- While returning to the Enterprise aboard the shuttlecraft, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and a seriously ill Federation diplomat find themselves kidnapped by an energized cloud.
- The Enterprise shuttlecraft, carrying Kirk, Spock, Dr. McCoy and critically ill Federation Ambassador Nancy Hedford, encounters a mysterious energy cloud which pulls them down to planet Gamma Canaris N. There they meet a castaway, a young man who purports to be Zefram Cochrane, inventor of the Warp Drive over 100 years ago. In history, he had lived to be 80 years of age before disappearing somewhere in space. Apparently the same energy cloud which brought the shuttlecraft to the planet also found and rejuvenated Cochrane, making him effectively immortal. Unless Kirk can get themselves released soon, the ambassador, without vital medical treatment, will die.—Clive Wilson
- The shuttlecraft Kirk, Spock and McCoy use to bring Assistant Commissioner Nancy Hedford (a Federation diplomat) to the Enterprise for urgent medical care is suddenly diverted to the planet Gamma Canaris N. Here they are greeted by a young man claiming to be Zefram Cochrane, inventor of the Warp Drive who, at age 80, disappeared over 100 years ago. He calls the strange, partially electric cloud responsible for their diversion The Companion, which not only rejuvenated him but made him effectively immortal. In its devotion to please him, communicating with Cochrane mentally, it brought the shuttlecraft party to the planet when he complained about loneliness, (hoping it would get him released rather than bring others to his fate). After an attempt to paralyze the Companion proves nearly fatal, and with time pressing on the dying diplomat, Kirk and his men conclude that the Companion is in love with Cochrane - an idea that Zefram finds almost too challenging.—KGF Vissers
- While transporting ailing Assistant Federation Commissioner Nancy Hedford to the Enterprise aboard a shuttlecraft, Captain Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy encounter a gaseous creature that forcibly takes them to a planet with only one human inhabitant. The man turns out to be Zephram Cochrane, the inventor of the warp drive who supposedly died 150 years ago at the ripe old age of 87. The creature, whom he calls the Companion, found and brought him to the planet where it rejuvenated him and kept him alive. They can communicate but only on a non-verbal, empathic level, (which unintentionally lead to the shuttlecraft's abduction when the man conveyed to it his loneliness). As Commissioner Hedford's condition rapidly deteriorates, they need to free themselves to get her back to the Enterprise before it's too late.—garykmcd
- The "Companion" wants only one thing. Love. That is why it has kept Zefram Cochrane (Glenn Corbett) alive for 200 years, stranded on a barren planet. He "communicates" with it by standing on the ground until the Companion surrounds him like a fog. The Companion has done everything for Cochrane (who, by the way, invented warp drive for powering star-ships).
Now here comes an Enterprise shuttle-craft, carrying Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Nancy (Elinor Donahue) (an ambassador who is very sick. She is cold and heartless). Nancy was sent to a star system Epsilon Canaris III to prevent war, but had to abandon her mission mid-way when she contracted a rare Sakuro's disease and had to picked up by the Enterprise Shuttlecraft. She blames Starfleet as she should have received her inoculations before she left for her mission. On way to the Enterprise (which was still 4 hrs and 21 mins away), the shuttle-craft is caught in an Hydrogen ion storm and is forced to land on a deserted planet. The planet is similar to Earth, but is mostly made of Iron and Nickle.
After the shuttle-craft sets down, Kirk, Spock and McCoy are sought out by Cochrane and are taken to his home. Spock cant find anything wrong with the shuttle, yet it wont start. Cochrane says that the planet has some sort of damping field and power systems don't work
Cochrane secretly likes Nancy, but she is cold and heartless. She is infuriated and outraged at the delays in getting her back to the Enterprise. Without proper medical attention, she will soon die from her disease. Kirk demands some answers from Cochrane, and he finally talks. Cochrane was brought to this planet by the Companion after his spaceship was disabled. Cochrane was dying. The Companion saved his life. He was old, and the Companion rejuvenated him and made him young, like he is now. McCoy and Kirk are stunned to learn that Cochrane is the same guy who invented the space warp and presumed dead for 150 yrs. He was 87 yrs old when he was brought to the planet.
Meanwhile Nancy is getting worse, with a high fever. Nancy has only a few hrs left. Cochrane reveals that he told the Companion that he would die of loneliness, thinking that it would release him. Instead, the companion brought the shuttle-craft to the planet to keep him company. Cochrane wants to leave the planet, even though he would start to age, if he does. He says immortality is largely made up of boredom. The companion strikes the shuttle and fries all of its circuits. During this attack, Spock figures out that the companion is made of electricity for large parts.
Meanwhile the Enterprise is worried that the Shuttlecraft it overdue for rendezvous and starts a search. Kirk and Spock decide to short out the Companion with an electrical impulse generator, but it fails and the Companion attacks them. Only Cochrane is able to bring it under control. On the planet Spock rigs a device to be able to communicate with the Companion. Spock succeeds and Kirk figures out that companion loves Cochrane. Cochrane is disgusted by the idea. The Companion refuses to release them despite knowing and understanding the humans cannot thrive in captivity. Then Kirk makes Companion understand that it cant "join" Cochrane. Companion understands that Cochrane can love her only if she is human.
Then Nancy dies but WAIT, she comes back to life. The Companion is now living INSIDE Nancy. McCoy smiles and says the Companion must be a female. They are allowed to leave but now Cochrane has a companion. The companion now fixes the shuttle-craft and allows the landing party to leave, without Nancy and Cochrane. Companion had to give up its powers to enter Nancy's body and now it cant leave the planet as it would die. On the planet, she can only get old at a normal pace with Cochrane. They leave Cochrane behind with Nancy the Companion (the same entity) and he is eternally happy.
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