13 Darkest Star Trek: The Original Series Moments
7. The Vians' Plan In The Empath
The sun in the Vians' solar system is about to go nova, and they can only save the population of one planet. Their test for determining which species to save? They capture a young empath from one of the threatened planets and torture people to gauge her reaction.
Their reasoning is that only the bravest, most compassionate species deserves to be saved. The empath's willingness to alleviate the suffering of others is supposed to help the Vians decide whether or not her species is the one they save. But the empath takes on the injuries and pain of anyone she heals, and there's only so much suffering she can endure.