In this thrilling episode of Alien Worlds, we journey to the Arthur C. Clarke Astronomical Observatory, STARLab, where the International Space Authority oversees the vast expanse of uncharted galaxies. The story unfolds with Doctor Richard Nicholson, a renowned molecular biologist, who is on the brink of receiving the prestigious Brandenburg Prize. However, tragedy strikes as his shuttle, Electra, suffers a catastrophic accident, leading to his untimely death. As his wife, Anne, grapples with the loss, the narrative takes a mysterious turn with the introduction of Simon Toddmaster, the sinister supervisor of the Lethe Mortuary satellite, who harbors dark secrets and manipulative intentions.
As the plot thickens, Toddmaster's nefarious plan to exploit the dead for classified information is revealed. He uses advanced technology to create illusions of the deceased, extracting secrets from their loved ones under the guise of resurrection. Anne, in her grief, becomes entangled in Toddmaster's scheme, believing she can reunite with her husband. The episode delves into themes of loss, deception, and the ethical boundaries of science, leaving listeners on the edge of their seats as they ponder the moral implications of Toddmaster's actions. Join us as we explore the chilling landscapes of alien worlds and the dark corridors of human ambition.
(00:39) Arrival at STARLab
(02:25) Docking and Disaster
(04:33) Aftermath and Investigation
(06:38) Lethe and the Resurrectionists
(14:06) Anne's Dilemma
(17:39) Toddmaster's Scheme
(24:33) The Resurrectionists of Lethe
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[00:00:00]
Unknown:
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High above Earth's windy skies, slowly rotating to the silent voids of space, is the Arthur C. Clarke Astronomical Observatory, STARLab. Here, the International Space Authority, ISA, watches over an eternity of uncharted galaxies, and the countless planets orbiting within the starlet borders. Five kilometers beyond StarLab, the Earth shuttle, Electra, moves into a docking orbit with a giant space station. Aboard the shuttle, Doctor. Richard Nicholson, a molecular biologist whose research in the field of alien spore mutation has just earned him the Brandenburg Prize, the most impressive award the scientific community of Earth can give.
Aboard StarLab, Doctor. Nicholson's wife Anne, awaits the arrival of the Electra. Here, the shuttle will refuel then take them both back to Earth for the award ceremony at the International Achievement Pavilion located in the center of New Vienna. This is 04/28/2026. A day no one on StarLab will ever forget. As this week's adventure, the resurrectionists of Lethe, removes us from the ordinary and takes us into the mysterious light and shadow of alien worlds.
[00:02:25] Unknown:
Stirlab control. This is the Electra on Docking Victor approach 558EPA3Minutes10Seconds over.
[00:02:33] Unknown:
Roger, Electra. You're cleared for entry into Shuttle Bay 5. The doors are open and the refueling crew is standing by. Roger sternlapp.
[00:02:41] Unknown:
And, send the systems technician down after we dock. I've been having a little trouble with the, you know, three feeder line, the number four retro thrusters. Nothing serious, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out.
[00:02:51] Unknown:
Will do, Electra.
[00:02:57] Unknown:
Well, hi, Jerry. How's it going? Oh, hi, Mara. Missus Nicholson. Hi. Is that my husband's shuttle on the screen? It sure is. He'll be docking in less than two minutes. Oh, gee. I don't know if I can wait two minutes. For when? He's only been gone two weeks. I know. That's why I can't wait two minutes. Oh, I see.
[00:03:14] Unknown:
Jerry? Right. Hey, Elektra, could we please have doctor Nicholson on screen 12?
[00:03:20] Unknown:
Roger, StarLab. Hello, Anne. Welcome
[00:03:23] Unknown:
back. You look terrific.
[00:03:26] Unknown:
Oh, you look pretty terrific.
[00:03:28] Unknown:
How does it feel to be so famous?
[00:03:31] Unknown:
Not the same as when I was. I don't believe you. Neither do I. It feels fantastic. Oh, you should have seen the look on their faces, my head. Richard, my god. What's happening? It's not only if we have a meteorite, Paul. And you know, three level of stuff critical of waste.
[00:03:48] Unknown:
Slew off the flight deck. Initiate emergency venting procedures. The escape pod. Get to the escape pod. Alexa, Alexa, can you hear me? Starlab control to Stargazer one. This is an emergency rescue alert. Just back paramedics, give it your way, and later coordinates 558. Repeat. This is an emergency rescue alert.
[00:04:34] Unknown:
Doctor Cassidy.
[00:04:35] Unknown:
Come in, Carl.
[00:04:40] Unknown:
You look exhausted.
[00:04:41] Unknown:
It's been a long day. A long day.
[00:04:45] Unknown:
I just can't believe he's gone. He always took so much time with us at the academy. Always making sure we understood things. There were times when I was ready to quit, and I would have if he hadn't talked me out of it. No. He was understanding with all of us.
[00:05:01] Unknown:
Is that the accident report? Yes. I just finished it. N o three suffocation.
[00:05:11] Unknown:
It's so stupid.
[00:05:15] Unknown:
I'm gonna find out why the Elektra's retro thrusters weren't converted to a nontoxic fuel if it's the last thing I do. I I mean, the Ithaca was converted. The Corinthia was converted. Why wasn't the Electra
[00:05:31] Unknown:
good? I'm sorry, Mora.
[00:05:34] Unknown:
Mora, commissioner White is coming through.
[00:05:37] Unknown:
Have the message recorded, Jerry. Mora will be
[00:05:40] Unknown:
No. No. That's alright, Carl. I'll be there in a minute, Jerry.
[00:05:45] Unknown:
Come on. I'll walk up the communications with you. Thanks, Carl.
[00:05:57] Unknown:
Yes, commissioner. That's all been taken care of. Now here's doctor Cassidy now. Hello, commissioner. Hello, Voora. Are you coming up to STARLab? I'll be up there tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know that the ISA council has ordered an honorary internment for Richard Unplenty. Supervisor Todd Master has already been notified, and one of his mortuary ships will be there tomorrow afternoon.
[00:06:24] Unknown:
Todd Master? Simon Todd Master?
[00:06:28] Unknown:
I thought you knew. He's been Leasy's supervisor for nearly two years now.
[00:06:33] Unknown:
How did a man like that ever end up on a satellite for the dead?
[00:06:38] Unknown:
Lethe. A tiny world of restless sunsets and lonely star filled nights, orbiting like a ghost moon at the twilight edge of an alien world. Alien worlds continues. Molecular biologist Richard Nicholson approaches StarLab aboard the Earth shuttle Electra. Moments away from docking, a retro thruster feeder line suddenly explodes, flooding the shuttle with toxic n o three gas, a lethal vapor that takes the lives of doctor Nicholson and the shuttle pilot. Doctor Nicholson's wife, Anne, witnesses the tragic accident from the bridge of star lab control, and now sits alone in her quarters, silent, sad, and bitter.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to transfer the body of Doctor. Nicholson to Lethe, an artificial burial satellite,
[00:07:59] Unknown:
get
[00:08:02] Unknown:
get on with
[00:08:04] Unknown:
it. Leave his supervisor, Simon Toddmaster, a man from Mara Cassidy's past. A master of the dead to whom no undertaking is insignificant.
[00:08:18] Unknown:
Number six, Professor Joseph Digby Allen. Number seven, General Arnold Boom Boom Bernstein. Number eight, prime minister Ichiro Suzuki. My my, what expensive caskets. Is this the entire manifest, Berkey?
[00:08:41] Unknown:
All except this one, master.
[00:08:44] Unknown:
It's an interesting casket. Who's inside? Richard m Nixon. Well, I thought he'd never pass on. Neither did anyone else. And did he leave any incriminating documents?
[00:08:58] Unknown:
Only an eighteen minute last will and testament tape. What was on it? We'll never know, master. There's nothing on it.
[00:09:07] Unknown:
I'm not at all surprised. Well, come on, Berkey. We have work to do. That is an affirmative, master. A simple yes will do, Berkey. If you knew how I loathed affirmative, you'd be quaking in your boots or whatever it is you call those those things on your feet. My apologies, master. Accept it. Now you you mentioned an ISA communique.
[00:09:33] Unknown:
It's on the teleprinter in the control room. Shall we? After you, master. Here it is, master. Well, what does it say? We've been ordered to STARLab to pick up the body of doctor Richard Nicholson.
[00:10:01] Unknown:
So doctor Nicholson has finally shuffled off his mortal coil. Cause of death? An accident.
[00:10:09] Unknown:
N o three suffocation.
[00:10:13] Unknown:
How utterly fitting that the man who used to give me so much gas should succumb to a lethal dose himself. I don't understand. Now, poor Richard and I worked together on STAR Lab once upon a time as fellow science officers. We were professor Cassidy's golden haired boys.
[00:10:30] Unknown:
Oh, you mean you used to have yellow protein filaments growing on that shiny dome of yours?
[00:10:36] Unknown:
Golden haired boys is just a figure of speech, Perky. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Well, I got into some trouble while I was stationed on StarLab. Nothing serious, just a little glowstone smuggling, but they railroaded me into prison anyway. I'd still be there if Lethe hadn't suddenly required a man of my unique talents. From prison to Lethe? What's the difference, master? Here. Indeed. Volunteering for this post was sheer inspiration. Burke, professor Cassidy had a daughter, Mara. Find out if she's still on StarLab, and find out if Anne Nicholson is there too. She could be very useful to us, considering how closely she and her husband work together.
[00:11:23] Unknown:
As you wish, master.
[00:11:28] Unknown:
Ratchet? Master? Burke and I are going to StarLab. Prepare the Orcus Omega.
[00:11:34] Unknown:
Yes, master. By the way, missus Thorndancer is waiting to see you.
[00:11:39] Unknown:
We'll send her in, Ratchet.
[00:11:45] Unknown:
My dear mister Todmaster.
[00:11:47] Unknown:
My dear missus Thorndancer.
[00:11:50] Unknown:
I just couldn't leave without thanking you for everything. Twenty four hours with my husband alive alive and happy, reliving the best times we ever had.
[00:12:02] Unknown:
Oh, mister Todmaster, it was wonderful. Well, I'm delighted that you're delighted. But remember, this is our little secret.
[00:12:11] Unknown:
Oh, don't worry. I won't breathe a word to a living soul. Goodbye, mister Tardmaster.
[00:12:20] Unknown:
Oh, it's never really goodbye, missus Thorndancer. Only a revoir. Ratchet, what's the progress on the Thorndancer experiment?
[00:12:34] Unknown:
She relived a period with professor Thorndancer during which he was deeply involved with mind weapon research. Some of his workable hypotheses were so dangerous, he never revealed them to his colleagues, but he did confide them to his wife, and she talked her head off about them. The professor's replicate function so well that it had her discussing mind weapon theory within five minutes. The data is in the Omni Extrapolator now. Good work, Ratchet.
[00:13:03] Unknown:
Stay tuned. Ah, Berkey. What did you find out about Mara Cassidy?
[00:13:10] Unknown:
She's now STAR Labs' research director. Anne Nicholson is there too.
[00:13:16] Unknown:
Well, well, well, well, well. Are you feeling alright, mister? I'm feeling very well, Burky. Thank you.
[00:13:27] Unknown:
The Orcus Omega awaits you, master. Thank you, Ratchet.
[00:13:32] Unknown:
Come along, Bucky. We mustn't keep the dead waiting.
[00:13:41] Unknown:
Lethe's sinister supervisor and his assistant, Berkey, descend to the mortuary satellites launch bay and board the sleek cobalt blue funeral ship, Orcus Omega. Orcus, the ancient Roman name for Pluto, the god of Hades. And Omega, the Greek symbol for the end, the final singularity. Meanwhile, on StarLab, Anne Nicholson has just been told about the ISA decree to have her husband honorarily interred on Lethe.
[00:14:16] Unknown:
Oh, I can't help the way I feel, Mara. I am not going to Lethe and that's all there is to it. Why? You still haven't told me why you won't go. It's grotesque. Taking him away from me like this and hiding him in a place where I'll never see him again. Couldn't he be put in cryosuspension, Mora? Have you asked the council about that? Maybe there's still a chance that Richard could be brought back to me someday. Anne, you know it's too late for that. Alright. Then you take him to Lethe, Mora. You salute all those stupid flags and smell all those dying flowers and, yes listen to people who never knew him lie about what a good friend he was. There won't be any flags, Anne, or any flowers or speeches or anything like that. It's a private ceremony between you and Richard. Oh, I'm tired, Mor.
Will you please leave me alone? Alright. I'll be on the control bridge if you need me.
[00:15:27] Unknown:
Roger, Orgus Omega. Your TV coordinates are zero six eight at two zero four. And you're clear for entry into Level C Docking Bay 1 Niner.
[00:15:37] Unknown:
Thank you, StarLab. Orcus Omega out. How long will we be on StarLab, master?
[00:15:46] Unknown:
Just long enough for you to load the late doctor Nicholson and for me to have a few words of my past.
[00:15:54] Unknown:
STARLab.
[00:15:55] Unknown:
I'm looking forward to seeing what goes on inside. Well, I'm sorry, Berkey, but I'm afraid you'll have to stay aboard the ship.
[00:16:02] Unknown:
Not again.
[00:16:04] Unknown:
Berkey, how often do I have to remind you that you are an image infusion android, an illusion? That you only have substance when the light is right, that you'll vanish if the light should change. I'm sorry, but if someone sees you one minute and then doesn't see you the next, they'll know that I'm in control of an illegal procedure. You don't want me sent back to prison, do you?
[00:16:30] Unknown:
Buggy? Oh, don't rush me, master. I'm thinking.
[00:16:39] Unknown:
The Orcus Omega maneuvers into a docking orbit with StarLab. On board, Lethe's tall, black cloaked supervisor, Simon Toddmaster, and his assistant, Berkey. An image infusion android whose physical presence depends solely on his silent collisions with light. A man and a machine. Two manipulators of all those things that go bump in the night, and whose presence on STAR Lab will soon draw everyone they encounter into the death chilled landscapes of an alien world. Alien worlds continues. Twenty four hours away from receiving the Brandenburg Science Award, molecular biologist Richard Nicholson loses his life in an Earth shuttle accident.
In view of Doctor. Nicholson's contributions to science, the ISA Council orders an honorary internment on the Lethe Mortuary satellite. But doctor Nicholson's wife, Anne, grief stricken and bitter, refuses to go to Lethe. Lethe's supervisor, Simon Toddmaster, and his android assistant, Berkey, arrive at STARLab aboard the dark mortuary ship, Orcus Omega. A former assistant to Mora Cassidy's father, Todd Master is no stranger to STARLab.
[00:18:28] Unknown:
Hello, Mora. It's wonderful to see you. Simon,
[00:18:33] Unknown:
you're the last person I ever expected to see on STARLab. I'm sorry. I I mean, I didn't mean that personally. Well, you know what I mean.
[00:18:42] Unknown:
It's alright, Mara. I understand.
[00:18:45] Unknown:
I see. Are those flowers for me?
[00:18:49] Unknown:
The roses are here.
[00:18:52] Unknown:
Thank you, Simon. Who are the other ones for?
[00:18:57] Unknown:
Missus Nicholson. We always give a bouquet of twilight blossoms to the widow.
[00:19:03] Unknown:
I doubt if you'll have a chance to present them. Anne doesn't want to go to Levy.
[00:19:08] Unknown:
I see. Perhaps if I spoke to her, I do have a way of making people understand the importance of being present at the final interment.
[00:19:19] Unknown:
Well, if you think you are talking to her will do any good, I'll take quarters.
[00:19:24] Unknown:
Mara, is mister Toddmaster there? Yes. He is. Doctor Nicholson's body has been taken aboard the Orcus Omega, mister Toddmaster. Thank you.
[00:19:33] Unknown:
Or would you mind telling my assistant that I'll be there in a few minutes? Will do. And now, Mora, if you will show me to missus Nicholson's quarters.
[00:19:54] Unknown:
Yes, mister Toddmaster. The flowers are beautiful. What did you call them again? Twilight blossoms?
[00:20:02] Unknown:
That's right, Anne. Twilight blossoms.
[00:20:05] Unknown:
You know, when you first came in, I thought they were ugly. But there's something about their fragrance now that makes them seem so alive.
[00:20:16] Unknown:
Anne. Yes. Would you like to see Richard again,
[00:20:20] Unknown:
alive? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I want to see Richard. I want to hold him, and touch him, and talk to
[00:20:29] Unknown:
him. Then come with me to leave thee and have Richard
[00:20:33] Unknown:
back again.
[00:20:34] Unknown:
Oh, Richard. Back again. Yes. Take my hand, mister Todmaster. Lead me.
[00:20:45] Unknown:
We've now got confirmation on it, Mara. Godmaster's in control of image infusion, and he's using it to create the illusion of bringing the dead back to life.
[00:20:55] Unknown:
The dead?
[00:20:57] Unknown:
But why?
[00:20:58] Unknown:
So he can extract classified military and scientific information from those who were at one time associated with the men and women now and paired unleathy. In some cases, it's her husband and wife would work together. In other cases, colleagues and fellow officers.
[00:21:15] Unknown:
I still don't understand, commissioner. What exactly does he do?
[00:21:19] Unknown:
Well, he creates an image infusion replicant of the man or woman whose secrets he wants, then he invites the husband or wife or former colleague to leave me, drugs them, and puts them in the room with the replicate. The illusion is so perfect and the drug so effective that people actually believe they're face to face with someone they once knew and loved.
[00:21:40] Unknown:
And the replica is programmed to ask questions designed to make people reveal what Todd master wants to know. It's insane.
[00:21:49] Unknown:
Commissioner, he's with Anne right now.
[00:21:52] Unknown:
Get on the intercom and tell her to stay put. I'll stand by.
[00:21:57] Unknown:
Anne. Anne, it's Mara. Hello, Mara. I'm feeling much better. Thank you. Oh, thank heaven such a story. You were right about mister Todd, master. He's persuading me to go to leave after all. Anne. Anne, listen to me. And since I'll be back in a few days and didn't really feel like seeing anyone, mister Toddmaster suggested I leave this recording. Recording? Jerry.
[00:22:19] Unknown:
Yes, Mara? Shut the doors on the Orcus Omega's launch bay. Mara,
[00:22:23] Unknown:
the Orcus Omega took off three minutes ago. Oh, god. No.
[00:22:27] Unknown:
Was Anne Nicholson aboard?
[00:22:29] Unknown:
Yes. She was.
[00:22:31] Unknown:
Mara, what's wrong? Jerry, what's the delta one ZTA? Fourteen minutes, fifty seconds. Contact them right now. Give them the flight plan of the Orcus minutes, fifty seconds. Contact them right now. Give them the flight plan of the Orcus Omega and tell them to intercept it. Right.
[00:22:42] Unknown:
I was too late, commissioner. They're gone.
[00:22:45] Unknown:
Gone. Yeah. Was there anything you can do? Delta one is anything you can do?
[00:22:48] Unknown:
Delta one is fourteen minutes out. I've ordered John and Buddy to divert it and try to intercept the Orcus omega.
[00:22:54] Unknown:
Stay with it, Mara. I am coming up with a priority shuttle.
[00:22:58] Unknown:
I'll do my best, commissioner. Mara, I just talked to Buddy and John. They can't do it. Delta one doesn't have enough fuel.
[00:23:04] Unknown:
Alright. Contact the stargazer security station. Tell them to scramble a pursuit cruiser and find out who the pilot is. I wanna talk to him.
[00:23:25] Unknown:
Missus Nicholson is asleep, master.
[00:23:28] Unknown:
To sleep. A chance to dream, May Verdi.
[00:23:33] Unknown:
Dream? What's a dream, master?
[00:23:36] Unknown:
An expedition to the interior of the subconscious. Something Mrs. Thorndon's case, thought weapon secrets. In Anne's case, bacteriological warfare secrets. Disease weapons based on Richard's alien spore mutation research. Weapons so terrible, he hid the data tapes for them, and only Anne knows where they are. Amazing, isn't it, Berkey? The way a twilight blossom trance can bring out the best possible secrets about the worst possible things?
[00:24:16] Unknown:
Did she tell you where the tapes are?
[00:24:19] Unknown:
Not yet. But she will when her dead husband rises from the grave and takes her in his arms again.
[00:24:33] Unknown:
In times past, there were legends of myths that told how the dead became the undead. And walked the regions of night, passing ancient moonlit walls and mirrors, casting neither shadow nor reflection. But because dreams of resurrection are ageless, and the powers of darkness infinite, the demon sorcerer of the past has reappeared as the Simon Toddmaster of the future. Simon Toddmaster, the resurrectionist of Lethe. A man walking the regions of night beneath a cold, moonlit skies of alien worlds. The Resurrectionists of Lethe was based on a story by Betty Julius and written by Ron Thompson.
Associate producer, Jeff Allen. Music director, Tom Rounds. Engineer, Stu Jacobs. Technical consultant, Peter Sky. Alien Worlds was created, produced, and directed by Lee Hanson, and is distributed by Watermark Incorporated. And so until next time, this is Roger Dressler inviting you to join us for the conclusion of the Resurrectionists of Lethe on Alien Worlds.
[00:26:30] Unknown:
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[00:26:53] Unknown:
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It is Ryan Seacrest here. There was a recent social media trend which consisted of flying on a plane with no music, no movies, no entertainment, but a better trend would be going to chumbacasino.com. It's like having a mini social casino in your pocket. Chumba Casino has over a hundred online casino style games, all absolutely free. It's the most fun you can have online and on a plane. So grab your free welcome bonus now at chumbacasino.com.
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Sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary. PGW Group VoIP. We're prohibited by law. 21 plus terms and conditions apply.
[00:00:39] Unknown:
High above Earth's windy skies, slowly rotating to the silent voids of space, is the Arthur C. Clarke Astronomical Observatory, STARLab. Here, the International Space Authority, ISA, watches over an eternity of uncharted galaxies, and the countless planets orbiting within the starlet borders. Five kilometers beyond StarLab, the Earth shuttle, Electra, moves into a docking orbit with a giant space station. Aboard the shuttle, Doctor. Richard Nicholson, a molecular biologist whose research in the field of alien spore mutation has just earned him the Brandenburg Prize, the most impressive award the scientific community of Earth can give.
Aboard StarLab, Doctor. Nicholson's wife Anne, awaits the arrival of the Electra. Here, the shuttle will refuel then take them both back to Earth for the award ceremony at the International Achievement Pavilion located in the center of New Vienna. This is 04/28/2026. A day no one on StarLab will ever forget. As this week's adventure, the resurrectionists of Lethe, removes us from the ordinary and takes us into the mysterious light and shadow of alien worlds.
[00:02:25] Unknown:
Stirlab control. This is the Electra on Docking Victor approach 558EPA3Minutes10Seconds over.
[00:02:33] Unknown:
Roger, Electra. You're cleared for entry into Shuttle Bay 5. The doors are open and the refueling crew is standing by. Roger sternlapp.
[00:02:41] Unknown:
And, send the systems technician down after we dock. I've been having a little trouble with the, you know, three feeder line, the number four retro thrusters. Nothing serious, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out.
[00:02:51] Unknown:
Will do, Electra.
[00:02:57] Unknown:
Well, hi, Jerry. How's it going? Oh, hi, Mara. Missus Nicholson. Hi. Is that my husband's shuttle on the screen? It sure is. He'll be docking in less than two minutes. Oh, gee. I don't know if I can wait two minutes. For when? He's only been gone two weeks. I know. That's why I can't wait two minutes. Oh, I see.
[00:03:14] Unknown:
Jerry? Right. Hey, Elektra, could we please have doctor Nicholson on screen 12?
[00:03:20] Unknown:
Roger, StarLab. Hello, Anne. Welcome
[00:03:23] Unknown:
back. You look terrific.
[00:03:26] Unknown:
Oh, you look pretty terrific.
[00:03:28] Unknown:
How does it feel to be so famous?
[00:03:31] Unknown:
Not the same as when I was. I don't believe you. Neither do I. It feels fantastic. Oh, you should have seen the look on their faces, my head. Richard, my god. What's happening? It's not only if we have a meteorite, Paul. And you know, three level of stuff critical of waste.
[00:03:48] Unknown:
Slew off the flight deck. Initiate emergency venting procedures. The escape pod. Get to the escape pod. Alexa, Alexa, can you hear me? Starlab control to Stargazer one. This is an emergency rescue alert. Just back paramedics, give it your way, and later coordinates 558. Repeat. This is an emergency rescue alert.
[00:04:34] Unknown:
Doctor Cassidy.
[00:04:35] Unknown:
Come in, Carl.
[00:04:40] Unknown:
You look exhausted.
[00:04:41] Unknown:
It's been a long day. A long day.
[00:04:45] Unknown:
I just can't believe he's gone. He always took so much time with us at the academy. Always making sure we understood things. There were times when I was ready to quit, and I would have if he hadn't talked me out of it. No. He was understanding with all of us.
[00:05:01] Unknown:
Is that the accident report? Yes. I just finished it. N o three suffocation.
[00:05:11] Unknown:
It's so stupid.
[00:05:15] Unknown:
I'm gonna find out why the Elektra's retro thrusters weren't converted to a nontoxic fuel if it's the last thing I do. I I mean, the Ithaca was converted. The Corinthia was converted. Why wasn't the Electra
[00:05:31] Unknown:
good? I'm sorry, Mora.
[00:05:34] Unknown:
Mora, commissioner White is coming through.
[00:05:37] Unknown:
Have the message recorded, Jerry. Mora will be
[00:05:40] Unknown:
No. No. That's alright, Carl. I'll be there in a minute, Jerry.
[00:05:45] Unknown:
Come on. I'll walk up the communications with you. Thanks, Carl.
[00:05:57] Unknown:
Yes, commissioner. That's all been taken care of. Now here's doctor Cassidy now. Hello, commissioner. Hello, Voora. Are you coming up to STARLab? I'll be up there tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know that the ISA council has ordered an honorary internment for Richard Unplenty. Supervisor Todd Master has already been notified, and one of his mortuary ships will be there tomorrow afternoon.
[00:06:24] Unknown:
Todd Master? Simon Todd Master?
[00:06:28] Unknown:
I thought you knew. He's been Leasy's supervisor for nearly two years now.
[00:06:33] Unknown:
How did a man like that ever end up on a satellite for the dead?
[00:06:38] Unknown:
Lethe. A tiny world of restless sunsets and lonely star filled nights, orbiting like a ghost moon at the twilight edge of an alien world. Alien worlds continues. Molecular biologist Richard Nicholson approaches StarLab aboard the Earth shuttle Electra. Moments away from docking, a retro thruster feeder line suddenly explodes, flooding the shuttle with toxic n o three gas, a lethal vapor that takes the lives of doctor Nicholson and the shuttle pilot. Doctor Nicholson's wife, Anne, witnesses the tragic accident from the bridge of star lab control, and now sits alone in her quarters, silent, sad, and bitter.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to transfer the body of Doctor. Nicholson to Lethe, an artificial burial satellite,
[00:07:59] Unknown:
get
[00:08:02] Unknown:
get on with
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it. Leave his supervisor, Simon Toddmaster, a man from Mara Cassidy's past. A master of the dead to whom no undertaking is insignificant.
[00:08:18] Unknown:
Number six, Professor Joseph Digby Allen. Number seven, General Arnold Boom Boom Bernstein. Number eight, prime minister Ichiro Suzuki. My my, what expensive caskets. Is this the entire manifest, Berkey?
[00:08:41] Unknown:
All except this one, master.
[00:08:44] Unknown:
It's an interesting casket. Who's inside? Richard m Nixon. Well, I thought he'd never pass on. Neither did anyone else. And did he leave any incriminating documents?
[00:08:58] Unknown:
Only an eighteen minute last will and testament tape. What was on it? We'll never know, master. There's nothing on it.
[00:09:07] Unknown:
I'm not at all surprised. Well, come on, Berkey. We have work to do. That is an affirmative, master. A simple yes will do, Berkey. If you knew how I loathed affirmative, you'd be quaking in your boots or whatever it is you call those those things on your feet. My apologies, master. Accept it. Now you you mentioned an ISA communique.
[00:09:33] Unknown:
It's on the teleprinter in the control room. Shall we? After you, master. Here it is, master. Well, what does it say? We've been ordered to STARLab to pick up the body of doctor Richard Nicholson.
[00:10:01] Unknown:
So doctor Nicholson has finally shuffled off his mortal coil. Cause of death? An accident.
[00:10:09] Unknown:
N o three suffocation.
[00:10:13] Unknown:
How utterly fitting that the man who used to give me so much gas should succumb to a lethal dose himself. I don't understand. Now, poor Richard and I worked together on STAR Lab once upon a time as fellow science officers. We were professor Cassidy's golden haired boys.
[00:10:30] Unknown:
Oh, you mean you used to have yellow protein filaments growing on that shiny dome of yours?
[00:10:36] Unknown:
Golden haired boys is just a figure of speech, Perky. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Well, I got into some trouble while I was stationed on StarLab. Nothing serious, just a little glowstone smuggling, but they railroaded me into prison anyway. I'd still be there if Lethe hadn't suddenly required a man of my unique talents. From prison to Lethe? What's the difference, master? Here. Indeed. Volunteering for this post was sheer inspiration. Burke, professor Cassidy had a daughter, Mara. Find out if she's still on StarLab, and find out if Anne Nicholson is there too. She could be very useful to us, considering how closely she and her husband work together.
[00:11:23] Unknown:
As you wish, master.
[00:11:28] Unknown:
Ratchet? Master? Burke and I are going to StarLab. Prepare the Orcus Omega.
[00:11:34] Unknown:
Yes, master. By the way, missus Thorndancer is waiting to see you.
[00:11:39] Unknown:
We'll send her in, Ratchet.
[00:11:45] Unknown:
My dear mister Todmaster.
[00:11:47] Unknown:
My dear missus Thorndancer.
[00:11:50] Unknown:
I just couldn't leave without thanking you for everything. Twenty four hours with my husband alive alive and happy, reliving the best times we ever had.
[00:12:02] Unknown:
Oh, mister Todmaster, it was wonderful. Well, I'm delighted that you're delighted. But remember, this is our little secret.
[00:12:11] Unknown:
Oh, don't worry. I won't breathe a word to a living soul. Goodbye, mister Tardmaster.
[00:12:20] Unknown:
Oh, it's never really goodbye, missus Thorndancer. Only a revoir. Ratchet, what's the progress on the Thorndancer experiment?
[00:12:34] Unknown:
She relived a period with professor Thorndancer during which he was deeply involved with mind weapon research. Some of his workable hypotheses were so dangerous, he never revealed them to his colleagues, but he did confide them to his wife, and she talked her head off about them. The professor's replicate function so well that it had her discussing mind weapon theory within five minutes. The data is in the Omni Extrapolator now. Good work, Ratchet.
[00:13:03] Unknown:
Stay tuned. Ah, Berkey. What did you find out about Mara Cassidy?
[00:13:10] Unknown:
She's now STAR Labs' research director. Anne Nicholson is there too.
[00:13:16] Unknown:
Well, well, well, well, well. Are you feeling alright, mister? I'm feeling very well, Burky. Thank you.
[00:13:27] Unknown:
The Orcus Omega awaits you, master. Thank you, Ratchet.
[00:13:32] Unknown:
Come along, Bucky. We mustn't keep the dead waiting.
[00:13:41] Unknown:
Lethe's sinister supervisor and his assistant, Berkey, descend to the mortuary satellites launch bay and board the sleek cobalt blue funeral ship, Orcus Omega. Orcus, the ancient Roman name for Pluto, the god of Hades. And Omega, the Greek symbol for the end, the final singularity. Meanwhile, on StarLab, Anne Nicholson has just been told about the ISA decree to have her husband honorarily interred on Lethe.
[00:14:16] Unknown:
Oh, I can't help the way I feel, Mara. I am not going to Lethe and that's all there is to it. Why? You still haven't told me why you won't go. It's grotesque. Taking him away from me like this and hiding him in a place where I'll never see him again. Couldn't he be put in cryosuspension, Mora? Have you asked the council about that? Maybe there's still a chance that Richard could be brought back to me someday. Anne, you know it's too late for that. Alright. Then you take him to Lethe, Mora. You salute all those stupid flags and smell all those dying flowers and, yes listen to people who never knew him lie about what a good friend he was. There won't be any flags, Anne, or any flowers or speeches or anything like that. It's a private ceremony between you and Richard. Oh, I'm tired, Mor.
Will you please leave me alone? Alright. I'll be on the control bridge if you need me.
[00:15:27] Unknown:
Roger, Orgus Omega. Your TV coordinates are zero six eight at two zero four. And you're clear for entry into Level C Docking Bay 1 Niner.
[00:15:37] Unknown:
Thank you, StarLab. Orcus Omega out. How long will we be on StarLab, master?
[00:15:46] Unknown:
Just long enough for you to load the late doctor Nicholson and for me to have a few words of my past.
[00:15:54] Unknown:
STARLab.
[00:15:55] Unknown:
I'm looking forward to seeing what goes on inside. Well, I'm sorry, Berkey, but I'm afraid you'll have to stay aboard the ship.
[00:16:02] Unknown:
Not again.
[00:16:04] Unknown:
Berkey, how often do I have to remind you that you are an image infusion android, an illusion? That you only have substance when the light is right, that you'll vanish if the light should change. I'm sorry, but if someone sees you one minute and then doesn't see you the next, they'll know that I'm in control of an illegal procedure. You don't want me sent back to prison, do you?
[00:16:30] Unknown:
Buggy? Oh, don't rush me, master. I'm thinking.
[00:16:39] Unknown:
The Orcus Omega maneuvers into a docking orbit with StarLab. On board, Lethe's tall, black cloaked supervisor, Simon Toddmaster, and his assistant, Berkey. An image infusion android whose physical presence depends solely on his silent collisions with light. A man and a machine. Two manipulators of all those things that go bump in the night, and whose presence on STAR Lab will soon draw everyone they encounter into the death chilled landscapes of an alien world. Alien worlds continues. Twenty four hours away from receiving the Brandenburg Science Award, molecular biologist Richard Nicholson loses his life in an Earth shuttle accident.
In view of Doctor. Nicholson's contributions to science, the ISA Council orders an honorary internment on the Lethe Mortuary satellite. But doctor Nicholson's wife, Anne, grief stricken and bitter, refuses to go to Lethe. Lethe's supervisor, Simon Toddmaster, and his android assistant, Berkey, arrive at STARLab aboard the dark mortuary ship, Orcus Omega. A former assistant to Mora Cassidy's father, Todd Master is no stranger to STARLab.
[00:18:28] Unknown:
Hello, Mora. It's wonderful to see you. Simon,
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you're the last person I ever expected to see on STARLab. I'm sorry. I I mean, I didn't mean that personally. Well, you know what I mean.
[00:18:42] Unknown:
It's alright, Mara. I understand.
[00:18:45] Unknown:
I see. Are those flowers for me?
[00:18:49] Unknown:
The roses are here.
[00:18:52] Unknown:
Thank you, Simon. Who are the other ones for?
[00:18:57] Unknown:
Missus Nicholson. We always give a bouquet of twilight blossoms to the widow.
[00:19:03] Unknown:
I doubt if you'll have a chance to present them. Anne doesn't want to go to Levy.
[00:19:08] Unknown:
I see. Perhaps if I spoke to her, I do have a way of making people understand the importance of being present at the final interment.
[00:19:19] Unknown:
Well, if you think you are talking to her will do any good, I'll take quarters.
[00:19:24] Unknown:
Mara, is mister Toddmaster there? Yes. He is. Doctor Nicholson's body has been taken aboard the Orcus Omega, mister Toddmaster. Thank you.
[00:19:33] Unknown:
Or would you mind telling my assistant that I'll be there in a few minutes? Will do. And now, Mora, if you will show me to missus Nicholson's quarters.
[00:19:54] Unknown:
Yes, mister Toddmaster. The flowers are beautiful. What did you call them again? Twilight blossoms?
[00:20:02] Unknown:
That's right, Anne. Twilight blossoms.
[00:20:05] Unknown:
You know, when you first came in, I thought they were ugly. But there's something about their fragrance now that makes them seem so alive.
[00:20:16] Unknown:
Anne. Yes. Would you like to see Richard again,
[00:20:20] Unknown:
alive? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I want to see Richard. I want to hold him, and touch him, and talk to
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him. Then come with me to leave thee and have Richard
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back again.
[00:20:34] Unknown:
Oh, Richard. Back again. Yes. Take my hand, mister Todmaster. Lead me.
[00:20:45] Unknown:
We've now got confirmation on it, Mara. Godmaster's in control of image infusion, and he's using it to create the illusion of bringing the dead back to life.
[00:20:55] Unknown:
The dead?
[00:20:57] Unknown:
But why?
[00:20:58] Unknown:
So he can extract classified military and scientific information from those who were at one time associated with the men and women now and paired unleathy. In some cases, it's her husband and wife would work together. In other cases, colleagues and fellow officers.
[00:21:15] Unknown:
I still don't understand, commissioner. What exactly does he do?
[00:21:19] Unknown:
Well, he creates an image infusion replicant of the man or woman whose secrets he wants, then he invites the husband or wife or former colleague to leave me, drugs them, and puts them in the room with the replicate. The illusion is so perfect and the drug so effective that people actually believe they're face to face with someone they once knew and loved.
[00:21:40] Unknown:
And the replica is programmed to ask questions designed to make people reveal what Todd master wants to know. It's insane.
[00:21:49] Unknown:
Commissioner, he's with Anne right now.
[00:21:52] Unknown:
Get on the intercom and tell her to stay put. I'll stand by.
[00:21:57] Unknown:
Anne. Anne, it's Mara. Hello, Mara. I'm feeling much better. Thank you. Oh, thank heaven such a story. You were right about mister Todd, master. He's persuading me to go to leave after all. Anne. Anne, listen to me. And since I'll be back in a few days and didn't really feel like seeing anyone, mister Toddmaster suggested I leave this recording. Recording? Jerry.
[00:22:19] Unknown:
Yes, Mara? Shut the doors on the Orcus Omega's launch bay. Mara,
[00:22:23] Unknown:
the Orcus Omega took off three minutes ago. Oh, god. No.
[00:22:27] Unknown:
Was Anne Nicholson aboard?
[00:22:29] Unknown:
Yes. She was.
[00:22:31] Unknown:
Mara, what's wrong? Jerry, what's the delta one ZTA? Fourteen minutes, fifty seconds. Contact them right now. Give them the flight plan of the Orcus minutes, fifty seconds. Contact them right now. Give them the flight plan of the Orcus Omega and tell them to intercept it. Right.
[00:22:42] Unknown:
I was too late, commissioner. They're gone.
[00:22:45] Unknown:
Gone. Yeah. Was there anything you can do? Delta one is anything you can do?
[00:22:48] Unknown:
Delta one is fourteen minutes out. I've ordered John and Buddy to divert it and try to intercept the Orcus omega.
[00:22:54] Unknown:
Stay with it, Mara. I am coming up with a priority shuttle.
[00:22:58] Unknown:
I'll do my best, commissioner. Mara, I just talked to Buddy and John. They can't do it. Delta one doesn't have enough fuel.
[00:23:04] Unknown:
Alright. Contact the stargazer security station. Tell them to scramble a pursuit cruiser and find out who the pilot is. I wanna talk to him.
[00:23:25] Unknown:
Missus Nicholson is asleep, master.
[00:23:28] Unknown:
To sleep. A chance to dream, May Verdi.
[00:23:33] Unknown:
Dream? What's a dream, master?
[00:23:36] Unknown:
An expedition to the interior of the subconscious. Something Mrs. Thorndon's case, thought weapon secrets. In Anne's case, bacteriological warfare secrets. Disease weapons based on Richard's alien spore mutation research. Weapons so terrible, he hid the data tapes for them, and only Anne knows where they are. Amazing, isn't it, Berkey? The way a twilight blossom trance can bring out the best possible secrets about the worst possible things?
[00:24:16] Unknown:
Did she tell you where the tapes are?
[00:24:19] Unknown:
Not yet. But she will when her dead husband rises from the grave and takes her in his arms again.
[00:24:33] Unknown:
In times past, there were legends of myths that told how the dead became the undead. And walked the regions of night, passing ancient moonlit walls and mirrors, casting neither shadow nor reflection. But because dreams of resurrection are ageless, and the powers of darkness infinite, the demon sorcerer of the past has reappeared as the Simon Toddmaster of the future. Simon Toddmaster, the resurrectionist of Lethe. A man walking the regions of night beneath a cold, moonlit skies of alien worlds. The Resurrectionists of Lethe was based on a story by Betty Julius and written by Ron Thompson.
Associate producer, Jeff Allen. Music director, Tom Rounds. Engineer, Stu Jacobs. Technical consultant, Peter Sky. Alien Worlds was created, produced, and directed by Lee Hanson, and is distributed by Watermark Incorporated. And so until next time, this is Roger Dressler inviting you to join us for the conclusion of the Resurrectionists of Lethe on Alien Worlds.
[00:26:30] Unknown:
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