Ceti Eel question

[f14peter]

One thing has always bothered me about the Ceti Eels--how did they get to Terrell and Chekov's brains without totally destroying their inner ears?

That must have been the case. What I'm interested in is how they would have gotten past the inner ear, at all. I imagine some combination of acidic saliva and/or powerful mandibles would have allowed them to get past the eardrum and connecting bones and thus gain access to the cerebrum.

There's a scene (maybe two, one for Chekov and another for Terrill) that show a razor-like tongue-like appendage that the eels whip out (from presumably their mouths) to cut a slice in the flesh on the outer ear area. So at least on their ingress, they don't just waddle through the ear canal but burrow through some skin/flesh. They may just avoid most of the inner ear components on their way to the cerebral cortex.

Doesn't appear Chekov's hearing was too adversely affected, Khan spoke in fairly quiet to normal levels to him during the call to Regula 1 scene.

 

[ItIsGreen]

I want to know why they're called 'eels' when they're clearly some kind of legged creepy-crawlie.

 

[DonIago]

I don't think anyone ever calls them that in the film?

 

[Damian]

I think it originated in Vonda McIntyre's novelization and it stuck (it's been years since I read it but I believe that's were I first saw it). But no, officially in canon I don't believe it's ever been established (unless it was mentioned in some later show, but I can't remember any instance of it being mentioned)

 

[FormerLurker]

Vonda McIntyre's description of the beasties is more consistent with the designation "Eel" as well. Longer, more slender, that sort of thing.

 

[Maurice]

There's a scene (maybe two, one for Chekov and another for Terrill) that show a razor-like tongue-like appendage that the eels whip out (from presumably their mouths) to cut a slice in the flesh on the outer ear area..

The tongue just flicks out. It doesn't do any "cutting".

 

[Green]

They are called Ceti Eels in the script.

 

[Commishsleer]

The eels making the victim just only be susceptible to Khan doesn't maker sense.
Why wouldn't they just be everyone's slave?

 

[Smellmet]

The eels making the victim just only be susceptible to Khan doesn't maker sense.
Why wouldn't they just be everyone's slave?

Because Khan, being the moustache-twirling megalomaniac that he is, is the one doing the 'suggesting'...

 

[Damian]

Because Khan, being the moustache-twirling megalomaniac that he is, is the one doing the 'suggesting'...

Yeah, exactly. It's not that no one else can make them a slave. Just that Khan is the guy in charge and his own people are not going to challenge that.

 

[Commishsleer]

Yeah, exactly. It's not that no one else can make them a slave. Just that Khan is the guy in charge and his own people are not going to challenge that.

Once Chekov and Terrell get away from Khan if they are still under eel influence why don't they obey Kirk or anyone else if they have lost their own will ? Why are the eels whispering "obey Khan"? I can maybe think the eels might brain damage them to stop their own will but don't know why they'd be aligned to only Khan.

 

[Damian]

Once Chekov and Terrell get away from Khan if they are still under eel influence why don't they obey Kirk or anyone else if they have lost their own will ? Why are the eels whispering "obey Khan"? I can maybe think the eels might brain damage them to stop their own will but don't know why they'd be aligned to only Khan.

I guess if Kirk realized that was an option he could have overridden Khan's bidding. Kirk didn't realize they were 'under the influence' so they were still subject to Khan's whims as it were.

 

[Smellmet]

Once Chekov and Terrell get away from Khan if they are still under eel influence why don't they obey Kirk or anyone else if they have lost their own will ? Why are the eels whispering "obey Khan"? I can maybe think the eels might brain damage them to stop their own will but don't know why they'd be aligned to only Khan.

I thought Khan was in contact with them the whole time? Hence Terrell ripping the communicator off just before he kills himself?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Maybe the eels developed a kind of neurochemical/hormonal/brainwave, etc connection to Khan, and therefore anyone who gets an eel in the ear links up with Khan's mind and must obey his will.

 

[Commishsleer]

I thought Khan was in contact with them the whole time? Hence Terrell ripping the communicator off just before he kills himself?

Maybe the eels developed a kind of neurochemical/hormonal/brainwave, etc connection to Khan, and therefore anyone who gets an eel in the ear links up with Khan's mind and must obey his will.

All good ideas.
I forgot that Terrell and Chekov were faltering away from Khan's direct control but Terrell still had the ear piece with Khan urging him on. Or was it the eels leaving the brain that caused them to get their own control back.
I don't know why the eels killed everyone else but Chekov was spared though. There was no explanation for that was there.

 

[DonIago]

Because McCoy was there to immediately start treating him with advanced medical tech, while the folks on Ceti Alpha V had no advanced medical training or (surviving after the disaster) advanced tech.

Well, at least the latter...no idea whether they may have had any doctors by that point.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't know why the eels killed everyone else but Chekov was spared though. There was no explanation for that was there.

Khan didn't infect the Regula I crew with eels. He murdered them directly.

Remember, Terrell said that no one on Regula I would tell him anything, so "he went wild...he slit their throats...he wanted to tear the place apart". If he'd used eels, they WOULD have told him everything he needed to know.

As for Terrell and Chekov: It's pretty clear that even after they were left behind on Regula I, Khan was monitoring them the whole time. (Just before the final shoot-out, Terrell takes out his communicator and says "Your Excellency, have you been listening?" and Khan replies "I have indeed, Captain.")

And Chekov's eel probably became distressed and left his head because it sensed the death of the other eel, the one inside Terrell.

 

[DonIago]

To the best of my recollection, the novelization has Khan kill most of the skeleton crew of Regula I except for a Deltan and another scientist. When they realize that he's going to eel them, they opt for suicide.

By far the least fun part of the novelization.