Нова Проспект / Nova Prospect: Transgenic (Цири)

"In such a hurry to say goodbye to our dear guest, Adam?" Sarif grinned lightly, reproachfully. "Of course, we'll be looking into the matter. By the end of the month, we should be able to present our first working hypotheses."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:46

Adam drummed his iron fingers on the table.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:46

"Until then," Sarif shifted his gaze to her, "there are many things you can teach us. And we can teach you."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:47

It sounds like a lousy deal, and what's lousy about it is that Ciri didn't have any other options. Okay. She'll be used in one way or another her whole life, the only question is whether she'll learn to get some use out of others. She'll take whatever they offer her from the Sarif Industries - and more if possible.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:48

Ciri glanced at Adam. She certainly had one ally.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:53

"Thank you," Ciri smiled lusciously. Adam noticed the unfamiliar note in her voice and folded his arms across his chest, Mr. Sharif. I owe you one."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:49

Sharif answered her with a warm, "ah-such-a-triffle" smile.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:49

The conversation drifted smoothly to organizational matters, after which Ciri thought grimly that she wouldn't have a single free minute in the coming weeks. Well, except for tonight - Sarif hadn't failed to mention several times how Adam had to show her this and Adam had to show her that.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:51

Why is he so eager to bring them together?

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:07

"Oh, yes, Ms. Rhiannon," Sarif interrupted them gently as they headed for the exit. "The scar on your cheek... It's a matter of five minutes if you're interested. On our cost, of course."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:52

Ciri didn't immediately realize what he meant, and when she did, she touched the jagged edges of the scar with her fingertips. A matter of five minutes? She generally hated Skellen's mark. But what would she be without it? Ciri-without-the-scar, Ciri-on-the-left-side?

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:52

" She doesn't have to," Adam cut him off.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:07

"Adam, for God's sake," Sarif said, "I'm not implying anything. And I'm not in any way detracting from Miss Rhiannon's beauty."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:52

"Thank you, Mr. Sarif," Ciri replied, hurrying out the door. "I'll be fine."

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:08

As they stepped into the elevator, Adam pressed the button and asked a couple of moments later:

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:53

"What do you think?"

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:54

Ciri diligently straightened the crumpled fabric on her dark green tight-fitting pants.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:55

"The powers that be are the same in all worlds," she sighed. "I wanted to demand something, but I ended up with a list of things I needed to do, and I should be grateful."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:54

Adam hummed indefinitely.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:55

"Welcome to my life. Who's your next appointment?"

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:56

"Francis Pritchard, ten o'clock, office..."

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:56

"404, first door on the right," said Adam with a sigh, finishing her sentence for her. "I'll be right there. I need a coffee before I go into his lair. And a cigarette."

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:57

* * *

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:53

While Adam went to get coffee, Ciri had no trouble finding office 404. Numbered offices stretched along the walls, fenced off from the general area by frosted glass doors.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 22:57

Seeing a door labeled ++"Francis Pritchard, CTO," Ciri knocked several times. When no one answered, she shrugged and gently pushed the door open. The first thing she saw was a mountain of junk: the desk surface was littered with appliances, scrolls of printouts on yellow paper, and empty cups on a pedestal of brown streaks.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:57

Behind the junk was a slumped figure staring at the monitor, not even bothering to look up at her. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the back of his head, his skin tight around his cheekbones, making his already sharp features seem even sharper.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:58

There was an unlit cigarette in his mouth and a long wire behind his right ear. He looked a little like Lambert if he'd been locked in a basement for a couple of months without a sword and food.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 08:59

"What part of what is written," the man exhaled, "in large red letters on my door escaped your comprehension - 'do not' or 'disturb,' my dear feeble-minded colle..."

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:18

And he had the temperament of a Lambert who'd been locked up without a sword and food for a couple of months. When he turned in his chair and looked at her, his thin lips stretched into a wry smile.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:19

"Cirilla! What guests!" He rose from the table and held out a dry, calloused palm to her. "Francis Pritchard. C-tee-o."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 09:01

The tone left no doubt that the "c-tee-o" was the main man in the entire tower, not excluding Sarif. Something about the eyes, mottled with wrinkles in the corners, Ciri liked.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:20

"Ciri. Adam said you'd help me."

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:20

Not sure exactly what it was, she left the wording vague. She wondered why he'd brought a two-wheeler into his office.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:21

"Well, if Adam said so, of course!" Pritchard grinned, squaring his slouching shoulders. "Whatever you want."

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:45

The snide smile peeled off his face like a second skin off a snake as he glanced at the opening door.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:45

"Whatever you want," came a familiar gruff voice from behind Ciri, "no shit, Pritchard, what happened to 'hang on the line for three hours and maybe if you're lucky I'll pick up the phone?"

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:46

Ciri turned around in surprise; Adam spoke in extended sentences, something that didn't happen to him often.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:21

Adam set his computer on top of the pile of papers, which, judging by the look on Pritchard's face, disrupted the carefully constructed chaos on his desk.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:22

"I have to write a report by the end of the day," Adam replied in a deliberately tired voice. "And after your update, the machines started to revolt. I've been on the loading screen for half an hour now."

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:27

He turned the screen toward Pritchard, and the latter stared at him like a dead mouse for a couple of moments.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:23

"You need to stop surfing suspicious websites, Jensen. I know your love of "young blonde girl saved by valiant cop." And who has to deal with the consequences of that love? That's right."

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:24

Pritchard stared at Ciri so intently that she adjusted the top buttons on her jacket. Adam glanced at Pritchard and ran a matte black finger across his throat.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 16:26

Quite an intimidating gesture on his part.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 23:00

"Leave the computer and get out of my office," Pritchard sighed.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 23:00

Adam nodded and turned abruptly, army-style, carefully closing the door behind him. Pritchard commented on his departure with a theatrical sigh of relief.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 23:01

"Do you know, Cirilla, what the real tragedy is?" Pritchard asked, leaning back in his chair. "It's that Jensen is the first one you've had the misfortune to run into. And there are so many more courteous men on Earth."

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 23:01

He spoke the second phrase a little louder, and glanced defiantly at the closing door as if Adam might hear him. Though, knowing Adam's hearing.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 23:01

"Yes, I've already met Sarif," Ciri smiled innocently.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 20:14

Pritchard gave her a grim look.

Camrad_RIP 03.04.24 в 20:14