"What do you make of it, Victor?" "Not much." "It's a new one on me." "Paul!" "It's still not registering, Commander." "'Calling technician Anton Zoref." "Good day, this is your alarm call." "'Duty period commences in 30 minutes, thank you.'" "Do we have computer identification yet?" "Nothing." "No indication that anything's out there at all." "I don't like it." "Paul, assemble all section heads." " Mark!" " Yeah." "You'll see there was one moment of high drama." "A condenser blew on panel three." "All yours, Anton." "Sleep well." "What is it, John?" "I don't know." "There's something out there we don't understand." "Main Mission." "'This is technician Zoref." "'Please acknowledge, Main Mission." "'Calling all stations Alpha, will someone please answer?" "'Emergency in generating area, please acknowledge.'" "Please acknowledge, Main Mission!" "And I..." "I..." " That's strange." "What was I saying?" " I don't know." "Security alert in the generating area." "Generating area, this is Main Mission." "Report, please." "'Technician Zoref, report your situation." "'Report your situation.'" "He's coming round now." " How do you feel?" " I'm all right." "What happened?" "Something activated the security alarm." " Is everything all right in here?" " No sign of damage." "Commander, I'll check the area out." "No, come with me." "I want to know why you passed out." " I'm all right." " You better go." "Victor, this is one area we can't afford to take chances with." "Check it out thoroughly." "You're sure this has never happened before?" "No." "Well, not that I know of." "What's the matter?" "It's nothing to do with you." "One of the monitors seems to have failed." " Am I clear then?" " Not quite." "You're still in a state of shock." "And I'm putting you on restricted duties." "I'm responsible for a lot of specialised equipment." "And someone else will tend it for a while." "I want you to rest and relax." " Dr Mathias." " 'Yes?" "'" "One of the medical monitors has blown." "Could you fix it?" "'Yes, Doctor.'" "The instruments have recorded a massive discharge of energy." "Have a look." "Fault in the reactor?" "This energy force was outside the nuclear reactor." "A radiation leak?" "A fracture?" "No sign of any radiation." "Then what caused it?" "Er..." "That's a good question." "'John, I'm taking Anton Zoref off full duty for a few days.'" "Right." "Is it possible Zoref has radiation sickness?" "'Nothing like that." "Just a mild state of shock." "'I expect a quick recovery.'" "I could check the last 24 hours' scan records." "Yeah, do it, Victor." "If there is a leak, we've got to find it." " Doctor's orders were to rest." " I feel fine." "Phew, it's stifling in here." "This is turned on full." "Oh, yes. I..." "I felt cold." "No, leave it." "But it's far too hot in here." "I said leave it!" "Please." " What's the matter?" " I don't know." "The lamp must have blown." "Did Dr Russell check you thoroughly?" "I'm all right!" "It's just being cooped up in here." "I need some fresh air." "We could all do with a bit of that on Alpha." "Well, I'll have to settle for a walk down the corridor." "That's the scan record - quite normal, except for that." " What is it?" " That's the energy force." "It was recorded at the same moment that Zoref passed out." "Yet all the systems in the generating area are functioning perfectly - no fractures, no flaws, no leaks." "This is something entirely new to Alpha." "If it didn't originate on Alpha, which is what you're saying, where did it come from?" "There's no energy source anywhere near us in space that could have caused that." "There obviously is." "How are we doing, Mark?" "Fine." "Pulled this place apart trying to find out what hit you." " How are you feeling?" " I'm all right now." "Did they find anything?" "They took away all the monitoring tapes." "Any idea what happened?" "I see generator number four is ten days into a major refit." "We can't afford to reduce power output." "Relax!" "Everything's all right in here." "I'm not very good at relaxing." "Ergomania, it's called - the compulsive need to work." "Mark!" "Mark!" " Anton?" " I'm... cold." "I'm freezing!" "Here." "Drink that, Anton." "What's wrong with me?" "There's nothing wrong with the machine itself, Dr Russell." "It was the energy cells." "They were completely drained." "The Commander is just coming." "Victor, check for any signs of damage." "What happened?" "All we know is he died seven minutes ago." "Death seems to have been caused by sudden freezing." "I don't understand." "There is nothing in here that could do that." "First Zoref, then Mark Dominix." "There must be a connection." "Helena, we've got to find out what caused it and why." "I'll rush an autopsy but I may not find those answers." "Doesn't seem to be any sign of any damage." "I'll get Zoref to take over in here." "No." "I'm making this a restricted area." "Until we know more, run some more tests." "Whatever we're looking for must be linked to this generating area." "Anton?" "What's wrong?" "I asked you a question, Anton." "Don't come near me." "What's the trouble, darling?" "Don't come any nearer." "'Attention all sections Alpha." "'Special announcement, effective immediately." "'Access to the generating area is forbidden until further notice.'" "What was all that about?" "It's Dominix." "He's dead." "Dominix dead?" "How do you know?" "I was there." "But what happened?" "Eva, sit down." "Over there." "Please." "Something happened in that generating area." "Anton, you're not in trouble, are you?" "You've got to trust me, Eva." "Please tell me what's wrong." "I don't know." "I can't explain." "Please!" "Don't try to touch me." "I'm not well." "I must see Dr Russell." " Let me come with you." " No!" "I don't want to get you involved." "Promise to stay here." " But..." " Promise." "All right." "I'll wait for you here." "But if you're sick, you will tell me, won't you?" "I'll be back as soon as I can." "John, have a look at this first plate again." "The one taken in the generating station when Zoref had his accident." " So?" " This one was taken at the moment of Dominix's death." "See?" "Same energy force." "You'd accept a freak electrical discharge from space once, but not twice." "It's present when Zoref collapses and when Dominix dies." " Mmm." " It's gotta be the connection." "And this alien force is here, right now." "Somewhere on Alpha." "Are you all right?" " Same as Dominix?" " Yeah." "You can take her away now." "Whatever killed Hilary is no longer in the generating area." "It was right here in this hallway." " Kano, what's the power situation?" " 'It's being restored now.'" "What caused it?" "'Storage cells are exhausted - 'something caused a massive loss of power in that entire area.'" "It's hardly a coincidence." "We see this freezing effect." "Those two deaths were the result of total heat loss." "Light is simply another form of heat." "And in both cases, the loss was sudden and complete." "Whatever this alien force is, John, it seems that it's consuming heat." " Of course, that's just pure theory." " But the best so far." "Sandra, monitor all power levels on Alpha." " Report any fluctuation immediately." " Yes, sir." "Paul, I want security patrols at every strategic location on Alpha, ready to move at a moment's notice, and get Professor Bergman." "Dr Russell, where's Anton?" "He came to see you, didn't he?" "He's here, isn't he?" "No." "I haven't seen him since I examined him." "But he said he was coming here." "Now, tell me what's wrong, Eva." "I don't know." "Anton's sick." "Something happened when he was with Dominix." "Please find him, Doctor." "I'm afraid." "'I'm concerned about him, John." "I think you should check.'" "Thank you, Helena." "Kano, run a computer check on Zoref's whereabouts for the last ten hours." "Specifically, the last time he entered the generating area." "Anton Zoref last entered generating area 20:45, lunar time." "He was there when Dominix died." "Find him, Paul." "Commander, fluctuation in the energy levels." " Where?" " Section C, the solarium." "Alan!" "Security." "Solarium, we need help in here." "Please come quickly." "Hold it, Zoref!" "No, the power." "He's alive." "I don't know how." "After absorbing almost all the power." "We can't leave him here." "It's too dangerous to move him." "He doesn't seem to be absorbing energy now." "He's safe." "For the moment, at least." "Get these to Professor Bergman right away." "Yes, Doctor." "Take him into the observation room." "If there is a connection between Zoref and the energy losses, that connection is broken now." "Let's hope the scans give us the answer." "That light will act as an early warning system." "Fine." "But don't go in there for any reason." "First sign of any activity, call me." "Oh, and Helena, there's a security man right outside." "Don't worry." "He can't get out and I'm certainly not going in." "That's it." "That's the force that killed Dominix and the girl." "And it's inside Zoref." "I tried a computer analysis." "Can't recognise it." "But it told me something else." "This force has only been on Alpha ten hours, but it's growing out of all proportion to the heat or energy it's consuming." " Why Zoref?" " Who knows?" "Could it be that it's lain dormant in space waiting for Zoref?" "A catalyst- something to operate through?" "For what purpose?" "Victor, we can speculate forever." "But that's not our problem." "What we've got to do is destroy that force while it's still relatively weak." "Commander, emergency in the medical centre." "All power gone." "Automatic systems not functioning." "Helena!" "Open the door!" "Look out!" "Attention all sections Alpha." "This is Commander John Koenig." "Technician Anton Zoref 'has escaped from security in the medical centre." "'All Alpha personnel are warned that Zoref is highly dangerous." "'He is not, repeat, not to be approached.'" "During this emergency all side arms are to be worn 'and if attacked, shoot to kill." "'Keep posted for further instructions.'" "Paul." " You mean the reactors?" " No, the supplies from them." " That would take seconds, but..." " Survival factor?" "In 20 minutes all our sick in the intensive care unit will die." "In 30, our recycling plants will be damaged beyond repair." "At 40 our oxygen will give out." "'Alpha section B - power loss now critical.'" " Kano, you traced him yet?" " Not yet, Commander." "Relayed all the affected areas not working." "Victor, what's the situation?" "These are the areas affected so far." "Severe power loss throughout this quadrant." "See a sense of direction." "We have Zoref on visual." "He's in Section C." "Put it up on the big screen." "Let's see corridor 15." "Power in corridor 15 also failed." "He's at intersection 15/49." "Put up corridor 16." "Try 49." "He must be in 50." "No power in 50." "That's it." "There's only one section left in that quadrant." " The generating area." " All the energy he needs." "If he reaches that reactor, we're dead." "We'll never stop him from getting to the other generating areas." "Paul, alert security, generating area 3." "Tell 'em we're on our way." "Alan." "Generating area 3, full alert." "Do not approach technician Zoref." "First energy losses in section F recorded." " Where?" " Corridor 53." "Attention F-section personnel." "'Technician Zoref is now somewhere in your area." "'You are warned to avoid contact.'" " What's his last position?" " Approaching section F." "Paul, cut the power." "Cutting power now, Commander." "Cut it." "Disconnect him quickly." "Get back." "Get back!" " I'll try to cut him off." " OK, but watch yourself." "Anton!" "Eva." "No." "Come with me, Anton." "We can help you." "No." "No." "You must come away from here." "There's a chance we can help you." "Don't... don't touch me." "It'll kill you." " Go back, Anton." "There's still time." " Keep away." "Keep away." "Come with me, Anton." "Keep away from me!" " No!" "I want to stay with him." " No." "Let me... go." "Let me go." " Down there." " Helena, you take her." " Don't let them kill him, please." " Come on." "Morrow!" "What's happened to the power in here?" "All power's been cut." "Commander's orders." "But our patients are dying!" "Doctor, doctor!" "We need that power!" " 'Commander Koenig.'" " Yes." "Our people are starting to die." "In a few minutes it'll be too late." "Request permission to restore power immediately." "Not until I say so." "And that's final." "Victor!" "It's all right." "It's just not the best of climates for a clockwork heart." "I'm all right." "Come on." "Zoref, come away from there!" "He can't do it." "He's too weak." "Of course he had to go for us." "We're the only source of heat around." "He's alive." "The laser - the laser regenerated him." "We can't stop him now." "Paul, restore full power." "Yes, Commander." "Let's get out of here." " Radiation shields." " Already activated." "Check for damage and casualties." "All sections Alpha, report your damage." "'Generating area G, reactors one and two stable." "'No sign of radiation leaks." "'Alpha section E, three casualties, 'none fatal.'" "Power level stabilising." "'...intact." "Casualties zero.'" "Victor, we're gonna be all right." "If that force had gotten to those other reactors..." "Just one was enough for its purpose." "Purpose?" "Some sort of creative evolution." "A stage in its development." "Perhaps the beginnings..." "A birth." "A star?" "Something like that." "Everybody tried their best to help." "We... just didn't know how." "I don't understand." "Eva, we're living in deep space." "There's so many things we don't understand." "We don't know what that alien force was, why it came here, or why it selected Anton." "But we've got to try to help each other to understand."