Moonbase Alpha Status Report: 515 days after leaving
Earth orbit
Moonbase Alpha suffers a complete power loss and the Command
Centre personnel become immobilsed. Suddenly an alien woman appears in Command Centre. Who is she and what
does she want?
Zamara, of the Planet Vega, tells Commander John Koenig that they are within Vega's sphere of influence
and that it will be necessary for two Alphan's to return with her to Vega. She selects Tony Verdeschi and Helena
Russell.
Tony and Helena use the power of thought to transfer to the planet Vega, where they are met by a humanoid
male, Zarl, and robot-like, masked automotons who have each a designated number. The automoton designated Number Eight
brings Helena food and drink and whispers to her a warning that if her or Tony show aggression the Vegans will kill them.
Helena takes a mouthful of food, telling Zamara that it is delicious,
but Zamara, in an attempt to evoke a reaction, tells Helean she knows she is lying and insults her. Prompted by
Helena, Tony agrees that the food is delicious and is in turn insulted by Zarl.
Helena and Tony are shown to their quarters and as Tony prepares to use his laser gun to break out,
Helena warns him that aggression is what the Vegan's want. She tells Tony that one of the Numbers warned her of this.
Helena and Tony break out of their quarters and find their way to an underground
area; the living quarters of the automotons. The automoton designated Number Eight steps forward, removing his
mask to reveal a very human face. He tells Helena and Tony that they are the humans, and Zarl and Zamara are the
androids.
Number Eight explains that they built the first robots, linked to a powerful
computer. The computer designed more advanced robots, who in turn built more sophisticated computers. The robots
evolved perfect humanoid form, and learnt their human characteristics from the Numbers; all characteristics except love and
hate. Number Eight explains that the Vegan's don't possess the emotions of anger and aggression, that is what they want
from the Alphan's; to teach them how to kill.
Tony and Helena head for the main computer in order to destroy it but are
stopped by Zarl and Zamara. Tony explains that they were worried about their friends on Alpha and were trying to find
a way to get back to them. Zarl tells them that to go back all they have to do is wish it.
In moments Tony and Helena find themselves back on Alpha, but they find
the base deserted. They conclude that the rest of the Alphan's have transported down to the planet Vega, which
has now drifted two light years away from their present position.
After Helena finds some empty
packets of the tranquillising drug Dexotrol next to some coffee that Tony offered her, she concludes that Tony has tried
to drug her. Suddenly the alarm sounds, and Tony finds that they are losing their atmosphere. He concludes that
as he and Helena are the only ones on Moonbase Alpha then it must have been Helena who sabotaged the atmosphere controls.
During a stand-off in Command
Centre, Helena accuses Tony of drugging her coffee, and Tony asks if that is the reason why she sabotaged their life support
system. Helena tells him that she didn't sabotage the life support system. Suddenly, they realise that this replica
Alpha has been created and that they are being manipulated.
On the real Moonbase Alpha
Zamara materialises in the recreation area, and John Koenig, Alan Carter and Maya find her going through the
computer library of Shakespeare. She finds the play Othello and discovers that jealousy is an amotion that can make
humans kill.
John tells Zamara that it won't work with Tony and Maya because they do not love each other.
When Zamara asks who loves Helena, John says he does, and that Tony Verdeschi is in love with Maya.
Maya and John materialise to the Planet Vega where they are reunited with Helena and Tony.
Maya transforms into a bird and sets off to find the main computer, whilst Zamara instructs Zarl to make love to Helena
in order to enrage John Koenig.
As Maya battles to neutralise the Vegan computer, Zarl continues to
woo Helena in an attempt to make John jealous enough to show aggression. John sits by watching, hardly able to control
his emotions, but finally he can take no more and strikes Zarl. Zamara orders Zarl to kill John Koenig but Helena
pleads with Zarl not to, and tells him that he can become human.
Zarl collapses and the Vegan computer ceases to hold influence over the
Vegans and the Numbers. Helena rushes to help the dying Zarl but he says it was worth it for one moment of humanity.
Episode synopsis copyright Jeannine Hochet
