)

I'm getting a transponder signal from a Lutani vessel.

ORTEGAS: Confirmed. It's a Lutani scout ship

on an intercept course coming in hot.

- Hail them. - No response.

I'm getting strange readings from the Jikaru.

Tractor beams cannot lock on.

LA'AN: Captain, the scout ship is in range.

- It's opening fire. - Shields up.

They're not shooting at us.

They're shooting at the Jikaru, but it's doing little damage.

ORTEGAS: Definitely not a fighter pilot.

Una, prepare phasers to fire on that ship.

(Jikaru singing)

ORTEGAS: Captain, what's the creature doing?

- (static crackling) - (Jikaru bellowing)

(sonic scream)

ORTEGAS: What the hell was that?

UNA: Massive surge of radiation.

- La'An, status. - LA'AN: Shields holding.

But the Lutani scout ship is completely disabled.

No shields, and hull integrity failing.

Lock transporters on that ship, beam the survivors aboard.

Get that containment field back up.

And turn that damn thing off.

We've recovered a pilot from the Lutani vessel.

- She's in sickbay. - I want a full update.

Who they are and why they came here.

Can I have the Jikaru audio data?

UHURA: I'm already on it.

Are you all right?

Your hand was shaking.

All Vulcans who practice the ancient meditation of Surak

experience an increase in esper sensitivity.

It allows our mind melds to be more efficient.

You felt the creature's mind?

I sensed its aggression.

But I have recovered.

BETO: What would motivate this Lutani scientist

to risk their life to sabotage their own project?

M'BENGA: Dermal regenerator can't compensate for the organ damage.

- Quadroline? - No, it's fatal to her species.

- CHAPEL: Her vitals are crashing. - Radiation poisoning.

Hyronalin hypospray.

She's going into shock.

We need to keep her conscious.

Hey, hey, hey. Look at me.

What's your name? Don't close your eyes.

Tell me your name?

- Dr. Gyud. - Gyud.

- Hey, hey. - (gasping)

GYUD: Don't let them use

the Jikaru.

It's a terrible, awful mistake.

It's okay.

We were wrong.

- (choking) - (monitor beeping rapidly)

- (gasps) - (sustained beep)

M'BENGA: Well, I am a doctor.

So...

I have seen many deaths, I'm afraid.

BETO: Have you ever been ordered by Starfleet to kill anyone?

I will defend myself,

like anybody would.

But it is not a function of my current job.

You were in the Klingon War, yes?

Yes.

I was a field surgeon.

(exhales)

I am a doctor.

I'm not the most qualified person

to answer questions about Starfleet's military protocols.

BETO: Mission assignments: redacted.

Protocol 12: redacted.

Battle of ChaKana, confirmed kills: redacted.

Battle of J'Gal, confirmed kills: redacted.

Have you ever scrubbed the surveillance logs

from sickbay?

I cannot recall.

I cannot recall.

UHURA: Before Starfleet, I was adrift.

I'd lost my family, I'd lost myself,

really.

Starfleet sent me in a direction at just the right time.

BETO: Were you close to anyone at the Academy?

Not really.

Except maybe Elena, my roommate.

We hung out sometimes.

Ensign Elena Cho. She was on the Cayuga.

Did you know that?

No.

I didn't. I...

Elena went down with the Cayuga?

I didn't look at all the names on the ship, because it...

PIKE: If that creature turns on us, sir...

I know the mission, sir.

I-I know the orders I was given. I'm not refusing command.

Because my crew is required to do their job.

We don't survive this, what Starfleet wants is irrelevant.

Sir,

you didn't see what it could do.

I know why it's important, sir, I...

I understand the stakes.

We'll get it done. Enterprise out.

- All decks, red alert. - Status report.

UNA: The Jikaru has broken free of the containment field.

- It's moving out of orbit. - ORTEGAS: It can do that?

I thought we had to tractor it to Lutani VII.

SPOCK: It appears the creature's evolved physiology

allows it to act as a supercharged magnetosphere,

using energized particles for propulsion.

So, what? It's got its own engines?

PIKE: What about the neural dampener attached to the creature?

Shouldn't that keep it calm?

UHURA: Scans show it was damaged

during the attack on the scout ship.

Without a neural dampener, we can't control it

or stop it from attacking whatever it wants.

And the big fella's picking up speed.

Do we let it go?

(Jikaru bellowing)

SPOCK: It is now a weapon.

But also a creature.

Our orders are to take it

to Lutani VII, so that's what we're gonna do.

- How, sir? - I've done this kind of thing before,

just usually on horseback.

Chase down and lasso a bronco.

BETO: Have you ever refused an order?

Well, um...

I think I can confidently say that that's classified.

BETO: The Enterprise is following Starfleet's orders

and transporting what they know is a weapon,

- the Jikaru. - (Jikaru bellowing)

- La'An, tractor beam? - LA'AN: I've tried.

The creature's emitting a randomized

electromagnetic field.

The beam can't lock on.

- What about the transporter? - Same problem.

Can we match its frequency?

Without precise readings, an incorrect beam could result

in an energy feedback, disabling Enterprise.

If tractoring isn't an option, why don't we follow it?

- Keep it within visual range? - PIKE: Do it.

ORTEGAS: Just not too close, okay?

I don't want to get ripped apart.

What about other ships? Anything it runs into,

- it might attack. - I can send out

a system-wide navigational bulletin to keep clear

- of our coordinates. - Keep it vague.

We don't want this weapon falling into the wrong hands.

- Am I clear? - Aye, sir.

LA'AN: If that's the order,

we need to work on a plan to destroy the creature

- if necessary. - ORTEGAS: Better that than Klingons get it.

BETO: What makes you good at being head of security?

I think what makes me good at my job

is that I have a lot of experience.

From a young age, I've had to look after myself,

and I've learned to make logical decisions very quickly

in tense, high-risk situations.

BETO: What does it feel like to kill somebody?

CHAPEL: This is incredible.

Its autonomic systems can manipulate

- and distribute energy. - SPOCK: It is...

Fascinating?

CHAPEL: Spock, I understand that,

when the Jikaru "powered up,"

you-you had a-a reaction on the bridge?

Your hand was shaking?

I have been experiencing discomfort.

It is manageable.

UHURA: Engineering is working on recreating neural dampeners

based on our scans of the device.

This isn't just a neural dampener.

It's a shock collar.

It's become clear why they felt they needed that.

SPOCK: The creature is, to the Lutani, a weapon.

One they need to find a way to control.

They should have tried talking to it first.

But, hey, I'm just a communications officer.

CHAPEL: You think you were actually in contact with the Jikaru?

We heard it.

It was talking.

(Jikaru singing over recording)

(singing stops)

SPOCK: Perhaps.

I believe I was sensing its emotions.

Joseph told me about this, about how Vulcans abandoned

these psionics centuries ago.

Because of brain aneurysms, synaptic overload.

Death.

Perhaps I can shield my mind from its effect.

It is a logical, reasonable option.

(Jikaru singing over recording)

BETO: Do you believe in every mission?

Yes.

Uh...

I mean, of course I do.

PIKE: Starfleet needs us to deliver the weapon or take it.

Thoughts?

UNA: The Lutani are at war.

Understandably desperate, eager to shift the balance.

This creature dies because of their experiments,

it's nothing to them.

If it saves them, it's everything.

PIKE: And if it falls into the wrong hands?

UNA: Then it's trouble for everyone.

PIKE: How do you feel about what's happening to the Jikaru?

UNA: You know how I feel. It's irrelevant.

PIKE: We have our orders, whether we like it or not.

Same goes for the crew as well.

UNA: No one tells you about this part of the job, do they?

The new neural dampeners are loaded into torpedo tubes

and standing by.

Uh, Captain?

Mr. Spock and I are working on an alternative plan.

A way to communicate with the Jikaru

- without injuring it. - Communicate how?

Oh, we're still working on that, but...

PIKE: Unfortunately, we're out of time.

The creature's trajectory will take it near a planet

- with ships in orbit. - Captain, the neural dampener

will put the Jikaru in a catatonic state.

We won't be able to communicate with it in that condition.

PIKE: We have our orders, Ensign.

We don't have to like them, but we do have to obey them.

(alert trilling)

Captain, we're in range.

PIKE: Fire.

(Jikaru bellowing)

Torpedo wasn't able to penetrate its skin.

LA'AN: It's a narrow target. The dampener has to reach

a precise depth near its cerebral cortex.

- PIKE: How many torpedoes do we have? - Three more.

PIKE: Fire again.

All power to shields.

(grunting)

Shields are down to 40%.

PIKE: Ortegas, full power astern.

Give us some distance from that thing.

¡Quítame eso de la cara!

Engines answering full astern.

Giving distance and lots of it.

Damage report, all departments.

All nonessential personnel off the bridge, now.

UHURA: I'm sorry, Beto. You have to go.

BETO: No, I'll-I'll stay right here.

- Wait. Nyota, no. - I'm sorry.

- Just stop. Wait. - Sorry.

(alert sounding)

PIKE: Damage report.

LA'AN: That attack drained our shields

like nothing I've seen before.

Another energy burst will disable them completely.

Anyone else gonna have nightmares about space dragons?

Captain, the Jikaru is in pursuit

and energizing for another attack.

Ortegas, get it off our tail.

You don't have to tell me twice,

but helm controls are sluggish.

(Jikaru bellowing)

It has to be stopped, Captain.

I suggest we hit it with a full spread of photon torpedoes.

SPOCK: I advise against that.

The Jikaru could simply absorb the energy,

then use it against us.

BETO: How's your hand?

It's fine.

Stop asking.

You can't prepare for the unknown.

You face it, deal with it. That's it.

End of story. (sighs)

UHURA: I'm sorry for being so abrupt.

It's just when the ship's on alert,

things move fast. We can't have any distractions.

I get it, okay? Sure.

What I don't get is how Starfleet can agree

to bring a weapon of war to a distant planet.

Help me understand that.

Are you recording this?

I am, yes. That's my job.

Just like your job. You're delivering a weapon,

or taking it, or-or maybe both.

And you're all just following orders.

None of you like it, so I just want to--

I just want to know why, because it feels like

the actions of a colonizer, who takes.

(whispering): Oh, my God.

Th-This is what you've been after all along.

Nyota, I've been af-- (stammers)

- You should go. - Wait.

And don't come back to the bridge.

(Uhura scoffing)

PIKE: And you really think this will work?

UHURA: With a neural amplifier, we believe Spock can

communicate with the Jikaru.

SPOCK: The amplifier should allow me

to mind-meld with the creature remotely.

I have already sensed impressions from it.

PIKE: Spock, you have no way of knowing

what connecting with this creature might do to you.

I'll be monitoring Spock's vital signs

during the procedure,

so if there's any complications, the link can be severed.

We just-- We need to be close enough to link them.

I still can't believe I'm letting you

approach the Jikaru in a shuttlecraft.

UHURA: Hopefully the shuttle's small size won't alarm it.

And if you do rile it,

you won't last a second in that shuttle.

None of you will.

The creature nearly destroyed our ship, Captain.

It might try it again. Given our orders,

the shuttle is our smallest risk of loss

against the creature.

Godspeed.

CHAPEL: Easy. Easy. We don't want to make it upset.

Yes. Closer.

(Jikaru bellowing)

CHAPEL: Spock has made connection with the Jikaru.

SPOCK: I am not sensing any aggression,

but I do believe it is aware of our presence.

I see her,

- feel her. - (Jikaru moans)

Something... so sublime.

- (alert chiming) - Ship quartering in at high impulse.

It's a Lutani warship.

We're being hailed.

Captain Pike, now you're tracking the creature

to take it back to Starfleet.

I question the wisdom of trusting Starfleet.

LA'AN: Captain, the Lutani warship

- is powering up weapons. - Red alert.

I think they pissed off the big guy.

With the Galileo right in their line of fire.

(Jikaru bellowing)

PIKE: Enterprise to Galileo. Get the hell out of there.

CHAPEL: Spock's vitals are spiking.

- (explosion) - (grunts)

PIKE: You're right, people do die.

Have you ever seen somebody die?

I don't recommend it.

And if it ever does happen to you...

I don't think you would enjoy being questioned about it.

PIKE: We don't always like our orders, but...

I trust my crew, they trust me,

and sometimes that's all we have.

PIKE: What is the creature doing?

As far as I can tell, watching the Lutani ship.

After it attacked our shuttle, it started doing laps.

Well, now we know not to try talking to it.

I'm not so sure.

Before the Lutani got there, Spock was able to

connect his mind with hers.

I felt it, too. She bonded with me.

How are they?

Christine is stable.

I have Spock in an induced coma so his brain can heal.

He needs some time.

Did we learn anything more about the Jikaru?

According to the data,

her brain chemistry was artificially altered

to focus solely on violence and destruction.

It causes her great pain.

UNA: Can you reverse it?

No. She's too far gone.

I still think we just need to talk to her.

UNA: How? Spock's in a coma.

The Jikaru's telepathic ability was too strong for Spock.

Maybe someone who isn't as sensitive.

Uhura, I know where you're going with this.

Instead of a shuttle, we use Enterprise.

- Neural link me. - Nyota...

I've studied for this.

Communication with a new species.

I won't risk another crew member.

You don't have to.

I'm volunteering.

(Jikaru screeching)

(doors whoosh open)

(grunting)

(doors whoosh shut)

(humming)

BETO: What makes you a good medic?

I care about my patients.

(Uhura groaning)

- (Jikaru singing) - (Uhura humming)

Uhura, you're risking permanent brain damage.

(humming forcefully)

(whimpering)

This is one of the last photos I took with my family.

This is... very important to me.

(device chiming)

(grunting softly)

(singing sustained note)

Destroy.

Attack.

Destroy me.

What does that mean?

She wants us to attack her.

Then she'll turn her aggression on us

and let the Lutani ship go.

BETO: Boy, you all look very happy.

We-we are.

We were.

UHURA: The sun.

If we attack her, she'll follow us there.

The sun?

She's tired of being a weapon.

(Uhura sobbing)

Yes.

(crying)

(Jikaru cries)

BETO: You're doing okay?

Yeah, thanks.

She...

wants to die.

It's the only way she can find peace.

PIKE: Yeah, when I was 14,

I had a bronco that fought so hard she fell.

Broke her rib...

straight into her lung, and, um, she couldn't breathe.

(sniffles) I didn't like what I had to do, but, um...

I did it.

That's the job, sometimes.

When the costs we pay for our missions,

for our choices... comes due.

PIKE: I just spoke with Command.

They weren't thrilled with me,

but given the circumstances, we're in agreement now.

La'An, let's get her attention.

Firing a low-yield burst.

Enough to annoy her, but not enough for her

to reflect back against us.

(beeping)

(Jikaru screeching)

UNA: She released the Lutani ship.

Ortegas, set a course for the system's sun.

Aye, sir.

The Jikaru's children on her homeworld,

they haven't been altered.

She's worried for them.

Understood. Tell her, um...

Tell her that we'll make sure they stay that way.

That's a promise.

♪ ♪

Ensign Elena Cho,

my friend...

...died doing what she believed in.

It's what I believe in, too.

(sighs)

This is the job.

We're often in a situation where,

if we don't do anything, people will die.

But is it really just all on Starfleet?

Don't you think we should take a step back?

There are other people trying to help, sure, but...

none with our resources.

If not us, then who?

I do think it's brave,

that you ask all these questions.

No one should accept anything blindly.

And that's...

That's all I was trying to do, I was just, I was just

trying to provide a counterpoint.

I believe you think that's what you were trying to do,

but you came here angry.

You had a point to prove.

W-What was my point?

(sighs)

You blame Starfleet for taking your sister away.

And then, when she got hurt,

you needed someone to blame for almost losing her.

The thing is, she's still here.

Erica and I chose to be a part of Starfleet.

And you can choose to shut us out for that

or you can accept it.

But Starfleet isn't keeping you from mending things.

(doors whoosh open)

(doors whoosh shut)

How we doing?

The Jikaru is still pursuing us, just out of range.

PIKE: And the Lutani ship?

Heavily damaged, but still intact.

PIKE: Hail them.

(trilling)

What are you doing with the Jikaru?

Where are you leading it?

Honoring her final wish.

No. We've spent years on this project.

- You can't just-- - PIKE: Project?

This is an intelligent, emotional creature.

She has a right to her free will.

- You took that from her. - VOOR: Captain,

I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.

PIKE: I'm shutting down your metamorphosis program,

and have been authorized to quarantine Tychus-B

as a sanctuary world for the Jikaru.

No. You can't do this, you mustn't.

Countless Lutani will die without this weapon.

The Federation will continue to provide help in other ways.

Just... not like this.

VOOR: And if we refuse to allow you to do this?

We have other warships in the area.

You threaten one of us, you threaten all of us.

Trust me when I say, you do not want the Federation as an enemy.

(Jikaru bellowing)

♪ ♪

(Jikaru screeching)

(distant impact)

(sniffles)

So much loss.

ORTEGAS: For me, joining Starfleet was something I could control.

Mom was dying.

I couldn't do anything about it.

I was lost...

scared, I couldn't face it.

I couldn't face it.

Okay. Do it. (clears throat)

I figured, out here, I'm in control.

Every day, I get to prove what I'm made of.

I'm the best.

Nothing can touch me, until it did and now...

...there are days when I'm as scared as I was then.

I'm here because these people are my family now.

Just as much as you're my family.

They give me hope.

Don't tell them I said that. (chuckles softly)

(both grunting)

UNA: Someone once said space is dark and cold

and full of death.

Our job

is to bring light,

bring warmth, bring life

to wherever we go.

That's our mission.

UHURA: Before Starfleet,

I was adrift.

I'd lost my family.

I'd lost myself.

Starfleet sent me in a direction at just the right time.

LA'AN: Without Starfleet, I'd either be dead

or undisciplined,

consumed by my own anger.

SPOCK: Starfleet has allowed me to explore

my human half.

Had I attempted this exploration on Vulcan,

I would have been shunned

or banished.

BETO: I have now been invited to see a side of Starfleet

I didn't expect.

♪ ♪

(indistinct chatter)

- ♪ ♪ - (chatter continues)

Thank you very much.

BETO: What separates a "Federation"

from an "Empire"?

And a starship from a warship?

(laughter)

(overlapping chatter)

- Oh, yes! - (chatter, laughter)

UHURA: What is Starfleet?

It's the people.

All of us.

We make Starfleet what it is.

Not the other way around.

♪ ♪

Captioning sponsored by CBS

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

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