We have started a new millennium, despite doomsayers and computer programmers who only coded two digits for the date field. Where are the flying cars, robot servants, and laser weapons? Although, this movie makes one think the flying car is best left on the drawing board. They careen through the air, seemingly out of control like a newbie piloting his first Spathi ship. Oh well, you cannot win them all.
To establish that "this is the future" we start with some scenes of astronauts working in space. One steps daintily along while another swings drunkenly on a wire, swimming through space (I imagine the same people who controlled the car model were at work here). Inside the space station things are progressing as well. Nurmi is testing a batch of organs while arguing over the ethics of transplants with Cmdr Halstead. Neither make any valid points; they might as well be yelling "yes" or "no" at each other. Following that refreshing discussion the company man takes a tour of the station. He watches Connie teaching close combat skills and immediately starts making the moves on Halstead's girlfriend.
Fraternization between members is either discouraged or outright banned in modern military organizations, for obvious reasons. Nobody minds that Halstead is dating a member of his command? And what in the world is Nurmi thinking? Would you antagonize someone who had complete access to the station's functions? "Oops, it appears that Mr. Nurmi's cabin was depressurized by accident. Have maintenance send over a cleaning crew."
Tragedy is averted when a telegram arrives from Earth. Missing persons reports are being submitted at a frightful rate! Halstead is summoned to help investigate before workers at the census bureau begin tearing out their hair in frustration. The audience already knows what is going on to an extent. Mysterious pairs of men and women are accosting citizens, apparently at random, and doing something to them. The freaks in black envelop the victims in their trench coats and only a pile of clothes is left (that are then picked up by the female).
Dr. Delfos' narrow escape from abduction provides some vital clues. Interrupted while wrapping around his target, the man in black allows a midget version of the doctor to scurry away. Immediately the woman stabs him (the trench coat guy) with a needle. His empty clothes drop to the ground, then she makes good her escape in a nearby car. Hey, check it out, that ride looks just like something out of "The Jetsons," but with wheels.
The authorities are unable to get any answers from Delfos; the scientist promptly fell into a coma. Halstead and his agents set up security cameras and teams to monitor the entire city, then wait for something to happen. Luckily Mike's sister sees some of the kidnappers in time, thwarting their kidnapping her son, and immediately reports what happened. With holograms modeled on her description the investigators finally notice the odd pairs of men and women wandering around. A chase ensues, ending in the crash scene that left me a giggling fool. The wreckage yields a carrying case for dolls and inside are three people, shrunk to just inches in height!
Taken back to the lab and reanimated, the little people are shocked to see Halstead has glued a piece of sheet metal onto his face and insists on them calling him "Breeti."
Just kidding, really. Ow, stop hitting me!
What Halstead and his men do is find their opponent's base of operations. During the struggle (three on three) a woman accidentally stabs herself with one of those strange needles, but the other two are taken prisoner. I've been wondering what is in those needles that makes a human just disappear. Maybe a desiccant that turns the target into nothing more than humidity?
Clues lead the Commander and his men to CBM and Nurmi. Breaking into a research lab proves very illuminating and requires no small use of their "laser pistols" to fend off the freaks and guards who attack. The company has lots of political clout though, promising to deny or delay any course of action. Halstead and a small group of loyal troops stage a surprise raid on the secret company base on Delphus.
Connie is already on Delphus, after accepting Nurmi's offer for a memorable vacation. The base is the center of operations for a sinister plan! CBM wants to create a master race through fusion technology! In the same way that the four-armed freaks were created they have been splicing people together. Now they plan the ultimate marriage of man and woman, combining half of Nurmi with half of Connie. From the looks of it they are going to do this right down the center too. I have a major wake up call for the mad scientists. There are a couple places on the human body requiring a command decision and the groin is just the first that comes to mind.