As before, nothing changed on board the ship. Tired but very happy, Max and Jennifer decided to lie down and have a rest a bit. Both mentally experienced what they saw on Mars. Both wanted as soon as possible to share their own experiences and listen to the opinions of each other.
But they didn’t have time to sit comfortably on the bed, as they again had to get up and go to the screen. There was happening, something new and strange. Until now, while they were flying to Mars, the screen was properly broadcasted the images of distant stars. Then it was the images of the Mars and its satellites. But now something has changed, and there was the view of surface of some planet. No, it was not Mars or Phobos, where they fought with the Plarns. Also, the planet does not look like Demos, the second satellite of Mars, where they also had to visit, however, not for a long time.
‘Max, what is it?’ Jennifer asked with surprise in her voice, sitting down on a purple, glowing strip in front of the screen. They already knew that the band was safe and they could sit on it.
‘I don’t know. However, it seems something new.’ Max sat down beside her, stared at the screen.
With some astonishment, they were looking at the surface of a strange planet. The gray plain stretched before them. On the surface, which were white, were built the cylindrical structures. That could be probably someone houses. However, without windows and doors, with green, sloping roofs. There were not trees around. Grasses are also were not seen. Houses were placed directly on the bare surface. Max thought that the ground of the planet wasn’t gray on real. Just the distance between the houses was sheltered by some artificial material of gray color. But the most important and surprising to Jennifer and him was that between the little white houses, the odd creatures were roaming.
‘Look, look!’ Jennifer exclaimed, pointing a finger at them.
‘I see. Funny.’
The unknown creature was bipedal. They had two arms and two legs. Their bodies were of a black color. Narrow at the waist, they are somewhat reminiscent of the ants. While they were not the ants at all. White, large eyes, like the immovable light spots protruded on the green also immovable faces. Mouth, nose, ears and hair, they didn’t notice at all. At least on screen, they were not visible.
In the air, of unknown planet, now and then was flying past some amazing crafts. They looked like the cylinder, about six feet long. To bottoms of each crafts were fixed four short nozzles, which burst out the white glow with. Flying over the houses, the crafts disappeared into the distant blue of the sky. Over the heads of the mysterious creatures, almost at the zenith the large shaggy star was burning.
I wish to know what it all mean.’ Jennifer said, without looking at Max.
‘Humanoids.’ he said.
‘You mean, like people. Are like we?’ Jennifer clarified.
‘They looked similar, didn’t they?’
‘In some way, but just from a distance.’ agreed Jennifer.
‘Yes, that’s why they called as the humanoids, because such creatures in some way look like we do. As we can see they also get two hands, two legs, one head and one body. Oh, look!’ Max squeezed her hand.
A peaceful, sometimes even pastoral picture suddenly changed. Strange creatures are no longer strolled idly between their houses but run away in panic. The danger remained invisible, at least for Max and Jennifer, but it was obvious to those beings that were so far away, on the unknown planet. But soon all became clear.
Ripping apart the gray surface between the houses, under the ground began to emerge amazing machines, yellow in color and flat, like a knife’s blade. They immediately began firing at, in general, pretty and seemed harmless inhabitants’ of distant village. Pale sparks in a moment spread in all directions, covering “ants”, and they become translucent and limp, and then broke apart.
When with all the villagers had been done, from the machines began to appear not less odd creatures. They had a big, round head, and only one limb, on which they leaned. For Max they reminded the frogs’ cubs, only much bigger in size, which could take a vertical position with the help of their own tail.
But contrary to Max’s expectations, the “frogs’ cubs” as he for himself christened unfamiliar creatures, did not become to jump, using for this purpose their one and seems very well-developed limb. Instead it, they all at once, as if on command, fell to the ground, pinned to the body the limbs and like the huge gray-yellow balls rolled down the narrow streets.
‘Damn! Looks like some kind of balls or what!’ broke out Max. ‘It’s interesting to know what they’re going to do. Blin! Oh, sorry Jenny. It’s just escaped.’ added he.
Jennifer already knew, what else this word can means except a “pancake” in Ukrainian language, and Max as he was joking himself was trying “do not often bake the Ukrainian’s pancakes in her presence.” But in some situations, he couldn’t contain his feelings. For example, how it happened now.
Jennifer didn’t answer. She was absorbed by the tragedy that was unfolding on a distant and unfamiliar to her planet.
“Sometimes such tragedies used to be happens somewhere in the Universe.” she thought.
Meantime the balls started to pick up part of the creatures which were scattering near the houses. When they cleaned the surface they again returned to their vehicles. Despite of their increased size, they easily disappear inside it.
Vehicles like the submarines quietly submerged beneath the surface. As if nothing had happened. In a strange, blue sky, the local shaggy Sun continued to shine giving its warm to all living things, but in the village left nobody who could enjoy it.
‘Poor things. I feel sorry for them. They are so cute.’ said Jennifer, under the impression from the spectacle they were witnessed to.
‘I’m more concerned about why Tondor showed it all to us? I hope he doesn’t want to send us there with the purpose that we put all things in order?’ Max nodded at the screen.
‘I don’t want to. I want to go home. That’s not what I want to.’ Jennifer exclaimed.
The even thought that she would have to fly so far away from the Earth and fight somewhere in the depths of the cosmos, frightened her very much. With Mars, she could manage. At least, it is in a view of the Earth. Maybe even a cell phone will start working, and she’ll get in touch with some orbit’s station. Yes, she was thinking about this also! Contact by cell phone with the orbit’s station and beg the astronauts to save them. How? She had no idea. But it was her only, as she thought hope of returning home or at least to send a word how she was doing to her family and friends.
Max didn’t affect the painful topic for both home and decided to remain silent. Meanwhile the screen had begun to broadcasts a completely different planet.
At full screen length stretched the scarlet, boundless surface, the boundaries of which extended far beyond the horizon. In the sky, a huge yellow local Sun was burning. Giant prominences from time to time escaped from its surface and stretched their scorching tongues until the scarlet surface.
The planet was completely empty. As far as the eye could see, there weren’t seen any bush or tree. There were not seen even the hill or stone. It was the Global desert over which in the pale-blue sky, was glowing red-hot star.
The sight was so ominous that Jennifer’s body got shivered. “If we’ve got to fly somewhere, I prefer to those who looks like a balls.” she thought, peering into the mysterious landscape. All that time she had a feeling that out of this scarlet plain something is going to appear. She didn’t know what exactly. And how could she know. But a presentiment didn’t deceive her.
Indeed, in the air, very low over the scarlet plain, began to thicken the shadows. They became more and denser until formed black, elongated objects, about five feet long. Flattened in front, in rear, they were square, with a sort of perpendicular to the surface a short scarlet wings.
The machines continue to emerge silently and soon their number exceeds several hundreds. Machines looked so menacing and so acted oppressively on the psyche that Jennifer realizing that it was only a picture on the screen meanwhile felt strong anxiety and fear. She instinctively moved closer to Max.
‘If we fought on Phobos with these one,’ he nodded at the screen. ‘But not with the Plarns, everything could end in another way. And as I suspect not in our favor.’
‘You say so because there are a lot of them?’ asked Jennifer.
‘No, not only because their quantity. I just think that this one is much powerful then they. Just smell it.’
Meanwhile, on the scarlet surface there was no free space left. To the horizon, from edge to edge all of the plain were covered with black machines. There were so many of them that they even couldn’t count their quantity.
‘What a power!’ Max said admiringly. ‘With them I suppose better be the best friends, than the enemy.’
“But as for me, the best way don’t meet any of them at all.” Jennifer thought, looking at the front row of strange vehicles. When the last piece of red surface was covered by the vehicles, something incomprehensible happened to them. They all suddenly had been outlined by the luminous line, which quickly moved from row to row.
‘Max, what’s going on?’ Jennifer asked.
‘If I only knew, I would tell you.’
‘I'm serious.’
‘So do I. Probably they are getting ready for something. Maybe recharged before the flight. Or something likes that. You ask me as if I was there and know who are they and what they’re going to do. Jenny, stop asking stupid questions.’
‘Sorry, Max. You’re right. But, it’s all so unusual.’
‘If everything was common, this would mean that we are at home on Earth.’ replied Max and thought at once: “Damn! Why I only mentioned home. Now it begins again!”
But Jennifer didn’t start to complain that they are so far away from home. At times, however, a melancholy mood flooded on her, but at heart she was firmly confident that all their adventures will end well someday and this belief makes her feels warm and cozy.
Meantime the vehicles change their color in white, silently took off the surface and dissolved into the blue sky. The planet was again empty.
‘Impressive.’ said Max, hoping in his heart that a huge armada did not go to fight Tondor. He personally didn’t want to fight with them.
‘Probably flew on mission.’
‘Maybe they are explorers?’ Jennifer replied.
‘Explorers? It’s interesting but tells me who explore something in such a big quantity?’ Max argued with sarcasm in his voice.
‘They do, for example.’ Jennifer nodded at the blank screen. She personally liked the planet, probably for the combination of colors: scarlet, blue and yellow, though to live in such variety of colors she wouldn’t agree.
‘Don’t speak nonsense, Jenny. Men went on action.’ said Max.
‘Max, please drop your Ukrainian’s habits.’
‘But maybe also I shouldn’t call myself the Ukrainian?’
‘Sorry, Maxi. I didn’t mean to hurt you.’
At that moment in the room appeared Tondor. His appearance was just in time because Max and Jennifer could quarrel again. It would be the first time since they got on board the alien’s ship.
Tondor as always was mysterious, majestic and powerful. Invincible power and strength were radiated from him. Mysterious light was spread around his yellow platform. Mysteriously moved on his body the brown-black spots and knots, were forming the colorful patterns and plexus. What they meant, Max and Jennifer didn’t know until now. But they didn’t dare to ask. Although Max still believed that was just the outer shell and inside was hidden, if not a man as they, but a creature very similar to the human beings.
Why he thought that way he didn’t know. But this idea stuck inside his head for a long time. Max didn’t fight with it, because that it was easier to perceive the stranger, thinking that in front of him just an amazing suit, but inside, if one could say so, was an ordinary space’s guy! Maybe he was right, just only maybe.
Jennifer unlike Max perceived Tondor the way she saw him. The mysterious and powerful creature, in whose hands was her destiny. And she looked at Tondor as for a deity.
‘Hello, Tondor.’ Max greeted him after some hesitation.
‘We are glad to see you here at our place,’ added Jennifer and almost immediately turned red. Well, “at our place” sounded quite ridiculous. The entire ship and they both belonged to Tondor, as it was regrettable, but they had to recognize this fact, recognize and to some extent get used to it.
Tondor didn’t answer them. It seemed he examined them.
Jennifer’s heart was pounding quickly inside her chest. She felt something was about to happen was extremely important. Did he let them go home? Oh, she would be happy if so, and even kiss Tondor if he allows her to do this.
But Tondor kept silent.
“Lord, why is he silent? Why is he torturing us? Why he immediately doesn’t say why he came and what he wants from us?” thoughts inside Jennifer’s head quickly followed one another, and she pressed her hands in excitement to the breast, waiting for the decision about their future.
Max wasn’t tormented by such thoughts, although he also was curious to know, with what the alien came to them.
‘You go to Pluto. There you will spend some time.’ Tondor announced in a low distance voice.
‘Oh, no!’ moaned Jennifer.
‘Damn!’ Max ran his hand through his hair, scratched his head.
Meanwhile Tondor turned to the screen. The bright lights of stars stepped aside, giving the way to dark, with pale shadows planet. As Max suspected it was a Pluto, where they would fly.
‘We place the bases,’ explained Tondor. ‘Now you can see our central base on Pluto. There you will spend some time.’
‘But what be then?’ broke out Jennifer. ‘Will you let us go home?’
‘You’ll return to Earth …later.’
‘Thank God!’ exclaimed Jennifer with tears of joy in her eye.
“You better say thank Tondor. This seems to be the synonymous.” thought Max, looking at an unfamiliar planet on the screen. ‘Come what may! There are a lot of places left were we got pain in our asses! Pluto? So what? Let’s be the Pluto!”
‘I’m pleased to visit your base.’ boldly said Max.
Jennifer looked at him in amazement: “Lord, what just he says?”
‘I never doubted it. Get ready; we take land in half an hour on Pluto.’ answered Tondor
At that moment happened something really extraordinary. Tondor with the ship began to blur, disappear. And instead of him appeared a room filled with frightened people. And not just common people, but friends and acquaintances with whom Max and Jennifer celebrated the birthday of their friend! Max suddenly discovered that he was lying on the floor, beside him pale as death Jennifer. A few couples of frightened to death eyes stared at him.
‘What ... what is going on? Who are you? Where are you come from? How did you get here? Michael, John, Virginia? Are you real?’ Max asked a questions one after another, but didn’t get the answer.
‘Finally, you woke up,’ said somebody behind the backs of leaning over Max people. ‘You scared us to death. Suddenly both cried, huddled into convulsions and fell dead on the floor ... water, bring them water, and stepped back, maybe they need fresh air. Somebody called nine one one?’
Max suddenly recognized the voice. It was Pete Stone, his pal. Some of the girls waved in his face with a towel. Somebody else tried to pick up Jennifer. Max gave her a worried glance.
Jennifer was unconscious. He wanted to say something, explain something. Refine about a spoiled beer and all of their hallucinations, as at this moment people began to disappear, along with the room. But behind their back was stood out again the mysterious and so enigmatic walls of the alien’s ship. He also saw Tondor again.

‘No! Please no!’ with all his forces called out Max, grabbing somebody’s hand. ‘Help us. Save! No! Do not let us go back. We do not want!’
But all was in vain. A hand in which he clung, slipped out, disappeared without a trace, and he along with Jennifer, who was conscious and looked at him with wide opened eyes, found himself on board the alien’s ship.
‘Max, what's happened with you?’ Jennifer exclaimed. She looked very scared. ‘You suddenly got pale to death and almost fell down. I barely had time to catch you.’
‘Ah? What?’ Max looked at her blankly, then at Tondor. ‘Did you see it didn’t you? You were in the room too, weren’t you? There are all our folks. They are saving us. They called an ambulance. I came to conscious, but you still lie unconscious. Are you really didn’t see anything?’ Max shouted, not realizing that he shouts and shakes Jennifer’s shoulders.
According to her bewildered eyes, he realized that he alone has seen an episode occurred with both of them in the room.
Max turned sharply to Tondor. He certainly knew everything, but asks him to explain what it was Max didn’t dare. A kind of inner force kept him from doing this.
He took a deep breath, tried to pull himself together. Well, okay! Saw and saw! So what! Compared with all that happened and was happening now, there was nothing to be surprised at. Moreover Tondor himself said that they would soon return home. However, Max got a hope that Tondor still was some kind of hallucination, and all things soon come back to their normal state. But it wasn’t so. Tondor was a reality and it seemed the most real of all possible realities.
‘We are heading for Pluto.’
Tondor turned and together with his yellow shining platform immersed inside the ship’s wall, leaving Max and Jennifer alone with their own thoughts.
Jennifer was shocked. Max, too although he had a different opinion about his condition.
Meantime on the screen of the alien’s space craft increased the mysterious Pluto. The ninth and the last planet of the Solar System…


 

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