Bem ( episode ) Ari bn Bem , an erratic observer from the planet Pandro , secretly watches the crew of the USS " Enterprise " to determine whether the Federation is ready to open diplomatic relations with his advanced species . Summary . In a briefing room , Captain Kirk says to Spock , Montgomery Scott , and Hikaru Sulu , " " Sensors report several groupings of aborigines . They may be dangerous so I want all of us to avoid any unnecessary risks . But these monitoring devices have to be planted . Lieutenant Uhura will be tracking us throughout . " " Kirk then instructs the landing party , " " Now , if there is any trouble of any kind , beam up immediately . Don ' t try to be a hero . " " Everyone agrees . Though he has not joined the crew on previous six missions , Bem is now adamant that he be allowed to accompany the landing party . In the transporter room , Kirk is angry that he picked this dangerous mission to tag along , but he allows it . Bem ( probably intentionally ) sets the transporter controls to beam Kirk and Spock above a body of water on the planet below , so that they fall directly into the water upon materialization . Then , Bem secretly replaces their phaser s and communicator s with non - functioning fakes . On the bridge of the " Enterprise " , Uhura reports some peculiar activity on the planet . They have been tracking a non - network sensory stasis that is an anomaly resembling a sensor field , but without a scanning grid or other point of reference . Spock thinks something else is on the planet , perhaps something intelligent . Kirk orders continued observation , the ship be put on yellow alert , and to be notified if there is any change . While walking through the dense terrain , the crew scans for life sign s emanating from the forest and Bem immediately runs toward them against direct orders . Kirk orders Scott and Sulu to remain with the equipment while he and Spock take off after Bem . The alien passes through the thick rain forest by splitting into several body parts and floating through the cracks . They later discover that he has been captured by a group of angry food - gathering aborigines , and the food seems to be Bem . The " Enterprise " discovers a force field developing around the small village , but they cannot contact Kirk or Spock . Uhura wants to beam Scott and Sulu back . Scott wants to track the captain and Spock , but Uhura insists that it is not proper procedure and Scott reluctantly agrees to beam back with Sulu . At night , Kirk and Spock attempt to rescue Bem from the natives . Bem tells them that they are interfering with his observation but Kirk doesn ' t think Starfleet would approve of Bem ' s methods . Kirk and Spock are also quickly captured . Kirk protests that they always end up in these situations and out of curiosity asks Spock why . Spock tells him , " " Fate . " " Kirk tells Bem that he won ' t be able to rescue him . Bem says Starfleet told him that Kirk was their best captain but his actions to date belie this . Kirk claims if he had his phasers and communicators they wouldn ' t be in this situation . Bem explains that he took Starfleet equipment because he dislikes casual violence to accomplish one ' s goals and wanted to see how the captain could react without such devices . Bem escapes by making smaller pieces of his body and returns the devices to Kirk and Spock . Spock remarks , " " Fascinating , a colony creature . " " Kirk puts Bem under arrest for trying to test them . The duo escapes only to be paralyzed by a supernatural force surrounding the area . The entity asks them what gives them the right to interfere with her ' children . ' The people of this world are not for their observation . Their weapons will be " nullified " ( destroyed ) . Kirk and Spock are again captured and Kirk says , " " There are times , Mr . Spock , when I think I should have been a librarian . " " Spock observes " " The job of librarian would be no less challenging , captain , but it would undoubtedly be a lot less dangerous . " " Bem tells Kirk he has mishandled the situation again and he judges him not to be an intelligent commander . He has failed everything he has attempted . He wishes Kirk " " Luck , " " and leaves . Kirk combines his and Spock ' s communicators to boost their gain and is able to contact the entity . Kirk apologizes , and tells it they will leave their planet immediately after they locate Bem . The entity will allow them to contact their ship and demands they go now . Kirk calls for a search party to beam down with a Starfleet tricorder to find the reckless Pandronian . Bem is found and he realizes that he has failed in his judgment . Having been found " wanting " or " defective , " Bem says that he must now " disassemble " ( i . e . die ) . The entity tells him he will not be killed because people must learn from their errors in order to not repeat them . The crew returns to the ship and Kirk orders a Federation quarantine of the planet . Spock ponders the existence of such a God - like entity and how they are all really children , in relation to the universe . Bem thinks he is still an eggling . The entity contacts the crew of the " Enterprise " and urges them to go in peace . Memorable quotes . " " This one has already set controls , Mr . Scotty . " " " " Lieutenant Uhura , I ' m reading increased activity on the surface of the planet . The sensory anomaly appears to be expanding . " " " " How come we always end up like this ? " " " " Lieutenant Arex , have you found them yet ? " " " " No , sir . It is a big planet . " " " " Is Mr . Spock with the captain ? " " " " Aye , they both went after Commander Bem . " " " " Lieutenant Arex , start a sensor scan for Captain Kirk and Mr . Spock . Landing party , prepare to beam up . " " " " Lieutenant Uhura , we could track the captain down . " " " " I ' m sorry Mr . Scott , that ' s not procedure . We can ' t take chances ! " " " " We ' re talking about the captain . " " " " I know it , but we have to follow his orders . Stand by to beam up . " " " " Standing by . " " " " Maybe we can beam him out of there . Kirk to " Enterprise " . Kirk to " Enterprise " . Kirk to " Enterprise " . This isn ' t my communicator ! " " " " These are not " Enterprise " communicators . " " " " Classify ? ! What gives you the right to intrude here ? This planet is not for your use ! My children are not for your tests ! Your weapons will be nullified . " " " " Take us out of orbit , Mr . Sulu . Let ' s go home . " " Links and references . References . Brownian movement ; class M ; colony creature ; communicator ; Delta Theta III ; Delta Theta III aborigine ; district ; Earth ; eggling ; electrical storm ; fate ; Federation scout vessel ; Garo VII system ; geology ; god ; heavy duty tricorder ; Honorary Commander ; kilometer ; librarian ; Loch Ness monster ; logic ; mile ; monitoring device ; non - network sensory stasis ; observer ; Pandro ; Pandronian ; phaser ; Prime Directive ; protective custody ; quarantine ; rain forest ; responder ; rhetorical question ; scanning grid ; sensor field ; sensory anomaly ; squad ; stasis field ; suicide ; Vulcan ; Vulcan nerve pinch ; yellow alert