The White Iris

Kirk, Scotty and Uhura beam down to Chalcis to welcome it into the Federation, which has promised a planetary defence grid against missiles from its warlike twin world, Eretria. A dissident's blow to the head leaves Kirk badly hurt, and an experimental drug saves him, but back on duty he cannot recall the personal password that activates the grid. He also starts seeing women from his past: the android Rayna, Nakia from the Farragut who died at Tycho IV, Edith Keeler and Miramanee, along with a little girl he does not recognise. His heart begins to fail with no physical cause, and at a critical moment he hands command to Spock. A mind meld leaves Spock unsure whether the women are memories or something more, and counsellor Dr McKennah tells Kirk the closure he needs is his own. In Scotty's recreation room, Kirk revisits each loss and each woman offers him peace. As Eretria fires a full barrage, the little girl reveals herself as his and Miramanee's unborn child and whispers “Irises”, the forgotten password. The grid holds, Eretria seeks peace, and Spock traces the word to Van Gogh's painting, with its single white iris among the purple.