"'Moonbase Alpha, status report." "'1,807 days after leaving Earth orbit." "Dr Helena Russell recording." "'A derelict spaceship has appeared in our third quadrant." "'Commander John Koenig 'and Security Officer Tony Verdeschi are investigating." "'Could its appearance be connected with our science officer, Maya, 'developing a high fever of unknown origin, 'which has so far resisted all medication?" "'" "Mentor... don't do it, Mentor!" "We must leave Psychon..." "Don't do it, Mentor." "We have to... leave the planet..." " Take it easy, Maya." " Mentor!" "Mentor!" "Maya!" " Maya?" " Oh..." "I've been having terrible visions." "Flames all around me." "Volcanoes erupting." "You have a very high fever." "As soon as we can bring it down, you'll be all right." "Is there anything you want?" "I'm afraid." "I'm afraid, Helena." "Where's Tony?" "I want Tony." "He'll be here soon." "OK?" "Alan, contact Eagle 1." "Ask them to return." "I'm worried about Maya." "Will do." "San, get Eagle 1 on the big screen and open a channel." "Moonbase Alpha calling Commander Koenig." "Calling Commander Koenig." "'Commander Koenig, come in, please. '" "Go ahead, Alpha." "'John, we'd like an ETA on your return. '" "Helena's worried." "'We'll return after we board the derelict ship. '" "Assume emergency positions!" "Assume emergency positions!" "What the hell's going on?" "Alan?" "Come in, Alan!" "Alan!" "Give me a shot of Alpha on the screen." "What's happened to Alpha?" "It's disappeared." "Mentor!" "It's happening again!" "We're not on Psychon, Maya!" "Hold on, Maya!" "What hit us?" "We'll find out..." "as soon as we have time." "All right, everybody, back to your stations." " 'Maintenance?" "'" " How long to restore full power?" "'We have to locate the source of the trouble. '" "Can you get Eagle 1 on the big screen?" "Alan, I cannot locate them." "What did this to us?" "I'm not sure yet." "Keep trying." " Nothing." " What's our position?" "That WAS our position." "This is our position now." "We have moved five light years in a matter of minutes!" "Through a space warp!" "There's no chance of the Commander making it back." "Unless he can find a window in the space warp." "The chances of that are pretty remote." "What's our present velocity?" "Back to normal." "Get ready to launch a refuelling Eagle." "'Yes, sir. '" "Yeah, I know it's a long shot, but if they find that space warp... then they'll need refuelling to get back to Alpha." "'Eagle 1 to Moonbase Alpha." "Come in, Alpha!" "'" "It's no good, John, I just can't get a fix on them." "There's only one answer, Tony." "They must have gone through a space warp." "They could be billions of miles away!" "We have fuel for less than a million." "It might not make any difference even if we had all the fuel we needed." "Yeah." "We wouldn't even know which direction to go in." "I'll help you!" "I'll help you!" "Maya, just lie back." "Come on." "Here we go." "Easy." "All right, all right." "Just take it easy." "You've been delirious, Maya." "Yes, I know." "The nightmares..." "They're getting worse, they're taking over." " Ben, prepare a sedative." " No, that won't do it." "Helena, I'm beginning to lose molecular control." "I don't know what will happen." "You've got to put me in restraints." " I can't do that." " You've got to!" "I could be dangerous!" "Put me in restraints!" "Ben, prepare a sedative." "OK, put her in restraints, then." " 'Command Center. '" " Alan, I must speak to Eagle 1." "You have to tell her, Alan." "'Tell me what?" "'" "That shaking." "We went through a space warp." "Eagle 1 is on the other side of it." "We are five light years from our last position." "OK, this is just about where Alpha disappeared." "We've matched Alpha's velocity." "And now all we have to do is find that hole in space." "You're the doctor, Helena, so forgive me for prescribing, but you need some rest." "If there are any developments, Helena..." "What are his chances?" "Well, you know John." "He won't give up." "What are the chances of his finding that same door in space?" " It depends." " On what?" " On luck." " Luck?" "In space?" "I guess his chances are a billion to one." "Helena, if I can..." "Maya...!" "Maya..." "Maya, please!" "Revert!" "No!" "Aaah!" "Maya!" "Please!" "I've got a rest period." "Want a coffee?" "Hey!" "'Emergency in corridor Level A!" "Emergency in corridor Level A!" "'There's some kind of monster loose on Alpha!" "We were attacked. '" " Emergency in Weapon Section." " I heard." "Security, there's a dangerous creature loose on Alpha." "'Take no chances." "Put your laser guns on kill." "'Take no chances." "Kill on sight. '" "'All non-essential personnel to remain in their quarters." "'This creature is dangerous." "I repeat - this creature is dangerous." "'Security - kill on sight. '" "Occupant of elevator, please identify yourself." "'Occupant of elevator, please identify. '" "'Security. '" " Elevator 7, Levels C and D. - 'Yes, sir. '" "Helena?" "What happened?" "You all right?" "Maya..." "Maya turned into some kind of a space creature." "I'm all right, but there's no telling what she might do." "She's already been doing it." "Alan's orders are to kill on sight." "Alan, you've got to cancel that kill order!" " Wait a minute." "That creature..." " 'That creature is Maya!" "'She can't control what she's doing. '" "'Top priority!" "All personnel, don't shoot to kill!" "Change to stun. '" "Shall we try number 11?" "No, let's try and raise Alpha on the screen." "I guess there are gonna be no miracles today." "How about that derelict?" "We might be able to use its fuel store if it has any left." "You never know." "We could get lucky." "What have we got to lose?" "'It's making its way to the upper levels, but we're staying clear. '" "Don't lose contact, but stay back." "Tranquilliser darts are almost ready." "OK, but how much do we use?" "Too little, no effect." "Too much, death." "Let's hope this is the correct dosage." "The stun guns had little effect." "This has more of a kick." "'Mr Carter, it seems to be making its way to the travel tube. '" "The travel tube?" "Maya was delirious and hallucinating about Psychon - her father was still alive and she had to save him." "Do you think it's making for the Eagles?" "Yeah, and if she gets on to one she'll be making a one-way trip to a planet that's no longer there." "No!" "Maya!" "Please listen to me!" "Maya, listen." "Please, let us try to help you." "She's making for Launch Pad 4!" "Come on!" "Cut off the power to the main travel tube." "All right, Helena, we've got her trapped." "We've hit her with stun guns, tranquilliser darts and she's still on her feet." "Oh, boy...!" "What do we do now?" "We go in after it." "Alan..." "If she makes it to an Eagle there's no way to help her." "Come on." "We'll try the alternate travel tube." "'Launching Area. '" "Top priority alert." "Block travel tube 1..." "Launch Area?" "Launch Area, what's going on?" "'Launch Area, give me a report!" "'Launch Area personnel, can you hear me?" "'Will you give me a report?" "!" "'Launch Area?" "What is going on in there?" "'" "Launching Area, what's happening?" "Mr Carter, we've been attacked!" "OK, where's it gone now?" "'In Eagle 4.'" "It's too late." "The boarding tube's retracting." " We can't let her lift off." " I'll bring her down!" "Let's see what's going on inside." "The anaesthetic's taking effect." " We'll bring it in." " Right." " Can't we stop it?" " No, we have no control over it now." "Get the Rescue Unit on the double!" " Get her out of there!" " Quickly!" "Go!" " She's dying." " Can't you save her?" "This species' anatomy and vital functions are unknown to me!" "Well, you've got to do something!" "Maya, change back." "Please, change back." "That anaesthetic dart really worked." "Its metabolism can't cope with it." "The pressure's in here somewhere." "We've nothing to compare." "We've never seen anything like this before." "We've insufficient knowledge of this species to know what that's about." "We can't treat its injuries." "Just stand here and let Maya die?" "Look." "The creature's blood." "If we treat it, we could upset the corpuscle balance." "We don't know what the hell we're dealing with." "Helena, how long ago did Maya transform into this?" "About 45 minutes ago." "You're unfamiliar with its anatomy." "Maya only holds form for an hour." "Just wait 15 minutes!" "But she doesn't have 15 minutes." " Ben, will you assist me, please?" " If you operate, you could kill her." "At least she'll have a chance." "We'll make our incision here." "If we can stop that blockage..." "What if it's natural tissue performing a natural function?" "Let's find that out." "All right." "Here we go." "Dr Russell, heart fibrillating, pulse erratic." "You can't operate." "She won't make it!" "Maya, you've got to change now!" "You've got to change right now!" "Alan, I think she hears me." " Maya!" " Maya, no!" "No!" "Maya, no!" "Stop it!" " Don't kill him!" " Set to stun!" "Oh, my God!" "That looks like a docking port." "See?" "We are getting lucky." " Cut power." " Power cut." "OK, we're locked on." "Right, let's take a look." "Tony, check the Power Room." "See if the fuel supply is adaptable to our Eagles." "Yeah, OK." "Obviously a data bank." "That Power Room is amazingly sophisticated." "It's way beyond our capabilities." "Maybe the answer lies here." "Look at that one." "It's a different colour." "'This is Captain Duro..." "'Commander of the Betanon scout cruiser Menon." "'We were twelve parsecs distant from the mother ship Admenon 'when it disappeared into a space warp." "'That happened..." "Star Time 12." "'It is now Star Time 32... 'and through all that long period" "'I and my crew 'have been desperately trying 'to find that same entry into the space warp." "'We thought that we had pinpointed the exact location 'of entry of the mother ship into the space warp." "'It was after a number of unsuccessful attempts 'to enter the space warp 'that we realised our co-ordinates were wrong." "'There was a fault on our space warp locator." "'Our ship suffered much damage." "I set my engineers to work." "'We were very close to attaining the correct co-ordinates 'when there was a malfunction in a power pod 'which caused an explosion, killing all my crew." "'I, myself, suffered a fatal wound." "'In the last few moments of my life," "'I am making this record 'so that if any other intelligent life arrives in this area," "'they will have an explanation of these tragic events." "'The data relating to the space warp locator 'is recorded... on Cartridge 26." "'In the burial tradition of my species," "'I have ejected my crew members out into space 'and, at the conclusion of this report," "'I... 'will join them. '" "If it's any consolation, we know how he felt." "We owe him." "We owe him for pointing the way. 26." "'This stage of the operation is critical." "'The data shown must be fed 'into our on-board computer, and linked to yours." "'The correct co-ordinates will be obtained 'by connecting the space warp locator to your computer 'and the Menon's computer activated." "'The rest of the procedure is relatively simple. '" "Simple?" "Hmm." "I wish we had Maya here." " Well, we don't." " It's a hell of a long shot." "Yeah." "But it's a shot." "Let's find that locator." " 'Travel tube clear. '" " Check." " 'Life Support. '" " Anything?" " 'It's not in this area. '" " Check." "Attention, Security." "All the corridors are clear, travel tubes and life support." "Levels C and D are clear." "Now, check Levels A and B." "It's got to be somewhere on here." "If Maya's still in control, she'll be trying to get to Psychon." "The launch pads are sealed off." "She cannot get to an Eagle." "It might take a little time, but we'll find her." "John..." "Tony, I've found it." "Yeah, this is it." "Let's transfer it to Eagle 1 and see if it works." "John, even if we do break through, we haven't the fuel to catch Alpha." "My hunch is that everyone on Alpha is working on that contingency." "Now, come on." "San, will you patch me into the refuelling Eagle?" "Moonbase Alpha to Eagle 3." " 'Eagle 3 to Alpha." "Go ahead. '" " Gary, what's your ETA?" "'ETA to rendezvous point - 7 minutes, 12 seconds. '" "Rendezvous point - we hope." "When you reach it, I want you to cruise the area." " 'For how long?" "'" " Until further notice." "'We've cornered the animal." "It's hell-bent on getting out. '" "Right, we're on our way." " It's trying to get to Psychon." " If she smashes that airlock..." "Explosive decompression will wipe out everybody in this section." "You guys set on stun?" "Fire." "Computer, open the inner door to Airlock 7." "What are you doing?" "If that breaks through to the surface, she'll die instantly." "Computer, close the inner door." "Ben, I need an anaesthetic gas cylinder at Airlock 7 immediately!" "'Right." "I'm on my way. '" "The anaesthetic should have an immediate effect." "It had better." "There's nothing." "No effect at all." "Maya!" "It must have an air store like a camel stores water." "Yeah!" "How long will it last, though?" "What matters is that Maya can only hold that form for an hour." " Do you want us to follow you, sir?" " Not yet." "Get yourself suited up and wait for a command." " 'Command Center. '" " Have you visual?" "It's approaching area Copernicus of the Copernicus Depression." "Its pace has slowed." " Right." " Must be running out of air." "Depressurise." "OK, John." "It should be hooked up to your computer." "We have link-up." "I'm going to activate." "OK, I've got all the co-ordinates." "Now all we have to do is understand them." "All right." "I'm coming aboard." "'The creature is now on a bearing of 2,670 and still slowing. '" "Roger, Alpha." "There she is." "Alpha, we have visual." "Alan, look out!" "Helena, hang on!" "Get out of the way!" "Alan!" "No, Maya!" "No!" "Helena!" "I'm losing oxygen!" "Command Center, I need an emergency Eagle immediately." " Air... beautiful." " You'll be all right, Alan." "The creature's running out of air." "If it transforms into Maya, she'll die instantly." "One." "Two." "Five." "Six." "Seven." "Four." "One, down to blue." "One, down to blue." " Yeah." " Compensation factor?" "Er... port thruster, 22.2-second burn." "Inertia factor... green plus two." "Green plus two." "That's it." "Well, here are the co-ordinates." "Let's hope they're the right ones." "Well, if Alpha can do it, so can we." "At least she's still breathing." "Barely." "Maya, can you hear me?" "Change now, Maya!" " You're not making contact." " It's been nearly an hour." "She didn't come back as Maya the last time." "What happens if she transforms into something even worse?" " Any developments?" " None." "Refuelling Eagle maintaining position." "They have nothing to report?" "Just that they are almost at the point of no return." " Are you all right?" " Yeah, I'm fine." "Hey!" "Well, that's something." "At least we've got full power again." "Alan, look!" "I am getting peculiar readings from the refuelling Eagle." "There's nothing on the screen." "There is something." "Sensors are picking up an enormous disturbance." "Sensor's readings increasing in magnitude." "Hey, do you see what I see?" "Do I!" " 'Medical. '" " Helena, I have a surprise for you." "'Take a look at your screen. '" "Break link with derelict." "Pulse normal." "Helena..." " The restraints...!" " You don't need them." " But I'm dangerous." " Not any more." "All life signs stable." "Fever's gone." "How do you feel?" "Like I've been..." "riding the tail of a comet... for days on end." "We all do." "'Refuelling complete, Commander. '" "Thank you." "Tow the derelict back to Alpha." "'Yes, sir. '" " We're bringing the derelict in." " How come?" "'It's a long story. '" "'Is there something special about it?" "'" "Would you believe, a friendly alien!" "We believe anything you say." "Just get back to Alpha." "'Right. '" "Oh, and have Maya stand by to reveal the mysteries of this magnificent marvel." " As soon as she's awake." " 'She's asleep?" "'" "Well, how about that?" "We've been beating our brains out and they're catching up on their sleep!" "The least they can do is get a little relaxation." "Right, Helena?" "Right, John." "Absolutely nothing has been going on down on Alpha." "We have been all perfectly relaxed"