The Crier in Emptiness Summary . Lieutenant Connors tells Kirk that , despite liking solitude and quiet , exploring this sector is testing his limits . Kirk notes that they should be done by tomorrow and on their way home . Kirk hears a noise and asks Uhura is she is going to acknowledge the communication , and she tells him that she thought it came from the navigation console . Sulu states that it wasn ' t from there . Neither Connors nor Spock can figure out where it came from , and Spock begins a sensor scan of the area . It seems that all instruments are functioning as normal , there are no ships nearby , and nobody on board is trying to contact them , yet the noise continues . Kirk broadcasts a message over the intercom asking people to cease making the semi - musical noises on the bridge , but the noises continue . Spock , Kirk , and Dr . McCoy discuss the problem , and how the only way to block out the sound is with earplugs . Spock notes that the source of the sound seems to be moving about the ship and that the noises have modulations , suggesting that the crew is being visited by a being of pure sound . McCoy reports that some of the crew are having trouble blocking out the sound with earplugs and are sleeping on a shuttlecraft that Nurse Chapel is monitoring , but that will not be sufficient for everyone , and that the noises could eventually deafen everyone aboard the ship . Kirk tells them that they can not contact anyone on the deep - space beam , as it is filled with static or variations on the music that they are hearing . They surmise that they need to contact it or combat it , but nothing that they have done thus far has made any impact . Suddenly , a large noise erupts on the bridge , causing everyone to hold their heads in pain . Sulu reports that the transparent covers on his control panel have shattered due to the extreme volume . Connors enters the bridge dragging a large instrument , an Edoian Elisiar . Spock notes that " " the triple keyboard operates an echo chamber , resonating bars made of bone , and something that rather resembles an Earthly xylophone twisted into a mobius strip . " " They set up the keyboard instrument and Connors begins to play , improvising one of the themes in the alien sounds . The sound being begins to respond to the music , but Connors begins to tire . Kirk suggests that Connors attempt to play sad music . The being responds in kind , but the noise levels cause more pain . Suddenly , the alien noise stops . McCoy and Kirk wonder where the alien came from and whether they ' ll ever encounter it is again . The comm channels have cleared , and the " Enterprise " resumes its charting course . Memorable quotes . " " . . . and we can ' t have everyone walking around with ear plugs . . . I can ' t run this ship by sign language . " " " " Speaking of ear plugs , Spock . . . " " " " Please doctor , for once try to be serious . " " " " I heard a voice , crying in the wilderness . " " " " What was that lieutenant ? " " " " Nothing sir . All channels appear clear now . Shall I contact the nearest Starfleet base ? " " " " Bones , have you ever listened to any violin concertos ? " " " " I ' m not much of a classical aficionado , Jim . " " " " There are times when that lone violin is up there , against all those other instruments , and they ' re quiet , and that one violin is the loneliest sound in the world . " "