that have already been transformed into a man? He asked seriously. If an earthly girl had heard these words, she would have been insulted to the core. But the robot Alesya sang joyfully.
– Oh, Petrusha, I am so happy that I still cannot believe in the opening perspective.
– And, of course, it was Cortez who promised you everything, right?
– But, he, the Curator and his word here is a law that must be followed.
"This is for you, robots, programmed to execute the program, his orders are law. We do not think so, since we can make adjustments to circumstances." – Peter thought. But in order not to embarrass Alesya, he said aloud.
– Yes, dear, I completely agree with you.
– I am now on your team and will be with you on the expedition. And when we find Theo, and most importantly, we bring him here, Cortez will give me a human essence. How is it? – She with delight again threw herself on Peter's neck, Sobinov's vertebrae cracked and he, unable to bear it, groaned.
– Oh, Alesya, I ask you not so much!
Chapter 2
An expedition to Eden was set. And Cortez addressed all the participants in his office with a parting word.
– So, gentlemen, you will have a difficult mission. There, where you are going, live wild and not quite friendly tribes who, without ceremony, kill strangers. But you are complete. You have nothing to fear. You remember your task to identify Theo, detain him, and deliver him to the Coalition Center. Dumar's detachment will duplicate the actions of the advanced search expedition led by General Garinov. This is due to the maximum degree of security. In case of unforeseen circumstances, he will always come to the rescue, following in your footsteps, Mr. Garinov. – Cortez looked around everyone with his piercing eyes, trying to read everyone's thoughts, but everyone was closed. I could not read anything. The gaze settled on Garinov.
– You, General, I think, will express your opinion on this matter?
Garinov drew himself up like a military man and answered.
– Mr. Curator, we are protected from wild tribes, but how can we cope with the protection of Theo, who must have been well prepared and is just waiting for us to descend to catch him? – What are you trying to say? – Looking with his prickly eyes at the general, asked Cortez.
– Yes, I get the impression that Theo has long figured out all sorts of options for meeting with the search expedition.
– Come on, Mr. General, we will agree on one thing. Your task will be reduced only to a search expedition, and his detention and delivery to the Center will be performed by other services. At the same time, the Curator looked expectantly at Dumar. Orth and Ephesus, standing next to Dumar, exchanged glances.
– I mean, as I understand it, Theo will be eliminated immediately and without talking?
– Do not think, Mr. General, I am so bloodthirsty. Theo's knowledge and mission at the Center is not yet complete. The Coalition needs him …
– And you, Mr. Curator, are ready to give up your place to him?
Cortes from these words of Garinov, turned pale beyond recognition. Nodules ran nervously on his narrow cheekbones. There was a long pause. All those present were silent, waiting for the end of the skirmish between Garinov and Cortez. Finally the Curator said in a harsh voice.
– You have a built- in control system. This is in case you forget what to do and where to move next, after examining a particular sector. Do not forget about this and strictly adhere to the safety rules. That's all. Robot Alesya will deliver Garinov's first expedition to Eden. After the survey of the first sector by Garinov's team, Dumar's fighters will follow them to clear the territory.
– Mr. Curator, may I object? – Dumar began to speak.
Cortez raised his eyebrows and looked inquiringly at the captain.
– Where the general's command will pass, I have nothing to do with my fighters. Maybe you still allow searches in parallel. Let's say a general examines one sector and another?
– Yes, actually you, Dumar, are right. It will be better this way. Then I will adjust the search program and you, Dumar, will leave on your aircraft tomorrow for Eden. All on this. Good luck gentlemen. Garinov turned to Cortes, – Mr. Curator, let Dumar's team and me spend time before our actions on the expedition to Eden.
– This is strictly prohibited, so that there is no collusion between you.
– Mr. Curator, what kind of collusion? Are we going to rob the Center?
– The most valuable thing is freedom. And your freedom, gentlemen, can break wood in the fragile and unstable cosmic universe, so everything should go on as usual and no independent actions without my permission. Do you understand everything?
– Yes sir! – rapped out Dumar. Garinov only muttered in reply: – Yes, I see!
– Then bye.
All one after another left the office of the Curator of the Solar System, accompanied by security robots, in single file, in case one of the teams wants to talk.
Outside the door of the Curator's office, looking at such precautions of Cortez, Garinov condescendingly thought to himself, "As in some kind of pen for criminals. It can be seen that Cortez's affairs are by no means brilliant" …
As soon as the door closed behind the latter, Cortez frantically jumped out from behind his office table and nervously walked up and down the office. Only a few minutes remained before the meeting of the Scientific Council of representatives of the six leading civilizations of the Milky Way galaxy. He knew, of course, that he would have to answer to the Council about his actions. He, of course, foresaw how his stay here at the Center could end. And it's not difficult to guess. Near Krill, he may be in solitary confinement. And the consequences can be different, and the worst thing is that its revival will never again occur in the endless manifestation of the cycle of births …
The meeting room consisted of six boxes, brought together in a semicircular segment with a transparent front wall. Comparison with the horseshoe shape of this segment is the best fit for this. In the center of this semicircle, at a table with six display screens, sat Cortez. From its place, six boxes divided along the perimeter of the segment were clearly visible for representatives of the Scientific Council of highly developed civilizations of the Milky Way galaxy. Each lodge is a space connected to a representation of a particular star system.
Presided over the Scientific Council by the Curator of the Plasmid form of existence, the highest of all. Outwardly, it looked like a plasma- shaped ball of luminous substance, twenty centimeters in diameter. The crackle of iridescent glowing bright orange waves running across the surface of the energy clot of matter indicated that the representative of the Plasmid was endowed with a responsible mission. To the left of the Chairman of the Council was the box of the Silicon Civilization, that is, life based on silicon compounds of living matter. There was a figure of a man of low build, rather outwardly similar to a child's. He was wearing a green overall, with all sorts of pockets, from where various gadgets and wires could be seen. There was nothing childish in the look and in the movements of facial expressions. The facial features were courageous. In the gaze of the black eyes, a tough will and concentration shone. On the right, the box of the Phosphorus civilization, based on phosphorus compounds of the existence of living matter. The Phosphoric representative looked like a thin and thin gray man with thin arms and a puny little body. He was wearing a silver, steel- colored jumpsuit. The huge head was resting on a thin and long neck. The gaze of huge slanting eyes twinkled with green flickering lights. Next to the box of the Representative of the Phosphorus Civilization, the box of the Representative of the Chlorophyll Civilization. He was occupied by a tall man with a green face. He was dressed in a black tailcoat, white shirt and black bow tie. And next to the Flint, there is a box prepared for the Carbon Civilization. It was empty, since Miguel Agliente was in the hall and held the answer for his ten years, according to Earth reckoning, works. And the sixth box is reserved for the crystalline form of the existence of living matter. An amorphous