"All right, Zen." "Run it again for me, will you?" "." "Confirmed." "Play back, normal speed." "[PLASMA DISCHARGE]" "[ELECTROSTATIC HUM]" "Orac, why won't you give us the background to that prediction?" "." "Because that would invalidate the prediction." "And if we knew the future in detail we could change it, and so it wouldn't be the future." "Correct." "That is the paradox ofprediction." "All right, Zen, standby to run it again, at half speed." "Confirmed." "Slow or fast, it will still look the same." " How long have you been there?" "." " I was here when you came in." "Why didn't you speak?" "." "I had nothing in particular to say." "Besides, you looked as though you were planning something you didn't want the rest of us to know about." "Orac's prediction still hasn't come into effect." "I am trying to find some reason why he was wrong." " Have you found what you want?" "." " No." "That's because you're looking for the wrong things." "What exactly does that mean?" "." "It's a common enough failing." "Now if you've finished with Zen, I'd quite like to get on;" "we have a malfunction on the intermediate range sensors." "I need to check the systems." "Leave it!" "If I've missed something, I want to know what it is now, Avon." "Well now, all you had to do was ask." "Zen!" "Replay, half speed." "Confirmed." "Stop." "All right, reverse to the instant before the explosion." "Freeze it there." "All the reassurance you could want." "Do you think you could forget your superiority complex for a moment and get on with it?" "." "All right." "But first of all, let us examine the nature of prediction." "The human mind is capable of seeing into the short-range future with reasonable accuracy." "For example, imagine that you are standing on the edge of a cliff." "As long as you're not standing behind me." "There are a number of alternative futures." "You could take a pace forward and plunge to your death." "The cliff could crumble under your feet with the same result." "A gust of wind could carry you over." "All right, yes." "But the probability is that I would turn and walk away." "Exactly." "You've just made a prediction based on the known facts." "A computer works on precisely the same principle." "But all you're saying is that prediction is not immutable fact." "Right." "If you hadn't gone near the cliff in the first place, you wouldn't have faced any of the dangers." "So?" "." "Zen, selective magnification." "Show us the background." "Confirmed." "Look at it, Blake." "Look at the configuration of the stars." "That position is unique in the universe." "Ah!" "Of course." "Zen can give us a precise astral fix and tell us exactly where the event is supposed to have happened." "Congratulations." "All right, where is it?" "." "It's in the Twelfth Sector." "Astro point seven eight one." "What?" "." "But that's halfway across the galaxy!" "Now if we make sure that we never go into that area, then the prediction becomes void." "I'll tell the others." "Uh, how long have you known?" "." "Oh, several hours." "And you just let the others go on worrying?" "." "Well, all they had to do was ask." "Perhaps in future, they won't rely on you to provide all the answers." "[DULL EXPLOSIONS]" " What the hell is going on?" "." " Zen, report." "Aft hull sensors register two strikes by medium-range neutron blasters." "Where are they coming from?" "." "Due to the malfunction of our intermediate range detectors, that information is not available." "[EXPLOSIONS]" "Zen, activate the force wall, increase speed to Standard by 8." "Battle computers on-line." "Confirmed." "Avon, get the others in here fast." "Zen, direct vision, 360 orbital scan." "Confirmed." "Attention!" "We are under attack." "Battle stations!" "Hold it there." "Two ships homing in on us." "Concentrate force wall on coordinates five five three one." "Confirmed." "Five five three one." "Vila, activate the weaponry system." "Jenna, take her on manual." "[DULL EXPLOSIONS]" " Re-energise the force wall." " Confirmed." " What are they, Blake?" "." " I don't know." "Blake, look." " Battle computers propose evasive course." " Specify." "Planetary orbit at two thousand spacials." " Closer." "Make it one thousand." " Confirmed." "Cally, give me tracking on the hostiles." "Maximum magnification." "They must be Federation ships." "First analysis indicates that they are not vehicles of a type used in Federation fleets." "Who are they?" "." "That information is not available." "Entering planetary orbit now." "Hold it there." " Closing in on us." " Jenna, hold course till they're within our range." " Holding course." " Weapons systems primed for firing." " Lock on target." " Target fixed." "Range?" "." "Fifty thousand spacials and closing fast." "They're travelling at almost Standard by Twelve!" " Impossible." " I tell you, they are." "They'll be in range in fifty-one seconds." " Hold course." " Holding." " I've got their communications frequency." " Voice contact?" "." " No, just computer talk." " Can our machines translate?" "." " Negative." " Zen, identify the hostiles." " Forty-two seconds." " Zen!" "The information must be bypassing the translator systems." "Thirty-five seconds." "Let me launch a couple of seekers before they fire." "It might throw their attack run." " Go ahead." " Firing one and two, now." "Come on, come on." "They won't fire!" "The fail-safes keep cutting in." " Override them!" " Twenty seconds." "The whole system is locked into negative." "Blake, without firepower we'll be blasted to pieces." "Hostiles closing fast." "Thirteen seconds to blaster range." "Avon, stand by the force wall." " In range." " Force wall." "Primary malfunction." "Force wall won't activate." "Leave it." "Hit it, Jenna, all the power we've got." "Hang on!" "[NEUTRON BLASTER FIRE]" "[NEUTRON BLASTER FIRE]" "Gan!" "Cally!" "Vila!" "It's all right, Vila." "I think we've lost them." " How d'you know?" "." " We're still here..." "Cut the auxiliaries." "Get back to primary drive." "Are you all right?" "." "All I am willing to admit is that I am still alive." "We've got to know if those ships are still coming." "See if you can get a scan." "Cally, take her down to her quarters." "Gan, go and check the power units, will you?" "." "Right." "Blake, I can't cut the auxiliary drive." "We're still running on full power." " The scan is out, we're flying blind." " What's it register, Vila?" "." "Maximum." "Can we hold together at that speed?" "." " We won't have to." " What do you mean?" "." "Running at full power will drain the energy banks in, what?" "." " Two hours at the most." " And then we'll have no power at all." "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" " Blake." " Gan." "I'm in Sub control One" "There's a lot of damage here." "Virtually all the control systems seem to be out." " Check the other sub control rooms." " Right." "Where did those ships come from?" "." "Who were they?" "." "Yes, and why did they attack?" "." "Zen was confident they weren't Federation." " So why did they pick on me?" "." " I doubt if it was personal, Vila." "It felt personal." "It always feels personal when someone tries to kill me." "It seems we were pretty lucky." "Those ships came up on us when we were blind." "They should have been able to wipe us out completely." "Zen, I want a full damage report... and then an assessment of how much the breakdown can be handled by auto-repair." "The translator unit must be out." "Then we'll have to do it all ourselves." "Vila, go down and see if you can help Gan, make a list of all the faults you can find." "I'm going to isolate the auxiliaries from the energy units before they burn up all our power." "Avon, concentrate on Zen." "Give priority to the detectors and the navigation systems." "And then see if you can get us some scans." " Is that all?" "." "What shall I do with the other hand?" "." " I'll let you know." "When you get Zen working, ask him to prescribe something for a headache, will you?" "." "I've got this shocking pain right behind the eyes." "Have you considered amputation?" "." " How's Jenna?" "." " Just shaken." "She'll be back in the teleport as soon as she's recovered." "Good." "Help Avon with Zen." "What can I do?" "." "Strip down the auto-navigator, remove the damaged components, and list them for replacement." "This is going to take time." "It could have been worse." " It should have been worse." " What do you mean?" "." "Something Blake said." "Those ships should have knocked us out completely." "Why didn't they?" "." " There could be many reasons." " I have considered all of them." " Only one is satisfactory." " And which is that?" "." " They didn't want to destroy us." " But it was a full-scale attack." "Was it?" "." "Their first attack knocked out our weaponry system." "The second run knocked out virtually every instrument system." "Right now Liberator is out of control." "At least, out of OUR control." "You think all this was intentional, and we're not running on a random course?" "." "Oh, I think we're going somewhere quite particular." "[ALERT CHIME]" "[DATATRANSFER]" "Acknowledged." "The pursuit craft have made contact, and have initiated all programmed functions." "Assemble the assault group and prepare for transference." "Acknowledged." "[DATATRANSFER]" "[AUXILIARIES POWERING DOWN]" "[EXPLOSION]" "[AUXILIARIES POWERING UP]" "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" " Blake." " The lights are pulsating." "What's happening?" "." "Nothing." "Just get on with what you're doing." "Switching the drives in and out isn't helping, you know." "I'll call you IF I need you." "[ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE]" "How are you getting on?" "." "I've finished fitting the auto-navigator." "And now there is just this detector unit that is burnt out." "You'll find a replacement in the auto-repair cavity." "Good." "That's all completed." "That's strange." "Thought so." "Zen is functioning, the computers are working, but not for us." "Avon, there's something wrong in the teleport section, all the controls are activating." "Are you sure?" "." "The locators are setting bearings." "Come and see." "No one is to go near that section until we have Zen under control." " Why?" "." " I think I know what's happening now." "The teleport section will be the most dangerous area on the ship." "When it happens, THAT is where it will start." "When what happens?" "." "What are you talking about?" "." "If I'm right, this will show it." "It's rejecting the replacement!" "It's more fundamental than that." "We are the cause." "It is rejecting US." "Jenna." " Jenna, it's Blake." "I'm in Sub control Room Four." "Get Avon down here fast." " Avon." " I heard." "I'm busy." "He's working on Zen." "I don't care what he's working on, get him down here!" "Blake, what I'm doing is vitally concerned with our survival." "Are you prepared to take responsibility for what happens if I delay?" "." " Don't I always?" "." "Now just get down here!" " Anything you say." "And Avon, don't come crashing in;" "gently as you open the door." "Blake's regard for our safety is inspiring, don't you think?" "." "Avon, there's no structural damage in the other control unit." "Well, that's something." "But the instrument and systems disruption's enormous." "I shall tell our fearless leader." " What's the matter with him?" "." " What do you think?" "." "If it ever comes to a showdown, my money's on Blake." "Well, half of it." "I'll put the other half on Avon." "That's a safe bet." "But if Avon is right, we'll probably all be dead anyway." "Dead?" "." "Is that your idea of a safe bet?" "." "Easy!" "Easy." "This coil's live in every sense." "It's got enough energy to vaporise both of us." "All right, you're giving the orders, what do you want me to do about it?" "." "Turn off the power, without touching the main switch." "What happened?" "." "I tried to shut off the auxiliaries." "But they switched back on automatically." "That's happening to every function onboard." "And then this coil leapt at me as though it was trying to protect the switchbox." "The ship is working against us." "From now on we are just passengers." "The question is, where to?" "." "I'm going to try and break the circuit." "It knows." "It knows what you're trying to do, Avon." "It's linked to the computer circuits." "They're feeding in a defensive program." "I'm going to put an explosive charge across the main energy feed." "When it senses what I'm trying to do, it should move away from you." " Towards you." " When it does, you move to the door." "And when it homes in on you?" "." "I think my instinct for survival is more finely tuned than it is." "It's moving." "Leave it now." "Come on!" "That is one I owe you." "Don't worry." "At the right time, I will remind you of it." " Thanks." " You all right?" "." "Yes." "Where's Gan?" "." "Treatment unit." "He tried to reconnect one of the servo links and it burned his hand." "Right, sit down." "No one is to attempt to repair any equipment till the computers are back under our control." "What is it, Blake?" "." "What's going on?" "." "The computers seem to be making decisions for themselves." "They're resisting all interference." " But that's not possible!" " Avon..." "It is if you think of the ship as a living entity, with massive networks of electronics acting as a nervous system." " All linked into a central computer." " The brain." "Carry the analogy a stage further." "When a living creature is hurt, a cut or a wound, antibodies gather around the injury to repair it and to fight infection." "You mean the computers are treating us like germs?" "." "Crude, but accurate." "But antibodies kill infection." "Why are we still alive?" "." "We're not sure." "There are dozens of ways the ship could destroy us:." "cut off the air supply, drop the temperature so we freeze to death..." "Stop putting ideas into its head." "Actually, one touch of that cable would have done it." "No, I don't think it wants to kill us." "Well, not yet, anyway." "It's saving us for something." "Dinner?" "." "Look, we've been on the Liberator for a long time." "The computers have never turned against us before." "Why now?" "." "That's what I was trying to find out when you sent for me." "There's something else I'd like to try." "[DATATRANSFER]" "It's another computer." "It's communicating with Zen." "Someone outside is controlling the Liberator." "Yes, we know." "But who and why?" "." "Blake." "Yes, Gan." "Blake, there's something peculiar happening in the teleport section." "I think the..." "Cally, Vila, come on." "It's the teleport." "I told you." "I warned them to keep away from there." "Gan!" "He didn't come past us." "He must've gone that way." " Go and see if you can find him." " Could he have operated the teleport?" "." "How and to where?" "." "Anyway, all the bracelets are still here." "Then he is still onboard." "Try and get him once more on the communicator." "If you can't reach him, give Vila a hand to find him." "Gan, make your way to the flight deck immediately." "Repeat:" "Make your way to the flight deck immediately." "Gan?" "." "The energy banks are drained." "We must be getting close to our destination." "You're sure there's a pattern to all this?" "." "Very precise and carefully calculated." "I think the takeover will be completed quite soon." "Jenna, get the guns." "We're not giving this ship up without a fight." "They're white hot." "White hot?" "." "All of them?" "." "They've covered everything." "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" "Blake." "Cally." "We've made a thorough search." "There's no trace of Gan." "All right, come back to the flight deck." "Vila?" "." "Vila?" "." "I think the attack ships did exactly what they intended." "They knocked out our manual control systems." "Their blaster strike would have to be enormously accurate to cause selective damage." "It could be done if they knew the vulnerable points." "All right, but how could their computers override Zen?" "." "There's a command code programmed into every system." "Key that code, and the computers will only respond to orders from source." "But who would know the code that operates Zen?" "." "It's obvious, isn't it?" "." "The people who built the Liberator?" "." "Just taking back what's theirs." "Redemption." "[STUN ROD DISCHARGE]" " Anything?" "." " Nothing." "Then there's not a trace of any of them." "Cally!" "Gan!" "I warned them to stay away from the teleport area." "The people who built this ship will have the same teleport capability as we have." " They'll use it to board us." " That doesn't account for their disappearance." "Unless they've already boarded us." "Ah, that would be logical." "They'll take us out a few at a time." "They wouldn't want to risk a full-scale battle." "It might damage the ship." "Isn't there anything we can do to hold them off?" "." "No." "Not unless we can regain control of the computers." "I don't see any way of doing that." " Let's try Orac again." " What good will that do?" "." "Maybe he can analyse Zen's programming and eradicate the override." " And bring Zen back under our instruction?" "." " Right." "Clear the receptor circuits to receive an emergency program." "Confirm when ready." "Confirm readiness." "Come on, come on!" " What's wrong?" "." " You tell me." " Maybe it's been taken over, too." " No, that's not likely." "Orac's systems are entirely independent of all the Liberator's." "Now then, Orac." "Are you going to function or are you not?" "." "All principal circuits are operating at full capacity and cannot receive new programs at this time." "Well, clear the circuits." "This is priority." "Circuit clearance and reprogramming will take one hour and thirty-seven point nine seconds." "That could be just a little late." "State yourprogram requirements." "They will be implemented when capacity is available." "We want total analysis of Zen's override system and erasure of that control." "Eliminate any links with an external computer." "Key the voice systems to respond only to the commands of Avon, myself, and Jenna." "[EXPLOSION]" "Take control." "I think we just lost our ship." "The ship is now under our control." "The three remaining crew are prisoners." "Restore all operating functions and program for docking." "[DATATRANSFER]" " The repair circuits are working." "Zen, too." " Another few minutes and we'll be fully operational." " Zen!" "You will all remain under guard until docking is complete." "Orders must be obeyed instantly." "Failure will result in punishment." "Where are the rest of my crew?" "." "At least tell us if they're alive!" "You will remain silent." "That is an order." "I accept that we are your prisoners, but I demand to know what has happened to my crew." "Force level three." "[STUN ROD DISCHARGE]" "All malfunctions have now been rectified." "Systems are fully operational." "Lock onto docking flight path." " Confirmed." " Release." "You all right?" "." "Felt as though every nerve in my body was being scraped." "You disobeyed an order." "Further infractions will be dealt with more severely." " Screen forward vision." " Confirmed." " I don't believe it!" " Impressive..." " I've never seen a space station on that design before." " That's more than just a station." " The technology..." " It's the kind that built Liberator." "Docking complete." "Walkway to main hatch secured." " All flight systems off." " Confirmed." "You will now walk towards the main hatch." "Move." "[ORAC OPERATING]" "Halt!" "Take the leader." " Why are you separating us?" "." " You are to be interrogated by the System." " The System?" "." " What happens to us?" "." "You will remain in the detention section until the System decides on the method of your execution." " Execution?" "." " Move them." "You can't do that!" "What right have you got to destroy us?" "!" "." "Sustained." "Level five." "Release." "You were warned." "A third time and I will command destruction level." "Move." "They've gone." "What are you looking for?" "." "Surveillance devices." "You check the lock." "I think it's clean." "Magno-lock." "Probably linked to a central register." "Jointed metal plate." "No hope there." "It might have possibilities if we had a heavy-duty cutter and a couple of explosive devices." "Even if we do get out, we're in space, Avon;" "we've got nowhere to go." "So you're just going to sit here and wait for them to eliminate us?" "." "You saw the size of this place." "If we get out of here, we can run and we can hide." "If they're going to kill us, let us at least try and make it difficult for them." "Stop!" "March on." "[ALERT CHIME]" "[DATATRANSFER]" "Acknowledged." "There is disturbance on the control program." "Until stable, all commands must be checked and confirmed." "Acknowledged." " The System has questions to put to you." " I'd like to ask one or two myself." " That is not permitted." " For instance, what is the System?" "." "The System is the supreme power of Spaceworld and the three life-supporting planets which orbit our sun." "The System is a complex of infallible machines." "All of this?" "." "You mean even you are computer controlled?" "." "We serve the System." "Its questions and orders are routed through me, but the words and thoughts are those of the System." "Is that understood?" "." "I demand your assurance that the rest of my crew remain unharmed." " Force level seven." " All right!" "Understood." "We will commence." "State the circumstance by which you came to be aboard Deep Space Vehicle II." "We call it the Liberator." "It was found abandoned and drifting in space." "I was part of a crew that was... put on board." "State the astral location in which you found DSV II." "I don't know it." "My nearest point of reference is a Federation prison planet called Cygnus Alpha." "State any further information you have regarding DSV II." "We assumed it had been in a space battle." "State any further information you have regarding..." "regarding..." "[ALERT CHIME]" "Circuitry disturbances are continuing." "An outside influence has been analysed." "We will resume the questioning when the disturbance has been rectified." "It's nice to know that computers can have their bad days, too." "The System is infallible!" "Orac..." "Perhaps we could chew our way out." "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" "Public Address:" "Attention all guards." "Security report:" "Slave group number seven have attacked their escort and escaped." "They are to be recaptured and eliminated." "Repeat: recaptured and eliminated." " Jenna, come here." " What is it?" "." " You remember Orac's prediction?" "." " That's the least of our problems at the moment." "I checked the star pattern behind Liberator." "What Orac predicted was halfway across the galaxy." " I made a mental note of the configuration." " And?" "." "You're looking at it." "This is the Twelfth Sector." "Astro point seven eight one." "Exactly where Orac predicted we would be destroyed." "[ALERT CHIME]" "Having a little trouble?" "." "The System confirms massive malfunctions." "Emergency programs are to be activated." "T ransfer all prisoners to elimination chamber four, sentence to be carried out immediately." "Look, wait a minute, wait a minute!" "Take this prisoner to elimination chamber two." "Hey!" " Thanks." " Shhh!" " Where are we?" "." " It's an old service lift" "Those young guards, they don't even know it exists." "Listen, I've got to get to the detention block." "Do you know where it is?" "." " I'll show you." " Good." " Where do you come from?" "." " Planet called Earth." " Earth?" "." " How long's all this been here?" "." " From before my father was born." " Before that?" "." "Those times?" "." "The three planets were always fighting or getting ready to fight." "Sounds familiar." "Then one of the planets developed a computer so powerful, it was able to take over the weaponry computers of the other two." "So all three became one?" "." "One gigantic System that totally governs the three worlds." "And the System built this as a control centre?" "." "Yes, now there's no war, no famine..." " And no freedom." "Yes." "The System uses people." "We are flexible, adaptable, expendable." "What about the ones that give the orders?" "." "The Altas?" "." "They're linked into the System." "They're not really people at all." "[CRACKING SOUND OUTSIDE DOOR]" "I'm... sorry, Vila." " Been looking all over for you two." " How did you get here?" "." "I was just passing, thought I'd drop in and see you." " Where are Gan and Cally?" "." " In a cell along the corridor." " Well, what kept you?" "." " Magno-locks aren't that easy to open." "Even for me." " Practice." "Let's go." " Just a minute." "Where's Blake?" "." " They took him away for questioning." " Questioning?" "." " I don't think we should hang around." "No, neither do I." " What did you do to your head?" "." " One of the guards didn't like me." "Come on!" "What are we going to do?" "." "Try and get back on Liberator." "She's fully operational." "It's our only chance." "What about Orac's prophecy?" "." "As you said, right now that's the least of our problems." "There they are." "Stop!" "[GUNFIRE]" "[EXPLOSION]" "Go on, I'll hold them!" "Gan, don't just stand there!" "Come on!" "Raise your hands." "Turn round." "Kill them." "Destruction level!" "Come on!" " Through that door." " Right." "Look out!" "Right." "Get the ship moving and fast!" "Jenna!" "Right." "Come on!" " I'll stay here." "Blake, come on!" "[ALARM BELL]" "Zen!" "Prepare immediate launch!" "Confirmed." " Zen, hundred-eighty turn, full lateral thrust." " Confirmed." "Cally, quick!" "Destruct...destruct...destruct..." "Walkway severed." "Main hatch closed." "Give me rear vision." " We're out!" " We've made it!" "Well done, Jenna!" "Information." "Sensors register secondary launch, a space vehicle in pursuit." "Speed, Standard by Fourteen." "Vila, ready the weaponry system." "We'll make a fight of it." "It's too late, Blake, we're lost." "Do it, Vila!" " Blake, there's no point." " Orac's prediction is coming true." "She's right; we are in the precise location where Orac predicted our destruction." " It hasn't happened yet!" " Pursuit ship moving into missile attack." " Cally, put her on the screen." " There she is." "The same ship." "The same as Liberator." "That's it." "It's a sister ship." "That's what Orac showed us." "It wasn't the Liberator." "Sister ship or not, she's coming at us." "Well, activate the force wall." " Sensors register missile emission." "Blake, there is no point in going on, we're finished." "At this range we haven't a chance." "She can't miss us." "[EXPLOSION]" " Vila, did you fire?" "." " No." "Well, what happened?" "." "I took the precaution of scrambling their launch system." "It pre-detonated their missiles." "Had I not, my prediction would have been inaccurate." "Orac, you are a genius." "Next time let us know what you're planning." "I am closing down." "I have much to do." "You have engaged my circuits on your petty affairs for far too long." "Thank you, Orac." "Zen, take over." "State course and speed." "Speed Standard by Three, Earth Sector." "We have unfinished business with the Federation." "Oh no, not again..." "Why Earth Sector?" "." " Would you rather stay here?" "." " You make them sound like the only alternatives." "They are, for us." "Go back to your position."