SOMETHING ALMOST BEYOND COMPREHENSION IS HAPPENING TO A VULCAN GIRL ON THIS STARSHIP, ON THIS DECK… AND A MAN HAS BEEN SENT FOR AS A LAST RESORT. THIS MAN IS THE EXORCIST.
A rare look into the life of Chaplain Command…a tiny & ever-waning service component of Starfleet…
Commodore Merrin, a veteran Starfleet chaplain, is on an archaeological dig on the ancient planet of Ovus. Alerted by a colleague, he finds a sculpture that resembles Pazuzu, a demon of ancient Terra origins with whose history Merrin is familiar. Soon afterwards, after consuming a small, white pill, Merrin encounters a statue towering over him in the image of Pazuzu, an omen warning him of a looming confrontation.
Meanwhile, on the USS Horizon, Chief Science Officer MacNeil is stationed on location with her 12-year-old adopted Vulcan daughter Regan; she is studying archeological findings with her friend and associate Lieutenant Dennings. During this time, small oddities begin to occur on her deck, such as scratching from the ceilings without a source. After playing with a holosuite simulation and contacting a supposedly imaginary friend whom she calls Captain Howdy, Regan begins acting illogically, using obscene language, and exhibiting abnormal strength; additionally, there is poltergeist-like activity on the deck during off-hours. Macneil hosts a promotion party in the team room, during which Regan enters unannounced, tells the guest of honor – a certain Vulcan officer being promoted to an assignment on the starship Enterprise– that he will "die out there" and then urinates on the floor in front of the ship’s highest officers. Later that night, Regan's bed begins to shake and levitate violently. Macneil consults with the ship’s chief medical officer, putting Regan through a battery of diagnostic tests, but nothing is detected to be physiologically wrong with her.
One night when Macneil is out on an archeological mission, Dennings is babysitting a heavily sedated Regan. Macneil returns to hear that Dennings has died in a freak accident involving his own phaser. Although this is assumed to have been an accident given Dennings’ history of over-drinking & horseplay, his death is investigated by starfleet Lieutenant William Kinderman. Kinderman interviews Macneil. He also consults Commander Karras, the only Vulcan Chaplain in Starfleet…& the only living Vulcan convert to Catholicism no less (other than Regan because of her human Catholic parent, presumably), a man in constant struggle with his faith because of Vulcan upbringing (the opposite of Spock). Karras's crisis of faith is precipitated by the death of his unconverted mother on Vulcan, which he blames on himself.
The starfleet doctors, believing that Regan's aberrations are mostly psychological in origin due to her adoptive human mother’s Catholic faith, recommend a symbolic exorcism be performed. Macneil naturally arranges a meeting with Karras who, reluctant to engage spiritually, agrees to at least speak with Regan. As the two come face to face, Karras and Regan test each other's wits, although Karras is naturally skeptical of the idea that anything supernaturally evil is happening to a fellow Vulcan. Commodore Macniel tearfully finds herself at a dead end and confides in Karras that Regan was the one who murdered Dennings, and begs him to find a solution. Over the next couple of days, Karras witnesses Regan speaking backward in various interstellar languages she could not possibly know, and the phrase "HELP ME" appears to be carved from the inside of her stomach, finally convincing him she really is possessed by something. He implores Starfleet Chaplain Command to let him perform a proper exorcism, but, feeling Karras is inexperienced, they call on Commodore Merrin to perform the exorcism while allowing Karras to assist.
The ritual begins as a battle of wills with Regan performing a series of horrific and vulgar acts. They attempt to exorcise the demon, but the spirit digs in, claiming to be the Devil himself. The spirit relentlessly toys with the Chaplain and zeroes in on Karras, sensing his guilt from the passing of his mother. Karras weakens after the demon convincingly impersonates his late Vulcan mother, and is excused by Merrin who continues the exorcism alone. Once he has gathered his strength, Karras re-enters the room and discovers Merrin dead of a heart attack. After he fails to revive Merrin, the enraged Karras grabs a laughing Regan and wrestles her to the ground. As Karras forces Regan into a Vulcan mind meld, the demon leaves Regan's body and takes hold of Karras. In a final moment of strength and self-sacrifice, Karras fires nadion particle beams from his Starfleet issued phaser at his own heart before he can physically harm Regan, vaporizing himself & defeating the demon at last.
Chaplain Dyer, a human colleague of Karras, is summoned to Starship Horizon & administers the “Last Rites” for the only known non-human convert in Catholic history. A few days later, Regan, now back to her normal self, prepares to leave the Starship Horizon for earth with her mother. Although Regan has no apparent recollection of her possession, she is moved by the sight of Dyer's Starfleet Christian Chaplain insignia to kiss him on the cheek. Macneil gives Chaplain Dyer a Vulcan medallion that belonged to Karras. After Macneil & Reagan are beamed down to embark on a few months of shore leave, Dyer pauses at a viewport to give the planet Earth one last look, and then turns to exit the transporter room as the Starship Horizon warps away to continue on its 5 year scientific mission.
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