2

Taking out a Crystal Neptune smartphone, Cornelius turned on the holographic game.

I had to do something while my brother was being examined by doctors.

"Racing on the canyons of the fifth moon." This game has long attracted Cornelia's attention.

The fourth planet from the Paradise system has five moons, and it is on the fifth that the races are held, known throughout the system and even in several neighboring ones.

And the simulator game is entertainment for fans of this sports tournament and training for those who have a desire to try their hand at participating in it.

Cornelius turned on the game, put on headphones and chose a nitrobike number with dual nitrogen engines and four reinforced turbines.

The engine made a noise like a bullet shot and the nitrobike took off.

Cornelius could feel the engine roaring in his ears. He completely goes into the game and thinks all the time about how he really wants to participate in such races.

Deeper into the crater, then up, then even higher up the mountains and ...

And here Cornelius, as always, is waiting for a mountain cave cunningly hidden in the shadows!

"The game is over."

Cornelius snorted angrily.

— Brother, that's it.—Darek tugged at his sleeve.

— I'm done too... And when will I be ready?—Cornelius sighs sadly.

— Are you playing your stupid game again?— Dariusz suddenly looked into his eyes with a sad and so heavy adult gaze.— Little brother, aren't you going to come home again? I feel bad without you...—

Cornelius hugs his little brother tightly.

— Darek, I'm not leaving... I will never leave you...—The older brother whispers, hugging the younger one tightly.— I will always be with you...—

Tears sting his eyes and in order not to cry, Cornelius suddenly says:

— So... And what is your favorite attraction?—

— Corey, am I a little kid to you? What kind of attractions?— he said, and then suddenly quietly added:

— The Autodrom, of course ... —

***

Cornelius looked around the children's car with thoughts of how he would fit in there.

— Do you have anything bigger?— he asked the guy who was standing at the control panel.— My brother and I wanted to go for a ride... Do you think I'll get into this? —

— If you don't mind starting from the other side, go around.— the guy pointed out.— If you don't like the color blue, there is a green one...—

— I love blue, my favorite color,— Kaminsky smiled.— thanks for the hint!—

Cornelius walked around the racetrack and looked at the cars standing there.

— Maybe I can fit in here...— he sighed and began to squeeze into the largest car.

The pose was somewhat similar to that of a frog.

Music started playing and cars began to randomly spin around the field.

Cornelius hit his head several times against the pole to which the car was attached, which carried out its movement.

— Ouch!—Cornelius rubbed his forehead.— My head will definitely hurt...—

***

After such painful entertainments, Cornelius left his younger brother in his father's office at the university, and he left

How wonderful...

What will fate prepare for him today in the person of Professor Kozlovsky and General Thomas...

And how I want to get on duty as soon as possible!

After the sweets they had eaten too much in the park, they were thirsty. And, it seems, a bottle of soda should be in the bag...

Looking into the general compartment of his dark blue cross-body, Cornelius found a small box there.

The box was painted in the colors of their galaxy, the blue-pink-purple galaxy Paradise...

Not so long ago, Darek was taught to draw a galaxy at the 3d level.

Cornelius unwrapped the wrapper of the box, untied the shoelace and opened the gift from Darek.

"You have your first shift today," read the inscription in his younger brother's scrawled handwriting on the inside of the wrapper.— so let the duty be fun!"

Cornelius smiled, taking out a pendant in the form of a nine-pointed star from a box.

The pendant shimmers with the colors of the native planet.

Cornelius unbuttoned the clasp and put the pendant around his neck. The star landed just below his chest.

The eldest of the Kaminsky brothers stroked the pendant.

It really promises to be a good day...

***

— Kaminsky! You're going on orbital duty! There will be four people on the cruiser with you.—General Thomas approached him.— Cornelius! Do you hear me?

— Excuse me, sir! I thought about it... Yes, sir! I'm going on duty!—Cornelius swayed.

— What's the matter with you, pilot? You're as white as snow!— said the general.— If you have health problems, I advise you to say so right away! —

— No way, I'm in good health!—Cornelius stood at attention. He was afraid to even breathe right now.

— Then what are you waiting for? Go away!—

Cornelius stumbled a couple of times, running away from the hard gaze of a plump blond man with almost completely gray hair and bright blue eyes...

***

— Lukasz, you don't mind being a navigator today, do you? I don't have many good people at my disposal...—Cornelius leaned back in his chair with pleasure.

It's so nice when there are no captains around... But the family stayed there...

Cornelius looks at how the ship is slowly sailing in orbit. His cruiser is a bit old and, of course, more suitable for towing old ships, but personally for Cornelius "Sapphire" is perfect.

He bought this ship while playing dice when he turned eighteen, then completed all the documents properly and enrolled in flight school, at the same time receiving a fifth education.

How quickly time flies...

— Garbage on the course, Cornelius!—Lukasz said.— Send a message to the shooters?—

— Yes, yes, of course...—Cornelius stared into the distance.— And release the surveillance drones.—

— Surveillance drones? Cornelius, why? Did you notice something that I don't see?—Lukasz stared at his old friend.

— There's a nebula over there... It looks curious. And we need to find out what it is... What if this poses a danger to the planet?—Cornelius said.

— Release the surveillance drone!—Lukash commanded over the radio.

The observation drone flew out of its camera and floated in zero gravity, rotating all its sectors.

Cornelius peered into the purple glow and felt a strange feeling, like drowsiness, enveloping him from all sides.

Cornelius shook his head and blinked his eyes.

They've been in orbit for two hours now.

— Lukasz, we need to check the oxygen system. I'm starting to feel sleepy... I don't understand why. And I had an unpleasant thought that the oxygen was running out... If this is the case, you need to send a message to the mission control center. Have them send an evacuation shuttle or do something else... Something...—his eyes were trying to close.

The nebula swam too close...

— Cory, get up! Cornelius! We need to go to the life modules!—Lukasz shakes his friend by the shoulder.— Don't try to fall asleep! —

— What? I told you to check the oxygen systems!—Cornelius stood up, swaying.

— We're evacuating. We have both life support systems breached!—

Cornelius follows Lukasz slowly down the corridor of the cruiser, even too slowly, although a friend gave him an oxygen mask.

The cruiser is shaking all over the area.

Lukasz sees already through the window of the boat that Cornelius falls right on the floor in front of the closed door...

He screams, bangs his hands on the window, Lukasz hopes that Cornelius will take and stand up.

The purple nebula surrounded the Sapphire cruiser from all sides and squeezed it from all sides...