The Creature Is A Horta (The Devil in the Dark)

[Cavern]

KIRK: (sitting down) Well, what do we do, just talk it over?

(The creature turns to show it's wound from their last encounter.)

KIRK: Well, you can be hurt, can't you? We just sit here? It's your move.

(Spock comes running in and takes aim)

KIRK: No, no! Don't shoot. Come on over, Mister Spock.

(He does so, and squats by the Captain.)

SPOCK: Fascinating. It's made no moves against you?

KIRK: No. It seems to be waiting. I tried talking to it, but it didn't do any good.

(Spock points at a pile of silicon nodules.)

KIRK: Yes, they're all through here, all over the place. Thousands of them.

SPOCK: Yes, I see.

KIRK: Does it means something to you?

SPOCK: Possibly the answer, Captain, but I'm not certain. Captain, you are aware of the Vulcan technique of the joining of two minds.

KIRK: You think you can get through to that thing?

SPOCK: It's possible.

KIRK: Mister Spock, I know it's a terrible personal lowering of mental barriers but if there's a chance

SPOCK: I'll try.

(He fastens his phaser to his belt and carefully approaches the worried creature. Without touching, he concentrates for a moment and then cries out.)

SPOCK: Pain! Pain! Pain! (he staggers back) That's all I got, Captain. Waves and waves of searing pain. It's in agony.

(The creature climbs onto a rock ledge and etches letters into it.) KIRK: No kill I. What is that, a plea for us not to kill it, or a promise that it won't kill us? SPOCK: I don't know, Captain. Evidently, it gained an immediate knowledge of us from its empathy with me. In my brief contact with the creature's mind, I discovered it is a highly intelligent, extremely sophisticated animal. In great pain, of course, because of its wound, but not reacting at all like a wounded creature. It calls itself a Horta. KIRK: A Horta. A Horta!