Pluto

In the final installment of Ben Bova's Outer Planets series, Major Larry Randall is sent to Pluto to retrieve Dr. Aaron Mikelson, who has undergone a transformation after a catastrophic accident, melding with an AI. Mikelson, driven by his enhanced abilities, is determined to uncover the secrets of an alien artifact detected on Pluto's surface. As Randall and his team explore Pluto’s moon, Charon, they face the potential awakening of a mysterious force that could threaten humanity, all while grappling with the implications of unknown alien technology and the looming threat of interplanetary conflict.