Adventures in time and space transcribed in future tense. Dimension X. The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of astounding science fiction, bring you Dimension X. The war had been going on for generations. The sea and air were ruled by guided atomic missiles, radiations, and total destruction drove man underground. And there the war continued. The great beds of shale and limestone trembled as an underground cruiser chewed its way through the ageless rock. The ship was squat, ugly, the top of its cutting head 40 feet above the clattering caterpillar treads. It was windowless, and behind the grinding duraloy blades were ugly lumps that concealed the guns. On the bridge, Commander Sanderson fought the bucking vibration, one hand tight on a stanchion. Culver. Aye, sir. What's wrong with the insulation? It's hotter than an oven up here. Port Refrigeration Unit went out. Starboard can't carry the load. I've got damage control on it. Go back. Aye, sir. Give me a seismol reading. Severe shock 30 seconds back. Change course to 175 degrees. And half speed, please, sir, so I can chart the strata. Mr. Culver. Aye, sir. 175, half speed. Aye, sir. Navigation, Lieutenant Watson. Bridge here. Change course to 175, Watson. 175. Aye, sir. Clark. Yes, Mr. Watson. New course, 175. 175, aye. Half speed. Half speed, aye. What? We hit something. What is it, Mr. Watson? Lava, probably. Maybe it doesn't mean anything. No, I guess not. Mr. Watson. Yes, Clark? We ever gonna get out of here? You mean the lava? The whole business. We've been under rock for three months. You better keep quiet, Clark. Psycho Officer has rubber heels. I don't care about Carpenter. He's been over me already with those stinkin' reaction tests. If he gives me one more ink blot to look at, I'll... Watch your dial. One degree correction. Right. Mr. Watson, what was it like? Huh? When? On the surface. I never saw the surface. I was born in the Denver Cave, half a mile down. That was a long time ago, Clark. Yeah. But you remember, don't you? You and Kovacs are the only ones on the ship who remember the surface. It was war then, too. Kovacs was in the Army, the infantry. The Queen of Battles. Well, the Queen's dead now. What was it like? You mean in the surface wars? Well, they... they had chaplains. Chaplains? I guess you never heard of that. Now we have psycho officers. Yeah, they don't talk about religion much these days. It must have been something on the surface. I dream about that. I don't know what it was really like, but I dream about it. Then somebody takes me and shoves me down on the bottom of a hot closet. They shove a big hand over my mouth and I can't breathe. I wake up and I want to bust out of here with my fingernails. I just... What's the matter, Clark? Nothing, Dr. Carpenter. Nothing? No, sir. We were just passing the time, Carpenter. When's the last time you had an emotional reaction test, Watson? I don't know. I... I forgot. Just remember your seniority doesn't exempt you from psychiatric review. This isn't some slipshod surface vessel with organized superstition aboard. The old chaplains weren't so bad. Not scientific. You know, I can remember when psychiatry and mental hygiene were the hope of mankind. Now look at it. That goes in my report, Watson. Yeah? I'll make sure you spell my name right. Now hear this. Now hear this. Attention all hands. Igneous rock detected. Fresh lava flow. Stand by to go to quarters. You're lucky, Watson. I'll finish with you later. I've got to check combat detachment. Sure, sure. Go play with your inkblots. I'm busy. Now, listen... Go on. Get out of the way. Get down to the combat detachment. They'll be happy to see you. Clark, check those dampers. I'll take three cards. I'll stand pat. Jake to the pat hand. Combat detachment, huh? What kind of a chicken guy are you? Anytime you want to start anything, you're lying, yelling, chis... All right, all right. Don't flip your wig. All right, I don't want no trouble. That rubber-soled rat carpenter. He's worked us all over. Yeah, all except Norman. Hey, Norman. Norman, how come you ain't been psyched out? I don't need it. I'm stable. I bet you any money he's a stoley for carpenter. I've seen his 201 personnel file. It's blank. I heard a guy say he was born in a lab. What do you mean? You ever seen him eat? Oh, you're crazy. A science brass has been working on something like that. Oh, crazy. You know how many men they fell short in the last draft? 900,000. So what? Suppose you run out of real men for soldiers. Suppose you figure out how to make them. Artificial. If they ever do, they ain't gonna talk about it. Until it's combat tested. Yeah, I never thought of that. Hey, Newman. What do you got inside of you? Gears? I'm not supposed to talk about myself. Yeah? Well, suppose I make you talk. Hey, sit down, Sheriff. Sit down, B. Let go of me. I'm gonna lay you out too. Cut it! Cut it! At ease, men. Well, how's everybody feeling? You coke? All right. I'm all right, sir. Uh-huh. Keane? There you go. Keane? I'm all right, sir. Newman? I'm all right, sir. Of course. Very well. Carry on. Commander Sanderson, I have my report. Later, Carpenter. It's rather important, so serious personnel trouble is indicated below. It always is. Give your report to Culver. I'm busy. But, sir... Go back and give me a G.O. reading every 10 seconds. Aye, sir. Read as steady as before. Mr. Culver. Later. If you will initial the cycle report. All right, all right. Hurry up. This is no time for non-combat chicken. Nice more readings. Sudden fault. Dignitous activity ahead. That means the enemy. Mr. Culver? Aye, sir. Elevate the cutters 25 degrees. We're going up and come on the enemy from above. Aye, sir. Navigation, Watson. Elevate 25 degrees. 25, elevation. Aye, sir. Tickets ahead on sonar. Sounds like three. All right. Sound general quarters. Aye, sir. All right, all right. General quarters. I have all this stinkin' luck. Aces I got. Get into your armor, you tubular. Give me a hand, Shin. The oxygen valve on my helmet's stuck. It's too tight. My helmet's too tight. You eat too much. At least I eat. Not like Newman. Yeah. Look at him. Full armor and he's still smokin'. I bet he lives on nicotine. Hey, Newman. Yes? You live on nicotine? Tobacco is necessary to me. See that, I rope it. What did I tell you? All right. Shut up and test your helmet radio. Snap it down. Okay. Now I'll get mine. Can you hear me? Is my intercom okay? Okay. Keep the power up. Newman, check your intercom. I can hear you. Attention. Attention. Combat detachment move out. Where are those chow runners with battle breakfast? Breakfast? I can remember when I had maintenance chow. When I had cooks instead of food chemists. First class. Quit griping, Coke. At least we eat. Yeah, we eat. How about him? Want any breakfast, Newman? No. I don't need breakfast. I can wait without it. Navigation, Watson. Bridge here. Half speed. Half speed. Half speed, aye. Clark? What? What's the matter? You got the shakes? No, no. I'm all right. Half speed. Half speed, aye. Attention, all hands. Enemy digger sighted. Prepare for action at close quarters. Enemy digger sighted. You hear that, Watson? Prepare for action at close quarters. Full speed forward. No, I won't. What? Come on. Full speed forward. No, no. Another inch. Stop this ship. Get away from there. No, I've got to stop this ship. I won't be killed. I won't. I won't be killed. Get away from the controls, Clark. You hurt? All right, take it easy now. Watson, I've got a gun. Stop this ship. Stop it before I shoot you. I'll take it easy, boy. I won't be killed. I won't let him. I'll give you three, Watson, then I shoot. You don't know what you're doing. I'm gonna stop the ship. One, two... You could have wounded him, carpenter. That would have been enough. My gentry was the Clark's more than a marginal risk. I acted accordingly. Sure, sure. I'll get a detail to clean up after you. Well, doctor, the commander says you'll rate a citation. If you had read my report, Mr. Colby, you'd understand. Carpenter. Aye, sir. Don't let the crew hear of this. Wouldn't do for them to know an officer was emotionally unstable. You won't keep it quiet, sir. There was a detail to remove the body. What's that? Enemy digger within 100 feet, coming in fast. Hold it, Culver. Don't reverse engines. Turn on the drill with the treads stationary. Aye, sir. Full speed drill. Treads cut out. We'll blow up a cloud of dust with a blind air optical technician in the infrared. Stand by, Gunnery. Stand by, Gunnery. Right, sir. Enemy will be breaking through any second. There it is. There it is. Full drill blades. Navigation. Cut out drill. Cut out drill. Fire when ready. Fire. Contact signal. Contact signal received. Cease fire, Mr. Culver. Contact signal. Cease fire. Enemy battery silencer. Give the go ahead to the combat men. They can move in. Who tripped that alarm? Cut it off. Navigation to Bridge. Bridge, aye. What's wrong down there? Why the emergency? The atomic pile's kicking up. We can't get him to hand damp. She may blow any minute. I'll take over, Mr. Culver. Prepare to abandon ship. But the enemy digger, sir... With the atomic pile about to blow, we'll have to advance, destroy the enemy, and take refuge in their ship. There's nothing else we can do. Look alive. Aye, sir. Attention. All hands. Attention. All hands. Prepare to abandon ship. Prepare to abandon ship. Kovacs, have the ship's records packed and ready to go. Aye, sir. Commander. Watson, what are you doing up here? There'll be a lot more chance of getting out if the ship's engines were reversed. She crawled back down the tunnel before she flew. There's no way to set up remote control. I know. I thought I could stay and run her. But the pile's going to blow. I know. All right, Lieutenant. Permission granted. You may stay with the ship. Thank you, sir. You may go, Watson. Aye, sir. We can't let him do that, Commander. You can't ask any man to do that. This is no time for sentiment, Mr. Culver. Doctor, you're a louse. That's an unstable statement, Culver. It's obvious that Watson isn't worth much anyway. He might as well die. I've heard enough, Doctor. You've had this coming a long time. Now get away from me. Culver! Culver! Pearson, get him! Let go of me, Culver! Yes, sir! All right, Culver. Release him. Aye, sir. Mr. Culver, I need you now. But if we come through this, I'll be forced to prefer charges. Culver, help Dr. Carver and Ruff. Aye, sir. All right, Mr. Culver. Give the order to abandon ship. All the men are away, Kovacs. Full speed and reverse? Aye, Mr. Watson. How long have we got before the pile blows? I don't know. Kovacs, why did you stay here? You could have abandoned ship with the others. I, uh, I've been saving a cigar. I got two. Would you like one? Oh, thanks. Oh, that's good. You didn't answer my question, Kovacs. Why did you stay? How about you, sir? Me? I was in the last class out of Annapolis before it went underground and merged into the Geo-Warfare Academy. I guess I just hang on to illusions. Dead traditions of service. I suppose I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do. Yeah, I guess that's it when you get down to it. Kovacs, you saved a cigar against the rules. I've got something too. It's a book. I stole it out of a hotel room in Frisco in the old days. A Bible? Yeah. Psycho officers don't allow them on board. Carpenter would have had me in the cells if he'd known about it. There goes the Geiger line. It'll blow any minute now. Kovacs, do you remember this? The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pasture. All right, guys. Now you know what an enemy underground cruiser looks like. Let's board it. What was that, Sion? I don't know. Come on. The enemy left their landing trap down. Let's go. Look out. That's Fontaine. I kicked in his faceplate. Watch out for my gun, Rico. I'll go up the ladder. They may be waiting for us. Where are they? There ought to be some resistance. Let's get outside. We can sneak into the bridge. We got them. There it is. The bridge hatch. I don't like this. They should have been guards. Forget that. You throw open the hatch, I'll cover it with a gun. Got your voice speaker on? Right. Okay, open it. Come on in, man. Coco, look at them. They're all dead. Every one of them. This one did it with a sword. Can you beat that? Killed himself with a sword. Con's found his foreign equipment. Culver, how soon can we get this enemy ship underway? Give me the damage report. Aye, sir. The port tread knocked out, armor breached after the midships, gun batteries inoperable. Lieutenant Adamson estimates we can make limited headway in two days. Very well. Sir, is it necessary for me to have this guard tagging after me? You're under arrest, Culver. Excuse me, Commander, sir. Go ahead, Coke. There was a message or something under the guy with the sword when I broke in. I kept it as sort of a souvenir. Give it to me. I didn't mean anything wrong, sir. Hand it over. Culver, you read the enemy language. I'm afraid I'm under arrest as a prisoner, I'll ask. That'll do. Go ahead, read it. From Supreme Headquarters, there's a code designated, to all field commanders, subject, secret weapon, X-39, failure of, one, Research Project X-9 Free, no, released on South America Front last night. X-9, a semi-living chemical process, attacking all forms of protoplasm, was found to be uncontrollable, is spreading through our own armies all over the world. Two, you are instructed to... Well? That's all, sir. Quiet! Gentlemen, there is only one way to interpret this news. Carpenter, you will inform all hands that the destruction of the enemy is worldwide. The war is over. Hey, Newman, why don't you laugh, huh? Why don't you shout the war's over? I don't need to shout. Dr. Carpenter. Aye, sir. You are instructed to serve double rations as a celebration. No, sir, I strongly advise against it. The psychiatric implications are... What's the matter? I don't know. Something... It's inside me. I've got to get out. Carpenter! Coke, Newman, go after him. Ah! Come on. No. That can't happen to a man. Not that. It's Carpenter. You can see that. But that can't happen to a man. He's dissolved. What's going on here? You don't understand, Commander. You didn't listen to that enemy message. A semi-living chemical process attacking all forms of protoplasm. All forms. Carpenter and you and me. You understand why the enemy killed themselves. They knew. The war's over, all right. There's got to be something to do. Culver, some tenor quarters. It's too late for that, Commander. The war's over. They invented the perfect weapon. The human race is dissolved. That's funny. Dissolved like Carpenter. Newman, is that you? Yes. They're all dead, aren't they? Yes. Commander Sanderson was the last. Except me. I suppose so. How about you, Newman? It will not affect me. I am not made of protoplasm. I am an inorganic synthesis. You can't die then. No. I am atomic powered. My breakdown point is calculated in thousands of years. I cannot destroy myself. I was conditioned against it. It's beginning. You'll be all alone, Newman. I know. Buried alive in the rock for thousands of years. I'm sorry for you, Newman. I'm sorry. You'll be all alone. Now. It's starting. You stand it. Ah! Why can't I die? Why didn't they make me so I can die like the others? I can't even kill myself. Why can't I die? Why can't I die? Man has always told himself that he was master of the machine. But will he always be? We'll see you next week with a story of a nightmare. The show is produced by... Your host was Norman Rhodes, music by Bert Berman, engineer George Mathis. Dimension X is produced by William Welch and directed by Edward King. Dimension X came to you from our Radio City studios in New York. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.
