Stardate 5521.3: The Enterprise is dragged off course by Questar M-17, an imploded star. In orbit around Questar an ancient starship is discovered, inhabited by a shapeless alien. Further investigation reveals that the ship's engineers had failed to remove the creature before attempting to destroy their own vessel. When the creature takes control of the Enterprise, Kirk and Spock steer the Enterprise toward Questar M-17, tricking the creature into believing that the ship will be destroyed. Actually, through the slingshot effect, the Enterprise frees itself from the gravity pull, leaving the creature to orbit forever around the star.

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