If you remember the Original Star Trek series, the first "pilot" episode (the "Cage") was later made into a two-part show called the "Menagerie." In that episode, certain crew members of the Enterprise beam down to a planet that they think has survivors of a spaceship crash. They are on a mission of mercy. As they spend time on that planet, they realize that the survivors are illusions created by the people who control the planet. Those people, with enormous brains, have become bored with life and have created a zoo of animals, including humans. Their only source of pleasure is playing tricks on the zoo animals by creating illusions and watching how the animals react.

In order to make the illusions more convincing, the zoo keepers can read the memories of the zoo animals. So, the Enterprise Captain is enticed by a beautiful young woman who reenacts scenes from his childhood and earlier adulthood. These are all illusions created by the manipulators simply to get a reaction out of the subjects.

That episode reminds me of the abuse to which we are subject by S/P/N Predators. They mine our memories and experiences for triggers which they can use to manipulate us. They offer the promise of extreme pleasure and unconditional love, but are only dangling that out there to maintain control over us. The only enjoyment they get out of life is to manipulate and provoke reactions from their subjects. We may as well be zoo animals to them.

In the Star Trek series, there is only one offense that carries the death penalty: contact with the planet where these sick manipulative humanoids reside. It helps me to think of the P that I encountered as one of these individuals. As in Star Trek, I am sometimes tempted to make contact with the world of illusions. We're only human after all. But, at those times, I remember this episode and the cruel trickery and avoid contact with the Planet Talos 4.

If you've seen this show, you'll understand. If not, sorry for wasting your time!