"Gemini and Counting"

Additional cast: Laurie Holden as Erin; Anna Ferguson as Doctor


Database Journal Entry 47-8 mark 10. A mutated form of influenza is sweeping through the Passages. The Power Team responds to the distress call with as much vaccine as Mentor can synthesize. A lady Doctor tells Power that the virus is out of control and still more vaccine will be needed. Power is at a loss. He can't mass produce the vaccine. Pilot has an idea. She proposes an infiltration of Dread's Med-Lab One. Since Pilot was once a member of the Dread Youth, her knowledge of the base defences makes her the only one capable of accomplishing the mission. Power reluctantly agrees. Pilot wants to go without her Powersuit so that she will be harder to detect once inside Dread's base. She dons her old Dread Youth uniform and remembers her past life. It fits her well since relatively little time as passed since she really was a Dread Youth. The team lands the Jumpship near the Med-Lab. As biomech troops approach, Power realizes that the troopers must be taken out quietly and fast before the base can be alerted. Power, Hawk and Scout attack using Crysblades and Starbits instead of blasters. The biomechs are overcome and no radio transmissions were made. But Pilot has only about an hour to accomplish her mission, because once the destroyed troopers fail to report in, the base will go on alert. Pilot enters the Med-Lab through a large air vent. Enroute to her objective she deactivates a force field and overpowers a Dread Youth guard with a neck pinch (ala Mr. Spock). Deeper inside the base she is attacked from behind by a girl of the Dread Youth (Erin). Pilot struggles with her finally subduing her with a short laser blast directed to Erin's leg. Even though Pilot has a blaster pointed at Erin's face, Erin produces a grenade and says she will kill both of them unless she is released. Pilot quickly disarms the manic Erin. Pilot examines Erin's leg injury and applies a tourniquet. Pilot tries to explain her altruistic motives to a disbelieving Erin. Pilot gags Erin but promises to return to futher treat Erin's wound. Penetrating still further into the base, Pilot overpowers a technician and steals his lab coat. She finds the medical supplies she was looking for--and a First Aid kit (for Erin). With her mission accomplished, Pilot could escape, but instead goes to Erin as she promised. Pilot treats Erin's leg wound. Erin is crying but fighting back her emotions. Pilot realizes that Dread has indoctrinated his Youth to suppress emotions as evil, un-machinelike behavior. Pilot sympathetically tries to explain Erin's own humanity to her. Pilot shows Erin the blood on her hands from Erin's wound. Erin responds with the Dread Youth litany of anti-life: "The world is imperfect. We will make it perfect. Mechanized, immortal, human minds in undying metalloid bodies. We are the body electric. Dread is our syes, we are his faces. With our blood and our trust he shall mold a new tomorrow." Pilot recites the slogan in unison with her and tells Erin that she was also a Dread Youth. Pilot tells an unbelieving Erin that being human is feeling and thinking. The discussion is interrupted by an intruder alert. Pilot's activities have been discovered. The entry to Med-Lab One is reported to Dread. Dread sends Soaron to capture the responsibles. On the Jumpship the Power Team also picks up the alert. Realizing that Pilot will need some help getting out, Power takes the XT-7 to give her some air support. The Jumpship continues on to the predesignated rendezvous point. Pilot battles biomech troopers with her blaster, assisted by Power in the air. Soaron arrives and attacks Power. Power lures Soaron away from Pilot and eventually overcomes Soaron's attack. As Pilot takes out the last of the hostile troopers, she is again confronted by Erin. Erin levels a blaster at Pilot. Pilot gambles that Erin won't shoot. Pilot again appeals to Erin's latent humanity. Pilot tells Erin her options: Shoot her, come with her or forget everything. Erin doesn't shoot. Pilot escapes on a Skybike with Tank. Back at the Passages, the team returns with the medicine and the disaster is averted. Pilot reflects. She hopes she has cranked Erin's arm a little and that Erin will begin to doubt--just like Pilot did when she learned the truth while still in the Dread Youth.


Back to Episode List