The Mark of Gideon

"The Mark of Gideon"
Star Trek: The Original Series episode
Kirk and Odona on the replica of the Enterprise.
Episode no.	Episode 71
Directed by	Jud Taylor
Written by	George F. Slavin Stanley Adams
Production code	072
Original air date	January 17, 1969
Guest stars
Sharon Acker David Hurst Gene Dynarski Richard Derr Frank da Vinci Jay Jones
Episode chronology
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List of Star Trek: The Original Series episodes

"The Mark of Gideon" is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast on January 17, 1969. It is episode #71, production #72, written by George F. Slavin and Stanley Adams, and directed by Jud Taylor.

Overview: A race of overpopulated aliens abduct Kirk to solve their problem.

Plot

On stardate 5423.4, the starship Enterprise arrives at the planet Gideon to begin diplomatic relations and invite the inhabitants to join the Federation. Gideon is reported to be a virtual paradise where the people live incredibly long lives in a nearly germ-free environment.

Upon arrival however, the Gideon representative, Ambassador Hodin, refuses to allow anyone to beam down to the planet except for Captain Kirk, whom he gives specific coordinates to transport to. Kirk agrees to beam down and finds himself sent from one transporter room, directly to another, identical transporter room. It looks as if he is still aboard the Enterprise; however, after looking around, he finds to his surprise, the ship is completely devoid of any crew.

Back on the "normal" Enterprise, Mr. Spock is later informed that the Captain never arrived on the planet; however, Ambassador Hodin refuses to allow a search team to investigate. Spock contacts Admiral Fitzgerald of Starfleet to report Kirk's disappearance and request further instruction; however, Starfleet is bogged down by bureaucratic red tape between the planet Gideon and the Department of Planetary Treaties. Fitzgerald orders Spock to "stand by" for the time being.

Spock knew the coordinates were to send Kirk directly to the Gideon council chamber, so Spock asks to beam a member of the Gideon council up to the Enterprise to test the transporter. Hodin agrees and sends a member of his staff up to the ship and then back down to the planet. The transporter appears to be working normally.

Meanwhile, Kirk wanders the deserted Enterprise and then notices a strange bruise on his arm. He eventually runs into a beautiful young woman named Odona. She too, has no idea how she got to the empty Enterprise, recalling only that she was in an overcrowded auditorium and struggling to breathe. For the moment, Odona is just relieved to have freedom of movement. Kirk insists that she must be from Gideon, but Odona denies any knowledge of Gideon.

Kirk learns from Odona that her home planet is severely overpopulated, with crowds of people everywhere and no privacy. To her, the privilege of being alone, even for a moment, is a dream come true. Kirk thinks Odona's beauty is a dream come true, and the two share a passionate kiss. Neither notice the strange ghostly image of a dozen faces appearing on the bridge monitor behind them.

As Kirk and Odona leave the bridge, Kirk hears a strange sound outside the ship. He goes to a viewport and catches a glimpse of a crowd of people dressed in tight fitting body suits. The scene quickly fades to a view of normal space and he realizes something is very wrong. Kirk confronts Odona about what is going on, but she denies knowing what is happening. She then quickly falls ill, fainting to the floor.

Kirk carries her to sick bay where he encounters Ambassador Hodin, who explains that Kirk is part of a secret experiment on Gideon. Odona is his daughter, and Kirk has just infected her with Vegan choriomeningitis, a potentially lethal virus that Kirk carries in his blood but has an immunity to. Hodin's plan is to infect his people with the virus in an attempt to "control" the overpopulation problem caused by the people's long lifespans in a germ-free environment.

Kirk is angered that he has been an unwitting pawn, a mark, in their hideous plan, and questions why the Gideons haven't tried sterilization or birth control regulations. Hodin explains that the Gideon people have regenerative abilities that have foiled sterilization attempts, and that their people hold love and the ability to create life sacred.

Kirk is also horrified to learn that he must remain behind to supply the virus as needed, however Kirk believes that Odona can fulfill that role now that she has been infected. Hodin explains that Odona must die from the virus so that she will become a "role-model" for the youth of the world, who will step forward and give up their lives for the benefit of the population.

Meanwhile, Spock becomes anxious to learn what happened to his Captain. When he discovers that Kirk's coordinates and the coordinates given to test the transporter do not match, he goes against Starfleet orders and beams down to Kirk's original coordinates. Once there, he find the false Enterprise set that was built to deceive Kirk.

Spock overpowers some guards and finds Kirk and Odona. Hodin tries to stop Spock, but Spock warns him not to interfere since he has just disobeyed Starfleet orders and must now return to resolve the matter. Kirk, Spock and Odona return to the real Enterprise where Dr. McCoy saves Odona's life. Odona still carries the virus but is now immune to it as Kirk is. Odona is returned to Gideon and Hodin is told she can now supply the virus as needed.

40th Anniversary remastering

This episode was remastered in 2006 and aired May 31, 2008 as part of the remastered Original Series. It was preceded a week earlier by the remastered "Whom Gods Destroy" and followed a week later by the remastered "The Lights of Zetar". Aside from remastered video and audio, and the all-CGI animation of the USS Enterprise that is standard among the revisions, specific changes to this episode also include:

• The planet Gideon has been made more realistic looking.
• The color has been enhanced in the ghostly visages that fill the bridge view screen.
• In the scene where Kirk looks out the view port, moving stars have been added. Originally it was a solid black backdrop.
• The bridge chronometer, updated for past episodes, displays digital numbers instead of dated mechanical readouts.

External links

• The Mark of Gideon at StarTrek.com
• The Mark of Gideon at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Mark of Gideon" at TV.com
• Review of the remastered "Mark of Gideon" at Trekmovie.com
• The Mark of Gideon at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)