01x02 - Children of the Comet

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Star
Trek: Strange New Worlds...

Send someone else.

You don't want me in
command of that ship.

- You saw the future.
- I saw my own death.

APRIL: Your first officer
doesn't do down time well, Chris.

- Captain.
- Samuel Kirk.

Well, you're posted
to life sciences, and

he's your new boss.

Captain Pike.

Lieutenant La'An Noonien-Singh.
Chief of Security.

PIKE: Ah, the prodigy. Cadet Uhura?

- What's the mission?
- We explore.

We seek out new life

and new civilizations.

We boldly go where no
one has gone before.

(WIND WHISTLING)

(BABY FUSSING IN DISTANCE)

UHURA: Cadet's log.

Stardate . .

The Enterprise is
surveying the Persephone system,

where the crew is studying the behavior

of an ancient comet, C/ -Quentin.

I, however, am doing rotation

in landing party readiness protocols,

which doesn't really involve comets,

ancient or otherwise,

so duties are pretty slow at the moment.

Except, of course, for a
recent invitation to dinner

at the captain's cabin, for
which I have been encouraged

by Lieutenant Ortegas

to dust off my dress uniform.

(SIGHS)

You said it was formal.

Actually, what I said was you...

might want to wear your dress uniform.

Are you kidding? This is
your idea of a practical joke?

Kind of.

I'm going back to change.

You do not want to be late
to the captain's table.

(UHURA SIGHS)

Relax, Cadet. It's tradition.

- Hazing the newbie?
- All in good fun.

We get bored. It's a small ship.

You know, it's really not.

Come on.

Consider it your first complete square

in Enterprise bingo.

- You know about that?
- I was a cadet once too, Cadet.

So, what are these things like?

Well, first off, they're
not just the command crew.

Captain wants, you know, regular people,

to hear what's actually
happening on the ship,

so he'll probably ask you questions.

Great.

That a problem?

How do I put this?

My father liked to say
that I was unburdened

by conversational boundaries.

So, this'll be fun for you, then.

(DOOR CHIMES)

(DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN)

Lieutenant Ortegas, Cadet Uhura, wel...

(LAUGHS)

Dress uniform, huh? Grab a drink.

I got to deal with the ribs.

UNA: Ortegas, come help
refill drinks. Cadet Uhura,

- good to see you.
- You, too.

(MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY)

♪ Feel your eyes burn... ♪

(SIGHS)

(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)

Oh, uh, can I help?

No.

You have offended Hemmer,
our new Chief Engineer.

No offense intended.

I was raised to offer help to anyone

with a sensory impairment.

- If I was...
- That word again.

Sir?

"Impaired."

A human in my condition might
consider themselves impaired.

Hemmer may not be able to see,
but his other senses compensate.

HEMMER: Compensate? They are superior.

Uh, I've read that, among many things,

the Aenar have a form
of precognitive ability.

I knew you were going to ask that.

Because you sensed my
question before I asked it?

Because everyone always asks that.

Right.

HEMMER: You telegraphed
your throw, telepathically.

As was my intention, to illustrate.

(CHUCKLES)

This is a hazing thing, isn't it?

You guys are screwing around.

(SPEAKING ANDORIAN) _

(SPEAKING VULCAN) _

I think I need a drink.

I like her.

Indeed.

So, I have my phaser
out, and, sure enough,

down the street, there's
the Nausicaan we're after.

Running away, no pants on.

(QUIET LAUGHTER)

I move after him, only I
trip, flat on my face. I shout,

"Freeze!" But the
Nausicaan keeps running.

(LAUGHTER)

I try to stand up, but my
feet are caught on something,

and then I realize...

- I've tripped on his pants.
- (LAUGHTER)

PIKE: So, anyway,

after, my lieutenant
pulls me aside and says,

"Maybe Security isn't the
best fit for you, Ensign."

(LOUD LAUGHTER)

I've never understood
the human inclination

to laugh at others' misfortune.

It feels... impolite.

That's why it's funny.

Because it breaks a social expectation?

PIKE: Sometimes, Mr. Spock,

things go so badly
you just have to laugh.

(UHURA HUMMING)

(POURING)

What's that you're humming, Cadet?

Sorry. Bad habit.

Uh, it's an old folk song
from my village in Kenya.

I've visited Lake Simbi
Nyaima several times.

It is achingly beautiful there.

- I grew up just a few miles away.
- Really?

You know, the Enterprise
only gets a handful

of cadets a year from Starfleet.

You got to be pretty
impressive to make the cut.

Thank you, sir.

I hear you speak languages.

Uh, .

PIKE: Okay, wow.

Uh, in Kenya we have
native languages.

I found early that, if I
wanted to be understood,

it's best to communicate
in someone's own tongue,

so I learned them.

Easy as that?

For me, sir, yes.

I noticed you're on the
next landing party rotation.

I know it can be confusing

jumping from department to department.

- Right, Number One?
- That was one time.

(LAUGHTER)

I'm sure you've chosen
a specialty you'd like.

Where do you see yourself in ten y...

Ten years, where do you see yourself?

UHURA: Are you asking me what I want

to be when I grow up, Captain?

Sure.

I...

... guess the truth is, I'm not sure

I'm actually all that "Starfleet."

That's not something I've
ever heard from a cadet.

You worked pretty hard to get here.

You b*at out, how many,
a thousand applicants?

Several thousand.

PIKE: And now you're not
sure if you want to be here?

I always wanted to
study alien languages.

I have an ear for them.

And a gift for understatement.

I was going to attend
the University in Nairobi.

Both my parents taught there.

Mm-hmm.

About a week before I was due to start,

they were, uh...

k*lled in a shuttle accident.

My older brother, too.

I'm so sorry.

After, I just...

couldn't go to campus.

Their absence was...

everywhere.

I moved in with my grandmother,

but I just...

didn't feel like I fit

anywhere.

Anyway, she was in
Starfleet when she was young,

and she always used to talk about it,

and, well, I didn't
know what else to do.

So you ran away to Starfleet?

Yes.

That is an impressive and
heartbreaking story, Cadet.

That's me.

Well, Cadet, I appreciate your honesty,

and I sincerely hope
you discover a place

where you feel you do fit,

wherever that may be.

Guess I kind of blew it in there, huh?

Not at all, Cadet.

The captain values honesty, as do I.

But... ?

But I would say to you

that Starfleet has been
a lifelong dream for many,

myself included.

If it is not your path, you
might consider making way

for someone else who wants to walk it.

(SIGHS)

UNA: I've seen you ask that cadet

question a hundred times.

Tonight it felt different.

Is it because of what you told me,

about what you saw on Boreth?

Turns out, knowing your future

kind of takes the fun
out of imagining it.

Chris, have you considered that maybe

your fate isn't written?

Dusty Swender.

T'quiel Dawn. Muliq Al Alcazar.

Yuuto Hoshide. Andrea Lopez.

I could keep going. These are
the kids I save when it happens.

You know their names.

Lately, I've been saying
them over and over again,

like a reminder.

Stay the course, save their lives.

I refuse to believe
there isn't another way.

(COMM CHIMES)

SPOCK (OVER COMM): Captain
Pike to the bridge.

There is a problem with the comet.

SPOCK: The computer
simulation suggests that,

when the comet strikes
the planet in two days,

there will be no survivors.

Persephone III is an M-Class world.

Previous surveys suggests
it is home to an intelligent,

pre-warp species that
call themselves the Deleb.

Given their current state
of technological advancement,

it is highly unlikely that they're aware

- of the danger they are in.
- PIKE: Options?

The Deleb can't move the comet,

- so we move it for them?
- Mr. Spock?

An ion engine. To be precise, four,

programmed to fire in sequence

to account for the comet's rotation.

Got it. Number One, thoughts?

It could work.

We could use photon
torpedoes as launch vehicles.

Take about an hour for the retrofit.

A rosy assessment,
considering I'll be the one

doing the retrofitting.

Let's get it done, people.

We've got a planet to
save before breakfast.

I love this job.

Anyone want to tell me how a comet

puts up a force field?

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.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

We've tried every hail,
every scan you can think of.

If there's life on the
comet, we can't find it.

But we did find...

a structure.

It's enormous and mostly subterranean.

A structure suggests alien intelligence.

Which is why I've asked Sam
Kirk of Xenoanthropology here

to join us. So, let's
start with the obvious.

It looks like a comet, has
shields like a starship,

and a building on its
surface like a planet,

but no life signs.

Maybe it's not a comet at all,

but some kind of derelict spacecraft?

Okay, so how do we
shut down its shields?

Logic suggests this structure
is likely where we'll have to go.

Except it's got shields.

The shields are not constant.

They only appear in
response to a thr*at.

It should be possible
to beam to the surface

without triggering them.

Sam, are you aware of any civilization

that developed on the
surface of a comet?

First I've heard of one.

I'm starting to like the mustache.

Maybe you should try one for yourself.

La'An, you, Spock,

and Sam get suited up, and

this is the cadet's first away mission.

You wanted to learn to
speak alien languages...

go where the aliens are.

The surface of the comet is bombarded

by ridiculously high
levels of cosmic rays.

This will buy you two hours.

Any more and your insides
will turn to liquid.

Ow!

Ugh, you could've warned me.

Then you'd know it was gonna hurt.

You know I've had people run on me?

w*apon up, people.

Kirk, Uhura,

when you're recovered, with me.

You ready for this?

I am more than capable of managing
any pain you can induce.

(CHUCKLING) Mr. Spock.

Now you're just toying with me.

That was not my intention.

- I've noticed.
- Heads up.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

LA'AN: Remember, when we arrive,

gravity is a fraction of Earth normal.

Don't want anyone flying off into space.

Energize, Mr. Kyle.

- (SIGHS)
- You good?

Yeah.

I'm... standing on
the surface of a comet.

(EXHALES)

♪ ♪

Curious. According to my readings,

there is breathable
atmosphere inside the chamber.

We should make sure it's secure.

Lieutenant Spock, you scan the room.

I'll do a perimeter sweep.

SAM: These markings.

What do you think,
decorative or linguistic?

You're asking me?

Don't study linguistics
if you don't want people

to ask you questions about it.

Okay.

Fine.

It's just, uh...

You're a cadet, it's your
first away mission, I get it.

But you're here for a reason.

UHURA: These markings,

they repeat in a sequence.

A sequence, huh? Maybe a code?

I don't know.

Just...

Everything seems to point to this egg.

It's important, just...
I don't know how.

Do you think these markings
indicate some kind of control?

If they do,

then perhaps this is how we
can affect the comet's shields.

LA'AN: Perimeter's clear.

No one here but us.

Uh, Lieutenant, I
don't think that's a...

(CHUCKLES)

... a good idea.

Yahtzee.

Huh?

It's an old Earth game.

I am familiar with Yahtzee, Lieutenant,

but I am reading a
dangerous buildup of energy.

Please step away from the egg.

Turn him over. Get his helmet off.

His heart has stopped. We
need to get him to the ship.

LA'AN (CUTTING IN AND
OUT): Ent... prise.

We ne... ergency beam out.

La'An, your signal's spotty.
We can't quite hear you.

Lieutenant Kirk has been
injured. Beam us out.

Having trouble getting a lock.

Clear.

Energizing.

Captain, the force field.

It's back up.

(GRUNTS) Signal's being blocked.

I can't get them back.

Clear.

He's stable, for now.

All frequencies are down.

We're cut off from the ship.

We're on our own.

He sustained massive trauma
from electrical shock.

I've sedated him.

Uh, maybe we don't touch anything else.

Just a suggestion.

He will not survive without
prompt medical attention.

(TRICORDER BEEPING)

Seems that force field is back.

It appears the comet
wishes to keep us here.

What kind of comet knows
someone's walking on it?

A salient question, Cadet.

One that I am afraid
you may have to answer

in order for us to escape.

Sir, I'm reminding you this
is my first away mission.

SPOCK: That may be,

but the key to our escape

may well be in these
markings all around us,

and you are the only
linguistics expert here.

♪ ♪

Right now, I need ideas.

We've got a planet full of people

who will die without our help,

and our crew members are
trapped on that comet.

We need to get through
that force field. How?

Phaser harmonics?

A phaser at a higher frequency
could cause resonance.

The right frequency could shatter it.

I like this plan. This is a good
plan. Ortegas, bring us around.

How are we doing, Cadet?

At the moment,

pretending not to be
in way over my head.

Too honest?

I am a Vulcan. We are
"too honest" by nature.

Your girlfriend must love that, huh?

Nurse Chapel.

Nurse Chapel is not my girlfriend.

I know,

but she was flirting with you.

It was a joke. You know, to...

break the tension.

Do you not think this is an
inappropriate time for jokes?

It's like the captain said.

"Sometimes things go so badly

you just have to laugh."

I find the best way to diffuse tension

is to apply rigorous logic.

Okay.

That's always an option, too.

Phasers locked and ready, Captain.

On your command, Number One.

(expl*si*n)

- Incoming weapons fire.
- Damage report?

Minimal damage to port
nacelle. Shields holding at %.

Who hit us?

Uh, they did.

Hail them. On screen.

PIKE: This is Captain
Christopher Pike of the Federation

starship Enterprise.

Who are you and why are
you attacking our vessel?

We are the Shepherds.

Really?

That's how the universal translator

is processing it.

We escort M'hanit.

The comet?

M'hanit is far more than a comet.

M'hanit is one of the
ancient arbiters of life.

Okay.

If you tamper with it again,

we will not hesitate to destroy you.

Scan the ship.

What kind of weapons
are we dealing with?

Our intentions were not hostile.

M'hanit is on a collision
course with an inhabited planet.

We were simply trying
to divert its trajectory.

Absurd.

Would you adjust the height of the waves

or the position of the stars?

M'hanit's course is preordained.

There are millions of
people on that planet.

The impact will k*ll them all
and likely blow your comet...

Uh...

Blow your M'hanit
into just as many pieces.

SHEPHERD CAPTAIN: Are you
a reasonable man, Captain?

I-I'd like to think so, yes.

Then please entertain the proposition

that M'hanit is not,

as you continue to call him,

a comet.

It is an instrument,

an ancient arbiter,

one of the few remaining in the galaxy.

If it is his will to move, he will move.

If it is his will to bring life,

he will bring life.

If M'hanit wills

the planet to die, even
chooses to die with it,

then that is what will happen.

As I said, it is preordained.

Blowing up a planet full of
people is not preordained...

You said you were a
reasonable man, Captain.

So how can you know? Since before

our distant ancestors touched
the sky and the stars beyond,

my people have been charged

with the protection of the arbiters.

None of us even remember when
the charge first came to us,

but we accepted the mantle

with honor.

For centuries,

we have protected the arbiters
as they follow courses

set long before our suns

first b*rned in the sky,

bringing life across the galaxy.

It is not our prerogative
to interfere, Captain,

nor is it yours.

PIKE: Please, excuse me.

Pause communications.

Shepherds?

Zealots is more like
it. What did you find?

UNA: Their systems are
incredibly advanced,

their ships faster than ours,

and their w*apon systems...

Let's just say we don't
want to piss them off.

How exactly are we supposed to
move the comet without doing that?

We have to buy time
for the landing party

to get the force field down.

And hope these Shepherds don't find out

that they're down there.

I'm guessing they'd be
kind of touchy about that.

Ensign, resume communications.

You have your sacred duty. We have ours.

The Federation doesn't interfere
in the development of species,

but we also don't just let them die.

We don't mean to disrespect M'hanit.

We'd do the same for you
if you were in danger.

You say you don't interfere,
that you mean no disrespect,

but your crew has desecrated
the temple on his surface.

Guess they know about the landing party.

- We were simply trying to ascer...
- Their presence

is blasphemy.

M'hanit will be their tomb.

Any further action to rescue them

will be considered an act of w*r.

Find a way to get through to
the landing party right now.

Break the laws of
physics if you have to.

How is he?

Stable, and holding.

What about you, Cadet?

You gonna get us out of
here, or get us k*lled?

Right now, I'd say it's
pretty much a toss-up.

(UHURA HUMMING)

Your humming suggests you
may be experiencing distress.

May I remind you that circumstances

are less dire than they were.

Mr. Kirk identified
one error you can avoid.

By eliminating that option,
he has improved your odds.

Was that actually your
version of a pep talk?

Yes. I've been working on them.

How was it, would you say?

Maybe don't take your foot
off the gas on that one.

Well, you are achieving
your stated objective

of studying alien languages.

Like you said, I'm not
even supposed to be here.

That's not precisely...

You all should be relying
on someone who's prepared.

Someone actually Starfleet,

not someone who's gonna
get us all fried to a crisp.

As this is your first away mission,

may I assume it is also the first time

your life has been in danger?

Yes.

Kind of.

No, just yes.

Confrontations with our mortality

often cause us to see ourselves
as if from the outside.

Such a perspective can
be a unique opportunity.

You did not intend on being here,

but you are here.

Hypotheticals are irrelevant.

Today, you are, quite simply,

the only person for the job.

Will you rise to see it through?

That one was better.

Your pep talk, I mean.

(SIGHS)

(HUMMING)

(FAINT ECHOING RESONANCE)

(CONTINUES HUMMING)

Cadet.

The cave seems to be
reacting to your voice.

(HUMMING)

(FAINT RESONANCE INCREASES)

Music.

It responds to music.

Anything?

Nothing from the landing party,

but I found a possible signal
coming from the comet itself.

What kind of signal?

(MELODIC TUNE PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS)

Computer, identify this song.

COMPUTER: "Vamuvamba", a
traditional song from Earth,

originating in Kenya.

That cannot be a coincidence.

- (UHURA VOCALIZING)
- (CAVE RESONATING TO MATCH)

Different pitches elicit
different responses.

What's the light show? Is it good?

The comet's systems seem
to be controlled by music.

Lieutenant Kirk thought
these symbols were a code.

Music is just sound waves,

which can be represented by numbers.

What if the code is harmonics?

Someone help me out here.
I skipped music class.

Harmonics are just the
ratios between frequencies.

Every note vibrates at
a specific frequency.

Double that frequency,

and you get the same
pitch an octave higher.

That's the two in our code.

Triple the frequency, and
you get a perfect fifth.

Five times the frequency
is a major third.

The code is a major chord.

Why would an alien species
write music the way we do?

Musical notes are
easily derived from math.

Vulcans theorize it is
their fundamental nature

which makes them pleasing to the ear.

Someone match my pitch. (HUMMING)

Oh... no help here.
I'll break the thing.

(UHURA HUMMING)

(SPOCK HUMMING SAME NOTE, LOWER)

(UHURA HUMS TWO NOTES)

(HUMS THREE ASCENDING NOTES)

Okay, try and follow my lead.

(VOCALIZING)

(VOCALIZING)

(VOCALIZING TOGETHER)

- (HOLDING NOTE)
- (VOCALIZING)

- (CAVE RESONATES TONE SEQUENCE)
- (RUMBLING)

We're definitely getting closer
to resolving the whole genius

or "about to get us k*lled" conundrum.

So the right time for genius.

(EERIE, DISSONANT MUSIC RESONATING)

(MUSIC STOPS)

If we are correct and
the comet communicates

through music, it would
be logical to assume

that it is speaking to us right now.

Okay.

So, how do we convince it
to lower the force field?

(EERIE MELODY RESONATING)

Hold on. Let me try something.

(VOCALIZING EERIE MELODY)

(RUMBLING)

The comet's force
field just disappeared.

Bridge to Transporter Room, energize.

We've got them.

Shields up. Red alert.

(ALARM BLARING)

CHRISTINA: Captain,

Shepherds are hailing us.

Open a channel. On screen.

You continue to interfere.

Well, technically...

- You were warned.
- PIKE: Look, let's talk about this.

Find some common ground.

I think that went well.

(RUMBLING)

They're launching torpedoes, Captain.

- I'm reading three inbound.
- We definitely pissed them off.

Brace for impact.

(ALARM BLARING)

Shields at %.

- Ortegas, evasive maneuvers.
- On it.

- They are pursuing.
- Return fire?

Negative. Escape pattern April-Omega .

Captain, recommend we withdraw.

- We're already on the run.
- LA'AN: We need to warp out and regroup.

Facing off with them is su1c1de.

- We're outgunned here.
- UNA: She's right.

Their ship is too
advanced for us to take on.

- (TORPEDO STRIKES)
- Shields at %.

SPOCK: Sir, when we were on
the surface, I believe the comet

- was trying to communicate with us.
- PIKE: Right.

The music you recorded. Any
idea what it was trying to say?

I haven't been able to translate
it yet. It might take days.

We have less than one
hour before the comet

will impact Persephone III.

You do a lot of reminding
people of deadlines, sir.

- She does have a point, Spock.
- (TORPEDO STRIKES)

Captain, unless we want them
to blow us out of the sky...

Give me phasers. Target their weapons

and propulsion systems.
We don't want to hurt them.

- (TORPEDO STRIKES)
- Wish they felt the same.

- Shields at %. Phasers locked.
- PIKE: Ortegas,

bring us around to
bearing mark nine.

Aye, sir.

And...

fire.

Direct hit.

They're pulling away to regroup.

I'd say we have less than a minute.

We have to save that planet.

We brought down the force field,
so how do we move the comet?

Let's face it, the crazy space monks

will blow us out of the sky

if we try anything to move that comet.

What if we didn't?

What if the comet moved itself?

PIKE: Everyone ready?

We only get one sh*t at this.

Maximum impulse.

They're gaining on us.

When they get close enough,
they'll take a k*ll sh*t.

Ortegas,

you know how you used to
brag you were going to be

the best pilot ever to
graduate the Academy?

Word gets around.

What's your point, sir?

Time to prove it, Lieutenant.

Get us in front of that comet.

Initiating evasive
pattern Ortegas-gamma-one.

Evasive pattern Ortegas... ?

♪ ♪

Shepherds are in pursuit.

♪ ♪

They've stopped f*ring.

They don't want to hit the comet.

I think they're hailing us.

Yeah, they are. Captain?

Not yet.

♪ ♪

Ortegas, time to come about.

Rerouting to bearing mark five.

Reverse thrusters, full stop.

Reversing thrusters. And...

Stopped.

Ops, shut down all systems
except for life support.

All right, Ensign Christina.
I'm ready for the Shepherds now.

On screen, please.

We surrender. The damage we've sustained

has caused complete systems failure.

And what if we choose not
to accept your surrender?

Well, if you don't help us,

we'll collide with the comet,
which will destroy our ship.

And the trilithium resin in
our warp core will ignite,

destroying the comet.

Which will also happen
if you try to blow us up.

Please, help us.

I give you my word,

we will not touch M'hanit again.

UNA: You're taking a big gamble.

I recognize that, Number One.

The Shepherd ship is
activating a tractor beam.

Mr. Spock? You're up.

Acknowledged, Captain.

♪ ♪

Approaching the nucleus of the comet.

And diverting power through
the shuttle's shields.

Shields radiating heat
at maximum intensity.

The surface appears to be responding.

Maintaining position.

Preparing to engage heat shields.

♪ ♪

(ALARM BLARING)

UNA: It's moving.

The sublimation is nudging
the comet off course.

And for the record, we're
not actually touching it.

UHURA: But where's Lieutenant Spock?

(STATIC CRACKLES)

(SPOCK LAUGHS)

Spock? Is everything okay?

SPOCK: Fine, Captain. Sometimes things

go so badly, you just have to laugh.

(CHUCKLES)

(PIKE CHUCKLES)

♪ ♪

Fascinating.

A large quantity of
water vapor from the comet

is entering the planet's atmosphere.

SPOCK: If I am not mistaken,

this will permanently change
the atmospheric composition

- of Persephone III.
- PIKE: Change it how?

Reducing the planet's aridity
will make it more amenable

to plant growth, agriculture

and, one might surmise,
societal development.

So...

did it actually "bring life"?

Don't tell me the space
monks were actually right.

Captain,

Shepherds are hailing us.

Open a channel. On
screen, please, Ensign.

You have seen the glory and the mercy

that is M'hanit.

You're right. We witnessed a miracle.

Perhaps in the future,
you will not be so quick

to judge the faith of others.

And so

- we shall not part as enemies.
- PIKE: Thank you.

♪ ♪

(LAUGHING)

♪ ♪

PIKE: Captain's log, supplemental.

I am left to wonder

who made the comet?

How many more like it are out there?

Was it coincidence that
fostered the chance

for more life on Persephone III?

Or something more?

Look, we already knew
how to turn musical notes

- into numbers, right?
- (DOOR WHOOSHES SHUT)

But the computer helped
me turn those numbers

into numerical coordinates.

You're saying the
numbers painted a picture?

UHURA: Yes. But not just any picture.

The music contained this image.

This is a star chart
showing the comet's course,

a course that includes it
moving past Persephone III.

You are suggesting the
comet was telling us

- it did not intend to hit Persephone III?
- Yes.

It meant no harm.

That was the message.

But if I had not interfered,

it would have destroyed the planet.

Okay, here's where things get weirder.

When we zoom in on the
image, we find this shape.

And this is an image of the chunk of ice

that broke off from the comet as
Lieutenant Spock flew his mission.

- They're identical.
- UNA: You're saying the comet sent this message

before Spock was able to
correct the comet's course?

We recorded it hours earlier.

SPOCK: It is highly improbable

the comet could have randomly guessed

the shape the ice that fell off
would take with such accuracy.

Unless your flight was foretold.

You're suggesting the comet had
foreknowledge of future events?

The comet's flight path and
its, I don't know, mission

to seed that planet was predicated

on you flying that shuttle to move it.

It knew its fate, you might say.

Thank you for your report, Cadet.

Cadet Uhura.

As I said, many dream of
being worthy of Starfleet,

of representing its values

- of selflessness, courage, sacrifice.
- I know it shouldn't have been me

- down there...
- I have not finished, Cadet.

The odds of us surviving were,

in fact, quite low.

No pep talk could have increased them.

I understand you did
not come to Starfleet

the way many of us have.

That you are not sure you wish to stay.

But, having observed
your actions on the comet,

I am certain, should you choose to,

Starfleet would be fortunate
to have an officer like you.

Thank you, sir.

(EXHALES)

A little piece of ice and
dust roaming through space

brings life.

I bet you not one of us
could have predicted how.

(PIKE GRUNTS SOFTLY)

I'll give you that.

So, just because you receive
a message from the future

doesn't mean you understand it.

We're not talking about
the comet anymore, are we?

Don't throw your life away, Chris.

- Number One...
- I know you had a vision of the future, but...

I made a choice.

I accepted my fate. It...

It goes beyond my own life.

What if you're wrong?

What if you got that message

so you could save those
kids and that's it?

What if you don't have
to ruin your life, too?

How do you know you can't
make a different choice?

One that saves all of you?

What if your fate

is what you make it?

Computer,

call up all available information

for the following Federation citizens.

Dusty Swender.

T'quiel Dawn.

Muliq Al Alcazar.

Yuuto Hoshide.

Andrea Lopez.

♪ ♪