Plus a huge ulcer on Haron's body that probably occurred nine years ago. Plus a huge belt of meteoroids that didn't care about gravity as much as the Device did - they were actively scattering around the planetoids - Pluto itself, Haron, Hydra, Stix, and Nikte as if clearing the way to the Device.
It seems that the Device was buried on Haron, but, having received the command from the Moon, it woke up, dug up and took off... A 15-kilometer-long million-ton artifact of strangers. By myself.
It was impressive.
The device strictly kept its direction to a certain point in the sky. Approximately on the constellation of Volopas - to determine more precisely, it was necessary to fly closer, and while to do it was unreasonable - dangers were more than possible, and simply did not have enough fuel, the most developed at braking at Pluto. Now all four huge fuel tanks could be thrown away.
The ship... David looked back at the closed hibernation chambers in deep-freezing mode. Incomplete hypnosis technology, technical problems, biological problems, ailments, and diseases... Of the entire crew, only he remained. The rest became frozen meat in their refrigerators. Maybe someday on Earth, they will be revived and honored with Russian paintings, German calculations, the experience of his colleague... But here and now it is up to him to decide.
The ship is still too valuable to risk. But mobile units are designed for this purpose. Small "peas", with a reserve speed of just a couple of hundred meters per second, equipped with manipulators.
David's disappointment could have been scooped up with a spoon. He flew to the MMU for the device. He flew over it, studying literally at point-blank range. He was even able to touch the metal - or what it was - of the Device with a manipulator. But that's all. It didn't react to it.
On the other hand, it's not bad either. It didn't crumble into a lump, it wasn't thrown into a black hole, it wasn't killed by deadly radiation. And the fact that it didn't end there - well, it can still end in the second stage.
The satellites around the Device were collecting information, and David guided the Discovery antennas to Device, which was about ten kilometers ahead - that's the distance he had to travel to use MMU - and tried to contact him using Dr. Floyd's method and radio signal parameters.
He didn't have time to do anything more. The bright lightning from Device's shining heart gently touched Discovery.
- Oh, my God. It's full of stars...- a phrase sounded on the air, and it calmed down.
Discovery One disappeared from the Pluto system.
36 hours later on Earth
- On Doppler shift at the moment of loss of communication the ship left at a speed of 13 thousand kilometers per second.
- Four percent of the speed of light. And he gained it in...
- In about half a second.
- It was supposed to be crushed by overload.
- He sounded like he wasn't experiencing any physical problems.
The NASA chief, Charles Bolden, measured the steps of his office. Dr. Haywood Floyd followed him from his chair.
- We lost a super-expensive ship and four astronauts. - He finally reported.
- We found a working alien artifact. - Floyd said, - We've found a working alien artifact, - highlighting every word in his voice. - What we promised politicians the last half-century. What's causing NASA to have a problem for eight years now doesn't exist. We have a lot to go into space for, putting billions into it.
- They won't give us money for another expedition to Pluto.
- It doesn't matter. We will send the probes as long as it takes to get a detailed understanding of the artifact's work. And during this time, maybe, we will deal with other heritage of aliens from Monolith. Now it is clear that he can believe at least in something. Charles, after all, you didn't tremble like that, even when your Endeavour lost half a wing on landing. Everything is fine.
- You weren't there, Heywood, - he said.
- I was among those who met. So, will you tell the President about our achievement, or will I do it?
- Well, - the former astronaut stopped and pulled himself together. - Let's go. You will be heavy artillery.
- You are always welcome, -the former astronomer shrugged his shoulders.