Test Pilota Pirxa Page #4

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not only space travel.

But as long there are only a few of us...

...our perspectives are no different than those of normal humans.

The only difference being that we are more talented.

Well, it is logical, but aren't you afraid

that the company may destroy you...

...if you don't get my praise.

No, I'm not afraid of that, I'm very valuable.

More valuable than a supersonic bomber.

That's why a negative opinion is not a danger to me.

So, could you reveal who among the crew...

No... I mean I'm not sure.

...and apart from that...

- What else do you want to know?

- Tell me more about yourself.

Okay, I have nothing to hide.

Have you ever experienced a reaction like...

...bewilderment, fear, disgust when...

...someone would find out that you're not human.

Yes, once. When I assisted during an operation.

A nurse didn't know who I was.

Nurse, scalpel.

Noooo! Noooo!

Yeah... and what did you feel then.

I don't feel much at all. I was a little uneasy.

I got an impression

that it's much easier to work with men.

Please tell me... what is your attitude toward your creators?

That is... to humans.

I'm glad I'm alive.

My creators weren't able to predict lots of things.

I am grateful because, after all...

... it's better to be a machine

than not to exist at all.

Do you remember the moment of your birth?

I didn't go through all the development stages, and

there is no trace of a child in me.

What do you mean?

It means that the world of cities, streets, family life...

...is your only reality.

For me it's laughable.

I see nothing laughable about this.

And what do you think of God?

I was created by science

and science rejects everything that is absolute.

Nonrelative time, space, immortal soul...

Quite a few things you need to regard as absolute.

What else fo you find so conventional?

Ethics, friendship, love...?

What do they mean to you?

They all mean nothing to me!

However, I benefit from them.

I have other ethics.

In fact, quite similar to yours.

For the time being I need it.

For the time being?

Technical progress ravages your morality.

Who knows how long you'll keep with your ethics.

Excuse me.

Why do they eat?

Only to prove that they are human?

But it's laughable!

It's even more conventional

than the things Novak mentioned.

Yep, but the only laughable person at the moment is me.

They eat, talk. Everything seams natural, common.

Everyone of them is human yet a robot at the same time.

Maybe they all simply want to fool me.

Maybe Novak is just a plain physician...

... and Brown only pretends to be human.

Is there any way out of it?

How to find out the truth?

Maybe I could provoke some dangerous situation,...

...which would force them to act and divide into two groups.

And if I break my neck and

kill all the humans on board...

...and the ship is brought back by

the robots who can survive anything.

It would make for a great PR for their manufacturers.

Who is it?

It's just me, Weber.

- Have you checked the probes?

- Yes, Sir.

Do you want to tell me something?

- No.

- Wait a second.

What's going on?

Go on.

- I'm afraid...

- Go ahead.

I would like you to consider me your ally.

Although I must warn you, that I won't reveal what I am.

I must keep my word.

Alright. So you want to tell me something

about the rest of the crew.

Yes.

Brown isn't human.

Do you have any proof?

During the preparations for the flight,

I was examining the reactor...

...and I got an idea.

I took a sample from the hot interior of the reactor...

...and I placed them between two lead bricks

in the control room hallway.

Everyone had to cross a weak beam of radiation.

When Brown was about to pass,

he suddenly stopped and let me go first.

in order to have a look at the shelf.

Nobody else reacted.

It would mean that Brown has an additional radioactive sense.

This could have been a simple concidence.

Have you noticed anything else?

Nothing for now.

I'll let you know if I do.

Of course, only if you wish so.

Very well, thank you.

Show me the approach area

according to the Stanlem's space pilotage.

- Calder, it's Pirx.

- Sir?

Come to my quarters, please.

Right away, Sir!

- I'm listening.

- Come on, don't be shy.

I suppose it's your turn.

I'm afraid I don't understand, Sir.

Don't have anything to say to me?

Have a drink with me then.

After all, off-duty we can tolerate our human weaknesses.

- I don't think...

- Come on, you have my permission.

Cheers, Calder.

Cheers.

Tomorrow we're passing through extremely dusty regions.

I would like to revise the pilotage if you don't mind.

I won't keep you.

I'd like to thank you for the whisky.

It was very good, Sir.

Everything is calm, sir.

Attention Commander!

I am one of the members of the crew who are not human.

I was watching you all the time...

... while you were trying to identify me.

At the beginning we had the same goal.

Your unfavourable opinion would satisfy me,...

...because mass production would take away my exceptionality...

...or would even mean my termination.

I wasn't plotting anything, but...

...your strange edginess and anxiety showed me...

...that you lost the first bout, Commander.

And only then I noticed that the role of human servant...

...cannot satisfy me.

Your world is horribly empty for me,...

...your ideals laughable and your democracy...

...is just a reign of schemers chosen by fools.

That's why I decided to take over...

...so that people would understand what they dared to do...

...by creating an artificial creature faithful to them.

I will show you that there is no foolishness crazy enough...

...or an idea so ludicrous...

...that it couldn't be embraced by humans,...

...as long as it is nicely packaged.

And you will never get out of the trap,...

...that you made for yourself.

As you can see, I am completely frank with you.

And I will win the second bout,

because I can't see any weak spots...

...I would have that could allow you to win.

That would be all.

Maybe some time in the future

I could show you you can count on me...

...but now I count on you in a way.

Good bye, Commander.

I just must be a case of paranoia.

You offer me protection when you are the ruler of the world...

...megalomania.

So what is there left for me?

Fighting you would be pointless,

you are stronger than me.

Intellectual confrontation is no good either.

What can work to my advantage?

Emotions? Humanity that you seem to lack?

For you humanity is the sum of our defects,...

...our weaknesses.

Maybe I could change this battle of strengths

into a battle of weaknesses.

Try to find a situation in which human weakness

is better than robot's perfection.

Check...

...mate.

Get ready for a return match after the manoeuvres.

Where's Calder?

I'm here, Sir.

Please begin.

First probe on the launch position.

On position.

What are the dust readings?

...and rising by the second.

We have an asteroid cluster on course.

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