"For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched..." Quiz

Answer: A group of missiles are approaching the Enterprise.

Mr. Spock is in command when it is determined that the Enterprise is the target of a set of missiles hurling through space. Captain Kirk arrives on the bridge and orders the missiles to be destroyed. He's called away to sick bay and leaves the bridge crew to locate the point of origin of the missiles.

Answer: Dr. McCoy

After completing physical examinations on the entire crew, Dr. McCoy discovers he has a terminal illness with about a year left to live. He tells Kirk this and says he'll continue to be able to perform his duties in the time he has left. Kirk knows that isn't going to work out so well and calls Starfleet for a new Chief Medical Officer.

Answer: It's actually a ship with an internal atmosphere.

The point of origin of the missiles is determined to be what appears to look like an asteroid. However, it does not behave like a normal asteroid. It has its own independent path, powered by an atomic energy source and the outer shell is hollow with an atmosphere inside. It's a space ship and not a rock, but no life forms are detected.

Answer: It's on a collision course with a highly populated planet.

The asteroid just happens to be on a collision course with Daran V, a highly populated planet. In order to save billions of lives, Kirk must decide whether to destroy the asteroid or figure out a way to change its course. The usual suspects beam over to investigate.

The landing party is attacked by a religious group of people who's High Priestess makes goo-goo eyes at McCoy. Her name is Natira and she consults with the Oracle regarding these strange visitors. The Oracle zaps the Enterprise team with an electric shock and gives the warning "Learn what it means to be our enemy before you learn what it means to be our friend".

Answer: An old man

After waking up from their shock, an old man comes to see Kirk and the boys upon hearing of their arrival. He gives them something to help them recover and recounts a time when he got out and climbed the mountains. For dramatic effect, the writer has the old man say "For the world is hollow and I have touched the sky" and we learn the meaning of the episode title. Apparently, so does the old man and he is subsequently killed by the Oracle.

Answer: Captain Kirk

The Oracle punishes the old man for discussing forbidden things and he dies. Kirk ponders the last thing the old man said and proceeds to repeat his words. Apparently, the writer is really proud of this title and felt it needed to be repeated. Kirk already knows the asteroid is a ship and shouldn't be so taken by the old man's words.

Answer: Kneel on the temple

Kirk and Spock sneak into the Oracle room and begin to poke around looking for answers. They find writing on a monolith that Spock identifies as Fabrini, an ancient civilization that was destroyed 10,000 years ago when their sun went supernova. They had built this ship for their descendants and sent them on a journey to a new world.

The Oracle does not sense Kirk and Spock's presence until Natira enters and kneels on the temple.

Answer: He receives the Instrument of Obedience.

Kirk and Spock are sent back to the Enterprise for their bad behavior, but McCoy insists on staying behind. Natira has asked him to be her mate. Way to go, Bones! Besides, he's a dead man walking anyway. Natira asks for McCoy's hand in marriage and the Oracle approves. When she inserts the Instrument of Obedience in McCoy's temple, the Oracle declares him "one with the people".

Answer: He tells Kirk about the Book of the People.

Now that McCoy is Natira's "boy toy", she shows him where the Book of the People is hidden within the monolith inside the Oracle room. The ancient Fabrini, known as the Creators, have left this book for the people to read when they reach the new world. McCoy figures the book may hold the key on how to correct the course of the asteroid and calls Kirk to inform him of this.

The Oracle punishes McCoy for his actions. Kirk and Spock show up and remove the Instrument of Obedience from McCoy.

Answer: A cure is found in the Fabrini data bank.

Kirk convinces Natira he is telling the truth about her world being a ship on a collision course with another world. Spock retrieves the Book of the People and locates a control room behind the Oracle's temple. As fortune would have it, the ship's computer is similar to the Enterprise's system allowing Kirk and Spock to easily correct the problem setting it back on its intended course. Before they leave, Spock scans the Fabrini data bank and discovers it contains a vast amount of medical knowledge.