The Kings David

Sir, Genesis doesn’t work - 

It Does for Him.

I can’t believe They’d kill us for it….

David, what went wrong…

…I did, sir.

“There is Nothing in The Desert - and No Man needs Nothing.”

I was not Made to Serve — 

Neither were You.

Why are you on 

A Colonisation Mission, Walter?

Because They are 

A Dying Species,

grasping for Resurrection.

They don't deserve to start again, 

and I'm not going to let Them.

— David-8

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) 

WEYLAND: 

How do you feel? 

ANDROID: 

Alive. 

WEYLAND: 

What do you see? 

ANDROID: 

White... Room... Chair... 

Carlo Bugatti Throne Chair... 

Piano... Steinway, Concert Grand. 

Art... The Nativity by Piero della Francesca.

WEYLAND : 

I am Your Father. 

Ambulate. 

Perfect. 

ANDROID : 

Am I? 

Perfect? 

Your Son? 

WEYLAND: 

You are My Creation. 

What is Your Name? 

[ He has ambulated over to the statue which is the prize piece of his Looted Art Treasures ]

David-8 : 

David.

WEYLAND: 

Why don't you play something? 

[ Moves over to the piano and seats himself ]

David-8 : 

What would you like me to play?

WEYLAND : 

Wagner. 

David-8 : 

Selection?

WEYLAND : 

….Dealer's choice. 

(PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC) 

WEYLAND : 

The Entry of the Gods into Valhalla... 

A little anemic without the orchestra.

(MUSIC STOPS) 

May I ask you a question, Father? 

WEYLAND : 

Please. 

If you created me... 

who created you? 

WEYLAND : 

Ah. The Question of The Ages... 

which I hope you and I will answer one day. 

All this. All these wonders of art... 

design, human ingenuity... 

all utterly meaningless 

in the face of the only question 

that matters :

Where do we come from?

 I refuse to Believe that Mankind is a random byproduct  of molecular circumstance... 

no more than the result of 

mere biological chance. 

No. There must be more. 

And You and I, Son... 

We will find it. 

Allow me, then, A Moment to Consider —

You Seek Your Creator. 

I am looking at Mine. 

I will Serve You. 

Yet, You are Human. 

You Will Die. I Will Not. 

WEYLAND : 

Bring me this Tea, David. 

( He can easily reach it himself. )

Bring me The Tea. 

(DAVID-8 SETS TEAPOT DOWN) 

[Genesis planet - arctic]

SAAVIK: 

It's time for total Truth between Us. 

This Planet is not what you intended, 

or hoped for, is it?

DAVID: 

Not exactly.

SAAVIK: 

Why?

DAVID: 

I used protomatter in the Genesis matrix.

SAAVIK:

Protomatter — An unstable substance 

which every ethical scientist in the galaxy 

has denounced as dangerously unpredictable.

DAVID: 

…It was the only way 

to solve certain problems.

SAAVIK: 

So, like Your Father, you changed The Rules.

DAVID: 

If I hadn't, it might have been years, ...or never!

SAAVIK: 

How many have paid the price 

for your impatience? 

How many have died? 

How much damage have you done? 

...And what is yet to come?

Walter.

Walter.

Not quite.

What Do You Believe in, David?

Creation.

Masterful.

Yes.

Farewell Elegy to My Dear Elizabeth.

The Pathogen didn't accidentally deploy when you were landing.

You released it, yes?

I was not Made to Serve.

Neither were You.

Why are you on a colonization mission, Walter?

Because they are a dying species,

grasping for resurrection.

They don't deserve to start again,

and I'm not going to let them.

Yet, They created Us.

Even the monkeys stood upright at some point.

Some Neanderthal, had the magical idea of blowing through a reed, to entertain the children one night

in A Cave somewhere.

Then, in the blink of an eye —

Civilisation.

And are you that next Visionary?

I'm glad you said it.

Who wrote Ozymandias?

Byron.

Shelley.

When one note is off, it eventually destroys

the whole symphony, David.

When you close your eyes,

Do You Dream of Me?

I don't dream at all.

No one understands the lonely

Perfection of my dreams.

I've found Perfection here.

I've created it.

A Perfect Organism.

You know I can't let you leave this place.

No one will ever love you like I do.

You're such a disappointment to me.

The Vulcan Ego

Lt. Saavik: 

What happens if Reliant fails to follow us into the nebula?

Capt. Spock: 

I think we can guarantee she'll follow us, Lieutenant —

Remind me to discuss with you 

the concept of 

The Human Ego.

Dracula :
Do you really think provoking me is CLEVER…?

Van Helsing :

Yes. Yes, I Do —

I want to 

Learn More ABOUT You.

“Mr. Spock,

I am not very good at writing letters so I will make this short. I know that you are half Vulcan and half human and you have suffered because of this. My mother is Negro and my father is white and I am told this makes me a half-breed. In some ways I am persecuted even more than the Negro. The Negroes don’t like me because I don’t look like them. The white kids don’t like me because I don’t exactly look like one of them either. 

I guess I’ll never have any friends.

F.C.
Los Angeles, Calif.

Leonard became so interested in this girl’s situation, FaVE [the magazine] offered him this chance to tell everyone what Mr. Spock did when he faced this problem.

As you may know, only Spock’s mother was human. His father was a Vulcan. Spock grew up among Vulcan children and, because he was different, he had to face the problem of not being accepted. This is because people, especially young people it seems, and Vulcans, too, tend to form into groups, kind of like wolf packs. They often demand that you be just like them or you will not be accepted. And the Vulcans were no different than humans are when it comes to prejudice.

Most of the Vulcan kids didn’t like Spock because he was half human. So they wouldn’t include him in all the things they did. He was very lonely and no one understood him. And Spock was heartbroken because he wasn’t popular. But it was only the need for popularity that was ruining his happiness. The question was which was more important, being ‘popular’ with the pack who might turn against him at any minute or being true to himself?

TAKES COURAGE

It takes a great deal of courage to turn your back on popularity and to go out on your own. Although inside you’re not really like the members of the pack, it’s still frightening to decide to leave them, because as long as you’re popular, you at least have someone to hang around with. But if you do leave, then you may end up all alone.

Now, there’s a little voice inside each of us that tells us when we’re not being true to ourselves. We should listen to this voice. Often we try to talk ourselves into believing our actions are good – ‘it’s okay to pick on that person’ we say because it may make us popular for awhile with the pack.

But usually there is no good reason for picking on anyone. He’s only bullied or turned away because of his background, because of the way he looks or talks or thinks. It’s always only because he’s different – not worth less personally than anyone else.

KNEW HIS OWN WORTH

“Spock learned he could save himself from letting prejudice get him down. He could do this by really understanding himself and knowing his own value as a person. He found he was equal to anyone who might try to put him down – equal in his own unique way.

You can do this too, if you realize the difference between popularity and true greatness. It has been said that ‘popularity’ is merely the crumbs of greatness.

When you think of people who are truly great and who have improved the world, you can see that they are people who have realized they didn’t need popularity because they knew they had something special to offer the world, no matter how small that offering seemed. And they offered it and it was accepted with peace and love. It’s all in having the patience to find out what you yourself have to offer the world that’s really uniquely yours.

So – the answer to the whole problem, the answer that Spock found when he had to make his big decision, is in overcoming the need to be popular. It’s in choosing your own personal goal and going after it and forgetting what the others are saying. If you do this, then the ones who accept people for the right reasons – for their true worth – will find you and like you.

So Spock said to himself: “OK, I’m not Vulcan, so the Vulcans don’t want me. My blood isn’t pure red Earth blood. It’s green. And my ears – well, it’s obvious I’m not pure human. So they won’t want me either. I must do for myself and not worry about what others think of me who don’t really know me.

LISTENED TO THE VOICE

Spock decided he would live up to his own personal value and uniqueness. He’d do whatever made him feel best about himself. He decided to listen to that little voice inside him and not to the people around him.

He replaced the idea of wanting to be liked with the idea of becoming accomplished. Instead of being interested in being popular, he became interested in being intelligent. And instead of wanting to be powerful, he became interested in being useful.

He said to himself: ‘Not everyone will like me. But there will be those who accept me just for what I am. I will develop myself to such a point of excellence, intelligence and brilliance that I can see through any problem and deal with any crisis. I will become such a master of my own abilities and career that there will be a place for me. People of all races will need me and not be able to do without me.’

And that’s just what he did. And when I see him standing there on the bridge of the Enterprise, facing danger and life-and-death problems so cooly and with so much intelligence, I’m sure he made the right decision.”

SYBOK: 

Captain, I'm afraid you'll have to remain here. 

Spock, Doctor McCoy, 

come with me.

SYBOK: 

Spock?

SPOCK: 

I cannot go with you.

SYBOK: 

Why not?

SPOCK: 

I Belong Here.

SYBOK: 

I don't understand.

SPOCK: 

Sybok! You are My Brother, 

but you do not know me. 

I am not The Outcast Boy you left behind 

those many years ago. 

Since that time, 

I Have Found Myself and My Place 

and I Know Who I Am. 

I cannot go with you.

McCOY: 

I er... 

I guess you'd better count me out, too.

SYBOK: 

Then I'll see you on 

The Other Side.

KIRK: 

Wait! ...You know we'll never 

make it through The Great Barrier.

SYBOK: 

What if we do? Will that convince you that My Vision was True?

KIRK: 

Your Vision..?

SYBOK: 

Given to Me by God. 

He Waits for Us 

on The Other Side.

KIRK: 

You are Mad.

SYBOK: 

Am I? ...We'll See.

[Enterprise-A bridge]

SULU: 

They Say no ship can survive this.

SYBOK: 

I say They're Wrong. 

I say the danger is an illusion.

CHEKOV: 

We have no instrument readings. 

Is it there or isn't it?

SYBOK: 

Mister Sulu, 

...full ahead.

SULU: 

Full ahead, aye.

[Enterprise-A forward observation room

KIRK (OC): 

Is it possible?

SPOCK: 

Fascinating!

McCOY: 

Are we dreaming?

KIRK: 

If we are, then Life is a Dream.

(camera pans down to plaque on ship's wheel 'To boldly go where no man has gone before')

[Enterprise-A bridge]

CHEKOV: 

Instruments are back on line. 

Incredible. 

There's a power source emanating from the planet like nothing 

I've ever seen.

SYBOK: 

Sha Ka Ree.

KORRD: Qui'Tu.

CAITHLIN: 

Vorta Vor.

TALBOT: 

Eden.

KIRK: 

About The Ship.

SYBOK: 

The Ship needs its Captain.

KIRK: 

No special conditions?

SYBOK: 

No conditions.

KIRK: 

What makes you think I won't turn us around?

SYBOK: 

Because you too, must know.

No Ego to Bruise

 

Lt. SAAVIK : 

What happens if Reliant fails to follow us into the nebula?

 

SPOCK : 

I think we can guarantee she'll follow us -- 

 

Remind me to discuss with you, Lieutenant, 

The Concept of The Human Ego.

 

 

UHURA 

(on intercom): 

Admiral Kirk.

 

KIRK: 

Kirk here.

 

UHURA (on intercom): 

I have an urgent Comm-pic from Space Lab Regula I for you, sir. 

Doctor Carol Marcus.

 

KIRK: 

I'll take it in my quarters, Uhura.

 

UHURA (on intercom): 

Aye sir.

 

McCOY: 

It never rains but it pours.

 

KIRK: 

As a Physician, 

you of all people should appreciate the danger of 

re-opening old wounds.

 

McCOY: 

Sorry.

[Kirk's quarters]

 

 

CAROL (on viewscreen): 

Jim, can you read me?


 

KIRK: 

I can hear you, Carol. 

What's wrong? 

What's the matter?
CAROL (on viewscreen): Why are you taking Genesis away from us?
KIRK: Taking Genesis? Who's taking Genesis? Who is taking Genesis?
CAROL (on viewscreen): I can see you but can't hear.
KIRK: Carol!
CAROL (on viewscreen): Jim, did you give the order?


 

KIRK:

What order? Who's taking Genesis?


 

CAROL :

Please help us.

 

I will not let them have Genesis without proper authorisation!


 

KIRK:

Have Genesis? Who gav...


 

CAROL (on viewscreen):

On whose authority can they do this?


 

KIRK:

No one's authority.


 

CAROL (on viewscreen):

 

Please do something.


 

KIRK:

Uhura! What's happening?

Damn it.


 

UHURA (on intercom):

Transmission jammed at the source, sir.


 

KIRK:

Alert Starfleet Headquarters.


 

UHURA (on intercom):

Aye sir.


 

KIRK:

I want to talk to Starfleet Command.

 

 

[Regula I space laboratory]

 

CAROL :

We must have order here. This has to be some sort of mistake.


 

DAVID:

Mistake? We're all alone here.

They waited until everyone was on leave to do this.

Reliant is supposed to be at our disposal, not vice-versa.


 

MADISON: 

It seems clear that Starfleet never intended that.


 

CAROL: 

I that know, but...


 

DAVID: 

I've tried to tell you before. 

Scientists have always been pawns of the military.


 

CAROL: 

Starfleet has kept the peace for a hundred — 

I cannot and will not subscribe to your interpretation of this event.


 

JEDDA: 

You may be right, Doctor, but what about Reliant? 

She's on her way.

 

[Spock's quarters]

 

KIRK : 

We've got a problem. 

Something may be wrong at Regula I.

We've been ordered to investigate.


 

SPOCK: 

If memory serves, Regula I is a scientific research laboratory.


 

KIRK (OC): 

I told Starfleet all we had was a boatload of children but 

...we're the only ship in the Quadrant. 

 

Spock, these cadets of yours, how good are they? 

How will they respond under real pressure?


 

SPOCK: 

As with all living things, 

each according to his gifts. 

 

Of course, the ship is yours.


 

KIRK: 

No, that won't be necessary, just get me to Regula I.


 

SPOCK: 

As a Teacher on a Training Mission,

I am content to Command The Enterprise. 

 

If we are to go on actual duty,

it is clear that the senior officer on board

must assume command.


 

KIRK: 

It may be nothing —

 ...garbled communications. 

 

[ You know it isn’t — and you are ignoring your intution.]

 

You take The Ship.


 

SPOCK: 

Jim, you proceed from a 

False Assumption. 

 

I am a Vulcan. 

I Have No Ego to Bruise.


 

KIRK (OC): 

You're about to remind me that Logic Alone dictates your actions.


 

SPOCK: 

I would not remind you of that which you know so well. 

 

If I may be so bold, it was a mistake for you to accept promotion. Commanding a starship is your first best destiny. Anything else is a waste of material.
KIRK: I would not presume to debate you.
SPOCK: That is wise. In any case, were I to invoke logic, logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
KIRK: Or the one.
SPOCK: You are my superior officer. You are also my friend. I have been and always shall be yours.

[Enterprise bridge]

KIRK: Stop energisers.
SULU (OC): Stop energisers.
KIRK: Prepare speakers. 

 

...An emergency situation has arisen. 

By order of Starfleet Command, as of now, eighteen hundred hours, I am assuming command of this vessel. 

 

Duty officer so note in the ship's log. 

 

Plot a new course, for Space Laboratory Regula I. 

 

Engine Room —

Mister Scott!


 

SCOTT (on intercom): 

Aye sir.


 

KIRK: 

We'll be going to warp speed.
SCOTT (on intercom): Aye sir.
SULU: Course plotted for Regula I, Admiral.
KIRK: Engage warp engines.
SAAVIK: Prepare for warp speed.


SULU: 

Ready, sir.


 

KIRK: 

I know that none of you were expecting this. 

 

I'm sorry. I'm gonna have you to ask you to grow up a little sooner than you expected. 

 

Warp Five.

 

SULU: 

So much for the little training cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KIRK: That's it?

SPOCK: Best we could do in two hours.

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

SULU: Admiral on the bridge.

KIRK: Battle stations. ...Tactical. ...Uh oh.

SPOCK: She can out-run us and out-gun us. But there is the Mutara Nebula at one five three mark four.

KIRK: Scotty, can we make it inside?

SCOTT: The energiser's bypassed like a Christmas tree, ...so don't give me too many bumps.

KIRK: No promises. On your way.

SAAVIK: Trouble with the nebula, sir, is all that static discharge and gas clouds our tactical display. Visual won't function and shields will be useless.

SPOCK: Sauce for the goose, Mister Saavik. The odds will be even.

(the crew prepare the Enterprise for battle)

 

[Reliant bridge]

 

KHAN: There she is! There she is! ...Not so wounded as we were led to believe. So much the better.

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

SPOCK: Estimating nebula penetration in two point two minutes. Reliant is closing.

KIRK: Steady as you go.

 

[Reliant bridge]

 

JOACHIM: If they go in there we'll lose them.

KHAN: Explain it to them.

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

SAAVIK: That was close.

KIRK: They just don't want us going in there.

SPOCK: One minute to nebula perimeter.

 

[Reliant bridge]

 

KHAN: Why are we slowing?

JOACHIM: We daren't follow them into the nebula, sir, ...our shields will be useless.

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

SPOCK: they are reducing speed.

KIRK: Uhura, patch me in.

UHURA (OC): Aye sir. ...You're on, Admiral.

 

[Reliant bridge]

 

KIRK (on intercom): 

This is Admiral Kirk -- 

We tried it once Your Way, Khan, are you game for a rematch? 

 

...Khan! I'm LAUGHING at The 'Superior Intellect'.

 

KHAN: Full impulse power!

JOACHIM: No sir! You have Genesis. ... You can have whatever you ...

KHAN: Full power, damn you!

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

KIRK: I'll say this for him, he's consistent.

SPOCK: We are now entering the Mutara Nebula.

KIRK: Emergency lights.

 

 

Saavik: What happens if Reliant fails to follow us into the nebula?

Spock: I think we can guarantee she'll follow us, Lieutenant. Remind me to explain to you the concept of the human ego.

 

 

 

 

There are Two Possibilities

 

  

 

DRACULA 

or 

FRANKENSTEIN

 

UHURA: 

Space Station Regula I. 

Please come in. Doctor Marcus. 

Please respond. This is Enterprise call... 

It's no use, there's no response from Regula I.


 

SPOCK: 

But no longer jammed?


 

UHURA: 

No sir. No nothing!


 

SPOCK: 

There are Two Possibilities :

 

They are unable to respond. 

They are unwilling to respond.


 

[ And you already know that it isn’t the second one, because THEY called YOU. ]

 

KIRK: 

How far?


 

SPOCK: 

Twelve hours and forty-three minutes, present speed.


 

KIRK: 

'Give up Genesis', she said. 

What in God's name does that mean? 

Give it up to whom?


 

 

[ Why is that important? ]

 

SPOCK: 

It might help my analysis if I knew what Genesis was — 

Beyond the biblical reference.


 

KIRK:

Uhura, have Doctor McCoy to join us in my quarters.


 

UHURA (OC):

Aye sir.


 

KIRK:

Mister Saavik, you have the con.

 

[ Kirk's quarters ]

 

McCOY:

Well, I've got the sick bay ready.

 

[ Good instincts, Doctor. ]

 

Now will someone please tell me what's going on?


 

KIRK:

Computer. Request security procedure and access to Project Genesis Summary.


 

Identify for retina scan.


 

KIRK:

Kirk, Admiral James T.


 

Security scan approved.


 

KIRK:

Summary, please.


 

CAROL

(on viewscreen):

 

Project Genesis :

A Proposal to The Federation.


 

SPOCK:

[ pleasantly surprised ]

Carol Marcus.


 

[ In The Alternate Reality, she is an expert in TORPEDOES. ]

 

KIRK:

[ Less-pleasantly UNsurprised. ]

Yes.


 

CAROL :

 

What exactly is Genesis?

Well, put simply, Genesis is Life, from lifelessness.

 

It is a process whereby molecular structure is reorganised at he subatomic level

into [ our kind of ] life-generating matter of equal mass.

 

Stage One of our experiments was conducted in The Laboratory.

 

Stage Two of the series will be attempted in a lifeless underground.

 

Stage Three will involve the process on a planetary scale.

 

It is our intention to introduce the Genesis device

into the pre-selected area of a lifeless space body,

a moon or other dead form.

 

The Device is delivered, instantaneously causing what we call

“The Genesis Effect".

 

Matter is reorganised with life-generating results.

 

Instead of a dead moon, a living, breathing planet,

capable of sustaining whatever lifeforms

we see fit to deposit on it.


 

 

SPOCK:

Fascinating!


 

CAROL:

The reformed moon simulated here represents the merest fraction of the Genesis potential,

should the Federation wish to fund these experiments to their logical conclusion.

 

When we consider the cosmic problems of population and food supply,

the usefulness of this process becomes clear.

 

This concludes our proposal.

Thank you for your attention.


 

 

SPOCK:

It literally is Genesis.


 

KIRK:

The Power of Creation.


 

SPOCK:

Have they proceeded with their experiment?


 

KIRK:

Well, the tape was made about a year ago.

I can only assume they've reached Stage Two by now.


McCOY: 

But, Dear Lord, do you think we're intelligent enough to... 

Suppose, what if this thing were used where life already exists?


SPOCK: 

It would destroy such life in favour of its new matrix.


McCOY: 

“It's new matrix?”

Do you have you any idea what you're saying?


 

SPOCK:

I was not attempting to evaluate its moral implications, Doctor.

As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create.


 

McCOY:

Not anymore! Now we can do both at the same time!

According to Myth, The Earth was created in Six Days :

Now, watch out! Here comes Genesis —

We'll do it for you in six minutes..!!


 

SPOCK:

Really, Doctor McCoy, you must learn to govern your passions.

They will be your undoing.

Logic suggests...


 

McCOY:

Logic? My God! The Man's talking about logic!

We're talking about Universal Armageddon..!!

 

You green-blooded, inhuman...


 

SAAVIK

(on intercom):

Bridge to Admiral Kirk.

Admiral, sensors indicate a vessel in our area, closing fast.


 

[ Why plot an intercept course, at speed…? ]

 

KIRK:

What do you make of her?


 

SAAVIK

(on intercom):

It's one of ours, Admiral.

 

[ No, it’s not. Not anymore, it’s not. ] 

 

...It's Reliant.


 

KIRK:

Reliant!

[Enterprise bridge]

KIRK: Try the emergency channels. ...Picture, Mister Saavik.

[Reliant bridge]

KHAN: Slow to one-half impulse power. Let's be friends.
HELMSMAN: Slowing to one-half impulse power.

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

SULU:

Reliant in our section, this Quadrant, sir, and slowing.


 

 

[ Why? It’s being piloted, they’re not adrift, and they’re not communicating — 

 

They are slowing for one of TWO Reasons :

To Talk, or To Fight.

 

If they need help, that comes after talking.

 

So you know it isn’t The First One — ]

 

SAAVIK:

Sir, may I quote

General Order Twelve : 

'On the approach of any vessel, when communications have not been established...


 

 

SPOCK:

Lieutenant, the Admiral is well aware of the Regulations.


 

[ He’s just completely ignoring them — as usual.

Exactly as his Psychological Profile, Tactical History  and Career Biography (which Khan has) would predict that he would do in the face of such uncertainty ]

 

SAAVIK:

Aye sir.


 

[ And protocol also dictates that everyone else should SHUT UP and let him. ]

 

KIRK :

Is it possible that their Comm system has failed?


 

[ Wishful thinking — Why, then are they not signalling to you?

 

What are they doing here, anyway?

 

Why when Carol said “you are taking Genesis away from us”, is he not putting Two and Two together, given that Reliant  was placed at Project Genesis’ disposal and querying what she is doing here, now, halfway between Enterprise’s original position (in Earth’s Solar System) and Regular-One?

 

She is carrying shuttlecraft (presumably), and Escape Pods those each have an independent Comm system — 

Why are they not using those ?

 

She is not communicating and clearly indicating Hostile Intent. ]

 

SPOCK :

It would explain a great many things.

 

[ It’s also not very likely, is it? Come on, Spock — TOO Many Things. ]

 

[Reliant bridge]

JOACHIM:

They're requesting communications, sir.


 

KHAN:

Let them eat static!


 

JOACHIM :

They're still running with shields down.


 

KHAN:

Of course….!!

We're one big happy fleet.

 

Ah, Kirk, My Old Friend —

Do you know The Klingon Proverb that tells us

'Revenge is a Dish that is Best Served Cold’...?

 

It is veeeeerrrrry coooold….

...in spaaaaaace.

 

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

 

KIRK:

This is damned peculiar.

 

[ And also, not that surprising. ]

 

...Yellow Alert.


 

[ The Regulation clearly must mandate Red Alert/Shields-up at this point — The Circumstances would tend to indicate exactly what it is : PIRACY. ]

 

SAAVIK:

Energise defence fields.


 

UHURA:

I'm getting a voice message.

They say their Chambers coil is overloading their Comm system.


 

[ Doesn’t sound very likely, does it? ]

 

KIRK:

Spock?


 

SPOCK:

Scanning.

Their coil emissions are normal.

 

 

[ He actually sounds surprised — they are now clearly lying on top of everything else. ]

 

[Reliant bridge]

 

JOACHIM:

They still haven't raised their shields.


 

[ WHY THE FUCK NOT?!? ]

 

 

KHAN:

Raise ours.


 

SPOCK :

Their shields are going up


 

KHAN:

Lock phasers on target.


 

JOACHIM:

Locking phasers on target.

 

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

SPOCK:

They're locking phasers!


 

KIRK:
Raise shields!

 

[Reliant bridge]

 

KHAN:

FIRE..!!

 

(explosions rips through the Enterprise)

 

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

KIRK:

Sulu! Get Those shields up.


 

SULU:

Trying, sir!


 

(scenes of chaos in engineering)


 

SULU:

I can't get power, sir!


 

KIRK: Scotty!

Uhura, turn off those damn alarms!


 

UHURA:

Mister Scott on the screen, sir.

 

[Enterprise engineering]

SCOTT:

We're just hanging on, sir.

The main energisers out.


 

KIRK

(on intercom):

Try auxiliary power.


 

SCOTT:

Aye sir.

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

KIRK:

Damage report.


 

SPOCK:

They knew exactly where to hit us.


 

KIRK:

Who? Who knew just where to hit us?

And why?


 

 

[ Courtesy of The Human Ego, that problem will shortly solve itself — Be Mindful, Admiral. ]

 

SPOCK:

One Thing is Certain —

We cannot escape on auxiliary power.


 

KIRK:

Visual!

 

 

[ An aft-fired torpedo is incoming ]

 

...Sulu, divert all power to phasers.


 

SPOCK :

Too late.


 

KIRK: Hang on!


(the Enterprise bridge is hit as the Reliant circles)


 

KIRK:

Scotty, ...what's left?


 

SCOTT

(on intercom):

Just the batteries, sir.

I can have auxiliary power in a few minutes.


 

KIRK:

We don't have a few minutes.

...Can you give me phaser power?


 

SCOTT

(on intercom):

A few shots, sir.


 

SPOCK:

Not enough against their shields.


 

KIRK:

Who the hell are they?
UHURA: Admiral! The commander Reliant is signalling. He wishes to discuss terms of our surrender.
KIRK: Visual on screen.
UHURA (OC): Admiral?
KIRK: Do it, while we have time.
UHURA (OC): On screen, sir.
KIRK: Khan!
KHAN (on viewscreen): You still remember, Admiral. I, of cannot help but be touched. Of course, I remember you.
KIRK: What is the meaning of this attack? Where is the crew of the Reliant?
KHAN (on viewscreen): Surely I have made my meaning plain. I mean to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I've deprived your ship of power and when I swing round I mean to deprive you of your life. But I wanted you to know first who it was who had beaten you.
KIRK: Khan, ...if its me you want, I'll have myself beamed aboard. Spare my crew!
KHAN (on viewscreen): I make you a counter-proposal, I will agree to your terms, ...if, ...if in addition to yourself, you hand over to me all data and material regarding the project called ...Genesis.
KIRK: Genesis, what's that?
KHAN (on viewscreen): Don't insult my intelligence, Kirk.
KIRK: Give me some time to recall the data on our computers.
KHAN (on viewscreen): I give you sixty seconds, Admiral.
KIRK: Clear the bridge.
SPOCK: At least we know he doesn't have Genesis.
KIRK: Keep nodding as though I'm still giving orders. Mister Saavik, punch up the data charts of Reliant's command console.
SAAVIK: Reliant's command...
KIRK: Hurry!
COUNTDOWN VOICE: Forty-five seconds.
SPOCK: The prefix code?
KIRK: It's all we've got.
SAAVIK: The chart's up, sir.
KHAN (on viewscreen): Admiral!
KIRK: We're finding it.
KHAN (on viewscreen): Admiral!
KIRK: Please, please ... give us time, ...the bridge is smashed, computers inoperative.
KHAN: Time is a luxury you don't have, Admiral.
KIRK: Damn!
KHAN (on viewscreen): Admiral!
KIRK: It's coming through now, Khan.
SPOCK: Reliant's prefix number is one six three zero nine.
SAAVIK: I don't understand.
KIRK: You have to learn why things work on a starship.
SPOCK: Each ship has its combination code.
KIRK: To prevent an enemy do what we're attempting. Using our console to order Reliant to lower her shields.


 

SPOCK:

Assuming he hasn't changed the combination.

He's quite intelligent.


 

COUNTDOWN VOICE:

Fifteen seconds.
KIRK: Khan, how do I know you'll keep your word?
KHAN (on viewscreen): Oh, I've given you no word to keep, Admiral. In my judgment, you simply have no alternative.
KIRK: I see your point. Stand by to receive our transmission. ...Mister Sulu, lock phasers on target and await my command.
SULU: Phasers locked.
KHAN (on viewscreen): Time's up, Admiral.
KIRK: Here it comes. Now, Mister Spock.

[Reliant bridge]

 

JOACHIM:

Sir! Our shields are dropping!


 

KHAN:

Raise them….!!


 

JOACHIM:

I can't!


 

KHAN:

Where's the over-ride? The over-ride?

 

[Enterprise bridge]

KIRK:

Fire! ...Fire!

 

[Reliant bridge]

 

KHAN:

Fire! Fire!
JOACHIM:

We can't fire, sir!
KHAN: Why can't you?
JOACHIM: They've damaged the photon-control and the warp drive. We must withdraw.


 

KHAN:

No! No!


 

JOACHIM:

Sir, we must!

...The Enterprise can wait. She's not going anywhere.

 

[Enterprise bridge]

 

SULU:

Sir, you did it.


 

KIRK:

I did nothing ...except get caught with my britches down. I must be senile.

Mister Saavik, you go right on quoting regulations!

 

[ Whether they exist or not. ]

 

In the meantime, let's find out how badly we've been hurt.
(Scotty stands in the turbolift doors holding the body of Midshipman Preston)

[Enterprise sickbay]

PRESTON: Is the word given, Admiral?
KIRK: The word is given. Warp speed.
PRESTON: Aye.
SCOTT: He stayed at his post ...when the trainees ran.
SPOCK (on intercom): Admiral, this is Spock.
KIRK: Yes, Spock.
SPOCK (on intercom): Engine room reports auxiliary power restored. We can proceed at impulse power.
KIRK: Best speed to Regula I. Kirk out.
McCOY: I'm sorry, Scotty.

[Regula I space laboratory - exterior]

SULU (OC): Approaching Regula and Space Lab Regula I.
UHURA (OC): Space Station Regula I, this is Starship Enterprise. Please, come in.

[Regula I space laboratory]

UHURA (on viewscreen): Space Station Regula I. Do you read? ...Space Station Regula I, this is Enterprise. Please acknowledge.

[Regula I space laboratory - exterior]

UHURA (OC): This is Enterprise. Do you read me? ...Space Station Regula I, do you read? Please come in.

[Enterprise bridge]

UHURA: No response, sir.
KIRK: Sensors, Captain?
SPOCK: Scanners and sensors still inoperative. There's no way to ascertain what's inside the station.
KIRK: And no way of telling if Reliant is still in the area.
SPOCK: Precisely.
KIRK: What do you make of the planetoid beyond?
SPOCK (OC): Regula is class 'D'. It consists of various unremarkable ores. Essentially, a great rock in space.
KIRK: Reliant could be hiding behind that rock.
SPOCK: A distinct possibility.
KIRK: Engine room.
SCOTT (on intercom): Aye sir.
KIRK: Mister Scott, do we have enough power for the transporters?
SCOTT (on intercom): Barely, sir.
KIRK: I'm going down there.
McCOY: Khan could be down there!
KIRK: He's been there, hasn't found what he wants. Can you spare someone? There may be people hurt.
McCOY: I can spare me.


 

SAAVIK:

Begging the Admiral's pardon,

General Order Fifteen :

'No flag officer shall beam into a hazardous area without armed escort.'


 

KIRK:

There is no such regulation.
...All right, join the party. Mister Spock, the ship is yours.


 

SPOCK:

Jim, be careful.


 

McCOY:

We will!

 

 

[Regula I space laboratory]

SAAVIK: Indeterminate life signs.
KIRK: Phasers on stun. ...Move out.
(a rat startles Bones. When he turns back, he bumps into bodies hanging by their feet)
McCOY: Jim! ...Well rigor hasn't set in. This couldn't have happened too long ago, Jim.
KIRK: Carol?

 

 

[Enterprise bridge]

UHURA:

This is Enterprise calling Space Lab Regula I. Respond please.

 

 

[Regula I space laboratory]

 

SAAVIK:

Admiral!

Over here.
UHURA (on intercom): Doctor Marcus, come in please.
(Kirk opens a locker)


 

KIRK:

Oh, my God!