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Captain Kirk has one more stop to pick up the Vulcan delegation before proceeding to Babel. On board is Ambassador Sarik. The delegation arrives via shuttle craft and is welcomed with full honors by the crew of the Enterprise. As he greets Sarik, Kirk offers the ambassador a tour of the ship and assigns Spock to serve as guide. But Sarik has pointedly ignored Spock up to now and requests another guide.

As Kirk prepares to escort the Vulcan delegate to his quarters, he turns to Spock, "Mr Spock, we'll leave orbit in two hours. Would you care to beam down and visit your parents?" "Captain.", replies Spock, "Ambassador Sarik and his wife are my parents."

Later, Captain Kirk is conducting Sarik and his wife through the ship. They enter the engineering section where Spock is working. Attempting to get father and son together, Kirk asks Spock to explain the ship's engineering computers to the ambassador. The First Officer remains silent, Sarik telling Kirk that he gave Spock his first instruction in computers but his son choose to devote his abilities to Star Fleet instead of the Vulcan Science Academy. Sarik then dismisses himself to rest -- asking that his wife, Amanda, continue the tour in his place.

Kirk and Amanda, now alone begin to discuss the problem which is so apparent within the family. Amanda tells the captain that the Vulcan way is logic. It's a better way, but very difficult. It has kept Spock and Sarik from speaking as father and son for 18 years. Kirk informs her, "Spock is my best officer -- and my friend." "I'm glad he has such a friend.", she replies. Her son is neither human nor Vulcan and at home nowhere but in Star Fleet. She is concerned for his loneliness, which he tries to hide.

Just then, Kirk receives a signal from Uhura. There has been a strange transmission -- just some symbols, nothing intelligible -- but a strong signal, as if very close. Yet there is nothing in the area. The Captain has her go to alert status.

Later, at what is obviously a reception for the delegates, Kirk and Sarik are confronted by a pair of Tellerite officials (the ones with the pig-faces). Ambassador Gaave wants to know how the Vulcan will vote on the admission of Corridan to the Federation. Another being questions Gaave on why must he know. Gaave replies, "In council, his vote carries others. I will know where he stands -- and why!" "Tellerites do not argue for reasons. They simply argue.", Sarik answers. The Tellerite begins to dispute with Sarik but Kirk intervenes, telling Gaave that Sarik is correct. The Enterprise is not the place for discussion. These are matters for the council chamber. Gaave leaves in anger.

As Sarik explains his position with Gaave, we find Spock standing with his mother and Dr McCoy. The good doctor wants to know a little about his shipmate. He wants to know if when Spock was young, he ever ran and played as human children do. "Well, he -uh, he did have a pet sal'lot he was very fond of ... It's sort of a fat teddy-bear.", she tells him. "A teddy-bear?", smiles McCoy.

Sarik breaks in and asks his wife to retire to their quarters with him. They bid goodnight and depart.

"A teddy-bear.", gloats the doctor. Spock replies, "Not precisely doctor. On Vulcan the teddy-bears are alive and they have six-inch fangs."

At that moment Kirk is summoned to the intercom where Chekov informs him that sensors have picked up and unidentified vessel pacing them. Kirk signals that he is on his way to the bridge and instructs Chekov to go to yellow alert status, but quietly. So as not to alarm the delegates.

Reaching the bridge, the Captain asks for a report. It is a small ship, Chekov informs him, keeping out of phaser range and at the extreme limits of the sensors. Spock identifies the ship as the size of a scout ship but of an unfamiliar configuration. He needs more facts to make a determination. Kirk orders the Enterprise to close up to the vessel. He wants to know who they are and what they are doing. But the intruder scurries away at warp 10. Star Fleet, meanwhile, answers the inquiry that Uhura has sent, and confirms that there are no other authorized vessels in this quadrant. The unknown vessel again parallels them as they return to their original course.

"You embarrassed Spock this evening. Not even a mother may do that. He is a Vulcan", Sarik chides his wife. "Sarik, you're proud of him, aren't you?", she answers. "It does not require pride to ask that Spock be given the respect which is his due. Not as my son, but as Spock.", he replies.

Later Sarik returns to the reception area. Ambassador Gaave is sitting there drinking and approaches the Vulcan. He demands again to know how Sarik will vote on Corridan's admission to the Federation. Sarik decides to tell his antagonist and informs him that Vulcan favors admission. Immediately Gaave demands to know why. He obviously does not agree with Vulcan on the issue.

Sarik explains and we find out why the Tellerites are so interested. Corridan has almost unlimited wealth in di-lithium crystals. As a member of the Federation, it would be protected and illegal mining activities halted. Clearly this is what the Tellerites have been doing. Gaave attacks Sarik, but the Vulcan easily throws him backwards just as Captain Kirk enters. Kirk naturally stops the argument and separates the two, the Tellerite ambassador issuing threats to Sarik. "You will pay for your slander", he warns. "Threats are illogical. And payment is usually expensive.", states Sarik.

Time passes and a security officer, Lt Joseph, comes upon the dead body of Ambassador Gaave. He notifies the Captain who joins him immediately along with several others of the crew. McCoy reports that his neck is snapped clean as if by an expert. Kirk wants to know who would be capable of such a method of death. "Vulcans.", answers Spock. "On Vulcan the method is called Tal'shi'a."

Captain Kirk tells Spock of the argument between Gaave and his father, asking if Sarik is capable of killing. Spock states that Vulcans don't believe in violence, but given a logical reason, his father is quite capable of killing.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy visit Ambassador Sarik in his quarters. Only Amanda is there, and tells Kirk that her husband has been gone for some time as it is his habit to meditate prior to retiring. At that moment Sarik enters and asks the captain if he wishes something of him. Captain Kirk begins to question him about his recent whereabouts and tells him of the murder. Sarik tells Jim that he was in private meditation during the last hour -- and collapses. McCoy thinks it is his cardio-vascular system.

On the bridge, Kirk tries to tell Spock he is sorry for his father -- offering sympathy. The First Officer remains very calm and detached stating that he accepts what has happened.

Uhura is picking up a signal again and locates it as coming from the tailing ship and the reception point to be somewhere within the Enterprise. Spock is unable to decipher the code and when asked can reply only in the negative. "It fits none of our computer records, and it is alien.", he says. Kirk is puzzled and notices Uhura has her detector on wide-area reception. He orders her to narrow it immediately. He wants to know who on board his ship is receiving an alien signal.

In sick bay, Doctor McCoy has examined Sarik and has determined that he has a mal-function in one of the heart valves. To determine the exact trouble he will need to operate. McCoy asks Amanda if her husband has had any previous attacks. "No.", she answers. But Sarik interjects, "Yes. There were three others." Kirk asks him when he had these other attacks. Two were on Vulcan and the third, it turns out, was during the time the Tellerite was murdered. Sarik claims to be unable to have committed the assassination.

Spock inquires whether McCoy is going to operate. Bones says that he does not know, it's difficult with a Vulcan. When Kirk asks why, Sarik and Spock begin discussing medical options and what should be done. They agree on a procedure. Kirk turns to McCoy and asks for his opinion. "Well, I'm glad somebody's asking me something around here.", the doctor states.

But there's a problem (isn't there always?). The procedure would require a lot of blood. Nurse Chapel has checked and there is no where near enough on the Enterprise to see the operation through. On top of that, Sarik's blood is T-negative, a rare type. Ah-ha! But Sarik and Spock have the same blood type! An easy solution? Not yet gentle reader. Read on.

The operation is risky, but Spock agrees to become a blood-donor in order to save Sarik -- not as his father, but as the Ambassador.

Even Spock cannot supply enough blood, but there is an experimental drug, rigellian, which greatly increases blood production. McCoy is reluctant, but Spock wants to take the drug himself to act as donor. Neither Amanda nor McCoy wants to allow Spock to do this, but he points out that if they do not, they condemn Sarik to death. "You now have the means to perform the operation. I'm volunteering myself as the blood-donor.", Spock announces.

We flash to a scene in a corridor. Kirk is engaged in combat with an Andorian -- with a knife. Kirk overcomes his opponent but is stabbed in the kidney during the struggle. Using the intercom, Captain Kirk signals Spock, giving his location and the fact he was attacked, then falls unconscious to the deck.

The Captain now lies in sick bay. He will be okay, but must remain for a few days to recover. Spock is now in command. The First Officer is in sick bay with Kirk when McCoy walks up and informs him that his father is much worse. They must operate immediately. "No doctor. My first responsibility is to the ship. Our passenger's safety is, by Star Fleet order, of first importance. We are being followed by an alien, possibly hostile vessel. I cannot relinquish command under these circumstances.", Spock announces.

McCoy states that he can turn command over to Mr Scott. But the Vulcan does not yield.

In the brig Spock questions the Andorian Ambassador about his assistant. The Ambassador knows nothing of his assistant other than he has served adequately. He further says that the Andorians are a violent race, but had no quarrel with the captain. Spock remarks that Thelope obviously did and seems to have been mentally conditioned. But the Ambassador again says that an attack would not benefit his race and suggests that the Vulcan look for a motive of passion.

Spock is in his quarters, pacing. The buzzer sounds again and again. His mother enters and tells him to turn command of the Enterprise over to someone else, he must help his father. Spock replies that he took an oath to Star Fleet and that must be honored. His mother is angered and tells him, "If being Vulcan is more important to you ... and let your father die then I'll hate you for the rest of my life! She begs him to go to Sarik. When he refuses, she slaps him (as only a mother can) and storms away.

Kirk gains consciousness. He asks McCoy how Sarik is doing. When the doctor replies that the Vulcan Ambassador is not doing well and that he is unable to operate, Kirk asks why. "What's stopping you. I thought you were already."

McCoy tells him that because he became incapacitated, Spock assumed command and refuses to relinquish it until the captain has recovered -- even if it costs Sarik his life. Captain Kirk tries to rise, but quickly sinks back into bed. Bones warns him that should he move, he could begin to bleed again. Kirk cannot allow Sarik to die though. Kirk will convince Spock that he is alright, then when the first officer reports to sick bay, Kirk will turn command over to Scotty and report to his quarters. McCoy sees this is the only way.

Spock is surprised to see Captain Kirk back on the bridge and inquires whether he is all right. Kirk tells him yes and orders him to go to sick bay. Kirk puts on a show of normality, but as soon as Spock enters the turbo-lift, Kirk sinks into his chair and gasps, "Call Mr Scott to the bridge."

But now the alien vessel begins to come closer. Kirk cancels the call for Mr Scott, saying that he'll stay on the bridge. Again transmissions are being intercepted -- coming from within the Enterprise. Uhura isolates them and tells the Captain that the signal is coming from the brig. Kirk orders security to the brig to search Thelope.

In the brig two security men are checking the Andorian. Suddenly, Thelope attacks the closer one, pushing him back. The other fires his phaser, stunning the prisoner. As Thelope falls to the deck one of his 'antenna' break off revealing the transmitter/receiver.

As the security man notifies the bridge, the unknown vessel changes course and speed -- directly towards the Enterprise at warp 8. While the alien attacks, Kirk has the prisoner brought to the bridge.

Thelope is defiant when Kirk tells him that his friends aboard the other vessel will have to destroy this ship to win. "That was intended from the beginning Captain.", he says.

The Enterprise has been hit hard. Number two shield is down completely. Kirk has the power cut to the port side -- then after a short span of time, the starboard side. He is going to lure the faster craft in close then hit them at point blank range. The Enterprise begins to drift. The prisoner sees this and is astounded. "You're baiting him. You're trying to lure him in!"

As the other ship closes, Kirk fires, crippling the enemy. The Captain wants to investigate the enemy vessel, but they destroy themselves. "They could not surrender Captain", says Thelope, "They had orders to self-destruct."

Kirk has Uhura signal Star Fleet. They have a prisoner. But it seems that Thelope is self-destructing too. He had taken a slow poison earlier and was now dying on the bridge. He estimates 10 minutes of life left, but folds as the security men move him from the bridge. Dying, he observes, "I seem to have mis-calculated."

Epilog: Kirk returns to sick bay, aching from his wound. He asks after the two Vulcans. Doctor McCoy, as always, has managed to save his patients (at least the important ones anyway).

Spock tells Kirk of his deductions. The agent, as was the enemy ship was Orion. They were engaged in illegal di-lithium mining and sought to cause an interplanetary war. Thus they could reap profits by selling to both sides.

Kirk weakens and buckles at the knees. Doctor McCoy and Nurse Chapel assist him into bed as he protests. Spock begins to rise and is also told to lie down. "Doctor McCoy I believe you're enjoying all this.", says Kirk. "Indeed Captain. I've never seen him look so happy.", remarks the Vulcan. McCoy commands, "Shut up!" Turning to Kirk who is preparing to speak, "Shhh, Shhhh!"

Kirk falls quiet, wearing a hurt, little boy expression. McCoy, looking back and forth between his two reluctant patients beams, "Well, what do you know. I finally got the last word."