"Thirty-seven light years from Earth, in the star system Signus Alpha... a combat commander from the planet Octarus... fights a battle that begins in space... but will subsequently be fought on American soil." "Andros to base command." "Outlaws north vector 120." "Interceptors being dispatched." "The Skrill are attempting to escape." "They appear to be successfully doing so." "Andros has his squadron after them." "Unsuccessfully." "They've both just been destroyed." "Perhaps." "We shall see." " Andros to base pad." " Go ahead, Commander." "I am on docking trajectory." "Approaching main terminal, berth three." "Locking on automatic." "We read you, Commander." "Make a 185-degree turn and adjust to the beta-phase trajectory." "As did his father before him..." "Andros Will tra vel to Earth and join With Wonder Woman... in a battle for the Earth's survival." "We are sorry to summon you so early, Andros." "I don't mind being summoned early." "What I mind is failure." " Then the Skrill have escaped?" " Yes, Sell." "Fortunately, the interceptor guard ships that were pursuing them were unmanned." "No living creature was harmed when I destroyed it." "But... the Skrill didn't know that." "Of course not." "They are vermin." "They were making a path for..." "What's the name of the planet, Andros?" "Terra." "Sometimes called Earth." "How can you remember the native name of every primitive planet?" "Earth..." "Earth has been part of my caseload for a long time, Sell." "I feel responsible." "We appreciate that, Andros." "And the Skrill... they carry a definite danger of contamination to the Earth creatures." "They call themselves "humans. "" "They would." "The arrogance of innocence." "Well, Andros, do you think that you can clear up this mess?" "Bring the Skrill back?" "I am prepared to leave for Earth immediately." "Perhaps you should take some assistance." "That won't be necessary." "There is an Earth creature with whom my father and I have worked before." "I plan on sending word to her." "Without consulting us?" "If you knew Wonder Woman... you'd know why I've chosen her." "There's no question in your mind that whatever or whoever they are... they're coming from somewhere outside of our solar system?" "None whatsoever, Steve." "We picked them up on satellite tracking relay... coming in, onward." "Past the orbit of Saturn." " Any evidence of a landing, Ruth?" " No, Diana." "The spaceship seems to be homing in on the satellite communication beam." "You and George check out that automated satellite control station... as soon as possible." "As soon as possible is now, Steve." "Good." "Diana... we'll handle the first briefing of the National Security Council." "As soon as that's over I'll meet George and Ruth." " Security clampdown?" " Let's button it up." "The Council has decided that your trip is unnecessary, Andros." "What are you talking about?" "I told you earlier I was planning to contact Wonder Woman." "My spaceship is ready." "It has been decided to send a decontamination squad." "And do what to Earth?" "To the humans?" "There'd be panic." "Widespread psychosis." "The Skrill can be cleaned out without turning Earth into a battlefield..." "A madhouse." "You agreed to this decision?" "There was discussion." "Well, there should be more." "I've had confirmation the Skrill are located near the capital city of the United States." " You can pinpoint them?" " Yes." "Give me a chance to recapture the Skrill without ravaging an entire planet." "I would be willing to give Andros such a chance... if it were limited." " By setting a time limit?" " Exactly." " But that's unfair." " Six days..." "Six days on Earth to recapture the Skrill." "No more." "Accepted." "Six days." "How much farther to your station, Ruth?" "A couple of minutes, we'll be there." "You certainly are isolated out here." "We didn't want tourists stumbling accidentally over the installation." "There's nobody within 5 miles of us." "That sound again." "Is it birds?" "They're not human." "They're extraterrestrial." "Welcome to our planet." "They're responding." "Alive." "How are they?" "I don't know, Steve." "Dr. Rand's doing an examination now." "I've ordered roadblocks." "The entire area is sealed off." "I'll get back to you as soon as I know more." "They seem so drained." "That's exactly the word for it, Miss Prince." "There's no physical trauma, no sign of disease." "Yet there's no mental activity beyond the minimum necessary to sustain life." "In effect, they're mindless." "Physically healthy." "Mentally empty." "I understand, this is some sort of national security matter." "But is there anything you can say that might help in my treatment?" "We don't know much yet." "Okay, Doctor." "Something from outer space has landed on Earth." "George and Ruth went to investigate the manifestation... and apparently, to put it in your own words... they've lost control of their own minds." "And you don't know to whom, or to what?" "No, Doctor, I'm sorry, I don't." "But as I was walking through the woods, I had the feeling of something alien." "I heard some odd musical sounds." "Patterns." "Are you saying that I'm treating the possible victims... of someone or something from another world?" "That's exactly right, Doctor." "We've got the entire area cordoned off." "And all the roads are blocked." "No one enters or leaves except through one of our checkpoints." "Good." "What about those already in the area?" "Well, that's hard to say." "We do know that a busload of kids from Barclay College went on a field trip." "That should be winding up fairly soon." "You don't mind me asking, what are we looking for?" " We're not exactly sure." " Yeah, thanks." "Captain... we may have an illegal alien problem, and we don't want innocent people hurt." "We have an illegal alien problem all over the country... but we don't usually seal off an area this big to find them." "These aliens are from outer space, Captain." "These are the people running our country." "Hey, you guys." "I'm tired." "Come on." "Let's wrap it up and get out of here." "Come on." "Hurry on in." "Hey, look!" "Diopsyros." "Diospyros." "Hey, up there." "Come on down." "How you doing?" "Come here, I found something." "Look." "Looks like the Virginia Sapsucker." "If I do believe." "Come on." "Stop it." "I guess, we should be getting back, right?" "No, come on." "It's really nice here." "Look at this." "Terrific." "Beautiful." "What the heck?" "Debbie!" "Johnny!" "Debbie!" "Johnny!" "This creature..." "This young man is relatively weak." "But a young mind can absorb information more quickly." "We shall be far more efficient recording instruments... using these young minds." " Yes, we shall." "Let us go." " Yes." "Debbie!" "Johnny!" "And now, it's beginning to thunder." "It's funny." "Seems like a storm and a half, just beyond those trees." "We don't seem to be affected by it." "Strange weather." "Blew over, I guess." "Yeah." "I don't know where they went." "I'm a bus driver, not a babysitter." "They're over 18." "If they show, tell them I had to split." "We're searching the entire area, I'm sure that we'll find them, Miss Vane." "I'll send out a CB call, I'll get some volunteers." "I have to take the rest of them back before anyone else gets lost." " Don't worry." " Good luck." "Breaker." "Breaker, all CBers." "This is Captain Parelli, State Police." "Vicinity:" "Charles Road Command Post." "We're looking for a Chambers." "Deborah S. Age 19... 5' 5", 108 pounds... brownish-blond hair, hazel eyes." "Also, party number 2:" "Chambers." "Jonathan R..." "It's those crazy kids." "...age 20, 5'11 ", 150 pounds... blond hair, blue eyes." "Both are missing in the above-mentioned Charles Road..." "Route 5 surveillance area." "Hey, hold it." " Hi." " Hi." "We're lost." "Don't I know it." "Smokey's jamming the band about you two." "Hey, there, Smokey Bear, this is Laughing Man." "I found your two college kids." "Good." "Where are you now?" "On the side road off ofRoute 5." "I could come back as far as Charles Road." "I'll meet you at the intersection of Charles and Route 5. 10-4." "Do you think you can give us a lift out of here?" "Didn't you hear me?" "I'm taking you back to your own buddies." "Get in." "I think we can operate this truck." "Yeah, it's primitive theory." "Internal combustion chamber." "Primitive, yet adequate." "This is Diana Prince." "Intersection of Charles and Route 5." " Roger." " There's no sign of a truck." "I'm proceeding east." "10-4." "Keep us posted." "Andros." "Princess." "Am I in time to be of service?" "As always, your timing is excellent, Andros." "I've been expecting you ever since that dramatic weather change." "I was trying to attract your attention." "I had a slight problem in arranging my trip." "It's a delight to see you again, Princess." "Even if it is trouble that has brought me back." "Is he" "Unconscious." "He'll survive." "A state of shock." "The gauntlet can stun or kill." "He's lucky." "These creatures, what are they?" "The Skrill?" "A plague." "A sickness, but deadly." "That's the police." "We've been searching for your Skrill." "They will be suspicious." "Will you vouch for me?" "Tell them I am one of your..." " medical doctors." " Okay." "Captain, this is Dr. Andros." "Call an ambulance." "Let me see if I can't give you a hand." "Wonder Woman." "Could you give me a hand?" "He'll have a slight physical reaction." "I'll hold him." "He'll be fine." "He'll need rest, observation now." "It's a good thing you got here, Doctor." " Yes." " Would you excuse us please?" "The humans have this area guarded." "Yes, they are primitive creatures, easily distracted." "Let's see, what was the driver's term?" "This is Johnny and Debbie Chambers, calling Smokey Bear." "This is Captain Parelli." "Where are you?" "We're going east, near the edge of a cliff." "That's Fisher's Point." "Are you all right?" "Yes." "Okay, hang on." "We'll be with you in a few minutes." "10-4, Smokey." "Okay, roll it." "That's the full report that Wonder Woman gave me on her friend, Andros." "We'll all be working together on it." "That's good." "I still have no results on that APB I put on those two students." "Andros believes that the Skrill have taken over Johnny and Debbie... and I agree with him." "It's possible." "They diverted one police cruiser by running a truck over a cliff... and the other state patrol car was found... with troopers in that same mindless condition." "So, Skrill have escaped." " I'll get back to you, Steve." " All right." "Andros." "These Skrill, what exactly is their crime?" "They are thieves, Princess." " Thieves?" " Let me explain." "There are worlds where gold is a base metal." "I have seen a planetoid that is a single, gigantic diamond." "Conversely on Sirius 4... natural... organic wood is rare beyond price." "So, what is easily sold... readily bought, simple to transport and worth stealing?" " Knowledge." " Precisely." "Human minds." "The Skrill use these artificial crystals as storage devices." "They are designed to capture, condense and store a living mind." "If a mind can be stored in one of these can it then be placed into anyone's body?" "Easily." "Any body, biological, mechanical." "That is what the Skrill sell." "It's monstrous." "I am Doctor George Hess." "The term "doctor" refers to achievement in a defined field of study." "My current position is With the government... in charge of radar tracking." "I work with satellite scanning." "The government security agency that is investigating the spaceship landing... is the Inter Agency Defense Command." "The investigation Will be headed by Steve Trevor." "His agent in the field is Diana Prince." "The Skrill can drain your planet of its true treasures." "The best human minds." "And sell them?" "Where?" "To who?" "Other cultures." "There are worlds where it's quite legal to own slave minds." "For instance, on Deneb 4... they use them to operate automated mining equipment." "Or, other planets, they're pets." "Interesting alien thinkers." "Or they're valuable as part of a research library." "Look up "Earth," say... touch a retrieval key and a human mind... can give you information." "And the Planetary Council allows this?" "No." "It's illegal, outlawed." "It is a crime to traffic in stolen minds." "That's why I'm here." "I can block the mind-draining with this." "But I need help to find the Skrill." "What I don't have is time." "Hello." " Diana, We got a problem." " Yes, Steve." "The military's skeptical." "They believe something came from outer space... but they want proof that Andros is better equipped than they are." "How soon do they need it, Steve?" "Tomorrow, 10:00 am." "All right, Steve." "I'll get back to you." "Andros." "The military wants you to prove yourself." "They will want me to demonstrate destruction." "Of course." "I am willing, but only if I can use ecologically undesirable materials." "Here comes the General now." " Trevor." " General." "I have only the one device." "But I can show you how to manufacture many in less romantic forms." "They can be fitted into police cars and army helicopters." "Just what do they do?" "When activated they can detect the presence of Skrill... within a radius of 400 miles." "To chase mind-swapping monsters from outer space?" "That's a somewhat melodramatic description, but essentially accurate." "I just don't buy it." "I'm sorry, Trevor." "Our forces are overworked, underpaid, and short on money." "I couldn't justify spending tax dollars on this... science fiction." "General Miller... yesterday's science fiction is today's science fact." "Andros is an envoy from outer space... from the Council of Planets." "I'll need some credentials, Miss Prince." "I think we can give you some." "We've arranged for a little demonstration." "What kind of demonstration?" "Watch." "Are you convinced, Skrill?" "What?" "We've got to get him out of here." "Well, at least we've got one." "Yes, Andros, you've taken one of us." "Do you think you've got a chance of taking the rest of us... using these animals?" "I want to go home." "What about my brother?" "Diana Prince is looking for your brother right now." "So are the police" "I don't understand." "This could be a perfectly normal teenager who's half-scared to death." "Believe me, Doctor." "The girl is being controlled by an alien mind." "I don't know what's wrong with you people." "I believe in the Constitution." "Which means that before I continue this examination... either I get hold of the girl's parents or you get hold of a court order." "We wish no harm to the child, but we cannot release the Skrill." "I feel I can create a response." "Please, don't let him hurt me." "May I talk to Debbie?" "I don't want to talk." "I promise you that I will not use force." "Only this." "Now, I command you." "Tell me who you are and what you are?" "What?" "I command you to answer." "I am... the Skrill." "My God." "Yes, fall back on religious superstition, Doctor." "First, sentimental sympathy for a poor child... and then heaven help you." "If I had your mind, Doctor, I'd shred it... or throw it out." "It wouldn't be worth the saving." "Stop it." "We're not interested in your squalid prejudices, Skrill." " Where's the girl Debbie's mind?" " Answer." "In the storage racks." "In the place we're hiding." "Is Debbie's mind all right?" "What there is of it." "Yes, of course." "It has value." "She apparently attends college." "Their version of so-called higher education." "I promise you, she will not be sold." "Where are you hiding?" "Answer him." "We are hiding in the wilderness." "In the woods." "I can't think of the exact place." "She is telling the truth." "The topography on the planet she comes from is different from yours." "Also the terms for distance and direction." "But we know they are hiding in this area." "I'm pulling out all the stops." "We'll cover the perimeter, use choppers, and coordinate with ground forces." "We'll find them, Andros, relax." ""Relax. "" "We can do no more tonight." "Unquestionably the same human." "In the persona of Diana Prince, she is vulnerable." "I do believe that the Sardor will be quite effective." "And with this... he will even be more so." "Earth people have something known as catnip... which is the equivalent to, I guess one would say..." "Sardornip." "He will seek it out wherever it is placed." "It will excite him and he will tear Wonder Woman apart." "Easy, Sardor." "Beautiful." "We are on this Earth but a short time." "But those we leave behind will remember the Skrill." "Take it." "May I help you, girls?" " We're going to visit a friend." " Diana Prince." "She isn't home right now and it will be several hours before she gets home." "That's all right." "We thought we'd wait for her." "Girls, I'm sorry, but she didn't mention it to me." "It's to be a surprise, we have a present for her." "Since it's her birthday, we thought you might be nice enough to let us in." "Birthday, huh?" "Well, under the circumstances, I suppose it's all right." "Be sure to tell her I wish her a happy birthday." " We will." " Have fun." "Who are you?" "Hi, I'm Kim, and that's my sister Karen." "We've got something for you, Miss Prince." "Skrill!" "Good, we have her."