- Doctor McCoy: Medical Log: Stardate 5506.2. Captain Kirk and First Officer Spock were rescued forty-eight hours ago. They have no recollection of what happened to them after they were attacked, but medical examinations show an unidentified substance in the blood stream has affected their entire metabolism and changed them into water-breathers. Their internal structure is completely transformed, and even their eyes are covered with a transparent film, like the second eyelid of a fish. So far all efforts to return them to normal have failed.
- Doctor McCoy: [on intercom] There's a seaquake due in that area. A bad one. Complete topography changes.
- Scott: How soon?
- Doctor McCoy: Within four hours. When are Jim and Spock due to make contact?
- Scott: About the same time.
- Doctor McCoy: Well, can you contact them sooner?
- Scott: We can try like blue blazes. Scott out.
- Mr. Spock: It is quite possible, Captain, that they find us grotesque and ugly, and many people fear beings different from themselves.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Strange that such a highly-developed race would be violent.
- Mr. Spock: Apparently they were exposed to a frightening geological disaster. Such hardship induces savagery and violence.