The Black Hole Page #2

- Nothing a hammer and a little

metal polish can't fix. Thank you.

Looks like

we'll have to go to them.

- Charlie, you'll stay with the Palomino.

- But you need everyone that's got...

- Charlie.

- Don't worry, Mr Pizer.

They also serve

who only stand and wait.

Vincent, were you programmed

to bug me?

No, sir, to educate you.

When I volunteered for this mission,

I never thought I'd end up playing

straight man to a tin can.

This place looks as if

it hasn't been used for years.

It's eerie. I feel like

a thousand eyes are watching us.

Vincent!

- Charlie, do you read me?

- Vincent, are you all right?

Weapons destroyed by laser fire.

No injuries. Hold your position.

Vincent.

- Are you sure you're all right?

- Down, but never for

the full count, Dr Kate.

- So much for the friendship theory.

- Come on, Harry. They could have

killed us if they'd wanted to.

Yeah, sure.

I don't like it when somebody else

pulls the strings, Captain.

Neither do I, Vincent.

Whoever's up in that control tower

is calling the shots right now.

Whoever or whatever, Captain.

- Easy, Kate.

- I know I shouldn't get my hopes up,

but it's hard not to.

I know.

I don't mind telling you,

I'm a little concerned.

Some of my brother robots

were assigned to Project Black Hole...

programmed to send ESP messages

back from space probes.

Oh, a grand experiment,

the scientists thought.

Also ancient history, Vincent.

Not to me, Mr Booth.

Not this close.

The heat in there

melts types like me rather quickly.

Hello? I'm Kate McCrae.

Is Officer Frank McCrae aboard?

They appear to be

some sort of robot, Dr Kate.

Look over here.

Incredible.

It oughta be.

Sure cost the taxpayers enough.

Kate.

There's someone else with us.

Identify yourself.

What is your type and model?

- A mystery monster.

- Don't move.

Charlie, do you read me?

Charlie Pizer. Come in, Charlie.

This is the story

to end all stories, Harry.

A ship of robots and computers

with this thing in charge?

Not quite, Dr Durant.

Maximilian and my robots only run

this ship the way I wish it run.

How do you know my name?

You were monitored ever since

our sensors first detected you.

Now, now, Maximilian.

Calm down.

Don't pick on small people.

Such a nice little robot.

He's harmless.

Miss McCrae,

you might come closer.

Welcome aboard the Cygnus.

Hans Reinhardt.

It can't be.

You always did have a flair

for theatrical entrances, Doctor.

Dr Reinhardt.

My father, where is he?

My dear child,

I'm sorry to dash your hopes...

but your father's

not with us any more.

He's dead.

A man to be proud of.

A grave personal loss to me.

He was a trusted and loyal friend.

And you are his daughter.

Yes. The same eyes.

The same eyes.

And the rest of the crew?

- They didn't make it back?

- They did not.

Pity, for such a good crew.

What happened when your mission

was recalled, Doctor?

Is this going to be

an interview, Mr Booth?

I haven't had that for a long time,

but if you want to...

I will answer.

Now, don't be frightened.

Nobody's going to harm you.

The Cygnus encountered

a field of meteorites...

and was disabled...

our main and auxiliary

communication systems smashed.

We were adrift.

I told the crew to abandon ship...

to return home as ordered.

Perhaps it was another of what you term

my "theatrical gestures," Mr Booth...

but I chose to remain aboard.

Your dear father

chose to remain with me.

We never knew

what happened to the others.

You've lived out here

for 20 years? Alone?

Twenty years?

Twenty Earth years, but...

I didn't live exactly alone.

I've created companions

of a sort.

They look a bit medieval...

but I'm a romantic.

Ah, Mr Pizer!

Come in. Join us.

Thank you.

Have you met the goon squad?

"Goon squad." Nice.

I'm Hans Reinhardt.

Forgive this little incident, but you

were disarmed for your own safety.

Dismissed.

My robots are programmed to react

against any act of aggression.

I assure you, none was intended.

I am glad to hear that. Please.

Consider yourselves my guests.

We won't impose

on your hospitality, Doctor.

Just long enough

to repair our ship.

And then we can offer you the means

of returning to Earth, Doctor.

What makes you think

I want to return?

The Cygnus is in danger

of being destroyed here.

Yes! Your captain

was worried about that too.

One step too far...

and we are done.

But there's no cause for alarm.

We developed antigravity forces

to maintain our position.

It's what you might call

a Mexican stand-off.

If you were monitoring us,

you must have picked up our signals.

- That's right.

- You failed to reply.

Did I have to reply?

Charlie, Charlie.

Slight communications problem.

Maximilian will take you to requisition

whatever you need to repair your ship.

In the meantime, you and Dr McCrae

will get enough information...

to make your mission

of historic importance.

- Back off, Vincent.

- Not until he does.

When you're nose to nose

with a trash compactor, you cool it.

Now, what does that remind me of?

Oh, yes. David and Goliath.

A classic confrontation.

Only this time,

David is overmatched.

Call him off, Reinhardt.

I said call him off!

On my ship, you ask, Captain.

Indeed.

Please, call him off, Doctor.

Maximilian?

Remember, these are our guests.

Now, let him in.

Show that you've good manners.

That's a good robot.

Communication problems aside, he took

an awful long time to show any lights.

- Be careful.

- I know.

Those other robots aren't any friendlier

than Dr Frankenstein's monster.

The bigger they are,

the harder they fall.

Maybe you should've smiled

when you said it, Vincent.

Doctor, this ship

doesn't appear to be crippled.

Of course not. We repaired the damage

and became operable again.

But you never obeyed the order

to return to Earth.

That's right.

I refused this order.

There were larger considerations...

other worlds

yet to be explored...

life dreams unrealized.

The authorities would still consider

that an act of piracy, Doctor.

What would you have said, Mr Booth,

if the authorities...

would have called back Columbus just

before he discovered the New World?

You wouldn't even exist.

I'm about to prove to you

that the end justifies the means.

Pretty busy around here, Max.

What are you gearing up for?

Tell you what, Charlie.

You'll take care of business here,

and I'll go back to the ship

and start working on that regulator.

Don't bother to point the way, Max.

I'll find it by myself.

Well, we need primary and secondary

demand oxygen pressure regulators...

and an ECS proportion

flow valve controller.

Max.

Dr Reinhardt told you

to requisition the parts for us.

Let's get cracking.

Way to go, Max.

Way to go.

Vincent. Vital Information

Necessary Centralized.

Labour force. The 396.

I see by your markings

you're from the old 2-8.

Programmed in Houston.

There is enough instant energy

down there to supply all of Earth.

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