Kirk loses his memory and lives among a tribe descended from Native Americans while the Enterprise tries to divert an asteroid headed for their planet.
An asteroid is heading for a planet inhabited by a native people who resemble Native Americans of Earth. Kirk is injured by an obelisk and loses his memory, and he settles into the village as a medicine man. He falls in love with a woman named Miramanee while the Enterprise tries to deflect the asteroid.
The story has a tragic end for Kirk and reveals the cause of the people's origin. It is criticised for its portrayal of the natives, but it is remembered for its romance and its drama, along with Spock's effort to deflect the asteroid.