The Deadly Years ( episode ) The " Enterprise " discovers a colony full of rapidly - aging scientists . Whatever caused the rapid aging afflicts the ship´s landing party as well . Kirk , Spock , McCoy , and Scott are shocked to discover they are aging decades each day and will soon die unless a cure can be found . The unaffected Chekov may be their only hope for survival . Summary . Teaser . The is on a routine mission to resupply the experimental colony at Gamma Hydra IV . Kirk , Spock , McCoy , Scott , Lt . Galway , and Ensign Chekov beam down . While the landing party is spread out looking for the missing colonists , Chekov wanders into a darkened building where he had been bidden search . As the lights come on , they reveal the dead body of a " very " old man – and Chekov runs out , terror - stricken . Chekov is panicking and is in the full throes of terror . The rest of the landing party goes in to investigate . McCoy reveals the cause of death to be natural causes , extreme old age . Spock finds this impossible , since he had checked the records prior to the group beaming down and found that none of the colony members were over thirty . Then two elderly people wander in – these are Robert Johnson , who claims to be only twenty - nine ; and his wife , Elaine who claims to be twenty - seven . Act One . In the " Enterprise " in sickbay , Kirk tries to question Robert Johnson , but being of advanced age , he doesn ' t quite understand what the captain is asking him . He fills in his passengers , Commodore Stocker , Yeoman Doris Atkins , and Dr . Janet Wallace , Wallace also being an old flame of Kirk ' s past . Kirk promises to keep them all informed and that they will remain in orbit until the mystery is solved . Commodore Stocker expresses his pressing concern to reach Starbase 10 , and Kirk says he will do everything he can to get Stocker there . Everyone leaves the briefing room and Dr . Wallace and Kirk reminisce about the past for a moment and how their careers got in the way of their relationship over six years ago . Kirk goes to the bridge and gives Sulu the order to maintain orbit , and Spock informs him that a rogue comet passed near the planet some time ago , but is unsure if it had any effects on the planet . Commodore Stocker tries to again push the " Enterprise " to leave immediately for Starbase 10 , claiming the instruments there would be more effective . Kirk politely refuses the Commodore ' s request and leaves the bridge giving the command again to maintain orbit , much to Sulu ' s and Spock ' s puzzlement . Meanwhile , a perplexed Lieutenant Galway visits McCoy complaining about suffering a sudden loss of hearing . Kirk , in his quarters , calls Spock on the bridge and informs him to look into a comet that had recently passed the planet . Spock , of course , replies he is already doing so as per Kirk ' s orders , leaving Kirk a little confused . He then goes to sickbay complaining of shoulder pain , and jokes about McCoy ' s hair getting a little grayer . McCoy ' s initial exam reveals advanced arthritis in Kirk ' s shoulder , which Kirk doesn ' t believe at first . But then Scott walks in , complete with gray hair and wrinkles . Act Two . Everyone that had been in the landing party is showing definite signs of accelerated aging , with the sole exception of Chekov . Most of the party members are aging at approximately thirty years a day ( Galway , despite being the youngest of those afflicted , appears to be aging at a vastly faster rate than anyone else ) , and McCoy is at a loss for the cause . He has run a complete physical on Chekov and found nothing to explain it . Spock estimates that they all have less than a week to live and that in lesser time , they will be little more than mental vegetables . Though Spock is showing no obvious physical signs , he admits to suffering from lethargy , memory and vision loss , and the ship ' s temperature is feeling increasingly colder to him . Kirk sends Scott and Galway back to their duties and leaves McCoy to do yet another physical on Chekov . As Kirk heads back to the bridge , he exchanges a mildly flirtatious conversation with the concerned Dr . Wallace . The tone changes however , when Kirk realizes that her deceased husband , Theodore Wallace , was 26 years her senior . Kirk rejects her advances , and inquires if Dr . Wallace ' s affections to him are because of his current appearance , and also concerned it ' s out of pity for his sad condition . Sitting at his navigation console on the bridge , Chekov gripes to Sulu about McCoy ' s constant examinations of him and him giving all sorts of samples . " " If I live long enough , I ' m going to run out of samples . " " An elderly Kirk arrives at the bridge while a concerned Commodore Stocker looks on , and the bridge crew can see that Kirk ' s advanced age is clearly taking its toll . Kirk gives orders , then forgets giving them . He even falls asleep in his command chair . A gray - haired Spock wakes him and informs him that the comet is indeed the source of the problem . By now , even Spock appears to be tired . The orbit of Gamma Hydra IV took the planet through the comet ' s tail . Though no regular levels of radiation were detected , there were extremely low levels of radiation , which is the probable cause . Kirk then orders Lieutenant Uhura to send a coded message to Starfleet and to use code 2 since they are close to the Romulan Neutral Zone . Uhura reminds Kirk that the Romulan s have already broken code 2 . A befuddled Kirk orders her to use code 3 and to relay the information about the comet . He then tells Sulu to move the ship to a higher orbit , and when Sulu indicates that he had already given that command , he yells , " " I fail to understand why my orders are repeatedly being questioned ! " " McCoy confirms the radiation theory , and Kirk returns to the bridge . Spock then informs McCoy that the ship has become increasingly cold and he ' s had to increase the temperature in his own quarters to 125 degrees , to which McCoy informs him that he will not be making house calls to Spock . Dr . Wallace then tells McCoy that none of the conventional means for radiation therapy will work in this case . In a corridor , Commodore Stocker meets with Spock , informing him of his concern for Kirk ' s ability to command . He asks Spock to take over as captain , since Vulcan s have a much longer life span than Humans . Spock reminds the commodore that he is also feeling the effects of the aging and that he also is half Human . Stocker asks Spock to conduct a competency hearing , which according to regulations is Spock ' s duty as first officer . Spock , wanting to spare Kirk of any more suffering than he ' s already going through and the humiliation of an almost guaranteed judgment against him , tells the commodore that he has duties to attend to . Stocker holds firm and insists to Spock that a competency hearing is mandatory by regulations . Spock reluctantly agrees and announces that he will convene the hearing at 1400 hours . As McCoy continues to examine Chekov , an even more aged Lt . Galway arrives at sickbay and falls dead in Kirk ' s arms . McCoy speculates that Galway ' s metabolism caused the disease to affect her far more severely , resulting in her early death , and that they themselves don ' t have much more time . They may have days , perhaps hours left . Act Three . Spock conducts the competency hearing . Scott is by now much older , looking tired and depressed . Kirk and McCoy are also in terrible condition . A reluctant Atkins , Uhura , and Sulu testify about Kirk ' s failing abilities . McCoy also reluctantly confirms the computer analysis of his medical examination . Testifying , Kirk tries to maintain his control , but it is quite obvious that his mind and deteriorated body are failing , and he digs himself a deeper hole by going on a long , rambling speech in which he erroneously refers to the planet that they are orbiting as " Gamma Hydra II " . He is removed from command and to his dismay , the inexperienced Commodore Stocker assumes command . Kirk , despite his senility , has enough common sense to predict that Stocker , with no command experience , and in Kirk ' s words , a " paper pusher " , would be a poor choice to command the " Enterprise " , and tries to order Spock to take command . When Spock rebuffs Kirk and reminds him that he no longer has power on the " Enterprise " , it deeply hurts him and temporarily causes a rift between the two . Kirk then fruitlessly tries to justify his command ability to Janet , telling her that his brain is still as sharp as it ever was , despite evidence to the contrary . Kirk asks Wallace if she sees him getting older for which she cannot provide an answer . Later , a very old and gray Kirk and an equally - gray Spock and McCoy review again their beaming down to the planet . Spock then reminds them that the only time Chekov was not with them was when he went into the building , discovered the body , and ran out from the building scared half to death . McCoy postulates that the increased adrenaline levels somehow may have protected Chekov from being afflicted . Stocker , who has no field experience , plots a shortcut to Starbase 10 through the Romulan Neutral Zone and , of course , the Romulans immediately attack . The " Enterprise " is quickly surrounded by several Bird - of - Prey ships , as a shocked and frozen commodore tries to decide what to do . Act Four . The Romulans continue to attack the " Enterprise " while Stocker tries to establish communication . Spock races against time and makes a crude serum , but it could either cure or kill . Kirk , unable to endure any longer and determined to get back to the bridge , demands the first shot stating he ' s about to die anyway ( either from the serum , destruction of the ship or the aging process ) – and upon receiving it , he starts to scream and writhe while held down with restraints on his bio - bed . Stocker feels that the only way to get the Romulans to stop is by surrendering . But Chekov reminds him that Romulans do not take prisoners . Suddenly , a fully - recovered Kirk arrives on the bridge and retakes command . On purpose , he instructs Uhura to post a message to Starfleet , using code 2 , that he plans to self - destruct the ship and take all the Romulan ships with him by using the " recently installed " corbomite device . Spock looks exhausted , but relieved . As expected , the Romulans tap into the message and start to move out of the way . Kirk uses this opportunity to warp the " Enterprise " out of the Neutral Zone and back to safety . McCoy is shown to be recovered , and informs Kirk that Scott is fine , though he pulled a muscle when his body reacted to the serum . The cure is a success , even if the procedure is very painful to Humans , and even more for Vulcans . McCoy informs Spock that a super dose is already ready for him , and all breakable objects were removed from the infirmary , and they can start whenever Spock is ready . Spock is in bad shape , and he asks to receive it now . Kirk remarks that the events of the past day will be an experience they will remember , even in old age – which hopefully will still be far off . Kirk orders Sulu to take command of the " Enterprise " , steady as she goes , which the helmsman repeats . Kirk replies that he thought he already said that . Memorable quotes . " " Why , Bones , I believe you ' re getting gray ! " " " " Well , you take over MY job and see what happens to YOU ! " " " " I don ' t know what ' s causing it . A virus , a bacteria , or evil spirits , but I ' m trying to find out . " " " " What a stupid place to hang a mirror ! " " " " The heart is not a logical organ . " " " " Blood sample , Chekov ! Marrow sample , Chekov ! Skin sample , Chekov ! If – if I live long enough , I ' m going to run out of samples ! " " " " You ' ll live . " " " " Oh , yes . I ' ll live . But I won ' t enjoy it . " " " " I ' m not a magician , Spock , just an old country doctor . " " " " Now this isn ' t going to hurt a bit . " " " " That ' s what you said the last time . " " " " Did it hurt ? " " " " Yes . " " " " The man ' s a chair - bound paper - pusher . " " " " And you don ' t run a starship with your arms . You run it with your head . " " " " You traitorous . . . disloyal . . . you stabbed me in the back the first chance you get ! Spock . . . ! Get out . . . I never want to have to look at you again . " " " " I admit , I ' m getting a little gray but radiation will do that to you . " " " " Lieutenant Uhura , let me know if we contact any Romulan . . . " " ( The ship is shaken by an impact . ) " " I think we just made contact , sir . " " Links and references . References . 2233 ; 2238 ; 2240 ; 2243 ; 2261 ; 2265 ; adrenal gland ; adrenaline ; aging ; Aldebaran III ; arthritis ; astrophysics ( astronomical section ) ; Atomic Age ; biochemistry ; " Bones " ; bone marrow ; blood ; blood type ; bulletin ; carbohydrate compound ; class M ; code 2 ; code 3 ; colony ; comet ; command order ; commodore ; corbomite ; cosmic ray ; dead zone ; deaf ; decency ; diameter ; emergency power ; endocrinology ; Fahrenheit ; Federation ; field command ; flag officer ( flag rank ) ; fuel consumption report ; Gamma Hydra ; Gamma Hydra II ; Gamma Hydra IV ; guinea pig ; hearing ; heart ; house call ; hypersonic treatment ; hyronalin ; initials ; junior officer ; logic ; magician ; medical scanner ; mile ; morality ; muscular strain ; needle ; nitrogen ; oxygen ; perigee ; physical ; plant ; prosecuting attorney ; pulled muscle ; Quadrant 448 ; radiation ; radiation poisoning ; radiation sickness ; radiation therapy ; rank ; ranking officer ; red alert ; reflex ; Romulan ; ; Romulan Empire ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; senility ; senior officer ; signature ; skin ; solar year ; standard orbit ; Starbase 10 ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet Regulations ; stargram ; vitamin ; Vulcan ; ; yeoman