Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 26

Chapter 26

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 12:19

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Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 12:19

The weapon clattered softly in his hand, discharging a broad fan of needles into Taer's side, and at the same time, Alex pushed backward, falling with his back on the floor to maximize the distance between them. But, contrary to the justified fears, all these acrobatics were useless - Taer didn't even move. There wasn't a muscle in her face, despite several needles in her forearm and chest, which were now squeezing their white tails into her bloodstream with a barely audible hiss.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:35

"You know." She sighed bitterly. "It was completely predictable."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:36

Did she foresee and use some blocking antidote? Was her body so altered that her biochemistry was completely inappropriate? It doesn't matter anymore.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:38

// "It didn't work." - Alex realized with horror. - "The paralytic agent didn't work."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:38

The whole plan was already going to hell, and now backup B had completely failed:

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:39

// "What do we do now? It would be pointless to fight her." He froze on the floor, still pointing the now useless needle at Taer. He could still shoot, but there was no point.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:40

She carelessly pulled one of the needles stuck into her and examined it with a kind of squeamish interest.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:41

"Disappointing," Taer admitted, setting the needle aside on the table and shifting her gaze back to Alex.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:41

One couldn't help but notice that she didn't look angry or furious, but rather upset:

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:47

"I had hoped that with your return, I would have the opportunity to surprise again. Please allow me that hope."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:48

He didn't know what to say to that, and in the few moments while Alex pondered what to say, Taer suddenly stiffened, her mouth hanging open, and she slumped to the floor.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:49

// It worked after all!" - He wanted to scream with joy after the panic he'd experienced, but he restrained himself and continued with Plan B.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:49

He quickly looked at Taer, pulling out the remaining needles and hiding her face behind the golden mask. He put his veil back on. It was worth keeping incognito as much as possible.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:50

// "Those landmines of hers rather helped." - Alex hoisted Taer onto his shoulder, intending to follow to the exit. - "There'll be fewer questions."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:51

Under the current conditions, with holograms of emergency evacuation lines pulsing around and repeated calls to leave the building immediately, it was much easier to explain where he was dragging an emotionless girl than, for example, to pretend that she'd had too much to drink, as originally planned in plan B:

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:52

// "All we have to do is get to the square, and from there, we'll take an aerocar..."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:52

// "Shit, an aerocar!" - Suddenly, he realized with horror, "They're going to rush in here!"

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:33

There would be no way to move quickly with an emotionless Taer, despite all his newfound strength, so after a few moments of hesitation, he threw her back onto the cushions around the table and rushed out to get the comm.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:34

The guys from his cover group, seeing the explosions that were not supposed to happen according to the plan, would, of course, rush to save him. That was the problem:

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 13:53

// "She foresaw all this. Worse. She organized it." - Alex ran as fast as he could, hoping for the slowness of the civilian aircars. He had to be on time, otherwise, they would land right on the minefield.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:35

He ran in the opposite direction to the evacuation lines. He needed not an exit but the nearest room where the comms would work, and thanks to the whole day spent in vigil over the map of the temple. He knew where it was - at the opposite end of the hall, near the staff restrooms.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:36

Even though he was moving in the opposite direction to the recommended evacuation, there were too few restaurant guests to create difficulties, and most of them were still in their seats, looking at each other confusedly, not understanding what was going on.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:37

As he ran toward the corridor exit, where there should have been communication, he saw the red inscription on the lock panel: "Locked" - the door was locked. He didn't know the code, so without slowing down, he slammed his shoulder against the door.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:38

The door creaked pitifully, even bent a little in the doorframe, and Alex, not caring that the noise might draw attention to him, repeated his attack.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:39

The door could not withstand the second blow - obviously not designed for such an attitude, it flew off its hinges, and Alex inertially flew after it, almost hitting the figure in a dark robe who was on the other side of the door:

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:40

"Honored one, the exit is in the other..." A distorted voice came from under the monk's mask, but Alex was already shouting into his comm:

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:40

"Cancel the landing! That's an order! Do not approach the temple!" He shouted, not even knowing if they could hear him. "Abort landing! I forbid you to land near the temple! The landing pads are booby-trapped. Abort landing!"

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:41

"Copy that." Dudo's businesslike dry phrase echoed back from the comm speaker, bringing incredible relief.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:41

"Is everyone okay?"

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:42

"Okay."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:42

"Don't come near me without my command. When you can, I'll let you know." Alex quickly instructed, and without waiting for an answer, he moved on to his next problem, the witness.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:43

"Esteemed..." Despite all the distortion in his voice, it was noticeable how the monk's tone changed, betraying tension and fear. "Everyone needs to leave the temple..." He added, starting to pivot towards the exit.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:45

When the monk heard about the mines and explosions, he obviously thought that he was not just a random visitor.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:46

Alex nodded silently back at him and made an inviting gesture with his hand, clearing the passage.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:46

// "You could explain yourself, of course." - Alex thought, watching the monk's hasty retreat. He could hardly restrain himself from picking up the hem of his cloak and running away. - "I didn't do anything wrong, in principle, but I was yelling about mines... They can report to the Police or, worse, Security Service..."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:48

And explaining himself to any officials was absolutely not in his plans. Taer's paralyzing could well be interpreted as one nobleman attacking another and costing him a great deal of trouble, so as soon as the monk tired of pacing and turned his back, the clatter of the needle was heard again.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:50

This time the shot did not have to be made in a fall, and the needles were much more concentrated. The white tails of the four needles, one after another, stood out against the dark cloak. The monk cried out a little and managed to make two quick steps, running out into the main hall, but almost immediately fell to the floor, unconscious.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:51

Jumping out into the hall after the monk, Alex quickly looked around to make sure the shooting at the local staff was without witnesses, and soon pulled out the needles and ran to the table where Taer remained.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:53

// "It would be funny if she wasn't here." - There was a risk, for example, that she might be discovered and evacuated by the local staff. Fortunately, the staff was not visible, and there were not many visitors in the hall. While Alex was running, he saw five, maybe six. There could have been more. The columns were specially made to block the view, but certainly not many.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:55

// "God, you're heavy." - He knew from experience that Taer's slender physique was unbearable, but he was still unprepared for how uncomfortable it was. - "How is this even possible? She must be over a hundred pounds."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:56

The situation was made worse by the fact Alex was trying to carry Taer, holding her with one arm just above her waist so it looked like he was supporting her and just helping her rather than dragging an emotionless body. The new muscles that cost him regular cramps made it possible, albeit with great difficulty, but how convincing the performance looked was anyone's guess.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:58

// Probably not good.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 16:58

Except for the aching muscles in his right arm, he managed to leave the restaurant without any problems. No one tried to interfere, no one asked questions, and certainly no one tried to stop him. On the contrary, they even offered to help. When Alex finally carried Taer to the elevators, where at least a couple of dozen visitors and five monks had already gathered, he was approached by a heavy man, quite richly dressed and also wearing a mask. Clearly, a visitor asked sympathetically if he needed help.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 17:02

"No, thank you." Alex automatically forced out a polite smile, forgetting that his face was now covered with a veil. "She just got sick when all this commotion started."

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 17:03

"No wonder it's so horrible." His casual interlocutor nodded in agreement, obviously trying to pick up the conversation, but Alex strategically moved away, interrupting the incipient conversation.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 17:04

// "I don't want small talk." He already had a feeling he wasn't attracting attention only because of the light show with holograms all around and the mask on Taer's face that helped hide the fact that she was unconscious.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 17:05

The elevator that arrived was spacious enough to take all those gathered on the "zero level" to the huge representative hall at the base of one of the "legs" of the temple pyramid.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 17:06

The huge hall connected with the exit to the street, which had recently been majestically deserted, was now absolutely packed with people in a hurry to leave the building.

Camrad_RIP 23.09.23 в 17:06