After several (modelling) diversions, we now return to the Alternate Anderson Universe! No new guest models tonight, as these episodes are not so effects laden as previous and upcoming installments. The cast is complete. Maya is now a permanent member of the crew, Koenig & Helena have settled down somewhat to deal with their predicament, and its basically all hands on deck to find a way home.
S02-E05 - "The Exiles"
The Phoenix emerges from a Queller jump and is suddenly "attacked" by a "swarm of space bees", which appear to be missiles of some kind, 53 in all. The take up formation around the ship in small groups and follow the ship, but even Carter's fancy flying cannot shake them. Not knowing what could happen if they were fired upon, (they may be space nukes...), Maya and Koenig take Dove 01 and go EVA to inspect what seems to be the lead missile. Scans indicate no explosives so they take it inside the Dove. Unable to find any access, they start drilling into the capsule, which promptly blows off a top panel and reveals a young humanoid alien, apparently dead. They quickly return to the Phoenix.
In the gravity medical bay, Matthias and Helena manage to revive the alien as he was in suspended animation; the missiles are actually cryogenic cylinders. The humanoid, Cantar, relates his story. He, along with this wife and 51 others, have been in space for 300 years, apparently cast out from their society for religious differences. Carter reluctantly agrees to revive Cantar's wife, Zova as a sign of good faith. Perhaps these aliens can help them get back to Earth.
Cantar requests that the rest of his people be revived. Carter says the life support is insufficient to support another 51 people, but Cantar insists he can modify the system to allow for the extra inhabitants. Carter reluctantly agrees again, but it is all a ruse. Cantar now has full control of the system, and to compound the issue, has taken Helena hostage. Unless his demands are met, he will kill Helena and destroy the ship's life support.
Cantar wants all his people revived and brought aboard; Zova will supervise. The alien reveals that his people are actually criminals who instigated insurrection on the planet Golos, and were defeated and exiled. (this bit will be shown with flashbacks of library footage of riots, war, etc.) . Carter responds by saying he will not negotiate with terrorists, whereupon Cantar starts to disable life support in parts of the ship, almost killing some of the crew in the process. Carter reluctantly agrees one more time and Zova begins the revival process. But it's a trap. Zova is cast out the airlock of Dove 01 and while Cantar is distracted, Helena scratches Cantar who suddenly ages 300 years in a matter of seconds. Apparently, the Golosians have a thin layer of cling film on them which prevented aging, but once exposed, time caught up!
In the meantime, Maya has found a solution to the missile problem. A short burst of the Queller drive will get them out of the swarm. The maneuver is successful and the Phoenix continues on its way to find Earth, now with the knowledge that out here no one should be trusted...
S02-E06 - "One Second of Humanity"
The Phoenix approaches an ice planet, when suddenly in a flash of light, a woman appears on the Command Deck. Before they can react, everyone is frozen and the invader moves about the crew, examining each individual with a light probe. VICTOR asks what she is doing. She says here name is Zamara, and is here to find two suitable subjects to return to Vega with her. She selects Helena and Tony, and then promptly all three vanish in light. Everybody else awakens and VICTOR fills them in.
Now on Vega, Tony and Helena are introduced to Zarl, a perfect male humanoid and several other similar men and woman. They are offered refreshment, but before they eat, a faceless robot with an "8" on his chest whispers to Helena to remain calm. The food is revolting, but our captives say it is delicious. Zamara accuses her of lying and gets verbally abusive, obviously trying to get a reaction. They are sent for a time out, where Number 8 shows up again and explains to them that Zarl and the others are actually androids and the Numbers are the real humans. They keep their faces covered to hide their emotions. The androids want to learn how to kill and this is why they are treating Helena and Tony so badly. The only way to deactivate the androids is by destroying the master control computer, which is protected by a force field. Zamara and Zarl return, and decide to send them back to the Phoenix. But when they return, the ship is deserted and dark...
Aboard the desolate and drifting ship, the returnees start to suspect the other of causing their situation. Each is afraid to confront the other; weird things are happening, until finally they each grab a stun gun and threaten to kill the other. Cooler heads prevail and they realize this is all a set up. Both start laughing and then Zamara and Zarl appear. The ship is a fake. Tony is returned to the Phoenix and the androids return to Vega with Helena, who to her horror find they have now kidnapped John. (Zamara has learned through Helena's thoughts that this is in fact her husband).
Zarl begins to dance with Helena while Koenig watches, while all the other androids observe him. Unknown to the androids, Tony and Maya have landed on the planet in a Dove, and have made their way to the control room. The dance becomes more provocative and erotic. Koenig can't stand it any longer and gives Zarl a good punch to the jaw. This is just what the androids wanted. They begin using their fists to smash things and set about trashing the place, but tables and walls don't hit back. Zarl is just about to crush Koenig's skull when suddenly all the androids freeze in place. Maya has made it into the control center by changing into a cockroach and squeezing under the force field, leaving her free to pull the plug. Zarl tips over and mumbles something about being human and shuts down. The Numbers arrive and remove their masks. Tony and Maya enter the room, rescue Koenig and Helena, then bid farewell to Vega.
Episode Fun Fact:
Over time, thanks to old & new interviews with cast and crew, or in discovering lost footage from various sources, more can be revealed about the background from episodes. Here, for the first time in 49 years, is a deleted scene from this episode:
The life support system is in need of maintenance again; it needs the rare mineral "milgonite" to make the necessary repairs. (FYI this mineral does not exist). Alan, John, Tony, Helena & Maya board Dove 01, along with (potentially expendable Geologist) David Reilly, the only Irish cowboy from Texas. They land on a barren, rocky surface and begin the search for the milgonite. In a cave nearby, they find a glowing rock formation, but its not the mineral they were looking for. Reilly takes out his stun gun and uses the laser to cut a section off. The rock screams and appears to bleeding. They take the sample back to the Dove for further analysis; it has blood cells...
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