The Magnetic Monster

OSI agents Dr. Jeffrey Stewart and Dr. Dan Forbes are dispatched to a local appliance store after all the clocks stop and metal items magnetize. They collect evidence and begin to suspect the anomaly extends beyond the showroom. Clues point to a source in an upper office, where unusual equipment and a dead body are found, along with signs of radioactivity.

An investigation of the office directly above the store reveals scientific equipment, the dead body, and persistent radioactive traces. The team concludes the disturbance isn't confined to the store itself, but originates from the upper-level workspace. The evidence points toward a broader, technological threat.

Public inquiry leads investigators to Dr. Howard Denker, a scientist traveling aboard a flight. He shows signs of radiation sickness and clutches a heavy briefcase, suggesting he is carrying something dangerous. The atmosphere hints at a direct link between the earlier anomaly and his presence.

Before his death, Denker confesses to experimenting with an artificial radioactive isotope named serranium. He explains it absorbed energy every 11 hours, doubling in size and mass and unleashing intense radiation and magnetic energy. This is the catalyst behind the earlier disturbances.

OSI investigators determine that the isotope will become heavy enough to affect Earth's rotation within weeks if it continues to grow unchecked. They rule out conventional destruction and conclude the threat demands an unprecedented energy intervention. The only viable option appears to be a Canadian experimental power generator called the Deltatron.

The isotope is transported to the Deltatron project site, a cavern beneath the ocean where a multi-story machine is being built. The operation marks the last attempt to avert disaster using the new technology. The logistical and political tensions intensify as time runs short.

Engineer Dr. Benton offers a last-minute objection to deploying the Deltatron. With time running out, tensions rise and the risk of failure looms large. The team must decide whether to proceed despite the criticism.

Lead OSI agent Dr. Jeffrey Stewart commandeers the experimental device and powers it to maximum output. He risks his life to ensure the activity will push the isotope beyond its limits, and he narrowly escapes the cavern before it seals. His action represents a last-ditch effort to avert catastrophe.

The device delivers a massive energy surge, pushing the serranium to its breaking point and destroying the isotope. The Deltatron is also destroyed in the process, and the once-trace magnetism it emitted after each energy absorption disappears. The threat to Earth is nullified at the cost of the project.

With the isotope neutralized and magnetism gone, life returns to normal on Earth. The OSI team reflects on their narrow escape and the successful defense of the planet.

Lead OSI agent Stewart and his pregnant wife Connie complete the purchase of their first house and move in shortly thereafter. The quiet domestic scene contrasts with the earlier global threat, signaling a return to stability for the pair.