FADE IN:

EXT. ENTERPRISE – FULL SHOT

The ship lies drifting through space, almost motionless in the green cloud, speckled with weeds, and in most parts, covered completely.

                        KIRK

Captain's log, star date 9742.8: While searching for a small convoy of Earth ships which recently disappeared mysteriously, we received a distress call from the extreme outer reaches of the galaxy. In tracking the signal down, the Enterprise has become trapped in a celestial "Sargasso Sea." Strange space plants, a form of life unlike anything we have ever encountered have attached themselves to the outer hull of the ship and sapped all our primary power. We have switched to battery power, but this will not last us for more than a few days, perhaps a week if we are fortunate. We cannot spare the power to propel ourselves, but swift, gravitational space currents have seized the ship, and we're drifting rapidly toward an unknown destination…

CUT TO BRIDGE

Crewmen are walking about, orders and reports are relayed in BG. Kirk walks over to Spock, who is standing. Both seem to be examining findings in Spock's area and hooded viewer.

                        KIRK

            Mr. Spock. What do we know about these…"weeds" on the hull of the ship?

                        SPOCK

Very little, Captain. They seem to be very simple organisms, a totally alien life form based on an element other than carbon…capable of surviving without water or oxygen. They literally devour raw energy to sustain themselves.

                        KIRK

            Then they're responsible for pulling us in here?

                        SPOCK

Negative. They are incapable of either producing or concentrating the amount of energy required to draw us to them.

                        KIRK

            Then the logical answer –

                        SPOCK

The logical answer would be that there is yet another life form within this system…intelligent…capable of both communication and superior weaponry.

                        KIRK

            Then our troubles don't stop here, with theses "weeds."

                        SPOCK

            Hardly, Captain.

                        KIRK

(wandering)

            Whoever got us here must have a purpose…a reason for wanting us here…Why?

                        SPOCK

            That is unanswerable at present.

                        KIRK

(determined)

            But we will know the answer before we leave here.

                        SPOCK

            Yes…If we do indeed leave.

                        KIRK

(challenging)

            If?

                        SPOCK

Captain, our present situation is far from encouraging. We have been left defenseless…without shields… Our position is much like that of a fly, hopelessly entangled in the web of a spider…helpless…awaiting the slow approach of death…

                        KIRK

(irritated)

Mr. Spock, at times, your logic – although undeniably true – can become…quite discouraging.

                        SPOCK

(bows head, sadly)

            I regret that I can find no more promising alternative.

Kirk pounds desk top with fist.

                        KIRK

(to himself)

            We've got to get free!

 (to Spock, demanding)

Continue analysis of the space weeds – see what more you can find out about them…any weaknesses they might have…something we might be able to use against them.

Spock sits down, gets to work. As Kirk walks away to his seat, he speaks almost to himself.

                        KIRK

            Meanwhile, we've got to conserve power.

Kirk pushes a stud on his seat.

                        KIRK

            Kirk to Engineering.

                        SCOTT'S VOICE (filter)

            Scott here, Captain.

                        KIRK

(an order)

Scotty, we're trying to find a way to combat the weeds, but…it'll probably take more time than we've got… We'll need more power. Evacuate all unnecessary decks…recreation centers…have the crew double up in their quarters. I want the power shut off in every room, on every deck which is not absolutely essential.

CUT TO SCOTT – ENGINEERING

                        SCOTT

            Aye, Captain. But it's going to make things a wee bit crowded.

                        KIRK

(irritated)

            I can't worry about that when we're fighting just to stay alive. Kirk out.

(turning to Uhura)

            Lieutenant Uhura, prepare to dispatch a message to Starfleet –

                        UHURA

– Captain, it takes much more power to transmit than to receive. We can't send any messages via sub-space on battery power, and ordinary radio communications would take a hundred years to reach them.

                        KIRK

(irritated)

            I don't care how long it takes, Lieutenant, just, do it.

(pushes a button on seat)

            Bridge to Dr. McCoy.

CUT TO McCOY – SICK BAY

McCoy is holding a clip-board and looking at a crewman in bed. McCoy hears, walks to wall communicator.

                        McCOY

(low, annoyed, critical)

McCoy here. Jim, what's this I hear about you shutting down power all over the ship? The men haven't had a proper shore leave for months, morale's dropping, and now you're packing them in tighter than sardines –

CUT TO KIRK.

                        KIRK

(exploding)

            Any time it's too tight for you, Doctor!

CU McCoy, disturbed.

CUT TO KIRK.

Kirk takes a breath, wipes his forehead with his finertips.

                        KIRK

(explains)

Bones…we're in trouble…I'm doing what is necessary to get us out of here. We're all suffering…

A beat, as Kirk remembers why he wanted McCoy in the first place.

                        KIRK

Report to the bridge. Mr. Spock is scanning the weeds…I want you here for a biological analysis.

CUT TO McCOY.

McCoy is more relaxed now, understanding.

                        McCOY

(apologetically)

            I'll be right up.

CUT TO BRIDGE

Kowal turns to Kirk.

                        KOWAL

            Our weapons systems are operative, sir. Why don't we open fir?

                        KIRK

(irritated)

We can't shoot at something that's attached itself to the hull of the ship without destroying ourselves at the same time. Besides…those weeds eat energy. Anything we could throw at them would probably make them stronger, rather than harm them.

We see the doors to the bridge open, revealing McCoy. Kirk turns to look at McCoy.

                        KIRK

            Bones, I –

                        SULU

(excited)

            Captain!

Kirk turns, looks at Sulu who is gazing spellbound at the screen. Kirk then looks at the screen. An elliptical mass of space ships, from all imaginable star systems and all eras of time, float motionless at various distances from each other. They are partially speckled with weeds, in some places thickly covered, but some color and numbers are visible on their hulls. There are various sizes and shapes of debris floating around.

                        McCOY

(amazed)

            What in the name of –

(a beat)

                        SPOCK

            Fascinating.

(a beat)

                        SULU

(captivated, admiring)

A graveyard of space vessels…from star systems all over the galaxy…from all eras of time…

                        KIRK

(amazed whisper)

            A twentieth century Romulan battle cruiser…out of use for over a hundred years…

                        UHURA

An old style Earth transport vessel…why, we haven't seen one of those in over fifty years…

                        SPOCK

            Space probes of all kinds…some unidentifiable…probably from other galaxies…

                        SULU

(fascinated)

What I wouldn't give to go aboard some of those beauties…imagine the antiquated weapons we'd find…why, it's like a living page of history…

                        KIRK

(quickly, snapping out of it)

            Helmsman, what is our present position?

                        SULU

(looks down at board)

We're at the exact center of whatever it is we're in…astro bearing 10768…and our position is stationary – we're no longer drifting. We've evidently reached the vortex of the gravitational space currents, like the eye of a tornado.

Kirk turns, looks at Spock, who gazes into his viewer at the question.

                        KIRK

            Spock. Are the missing cargo vessels here?

                        SPOCK

            Affirmative.

                        KIRK

(demands)

            Life form readings.

                        SPOCK

            Negative. The ships are dead in space…all power gone, no life on board.

Kirk is shocked.

                        KIRK

(angry)

Do you mean to tell me that out of the hundreds of crewmen aboard those ships, not one of them is alive?

                        SPOCK

            Negative.

(a beat)

Picking up life form readings from another ship now… an ancient, Cronosian Barque. A young female, human, and someone, or something – totally alien – which defies analysis…

Spock looks up at screen.

                        SPOCK

            I believe I can get something visual.

Cut to screen. A young girl (Joanna), about 21, blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful, since she is McCoy's daughter! Joanna is screaming in horror, apparently backing away from something. Deep, terrible laughing is HEARD.

CU McCOY who becomes frantic. He shouts.

                        McCOY

(tortured)

            Joanna!

CUT TO SCREEN as the back of Argos' head comes into the picture, then the screen suddenly goes black.

                        SPOCK

            Transmission lost.

Kirk rises, faces McCoy.

                        KIRK

(anxious, excited)

            Bones! You know her?

                        McCOY

(harsh whisper)

            She's my daughter.

FADE OUT.