|
|
Star date 4513.3. Our story opens with a new crew member, Mr Norman striding down the passageway passing by Dr McCoy an Mr Spock. Norman is polite but taciturn. McCoy pauses, "There's something wrong about a man who never smiles, whose conversation never varies from the routine of the job and who won't talk about his background." Spock finds McCoy puzzling.
Mr Norman makes his way to the auxiliary control room and overpowers Ensign Jordan. Working at 'light-speed' he realigns switches and changes settings, over-riding control of the Enterprise. On the bridge, Sulu notes the change and notifies the Captain who, after trying to regain control, calls a security alert.
Security accesses the auxiliary control, finds Ensign Jordan and reports to Kirk, but cannot free up the controls. Meanwhile, Norman has gone down to engineering. He overpowers the staff of the engineering section and continues to make adjustments to the ship's controls.
Back on the bridge, the course change has been executed and the ship begins to pick up speed rapidly. Captain Kirk makes for the turbo-lift but is stopped by Norman who informs him that he is in control of the vessel. Any tampering with it to regain control will cause it to self-destruct. He reveals himself as an android. "Who sent you?", demands Kirk. "I am not programmed to respond in that area.", he replies and promptly shuts himself down for the duration.
The Enterprise arrives at an uncharted planet and assumes normal orbit. Norman activates and informs Captain Kirk that he will form a landing party to beam down consisting of Uhura, Spock, Chekov, himself and McCoy. Kirk refuses, saying that any meeting can be held aboard the Enterprise. Norman tells the Captain that if he does not cooperate, he will destroy the ship's engines and the crew will remain in orbit about this planet forever. Kirk concedes, "I must say, that's a gracious invitation." Norman goes further, "There is a word. Among us there is no corresponding meaning but it seems to mean something to you humans." " And what is that word?", asks Kirk Norman answers, " Please."
Beaming below the planet surface, Kirk and his crew find themselves in a hollowed out world peopled by luscious looking 'female' androids. They pass through the portal and find their old friend and nemesis, Harcourt Fenton Mudd -- Harry for short. The androids speak to and treat him as if he were their ruler.
Kirk knows Harry Mudd well, thinking he left him in prison after a former engagement at the Rigel mining planet. He demands the release of the Enterprise but Harry puts him off, stating that he is in charge here. Kirk changes his approach and asks him, "All right, I'll listen, what are you telling?" "Merely that you might as well start enjoying yourselves, it's really a very, very nice place. And you are going to be here, quite probably, for the rest of your lives.", says Harry.
Harry Mudd begins to tell them of his existence here. He introduces each series of androids he had constructed for him and explains how obedient and servile they are. When asks how he came about being here, he tells them that he constructed a scam (this in very round-about, flowery language) selling the Denebrians all the rights for a Vulcan fuel synthesizer but was caught. "It's typical police mentality! They've got no sense of humor, they arrested me!', Harry exclaims. The citizens of Denab V maintain a death penalty for fraud. Thus Harry broke jail, stole a space craft and fled -- although not before the local constabulary fired on him and damaged the ship. He wandered helplessly through uncharted space and wound up here.
Spock states, "You went to substantial risk and effort to bring a star ship here. Logically you must have a compelling motive." Harry, pausing and looking sideways at the Vulcan remarks, "Spock, you're going to love it here. They all talk just the way you do."
Kirk wants Harry to continue ... Well, he landed here and found 100's of androids whose only purpose seem to be to serve him and make him happy. "It's absolute -- paradise.", broods Harry. "Then I am unable to discern your problem.", returns Spock. "They won't let me go! They want to study me! They want to learn more about human beings!", Harry wails. "They picked a fine representative.", retorts Kirk.
It seems that Mr Mudd has run out of ideas -- of things to do. So the android population wanted more humans for study. Harry told them about a star ship and it's captain, and by blind luck the Enterprise was selected. So Harry gets off the planet and the crew of the Enterprise remains, subjects for the androids' study.
As Harry has them shown to their new quarters, McCoy asks about a niche in the wall. "Ahh, well, that gentlemen is a shrine to the memory of my beloved Stella.", says Harry. "Dead?", asks the doctor. "Oh, 
no, no, no, no. Merely deserted. You see, behind every great man is a woman urging him on. And so it was with my Stella. She urged me on into outer space -- not that she meant to ... I think of her constantly and every time I do, I go further out into space."
Harry activates the android which immediately begins to deride and nag at him. "Shut up!", commands Harry and the android falls silent. Hmmm, it's the perfect wife. It remains quiet when told to do so.
Kirk and his crew are shown to their quarters, where they begin to question Norman about the androids' makers. Seems the androids came from the galaxy Andromeda along with their makers who were humanoid. But their sun went nova destroying most of the population. The outpost in this galaxy is one of the few surviving remnants of their technology. Kirk asks if some of the makers survived, but is told that they died over the stretch of time. When asked who the androids served now, they state in unison, "We serve Harry Mudd." Harry Mudd has given them purpose again. Norman departs while two of the Allison series tell them of the facilities available for their amusement and diversion. Kirk then asks them to leave the room. Why they ask why, he replies, "Because we don't like you.", using their manner of speech.
When they depart the Captain asks for opinions. "I think we're in a lot of trouble.", says Chekov. "That's a great help Mr Chekov -- Bones?", replies Kirk. "Well, I think Mr Chekov is right, we are in a lot of trouble.", echoes the doctor. Kirk, looking exasperated, turn to his first officer, "Spock, and if you say we're in a lot of trouble ..." "We are.", returns Spock. The Captain rolls his eyes. But Spock also has a theory of how the androids are controlled. He wishes to find their central controlling unit. If he can do that, perhaps they might formulate a means for escape. Kirk sets him on that task while the rest of the crew look around for anything useful. Kirk is going to concentrate on Harry Mudd.
Spock has found the central control room with Norman and some others in attendance. The android does not seem to mind answering Spock's questions until he asks if all the androids are controlled through what he perceives as a simple relay center. Norman tells him, "I am not programmed to respond in this area.", his identification badge flashing.
The rest of the crew, along with Harry, is getting a tour of the underground complex. Each is tempted to the situation by different enticements. The doctor -- a lab, Uhura -- the promise of an android body with eternal youth and beauty as it's consequences, and so on.
The landing party reassembles in their quarters to share their findings. Scotty is brought in yelling and complaining by one of the Allisons. "Scotty, you were ordered to stay aboard.", scolds Kirk. "Aye, sir. And I stayed -- until that female gargantua threw me into the transporter beam." Turning to Harry, the Captain wants to know what the android who brought Scott in meant by 'the last one'. Harry, hemming and hawing, tells Kirk that the ship's crew have all been beamed down. Androids have replaced them on the ship. There's nothing the Captain can do.
Mr Spock reminds Jim that the entire android population remains loyal to Mudd. And they can literally supply anything a human might desire in unlimited quantity. That is indeed what concerned Jim. He wonders how his crew will react in a world where they can have their heart's desire merely by asking for it.
As a matter of fact, they are being seduced, each in their own way. "Alright, we're getting back to the ship and don't you forget it!", commands Kirk. An android strolls in asking if they require anything. Captain Kirk wants his ship. He tries illogic and causes the android to stall and begin to contact their central control silently -- her badge flashing. Ahhh, a way to overcome them. She recovers and leaves, but Kirk and Spock have an idea.
Jim finds Harry who is getting ready to depart. Norman however, disillusions Mudd. He's not going get to leave. Harry is not in control any longer. "Harry Mudd is flawed even for a human being.", reports Norman. They knew this when they first met him, but used him to gain other humans. The androids are not going to harm their captives, but they are going to take the Enterprise and go forth to the rest of the planets. There the various peoples will welcome the mechanisms and the life they offer -- and the androids will be able to control the self-destructive nature of human-kind.
This is not good. The crew must think of a way out of this mess! But how? Spock has tried overcoming one of the androids with his potent nerve pinch, but to no avail. The android simply asks him if there is something he desires. At least Harry Mudd is on their side now, since he is to be left behind as well.
Spock and Kirk outline their idea and a plan of action. If they can divert enough of the androids and cause them to try to coordinate with Norman, perhaps they can overload the 'brain' of the units. To do this they are going to use wild, insane illogic and aim it directly at Norman.
They put a show on for the androids, Norman attending. They play and dance to silent music, 'kill' Scott with their 'finger-guns', and laugh in 'sorrow' when he 'dies'.
Uhura slaps Chekov after dancing with him. "Why did she strike him?, one of the Allisons asks. "Because she likes him.", answers Kirk. "It is illogical.", she states and soon becomes inactive.
After they have deactivated a number of the Allisons, the group heads for the control chamber and Norman. Again a demonstration is performed for the machine to confuse it. Harry Mudd goes into a dissertation of human nature, followed by Scott and McCoy. "That is contradictory. It is not logical. Mr Spock -- explain.", requests Norman.
"Logic is a little tweeting bird, chirping in a meadow.", intones Spock, "Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell bad. Are you sure your circuits are registering correctly? Your ears are green!"
Kirk has Harry Mudd come forward, then turns to the android. Kirk states. "Everything Harry tells you is a lie.", he says, "Remember that. Everything Harry tells you is a lie.! Harry then addresses Norman, "Now listen to this carefully, Norman. I am lying."
Norman, locked in a logic loop soon shorts out. They are free!
Epilog: The crew of the Enterprise has reprogrammed the androids to adapt the planet to productive use. Mudd has been paroled to the android population so that they might learn first hand of what a human failure and irritant is like. "How long?", Harry wants to know. "As long as you continue to be an irritant, Harry. It's up to you.", Kirk tells him.
Mudd looks about at the lovely female styled androids and considers that his position is not as bad as it could have been and consoles himself.
"Oh, there's one more thing. We've programmed a special android attendant to take care of your every need.", Kirk tells him. "She'll help you find an incentive to work with the androids and not exploit them."
"Harcourt!", we hear. And in walks an android Stella which doesn't shut up when told to -- and another -- and another. "Number 500!", cries Harry. "Kirk! You can't do this to me! It's inhuman!"
"Good-bye, Harry. Have fun!", bides Kirk as he leaves.
