The strangest object ever seen by man appears in the space sky. A
huge spacecraft of some sort, but breaking every known law of aerospace propulsion. From it comes a voice.
It is friendly, but appealing for help and for permission to land. When given this permission, the voice requests a
delegation consisting of Commander Koenig, Doctor Helena Russell and Professor Bergman.
Admitted to the craft, they find themselves in a room which is half a globe
in shape with a floor kept level by gyroscopic action. As they stare at the complex mechanisms around them, they are
probed by an intense ray of light. Lying on a couch is an extraordinarily ancient man looking almost dead except for
his bright and searching eyes.
He introduces himself as "Companion" and addresses the mysterious voice as "Gwent". Everything,
it seems, is Gwent. The whole machine is Gwent. Gwent is the machine. And the reason for his approach to
Alpha is to be found in a long list of urgent requirements.
His relationship with Companion is one of affection and bantering, cynical criticism. Companion
tells his visitors "I have always been his Companion. I've grown old in his service. Companions die, but Gwent
goes on. Forever."
Gwent dismisses Helena's appeal for Companion to be
taken to Alpha for treatment - he is obviously desperately ill but still loyal to his master. Companion dies.
Gwent is immediately beside himself with rage and sorrow.
Back on Alpha they see the machine rise and twist in
what seems to be organised contortions. Koenig and Helena are then told that they will have to take the place of Companion.
They are hopelessly in Gwent's grip until Koenig realises that Gwent possesses the equivalent of all the senses except for
sight and that, because his energy is running out, he is weakening.
Attempts to attack the machine from Alpha are repelled, and there is no
alternative but for the essential supplies to be delivered. But by deliberately smashing a vital component, Koenig
weakens Gwent even more and at last learns from the man-machine that he comes from a planet on which he was a scientist and
has built this machine as an extension of himself, programming his entire personality into it, combining it with the superior
ability of a computer's brain, all the might and power of such a machine.
It has eventually taken him over completely. The final battle of wits and determination between
the Alphans and Gwent is launched.
Episode synopsis taken from Guide Book provided with the Digitally Restored Network/Granada
Ventures Series One Box Set
Copyright Granada Ventures
