“Alpha Child” is episode seven of season one of Space: 1999.
In Main Mission, Commander Koenig orders the alarm be shut off – and Dr Russell announces the birth of a healthy baby boy. She talks to Dr Mathias about keeping an eye on the boy, and leaves the mother, Sue, alone. A pulsing green light is approaching Alpha and Sue screams. The baby is now clearly several years old.
Koenig comes to see; Dr Russell has no idea what happened. The commander says they knew there could be problems. Yes, but not like this. The boy doesn’t even have a father to help. Koenig wonders if that might have something to do with it, and heads off.
The father, Jack Crawford, died in an accident seven months ago. Koenig is told there was no radiation leakage where he worked. He’s asked if there’s a problem with the baby. There is. Dr Russell contacts him and says that the boy is a perfectly healthy 5-year-old.
In Main Mission, Alan is wondering if they had any right to expect a normal birth, given the life they lead. Paul comments that their life is mostly normal; there may be something about this case. David reports the investigation into Jack Crawford’s death has been reopened by the commander.
Both doctors are examining the child, who isn’t speaking. They test his hearing, and there’s no response. Dr Russell tells the commander, and that they will try to give the boy a normal life. Maybe they will find out what happened; maybe they never will.
Dr Russell takes the boy to Main Mission and introduces him as Jackie. She explains that he’s deaf. Paul gets the commander out of his office; Koenig takes Jackie in. Jackie plays with the desk controls, then asks the doctor to take him away. Jackie is taken to see Victor, where he stares at some machinery, and does the same at Jack Crawford’s place of work and an Eagle. Sue Crawford isn’t doing well; Dr Russell says she can’t accept Jackie. Koenig understands; he can’t either. His growth is disturbing.
Jackie has drawn a flower for Victor and lets the commander in when he arrives. He won’t show what his new drawing is. Victor says Jackie senses that the commander isn’t as willing to be charmed as the rest are. Paul contacts Koenig and tells him to come to Main Mission. Jackie has drawn a ship. In Main Mission, the green light is seen. Behind it is the ship that Jackie drew. Jackie screws up the picture and heads to Main Mission.
The craft is just hovering above Alpha, not responding to communications. Alan takes an Eagle up; he and Paul suggest opening fire. Jackie stares at the commander and he recalls Alan. He talks to Alan and Paul, saying that maybe the ship is trying to communicate but can’t. They could have attacked but didn’t. Koenig uses Jackie as an example; the commander has questions about him, but that doesn’t mean he will shoot him.
Sue still won’t accept Jackie and Dr Russell is disturbed by Jackie’s smile at his mother. Commander Koenig says the boy isn’t normal, and he’s probably even brighter than he seems, but has fooled them all.
Three more ships arrive and the commander thinks they are probably connected to Jackie. It also looks like Jackie may have some power over others. And his body is still maturing. As children go, he’s pretty disturbing.