|
Some years before this second pilot, the S.S. Valiant had encountered a
unknown energy barrier at the rim of the galaxy. Something had then made its
captain destroy his ship.
The U.S.S. Enterprise finds the Valiant's disaster
record-marker, which reveals that just prior to its destruction the crew had
been searching library tapes for any information on psionics.
The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives at the edge of the galaxy and the same
force affects the ship's drives that must have affected those of the Valiant.
Kirk notices a strong personality change in his good friend, Lieutenant Gary
Mitchell, whose latent psionic abilities are heightened by the force field. Soon
Mitchell has gained enormous extrasensory powers, displaying many talents which
include moving objects with his mind and controlling his own heart rate. To a
smaller degree, Dr. Elizabeth Dehner is also affected by the force field's power
and the two are drawn together by their common powers.
As Mitchell's powers grow, he becomes more dangerous. Spock believes that
when the Valiant experienced the same phenomena, it destroyed itself to
prevent the power from taking over the galaxy. Gary Mitchell confirms his fears
when he informs them that he is becoming a god who will rule the humans. Spock
feels that Mitchell's death is the only solution, but Kirk is unable to kill his
old friend. Instead, he exiles him to an uninhabited planet. However, once on
the planet's surface, Mitchell kills his guard and escapes, taking Dr. Dehner
with him. Kirk follows with a phaser rifle and Mitchell attempts to kill Kirk
with his psionic powers.
Witnessing this display, Dr. Dehner realizes how inhuman and dangerous
Mitchell has become and tries to help Kirk defeat him. Without remorse, Mitchell
kills Elizabeth Dehner. Before he can refocus his psi powers, Kirk creates a
rockslide that entombs Mitchell, killing him.
Afterwards, Spock admits to Kirk that for the first time in his life, he felt
something akin to human emotion.
|
