Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 15

Chapter 15

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 10:41

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Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:05

Taer moved her body slightly to the right and, without stopping, with a single powerful movement of her left hand, tossed aside the short blonde girl in the incredibly lush, dirty gray silk dress that had so unfortunately gotten in her way. She cried out in surprise and collapsed onto the marble slabs of the floor, arms outstretched wide. The older woman, standing behind the girl, was simply knocked off her shoulder and continued her run.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:10

Taer was almost out of breath now and was "in mode", picking up speed rapidly - she was almost flying, pushing her body forward in sharp thrusts. Her shoulders were still, and so was the bullet gun clutched in her right hand.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:11

The perception narrowed, and there were only three objects left in the world: her, her partner, and the target. Everything else was only an obstacle in the way of the target - a tall and short dark-haired man in his forties, wearing a brown jacket and dark grey trousers.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:12

The man ran thirty paces ahead, easily sidestepping the many passersby - literally seeping through the crowd that filled the transition junction of the monorail station. Taer and her partner walked through the crowd like two blades, leaving behind the commotion and shouts of people unlucky enough to get in their way. This ingenuous running strategy was paying off - Taer felt that they were faster, and the distance was inexorably shrinking.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:13

Their target seemed to have come to the same conclusion. The fugitive was no longer in time for the monorail platform. He jerked sharply to the right, towards the stairs leading to the snack bars. In a few jumps he passed the stairs, jumped over a couple of tables, and darted toward the public restrooms. For a moment there was an empty space between him and Taer. The bullet whirred and twitched in her hand, bullets flew dryly near the target's head and struck the jamb of the passage, knocking sharp stone chips and fine grey dust from the marble slabs that covered the wall. One of the walls, unable to withstand the impact, burst with the sound of broken glass, covering the floor with jagged shards and exposing the dark red fluted base of the plastic wall.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:15

The man cried out, reflexively covering his face with his hands as several sharp shards of stone slashed across his cheek. And dove into the passageway.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:16

Taer froze in the aisle against the wall, glanced at her partner, and, waiting for him to nod, put a machine gun out in her outstretched hands and pressed the trigger. A moment later, two machine guns were whirring, spraying fire into the washroom. The small room was filled with the sound of bullets hitting, the clang of bursting exterior panels, and the crunch of tearing plastic partitions. Without stopping to fire, they burst inside in one swift burst and immediately dispersed sideways, away from the opening where it was so convenient to send a round.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:17

The gunmen froze, driving their barrels cautiously, but no one fired back - there were no new targets.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:18

The small public lavatory - literally fifteen paces long, decorated with cream marble tiles - was tattered with numerous hits. The partitions of the individual cubicles were mangled and lay on the floor, which was quickly covered with water spurting from broken cisterns and sinks. There was fine stone dust in the air. Here and there in the walls gaped dark red patches of plastic that had appeared in the place of the split slabs.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:20

In the center, lying face down on the floor was a dark-haired man in a brown jacket - the target. There were three gaping holes in his back near the spine. Behind the target, near the opposite wall, covered in shards of mirror, a young woman was frozen in a ridiculous pose. The sink beside which she stood had been shattered by several hits, and water was now gurgling quietly over her, making dark, damp paths spread across the bright purple suit.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:22

Perfect silence - only the sound of water carpeting the room in a gleaming carpet. The water near the bodies was darkened by a slight reddish haze.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:22

Taher pressed the trigger again, breaking the silence with a buzzing sound, and the man's body twitched faintly as several more bullets struck his back.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:23

Cautiously treading on the wet floor, covered with squeaky tile splinters, they approached the target. The partner kicked aside the light stun gun the target was clutching in his hand and froze, taking a couple of steps back. Taer squatted down beside the man and rolled the body over onto its back.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:24

The brown jacket was blackened with water and blood and gleamed slightly. His dark wet hair was sticking to his forehead, his brown eyes with long "woman's" lashes were wide open, a slight smile was on his full lips, and a thin, slightly upturned nose and the corner of his mouth were streaming out of a rather wide, slightly blurred, scarlet stream of water. There was a look of surprise and joy on the target's face as if he had been given an unexpected but pleasant surprise.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:25

She started to search his pockets when she was interrupted by a surprised cry from her partner. Taer reflexively reached for her weapon, glancing up at the same time, and then froze.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:30

The target's eyes glowed softly blue. Before she could even be surprised, the glow faded, and a small, apple-sized glowing ball of soft reddish-yellow was woven over her body at about the level of Taer's face. It was slightly blurred, like a candle flame hanging in the air.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:31

And at that moment, a sticky wave of animal terror came over her.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:31

"Close your eyes! Don't look!" yelled his partner from somewhere on the side.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:32

But she was already watching, and a panicked thought was flitting wildly around in her head.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:32

//We killed him wrong!

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:33

She didn't know why it was 'wrong' or how it should have been 'right' to kill him, but she suddenly realized that it was wrong to kill him that way and that the touch of that fire was the creepiest and scariest thing that could happen. It's disgusting. It's nastier than death. It is to cease to be yourself. It is the absolute end. It is scary and vile.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:35

The realization flooded her mind, she didn't know where the thought had come from, but its truth was obvious. It was too close. Taer wanted to run as far away from that balloon as possible, or at least turn away, but she realized with horror that she could not move. She couldn't even close her eyes! Fear gripped her. Her body no longer obeyed her - she didn't believe it could happen. Especially that it could happen to her - to be paralyzed by fear. Her consciousness was beating inside her paralyzed body, struggling to cover her eyes even a little - she wanted to scream from the horror that filled her, but she couldn't even do that.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:36

The orb, swaying slightly as if propelled by a gentle breeze, began to move closer to her face. Consciousness howled with pleading: "Please, not me! Not me! Not me! Not me!"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:37

As the flame approached, a tightness deep in her chest grew to her heart, and the nasty feeling grew stronger and stronger, filling her whole body. She couldn't breathe. She wanted to scream... just to breathe - to get relief - to die, but not this. It was already very close - the distance was so close that it was too far away, and it was too late. It was already very close - about a palm away - her face could already feel the soft warmth coming from the orb. And that warmth, for some reason, made her consciousness rush and howl like a terrified animal.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:40

//This can't really be happening! - My consciousness was howling. - I can't be that scared, I have blocks, I can't be that scared!

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:41

Taer realized this was a dream; reality could not be that frightening. But she was sure that the touch of fire in her dream would be just as frightening and disgusting. She tried to wake up, but it didn't work, which made it even scarier.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:57

///I want to wake up! Please, I don't want to be here!

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:58

The fire was quite close, the first soft petals of flame touching her face...

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:58

At that moment, Taer felt a terrible pain in her legs as if hundreds of red-hot needles had been stuck in her calves.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 12:01

And she woke up.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 12:01

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Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 11:57

She sat up on the bed with a jerk and gasped for air as if she had been underwater for so long. She wanted to scream to get rid of the unpleasant heaviness that filled her chest and enveloped her heart, but all she could do was wheeze. She was covered in sticky, cold sweat, both legs aching and cramped, her body shaking, each breath hard to take.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 14:57

The blockage remembered that it existed - the pain had subsided. Taer dangled her legs off the bed and kneaded her calves to calm the cramp. She was still a little shaky.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 14:58

But she was in her stateroom aboard the Ysthal and was flying on a Voigrom. The wooden panels of black fire oak with mauve silk inlays, the huge round bed draped in dark purple sheets, the thick dark red carpet on the floor... It was her favorite cabin, which was supposed to be for her Lord's noble guests, but had long since been 'occupied' by the 'security specialist' on the grounds that the cabin had a 'strategically important location'.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:22

"And, most importantly, no flames nearby - I woke up in time!" She said out loud with relief and winced at the sound of her voice - it was hoarse and lifeless.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:23

But anyway, the environment was soothing to her: the abominable heaviness in her chest had gradually subsided, her breathing had recovered, the large shivers had stopped, and the cramp in her legs was gone, only reminded by a slight ache in her calves.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:23

And the flames, indeed, were nowhere to be seen.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:24

Taer squeamishly tossed aside the sweat-soaked blanket and waddled cautiously with her still 'wooden' legs to the shower room. On the way, she slammed on the security terminal panel as an old habit, triggering the test mode.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:25

Turning on the massage mode, she put her face under the tight, hot jets and exhaled a long breath:

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:25

"Be cursed the day I agreed to install the induced reactions!" she moaned.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:27

Although the position of 'personal security specialist' mainly meant preventing scandals and dealing with unwanted leaks to the Holo-V - it was thought that Taer should also be able to act as a bodyguard, which required certain skills, such as hand-to-hand combat, which the former Navy lieutenant had no chance of acquiring.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:28

So when she (by the way, Countess Durlurl herself!) was offered the prospect of receiving Induced Skills, she did not hesitate long and agreed. After all, it was a measure that allowed her to enter the lord's hand without wasting two years in training - she could have sacrificed her right hand for the sake of such a prospect! All the more so at that moment, the possible side effects did not seem to be anything really unpleasant. Headaches? What nonsense! Possible insanity? Statistically, a fraction of a percent! Far more likely to crash on a flyer or not come out of another hyperjump. Death? Oh, don't be ridiculous - even rarer than insanity!

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:32

When the tests showed that Taer had an excellent susceptibility and rejection was unlikely, she was completely clear of any doubts. Anyway, she was given, as the clever people at the Medical Intelligence Center put it, "big, fat skills". The more complex and "better" the skill being induced, the greater the chance of conflict. Even if you've never had a similar skill. Because a true skill does not live on its own but is closely linked to the personality. So, when you get a skill of this level, you also get a piece of personality... with all the consequences. At least, that's what scientists think.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:35

"I bet those freaks in the white coats were just happy to experiment and cram three times their skills into me!" Taer hissed angrily, leaning against the shower wall.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:35

But, as it was explained to her, she had almost zero negative feedback... Anyway, anyway, after the terms of the roll-out, she did not become a vegetable and run around screaming; "Oh, how colorful everything is". Which was taken as a victory by the project staff. And, in fact, they weren't much wrong.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:37

Then there was a course of replacement surgery to bring her body up to the level of skills she had acquired, though Taer had no complaints about her fitness before that. Two more weeks later, having received braided bones, new tendons, altered muscle structure, and a perception booster, and becoming nearly twice as heavy - she began an intensive training session that would show what of the induced skills had been assimilated.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:38

The result? Uh-oh... She could drive and pilot anything that had been released five years before. She was pretty good at fighting (to put it mildly) and had a lot of security reactions built up in her. She also developed the habit of ordering bitter taymar, which she hated, and wrapping non-existent locks around her finger (because she always had her hair in a tight knot or ponytail).

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:41

It would seem to be little things, unintrusive scraps of the "donor's" personality... But then the nightmares began. Surprisingly vivid and realistic, in which she died in different ways: she was torn apart by burst thrusters, she was eaten alive by some creatures, she found herself in an ion breakdown zone without bio protection, she was burnt alive in an airborne capsule that had depressurized...

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 15:42