Remaining three of them, they overcame the rise from the crevice to the artificial stone plateau. Then Cap, guided by the map, found a road that led them to a stone wall with a narrow dark portal.

  “It's getting dark. Probably sunset on the surface. “ Sam said.

  “We are on the spot! On the other side of the wall is the central tunnel.” - Cap stopped in front of the portal and scanned the corridor.  “The main thing is that there are no surprises in this corridor.”

The detachment calmly walked along the corridor and went out into a huge artificial grotto. It was dark, but a luminescent glow appeared on the ceiling, from some plants. This glow was enough to make out the nearest part of the grotto and three huge human statues. Behind the statues in the center of the grotto was a large spiked ball that resembled a star with pointed rays. The longest rays fell on the right shoulder of human figures.

  Cap, Phil and Sam walked to the edge of the site. Phil broke the silence. “Cap, you bastard! Where did you lead us? It's not an obelisk! This is the nightmare of the entire galaxy!”

  “Phil, I see you're educated! Don't worry, it hasn't worked for a long time!”

  “That this?” Sam asked.

  “Phil, tell Sam what it is.”

  “What's the point if we're going to die anyway! This planet knows everything about us, it wants us dead!”  Phil answered nervously, he went into hysterics “This is all because of the last mission. Who opened fire first? Dave died of blood loss, as did the injured miner. Gak, he died as well as those that were near the big Boer.  Bolt died of ..”

  “Stop whining, Phil. The reality of being eaten scared you and you started thinking about your actions. What were you thinking before?  You don't have a choice anymore.” Cap snapped. “However, it was not a feeling of guilt that brought you here. It's about the money, right! You get your money if you stop hysteria. So shut up and follow orders.”

 Without waiting for an explanation, Sam began to descend the stone stairs, followed by Cap. Phil swore and followed them.

  “Phil doesn't want to talk. Sam, then I'll tell you what it is.” Cap began to tell. “The spiked ball is a dark star. One day a war broke out between the colonials and the pilgrims. Until now, no one knows why. It is only known that the pilgrims created four dark stars that can destroy any electronic device. The pilgrims sent dark stars to different ends of the galaxy. Where they appeared, civilization faded. Spaceships were reduced to piles of metal. And the connection was lost. The source of light for people was the sun, and at night the torch. The Nodian Empire was the least affected by the dark stars. It took four hundred years to bring the galaxy back to life. Those who did not wait for help, died out, as on this planet.”

  “I do not understand, about dark stars is known, but the reasons for the war are unknown?” - Sam asked.

  “During the so-called dark age, a lot of knowledge was lost. Even the Nodian empire has lost some of the knowledge about the past of the galaxy, all the fault of the pilgrims and their descendants who hide the legendary past from everyone. But some scientists manage to restore the chronology of events, find technologies of the past and profit from this, as our customer does.”  Answered Cap.

  “Therefore, the descendants of the pilgrims were subjected to segregation and persecution.”

  “The pilgrims almost destroyed civilization throughout the galaxy. Of course, people are afraid of them and want to protect themselves.”

  “The development of civilization, they destroyed, but the people then remained alive. The result is a disproportionate punishment. The descendants of the pilgrims are not to blame for what happened before them?”  Sam did not calm down.

  “Oh Sam, I understand you. You are a Titarian. When I saw you in the ranks of the warrior caste, I was surprised! Your presence in their midst defies logical explanation. Also, from what I heard the decision was made by one of the members of the highest leadership of the caste, which is amazing.“ Answered Cap.

  Sam Tiid age 31, b. 165 Titarian. Unofficially in the team since 19 years. Officially in the team since the age of 21. The position in the team is a material support specialist. Sam could not get a license for a weapon for a long time, his task was to provide the team. Sam was quite happy with this state of affairs. There were losses in the team of Kir Luck, and he had to send Sam to study. During the year, Sam took military training courses. Prior to obtaining a weapon license, DNA analysis revealed Sam's origin. He could not obtain a license from his origin. Kir Luck got a license for Sam. Kir Luck persistence cost him his career in the caste. The oldest member of the caste council signed the license and handed it over to Kir Luck with the words. “This is a sign, our hands are in the blood of the Titarians, you understand Kir that this is a sentence for the caste! Do you want to know why I signed the license? I am old and I have no desire to engage in self-deception, and you cannot hide from the truth, it burns through my insides. I agreed with the truth, and I felt better. Now no one will dare to reproach me, and you Kir will be mixed with mud for this!”

 The staircase ended at the bottom of the grotto. The squad approached one of the statues, whose head fell off. Inside the statue was a spiral staircase leading upstairs. The steps were frayed, and the edges were chipped in places.

  “Cap, you said that the planet is not inhabited, and judging by the steps, you cannot say so.”  Sam said.

  “Expeditions were sent here, perhaps these are their tracks.”

  Finally the climb ended and they were on the shoulder of the statue. A long beam emanating from the star and lying on the shoulder of the statue formed a bridge and looked like a stone, but because of the many cracks it looked unreliable. At the opposite end, a door was visible in the star's hull. Cap went first, then Sam. Phil went last. Suddenly there was a crash and the area along which people were walking began to collapse. Cap rushed forward and managed to pass the crumbling area. Sam managed to catch hold of the exposed reinforcement and hang over the abyss.

 “Sam, hold on! Phill no!” Shouted Cap.

 Phil tried to jump back, but didn't have time. A splash of water was heard somewhere below. Cap crawled to the ruined edge and held out his hand to Sam. He slowly rose, grabbing hold of the reinforcement, which sagged under his weight.

 “Armor, damn it!” Sam swore.

 “Climb more carefully, a little to the left of the beam, you can catch on.”  Cap worried. “ Make a jerk, I will catch your hand.”

 It was not easy to dash, the heavy armor was pulling downward, the drives of the skeleton of the armor heated up and burned Sam's hands. But he was able to make a dash and reach for Cap's hand. Sam managed to climb.

  “I saved your life, Sam, and now you owe me.”

  “I think I'm starting to believe what Phil said.”

  “Phil got what he deserved! Yes, Sam, I know everything. I'm not the worst villain in the previous mission.”

  “Are You Sam? You didn't have time to leave when you could, and your conscience wouldn't let you leave your boss. Yes, the boss is not the same as before. And the entire warrior caste is not the same as before. They don't mean anything anymore. Things will change soon, Sam! You're not on whose side. You're floating on the wind and ...”

  “Let's complete the task, and then we'll talk!” Sam interrupted.

 Cap rose, staggering a little, and they walked cautiously along the dilapidated walkway to the hull of the dark star.

  “Honestly, to admit, I am to blame for Phil's death.” Cap reasoned. “I didn't think at all that our weight in armor was greater.”

  “You are sorry. I never thought!“ Sam was surprised.

 Cap and Sam moved closer to the star and saw a greenish glow emanating from the cracks in the door leaves.

  “You said this mechanism hasn't worked for a long time, so why does the door open?”

  “The door opens, but this does not mean that the whole mechanism works.”

 The doors opened and they entered. Inside the star, they walked along a glowing green corridor that ended in a small domed hall. In the center of the room was a large throne-like chair on which sat an armored skeleton, around which some glowing beetles swarmed. The skeleton held a sword in its right hand, and a staff in its left. Four corpses lay in a circle on the floor.

  “Judging by the uniforms of the corpses, the difference between them is 20 years.  Cap, who's sitting on the throne?  I hope it doesn't come to life, it looks threatening!”  Sam asked.

  “Sam. This is the legendary Rсhod. He saved the pilgrims from death and plunged civilization into the Stone Age. Four corpses of the expedition members, they were simply left here, as we left Bolt.”

  “You know this place as well as if you have been here.” Sam said.

  “No, I haven't been here. The customer explained everything to me in detail.”

  “Why did we come here?”

  “We need to collect glowing bugs. Be sure to take a staff, it will be useful to us. I think I'll take the sword to my collection.” Replied Cap.

  “Cap, are you kidding me? We risked our lives for the glow bugs?” Sam was indignant.

  “Trust me, Sam, it's worth a lot more than our lives.”

  “How that does not sound convincing!” - Sam got angry and turned the weapon towards Cap. “These beetles look like gravedigger beetles, and you can buy a staff like that in any antique market for a hundred tal!”

  “Chill Sam!” Cap answered calmly. “These are other beetles, they are very valuable. But we can't go out without a staff.”

 Cap staggered, approached the skeleton of Rсhoh sitting on the throne and caught one of the flying beetles. He brought his palm closer to examine. Cap dropped to his knees, he felt bad. He opened the helmet, exposing part of his face, his breathing heavy.

 “Cap, no! Close your helmet, what are you doing?”

  “I need to check something.” Cap croaked.

The bugs quietly circled around Rсhod's skeleton until Cap opened his helmet. One by one, the beetles flew towards him at the smell of a living body. One of the beetles stung Cap in the eyebrow. At that moment Sam was already near, but did not have time to drive off the beetle and close Cap's helmet.

  “Why did you do that?”

   “I can't move.  This is not what I expected …” Cap fell to the floor.

 The life sensor went out. The bugs covered Cap's face. Sam was left alone.