Star Trek Saved One of Its Darkest Sequels For The Original Series' 'Kids-Only' Planet

Star Trek saved one of its darkest sequels for the Original Series’ “kids-only” planet. Over the years, licensed Star Trek media, such as novels and comics, have followed up on various episodes, depicting what happened after the Enterprise warped away. In 1998’s Star Trek: Untold Voyages #3, one of the weirdest episodes of the Original Series gets an unbelievably dark follow-up that will shock fans.

Star Trek: Untold Voyages #3, first published by Marvel, was written by Glenn Greenberg and drawn by Michael Collins. The “Onlies,” from the classic Star Trek episode “Miri,” have killed the Federation observers left behind on their planet, and are now seeking revenge against Captain Kirk. Fans learn the horrifying truth: the “cure” Doctor McCoy gave the Onlies has stopped working, and they now face the risk of death again.

The story reveals that Miri passed away from the resurgent virus, and it concludes with an ambiguous fate for the Onlies.

"Miri" Is Certainly One of Star Trek's Weirdest Episodes

While Mostly Forgettable, "Miri" Offers a Lot to Star Trek Fans

In its 59-year history, Star Trek has shown some odd episodes, but “Miri,” airing during the Original Series’ first season, may be one of the strangest. The Enterprise, responding to an Earth-like distress signal, finds an exact duplicate of Earth in deep space. If that was not odd enough, the crew discovers that the planet’s adult population is dead, and the children, while still living, have drastically reduced aging. All of this was due to a virus created by the people of that Earth over 300 years prior. The children had been living all that time with no adult supervision.

“Miri” is a largely forgettable episode from Star Trek’s first season, but it is not without its merits. The episode’s premise, of a copy of Earth thousands of light years away, is absurd and stretches credibility a great deal. The virus that killed the adults is an excellent commentary, however, on scientific hubris and how children can suffer the most in times of crisis. “Miri” is also a wonderful showcase for not only Captain Kirk’s abilities as a leader, but also Doctor McCoy’s prowess as a physician. Kirk must get through to the Onlies while McCoy cures them.

"Miri" Gets a Dark Follow-Up in the Star Trek Universe

Star Trek Leaves the Onlies Fate Up in the Air

Despite its status as a lesser Star Trek episode, “Miri” raises some interesting questions, such as how the duplicate Earth came to exist. The episode does not provide an answer, nor does its follow-up. The fallout from “Miri” also begs for a follow-up, and Star Trek: Untold Voyages #3 provides it in the darkest fashion possible. When working on his cure for the Onlies, McCoy forgot to take into account 300 years of genetic changes to the kids, brought about by nutrition and other factors. Because of McCoy’s mistake, the Onlies were once again condemned to a cycle of death and grief.

This anger and sadness in the Onlies then exploded into a mess of violence and murder. The confused and enraged Onlies slaughtered the Starfleet personnel left behind to guide their development, and the issue opens with J’ahn, Miri’s best friend, killing one of them with a phaser at point-blank range. The episode “Miri” ended on a hopeful note for the Onlies, but those hopes and dreams have come crashing down. The promise of the episode’s ending has been spent, leaving nothing behind but death and heartbreak.

After the events of Star Trek: Untold Voyages #3, the fate of the Onlies is uncertain. McCoy was able to stabilize the virus, and keep it from killing anyone else. However, McCoy’s work was inconclusive, and the story hints the Onlies could get sick again. Even worse, the Onlies are now guilty of murder, and McCoy’s log at the end notes that they will have to pay for that one day, but for now the Federation is taking a more hands-off approach. McCoy does not mention if more Starfleet personnel are being sent, implying the Onlies may be on their own again.

Star Trek Fans Need to See the Follow-Up to "Miri," Even If It Hurts

What Will Become of the Onlies?

Needless to say, “Miri’s” sequel is one of the darkest in Star Trek history, and it is one fans may not be aware exists. Some fans write “Miri” off as a weird and bad episode, but in reality it presents a world rich in story possibilities, and Greenberg and Collins tap into this vein. Owing to the nature of episodic television, the Enterprise always sped off to its next mission, and any kind of follow-up was non-existent. Greenberg and Collins show what happened next to the Onlies, and it is one of Star Trek’s most disturbing stories.