Хроники Аскета: Вторжение / The Ascet Chronicles: Invasion: Глава 3

Chapter 3

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 18:38

I did not stay long in Moscow. As Uryakhin and I had agreed, first I was allowed to go to St. Petersburg to settle my personal affairs and then, in a quiet environment, to be tested - examined? - and decide what kind of work to do. If it were not for the brutal staffing shortage, I would not have been offered such comfortable conditions.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 18:49

The conversation with Roman's parents was complicated: they were still reeling from the shock, they seemed to blame me for their son's death. To be more precise, they could not understand how it could be that I was alive and their child was not. The goodbye was a bit abrupt. Andrew had a little boy, so we had to look after him.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 18:50

There were no difficulties with the dismissal at work. I handed in my current cases before my vacation, and all possible problems were quickly taken care of by a transfer request to the FSB. I don't know what thoughts went through our accountant's head, but her face acquired an indescribable expression. The documents were issued to me not just quickly, but swiftly.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 18:51

I took the train to Moscow and arrived at the address the same evening. The building, which belonged to my new employers, was on a quiet street in the center, with no sign at the entrance, and a mustachioed janitor sitting there. I showed him the direction, and the janitor immediately summoned the attendant, who introduced himself as Maxim and led me to a room on the fourth floor, the furnishings were similar to a hotel room. The windows of the room overlooked the courtyard.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 18:52

"The examination takes about two days, while you live here, you won't have time to go out anyway. Has the purpose of the test been explained to you?"

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 18:59

"No, they said everything would be explained on the spot. Maybe you can tell me."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:04

"Yes, of course." Maxim, in the tone of an experienced storyteller, began to explain: "You've probably already been told that people who have had contact with aliens acquire various abilities that are not originally inherent to the human body. For example, their hearing improves sufficiently to hear a quiet conversation at a long distance, some can see auras of objects, are able to unmistakably detect lies, there are some other abilities. As a rule, these "additions" are insignificant and appear spontaneously. However, one or two percent of the total number of people who have been in the Nest can control their abilities, finding practical applications for them. Scientists have not yet determined whether this is a mutation or a new stage in the development of the human body."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:05

"Psionics follows a certain pattern - no magic or witchcraft. It is a new branch of human knowledge, and we assume we can better study the aliens with it. If we regard the Nest's appearance as an invasion, we are now losing the war. There are not enough effective means to fight the creatures. Our weapons are ill-equipped to kill them, but psionics allows us to play it equally. Of course, there are only preliminary results; there is no methodology for training fighters yet. Serious research on this topic began only a year ago."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:07

The first test shocked me by its mediocrity. In the lecture room with desks, a man in a sweater was sitting on a chair, looking sadly at the group of four I had joined.

Maxim cleared his throat:

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:10

"Attention! Now you will be tested to determine the strength of your abilities. Alexander Evgenievich," he nodded at the man, "will create an energy construct, which you will have to see and describe, if possible. Please, describe the process of its creation as precisely as possible, if you can, draw this sign. You must not say anything aloud, but write down your impressions on a piece of paper. Please, begin."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:11

Alexander Evgenievich stretched out his hand, the air above it trembled as if an invisible flame was rising from his hand. Judging by the sweat that appeared on the man's temples, the action took a lot of energy. Suddenly there was a dimly glowing spot above his palm, and from it, translucent lines crawled slowly, first to one side and then to the other. The growth lasted for about a minute, then the resulting sign began to glow brightly, it did not look transparent anymore. Alexander Evgenievich breathed a sigh of relief. The sign hung for some time more above his palm, and then the "magician" threw it into the dark stone plate lying on the table, in which the sign disappeared.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:12

I quickly wrote down the process of creation and destruction, but there were problems with the description of the sign. It was imprinted in my memory, and it would be easy to identify it again, but when I tried to transfer the image to paper, the drawing was different from the original. What can I do, drawing has never been my strong suit. I had to write that I could not draw the sign.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:12

Then several more tests followed, during which I had to find out which card was on the table, which thimble was in the ball, and other such things. In the end, Maxim took the others away, and I was invited to a room full of equipment, assembled makeshift.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:17

"Don't be surprised at the appearance of the devices. We constantly have to redo something, it makes no sense to put the enclosure in, so we keep it in a half-assembled state. Electronics don't handle all this magic crap well and often deteriorate. Sit in the chair." The man in the doctor's robe pointed his hand invitingly.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:18

I sat down in the chair, the assistant put cuffs on my hands, blindfolded my eyes, and put a deaf helmet on my head to top it all off. A nasal voice sounded in the headphones:

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:19

"There are several objects on the table in front of you. Your task is to see them and describe them. Try to relax and look through your helmet: you must see these things not with your eyes, but with your mind; imagine that there is no helmet and nothing is in your way."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:19

The task was not difficult, and I had no trouble sensing the scissors and screwdriver lying on the table. Since my acquaintance with Daniel, I have repeatedly tried to enter that state when the perception of the world takes on volume, objects have their essence, and living beings are seen in a halo of colors inaccessible to the human eye. It is a picture that cannot be described, only seen.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:20

I rested for a few minutes, then the test was repeated. When I was finally allowed to remove my helmet and bandage, the doctor (?) had a big smile on his face. There was something he liked about the results, though he didn't say anything aloud. Well, I didn't really want to. The program was over for today, and I was free.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:21

Oddly enough, the tests were really exhausting, so I didn't feel like going anywhere. I could hardly make it to my room and fell asleep right away. I didn't have to rest for long: I was awakened an hour and a half later by Maxim, who came in, accompanied by a short, fat man.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:22

"Here, I'd like to introduce you. This is Kor... Captain Korobkov Moses Lvovich, he is a specialist in the field of extrasensory psychics. You, Victor Andreyevich, have very interesting results. Moses Lvovich will now explain what they..."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:23

"Yes!" Korobkov jumped up from his chair. "Ninety-two units doesn't happen every day! You're good, a young man (the difference between us was fifteen years), such a result is wonderful, we can say that your future is great! We will go far with you, you can be sure!"

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:24

"Excuse me, Captain," I had to interrupt him because he wasn't going to stop, "could you explain what was so good about my results? Keep it simple, please." I think that the last clarification was not superfluous.

Korobkov blinked, then nodded furiously:

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:25

"You don't know anything! I told Uryakhin: explain everything on the spot! What's so hard?! What?!" He suddenly sat down on a chair and leaned toward me confidentially. "My dear, don't you remember that test when you were asked to draw the sign? The first one?"

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:26

"Yes."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:26

"What if I told you that no one saw the sign but you?"

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:26

I shrugged:

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:27

"It would surprise me, but not much."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:30

"And so it is!" I don't know why the scientist was so happy. "The others saw absolutely nothing, some tension was felt, but saw nothing! Signs, young man, can be seen only by people with a strong energetic component of the mental shell, filling no less than ten units - an ordinary man has no more than two! Those who have been in the Nest have to eight! But it's rare, too rare that at the moment of initiation the "barrier of ten" is broken, and the body goes to a qualitatively different level. How do you feel? Nothing hurts?"

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:33

"No."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:33

"Of course, it doesn't hurt! And it won't hurt! Your body is now rebuilding to its optimum, micro scars are disappearing, harmful substances are being eliminated, muscles are getting stronger, eyesight is coming back to normal. You'll see: soon your reactions will improve. In a month and a half, you'll be able to beat Superman!"

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:35

I turned my gaze to Maxim, who, shooting his eyes at Korobkov, barely nodded.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:36

"But you, my sunshine, are a special case," the captain continued to rejoice. "You didn't just jump the damn barrier: you're the strongest level. Ninety-two, with a world record of one hundred and six! You're either fifth or sixth in the whole country. Ah, what's it like?"

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:37

"What's in it for me?" The news didn't have much effect on me. "I understand from your reaction that this is an extraordinary event, but you haven't explained to me what it means. And what it entails..."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:38

Korobkov looked at me as if I were a retarded but beloved child of his. His hand reached out - I think he wanted to stroke the sitting retard on the head. However, noticing the look on my face, at the last moment the captain came to his senses.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:39

"Realize that the stronger your energy shell, the more potential you have. The development of abilities will go much faster, but that's not the main thing. Remember the sign that Alexander Evgenievich created? If he hadn't gotten rid of the sign, but activated it, there would have been an air wall like some of the outsiders. The greater your potential, the easier and more often you can create signs, and the sign, by the way, directly affects the world. It's magic! Modern science has no idea how something like this can happen, and what's more, those moronic morons at the Academy of Sciences reject the very possibility of it!" Toward the end of his speech, Korobkov was running around the small room, stepping on our feet and waving his arms. "Can you imagine, they screwed up my thesis! Assholes! I argued ten years ago that the human body does not use its potential and it can be improved to the point when it comes to creating a new race, and me..."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 19:41

"Korob... Moses Lvovich, I suppose our guest is more interested in where he can learn to use his abilities and what kind of work we can offer him," Maxim interjected. Apparently, he thought the introductory part was over. "Victor Andreevich, since you have such a strong shell, we can offer you several vacancies to choose from, which will help you to develop your abilities and will make our work much easier."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:03

"First, you can get a job as a tester in the Research Department. Moisey Lvovich needs employees with high psi-potential." Korobkov nodded furiously. "Now there is mainly psionics with the level of thirty to forty units, it is not enough for some experiments. The presence of a strong psion would be very helpful. The researchers are working on two fronts: studying new abilities of the human body, developing the most promising of them, and collecting information on the aliens - everything our fighters bring from the Nests trickles down to them. I advise you to consider this suggestion."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:04

"If a more active occupation appeals to you, you can go into the field to search for Nests. There's a whole network of analysts and psionics who do this kind of work, and the results are very interesting. As a matter of fact, this department doesn't just deal with outsiders: intelligence and security are also their responsibility. After all, we are a state organization, and our interests are very wide."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:05

"In addition, an experimental group of psions with at least eighty shell fillings has recently been formed. It is assumed that these people will go to the Nests, will participate in their cleanup. Ordinary men cannot defend themselves against psi influence. The troops involved in the assaults suffer heavy casualties. At the same time, some cases have shown that people like you are more resistant to the influence of aliens and with the proper training can use their abilities to fight the creatures. That is why our command decided to create a group, whose members are purposefully trained to act against the aliens, to destroy them. Given your experience, there would be a place for you in that group. To tell you the truth, we need fighters. But, as I said, the group is experimental."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:07

"The decision, of course, is yours. Think about which path to take. If you have any further questions, I will answer them. Please let me know your choice tomorrow evening: we have some time constraints. That's all I wanted to say."

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:08

I clarified a few details, then said goodbye. Korobkov tried to persuade me to go to his Research Department, claiming that I would be a prima donna there, but Maxim persistently escorted him out the door. After such a conversation I could not sleep, my head was puffed up from the abundance of thoughts. Events for the past week have accumulated enough, the choice was more than difficult. After wiggling on the bunk until one o'clock in the morning, I finally managed to fall asleep.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:09

I swear, I couldn't decide where to go until the last moment!

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:09

I spent the whole day asking Korobkov, who was hanging around, what the Research Department was doing, what its employees had to do. Such work seemed very promising - a new branch of science, the discoverers get all the awards, even if the work is difficult, but interesting. Frankly speaking, Korobkov's words about my hypothetical possibilities did not particularly impress me, bending spoons with his eyes, of course, interesting, but no more. In the end, strength is nothing more than an appendix to intellect and spirit and morality. That's why the new abilities seemed like a useful bonus to me, I didn't see them as an end goal. I just wanted to change my life, make it interesting. Filled.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:11

I must admit that there was an element of mistrust in my attitude toward the Research Department. It was influenced by watching various movies related to scientific subjects. The image of a mad scientist sawing off a test subject with a maniacal laugh was not something that sat in my brain - I just considered such a possibility. Korobkov gave the impression of a science fanatic, capable of any sacrifice for the sake of his theories, and did not inspire confidence.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:11

The second option was working in the Intelligence Department. Having talked with Maxim on this subject in more detail, I got the impression, probably incorrect, that the psionic scouts stood over maps with swinging pendulums, determining possible infiltration points, and then flew there with a special forces escort to check. Nonsense. Most likely, the picture that emerged represented only the general features of the scouts' work, very roughly. Probably there were a lot of complexities - the staff of analysts in the intelligence service is very large for a reason. And they deal not only and not so much with aliens. I ticked a box in my mind.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:12

About the experimental military group, or "Psi" squad, I thought little of it. It was clear what the guys would do. They were professional military men, people long and firmly associated with the Special Forces, each of them had already had a couple of trips to the Nest. What am I to do among them? I wasn't even in the army. It is no place for a man who still recalls with horror how he flew out of the Nest with a wild scream. The nasty feeling of decomposing flesh on my hands made me rub my palms nervously.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:13

I finally decided to get a job in the Intelligence Department and went down to Maxim's office. He was busy with another group of test subjects and asked me to wait for a while. I took a chair in his office and began to think about what to expect from life next. Probably I would go through some training, then I would sit at my desk, receive piles of printouts, each of which had to be checked, and fly myself to particularly suspicious places. There is no danger: there will be guards nearby all the time. If a nest is discovered, there is nothing to be done, just to inform the authorities, and that is all. Maybe we will have to deal not only with the detection of Nests: after all, the areas of interest of the intelligence services are very wide.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:14

Then strangers who have families, friends, will come and climb in. Risk their lives while I sit upstairs in safety.

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:15

It made me sick. I'm not an altruist, I don't like people, and I think the adage "my own skin is closer to my body" is correct. It just occurred to me that if I didn't try to enter the Nest, I would despise myself for the rest of my life and consider myself a coward. It doesn't matter what others do, it matters what you do. Either I fight my fears, or I stop respecting myself, that's all. And why live without self-respect?

Camrad_RIP 07.02.22 в 20:16