“Guardian of Piri” is episode eleven of season one of Space: 1999.
An Eagle has been sent to investigate a planet that computer can’t predict whether or not can support life. They are two hours ahead of schedule and Alan says the Eagle is coming in too close and too fast. David says that computer says the Eagle is okay, as do the Eagle’s instruments. The pilot, Pete, starts swooping the Eagle around over the planet’s surface, he and the other crewman laughing. Then Main Mission loses their signal.
At the staff meeting, David explains that computer didn’t have enough information on the planet. Alan doesn’t care; he wants to know why there were problems with the normal data. Commander Koenig is having computer checked out; David reports they can find nothing wrong. The commander wonders why the pilots believed everything was fine; Alan says that’s because they believed what computer said. The commander wants Alan to fly on manual, and do whatever Paul says, no matter how irrational it sounds. Victor has determined that the planet is drawing to Moon in. Koenig is talking about how this could eb good or bad when Victor looks unwell, comes over dizzy, then collapses.
In medical, Dr Russell explains that oxygen in the atmosphere was decreasing. Their hearts adjusted but Victor’s mechanical one didn’t. Koenig orders oxygen be put to manual. Victor says he is fine and has a powerful feeling that Piri is the right place for them. Then Dr Mathias reports a patient is dead; the blood supply for her transfusion was stopped.
Alan arrives where the other Eagle was thought to have crashed. Only it’s just hanging in the air. He docks and finds it empty. Koenig calls Alan back, then calls David into his office to speak privately. David can find no fault with the system, but Koenig says something is affecting computer and he can think of only one way to find out. David has thought of that too. He isn’t enthused, but it’s the only way.
In medical, Dr Russell explains that David was part of an experiment, one of a handful of people fitted to link directly to a computer. David didn’t want to do it again; out of the four people, three were turned into mindless vegetables. He’s linked up. Then vanishes.
In Main Mission, Victor says they are now in orbit around Piri. He seems really enthused by this. Now they have enough time to check out the planet, which can support life. The others are less so.
Alan and Koenig head down in an Eagle. Koenig heads out and scans the place; there’s no life. He reports this to Main Mission. Victor tells him not to give up yet. Koenig finds the missing Eagle pilots, and David. All three are staring into nothing. Koenig manages to get a response from David, who says computer is right. Piri is just perfect.
A structure appears with a bright light and a woman comes out of it. She tells Koenig that she has been sent to calm his fears and bring peace. She welcomes him to Piri, kissing him. She is a Servant of the Guardian, in a form he is comfortable with. The Guardian discovered the Moon and brought it here to release them from their human pain. Which sounds ominous.
The Servant explains that the Pirians created machines so that they could devote themselves to pleasure. They then created the Guardian, so they wouldn’t have to control the machines. Life was perfect and the Guardian was ordered to maintain this perfection. Koenig doesn’t believe that is possible as life is change. The Servant explains that the Guardian suspended time. Koenig’s men have accepted peace. The Guardian is making them perfect. It is its prime directive.
Everyone but Koenig seems to be falling under the sway of the Guardian. And it likely isn’t as good as the Servant keeps making out.