I'm afraid the Animated Series had a double hiccup of poor episodes at this point. In its defence, this episode was written by an inexperienced 19 year old, Howard Weinstein, who submitted the script cold to the producers and made his first sale with it. Weinstein went on to write several Star Trek novels and comic books, and is apparently a much-loved Star Trek convention guest, so it wasn't all bad for him.

But here, unfortunately, he has both Kirk and the Orion pirates acting bizarrely and out of character. Oh, and McCoy for good measure.

Transcript

1
Captain's log, Stardate 6334.1. Spock is infected with choriocytosis and has two days to live.
McCoy: PLAGUE!
2
McCoy: Beta Canopus has strobolin, which can cure Spock.
Kirk: That's four days away, too bad.
McCoy: We could rendezvous with another ship half way.
Kirk: I did not think of that!
Spock: Are you even trying to save me?
3
Spock: I fainted at my bridge station due to lack of oxygen. I should be confined to sick bay.
McCoy: Eh, nah. Get back to work.
4
Caption: Orion pirates steal the rendezvous ship's cargo and hide in a field of explosive asteroids!
{Atari Asteroids graphic}
5
Kirk: Deal: Give us the drug, keep the dilithium, and we'll give you even more, no questions asked.
McCoy: You're bucking regulations and buying off pirates. You have some sneaky doublecross plan, right?
Kirk: No.
6
Caption: But it works out anyway.
Kirk: Except the Orions are all males. Where are the dancing girls?
Spock: I almost died.
McCoy: Sheesh Spock, always thinking of yourself.