Original subtitles

Bye.

Thank you.

This is Agent Vincent Coletta. Audio log entry at 2100 hours and 2 minutes.

Signal intercepts are steady, perimeter is secure, and Peter is sleeping.

Shit. What?

What the hell was that?

Don't be smart man, don't do it.

I can't believe I'm lost again.

Just get on your bike and get the hell out of here.

Shit, I hope this is true.

Emergency recorded 2,100 hours and five minutes.

I was tracking a possible intruder outside the fence line at Sector 12 when

radar indicated an inbound object.

I didn't get a good look at it, but I think it was a meteor.

I cannot tell if it landed inside or outside the perimeter.

Alarms are still quiet.

I'm going to investigate.

All secure. I am heading southeast to check on Peter.

All secure here. I'm going to check the... Ah, shit!

Perimeter alert, it's a sector 12, I'm on my way.

Recording from sector 12, 2100 hours and 22 minutes.

Perimeter has been breached. We have a red security alert. Intruder is riding a

motorcycle.

Jesus, probably that biker I logged earlier.

How the hell did he burn to that fence?

Who the hell are you? You are on government property!

I'm sighted, an engaged intruder.

I don't know what's going on.

I thought it was the guy in the dirt bike, but I don't know what the hell it

is.

I thought it was a place like this.

It had no effects.

Oh, shit!

Sergeant Kirby!

Kirby, General Cooper wants to see you in his office ASAP.

Don't forget to shave.

I have made you team leader. You will have rank and you will head the mission.

You think you can handle that? Not that you have a choice.

Yes, sir. But how do I... This mission does not exist. Do you understand?

The...

The covert nature of this operation precludes any active duty Marine from

participation, as well as the knowledge of the mission by the Defense

Department. So officially, it doesn't exist.

I understand, sir.

Now, I know you, Kirby.

I've been following your career. And as far as I'm concerned, you are the

perfect man for this mission.

Thank you, sir. Now, you will follow the direction of a CIA.

CIA, sir?

That's right.

His name is Mr. Wood.

You will follow his direction, but the mission is yours.

You'll take responsibility if the shit hits the fan.

Yes, sir.

But is there any more you can tell me about this, sir? I'm afraid not.

Mr. Wood will fill you in.

Now listen, Kirby.

Technically, you're still suspended from action, so let's not make national news

out of this.

Keep it simple.

Get in and get out.

And don't try to make up for past mistakes.

If all goes well, I may be able to get you reinstated.

Yes, sir.

About my team, sir, I... No need to worry about that, son.

It's all been taken care of.

You know, when you think about it, it's like we're our own kind of Fantastic

Four.

You see me, you're like, um...

Johnny Storm.

What, the human torch?

Yeah, you know, fire on the outside.

Just kind of a little punk kid on the inside.

Screw you. No, no, no, listen, listen. Our fearless leader, he's like, uh, the

thing, you know, clobbering time.

Looks like the invisible woman just walked in the door.

Yeah, although she looks pretty damn visible to me.

Thank you.

Doctorly to you, Private.

Well, if I'm the human torch and she's the invisible woman and Sarge is the

thing, who are you?

Who else?

I'm Mr. Fantastic.

Attention on deck!

At ease, Mr. Fantastic.

Sir.

People, this is Sergeant Kirby, the team leader on this mission.

Sergeant, I believe you know Private Rosetta and Buscema.

And then Dr. Adams here will be helping us out with any forensics.

This is Dr. Lee.

She's on loan from the Second Sight Program.

Nice to meet you, Dr. Lee.

Second Sight.

Telepathic and psionic research.

Yeesh, mind reader.

Then there's Mr. Wood.

He will be... I'll be supervising this mission.

Our destination is Prairie Dog, Colorado.

It's an old tourist resort, deserted since the 50s.

We have one agent stationed there.

Now, this has been a secure government compound.

But we have reason to believe that that security has been breached, and that our

man is, well, dead, wounded, or has possibly deserted his post.

Our job is to find him.

assess any possible threat, eliminate it, and secure the area.

We'll be dropped off approximately three miles from the perimeter and enter the

compound on foot.

Now, this is a radio-silent mission.

The helicopters are scheduled to return in 36 hours. If we're not at the

rendezvous site within 20 minutes of landing, they will take off.

And the area will be eradicated by aerial assault.

So, um, please don't lose your watches.

Questions? Yeah.

This is a potentially dangerous mission. Why are we taking civilians in?

Sorry, Sergeant. That information is on a restricted need-to-know basis only.

Anything else?

Okay.

Let's do it.

President, you take point.

I'll bring up the rear.

I hope this ain't a long hunt. It's hot as hell out here.

What's the matter, Frazzy? You didn't bring your comfy shoes with you?

Knock it off, you two, and let's try to act like Marines.

Trying, Sarge.

Move on.

I'll handle it.

Dr.

Lee, you're going to have to keep up.

So, Sergeant, who's Corporal Giordino?

You practicing your mind-reading techniques already?

Not exactly.

So, is it normal to wear someone else's tags?

That would be a need-to-know base.

You coming, Dr. Lee?

Colorado loon.

Eat me. Not you, man.

The bird.

Christ.

I hate nature.

Hey, cut the chatter up there, guys.

Hey, Wood.

You a man on a motorcycle?

No.

The only vehicle in the compound is a truck.

Somebody's in here on one.

Let's keep moving.

All right, we're here.

This is it. Spread out.

All right, now, Sergeant, you're going to have to keep your men back. I'm the

only one authorized to approach.

Mr. Wood, with all due respect, that house hasn't been secured.

We don't have any idea if there's anything in there.

Just do as I say, Sergeant.

I'll inform you when it's secured.

This pile of boards is top secret.

Looks like a friggin' outhouse.

Figured somebody cut his throat in there.

And no such luck.

So this telepathic insight of yours, how good is it?

Can you tell what's happening in there?

Sometimes it takes a little while to connect.

Other times it happens instantly.

Telepathy is only a part of what I do.

A better term would be psychometry.

You see, all objects possess an inner life. They remember things about the

events and people they come into contact with.

Impressions of an individual can be transmitted to an object which that

person has in his possession.

Those impressions can be transmitted to other persons or even objects.

When I touch an object, I receive these impressions.

It's as though I were a television receiver.

I see the recorded events like watching a TV show with the eyes of my soul.

How does one come by this talent? Do you have to be struck by lightning, blessed

by God? What?

Anybody can do it.

But very few do.

I'm sorry about invading your privacy back there, Sergeant. I didn't know.

Forget it, Dr. Lee.

You have a lot of pain inside of you.

Stay out of my head, Doc.

Unpleasant place to be.

Dr. Lee, doesn't it bother you?

What?

Intruding on people's privacy.

It's rather unfair.

I mean, are you the only one entitled to keep secrets?

Do you have secrets?

Of course.

Everyone does.

But one shouldn't go where one has not been invited.

And I would very much appreciate it, provided that you can read minds, that

you stay out of mine as well.

All right, Doctor?

Ditto, Doc.

You want to read your puny mind.

I don't want to panic anybody.

Ooh, your spider sense is tingling.

Dr. Lee, I prefer you stay close to us.

This is wild.

I can't make sense of it. It's like I'm hearing a foreign language, but

backwards. But there's some English in it, like two voices in one head.

Mouth shut, eyes open. Present a northeast corner. Miss Fema, stop left

edge.

Tell me what you hear.

I'm not sure.

It's like a chattering static.

Can you give us a direction?

No.

Kirby!

He's been hit.

Dr. Adams, make for the cabin.

Let's go.

What?

People are not authorized to be in here.

Screw your authorization, Wood. Didn't you hear what was going on out there?

I heard it. Then what?

You were too busy to help us out? I've got a wounded soldier here.

It doesn't look too deep. He's going to be all right.

Good.

Rosetta, check the back door.

It's a bit warm in here for a fire, isn't it? We all have our orders.

Yeah, and just what are those?

It's like another damn cover-up, if you ask me.

It doesn't concern you.

What does concern me is there's a maniac on the bike out there.

You have your orders.

It's just your fault.

We want to secure the perimeter.

Dr. Lee!

Dr. Lee!

Could you give me a hand, please?

I don't trust that suit any farther than I can throw him.

Sir?

Let's keep an eye on him.

I've had some experience with these CIA operatives before.

Yes, sir.

Prezetta, you okay?

Fantastic.

Here you go.

This should help ease the pain.

Did you really hear something from that rider or were you gray and standing back

there?

No, I... I don't know. What are you talking about?

I heard something I've never heard before.

Why don't you just tell us what you heard?

Something loud, like...

Two voices running together.

One human, one... I don't know.

Shit.

Biker from hell.

Are we patched through to Henderson Air Force Base?

You're not authorized to use that equipment.

Yes, I know.

Sergeant, you heard me. I heard you, Mr. Wood.

And I appreciate that this is a need-to-know situation.

But right now, we need to know a hell of a lot more than we do.

I can't walk into a black hole. And I can't ask a squad of this size to follow

me there.

I'm calling for reinforcements.

I brought you along because I thought you were an officer who knew what it

meant to follow orders.

I have my orders. To carry out my mission. To render this area secure.

Now, Mr. Wood, give us the information.

Tell us what we need to know to carry out our mission.

or I'm going to call in the cavalry and let them decide how to deal with it.

I-team special to Henderson.

Three kilo three.

What makes you think I know any more than you?

Three words.

C-I-A.

Okay.

This is a listening post, and we tap into very confidential transmissions.

It's a big surprise.

Yeah, but there are people, organizations, that would give anything.

To get access to what these machines have heard. And clearly someone has come

looking. So what are you saying? Is this some kind of secret agent? Some kind of

foreign spook? With those laser beams and shit?

We have lasers. We have body armor.

Obviously somebody has the same. A bit more advanced, I admit. But seriously,

what else could it be?

Well, this post is now secure.

But we still haven't found Agent Coletta.

And that rider or whatever it is is still out there.

Now you need to capture or kill it.

And I can't tell you a damn thing about how to do that. That's your specialty.

Is there anything else you're not telling us?

Not in my estimation.

Dr. Lee, what's in his head?

Nothing. I could have told you that.

Everything he says feels as if it's been memorized.

And when I try to go deeper...

All I get are math equations, bus schedules.

Bus schedules?

He's blocking me.

Now he's reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

He's been trained to resist having his thoughts read. I just can't get through.

CIA feels the best offense is a good defense. So yes, I have been trained to

block mental intruders.

Now if we can dispense with the amateur theatrics, maybe we can get this mission

going.

All right, Wood.

But do yourself a favor.

Don't ever assume that I'm bluffing.

Yeah, I'll take that under advisement.

Adams, Lee, you're going with us.

Buscema, stay here with Wood.

I don't want you down there until we've done a complete sweep of the town.

Now, just hold on.

Buscema, if he moves, shoot him.

You don't have the authority, pal.

Maybe not, but you can take that up with the commission when we get back.

Right now, you'll do as I say.

We'll radio you when we get down to the town.

Unless, of course, there is something down there.

Something you don't want us to know about.

As far as I know, it's just a town.

Right.

You see, Ma, you keep an eye on things.

You stay here till you hear from me.

If you don't hear from me in two hours, you make that call to Henderson.

Yes, Sergeant.

Wait here.

Let me go check it out.

Hello, Adams.

Is a lab rat like you see much action in forensics?

Not really.

The closest I've been to firearms is the Orange County Gun Show.

Usually by the time I show up, the bad guys are long gone.

Dr. Lee, do you hear anything we should know about?

The birds in the trees have known that all's right with the world.

That's always the way it is, Ben.

Boom. Lacta shows up.

It's all clear.

Well, now, this is counterproductive. I mean, a U.S. soldier guarding a U.S.

agent? We're on the same side yet. Just following orders, sir.

Mr. Wood, don't think you'll be needing that little bundle under your coat

there.

Never hurts to be ready.

Well, if you wouldn't mind, sir, would you please hand over the weapon?

I'm not about to take orders from you, Private.

Well, consider the order coming from my friend, Mr. Nine Millimeter here, sir.

If you were to very gently toss that side on to me, I'd really appreciate it.

Gently.

You're a good soldier.

Do I suddenly feel like Clint Eastwood?

Prebridges of Madison County Eastwood, of course.

Why don't you try feeling like a Marine and shut up?

Just apprehend this perpetrator and go home.

Here's your blood, Sergeant.

Figure it's less than 72 hours old.

Looks like he's lost a lot of blood. Thinks it's fatal.

For Zeta, Christ!

You just let the whole world know we're here.

Sorry, sorry, Zeta.

That's my little job.

Kirby?

I'm feeling something.

Check the back door. Right.

Doctor, you getting anything?

Doctor, please get away from that window! Bill, no. It's fading. It's

moving off.

Good.

All tight.

We're not going to make a stand here, are we?

We'll survive in here about two minutes trying to defend ourselves against that

son of a bitch.

Doctor Adams, we're going to need your help. I'm not a commando. No shit, but

we need all the help we can get.

Ready?

Let's move.

You and Frazetta are on the second floor.

Doc, as soon as you see or feel anything, radio me.

Frazetta, you're sniping. Cool. Dr. Adams, you stay right here.

If he comes around from the back, you'll be the first to see him.

Wait.

You just point this in the general direction of anything you want to kill.

Pull the trigger.

I'll be the running target.

Let's go.

You worried?

Hell yes.

Boy, that son of a bitch.

He's one liar of a spook.

Don't be telling me that somebody's gonna come in here, a covert snatch and

grab, riding some friggin' laser-packin' chopper from hell.

That's bullshit.

Maybe it's more than that. Damn right it is.

Doc, we're on the same team here, you know.

Mr. Fantastic, the invisible girl.

Supergirl and Superboy.

That's DC, wrong universe, okay? What I'm getting at, your brain holds

something.

Skeleton.

I'm stumbling around in the dark just like the rest of you.

I can hear the rider, but I just can't make sense out of it.

Let's move.

We're all clear down here.

I'm gonna proceed down Main Street, see if I can drive him out.

Keep him covered.

Kirby, this is Lee. All quiet and clear.

No sign of him yet.

I think

the murder cycle's been through here.

Hold on just a second.

I've just been tagged.

I can't target.

Can you see him from your position?

Negative. Where the hell was your ESP?

I don't know what the hell I'm hearing. It just keeps changing.

Okay, I'm going to head back down the street toward your position.

As soon as you can target, fire on his ass.

Doc, will you reach in my pack and pull out that clip marked with blue tape?

What is it?

Teflon, armor piercing round.

Okay.

Here it comes.

Well, you're a mighty cool customer, Fodor.

Don't you want to know what all that shooting's about?

I had a pretty good idea what it was about.

You know, they might need our help.

If they do, Sarge will call.

They may be wounded and not able to call. You don't know.

I know how to follow orders, sir.

Your friends may be dying. Don't you care?

Do what?

We're not going anywhere.

Not me.

Now cheat.

You all okay?

That's almost like a fucking Teflon. What the hell?

Sergeant, look at this.

Is that from the bike?

I don't know.

Smells like motor oil.

But it's not oil.

Well, whatever it is, it looks like we've done some damage.

Oh, take a look at this.

Found these over by the barn.

Let me see those.

Whoever these belong to is still alive.

Coletta? I'm not sure. It could be.

The feedback is all fragmented. No complete thoughts.

Well, if it is Coletta, he's in pretty bad shape by now.

Rosetta, you and Dr. Lee take that side of the building. Adams, you come with

me. Let's go.

Sergeant, more blood splatter.

Whatever it was, they were headed out to that field.

Check it out.

Now, you wouldn't really shoot me, would you?

Yes, sir.

You're really something, sir, do you know?

Wasn't booked to happen.

So, what would Mr.

Fantastic do in a situation like this?

Hmm. Probably invent some rounds that could punch through that son of a bitch

on the bike.

Or turn himself into a lasso and rope the bastard.

So what happened anyway?

Why didn't you hear it?

You know, telepathic.

I got confused.

For a second I thought I heard this man.

I could make out his thoughts.

In English.

But then I realized all of a sudden that it was him, and then it got all

confused. So what was he thinking?

Hard to say.

It's like reading a machine.

Search for objectives, eliminate opposition, follow orders.

You sure you weren't reading the Sarge?

Could have been.

This is Kirby.

I found something.

A real piece of shit, boy. Do you know that?

Quiet. Come on, keep moving.

Why'd you shoot the radio, man?

That's what I don't understand.

At least we could call in for help or something. No one infiltrates until

we've secured the area.

Yeah, no one leaves either. Is that it?

Listen, man.

I'm not about to get dead on your account.

What about Kirby? You'd do it for him?

He's a Marine.

It's different.

I don't know what to make of you.

Like, I don't even want you on my side.

These guys in suits who tell lies to people just to keep them from finding

out about bigger lies.

Tell lies to the point maybe you don't even know what the truth is yourself.

Yeah, welcome to the real world, son.

That's not the real world, sir.

That's your world.

I like my world better.

And Kirby, he's okay in your book?

Yeah, he sure as hell is.

He ever tell you why he got suspended from active duty?

No.

Well, let me let you in on a little secret about your fearless leader.

I think we found our man Coletta, or at least what's left of him. Shit, I ain't

ever seen nobody messed up like that.

You okay, Doc?

Yeah, I'm fine. It's just I'm not used to seeing... Body like this.

I wouldn't have expected a forensics guy to go green at the first sight of blood.

Whoever that biker is, he's the one that killed Coletta.

He was being chased through here and then stopped here. Anyone could have

figured that out just by examining the forensic evidence.

That's not all. This little device here, this is some sort of key.

I don't know what's hidden out there.

I don't know if it's native or not, but whatever it is, Coletta died trying to

protect it.

Hey.

Maybe this is what he was trying to protect.

Oh, yeah.

Maybe this is what Wood's been lying about.

This is what he's been hiding up here, and what that rioter's looking for.

You've been reading his mind. What do you think?

I don't know.

I keep getting the feeling there's something human in there, and then it

all turns upside down.

Are you telling me this thing may not be human?

I don't know.

There's something alive in there. That's about all I can tell you. Doctor?

Hmm? Any thoughts?

I was just thinking I'd like to be around a thousand miles away from here.

Tell me, Sergeant, what do you think?

I'm thinking I'd like to have about a pound or two of Simtex right now.

So I'd know if that thing came back, I'd be able to kill it.

You sure he'll come back?

Oh, he'll come back. He'll come back for what's on the other side of that door.

Something's coming this way. Where?

I can't tell.

Let's head for cover. Right, Sarge.

Don't take another step.

We're on the same side in case you forgot.

No shit.

What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you to keep him up at the

cabin.

I think it's all clear.

This blood's on your hands, Wood. You got that?

By disobeying my direct orders, you cost a good man his life.

And I'll remind you that you were under my command, Sergeant.

Bullshit! I'm not taking the rap for this!

And I'll tell you what else.

We're gonna go back up to that cabin.

And we're gonna radio Henderson for an airlift. And when they get... Nobody's

radioing anybody.

What do you mean?

You bastard.

You destroyed the radio.

It was my fault, sir.

I thought he was escaping.

Discharged my weapon.

I accidentally hit it.

You don't have to cover for this scumbag, Buscema.

You might want to think a little less about how everyone's out to sabotage us,

Sergeant, and a little more about how to accomplish the objectives of this

mission. Well, then why don't you tell us just what the hell they are?

Dr. Lee, can you...

is it, Wood?

What do you got hidden away in this little park up here?

Toxic waste dump?

Illegal arms reserve? How about a spy satellite?

Dr. Lee?

Well, we didn't just work out defensive strategies against telepaths. We have

offensive ones, too.

I don't understand.

He thought about me being raped and killed.

It just caught me by surprise, that's all. I can try.

Kirby, I'm reading someone else now.

The writer?

A civilian.

A civilian?

That's impossible.

Lead the way, Doctor.

Come on, you'll shoot me.

I wanted to shoot you and you'd already be dead.

Maybe you just want a clear target.

Get out here with your hands up or this conversation is going to be over

forever.

All right.

Take it easy, okay?

Take it easy.

I'm not one of them.

Oh, you all look like Marines.

My granddaddy was a Marine.

Maria. Hey. Hey.

I'm her brother. Fighting against alien invasion. You don't want to shoot one of

your own men, do you? That'd be friendly fire.

Persian Gulf War Syndrome.

Are you Peter?

Hell no.

Who the hell's Peter?

Sergeant, I've seen this man before. He has something to do with this place.

Yeah. I'm Freedom Fighter Ditko reporting, sir.

So you're not this Peter guy?

No, sir.

Ditko.

What do you think about this guy?

Is he on the level?

Well, he believes what he's saying.

Doesn't exactly fit the profile of a spy.

This whole area is a hotbed of alien activity.

I got my observation pole set up a couple miles from here. Some nights, you

get three motherships all at once. Gets a little crowded, you know.

This compound's supposed to be secure.

I mean, no one ought to be able to get within... 20 feet without tripping on a

lawn. Yeah, yeah, I know, but see, they made a big mistake.

Heat sensors.

It's useless against a guy who's wrapped himself in frosty packs.

I disabled him along the entire section. I cut the chain on the service gate and

just drove on in.

What, do you think that's cute?

Sid, when we get back, I can have you locked up for five to ten, so I'd advise

you to shut up. What is your problem? Look, Vince and I go way back. Didn't he

tell you about me?

Vince who?

Vince Coletta.

Ah. Oh, for your information, Vince and I go way back.

Hell, I'm probably the only person he's talked to the whole time he's been here.

I keep him company. We play chess sometimes.

Oh, between us, he's not much of a strategist, if you know what I mean.

He didn't tell me you guys were coming here.

Where the hell is he, anyway?

He's dead.

Mr. Ditko, did you say you came here by car or truck?

Neither, Sarge. I got to hold Star Cruiser in a church on the far side of

town, but I...

I lost the key somewhere.

These must belong to you, then.

Hey, found them.

Hope it still runs.

You know, this area used to be a nice place to live before those E.T. mothers

came in and burned every living soul.

It really messed up this place something fierce.

I got this trying to save my granddaddy, but I wasn't able to.

First I thought it was some military operation, you know, trying to protect

their little secret base.

Now I know.

It was a full-on close encounter of the totally lethal kind.

Kirby, we got work to do. You gonna listen to this head case? Quiet a

second.

Secret base? You mean Agent Coletta's shack?

No, sir.

Agent Coletta?

CIA.

Now it all makes sense. I should have known.

What secret base?

My dad and me.

We saw him in the middle of the night. 23 trucks full of cement. Fences were

already up by then, you know. I just figured it was some top secret EBGB

operation. All right, that's it.

Kirby, place this man under arrest.

Mr. Wood, if anybody's going to be placed under arrest, it's going to be

you.

Yeah, you spook.

Mr. Secret Agent Man.

With your freaking CIA issue shoes.

That reminds me, Mr. Wood.

I have something I'd like to talk to you about.

Oh, really?

And what's that?

I think I have a good idea of where those 23 trucks of cement might have

gone to.

Mr. Wood, it's on the other side of that door.

You're getting in way over your head, Kirby.

I'm telling you, you don't want to be involved with this.

You see, man? Relieve Mr. Wood of his weapon.

The man is nervous.

He's all quivering. He's afraid Mama's going to spank him. Ow!

Shut up.

He's reciting the alphabet to keep me out.

I don't hear nothing.

Dr. Lee is a psychic.

Mr. Wood, what's on the other side of this door?

I said, what's on the other side of this door?

Lee?

Still can't get through.

Kirby!

Wood, I'm going to get what I need out of you. All right, go on.

Go on, let's go there.

Come on, let's go there together.

Kirby, please stop.

Please. Back off.

I'm going to find out what's on the other side of that door.

Go on, come on. Let's see what you got.

Killing your own man seems to be a habit with you, doesn't it, Kirby?

You didn't think I knew about that?

Oh, come on, Kirby.

I know everyone.

Nicaragua. You lost a whole platoon of men and another CIA operative.

Any of this sound familiar? You marched your men right into that ambush.

And you all bought except for you.

Of course, the inquiry couldn't prove if it was treason or just plain

incompetence, but we all know what really happened, don't we, Private?

You bastard!

Why don't you tell him what really happened? Tell him that the CIA

operative led us into that ambush.

Yeah, that's not how the report reads. Of course, we could ask the operative,

but he's dead.

Go on.

Go on, cut me.

I know you want to.

You don't know anything about me.

You think you can break me?

You have no idea what I'm made of.

So you go on.

You go ahead.

Maybe I'll come.

I don't know.

But I'm going to make you pay the price for it.

I'm not going to let it out easy. Maybe there won't be much left of me when

we're done. But there's going to be even less left of you.

Wood, tell me about Peter.

Who is this Peter guy you dudes keep talking about?

An acronym.

In his side pocket, there's some sort of key device.

It's just like the one Coletta had.

The code to open the door is 32760.

Come on, Wood.

You're taking us in there.

Seema, take Ditko, Dr. Adams back to the observation shack.

No, sir. I mean, I might be useful.

Yeah, you might, Dr. Adams, but you're going back to the observation shack. Dr.

Lee, Wood, you're going with me. Please, Sergeant, I really must go down there.

Dr. Adams, I don't have time to argue with you. Hey, you heard the chief.

Let's hit the road, dude.

Seema, make sure you secure the door behind us.

Wood.

You lied to me.

Sorry, kid.

It's my job.

It's clear!

Didn't like what the sergeant was doing, did you?

No.

It's kind of like, uh... Well, rape.

I mean, it's kind of like what I was thinking about you when you were trying

to read my mind before.

I suppose so.

You don't like rape.

You don't like the idea of being raped.

I suppose I don't.

Well, that's funny.

What do you call what you do?

Every time you violate privacy of somebody else's mind against their will.

You're lucky the world doesn't know about you.

What do you suppose will happen when they do? What name will they give people

who rape other people's minds, Doctor?

I don't know.

I just know that I didn't want Kirby to keep hurting me.

Oh, yeah.

For whose sake, mine or his?

Both.

Which way, Mr. Wood?

Oh, I'm back to being Mr. Now.

Well, I suppose you'll want to go to the left.

Allow me to make the introduction.

This is PETA.

Prototype Extraterrestrial Pack-On Energy Regulator.

Extraterrestrial?

That's right.

It was recovered from a crash site of a UFO in this area some time ago.

Most likely a probe used to communicate to its home planet.

Is this some kind of radio transmitter?

It's a lot more than that.

It transmits.

But it also receives data.

What kind of data?

Everything. Physics, computer science, space travel.

Things it would take us years to discover. If ever.

Look.

This is the heart of the thing.

Is this what you've been hiding here?

Just how many men were you willing to feed through the sausage grinder to

protect your little secret?

For a device of unspeakable importance that reveals the secrets of the

universe? As many as it took.

Including me.

Christ. I was sent here to protect it.

At all costs. And what was supposed to happen if we stumbled across all of

this? Supposed to happen?

What makes you think it won't?

There aren't going to be any more missions for us after this, Sergeant.

Jesus. Another setup.

Just like Nicaragua.

Kirby, I'm picking up something.

We're not alone.

You want to be a soldier?

Well, then be one.

Kill that damn writer!

Don't let him discover this book by you.

Where is it?

I can't tell.

Is there a back way out of here?

Is there?

There's a back exit, Sergeant.

This way.

No.

You two go ahead.

I'll buy it sometime.

You don't stand a chance alone with that thing. That's an order.

Good luck.

Don't shoot!

Adams, you idiot!

I could have killed you!

I'm not cut out for this sort of thing. What the hell are you doing down here?

We found something.

You better take a look.

Where are the others?

There's a back exit in here somewhere.

Hey, how'd you get down here anyway?

Oh, uh, the door was open.

Seema, I told him to make sure that thing was shut.

Let's get out of here.

Oh, no, man.

This is ground zero for the invasion.

Who do you think's riding that chopper? It ain't Peter freaking Fonda. This is

Mr. Saturn. Come to kick us in our ass.

Don't you know anything?

Whatever made this crater was small.

But whatever it was, it's certainly not here now. Maybe it was some kind of...

Biomechanical parasite that latches on and grabs hold of whatever it can.

Then it transforms itself into a soldier.

Yeah. Like I said before, those guys up there?

are real interested in what we got down here. Real interested.

It's going to be dark soon. Let's get back to the cabin.

It's dark.

I'll let you down.

And I'll let Rosetta down.

Don't worry about it.

Creepy being in here without Vince.

He never could beat me at chess.

Couldn't seem to think Donald in here.

Don't anybody go wandering around outside.

We bring tripwires with grenades all around the cabin.

Don't know how much good they'll do, but at least we won't be surprised.

Wood, you've got to tell us what the hell it is we're fighting. You want us

to fight. You want us to kill the enemy. You want us to save your little gadget.

You can't deny it's an enemy profile.

Sorry, I can give you an enemy profile.

Something who has six eyes, four arms, and a big... Those poor dumb bastards

down at Steddy.

They're listening for signs of intelligence while it flows all around

them.

I mean, look at all these monitors. Look at all these eyes and ears.

Looking at what?

What are they listening to?

Where do you think the technology came from for that technological Satan down

in that basement?

Come on, Wood. You're not making any sense.

That sphere.

Peter. It taps into a power that diminishes our technology to nothing.

A source more powerful than all of our nuclear technology combined and

multiplied exponentially.

Learned how to read it.

And nobody knows about it but us.

Not the president, not the Congress, not even the Washington Post.

It's been hours.

Been all hours.

Jesus.

The rifle owners have sent someone down here to recover their little

communicator or whatever the hell it is.

You wouldn't have done it, would you?

What?

Kill Wood if he didn't tell you what you needed to know.

You couldn't kill one of your own men.

Wood's not one of my men.

You can't carry this burden around with you forever, Sergeant.

It'll destroy you.

Went to a boot camp with him.

I wouldn't forget how I got him killed.

It's not your fault.

Neither is any of this.

Yeah, but I couldn't stop it.

There's a difference between the good guys and the bad guys.

There is, Kirby.

You still believe that, don't you?

Maybe.

But it doesn't seem to matter.

You can do your job and still lose in the end.

Because the people like wood in there.

Then we don't let him win.

Maybe you're right.

I'm going to walk the perimeter.

Be careful, Sergeant.

Knowledge hogs.

That's what you are.

But it gets out.

It gets out.

Area 51, huh?

Roswell?

Look, I hate to break this to you, but Roswell is nothing but a spy balloon.

And there's nothing at Area 51 but some old atomic-powered aircraft prototypes

from the 50s that never got off the ground.

And in case you're wondering, Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

You see, we like phony conspiracy theories floating around.

They hide the real ones.

Got any other questions?

Yeah, well... What about John Lennon?

He got me there.

That was a tragedy.

Dr. Lee.

Where's the sergeant?

Going to walk the door in there.

Oh, well, that's good.

You see, I wanted to talk to you about something.

I need your help.

Dr. Adams, I'm afraid I'm a bit tired.

I insist.

Please don't scream. The result would be bad for both of us.

What are you doing?

I'm afraid I don't have time to chat right now.

But I'm sure you'll agree I've done a much better job of concealing my

thoughts than Mr. Wood.

Now let's go. You take me back to the underground base.

We can't get through the door.

How did you get that away from the sergeant? I didn't. I brought it with

me. Of course I didn't know the code until you and the sergeant encouraged

Mr. Wood. Now, move.

How many Air Force officers have you assassinated for making UFO reports?

None.

In fact, most of the really unlikely ones are ours.

All right. All right, I get it.

Disinformation.

That's right.

You see, numbers are positive and negative, and knowledge is positive and

negative. You release enough negative knowledge, it cancels out the real

stuff. The truth.

That's it.

Not that I approve.

No, of course not.

Never would have got Vince with CIA.

Guess you just can't trust anybody these days.

Punch it in. Come on.

3.750.

Get in.

I'll be up in about 20 minutes.

I think we can beat this thing.

We've got to get to the rendezvous.

Where's Adams and Lee?

I thought they were with you.

Where could they have gone?

I have a pretty good idea.

What do you see inside my head, Doctor?

Flame, like a wall.

If not a conditioning, the CIA is nothing if not thorough.

Christ, you're telling me this is some kind of interagency competition?

Wood has been in charge here long enough.

When you give a man too much power, he becomes overconfident, then paranoid.

The CIA can't trust a feeble-minded guy like him with something this momentous.

I'm the new operative.

So what do you want with me?

I brought you along as an early warning system. You'll let me know if the ride

is anywhere close.

I would rather die if I could take you with me.

Let's hope that you don't have a chance to test that theory.

Now come on, let's go.

My ride will be here in about three hours.

Wood, you're taking us to Adams and Lee.

Wrong again, children.

Fire once and you're dead.

I'm already dead.

Don't you get it?

I'm finished.

Agency's just going to rub me out for letting this leak.

I've already been replaced by another operative.

Adams.

You spend half your life searching for the truth.

And the other half telling lies. Pretty soon you don't know what the difference

is. But it's too late.

You don't know how to stop.

Well, this is where I stop.

So you better get out.

You just get the hell out.

Let's go.

Bring it on, you son of a bitch.

Beta's choice.

At least you bought us some more time.

Come on.

Sounds like we're almost ready to go.

And remember, don't touch it until I give you the okay.

What if I don't want to do it?

You have no choice if you want to get out of here alive.

Now shut up and stand by.

Open the hatch.

This is it.

Now.

Do it now!

Give it to me.

Give it to me.

I'll take it now.

Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine. We've got to get out of here. The chopper's ready

to meet us.

No, wait, Kirby.

I know how to kill that thing.

Kirby,

buy me some time. Wait for my cue.

Do not attack.

I want to communicate.

with you.

Who the hell are you?

Integration of the host brain requires some time. This has now been

accomplished and I am able to communicate with you. Why do you attack?

You invaded us.

You killed my man. You killed my squad.

You have stolen a device from us. You have used it to acquire forbidden

information. I have been sent to retrieve this device and destroy those

possessing knowledge of it. I do what is necessary to accomplish my mission. I am

a soldier.

So am I. Do you comprehend that an armed conflict between us constitutes war

between our planets?

I understand, but I got my orders. Single combat with you would serve no

purpose. Your weapons cannot destroy me. I cannot be other than what I am. I will

destroy you.

Good luck.

Then you must die.

Hey!

Looking for this?

Wait!

Give me the device. The core. I

must have it.

You okay?

It was a ballsy move, Dr. Lee.

Did we get him?

Yeah, we got him.

But how'd you know?

I didn't. Not until I touched the core.

Then I made a connection with it.

You mean that thing was alive?

Yeah. And sending out an SOS. Our man on the bike was coming to the rescue.

They were two minds, but one and the same.

You destroy one, you destroy the other.

Congratulations, Dr. Lee.

You can congratulate me all you want once we're back.

I thought you got it!

Hey!

Scatch those fireworks?

Gotta be kidding me, Ditko. What the hell is this?

You're about scared us to death.

This is the world-famous Star Cruiser.

You need a lift?

Or are you going to miss your ride?

I was thinking, maybe it'd be better if... No one showed up at the

rendezvous. Let them call in the airstrike.

Let them think we've all been destroyed.

Why not?

I've been thinking about a midlife career change.

Which way are you headed, Mr. Ditko?

I kind of had my heart set on anywhere but here, USA.

This place definitely lost its appeal.

Sounds fine to me.

How about you, Kirby?

I thought you'd never ask.

Spying Retros!

That's rock and roll, baby!