- An Eagle is sent onto the surface of the planet Psychon, which has titanium needed for repairs to the Alpha Base. It fails to return and is used by Psychon scientist Mentor as bait with which to entice other members of the Alphan crew onto the planet. Mentor is building a biological computer that will hopefully transform his deteriorating planet back into the Eden it once was. However, the machine can only be fueled by the living brains of humans, and Mentor has his eye on those of the Alphan crew. Fortunately, Mentor is not alone on the planet; his innocent daughter, the shape-shifting Maya, is unaware of her father's plans, so Koenig tries to convince her to side with the Alphans.—don @ minifie-1
- Another encounter with a space warp has sent the moon six light years from its previous path through space, in which the only casualty suffered this time was one of their life-support systems. The space warp has placed the moon within range of a seemingly dead planet rich in minerals; a reconnaissance Eagle confirming the presence of titanium needed to repair their crippled life-support system. Unseen by the Alphans, a sizable boulder on the planet's surface has mysteriously transformed into a huge ball of light which rises up and engulfs Eagle One on its way back to Alpha, bringing it down into the mouth of one of the many volcanoes littering the planet's landscape.
As Commander Koenig reasons that there must be life on the seemingly dead world responsible for the plight of pilots Bill Fraser and Ray Torens, a burly humanoid alien man suddenly appears on the Command Center's big screen, greeting Koenig by name. He is Mentor of the planet Psychon, claiming to have abducted their Eagle to learn the intentions of the visitors. Conversing amiably, Mentor accepts the Commander's explanation of simply searching for minerals, unaware of its inhabitants. Claiming that the ship is beyond repair, Mentor suggests that they send down another Eagle to retrieve the pilots. However, Commander Koenig offers a counter-proposal - where the two of them are to rendezvous in space. Mentor agrees, even offering to supply them with the minerals they were seeking, suggesting they send along a scientist to discuss the requirements, as well as a medic, as one of the pilots has suffered minor injuries. After the alien signs off, the preparations begin; Koenig instructs Alan Carter to fit the rescue Eagle with additional booster units to prevent a circumstance similar to Eagle One's.
Within Mentor's operation center, a lion had been observing the proceedings. It suddenly morphs into a beautiful woman who turns out to be Mentor's daughter, Maya. She looks forward to meeting the Alphans, as they consist of a race more similar to their own compared to the beings they usually encounter, despite the Alphans' culture obviously being more primitive than their own. Maya possesses the gift of molecular transformation; her father's teachings led to her mastering the art, thanks to her remarkable intellect. When she taunts him by using her gift with playful games, he points out their need to find more constructive uses for her ability.
As Eagle Four (containing Commander Koenig, Dr. Helena Russell, Alan Carter and geologist Lew Picard) heads for the rendezvous point, another boulder on Psychon's barren surface transforms - this time into a long, narrow spaceship slightly larger than an Eagle. As the two ships close in on one another, Moonbase Alpha's head of security and second-in-command Tony Verdeschi informs Eagle Four that the alien vessel contains no life signs; their pilots apparently still being held captive on the planet. Before Commander Koenig can react, the alien ship begins radiating magnetic energy, pulling the Eagle toward the planet. The added booster units atop Eagle Four allow the ship to break free and head away toward empty space. However, Mentor's vessel then transforms into a ball of light similar to the one that had abducted Eagle One. Engulfing Eagle Four, it drags the Alphans down into the same volcano, where Eagle One is seen (intact and not damaged as Mentor had claimed), along with a whole slew of various alien vessels scattered along the volcano's floor.
Contact with Alpha proves unattainable, then Mentor suddenly appears on the ship's viewscreen, welcoming the Eagle Four passengers to Psychon. Commander Koenig expresses his anger over the double-cross; Mentor claiming that his actions are in all of their interests. Pilot Bill Fraser immediately jumps into the camera's view, urging the Commander not to trust him, as he's lying. One of Mentor's lumbering (and apparently mute) Overseers shoots laser beams out of its eyes which strike Fraser, rendering him unconscious. Ignoring their reactions, Mentor insists they remain in their ship until his next contact, signing off.
Koenig immediately opens the ship's exterior door, observing the surrounding landscape. In the wall of the volcano, a cave entrance is spotted. He suggests that the four of them make their way into it.
Occupying the center of Mentor's operation center is a computerized machine that Mentor has named "Psyche", which he refers to as "she". Connecting the floor-based section with the ceiling section is a mass of glass tubes filled with bubbling fluid. Mentor enters the room, opening a viewport in the rear wall that reveals an adjoining room containing three seats, each with a hemispheric dome above it. Two overseers "escort" Torens into that room, strapping him into one of the chairs. As Mentor activates Psyche's controls, a loud whining begins, Torens looking up in horror as a dome lowers onto his head. After a brief moment, a tormented scream comes over his face.
In Alpha's Command Center, Sandra's repeated attempts to contact the missing Eagle Four crewmembers have resulted in silence and their scanners are unable to discern anything on the planet's surface. Tony Verdeschi surmises that there's some sort of scanner shield at work.
Maya has entered the operation center (officially termed the "Grove of Psyche"), enthralled when she notices an increase in the machine's power levels. Mentor explains that it's the result of one of the Alphan pilots having been "in rapport with her". Maya asks for his confirmation that the pilot had agreed and that there were no harmful side effects; Mentor assures her of both. She's joyous as he informs her of his confidence that the rest of the Alpha party will also be "helping". Apparently, she's unaware of her father's true methods.
Meanwhile, the Eagle Four passengers have made their way into a series of steamy tunnels, where Helena has been pocketing nuggets of ore that Lew Picard has confirmed are pure titanium. When the Alphans enter a cavern that they discover is occupied, they remain hidden, observing a group of diverse humanoid aliens who are silently and robotically conducting mining work. Helena remarks that they're behaving as though they've experienced some kind of brain damage. They watch as a newcomer descends a ladder from an overhead entrance that turns out to be Torens. Koenig calls out to him, but receives no response; his mind being in the same state as the aliens. Koenig approaches him to get his attention with physical contact, which earns the Commander a shock that hurls him to the ground. Apparently, Torens' body has been affixed with a force field. The commotion has drawn the attention of one of Mentor's Overseers, who moves in on the group, raising some type of weapon. Koenig lunges out, firing his laser at the being which results in its body transforming into a pillar of solid rock. Lew Picard points out that it's the second time they've witnessed molecular transformation; Mentor's ship turning into a ball of light being the first. A translucent image of Mentor suddenly appears in the tunnel ahead of them; Mentor's voice stating that a force field surrounding his image will prevent them from going any further and that any force they use against it will be turned against them. Ignoring the warning, Picard fires his laser at it; its beam bouncing back at him, also transforming him into a pillar of rock. Suddenly, the lasers possessed by the remaining Alphans become burning hot, causing each of them to throw them to the ground where the weapons all turn into laser-shaped rock. The three Alphans make a break for it, but a green ball of light follows them, rendering them all unconscious.
Koenig awakens alone on the floor of an alcove within Mentor's underground complex. Suddenly alarmed at the sight of a nearby lion resting on the floor observing him, it morphs into the beautiful Maya. She introduces herself but neglects to inform the Commander that he resides behind an invisible force field (no doubt her father had conjured up a convincing story as to why Koenig had been placed in a cell). After finding out the hard way about the force field, Koenig displays his bitterness over the circumstances the Alphans have found themselves in. His attitude offends Maya, who believes he and his people have been treated like friends. When Koenig attempts to recap his experiences since arriving on the planet, Maya remains convinced that he hasn't fully recovered from being unconscious. Explaining that her father wants to see him, Maya leads him to the Grove of Psyche.
After sending Maya away, Mentor lays his cards on the table with Commander Koenig. He introduces him to Psyche; explaining "she's" a biological computer capable of mutating matter into any form. He's planning to use it to transform Psychon's inhospitable environment back into the Eden it once was, but Psyche requires a massive intake of energy to complete its task; energy that can only be found in the minds of intelligent life forms. So Mentor needs Alpha's personnel. Koenig realizes what had caused the conditions of Torens and the aliens in the caves; Mentor stating that he now needs them to dig up ore. He offers to spare the Commander and his comrades here on the planet, giving them a place on the new Psychon if Koenig agrees to send Alpha's population down here to be used to feed Psyche. When Koenig sternly refuses, Mentor brings up a view of Moonbase Alpha on his screen and starts bombarding it with energy bolts. Koenig remains unflinching, stating that at least his people will die quickly. Changing his tactics, Mentor ceases bombarding Alpha, displaying Koenig's comrades strapped into chairs in the next room in preparation of energizing his biological computer. Mentor demands an evacuation order for Moonbase Alpha or the other three Alphans here will have their minds taken away. Koenig remains silent, so Mentor fires up his machine. As the three victims cringe in their seats, Koenig eventually gives in.
At last, Moonbase Alpha receives contact from their missing party; Commander Koenig enthusiastically informing the Command Center personnel that they've all been invited to live on the planet, which houses huge hospitable subterranean areas. However, some - especially Tony Verdeschi - find it unsettling when the Commander orders an immediate evacuation in phased relays without a task force studying the areas first. However, Tony's confusion turns into dread when Koenig slips him a code message - Directive Four.
Quite satisfied with the proceedings, Mentor lets the three Alphans out of the Brain Transfer Unit. Carter immediately confronts Koenig over sacrificing the entire population of Alpha, grabbing him by the shoulder to begin an altercation, but he's quickly subdued by an Overseer's stun rays. Helena and Fraser immediately demand answers from Koenig, who uncharacteristically stresses that he's trying to save himself.
Sandra questions Tony as to the meaning of Directive Four, becoming horrified when he explains that it's a clear instruction to destroy the place it originated from.
The four Alphans on Psychon have been confined to the cell Koenig had occupied earlier. Sneering at Commander Koenig, Carter insists on warning Alpha that they're being set up but is thrown back by the invisible force field.
Despite resistance from some of the personnel, Tony Verdeschi arranges the launch of a nuke-filled robot Eagle, sending it on a collision course with the fragile planet Psychon.
When Mentor's sensors alert him to an approaching Eagle, he has Maya scan it. She becomes appalled when it's discovered to be a robot device programmed to destroy them. Maya furiously leaves the room to confront the Commander. Mentor immediately sends an image of himself to the prison cell, making Koenig aware that he knows about his treachery with the robot Eagle. He plans to destroy the ship first, then the moon. As the other Alphans make peace with Koenig, Mentor's image disappears as Maya arrives, fuming. Koenig emphatically attempts to convince Maya of her father's lies and evil deeds, insisting she visit the caves to see the real result of Mentor's actions.
As the distraught Maya runs from the cell area, Mentor destroys the robot Eagle. Not knowing what else to do, Maya enters the caves even though she's always been told they're radioactive. She becomes devastated to view the aliens that she thought had left here in peace after joining with Psyche, now "mindless hulks" as Koenig had described to her.
As Mentor once again begins bombarding the Moonbase, Maya returns to the holding cell, observing her father's attack on the base on the cell wall. Koenig urges her to let them out so they can stop him. After making Koenig promise not to harm her father, she de-activates the force field. Koenig orders Alan to prepare Eagle Four for launch and for Helena and Bill Fraser to bring Torens to the Eagle.
Commander Koenig barges into the Grove of Psyche, followed by Maya. Mentor's shocked that she'd released him, then becomes horrified when Koenig uses a loose object to start smashing Psyche's glass tubes which causes small explosions throughout the room. A panicking Mentor orders Maya to stop him, as the release of Psyche's energy will destroy the planet, but she simply stands there, tearfully informing him that she knows everything.
As Mentor predicted, Psyche's energy has begun destroying Psychon. Torens ends up killed in a tunnel collapse with Helena and Fraser looking on, helplessly.
Now trapped behind burning debris, Mentor urges Koenig to save Maya by taking her off the planet. However, Maya's insistent on trying to rescue her father, transforming into a succession of creatures to escape Koenig's grasp, but finally Mentor meets his demise. Koenig pulls a mourning Maya out of the room and heads for the caves to get to the ship.
Eagle Four lifts off with the five passengers. As it heads into space, the planet Psychon explodes behind them. On their journey back to Alpha, Koenig and Helena inform the now displaced Maya that she'll have a new home on Moonbase Alpha.
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