Stardate: 3219.8
Original airdate: 11/10/1967
Writer: Gene L. Coon
Director: Ralph Senensky

Guest stars:

Glenn Corbett           Zephram Cochrane, discoverer of the space warp, from alpha centarii, brought by the companion to an earthlike desolate astroid size planet when old and dying and rejuvenated him. Been stranded on the planet for 150 years.

Elinor Donahue          Assistant Federation Commissioner Nancy Hedford

Shuttle craft (Galileo) crew:
Kirk, Spock, McCoy

Crew on Enterprise:
Scott
Uhura
Sulu

Story:

Kirk, Spock and McCoy are transporting Federation Commissioner Nancy Hedford to the Enterprise via the Galileo, when they are captured by an energy cloud that brings them to Gamma Canaris III. There, they meet Zephram Cochrane, a famous scientist who disappeared over a century earlier. Cochrane, it's revealed, told the energy cloud - an intelligent creature he refers to as "The Companion" - that he was lonely; that he needed companionship. Instead of freeing him, the Companion brought the Galileo there. Ultimately, this turns into a cosmic love story between Cochrane, the Companion and Nancy Hedford and, as such becomes one of Star Trek's most touching episodes.

Sukuros disease-rare affliction infecting commissioner Hedford, characterized by fever, delirium, and fatal without treatment by Federation medicine. Could have been immunized against it.

Epsilon Canaris 3: destination of commissioner Hedford prior to her illness. Her mission was to stop "a war" on that planet.

Quotes:
"Believe me, captain. Immortality consists largely of boredom".