[Balok's ship] (music)
It's a dummy. A puppet of some kind. I'm Balok. Welcome aboard. (curtain opens
to reveal a small humanoid with big grin) I'm Captain Kirk.
And McCoy and Bailey. Sit. Be comfortable. Go ahead, be seated. We must drink. This is
tranya. I hope you relish it as much as I. Commander Balok.
I know, I know, a thousand questions. But first, the tranya. Gentlemen. (drinks) Ahh.
Commander, that puppet. My alter ego, so to speak. In your culture,
he would be Mister Hyde to my Jekyll. You must admit he's effective. You would never
have been frightened by me. And I thought my distress signal quite clever. It was a
pleasure testing you. Testing us?
I see. I had to discover your real intentions.
But you probed our memory banks. Your records could have been a deception on
your part. MCCOY: And your crew?
I have no crew, Doctor. I run everything, this entire complex, from this small ship.
But I miss company, conversation. Even an alien would be welcome. Perhaps one of your
men for some period of time. An exchange of information, cultures.
Yes. Both our cultures would benefit. Do you know where we can find a volunteer, Mister
Bailey? Me, sir. I'd like to volunteer.
Ah. You represent Earth's best, then. No, sir, I'm not. I'll make plenty of mistakes.
But you'd find out more about us that way, and I'd get a better officer in return.
(laughs) I see. We think much alike, Captain, you and I. Now, before I bring back the Fesarius,
let me show you my vessel. (Star Trek music)
It is not often I have this pleasure. Yes, we're very much alike, Captain. Both proud
of
our ships.