"Shermeen, this time I think we've finally got it." " Go get some glasses, will you?" " OK." " Shermeen?" " Yes, Eddie?" " Listen to me!" " I am!" "Since you started cultivating hops for Tony's poison beer," " I don't even exist." " Tony's beer is not poison!" "Shermeen... the moment of truth has arrived." " Well?" " It's terrific!" "Hey, Eddie, how about a sip of beer?" " No, thanks." " Happier than usual, huh(?" ")" "Come on." "See you, Eddie." "Yeah, sure(!" ")" " Sensors have picked something up." " (Koenig) 'Anything specific?" "'" " Can't tell yet." " 'I'm on my way.'" "All right, everybody, get ready for the taste of a lifetime!" "Verdeschi's brew number 29!" "Made from a generation of Alpha hops, especially brewed by our hydroponic botanist, Shermeen Williams!" "Shermeen, will you do the honours, please?" "No, thanks." "I'd hate to ruin a beautiful friendship." "No." "As chief medical officer, I must retain my sanity." "Er, thanks, no." "I happen to be on a liquid-free diet." "I see." "OK." "Very funny." "It wasn't like that in Hydroponics." " Did we misjudge the fermenting?" " We sure misjudged something!" "There is another string of hops." "We could try again." "No, thanks." "Hydroponics is out!" " I'll try something different." " So you think it's my fault?" "!" " Well, I wasn't accusing her!" " She's a very sensitive girl." " What's going on?" " Someone needs a little comfort." "Shermeen has a teenage crush on you, Tony." "You must handle her with care." "Just because she cultivated a few hops for my beer?" "!" "Oh, come on!" "(Distant humming)" "(Gasps)" "No..." "No..." "No!" "'Moonbase Alpha - status report." "'1,702 days after leaving Earth orbit." "Dr Helena Russell recording." "'After countless number of days of serenity, 'a simple case of teenage infatuation has broken out on Alpha." "'I'm on my way to treat it now, 'and expect that it can be cured without any serious complications.'" "Shermeen?" "Are you all right?" "Yeah, I...must have fallen asleep." "I had a dream." "There was this face staring at me in the darkness." "A nightmare, probably." "You were very upset when you left Command Center." "The eyes - they were wanting me to stare back, they were coming closer." "I could give you a tranquilliser." "It'll make you feel better." "Oh...no." "Doctor, I'm really all right." "After all, it was only a dream." "I'd like to go back to Hydroponics now, er..." "I've a few plantings to look after." "OK." "Come along with me to Medical Center first." "(Koenig) Magnify." "Maya, give me a reading." "Constellation" " Pintarus." "Star...19, Pintarus." "Planet - uncharted satellite." "Atmosphere - compatible." "Temperature at constant 78 degrees." "Suitable for human inhabitation." "Abundant vegetation." "No sign of animal life." "Bill, locate a landing site." " We'll see how good it is." " Right." " 'Medical Center.'" " Helena, join the landing party." "'I have some lab tests I'm monitoring, John." " 'I'll have to see them through.'" " I understand." "'John, I just left Shermeen." "She was very upset." "'She said she saw a disembodied face staring at her." "Was it a nightmare?" "'I gave her some tranquillisers and let her go back on duty." " Good." "She's in the landing party." " 'She's in no condition for that.'" "All right, Helena." "Thank you." "Bill, tell Eddie Collins I want him in the landing party." "Now, what's bothering you, young Tony?" "Shermeen's been on the first team a long time." "She'll be very hurt." "Well, she looks up to you, Tony." "You explain it to her, OK?" "(Man) Shermeen..." "Shermeen..." "Shermeen..." "Shermeen..." "Shermeen?" "Shermeen?" "W-what do you want?" " I've come to apologise." " What for?" "For being an unfeeling, insensitive boor." "Oh..." "Oh, you're not that, Tony." "I know you've put in a lot of time and effort to help me, and..." "Well, I wish I had an excuse for acting the way I did." "It's all right, I understand." "It's OK." "Shall we try again?" "Oh, sure, we should." "Yeah." "As a matter of fact," "I think we'll come up with the right combination next time." "I was thinking... maybe if we cross-pollinated the barley hybrids..." "Oh, Sure." "Great idea." "Look, there's something else, Shermeen." "The Commander's sending a landing party to that planet." " I can be ready!" " Hang on." "You've been upset and..." "Eddie Collins is the botanist we're taking." "But I've been collecting specimens from every place we've been to!" " I tried to tell them that." " You tried to tell them?" "It was probably your idea I don't go!" "Oh, you're a hypocrite!" " Shermeen..." " You didn't come to apologise!" "I hate you!" "I don't ever want to see you again!" " Shermeen..." " Don't touch me!" "(Sniffs)" " I'm sorry." " I bet you are." "(Man) Shermeen..." "Don't resist, Shermeen." "Let me come through." "I won't harm you, Shermeen." "Let me come through." "No, I am not a figment of your imagination." "Who are you?" "Where are you from?" "My name is Vindrus... and I suppose you could say I come from Sunim." "Sunim?" "The planet that you are now approaching, which has the answer to your present unhappiness." "You will see it soon." "That's not possible." "Oh, I assure you it is." "You have my word." "I'm not going down to Sunim." "Eddie's going." "So I heard." "But trust me, Shermeen." "Just do as I ask and you will go with the landing party... and Tony will never upset you again." "Is that the magnus lilarium?" "Yes." "Break open the pod and select a healthy seed." "Now, put it on the propagatoscope." " (Humming)" " Now bombard it with protons." "(Humming rises)" "Increase the bombardment." "Continue." "(Intense buzzing)" "Switch off." "Plant it." "But be careful." "(Footsteps)" "Now prepare to embark." "I don't understand." "Why...?" "There isn't time to explain." "Go!" "Quickly!" "Hurry, Shermeen!" "Hey, Shermeen...don't be mad!" " Is all the gear on Eagle 1?" " Yep, all on board." "Where's Eddie Collins?" "I don't know." "He should have been here." "Shermeen?" "I thought you were supposed to be in Hydroponics." " You need a botanist." " Yes, but Eddie..." "Eddie Collins has been taken sick." "He's in the Medical Center." "Dr Russell said I was fit for duty." "Sure you're OK?" "No nightmares?" " No nightmares." " Good." "Well, good luck." "Maya, everything all right back there?" "Everything under control." "'Shermeen?" "'" "'Shermeen?" "'" "I'm prepared." "Maya, is there any variation on previous readings?" "No hostile environment." "Temperature still constant at 78 degrees." "No life forms." "Everything down here is exactly like Earth." "There should be life forms." "Keep checking." " Bill?" " Commander?" " You all right?" " Yeah." "Just disembarkation readjustment." "Commander?" "You shuddered." "But not from cold." "I felt as if a ghost had..." "I had a superstitious grandmother." "Well, if you want to knock on wood, there's plenty of that about." "Maya...that structure..." "Obviously built by intelligent life." "My sensors still record no life forms." "(Man) Shermeen..." "Shermeen." "This way." "(Screeching)" "(Screeching)" "Bill!" "Maya!" "(Koenig) Stop, he won't come past the obelisk." "Shermeen." "Better find her." "Koenig to Alpha!" "Koenig to Alpha!" "Koenig to Moonbase Alpha!" "Koenig to Alpha!" "Come in, Alpha!" "(Maya and Fraser in distance) Shermeen!" "Shermeen!" "Shermeen!" "(Maya) Where are you?" "(Fraser) We're over here!" " (Screeching) - (Gasps) Oh!" "Don't be afraid, Shermeen." "He's one of us." "He won't attack you." "You're quite safe." "Go on, Shermeen." "That's right." "Go on, Shermeen, move past him." "Why didn't that...?" " Thaed." " Thaed..." "Why didn't it attack me?" " I promised you wouldn't be harmed." " I wasn't even frightened." "You'll not fear on Sunim." "My only concern is for your wellbeing." "But first I must cross from my world into yours." "I don't understand, I thought you were already here." "Only in spirit...not in substance." "This machine will enable my solid body to come over into your world..." " if you will assist me." " How?" "An unfortunate accident." "Sometime in the past, the generator exploded." "So before I can help you, you must help me... if you will detach this cylinder and take it to Alpha." "But you were on Alpha." "Why don't you take it there yourself?" "I cannot." "As I have explained to you, I'm only here in spirit... not in substance." " What will I do with it?" " That will be explained to you." "For the time being put it in your specimen bag." "I can't find her." "Shermeen gone, I can't raise Alpha..." "Our sensors recorded no animal life, yet we saw that creature!" "There could be a shield force coming from that structure, cutting out communications and sensors." "(Fraser) Commander!" "She's been here." "I just found this." "Her footprints lead towards the structure." "(Screeching)" " How did she get past that creature?" " I don't know." "Even though the tracks lead in that direction, could be she never made it inside." "There's one way to find out." "Maya?" "(Screeching)" " Shermeen?" " Yes?" "(Gasps)" "(Sighs) Shermeen!" "Are you all right?" "Of course." "Why shouldn't I be?" " How did you get in here?" " I walked in." "The creature must have been concentrating on us and missed you." "Come on." "The Commander's worried." "Oh...wait a minute." "I want to get this down on video." "Koenig to Alpha!" "Koenig to Alpha!" "Come in, Alpha." "(High-pitched beeping)" "(High-pitched beeping)" "Shermeen!" " Shermeen!" "Wait!" " Bill, hold it." "It's all right, Maya." "He won't attack us." "Come on." "Just wait." "Come on..." "Yes, it's OK." "It really won't attack us." "Come on." "Look, I'll show you." "See?" "(Shermeen) There you are, you see." "I told you." " Are you all right?" " Yeah, fine." "Bill..." "You saw?" "Yeah." "Shermeen seems to have some kind of immunity." "Let's go." "(Growling)" "(Whispering voices) When...?" "When...?" "When...?" "When...?" "(Vindrus) Patience!" "(Voices) When...?" "When...?" "When...?" "(Vindrus) Patience!" "It will be soon." " Bill, take over." " Right." "Shermeen..." " Mind if we have a little chat?" " No." "I'm curious." "How did you get into that temple?" "Just walked in, Commander." "I know, but when I tried to do that, the...the creature attacked me." "What I'm trying to find out is why didn't the creature attack you?" "I don't know." "Maybe it knew that I wouldn't attack him." "Why did you go in there?" "It was just very...peaceful." "You could have been hurt." "No harm will come to me on Sunim, Commander." "On where?" "Er...on the planet." "Is that what it's called" " Sunim?" " Yes." " How do you know that?" "Er..." "I don't know." "Someone must have told me." "Someone?" "Who?" "I don't remember." "Look, why are you asking me?" "!" "I haven't done anything!" "Of course not." "I'm not even suggesting you have." "Shermeen, I'm glad you came with us." "I'd be curious to learn about those." "You will give me a report, won't you?" "Yes..." "Yes, I will." "Good." "(Maya) I found these on the walls." "They depict the whole evolutionary process of man." "Emerging from a sea of primeval slime, then advancing through all stages of development:" "Simian..." "Australopithecus, Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, to modern." " Well, they sure look human enough." " I'm not sure, Commander." " What do you mean?" " There's something strange." "Somewhere up the ladder of development, something happened." "There was violent death." "Whoever they were, they must have died in some searing burst of energy." "That's why our sensors recorded no life forms." "Yet you saw a life form." "Yeah." "So what's the explanation?" "Well, based on what I've observed and computer hypothesis," "I think we're dealing with a form of antimatter against matter." "This accelerator was set up in the temple." "I've seen a similar one once on my own planet." "What's its function?" "(Maya) It converts antimatter into matter." "That's a theory I never did understand." "Well, this is made up of particles of matter... this is made of particles of matter, and even this is made of matter." "I don't have to be a genius to understand that." "For every particle of matter, there's a particle of antimatter." "It's the Law of Symmetry." "It's Nature's way of maintaining a balance." "We live in a world of matter, so in theory, there must be an antimatter world." " Existing where?" " Here." "Now." " Occupying our space?" " No..." "Occupying their own...anti-space." "If there was an antimatter being here now..." " Yeah?" " ..my hand would go through him." "I see." "Tony, something happened to Shermeen on that planet." "I want to know what it was." "Well, why don't you ask her?" "I did, but she was holding back." "Oh, I see." "You want me to ask her, right?" "Right." "I think you can reach her." "Not any more, I don't think." "Try, Tony." "Cos if we don't find out... (Sighs) OK." "I'll try." "Shermeen, you must take that cylinder to the equipment room." "You must find a nuclear generator into which that cylinder fits." "(Footsteps)" "Shermeen, I'd like to talk to you." "What about?" "About the way you've been behaving." "You used to be so happy, full of life, and now you walk around as... as if you're sleepwalking." " Where did you get that?" " (Vindrus) Sunim." "My name is Vindrus." "Shermeen has very kindly volunteered to assist me." "Assist you?" "To do what?" "To cross over into your world." "I see our world is more attractive." "Not really." "But you and your world have started your evolutionary process from the slime of the ocean, and are ascending towards perfection in the future." "We, in the antimatter world, however, started our evolutionary process at the top, and are descending towards the slime." "So... our future...is extinction." "Don't try to give the alarm, you would never reach it." "We have no objection to you crossing into our world, if it'll keep you from ending up in the slime." "Let us help you cross over." "Thank you for your offer, but you would not do it willingly." " Why not?" " Nature has to be kept in balance." "For every one who crosses into your world, one of you must cross into ours." "You will forget everything that took place here." "You know what you have to do, Shermeen." "Hello, Chris." "Hello, Shermeen." "What can I do for you?" "I brought you a plant." "You said you wanted something to brighten up the equipment room." "If there's one thing I can do without, it's plants." "Not this one." " This one's very special." " Uh-huh?" "You'll like it." "It has a really beautiful fragrance." " Bill..." " Shermeen!" " I have a surprise for you." " Oh?" "It has a lovely fragrance." "You must take us to Sunim." "Oh..." "Wow, do I feel lousy." "So does Chris Potter." "We found him in the equipment room in the same state you're in." " What?" " Yeah." "Not only that, one of our miniature nuclear generators is missing." "(Beeping)" " 'Commander?" "'" " Yes, Maya?" " 'Eagle 1 has just taken off.'" " What?" "!" "Who's aboard?" "Fraser was piloting." "Shermeen was with him." "Well, that figures." "I want Eagle 2 ready for lift-off!" "Come on." "Now, just turn the green dial a fraction more to the right." " (Rising hum)" " Excellent!" "Now all that remains is for me to come into your world, Shermeen." "Is everything set now?" "Everything's set." "Shermeen!" "Shermeen!" "Shermeen!" "Bill!" "Bill!" "He's in a trance - hypnotic." "The temple." "(Rising hum)" "You will not be harmed, Shermeen." "Take her down." "No!" "No, I want to stay!" "I want to stay!" "(Screams)" "(Screeching)" "No, Tony!" "Don't try the laser." "It'll bounce back to us." "It won't come past that point." "Hold its attention." "He won't go past the obelisk." "Hey!" "(Snarls and screeches)" "How did you know?" "Our sensors showed no life form on Sunim." "So it had to be antimatter." "(Whispering voices) Vindrus!" "Vindrus!" "We have three more..." "ready for the transfer." "Welcome." "Welcome to Sunim." "My name is Vindrus." "What?" "Well, I know it's crazy, but I feel I've seen him before." "How is it our lasers bounce off antimatter?" "We have evolved certain techniques in our many attempts to cross over." "We can reflect electrical beams..." "And project into our minds the illusion that an antimatter form may appear solid?" "Yes." "Are you antimatter?" "There's only one way to find out." "Obviously, I am no longer antimatter." "You've taken over one of our technicians." "She's here." "I want her back." " She's inside." " Send her out." "I wanted her to come out with me, but she refuses." "Perhaps you should come in and get her yourself." "John, don't go in there." "Don't ask me how I know, but..." "there's terrible danger in there." "Maya, stay with Tony." "I'm going in with him." "You stay out here as a backup, Maya." "Where is she, Vindrus?" "!" "Commander!" "Tony!" "Now I remember!" "Yes." "Now you are permitted to remember." "You sent her to your world so you could come into ours." "We have to maintain the balance." "We would prefer it to be different but unfortunately it is the only way." " Where is she?" " You'll see her soon." "My coming here is an act of self-survival." "If it was the other way round you'd do the same." "What about Shermeen's survival?" "She can expect an anti-life of hundreds of years." "And so can you, Commander." "And Mr Verdeschi...and Maya." "How many others, Vindrus?" "How many others?" "Certainly not just us." "Not even just Alpha!" "Eventually, we'll have machines like this throughout the universe." "No, Tony!" "Commander Koenig is already aware that your lasers are, shall we say, counterproductive." "However...we have weapons that are quite effective." "Vindrus...we're no good to you dead." "You need us alive so you can make the exchange." "Accept the exchange..." "Both of you." "As individuals you will have an extended anti-lifespan." "And our species?" "Please... into the cabinets, gentlemen." "Vindrus!" "Vindrus!" "Shermeen's coming back." " She's coming back." " Impossible!" "No, Vindrus, it's not." "(Koenig) She never got fully into your world, Vindrus." "She only got halfway." "I knew what you were after, so I programmed the generator so it couldn't function on full power." "(Tony) It's no use." "She'll be back." "She didn't go all the way." "There wasn't enough power." "Vindrus!" "Vindrus, come here!" "I'm over here, Vindrus." "Come to me." "Do not be afraid, Vindrus." "You'll have to try again." "They're waiting for me." "I cannot reach them." "We will be destroyed!" "(Whispering voices) Stop..." "No..." "(Shermeen) Don't be afraid!" "(Shermeen) You'll have to try again, Vindrus." "They're waiting for me." "(Voices) Stop!" "Stop!" "Vindrus, stop!" "(Koenig) Now, Tony!" "Get him in!" "(Shermeen, faintly) Commander!" "Commander!" "Help me!" " Help me!" " Come on, Maya, hurry!" "I'm trying to remember the one on Psychon!" "(Rising hum)" "If I make a mistake, matter and antimatter will collide." "Right, and this corner of the universe will be blotted out." "(Shermeen) Help me!" "Commander!" "Commander, help me!" "I can't remember!" "Left!" "Left!" "No, no, no, no!" "The green one!" "The green one!" "(Shermeen) Let me out!" "(Gasping)" "It's all right." "It's all right." "I'm setting this to self-destruct." "Better get the door open." "(Tony) There's gotta be a switch here somewhere." "Wait!" "He was standing there when he closed it." "I'll take Eagle 1!" "Maya, go with him!" "Shermeen, come with me." "This way!" "Get him in the back." "Vindrus's people will be destroyed!" "Only matter will be destroyed, not antimatter." "Hey, look!" "The whole planet's disappeared right from under us." "It's gone back to being antimatter." "(Beeping)" "'Eagle 2." "Commander, this is Moonbase Alpha." "Can you read me?" "'" "Loud and clear, Alpha!" "Loud and clear!" "We're on our way back to Alpha now." "Out!" "The problem is mechanical." "It's not creative, no way." "Proper flow at the proper time to the proper place." "That's the trick." "Oh, Shermeen, some new hops!" "Thanks." "Be with you, soon as I fix this." "They're not new ones, they're the old ones." "Yeah?" "Oh." "Can you store them till I'm ready?" "Sorry, I don't have the room in Hydroponics any more." "I'm clearing out that area." "No more hops." "Huh?" "No more hops?" "Eddie Collins has an interesting theory on plant growth, and Eddie and I need that area for own cultivating." "How about that?" "!" "Two days ago Shermeen was pining away due to unrequited love." "Now she looks through me like I was..." " Antimatter." " Yeah." "Hey!" "Antimatter!" "Yeah!" "If I blend antimatter hops with hydroponic barley... or antimatter barley with hydroponic hops..." "Where would I get the antimatter grain from?" "And then if I did come up with a great beer... would I be able to see it?" "Or taste it?"