Pike and M'Benga enter disputed Klingon space to find a cure for Batel, as M'Benga's past resurfaces on a planet swarming with deadly creatures.
Batel is dying. Spock and Chapel were able to stop the development of the Gorn eggs within her. However, that biological material was never removed. They hoped it would remain benign. Instead, it has become malignant once more. Batel only has days left without the long shot treatment M'Benga and Chapel propose. That comes with risks. They theorize that the only way to save her is to fuse her DNA with the Gorn. They don't know what the consequences of that action will be. When Spock mind melds with Batel to ease her pain, they both receive a glimpse at the violent nature that still lurks inside. It's absolutely terrifying. Batel must reckon with death. She knows exactly how Pike will respond when given all the information. The decision is hers to make. She can't afford to waste her emotion energy concerned about how he will respond. He isn't the one dying. Of course, he understands that agony. He knows his own expiration date. That weighs on him. That doesn't provide insight in this situation. He's still trying to find another way to save the woman he loves. It may not exist. That's what he must face.
Pike and M'Benga travel to a planet in disputed territory to retrieve the plant that can make the surgery possible for Batel. So many remnants remain of the war with the Klingons. This planet offered research that could have transformed the world. The scientists were hoping to create plants that would never die. As such, they could feed countless colonies. Starvation would be eradicated throughout the Federation. The Klingons attacked. Everyone was infected. Zombies were born. That's not how M'Benga would like to define them. It's an apt description. The show can't escape that fact. Pike embraces it completely. It's the easier explanation of events. They detect no life signs. Yet they find themselves in a perilous situation. It's made worse by the presence of the Klingons. Pike is stunned by what was kept from him. It was Batel's decision. She didn't want the doctors to tell Pike the dangers of this procedures. He needed to believe this was the only option. It was what had to be done. This was the only way to save her. He couldn't waste time looking elsewhere. He had to accept the situation as it is. It serves no purpose to be in denial given the gravity of the stakes.
Meanwhile, M'Benga is confronted with the number of Klingons he has killed. He views his actions as monstrous. That's why he's grateful to pursue his ambitions as a physician aboard the Enterprise. He's trusted on ground missions. He provides a vital service. His presence is what leads the Klingons to the surface. He was being tracked by the daughter of Ambassador Dak'Rah. M'Benga never trusted the Klingon that defected to the Federation. He killed him. He told Pike it was an action taken in self-defense. He confesses the truth. His friend wishes he would have confided in him sooner. He's grateful to be alive. They were trapped in a perilous situation. One where ego required ritualistic combat. M'Benga played along for a little bit. However, he got the best of his opponent. She knew that. As such, she accepted an honorable death by facing off with the horde of creatures that inhabit this planet. All of this ensured that Pike and M'Benga would get away. They leave understanding the significance of this action even though the rest of the world will go unaware of what happened on this planet. Instead, it's secrets will continue to lurk in mystery as both sides refuse to cross the battle lines.
Pike and M'Benga were rescued without the need of the Klingon ship though. Ortegas forced the Enterprise into action. She refused to wait hours to rescue them. She chose to alert the Klingons to their presence. That meant the crew had to embrace her more radical strategy of rescuing the captain. Una ruled against that. La'an was concerned that Ortegas had returned to work too soon. That's ultimately justified based on what happened. Una knows that Ortegas disobeyed an order. She jeopardized the safety of the entire crew in the process. She is a remarkable pilot. No one questions that. She is the only one who could navigate the ship through such an impossible maneuver. They are grateful for that. They don't want to experience it again. Una knows they didn't have to either. Ortegas is punished for her actions. She accepts it. All of this highlights a season of strife for her. She remains haunted by her past. She knows how precious time can be especially when faced with a daunting threat. The narrative highlights how immediate the danger is for Pike and M'Benga. Yet Una reminds her pilot that the mission on the planet was able to succeed without her intervention. The intensity was compelling. It wasn't entirely necessary. That reckless behavior threatens to unravel all the good the crew hopes to achieve. That all weighs personally on Ortegas now.
