Original subtitles

Previously on Star Trek: Strange new worlds.

Erica is critical, but stable.

- Still doesn't feel totally real. - I should be dead.

I'm on borrowed time.

I'm not ready to let you go.

- General dak-rah. - I know

you and chapel were both stationed on j'gal, where

rah earned his reputation.

M'benga, I'm here to provide healing.

Get your hands off me! Don't!

I didn't start the fight.

But I'm glad he's dead.

Captain's personal log, star date 2449.1.

Enterprise has embarked on a routine scanning mission,

giving Marie and me some time

to enjoy our last few days together

before her new commission.

I was just getting used to her decorating choices,

but a captain belongs on her own ship.

We had every reason to believe

the evasive gorn tissue was in full remission.

But, unfortunately, it's returned.

And it's aggressive.

And yet, hope is not lost.

The chimera blossom.

A rare specimen, long sought-after

for its biological uniqueness.

This flower... it can help her?

It's a long shot, Chris.

But it is rumored to contain a chemical compound

that is universal in its ability

to move invasive molecules through cell membranes.

Could stop the malignancy. Buying us time.

Why am I sensing a caveat?

Well, like Spock said, it's rare.

And we've tracked down the one place

the chimera is likely to be found.

It's a planet called kenfori.

- Kenfori? - That whole system is a no-fly zone.

Yeah, that's true.

But it was once the location

of a federation research facility,

focused mainly on frontier farming,

specifically crop longevity.

The klingons invaded at the start of the war

and our claim fell into dispute.

After the war ended, both sides agreed to give it up.

So it's not just a no-fly zone. It's the restricted zone.

We can't go anywhere near it

without violating multiple treaties.

Told them it was crazy, Chris.

I won't allow people to take risks like this for me.

I won't watch you die. If this blossom

will help you, we are going to get it.

But star fleet will never authorize this.

This has to be completely off the books.

That is why we propose a minimal away team.

Just Dr. M'benga and myself.

Good plan.

With one adjustment.

Here it comes.

If anyone's going to break the rules, it's going to be me.

Told them that, too.

I appreciate you stepping up Mr. Spock,

but if we're caught, the responsibility falls on me.

You insult me, captain.

He never gets caught.

I never get caught.

Lieutenant scannell, please pull up cartography

on the buffer zone around the kenfori system.

Looks like the treaty line is

on the edge of a giant dust belt.

Been a long time since I've flown

into disputed klingon territory.

Around disputed klingon territory.

Enterprise will not cross that line.

Once the shuttle clears that dust belt,

personal comms will be down.

We can maintain their cover

by freezing all other communications as well.

I'm setting up an encrypted ship-to-ship channel

for the captain to check in on the hour.

I do not need to remind you of the consequences

if our away team's shuttle is discovered.

Ortegas, take us out.

Now comes the fun part.

Show-off.

I'll accept any and all accolades and applause

and tips.

Admit it. You all missed my fancy flying.

We did, actually.

Like riding a bike.

With fusion-powered thrusters.

And all this time I thought you hated my flying.

You remember zeta borealis?

The moment our shuttle landed,

you kicked open those storm doors and you threw up.

If memory serves, it was those vedalan cigars

we smoked the night before.

Well, those vedalans knew how to throw a party,

- let's be honest. - Definitely worth the headache.

There's an object in our path.

Indeterminate composition.

Can't get a reading in this dust belt.

During the war this area would have been teeming with mines.

Federation and klingon.

Per the treaty, they should have all been swept.

Maybe they missed one.

- I'll keep a distance. - Better raise shields.

Turn on comms.

Setting comms to common klingon frequency range.

It's a communications beacon.

Something's coming through.

You ever see that before?

Yes, in the war.

I was once stationed near a bombed klingon mine

with radiation danger.

Loosely translated it means, "go back or die."

But why leave a warning beacon here?

It doesn't matter.

Going back is not an option.

Space.

The final frontier.

These are the voyages of the starship enterprise.

To explore strange new worlds

to seek out new life and new civilizations

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

No life signs.

So we are all alone down here.

No, captain, I mean no life signs.

All flora, no fauna... In a bio me this rich?

There must be animal life here somewhere.

Well, at least the flora's all that matters.

You see that lake on the way down?

Perfect for fly-fishing.

Yeah, if we weren't always on a mission.

And if there was something alive to catch.

Fair point.

That must be our research facility.

Christine's research suggests they would have kept

samples of the flower inside.

At least we don't have to scour this whole forest.

So, what do you think of this whole korby-Christine thing?

Chris, do I have to remind you I have three ex-wives?

Well, four, technically.

That was an annulment.

But the next one... Physician heal thyself?

I like to consider myself a work in progress.

Life sign?

The opposite.

War casualty?

No.

You don't see these wounds in battle.

His rib cage has been split open.

Not a single phaser burn. Given the rate of decay,

I'd say he died after the evacuation.

Killed by some kind of animal maybe?

- Only... - Only no life signs.

An animal that's long gone?

Better not risk it.

Phasers.

Auxiliary power's still on.

Barely.

It's a shame what happened here.

The war took everything.

Chimera blossoms?

Even more beautiful in person.

- Didn't have to look far? - Wait.

There's a set of these in your bag.

Look for the ones in full bloom.

But don't touch them with bare skin.

What exactly are these?

It's just a precaution.

At improper doses, the medication can be toxic.

Certain organic poisons have medicinal value.

Doctors have used them for centuries

to treat heart disease, malaria...

How long will this give her?

You know the condition and treatment

of any crew member

is confidential unless they jeopardize

the rest of the crew.

Not as your captain. As your friend.

As Marie's... I need to know.

I-Is there a chance that she can really be saved?

This is her only chance.

Just yesterday, we were out of options,

but Spock found one more.

One to hope for.

A fighting chance, Chris.

Picking up a minor em flux moving towards kenfori.

Section eight, Mark 15-29-4.

Sensors show it is moving in an irregular pattern.

That suggests it's a naturally occurring phenomenon.

Normal for a dust belt.

Copy. Continue to section nine.

Commander, I would like to recommend a secondary scan

of section eight, one that filters out em rays.

I've got a hunch.

Better safe than sorry.

Lieutenant scannell?

Rescanning section eight.

Confirming neutrino emissions behind the flux.

Checking for a warp signature.

It's a klingon battle cruiser.

In the war they used to mask their ships

behind bursts of em radiation.

Good call, lieutenant.

This doesn't change a thing.

We continue monitoring from here

until we have reason not to.

Commander, it's a pretty big coincidence

that they choose now to show up.

What if they spotted the captain's shuttle?

Maybe.

But klingons aren't famous for abiding by treaty.

These could just be scavengers.

I hate to assume causation where there isn't any.

Uhura, any comms chatter?

Negative, sir, across all channels.

It's quiet as a library out there.

Let me know if that changes.

For now... we'll sit tight.

These wounds are consistent with those klingon remains outside.

Something was killing both humans and klingons?

If you can call it that.

More like devouring.

Come on. We got what we came for.

Let's go.

That had to be alive.

Malfunctioning lab equipment.

I'm still not getting any life signs.

Humor me.

Nothing.

Our shuttle.

It's possible they don't know about us.

They know about us.

It's a hunting party.

They're chasing us like skral rabbits.

If we're captured,

they'll want to make examples of us.

I'm sure the other direction was equally as bad.

You know they'll shoot on sight.

Then we shoot first.

On stun.

Run.

Are you hitting me with placebo right now?

Your body has acclimated to the pain inhibitors.

Nurse chapel should... I'm so sorry.

Captain batel.

I understand your discomfort has increased.

- Spock. - You think?

Vulcans have an ancient technique

of regulating pain through meditation.

With practice, humans can do it, too.

However, achieving a level I suspect you need

will take time we do not have.

Nurse chapel has suggested I guide you through it

using a form of mind meld, if you consent.

Pretty much anything.

My mind to your mind.

One breath between us.

Whatever you're doing, keep doing.

Your ego holds the pain.

Let your mind release your ego,

so it may eclipse your suffering.

Spock!

Snap out of it!

Let go of her, Spock. It's me.

It's Christine.

I seem to have temporarily lost control.

You sure did.

Marie, are-are you okay?

Yeah.

What happened?

When we joined minds, I absorbed your pain.

- But I also... - I saw something.

Yes, as did I.

It felt both a part of you and not.

Was it gorn?

Is that even possible?

I am afraid I do not have the answer

to either question, captain.

Thank you, Mr. Spock.

The pain is much better now.

Lieutenant Spock,

commander chin-Riley needs all senior officers

in the ready room.

I will be there momentarily.

My apologies, ensign.

We may have a situation.

Our away team failed to check in at the prescheduled time.

Their transponders are both active,

but they are not responding to any hails

from the enterprise, which means

they're either having comms trouble or...

Something else happened.

Lieutenant.

Does commander pelia plan

to grace us with her presence?

She, got delayed and sent me.

Nice try. I know she hates these meetings.

Sit.

We need to get within emergency beaming range

without attracting any klingon attention.

I recommend a slow approach.

Flying at low impulse will keep us

below the noise limit of debris motion.

Their sensors will not be able

to tell us apart from the dust particles.

Well, we'd have to move at a fraction of impulse

and shut down all nonessential systems.

But if we were invisible, might be worth it.

By my calculations, we would reach kenfori in four hours.

I can live with that.

Ortegas.

Plot a course with Mr. Spock.

Four hours?

Yeah, that won't work for me.

Explain yourself, lieutenant.

Why are we tiptoeing around these klingons?

It's obvious they know about the captain and Dr. M'benga.

Our priority should be getting them out fast.

And how do you propose we do that

without violating a border treaty?

Hypothetically, even if there were a way,

the interference from the dust belt

makes transporting impossible.

I've thought about both problems.

We warp into the planet's thermosphere,

energize, and warp out, simple.

Warping into a low planetary orbit.

It's reckless.

Have you ever done that?

No.

But I could.

Such a dangerous maneuver is rarely attempted.

I could see the upper atmosphere maybe.

But if we scrape the bottom of the thermosphere,

our hull would be shredded cabbage.

I won't let that happen.

Also, the residual warp field prohibits transport.

Well, in theory, one could lock in on a signal

through the residual field.

Well, I don't mean to step on Mr. Spock's toes,

of course, but you just have to calibrate the phase inducers

to the warp distortion.

Only, like, really fast.

Yeah.

So my plan checks off all the boxes.

Uhura, is there any evidence the klingons know about our people?

Total comms silence out there, not even a whisper.

Then Spock's plan makes the most sense.

You have your orders.

Thanks a lot, nyota.

Are we gonna discuss lieutenant ortegas?

She was just doing her job.

I needed alternatives.

Your call, but, I mean, that wasn't like her.

She can be rude at times but not insubordinate.

Could it be she's back on rotation too soon?

She passed her psych eval. And after all she went through,

I'm not surprised if she's a little rough around the edges.

You get that, la'an.

Not one of those things showed up on our sensors.

But they looked very alive to me.

At least, you know, n-not... dead?

Whatever they are,

they don't register as life signs anymore.

We are the only things moving in here.

This is as good a place as any to hole up. Look.

If una's following protocol,

the enterprise is already on its way.

We need to find comms,

clone the enterprise's encrypted channel,

and then coordinate a rendezvous.

The comms array.

It's on the roof.

No, we'd have to engage with those...

For serious lack of a better word, zombies?

Don't call them that.

They were once federation scientists.

And klingons.

Look, I'd really like to find out what happened here.

Can you recall the lab's data?

The crops that chapel mentioned.

They used an agent from the chimera blossom

to modify them with genes from a perennial moss.

A moss that could live and grow anywhere.

It lays dormant but never dies.

A hybrid supercrop.

Wow. That would feed a lot of federation colonists.

Only things went to hell when the klingons invaded.

They attacked.

With no regard for safety protocols.

And everyone in the facility was exposed.

It inserted moss genomes into their bodies.

This moss consumes every plant around it... to proliferate.

And now that is what they're doing.

Devouring anything that breathes.

That sounds like the "z" word.

Wait, we're breathing that same air.

The agent would have broken down long ago.

Now I see why you were so careful

about that chimera blossom.

Don't overthink it.

Joseph... Why would Marie need bio me engineering?

Hybridization?

Spock and I know how to use it safely.

All right. Answer the question.

You're gonna hybridize her with what?

- Chris, I cannot... - Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

The gorn?

That's your miracle treatment?

You're g-going to turn Marie into a-a what?

A human-gorn hybrid?

- It is not that rudimentary. - Then explain it to me.

I already told you, it is her only chance of survival.

Let me understand.

Instead of ridding her body of the gorn DNA,

you're gonna make it permanent?

You're going to change her?

Tell me!

Joseph...

Just... what are you going to do to her?

It was her decision, Chris.

She chose this.

She didn't want you to tell me.

That's why you and Spock wanted to go...

So I would never know. My...

This is the only way to save her.

And that is what we all want.

This is your idea of saving... wh-what we all want? No.

Look again. Try harder. I...

There's got to be another way.

She has a few days.

Maybe less.

A few days?

She didn't want me to know

and she didn't want to tell me.

Why?

We're gonna get swarmed.

Overload the charging coil.

You will come with us.

Thank you. Who are you?

The one holding a disruptor.

Ahead of me!

One wrong step and you both die.

Okay.

At least you're not trying to eat us.

Forward.

Thanks for waking them up.

There are too many!

Those are force field emitters.

The console's dead center!

Joseph?!

We could try luring them away from your shuttle,

and then lowering the field, but we need weapons.

Chris!

I walked right into that one.

Who are you?

First, we talk about you.

I have to say, when your shuttle crossed the treaty line,

I couldn't believe it.

I thought my viridium tracker was broken.

You were tracking him?

When a r'ongovian offers you a drink,

never eat the olives.

Now you found me. Why?

Do you not see a reflection?

The gaze of an old enemy?

I have killed too many klingons

to know which house you're from.

I am bytha.

Daughter of dak'rah, champion of house rah'ul.

Ambassador rah's daughter.

Joseph m'benga... I am here to make you answer

for the klingon you assassinated.

We are now entering the buffer zone around kenfori.

It's a ritual.

Lieutenant, keep the ship at one-seventh impulse,

and not a tick over.

Anything above that will give away our position.

Aye, commander. Maintaining speed.

Bridge to engineering.

Power down all non-essential systems.

Approaching the battle cruiser at 200 kilometers.

I have a visual.

Sorry. It's hard to maneuver at snail speed.

Battle cruiser at 100 kilometers.

We are clear of the klingon ship.

Comms?

Not picking up any chatter.

Shields?

Still down. They can't see us.

Detecting frozen volatiles forming.

Recommend reducing speed to one-eighth impulse.

Amending estimated arrival to six hours.

We'll have to trust that pike and m'benga are capable enough

to hold down their own a little while longer.

Lieutenant, one-eighth impulse.

Slowing to one-eighth.

Commander, I'm picking up something now.

It's a monitoring frequency.

Their sensors are activating.

They're turning their array toward our ship.

Commander, I think we've been spotted.

It's fine. I'll survive.

Enough. Leave him.

Your grievance is with me. Spare my friend.

You are wrong.

My grievance has always been with my father,

traitor to the empire.

You're not here to avenge him?

He was a war criminal and a lapdog to the federation.

I welcomed his death.

A klingon blood feud.

Dak'rah brought shame to our family name.

For his sins,

our house has been subject to discommendation.

We are shunned, our bloodline spat upon.

I had to grovel just to charter a ship here.

There was one way to restore our name.

Assassinate my father.

Only, you got to him first.

Okay.

We need to stay calm.

She thinks killing me will somehow restore her honor.

Our name remains soiled unless I kill my father's assassin.

Ritual combat?

To the death?

He didn't assassinate rah.

He acted in self-defense.

Does this human speak the truth?

Are your warrior days behind you?

I will only ask you once.

Did you assassinate my father?

Their scanners are all over us.

- Uhura. - Still nothing.

- The klingons aren't responding. - Keep trying.

Inform them that we are here on a rescue mission.

We are not attempting to land.

They haven't raised shields yet, but I recommend raising ours

while we have the chance.

No, that sends the wrong message.

Why do we care what they think? This is pointless. If they...

Finish your thought, lieutenant.

I just think we're past the point of diplomacy.

And you thought it wise to express that concern to me

in the middle of executing orders?

The klingons are raising shields and closing in.

Commander, time to engage.

Evasive maneuvers. Ortegas, you're up.

Gladly.

Just tell her the truth.

I assassinated rah.

- Joseph... - I could have stopped it.

But a mass murderer gave me

the opportunity to kill him.

And I did.

Willingly.

I would do it again.

So yes.

His blood is on my hands.

Was that dishonorable?

I don't know.

But there was justice.

I lied to protect

the monster that still lives inside me.

Should the day come when he is needed again.

Pick up the blade.

And face me.

Joseph.

Don't do this.

There is a med kit for you in my bag.

Find your way off this forsaken planet,

and get the flower to batel.

Chapel and Spock have my lab notes.

- There has to be another way. - Enough!

It is time for one of us to die.

I am ready to face my destiny.

Are you?

This holds the blood of my father.

It binds us.

Until it is stained with the blood of the vanquished.

No!

No!

You cannot forfeit!

Too late.

I do not need the monster today.

By sparing my life,

you damn me to a fate worse than death.

That field's about to come down.

Lieutenant scannell, time?

Thermospheric entry in four seconds.

Outer gas compression is at 80%.

So basically we're flying into a brick wall.

Don't think about it, just hang on.

Transporter to bridge.

You need to cut engine power now!

If you don't compensate for planetary gravity,

we will come apart.

Copy, lieutenant. You work on getting us

that transporter signal.

Pelia warned you not to volunteer.

And now you actually have to do what you promised.

The field is back up, but it won't hold much longer!

You got one.

You're keeping score?

Listen... We work together, we all get out alive.

She's drawing their attention.

Why?

By sacrificing herself, she chooses an honorable death.

But no one will ever know.

She will know.

I will know.

May sto-vo-kor welcome you.

Come on, let's get to the shuttle.

Alert from engineering!

Artificial gravity is failing

and inertial dampeners are at 20%.

If we don't get it back up...

Ortegas, can you stabilize us?

In a minute.

Transport to bridge.

It's a little hard to maintain pattern integrity

in orbital collapse.

Can you maybe give me a smidge less turbulence?

Mr. Scott, any ideas on how to re-stabilize?

Try firing impulse thrusters in an alternating pattern.

Auxiliary first, then the main.

I'm gonna energize.

I really hope I don't scramble

the captain and Dr. M'benga up.

Transport to bridge, we have the captain and doctor on board.

Good one, Scotty. We're maintaining orbit now.

Commander, I'm getting interference on our comms.

Something's jamming us. It's not from the dust belt.

Aft view screen.

They're on an attack course.

- Ortegas? - Already on it.

Say hi to our dust.

Congratulations, everyone.

Erica... stellar flying.

But never do that again.

Captain's personal log, supplemental.

We have returned from our away mission

with a single chimera blossom.

Once Spock synthesizes its chemical compounds,

Marie's new therapy can begin.

I wonder what effects this radical treatment

will have on her.

Are you going to turn me in?

Are you worried I will?

That depends on who I'm talking to right now.

My friend... Or my captain?

Look, I understand why you didn't tell me

certain things?

I just wish I had known some of them sooner.

Officially, there was no mission to kenfori.

So, nothing happened there.

I don't have any report to file.

But if you did, hypothetically, what would it say?

That I had a knife to my throat and you told a story

to save my life.

That's what happened, wouldn't you agree?

I would.

You're not a monster, Joseph.

Just a man.

And my friend.

What's up? You wanted to chat?

Have a seat, lieutenant.

This feels, official.

At precisely 0240 hours,

you pushed the engines to one-sixth impulse power,

when I gave you strict orders to keep us at one-eighth.

I was trying to dodge tiny asteroids.

We were all on edge.

My finger might have slipped a little.

A reasonable error by the standards

I hold most helm officers to.

But you're not most helm officers.

You don't make mistakes like that.

Unless they're intentional.

You forced my hand.

You flew just fast enough for us to be spotted by the klingons,

so I'd have no choice but to switch over to your plan.

Look me in the eye and tell me I'm wrong.

You were going to leave pike and m'benga stranded for six hours.

We all know the klingons don't take prisoners.

Disagree with me all you want.

It's not your call to make.

Do you know what could happen in six hours?

I'm sorry about what happened to you, Erica.

But I can't have it affect your judgment.

It was a mistake.

I can get a handle on it.

You better.

Pike and m'benga were about to escape in a shuttle.

So your maneuver endangered

everyone on the ship unnecessarily.

I never meant to do that.

I know.

But there are consequences for insubordination.

I'm pulling you from the duty roster.

Two weeks. In that time, you'll have to report

to the warrant officer for chain-of-command training.

Am I dismissed, sir?

Erica.

Yes, sir?

This can't ever happen again.

You do realize that, right?

I do.

And I'm sorry.

Hey.

How's your leg? I heard you got hurt.

It's fine.

I want to know why everyone else on the ship

seems to know but me.

Do you have any idea what could happen?

When that plant fuses you with the species

that nearly killed you already?

I know all the risks and... I don't care.

- Fine, you lied to me. - I never lied to you.

- Then why didn't you tell me? - Because of you.

Because of this, because I don't have the space to worry

about how my dying hurts your feelings.

Chris?

You had days and... You made what I can only imagine

is the hardest decision of your life.

- But I wasn't a part of it. - Yeah, because it wasn't about you.

I just wish I'd have had the opportunity to be able to say

all the right things, to tell you I'd be there no matter what.

- No matter what choice you made. - And that would've been nicer.

But you know what, we both know you and we know

that you would have demanded we find another way.

And there is no other way.

I'm scared, Chris.

Hey, come here, come here, come here.

I know, I know.

I'm scared, too.

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