Omicron Ceti Spore

Universe :	Prime Timeline
Species Name :	Omicron Ceti Spore [1]
Quadrant :	Unknown

A symbiotic organism capable of living within either plant or animal species. The origin of the spores is unknown; they were discovered on Omicron Ceti III by biologist Leila Komani in 2264, but are believed to have drifted through space to the planet. There they infected the native pod plants. The plants would infect any person who came close by spraying them with spores. Spore infection caused a dramatic increase in health of the infected person, repairing any effects of previous injuries on their bodies. This included removing any trace of broken bones, and even regrowing a removed appendix. The spores also repaired the damage caused by berthold radiation, which is fatal to all living things with enough exposure. An infected person thus became completely immune to berthold rays. The spores themselves actually thrived on Berthold rays. [1]

Unfortunately infection also caused a profound psychological effect. Under the influence of the spores the infected demonstrated a general lack of any negative emotions such as hate, fear or anger. However, they also showed a complete lack of ambition or responsibility, becoming entirely focused on their own immediate pleasure. [1]

The spores infected all members of the Sandoval colony after they arrived on Omicron Ceti III. Once infected, the colonists abandoned their plans to build a large scale agricultural colony. They constructed dwellings for themselves and raised enough food to live on, but beyond that they were content to accomplish nothing. When the USS Enterprise arrived in 2267 the crew were also infected, and immediately began to give up life in Starfleet to join the colony. However, Captain Kirk discovered that the spores could be purged from an infected person if he or she experienced an intense surge of emotion. He and Commander Spock were able to use subsonic sound to provoke those on the surface into various arguments and fights, ridding them of the spores. The colony was evacuated once this was achieved. [1]

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Canon source

Backstage source

Novel source

DITL speculation

References

#	Series	Season	Source	Comment
1	TOS	1	This Side of Paradise

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Last updated : 19 Sep 2016

Series :	TOS Season 1
Episode :	This Side of Paradise