STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
Season 3, Episode 12

The Empath

Series: Original Series - (1966-1969)
Season: 3
Episode #: 12
Production #: 60043-63
Original Airdate: 12/06/1968

Writer(s): Joyce Muskat
Director(s): John Erman

Guest Stars
Kathryn Hays as Gem
Alan Bergmann as Lal
Davis Roberts as Dr. Ozaba
Jason Wingreen as Dr. Linke
Willard Sage as Thann

Uncredited Guest Stars
William Blackburn as Lt. Hadley
Roger Holloway as Ensign Roger Lemli
Dick Geary as a Security Guard

Stardate: 5121.5

Synopsis

The U.S.S. Enterprise goes to pick up research personnel on the second planet of the star Minara. While Kirk, Spock and McCoy are on the surface, a radiation storm endangers the starship and Scotty takes the Enterprise out of orbit, sure that the planet's atmosphere will protect the landing party from radiation.

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The three officers find themselves in an underground chamber shared with a mute humanoid which McCoy names "Gem." Two other humanoids, different from Gem, appear to them. They tell the men they are Vians, and take Kirk as a test subject to torture. He is assured, however, that it isn't he who is being tested. Gem, who turns out to be a fully functional empath, heals Kirk's wounds. The Vians tell the captain he must choose one of his men to be the next text subject. Each man volunteers, but McCoy wins, managing to anesthetize both Spock and Kirk, and is taken away by the Vians.

When he is returned to them, McCoy is near death. Gem attempts to cure him, but is frightened by the severity of his injuries. The Vians explain to them that they are testing Gem to see if her people are worthy as a species to be saved from their doomed sun. They are testing Gem's capacity for compassion and self-sacrifice. Overcoming her fears, Gem heals McCoy and the Vians decide that her species is to be saved. The officers are returned unharmed to the U.S.S. Enterprise.

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