Space 1999 - Planets of Peril

by Michael Butterworth

But he got no further.

  A massive, sledge-hammer blow struck his system.

  He felt his body go numb.

  When he came to, he was lying on the floor, his body aching painfully.

  He picked himself up. Groggily he surveyed Torens and the container.

  ‘A forcefield...’

  As he tried to fathom a way of getting to the pilot, a shuffling sound came from behind.

  An Overseer was bearing down on them, taking stiff, mechanical strides. Its face was mask-like, repulsive. Behind the thin eye-vents a sullen blue light pulsed.

  Instinctively, Koenig brought up his stun gun and fired at it.

  An intense, pencil-thin beam of light struck the fungoid hood that seemed to cover most of the creature’s head and shoulders.

  Abruptly, it vanished.

  In its place lay a small piece of smoking rock.

  ‘... The charge was only set to stun...’ Koenig broke the awed silence.

  Picard looked grim.

  ‘Molecular transformation,’ he said. ‘We’ve seen it with the space ship and the balls of light... now here it is again.’

  As they looked, the rock converted itself into a whirling band of vertical light.

  It faded away, and Mentor materialized before them. He looked very annoyed.

  ‘Surrender your weapons, Commander.’

  Koenig tried to move past Mentor’s image.

  ‘I advise you not to,’ Mentor spoke sharply. ‘There is an energy screen round this image. You cannot get through.’

  Picard laughed sardonically. He lifted the rocket rifle into a firing position and aimed it at Mentor’s projection.

  ‘His image is only a communication circuit,’ he said. ‘Laser energy of sufficient power might just be able to overload it.’

  Mentor’s expression changed to one of severe cautioning.

  ‘I warn you, Koenig. Any force you use will be turned against you.’

  Picard looked at Koenig.

  ‘I think I can neutralize it.’

  Koenig seemed unsure.

  ‘Wait Lew...’ he began.

  But Picard went ahead and fired at the image.

  A massive charge arced outward, blinding them with its intensity.

  The arc struck, but instead of disrupting the image, it bounced off its surface and arced back.

  It struck Picard.

  It enveloped him in a glaring ball of energy.

  When the light cleared, he had vanished.

  ‘Picard...’ Helena screamed.

  Koenig and Macinlock raised their weapons at the image, but as they did so the guns turned into smoking rocks, and they quickly threw them to the ground.

  ‘Commander... to resist is foolish,’ Mentor’s voice boomed at them. His expression had mellowed again — as though such cogent demonstrations of his powers had pacified the psychosis inside him.

  Helena was still staring distraughtly at the spot where Picard had disappeared. Koenig reached out and grabbed her arm.

  He pulled her away with him, down the passageway, followed by Macinlock and Hays.

  As they went, Mentor stared gravely after them.

  ‘Very well,’ he said.

  His image dissolved into empty air.

  A moment later, a weird green glow began to fill the dank tunnels.

  It rippled like a tropical ethereal sea water.

  It emanated from in front of the Eagle crew.

  They stopped and stared down the straight, narrow passageway.

  ‘It’s... the ball,’ Macinlock shouted a warning. But they were too late to react.

  The blinding sphere that had absorbed the Eagle One, and later their own craft, appeared.

  It began speeding silently towards them at an enormous rate. Before they could turn and flee it had engulfed them, and they felt their minds being sucked away into an intense blackness.

  Hundreds of thousands of miles away through space, the delicate, probing photographic sensors at Moon Base Alpha panned across the bleak heavens.

  In the Command Centre beneath the lunar surface, Security Chief, Tony Verdeschi, Sandra Benes, Jameson and others grimly watched the pictures that the cameras brought back to them.

  They looked worried, distraught, and tired.

  They had located Psychon and the screen was filled once more with its bubbling, smoking death landscape.

  Sandra sat at her console running her hands through her tousled hair, and shaking her head.

  ‘Keep scanning, Sandra... they’re down there somewhere,’ Verdeschi told her.

  As they worked, a door slid open and Annette Fraser entered, carrying a tray of containers. She looked the worst of all. Recent tears still stained her cheeks with diluted mascara, and the tray shook in her hand as she walked. But she had wanted to keep control of herself. She had wanted to help — for she knew that she would be no use to her husband, Bill Fraser, if she gave way to the crippling heartache inside that craved her absolution.

  She set the table down with a clatter, and began handing out the containers of coffee.

  No one spoke to her, not knowing what to say.

  There was nothing they could say.

  Sandra stared in exasperation at her console.

  ‘They’re down there somewhere, but I can’t get a reading,’ she whined. ‘All we get is the planet surface... and those shock waves. They’re growing. But they’re not emanating from Psychon. they’re coming from a completely different sector.’

  She looked totally confused.

  ‘They must be interference waves of some kind. I shouldn’t worry about them yet,’ Verdeschi told her. He looked grimly at the moving film on the screen. ‘Our beam on Psychon must be bouncing off a scanner shield of some kind. It looks like Mentor’s put a block on what’s going on.’

  Annette had moved to the back of the room handing out more of the containers, and he took the opportunity to quiz Sandra about her.

  ‘Is she going to be all right?’

  The technician shook her head. She heaved a deep sigh.

  ‘She will be as long as she knows he’s alive.’

  ‘I’m afraid she’s going to crack up.’

  ‘Be patient with her, Tony. They’ve only been married two months.’

  She seemed near to tears.

  She looked down again at her readings.

  They swam before her eyes, and they were meaningless.

  The waves of dark buffeted about inside Koenig’s head. Gradually his consciousness returned.

  He was lying on some kind of a seat.

  The room seemed painfully bright when he opened his eyes, but he couldn’t focus on its blurred, hazy outlines.

  Something was lying on the floor, gazing at him. It was a creature of some kind.

  He shook his head and sat up. Abruptly, his vision cleared and he looked once more towards the shape.

  His hand reached for his gun, and he pressed himself against the wall when he saw that the creature was a fully-grown, mature, adult lioness.

  It was gazing calmly at him, whiskers twitching. Unlike most lionesses he had seen, this one seemed to possess an uncanny intelligence.

  The room that he had been put in was small and square, three sides of which were wall. The fourth side appeared to lead out into the corridor.

  He began working his way around the lioness, towards the exit. As he did so the animal’s outlines shimmered. They converted into a pillar of energy. The pillar faded, and in its place stood the stunningly beautiful woman he had seen in the company of their captor.

  ‘Did I startle you, Commander?’ she asked, smiling demurely.

  Koenig suppressed his feelings of astonishment... and desire.

  ‘Wasn’t that the idea?’

  ‘Forgive me. I meant no harm.’ She looked hurt.

  ‘You Psychons are full of fun and games... who are you?’ he asked sardonically.

  ‘Maya... Mentor’s daughter.’

  ‘His daughter!... and just as tricky, I
think.’

  He moved forward to touch her, but his hands came into contact with a forcefield.

  ‘Ahh...’ he gasped, as the electrical charge surged up his body. He withdrew quickly. ‘I’m not getting into contact with one of those again.’

  ‘I’m sorry... I should have warned you... about the forcefield...’

  ‘Of course,’ Koenig said dryly, nursing his hands. ‘Where’s the rest of my party?’

  A genuinely puzzled expression appeared on Maya’s face.

  ‘Why are you so unfriendly?’ she asked.

  Koenig looked at her frozenly. Then something inside him snapped.

  ‘I’ve been lied to...’ he began angrily, ‘... assaulted, seen my people brutalized, killed... shall I go on?’

  Maya looked at him with alarm, and some indignity.

  ‘Obviously, Commander, you have not fully recovered.’

  ‘Mentor betrayed us!’ Koenig shouted louder than he intended. His face was red. ‘Viciously destroyed us...’

  Now the cat-like woman looked angry herself. Her eyes blazed defensively.

  ‘My father would not harm anyone.’

  Before Koenig could reply, she reached up to the gold pendant that hung from her neck. Her slender fingers touched one of its flashing, radiating spokes.

  The force field shimmered and went down.

  ‘Come,’ she said icily. ‘He wants to see you.’

  She began leading the way down the corridor and Koenig followed. Absurdly, he found himself feeling guilty about his outburst towards her, for there was something about her straightforward manner that intimated to him that she was not entirely to blame for her father’s doings.

  Soon they reached the room where he had seen Torens and Fraser force-fed to the brain-destroying process, and his knuckles tightened once more in anger.

  The robed figure of Mentor raised his arms when he noticed them arrive. He smiled a strange, tense smile in greeting.

  Koenig almost retched.

  ‘Come in, Commander Koenig.’

  Koenig walked past him into the Grove. Maya followed him, but her father restrained her.

  ‘Not now, my dear. The Commander and I have important business to discuss,’ he told her gently.

  ‘But, father... the Commander is very unhappy. I want to be here when you explain.’

  She looked deeply unhappy herself.

  As Koenig’s eyes swept over the colourful, bubbling tubes on the dais in front of him, his ears noted her distress and her father’s gentle but firm response.

  ‘Don’t worry, Maya,’ Mentor said, ‘the Commander will understand. Go now. You can speak to him later.’

  Koenig heard her impatient cry, and the sound of her footsteps echoing out of the room.

  He did not turn, but waited instead for Mentor to approach him.

  ‘Psyche, Commander... a biological computer,’ Mentor informed him from behind.

  Koenig continued looking at the coloured tubes. Despite himself, he was fascinated.

  ‘... created from the minds and bodies of those of our people who survived the disaster which overwhelmed us when nature ran wild.’

  ‘Where are my people?’ Koenig asked him bluntly.

  ‘Study Psyche first, Commander,’ Mentor spoke more coldly. ‘Our destinies are linked you know.’

  ‘We’ll determine our own destinies...’ Koenig began, but Mentor interrupted him.

  ‘You’ve seen this planet. A volcanic furnace. Through Psyche I shall transform it... change it back into the beautiful world it once was. A world fit for our civilization to begin again...’

  The burning fanatacism that they had detected in Mentor began to express itself more deeply and emotively with these words. Koenig realized that the psychosis probably was real, and he spoke more carefully, not wishing to risk the safety of his crew.

  ‘All right, Mentor. You have a beautiful dream. I’ll talk more about it after I see my people.’

  But Mentor seemed not to have heard him.

  ‘Psyche needs energy to complete her task, energy that is only found in the minds of intelligent life forms... in other words, Commander... she needs your Alphans.’

  Koenig spun round to face him, appalled.

  ‘Those creatures in the pits... Torens... You’ve fed their minds into that machine?’

  Mentor looked imploringly at him. There was a slightly hysterical pitch in his voice.

  ‘Koenig, there is no other energy source...’

  ‘Why keep them in the pits? Why not let them die decently?’ Koenig asked bitterly.

  Mentor looked upset.

  ‘I would... but their labour is needed to dig out the metal for Psyche’s physical being.’

  Koenig was close to rage again.

  ‘You expect me to submit my people to this... obscenity?’

  ‘Your presence here in space has given me the chance!’ Mentor exclaimed loudly, ‘... perhaps my only chance to make my world live again.’ He seemed to remember his business at hand and his countenance changed abruptly to one of stern authority.

  ‘Regretfully, Commander, you have no choice. You must submit!’

  Koenig stared at him frozenly, and with hatred.

  Mentor continued talking.

  ‘Psyche has the power of molecular transformation...’

  As he spoke, he again brought his fingertips to his head, and concentrated deeply. The communications’ screen on the wall flickered into life,

  Koenig tensed when he saw the silvery outbuildings of Moon Base Alpha, and in the background the stars hanging in black space.

  ‘Power, Koenig, to transform matter into any form or shape I choose... observe your lunar landscape.’

  He brought down his hands and touched a button on his belt.

  Instantly, a building in the research area on the lunar landscape began to glow. Smoke began to pour from it.

  ‘Refuse what I ask and I will reduce your moon to ashes.’

  Koenig reacted quickly. His eyes looked strangely alert.

  ‘You’re right Mentor, we can’t fight you,’ he said.

  Mentor beamed. He looked down and touched his belt.

  ‘Thank you for your co-operation...’ he began.

  ‘No. Not so fast, Mentor,’ Koenig interrupted him. ‘You’re not reading me.’ He looked at him challengingly.

  The Psychon’s smile disappeared from his features, and he frowned.

  ‘Go ahead. Destroy the moon,’ Koenig continued.

  Mentor hesitated, uncertain of the other’s intentions.

  ‘Very well,’ he said coldly.

  He reached for his belt again and pressed another button. On the screen, the damaged lunar building erupted into flame, spewing debris over two moonbuggies which were crawling across the rocky terrain to investigate.

  Koenig winced, but feigned indifference.

  ‘You want me to bring violent death down on your people?’ Mentor asked him.

  ‘At least they’ll die quickly,’ Koenig replied almost vacantly. He still gazed at the smoking spot where the research building had stood.

  Mentor’s voice rose angrily.

  ‘I have the power, and I will use it!’ he declared.

  ‘Destroy the Moon and you defeat yourself. No Moon, no Alphans.’

  Both men turned their eyes from the screen and stared at each other, Koenig unflinching, Mentor close to outrage. But the Psychon controlled the blazing energy that threatened behind his eyes.

  ‘Do what I want and you and your friends will be spared. A place will be found for you on the new Psychon...’

  ‘No deal,’ Koenig replied emphatically.

  Mentor’s face hardened. Slowly he turned away and walked over to the observation window.

  ‘You wished to know about the rest of your party,’ he said levelly.

  Warily, Koenig followed him.

  He had not had the chance to examine the Grove fully.

  When he reached the window and saw Helena, Fraser, Hay
es and Macinlock sat in the chairs wearing the benign-looking hoods, a massive mental blow struck him.

  His heart banged heavily and his body shook visibly with the shock.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ‘Helena!’ he cried.

  He sprang forward and pressed his hands to the glass.

  He stared derangedly inside at the doctor, who had seen him and was now struggling desperately to free herself. She was screaming but he couldn’t hear what she said through the thick glass.

  The three men by her side were straining and pulling at strong, wide straps which held them in place.

  Koenig turned wildly to face Mentor.

  The fungoid Overseers had appeared, and were standing silently to attention about the room.

  He struggled to control the conflict that raged inside him.

  Calmly, Mentor touched a button at his belt, and the weird high-pitched screaming of the computer began.

  ‘In a few seconds their minds will be squeezed dry and Psyche shall have them,’ Mentor told him calmly.

  For a moment, Koenig became rigid with indecision.

  Then an idea sprang in his mind.

  ‘Wait!’ he shouted.

  Quickly, Mentor pressed a button and the awful screaming subsided.

  The four captives slumped exhaustedly in their seats.

  ‘Yes, Commander?’ Mentor asked him expectantly.

  ‘You win,’ Koenig said. He looked downcast.

  ‘I knew you would come round to my way of thinking, Commander...’ He gazed at Koenig with the gaze that a victor reserves for a victim.

  ‘What do you want me to do?’ Koenig asked him bitterly.

  Mentor looked gratified. His being seemed to swell and emanate power from beneath the rich robes that he wore.

  ‘I want you, Commander, to talk to your Alphans on the Moon. I want you to explain to them that you have found a habitable planet, and I want you to order them to come here. All of them.’

  ‘Put me in contact,’ Koenig said simply.

  Mentor’s eyebrows raised themselves slightly, but he did as he was bid. He raised his ringed fingers to his forehead, and concentrated.

  A bleep sounded on the screen, and the familiar surroundings of the Command Centre flashed into focus on it.

  Expressionlessly, Koenig watched the figures of Verdesehi and Sandra Benes rising from their consoles. They were staring at the full-size image of Koenig on their screen with a mixture of astonishment and relief.