Metamorphosis (Episode)

Metamorphosis

"Metamorphosis" (TOS 31)

Series	Star Trek
Season	2
Episode	2
Production Number	31
Release Date	10 Nov 1967
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Stardate 3219.4: The Shuttlecraft Galileo makes a forced landing on a world with a single human inhabitant.

The Shuttlecraft Galileo is transporting ailing Assistant Federation Commissioner Nancy Hedford back to the Enterprise when it is suddenly drawn off course by a mysterious cloud creature. After depositing the shuttle on planet Gamma Canaris N, the entity vanishes. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Commissioner Hedford then meet another castaway — revealed as Zefram Cochrane, the famed scientist from Alpha Centauri who discovered warp drive more than 100 years ago. At the age of 87, Cochrane decided that he wanted to die in outer space, so he boarded a ship and headed away from Alpha Centauri, only to be waylaid by the cloud creature, which Cochrane calls the Companion. Kirk communicates with the Companion via the universal translator and learns that the entity is in love with Cochrane. Cochrane is unable to accept this, especially since he is falling in love with Hedford. When Hedford's death is imminent, the Companion forsakes its immortal state to unite with the Earth woman. Cochrane accepts the love of the Companion/Hedford and stays on the planet with her.