- A sinister woman called Zamara materializes on the base, forcing Helena and Tony to accompany her to the planet of Vega, whose natives are anything but friendly. A servant of the Vegans, known only as Number Eight, informs the two Alphans that he and his race are the natural inhabitants of the planet and that Zamara and her race are androids, who, it turns out, want the Alphans to teach them warfare.—don @ minifie-1
- The moon's trajectory through space has brought it quite close to a medium-sized Earth-like planet except that it's completely buried in snow and ice. It is unknown whether the Alphans had performed reconnaissance. Without warning, the entire Moonbase is plunged into a complete power shutdown with no known cause. Just as suddenly, the population of Alpha becomes totally immobile (similar to the beginning of "Force of Life"). A pillar of light springs up in a corner within the Command Center, quickly replaced by a beautiful humanoid woman, who wanders around the room, observing the "frozen" personnel. She shows particular interest in Helena and Tony, who had accidentally bumped into one another at the precise moment of immobility; the two almost appearing to be embracing. Commander Koenig alone breaks out of his stance; the woman assuring him that his people will be all right. Instantly, the others revive. She introduces herself as Zamara of the planet Vega, which the moon is near to. She calmly informs them that she's in complete control of the base's power, as well as the Alphans' nervous systems. She announces that she'll grant them minimum life-support power for the next forty-eight hours; some of their systems immediately clicking on. Zamara then informs them that it will be necessary for two of Alpha's people to arrive back on Vega with her, promising that they'll be returned within the time limit. Realizing that they're powerless against her, Commander Koenig volunteers himself, followed by Alan Carter. She rejects them as being unsuitable, choosing Helena and Tony Verdeschi. When Koenig approaches her in defiance, she returns him to his former immobility. Zamara then instructs the two chosen ones to concentrate on arriving on Vega ("wishing it"), threatening the lives of the other Alphans if they don't comply. After Helena and Tony close their eyes in concentration, they disappear in a burst of light. Koenig then begins moving again and demands that a line of communication be left open between them and their two missing crew members. Zamara agrees, Sandra confirming that their communications are open. The alien then vanishes in a burst of light.
Helena and Tony materialize within a palatial complex containing statuary and potted trees and shrubs that are occupied by parrots. Several of Zamara's people are scattered about. Helena becomes startled by a figure emerging from behind shrubbery wearing a featureless plastic mask. As it moves away, a male Vegan introduces himself as Zarl, explaining to Helena that there's no need to fear a "number" (each "number" displaying a large digit on the front of their coveralls). Zamara finds Tony observing the frozen planet surface through a window, explaining that the temperature is always sub-zero and the air almost too thin to survive. She informs him that within the city, he'll find all that he desires.
Back on Alpha, the Command Center personnel are donning jackets to deal with the increasing coldness. After several failed attempts by Sandra to contact the two Alphans on the planet, Commander Koenig realizes Zamara had lied to them about allowing them to communicate.
Helena and Tony have been invited for "dinner" at a long table occupied by various Vegans. A "number" with a large "8" displayed on their clothing sets down a bowl of finger food in front of Helena. Moving in close he whispers to her, warning her not to act as they expect. Zarl explains to her that the "numbers" are automatons. Placing a mug in front of her, the Number then warns her that if they display any aggression in front of the Vegans, they'll kill them. Helena's invited to sample the food, which she finds thoroughly unappetizing. However, due to Number Eight's warnings, she disguises her disgust. Zamara taunts her, hurling insults at her, apparently trying to draw her into a confrontation, but Helena doesn't take the bait. Zarl decides to work on Tony as the food bowl is passed to him. Helena sternly informs Tony that the food is delicious. He samples it, then forces himself to declare that it's delicious. Zarl's attempts to lure Tony into releasing aggression results in the Alphan first spitting the food out onto the table, then standing up, grabbing the bowl to hurl it at Zarl. Helena uses disguised wordplay to tell him to "cool it". Tony relents and returns to his seat.
On Moonbase Alpha, the personnel are dealing with falling temperatures and imminent oxygen depletion.
Tony and Helena are brought to their "quarters" - a tiny room with a single stone slab as a bench. Their hosts state that they hope they'll be comfortable. As soon as they're left alone, the Alphans quickly learn that their commlocks are unable to contact the Moonbase. They're held in by a set of sliding doors, so Tony draws his laser to try and blast them open. Helena stops him, warning him to be careful. The Vegans want them to use the laser for demonstrative purposes, which is why they haven't been confiscated. Helena states that they have to track down the Number who warned her, for more information. Tony fires, and instead of damaging the doors, they simply slide open.
Moving with stealth through corridors, the Alphans spot a Number and quietly follow it. It enters a set of doors at the end of one of the corridors and there are no Vegans in sight. Tony and Helena approach the automatic door which opens to let them in. They find a cavernous enclosure with rocky walls occupied by several Numbers. The two Alphans announce to them that they're here as friends and not to fear them. Helena requests for the one who had warned her to approach them. Number Eight emerges from the group and removed his face mask, revealing human features. He informs the startled Alphans that the Vegans are the androids and they are the humans. Going into detail, Number Eight recounts how long ago his people had created the first robots and linked them to a powerful computer. The computer designed more advanced robots, who in turn built more sophisticated computers. The cycle continued until the robots evolved perfect humanoid form. Tony asks about their emotions, Eight explaining that the androids had emulated the emotions of his people through observation, everything except love and hate. Helena asks why his people keep their faces covered; Eight explaining that it's so they won't demonstrate any further emotions. Tony asks why Zamara and company don't simply rip them off, Eight stating that the Vegans lack the ability to commit violence. The reason the Alphans are here is to show them how to kill. As long as the Numbers are alive, there's always the chance they could find a way to shut down the android's computer. After Helena asks directions to the computer in question to check it out, Eight reminds her that the androids will do anything to provoke them into demonstrating violence, and if they succeed, all humans will face death.
When the pair arrive at the computer enclosure, they find a visible forcefield protecting it. Tony fires his laser at it; the beam deflected in a shower of sparks. They suddenly find Zarl and Zamara standing behind them. The androids inform them that all of the power of their Moonbase wouldn't even scratch that forcefield. Attempting to disguise their activities, they claim that they were trying to find a way back to their friends. The androids inform them that to get back, all they have to do is to wish it. Tony and Helena shut their eyes, then find themselves standing in the Command Center.
Two things are immediately obvious; one is that the Moonbase seems to lack personnel, and the other - in which the pair fail to question - is that the base has somehow regained full power. They're unable to raise anybody using the base's communication system, so physically searching for the others is required, in which they also come up blank. Tony uses the computer to check the moon's position, finding that it has moved two light years away from the planet Vega. They conclude that their people must be on the planet and they'll never see them again.
Distraught, Helena has retired to her quarters. Tony later brings her a tray of coffee, checking on her. She suggests they try and get back to Vega - where their people must be - the same way they got there in the first place, by wishing it. Tony mocks the idea, but goes along with her to try. Nothing happens. After Tony leaves her quarters, she turns to the tray, suddenly noticing a red wrapper and a plastic lid. She suspiciously sniffs the coffee, discovering it to be loaded with a sedative. She nervously dictates a status report into her Alpha Log Recorder, detailing the recent events, ending it with her belief that Tony has become unstable under the strain and is potentially dangerous.
It turns out that Zarl and Zamara have been spying on the two Alphans, hiding behind wall lighting. Zamara remarks that Helena won't be able to withstand the pressure and will fall right into their hands. When Zarl remarks that it seems cruel, Zamara warns him that he sounds too human, reminding him of the dangers.
Helena's nervousness turns to panic when the base's Atmosphere Control alarm begins sounding, indicating someone has shut off their air supply. Laser in hand, she exits her quarters to locate Tony, who could only have been the one who's attempting to suffocate them both. By the time she finds him in a corridor, she's running short of breath and hides from him. Tony hits the button to reactivate their atmosphere and when he catches his breath, sets out to search for Helena, who he believes is cracking up, as evidence of her cutting off their air supply.
Both Alphans are now within the Command Center with lasers at the ready; Helena hiding behind a console, Tony searching for her. Observing them from their hiding places, Zamara informs Zarl that soon Helena will show them how to kill. Helena then comes out of hiding, pleading with Tony to drop the gun. They lay their cards on the table; Helena convinced that Tony had drugged her coffee, and Tony convinced that she had sabotaged their oxygen supply. They each deny the accusations, causing Helena to realize that they're not the only ones on Alpha. It is now obvious to the two Alphans that the Vegans have been setting them up into killing one another. They both feign amusement, addressing the unseen Vegans, claiming they're enjoying playing these games. Helena playfully invites Zarl and Zamara show themselves, then gleefully gloats that they'd gone through all of the trouble to create all this and they lost. "This time", replies Zamara, causing Helena to worry about what they'll try next. The androids then transport the four of them back to the Vegan city.
On the real Alpha, the personnel are facing a real dilemma, as the temperature within the Moonbase is now down to five degrees below zero. Alan has been sent to retrieve the power packs from the Eagles to adapt them to Apha's power circuits, but without the travel tubes functioning, they're unable to access the Eagle bays. Sandra suddenly reports a security alert to the Commander; there's an alien form within the Recreation Area. It turns out that Zamara is viewing recorded discs (reading them by placing them against her temple). Koenig asks about Helena and Tony; Zamara assuring him that they're safe. He asks what she's doing here and she explains she needed "additional material". Alan fires a laser at her and she informs them that she and her people cannot be harmed; they are all part of a "completeness"; an indestructible chain. Zamara is studying Shakespeare's plays and questions Koenig about them, although he's oblivious as to her interest. When she gets to "Othello" and asks Koenig to confirm that jealousy can provoke people into killing, he begins to grasp what she's after. She's about to return to the planet, but the Commander stops her, explaining that it won't work with Helena and Tony, as they do not love one another. She asks him who does, and he explains that it's Maya and himself, hoping she'll take them with her. It works, as the three of them materialize within the Vegan city.
Tony and Helena become elated at the new arrivals. Koenig informs them of the Vegan's plans and Tony explains that the androids can be defeated if they're able to get to their master computer and find a way to shut it down. After Tony describes its forcefield and location, Maya sneaks off, observing the parrots. She transforms into their likeness and flies toward the computer in question. When she arrives, her parrot form is thrown back by the forcefield.
Music begins playing as Zarl approaches Helena, drawing her close to begin a type of erotic slowdance, the intent being to make Koenig jealous enough to exhibit violence.
Maya has returned to her original form, gliding her hand across the forcefield to search for any gaps. Luckily, there is a small gap at the bottom. Transforming into a cockroach, she crawls through the opening. Once inside, she reverts to her Psychon form and begins studying the computer's layout.
Zarl's and Helena's "dance" had been going on for some time now with fast-paced music playing loudly in the background. Every being in the room is watching anxiously, particularly Commander Koenig, who's by now sitting with clenched fists; using every effort into not getting up and punching Zarl in the face, who's constantly pawing at Helena. Tony's doing his best to keep Koenig calm. When Maya returns, she informs them that the computer has a failsafe device which will destroy the entire planet if disturbed.
When Zarl finally kisses Helena, as instructed by Zamara, Koenig - now knowing there's no way to stop them - unleashes on Zarl; throwing a roundhouse punch to the jaw which sends the android crashing to the floor. Zamara cries out that they've been shown, ordering Zarl to kill the Commander. Rising to his feet, Zarl looks down at his hands as they form fists, then tests them by smashing a stone table in half. Tony desperately states that there has to be something they can do. Maya points out that they're all linked together like a chain; all they have to do is break one link. Zarl further tests his new weapons by punching a statue, which crumbles to pieces. As Zarl approaches Koenig with determination, Helena jumps between them, pleading with Zarl - stressing that he's capable of becoming human. Koenig joins in, aware that Zarl had experienced real feelings with Helena, urging him to take that extra step and become human. While Zamara orders him to kill the Alphans, Helena takes his hand. He kisses hers, then slowly collapses to the floor. Zamara screams as the movement of all of the Vegans except Zarl slows into immobility, just as the Alphans had experienced when all of this began. After the android's master computer shuts down, the Numbers who are present all remove their masks, knowing that they're finally free. Helena tends to Zarl, the only Vegan still operational. He weakly admits that he did feel something. Helena apologizes for being responsible for his imminent death. Zarl tells her not to be sorry; it was worth that one moment of humanity. He then immobilizes.
With the Vegans non-functional, all of Alpha's systems return to normal. The four of them on the planet await a rescue Eagle. As for the "numbers", they'll have to learn to cope with the planet's harsh conditions.
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