Executive Producer: Gene Roddenberry
Producers: Gene L. Coon + John Meredyth Lucas
Associate Producer: Robert H. Justman
Script Consultant: D. C. Fontana

Story by: Max Ehrlich
Writers: Max Ehrlich + Gene L. Coon
Dir.: Joseph Pevney

Captain Kirk: William Shatner
Science Officer, First Officer, Cmdr. Spock: Leonard Nimoy
Dr. Leonard "Bones" Mc Coy: DeForest Kelly
Lt. Sulu: George Takei
Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott: James Doohan
Lieutenant Uhura: Nichelle Nichols

Lt. Kyle: John Winston
Akuta: Keith Andes
Sayana: Shari Nims
Yeoman Martha Landon: Celeste Yarnall
Makora: David Soul
Hendorff: Mal Friedman
Marple: Jerry Daniels
Ensign Mallory: Jay Jones
Kaplan: Dick Dial

Stardate: 3715.0

There is a paradise on Gamma Trianguli VI. The people are immortal, there is no war or need, but they sustain a computer who's even manipulating the weather for their wellbeing. They are serving the machine which is built like a giant serpent by feeding it with stones loaded with energy. They call it Vaal. As the ship's energy is drained, too, captain Kirk, Spock and others beam down and meet the friendly, shy people in their environment. 

someone is watching us ...

For the crew the environment is new and hostile. Spock sees a plant aiming it's spores at Kirk and steps in-between to prevent his captain from being hit by them. They hit him and he nearly dies by the poison. A quickly given injection by the doctor saves his life. Rocks explode when people step on them, this way another crewmember dies. Even the weather is dangerous. Another crewmember is killed by a lightning.

As Spock tries to scan Vaal with his tricorder, the machine hits him with a sort of lightning, burning his back. Dr. McCoy treats his injuries and remarks that this must be very painful. His ability of understating is dryly commented by Spock. The leader of the people, Akuta, is also the "voice and ears of Vaal" who communicates with the machine. First he welcomes the crew. They are invited to the village and offered flowers,food and shelter. 

The natives are puzzled when they see Chekov and Yeoman Landon flirting. They seem to know nothing about sex and reproduction. When they are asked how do they get children, they wonder "Children? Ah the new ones!" and explane that children are borne to them only when someone dies by accident and must be replaced. Yeoman Landon wonders how they know what to do when such a need happens. Spock, as the scientist in the party, is asked to find an answer. 

Later on Akuta is contacted by Vaal via his implanted antennas. Vaal has ordered the people to kill the crew of the Enterprise because they bring an imbalance to the system. Because the people don't age or get children the permanence is guaranteed. It comes to a fight with the people and another crewmember dies. Spock, who always tried to understand the system and to avoid interference, now sadly states that they have brought the development the others wanted to bring: They already have learned to kill. Vaal keeps on draining the energy of the ship. Now Kirk orders to destroy the machine. Phaserbeams from the Enterprise destroy Vaal. Now the people have to learn how to deal with death, self support and unpredictable conditions.

Once the crew is back on the Enterprise, Spock comments that they acted as devils in Eden. Kirk and McCoy muse about who among them looks more like Satan. Spock denies to know.

Head picture courtesy of Ultimate Pix