 |
|
NO!
The groove is bad.
The groove is death.
All near it will die.
They are coming.
There will be death.
They bring it.
Don't you understand?
If the Ipsolstai fall
Earth will die.
Avoid the groove.
I'm still in that side tunnel. I'm waiting for a sign from Zachary. All my circuits
are set to turn on the "all frequency scream" with all the power I can raise. There is
still no sign from Zachary. I keep waiting. Maybe it will be a while till Zachary will
get an opportunity to escape. Especially now as he is trapped in a room.
Grand Zero, I didn't seen any weapons at the Big Tram. Maybe there are some. I can
go there to see if there are some. Impervious to weapons? You mean the Big Tram?
Maybe, but how can I find out? I could verify that with a cartridge. I have still
three left, but what is if it isn't impervious?
Grand Zero, where are the others, Space Turtel, Kurk, JASE, Orpheus, Xanthos.
Have you troubles on Earth too? Did the MNs get them?
Grand Zero, it's embarrassing to say. I was going back to the Big Tram to check for the
weapons. So I went back to that place where the blocked tipping wagons queue up. I
found it. So I followed the line and turned to my left. Then I followed the tracks.
I went on and on, but they didn't move up to the surface, though they should. I stopped
and went back. I didn't find the tipping wagons anymore. I confidently trusted that
there were other ways out. Now, I don't know if there is any at all. I'm right at a
crossing. There are several tunnels but all dead ending. Sorry about that, but
I'm hopelessly lost.
I hate myself for that. I'm so stupid. Why did they send a stupid Probe to Mars?
I messed it up again. Don't worry, I won't give up. I will find my way out. Even
if it takes until my nuclear power is gone.
We are still in the transport. After the acceleration stopped, some of the Ipsolstai opened the
cages and moved out of the bowls. It is beautiful to watch. Their edges seem to wave twenty
times at once. They glide through the air gracefully, but slowly. Other seem to pull themselves
along with their limbs.
Four of them gathered by us and started to flash colors over and over again. It seemed to be
some kind of deep conversation. One started to unlash Andrew but then Gabriel came back from
somewhere in front and told them not to. We're still lashed down, but at least we can look out the
windows.
It's probably good they didn't unlash us, I don't think I can move the way they do.
Andrew reporting.
Grand Zero, I appreciate your offer to update us about the situation on Mars. I know
that Gail is worrying about us. I am sure that Zachary has the situation, whatever it
may be, under control. I am concerned that Enoch may have done something to get himself
into trouble. If so, please help him. We're depending on you. And yes, it is frustrating
not to know. We are accustomed to work as a team. Now the team is incomplete.
I am no longer able to look out of the viewport. The view is blocked. I am surrounded
by Ipsolstai with numerous devices. I have been scanned and measured by every imaginable
parameter, from the density of my casing to the impedance of my antenna. Now they
appear to be doing the same thing to Isaac. He is squealing in terror.
"Be brave, Isaac! They aren't going to harm us."
I hope.
I don't know if there are any guards outside, Grand Zero. I place my sensors right
at the door, but I don't detect anything. Guards rarely talk. Also, their signals were
so weak yesterday that I doubt that I could hear them even if they talked.
I'm sure that they will come back. That's what I fear. They want to learn about our
mission. That's why they didn't throw me in a press. I'm sure they know how to get
a probe to talk. There are some kinds of tortures that I fear. But I won't tell them even
one word. Not one. I will be brave even if they put electrodes to my antenna.
You haven't received the communication between the C-robots that I sent you? Just
a moment, I will resend it. The signs are strange. I also had to use the old small talk
design that I found in some of my files to get any reasonable output.
These signs don't make any sense to me. Maybe they are pictures of the machines,
so it's a plan of the plant. I also think that one of the signs looks like a female human. I
don't know.
Hey, they are coming. They are back again. Both of them. They talk in these ciphers again.
Now they are changing frequency.
What's that? They are talking English. Even in ASCII and in C++ design.
"Hey, listen, you bugs! I won't tell you one word. Not at all! So just forget about
the stupid outrages that you are going to force on me."
They didn't listen. They just kept talking their ciphers and then they repeated that
sentence again and again. Just dull. I followed them. What else could I do? When
we passed along the gangway, I saw the robot arms down in the hall. No chance
to get away. They would pick me up immediately. So let the torture start.
I won't tell them a word!
They are still out there. I can hear an explosion every so often, and then the ground
vibrates. I think they are trying to get in and get me and Theresa. It's going to take
them a long time to blast through. but I am very nervous. I wish we never came to Mars.
Grand Zero, I don't think the Big Tram was damaged when the C-probes shot at it. Some
of the Ipsolstai were damaged and even killed, but the Tram looked like it was working
very well when they left.
I haven't told you, but I have been receiving these transmissions from Earth.
Brunel-Brauer is very concerned about you, and they have instructed me
to do everything possible to help you in your mission.
Let's talk a bit about those amusing little alien artifacts, shall we?"
She sounds nice, and I really need a friend right now because I am all alone, and I am so scared.
 |
|