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.

 

 

 

 

Can't Get You Out Of My Head: An Emotional History of the Modern World

"What Happens to People when they are acted-upon by Powerful Ideas from Outside Them?"

AND...

"What Then Happens to Those Powerful Ideas, when They get inside Those People's Heads..?"

 

Adam Curtis interviewed by Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode

Simon Mayo & Mark Kermode talk to director Adam Curtis about his new series of documentary films,

 Can't Get You Out Of My Head: An Emotional History of the Modern World.

"What Happens to People when they are acted-upon by Powerful Ideas from Outside Them?"

A : “I Have a Bad Feeling About This...”

AND...

"What Then Happens to Those Powerful Ideas, when They get inside Those People's Heads..?"

A : The Force Awakens.

J.W.

Joss Whedon interviewed by Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo

"We were talking about Work Ethic --

Because Everyone in comparison 

to your output, Joss, and your Work Ethic, 

would appear to be slack and lazy --

Because, y'know, people work very hard, in Life, and they get their pay --

But you seem to be working, like, 

a hundred times harder than anybody else --

J.W. :

"Well, part of that is Smoke and Mirrors, I think, 

but part of it is that I do Love The Work,

and also, I DO Have A Problem,

A Serious Mental Problem :

It's Workaholism, and it's not fun, 

I Don't Do Anything Else --

Other People Have Lives,

and, They're Nice to Their Friends,

and They do all sorts of things that I forget to do in The Morning

(and that also includes Basic Hygiene, but let's not talk about that....) "

I mean, none of my schoolteachers could've told you, that this was going to happen 

(except perhaps my Film Professor) --

It wasn't until I began studying and making Film, and Television, that I discovered that 

That was Why I am Here,

and that was really 

The Only Reason --

So, The Story is -- correct me if I am wrong --

That you had finished the filming for Avengers, 

and you were supposed to have some time off --

like, Time-Off, go away with Your Wife, that kind of thing --

Time Off --

But instead of doing that, in the 2 weeks you actually had, between film and editing, Post-Production and whatever, you actually

made another movie --

Which is 'Much Ado About Nothing'.

Is that actually True...?

Yes -- 

It was, in fact, 

My Wife's idea....

 

DO NOT PASS 'GO!' DO NOT COLLECT £200

Bill Gates :

The 2021 60 Minutes interview

"Y'know, if Yer Goin' to ZERO -- 

You Don't Get to Skip Anything....

DO NOT PASS 'GO!'

DO NOT COLLECT £200

A.D. Walter S. Skinner

 

"You Have a Friend at The F.B.I."

-- X

 

SCENE 13 

X-FILES OFFICE;

FBI HEADQUARTERS; WASHINGTON D.C. 

Mulder sits at his computer and is typing something.

He clicks a button on the mouse and the printer fires up.

He takes the paper out and signs it.

It reads: 

 

"To Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner 

Please accept my resignation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation effective immediately. 

Sincerely, 

______________ (Mulder’s signature.) 

Fox Mulder." 

He leans back in his chair.

Later, Mulder takes his microscope and puts it in a box.

Skinner walks in and sighs. 

SKINNER:

When I started out,

this is where they kept the copier. 

 

MULDER:

At least back then,

it wasn’t just wasted space. 

 

Skinner walks towards him and tears up Mulder’s resignation form.

SKINNER:

It’s unacceptable. 

Mulder continues packing books into the box. 

Look, I know you feel responsible for Agent Scully,

but I will not accept resignation and defeat as self-punishment. 

 

MULDER:

All the forensics, the field investigations, the eyewitness accounts...

to still know nothing.

To lose myself... and Scully.

 

I hate What I’ve Become. 

 

Skinner sighs and takes his glasses off.

He walks a little bit as Mulder continues

putting folders and such in the box.

 

SKINNER:

When I was eighteen, I, uh...

I went to Vietnam.

 

I wasn’t drafted, Mulder, I...

I enlisted in the Marine Corps

the day of my eighteenth birthday.

I did it on a Blind Faith.

 

I did it because

I Believed it was The Right Thing to Do.

I don’t know, maybe I still do.

 

Three weeks into my tour, a ten-year-old North Vietnamese boy

walked into camp covered with grenades and I, uh...

I blew his head off from a distance of ten yards. 

 

Mulder looks at him, shocked.

He listens intently now.

 

I Lost My Faith.

Not in My Country or in Myself, but in everything.

There was just no point to anything anymore.

 

One night on patrol, we were, uh... caught...

and everyone... everyone fell.

I mean, everyone.

 

I looked down... at My Body... from outside of it.

I didn’t recognize it at first.

 

I watched the V.C. strip my uniform,

take my weapon and I remained...

in this thick jungle... peaceful...

unafraid... watching my...

my dead friends. Watching myself.

 

In the morning, the corpsmen arrived and put me in a bodybag until...

I guess they found a pulse.

 

I woke in a Saigon hospital two weeks later. 

 

He walks towards him.

 

I’m afraid to look any further

beyond that experience.

You? You're Not.

 

Your Resignation is Unacceptable.

 

You’re a Better Man than I,

Special Agent Fox Mulder.

 

 

He starts out. 

 

MULDER:

You. 

Skinner turns back.

Mulder sighs.

You gave me Cancer Man’s location.

You put Your Life in Danger. 

 

SKINNER:

Agent Mulder, every life, every day is in danger --

That’s Just Life. 

Take The Head and The Body Will Die

“The Borg assimilate Civilisations -

Not Individuals.”

Except when They DO.

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!