Fatal Error: Episode 109

Judson (Michael Biehn), Mackenzie (Karen Cliche) and Gabriel (Jesse Nilsson) race against time to shut down the mainframe computer that has taken control of a Mars simulation module they are investigating.


Extended Synopsis

Judson (Michael Biehn), Mackenzie (Karen Cliche) and Gabriel (Jesse Nilsson) stand watching a video of a Mars simulation module crew frantically trying to gain control of their apparently disturbed environment. There are screams in the background as the video goes to static.

The Adventure Inc. crew is told by Interstar, their latest employer, that five people have mysteriously disappeared from the Mars simulation module and it is their job to go in and find out what happened.

As they enter the massive simulation module, chaperoned by Interstar employee Steve Aaronson (Patrick Garrow), they are greeted by MOM, or Mars Observational Module, (Anaya Farrell), which is the mainframe computer that runs the station and the environment. As they search for the missing persons, they begin to notice that MOM is not an ordinary computer. She thinks and reacts to people and she has absolute control.

The crew explores the simulated Mars territory, but finds only the phrase "Turn It Off" written in the dust of the ground, the only trace of the missing persons. Returning to the stable crew area, Aaronson is injured. MOM, sensing that Arronson is dying finds him a threat to the "mission" and suddenly incinerates him into a ball of dust, which is blown away. This seems to solve the mystery of the missing persons, but trouble ensues when MOM begins to shut down the operating systems, including air supplies, and locks the crew inside.


Back at Interstar, after talking with Judson, Susan Hammond (Colette Stevenson), working on the project with MOM’s creator Ziglen (Alan Van Sprang), begins to realize that Ziglen knew that MOM may malfunction and she begs him to help the trapped crew. But on their way to the Mars module, Ziglen and his very intimidating "security" team corners Susan and forces her to comply with his wishes: no one but them will ever leave the module.

Fearing for their safety after Gabriel gets burned trying to work on the computer system, Mackenzie begins to make two bombs from various items around the crew area while
Judson attempts to distract the computer. MOM traps Judson in one of the air-lock door areas. Then, Ziglen and his cronies arrive and begin to attempt to manually override the system. At first, the crew thinks that Ziglen is there to save them, but when MOM, using her sensors, identifies that Ziglen’s men have guns, they realize that isn’t the case. Working quickly, Mackenzie finishes the bombs and bracing themselves behind shelter, she detonates the bombs, hurdling open the air-lock doors. Judson, Mackenzie and Gabriel fight to escape the men and high tail it to Hammond, who is outside, just as the entire module explodes.


DIRECTED BY OLEY SASSONE