04x05 - Level-Five Transporter Accident

[bunniefuu]

Previously on
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds...

Pelia's on shore leave, so you,
you want to call in Spock again?

It's nothing I can't handle.

There is never any reason

to do something alone
when you need help.

SCOTTY: Yeah, but what if there is?

It's easy to get mad at people
who seem better than me.

Blame them for things.

Try to bring 'em down a peg.

Luckily, I had a head for engineering.

KIRK: The Griffin.

SPOCK: This ship presents many
scientific contradictions.

T'Pring.

But the illusion was powered
by my own memories.

My own beliefs.
That anchored me.

Brought me back to logic.

Science officer's log.

Stardate 3019.4.

Enterprise has been
heading towards Vulcan,

where I had planned to
spend time studying logic.

However, due to pirate
activity in the sector,

Starfleet has ordered
us to reduce our speed

and help ensure Rizonian
space is safe for travel.

Lieutenant Scott,
on the other hand, is eager to see

if ships are needed for
transportation at all.

I'm not saying we don't need 'em.

I'm just saying we could
transport further than we do.

Like a lot further.

Your latest simulation suggests

a possibly successful transport
of 27,000 kilometers.


long-distance transport ever achieved.

Aye, but I want to hit 30.

Multiple ships are
within 27,000 kilometers,

which would still be
an impressive distance.

The USS Witmere is


It has to be the Witmere.

Deck Eight, Crew Quarters B37.

Home of Declan Milder.

- Declan Milder?
- Yep.

Is he not the engineer responsible

for the longest transport on record?

Oh, you've heard of him, have you?

He was also valedictorian
of my class at the Academy.

Beat me by a 16th of a point.

Pelia was so nice to him.

They're the same kind
of bananas, you know?

Which is why I have to send him

the furthest transported
object in history.

Is this the reason why
you wish to send that?

Oh. That would be Little Ricky.

[grunts]

My brothers used to hide him in my room
to scare the stuffing out of me.

I had him with me at the Academy.

When Declan sees it, he'll wet hisself.

If you will excuse me, Lieutenant, I...

must meet La'An for calisthenics.

Of course. Um...

But I will need your help later.

If that's okay.

SPOCK: I do not understand.

You are canceling our
dance session again.

I'm sorry.

I must admit, I am disappointed.

I was looking forward to our practice.

I find it helps me focus.

My mind has not been
easy to quiet lately.

And Mr. Scott has not been helpful.

Scotty?

Mm.

But I understand.

I've also been struggling since...

The Griffin.

We never discussed it.

I should have been there for you
after what happened with James Kirk.

I am sorry.

No.

No, it's okay.

I-I didn't come to you either.

We've been heading in different
directions for a while now.

What are you suggesting?

Spock.

There's no tragedy in a romance
reaching its natural conclusion.

I have no regrets.

Neither should you.

I do not.

You need to focus on yourself
right now. We both do.

I know you'll find another
way to quiet your mind.

[door whooshes open]

[door whooshes shut]

- [boatswain's whistle blows]
- UNA: Captain.

I've received reports of recent Orion
pirate activity on our current route.

Not a concern, Number One.

Not even a small one?

Maybe extra shields?

Alert the Alpha Crew?

What's going on?

I finally have my new chair.

Your new chair?

Not a concern because
you have a new chair?

PIKE: Engineering just
installed it an hour ago.

Watch this.

[sighs]

Pelia designed it herself.

It's fully biometric and the
first of its kind in Starfleet.

I can run different parts of the ship
with just the touch of my hand.

And some voice controls, of course.

- [low humming]
- Oh.

You hear that?

That hum says,

"I am Captain Pike,

captain of the starship Enterprise."

That hum says all that, huh?

SPOCK: Logic is the
rhythm of your katra.

Logic is the rhythm of your katra.

T'PRING: Spock...

SPOCK: I only know that
you are not T'Pring.

[exhales]

T'PRING: We can fix that, Spock.

Logic is the rhythm of your katra.

[Spock speaks Vulcan]

Logic is the rhythm of your katra.

SPOCK: Una, please do not!

Captain! Help!

Logic is the rhythm...

[Spock screams]

T'PRING: I am sorry recent
events on the "ghost ship,"

as you put it,
were so challenging for you.

SPOCK: What I faced was my own fear.

Logic showed me a way through
that confrontation, but barely.

I had planned to reengage
my studies on Vulcan,

- but we are delayed.
- So I am the next best thing?

Yes, well...

I hope this call does not offend.

It does not.

Our relationship ended
because you wanted

to explore your human side.

But now your ability to
call on logic is diminished.

Perhaps a good place to begin
is what you did for Kal Rekk.

Kal Rekk.

The Vulcan day of
solitude and atonement.

That is coming up soon, is it not?

It is not.

It passed. A fortnight ago.

SCOTTY [over comms]:
Mr. Spock. Little Ricky is ready to fly.

I will be there soon, Lieutenant.

T'PRING: I do not know who
"Little Ricky" is,

but have you considered, perhaps,
your struggle with logic could stem

from serving on a ship of chaos?

A fair question.

Another reason it might be helpful
for us to continue our discussion.

I must return to Vulcan.

Your current route will pass by me.

If you provide transit...

against my better judgment,

I will aid you in further
discussion of logic.

I would be grateful, T'Pring.

I have a further request.

I will only return to your
ship if you assure me:

no high jinks of any kind.

I shall do my best.

Your lack of a promise is very Vulcan.

Final relay buoy set, Lieutenant.

SCOTTY [over comms]:
Excellent, Lieutenant.

That should give us the boost we need.

You may want to get back here now.

Your, uh, friend T'Pring
just arrived a few minutes ago.

Understood.

Setting course for Enterprise.

And we are setting course
to make transporter history.

Ah.

Let's make Declan Milder
question his intelligence.

And self-worth.

[alarm sounding]

Oh, dear.

Lieutenant Spock to Enterprise.

Can anyone read me?

Scotty.

Lieutenant Spock to Enterprise.

- [clanking]
- [mechanical whirring]

Hello?

- Captain?
- PIKE: Hello?

Oh, God.

[grunting]

What happened?

[Una gasps]

LA'AN: Uh...

[shudders]: Uh...

Um...

T'PRING: Spock.

PIKE: Space.

The final frontier.

These are the voyages of
the starshipEnterprise.

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.

Hmm.

[chuckles] Hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Hmm.

So, as you can see,

it was essentially a
transporter accident.

Just on a slightly higher scale.

A significantly higher scale.

A level five.

I was just saying, that's all.

It wasn't a level six.

So, somehow trying to expand

the long-range transporter
turned the ship into a giant...

- Scotty screwup.
- Hey. Not fair.

One thing's for certain.

Declan wouldn't have screwed this up.

SPOCK: Essentially,
because Little Ricky was in the buffer...

"Little Ricky"?

Lieutenant Scott's childhood puppet.

CHAPEL: Hmm.

I don't think I want to know more.

Apparently, the puppet
matter from Little Ricky

got, uh, cross-wired.

SPOCK: As well,
something about the puppet's

quantum particulates caused
the energy in the transporter

to expand outward, across the ship.

- The entire ship.
- UHURA: So, basically,

now we're all puppets?

Except for Spock.

Y-Yes.

Mm, look on the bright side,
Lieutenant Ortegas.

And what would that be?

Mm, oh, I didn't have one.

I thought you might, though.

Mm, Scotty really screwed
the pooch on this one.

- Hey.
- PIKE: Okay, Scotty, I want you

immediately working on a solution.

Yeah, I'm on it, Captain, of course.

Uh, it's just a slightly more
complicated problem than I hoped.

[whispers]: Declan would
have figured it out.

It's not just an engineering problem.

It's also a medical problem.

As in, what the hell
did we just turn into?

And what parts of our
genome work or don't work?

We're on it, Captain.

UNA: The bigger problem is,

now that we're puppets...
most of us, anyway...

we can't do anything we
usually do on the ship.

I can't operate phasers or-or
control any of the ship's weapons.

My communications console
doesn't recognize my fingers.

Nothing recognizes our fingers.

So, all the jobs on the ship.

PIKE: This sounds like a lot.

How are we going to
operate the Enterprise...

PUPPETS: Hmm.

A level-five transporter accident?

PIKE: Mm-hmm.

I've never even heard that before.

You've never heard of a whole crew
turned into puppets either, Bob.

So, who's controlling you?

I'm controlling me.

We're-we're all controlling ourselves.

- Ah.
- Okay, so you're not...

"puppets" puppets, but...

you're all still puppets.

- How long to fix it?
- Um, sir, not to interrupt,

but we are currently
drifting to starboard.

[sighs] Unclear.

And Spock's the only one who
can do anything on Enterprise?

Well, for the most part, yes?

Ah... [grunts]

Spock.

Psst. Spock.

Well, I'll send a ship to help you ASAP.

But the closest is two days away,
so lay low.

Don't let anyone know that you're...

puppets.

That is my deepest desire, sir.

Well, you have your orders.

April out.

[groans]

Boy.

Thank God you're here, Spock.

We could not do this without you.

Of course, Captain.

I should grant you chair access.

That way you can hand-control
anything from here.

Understood, Captain.

COMPUTER: Hand control unrecognized.

Hand control unrecognized.

Hand control unrec...
Hand control unrec...

- Hand control unrecognized.
- PIKE: Come on.

Control-control...

- [Pike grumbling]
- Hand-hand-hand-hand

control-control unrecognized.

- [Pike groans]
- Hand-hand...

- Ready.
- SCOTTY: Honestly, I don't know

if it's even safe to do this.

You know, and I cannae
operate without Spock.

You know, I really should work on
something that could help with that.

My apologies, Lieutenant.

It has taken me a
considerable amount of effort

- to exit the bridge.
- LA'AN: Perfect timing.

Scotty was just about to see

if he can reconfigure my
initial buffer pattern.

No, no, we're hoping I'm onto something.

I'm just concerned I don't have
enough data to return you at all.

And I don't want you to get
stuck in the buffer forever.

A legitimate concern, but I believe
the buffer has effectively been scrubbed.

So technically she could
also end up somewhere else.

Like Declan's quarters on the Witmere.

Don't even know what that is.

- Oh, he's pretty insufferable..
- Scotty's old classmate.

He consistently will not
stop talking about him.

Look, I'm aware of the danger
and I'm willing to take the risk

if it could help us bring back the crew.

Hmm.

Mm.

Oh, bloody hell.

I'm still a puppet.

I'm still a puppet. I'm still a puppet!

We should examine you to determine
if there have been any alterations.

[gasps]

[wheezing gasp]

Uh, oops.

No blood, no lasting damage? Huh.

She's not only alive
but in good condition.

It's remarkable.

It's amazing.

That really doesn't hurt?

Mm-mm. It tickles a little.

Incredible.

Dermal regenerators might
not work on us anymore,

but apparently we can sew
ourselves back together.

Mm... Mm-hmm.

- [groans]
- With my help, I am afraid.

Well, I'm sure we'll be
able to do it eventually.

Maybe with yarn.

Try to move it now.

Hmm. Hmm.

M'BENGA: Scans say we are organic,
which suggests we could die,

despite our unique, uh,
physiological makeup.

We should look into it further.

Mm-hmm.

Hmm.

SPOCK: Apologies if I am overstepping,
but you seemed relieved

the transporter retained
your puppet form.

Spock, you have seen inside my mind.

You know what I'm afraid of becoming.

That I'm afraid of losing
control and hurting others.

But as a puppet, I realize, I can't.

And so, yes, that's a relief.

You confessed these struggles to me before,
but I did not listen.

Spock, it's okay.

You're dealing with a lot.

I admit, I have felt...

What is the human word? Frazzled.

That's why you called T'Pring, right?

To help you de-frazzle?

[sighs]

You have talked to her

since she became a puppet, haven't you?

Uh...

Happy?

Of course I am not happy
about the situation.

Though, technically,

I suppose what has
happened is not your fault.

Thank you.

But as mentioned,

- that is a mere technicality.
- Are you telling me

everything is fine or not fine?

Everything is not fine.

UNA [over comms]: Spock,
we need you on the bridge.

The turbolift doesn't recognize us.

Acknowledged.

PELIA: Spock,
Engineering is on the fritz.

Acknowledged.

UHURA: Spock, my earpiece
popped out again.

PIKE: Spock, I... my chair needs you.

Acknowledged.

[panting]: I have a
number of requirements...

I seem to be having trouble breathing.

You slapped me.

You are experiencing an overstimulation
of human emotions.

You are ill-equipped to
handle the multiple demands

on your attention in your current state.

The slap was to force you
to return to the moment.

I am listening.

Consider the mathematics
of your predicament.

Too many people require your aid.

As humans are perhaps fond of saying,
I was freaking out.

I could not care less
what humans are fond of.

You cannot help everyone.

To do so would cause you to fail.

Thank you, T'Pring.

Even as a puppet, you are helpful to me.

I am grateful.

Gratitude is irrelevant.

UHURA: Spock, how much longer?

We need comms back up.

I can't do anything over here.

Fly the ship first,
talk to people second.

Enterpriseis a ship, not a telephone.

[sighs] Captain, come on.

I've been waiting just as long.

- One at a time, Ensign.
- LA'AN: Sir,

we're detecting a ship
coming into range.

I can't get my view much closer yet,

but it looks Orion.

Spock, can you call it up, please?

UNA: It looks like an Orion interceptor.

Probably a pirate vessel.

LA'AN: Sir, I don't have
control over our weapons yet.

Are they scanning us?

Looks like it.

Hmm.

- We can ignore them for now.
- [comms chiming]

Uh, they're hailing us, sir.

Should I answer?

Oh, God, I can't answer.

Fly first, then talk, remember?

- We can't do either.
- And we can't fire currently,

at least not without Spock's help.

UHURA: I can try to answer.

It recognizes my fingers sometimes.

Better not.

Mr. Spock, help her to respond to comms.

- Audio only.
- Of course, Captain.

[taps controls]

This is Captain Pike
of the USS Enterprise.

Why is your ship approaching ours?

CH'ROL [over comms]: This is
Captain Ch'Rol of the Orion ship Vo'Nee.

We were on an ordinary and completely

unthreatening pass through this
territory when we came across your ship.

Scans revealed only one
crew member aboard.

We were obviously just concerned.

Whether you realize it or not,

we have a full complement aboard,

though none of this is
any of your business.

Of course, we were just
concerned that the ship

was damaged and wanted to
reach out with our aid.

If you'd like, we can come aboard

to help repair the vessel,

since something seems to be
blocking our scans of your crew.

Perhaps the same thing is holding off
our images over comms?

Um, they're still moving towards us.

Move away from our ship,

or we will fire photon torpedoes.

Understood?

[Una shudders]

- Of course, Captain.
- [sighs]

Phew.

UNA: They are moving away, Captain.

Uhura, end communication.

No, wait...

[gasps]

- [gasps]
- Uh-oh.

[whimpers]

Oops.

[navigator whimpering softly]

[whispers]: Maybe they didn't see us.

Captain Pike, are you a puppet?

- No.
- But your mouth moves

as you speak,
and you look like a puppet.

Okay, so a level-five transporter
accident may have altered us slightly,

but this is a fully armed
Federation ship run by a full crew.

All of whom happen to be puppets.

Do not mistake my temporary
physical form for weakness.

We will retaliate against any attack

with the full force of
the starship Enterprise.

I imagine that's gonna be challenging
for your Vulcan, as he seems to be

the only one who can
control your bridge.

Prepare to fire.

Shields. Shields.

Computer. Spock, shields!

[screaming]

[all screaming]

Oh, my Fraggles. [gasps]

- Shields up.
- How much damage?

A lot. Get ready for more.

Red alert, Mr. Spock, and shut her off.

[alarm blaring]

[all shouting]

[screaming]

[groans]

Shields at 60%.

Looks like we have major
damage across the ship,

except I can't adjust
the controls to see.

- Photon torpedoes.
- Torpedoes on the left.

[grunting]

- [babbling]
- [screams]

- Where?
- On the left!

Torpedoes launched.

Direct hit on the Orions.

About g*dd*mn time.
Can Spock help me fly now, please?

Mr. Spock, take the helm
and fly us out of here.

[groans]

Engines at 20% and dropping.

[groans] We can't move.

UNA: And they're holding their distance,
but they're not going away.

PELIA [over comms]:
Engineering to Lieutenant Spock.

W-We could use your help about now,

if we're not currently getting blown up
or you're in the bathroom.

Mr. Spock, go get our
engines back online.

[Ortegas sighs]

Engineering.

[groaning]

Leverage. You need proper...

[grunts] Or maybe a pry bar.

Just brief me on our damage.

Engines are shot.

Shields are at 55%,

but sensors are down,

and voice control capabilities
have been disabled.

- No more voice control?
- [grunts]

PELIA: It's a bummer, too,
seeing as how that was the only way

we could do anything on this ship.

I mean, well, without you, I mean.

Can you lift, please?

Knees. Use your knees, Spock.

SCOTTY: Use me as a brace.

[Pelia grunting]

[sighs]

[gasps]

You are no longer stuck
underneath the torpedo.

Huh. I guess not.

You were capable of getting out
from under there the entire time?

Well, I realize that now.

I'm still learning how this
whole puppet thing works.

PIKE [over comms]: Spock,
the Orions are trying

to physically enter the ship.
Target looks like shuttle bay.

I'm afraid Engineering will
have to wait for further aid.

Eh, we're used to it.

That's the truth.

T'Pring, what are you doing?

I am incapable of firing phasers
in my current condition,

but you are not,
so I was seeking to help you.

Thank you for your assistance.

I also wish to warn
you about the Orions.

I have encountered
pirates multiple times,

and they frequently use one area

as a distraction while invading another.

You do not believe they are
really invading the shuttle bay?

I believe it is a ruse.

[metallic thud]

- It appears you are correct.
- [gasps]

[Ch'Rol speaks indistinctly]

CH'ROL: Follow me.

SPOCK: You should hide yourself.
I will distract them so you can escape.

Spock, that does not seem wise.

It is not, but my options are limited.

Go warn the captain.

ORION: You two come with me.

You get in that corridor.

Hello, Vulcan.

[T'Pring gasping softly]

CH'ROL: Spock, you know what I want.

The ship's control codes.

- Which I will not provide you.
- Yes.

Buy yourself some time
until your Federation

sends someone to rescue you.

Let's talk logic, Spock.
You've been captured.

Your crew are puppets.

Give us the codes, and nobody gets hurt.

I'll give you some time with Ejachi.

I assure you, Captain, puppets or no, you
are facing the finest crew in Starfleet,

and they will be able to fight
back in ways you cannot imagine.

You will not take our bridge.

LA'AN: Have it your way, but I am

not responsible for the
lethality that may happen.

[yells fiercely]

[grunts] Right.
Tiny fists, not so lethal.

[grunts, yells fiercely]

[grunting]

[grunting, panting]

Are you even feeling this?
[groans]

[pants]

[groaning]

[screams]

[grunts]

Hold the bridge.

[screaming] - No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

- [screaming]
- [laughs]

- [grunts]
- [puppets scream]

[shudders, whimpers]

[yells fiercely]

[grunting]: Come closer to my punch.

[chuckles]

Captain Pike, we meet again

PELIA: Don't you dare.

I spent weeks building that chair.

- Move.
- No. [grunts]

Fine.

- Ah!
- Huh?

[groans]

No.

[pants]

Get out of my chair.

- [groans]
- Pelia.

Oh, I'm all right. Aren't I?

Uh, just don't move.

I can't move. They chopped me in half.

- Or can't you see that?
- Uh...

You are going to regret this.

I doubt it.

[stammers] Hey...

- [gasps]
- [Pike groans]

[sighs]

PIKE: Everyone, retreat.

These damn legs. [groans]

Ah.

Let the puppets go.

They can't do anything to stop us.

We have to sew faster.

I am sewing as fast as I can.
I only have four fingers.

I've got the yarn. Just focus.

PELIA: Ooh.

[laughs]

I told you I'm fine.

You are not fine. You are in shock.

I've been in shock before,
but I've never been a puppet.

Oh, oh, Pelia.

Y-You're gonna be okay.

I mean, you've lived this long.

Huh. Declan would have
said something nicer.

Okay.

Unfortunately, we've lost the
bridge and half the decks.

We couldn't hold it. We tried,
and they just pushed through.

They haven't taken quarters
yet because why bother?

They can't control the ship from here.

Neither can we.

Which is why we need to
take back the bridge.

Without Spock, every attempt will fail.

[sighs] T'Pring is right.
We need Spock for everything.

Then we need to get Spock.

Even with a full extraction team,
we're too small.

And too fluffy.

Well, we don't need a team, just one.

- An operation of stealth.
- Hmm.

We cannot even hold
weapons in this form.

So who's going to go?
Because I volunteer,

and half the people in
this room would, too.

Me. I'm shorter and fluffier than usual,

but I'm still the captain
and Spock is in trouble,

so I'm going to save
him so he can save us.

Just to be clear, I will not provide
you with the control codes.

Oh, I know. You said that.

As a Vulcan, there is
nothing you can do to me.

t*rture and pain?
I am immune to those things.

Oh. Yeah. Totally.

No, t*rture is a captain's job.

You know, someone who can do it well.

Like a woman.

I have heard that this is a
certain quality of Orions.

A unique relationship
between males and females.

Are you saying females aren't
in control in your society?

Control is not determined by gender.

That is so complicated.

It is efficient and productive.

I mean, I just like
to be told what to do.

If that is so,
why be a second-in-command?

I'm pretty good at reading people.

Like... you.

You are very stressed, my friend.

I am being held c*ptive
while my ship is invaded.

No, no, no. No, there's something else.

And it's not a great mystery.

You know, you're the only
non-puppet on the ship.

The rest of the crew is relying on you.

Admittedly, it has been difficult.

Okay. Here we go.

As a Vulcan, aren't you naturally able

to "quiet the noise"
and just barrel through?

I can't, but that's a nifty Vulcan trick.

Yes, it is.

Oh, I guess it's not working.

Well, I saw some other
Vulcans on the ship.

- Anyone that could help you?
- There is one.

Okay.

It is complicated.

Ex-girlfriend?

Just try listening to her.

If she was an Orion,
she'd just tell you what to do,

and if you were an Orion,
you'd just do it.

I have... tried.

Here's what I do when I'm stressed.

Sometimes I just close my eyes
and I just surrender, you know?

Just let it all wash over me.
And then, boom.

No stress.

This is helpful.

But I hope you realize I still
shall not share the codes with you.

Oh, I know.

I was just supposed to distract you until
the captain was ready to do something.

Let's go.

Glad to see you could join us, Spock.

Have you had a chance to tell us

- the control codes yet?
- SPOCK: I have not.

I assume you will now threaten
to throw me out of the airlock?

Logically, that does not make sense,

since I'm the only member of
the ship able to control it.

You know what, Vulcan?
You're absolutely right.

[muffled protests]

So I'll throw him out instead.

We gave you plenty of time
to help us, you didn't,

and these are the consequences.

[pants] Spock,

don't do anything. You're the
only one who could possibly...

[screams]

Spock. Spock.

The needs of the many.

[alarm ringing]

- [screaming]
- Captain!

Give me the control codes,

or I start throwing out more of them.

[all gasp]

[gasps]

I don't believe it.

No. That can't be true.

I don't want to believe it either,
but we have to face it.

Those Orions are coming for us,
and what are we gonna do?

PELIA: Excuse me. Hello.

I'd like to point something out.

I was chopped in half
and sewn back together,

and I can walk and talk

and do pretty much everything I
could do before I was a puppet.

Something has happened to us, yes,

but you know what else has happened?

We're puppets.

- We somehow survivethings we shouldn't.
- Hmm.

I am not dead. [laughs]

And you know who else is not dead?

[all gasping]

- ORTEGAS: What?
- UNA: Huh?

[laughs]

Space can't k*ll puppets.

Anyone gonna find a way
to let the captain in?

- Oh, uh...
- Now?

Uh...

- Yeah.
- Huh?

Uh-huh.

- Uh...
- [muffled laugh]

PIKE: At first, I thought the darkness
was death coming for me,

the Great Nothing in the beyond.

But as I drifted through
the inky infinity,

I realized I was still among the stars.

This wasn't death.

This was space, and I was alive.

And that's when it hit me.

We've been going about this all wrong.

I'm no longer a Starfleet captain.

I'm a puppet captain.

Everything we know
about tactical defense,

every ounce of our training...
it won't work.

We must think and fight

like what we are... a puppet crew.

Yes, we have disadvantages,

but we also have advantages.

- Can we open a door?
- Definitely not.

At least not without a great struggle.

But we can fit into tiny spaces.

Yes, we can be easily
picked up and discarded,

but we can also hurl
ourselves strategically.

We have the element of surprise. [gasps]

PIKE: Exactly.

And most importantly,
as I just found out,

we do not need oxygen to breathe.

[others gasp]

- Yeah.
- What? No. [clears throat]

I'm sorry, but I have stood
by this lunacy long enough.

If we want to survive,

we must accept our failings
and proceed with caution.

I am aware that pandemonium
is the status quo

on this starship,
but just this one time,

could you please acknowledge

that this entire situation is absurd?

ORTEGAS: Scotty turned us into puppets.

Absurdity's kind of
baked into the premise.

[screaming]

[Pelia chuckles]

[panting]

Pandemonium wins.

Uh, would you like to sit down?

Yes, I-I think that would be good.

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

T'Pring's uncharacteristic outburst is
a prime example of puppet advantage.

Normally, she would never be
able to access such emotion.

But now? Emo-expl*si*n.

That is... accurate.

So what's your plan?

Get Spock, take the bridge.

M'BENGA: That plan did
not work last time.

Because we didn't attack it as puppets.

T'Pring is right.
This situation is absurd,

which is why chaos has
to be a part of the plan.

So we need to think outside the box

and even get inside the
box for a surprise attack.

And...

I need your help, if you're willing.

I have doubt. So much doubt.

But fine.

I shall... [inhales deeply]

lean into chaos.

Great. Uh, but first,

does, um, anyone know how
to get out of this room?

SCOTTY: Oh. Yeah.

Working on that, Captain.

[screams, sighs]

I thought that there was only one
non-fuzzy Vulcan on this ship.

What the hell?

[grunts]

La'An, Number One, let's do it.

[both shout]

[grunting]

Go.

[yelling]

[grunting]

Ha!

Nice. He's out.

All clear. Let's go.

Time for phase two.

What's this? A glove that mimics
the electro-pulse of the human skin?

- Hmm, clever.
- More clever than Declan Milder?

Oh, Scotty. I was only hard on you
because I knew you could take it.

Declan was a crybaby,

and his parents were on the board.

Legacy students. [scoffs]

Don't forget to close up.

[sighs]

[screaming]

[groans]

[panting]: Okay. You go on.

I'll catch up. [whimpers]

EJACHI: I found her sneaking around

and assumed she might be your ex,

her being a Vulcan puppet and all.

What are the odds a
different Vulcan puppet

would try to rescue you?

You were trying to rescue me?

Even as I hear it now,
it sounds insane, but yes.

EJACHI: Love makes us do stupid things.

Ch'Rol was always yelling
at me for waxing romantic

when I'm supposed to be...
threatening someone.

Anyway, I figured if you
wouldn't give up the codes

to save your captain, you might for her.

[whimpering]

Don't give him the codes, Spock.

Pike is alive, and he needs
you to get to the bridge.

- [grunts]
- The captain is alive?

What?

Captain Pike is alive. We have a plan.

And I am a Vulcan puppet.

I do not feel pain.

Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa! No!

[yelping]

Why?

Oh!

[yelping]

[sizzles]

This was your plan all along.

You intended to get caught.

I did not concoct the gambit,
but I performed admirably.

Indeed.

I am surprised you embraced such a ruse.

You do not like them.

A fraudulent and
temporary lack of control

is a perfectly logical
way to defeat a fool.

Besides, the only
actual lie was the last.

My hand does hurt quite a bit.

I am genuinely sorry.

I am fine, Spock. This time for real.

Let me fill you in on Pike's plan.

Time is of the essence,
and we must take a faster route.

My mind to your mind.

My thoughts to your thoughts.

[whimpering]

Oh, my God.

COMPUTER: Hand control unrecognized.

Come on. Ejachi.

Has the Vulcan spilled
the command codes yet?

[static over comms]

Bring him here.
I'll take care of it myself.

Like I always do.

Ejachi.

All right, crew, this bridge is ours.

Let's fight like it.

LA'AN: Yoo-hoo!

Here I am.

[grunts]

- Now.
- [both shout]

- [yells]
- [laughs]

[grunting]

[overlapping shouting]

- Or am I over here?
- Huh?

- [whistles]
- Huh?

[screams]

Ugh.

- Hey.
- [gasps]

[screams]

[navigator grunts]

[whimpers]

[yelling]

[grunting]

[screams]

That looked like it hurt.

[Pelia snarling]

I cut her in half.

[overlapping shouting]

Wow.

This is madness.

True. Now get to the captain's chair.

I need a weapon.

Or a, a distraction.

PELIA: Whoo!

SPOCK: I could sneak up on her.

[Pelia grunting]

Or attack swiftly without notice.

Spock, I know this is a lot,

but this situation cannot
currently be met with logic.

Even I know this.

- What do you mean?
- These high jinks are not the obstacle.

They are the solution.

[distorted shouting]

I know what to do.

[grunting]

- ORION: Let me go.
- Captain, in order for me

to seize your chair, I need your help.

Whatever you need, do it.

[pants, strains]

[shouting]

[muffled]: Get, get off me.

[Ch'Rol grumbling]

Get off me... [groans]

[thud]

You can sit in that chair all you want,

but I have a highly trained team

and you have a ragged old
pile of children's toys.

Do yourself a favor and
give me the command codes.

I've never seen a Vulcan so resistant

to self-preservation.

Any last words?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Why aren't you talking?

PIKE: He's conserving oxygen. You see,

while you were going on and on and on

about taking over our ship,

he turned off life support
from my powerful new chair.

So now you're all going
to pass out in three...

[exhales]

...two...

[groans]

- [La'An exclaims]
- ...one.

- Nighty night.
- [Ch'Rol groans]

Wow.

Incredible. [laughs softly]

This chair is so responsive.

The lag time is almost
nothing with the...

Right, right. Let's move.

He's awake.

How did I get here?

We put an oxygen mask
on you just in time.

Then we rolled you onto a dolly.

And the Orions?

We beamed them into the brig.

- Or rather, Scotty did.
- With his electric glove.

PIKE: And on that note,
I've been thinking.

I-I love my new chair, I do,

but perhaps it's too reliant on the...

- Hands?
- Hmm.

The old chair was good.

Sturdy. Dependable.

Good call, sir.

But you are all still puppets.

Is it permanent?

Definitely not.

Scotty figured that one out, too.

M'BENGA: He was right the first time.

It's a simple transporter reversal.

He just did not calculate for our
precise quantum polyfill before.

Then why are you all still puppets?

- Uh, well...
- Uh...

Uh, because...

there's something we
really want to do first.

Mm-hmm.

[sighing]

Ah! [sighs]

[laughs]

Bye.

[sighs deeply]

Wow.

Torpedoes away!

- [grunts]
- [laughs]

I'm gonna miss this.

I mean, I've never done it before,

but I'm definitely gonna miss it.

There's a lot I'm going to
miss about being a puppet.

Me, too.

Like how we can hear
each other in space.

How are we talking right now?

It doesn't even make sense.

Your observation of
Kal Rekk is complete.

You did not want to join the others?

And challenge the laws of physics?

No. I did not.

Though this experience has allowed me
to appreciate some high jinks.

I will need you to further
define which high jinks.

While your crew may
occasionally be unorthodox,

they are always in pursuit
of knowledge, safety,

and protecting each other.

I find that endearing.

I recall a time when you also
found my human side endearing.

Mm.

And you?

Do you still wish to journey
back to a life of logic?

Very much so.

Little can make one crave
order and logic more

than being surrounded by...

...puppets.

Hmm.

[gasps]

You have finally awakened.

Yes, and when did you turn back?

Turn back?

You are no longer a puppet.

I have never been a puppet.

What?

You have been unconscious
for several hours.

The doctor was concerned after
the transporter accident.

That caused everyone on the
ship to become puppets.

- Did it not?
- The transporter accident

merely damaged your shuttle

and several of the buoys
you had put into place.

That is all?

That does not seem...

- That is... I had thought...
- You have merely had

an unusually odd but very specific dream

in which I was a puppet?

Everyone on the ship
was a puppet but me.

In that state, you taught
me how to face anxiety

and accept many illogical things.

A great relief, given I came here

to help you with both of those.

That now seems unnecessary.

Perhaps some tea in the Port Galley
would serve you well.

Unless you prefer I call Dr. M'Benga.

I am fine. Just disoriented.

What is that doing here?

Little Ricky?

Your friend Mr. Scott
left it here for you.

He believed it might help you awaken.

Or perhaps cheer you up.

It does not.

Let us have some tea,
and you can tell me all about your dreams.

[door whooshes open]