The Shape of Things to Come Page #3

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Sound general alarm.

I couldn't get through.

Damn.

Come on, move it! Let's go!

Two more dead. What now?

I'm not sure, Merrick.

Doctor?

We have malfunctions

of the gylectron compass,

auto guidance systems,

and the contra-flow units.

We're gonna have to set down.

Well, we can't go back to the moon.

There's only one place

we can go to make repairs.

Earth.

Set coordinates for Vector 759.

There's an old emergency

tanker station there...

more or less abandoned now,

but the guidance beacon

ought to be in working order.

Is there anyone living in the area?

Yeah, Charlie Montgomery,

an old friend of mine.

Sort of a guard, caretaker at the station.

He's due to retire back to the moon in

a few years, but he'll be able to help us.

Coordinates set for Vector 759,

planet Earth.

Any chance Lunar Control

might have put out a report about us?

Possible, but we can trust Charlie.

It's gonna be strange being

back on the Earth again.

It's been almost seven years.

Seven years since the last

of the great robot wars

and the end of civilization

as we had known it.

It's funny, I still think

of myself as an Earth child.

You were one of the lucky ones

who escaped in time.

Estimated arrival, 0600 hours.

Good. I'm gonna strap myself in.

Approaching orbit altitude for Earth.

Locking into orbit coordinates.

Counter-gravitational control

set for tanker beacon YR321.

Gravity equilibrium confirmed.

Prepare for module separation.

Module separation confirmed.

Descent block to beacon YR321.

Shutdown completed.

I'll stay with you, Doctor,

and help with your repairs.

All right, Sparks.

We'll see if we can find

Charlie Montgomery.

Sure, give him my regards.

Tell him he owes me a rematch at chess.

- Okay.

- Bye.

What's wrong?

I don't know.

Well, come on. Let's take a look inside.

Charlie?

Charlie?

Charlie Montgomery?

He must be around someplace.

- How's the equipment?

- Seems to be all right.

I'm gonna go check the tower.

- Kim?

- Yeah?

- Mind how you go.

- Okay.

He must have some tools around someplace.

Charlie?

Charlie, is that you?

Kim?

Kim? Kim?

Kim?

Kim?

Come in, please, Kim. Kim?

This is Jason calling Starstreak.

Come in, please, Starstreak.

Yes, what is it, Jason?

I found a dead body in the Earth station.

What? Charlie?

Afraid so, and that's not all.

I can't seem to locate Kim.

What do you mean?

I don't know. She disappeared.

- Disa...

- Oh, sir?

I've got a vehicle here.

I don't know if I can

get it running, though.

Well, it's rough terrain. You'll need it.

I'm gonna send Sparks to help you.

Okay, out.

Now, Sparks, I want you to check

radiation readings in the area.

Yes, doctor.

I want to know if Jason

and Kim are in danger.

- What about you, Doctor?

- Don't you worry about me, Sparks.

I've never had a nursemaid before

and I don't intend to have one now.

- Sorry, Doctor.

- That's all right.

So, why don't you just get on with it?

Precisely what I had in mind.

What took you so long?

I'm a little out of condition.

Detectors locate Kim's vital signs

three kilometers west two quadrant.

- Oh, yeah? Is she alone?

- I can't get an exact reading,

but I'm picking up a high

radiation level in this area.

Well, hop in, unless you wanna walk.

Gotta stop doing that.

Hold on.

I detect a malfunction

in the H2O containment system.

Now what?

I'm picking up Kim.

All life functions seem intact,

but she isn't alone.

Sensors also detect

higher radiation levels ahead.

Stop, Jason.

Let me lead the way.

Jason!

Jason!

Kim, get behind these cars!

- Jason, what's wrong?

- Come on, Kim!

They're not gonna hurt you!

They only want our help.

What do you mean?

They're children.

Oh, my God.

These children must be survivors

of the great robot war.

They must have been taken

from the city just before it started.

I don't believe this.

These kids must have been

living out here for years.

- You all right?

- Fine.

- I was scared.

- Yeah.

I found a dead body in the Earth station.

- It was Charlie.

- The children told me.

He was trying to help them.

Jason, they're sick.

- Very sick.

- Yeah.

Radiation.

Hey, don't be afraid!

Sparks is our friend.

I guess they still have a fear of robots

after what they did to this world.

These old weapons

are leaking toxic substances.

I suggest that children

be treated with RADIC-Q-2

as soon as possible.

I'll be going back to the ship now.

Jason, let's get the kids out of here.

- Let's get back to the ship.

- Come on, kids.

We must inform Jason

and Kim of your condition.

No, they've got enough to do

without worrying about me.

Anyway, I feel fine.

No, I... I've managed this far

and I'll make it through to the end.

This is Jason calling Starstreak.

Come in, please, Starstreak.

...got Kim. We're on our way

back to the ship.

- Affirmative.

- All right, out.

Jason, would you just listen to me?

We've gotta get back to the ship

and back on our way to Delta 3.

These children need our help.

Look, we can't go back to the moon now.

We can't take these children with us.

Look, if we can get to Delta 3,

we can pick up a supply of RADIC

and be back here in a few days.

That's the best chance these kids

have got and you know that.

Yeah.

Okay.

Listen, kids, I know you've had a tough

time of it, but, please, just trust us.

We won't let you down, I promise.

Okay, now, you kids just stay here, okay?

'Cause we're gonna come back and get you.

Okay?

Okay?

All secure here.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Correct compass ratio, point 289.

Initiating docking maneuvers

with mothership.

Airlocks activated. Docking completed.

Okay, set course, Kim.

Course set for Delta 3.

Sequence for spectrum drive.

Activate pulse generators

for force shield.

Pulse generator activated.

Good.

Initiating spectrum drive.

Force shield functioning as programmed.

What a strange experience.

I don't feel anything,

and we're approaching the speed of light.

It's just incredible.

As a matter of fact,

I feel very comfortable.

Well, just be glad the force shield

is fully operative

because at these speeds a particle of dust

could punch a hole

in the side of the ship.

I'm beginning to feel

a little less comfortable.

So am I.

Spectrum drive approaching control speed.

I'm gonna lock off now.

Well, that couldn't have been smoother.

Any course corrections, Sparks?

Negative.

No deviation from

set flight path path path...

path path path path...

Okay, take it easy, Sparks.

I'll reprogram a better

self-adjusting tape for you

when we get back to the moon.

Path path path path.

Pattern.

- Thank you.

- Any time, Sparks.

Well, the ship's performing beautifully

and I'm beginning to feel

just a little hungry.

- You look a little tired.

- No, no, Kim.

I'm not tired, I'm just hungry.

Yeah, well, I guess we could all

use something to eat, huh?

- Sure.

- Nothing for me, thanks.

- Okay.

- Perhaps later.

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