Worldsinger " Worldsinger * A Special Tale " Summary . The arrives at the dying planet , Theta VII . Over the prior three years , the Federation has evacuated all five million inhabitants of the planet . When the " Enterprise " enters orbit about the planet , Spock reports to Captain Kirk that " " total collapse in five hours , seven minutes , twenty - nine seconds . Approximately . " " Kirk notes that he is disturbed and feels like a pallbearer at a funeral . As he ruminates , Spock interrupts him to report that a lifesign has been discovered on the planet . Kirk tells Uhura to inform the transporter room and Dr . McCoy that they will be forming a landing party to head to the surface . Down on the surface , Spock ' s tricorder picks up a lifeform reading , straight ahead . McCoy spots a starship , its drives powering down , suggesting a very recent arrival . With four hours , forty - three minutes remaining , a telepath ic voice tells the trio to " " Leave . . . This . . . Place . . . " " McCoy reacts the most strongly , ending up with a nosebleed . A being appears before them , telling them of his empathic abilities and the " world - song " , and how it gives his life meaning . He proceeds to show the three images of the world - song , informing them of his name at the same time , Rell . Quakes begin on the surface , and Scotty informs the captain that the planet is breaking up faster than expected , and that he is having trouble keeping the " Enterprise " steady . He also informs them that they have two hours , fifty - seven minutes left to find Rell and get him off of the planet . As the captain records his log and gives it thought , Rell tells him that his " thoughts pluck at my own " and shows Kirk , Spock , and McCoy visions of the planet ' s life and populace . Kirk tells him that they could remove him from the planet by force , but Rell tells him that if forced to go with them , he would die . After a quick discussion , McCoy and Spock beam back up to the " Enterprise " , and Kirk stays with Rell . On board the " Enterprise " , the crew can do nothing but wait for the planet to disintegrate , and hope that they can save Kirk before the end . On the planet , Kirk and Rell sit by a campfire as the world slowly dies about them . As the planet breathes its last breaths , Kirk tells Rell of a way that Rell ' s life can be saved , even though Rell " sings the songs of a dead world . " Kirk asks Rell to trust him , and reaches his hand out to him . Back on the " Enterprise " , a force ten gravity shock wave hits the ship , and the orbit begins to deteriorate . Just as Scotty tells Spock that they must leave now , the call comes from Kirk to energize . As the transport begins , Sulu engages the warp engines at warp five , moving away from the planet . Scotty rushes to the transport room and pulls Kirk and Rell through the transport . The ship meets up with the " Copernicus " at Ramedes III and Rell transfers to the science vessel as a new crew member , ready to start a new life . Of sorts . Memorable quotes . " " Gravitational field on the planet ' s lurching like a drunk on his way home at dawn . " " " " It ' s like threading a needle on a roller coaster . " " " " Then let us hope your skills at stitching are substantial as your piloting . " "