The Black Hole Page #3

The first step

to colonizing the galaxy.

You will be remembered as one of the

greatest space scientists of all time.

I have never doubted that.

It's about time that people learn

about their failures and my successes.

You should come back with us

and enjoy the glory of that success.

I don't want to go back,

and I don't enjoy successes any more.

There is too much at stake

to pull back.

I'm on the brink

of a great achievement.

All this is just the beginning.

- The beginning? Of what?

- You will know in due time.

Dr Reinhardt, could we have

a demonstration...

- of this incredible

new power source.

- Harry?

Come with me,

and I'll show you everything.

I call it "Cygnium,"

after my ship.

Must've made a wrong turn, Max.

Quite a layout.

I said it's quite

a layout you got here.

Can you speak?

Are you programmed to speak?

No, I guess not.

No, I guess that'd make you

a little bit too real, wouldn't it?

That Reinhardt sure loves

to play God, doesn't he?

Hey, wait a minute!

Hey!

- I know what I saw, Charlie.

- Dan, nobody buries a robot.

- I didn't say it was a robot.

- Then what?

I don't know what they shot out

into space, but they did it with all the

reverence and honour of a human funeral.

Huh. Maybe Reinhardt lied.

Maybe there are some survivors still

alive. What do you think he's up to?

- Haven't got a clue.

- Well, whatever it is...

he seems cooperative enough

about getting us operable.

A wolf remains a wolf...

even if it has not eaten

your sheep.

Correct, Vincent. The sooner

we blast out of here, the better.

Whatever you say.

Let's snap it up, Vincent.

A pint cannot hold a quart,

Mr Pizer.

If it holds the pint,

it's doing the best it can.

Thank you, Vincent.

- Fascinating.

- From a distance.

Are you interested

in black holes?

How can one not be overwhelmed

by the deadliest force in the universe?

That long, dark tunnel to nowhere.

Or somewhere.

These are exactly answers

yet to be explored.

You've defined the power

of the black hole with your

antigravity calculations.

A stunning achievement, sir.

- You think so?

- Yes. I do.

Thank you.

I think, Dr Durant...

that you are a man

who longs for a sense...

of his own greatness...

but has not yet found

his true direction.

Right?

Perhaps I could find it here...

if you're in no hurry

for us to leave.

Shall we discuss that

over dinner?

- It's only dinner.

- "Said the spider to the fly."

I should be with you.

Yeah, we'll be safer without you

and Max trying to knock heads.

I can handle that thing.

Well, far be it from you to admit

there isn't anything you can't handle.

There are three basic types,

Mr Pizer. The wills,

the won'ts and the can'ts.

The wills accomplish everything,

the won'ts oppose everything...

and the can'ts

won't try anything.

Well, do us all a favour, Vincent,

and try to be a can't...

especially where

that monster's concerned.

We need you,

not another corkscrew.

Hey, hey, hey. Look at that.

Vincent, you're gonna have

the time of your life in there.

I don't mean to sound superior,

but I hate the company of robots.

So try and relax.

Have some fun.

Remember what they say:

"All work and no play"?

"All sunshine makes a desert,"

so the Arabs say.

You'll alert me

if you're in trouble, Captain?

Why don't you go on in there

and have some laughs, Vincent.

We've been in some scrapes before,

and we're gonna get out of this one.

As you were.

- Who's the flashy black hat?

- S-T-A-R.

Special Troops Arms Regiment.

Reinhardt's prototype

for the sentry robots.

He was number one

until Reinhardt built Maximilian.

He's sharp, but we're sharper.

Do you ever go up against him?

- Once.

- What happened?

I beat him. He got so upset,

he blew a fuse.

He had his revenge, though.

He did things to me that I sure

don't like to think about.

A great many experiments are in progress

aboard the Cygnus, gentlemen...

some of them dangerous.

I suggest in the interest

of your own safety...

that there are no more

unescorted excursions

for the duration of your stay.

- Agreed?

- Sure, sure.

Good. Please, sit down.

Captain.

Well, Mr Booth,

what's new on Earth?

Well, I don't think it's changed

very much since you left, Doctor.

Nothing much ever changes.

Same news, different names.

- You still writing for the same paper?

- The same.

Still on strike?

Ah, fresh mushroom soup.

Prepared from my own personal garden.

I remember writing about

the extensive agricultural station.

Large enough to supply the needs

of the entire crew, wasn't it, Doctor?

These days it's tiny.

Just enough for one person.

Ah. Naturally.

Our wine and our spare parts

are vintage, Captain.

I hope they're satisfactory.

We've had to modify

a few of the parts, Doctor...

but, uh, that shouldn't take long.

- We'll be ready to leave soon.

- Speak for yourself, Dan.

I, for one, believe I have a great deal

to learn from Dr Reinhardt.

Thank you.

Our mission's finished, Alex.

A toast.

To you and your companions,

Dr Durant...

on the occasion

of your visit to the Cygnus.

Welcome aboard, Miss Kate.

The only Earth people to know

of my existence.

And to you, sir,

and your magnificent accomplishments.

Tonight, my friends...

we stand on the brink...

of a feat unparalleled

in space exploration.

If the data on my returning probe ship

matches my computerized calculations...

I will travel

where no man has dared to go.

Into the black hole?

In...

through...

and beyond.

Why, that's crazy.

Ha! Impossible!

The word "impossible,"

Mr Booth...

is only found

in a dictionary of fools.

Are there any more like us

left on board?

I'm the last one. These upstarts

think I'm some old freak.

They still haven't improved

on our model. Oh, you can't modify

perfection. We are the best.

Oh, lordy.

He wants a rematch.

As an old navy hero once said,

"Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead!"

He also said something about

goin' in harm's way.

Nice shooting, Bob.

You'd have beat him again

if he hadn't bumped you.

Nah, I'd have missed on purpose.

Don't worry. I'll uphold

the honour of the old outfit.

STAR, Vincent's my name.

Sharpshooting is my game.

Try me.

Your probe ship has only gone

to the event horizon, Doctor...

not into the black hole itself.

How do you expect the Cygnus to escape

being crushed by the force in there?

I would assume

that Dr Reinhardt has created

an antigravitational force field...

capable of withstanding that stress.

Indeed, and I know you will say,

Captain, that one mistake

in navigation can be fatal.

But I know exactly what I'm doing.

The course I have chosen...

will take the Cygnus through

at its optimum angle of rotation.

The vortex will cause us to move

at incredible speed...

and that angle

will slingshot us through.

Nice shot, STAR.

Simple, but nice.

Tricky. Here, try this.

If one dances,

one must pay the piper.

If there's anything I cannot stand,

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