"Kano." "Computer's got to be swamped with data, why isn't it saying whether that planet support can life?" "It's been scanning continuously since we became aware of the planet but still reports it to be insufficient." "How can it control a reconnaissance flight there and not tell us whether that surface can sustain life?" "In neither case would the computer be so irrational as to... guess." "Moving into low orbit for final descent... now, Paul." "Confirm final descent now, Pete?" "Yeah, we made good time." "Or Computer made a bad mistake." "They're two hours ahead of schedule." "Check the figures, Kano." "When will they ever learn?" "Hey, this one's a weirdy, Ed." "Is that what you expected?" "Computer's unusually reticent, I don't know what to expect." "They're too low and their G-forces are increasing." " They're doing fine by Computer." " Computer's got to be wrong." "Did you get that, Pete?" "'On course and holding, everything's fine.'" "They're too close and too fast." "Data discrepancy is increasing." "Check it out manually, Pete." "G-forces seven above estimate." "They can't hold that." "Synchronise with their on board computer." "Both computers confirm G-force is as estimated." "They're wrong." "What are you doing?" "!" "A little low flying, you jealous?" "Pete?" "Pete!" "All transmissions ceased." " Scanner?" " The blip just disappeared." "I kept on telling you Computer had insufficient data." "It cannot assess the planet without the right information." "I am not concerned about Computer's assessment." "I want to know why it fouled up the flying data - time, distance, orbital velocity, rate of descent, G-factors." "Kano, you've got this all about-face!" "But Computer does not make that kind of mistake." " You're saying I do?" " Alan." " It was my mates that died." " Kane's men are checking Computer." " But so far they've found nothing." " Computer we can handle, but those two had no sense of danger." "Because they believed what that lousy computer told them to." "Which is why I want you to fly manual all the way." "You're not to rely on the computer at all." "It'll be a pleasure, Commander." "Oh, Alan, for some reason Irving also ignored all advice from Main Mission." "I want you to obey any order Paul gives you even if it sounds irrational." "Like I said, it'll be a pleasure, Commander." "I've put this chart together from some astro-shots I took myself." "It seems we'll have more time with planet Piri than Computer thought." "See, the curve of our course is tightening, we're being drawn closer than we expected." "That could be either good or bad." "If the planet can sustain us it gives us more time to explore and decide, but if affects us badly the closer we get the worse it'll be." "Are you all right?" "Ooh, er, yeah." "I just... my head hurts and I feel a bit dizzy..." "It's all right, I'll be all right..." "Unconscious." "Rapid heartbeat." "According to his monitor, he's fine." "The amounts of oxygen in our atmosphere were slowly decreasing." "Our hearts made a natural adjustment, Victor's mechanical heart didn't." "So we can't even rely on Computer for normal internal services." "Damn it." "Sandra, this is Koenig." "Put Alpha atmosphere control on manual and keep your eye glued to it." "We can't put all services on manual, we don't have enough personnel." " Cut the drip, Doctor." " Any after-effects?" "No, no, I'm all right." "Just a few strange fantasies, that's all." "Any clue what's happening to us?" "Obviously we're having some problems with Computer but we'll be all right." "I have a powerful instinct that Piri's going to be just right for us" "You'll have to convince me of that." "Dr Russell..." "She's dead." "The transfusion blood supply stopped." "How could you allow this to happen?" "I can't control everything!" "I am not a computer!" "Yeah, Computer was wrong about the G-force." "But I've cut my approach speed right back... and I reckon we're holding her nicely." "He's right over the crash site." "Down the line, Alan." "They haven't crashed." "They're all right." " Just... hanging there, motionless." " 'What do you mean?" "'" "Don't ask me how but she's all in one piece." "I'm going to dock." "Just keep her steady, Jonno." "I'm going through now, Paul." "'OK." "Good luck.'" " Paul?" " 'Go ahead, Alan.'" "It's a Marie Celeste." "There's no one here." "Alan!" "Get back here." "Kano, I want to talk to you." "You can sit if you'd like." "What's going on?" "Straight and simple." "We can find no fault in the system." "I just left Diagnostic." "Sarah Graham was hooked to a computerised monitor for a simple blood transfusion." "She died." "Professor Bergman's collapse was due to lack of oxygen because Computer went haywire." "It's fouling everything from comlocks to important data and we're in desperate trouble." "L... there have been..." "We have to find out about that planet and Computer's not functioning." "Now, let's find out why." "But we can find no fault." "Then maybe we're looking in the wrong way." "I don't understand what's going on on that planet nor what happened to Irving and Davis, but somehow that planet is affecting our computer here on Alpha." "There's one way..." "I know to find out how." "I have thought of it." "Are you willing to go through with it?" "As you say, Commander, there is only one way." " All set?" " All set." "I've asked Kano to go through this because of what's happening here." "Dr Russell will fill you in." "Kano was one of the few people to take part in an experiment on Earth." "He underwent an operation to implant a complex of sensors in his brain." "The intention was to link the enormous memory and calculating ability of the computer with the unique ability of the human brain." "That planet is affecting our computer here in a way we can't detect." "We hope that by getting inside that computer" "Kano can determine how it's being affected." "I swore I'd never go through this again." "Medically I was opposed to the experiment, but your case converted me." "You mean I survived it once, but the other three patients ended up mindless vegetables." "What does that do to my chances?" "Yours was the undeniable success story." "Let's get on with it." "Good luck, Kano." "That's it!" "We're in orbit." "If we're in orbit, we're trapped." "All the time we need." "I don't understand your sudden optimism." "We've lost three men and that doesn't encourage me." "We have no idea what happened to them, it could happen to any of us." "Yet it didn't happen to you." "I was on manual." "And instructed to disregard everything Computer told you." "The planet will support life." " Details?" " To follow." "We can't rely on it." "The computer's telling us just what we want to hear." "Well, there must be some kind of life there." "Some power, at least." "Mm, and not necessarily malevolent." "Come on, John, cheer up." "This could be the end of the road." "When we leave Alpha for the last time it'll be our decision, our choice." "I don't like being presented with an accomplished fact." "Communications?" "Not a whisper." "Alan, we're going down." "Nice touchdown, Alan." "Under no circumstances are you to leave the ship." "And call you if anything happens." "I wish I could be sure I'd have time for that." "No place like home" " Helena?" " What have you found?" "'Whatever these things are or were, they're dead now.'" "Don't give up, John." "Early days yet." " See these things?" " 'Yeah, fascinating.'" "'I'll take a walk." "I'll call if I see anything unusual.'" ""Anything unusual"?" "Pete!" "Pete, you all right?" "It's Koenig." "Pete?" "Pete?" "Ed?" "Ed?" "Kano?" "Kano, it's Koenig." "Kano, talk to me!" "Kano!" "Kano!" "Listen to me!" "Computer is right." "Piri is just perfect for all our needs." "There's nothing here, no life!" "There is light..." "I am sent to calm your fears and bring you peace." "Welcome to Piri." "I have come like this in human form so that you may understand my presence." "Are you afraid of me?" "No, you look very human." "What worries me is what I don't understand, what I can't see." "Who sent you?" "I am the servant of the Guardian." "We found your Moon floating helplessly." "We have brought you here to relieve your human pain." " Are you inviting us to settle here?" " That is the will of the Guardian." "Being human you are wondering about its power." "Come, I will show you the peace of Piri." "Millennia ago this planet was peopled by Pirians of great technical skill." "They built machines to run the necessities of life, so they could enjoy their pleasure." "Then they created the Guardian to control the machines and save them from decision." "Their life was perfect and the Guardian was directed to maintain it." "That's not possible for human beings." "We're born, grow old and die." "It's transient, imperfect." "Life can't be maintained." "Because you are imperfect, you Earthmen take time for granted." "Absolute perfection lasts forever." "And so the Guardian has suspended time." "This place is not suitable for human life." " There are many forms of life." " We like the form we have." "My men, how did you get them here?" "We reached out and offered them happiness, and they accepted." " Time is stopping for them." " Life is stopping for them." " They are at peace." " Peace of death." "You have seen, Commander, and have not understood." "Your fear is from ignorance, and it has made you stubborn." "But you will accept, as they have done." "I'll make them understand." "That... is not possible." "They have accepted the dominion of the Guardian." "Kano, come with me, you're dying." " You must accept." " I will not accept!" " Come with me, Kano." " You must conform." "Pete, come with me!" "The Guardian is making you perfect, it is the prime directive." "No!" "Alan!" "Prepare for lift-off, Alan." "'Commander, you do not know the power of the Guardian yet." "'But you will learn, 'as your people are learning.'" "Come in, Carter." "Alan!" "Alan!" "'I'm not receiving you, Alan!" "'Alan!" "Answer me, Alan!" "'Are you all right?" "Al...'" " You all right?" " Yeah." "I've been calling, weren't you receiving?" "Yeah." "I heard you." "Nice place, huh?" "Kind of peaceful." "It's no place for us, Alan." "Nice people." "Hello, Alpha." "This is Koenig in Eagle 2-4." "Do you hear me?" "'Come in, Alpha." "This is an emergency." "'Come in, Alpha." "I need help." "'Alpha, I'm not receiving." "'I'm not receiving you." "'Paul, I need directions for final approach." "'Have Dr Russell and a medical team stand by." "'Carter is unconscious...'" "Come on!" "♪ All together now... ♪" "All right, everybody!" "A toast!" "To the new world!" "And our very own Christopher Columbus who discovered it!" "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow" "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow" "♪ For he's a jolly good fellow" "♪ And so say all of us!" "♪" "Ah, Commander." "Relax, Commander, relax." "You had a fall, you passed out at the party, that's all." "Party?" "Here, drink some of this." "Dr Russell, where is she?" "She's attending a command conference." "Commander?" "Good morning, Commander." "Morning, sir." "'Section D7 will complete loading on schedule at 0958." "'Eagle 2-6 will liftoff from Launch Pad One." "'Taking up parking position on lunar surface at station 3-0-5.'" "Morning, Commander." "'Eagle 2-7 will stand by in loading bay 8 'to await further instructions.'" "That's not something to worry about." "All right, we won't worry." "Of course a lot depends on how our lives turn out in practice on Piri, but I don't see any need for me to take the space in an Eagle with an operating theatre." "Right." "Of course, the beauty of this situation is that with the Moon in a fixed orbit we can return as and when we like." "When someone needs an operation we bring him back, perform the operation and return." " That's it." " Best of both worlds." "John, just arrived?" "You're just in time." "We're planning the last phase of Operation Exodus." " You have no idea what's down there." " No, but your reports were explicit." " Reports?" " Yeah, here." "These aren't my reports, it's all phoney." "Listen..." "The Guardian's attacked our computer and your minds!" "We've almost come to the end of our journey!" "Helena, I've seen what it's done to Kano, Davis and Irving!" "Cabbages!" "And we almost went right by!" "He's scheduled for medical Eagle 10." "He'll be adequately taken care of." "It's good to be leaving, Commander." "'Commander's instructions conflict with Guardian's orders." "Commander!" "John!" " John?" " I'm not mad, Victor." " I'm the only sane one on Alpha." " All right, all right." "Listen to me!" "You're in danger!" "The Guardian is taking over your minds!" " John..." " Victor, listen to me!" " John, it's all right." " Helena..." "'Your comlock facility is withdrawn." "'You are confined to your quarters.'" " By whose orders?" " 'Operation Exodus committee.'" "I said who, individual." " Grounds?" " 'Diminished responsibility.'" "No, Computer, you threaten the safety of Alpha." "John is conscious again but Computer says he's as pig-headed as ever." "Ohh..." "Let's not take him." "Oh, no, he'll wanna come." "He'll change his mind." "He's so inflexible." "Well, a few days solitude'll soon straighten him out." "Do you know what?" "We'll leave him an Eagle, and then when he comes to his senses he can join us in his own good time, mm?" "OK." "All right, Computer, I have to talk to someone." "I took you for a strong-willed man." "How long do you think you can last?" "Three days of despair have reduced you to pills to sleep the hours away." "In this crude human way, you try to numb your mind against the Guardian." "And yet the Guardian could make the process so much easier for you." "If only you would choose the Pirian way." "You fought hard in the struggle for survival." "The burden of responsibility has almost been unbearable, and yet you've borne it." "Now you can relax and enjoy the peace that you've earned for your people." "Your wounds are healed, and your friend Dr Russell has not had to lift a finger." "You see?" "Her nerves are relaxed, her appetites assuaged." "The struggle is over." "And you can join her in paradise." "No!" "Leave me with my pain." "It reminds me I'm human." "For some reason you've brought us here, fixed us in orbit and reduced my people to that." "By your presence in our universe, you have disturbed the peace of Piri." "You must be made fit to live here." " That is the Guardian's directive." " So you sabotaged our computer?" "It was not sabotaged, merely taken over for the Guardian's use." "Of all things on Alpha, its mind was most nearly perfect." "It most readily accepted the Guardian." "That's because the computer is a machine, but human beings can't exist in Pirian terms." "Can't you make the Guardian understand this?" "Can't the Pirians themselves see?" "Perfection is absolute." "You must be made perfect." "Not even to have to worry about the problems of day-to-day subsistence." "I used to dream about this." "Mmm." "To opt out." "To be able... at long last... to fulfil our true potential... as thinking human beings." "There's John." "I wonder if we should go to meet him?" "Mm?" "He'll find his way." "Sandra." "The Pirians, where are they?" "Sandra?" "!" "There are many forms of life, but this is beautiful." " Paul, I need your help." " We're all so happy!" " The Pirians, where are they?" " We're happy." "Helena!" "Helena!" "Helena?" "!" "Hey, hey..." "Easy, Commander." "Easy." "Helena!" "Helena?" "!" "Helena!" "Helena... why didn't you answer me?" "John, you've come to join us at last." "Where are the Pirians?" "They've given us eternal life." "Come." "Oh... that's John." "Hey, Helena, come on." "Let's go." "All right, Helena, sit down, just there." "Sit back." "OK, John..." "Give me your hand..." "Lie back, Helena." "Let me take this off." "Shock treatment." "Had my heart stopped?" "Worse, much worse." "It's good to have you back." "Start at the beginning." "Tell me exactly what happened." "You're on the planet Piri." "Yes..." "The Exodus." "We went down to the planet." "Tell me about the people, how did they welcome you?" "There was just this light." "That's the Guardian, what about the people who control it?" "I didn't see any people." "Helena, you were in a trance." "Think hard." "Were there any machines?" "Nothing." "Nothing moves." "There's no sign of life." "No sign of life." "That's it." "There is no life." "There are no Pirians." "Creatures of the Moon!" "The Guardian takes pain from your lives to make them perfect." " We are grateful!" " We are grateful!" " The Guardian has made you happy." " We are happy!" " We are happy!" " And peaceful." "We are peaceful!" " You would not have peace disturbed?" " NO!" "One amongst you threatens your happiness, who comes to destroy your peace." "He will not accept the dominion of the Guardian." "He must be destroyed." "Destroy him!" "He is your Commander, John Koenig." "You must destroy him so the Guardian may live and protect you forever." " There's Koenig!" " Go back to Alpha!" " Why don't you go back?" " We want to stay here!" "Helena, stay back." "Helena, this way!" "He's only stunned." "There's no place on Piri for you, Koenig." "You're destroying our peace." "We're going to kill you now." "Where are your own people?" "!" "They don't exist, do they?" "!" "No, they died, just as my people are dying right now, of total apathy." "This is what passes for life on Piri!" "The Moon's going out of orbit!" "Head back to the ships!" "Main motors." "Main motors." " Ignition." " Lift off!" "So when you destroyed the girl you destroyed the Guardian." "And with no Guardian to suspend time, time was restored and we were back on our original course." "Commander!" "Computer has analysed the data from the sensors." "Planet Piri now has life, water, vegetation, everything!" "We've brought a dead planet back to life." "Maybe we should have stayed."