“The Taybor” is episode ten of season two of Space: 1999.
A couple of glowing objects appear on Alpha. A woman picks one up and there’s a flash of light and she screams. Dr Russell comes and reports to the commander that she’s been burned and has gone blind. Commander Koenig warns no-one to pick them up as the second is picked up and the man holding it collapses.
Dr Russell reports to Koenig that the blindness is temporary and Tony reports the objects are not weapons. The main screen comes on showing lights and a voice asks for permission to land. Koenig denies permission, but a ship materialises on the Moon anyway. Koenig demands to know who the person is and he says he’s Taybor the Trader, appearing in the command centre. Taybor doesn’t like guns being trained on him and gestures. An enormous tank appears outside.
Taybor says the tank is harmless, gesturing and making it vanish. An illusion. He’s been scanning them for some time and knows he’s safe. He talks to the commander. Tony, Dr Russell and Maya, flirting with her. Koenig asks where Taybor came from. Most recently a tr4ade fair, but he describes his origins on a humble planet and displays his trader’s license on the screen.
Regarding the objects, he says they were gifts. Harmless toys, safe for use by children. Implying the Alphans are less competent than children. As for the one who collapsed, he picked up a memory enhancer and will be fine. In about 12 hours. Now, Taybor is starving for all he has on his ship is space rations.
Taybor dines with Koenig, Tony, Dr Russell and Maya and he appreciates Tony’s beer better than anyone else. He also makes a friendly gesture from his world to Maya. That does not go down well. The commander asks why they didn’t see Taybor’s ship. Because it was in hyperspace. His jump drive will take him anywhere in the universe in an instant. The commander wants to know how to build one; Taybor doesn’t know how it works, sounds hammered and thinks it’s hilarious that people injured by children’s toys would want to build a jump drive. Then passes out.
They’re talking about Taybor and the jump drive whilst wondering what he wants. Maya thinks Tony is suspicious. Tony says anyone who likes his beer can’t be trusted. The others agree. Taybor joins them and he’s asked if his ship can transport people, and if he knows of any habitable planets suitable for them. And if he could take them to Earth. He could.
Taybor asks Maya if she would share the doctor’s delight at going home. Earth isn’t Maya’s home and hers no longer exists. Taybor asks the commander what’s in it for him. The Moon and everything on it. Taybor asks the commander if he’s the rightful owner of the owner. Koenig guesses he is. Taybor doesn’t think that’s good enough. And what if they’re a penal colony? He apologises for that.
Taybor has never encountered an intergalactic moon before; he says they’ve been through hyperspace. However, Koenig can’t locate Earth for Taybor in a way that’s useful for him. Which means he can’t get there. Koenig is willing to offer anything Taybor wants for the jump drive. Anything turns out to be Maya. Taybor really wants her to go with him. She’s less than enthused and the commander says she’s not his to give away. How far will Taybor go to get what he wants?