♪ ♪
Previously on Strange New Worlds...
Spock, will you marry me?
M'BENGA: You are experiencing
what we humans call stress.
I am concerned my emotions may impact my judgement.
You'll just have to learn to live with them.
- SPOCK: I apologize. - T'PRING: It was
- an impressive gambit. - SPOCK: You knew?
I never actually believed you could
having feelings for Nurse Chapel.
You do not die!
M'BENGA: Are you all right?
I have no words for what I feel.
- Doctor, Lieutenant. - If you'll excuse me.
- M'BENGA: Was there something else? - It's about that fellowship...
The archaeological medicine. I'm thinking about applying.
I'm going to have to replace you, aren't I?
Christine Chapel's personal log,
stardate 1789.3.
We're en route to the Vulcan system.
Our mission: To survey the moon of Kerkhov,
on the far side of the sector.
An ancient civilization once lived there,
then vanished.
Long-range scans suggest the presence
of a strange energy anomaly just above the surface.
A few of us are hoping that it will provide answers
about where the Kerkhovians went.
As for the rest of the crew...
the captain has decided to travel at sub-impulse speeds
so we can all take in the view.
Now, we find ourselves with an excess
of the most valuable commodity in the galaxy:
Downtime.
I'm using it to prep for an interview
for a two-month fellowship
sponsored by the Vulcan Science Academy.
What are Korby's three principles
of archeological medicine?
One... medicine is always ancient and new,
as cultures' understanding
of what medicine is changes over time.
Two... the keys to solving our toughest medical problems
are often found by looking backward.
- Correct. - (laughs softly)
Three... as a result, archeological medicine
is as much a study of history as it is of science.
Drink.
LA'AN: I don't get it.
Your interview is with a Vulcan.
So, why aren't you practicing with Mr. Spock?
Oh, things are kind of weird between them.
Weird how?
Deck 12.
SPOCK: Science officer's personal log,
stardate 1789.3.
The recent downtime en route to Vulcan
has been most advantageous.
I owe my success to Dr. M'Benga,
who provided me with therapies to better control my emotions.
Fully suppressing them has allowed me
to carry out my duties,
as well as explore new interests, such as cooking.
Always use fresh herbs, not synthesized.
You can tell. Here.
Smell.
I am afraid my nasal suppressants
inhibit my perception of scent.
- Suppressants? - Many Vulcans use them.
Not to be indelicate, Captain,
but the scent of humans is something
most Vulcans must become... used to.
O-Oh.
Well,
all I can say is...
you're missing the good stuff here.
Really?
SAM: A shuttle pass-by of the moon
should explain how and why
the Kerkhovian civilization vanished.
SPOCK: In addition, targeted suppression
has allowed me to eliminate triggers
that might lead to an emotional overload.
...detected by the surface of the moon
by our long-range scans. Now, my theory is
the energy anomaly is related to sunspot activity,
which has actually increased on Eridani b
in the last month or so.
As for the Kerkhovians, well...
SPOCK: Best of all, it has allowed me to return
to a normal state of friendship and comity
- with my fellow officers. - So I said,
"Thanks for the tool."
And then took off in the shuttle
with all their uniforms still inside!
(laughing)
Fascinating.
I am content. And very much
looking forward to the upcoming reunion
with my fiancée T'Pring upon our arrival at Vulcan.
Spock, there is a situation I felt the need to apprise you of.
During your upcoming visit, I have arranged
to have our ceremonial engagement dinner.
A V'Shal dinner?
Is it not too soon?
After all, I am still not speaking to my father.
My parents are aware of the situation with Sarek.
And yet, with your Starfleet schedule so challenging,
my mother felt this would be best.
- This was T'Pril's idea? - Yes.
She remains opposed to our union.
I believe providing this will
alleviate some...
tension.
A logical assessment.
I will help in any way that I am able.
PIKE (muffled): Spock?
(regular volume): Spock?
- Hmm? - I said I wanted to discuss
some personnel changes for your upcoming mission
to the Kerkhovian moon.
Spock... (sighs)
...is everything all right?
I am sorry, Captain.
I have recently learned that T'Pring wants
to have our ceremonial engagement dinner
upon our arrival on Vulcan.
This is, as you humans say, a big deal.
Would you rather not pilot the shuttle
- during our flyby of the moon? - I am fine, Captain.
A momentary distraction.
It will help me to stay focused on work.
Doubtless, any personnel changes you wish to make are helpful.
Good, because now you have a passenger.
It is good to see you, Nurse Chapel.
We did see each other in the turbolift the other day.
You seemed busy.
I have many duties. If I offended you, I apologize.
You are here for the fellowship you are applying to?
Archeological medicine?
If we can figure out what happened to the Kerkhovians,
it might unlock a treasure trove of medical data.
They were rumored to have a robust system of medicine,
more advanced than anything available today.
Hmm. Yeah.
You know, the Vulcan Science Academy would be lucky
to have someone of your experience.
Thanks.
It's, um... it's nice of you to say.
Spock?
I don't usually read into this sort of thing much,
but, uh, it's felt like you've been avoiding me.
Has it?
COMPUTER: Ship now in scanning range
of the Kerkhovian moon.
I should... initiate scans.
Yeah.
They, uh, left behind
quite a civilization.
Got a theory about what happened to them?
We are hoping the energy signature we detected
might provide a new clue.
COMPUTER: Energy anomaly detected.
That's the signature?
Yes. The readings are unusual.
It appears to be some sort of stable vortex.
A rupture in spacetime.
(alarm beeping)
Gravitational radiation is headed right for us.
Maximum power to forward shields.
COMPUTER: Forward shields at maximum.
My systems are crashing.
Steering is compromised.
How compromised?
I am turning into the skid,
and the skid is taking us into that.
(echoing): Spock.
M'BENGA: Mr. Spock.
Try to be still.
You were in a shuttle accident.
SPOCK: I feel... strange.
PIKE: You were injured.
What's happened to me?
We don't exactly know.
We crashed.
And then we woke up in space,
right near the Enterprise.
Nurse Chapel was unhurt,
but you were...
You were healed.
Only, whoever did this
seems to have made you
human.
What the f...
PIKE: Space.
The final frontier.
These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.
Its five-year mission:
To explore strange new worlds...
...to seek out new life
and new civilizations,
to boldly go where no one has gone before.
♪ ♪
What exactly are we looking for?
Not sure yet.
We found the shuttle floating dead in space.
UNA: I checked the logs. They were in a crash, but it's like
the shuttle has been fixed and given a...
deep cleaning.
This look like part of the shuttle to you?
UHURA: It's definitely alien.
I have a theory about its purpose.
Enlighten us, Ensign.
I think it's a calling card.
These look like routing instructions
for a subspace call.
Can you patch us through, Nyota?
I can try, sir.
Huh. It looks like I'm getting visuals back.
How do you want to proceed?
Alien first contact.
Let's put 'em on screen, please.
FEMALE VOICE: Hello.
Hi. This is Captain Christopher Pike
of the Federation Starship Enterprise.
Who am I speaking with?
I am called Yellow. I am of Kerkhov.
You called me.
R... Uh, right, yeah, sorry, uh...
...Yellow, we did
because of what happened to our shuttle.
The accident. Remediation has been made
per our laws. No further contact is necessary.
We're not familiar with your laws.
Your vessel collided with our transport tunnel.
In the event of an accident, the damage must be repaired.
This was accomplished.
No further contact is necessary.
Right, but you repaired a member of our crew.
Two beings were present. They did not match.
One was damaged but contained mixed instructions.
Mixed instructions? You don't mean Spock.
Remediation was made.
The beings now match.
- Are the beings alive or dead? - Mm, well, uh,
- they're alive, but... - Then remediation was made.
Thanks are not required.
No further contact is necessary.
- (screen clicks off) - Uhura, get 'em back.
I'm trying, sir. It's not working.
SPOCK: It would appear I'm stuck like this.
For now. We're working on a cure.
How do you, uh... feel, Mr. Spock?
I feel...
angry.
And... powerless.
And annoyed.
And... weirdly hungry?
Is this a normal human feeling?
Hunger can affect your mood.
We'll get you something to eat.
I feel grateful that you're trying to help me.
Seriously, it's so nice of you.
There is the matter of your obligations on Vulcan.
It slipped my mind during the recovery.
I don't know how
I can attend my engagement dinner while I'm in this state.
My fiancée's mother...
She hates me.
Do I smell more human?
I've already spoken to T'Pring and to your family.
What did you tell them, Captain? Because T'Pring's mother...
If she heard I was human?
This could be a serious disaster!
Whoa. Whoa.
I simply told them that you were in an accident
and you're recovering on the ship.
They agreed that it was logical to postpone the dinner.
That is... reassuring.
Nurse Chapel is already working around the clock
to find a way to reverse your genetic alteration.
But in the meantime,
there is nothing...
Technically... wrong with you.
Then I should return to my duties and social obligations.
Well, mm...
all right. But take it easy, Mr. Spock.
Go slow. Get your sea legs under you.
All right?
Aye aye, Captain.
- (door whooshes open) - I hope this isn't a mistake.
So, he's like, "Sorry, I'm only human...
from the neck up."
(laughter)
(chuckles softly)
Now, the point of whisking is to add air
to increase the volume of the eggs...
I'm sorry, but Captain, what is that amazing smell?
Um...
Oh, it's the bacon.
Bacon?
(sniffing deeply)
Fascinating.
SAM: Analysis of the stable vortex
suggests the Kerkhovians may have moved on
from their planet to interdimensional space.
Don't forget to clean that up when you're done, Lieutenant.
Okay. Sure.
As I was saying...
(laughing)
Human... from the neck up?
- Yeah. - (laughter continues)
Mmm. Mmm. Smoky and salty and sweet
and soft and crispy all at the same time.
I must have more.
SAM: Scans of the moon
revealed the remains of several cultural sites.
Mr. Kirk!
Clean your mess.
Are you serious?
(laughing)
(thump)
Don't you get it?
- Don't you get it? I got it. - Yeah.
Spock, I'd slow down a bit if I were you.
Slow down? I'm making up for lost time.
Why do I feel nauseated?
(braying)
Sorry. Got so thirsty.
- (growling) - Oh, oh...
Don't test me, Kirk!
I will break you!
I'll clean it up.
(grunting)
Emotions must be new to you.
Vulcans have emotions. We learn to suppress them.
These human feelings are different.
They're intense,
and they never stop.
What you're going through... It sounds a lot
like being a human teenager.
- You've felt like this before? - Oh, yes.
Adolescence is a delightful cocktail
of anger, fear, sexual attraction
and, uh, hunger.
You're constantly snacking, like, so many snacks.
(chuckles) I am hungry.
But I'm also sad
and frustrated.
I also feel...
strange feelings stirring.
And now I'm embarrassed.
(clears throat)
You just need to work on impulse control.
(buzzer sounds)
Damn it.
(sighs)
Have you been here all night?
Oh, well, my protein sequences
keep collapsing into goo.
I don't know how those aliens did this.
They are inscrutable, interdimensional beings
who don't experience space and time the way we do.
That might be part of it.
I feel responsible.
If I hadn't been there, then maybe they wouldn't have
done what they did to Spock.
If you hadn't been there, he might be dead,
and you wouldn't have had a chance to save him at all.
Survivor's guilt is easy to spot from the outside,
but it's not fun from the inside.
Take a break, then.
Are you forgetting something important?
Interview. Oh, I got to go.
Hi, I'm Christine. Apologies for the delay.
I read your essay, Miss Chapel,
and frankly, I'm not impressed.
Oh, I'm sorry you didn't like what I had to say.
Your reproduction of the principles were sloppy,
you did not recreate the proper syntax,
and your word choice varied too much from the original.
I was just trying not to repeat them word for word.
Memorization is a core part of this fellowship.
You must commit to memory a year's material
to even be considered for my seminar.
Well, I just thought that maybe my field work would be relevant,
- given that I've made several discoveries. - Field work.
-Hmm. I will glance at it. That is all. -What?
We're done?
I have all I need. We will contact you.
Good day, Miss Chapel.
Christine?
Oh, hey, Spock.
Are you okay? You look upset.
Yeah. It's just been a tough day.
I'm fine. I'll be fine.
Is it about the fellowship?
Uh, I don't really want to talk about it.
Vulcans can be such jerks.
It felt like you needed that. Did I read the moment wrong?
No, it was really nice.
It wasn't typical for you.
Is that okay?
Um, how's, uh, feeling going?
It's a lot.
I'm still getting used to it.
It's not all bad.
Sometimes I don't cry in the shower.
Kidding.
Sorry. I'm fine.
I'll be fine.
PIKE (over comm): Pike to Spock.
Meet me in the transporter room right away.
Acknowledged.
Is it an emergency, Captain?
That depends on your definition of emergency.
Your mother is beaming aboard.
Pelia sends her regards.
She regrets she can't be here, but she's off dealing with
our dilithium shortage.
Knowing her, she's probably off procuring
some weird antiques as well.
She did seem awfully enthusiastic
- about purchasing dilithium. - (chuckles)
Spock, I am so sorry for surprising you like this, but...
Why are you wearing that silly hat?
It's not silly. It's regulation.
I have one just like it.
Regardless, I come with news.
T'Pring's family is not happy.
The engagement dinner has been moved several times
due to your Starfleet schedule, a fact which
they are not understanding about.
We have to do the V'Shal dinner now
or the wedding is off.
But that's impossible.
For many reasons.
Right, Captain?
Uh, uh, y... The... Yeah, the-the, um,
schedule is quite full.
But I thought you're on half-duty rotation
to give the crew rest.
That is technically
true.
Good. Because...
T'Pring and her family
have agreed to have the dinner here
tomorrow night.
What wonderful news.
Spock,
are you all right?
You look upset.
I am not upset.
I am merely experiencing...
muscle spasms from the accident.
It's good that we're doing this here, then,
where you can be close to your doctor.
Now, we must discuss the V'Shal rituals.
There are three of them,
and with T'Pring's mother,
there is no room for error.
I'm afraid the muscle spasms are getting worse.
Uh, perhaps we should, uh, go to sickbay.
Or perhaps we should just tell them we can't do it.
Spock, I'm afraid that simply isn't logical.
I don't care about logic.
I was in an accident and I'm in absolutely no state
to possibly do this dinner.
What part of that do you not understand, Mother?
Take off your hat.
Spock, you're human.
Hi, Mom.
And you're sure there is no way to revert him back...
Our people are working on it, but there's no guarantee
they'll be able to do it before the dinner.
So we have to postpone.
These rituals have to go perfectly,
and clearly I'm not Vulcan enough to pull that off.
The situation between our two families
is more tense than you realize.
T'Pring's mother is already skittish
about the union because of me.
You never told me this. Why You?
T'Pring's father values a connection to Sarek,
which is why he agreed.
Her mother, on the other hand, is proud,
and not overly fond of humans,
and would be all too happy for any excuse to back out.
Don't you think discovering her future son-in-law
is fully human would be that excuse?
Ho-Hold on, are we really talking about
the end of their engagement
just because Spock is temporarily not Vulcan?
Vulcan engagements are complex. If the agreement's
broken, the union won't be recognized
under Vulcan law.
T'Pring's family would reject her
if she chose to remain with Spock.
It's considered a great shame,
and no choice at all for a true Vulcan.
So what are our actual options here?
I pretend to be Vulcan?
- I couldn't even fool you. - Well, a mother knows.
Plus, you aren't a practiced liar.
Yet.
Mother,
are you honestly suggesting...
I'm going to do what I should have done
many years ago.
I'm gonna teach you about your human side.
I'm gonna show you how to lie.
With the Captain's help, of course.
Do I have a choice in the matter?
You do not.
First, we have to make you look Vulcan.
We couldn't do it genetically,
as it might affect the cure Nurse Chapel is rendering,
so we made these instead.
AMANDA: The V'Shal ritual
starts with the family tea.
Spock, you must make their family's recipe
and serve it.
That doesn't seem so hard.
That would be the handling
of a traditional Vulcan teapot.
That's scalding hot.
To a Vulcan, it would be painless.
How did you...
One thing I've learned about being
a human on Vulcan
is how to suppress my own pain.
How to speak like a Vulcan.
Like this. Flat. No emotion.
I am Vulcan.
(deep voice): Flatter. More robotic.
I am Vulcan.
I love logic.
Notice how I move my eyebrow
but no other muscles in my face.
Mm.
Do I really sound like that?
ALL: Yes.
Absolutely.
The Ritual of Awareness.
When a young couple is made aware
of all of their faults and their flaws.
Right, so he just has to keep his cool.
While the timer counts down,
T'Pring's parents will tell you
all of the things they think that you are doing wrong.
They might, for instance, ask you
how you plan on having a future together
when you spend months apart from each other.
Are you kidding?
- You're going there already? - ORTEGAS: Spock.
She hasn't even started.
Sorry.
The last ritual: The Mind Meld.
You and I will share a memory of your childhood,
or at least pretend to.
My mind to your mind.
My thoughts to your thoughts.
Don't grit your teeth like that.
Try pretending maybe you're seeing something,
like memories.
You look constipated.
I'm trying to pretend I'm seeing her memories.
Perhaps don't try as hard. Hmm?
My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts.
- geez, now you seem kinda pushy. - She's right.
I don't know what you all want from me.
I don't see her memories and it's weird.
I'm used to seeing them. I don't know how to fake it.
I don't think that we're gonna be able
to pull this off.
What are you talking about? This was your idea.
Yes, I realize that.
But in order for it to look real,
it must be real.
And T'Pril is gonna see that it isn't.
Even your friends can sense it.
Then we'd better hope that Dr. M'Benga and Nurse Chapel
can come up with a cure before we get to the mind meld.
- M'BENGA: Problem with the modeling? - Big problem.
The Vulcan genome is failing
to replace the duplicated human copy.
Did you use pseudosynapsis treatments
- to inject a time delay into his... - Yes.
Yes, I'm way ahead of you.
The problem isn't the time delay.
The problem is histone unspooling.
The models are telling me we have 24 hours.
After that, the cells lose all genetic plasticity.
Oh, dear.
If we can't change him back he's gonna be stuck like this.
Perhaps Federation standard gene therapy isn't robust enough.
I have some more experimental techniques
I've pulled from the Trinar.
No, Trinar regression won't work.
None of your experimental techniques will work.
I've been through everything you keep back there.
We can't do it.
Christine, you can't lose hope.
No, listen to me.
We can't do it,
but we already know who can
because they did it before.
The Kerkhovians.
But how are you possibly going to...
I can be very persuasive.
You want me to fly the three of us to another dimension
so you can talk with some ancient aliens?
No. I want you to fly us adjacent to another dimension
so we can send a signal to some ancient aliens.
I think it could work.
I mean, the data chip stopped functioning,
but I think if we fly close enough
to the anomaly, we could use its ambient energy
to route a signal through.
And the captain actually okayed this?
'Cause last time we sent a shuttle there, it crashed.
If we don't do this now,
Spock is going to be stuck like this.
I was in that crash with him, and I survived,
while he... was changed.
If there is a way to save him, I have to try.
Could we get these to go, please?
♪ ♪
Are you ready to do this?
T'Pring will arrive first.
I will walk her to the captain's quarters
and let her know what's going on.
And I will delay T'Pril and Sevet
for as long as I can to give you more time.
It's gonna be okay.
Will it?
Yes.
Then... energize.
T'Pring, parted from me...
Spock, I have spent the last two days with my mother.
I can stomach no more formalities.
I... understand.
It is good to see you.
You look strange.
This is not a good time to change your hair.
Amanda, thank you for being here.
Of course.
I gather T'Pril is being her usual self?
Yes. It is... challenging.
Allow me to greet them for you, then.
Shall we go?
(door whooshes open)
Before the ritual, there is a matter we must discuss.
It pertains to your mother.
Must we? She has already taken up a great deal of space
and later I must share my mind with her.
I know how much you have sacrificed, being with her.
She has been particularly difficult lately.
We debated for three hours
over this outfit.
That is...
fascinating?
I suppose it is,
in the way that it is fascinating
that some species eat their young.
(snorts)
(clears throat)
(coughs)
I am sorry.
I was choking.
You must be more careful.
If anything goes wrong,
T'Pril will use it to end our engagement.
She would actually do that?
Oh, Spock,
you have no idea.
Now, what is it that you wanted to tell me?
Just...
that I will do my best
to ensure everything goes as planned.
These quarters seem quite comfortable.
They will suit our needs for the V'Shal ritual.
They are merely adequate,
and they carry an unfortunate odor.
I am afraid she's right.
I did not notice it before.
Vulcan women are more sensitive to odors.
Is that not true, T'Pring?
Yes, Mother.
I can smell it, too.
We all know what it is.
Your house on Vulcan would surely have been finer,
but due to Spock's injuries, we are grateful
for your understanding in the change in venue.
Yes. His injuries.
What exactly is wrong with him?
We have not had time to discuss the accident.
Spock?
I was in a shuttle accident. There was...
extensive nerve damage.
And also,
my eyebrows were singed.
Oh, yes, when you look closely,
you can see...
they have been altered.
Captain Pike spent all night working on Vulcan specialties.
Yes.
I made traditional tevmel
- for the occasion. - SEVET: Oh!
These are delicious.
But one could hardly call them traditional.
Mm. That is true.
They have diverged from tradition a bit.
The twist is far too elaborate,
the halak is not fresh, and it seems to be...
(sniffs) ...salted.
I... did not realize.
Well, I used salt to slow fermentation
since the-the starship runs at a hotter temperature
than your typical Vulcan kitchen, so...
A clever adaptation.
Perhaps you just need more practice.
It is late. We must begin the ritual.
Uh, IN-must we? I-I still have
a great deal more Vulcan food to serve.
Oh, really?
That is, I am sure it can wait.
T'Pring, would you not prefer to eat more?
I am not hungry.
COMPUTER: Gravitational anomaly detected.
Any luck patching in our call?
I'm trying, but there's too much gravimetric interference
to connect through the rift.
Would it help if we moved closer?
It would, but...
Closer? To the gravitational anomaly
that nearly killed you and Spock?
Sure, that's a... that's a great idea.
Please?
I could probably get a little closer.
I see the problem.
There's a distortion field blocking us.
I think if we could wedge ourselves in the door,
I might be able to thread a signal through.
- Wedge ourselves in the door? - That is not
possible. Gravitational shearing would tear the ship apart.
UHURA: Except, remember what the Kerkhovian said?
On the other side of that
is some kind of... transport tunnel.
It's probably mostly empty.
"Probably" is a lot to bet on.
Think of the ocean in a storm.
The surface is moving like crazy,
but when you get under it, it's calm.
Yeah, I hate analogies. It is never really
like you say it is.
Look, I can't ask either of you to risk your lives for this.
But if there is a chance to save Spock, I have to try.
He didn't choose to be like this.
Should we even try to contact Enterprise about this?
I can't reach anything outside a light-year's distance
with all this interference.
Like it or not, it's up to us.
So, what... I got to be the one
to vote against doing the crazy maneuver?
Does that sound like me?
So, we're doing this?
We're doing this.
Hold onto your butts.
♪ ♪
(quietly): Don't rush this,
or the pomkot leaves will fail to bloom.
Acceptable.
T'PRING (whispering): Well done.
CHAPEL (muffled, echoing): Where are we?
ORTEGAS: What happened to the ship?
UHURA: Did we die?
(regular volume): Are we dead?
ORTEGAS: Okay.
Maybe not dead, but
if someone said we were,
I wouldn't be at all surprised.
We must be in interdimensional space.
Hello?
Is anyone there?
KERKHOVIAN: Hello.
Hi.
Um...
I spoke to you earlier, I think.
Are you Yellow?
KERKHOVIAN: No. I am Blue.
I am of Kerkhov. You came to me.
Right. Uh...
We need your help.
My friend who, um,
your people, um...
- Remediated. - Remediated.
Only you didn't fix him correctly, and I'm trying to,
but I can't without your help.
BLUE: Remediation was made. No complaints were lodged.
- Therefore, no... - No. See,
remediation was not made. You messed him up.
My friend, Spock... you, um...
you read his instructions wrong,
and you turned him into something
that he's not.
And now, if I don't get your help,
we won't be able to turn him back ever again.
BLUE: This is irregular. A complaint
outside of the response period.
Where is Yellow?
Could we maybe speak to Yellow, please?
So... what do we do now?
We wait.
T'PRING: Thank you, Amanda.
I am grateful for any awareness you provide me.
T'Pring, you could visit more.
(T'Pril clears throat)
AMANDA: And you could have more self-confidence.
Have I not said the same to her?
This is not satisfactory.
T'Pril is very good at creating awareness.
T'Pring knows how I feel.
I did not wish to be needlessly cruel.
Your human instincts are fighting the very purpose
of this ritual.
A Vulcan, logically, wants to improve.
We make them aware.
You are being too timid.
Thank you, Mother.
I am grateful for any awareness you provide me.
You are already aware of all the ways
in which you could do better.
But Spock is not.
I am grateful for any awareness you provide me, T'Pril.
Spock, you are a disappointment.
You have turned your back on your planet,
your people, your family
and our daughter.
While many Vulcan men would stand willingly
at T'Pring's side,
you abandon her for months on end.
Thank you, T'Pril, for...
I am not finished.
You disrespect your family name,
choosing Starfleet over all else.
Your father, Sarek, is correct to shut you out.
To not embrace your choices.
It is only logical to conclude that you have failed him
as a Vulcan and as a son.
You simply do not deserve our daughter.
T'PRING: Mother.
The Awareness Ritual is over.
I must... use the bathroom.
A Vulcan should have a more resilient bladder.
(muffled scream)
(sighs)
Spock to M'Benga.
M'Benga here.
This is not going well. How is the cure coming?
We've hit a roadblock.
Nurse Chapel went to find the Kerkhovians.
She what?
And you just let her go?
You and I both know that when Christine
sets her mind to something, she is hard to stop.
Do you know where she is now?
Hello. I am Yellow.
Yes. Yes, uh,
I'm trying to find some help for my friend Spock.
YELLOW: Remediation was made. No further contact is...
No, we... I know you think we shouldn't contact you,
but you made a mistake, and we need your help to fix it.
YELLOW: A complaint outside of the response period is irregular.
What is your relationship to this being?
Oh. Um... he's my friend.
YELLOW: Friends are not allowed complaints
- outside of the response period. - What? Why not?
YELLOW: Because they do not have sufficient connection
to the being in question.
Uh, but... friends are different in our world.
We... we care about them.
YELLOW: You are each other's... caregivers?
No.
Well, sort of.
YELLOW: This would answer a question we had.
During the accident,
the other being diverted the shields away from himself
to protect you.
He what?
YELLOW: He chose to protect you,
at the risk of his own life.
So...
...can you explain?
What is your relationship to this being?
I don't know.
Oh, my God. Christine, come on.
Seriously, you do know. Tell them.
Tell them what? I don't know what to say.
Tell them you like Spock, that you have feelings for him.
Are you so obtuse that you don't even see that?
- It's complicated. - UHURA: Then make it simple.
Because if you don't,
he'll never be like how he was again.
Okay?
- Oh. - (sighs)
Spock is...
He's my friend.
And...
maybe sometimes,
I wish that we had...
more...
connection.
But when you healed him,
you changed him.
You made him, um, easier to talk to,
someone who probably, um...
understands my feelings a little better.
But, um...
...it's not him.
At least,
it's not all of him because
you took away the other part,
a part that I was connected to.
And I miss him... as he was.
Can you please help put him back?
T'PRIL: Spock,
the time has come for the mind meld.
Spock,
are you all right?
Uh, before the next ritual, I'd like to interject.
Uh, hi. Uh,
as a nod to Spock's human heritage,
uh, uh, an Earth tradition
that I believe would greatly... deepen the ceremony.
Yes, uh, uh, it's the very important...
Earth tradition of...
Ch-Charades.
I understand this is a union of different cultures,
but must we interrupt our sacred rituals to perform this...
Charades is very important.
I am afraid that we must.
Captain, can you explain the rules?
Traditionally, uh, charades...
Well, it's-it's played in two teams.
- Each team is given a word. - SEVET: What sort of word?
A sacred word?
Yeah.
(door chimes)
Mr. Spock, I have your vitamins.
Apologies.
This is part of my treatment for my injuries.
Please, continue.
PIKE: Uh, so if the sacred word has two
sacred syllables, uh, I'd, uh,
I'd go, "First syllable, sounds like."
Ear.
Uh, the Vulcan genome should start coming back immediately,
and physical changes may take a couple hours.
I'm glad to see you're okay. I was worried about you.
Why did you do it?
On the shuttle,
you moved the shields to save my life.
I...
It was the logical choice.
As a Vulcan, I had a higher likelihood of survival.
Just logical, huh?
Christine,
I feel many things.
It's confusing.
Yeah, I know. For me, too.
(sighs)
I have to tell you...
Get back out there.
You have people waiting.
Spock, what memory did your mother share with you?
An ordinary day.
One in which she took me to school.
This seems rather mundane.
Mother, it is illogical
to criticize the nature of a memory.
The ritual has been completed.
Your assessment is not required.
Only your acknowledgement of the conclusion of the dinner.
It is acknowledged.
Do we have any more of that tevmel?
I had my doubts, Spock,
but despite many faults beyond your control,
you have completed the required steps of our agreement.
Thank you, T'Pril.
That must have been very difficult for you to say.
Many faults beyond my control.
Your Vulcan nature is diluted.
So it must have been challenging to hold on to your logical side.
I am impressed that you achieved this,
despite your...
handicap.
SPOCK: Because it would have been impossible
for a human to have gone through this ritual successfully?
Without question.
What are you doing?
So, it must be a great embarrassment to know
that this entire ritual was performed
by a human, not a Vulcan.
SEVET: Is this part of charades?
How many syllables did this human use?
Sevet, I am the human.
Spock.
SPOCK: You refer to my human side as a handicap.
Yet my mother is the most resilient,
compassionate, tolerant person I have known.
One who has been judged by Vulcans her entire life.
And yet she stands by... For love,
for family, for me.
That is no handicap.
That is true strength.
And I am sorry that it has taken until now
for me to speak these words to you.
Thank you, Spock.
I am confused that you did not feel comfortable
telling your own fiancée about your condition.
I felt that, given how difficult it is for Vulcans to lie,
to leave you out of it was more logical.
We have been through so much together.
We have shared katras.
And yet...
Was there no point at which you even considered letting me know?
In the heat of my human emotions,
I did not want to burden you.
You seemed overwhelmed by your mother.
While there is logic to what you say,
I should also note
that you seem to have involved nearly everyone else
on this ship in your ruse.
How am I meant to feel?
I have told you before that I accept you,
human side and all.
But it would seem that despite this,
and all that we have been through,
you still do not trust me.
T'Pring,
I did not mean to...
I should have...
Perhaps it would be best if we took time apart.
(door whooshes open)
VARAL: Miss Chapel.
I am calling to let you know that we have chosen
not to offer you a fellowship.
You are welcome to apply again if you decide that
is an appropriate use of your time.
I went to interdimensional space today.
I do not see how that is relevant.
I encountered a species that hasn't interacted with humans
or Vulcans for centuries.
I convinced them
to help me
with an ancient medical procedure.
What sort of medical procedure?
You can read about it in my paper
when it comes out later this year.
I would consider applying again,
but, you know, the truth is...
...I don't think your fellowship is ready for me.
So, as you can see, Captain,
it has been quite a day.
Spock...
can I offer you one more human ritual that I find
helps at moments like these?
What is it called?
Commiseration.
Mother,
the memory you chose...
The first time Vulcan children asked me to play with them...
Why did you choose it?
Because it was the first time
I saw that you felt accepted.
Only, seeing it through your eyes,
I realize now that you were not.
You were shunned by Vulcan mothers.
But you were happy, and their
judgement was a sign
of their own weakness, not ours.
And yet I see now what you gave up.
What you chose to live through, as a human on Vulcan.
I feel it.
I have spent my entire life so focused
on finding my path as a Vulcan, I failed to see your journey.
It is not easy,
being a human who loves a Vulcan.
I was just on my way to see you.
I'm here.
What were you coming to see me about?
(door whooshes closed)
To tell you that T'Pring and I have decided to take time apart.
How do you feel about that?
I feel badly.
But also...
...it was necessary.
I am conflicted because I have feelings for someone else.
A Vulcan with feelings?
We have them.
They are more powerful than human feelings, which is why
we suppress them.
I don't want to suppress this one any longer.
I want to feel this.
What did you come here f...
What does this mean?
I don't know. Shut up.
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Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org