- Dr. Adam Steele: Gentlemen, we have just returned from our last meeting with our science advisors, and I'm happy to report that the launch is ready to go on schedule. The countdown will begin at 0800 tomorrow. And now, gentlemen, I want to introduce the astronaut chosen for this mission... Colonel Frank Saunders. Colonel Saunders will answer any questions that you might have. Frank?
- [shows Saunders to the podium]
- Col. Frank Saunders: Dr. Steele is an optimist. What he means is I'll *try* to answer your questions.
- Reporter #1: Colonel, aren't you just a little concerned about making a trip of 49 million miles alone? And when you *do* get to Mars, you still expect to be alone, or... you expect to find other life?
- Col. Frank Saunders: I'm completely trained and ready for this mission, I'm not concerned. Now, fear is either physiological, or the result of ignorance and superstition. I'm in good physical condition, and haven't had the time to get superstitious. On the basis of all available data, it would be impossible to determine conclusively whether or not there is life on Mars. That's one of the things I expect to find out.
- Reporter #1: Colonel, we understand that the radio telescope located on the down range island complex has been receiving signals in answer to their transmissions. It should maybe be from another civilization or a space vehicle itself.
- Col. Frank Saunders: These signals could come from several sources. There's been no official agreement as to their origin, nor has there been anything to prove that they were sent by other intelligent beings.
- Reporter #2: Colonel, how did you get picked for this project? Aren't there more experienced astronauts available?
- Col. Frank Saunders: My career in the military, prior to this mission, was in test flight operations. Now, as I understand it, all the data on available test pilots was fed into a computer, and the results seem to indicate that I am the most likely candidate. Of course, I'm proud and happy to have been chosen, but I make it a rule never to question the decisions of my superiors.
- Reporter #1: Colonel, I, uh, I've been covering the space program for *quite* a long time, yet, uh, prior to the day, I've never even heard of you. How do you explain that?
- [Doctor Steele, Karen Grant and General Bowers look at each other nervously]
- Col. Frank Saunders: [smiles] I guess I'm the shy type!
- [Saunders, still smiling, suddenly freezes perfectly still and does not move at all, much to the reporters' confusion]
- Reporter #1: [chuckling nervously] Colonel? Colonel?
- Dr. Adam Steele: Gentlemen, the Colonel wasn't kidding, he really *is* shy! He, um... it's been a long day and we're all rather tired.
- [Doctor Steele and Karen Grant take the stiff and unmoving Saunders out of the conference room]
- Princess Marcuzan: We have won the war, but we have no women. We have come here to this planet for one purpose only: to acquire breeding stock to repopulate our planet.
- Karen Grant: He could be out there somewhere wandering around. Hurt.
- Dr. Adam Steele: You mean defective, inoperative.
- Karen Grant: I know he's not human, but he's capable of experiencing pain.
- Princess Marcuzan: Of course you all know why we left our planet home so suddenly. As a result of the recent atomic war, it was determined unfit for further habitation. At least until the radiation level decreases. You can consider yourselves fortunate to have been chosen for this crew. In case you don't know how fortunate you are, I will let Dr. Nadir tell you what is happening to those left behind.
- Dr. Nadir: The lucky ones are dead. Of the others, some will go mad. The others will slowly rot away and die in gradual agony. We have won the war. We are the sole survivors. It belongs to us. But, it means that we are extinct as a race unless, of course, we can find some good breeding stock and repopulate our planet.
- [first lines]
- Dr. Nadir: We continue to hear modulated hydrogen frequency signal of 21 centimeters, Princess.
- Princess Marcuzan: What does that mean?
- Dr. Nadir: We're not quite certain, Princess. But it is definitely the same signal we have been following since we left our planet. The source of the signals is the planet that we are observing on the telescanner now. These transmissions indicate some intelligent life.
- Princess Marcuzan: Let us move in for a closer look.
- Princess Marcuzan: I warn you... Very well, I will force you to talk. Nadir, put her in the cage next to Mull. You have only a very few minutes to decide, my dear.
- Karen Grant: What would he do?
- Dr. Adam Steele: I don't know. It would depend on what had happened to him. If he'd had any bad experiences, he might react violently... out of his built in self-preservation unit. Anything could happen.
- Karen Grant: What you're saying is that he could turn into a... Frankenstein.
- Martian Crewmember: May we take this man in for treatment now, Princess?
- Princess Marcuzan: No. We will make an example of him. There can be no more failures. Bring him to Mull.
- Dr. Nadir: The Earth ship pilot has ejected!
- Princess Marcuzan: Pilot? There are pilots on their missiles?