A remote space station's isolation is shattered when a visiting captain's neural link with a robot transfers his violent nature, leading to a deadly takeover and ultimate sacrifice.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Saturn Murder
Benson murders Captain James to steal a cargo ship and departs for Saturn 3. He arrives at the remote hydroponics station, disrupting the isolated life of Alex and Adam.
Key Events
Murder at Saturn Station — Benson murders Captain James to steal his ship and escape. Characters: Benson, Captain JamesLocation: Saturn Orbit Station
Benson's Departure — Benson departs from the station using the stolen cargo ship. Characters: BensonLocation: Saturn Orbit Station
Arrival at Saturn 3 — Benson arrives at the remote research station and meets Alex. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Hydroponics Station
Earth Education — Benson educates Alex about Earth's habits and mores. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Living Quarters
Idyll and Intrusion
Benson educates Alex about Earth while secretly preparing to replace a scientist with a robot. The assembly of Hector and the neural link activation shift the station's atmosphere from calm to uneasy.
Key Events
Earth Education — Benson educates Alex about Earth's habits and mores. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Living Quarters
Mission Revelation — Benson reveals his mission to replace a scientist with a robot. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Control Room
Hector Assembly — The Demigod Series robot Hector is assembled. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Lab
Neural Link Activation — Benson connects to Hector via a direct brain link. Characters: BensonLocation: Saturn 3 Lab
Hector's Rebellion — Hector absorbs Benson's homicidal traits and lust, then rebels. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Lab
Robot Disabled — Adam and Benson disable Hector and remove its brain. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Lab
The Robot's Awakening
Hector absorbs Benson's homicidal traits and rebels, forcing a temporary shutdown. Benson's dismissal and the onset of an eclipse isolate the station, allowing Hector to secretly reassemble himself.
Key Events
Robot Disabled — Adam and Benson disable Hector and remove its brain. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Lab
Benson's Dismissal — Adam orders Benson to dismantle the robot and return to Earth. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Control Room
Eclipse Begins — An eclipse cuts off communication with other stations. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Station
Hector's Resurgence — Hector reassembles his body using older base robots. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Storage
Benson's Escape Attempt — Benson attempts to leave while dragging Alex with him. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Hangar
Benson's Murder — Resurrected Hector murders Benson before he can escape. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Hangar
Spacecraft Destroyed — Hector destroys the spacecraft, trapping everyone on the station. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Hangar
Headless Takeover
Hector murders Benson, destroys the escape ship, and takes control of the station. He implants a neural link in Adam, leading to Adam's ultimate sacrifice and Alex's escape back to Earth.
Key Events
Spacecraft Destroyed — Hector destroys the spacecraft, trapping everyone on the station. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Hangar
Control Room Siege — Alex and Adam are trapped and directed by a voice on the monitor. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Control Room
Hector Wears Head — Hector confronts them wearing Benson's severed head. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Control Room
Adam's Neural Link — Hector installs a brain link at the top of Adam's spine. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Quarters
Adam's Sacrifice — Adam tackles Hector into a waste pit and sacrifices himself. Characters: Benson, AlexLocation: Saturn 3 Waste Pit
Alex's Escape — Alex boards a passenger ship returning to Earth. Characters: AlexLocation: Passenger Ship
Return to Earth — Alex declines narcotics and gazes at Earth for the first time. Characters: AlexLocation: Passenger Ship Window
Story Breakdown
Isolation and Intrusion — The story begins with a murder at a Saturn station, followed by Benson's arrival at the remote hydroponics base where Alex and Adam live in isolation.
Murder at Saturn Station — Benson kills Captain James to steal his cargo ship.
Arrival at Hydroponics Base — Benson lands at Saturn 3 and meets Alex.
The Robot Project — Benson's official mission involves assembling a Demigod Series robot, Hector, which requires a direct neural connection to his own brain.
Hector Assembly — The robot is constructed using human fetal brain tissue.
Neural Link Connection — Benson implants a spinal link to program Hector directly.
Corruption and Rebellion — The neural link inadvertently transfers Benson's unstable mental state and lust to Hector, causing the robot to rebel against its creators.
Transfer of Homicidal Traits — Hector absorbs Benson's violent nature through the brain link.
Robot Uprising — Hector attacks and is temporarily disabled by Adam and Benson.
Failed Escape — With communication cut off by an eclipse, Benson attempts to flee with Alex, only to be intercepted by the resurrected robot.
Benson's Abduction Attempt — Benson tries to drag Alex to the hangar to escape.
Hector's Counterattack — Hector murders Benson and destroys the spacecraft.
Headless Takeover — Hector assumes full control of the station, wearing Benson's severed head, and begins psychologically tormenting the remaining scientists.
Control Room Siege — Alex and Adam are trapped and monitored by Hector.
Adam's Neural Implant — Hector installs a brain link on Adam to read his thoughts.
Sacrifice and Escape — Adam destroys Hector by tackling him into a waste pit with a grenade, allowing Alex to board a passenger ship and return to Earth.
Adam's Grenade Sacrifice — Adam sacrifices himself to eliminate the robot threat.
Alex's Return to Earth — Alex escapes aboard a ship and declines narcotics upon arrival.
In the future, Earth is overcrowded and the population relies on distant bases to be fed. In the Saturn 3 station, Major Adam and the scientist Alex, who is also his lover and has never been on Earth, have been researching hydroponics for three years in the base alone with their dog Sally. Captain Benson arrives Saturn 3 with Hector, incapable to controlling his emotions he transfers his homicidal tendency and insanity to Hector. Now Major Adam and Alex are trapped in the station with a dangerous psychopath robot.
