Changes

== Plot ==

== Plot ==

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United Planets Cruiser C57D, Cmdr. John J. Adams commanding, arrives in the Altair system after a journey of more than a year. After decelerating from hyperspeed (no small matter), they find themselves in the Altair system and begin reconnoitering its fourth planet, where a colony ship, the UPS ''Bellerophon'', had landed 20 years earlier and had never been heard from again. At first they see no signs of civilization whatsoever, but they then come under a radar scan, and receive an urgent voice message from a man identifying himself as Edward Morbius, formerly of the ''Bellerophon'', strenuously warning them not to land. Adams insists on landing, as his orders dictate, and Morbius reluctantly gives them standard geographical coordinates for landing.

United Planets Cruiser C57D, Cmdr. John J. Adams commanding, arrives in the Altair system after a journey of more than a year. After decelerating from hyperspeed (no small matter), they find themselves in the Altair system and begin reconnoitering its fourth planet, where a colony ship, named ''Bellerophon'', had landed 20 years earlier and had never been heard from again. At first they see no signs of civilization whatsoever, but they then come under a radar scan, and receive an urgent voice message from a man identifying himself as Edward Morbius, formerly of the ''Bellerophon'', strenuously warning them not to land. Adams insists on landing, as his orders dictate, and Morbius reluctantly gives them standard geographical coordinates for landing.

Shortly after the ship lands, a very fast hovercraft rushes out to meet them. Its driver is a robot who, though he looks ungainly, addresses them politely and announces that he has orders to transport them to "the residence." Adams, executive officer Jerry Farman, and ship's surgeon Ostrow ride to the residence. There they meet Morbius, who is in a much more polite frame of mind than he was when he gave that urgent warning, and Morbius' adult daughter Altaira, who is strikingly lovely and also naive. Quite simply, she remembers no human beings other than her father. Morbius explains that every other member of the ''Bellerophon'' crew and expedition died violently at the hands of "a force that never once showed itself," to which force (which also destroyed the ''Bellerophon'') Morbius and his wife (who died a few months later of unexplained "natural causes" were somehow immune. He also demonstrates some of the capabilities of his robot, named "Robby." He can not only walk, talk, and drive a hovercraft, but can synthesize virtually any substance or object, edible or otherwise, on demand, and gives instant, selfless, unargued obedience to any command—except only a command to kill a human being, which produces a state of mind block until the person giving such an order cancels it. Morbius boasts that he built the robot, but won't explain how he could build him. Robby, quite simply, is a product of a technology more advanced than anything that the United Planets has come up with, not to mention that the engineering involved is ''not'' Morbius' field of study.

Shortly after the ship lands, a very fast hovercraft rushes out to meet them. Its driver is a robot who, though he looks ungainly, addresses them politely and announces that he has orders to transport them to "the residence." Adams, executive officer Jerry Farman, and ship's surgeon Ostrow ride to the residence. There they meet Morbius, who is in a much more polite frame of mind than he was when he gave that urgent warning, and Morbius' adult daughter Altaira, who is strikingly lovely and also naive. Quite simply, she remembers no human beings other than her father. Morbius explains that every other member of the ''Bellerophon'' crew and expedition died violently at the hands of "a force that never once showed itself," to which force (which also destroyed the ''Bellerophon'') Morbius and his wife (who died a few months later of unexplained "natural causes" were somehow immune. He also demonstrates some of the capabilities of his robot, named "Robby." He can not only walk, talk, and drive a hovercraft, but can synthesize virtually any substance or object, edible or otherwise, on demand, and gives instant, selfless, unargued obedience to any command—except only a command to kill a human being, which produces a state of mind block until the person giving such an order cancels it. Morbius boasts that he built the robot, but won't explain how he could build him. Robby, quite simply, is a product of a technology more advanced than anything that the United Planets has come up with, not to mention that the engineering involved is ''not'' Morbius' field of study.

The next morning, Adams and his crew set about building their transmitter and unshipping the power core. Robby arrives and delivers the lead shielding. But Robby has also brought Altaira with him, though one senses that Altaira stretched a point of her father's orders "not to go anywhere near the ship." When the cook takes to ogling Altaira, Adams orders the men driving their electromagnetic tractor to pick up the cook and haul him away. But later, the cook asks Robby to meet him privately and gives him a bottle of Kansas City bourbon to analyze. Robby promises to synthesize 60 gallons of this [[alcoholic drink]], which amazes the cook.

The next morning, Adams and his crew set about building their transmitter and unshipping the power core. Robby arrives and delivers the lead shielding. But Robby has also brought Altaira with him, though one senses that Altaira stretched a point of her father's orders "not to go anywhere near the ship." When the cook takes to ogling Altaira, Adams orders the men driving their electromagnetic tractor to pick up the cook and haul him away. But later, the cook asks Robby to meet him privately and gives him a bottle of Kansas City bourbon to analyze. Robby promises to synthesize 60 gallons of this [[alcoholic drink]], which amazes the cook.

Adams, meanwhile, cannot stop his executive officer from trying to teach Altaira how to kiss, which results in an awkward scene. Adams dismisses Lt. Farnam and then tells Altaira that she ought to dress more modestly in the presence of his crew, {{cquote|who have been locked up in hyperspace for three hundred and seventy-eight days!}}

Adams, meanwhile, cannot stop his executive officer from trying to teach Altaira how to kiss, which results in an awkward scene. Adams dismisses Lt. Farman and then tells Altaira that she ought to dress more modestly in the presence of his crew, {{cquote|who have been locked up in hyperspace for three hundred and seventy-eight days!}}

Altaira goes back home and tells her father about the awkward interaction, and says that she does not like Adams, who looks at her with an obviously burning passion that she cannot understand. Morbius tells her that she need not see the men again, but he is much troubled when she tells him the full particulars of her interactions with Adams and his exec.

Altaira goes back home and tells her father about the awkward interaction, and says that she does not like Adams, who looks at her with an obviously burning passion that she cannot understand. Morbius tells her that she need not see the men again, but he is much troubled when she tells him the full particulars of her interactions with Adams and his exec.

Morbius also plays them some atonal Krel music, and shows the men a number of surviving Krel artifacts. They include:

Morbius also plays them some atonal Krel music, and shows the men a number of surviving Krel artifacts. They include:

* Krel metal, a hundred times stronger than steel, and able to take a direct blaster shot without even heating up.

* Krel metal, a hundred times stronger than [[steel]], and able to take a direct blaster shot without even heating up.

* A physics laboratory containing a library projector and a "plastic educator," designed to educate young Krel in mental manipulation. The key fact: Morbius doubled his intellectual capacity on the educator, and that enabled him to read the Krel library projector.

* A physics laboratory containing a library projector and a "plastic educator," designed to educate young Krel in mental manipulation. The key fact: Morbius doubled his intellectual capacity on the educator, and that enabled him to read the Krel library projector.

Morbius is vehemently informing Adams that he will be the sole judge of what portions of Krel science he will deem humanity fit to receive, when Adams receives a call from Farnam, describing the murder of Quinn. Adams and Ostrow return to their camp immediately, while Morbius ruefully tells his daughter that "the Bellerophon pattern" is repeating itself.

Morbius is vehemently informing Adams that he will be the sole judge of what portions of Krel science he will deem humanity fit to receive, when Adams receives a call from Farnam, describing the murder of Quinn. Adams and Ostrow return to their camp immediately, while Morbius ruefully tells his daughter that "the Bellerophon pattern" is repeating itself.

Adams' investigation reveals only that the robot is clearly innocent (because the cook was its alibi), and that the attacker was a creature that walked on vicious-looking paws and violated every known law of evolution. He and his crew bury Quinn, and Morbius, with Altaira in tow, warns them that they must leave at once, or face a more general attack. Morbius refuses to explain how he knows this, claiming a "premonition."

Adams' investigation reveals only that the robot is clearly innocent (because the cook was its alibi), and that the attacker was a creature that walked on vicious-looking paws and violated every known law of evolution. Adams also begins to suspect that Morbius knows more than he is telling, and proposes that he and/or Ostrow revisit the Krel laboratory and attempt to use the plastic educator to enhance his mental capacity, so that he can learn, independently of Morbius, the real Krel secret.

Adams organizes a defense that includes not merely a fence but a battery of very powerful directed-energy weapons, including rifles and cannons as well as the pistols that they all carry. That night, an invisible radar contact "as big as a house" attacks the camp, and kills Crewmen Grey and Strong and executive officer Farnam when they get too close. Then the creature, visible within the electric fence as an outline of a huge, long-toothed predator, abruptly breaks off its attack. Adams orders the boatswain to strike camp, except for the fence, and to take off immediately if anything threatens. Then he and Ostrow go back to the residence. Their plan: evacuate Morbius and Altaira, by force if necessary. Also, Adams wants one of them to get into the Krel laboratory and use the educator to increase his intellectual capacity and find out what Morbius knows and, they now suspect, won't tell.

Adams and his crew bury Quinn, and Morbius, with Altaira in tow, warns them that they must leave at once, or face a more general attack. Morbius refuses to explain how he knows this, claiming a "premonition."

In fact, Morbius has been sitting at the library projector, sniffing in petulant indignation, while sixteen of the gauges behind him have been lit up. Altaira screams from inside the house, and Morbius, his concentration broken, rushes from the laboratory as, unnoticed, the gauges shut themselves down. He literally does not recognize the connection between his own resentful thoughts and the activity of the gauges. Altaira, of course, suspects nothing—but she cries out that she has had a horrible dream of thunder and lightning and a fierce creature moving through the display and attacking the camp.

Adams organizes a defense that includes not merely a fence but a battery of very powerful directed-energy weapons, including rifles and cannons as well as the pistols that they all carry. That night, an invisible radar contact "as big as a house" attacks the camp, and kills Crewmen Grey and Strong and executive officer Farman when they get too close. Then the creature, visible within the electric fence as an outline of a huge, long-toothed predator, abruptly breaks off its attack. Adams orders the boatswain to strike camp, except for the fence, and to take off immediately if anything threatens. Then he and Ostrow go back to the residence. Their plan: evacuate Morbius and Altaira, by force if necessary. Also, Adams wants one of them to get into the Krel laboratory and use the educator to increase his intellectual capacity and find out what Morbius knows and, they now suspect, won't tell.

When Adams and Ostrow arrive, RObby refuses admittance, protesting his orders. Altaira arrives and issues an "emergency cancellation," and the robot backs off. Altaira begs Adams to leave, protesting her immunity. Adams turns to Ostrow, saying that he is in over his head talking to  Altaira, and then notices that Ostrow is missing. Just then, Robby enters from the study, cradling Ostrow, who is clearly injured.

In fact, Morbius has been sitting at the library projector, sniffling in petulant indignation, while sixteen of the gauges behind him have been lit up. Altaira screams from inside the house, and Morbius, his concentration broken, rushes from the laboratory as, unnoticed, the gauges shut themselves down. He literally does not recognize the connection between his own resentful thoughts and the activity of the gauges. Altaira, of course, suspects nothing—but she cries out that she has had a horrible dream of thunder and lightning and a fierce creature moving through the display and attacking the camp.

Ostrow, in pain and weakening, lives long enough to tell Adams the horrible truth: the Krel ''did'' complete their project. The great machine, all 8000 cubic miles of it, was a device to project matter to any part of the planet, in any shape or form desired, in response to a person's thoughts. The Krel had achieved their vision of civilization without instrumentality. But they forgot about "monsters from the Id," the last thing that Ostrow says before he dies.

 

Ostrow, in pain and weakening, lives long enough to tell Adams the horrible truth: the Krel ''did'' complete their project. The great machine, all 8000 cubic miles of it, was a device of "pure creation," allowing the Krel their vision of civilization without instrumentality. But they forgot about "monsters from the Id," the last thing that Ostrow says before he dies.

Morbius enters, criticizes Adams for his romantic attentions to Altaira, and then callously observes that the dead Ostrow got no more than he deserved for daring to fill "his ape brain...[with] the secrets of the Krel." Shocked at his attitude, Altaira declares that she will leave Morbius, who then warns Adams that he must dissuade Altaira from her "dangerous action," or else she will somehow be "punished." Adams asks Morbius what the "Id" is, a thing that Morbius ought to know, given his background as a philologist. Morbius confesses that "Id" is "an obsolete term used...to describe the inner demons of the subconscious mind."

Morbius enters, criticizes Adams for his romantic attentions to Altaira, and then callously observes that the dead Ostrow got no more than he deserved for daring to fill "his ape brain...[with] the secrets of the Krel." Shocked at his attitude, Altaira declares that she will leave Morbius, who then warns Adams that he must dissuade Altaira from her "dangerous action," or else she will somehow be "punished." Adams asks Morbius what the "Id" is, a thing that Morbius ought to know, given his background as a philologist. Morbius confesses that "Id" is "an obsolete term used...to describe the inner demons of the subconscious mind."

Now Adams understands the full implications: the Krel built an incredibly powerful machine, able to project matter at a single thought, but failed to reckon on their baser impulses, which they had never eliminated, but only suppressed. Those subconscious impulses now had access to a device that none could shut down, and that would express and act out every criminal desire that any Krel had. And so, in short, they killed each other, with their subconscious impulses, drawing form and strength from the great machine, doing the killing.

Now Adams understands the full implications: the Krel built an incredibly powerful machine, able to project matter anywhere on the planet, in any shape or form desired, for any purpose, at a single thought. But the Krel failed to reckon on their baser impulses, which they had never eliminated, but only suppressed. Those subconscious impulses were just as capable of operating the great machine, a powerhouse of instant creation that none could shut down, and that would express and act out every criminal desire that any Krel had. And so, in short, the Krel killed each other, with their subconscious impulses, drawing form and strength from the great machine, doing the killing.

Then Adams tells Morbius that he needs to realize something himself: that ''Morbius himself, through his subconcious "Id", is responsible for all the murders done on that world'' since he set foot on it. As if to underscore the point, the residence now comes under attack, an attack that Robby is powerless to resist, because Robby knows that the attacker is as much Morbius as is Morbius himself. With Robby paralyzed and unable to act, Morbius, Adams, and Altaira flee through the study, down the Krel corridors, through the Krel metal door, and into the laboratory, where Morbius shuts the door. Adams then scrambles the door combination, in order to buy more time, while he half-relentlessly, half-urgently tells Morbius what must have happened: Morbius enlarged his mind at the educator, and now his subconscious could operate the big machine. The ''Bellerophon'' crew had voted to return to earth, and Morbius, without realizing it, sent his "secret Id" out to murder them. Morbius remembered little, except in his dreams, but remembered enough to warn Adams away when he entered the system. Then, when Morbius decided that Adams and his crew posed a threat to him, he sent his monster out again, to damage the transmitter component, to kill Quinn, and then to try to kill them all. And now Morbius is conjuring up the monster yet again, to kill Altaira for defying and disobeying him by declaring her love for Adams.

Then Adams tells Morbius that he needs to realize something himself: that ''Morbius himself, through his subconcious "Id", is responsible for all the murders done on that world'' since he set foot on it. As if to underscore the point, the residence now comes under attack, an attack that Robby is powerless to resist, because Robby knows that the attacker is as much Morbius as is Morbius himself. With Robby paralyzed and unable to act, Morbius, Adams, and Altaira flee through the study, down the Krel corridors, through the Krel metal door, and into the laboratory, where Morbius shuts the door. Adams then scrambles the door combination, in order to buy more time, while he half-relentlessly, half-urgently tells Morbius what must have happened: Morbius enlarged his mind at the educator, and now his subconscious could operate the big machine. The ''Bellerophon'' crew had voted to return to earth, and Morbius, without realizing it, "sent [his] secret Id out to murder them." Morbius remembered little, except in his dreams, but remembered enough to warn Adams away when he entered the system. Then, when Morbius decided that Adams and his crew posed a threat to him, he sent his monster out again, to damage the transmitter component, to kill Quinn, and then to try to kill them all. And now Morbius is conjuring up the monster yet again, to kill Altaira for defying and disobeying him by declaring her love for Adams.

Only the Krel metal door stands between them and the monster. The problem: though the door is 26 inches thick, the great machine is quite able to deliver as much power as the monster requires. As the three watch, the door turns red-hot, and then white-hot. Morbius begs Altaira to say that she doesn't believe Adams, but Altaira is silent. Then Morbius collapses in tears, realizing that he is guilty, and cannot stop the monster. Altaira begs him to be as noble as she has seen him be.

Only the Krel metal door stands between them and the monster. The problem: though the door is 26 inches thick, the great machine is quite able to deliver as much power as the monster requires. The gauges, lighting up one by one without stopping, tell the story. As the three watch, the door turns red-hot, and then white-hot. Morbius begs Altaira to say that she doesn't believe Adams, but Altaira is silent. Then Morbius collapses in tears, realizing that he is guilty, and cannot stop the monster. Altaira begs him to be as noble as she has seen him be.

With all the gauges lit up, the invisible monster melts the door and throws it down in gobs of slag. Then Morbius rushes to meet it, crying out,{{cquote|Stop! Come no further! I deny you! I give you up!}}

With all the gauges lit up, the invisible monster melts the door and throws it down in gobs of slag. Then Morbius rushes to meet it, crying out,{{cquote|Stop! No further! I deny you! I give you up!}}

The monster's rejoinder is to attack Morbius directly. The instant the monster does this, the gauges start to go dark. Eventually, they all go dark, because the monster has now destroyed the source of its own motivation. But Morbius is still fatally injured. He begs Adams to start the self-destruct sequence, and informs him that he has twenty-four hours to get "a hundred million miles" (one [[astronomical unit]]) away from Altair 4, before the great machine destroys itself and the planet with it. With that, Morbius dies.

The monster then attacks Morbius directly. At that instant, the gauges start to go dark. Eventually, they all go dark, because the monster has now destroyed the source of its own motivation. But Morbius is still fatally injured. He begs Adams to start the self-destruct sequence, and informs him that he has twenty-four hours to get "a hundred million miles" (one [[astronomical unit]]) away from Altair 4, before the great machine destroys itself and the planet with it. With that, Morbius dies.

Taking Altaira with him, Adams drives back to camp; Robby follows behind, presumably on his hovercraft sled. In the next scene, the ship is in space and moving off one AU away from Altair 4, as Morbius warned them to. Robby is now a member of the crew, adapting well to shipboard discipline. Altaira watches as the planet explodes in a blaze of blue-white light. Adams consoles Altaira by saying that someday, humankind will reach the same level of technological achievement as the Krel did, and that her father's name would shine like a beacon in the annals of humanity.

Taking Altaira with him, Adams drives back to camp; Robby follows behind, presumably on his hovercraft sled. In the next scene, the ship is in space and moving off one AU away from Altair 4, as Morbius warned them to. Robby is now a member of the crew, adapting well to shipboard discipline. Altaira watches as the planet explodes in a blaze of blue-white light. Adams consoles Altaira by saying that someday, humankind will reach the same level of technological achievement as the Krel did, and that her father's name would shine like a beacon in the annals of humanity.