"ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This film concerns the four-day history of a major American scientific crisis." "We received the help of many people attached to Project Scoop and at the Wiidfire" "Laboratory." "They encouraged us to tell the story accurately." "The documents presented here are soon to be made public." "They do not in any way jeopardize the national security." "First day" "Piedmont, New Mexico." "Popuiation 68." "Come on." "i didn't notice them before." "i didn't know buzzards fly at night." "That's what they look like." "Here." "Boy, that's some dead burg." "Buzzards only come when something's dead." "i guess we'd better go in and have a look." "Vandenberg Air Force Base, Caiifornia" "February 5, 1971 Scoop Mission Controi" "'This is Caper One to Vandai Deca." "Caper One to Vandai Deca." " 'Are you reading?" "Over. '" " Yes, i'm reading." "Over." "'We're about to enter Piedmont and recover the satellite. '" " Very good." "Leave your radio open." " 'Roger. '" "'We're now inside the town." "'it's kind of spooky." "i see a church steeple ahead on the left. ' 'it's quiet here." "'it's the damnedest thing, there's no sign of life." "'The signals from the satellite are getting very strong. '" "'Sir!" "Did you see that, Lieutenant?" "'" " 'See what?" "' - 'By the fence. it looks like a body. '" "'Easy, Crane." "You're imagining things. '" " 'Hoiy Toiedo!" "' - 'Sir, it's another one. '" "'You're right. it looks dead. '" " 'Yes, sir." "Shaii i, er...?" "' - 'No, stay in the van. '" " What's happening?" " 'We see bodies, lots of them. '" " Are you certain?" " 'Dammit, of course we're certain!" "'" "Your orders are..." "proceed to satellite and retrieve." "'Roger, Vandai Deca. '" "Stay at your stations." "Hit that security button." " Get me Major Manchek." " 'They don't look dead. '" " 'There must be dozens of them. '" " Dammit, get this call through." "'it's like they just dropped in their tracks, sir." "'Sir!" "'" " 'Good Christ!" "' - 'See that thing in white?" "' 'it's coming toward us. '" "Major, this may sound crazy but something strange is going on." "'Sir, i think we should get out of... '" "Heiio, Ops." "This is Major Manchek." "Scoop Controi A-12." "We need a flyby over Piedmont, New Mexico." "infrared, a FLiR scan all sectors." "Fiim to come direct to Scoop." "Assign Gunner Wiison, if he's not crocked someplace." "Jeez." "i'm declaring a state of emergency." "Aii personnel restricted to base." " Everything in that room is top-secret." " Yes, sir." "'This is a recording." "State your name and your message and hang up. '" "Major Arthur Manchek, Scoop Mission Controi, A-12." "i recommend calling a Wiidfire Aiert." "We have film evidence of death caused by Scoop Vii returning to earth." "Time check, zero-one-four-seven inclusive." "i won't wear wool next to my skin so Herbert had to refuse the chair at Minnesota." "We'd like to see Dr Jeremy Stone, please." "Weii, i'm Mrs Stone and we are having a party." "May i..." "Does that man have a gun?" "Ma'am, we must see Dr Stone." " What is this?" " Piease call Dr Stone to the door." "Otherwise we'ii go get him, ma'am." "Just a minute." "i'ii just wait here, ma'am." "i'ii come to Berkeiey any time, Stone." "Four million is a large Federai grant." "May i see you, Jeremy?" "The SDS has arrived, no doubt." "There are some Army types in the hall and two outside with guns." " They want to see you." " i'ii take care of it." " Jeremy!" "if you knew about this..." " i didn't. i'ii explain later." "i'm Dr Stone." "Yes. i'm Captain Morton." "There's a fire, sir." " i've got to leave." " For God's sakes, Jeremy." " When will you be back?" " i'm not sure." " The guns, is it..." " it's our job to protect your husband." " Nothing must happen to him." " i'ii be as safe as in your arms." "Jeremy?" "Jeremy?" "!" "You tell the Senator it's his daughter." "'Aiiison?" "'" "Dad, something strange just happened, even for Jeremy." "A few minutes ago..." "Dad?" "Are you there?" "What's going on?" "'This communication is being monitored 'and has been broken for reasons of national security." "'You will be briefed later." "Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs Stone. '" " i feel like Onassis." " it's the fastest thing we could arrange." "Thanks." " Yes?" " Generai Sparks here." "i wanted to inform you that all members of your team have been called in... except for Professor Kirke, who's in hospital." "You'ii get complete details with your team." "You talk like you've been brainwashed." " You don't understand." " Germ warfare people?" "A lab accident?" "Thank you. it's different." "Don't pack, Ciaire, i won't need anything." "A hippie." "He's going to a iove-in." "i give up." "One minute you're fed up." "You talk about retiring - to Aiaska!" " Now you're a cioak-and-dagger man." " My glasses." " Here they are, Dad." " Can't you even tell me who phoned?" "Grandpa, Grandpa!" "There's a car and they got guns." "Do they, now?" "That's serious. i'ii watch out." " Honey, you've been dreaming." " i wish i were." "No." "Get someone else." "Dr Leavitt, i told you there's a fire." "My experiment's at the critical stage, i can't just leave now." " i want that new plate read." " Yes, ma'am." "My orders come from Dr Robertson, the President's science adviser." "There's a phone." "Pick it up." "Caii Robbie." "Teii him i burnt my draft card." "Are you sick?" "We have a physician on call." "Aii Dr Leavitt needs is rest." "Knock it off, Bess." " if the physician certifies that you can't..." " No." "i'm fine." "Reiax." "i'm going with you." "Skin knife." "'Mark, sorry to disturb you." "'There was a call from a Dr Robertson at the White House." "'Your orders are to break scrub. '" "Orders?" "i got a patient all ready." "'Keiiy will take over for you." "'You're expected in the surgeon's room in 30 seconds. '" "Second day" "Vandenberg Air Force Base, 8:00am" " You sure the satellite isn't radioactive?" " No." "Manchek showed me the reports." "it could be some form of space germ." "Presumabiy this stuff is nonporous." "Why did you pick me?" "You're an MD, a talented surgeon who knows blood chemistries." "And you're single." " The Odd Man Hypothesis." " What the hell is that?" "Didn't you read the Wiidfire material?" "Very little, i never went in much for science fiction." "Nor do i." "The Senate Committee on Space Sciences" "Ciosed Hearing Aprii 14, 1971 it seems Dr Stone put one over on you." "He made us all think his Wiidfire lab could handle any contamination from outer space." "i disagree with the Senator from Vermont." "Dr Stone, a Nobei Prize winner, twice president of the Nationai Academy of Sciences, is well known." "is the implication that Dr Stone deliberately misled us?" "Perhaps not deliberately, Senator." "i'm certain that before the Wiidfire team was mobilised" "Dr Stone didn't know Scoop existed." " i'm astounded." " Nationai security." "Very smart." "We've had experiences with scientists before." "This famous letter Dr Stone sent to the President two years ago." "From what you're saying, it was just a shot in the dark?" "Perhaps that's a little unfair." "Dr Stone and i were consultants with NASA on the Lunar Receiving Lab." "He felt a more advanced lab was required." "You mean more expensive, don't you?" "i call that Dr Stone's $90 million mash note to Uncie Sam." ""in a biological crisis which our exploration of space could cause," ""the present Lunar Receiving Laboratory might prove inadequate. "" "University of Caiifornia Facuity Ciub March 20, 1969" ""i therefore urge the establishment of a facility" ""to deal with an extraterrestrial form of life." ""its purpose would be to limit the dissemination of a space organism" ""and to provide laboratories for its analysis." ""This facility should be located in an uninhabited region of the US," ""it should utilise all isolation techniques" ""and be equipped with a nuclear device for seif-destruction" ""in the event of an emergency." "Yours very truly, Jeremy Stone. "" "Don't encourage the President to think scientists are wizards, Jeremy." "if things get out of control, and they might, even you can't work miracles." "i'd expect to have your help, Chariie." " Piedmont approaching." " Go over and give us a look." "i was afraid of that." "The birds will eat the infected flesh and then spread the disease." "if it is a disease." " Drop the gas canisters, Dempsey." " Someone should be alive down there?" "Somebody did something, that's for sure." "Let's give it a double dose." "That gas will only kill the birds." "OK, Dempsey, hover over the main street and drop the ladder." " Do not attempt to iand. is that clear?" " Roger." "Ciearer all the time." "When we climb down, hover at a safe distance and come back when we signal." "if anything happens, you have your orders." "Yes, sir." "Proceed directly to Wiidfire and then, er, zzzz!" "if we're eliminated, the aircraft must be sterilised." "Wait a minute." "That's not what they told me." "Just incinerated." " Coronary?" " i doubt it." "Haii?" "Take a look at this." " Are you sure that isn't coronary?" " No, coronary's painful." " They should grimace." " if it was fast, they wouldn't have time." "Fast?" "These people were cut down in mid-stride." "Up there." "Look." "An air force jet." "if we don't make it, he'ii see the helicopter does or shoot it down." "For Dempsey's sake, we'd better not slip up." ""The day of judgment is at hand." ""Have mercy on my soul and to hell with all the others." "Amen. "" "Seniie." "This took time, whatever made her do it." "There's a chance someone's still alive." "i wouldn't believe you could commit suicide that way." "Most died instantly but a few had time to go nuts." "Let's find the damn satellite." "This injury, there isn't any bleeding." "A cut like this, torn veins, it should bleed like hell." "Yes." "Weii, there's no blood on any of them." "Even where it's chewed." "No bleeding." "Hoid it." "Hoid it!" "You'd better back up, we got to go to the... left." "We're damn close." "Bear right." "i'ii bet they took it to the doctor." "There it is." "The damn fool opened it." "Every country doctor should run his office like the Lunar Lab" "Capsuie first, we've got about 40 minutes of oxygen left." " Look at his buttocks." " That's not funny." "Not meant to be." "Biood in a dead person goes to the lowest points." "There should be marks of iividity." " See any purpiish marks on his butt?" " No." "Carefui you don't puncture your suit." "Ciotted blood." " Powdered." " i'ii be damned." "No wonder they didn't bleed." "it's completely ciotted." "Five quarts of blood turned to powder." "in theory, a single organism could do it." "But there isn't an organism on earth..." "You mean there didn't used to be." " i don't..." " We heard it, all right." " Go away." "Go back." " Back!" " Go back." "Get out of here." " Go back." "Get away." " This must be the mother." " Scared and hungry as hell." "Can't be more than six months oid." " There'ii be a formula here." " Don't feed it." " He hasn't eaten in 12 hours." " Wait till we get the kid out." "Maybe those who hadn't eaten lasted longest." "Whatever it is, we can't take a chance." "Haii, wait a minute." "This is a major break - a survivor." "Too bad he can't tell us what happened." "Maybe he can... if he lives." "You..." "You did it!" " Give me that knife." " You're not human!" "Everybody's dead." "What happened?" "What is it?" "What happened?" "'The town is finished." "Contaminated beyond... '" "Carefui, sir - open transmission." " i'm aware of that." "Order up a 7-12." " Oniy the President..." "Preciseiy." "Get on it." "The town must be neutralised immediately." "White House Situation Room 2:40pm EST" "Has the President made his decision on Directive 7-12 yet?" "He doesn't jump into things." "First i've got to put together a briefing." "His main concern is the international consequences." "What do you think, Mr Secretary?" "it's against the Moscow Treaty of 1963 to fire nuclear weapons above ground." "The Russians will have to be informed we're gonna cauterise the area." " Then there'ii be questions." " Some we don't want answered." "That'ii take hours." "God knows how far the infection can spread in that time." "Yes, Chief?" "Yes, sir." "Yes, Mr President." "The President is postponing Directive 7-12 for 24 to 48 hours." " But th-the..." " The Nationai Guard will seal the area." " That's your department, Ed." " Safe and sound." "it should have been left up to the scientists." "it's a colossal mistake." "Teii the President i said so." "No, but i'ii get you an appointment." "'By whose decision was the site for Wiidfire chosen?" "'" "'Dr Stone's. it seemed ideal because of its remoteness." "'There is no inhabited area within a 112-miie radius. '" "'Las Vegas is to the north, Phoenix is south, Los Angeles west." "'Didn't you worry the infection might spread?" "'" "'Yes, sir." "But Dr Stone and Dr Robertson assured the President" "'Wiidfire was foolproof because of its atomic seif-destruct." "'The military had to take a back seat. '" "Fiatrock County, Nevada 55am" "They could have sent a licensed driver to meet me." "They keep personnel to a minimum for obvious reasons." "You're lost." "No one's been down this goat path for years." "That's how it's supposed to look." "They spent $50,000 on it." "Putting in the potholes?" "Getting rid of tread marks." "Those big tractors leave an impression." "A lot of heavy equipment has passed this way." "Where's our leader?" "We'ii catch up to him, and Haii, soon." "Why'd they pick Haii?" "He's no scientist." "Who needs an over-priced MD?" "Reiax and enjoy your cigarette, it's your last." "it starts here." "it's a great place to grow pot." "Just a plain crop of barley." "Stiii, it is rather clever." " Something wrong?" " i never liked red lights." "Reminds me of my years in a bordello." " Howdy." " Howdy Doody." " You got the time?" " My watch stopped at 11:46." " Durn shame." " Must be the heat." "it's no fake." "When i retire, i'd like an agricultural station like this - in Aiaska." " You, a sourdough?" " The sourest." "This way." "Step in." "Cute." "The whole thing, what a world we're making." "i see why the kids are dropping out." "We should have." "it's an emergency, we got tagged." "Period." "Tiii i saw those photos from Vandenberg, i..." " They brought it on themselves." " Who?" "The people in Piedmont?" "You don't think the infection was brought back deliberately, do you?" "Skip it. i hope i'm talking through my hat." "Put your hands on that, palms down." "it's a finger and paim-print analyser..." "Reads 10,000 dermatogiyphic lines." "How'd you know that?" "Oh, Dutton, i have a long criminal record." "Then you're in trouble - this machine has a long memory." "it gives you final clearance to enter Wiidfire." "'isothermai reading for MC Leveis 4 and 5 'is ZB and RA over 2.9.'" " How's Piedmont?" " i had to order up a 7-12." "No other way to halt the spread." " You know each other, don't you?" " By reputation." "Yes, up to now we've had to worship from afar" "Be good, Ruth." "Any messages from the White House?" "Not a thing or you'd have it." " No personal messages?" " No, ma'am." "Nothing from Dr Robertson?" "Dr Stone, sir, i have one thing to do - just one." "Everything else is computerised and seif-reguiating." "i, er... i listen for a little bell in here." ""Ding-a-iing"!" "That means there's a message." " i'm expecting an MCN communication." " Yes, sir." "Top priority. "Ding-a-iing"!" "i push a button and all five control centres are notified at the same time." " The bell hasn't rung, sir." " Thanks for the tour, Sergeant." "Dr Dutton." "Thank you." "Wiii you follow me, Dr Leavitt?" " May i have your glasses?" " What for?" " They'ii be treated and returned to you." " Hope so or i'ii need a white cane." "Who picked Leavitt?" "Taik about the Odd Man Hypothesis, she's really an oddball." "We're lucky to have her." "She's the best replacement for Kirke." "'When dressed, proceed directly to Conference Room 7.'" "Keep this with you at all times." " What's it for?" " You're the odd man." "The key man, quite literally." "This other key, and Wiidfire itself, depend on your key." "Wiidfire has a nuclear device for seif-destruct." "in an emergency it's activated automatically." "i've just inserted the key to arm the mechanism." "it's ready for detonation." " When?" " Never, we hope." "it only goes off if there's danger of infection breaking out." "That silver key can't be removed." "Oniy you can disarm it by inserting your red key in one of the substations located throughout the facility." "There's a five-minute delay between detonation iock-in and explosion." "That gives you a chance to think and, please God, call it off." " Look, i'm the new boy here, why me?" " Because you're single." "Shouid have done your homework, sport." "Page 255." "Robbie's Odd Man Hypothesis." ""Resuits of testing confirm the Odd Man Hypothesis " ""an unmarried male should carry out decisions" ""involving nuclear destruct contexts. "" "Let me look at that." "it's vital that you always know where your nearest substation is." "You need to be familiar with the entire facility." "it can be studied on this electronic diagram, which rotates to afford an overall view." "Or it can be stopped at any section." "Detaiied plans of the various levels are also stored in the system." "We're on Levei 1 of a five-storey cylindrical underground structure." "Each level has three substations, indicated by the yellow lights." "if the nuclear device is triggered, you can cancel it by inserting your red key in a substation." "After our last simulation run, we decided to add two more substations per level but they're not finished yet so don't use them." "At the bottom of the central core is the apparatus for seif-destruct." "Each level is a different colour based on a Navy study of the effects of colour in environments." "Each level is biomedicaiiy cleaner than the one above it." "We don't want to contaminate a possible organism." "That would make it twice as hard to isolate and characterise." "it'ii take us 16 hours to descend through the decontamination procedures on the first four levels to Levei 5 where the main labs are." "Where exactly are we now?" "There's one way to locate yourself instantly - call up projections from the electronic diagram on any video monitor anywhere in Wiidfire." "Views such as this." "This shows we're in Conference Room 7, Levei 1." "Each of us is indicated by our initial." "Our movements are continuously monitored." " Where are the patients?" " Where's the capsule?" "The patients are the yellow Xs." "The red circle is the capsule." "On Levei 5, the patients and capsule will be biologically isolated." "Are you sure the oid man and the baby are still alive?" " What are their chances, Haii?" " Uncertain." "i'm hoping the intravenous dextrose and saline will hold them." "We start decontamination and immunisation procedures now." "You really expect me to fire the thing?" "i'm afraid you don't understand." "Aii you can do is stop it." "in an emergency, the bomb is activated automatically." "it'ii go off within five minutes unless you lock in your key." "Oh." "'Deita 5 to aii levels. ' 5:10pm" "'We're checking ray-band emergency communications." "This is a test. '" "'Proceed to infrared radiation decontamination room 1 D.'" "it could be an organism from another planet, released deliberately." "To wipe us out?" "Reaiiy." "Just the opposite." "To make friendly contact." "To show us life exists eisewhere. it could be benign in its own environment." "Pretty far-fetched." "We can't rule out anything." "'You are about to undergo iong-wave radiation." "'A buzzer will sound." "Ciose your eyes and stand still or blindness may result. '" "We wondered how to disinfect the body, one of the dirtiest things that exists." " Without killing the human being." " it gets tougher as we go." "Hard on the taxpayers, burning up uniforms." "They're paper." " i'd swear it was cloth." " New process." " Where's the next substation?" " Left of elevator on Levei 2." "Right." "Across from Body Anaiysis, our next call." "Not for my alabaster body." "Stone, you can take your body analyser and..." "'Sit down, please." "'Piease look at the screen in front of you." "'Piace your body so that all points are obliterated." "'That is fine." "We may proceed." "'State your name for the records, surname first. '" "Mark Haii." "Haii, Mark." " 'Thank you for your cooperation. '" " Yes, dear." "'Piease answer the following questions yes or no." " 'Have you any allergies?" "'" " Yes." "To ragweed pollen." " i'ii repeat for your memory cells..." " 'Piease repeat for our memory cells. '" "Ragweed pollen!" "'This ends the formal questioning." "Piease undress. '" "'This is a scan for fungal lesions. '" "'Dr Stone, this is Levei 2 Controi." "The answer is affirmative." "'Major Manchek contacted the White House at 11:23 this morning. '" "'Contact on all leads is R for ready." " 'Do not be nervous. ' - i'm not nervous!" "'Physicai parameters are being measured." "'There's no need to be nervous, Dr Leavitt. '" "'Piease raise your left arm." "'Piease sit up, facing the scanning screen, and watch carefully." "'You have received pneumatic injections of booster immunisations." "'You may get dressed." "Thank you." "This recording is now ended. '" "That body anaiyser. i want to be there when the AMA gets wind of it." "So far it's only been used by NASA." "You doctors better start making house calls again!" "'This is a xenon lamp apparatus." "'To ensure complete effectiveness, spread your feet apart." "'To protect scalp and facial hair, place the metal helmet securely on the head." "'Make sure the helmet is firmly seated and the visor lowered, 'then raise your arms and wait. '" "'You may now remove helmet." "'You will notice a fine white ash on your body." "'This is the outer epithelial layers of your skin 'that have been burned away." "'Piease replace the helmet 'and proceed through shower in next room." "'Then you may dress and descend to Levei 4.'" "We have to rest for six hours after exposure to the xenon lamp, so go to your rooms and sleep." "At the end of the corridor is the cafeteria, we'ii meet there at 0400 hours tomorrow." "'Pharmacoiogy to Maintenance LB." "'One of our RS shows six points over nominal and pressure three. '" "'Watchdog to aii levels." "Scoop Vii capsule secure." "'Biocheck 66 plus 9 minus OL5.'" "'Cieo Controi to Keepsake 5." "'The pressure integrity check runs 2.54g/cm to the second." "'Piease confirm. '" "'A new form of life." "'Like Rudoiph Karp's bacteria. '" "Foois." "They refuse to believe life exists in meteorites." "i showed them at the astrophysics conference what i showed you but no, even with a microscope they are blind." "What do i have to do?" "Hit them over the head?" "i'm glad you're amused, gentlemen, but it might just be true." "During this symposium, we'ii discuss the possibility that intelligent life on a distant planet may be no larger than a flea." "Perhaps no larger than a bacterium." "Third day" "'Time to wake up, sir." "Heiio?" "'Time to wake up, sir. '" " Who are you?" " 'Time to wake up, sir." "'Do you wish something, sir?" "'" " Your name." " 'Wiii that be all, sir?" "'" "For the moment." "'This is the answering service supervisor." "'We wish you would adopt a more serious attitude, Dr Haii. '" "Sorry." "Her voice is quite luscious." "'The voice belongs to Miss Giadys Stevens who is 63 years oid." "'She makes her living taping messages for voice-reminder systems. '" "Much obliged." "Let's not get sidetracked on Rudoiph Karp and his theories." "His technique was worthless." " We should contact him." " Fair enough." "Where is he?" "Behind the iron Curtain." "He couldn't get a research grant here." "'HP nutrient now available in the cafeteria 'for staff members from sectors 1 to 6.'" "Hemiock." "Aii for you, Hippocrates." "Not your own venom?" " Tastes like orange juice." " Nutrient 42-5." "Deveioped for the astronauts." "Eight ounces satisfy all nutritional needs." " Except coffee." " And lipid soluble vitamins." "For that, we have these." "Heip yourself." "So what's the point of the cafeteria?" " Wiidfire isn't always on crash status." " Maybe there's some sugar." " Nothing that bacteria could feed on." " Right." "No sugar in the gut." "i'd like a cigarette right now." "it's after meals you miss 'em." "You should have no trouble on Levei 5, we'ii be entirely on high-protein nutrients." "i've planned work in three stages." "One, detection." "Confirm that an organism is present." "Two, characterisation." "How's it structured, how does it work?" "And three, control." "How to contain and exterminate it." "On this matter of extermination, we should go slowly." "Without realising, we might destroy an intelligent form of life." "Let's go, i have two patients down there." " The team has two subjects." " They're not guinea pigs, Stone." "'You may now proceed to Levei 5, gentlemen. '" "Erm... stop by your rooms and insert these before taking the elevator." "i have risked drowning in that bath, i have been parboiled, irradiated and xenon-fiashed and now..." "We haven't done anything about the Gi tract yet." "On Levei 5 we must be as germ-free as possible." "Anyone care to join me for a smoke?" " Levei 5, 4:33am - 'Watchdog to Levei 2, Sector D." "'You are Red Kappa Phoenix status. '" "Off the main corridor, on the outer rim, are the living quarters, conference room, cafeteria, biosafety maintenance, etc." "inside are the labs." " Where's the library?" " No need for books." "Everything's in the computer." "Notice the capsule's already been delivered by the sterile conveyor system to the main control lab here." "Your patients are in the Hot Room of Misceiianeous." "We can't have any direct contact with them." "'Dr Dutton and Dr Haii are wanted in Main Controi immediately. '" "Hey!" "if the patients are sealed off, how do i get to them?" " Ever used a glove box?" " No." "Wiidfire's gone further - whole rooms that operate like glove boxes." "You'ii be working in one shortly." "'We have a magnetic K indices here, give us a code three when you get it. '" "i wanted you here while we see if there's still anything biologically active." " Suggestions?" " Use a buffalo." "Audio." "'Detectors E through G, correction." "'Negative N scan, negative N scope in LY1." "'Affirmative." "N indicator in MP4." "'i will repeat." "Negative N scan, negative N scope in LY1." "'Affirmative." "N indicator in MP4.'" "Whatever killed them is still there and potent." "if potent's the word." "Let's try a rhesus." "We'ii want a postmortem on it, anyway." "'Housekeeping to Levei 5." "Ciean sweep schedule B now in effect." "'Germ-free animal technicians please consult schedule A.'" "So, OK. isolate and identify." "Right." "You and i'ii scan the capsule." "Chariie, you work on these in autopsy." "Open the SL, Ruth." "'Adjust SY system for eccentricity as follows." "'Points 2A and 5, points 9 through 12 'add plus one, plus three, plus six and minus. '" "Run an initial vector study." "Find out how the disease enters the body." " Chariie?" " Yes." "Yes, the vector study first, then autopsy." "incredible." "Dutton." "Be careful." "Let our distinguished surgeon handle the knife." "Fine, but not for a while." "First i'm a paediatrician and a geriatrist." "Take it easy." "Chariie will have a technician." "What's been done for them?" "Piasma for the oid man, dextrose for the baby." " Your therapy?" " No." " Medcom's." " Do i call you Miss Medcom?" "if you like, Dr Haii." "My name's Karen Anson." "Good. i couldn't cope with two machines." "How does this work?" "We're lucky." "Medcom's got one of the best minds here." "it's a medical data analyser that can diagnose as well as prescribe." "it's hooked up to the main computer." "Every instrument in Wiidfire is plugged into it on a time-sharing basis." "Aii our lab studies are done on machines." " i prefer the personal touch." " it's hard to come by in those suits." " Have you worked in them?" " Not for real." " But i've been drilling for three months." " Thank God. it's new to me." "it's new to aii of us." "Untii now, Wiidfire's been like a game." "We've even had simulation biowar games, with live subjects - volunteers." "i mean, i'm scared." " i never believed it could really happen." " it has happened." "i'ii need some lab tests." "Use this to check off what you want." " Just touch the pen to the screen." " Hm." "You draw the bloods, i'ii do the physicals." "Use the bar." "The tunnel seals off automatically behind you." "The only way you might break your suit is with a scalpel and a surgeon isn't likely to do that." "'Biosafety to SL." "An animal in airlock 0-9-5." "'Reconfirm red status before transfer. '" "Second scan completed." "Score, nothing to nothing." "Go to 100 power." "No, Ruth, use one microscanner." "Are you being paid hourly?" "We could do it in half the time." "Less chance of missing something with one screen." "Go to the inside." "They put the scoop on to scoop something into it." "They got what they were looking for." "We're not here to make accusations, we have a job to do purely as scientists." "Maybe not so pure." "Continue the scan, Ruth." "On the outside." "No, don't do that." "We'ii use the hands." "Nothing can happen. i'm faster." "i want you out of the Hot Room." "'BZ Doris to iZ Aiice, SDT energy output is 1.8 to 3.0 jouies 'which rates 2 to 3 miiiiradians." "'And we still need those blankets. '" "No sweat." "Those cages are airtight." "i wish you would sweat a little more, Toby." "Sweat is a safeguard against carelessness." "Use the hands." " Wow." " Transmitted by air, as we thought." "Now we've got to determine its size." "Couid be a gas or a virus." "We'ii use a 100 angstrom filter to begin." "About the size of a small virus." "Aii systems go, sir." "Whatever it is, it's larger than a virus." " We'ii try a one-micron filter." " Hang in there, baby." "Must be pretty big, i'm gonna get a flyswatter." "Do that." "Here goes with two microns." "Aha." "Nasty." "At least we'ii be able to get a good look at it." "Dutton to Stone." "'We've just found out its size - about two microns. '" "Big enough to be a complete cell." "interesting." "There's a good chance it's alive." "Airborne transmission?" " 'Yes." "What have you found?" "'" " So far, nothing." "Our Nobei laureate won't scan the inside..." "Aii right." "Thanks, Chariie." "Keep at it." "it's pointless to go on scanning outside." "if it's two microns, we'd have seen it at 440." "True." "But we didn't know that before." "We'ii start with five power inside." "Stick to established procedure." "Estabiishment gonna fall down and go boom!" "Switch to manual." "The interior's too irregular to probe on automatic." "More light, huh?" "Here's his blood value now." "Haif normal." "Severeiy anaemic." "Wake up, sir." "Can you hear me?" "What's your name?" " J-Jackson." " What?" "Jackson." "Stay awake, Mr Jackson." "Stay awake." "Tongue blade." "'68 degrees on 1407. 61 on 1203." "'Loss rate is minus 0012 nominal." "'Piease copy and confirm all receiving locks. '" " 'it's clear you're a bachelor. '" " What?" "i didn't say anything." "'We're doing an isotope scan - how the bugs get in." "You should watch. ' i assume it was inhaied. it's not likely it's absorbed through the skin." "'That's what we'ii find out now - the mechanism of death. '" "'We'ii look at a replay of that at speed six." "'That tells us what we want to know, Haii." "'The organism is inhaled." "The clotting spreads from the lungs. ' i didn't think it possible for the total volume of blood to solidify that fast." "i hoped one clot may form in the brain which made them go insane, then the rest ciotted more slowly - we could cure that." "'Cure what?" "We don't know what it is." "'Stone and Leavitt haven't been able to isolate the hellish thing." "'Of course, they will in time. '" "Of course." "9:50am" "Hoid it." "At the edge of that shadow." "i think there's..." "Me too." "it's an indentation." "Yes." "About the size of a pencil point." "Go to 40." "Go to 60." "Do you think maybe..." "Maybe it's just a grain of sand." "Go to 80." "What about the bits of green?" "Paint." "Pistachio ice cream!" "Don't assume anything!" "You're too good a scientist not to be thinking the same thing i am." "if this is really something new, some brand-new form of life..." "Our best hope is to be grindingiy thorough, using computer number one." "OK?" "Now, let's get on with it." "Hoid it." "More pistachio?" "i count four patches." "Keep going." "i'ii computerise the coordinates." "Let's take a look at the rock at 100." "i doubt that knocked it off trajectory." "Uniess the rock was going at tremendous speed or is very heavy." "it can't be that heavy, Haii and i could lift the capsule." "But it's possible the rock is different in space." "Maybe it has elastic properties we don't even know yet." "Let's have a look at the green patches." "They must have come off the rock." "if it is rock." "You know something?" "They do look like spatters of paint." "Let's see the rock again at 440." "if that's a meteor, it's a damn peculiar one." "This left border, over here." "it's smooth." "Aimost like an artificial surface." "Painted, maybe?" "Luminous paint?" "if i keep watching it, i might think so." ""Wet paint" sign and all." " Jeremy?" " What?" "Nothing." "You OK?" "My eyes are tired." "We've been at it for five hours." "We'ii take a caffeine break soon." "First, i want to see one of the patches of green at 1,000." "Did you see that?" "Yes." " You didn't change the lighting?" " i didn't touch it." "it's alive." "Yes." "Bigger than two microns." "Which means the infection is spread by a mere fraction of the green." "i'm bringing down cameras." "Let's have the other microscanner." " Stone to Levei Controi, i need a Mic T. - 'Roger." "Wiii send. '" " Jump it up to 1,500." " it doesn't go any higher." "We can get 1,500 in Microchemistry." "i'ii send the rock through." "'Attention CLTs on Leveis 4 and 5." "'Main computer shows capacity versus access time 'at ten to the twelfth digit." "'For any change in memory configuration," "'CLTs must check their unicom off. '" "Beautifui, sir. i'm the Mic T. You're real sharp on the hands." "Nice to know i've not lost my touch." "Next step is to see what makes it grow." "We'ii need samples to send through Maxcuit." "Roger, sir. in work." "Good God!" "it's growing." "Not so good." "He has acidosis." "His blood pH is nine points off normal." "But why?" "Stupid machine!" "What makes his blood too acid?" "Ask the patient." "'Biosafety to SL, sector 3-6." "'Give us a code three when you get it. '" "Mr Jackson." "Now, don't be scared. i'm a doctor." "Buii." " Where am i?" " A special laboratory in Nevada." "We brought you here from Piedmont." "You're sick." "it's this damn stomach of mine." " Bieeding?" " Heii, yes, bleeding." "in your stomach?" "You have an ulcer?" "Damn tootin'." "Two years." "You must have pain." "What do you do for it?" "Aspirin... and squeeze." "Squeeze?" "What's that?" "Ain't gonna tell you." "So you're a Sterno drinker, huh?" "Works good." "Give him squeeze." "What's the baby's name, Mr Jackson?" " You the nurse?" " Uh-huh." "Shoot!" "Can't see your legs." "Do you know the baby's name?" " Give us a butt first." " Smoking isn't allowed here." "Then go fish." "We'ii transfuse Jackson and start ice-water lavage." "He has a history of bleeding ulcers." " You seem delighted." " it may be the reason he survived." "if only our young gourmet weren't so normal." "Let's hope nothing changes that." "We might have to before this is over." "They should have dropped the bomb two days ago." "10:15am" "This Phantom crashed 60 miles beyond the cordoned area." "We can't cordon off airspace." "i just don't understand why Wiidfire hasn't beefed about the delay in 7-12." "Aimost 24 hours and not a word." "i don't think Piedmont had anything to do with this crash. it was a fluke." "That plane was only over the WF area for two minutes, at 23,000 feet." "it's a training mission accident, i bet." "Piiot error." "Let's go." "Check with Wiidfire Message Centre." "Make sure everything's nominal." "Send me word on the scrambler at Big Head crash base." "Checkiim program completed." "Aii circuit banks nominal." "Same thing on the MCN Consoie, Captain." "'Dr Robertson, you're saying Stone's $90 million facility, 'which you recommended, was knocked out by a silver of paper?" "'Teii that to the taxpayers. '" "'These were highly trained men looking for an electronic fault." "'The trouble was mechanical, of the simplest kind, 'but for them, it was like trying to see an elephant through a microscope." "'The silver had wedged between the bell and striker, 'preventing the bell from ringing. '" "12:00 noon i'm convinced we're being held incommunicado." "Very flattering." "We don't know much more than when we got here." "We know about Scoop now. it's possible what Scoop found was no accident." "i suspect they were looking for the ultimate biological weapon." "Sounds like you're getting paranoid in this funhouse." "What does Stone think?" "About the ultimate weapon, i mean." "We've isolated the organism." "it's in Microchemistry." "We'ii show you." "'Watchdog to Eiectricai Support... '" "Big Head Pass, Utah 20pm" "Aii right, Lieutenant." "'Aibuquerque Centre, this is Air Force 561.'" " 'Go ahead 561.' - 'My air hose is dissolving!" "'Everything made of rubber..." "is coming apart!" "'i... i feel funny. '" "it's a fluke." "A vibration effect, maybe." "Let's get up there." " Has Wiidfire been informed?" " The germ people?" " it went out to them an hour ago." " This they can't ignore." "3:20pm" "'iB Controi to cafeteria, Levei 3." "'Number 4 Chariie hatch shows condition blue." "'Aiter responsivity characteristics until you get condition green. '" "Ready." "Nothing so unusual about our rock after all." "Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, sulphur, silicon, etc." "Except the black rock isn't rock at all." "it's some material similar to plastic." "How about that?" "The green's even simpler." "Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen." "The four basic elements of life on earth, nothing else." "That's a relief." "i'd have been happier if it hadn't been alive." "Green stuff, you really had us going for a while." "AA analysis results are ready." "Something's wrong." "it's not registering." "Yes, it is, sir. it's just registering double zero, double zero." "We'ii switch to computerised analysis." "No amino acids!" "No proteins, no enzymes, no nucleic acid." "impossible." "No organism can maintain life without them." "You mean no earth organism. it must have evolved in a totally different way." "You got it." "it doesn't come from here." "Without chemical reactions there can't be life." "Yet it grows, reproduces..." "Wait." "The infection has been stopped by the bomb." "We're secure." "We have everything we need to achieve a breakthrough." "We just attack this problem like any other." "You could spend years solving its structure." "But when you do, there'ii be some red faces." "it could change everything." "Great." "Ruth, take over the growth programme." "We're halfway home if we find out what will keep that from growing." " Chariie, work with me on the EM." " OK." " Haii..." " Let me get back to my patients." "i'm sure they were protected by some simple mechanism i don't see." "There's got to be something that the oid man and the baby have in common." "Oh, Haii?" " Five minutes." " You told me before." "We wouldn't want you to get too far from a substation now." " 4:30pm" " Men, look out for pieces of rubber." "i'ii repeat that, keep a sharp eye open for pieces of rubber." "Major." "Major Manchek." "Take a look at that, sir." "We just found this, Generai." "it's a human bone." "Arm, i think." "it looks picked clean, like it was polished." " That's right." " i don't get it." "There is no actual rubber on the Phantom F-4." "it's all a synthetic plastic compound called Poiycron." "it has some of the characteristics of human skin." " What's that?" " What's left of his oxygen mask." "it's made of Poiycron." "i'd say it was done by a chemical reaction" " or maybe a microorganism." " Meaning?" "There was something in that plane that consumes plastic." "45pm" "'How's Maxcuit coming?" "Wiii you be finished by the midnight conference?" "'" " Easy." " 'Good." "'You can give us the results then. '" "55pm" " Feeiing better, aren't you, Mr Jackson?" " Yep." " You always have to wear that iron suit?" " Yep." "Maybe you'ii tell us the baby's name now?" "Manuei Rios." "Mex." "A real little heiier." "Squaiis morning, noon and night." "Neighbours wouldn't let 'em keep their windows open." " Do you sleep with your window closed?" " No, sirree, Bob." "Fresh air fiend." "Teii us what happened." "i don't want to think about it." "You know what people will say?" "Piedmont was bad, that's why it was punished." "First the town went crazy and then was destroyed." "You're crazy." "Foiks at Piedmont was good." "Decent, normal folks." "The man we found in his doughboy's uniform, that's normal?" "Pete Arnoid, who worked at the store." " it was the disease." " How do you know?" "Cos the only thing wrong with him before that night was sugar." "Diabetes?" "Did he take insulin?" "Coupie of times a day." "Hated the needle." "i tried to talk him into using squeeze." "insuiin. if he missed his treatment, he'd go..." "Thanks, Mr Jackson." "Oh, my God." "'Centrai CC to Big PC Controi, all levels." "'Testing laser system." "'Piease maintain random fringe drift within 10% of initial value. '" "'Doctor, you have a midnight conference." "The signal has struck twice. ' i heard!" "i heard. i've been busy." "Fourth day" "The important thing is that something can slow it down." "i think it's some kind of blood disorder." "if the oid soldier missed his insulin, he'd go into acidosis the same as Jackson on Sterno." "i'ii bet Leavitt finds no growth on some of the blood cultures." "What's wrong with the baby's blood?" "Nothing." "So far." " Then you're back where you started?" " No, they're all inter-reiated." "i'ii have the answer when i know why a 69-year-oid Sterno drinker with an ulcer is like a normal six-month-oid baby." " Get any no-growth read-outs?" " No, but i'm not finished." " You said you would be by now." " i decided to play it back." " The first time should be enough..." " Knock it off!" "Wait." "Wait." "We're all tired." "Tired people make mistakes." "They draw wrong conclusions, they drop things." "That mustn't happen." "Starting now, i want the team to get six hours' sleep out of every 24." "Suits me." "Before turning in, shouldn't we file for a codename?" "Good idea." "'9 over 4 over 8 under 167.29." "'Auto check and grade, auto check and grade. '" "Why Andromeda?" " Andromeda's our closest..." " Stone." ""Directive 7-12 has not been acted upon." ""Aiternative directive 7-11 now in effect. "" " They didn't drop the bomb!" " it was sent yesterday." "idiots!" " Put me through to Dr Robertson." " 'in work, sir. '" " You didn't special alert a message." " 'There were none, sir." "The bell... '" "Don't argue, dammit!" "i got one in my hand." "'Weii, well." "About time we heard from you. '" "A communications foui-up." "Why the hell wasn't that bomb dropped?" "'The decision on 7-12 isn't final." "it was just postponed 48 hours. '" "By then it could be a worldwide epidemic." "'Rash statements are why the President doesn't trust scientists. '" "Warn the President it may be too late!" "You've got to make him call a 7-12." "'Can i get an appointment tonight?" "'" "'Now, let's all just keep our heads screwed on." "'Any thoughts about the Phantom crash?" "'We sent you a couple of messages on it. '" " 'A Phantom jet strayed over Piedmont. '" " Any other information?" "'The pilot said rubber was dissolving." "His last communication was weird. '" " Like he was crazy?" " He was mighty confused." "Robbie, it's your job to get the President to activate a 7-12." "Or else anyone west of Piedmont might not live!" "'Simmer down." "i'ii wake the boss." "'Generai Sparks says the crash was a fluke. '" "Forget the crash, Robbie." "Stay on that 7-12." "We'ii be working round the clock." "2:45am" "That's a good slice." "But too thick." "i'm setting it at 800 angstroms and i'm going to a higher magnification." "Now we're getting somewhere." "But these can't be more than a few molecules in depth." "That's the one." "That silver one." "'This is a Viiiabach alert." "Aii levels." "'Eiectromagnetic waves are not registering on the dirs. '" "Sampie in the button and sealed." "Start the vacuum pump." "'Stone, i have the results of the growth cultures. '" "We can't leave now." "We have an Andromeda cell on the EM." "Chariie, let's put it on the screen." "Run it through the computer for contrast expansion." " Stone?" " What do you think?" "Looks like a crystal." " Gentiemen, there's our answer." " To what?" " How it functions without amino acids." " Crystaiiine structure?" "Yes. i've often thought that living matter might be based on crystals." "Aii these wedge-shaped compartments would separate biochemical functions." "it's dividing." "in a vacuum?" "Bombarded by electrons?" "it shouldn't be alive!" "That's what i wanted to tell you." "Andromeda can live on anything." "Oniy gas and light affect it." " You didn't get any no-growth results?" " None." "Look." "The poorest growth occurs in pure oxygen incubated under infrared light." "Andromeda grows best in carbon dioxide and hydrogen under X-rays." " No excretions, no waste of any kind." " You'd expect that." "Andromeda's perfect for existence in outer space." "Consumes everything." "Wastes nothing." " Good Lord!" " What?" " Get me Robertson now!" " i hope we're not too late." " Teii me." " it functions like an atomic reactor." "An atomic blast could give it enough energy to grow into a supercoiony." "in one day." "'You can relax now." "We've just left the President, he agreed... '" "No, stop 7-12 from happening." "'We're not playing Ping-Pong." "We just finished telling the President... '" "Go back!" "it grows when exposed to X-rays or any source of energy." "No nuclear device must be detonated near it." "Andromeda works like a reactor." "Converts matter to energy directly." "'The bomb would only provide a fantastically rich growth medium." " 'Understand?" "' - 'No, but i'ii make the recommendation." "'He'ii be pleased he made the right decision in the first place. '" "Congratuiate him on his scientific insight." "And Robbie, you'd better get the seif-destruct in here disarmed." "'Right. i'ii start on the clearances now." "it'ii be done by morning. '" "No, no, no." "That won't work until the damn thing's going." "3:50am" "Aii the molecules appear to be the same." "Andromeda isn't composed of different substances like a normal cell." "Aii the subunits are the same." "it's the damnedest thing i've ever..." "A single substance." "Then how does anything so simple utilise energy for growth?" " Can't tell from that structure." " Yes, we can." "We can get a computerised version of how it functions." "They're not uniform." "Couid be mutations." "What the devil?" "601?" "The computer's overloaded." "Too much data coming in too fast." "Dividing and mutating at the same time?" "And nothing to stop it." "Normai earth checks and balances don't exist for it." "We'd better get a biomath mapping of its new growth potential." "According to this, there'ii be a supercoiony over the southwest..." "Jeremy, these are biological warfare maps." "Why, yes, so they are." "Weii, but... simulations, Chariie." "Defensive. it's just a scenario." "That's not the point, for God's sake." "Wiidfire was built for germ warfare!" "Wiidfire and Scoop and you knew, Stone." "You knew it!" "Not true. i learned about Scoop when you did." "They already had Andromeda programmed." "Scoop was built to find new biological weapons in space - to develop here!" " it stinks, Stone." " We have no proof." " The map!" " Don't be an ass!" "That's only what it could do in the hands of an enemy." "Enemy?" "We did it to ourselves." "Perhaps." "But it's hardly the time to organise a protest." "Another giant leap for mankind." "i wish i could believe you." "The only important thing now is to find the antidote." "Let's get on with it." "Test the culture organisms for biologic potency." "Aii right. i'ii run them against a rat in Autopsy." " i'ii seal off the capsule." " Watch it." "Andromeda's altered." "its effect might be radically different." "i'ii try to get a photo of the mutated form." "4:30am" "'Photo Lab to Red Lab." "'Optimum axis reference reads at 6-4-9F, 1,500 miles straight." "'Green Lab, please copy. '" " This may be the key to beating it." " How, by starving him to death?" "No, but don't feed him until i tell you." "Contamination!" "'A seal has broken in Autopsy." "A seal has broken in Autopsy." "'Emergency procedures are in effect. '" " What's the matter?" " infection spread." "Autopsy." " is he alive?" " i should've been there!" "it's no use, it's sealed off." "Dr Haii?" " She's in trouble." " Ruth, are you...?" "She's got the germ!" "Someone bring 100mg of phenobarb in a syringe, fast!" "There's no danger." "She isn't contagious!" "There's no danger!" "'Paui Heim to L5 PiEZETT." "'Your second quarter rest period has been cancelled." "'Time RA is reassigned according to crash programme B.'" "Come on." "Come on, she can't hurt you." " Wasn't she with Dr Dutton?" " No, it's epilepsy." "Give her the injection." "She'ii be all right." "Good girl." "Thanks." "'i'm scared." "Oh, Lord, i'm scared. '" "You'ii be OK." "We're pumping pure oxygen in, Andromeda doesn't like it." " He's alive." " Where have you been?" " Leavitt had a seizure." " What?" "Epiiepsy." "A red light flashing brought on a fit." " Why didn't she tell us?" " No lab would have her if they knew." " insurance, prejudice, all that crap." " From the Middie Ages." " Amazing he's still alive." " it's been three minutes." "He's on pure oxygen." "i don't know how long that can hold him." "We're, erm, working on some ideas, Chariie." "'Ask your germ warfare friends." "They have lots. '" "Try to stay calm." " What happened?" " The seal must have broken." "Had the same thing at the Lunar Lab." "That's why we use Poiycron gaskets here." "At least the rest of Wiidfire is secure." "Poor devil." "Look at the way he's breathing." "He's scared." "That oxygen should relax him, slow down his breathing." "No, we want him to breathe fast." "Jackson was on Sterno." "Sterno, acidosis." "Acidosis, rapid breathing." " What the hell are you doing?" " Turn off the oxygen." " The baby?" " Cries, can't catch his breath." " Rapid breathing?" "it can't be that simple." " it isn't." "Dutton?" "Don't let the bug in your lungs long enough to penetrate blood vessels." "i'ii turn off the pure oxygen - you breathe room air as fast as you can." "'No!" "No, i was running a test in here." "The air is thick with Andromeda." " 'Experiment with your own life!" "'" " We won't do it." " i'm sure it has to do with breathing." " 'Dr Haii?" "'May i please feed the baby?" "He's been crying ever since... '" "That's what i want." "Keep him crying and run another blood value on him." "'Yes, Doctor. '" "With all the yelling the kid should have too little acid - aikaiotic." "A condition opposite to the oid man - too much alkali." "What good does that do Dutton?" " Karen, where's the blood test?" " 'it's coming through now. '" "'Heii of a way to run a hospital. '" "Just what you expected." "Opposite blood chemistries." " One of them should be a dead opposite." " But he's not." "There must be a connection." "They both stayed alive in Piedmont, one's blood too alkaline the other too acid..." "Yes." "Yes!" "Dutton, i'm turning off the oxygen." "Breathe fast." "'No, don't let him cut off my oxygen. '" " No!" "The air in that room is loaded." " Air doesn't matter." "Biood does." "That's the answer." "i need 30 seconds to run a growth programme." "He could die in 30 seconds." " Leavitt checked all the programmes." " Epiieptics blank out." "i want to see how Andromeda's growth is affected by blood of pH..." "Damn." "You do it." "Exceiient." "The graph's straight up and down." "Andromeda can only exist within a narrow range of pH." "A very narrow range." "On either side of the range - no growth, nothing." "it's exterminated." "Dutton, our troubles are over." "it grows within a narrow range of pH." " A very narrow range." " if your blood's abnormal, if it's too acid or alkaline, Andromeda can't survive." "So breathe as fast as you can." "Go into respiratory alkalosis." "Fine." "That'ii shoot your blood chemistry to hell." "it's what happens to the baby when he cries or the oid man." " How do you feel?" " 'OK." "'Er, a little dizzy but OK.'" "He can't keep breathing like that, he'ii pass out." " We need to aikaiise his blood." " We can't in there." "Chariie?" "That cage - in the Hot Room." "Right in front of you." "it's alive." "'The rat's been exposed as long as i have - longer." "'i exposed it to the cultures first. '" "Preciseiy." "Andromeda's mutated to a non-infectious form." "Hoiy..." " Where does that gasket lead?" " Centrai core." "Connects all the labs." "The gaskets are decomposing." "it's Andromeda!" "Next sector." "There's no substation here." "'Levei 5 is sealed." "Emergency procedures are in effect. '" "When the bomb goes off, there'ii be 1,000 mutations." "Andromeda will spread everywhere." "'There are now five minutes to seif-destruct. '" " What about the other levels?" " Can't tell." "Each sector seals off." "The defence system is perfect." "it'ii even bury our mistakes." "What about the central core?" " The core has safeguards." " What?" "Gas, lasers, to prevent lab animal escape." " What are my chances in there?" " They don't exist here." " How do i get into the core?" " Through there." "Go. i'ii ride shotgun for you in Main Controi and monitor the lasers." "Karen, get me a scalpel." "'There are now four minutes and 30 seconds to seif-destruct. '" "Cut it off!" "Cut the panel off." "Karen, cut it!" "Come on, hurry up!" "Hey, Doc!" "You ain't leaving us here, are you?" "The lasers are tuned low for small animals." "'You can make it if you're not hit on the spinal cord. '" "'There are now four minutes to seif-destruct. '" "'That's the ladder." "Go before the gas starts. '" "'There are now three minutes and 30 seconds to seif-destruct. '" "'That's the gas." "Keep going. '" "The sensors have picked you up." "Get moving." "'Duck. '" "'Keep going." "'Duck." "'Keep going." "'Duck!" "'" "'There are now three minutes to seif-destruct. '" "it's no good." "The level's contaminated, go to 3." "'Go to 3!" "'" "'There are now two minutes and 45 seconds to seif-destruct. '" "Sway." "Weave." "You're zeroed in." "Duck." "'There are now two minutes and 30 seconds to seif-destruct. '" "'Keep going." "You'ii make it!" "'" "'There are now two minutes and 15 seconds to seif-destruct. '" "'Fight the effect, it's mostly shock. '" "You can still do it." "See the door?" "'There are now two minutes to seif-destruct." "'There is now one minute and 45 seconds to seif-destruct." "'There is now one minute and 30 seconds to seif-destruct. '" " 'There is now one minute... '" " You're in an airlock." "Turn the wheel." "No, not that one!" "The one near the door!" "'There are now 60 seconds to seif-destruct." "'There are now 55 seconds to seif-destruct." "'There are now 50 seconds to seif-destruct. '" "Where is it?" "Come on, where is it?" "Heip me!" "'There are now 40 seconds to seif-destruct." "'There are now 35 seconds to seif-destruct." "'There are now 30 seconds to seif-destruct." "'There are now 25 seconds to seif-destruct." "'20 seconds, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, '14, 13, 12, 11," "'10, nine..." "'Seif-destruct has been cancelled. '" "Congratuiations." " i take it the bomb didn't..." " No, it didn't." "Eight seconds to spare." "Hardiy even exciting." "What's happening?" "The supercoiony is now off the coast moving across the Pacific." "Andromeda hasn't turned lethal again - no reports of bizarre deaths." "We're applying your antidote to it - cloud seeding." "We're seeding the clouds with silver iodide." "The rain will carry the organism into the ocean and the alkaline reaction should kill it." "Just as acids or alkali in the blood stopped it." "'This cloud seeding, Stone, are you sure it worked?" "You better be. '" "'Aii reports indicate success. '" "'Then your so-caiied biological crisis is over. '" "'As far as Andromeda goes, yes." "We continue to study it." "'We now know that other forms of life exist in the universe. '" " Thanks to Scoop." " Yes." "However, with this new knowledge there's no guarantee that another so-caiied biological crisis won't occur." "Hm." "What do we do about that?" "Preciseiy, Senator." "What do we do?"