Original subtitles

Volcanos, the foundries of the earth, ladies and gentlemen.

Where the very wheels of planetary evolution

still turn.

And where, I am here to tell you,

you will find the only viable doorway

to the Inner World.

Doorway to what?

The Inner World!

Egyptians, Greeks, the Norse, Romans,

all told of vast, inhabitable regions

beneath the Earth.

The same people who gave us science, logic, astronomy.

This volcanic bubble, if you will,

is just one of thousands that weave a path

to the Earth's core.

Estimated at over 3,000 miles across,

and as high in places as 5,000 feet,

you could slide the entire United States into it.

If one had proper craft,

it could descend into a live volcano.

Is this a joke? No, they could descend into a live volcano...

...where enormous temperatures,

where enormous temperatures weaken the geological crust,

just the solid side of liquid.

Then, a sonic blast of suitable amplitude

could open a momentary doorway to the Inner World.

It's, it's very clear. It's possible.

It makes me crazy when they call you a lunatic or crackpot, dreamer.

Why won't they believe?

Closed minds can't be forced open.

Put a move on it. I've got a surprise for you.

They really call me a dreamer?

Put... Wherever you want.

Ah!

Behold,

the Geo-Explorer.

Will it work?

There's only one way to find out.

Forward, ever forward.

T-minus 52 minutes and counting.

Confirm?

The rate of lava shift seems like it's rising fast.

That's a roger, mountain base.

Confirm on lava shift, Firebird.

No question, chief.

Lava flows over to north base.

Check, check.

And we're showing a new breakup

near the south wall, Firebird.

Can you check it out?

Acknowledged. On our way to confirm now.

Don't know how close we can get with these temperatures but--

Center dome is letting go, people.

Repeat, center dome is now letting go.

Oh, my God, it's gonna blow!

Control to Harlech.

It looks like it's got be now or never, Jim.

Your call.

This is Firebird. That's a roger on south wind break-up.

I'm going in closer to eyeball on the dome.

Ooh, it could be any minute now.

Chris! Collins! Put a move on!

It's happening now! This is it.

This is it!

I'm telling you, Collins, all you got do is just wait.

My uncle will go along with it.

No, Chris. Once your uncle sets his mind on something,

that's it.

All non-essential personnel

must clear the area. Repeat, all--

We're going in, Collins. Now!

Uncle Jim, take me instead.

No! We have been through this.

No, wait.

If we wait any longer, nobody will go in.

But Collins says the decision is yours.

He'll stand aside if-- Buckle up, Collins.

Aye, aye, sir. Sorry, Chris.

I need you here.

You know all the work I've done,

all the research.

You're the only one who understands,

who believes like I do.

If something happens, I need to know

there'll be someone who'll carry on,

maybe come and get me if I get lost.

Wait.

Hand here!

T-minus 20--

Take this.

Now you gotta come home, 'cause I want it back.

Forward.

Ever forward.

This is Control to Geo-Explorer.

Jim, do you read me?

Roger, Control. Report now.

Confirming launch coordinates.

The sooner the better, boys.

Comin' hot and heavy down there, now.

Thank you, Firebird.

Raise Geo-Explorer into launch position.

T-minus 60 seconds.

Mobile units, this is Control.

Confirm telemetry and tracking from your position, please.

T-minus 45.

We got him. It's working.

That's a roger. Thank you. Jim?

Coordinates confirmed.

Beginning engine reignition check now.

Control, this is Robin Hood.

Seismic activity increasing fast.

Suggest you launch as soon as possible.

Repeat, as soon as possible.

It's gonna blow!

T-minus 15 seconds.

Control, our readings indicate

the eruption has started.

Can you confirm, Firebird? Affirmative.

Eruption has begun. It's gonna rip wide open any second now.

No, it's too soon.

No! No!

Jim, we're not sure you can launch in time.

I won't turn back now.

We're going in, damn it.

All units, evacuate now.

Prepare to fire engines, on my mark.

Central crater's going down, Control.

You've got 10 seconds, maybe less.

Geo-Explorer, this is Control.

Final countdown, engage.

Ship turning in the final launch angle now.

All systems are go,

and you are ready for release.

Good luck, Jim.

Now!

Ship is away. Repeat, ship is away.

Geo-Explorer, this is Control.

Do you copy? Over.

Jim, this is Control. Come in, please. Over.

Firebird, this is Control.

Can you confirm ship status? Over.

Negative, Control.

Not a chance in hell.

Geo-Explorer, this is Control.

Do you copy? Over.

No way they lived through that.

I'm sorry, Mr. Turner.

Chris?

Chris?

Mr. Turner?

Mr. Wentworth will you see you now.

Yes, yes.

Yes, he is. He'll have to call you back.

Mr. Turner, would you follow me, please?

Mr. Wentworth is ready for you now.

Welcome, Mr. Turner.

Thanks for coming.

Thank you, sir.

Your uncle's theories are a hobby of mine.

Brilliant man, Jim Harlech.

Unorthodox, yet a free thinker.

Priceless commodity, a mind like that.

Which is why you are here.

Exactly. Now, sir, I have

factored out my uncle's seismic predictive methods.

We're aware of your results.

Excuse me.

Uh, Christopher Edison Turner, Dr. Margo Peterson.

Oh, I'm sorry. You know one another?

We've met.

Dr. Peterson and I come from opposite sides of the, uh,

scientific tracks.

Why is she here?

Dr. Peterson is head of my research division.

I thought you were aware of that.

No, sir. I, uh, I wasn't.

I'm a futurist, Mr. Turner.

I'm concerned with where we're going.

And we're rushing headlong into oblivion.

Pollution, overpopulation, apathy.

We live in a planetary community, Mr. Turner.

While my father was making billions

destroying the surface,

I used my, uh, allowance

to tunnel under it.

Life in outer space is centuries off.

Inner space is not.

You are not the only one, for varying reasons,

who is intent on going under.

Whereas I am the only one

rich enough to risk paying for it.

And that's why I'm here, sir.

And this is how I'm gonna get there.

Four crew, powered by thermo-steam turbines, once we're under.

And this is gonna render all previous tunneling technology obsolete.

Sonic blaster.

Behold,

the Avenger.

A hundred and eighty-two feet long,

two hundred times fully loaded with a four-inch thick, solid titanium hull

on a triad of all-terrain threads,

seven crew with room for three more.

Self-generating fuel supply.

It's completely omniphibious in nature.

The sonic bore units are incorporated in...

You stole my designs,

my research!

Liberated your ideas, Mr. Turner.

Expanded them and started construction almost two years ago.

Sue me...

or come on board as a full partner,

Captain Turner.

There's just one condition.

What's that?

Dr. Peterson goes with you.

What? As my personal representative, if you like.

Well, she's been with the program from the beginning.

She'll co-supervise mission preparations

and you will, of course, be in command, Captain,

once the mission is underway.

It's an irrevocable condition, Mr. Turner.

Decide.

I'm an insanely busy man.

For what it's worth, Turner, you've made the right choice.

Now, should we discuss the rest of the crew?

Fine. Who'd you have in mind?

Dr. Tesue Ishikawa of the Bio-Botanical Institute.

She's the world's foremost authority on plant-based food sources,

and the ship's medical officer.

Good. Done.

There's the rest of the crew.

Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable.

Ms. Peterson, when's the last time your life was in danger?

I mean, besides some virus jumping out of a petri dish at you?

What does that have to do with--

Assembling this team is about balance.

We can't go poking around worlds unknown

with a bunch of lab coats.

There's an inherent risk factor.

I'm well aware of the risks.

No, not risk. Risk factor.

A statistical variable defining response to danger and the unknown.

The stuff that attacks the lizard brain in all of us,

and then either cripples you or makes you stronger.

Lab coats have never been exposed to that.

These people have.

In fact, they like it.

These three fit every conceivable physical situation

we could possibly encounter.

Sandra Miller, psychologist and champion rock climber.

Also spelunker.

Master caver.

Anthony LaStrella.

World's youngest jet aircraft test pilot

and video game champion?

Has the world's fastest hand-eye reaction time.

Joe Briggs?

Ex-Navy Seal.

Still holds the all-time solo descent diving record.

This only makes six crew members.

What about the seventh?

Well, I haven't got a recent photo, but it's Dr. Cecil Chalmers.

What?

The decision's already made.

There's nothing you can do about it.

You can't be serious.

What possible function could that supernatural crackpot--

Dr. Chalmers is the categorical expert

on legendarology and all mythic lore dealing with the Inner World.

So what?

Of what there is to know

about where we're going,

he knows everything.

He advised my uncle.

Did your uncle a lot of good.

Closed minds.

Ms. Peterson,

every great civilization has stories of a vast

and magical Inner World.

My uncle believed that.

Chalmers knows it

and that is why I'm going down there, to prove it.

You haven't sold out, Chris.

Now, now, now, not another word.

You made the right decision.

Besides, Wentworth may have stolen your ideas

but once we're under,

we will have effectively stolen his ship,

so to speak.

By Jove, it's brilliant.

I'll be with you Monday week, as ordered, Captain!

Oh, no, no. Not, not to worry.

It's just turkey expanding.

Yeah, well, I got this one.

There you go.

I think I'm in love.

Hey, hey! Can't you read?

You touch this stuff the wrong way,

boom!

All they find is a shoe heel.

Thank you, my man.

Now, it's critical you all appreciate the danger of this project.

Constituting a risk factor 10 times that of any NASA mission to date.

Now if you decide to sign on, you'll be paid one million dollars in cash.

The mission should take six months.

Hey, not that I couldn't use a cool mill,

maybe get me a Porsche or two,

but Captain, I couldn't help but notice,

we're sitting on the edge of one of nature's time bombs.

Is there something you're not telling us, Captain?

Everything you need to know is detailed in the manuals,

once you've signed the contracts and secrecy agreements.

According to our data, within a year,

Mount Oliver is due for a major eruption.

Now, our training and preparation

is scheduled to be completed in six months,

well ahead of the window of opportunity.

Now, at that time, we will launch,

administering a sonic blast to the molten lava,

opening a momentary doorway to the Inner World.

That about wraps it up, Turner.

I'll take that return ticket, now.

You haven't heard everything yet, Mr. Briggs.

I heard enough.

Now, I've dived everything from oil to toxic waste.

Even did a gig in a nuclear reactor once,

'cause some fool dropped his Walkman in it,

but I have never heard of anybody diving through solid damn rock.

Not solid, liquid.

Right, liquid damn rock.

Do you know what kinda temperatures you're talking about?

We're not free diving through magma, Briggs.

Well, then how in the hell are we supposed to get down there?

In a sub?

Not exactly.

Welcome to your new home.

The Avenger.

Oh, Margo, it is incredible!

You gotta be kiddin' me.

Whoa.

A tad large. Don't you think, Chris?

Reminds me of myself in many ways.

Ah!

Geez!

You broke it. No, next time I break it.

The systems, Mr. Chalmers,

required a housing of this size.

No more, no less.

What if we encounter a subterranean sea?

The Avenger is completely omniphibious in nature.

Like a frog.

No, that's a dual environment species.

This is omniphibious.

Not all-terrain, any-terrain.

We're gonna fly this.

Yes, Mr. LaStrella, we are.

We're also gonna drive it

and tunnel it through the Earth.

What's the power source?

It's in the reactor chamber, back this way,

just ahead of the main thrusters.

Nice.

Sixty pounds of synthetic, fusionable self-regenerating material.

Has indefinite range.

No stops at Texaco.

Damn straight.

Well, I still don't get it. It's so big.

How can we possibly move around down there?

I mean, what if we run into like,

like a really small cave or something?

I thought you'd never ask.

That's why I designed the sonic blaster.

And why I perfected it.

We've prepared a small demonstration.

With your permission, Captain?

Absolutely.

It's over this way, people.

Commence with the sonic bore test, Tom.

Now hear this. Now hear this.

Sonic bore firing in 20 seconds. Everybody ready?

Clear the area. All personnel, clear the area.

Power grid engaging.

Target coordinates, locked and final.

All systems green and ready to fire on command.

Prepare to fire.

Fire!

Way to go, baby! Way to go.

It's fantastic.

We've tested the sonic bore on every existing geo-structure known to man.

Nothing withstands it.

When do we go inside?

Right now. If anyone has any reservations about the project,

now is the time to decline.

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Well, all right.

Come on! We got a lot of work to do.

To be honest about it, I was still burning inside

from Wentworth having stolen my work,

but that first day when the crew all signed on and came aboard,

I realized that if this whole crazy project was gonna get off the ground,

I'd have to put that behind me now.

For reasons I can only guess at,

Wentworth had put me in charge.

I was their captain,

and it didn't take long to see that was bound to be as much of an adventure

as getting to the center of the Earth.

Don't even think about it!

Like cramming seven type-A gonzos

in a titanium tin can for the next six months

and keeping them from blasting holes in each other.

Not that the Avenger didn't have its creature comforts,

but it was clear my job was gonna be looking past

even what Margo's whiz-bang computer could see.

Whoa.

We're outfitted for every possible circumstance that DEVIN could anticipate.

Hey, you know, Captain. I think I'll bunk right here.

I don't think that would be appropriate.

Who's Devin?

Sounds like a babe to me.

Digital Electroplasmic Virtual Intelligence and Navigator.

DEVIN for short.

Good morning, DEVIN. Good morning, Captain Turner.

Is this the crew?

Yes, it is.

This is Dr. Tes-- Tesue Ishikawa.

Your work precedes you, Doctor.

I've so looked forward to meeting you.

And you, Dr. Chalmers.

I hope we have time for lengthy conversation.

Indeed.

She controls every system on the ship, Cecil.

I wouldn't mess with her.

DEVIN, if you please.

The upper deck stations, control the geo-science evaluation systems,

while all other mechanical and operational modes,

from sonic bore deployment to flying,

are controlled from the flight deck.

Navigation shares a redundant link with Dr. Peterson...

I had to admit,

DEVIN gave new meaning to the word "database."

But I still wasn't about to just follow the bouncing ball,

no matter how many megabytes she had up her sleeve.

At least, not when hanging ten on the edge of an active volcano,

which I knew could have the nasty habit of ignoring everyone's projections.

And all the more reason to get right down to business.

Step one was to have Margo familiarize our crew with the ship.

Of course, knowing LaStrella, he was in a hurry to just get, well, familiar.

And the truth was, Margo did seem more at home programming DEVIN.

When it came to anything hi-tech, no question, Margo was in a class by herself.

But, somehow, she couldn't seem to cut much slack for us mere humans.

Fortunately, I knew Sandy and her smile would be as good at pulling us all together

as she was at scaling mountains.

Not to mention the famous Dr. Tesue Ishikawa,

who had her own curious formula for uniting the crew.

Oh, Margo was right. Tesue was first-rate as a medical officer,

but she hauled all of us in for so many tests,

Briggs took to calling her "Marcus Welby".

I don't think he meant anything by it.

Hell, within the first week, Briggs had picked a nickname for most of us,

so I'm sure it was just a coincidence,

but when the time came for us to gather in the galley

and try out some of Tesue's more bionic grub,

well, for some reason, she seemed to think Briggs was the man for the job.

Mmm.

Meatloaf.

I'm not sure, but I don't think he ever called her "Marcus Welby" after that.

I mean, it didn't take a rocket scientist to know it would be tough enough

learning to get comfortable in such tight quarters

without looking to rattle each other's cages.

And that, I'm afraid, included Chalmers' beloved Briar number 12.

Not exactly a big hit with fitness freaks like Briggs and Sandy.

So, I had no choice but to tell him, "Cecil, where there's smoke, there's mutiny."

Besides, where we were going, there was likely to be enough smoke even for his taste.

And one good look at the volcano cookin' outside was all it took

to settle that question and remind everyone that we were training on borrowed time.

Two months, 15 days till operational readiness.

I knew DEVIN could keep good time,

but wary of putting all our eggs in her basket,

I had Margo build us a holographic navigation unit

so we could eyeball our way through the Inner World if it came down to that.

And I started drilling with LaStrella,

until he could not only fly the Avenger without me,

but deploy and fire the sonic bore blindfolded, if necessary.

I needed to be sure, this ship and crew could survive,

even if, for some reason, I didn't.

Briggs was assigned with ship security and backup on navigation

and I told Margo to program a series of emergency drills for us,

running the gamut from an onboard fire to an all-out crash.

Like my uncle's Geo-Explorer,

the Avenger was one-of-a-kind.

While we could guess how the ship might react if things got gnarly,

what the crew would do was another story

but whether Margo and I chose well or we just got lucky,

I was glad to see they all came through it like the pros they are.

And then there was the so-calledBook of Knowledge.

I thought I'd recognized a picture of it in Wentworth's office,

and I was sure Chalmers could fill me in if anyone could.

Well, he did one better by revealing what he claimed

was an actual piece of this magical book,

supposedly coughed up by Vesuvius over a century ago.

And, frankly, I had trouble keeping a straight face about it all

but Chalmers, well, he wasn't laughing.

According to DEVIN, the eruption was still months off...

but it didn't look that way when I'd go out and walk the rim alone at night.

I knew this ship and crew were ready for anything,

but then it never fell to me to be the captain of a mission like this before.

So, maybe what was troubling me was whether or not I was ready.

Dr. Chalmers, Erin Wentworth.

Very nice to meet you.

I'm a great enthusiast of your work, Dr. Chalmers.

Hey, Mr. Wentworth. Tony LaStrella.

Mr. LaStrella.

Hi, Sandy Miller.

Charmed.

A vessel and crew worth drinking to, eh, Mr. Wentworth?

Mr. Wentworth, fungal champagne.

One of my more favorite synthetics.

Hey, not too shabby.

I say, Doctor, well done.

A speech, a speech.

Ah, Chris?

Yes, Mr. Turner, inspire us.

The past 24 weeks haven't been easy on any of us,

but your hard work and dedication have paid off.

Tomorrow, we're fully operational.

One final week of tests to flush out the gremlins in the system,

and then we'll just sit on our hands and wait for Old Faithful to blow.

Now, I'm not gonna stand here and tell you that none of us is in any danger,

and that everything will be smooth sailing on the journey, because,

well, that might not always be true,

but I will say what we're doing has got to be done.

The potential of what we discover

could be the salvation of our planet Earth.

Thermal energy sources, pure air that could revitalize our atmosphere.

The good doctor here might even discover a cure for cancer and who knows what else?

I am so proud to be part of it

and I couldn't have a better crew if I'd hand-picked every single one of you,

which I did.

So, here's to us

and whatever lays before us or beneath us or whatever.

We are a team, a unit.

We are... The Descenders.

The Descenders. Descenders.

The Descenders. That's cool.

Captain Turner, I detect an unsettling development.

Oh, forgive me, DEVIN, we didn't mean to forget you.

You're as much a part of this ship or crew as anyone. To DEVIN!

To devin. I... Captain, I...

Well, now don't just hang there, babe, say somethin'.

The volcano is about to erupt.

What?

When?

How much time?

According to my calculations,

we can make it if we launch in 30 minutes.

This is no drill. Everybody, man your stations.

Man your stations. Let's go! I want that canopy back in, T-minus ten.

LaStrella, we're going to full power as soon as your butt hits the seat.

If anybody's got any questions, ask 'em on the run.

What about the systems checks? We need a week of tests on almost every--

I can't think of a better test. Can you, Doctor?

Let's go, people. Put a move on. We're a minute behind already.

Unless you plan on getting your hands dirty, Mr. Wentworth, I suggest you get off my ship.

My ship, Mr. Turner!

My ship. Right.

I love it. God, I love it.

Keep an eye out. Cross your fingers.

Prepare launch sequence, on my mark.

Forward scanners five-by-five.

Now.

Launch code initiated. Clear the flight deck.

DEVIN, give me heads-up display, eruption status and countdown readouts.

We are in pre-programmed launch sequence, Captain.

Cancel program and transfer launch control to the helm. Do you read me?

Affirmative.

All monitors up and active.

Project full eruption in three minutes,

and we are at T-minus 2.24 and counting.

Dr. Peterson, give me fuel and booster status.

Boosters armed and fueling.

We clear the hangar in five seconds, Captain.

Prepare for hydraulic lift.

Prepared for lift.

Activate lift.

We are now at T-minus 136 and counting.

Stand by to fire main boosters in four seconds.

Buckle in, everybody. We're going ballistic.

Two, one.

We have ignition, Captain.

Now approaching optimum release angle.

I need to know there'll be someone to come and get me if I get lost.

Take this.

Now you gotta come home, 'cause I want it back.

Repeat, we are ready for launch, Captain.

Captain? Captain?

Escape velocity now three kilometers per second and rising.

Deploy sonic bore.

Sonic bore, Captain, deployed. Fire at will.

Now at minus two kilometers and descending.

Minus 10 kilometers.

Twenty kilometers.

Forty kilometers.

Eighty kilometers.

One hundred and fifty kilometers.

Two hundred and twenty kilometers.

Three hundred and twenty-five kilometers and descending.

We're in a ghost spin. Activate side thrusters.

Negative. Helm not responding.

Hit the backup gyros, now!

We're coming in too fast. Get her nose up.

Hang on.

We're gonna hit. We're gonna hit.

Are you all right?

Sound off. Anybody injured?

I think I'm all right. - I'm okay.

I'm feeling in one piece, Captain. Talk about a neat ticket.

How bad?

Can't tell. What does DEVIN say?

I detect seven carbon-based life forms.

I presume the crew is intact?

Yes, everyone survived.

Get these alarms off and then I'll need a complete damage report.

All major systems appear to be functional.

The sonic bore unit is impacted, but repairable.

Surface communication is out.

I'll need time for further determination.

Have you run self-diagnostics?

I'm battered, but not broken.

I'm gonna shut you down to sleep level for a while

until I can factor out your potential for error rate.

Maybe you're right. A little rest might be just what the doctor ordered.

I shut her down, but her data systems are available.

Well, can you rely on her to run an atmospheric analysis?

We gotta check the hull.

Chris, Margo, I'm afraid some of the food has, well, it's blended itself.

It's ruined.

You're breaking my heart.

I should really gather some specimens.

Uh, Captain, if you don't me asking, what do we do now?

Well, we compile a detailed damage report

and effect whatever repairs are necessary for the continuing of the mission.

Continue the mission? Are you all blind?

Mission over. Briggs.

We're finished. Briggs.

No, I say we get back to the surface and-- Briggs, at ease.

Hey, relax, all right?

According to DEVIN, the atmosphere is breathable.

And what if she's wrong?

It's the hatch. Give me an outside camera.

Sorry for the alarm. You must come and see this, Chris.

Talk about breaking through to another world.

Invaders from the Over World with the book.

They have a piece of the book.

Impossible.

The book belongs only to the center realm.

If what you say is true, then bring it to me now.

Just one more piece added to my own

and I will be free from this living death.

Hey, just look over here.

Briggs, take point. LaStrella, watch our backs.

Behold, the Inner World.

How can there be light?

Actually, a self-suspended, subterranean,

bioluminescent mineral source,

to be precise.

Living rock?

There may be more than just rock. Look at that lake.

Where there's water, there's life, right?

And who knows what forms of it we might find here.

How 'bout we start by being grateful that we're still alive. All right?

I'll second that emotion.

A stunning sight if ever I saw one.

Agreed, but we won't be able to explore it

unless we get started on some repairs.

Turner, the ship.

Well, the design worked.

No major structural breach.

I sure hope somebody popped for the insurance.

What the hell was that?

Intruder alert. Intruder alert.

Chris?

I hope you're satisfied, both of you.

What the hell happened here?

Did I miss something?

Oh, just Briggs here shooting up our main control link

and a few other miscellaneous but vital relays.

I was shooting at someone.

Something. It was in the crew quarters.

Doing what?

I don't know what.

Maybe we should check our gear, see if anything's missing.

Now, wait a minute, wait, wait a minute, wait.

Let's get this squared away. Did anybody see anything?

Just what or who were we supposed to see, Briggs?

We're the only ones down here.

Yeah? Well, then who blindsided me over the back of the head, huh?

How do you explain this?

Oh, come on, man, that's nothing. Look at this. I've got one, too.

Yeah, check this out.

All right, all right, let's go. We got work to do.

I trust it's repairable?

I think we can crawl,

but flying might take a little doing.

LaStrella, Sandy, Briggs, you're with me.

I want to send Homer in.

Were you trying to go somewhere?

You bring me words about strange spirits and this ship of theirs.

But you were sent for the book.

Do not anger me with your excuses.

It is clear you must have help.

Go into the maze and find Kateeok of the Trogs,

and bring him to me.

That much I know you can do.

Briggs, be cool, okay?

Now listen up, everybody. Try and stay inside of the ship.

We're gonna rendezvous here in 30 minutes.

Then what?

Then we eat.

Maybe I should keep an eye on her.

Not to worry. I'll go with her.

Here, this way.

Oh, isn't this amazing?

Yes, indeed. Oh.

Secure.

Activated, Captain.

All right, Homer's in place.

Just in case we wanna get back.

Say the word. I'm ready.

What was that? It came out of that cave.

Chalmers and Tesue are in there. Come on.

Just when I was starting to think Briggs might be seeing things,

but it hadn't made an aggressive move since we found it.

With all due respect, Captain,

are you out of your mind?

First this thing breaks into the ship, then it knocks out Chalmers.

Actually, it was my fault.

It's bigger than any two of us, and you bring it onboard ship.

You're out of order, Briggs.

The creature's obviously harmless. Now stow the weapon and sit down.

You understand what he's saying?

No, but it sounds similar

to a Tibetan dialect found in the high Himalayas.

I can't believe this.

We found the Abominable Snowman.

You mean like a Bigfoot?

Please, some respect.

You're standing in the presence of a lifeform believed to be extinct,

or even non-existent.

If only we could talk to it.

Try this.

A Walkman?

An a.i.t. Aural Impulse Transducer.

It scans the incoming sounds for patterns of intelligent communication

and translates them into something maybe we can understand.

I didn't get a chance to test it before we left,

so don't expect any miracles.

Who are you?

It works.

How did you get here?

Keep, keep talking. It adjusts for pitch.

How did you get here?

We came here through a volcano,

in this ship,

to explore beneath the surface of the Earth.

Are there more like you?

I am of a race that lives within this planet.

Where do you live? Where are your people?

I live here, in the maze.

The maze?

I think he's referring to the puzzle of the deep.

According to ancient mystics, a portion of the Inner World

is a tangled web of passages that constantly shift and change direction.

Please, Mr. Chalmers, this is no time for hocus-pocus theories.

Oh, really?

But it is not my choice that I dwell alone in the maze.

I must tell you of my crime.

I knew it.

It was him attacked me on the ship.

What were you trying to steal?

Briggs. Chill, man.

Enough. Sit down. Put that gun away.

Just let him talk.

My people are a gentle race.

We live by two commands.

First one is, no harm.

We cannot hurt any living thing,

but we also live at the hand of fate.

It is forbidden to interfere with it in any way.

Even saving a life is taboo.

A girl was praying

at the bottom of a rocky slope.

The stones gave way.

I grabbed her,

saving her life.

It just happened.

I saw the boulder,

I grabbed the girl.

I don't know what came over me.

It is for this

that I was banished to the maze.

I shame you with my presence.

No.

On the surface, we consider the saving of a life to be a sacred act.

Your deed was one of profound courage.

You are jesting.

No, it's true.

Oh.

Hear me, creature,

there are strangers among us now.

Come in a great ship from the Over World to destroy you all.

But do as I command, and your people will live.

Soon I will cause this great ship of theirs to become lost at the Arc,

and then you and your warriors will find them.

Before we theorize on the future,

perhaps we should make decisions about the immediate,

such as what to do with your friend here.

You know my vote.

I say we video it,

take some blood and tissue samples, and put it back.

I think he'd make an invaluable addition to the crew.

I agree.

We can't take on everything we find down here.

This isn't Noah's Ark.

She's right.

We know nothing about this thing.

It could be a man-eater.

My people are vegetarian.

That's even worse. It's a liberal.

Would you like to join us?

Become part of our team?

Oh, yes.

Well, now that that's settled,

what do they call you at home, big guy?

Huh?

What... What is your name? How do others recognize you?

Ah, my sounds.

We are each given one at birth.

Mine is...

Ow!

Pinto. Well, Bob's good.

Bubba, Ed, Jack, Bob, anything.

How's Rocky? George.

Chalmers, you found him, you name him.

Well, there is a name I always wished my parents had called me.

Yeah, with a name like Cecil, I'm not surprised.

What is it, Chalmers?

Daedalus.

Daedalus is the Greek god of labyrinths and mazes.

Father of Icarus.

Everybody, say hello to Daedalus.

Yeah, that really rolls of the tongue, doesn't it?

Daedalus, Deedle, Daddle, Dallas.

Dallas, yeah. That's close enough for me.

Dallas...

welcome to the crew.

All right, let's run your checks, people. We're goin' mobile.

Tony, we're gonna wanna tractor clear of this debris.

Take her around. 180 hard right.

Aye, aye, Captain.

Briggs, initiate forward scanner.

Margo, set DEVIN to standby and activate holograph navigations.

- Scanners up. - Setting devin at standby

and HG navigations activated.

Okay, let's truck her out of here, LaStrella.

Tread circles on and rolling.

prepare to fire main engines in maximum lift mode.

Firing sequence engaged and at your controls, Captain.

Engines on.

Scanner shows us clear for lift-off in three seconds.

Activate side thrusters at full, LaStrella.

- Side thrusters on.

We have lift-off, Captain.

Yes! All right!

Steady as she goes, Tony.

All right, Margo, find us a course out of here.

Looks like there's an opening to another cavern bearing 2-2-7.

2-2-7. I got it.

Scanner says we're clear. Could be a mile, maybe more.

It'd been a rough start for all of us,

but my uncle had been right, there was an Inner World.

And even at a crawl, I was determined to give it our best shot.

I knew Briggs was against keeping Dallas,

but for all our hi-tech toys, the truth was, we were flying blind

and if Dallas could help us get through this maze,

then it was worth the risk,

but then who or what really did attack Briggs back there and why?

Scanner shows us clear for that passage.

High, and two. Wait, check that.

What the...

That's impossible. It's sealing itself off.

And damn fast, too.

If the sonic bore was operational, we could blast our way out.

Full reverse. We're outta here.

Reversing engines now.

you got some way to analyze this,

just feel free to jump in any time here.

Processing now, Captain.

Wait, Chris, kill that reverse, man, and check your aft monitors.

Look, it's closing off.

Hull sensors indicate the passageway is now constricting on all sides.

Is she saying we're gonna be crushed?

Extend hull stabilizers, now!

Stabilizers extending. Maximum reach.

Divert power from main engine to stabilizers and cut off side thrusters.

You're with us, LaStrella. Briggs, buckle in. Everybody brace yourselves.

DEVIN, give me a hull pressure readout.

Hull pressure now at 12,000 pounds and rising.

Pressure now at 18,000 and still rising.

Margo, what's our maximum?

That was the maximum.

We're not gonna make it.

Anticipate hull collapse in 30 seconds.

Twenty-nine, 28...

drop ballast and increase internal air pressure.

Negative, Captain. Circuits not responding.

Do not steer it away. It will end soon.

We're gonna die. He's sayin' we're gonna die.

No, the way, the way of the ways.

Path closed, path opened.

What the hell's he talking about?

That!

Transfer full power back to main engines

and prepare to release the stabilizers. On my mark.

Thrusters, LaStrella.

Vectoring thrusters now.

We don't know if we can clear that, Turner.

We can't stay here. Mark!

Releasing stabilizers.

Now ahead full for 30 meters,

then 90 degrees hard to port when I holler.

Got it.

Come on!

Turn it, LaStrella.

- Hard to port. 90 degrees. - Briggs?

The opening's expanding, but I can't tell you we're gonna fit.

- Pressure now at 19,000, Captain,

but if kept at full power, the engine vibrations

will cause a hull rapture in nine seconds.

Eight, seven, six...

Make a break and turn starboard and cut engines for one-third.

Turning to starboard.

Hull rupture in four seconds.

Cut the power, LaStrella.

I can't. The switch is jammed on full.

Rupture in three seconds.

reverse engines, now.

- But Captain... - Just do it!

Reversing engines. Negative.

Low back failsafe triggered full engine shut-down.

- Yes! - And the hull?

Vibrations falling back within normal tolerances.

No rupture.

Nice move. Way to go. Way to go, guys!

DEVIN, restart engines. Power to one-third.

And when Briggs says it's clear, prepare to take the helm.

Oh, and thanks for listening.

Any time, Captain.

Now that they fear the maze,

their ship will keep to the great canyon even as it brings them closer.

Go and silence the voice they left to call them back

before I give them to the Trog.

Scanner shows we got a clear channel

for as far as you can see, Captain.

All right, then I want you all to grab some rest while we got the chance.

I'll keep watch up here.

I was hoping without the crew around

I could think through what had happened.

One instant this world seemed to want us by the throat

and the next it was as gentle and amazing as Dallas.

But was it really this world or was there something else I just couldn't see yet?

It's beautiful, isn't it?

Yes, quite.

Uh, what's your heading?

What's your hurry? Enjoy it.

Mr. Turner, do I have to remind you

that at this moment we have lost all relays with our base above?

She had a lousy way of saying it,

but I guess that meant Margo was scared of something, too.

What? What did I do? Did I say anything?

What the...

No.

I've lost Homer.

So have I.

We'd better go back.

And miss a chance to maybe find out who's been after us since we landed?

After us? Turner, you don't think--

I don't think it's safe to assume our problems

are just happening at random, Doctor.

Look, just keep us on this course for now,

and tell the crew break time is over.

I want everyone back up on the bridge.

Yes, the invaders draw close.

I can feel the presence of the book

within their ship now.

Then it is time for their journey to end

in the fires of the Trog.

Continue bearing on course 1-9-5 for--

No, wait. Something's--

Full stop. Full stop. I see it. I see it.

Reverse forward thrusters, LaStrella.

Let's try and put down on that shelf we just passed before this cavern shifts anymore.

Roger, Captain. Reversing and preparing to land.

All right, full stop. Ease her down.

Landing sequence engaged.

Reducing main engines to one-eighth

and beginning descent at 50 meters per second.

Switching forward scanners to ground view.

Touch down in four seconds.

Three, two, one.

We have touchdown.

Margo, as soon as we're secured,

I want the sonic bore back in operation.

If these walls get pushy, I'd like to know we can push back.

The rest of you, come out with me. I wanna check our antenna to Homer.

All right, let's hope it's only the antenna.

Sandy, LaStrella, check it out.

Briggs, keep an eye out,

but Briggs, be cool, all right?

If I could offer my assistance?

It's not needed.

Oh, really?

What possible help could you be to me, Mr. Chalmers?

Well, let's see. I should remind you I have doctorates

in electro-magnetic theory, charmed quark physics,

and applied systems engineering,

along with advanced degrees in 18 other varied subjects.

Voila.Care to close, Doctor?

Listen, Professor, I need to say something to you.

I apologize.

Whatever for?

I've always rejected

anything or anyone connected with the supernatural,

and it's affected the way I thought of you.

My dear Miss Peterson, you're simply confused.

Let me explain it this way.

I believe that science and magic represent

mankind's highest aspirations.

While at first they seem like opposing forces,

at some point their paths coverage.

All right, come on, everybody, bring it in. Let's go.

My God, look.

Hold your fire, hold your fire.

My people are familiar with these beasts.

What are they?

If I'm not mistaken, they're Troglodytes.

The evolutionary transition from ape to man.

Some of the species must've found an amiable environment

below the surface,

thereby avoiding extinction.

You mean missing links?

Speaking of missing links, where's Tony?

LaStrella?

This is the scientific chance of a lifetime.

Sight on. LaStrella?!

We have to gather data on these creatures.

They could prove invaluable in our search for habitability.

LaStrella?

Look at this.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, hold it, hold it.

Just stay here. Just stay here. Just stay here.

I've got the uncomfortable feeling they've already made contact.

All right.

Margo, run a geo-stability scan.

I'm goin' after him.

I need you to run a geo-structural analysis of the surrounding area.

We might have to be here for a while.

There is a disturbing number

of serious deep level geo-structural faults

in the immediate area.

I do not suggest

remaining here for more than two hours.

Even that may be pushing it.

I'll let the captain know.

Let me go with ya, Cap.

No, I need you here. They need you here.

Besides, when we find LaStrella,

Chalmers here is the only one who might be able to talk them into giving him back.

DEVIN says two hours, maximum.

Well, then if we're not back in two hours or haven't made radio contact,

you do whatever you do have to save the Avenger.

What?

I say, Chris, is that absolutely necessary?

For the good of the many, Professor.

Captain, Captain. That's an order. We're clear?

Looks like we're not the first.

Not even close.

My God, Chris, look at this.

This might be their history.

How they came to dwell below the surface,

through a volcano.

Uncle Jim was right.

Look, there's more.

It appears the Trogs don't like visitors.

My God, you don't think LaStrella is...

I'll try and talk to them.

Cecil, guaranteed they know how to use these things.

Then what do we do now, Captain?

I'll let you know when I think of it.

Repeat. Access not authorized.

Dallas?

It's cold in here.

We have to keep it cool to protect the computer system.

I do not mean that kind of cold. My people are used to that.

I am talking about woman who lives within this wall.

She has no heart.

What do you suppose that was all about?

Maybe he meant DEVIN?

How long they been out?

A little over an hour.

Forget this. I'm goin after 'em.

Sit down and relax, Mr. Briggs.

That's an order.

Captain?

Chalmers. Tony.

You all right? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine,

but that's more than I can say for the company.

They're offering us food.

Always a good sign. Let's sit.

Chris, do you read me? Over.

Dr. Chalmers, this is Margo. Come in, please. Over.

Anything? No.

They've still got 20 min... minutes.

Oh, God,

I can't eat any more of this crap.

Force yourself. Smile.

They want to have us for dinner.

Well, why are they feeding us now?

You don't understand. They're fattening us up.

They are having us for dinner.

What?

You have only three?

You were sent to take them all.

Silence, animal!

Don't talk to me of white fur demons.

I am the demon you must fear. Damn you!

No, let 'em go for now,

but see to it their ship is watched.

I must think.

It's been two hours.

Well?

Well, what, Mr. Briggs?

Are we just gonna leave 'em out there, or what?

I don't know about you,

but I had a real hard time

understanding the captain's last order.

Well, you know, I couldn't make it out, either.

Yeah, I didn't hear a thing.

I heard him. He said,

"If we're not back within two hours,"

we're supposed to leave without him.

Oh.

Gear up. We're goin' after 'em.

You stay here.

Oh, I think we should take him with us.

He would make an excellent guide.

I like it. DEVIN, I'm putting you on full security alert.

What are you doin'?

You gear up, I gear down.

Yeah, whatever.

Security program loading now.

Now activating ship security.

Warning, main hatch closing and hull electrified at 500 megawatts.

What does this mean?

It means trouble. Come on, let's go, go.

Then it is as I thought, the others follow.

And the book?

This man keeps cargo within their ship

that prevents our entry.

Then quickly bring Kateeok back so I can warn him of their approach.

No way.

Nothing there.

So where are they?

They may have gone through that passageway beyond.

What damn passageway?

The one beneath the boulder.

Come on.

Can you not feel it? The path, it's still warm.

But it's a dead end.

No, look further.

There.

Get down. Lights out.

They're ugly, but they ain't stupid.

They got sentries all over the place.

We've got to find a way over that ridge.

Eyes up.

Okay, go.

They're gonna burn 'em alive. Oh, no.

Oh, there's one more thing. They've got these two big stone heads.

They look just like Dallas.

Trogs are deathly afraid of my people.

They think we are demons.

How come it's like pulling teeth to get anything out of you?

Miller, help me rig a harness and tackle for the big guy.

You got it.

Huh?

You worthless slime.

You were told to bring him, not kill him.

He's useless to me now.

Go. Tell me if the Trog have taken the others.

Quickly!

For three millennia I have been left to suffer in this hell,

but freedom reaches for me now.

But why are you doing this?

Because you're gonna help us get our friends out of this.

Huh?

We strap you in a cradle, hang you on a roller,

sail you across the rope.

Uh, oh.

You fly over the Trog-la-Links, scare the hell out of 'em.

They run for cover,

we duck in and grab the captain and the others.

I'll get sick.

Good, go ahead and puke.

That'll scare 'em even more.

Don't you see I... I can't.

You either do it on a rope

or you do it free fall.

It's all the same to me.

I won't allow any threats.

I've seen guys like him. They just need to be convinced.

You've seen guys like him? I don't think so, Briggs.

I thought we were your friends.

My first.

Then why won't you help us?

We believe that a friend is more important than any law.

When you get straight over the village, you drop these.

They detonate on impact.

No. No harm.

They won't hurt anyone, Dallas. They're just fireworks.

Yeah, you'll be the bright spot of their day. You ready?

No!

Good.

Give 'em hell, big guy.

I'll do the captain. Get Chalmers.

Come on. We ain't home yet.

Let's force our way out of here.

They're saved?

I don't care how, damn you,

but they run for their ship, yes?

Okay, big guy, let's find some cover. Come on.

Okay, big guy, do your thing.

That's no way to treat a demon.

Great.

They cannot be allowed to leave.

I have no choice now.

Prepare yourselves to ensure my return.

I can venture from here, but no more than a handful of minutes,

but I must have their piece of the book.

Damn, the gun's jammed.

I guess they've come for us.

Yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah!

Come on, Dallas. Let's get outta here, man.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

It is time.

Go now, all of you, and be there when I call.

LaStrella, DEVIN, initiate emergency take-off protocol.

Let's get this thing in the air.

Side thrusters going to full.

E-lift protocol engaged. Main engines firing in eight seconds.

Margo? Briggs?

Activating HG navigation now, Captain.

Scanners up and sweeping.

We have ignition on all main engines.

Prepare for lift off in 10 seconds.

Nine, eight... Time to strap yourselves in, people.

Four, three, two. We have liftoff, Captain.

Assume stable hover at 18 meters. Prepare for level flight.

Approaching stable hover, 18 meters.

You're clear to take it out that hole you blew to get us out, Captain.

Ahead one quarter and turn us to port, 12 degrees.

Engines ahead at 2.5 V, Captain.

And bearing 169, just below that cliff ahead, LaStrella.

Danger, forward hull anomaly.

Primary grid overloading.

Circuit relay failure imminent.

Initiating fire control system. Ah!

My book!

The book!

Give me your piece of the book.

I beg you...

Life support reaching critical.

Somebody wanna tell me who or what the hell that just was?

Well, I can't swear to it,

but I think that's who's been hounding us since we got here,

and I think this is why.

For this? But what is it?

That piece is only a small part

of the Book of Knowledge.

Doesn't look like a book.

It's more like a puzzle, really.

It's a cosmic force that makes the Holy Grail pale into insignificance.

Just before the demise of Atlantis,

the high priests of the city used a craft to descend into a volcano.

Sound familiar?

Mythology states that the priests then built deep within the Earth

the legendary library of Atlantis.

A library?

Probably destroyed.

What we saw were only a few pieces of the puzzle.

It's a spiritual circuit board of sorts.

It contains a mystical energy that could enlighten mankind.

Well, if it were to fall into the wrong hands,

it could be a source of evil power.

It could enslave the human race forever.

He wasn't lying. Who?

Wentworth. He knew all about this puzzle.

I was supposed to let him know if we found it.

Looks like your billionaire has a hidden agenda.

World dominion, if you will.

How many of these pieces are there?

No way of knowing till they're all assembled.

It's biased on a technology that doesn't yet exist, or rather used to.

It was lost with Atlantis.

It's a crossing point.

The bridge from this world with its finite knowledge

to the next one, to the infinite.

So it must store...

If I'm not mistaken, the combination to the maze.

Without it, we may never get out of here.

I know this journey has not been a smooth one.

There's not one of us who hasn't had second thoughts

and fears about what may lay ahead,

but down here, we and only we control our destiny.

Our strength is in us, as one,

and as one, we will survive.

Let's do it.

With you, Captain.

DEVIN, status on the helm control, if you please.

Maintaining level flight at 50 meters.

Forward scanners read all clear, and the helm is yours now, Captain.

Full ahead, LaStrella.

Forward...

ever forward.

I guess it wasn't until then I realized

there exists a strange and unknown place like this in all of us.

For me, it was becoming Captain,

but I'd looked into that darkness now

and seen more than I ever thought possible,

and the journey was just beginning.