The Time Stealer Summary . Spock reports that the time slowing phenomena began when the " Enterprise " came within three light year s of the high - density energy field ahead . Captain Kirk orders Sulu to stop the engines and bring impulse power online . As they stop , Spock notes that the time slowing effect has ceased – " " at least . . . things are getting no " slower " . " " Kirk orders the ship turned about to put at least ten light years between them and the strange distortion . Sulu notes that an alien vessel is approaching them from the starboard . Uhura tries to raise communications with them as the viewscreen shows the ship . It has an unfamiliar shape , but appears to be a warship . A hail arrives , and the voice introduces himself as Konrac and demands their surrender . The warship then fires on the " Enterprise " , causing some minimal damage . After a quick scan of the other ship , Spock notes that despite its size , there are only two lifeform s aboard . Kirk contacts Scotty and has them beam over the two beings to the " Enterprise " . When Spock and Kirk arrive at the transport dock , they discover Scotty slumped in a corner and Konrac on the attack . The only reason that Konrac cannot overcome Kirk is due to Kirk ' s advanced combat techniques , but they are fighting to a standstill . Spock sneaks up behind the other being , a man dressed in what appear to be wizard ' s robes , and uses the Vulcan nerve pinch to quickly subdue him . With that action , Konrac ' s strength vanishes , and Kirk is able to easily defeat him . In sickbay , Dr . McCoy explains that the wizard , Klee , actually is a wizard , and was using magic . As they discuss this , Sulu reports from the bridge that the time - slowdown area has moved . Konrac explains that the distortion is called a Gola and has its own orbit . He further explains that its orbit brings it in range of his planet on a regular basis , causing great problems . His civilization is as old as the Human s , but their development is still at the barbarian stages due to the time slowdown effects . Kirk orders Chekov to fire phasers at the Gola , and even after three direct hits , no effect can be seen , just as with the photon torpedo es fired moments before . McCoy suggests that it is because the Gola is twisting time and avoiding the weapons of the " Enterprise " . At the same time , Spock notes that the Gola is now an enemy with intelligence , and it is approaching them directly . Klee and Spock huddle and discuss the situation . Between the two of them , they come up with a plan to attack its mind rather than its physical form . Klee began conjuring up mental images of his ancestors and storing them in the " Enterprise " computer banks . While he was doing so , Konrac tells Kirk about the origins of his culture , and that their oldest ancestors came from a planet called Earth . Before Kirk can inquire further , the Gola approaches even closer . Fortunately , Klee is prepared and launches his attack , but it is not enough . Klee and Konrac ' s culture is not old enough . Spock approaches the terminal and begins to glow with the same aura as Klee and added the history of the Vulcan people , millions of years all at once . The Gola is paralyzed with the shock . Spock tells Kirk that during the attack , he could feel the mind of the Gola . They put the sounds onto the speakers and it sounds like a crying baby . Spock notes that it is searching for its parent , the sun that spawned it . The Gola is no longer a threat , and Konrac and Klee ' s world safe , and the two returned . Kirk tells Spock that something about the two still bothers him , and that they came from Earth originally , but that he knows of no records describing a culture vanishing from Earth at that time . Spock retorts , noting that he saw mental images of a sinking continent , and evacuations taking place aboard spaceships . He mentions the legend of Atlantis to which Kirk notes that he may have just solved one of the mysteries of Earth . Memorable quotes . " " Enough ! " Enough " ! You have done the impossible ! You have beaten me Captain Kirk ! " " " " Not so impossible actually . I simply applied a Vulcan nerve - pinch to your consort and caused him to pass out . " " " " Spock , I suppose I should say thank you , but I don ' t understand . " " " " I may just be an old country doctor myself . . . but I ' d say the Gola was warping time all around him . . . makin ' our phasers and photons detonate either in the " past " or " future " , instead of the here and now . " " " " I ' m impressed doctor . For a mind of your caliber , that is an amazingly accurate assessment . " " " " Spock , you can take your Vulcan mind and – " " " " Tell me , Captain , isn ' t there an old Earth legend about a civilization that sank beneath the sea . . . called Atlantis ? " " " " Atlantis ! Mr . Spock , would you be surprised if you just solved one of the greatest mysteries on Earth of all time ? " " " " Surprised ? Hardly , captain . Somewhat pleased , perhaps – " " " " Spock , never mind . . . " "