The Empath (Episode)

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The Empath
"The Empath" (TOS 63)

"The Empath" (TOS 63)
Series Star Trek
Season 3
Episode 12
Production Number 63
Release Date 6 Dec 1968
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Stardate 5121.0: The landing party is used to test an empathic race.

The Enterprise journeys to the Minarvan system to rescue Federation researchers Dr. Linke and Dr. Ozaba before the Minarvan star goes nova. Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy discover recordings that show the missing scientists literally disappearing from their posts. While trying to discover what happened, the three are also seized and materialize in the presence of their abductors: Lal and Thann. Kirk and crew discover that Linke and Ozaba are dead, their bodies preserved in huge containers. The only other living being present is Gem, a young woman who cannot speak. Kirk and McCoy are taken one at a time and experimented on by Lal and Thann, resulting in terrible injuries, and they discover that Gem is an empath who can absorb their injuries and pain into her own body.

When McCoy is gravely injured, Kirk is prevented from helping him or urging Gem to cure him. Although she knows that his injuries may kill her, Gem begins to cure McCoy. The entire, apparently senseless series of brutalities is revealed as a test to determine whether or not Gem's race is worthy of being saved from a disaster that will soon engulf her entire star system, which also contains a second inhabited planet. This is the only method that Lal and Thann could devise to determine which planet's population to save, as they lack the means to save both. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are returned to the Enterprise.

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