Space 1999 - Mind-Breaks of Space

by Michael Butterworth

Zamara ignored the question and selected another book. The pages played through the viewer with great speed and Zamara caught her breath with interest. ‘Now that is interesting,’ she said.

  Koenig moved closer. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Othello,’ she said and looked him over with curiosity. ‘So jealousy too makes humans kill?’

  ‘Yes, Zamara, it can.’ Koenig wanted to dispose of this inexplicable exploration of the darker side of human nature. There was quite enough of a real life and death struggle going on without delving into fiction. ‘It depends on how strongly two people care about each other. Now, how long will it be before Helena and Tony...’

  ‘That is all we need to know,’ Zamara cut him short.

  Exasperated, he asked, ‘What do you need to know?’

  ‘That jealousy will create violence... that lovers can be made jealous enough to hurt and kill.’

  As Zamara began to dematerialize Koenig finally began to put together the clues of the conversation. He couldn’t find a definite conclusion, but he was close enough to understand what was on the Vegan’s mind. That alone was enough to frighten him badly.

  ‘Zamara!’ he yelled. ‘It won’t work... not with Helena and Tony!’

  The Vegan reappeared instantly, pouting with annoyance. ‘But why not?’ she demanded.

  ‘It only applies to lovers and Tony and Helena are not in love with each other.’

  The Vegan considered this information carefully, like a scientist weighing up an additional fact for a new theory of physics. She looked at Koenig with sudden keen perception. ‘Then who do they love?’

  Koenig didn’t know what he was letting himself in for, but even if it hadn’t been the truth, he would have answered as he did... for the sake of getting in a position to deal with the situation in person. ‘I love Helena,’ he said as the Vegan expected. ‘And Tony loves Maya.’ The Psychon lowered her head with embarrassment, but Koenig knew this was no time for over-sensitivity. Maya’s talents could well be useful to them down on Vega, if that was where they were about to be invited to.

  There was quite a crowd waiting in the tropical garden when Zamara returned with Koenig and Maya. The greeting between John and Helena and between Tony and Maya reaffirmed Zamara’s belief that this time her plan would work.

  Stepping in front of Zarl and the others, she asked, ‘You have read the play Othello?’

  Koenig looked up at this, knowing full well that he had just seen Zamara read the drama on Alpha... why ask them? As the Vegans all nodded in unison and Helena whispered the single word ‘androids’ into his ear, he began to understand.

  Zarl said, ‘Through you... we all did.’

  ‘This time we know the way,’ Zamara announced, and the Vegans moved swiftly away into the edges of the clearing and began to bring out large, soft cushions, flagons of wine and musical instruments.

  Holding him tighter with growing worry about what the Vegans would try next, Helena whispered to Koenig, ‘John, they’re planning to use you.’

  ‘Yes, as Othello,’ Koenig agreed, ‘only the devil knows why, or how?’

  Tony had moved cautiously over to the Commander’s side and spoke low enough for only him to hear. ‘Because they have no experience of violence or killing of their own. They want to make you show them how... then they’ll kill us all.’ Koenig shot him a look of appalled surprise. Keeping his voice low, Tony added, ‘The only hope we have of beating them is to get to the main computer. It’s through the tunnel on the other side of the grove, but it’s protected by a force shield. If we could get to it we could finish them all because they’re telepathically linked.’

  Maya had heard the latter part of Tony’s explanation and with a nod of her head to indicate her intentions... moved towards a flock of dove-like birds rustling in the bushes. Koenig signalled that he knew what she was up to and turned to inspect the Vegans’ preparations. The cushions were arranged, incense sticks burning and the lights had been turned down to soft, sensuous mellowness. Good cover for Maya’s change, Koenig knew.

  As a slow and persistent drumbeat began, Zamara walked over to the Alphans. She was too full of the certainty of success to notice that Maya was missing.

  As Zarl joined her, she explained, ‘Soon you will make love to the woman, Helena. Her lover will become enraged and we will have won.’

  ‘Through consuming jealousy...’

  ‘Yes,’ Zamara’s eyes gleamed with coming victory. ‘It was all there. Othello and Desdemona... the scheming Iago twisting a man’s love into violent jealousy... enough to kill.’

  Koenig and Helena looked at each other and with their eyes confirmed their feelings for each other. The emotion that was about to become the fuel for a painful and deadly test of will power... was for the moment their only comfort.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The sound of the drum pulsed and soft flute-like melodies rose around it... like thin veils covering an erotically undulating body. The setting now in the garden was deeply and poignantly romantic... every sight, sound and fragrance specially intended to induce desire. Helena recalled what they had been told about the Androids... that they hadn’t experienced either hate or love. Certainly they seemed to have come to an understanding of lust, and in their physical perfection must have devoted some time to its study and practice.

  Zarl looked thoughtfully at Helena and Koenig standing together. He was feeling a surge of information input that bolstered that slight aberration that set him apart from the other Androids. He whispered nervously to Zamara.

  ‘Did you see the way that he looked at her?’ He ignored the reprimand in Zamara’s glance. ‘To feel something as strongly that... to cause this thing called jealousy... could we be missing something important?’

  ‘I have told you, Zarl. The human emotion of love is a weakness... only hate is strength. That is why we have to learn it. Now, do what you must!’

  Zarl snapped back into his proper attitude, his muscles tensing. Provocatively he walked towards Helena, his eyes devouring her with unmistakeable intention. He took her hand and led her away, into the centre of the grotto.

  Tony whispered a warning to Koenig. ‘He’s going to try to get to you. You’ll have to be strong until Maya can get at the computer.’

  Koenig nodded, but already he felt his fists tightening.

  ‘Make love to her,’ Zamara ordered Zarl, ‘kiss her.’

  Helena noted the momentary hesitation as once again Zarl wrestled with his doubt. Then the strength of the Androids’ linked minds took over and he pulled her to him, wrapping her in his arms and pressing his lips against her neck.

  A feeling of raw anger blasted through Koenig and set him trembling as he watched Helena being handled. Helena turned her face away from Zarl’s insistent kisses and tried to show him how unaffected she was.

  Koenig spoke out of the corner of his mouth to Tony. ‘How long does she think I can take this?’

  Out of the shadows, Zamara suddenly came up to his other side, and in a voice like a viper’s hiss, egged him on. ‘Look, Lord Othello. Observe that your Desdemona offers no resistance to save her virtue. Perhaps she finds Zarl’s attention more pleasing than she wants you to know.’

  Koenig felt his gut muscles tense, already imagining himself running forward and pulling them apart. The music had become even more throbbing and persistent, hypnotizing both Zarl and Helena so that their movements together became increasingly provocative.

  Tony hovered by Koenig’s side, wanting to reach out and clasp his shoulder with an indication of sympathy. He knew the gesture would also enable him to actually restrain Koenig if the pressure became too much. However, if that became necessary, then his own action of force would be enough to start the Vegans on their road to violence.

  ‘The dance is reaching its climax,’ said Zamara with delight, ‘the time of reckoning is near.’

  All around the grove, the anxious eyes of the Vegans were on the couple as Zarl forced Helena to dance and turn faster. He pus
hed her away and pulled her back, reaching around her body for brief, forceful caresses. She was breathing rapidly, her heart beating from the exertion of the dance’s steps... and also from a feeling that she was finding harder to repress. Zarl’s rough love play was getting to her.

  Abruptly the music stopped, ripping away any false illusion that sensuous dancing was as far as the situation was supposed to go. Zarl’s face now showed no uncertainty and he pushed Helena towards a pile of cushions with purposeful strength.

  Before Koenig could take the first irresistible stride to intervene, he heard an urgent whisper of breath from Tony. Looking back he saw a dove come gliding in among the foliage to join the rest of the flock. The Vegans were all too occupied watching Zarl force Helena down on the cushions to notice the dull, misty blur that evolved into Maya.

  Quietly she padded over and spoke in Koenig’s ear. ‘I managed to get to the computer by flying over the top of the shield... it’s less effective the further from the floor it gets.’

  Koenig frowned with impatience, waiting to hear what she had done to the computer that would stop the Vegans... before it was too late.

  Even in a whisper, Maya’s voice conveyed regret as she explained. ‘The computer has a protective programme that is intrinsic to its existence... impossible to cancel or over-ride. If any of its functions is disturbed the stabilizers of its energy stores cease operating. The whole city would be blown out of existence.’

  Desperately Koenig asked, ‘What can we do, then? I can’t stand any more of this!’

  ‘The only way is to attack the weakest link... If we can malfunction one of the Androids then they all should shut down... including the computer.’

  Tony had moved over to listen and snapped his fingers. ‘Like the old Christmas tree lights! When one bulb goes out... it breaks the circuit and they all go out.’

  ‘What do we do then? Use a stun gun?’ asked Koenig, not daring to look behind him to see how far things had developed between Zarl and Helena.

  ‘No!’ Tony warned urgently. ‘It won’t work on Androids. Besides, once they see a stunner in action they’ll get the information they need. Their computer resources would enable it to duplicate and distribute them to all the Androids in a matter of minutes.’

  In the silence of desperate deliberation, Koenig heard a low moan. It stopped only to sound again as a cry of arousal and he knew Helena was no longer in control of herself. With a roar of hatred he turned and ran towards Zarl.

  With calm expectation, Zarl rose up from the gasping Helena and waited for Koenig to reach him. Maya’s shout of warning was to no avail as Koenig used the force of his charge behind a full round-house punch. It crashed into Zarl’s jaw and made him stagger backwards.

  The victorious Zamara rushed between them, laughing with success. Koenig was far more amazed at Zarl’s reaction... now the steam of his jealousy had been partially relieved. The Vegan had absorbed the punch without a blink, only tripping backwards because of the effect of inertia. There was no sign on having felt any pain or being in the least in danger of passing out.

  ‘You have seen!’ Zamara shouted to the circle of Androids. ‘You have been shown! Now kill them!’

  The group of innocent-faced Vegans began to practise the blow that Koenig had thrown, taking turns belting each other in the jaw. None of them seemed in the least damaged and the sounds of impact became louder as they rapidly developed a proficiency.

  Zarl’s analysis of the action was far quicker, having actually received the blow. He raised up his fist and stepped towards Koenig with scowling menace. As Koenig backed around the other side of a sturdy wooden table Zarl decided to clear his path and practise the punch at the same time. With pure, robot strength he drove his knuckles into the table-top and it shattered like matchsticks.

  Koenig leapt backwards and Zarl bore down on him, stalking with the same certainty he had shown towards Helena... but with a much different purpose. Then she leapt between them, placing herself perilously close to Zarl’s cocked right arm.

  ‘Zarl,’ she said gently, ‘please don’t...’

  The effect on the Android was far greater than that of Koenig’s attack. His eyes blinked with confusion and distress.

  ‘You don’t have to be one of them anymore,’ Helena continued. ‘You can be yourself... think for yourself... all you have to do, is choose to.’

  Strong feeling swirled through Zarl in a blinding confusion. He felt rods of pain shooting across his brain, followed close behind by sensations of mellow peacefulness. The group collective consciousness immediately drove in on him to strangle him back into obedience, but their force was too great. Like an excessive grasp on a wet bar of soap, his persona shot out of their clutches and rose in its own flight of displacement.

  Zamara shouted in panic, ‘Kill her, Zarl! Kill her!’

  Helena’s voice was still pleasantly urging. ‘You just have to take one more step to know what it is that we feel. You can become human.’

  Koenig stepped quickly to Helena’s side, putting his arm affectionately around her. ‘Zarl,’ he said with a comradely smile, ‘I can see that you’ve got compassion. Now you want to feel love. You can! See us and you can feel it yourself.’

  Zamara had started to run over with the intention of killing the Alphans herself but there was a flare of heat inside her head that dropped her to her knees in pain. ‘Don’t you see what they’re doing, Zarl?’ she screamed. ‘Stop it, Zarl! No! No!’

  ‘It’s your own choice, Zarl,’ Koenig persuaded. ‘Zamara is wrong. Love is strength too. Take the final step... take it and see!’

  Both despair and delight surged through Zarl’s mind and he could no longer understand which of his loyalties gave him which. Slowly he brought down his violence-poised arms and stretched them out. Inch by inch they crept around Helena and John, surrounding them with a circle of strength that could easily apply itself to squeeze them to a pulp.

  ‘Don’t stay a machine,’ Helena smiled, ‘become human.’

  Zarl’s hands touched them, and for a split second he smiled back, his face creasing with the most natural and instinctive expression of friendship possible.

  A great tide of change flowed through the garden, invisible but powerful. The sophisticated lighting blinked out and harsh emergency bulbs came on. The foliage sagged, the leaves noticeably starting to wilt and the flowers to lose their brilliance. The temperature of the air slipped several degrees.

  ‘What is it? What’s happening?’ Koenig asked.

  Maya nodded approval. ‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘The Master Computer just shut down. There must be some kind of basic auxiliary system that’s taken over.’

  Helena was kneeling beside Zarl who stared past her into space, lost in wonder at an experience he could not explain. The other Androids had ceased functioning immediately, frozen into frantic poses and looking like nothing more than beautifully shaped dummies.

  ‘You were right,’ Zarl said softly as he focused on Helena. ‘I did feel it.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Zarl,’ Helena said with a sob. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Please, don’t feel sorry. It was worth it... that one... moment of... humanity.’

  The face of Zarl stiffened and sealed over with a glaze of inanimation. His functions ceased forever. Looking down at him, Koenig couldn’t stop himself from wishing, in spite of everything, that the Vegan had survived.

  It was not necessary to tell the Numbers what had happened and they came filing slowly into the grove with tears of gratitude streaking their faces. The hateful masks were cast off at last and they quickly set to work shifting the mechanical scrap of the Androids out of sight.

  Koenig unhooked his commlock from his belt and tried calling the Moon Base.

  ‘Alpha to Commander Koenig,’ came the immediate reply from Yasko. ‘Moon Base functioning fully again.’

  ‘Glad to hear it,’ Koenig said. ‘Can you get an Eagle down here to pick us up?’

  ‘Right away, C
ommander. Alpha out.’

  The air in the grove was getting cooler all the time. The luxurious environment that the Master Computer had kept operating was running down rapidly and the Alphans’ breaths were coming out in steamy puffs.

  The Numbers... the reinstated humans seemed too pleased by their liberation to feel uncomfortable. Number Eight beamed his thanks at Koenig.

  ‘What will you do now?’ the Commander asked.

  ‘We will live on the surface, as our ancestors did.’ The man laughed with joy at the prospect. ‘The climate is terribly harsh. It will be a struggle to survive. We’ll have to learn to hunt and farm... it’ll be wonderful!’

  Helena blew on her chilled fingertips, not relishing the sound of that future at all. She had been told that the whole surface was covered in constant snow and that the winds seldom dropped below one hundred miles per hour.

  She was surprised as her hands were grasped by Koenig, enclosing them with the warmth of his own. ‘That Zarl was quite some robot...’

  Guardedly, she agreed.

  ‘He was good looking, aggressively masculine...’ Koenig continued.

  ‘He did have some very nice qualities.’

  The Commander’s face immediately looked peeved that she had been led to confess a favourable opinion... even though he had done the leading himself. ‘Is that a testimonial?’ he asked brusquely.

  Helena laughed. ‘Just a statement of fact.’

  ‘If you prefer to put it that way...’

  Helena’s hands slipped out of his and up his arms, pulling to make him lean down closer to her. ‘I prefer an imperfect human being,’ she said pointedly.

  Koenig felt inwardly warmed by the sentiment, understanding how it was really meant. He still looked stern, however, as he asked, ‘Is that your idea of a compliment?’

  The sudden and welcoming roar of a distant Eagle’s jets interrupted the conversation. They both grinned with anticipation, knowing they would soon be back home... on Alpha.