Reluctantly Docchi nodded. "We'll have to be satisfied with it as it is. Nevertheless I think it can be made to approach the surface of any mass, even the sun." "Nona couldn't do it," said Jordan. Docchi smiled. "I think she's more interested in her husband at the moment. Besides, what did she have to work with? Odds and ends of parts that really aren't suited for what they have to do. It would be different if she had an unlimited supply of gravity generating parts, or could get what she needs made to order." "What you want is a whole new science," said Jordan. "Why not? We've got the beginning of it," said Docchi. Meanwhile the search went on. Each planet was scrutinized as closely as the scanner would allow. The images were photographed, enlarged and studied, pored over by everyone who could show some experience in topographical work. Two inhabitable planets were discovered, one in each star system. It was somewhat disappointing that there was no trace of an alien civilization on either world or on any of the planets. Jeriann looked up from the photograph. "I can't see anything. Clouds. Nothing but clouds." Jordan shrugged. "Methane probably. It was the best I could get. What do you want to see?" "I think we should get a good look at the surface before we rule out aliens." "Still after the aliens." Docchi smiled tolerantly. "You'll have to wait till the next system, or the next." "I think she wants to find them because it's one of the reasons normals didn't want us to go." "A little," confessed Jeriann. "They refused us because of what aliens might think when they saw us." "Ever reflect it's exactly what they might think?" Jeriann was startled and before she could reply Jordan produced another argument. "We're better off without them. Where would we be if those two planets were settled, spilling over with strange creatures that could outthink us without untwining their tails?" Jeriann flushed. "You're teasing me because I don't know much about astronomy. You're not very good inside a medical lab." She stared hard at the photograph. "I still think you're wrong to conclude there aren't any aliens just because they don't show up on planets we can live on." Jordan rested his huge hand on the disc of the planet she was studying. "Ever hear of Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus?" "I'm not that ignorant." "I didn't mean you were," said Jordan. "But man's actually landed on two of those planets and though we haven't got to Jupiter we have sent down a little remote controlled ship. There's _nothing_ on all three of the big planets, not even microscopic life. The latest theory is that there's some kind of life over most of the universe but that intelligence will have to show up under conditions similar to those that evolved us. Of course we're willing to be convinced, but----" He crumpled the photograph. "Nevertheless I'll try to get a better picture of the Alpha Centauri version of Saturn."