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Talosians 3

Three Talosian observers

Talosian sketch

A sketch of a Talosian from the Enterprise's computer.

The Talosians were an aged, cerebral, sentient, humanoid species native to Talos IV in the Talos star group. (TOS: "The Cage")

Talosians were once a technologically advanced culture but a nuclear holocaust left their planet virtually uninhabitable and killed most of the species. The survivors of the nuclear war congregated in underground dwellings, where they became dependent on their mental ability to create stunningly real illusions, an ability that had been developed by their ancestors. As their mental powers grew, they lost the ability to use the technology left behind by their ancestors. The Talosians found that life using illusion was addictive, almost like a human developing a physical and psychological dependence on narcotics. They became bored with the content of the illusions which they had. Their dependence upon these illusions for mental stimuli caused the Talosians to begin capturing space travelers to use as the living basis for their illusions.

In 2236, the SS Columbia, carrying members of the American Continent Institute from Earth, crashed on Talos IV. All aboard were killed, save for one human; a badly-injured female named Vina. The Talosians repaired her injuries, but the work left her disfigured, as the Talosians were unfamiliar with human anatomy. Using their powers of illusion, Vina could live as if she was uninjured and was made to appear beautiful.

In 2254, the Talosians captured Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike and attempted to use him to re-build their civilization. The Talosians hoped that Pike would be attracted to her and wish to stay on Talos. However, after assimilating the records of the Enterprise, the Talosians learned that humans have a "unique hatred of captivity;" even when made as pleasant as possible, humans prefer death. This made humans unsuitable to the Talosians for breeding stock, and Pike and his crew were released.

The Talosians refused Pike's offer of trade and mutual understanding, claiming that humans would use their powers of illusion to their own destruction. After Vina's true appearance was revealed, she was given back not only her illusion of beauty, but an illusory Pike to keep her company. (TOS: "The Cage")

This same compassion would be shown thirteen years later, as Pike's former science officer, Commander Spock, would collaborate with the Talosians (defying Starfleet general orders and illegally taking command of the Enterprise) and bring Pike, himself a prisoner of his own body after an accident involving delta rays, back to Talos IV so that he could live out the rest of his life virtually free from his useless body. (TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II")

People

  • List of Talosians

Background

File:Talosian action-figure, Futures end I.jpg

A Talosian action-figure.

The Talosians were the first alien encountered in Star Trek, appearing in the earliest TOS production, "The Cage." In order to make them seem more alien, the producers and Gene Roddenberry decided to cast the roles to females, and then dub male voices over the footage. A similar trick is used again with the Sphere Builders in Star Trek: Enterprise. The Talosian Keeper was played by Meg Wyllie and the voice of Malachi Throne. Other Talosians were played by Georgia Schmidt, Serena Sande, Barker and the voice of Robert C. Johnson.

Interestingly, a small action figure of what appears to be a Talosian was seen on Rain Robinson's desk in 1996 in the VOY episode "Future's End, Part II."

According to an early script for Star Trek Nemesis, the Talosians discovered B-4 drifting in space. It is likely that Shinzon acquired B-4 from them.

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