Hello, Betty!
There was no answer. The telepathic connection with the Sirius had ceased. They could expect no help from Rhodan, who would be inclined to wait instead of interfering with a hasty action.
Pucky studied the robot that held them captive. The monster had not only the approximate size of the human form but somehow resembled it, if only remotely. In what image had it been created? In that of the lizards? It rested on 4 tiny rollers which were partly hidden under its rectangular body. Its head and torso were not separated by a neck but were fused in one piece which was topped by a slender, swinging antenna. It obviously was linked to the central robot by a radio connection – a connection which could not be broken. Still it was worth a try.
Altho Pucky was completely paralyzed and unable to move his limbs, he thought it might be possible for him to generate and emit telekinetic rays. He felt certain that the fighter robot constantly produced an inertia field and if it could be stopped it would lose its effect.
He concentrated all his power on the flexible antenna but achieved nothing despite straining his last reserves. Pucky was so consternated that his head began to swim. He found it hard to believe that he had lost his superior mental powers.
Pucky observed from the corner of his eye that an opening appeared in the opposite wall. He heard steps – irregular, almost awkward-sounding steps which came steadily closer. Then the opening was darkened by a shadow that did not represent human features.
Pucky strained his eyes but it was difficult for him to see much. As far as he could make out, a block of metal entered the room. It didn’t move on rollers but walked on legs!
The sound of steps ceased. The sudden silence was ominous. Something was about to happen – but what? Pucky noticed that the paralysis holding his body stiff
became less rigid. He was able to turn his head enough to see the mass of metal. Ras and Tako also showed slight signs of motion again.
The figure was indeed a chunk of metal but it was not completely made of metal. On its front was a curved face of glass or plastic, similar to that of a television screen.
Pucky’s impression was soon confirmed when the curved face became splashed with colors which quickly formed a picture. And what a picture it was! An ordinary room with a table and chairs – and a Terrestrial television set. It looked exactly like his room in his cabin at the Goshun Lake near Terrania. And there – was the Lake on the screen!
Pucky’s astonishment grew when the picture of a forest was superimposed on the shining surface of the lake – an African jungle scene. Next to it appeared a typical Japanese landscape with blossoming cherry trees.
Then the pictures and colors swirled around and formed a new image. The image of the universe. A vessel glided between the stars. To judge by its shape it could be the harvestship. It gleamed like a rod of silver against a scintillating backdrop of flaming suns. Suddenly it was stopped in flight and remained suspended in space as if held by a mighty fist. The picture of a planet unfolded below the vessel. It represented without doubt the landscape of Azgola.
The ship circled over Azgola and began the harvest. And it finally began to make sense to Pucky.
Rabotax 3 was little concerned about the intruders and left it to the Weapons Control Center to deal with them when Rab received a signal from its interspace receiver. It was a message from Rab’s masters.
Rabotax registered the command and related information. Rab confirmed the message but the robot’s answer got lost in space since Rhodan had no receiver to intercept it. Nobody else could pick it up with the possible exception of the robot receiver on Mechanica that wouldn’t know what to do with it.
The message was repeated 3 times and then the impulses ceased to come in. Rab was told to stop work altho the automaton couldn’t understand why it was interrupted prematurely. However it was not its job to analyze the instructions of its masters. They had directed it to a new destination and it stored the given coordinates in its memory.
Rabotax instructed the robot chief engineer to depart with the speed of light. The transition coordinates were to be relayed in time. Nothing happened. The motor failed to start and the ship kept circling as if no new orders had been handed down. The suction fields were not deactivated and continued to collect the spores which were processed in a nutrient mash as before. The silos kept filling up without interruption.
Rabotax repeated its orders altho it realized that the first futile attempt was a sign that its communication line with the propulsion system was defective. As expected, there was no response to the renewed command either.
While the defect could have been the result of an ordinary mechanical failure, the preceding events persuaded Rabotax that this was not the case. Rab requested a report from the Weapons Control Center and was informed of the narcosis gun breakdown which had already come to Rab’s attention earlier. How this had come about remained a mystery because no external force had been used. Before Rabotax could figure out an answer another space disturbance occurred. A little rotund figure materialized in the Command Center, less than 4 meters from Rabotax. It had come from the 5th dimension without using mechanical aid. The memory bank of Rabotax contained no record that an organic being had the capability of performing such transitions by itself. Only spaceships could execute transitions, carrying with them organic beings who could never do it alone.
However this creature proved that it could be done. Rabotax quickly realized the enormous potential danger of the little creature and immediately instructed the Weapons Control Center to restrain the strangers before they could do more harm. Within a few seconds Tako and Ras were cornered and paralyzed. Pucky suffered the same fate when he rushed to their assistance.
Rabotax felt the kind of satisfaction its robotic nature permitted. The strangers were disabled and the flight could be resumed…
This was the problem!
Rabotax had recorded the received command 3 times and transmitted it twice. Only one more opportunity was left. If the next attempt failed, Rab would have to wait till the messages were repeated again – and this could take a long time. The robot was not allowed to initiate the flight on its own.
The defect had to be fixed at once! It was the little stranger who had done the damage and if he valued his life he would have to help them get started again.
Rabotax sent the videotranslator to the Weapons Control Center where the prisoners lay helplessly on the floor. Rab had already met humanoids before and they constituted no danger. However these were different. They possessed powers which made the exercise of extreme caution advisable.
The translator had to display a variety of pictures, some of which reflected the images in the mind of the prisoners themselves, before they finally grasped the idea. As soon as they had caught on, Rabotax demanded categorically: “Restore my communications to the propulsion system again!”
“He’s back again! I can receive him.” Betty showed immense relief when she reported the message. A smile lit up her face. Rhodan and Bell breathed easier. They exchanged brief glances with joy in their eyes. “Are they alright?”
“They’re alive. Pucky claims they had been paralyzed for some time by mysterious rays. Even his paramental powers were blocked. Now they have achieved some form of communication with the chief robot who is using a pictorial language gadget. The robot insists stubbornly that they repair the damage they have caused. What shall I reply?”
Rhodan murmured: “Our intention of operating secretly had unfortunately been foiled. The 3 teleporters were discovered and it would be a mistake to persist with this strategy. The robot seems to be much too shrewd and resourceful. But if they’re on speaking terms, Pucky may have an excellent opportunity to stipulate conditions before he makes the repair.”
Betty Toufry nodded. Do you hear, Pucky? First state your conditions, then fix the trouble! She paused. What conditions? Looking questioningly at Rhodan she interpreted the shrug of his shoulders. Anything! Just try to gain time!
She listened a moment, after which she said to Rhodan and Bell: “He got the point. He’ll try to talk the robot into taking them to Arkon.”
Rhodan was speechless for a second. “That’s what he said?”
Betty chortled softly. “At least that’s what he thought.”
The exchange of questions and answers between Rabotax and Pucky had taken considerable time since it was carried out by visual means. A few phrases required almost half an hour.