- The latest extra-terrestials to be rescued by the Moon Alpha Base crew are Pasc and his young son Etrec. They are from the usually peaceful planet of Archaron and they claim that they are victims of a rebellion, engineered by Pasc's wife Lyra. However, Helena discovers that they have both been infected with a virus which makes them considerably less friendly and more deadly than their initial claim.—don @ minifie-1
- In the underground tunnels beneath Moonbase Alpha, Alan Carter and Andy Johnson are mining for dylenide crystals using laser-controlled drilling equipment, accidentally uncovering a sealed glass-faced cabinet from behind a wall of lunar rock. Facing the pair of Alphans from behind the glass are what appear to be two humanoid aliens - a man and an adolescent boy - both with their eyes closed, in standing positions. Swearing he saw the man's eyes open, Alan approaches the glass and is thrown to the ground by a forcefield when making contact with it. As Carter lays stunned, Johnson observes the man's eyes open.
A party of Alphans headed by Tony Verdeschi has arrived on the scene which includes Dr. Helena Russell and her assistant Dr. Raul Nunez. When Alan comes to, he insists he saw the adult aliens' eyes open, but Tony finds that doubtful. Helena's medical instruments fail to detect any signs of life from the aliens and she determines the cabinet's internal temperature not to be cool enough for Cryogenic suspended animation. There's a symbol displayed on the upper corner of the cabinet's glass face that they recall having seen on a previously-visited planet which represented a warning of a deadly contagion. Astonishingly, the aliens within begin to show signs of life. Alongside the cabinet, a panel is "unearthed", presumably the controls for the cabinet. Suddenly, the tunnel's ceiling begins collapsing, leading the party to retreat from the area except for Tony, who frantically hits buttons on the panel hoping to unseal the cabinet. He needn't have bothered, as falling debris brings down the whole glass face. The aliens become exposed to the air which releases them from their stance, causing the Alphan party to rush back and drag them from the cabinet. The tunnel stabilizes, giving the Alphans the opportunity to examine the aliens. The adult has revived, but in a weakened state, so the team tends to the unmoving boy. Unseen by the Alphans, a symbol - resembling the one on the front of the cabinet - begins flashing on the forehead of the adult alien. He then picks up a pick-axe apparently to use as a weapon. However, weakness overcomes him, causing him to slump back down and drop the tool, the symbol vanishing from his forehead.
The pair of aliens have been brought into the base's Medical Center and hooked up to medical monitors. While left unattended in stable but sedated condition, the aliens suddenly revive. They speak quietly to one another; the man informing the boy that they're among strangers. It turns out that the pair are father and son; Pasc and Etrec. The boy, Etrec, begs his father not to let "it" come, but Pasc states there's nothing he can do to stop it. Etrec corrects him by telling Pasc he can kill him. Once again, the symbol appears on the adult alien's forehead and starts pulsating brightly as he begins to strangle his son. However, he abruptly pulls away, stating he can't do it. Etrec reminds him of the people he had murdered on their home world, and Pasc states that they need one another. Pasc approaches a medical tray and wraps a length of bandage around his head to hide the flashing symbol.
Commander Koenig and Maya have been out in space in Eagle One surveying an area referred to as "blue quadrant" and have been informed of the alien situation. Tony and Helena have just regained contact with them to provide an update and learn Eagle One is approaching a vast meteor storm. Communication is becoming difficult, and during the update, Pasc and Etrec unexpectedly enter the Command Center. Pasc explains to the startled Alphans that their bodies break down sedatives more quickly than humans. He then introduces he and Etrec to the Commander. When Helena questions Pasc about the bandage on his head, he explains it's the result of attempting to stand too soon after he awakened. Helena wants to examine him, but Pasc stops her, explaining that the blood of his people holds deep spiritual significance on Archanon. Maya recognizes the name, recalling legends of the peace-bringers. Pasc confirms it, then communication is lost with Eagle One. Pasc informs the Command Center personnel that for centuries his people have sent out emissaries throughout the universe bringing peace to various civilizations. He himself had been the Commander of such a mission and established a base on their moon to observe the ancient cultures on Earth. He and his team witnessed such immense violence and hatred that his wife (who had also been a member of the mission) begged him to depart from the Earth, leaving humankind to its self-destructive fate. Pasc over-ruled her, leading his team into planetfall, discovering that their previous belief of his people being immune to the violence of Earth was an error, with only he and Etrec escaping contagion. When they returned to their Moonbase, claimed Pasc, they discovered that their whole crew had mutineed. Etrec suddenly developed a disturbed look on his face, indicating that Pasc wasn't being entirely truthful, but the Alphans fail to catch on. Pasc then claimed that after he and Etrec were imprisoned in the stasis chamber, their "diseased" people proceeded to spread their madness - humankind's madness - through the universe. Tony asks Pasc why he and Etrec weren't simply killed; Pasc explaining that the Archanons cannot bring themselves to kill, even in their violent madness. Helena asks what had happened to his wife, in which Pasc claimed that she had led the mutineers who had imprisoned he and Etrec in stasis. Suddenly, Etrec collapsed due to weakness.
When Etrec later revives in Medical Center, Alan strikes up a friendship with the boy, volunteering to escort him to the Recreation Area for something to eat. Witnessed by Etrec, but unseen by Alan, Pasc picks up a pair of scissors, intending to stab Carter in the back. Etrec urgently asks Alan to carry him down the hall, so Carter allows Etrec a ride on his back, foiling Pasc's violent intent, leaving him alone in the ward.
Examining the results of body fluid samples taken from Pasc and Etrec, Helena and Raul have discovered a mysterious virus; in full-bloom within Pasc, apparently dormant in the boy.
Alan Carter's been teaching Etrec how to play football using one of his prized possessions; a signed ball from 1963. They're interrupted by the arrival of Andy Johnson, who informs Alan that the Archanon control panel for the stasis chamber has been set up in Tech Lab 3 and Tony has asked that he report there to help him take a look at it.
Pasc is summoned to Tech Lab 3 after Alan and Etrec had arrived there. Etrec identifies the device as a monitor/transmitter, but Pasc feigns ignorance as to its operation. Etrec "outs" him, so Pasc reluctantly activates it. Helena contacts Tony, requesting that the Archanons join her in the Medical Center, so Pasc hastily ushers himself and Etrec out of the lab.
Hurrying down the corridor, Pasc explains to his son that the device was set to the Archanon frequency, possibly alerting their people that they had gained their freedom, so they must leave the base before the Archanons arrive. Zig-zagging through corridors, they suddenly hear voices, so Pasc eavesdrops around a corner. Bill Fraser is briefing another pilot who's to man Eagle Three, which is sitting docked on Launch Pad 4, and wait for word that the Commander and Maya need assistance. Fraser walks away as the pilot begins his trek to Launch Pad 4. Pasc sneaks up on the pilot, subduing him, informing Etrec that they will take the Eagle.
While waiting for the Archanons to arrive at the Medical Center, Helena shows Raul the evidence that Pasc's brain-wave patterns are demonstrating an irregularity which could correspond with the virus within him. She hopes to develop a serum to destroy the virus using the Archanons' blood.
In Command Center, Tony has temporarily re-established communication with Commander Koenig, whose Eagle is being pummeled by the meteor storm. Tony plans to launch Eagle Three to assist the Commander and Maya.
While attempting to board a travel tube that will take them to Launch Pad 4, Pasc and Etrec are stopped by security guard Carson, Pasc pretending that they had become lost. Carson proceeds to escort them to the Medical Center where Helena's been waiting for them.
Alan and Andy Johnson have been in Tech Lab 3 studying the alien device and Alan suspects it houses a recording device. He sticks the end of a pencil-shaped object into a slot and a panel comes to life displaying Pasc making a status report. Johnson notices Carson walking down the corridor with the Archanons and stops them, anxious to show Pasc that they've activated the recording control, telling Carson that they'll get them to the Medical Center. As soon as Carson leaves, Pasc pounces on Johnson, beating him to the floor. Carter hits the wall alarm followed by Pasc strangling him into unconsciousness, taking him for dead. During the struggle, Alan had ripped the bandage off of Pasc, so the pulsating symbol is now displayed on his forehead.
Escaping the Tech Lab, Pasc hauls Etrec into a nearby room to hide from the various Alphans responding to the alarm. When Helena walks by holding a medical case and a laser, Pasc lunges out, grabbing her and quickly taking possession of her laser. Tony and Alan arrive at the scene and Etrec runs to Alan for security. Pasc holds Helena hostage, so Tony grabs the boy to create a standoff. Pasc threatens to shoot Helena if Etrec isn't released, so Tony counters by holding his laser at the boy. Pasc knows he won't do it, assuring them that he can and will shoot Helena. Tony bitterly states that he thought Archanons couldn't kill. Etrec explains that the flashing mark on Pasc's forehead is the sign of the killing sickness. Pasc informs them that he plans to board Eagle Three with Helena as his hostage. When Etrec refuses to join him, Pasc states that the Alphans will kill him if he stays. The boy knows the killing isn't in them, but Pasc informs him that it'll soon be in him and they will have no choice. Etrec accepts whatever fate awaits him and stays with Alan.
While Pasc and Helena head for Launch Pad 4, Alan leaves Etrec in the Recreation Area to be by himself.
Tony orders an Eagle to hover over Launch Pad 4 as Pasc and Helena board Eagle Three, then orders a security team positioned in the corridor outside the launch pad armed with anesthetic gas guns. Tony then orders the computer to prevent Eagle Three's launch. When Pasc learns that the ship has been grounded, he orders Helena to tell Tony to release it or he'll kill her. Helena refuses, so Pasc contacts Tony, threatening to kill Helena unless he brings Etrec to the Eagle. Helena tells Tony to get a hold of Raul, but Pasc cuts off communication before she can explain why.
Tony contacts Raul, informing him of the situation. Raul explains that Helena has been planning to use the blood of the Archanons to create a serum that will destroy the virus.
As Etrec is sobbing in the Recreation Area, a sudden change comes over him - he becomes overtaken by the virus just as Pasc predicted, the killing sickness apparently occurring at the boy's present age. The symbol appears on his forehead, causing him to breathe heavily as he's overwhelmed with the urge to kill. He opens up a nearby cage containing two doves, removing one of them. As he begins to strangle it, Alan enters the room, causing him to quickly release the bird. Etrec then keeps his back to Alan to hide the flashing mark as Alan explains the current situation involving Helena needing Archanon blood. Suddenly, Etrec whirls around, poising a sharp table knife in the air, ready to strike Alan. But instead, Etrec slashes it at his own forehead in an attempt to remove the mark. Etrec volunteers the blood, then passes out.
After the boy is sent to the Medical Center, an Archanon spaceship has arrived, requesting permission to land. Tony grants it, then Alan summons Tony to Tech Lab 3. He shows Tony a snippet of a recording that Etrec had instructed him to observe, made by Etrec's mother, which explains everything. Tony contacts Eagle Three, allowing Pasc to view the recording on the ship's monitor. Pasc's wife, Lyra, explains how she was forced to imprison Pasc - who killed two of their people - in a stasis chamber, and because the sickness is passed on in the genes of the male line, it was necessary to imprison her son with him where they were to remain until a cure for the killing sickness could be found.
After the recording is concluded, Helena and Pasc learn that Etrec had volunteered his blood for a serum to be created. However, Raul informs Helena that the boy is failing; his body apparently being unable to replace the blood he has lost. Pasc becomes devastated, believing the boy is finished. He allows Helena to leave the Eagle, then he'll solo the ship away. Instead, Helena pleads with him to allow them to perform a transfusion using his blood, then they'll both be inoculated with the serum that's being prepared. After Helena's continued prodding, Pasc finally relents.
The procedures take place, Raul confirming that the virus has been destroyed. As it is suddenly discovered that Pasc is failing, an Archanon woman enters, bearing a strong resemblance to Lyra. She's Maurna, a descendant of Lyra. She learns of the eradication of the virus and confirms that their people had known of the process. Helena expresses her confusion as to why they never performed it. Maurna explains that Archanon bodies cannot survive the amount of blood loss necessary for the procedure. Pasc had known this, but the killing sickness allowed him to sacrifice himself in order to save his son. Pasc is then pronounced deceased.
The Archanon ship departs after Alan had given the grieving Etrec his prized football as a memento, then Commander Koenig and Maya finally return to the base in one piece.
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