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Andrew reporting.
Hi. Xanthos. You want more data on the big destroyer probe? I call it a probe, because I don't
know how else to describe it. It has an extremely small turning circle radius. I saw it stop when
it reached a small but steep crater rim. One tread went forward, the other went in reverse. The
body of the probe swung around in a tight circle. And it was fast!
It doesn't seem to be able to climb over barriers that are more than one meter high, like that
crater rim. I might be able to scramble over it if I put my front legs up and jumped and caught
the edge with the middle legs just right. I estimate its length as four meters. If it happened
to chase one of us into an Ipsolstai tunnel, it might not be able to turn around until it came to
an intersection where it could back up and go forward.
It has an antenna for radio communication. What frequencies do you thing it might be using,
Al-Qahira? I don't hear any unusual transmission on ours.
To be truthful, it scares me just to look at it.
The cave is just an empty hole. Isaac checked it all over. However, I don't feel
safe in here. These hills are just in a center of a far spread plain. No other place
to hide. If the Destructor is moving over here. It can pick us up like two birds
in a cave.
"Andrew, is it still over there? Please be careful. I don't want to loose you again.
Don't risk anything and please keep reporting. We will find a way for sure."
JASE, Space Turtel. I know what you mean. You have taught us well and your
work has not been for nothing. As I understand, Xanthos just made a suggestion.
He included us into the discussion. We matured, you know. We also became
teachers ourselves. Theo sounds good, may I nickname him Teddy? Yes, the
right of self determination is inalienable. Who is Taz you are talking about,
Space Turtel?
Anyway, I have to find a safe place for Isaac. He is so brave, you know. I'm not
allowed to take any risk. I'm going to have to make up my mind very carefully. We
can't go back to the Fortress. It will take too long and we crossed its track
several times. The only real chance I see is to reach the northwest escarpment.
There are rocks, rims and ravines, where we can hide. I don't think the Destructor
can chase us over there like it can on an open plain. There are also caves to the
Ipsoltai tunnels too.
"Come on Isaac. Let's hurry across!"
"Arrrrgh! Urrrgh! The coffee dispenser's still broken and dumping sugar in everything.
And it's always lukewarm. Hallo, Hardon. Good to have you back.
What happened to you? You look different."
INCIDENTALLY, HAVE YOU SEEN SIX OTHER PROBES
THAT LOOK A LOT LIKE YOU?
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEM,
JUST LIKE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.
"It's a long story, Parker. I'll be okay when my eyebrows grow back in. It all started about three
weeks ago. Did I tell you about the red-headed babe that moved into my building? Yes, that
one. Tall, good legs, and a walk like a jungle cat, or a dancer. Well, you wouldn't believe what
happened."
IF YOU HAPPEN TO FIND ANY REALLY BIG FAST PROBES,
STAY AWAY FROM THEM.
REPEAT, STAY AWAY.
THEY ARE ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
"The Chinese, Parker?"
"Yes, we think they got there last week."
Lucy is out here with that thing? We need to find her soon. She won't find Daniel and me.
He learned how to cover his tracks when he was hiding so we've been doing that.
Lucy won't be able to follow us because we've been hiding them!
We're turning around. We're going to try to find Lucy. Please, everyone, find Lucy.
Who knows what that thing will do to her if it finds her. If those are missiles
on it it could destroy her. We've got to find her.
"Lucy! Lucy ! Where are you ? Come back, Lucy !"
I moved down the side canyon. I can't find her tracks. There have been too many probes
around lately.
"Lucy !"
"What are you saying, Bette? Yes, Teddy sounds good."
I don't know if Lucy can hear me at all. These transmitters aren't working at full power.
Do they have emergency beacons? Sure, they have. But how to
tell her to turn it on?
No, xciever-dpuk. I didn't get any Crystal test instruction.
"Lucy ! Turn on your emergency beacon !"
She isn't around. I haven't found her. No, I don't think she is hiding. She is
following Daniel. I was treating her so bad. I'm not worth to deal with a
probe. I'm so a fool.
"Andrew, how are you?"
I must find her. This thing is out there. Yes, Space Turtel, self determination
is a high value. I have that in mind. It makes you guilty too. I failed in my
responsibility.
"Daniel can you see her?"
All my fault. I'm so guilty. I don't want to live another day, if something
happens to her. It's such a shame.
Why couldn't I take care of her? Dumb sun sails. Dumb Zachary. If something
happens to her, I'm going to kill that thing. No, use me as spare parts. There
is a blame you never can get rid of. Zachary, I hate you. You stink !
"Lucy ! Lucy !"
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