Written by Old Bluffer 26th Nov 2007

Written by The Doctor

Sybok is a full-blooded Vulcan and half-brother of Spock. He is one of a small portion of Vulcans who have rejected the logical ways of his race, and is thus able to express his emotions freely. Also possessing a power to help people face their secret pains, Sybok went off to prove that God exists after he received visions. Gathering an army, they hijack the Enterprise and brainwash the crew into helping them. Kirk, Spock and McCoy initially resist, but wind up seduced by the idea of finding out if God exists, and wind up heading for the mythical planet of Vulcan lore, Sha Ka Ree, lying beyond The Great Barrier in the center of the galaxy.

Upon arrival, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Sybok take a shuttlecraft down. Soon, bone-like stone columns erupt from the ground, surrounding the quartet in what appears to be a giant ribcage.

The group make their way to the center, where a strange blue light starts to swirl. As the men look on, a bright light shoots out of the ground and a voice starts to speak... perhaps the voice of God.

"Brave souls... welcome."

McCoy asks "Is this the voice of God?"

"One voice, many faces." is the reply. Several faces, different ethnicities and different ages zoom by before we get to the face that "God" chooses to use: an elderly gentleman. "Does this best suit your expectations?" "God" asks.

"Qual se tu?" Sybok asks (can anyone who's well versed in Star Trek tell me what he's saying?). "It is I." "God" replies.

"The journey you undertook to reach me could not have been an easy one." "God" says.

"It was not. The Barrier stood between us, but we breached it."  Sybok replies.

"Magnificent." is "God"'s reply. "You are the first to find me."

"We sought only your infinite wisdom." Sybok says. "God" soon enquires into how they breached the Barrier. Sybok tells him "With a starship." Soon, we get proof that this may not be God at all:

"This starship... could it carry my wisdom beyond the barrier?"

A starstruck Sybok replies that it could, and that it will be his chariot. Just as "God" says that he'll make use of it, Kirk smells a rat. He may be a piece of meat to millions of alien women across the galaxy, but James Tiberious Kirk is not a moron.

"Excuse me." Kirk says.

However, "God" continues, saying that the Enterprise will carry his power to all corners of creation. Kirk tries again, and we get this movie's best-known line:

"Excuse me. I'd just like to ask a question. What does God need with a starship?"

"God" ignores him, telling Sybok to bring the ship closer. "I said, what does God need with a starship?" Kirk repeats.

McCoy, a little unnerved that Kirk is debating with the almighty, asks what he's doing. "I'm asking a question." He says.

"Who is this creature?" "God" asks. "Who am i? Don't you know? Aren't you God?" Kirk replies. Sybok explains to God that "[Kirk]... has his doubts."

"You doubt me?" "God" asks, a little miffed. "I seek proof." Kirk says. "Jim," McCoy starts, a little worried, "you don't ask the Almighty for his I.D."

"God" has had it with Kirk. "Then here is the proof you seek!" he says. Energy bolts then shoot out of his eyes and hit Kirk in the chest, sending him flying a few feet. As McCoy helps him up, Kirk asks "Why is God angry?"

Sybok starts to realize he's been duped. "Why... why have you done this to my friend?" he asks. "He doubts me." is "God"'s reply. Spock soon goes up to bat, rightfully saying that he hasn't answered Kirk's question: what DOES God need with a starship?

Spock gets hit with beams for his trouble. As McCoy helps Spock, "God" asks him if he, too doubts him. "I doubt any God who inflicts pain for his own pleasure." McCoy says.

Before "God" can dish out another round of energy bolts, Sybok says "Stop! The God of Sha Ka Ree would not do this!" "God" proceeds to let the air out of Sybok's tyres:

"Sha Ka Ree? A vision you created. An eternity I've been imprisoned in this place. The ship... I must have the ship. Now... give me what I want."

"Sybok," Spock says, "this is not the God of Sha Kaa Ree or any other God." Sybok is dumbfounded and orders "God" to reveal himself.

The camera then zooms into "God"'s eye, and out of it walks... Sybok, laughing evilly. "What's wrong? Don't you like this face?" "God" asks. "I have so many, but this one suits you best."

"God" orders Sybok to bring the ship closer so that he may join with it, or be destroyed. As Sybok starts to show remorse, he soon tells Spock what the entity is: "This is my arrogance, my vanity." For those of you at home who still don't get it, the alien is a manifestation of Sybok's own arrogance. Sybok insists that the group save themselves, as he must do what's right. "Forgive me, brother." He tells Spock. "Forgive me." They then touch hands in the Vulcan manner one final time.

Sybok then turns toward "God." "I couldn't help but notice your pain." he tells him. "My pain?" God replies. "It runs deep." Sybok says. "Share it with me!" Sybok then jumps into the beam of light with "God."

As Sybok wrestles with his mirror image, in order to give his friends time to escape. Kirk gets on his communicator and orders Chekov to fire a photon torpedo. Despite the fact that he'll be firing on his direct position, Kirk tells him to do it. The three dive for cover as the torpedo hits "God" and Sybok, seemingly destroying both. However, as we will see, "God" lives...