Test Pilota Pirxa Page #3

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than if humans were in the same situation.

How can you be so certain?

How amusing! We've performed experiments.

And the humans were laboratory rats?

Of course.

- Even if they could result in death?!

- Exactly.

Interesting.

And the results?

Humans are less reliable.

Poor, poor humans.

And what would happen if...

...I tried to bash their heads in?

He would defend himself.

- Until I'm dead!

- No, he would limit himself to defense.

And what if attack is the only means of defence?

Then he will attack you.

Give me the contract. I agree.

Here you are. Good luck.

You can tell your superiors

I will try to squeeze the worst out of them.

Commander?

You're a brave man, But, for your own sake...

...I advise caution.

So I won't be finished off by the robots?

Not robots - it's the humans who will fail first.

Your plain old Joes. Do you understand?

And robots? What do you really want from them?

They're specialists. They'll do anything for you.

I'll get them to do even more.

One whisky, please.

Whisky?

Here you are.

Tonic water, please.

- Telephone for you.

- Thank you.

Hello?

Pirx here. Well?

Have you decided?

I haven't had much time.

All I can say is, all things considered...

've come to the conclusion that there is a 90% chance...

...or even 99%, that God doesn't exist.

So there is a 1% chance that he exists.

That God exists?

Good. You can come on board with the others.

- See you soon.

- Goodbye.

- What do you drink?

- Gin and tonic.

- It's time to say goodbye.

- Goodbye, Director.

- Ah, one more thing ...

I need to let you know in advance,

that all your commands will be registered.

A black box?

Yes. It will survive in the event of a crash.

Then we could use it, instead of testimonies.

The countdown has started. I should go.

I wish you the best of luck.

We've done all we had to.

The rest is up to Pirx.

There's one thing that bothers me.

Pirx decided to fly because he miraculously avoided being killed.

Do you think our part of the crew could rebel? That's nonsense.

I don't know... I don't know.

If it came to that, God help Pirx and the human crew.

Get ready for docking procedure.

Start the engines.

Yes Sir, starting engines.

Plasma:
814.

Ionisation:
523.

Reaction starting.

Full ahead.

Full ahead in 30 seconds.

Novak, turn on the take-off shield.

Turning the shield on.

Full ahead in 10 seconds.

Please, turn on the auto-pilot.

After the briefing you will keep watch.

You'll be relieved by Brown...

...then by me, Novak, Otis and Weber.

Please, move on to your duties.

In half an hour in the control room...

I'll reveal all the details concerning the flight.

Goliath has two automatic probes on board.

Our goal is to send a probe into Cassini's crevice.

It's not that easy.

The crevice is very narrow.

Yes, theoretically it is about 3,500 km wide,

and the sides...

...are covered with a thick layer of icy stardust...

...which would scorch every ship that comes near.

The passage way is about 500 km wide.

Passing between the rings is practically impossible.

We will send there only the first probe,

which can be manoeuvred from a distance...

...since it has its own ionic propulsion.

The first probe will be controlled by the second one.

As you can see, our task is fairly simple.

As long as we don't have any unpleasant surprises from the ship...

...or the crew.

Show me the possible causes of the mission's failure.

Pilot's error, touching the sides of Cassini's crevice.

What's the possibility of taking the ship out of the crevice, without touching the sides?

Instant deceleration and escape into space

along the hyperbolic trajectory

Stop! Danger! Manoeuvre impossible with humans on board,

who would die from G-force.

Show me the situation...

...which would force the pilot to enter Cassini's crevice.

Can I speak with you?

Please, come in.

I'd like to tell you something.

But...

...this conversation cannot leave this room.

Agreed.

I promise that it will remain a secret.

I'm listening.

I am... human.

I'm telling you this because I want to help you.

Because it all comes down to basic human solidarity.

I cannot be silent when it concerns human well-being.

You'd do the same, wouldn't you?

We were kept separately all the time.

We were allowed to contact

no sooner than three days before the take-off.

That's why I don't really know who is human and who isn't.

But I suspect...

- One moment.

So why, when asked about whether you believe in God,

you answered you had never thought about it...

...and that it's not part of your duties.

I wanted to stay on the mission.

Any direct answer would be risky,

McGuirr was in the room.

So do you believe in God?

Yes.

And you think that a robot cannot?

Maybe you think that robots can have children?

Okey, let's leave it

and return to your suspicions.

Yes... I think that...

technician Otis is not human.

These are of course little things

hard to catch.

When he sits or stands, he doesn't move at all, ...

... and you know very well that

it's impossible to remain in the same position for too long.

Sometimes, when he realizes that, he makes a few moves then freezes again.

Yeah. Anything else?

- He'll eat anything.

- Anything?

Whatever is served. He doesn't care one bit.

After all, we all have our preferences.

- Why haven't you kept your word?

- Meaning?

You swore to remain silent about your origin.

I am to receive a reasonable sum of money

for this mission.

I did promise, but I also think

that there are situations...

...when not keppeing a promise is one's duty.

And you think that this is such a situation?

Of course! What's more...

...any decent human being would do the same.

You're the first.

But we barely took off.

I would like to help you during the mission.

Why?

It will be hard for you to find out who is who.

And what's your personal interest in this denunciation?

Don't leave! Listen to me carefully.

Let's assume that thanks to you I know

that there is another human on board.

So what?

You think I would treat him differently?

That I would praise the ones who were human,

not the ones who were competent?

It seems you don't believe me?

You think that...

- ...you think that I could be...

- I believe you...

...but if you've already said what you shouldn't have,....

...it's not worth playing cat and mouse.

I thank you for your sincerity... is there anything else?

- I'm back.

- Alright.

- You can put you clothes on, everything's fine.

Thank you. I would like to ask you something.

Yes?

Could you, by conducting some tests...

...determine who among the crew...

No, this could only be determined surgically.

Sir,...

... I would like to confess something.

I'm not human.

Sorry?

I'm not human, but during the experiment

I'll be on your side.

Why??

It's quite simple, my motives are purely egoistic.

If you praise us - nonlinears - in your report...

...we will be mass-produced and we will dominate all trades,

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