Star Trek (The Animated Series) Screenshots


April 23, 2002. I watched How Sharper Than A Serpent's Tooth. This is the ONLY Star Trek episode which contains a character drawn in anime. ^_^


Episode Summary

The Enterprise is backtracking a probe of unknown origin which scanned Earth and then self-destructed. They are attacked without warning and encased in a globe-shaped forcefield, then fired upon by an approaching ship. Ensign Walking Bear, the helmsman in this episode, is a Comanche and he recognizes the energy field (a sort of hologram that masks the ship and doubles as a shield) around the other ship as a likeness of Kuklukhan, a Mayan/Aztec god which he has studied.

In rapid succession, McCoy, Scotty, Walking Bear, and Kirk are swept off the Enterprise and taken to the other ship. A voice tells them that they must discover the secrets of a holographic city before it will appear to them, and the city takes shape around them. The four officers walk around the city, examining what looks to be a combination of Mayan, Aztec, Egyptian, and Chinese architechture. Kirk climbs a temple and looks down at four dragon-head pillars, and he realizes that all four must face the temple and amplify the sun's power to use as a homing beacon of a sort. The four officers rotate the pillars to face the temple, and the voice comes again. "After scores of centuries, my design has finally been fulfilled!" A giant flash of light comes, and a dragon/snake appears before them, flapping its feathered wings. "Behold, Kuklukhan!"

Kuklukhan takes the four men to a room filled with cages, each containing an animal of unknown origin. McCoy recognizes one to be a Capellan PowerCat, a bobcat-like creature with the ability to throw off a charge of 2000 volts. Kuklukhan reveals that he collects primitive species and keeps them in holographic worlds that only they can see, letting them live safely and happily. Long ago, Kuklukhan visited Earth and gave many of its ancient peoples knowledge, intending to return and take them away in his ship later. When they did not summon him using the beacon in the city, he sent a probe after a long period of waiting and saw that the humans had developed into what he thought was warriors. The officers are horrified by the casual way this being deals out punishment, and how quickly he angers when he is forgotten and is not considered their master. Kuklukhan, upon being told that he is not needed, begins to attack the officers.

Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, Spock uses the ship's tractor beams and warp engines to shatter the force globe, allowing the ship to escape. Trying to distract Kuklukhan (so he won't destroy the ship), Kirk and McCoy release the Capellan PowerCat from its cage. The PowerCat leaps about, sparking, and knocking over other cages. At that moment, the Enterprise fires on Kuklukhan's ship and disables his power sources. Unable to control the PowerCat, Kuklukhan is frightened and angry at the Earth people. Kirk takes a tranquilizer hypo from McCoy and runs to the PowerCat, jamming the tranq into its shoulder. The PowerCat shocks him with a 2000 volt charge, and Kirk goes flying and lands, unmoving.

The PowerCat is subdued as the tranquilizer takes effect, and Kirk regains consciousness with only a bit of aftereffects. Kuklukhan listens to Kirk, and realizes that he really isn't needed on Earth anymore. Kuklukhan releases his four abductees, and they return to the Enterprise. Kuklukhan leaves the sector, saddened but enlightened, and the Enterprise continues on to its next mission.



Star Trek How Sharper Than A Serpent's Tooth

The Enterprise, tracking a probe which self-destructed above Earth The trail has not intercepted any inhabited star systems as of yet.

The trail is becoming fainter, Captain. Recommend we reduce speed to accomodate our sensors. Reduce speed to Warp 2.

No readings [on approaching ship] yet, Captain. Possibly a second probe. RED ALERT!

The Enterprise prepares for battle, if necessary Identification, Spock?

Mister Arex, activate screen: maximum magnification. Fascinating...readings indicate the vessel is made entirely of crystalline ceramic.

Sir, we're losing speed! The helm doesn't answer! We're going sublight! Bridge to Sickbay. Casualty report.

McCoy here. No serious injuries. What the devil's going on? We are incased in a force globe...one flexible enough to absorb any force. I cannot explain it.

The other ship approaches... The Enterprise is under attack!

Evasive action will not be effective, Captain. The force globe limits our maneuvering. The ship is surrounded by an energy field...

The energy field changes shape.

The ship flies even closer.

Kuklukhan! The ship comes closer...

I was angered because I believed you had forgotten me, but one in your midst knows my name. I will give you one chance to succeed where you ancestors failed. Fail me again, and all of your kind shall perish!

Mister Walking Bear, how do you know who's aboard that ship?

First McCoy vanishes... Then Scotty...

Walking Bear... Finally, Kirk disappears.

The four missing officers, in a blank space on the other ship. We must be somewhere inside that other ship.

Now I will show the seeds that I have sown before! Leanr from them! Find their purpose, if you can! Only then will I appear before you! The ancient city appears.

I've never seen anything so beautiful...but where did it come from? Look at these carvings. That's not Egyptian.

I can't pin down what culture this represents. But it's still a clue. Well, now that we're here, what do we do?

Kuklakhan said he would appear only when we learned its purpose. That's odd. I've never seen a combination like this before...

I'm going up there. The rest of you spread out and circle it. McCoy and Walking Bear look around.

Kirk climbs the stairs to the top of the pyramid. What's this?

Kirk finds a pedestal with a stained-glass picture of Kuklukhan on it. Kirk looks down at the serpent-head pillars, wondering.

The sun! Scotty and Walking Bear turn the serpent-head pillar to face the pyramid, after Kirk gives the order.

Kirk watches as the amplified sunlight begins to make the stained-glass picture sparkle. The picture begins to glow...

All four pillars are aimed toward the pyramid. Kuklukhan's beacon has been activated!

Behold Kuklukhan! The officers are surprised at how Kuklukhan appears.

How can you expect us to regard you as a diety if we don't remember you? I am your master! I do with you as I will!

Do you think we belong to you? Kuklukhan transports them out of the ancient city and into a zoo.

Just once I wish he'd let us use the stairs... But all of these lead peaceful life, one that is safe and contented.

Contented? Cramped in these tiny cages? What you cannot see is that each one mentally is in its own natural envoronment. They eat, breathe, and live in world created by my machinery, world that only they can see.

I have been alone all my life! Destruction fell on my race before you kind discovered fire! Creatures like these have been my only companions...

My creatures here have little intelligence. They alone live peacefully in the worlds I have to give! Even this creature, one of the fiercest and most untamable ever created, lives in peace in the world that I create for him.

Good heavens! This is a Capellan PowerCat! No one's ever been able to keep one alive...they hate captivity! You try to put more than one hand on them, and they throw off a charge of two thousand volts! How did you ever capture it? It was an infant and easily controlled, as you were when I visited your Earth.

But if children are made totally dependant on their teachers, they will never be anything but children! Enough! Despite what I have shown you, you still cling to your disobedient ways! My dream is ending, and all of you are to blame!

Spock realizes that pressure on the force globe in two directions will shatter it, and orders the tractor beams and warp engines to power up. The Enterprise gets ready to break free.

Spock orders the Enterprise, newly freed, to begin evasive maneuvers and try to disable Kuklukhan's ship. Kirk dives for cover as Kuklukhan attacks.

Scotty and Walking Bear duck away from Kuklukhan's attack. Kuklukhan realizes that the Enterprise has broken free, and tries to recapture it.

We've got to distract him and give Spock some time. Bones, what would happen if we pulled the cables on some of these cages? Kirk and McCoy go to release the Capellan PowerCat.

Kirk and McCoy begin to pull on the cable... No! Stop!

The Capellan PowerCat breaks free and builds up an electric charge! The PowerCat demolishes several other cages, releasing some more animals.

Kirk and McCoy hide from the PowerCat as it wreaks havoc on Kuklukhan's ship. Irrational savages! See what you have done?

The Enterprise approached Kuklukhan's ship and fires! Kuklukhan looks up in shock as his power source is disabled.

The Enterprise fires again... Kuklukhan can't control the PowerCat!

The PowerCat's not too thrilled... Kirk tranquilizes the PowerCat and gets zapped.

Kirk lands hard and doesn't get up... The PowerCat is subdued.

Did you inject that beast, or yourself? One of the released animals likes Scotty, and evidently wants to be his pet.

You continue to take advantage of me, but I agree [that you have earned the right to be heard]. Speak. Kuklukhan's ship changes configuration, and Kuklukhan returns the officers to the Enterprise.

Interesting, Captain. The creature was the Mayan god from the ancient legends. Not quite a god. Just an old, lonely being who wanted to help others.

Spock, I don't suppose that Vulcan has legends like those... Not legends, Doctor. Fact. Vulcan was visited by alien beings. They left much wiser.

The other ship is getting underway, sir. Heading away from Earth. The Enterprise goes about its way, heading for Starbase 21.