"'It was the 877th day since our moon left Earth." "'We were between galaxies, drifting through empty space..." "'..when Tony Cellini began to believe 'that he was closing for a second time with his mortal enemy.'" "'Cellini, are you all right?" "'" "Yes." "I'm fine, thank you, Doctor." "'Computer raised the alarm." "'Your pulse rate had peaked into the danger zone.'" "No, it was a dream, that's all." "Just a dream." "'Anything traumatic?" "'" "No, nothing." "'All right." "If you need any help, I'm on duty tonight.'" "Thank you, Doctor." "Thank you." "Check." "You were playing Computer all day." "I was hoping for a real game, Commander." " I beat Computer every time." " Sure, you programmed it." "Won't stop me beating you..." "Checkmate." "Computer's probably angry because you insulted her." "Tony Cellini's in the restricted area in Launch Pad 4 but he's not on duty." "Tony?" "Tony, what's up?" "'Answer me, Tony.'" "Cancel his comlock." "Tony?" "What you doing, sleepwalking?" "Medical to Embarkation immediately." "Kano, he's on board the standby Eagle." "Stop him." "'The Eagle's on manual control." "Computer can do nothing.'" "Computer, cancel restrictions on Launch Pad 4 and give me access." "Let me go, John." "Thank you, Ann, I'll manage now." "Good night, Commander." "Well?" "As well as he can be after a point-blank stun." "I've been expecting something like this." "He's unstable, John." "He's an individualist." "I've never really understood your admiration for him." "He's not a coward, nor is he emotionally disturbed." "He's a suppressed hysteric." "Where do you think he was trying to get to, in his pyjamas?" "We're nowhere." "We're three months to the nearest star system and he was going off on his own." "Now, if that's the act of a rational man..." "He didn't even take his toothbrush." "Helena... you didn't know him before the Ultra probe launch." "He was the best amateur athlete I've ever seen." "A poet, an all-round astronaut, in fact, the best all-rounder I've ever met." "I'm aware of his history." "Something happened out there." "Something happened out there beyond Ultra that we can't understand." "Hell, he can't understand!" "That's why it's haunted him." "It's destroying him." "Look." "I know the Ultra probe meant a great deal to you." "But its success was vital to Cellini." "He can't take failure." "And for that reason alone, you'd have been the better Commander." " Stick to Cellini." " All right." "I say he made a disastrous mistake on that probe ship, and being the acknowledged ace, can't admit it." "That's not his style." "He thinks he's infallible, you think the same, but I don't!" "Helena, nothing was proved!" "John, when it all happened," "I was on the medical team that examined Cellini." "My report reinforced the case against him." "I just presented the facts as I saw them." "There were no facts!" "He is unstable and a threat to the safety of Alpha." " I should've killed him?" " John." "You go write another letter to the Space Commission." "'John's anger was understandable." "'He and Cellini were the force behind Ultra." "'In 1994, before this moon left Earth's orbit," "'Professor Victor Bergman discovered a planet 'beyond the solar system - he called it Ultra.'" "'Space News, dateline September 3, 1996." "'Brought to you from Houston, planet Earth." "'The Ultra probe." "Who will command the ship?" "'Anton Gorsky, commander of Moonbase Alpha, 'is expected to end speculations later this week.'" "Yes, yes, yes." "We need a decision, you know." "You can't both go." "Someone's gotta control the operation from here." "You can't leave it to Gorsky." "All right, Tony, tell you what." "I'll flip you for it." "Winner takes the ship, loser tells Gorsky." "Black or yellow?" "Black." "Ah." "Well, the gods know the better astronaut." "The gods know, my foot." "The gods know the best brains have to stay here on Alpha." "Still, I wish I was going." " I take it that's it, then." " Yeah." "That's it." "'The launch date for Ultra probe was June 6, 1996." "'Commander, Captain Tony Cellini." "'Astrophysicist, Dr Darwin King." "'Radiation expert, Professor Juliet Mackie 'and Dr Monique Bouchere was responsible for medical, dietary 'and psychological well-being of the team." "'They were shuttled to the interplanetary space station, 'where the Ultra probe ship was docked." "'Embarkation and countdown continued without a hitch." "'Launch took place at 1200 hours, on schedule." "'So the longest ever manned space flight began, 'going through eight months of uneventful routine." "'Nothing disturbed the measured pace of the voyage." "'No malfunction broke the monotony." "'Navigation was faultless." "'For days, excitement mounted as progressive readings confirmed 'the planet's condition was similar to Earth's." "'Plans were made for a manned landing." "'But as the probe ship moved behind Ultra, 'all contact was temporarily lost with Moonbase Alpha." "'The landing was never made.'" "Darwin, would you give me an opinion here, please?" " Metallic?" " Small and stationary." "Orbital reference one zero nine." "Bring me everything we've got in that direction." " We're going to take a look." " Right." "Fantastic!" "Where've they come from?" "What are they doing?" "There's no sign of life from any of them." "Can they really be empty?" "Perhaps it's a huge conference of all space peoples." " This is their car park." " But where's the conference?" "There's got to be someone around." " Darwin, check with Computer." " Yep." "Juliet, put the booster on every band of the life spectrum." "These are ships that could make interstellar travel a reality." "We could be liberated from our own solar system." "All we need is someone to show us how it works." "Still no signs of life?" "Absolutely nothing." "It's like a graveyard." "We'll dock." "If Computer gives us the all-clear," " we'll go aboard." " Right." "Docking seal is perfect." "Atmosphere is safe." "Temperature, 28 degrees." "Radiation, zero." "What could be better?" " Come on sesame, open up." " 'Just a check, Darwin.'" "I'm waiting to go there, too." "Opening now." " Close it, Tony!" " What is it?" "Wind, noise, light." "It's pretty weird." "Close the rear doors!" "Close them!" "Main circuits have blown." "Try manual!" "Ahhh!" "Hold on!" "I'm coming through!" "No!" "Noooo!" "I'm finished!" "No!" "Ahhhh!" "'Despite his ordeal, Cellini used a brilliant manoeuvre 'to go into a low orbit around Ultra, 'which hurled him back towards Earth." "'He survived alone in that module for over six months." "'Cellini's module was eventually located and brought to Alpha." "'He was on the point of death.'" "All right, take him to intensive care." " Bob?" " It's incredible he's alive at all." " But he'll survive?" " Oh yes, on courage." "'But as Cellini recovered his strength, 'the official attitude changed from congratulation to doubt." "'The story he told of his encounter with the monster was hard to believe." "'And the recorded black box data cast further doubt on his veracity." "'As a member of the Space Commission Medical Team," "'I began to inquire into the mental state of the patient.'" " Captain Cellini." " Yes?" "Dr Helena Russell, Space Commission Medical Centre." "Welcome, Doctor." "I expect you've come to talk." "Please, a chair for Dr Russell." "If you've come to hear the story, you'd better be comfortable." "Thank you, Captain." "Don't call me captain, call me Tony." "But you may not want to do that." "Depends whether you've come to confirm prejudice or listen with an open mind." "Now, what do you mean?" "They don't believe me." "They can't." "You see, the green-eyed monster from outer space is firmly established in childhood fantasy." "Like Father Christmas." "How can they possibly believe?" "Now, let's not get off on the wrong track, OK?" "The fact is if a man with a red coat and white beard drove into town, he'd be arrested, certified "unbelievable"." "And that's what you'll do with me and my monster!" "Right?" "!" "I didn't even mention the monster." "That's what you wanted to talk about, isn't it?" "I have nothing specific in mind, I'm open to anything." " Father Christmas, if you like." " If YOU like." "You came to see me." "Maybe in a while we'd get around to my sex life." "All right, you seem fairly keen to talk on a wide range of topics." "I want to tell you the truth, Doctor." "I want to tell you that everything I put down in my report is true!" "Tentacles, bloodsuckers, fire breath, the whole slimy, fantastic story is true!" "No wanderings of a sick mind." "I'm absolutely certain of every detail I put down." "And if the black box data conflicts with my story, then the black box is wrong." "Now, that is a surprising statement for a rational man." " I'm not a rational man!" " Yet you want to be believed." "I want all of you, Koenig, Bergman, Dixon, everyone, to throw out the criteria by which you judge what's real." "You've got to abandon reason!" "You have to believe that I, Tony Cellini, have stood face to face with the dragon, I fought it and survived." "That's what you've got to believe!" "No!" "Now, come on, take it easy, Captain." "Captain." "Please, believe me." " Victor?" " Hmm?" "Bad news." "There's gonna be a full inquiry." "Commissioner Dixon's ordered us to Earth." "Their story is Tony bungled the decompression procedure, opened the airlock prematurely and killed the crew." "That seems a logical explanation." "At least it's easier to believe than a monster." "If the black box didn't record the monster, isn't it conceivable there's life we can't detect?" "It could jam the black box." "Not experiencing it doesn't mean it doesn't exist." "But we're not likely to know unless we go back." "I think we've gotta go back there." "I know it!" "Those ships could save billions of dollars and hundreds of years." "And we know Tony wasn't imagining those because those contacts are clearly recorded on the black box." "Yeah, but that's all they are, contacts." "How do we know they're spaceships?" "Must we disbelieve everything Tony says?" "Of course not, but here's a man, virtually come back from the dead, it's only natural he'd have nightmares." "I won't let them dismiss it like that!" "John, I'm afraid the facts are that our probe was a failure, and somebody's head's gotta roll." "So it's gotta be Tony's?" "While the balance of his mind is disturbed." "Well, I don't think it is." "Not like they think." "Unfortunately, it's Commissioner Dixon who'll be the judge of that." " Morning, gentlemen." " Good morning." "Oh, sit down, sit down, please." "Well..." "We are in the red, aren't we?" "Strange, there's nothing like failure for drying up the money supply." "I hope we've all got some strong ideas for alleviating the drought." "Commissioner, what about the positive aspects of the mission?" "Why not focus public attention on the Earth-like qualities of Ultra?" "Hmm." "Vague possibilities don't carry the PR power of a dramatic failure." "OK, then let's be positive." "Let's launch a second probe right away and put our experience to good use." "Before we get carried away with the future, Koenig, we must first concentrate on the past." "I want to know what you two think really happened out there." "I'm the only one who can answer that." " Oh, yes?" " You've had my report." "The whole world's had your report, that's my problem." "It's also the truth." "Or an elaborate cover-up for an error you haven't the guts to admit." " What do you say to that?" " It's just not true." "Now I need to know what you two have to say." "Do you believe in monsters?" "I believe whatever caused the disaster affected Tony's mind in ways which he... can't recognise and we can't even guess at." "Koenig?" "Commissioner, we know those ships are out there, and one of them is ours." "But we should be asking why they're there." "We have a series of unidentified bleeps from the scanner, that's all." "As far as I'm concerned, this vision of a spaceship's graveyard is as much the product of a sick mind as a monster." "So please, let's keep to the facts." "Tell me straight, Bergman, what caused the interference on that tape?" "How can you say?" "It could be any..." "Could it be him?" "Well, yes, he certainly could've done it," " though I can't see why." " As a cover-up." "Oh..." "Why would he restart recording four minutes and 45 seconds later?" "Are you going to suggest the monster did it, Koenig?" "We can't dismiss that possibility." "You surprise me, John." "That black box recorded a breathable atmosphere in that alien spaceship." "The docking seal was intact." "When the door was opened, the recording stopped." "There's no evidence of death by decompression on that tape." "What I'm saying is that your case against Cellini holds no more water than his story does." "You're not concerned with your reputations." "Mine's the future of the space programme." "I'll do anything to save that." "I'm afraid I'll have to discredit this whole adventure." "You can't scrap the Ultra probe and ignore those ships!" "We've had success, we've learned about our solar system." "We know the dangers of black suns, neutron storms, radiation, but if we think we know everything, we're making a terrible mistake!" "The reality of space adventuring is that it's terribly expensive." "The chances come infrequently, and then, only one at a time." "I very much regret it, but I'll have to relieve you all of your posts." "You for mental supervision, and you two to remind you both what it's like to have your feet on the ground." "'By September 13, 1999, 'the day the moon blasted out of Earth's orbit," "'John Koenig was back on Alpha as base Commander." "'Victor Bergman, Tony Cellini and I were also there." "'Memories of the Ultra probe were obliterated 'in our fight for survival." "'Until the night when Tony's nightmare revived the old conflicts.'" "Thank you." " 'How is he?" "'" " All right." " 'How are you?" "'" " All right." "'All right enough to let me in?" "'" "But John, I..." "As a kid I could never get cress to grow on blotting paper, but that's doing very well." "Where did you get it?" "I inherited it from my predecessor, a big bag of stuff just waiting to grow." "It's very beautiful." "Is it for me?" "Thank you." "I must admit, I got a little help from the guys in hydroponics." "But I deserve some credit." "What I'm trying to say is I'm sorry I chewed your head off." "Well, you're doing it in a very nice way." " How's he?" " Much better." "You know, I don't understand, it's five years since the Ultra probe, why break now?" "Because it can happen at any time." "Which is why I recommended he never return to Alpha." "Helena, I requested it." " Can I speak?" " Tony." "Now, just take it easy, it's all right." " Here, let me get these." " What happened last night?" "I..." "I felt there was something..." "Where were you going?" "There's nothing around for billions of miles." "You had a nightmare last night at 0347." "Medical Computer raised the alarm and I woke you." "Remember?" "It was nothing." "Well, Tony..." "We found a tomahawk in the communications post in your room." "Was it the monster?" "Then, why now?" "What were you trying to do in the Eagle?" "Were you trying to run away from it?" "I was going to face it." "'Commander, we have a contact." "Could you come to Main Mission?" "'" "All right, Paul." "I'll be right back." "John, something quite extraordinary." "Kind of a space motor show." "Well, Victor?" "It's the same sort of thing Cellini described." "The mission to planet Ultra." "Victor, last night, Cellini had a violent nightmare, fighting his monster." "Now, after the nightmare, he tried to steal an Eagle." "I had to stun him." "He just came round and I asked him what happened." "He said he was going out to face it." "The... monster?" "Well, those could be the same spaceships he saw behind Ultra." "And if they are, we could be facing the same danger he faced." "Sandra, increase magnification." "John, we're light years away from Ultra." "Victor, this moon has moved, so could they." " But the coincidence." " Something triggered Cellini." "Something we can't ignore." " Kano?" " Sir?" "I want Computer to check the flight records of Ultra probe 1996." "The recorder picked up contacts," " I wanna know if they're the same." " Commander, I have found it." "The Ultra probe ship is there." "It's incredible." "Yeah." "So was Cellini's story about the monster." "Alan, I want an Eagle on Pad 1 for immediate liftoff." "And an escort, three ships ready for action." "Go." "So I get a second chance." "Any sign of life?" "I've scanned the whole area." "There's nothing." "There never was." "Tony, I'm taking an Eagle up there with an armed escort." "We'll get as close as it's safe to and scan it." "If Victor's sure there's no danger on board the probe ship, we'll dock." "How does that sound to you?" " Sounds fine." " Are you willing to come with us?" "I'd insist." "He's too calm." " He's got a chance to clear himself." " I'm worried, John." "Helena, focus out on those ships as we go by." "Excuse me." "I have to apologise to Alan." "Alan, sorry about last night." "Yeah." "Tony!" "Eagles 3 and 4, immediate liftoff." "Follow Cellini." "Eagle 2, jettison your passenger module and pick us up." "'Sorry, John, but it's MY enemy.'" " Paul?" " 'Commander?" "'" "Beam every scanner in Cellini's direction." "If you find anything, let me know right away." "You think he's gone ahead to destroy the evidence." "What's that guy got against me?" "Eagle 2 docked on Eagle 1, Commander." "OK give it everything we've got." "'He's nearing the spaceship, Commander." "'He's six minutes ahead of you.'" "He could dock the command module on the probe ship." "The control systems are compatible." "We've got the area scanned from here, from Alpha, and from Eagles 3 and 4." "So far, no life indications." "No radiation, no energy field, nothing." " Paul?" " 'Still nothing indicated, sir.'" "Damn it!" "It's gotta be something." "He was right about those ships." "That doesn't mean he was right about the monster." "No." "But it makes him look a whole lot righter." "Victor?" "Sorry, John, but beyond the obvious explanation, I can't be much help." "The obvious, then." "Well, they do look somewhat like flies caught in a spider's web." "Which brings us back to monsters." "Alan, line up for docking on the probe ship." "Make it as smooth as you can." "John, we're getting life signs on the probe ship." "Cellini's." "If there was anything else, we'd be receiving it." "Providing our instruments can read it." "Docking complete, Commander." "Helena, maybe you'd better stay here." "Let's go." "Hold your fire!" "'The monster was more than we could believe." "'According to our criteria, it was never alive." "'So how could we be sure that it was dead?" "'As we hurried back to Alpha, before our moon drifted beyond reach, 'we could only wonder about the astronauts of those fabulous ships." "'All we know about them is their terrible fate, 'the fate of Tony Cellini.'" "John, if we ever do find a new place to live, and if we succeed, we're going to need a whole new mythology." ""Tony Cellini and the Monster"?" "Nah." ""St George and the Dragon" sounds pretty flat, till you know the story." "The story is part of our history now, Helena." "I think Tony would be happy to know he put new life into an old myth."