Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 24

Chapter 24

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:04

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Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:05

It was one of the most disgusting awakenings of his life - so bad he felt. His shoulders and collarbones hurt like someone was trying to tear both his arms off. His head hurt like a monster, and the burn on his cheek ached. Alex almost groaned, but the memory of what had preceded this awakening burst into consciousness, silencing him. He froze, trying to keep the sleeper's breathing pace, and began to listen carefully, trying to understand where he was and who was around him.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:37

A light, a faint breeze blew around him, and it was quite cool. He might have thought he was in "nature" somewhere, but the air smelt of old dust.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:37

//Some large abandoned room.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:38

Next to him, someone's breathing and some quiet clinking could be heard a monotonous "machine" noise was coming from somewhere in the distance

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:38

//There is definitely one person nearby, and the noise seems to be sounds from the street.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:39

"Well, well, your lordship," a dry, old voice rumbled close by, almost making Alex flinch. "Don't pretend! The biomonitor shows you awake..."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:40

Realizing that the little performance had failed, he struggled to open one eye and, squinting at the unexpectedly bright light, looked around.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:40

Right above him, clutching in his hand something resembling a massive calculator with a large screen, stood an elderly grey-haired man with a small "academic" beard and lively, slanting eyes of a light grey color that stood out vividly in his wrinkled face.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:41

//So the rebels weren't lying after all - at least the professor was involved.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:42

Alex was almost one hundred percent sure that Professor Takkar was in front of him - he had seen him in person on the Voigrom and on the recording that the "resistance" had passed on. There the professor was discussing his murder with Lord Velaske and some mysterious stranger who remained offscreen.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 19:43

//Well, the footage appears to be authentic. It remains to be seen why the dean of Tallana University would want to kill me," Alex decided as he continued to look around actively.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 20:48

The huge room, which at first seemed so brightly lit, was drowned in darkness - the long, elongated cylinders of lights were lost somewhere in the height of the dark ceiling slabs. As far as the eye could see, several square sand-colored containers were piled high, displaying the word 'Yummy' alongside a smiling cartoonish face. Stacked on top of each other and stacked in tight rows, the containers formed a bizarre landscape of 'mountains', 'canyons', and entire 'plateaus'.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 20:49

In one of these "canyons," his captors seemed to have settled down. Right in the middle of the improvised corridor, formed by two solid "walls" of containers, was a long metal table with some kind of equipment, above which three holo-screens glowed like ghostly canvases.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 20:50

At the table, on a small folding stool, sat a young man in his thirties, looking back at Alex, with an unusually athletic build. On his lap, a weapon that looked like a submachine gun gleamed with dark metal. Two more of the guerrillas leaned absently against the opposite wall. All three wore light, loose brown jackets, gray trousers, and what looked like white trainers with high ankle grips.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 20:58

A young man was sitting squatting in front of Alex. His blond hair and reddish beard were sparsely disheveled, and his "uniform" brown jacket only accentuated the thinness of its owner. He held an injector in his hand and his agile, slightly slanted gray eyes stared in curiosity at Alex. Beside him stood Professor Takkar himself, his jacket unbuttoned and simply slung over his shoulders, making it obvious that the gray trousers were actually part of his overalls.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 20:59

To the left and right of Alex stood two plastic chairs.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:00

On the left, covered in blood, half-naked, and clearly unconscious, was Lord Brenor Lister. Lord Brenor seemed to have picked a very bad time to visit Lord Cassard.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:00

On the right, a dark-haired man in his thirties, dressed like the other kidnappers, sat with his hands cuffed behind his back. There was a bleeding abrasion on his left cheek and a smashed lower lip. He had been dragged over something rough and dirty for a long time judging by the state of his clothes. The left pant leg of his grey trousers was burned just below the knee and a crimson-black wound was visible through the hole. He was staring at Takkar steadily, his pale green eyes radiating such fury and anger that he looked as if he were about to vaporize him. The injured man's face looked familiar to Alex...

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:18

"Still, the blood could have been washed off." The professor remarked grudgingly as he finished looking at Alex. Turning to the young lad, he ordered:

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:19

"Give their lordship some kind of stimulant or painkiller, or they won't believe he's alive when they look at him."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:19

"It's all nerves," Alex complained, trying to remember where he might have seen the wounded man. "One assassination attempt, then another - there was no rest at all!"

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:21

"Well, then you should be grateful to us," smiled Professor Takkar as he watched his assistant's manipulations, "for the three days' sleep we have provided you. I think that's enough to get you a good night's sleep."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:22

The lad took a clear cylinder of blue liquid from the small plastic case lying at his feet and filled it into the injector.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:22

The cold metal of the injector's head touched his skin, and a sharp pain burned Alex's shoulder, sending searing shivers down his body.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:23

"Anything else?" The guy asked as he looked up at the professor.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:23

"No, no, Yuta, go ahead. Thank you." Takkar waved his hands and turned back to his prisoners after a glance at the young man.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:24

"How are you feeling, your lordship," he asked, leaning over Alex.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:26

"That's better now.? Alex smiled tautly, not taking his eyes off the injured man.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:26

/That's right! I definitely saw him at the Voigrom - he was among Liora's men.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:27

"That's good. You had an exceptionally sickly look."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:28

"Maybe you can untie my hands," Alex suggested, nodding towards the bored guards. - You've got a lot of guards, and my shoulders hurt like hell."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:29

"No, that is unnecessary, your lordship," the professor shook his head, "the buyer might not understand."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:29

"...and it would be quite wonderful if you could tell me where I am." "His Lordship continued his thought.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:33

"This is the Yummy Company's automated warehouse." Takkar's hand circled the jumble of containers in a matter-of-fact manner. "It's a great place. You just have to hack into the central unit and you've got a lot of space. It's can accommodate heavy freighters and shuttles, all without any prying eyes. There are none here at all - only droids. So no one's going to bother us. Ironic, isn't it?" He asked, turning to Alex again, seeing the incomprehension in his eyes:

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:35

"You own the Yummy company almost entirely."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:35

"Yes?" The new owner was surprised and glanced around the warehouse. "Very nice." He concluded and looked at Takkar disapprovingly:

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:36

"So you're also a burglar and robber! It's a bit shameful for the dean of the University of Tallan... Or is it a hobby?"

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:36

"I have to admit, Lord Cassard," the professor said with a chuckle, his gaze fixed on his face, "you're very confident, even a little insolent. I would have expected you to behave a little differently - don't you want to offer us money?"

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:37

"I had that thought," Alex admitted, "but unfortunately, I forgot my wallet in my breast pocket..." The only clothes he was wearing were his blood-stained hunting trousers.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:38

The professor came even closer and looked into his prisoner's eyes with undisguised curiosity:

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:38

"You know, your lordship, I have a confession to make... When the fourth attempt failed, I had a thought unworthy of a true scholar. I thought, "Is all this nonsense about the blessing of the Flame really true?" Your luck was way beyond statistical limits, and the fact that you'd survived a double dose of gray dust defies common sense. And now you're as calm as an ascended man..." Takkar stretched thoughtfully.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:39

... And suddenly and forcefully, he struck the prisoner in the face with the back of his palm.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:40

Alex jerked from the impact, almost falling over with the chair and hissed in pain.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:40

//Come on, you bastard, just let me get out...

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:41

"I see, Grand, you're already in full communion of minds with the SS." The injured man wheezed and spat blood at the professor's feet. "The manners are the same, only missing the black uniform. Maybe you should ask your friends. Wouldn't they say no?"

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:44

"You're wrong, Krain." The professor objected. "It was a science experiment." He grabbed Alex by the chin and turned him to face the wounded man:

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:45

"Look at him! His eyes are full of anger and fear, the usual animal fear for his life! Could he possibly be Ascended?" he 'demonstrated' Alex for a few seconds, and then he must have decided it was enough.

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:46

"And as for you..." Takkar stretched out, wiping his palm with a handkerchief taken from his pocket with squeamish care. "I have my share of guilt, of course: discipline must be maintained even in the case of traitors, and there will be penalties for violators."

Camrad_RIP 16.03.23 в 21:47