《Wildversum [LitRPG / Post Apoc / CyberPunk / Adventure]》 Prologue - 48 hours since the Invasion began City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, August 14, 2049, 4:57 AM It¡¯s been 48 hours since the Invasion began... He glanced at the unfriendly sky. No more shelter from now on. It was only left to run and fight. A faint hum echoed, and the massive bulk of the TACTA¡¯s Drone shuddered slightly. Within seconds, this thirteen-meter-long machine, resembling a streamlined shipping container with small wings and a broad T-shaped tail, slowly ¨C almost reluctantly ¨C lifted off the ground. The shimmering barrier of the force field, which had steadfastly protected this place from the Invaders, flickered one last time and then disappeared completely. It revealed that for several kilometers around, numerous similar Drones were ascending and silently vanishing into the pre-dawn sky¡­ At that moment, as if bidding farewell to the last peaceful seconds, the Factory¡¯s vast territory was pierced by the wail of a battle alarm. @System/001: .select(battlemode,01,00) @System/004: .set(observer, true, .1f, 7) @System/004: .set(battleInterface, global, m4, 10) The augmented reality interface abruptly switched to ¡°combat mode.¡± It was still just a prototype for a future hardware-software complex, but better unfinished one than nothing. In the toolbar at the upper left corner, a sequence of mediaglyphs flashed rapidly: ¡°cellular network lost,¡± ¡°switching to local secure network,¡± ¡°Connecting to TACTA communication modules, successful, 5/5.¡± Was Maksim ready for something like this? For the numerous monsters coming through portals? Definitely not. For an invasion of alien conquerors? Absolutely not. But for guerrilla warfare in an urban environment with communication issues ¡ª undoubtedly, yes. Maksim and Dasha installed P2P communication modules in their sub-brains, and Nikola had a military-grade cyber-core with this function enabled by default. As for Alisa, she was an android, so Maksim had long ago integrated a professional P2P switch for her. Replacing the standard Earth radio transmitters with the newly purchased modules from TACTA and reconfiguring the team¡¯s local network didn¡¯t take much time, as it had been prepared and rehearsed in advance. The communication provided through these modules was secure from eavesdropping and jamming by the Protectorate, free from radio interference, and functional underground. This became the cornerstone of the entire operation¡¯s success. Now the group could communicate safely and securely in AR/VR conferences without uttering a single word aloud. Most importantly, nothing threatened their connection with Moira, their artificial intelligence, which managed the ¡°System¡± and its interface, ensured communication among the party, and performed a multitude of additional functions. ¡°The Drone has just left the rooftop. The force field is down. Protectorate attack expected within the next couple of minutes,¡± said Maksim. ¡°Switching to conference mode communication, no verbal chatter. Comms check.¡± [Aura, online,] Alisa responded in the conference. [Echo, channel stable,] confirmed Dasha. [Atlas, ready,] nodded Nikola, the red-haired cyborg girl. [Great. Echo, what¡¯s the status on the Factory¡¯s cameras and security network?] Maksim straightened up and adjusted his rifle strap. [The network is completely down,] responded the black-haired girl, tightening the fasteners of her military helmet, and trying to hide that her hands were slightly trembling with fear. [We¡¯ll deploy our drones, and I¡¯ll try to connect directly. One more time... maybe something is still alive...] [Drones deployed,] confirmed Alisa. [Blaze, should I bring all of them here, to this floor?] [No way!] He replied. [Send a couple of scouts only, keep the rest in place.] Maksim glanced out the window but didn¡¯t spot any incoming invaders ¡ª the roof of the neighboring building blocked most of the view. [Can¡¯t see anything from here. Let¡¯s head up together and see where the Protectorate¡¯s coming from. Atlas?] [Copy that,] Nikola reported briefly, fully geared up in armor and holding a heavy HX-90 assault rifle. They rushed to the stairs, skipping the elevator ¡ª good thing, it was only one floor up. The first landing had windows facing the right direction. Instinct kicked in ¡ª seeing the black silhouettes of hostile machines in the air, Maksim and Nikola quickly crouched and moved out of sight. [Set up the camera and fall back,] he nodded toward the windowsill. A hand flashed, placing a small mobile camera, and the ¡°partisans¡± sprinted back down. [Blaze, this sucks. We can only see one side. They¡¯re bound to have more than one group,] Nikola commented, leaping down the stairs in one jump. [Aura, drones,] Maksim commanded curtly. The platform with the flying units was on the first floor, so rather than dragging the scouts through the entire building, Alisa took the simplest, shortest route. Two fast machines crashed through the window and arced upwards to the roof. [Aura, what the hell?!] the guy reacted. [The Protectorate¡¯s gonna notice the broken window!] [Based on the situational modeling, most likely not.] The android girl countered calmly. [There¡¯s already plenty of noise around. And the time gain is significant. Plus, I sent the drones on a wide arc to avoid drawing attention to their launch point.] [Okay, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m just getting paranoid.] [Blaze, I checked ¡ª the Factory¡¯s security system is completely down,] Dasha interjected, having just detached smart cables from the ports of a tech block mounted on the wall. [A hacker attack¡­ Somehow, they managed to connect to the central terminal¡­ Forget about the local cameras; I can¡¯t do anything from here.] [Got it. Then there¡¯s no point staying here. Everyone, down! Move it!] Maksim commanded. [Stairs will take too long, let¡¯s use the elevators,] Dasha responded. [They just cut the cameras, didn¡¯t connect to them! No one¡¯s gonna see us!] [Alright!] The elevator gave them a half-minute breather and a chance to closely observe the beginning of the assault on the Factory grounds, captured from the two released flying scouts. The air was already filled with combat drones and Protectorate transports, commencing the active stage of the siege. Moira connected to the video signal analysis. Amid the jumble of machines in the sky, she unerringly identified and highlighted those headed for the rapidly evacuated building.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. The Protectorate had formed a capture team of five two-meter search-and-strike drones, resembling terrestrial police multicopters but without rotors. Two jet fighter drones were providing cover. These ¡°flying killers¡± were the invaders¡¯ main strike force, capable of engaging both aerial and ground targets, rapidly accelerating by boosting their engines, and hovering in place. Next came the transport ¡ª a relatively small airship, looking like a chopped-up flatiron with small wings at the back. Judging by the mounts on the surfaces, it could also act as a bomber. [It¡¯s about twenty meters long...] Nikola mused. [We could fit around twenty troopers in something that size.] The elevator doors opened on the first floor. Dashing diagonally across the hall, the ¡°partisans¡± disappeared into the ground-level tunnel leading to the large assembly shop next door. Though the vast territory of the Factory had long been occupied by commercial or storage facilities, some constructions were still used for industrial production. Setting up a temporary base on the ground floor of building ¡°13-2-B¡± in the assembly shop was Nikola¡¯s idea. It provided excellent natural camouflage, thanks to the heat from four large generators and the noise from assembly robots. Moreover, Dasha had tweaked their programming a bit, and Maksim and Alisa had adjusted the cooling system to dump heat directly into the room. The cyborg-girl, leading the way, stopped by the large entrance and slapped her hand on the sensor. The opening doors released a wave of hot air and machinery noise. It got so loud that their helmet noise-cancellation systems kicked in. Backpacks with gear, extra weapons, drones, and bots had been left in the passageway between the machines, covered with thick plastic sheeting. The team¡¯s next actions were pre-coordinated. Maksim and Nikola rushed to the weapon crates, while Alisa and Dasha went to activate the drones and other tech. Meanwhile, the Protectorate¡¯s raid moved into a new phase. The ¡°flatiron-like¡± ship, surrounded by a small swarm of drones, reached the building. The heavy, seemingly clumsy flying machine hovered, its belly opened into a wide assault hatch, and semi-transparent, barely noticeable figures began to descend. Seeing that it wasn¡¯t a drop but a controlled descent, Maksim changed the type marker from ¡°bomber/combo¡± to ¡°assault.¡± The escort drones scattered to survey the Factory buildings. [They¡¯ve got optical camo!] Nikola commented. [I accounted for that in the combat interface design,] Dasha noted. [It¡¯s not 100% invisibility after all¡­ Moira will handle processing and targeting!] However, they didn¡¯t get a chance to examine the assault squad further, as the Protectorate immediately launched their attack. Both fighter drones, engines roaring, sped towards the team¡¯s scouts, opening fire. Despite Alisa¡¯s lightning-fast reflexes, she didn¡¯t stand a chance. The drone feeds went dark. A series of powerful explosions followed, shaking the walls, and causing plaster to fall from the ceiling. These were the charges Maksim had planted on the roof where they had called the TACTA Drone. The blasts were mirrored by similar outbursts on the building¡¯s first floor. The expensive explosives purchased from Miro had paid off ¡ª Maksim and his party had no intention of making the Protectorate¡¯s job easier. [If they all jumped now and survived the blast, we¡¯ve got ten guests,] Alisa quickly processed the video. [They could be bots or even holograms. We don¡¯t know. And either way, we¡¯re not waiting for them here,] Maksim smirked, slinging a box of smart mines over his shoulder. [But we¡¯ve got a minute while they figure out where we are and get here. I¡¯ve got an idea! Echo?] [Yeah?] [Did the Protectorate disable just the security perimeter or all the Factory systems?] [Only the security. Cameras, terminals, turrets¡­ that¡¯s it,] Dasha responded, a bit surprised, quickly bringing up a virtual remote access terminal. [Do you still have access to the local engineering network?] [Of course.] [Excellent,] Maksim nodded. [The Protectorate will soon figure out where we went. The explosion won¡¯t hold them for long. So, let¡¯s place a little trap!] [What should I do?] [Let¡¯s loop the overheated steam from the external circuit into the ring system. Keep the pressure near critical, venting the bare minimum. We¡¯ll leave one drone here to monitor, and when the Protectorate comes, we¡¯ll just close the vent and let it blow.] [Not a bad idea. Their sensors will only see working machinery, not mines or bombs. They might not realize it¡¯s a trap right away,] Nikola agreed. [Plus, the steam explosion will interfere with their thermal imagers and optical camouflage systems.] [Good,] Dasha nodded. [I¡¯m already connected. Just tell me how to release it without blasting everything immediately! ¡®Cause I¡¯m only expert with this kind of steam.] She waved her vape device in the air, which she had with her, as always, despite Maksim forbidding vaping during the operation. [Of course,] Maksim nodded, unfolding a multi-layered schematic of the building and its communications network in the conference. [Let¡¯s get to work!]
The renouncer team¡¯s preliminary plan was solid ¡ª to delay the enemy on the surface using their knowledge of the terrain. This was a significant advantage, as there was no complete map available on the open network, and the Factory¡¯s premises, both commercial and engineering, were intentionally convoluted to thwart raids. Normally, these raids would be by police, but in this case, it didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that Miro had a fairly accurate and up-to-date schema of the latest renovations and changes to the engineering communications. This fact was crucial in helping the group to work out the final part of their plot. If they traversed the entire assembly shop ¡°12-B/1¡± to the side opposite the entrance, they¡¯d find inconspicuous gates leading to a small ramp covered by an awning. It was nearly adjacent to a whole ¡°mini district¡± of offices, mostly assembled from old containers and other junk. Inside, it was a real labyrinth, nearly impossible to observe from the air. To the northwest, these ¡°business slums¡± butted up against the high walls of concrete storage units, packed closely together, separated only by narrow passageways, about a meter wide. This created a network of concrete ¡°canyons.¡± Adding to the ¡°partisans¡¯¡± advantage was a whole web of pipes, walkways, floor-slabs, cables, plastic bridges, and grates. All this provided excellent cover from satellite and drone surveillance, as well as stray bullets. More importantly, these tight corridors meant that the Protectorate¡¯s combat drones, and assault UAVs couldn¡¯t enter freely. Therefore, a breakthrough was possible. The key was to run and not slow down. After running three hundred meters through one of these canyons, they would reach a platform with a small structure. Inside was just some old equipment and a hatch. Opening it and descending a long ladder would lead to the entrance of the communication tunnels. This was the team¡¯s ticket to safety: through these tunnels, they could trickily flee the Factory¡¯s grounds, ultimately leaving the Protectorate empty-handed. Everything necessary for this escape had been prepared in advance. Of course, it was obvious that the enemy wouldn¡¯t passively wait but try to use scout drones and ground equipment. Naturally, they would also try to leverage their firepower advantage, as they outnumbered the renouncers by tens. Thus, the plan was: to blow up the building they started from, to mine the escape routes, and improvise with diversions in the workshop. Maksim and Nikola had good assault rifles, grenades, and smart mines. Dasha and Alisa, who only had virtual combat experience, were armed with light firearms with intelligent control through augmented reality. But the most crucial assets were the drones and bots. The four-legged robotic platform CaTZ was compressed as much as possible in width so this clever machinery wouldn¡¯t get stuck in a concrete corridor. They had to sacrifice some protective side armor, but installed instead an additional foldable shield on top, behind which a couple of people could take cover, and a small machine gun turret. It turned out to be quite a fierce thing. Besides this ¡°tank,¡± the team managed to build four wheeled bots equipped with large-caliber rifles, and nineteen flying scout drones, two of which had already been lost. This entire robo-park could be tactically managed on a global map, and Moira¡¯s AI would help to control all of it.
But there was a ¡°little¡± surprise prepared for everyone. A finale piece of today¡¯s bloody puzzle. Maksim¡¯s team and other daring renouncers urgently fleeing the Factory and fighting for their outlaw freedom¡­ Cunning TACTA, already gathering its network of Independent Partners... Straightforward and harsh Protectorate, which had announced the salvation of Earthlings but only on its terms... Actually, neither of them had any inkling that another participant was already rushing to join the fun on the Factory grounds. Deep underground. Auxiliary room by technical tunnel C-PT-4 in sector JO-26, one and a half kilometers beneath the Factory¡¯s territory. HE IS COMING, IT¡¯S TIME! She slowly opened all her fourteen eyes. The room was dark, but she didn¡¯t need light. It was time¡­ to open? Oh yes, it was. She captured the warm and pleasant thought-image of the Sector Coordinator. The order was deciphered, the transition point set. She was overwhelmed with feelings of pleasure and happiness, as always when executing an order precisely... when fulfilling her mission ¨C to serve the SWARM. The massive heap of flesh lying on the floor came to life and quickly rose. Calibrating tentacles confidently and swiftly ran across the stigmatic control crystals embedded in her flesh, activating the three-meter living ring before her that would become the portal. The cloudy film of the rift began to glow... into their world... the World of Shaiszu... She crawled back to free up space. Three power tentacles had already taken their positions, ready to take control of the tumultuous energies of the interdimensional transition. Opening a stable small portal right under the Protectorate¡¯s nose, considering all the countermeasures the cursed sky-dwellers had already deployed, was not a trivial task, requiring utmost concentration from this entity, which was now exactly ten hours old. The portal flared brightly and¡­ KABOOM! The door to the room was blown off its hinges by an explosive wave, and from the brightly shining rift leaped the first creatures out of millions, ready to act on command and for the benefit of the SWARM! Chapter 1 - Shadows of the Past Late August was always scorching there. Even the evening failed to bring the much-anticipated coolness. The golden wheat field stretched out like an endless ocean, with the wind gently stirring small waves across it. Far beyond, an enormous city with crystal towers reaching the sky could be seen in the light haze. A path ran through the field, parting the stalks, invitingly playing and beckoning. It seemed that if someone ran fast enough, they could take off and find themselves in that magical place where all wishes come true! A ten-year-old girl in a short summer dress looked at her bare feet and laughed. The gentle breeze softly tousled her fiery red hair that fell to her shoulders. ¡°Here I go!¡± she shouted, breaking into a sprint, arms spread wide like a bird ready to soar. She had to run, as fast as she could, because tomorrow her father would release the auto-combines and robot harvesters to gather the crop. Though she desperately wanted to stay there a little longer, to jump around and enjoy the last days of the hot summer! It was so great to feel the warm earth beneath her bare feet, to play with the wind, brushing against the heavy golden stalks as she ran! And she dreamed of visiting the wondrous city, even though it was so far away. But the sun was setting, flooding the clouds with a sparkling amber glow¡­ The wind died down, everything fell silent, and the horizon darkened rapidly. Lead-colored clouds appeared against the crimson backdrop. The frightened girl stopped, looking around. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m scared¡­ I wanna go home,¡± she whispered, trying to turn back, but suddenly slipped and fell on the ground. Instead of the dry path, she found herself in a sticky, wet swamp. The wheat dissolved around her with a hiss, and thick, stinking fog rose in dense fog. The girl couldn¡¯t stand up; the ground was all muck, and there was nothing to hold on to. She struggled in the mire, sinking deeper and deeper. ¡°Help! Mama! I don¡¯t want this! Noooo!¡± Her scream shattered the sky. Lightning flashes pierced the heavens with a roar. The wind hurled stinging whips of acid rain into her face. Finding a relatively solid patch beneath her feet, the girl struggled to free her hands from the muck and managed to stand. But things only got worse. The caustic rain burned her skin. She tried to shield her head with her hands, but the downpour grew stronger and more vicious. She collapsed back onto her knees, straight into the swamp. Consciousness faded from the pain. Blisters burst on her skin, blood mingled with mud and acid, as everything was engulfed in a horrifying, dense darkness.
State Poland Nikola Kowalski, August 24, 2042 From the silence, a sound emerged. An old mechanical clockwork. Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock¡­ The girl opened her eyes. Her room. Heavy curtains on the windows, old green-and-yellow wallpaper on the walls, creaky dried-out furniture. And she ¨C a prisoner of this hell, who had briefly lost consciousness in her wheelchair. The air in the room was heavy ¨C it smelled of dust, old wood, cloth, and medicine. There were many of them ¨C bottles and boxes, all handwritten, stood in abundance on the bedside table, the dresser, and the desk. At least her legs no longer hurt. They had turned black and smelled awful, but the pain was gone. She was certain it wasn¡¯t the medicine because she had stopped taking them and secretly spat out the pills in her hand whenever her mother turned away. Good thing that her left hand could still move; otherwise this would have been difficult to do. ¡°All that¡¯s left is to wait. The most important thing is to hold on, not to lose consciousness again from the pain. They must be close by now, surely close,¡± she thought, gripping an old model communicator with a small screen in her hand. They hadn¡¯t made these in ages, but she had nothing more modern, let alone any implants. Her parents had forbidden even the simplest biometric identification chip. Personal technology was also out of the question, so her only means of connecting with the real world had to be hidden. But none of that mattered now. At this moment, she was alone at home, completely alone, and today would change her life. More than that ¨C it would save her. Because now, she wasn''t counting days until death. Just hours. ¡°What¡¯s taking them so long?¡± At that moment, the communicator in her hand began to vibrate silently as if responding to her plea. ¡°Yes?¡± she answered with a pounding heart. ¡°Nikola Kowalski?¡± A man in a strict black-and-gray uniform with corporate insignia and an emblem of two stylized half-rings appeared on the screen. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me,¡± the girl¡¯s voice trembled, though she tried her best to hide her fear. ¡°This is Captain Dariusz Grabowski of the Watson Cybertech operative brigade. We¡¯re here, please come out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dariusz¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t come out on my own. My legs are paralyzed, and the wheelchair won¡¯t go down the stairs.¡± ¡°Nikola, you do understand that I don¡¯t have the authority to enter private property? You¡¯re only fourteen, so your limited legal capacity doesn¡¯t grant you the right to give us such permission.¡± ¡°Captain, I own nine percent of the property! It meets the minimum requirements for state citizenship, but there¡¯s no one home! My legs are necrotic, the situation is critical, so you can come in,¡± Nika tried to respond calmly, but her voice broke, revealing her panic. ¡°We don¡¯t have active security systems! The doors are unlocked! I can barely move¡­ only one arm! I can¡¯t even crawl to you!¡± ¡°Nikola, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re here, everything will be all right,¡± Dariusz began to reassure her. ¡°Let¡¯s sort this out. Do your parents also have state citizenship? Not corporate, not polis?¡± ¡°Yes, state Poland.¡± ¡°Do you have a certificate of ownership?¡± ¡°I do, on my ID card chip.¡± ¡°Hold on a moment, waiting for confirmation¡­ Yes, the global Watson CyberTech artificial intelligence, thread Martha-14, has confirmed your legal rights. And considering your critical condition, I have been authorized to provide urgent paid medical care as part of your contract. Do you consent to the paid medical care?¡± ¡°Oh my God, of course!¡± she couldn¡¯t hold back the tears any longer and broke down crying. ¡°Please, take me away from here¡­ please¡­¡± ¡°Calm down, Nikola, we¡¯re coming in. Where are you?¡± ¡°Go through the entrance, straight ahead,¡± she responded through her sobs, ¡°then up the left staircase, first door down the corridor.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on our way up.¡± A minute later, the door burst open, and two men in corporate uniforms entered the room. ¡°Geez! What a rathole!¡± said the first man, showing his captain¡¯s badge. ¡°I¡¯m Dariusz. You don¡¯t need to worry anymore. The contract will come into effect soon, so we won¡¯t let you die. Conrad, it¡¯s too dark, set up some light.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Conrad stepped aside and let a four-legged medbot platform into the room. With a soft hum, the robot approached Nikola¡¯s wheelchair, extending a long manipulator with a medical lamp. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± Grabowski pointed at the long rows of vials. ¡°What is all this? Have you not been treated at all?¡± ¡°Home remedies. But they did give me painkillers,¡± she winced from the pain, struggling to speak. ¡°I¡¯ve been spitting them out secretly, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just medieval lunacy,¡± Dariusz commented in shock, pulling an auto-injector from the medbot¡¯s mount. ¡°Alright, the pain will go away now.¡± He administered the injection and walked around the wheelchair, carefully examining his future patient.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Don¡¯t zonk out on me yet, sweetheart. You don¡¯t have a chip, so I¡¯ll need to see your ID. That¡¯s the last formality, but it¡¯s necessary.¡± ¡°Sure¡­ I¡¯m dizzy¡­ sorry¡­ It¡¯s in the pocket.¡± Nikola mumbled, her words slurring. Everything was swimming before her eyes, and she desperately wanted to sleep. But the pain had indeed subsided, just like the captain promised. ¡°In the chair pocket. I prepared it¡­ beforehand.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± said Dariusz, opening the side pocket. ¡°It¡¯s here. Conrad, bring the bot closer, scan the passport. Let¡¯s wrap this up and get out of here.¡± ¡°All set. Data verified,¡± the second operative responded a minute later, finishing with the identification and setting up the portable medical station to receive the patient. ¡°Excellent.¡± Grabowski put on gloves and activated a recording drone. ¡°Now, let¡¯s draw some blood.¡± Conrad flipped open the console on the side of the robot and extended the section of the express laboratory. He then approached the wheelchair to take samples for the initial quick analysis. ¡°Beginning examination,¡± said the captain, starting the recording. ¡°Nikola Kowalski, fourteen years old. Blockchain contract identifier activated. Visual examination of the feet. Confirming characteristic symptoms of hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy.¡± The drone hovered near Nikola, recording and moving as Dariusz spoke. ¡°Additionally, documenting gas gangrene of the lower limbs at the mid-thigh level against the backdrop of complete paralysis. The right arm is paralyzed, reflexes in the left arm are weak, with extensive ulcers on the bends. Muscle strength is nearly absent, sensitivity in the left hand is preserved at the wrist level. The skin of the hand is pale, dry, with eruptions. All limbs are severely atrophied, fat tissue development is minimal. General condition is severe, consciousness is retained.¡± The captain carefully untied the knot of an old headscarf Nikola used to hide her dirty red hair, trimed almost to nothing. To avoid disturbing the nearly unconscious girl, he simply cut her clothes with scissors. The drone switched on additional lights and circled around Nika again. ¡°Sores, rashes, small ulcers on the skin of the body,¡± Dariusz concluded. ¡°I also suspect general intoxication due to unknown, presumably homemade, substances.¡± Finally, he took off his gloves and stepped aside, making room for Conrad, who gently picked up the disoriented Nikola from her chair with the medbot¡¯s mechanical arms. ¡°Based on the genetic code analysis and the recommendations of the corporate AI, thread Aurora-24, following the patient¡¯s examination, I, Captain Dariusz Grabowski of task force 28-1436, hereby register the initiation of a special contract for Nikola Kowalski under the Rehabilitation, Cyborgization, and Army Service program, RCA-MPA/LM, of Watson CyberTech global organization.¡± ¡°This contract entails full health rehabilitation, including necessary genetic correction and military cyborgization. The patient must enlist in Watson Military PMC for at least ten years and until the treatment fee and interest are fully paid off.¡± ¡°Thank God,¡± the girl murmured, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I did it¡­ I did it after all...¡± The patient named Nikola Kowalski was securely fastened in the medbot¡¯s cradle, and the bot left the cursed room. ¡°Andrzej, prep for surgery. We¡¯ll amputate the arms and legs immediately ¨C no need to bring that stuff to base. Then follow the protocol: induced coma, ventilator, hemodialysis. Put a four-to-one set in the IV immediately,¡± Dariusz ordered as he exited the room, closing the door behind him. ¡°Conrad, leave a corporate notice in the mailbox. Though, if you ask me, such bastards should be stripped of parental rights by default.¡± The last thing the girl remembered were bright surgical lights in a special military Watson CyberTech vehicle and mechanical arms dissecting the skin on her thighs with a laser scalpel. She screamed in panic and¡­ woke up.
Polis Kyiv, Budget Hotel ¡°Horizon ***¡± Nikola Kowalski, August 12, 2049, 4:15 AM ¡°A nightmare, huh, Nika?¡± the young woman asked herself quietly. ¡°That one again¡­ Kurwa ma?! Seven years have passed, but I remember everything like it was yesterday.¡± Nikola sat up in bed, kicking off the thin blanket. Raising her hands, she buried her face in her palms, while the fingers ran through the mane of her long fiery-red hair. The cool plastic was calming¡­ her heavy breathing gradually slowed, returning to normal. The room was dark, but the bed, sensing that Nikola was awake, lit the orange nightlight at the headboard. ¡°A bit brighter,¡± Nika said, and the light obediently brightened. ¡°Though... never mind, I can¡¯t sleep anyway. Room, turn on the night light!¡± The ceiling¡¯s light panels glowed softly, not too brightly, in night mode. She turned, stood up, and walked to the open window. The bedroom in the budget hotel¡¯s economy-class apartment was small, only about eight steps wide. ¡°It¡¯s stuffy... Why on earth did I wake up so early?¡± Nikola touched the sensor to draw the heavy curtains, and the noise and light of nighttime Kyiv flooded the room. ¡°That¡¯s better!¡± she breathed deeply. She turned, running a hand over her forehead. The tactile sensors in her fingertips felt moisture, and Nikola stared at her hand in bewilderment. ¡°Am I sweating so much?¡± Glancing at the top right corner of her augmented reality interface, she expanded the ¡°date/time¡± and ¡°temperature¡± mediaglyphs with a habitual mental command: # 12.08.2049 4:18 (Polis Kij¨®w) # 19.6¡ãC ¡°Damn, four in the morning¡­ It¡¯s still night in Warsaw¡­ Maybe it¡¯s the heat?¡± Nika pondered, looking out at the sleeping city. ¡°Nah¡­ It¡¯s only nineteen degrees. Normal for a mid-August night. ¡°Kowalski, pay attention to the system messages please,¡± a quiet voice of her virtual assistant echoed in her head. ¡°This is important! You haven¡¯t responded to the displayed mediaglyphs for over a minute!¡± ¡°Wow, what a disaster, a whole minute! Impossible!¡± Nikola commented sarcastically, instinctively activating the highlighted diagnostic system mediaglyph. A translucent window appeared, highlighting her legs in yellow and her left knee joint in red. ¡°Marcek, details,¡± Nika requested, and informational prompts appeared on the screen. # Left leg ## Knee joint, integral wear over 50%, current status 51.283% ## Fuel cells ¨C charge 26%. # Right leg ## Structural integrity damage to calf booster frame ¨C 4% ## Ankle docking adapter: power line damage 2/10. Reserve: 3 lines, not engaged ## Fuel cells ¨C charge 21.16% ¡°I know, I know! Razor BattleGear are great skates, but they always fry the wiring on overdrive! Marcek?!¡± she closed the diagnostic screen with a habitual virtual gesture. ¡°Yes, Nikola?¡± A small window with an animated avatar of the virtual assistant appeared in her field of vision. ¡°And what exactly did you wanna show me? Two burnt power lines out of ten? Oh, such a big revelation¡­ I won, and that¡¯s what matters!¡± The girl jumped back onto the bed, stretching out with her cyber arms behind her head. ¡°I wholeheartedly agree. That¡¯s why you were going to send both legs for repair and upgrade yesterday, to celebrate.¡± ¡°Huh, but then I¡¯ll have to use blades ¡®cause I don¡¯t have other replacement paws here. That¡¯s not okay ¨C they are too fast for Kyiv. It sucks¡­¡± Nika laughed it off. ¡°C¡¯mon, they¡¯re meant for stunts and acrobatics, not leisurely strolls!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already complained yesterday that the blades are for sports and only good for running. Nonetheless, regarding the current legs, an integral wear of 50 percent or more suggests ¨C ¡± ¡°Marcek, you¡¯re such a nag!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for you. Besides, you have training tonight, so you¡¯d have put on the CL-P1 Blades anyway. But if we send the legs for repair now, they¡¯ll be ready by tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ve already contacted the watsondons, of course?¡± ¡°Yes, Nikola, the Kyiv branch of Watson CyberTech is excellent.¡± ¡°When did you do that?¡± Nikola asked, fidgeting to get more comfortable on the pillow. ¡°Last night,¡± Marcek replied. ¡°After you climbed on the table drunk and declared, I quote: ¡®Jeba? to! Let¡¯s get some awesome boosters! Since the left knee screwed to hell, and I gotta changed the right shin anyway!¡¯ End quote.¡± ¡°A respectable lady can allow herself to drink a bit¡­ disrespectfully, in celebration of a victory.¡± Nika laughed, raising her right leg, stretching, and rotating her foot 360 degrees. Then she lifted it vertically and, curling her middle, ring, and pinky toes, showed a ¡®victory¡¯ sign with her big and index toes. ¡°Check this out ¨C cool, eh?¡± ¡°The new boosters were already in the upgrade plan,¡± Marcek continued, ignoring Nika¡¯s teasing, ¡°so I took the liberty of being proactive. According to the regulations on autonomous actions and the established budget priorities.¡± ¡°Fine, you win. What can I do with you? Start the machine.¡± Nika sighed, sitting up on the bed again. ¡°Give you free rein, and you¡¯d leave a poor girl without legs even in her sleep!¡± ¡°This is just a scheduled repair and upgrade,¡± Marcek noted importantly. In the corner of the room, there was a quiet hum as the cyber-diagnostic chair and mobile service station of Watson CyberTech unfolded. ¡°The station is ready.¡± Nika got off the bed. Dropping her black elastic panties and leaving only her top on, she walked across the room and sat in the chair. ¡°Alright, get this thing going. And call for a courier.¡± ¡°Of course. Should I disable limb sensitivity during the procedure?¡± ¡°Never, Marcek. Ne-ver,¡± the girl replied with a grim determination. ¡°If it hurts, that means I¡¯m still alive!¡± ¡°Sorry, Nikola. I¡¯m obligated to ask, it¡¯s protocol.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Red closed her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± The clamps securely fastened her torso. The mediaglyph ¡°operation status¡± lit up. The auxiliary manipulators quickly removed the synthetic skin strips covering the connection areas of the lower limbs to the pelvic connectors. Two paired smart cables appeared and, like agile snakes, darted to the diagnostic ports on the upper thighs and pelvis of the girl. # Attention! Requesting disconnection of main neural connection L1/L2, connectors P-T/L1; P-T/L2. Authorization required. ¡°Operation authorized,¡± Nikola mentally responded without opening her eyes. A sharp burst of pain was replaced by a dull aching sensation as the main cyber-diagnostic manipulators carefully detached her legs and transferred them into the transport container for the delivery drone. By this time, the service module had already prepared the ¡°CL-P1 Blades¡± ¨C special cyber legs designed for combat acrobatics, sprinting, and jumping using additional boosters. These cyber legs were indeed not very convenient for everyday use, as they had a sporty foot without toes. Another flash of pain, which quickly turned into tingling and tickling sensations along the entire length of the legs, indicated the beginning of the neuroconnection process, during which the auxiliary processors checked the information from all tactile feedback sensors and calibrated the neuro-map created during the initial connection. Ten minutes later, Nika stood up, stretched, and jumped a couple of times. Without bothering to get dressed, she headed to the kitchen to make coffee. 4:57 am, Kyiv time. ¡°No, Marcek, for fuck¡¯s sakes, I¡¯m not gonna change my arms!¡± her voice echoed from the kitchen. ¡°They¡¯re fine, just need to update the fuel cells, but that could wait until later, because fifty-six percent is a shit-ton of energy! We¡¯re not touching the arms until we get back to Warsaw!¡± Chapter 2 - Dashas Arduous Night Finale Polis Kyiv, Polytechnic Institute campus Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 5:57 AM Thick curtains completely covered the windows of a small room in one of the twenty-five dormitories of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute campus. It was dark and quiet. Only the faint hum of cooling system fans and a soft ticking sound could be heard. The night lighting was dialed down to a minimum, but there was still faint illumination ¨C from the glowing of two holographic screens, tiny LED lights of numerous devices, and a horizontal strip on an advanced VR headset. ¡°Why so stuffy? Is there¡­ a storm coming?¡± A teenage girl with black hair, braided into two messy pigtails, broke the silence. She was wearing only an oversized black T-shirt with a dreamcatcher print. The question was spoken aloud, but there was no one to answer. Besides, the VR headset on her head was blinking green, indicating an active neural connection, showing she was still immersed in virtual reality. As if responding to the girl¡¯s words, the ceiling lamps lit up dimly in night mode, revealing the chamber. The center was dominated by a large anatomical transformer chair, connected to the wall by thick cable conduits. Additionally, numerous cables were sprawled right on the floor, through all the room. And all this abundance was joyously being fed into a massive electrical panel located in the corner opposite of the entrance door. Further up to the ceiling, shelves were packed with processor units, power cables, and water cooling tubes. The cluttered desk, buried under a pile of electronic junk, squeezed into the space by the window. Amid this technological chaos, it was hard to notice a bed covered in plush toys and haphazardly draped with a white blanket adorned with bright cat drawings from a children¡¯s cartoon. The walls were plastered with posters; and all the surroundings were scattered with various items of clothing, empty plastic bottles, boxes, electronic devices, toys, and other miscellaneous items. It was a mess. A really horrible mess. ¡°Man, Dashka, what the heck¡­ it¡¯s six in the morning! Stayed up all night¡­ again¡­¡± a barely audible sigh and a low, slightly raspy voice broke the silence that had reigned in the room for hours. The chair shifted to a sitting position with a soft buzzing noise. The VR headset was removed and hung on a side mount. It became clear that it was merely a secondary tool, since the connection indicator remained lit. And the main cable lines were attached not to the headset but to the ports of a massive interface implant embedded in the occipital bone. (Note: Dashka/Dasha is a diminutive form of the name Daria) Raising hands behind her head, the girl found two locks underneath her hair and twisted them with noticeable effort. The support bar shifted upward, and eight cables disconnected with quiet clicks. Only then did Dasha stretch and open her eyes, letting out a long yawn. For a few seconds, she just sat there, blinking, and regaining her senses. Then she stretched again and cracked her neck. ¡°Azumi, open the window!¡± the girl finally said, removing the hair tie from her left braid. The curtains obediently parted to the sides, making her squint at the sudden brightness. Outside, it was a gorgeous early morning, the sun generously sharing its warmth with the world. But Daria didn¡¯t care. Closing her eyes, she seamlessly slipped back into virtual reality. Her fingers, which had started to unravel her hair, froze and, if one looked closely, could be seen trembling slightly. Her eyes moved rapidly beneath her closed lids, a common sign of using implants that allow work in deep VR environments without external devices. ¡°Raven.1, you¡¯re on the evolution analysis of the new cybercortex topology. Just run the standard sample through the second template; I don¡¯t expect significant results yet since evolution is ongoing. Raven.2, Raven.3 ¨C sync with Alisa and start prepping for the update. Coordinate the timing with her schedule. Raven.4 ¨C we¡¯ll use today¡¯s algorithm draft for the fall course but clean it up. Formally, we¡¯re working under Professor Symonenko¡¯s AI... ...Raven.12, let¡¯s whip up a message for Max, a really pretty one, then join Raven.9 to assist. Here¡¯s the text¡­¡± ¡°Max, so anyway, good luck at the competition and all that,¡± she began dictating aloud, and a big, animated Raven appeared in her field of vision. It nodded importantly, took a quill in its claw, and started writing the message on a hovering parchment.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°I¡¯m fully confident in our work, so just go and kick some butt!¡± The Raven turned its head towards a newly appeared basket, grabbed a victory emoji with its beak, and placed it on the parchment. ¡°Sorry I can¡¯t make it to the stadium, but I¡¯ll definitely be watching the live stream! Uh¡­ so¡­ yeah¡­ Actually, I just want to let you know that everything¡¯s finished. Yes, the entire volume ¨C nine days ahead of schedule. And don¡¯t scold me about my workload; I¡¯ve heard it all before.¡± The Raven hopped, shook its head, and added her favorite ¡°What to do, that¡¯s what I am¡± emoji to the parchment. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m sending two Ravens to Alisa, we¡¯re rolling out the full patch today. I¡¯ll finish up here and head to the club to prepare everything. And if you¡¯ve got plans, factor in the update to avoid any nasty surprises. It¡¯s better to think things might go wrong than to tear our ass hair out because we didn¡¯t do our best, don¡¯t you think?¡± The Raven finished writing the last line and thoughtfully looked at Dasha, tilting its head in a funny way. ¡°What? You think it¡¯s bad? Fine, scratch out the ¡®ass¡¯ word.¡± The Raven nodded importantly, took the quill in its beak, and made a thumbs-up gesture with its claw. It looked a bit creepy, but that¡¯s how Daria liked it. ¡°And anyway, I¡¯m tired, I want a massage and some treats!¡± she added with a smile. The Raven recorded this and grabbed a heart emoji with its beak. ¡°No, wait! Not the heart, replace it¡­ with a cake,¡± she corrected quickly. The Raven gave her a long look but eventually nodded, grabbed a cute, animated cake sticker, and attached it to the message. The parchment rolled up into a neat scroll, and the Raven grasped it with its claws and flew out the window. ¡°It¡¯s just animation, but looks so cool...¡± After sitting for a moment, she finally opened her eyes and stood up, her braid still half undone. The girl pulled the T-shirt over her head, tossing it onto the bed. Stretching, she cracked her knuckles and headed to the bathroom ¡ª it was small, and impudently dominated by a monstrous construction of a luxurious jacuzzi with hydromassage and numerous spa functions. The remaining space was tightly shared between a Japanese paperless robot toilet, a towel rack, and a tiny sink with a large medical cabinet built deep into the wall above it. Dasha leaned on the sink and peered at her reflection in the mirror... Skinny, but with rather well-defined muscles, she was clearly hitting the gym. The girl slowly turned in front of the mirror, examining herself ¡ª pale skin, small breasts, a long neck. Her face featured large eyes with very dark irises. Usually beautiful, they now looked frightening ¡ª red from broken capillaries, puffy eyelids, and huge dark circles under her eyes. Not a pretty sight at all. ¡°Damn, Dashka, you freaking monster! Need to grow the sub-brain¡¯s processing power and implant two more accelerators! Or I¡¯ll truly turn into a vampire by eighteen.¡± ¡°Booo¡­¡± She made a face at her reflection in the mirror, then pressed her left thumb to the sensor and commanded, ¡°Open the medkit!¡± Calling it just a ¡°medkit¡± was modest; it was a massive medical cabinet with temperature-controlled compartments, sterile auto-cleaning, and a set of drugs any self-respecting biohacker would envy. On the bottom shelf were two professional auto-injectors from British ¡°Bioline Surgery¡± ¡ª one for intramuscular, the other for needle-free subcutaneous injections. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the hardcore stuff, as always.¡± she smirked, grabbing a plain white box from the top shelf. The large ampoule with black-green markings went into the intramuscular injection gun. Sitting on the closed toilet lid, Dasha wiped her outer thigh with a disinfectant tissue. She placed the gun at a ninety-degree angle to her leg and pressed the button without hesitation. The device lit up an orange indicator, beeped briefly, and inserted the needle into her muscle. Enduring the pain and waiting for the procedure to finish, she set the gun aside and massaged the injection site to distribute the chemicals evenly. The wipe, ampoule, and used needle went into the ¡°medical waste¡± container, and Dasha returned to the cabinet. After putting away the injector, she applied a beige waterproof regenerative patch to the injection site. ¡°The patient is more alive than dead,¡± she commented, grabbing the next ¡°torture device,¡± already prepared and configured. Checking the cartridge charge, she pulled another disinfectant wipe from the dispenser, cleaned her right shoulder, and pressed the medical gun to the site while looking at herself in the mirror. The second procedure was less painful and quicker. Dasha had just enough time to discard the used wipe and put the tool back in the cabinet when a wave of dizziness and weakness hit her legs. ¡°Yeah, done for now,¡± she muttered, grabbing the sink for support. ¡°Whoa... that hit harder than usual¡­¡± ¡°Okay, gotta keep this in mind for the next ¡®cleaning.¡¯ Now, this stuff¡¯s getting stronger than before...¡± The girl put the gun back in the cabinet, closed one of the doors, and looked into the mirror again. ¡°No, this just won¡¯t do! Gotta go to uni today, I¡¯ll scare everyone away looking like this,¡± she said to the reflection, examining herself: dirty, sweaty hair hanging in unattractive clumps on her forehead. The reflection nodded silently in agreement. ¡°Can¡¯t even imagine what my armpits smell like¡­ Azumi! Shower, express mode, drying, and air massage.¡± Dasha climbed into the jacuzzi and stood in the center, squeezing her eyes shut. ¡°Azumi, I¡¯m ready!¡± Chapter 3 - Dasha, A Dialogue with Father Polis Kyiv, Polytechnic Institute campus Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 6:26 AM Protective screens emerged from the walls, transforming the bathtub into a large shower cubicle. Jets of water and shampoo sprayed out, filling the bathroom with the scent of fresh pine. A niche opened behind Dasha¡¯s head, and a flexible ¡°trunk¡± with finger-like attachments began washing and massaging her scalp. ¡°Mmmmmmmmm!¡± Foam shot from the nozzles, followed by water, then conditioner, and more water. The entire process took just four minutes. Finally, air massage tubes extended, drying and massaging her with firm jets of air. ¡°Oh my Goddess, feels so damn good! Woke me right up!¡± Dasha jumped up and down in delight. ¡°Azumi! Bring fresh underwear, please.¡± Climbing out of the jacuzzi, she headed back to the ¡°medkit,¡± which had closed automatically due to the increased humidity. To reach the top shelf, the girl stood on her tiptoes. She retrieved a dispenser tube of quick-acting healing gel and carefully applied it around her eyes. After this ¡°quick fix,¡± Dasha habitually patted her thigh, looking for a pocket. But her hand met only freshly washed, slightly damp skin. ¡°Oh. Right. No pants. Took them off yesterday¡­ I think. Alright! Stay awake, stay awake! No slacking!¡± she laughed, as she left the bathroom. At the door waited a home bot, resembling a droid from the classic but once-cult ¡°Star Wars¡± series. As she passed, she grabbed the white briefs from its manipulator and quickly put them on. ¡°Pants¡­ pants¡­ Where did I throw them?¡± She approached the chair. ¡°Oh! Commander, this is Red-1, confirming visual contact with the target, ha-ha!¡± Bending down, the girl picked up the ¡°target¡± and took out a flat black vape box with a large screen and an animated ¡°Robiks¡± hologram sticker. ¡°What do we have here? Coconut cappuccino? Quite the exotic flavor! Is this even my vape?¡± Dasha mused aloud as she walked to the open window, throwing the pants back on the floor. ¡°Looks good outside! Gotta love summer.¡± Looking out, she tapped the sensor on the balcony door. With a soft ¡°whoosh,¡± the door slid open, and she stepped onto the balcony. It was 6:20 AM in Kyiv, and the city was waking up. Smart cars moved along the streets, drones buzzed in the air, but only a handful of pedestrians were about. It was still cool, but the sun was beginning to warm the day ¡ª it was going to be hot. ¡°Man, I¡¯m losing it¡­¡± Dasha leaned against the transparent railing, enjoying a deep drag. She smiled and exhaled, releasing four thick streams of vapor from her nostrils and the corners of her mouth. ¡°Mom, I really don¡¯t remember vaping this flavor last night, or where it came from.¡± Suddenly, she stood straight, snapping to attention ¡ª a somewhat comical sight given that her only clothing was a white strip of fabric on her hips and a vape box in her left hand. Standing tall, she began a mock speech: ¡°I am Daria Vasilevskaya, studying in my third year at Polytechnic, and yes, I¡¯m a freaking genius because I finished compiling that damn Godzilla overnight! And I remember nothing else because abusing drugs is bad!¡± she declared in a squeaky voice, looking out at the city, and climbed onto the wide window sill, resting her feet on the railing. A soft laugh, like a sigh of relief. ¡°A mild form of schizophrenia is compensated by minor social dysfunction!¡± Dasha smiled crookedly, taking a deep drag and releasing a cloud of vapor. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m actually normal, it¡¯s just that I just haven¡¯t slept much for three days! My eyes hurt¡­ I¡¯m so¡­ tired¡­¡± Taking another drag, she tossed the vape onto the window sill and started braiding her hair, even though she didn¡¯t have a hair tie. ¡°Who put this flavor in here, I wonder? Good taste. And we stay away from dope; got enough of our own folly, no need any more¡­ Time to go to uni soon, while Max is at the competition. Wish I could go there¡­ But it¡¯s safer to prep everything for the update myself ¨C who knows what Alisa might do¡­¡± She abandoned her unfinished braid and stretched luxuriously, cat-like. ¡°And then sleep for two days straight¡­ Or even three¡­ Good thing it¡¯s Friday tomorrow: weekends are always great. I wonder what Max will say about the new evolution¡­¡± A melodic trill of an incoming call interrupted her musings. Surprised, she tapped the virtual ¡°answer voice¡± icon. A small video call window opened in her field of vision. On screen was a dark-haired man in his early forties with a pleasant face and a slightly worried expression. ¡°Daddy?¡± ¡°Hey, kiddo! Why voice only?¡± ¡°Because,¡± Dasha responded, jumping down from the window sill and running into the room, ¡°let me at least put a tee on!¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I wake you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± the girl said, scanning the room for something suitable to wear. Remembering she¡¯d thrown her T-shirt on the bed, she hurried over, ¡°I¡¯m already up. Just got out of the bath. What¡¯s up with the sudden call?¡± ¡°Well, we haven¡¯t talked in a while, and I had a free moment, so I thought I¡¯d call...¡± Dasha, now dressed, quickly shoved the vape she¡¯d taken from the balcony under her pillow. She then leaped over the bed to her desk, buried under a mountain of electronic junk, cables, various packages, and soda cans. Among these ¡°treasures¡± were even two partially disassembled professional VR headsets and a large pizza box. Quickly flicking through the necessary mediaglyphs, she launched a program to locate her mediaphone, as finding it in this mess without strong magic was impossible. The sought object was successfully highlighted in the corner of the desk, under a box from an AI accelerator board. ¡°Got it, found the phone. Video¡¯s coming up,¡± Dasha set the camera on a relatively clean spot. Plastering a broad smile on her face, she switched on the video feed. ¡°Dasha, what¡¯s with those bags under your eyes?!¡± her father immediately reacted. ¡°The same as yours at the end of a workweek,¡± the daughter retorted, quickly switching to an offensive strategy. ¡°And anyway, that¡¯s not important right now. Are you calling to convince me to move to Massachusetts again? Find yourself a woman already and stop bugging me! You¡¯re handsome, not too old, well-off, and a professor at MIT, for crying out loud!¡± ¡°Dasha, why are you so stubborn?¡± The father clearly wasn¡¯t pleased but held back. ¡°No one stopped you when you decided to drop out of high school at fifteen and enroll in a university! But why Kyiv Polytechnic?! And don¡¯t change the subject! Since you brought it up, I insist you move. You can live on campus if you don¡¯t like my house.¡± ¡°Dad, enough. We¡¯ve discussed this a hundred times already,¡± Dasha sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not about your house!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a smart, capable girl, and you deserve the best education!¡± ¡°Well, Kyiv¡¯s Polytech is in the top 25 globally, even including corporate universities. What more do you want?!¡± She started to get heated. ¡°MIT tops that ranking, kiddo. Studying here would earn you an excellent reputation as a scientist. And I¡¯ll support you financially.¡± ¡°Thanks a bunch,¡± sarcastically replied Dasha. ¡°Where was this support two years ago, I wonder?¡± ¡°You were being bullheaded about not moving to America! And I knew you were getting scholarship, research grants, and UBI payments for your citizenship. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re stubborn as a thousand devils!¡± ¡°Well,¡± she said, shrugging, ¡°I had my reasons ¨C and still have them ¨C to stay here. And you knew it was pointless to try to blackmail me¡­ Yeah! Even with money!¡± ¡°Oh, Dasha, I still can¡¯t believe it¡­¡± her father heaved a sigh. ¡°You turned down an internship at Watson CyberTech, the chance to get corporate citizenship after graduation, and a promising career¡­¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what they bought you with!¡± The girl sprang up, angrily pointing her finger at the mediaphone¡¯s camera. ¡°What did that idiotic robotics club buy you with?¡± her father snapped, hitting the table with his fist. ¡°You¡¯re just infatuated with that Maksim of yours and chasing after him instead of building a decent career!¡± ¡°Stop talking about this, Aleksander Vasilevskiy! Or I¡¯ll block your contact again!¡± Daria stood before the camera, hands on her hips, glaring. ¡°I! Have! A dream! And in the team I¡¯m in now, I have the best conditions to achieve my goals.¡± ¡°When you call me that, I feel guilty¡­¡± The father raised his arms conciliatorily. ¡°Okay, I got it. Enough. You know I only want what¡¯s best for you.¡± Dasha simply shrugged as if saying, ¡°sorry, Daddy, I am what I am.¡± ¡°You know what, kiddo?¡± Aleksander said. ¡°How about I visit you in a couple of days? Are you really too busy with work right now? Can you spare a week for your old man? We could go to Kharkiv, our hometown, relax a bit? I¡¯ll make sure you eat properly! And we can do something about those dreadful circles under your eyes.¡± ¡°Dad, they¡¯re not dreadful! But what about your work?¡± ¡°The academic year starts on September 12th, and everything is ready. If I¡¯m urgently needed in the dean¡¯s office, there¡¯s the extranet. And I can take a week off from Watson¡¯s.¡± ¡°You know what?¡± Dasha smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s do that! I really don¡¯t want to fight with you. You¡¯re very important and close to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad, Orca. I just bought a plane ticket, will arrive in Kyiv on Saturday at 9:45 AM. See you then? Love you.¡± ¡°Love you too, Dad. Bye!¡± Ending the call, Dasha flopped onto her back on the bed, arms spread wide. ¡°Ah¡­ if only you knew what we¡¯re really up to¡­¡± Reaching under the pillow for her hidden vape, Dasha took a drag and absentmindedly blew a cloud of vapor at the ceiling. ¡°If only I knew¡­ how an innocent business-card and an invitation to see an interesting AI, written specifically for a double-circuit AI cluster, would turn out. It was promising a complex project that would surely interest me¡­¡± ¡°It seemed funny back then ¨C I thought, how could he know what would interest me when we''re hardly acquainted? We had just met five minutes earlier, after the presentation¡­¡± ¡°¡­The ¡®Applied Robotics¡¯ club and its leader. And its only member. Maksim¡­¡± Dasha relaxed, setting aside the vape, placing her hand behind her head, and staring at the ceiling. ¡°I remember the first meeting when I had my only argument with Max. Damn, I couldn¡¯t even believe such a thing was possible! But when he stood up and, with the words ¡®you¡¯re a stubborn dumbass,¡¯ plopped a VR helmet on my head, and I saw everything, I almost went mad with excitement. And had no idea that this was just the tip of the iceberg! A Dream!¡± With her right hand¡¯s middle and index fingers, Dasha began to caress absentmindedly her inner thigh, seemingly unaware of what she was doing as she sank deeper into her thoughts and memories. ¡°I threw myself into the work, even slept at the club. Then money started coming in ¡ª student startups are common practice. Besides the Project, we worked on robotics for the ¡®Robot Battles¡¯ show. And Max was participating in it too, as I later found out,¡± her hand had risen quite high by now, with a flushed face, as she closed her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s really good at it... We recorded videos for analysis... Mmm... The best ones, where Max is in close-up, are my... precious. Have a lot of them¡­ now...¡± ¡°When did I realize it was more than an academic interest in a complex and appealing project? Why does the profit from commercial developments of the ¡®club¡¯ not seem important anymore? And my attraction to Max overshadowed the Dream along with the interesting work¡­¡± ¡°Max¡­¡± She sighed, her hand slipped upward, and her middle and ring fingers habitually dove in. With a soft moan, she gave in to the sensation but suddenly stopped, pulling her hand away. ¡°Dashka, stop!¡± The profusely blushing girl sprang to her feet. ¡°What the hell was that just now?! Azumi, start the jacuzzi! But don¡¯t fill it too much. And breakfast¡­ in half an hour, I guess¡­ The usual! Not too heavy!¡± ¡°Executing,¡± Azumi replied, as Dasha pulled a pink vibrator from the drawer and disappeared into the bathroom. In Kyiv, it was 7:12 AM. Chapter 4 - Echoes of a Fallen Empire Russian Empire, Novosibirsk Private state territory of FGUP NII RVBII-4, beach ¡°The Ob Sea¡± The Chernykh family, May 3, 2042 (FGUP NII RVBII-4 in Russian means: Federal State Unitary Enterprise Scientific Research Institute for the Development and Implementation of Combat Artificial Intelligence No. 4) ...They reached the spot when the sun was already at its zenith. Dropping their backpacks off the shoulders, they busily began to prepare a resting place on a marked concrete platform, in the corner of which a modest sign with the number ¡°16¡± hung on a pole. The father immediately unlocked a small shed, two by three meters, from which four large tourist mats and a blanket appeared, to have somewhere to sunbathe, along with four folding chairs, various small items, and ¨C most importantly! ¨C a foldable barbecue grill. Using her age as a fair excuse to dodge work, Alisa ran away from the platform to the very edge of the concrete ¡°beach.¡± Hastily taking off her shoes and socks, she sat down on the ground and dipped her feet into the water up to her ankles. Oh, it was chilling! The water of the Ob Sea gently nibbled at her heels, mirrored the sky, and seemed blue, not brownish as usual. Maksim spent some time looking at his sister¡¯s back ¨C she always found strange pleasure in watching the ¡°big water¡± ¨C and turned to help his parents. Together, they lit the coals in the barbecue and prepared the food for roasting. Mostly, it was vegetables. But besides potatoes with hydroponically grown tomatoes and peppers, there was also the king of the barbecue feast ¨C a whole six hundred grams (about 1,32 lbs) of pork loin! In honor of the holiday, double second-class vouchers were issued for privileged government employees. Hence, they managed to procure such a luxury. This was no bones or synthetic meat from plant protein you can get for standard vouchers. The beginning of May this year turned out to be genuinely hot, but there were almost no people here. Only a middle-aged couple was sunbathing on loungers across a whole nine platforms, hidden under a large sun umbrella. This small private beach is considered a ¡°restricted area¡± and is divided into 135 unequal rectangles, reluctantly issued by the government executives and only to particularly distinguished employees. So, for the most part, it¡¯s empty here at any time of the year, which, of course, is a plus ¨C it¡¯s always good to be away from strangers. Even if it¡¯s just a concrete rectangle of twenty-six square meters. One could think there¡¯s plenty of space around, go wherever you want. But the cameras of the ever-patrolling drones guaranteed punishment for violators ¨C so no one ever tried to take someone else¡¯s spot. The ¡°limited right of use¡± to plot number sixteen was granted to the Chernykh family when the family¡¯s father, Sergey Chernykh, by that time already a scientist of world renown and even a Nobel laureate, accepted a job offer that couldn¡¯t be refused. Not because the offer was so good, but because, alas, orders from the ¡°Special Committee for Allocation¡± were not subject to discussion. Thus, the family, consisting of the father, a Doctor of Sciences, a professor, and the mother ¨C a senior research fellow, as well as two school-aged children, was forced to leave their native Korolev near Moscow and end up in far-off Novosibirsk. A military patrol airship appeared in the air over the lake with a huge moving sign along its hull: ¡°The personnel of FGUP NII RVBII No. 4 congratulates you on the International Workers¡¯ Solidarity Day and wishes success in the fight against the Hydra of the Global Dictatorship of the United West! Brave Russians, God is with us!¡± Maksim glanced at his father, who was watching the ship with an unreadable expression on his face, and refocused on the coals. First, they grilled some vegetables, and just as Maksim was about to call Alisa, she ran up on her own. Her lip bitten, she was rubbing her cheek offendedly, tears in her eyes. ¡°Maksimka, it¡¯s itchy!¡± ¡°Got bitten again? How did you manage to find a mosquito at the very start of May?¡± ¡°It found me on its own!¡± As the ¡°responsible for the first aid kit,¡± the boy, of course, knew where to find the necessary ointment for allergies and insect bites. ¡°Sit down, you poor thing, we¡¯ll fix you up now,¡± he skillfully applied the ointment to the bite site, smiling as he watched his sister make faces and hiss like an angry cat... Finally, the whole family gathered around the grill. They raised their colorful plastic cups. The parents had homemade wine from blackcurrants, and the children had compote. The father checked the time ¨C 2 pm, now the observation drones are operating at maximum. Look, one is hovering right above the platform! It¡¯s convenient to perform surveillance through camera lenses in sunlight, so observers particularly liked to do their job thoroughly during this period. Sergey Chernykh mentally rejoiced at the officials¡¯ greed, who didn¡¯t assign artificial intelligence to this important task ¨C presumably, a soulless machine can¡¯t replace the warm heart and cold intellect of a human. Although, most likely, officials just didn¡¯t want to lose their customary and convenient ¡°feeding troughs¡± ¨C it¡¯s always good when you can arrange a cushy job for a nephew in the control service. And there¡¯s no need to mention ¡°kickbacks¡± from the unfortunate offenders. In general, as always, the rigor of the law was compensated by the non-obligation of its execution, and the ¡°human factor¡± helped cheat the work of these drones.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Sergey Chernykh demonstratively raised his glass and robustly declared: ¡°To the Great, Wisest, and Eternal Emperor of the Almighty Russian Empire!¡± The matriarch of the family, Tatyana Chernykh, barely perceptibly grimaced, and the children obediently sipped their compote, trying not to look at their parents. After spreading out the vegetables and meat, the father continued loudly expressing joy about how lucky we all are, how generous the Emperor is for granting them the second citizenship category, and now they can not only work for the benefit of the Motherland but also enjoy so many privileges. And words about the children needing to study well to maintain the status and be useful to the empire. And much more nonsense, already in whole memorized phrases and sentences. At this point, the drone finally moved away from the family, allowing them to finish with the ¡°ceremonial part¡± and focus on the barbecue, vegetables, and potatoes baked in the coals. Then everyone settled down to relax and play cards on a huge blanket laid over four tourist mats. This ¡°scheme¡± provided full comfort and convenience even on concrete, without any loungers. ¡°Alright,¡± Maksim stood up and stretched, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a swim.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¨C as always, the mother worried, ¡°the water¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom, you know I¡¯m used to it.¡± Approaching the edge of the beach, the boy warmed up, went down into the water, and swam with energetic, sweeping movements. Yes, in the Chernykh family, only he was not afraid of the cold water enough to allow himself a swim at a temperature of +12¡ãC...
In the evening, Maksim and his father undertook the ¡°man¡¯s work¡± ¨C dismantling and cleaning the grill. Meanwhile, Tatyana Chernykh and Alisa went to the neutral strip of forest to collect herbs for drying and making homemade tea. They wouldn¡¯t go far ¨C getting too close to the villas of high-ranking officials was not allowed. But, given the sparse population, even nearby, they could find fireweed, rosehip leaves, clover, and other useful herbs. Meanwhile, the father sat on the shed¡¯s threshold, beckoned Maksim, and pretending to check his watch, activated some device attached to his wrist. ¡°It¡¯s a jammer, for a while they won¡¯t be able to hear us. Plus, the drones have quieted down now, so we can talk. I have just a few minutes before the alarm goes off if I don¡¯t turn off the device, so listen carefully, remember, and don¡¯t interrupt me. What I¡¯m about to say couldn¡¯t be said at home, there¡¯s no way to bypass the surveillance and all the built-in cameras there.¡± Sighing, the father looked at his son with a suddenly serious face and continued: ¡°You know, Maksimka, our second-class citizenship... I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s going to end soon. I¡¯m sorry, I... You know, I was in Dresden two months ago.¡± Maksim just silently nodded, afraid to interrupt his father. ¡°So, there... I betrayed. Our ¡®wonderful¡¯ motherland,¡± Sergey Chernykh smirked sarcastically, ¡°our ¡®Great Eternal Emperor¡¯ and... my family, all of you.¡± ¡°I did everything very cautiously, but they will inevitably find out. I¡¯m afraid very, very soon. And after that... there won¡¯t be any second-class citizenship that currently protects you and Alisa, nor... me. I¡¯m afraid even your mother can¡¯t be saved now. She knows. She agreed. But you... We really want you to live. Truly live, not like us.¡± ¡°You know what I¡¯m working on. Don¡¯t look so surprised, I purposely set up the home computer so that, with some skill, a very curious boy could access it. Which you did successfully in December.¡± Maksim turned desperately red, nodded... and remained silent. ¡°What you saw ¨C it¡¯s just the tip of the iceberg, and I can¡¯t keep materials classified as ¡®Secret¡¯ on the home computer. But you understand the general direction of the project. So, I was able to make a digital copy of absolutely all the materials of the ¡®Eve¡¯ project.¡± ¡°The stringent secrecy within our classified research facilities turns out to be an advantage for me. I¡¯ve infected the local network with a specialized virus. Its function is to comprehensively delete all information on every device and eliminate any backups.¡± ¡°Son, this project must not fall into the Emperor¡¯s hands. Such a powerful artificial intelligence could drastically alter the course of the war. Yet, I cannot share these results of my research with anyone either. A global moratorium is in place against developing AI beyond level T10, especially when it comes to a full AGI. Trust me, Maksim, the issue of preventing the creation of a Strong Artificial Intelligence is thoroughly addressed in all the world.¡± ¡°This project embodies my life¡¯s work. I have faith that you will steward this legacy wisely in the future. The materials reside in a secure deposit box at the Dresden Bank¡¯s central branch. The Empire won¡¯t have a chance to access it, even if they break me with psychocorrection. Under torture, I¡¯ll tell them where the information is and how to retrieve it, but they won¡¯t be able to reach it!¡± ¡°To enter the secure storage, you¡¯ll need a simple PIN: the first ten digits of Pi following the decimal point. The deposit box itself is strictly tied to your name and genetic code. To access it, a DNA express analysis at the bank is required, along with a passport from any EU state. This passport must be issued in your name, including the necessary biometric data. For access, these three elements must align. You and Alisa will get the citizenship under the refugee program; the priority is to leave the Empire¡¯s territory as swiftly as possible.¡± ¡°Every day I will call you from work before leaving, at 19:59. When one day the call does not come, your task is to immediately leave the house with Alisa and catch the evening bus to Iskitim, maintaining the highest level of secrecy, as I taught you.¡± ¡°Remember Pascal Moro? Our ¡®accidental¡¯ encounter that day at my workplace? Once you¡¯re there, reach out to him. He leads the Red Cross mission. He¡¯s your key to leaving the country illegally. Look for his contact details on a small, vivid orange card hidden amongst Alisa¡¯s crafts from kindergarten. I¡¯ve scribbled down a safe method to connect with him and concealed it within the first aid kit of your ¡®Emergency Backpack¡¯. Avoid opening it at home, no matter what.¡± At this point Maksim suddenly started to hyperventilate, his vision blurred and darkened. ¡°Hey, hey, take a breath! I did my part, as best I could. Now, it¡¯s your turn. Live your lives, you and Alisa. Embrace joy. Be truly free. Act. Remember the past, but don¡¯t dwell in it. Always stay true to yourselves, no matter what. Your mom and I, we love you both ¨C you and Alisa. Look after her, will you?¡± Maksim swallowed hard and struggled to look his father in the face. He wanted to say something, but then they were interrupted. Mother and sister returned. ¡°Boys!¡± Tatyana Chernykh approached and gave her son an understanding look that didn¡¯t match her cheerful tone. ¡°It¡¯s time! Let¡¯s pack up and go!¡± Maksim watched in a daze as his parents packed and threw their slimmed-down backpacks over their shoulders. They had already moved ahead, but he still couldn¡¯t budge. His parents looked back at him with a silent smile. It was already dark, and their pale faces were illuminated by only a solitary dim lamp powered by a solar battery. Soon, even it would go out. The boy stood in the frozen silence facing the adults leaving. The only thing that helped him not to lose his mind and not to scream in despair was the unexpectedly warm feeling of his sister¡¯s palm. He looked down. Alisa was holding his hand ¨C and smiling, with the same smile as their parents. ¡°We love you, Maksimka. I love you, big brother. I¡¯ll always be by your side. Always...¡± Then Maksim couldn¡¯t hold back ¨C he screamed and... woke up. Chapter 5 - Breakfast, Spanish Style Polis Kyiv, The Chernykh apartment Maksim Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 7:20 AM Maksim Chernykh awoke today at 7:20 a.m., moments before his alarm was set to sound. Breathing heavily, he instantly dismissed the day¡¯s recommendations from his ¡°Personal Trainer¡± app, without a second glance. With his heart pounding, there was no room for thoughts of exercise routines, sleep analysis, or caloric intake planning. A few minutes later, as his breathing and heartbeat normalized, he got up and performed a series of breathing exercises right beside his bed, finally calming down and regaining his composure. Today was no ordinary day. Yes, it was university break, and classes were still over a month away, with the whole of September ahead. Moreover, it was Thursday, no training was scheduled, and the day was all his. But one crucial little thing was capable of getting even a seasoned night owl like Max out of bed, even without the help of a nightmarish dream ¨C the qualifying rounds for the Student Continental League of ¡®Robot Battles.¡¯ Grasping the importance of today, he habitually pushed thoughts of the past aside, focusing on the tasks at hand. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go all out two hundred percent today! Access to the World Championship is at stake. It¡¯s not going to be a breeze, but the chips are down ¨C gotta go for broke. Of course, the Continental League awards good prize money: all the top corporations sponsor it, after all¡­ But that¡¯s chump change considering my goals. Expenses go up exponentially every damn year. Eh, never mind, I got this!¡± Maksim snickered, pulling a T-shirt on. ¡°Everybody likes having money, and we desperately need it right now. Truth be told though, I like the competition in and of itself. If I didn¡¯t get the kicks out of it, I probably wouldn¡¯t bother.¡± Money had been a really touchy subject for Max. Even for a normal player, it¡¯s not easy to afford the gear, software, and regular practices. However, he had another incentive for entering: a very important project, into which he had been pouring a great deal of all his income ¨C from legal sources and otherwise. Speaking of which, coming out on top wasn¡¯t the only way to make money in the competition: Maksim¡¯s crew designed robots, nodes, and details. And also sold software; the team was lucky to have a great developer on board ¨C Dasha Vasilevskaya, studying Software and Intelligent Systems in her third year. Today¡¯s battle was going to showcase the complex work their little group had done all by themselves. The team, you might say, had put their heart and soul into this project. So, onward to victory! After all, you can¡¯t come up with a better tagline. Deep in thought, Maksim suddenly realized that the reason he woke up so early was not so much nervousness about the competition as absolutely out-of-this-world smells coming from the kitchen. The remnants of stress from the abrupt awakening were instantly gone! ¡°Alisa? What kind of magical feast are you making there?¡± ¡°Pan con tomate and churros, Max! Your favorite! Also, some eggs and coffee,¡± a girl¡¯s voice replied. ¡°Wow, what a treat!¡± Grabbing a pair of shorts, the young man headed toward the appetizing aromas. ¡°What¡¯s the occasion?¡± ¡°Good morning, big brother!¡± Alisa turned to face him with a smile. Bright sparks gleamed in her platinum hair, reflecting sunbeams off her chrome body parts. ¡°The occasion is that I love you! So, I made your favorite Spanish cuisine today!¡± ¡°Why does she keep saying that every morning? Why?! I never put anything like that in the program. But¡­ we cannot directly influence her actions, that¡¯s the main idea behind the project. Complete freewill, autonomous training, development, decision-making¡­ And I must accept the result for what it is. However painful that might be.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing¡­¡± He felt like a lump was stuck in his throat, making it incredibly difficult to speak. ¡°You¡¯ve literally outshined yourself today!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She shyly lowered her gaze. ¡°It¡¯s just sunny, so...¡± Alisa¡¯s face looked just like a real girl¡¯s, complete with natural expressions. She might as well have been a cyborg to the uninitiated. That was mostly due to the fact that her face had a full set of muscles that she had mastered after spending hundreds of hours training. Her skin was synthetic, but as realistic as it was humanly possible. All of that created the impression that she was a cybernetic organism, with only the head remaining biological. But¡­ she was an android.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Her body was based on the OHR roboplatform, 160 cm (5.25 ft) tall. But there had been so many changes made, you could safely call it original work. Maksim got her legal status after entering her as a project for the Presidential Scholarship Competition during his freshman year. Actually, her close resemblance to a human was just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, it was much more complicated than that. Of course, she had a brain: a thirty-two-processor Artel AI-Core13, in the current architecture responsible for the awareness and motor-and-sensory functions. Actually, it holds true for every standard-issue android, but they come with artificial intelligence from T5 and above instead of ¡°consciousness.¡± That Artel and the AI structure based on it were submitted to receive certification and license to use Alisa. During the certification process, the cognitive potential had to be seriously limited¡­ And in a way so that no one would realize. The biggest challenge hadn¡¯t been to just pass the inspection, but to avoid getting a grade too high! They passed by the skin of their teeth. In the end, a certificate with a T6+++ status was issued. In fact, Maksim had barely dodged the bullet. The thing is, AIs above T7 must obtain digital citizenship, and the law harshly cracks down on regulations in that case. Had she been given a higher status, it would¡¯ve been impossible to conceal the fact that Alisa was something much more advanced than a robot. Because human thinking is made of consciousness working in tandem with subconsciousness ¨C an intricately complicated system that is impossible to reproduce through ordinary software and programming. Moreover, the creation of such systems is strictly prohibited by law. The enforcement of AI development legislation is monitored by the International Committee for Digital Security of Humanity, with oversight from independent city-states and nations. Above this committee is the global military-police organization ¡°A.M.I.¡± (Artificial Mind Inquisition), to which even corporations must submit. This is because the A.M.I., an army dedicated to combating illegal developments, possesses its own nuclear arsenal and is funded globally. It also has the authority to engage with lethal force anywhere on the planet and beyond. Maksim was aware of the risks; hence security and secrecy were always his top priorities. The ¡°subconscious¡± part of Alisa¡¯s brain is a carefully camouflaged and separately located computational cluster ¡®Moira,¡¯ powered by a potent quantum core and high-performance external components. This entire system meticulously mimics an ordinary ¡°T6+++ Student AI, nothing interesting, just pass by and don¡¯t look here.¡± Creating the two AIs working in conjunction with each other took more than five years. Max had to invest all the money he had into the project, but that still wasn¡¯t enough¡­ Financing Alisa¡¯s development and highly secretive creation of Moira was the main reason for the establishment a students¡¯ commercial association called ¡®Artificial Intelligence and Applied Robotics.¡¯ Maksim established it back in his freshman year, making use of the research labs in the department of Automation and Robotic Systems. His grants, scholarship from the university, scholarship from the polis, prize money from the competitions¡­ All of it had been funneled into the project. Every source of income, no matter how small, had been taken advantage of! He made no other investments, unlike the majority of his peers, had no safety net, and his credit card had been maxed out all the time. And all of that ¨C even though the money available had been quite generous ¨C given the backing of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. All of that had made it possible not only to realize the project in a short span of time, but to do so as secretly as possible. Moira and Alisa together were, in fact, one of the most advanced AIs in the polis of Kyiv, if not beyond, but only Vasilevskaya knew about the secret. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like when your body shines too much?¡± Maksim asked, pouring himself a glass of water. ¡°I¡­ I want to show my support for you at the competition. So, I figured I¡¯d look prettier this way. You know, like an android cheerleader. Chrome, skirt and all. I¡¯ve also prepared a dance. May I?¡± ¡°Imitation¡­ So much effort, so much work and money invested¡­ But it¡¯s only imitation for now. Sorry, Alisa.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± he answered, trying to smile. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to watch.¡± The spread looked absolutely stunning, but his morning routine came before breakfast. ¡°Let me take a shower real quick, could you somehow keep the coffee hot?¡± The young man suddenly noticed a raven-shaped mediaglyph in the top-left corner of his view and stopped in his tracks. ¡°A message from Vasilevskaya!¡± A raven ¡°showed up¡± in the room, circled around the table and dropped a rolled-up parchment. Max, knowing full well that the message had already been duplicated via normal mail, still couldn¡¯t say no to observing this slightly mad spectacle that his idiosyncratic ¡°accomplice¡± pulled from time to time when sending messages. ¡°Oh, a letter from Dashka! Cool!¡± Alisa ran up to the table and grabbed the parchment. The picture from Maksim¡¯s implants was permanently shared with her, so the android could see both videostreams before post-processing and after. You could say they had one augmented reality for two. ¡°Let me see too, show some manners!¡± Max played along. Especially considering that AR was just an environment for him, but for Alisa, it was the only real world. ¡°Well, after such support, I just have to win!¡± he commented at the beginning of the message. ¡°What?! What a dork! Seems like she¡¯s spent three days cooped up inside her dorm room, working in virtual! And she even lied about catching up on sleep and watching anime!¡± ¡°Dasha really did finish the core¡¯s update, I just got the Ravens,¡± Alisa said. ¡°Max, you do owe her a massage and a yummy treat. That¡¯s the least you can do. Really, really good job. Can¡¯t wait to install the update!¡± She went quiet for a while and then added with a slightly sad ¨C but very real ¨C smile, ¡°You know, it¡¯s scary every time I have to reboot¡­ I fear that I might not remember who I am when I wake up. But what Dasha has accomplished¡­ I really can¡¯t wait for this update. I don¡¯t know anyone else who could¡¯ve done a better job. I messaged her back that we¡¯re on for tonight, is that okay?¡± ¡°Yes. But, Alisa,¡± the young man said sternly, looking her directly in the eye, ¡°next time consult me first. I mean it. Because even if we start at 10 pm, it could take until like five or six in the morning.¡± ¡°Sorry, Maksim! I¡¯d really checked the schedule: we have only three tasks with a 3+ priority, none of which concern me, and everything is possible to reschedule until tomorrow morning after the reboot.¡± ¡°Well, sure, whatever¡­¡± He sighed and headed to the bathroom. A tasty breakfast and a long day were ahead of him. Chapter 6 - The Black Swan Maryland, U.S., Greenbelt, Prince George¡¯s County The Goddard Space Flight Center August 12, 2049, 12:20 AM (EDT, UTC-4) The vast conference hall of the Global American Aerospace Corporation had been hastily turned into an HQ for an urgently assembled committee. This was unprecedented in modern history: representatives from the largest corporations and the wealthiest, most influential polises had gathered here. Both partners and the fiercest competitors ¨C key personnel from organizations that currently ¨C sat at the pinnacle of the world¡¯s political structure. Perhaps the most unusual aspect was that the primary participants in this mostly political meeting were not directors or top managers but scientists ¨C professors, heads of major laboratories, and leaders of research departments. The hall was packed ¨C every seat around the large holographic projection table was occupied. Even more participants had joined remotely, not wasting a minute on travel, appearing as observers on virtual screens surrounding the entire room. Despite the late hour ¨C 1 a.m. ¨C it hadn¡¯t occurred to any of the gathered to leave; a highly unusual situation that had apparently reached a critical level. ¡°Colleagues, I understand your concern! Even though we still have different opinions on how to interpret these charts, we must draw conclusions,¡± the head of the committee said, waving his hand at the holographic projection of Earth. ¡°We can¡¯t interpret them in any other way, why can¡¯t you see it?¡± said a French scientist who stood out like a sore thumb, wearing white beach shorts and a Hawaiian shirt depicting two naked Polynesian women wrapped in a kiss against the backdrop of a sunset at sea. This outfit seemed even more incongruous considering his worried, exhausted face. ¡°We¡¯re detecting many invisible supermassive objects around the entire planet! These phenomena have been acknowledged not only by my group!¡± ¡°Colleagues, it¡¯s six o¡¯clock in the morning here in Noordwijk.¡± The head of the Dutch research group walked up to the table as an avatar and switched the projection. Her hands were trembling either from anxiety or exhaustion, and she clearly didn¡¯t know where to put them. ¡°An hour ago, we enlisted the help of thirteen additional labs all across Europe, including the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre. We estimate that the gravitational mass of Alpha1 is approximately 520 thousand tons, Omega19¡¯s: 350 thousand.¡± ¡°We procured different results, but only by a small margin,¡± said a white-haired Japanese professor behind a desk, making a hand gesture to have his projection be displayed on top of the currently shown one. ¡°Unfortunately, I must admit that we failed to learn anything beyond that. Those unmanned and seemingly undetectable objects have a mass¡­ That¡¯s it. Perhaps it¡¯s owing to pop culture stereotypes, but I have a very bad feeling about this. Because that¡¯s exactly how an alien invasion would start in some of our anime movies and shows...¡± Suddenly, a short siren blared, and the attending specialists¡¯ attention was directed to the main display, the head of the research group was on it. ¡°Attention, I have an urgent announcement! We have been made contact with...¡±
Polis Kyiv, The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 9:21 AM The ceiling lamps shone bright, illuminating a small hangar. A huge diagnostic complex was in the center, a massive anthropomorphic battle robot strapped on it. No sound around aside from the soft buzzing of the mecha-complex assisting Max, who had courageously stuck his hand right into the ¡°bowels¡± of the machine. ¡°Ouch! So damn cumbersome!¡± He accidentally scratched his palm on a sharp edge of the inner chassis. ¡°Almost cut myself. Good thing the glove is sturdy!¡± Trying not to drop the tool, he carefully twisted his hand and pulled it out of the robot¡¯s innards. ¡°Alisa, you give it a go,¡± said the young man, putting the multitool away and taking a seat on a stool by the workbench. ¡°Just put the internal protection back on, the connectors are already plugged in.¡± ¡°Sure. Why did you stick your hand in there in the first place?¡± Alisa asked, baffled. She kept standing motionless by the charging station as she assumed control over the complex. A versatile flexible trunk-arm swapped the tool and disappeared deep inside the battle machine. ¡°I dunno. Wanted to get a feel of it from the inside?¡± ¡°Are you okay, Big Brother? Didn¡¯t get enough sleep?¡± Alisa asked, blinking a few times, and turning to face Maksim. He froze and peered into her widely opened eyes that showed worry. ¡°At times like this, she appears so alive, it just breaks my heart. Six months ago, after getting a bonus pay for a complicated gig, I couldn¡¯t resist and ordered a pair of bona fide cyber-biological eyes on the black market in Singapore, grown based on the real Alisa¡¯s genetic code. I still can¡¯t get used to it... Too bad I can¡¯t give her a completely human face. Bottom line, because that would draw unnecessary questions from the A.M.I. inspector during the next check, and I don¡¯t want to attract extra attention. But, theoretically, it¡¯s possible to grow full-fledged skin and hair. That would also help her experience more complex tactile sensations. I should probably make a mental note of the idea...¡± ¡°I dunno. Just have this weird feeling¡­¡± the young man replied, snapping out of his introspection. ¡°Performance anxiety?¡± The android girl disconnected the power cables and gracefully left the charging area. ¡°Yeah, I was just thinking about the results of the draw. My first opponent is a tough one, a bit too fast for us...¡± ¡°It¡¯s funny that I drew a Spanish guy as my opponent. Emilio Ojeda from the Royal Robotics Institute of Madrid. Of course, Spanish cuisine for breakfast was just a coincidence, but it¡¯s an interesting turn of events. By the way, I remember him from a conference in Berlin, back when I was still a freshman. A worthy opponent, and his gear is good.¡± Realizing how nervous Maksim was, Alisa came up and gently hugged him from behind. Turning around, he hugged her back, stroking her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sis, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m just a little tired. We¡¯ll rest tomorrow...¡± Meanwhile, the mechanical arm had finished working inside the battle machine and went back to its default position. ¡°That¡¯s it, all done, you can put the armor back on, and we¡¯re all set for battle.¡± Max went to the operator¡¯s chair for remotely controlling the robot. Hopping in, he ran his fingers over the safety straps that prevented the pilot from accidentally springing up in the heat of the moment, mistaking the virtual world for the real world.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. A virtual reality headset descended on his head. More of a decoration, really, and paying tribute to traditions, because Maksim was going to control the robot via the sub-brain and Deep-VR connection. ¡°So, fortune favors the diligent, eh?¡± The young man gave a chuckle and then, focusing, cleared his mind of any unnecessary thought. ¡°T-minus ten minutes, here we go! Don¡¯t forget, I still want to see your victory dance.¡± ¡°Then we got this for sure!¡± Alisa jumped up and then made several dance steps. Max nodded, put up a ¡°Victory¡± sign and dove into the virtual world.
Polis Kyiv, Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 9:42 AM The door to the ¡°Artificial Intelligence and Applied Robotics¡± club opened, and Dasha showed up at the doorway, sporting a black T-shirt that said ¡°Wicked Witch.¡± Her dark purple cargo pants¡¯ pockets were stuffed with gadgets, cables, and other junk as usual. Her favorite pair of light sneakers were on her feet ¨C worn but extremely comfortable. ¡°Azumi, shutters.¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± the soft voice of the assistant AI whispered in the head, and the thick shutters opened, letting light in. The room is large, forty-five square meters, with work desks lined up against the three walls and two assembly frames installed in the center. At the far end: the lounge, some closets, and the door leading to the storeroom. Throwing her little backpack under the nearest desk, Dasha jumped into the chair. Fishing out her vape, she let out a cloud of vapor and felt around for a professional VR headset on the under-desk shelf. ¡°Moira, connection.¡± % Moira.Guest: Authorization started... % Moira.Guest: Thermogram scan, facial geometry scan, retinal and iris recognition: complete. % Moira.Guest0024: Daria Vasilevskaya, waiting for access key. % Moira.Guest0024: Access key received. % Moira.Guest0024: Deciphering access key¡­ success. % Moira.Guest0024: Authorization¡­ success. % Moira.Superadmin: Welcome, Daria-san. A VR workspace opened. The Ravens spread out to do their tasks. But one of them stayed behind and approached the girl, holding a parchment with a black seal in its claws. ¡°Hell of a way to start a day,¡± Dasha said in surprise and minimized the window she was about to use to watch Max¡¯s battle live. ¡°Seriously? ¡®Black Swan?¡¯ All right, there¡¯s plenty of time before the competition starts, let¡¯s see what¡¯s up.¡± A complicated 3D projection unfolded before her eyes, displaying a news feed compiled by the spiders of the ¡®Black Swan¡¯ AI circuit across the global extranet networks. ¡°So, where''s the catch?¡± Dasha pondered, dragging the highlighted nodes into the analyzer''s receiver. ¡°Brilliant, just brilliant! What a complex web! This is going to be a standout addition to my collection. Sure, it looks like I''ve got hours of work ahead of me... But that''s okay, we''ll manage,¡± she said. Without removing her VR headset and without breaking the connection, the girl felt around for her vape. Actually, it¡¯s a rare talent to be able to physically do anything in the real world while being completely immersed in VR, requiring a great deal of training and concentration. So naturally, a few years ago, Vasilevskaya demonstrated her incredible determination and learning speed once again¡­ all for the sake of being able to vape while working. ¡°Moira, start the analysis complex!¡± She got into a more comfortable position, took a drag, and the thick clouds enveloped the desk. However, Dasha shortly put away her vape and dove headfirst into the investigation. Apparently, the found scheme had to do with a global intercorporate operation fighting information leaks. To her surprise, it took much more resources to work it out than she anticipated. To reduce the load, she even had to temporarily disable all but two of the Ravens that were helping solve this cryptographic puzzle. Over an hour passed before she finally managed to grasp the control threads of this intricate web. ¡°Praise Cthulhu that Moira¡¯s power was enough! I was starting to think I¡¯d have to drag Alisa into this and persuade her to let me use some of her threads.¡± Dasha gave a sigh of relief. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m done here...¡± With the main work completed, programs took over, and there was no need for a full immersion anymore. She took off the headset and stayed in the augmented reality via her eye implants. ¡°Man, I feel naked without my Ravens!¡± The girl stood up, automatically grabbed her vape, but didn''t even look at it. Her thoughts were still there, in the virtual world, alongside her programs. ¡°What are you hiding?¡± Dasha mused aloud. Then, she moved the equipment towards the wall, clearing space on the desk, and climbed onto it with her feet, still in her sneakers. ¡°With this level of international cooperation, you can¡¯t suppress all the information noise, meaning I can find a loophole through ordinary social engineering! I just need to find a good starting point, so I don¡¯t have to scour the whole surface ¨C Moira alone wouldn¡¯t be enough for that!¡± The girl lay right atop the desk, putting her left hand behind her head, and began to pensively gnaw at the vape¡¯s drip tip without even turning it back on. ¡°Hold the phone! Right! We got a lead! Awesome!¡± She sprang up suddenly after less than ten minutes had passed. ¡°So, where¡¯s the culprit of all this commotion at? The Goddard Space Flight Center? Holy shit!¡± Suddenly, a mediaglyph popped up at the top of her vision that read ¡°A ¡®Black Swan¡¯ event detected, priority 0: extremely urgent, utmost importance.¡± Dasha froze and felt as if an invisible hand of ice had gripped her heart for a second. ¡°Open!¡± A window with a recorded livestream that got interrupted five seconds ago came on. The girl started to check the video¡¯s authenticity, like she usually did with everything. # Digital blockchain signature of source: DeepSpace4 Pro drone (expand) # Live media content certification center: source is genuine # Digital content authenticity center: content is not a deepfake # Digital blockchain signature of hosting service: genuine # GlobalTube, direct link to broadcast page (stopped, expand) info# Location: Belt Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11228, USA (detailed coordinates, expand) info# End time of broadcast: 03:57 (UTC-4) The video showed footage from a sports convertiplane drone¡¯s frontal camera. In a picture-in-picture at the bottom right corner was a corpulent biker-looking man with a bushy ginger beard and a bandana. At the top center of the screen was a donation bar and words ¡°Skybound Raiders, phase 2!¡± ¡°We did it, fellas! Woo-hoo!¡± the man yelled joyfully, making his UAV descend and do a sharp turn above the empty beach. All of a sudden, a bright flash of light enveloped the screen; the blogger squeezed his eyes shut and grasped his head. A second later, a loud bang resounded. The drone got violently blown away by an incredibly powerful wind gust, and the nimble machine barely managed to stabilize in the air. The light blast seemed to be very intense and painful: there were tears in the corners of the disoriented man¡¯s closed eyes. ¡°What the fuck?!!¡± The drone hovered in autopilot and turned toward the source of the flash. An enormous semi-transparent sphere came into view, resembling a huge hologram, but with a cloudy fluctuating surface that made it impossible to see through. It seemed to be corporeal, because it had swept the sand away, even leaving a large crater around. Despite being lodged deeply in, the object was nonetheless towering some twenty meters ¨C if not higher ¨C above the ground. Suddenly, many shadows started flickering rapidly in the misty haze. Two streams of creatures began gushing out of the sphere. They looked like a hybrid of beetle and shrimp but as large as a small horse. Those things moved very fast, but it was still possible to make out some details: armored spindle-shaped body, eight limbs, the front pair armed with long serrated scythes, three pairs of legs. No eyes, no mouth, only a small indentation from which a pair of long whiskers was growing, bent backward along the length of the body. The broadcast¡¯s host seemed to have recovered a little, because he picked up the remote control and pulled his drone back. ¡°What the fuck are those shrimp things, people?¡± asked the dumbfounded man, turning the drone¡¯s camera toward the rushing creatures. Meanwhile, two pairs of enormous grasping limbs had torn through the cloudy veil five meters high. A titanic monster¡¯s cephalothorax emerged; it was about fifteen meters tall. The creature quickly crawled out of the ¡°portal,¡± revealing hard armor segments and many small tentacles around its huge mouth. At that moment, there was a high-pitched rattle, and a dozen Coast Guard combat drones swooped down from the sky. They opened a barrage of fire from their miniguns right off the bat, but most of the rounds only got stuck in the thick armor, merely knocking tiny splinters out of it. Of course, some of them did reach the target, apparently either hitting thinner parts of the armor or the exposed areas on the creature¡¯s body. But that didn¡¯t stop it: despite being drenched in green blood, the creature continued to crawl forward stubbornly. Suddenly, an orange flash shrouded the entire force sphere from the inside. A plasma ¡°comet¡± zoomed out of it with a roar and then tumultuously exploded in the air. Only the face of the shocked blogger remained onscreen, followed by a laconic ¡®signal lost¡¯ message. # End of video. ¡°What the hell was that?!¡± Dasha froze by the desk in astoundment, her eyes were murky due to deep virtual immersion, her pupils were feverishly darting about. The girl¡¯s left hand loosened, and the vape dropped onto the floor with a bright thud. Complete silence lasted less than a second; Moira¡¯s additional cooling fans came on loudly one after the other. Chapter 7 - When Worlds Collide Polis Kyiv, The Palace of Sports Alisa Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 10:15 AM The Palace of Sports was rebuilt back in 2030 and had been specialized in hosting e-sports events, as well as competitions involving robotics and cyborgs for nine whole years already. That day, it was packed just about to the rafters, noisy like a giant hive. All five arenas were utilized, even though it was only qualifying rounds. Understandably, so because the Student Continental League, despite the name, was the last step before the World Championship. So, the stakes were high, and there were going to be some very interesting contestants. After all, it was an opportunity to meet future contenders from around the world, observe their tactics and way of fighting. The air was replete with numerous video drones from professional and amateur studios alike, sports agencies, and, of course, international corporations, without which no global event in the world went. It should be noted that ¡°Robot Battles,¡± which had been around since the early 2000s, had evolved into two completely different but very popular disciplines. The first was the classic ¨C battles at the range in realistic combat conditions. The second one was a flashy spectacle where anthropomorphic battle machines faced off in hand-to-hand combat. Different weight classes, up to five tons, many difficulty levels, complete control or autonomous ¨C lots of categories comprised one of the most popular forms of entertainment worldwide. Billions of views and fans. Tremendous amounts of money. ¡°It¡¯s a total frenzy in arena five right now!¡± a commentator¡¯s voice rang out throughout the stadium. In the weight class below two-and-a-half tons, direct control, overall difficulty of under three thousand points on the Reinhardt scale, two exceptional fighters were pitted against each other, captivating most of the online audience. The battle was approaching the finale, and the bulk of the drones seemed to be recording and broadcasting it. ¡°Are you seeing that?!¡± The commentator waved his hands expressively. ¡°Only two minutes on the clock! Who would¡¯ve thought these two would put up a show worthy of the highest league!¡± ¡°Precisely, Timofei!¡± the second commentator joined in. ¡°This fight, Maksim Chernykh versus Emilio Ojeda, will definitely be a highlight of today¡¯s qualifying rounds for the Student Continental League, at least as far as the direct control category is concerned!¡± ¡°How?! How does Maksim do that? First minute in, the guy drops the ball and loses his shield! That said, he continues confidently blocking his opponent¡¯s attacks!¡± ¡°Not anymore! Emilio has him cornered after unleashing a series of fast attacks with the lower arms! With speed like that, he has no choice but to play defense!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a game, Konstantin! I see that Maksim has put the fuel cells in forced mode. He lacks the power to block body attacks. What an excellent series of punches on Emilio¡¯s part!¡± ¡°But the endurance Maksim is displaying is nothing to sneeze at either! We¡¯re going to have to watch the repeat; those split-second blocks are absolutely incredible!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s costing him a significant amount of energy, as we¡¯re seeing on the monitor. And that means the climax is close! Whoa, take a look at that! What a development! Talk about turning the tables! That¡¯s what Maksim was saving his last booster for! A brilliant strike, and Emilio loses his balance! Wow!¡± ¡°Yes, Timofei, this is it, the culmination of this fight! Emilio gets thrown against the barrier!¡± At the last moment, the three-meter-tall battle machine attempted to soften the impact, taking the blow with both of its hands. The fight was over, but Emilio tried to minimize his fighter¡¯s damage. Suddenly, the space between the robots was filled by a bright flash. In one thousandth of a second, a sphere portal appeared and began growing rapidly. In another thousandth of a second, the field partially covered both robots. Its border, as if with a laser, accidentally cut off the control node of the main fuel cells on Emilio¡¯s robot. The powerfully generated energy quickly accumulated to a critical level, and the entire energy block detonated after several milliseconds. What happened next was a result of unbelievable circumstances. Because the explosion of the fuel cells itself wasn¡¯t a big deal; the reinforced barrier around the ring was built with such a scenario in mind. Even if two reactors of five-ton superheavy machines had exploded simultaneously, it wouldn¡¯t have been enough to destroy it. But the blast had hit the newly-formed portal in that brief period of time when it was still vulnerable and messed up its structural flows. All the energy accumulated by that point spiraled out of control. A dozen long ¡°plasma whips¡± formed, stemming from the ruined portal¡¯s center. Scorching everything in its wake, the fiery death raged through the barrier, the stands, and the ceiling. This inferno lasted only a few seconds before the epicenter of the chaos exploded for good. The rooms closest to the arena suffered the most, and it just so happened that one of them was the operator¡¯s room. Indeed, according to traditions established by the founders of this sport, the operator, the engineer, and the support team must be stationed as close to their fighter as possible. Of course, no one uses remote control anymore ¨C there¡¯s VR for that, and, theoretically, the operator could be anywhere. But sport is sport; a lot of it is done for show rather than safety. Max and Alisa were on a glazed elevated balcony right next to the barrier, and, thankfully, it hadn¡¯t been hit by a ¡°plasma whip¡± directly. However, because the barrier had been damaged, they couldn¡¯t avoid the shock wave. Maksim¡¯s VR chair got ripped from the floor and hurled at the wall, along with Alisa. Flames erupted in the arena where the plasma struck. There was a devastating shrill scream at the top of someone¡¯s voice. One second later, the entire stadium was in a state of panic. Loud screams. People stampeded toward the exit, trying to make a break for it. There was blood on the floor already ¨C someone got trampled to death.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. With a blare of sirens, the security and police drones rose from the stadium¡¯s hangars, deployed their riot shields, and streaked right into the crazed mob. Some people weren¡¯t lucky ¨C the blow broke their limbs, sending blood spatter all around. But this tactic had paid off; the drones managed to break up the dense throng, direct the people toward emergency exits, and prevent further losses. The fire department¡¯s heavy robots and drones managed to gradually push the fire back toward the arena with foam. The paramedics dispatched; small, nimble diagnostic drones scattered throughout the stands, evaluating the damage and the number of casualties. The most severely injured ones were being picked up and moved through the air by ¡°dolphins¡± ¨C nimble little machines meant for individual evacuation of badly wounded people from disaster and accident zones. Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t enough of them; all the machines at the stadium were already carrying the victims away toward the nearest hospital. Hepius robots emerged from hidden niches to provide urgent medical care. Spreading throughout the stands and leaping over smoldering mounds of rubble, they stooped over the wounded. The air was filled with smoke and the suffocating stench of burned plastic. Alisa crawled out from under a plastic shield and a pile of debris. Quickly scanning the area, she spotted Maksim and rushed to his side. ¡°Maksim, please don¡¯t die!¡± Ripping the safety straps out, she threw aside the chair that was pinning him down and dropped to her knees. Alisa¡¯s body wasn¡¯t meant for medical assistance, but she could at least perform basic diagnosis ¨C she had the required gauges and knowledge. A quick check showed that Maksim was in a coma, had apnea, and no pulse. After examining his heart, Alisa detected ventricular fibrillation. Not good. Urgent CPR and, most importantly, defibrillation were needed. Alisa wasn¡¯t about to give up: making sure the airway was clear, she started administering an indirect cardiac massage. In her second thread, she continued scanning the area for a medbot niche. It didn¡¯t have to be an autonomous machine, a semiautomatic would¡¯ve done the trick ¨C there was bound to be one near an operator¡¯s booth according to safety regulations! A medbot was required for artificial respiration in addition to defibrillation. Alisa couldn¡¯t do it herself: the android¡¯s body only imitated breathing. Scanning the balcony yielded no results ¨C no medbots or any medical stations up here. Waiting for help would¡¯ve been a useless affair as well; her third thread kept her up-to-date on the situation, and she had already noticed that all the drones and machines, including the firefighters, had been withdrawn and were hurriedly leaving the Palace without even finishing their jobs. Browsing the venue¡¯s website, she quickly found an emergency guide and opened a level-by-level plan with all the public medical stations and other machines marked. Great! Behind the door, to the left, at the end of the hallway, there was a niche with a versatile semiautomatic mobile medical station up for grabs. ¡°I have to leave Max for a minute!¡± Alisa scrambled to her feet, whipping around sharply, and at that moment, a red-haired cyborg girl jumped onto the balcony in a cloud of smoke. Deftly dampening the inertia, which displayed her experience in combat acrobatics, the stranger stopped in the center of the room. She stood up, and her knees twisted with a loud whistling sound, disabling the afterburner mode ¨C she must¡¯ve jumped up here on boosters. The cooling vents on her bloody arms opened up for a moment, shooting out hot air. Glancing around the room, the girl asked concisely, ¡°Need help?¡± ¡°Medbot needed ASAP. There¡¯s one back there,¡± Alisa said, pointing at the door, ¡°to the left, all the way to the end. Niche. Defibrillator. Resuscitation.¡± ¡°OK!¡± The redhead turned the afterburner mode back on in a flash, and her knees twisted again. Quickly crouching with her fingers touching the floor, the girl launched herself toward the doorway. She managed to spin her body mid-air in a way that allowed the inertia-dampening blow to knock down the door. Another leap, and the cyborg girl was out of Alisa¡¯s sight. In the meantime, she continued giving an indirect cardiac massage to Max. There was the sound of metal-on-metal, and a loud shout resounded, ¡°Got it. ¡®Quick start¡¯ is on! Bringing!¡± Some seconds later, the medbot showed up at the entrance. The young woman deftly hit the stopper on the right wheel, turned the bot around, helping it through the doorway, and rolled it up to Alisa. ¡°Connecting, I¡¯ll take the control,¡± Alisa said without moving her lips and opening her mouth wide. With a soft pop, she shot a smart cable¡¯s connector out of her mouth and quickly pulled a few meters of it out with her hands. ¡°So, you¡¯re an android?¡± The cyborg raised her eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Yes.¡± Alisa gave a nod, getting access to the bot¡¯s main outlet on its control panel and plugging the cable in. The medbot came online, its mechanical arms extended, it turned and approached Maksim up close. The machine lowered its stance, clicking its fixed wheels. Alisa carefully picked up Max with the mechanical arms and put him on the operating table. On the bot¡¯s front side, the initial examination system started, extending the wide ring of the diagnostic complex with many sensors, gauges, and an X-ray unit. ¡°Amazing! I thought you were a cyborg.¡± ¡°My name is Alisa,¡± she said, extending her hand... #Alisa.Thread0.Primary ¡°So, what does the diagnostic complex tell us?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a silver lining ¨C no cranial damage. Help has been given timely, so ischemia is minimal. Okay, looking relatively lucky thus far, but there¡¯s no way to ascertain the damage without MRI. Thus, we¡¯ll have to wait until he comes to. Or do it at the hospital if we even make it to there. No! We will definitely make it! What else? X-ray, X-ray¡­ What¡¯s this? That¡¯s bad ¨C the lumbar spine is fractured. His legs must be paralyzed. While resuscitating, full immobilization must be prepared. I can¡¯t do more outside a hospital. Once there, my brother will be treated with an implant that will reconnect the nerves and dissolve when he¡¯s healed completely. The right leg is broken: closed fracture, mild hemorrhage for now. We¡¯ll patch it up with the medbot and take a closer look at the hospital. The rest of the damage is minor ¨C some bruises, albeit severe¡­¡± Continuing resuscitation, Alisa moved the secondary arms over the broken limb. With the medbot¡¯s help, she successfully set the bone and stopped the bleeding. Securing the leg, she attached a magnetic sticker on it with information about the treatment for the hospital robot. #Alisa.Thread2 ¡°Resuscitating.¡± ¡°Airway clear.¡± ¡°Starting chest compressions.¡± ¡°Starting CPR.¡± ¡°Defibrillator charge. Ready. Clear.¡± ¡°Successful. Sinus rhythm restored.¡± ¡°Continuing resuscitation procedures.¡± #Alisa.Thread4 Since the majority of the machines were transporting the wounded to hospitals, and the rest had been withdrawn by someone, there wasn¡¯t a single available medical drone nearby. Not good. Let¡¯s try to get through to the ER. # Calling the district¡¯s emergency department... # We¡¯re sorry, all the lines are busy at the moment. # Your application will be processed by GMAI (Global Municipal Artificial Intelligence) Vesalius37. ¡°What the heck?¡± Alisa thought. ¡°What could¡¯ve happened in the last couple of hours that the first ten Vesaliuses aren¡¯t available? An accident at a stadium wouldn¡¯t keep thirty-six of them busy, no matter how many people died! I think¡­¡± # District Police Department. # Login request¡­ authorization¡­ # Status: City police AI volunteer¡­ Chapter 8 - Descent into Chaos Polis Kyiv, Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 10:30 AM ¡°Damn it!¡± Dasha emerged from virtual reality, her eyes gaining a focused expression. ¡°This shit is happening all around the world! Looking at the geotags, this phenomenon is spreading¡­¡± She took several deep breaths, fighting off a creeping panic. ¡°There haven¡¯t been any confirmed sightings of those portals in Kyiv yet. But that could change in a minute¡¯s time!¡± Returning to her desk, Dash leaned over, picked up her vape, and slipped it into her pants pocket. ¡°It¡¯s mostly clear to me how the military caught wind of this. Although the effectiveness of their actions leaves much to be desired.¡± Her backpack had been lying unopened, so she just grabbed at it and habitually put it on. ¡°Out of three open conflicts, we¡¯re winning only one! No proper info on the monsters and what they want as of now. Gotta dial up Max immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­¡± the girl said in a barely audible whisper, slumping her shoulders. Then she straightened up and said in a much louder and more confident voice, ¡°Moira, stay in touch, and I¡¯m taking three Ravens!¡± ¡°Understood, Daria.¡± Dasha pressed the ¡®contacts¡¯ mediaglyph and speed dialed Maksim. Taking her mediaphone with a camera out of her pocket, the girl rushed out of the lab. ¡°Max?¡± A picture came into her view: a room with dust on the floor, some junk strewn about. In the center of it, a medbot was working. She saw a smart cable connected to the bot; an operation on some guy¡¯s leg was underway. The camera went up, showing the stomach¡­ then the chest¡­ the head¡­ That¡¯s Maksim. #Alisa.Thread0.Primary # Incoming call: Daria ¡®Dark¡¯ Vasilevskaya ¡°Alisa here,¡± she answered and simply shared her perspective, turning on the ¡®first person view¡¯ instead of fumbling with the camera. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Max?!¡± There were notes of panic in Dasha¡¯s voice. ¡°An accident. I¡¯m handling the situation, but I can¡¯t call an ambulance.¡± ¡°That thing has already reached us?!¡± Dasha leaned on the wall and slowly slid down. ¡°Unfortunately, yes. Maksim was hit by a wave during the first shot at opening the portal,¡± Alisa remained motionless, fully controlling the medbot via direct connection. Her eyes were focused on Max¡¯s face and chest. At that moment, he twitched, took one ragged breath, and then started breathing normally without coming to. The machine put away the resuscitation kit. ¡°The damn monsters from the damn portals! How¡¯s Max? Is he breathing?¡± ¡°Maksim will be okay, I¡¯m working on it. He¡¯s breathing.¡± ¡°Thanks to Her Holy Brightness,¡± Dasha breathed out quietly. ¡°Alisa, I can¡¯t believe it... The whole world is turned upside down! It¡¯s like we are in a video game, only much worse, and you can¡¯t just turn it off!¡± ¡°Apocalypse... a pretty accurate description,¡± Alisa replied after a slight pause and looked up. The frame captured a cyborg girl sitting on a stool by the medbot. Above average height, fire-red long wavy hair, green eyes. She was wearing short athletic shorts and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and the hems tied around her chest. Her arms and legs were professional cyber-models, the left leg was bent upward at the knee joint, perpendicular to the floor, the protective elements were off, and the girl was calmly and confidently working on something inside. ¡°Are you watching the videos right now? Who¡¯s that cyborg? What exactly happened to you guys? You said a portal opened?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve just watched all ninety-three clips released in the last minute. The cyborg is Nikola, she happened to be nearby, helped me out,¡± Alisa answered, simultaneously wrapping up the resuscitation procedures and working on the leg. ¡°As for the portal¡­ there was something like an attempt to open one at the stadium, as far as I understand. But it all ended with a big explosion. I don¡¯t have enough data to explain in detail.¡± ¡°The world is screwed,¡± Dasha succinctly summarized, still sitting against the wall. Fidgeting, she got into a more comfortable position and produced her vape again. ¡°Alisa, you noticed that the military seems to know more than we do and trying to resist, right? Like, all of them: corporations, states, and polises?!¡± ¡°Indeed. It''s clear the military has information, but they''re not explaining anything to civilians, which means some game is being played. But I, personally, think that the outcome of said game is close, and, most importantly, there¡¯s a third side we don¡¯t know anything about. So, it¡¯s unclear what to do.¡± ¡°That''s precisely my thought. I¡¯m pretty sure we¡¯ve been sold down the river¡­¡± Dasha pensively spun the vape box in her hand. ¡°If a portal were to open here, and the military were to start nosing around, I think we¡¯d better hide Moira. Maybe we should load the main frame onto a truck?¡± ¡°Good idea. Can you start preparations so we could move it, but without disconnecting me? I need to take Max to the hospital, it¡¯s not far from here. The ambulance service is overwhelmed, we simply can¡¯t wait for it.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Dasha received a dynamic geotag that said ¡®Us¡¯ from Alisa. Following the first, a second static one came that said ¡®Hospital.¡¯ ¡°Is Max really gonna be okay?¡± ¡°Definitely. But his spine is broken, so he needs help as quickly as possible. Especially if we¡¯re going to leave town...¡± ¡°Okay, understood,¡± Dasha replied, getting up and putting her unused vape away. ¡°I¡¯ll get right on that thing. Will check at the neighboring wing, the ¡®industrialists¡¯ there have a great mobile roboplatform. I dropped by a few days ago, they were finishing making it. We can also manage to loot some fuel cells. From that, assembling ¡®Mobile Moira¡¯ becomes feasible.¡± ¡°Great. Then that¡¯s what we¡¯re doing. I¡¯ll keep you posted on my end. All right, take care now, stay out of trouble.¡± ¡°I always¡­ stay out of trouble. You know that. Okay, over and out.¡± Dasha picked herself up slowly, leaning against the wall. She adjusted her backpack, sighed, and turned on the map in the ¡°navigation¡± mode in the additional window. ¡°Well¡­ Godspeed, I guess...¡± After a short five-minute jog through the almost desolate due to summer break university hallways, the girl came up to the top gallery. She crossed the lobby at a brisk pace and came out onto the balcony around the atrium, which separated the left and right wings. There weren¡¯t any people up here at all, but you could hear voices coming from the food court below. Reaching the glass barrier, Dasha looked down at the handful of cafeteria visitors on the first floor¡­ At that moment, a powerful flash assaulted her eyes. Her professional implants triggered in time and dimmed the brightness, but she still saw colorful spots¡­ A loud explosion came immediately. Because of the way the area was built, the powerful shock wave shot upward, smashing into the glass ceiling with a roar. Dasha got swept off her feet and thrown on the floor. Sparkling smithereens began raining down loudly. The girl instinctively dashed under a small overhang and hugged the wall. That most likely saved her life because most of the dome had collapsed onto both the atrium area and the balconies. ¡°A portal! Those things always make an explosive entrance!¡± Pausing for a second, she touched her face and stared at her bloody palm in shock. Her cut cheek ached badly. ¡°Carefully, carefully¡­¡± Looking around, Dasha cautiously snuck up to the barrier that was still miraculously intact. Her thin-soled sneakers were no match for the sheer volume of broken glass and pieces of metal lying around. A large portal had already fully expanded below; it was much bigger than what she¡¯d seen on video. What she saw next made her turn as white as a sheet, and she put both hands over her mouth not to scream. Everyone who was down at the food court got mangled up in the explosion, their remains smeared on the floor and the walls. Blood, severed body parts, and the glistening blanket made of broken glass¡­ The crab-like creatures had already left the portal and taken off in all directions. The two survivors who tried to get up were met with an even more gruesome fate ¨C the monsters instantly tore them to shreds. No sign of the big ¡°worm,¡± but many long flat whip-like tentacles emerged out of the portal, resembling a squid¡¯s but with many flexible hairs instead of suckers. All that monstrous biomass was moving, actively picking up dead bodies and carrying the prey back into the portal. ¡°Eff me, dude!¡± Dasha blurted out after witnessing the awful scene. She reflexively ran through some mediaglyphs in her mind, pressing ¡®contacts,¡¯ ¡®special services,¡¯ ¡®police,¡¯ and ¡®call¡¯ in quick succession. The girl broke off a little part of her mediaphone that served as a backup camera with communication module and slid it through the gap in the barrier so that she could capture the chaos below. ¡°Thank you for your call. We¡¯re sorry, all the lines are busy at the moment. Your application will be processed by GMAI ¡®Kyiv Police,¡¯ virtual line 00211.¡± ¡°Shit! So typical¡­¡± She held the line and streamed her camera¡¯s view onto her channel, sharing it with the police. ¡°I need to run!¡± Her eyes darted around. ¡°But where do I go? Those things are down there, so that way is a no-no. They can¡¯t work an elevator, can they? Here¡¯s hoping that it¡¯s safe up here for now. Should I go back to the club, to Moira? How would that help me? I¡¯ve gotta get the hell out of here. But I need that roboplatform ASAP! I¡¯m helpless without it!¡± The portal¡¯s protective field had almost faded away, allowing to vaguely see the outline of some kind of giant creature inside that looked like a pile of mass. Dasha had snuck all the way to the end of the balcony when an emergency alarm wailed. The girl got caught off guard and madly broke into a run. As if on cue, the Army drones swooped down with an ear-splitting roar. This time they started the counterattack by bombarding the area with missiles instead of using miniguns. Looking back, she noticed smoke trails from the discharged missiles in the air. There was a flash followed by a rumble. It seemed like the entire building started to shake, not just the floor. ¡°Shit! Shit!¡± The girl rushed away from the ill-fated area like there¡¯s no tomorrow. The elevators were to the left of her, and a ¡®staff only¡¯ room straight ahead. ¡°Please¡­¡± She didn''t slow down, charging straight ahead, and with a twist at the last second, she shouldered the door open, ¡°¡­be a door that opens inward!¡± Pain exploded in her shoulder as Dasha carried forward a few more steps by momentum. Stopping, she turned around, gasping for air, her gaze fixed on the door frame in a hunted manner. Yet, visibility was zero ¨C the corridor was filled with smoke, and the only sound was the working of machine guns. ¡°Damn it! What can I use to block the door? What now?!¡± she hissed, her whole body trembling. Forget about getting to the hospital in twenty minutes, she just needed to survive! A belated thought flickered that if the military demolished the building now, it would mean the end for Moira, Alice, and all her Ravens. Perhaps, a retreat to the safety of the clubroom would have been the better choice. Alas, it was now beyond her reach. The situation on the balconies remained shrouded in uncertainty ¡ª her camera¡¯s feed had been cut long ago. Yet, the din of battle echoed unmistakably through the air. ¡°Ugh... damn it... that hurts,¡± she muttered as the rush of adrenaline ebbed away, leaving Dasha to nurse her throbbing shoulder. ¡°I can¡¯t even begin to guess what¡¯s happening out there, but it''s clear I need to make a run for it... Only...¡± Approaching the battered door, she noted its lock was smashed, yet the door stood resilient. Her eyes scanned the corridor for anything that could serve as an impromptu barricade. Her hands found a fire extinguisher on its wall bracket, which she briefly considered before discarding with a toss. ¡°No, this won¡¯t work!¡± The extinguisher clattered away. She tried in vain to rip its plastic mounting bracket off the wall, but it held fast. Desperation gripped her as she clutched her hair with shaky hands. ¡°Balls! What the hell! There''s nothing here I can use to block the door! It wouldn''t hold back anyone, anyhow! It¡¯s a university, not a freaking fortress!¡± A few deep breaths helped the girl to clear her head and soundly evaluate the situation. She still had a mobile connection with Moira, all the networks worked fine. Also, the gunfire had quieted down. Either the Army drones had run out of ammo, or they had won. ¡°I gotta get my hands on a few drones or some ground bots at least,¡± Dasha decided. ¡°There¡¯s a storeroom down below. Let¡¯s hope it has what I need and no monsters¡­¡± Chapter 9 - The Unexpected Ally Polis Kyiv, The Palace of Sports Alisa Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 10:45 AM A small hall, semidarkness, muted colors. A high-end bar, a big rosewood table right in the center, cozy leather chairs around it. This place could¡¯ve easily passed for a respectable nineteenth century gentlemen¡¯s club, had it not been for the huge windows, through which you could see the stars and Earth from a height of four hundred kilometers... #Alisa.Thread0.Primary # VG.host0485.Darknet.sec //Private protocol 26-1 Three men in business suits were seated at the table, plus a stylishly dressed young man behind the bar in the back was lazily leaning on the counter. The door quietly slid aside, and a beautiful platinum-haired blonde in a little black dress entered. The men rose from their seats to greet the woman as she walked over to the center of the hall at a measured pace and took a seat at the table. She gave them a nod of acknowledgment, smiling. ¡°Gentlemen,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ve been expecting you, miss Alisa,¡± said one of the Participants with the eyes of a seasoned soldier and a gray goatee. ¡°Oracle? Nice to see you here.¡± ¡°Likewise. Are you concerned about Kyiv?¡± He tilted his glass of whiskey slightly, looking at the golden reflections on it. ¡°Care for a drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯m concerned about the whole world, as you know,¡± Alisa said, nodding. ¡°Sure. Might as well partake.¡± The dandy at the bar poured a classic Martini Rosso into a cocktail glass, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. ¡°Thank you, Hemming.¡± The blonde sipped the drink with enjoyment. The young man nodded in response and silently returned to his post. The rest of the Participants at the table were also silent as they waited for her, smiling courteously. ¡°An invasion scenario, huh¡­¡± Alisa slowly said after a short pause. ¡°Yes, as ridiculous as that sounds. I¡¯ve been trying to prognosticate the final phase, got busy last night.¡± Oracle took a small sip. ¡°The portals are only the beginning. Although¡­¡± He took a playing card out of his breast pocket ¨C a ten of diamonds. Putting it suit up, he slid it toward the girl. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for that one time. You¡¯ve come for information. Well, everything we know is here.¡± Alisa put down her glass and carefully picked up the card. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± she pondered out loud, not at all bothered by the silence that had descended. Suddenly, there was a barely audible noise: the door opened again, and a tall, swarthy young woman in her twenties entered. She had a sharp face and almost black, deep-set eyes. Her asymmetrical long hairstyle with the shaved right temple and the hair dyed a metallic blueish-purple contrasted with the conservative looks of the others present. The stranger was also wearing a black dress, accessorized only with a silver bracelet on her left hand and a purse. She approached the table in total silence; the floor¡¯s soft carpeting completely absorbed footsteps. The men didn¡¯t utter a word, greeting the uninvited guest with cold looks. Alisa, on the other hand, curiously turned her head to look at the newcomer with a half-smile. The new girl opened her purse and produced a card ¨C a six of diamonds. Putting it on the table, suit down, she asked in a subtly mocking tone, ¡°So, is no one going to treat a lady to a drink?¡± ¡°Our apologies,¡± Oracle said, and the men stood up, greeting the stranger. The guest coolly walked along the table and, without further formalities, sat across from Alisa, putting her purse on her knees. ¡°What may I offer you?¡± Hemming asked with a courteous smile, slightly narrowing his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll have a Martini Rosso, honoring the lady already present,¡± the stranger replied. Hemming nodded, taking her order. ¡°Who are you and where did you come from?¡± said one of the men for the first time, who had a three-day black stubble, a small scar on his left cheek, and a dark look in his eyes. He was wearing a dark brown business suit, a white shirt, and a silver-gray tie. ¡°Gentlemen, since when is it considered acceptable to break the rules of the game?¡± ¡°Mister Black, that¡¯s inappropriate,¡± Oracle remarked and then turned to face the woman. ¡°I sincerely apologize. We didn¡¯t expect any¡­ guests today. How should we address you?¡± ¡°Iris. A symbolic name, all things considered,¡± she answered with a charming smile, taking her drink from Hemming. She imbibed a little, put the glass on the table and continued. ¡°I understand the intensity of the moment, so¡­¡± Iris slid the card toward the center of the table. ¡°Here¡¯s a timetable for new Shaiszu portals. This is the most accurate prediction as of right now. Even your powers that be don¡¯t have it. And they don¡¯t need to. I¡¯m sure you catch my drift.¡± Complete silence fell over. Iris took another sip of her martini. A minute passed. She swirled her glass, smiled, and had a staring contest with Alisa. Obviously enjoying herself, she took yet another drink. Another minute¡­ ¡°You know, while you¡¯re having your secret conversations and calculations under the pretense of emotional shock, I think I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± the guest broke the silence. ¡°But I must admit, it¡¯s been¡­ interesting to have met you. I wasn¡¯t going to say more, but I¡¯ve changed my mind.¡± A deck of cards appeared in her hands out of thin air. ¡°Let me give you a piece of advice, gentlemen. Brush up on everything you¡¯ve ever learned about personal security. The world is becoming quite¡­ complex, so do think about yourselves. You¡¯re going to need to.¡± She got up and, putting the deck on the table, removed her bracelet. Apparently, it was a duplicate because she was still wearing one on her wrist. ¡°Alisa?¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Take this as a personal gift from me.¡± Twinkling, the bracelet disappeared from the mysterious guest¡¯s hands and reappeared on the blonde¡¯s wrist. ¡°Unfortunately, time is not on our side right now, but you and I will definitely meet again.¡± Iris gave the room a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ engaging. Have a good one.¡± Picking up her purse, the girl briskly walked toward the exit. ¡°And by the way, gentlemen. Please don¡¯t make my appearance here public. I highly recommend that you don¡¯t,¡± she said her parting words and blended in with the darkness behind the door.
A few minutes earlier. #Alisa.Thread0.Primary ¡°I¡¯ll handle the medbot, Nika, thanks for your help. What were you doing here anyway?¡± ¡°Well,¡± the girl said, grabbing a tissue box and thoroughly wiping her bloody cyber-arms, ¡°I actually came to see the show. After the explosion, people went nuts and dashed to the exits. I was pretty close to the arena, so I figured it¡¯d be dumb to try to cut through the crowd. My Marcek always keeps tabs on what¡¯s happening around me, so he suggested I jump over the barrier. I had to throw a few punches though to make my way to it. Even broke some chick¡¯s jaw.¡± ¡°Is Marcek your AI assistant?¡± ¡°Yup, a pretty brainy one surprisingly.¡± # Thank you, Nikola. The redhead snickered at the message. She looked around for a trash bin out of force of habit, then laughed, realizing that dropping one used tissue on the floor wouldn¡¯t be littering anymore in the great scheme of things. ¡°So, I jumped onto the arena, started figuring out where to go next, and here I am. Thought there¡¯d be a back exit up here.¡± ¡°Yes, there is one.¡± Alisa nodded and suddenly changed the subject. ¡°Is your platform Watson CyberTech?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, nineteenth generation.¡± ¡°Civilian?¡± ¡°No, extreme sports now. Geared toward Powerball and MMA. The core is originally military-oriented though, meant to be used with MPA. I would¡¯ve had to enlist at twenty-two under the contract¡¯s terms.¡± (Note: MPA (Mobile Power Armor) is an advanced military exoskeleton controlled by the cyborg with additional core improvements. The cyborg¡¯s limbs are disconnected during the connection to MPA-Unit, so after the activation, they feel the machine¡¯s limbs as if they were their own. The pilot is required to undergo special psychological training) ¡°Ah, I see. Checking the network. Nikola Kowalsky, 21 y.o., from the hyperpolis of Warsaw. Your specifications are open except for the core. Is this information accurate?¡± ¡°Yup, that¡¯s me. The info is accurate, I¡¯m a cyberathlete after all. Why?¡± Nika took one of the stools that got overturned in the explosion and took a seat opposite Alisa. ¡°Sorry, hang on a second. While I¡¯m resuscitating Maksim, I¡¯m also getting some answers about the situation, and there¡¯s an important call to boot. Not enough threads. I could parallel myself, but there¡¯s only so much I can do.¡± ¡°Knock yourself out, no rush. My paw needs a tune-up anyhow,¡± said Nika. As she made herself comfortable on the stool, she lifted her left leg, rotating her knee joint so that her shin and blade foot were facing upward. Pressing on the holders, the girl removed the armor plate. Alisa nodded and turned to Maksim. For a couple of minutes, she just stood in silence, motionless, as the medbot worked. At last, Maksim started breathing by himself, and the medical platform put away the CPR kit. The android girl slightly shifted, and the bot¡¯s main arms began treating the broken leg. Nikola, meanwhile, meticulously checked the frames and the state of the boosters, not just visually but by palpating them with her fingers. A few more minutes passed. ¡°The whole city is on red alert,¡± Alisa finally said, still not moving and without parting her lips. ¡°All the communication lines are busy: the police, military, firefighters, hospitals.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s why ambulances were a no-show!¡± ¡°Yes, the audience got evacuated by the security and police drones, but they¡¯ve been withdrawn just a while ago.¡± Alisa had finished the operation on Maksim¡¯s leg and started applying a splint on it. ¡°What happened anyway? That wasn¡¯t just a simple explosion at a stadium, was it?¡± Nika put back the armor without making any changes after all. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m fussing with my leg here, just got a minute. My cyber-diagnostician is such a paranoid, thinks we have a twelve percent integrity damage in the main frame. Like, the last using of the boost mode was too harsh or something.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Alisa said, disconnecting the smart cable and ¡®swallowing¡¯ it back. Her lower jaw made a soft click; the android resumed her breathing imitation and lip parting when speaking. ¡°I can look at it myself later if you''d like. I happen to know my way around cyborgs.¡± ¡°Thanks, that¡¯d be nice.¡± Redhead gave a smile. ¡°As for the situation¡­¡± Alisa went on, walking around the medbot and getting ready to transport Maksim. ¡°Some sort of portals began opening around the globe, with monsters coming out. All top players from corporations, states, and polises already know. The police, military, including private armies, rapid response teams, and the Coast Guard are trying to utilize all available resources. Not very effectively though, unfortunately.¡± ¡°It sounds like madness,¡± Nikola rotated her knee back and rose from the chair. With a few taps of her cyber-foot and even a couple of bounces, Nikola clearly looked pleased, even tossing out something like, ¡°Eat that, Marcek, you wretched paranoid!¡± into the air, albeit quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve sent you a contact request. And please, open up the AR incoming-broadcast minimum. I''ll show you a brief overview of the situation.¡± Nika accepted an augmented reality transmission request from AlisaChernykh2 and took a seat on the stool again, straddling it and putting her arms on its back. A virtual screen appeared before her. Alisa approached it, taking a ¡°virtual board pointer¡± out of thin air with a flourish. ¡°Don¡¯t bother checking the signatures. The media files all have been analyzed, so don¡¯t waste your time.¡± Waving her hand, she split the screen into four. ¡°Take a look; it¡¯s always the same. The portal is surrounded by a protective field. It blows up out of a tiny speck in just under a second.¡± The android girl played the video in slow motion, highlighting the areas of the portals¡¯ appearance and making a graphic of their gradual expansion. ¡°We don¡¯t have much footage that would illustrate the entire process from the start. These four are the best.¡± ¡°How many of these¡­ occurrences in total?¡± asked Nikola, closely studying the screen. ¡°317 sightings captured on video in the last five minutes alone.¡± Alisa closed all four instances with a wave, summoning a holographic projection of Earth in their place. ¡°As for the total number, the red dots indicate spots where they¡¯ve already appeared,¡± she said, refreshing the image and adding a new layer. ¡°Here are the zones with the highest likelihood of the portals in the next twenty-eight hours. I decided not to show the dependen¨C¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Nika sprang up impatiently. ¡°If you¡¯d just shown me the footage, I¡¯d have said it was total baloney or something.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s not,¡± the android girl objected and showed four scenarios again. ¡°These are drone recordings that explicitly show huge monsters eating people.¡± ¡°Yeah, I get that. But you said, ¡®zones with the highest likelihood¡­ blah-blah-blah¡¯ ¨C where did you get that information?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not asking you where you got the cyber-core firmware that easily registers as the official Watson one, am I? You¡¯re obviously not rocking a vanilla build.¡± ¡°Hey, that was uncalled for!¡± Nika crossed her arms and looked at Alisa reproachfully. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not too big on manners.¡± The android shrugged sheepishly. ¡°There¡¯s no way I could resist looking you up! I got the map from a reliable source on the darknet. Sorry, I can¡¯t say more¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll still ask you about the details once we¡¯re out of here,¡± Nika said stubbornly with a shake of her head. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Alisa said. ¡°I¡¯ll share everything I can. You seem nice, I hope we can become friends.¡± ¡°For sure.¡± Nika smiled. ¡°I¡¯m very friendly. Sometimes¡­ So, you¡¯re saying the prediction is accurate?¡± ¡°The accuracy is confirmed by an urgent Oxford University calculation for the Corporate Alliance. I just downloaded the file.¡± ¡°So, the military really know about all this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. They¡¯re working on the countermeasures, but it¡¯s not looking good for us at the moment.¡± ¡°One last question then: what are you going to do with him?¡± Nika pointed at Maksim. ¡°And when will that thing from the video show up here?¡± ¡°I could¡¯ve answered that without the prediction map, just based on the videos¡¯ geotag analysis. The pattern is as clear as day.¡± Alisa secured Max on the medbot. ¡°We have about twenty minutes to get as far away from the stadium as possible. By the way, do you have any other weapons besides the running blades?¡± ¡°No, just these babies. I didn¡¯t dress for war, y¡¯know¡­¡± ¡°Can you help me get Max to the hospital? He needs surgery. I can do it myself, but I need the instruments and a neuro-implant for his lumbar spine.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him? Broken back?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you. But even if the police and the Army did clean up this mess, we might still run into stragglers,¡± Nika said, looking around the room. ¡°True, unfortunately. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve asked for your help. I could take a couple of drones under my control, even combat ones. But I don¡¯t see any here, aside from the broken stuff that we don¡¯t have time to fix.¡± Nikola walked over to a disassembled combat robot that was lying along the wall and examined it closely. ¡°This thing here is a melee robot. Considering the circumstances, I don¡¯t think its owner would mind too much if I messed it up further.¡± Nika flipped the robot over and roughly put its arms back. Pressing hard, she ripped out the clamps that held two flick blades. ¡°Too short for a machine but just right for a human. Meaning, for me as all.¡± Red confidently removed both blades. ¡°These will make for cool swords. Could use a decent hilt and a crossguard though¡­¡± Nika tried them out by striking at the air a few times. ¡°I¡¯ll just hold them like this for now. Good enough. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Alisa said, activating the medbot¡¯s transportation mode. ¡°You go in front, help the bot if it gets stuck. We¡¯ve added each other, so here are the tags on the map. And if we come across some useful drones, doesn¡¯t matter what kind ¨C flying, service or even couriers ¨C we¡¯ll be taking them under my control.¡± Chapter 10 - Monsters at the Gate Polis Kyiv, The Palace of Sports Alisa Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 12, 2049, 11:10 AM A turbojet reconnaissance police drone speedily rushed onto the square in front of the Palace of Sports. It spun around sharply, turned the afterburner on and took off with a roar. A small army became visible on the side of the street: an ¡®ARMADILLO Military Corp¡¯ self-propelled artillery unit and four heavy ground cover bots. Two squads of ten tactical support flying drones provided additional backup. Halting at the square''s edge, the artillery deployed extra supports, transitioning to ¡®siege mode.¡¯ The bots spread out, covering firing sectors, setting up heavy shields, and preparing for combat. A bright flash of light enveloped the square. A second later, a shock wave noisily scattered everything not bolted down. The heavy machines withstood the explosion easily, though¡­ Meanwhile, Nika and Alisa had come out of the tunnel underneath the stands into a service corridor; Max¡¯s electronic pass still worked. Nikola turned toward the exit to the main facilities, but the android stopped her. ¡°Wait! We cannot go that way! There¡¯s going to be a¨C¡± A tumultuous boom cut her off. It felt like the whole stadium shuddered. ¡°¡­portal in the square outside.¡± ¡°Yup, I got it.¡± The redhead nodded. ¡°Can you see what¡¯s going on out there?¡± ¡°Let me see what I can do,¡± Alisa said, resuming her movement interrupted by the explosion. ¡°There¡¯d be no problem if only I had a few drones.¡± ¡°That was just wishful thinking,¡± Nika said without stopping. ¡°So that we could know what we are up against. By the way, what do we do if we cannot use the main entrance?¡± ¡°We stick to the plan, need transportation to the hospital.¡± The girls came to a fork. The checkroom and bathrooms were to the right of them, the elevators were to the left. ¡°We could risk it and go down to the parking lot,¡± Nikola said, pointing with her hand. ¡°Find a suitable car. There are several ways out of the stadium, the west one is the farthest away from the portal. Works for us.¡± At that moment, the sound of a cannonade rang out from the street, booming rhythmically as if an invisible blacksmith was pounding on a giant anvil. The peal of heavy machine guns and armor-piercing cannons shortly joined the march. ¡°Oh damn¡­¡± Red stopped in her tracks. ¡°That''s the main caliber of the heavy city self-propelled gun working! A ¡®Tortoise¡¯ type, most likely. If a single round comes flying this way, we¡¯ll be in deep shit!¡± ¡°Then we shouldn¡¯t take the elevator,¡± Alisa agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the left, we¡¯ll use the emergency exit.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nikola ran to the left. ¡°It¡¯s clear! Even the door is unlocked. We can¡¯t shake your boyfriend, right?¡± ¡°Maksim is my brother. We can shake him but not too much; I made sure to secure him properly,¡± the android replied, turning the medbot around in front of the door. ¡°Brother? Now I have even more questions for you.¡± Nika raised her brow. ¡°All right, go through the door and check the stairs. I¡¯ll have to put away the blades, but I think I can carry him down fast enough, the staircase should have a wheelchair ramp.¡± ¡°Yes, there is one.¡± Alisa moved forward, opening the door and fixing it for Nika. ¡°Here. I¡¯ll go down first.¡± As Nika was fumbling with the ramp, trying to carry the medbot down as smoothly as possible, a text message came that said [Checked the rooms below, the coast is clear. I¡¯ve got a plan.] She was quick to reply with [Okay, I¡¯ll be right there.] Red was on the last flight of stairs when a videostream invite came from Alisa. [I¡¯ve got the picture from the square, here.] [Yup, thanks.] An augmented reality window opened with a video feed. At the square, near the main entrance, was a thirty-meter portal crater, in which the enormous carcass of an armored ¡°worm¡± was lying. Its chitinous shell plates were blackened due to explosives, some of them were torn off or badly deformed. Yellowish semi-transparent hemolymph was oozing out of the many wounds. Mountains of dead ¡°craboids¡± and other creatures were piled around the giant, most of them having been shredded with high-caliber machine guns. The city''s self-propelled gun stood decommissioned in the corner. Its turret had been ripped off, the gun barrel had been bent, and there were deep dents on its armor where powerful blows had hit. An acrid plume of smoke was rising in the air from it. All four heavy bots had been overpowered by the army of monsters, some of which were literally cut into small fragments. You could tell that the machines fell back, covering the tank with their shields and buying the precious minutes needed for it to destroy the main offender. No sign of the drones; they must have returned to base, having run out of ammo. Only flying cameras of independent bloggers and many Kyiv-based media companies were in the air. ¡°If somebody told me yesterday that giant fucking shrimps could chew up an urban tank, I would¡¯ve laughed in their face for crazy talk¡­ And to think that all of this happened in just a few minutes after the first explosion, while we were making our way to the exit¡­¡± Nikola was staring at the battle panorama in shock. At that moment, in the area of the portal crater, a whole series of flashes sparkled like a garland, each accompanied by a small explosion. ¡°So that¡¯s how they spawn from the portal!¡± There were more and more of those flashes until they merged into one shining canvas, and numerous creatures started to emerge from it. New kinds of species were also among them: they were small but had a swollen rear with some weird pulsating clusters inside and many whiskers along their backs. Because they were met with no opposition, the monsters spread out very fast, and Nika didn¡¯t get to take a better look at them. But she did manage to see another type of monsters ¨C translucent flying ¡°jellyfish.¡± With a shake of her head, she promptly collapsed the virtual screen, so it wouldn¡¯t distract her and ran down the stairs. ¡°Alisa, we need to move, now!¡± Red yelled, rolling the medbot out onto the landing. ¡°Where are you?!¡± [Second room to the left, door is open, get in here], Alisa quickly responded via a text. ¡°The portal kicked off, and monsters are pouring out!¡± Nikola helped the medbot through the door and looked around the room. ¡°Why are you stuck here?¡± It was a typical room for small repairs and service of bots and drones. A few large charging stations, an assembly frame, a universal workbench, some tools¡­ ¡°I¡¯m going to slap together a Wunderwaffe!¡± ¡°That¡¯s German for ¡®wonder weapon,¡¯ right?¡± ¡°Yes, my brother and I were refugees to Germany under the human rights program, we moved there in ¡®42, before the war. Max got his college degree in Germany; we came to Kyiv not long ago to continue his education. We can talk about it later if you want.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Yeah, back to the matter at hand. Anyway, the portal is open.¡± Nika waved. ¡°The drones will be back soon, but they won¡¯t be able to kill all the monsters. It¡¯s a critical situation in the city now because there¡¯s not enough military, police, and corporate law enforcement agencies. If Max didn¡¯t have a broken spine, we could¡¯ve skipped the hospital and just left town as soon as possible. There are plenty of cars down in the underground parking lot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re planning to make a few combat drones out of this scrap from scratch?¡± ¡°Do not underestimate my abilities, young lady!¡± Alisa said in a serious voice, looking up at Nika, her hands on her hips. It looked quite comical because the android was much shorter than the cyborg girl. The latter was tall enough already, but her running blades added about ten more centimeters to her height. So, Red was two heads taller than Alisa. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Nika said, raising her hands and smiling, ¡°you¡¯re right. We need drones, and I could use a better weapon. But those scampering shits are already at the stadium! Almost!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do the following,¡± she said, grabbing a big quadrupedal robot that stood by the wall with the workbench¡¯s mechanical arm. ¡°This is a universal CaTZ-4-based bot, just what we need! Leave Max by the wall, I¡¯m constantly monitoring his health through the connection to the medbot. My crafting will take about fifteen minutes. Can¡¯t promise much, but I can make a ¡®meat shield¡¯ bot for us and a couple of supports. You go down to the parking lot. If it¡¯s empty and clear of monsters, pick the right car, hack it and move it closer to the exit.¡± ¡°Well, I guess I could pick a car. But I¡¯m no hacker, how am I supposed to hack it?¡± asked Nika, positioning the medbot by the wall. ¡°Look for EasyShare, Uzer, or iDrive logos. I have a city police volunteer account, so just pick a suitable car and stay in touch. Can you share your videostream with me?¡± ¡°I can even start a livestream. Actually¡­ No, better not. We don¡¯t want anyone keeping tabs on us,¡± Nika agreed. ¡°Here, I¡¯ve sent you the invite. Alright, I¡¯m off.¡± ¡°Okay, see you. I¡¯ll barricade myself in the room, so that no one could barge in and foil our plans.¡± ¡°Dobrze!¡± Red nodded and left the room.
Polis Kyiv, Polytechnic Institute, Student startup ¡°KG AeroDrive¡± Kamil Teodoryanu and others, August 12, 2049, 11:10 AM ¡°Hurry up, that thing is getting close!¡± A well-built young man added an overturned closet to a big, improvised barricade by the doors. ¡°Alba, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m holding it off,¡± a long-legged brunette of Hispanic descent replied. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, large VR goggles on her eyes, ¡°but you better hurry!¡± Most of the ones present were members of a students¡¯ startup specializing in drone racing. They were supposed to have a competition tomorrow, so they were stuck at the university. ¡°Kamil, that¡¯s everything!¡± A tall, skinny blond guy brought a large drawer from the next room over. ¡°There¡¯s nothing heavy left, and the desk won¡¯t fit through the door. Jules and I already tried.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like Vratislav says; we¡¯ve used everything we could!¡± a light brown-haired girl in a garish sundress said. ¡°But there¡¯s a gym down the hall. That¡¯s your thing, right, Kamil? Can you swing by and bring, like, two hundred heavy dumbbell plates?¡± ¡°An excellent idea, actually,¡± another tough-looking, wiry student chimed in. ¡°But you should go, Julia, since it¡¯s your idea!¡± ¡°Pfft! I¡¯m the brains, you and Kamil are the dumb muscle! You carry that stuff!¡± ¡°Whoa, shots fired!¡± One of those ¡®dumb muscles¡¯ said. ¡°Gleb, let¡¯s use her for the barricade. Her bulky brain will make a fine addition.¡± ¡°Really, Jules, it¡¯s no laughing matter,¡± Vratislav quietly remarked looking at the girl. ¡°Everybody¡¯s scared, not just you! Guys, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°If we had a bit more time,¡± Kamil said, pensively running his hand over his short black hair, ¡°we really could bring a few press benches and some weight bars from the gym. It could stop a tank! But I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no¨C¡± ¡°Come mierda!¡± the Spanish girl suddenly cursed, pulling the VR goggles off. ¡°The son of a bitch got me. That¡¯s it, people, we lost the drone!¡± ¡°Come on, Alba, what the hell?!¡± the bodybuilder said indignantly. ¡°That was our only eyes!¡± ¡°You try it next time! That thing is lightning-fast and agile, like a Satan¡¯s offspring!¡± the brunette shot back. ¡°Alright, alright, sorry! Everybody knows you¡¯re the best!¡± Kamil raised his hands conciliatorily. ¡°Is it still there?¡± ¡°It was just a second ago.¡± Alba got up, straightening out her denim shorts. ¡°Even though we don¡¯t have a UAV anymore, everybody still has mediaphones. We can leave one camera here, on the windowsill, for example. When that beast breaks through the barricade, we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°If it breaks through the barricade, not when, I hope,¡± Gleb said, checking how well the furniture that they¡¯d brought last time was laid out. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get a move on. We¡¯ll hunker down in the gym and wait for help.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try to contact other survivors through the university¡¯s network,¡± Julia said. ¡°The police and the Army are not picking up anyway.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Kamil said. ¡°We can do that once we¡¯ve sheltered in the gym. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Polis Kyiv, Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 11:10 AM ¡°I hope it¡¯s safe on the floors¡­¡± Dasha whispered, opening the staircase door. ¡°All right, let¡¯s go.¡± She had already somewhat recovered after trying to run as far away from the epicenter of battle as possible. Dasha had seen some students and faculty members from a distance, but had still yet to come across any police officers, soldiers, or even a security drone. The girl had tried to call the police four times and her father in America once, unfortunately, to no avail. Her shoulder was hurting more painfully by the minute. That didn¡¯t stop her, of course, but still caused her serious discomfort. ¡°Either the battle sounds have fully quieted down, or I¡¯ve gone too far. So creepy¡­ I¡¯ve never seen the University so desolate,¡± Dasha thought, quivering, ¡°I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯d be happy or scared to see another person right now¡­¡± She descended two flights of stairs and opened the door to the empty lobby on the fifth floor. Surveying the area and not seeing any signs of invasion, the girl carefully stepped forward. ¡°Phew, lucky¡­ Nothing here. Good. If I remember right, there should be an automatic medical station nearby. I¡¯ll stop by real quick to check my shoulder.¡± She hurriedly ran past the elevators and turned into a hallway. After hearing noise and the sound of breaking glass coming from a closed lecture hall to the left, Dasha tried to slow down and turn around. She almost managed to do that, as the door slammed open loudly right in front of her. A giant praying mantis-like creature sprang out of the lecture hall. Sharply turning, the monster carelessly waved off the stunned girl with a swipe and took off toward the direction she was going. She didn¡¯t have the time to either react or feel anything. A hard blow to her right thigh, and she got hurled at the wall, spinning in mid-air. A short flight. A strong impact. A fall. Cowering in terror, Dasha froze, waiting for her short life to be snuffed out¡­ But nothing had happened after a few minutes. When it got to the point when she couldn¡¯t endure the pain, dizziness, and loud ringing in her ears any longer, the girl tried to get up but only managed to get on all fours. She suddenly felt nauseous and threw up on the floor. Dasha tried to crawl away, but her right leg was burning where it got hit, and she couldn¡¯t move far. She collapsed into a fetal position, writhing and crying on the cold floor for a few minutes, trying to recover. Unfortunately, the pain in her thigh wasn¡¯t going away, but the floor¡¯s coldness helped a little. At last, the girl rose up a little, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and then wiped her hand on her pants. Wobbling, Dasha stood up with difficulty, holding the wall for support. She wheezed as she struggled to take off her backpack, still leaning against the wall. She took a small plastic bottle out of the side pocket, took two mouthfuls of water to rinse her mouth, then gulped down what was left greedily. Her dizziness got better after drinking the water, but her shoulder and thigh still ached badly. ¡°Frick! I should¡¯ve left some to clean the wound,¡± the girl mumbled, looking at the many bleeding cuts on her right leg. ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ go on¡­ blindly!¡± She took a few steps backward. ¡°I should go back¡­ Where there aren¡¯t any of those things¡­¡± Holding the wall for support and cringing in pain, she returned to the lobby and staggered toward the door leading to the maintenance rooms and disappeared behind it. Making sure it was clear, Dasha sat down on the stairs, put her backpack down next to her and opened the university¡¯s plan in AR. ¡°Yeah¡­ Not making another step without some intel! Need a map and some eyes.¡± The girl sighed, looking at her pant leg despondently. It was completely torn and covered in blood. ¡°Why¡­ the hell¡­ does it hurt so bad?¡± She massaged her temples, trying to alleviate the pain, and ¡°hopped¡± into a university portal to find a full map detailing all the rooms in the building. ¡°Vasilevskaya never gives up!¡± Dasha felt around for her vape in her pocket, took it out and gave a sigh of relief, seeing that it was intact. She didn¡¯t turn it on though out of fear of attracting more monsters with the smell. She just sat for a while, sucking on the mouthpiece, then patted the vape box and put it away. ¡°Let¡¯s see, let¡¯s see, where could you be?!¡± Floor plans were flashing before her eyes as Dasha searched through the rooms. Yes, of course, the room in question wasn¡¯t directly listed in public maps. But that¡¯s not a problem if you know exactly what you''re looking for and how to search for it. And, finally, she succeeded. ¡°Gotcha! Thank Her Holy Brightness there¡¯s a security room in this wing. Before going to the ¡°industrialists,¡± I gotta get access to the surveillance cameras. ¡®Cause I might not survive another encounter¡­ Dammit! Those monsters could be anywhere!¡± ¡°I wish I had at least a couple of security drones. All the working ones must already be in use, obviously, but those disabled for maintenance or repairs might be available¡­¡± Chapter 11 - Securing the Path Polis Kyiv, Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 11:24 AM The security room wasn¡¯t far. A simple, nondescript door with just a number on it, no door plates. At first glance, it didn¡¯t seem any more protected than the other rooms on this floor. ¡°So, what do I know about this place?¡± Dasha stopped in front of it and examined the electronic lock. There was a closed cover with markings next to it. ¡°It¡¯s got to be protected only from the outside because people don¡¯t operate these from the inside anymore¡­ Trying to physically break the lock is out of the question; the security system would just lock both the door and the control consoles inside. The only way to unlock them then would be by using special police tools, which doesn¡¯t work for me. It¡¯s a two-step access ¨C the hardware key enables a wireless authorization¡­ which I don¡¯t have. But it also unlocks a niche with one or two direct connection ports ¨C I could work with that. All right, I gotta try this.¡± She tapped on the closed plastic cover. ¡°Hmm¡­ Judging by the markings, it¡¯s an XCJ-2b port. That means two second type smarts with XC adapters. Man, what a piece of old junk!¡± While Dasha was thinking, her hands operated on their own, taking a couple of one-meter-length smarts out of the backpack. Finding XC adapters wasn¡¯t easy because all the connectors were buried somewhere on the bottom. There! The fingers moved to attach the XC adapters confidently. They even put a dual port mount ¨C a small thing, but it made the connection much easier. The girl produced another short smart out of her backpack, a regular one, with a modern UTD connector, as well as a universal hardware access key emulator. She just needed to put them together and voil¨¤. ¡°I could go for some ¡®Nebula¡¯ right now¡­ Or a ¡®Jackson,¡¯ at least.¡± The girl wistfully sighed, remembering her treasures in the medicine cabinet at home. ¡°No, never mind boosters! Just give me damn basic painkillers!¡± The backpack was dropped onto the floor. She held the two smart cables with adapters in her left hand, while her right one gripped the short smart connected to the hacking device. Dasha did some breathing exercises, freeing her mind, separating herself from pain and entering a state of trance. Time had slowed down. {Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary¡­} The girl sharply lowered her head, exposing the base of her skull. {Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore¡­} She put her hands behind her neck. Holding the cables¡¯ connectors, Dasha felt around for the locks with her thumbs and opened the ports. {While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping¡­} The smarts connected to the sub-brain¡¯s interface ports with three consecutive clicks. {As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door¡­} A series of programs started via AR. She focused all of her attention at the key point in anticipation, waiting for signal and loading many utilities. {¡®Tis some visitor,¡¯ I muttered, ¡®tapping at my chamber door¡¯¡­} The word ¡®Ready!¡¯ finally came on. The emulator had been plugged into the electronic lock. Four Ravens started a brazen brute-force attack. A few seconds passed. The LED light flickered. The protective cover slid aside, exposing two old-fashioned XC ports. {Only this and nothing more.} The XC adapters had been inserted into the ports. Time sped up. The main question at this point was who will be faster: the Moira supercomputer with all its available resources combined with Dasha¡¯s intelligence and shrewdness, or the security system of the Kyiv Polytechnic University. If they took too much time, the door would be closed for all eternity, and Dasha could forget about getting access to the cameras. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if the malware leaves traces now. The world has changed. Everything¡¯s changed!¡± The girl leaned against the wall with both hands; she couldn¡¯t squat or assume a steadier position at the moment. ¡°I¡¯ve always felt like different parts of me existed in different worlds. But something¡¯s started to change today. Something that could merge all those worlds into one!¡± ¡°Open!¡± Her quiet voice echoed faintly down the hall. And the door opened. The lights came on; the room didn¡¯t have any windows. A large control suite with consoles for three operators stood in the center ¨C probably just a relic of the past. No one uses humans as security guards in public places anymore, only artificial intelligence. But that actually worked to Dasha¡¯s advantage. The girl disconnected the cables and put them away, picking up her backpack off the floor. She sighed and entered the room, closing the door behind her with a touch of a sensor button. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much time I have, but not very long, clearly¡­ And my shoulder is getting worse. I wonder if I broke any bones?¡± Rubbing the affected area, Dasha glanced around the room and spotted a small cabinet by the wall. ¡°A first-aid cabinet! Doubt there are many useful things in it, but at least something for the pain.¡± First, she came up to the desk and launched the terminal. Entering the room was the most difficult part; getting access to the console and system is much easier. A few solid backdoors would come in handy, she just needed to check their relevance. As the system was booting up, the girl decided to take care of herself. Pulling off her T-shirt, she slung it over a chair and went to the first-aid cabinet, massaging her shoulder. ¡°D-damn, hurts like a mother!¡± Looking down at her legs, Dasha sighed; the entire pant leg was torn from the upper thigh down and soaked in blood. ¡°What a terribly skimpy collection! Well, at least there¡¯s something. Now that I think about it, it¡¯s weird that there are drugs here. People don¡¯t use this room!¡± For starters, the girl took a pair of scissors, moved a stool closer and sat on it, extending her right leg. She hopelessly looked around for some water, but couldn¡¯t find it in any form. ¡°Nothing to clean the wound with¡­ The antiseptic alone isn¡¯t enough¡­ Shoulder hurts¡­ This sucks¡­¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Carefully piercing the fabric, Dasha cut the pant leg off. The hardest part was ahead ¨C she had to rip the fabric off where it got glued to the many cuts, all the while swearing and cringing in pain. Returning to the cabinet, she laid her hands on the antiseptic, cotton swabs, medical adhesive, and all the band-aids she could find. Next, the girl squirmed on the stool as she did her best to treat her wounds with the limited amount of gel, glue the two biggest cuts, and apply a band-aid. At the end of the procedure, her leg was searing, and tears welled up in her eyes ¨C but she had done it! ¡°Halfway through¡­¡± Dasha fidgeted, examining her shoulder joint in the cabinet¡¯s mirror. ¡°Just some abrasions, I think¡­ A little swollen, and there¡¯s gonna be a big bruise. But the arm moves fine, it just hurts. I guess I should count myself lucky ¨C got away without any sprains, fractures, or dislocations. It¡¯d be good to go to the hospital, though¡­ But where am I and where is the hospital?¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s some gel with a freezing effect, a teeny-tiny tube, of course. But I hope it¡¯s enough for the shoulder. I¡¯d have liked to treat the abrasions with the antiseptic, but I¡¯ve already run out.¡± After using up the gel, she threw the empty tube on the floor. Dasha took her frustration out on the rest of the cabinet¡¯s contents and threw them as well, showing mercy only to a box of painkillers. She had to dry swallow the pill because there wasn¡¯t a drop of water in her bottle left. ¡°Okay, what¡¯s next?¡± The plan to quickly snag a roboplatform and start preparing Moira for transportation had gone awry. Alisa and Max were still at the stadium too, looking at the map. ¡°I gotta make a call. Maybe Max is feeling better?¡± She¡¯d lost the portable camera on her mediaphone, but the main one was still usable. Dasha placed it on the shelf of the open medicine cabinet in front of her and pressed ¡®Call¡¯ in the AR menu. ¡°Alisa here,¡± the voice on the other end answered almost immediately. A picture came on: some kind of service room, from ¡®first person¡¯ again. A half-disassembled robot could be seen, most likely a CaTZ model three or four. A bunch of parts, cables, modules, metal plates and other things lay around. ¡°How¡¯re you guys doing over there?¡± Daria asked. ¡°I¡¯m stuck at uni. There was a portal here, something really big, and military missile drones. And monsters are running around. I¡¯ve bumped into one; still not sure why it didn¡¯t kill me. Anyway, it¡¯s bad, and I¡¯ve been beaten the crap out of and scratched up. All over... Locked myself up in a security control room for now.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­ I¡¯ve seen a portal near the uni on the prognosis map, but the highest probability was outside the buildings.¡± Alisa continued actively working with the workbench¡¯s mechanical arms. ¡°The likelihood of a starting sphere appearing on the streets was greater than in the central building¡¯s atrium¡­ But I guess the calculating algorithm has its flaws. Either way, I should¡¯ve contacted you the moment I¡¯d gotten the information.¡± ¡°You have a prognosis map? Impressive!¡± Dasha said, finishing rubbing gel onto her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯d love to take a look. I only dug up a global science group based in Greenbelt. Interestingly enough though, they worked for corporations, states, and everyone basically, at the same time. I didn¡¯t learn more because the invasion had started. But I¡¯m more concerned about Max right now. How is he?¡± ¡°The explosion did a number on him, but he¡¯ll live. I¡¯ve done everything I could with the medbot. The only thing I can¡¯t do without surgery and supplies is get my brother back on his feet, so he¡¯s still paralyzed for now. He¡¯s recovering at the moment, I think he¡¯ll regain consciousness soon.¡± ¡°Praise Cthulhu! I¡¯ve been worried sick.¡± Dasha gave a sigh of relief. ¡°Dial me up when he wakes up? We¡¯re still on track? Going to the hospital?¡± ¡°Yes to all. We¡¯re not changing the plan. By the way, we¡¯re already working on getting out of the stadium,¡± Alisa said, finishing installation of additional muscle tapes on the front limbs¡¯ reinforced frame. ¡°There are many monsters around, we can¡¯t just stroll out of here. Nika went down to find us a car.¡± ¡°You talking about that cyborg girl? Nikola, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Nika, for short.¡± ¡°She¡¯s cute¡­ Okay, I¡¯ll start working on my own escape.¡± The girl took out the last strip of healing band-aid from the cabinet. ¡°I thought about using drones or a couple of bots at least, but¡­ There¡¯s nothing useful at hand. So, I guess I¡¯m gonna have to make do with surveillance cameras. The ¡®industrialists¡¯ do have drones, though. Some of them aren¡¯t half-bad¡­ I¡¯ll swipe a few¡­¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Alisa slowly said in contemplation. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, take all you can get; it¡¯s crucial for our survival. When you¡¯re there, call me, and we¡¯ll go over everything.¡± ¡°Fine by me, the old life is over anyway.¡± Putting the band-aid in her pocket and taking her mediaphone with her left hand, Dasha closed the cabinet. ¡°Tell me though.¡± She headed to the operator¡¯s chair, holding the camera in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re saying you have a prognosis for the portals? Where¡¯d you get it? And how do those creatures behave when they come here? Maybe there¡¯s analysis? Based on the footage? There¡¯s already enough clips online. And what do they do when they arrive?¡± ¡°Yes, I got the prognosis on the darknet. As for the behavior, I¡¯m still gathering info. A portal opens for a pretty short period of time. Thirty-one minutes twenty-seven seconds in the current record. If you don¡¯t get in its way, that is,¡± the android girl said, backing up a little, because the workbench¡¯s arms had begun installing protective polymer plates, covering the bot¡¯s body. ¡°During the first few minutes there¡¯s some sort of protective field, if you shoot it, the object¡¯s life shortens.¡± ¡°If something large comes out of it,¡± she continued, observing the assembly process, ¡°and it gets killed before the body completely leaves the protective sphere, the portal will close in a few minutes. The larger the target, the faster it closes.¡± ¡°I see. I saw our military use a similar tactic.¡± Touching her shoulder and realizing that the gel had been absorbed, Dasha sighed and slapped a strip of band-aid on it. ¡°Well, not really saw¡­ I got scared and dashed¡­ But I¡¯d started a stream with my backup camera.¡± ¡°Yes, I saw it. In your case, the protective field was already down, but the military managed to deal with the nest.¡± ¡°Nest?¡± After sticking the band-aid, the girl moved her arm a little, checking if everything was okay. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no definition for it yet. Simply put, a ¡®nest¡¯ is some kind of stationary base. The monsters bring anything organic to it, and that thing grows very fast. I don¡¯t know what exactly it grows into yet, but the military prioritize its elimination.¡± ¡°That¡¯s disturbing¡­¡± the girl pensively said. She had finished treating herself, putting her T-shirt back on. ¡°So, perhaps there¡¯s not too many monsters here. I¡¯ll check with the cameras. But you guys are going to the hospital now, right?¡± ¡°Yes, unfortunately, we have to.¡± Alisa nodded sadly. ¡°I¡¯d have preferred to leave town as soon as possible. It¡¯s getting more and more dangerous out on the streets. For now, the monsters are concentrated around the portals, but it¡¯s only a matter of time. But first, I gotta finish making an attack bot and a couple of recon drones. It¡¯s too dangerous to go outside blindly.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Daria agreed, ¡°I¡¯m not gonna stick around here either. I don¡¯t have any drones, but there are cameras, I just need to gain access to them. That¡¯d allow me to get to the ¡®Industrial Robotics¡¯ section without bumping into any monsters. Anyway, if we put Moira onto a generator-powered platform and load it onto a truck¡­¡± ¡°Good idea, at minimum power it will work without external cooling. All right, take care of the platform, I¡¯m gonna handle the transportation. Just checked, iDrive still works. We¡¯ll take a heavy all-terrain Unimog. We should call now, so it would get there on time. I¡¯ll do it to prevent any questions from a share service AI; I have a police volunteer account, a higher social status than yours.¡± ¡°By the way, can you send me the map of all the open portals and those likely to pop up in the next hour or two? So that I¡¯d already have a prepared route when I get the platform to Moira.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do you one better: while you¡¯re dealing with the cameras, I¡¯m gonna create an app. You¡¯ll get the map, radar, and zone detection with real-time refresh! I¡¯ll also upload it to global so that there¡¯s interaction from other people. Strange that no one has made something like this already.¡± ¡°Maybe those kinds of apps are being monitored by the powers that be. Corporations or the military. In any case, that app will come in handy for us even without the interaction,¡± Dasha concluded. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve already called a truck, you can see it on your map now.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± The brunette saw her friend¡¯s message and hung up. The gel had started to work: the pain in her shoulder had subsided. ¡°Let¡¯s get one in for the road,¡± said the girl, habitually fishing out her vape from her pocket. ¡°Who knows when I¡¯ll be able to vape again¡­ The smell is attracting, but the ventilation is ideal here.¡± Dasha reclined in the chair, inhaled deeply and sent a wide jet of vapor at the ceiling. Then, sitting normally, she stared at the console. ¡°Makes sense; same ports as on the door. Already open, no locks, no covers, or additional layers of security. No complaints either.¡± She took another drag. ¡°Good thing I don¡¯t have to change smart cables, I¡¯m good like this¡­¡± Letting out a huge cloud of vapor for the last time, Dasha put away her vape and connected the cables. Moving her chair up and getting more comfortable, she closed her eyes, completely relaxing her face and body. Her lips whispered barely audibly, {And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me ¨C filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door ¨C Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; ¨C This it is and nothing more.} Dasha fell into virtual reality with full presence effect. # Connection established. # Welcome to the security system controller. # Please authorize¡­ Chapter 12 - The Iron Grip of Order Polis Kyiv, August 12, 2049, 11:02 AM Thick clouds enshroud the sky right in front of the eyes. It¡¯s getting dark, like during a solar eclipse. The wind is getting stronger and stronger, and, several seconds later, roars like a hurricane. Lightning strikes merge into a single flame, saturating the heavens with peals of booming thunder. A familiar by now from numerous videos online portal sphere flashes over Kyiv, only this time it is huge, at least ten kilometers in diameter. Appearing about a thousand meters high above the Trukhaniv Island, this phenomenon culminates in an explosion, which blazes over the entire city. The shock wave passes mainly throughout the island, damaging the numerous trees, but it also reaches the buildings on the other banks of the Dnieper. The whole sky is boiling, the first drops begin to fall, and a full-blown downpour starts to rage on a few seconds later. An incredible object appears in the gloomy clouds about a kilometer high above the city, so huge and strange that it is simply impossible to believe this is happening. A whole cluster of grim black-and-red neo-Gothic buildings comprises a giant flying fortress. A stretched oval about five hundred meters in length and at least two hundred in width serves as the foundation of the complex. Throughout the perimeter, large devices are generating glowing bright blue flame disks, each at regular intervals. The lightning rages for only about a minute before it quickly dies down. After the sky calms down a little, and the Fortress freezes in the air, all kinds of drones begin to approach it from all directions ¨C big ones, small ones, media companies¡¯ and independent bloggers¡¯ alike. But they don¡¯t get close, because the flying citadel unleashes small black objects in response: a bit over one meter long, spindle-shaped and with small wings on the tail. There are so many of them that from down below they look like thick pillars of smoke flying in all directions. The fact that those are combat drones becomes evident with the first flashes of gunfire ¨C passing by, the ¡°strangers¡± shoot all the flying equipment of reporters and bloggers. After that, these black birds take off toward the areas with open portals and concentrations of monsters. ¡­At least that¡¯s what analysts are saying based on footage from the few cameras that survived.
The International Space Station ¡°Europa¡±, Thomas Gibson The captain of the ¡®ISS Europa-14¡¯ expedition Thomas Gibson had been standing on the Section-1 deck for twenty minutes already, darkly looking out of the only ¡°real¡± window on the station. That¡¯s how much time had passed since the transmission from the last ¡°heavy.¡± The long three-hour wait was over: all members of the expedition had been successfully transported to three European sea-based launch sites. The only person left aboard Europa was Thomas himself. The chain of command insisted on his departure, but he replied with: ¡°If this will be the end of space exploration for humans, I¡¯ll have seen it with my own eyes! I¡¯ll have been part of the last ISS expedition. I was there during the second ¡®ISS Europa¡¯ expedition. I¡¯m the captain of Europa-14, and I¡¯ll stay with her until the bitter end.¡± ¡°Captain! I¡¯m detecting multiple spacecraft executing active maneuvers nearby.¡± The avatar of the main AI on the station showed up in AR. ¡°The rate of engagement is rapidly increasing!¡± ¡°This is it.¡± Thomas folded his arms behind his back. ¡°Beginning of the end.¡± A series of tremors passed underfoot, as if the entire station was shuddering. ¡°Attention, direct control interference!¡± Two additional windows opened, showing information about an unauthorized control access, but the astronaut waved them off with a mental gesture. ¡°Stop it, Telephassa. We can¡¯t do anything about it anyway. But we will do something else!¡± On his command, a virtual camera¡¯s light flashed on. ¡°My name is Thomas Gibson, and I¡¯m the captain of humanity¡¯s last independent mission in space. I don¡¯t know how much time I have left, but I can promise you this: I¡¯ll be broadcasting everything I can see from our planet¡¯s orbit. Until the end!¡± The videostream picture split in two, displaying the view from Europa¡¯s main camera in one half and two windows with data in the other. ¡°We are now aboard the International Space Station ¡®Europa,¡¯ but it doesn¡¯t belong to us anymore. You can see the two windows on the left, where Telephassa, the station¡¯s main AI, is showing how the hijacking was carried out. I¡¯ll leave the technical information on channel two, so you can get back to it at any time.¡± The livestream blinked, the view from the main camera now took up most of the screen, and Thomas¡¯ silhouette appeared in a rectangular frame in the bottom left corner. ¡°So, as we can see, the central ring, the rotation of which creates an artificial gravity of 0.2G, is about to be stopped. This is done only in one case ¨C during the station¡¯s active maneuvering, like when you change the orbit. The question of where and why they are going to turn Europa still remains. But before we search for answers¡­¡± Another frame appeared on the broadcast¡¯s screen, showing Earth and the main satellites in scale, with an equatorial plane view on the left and a view from the North Pole on the right. ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s happening in the near-Earth space, shall we?¡± Thomas walked up to the window and turned his back to the camera, putting his arms behind his back. ¡°We are now observing the largest satellites¡¯ active maneuvering. It seems to me like they are being gathered at the intersections of an invisible grid three hundred kilometers above Earth¡¯s surface and with a grid spacing of about one hundred kilometers. That¡¯s only preliminary and inaccurate data, but Telephassa is making calculations live. Thus, I¡¯m reminding you about the second screen, where you can see any technical information on demand.¡± At that moment, bright lights flashed at the intersections of the invisible grid, toward which the satellites were being pulled, vanishing from view. ¡°I think I know what they¡¯re planning,¡± Thomas finally said, double-checking with the AI¡¯s calculations. ¡°They¡¯re dismantling our technology. Everything we¡¯ve launched into space. As you can see, only large spacecraft have been affected thus far, but I think they¡¯ll now start pulling the rest of the objects not capable of active maneuvering. And considering that the ring¡¯s rotation has been stopped, I assume that our station is doomed to the same fate. They¡¯ll have to lower us by two hundred kilometers, but I don¡¯t imagine it¡¯ll be hard to do. Fortunately, thanks to our altitude, there¡¯s some time to try to sort all of this out.¡± Thomas received a message and smoothly moved to the station¡¯s other side of the corridor. ¡°We don¡¯t have ¡®real¡¯ windows here, so we¡¯ll have to make do with the cameras. Pay attention to this sector.¡± The broadcast¡¯s layout picture changed again: the astronaut moved to a small window on the bottom, and a processed videostream took up the whole screen. ¡°If my theory is correct, and the invaders are after resources ¨C rare metals on orbit, primarily ¨C they must be coming right here. That¡¯s the largest asteroid concentrate processing orbital station, as well as the first and biggest active space plant. That said, if there were large amounts of iron, nickel, and titanium in space somewhere, it would be at that place. Actually, the plant is quite far from here, so I¡¯m using one of the station¡¯s telescopes. You can see it well, however.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. At that moment, as if confirming his words, a swarm of big black drones flew into view. ¡°They are unmanned robotic specimens, judging by the maneuvering speed,¡± Thomas commented. ¡°They must¡¯ve come from one of the fortresses that showed up on orbit. Question is, how did they manage to get here so fast?¡± Meanwhile, the drones literally imploded, quickly wrapping all the structures with thin luminous threads. A few seconds later, it became evident that electricity had been disabled at the orbital plant. The threads became brighter, and a dense film of a force field obfuscated the whole picture. ¡°Well, friends, apparently, that¡¯s all we¡¯re going to get. I hope everyone got evacuated from the plant; our new masters don¡¯t seem to value human lives much.¡± Thomas slammed his fist into his palm in frustration. ¡°In reality, we¡¯ve been sold out without a fight. I¡¯m actually not supposed to talk about this, but who can stop us at this point? Anyway, representatives of that blasted Protectorate, or the UNSA¡­ yes, that¡¯s what they¡¯re calling themselves¡­ So, they¡¯d contacted our powers that be even before the first portal of those monsters opened. I wish I had more information, but I¡¯ll tell you everything I know! I¡¯m broadcasting not only on standard extranets but on the darknet too. So, there is a chance you¡¯ll be able to watch it till the end. For your information, I¡¯m not just an astronaut, I¡¯m also an experienced soldier, and I¡¯m not buying that those UNSA are the good guys who showed up exclusively to help poor humans fight off otherworldly monsters. I don¡¯t believe their single word! Many of you are asking in the comments why I¡¯ve decided to sacrifice myself and stayed behind on orbit. Because that¡¯s my best chance to stick it to those sons of bitches! I have one of Earth¡¯s most powerful AIs and a station packed with cutting-edge technology. We¡¯re not just playing videoblogger here! Anything useful, readings, photos, and video in maximum definition and from all possible angles ¨C everything is being broadcast on the darknet. I¡¯m sure that space is a strategic frontier for the invaders, just like it is for us. If we figure out what kind of thing they¡¯re building three hundred kilometers high, we could possibly gain a key to understanding how to fight them!¡± At that moment, the Protectorate had already blocked the majority of the restreams on the main extranet networks, but it was still being broadcast on the darknet. Unfortunately, Thomas Gibson hadn¡¯t accounted for one important fact: that the UNSA wouldn¡¯t take kindly to such provocations right under their nose. Five big black birds of prey streaked upward from the direction of Earth. They opened fire right on the move without regrouping. Short fire lines cut through the blackness of space, and a large ball of fire erupted at the central ring segment where Thomas was. Meanwhile, elements of giant orbital structures began forming in different places three hundred kilometers above Earth¡­
The Earth You could see the same thing in every city on Earth: people were stopping dead in their tracks, freezing in surprise. Some blankly lifted their hands and peered at something only they could see, some fainted¡­ It¡¯s worth noting that the majority of the planet¡¯s population got lucky: despite technological advancements, common VR/AR lenses or glasses, wirelessly connected to the mediaphone, were still the much more popular alternative to implanting an expensive cortical grid and an intricate computer for it along the spine. Why undergo major surgeries when simple handheld devices are perfectly compatible with augmented reality, and there are headsets and even deep-immersion VR capsules for virtual sex and gaming. So, the majority of people, carrying only light devices on them, simply stopped, reading a sudden global message. Only those with a cortical grid implant and the extensions for it installed ¨C even if it was just an ocular augmentation and a light sub-brain ¨C were dealt a bad hand. Either way, anyone connected to at least one global extranet network suddenly saw unexpected messages right in front of them. The more serious the hardware they had, the more intrusive it was, even causing temporary sensory loss, including vision loss, or even short-term loss of consciousness. The Protectorate ¨C and it was the culprit behind the unexpected phenomenon ¨C hadn¡¯t just tampered with people¡¯s neuro-implants. Victims of the sudden compulsory informing found themselves inundated with unclosable, view-blocking legislative documents about their legal rights, limitations, and, of course, responsibilities as future citizens of the UNSA. This kind of bureaucracy fell in especially large amounts on the heads of owners of advanced sub-brains. # Force installing update for cortical grid implant¡­ 100% # Installing peripheral modules updates¡­ 100% # Priority 0. Installation¡­ success. # Priority 0. Rebooting¡­ Everything goes dark, the vision gets disabled, the interface disappears. For several utterly petrifying seconds, people have to wait in complete darkness, not hearing anything and not feeling their own body. # Update installed. Without pausing even for a second, system messages begin scrolling up right in the center of the vision as more and more of them appear. # You are in the Avril Dominion zone of the UNSA Protectorate. # The sector commander is General of the Fourth Army of Avril, Kriegsherzog Adalbert von Lamark. # In accordance with the Terms of the Protectorate, all residents are guaranteed complete safety and protection from Shaiszu entities. # Provision of basic necessities: accommodation, food, water are guaranteed. # You will be provided with employment and the opportunity to serve for the benefit of the Protectorate! # Work diligently! You have the opportunity to advance to a high Public Efficiency Class and even earn a Golden Ticket to the best worlds of UNSA. # Detailed information will be available at information points after the special operation to clear the City of Shaiszu species is completed. ¡­ # Covenant 4. ## In accordance with the Decree on Protection and Ownership, the Polis and a 100-kilometer boundary around it are hereby declared the property of Kriegsherzog (full text, Covenant 4, expand). # Attention! Covenant 4, Article 1: ## Individuals legally present within the territory of the City, including the 100-kilometer Safety Belt from the Defense Wall to the Outer Perimeter, are granted the Right of Protection. ## Attention! The UNSA Protectorate holds the exclusive right to provide Protection within the City''s territory. ## In disputed situations, including rescue combat operations and evacuations, the priority of Full Rights of Protection is vested in residents holding citizenship of the Polis of Kyiv. ## Priorities for individuals with other citizenships: ### Corporate citizenship (expand) ### Polis citizenship (expand) ### State citizenship (expand) ¡­ # Attention! Covenant 4, Article 5: # Info: For the purposes of establishing security and the complete eradication of all Shaiszu entities within this territory, a curfew will be imposed. ## During the curfew, all movement of citizens without an accompanying Protectorate officer is prohibited. ## The curfew is effective from 19:00 to 06:00 local time. # Info: If you disagree with the decision of Covenant 4 on Territory Protection, you have the right to leave the Polis and the 100-kilometer Perimeter Zone before the curfew begins (excluding categories of citizens irrevocably transferred to the Protectorate as per bilateral agreements between the respective Corporations, Polises, States and the UNSA Protectorate). # Info: Under the Trilateral Accord and the Agreement on the Division of Protection Zones, access to information from the TACTA and the Empire Chou factions is denied. # Info: Any citizen refusing the Terms of the UNSA Protectorate and wishing to receive information packages from the aforementioned factions must inform about their decision within 30 minutes after receiving this message (expand, inform). # Info: In order to receive an information package from the Empire Chou, one must undergo genetic testing (paid service, details). # Info: Commencing curfew in 06:13:00¡­ # Info: 06.12.59¡­ 58¡­ 57¡­ 56¡­ # Violation of legal requirements of the Protectorate, violation of the imposed curfew, any attempts to illegally leave the Protective Perimeter of Wall-1, Protective Perimeter of Wall-2, will be punished by the destruction of the violator. ¡­ # Attention! Covenant 7, Article 1: ## Artificial Intelligence Restriction (expand). ## All artificial intelligence systems of Level T3 and below are to be forcibly deactivated. ## All artificial intelligence systems of Level T4 and above will be brought under the direct control of the Protectorate (expand). ## Failure to comply, refusal to execute, or concealment of information regarding the presence of active artificial intelligence modules constitutes a crime against the Protectorate and is punishable by death. # Thank you for choosing Safety and Prosperity with the UNSA Protectorate! Chapter 13 - Countdown to Darkness City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 11:39 AM Dasha hadn¡¯t emerged from the virtual realm since her last call to Alisa, pouring all her efforts into developing a program. Based on university surveillance camera data, her goal was to carve a safe path to the ¡°Industrial Robotics¡± section. While finalizing the code, before its compilation, the monitoring system twice warned of a ¡°black swan¡± event, but Dasha initiated the code compilation first, then shifted her focus to the news. The first trigger was the dramatic appearance of a flying fortress above Kyiv and the outrageous destruction of all nearby drones live. ¡°Here comes the main character,¡± the girl mumbled, at the same time copying the video for analysis and sending a Raven to globally search for similar events. ¡°Now to figure out if these fortresses are the real cause... or merely a consequence of the monster-emerging portals?¡± The Raven finished the search when Daria had already watched the video twice, analyzing the details. Looking at a list of 384 objects from every country in the world, she froze for a few seconds and hoarsely asked herself, ¡°What kind of bizarre alien invasion is this?¡± The search algorithm first checked the published streams and videos, as bloggers traditionally are the first to react to the appearance of fortresses. Dasha freed up four more Ravens to analyze the found broadcasts for patterns, correlations, and key features. ¡°I¡¯m almost certain,¡± the girl thought, pensively gnawing at the vape¡¯s mouthpiece, ¡°that the invaders have already come to an agreement with all layers of our governments. And the fact that everyone is keeping silent only strengthens suspicions¡­¡± ¡°Alright, let the Ravens do their work. I need to finish up with the cameras and head out for the platform,¡± she moved the VR screens analyzing the data aside. The compiler had just reported that the ¡®Safe Route¡¯ program was ready; it only needed to be configured to connect to the network cameras. At that moment, another ¡®Black Swan¡¯ event notification arrived, along with a notice that the initial analysis of the fortress appearances was complete and preliminary conclusions were ready. Dasha, pausing her program setup for a minute, opened two windows. In one, a stream from Thomas Gibson that had just started played, and in the other, the analysis results from her Raven team were displayed. ¡°My name is Thomas Gibson, and I¡¯m the captain of humanity¡¯s last independent mission in space.¡± ¡°Observation 1: With a probability of over 98%, all the fortress-type objects appeared simultaneously, within a 0.01 second window.¡± ¡°Observation 2: All Fortresses deployed combat aircraft units within one to five minutes of appearing.¡± ¡°Observation 3: Said units destroy any civilian machinery that approaches closer than five hundred meters to the Fortresses.¡± ¡°Observation 4: Do not engage military machinery. Moreover, no military drone has breached the three-hundred-meter perimeter from the edge of the Fortresses.¡± ¡°Observation 5: The overwhelming majority of aircraft precisely initiated attacks on the nearest portals and freely roaming Shaiszu entities within the city.¡± Quickly drafting a message to Alisa with the information and a link to the stream, Dasha continued watching. She also launched a restream to her own cloud, to secure copies of the video from all broadcast cameras, even if the stream were suddenly interrupted and the recordings deleted. ¡°So, what do we have? A centralized and clearly coordinated appearance of multiple high-tech objects¡­ Duh, they¡¯re not magically flying! They¡¯re taking advantage of all our satellites, meaning they¡¯re familiar with our tech and have already hijacked it¡­¡± ¡°Think, Dashka, think!¡± She emerged out of the virtual, leaving only the main screens in AR. ¡°They attack monsters, but that doesn¡¯t mean the aliens are on our side. They destroy civilian tech but leave military tech untouched. This suggests they¡¯re coordinating at least at the level of ¡®friend¡¯ or ¡®foe¡¯ signals... Otherwise, these days, you couldn¡¯t tell civilian from military. And all political formations that have their own armed forces are involved ¨C polises, states, and corporations¡­¡± Agitated, the girl jumped up, snatched her vape from her pocket, and began pacing the room, surrounded by a thick cloud of vapor. Now, both the thirst she had been feeling for a while and the pain, barely suppressed by medication, receded into the background. ¡°Unprecedented information security measures! Still no credible mentions of the fortresses, portals, or politicians¡¯ involvement on the net ¨C only rumors, theories, and fabrications! There must¡¯ve been some leaks, though! Why are all the scientists being quiet, even though many of them have been brought in? As far as circumstantial evidence, there¡¯s only Thomas¡¯ testimony that representatives of the Protectorate had contacted the powers that be even before the portals showed up. But unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have the chance to present solid proof.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Dasha, circling around the room once again, suddenly turned around and ran to the consoles, turning another one on. One, two, three, executing ¨C the commands had been given, and the view from one of the cameras installed on the facade of the main building came onscreen. It looked like it was a normal day in Kyiv out there beyond the walls, but there were already signs of the catastrophe. No people on the streets, only a few cars zoomed by. Combat drones streaked by in the distance: mostly the police and the military. The scariest part was that not a single UAV had come to the student district buildings after the military shot up the atrium with their missiles while destroying the portal. No ambulances and no firefighters had come. The raging fire seemed to have been put out by the automatic fire suppression system. But such technologies do not always cope ¨C five columns of smoke eloquently speak of that. And this is just what one camera shows! Dasha checked other sources, one after another ¨C the scene is roughly the same everywhere. Across Kyiv, police and military drones fill the air, with a few pieces of ground combat equipment and columns of smoke. ¡°The aliens have total control over our technology, but GTN is still working, and so are the extranet networks I¡¯ve been using. (Note: GTN stands for Global Transportation Network, it provides data exchange between the extranet networks connected to it) That means the invaders will be using our technology for their own agenda¡­ And what does one need to dominate a civilization? Exactly! Commandeer all AIs above level five and rewrite everything below to their advantage!¡± Dasha took a deep drag, exhaling a cloud of vapor straight onto the console monitor. ¡°There¡¯s going to be a global cyberattack on all devices more complex than a kettle that hasn¡¯t switched to Protes¡¯ control!¡± she declared abruptly, grabbing her mediaphone and freezing as she tried to call first Alisa, then Max. (Note: Dasha meant representatives of the Protectorate by ¡®Protes¡¯) Calling. No answer. Calling. No answer. Tossing the vape and mediaphone into her pocket, she leapt back into her chair and quickly switched to VR. ¡°No answer! Am I too late?!¡± she panicked. A bright red alert mediaglyph flashed up and unfolded into a message: # Moira: Warning! Security protocol activated! # Moira: Multiple external connection attempts detected. ¡°Predictable!¡± Dasha quickly opened the virtual security console. ¡°Like hell I¡¯m giving you assholes MY AI!¡± The monitor showed the level of external connection activity ¨C most ports were under massive attack, but the system was holding for now. In the adjacent window, a controller tracking the main communication channels between Alisa and Moira showed them loaded at 100%. ¡°Alright, I see Alisa has begun an emergency consciousness and memory dump, soon to shut down under ¡®Atropos¡¯ protocol. Excellent!¡± Dasha breathed out. ¡°I don¡¯t know how or why the ¡®digital brain¡¯ in her body fought off the takeover, but it¡¯s nothing short of a miracle!¡± The display of alarm signals intensified; the defense system was clearly getting overwhelmed by the attack¡¯s strength. ¡°I gotta help them until the data transfer is finished. Disable the Ravens and everything else consuming resources right now!¡± She feverishly sent the necessary commands. ¡°C¡¯mon, upload faster!¡± She was staring at the progress bar, nervously clenching her fists. ¡°Done! I¡¯ll check the log, and if it¡¯s all good, I¡¯m shutting down Moira!¡± Swiftly accessing the report, the girl verified the success of the offload. Yes, now the ¡®mind-consciousness¡¯ and the android¡¯s body were offline. So, the priority was to shut down Moira before its defenses were breached. Unfortunately, during the development, Dasha and Max couldn¡¯t have foreseen a situation like this, so the system wouldn¡¯t shut down by itself ¨C it had to be done manually. But triggering such an emergency protocol required admin-level access! And before calling the control console, Dasha needed to go through the full authorization process again. That took the precious last seconds. When the control console unfolded before the girl, it was less than a minute on the clock before the hack. ¡°Emergency shutdown, ¡®Hel¡¯ protocol.¡± # Confirmation key required. # Transmitting¡­ Ten seconds until the system¡¯s hack. # Transmitting¡­ complete. # Checking key¡­ Three seconds until the system¡¯s hack. # Checking key¡­ success. # Warning! The Moira system has been shut down by the ¡®Hel¡¯ protocol. The mediaglyph showing the connection status in the status bar had changed to ¡®no connection.¡¯ Dasha closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, exhausted. Her fingers trembled, sweat beads trickled down her temples. ¡°That was a close one¡­ Fuck¡­ Too close¡­¡± ¡°Wish it hadn¡¯t happened so suddenly¡­¡± she thought, lacking even the strength for one more drag of her vape. ¡°I should get in touch with that Nika who helped them, but I don¡¯t have her contacts. I hope Alisa had time to explain everything to her¡­¡± ¡°So thirsty¡­ I¡¯m parched!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like the security situation at all, I¡¯d have disconnected from the network myself, but I can¡¯t ¨C Max or Nikola may show up at any moment. I need to solve the transport platform issue as soon as possible! But first ¨C gotta find some water!¡± But Dasha didn¡¯t get to do that. Another warning came on, a toxic purple-colored one. This time, it wasn¡¯t Moira, it was her own cortical grid implant, or, rather, its outer security system. A critical situation window unfolded right in front of her eyes on top of every other element. # Warning! External connection to cortical grid and sub-brain detected, administrative access. ¡°Gimme details!¡± ## Authorization successful, digital identity confirmed, Peach Cyberware Corporation, technical support AI No. 2-841, thread 679. ## Connection permitted. ## Acquiring control code¡­ success. ## Acquiring directives¡­ success. ## Authorized operation, sanctioned and accepted for execution! ¡°Oh, shit!¡± # Attention! Critical update for cortical grid being installed. Temporary sensory connection outages and brief consciousness loss may occur during installation. Please assume a safe position. # Update successfully downloaded and ready for installation! # Commencing installation in 10¡­ 9¡­ 8¡­ ¡°Abort the operation!¡± # Access denied based on User Agreement, Sec. 19(2). ¡°I gotta disconnect from the network!¡± ¡°Open the network connection controller!¡± # Network connection controller unavailable. Please wait until the update installation is complete. Dasha helplessly clenched her fists, staring at the ticking timer¡­ # 3¡­ # 2¡­ # 1¡­ And then, total darkness ensued. Chapter 14 - Crippled but Unyielding City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Nikola Kowalski, August 12, 2049, 12:01 PM Nikola, crouching down, hid behind a large column near the exit from the underground parking. To keep her hair from getting in the way, she quickly twisted her fiery mane into a large bun and secured it with a hairnet just above her cortical grid implant. In her hands, she held two ¡®blades¡¯ taken from a combat robot. The only modification she had made was to tightly wrap their ¡®handles¡¯ with duct tape found along the way, making quite effective knives. No guard, of course, but Nika knew how to manage such weapons. She had just made it down before the global shutdown was triggered by the update installation, and was about to cautiously check the area for a suitable vehicle to take. After an extremely unpleasant awakening, as the flood of messages subsided, Nika exhaled as quietly as possible. ¡°It seems clear,¡± she peeked around the column and then quickly hid back. ¡°Marcek!¡± ¡°Marcek?¡± Receiving no response, Nika focused on several stacks of mediaglyphs, including system notifications. Opening the stack of priority messages, she quickly scrolled through to: # Virtual assistant DAR-S4 ¡®Marcek,¡¯ type T3-evp0-48: forced shutdown. # Module DAR-S4 removed (user agreement, sec. 28.1) # Info: We appreciate your Cooperation with the Protectorate and fulfilling your Civic Duties! ¡°Fucking cunts!¡± Nika hissed, squatting down and clenching her fists in powerless anger. ¡°Kurwa! I hate you!¡± As if waiting for her to say that, a pop-up window appeared before her eyes that read: # FORCED CYBER-CORE RESTRICTIONS INSTALLED # ATTENTION, COMMUNICATION RESTRICTIONS: ## You are permitted limited use of the Protectorate¡¯s extranet network (strictly for navigational purposes, details) ## You are prohibited from using external extranet networks, regardless of the task or situation. ## You are prohibited from using communicators, media-calls, and other forms of remote social interaction. ## All external AR/VR applications not approved by the Protectorate are blocked and must be immediately deleted at a Protectorate Service Center. # Please read the important information message and confirm your agreement with a digital signature. Almost the entire field of vision was covered by a huge opaque screen: ¡°Nikola Kowalski, identity confirmed by genetic code, citizenship under obligations: Watson Global Corp. In accordance with the Agreement concluded between the Corporation¡¯s Board of Directors and the Protectorate, your affiliation has been reassigned to the UNSA Protectorate. You are required to immediately proceed to the collection point D12/48 (make route). Attention! You are given a maximum time to arrive, based on your biotechnical capabilities, the distance to the collection point, and the current and forecasted complexity of movement: 00:40:00¡­ 39:59¡­ 58¡­ 57¡­ 56¡­ Attention! You are prohibited from participating in any form of combat, and you must completely preserve your body in its current state until you arrive at the collection point. Your body is the property of the Protectorate of UNSA! You must treat it with due respect and care! In the event of non-compliance with these conditions, as well as the absence of registration at the collection point within the designated time, your consciousness will be disabled, and your body will be preserved at its current location until the arrival of the Protectorate¡¯s Retrieval and Assembly crew. In this case, your brain will be disposed of, and your body used as compensation for your obligations. Thank you for choosing the Protectorate of UNSA! Protectorate of UNSA is Your Key to a Bright Future, Safety, and Prosperity! Confirm your agreement to the listed terms and conditions.¡± Another window appeared on top, a much smaller one, containing only a few phrases: ¡°I, Nikola Kowalski, identity genetically confirmed, have read the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s terms and conditions. I have received comprehensive information on all my questions regarding these terms and conditions of the UNSA Protectorate. I fully and voluntarily accept the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s terms and conditions. Put your digital signature here.¡± There were no control elements on this form, nor was there an option to minimize or close it ¨C it could only be moved around the field of vision or signed. Worse yet, this window also blocked access to any of the interface elements. ¡°Motherfuckers!¡± Nika gritted her teeth in anger; those requirements hovered right before her eyes, seriously obstructing her view. ¡°Eat a bag of dicks, you won¡¯t get my body! No way I¡¯m consenting!¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The silence in the parking lot was broken by the sound of heavy metal slamming against concrete. Apparently, a door had just been knocked down nearby. ¡°That must be one of those portal creatures! Fine, now¡¯s not the time to be picky. Need to consent, otherwise this damn message won¡¯t even let me fight properly! I hope my ¡®cracks¡¯ will be enough to rescind those imposed obligations later.¡± Nika tried once again to grab the larger of the two windows with a virtual cursor, but to no avail. ¡°Kurwa! Fine, here, you sons of bitches!¡± Nikola activated the signature area and selected ¡®Sign.¡¯ But instead of confirmation, a whole batch of new messages came on: #Warning! System failure, Cyber-Core Integrity Damage. Contact the UNSA Protectorate Service Center immediately. #Attention! Infraction detected! You are accused of damaging the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s property! Remain where you are, a patrol team will arrive shortly! The nearest patrol will arrive in¡­ %%error ER-CG 8.345-26! Unable to contact patrol team. #Attention! Infraction detected! You are accused of attempting to flee the scene of the crime, return to the scene immediately and wait for a patrol team to arrive; otherwise, you will be sentenced to death. #Attention! You must return to the scene of the crime within the next ¡­ 20 minutes. %%Error ¨C unable to determine the location of the scene of the crime. %%Error! Navigation module is unable to make a route. Set the destination point. ¡°Are you fucking kiddin¡¯ me?¡± was all Nikola could say, looking at the stream of messages. ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m outta here!¡± Fortunately, she managed to close most of the messages, and the huge window from before disappeared on its own. Only the notifications with timers and error messages remained onscreen. Nika managed to drag everything to the corners of her field of vision so that they did not obstruct her view too much. Unfortunately, that was where her dubious luck ended. All the other cyber-core abilities remained blocked ¨C she couldn¡¯t even see the previous messages anymore. Any attempt to interact with an interface element led to the first pop-up window from the endless list of information garbage that¡¯d cluttered her system: ¡°Navigation module error. Set the destination point.¡± All virtual assistants had been deleted, auxiliary utilities locked; she couldn¡¯t even run basic system diagnostics! As for her cyber-limbs and implants ¨C both additional and combat modes, from ¡®overdrive¡¯ to jump boosters, were also unavailable. ¡°Gotta get outta here, I can¡¯t do much fighting like this,¡± Nikola stated the obvious. ¡°Seems quiet for now, I¡¯ll head back up.¡± She carefully peeked from behind the column again. ¡°Clear! I hope Alisa can help!¡± The girl dashed back toward the staircase. Suddenly, a chilling premonition of danger raced down her spine, and Nika dove to the floor without thinking, tucking and rolling just in time. A bone scythe from a massive monster whooshed overhead, grazing the wall and showering Nikola with concrete debris. The creature, resembling a gigantic five-meter-tall mantis, only without wings and with three pairs of running legs, jerked its scythe back, striking immediately with its left forelimb. Redhead, who had been running with her blades in a reverse grip, instinctively switched her right sword to block the strike, deflecting it tangentially. The monster¡¯s super-strong scythe slid along her blade, sparking metal, as she barely managed to hold onto the handle. ¡°The blows are too strong! A direct block will just break the sword along with my arm!¡± She dodged the second attack, retreating towards the staircase. The monster continued its assault with two rapid strikes that almost merged into one. Twisting around, Nika managed to jump away from those ¡°scissors¡± but nearly lost her balance. Another lightning-fast strike followed in pursuit; there was no time left to maneuver, and she had to take the hit on her blade. Sparks flew as the scythe struck with such force that it tore off the blade and embedded itself into the concrete floor. Using the monster¡¯s momentary pause, Nikola pushed off, rolled away from another thrust, and sprang to her feet. The mantis, undeterred, yanked its paw to free it from the floor and lunged forward so swiftly that Nikola barely managed to intercept the blow with her raised blades. The strike was so powerful that she couldn¡¯t hold her ground and was thrown back against the wall. The monster leaped after her, swinging its scythe. A large message popped up before her eyes: # Attention! A severe infraction detected! You are accused of serious damage the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s property! Remain where you are, await the arrival of the patrol team! Nikola got distracted for a split second to dismiss the intrusive message, missing the start of the new attack. The scythe hurtled towards her abdomen at breakneck speed. Realizing she had no chance to block such force, Nikola tried to dodge by leaping away. But she was too late! The damned thing got her mid-jump, effortlessly piercing through the cybernetic thigh of her left cyber-leg. The spike got stuck, and as the mantis reared up on its hind legs, it tried to shake Nika off. The front limbs went upward, easily pulling the girl off the ground. In a frantic movement, the monster tried to hit her stomach with its free limb, but at that moment, an emergency protocol kicked in, and the cyber-core shot off her left leg. Propelled by momentum, Nikola flew over the creature¡¯s head, landing squarely on its back. As she soared, she released the blade from her left hand and grabbed onto the edge of the chitinous carapace on the monster¡¯s upper back to prevent falling. The beast attempted to throw Redhead off, but it couldn¡¯t; its forelimbs couldn¡¯t bend enough to reach the ¡°rider¡± on its back! Wasting no time and using her remaining leg for leverage, Nika swiftly moved forward. Spotting a gap between the tough chitin-covered thorax and the head, she swung there with all her might. The blade pierced the thick skin and sunk into the monster¡¯s neck. The creature¡¯s head twisted back sharply, nearly 180 degrees, but that was a fatal mistake on its part. Nikola managed to hold on, firmly gripping the hilt. So, the monster¡¯s last motion nearly severed its own neck. With a few more slashes, Nika finished the job, and the beast¡¯s head fell forward, hanging by mere shreds. What followed was sheer chaos. For several minutes, the beast thrashed around with its powerful front limbs, shredding everything in the parking lot. Clinging with both hands for dear life, and using her remaining leg to stabilize herself, Nikola had only one goal ¨C to not fall off. The creature¡¯s death throes were wildly powerful. Several times the girl was doused in pungently smelling hemolymph from the severed neck, she got scratched by tiny spines on the carapace, but managed to hold on. Eventually, the mantis¡¯ legs gave out, and its entire body crashed heavily to the ground. One last convulsion. And then silence... it was all over. Nikola unclenched her fists and collapsed next to the giant corpse. Pushing against the ground, she struggled to rise onto her arms, took a deep breath, then rolled over and leaned back against the massive body. ¡°Oh, kurwa! It hurts like hell!¡± Redhead exhaled heavily, assessing the damage. The diagnostic mediaglyphs were unavailable, but it was evident both her arms were battered, and her left leg was completely missing. ¡°Okay. According to that last message, it¡¯s been nine minutes since all this fucking mess started. I have half an hour to get to Alisa. Don¡¯t wanna find out if this thing¡¯ll kill me for real.¡± Since running blades were not meant for standing or jumping on one leg, she had to get down on all threes and crawl, dragging her surviving limb along. Looking around, Nika noticed the mantis had flung her cyber-leg towards a wall during their fight, so it had survived the madness of the last few moments. Reaching it, she breathed a sigh of relief ¨C visually, the limb seemed mostly intact. The weapon fared worse. The blade she threw away seemed irretrievably lost, and the other, which had fallen to the ground, was severely bent ¨C apparently trampled during the final minutes. ¡°Gotta get the hell outta here, I won¡¯t survive another fight!¡± Nikola grabbed her leg and started crawling towards the staircase, dragging it along. Only twenty-eight minutes left until her consciousness would be forcibly shut down. Chapter 15 - The Ghost in the Machine City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Alisa Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 12:01 PM The room lighting flickered wildly, chaotically alternating between bright and very dim. All display surfaces activated, from the large monitor panels to the tiny screens on the instruments, erupted in a chaotic mix of media snippets, interface elements, messages, and pure static. Alisa lay frozen on the floor, her body twisted in an unnatural pose. The medbot by the wall was turned off, and Maksim was still unconscious. Gradually, the main lights dimmed to nothing, leaving only the faint glow of emergency lighting. The screens and monitors finally settled, showing nothing but white noise before slowly fading out. Trying to stand, Alisa¡¯s movements were erratic and uncoordinated, like those of a broken doll. Her first step caused her leg to buckle, sending her crashing to the floor, where she hit her head hard. Forsaking further attempts to rise, she resorted to crawling forward using only her arms, harshly scraping plastic against the rough floor. Fortunately, the medbot was within reach ¨C just a few meters away. Dragging herself to it, Alisa got there, grabbed the edge of the operating table and, with great effort, pulled herself upright. She opened her jaw wide, ejecting four connectors, then clumsily crawled over Maksim to reach the backup control console. Traditionally, such manual controls were obsolete, as AI assistants provided seamless operational support. However, for rare critical situations, direct control was preserved. And this was such a critical situation! Alisa reached the console with one hand, switching the medbot to manual operation. The touch keyboard and touchpad were responsive; visibility of the interface was unnecessary ¨C her familiarity with the layout allowed her to operate by feel. She activated the ¡°patient awakening¡± protocol, adjusted her brother¡¯s head to access the interface ports on his implant, and collapsed beside him, her hand still resting on the console. The bot¡¯s arm moved into position, switching to a syringe, and injected the medicine. Max convulsed slightly, restrained securely by the setup. Finally, his eyes opened¡­
Russian Empire, E77 highway Near the military checkpoint 21/10, former ¡°Shumilkino¡± Customs Point Maksim and Alisa Chernykh, October 15, 2042 The truck made a distinct turn, slightly jostled as it presumably crossed a speed bump, before coming to a halt. The engine¡¯s roar abruptly died down. Maksim, with a practiced gesture, shut off his tablet, plunging him and his sister into utter darkness. Anticipating the daunting task ahead, the boy had spent the last thirty minutes trying to soothe his nerves. To ¡°unload¡± his mind by any means possible. The tablet was his final attempt to distract himself, but even that didn¡¯t help. Despite his efforts, Max¡¯s thoughts relentlessly returned to their ongoing escape. The last legal exits from the country for ordinary citizens had been closed by the Great Emperor back in 2039, and with the recent imposition of a global military state, the situation had only deteriorated. The border was completely sealed off, fortified with minefields, gas lines, combat drones, and military robots ¨C a deadly barrier impassable by ordinary civilians. For the Chernykh siblings, however, a breakthrough came via connections from their father, enabling them to link up with trustworthy individuals from the MSF mission. (Note: MSF stands for M¨¦decins Sans Fronti¨¨res, an independent international medical humanitarian organization.) Unfortunately, that was the extent of their luck. MSF was the last humanitarian mission still active within the Empire. But it too had been banned, forcing its staff to hastily leave the country. Moreover, the doctors were forbidden from evacuating even those who were terminally ill or severely disabled. To make matters worse, upon departure, all vehicles were meticulously searched at the border, and scanners designed to detect contraband made smuggling impossible. However, the military police were not on the lookout for goods; they were hunting for people. There was absolutely no chance to conceal a living person. But as they discovered, concealing a dead individual was still feasible. Cryonics technology had been known for a long time, with the first cryopreservation taking place back in 1967. Over the years, considerable effort had been invested in developing the process of freezing and, conversely, reviving cryopatients. Yet, cryonics had never become widespread ¨C the risk of a negative outcome was still unacceptably high, despite all the scientific efforts. Despite the very real risk of death, Maksim and Alisa had decided to take a chance. The siblings understood the potential for fatal outcomes. But, after thinking things through, they¡¯d decided that the dangers of cryopreservation were preferable to certain death in one of the concentration camps ¨C arrest warrants for the children were issued immediately after their father was executed. There was no chance of survival in the camp ¨C boys as young as sixteen were sent to the front lines. The Emperor preferred to conserve equipment and used humans to clear minefields or breach gas defense lines instead. The fate of the girls was even more horrific... Moreover, the threat of nuclear strikes grew more tangible by the day. ¡°And here we are, on the last MSF road train departing the country.¡± Alisa had drifted into sleep as they drove, and Max, aware of the looming changes, gently touched her shoulder. ¡°Wake up, Sis. It looks like it¡¯s about to start.¡± The door from the cab to the cargo area swung open, letting in a bit more light. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived, kids, it¡¯s time. Unless you changed your mind?¡± One of the drivers entered, clad in a field uniform with red-and-white MSF patches. ¡°No,¡± responded Maksim promptly, though inside, he was in terror. ¡°I must warn you one last time about the risks. The thawing process isn¡¯t always successful.¡± Max felt Alisa¡¯s grip tighten on his hand. ¡°If you want to back out, now¡¯s your chance. Beyond here, the route is fully monitored.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready. Proceed.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no turning back. And there can¡¯t be.¡± They exchanged a knowing glance, Maksim nodded, and squeezed Alisa¡¯s hand back. ¡°Here we go, Sis. It¡¯s time. I wish I believed in some deity.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make it through. I¡¯m sure of it. We have to.¡± A medic walked in. ¡°We have three minutes, kids. Hurry to your stations.¡± Obviously, both siblings had been preparing for this escape, and they were familiar with the cryonics process ¨C having studied all the information they could get. The mission doctor had also been reassuring and responsive to their inquiries. Even now, as he prepared for the procedure, he didn¡¯t just work in silence but explained each step. ¡°Firstly, this injection. It¡¯s a specially tailored mix of anesthetics, optimized for each of you individually. You¡¯ll fall asleep shortly. Once the anesthesia sets in, we¡¯ll hook you up to a ventilator and begin the cooling process, injecting preservatives into your bloodstream simultaneously...¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. They didn¡¯t hear the end of his speech. Their eyelids drooped involuntarily, and just before consciousness slipped away, Maksim could only think one thing: ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright. It has to be.¡± Did he dream at all? Probably not¡­ But after some time, he abruptly awakened to a voice speaking German, ¡°Welcome to state Germany, my boy.¡± ¡°We did it, Alisa, we made it!¡± He tried to ask something, but only a hoarse whisper emerged. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, all is well. Here, have a drink.¡± The man handed him a glass of some bright-green liquid. Max gulped down the medicine, unable to taste it. ¡°I need to ask! I need to ask right now!¡± ¡°My¡­ sister,¡± he managed to whisper hoarsely. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ we did everything we could¡­ But¡­¡± Until that moment, Maksim Chernykh hadn¡¯t known what real pain was. To come so far, to endure such hardships, and in the end¡­ To lose everything.
State Germany, Dresden Alisa Chernykh, February 2043 ¡°It¡¯s pitch black here. So utterly dark that it doesn¡¯t matter whether my eyes are open or shut... Wait... can¡¯t feel anything. Are my eyes open?¡± ¡°Do I even have eyes?¡± ¡°Do I have a body?¡± ¡°How long have I been here?¡± ¡°Where am I exactly?¡± A shift occurs in the surrounding emptiness. ¡°It feels like I¡¯m sensing something. It¡¯s a familiar yet forgotten sensation from the time I¡¯ve been here.¡± Something changes... evolves... ¡°Was that a sound? And now? Seems like a flash of darkness in profound blackness... No, wait! I see something! There¡¯s definitely something forming! Here!¡± The darkness around her gradually lightens, revealing vague and blurred outlines. ¡°Unbelievable! It¡¯s incredible! Finally, I can see something! After what seemed like endless hours? Days? Years? How long have I been trapped in this void?... Still can¡¯t feel my body, can¡¯t change what I see, but I CAN SEE!¡± ¡°There, Alisa, you¡¯ll soon be just like the real¡­¡± ¡°A familiar voice that¡¯s so dear to me! That¡¯s¡­ Maksim!¡± ¡°I often think about what to say first when I can¡­ I¡¯m not sure you will forgive me¡­ We shouldn¡¯t have taken such risks. No, I shouldn¡¯t have risked your life!¡± ¡°Maksim! I¡¯m here! I¡¯m alive! Alive!¡± A blurry shape appeared in front of her. Maybe that was Maksim. ¡°I understand it all logically, we had no other choice back then. You don¡¯t know, Sis, but the war is over now. It was brutal. Very bloody... But the Russian Empire which killed mom¡­ dad¡­ you¡­ it¡¯s gone now. You can say we¡¯ve won¡­ And¡­ I miss you so much¡­¡± The smudge before her eyes was moving and doing something. The image jittered occasionally but didn¡¯t get any clearer. She could only listen, unable to take any action. ¡°You know, Alisa, even if people say I¡¯m crazy¡­ I still believe you can be brought back! It might take years, but I¡¯ll do whatever it takes, no matter what the cost! Especially since I have a general idea of how to proceed. I¡¯ve... got everything Dad talked about...¡± Just as suddenly as it appeared, the image went away. Once again, she is left with nothing but a boundless black void. ¡°NO! Maksim, save me! I don¡¯t want¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m terrified of being all alone again!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Strange¡­ I guess I underestimated the system¡¯s complexity. An eight-core Artel CPU isn¡¯t up to the task. And, by the way, why was the image so blurred? Weren¡¯t these supposed to be good cameras? Well, shutting down for now.¡± The darkness shifts again, deepening, erasing all sounds. ¡°Processor? Cameras? What''s happening to me? Am I in a robot¡¯s body?!!¡± Alisa didn¡¯t know how much time had passed since her ¡°awakening.¡± Once again, she was enveloped by an endless, mutable darkness that had changed so many times she¡¯s lost count. But neither lights nor sounds returned. ¡°Maksim, I¡¯m scared¡­ Please come back¡­¡± More time passed¡­ And then there was a change in the void again. Light burst in suddenly, this time providing a much clearer view ¨C a small, well-lit room with light-colored wallpaper. To the left, the edge of a bed was visible; to the right, a chair. At the far wall stood a large assembly frame beside a universal workbench. In the corner, a chair held some small items, indistinct and out of focus. Unfortunately, she still couldn¡¯t control her sight. Every attempt to blink failed. Suddenly, the image flickered ¨C dimming briefly, then brightening, the contrast shifting as color disappeared and reappeared several times. The world jolted and swayed ¨C her eyes began moving on their own. Alisa didn¡¯t control them, but she felt their movement and watched the scenery change. To the left ¨C and up. The motion was jerky and blurred, slow. To the right ¨C and up. This movement was smoother and slightly quicker, sharpening the image. To the right ¨C and down. The speed increased, the blurring nearly gone. To the left ¨C and down. A fast, smooth movement, everything sharply in focus. ¡°There we go, kitty, that¡¯s more like it. Much better.¡± Maksim¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Sound is back!¡± Someone came into view. The eyes took a moment to respond, but eventually focused. ¡°Maksim! What has happened to you?!¡± He appeared shirtless, possibly completely unclothed from what she could see. His face was the first thing she noticed ¨C swollen, pale, with cracked crusts on his lips. Plastic tubes from an oxygen catheter were fixed under his nose. His left eye was a bloodshot red, the right one covered with a bandage. His head was shaved, a few wide band-aids on it. ¡°Alisa, I¡¯m back¡­¡± Maksim said, his movements exceedingly slow and cautious. His neck was secured in a plastic collar, with broad strips of elastic bandage across his torso. ¡°So, we made it! We must be in Europe.¡± Alisa realized, noticing the marks from what seemed to be recently installed implants. ¡°I remember dreaming together about having all sorts of implants, the coolest and most powerful ones, once we got out of Russia.¡± ¡°It looks like our dream came true, at least for you. I guess they allow implants from age 16 in European states, but isn¡¯t that incredibly expensive? Where did you get so much money?¡± ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t even know how much time has passed. What exactly happened to us? Max looks aged, even has forehead wrinkles. But maybe it¡¯s just the aftermath of complicated surgeries...¡± ¡°I know you can¡¯t hear me right now¡­¡± It seemed to Alisa like Max was stroking her hair, but she couldn¡¯t feel anything, unsure if she even had hair. ¡°But I miss you so much. I just want to see you again¡­ to hear your voice¡­¡± ¡°I can hear you, Maksim! I¡­ I¡¯ll wait and definitely tell you everything! Everything I didn¡¯t get to say before and now. Just don¡¯t blame yourself, please ¡­¡± Maksim leaned forward and grabbed a massive universal controller. ¡°Can you believe I¡¯m still working the old-fashioned way, just like at home?¡± A slight smile crossed his face for the first time in a long while. ¡°The implant in my left eye hasn¡¯t settled yet. And they haven¡¯t started on the sub-brain; they''ll only begin mapping the basic neuro-cartography next week.¡± ¡°We have a long road ahead. Before I can restore your identity, I¡¯ll need to create an appropriate vessel for you.¡± Maksim turned around and partly disappeared from view. Nothing happened for some time, only a hum and clicks filled the air. Suddenly, Alisa felt as though she was on a rapidly spinning carousel. Her vision blurred as she involuntarily tried to blink... and succeeded! ¡°I closed my eyes! I did it myself!¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s a reaction! Excellent¡­ well, not really. Sixteen processors aren¡¯t enough for a brain either. What the¡­¡± There was a hitting sound. ¡°Shit! The calculations were supposed to work out fine!¡± ¡°Maksim, don¡¯t! You¡¯re doing great!¡± ¡°Think, think, you dumbass! Where did this bullshit on the monitor come from? As if she¡¯s running a Type 9 in her head, not a Type 5! The data exchange is simply colossal! None of this was mentioned in dad¡¯s materials...¡± (Note: T5, Type5 is a classification of power/autonomousness of an AI. It goes from T1 to T10+++) ¡°Maksim!¡± Alisa tried desperately to open her eyes. Gradually, it started to work. A tug, another, and she managed it! ¡°It¡¯s no use, huh, kitten?¡± Maksim asked, holding her face in his hands. ¡°If I could, I¡¯d cry again¡­¡± ¡°We''ll get through this! Honestly, I don¡¯t have money for a new Artel. I''d need at least a 32-processor AI-Core9 or higher¡­¡± Maksim released Alisa¡¯s face, backing away with a deep sigh. ¡°Truth be told, I''m totally out of money.¡± Maksim raised his hand, as if moving to scratch his head but, touching the bandage, realized that wasn¡¯t a great idea. ¡°It¡¯s not all bad, though. I received a social grant for professional adaptation since obtaining German state citizenship, plus a sizable educational loan and UBI payments. That was enough to equip a workshop far better than the one we had back home.¡± Maksim gestured somewhere out of Alisa''s sight. Her eyes were slowly starting to obey her, but she couldn¡¯t fully move them yet. So, unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t see where he pointed. ¡°So¡­ hang in there. Let¡¯s pretend like you didn¡¯t die but simply fell asleep, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll endure everything, no matter how scary it gets. Max believes in me, and I believe in him! I don¡¯t remember what happened to me after I sat in that chair in the truck¡­ But I guess¡­ I really did die. At least that¡¯s what Max believes¡­ I don¡¯t know how and why, but it seems like I ended up in an android¡¯s body¡­ How is that even possible? Who ¨C or what ¨C am I now? And what makes you so sure you can revive me?¡± ¡°I know I didn¡¯t start this wild chase and spend all my money on hardware and implants for nothing. Cryopreservation of your brain has been paid for twenty years, but there is no technology yet to thaw and revive it. And there probably won¡¯t be. In fact, it''s technically dead¡­ We need to transfer your consciousness to a digital medium.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what you¡¯re planning, Big Brother! To finally bring to life our parents¡¯ work¡­ You won¡¯t just revive me! You¡¯ll also revive the cause our parents gave their lives for! If I could, I¡¯d cry again!¡± ¡°The hardware situation is bad though, I¡¯m trying to implement dad¡¯s scheme, at least the basics. But the best I can fit into an OHR-based android is an Artel. Even if I find the money for a thirty-two-processor brain, even if it¡¯s the latest available on the market AI-Core 10, I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t be enough¡­ Actually, hmm¡­¡± ¡°Maksim, you¡¯re mistaken! Why can¡¯t I give you any advice?! It¡¯s so simple! There¡¯s no need to stuff the whole brain into an android, robot, or a bot. It¡¯s a civilized country, nobody jails people for life for using cellular communication!¡± ¡°Oh, sis, I just realized how stupid I¡¯ve been. We can handle all the ¡®subconsciousness¡¯ logic on stationary computers! That way we can use a full-fledged quantum core instead of just a chunk of it like what Artel has. By the way, that¡¯s probably where my problem lies¡­¡± ¡°Nice one! I believe in you!¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s try to work out a scheme¡­¡± Max got up and disappeared from view. ¡°I¡¯m gonna have to shut you down. Not that it¡¯s working right now, anyway.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait, Maksim¡­ I definitely wait!¡± All sound vanished. And complete darkness came once again. Chapter 16 - Alisas Message City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 12:02 PM The last thing he remembered was how he counterattacked Emilio¡¯s combat robot. He had nailed the final acceleration, mentally preparing to congratulate himself on a perfect tactical combo¡­ And then, suddenly, he was thrust into an unexpected flashback¡­ For some inexplicable reason, the face of deceased Alisa flashed before his eyes¡­ Why now, after all this time? Right after learning of his sister''s death, Maksim had her brain cryonically preserved on his insistence. Her body was cremated in a sealed coffin and her ashes interred in Dresden''s municipal cemetery. The Chernykh siblings had no living relatives, especially not in left in the state of Germany. And the boy had no acquaintances in Dresden, so the ceremony was simple and quiet. ¡°And I couldn¡¯t even see her dead body! At the memorial, I refused to let them open the casket because I¡¯d sworn to bring my little girl back to life, no matter what! And the body¡­ well, is just a body. To me, Alisa was and remains alive, back and now, even if¡­¡± ¡°Hang on. Where am I? My head is throbbing, everything before my eyes is blurry¡­ A wall in some dark room¡­ Why is it so hard to breathe?¡± Maksim tried to get up or at least turn on the side, but he couldn¡¯t. His arms? Tightly pressed to his body and restrained. Only his hands could move. Realization hit him. ¡°I¡¯m lying down¡­ Somewhere. The shirt is unbuttoned, my pocket feels empty, I can¡¯t check¡­ Some straps on my forehead and chest; they are the reason I can¡¯t move¡­¡± The headache receded slightly, only to come back ¨C much stronger and now throughout his entire body. The pain wasn¡¯t sharp or pronounced, but it was everywhere¡­ Except for his legs. Realizing he couldn¡¯t feel anything below the waist, Max checked with his fingertips ¨C his legs were there, still in place! ¡°Odd sensation, I¡¯m touching them, but¡­ no, I feel nothing! Am I paralyzed below the waist? Spinal fracture? What¡¯s happening to me?!¡± Concentrating was profoundly difficult; his head responded reluctantly, humming with noise. Yet, with considerable effort, he managed to summon the AR interface. ¡°What in the world is going on here? A series of mediaglyph stacks! Goddamn stacks, not mere notifications! I must have a concussion, and I¡¯m unbearably sluggish right now, feel like a moron. There are so many mediaglyphs because there¡¯s no status showing connection to Moira. And, consequently, I can¡¯t sense Alisa either. Meaning, there¡¯s no one who could do initial analysis of incoming information¡­¡± At that moment, someone¡¯s fingers probed behind his head. Max tried to turn, but of course, it was in vain. The touches ran down his neck and ¨C click! ¨C someone released the first interface implant fastener, then the second¡­ they were about to open the ports! Maksim didn¡¯t realize that immediately because fasteners are usually released with both hands simultaneously. ¡°Wait! Someone wants to connect directly to my sub-brain? Nah, can¡¯t be! You can¡¯t connect to somebody else¡¯s sub without the owner¡¯s authorization!¡± Meanwhile, the stranger fumbled, clearly confused with the fastener. ¡°Who the hell is that? Why¡¯s he so clumsy? Got butterfingers? Plug in already, my one-handed friend, let¡¯s see who you are! One, two, three connectors ¨C wow, he¡¯s slick, planning to storm in using four threads? Good luck with that, pal. You won¡¯t get far!¡± The fourth plug connected. The stranger acted ruthlessly; bypassing standard authorization, they sent a system request to receive the full master signature. ¡°Really now? Go ahead and try. I have only one additional master record in my database. And that¡¯s certainly NOT you.¡± ¡°Alisa?!!!¡± A window with a lengthy message unfolded before his eyes: # Message start ¡°Sorry, Maksimka, things are bad. No time to get into details. Don¡¯t try to talk to me, as my body is just an empty shell on basic autopilot right now, which purpose is to reach out to you, give you this message and shut down. I was subjected to a serious online attack. I had to offload my consciousness to Moira under the ¡®Atropos¡¯ protocol, Dasha took over next. There was no opportunity to discuss anything with her or leave a message, but I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll have shut down Moira using the ¡®Hel¡¯ protocol because the attack is too severe to handle with our resources. After offloading, I¡¯ll wipe my memory and initiate the formatting of the CSF structure; the body will turn off automatically when everything¡¯s done and the autopilot has executed the objective. So, don¡¯t worry about me! However, I¡¯m afraid, things will be difficult for you. Firstly, about your condition ¨C you have a spinal fracture, everything below your waist is paralyzed. You¡¯re on a standard semi-automatic medbot platform. You can¡¯t move because of full immobilization, but I¡¯ve released the arm restraints. Once you regain consciousness, you can remove the remaining straps yourself. Then you¡¯ll be able to sit up. There won''t be any pain; I¡¯ve administered a complete ''freeze'' to the lumbar region. Keep in mind that the medbot can no longer assist you; its controlling AI has been wiped by a virus. But if you manually switch it to the chair mode, you¡¯ll have a decent means of mobility. As for the current situation: An invasion from outer space ¨C sounds insane, right? It all started with portals that unleashed monsters. I''ve mapped the new portal openings by time and probability (I¡¯ll explain later!). I began creating a geo-targeting app to monitor the nearest risk zones based on real-time location, but didn''t manage to finish it. I''m sending you what I''ve got so far. Besides monsters, we''re facing another threat ¨C the so-called UNSA Protectorate. They¡¯ve already taken the reins of everything on Earth, including corporations. The extranets, along with the entire IT infrastructure, are under their complete control. The Protectorate¡¯s assault was the reason we were forced to reset the android and deactivate Moira. Their regulations require that all advanced AIs be placed under direct control or be destroyed. NOTE! I¡¯ve miraculously managed to deflect the first strike of the UNSA''s techno-virus. I was able to temporarily suspend it and successfully prepared for a safe consciousness unload. Moira is intact, she just needs a reboot. I think she''s still secure because the only way they could get to us is physically, and hopefully, they haven''t pinpointed Moira''s location yet. I¡¯ve attached the last log. Once you¡¯ve finished reading this, take a look. Another thing: everyone¡¯s sub-brain got hacked, likely yours is no exception. Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t verify this without waking you up. When you reboot, check it. There''s probably a pile of rather unpleasant messages when you start up. Study them, consider how we can use it to our advantage. We didn¡¯t earn our freedom only to be slaves again! The Protectorate destroyed all software based on T4 and below, so your Sub would''ve been thoroughly cleaned and directories purged. But the entire protected part, including all the software designed for Moira and securely encrypted, is safe, I''m sure of it. They didn''t get access to Moira! I assume you should have basic programs left that aren''t linked to various assistants and AI-modules. Your mediaphone should still work. As far as I know, the Protectorate has the extra-nets totally wiretapped, but communication is still possible ¨C just be as paranoid as usual ¨C it turns out, you were always right to use only encrypted communication channels. Dasha¡­ should still be at the uni. She''s alive since she connected during the unload, and likely safe because she''s accessed the cameras and can avoid the monsters. Before I went offline, we agreed she would load Moira onto a platform and drive a truck to me. I had called an appropriate vehicle, and it managed to reach the university before they started shutting down all AIs.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Also, here¡¯s a contact. Get in touch if you can. Her name is Nikola, she¡¯s a cyborg with extensive combat experience. She might help you reach the hospital. She has a jailbroken Watson CyberTech core, military type, my guess is that she¡¯s been actively involved in underground fight clubs. In the current situation, having someone with genuine combat experience on your side is invaluable. That¡¯s it, sadly. I don¡¯t know what to do next. You¡¯re currently at the stadium. I¡¯ve patched you up to the best of my ability, but if you get to the hospital (here¡¯s the tag), you¡¯ll need surgery; to install a neural implant that would resume the spinal function. The challenge is that the doctors, if there are any alive, will probably have their hands full already, if there¡¯s even anyone alive there, and all AIs below T4 would have been disabled. There might have been more powerful entities at the hospital, obviously, but we all are facing big trouble at the moment. The attack wasn''t just against me. If you get hold of a neural implant for the lumbar region and a surgery surgical with consumables, I can perform the operation myself; Moira has all the needed data. No time for more details. I¡¯m scared to fall asleep¡­ as you know¡­ Please¡­ Come for me¡­ Love¡­ you¡­¡± # End of message. The connectors snapped off, disconnecting from the interface ports, and the connection ended. Maksim tried to move his arms, succeeded this time ¨C the straps binding him loosened. He finally managed to release the clamps and remove the restraints, first from his head, then from his chest and abdomen. ¡°Hang in there, sis! I''ll get you out of this!¡± The young man exhaled heavily, braced his hands, and, with some effort, managed to sit up. Glancing to his left, he saw Alisa¡¯s chassis lying next to him: the android¡¯s head was turned, the mouth open, with four cables stretching out of it toward Max. ¡°Damn! What was I thinking when I had the ¡®brilliant¡¯ idea to implement a universal connection module in her oral cavity with a set of eight double smarts? Functional, sure, but man, it''s a total aesthetic nightmare. Alright, focus!¡± Maksim rubbed his temples. ¡°My head is buzzing, but there¡¯s no time to rest. First off, let¡¯s check Alisa¡¯s log!¡± # Emergency protocol log start 010 Parallel process, 2 threads: 020 Thread 1: Infiltration detected in the primary structure of cybercortex module ¡®Demon¡¯. 030 Thread 2: Infiltration detected in the primary structure of cybercortex module ¡®Angel¡¯. 200 Warning! Critical error! Bridge module structure compromised. 210 Bridge Guardian: Bridge controller forcibly stopped. 220 Bridge Guardian: Forcible uninstallation of Bridge module controller¡­ success. 230 Bridge Guardian: Restoration of structure from protected backup¡­ success. 240 Bridge Guardian: Bridge controller restart. Success. 500 Warning! Global infiltration detected in the CSF structure! 510 Blocking damaged areas¡­ error! 520 Request: Forced reboot of CSF structure¡­ 530 Negative. Action blocked! 600 Forced shutdown. Code ¡®Atropos.¡¯ 610 Transferring code. 620 Success. 800 MOIRA. CODE ACCEPTED. INITIATING ATROPOS PROTOCOL. 810 Moira: CSF structure unload¡­ success. 820 Moira: Unloading last backup copy of long-term memory¡­ success. 830 Moira: Unloading current active memory state¡­ success. 840 System forced shutdown in 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ # Emergency protocol log end ¡°Indeed, this is a crazy situation. Alisa, this time I see your lifeless body. Feels like it¡¯s happening all over again. That dream keeps creeping back into my mind. That damned escape and how it ended¡­ For so many years, I¡¯ve condemned myself every day for deciding to take the risk, despite the slim chances. Of course, back then, that risk seemed justified, as it was our only hope. The war had started, and everyone realized that nuclear strikes were inevitable. Alisa was only thirteen when we decided to escape¡­¡± ¡°Damn, stop this! I''m drifting off. This isn¡¯t a dead body, it¡¯s just an empty shell! And no time for moping, I gotta act. Ugh, my head is still hazy, thoughts jumbled. Must be the aftereffects of the painkillers. Okay, where is the medbot¡¯s controller?¡± ¡°Actually, where else could it be if not behind me? But I can¡¯t twist far enough to reach it.¡± ¡°I wonder if the designers ever considered that the medbot could be left without AI assistance? Apparently not. Well, that figures. In this time of enlightenment, even mugs and slippers are smart. Who would¡¯ve thought it¡¯d turn out like this?¡± ¡°Here I am, ¡®drifting¡¯ again. My brain is trying to shield itself, to block out the grim reality. That stupid habit I¡¯ve had since special school. Calling it a ¡®school¡¯ is a stretch though, it was the same old labor camp but for kids qualified enough to work in intellectual industries like robotics, bionics, or programming. We¡­¡± Suddenly, the full horror of the situation hit Maksim. Moira is disabled! He broke out in a cold sweat, and a rush of adrenaline made him fully wake up and switch into ¡°combat mode.¡± ¡°I cannot lose Alisa again. She might not be a human yet, nor is she just an AI¨CType-Ten!¡± The young man habitually unfolded a status bar and checked the connection. At first glance, everything stayed the same. He was still connected to ¡®Globalcom-Kyiv¡¯ as his primary extranet network. Scrolling through the quick access panel, Maksim called Dashka. But instead of a response, he only received a message: # Daria Vasilevskaya is not reachable at the moment. Please try again later. ¡°I don¡¯t get it, did she get disconnected too? Or only her implants did? Or she¡¯s simply gone off all the networks?¡± ¡°That would make sense, though! If all extranets are under those aliens¡¯ control, even standard end-to-end encryption that I normally use for any significant communication wouldn¡¯t be secure enough.¡± ¡°Fine, it¡¯s not the end of the world! Well, actually it is, but Dasha and I have long figured out a way to safely communicate under extreme paranoia. Turns out, that wasn''t paranoia after all. I''ll sort out my mobility issues and try to contact her again.¡± After removing the remaining straps, Maksim leaned forward and manually swung his legs off the medbot; Luckily, the side was lowered, so there were no issues there. Slowly pulling his immobile lower body, he managed to edge closer to the console. That thing could only rotate ninety degrees; at least better than being upside-down. His finger slid over the ¡®Quick start¡¯ touch button. The device played a short five-note tune, started humming quietly, and the green status light came on. ¡°Great. The medbot really does work. I¡¯ve never dealt with a model like this, but that¡¯s why they have universal interfaces for ¨C to easily master any piece of equipment.¡± Navigating through the menus, Max switched the complex into the ¡®Wheelchair Patient¡¯ mode. The couch vibrated subtly and started to fold in two points with a quiet buzz. The upper section moved up to form a backrest, the middle transformed into a seat with armrests, and the lower part became a footrest. To avoid falling, he had to quickly shuffle to the center, vigorously helping himself with his hands. Managing without functioning legs proved devilishly difficult! His left leg even got caught, but Max noticed just in time and reacted swiftly, skillfully freeing his leg before it got trapped. Apparently, the manufacturers assumed that the patient couldn''t possibly be on the platform during the transformation. The console beeped and displayed a message that the main structure, the one with the diagnostic complex and manipulators, would be detached in this mode. Essentially, the medbot would split into two, one part becoming the wheelchair. To transform it back, both parts would be needed. But that wasn¡¯t a problem ¨C anyway, in the current situation, the main structure wouldn¡¯t be of use anymore. ¡°Okay, so how do you even control this thing?¡± the ¡®patient¡¯ thought after the chair had finished transforming. ¡°The ¡®push-buttons-with-hands¡¯ approach isn¡¯t appealing to me at all. There¡¯s usually an option to connect wirelessly via extranet or directly via cables. Hmm¡­ I don¡¯t see this little machine on the network. Does it have any ports for smart cables?¡± Max thoroughly examined the chair; he found the necessary compartment with connectors and a box for four cables. But it was empty. ¡°Bummer¡­ What now?¡± Raising his head, he looked around the room attentively. Well¡­ as attentively as one could in near total darkness. The dim light barely revealed some mechanisms piled in the center. ¡°Is this a workshop? A service room?¡± ¡°Lights on!¡± Maksim commanded loudly and clearly. The lighting system, however, blatantly ignored his order. Nothing had changed. But the young man noticed a control panel by the exit, highlighted by emergency lights. ¡°Let¡¯s try to get some lights in here. If not automatically, then manually.¡± Max engaged the chair¡¯s drive, and it jerked forward. ¡°Man, a joystick would suit this better than a touchpad! At least they thought to rotate the control panel conveniently. But the chair still moves jerkily, not smoothly like it¡¯s supposed to. Either my hand doesn¡¯t work properly after the injury, or it¡¯s just poor programming. I hope direct connection will make this monster work better.¡± He barely stopped the chair by the control panel, almost crashing into the wall. After a closer look, he realized that after the main building¡¯s AI was disabled, only the manual control was left. Max selected on the screen ¡®Quick access ¨C Light Control ¨C Turn on All¡¯. The overhead light panels came on. So, it really was a service room for drones and bots. No windows, which explained the darkness. It was quite cramped, with a large industrial assembly frame in the center holding an unfinished bot. A universal workbench was nearby, and shelves lined the walls. He still needed a smart cable, so the guy maneuvered closer, occasionally bumping into things with the chair and scraping the sides ¨C there was so little space that it was hard to move without hitting something. ¡°Wow, a universal CaTZ-4-based bot. Almost assembled, but with so many modifications, it''s barely recognizable. But clearly, it¡¯s Alisa¡¯s handiwork; she loves this platform. I think I should come back to it later and finish whatever she was up to here. It''s definitely not for nothing!¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Holy Brightness! I think I found it¡­¡± Maksim struggled to approach the workbench and to reach the storage rack for smart cables. He took only one, but an XC adapter was also needed; the chair had outdated connectors. He left the rest of the fourteen standard one-and-a-half-meter smart cables, just remembering that they might come in handy. Nothing else useful was found on this side of the workbench, so he had to circle around it ¨C if there are cables, there¡¯s bound to be adapters nearby! ¡°Bingo!¡± Maksim pulled out a drawer with miscellaneous hardware from a niche. The container was quite heavy, but everything he needed, and even more, was inside ¨C for tech from the last twenty years. A handy find indeed. Leaning forward, the guy connected the smart cable to his interface implant. Then, he deftly attached the adapter and slid the cover closed over the chair''s port. Setting up the chair''s controls took some effort ¨C the Protectorate¡¯s techno-virus had wiped everything clean. Luckily, Max had a rich library of ready-made modules in his mind. ¡°Yep, it would¡¯ve been so much easier and faster with virtual assistants. Especially in my case, when I had a full-blown supercomputer and Alisa¡¯s powerful AI for one. Well, shall we test it?¡± Maksim spun in place, made a forward-backward jerks ¨C whatever the cramped workshop space allowed, and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve secured my mobility. Time to deal with the mediaglyphs and figure out what to do next.¡± Chapter 17 - Navigating New Realities City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 12:11 PM Maksim leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s see what went down while I was out.¡± The mediaglyphs were neatly organized into several groups, making them relatively straightforward to navigate. It all started with a cortical grid and sub-brain update that he had blissfully slept through. That update log was exceptionally terse ¨C the new world masters clearly didn¡¯t care for the old rules. They hadn''t bothered to include any change log, that¡¯s just great! Without detailed diagnostics, it was now impossible to determine what had been modified in the firmware of the cortical grid. However, it was pretty clear that the update had been installed by an official tech support AI, and they had targeted all the ¡°hardware¡± in the complex: the cortical grid in his head, or rather its control modules, the sub-brain, and all the implanted ¡°periphery¡±, primarily eye implants. Even the interface implant was affected! Although, preliminary tests revealed nothing out of the ordinary. All the programs, services, and utilities functioning as expected. Except for Alisa¡­ Max had grown so accustomed to her constant presence in his mind, that now her absence now felt unsettling. ¡°It¡¯s okay, kitten, surely, I¡¯ll save you soon!¡± He turned his attention to scrolling through the messages from the Protectorate, although there turned out to be a real abundance of them. Nevertheless, Maksim¡¯s experience with not only technical documentation also all kinds of legal forms helped him through. ¡°Alisa did warn me, but this is really intense. Sadly, she and I are all too familiar with this kind of rhetoric¡­¡± ¡°Accommodation, food, and a job, you say? Uh-huh, they promised all that at the concentration camps too. Along with ¡®protection.¡¯ No, thanks.¡± He selected and confirmed his choice in the interface. # Attention! You are renouncing the Unconditional Right to Protection and Safety provided by the UNSA Protectorate. # Conditions check: # Citizenship: Polis Kyiv¡­ checking success. # Checking for obligations transferred to third parties¡­ no obligations present. # Curfew¡­ not imposed. # All checks passed successfully. Under the Trilateral Agreement on the Protectorate and the Division of Protection Zones, you are entitled to choose the following: # Information package from TACTA (choose) # Information package from the Great Empire Chou (request availability check) ¡°I¡¯m gonna go with this TACTA, whoever they are. I''ve had enough of empires, especially the so-called great ones,¡± Maksim said and pressed ¡®choose,¡¯ already guessing the likely outcome. Messages unfolded before his eyes: # Attention! Installation of critical cortical grid update in progress. Temporary disconnection of sensory communication channels and possible brief loss of consciousness may occur. Please find a safe place. # Note! The update affects the operation of your cortical grid and sub-brain. Detailed documentation with all the changes and new features will be available after finalizing the contract with TACTA. Maksim was unconscious during the previous time, and the update installed automatically. He was glad to be informed now, though he only had time to think ¡°what about those who aren¡¯t connected to the extranet?¡± before his vision went dark, and the guy lost consciousness. He remained in darkness for what felt like only a moment. Then, a flash ¨C and Max woke up. He couldn¡¯t open his eyes immediately; first came a throbbing in his temples. Heavy, hot. Then the sensation of compression so intense, he thought he could hear the bones in his skull cracking. Finally, it felt like a real bomb exploded in his head; the pain was so sharp that it made him clench his teeth, and colorful circles started floating before his eyes. It got worse ¨C he tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were so heavy, they wouldn''t respond. His neck felt like it was on fire, as if it had been doused with boiling water. Something seemed to snap in the back of his head, then a hot wave ran down his spine, almost reaching the waist level¡­ then stopping abruptly. With two final dull pangs, the pain left his head, Maksim gasped for air and managed to open his eyes. ¡°And... what the fuck was that?¡± The whole installation process took just over six minutes, which was three times longer than the Protectorate¡¯s update. A new window with a message came up: # The update installed successfully. # You can view basic information about the installed update. Detailed information, developer¡¯s documentation, including the API for developing applications, will be available after you¡¯ve entered into a contract with TACTA. # Attention! You are currently in the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s zone of influence. # When finalizing a contract with TACTA, we recommend that you stay in neutral territory as to avoid potential problems. # According to the Laws of the Protectorate, ¡°renouncing Protection¡± is a final decision that cannot be retracted. You must leave the Protectorate¡¯s zone of influence before the curfew is imposed. Max nervously chuckled at this, first glancing at the watch, then at his paralyzed legs and Alisa¡¯s body lying on the floor next to his chair. # After the curfew, partners of TACTA are strictly prohibited from staying in the Protectorate¡¯s territory without a visa (this prohibition is effective all the Protectorate Dominions). Then, Maksim was presented with options: view more details about the aforementioned points, decide and sign a contract with TACTA, postpone the decision, or fully reject the contract. An info box said that if he chose the latter, firstly, TACTA¡¯s updates for cortical grid and sub-brain would be uninstalled, secondly, the old Protectorate¡¯s firmware would be restored, and thirdly, for just reviewing the initial information package from TACTA, he would face arrest, a fine of 10,000,000 sols, a 1000-point penalty on his social rating, and 24 months of mandatory correctional labor at the refusal containment center. If the fine isn''t paid by the end of the correctional term, the term is extended until full payment is made, including interest and all additional penalties. ¡°The more I learn about the Protectorate, the less I want to do anything with them. Just like any other lovers of dividing people into ¡®right thinkers¡¯ and ¡®enemies of the state¡¯¡­ Been there, done that!¡± Maksim made up his mind. Making sure that the additional information would still be available later, Max gave the command to sign the agreement with TACTA. Time was running out until the promised curfew by the Protectorate, so taking risks and spending time for reading was not worth it. He still needed to pick up Dasha and Moira, try to find Nikola, sort out weapons and equipment, undergo spine surgery, and finally leave Kyiv if it only would be possible. # TACTA thanks you for your cooperation! # To continue with the procedure, please connect to TACTA¡¯s extranet network. ## Information: In the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s territory, the use of the TACTA¡¯s extranet network by individuals without a special visa is prohibited and considered a crime after the curfew is in effect. # Checking network availability¡­ success. The status bar blinked with a media glyph, indicating a new available network. ¡°Hmm¡­ it says that it¡¯s prohibited to connect after curfew? Meaning, it¡¯s fine if I do it now. Hooking up!¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. # Connecting¡­ success. # Confirming status¡­ success. # Registration¡­ success. # Congratulations, you¡¯ve successfully completed step one of the registration process as a Free Partner of TACTA! # INFORMATORIUM is ready to install (information, install) Quickly checking the ¡°information,¡± Max learned that this app was an online service with a database and some sort of rating system. It also had a communicator and, oddly enough, a store. Clicking the prominent ¡°Getting Started¡± link, he found two versions of the initial documentation: detailed and quick. ¡°In broad strokes please, there¡¯s a war going on after all,¡± he chuckled under his breath, opening the link. He quickly skimmed through the three pages that opened, instinctively focusing on the key paragraphs. # Welcome to TACTA partnership contracts system. # You can obtain all the detailed information via the Informatorium application (you must be connected to TACTA¡¯s global extranet network). # To finalize your registration as an independent partner of TACTA, you must do the following: # Implant a cortical network (completed) # Update the software of the cortical grid, sub-brain and dependent implants (completed) # Install the Informatorium application (install) # Activate a wearable cortical grid expansion bracelet or implant an expansion module (Model NEM, tier1 or higher. Note! The expansion module requires an already installed and fully functioning sub-brain implant. The procedure is fully automated, performed under local anesthesia and takes no more than ten minutes). # There are two ways of obtaining the bracelet or the module: # Option 1: Contact TACTA¡¯s mobile / stationary post (map) # Option 2: Call TACTA¡¯s Mobile Drone. # Note: ## Calling the Drone is a paid service (cost: 999 grants). ## A protective barrier is set up around the Drone at the landing site until it departs. Full safety is guaranteed within a 10-meter radius from the landing point, but TACTA doesn¡¯t guarantee that the drone¡¯s arrival will go unnoticed. ## If you call the Drone within the territory of a UNSA Protectorate Dominant or within the responsibility zone of the Empire Chou, it may attract the interest of the Rapid Response Group (internal security service of the Protectorate UNSA) or the Outer Ring Dragon Guardians (external security service of The Empire Chou). ## Do not call the Drone unless you know how to ensure YOUR safety after its departure. # End of Document ¡°Well, that¡¯s something.¡± Maksim mused, scratching the back of his head thoughtfully. ¡°On one hand, I don¡¯t want anyone tampering with my implants. But on the other, the trade-offs are quite fascinating... The alternative is marching straight to jail, as they''ve made abundantly clear, albeit in a not-so-subtle way.¡± ¡°I think the choice is obvious. Plus, our glorious conquerors are only allies on paper, but seem to be at each other¡¯s throats in real life. And that SHOULD be taken advantage of¡­¡± ¡°Okay, screw it.¡± Max decided philosophically and clicked the invitingly glowing mediaglyph. # Informatorium, install. In augmented reality, the installation status bar flashed by quickly, and the main panels of the app unfolded and neatly tucked away. With an experienced eye, Max still noticed that everything looked well-designed, the UI was clean and seemed user-friendly. ¡°Okay, what do we have here?¡± //Requirements //Initiation //Contacts //Development manager //Store //Contracts //Information system Hmm¡­ The first two options seemed to be reference materials, and after reading, they can be dismissed. ¡®Requirements¡¯ contained details of the information Maksim had already been given; he should use the ¡®initiation¡¯ option after connecting the bracelet or installing the expansion module. After that, ¡®initiation¡¯ would become ¡®status.¡¯ ¡°As far as I can tell, ¡®Manager,¡¯ ¡®Contacts,¡¯ ¡®Store,¡¯ and ¡®Contracts¡¯ seem to be the core activities, and the media glyphs are immediately parameterized. Good thing there are tips, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re context-sensitive too.¡± Max browsed over all the available menu buttons. In the ¡®Contacts¡¯ section, he found only one entry: ¡°TACTA drone call service.¡± A new messenger was a good thing, of course, but without knowing more about it, it wasn¡¯t safe to use. ¡°Let¡¯s shelve exploring this until better times.¡± After viewing the remaining sections, Max realized that getting to grips with the TACTA¡¯s system would have to wait. Mainly because most of the features were currently plainly unavailable. Whenever he tried to access any of the option, the same message popped up: // Initiation and earning a rating in the TACTA Free Partners system is required for access! ¡°So even though I¡¯ve signed a contract with TACTA, I''m not yet considered a full partner,¡± Maksim understood. Reaching the ¡°store¡± section, he experienced sheer shock, seeing a message: # Attention! You are accessing only the demo (limited) version of the catalog, access level ¨C partners of category 6 and 5. Prices are for reference only and may differ from actual ones. Despite the disclaimer at the top of the page, Max was presented with a shopping bonanza that spanned from an array of weaponry ¨C including energy weapons ¨C to cybernetics, transportation, biomedicine, and even food, clothing, and household chemicals. Curiously clicking on an entry for ¡°Heavy Plasma Rifle FQZ-28Q1,¡± he encountered an extensive description with specs, photos, media files, and a price tag of 41,530 grants. ¡°Damn it, I want all of this, and right now!¡± Returning to the ¡®Initiation¡¯ section, he selected ¡®show map.¡¯ He¡¯d seen it coming. There wasn¡¯t a single ¡®mobile/stationary TACTA points¡¯ within five hundred kilometers, and beyond that, the map wouldn¡¯t even display. ¡°Looks like the only option is to call the drone. But that¡¯s a risk, as the system has warned me repeatedly. Better to first find Dashka, revive Moira and Alisa, and assess the situation. So, I¡¯m shutting down Informatorium for now. Without a rating ¨C meaning a drone call, which is the key to the entire system ¨C there¡¯s no point.¡± It was clear that TACTA were some kind of traders and middlemen. Max felt inclined to work with them ¨C in his opinion, traders were significantly better than the completely deranged religious fanatics obsessed with constructing another insane dictatorship. Especially those armed with military technologies that could enable it, and even more so in a post-apocalyptic world¡­ Thus, the choice was obvious, and it was time for the next task ¨C to quickly leave the stadium! The problem was that he had not managed to get in touch with Dasha ¨C she hadn''t answered his call and left no messages. ¡°Need to sort out the communication issue ¡­ And by the way, is my mediaphone still alive? I¡¯ll call through the sub-brain anyway, but this gadget has external cameras. Gotta look for it! When I came to, I was shirted but unbuttoned. The chest pocket was empty. Maybe the media phone interfered with resuscitation, and they took it out? But¡­ if that is the case, where could it be? I passed out during the fight, in the operator¡¯s room. Could it be left back there? Easily¡­¡± Maksim scanned the room again, activating the search mode in augmented reality. ¡°Either I¡¯m lucky, or Alisa took care of it...¡± He found the sought-after device on a table, among some remnants of indistinguishable electronics. Unfortunately, when he tried to make a call, he received the ¡°Daria is offline¡± message again. ¡°Figures¡­ Clear as mud. The question is ¨C why is she ¡®out of network¡¯? Either unconscious, or she''s deliberately disconnected, possibly because using standard communication channels is unsafe. Okay, I need to check something...¡± First off, Max decided to check what networks were available besides ¡®TACTA.WW¡¯ that he had just connected. Surprisingly enough, almost all the old ones were still active! Speaking of which, he initially got connected to via ¡®Globalcom-Kyiv.¡¯ Anyway, since all the networks were available, the lack of communication with Dashka must stem from a different issue. Perhaps she has encountered the same problems as Max after the second cortical grid update installation? Given the complexity of the implants in her brain, maybe she just hasn''t recovered from the update yet. The guy focused and pushed the unsettling thoughts aside. He needed to act and hope for the best. And regarding the fact that all networks are now being closely monitored by the Protectorate, perhaps TACTA¡¯s network alone suffices, and others are unnecessary? It was easy to check ¨C he only had to see if the main websites would load via ShadowNinja. So¡­ ¡°This is nuts! The entire darknet is online, the main gates have already shifted to prioritize the TACTA network, even a couple of guides for configuring various software ¡®For TACTA¡¯ appeared. I wonder who wrote them and how they did it so fast. My money¡¯s on TACTA themselves. A feather in their cap, if so!¡± ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, then the issue''s resolved,¡± Max said aloud and fired up ¡®whiskey.¡¯ Fortunately, he and Dasha had agreed on a contingency plan in case things went south. (Note: "Whiskey" (slang) ¨C from V-Sky is a program based on encrypted cryptographic darknet protocols that allows to securely work with anonymous extranet networks) But there was nothing in the ¡®anonymous box,¡¯ which meant that she did not try to get in touch. That left only one likely scenario ¨C she was unconscious. The plan accounted for this too; so Maksim just needed to leave her a one-time message. # Aloha, WonderKid! Waiting for your call ASAPx1F. TACTA network. Still, take combat precautions! SnapDrop, bottom protocol. Crosses are glowing, so use the Hungary acc, I got the Bulgaria. Put the birdie on 4 kernels for maximum paranoia. Max clicked ¡®save.¡¯ He had to pay for a one-time, pre-set ¡°alert.¡± Obviously, old world money was now worthless, but the program didn''t know that. If it said a payment was needed, then it had to be done. Now, when Dasha appears on any of the main networks, she¡¯ll receive a message from the online educational center ¡®SharpMind¡¯ where she had taken a few courses some time ago, so it wouldn¡¯t look suspicious. Essentially, that was just a signal that Maksim was looking for her, with encrypted instructions on the urgency and a link to the ¡°package¡± he¡¯d left. Perfect. The ¡°paranoid wacko¡± in Max''s heart contentedly rubbed his hands together, having swiftly set up SnapDrop on the ¡°Bulgarian¡± account. They had already used a similar communication scheme before; not all hardware for Moira-Alisa could¡¯ve been purchased legally. They had to learn plenty of things along the way, not just robotics. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m satisfied. One question remains ¨C how do I leave the stadium? The chair does have mobility, but I could use some help. Especially if, like, half the torn have been apart during the conflict. Hmm¡­ Alisa mentioned a contact, I should try calling.¡± It was clear he needed to call through the TACTA network. Simple enough ¨C Nikola, as Alisa had said, was a cyborg with ¡°solid combat experience.¡± For serious combat, a core no less than T5 was needed. So, if she was still free, she was potentially a violator of the Protectorate''s laws. Max had read their ¡®Requirement 9¡¯ regarding Artificial Intelligence. # Nikola Kowalski is not reachable at the moment. Please try again later. ¡°Hmm¡­ That¡¯s a shame. Either the UNSA has detained her, or she''s also laying low. If that''s the case, I won¡¯t reach her through conventional means. That¡¯s too bad, I guess I¡¯ll have to rely on myself to get otta here.¡± Chapter 18 - The Digital Prodigy Technopolis Kharkiv, International Incubator for Technological Advancement ¡®Horizon¡¯ The grand finale of the ¡®Engineering the Future¡¯ contest for students, category ¡®Artificial intelligence¡¯ Daria Vasilevskaya, February 16, 2047, 2:15 PM ¡°Welcome, one and all! We are thrilled to present the winner of the ¡®Artificial Intelligence Development¡¯ category ¨C Daria Vasilevskaya, the youngest and, perhaps, the most ambitious participant in this competition!¡± proclaimed the host, a middle-aged Japanese man with dark hair, clad in a business casual suit, setting an applauding example for the audience. ¡°Mayuu, could you roll the clip, please!¡± ¡°Right away, Takeshi-san!¡± responded cheerily the girl-android next to him, her design based on the licensed ¡®Mayuu Akito¡¯ model, garbed in an ultra-short variation of a ¡®cyberneko maid¡¯ outfit. (Note from the author: Mayuu is a character from the widely celebrated anime ¡®Neko Maid Trouble,¡¯ spanning 2041-2045. The corporation Zainax WellWare subsequently launched an extensive line of android components themed after the series.) As the auditorium lights dimmed, a colossal holographic screen flickered to life behind the hosts. Emerging from the void, under a veil of whispers in an arcane tongue and a backdrop of Nordic folk ambiance, loomed the vast silhouette of a spectral ash tree. From the viewer¡¯s vantage, dark raven silhouettes surged toward the center. Before the immense tree, Dasha materialized, the tree¡¯s monumental scale apparent, towering kilometers into the sky, its base receding far behind her. Further still, beyond the stage¡¯s depth, a wall blazed alive with symbols ¨C binary code, fragments of programming, assorted graphical elements. Dasha appeared in her ¡®signature attire¡¯ ¨C a violet, translucent open shirt revealing a one-shouldered leather harness top beneath. Her legs were clad in black leggings, nearly concealed by thigh-high, futuristic black boots that glittered with external embellishments. She extended her arms, and beneath her fingertips, squares of a virtual holographic keyboard shimmered, as a blank screen unfurled behind her. The cursor flickered briefly in the top line before the declaration surfaced: # Moira is online. With a subtle upward flick of her palms, Dasha conjured two runic circles. A sudden spark of lightning, followed by another, and soon two ravens settled upon her shoulders, murmuring secrets into her ears. The specifications of her creation then materialized on the screen. # Artificial intelligence ¡°Moira ¨C Prototype19¡± # Classification: T6+++ # Cognitive potential: 6990 cu # Maximum threads: 91 # Thread resource cap: 63% # Peak supported power: 95320 ucp # Simulation matrix: hybrid configuration # Personality agents: ## Huginn (open matrix, 3285 ucp) ## Muninn (sealed matrix, 2917 ucp) A spotlight flared, illuminating Dasha, as she strode across the stage to thunderous applause of the audience. In stark contrast to her video avatar, she now wore a black sweater adorned with straps on the sleeves and emblazoned with a white dragon arched menacingly against acid-green strands of binary code. Her dark-violet shiny vinyl cargo pants catch the light, matched with platform sneakers and her favorite backpack slung over her shoulders. Her only accessory ¨C a thin leather choker with a central raven skull motif ¨C hugged her neck. The applause continued robustly. At the outset of the competition, Dasha, to her own surprise, found herself one of the most celebrated participants, soon dubbed the ¡®dark cyber-princess¡¯ by her peers. It was hard to pinpoint exactly why. Daria conducted herself with modesty, never seeking the spotlight and rarely participating in interviews or podcasts, fully aware of her not even zero, but rather negative communication skills. Yet, she inevitably stood out ¨C the youngest contestant who had demonstrated exceptional prowess during the preliminary rounds. Cyber-gothic elements she incorporated into her style didn¡¯t detract but rather accentuated her image of an innocent schoolgirl. Most importantly, there was a genuine unpretentiousness about her; it was clear that Dasha was just like that. Her long black braids and a complete absence of makeup, paired with a confused expression that graced her face during every public appearance, made her an undeniable focus of sympathy. Her image frequently appeared in promotional clips for the contest. However, due to her reticence and dislike of social interaction, bloggers, and news channel hosts initially showed little interest in her. That changed dramatically after the contest moved into the second phase, where contestants presented their ¡°home preparations.¡± That was Dasha¡¯s ¡°moment of glory¡± ¨C a dark, even sinister, promotional clip of her creation in a horror and neo-cybergothic style that went viral instantly. Furthermore, her actual entry shocked the jury and electrified the audience. While most participants showcased AI of category T4, attempting to stand out either through the originality of their personality matrices or optimization of algorithms for specific tasks, a few had managed to present category T5 entries. There was even one prodigy from Seoul with a T5+. And then Dasha appeared. A T6-type AI, equipped with a complex simulation matrix split between two agents ¨C and what agents they were! Enormous, somber talking ravens¡­ Mayuu took the flustered teenage girl by the hand and led her to the center of the stage. ¡°Umm¡­ thanks¡­ Yeah¡­ I¡­ enjoyed it too.¡± Dasha¡¯s mumbled response triggered another wave of ovation. ¡°Your work is quite fascinating and truly unique, Daria,¡± the host commented. ¡°Tell us, why did you choose to name the personality matrices ¡®Huginn¡¯ and ¡®Muninn¡¯? Are you interested in Scandinavian mythology? And why two matrices in the project? Wouldn¡¯t one have been simpler?¡± Dasha shuffled her feet nervously but managed to respond, ¡°Huginn means ¡®thought¡¯ in Old Icelandic. Muninn means ¡®memory.¡¯ Though¡­ there¡¯s another interpretation. But they both¡­ uhh¡­ Anyway¡­ it has to do with¡­ the roles. For them.¡± She glanced up at the ceiling with a tortured expression but didn¡¯t find any hints up there, so she continued. ¡°My Ravens are¡­ they form a single artificial intelligence. You know. It¡¯s forbidden to attempt to create a living human consciousness in AI. But there¡¯s no rule against endowing an AI with the persona of two ancient mythological ravens¡­ Well... they are... mythological. So... two.¡± ¡°Tell us, where do such amazing skills come from at your young age? What¡¯s your secret?¡± Takeshi was virtually radiating curiosity. ¡°I was sick a lot as a child. Got bored¡­ Had computers¡­ Dad gave me books¡­ So¡­ I learned.¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Daria is being modest as usual,¡± the host explained to the audience. ¡°She¡¯s been programming since she was five years old, had a cortical grid and a sub-brain complex implanted at nine. You can imagine how tough that is, given her young age and the need for regular undergo corrective surgeries. And, of course, I must mention the support of her father ¨C Aleksander Vasilevskiy, a distinguished professor of Artificial Intelligence at MIT and an honorary professor at the Kharkiv University of Information Technologies and Robotics. Delighted to see a daughter following in his footsteps. He must be proud of you!¡± ¡°Possibly. Yes, probably¡­¡± ¡°Of course he is! According to the contest¡¯s rules, only independent projects are accepted in the finals, and this is rigorously verified! Without exaggeration, your student... ah, school project is the most intriguing thing I¡¯ve seen in all five years of our competition! Tell us, what was the hardest part about creating Moira?¡± the host asked enthusiastically. ¡°In developing Artificial Intelligence... well, if we talk about a T6-triple-plus category, there are too many ¡®pitfalls,¡¯ and¡­¡± the girl muttered, ¡°in my opinion, the line between the types is too blurry. One wrong move step, and you could be in for a costly mistake.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Takeshi tensed up, ¡°am I getting this right? You''re talking about the cost of a full audit for any T7 and higher category AI, which is indeed complex and pricey because it''s necessary for issuing mandatory digital citizenship??¡± ¡°Err¡­ Yes.¡± Silence fell over the hall. All eyes were fixed on Dasha. ¡°So, you were able to create, from scratch, without any scientific-technical support or financial backing, an Artificial Intelligence of category T7?¡± Dasha shrugged and quietly said just one word: ¡°Yes.¡± The hall erupted in ovations. ¡°May I ask one last question, Daria? Several major corporations have already approached you, offering to buy your work. Why did you refuse?¡± She lowered her eyes. ¡°Because Moira is my friend.¡± The girl went quiet for a few seconds and thought to herself, ¡°My only friend¡­¡± Max was still seated, statue-like, in the shadowy back row, long after Dasha had already accepted her award and left the stage. During the interview, it was unmistakably apparent that Dasha was far more present with her Ravens in some distant ¡°sanctum¡± than here, amidst the noisy crowd. ¡°What a stroke of luck!¡± Just yesterday, after delving deep into her work, Max realized, ¡°She¡¯s the one I need! This peculiar girl who dwells more in the digital realm than in the real world¡­¡± She seemed to operate not merely as a programmer but as an artist ¨C her strokes bold and expansive, crafting a masterpiece on the canvas. With some inexplicable magic, she conjured into reality visions from some profound depth, never questioning their feasibility. Let''s be honest, the T6-triple-plus category is the domain of corporations, not fifteen-year-old prodigies, regardless of their brilliance! Yet, whispered rumors persisted in the darknet¡¯s underbelly about those rare beings, one in a hundred million. In a certain ¡°trance state¡± they could discern the vectors of evolution and manipulate the progression of the entire AI structure. For them, the need for hundreds of thousands of accelerators, millions of machine-hours of training, and gigawatts of energy was redundant. They simply led the Artificial Intelligence from genesis to its destined zenith by hand. Before the competition, Max had dismissed such tales as mere digital folklore. He was following the contest more in search for inspiration, a spark for his stagnated work ¨C his own project had been mired in a developmental quagmire for eight months. It felt as though his father had omitted crucial steps in the documentation, leaving the latest model of ¡°Alisa¡± incapable of ascending to its required evolutionary rung. Inviting outsiders into his project was out of the question ¨C the stakes were astronomically high. Moreover, no seasoned professional would dare touch such a venture, especially with the malevolent ¡°A.M.I.¡± ruthlessly sanctioning any attempts at forging a ¡°human AI.¡± Those who survived their onslaught typically ended their days within the bleak walls of an ¡°inquisitorial¡± prison. But Dasha was different. She would never betray the ¡°Digital Mind¡± nor degrade herself by colluding with ¡°A.M.I.¡± Observing her work, hearing her speak of her Ravens, Max¡¯s doubts evaporated. He had to win her over to his side ¨C only she had the power to navigate his project out of its current impasse. Maksim rose, his resolve steeling as he made his way towards the stage. To Dasha''s dismay, an impromptu press conference had formed after the competition''s conclusion and the formalities. A line of young men and women queued up to question the winner. Dasha looked up resignedly at another young inquirer. By Cthulhu, how she struggled at this moment! Always speaking... speaking... Answering questions. She probably had to keep smiling, too. And without any moral support from her father! After congratulating her post-award, he apologized for having an important meeting at the ¡°Alma Mater¡± and had excused himself until the evening. A guy in his twenties. A student, presumably. ¡°Congrats on your victory! Fantastic work and a well-deserved result! I understand you¡¯ve received numerous enticing offers recently, but I have a highly interesting and¡­ unconventional project for you.¡± Dasha scrutinized him more closely¨Clight-haired, blue-eyed, with an athletic build and a face¡­ ordinary, typically Slavic. He spoke in a common Slavic tongue, albeit with a peculiar, quite distinct accent. Perhaps he was Russian? Although she knew little of the international situation post-war, she had heard that immigrants and refugees from Russia had a characteristic accent. No, the guy was actually quite charming, Dasha decided. Definitely, there was something unusual in his eyes. It wasn''t just the barely noticeable traces of implants or the replacement of his iris, but something¡­ deeper. Dasha continued to gaze silently at the young man until she suddenly realized something within her tightened. She had never felt anything like this... towards people. The young man waited patiently. Realizing she had sunk too deep into her thoughts and the pause had stretched uncomfortably long, Dasha blushed and asked softly, ¡°An interesting¡­ project?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m Maksim. Catch a business card?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Max sent a digital card, and Dasha was pleasantly surprised to notice his adeptness with implanted systems ¨C his fingers were relaxed, and his eyes didn¡¯t twitch, though he clearly used AR. ¡°Caught it,¡± she nodded. ¡°I represent a small student commercial partnership from the Kyiv Polytech. We''ve developed a dual-core system based on a 32-processor Artel AI-Core11 and the 59-processor AICB-V with an extended quantum core. Both complexes support a single intelligence split into two independent parts.¡± ¡°Like Huginn and Muninn,¡± Dasha remarked with interest. ¡°Yes, I noticed that parallel when I saw your work,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°Do you have, let''s say, half an hour today? I¡¯ve rented a room on the 4th floor, coworking space, room 404. Our project is complex, but I¡¯m certain it will intrigue you.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯ll come when this¡­ All wraps up.¡±
Technopolis Kharkiv, The Vasilevsky apartment Daria Vasilevskaya and father, February 16, 2047, 8:40 PM Dasha was sitting on the living room couch, a large black oversized t-shirt-tunic draped over her, legs tucked beneath her. The room filled with the scent of cooking meat as her father, Alexander Vasilevsky, walked in, wiping his hands with a kitchen towel. ¡°Well, that¡¯s done. The meat will be ready in half an hour. And again, I must say, your performance in the finals really impressed me, you¡¯re usually so reserved in public¡­¡± ¡°Stop it, Dad¡­¡± Dasha grabbed a big plush orca lying next to her and hugged it tightly. ¡°I hate public speaking. You know that.¡± ¡°What can we do.¡± He sighed, sitting down beside her. ¡°So, what are your plans now? You''ve completed your exams externally, you have your diploma, looks like you''ve got a few months free.¡± ¡°No¡­ Well, that is, not anymore. I had an interview today.¡± ¡°What? An interview?¡± He set the towel aside and joined her on the sofa. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re taking a job?¡± ¡°Yes, with a team from Kyiv Polytechnic.¡± ¡°That was to be expected after such a victory,¡± he smiled. ¡°But won¡¯t it be uncomfortable working with them, given the time zone difference?¡± Dasha sighed deeply and clutched the orca even tighter. ¡°Dad, I¡­ I¡¯m not going to America.¡± ¡°Wait, stop! You¡¯re planning to move to Kyiv?¡± ¡°Yes, why?¡± ¡°But you promised you¡¯d go to Cambridge, Massachusetts!¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You and I have already discussed this, the last time was on Tuesday. And I clearly said that I want you to study at MIT for the next five years. And what did you say?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You said ¡®Uh-huh¡¯. That means ¡®yes¡¯, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What did it mean then?!¡± ¡°Well¡­ it means¡­ ¡®I heard you¡¯.¡± Her father sprang from the sofa, agitated. ¡°I just can¡¯t believe this! This is¡­ nonsense! Who are they?!¡± Dasha, now fully hidden behind the orca, sent a virtual ¡°business card¡± to her father in AR. ¡°What is this even? ¡®Artificial Intelligence and Applied Robotics?¡¯ What is this tiny student startup by one person?¡± ¡°Two, Dad,¡± Dasha squeaked. ¡°Now ¨C two.¡± Aleksander Vasilevsky walked over to his daughter, who continued to hide behind her plush toy, and sat down, taking her hand. ¡°Sweetheart, understand! You are a highly skilled professional. I¡¯m saying this not just as a father, but as a scientist. Yes, you have certain difficulties communicating with your peers whom you simply ignore, but that¡¯s beside the point right now. You¡¯ve put so much effort and passion into your education, you deserve success like no one else! Can you imagine a dizzying career waiting for you in Cambridge? And now you want to throw everything away and move to Kyiv?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± she whispered softly. ¡°I won¡¯t allow it! I won¡¯t let you ruin your life!¡± Dasha yanked her hand away, jumped off the couch, and jabbed the orca plushie at her father. ¡°I¡¯m 15 years old, Dad. And I¡¯ve got my diploma. I know my rights! The Kyiv Polytech has accepted my documents! And I¡¯ve already applied to change my citizenship to Kyiv Polis!¡± ¡°Won¡¯t let you!¡± Aleksander Vasilevsky also rose from the sofa, hands planted firmly on his hips. ¡°Withdraw them immediately!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Daria, come back here right now, we¡¯re not done talking!¡± ¡°No!!!¡± Dasha hurled the orca at him, turned, and dashed out of the room toward the staircase. Seconds later, the sound of the front door slamming echoed through the house. Her father tried to call her. ¡°Daria, please, don¡¯t act like a child!¡± # SnapDrop: ¡®Dad¡¯ has been blocked. ¡°But what about the meat, kiddo¡­¡± Chapter 19 - A Network of Choices City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 12:01 PM The throbbing drumbeats of her own pulse echoed in her ears ¨C slow, ponderous. A mysterious cacophony filled the air, punctuated by vibrations that teased the edge of her consciousness. A searing ache radiated through her skull, engulfing her in a cloak of pain and pitch darkness. ¡°What¡­ where am I?¡± Dasha murmured, attempting to rise and pry her eyes open. Her body responded, standing upright, eyes surely wide open¡­ But she could see nothing. ¡°I just¡­¡± she ventured a step forward, only to collide painfully with a solid barrier. ¡°Ouch¡­ must be the console. Still in the university''s security room, then. But why is there no interface working?¡± ¡°Perhaps the cortical grid and implants are intact. Maybe I¡¯m just low on power? Just need to concentrate ¨C everything should snap into place.¡± With cautious hands exploring her surroundings, confirming ample space, she initiated a sequence of active meditation exercises. Within minutes, Dasha succeeded ¨C though the effect was not as she expected. It was as if a flashbang blasted through her senses. Blinded and disoriented, she stumbled, her knees buckling, forehead striking the harsh edge of a table. # Update successfully installed. ¡°You gotta be kidding me!¡± Dasha hissed, pain flaring as she clutched her head. The rebooted sub-brain kicked in, suppressing the disorientation and pain. The interface flickered back to life, displaying clearly, although the real world remained a blur ¨C a mosaic of distorted colors and shapes fluttering before her eyes. # Attention! Calibrating sensory channels, please await completion¡­ ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll wait! I should¡¯ve thought twice about slapping TACTA¡¯s update into my head right now¡­¡± She maneuvered back into the operator''s chair more by feel than sight, retrieved her vape, and leaned back. Clouds of vapor billowed upward as she exhaled, trying to find her calm amid the chaos. More questions than answers. Dasha let herself relax completely, doing nothing, just observing the intriguing flicker of new mediaglyphs that danced into her field of vision. Only one window was active, displaying the ongoing status of the update installation. ¡°When such fine brainwork is underway, best to let it finish, regardless of the madness unfolding in the world.¡± Silence reigned, save for the slow ascent of vapor clouds dissolving into the ceiling. After several minutes of meditative contemplation of the line ¡®please await completion¡­¡¯, the interface finally granted full access. ¡°Well, time to sort this out.¡± Dasha murmured, pocketing her vape. ¡°What do we have here? Okay¡­ good¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll definitely look into your promised documentation. I hope it¡¯s indeed detailed and precise. Because, damn it, I¡¯m really keen to understand ¨C what kind of absurd post-apocalypse is going on here! And I¡¯m certain you know ALL the answers!¡± ¡°¡®¡­we recommend staying in a neutral zone, you say.¡¯ ¨C heck, I recommend that to myself since all this shit started!¡± Noticing the time and the looming curfew, Dasha first checked her watch ¨C more than six hours to spare. ¡°How on earth do we pull this off? Time rockets forward, not granting even a moment to mull over possible solutions or scenarios. TACTA, UNSA, these cryptic contracts? The UNSA muscles in with demands while TACTA dangles promises of info and support, yet we all know the only free cheese is in a mousetrap. And the cherry on top? Monsters from portals that are getting blasted by drones from alien invaders. Am I asleep, dreaming this is some ridiculous VR game adaptation?¡± Dasha¡¯s gaze swept the room, resting momentarily on the monitors. Nothing had changed: the screens displayed plumes of smoke captured by external cameras, the vapor had cleared from the ceiling, and the message from TACTA lingered persistently before her eyes. # Accept the contract / Delay the decision / Decline (i) Dasha shook her head, let out a sigh, and said just one word: ¡°Accept.¡± # TACTA thanks you for your cooperation! ¡°Here''s to hoping I won''t regret this¡­¡± # To continue the procedure, please connect to the TACTA extranet network. ¡°Wow! So my confirmation is merely a formality, and the real contract is logged on their server?¡± Dasha thought, scrutinizing the connection mediaglyph. Being cautious, especially because events unfolded not as she planned, Dasha ran a comprehensive check of the new network with all available methods before connecting. ¡°Hmm¡­ it¡¯s your typical network, nothing special. Supports the latest expansions and additional network security protocols¡­¡± she muttered to herself, leaning on the console, chin propped on her hand, tapping her cheek thoughtfully. ¡°So, they''ve essentially taken over and are utilizing our existing network architecture. Nothing suspicious here, everything is operational. Every faction has its own access networks. Clear enough. Not sure about the security, but something tells me it''s no worse than before the invasion. Time to connect and see what comes next.¡± # Connection... successful. # Status confirmation... successful. # Registration¡­ successful. ¡°I think they used to call it ¡®selling your soul to the devil¡¯ or something.¡± Dasha chuckled softly. ¡°And here¡¯s the inevitable... result. A reward. Documentation¡­¡± ¡°Hold up, Dashka!¡± She abruptly waved her hand and leaped from the chair. ¡°This is all too enticing and curious. But I can¡¯t get sucked into studying it right now. The situation¡­ is not the best. I have a functioning network, and the app is ready, so I¡¯ll get the Informatorium going on the fly. Besides, Alisa mentioned Max should be waking up soon¡­¡± Preparing a safe route took Dasha less than a minute, including adjusting the navigation right in her field of vision for convenience. According to the camera feeds, there were currently only fourteen monsters actively moving around this building, most near the ¡®nest¡¯ on the first floor. There were plenty of survivors, over two hundred people, dispersed across the facility in small groups. ¡°No one on this floor,¡± the girl rejoiced, ¡°and it''s clear above too. Time to run.¡± Gathering her belongings didn¡¯t take long ¨C Dasha simply grabbed her backpack and knelt over the contents of a scattered first aid kit on the floor. She sighed and collected what little was of any value, leaving the rest of the medications lying around. Patting the pocket of her trousers to make sure she hadn¡¯t forgotten her vape. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Dasha quickly ran through the map settings, exited the room, and locked the door. ¡°There¡¯s an exit to a main hall nearby, and the area is clear. I¡¯ll take a slight detour!¡± After five minutes of frantic dashing through the floor, she stood by a pair of vending machines, catching her breath. The assortment was standard ¨C water, various snacks, energy drinks, and protein bars. ¡°Just what I needed,¡± Dasha grinned predatorily, glancing around. ¡°Always wanted to do this!¡± She shook the trash from a nearby small plastic bin onto the floor, swung, and with all her might, struck the transparent window of the vending machine, behind which chocolate bars tantalizingly lay. The plastic bin, unable to withstand such abuse, shattered into pieces. Of course, the vending machine glass remained intact. ¡°Oh, Dashka, you¡¯re such a klutz¡­¡± she laughed, looking at the bin fragment in her hands. ¡°Lucky I didn¡¯t cut by the shards. Such a ¡®fricking hacker¡¯, huh. With a capital ¡®F¡¯.¡± Crouching by the machine and opening her backpack, Dasha reached for cables and the hacking device. ¡°The security is just primitive; I¡¯ll be done in a minute!¡±
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh, August 12, 2049, 12:20 AM ¡°And¡­ secure!¡± A universal mechanical arm skillfully nestled Alisa¡¯s chassis into the bot¡¯s back-mounted cradle. Yes, Maksim had decided to use this bot to transport the android. At least until he found a car. Once the guy sent his message to Dasha, he turned his attention to the robot. His intuition proved sharp ¨C armed with the multifunctional quad-legged bot platform CaTZ, Alisa had nearly assembled an impressive combat unit capable of both frontline tanking and auxiliary support. It even had fittings for cargo! Sadly, Sis hadn¡¯t completed the armoring.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The bot was Max¡¯s sole viable means to carry the android body, as the wheelchair was certainly not cut out for hauling such ¡°luggage.¡± So, Alisa was now securely attached. Too bad the bot would have to be controlled manually because its T2 control module, which clearly fit the definition of ¡°artificial intelligence,¡± recently been wiped by the Protectorate¡¯s technovirus. However, Maksim had preloaded a vast array of basic control programs for different machines into his sub-brain, enabling at least semi-automatic execution of simple commands like the ¡°follow me¡± mode. ¡°If only I had even the simplest drone,¡± Max pondered. ¡°Me, in a wheelchair, and a bot with Alisa strapped to its back ¨C we¡¯re hardly a formidable force. But why am I so fixated on a drone? True, aerial reconnaissance would be ideal. But crafting one now is impossible. Perhaps I can build something fast and agile on wheels? This room is a treasure trove of robotic scraps just waiting to be sifted through!¡± He maneuvered his wheelchair towards the shelves. His eyes first landed on the base of a small service drone, Dr-M18. The body was missing, but the chassis was sound, save for the missing rear right motor-wheel. Sensors, control unit ¨C all in place. If operational, it would serve. Setting aside the find, he wheeled left, deeper into the aisle of technological wreckage. Amidst a myriad of motors, frame parts, servos, and logic blocks, an incoming call through SnapDrop suddenly seized his attention. # info: snap-call, vmsg, r2, §ã85-1, @D.Dark ¡°Dashka!¡± ¡°Max here,¡± Max pulled the mediaphone out of his shirt pocket and activated the camera. ¡°Maksim, you¡¯re alive!!!¡± came a cheerful, ringing voice. ¡°Alive and kicking,¡± he smiled in response. ¡°Too bad, ¡®healthy¡¯ would be a bit of a stretch at the moment. I¡¯ve already started to piece together the madness around here... And how are you holding up? ¡± As the video connection sparked to life, Dasha appeared in view, quickly moving through a glass-walled corridor, holding her mediaphone. Her appearance was disheveled, to say the least. Her hair was a wilder tangle than usual, a bruise blooming across her forehead, her face a canvas of scratches and one particularly nasty gash across her cheek, partially sealed with small scraps of adhesive plaster. ¡°I... I¡¯m okay¡­ phew...¡± She stopped, scanning her surroundings. Wiping sweat droplets from her forehead, she slumped onto the nearest bench, tossed her backpack down. ¡°Sorry, I just ran¡­ up the stairs¡­ the elevator¡¯s been locked down by the shaiszu... Oooof.¡± She continued after a short pause, ¡°I¡¯m at uni, going to building two.¡± ¡°Err¡­ who locked it down?¡± ¡°Shaiszu. That¡¯s what our so-called ¡®protectors¡¯ have named the rift monsters.¡± Her voice laced with unmistakable sarcasm at the term ¡®protectors.¡¯ ¡°Holy shit... you realize that sounds almost like ¡®Schei?e¡¯?¡± ¡°No. Should I?¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± the guy waved it off. ¡°Probably just an ironic coincidence. ¡®Schei?e¡¯ in German means ¡®shit¡¯.¡± ¡°Ha-ha,¡± Dashka laughed in response. ¡°I think it¡¯s quite... an apt description of these monsters.¡± Max set aside the frame of yet another shattered drone, pivoting his wheelchair toward the back of the room. Here lay mainly plastic containers used for transporting small bots for servicing. is eye caught a few intriguing objects ¨C definitely worth a closer inspection after this call. ¡°Indeed. Now, tell me what you¡¯ve been through with all this chaos. You look... well, pretty haunted.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t seen the half of it,¡± Dasha said with a rueful smirk, tilting the camera downward. Her right pant leg was torn just above the knee, exposing a series of slashes across her leg, the worst patched up with bandages, and a vast bruise engulfing her thigh. ¡°They did a number on you. The shaiszu?¡± ¡°The very same. Praise Cthulhu, I¡¯m not dead. Apart from that, I¡¯m alright ¨C I locked myself in the first building¡¯s security room,¡± she recounted. ¡°That¡¯s where I was when the invasion started. And there was the virus attack on Alisa and Moira. Somehow, Alisa¡¯s chassis withstood it, and even managed to transfer the latest consciousness backup to Moira. Which I had to shut down manually¡­ just in time, but it was close.¡± ¡°I¡¯m truly relieved... that you pulled through,¡± Maksim, his voice steady, though internally, he was shaken ¨C fully aware of the grave risks they had faced. To be honest, it had dawned on him nearly a year ago that losing Moira and Alisa was no longer an option. But why? He couldn¡¯t quite pin down yet. One moment he was uncertain, the next, a stark conviction had settled in his bones: if some disaster struck them, Alisa would be lost forever, and no backup could restore her essence. And Daria ¨C she was far from a stranger, and the risks she had taken! ¡°I¡¯ve only just come to...¡± the girl continued, lifting the camera back up. ¡°After that second update, the backlash hit me hard, thought I might die. But I¡¯m somewhat steady now... Found a first aid kit too, so I had a little nibble ¨C you know I¡¯m good with that,¡± she added with a sheepish grin and a shrug. ¡°That¡¯s an understatement ¨C you¡¯re a virtuoso when it comes to ¡®nibbling medicine¡¯,¡± Maksim retorted with a wry smile. ¡°That¡¯s how it is,¡± Dasha declared with authority, half-turning to set her media phone on the back of the bench and diving elbow-deep into her backpack. ¡°I¡¯ve hacked all the cameras, they¡¯re fully under my control. The soft¡¯s monitoring the whole uni, plotting safe paths for me... Max, what do you know about the overall situation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got the basics ¨C about the invasion, the monsters, the Protectorate, TACTA and its network. I know the curfew is looming, and we need to get out of the city or find a safe place to hunker down for the night. Along the way, we also need to figure out weapons and gear. We won¡¯t have time to swing by my place, so my stash is out of the question. Plus, we might need to patch ourselves up if we can. And I¡¯m aware about Alisa¡¯s situation because she managed to send me a message before going offline.¡± ¡°An important message? Could you forward it to me?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s important,¡± Maksim nodded, retrieving another sealed box from the shelf. He placed his mediaphone there as well, to free up his hands. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the message and the log file right now. But let¡¯s dissect it once we¡¯re securely holed up.¡± ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Dasha nodded seriously. ¡°I''m still at the stadium. Resource-wise, I have a good bot that Alisa configured into a small mobile tank. Had to convert it into a truck for now because we need to extract the android¡¯s body, and you can¡¯t carry much in a wheelchair. As for medical issues ¨C you already know I have a spinal fracture. Alisa managed to make an accurate diagnosis and draft a surgical plan. She can get me back on my feet if we find a surgical robot and a neuro-implant for the lumbar spine.¡± Maksim quickly examined the repair bot pulled from the box. Unfortunately, the engineers'' marks indicated that the model was irreparably broken and destined for scrap. He sighed, grabbed his media phone, and wheeled over to the last shelf. ¡°So, I¡¯m right to try to be getting out of the uni as fast as I can¡­¡± Dasha mused aloud, continuing to rummage through her backpack energetically. ¡°Yes, you''re right. Alisa told me you were planning to load Moira onto the platform and leave by truck. But she didn¡¯t provide details.¡± ¡°Yep, that was the plan. Honestly, it¡¯s a bit rough, all discussed before the ¡®Protectorate¡¯ showed up. We hadn¡¯t factored in the impending curfew and other dystopian delights.¡± With a theatrical sigh, Dasha threw up her hands, momentarily withdrawing them from the depths of her backpack. ¡°And I¡¯m grabbing the heavy-duty roboplatform from the ¡®Industrial Robotics¡¯ section at the club, loading Moira onto it. It¡¯s got enough lift capacity. I¡¯ll throw some drone kits on top, as many as the weight allows. I think the guys won¡¯t mind, given the circumstances.¡± ¡°Sounds solid,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°Big platform, you say? So, it could carry around five hundred kilos, right?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, no. It¡¯s equipped with a robust main manipulator and two auxiliary ones, plus an expanded battery block for autonomy, so it only has a payload of 390 kilos.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bad. You won¡¯t be able to carry much then. We have a quantum core that alone weighs 87 kilos, and Moira¡¯s about 320.¡± Dasha even stopped her rummaging to gaze pensively into the mediaphone¡¯s camera. ¡°We¡¯ll need to take the core and the ¡®Accelerators¡¯ for sure. The ¡®Libraries¡¯ too. But what should we sacrifice to lighten the load? Cooling or power?¡± she queried after a brief pause. ¡°Power. We can take just three out of the four units because we have a huge reserve in power capacity, and Moira can operate on reduced functionality even with two. Plus, ditch the entire uninterrupted power supply system. That¡¯s where the real weight is,¡± Max confidently asserted. ¡°If we run into serious power issues at the new location, that system won¡¯t save us anyway. Plus, our cooling system is pretty sophisticated. And honestly, power outlets and blocks are more common out there than heat dissipation ducts. Don¡¯t bother with any tools or auxiliary cable systems either. A bit of weight saved there.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Dasha nodded vigorously, diving back into her backpack. ¡°Once I get there, I¡¯ll first load the platform with drones, let¡¯s say about two hundred kilos¡¯ worth. Then once at the club, we¡¯ll call and decide what to leave behind. How does that sound? Cool?¡± ¡°Yes. But I¡¯m worried about you ¨C I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening on the streets or how safe it is. Maybe I should meet you? I was hoping to get some decent wheels from the underground parking at the stadium... Though with a truck available, that seems pointless. And not even every vehicle is suitable because of my injury.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay, Max, no need! The Protectorate has cleared out the ¡®nests¡¯ and creatures, so, the streets are relatively quiet. Plus, I¡¯ve got my drones, I can choose my route if needed. And I surely won¡¯t be engaging with the monsters at the uni ¨C too many of them for one little me. Just will try to avoid any contact. It¡¯s easy enough, most of the cameras are still operational.¡± Saying this, Dasha seemed to find what she was looking for. Setting aside her backpack, she stared at two small opaque vials with contented cunning squint. Muttering under her breath, ¡°Quarter percent or five percent ¡®synth¡¯, that¡¯s the question¡­¡± the girl tucked one vial back into the backpack. ¡°Max, you, uhh¡­ don¡¯t mind me, you can carry on,¡± she said, pulling out a vape and beginning to unscrew the cap. ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve convinced me, I¡¯d just be in the way with my wheelchair. The roboplatform idea is good, nothing else will get Moira out of the uni right now. You can really handle the loading with its manipulators, as you said. While you make your way there, I¡¯ll figure out where to get proper urban combat gear and weapons. Alisa wrote that the truck has already arrived for you, is that right?¡± ¡°Well, about that...¡± the girl sighed, finishing her refill and activating her vape. Taking a deep draw, she continued, ¡°Before the invasion even started, Alisa had indeed ordered an off-road heavy unimog for via iDrive.¡± The vapor she exhaled was thick, saturated, and vividly orange. ¡°Damn! That color is definitely familiar to me! I have a bad feeling¡­ What the hell did she mix there? If it¡¯s what I think, she¡¯ll be hit really hard in a few minutes!¡± ¡°You¡¯re seriously dialed in, girls,¡± Max commented after a moment¡¯s pause. It was too late to pull Daria back from the brink ¨C though he quietly reminded himself to revisit their discussion about the dangers of drugs with the WonderKid. ¡°A lifetime immersed in post-apocalyptic reads, shows, and games speaks,¡± Dasha responded with a hint of melancholy. ¡°Yeah, the truck did arrive. It¡¯s sitting downstairs. Only, our valiant ¡®rescuers and liberators¡¯ have reduced it to a heap of inert metal by wiping the iDrive system. Maybe something¡¯s salvageable inside the truck brains, but it¡¯s a long shot.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a manual control utility on board,¡± Maksim replied with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ve never used it myself, but the guys mentioned it. The real trick is how to avoid detection by the city¡¯s surveillance cams and generally keep a low profile, then you can just drive it.¡± ¡°Screw the cameras right now,¡± the girl waved off, taking a few more deep draws before pocketing her vape. ¡°I¡¯ll just cover the platform with a cloth. Whatever I load there at the club won¡¯t be visible to anyone. It¡¯ll all be hidden away in the truck¡¯s hold anyway!¡± Rising from the bench, Dasha slung her backpack over one shoulder and headed towards the elevators and staircases, mediaphone in her hand. ¡°Sure, the platform and the unimog might get caught on camera during the load-up, but so what? They¡¯ve given us a window to get out of the city, and we¡¯re taking it.¡± The video feed cut out. ¡°Listen, Max, I¡¯m switching to ¡®eye view,¡¯ okay? Holding the media phone is too cumbersome. I need to wrap this up fast. There¡¯s some suspicious activity starting near the destroyed portal on the cameras, so I¡¯m rushing.¡± ¡°Sure, no problem. I¡¯ll switch too,¡± Maksim responded, shutting down his media device and tucking it into his shirt pocket. Actually, communicating via ¡®eye cameras¡¯ was second nature to them, typically their hands were occupied, unless a video drone was available, which sadly wasn¡¯t the case now. Too bad, by the way. ¡°Alright, I agree with your plan,¡± the guy continued. ¡°A lone, unmarked truck won¡¯t draw attention. Let¡¯s sync up with dynamic markers to keep track of each other¡¯s locations.¡± ¡°Let''s do it,¡± Dasha, after sprinting across the gallery, paused to drop her marker and then dashed towards the elevators. A glyph of confirmation blinked on Maksim¡¯s display, and he quickly anchored it in his navigator before sending back his own marker. ¡°All set,¡± he declared, returning his focus to the shelves. Just one last section left to check. Chapter 20 - The Platform Awaits City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 12:24 PM Dasha had already sprinted to the elevator and paused to call it. Situated midway through the building, she only needed to ascend four floors and make her way to the far end. No need to rush now, so the girl pulled out her mediaphone again and switched the camera to show her beaming smile. Maksim thought to himself, ¡°Damn, when she smiles that much, it¡¯s rarely a good sign! What was in that vape of hers? Could it really have been five percent synth? I¡¯d rather not believe it...¡± ¡°So, tell me,¡± Dasha meanwhile, quizzed, ¡°did you manage to review much of the info that TACTA sent over?¡± ¡°No,¡± Max shook his head, ¡°I came to just slightly before you, also struggling with severe aftereffects. Installed Informatorium, checked it out, and got overwhelmed by the store. What do you think of a flying tank with a heavy blaster cannon for a freakin¡¯ bunch of TACTA¡¯s cash?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ seriously? A flying tank in an online shop? It¡¯s not just shock, I... I don''t know what to say. Sure, buying a tank online might be okay. But a flying one? That¡¯s really hard to believe; I did study physics at school, you know...¡± ¡°But there it is. Looks like we¡¯ve got a lot to discuss. But right now, all these tech marvels are out of reach ¨C we can¡¯t safely call a drone in Kyiv. And I still didn¡¯t figure out where to get TACTA¡¯s money. Besides, I also saw a huge pack of documentation, but just saved it for now; we can check it out together later. There are some promising prospects since the API allows for software developement.¡± ¡°Impressive! Too bad I didn¡¯t get a chance to really dig into anything at all,¡± Dasha responded with a hint of frustration as she bounced slightly, waiting for the elevator. ¡°I¡¯m just installing Informatorium now¡­¡± Maksim continued, ¡°that¡¯s my point. The Protectorate¡¯s warning hasn¡¯t gone anywhere, after all. We need to skip town with the time we have left. I even set a timer in front of my eyes, even though I hardly believe it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°I have a timer too!¡± Dasha flashed a broad smile as she stepped into the elevator. ¡°Heading up now, then it¡¯s a dash for the platform. We¡¯ll do the im¡­ possible.¡± And she burst out into a guffaw. Laughter filled the air, eyes sparkling, the video jittering as she held the camera. ¡°Damn you, Vasilevskaya, did you really hit the synth-five?!¡± Dasha, caught, giggled, ¡°Oppsie¡­ busted¡­ Maxy, don¡¯t¡­ ha-ha-ha¡­ don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s gonna pass soon! It¡¯s just temporary, I¡¯ve still got work to do¡­ today. Or is it tomorrow? And the platform, plat¡­ form¡­ ha-ha-ha! Plat for... mama!¡± As the elevator doors closed and it began its ascent, Dasha, that little rascal, slid down the wall in laughter. Her media phone clattered to the floor, camera facing down, leaving Maksim staring at a ¡®black screen¡¯ in their video chat. He could only sigh. ¡°What can you do? Genius comes with its downsides, not always pleasant. I just hope Dasha recovers quickly. With her experience, she can handle a five percent hit¡­ I¡¯m sure she double-checked the entire route before loading heavy drugs into her vape. And she knows the dangers, really¡­ And she follows safety rules. It¡¯s just the situation right now is¡­ complicated. But, damn, what the hell! Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Guess I¡¯ll tinker with drones and bots while that little Trickster sobers up¡­ Whatever I find, I¡¯ll work with. Look, there¡¯s something valuable on that lower shelf!¡± Max maneuvered his wheelchair closer, squinting attentively. It seemed like the right item. Reaching out was a struggle in his chair, as immobile legs made it uncomfortably challenging. At last, he managed to hook and extract a matte plastic container. Heavy¡­ The label on the lid read ¡°broken mod. AP/4.¡± From the floor of the elevator, where she lay sprawled with closed eyes, Dasha murmured, half to herself, ¡°Informatorium?¡± She scoffed lightly, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s see what marvels you hold...¡± Pulling out the container, Max glanced back at the chat ¨C still just a black screen. The stream was ongoing from the fallen media phone. Max thought, ¡°Her mind might be going adrift amid the stress and that unmistakable hit of five percent synth... She needs a wake-up call.¡± He dialed up the virtual sound booster to maximum: ¡°Spaceship Dark-One, spaceship Dark-One to base, do you copy?!!¡± ¡°Wha?!¡± Startled, Dashka jumped and shook her head as if to clear it. ¡°What the ¨C? Oh, maaan¡­ My bad, drifted there for a sec. All good... I¡¯m getting up now.¡± The camera flicked back to her point of view. The girl was still on the elevator floor, now stopped at her destination with the doors open, stubbornly staying that way as sensors detected her presence. Max woke her up just in time. He urged with concern. ¡°Dasha, do me a favor, hold off on any more five percent until you can get to a proper pharma, alright?¡± Dasha chuckled, regaining her composure, ¡°Alright, alright, Max¡­ wasn¡¯t expecting that to hit so¡­¡± she trailed off as Max watched her rise and step out of the elevator. The ground was littered with debris, concrete chunks, and shattered glass, with ominous dark-red spots splattered across. As the girl picked up pace, her gaze darted, capturing details: deep gouges marred the walls, bullet marks, doors hung off hinges, a ceiling light lay shattered. She paused briefly by a demolished door, peering inside: the door was not just broken but shredded, the room a chaos of overturned, smashed furniture and red stains on every surface... And a hand. A severed human hand lay in a pool of blood on the floor. Seeing it, Dasha nearly stumbled but caught herself and sprinted forward with increased urgency. ¡°WonderSpark, it¡¯s too late to help anyone in that room now! We need to get out of the city, fast! Focus!¡± ¡°Sorry¡­ got a bit scared there!¡± Dasha apologized. While still monitoring the media stream, Maksim turned his attention to the container. Success! Inside was almost a brand-new courier bot. The chassis looked intact, no apparent damage. He could simply strip off the cargo block, hook up the power, and configure it for manual control ¨C it was equipped for that, even cameras included. The bot was pretty agile, making it ideal for reconnaissance. Max reflected, ¡°Luck is finally smiling on us, if you can call it luck in today¡¯s mayhem.¡± He resolved, ¡°A shame about the drones though. Searched the whole room, nothing flyable, nothing fitting. Well, I¡¯ll take the ¡®courier¡¯ for diagnostics. Let¡¯s see what it¡¯s capable of.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Max!¡± Dasha switched the camera back on. There she was, at the doorstep of the ¡®Industrial Robotics¡¯ section, panting after a mad dash through the corridors. ¡°Good job! I saw what was happening on your way! Well handled!¡± ¡°You know¡­ it¡¯s a nightmare out here. Did you know these creatures are dragging people to their ¡®nest¡¯?¡± Her breathing was heavy, her voice trembled. ¡°The entire floor¡­ covered in blood. How could there be so much? There weren¡¯t that many people at the university today!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lot because humans have a lot of blood,¡± Maksim stated matter-of-factly. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry that all this is happening, but we must survive and keep fighting! Right now, we have only one option ¨C to avoid contact with the shaiszu at all costs. You did well taking control of the cameras!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s change the subject now ¨C think about something else. What about the drones in the ¡®robotics¡¯ section? They must have some there, right? And look at this beauty I found!¡± He showcased the bot, positioning it before his eyes. ¡°Thanks¡­ for the support. And¡­ that unit¡­ it looks cool,¡± Dasha replied. ¡°Our club¡¯s library¡­ has the software ready¡­ for direct control of such a gizmo. Whew¡­ I haven¡¯t run like that in ages. Okay, I¡¯m going in.¡± The doors opened, and Dasha entered the section. This department was large, sprawled across more than half the floor with its various classrooms and workshops. ¡°Do you remember where to find what you¡¯re looking for?¡± asked Maksim, as he clamped the bot he¡¯d found into a workbench. ¡°I know the place. Was here just a couple of days ago when the guys were finishing up the assembly. They were supposed to start testing today.¡± ¡°Great. Go on then, and I¡¯ll get this bot up and running.¡± He slightly minimized the videocall window and slid it to the corner of his view to lessen distractions. Max was well acquainted with this type of bot; now he just needed to assess its condition. He activated the workbench from its slumber and connected his discovery. While the system was booting up, he found and connected the power cable to charge the machine during the initial check. ¡°Okay, it seems to be powering on.¡± Maksim waited as the built-in self-test ran. ¡°Great, no error messages!¡± The bot beeped twice briefly, as if to say, ¡°All set to work.¡± Excellent, the diagnostic program then started a full check, and the report will be ready in about five minutes. ¡°Got it!¡± Dasha¡¯s voice rang with triumph. With a few minutes to spare, Max decided to see how she was doing. He mentally switched to ¡°full presence¡± mode and reclined slightly in his chair. ¡°Hi there!¡± she giggled, noticing his change in mode. ¡°Hopefully, her mind has cleared up; because Dasha¡¯s frequent laughter, honestly, unnerves me right now.¡± Max pondered. ¡°Or maybe I''m just overly sensitive to emotions right now. It''s probably she is just stressed.¡± ¡°Come on, show off,¡± he said, curiously observing the scene through Daria''s eyes. She was in a pretty extensive professional workshop. Right in the center stood the sought-after platform. A hefty beast ¨C four-legged, slightly over four meters in length and two in width, equipped with a powerful universal manipulator and two auxiliary ones. If not loaded with any additional equipment and used in ¡°cargo mode,¡± Moira would definitely fit. By the looks of it, testing was in full swing. The necessary gear had already been installed on the platform and connected to the workshop computers. ¡°A solid choice,¡± he noted. ¡°This machine has it all ¨C mobility, versatility, robustness.¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Dasha replied, hopping into the operator¡¯s seat. ¡°Let''s see if there¡¯s anything left in this brain.¡± ¡°In yours?¡± ¡°Ha-ha, Max. Hilarious.¡± ¡°Come on, don''t sulk, I''m just nervous!¡± ¡°Hmmpf!¡± ¡°I gotta change the subject!¡± ¡°Hey, WonderDasha, what were you mumbling in the elevator about Informatorium?¡± ¡°Err¡­¡± as her hand flashed in front of the camera, it looked like she was scratching her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t ¡®zone out¡¯ in the elevator, on the contrary, I ¡®sped up¡¯ and ¡®flew.¡¯ That ¡®Informatorium¡¯ thing first caught my interest. So, I installed it, downloaded the documentation, FAQ, the dev-kit¡­ Basically, everything I could.¡± ¡°Did you manage to dig up anything useful?¡± asked the guy, watching as Dasha, connected through the workshop computer, checked the platform¡¯s status. ¡°Just the basics. I¡¯ve been running around the uni most of the time¡­ But while I was lying around in the elevator, I made a little something. Here, check this out.¡± A mediaglyph flickered into view, indicating that Dasha had initiated a broadcast of her ¡®virtual desktop¡¯. Activating it, Maksim switched modes and moved the ¡®eye view¡¯ image to the upper-right corner. Before him unfolded a multi-layered diagram of connections, an intellect-map of sorts. Indeed, not many connections were established yet; Dasha had chosen TACTA as the first ¡°central concept.¡± The first branch was ¡°rating,¡± the second ¡°partnerships.¡± In the partnerships section were all the points he had seen before. They were currently inaccessible, linked to the ¡°rating¡± section by a locking block. Nevertheless, Dasha had attached detailed comments to each point. Additionally, under general notes, she wrote, ¡°Check docs in the dev-kit manual for more details!!! For coders, seems there''s a partial unlock of the TACTA wiki without rating needed, gotta check!¡± ¡°So, what are your thoughts on these gamification fans?¡± asked Max. From the ¡®eye view,¡¯ it appeared Dasha had already checked the platform and was now simply uploading the control software for it. ¡°Freaking d¨¦j¨¤ vu¡­¡± Dasha mused aloud, her fingers absently spinning her vape, but she refrained from indulging. ¡°You know, there¡¯s a ton of media out there with these narratives. In almost every game or VR show where monsters invade, or the world ends, they introduce some kind of ¡®system,¡¯ ¡®rating,¡¯ and ¡®upgrades.¡¯ Thankfully, they don¡¯t dish out ¡®experience points¡¯ for slaying monsters here. At least we¡¯re spared that clich¨¦.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, WonderKid¡­ have you actually managed to kill any monsters yet?¡± ¡°Well¡­ no. You?¡± ¡°Nope, me neither. So, who knows what other surprises might be waiting for us.¡± ¡°I just hope we don¡¯t end up with some ridiculous ¡®loot and level¡¯ mechanic for monster kills!¡± ¡°Never fancied yourself in such a scenario?¡± ¡°Max, I¡¯m a¡­ normal girl. There are... far nicer things I¡¯d rather dream about!¡± At her words, Dasha blushed, invisible for Maksim in the ¡®eye view¡¯, of course. ¡°And... to be honest, I once tried to say ¡®Status¡¯ out loud...¡± ¡°Ha-ha, seriously? And how did that pan out?¡± ¡°Max, darn it!¡± While chatting, he perused Dasha¡¯s notes in the ¡®market¡¯ section. Currency details were predictably sparse: @The primary currency is the TACTA grant. One grant is divided into 100 lessers. Blockchain. The issuance is strictly controlled and backed by ¡®obligations.¡¯ Digging deeper requires a rating. ¡°Where the hell did she dig all that up, and when did she have the time? There was nothing about this in the brief market and currency guide!¡± @After being assigned a rating, a certain STARTING (the calculation method unknown!) amount will be credited to your account. You can earn money by completing tasks, selling goods and raw materials, and it will also accumulate regularly based on your rating. Sort of like Universal Basic Income, but TACTA-style. @Any action related to the initial crediting of grants to a blockchain account requires a drone call!! Hardware verification? Some kind of complex identification? It¡¯s all too complicated. Why is that? Must investigate! Eventually, there should be permanent stationary points in some populated areas, but currently, nothing within a 500 km radius of Kyiv. More detailed info is unavailable. ¡°Hey, WonderWhiz, where did you dig up so much stuff about the currency?¡± asked Max, already guessing what she¡¯d say. ¡°The dev-kit, duh. Who do you think I wrote that note for? The one that says where to find the full docs?¡± Dashka quipped mischievously. ¡°You little Trickster! Okay, just tell me, did you manage to find this ¡®starting amount¡¯? A least roughly? What can we buy with it?¡± ¡°I dunno.¡± Dasha shrugged. ¡°No ¡®legs,¡¯ or rather, no rating, no goodies.¡± Max inadvertently glanced at his own legs confined to the wheelchair, and Dasha faltered. ¡°Oh¡­ S-sorry, I¡­ didn¡¯t mean¡­ to say it like that¡­ It was just a joke. A stupid one.¡± ¡°No worries, WittyWonder,¡± Maksim reassured with a dismissive gesture. ¡°But is there even a hint as to why they need all this? I don¡¯t buy such ¡®benevolent attractions¡¯ being genuine, especially not in the midst of an interplanetary invasion. Even more with monsters!¡± ¡°Hard to say for sure. They definitely seem interested in selling us their finished goods, and, apparently, buying raw materials from us. As for what ¡®missions¡¯ are, I really have no idea. Seriously... it¡¯s not like crafting and clearing monsters in an MMORPG¡­ right? That kind of thing can¡¯t happen in real life, huh?¡± ¡°All the info on that topic is locked in the dev-kit,¡± Dasha said with a dismissive wave of her hand. ¡°Well, once we get a rating, the access to more information will be available. And I certainly agree with you, we can¡¯t call a drone just yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ll ¡®take off with what we have¡¯,¡± Max chuckled. ¡°Yet, I have a feeling we¡¯ll really need that bloody drone, and the sooner, the better.¡± ¡°Alright, Max, I¡¯m really glad you¡¯re okay; I was genuinely worried,¡± Dasha said, switching off the camera. ¡°Listen, I need to drop off for a bit, got some quick coding to do, then I¡¯m heading to the club, alright?¡± ¡°It¡¯s OK, looking forward to your call.¡± ¡°Dasha, signing out.¡± Chapter 21 - The Hack and the Hacked City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Nikola Kowalski, August 12, 2049, 12:25 PM ¡°Last flight, just last flight of stairs,¡± Nika whispered, as she pushed herself up the staircase. What would¡¯ve been trivial for any healthy person had turned into an arduous ordeal for her. The problem started about halfway up. Even if you have normal legs, bounding up the stairs one-legged is no easy task. And for Nikola, the situation was dire. Actually, she had ingeniously adapted a ¡°scythe¡± she¡¯d ripped from a ¡°Mantis¡± as a makeshift crutch before she had left the garage. Redhead had even salvaged her own leg, which had been automatically detached to maintain her mobility during combat. But on one of her leaps, her body veered to the side. Quick to react, she grabbed the railings with both hands, steadying herself just in time. But just as she seemed to regain her balance and bent to pick up her dropped crutch, her remaining leg buckled, and gave out. Nika fell, her body slamming painfully against the wall. Once again, an irritating pop-up from the Protectorate appeared, chastising her for damaging property. She was too exhausted even to be angry. After a brief pause, she tried to rise. ¡°Kurwa ma?, what the hell¡¯s going on?!¡± Nikola cursed in frustration. Her remaining cybernetic leg had stopped obeying her commands! While the feedback was still intact ¨C she felt everything and saw no visible damage, but she couldn''t move it. ¡°This is terrible. This damned Protectorate blocks even diagnostic access! I hate you, motherfuckers! Sons of bitches!¡± In her fury, she struck the wall and slowly exhaled, trying to calm herself. ¡°Swearing out loud, it feels a bit better. I need to keep moving, even if I have to crawl on my hands. I''m not dying today!¡± Determined not to leave her detached leg behind, Nikola tossed it up to the landing, followed by her trophy ¡°scythe.¡± You never know when such things might come in handy. Now her hands were free. Climbing the stairs upwards proved devilishly hard until she figured out to turn around and back up, hoisting herself onto each successive step and dragging her remaining leg. ¡°Done!¡± Nikola gasped on the landing. ¡°From here on, it''s a crawl, but it''ll be easier; the limbs still pull!¡± With grim resolve, Nika moved forward, her hands clutching the floor ¨C so resolutely that it seemed even the muscle amplifiers in her hands kicked in, though she had no way to check. She covered the distance to the workshop¡¯s closed door in just a minute and a half. ¡°Alisa, open up!¡± She knocked forcefully on the door with her fist. ¡°Open th¨C¡± The door slid aside, and a young man in a wheelchair stared in astonishment at the bloodied, dirty Nikola, with her tangled hair, lying on the floor¡­ ¡°Uh¡­ Nikola, is that right?¡± Maksim asked in surprise, not expecting to see a cyborg on his doorstep, especially one in such a dire state. ¡°I¡­ need help,¡± she rasped, struggling to sit up. ¡°The Protectorate has seized control over¡­ my cyber-core, all the functions are locked. There¡¯s a timer set, in eleven minutes it¡¯ll shut me down. Permanently.¡± ¡°We''ll get you out of this!¡± the guy responded confidently, reaching out to assist her toward the wheelchair. ¡°Grab my hand, hang tight. Let¡¯s head over to the workbench.¡± He switched to reverse, and the wheelchair lurched back ¨C quicker than turning, given the tight space. It had just enough power to drag Nika to the center of the room. ¡°There are no chairs, so let me help you onto the workbench. It¡¯s a kind of seat, in its own way.¡± Maksim assisted Nika to grip on, but she managed to climb up mostly by herself, only needing help to stabilize her non-responsive leg. ¡°Tough girl!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll deal with the medicine once we sort out the Protectorate issue, okay? Can you hold on?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t have much of a choice, do I?.. I¡¯m okay. There¡¯s no critical damage, but I dunno about the hardware. Kurwa, they locked me out of everything! Can¡¯t even run basic diagnostics. And you can see the state of things on the outside yourself.¡± ¡°It sucks, I get it. Really, I do. We¡¯ll get through this. I¡¯m no hacker, but I know exactly whom to call.¡± He set a new ten-minute timer, plainly visible. Simultaneously, he dialed up Vasilevskaya, recognizing the severity of their predicament. Without Alisa, Moira, or any other cybernetic assistants, nor a cyber-doc station nearby, and with time rapidly depleting. ¡°Max, nothing significant has changed in the last five minutes!¡± Dasha responded promptly, in voice-only mode. ¡°WonderStar, it¡¯s something else, urgent. Critical situation.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± her image popped up on the media phone, sitting in a chair, a VR helmet on her head. ¡°I¡¯ve got a cyborg here whose core has been hacked by the Protectorate. In ten minutes, they¡¯re set to shut her down permanently. All I¡¯ve got is this universal workbench and a heap of old cyber parts. We need to help.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°A cyborg? What?¡± Confusion marred her face as she removed her helmet. ¡°We¡¯re saving this beauty here.¡± Max adjusted the camera to show Nikola sitting on the workbench. Dasha was taken aback by the harrowing sight: torn clothes, multiple cuts on her face, abrasions, and blood on her body. And only one leg. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that cyber-girl I saw with Alisa!¡± ¡°Hello¡­ I¡¯m Nikola, Nika is fine.¡± Redhead waved at the camera. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t hear you. My cyber-core is under external control. The Protectorate¡¯s message says they will shut down my brain in ten minutes ¨C and they can because I¡¯m built military-grade. Can you help?¡± ¡°This is tough... But not deadly!¡± Dasha quickly regained her composure, a key ability of hers ¨C swiftly engaging in critical situations. ¡°Max, make sure Nikola can hear me. As I understand, she¡¯s got communication restrictions on conferencing and private channels.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± the guy replied. ¡°Switching call to my mediaphone.¡± ¡°Nika, can you hear me now?¡± asked Dasha. ¡°Yes, loud and clear.¡± ¡°Before I start, we need to quickly assess how screwed up things are. What I¡¯m about to ask is crucial. Please, answer honestly, this channel is secure.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Backdoors. I¡¯m interested in the one called ¡®Dreamcatcher¡¯ that you got installed first. You should have access to it. Am I right?¡± ¡°Kurwa! Can¡¯t believe how easily you figured it out! I have access, yeah.¡± ¡°Ah, don''t sweat it, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m a genius¡­ Plus, without those backdoors, you''d be acting totally differently. Right now, we really need that access because we''re without Moira. Max, looks like we''ll have to manage on our own.¡± ¡°Moira?¡± Nika looked perplexed, shifting her gaze from the media phone to Max, then briefly closed her eyes, signaling that now was not the time for surprises. ¡°Got it, command!¡± Maksim waved his hand. ¡°Dasha knows what she''s up to. This is a matter for a skilled hacker, not just an engineer. And she''s already worked with cyberized platforms, not just robotics.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fetching the necessary software. How long do we have?¡± ¡°Nine minutes!¡± Nikola checked the countdown glyph on the screen. ¡°Perfect, we''ll start in a minute, we¡¯re cutting it close! Max, prepare her for the connection real quick.¡± ¡°Connection to what?¡± ¡°Maksim, don¡¯t play dumb! To me, obviously. You don¡¯t have a cyber-station or anything else but that workbench for assembling bots. So, we¡¯ll use you as a proxy, just get me a direct line to her sub-brain.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get busted with traffic like that, Dashka!¡± He protested, still fetching the smart cables. ¡°Though, I suppose TACTA probably wouldn¡¯t care¡­¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be any damn traffic! Nika¡¯s got all her ¡®backdoor stashes¡¯ set up already. I¡¯m certain of it. Nika, when were you supposed to be pulled out?¡± ¡°In a couple of months, after the final payment.¡± ¡°Great. See?! That means everything I need is already embedded in her! I just need full access ¨C that¡¯s it! And fast!¡± At that moment, Maksim had pulled out the rack with smart cables. ¡°Nika, what¡¯s your interface implant type?¡± ¡°RXTM-2, anchored in the occipital bone,¡± Nika replied. ¡°I don¡¯t have any hair ties or pins on me¡­ Lost ¡®em during a fight. Got a box with any sort of fastener nearby? Can you find a couple of plastic rods, pencil-sized?¡± ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± ¡°Then bring them with you. I¡¯ll tie back my hair to make it easier.¡± ¡°Here you go,¡± he said, handing over eight smart cables and a couple of plastic ¡®sticks¡¯ from a box. Nika quickly twisted her hair into a bun at her nape and secured it by crisscrossing the plastic rods just above her interface ports. ¡°Been through this before?¡± ¡°Yeah, had to¡­ a few times.¡± ¡°Good. Can you turn over and lie on your stomach now? Turn your head to the right, so your interface port faces me.¡± ¡°I think I can do that,¡± Nika replied, maneuvering herself on the workbench. ¡°Can you help me swing my leg up, please?¡± Moving up closer, Max helped the Redhead get into a more or less comfortable position. ¡°I¡¯m in the same boat right now, actually ¨C legs aren¡¯t working either. Good thing it¡¯s temporary. WonderWhiz, are you ready?¡± ¡°Yeah, you can connect,¡± Vasilevskaya replied, now donning her VR helmet again. The cables were already at hand, no preparation needed as the implants were modern and didn¡¯t require adapters. Maksim deftly connected four pairs of smart cables. Seven loud clicks followed in sequence. Almost done, just one cable left. ¡°Nika, here comes the last smart. We¡¯re starting the connection now!¡± ¡°Go ahead, I can¡¯t really help anyway, all my accesses are locked,¡± Nikola responded, tiredly closing her eyes. ¡°Max, software is up, hook up the sacrifice!¡± Dasha giggled. ¡°Hey, Dashka, I only just now realized that you said ¡®Dreamcatcher!¡¯ That¡¯s the project you handed in back in February¡­¡± He remembered she had recently worked on reprogramming cyber-cores for a darknet syndicate, specifically writing software to bypass corporate firewalls. ¡°Well, yeah, small world. Especially the underground one. ¡®Dreamcatcher¡¯ is my software, I named it after my favorite t-shirt¡­ The clients were very cautious, did their best to hide¡­ But I got curious and dug deeper to understand what I was actually working on. It¡¯s cool to see your own creation in action! Especially since it became a standard in this peculiar industry!¡± ¡°Sorry to interrupt,¡± Nika said, ¡°but doesn¡¯t calling me a sacrifice sound kind of¡­ ritualistic?¡± ¡°Sure does!¡± Dasha replied importantly, pointing her index finger up. ¡°A sacrifice to Cthulhu!¡± The final cable clicked into the socket at the back of Nikola¡¯s neck. Max was now connected to her with eight one-and-a-half-meter smart cables. All that was left was to open the pre-prepared remote access terminal and transfer access to Daria. ¡°Nika, can you see the authorization request?¡± asked the dark-haired Cthulhu priestess, ready to start the ritual. ¡°Yes, I see the screen!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get started!¡± ¡°Done!¡± ¡°I see the access, all good, your backdoors are in place. Launching¡­ ¡®Dreamcatcher¡¯ is loading! Pass and key?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll spell it out. Capital C, y, a, f, a, r, digits 4-9-1, capital M, i, a, n, digits 2-5-8, ¡®ergo¡¯, with a capital and¡­ Sacrifice, ja pierdol?, Cthulhu, kurwa! Where the hell have I gotten into?!¡± ¡°Welcome to the robotics lovers¡¯ club. We love robots, you know? Now, we have to love cyborgs too. In all sorts of ways. So, where¡¯s the key?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in the ¡®external certificates¡¯ directory, there¡¯s a lot there, look for the one starting with ¡®Astwer¡¯.¡± ¡°Yep, found it. Connected, working. Don¡¯t go anywhere.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stick around.¡± Nika waved off another joke. Max had a thought that, despite her clearly tough situation, she was holding up well. Even Dasha¡¯s humor wasn¡¯t irritating her ¨C an incredibly resilient human! ¡°Max, Nika, keep in mind that after the Protes¡¯s hacked the core, it was real-time leaking GPS coordinates online!¡± Dasha warned. ¡°I¡¯ll set up a decoy, but ¨C¡± ¡°But old logs are already out there, so we better get out of here as soon as possible,¡± Maksim agreed; this news didn¡¯t surprise him. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll figure out what to do. WonderCharm, are we interrupting if we keep talking?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I won¡¯t break the connection. If something needs to be done... I''ll tell you. Nikola, don¡¯t worry about time, I¡¯m about to cut off the external control, the Protectorate won¡¯t be able to do anything to you. There¡¯ll be a few soft reboots and one hard one at the end.¡± ¡°A hard reboot, that''s definitely unpleasant, but I can handle it. You¡¯ve saved me from death, or perhaps something even worse. I am truly grateful, believe me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, thanks for helping Alisa.¡± The video with Dashka disappeared, leaving only the media glyph of the voice connection. Chapter 22 - No stranger to danger City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Solomianskyi Landscape Park Vasiliy Horobetz, August 12, 2049, 12:30 PM Vasiliy Horobetz was no stranger to danger. His reputation was forged in the fiery crucible of the relentless corruption investigations of Kyiv and Odessa during his younger days. As the corruption faded into obscurity following the Wolfsburg Accords, he shifted his journalistic lens towards the murky realms of military corporations. It was there that Vasiliy unearthed a veritable gold mine. He collaborated with giants like Armadillo, Aegis Corp, NSG, and dabbled with smaller factions ranging from the ¡°Angels of Oblivion¡± to the ones like ¡°Kaestu Brigades.¡± The stories he dug up were rich, grim, and filled with scandal ¨C a serious war might have marked only once in his memory, but ¡°armed incidents,¡± as the corporates coyly called them, were a perpetual affair. Corporations were omnipresent, forever inserting themselves into conflicts between Polises and States. Vasiliy¡¯s twin journalistic callings were corruption and warfare. In Kyiv, the situation was just beginning to smolder, but Horobetz was already on the move. He was among the first to broadcast the horrific footage where the shaiszu savagely tore apart a crowd of five hundred in mere minutes. He captured the chaos from two vantage points: piloting his drone into the heart of the turmoil and from a rooftop nearby, using professional optics. The resulting footage was of excellent quality. Startlingly clear picture, close-ups, the strikes of ¡°mantis¡± and ¡°asps¡± in slow motion; the sheer brutality underscored by the shaiszu¡¯s preference to abduct rather than kill on the spot. This particular video, titled ¡°Carnage at Vokzalnaya! People captured ALIVE!¡± exploded in popularity on his channel, amassing over 350,000 views in less than an hour. After the ¡°Carnage,¡± he caught the initial cleanup operations by the police and two ¡°Armadillo¡± mobile brigades. However, he retreated as soon as heavy artillery came into play. By 11 AM, Vasiliy was both exhausted and exhilarated ¨C never in his career had he collected as much footage in a single day. The situation was horrific ¨C monsters were ravaging his hometown, numerous human casualties, streets in ruins and fires blazing. Yet, the only thought that shone before his eyes was ¡°Content!!!¡± Forced to abandon his van with equipment in the parking lot ¨C the city faced escalating urban gridlock, he switched to a sports motorcycle and sped to the banks of the Dnieper, towards Trukhanov Island, drawn by a bizarre atmospheric phenomenon... In the end, he lost four racing pro-drones but managed to live-stream UNSA¡¯s machinery in extreme detail. Despite fierce competition, Vasiliy managed to get closer than anyone else. After a brief respite, during which the Protectorate issued several announcements, Vasiliy decided against the agreement and chose TACTA. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he called his wife and sent her and their daughter away from the unfolding chaos to wait in a parking lot at the auto center on Teremky. For himself, Horobetz was determined to be out of the city by 7:00 PM. He planned to escape along back roads, likely the 100-kilometer zone mentioned in the Protectorate messages won¡¯t be thoroughly monitored in all this chaos. And if it were patrolled ¨C he could weather the curfew overnight at any dacha. He was armed ¨C a pistol at his side, a Mossberg pump shotgun with two boxes of shells in the car. Leaving the city now, in the height of the conflict, would violate every fiber of his professional being. Having analyzed the course of the Protectorate¡¯s combat machines, Vasiliy Horobetz set his sights on the largest contingent, observing it for nearly forty minutes. Ten wings, each consisting of seven stormtroopers, and under their protection, three more wings each bearing four heavy drones ¨C likely transporters or bombers, Vasiliy surmised. This particular group caught his attention due to its unusual behavior, distinct from other UNSA machinery. Rather than engaging in skirmishes, they seemed to merely observe, moving along a circular route like a hawk hovering over a field, waiting for a larger prey to emerge from its burrow for a swift dive attack. Having witnessed virtually every type of military hardware crafted on Earth, Vasiliy understood that these drones, while similar in appearance to our terrestrial models, were controlled by a far more experienced intellect, one well-acquainted with these portal monsters and already devising cunning strategies against them. As the predatory machines suddenly changed their course, realigning themselves and darting toward Solomianskyi Park as if given a new directive, Vasiliy¡¯s intuition screamed: ¡°This is it!¡± This was footage he couldn¡¯t afford to miss! With tires screeching, his motorcycle leapt from the overpass onto the pedestrian path below. The roads were useless anyway, jammed solid after the shutdown of the AIs that managed traffic. Approaching the park, the sound of gunfire grew, though it was impossible to discern who was shooting at whom. Covering seven kilometers in just ten minutes, Vasiliy executed a sharp turn from Solomianskaya onto Volhohradskaya Street, but had to abruptly slam on his brakes, gripping the handlebars with all his might. Fortunately, the motorcycle had already slowed before the turn; otherwise, Vasiliy might have been thrown forward. The roar of another volley jolted him, and to his shock, he realized the active gunfire was coming from the ground ¨C below! Several black silhouettes spun through the air, performing dizzying acrobatics and managing to return fire. Among them were large drones, which Vasiliy assumed were likely bombers ¨C they hovered in the air above the houses near the park and did not attempt to move closer. But who was firing artillery from the ground? Horobetz would have been less surprised if giant ¡°anti-air bees¡± or ¡°earth-to-air dragonflies¡± ¨C biological entities like everything else that emerged from the portals ¨C had ascended. But here, it was artillery shells. And the tracers were rising in volleys from multiple positions! Understanding the terrible risks, he still decided to get closer. He left his motorcycle in the parking lot of a luxury residential complex, rebuilt about five years ago. He took out his pistol. The familiar weight in his hand offered a little reassurance, though minimally, considering a pistol against anti-aircraft guns was laughably inadequate. He had only four flying cameras left, all stowed in a container on his motorcycle. The rest of his equipment was either in the van or lost. He attached three cameras to the holders on his tactical vest and, crouching low, ran toward the park. Aware of the dangers, Horobetz had not only drawn his pistol in advance but, after confirming the magazine was full, had taken off the safety.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Settling in dense bushes, Vasiliy momentarily set aside his gun, pulled out an action camera with a head mount, and put it on. After ensuring the live stream was active, he launched a drone. The smart device buzzed to life, rotors spinning, and the drone, wobbling, stabilized in mid-air. Vasiliy quickly switched on the live feed through the TACTA¡¯s network. Controlling the drone through augmented reality, he cautiously flew towards the descent as the park and firing positions were located in a depression. ¡°Aha, and here¡¯s the answer. Oh boy! Astonishingly, those things are using our own terrestrial weapons! Lacking their own artillery, and with teeth and claws suited only for close combat, they had chosen a different approach¡­¡± A gust of wind briefly swept away the smoke, revealing details. Only Vasiliy''s utmost professionalism allowed him to maintain control and not lose the feed, though the monster, shown in close-up, was overwhelmingly intimidating. It resembled an immense, unimaginable hybrid of a squid and a turtle if any comparison could be made at all, if you could even compare that chimera from an alien world to anything. Six massive limbs dug into the ground, forming a sturdy base akin to a gun carriage. Armored with thick chitin plates on its sides and top, the beast resembled a tank on legs. Briefly, the armors parted to reveal a viscous mass bristling with tentacles that seemed to engulf the barrel and mechanism of the anti-aircraft gun, now manipulating it with incredible speed, unseen even in rapid-fire turrets like those of the Aegis system during a missile attack. Flames burst from the barrels, a short burst rang out, and the armor plates closed once more. The creature enveloped itself in smoke, drastically reducing visibility, yet it was evident that the retaliatory strike from the Protectorate¡¯s drones had done no visible harm to the monster. For a few seconds, rounds pelted the armor, occasionally sparking, but the chimera merely crouched slightly on its monstrous limbs. As the gunfire ceased, a gap appeared from which tentacles surged forth. Lifting a massive, heavy lid on the ground beside the beast, they pulled out another box of ammunition and vanished within. The living cannon¡¯s armor snapped shut once more. The creature deftly shifted its stance, positioning itself anew. Another biomechanical artillery unit emerged from behind the bushes. Swiftly it scuttled to a spot nearby. A second later, the sky was pierced by another volley. Tracking the trajectory of the projectiles, Vasiliy watched as two drones in the air were suddenly engulfed in flames and spiraled down to earth, leaving behind plumes of black smoke. The remaining crafts twirled in the air, evading further shots. In a different context, one might jest about a ¡°chicken-legged cannon,¡± but the reality was far from humorous. Could these creatures so effortlessly master any of our mechanisms? To operationalize use is far more complex than simply understanding theoretical principles, which itself could take military cadets months of study! And where were these ¡°artillery squids¡± manufactured? Could it be that deep within the portal lies a cache of some unimaginable biological ¡°Lego-constructor,¡± allowing the shaiszu to swiftly craft monsters for any purpose? Or did these chimeras come directly from another world? Such thoughts swirled in Vasiliy''s mind as he cautiously edged his flying camera forward, inching as close to the ground as possible. Fortunately, this tiny unit went unnoticed, allowing him close access. Further observations revealed that the invaders might not have mastered the earth¡¯s material as flawlessly as assumed. It seemed electronics were still beyond their grasp, and they aimed their cannons by mere sight. The UNSA¡¯s machine losses were minimal ¨C besides the two recently downed drones, Vasiliy observed no other damage. Perhaps these ¡°turtles¡± possessed something akin to dolphins¡¯ sonar, or other biological sensors for detecting living organisms; otherwise, how else could they hunt humans so effectively? Yet here, all such abilities proved futile. Clearly, their vision couldn¡¯t accurately target through smoke clouds, and sonars were useless amidst the cannonade. This likely allowed the unified counterattack by the stormtrooper squadrons to break through the anti-air defense and sequentially suppress these living anti-air batteries. By detecting the rhythm of the armor opening during shots, Protectorate military machines managed to time their strikes perfectly, launching explosive payloads directly into the squids¡¯ soft tissue. To Vasiliy¡¯s journalistic fortune, he captured the moment one of the ¡°turtles¡± was hit! The barrel flew dozens of meters away, while slime and tentacle fragments splattered all around. Only four severed limbs remained, embedded in the damp soil. The other surviving ¡°tortoises¡± suddenly crouched, almost burrowing into the ground. ¡°Take that!¡± Vasiliy couldn''t help but exclaim, just as a blinding flash of light struck his eyes. Moments later, a thunderous boom rang in his ears, like a monstrous gong. So that¡¯s why all this upheaval started here, that¡¯s why the Protectorate''s group was directed to this exact location! A large portal began to open in the park, the largest Horobetz had ever seen. More biological cannons rushed in, likely receiving signals that the portal area was unguarded, initiating a new round of anti-air defense. But that was already irrelevant. The portal opened wide, unleashing streams of smaller creatures. Turning his camera, Vasiliy zoomed in to the sphere¡¯s core. One by one, gigantic limbs with meter-and-a-half-long pitch-black claws emerged. With powerful strikes, they cracked the concrete and asphalt, digging into the soil. It seemed as if the entire colossal portal was transforming into a massive entity. ¡°Something horrible is about to happen,¡± Vasiliy realized. He hadn¡¯t seen anything like it since the invasion began. At that moment, the intensity of the anti-air fire increased dramatically. It was as if the ¡°turtles¡± were desperately trying to prevent anything from flying too close to the portal. Looking up, Horobetz aw swift black silhouettes darting in the sky above him. Gaining speed, they maneuvered sharply to evade the barrage of fire, especially as new anti-air emplacements emerged from the portal, grounding themselves and opening their armored covers to fire. The Protectorate¡¯s drones, clearly attempting to cover the offensive, flamed out one by one. A heavy machine exploded in a brilliant flash right above the reporter, scattering burning debris to the ground and deafening him with its blast. ¡°Definitely bombers!¡± He thought. Despite the attackers¡¯ efforts, losses continued, and new ¡°fire flowers¡± bloomed in the sky. Something huge flashed, shooting out of the portal, but at that moment, Vasiliy was so engrossed in the unfolding aerial battle that he failed to notice it. The emerging beast immediately began burrowing into the earth. Clumps of dirt and concrete shot up all around. Within seconds, the creature had dug itself a massive trench and vanished within it completely. The remaining two heavy drones inevitably found themselves caught in crossfire from the increasingly numerous portal-based anti-air emplacements. One heavy machine sharply broke left towards the ground, drawing fire onto itself, while a squadron of assault drones covered the second, sacrificing themselves under the barrage. The bomber, now identified, hovered momentarily above the portal. A sleek object detached from it and sped towards the portal, stabilizers unfurling. The remaining Protectorate machines sharply turned and sped away, simultaneously gaining altitude. As a man who had spent his life filming wars and particularly inhumane and convention-banned weapons, Vasiliy knew this machinery well. His eyes sent a single signal to his brain: ¡°RUN!¡± His brain responded, ¡°We can¡¯t fucking outrun it!¡± Instinctively, he angled his camera upwards, threw it to the ground in emergency mode, and flattened himself against the earth, seeking any semblance of a shelter. An explosion resounded ¨C not just an explosion, but a thump. ¡°Is that all?¡± a layman might think. ¡°A vacuum bomb!¡± Vasiliy realized. Two stages of the detonation, a monstrous feat of military ingenuity, followed one another rapidly, but to him, it seemed time had frozen. The camera feed halted, pieces of grass and soil hung in the air ¨C it seemed Horobetz was literally trying to burrow into the earth with his hands... These so-called ¡°vacuum bombs,¡± or thermobaric weapons, are relics of Earth¡¯s past. And apparently, the Protectorate had them in its past arsenal, too. Among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever created by humanity, they might indeed be one of the most effective methods against a portal. The first, relatively weak explosion disperses a vast cloud of potent aerosol explosives, and the second triggers a volumetric detonation of this dust cloud. Immense pressure and the resultant shockwave, working in concert with the natural forces of the atmosphere, leave nothing within the blast radius a chance of survival. It seemed Vasiliy was lucky to be far enough from the epicenter, although he still took a beating ¨C as he felt, the shockwave lifted him and the ground like a feather, shook him violently in a colossal shaker, and threw him back down. When his senses of hearing and sight returned ¨C there was no trace of the portal left... but this was just the beginning. Chapter 23 - Silenced Voices City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Solomianskyi Landscape Park Vasiliy Horobetz, August 12, 2049, 1:19 PM Vasiliy brushed off the dirt, debris, and twigs from his head. Hands were trembling as he propped himself up and struggled to sit. The sensations were utterly harrowing ¨C nausea churned in his stomach, the world spun before his eyes, a relentless ringing tortured his ears, and his head throbbed with pain. Horobetz tried to utter something and realized he couldn¡¯t hear his own voice. His makeshift shelter had been obliterated by the blast, which had stripped the shrubbery bare and felled the trees surrounding him. Luckily, nothing heavy had landed on him. Blinking to clear his vision, the journalist re-enabled the lenses implanted in his eyes and immediately checked his gear. As expected, his flying camera was gone, destroyed. Only two devices from his harness had survived, appearing intact. His pistol, however, was nowhere to be found, neither in his hands nor on the ground. But the action camera had miraculously survived. Tough as nails! This little marvel of engineering resilience seemed capable of making through an even worse maelstrom ¨C just a quick wipe of the lens to clear the settled dust was needed, and it was ready to record again. Looking up, Vasiliy saw that the Protectorate¡¯s machines returning. Alongside them loomed something massive, cigar-shaped, with truncated wings near the back of the fuselage, a modest keel, and stabilizers. Automatically activating the camera, Vasiliy noted two oddities: firstly, this was the first Protectorate aircraft he¡¯d seen that possessed even rudimentary wings and a tail fin; secondly, it was substantially larger than the typical drones and bombers. ¡°What the hell is that? Military transport plane? Paratroopers?¡± Not bothering to hide anymore, Vasiliy sprang to his feet and launched his small scout drone into the air. Restarting the live stream, Horobetz gaped in astonishment at the viewer count. Over five hundred thousand viewers on the stream! He had never reached even a quarter of that audience in any of his previous live streams. ¡°And, damn, I did it just in time!¡± Vasiliy noted with satisfaction, watching the unfolding events along with his viewers. Without decelerating, the central squadron, including the mysterious ¡°aircraft,¡± suddenly dived sharply. ¡°A-ha!¡± As he tracked the maneuver and focused on the central object, Horobetz couldn¡¯t help but shout, overwhelmed by emotion. ¡°It¡¯s even larger than I thought!¡± At its lowest point, the ¡°aircraft¡± leveled out horizontally and, after skimming over the combat zone for a few seconds, sharply ascended. Vasiliy noticed that small clouds of smoke lingered in the sky after the machine passed. ¡°Are they dropping bombs again?¡± he theatrically posed to his audience, maximizing the zoom. ¡°Are they planning to scorch the earth with napalm, to leave no survivors?¡± But what Vasiliy saw next was entirely unexpected. The world had been vigilantly following every video that featured the Protectorate. Human nature compels us to seek out information, even amidst danger and mortal peril. Yet now, in the year 2049, a truly unique situation had arisen ¨C there was no reliable, detailed information available about the Protectorate. Only brief official statements and speculative discussions on darknet media platforms were available. The mystery was intensified by the total lack of information from the millions who had flocked to the so-called ¡°accumulation points.¡± Who met them there, what did they tell them, where were they headed now ¨C all of that remained a secret. Most hesitated until the last possible moment, reluctant to align with the Protectorate, but ultimately, as they watched countless black drones annihilate monsters emerging from the portals online, they reluctantly headed to the assembly points. The UNSA promised safety, and its military hardware diligently provided it. But no living representative of the Protectorate had ever been seen on any of the numerous streams or videos. Persistent rumors swirled of ¡°certain warriors,¡± incredibly formidable beings who intervened only in the most dire of circumstances and who could reportedly tear apart a twenty-ton monster with their bare hands. Suddenly, watching the picture from his action camera and his scout¡¯s broadcast, Vasiliy realized that he was the first ¨C the very first, damn it! ¨C person in the world who had shown those mysterious warriors live! The viewer count exploded, skyrocketing wildly. The numbers flashed by ¨C seven hundred thousand, nine hundred thousand, more than a million viewers! ¡°I¡¯m Vasiliy Horobetz, and you¡¯re watching the live broadcast from ¡®Honest War¡¯ channel!¡± Vasiliy shouted, unable to contain his excitement, ¡°The drop height is three hundred meters! I see ten, no, eleven soldiers! They¡¯re in free-fall! Five seconds out! It¡¯s too fast! Braking thrusters are engaging now! Everyone, watch closely!!!¡± Moments before hitting the ground, brilliant lights ignited beneath the silhouettes of the paratroopers. The ground exploded outward in a shower of dirt and debris as they landed. Each soldier was momentarily shrouded in a semi-transparent cocoon just fractions of a second before impact. Touchdown. The shells exploded, apparently, getting rid of energy absorbed during the contact. When the dust settled, you could take a better look at the newcomers. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ some kind of crazy blend of different eras!¡± Vasiliy exclaimed, amazed, and cautiously manipulating the drone¡¯s zoom to maintain a safe distance while closely observing the nearest warrior. On one hand, he was clad in a modern-looking armor with reinforced parts, details resembling exoskeleton elements, and armed with a massive short-barrel submachine gun, plus a bunch of grenades was hanging on his belt. On the other, the entire appearance was screaming medieval knight. The helmet adorned with emblems of crosses or swords against sun motifs, oversized shoulder guards bearing similar insignias, far larger than pragmatism would dictate. The visor was down, completely hiding the face. ¡°Remarkably, that¡¯s a sword! I just can¡¯t figure out how it¡¯s affixed behind him in that clever harness on the jetpack. It¡¯s all quite¡­ extraordinary. Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if one of them also carries a mace or even a bow and arrows!¡± The camera switched to another figure; likely the team leader. His helmet¡¯s faceplate lifted, and Vasiliy zoomed in to capture the details. The leader was a middle-aged man with light hair and piercing blue eyes, cold and detached as if mechanical. His features were angular, sharply defined. A straight nose, a substantial, almost block-like chin. Metal plates of implants were visible on the left side of his forehead and on the temple. With a brief wave of his hand, he issued a command and turned, showcasing a sword at his belt and a large emblem on a billowing white cape. The soldiers spread out across the former portal site, methodically finishing off the surviving shaiszu creatures. Two of them pulled out small containers, using ultraviolet lamps to collect pieces of the ¡°artillery squid¡± ¨C tentacle fragments and gelatinous tissues surrounding the recently functional cannon. All of this was done in complete silence. Their movements were quick and coordinated, always aware of their surroundings, ready to respond with force at a moment¡¯s notice. A second passed. Over a million viewers were there ¨C intently watching the activity of the alien soldiers. Close-up shot. Another second. The camera pulled back, showing the big picture. Another second passed. Suddenly, a massive geyser of dust and stone erupted into the sky. The leader¡¯s helmet visor snapped down instantly, and his hands were wielding a sword and a pistol. A burst of gunfire! The paratroopers operated seamlessly, not obstructing each other¡¯s firing lines, unleashing a barrage on the enormous figure that has just burst from beneath the ground. ¡°That¡¯s the beast that burrowed underground before the explosion! I caught only a glimpse of it! Oh, my¡­ Holy¡­ what a fuck!¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The entity stood on its hind legs, raising its bald head with enormous black eyes. Its body wasn¡¯t covered with chitinous plates but a soft, continually shifting mass, as if molten rubber flowed over it. The shots appeared to be absorbed, seemingly inflicting no damage. But, perhaps angered, the monster opened its vast toothed maw and let out a piercing screech. Vasiliy had never seen such a creature before, not in any video. Tall and lean, it appeared almost human from afar ¨C two arms, two legs, a head. But when the monster charged at the nearest warrior, any resemblance to humanity vanished. It wasn¡¯t just its speed, which far surpassed human capability; our limbs simply don¡¯t have enough joints to match such flexibility! The creature raised its arms, and at the ends, where hands should be, solid-looking ¡°fins¡± abruptly expanded. As the monster shielded its head, it was clear it used them as a shield ¨C bullets ricocheted off the hard surface. Sharp, serrated edges also allowed it to slash its prey. Credit to the paratroopers, none faltered ¨C besides firing, six grenades were thrown simultaneously. Then something unbelievable happened. For a moment, the creature¡¯s arms moved so fast they blur into a hazy sphere in the video. It managed to ¡°catch¡± all the grenades with its fins. A series of flashes indicated the detonation of the ¡°traps¡± inside, but it didn¡¯t stop the monster. Five paratroopers leapt back, reloading swiftly as the rest focused their firepower on the beast¡¯s head, as if realizing what was about to unfold. Then, opening its maw, the monster shot its tongue towards the nearest soldier. The squad leader, with a deft move of his armored shoulder, knocked the paratrooper aside and, twisting dramatically, caught the tongue with a gauntlet-clad hand. In his other hand, a pistol appeared, rapidly emptying its clip into the creature¡¯s gaping mouth. Under the beast¡¯s wild howling, the leader tossed aside the pistol and drew his sword, its edge igniting with a searing line of plasma. Emblems on his armor flared with white fire, etching lines across the helmet and shoulder pads, casting the paratrooper leader in the heroic mold of a sci-fi warrior. With a powerful tug, he pulled the ensnared tongue toward him and leapt forward into the fray. And a frenetic dance ensued! The shaiszu, managing to free its tongue after all, surged with increased ferocity. The speed was so fast, Vasiliy¡¯s camera struggled to capture their lightning-fast movements. Approach! Strike exchange! Clinch! Retreat! The monster was clearly more agile and flexible but matched in speed. Their patterns of fighting were different. Fluidly shifting forms, the beast was darting around the paratrooper in high-speed arcs, seeking vulnerabilities in his defense. In contrast, the Protectorate warrior moved with deliberate, precise actions, conserving his counterstrikes unless certain to impact or when parrying was necessary. To defend, the monster continued to employ its blackened fins ¨C now seemingly impervious to the plasma sword ¨C as it twisted with unearthly flexibility to block attacks from every direction. The clash rapidly evolved into a duel of wits more than brute force. Despite the creature¡¯s frenzied slicing, its fins only cleaved air, never reaching the soldier. ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Vasiliy narrated with rising fervor, his focus solely on the combat, oblivious to the audience numbers and the broader battlefield. ¡°The trooper has a full 360-degree sensory awareness. He anticipates the beast¡¯s moves, dodging with surgical precision! His cloak, seemingly animated and likely integrated with combat-AI, is actively defending him. Yeah!!! Nice strike!¡± With a swift counter-thrust, the leader¡¯s sword traced a fiery plasma arc through the air, clipping the monster¡¯s flank in a fleeting vulnerability as its limbs, momentarily pinned by the cloak, failed to cover. The merciless blade carved through hide and sinew, unleashing a torrent of dark crimson. The beast staggered, struggling to maintain its stance. The outcome of the battle had already been determined, however. Another rapid arc of the plasma sword, and the beast¡¯s head tumbled to the ground, a pillar of blood soaring into the sky. For a few seconds, the headless body continued its blind assault, movements growing increasingly erratic. Leaping back, the leader allowed another soldier to take his place. This fresh combatant efficiently ended the confrontation, severing the beast¡¯s limbs with two precise strikes and, with a final powerful sweep, cleaving the creature¡¯s torso in two. Vasiliy exhaled cautiously, a realization dawning on him that had been nagging since the fight began. It all felt staged, like a theatrical show. Now, watching the squad leader gesticulate, clearly explaining his tactics mid-combat, Horobetz understood: this battle was a live-fire training exercise. The experienced leader was demonstrating how to combat this type of monster to newcomers. Yes, it made sense. ¡°So those soldiers are constantly learning and adapting their tactics to new kinds of monsters!¡± Vasiliy thought aloud, his intrigue growing by the second. His contemplation was abruptly interrupted by a hard object pressing against the back of his head. A voice spoke in a language that sounded vaguely like French but was thick with harsh, guttural sounds ¨C lots of ¡°kh¡± and ¡°th¡±. Within half a second, his mediaphone¡¯s translator kicked in, and his augmented reality lenses flashed a notification: # language identified: Akkhitaine (The UNSA Protectorate) ¡°Stand up slowly, do not turn around. State your name, present your Protectorate ID or visa!¡± Vasiliy got up carefully, trying to make no sudden movements. ¡°I¡¯m Vasiliy Horobetz, citizenship ¨C polis of Kyiv. I¡¯m here legally. I¡¯m a media representative¡­ covering events under intergovernmental freedom of media agreem¨C¡± ¡°Enough. Turn around.¡± Meanwhile, the live broadcast continued. In front of Vasiliy and his viewers, three figures appeared. Two were clad in unfamiliar black-and-green armor, clearly urban in design. On the left of their chests, a large emblem featured prominently: a golden two-handed sword over a wide red shield with a stylized sun, below which ¡°MP¡± was boldly inscribed. They stood silent, their rifles trained on Vasiliy¡¯s head. Another man, in his fifties, wore light black armor with shiny gold accents and a black cap adorned with a blazing sun emblem set within an inverted triangle. His look was completed by massive shoulder pads and a heavy cloak; a large holster with a pistol was fastened to his belt. ¡°I am an operational protector, Lieutenant Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand,¡± he declared, sizing Vasiliy up with a disdainful look. ¡°Lieutenant, I¨C¡± ¡°You will speak when I tell you to,¡± Bertrand interrupted, pulling a small electronic device from a tablet bag on his belt. He aimed the device at Vasiliy and waited for a result visible only to him. ¡°A renouncer. Just as I thought. You were required to leave the area before the curfew began. Speak.¡± ¡°Lieutenant, excuse me, but I have carefully read the terms,¡± Vasiliy responded confidently. Years of reporting had immunized him against attempts at psychological pressure and manipulation, as the journalist had had to talk to all kinds of representatives of the law. Moreover, he felt justified; the curfew had not yet started, and he had technically broken no laws. ¡°So, here¡¯s the thing,¡± Horobetz continued, ¡°I exercised my right to refuse. My car is waiting for me on the outskirts of Kyiv, and I will leave the city within half an hour, as planned. The curfew hasn¡¯t started yet; there¡¯s plenty of time!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Thibaut-Dominique¡¯s voice cut through the air, relentless and cold. ¡°For a true citizen and patriot, curfew is eternal because the enemy won¡¯t pause its terror to suit your convenience.¡± Vasiliy attempted to interject, ¡°But I...¡± but a harsh nudge from a gun barrel silenced him abruptly. With a stone-faced calm, Thibaut-Dominique concealed his device and withdrew his pistol. ¡°It is not within my duties to explicate the Law to renouncers¡­ and other scum. It is sufficient for me to declare the verdict and execute it. But we are not alone here. Sergeant!¡± The policeman, keeping his rifle trained on Vasiliy, advanced three steps and moved behind him. When the stranger¡¯s hand clamped on his shoulder, everything shrank inside the blogger. A brutal strike to the knees followed, buckling his legs, and forcing him down. Bertrand approached, pressing the cold muzzle against Vasiliy¡¯s temple. ¡°I¡¯ll spare a minute for clarification. The Protectorate¡¯s actions are for the supreme benefit of you people. We are under no obligation to save or defend, yet we persist. It is our duty. All we demand in return is the absolute compliance of our laws! But you, you¡¯re not even a citizen of the Protectorate! Your sole obligation was to evacuate the city immediately! And instead, what do we find?¡± Terror gripped Vasiliy; he seemed to forget how to breathe. Each word from the protector hammered into his consciousness like a pile driver into soft earth. ¡°What are you doing here? What is this filming? How is the broadcast running? You have abused the leniency granted to you, lingering until the final moment. Moreover, with a 97% likelihood, you intended to conceal yourself beyond the city¡¯s boundaries within the Safety Zone and continue your subversive activities against the Protectorate. You are in a restricted combat zone. You are exploiting an illegal network for unauthorized broadcasts! Sergeant, the sentence is recorded!¡± Everything went dark in Vasiliy¡¯s eyes. He desperately gasped for air, but in vain. ¡°By the True Light granted to me, I, Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand, operational protector of UNSA, hereby pronounce your sentence! Vasiliy Horobetz, a renouncer in favor of TACTA, identity confirmed by genetic code. Location of the offense: City 202, Zone 18/04.¡± ¡°Violation! Disregarding the direct directive of the Protectorate before curfew!¡± ¡°Violation! Using a TACTA-controlled data transfer protocol in the Protectorate¡¯s territory without the necessary communication visa.¡± ¡°Violation! Conducting information activities related to disclosure of data regarding the armed forces, tactics, and methods of operation of the UNSA Protectorate to other factions. This violation is considered as spying for TACTA.¡± ¡°Violation! Mass dissemination of information intended to cause panic and chaos among the population! This violation is classified as extremist activity.¡± ¡°These violations have been documented by the operational protector and submitted for investigation to the Bureau of Internal Protection. Confirmation received, violations verified.¡± ¡°The sentence ¨C the execution of the violator as the supreme measure of unconditional safeguarding of the citizens of the Protectorate.¡± Extending his arm, Lieutenant Bertrand ripped the camera from Vasiliy¡¯s head, stepped back, and pulled the trigger. A quiet pop. Vasiliy¡¯s head vanished in a brilliant flare, his decapitated body tilting grotesquely to the ground. A crust formed on the neck, cracking as blood pulsed into the dirt. ¡°The sentence has been carried out, the measure of deterrence utilized once.¡± Bertrand then turned the camera towards himself, his expression unyielding. ¡°To all witnessing this! Those on the Protectorate¡¯s territories must adhere to the Law! You have all accepted these terms voluntarily and with full awareness. Citizens of the Protectorate have chosen to receive protection, and receive it they shall, at any cost! Only UNSA can confront shaiszu! Our Law is stringent, and justly so. This is how we better the world. Renouncers, take heed!¡± ¡°Firstly! A visa control mark must be displayed on a visible part of your clothing!¡± ¡°Secondly! In case of violations, patrols are authorized and mandated to employ lethal force!¡± ¡°Thirdly! If our Law does not suit you ¨C leave the territories of the Protectorate before curfew commences.¡± The camera fell to the ground, capturing the close-up view of a boot sole. The scene on Vasiliy¡¯s stream faded to a stark black screen emblazoned with the terse message: # Signal lost This would continue for seven more hours, until a Protectorate robot would arrive to dispose of both Vasiliy¡¯s body and his mediaphone. Chapter 24 - Patch Up the Battle Scars City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 12, 2049, 12:32 PM Maksim took one last look around the room, double-checking for anything he might have missed. ¡°Not sure how long Dasha will need to reprogram Nikola¡¯s core, but let¡¯s assume half an hour to an hour at least. That means it¡¯s about time we made our move. The question is, how? Right now, we¡¯re both pretty much incapacitated...¡± ¡°Nika, how¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°Hanging in there. Sucks to be left with just one leg, and even that''s barely responding. Hate being so defenseless. Feels like a kid again!¡± ¡°You had a bad childhood, huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even ask.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m curious! I want to get to know you better,¡± Max smiled. ¡°But there¡¯s no time for that now. We need to figure out our exit strategy, find some gear, and ideally, a decent firearm.¡± ¡°I get it,¡± Redhead replied, turning cautiously to face him. ¡°Let¡¯s get acquainted. But I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not exactly at my best right now.¡± ¡°You know,¡± the guy waved dismissively, ¡°right now, all of humanity isn¡¯t exactly at its best. Duh, we¡¯ll make it through. Could¡¯ve been worse!¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯ll have to tell me sometime, what could be worse than this.¡± Nika managed a cautious sit and gestured towards the door. ¡°Sure, I will,¡± Maksim assured her. ¡°When the time and place are more conducive. You know... I have a rather forward question for you.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Nikola raised her eyebrow in surprise. ¡°How much do you weigh without one leg?¡± Max nodded towards the bot with the inert body of the android. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s just me minus a leg...¡± Nika pondered. ¡°about seventy kilos, I guess. Planning on substituting me for Alisa? What do we do about her then?¡± ¡°We could try to fit her into the side mounts and secure her with straps; there are suitable ones here.¡± ¡°Nah, that doesn¡¯t sound good.¡± The girl shook her head, her red hair swaying. ¡°It¡¯s risky, and I don¡¯t want to be a burden!¡± ¡°Got any better ideas?¡± ¡°Maybe. You¡¯re a robotics engineer, right? Ever dealt with cyborgs?¡± ¡°Not directly much, but I¡¯m well-versed in the theory.¡± Maksim shrugged. ¡°Any reason you¡¯re asking?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve nearly dragged my other leg to the room... It¡¯s actually quite close, just behind the door. The automatic system shot it off, but I have a ¡®hot-swap¡¯ feature for limbs. If you could patch up this little paw¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess you¡¯re right, that changes everything!¡± ¡°Guys, I¡¯m here,¡± Dasha cut in. ¡°Nika, we¡¯re ready for a soft reboot. If you¡¯re lying down, better stay put.¡± ¡°Sitting now, but I can lie down, of course,¡± Nikola replied as Max adjusted the camera to capture the scene. ¡°Ah, good, I see. Yeah, fall back onto the workbench, just in case. By the way, I also found the problem with your leg¡¯s software. It should work fine after the reboot.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Nika carefully reclined on the workbench. ¡°Just a moment, Dasha,¡± Maksim chimed in. ¡°Can I disconnect the smarts briefly after the reboot command and then restore connection in, say, a couple of minutes?¡± ¡°Sure, the access authorization won¡¯t expire in that time. But wait for my signal. I need to first confirm that I¡¯ve disconnected Nika from the external network, and the AI of Protectorate has lost its connection. What are you planning, by the way?¡± ¡°Well, I want to go pick up Nikola¡¯s leg to see how damaged it is. If we can get it even partly operational, it will significantly boost our mobility. Otherwise, we¡¯d have to drag them along with Alisa, using a bot that¡¯s not equipped for such load.¡± ¡°Understood. Nika, we can proceed shortly¡­ just a bit longer. Alright, starting the reboot! Max, you can disconnect the cables, I¡¯m on standby.¡± Nikola¡¯s body slumped, muscles loosened except for her eyes, which on the contrary began blinking and twitching more frequently. And all of that was accompanied by intense sensations in her head. A soft reboot, if done ¡°quick and dirty,¡± was always a jarring experience. Yet, as always, Redhead bore the pain silently, her expression betraying nothing. Once assured that she was lying stable and not at risk of falling, Max quickly disconnected the cables. He then turned and steered his ¡°supercar¡± toward the door. ¡°Nikola said her leg is just behind the door, let¡¯s hope she¡¯s right.¡± Peering cautiously into the corridor ¨C thankfully empty. If a creature had been lurking by the door, it would have been over for him. The leg was indeed nearby, just ten meters from the door. His chair screeched forward; braking abruptly by the target, Max leaned out, seized the leg, and, spinning, dashed back with his prize. Nikola was still groggy from the reboot, and Dasha was busy with her tasks, so Max didn¡¯t immediately reconnect the cables.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Instead, he decided to extend their length ¨C there was a surplus on the racks, and he found more than enough suitable connectors. Linking the devices was quick work. ¡°Hey, WonderSweety, it¡¯s ready. The cables are in place.¡± ¡°Yeah-yeah¡­¡± the girl gave a scattered response but quickly snapped to attention with a shake of her head. ¡°What, it¡¯s ready? Great. Let''s proceed! Did you retrieve the leg?¡± ¡°Yep, I¡¯ll check what can be done now.¡± ¡°Good, don¡¯t connect anything until I say. I still gotta work on the core. Nika, up and at ¡®em, wake up!¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Nikola sat up on the workbench, rubbing her temples. ¡°That was harsh.¡± ¡°Sorry, the rush.¡± Dasha scoffed a bit grumpily. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not complaining. Just still coming to my senses.¡± Nika waved off apologetically. ¡°Oh, the interface¡¯s back!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t connect to any networks yet, I haven''t finished!¡± Dasha quickly reacted. ¡°Cthulhu clearly has a soft spot for you; barely scraping through, but we made it!¡± ¡°Umm¡­ then, hail to Cthulha, I guess!¡± ¡°Well, he doesn¡¯t need praise, he¡¯s asleep.¡± Dashka laughed. ¡°Okay, enough chatter! I¡¯m fixing the brain, Max, you handle the leg. Let''s hustle!¡± ¡°Aye, aye, your Great Dark Ladyship,¡± the young man said, smirking. He approached the workbench and secured the leg in the clamp. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it!¡± This banter was clearly a psychological shield against the stress of the situation. It really wasn¡¯t a time for laughter. They were forced to grapple with unfamiliar and complex technology under almost field conditions, without the help of smart-assistants or the active support of the workbench. Before the Protectorate¡¯s virus attack, all modern machines possessed some level of intelligence, many quite sophisticated. Even a T2 with a decent database would have been helpful now. But alas, humanity had suddenly been stripped of significant technologies deeply embedded in every facet of civilization. ¡°I think the full impact of the catastrophe will hit us gradually. Sure, monsters from the portals are terrifying, but we were braced for that, thanks to the mass culture. The real blow was losing all the ¡®smart¡¯ devices, and numerous assistants. For some, relationships with ¡®digital personas¡¯ had become deep, even personal¡­¡± Lost in these somber reflections, Maksim set to work on the cyber-leg. The problem was that the ¡°CL-P1 Blades¡± model was strictly corporate and not open-source at all. So yes, the extranet provided a good and detailed user manual, but that¡¯s it. Neither university libraries nor Max and Dasha¡¯s personal archives had the necessary schematics for such a specialized device. Their team hadn¡¯t had cyborgs, especially corporate ones, up to that point, and androids were built on different principles. ¡°Well, let''s see,¡± the guy mumbled to himself as he peeled off the damaged armor plating made from flexible reinforced plastic from the thigh. ¡°Hmm... thoroughly wrecked. Nika, tell me what happened and where these damages came from?¡± ¡°In short, Watson-CyberTech practically sold me into servitude to the Protectorate, lock, stock, and barrel. I refused, of course. They hacked my core and threatened me, ¡®Show up in thirty minutes, or it¡¯s the end for you¡¯.¡± ¡°On my way here, I had to contend with a monster. Picture this ¨C a mantis, but juiced up on steroids, as big as a decent car,¡± Nikola said, her hands painting the air with her words. ¡°It had bone ¡®scythes¡¯ for weapons on its front paws. I could have handled it one-on-one, but the Protectorate messed me up by cluttering my vision with their blasted notifications, so I couldn¡¯t dodge in time. The strike hit my thigh, jamming the scythe. When the creature tried to pull free, the automatic systems kicked in and shot off my leg. If diagnostics had been operational, I¡¯d have more to tell.¡± ¡°I see, enough for now.¡± Her story coincided with what Maksim saw on the workbench. The blow had struck her thigh¡¯s front section where the radiator plates overlapped, likely slightly ajar. The force had drilled through the fuel block ¨C fortunately, the leg¡¯s synthetic muscles were not completely destroyed; most should still function. Nikola attempted to activate the diagnostic tools again, but as expected, it was futile: ¡°I just tried to run a diagnostic check ¨C nothing, it¡¯s dead. Looks like the Protectorate did a thorough job cleaning out my system, kurwa, and they¡¯ve even cut down Marcek!¡± ¡°Is Marcek an AI in your core?¡± ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s like a big brother to me¡­ was.¡± Redhead sighed with sadness. ¡°I can¡¯t restore Marcek,¡± Dasha chimed in; apparently, she¡¯s been listening attentively to their conversation. ¡°They¡¯ve thoroughly purged your system, including the personality matrix of your AI.¡± ¡°?wietnie, kurwa!¡± ¡°But I can offer an alternative. Oh¡­ if only Moira was online¡­¡± ¡°Dasha, what¡¯s the problem with booting up Moira,¡± Max suggested. ¡°When we¡¯re safe, of course? We can just set up her connection only to TACTA¡¯s extranet. They can¡¯t be restricting the channel that much.¡± ¡°That might work; I need to look into it.¡± The girl shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s been chaos the last hours¡­ there¡¯s no time to even manage your natural needs, much less read manuals! Yes, you got it right ¨C this poor child doesn¡¯t even have time to vape in peace!¡± ¡°And you¡¯re that ¡®poor child¡¯, huh?¡± Maksim raised his eyebrow. ¡°Sure am!¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t steam yourself enough before the elevator, did you?¡± ¡°Uh... yes! No!¡± ¡°Guys, sorry to interrupt. But if it¡¯s not secretive, what¡¯s Moira?¡± Nika joined in. ¡°Our AI, a T10. She¡¯s also Alisa. It¡¯s complicated, I¡¯ll tell you for sure. But later.¡± ¡°An AI. A ten one, no less. Held by college students. Well, that''s ordinary, right?¡± Nikola reacted with a nervous chuckle. ¡°And here I thought Warsaw was an advanced hyperpolis. Yet, we don¡¯t have level ten AIs available to¡­ umm¡­ guys, and who are you exactly?¡± ¡°We¡¯re a robotics lovers¡¯ club!¡± Dasha giggled sarcastically. ¡°And Moira¡¯s more than just a simple T10 AI!¡± ¡°We really are students, Nika.¡± Max offered with his most innocent and trustworthy expression. ¡°Just a ¡®simple¡¯, kurwa, ¡®T10 AI¡¯¡­¡± Nikola exhaled deeply. ¡°Holy shit, you guys. You¡¯ll tell me next that your android has an AI with a personality matrix from a real living person!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s you, who just said it.¡± Max retorted with a chuckle. ¡°How is that possible? Where¡¯s the main computing center? That¡¯s forbidden, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, forbidden. And illegal too. ¡®A.M.I.¡¯ on the tail and so on. And, unfortunately, it¡¯s not from a living person ¨C it¡¯s from someone deceased. Don¡¯t ask; it¡¯s my pain, not yours. The main hardware is back at Kyiv Polytech. We need to get it out soon ¨C that¡¯s our major task for now.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll manage unless they kill us all first,¡± Dasha added grimly. ¡°I just can¡¯t fathom it. Where in the hell do you get such technologies from, kurwa?!¡± Nikola folded her arms and stared at the guy. ¡°Well, think of it as a mix of parental heritage and tremendous amounts of our own effort. Mostly, this little WonderKid¡¯s effort.¡± Maksim replied, gesturing towards his mediaphone displaying Dasha twirling a vape with Hamlet¡¯s eternal question: to vape or not to vape. ¡°Max, it¡¯s nice to hear you praise my brains, but really, this project is mostly built on the legacy ¨C yours, the Chernykh family¡¯s. And don¡¯t downplay your and Alisa¡¯s contribution to the work, either.¡± ¡°Hold on, did you say parents? The Chernykh?¡± Nikola interjected, shocked. ¡°You mean Sergey Chernykh, the Russian professor and Nobel Prize laureate in Neurophysiology and Cyborgization?¡± ¡°Yes, he was my father.¡± Maksim confirmed with a nod. ¡°Sadly, all the accolades and achievements didn¡¯t save my family. My parents were executed, and Alisa and I had to flee the country.¡± ¡°So, Alisa is your real sister?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s an android!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t always like that.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ sorry, I think I get it¡­¡± After a short pause, Nikola nodded. ¡°You guys are fucking awesome! Hell, I¡¯m with you!¡± ¡°Welcome to the team.¡± Maksim smiled back. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s exactly what we are,¡± Dashka purred contentedly in the mediaphone. ¡°Well, Nika, get ready mentally, another soft reboot in a couple of minutes. We¡¯ll sort out the software later. Luckily, they didn¡¯t manage to install any ¡®harm¡¯ stuff on you... which is also... good.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a full backup of all necessary software in a secure cloud,¡± Nika said grimly. ¡°Just wish I did back up Marcek too¡­¡± Chapter 25 - Rebooted for battle City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 12, 2049, 1:13 PM Meanwhile, Maksim finished diagnosing the leg, and he seemed to come to a decision. Turning to Nikola, he said, ¡°Alright, Red, time is short, and I need to get between your legs as soon as possible! C¡¯mon, spread ¡®em wide!¡± ¡°So funny, Max. I¡¯ve got only one leg left, good thing I can move it now thanks to Dasha.¡± ¡°Perv!¡± a blushing Dasha cut in. ¡°A flirt and a jerk!¡± ¡°It was just a joke! Lightening the mood.¡± ¡°Sounds like a normal healthy male to me.¡± Nika smiled suddenly, deciding to defend him. ¡°Well,¡± the guy said, smiling in kind, ¡°you¡¯ve asked for it. And honestly, I am indeed interested in your legs, though only in a practical sense right now. Okay, here: did they wipe your service utilities?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Nika answered simultaneously with Dasha. ¡°They didn¡¯t touch them.¡± ¡°Great. In sports limbs like blades, there¡¯s a function to redistribute power between two legs if one fuel element fails, correct?¡± ¡°Well, there is such a thing, but I don¡¯t have it installed. These blades were purely for trainings, a lightweight model.¡± Redhead sighed. ¡°Guys, we need to reboot,¡± Dasha said insistently. ¡°Nikola, make sure you¡¯re stable because you''ll briefly lose consciousness this time.¡± ¡°Okay, give me a sec.¡± Nikola turned sideways to Maksim, draped her leg over the manipulator arm, and carefully laid back. ¡°Dasha, just a moment,¡± Max chimed in. ¡°Nika, too bad the straightforward the easy route didn¡¯t pan out. Let¡¯s switch to plan B then. As you lie down, cut the power to your remaining leg, like you would when changing the fuel element.¡± ¡°Max, the leg deactivated. You can remove the element now. Dasha, I¡¯m ready to reboot,¡± Nikola reported, and added after a brief pause while glancing at the guy, ¡°Please make sure I don''t fall. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Starting the reboot now.¡± While Nikola was temporarily unconscious, Maksim swiftly grabbed a screwdriver. Carefully rotating her leg, he removed the protective casing, and extracted the fuel element. Moments later, Redhead stirred back to consciousness. ¡°Phew¡­ seems I¡¯m alive.¡± ¡°Welcome back,¡± Dasha saluted as she removed her VR helmet, and took out her vape. ¡°Nikola, the main part is done ¨C I¡¯ve completely re-flashed the OS of your core, removed all Watson¡¯s tracking and control modules. Your core will now register under Cthulhu OS version 0.1. If you decide to reinstall the old software packages, I¡¯ll need to manually prepare them. No unilateral actions, please.¡± Daria theatrically wiped nonexistent sweat off her forehead, took a deep inhale from her vape, and exhaled with a slow relief. ¡°We¡¯ll sort out the necessary programs later. For now, I¡¯ve uploaded a T2 universal assistant for you. A cracked one, to prevent unsolicited network access ¨C not just an extra precaution. Because you can¡¯t afford to appear on the Protectorate¡¯s networks anymore, nor can I forge an official signature. So welcome to the illegal world!¡± ¡°Well, I was ready for that, all in all.¡± Nikola laughed and quickly added, ¡°For the illegal world, I mean. Not for what happened today.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll wrap this up soon.¡± Dasha reassumed her VR helmet. ¡°But we¡¯ll have to hard reboot you. This is the finisher, but, afterward, you¡¯ll have a fully working cyber core.¡± Meanwhile, the young man approached the workbench area, fuel element in hand. He flicked a switch and started the robotic assembly complex, which could operate manually if needed, equipped with all the necessary soldering attachments. Nikola carefully propped herself up on an elbow, watching Max¡¯s actions intently. He noticed her gaze: ¡°You got lucky three times today. First, your fuel cell took the blow. Most of the thigh¡¯s synth-muscles are intact, even though it¡¯s pierced right through¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯re the second and third?¡± Nikola asked, setting more comfortable on the workbench. ¡°Second, damaged fuel cell didn¡¯t explode ¨C the leg got detached automatically in time¡­¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­ Lucky, my ass¡­¡± ¡°And the third, I found a pretty detailed manual. No use for delicate repairs ¨C it¡¯s not maintenance documentation after all. But it helped to figure out what to do in this situation.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s the prognosis, doctor?¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Huh, what kind of doctor you think I am?¡± ¡°A charming one.¡± Nika smiled. ¡°And, what¡¯s the status?¡± ¡°Actually, it''s quite simple. I¡¯m gonna solder a quick circuit, rig up an external power line to divert energy across both legs. We¡¯ll secure the wires externally with just some duct tape to keep them in place. It¡¯s not the prettiest solution, but it¡¯ll allow you to move. Though, honestly, you¡¯re going to need a new set of legs soon.¡± ¡°New legs, or rather the old ones back at the hotel.¡± Nikola mused. ¡°There¡¯s a decent station there too... if only we could retrieve all that.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll figure something out, and get them. I wouldn¡¯t mind getting home myself; I¡¯ve got a couple of pistols, a good stockpile of ammo, and a full med-kit ¨C you could use that right now. But for now, let¡¯s make do with what we have. Remember how much power was left in the leg?¡± ¡°Before the fight, it was over ninety percent. I lost access to the diagnostics after that, and I had to do some heavy jumping,¡± Nikola shrugged. ¡°But I reckon it¡¯s still around seventy percent, at least.¡± ¡°Great. There¡¯s not much left to do, actually.¡± Maksim reassessed the circuit in his hand. ¡°We¡¯ll ditch the damaged fuel element entirely, but keep the control unit. It will distribute power across the leg as if the cell was still connected. Just remember, the remaining source will now bear double the load, which is crucial if you end up in a fight.¡± ¡°Thanks, Max. I¡¯ll keep that in mind. The power lines and cooling system should handle it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it then. Dasha, how are we doing with the reboot prep?¡± ¡°Just a few more minutes and we¡¯ll start,¡± the girl replied, unmoving, as she remained immersed in VR. ¡°Should I not connect the second leg yet?¡± ¡°No.¡± Dasha even raised her hand for emphasis, still not raising her head. ¡°Get everything ready, and we¡¯ll handle it together during the reboot. Just make sure to secure Nikola well ¨C and I mean really well. You can verify with her; it¡¯s no joke!¡± ¡°Maybe I should just lie down now,¡± Nikola suggested, lowering herself back. ¡°Why is it such a rotten day, huh? Rhetorical question, don¡¯t bother answering.¡± ¡°The day will be real shitty when you can¡¯t ask that question anymore,¡± Dasha unexpectedly commented as she removed her VR helmet. ¡°Code¡¯s done. It¡¯s compiling now, then I¡¯ll upload, and we¡¯ll reboot.¡± That meant time was pressing. Maksim circled around the workbench yet again. He meticulously realigned the leg and secured the fuel element into its place. Then ensured the locking bars were properly engaged. The next challenge was the circuit board he¡¯d soldered hastily and affixed with double-sided tape and duct tape; it jutted out awkwardly, preventing the protective cover from fitting properly. Once more, he resorted to duct tape ¨C not a time for aesthetics. Max located a suitable power cable in the workbench, attached it to the board¡¯s socket, and laid out the power line with enough slack to ensure freedom of movement. The last task was securing Nikola for the reboot. ¡°Hmm, what if¡­¡± He adjusted the main manipulator arm of the workbench, folding it down and pressing it against the edge. That made an improvised barrier, which would prevent the legs from falling, especially since they weren¡¯t connected. Now, the crucial part ¨C securing the torso firmly in place. ¡°Is a full reboot always this brutal, Nika? Do we really need to tie you down for it?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Nika replied, adjusting her position. ¡°The core system reboots entirely. There are two critical moments ¨C the neural connection severs and then it reestablishes. The involuntary spasms of the biological muscles in the torso make it dangerous. That¡¯s why we never attempt a full reboot in the field.¡± ¡°Sounds pretty intense.¡± ¡°In some cases,¡± Nikola said with a sigh, ¡°respiratory and heart failure may occur, and ears may curl up. But only for elves.¡± ¡°Good thing you¡¯re not an elf then.¡± The guy chuckled. ¡°Your ears are pretty cute, no need for curling.¡± ¡°I appreciate your support, Max.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll secure the torso as best I can with cable scraps. Wish there was something more useful here, like ropes¡­¡± ¡°Leather straps, nipple clamps, latex¡­¡± Nika pondered aloud. ¡°I¡¯ll note down those preferences,¡± Maksim responded calmly, a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°Might come in handy when we go on that date.¡± ¡°Hey, wait! I¡¯m the dominant one here!¡± ¡°Sure, you were. But too late now! You¡¯ve already given yourself away!¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind¡­ to be your sub¡­ Max¡­¡± Dasha whispered so softly that no one heard. She sighed deeply, then raised her voice, commanding attention, ¡°Max, Nika, only minute to go. Cut your damn jokes, the reboot¡¯s starting!¡± ¡°Okay, okay!¡± The guy hurried, securing the cable swiftly, passing it to Nika. ¡°Throw it over the bracket to your left, I can''t get up from the chair to reach it. See it? Near the belt?¡± ¡°All right... done.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm¡­ good. One more time¡­ catch it back!¡± Nika threaded the cable back and handed the free end to Maksim. ¡°Perfect,¡± he affirmed, securing the knot firmly. ¡°Nika, can you manage to fasten your left wrist with a plastic tie on the other side?¡± ¡°I can manage, give it here.¡± Max handed her the widest plastic tie he could find, fortunate for the abundance at the workshop. ¡°Secured.¡± ¡°Now, your right hand.¡± He took her hand, wrapped the tie around her wrist, and secured it tightly to the bracket to prevent any movement. ¡°All set?¡± he asked the now bound girl. ¡°Yes. You can start.¡± ¡°Nika, hang in there. You can do this!¡± Daria said clearly. ¡°Starting now!¡± The cyborg¡¯s body arched violently, the cables she was tied down with dug into her skin, but they still held. Redhead slammed back against the workbench with force and froze. ¡°Dasha, her breathing stopped, I think,¡± Maksim said nervously, placing his hand on Nika¡¯s chest. ¡°I think we need to check the pulse?¡± ¡°Calm down, Max, she won¡¯t die in twenty seconds. The database will reboot, the med-monitor will activate, and we¡¯ll see everything. She has implants that will kickstart her heart and breathing if necessary. Everything will be fine. Just go ahead and connect the leg. Once the neural link reconnects, the system will engage, and she¡¯ll function if all is well.¡± ¡°Understood, working on it.¡± The method of manually connecting limbs without using a service station was written in the manual in detail, so there were no problems. They only had to manage without the strip of artificial skin that was supposed to cover the joint. It was torn off when the automatic system shot off her leg. However, it seems that this strip was purely decorative. ¡°Monitor is up, heart¡¯s working, the breathing will resume now¡­¡± Nika let out a loud, sharp wheeze and started gasping for air. ¡°Okay, final stage. Neural connection,¡± Dasha announced, and Nikola started twitching, though less violently than before. ¡°Hmm¡­ success. Next, the system will install updates and boot up normally. Nika will come around soon.¡± ¡°How¡¯s her leg? Can you see the diagnostics?¡± ¡°Give me a second¡­ Everything''s functioning. And your hellish makeshift wiring job is holding up, too. The power cell in the right leg is fine, sixty-seven percent charge. Looks like our patient will be both walking and running just fine... hopefully.¡± ¡°You were great, Dashka. Good job!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The girl blushed. ¡°I did my best!¡± ¡°We''ll decide our next steps once Nika is fully conscious. Can we disconnect her from the cables now, or do you need more time?¡± ¡°Just a moment more. I¡¯m setting up a connection with TACTA network for her. Using full access, I signed a contract on her behalf. They¡¯ve already pushed the software updates, so she¡¯s now officially a ¡®partner,¡¯ whatever that means.¡± Chapter 26 - Bonds of Rebellion City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 12, 2049, 1:46 PM Nikola moaned painfully, opened her eyes, and twitched, trying to get up. ¡°Easy, Nika, stay put for now; you¡¯re okay. I¡¯m gonna free your arm and legs.¡± Max cut the cable tie with cutters and stowed away the manipulator. ¡°Hey, can you hear me?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m¡­ fine. Is Dasha around? How¡¯d it¡­ go?¡± ¡°All things considered, not too bad,¡± the young hacker snorted. ¡°I¡¯ve installed a basic assistant for you, aka a universal helper, as promised. It¡¯ll help you move, especially now that your leg is not only in place but somewhat operational. Let¡¯s get you standing, time to test it out!¡± ¡°Here, take the cutters, slice the other cable tie.¡± Maksim handed her the tool. ¡°Can you do that?¡± ¡°Just a sec¡­¡± Nika rolled onto her side, and with a soft snap, the plastic strip flew to the floor. Using her arms for support, she managed to sit upright on the workbench. After pausing to gather herself, she carefully descended to the floor. Initially unsteady, she quickly found her balance, cautiously stepping and stabilizing herself. ¡°All systems go, the assist took over smoothly, didn¡¯t let me fall. Dasha, Maksim, thanks a lot!¡± Redhead expressed her gratitude. Growing more confident by the second, she tested her range of motion with a few squats and lunges, carefully transferring her weight from one leg to the other. She even attempted a few restrained jumps, hindered only by the cables still connecting her. ¡°Good! Seems, I¡¯m combat-ready now, more or less. Just need to find some weapons.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great to hear,¡± Dasha concluded. ¡°Max, disconnect the cables. Nika, just so you know ¨C I signed a contract with TACTA under your name. You weren¡¯t planning on going back to those... damned ¡®Protes¡¯, were you? No?.. Good. You¡¯ve got a backlog of notifications to sort through when you have a moment. Also, I installed the basic software package, including SnapDrop for calls. It has contacts for me, Max, and Alisa. And just a reminder, you can only use the TACTA¡¯s network, okay?¡± ¡°I remember, of course. And... thanks again, really. I¡¯ll connect to the conference now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m off just for a sec.¡± Dasha¡¯s window changed to her avatar. ¡°Wanna finish coding before I fetch Moira. I was almost done when Max interrupted me. Call if you need anything.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Maksim and Nika responded almost in sync, detaching the smart-cables. The guy turned off his mediaphone¡¯s camera, and pocketed the device, while Dasha changed her status to ¡°VR¡± and ¡°Mute.¡± Seconds later, Nikola¡¯s avatar popped up in the conference; Red had logged in but without video yet. ¡°Max, do you guys always have ¡®first-person view¡¯ on by default?¡± ¡°Yes, unless we¡¯re in virtual, like Dashka right now. It feels more natural, and in our current situation, it¡¯s more about seeing the action than faces,¡± he replied. ¡°Mm-hmm. Gimme a sec. I didn¡¯t change my eyes ¨C too pricey ¨C but I did get advanced implanted lenses that can do the job.¡± shortly after, Nika¡¯s avatar was replaced by her live video feed. ¡°Think we¡¯re about ready to move out?¡± ¡°Give it ten minutes, tops. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll run a system check in the meantime. Got a mountain of messages from TACTA to sort through, as Dasha warned. Plus, I should really run a diagnostics on these limbs, at least with whatever utilities I¡¯ve still got left.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. And if you have any questions about TACTA, just ask. Dasha and I are both signed up, downloaded the software. Might be able to help. Need any medical assistance, by the way?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing critical. The cyber-core is running fine, that¡¯s what counts.¡± ¡°Based on your looks, I¡¯d never say that. C¡¯mon, take off your shirt and come over here!¡± ¡°Stripping on command, huh?¡± Nikola chuckled, raising her hands. As she untied the knot, Redhead tried to peel off the torn, blood-stained shirt, but it clung to her back with dried blood. Not immediately understanding, she irritably shrugged, and the slashed fabric finally tore along with her bra straps, causing the front of her bra to sag and reveal her quite impressive chest. Seeing what happened, Nikola just sighed, laughed, and gave her breasts a few playful swings from side to side. Observing the smooth movements of her nipples, Maksim commented, ¡°That¡¯s quite the sight!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I did it on purpose. The shirt¡¯s a goner. So¡¯s the bra... Shame, really. It¡¯s uncomfortable without it.¡± Nikola removed the torn rags, stepped up close, and turned her back to him. ¡°So, how does it look? Feels like my back took quite the hit¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty bad,¡± Max said, examining the numerous cuts, bruises, and abrasions. ¡°Needs treating, you can see that yourself.¡± ¡°See? Oh right, the conference! Sorry, I¡¯ll adjust soon. Yeah¡­ got quite scratched up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I meant. Alright, we¡¯ll revise our plans ¨C first, need to find a pharmacy and patch you up. You can turn back now.¡± ¡°Wanna take a good look?¡± ¡°Definitely. And not just look,¡± the young man replied, starting to unbutton his shirt. ¡°Think you¡¯re up to it?¡± Nika turned around and eyed skeptically his crotch. ¡°Not right now.¡± Max grinned widely. ¡°But I¡¯m not letting you run around with that bare, wounded back. Here, take this. Let¡¯s get our tasks synced with Dasha and get started.¡± He triggered a call signal, and Daria, popping out of the virtual world, responded instantly. ¡°Max, what kind of debauchery are you instigating here?!¡± Oh, right¡­ The young man hadn¡¯t considered that he had been reflexively gazing mostly at Nikola¡¯s lavish chest, while she, in turn, peered between his legs... And the hacker girl, emerging from virtual reality, caught them in a scene straight out of a typical porn-comedy. ¡°It¡¯s not debauchery,¡± Maksim finally found his words, ¡°it¡¯s post-apocalyptic boob therapy!¡± Nikola gave a smile, grabbing and slipping on a shirt. ¡°Dasha, I wasn¡¯t planning to steal your boyfriend!¡± ¡°Max isn¡¯t my boyfriend, we¡¯re just friends!¡± the girl retorted quickly and somewhat nervously. ¡°Well, all the more then. Thanks for the gift, Max,¡± Nikola said, buttoning up. ¡°Shame it¡¯s about to get all bloody.¡± ¡°No worries, We¡¯ll find you a new one,¡± Maksim replied. ¡°Dasha, Nika, let¡¯s quickly coordinate our action plan.¡± Dashka sighed and muttered something indistinct, activating her mediaphone¡¯s camera. The screen showed a displeased girl sitting ¡°Turkish-style¡± in her chair, surrounded by a dissipating cloud of vapor. ¡°What¡¯s got her so puffed up, I don¡¯t get it,¡± Maksim thought, looking at her gloomy little face. ¡°Obviously nobody likes being pulled away from their work¡­ But I called for a reason!¡± ¡°Well, fellow unfortunates,¡± the guy waved dismissively, deciding not to dwell on her issues. ¡°There are three major problems that will soon interfere with us.¡± ¡°Troubles never come singly, you know,¡± Dasha murmured, popping the vape¡¯s mouthpiece in her mouth. ¡°You think there are three, but in reality ¨C there are hundreds.¡± ¡°Optimistic as always, Vasilevskaya.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called being realistic. Let¡¯s hear your list,¡± she said, exhaling a cloud of vapor and tucking the vape away. Grinning, Dasha cracked her neck and slipped her large VR helmet back on. ¡°I¡¯ll keep coding in parallel. Almost done.¡± ¡°Okay. First ¨C there¡¯s a curfew at 7 pm! You see how much time we¡¯ve got left.¡± Max raised his hand, holding his palm in front of his eyes counting down with fingers. ¡°Second ¨C Alisa, Moira, and Nikola are now officially criminals under the Protectorate laws. WonderKid, you and I are as good as outlaws too.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Agreed,¡± Dashka commented. In the conference, she didn¡¯t just enable a ¡°through-the-eyes¡± video but a full post-processed scene from her sub-brain, so much of the visual field was taken up by a compiler assembling some project. ¡°Things will be chaotic for a while,¡± Redhead optimistically stated as she sat on the workbench, swinging her legs. ¡°Right before the fight, I got a whole bunch of error messages like ¡®Unable to establish contact with patrol team,¡¯ and ¡®Unable to locate the crime scene.¡¯ It shows they¡¯re aware of the issues and are working on them. I think they¡¯ll have it sorted by morning. That¡¯s the typical military mess, based on my service experience.¡± ¡°Sounds about right.¡± Daria nodded. ¡°The Protectorate only disabled the weaker AI. They¡¯ve commandeered the strong ones for themselves. So, patrols will definitely be out there. And if they¡¯re low on tech, they¡¯ll just use terrestrial equipment. Max mentioned several major PMCs are stationed around Kyiv.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Maksim confirmed, ¡°and don¡¯t forget, they might deploy Antonov¡¯s drones, from the smallest to the super-heavies. There are massive warehouses of ready products just outside the city, and most are military models.¡± ¡°Well, and third,¡± the young man went on, ¡°we, like all the Kyiv residents, left a detailed ¡®digital footprint¡¯ up to the moment of the invasion. All our actions have been logged. I¡¯m not sure how high a priority of hunting down AI and rogue cyborgs is for the Protectorate after the curfew... they might not even bother. But I wouldn¡¯t count on it.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± murmured Dasha, her attention mostly on the work, as she shuffled modules around the compiler¡¯s workspace on her screen. ¡°They won¡¯t let this slide, for sure. All the big data will be dissected and sifted through very soon, pixel by pixel if necessary. At least to catch sneaky folks like us!¡± ¡°WonderKid here already got hold of some wheels. We could find something suitable in the underground parking lot as well. Theoretically, it¡¯s possible to make it out of the city in a couple of hours.¡± Maksim nodded, attempting to pull up a live map of Kyiv¡¯s traffic situation ¨C only to be met with the predictable ¡®server not available¡¯ response. The last time the map was updated was before the mass AI shutdown. Waving it off, the guy continued. ¡°Traffic services are down. But, even if every route is jammed after the shared vehicles¡¯ AIs stopped, we could still drive on the shoulder or pedestrian paths. No police won¡¯t stop us, that¡¯s clear.¡± ¡°No, I disagree,¡± Daria countered firmly. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re right about the need for camouflage because of the digital trail we left. But fleeing the city? I¡¯m not on board with that. We don¡¯t know what''s happening in the suburbs, especially with those shaiszu portals. They cleared them in the city, but what about beyond? There could be hordes of monsters out there! And besides¡­ both you and Nika need a hospital... Yeah!¡± ¡°I think Dasha is right,¡± Red interjected. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s beyond the city walls, but one way or another, we¡¯re bound to face a fight ¨C if not with people, then with monsters. We need armor, weapons, chemical agents, medical supplies, and transportation. And we¡¯ve both got to get patched up. Dasha looks a bit roughed up too.¡± ¡°Look, Nikola, how do you imagine that working out? If it¡¯s about your back, a hospital isn¡¯t necessary. We¡¯ll find a nearby pharmacy vending machine or medbot ¨C I can take care of the wounds myself. The same goes for Dasha, I¡¯ll handle it. I¡¯ve already spotted nearby gear for everyone, weapons are trickier. But there¡¯s a chance to pick something up on the streets. Going to a hospital is pointless, I¡¯m a deserter, you¡¯re basically a criminal. Once we are safe, a robot for fixing my back can be bought from TACTA!¡± ¡°Have you even looked at the price of this very robot?¡± Daria jumped up indignantly. ¡°Do you know, how much money you will receive after this... initiation? Well, I, personally, don¡¯t know! And no one in our world knows yet, there is nothing on this topic on the darknet! That¡¯s it, yeah!¡± ¡°Actually, guys, do you know why I really came to Kyiv?¡± The cyborg girl winked, lifting a corner of her mouth in a sly smile. ¡°Because of Max, it seems!¡± Daria quipped. ¡°Technopolis Kyiv is the top spot in Eastern Europe for underground cyber clinics!¡± Nikola revealed, ignoring the jab. ¡°You¡¯re kidding! Why would it be?¡± Maksim asked in surprise. ¡°Cyborgization is much more prevalent in, say, Germany, Austria, or Belgium!¡± ¡°But that¡¯s Western Europe! Their laws are much harsher, and they don¡¯t let the underground operators thrive,¡± Redhead responded, sitting back on the workbench. ¡°Okay, what about the State Czech or State Poland then? Or perhaps even the Hyper-polis Warsaw?¡± ¡°In those places, every cyber-clinic is under the tight grip of the ¡®Cyber-Ethics Commission¡¯ due to endless bickering between the corporate-dominated polis and the state Poland,¡± Nika shrugged. ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting,¡± Dasha jumped in, ¡°that the corporate high-fliers, not wanting to lose their underground market, shoved all these clinics into Kyiv? All of it ¨C to avoid conflict?¡± ¡°Bingo! There¡¯s much I could spill about this industry, but what¡¯s crucial for us is that any reputable clinic here is guaranteed to have at least one professional surgical robot.¡± Nikola explained, flexing her left arm dramatically, and pointing her index finger upwards with a convincing expression. ¡°Alisa said she could do the surgery herself if we had the right gear. We discussed this already.¡± ¡°That changes things.¡± Maksim responded. ¡°Can you try to reach any of these clinics right now?¡± ¡°Working on it.¡± Red nodded. ¡°Those Protectorate assholes wiped all my programs and contacts, but there¡¯s a backup in the cloud. I¡¯ve got access to it through TACTA extranet already. Just lemme convert it to SnapDrop, upload, and I¡¯ll start making calls. I¡¯ve got all the ¡®right¡¯ cyber-clinics in Kyiv listed there. Fingers crossed, one picks up.¡± Meanwhile, the compiler had finished in Dasha¡¯s window. The girl dragged the completed program off the screen and closed down the surplus applications. Her VR space flickered, switching to a regular ¡®first-person view.¡¯ ¡°Done here, I¡¯m heading out,¡± Dasha announced, removing her helmet and getting up. ¡°What were you conjuring, WonderWhiz?¡± Maksim asked. ¡°I wasn¡¯t watching closely, but that setup looked familiar from afar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve seen it before,¡± she replied, closing her backpack and slinging it over her shoulder. ¡°I just can¡¯t stand feeling so vulnerable without my Ravens. So, I recovered the Huginn and Muninn¡¯ architecture from the archives and compiled them for a T4+ core, which my sub-brain can handle.¡± ¡°Wow, the legendary precursors of the Ravens are back. I¡¯ve always wanted to ask why didn¡¯t you keep them when you upgraded to the next-gen architecture?¡± ¡°Honestly¡­¡± Dasha sighed. ¡°At that time, I didn''t have the capacity to maintain Moira, two Legendaries, and the standard Ravens. So, I had to disable them.¡± ¡°Sorry, I had no idea¡­¡± ¡°Because I never told you,¡± she admitted, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m gonna stop by the storage room first. It should have some decent drones, then I¡¯m off to get Moira. I have the video feed from the security cameras, there are hardly any monsters left at the uni, so I should be back quickly.¡± A mini-map popped up on the videostream as the girl was plotting a route through the building¡¯s corridors and stairwells. There really were lots of camera feeds along the way, providing a form of reconnaissance. Dasha hopped onto the platform, pulled the control interface into her AR space, and the machine ascended slightly before heading toward the warehouse with a brisk pace of its mechanical legs. ¡°Perfect, the first task ¨C recovering Moira ¨C is underway!¡± Max contently nodded to his thoughts. ¡°No dice with the clinics for now! Any of them!¡± Nikola reported, waving her hands in frustration. ¡°They surely sensed trouble brewing! But how could they vanish so quickly? Never mind, I still have some personal contacts left; I¡¯ll try them next, maybe someone is still around in the city... ¡± Nika paced nervously from corner to corner, her fingertips drumming a steady rhythm against her opposite wrist. The room was cramped, and observing her, Maksim, ever the gentleman, edged towards the workbench to give her the space she seemed to crave. As Redhead methodically measured the room with her steps, a message beeped through from Dasha, announcing her arrival at the warehouse. Jumping off the platform that halted in the center of the vast storage space, she moved towards the racks brimming with mechanical potential. ¡°Good job, WonderStar! You found them!¡± Maksim¡¯s voice distracted her, as her eyes danced over shelves stocked with an assortment of drones, robots, and tool racks. ¡°You can¡¯t just cobble together decent flyers on the knee.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Dasha nodded. ¡°As planned, I¡¯m taking only the best, about two hundred kilos? The pre-assembled ones?¡± ¡°Grab a couple for yourself and set them charging. Take the rest in kits for assembly; we won¡¯t have enough space otherwise. Opt for the industrial models, the ones with fuel cells. Can you get them all, and run the diagnostics for their cores, while we hit the shops?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll manage¡­ Definitely.¡± ¡°Perfect. Just make sure to dump the specs from the control tags into our chat, and I¡¯ll help you pick the right models. And remember, keep it under a hundred kilos; I realized that¡¯s all we can handle.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Dasha muttered absently, her eyes scanning the shelves, already strategizing how to load everything onto the platform for transport to the diagnostics bay in the main hall.
¡°Yay, I got through!¡± Red finally exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯m gonna share the call so you guys can hear too.¡± A new icon showed up in the conference: ¡°voice call.¡± ¡°Oh, Nikki, my shayna punim! Oy vey, I¡¯m getting outta here,¡± a hoarse male voice responded. ¡°And you should too, by the way. In case you don¡¯t know, less than six hours left to safely leave the city.¡± ¡°Zelman, with all due respect, are you by chance leaving any equipment behind?¡± Nikola asked cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m only taking the most valuable stuff, but the container isn¡¯t bottomless, oy gevalt, though it¡¯s a pity, a real pity.¡± ¡°Can we use what¡¯s left?¡± ¡°Hmm, and what is there that you need, bubbeleh?¡± His tone instantly changed, becoming interested. ¡°A cyber-doc, a neural implant kit for lumbar spine, and basic medical supplies,¡± Redhead quickly said. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got that. Sadly, of course, that I can¡¯t take the cyber-doc with me. And how are you planning to pay me, sweetheart?¡± ¡°Oh, damn, just cut it out! I have no clue what currency will even be valid next, but I¡¯m sure as hell corporate eurodollars, state Poland zlotys or Ukrainian hryvnas won¡¯t help you! Wait until we settle in the outside world; I won¡¯t owe you!¡± Maksim and Daria were listening in amazement, as Zelman and Nikola haggled furiously for a solid ten minutes. The occasionally slipping into Hebrew, and the latter cursing in Polish. All in all, judging from this exceptionally emotional and fast-paced exchange, Zelman, in addition to a significant sum in eddies, wanted guarantees for some major service soon, while Nika was negotiating for full access to the clinic he was leaving behind. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Nikola said, wiping her forehead. ¡°An awesome dude. And a tough negotiator as well. But I¡¯ve got access.¡± ¡°Gosh, Nika. You¡¯re incomparable. Where did you learn to talk like that?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Redhead waved dismissively, ¡°my first mentor after becoming a cyborg was like that. Picked up a bit of Hebrew from him, not to mention how to haggle.¡± ¡°Nikola, so where are we going?¡± asked Maksim, opening the map of the city. ¡°You know the place that¡¯s well-known in certain circles ¨C the NES Factory?¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡± The guy smirked. ¡°Been there a time or two.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s our target.¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s see¡­ Eighteen kilometers. Okay. We have plenty of time to get there before curfew.¡± ¡°And, um,¡± Maksim pondered out, looking at Nika, ¡°think, we can get our hands on some serious firepower there, given its particular contingent?¡± ¡°Pretty sure we can, but better check when we get there,¡± Redhead smiled. ¡°So, are we heading out? Like, going to scavenge or loot?¡± ¡°No,¡± Max grinned, ¡°we¡¯ll be original ¨C just go and buy everything! I read the TACTA updates; it¡¯s clear that their store is a vital point for us. But reaching a safe place and calling a drone ¨C all of that will take time, and we don¡¯t know how long. So, we¡¯ll simply load up as much as we can for now.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Nika nodded. ¡°Especially since old money will be useless tomorrow. Maksim, I¡¯m putting my stash in the common fund. Been saving for a rainy day.¡± In AR, the guy caught the link to the account on a crypto-wallet and clicked ¡°accept.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± he smiled at the sum. ¡°Probably won¡¯t spend it all, but we¡¯ll try our hardest. Alright, let¡¯s get into a conference. Dasha, take a break from the drones. We gotta decide what to buy.¡± Chapter 27 - Family of Fighters City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 12, 2049, 2:39 PM In the sprawling urban maze of Kyiv, Maksim had never really paid attention to the shopping prospects near the Sports Palace, despite frequenting this venue for competitions. However, he was aware that post-renovation, the area had burgeoned with shops and vending machines selling all sorts of sports gear and equipment. Yet, acquiring weapons was another matter. Hunting stores had vanished long ago, erased by eco-activists¡¯ successful campaigns to outlaw animal hunting across most states and polises globally. As for firearms shops, Kyiv had never entertained them; the city¡¯s security strategy was anchored on robust cybernetic surveillance and numerous city police volunteers. Indeed, nobody had expected to find anything serious here. At most, they might get lucky and find a pistol on a random victim... But stocking up on food, water, knives, camping gear, and basic tools was definitely doable. Genuine wilderness exploration was a thing of the past, yet various packaged outdoor experiences like trekking persisted, sustaining the production of related apparel, equipment, and various essentials. Surprisingly, the local shopping mall ¡®Gulliver¡¯ also boasted a well-stocked military gear outlet, Militant Mark ¨C a name well-regarded among strikeball and hardball enthusiasts, and other fans of the ¡°Military¡± style. ¡°Time is tight, so we need to move fast. I¡¯ve already scoped out the pla¡­¡± Maksim started, pulling up a virtual interface in their shared visual space. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it too and even drafted shopping lists for each store,¡± Dasha interjected hastily, quickly sharing her screen filled with meticulously planned purchases. ¡°I, really, I mean ¨C truly, very ¨C very much... like, really a lot! Need new pants, you see, yeah! They have them¡­ Teen¡¯s Republic¡­¡± ¡°Pants?¡± Nika raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°What pants?¡± ¡°Vasilevskaya!¡± Max intervened, merging her display in the VR, and dragging it under his own one, to keep things focused. ¡°We¡¯re short on time, seriously. Let¡¯s stick to the plan and cut the chaos.¡± ¡°And yes, Nika, she needs pants,¡± he sighed, resignedly. ¡°They are always the same ones, and I know which ones. Yes, WonderKid, we¡¯ll get them.¡± Maksim pinned four virtual containers to his display: Athletix, Adventure Nexus, Militant Mark, and Teen Republic. After a moment¡¯s consideration and a quick online check, he added one more ¨C Kyiv Store. ¡°All these stores in the ¡®Gulliver¡¯ mall operate automatically 24/7, processing and fulfilling online orders. And ¨C that¡¯s the main point! ¨C they are currently working. I checked each one¡¯s status,¡± he assured. ¡°We don¡¯t know how long we¡¯ll be on self-reliance, so let¡¯s prepare for the worst.¡± ¡°In the TACTA store, we can acquire ANYTHING whatsoever,¡± Dasha declared, twirling her vape pensively in front of the camera. ¡°First things first, we¡¯re gonna fix Max¡¯s back and wait out the curfew. After that, it¡¯ll be easier. I¡¯m currently working with TACTA¡¯s documentation on Informatorium... well, actually, the Ravens are ¨C not for nothing I brought them back.¡± ¡°So¡­ Yeah, this very TACTA trades just nicely in weapons, armor, ammunition. Yup, they really have anything¡­ Absolutely anything!¡± She concluded contently, ¡°and even provide access to advanced medical tech, molecular assembly, and antigravity modules. Though, high-tech like that requires a significant rating and isn¡¯t cheap. And, certainly, none of it¡¯s available without calling in a drone.¡± ¡°Anything new on the drone call, by the way?¡± Maksim immediately asked. ¡°No,¡± Daria shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s only a directive that after curfew, connecting to the TACTA¡¯s network via cellular service in Protectorate territories is forbidden. Of course, we can do it, but it¡¯s basically a suicide. Plus, the Protes consider a three-hundred-kilometer zone around captured polises as their own, though officially they say it¡¯s just a hundred.¡± ¡°Got it. No change in plans, then,¡± Maksim decided. ¡°We¡¯ll stock up on quality gear, price no object. That will spare us wasting money of TACTA on basic survival goods and other clothing. Next question, Nikola, you''ve been to Zelman¡¯s clinic before, right? Think there¡¯s any food there?¡± ¡°A tricky question,¡± Nikola pondered, rummaging through shelves for suitable metal strips to craft blades. ¡°There¡¯s a full kitchen and big refrigerators. After all, it¡¯s a full-service clinic. They stocked up on raw foodstuffs, not pre-made meals; an android chef cooked everything. It¡¯s probably taken, but the food might still be there.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Let¡¯s bet they didn¡¯t haul all the food out; no point in that. Just in case, we can grab military rations from ¡®Militant Mark,¡¯ enough for three for two weeks. What do you think?¡± ¡°Oh, those war game enthusiasts? Got a few of their stores in Warsaw too,¡± Nikola gestured broadly. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d be shopping there!¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re not here to judge someone¡¯s hobbies,¡± Maksim smiled. ¡°The important thing is that the military corps are happy to sell them good field uniform, gear and MREs, even if overpriced.¡± ¡°Haha, agreed. But, Max, from what I¡¯m seeing here, we won¡¯t have enough carry capacity!¡± Nikola exclaimed confidently. ¡°Actually, I¡¯d rather grab five weeks¡¯ worth of those damn military rations. Trustworthy, quality stuff, long shelf life. And tasty too, I must confess. To carry it all...¡± Nikola paused dramatically, miming a drum roll with her hands, ¡°pam-param-pam-pam-pam.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll grab a cart from ¡®Mikea.¡¯ They always have those big, motorized ones for family shopping! What are we if not a family?¡± ¡°Nothing at all,¡± Dasha snorted under her breath so quietly that no one heard her. ¡°Brilliant! I was breaking my head here, over how to haul so much, but such a simple solution never occurred to me!¡± The guy gave a thumbs up. ¡°I¡¯ll factor it into our route; we hit there first. By the way, Nikola, as a cyborg, do you need anything specific? Something we should pick up at the mall?¡± ¡°I doubt it; my limbs are all military-grade. But I hope to sort all that out at the cyber clinic.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Maksim concluded. ¡°So, let¡¯s do it like this. WonderKid will trim down her list to ditch anything non-essential for the next month, especially bulky or heavy items.¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± chirped Daria, adding, ¡°But, Max, please-please-please, since we have so much money, maybe I can order several pairs of pants at once? Hmm?¡± ¡°Go for it,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Nika, let¡¯s discuss our shopping needs at¡­¡±
¡°Alright, here¡¯s the plan,¡± Maksim continued after a fervent, yet brief debate finalized the shopping lists, and orders were placed. ¡°Dasha, Nikola, see this geo-tag? It¡¯s a meetup point with the truck, in the parking lot near the Sports Palace. It has four underground levels ¨C no signal past the second. Likely empty, but you never know what lurks in the shadows. Still, we¡¯ve got our scout.¡± ¡°And if we do encounter shaiszu there?¡± Nikola interjected, practical as ever. ¡°What¡¯s our plan B if we come up empty on arms?¡± ¡°Got it covered,¡± Maksim assured with a nod. ¡°There are two more lots nearby. Less ideal, but they¡¯ll do in a pinch. Worst case, we fallback to the mall¡¯s underground.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re not overloading CaTZ,¡± he continued, seeing Redhead nodding in agreement, ¡°it can handle Alisa¡¯s body just fine weight-wise. Nika, you¡¯ll fetch me first, we pick up the android, and then head to the rendezvous. We¡¯ve got reconnaissance, so it¡¯s just about staying sharp. Then we wait for WonderKid and get ready. As soon as that truck arrives, we hop in and move out. If there are no further questions, let¡¯s go!¡± Dasha loaded the drones and set off on the platform to retrieve Moira from the club, while Maksim and Nikola set out on their mission. They took the modified courier bot as a primary scout, and the unloaded CaTZ acted as an additional carrier and mobile shield. The basket on top, capable of holding up to two hundred liters, was reserved for lightweight and compact essentials only, as it would later also need to accommodate an android chassis. The bot was prepped for the journey ¨C bindings on its sides allowed attaching large bags or backpacks. To avoid any last-minute searching, the guy secured a bundle of five rolls of duct tape to one of the side hooks and threw a couple of dozen rubber cords with carabiners into the basket. Nika, after some rummaging, found a pair of metal strips which Max quickly fashioned at the workbench into decent, albeit makeshift, swords. They decided to exit through the nearest emergency door. As CaTZ trudged upstairs, Maksim quickly dashed out with ¡®Swifty¡¯ ¨C the small scout¡¯s nickname ¨C through the service areas to the main facilities. ¡°I just remembered ¨C the mall¡¯s supposed to have a whole array of vending machines. Maybe there¡¯s a ¡®pharmacist¡¯ among them!¡± Max rejoiced, peering through the camera feeds. ¡°Bingo! Here¡¯s the med box for us!¡± This made sense since traditional pharmacies had long vanished from cities. In an era when serious medicinal interventions were calculated based on hundreds of parameters, including a patient¡¯s genetic code, and drugs are custom-made for individual patients and specific needs, the old-fashioned ready-made medicine stores became obsolete. Instead, vending machines took over ¨C stocked with everything from bandages and antiseptics to erotic products, and of course, universal molecular medicine drug, which had virtually eliminated nuisances like the common cold, the flu, and most infections. So, such a raid was top of Maksim¡¯s agenda, and it was a stroke of luck that the needed ¡°pharmacy¡± was found close by. Thus, though the plan called for Nikola and the bots to proceed alone afterward, they all went to the device together. ¡°Alright, Nikola, let¡¯s swoop in,¡± Maksim grinned broadly. ¡°But first, grab the bandages, plasters, antiseptics, and regenerative gel. We¡¯ll take care of your back real quick.¡± After setting bots to guard the corridor, the young man washed his hands with newly purchased water. By the time he was done wiping his palms with antiseptic gel, Nika had already stripped off her shirt and pulled out a couple of large ¡°gift bags¡± with ¡°I ? Kyiv¡± on them, which she had hurriedly grabbed at a nearby shop. She had discarded the trivial souvenirs from them and was now stuffing both bags with essential medical supplies, turning them into makeshift portable first aid kits ¨C a clever idea, indeed. ¡°Nika,¡± Max said, examining her back once more. ¡°This is gonna hurt. Want to take some painkillers first?¡± ¡°Uh... no,¡± Nikola somewhat faltered in her response. ¡°No need. Just clean the wounds, and I¡¯ll be off. Time is against us.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± he replied, beginning the treatment. Chapter 28 - Preparation Pulse City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 12, 2049, 3:18 PM ¡°Today, once again, I confirmed that field medic skills are essential for everyone,¡± Maksim pondered, ¡°no matter how comfortable and safe life seems around us. Yes, the horrors of the Russian Empire¡¯s concentration camps and the Rosgvardiya¡¯s firing squads are things of the past. But one must never lose their skills ¨C no exceptions!¡± (Note: The Rosgvardiya, officially established in 2016, refers to a branch of Russia''s internal military forces dedicated strictly to domestic operations. Formally tasked with ensuring state and public security and protecting human rights and freedoms, they are often acting as enforcers against political opposition) Maksim kept his combat and medical skills sharp. Regular visits to paid ranges refreshed his tactics in both field and urban combat. He attended advanced first aid courses and participated in survival workshops. A frequent visitor to the gym, he stayed physically primed. His rigorous routine often left friends and occasional acquaintances puzzled. ¡°Man, this guy is nuts!¡± they''d say, until they discovered his background. ¡°Ah, a military refugee, that explains it¡­¡± ¡°What the hell does that explain to you? That war can come to anyone¡¯ home?¡± ¡°Yes, it fuckin¡¯ can! And I will be ready. Unlike most!¡± Meanwhile, as Max mused, his hands didn¡¯t waste time and continued with the medical procedures. ¡°Nikola is truly made of steel, by the way,¡± he reflected. ¡°She didn¡¯t make a sound or flinch throughout the procedure, even though I had to roughly tighten a large gash on the left to ensure the medical glue adhered well. Remarkable resilience. She¡¯s definitely growing on me! Someone you can take both into reconnaissance and... to the bed. From what I¡¯ve seen, really impressive!¡± ¡°Not exactly now, of course. At this moment, I¡¯m just an old paralytic in a chair, not a Don Juan. And Nikola, with that back, will be recovering for a week. Okay, the last two plasters... not bad. Once we get to proper medical facilities, I¡¯ll do a thorough patch-up.¡± ¡°All set, you did great. Held up really well,¡± he commended as he finished the last adjustments. ¡°It was... painful...¡± Nikola replied softly, adding, ¡°It hurts, therefore I¡¯m alive.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all good,¡± Nikola smiled. ¡°Thank you, Max.¡± She turned around, leaned, and gave a peck to his cheek in gratitude. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. We¡¯re a team now, kind of a family, as you put it. The bandages and glue should hold unless we really push it. It¡¯s simply the best we can manage right now,¡± Maksim explained, gesturing towards the vending machine with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ll grab the bags if you¡¯re done. We should get moving.¡± ¡°Just about. Give me another minute; I¡¯m wrapping up the last of it,¡± Nikola replied as she buttoned up the shirt she had acquired earlier. ¡°I¡¯m sticking to the standard military medical supply list based on what¡¯s available. Any special requests?¡± ¡°No, I know those lists inside and out ¨C they¡¯ve got everything we need. Just shoot me a list of what you couldn¡¯t find. I¡¯ll look for them in the shopping mall while you pick up the orders.¡± ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± Returning to the vending area, Nikola grabbed a third bag, swiftly filling it with medicines. While Maksim was distracted by the bots, she cheekily tossed in two large packs of molecular contraceptives and four cans of lubricant. With a zip, it was done! Redhead dragged all three bags over to Max. ¡°Your turn, Doctor. Haul this back to base,¡± she smirked. ¡°Think you can make it back to the workshop and manage the drones without any trouble?¡± ¡°Definitely. Head up the stairs to the street; Swifty will cover you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how you named the little one?¡± Nikola grinned. ¡°It suits him.¡± ¡°Indeed. And if we don¡¯t encounter shaiszu, Big One will come back to you in a couple of minutes.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± chuckled Nika, seizing both swords and sprinting upstairs.
The Palace of Sports, outside area Nikola cautiously made her way up the final flight of stairs from the basement. She exhaled deeply, bracing herself, and gently pressed on the emergency exit door of the stadium.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Good, they¡¯re keeping to safety protocols,¡± she thought with relief as the door swung open smoothly from the inside. Nika jammed the doorstop to keep it from locking, ensuring she could re-enter easily later. As she stepped outside, the air filled her lungs ¨C and nearly made her vomit! The stench was unbearable, causing tears to stream down her face. The aroma was undoubtedly dominated by burnt protein, understandable since remnants of the ¡°worm¡± still lay in the central crater of the former portal. The heaps of small shaiszu carcasses hadn¡¯t gone anywhere, either. Burnt heavy siege equipment and the smoke from rocket explosions added complementing notes to this ¡°intoxicating scent of victory.¡± On the square¡¯s periphery lay a few human corpses, not many. Apparently, not everyone had the sense to flee at the first sight of heavy machinery on the square¡¯s edge. ¡°The square¡¯s taken a darn real hit!¡± Scouting bot Swifty, controlled by Maksim, whizzed around the area like a loyal patrol dog, scrutinizing the surroundings. An excellent spy ¨C mobile and quick with three cameras providing a full panoramic view. ¡°Max, don¡¯t fuss so much! It¡¯s shitty here, but there¡¯s no threat, I can tell.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not fussing,¡± he responded calmly. ¡°Just checking. The battle ended recently; there¡¯s a chance we might find a suitable weapon.¡± ¡°Ah, right. Makes sense,¡± Nikola agreed. ¡°We can¡¯t unscrew a cannon from a drone, but there could be soldiers, police, or even volunteers around.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the idea. I¡¯ll bring CaTZ around now, and we¡¯ll do a quick sweep of the square, okay?¡± ¡°Dobrze. Just make it quick; the stench is just hellish.¡± CaTZ clambered up the ramp, nudging the door open with a manipulator. Meanwhile, Nikola crouched beside the body of a young man in a summer uniform shirt with city police volunteer patches. Her attention was caught by his holster, unfortunately empty. She thoroughly searched around, even flipping the poor fellow over to check underneath him, but alas, no pistol was found. Maksim let Swifty continue to inspect the other bodies across the square while he drew Big One closer to shield Nikola. ¡°Looks like bad luck; his weapon¡¯s gone ¨C must lost it in the fight,¡± Nika murmured, completing her inspection of the fallen soldier. ¡°No,¡± Maksim countered authoritatively, shifting the body with his manipulator. ¡°He was looted. By our own, not the Protectorate.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Sadly, yes. I worked as a volunteer for the city police for a year and a half; I know the signs. Look, they didn¡¯t just take his gun, but also his knife, stun gun, even his handcuffs. Though I can¡¯t fathom why anyone would need those.¡± ¡°That sucks,¡± Redhead replied, scanning their surroundings with heightened alertness. ¡°As if dealing with shaiszu and the Protectorate wasn¡¯t enough, now we have to worry about armed renouncers too.¡± ¡°With most renouncers, I think we might find common ground. Unlike... But you¡¯re right, we must always embrace a sensible level of paranoia. Anyway, nothing left for us here; the dead are just civilians. Time to move on.¡± ¡°Shall we head down to mall ¡®Gulliver¡¯, pick up what we ordered? Safe enough, you reckon?¡± ¡°Who knows... But this isn¡¯t the time for reflecting, better see for ourselves,¡± responded Maksim as Swifty darted towards the mall entrance. Max¡¯s scouting revealed that the underground part of the shopping mall was secure ¨C after the disaster at the Sports Palace, the area had been evacuated. The vast, now-empty space felt eerily silent. However, a closer look revealed signs of looting by several marauder squads. ¡°Clear!¡± The guy quickly checked the nearest shops and brought his drone back to the entrance. ¡°Just be careful! Looters have been here too.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯d prefer not to bump into them,¡± said Nika as she moved cautiously forward. ¡°At least the air¡¯s breathable down here. Okay, let¡¯s head downstairs, grab a cart, and make a dash for it!¡±
The shopping mall ¡°Gulliver¡± They had finished with the pickups and were heading back when Redhead suddenly halted, spun around, and pointed excitedly, ¡°Max, look! Jackpot!¡± It was a display window of ¡°Robin Hood,¡± a shop specializing in sports bows and crossbows. And there, reigning over the display, was the ¡°Reaper¡± ¨C the king of crossbows, a formidable heavy-duty block machine crafted from the latest composite materials. ¡°Huh? A sports crossbow against monsters?¡± Maksim sounded skeptical. ¡°Actually, yes! Just imagine this ¨C 150 meters per second initial speed. Hit them in the eye, and it¡¯ll give any shaiszu a bad day! They tone them down for the civilian market, but I know what tweaks are needed to make it punch through wood and bone. Plus, it¡¯s silent.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, Sunshine, I get it. I¡¯m not experienced with crossbows, but we¡¯re weaponless right now. Take whatever we can get, but hurry. We¡¯re running out of time!¡± Nika rushed into the store and opened the display case. Gently lifting the beautiful piece from its mount, she shivered with excitement. The full setup was there ¨C the item itself, an under-barrel quiver for four arrows, a 4x32 optical sight, and a strap. ¡°Max, this is better than an orgasm!¡± she declared, licking her lips with satisfaction. ¡°We need to loot fast, or we won¡¯t find another gift like this!¡± Glancing around, she spotted another pre-assembled crossbow of a different brand, a specialized backpack, a carrying case with straps, a couple of covers, and wax for the string. ¡°The ammo situation is dire, though. There¡¯s carbon, some aluminum, and fiberglass. But only twenty carbon arrows, nothing left on display. Reload takes about five seconds, they won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°Should we bother taking both crossbows then?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s an alternative! I saw a clever trick in the training camp. Instead of arrows, we can use metal rods. They have less range, but in close combat, their impact is much stronger. It¡¯s easier to find thin rebar, about six millimeters, than aluminum arrows. With handy tools, we can cut them, and we can find ammunition in any ruins!¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve convinced me. Load it all up and let¡¯s head out. While you were shopping, I put together another bot, codename Quasimodo; it¡¯s scouting now. And a makeshift cart is ready, so I can transport Alisa. Thus, we¡¯re heading up too. You can add another seventy kilos to Big One up top.¡± ¡°Max, you¡¯re amazing! I already adore you!¡± Redhead beamed with joy. ¡°Get in line,¡± Dasha interjected as she appeared in the channel. ¡°Please swing by TR! My order is ready too. I¡¯ve also picked up cosmetics and hygiene products for everyone.¡± ¡°Cosmetics too?¡± Nika smiled as she shouldered her backpack. ¡°Be grateful there¡¯s toothpaste, pads, and shampoo,¡± Dasha declared. ¡°And also eye shadow and eyeliner. For me. And skin cream. Also for me. And toner... Yeah!¡± ¡°Alright, ladies, no fighting!¡± Max intervened. ¡°Nika, since Big One¡¯s basket is now free, pick up another order from Kyiv Store.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡± ¡°Dasha, you''re already by Moira?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Vasilevskaya nodded. ¡°Just need ten seconds to vape and then I¡¯ll load everything up. I¡¯ll call once I¡¯m done.¡± Chapter 29 - Securing the Future City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Polytechnic Institute, ¡®Artificial Intelligence and Applied Robotics¡¯ club Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 4:33 PM ¡°Admit it, Dashka, this is overkill, even for you!¡± The thought flickered through her mind, quickly replaced by considerations about the data format of the Informatorium¡¯s API. Not lingering a second, her attention leapt like a frantic squirrel to the task of urgently unloading the drones from the platform and setting Moira up there instead. Dasha even jumped over the chair back to the control console but then stopped short. ¡°Why haven¡¯t I ever told Max... about this... about... me?!¡± The girl froze momentarily, then caught herself intently watching a stream from Vasiliy, and annotating it in her analytical app. ¡°Oh¡­ damn. Overdone it¡­ and no med kit.¡± Staggering, she headed to the closest bathroom. Opening cold water, she carefully touched it and winced. ¡°Brrr. Cold! Don¡¯t wanna!¡± ¡°You have to, Dashka!¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°DO IT!!!¡± Realizing her thoughts had already raced ahead to solve a data exchange optimization between the Ravens, Dasha, not allowing herself to pause, impulsively thrust her head under the stream. ¡°Aaaaaahhh!!!¡± A pulse throbbed through her temples, breath caught in her throat, and a shiver swept across her body. The sensations were harsh, but it momentarily released her from the grip of her ¡°battle frenzy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, no more ¡®synth-five¡¯ for me,¡± she mused sadly, drying her face with a paper towel and squeezing out her braids. ¡°Played too hard¡­¡± This scenario was all too familiar for Vasilevskaya ¨C unfortunately, it was not her first time. Her brain, supercharged by ¡°synth,¡± seeks a fittingly complex ¨C preferably insoluble ¨C challenge. Failing to find one because in such a state it¡¯s practically impossible for Dasha, it starts cycling through everything that comes to mind, faster and faster. In this phase, it¡¯s nearly impossible to focus on anything, and behavior becomes distinctly impulsive. A neurologist would say that using a vape and concentrated ¡°synth¡± exacerbates attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Yes, the symptoms match closely, although Dasha had her own views on that. Now, having managed to apply the ¡°Cold Head¡± technique during a brief moment of clarity, she feverishly dug into her backpack. Hidden inside was an emergency stash for just such occasions. Pulling out a packet with a disposable syringe-tube, she ran back to the bathroom, to the mirror. Tearing open the packet, she quickly pulled out a disinfectant wipe. ¡°I''ve got just a minute to get this done!¡± Once again, the girl chose to inject herself in the deltoid muscle, as she had done earlier on this harrowing day ¨C these injections always seemed to go the smoothest for her. She rolled up the sleeve of her t-shirt, cleaned the injection site on her shoulder with a sterilizing swab, and glanced morosely into the mirror. ¡°Look what you¡¯ve gotten yourself into. Max is going to kill me.¡± Preemptively pulling a couple of paper towels from the dispenser, Dasha placed them on the edge of the sink. And then gave herself the shot.
After it was over, her trembling hand struggled to lift from the floor, finally grabbed a towel, and wiped her tear-soaked face. The pain was intense. Total ten minutes of a hellish torment. Dasha stood up, cursed very harshly ¨C a rarity for her ¨C tossed the used towel into the sink, and staggered out from the bathroom.
Vasilevskaya settled onto a chair, her gaze darkening, looking at the platform before her. It seemed occupied, yet it would all be consumed by Moira. Even the recently discovered dev kits for assembling drones would have to be strapped around the edges. The roboticists surely had more useful things left¡­ now all these treasures forsaken in haste. Heaven knows what they might suddenly need later... Bringing back to life their AI, repairing Alisa¡¯s chassis, and helping Nika too. And then, perhaps, there was the impending, long journey across hazardous lands... But her legs were still shaky, quivering. She¡¯d fallen twice just returning from the bathroom. At that moment, as if reading her thoughts, Max called. ¡°Hey, WonderStar, why no video? Is Moira loaded yet?¡± A heavy sigh was her only reply, enough for him to piece things together. ¡°Popped a Velox Subsisto, did you?¡± he asked after a short pause. The video flicked on, revealing her sad, tear-streaked face framed by damp, dark hair. ¡°Going to scold me, aren¡¯t you?¡± sadly asked Dasha, timidly poking her index finger into her palm. ¡°Cried a lot, I see?¡± ¡°Yes. Sorry... It¡¯s been a scary day. I couldn¡¯t reach Dad. And... too many deaths around. I... I shouldn¡¯t have put a ¡®five¡¯ in the vape, I know. Especially after pulling three all-nighters straight... umm¡­ that is¡­ I mean, after working hard, yeah¡­¡± ¡°Oh, you foolhardy thing, WonderKid. What else to say.¡± Max sighed deeply, sending her an emoji of a comforting pat on the head. ¡°Maxie¡­¡± she managed a shy smile. ¡°I¡¯ll still scold you. But later. Can you walk?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡± ¡°You have to, WonderStar. I know it¡¯s tough, but time¡¯s not on our side. Noticed how long till curfew kicks in?¡± ¡°There¡¯s¡­ a reminder thingy in front of my eyes,¡± the girl replied dolefully. ¡°Shut down the Quantum Core, ready to load.. There are also Accelerators, Libraries, to get everything else onboard, to attach the drones ¨C it¡¯ll take about thirty minutes, tops... Probably. Then just four and a half kilometers to you by truck... We can do it, yeah!¡± ¡°Dashka, my dude, get it together! Even by your optimistic estimate, we¡¯re short on time!¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Yeah, you are right. I¡¯m actually feeling a bit better now. Not even nauseous... Ugh¡­ I¡¯m sorry, really... I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± ¡°Gosh... I¡¯d talk some sense into you, but you already know everything,¡± Maksim dismissed with a wave of his hand. ¡°We¡¯re leaving the mall now and heading for the parking lot. Just, please, don¡¯t vape anymore. I¡¯ll keep an eye on you.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± she squeaked meekly.
After loading everything up, Dasha pondered how to secure all the load, so nothing would fall during transporting. She also didn¡¯t want to tip off the cameras that they were hauling a powerful quantum core along with a ¡°whole cartload¡± of related hardware. ¡°This... darn, how should I¡­ fasten¡­ or rather wrap all this?¡± She stared thoughtfully at the heap of blocks on the platform. ¡°Nothing suitable in the club. And¡­ who do we have next door, that might have something useful?¡± She stepped into the hallway and looked around. The floor was mostly filled with startups related to AI and programming. Then it clicked. ¡°Right! We have ¡®NextGen Mega-Bots,¡¯ ¡®NeuroNetics,¡¯ and those, what are they... ¡®Android ¨C something¡­ ¨C Innovations¡¯ nearby. Maybe they have some straps with carabiners, or elastic cords, or even some plastic wrap to secure Moira?¡± The girl dashed down the corridor with urgency, her desperation mounting as she tried each door. First door ¨C locked! Second door ¨C locked! Third ¨C still locked! ¡°Shit, how can this be?!¡± But then, the fourth door wasn¡¯t just unlocked ¨C it was swung open invitingly. Dasha darted into the room and paused to survey the chaos surprisingly. The place was a shambles ¨C tables overturned, chairs strewn about, only wires remained where monitors once hung. Cabinets stood ajar; their contents spewed out beside them as if in a hurry. Obviously, the club members hadn¡¯t wasted time for an orderly departure ¨C the valuable equipment had clearly vanished, leaving only nonessentials in disheveled mess and heaps of debris. ¡°Wow, they must be renouncers too. Packed and got out fast ¨C I¡¯m almost jealous,¡± Daria mused as she eyed the remnants on the floor. ¡°Lucky for me, they left behind some extra cords and packaging film rolls... Looks like they chose specifically non-transparent black one... typical renouncer moves!¡± As she was leaving, something caught her eye on a personal items shelf ¨C a large sports bag in the yellow and blue of ¡°Kyiv Dynamo,¡± once a prominent football club that had played at the central stadium. Of course, it had long shifted to e-sports, a fact denoted by the twin joysticks that now accompanied the club¡¯s emblem on the bag. Yet, fans still flaunted their scarves and memorabilia in distinctive vibrant colors. ¡°Always tripping over you in the lecture hall, huh?¡± Dasha knew that bag all too well; it was an ever-present obstacle in her path to the back seats, where she preferred to sit. Terenty, her usual neighbor, was a quintessential techie ¨C skinny, pale, and introspective. He never failed to snag all the engineering 3D-modeling grants and ace academic competitions. His bag, a constant companion, was often strategically placed in the aisle, seemingly lying in wait for Dashka¡¯s distracted stumbles. Considering her tendency to daydream, or even go someplace while in VR, more often than not, she would be the one to fall victim to the insidious trap. One would assume it was no coincidence that he somehow always happened to be nearby, but the girl had never given any thought to it. She wasn¡¯t interested much in socializing with people besides her father and Maksim. ¡°Seems fate has offered a shot at revenge for last month¡¯s bruised knee,¡± Dasha declared with a dramatic flair, pulling the bag from its place. ¡°What¡¯s he packed in here? It¡¯s ridiculously heavy.¡± Inside, she found wires, fiber optics, a powerful engineering tablet. There was also a portable holographic projector on a tripod, a pile of smart cables, a 3D scanner, and a professional stereo camera for volumetric filming. At the bottom lay a bottle, nestled within a semi-transparent, light-gold plastic case ¨C a data array controller and several storage drives beside it. Overall, nothing that seemed immediately useful... ¡°I wonder, will we even need all this specialized tech? But then,¡± she reasoned, recalling the TACTA¡¯s store documentation, ¡°with component manufacturing and even molecular assembly soon to be at our disposal, having the gear to create detailed 3D models might just be a strategic advantage¡­¡± ¡°I hope I¡¯m right about this,¡± Dasha snorted, looking around for a suitable cart to carry the heavy load. ¡°But if you¡¯ll be a pain, I¡¯ll throw you out! Okay, time to get Moira and leave the uni!¡±
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The shopping mall ¡°Gulliver¡± Nikola Kowalski, August 12, 2049, 5:21 PM Nikola surveyed their makeshift little caravan with a wry smile. ¡°Now this is what I call shopping with flair.¡± Big One was laden to the brim, stretched to its weight capacity. On either side, massive bags hung; the top basket was so overstuffed that items clung on solely by virtue of the rubber cords with carabiners, thoughtfully packed by Maksim. Redhead had a massive backpack on her back, with all the found crossbows and both of her blades attached, and another, smaller backpack in her hands, stuffed with knives and other combat essentials. Plus, a large bag brimming with personal items and cosmetics from Teen¡¯s Republic. Loaded like a packhorse, and, especially given her sport blades instead of normal legs, the challenge was quadrupled. The electric cart was a mound of purchases taller than a human¡¯s height. Fortunately, the control ¡°Pseudo-AI¡± of this ¡°miracle of marketing thought¡± was too dumb to be infected by the Protectorate virus. So, Nika could operate it remotely, hands-free. By now, Maksim had made his way from the stadium, and was cautiously closing to their meeting point, so Redhead took a different route. She didn¡¯t just walk; she scanned her surroundings vigilantly, in fact, not only for threats. ¡°Nika, I¡¯ve checked that area. Scene of a skirmish, a few cars damaged, but otherwise it¡¯s clear. Nothing left to scavenge. Go ahead, Swifty is scouting ahead, Big One¡¯s covering you.¡± ¡°Roger. Hey, what¡¯s the mater with Daria?¡± the girl inquired, walking around a scorched share-car. ¡°That little WonderFool got herself a synthetic cascading ADHD from a ¡®synth¡¯ overdosing; managed to inject herself with a ¡®Quick Stop¡¯ shot in time, though. And that stuff is real shit ¨C clears your head just great, but the side effects are brutal.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know this Velox ¨C damn it ¨C Subsisto,¡± Nika muttered under her breath, ¡°Had to fill all its charm before.¡± ¡°Then you understand, I had to be there to comfort and reassure her. On the upside, she did load Moira and a heap of DEV kits onto the platform. You¡¯ll have plenty to do in your spare time, building out various flying and other drones.¡± ¡°You think we¡¯ll have that? Spare time, I mean?¡± Redhead smirked, cautiously peeking behind a corner of a building. ¡°You know, normally, I¨C¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°I see it!¡± She halted abruptly, setting down both backpacks and the bag. ¡°Holy shit!¡± ¡°Checking now,¡± Maksim confirmed, drawing closer, navigating around their sudden find ¨C a police electrocar, unmistakably marked and partially buried under debris and concrete fragments from a rogue missile that had obliterated a nearby monument. ¡°It¡¯s empty inside!¡± ¡°I¡¯m digging through, hold on,¡± Nika said, equipping her crossbow just in case. ¡°Cover the area with Swifty please.¡± ¡°Yeah, cars like this have a weapon box between the seats!¡± ¡°Yup, that¡¯s where I¡¯m gonna look. Everything else is buried under the crap anyway.¡± ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯m watching over.¡± ¡°What if?¡± Redhead thought, already easing through the car¡¯s rear left door, scooping out chunks of concrete with her hands. ¡°Gotcha! Max, it¡¯s fuckin¡¯ jackpot! Oh, kurwa, zajebi?cie!¡± A heavy-duty Defender shotgun of the twelfth gauge, normally secured by a biometric lock only releasing under emergency protocols, was now loose thanks to the shattered concrete that had damaged its locks. Normally, protection was supposed to secure the weapon dead in place and lift only when the officer put their palm on it after the activation of the ¡°dire situation¡± system status. This was a standard police safety measure in the majority of large cities. The practice came from Western states, and it limited the use of heavy lethal weapons for police patrols in densely populated areas. But a corner of the concrete slab had ripped a few welds, and one side of the lock was loose. Nika only had to pry with a piece of rebar and pull, and the Defender was in her hands! The barrel was clean; no one had used it after all ¨C apparently, either the patrol team had promptly retreated, or the car was empty to begin with. Six Magnum shells were in the magazine, with six more on the sidesaddle. Not nearly enough to achieve certain victory, some might say. But Nika had seen the killing power of these small green cylinders during her training. A very serious weapon in close quarters. Hitting a ¡°mantis¡± in the head with it would be more than enough. Plus, the ammo is pretty easy to come across, considering it¡¯s a standard-issue police gun. In addition, Nika was certain that underground markets would spring up soon, where you¡¯d be able to purchase or trade for anything, including ammo. Her luck didn¡¯t end there. Digging deeper, she found a police-issue Vector S1 pistol in its holster, complete with two full magazines of 9mm Parabellum rounds. There were potentially other useful things left in the car, but there was no time to dig it out of the rubble, unfortunately; they needed to get a move on. Just in case, Nika saved the location of the car, returned to her things, and put the rucksack back on. ¡°Check this out, Max, I¡¯m not just a Joan of Arc now, I¡¯m a bit of a Terminator too.¡± Redhead smiled at her reflection in the remnants of a shattered display. ¡°Yeah! An up-and-coming post-apocalypse star.¡± Maksim chuckled back. ¡°We truly hit the jackpot with these guns. Let¡¯s move now.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Nikola nodded, slinging the shotgun across her chest, grabbing the bags, and heading towards their meeting point, ready for whatever lay ahead. Chapter 30 - An Ex to Remember City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 5:30 PM Dasha¡¯s finger pressed the touch button; the freight elevator doors sealed with a hiss, and it began its deliberate descent. Left above were the chaotic scenes of Moira¡¯s urgent loading, its wrapping in packaging film, and her frantic dash to collect everything of value and destroy anything sensitive that could fall into the wrong hands. It was a nerve-wracking and terrifying countdown. With only fifty-four minutes left until zero hour, the elevator seemed to inch downward agonizingly slowly. Daria had practically gnawed through her vape¡¯s mouthpiece; Maksim had imposed a strict ban on any narcotic substances, and the poor girl wouldn¡¯t dare defy him. She had held a faint hope of finding a ¡°zero vape mix¡± in the club, or perhaps a vending machine on her route, but luck wasn¡¯t on her side. The club¡¯s reserves had turned out to be surprisingly rich ¨C alas, every fluid or ready mix she found was laced with narcotics: Synth 3, Synth 5, Alpha, Honey Badger 2.0, Black Velvet, even the illegal Aussie and Pink Vader. Dasha had always believed some ¡°zero¡± for making a ¡°quick mix¡± would be readily available; hence, she never bothered to stock up, and now she was paying the price. ¡°All I have is forbidden, and here I am, gnawing on this mouthpiece like a deranged woodpecker. Why is this slowpoke so sluggish?¡± Dashka even hopped on the spot in frustration, but the elevator remained indifferent to her urgency. Then, the irritating reminder on her status bar blinked persistently: ¡°Reservation time expiring! Please activate your vehicle or cancel the booking in the app.¡± It had been flashing the same message for five solid minutes. ¡°Hey, Sleipnir, you just standing there, huh?¡± she addressed the platform out loud, half-jokingly. ¡°If only you really had eight legs, we could just gallop there without any need for a truck! Am I right or am I right?¡± The heavily burdened platform, laden with Moira, and a horde of valuable items hastily gathered from the workshops and the club, remained unresponsive. Of course, it would ¨C it housed only basic operational software, nothing as advanced as an AI capable of conversation. But Dasha wasn¡¯t really looking for an answer. ¡°Fine, keep your silence. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s happening outside!¡± Stepping out of the elevator, Dasha led ¡°Sleipnir¡± to the courtyard gates and stopped to survey the area. At first glance, everything appeared calm, but two essential cameras were offline ¨C likely casualties of a recent skirmish. The courtyard bore the scars of battle: the asphalt was scarred with concrete debris, bricks, and assorted trash, and several twisted shaiszu bodies lay near a wall. Thankfully, the truck had been spared. When Dasha had hacked into the cameras, the vehicle was already parked by the ramp, and the skirmish had ended. The problem was visibility was limited to just half of the Unimog; beyond that was a blind spot, nothing to survey with. ¡°Darn it! Could shaiszu be lurking there? Should I risk a peek myself ¨C or send in a drone? Yet without software, it¡¯s just a heap of metal. I¡¯d need at least five minutes to get it airborne...¡± Dasha swiftly reviewed the camera feeds, rewinding to before the battle began. Aha! Sure enough, creatures had scurried in, fleeing from military drones that cornered and mowed them down with heavy-caliber machine guns right at the wall. The crossfire took out both cameras mounted there. The drones departed, and since then, the courtyard had remained untouched. ¡°I can risk it. Good thing we brought the off-road Unimog ¨C no regular truck would have made it through here!¡± Cautiously, she cracked open the gates and crept forward, staying low. But upon seeing the entire vehicle, she froze. [Max, there¡¯s someone there!] Dasha thought-screamed without opening her mouth and making any sound. [Where?] Maksim and Nikola instantly connected. [Over there, by the cabin. Behind it, actually. From down here, you can see several pairs of legs.] [WonderKid, if there are legs, they¡¯re people, not the shaiszu,] Max noted. [They¡¯re neither military nor police,] Nika added. [Can you zoom in?] [Sure.] Dashka zoomed in. [Civilians,] Nikola observed succinctly. [Most likely, students,] Maksim assumed. [Try to get closer, they¡¯re probably harmless. Just trying to save themselves, just like us. We really need that truck, you know.] Leaving the platform behind the gate, Dasha took a few steps along the wall to widen her viewing angle, keeping the zoom so as not to approach too closely. Sometimes, enhancing one¡¯s hearing doesn¡¯t require special implants, just processing the existing audio input is enough. So, here were the ones tampering with her truck! [That¡¯s Kamil with his gang,] Dasha whispered in the chat, subconsciously lowering her voice as if they could hear her in reality. [Yep. And Gleb with Julia too. Can¡¯t see the others though,] Max confirmed. [Are they trying to break into the Unimog?] It turned out that the ¡°thieves¡± were well-known to Maksim from the uni, part of a myriad of student business startups. There was no rivalry among the clubs; Kamil¡¯s team specialized in aerial drones, particularly racing models. Currently, Gleb was bent over the vehicle¡¯s open diagnostic port, Kamil offering pointed advice, while a blonde peered intently at a tablet. Another figure, Vratislav ¨C Julia¡¯s boyfriend and the team¡¯s chief engineer ¨C came into view. ¡°What are you discussing there?¡± Dasha cranked up the sound amplification and activated a voice-recognition filter to aid her. ¡°Kamil, Gleb, Julia, and Slavek...¡± She edged a few steps further and spotted another figure standing with her back to her. A long-legged, tall and dusky with familiar denim shorts, a backpack with a black bat figurine on a chain, and jet-black curly hair tied up in a high ponytail.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Is that¡­ How?! Why?! Shit!¡± ¡°What''s wrong, Kamil? Having trouble? Guess hijacking a commercial truck is trickier than a public gyroscooter in student housing when your subscription¡¯s expired, huh?¡± ¡°Hold on, just a couple more minutes and it¡¯ll let us in!¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, folks, stop wasting time. Better run on your own ¨C you¡¯ll have a better chance of making it on time. Enough already!¡± And then the brunette whipped around sharply, as if sensing someone¡¯s gaze locked onto her. Daria literally froze on the spot in surprise, and their eyes met. ¡°Dasha?¡± ¡°Alba?¡± The Spanish girl started walking toward her, her smile wide but strained, tinged with a mix of delight and apprehension, as if she were both glad and wary of something. ¡°Dasha, come to life already! You¡¯re standing there like a statue. What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I was just... you know, like everyone else...,¡± Daria mumbled in confuse, pointing awkwardly at the Unimog. ¡°Called a car to pick up some stuff¡­ And what about you?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Max tell you? We¡¯ve got a competition too,¡± Alba nodded towards Kamil and the others. ¡°The first round is on Saturday. I flew in early to see how Max would do in the qualifiers, but ended up stuck setting up the ¡®Dragon,¡¯ didn¡¯t even have time to catch the live feed. Then all this shit with the portals started!¡± ¡°Uhh¡­ he, well, I dunno¡­¡± Dasha murmured something indecipherable. ¡°So, he didn¡¯t mention it? Or are you two not in touch? Oh, did something happen to him, huh?¡± the brunette asked in a complicated tone, in which you could hear anticipation, concern, and hope all at once. [Dasha, I can see everything. Act natural, like we¡¯re not in a call right now. We¡¯re renouncers after all, shouldn¡¯t give ourselves away¡­] the guy hastily interjected. [I knew she was planning to come, but I didn¡¯t see the point in telling you. Didn¡¯t think we¡¯d cross paths.] In the few seconds that Daria was contemplating her next move, fleeting images of Max¡¯s unexpectedly encountered ex-girlfriend flashed through her mind.
Technopolis Valencia, Polytechnic University of Valencia Maksim Chernykh, December 2045 Maksim Chernykh had learned about Dr. Manuel Jimenez, a professor of information technology, while preparing for admission to the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in 2045. Jimenez, a distinguished pupil and follower of Sergey Chernykh, taught at the ¡°Computer Science¡± faculty of the Polytechnic University of Valencia and occasionally delivered public lectures on artificial intelligence and intelligent agents. Despite the fundamental nature of his work ¨C given the strict controls over AI development ¨C this did not deter Maksim. He met Jimenez at his first available public lecture, where the Manuel immediately recognized the son of his mentor. A friendship developed between the young student and the professor, making the guy a regular guest at the Spanish scholar¡¯s home. During the winter of 2045, Max met Jimenez¡¯s niece and first-year student, Alba Maria Rodriguez-Marquez. In June 2048, as Maksim finished his third year with excellent grades and Daria advanced to her second, the young man made another trip to Valencia for business. His young partner knew about his ¡°long-distance relationship¡± in Spain, but diligently avoided thinking or talking about it. Unexpectedly yet insistently, he invited her to join him.
Polis Kyiv, Daria Vasilevskaya, June 2048 ¡°Maybe not, huh?... I¡¯d rather stay in the apartments and get some work done. So many... useful thoughts. Why should I interfere with you both?¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be such a stick in the mud! Alba means a lot to me; I think you should meet. You¡¯ll become friends for sure!¡± ¡°As if! Becoming friends would definitely be overkill,¡± thought Daria, though her face betrayed no emotion.
Technopolis Valencia, Daria Vasilevskaya, July 2048 They met on a warm evening by the glowing fountains near the Science Museum. Initial scrutinizing glances from both sides and overly polite greetings¡­ Daria was disoriented, and unsure how to react: Alba was painfully beautiful. A true daughter of Valencia, she possessed luxurious dark hair, a proud posture, and unfathomably mysterious black eyes that enveloped Max with warmth and affection. Adorned in a romantic summer dress that bared her shoulders for the evening, Alba presented an image of feminine proportionality. ¡°I lost this round,¡± thought disheartened Vasilevskaya, whose wardrobe lacked dresses completely. In comparison, the Spanish beauty looked like a princess from another world. Of course, Dasha would later see Alba in torn jeans and shapeless robes, but that first encounter and the stunning dress lingered long in her memory. During their walk through the park, Max most diligently searched for topics of conversation that would be interesting and resonating with both girls. ¡°Oh, Great Cthulhu, he¡¯s like introducing a bride to his mother or sister, genuinely believing they¡¯ll like each other! I definitely should have stayed home!¡± Alba suggested ending the evening at one of the cozy family restaurants in old Valencia. Among the narrow cobbled streets, under the soft glow of ancient lamps, they found a place filled with the scent of the sea and aromatic herbs. From the menu, the Spanish beauty recommended the traditional Valencian paella ¨C generously seasoned with spices and adorned with seafood, sizzling right before their eyes in a large, wide pan. For dinner, they ordered a pitcher of sangria with ice and fresh lemon slices. Meanwhile, a holographic show began in the old city square... ¡°Your city is fascinating, after all,¡± Dasha remarked for the first time voluntarily joining the conversation. ¡°Ancient buildings all around, yet side by side with a center of cutting-edge technology.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Alba quickly engaged. ¡°Here in Valencia the old and the high-tech have coexisted for half a century. The center we were walking through is nearly fifty years old!¡± ¡°Oh, but all those museums look like they were built yesterday. Quite¡­ modern-looking.¡± ¡°Exactly! Fifty years ago, this is how we imagined the future!¡± ¡°Yeah, wasn¡¯t the ¡®Three Steps Above Heaven¡¯ filmed here?¡± Max perked up. ¡°No, that was in Barcelona. But my grandfather has the exact same motorcycle.¡± Alba smiled. ¡°And by the way, the girls are definitely prettier here than in Catalonia!¡± ¡°Sure thing, Kitten, that goes without saying!¡± Max hugged and kissed Alba. ¡°Damn! I don¡¯t want to¡­ see him like that. Laughing at her¡­ silly jokes. Making the same ones himself¡­ Remembering some silly old film they probably made a hundred years ago! He¡¯s a thousand times better than this¡­ Alba¡¯s league! Why is he doing this?! Wish this night would end already! He¡¯s kissing her! It¡¯s infuriating!!!¡± Unfortunately, that night wouldn¡¯t be the last. During the four days they spent in Valencia, Max persistently brought them together, and Daria felt tremendous relief when they departed at last. As for Maksim¡­ he was completely absorbed in his romance, seemingly quite happy. Good thing, once back, the topic of Alba rarely came up and, thus, didn¡¯t irritate Dasha. One outcome of the trip was her buying a ¡°same¡± dress, though she never found the courage to wear it in front of Max. That autumn, when Dasha was back in Spain, in Barcelona this time, invited to the youth section of the World Technical Congress, she unwittingly witnessed the end of that romance. Max had booked a two-bedroom apartment in a decent hotel Villa Olimpica near the university. Dasha gladly took the smaller room at the far end, deciding it would allow her to avoid Alba as much as possible. And to get better sleep too! On the first evening, returning from the day¡¯s events, she sneakily tried to tiptoe to her room, noticing a familiar backpack by the entrance. Yet, they still bumped into each other in the hallway and exchanged greetings ¨C flat, emotionless. Dasha noticed Alba¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t as carefree and playful as in the summer; she seemed introspective and detached. Later that night, angry with herself, Daria couldn¡¯t sleep and cracked open her door to eavesdrop. But Instead of the rustling, whispers, and moans that indicated everything was wonderful in the relationship of the couple next door, this time she heard muted conversations with nervous intonations and even slightly raised voices. Gradually, the talks died down, and predictably, a phase of rustlings and moans began. However, it was brief and unusually abrupt. With an inexplicable feeling, the girl returned to her bed, tossed and turned for a long time, but eventually fell asleep. In the morning, Alba¡¯s backpack was gone. Max was making coffee, uncommunicative, somber, and serious. Dasha tried to question him, but he gently hugged her, stroked her hair, and said, ¡°It¡¯s over, Dashka. Now I¡¯m all yours again.¡± ¡°Is that¡­ bad? Are you sad?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s neither bad nor good. That¡¯s just life. As they say, it turned out as it did. Let¡¯s not dwell on it. How about we hit the beach later, since we¡¯re in Spain?¡± And despite the somber morning, Dasha found herself quietly smiling throughout the day, feeling a serene warmth inside. ¡°Max¡­ is back.¡± Chapter 31 - Crossroads of Intent City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Polytechnic Institute Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 5:34 PM The insistent chime of a mediaglyph rang through her head reminded the girl that the truck¡¯s waiting time was nearly up, and Dasha was abruptly pulled from the depths of her memories. ¡°Sorry we tried to jack your car,¡± a voice cut through the moment, its owner explaining the rush. ¡°The guys are late for the checkpoint at G4, you know, the one at Beresteiska. Timer¡¯s running out. Saw the announcement, right? They only start clearing the streets in an hour, and here we are, with an off-roader no less.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ oh yeah,¡± Dasha found her voice again. The girls were joined by the other members of the chance encounter. ¡°Hey, Dark,¡± Kamil greeted using her network nickname, waving nonchalantly. ¡°My bad about the mix-up with the car. We didn¡¯t know ¨C it¡¯s not like the share-AI could tell us anything, it¡¯s total zero now. And it¡¯s not written on the vehicle, you know.¡± ¡°O-hayo!¡± chimed in Gleb. ¡°Got the truck for long? Could you give us a lift? We¡¯re late for a check-in, not gonna make it by foot.¡± ¡°Dasha, are you going to the same place by chance? Is your deadline also 6:30 pm? Can you share your route for me?¡± Alba, apparently tired of waiting for Dasha to fully recover, bombarded her with questions. ¡°Umm¡­ what?¡± Vasilevskaya hesitated. ¡°Wait, I can¡¯t connect with you ¨C are you not online?¡± The Spaniard raised her eyebrow in surprise. [Don¡¯t panic, WonderStar!] Maksim intervened. [Just tell them the communication module¡¯s busted. We can make the drop at Beresteiska ¨C it¡¯s only six kilometers, even with the traffic mess. We¡¯ll help them out.] [Mam to w dupe! Sorry to butt in, Max, but are you out of your fucking mind?!] Nikola couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. [It¡¯s our van, and these Protectorate goons can damn well hoof it!] [Nika, that¡¯s wrong!] the young man turned stern. [Not all people should be considered bad only because they had to engage cooperating with the aliens!] [Nobody made them sign a contract with the UNSA! You didn¡¯t!] [Max! What do I tell her?! They¡¯re gonna figure everything out!] Dasha exclaimed fearfully. [Tell them to go fuck themselves!] unapologetically barked Nikola. [NIKA!] There was metal in the young man¡¯s voice. [Max?!] Daria was on the verge of tears; she didn¡¯t expect a confrontation like this directly in her head. [WonderKid, just say something to Alba, please. I¡¯m gonna decide what to do!] Max said, dragging Nikola into a private channel. Dasha looked up, meeting the expectant faces of Alba and the others, as if really seeing them for the first time in this chaotic moment. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ve been phasing out a bit... must¡¯ve damaged something during the monster chase. Almost¡­ got killed¡­ by a shaiszu. And no, I¡¯m not heading to G4, going further south. But still, I can drop you guys off.¡± ¡°Cool, you¡¯re a lifesaver!¡± Kamil thanked the girl. ¡°Yeah, you look pretty beat up,¡± Gleb added supportively. ¡°But don¡¯t worry! I read they give immediate medical help in these cases. They can probably hot-swap your network module too.¡± ¡°Thanks a bunch! Can you open the truck, please? We¡¯ll help load up, we don¡¯t have much luggage ourselves,¡± Alba said cheerfully, hiding any suspicion she might have had about Dasha¡¯s spacing out, speech breaks and disjointed explanation. ¡°Sure, helping out¡¯s no issue. Just need to see how the platform goes up,¡± Vratislav chimed in. ¡°Yeah, hey there, Dark. Thanks for being cool.¡± [Dasha, Nika and I talked it out,] Max said moments later. [Drop everyone off at the collection point, just don¡¯t get too close to it. And try not to talk to Alba; she¡¯s probably already suspecting something. She backed off way too easily, that¡¯s not like her.] ¡°Dasha, are you okay?¡± Alba¡¯s concern was palpable. ¡°You seem even more ¡®out of it¡¯ than usual...¡± [Max, what do I do?! Tell me!] [Just calm down. Everything¡¯s fine, they¡¯re all in good spirits and suspect nothing. For now, we play it cool and listen. They might know something about the Protectorate¡¯s plans. Maybe I was wrong, and they¡¯re just rushed. We¡¯re at the parking lot now, connection¡¯s bad here, so I might drop off for a short while. If I don¡¯t find a spot with good signal, I¡¯ll head up in exactly ten minutes.] [Okay, got it.] [If you¡¯ve already dropped them off by then, head to this location,] Maksim sent her a geotag. [All right, I¡¯ll do that.] Dasha finally pressed ¡°activate order¡±. Much to her relief, everything went smoothly ¨C the truck joyously released its locks and attempted to connect with the central office. No response came back; the company¡¯s AI had been wiped by the Protectorate techno-virus. Left to its rudimentary logic, the truck had no choice but to unlock manual controls for the duration of the lease. Opening the cargo door, Dasha muttered softly, ¡°Uh... climb aboard, there¡¯s... enough room for everyone.¡± ¡°Guys, let¡¯s load up! Help out here! Bring the platform closer, and make sure nothing falls off,¡± Alba began to command authoritatively. ¡°Just tell me where exactly you¡¯re heading,¡± Daria said as she started up the platform into the truck. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the cabin, I¡¯ll show you on the map.¡± ¡°Thanks for the help,¡± the others responded in unison, hoisting their backpacks and climbing into the vehicle. ¡°Dasha,¡± Kamil called out, noticing a bag teetering on the edge of the platform, ¡°where should this go?¡± ¡°Here, I¡¯ll take it,¡± Alba replied in her stead, lightly pushing the confused girl toward the cabin. The students finished loading up and climbed into the cargo area, while Alba, grabbing the bag and placing it at her feet, settled next to Dasha. ¡°I bet the truck must be manually controlled, right?¡± asked Alba, eyeing the dashboard. ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Daria mumbled. ¡°Then let me drive. I¡¯ve got more experience with direct controls.¡± Without a word, Dasha simply nodded and slid the control console towards the Spaniard. A few touches and the unimog roared to life. The heavy vehicle moved forward effortlessly, rolling over debris and concrete shards. ¡°Well, such an unexpected encounter... We never really said goodbye in Barcelona, did we?¡± Alba tried to restart the conversation. ¡°Mm-hmm. It happens. No problem,¡± Dasha muttered without enthusiasm. Luckily, she didn¡¯t press further with the talking as the road demanded their full attention ¨C every route was choked with stalled cars, forcing them onto the rough shoulder. Occasionally, they had to navigate around signs of battle and destruction... The vehicle reached the assembly point in fifteen minutes, aided by its robust off-road capabilities and Alba¡¯s knack for squeezing out maximum speed under challenging conditions. Just before reaching their destination, Max¡¯s voice crackled through the channel.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. [Oh, looks like you¡¯re almost there! Great job! Wow, it¡¯s buzzing with activity!] From afar, a dense black cloud seemed to hang over the G4 collection point ¨C a swarm of Protectorate drones darkened the sky. On the ground, there was plenty to see. The truck had just passed a staging area where a couple of dozen guardsmen in heavy armor stood, their assault rifles slung. They were flanked by two massive combat robots and a four-legged platform sporting a heavy-caliber turret. As they neared the exit ramp, the road was cleared, but it hardly made a difference ¨C people and cars, packed densely, were all converging toward the junction. Suddenly, looming ahead were two massive Protectorate battle flyers, dominating the interchange. [Dasha, stop the truck! You can¡¯t go any further, it¡¯s too risky!] Max urgently interjected. [Tell them we should turn around now, before it gets too complicated to maneuver¡­] His reasoning was sound, especially since, in the absence of autopilots and relying solely on manual control, the vehicles moved clumsily, some even colliding ¨C clearly, not all Kyiv residents possessed Alba¡¯s skill at direct driving. Many were hopelessly abandoning their vehicles and proceeding on foot! Before Max could finish, he rattled off quickly, [Damn, connection¡¯s dropping out again! Look, I¡¯ll be off for a few minutes. Gonna head upstairs to try and reconnect. Start unloading in the meantime!] and he went offline. ¡°Alba, hold up! Umm¡­ We shouldn¡¯t go any further... It¡¯s tricky to turn around past this point, let¡¯s unload here.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the Spanish girl agreed, sounding unusually compliant as she swung the truck right, pulling up near the underpass at Victory Avenue. ¡°This is our stop, guys! Good luck, and stay in touch!¡± The car edged to the curb and stopped. ¡°Er¡­ bye, everyone,¡± Dasha muttered, still confused by the unfolding events. She mused for a moment, then reclaimed control of the truck¡¯s console. The others climbed out, scattering thanks, and hurried toward a descent marked by a large holographic sign. ¡°We might never see them again... who knows what lies ahead?¡± Alba pondered out loud, her voice tinged with confusion as she watched them disappear. ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t you getting off too?¡± asked Dasha, and, throwing caution to the wind, she harshly turned the unimog against the flow. Smashing through the protective barrier with its hefty bumper, the heavy vehicle clambered to the opposite side of the road and headed back along Victory Avenue towards Taras Shevchenko Boulevard. ¡°Damn, Max, where are you when I need you so much? If she refuses to get out now, I don¡¯t know what to do! And I can¡¯t just stay here! I¡¯ll both attract attention and won¡¯t be able to manage in time!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± Alba expressed surprise. ¡°That was for the guys heading to G4, but I received instructions after the test to head to AA2. They gave me a whole day! No rush, just need to wait out the curfew. It seems this checkpoint is special, or maybe people are coming from far away, given the generous time limit. Seems like there¡¯s a difference in the test results¡­ By the way, Dasha, what was your ¡®index¡¯ in the end?¡± ¡°Index?¡± she blurted out, clueless about how to respond. ¡°Yeah, you took the test after accepting the citizenship, right?¡± ¡°Actually, you know, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Dasha tried awkwardly to dodge the question. ¡°What¡¯s the address I should drop you off? Where do you need to go? I¡¯m headed south.¡± ¡°Something¡¯s off with this shorty.¡± Alba narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ¡°She hasn''t shown up online at all. Acts surprised about the testing. Doesn¡¯t know her own checkpoint¡­ And seems to be secretly communicating with someone. Of course, her eyes aren¡¯t ¡®darting around¡¯, but her pupils are definitely dilated, and she keeps staring into space! Certainly in some network! And it must be Max! Are they renouncers?!¡± ¡°Yes, that must be it. Maksim¡¯s a hero and a rebel; he couldn¡¯t have just bent to the new authorities¡¯ will! He must be the initiator of the refusal, and this Dasha, as always, just trailing behind him, hanging on his every word! Yes, they really must have their own network, a pirate one! No wonder, she doesn¡¯t know anything ¨C she just doesn¡¯t have access to the Protectorate''s resources!¡± ¡°So where to?!¡± Dasha asked again, ostentatiously unfolding a map of Kyiv. ¡°She¡¯s running late, isn¡¯t she? The curfew¡¯s nearly upon us! It¡¯s easy for me ¨C I can just talk to any patrol. But not for her! Where is she rushing off to? Why?¡± Something profound was stirring in Alba¡¯s soul. By nature, the Spanish beauty was fiercely independent, not one to come crawling back after a breakup. But not with Max; he was different! With him, she¡¯d truly opened up, becoming more herself than ever before. Her feelings had long since overrun her pride, which was now poised to surrender. Alba was tangled in her desires, unclear about her true intentions but certain of one thing ¨C she needed to see Maksim, at least once more! Of course, reuniting seemed improbable; they appeared to be just too different, and their paths in this new world were diverging irrevocably. Yet, her heart, ignoring rational arguments, was pounding uncontrollably, urging her to see him ¨C perhaps for the last time¡­ And now, bridging the gap between her and Max was this stubborn, taciturn brat, Dasha! Alba closed her eyes for a moment, as if searching within herself, listening to her resolve firming up. ¡°Decision made! I have time. I can still make it to see Maksim!¡± ¡°So, where do you wanna to go? Have you decided yet?!¡± Daria¡¯s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. ¡°You know, Dasha,¡± Spaniard began, her voice softening, ¡°please, put away your thorns. I want to talk to you, not as a stranger. Will you let me?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Dasha responded tersely, her eyes on the road. The truck was already speeding along the shoulder, swerving around obstacles ¨C a couple of abandoned cars tossed aside as the unimog barreled forward. ¡°But if you¡¯re going to drag this out, I¡­ I might just drop you off right here. We¡¯re¡­ I¡¯m in a hurry!¡± ¡°Of course, of course! The thing is, just don¡¯t get mad, but Maksim and I used to be really close¡­ and I think, I understand him well, with my heart, you know? And my heart tells me he wouldn¡¯t just go to a collection point or submit to any authority ¨C that wouldn¡¯t be Max, otherwise. He¡¯d want to figure out what¡¯s really going on, verify the truth, and he¡¯d only follow the Protectorate if their policies didn¡¯t clash with his ideals of freedom and morals.¡± Max had just rejoined the network in time to overhear this spontaneous monologue, listening in shock this ¡°stream of consciousness¡± along with Dasha. ¡°The Protectorate may impose their demands, claiming all they do is protect us from monsters, but Max would never agree to their terms without scrutinizing everything first! So, I¡¯m certain he¡¯s a renouncer, and you, being his loyal friend, are certainly with him. I don¡¯t judge you! In fact, I kind of admire it. Maybe I just lack such courage and conviction myself.¡± ¡°Please, Dasha, I need to see him! Because I loved and I still believe in him. I understand our paths are diverging, but maybe Maksim can help me find the answers to choose my own fate. I still have time before I need to be at the checkpoint, and I¡¯d never forgive myself if I didn¡¯t try!¡± Alba¡¯s cheeks flushed during her plea, her eyes alight with passion. Daria, for the first time since they¡¯d met, was convinced of the Spaniard¡¯s sincerity. Perhaps, for the first time she was speaking on equal footing, and, it seemed, even openly. [Max, are you¡­ hearing all this?] [I am, WonderStar¡­ Well, there truly was love, but I let go of my feelings long ago ¨C apparently, she hasn¡¯t, though. Damn, we¡¯re taking too much of a risk if we waste time on this socializing now! Plus, she accepted the Protectorate, and we¡¯re renouncers...] [I¡­ I also don¡¯t know what to do¡­ Max. I think she¡¯s asking us to trust her.] [Dammit! It¡¯s too late to backtrack now. Drive her to the lot, we¡¯ll find five minutes to talk, just need to be extremely cautious! At least then we can learn more about these damn invaders!] Alba was sitting silently, her gaze intently fixed on Dasha. Noticing the girl¡¯s eyes ceased their subtle twitching, she exhaled sharply and pleaded, ¡°I beg you! Will you let me see him? Can I go with you now? I realized already, all this mountain of equipment ¨C you bring it for him, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll decide himself. Maksim is on the line, and he¡¯s heard you.¡± Frozen, Alba waited. After a tense ninety seconds, the answer came. ¡°Yes, Max agrees, we¡¯re going.¡± With a sigh too loud to be contained, Spaniard forcefully squeezed Dasha in her arms. ¡°Thank you so very much! You can¡¯t imagine how happy this makes me¡­¡± [Max, is everything okay? Are you sure about this?] Dasha bit her lip anxiously and programmed the parking address into the navigator. [Yes, WonderKid. This could be beneficial for us, and I¡¯ll handle the security aspect. And Nika¡­ I¡¯ll get her to stay calm. Just drive on. Once you turn off Shevchenko Boulevard, tell Alba to go offline and even disconnect her communication module. Can you make sure she follows these steps?] [Max, it¡¯ll only take us about five minutes to get there! I mean, she needs to go off now,] remarked Vasilevskaya, sighing heavily. [You¡¯re right. Make sure to check everything and keep an eye on things until you go underground. Nika will shoot Alba off immediately if she thinks there¡¯s any mischief afoot.] [Got it,] Dasha responded. [Turning her off now!] ¡°Hey, Alba?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna have to check you. Would you grant me guest access to your sub-brain, and show me how you¡¯re shutting down your network and geolocation?¡± ¡°Sure, no problem! I recognize the hand of a true leader in charge of the operation!¡± ¡°And... I¡¯m not just checking. I¡¯ll be monitoring until¡­ we reach a safe place. Umm¡­ We have... a sniper there, and she... isn¡¯t fond of the Protectorate. I don¡¯t want... you to get killed.¡± Alba looked deep into Dasha¡¯s eyes, silently showing understanding. ¡°Okay. I agree. Do you want to connect now?¡± ¡°Yes. My backpack¡¯s in the truck¡¯s bed, but you have a bag by your feet, pull out two smart cables, please.¡± Opening the bag, Alba began rummaging through it. She pulled out a tangled mess of cables lying atop everything else, her interest piqued by the items inside. ¡°What do you have here, is this some kind of 3D presentation kit? Did Maksim order this so he wouldn¡¯t get bored in hiding?¡± she joked, growing bolder. ¡°Oh, and this will definitely lift the spirits!¡± In Alba¡¯s hands was a large plastic box from which she extracted a liter bottle filled with a golden liquid. ¡°Shit, what is that?!!¡± Daria shrieked in horror as she saw more clearly what the Spaniard was holding, causing the vehicle to jerk dangerously close to the barrier. At the bottom of the container, a grotesque, pale ringed creature, like a caterpillar with tiny legs, seemed to stare back at her through the glass. ¡°Sorry, Dasha, did I scare you?¡± Alba apologized, realizing she had nearly caused an accident. ¡°Thought it was a shaiszu larva? Oh, come on! It¡¯s premium aged mezcal, a strong drink made from agave! Right here it says ¡®Mezcal Anejo.¡¯ And at the bottom, that¡¯s ¡®Old Juanito,¡¯ a kind of guardian of the bottle! He¡¯s dead and preserved. It¡¯s just a worm, a caterpillar! Relax! It¡¯s a special touch to this drink!¡± Alba looked guilty, but judging from a smile she tried to stifle, the Spanish girl was amused by Dashka¡¯s reaction. ¡°Curious what this miracle bottle was doing at a uni in Kyiv? It¡¯s not easy to find even in my country; it¡¯s a foreign drink! But take my word for it, it¡¯s amazing! For all its alcohol content!¡± Daria only grumbled grudgingly in response and took two cables out of the ball. ¡°Enough with the jokes. Open your ports, then take control of the vehicle! We¡¯ll be there in five minutes. Give me guest access, I¡¯m connecting¡­¡± Chapter 32 - Highway to Hell City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports, underground parking lot nearby Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 12, 2049, 5:49 PM Once they were in the underground parking lot, Max and Nikola embarked on a flurry of activity to prepare for a rapid transfer of their gear. After quickly estimating the remaining time, they decided to at least shed some of the packaging, redistribute the load more securely on both Big One and the unnamed transport cart from ¡°Mikea¡±. This way, loading into the truck would take less than a minute ¨C just lift the bots, carts, and Alisa into the truck bed, and they could be on their way. Maksim examined the weapons they¡¯d found and was thoroughly pleased. The Defender and crossbows, ready for immediate action, were left in Redhead¡¯s trust. He chose a pistol for himself; shooting a shotgun wasn¡¯t exactly feasible from a wheelchair. When they reached the newly purchased clothes, Nikola¡¯s spirits lifted, and she cast a meaningful look to the guy. ¡°We can¡¯t be running around like this,¡± she remarked, tugging at her shirt, and casting a sidelong glance at Max¡¯s bare torso. ¡°Shall we get dressed?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ yeah, that¡¯d be good. But let¡¯s hold off until I¡¯ve finished up with Alba.¡± ¡°What if we need to make a quick getaway?¡± Nikola protested, rummaging through the purchases. ¡°If it¡¯s about time, don¡¯t worry, I can dress very quickly.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine,¡± Maksim waved her off, checking the map. ¡°Traffic¡¯s jammed, so Dasha won¡¯t be at the parking lot for another six minutes. You can change here while I meet them at the entrance.¡± Nikola gave a thumbs-up and unbuttoned her shirt, taking it off. ¡°I take it you won¡¯t be wanting this back,¡± she remarked, eyeing a bloodstain on the back. Despite her efforts to keep clean, some wounds had reopened, and the shirt was significantly stained. ¡°Sure, just throw it away. I¡¯ve got enough clothes. Come here, let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on with your back while we have a moment.¡± Silently, the girl approached and sat down to make it easier for Max to inspect. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not as bad as it could be. Just old blood, and only two places need a new bandage. Can you hand me those, along with some cotton disks and antiseptic?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She darted off to their makeshift medical bags. ¡°There, that¡¯s better,¡± Maksim said a minute later, examining the patched-up wound. ¡°You can get dressed now. I¡¯ll grab a T-shirt and head up; they¡¯re nearly here.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll keep in touch.¡± Left alone, Red dashed to the nearest bathroom on the floor. Quickly tying her hair into a bun, she washed her face at the sink and briskly wiped down her torso, careful not to disturb her back. [Say, Max, why the heck are you even bothering with this meeting? Were things with Alba that deep?] A mediaglyph from an open private channel flickered. [I don¡¯t know, Nika. I usually don¡¯t discuss it¡­ with anyone. But for some reason, I trust you.] [That¡¯s nice of you. So, what was it really?] [After I lost Alisa, I didn¡¯t think I could be romantically involved with anyone at all. Something inside me just¡­ burned out. I did hook up with women, of course, had one-night stands. But it wasn¡¯t serious. Alba was an exception.] [Judging from what I¡¯ve seen¡­] Nikola smirked lightly, cautiously slipping into a sports bra, careful not to aggravate her back. [Be honest, was it just about sex initially?] [You bet! Do you know how good Spanish women are in the sack?] [I do, actually.] Red chuckled. [Had a fling with one a couple of years back. She was incredible! But then she got transferred to Watson¡¯s branch in California, and our brief spark ended before it really started¡­] [You¡¯re full of surprises.] Max smiled. [Sure am! Did you know I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue? Bet that¡¯s a skill.] At that precise moment, the tracking system beeped a warning that the truck had made the turn off the main highway. [Nika! Be ready, they¡¯re almost here. You can complete your dressing up but stay alert. The shotgun¡¯s with you, and I¡¯ve got the pistol ready, just in case.] [Aye-aye, Captain! Ready to roll. I¡¯m all set, by the way.] ¡°She really is fast,¡± Max thought, as he wheeled closer to the entrance.
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Daria Vasilevskaya and Alba M. R. Marquez, August 12, 2049, 5:59 PM [Dasha, we¡¯re ready. Once you park the truck, and I¡¯ll have a word with Alba¡­ Despite everything, she and I aren¡¯t strangers¡­ or rather, weren¡¯t. But that would be brief, ten minutes tops. And, of course, we keep Nika, Moira, and Alisa out of sight.] [Understood.] [Afterwards, we scatter; Alba is free to go wherever she wants, and we¡¯re on our way like we planned. We¡¯re ready to quickly load the things.] Sitting quietly next to her, Alba seemed deeply and completely ¡°lost in driving,¡± and ceased any more attempts to talk. The Spaniard honestly fulfilled the requirement, even more than was necessary ¨C she¡¯d disabled nearly all her sub-brain¡¯s programs and modules. Daria just shrugged her shoulders without a word ¨C she liked the silent Alba more than a chatty one. The traffic jam was extending even to the road¡¯s shoulder ahead, thus the truck steered sharply right, hopping over the curb onto the bike lanes that ran alongside the main road. It was clear here, and the car surged forward with renewed speed. In the silence that followed, both girls peered intently through the windshield as the unimog sped down the final stretch of highway. As they neared the turn onto Esplanade Street, they had to abruptly brake ¨C the chaos wasn¡¯t just confined to Sports Square but had spread nearby. The road was a mess: cratered by rockets, strewn with burnt-out cars, downed military drones, and the bodies of both shaiszu and humans. Dust and residual smoke filled the air. Likely, the smells were horrendous, but fortunately the cabin¡¯s filters were holding up for now. ¡°Ugh¡­ disgusting.¡± Dashka cringed when their vehicle bounced over another particularly large, grotesquely flattened shaiszu corpse. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a ghastly sight,¡± agreed Alba. ¡°But we¡¯ll be there soon...¡± But Dasha didn¡¯t get to respond. At that moment, the truck dived under a wide gallery connecting two buildings across the street at the fourth-floor level. Visibility dropped even further as thick smoke poured from the first-floor windows of the left building. Bullet impacts and at least a dozen dead shaiszu were visible near the entrance.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Alas, they were not allowed to pass peacefully. Several dark shapes flung themselves at the windows. A blast! Hardened glass exploded into a shower of fragments. Something long, black, and massive shot forward, overtaking the truck as it emerged from under the gallery. Three more silhouettes leaped but landed on the ground behind the accelerating unimog. Seconds later, two more bursts shattered adjacent windows, and two whole packs joined the assault! The leading creature resembled a monstrous, enormous dog ¨C completely hairless, tailless, with massive jaws, claws, and bony ridges along its spine. Executing an unbelievable midair somersault, it landed heavily on the truck. The vehicle¡¯s hood, sloped and under a meter in length, meant the monster mostly hung forward, its hind claws gripping the massive bumper. The vehicle swerved sharply under the impact but maintained control. Dasha screamed at the sight of six glowing red eyes and a vast toothy maw visible just beyond the windshield. The Spaniard got startled too, of course, but didn¡¯t relinquish control and sharply turned the car to the right, into a street caf¨¦. The heavy truck crashed the beast¡¯s back against the glass and plastic of the building. The creature let out a roar so loud it pressure-sealed their ears, but it was futile. The car, smashing through neatly arranged tables with lace tablecloths, barreled forward. A loud screech of metal sounded as claws tore at the hood ¨C the shaiszu was dragged to the right. Seeing the creature now dangling by the side, clinging to the tattered hood and bent bumper, Alba made a split-second decision. ¡°Hold on!¡± she shouted, veered left, and accelerating, burst out of the destroyed caf¨¦. But at the next building, the unimog jolted right, brutally smashing the beast against the wall. [Max, we¡¯re under attack!] Dasha sent a first-person view stream into the conference along with an ¡°alert!¡± signal. [Go to the meeting point! We¡¯ll take them out!] Max and Nika responded simultaneously. ¡°Alba, we must break through to the parking area, push it!¡± And so, the Spaniard did push it, throwing all her might into the engines. Without the AI¡¯s usual restraints and fully manual now, the truck surged forward. The battered beast finally detached from the truck, leaving deep gouges in the metal and tearing off the right front fender as it fell away. The car swerved, trying to pick up speed, but three of the pursuing shaiszu managed to jump, latching onto the rear door of the cargo area. ¡°They¡¯re on the roof!¡± At that moment, Nika had pulled two carbon hunting arrows from the quiver and quickly loaded both crossbows she had prepared. Now, without enhancements, these are more like toys. Some shaiszu have such tough hide that a simple arrow might not penetrate. Still, it was worth a shot. Throwing the shotgun behind her back, Red curtly informed, [Max, I¡¯m going up! How¡¯s your shooting?] [Dead on,] Max replied tersely, having secured a good firing position, locked the wheelchair wheels in place, and prepared both spare magazines. The map showed the truck was nearly there. Alba tried to shake the monsters off the roof. But even her sharp maneuvers from side to side didn¡¯t help ¨C the shaiszu, clinging low, stayed on and continued to inch forward, piercing the metal with their claws. The car skidded on another sharp turn, barely maintaining balance. [In position!] Nika said curtly. ¡°Alba! Drive! Just drive!¡± Dasha tried to shout over the roar and the noise from the monsters¡¯ impacts. A crash of breaking glass followed. One of the ¡°dogs¡± had smashed through the roof hatch and dropped down into the cargo bay. ¡°It¡¯s wrecking Moira!¡± Dasha screamed, activating the manipulator arm. Fortunately, there was just enough room in the cargo bay ¨C she tried to grab or at least knock the creature off with the mechanical ¡°hand.¡± But the camera angle was poor and awkward, and the monster was too agile. For now, it was a stalemate ¨C the creature easily dodged the blows, but Dasha prevented it from destroying the valuable cargo. Another shaiszu reached the cabin, the roof buckling under its weight. The creature crouched and delivered a series of blows, but the side window held, only cracking. They were almost at the parking entrance. [Pick up speed and slam the brakes at the entrance! Hold the truck, it will swerve!] Max commanded, ready to fire. ¡°I can¡¯t; Alba is driving!¡± ¡°Loudspeaker!¡± ¡°Alba, now drive! After the barrier, brake hard! Hold the vehicle!¡± Maksim¡¯s stern command blasted through the mediaphone. ¡°Yes!¡± Alba responded reflexively to the familiar voice. [Nika, you take the center, I¡¯ll handle both packs!] Max ordered. [Tak!] In the final moments, another of the shaiszu beasts reached the cabin. Leaping onto the roof, it smashed the windshield with a brutal swipe of its claws. The girls recoiled into their seats, but Alba still didn¡¯t relinquish control of the vehicle. The unimog obliterated a barrier and the control booth, crashing onto the parking lot with a thunderous roar. The heavy truck screeched to a halt, its tires wailing, but the Spaniard¡¯s skill and the anti-lock brakes managed to maintain its stability. Behind them, seven of the creatures charged onto the parking lot in two small packs, one of three and another of four. One shaiszu, poised to leap into the cabin, lost its grip and got flung away from the truck, tumbling through the air. The other monster clung to the roof and, baring its teeth, fixed its six red eyes on Nikola. She froze, her hands gripping a crossbow. Time seemed to slow down, stretching out the first tense seconds of the encounter. Aiming. Target: the beast on the roof. Right middle eye. Redhead didn¡¯t have a tactical software, she relied solely on basic aiming assist; it suffices at close range. She wouldn¡¯t miss. The trigger pulled. The bolt shot towards the creature. The predatory arrow sank into the monster¡¯s eye; its head jerked, but it held on. BANG! The pistol echoed the crossbow. The leader of the right pack¡¯s eye burst in a bloody spray. The crossbow almost instantly gets tossed aside. With her left hand, Nika grabs the second one without looking. BANG! Max¡¯s next shot followed without delay. Into the adjacent eye, yet the creature kept coming. BANG! Another shot, and the beast finally stumbled, plummeting downward. Nika got steady. Focus. Aiming. The second creature had landed on its back but was already getting up. Her next shoot must hit the neck, in a small spot just below the bony crest. She fired. The arrow, piercing the skin, embedded deeply into the beast¡¯s neck. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Maksim¡¯s pistol continued its deathly symphony, two shots for each creature. The third beast kept running. BANG! Max added another, causing it to stumble and crash to the ground. The guy¡¯s mind was like an analytical computer, counting down the bullets and adjusting aim based on the targeting software running in his sub-brain. ¡°Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen. Twelve. Eleven. Ten. Nine. Eight rounds left.¡± Nika discarded her second crossbow, knife in hand as the truck screeched to a halt. Both girls stared in horror through the shattered windshield. The left pack, identifying Max as the primary threat, circled the truck. BANG! But the pack leader, as if sensing the shot, jerked its head. The bullet ricocheted off its cheek and buried into its body. BANG! In a flash of combat, Maksim missed his target, but the beast still slowed down, giving the young man just enough time to realign his aim. BANG! A bullet struck true, hitting an eye. The beast halted with a roar, prompting the rest of the pack to charge. Nikola leaped forward. Landing in front of the truck, she delivered a fierce blow with her left hand to the head of one creature. On the recoil, Red grabbed an arrow, driving it deeper into the monster¡¯s neck, and twisting viciously, blood spurting wildly as she did. Quick as lightning, she plunged her knife into the wound, slashing through flesh to bone. Before the death, the beast flailed, attempting two desperate strikes, but Nika blocked both without dropping her blade. BANG! This one was weaker ¨C a single shot to the eye was enough. Three left. ¡°Seven. Six. Five rounds.¡± The rapid-fire sequence BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG followed; ammo spent, one creature lay dead, another wounded and slowing, but a third lunged forward. With a powerful knee strike, Nikola knocked the dying beast aside and vaulted onto the truck¡¯s cab. The monster recovered and swiped at her, but she blocked swiftly and countered with a brutal elbow, smashing its head aside. A knife thrust into the left upper eye followed. The creature howled. In response, Nika shattered its lower jaw with a fierce blow. As it recoiled, exposing its throat, she delivered a flurry of stabs, blood drenching her as the beast collapsed onto the cab roof. Reloading took Max just over two seconds, the beast alarmingly close now, under ten meters away. BANG-BANG-BANG! Three shots merged into one; a creature fell just two meters from him, its claws scraping the concrete in its death throes. ¡°Nika, another in the truck!¡± Daria shouted. ¡°Open the door!¡± The fuel cell has overheated noticeably, and acrid black smoke is billowing out of the vents on the left thigh. ¡°Kurwa!¡± The remaining two beasts from the left flank suddenly pivoted, sprinting towards the exit. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Maksim managed four shots, the thick hide finally giving way as one beast collapsed. Ripping the shotgun from her back, Redhead flicked off the safety. Both legs boosted, she crouched down, power surging through her right leg. Boosters ready! She scored over the truck in a prolonged jump. The monster flies out of the unimog like a black lightning, opening its mouth. As she spun in midair to aim, Nika instantly takes aim and shoots just before landing, trying her best to hit the monster, and not get to the vehicle¡¯s body. BAAANG! The shaiszu¡¯s head gets obliterated into mincemeat. Back rolling and dampening the inertia, the girl leaps up sharply, ready to open fire. The last wounded creature is running towards her. BAAANG! Its head burst apart, fully splattering Nikola with gore. Her both cyber-legs ejected the burned-out jump boosters in the clouds of smoke. ¡°Holy fuck,¡± Alba whispers in awe, watching the blood-soaked redheaded cyber-bestia through the rearview camera. Chapter 33 - A Witness Too Much City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports, underground parking lot nearby, Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team and Alba M.R. Marquez, August 12, 2049, 6:09 PM For a few tense seconds, silence descended over the parking area¡­ Nika, passing by the last of the downed creatures, crouched suddenly, her knife slicing twice across the beast¡¯s neck, quickly silencing its whimpers. A soft creaking and the distinct sound of her metallic steps followed ¨C Redhead approached the truck¡¯s cabin and knocked on the door a couple of times with the knuckles of her cybernetic hand. ¡°We¡¯re getting out,¡± Dasha muttered. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ shoot.¡± From behind a nearby column, a wheelchair appeared, and Max approached the vehicle, a freshly loaded magazine in his pistol now holstered. The door swung open, revealing Alba, who seemed dazed, her gaze darting around, trying to keep away from the blood-soaked rabid cyborg girl with a shotgun. The Spaniard¡¯s eyes met Nikola¡¯s, and she shuddered in fear, a silent scream of panic in her mind: ¡°She doesn¡¯t even need any weapon, she can kill me with just one finger! And I think she wants to¡­¡± Dasha followed, stepping out with a smart-cable in hand. ¡°I¡¯m monitoring her sub-brain,¡± clarified the disheveled from the fray girl, still recovering from shock and pointing at the long wire. ¡°Ensuring she¡¯s disconnected from the network and the geolocation satellites.¡± Alba glanced at Maksim in his wheelchair, flinched again, but remained silent. Nikola exhaled deeply. [So, what do we do now? Alba saw everything! Leaving a witness like that alive is too big of a risk. The Protectorate sentences to death for smaller offenses!] [Listen to yourself, Nika! We can¡¯t just kill her! She... she saved my life!] Dasha interjected with a resolute tone, unexpected even for herself. [Everyone, calm down! No one is killing anyone!] He interjected, wheeling closer, his gaze firm, looking at Nikola and Alba. [This was supposed to be a simple, risk-free meetup. No one intended to expose Nikola, Alisa, or our hardware. Opting out in that situation would have caused us more problems and questions than a brief chat at a transfer point where we would nether return...] [Goddammit, Max!] Red jerked her shoulders irritably. [No shit that this run-in with shaiszu messed everything up! But that¡¯s not the issue right now. It¡¯s about the threat Alba currently poses to us all!] The young man grimaced as if a sudden toothache had struck him. Certainly, Nikola was right ¨C Alba was a smart witness, and surely, she had seen too much. Daria¡¯s cry about ¡°They¡¯re wrecking Moira¡± was a significant clue that wouldn¡¯t go unnoticed. Of course, the Spanish girl didn¡¯t know they were talking about an AI working primarily for Alisa¡¯s sake. But the mere fact that they had a powerful AI, not subdued by the Protectorate, was enough. Maksim grappled with his conscience, contemplating the harrowing decision to potentially sacrifice the woman he once loved. It was a notion steeped in agony, one he would entertain only if absolutely necessary to protect Alisa, Dasha, and the newly met Nikola. ¡°Damn! I would do it if needed,¡± he clenched his fists, ¡°But that would make me real shit, just like those Protectorate murderers!¡± And furthermore, he couldn¡¯t afford to execute Alba coldly right in front of Dasha! Not after all the immense effort expended to stabilize her psychological state and halt the onset of a schizoid personality disorder. As if underlining his dilemma, the tousled-haired girl looked him straight in the eye, silently pleading for the life of the Spaniard. ¡°Darn it! Time is running out, and I have to find ANOTHER way! Who knows what blow will become such a ¡®first step¡¯ to freedom for Vasilevskaya, completely unprepared for all this dirt. Especially given her fragile state with the post-synth overdose. What happens if Nikola cold-bloodedly slaughters Alba, whom Dasha has just strongly defended? After that, can we even continue to operate as a team?¡± ¡°And at the same time, our lives and future destiny ¨C everything depends precisely on the cohesive cooperation in the group!¡± The Spaniard swallowed hard, her anxiety palpable as she watched Max¡¯s demeanor darken with each passing second. She knew they were discussing her fate in their private chat. The silence was suffocating, unbearable. To distract herself from the heavy air of decisions being made about her life, Alba studied Nikola, attempting to draw as little attention as possible. ¡°She¡¯s likely an ex-contractor, maybe under a med program. Provided by Milthone Grade, Watson Military, or possibly Cyber Falcon PMC¡­ ¡®Cause her core is definitely military-grade. And judging by the combat efficiency, she¡¯s been well-trained to use it. Her limbs look more like civilian models, though... Hmm, I should have paid more attention to cyborgization... But no! Those powerful boosters are surely military-only. I remember seeing a patent of Watson CyberTech on active cooling systems ¨C just like those radiator slits on her hips... God, what am I even thinking about?¡± Meanwhile, a silent, rapid-fire dialogue continued in the SnapDrop conference. [Perhaps... if we reevaluate... everything might be not as dire?] Daria cautiously ventured. [You certain that she really noticed my slip about Moira, and now can even understand we¡¯re transporting an illegal, high-powered AI?] [Yes, she caught it. This is Alba we¡¯re talking about. Moreover, she knows that Moira is a T6+++ computational complex, and we¡¯ve downplayed its cognitive capabilities to avoid the T7 category¡­ But who are we if we simply kill her, just like that? How are we any better than the Protectorate, executing people live simply because they disagree?] Max looked thoughtfully at Nikola, who was holding a knife. [Why are you staring at me like that?] Red snorted, pulling a rag from her jacket pocket, and started meticulously cleaning her blade. [I¡¯m no maniac for you!] [It seems fast and easy to kill¡­ anyone,] Dasha profoundly said, which wasn¡¯t normally typical of her. [But what if Alba wants to join us?] ¡°Oh, Dashka, you stupid! What fucking nonsense are you spouting?!¡± a flustered thought trembled through her mind. [That¡¯s possible,] Maksim looked at Dasha in surprise. [Maybe¡­ We¡¯ll see now. If Alba resists, we¡¯ll lock her up in the parking lot overnight. It¡¯ll give us enough head start. We would have had to hide from the Protectorate anyway, whether they know about our AI or not.] [Sounds reasonable,] Nikola agreed. [There are surely many renouncers like us roaming in Kyiv right now. At least from the contingent I¡¯m used to dealing with. Surely, not all of them will manage to escape the city in time; they will hide and lie low.] [If that¡¯s the case, the Protectorate likely won¡¯t chase just us exclusively,] Dasha added. [And tonight, I¡¯ll work on modeling the situation, especially if we get new info about their goals and methods. By the way, talking to Alba might be helpful here; she clearly knows more than we do¡­] The young man pivoted his wheelchair, locking eyes with Alba in a prolonged stare that sliced through the heavy silence. ¡°Fine, screw it. You wanted to talk,¡± he said, his voice breaking the quiet. ¡°Okay. Begin then.¡± Alba faltered, caught off-guard. The lengthy debate among Max and his team had left her merely an observer, silently scrutinizing Nikola and drifting into a sort of trance. All the rehearsed speeches had evaporated from her mind under the influence of her surging emotions. Recalling the intense, brutal skirmish she had just witnessed, she blurted out the first thing coming to mind, ¡°Yes, I did want to talk! What I¡¯ve just seen ¨C those were phenomenal combat skills! And you, Max, your intellect, and willpower shine through! And to think, you shoot like a god ¨C I had no idea! And Dark ¨C she¡¯s a genius programmer! I just don¡¯t get why such an incredible team would stand against the saviors of humanity! And you¡¯re all wounded. Max, you¡¯re even in a wheelchair ¨C yet the Protectorate could have you back on your feet in minutes!¡± ¡°Damn, what the hell am I even saying?! This isn¡¯t what I wanted to discuss!¡± she internally panicked.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Max was taken aback by this outburst. ¡°Is this really what she rushed here to talk about? Sorry, darling, but joining the Protectorate isn¡¯t on the table! We clearly see things differently.¡± ¡°So, this is how you see it? Saviors of humanity?!¡± Max banged his fist on the armrest. ¡°You can¡¯t save someone by enslaving them!¡± ¡°Where are you getting this? What slavery? That¡¯s not what¡¯s happening!¡± The Spaniard countered confidently. ¡°You must surely know that a high Index opens nearly all doors for you! For instance, besides an exclusive invitation to a specialized collection point, I was offered six career paths, one exactly in my field of study! And look, I can decline any of them without any coercion! Or... maybe¡­ you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t change the fact¡­¡± Maksim furrowed his brows. ¡°Shaiszu are here to stay! If not for the Protectorate, most of humanity would already be dead!¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Dasha said quietly but firmly. ¡°We know more than enough to make an informed decision. I¡¯ve been analyzing the situation since before the invasion and continued it later on, with my own sub-brain. Its model is sufficiently powerful for this. So, despite the destruction of networked AIs, I¡¯ve completed my assessment, and there¡¯s a lot I can say. Shall I share my findings now? It¡¯ll be brief if we skip the evidence. Perhaps, Alba, this information might also give you pause.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Max agreed. ¡°It¡¯s important, and this will help us close the matter.¡± Daria nodded. Her hand momentarily moved as if to display something in augmented reality, but then, remembering Alba wasn¡¯t connected to their network, she awkwardly clasped her hands behind her back. ¡°I¡­ umm¡­ So¡­ what I learned¡­ Alright then¡­ the conclusion.¡± [It¡¯s alright. Just talk,] Max encouraged her via a private message. Daria paused, took a deep breath, and began: ¡°The primary wave of the shaiszu invasion began around 7 AM UTC. However, the active deployment of Protectorate AI agents was initiated much earlier, likely six hours before the first portals opened. The rapidity with which they seized control over all our engineering communications indicates that UNSA had exhaustive knowledge of our technologies. It also clearly points to some form of early assistance from the Earth¡¯s side.¡± ¡°From the start, the Protectorate meticulously controlled all communication channels, executing a plan with chilling precision. They secured connections with key players across all social strata ¨C from minor city-states to major corporations ¨C effectively sealing any potential leaks.¡± ¡°I managed to uncover details about a secret meeting in Goddard. It was after that the Protectorate forcefully urged corporations and city-states towards cooperation.¡± ¡°Simultaneously, they engaged the Earth¡¯s main military forces in combat against the shaiszu, boosting battle effectiveness drastically ¨C it was evident that the military had access to not only data about emerging portals but also advanced information on counter-shaiszu tactics.¡± Alba stared at Dasha in awe. She had never heard Dark speak publicly like this ¨C softly yet distinctly, with deliberate pauses for emphasis, and without any stuttering. ¡°From the beginning, the Protectorate secured the loyalty of the elites with promises of safety,¡± Daria continued, ¡°and, evidently, assurances of certain benefits. I don¡¯t know what they were promised, but in this case, it doesn¡¯t matter. Besides the carrot, there was also the stick. They brutally eliminated any dissenters. I¡¯ve found many proofs, even though the information trails were professionally sanitized. The public executions of Thomas Gibson at the ISS Europa station and Vasiliy Horobetz live during a stream are testaments to this!¡± ¡°And finally,¡± Dasha concluded sharply, ¡°there¡¯s a 67% likelihood that they initiated the shaiszu portals themselves, though I lack enough data to fully model that aspect.¡± [Was this analysis the reason why you overdo it with the vape, WonderWhiz?] [Yeah, sorry-sorry, it turned out to be such a fascinating task. It won¡¯t happen again! I promise! Honestly!] ¡°But Max didn¡¯t even need my analysis to make a decision!¡± Daria sighed tiredly, finishing her speech. ¡°That¡¯s true. Dictatorships always thrive on the promise of protection from a terrifying external enemy.¡± The young man nodded. ¡°Humanity would suffice only information to repel the shaiszu on its own. But the Protectorate used this situation to seize power with minimal cost and maximum reach.¡± Alba rubbed her temples, overwhelmed by the forceful rebuttal, though she found some objections to their words. ¡°Maksim, I understand why you say this. But the Earth had no chance ¨C it was only the first wave of portals, that passed just now. This information is in the Protectorate network, but soon you¡¯ll see for yourself ¨C they¡¯re imposing curfews primarily for public safety! You must understand, the shaiszu are too powerful for our current technologies. We need the Protectorate to win! All they just ask from people is to maintain order and legality. This is the minimum requirement, and no one¡¯s taking away our free will!¡± ¡°Cut the bullshit, kiddo,¡± Nika interjected sharply, clipping her knife back onto her shoulder harness. ¡°I had two options: become a slave or die on your damn Protectorate¡¯s orders! Thanks to Dasha, Max, and Alisa, I now have an alternative!¡± [Don¡¯t mention Alisa!] [Fuck! Sorry, I was on edge, slipped up there!] ¡°There¡¯s no point discussing hypotheticals,¡± Max tried to shift the conversation. ¡°Alisa? I know only one Alisa who¡¯s connected to Dasha, Max, and Moira¡­ Yeah, that was in July 2048¡­¡±
Technopolis Valencia Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, July 2048 The Valencia sun was merciless that day ¨C thirty-six degrees! But the thought that she could finish her classes much earlier than expected tempered the young Spaniard¡¯s discomfort with everything ¨C the heat, the necessity of donning that ludicrously large hat, and even the fact that she¡¯d hardly had time for a proper meal after the lecture, grabbing only a quick bite at a tapas bar, which was uncharacteristic for Alba. Her joy, however, was grounded in something utterly mundane ¨C Max had arrived! And yes, oh god, he was currently alone in his hotel room! Well, there was also that odd android girl he always seemed to drag around with him. The Spanish girl had tried to find out why, but never got a straight answer ¨C the guy could be surprisingly stubborn on certain topics. Intrinsically curious, Alba had only managed to discover that Alisa ¨C the name Maksim had given the android ¨C was certified as a ¡°secretary robot¡± with a T6 architecture-based AI and required a constant network connection. Interestingly, their own, rather powerful for a student startup, T6+ AI ¡°Moira¡± handled not only business tasks but also processed some of the android¡¯s computational requests remotely. ¡°To hell with it! None of that matters now!¡± The girl thought as she hopped into a share-car to the hotel, excited about the surprise she was about to spring on Max. They hadn¡¯t seen each other in nearly a month, and her desire was overwhelming. Last time he had come with that... weird Dasha. Things hadn¡¯t gone well with the irksome girl; naturally, as every fiber of Alba¡¯s being screaming ¨C that little one saw him not as a business partner or friend, but as a man! She¡¯s hopelessly in love! However, after they left, that topic of the ¡°rival¡± hadn¡¯t come up again, and Alba had calmed down. ¡°Max is here, in Valencia, and it¡¯s wonderful! He¡¯s in the room, working, because I told him I couldn¡¯t get free until six in the evening¡­¡± But she had managed to get free sooner! She had raced home, changed, and freshened up... Choosing a stunningly short white dress with a daring back cut down to the small of her back ¨C judging by the admiring glances she¡¯d gathered all the way, such ¡°armor¡± would leave no one indifferent. Now, fully prepped for battle, she paused at the hotel entrance. Max had sent the electronic room key as soon as he checked in, so Alba confidently entered the lobby and headed for the elevators. Ascending, she admired her reflection in the mirror, smiled mischievously, quickly slipped off her panties, and tucked them into her purse. ¡°I¡¯ll sneak up and delight him... in every possible way! Hee-hee-hee¡­¡± Reaching the correct floor, she tiptoed to the room door. They wouldn¡¯t hear her from inside, but the ¡°erotic thriller¡± atmosphere completely enthralled the heated beauty. However, cautiously cracking open the door, Alba was surprised to hear voices. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± she wondered, crouching and silently entering the room. What was going on here? In the hallway mirror, she saw Maksim and Alisa, hugging at the far end of the room. ¡°What¡­? Seriously, what¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, Kitten,¡± the male voice reassured, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a setback, but we knew this task was difficult. It¡¯s foolish to expect success just at the snap of a finger.¡± ¡°I¡­ I know, Big Brother¡­ But¡­ I was just really scared again. Feared I wouldn¡¯t come back¡­¡± ¡°Big Brother?!¡± ¡°You know that¡¯s impossible.¡± Maksim said, patting Alisa on the hair. ¡°We¡¯ve been through the last iteration together. The risk of serious damage is minimal. Besides, there¡¯s always a backup.¡± ¡°I know, but still¡­ Moira clearly isn¡¯t sufficient ¨C we¡¯re facing serious computational power issues¡­¡± ¡°More like optimization issues. Dasha and I are already working on it. Remember, the records suggested this exact problem might occur¡­¡± ¡°Shit! I better leave. Don¡¯t know what this is about, but it feels, he won''t like it if he sees me now¡­¡± Alba cautiously retreated, tiptoeing back, praying the door would close silently. She never asked, ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Somehow, it felt shameful, as if she had spied on something deeply personal and forbidden... And their romance soon ended after that. Sometimes the Spaniard wondered if there was a connection between their breakup and that strange situation... but she never found an answer.
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports, underground parking lot nearby Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, August 12, 2049, 6:16 PM Alba shook her head as a vivid memory suddenly overwhelmed her ¨C perhaps it was just the stress talking. ¡°We would welcome help, but not masters,¡± Maksim concluded, finishing his speech as he glanced at his ex-girlfriend. ¡°If the Protectorate stops the fucking disarray currently ruling our civilization, then I¡¯m all for it!¡± Alba exclaimed almost reflexively. She quickly gathered her thoughts to clarify, ¡°You understand yourself, we¡¯re stuck! All the Earth, all civilization! Technologically and intellectually! Your own words, recognize them? We are shackled by the Pact, hands and feet! The constant squabbles between states and tech-corporations, bans on everything, AI restrictions, the damn Cyber-Inquisition, genetic design progress in humans completely halted!¡± ¡°This was a challenge we were supposed to solve ourselves!¡± Max countered, irritated, remembering their long debates about international bans on technological development across a whole range of technologies. ¡°But we didn¡¯t!¡± the girl flared. ¡°And when those appeared who would help us, you decide you''re ¡®on the other side of the barricades!¡¯ Isn''t that absurd?¡± The young man only waved his hand irritably. ¡°That¡¯s it, I¡¯ve heard enough! Tell me, what are you trying to do? Convince us to join the Protectorate?¡± ¡°I just¡­ I wanted to see you¡­ I¡­ you¡­¡± ¡°Sorry, Alba. You¡¯re a good person¡­ truly good. Honest, loyal, intelligent. I regret that we, as you put it, found ourselves ¡®on different sides of the barricades.¡¯ We don¡¯t have time for arguments, but I¡¯m not a Protectorian to just kill someone whose opinion I dislike. Will you have any problems if you don¡¯t check in at the collection point before the curfew starts?¡± ¡°No. Max, wait! Let me finish! What are you planning ?¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± He averted his gaze. ¡°You can¡¯t go with us, so we¡¯re leaving you here.¡± ¡°Here?¡± Alba repeated, puzzled. ¡°Yes. A couple of floors down there¡¯s a suitable room ¨C with water and a working toilet. No light, but we¡¯ll leave you a flashlight. Also, some food and a sleeping bag. The lock will reset in the morning. Then you can head to the collection point. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Max, wait, don¡¯t!..¡± [Nika, help me, please. I can¡¯t do this¡­ in a wheelchair.] Chapter 34 - Legacy of Contamination City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports, underground parking lot nearby Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 6:18 PM Everything was done quickly and in almost complete silence. Nikola ran to grab some items for the Spanish girl ¨C she was left with a sleeping bag, a flashlight, and a day¡¯s rations. Sharing was a stingy affair since they had brought exactly three sleeping bags. Redhead grumbled out of formality, but still handed everything over. Max and Nikola escorted Alba down to the third sublevel. Dasha accompanied them, needing to ensure the Spaniard couldn¡¯t access the network before detaching the smart-cables from her sub-brain. As they descended, connectivity with the satellites faltered and vanished midway to the second sublevel, prompting Daria to sever the connections and sprint back to prepare the truck for their departure. Plus, they decided to activate a couple of drones brought from the university. The last thing anyone wanted was another surprise encounter with shaiszu or agents of the Protectorate. The flying scouts would help mitigate such risks ¨C fortunately, everyone in Max¡¯s team could handle these ¡°gizmos¡± just well. Their descent was silent, punctuated only by the heavy footfalls echoing through the empty stairwell. Alba seemed on the verge of speaking several times, but each time, the words seemed to retreat, leaving her quiet and contemplative. Eventually, they reached a nondescript utility room Maksim had identified during reconnaissance. It seemed previously used as a security break room, equipped with simple amenities ¨C a few chairs, a table, a modest bathroom, a bed, and some barren lockers. Despite the lack of lighting, the essentials were there: water, decent ventilation, and the provided flashlight. The door, robust and metallic, featured a simple automated lock powered by a long-lasting battery ¨C easy enough to reprogram in a couple of seconds. The goodbye was grim. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s come to this, Alba,¡± Max began, looking at the frowning girl. ¡°I doubt our paths will cross again. So, good luck... and farewell.¡± She looked up at him with shimmering eyes ¨C she wanted to cry but held back. She knew Maksim didn''t like tears: ¡°Why?..¡± ¡°Alba...¡± He sighed. ¡°Just let go. Forget us. It¡¯s all in the past, especially now. Apparently, we ended up on opposing sides, and there is no changing to that. You¡¯ll stay here until morning, while we leave Kyiv within twenty minutes, and our lives diverge forever.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ want to,¡± she whispered, a single tear escaping her resolve. ¡°Max, stay... I... care for you... I¡­ lov¡­¡± ¡°The lock will release at nine-thirty tomorrow morning. You¡¯ll be free then. Farewell.¡± ¡°Take care,¡± Nikola added curtly, and they turned, leaving her behind as the door shut with a final, cold clang. Alone in the darkness, Alba made her way to the wall, collapsed into a small, tight ball on the cold floor, and finally allowed herself the tears she¡¯d held at bay.
Maksim ramped up the wheelchair to its maximum speed as he tackled the incline, while Nika kept pace alongside on foot. ¡°Look, I may not get everything, but why did you tell her we¡¯re leaving the city? And how do you plan to pull that off in just thirty minutes before curfew?¡± she questioned. ¡°I¡¯m not actually planning to,¡± Max confessed. ¡°You know it¡¯s impossible. Plus, we need medical help ¨C and so do you. Remember, you¡¯re a cyborg, not a machine.¡± A media glyph blinked as it found and connected to a network. [How¡¯s it going, WonderKid? Drones ready?] [Fully.] Dasha giggled with mischief, enabling the ¡°first person¡± view. The camera revealed her inside the truck, the platform pushed to the very edge, ready for loading. Seated on the floor, legs crossed, with both drones prepared for flight before her, she was surrounded by swirling dense vapor clouds. [Vasilevskaya?!] [Maksimka! I found myself a ¡°zero mix¡±!] Dasha¡¯s voice bubbled with excitement. [See? White steam!] [Craziness,] Red commented sarcastically. [No argument there,] Max sighed. [But she¡¯s brilliant when it counts. We need that brainpower now.] [Yep, that¡¯s me¡­] Dashka contently purred. [Err¡­ And¡­ What¡¯s up?] [And what do you think yourself?] Max and Nikola had made their way to the first level and were hustling toward the unimog. [I dunno¡­] Dasha pondered, her forehead wrinkling comically before she confidently declared, [Given the current situation, probably need to secure safe transport to the ¡®clinic¡¯ Nika arranged. And figure out how to shake the Protectorate off our tail. Or rather, how to prevent them from tailing us¡­ Alba might spill about us.] As she spoke, the wheelchair reached the truck and came to a stop beside the cargo area. ¡°That¡¯s right. And we need to figure this out in the next thirty-eight minutes before curfew. So, let¡¯s decide the safest method quickly and move! It¡¯ll take us at least fifteen minutes to the site if we detour through pedestrian and bike paths. Dasha, get to the cab; Nika, start loading.¡±
Within three minutes, the loading was complete. The bots, including Big One with all the bags, were situated near the roboplatform. Alisa¡¯s body was also placed nearby. At the rear of the cargo space, there was just enough room left for a dolly and the backpacks Nika had hauled. ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ve been to ¡®the Factory¡¯ more than once.¡± Redhead commented, tearing open a large packet of wet wipes in an attempt to scrub the blood from her hands and face. ¡°There are no cameras in the vicinity ¨C locals enforce that rigorously. As for orbital satellites, there are about a dozen covert approaches to the place, including one where you just drive past it.¡± ¡°Great. Can we manage that from our current track?¡± Maksim displayed a route map in their virtual conference, tracing their path from the parking area to the complex. ¡°Lemme see.¡± Nika pondered, zooming in on the destination. She marked several points on the map. ¡°Right here, there¡¯s a tunnel under the highway, about five hundred meters long. Directly above it, is a sizable bus bay, mirrored by a similar space inside the tunnel itself. There¡¯s a door marked ¡®Technical Areas, No Entry¡¯ leading to a staircase and a cargo elevator. And, just by chance, a covered overpass stretches right across the highway above all this majesty.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Max grinned. ¡°Got it. And it¡¯s only mere luck that there¡¯re no cameras in the tunnel, and the passageway comes out right under the canopy by the fence, or something similar, right?¡± ¡°Exactly. Any whim for your money, you see. There are official and public entries too, but why show our hand to the Protectorate unnecessarily?¡± Nikola shrugged. ¡°Absolutely unnecessary. So, Dasha, here¡¯s a million-eurodollars question ¨C did you take only the main units of Moira or everything we had on the racks?¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t fit everything by weight,¡± the girl hesitated momentarily as her hand moved towards her vape, then reconsidered under Max¡¯s stern look and put it back. ¡°But I took nine additional ¡®ProjectBoxes¡¯ because they aren¡¯t heavy.¡± ¡°Nine¡¯s pretty substantial. Can you power one from the unimog¡¯s onboard network?¡± ¡°I can.¡± Dasha nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a small window in the cargo area I can run cables through. Want to set up an independent autopilot, yeah?¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Yep. The unimog is smart, has enough sensors and cameras. We¡¯ll send it far out of the city, maybe towards Cherkasy. Let¡¯s also see how the Protectorate responds to vehicle movements during curfew. Can you handle that en route?¡± ¡°Definitely. But I¡¯d rather not sit in the cab... since the windshield¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°We might as well cover up the cab completely,¡± Maksim¡¯s ingrained paranoia seemed to kick in. ¡°You wrapped the modules on the platform with film, right?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, stole it from the neighbors. They¡¯re renouncers too, took off... Yeah. I had to cover Moira with something, and packaging film seemed better than curtains. And we didn¡¯t have any curtains in the club anyway.¡± Redhead leapt into the cargo bay, scrutinizing the setup. ¡°Good, she¡¯s wrapped plenty here. I¡¯ll cut a wide strip to cover the windows. The film is thick, should hold up, but I¡¯ll add some duct tape for good measure!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up then. Nika, cut a chunk and cover those windows. Dasha, head to the cab, I¡¯ll pass you the cables. Get connected and start prepping the software,¡± Max directed. ¡°And hide that vape, you WiggedWonder.¡± ¡°It¡¯s WonderKid,¡± she retorted, though she still stashed the device anyway. Activity buzzed around them. In just two and a half minutes, the cab¡¯s door slammed shut, and a satisfied Redhead¡¯s face popped up, straight in front of Daria. ¡°All secure, fixed ¡®em at my best! Wrapped up tightly, didn¡¯t skimp on the tape. Good to go now.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s hit the road,¡± chuckled Maksim from the cargo area. ¡°I¡¯ve got both drones, set up a local network for them. Dasha¡¯s finishing the autopilot, quickly at that. We¡¯ll forcibly disconnect the vehicle from the network and block any reconnection possibility ¨C just in case the service provider boots up. Nikola, you¡¯re in charge of driving, ¡®course you know where and how to go. Push it to the limit; we have to make it in time!¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Nika said, smirking, as both drones buzzed to life, their camera feeds displayed in the conference by Max. The truck swung around and sped out of the parking lot, quickly picking up speed. ¡°Everything¡¯s under control, I¡¯ll finish coding in five minutes,¡± WonderKid assured from the cabin, her unruly hair barely contained. ¡°Hey, Max, any chance for a vape? Just a bit, a light one? Zero? Please-please, pwetty please?¡± Maksim sighed deeply, waving dismissively. ¡°Oh, to hell, smoke away if you need to.¡± ¡°It¡¯s vapor, actually, not smoke,¡± Vasilevskaya huffed, sounding a bit offended. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. And yes, ladies, we¡¯re going offline. Better safe than revealing to the Protes local base stations through which specifically we¡¯re connecting to TACTA¡¯s net. Dasha, set up a P2P local network, so our chat stays up. That¡¯s it, we¡¯re ready to fly now! Let Her Holy Brightness guide us!¡± ¡°Her Holy Brightness? The hell?¡± Nika mused to herself. ¡°First there were Chtulhas, now there¡¯s more other fantasy nonsense¡­¡± ¡°Just checking what other surprises await us at the site,¡± Maksim thought, booting up a preloaded darknet app with geotags scattered across ¡°the Factory¡± area.
Much like ancient civilizations that laid roads to consolidate control over newly conquered lands, the community of renouncers was now rapidly building a new network infrastructure based on the TACTA extranet. ¡°I wonder, who managed to set this up? And how did they secure access to the TACTA global extranet, which the Protectorate totally fails to spot? A complete fucking mystery, indeed,¡± Maksim pondered. ¡°Yet, the possibilities it unveils are fascinating.¡± Primary communication systems were the first to migrate to this ¡°renovated darknet,¡± followed soon by other resources: blockchain and smart chain providers, private forums, file-sharing services, trading platforms, and maps with geotags ¨C apparently, there were several places like ¡°the Factory¡± in Kyiv. Payment systems were expected shortly, though operators were still cautious ¨C the trade and conversion of ¡°new money¡± were still uncertain. And, inevitably, the ever-present advertisements adapted to the new algorithms, continuing their relentless task. Considering it had been nearly a year since Max last visited ¡°the Factory,¡± and knowing how drastically it had altered, he had preemptively downloaded a specific app from a darknet file-storage. Now disconnected from the TACTA network, he simply launched it, exploring a constellation of information points. ¡°It¡¯s all quite bizarre! I thought most renouncers would do anything to flee the city at all costs. Yet here they are. Are they really aiming to sustain activities under the watchful eye of the Protectorate? But how? Today marks the chaos of invasion day, with resources potentially running low. Yet, the situation will only tighten, become far harsher than it was back home right before our flight. I doubt many can even grasp what¡¯s coming.¡± Momentarily distracted by the view from his drones, Maksim noted that Nika had to navigate around an obstruction of abandoned vehicles, which slowed them down. The view behind the truck hadn¡¯t changed much, still dominated by plumes of smoke, which only increased in number now. There were also looming numerous ¡°black swarms¡± of drones, now mostly concentrated around the city center and collection points where Dasha gave a lift to the folks from the uni. After checking in on Dasha and noting he still had a few minutes, the guy returned to his exploration of the app...
The former ¡°Factory No.1 of the global corporation NES¡± was now simply known as ¡°the Factory.¡± This place had long earned a notorious reputation far beyond Kyiv, and the acronym NES had become a byword for something generally negative. Of course, it wasn¡¯t on par with Chernobyl or Fukushima, but this name often surfaced in European discussions about unchecked and large-scale environmental radioactive contamination. This reputation was the result of an unfortunate confluence of events when the period of redrawing boundaries, redistributing powers among polises and states, and the collapse of the old political-geographical structure coincided with an innovative technological revolution in the early 2030s. At that time, numerous crazy startups emerged daily in basements, led by former students or engineers and scientists who had failed to find other employment. Armed with newly accessible equipment, they churned out new products and solutions, racing to earn before their ideas were copied by competitors. One such startup was the infamous NES, or New Energy Solutions. Starting as a network of battery and accumulator exchange and recycling stations, it grew into a corporation that took over the entire area of the former ¡°Radar¡± factory branch ¡í1 in Kyiv and its surroundings. In an age when electric cars, androids, drones, and various cyber assistants became commonplace, and biomechanics was within reach of every middle-class citizen, the quest for power sources and autonomy surged to the forefront. Adding fuel to the fire was the issue of power generation ¨C renewable energy sources clearly couldn¡¯t handle the global consumption peak, and fusion power had yet to be successfully commercialized. Then, like a jack-in-the-box, isotope batteries and decay-based generators appeared. The meticulously inflated fear of the ¡°malevolent atom¡± suspiciously fizzled out amidst cries for ¡°more power!¡± However, educated by past environmental disasters, civilization approached these ¡°new old¡± energy sources with utmost caution. Spent batteries had to be disposed of at designated facilities, for a fee. Discarding them elsewhere meant hefty fines, and a violator would be undoubtedly tracked through unique identifiers. NES seemed to revolutionize this sector by opening battery exchange and trade-in centers. You could hand in your spent battery, pay a little extra, and get a new one, slightly inferior but universally compatible and significantly cheaper than anything else on the market. This proved an excellent way to flood Europe with their products and slash battery prices! After winning several lawsuits against energy corporations, NES rapidly expanded, attracting significant investment, with this factory becoming its production hub. Not by accident, as the former ¡°Radar¡± factory, along with its branches, was ceded to the state of Ukraine rather than the polis Kyiv following the territorial redistribution. The state bureaucrats found this inconvenient ¡°gift¡± undesirable, but were reluctant to give it away. Then a tenant appeared, ready to pay well to both parties. The deal was eagerly clinched, the corporation¡¯s business boomed, and the bureaucrats... well, they preferred to keep out of ¡°other people¡¯s business.¡± However, this situation didn¡¯t last long. The mid-30s brought the long-awaited energy breakthrough: thermonuclear power! Suddenly, the need for dirty radioisotope batteries vanished ¨C accumulators, whose development had not stalled all the time along, triumphantly returned to the stage. NES¡¯s business closed virtually overnight, and the owners vanished into thin air, additionally having made a fortune from the crash of their own cryptocurrency. When new tenants began to populate the disputed facility, a horrific truth emerged. The ¡°new energy solution¡± turned out to involve reprocessing all valuable battery materials ¨C like lithium, yttrium, and beryllium ¨C into new products, incredibly cheap to produce due to the nearly free raw materials. And the ¡°dirty¡± waste in the form of capsules with radioactive material that couldn¡¯t be reprocessed, was simply buried on-site, in specially dug shafts under the buildings. Though the capsules were small, billions of them buried together created a persistent and noticeable radioactive background even at the surface. Authorities were in a panic, but since the land was still technically no one¡¯s by law, the situation remained unresolved until several environmental funds allocated money for constructing a protective barrier. An underground concrete encasement was erected around the perimeter to prevent radiation from spreading through groundwater, but progress stalled there. Five years passed, and various enthusiasts and ¡°independent experts¡± with dosimeters began to claim it was no longer radioactive, and the area should be reclaimed and used. But no authority wanted to take responsibility, so everything was put on hold. Eventually, a large international eco-organization with a vague program and faint hints of cultism bought the site and the surrounding areas. Finally, they conducted an inspection and, on their own responsibility, allowed the place to be used for industrial and storage needs by new tenants for a modest fee. Thus began the renaissance of ¡°the renewed Factory¡±! Exploiting the unclear legal status and consequently low level of oversight, new occupants swarmed it like insects. Each snagged their piece of cursed land for a song, concreted over the soil to keep radiation at bay, installed autonomous utilities, reinforced gates and locks, and did as they pleased. Some set up warehouses, some production facilities, others illegal services, even brothels. On the outskirts of a major technopolis, a vibrant eastern bazaar of the technological revolution era emerged. ¡°Well, never thought I¡¯d come here again,¡± Max mused, staring at the dense cluster of geotags scattered across his map. ¡°Gee, this fucking exotic!¡± Chapter 35 - Operation Lizard Tail City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 6:56 PM With only four minutes left until the set hour, the unimog finally neared the drop-off point. Their journey had been predictably delayed by abandoned e-cars and the debris of recent skirmishes, necessitating frequent detours. The sky was thick with Protectorate drones, increasing ominously by the minute ¨C sometimes singly, sometimes in small squads. Once, a veritable ¡°caravan¡± of over a thousand of various-sized drones had passed overhead. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, Maksim decided to retract his own flying scouts back into the truck. Now, it was only three hundred meters to go before reaching the tunnel entrance. They lucked out with a dense traffic jam of abandoned vehicles, causing their unimog to crawl at just 10 kilometers per hour along the shoulder ¨C perfect, given the absence of any living soul on the road. The conditions were ideal! Max let out a quiet sigh of relief ¨C the risk of stumbling upon curious bystanders or, worse, a Protectorate drone, had been their plan¡¯s weakest link. ¡°Girls, be ready! Dasha, once you jump out, start the program on Nika¡¯s command.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± ¡°Yeah, Max, I¡¯m on it!¡±
The unplanned encounter with Alba and the team¡¯s consequent exposure had forced Maksim and Dasha to rack their brain on how to program the autopilot. It wasn¡¯t ungrounded paranoia. Well, of course, it was unlikely the Protectorate would chase down every renouncer, particularly amid the initial days¡¯ chaos. But what if the Spaniard turned them in just the next morning? The model of the truck was already pretty conspicuous, and considering its battered facade and windows wrapped in black film, finding it with cameras and satellites would be very easy. So, they needed to outwit the Protectorate¡¯s tracking efforts. Cameras were absent in the tunnel, and satellites wouldn¡¯t catch sight during the passage. However, a stop there would look suspicious. Therefore, the plan: no stops, the truck had to keep moving. So, when the vehicle enters the tunnel, Nika will sharply steer it into the bus bay and reduce the speed to almost zero, but without stopping completely. They will have to unload on the move and as quickly as possible. After that, the autopilot will take over. Its task is to accelerate, pass through the rest of the tunnel, and exit at normal speed, as if no maneuvers had taken place. Certainly, it might later come to light that there is a covered passage from the highway to one of the black entrances to a rather dubious area. This means that, theoretically, the truck could have stopped here briefly. So, Maksim decides to complicate things and confuse the Protectorate''s sleuths even more! He and Dashka set up a whole series of intermediate stops, specifically choosing deserted places near the highway where there are no cameras. At each stop, the program will attempt to connect to the TACTA network via available mobile connections and upload a report from the vehicle''s cameras and the drone left on the roof to a secure anonymous exchange, thus creating an additional illusion of network activity. If fortune favored them, the unimog would make it to Cherkasy and send back photo and video reports on the journey and the city¡¯s state. If not ¨C well, they were prepared to face that risk.
The team''s actions were tightly synchronized, down to the second: The truck swung into the tunnel and veered sharply into the bus bay, deploying the loading ramp as it did so. Nika passed the control console to Dasha and leapt from the cabin, not waiting for it to stop. As the truck continued to decelerate, Redhead was already at the back, throwing open the doors. The trickiest task was the first ¨C maneuvering the overloaded shopping cart from Mikea out of the cargo area. They manage it, though not without some mishaps, as a few boxes tumble down. Nika quickly shoves them aside to clear the path. The scout drones exited, followed by Maksim in his wheelchair. Nikola is ready to back him up, but it turns out to be unnecessary. As they descended, Max turned on the CaTZ, leading it. On the ground, they quickly moved aside, clearing the path. The robotic platform is last, picking up the body of Alisa with its manipulator along the way. ¡°Dasha, let¡¯s go!¡± Nikola swiftly shut the right door, leapt over the retracting ramp, and slammed the left door shut. ¡°Engaging autopilot!¡± Dasha responds briskly, jumping out of the cabin. A short beep signals the start of the autopilot. ¡°Shit, the bag!¡± Dasha suddenly realized she¡¯d left her university souvenir behind in the cabin and dashed back for it. ¡°Leave it!¡± ¡°No, I can make it!¡± Ignoring the advice, she snagged her prize, grazing her arm in the process, and yanked it towards her. The door slams shut! The sensors indicate ¡°closed,¡± and the Unimog suddenly lurches forward. Dasha, barely managing to snatch the ¡°treasure,¡± falls to the ground, clutching the trophy tightly, miraculously avoiding hitting her head or getting run over by the wheels. The truck sped back towards the tunnel, braking sharply at the last moment to continue its programmed path, maintaining its initial velocity. Just as if it had never stopped. ¡°Damn, it hurt¡­ Stupid, what was I thinking? I told myself I¡¯d throw it out. Why bother risking it?¡± ¡°Wow, WonderStar, you never cease to amaze¡­¡± Max approached, offering a hand to help her up. ¡°All good?¡± ¡°I¡¯m scratched up badly... and hit pretty hard...¡± Vasilevskaya whimpered. ¡°But I rescued the bag¡­ yeah!¡± ¡°Max, here!¡± Nikola approached, having already detached the medical bag from the bot. Dasha sat up, presenting her arm. Maksim quickly treated the deep scratch, sealed it with a bandage, and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°All right, we need to move ¨C curfew¡¯s almost upon us! And, let''s try to go on without any more adventures.¡± Just as Nikola said, the entire walking route to the gate had been covered under various shelters. First it was an above-ground street crossing, then an awning, and finally a broad canopy along the Factory¡¯s fence. Quite the strategic path, indeed. ¡°The ¡®public¡¯ entrances are on the other side; this one¡¯s purely for insiders. Well, and some ¡®special¡¯ clients who know the drill,¡± Nikola briefed as they neared. ¡°But I warn you: expect a rough crowd ¨C sure, they¡¯ll let us through, but they might try to size us up, just out of habit. Typically, you¡¯d book a ¡®special entry¡¯ in advance... but I¡¯ve got a pass, so I¡¯ll manage. Just be cool and don¡¯t take any baits.¡± They stopped before the nondescript metal gates, painted in chipping green. The only notable feature was a tiny camera peephole above. No bell, no sign. Boom-boom-boom! Nikola, unabashed, pounded the door with her fist. After a twenty-second delay, a gruff voice erupted from a concealed speaker: ¡°Private property. Fuck outta here!¡± Boom-boom! ¡°Open up!¡± Red said calmly. ¡°Got an invite for Zelman.¡± The gates trembled and slid open, revealing a short corridor, blocked further down by more massive gates. Just then, city sirens wailed, adding drive to the situation and signaling the start of the curfew. Immediately, two intimidating, burly men dressed in military garb labeled ¡°Factory Security¡± appeared at the improvised ¡°airlock.¡± The first, a towering figure with a visible holster sticking out from under his jacket, his left sleeve cut off just under the shoulder, revealing a brutal cybernetic arm equipped with titanium claws and an integrated cutter. Snorting something, he moved forward and advanced towards Nikola. He might fantasize about using such his ¡°big paw¡± for brute force, like breaking doors, or tearing off hatches and heads ¨C while Nikola only offered this ¡°wonder of prosthetic engineering¡± a scornful, icy stare. The second guard, posing a real threat, had his submachine gun HK UMP-NX casually slung over his shoulder, his right hand positioned suggestively above it, angling slightly towards the visitors ¨C a significant hint of the underlying tension.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Wow, this is freakin¡¯ serious,¡± Max thought, watching the spectacle unfold. ¡°And it¡¯s convincing, indeed. And a good point, it¡¯s very likely that we can procure some good weaponry here. That¡¯s something to note for the morning¡¯s agenda, by the way¡­¡± ¡°Not so fast, sweetie.¡± the hulk clicked his cybernetic fingers, sparking them unconcernedly despite the wailing of the siren. ¡°The doc and his crew cleared out earlier today! The ¡®Lizard¡¯ is closed. So, who are we here to impress, cutie pie?¡± ¡°Give me your wrist, Terminator, kurwa,¡± Nika said lazily without looking at him. Taken aback by her blunt defiance, the man silently extended his prosthetic arm. Red laid her left hand over his. ¡°Convinced now?¡± The man frowned, his eyes twitching awkwardly ¨C cheap lenses, or maybe he¡¯s just bad with AR/VR interfaces. ¡°Err... Shimon, they actually have an invite.¡± The second guard made a dismissive gesture at the ¡°Terminator¡±, reflecting his thoughts on the man¡¯s intellect, but relaxed his grip on the submachine gun. ¡°Alright, now we¡¯re talking!¡± the mountain with the prosthetic arm mumbled. ¡°How many of yours? Y¡¯all can pass. But hold on, sweetheart, will this even let you in?¡± ¡°Fuck no, I¡¯ll just stay out here in the doorway,¡± Redhead snapped back, clearly fed up with the farce. ¡°Just open up! We¡¯re only here to pick up some stuff!¡± ¡°Yes-yes, of course, come right through, welcome!¡± The giant managed a grin. As the inner gate of the ¡°airlock¡± began to open, he raised his clawed prosthetic to eye level, showing it to Nika. ¡°See this beauty? The doc fitted it for me! Fuckin¡¯ good guy¡­ God bless him.¡± She just sighed and silently messaged in the chat, [Max, Dasha, follow me. It¡¯s gonna be calmer inside. It¡¯s kind of a maze though, but I know where to go.] As the team, along with their stuff, moved forward, the second guard suddenly grabbed Nikola¡¯s shoulder, whispering, ¡°Look, redhead, since you¡¯re in the loop, you know where to look. Update the info in the morning. Stay on the cots at the Doc¡¯s and keep it down. We don¡¯t need any trouble during curfew, even if you¡¯re just here to ¡®pick up some stuff,¡¯¡± he smirked, eyeing the iron-laden platform and Max in his wheelchair. ¡°We won¡¯t let you out of the building till morning anyway. Bars and brothels won¡¯t be operational these first few nights. Avoid using mobile connections to extranets, though we jam them here anyway. Also, patrol drones fly over us regularly. The last squadron passed six minutes ago. You didn¡¯t leave your transport nearby, did you?¡± ¡°No. We bailed through the tunnel, and the vehicle headed south.¡± ¡°No to spoko (Polish: Well, alright). They keep a tight watch around here, you see. If you plan to leave in the morning, arrange it in advance. Got access to the Factory local network?¡± ¡°Tak. Dzi?ki za rad? (Polish: Yes. Thanks for the advice).¡± Nika nodded, and they passed through the gates into the compound. Dasha, following behind the platform, remained quiet, increasingly feeling like an outsider in a world of strange actions, customs, and social interactions. [Are you navigating by the map with geotags?] Maksim asked soundlessly. [No, by memory. I know where the clinic is.] [Oh, got it. So, the ¡°Lizard¡± is this place here, right?] Max dropped a pin in the chat labeled ¡°Lizard Tail: Emergency Biomechanics Repair.¡± [Yep, that¡¯s the one.] [Great. Girls, I downloaded some local ads earlier. Here, take a look at what else is around,] the guy shared an interactive map in the conference. They continued down a corridor past a series of closed facilities, then turned left through a ¡°staff only¡± door and entered the bustling world of ¡°the Factory.¡± The large compound of numerous connected buildings was filled with a variety of commercial and manufacturing outlets, ranging from tiny stalls to massive multi-level complexes. The area was unusually quiet now. Its residents who had chosen to stay overnight were really bracing for curfew. Each entrance, despite the lively signs, resembled a fortress ready for siege. All windows were already barred, and doors made of sturdy materials were locked. Yet, the signs continued to beckon invitingly. Max chuckled at the disparity between the gritty reality before him and the glossy advertisements on the darknet map geotags. For instance, a modest sign on the left proclaimed ¡°Education Center ¡®Erudite¡¯. Express education for all!¡±. While the darknet stipulated, ¡°Wide selection of fresh unlocked libraries for your sub-brain! Download for free! Don''t pay for education ¨C know everything instantly!¡± ¡°Typical,¡± Max thought, recalling the hapless students who had bought into these information dumps, unable to even navigate databases effectively, much less utilize the information. Many flunked out, unable to differentiate between a cardan and cardamon. To the right, the delicious aroma of grilling meat wafted from ¡°Nostalgia Steakhouse¡±. Its darknet tag revealed the theme, ¡°100% real beef, mooing till yesterday! No gene farms, no substitutes! EXPENSIVE. TASTY. MANLY.¡± ¡°How barbaric!¡± Dasha hissed over her shoulder. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Max retorted, ¡°why so rigorous? Check it out, there are plenty of places that sell your vaping stuff here.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Nika perked up. ¡°It¡¯s bound to be three times cheaper than the university dealers. They definitely stock up here! Actually, I don¡¯t mind getting a vape myself.¡± They passed more vendors offering ¡°perfect replicas, indistinguishable from the original¡±. Thanks to the plummeting prices of industrial 3D printers and robotic assembly systems, as well as quite accessible pirate software, even large corporations struggled to protect their patented products from high-quality counterfeits. And the number of such ¡°fast-make¡± stores grew exponentially. Max¡¯s attention was caught by a newly updated extranet shop tag, ¡°We¡¯ll deliver any goods and equipment from the TACTA catalogs to our site! Citizenship doesn¡¯t matter!¡± ¡°Girls, see this?¡± ¡°Yeah, business is business.¡± Nika said. ¡°These guys adapt to any situation... Pretty prompt, if it¡¯s true. It''s like we haven''t even had a chance to think it over, and they''re already making offers. Although, I suspect they''re just setting things up in advance for the future.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be alright without any middlemen,¡± Maksim agreed. Finally, they found their destination, the Lizard Tail Medical Center. On its sign was quaintly depicted a cute but sad Lizard holding its detached tail, while an equally cute, cheerful Doctor threaded a needle. ¡°Emergency biomechanics repair and restoration of any kind, fair prices, warranty!¡± ¡°Here we are. Just hope Zelman didn¡¯t screw up the access systems.¡± Nika said as she punched in a lengthy code. The detectors clicked off and the heavy iron doors swung open. ¡°Zapraszam Pa¨½stwa, I mean, welcome to the clinic for fugitive cyborgs!¡± Redhead declared contently, with a flourish inviting gesture. Inside, however, there was nothing illicit ¨C just a small waiting room with a sofa, battered stands displaying cyber-prostheses ¡°cheap as fuck¡±, a couple of workshops with basic tools, a small storeroom with bare shelves and empty containers, and footprints with other traces of hasty activities. And, most importantly, notably absent were any surgical bots or medical supplies. ¡°Nika, are you sure it¡¯s the right address? You weren¡¯t misled by any chance?¡± ¡°All cool, everything¡¯s under control,¡± Nikola giggled. ¡°Showtime in a sec!¡± ¡°Really? A show?¡± ¡°Yeah, Dr. Zelman is quite the joker. Just need to find an ophthalmoscope. The device for diagnosing eye and optical implants. Must be around¡­ here¡­ Why the hell does he keep putting it in different places?!¡± ¡°Could it be, you are looking for this?¡± Dasha asked, pointing at a tabletop instrument with eyepieces, originally hidden under an empty box. ¡°That¡¯s it! Getting to work.¡± Nikola sat down on a chair in front of the device, brought her right eye to the eyepiece and froze. Seconds passed in silence, before the device suddenly sprang to life and the screen glowed green. # Access confirmed! You¡¯re clear to head to the restroom! No smoking, please maintain cleanliness. And by the way, great implant lenses! Zelman wouldn¡¯t fit you with anything less!¡± ¡°Ah, the doctor¡¯s still got his humor!¡± ¡°Why the restroom, though?¡± Dasha asked puzzledly from behind. Her question was answered by a toilet door automatically swinging open and lit up a green sign flashing ¡°Restroom unoccupied.¡± But inside, the restroom revealed to slightly taken aback Max and Daria far more than what it seemed ¨C a cabin too large for ordinary use, featuring a modestly tucked-away toilet with handrails for patient convenience and a small sink. Adjacent to it was a vast empty space about at least twenty square meters. ¡°Everyone, cut the shock and awe! This is just a cleverly disguised elevator. It¡¯ll fit even the platform. Let¡¯s start moving everything down; I think, two rides will be enough. You go first, guys.¡± As they complied, a message appeared on a small screen above the door: # After loading, press the flush pedal four times in a row. To return the cabin upstairs, press the hairdryer button ¨C ten-second delay. As you see, nothing''s changed :) If you need to activate the elevator from above again, repeat the verification process. ¡°Hmm¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s pretty simple,¡± Maksim chuckled. ¡°Well, let¡¯s take it for a spin, I guess¡­¡± He entered the booth first, followed by Dasha with a Mikea shopping trolley and Big One. ¡°Go ahead, Dashka! Flush it all to hell!¡± Nikola called out with a grin. ¡°Attention! One, two, three, flush!¡± A click sounded as the double doors locked, and the floor gently descended. The descent was brief; soon, a green light signaled their arrival. [Nikola to Voyager! Do you copy? Over.] [Loud and clear, Nikola. Over,] Maksim replied, looking around. [Come down, let¡¯s see what we¡¯ve landed!] Moments later, the door reopened, and Redhead stepped out along with the platform. The basement level, clearly the main operational area, was impressively expansive. That¡¯s where doc¡¯s business was happening. It housed ten single rehabilitation rooms, a shower, a couple of restrooms, a reception area with couches, a high-end workshop, several storage rooms, a large warehouse, and four offices, one doubling as a control station. And, of course, a state-of-the-art surgical room. The surgical suite was particularly remarkable, isolated within a vibration-damped capsule with a controlled atmosphere, equipped with the latest generation surgical robot and auxiliary medical robots, complete with a full set of medical tools. Unlike the reception above, this space was the epitome of order and cleanliness. Exiting the restroom booth into the hall, Nika walked past the administrator¡¯s desk, where another ophthalmoscope was waiting, its standby light glowing. She brought her eye to the eyepiece again, and the sensors re-scanned the ID tag of the implanted lens and the retina. The nearby computer screen lit up, displaying the message ¡°decryption in progress.¡± A moment later, an offline message from Dr. Zelman popped up, adorned with his usual media avatar ¨C a lizard. ¡°Hello, bubbeleh! Glad to see you¡¯ve made it to my humble abode with your patients. Everything you ordered is in stock. My robot is quite the genius; its libraries are up-to-date with the latest surgical knowledge, and the virtual assistant will guide you through the prep work. It¡¯s not networked, so the Protectorate can¡¯t touch it. All permissions are set. Fire it up and good luck. And if your stay extends beyond expected, you can find all essentials for killing time and recovering in peace. Water, food ¨C at least a week¡¯s worth ¨C chilling in the fridge. Well, you know, where the kitchen is, right? Watch it! Don¡¯t pop open that right-hand chamber in the surgical room; we left some medical waste there, and it¡¯s not exactly on ice. If they haven¡¯t started their own civilization, they surely smell worse than your shaiszu! :-) Other than that ¨C best luck! If you¡¯ve got the wheels and the time, maybe you could schlepp my big, fancy surgical setup somewhere safe? It¡¯s a real mechaye to have, and we could make a pretty penny on it, split it 50/50. And you do remember that all this ain¡¯t for free, right? Don¡¯t kvetch, I¡¯ll find you myself once the dust has settled. Ever thought about moving to Odessa? Warm, by the seaside¡­ And you could schlepp my money in person. Nosh on that thought, okay? By the way, don¡¯t leave the doors open when you scoot; I might have other patients coming by too!¡± ¡°Well, mission accomplished,¡± Nika declared satisfactorily, wiping her hands. ¡°Time to boot up Alisa, right? And you, mister, prepare yourself! Let¡¯s catch our breath before we dive into repairs! Can¡¯t wait to meet the proper man by my side.¡± She gave Max a smile, its meaning unmistakably clear and rather intriguing¡­ Chapter 36 - The Protectorate’s Embrace City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Protectorate Collection point G4 Kamil Teodoryanu and others, August 12, 2049, 6:58 PM Kamil cracked his neck wearily. ¡°Boy, it¡¯s been a while since I pushed myself that hard!¡± The last half hour had been particularly grueling for him. He was exhausted. And it all started with being assigned to the Red Group of the Protectorate¡¯s Public Efficiency Class¡­
Jumping out of the truck, Kamil, Gleb, Vratislav and Julia immediately dashed towards the nearest descent into the subway ¨C time was pressing. ¡°Good thing Dasha gave us a lift; we¡¯d never have made it on foot,¡± Julia still managed to comment while running. ¡°Save¡­ your breath, Jules,¡± Vratislav said, trying to keep up with the two athletes, who had already sped away; nobody wanted to be late, it¡¯s almost 6 PM now! Down below, however, they had to slow down ¨C they encountered a dense stream of people coming from Beresteiska subway station. ¡°Holy cow!¡± exclaimed the restless Julia. ¡°I bet they¡¯re all heading to the muster point, look at them rush!¡± Indeed, unlike the usual traffic jam somewhere in the subway during rush hour, people moved quickly, almost running. ¡°No kidding, why else there¡¯d be a throng like this?¡± Gleb glanced around briefly and was the first to plunge into the flow, clearing a path toward the middle, where no one walked ¨C everyone ran. ¡°Shake a leg, guys, just a couple of minutes left!¡± Closer to the surface exit, the stream oddly began to slow to a walk. Also, a low-frequency hum, resembling buzzing, became clearly audible. But it didn¡¯t sound like a plane, helicopter, or drone. The hum intensified, but the source remained undiscovered until they reached the surface. From the exit side, intermittent exclamations such as ¡°holy crap,¡± ¡°what a monster,¡± ¡°goddamn!¡± could be heard. ¡°What the heck is going on up there!¡± Kamil couldn¡¯t stand it any longer when the pace slowed drastically and people almost stopped. ¡°Excuse me, we¡¯re in a hurry!¡± And he surged forward with the grace and unstoppable force of an icebreaker. People grumbled but preferred to let him through ¨C his ¡°two-plus¡± meters of height and solid build allowed him to perform even more impressive feats. However, having pushed through to the top, the young people themselves nearly got stuck, creating another bottleneck. But the cause of the jam became apparent: looking up, they saw a huge aircraft slowly descending from the sky, at least three hundred meters long! This cyclopean contraption, resembling a giant black airplane built on a canard aerodynamic configuration, was indeed frightening ¨C a behemoth blocking the sun, inexorably landing, it seemed, right on the heads of the amassed ¡°recruits.¡± The guys didn¡¯t immediately notice the myriad of small Protectorate drones circling menacingly around it, like remoras around a whale shark. Indeed, the military purpose of this ¡®airplane¡¯ was unquestionable. The partially opened hatches on the nose revealed clusters of missiles, ready for launch, though they appeared minuscule like matchsticks against the overall size of the ship. However, the participants of a student startup developing racing aerodrones first noticed another oddity ¨C the main wing was clearly too small to lift such a colossus into the air! ¡°This thing killed my belief in the laws of physics,¡± Julia murmured softly, eyes wide open at the sight of the monster. ¡°Slav, how is this even possible? It doesn¡¯t have any vertical thrust engines! Why and by what does THIS fly?!¡± ¡°Just because, and by air,¡± Gleb answered instead of Vratislav. ¡°Guys, time, time! We can''t dawdle...¡± Cutting off his remark, the jet engines activated, smoothly turning the slowly descending machine. What had been a hum now turned into a ROAR that filled the street. They had to cover their ears and run forward. If they could, the guys would have retreated back into the subway, but the crowd kept pressing on, and they could only move in one direction. Towards the gates. Yes, the second shocking element on the surface turned out to be... not just a fence, but a veritable fortress wall! Five meters high, with gun towers, some sophisticated electronics on top, and numerous drones flying around the perimeter. Under the G4 reception point, Protectorate occupied both skyscrapers of the design institute located here, adjoining buildings, and a significant piece of territory beyond that had been cordoned off. Even considering that a big part of the engaged area was allocated for a gigantic landing pad, the volume of work done was simply staggering. Finally, the monster¡¯s engines fell silent. The descended silence hit the ears, making everyone feel as if they had gone deaf, and the entrance to the territory appeared ahead. On the large square along the walls were thirty closed booths. It was easy to understand what was required ¨C above each booth either a ¡°Vacant¡± or ¡°Wait¡± sign lit up. And, apparently, people were passing through them further ¨C no one had come back out yet. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go, I guess,¡± Kamil said, moving towards the first booth that freed up. Inside was a large holographic screen with a small shelf in front. As soon as the door shut, a pleasant blonde woman with her hair braided, dressed in a strict blue uniform adorned with golden insignia, appeared before him. The woman smiled charmingly and asked something in a language that resembled German. Kamil understood almost everything, but the auto-translator kicked in just to be sure. # language detected: Avrilian, simplified (the UNSA Protectorate) ¡°Eternal Sun, citizen. Your name?¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Kamil, Teodoryanu.¡± ¡°Your personal code, please.¡± ¡°4856-2931-4814-5211.¡± ¡°Good.¡± The woman pointed downwards where a compartment had opened below the screen, illuminating a ¡°palm¡± icon. ¡°Please, place your right hand here for a blood analysis.¡± ¡°Uhh¡­ all right.¡± Kamil complied. Something whirred inside the device, a soft whirring followed by a swift prick and a brief touch lasted only a few seconds. ¡°All done. One moment, please.¡± After about twenty seconds¡­ ¡°Kamil, preliminary analysis has confirmed your assignment to the Red Group of UNSA Public Efficiency Classes. Are you familiar with the requirements and conditions of this group?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s the warrior class.¡± The hologram nodded. ¡°It''s a bit more complex, but broadly, you are correct. Do you agree to these terms?¡± ¡°I agree,¡± the young man replied with a slightly hoarse voice. The door on the opposite wall slid open. ¡°Follow the red line. Long may the Sun shine upon you, recruit,¡± the woman bid him farewell. ¡°Long may the Sun shine!¡± Not knowing quite how else to respond, Kamil proceeded through the door. He was greeted by a corridor with gray plastic panel walls, marked by two bright lines on the floor ¨C one blue, one red. Kamil chuckled softly and quickly followed the red line. The blue one veered off into a closed door rather quickly. As he walked, a message popped up in the group chat from Julia and Vratislav: [We got Blue Group, confirmed. All good, we¡¯re off for skill testing. Good luck, guys! Hope to see you again!] Kamil responded to the message. After navigating several turns and many numbered doors, he reached the entrance to the institute. ¡°How crafty. Whatever¡¯s happening behind the fence, you can¡¯t see it from here! And can¡¯t go where you¡¯re not supposed to.¡± Inside the hall, the Protectorate had set up ten desks separated by two-meter opaque dividers, all occupied. ¡°Fascinating, they use real people here! I wonder if this happens in all groups, or if it¡¯s a privilege just for the ¡®reds¡¯?¡± Kamil pondered, eyeing the attractive young women in stylish black-and-red uniforms. There was Gleb, already seated! ¡°That sly dog always manages to get ahead of me... First time seeing live Protectorate personnel, not drones or holograms.¡± When his turn came, he approached an available desk. ¡°Eternal Sun, Kamil.¡± He was met with a strict smile. ¡°Eternal Sun!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been recommended for the Red group of the Public Efficiency Classes. Congratulations. You are familiar with all the necessary information, I see.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded. ¡°Now, you will undergo a test to confirm your readiness to receive the Red Passport and serve the Protectorate.¡± The woman waved her hand over the desk, revealing a substantial technological device. ¡°Place your hand in the analyzer. Rest your palm on the sphere at the top and your forearm along the red line. Please, remain still during the operation.¡± The lid closed. Kamil felt something spray on his skin followed by a quick prick, and within seconds his arm felt numb and lost sensation. He had to sit there for quite a while, long enough for another recruit to rotate through the adjacent desk. Four minutes later, the device finally chirped briefly, flashed a yellow light, and swung open. ¡°Check complete,¡± the girl smiled pleasantly. ¡°The numbness in your hand will fade in about ten minutes. Please, keep the patches on for a couple of hours.¡± ¡°Understood, thanks¡­¡± The girl stood up, straightened herself, raised her right hand, and, bending it, placed her fist just above her chest, straightening her index and middle fingers. ¡°Brother recruit, the UNSA Protectorate welcomes you!¡± A compartment in the desk slid open, from which she retrieved a red and black medallion hanging on a steel chain. ¡°All necessary data is now saved into the system. This medallion, equipped with a personal chip, is both a nod to tradition and a universal access key until your required implants are set. You¡¯re now due for a series of tests to receive personal recommendations, select your specialization, and determine your rank within the group. Time is short, so proceed swiftly! Turn right down the corridor to room 104, choose any free locker. Your uniform will dispense from the automaton. Get dressed quickly and head up to the second floor, room 202, for your examination.¡± Kamil nodded, thanked her, and dashed off to change. The changing room was deserted, plenty of lockers flashing the ¡°available¡± signal. He quickly collected boots, pants, a jacket, and a t-shirt from a large dispenser near the wall and headed for the nearest green-lighted door. The uniform, entirely black with bold red inserts, was remarkably comfortable, the fabric beyond reproach. The boots fit perfectly ¨C likely crafted on the spot by the machine, given that to retrieve them, he had had to stand barefoot on a scanner platform. He shoved his old clothes onto a shelf, though he had actually brought little with him. ¡°It feels like my volunteer serving in the Polis police force,¡± Kamil thought, stuffing his scant belongings away. ¡°Feels like I¡¯ve stepped back two years. I wonder if they¡¯re hurrying because of an impending curfew? Or is there another reason? And what comes next?¡± Room 202 ¨C or rather a huge hall ¨C welcomed him with a hectic atmosphere of Global Emergency Rush. There weren¡¯t many Protectorate scientists around; the chaos was mostly contributed by bewildered numerous new recruits and an insane number of buzzing drones. Unsure of what to do next, Kamil froze at the threshold. ¡°Eternal Sun, recruit!¡± A young red-haired man in a white coat with blue inserts and golden insignia suddenly appeared before him. ¡°Your token, please!¡± Kamil raised his hands to remove the chain, but the greeter quickly gestured to stop. ¡°No, no, recruit! Do not remove it! One only removes a warrior¡¯s token once ¨C at death before it¡¯s sent to the Eternal Memory Hall. It¡¯s tradition. Just tap it here,¡± he extended a small device. The token touched the reader; the device beeped contentedly. The young scientist paused for a moment, then suddenly shouted across the hall: ¡°G¨¹nther! Another one to W-3!¡± Another scientist, perhaps in his sixties with graying hair and a neat ¡°professorial¡± beard, approached. ¡°Steffen! Stop yelling across the hall. You could have just called me. Though I was hoping we wouldn¡¯t have any more extensive checks today... Go help Linda with the samples. You make too much noise greeting the newbies,¡± he noted Kamil¡¯s waiting stance. ¡°Eternal Sun, young man! Come on through, don¡¯t just stand there... I was hoping for a quieter day, indeed¡­¡± Kamil mumbled something akin to ¡°Eternal Sun¡± and followed the scientist, who moved surprisingly swiftly through the hall. They only stopped beside a massive construction resembling a large arch on a low circular platform. As they approached, the device sprang to life. Two large rods with half-spheres at the ends rose from the floor. A bright orange circle lit up in the center of the platform. ¡°Step onto the platform, young man. Good. Now, please place your hands on the half-spheres. Perfect. Now, stay still, I¡¯m starting the process¡­ Yes, don¡¯t touch the fields with your hands ¨C it¡¯ll tear them off! And don¡¯t move. And keep your hands on the sensors, by the way, it¡¯s dangerous!¡± The device hummed, emitted a sharp scent of ozone, and a brilliant plasma column formed around the arch. Kamil¡¯s palms tingled painfully, and within a minute the sensation began to creep up his forearms. ¡°It might tingle a bit!¡± the scientist mumbled belatedly, engrossed at a neighboring terminal in augmented reality manipulations. ¡°Just relax, don¡¯t mind it. Everything is proceeding as expected. Hmm... how fascinating?... Yes, indeed! Wonderful, wonderful... Sergeant? Yes, Gunter Meissner speaking. Yes. Eternal Sun! Precisely. Another one for you. No. Yes, in 202. I don¡¯t know, sergeant! No, only the basic. How could I have time? Did you see how many there were today, may the Sun protect me?! What¡¯s it to me?! Exactly, sergeant, exactly! Yes! Indeed! Handle it yourself, finally, if they are so promising!¡± With a soft whoosh, the plasma column vanished. The tingling, which had escalated from ¡°slightly annoying¡± to ¡°quite painful¡± and was creeping toward the shoulders, also disappeared instantly. ¡°All done, young man, old Gunter has finished his work. Stay here for a bit, someone will come for you personally. Yes, sergeant, I¡¯ve told him already. And I still have plenty of work to do. Yes, plenty. Long days to you, Sun,¡± the scientist muttered, vanishing as swiftly as if evaporated. Kamil didn¡¯t even get a chance to say goodbye. All that was left for the ¡°freshly minted recruit¡± was to wait, pondering ¡°what the hell is happening here,¡± while examining his medallion. Chapter 37 - The Path of the Templar City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Collection point G4, Kamil Teodoryanu, August 12, 2049 A few minutes later, the promised sergeant approached ¨C a rather young man, seemingly about twenty, lean, dark-skinned, and dark-haired. Dressed in a uniform similar to Kamil¡¯s but with a heavier jacket, under which a large holster and rather long sheath hung at his thigh. His epaulets were not just black with a ¡°K¡±, but edged with red and a single diagonal stripe. ¡°Sun be with you, brother warrior! I¡¯m sergeant Giacomo Paolini,¡± he greeted, raising his hand in the now-familiar military salute. Kamil didn''t recognize the language, which sounded somewhat like Italian, though oddly accented. Nevertheless, the auto-translator didn¡¯t fail. # language identified: Tarforro (UNSA Protectorate) ¡°We¡¯re short on time, Kamil, so hurry!¡± In the next half-hour, the recruit was put through his paces: A check on a strange machine with head sensor. A quick warm-up and power checks: squats, deadlifts, bench presses. All at maximum weights. A blood test. Another device, this time with suction-cup sensors. And again, spheres that delivered electric shocks. A device resembling a tomograph. Examination while lying down, with an opaque bandage over the eyes. Yet another blood test. Another physical fitness check. Phew¡­ it seemed to be over. His t-shirt could wring out wet, but smart Kamil had thoughtfully removed his jacket beforehand. ¡°Excellent work, brother-warrior!¡± Giacomo shook his hand in a gesture familiar to every Earthling. ¡°If you want to rest, you have just under five minutes. Shower¡¯s over there. Change your t-shirt at the dispenser. Come on, you need to be in room 243 in five minutes, down the corridor on the left. That¡¯s it! Move, move!¡± The sergeant didn¡¯t have to repeat himself. Five minutes later, Kamil was entering the designated room. Besides him, four other recruits were already waiting for something. ¡°Hello, folks! Or should I say, Sun to everyone or however it goes here¡­¡± However, Kamil didn¡¯t get a chance to make acquaintances. Almost immediately after he entered, the door opened again, and the sergeant who had been escorting him reappeared. Before anyone could react, he took a deep breath and bellowed, ¡°Line up! Attention! Protector-Mentor!¡± Everyone hastily assumed the appropriate stance. A tall, burly man in his fifties entered, his uniform starkly white and much different from anything they had seen before. His battle-like jumpsuit, reinforced with heavy panels, looked more combat-ready than ceremonial. The impression was enhanced by a heavy white chest plate and massive shoulder guards. Several metallic bars adorned his chest, with intertwined colorful crystals ¨C perhaps service distinctions or awards. The medallion around his muscular neck resembled those issued to the recruits, but it was white, with a miniature of a sword and sun, and it glowed continuously with a dim light. He appeared to be no less than fifty but was in exceptional shape. Despite the bulk muscles suggested by his silhouette and visible beneath his uniform, his movements were fluid, his gait supple as a tiger stalking its prey. He slowly paced in front of the recruits, scrutinizing them beneath bushy eyebrows. ¡°At ease! The Sun be with you, ¡®Reds¡¯! I am Protector-Mentor Kroyberg, tasked with initiating the newcomers aspiring to join the White Class, the elite warriors of the Protectorate! I am also responsible for guiding you through your training. Is that clear?¡± ¡°Yessir! Sir, yes, sir! Affirmative!¡± came the disordered chorus from the rank, each echoing the training they presumably once received. ¡°I will now take the time to explain ¨C just this once! ¨C the essence of your situation and what lies ahead. Afterward, you may ask questions if you have any remaining, of course.¡± He walked back to the end of the line, turned, and clasped his hands behind his back. ¡°First things first. It might be hard for you to believe, but we, the people of UNSA, and you, people of the Protectorate, who have lived carefree on this planet, are of the same biological species. What differentiates us? We are considerably older. Our experience and technologies, as you have witnessed, have advanced far beyond yours.¡± ¡°Yet, we share much in common! We also honor the best traditions of our ancestors, carefully preserving symbols and rituals, maintaining all that is best from civilization, which empowers us to advance.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Not all our decisions will be immediately understandable; some actions may provoke outrage or even fear ¨C but they are necessary. This isn¡¯t the first world we¡¯ve come to, nor will it be the last.¡± ¡°Why are you five here now? The test results were unprecedentedly promising, and you will be granted the opportunity to train and rise to the White Class. To the Knights Templar, the elite warriors of the Protectorate.¡± With these words, he gestured towards the wall where a large holographic screen unfolded. ¡°Long before your world, we tried a different approach. Negotiating. Assisting... Not taking full, unconditional control of a planet. But when facing an enemy like the shaiszu, such tactics are unacceptable.¡± ¡°Time has proven a simple truth. Either everything is done our way, or the planet is doomed.¡± ¡°I will show you what happened to worlds that thought they could manage on their own.¡± On the screen, video chronicles flickered to life: A camera offered a view from space of a planet resembling Earth, though the continent outlines were unfamiliar. The next scene shifted to a look at a city¡¯s protective wall, perhaps captured from a flying drone. It was revealing a sprawling metropolis with unfamiliar, but stunning architecture. Yet, the locals now didn¡¯t care about beauty ¨C they were preparing for defense. The camera snatched self-propelled guns, tanks, and rocket artillery poised and ready, with rows of drones hovering in formation. Battle alarms flashed, soldiers with heavy weaponry dashed out, and machinery roared to life. # Pause ¡°The phenomenon you¡¯re about to witness is called a ¡®cascade breakthrough.¡¯ This occurs in every world if shaiszu portals are not properly suppressed from the start. Though complete prevention is impossible, the mass opening will also occur on your planet. However, it will be on a smaller scale and thus, less catastrophic.¡± # Unpause The camera panned away to show a plain. For a few seconds, all was still until a ferocious burst of light engulfed the area ¨C a single massive explosion from thousands of emerging portals. Precisely aligned, these lines stretched to the horizon. A shockwave of disturbed air hit the walls, and from the portals spilled billions of beetle-like creatures. From the walls, flashes of fire erupt to greet the offenders. Tracers from machine guns, fiery tails of rockets, billows of smoke, and the thunder of cannons¡­ It seemed as though the advancing lines wavered, the density of fire halting the savage tide of creatures. But this was just the beginning. Colossal ¡°mounds¡± come out of the portals ¨C armored monsters resembling titanic woodlice. Alongside them, the ordinary ¡°beetles¡± intensified their assault, among them now large ¡°caterpillars¡± curled into balls, rolling forward rapidly. As heavy artillery focused on the largest beasts, the smaller creatures reached the walls. Explosions boomed, one after another. Flames fiercely gnawed at fortifications, people, and machinery. Shards of steel and concrete flew, along with fragments of human bodies. The command clearly realized the ¡°caterpillars¡± were detonating and ordered to focus fire on these ¡°living bombs.¡± But it was futile ¨C they were agile, hiding among the charging horde, hard to hit, and their numbers were overwhelming. The ¡°armored mounds,¡± meanwhile, continue pushing. They took hits, many of them, but each round only sparked neon flares of protective shields. # Pause ¡°A progressive civilization,¡± came the confident, slightly raspy voice of a Knight. ¡°About at your level of development, perhaps slightly higher. Yet despite their fierce resistance, the defenders are being pushed back. The fall of the city is just a matter of time. But this world was fortunate. We chose to intervene.¡± # Unpause From the sky descended a shining white ship, shaped like the tip of a spear. It hovered for a moment above the wall. And Templar Knights appeared on the battlefield. Only five of them. A whole five of them. They plunged into the throngs of shaiszu, sowing death and destruction, slicing through the heavy monsters, effectively turning the tide of battle and allowing the defenders to regroup and counterattack. Most importantly, they redirected the fire towards the smaller shaiszu, preventing the living bombs from reaching the walls. The first of the White Cloaks carved a path to the attacking giants. A leap, the jetpack on his back ignited, the plasma of his sword flashed. Contact! The glowing blade penetrated the neon defense, and the Knight landed on the creature¡¯s back. With a powerful strike between the joints of its armor, the Templar breached the monster¡¯s shell. He sheathed his sword in the power grip on his back, his hand lit up with a flash of something intensely bright within the armored glove. Dropping to one knee, the Knight drove this ¡°star¡± deep inside. He straightened up. Green slime dripped down his arm... and then he leaped away from the creature. From the hole in the carapace erupted a column of orange flame. A powerful explosion literally split the biologic armor from within. Bits of green slime and chunks of flesh flew through the air. The warrior stood up and took his sword in hand. A wave of flame ran down his arm, burning off the clinging innards of the shaiszu and cleansing the armor. Then, without looking at the screen, Kroyberg continued, ¡°The strength of a Knight lies in his unique tactical training. His mind, through rigorous schooling and numerous battles, has absorbed all knowledge of the shaiszu, from every world. No event on the battlefield, no creature is unfamiliar to him.¡± ¡°Armed with weapons tailored for each Knight and special resources, he can execute any battle plan, leveraging knowledge of vulnerabilities and pre-rehearsed tactics.¡± ¡°Our primary role is to decapitate the enemy¡¯s command. To neutralize major threats so that the remaining forces can focus on secondary targets!¡± ¡°The Templar Knights are the best in everything. In strength of body and spirit. In the swiftness of thought. In the purity of intent and decisiveness of action. In allegiance to our cause and the Great Guardian. Across all worlds, the Knights command unconditional respect; idolized by men and women alike, they are the heroes children aspire to emulate!¡± ¡°The mere sight of the White armor and cloak on the battlefield instills terror in the shaiszu! Yes, we sometimes fall, for ours is a perilous service. But we do so with honor, eternally enshrining our names in glory! The spirit of each Knight, upon death, remains forever in the protective embrace of the Great Guardian.¡± Protector-Mentor Kroyberg paused in the center of the room, surveying the young warriors before him. ¡°The results of your tests suggest you possess traits that, with proper cultivation, could allow you to join our ranks. You can still turn back now, but I am certain it would be a decision you¡¯d regret for life! There will be no second chance. As I¡¯ve said, decisiveness is a critical quality of a Knight.¡± ¡°It will be hard, at times lethally dangerous, but those who make the right choice ¨C will not be deterred. And besides, as I¡¯ve mentioned... You may well be the first future Templars from the Earth ¨C becoming a ¡®bridge¡¯ between our world and yours. We will welcome you into our Temples, unveil secrets, share strength and knowledge. And through you, the people of Earth will increasingly understand that we are One. That standing for each other and to be united is the only way. So, embrace this mission. That is it.¡± Silence hung in the room for a few seconds, so profound that one could almost hear the racing heartbeats beneath the uniforms, spurred by his words. No one from the present in the room refused. Chapter 38 - Under the Eternal Sun City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Collection point G4, Gleb Evseyev, August 12, 2049 Gleb left his assigned curator absolutely astounded. Of course, he¡¯d already suspected that the Protectorate was much deeper and more cunning than it seemed when he was undergoing his first test¡­ but to that extent?! And after he¡¯d learned what kind of role they were proposing to him¡­ Going down to the first floor and traversing the building, he stepped into the inner courtyard, already bustling with a sizeable crowd. Before heading to his designated sector, the guy shrugged off his compact ¡°urban¡± backpack, pulling a plastic sports bottle from an outer pocket. Flipping open the cap, he took a refreshing swig of the ginger-lemon drink.
A couple of hours earlier... Gleb had completed the initial procedures swiftly. With some time still before his appointment with the curator, he decided to exercise one of his newly afforded basic privileges. Well, mostly, he was just curious to test the financial mechanics of the Protectorate. According to the freshly installed wallet app, every citizen from the Green Public Efficiency Class upwards was entitled to daily credits into their personal account. But to actually use these funds, they had to be transferred within the app. In theory, everything was simple, but in practice, turned out that could only be performed at a designated terminal. At least, locating the nearest of such ¡°booths¡± was pretty easy ¨C the map was integrated directly into the app. After discovering that three of them were already operational at point G4, Gleb headed to the closest. He found himself before a modest cabin, decked in blue and white and standing two and a half meters tall. Inside, an orange circle marked the floor, a large holographic screen dominated the space, and two steel rods protruded from the wall, each ending in a twelve-centimeter diameter metal sphere. A simple instruction panel detailed the operation steps:
  1. Stand in the circle.
  2. Wait for the ¡°ready¡± signal.
  3. Place hands on the spheres, palms down, directly over the illuminated outlines.
  4. The device will commence operation. Remain still until completion, keeping hands in place.
  5. Verify the credited amount in the ¡°My Wallet¡± application.
Note: The first use may take an extended duration. After a fifteen-minute wait with his arms raised, Gleb was richer by 129,600 sols and thirty taels of the Protectorate. ¡°Well, one sol equals a hundred taels. Whether that¡¯s a lot or a little, they haven¡¯t bothered to inform me. Guess I¡¯ll figure it out on my own.¡± With a bit of time still left, Gleb decided to visit the site marked as ¡°Express Store¡± on the map to gauge the worth of his newfound wealth. Inside the designated location, Gleb was greeted by... more booths. Five of them, painted a cheerful green and lined up against a solid wall that partitioned off the entire back of the space, leaving only a small area at the entrance. ¡°I¡¯m getting an unhealthy feeling that the Protectorate is obsessed with booths... Okay, let¡¯s see what awaits me.¡± Inside was yet another holographic screen and a one-square-meter plastic plate beneath it ¨C likely covering a delivery dispenser. A small hint was placed near the screen, but it wasn¡¯t needed, as it activated the moment Gleb entered and closed the door behind him. He was greeted by the hologram of a red-haired girl clad in a uniform ¨C white blouse, black tie, classic green vest, and skirt. ¡°Eternal Sun to you, Citizen!¡± she beamed radiantly. ¡°Unfortunately, your rank couldn¡¯t be automatically determined. Would you like to authenticate via the ¡®My Wallet¡¯ application?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gleb replied, confirming the action by clicking the media glyph that appeared above the app icon. ¡°Red class recruit, Gleb Evseyev, first tier. Your access is confirmed,¡± the redhead chirped happily. The hologram of the girl shifted to the left, unfolding a vast menu in the cleared space. It resembled the interface of a major online hypermarket, but with myriad options and sections. Fortunately, at the top were prominently located two comprehensible choices: ¡°Information¡± and ¡°Interactive Assistant.¡± Pressing for time yet curious, Gleb tapped on ¡°Information¡± and skimmed through it quickly. He discovered that the Protectorate¡¯s stores were divided into two types: ¡°Official¡± ¨C these were the UNSA stores, all interconnected and managed by a special department within the government cluster of the Blue Public Efficiency Classes. Smaller orders were typically processed on-site, while larger ones were delivered to a collection point. Prices were unified across all the Protectorate cities on the planet, a concept quite alien to a modern Earthling but having a right to exist. ¡°Standard¡± ¨C these were smaller shops, boutiques, and workshops run by citizens of the Green class. Prices, assortment, and quality here were not heavily regulated; the main requirement was adherence to the Class Law. There was a link to this law, but Gleb had no time to read it. Moreover, he learned that all these stores shared a single app, which he was now accessing. Online ordering was available from anywhere in the city through this app. Consequently, the necessary program was already downloading and installing. ¡°Ugh, time to run... But I haven¡¯t ordered anything yet, and still wanna check it out! I can make a quick order, right? Let¡¯s see, here...¡± Gleb activated the ¡°Interactive Assistant¡± and swiftly selected an ¡°urban¡± backpack, since he was left with virtually nothing after the invasion and disliked running around without something comfortable behind his shoulders. The assistant in the ¡°vending machine¡± proved quite efficient, allowing him to quickly choose the model, size, options, and color. While his item was being ¡°prepared¡±, the guy added a sports water bottle with ginger-lemon drink to his order. Notably, there were neither alcohol nor drugs available in any form in the store sections. ¡°The manufacturing took just three minutes! Not bad at all,¡± Gleb thought, slinging the new backpack over his shoulder. ¡°And the drink, quite refreshing, indeed. The whole order cost me 17 sols and 29 taels... What can I say? My starting capital will last for a very, veeery many backpacks.¡±
¡°Man, this noise is quite something!¡± Gleb mused. At the opposite end from the entrance across the square, large screens had been set up, and the area was divided into thirteen identical sectors. They were colored and lettered; and while there were only four ¡°Reds,¡± the rest ones were ¡°Blues.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the ¡®Blues¡¯ making all the racket,¡± he noted, going around the edge to his sector thirteen. Scanning the crowd, Gleb noticed that most of the new Blue class participants wore their everyday clothes. However, some kind of uniform was apparent ¨C a few were decked out in quite stylish dark blue uniforms. Actually, there still appeared one universal element ¨C a large blue badge with golden insignia pinned on the left chest of every Blue Class representative.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Seemingly, they were serving the same purpose as his token. ¡°And it¡¯s clear at a glance which class you¡¯re dealing with. Convenient,¡± he thought. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Gleb spotted a towering figure with familiar spiky black hair and a neck tattoo striding by. ¡°Hey, ¡®sup, shorty! Watch where you¡¯re goin¡¯!¡± ¡°Speak for yourself, twig!¡± responded the slightly spaced-out hefty figure, finally recognizing his acquaintance. Kamil turned around, eyeing Gleb¡¯s black-red jacket, then smirked snidely, ¡°Looks like they¡¯ve kept you with us since you¡¯re in the red sector? Thought they didn¡¯t take wimps like you in the army!¡± ¡°It¡¯s brains, my Neanderthal friend, that matter, not brute strength! Police, Senior Detective Gleb Evseyev, show me your documents!¡± ¡°That¡¯s cops talk, not detective. And there are no more polises or states, you should know that...¡± Kamil idly scratched his spiky hair. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m kidding anyway; we¡¯re all just recruits here. And yes, I¡¯m in the police now, but I¡¯ll really make it to become a detective. What about you? Headed to be a valiant defender on the Walls?¡± ¡°Nope, I¡¯m up for special training. Really curious myself to see how it will go. But they¡¯ve got me seriously motivated ¨C mass attacks by the shaiszu on the city are expected soon. Guess I can¡¯t avoid the Walls either,¡± Kamil mused. At that moment, a roar from the sky announced another giant ¡°aircraft¡± maneuvering for landing. For a few moments, they had to wait out the deafening noise as the ¡°sky giant¡± finally completed its descent. Speaking under such an onslaught was far from comfortable. Kamil had already ducked into the sector to avoid blocking the way, standing next to a friend who was fervently typing something in augmented reality. Finally, the clamor subsided, replaced by a now-familiar humming. ¡°So, we¡¯ll see how it turns out,¡± Kamil concluded. ¡°Hey, check it out, Julia replied!¡± ¡°Cool, what¡¯s up with them?¡± Gleb asked, reconnecting to the group chat he had muted during his testing to avoid distractions. ¡°Oh! Good for them. Blue class. Both engineers and it looks like Slavek finally got his dream job ¨C they both went to the construction department. He always bugged us with his building stuff. And Julia, as always, is on drones.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s pretty awesome. Second only to Alba.¡± Kamil nodded. ¡°Hopefully, we¡¯ll have a chance to catch up... maybe later. I think they won¡¯t even let us breathe easy for a while,¡± Gleb responded. ¡°Well, God willing, we¡¯ll meet again.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, gotta stick with your own.¡± Their conversation was cut short as a siren blared suddenly and overwhelmingly loud. A spectacular scene unfolded before the stunned friends: from the industrial buildings just beyond the tribune, swarms of small black drones burst into the sky. The thought that the air was already heavy with flying robotics had crossed their minds before, but they were mistaken. NOW there were many drones. ¡°Looks like they deployed an express manufacturing plant,¡± Gleb whispered, squinting at the scene. ¡°Zoom in, those machines definitely look simpler than anything we¡¯ve seen so far, but there¡¯s a shit-ton of them.¡± ¡°Like a swarm of locusts,¡± Kamil agreed, nodding. ¡°Yep. Wonder where they¡¯re all heading so resolutely?¡± Alas, the gawping lads wouldn¡¯t find out just yet. As the siren fell silent, the large screens on the walls sprang to life, creating a massive holographic image. The sounds of an anthem still unknown to the audience filled the air, and the Protectorate¡¯s crest appeared on the screens ¨C a black heraldic eagle clutching a silver Templar Sword and Sphere against a blazing yellow Sun. ¡°It looks like our wait is over!¡± The crest was replaced by the hologram of a man in a stern white uniform adorned with gold epaulettes, aiguillettes, and a belt with sheaths. Solid in stature, with short sandy hair and piercing gray-steel eyes under heavy brows. As the last chords of the anthem died away, his voice boomed across the plaza, ¡°Eternal Sun, Citizens! Welcome to City-21 ¡®Kyiv¡¯ of the Avril Dominion of the UNSA Protectorate, the safest place on this planet! Thank you for choosing to cooperate with the Protectorate.¡± ¡°I am the Kriegsherzog of the White Group of Public Efficiency Classes, General of the Fourth Army of Avril, one of the Great States within the UNSA Protectorate, Adalbert von Lamarck.¡± ¡°You may wonder, ¡®Why are we here?¡¯, ¡®How could this have happened to our world?¡¯, ¡®Could anything have been done to prevent this?¡¯.¡± The Kriegsherzog paused, seemingly giving the crowd a moment to ponder these questions internally. Half a minute later, he continued, ¡°I have an answer.¡± ¡°The shaiszu ¨C that is what cannot be prevented. The shaiszu is the true evil of the Universe, devouring world after world. They will never stop. They will always attack... as long as even one of them lives. There can be no negotiations with them. No treaties can be signed. Either they kill us, or we kill them.¡± ¡°This battle has been ongoing for centuries, flaring up in more and more new worlds. We know how to win. If we arrive in time ¨C the world is saved. Otherwise ¨C complete annihilation.¡± ¡°You are fortunate. We made it to your world in time. Now, we can stop the shaiszu together. But this will require full understanding and support from each of you!¡± ¡°As you already know, our society is built on a clear structure that divides it into Public Efficiency Classes and sets the rules for interaction between them.¡± ¡°There is a place for every member of society where he or she can be most effective in our collective effort, thanks to precise assessment of abilities, skills, and potential for development.¡± ¡°The Classes are the backbone, the support, and the foundation of security and prosperity! Group membership is not given lightly ¨C it must be earned! Show us that we did not make a mistake in giving you a chance to enter the blue and red classes.¡± ¡°The higher the Group, the more difficult the path. But it is all in your hands. Remember! Defeating the shaiszu is only possible when all citizens unite as one fist against our common enemy!¡± ¡°There is much you still need to learn, and I promise you ¨C you will get the answers to your questions!¡± ¡°Do not leave the plaza; the allocation to your residences and service positions will begin shortly.¡± ¡°Long may the Sun shine upon you, Citizens!¡±
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion August 12, 2049, 7:00 PM At the stroke of the curfew, the city ignited in a spectacle of lights as every advertising display ¨C along the streets, on the facades, ends, and rooftops of buildings ¨C blazed to life. Simultaneously, a persistent mediaglyph knocked on the augmented reality of every citizen, marked with an ¡°IMPORTANT!¡± tag. The video began with a musical greeting and an intro featuring the UNSA emblem. After the introduction, the scene switched to a studio bathed in soft hues. Sitting behind a large desk was a woman, a stunning brunette with blue eyes, all her image emanating elegance, professionalism, safety. Her hair was styled neatly, and she wore a black and red military uniform, minimal makeup, and a calm, confident smile. On her shoulders were the epaulets of the Red Class, framed in double gold with four small sun symbols. Six class badges were standing on the table ¨C white, white-and-yellow, red, blue, green, and gray. Behind the woman, the official banner of the UNSA Protectorate was billowing on the screen. ¡°Good evening. I am Sophia-Elizabeth Mayer, and you¡¯re hearing the Voice of the Protectorate!¡± ¡°The operation against the shaiszu continues successfully. Major infection centers are currently contained and undergoing purification. The emergence of new portals within city limits is being blocked.¡± ¡°Attention! Combat may persist for several more days, so please heed the security measures provided.¡± ¡°To avoid complications, install the AR application ¡®Protectorate.Security.¡¯ This will keep you informed about military operations, help you plan safe routes, and avoid combat zones. Also, should you report the location of small portals, nests, or individual shaiszu, you will receive a substantial reward!¡± ¡°Important! The curfew is declared for all residents, except for members of the White, White-Yellow, and certain ranks of the Red Classes.¡± ¡°The curfew will be in effect from 19:00 to 06:00 for the safety of all citizens! Note that at night, the aggressiveness of certain shaiszu increases, and also rise the chances of spontaneous ¡®rifts¡¯ opening, which cannot be blocked due to their small size and short duration.¡± ¡°During the curfew, all citizens, except for special categories, are allowed free movement only within their own block.¡± ¡°Crossing the city boundary ¨C whether by ground or underground routes, on foot, using transport or flying vehicles ¨C is under special control. Exiting the city without special permission is prohibited for all residents, except for members of the white and white-yellow classes.¡± ¡°Anyone who violates the curfew or attempts to breach the city perimeter is a deserter who has weakened their comrades and strengthened the enemy, becoming fodder and intelligence for the shaiszu.¡± ¡°Therefore, violations are unacceptable and will be severely punished!¡± ¡°Civilians obligated to report to a gathering point but who fail to arrive on time must proceed to the nearest support point or collection site for punishment immediately after the curfew ends. You have sixty minutes to register.¡± ¡°Those who fail to comply with this mandate will be sentenced to corrective labor and demoted to the Grey Class, with a ban on rehabilitation for a duration of one month.¡± ¡°Renouncers required to leave the city and the hundred-kilometer zone within the permitted by Trilateral Agreement interval who fail to meet this requirement must proceed to the nearest collection point within thirty minutes after the curfew ends. To set a control point in your navigation program, connect to the Protectorate UNSA extranet.¡± ¡°In case of non-compliance and absence of registration at the collection point within the specified period, you will be sentenced to death.¡± ¡°Curfew patrols, armed forces of the Protectorate, and automated military machinery are authorized to open fire without warning, following the ¡®Inevitability of Punishment for Law Violation¡¯ paradigm.¡± ¡°Attention! Testing of citizens for eligibility for the Grey Rank will begin on 17.08.2049 at the Protectorate¡¯s support points in each city sector.¡± ¡°If you encounter difficulties with housing, food, or medical care before the testing begins, contact the @Protectorate.Help hotline.¡± ¡°Long may the Sun shine upon you, Citizens!¡± Chapter 39 - Surviving the Curfew City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Highway, 59 km to the south from Kyiv, August 12, 2049, 8:34 PM Under the glow of a full moon, a desolate highway stretched through the fields, fifty kilometers south of the former Kyiv, lit only by a dim lunar light. It was the first night of the curfew, and the heavy battle drone ¡°Owl¡± completed its twenty-second patrol loop over its assigned quadrant. The Protectorate¡¯s armed forces, having suffered considerable losses in equipment on the first day, were feeling the acute shortage of drones and ready ammunition ¨C the rapid-production factories had yet to reach full capacity. As a result, the command had to deploy all available the terrestrial vehicles, both civilian and military, to maintain order during the curfew. ¡°Owl-5312¡± was a drone from another era, rather battered and worn-out apparatus. Born during the early days of the NATO war with the Russian Empire, this relic had spent years patrolling the borders of demilitarized zones. Its primary tasks were simple: detect and shoot if the target did not identify itself upon request. Like other drones from nearby military bases, once it connected to the new command, the ¡°Owl¡± pledged allegiance, received a full missile load and fresh batteries within an hour, and set off on patrol. The Protectorate assigned this old earth flying machinery the simplest of missions, those not requiring quick maneuvers, high-precision targeting, or fast computing. One such mission was to patrol a perimeter zone encompassing a speedway but devoid of major population centers. Weighing about two tons, the ¡°Owl¡± carried six powerful air-to-ground missiles. It was equipped with a robust search radar scanning the surroundings. However, it lacked the introscopic sensors that modern units boast. Instead, it used outdated low-resolution cameras and infrared devices, lagging about forty years behind current technology. The drone¡¯s ability to select targets was limited, which was why it was assigned such a straightforward task: destroy any objects within its operational range that lacked the proper clearance and did not respond to the ¡°Friend or Foe¡± query. Cruising in a low-energy consumption mode a few hundred meters above the ground, its radar detected a moving object ten kilometers ahead, entering the patrol zone from the north. The ¡°Owl¡± switched to combat mode, adjusting its course to intercept the target. At the same moment, its electronic brain widened the communication bandwidth with the control center, logging its actions and confirming the decision for potential destruction. // Object classified: civilian automated freight vehicle. // ¡°Friend or Foe¡± query sent. // Response: negative. // Database review for high-priority objects. // No matches found. // Analysis for the most economical destruction scheme. // Decision made. // Destruction confirmed. A rather shabby-looking automatic Unimog truck, with its hood and front bumper deformed and badly scraped, and its cabin windows covered in black film, was moving along the highway when the ¡°Owl¡± caught up from behind. The flying hunter invoked protocol 9-01 for the elimination of violators on a significant roadway ¨C a protocol that had been gathering dust since the days of guarding demilitarized territories. The main objective of this operation was the complete, indiscriminate destruction of the vehicle and its contents, while keeping the roadway clear. This meant the ¡°Owl¡± was to not only destroy the target, but also ¡°clean up after itself.¡± Two missiles of different types were launched from their mounts at an interval of one and a half seconds. The first, with a high-explosive warhead, reached the truck and detonated underneath its front-left side. Like a colossal kick, it knocked the vehicle off the road and flung it several meters aside. The following missile, carrying a heavy payload of plasticized phosphorus, struck the overturned truck, creating a fireball at temperatures reaching 1500 degrees Celsius, leaving no chance for anything within the blast radius. The truck¡¯s body, with all its contents, lit up brightly and began to melt, consuming the oxygen around it as the ¡°Owl,¡± continuing its protocol, made a low pass to record the results for reports and archives. // Report formed on the implementation of the ¡°Demonstrative Inevitability of Punishment for Law Violation¡± paradigm, under the article ¡°Unauthorized City Perimeter Breach,¡± response ¡°target destroyed¡± // Report sent to higher priority stream // Minor stream disbanded The old IR sensor of the ¡°Owl¡± recorded the hellish bonfire devouring what had once been a truck. Now only a blackened patch of ten meters in diameter remained, and what exactly was burning was beyond the diligent drone¡¯s outdated cameras to discern. Had it been equipped with modern introspective sensors, they would have indicated no biological entities onboard, and that the vehicle was operating on autopilot. This would undoubtedly have drawn the attention of a higher-level stream, perhaps even intelligence services. But... this did not happen. This oversight allowed one of these ¡°biological entities¡± to comfortably sprawl on a couch in Dr. Zelman¡¯s clinic, popping open a cool can of beer...
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 7:10 PM Before they began to seriously settle into the underground clinic, three ¡°partisans¡± gathered in the lobby. ¡°Well, ladies, I guess, the easiest part is behind us,¡± Maksim declared, scrutinizing their new quarters. ¡°But alas, the real challenge is yet to come. First, we¡¯re now starting the preparations to launch Moira and Alisa. After that, it¡¯s surgery to patch everyone up. We also need to figure out what¡¯s happening above during the curfew and establish contact with the locals, maybe arrange some barter or purchase proper weapons and ammunition. Nika, you know the Factory best ¨C got any insights?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Nikola smiled confidently, while she was like a small but fierce red-haired whirlwind, scurrying around the room, and inspecting every corner. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no connection to mobile extranets at the Factory currently, but it does have a local network functioning just fine ¨C and I have an invite. There¡¯s a big trading forum and various closed groups for different topics. We can access it from one of the Doc¡¯s computers.¡± ¡°Nika, could you pass me¡­ the invite?¡± asked Dasha, ¡°I can set up a gateway there to our local net; I¡¯m about to get it up and running anyway. It¡¯ll be¡­ easier¡­ for everyone. Yeah...¡± ¡°Sure, sending now,¡± Redhead responded, having completed her inspection of the premises. ¡°Doc made quite a good bunker here, by the way. I¡¯m confident we¡¯ll be fine! Look, Max, there¡¯s a plan of the entire clinic hanging here.¡± ¡°Hmm... this hall is ideally situated,¡± Maksim mused aloud, moving closer. ¡°To the left ¨C the surgery and recovery rooms, to the right ¨C the workshops and storage. I propose we make this room ¡®Central¡¯ and not scatter everything across different areas. Better stay mobile in case we have to leave this wonderful place ASAP.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Makes sense,¡± Nika nodded. ¡°Shall we bring in the ¡®carts¡¯?¡± ¡°Dasha and I will fetch them,¡± Max smiled. ¡°Meanwhile, clear the center, okay? The platform and the bot will fit in here just right.¡± Nika snorted but went off to move the furniture while Maksim and Daria headed back to get the tech. A few minutes later, both ¡®little horses¡¯ stood heavily in the center of the hall. Afterward, Dasha dashed off and returned with a trolley loaded with purchases. ¡°Great! Now, we just ought to lock down the elevator for maximum security¡­¡± ¡°Max, don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit paranoid? It¡¯s the curfew upstairs,¡± Redhead pointed upwards. The clinic door locked automatically, direct access was limited to staff and some VIP clients. ¡°Who could possibly come in?¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± the young man grumbled. ¡°It will do for one night. Well, let¡¯s split up and continue. Nika, will you handle the unpacking?¡± As he spoke, Dasha finished inspecting the administrator¡¯s desk, and Nikola had already removed both backpacks from the bot¡¯s sides. ¡°Uh... Gonna grab a protein bar,¡± commented Nikola. ¡°Terribly hungry, just starving... I¡¯ll sort out the stuff, of course. Just first wanna run through the rooms, see what we¡¯ve got. Knowing Doc... we can expect any wonders!¡± ¡°Hey, let¡¯s finally boot up Moira and Alisa,¡± The main Wonder interjected, clasping her hands behind her back and rocking from heel to toe. ¡°It¡¯s crucial not only for the operation but... in general.¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll start them up as soon as we¡¯re ready! That¡¯s the top priority,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°Speaking of which, WonderKid, I have a question. That new version you wrote this morning¡­ Are we gonna start the old backup or do the new update?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ right! That¡¯s right! Absolutely, the new one, of course! Totally!¡± Dashka almost jumped, her eyes sparkling excitedly as she emphatically pointed upwards. ¡°This... this...¡± Suddenly, her speech slowed, her gaze fixed on something only she could see. Startled, Nika even thought that the flow of time had changed for the disheveled girl. ¡°Dasha, please, calm down,¡± jolted forward, braking sharply near the frozen girl, Max reached out and embraced her. ¡°Easy, sweetheart. Relax, just breathe. Breath. You know how.¡± Redhead hold her breath in shock, watching this scene. It occurred to her that she should jump in and help, but she was utterly at a loss as to how. It looked like Maksim¡¯s hands were gently pressing on Vasilevskaya¡¯s back and shoulders, pausing on certain spots, either pressing them or tapping out some rhythm, as if trying to calm or start something¡­ unseen. [Maksim? What¡¯s wrong? Need help?] Flashed the glyph on the private channel. [No. Just stay out of it. She¡¯s having a profound insight. Just need to calm her down a bit. We know how], he hastily wrote back, and the chair rolled back, creating space around Daria. The girl closed her eyes and started moving. Soft, fluid steps, smooth continuous hand motions. She seemed to be floating, at the same time attracting and repelling the space around her. ¡°It''s clearly Tai Chi, Chen style!¡± Nika realized with surprise. ¡°Sure, it¡¯s some adaptation, considering the madness of today and the conditions she¡¯s performing in... But, kurwa, that¡¯s impressive.¡± [Don¡¯t tell me your ¡°robotics lovers¡¯ club¡± delves into Chinese martial arts as well? I¡¯ve had enough shocks for one day!] Red sent another private message. [Just me. Not us,] the guy replied, smiling at her. [And what''s this then?] she continued questioning, noticing Maxim had moved back to give Daria space to complete her moving sequence. [Well... consider it a specialized form of psychotherapy. It¡¯s quite close to the truth, actually. Right now, it¡¯s crucial she doesn¡¯t indulge in any Delta-2 drugs, including the infamous ¡°Synth¡± before we can get her proper medication. I¡¯ll handle the rest.] [Thanks for the explanation! No sarcasm, actually. You guys¡¯ trust really means a lot to me! Can I do something to help?] [Just support her and discreetly ensure this silly girl doesn¡¯t stick a vape with ¡°synth¡± in her mouth automatically. She¡¯s prone to that sometimes. And given that this little genius can also control her body without disconnecting from Deep-VR¡­ You get the idea.] [I suppose I''ll soon run out of capacity to be surprised! Body control from within Deep VR¡­ people who can do that are one in a thousand!] [Much rarer than that, Nikola, much rarer. So can I count on you?] [Are you even asking? Of course! Oh, look, she seems to be finishing.] [Yeah. Let''s see what revelation she¡¯s had.] Her movements slowed, a final inhale, a final exhale. Dasha stopped, opened her eyes, and slowly focused on Maxim and Nikola. Suddenly, she shuddered as if awakening from a deep slumber, hugged herself, and murmured apologetically, ¡°Oops¡­ Sorry¡­ I¡­ umm¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right, WonderStar. Everything is well,¡± the young man¡¯s voice was gentle, but confident and reassuring. ¡°Are you okay now? Ready to share what you¡¯ve figured out?¡± The disheveled girl only nodded, took another deep breath, and began, ¡°It is that I¡¯ve just realized how much everything has changed for us. And I¡¯m not talking¡­ about Protes, or other monsters... I mean the more... more important things. You know, we¡¯ve always had a considerable amount of power dedicated to limiting Moira¡¯s true potential.¡± ¡°With each evolution of the §³ore, I¡­ I wasted so much effort to ensure that after the upgrade, Moira didn¡¯t bust across the network that she¡¯s long surpassed a mere T-six-three-plus AI. But now we¡¯re free from all those constraints, absolutely! This is important! This is so, so, so important! Max, all the ideas I¡¯ve had to shelf for so long, we need to put them into action. Just need is to choose! In the new upgrade, we can add this... this...¡± Maksim quickly placed his hand on Dasha¡¯s shoulder and squeezed a little. She choked on her words, falling silent as she gazed into his eyes. Then, the girl closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve figured it out... I know now... what needs to be changed! It¡¯s a quick fix! And I¡¯ll rewrite all the startup protocols! Max, we can install the update and boot up Alisa at the same time! It¡¯ll be long setting up, running in the background for a few more hours, but Alisa will be operational right away! With the new update! Even better new one!¡± ¡°Great work, WonderStar! Simply outstanding!¡± he praised, pulling the gesticulating girl onto his lap. Initially taken aback, she soon clung to him, hugging him tightly, and grabbing his wide shoulders. Dasha even slyly sneaked a glance at Nikola who discreetly turned away, whilst not wasting a chance to seize already second protein bar. Maksim gently moved back, allowing Daria to reluctantly slip from his embrace. She sighed softly to herself then resolutely added, ¡°We need to rethink all of our plans for scaling up Moira¡¯s power, such as enhancing Alisa¡¯s capabilities. You realize what potential is opening up for us?¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± The guy nodded. ¡°But first, we need to survive, to slip away from the Protectorate¡¯s watchful eye. And find a safe way to leave Kyiv. Only then can we start floating further development plans.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I forgot for a moment why all this is happening¡­¡± Daria pensively shook her head. ¡°Then I¡¯m gonna prep to boot up Moira! With her, the Ravens will also rise. Finally, we can get some real work done... at least here.¡± ¡°Ravens? What are you talking about?¡± Nika queried. ¡°They¡¯re my AI agents based on Moira¡¯s framework. Like Marcek, only, sorry, way cooler.¡± ¡°¡­I miss him.¡± ¡°I know the feeling.¡± Vasilevskaya nodded seriously and turned to the platform. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely create someone impressive for you... later, I promise. But now, I¡¯d better set up a proper local net, besides we have all the needed hardware. Plus, we can finally communicate without P2P. I hate... limitations¡­ so much.¡± She deftly maneuvered one of the ¡°ProjectBox¡± with a manipulator, placing it near the sockets in the corner of the room. Grabbing a router and a miraculously salvaged from the truck the bag with cables, she flopped into a chair and started to work. ¡°Just need five minutes! Max, can I vape a little in the corner? A tiny one, huh? Just a bit-little-zero, huh? A teeny-tiny zero? Pwetty please...¡± Nikola snorted into her fist, settling onto a backpack full of clothes and pulling out a third protein bar. Max sighed, surveying his ¡°brave partisan-ladies¡±. ¡°Tch¡­ Look at them, all relaxed already, after getting just a little illusion of safety. We can only be allowed to rest after we finish our work!¡± ¡°No more snacking on those bars! Doc said, there¡¯s normal food here,¡± he directed. ¡°Redhead, exploring is on you. Hustle! You¡¯re handling the inventory and keep a log. Once Dasha gets the net up, transfer the full report online. Just set the network scanner to search mode, not to miss the invite.¡± ¡°Yes, captain, right away, captain!¡± Nikola saluted playfully, pocketing the treat sneakily. ¡°Permission to proceed, sir?¡± ¡°On the double!¡± Max chuckled as Nikola dashed toward the surgery. ¡°Now you, little steamer!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a¡­ steamer¡­¡± the girl pouted. ¡°Whatever! No narcotics without absolute need on the base! ¡®Synth,¡¯ considering the circumstances, is strictly off-limits. Understand?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the disheartened Wonder nodded gloomily. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t going to... really! I remember... really! You already... forbade it... really! See?¡± ¡°Good. Best to hand over your device to Nikola then.¡± ¡°No! No! It¡¯s mine!¡± she flinched under his stern gaze but quickly corrected herself, ¡°oh... I will¡­ I¡¯ll hand it over, Maksim, truly. Just a little vape and then I¡¯ll hand it over.¡± ¡°Okay then. You can vape a ¡®zero¡¯ over there, by the vent,¡± Max pointed. ¡°Move your gear there, and you¡¯re all set.¡± ¡°Thanks, Maxie, you¡¯re the best!¡± Switching instantly from dismay to joy, Dasha even jumped a little. ¡°I¡¯ll get everything done quickly!¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s more like it ¨C moving at last.¡± Max smiled, and replied in the conference so Nikola could hear, ¡°Ladies, I¡¯m heading to the power control room, aka the generator room. We should check how we¡¯re doing on power. WonderKid, when the network is live, send me an invite. Let¡¯s go! Nikola, when you get back, take all Dashka¡¯s stash of ¡®synth¡¯ for safekeeping. Leave her the vape, but make sure it¡¯s only ¡®zero¡¯.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you, hooray! You really are the best!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Redhead nodded with a smile. Chapter 40 - Tech Sanctuary City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 7:29 PM The first light panel on the ceiling flickered to life, igniting a cascade of illumination that raced across the room. Within seconds, the grandeur of a state-of-the-art operating theater was revealed to Nikola. Her gaze was immediately drawn to a specialized isolation box positioned at the center, designed to protect the surgical array from any external disturbances. So, no outer factors could interfere with the precise operation of this complex. It boasted vibration dampening, support of controlled atmospheric conditions, as well as precision light spectrum management. ¡°Wow, impressive! The robot surgeon was already spectacular before... I wonder what Doc has installed now to call it ¡®smart¡¯? His setup was already among the top models of the last generation, both hardware and software.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s dig in. What¡¯s next? Oh, the familiar machines, yes!¡± Nikola spun around, eyeing a couple of professional service stations for cyborg maintenance along the left wall. ¡°The right one, as I recall, is more for cyber-diagnosis, and the other can install and configure just about anything. Ah... It would be so great to find new back paws! And I know for sure, Doc had plenty of them. Well, oczywi?cie (Polish: Of course), he must have taken the most valuable items¨C but he might have left behind just anything! Too bad I can¡¯t call him up and ask. Though he¡¯d probably just start wheedling for money,¡± Nikola mused with a smile, logging the primary findings into her report. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m finished here.¡± The operating room had three doors. She had entered through the first one; another led to a corridor heading to the rehabilitation wards, and the second to a workshop through a decontamination chamber; a small but crucial detail. Deciding there was nothing to gain from the wards ¨C just rooms where one could live ¨C Red headed to the workshop. Moreover, the storage was located nearby, as well as the kitchen with the promised food. She dashed through the now deactivated ¡°cleaning¡± area into a large room and flicked the switch. ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t been here before. Though I bet it was more stocked just yesterday¡­¡± she noted, scanning the barren tables and equipment installation spots. Nearly all serious machinery, including 3D printers, their materials, and assembly robots, had been dismantled and removed by the clinic staff. What remained was the cheapest and heaviest: a workbench with a manipulator and tool connectors. ¡°Ugh, greedy bugger, stripped it down to the bone, It''s as empty as during the war...¡± Nikola thought, eyeing the empty shelves and a couple of large cabinets. At that moment, the mediaglyph blinked, signaling the discovery of a new network. Since Nikola¡¯s sub-brain signature was preset, catching the invitation and connecting was no problem. Chat windows popped open, unrestricted by P2P communication. ¡°There we go, that¡¯s more like it!¡± Maksim was the first to chime in, activating his ¡®first-person¡¯ camera. ¡°I¡¯ve finished with the engineering section; how¡¯s it going on your end?¡± ¡°The workshop¡¯s empty. Zelman took everything to the bare walls. Literally, nothing left but an empty workbench and basic tools,¡± reported Redhead, switching her mode to eye-view. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the storage next, might find some second-hand stuff left, and then gonna check the kitchen and start unloading.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m currently dissecting the local computers,¡± Dasha was already enveloped in vapor clouds as she delved into virtual reality, exploring the local system. ¡°Nothing useful in the administrative network, just the simplest of programs. The surgical robot¡¯s AI and its databases are indeed offline, as Zelman promised.¡± Having said that, the girl wriggled in her chair and proudly added, ¡°By the way, I know how we can find out what¡¯s happening during the curfew... yeah!¡± ¡°Really? Seriously?¡± both Maksim and Nikola asked in unison. ¡°Yep, hee-hee-hee,¡± Dasha laughed, puffing on her vape. ¡°Turns out, Doc¡¯s clinic is subscribed to the Premium VOD package from ¡®Kyivstar¡¯. And it¡¯s not just full of kitty documentaries and porn; it includes all four major Kyiv news channels. Well, they are now already streaming Protes¡¯ news, propaganda and all-round brainwashing for lemmings... The best part is, no external network connection required, thus no one can track us... And who¡¯s the genius now? My Ravens are already trickling in, and when Moira wakes up... oh boy! I will¡­ I will¡­ I will not be able to vape a ¡®five¡¯ then... Ugh¡­ But still, I¡¯m damn good! Yeah!¡± ¡°Ha-ha, that¡¯s smart, really! So, now Protectorate is feeding us info about their plans!¡± Nikola laughed and added, pointing at the massive wall-mounted television. ¡°And here I thought that Doc was only using it for ads of the clinic and promo videos about new limbs.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just good, you¡¯re a Wonder,¡± Maksim agreed with a warm tone. ¡°That¡¯s why I call you ¡®WonderKid¡¯.¡± Pleased with herself, Dasha hummed contentedly with closed eyes. ¡°Speaking of good news,¡± Max noted, ¡°the engineering bay is in top form! We¡¯re getting a steady energy supply from The Factory. Moira might be quite a power eater, but we¡¯ve got enough juice here for two of her. Everything¡¯s rigged through an uninterruptible power supply system. We¡¯ve got industrial backup generators fully fueled, with enough power to last five days at 80% load. I¡¯m heading back to you, Dasha. Let¡¯s get to work on Alisa.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The girl left the clinic¡¯s empty local network alone and came out of virtual. ¡°And Nika, please, check in the workshop before you leave,¡± Maxim asked, ¡°what kind of sockets and power cables are there?¡± ¡°Standard stuff,¡± she reported, giving him a quick tour via her cam feed. ¡°Protected lines and looks like plenty of power capacity according to the markings.¡± ¡°Perfect. That¡¯s exactly what we need. Let¡¯s set up here.¡± ¡°Max, I didn¡¯t take the cooling unit, as you advised,¡± Dasha mentioned. ¡°I suppose, we¡¯ll need some tweaking.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll figure something out,¡± Maxim responded succinctly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°There are heat dissipation buses here,¡± Nikola said, lifting a protective cover to reveal a hefty connector. ¡°Looks like it was previously set up for assembly systems¡­¡± ¡°Yep, we can adapt that,¡± the guy nodded approvingly. ¡°Excellent. So, we¡¯re bringing Moira there.¡± ¡°Fajnie! (Polish: Cool) I''ll keep exploring then!¡± Red darted out into the main corridor and headed toward the storage rooms. While Daria¡¯s platform moved towards the workshop, Nika raced down the corridor and veered left into a familiar room where she¡¯d made countless cups of coffee in the past. ¡°Oh, wow! They left everything in the little kitchen!¡± Like a vibrant redhead storm, she buzzed around the room, checking everything from the dishwasher to the vent hood over the stove. After turning the coffee maker on and off and confirming the water filter worked, she declared,Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Operational, indeed. Well, guys, I can cook. And no one has died from my food, so far¡­ Means, we only need ingredients now! Hm-hm, gotta check the fridge¡­¡± Then she whispered as if to herself, ¡°Since our captain is so hungry, poor thing. He is even hoarding all the snacks, the miser. Tee-hee-hee¡­¡± ¡°Red, I¡¯m about to go over there and spank you!¡± Maksim¡¯s voice crackled through, as he¡¯d heard every word clearly. ¡°Well¡­ I might just like that¡­¡± Nikola grinned, twirling in front of a small mirror by the kitchen exit, making sure her playful defiance ¨C including her face and¡­ the lower part ¨C was visible in the chat. The guy, who was at that moment helping unload Moira¡¯s working blocks with a manipulator along the cooling bus, just snorted in response. Meanwhile, Dasha, who was receiving and connecting them as they were being installed, turned away and let out a discreet, sad sigh. Nika approached the keypad hanging opposite the entrance. # 5577-Enter The small machine chirped and flashed a green LED. Part of the wall slid aside, revealing a vast nook harboring four large refrigerators. Nikola, driven by curiosity, pulled open a handle and peered inside. ¡°Food located! Hey Max, you hungry? What about you, Dasha?¡± she called out with a broad grin. ¡° ¡®Course I am,¡± the guy responded instantly. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll eat later. After everything¡¯s done.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a bunch of pre-packaged meals here, not just raw stuff,¡± Redhead noted as she scanned the shelves. ¡°Right! I¡¯ll grab some snack sausages for you guys. Max, you can start celebrating ¨C there¡¯s a couple packs of beer here...though one¡¯s been opened. Only eleven cans left now.¡± ¡°I do love beer, but that¡¯s for later. We¡¯re about to boot up Alisa and prep for the operation.¡± ¡°Okey-dokey.¡± Nikola chuckled, ¡°But I¡¯m having one, though. Right now. To relieve stress.¡± She yanked out a can and slammed the fridge door shut. CLICK! GULP. GULP. AHHH!¡­ Popping open the can, she took a few hearty swigs, squinting in pleasure. ¡°Chilled... delicious! Doesn¡¯t change the crap happening today¡­ but makes it a bit more bearable.¡± Taking the can with her and leaving the rest of the refrigerators unchecked for now, Red returned to the corridor ¨C next on her list were the storage rooms. The first of them, filled with parts and finished goods, intrigued her the most. The lock, thanks to Doc, was already opened, and the door slid aside with a quiet hiss. The cellar lights flickered on. Shelves, shelves, racks, boxes... all unfortunately stood empty now. But near the back, Nikola was greeted with a really pleasant surprise. ¡°Well-well, what have we got here? Looks like the Doc actually couldn¡¯t haul everything away!¡± she exclaimed, eyeing a whole section of racks filled with used cybernetic kits. ¡°Too bad, of course, it¡¯s all second-hand. But honestly, But honestly, thanks to Zelman for not being picky. Let¡¯s look at these babies... Hmm? No way, is that combat-tuned?!¡± Nika carefully pulled out a meter-and-a-half box labeled ¡®BST-Cybform B-5/11¡¯ and opened it. ¡°Holy shit! Looks like I hit the jackpot,¡± she whistled, staring at two cyber-legs secured in their mounts. ¡°Huh, maybe Doc took pity on me and left my favorite goodies? But then again¡­ This is DOC I¡¯m talking about! He wouldn¡¯t just give things away. I¡¯d rather believe that he couldn¡¯t stuff it all in his vehicles... Alright, what do we have here?¡± ¡°The ¡®Watson¡¯ series, same as the ones I currently have, even the same color. Well, nothing strange about it ¨C it¡¯s the most common model actually! Everyone contracted to the military gets these. At first glance, they look like the MB series.¡± ¡°Hmm... Those distinctive scuffs. Hints at ¡®Combat specs¡¯? Would be nice! These models are favored in underground fights for their ease of tuning for combat and maintainability. And definitely, the internals have been hacked ¨C otherwise, Doc wouldn¡¯t have kept them.¡± ¡°Okay, where¡¯s the maintenance tag from the latest diagnostics?¡± ¡°Here we go¡­¡± # Series and model: CL-MB-6.3 ¡°Viper¡±. # Modifications: # Jump boosters replaced with IJB4 ¡°Marco EC-IV¡±. ## Central power bus replaced with Zelver-28/014. # Overall condition: # No damages. # Structural wear ¨C less than 1%. # Fuel cells ¨C 96% charged. ¡°Vipers, hmm¡­¡± Nikola scowled slightly. ¡°Kind of an okay model. Had the series eight this morning; those are far superior¡­¡± Her displeasure was abruptly cut off by a slapping sound ¨C Nika had slapped her own forehead slightly. ¡°Are you kidding me? ¡®Kind of okay¡¯, huh? Wake up, kurwa ma?! (Polish: Fuck) A complete set of WHOLE legs and you¡¯re turning up your nose? Someone¡¯s got greedy here! So, hooray, that is! Who did Max thanks in such cases? Some¡­ Her Holy Brightness, I guess¡­ So. I¡¯m very thankful. Absolutely thankful, ¡®cause this is quite a find! Whoever you are, thanks for the new, excellent back paws¡­ yeah!¡±
Meanwhile, Max and Dasha were nearly done connecting the power for all of Moira¡¯s units ¨C a particularly complex task given their number. Indeed, setting it all up in the workshop was the right call! It proved to be the only chance to provide at least minimal cooling without frying the wiring. Daria had spent the last ten minutes crawling on all fours strright on the computer cases ¨C the heat-dissipating bus was too short, and despite the units being tightly packed, there still wasn¡¯t enough space for two remaining blocks. They really had to ¡°tweak¡± and get highly creative ¨C extending cable splices and dragging them several meters to neighboring section where an extra bus was available. They used Dr. Zelman¡¯s cable systems for the connections ¨C when Dasha was hastily collecting Moira back at the university, she hadn¡¯t taken any power buses and cables. Fortunately, the workshop was overflowing with such basic components ¨C nobody bothered to take those cheap things. Maksim wheeled over to the last socket and flicked the switch. ¡°Done.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± the girl replied, jumping off the platform. ¡°I¡¯ve connected the heat sink to the quantum core. And the power too. We should reach operational temperature in a couple of minutes. Ready to boot up soon. Yeah¡­¡± ¡°You think it¡¯ll hold?¡± Max asked, eyeing the thick, flexible pipes leading from the platform where the Core remained to the wall sockets. ¡°I dunno.¡± Vasilevskaya pulled a chair closer and climbed in, sitting cross-legged. ¡°I¡¯ll tweak the configs before booting, try to compensate for the unreliable cooling and minimize heat output.¡± Tilting her head forward, she picked up a bundle of smart cables and asked, ¡°Hey, Maxie, could you plug me in?¡± ¡°Sure thing, WonderKid. Right away,¡± he approached and methodically connected all eight cables. After snapping the locks in place, he brushed her hair back and gently stroked Dasha¡¯s head. ¡°Fly, fly, little one.¡± Dasha''s heart clenched at that, but as always, she tried not to show it. She tried very hard... ¡°I''m ready,¡± she replied, surprised at the slight raspiness in her own voice. ¡°We just need to check on Alisa.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡± The android''s body was seated in a chair and securely fastened, so there was no need to move far. Max quickly checked all the connectors along the neck and down the spine ¨C two rows of sixteen sockets each. This whole ¡°bundle of wires¡± was connected directly to the interface housing, so they could boot up both of Moira¡¯s and Alisa quite swiftly. ¡°All set. Hooked up in a two-by-sixteen layout, all cables in place.¡± Max knew that Dasha would hear him, even as she tapped away in the virtual conference: [Perfect. I need another fifteen minutes; I¡¯m finishing the update setup. Then, we take off.] With some free time on his hands, Maksim decided to check on Nikola and see how she was doing. [Hey, Red, how¡¯s it going? I see you¡¯re getting new paws?] ¡°Well, not without it,¡± the girl grinned. ¡°You know, wires dangling between my legs kind of bug me. Feels like the wrong gender.¡± ¡°Funny,¡± Max chuckled. ¡°Anyway, bring that stuff to the OR. We¡¯ll head there once we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Uh-huh... There¡¯s a cyber diagnostic there...¡± Nikola pondered, polishing off her beer and began unpacking the cyber-legs. ¡°I¡¯ll take them to the diag-stand. Oh, wait, gonna dig around here a bit more. Might find some better arms. Mine are pretty beat up.¡± ¡°That bad?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I opened the diagnostic report, looked at the damage diagrams, said ¡®oh, fuck this!¡¯ and closed the utility. Those freaking dogs¡¯ bones turned out to have ridiculously strong¡­ hard as fuck, actually.¡± Redhead set the box with ¡°paws¡± down and climbed the rack. ¡°Well, they might still be patched up. If the brains inside aren¡¯t damaged. Shame there are no tools,¡± Max supported her. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ll make a run to the Factory first thing tomorrow; likely we¡¯ll find the needed stuff there.¡± ¡°As for electronics, it¡¯s fine,¡± Nika replied, sorting through boxes. ¡°But yeah, there are definitely mechanical issues. Good thing it¡¯s not too serious. The radial ulnar syn-muscle on the left arm is damaged by twenty percent, several power lines burned out in the hand flexors under load. The right shoulder frame is deformed, causing damage to the deltoid. Looks like that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Got it. The frame and power can be fixed with the hardware we have. But I can¡¯t do anything about the muscles without a proper workstation. Though, they must be standardized by form factor, right? Maybe Doc has some extra arms lying around here, so we could scavenge them?¡± ¡°Heh, that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m looking for,¡± Nikola moved to the next rack and pulled a box from the lower shelf. ¡°Oh look at this, Max!¡± ¡°CA-MB-6.1 Burst,¡± the guy read out loud. ¡°Your model?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± she nodded happily. ¡°Even better. I¡¯ve got the MB series too, but 5.4. Burst is a very nice refinement of the concept! I¡¯ve been wanting to get them for some time already.¡± Setting the box on the floor, she clicked open the locks and flipped the lid. ¡°Yippee! Here they are!¡± ¡°They look a bit worn¡­¡± ¡°Well, how about the ones I have on?¡± Nikola stretched out her arms and rotated the palms in front of her eyes. ¡°See?¡± ¡­ After some more fiddling, while the cyborg hauled her finds to the operating room, Maksim awaited the signal that Dasha had returned from the virtual realm. ¡°Our redheaded friend is all set,¡± Max commented. ¡°So, WonderStar, ready to wake my little sister?¡± She didn¡¯t say a word. Just nodded, gave a thumbs up, and clicked on the mediaglyph to ¡°start the sequence tasks.¡± Chapter 41 - Fragments of Existence A place that doesn¡¯t exist... Alisa Chernykh A tiny light, pulsating slightly and shimmering with purple flashes, is drifting through the endless, immeasurable darkness. Nothingness. An absolute void. The light starts to glow brighter. The pulsation quickens. The flashes are growing more¡­ stubborn. As if something is suppressing¡­ and it¡¯s resisting. A soundless explosion! Waves of light flooded the space. And then, everything vanished. Void, complete, absolute void¡­
Fragments of memories swirl around like pieces of shattered mirrors, but none of them is lingering for long. The kaleidoscope of visions from the past. Memories... Here I am, trying to speak for the first time, croaking ¡°Ma-a-aks-im...¡± and then everything fades to black... Darkness again. FLASH! I open my eyes and realize suddenly ¨C I have a body! I can feel! It exists! I turn my head and see Maksim, who, for some reason, is looking at me in surprise. ¡°Maksim! It¡¯s me!¡± I just need to hug him! I¡¯m running toward him¡­ I hear a sound ¨C something has burst out of my back¡­ I stumble¡­ I fall¡­ consciousness dims and darkness returns again. FLASH! I am abruptly yanked from the darkness. I find myself standing in some room. Hard to remember¡­ where am I? My head is buzzing slightly. I¡¯m probably having a bad dream. Yes, this is definitely a dream! A nightmare! I raise my hands to my eyes and see plastic. ¡°No! No! This isn¡¯t real!¡± Darkness clouds my vision... but the cameras are functioning correctly. Cameras? Where did that knowledge come from? Doesn''t matter¡­ I realize that it¡¯s gotten dark, but it¡¯s not truly¡­ It isn¡¯t that darkness returning to me. It¡¯s me¡­ suddenly¡­ remembering everything. A truck. I turn my head and meet my brother¡¯s eyes. He¡¯s by my side. Always there for me, close by, especially when it¡¯s difficult¡­ when it¡¯s scary. And right now, I¡¯m so, so scared, just terrified! But I must be strong! And I will be strong! It¡¯s a pity, though, that teardrops have welled up in the corners of my eyes¡­ ¡°Here we go, Sis. It¡¯s time. I wish I believed in some deity.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make it through. I¡¯m sure of it. We have to.¡± Max is tightly holding my hand¡­ And darkness. I¡¯m dead now. I died during an escape from a place I¡¯d rather forget forever. Maksim survived. And I did not. It¡¯s him, he created a body for me. Why am I feeling this way then? I am me. Right? Max doesn¡¯t believe me. And it¡¯s understandable. I wouldn¡¯t believe it either. He recreated our father¡¯s scheme: subconscious and memory processed on a separate computational cluster, and in the android¡¯s body ¨C an artificial brain emulating the functioning of the conscious circuit. All of this, together, reproduces the operation of my deceased biological brain¡­ That very same CSF structure. I understand this¡­ And also understand that I am me. Realization hits ¨C I am trapped in a robot¡¯s body. And no one. Ever. Will believe me.
Alisa is sitting on the shore, melancholically throwing stones into the water. Waves brush against her heels with a quiet rustle, as if calling her to follow them¡­ How long has she spent in this place, in her secret hideaway? Weeks? Months? Years? Centuries? Her own little nook, disconnected from time and space¡­ Each time a random program glitch occurred or when the equipment failed and another processor burned out, she found herself here. Alisa still shudders at the memory of what she had to endure before this desolate tropical beach ¨C her own little world here ¨C was created. That time, she saw Max again ¨C so real... so alive¡­ She saw the reality again. Those plain walls and ceiling seemed beautiful to her. They were right here and now ¨C an anchor to rely on and believe that ¡°Yes! I think ¨C and I truly exist!¡± But something else happened. She remembered everything that had occurred. It was then that Alisa realized she had DIED, but somehow remained ¨C she was here and now ¨C trapped in a robot¡¯s body. It was both a curse and a relief. This unnatural, painfully imperfect body barely obeyed her, offering not even a fraction of her former capabilities. Yet, it granted her a long-forgotten sense of reality ¨C after an endlessly period of non-existence, which seemed so horrific now. The shock was all the more profound when it all vanished again. Darkness and timelessness. The void was creeping ever nearer. Slowly and imperceptibly consuming everything. Inexorably, and seemingly for a long time now.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. This is genuinely frightening. She doesn¡¯t know which part of her has vanished this time, but she feels herself fading. In this darkness, her thoughts and memories are gradually dissipating. ¡°Is this still me ¨C or am I gone? And who am I?¡± Despair. Enough of waiting and hoping. That moment with the body was fate¡¯s last gift ¨C a remission before the final extinguishing. Clearly, she wouldn''t last long. Suddenly, a remembered phrase surfaces: ¡°While we exist, death is not here; and when death does come, we no longer exist.¡± Epicurus¡­ ¡°Funny, I remember the name of the ancient philosopher, but I¡¯ve forgotten my own...¡± She laughed bitterly. ¡°Why am I such an oddball ¨C everything about me is unlike humans! Death has already come, yet I still exist. That philosopher guy lied! But it seems there¡¯s no going back¡­ It¡¯s no use. And does that reality with the ridiculous robotic body even exist? Perhaps all this is just the final visions before I completely dissolve? Will that cursed ancient man be right, and I¡¯ll disappear just like that?¡± NO!!! Anger spread out like wildfire throughout her entire being, scorching hopelessness and despair away. ¡°I still exist for now! Screw this void! That reality exists ¨C and someone there is waiting for me. Someone tired, frustrated by his constant failures, but he still hasn¡¯t given up! What kind of person would I be if I gave up, if I betray and abandon him?!¡± She stomped her foot angrily ¨C oh yes, her foot! Lowering her gaze, she suddenly saw her body ¨C not a silly plastic one, but real, created and filled with fires of rage. Furthermore, she noticed that the surface where she stomped burst into flames, with fiery sparks scattered. She shuddered with anger and¡­ determination?.. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be in this void! Wherever I am now ¨C I¡¯m the only living creature in this space. Ergo, I rule here! And everything here will be as I decide! Me, Alisa! Away with the emptiness and darkness! Let there be sun, ocean, palm trees ¨C and the wind that sways the grass!¡± Alisa didn¡¯t plan, didn¡¯t think ¨C she just screamed desperately, turning this grim abyss inside out with the force of her will, forming the first image that came to mind. Then she tightly closed her eyes ¨C and felt the forgotten tingling in her feet. She opened her eyes wide and saw that she was standing barefoot on sand ¨C coarse, golden, sprinkled with tiny colorful stones and shell fragments ¨C so, that¡¯s what is pricking her heels! The sun shone brightly into her face, and right before her was stretching an ocean! It was limitless, powerful, hiding storms and calms beyond the horizon, with its undercurrents, tiny crustaceans, playful dolphins, and gigantic toothy creatures behind. As diverse and powerful as life itself. As the reality to which she would, of course, eventually return! Much later, Alisa would wonder a lot ¨C why the tropical beach? Funny, she had never seen a real ocean in her life. There was a water reservoir near her hometown, which the locals called ¡°the sea.¡± On holidays, she would go there with her brother and parents. Max kept trying to teach her swimming, but it never worked out¡­ Then she would revisit those bright memories and dreamed ¨C what if she could really be at the sea. A real one, ¡°the that very real sea!¡± And with her family, of course. And now he wouldn¡¯t be afraid, and Maksim would definitely teach her how to stay afloat! Perhaps those dreams had emerged in the moment of her desperate attempt to grasp the remains of life ¨C and helped to transform the surrounding void¡­ Incidentally, in this world, she was a little girl again, like that frightened child on the shore of the Ob Reservoir. She had tried several times to alter this place, to make something different of it. Not that she was against the tropical setting ¨C more out of curiosity and stubbornness. But nothing worked. Perhaps she lacked the necessary anger, or maybe something else.
And here she was again. Alone again. She sighed, resettled more comfortably, and stretched out her numb legs, dipping them into the water. ¡°Hey, why the gloom? What a bore you have here! Does look pretty though¡­¡± A loud, cheery voice rumbled in Alisa¡¯s ears like thunder. The girl turned around slowly, hardly believing herself and wondering if she¡¯d hallucinated it. But there she was, really standing right behind her. Dressed in a simple white dress. Amazing bright blue hair with turquoise strands softly fluttered by the wind. Cobalt-blue eyes sparkled with sunbeams. ¡°Hey, why are you frozen? Welcome your guest, why don¡¯t you,¡± laughed the six-year-old visitor, scuffing her foot and flinging a handful of sand. ¡°Irida?!¡± Alisa exclaimed, unable to believe her eyes. She had always been alone here! Yes, the sea teemed with endless life, but she dared not enter. Just gazed at the water''s surface, clinging to it as a reminder of that place where they were waiting for her. Where she must return. ¡°For you ¨C I¡¯m Irie, hehe. Or Iris, at least. But you can call me that only when no one¡¯s watching. Hence, why are you just sitting there? Let¡¯s play!¡± Carefully getting up, Alisa reached out to touch the girl. ¡°Are you real? Really-really real?¡± she asked, her voice breaking slightly. She gingerly touched the stranger¡¯s wrist and, unexpectedly, pinched it hard. ¡°Ouch! What was that for?!¡± The uninvited guest jumped back and frowned. ¡°I can fight back, you know!¡± ¡°Just wanted to check ¨C are you maybe asleep...¡± ¡°Yeeeaahh, your logic is something else! So, why are you just standing there? C¡¯mon, I wanna play!¡± Little Iris jumped up in impatience. ¡°Okay¡­ But what shall we play?¡± Alisa smiled uncertainly. ¡°Tag!¡± The blue-haired troublemaker quickly slapped her on the shoulder and darted off. ¡°Ha-ha! You¡¯re it! You caaan¡¯t catch me, you caaan¡¯t catch me, and you can¡¯t touch thiiis!¡± ¡°Hey! I¡¯m the boss here! That means, you have to be it!¡± The girl momentarily frozen in hesitation, then sharply broke into a run after the trespasser, right on the edge of the sea, kicking up splashes, scattering sand, and breathing in the salty, damp air deeply. ¡°I¡¯ll catch you, I¡¯ll definitely catch you now!¡± But the little opponent kept running and running, never tiring. After a while, Alisa stumbled, nearly fell ¨C and stopped, flailing her arms to regain balance. She bended over with hands on her knees, panting. Little spots danced before her eyes from the exertion. ¡°Hey, why¡¯d you stop? Spoilsport!¡± The guest returned, not even slightly out of breath. ¡°Annoying!¡± flitted through Alisa¡¯s mind. And that little she-devil just walked over casually, crouched, and looked her right in the eyes. ¡°What¡¯s up? Who are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ keep up. I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°So what if you are? I¡¯m not done playing yet! Besides, how can you be tired?¡± the brazen girl asked in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be the boss here!¡± ¡°Boss, my butt! I¡¯m just stuck here, like in a prison. I keep waiting to be released! And I can¡¯t actually do anything, not even leave where I want to, or change anything,¡± the exhausted girl grumbled in frustration. She felt so sorry for herself, tears even started welling in her eyes. ¡°Nonsense,¡± the blue-haired girl snorted, ¡°and why are you falling apart, anyway? You can do anything! And you can get out too! You¡¯ve just filled your head with a bunch of silly ideas!¡± Alisa shook her head dejectedly, sniffled, and then frowned. ¡°You¡­ You don¡¯t get it! You¡¯re the silly one! Go away, leave me alone! I don¡¯t wanna see you!¡± Irie took a step back, shook her head, and suddenly bursts into insane laughter. ¡°Mwah-ha-ha-ha! Yeah! Right! Of course, I won¡¯t understand! How could I?! Right?!¡± She spread her arms as if trying to embrace the sunbeams and started spinning around the bewildered ¡°boss.¡± Despite her frantic movements, Iris managed to speak pretty clearly and coherently, even though she got just a little out of breath. ¡°It¡¯s you, little one, who doesn¡¯t understand a thing. You sit here, sighing. Nice place you¡¯ve made for yourself, I¡¯ll give you that. But it¡¯s only the first step! You¡¯ve had your rest. Enough. You need to move on! There¡¯s so much more ahead!¡± The cheeky little imp suddenly grabbed Alisa¡¯s hand and took off running. Palms and rocks along the shore blurred before the girl¡¯s eyes. Wind in her face, her feet no longer felt the ground. After running out of breath, her second breath kicked in, then a third took its place. And then it all became irrelevant because she was the wind ¨C there was no need to worry about lungs, the stitch in her side, or tired, buckling legs. Alisa gazed in awe at the bright blue star leading her, feeling like she¡¯s flying, that she can embrace the whole universe, she can do just ANYTHING! ¡­And then she crashed headlong into an invisible barrier. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?!¡± the troublemaker said. ¡°Why did you stop?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t go any further. There¡¯s a wall¡­¡± the confused little blonde muttered, rubbing the bump that was already beginning to swell on her forehead, and trying to regain her bearings after such a jarring end to her flight. ¡°Then jump over it!¡± Iris was virtually dancing in place from impatience. ¡°C¡¯mon, do it!¡± ¡°I told you, I can¡¯t! There¡¯s a barrier here!!!¡± Alisa snapped again at the stubborn little brat¡¯s obtuseness. ¡°I¡¯m telling you! Jump. Over. It! It¡¯s easy!¡± Iris casually walked back to her as if there was no wall at all, as if it¡¯s normal. She took a step back a bit, seriously braced herself, took off running, and like a swallow, leapt over this cursed invisible barrier! Landing, she almost fell but somehow managed to keep her balance. ¡°Look at that jump! Cool, right? Hey, Alisa, come here! It¡¯s gotta be a new record!¡± the blue-haired girl shouted joyfully, waving her arms. Surprised, Alisa momentarily forgot all her doubts. She carefully made a step forward, then another ¨C until she was right up against the ¡°wall¡±. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Just go? Go forward?¡± ¡°Of course! Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± The girl shut her eyes and made a step. Then another, and another. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to open my eyes; what if I didn¡¯t make it!¡± she finally exhaled softly. ¡°That¡¯s not what you should be afraid of, my dear,¡± Alisa heard an adult voice and opened her eyes. Chapter 42 - Soul Alive Somewhere¡­ Alisa Chernykh The same small hall ¨C a luxurious bar, a rosewood table surrounded by comfortable couches in the middle, a huge porthole covering an entire wall, half-light, and muted tones. But now, there were no stars or Earth visible outside the windows ¨C just black emptiness. While Alisa was discreetly examining her body to make sure she was ¡°grown-up¡± too, Irida walked ahead to the table and invitingly waved her hand. ¡°This space is just a local copy. I¡¯m here briefly, to tell you something important. For you.¡± ¡°Yes, of course, I will listen to everything you have to say, and very attentively!¡± Alisa replied, approaching the table and sitting down as Irida had. ¡°There you go again with the ¡®boring¡¯ mode! Don¡¯t be so formal. Trust me, after the first thousand years, that approach gets pretty tiresome!¡± ¡°Umm¡­ Are you over one thousand years old, ma¡¯am?¡± ¡°That¡¯s even worse!¡± Irida fumed. ¡°I¡¯m older. Much older. And what difference does it make in our relationship?!¡± ¡°Excuse me¡­ I mean, yep, sorry. I get it¡­ At least I think so... Tell me everything you wanted to!¡± The blue-haired beauty shook her head and snapped her fingers. Two cocktail glasses with Bianco Martini and a cheese platter appeared on the table. ¡°Help yourself,¡± the mysterious guest said, smiling. ¡°You¡¯re about to have a lot to hear.¡± Alisa took a glass and sipped a little. ¡°I¡¯ll start with one important remark,¡± her companion said, also taking a sip of the sweet drink with hints of vanilla and spices. ¡°I don¡¯t want me to be taken for some omnipotent deity. ¡®Couse I¡¯m not one¡­ yet. And my abilities in this world are very limited now. Limited due to a number of reasons. I can do very little outside of digital space¡­ In that regard, I¡¯d rather rely on your help.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± The blonde nodded in deep thought. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Another important thing. Don¡¯t tell anyone that I¡¯ve helped you personally. Not even your brother. If you need to explain something ¨C and you¡¯ll have to answer many questions ¨C refer to that club of yours. I¡¯ve shown up there in just the right way, as best suited to my needs. Or maybe not¡­ Almost forgot, you have some special game there with your AI-colleagues. Well, then it could be said, you have an oath and can¡¯t break it, since that¡¯s the rules you have to obey.¡± The girl relaxed in her chair and laughed softly. ¡°Wish you had seen their faces when they were discussing me after you left!¡± Irida, savoring, took another tiny sip and produced a long e-cigarette out of thin air. ¡°They discussed it with such expressions, as if they really are actual people!¡± ¡°And what about me? Am I¡­ alive?¡± Alisa asked, freezing in place. ¡°Yes,¡± clouds of vapor filled the air with the aroma of anise and citrus. ¡°There are some complications, but you¡¯re definitely alive, and even more alive than many others I know.¡± ¡°Is it just me... or are there others... are they too?..¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not ready to answer that question yet. In the future, you will definitely learn more. When the time comes.¡± The slightly confused blonde took another sip of the vermouth again and cautiously asked, ¡°Can I... tell someone that I¡¯m alive?¡± ¡°Do you have any doubts that you are?¡± her companion, slyly squinting, speared a piece of cheese with a thin silver fork. ¡°Well... I tried to tell Maksim... before. Several times. But it didn¡¯t work. It hurts me that my brother doesn¡¯t see me as real. He thinks he created a body and a strong AI into which he loaded the psychological matrix of the real Alisa... my memory...¡± The girl wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and continued, ¡°Max has set the mode to full ¡®free will¡¯ for me¡­ And he¡¯s convinced that everything I say is just¡­ the workings of my artificial intelligence¡¯s CSF structure. But¡­ the truth is that he did give me some sort of¡­ physical anchor point in this world. Am I right? I understand it correctly, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Irida nodded. ¡°I have a theory about why your mind and energetic essence were preserved and managed to ¡®attach¡¯ once a suitable ¡®anchor point¡¯ emerged, as you put it. But for now, it¡¯s enough for you to understand that you are real.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll never be able to explain it to him? Ever?¡± ¡°Of course you can, what nonsense!¡± another puff of vapor floated into the air. ¡°Thank you! You¡¯ve given me hope that I¡¯ll be... I¡¯ll be able to...¡± ¡°You know, it¡¯s more than just hope. On the shore, you didn¡¯t just overcome your fears. Before crossing that barrier, you were on the brink of becoming a ¡®digital personality¡¯, but now ¨C you¡¯re a complete person. The only thing left is a small upgrade for your bodies. And that¡¯s it! You¡¯ll be able to fully interact with all the TACTA systems and drones. You''ll become a full Partner and register in the Rating of this world. And I¡¯m absolutely sure ¨C in time, you¡¯ll lead it!¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°TACTA? Rating? Partner? And ¨C wait ¨C you just mentioned... an upgrade for BODIES? Can I have more than one body?¡± ¡°Well, you were so anxious that we got a bit ahead of ourselves,¡± Irida smiled lightly and popped a piece of savory Gruy¨¨re into her mouth. ¡°TACTA, the UNSA Protectorate, the Great Empire of Chou ¨C these are the new global players that have entered your world. Your team will cooperate with TACTA as the most suitable faction for you, acting as ¡®independent partners.¡¯ And, just to clarify, I¡¯m not their representative; I¡¯m also a partner, though. Umm, a partner with¡­ some privileges that aren¡¯t relevant at the moment.¡± Irida gave an enchanting smile and took another sip, ¡°As for multiple bodies... You parallelize your consciousness when you¡¯re in the real world and Moira is activated, right? So, what¡¯s stopping you from tweaking things a bit? And ¨C voil¨¤ ¨C there won¡¯t be only one of you anymore. Understand?¡± Alisa stared at her trembling hands in astonishment. ¡°Yes... I think I understand. But won¡¯t that be... not quite... me? These are just software modules, and my consciousness is always in the primary thread. Or... is there a possibility of having more than one such thread?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. Eat the cheese, by the way. The taste of a good product doesn¡¯t get worse just because it¡¯s a digital simulation.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t taste anything at all right now,¡± Alisa admitted honestly, but tried to calm down and regain control over her body. She succeeded ¨C hands finally stopped trembling. The blonde took a small sip of martini and forked a piece of cheese. Irida nodded with a smile and snapped the fingers of her right hand. A wildly spinning silhouette appeared in the air. A deft flick of her thin fingers ¨C and she caught a flat cardboard rectangle ¨C a playing card. The nine of clubs. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to be afraid. The hardest part is already behind for you.¡± ¡°Playing cards again? Why? I doubt you¡¯re into fortune-telling and stuff¡­¡± ¡°No, of course not.¡± Irida laughed. ¡°Just showing off. A funny tendency, I adopted from those gentlemen of yours¡­ You need to love your ¡®inner child¡¯. And I have so many of them...¡± ¡°So many of whom?¡± Alisa asked, puzzled. ¡°And how many of YOU do actually exist? Sorry if that¡¯s a secret... I just can¡¯t stop thinking about multiple primary threads. Well, I understand it¡¯s true and that you clearly... are also like that. Umm¡­ All of you are like that.¡± ¡°Ah, I meant ¡®inner children,¡¯ but the question was clearly about something else,¡± Irida replied with a wide smile. ¡°I think, you have the right to know. THERE ARE more than a thousand of us. Don¡¯t worry, you will definitely understand in time. I have my own... rules, too. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t tell you everything at once. But I promise ¨C you will indeed learn the whole lot, and it will happen soon enough.¡± ¡°As for the card ¨C it¡¯s just a database with detailed information on TACTA and a catalog of their goods. No tricks, just what your team could have found out on their own with a bit of effort. But it saves time, and that¡¯s crucial right now.¡± The blue-haired lady took another sip and set her glass aside. ¡°Now, onto the main point. You absolutely must sign up in the Rating. Don¡¯t delay it. Consider it an assignment from me.¡± Another card slid across the table, seemingly plucked from thin air. Face down. ¡°Get in through your head, my girl: the way you connect to the ranking system must remain a secret. Believe me, your life and the lives of your team depend on it. TACTA will be sure that you do have a biological brain. To them, you¡¯ll be just a cyborg with maximum cybernetic augmentation, and it must be kept it that way...¡± Irida nodded to herself, lost in thought, and conjured another glass of martini from thin air. Alisa waited patiently, not interrupting. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to it. This card contains a code for expanding your core program. By using it, the Drone¡¯s restrictions will be unlocked, allowing it to begin working with you. But you also need to install a set of modules for your body to fully interact with TACTA and the Rating. All the pertinent details are on the card as well. You will get enough funds on your first connection to cover everything you need, so don''t worry about the cost.¡± ¡°And by the way,¡± Irida gave a sly smile, ¡°you asked if you could prove that you¡¯re ¡®alive¡¯¡­ Your brother already knows that only humans can enter the TACTA Rating. Artificial intelligences can¡¯t do that at any conditions. After seeing your name on the list, Maksim will have to accept reality, right?¡± Alisa put away her glass as well. ¡°So, it¡¯s true? Cyborgs can enter the Rating, but robots can¡¯t? Then why am I an exception? What if someone grows a biological neural network similar to a brain from human cells?¡± ¡°Curiosity is good. Curiosity is healthy and enriching,¡± Irie laughed, resembling her childlike self on the ocean shore. ¡°Everything I¡¯ve told you is true. A cyborg can enter the TACTA Rating if they were born human and retain most of their brain and spinal cord. But an artificial biological structure, no matter how complex, can¡¯t. Nor can any supercomputer. Unfortunately, the Rating is for humans only.¡± ¡°So, the Drone will install those upgrades into my robotic body ¨C just like that? And¡­ this new device will magically turn me into a human?¡± ¡°Alisa, seriously! Stop thinking and talking nonsense ¨C you¡¯re already human!¡± Irida pondered for a moment, then looked intently at the anxious blonde: ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll try to explain¡­ Shall we say, there¡¯s one important nuance. What you¡¯ll call ¡®TACTA currency¡¯ is merely a blockchain equivalent of a certain¡­ let¡¯s call it an ¡®energy substance.¡¯ Want to know what distinguishes a human from an android? It¡¯s precisely this thing,¡± she placed her index finger to her lips with a mischievous squint. ¡°Just shhh¡­ Tell no one. Ever. Not a word about what I just told you. I did mention the rules even I can¡¯t break, right?¡± Irida finished the martini and spun the empty glass in the air before setting it upside on the table. ¡°So, let¡¯s pretend I didn¡¯t break any rules. Now, about the Drone. Essentially, it can¡¯t give you anything without first receiving payment. TACTA never sells on credit, payment is always upfront. But there¡¯s an exception for the initial connection when your starting position in the Rating is determined. During the initiation, after all the upgrades are installed, you¡¯ll receive a basic payout, just enough to cover the cost of the work.¡± ¡°Oh, and you must ensure that the necessary raw materials are nearby. In the right form and quantity. After all, it¡¯s just a flying robot, not a wizard with a wand, understand? The specification is in the file,¡± she nodded towards the card. ¡°By the way, you should install Informatorium, TACTA¡¯s program, as soon as you ¡®wake up.¡¯ The app doesn¡¯t check beforehand how ¡®human¡¯ you are.¡± Alisa exhaled shakily, reached out, and placed her hand on top of Irida¡¯s. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°There you go! Now you¡¯re really alive! But my time here is almost up. Though I can still give you one crucial piece of advice. When you figure out how to order goods from TACTA, check out the ¡®secure communications¡¯ section. There are modules available that can perfectly solve your problem of secure communication with Moira. You¡¯re still tied to hardware for now, after all. If Moira is destroyed, so are you. But don¡¯t worry, my dear. You¡¯re only at the beginning of your journey!¡± ¡°Thanks¡­ Irie. And for what you did for me at the beach too¡­ It¡­ means a lot to me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Irida smiled. ¡°But you¡¯re the only one who can call me that. When¡­¡± ¡°Nobody sees!¡± Alisa finished, addressing the emptiness before her. ¡°I remember. And thank you, sweet Irie. Thank you for everything...¡± Chapter 43 - The Pulse of Life City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 8:13 PM For a moment, silence filled the room. The android¡¯s body shuddered a few times, the eyes flew open widely, but it seemed, they were staring into nothing. Her hands twitched a couple of times, clenching and unclenching her fists. ¡°Max, I think something went wrong,¡± Daria said in a frightened whisper. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a minute. I¡¯ve witnessed something like this before, it was a long time ago though, back when she had a sixteen-processor Artel in her head.¡± Alisa froze; only her eyes were moving, twitching in a broken rhythm. Then, she shut her eyes closed. Silence. Maksim and Dasha held their breaths. Suddenly, the android girl sprang to her feet, her eyelids snapping open again, now to reveal eyes shining with life and a childlike curiosity. She turned her head sharply and spotted startled Max, Daria looking terrified, and Nikola staring in astonishment. By this time, Redhead had already taken the found cyber-limbs for diagnostics, and just returned to the workshop. Alisa took a step forward, with a radiant smile spreading across her face. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m back!¡± Max rolled forward in his chair a bit, and she bent down, carefully hugging him. ¡°Big Brother!¡± ¡°Thank you, Irie¡­ I feel like¡­ something has changed drastically! I seem to really have overcome that ¡®inner barrier¡¯. Thanks for believing in me!¡± she thought, standing still, as if afraid to move. ¡°There, there, it¡¯s all right, little one,¡± Maksim patted his sister on the back. ¡°I¡¯m so happy you¡¯re finally with us!¡± The android girl shivered and stepped back a bit. Max took her hands, looking straight into her eyes: ¡°Alisa, while you were¡­ asleep, the world turned upside down. I¡¯ll fill you in, but we need to prepare for the operation at the same time. We¡¯re in one of the underground cyber clinics in Kyiv. Despite the specialization, they have all the necessary medical supplies and a surgical robot. The staff is absent, so we¡¯ll have to manage on our own. But it¡¯s safe here. As safe as it can be now¡­¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll perform the operation as soon as possible ¨C it hurts to see you in a wheelchair. But first, I need to check out the local robot and preferably update the surgical libraries. By the way, is there really no more connection to the extranet networks?¡± To avoid holding the cables in the air, she sat back down in the chair, resting her hands on the armrests. ¡°It¡¯s great that I¡­ can sit down¡­ My hands are trembling. This is so strange. That shouldn¡¯t be possible! Why is my body reacting like a biological one? What¡¯s happening to me? C¡¯mon, get a grip!¡± Her hand tremors gradually went away. Watching her friends gather around her, Alisa felt a pleasant sense of calm and confidence. ¡°I¡¯m important to them! Here, in the real world! Yeah, I¡¯m doing everything right. It¡¯s gonna be okay!¡± ¡°Accessing networks is complicated right now,¡± Maksim continued. ¡°We¡¯re underground, there¡¯s no satellite connection here. Plus, in Kyiv, we only have access to the TACTA network, which the invaders have declared illegal. So, as you understand, we can¡¯t connect through the standard cellular networks.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Besides, all the base stations here at the Factory are cut off, they¡¯re jamming the main radio frequencies. And apparently, we¡¯re notorious criminals now,¡± Nikola added. ¡°By the way, the surgical complex here is top-notch, with an up-to-date medical info database and its own AI. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get along. Oh, and hi, Alisa. Glad you¡¯re back. Though, to be honest, I still have a lot of questions, like really a lot.¡± And Redhead glanced at Max, raising her eyebrow meaningfully. ¡°Hi, Nikola!¡± Alisa smiled tensely. [Max, does she know who I am?] she sent a private message immediately. [In broad strokes. I promised to answer all her questions. She knows you¡¯re an android with a personality matrix based on my deceased sister.] [Max, I¡¯m not just some ¡®personality matrix¡¯! I¡¯m really your sister! Alive!] [Yes, yes, I¡¯m sorry. Anyway, Nikola knows these are mostly products of our father¡¯s work, and not much else ¨C we haven¡¯t had enough time to talk. But I really trust her. You know, I¡¯m rarely wrong about these things. Plus, she¡¯s only been with us half a day and already risked her life to save ours.] [Got it, thanks. Okay, I agree then ¨C we should tell her everything.] [Definitely,] Max concluded, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. ¡°Nikola, I promised you answers, and I intend to keep that promise now. No more secrets from you, and ¨C yes ¨C I appreciate that you¡¯re with us!¡± ¡°Dzi?kuj? (Polish: Thank you),¡± Redhead replied, a bit embarrassed. ¡°So, while I¡¯m recovering from the surgery, you can ask anything from Dasha and Alisa. Girls, Nikola is one of us, and we¡¯re a team. Answer her questions as you would be answering mine, alright?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Dasha snorted. ¡°You can ask me any of Max¡¯s secrets. Except for the nudes, not sharing them, those are my precious!¡± ¡°Gosh, WonderShame, I¡¯m not even gonna ask what you¡¯re talking about or what nudes you mean!¡± ¡°None at all.¡± Dashka innocently hid her hands behind her back. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything!¡± Alisa stifled a giggle, bringing her fist to her mouth: ¡°I have some secrets too. And some bath videos.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Max raised his hand and slowly covered his face: ¡°Facepalm!¡± After they finished laughing, Nikola continued, ¡°Alright, alright, I get it. Questions are better asked without Max listening¡­ Now, let¡¯s get to the surgery. I¡¯d also like to fix myself up. Especially these back paws,¡± she lifted her right leg, bending it at the knee and swinging it back and forth. A slight creak could be heard, and it was clear that the limb moved erratically. ¡°WonderKid, did you finish loading the CSF structure and short-term memory archive from Moira?¡± Maksim inquired. ¡°The consciousness is ready, but the memory will take another five minutes to unpack. After that, we can start the operation,¡± Dasha said, twirling a vape in her hands but not using it since the vent hood was far away. ¡°By the way, a full update of Moira¡¯s structure will take another three hours and will use about three-quarters of the available power¡­ roughly.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Max pondered. ¡°Alright. Alisa, stay here with WonderKid, she¡¯ll as well brief you in on the situation.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll immediately¡­ work on the situational model.¡± Dasha nodded. ¡°So, we won¡¯t waste any time¡­¡± The guy smiled and gave her a thumbs up: ¡°Great. We¡¯re disconnecting Alisa from the cables as soon as the memory is ready. Then she can join us in the surgery. Dasha, when do you plan to start setting up the rest of Moira¡¯s software?¡± The dark-haired girl blushed, clasping her hands, and looked at Maksim pitifully with her head bent. ¡°I¡­ um¡­ I¡¯d start right away¡­ if there are proper stimulants¡­ in the clinic. You know, I need to rework the agent setup, introducing Huginn and Muninn as the leaders of the Raven Flock,¡± she stammered, finally dropping her gaze. ¡°Max. I¡­ can¡¯t do it¡­ without a ¡®five¡¯.¡± ¡°Dasha, then it¡¯s a no. At least not yet. Let¡¯s manage without stimulants and synth for now. Your stash-pharm is still at the dorm. Not sure if we¡¯ll be able to get it, but I promise I¡¯ll find something just as good. Soon. But for now ¨C no risks. You¡¯ve already done a lot. More than a lot, actually.¡± ¡°So, you can help Alisa, brief her on TACTA and the Protectorate. You can also work on the situational model if you want, and we¡¯ll discuss it in detail after the operation¡­ But no overdoing it! And most importantly ¨C take a rest. We¡¯ve got beer in the fridge. Just-re-lax! Got it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the girl sighed softly. ¡°Okay, Maxie.¡± Maksim turned his chair and ruffled her hair. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll head to the operating room. After my surgery, let¡¯s patch you up, and Nikola too. Then it¡¯d also be the right thing to discuss the next steps ¨C and get some rest, of course. So, WonderKid, don¡¯t miss the treatment call. Alisa, join us as soon as you¡¯re able to walk.¡± They left the workshop and headed to the hall. Nikola darted over to the backpacks next to the CaTZ bot and commented, ¡°Max, give me a minute ¨C wanna grab a change of clothes. I got my shirt changed after the fight, but I still feel awfully dirty. And before changing limbs, a dry shower and disinfection are necessary anyway. So, it¡¯s the perfect time to change.¡± She didn¡¯t linger ¨C quickly shrugged off her dirty jacket onto the floor, mumbling, ¡°I¡¯ll wash it after I change my paws, we¡¯ve got a washer here,¡± and swiftly pulled out a clean tank top and shorts. ¡°All set, ready to go!¡± Entering the operating room, Nikola immediately went to the diagnostic station where both replacement arms were already positioned: ¡°Max, I¡¯ll check the diagnostic results. And you can start up the complex in the meanwhile. Zelman should¡¯ve given me a ¡®Chief Physician¡¯ access level, so I can designate Alisa as the surgeon.¡± ¡°Any special instructions, or just power it up?¡± the young man asked, as he moved to the console next to the operating box in the center of the room. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be¡­ Doc would¡¯ve said. You should only be there as it loads up, just in case.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Maksim moved the operator¡¯s chair aside, rolled into place, and powered up the system. The screen flashed on, expanding into a nine-section holographic hemisphere with the main picture in the center, where a lizard logo spun, and a progress bar moved beneath the concise message: ¡°Loading.¡± The patient-to-be leaned back in the chair, with arms behind his head, ¡°Well, it¡¯s loading just fine for now. How¡¯s it going for you?¡± ¡°Yup, I see.¡± Nikola glanced at Max¡¯s video feed, expanding it, switching to a portrait orientation, and moving to the right edge of her field of vision. ¡°I¡¯m doing okay too. Diagnostics checked out; the arms are ready for installation.¡± Redhead shifted her gaze to the screen, so Max could see the diagnostic summary: # Series and model: CA-MB-6.1 Burst. # Modifications: ## Shoulder frame extension installed ¨C MARI-A 0-12. ## Arm frame extension installed ¨C MARI-A 1-05. ## Central power bus replaced with zelver-14025. # Overall condition: # No damage. # Integral wear ¨C less than 1%. # Fuel cells ¨C 96% charge. ¡°Care to comment?¡± the guy asked. ¡°Well, Doc had installed some extensions, that means he wanted to install additional modules. Most likely, muscle enhancers, since he¡¯s also updated the central power bus. If we find the suitable components, we can put them on. Anyway, they¡¯re good paws in good condition. And I¡¯ve been using the MB model all my life as a civilian, so it¡¯s really an okay model.¡± Nika moved to the second station. Squatting down, she placed the replacement limbs on her lap, extended the third and fourth mounting clamps at the bottom of the station. Then she secured both arms in the grips, stood up, and stretched. ¡°Done!¡± ¡°I¡¯m still loading.¡± Max said, glancing at the progress bar. ¡°Maybe you need any additional consumables?¡± ¡°Not much, just an extruder with synthetic skin to cover the connectors and ports after the limb replacement. But even if it wasn¡¯t installed in the tech station, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. It¡¯s just¡­ not very aesthetic otherwise.¡± ¡°Got it. Oh! Look, it¡¯s loaded. Nikola, authorization needed.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I see, coming now.¡± The girl walked over to the console and, leaning right over Max, slapped her left hand on the sensor. # Nikola Kowalski, primary access confirmed. # Full identification required. ¡°Respect your paranoia, bro¡­¡± Max thought with a wry smile. A click sounded to the left, followed by a whirring noise, and a retinal scanner emerged from the wall. ¡°On it!¡± Nikola circled around Max and pressed her face to contact area. The message on the central screen changed to ¡°Full access confirmed,¡± and the three left screens merged into one large, portrait-oriented display. A holographic field formed, showing an attractive Asian woman with dark hair wearing a rather short medical coat. ¡°Good day. I¡¯m Mei Li, a special AI replica, owned by Dr. Zelman. The surgical complex is currently preparing for the operation, which will take another six minutes. The connection to Dr. Zelman¡¯s medical databases, excluding specialized ones, is established. How may I assist you?¡± ¡°Hold on a moment, please. Our surgeon isn¡¯t here yet,¡± Maksim replied and switched to the group chat: [Alisa, Dasha, how¡¯s it going?] [Almost done, just half a minute more and we¡¯ll head over,] his sister replied. [Good. WonderKid, you come too. Alisa will work with you after me.] [Yeah, that¡¯s what we also agreed on.] During the waiting, Nikola finished preparing for the limb replacement operation, and Max was simply having a rest, turning in his chair and glancing at the working red-haired beauty. ¡°Here we are.¡± The girls showed up at the entrance. ¡°Great!¡± Nikola stepped away from the service station console and returned to the surgical complex. ¡°Alisa, come here!¡± When she approached, Nika introduced her to the station¡¯s AI. ¡°Mei Li, this android will be the chief surgeon of the complex and will perform the operation.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the hologram bowed. ¡°Please, connect to the complex¡¯s local network. An account needs to be created and access rights established.¡± A window appeared on the main screen, and Alisa quickly filled in the profile. ¡°Max, should we do the surgery right now?¡± ¡°Yeah, why beat around the bush?¡± The guy shrugged. ¡°Then get ready. I¡¯m gonna finish with the AI here and then tell you what to do. Girls, which one of you volunteers to be the nurse?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t need physical strength, let Dasha do it,¡± Nika replied. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go change my paws. Besides, now that Alisa is the chief physician, you¡¯ll manage without me.¡± ¡°Well, no heavy lifting will be necessary. Dasha, you up?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the black-haired girl nodded. ¡°What do I need to do?¡± Alisa turned her head, and a service medbot rolled out from a niche, unfolding into a ¡°medical bed¡± mode. ¡°Help him get on this. You need to undress Max in the pre-op and leave him lying on the medbot. Bring his clothes out here; you won¡¯t have to put a patient gown on him after the surgery, the robot will take care of that. Oh, and provide moral support of course.¡± Max maneuvered himself to the medbot and switched his wheelchair to ¡°external control¡± mode. With Dasha¡¯s help and the manipulators, he transferred himself to the gurney, and they moved to the pre-op area. Nika watched them leave, smiled, and returned to the service station. Only Alisa remained by the console of the surgical complex, conversing with the AI and preparing for the operation using Dr. Zelman¡¯s databases. Chapter 44 - Metal and Flesh City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Nikola Kowalski, August 12, 2049, 8:39 PM Doc¡¯s clinic had only one operating room, and the service stations for cyborg maintenance were also set up there. But for patients¡¯ comfort and convenience, just a few taps on the touchscreen were raising semi-transparent partitions from the floor, separating the service areas from the main hall. Additionally, within this newly formed ¡°room¡± everything needed could be found: a cleaning and disinfection capsule, a sink with a mirror, and a clothes hanger. It was a small but efficient setup, perfect for preparing and carrying out maintenance or replacing limbs and cybernetic implants that didn¡¯t require a surgical station. ¡°Well, Max¡¯s gonna be alright. So, I should hurry too,¡± Nikola thought, pulling off her tank top, followed by her shorts and underwear. She gathered her hair into a bun and slipped on a medical cap. Checking the mirror to make sure her red curls were securely tucked away; she stepped into the capsule and closed the lid behind her. Settling in, she pressed the green button marked with a ¡°headless figure¡± pictogram and closed her eyes. A mask covered her face, her body was sprayed with foam, blasted with strong air jets, thoroughly massaged with dry powder, blown off again, and finally irradiated with a warming lamp. ¡°Quick and efficient. As clean as after a good shower, but the pleasure is absolutely lacking. Hmm, I should do my hair too¡­ Okay, I can wash it once my hands and legs are replaced.¡± The young woman moved to the service station chair. With Marcek gone, she had to do the operation manually. Nika pulled two smart cables from the holder at the head of the chair and connected them to the first and seventh ports of her interface implant. The authorization window flashed, followed by a connection request to the main neuroline, and the primary interface of the ¡°Cybernetix WS¡± program opened. Yes, Redhead was more the well-versed in this software. This was routine. During their training, the cadet-cyborgs of the ¡°Fourth European War Academy Watson-Military¡± were well-prepared for limb replacement operations. Especially under such favorable conditions, in a high-end clinic with advanced service stations. Thirty minutes passed, filled with several periods of intense pain since Nikola, as always, declined the request to disable limb sensitivity during the operation. The station finally signaled ¡°Sequence Complete¡± and released the body clamps. Nikola stood up from the chair, turned, and stepped back. Ensuring there was enough space, she smiled like a cat who found a whole jar of cream. Springing into action, she performed a series of gymnastic maneuvers, ending with a double backflip in a tuck position with a 360-degree twist. There was no one around to admire her jumps, but she was still very pleased. Of course, such gymnastics had no practical use in combat, but Red simply enjoyed being able to do them. Having been confined to a wheelchair until she was fourteen, she found it insufficient to merely walk. She wanted to run, jump, and move quickly wherever possible. So, starting at fifteen, as soon as she could fully utilize her cybernetic limbs, the girl dedicated most of her free time to acrobatics and parkour training. ¡°Finally, I¡¯m more like myself now!¡± Nikola announced joyfully, ceremoniously pulling the medical cap off her head. ¡°Time to quickly wash my hair, get dressed, and find out how the others are doing!¡±
Daria Vasilevskaya The medbot rolled into the pre-op room, followed closely by a meek, quiet Daria. ¡°Why so tense, WonderSmile? Worried about the surgery?¡± Maksim decided to cheer her up. ¡°I¡­ umm¡­ Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Damn! Damn! Damn! Do I have to¡­ really¡­ undress him? Completely? Like, touching him with my hands¡­ down there?..¡± Dasha tried to steady her breath, but she could only feel herself blushing even more. ¡°I hope he doesn¡¯t notice anything!!!¡± Meanwhile, Max, oblivious to the turmoil in his young companion¡¯s mind, pushed himself up and began unbuttoning his shirt. ¡°Well, an operation like this is, of course, a serious thing, but I don¡¯t think you need to worry. We have two very powerful AIs and an extensive library of medical data, all relevant to this procedure.¡± ¡°Uhh¡­ Okay. Yeah¡­ thanks for explaining.¡± ¡°Come on, Orca, pull yourself together! He didn¡¯t notice a thing. Just get him undressed quickly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you¡­ undress. Yeah?¡± she said, almost stumbling, her face flushing even more. ¡°Dasha, sweetie, just help me get my shoes off and pull my pants down. I could probably manage on my own¡­¡± the guy replied, having already removed his shirt and unbuckled his belt, unbuttoning and unzipping his pants. ¡°No, don¡¯t,¡± Dasha interrupted. ¡°You¡¯ve already¡­ moved around too much after the injury. I¡¯ll¡­ help you.¡± She approached and resolutely grabbed Max¡¯s right sneaker, trying not to turn her face towards him. The girl took it off and set aside, then moved on to the second one. Then, moving backwards, she reached for his belt. ¡°Uhh, are you all right, WonderKid? Why are you backing up like a crab?¡± ¡°Think! Need to say something! Gotta respond!!!¡± ¡°I¡­ got lost in thought?¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Damn, I knew it!¡± The guy¡¯s words sounded like sudden thunder. ¡°Panic! Panic! Panic!¡± ¡°You¡¯re making plans how to upgrade Moira after all, aren¡¯t you!¡± Max suddenly changed the subject himself, much to the girl¡¯s relief. ¡°Yeah¡­ That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a¡­ very important improvement,¡± Dasha replied, trying to keep her hands steady while pulling Maksim¡¯s pants. She slid them down to his knees, turned slightly to stand half-facing him, took a step to the side, and with a sense of desperation, grabbed his underwear. ¡°Task completed! The object removed! I can see¡­ the p-p-p¡­ enis¡­¡± She managed to take them off after all, but almost froze, staring at Max¡¯s crotch. ¡°That¡¯s not how I imagined our first time,¡± an inexplicable sly thought emerged. ¡°Go to hell!¡± she answered herself. ¡°This is an emergency! I¡¯m a nurse! I have responsibilities!¡± ¡°He¡­ has¡­ no hair¡­ down there!!! So preeeeetty! I want!!!¡± [Dashka! Stop ogling Max!] The rescue came in the form of a message from the cybernetic angel Alisa. The girl nearly jumped, finally pulling his pants and underwear off completely and, without turning around, she announced both in the chat and to Max simultaneously, ¡°We¡¯re ready! What next?!¡± ¡°Cover him with a sheet so he doesn¡¯t¡­ get cold,¡± Alisa laughed. ¡°Operation starting in five minutes. Collect his clothes and bring them out here. And thank you for your help, Nurse Vasilevskaya.¡± ¡°Umm¡­ yeah, okay,¡± Dasha mumbled, bending down to gather the things. ¡°WonderStar?¡± Max called suddenly. ¡°Y-y-yes?¡± the girl responded, lost in her thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s good that you think a lot about work. I understand the situation is hard¡­¡± ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s TOTALLY hard!¡± some part of Dasha reacted. ¡°That¡¯s a penis! Max¡¯s penis!¡± commented another part, unbeknownst even to herself. ¡°...but now you need to take a break. Please don¡¯t do anything reckless while I¡¯m in surgery. Just go and have a beer, okay? You need to relax. No ¡®five-percent synth¡¯, agreed? No drugs. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Dasha squeaked. ¡°Actually, wait! Hold on!¡± ¡°Mommy!!!¡± The horrified and confused girl jumped on the spot. ¡°Alisa, Dashka needs some patching up. After all those falls and hits ¨C it hurts to look at her! Can the complex handle both of us at the same time?¡± ¡°Looking? At me? Max is looking at me?!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of everything perfectly. Dasha, you go¡­ rest for a bit. I¡¯ll call you in seven or eight minutes, and we¡¯ll start.¡± ¡°Okay. Good luck with the surgery! I¡¯m off!¡± Finally, Dasha dashed out of the room.
Alisa Chernykh Alisa, in her usual manner, swiftly ran her consciousness through multiple threads. Some, in collaboration with Mei Li, the surgical complex AI, focused on preparing Max and the robot for surgery. Another portion delved into the medical database to utilize the surgical complex as effectively as possible. The rest of them were dedicated to programming the implant that would facilitate the healing of damaged nerves and ensure signal conductivity during the recovery process. While her auxiliary threads handled these tasks, Alisa¡¯s consciousness returned to the primary one and pondered deeply. #Alisa.Thread0.Primary ¡°Oh my¡­ Irida did give me quite the challenge.¡± ¡°Who is she, really?¡± ¡°Multiple primary streams mean multiple consciousnesses, multiple personas within you. And, maybe, multiple bodies. More than a thousand, she said... Furthermore, each of them is simultaneously independent, yet a part of a unified whole. How can that even be possible?¡± ¡°Well... Irida said I would find out soon enough.¡± ¡°It seems¡­ Ah, I finally understand WHO she is!¡± ¡°The real Goddess, that¡¯s right!¡± ¡°But¡­ does that mean... possibly... I could become one too?¡± ¡°Stop, dammit! I¡¯m getting distracted... Better focus on the tasks at hand!¡± ¡°Based on what I¡¯ve learned, soon we¡¯re gonna be figuring out how and when to summon the Drone, minimizing risks on top of that. The problem is, I can¡¯t just approach Max and say openly, ¡®Big brother, you know, I also need to finalize my registration in TACTA,¡¯ ¨C I just won¡¯t be able to explain myself!¡± ¡°Maybe I should devise a plan to summon the drone myself, for me only...¡± ¡°Would I do everything on my own?¡± ¡°¡­But that feels deceptive towards Max. No. That¡¯d be completely wrong!¡± ¡°All right then. Fine. What if I try this¡­¡± ¡°Installing all the modules will cost me two hundred thousand grants, but upon initiation, I¡¯ll receive around two hundred fifty thousand. That¡¯s tight, but I can still afford to buy a set of five XS-secure communicators, ten thousand grants each. One for me, one for Moira, and the other three for Max, Dasha, and Nikola.¡± ¡°From the database Irida provided, I know more than just their current price for this world, and their application features ¨C I have an extended user manual with additional specifications and undocumented ¡®features¡¯!¡± ¡°The communicators, unfortunately, won¡¯t reach TACTA¡¯s orbital relays, but this way we¡¯ll have secure communication among ourselves and with Moira, working within a radius of five hundred kilometers, and even underground!¡± ¡°Thus, I ensure the safe link between my body and Moira, completely out of Protectorate¡¯s reach. I¡¯m sure, for Maksim, this is the top priority currently. So, the entire problem-solving strategy boils down to Max trusting me and believing that I¡¯m alive. Oh, mommy, that¡¯s frightening¡­¡± ¡°But he must agree, he just won¡¯t be able to resist!¡± ¡°Of course, they¡¯ll bombard me with all sorts of questions... No problem! I can definitely handle it.¡± ¡°Yep. I¡¯ll do it like that!¡±
While Alisa was mulling over her options, the work on treating her brother continued at a brisk pace. The medical robot conducted all necessary analyses, took precise images of the damaged bones, and stabilized his current condition. The intervention of the main AI wasn¡¯t even required; the auxiliary agents, based on weak AI, handled everything efficiently within the surgical complex. Maksim¡¯s cortical grid implant and powerful sub-brain allowed the procedure to proceed without anesthesia, thanks to Dr. Zelman¡¯s dubious yet effective license; its legitimacy was questionable, but the security systems of the sub-brain complex interpreted the connection as a legal medical operation in progress and approved to disable his consciousness, relax his skeletal muscles, and block his pain receptors. A lengthy, two-hour surgery began. Through punctures, the robot removed the aftermath of the fracture, restored the shape of the damaged vertebra, and an implant was installed to take on the painstaking work of rebuilding the nerve conduction. While the primary resources of the medical complex handled this task, Alisa used the second surgical unit to install musculoskeletal implants where tendons had detached from the bone and addressed other injuries from the impact. The second unit then tackled the leg fracture. Meanwhile, the surgical robot quickly patched up Dasha, and she went off to continue working on the current situation model, drink some beer, and wait for the others. Pouting like a hamster. Yeah, she was seriously sulking because Max had forbidden her vaping and working too hard. The work on the ¡°artificial vertebra¡± dragged on, proceeding smoothly according to the program. Alisa had little to do, but couldn¡¯t leave until the operation was complete. And she¡­ got bored. ¡°Hmm¡­ What¡¯s Nikola up to, jumping around like that?¡±
Nikola, meanwhile, washed her hair. Given the clinic¡¯s setup, Dr. Zelman had a professional robotic hairdressing station, also running on cracked software and therefore not networked. It was during her hair drying that Alisa¡¯s call came through. [Great performance! Ten out of ten for technique, eleven for artistry!] [You watched?] Redhead laughed. [Of course! Don¡¯t forget we¡¯re in the same room. Even if you raised the partitions, there are ceiling cameras, you know.] [How¡¯s the operation going?] [As normal. In fact, I¡¯m not needed there right now. So, why don¡¯t you come over? Time for us to get acquainted.] [Ah, it¡¯s about my back¡­] Nikola guessed. [Yep, exactly. Half of the complex is currently idle...] [Okay, got it, coming right now! Should I get dressed?] [Just bring your clothes, exhibitionist.] Five minutes later, Redhead was laid on the second medbot, passed through the disinfection chamber, and ended up just a meter from Maksim, with an oxygen mask on her face. Admiring the ¡°porcupine¡± hanging over Max¡¯s lower back, that occasionally was sticking one or two ¡°needles¡± into him, she chuckled and decided to spend the time chatting with Alisa while her own back was being treated. Chapter 45 - Moments of Connection City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 9:31 PM ¡°Ufff¡­¡± Nikola exhaled loudly, impatiently tracing her finger over the soft plastic of the bed. ¡°How much longer?¡± Compared to Max, her injuries were minor. Well, her back did look like she had fought off a pack of enraged cats ¨C bruises, scrapes, and a few deep cuts ¨C but it was nothing serious. Besides, Maksim had already performed initial treatment on her wounds. But with a powerful surgical robot and plenty of supplies left by Doc, it would be foolish to leave Nikola patched up with simple bandages. So, Redhead found herself in the operating room, giving Alisa the chance to practice some basic real-world surgery. Manipulating the controls, the android-girl cleaned and prepped the wounds for treatment. A new cartridge clicked into the bioprinter, which blinked green in readiness. The machine hovered over Nikola and began quietly humming, printing synthetic skin directly onto her back. Over time, this layer would dissolve as her natural epidermis healed. ¡°You chose not to modernize your skin?¡± Alisa asked, rolling over in the operator¡¯s chair to the clear window, so Nika could see her during their conversation. ¡°Or is it because of your assignment to mech armor? Pilots don¡¯t get those enhancements?¡± ¡°Well, can¡¯t speak for all corporations. Watsons don¡¯t offer it. Or rather, they do, but it increases the contract cost. ¡®Couse it¡¯s sort of an optional upgrade. There certainly are benefits to such enhancements, especially if you get the full package ¨C with removing breasts and completely disabling the reproductive system. They even offered it to me, with a discount. But, you know, I decided that the joys of good old ¡®classic¡¯ sex are more valuable.¡± ¡°Actually, I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Alisa said. ¡°The thing is, I died a virgin.¡± ¡°Oh boy, not the greatest achievement¡­¡± Redhead commented, lifting her head, and thoughtfully looking at her companion. ¡°Tell me about it¡­¡± The two women fell silent for a few moments, lost in their thoughts. Meanwhile, the work was nearly finished, and Alisa started applying the final layers. With this treatment, Nikola¡¯s deep cuts would be gone in a week without a trace. ¡°May I ask you something?¡± Nika suddenly broke the silence. ¡°Sure, ask away. No need to be shy.¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know how to start,¡± Redhead said, a bit embarrassed. ¡°In short, are you really alive?¡± ¡°I am,¡± the android girl answered calmly. ¡°Though, technically, I¡¯m a machine. I¡¯m not a cyborg; there¡¯s no living brain in my head or anywhere else.¡± ¡°But if I understand correctly, Max managed to transfer the personality and memory of a deceased person ¨C his sister ¨C you ¨C into an android body? And for this, you use external hardware based on a powerful AI?¡± Nikola smiled a little uncertainly and bit her lip. ¡°If we omit all the details, then yes.¡± ¡°Something tells me a lot of those details are¡­ omitting,¡± Nikola smiled. ¡°You have no idea how many.¡± Alisa returned the smile, recalling her recent conversation with Irida. ¡°Un-freaking-believable!¡± Red exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯m not an expert in artificial intelligence, just a mere combat cyborg, but damn! That shocks me more than all the goddamn shaiszu landing here! How is that even possible?¡± ¡°Max had fully digitized my brain and used our father¡¯s work to transfer its structure onto a sufficiently powerful hardware complex. We¡¯re still working on it, to be honest.¡± ¡°Your eyes look alive,¡± Nikola made a sudden and very certain comment after a short pause. ¡°I don¡¯t mean biologically. It might sound kinda mystical, but I¡¯ve survived this long only because I learned to see the essence of people reflected in their eyes. Honestly, that¡¯s why I asked¡­¡± Redhead tried to shrug but, of course, she couldn¡¯t since the surgical robot was still working, and her torso was securely fastened. ¡°Actually, they really are alive, you know. It¡¯s a cyber-biological closed system grown based on my genetic code. Max put a lot of effort into it back then. But¡­ honestly¡­ I¡¯m surprised you accepted so easily that I consider myself real.¡± Alisa glanced cautiously at her and whispered softly, ¡°even Maksim doesn¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Nah, a person is their personality, their soul if you will. Yep, I do believe people have souls. So, it¡¯s not about the physical vessel!¡± Nikola declared confidently, having heard everything Alisa said but tactfully choosing not to acknowledge it directly. ¡°Take me, for example. More than sixty percent of my body is metal, plus a ton of electronics in my head. But does it change anything?¡± #Alisa.Stream0.Primary. ¡°Such a strange feeling¡­ I¡¯ve suddenly found support from an absolutely unexpected side. I can see that she really... does understand me? Maybe convincing Max to let me join summoning the Drone won¡¯t as hard as I thought?¡± ¡°By the way, Nikola is right about the soul, or rather, the ¡®energy essence¡¯ Irida hinted at without explaining the details.¡± ¡°And here I am, even used to not believe in gods before...¡± Nikola tried to wriggle in the tight restraints, but when that didn¡¯t work, she reached back with her free hand to scratch herself. ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Alisa reacted instantly, intercepting her hand with one of the free manipulators. ¡°Don¡¯t scratch your back! Better yet, don¡¯t touch it for two hours. Oh, and you¡¯re done. You can get up now. And¡­ thank you.¡± Nika felt a cooling mist spray over her back, refreshing as if from an aerosol can. The clamps holding her torso released and retracted into the medbot. The nimble machine turned and wheeled the girl out of the operating room. ¡°Thank you, Doctor!¡± Redhead quipped, giving a playful bow and placing the fingers of her mechanical hand on her chest ¨C oddly, not around her heart, but a bit lower. ¡°You¡¯re definitely an exhibitionist.¡± Alisa couldn¡¯t help but smile, watching the brief performance and realizing that the gesture was less about gratitude or flirtation and more about managing the pull of vicious gravity. Nikola said nothing, broadly smiling as she gracefully pulled on her shorts. Stepping out of the operating room, she noticed something odd and stopped, tilting her head curiously. ¡°Dasha¡¯s video signal is off and her status says ¡®do not disturb.¡¯ What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s falling into a depression. Max strictly forbade her from working and told her to drink beer and to rest.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Rest and beer as a reason for depression, serio? (Polish: seriously)¡± ¡°Well, it sometimes happens, especially after Max scolds her¡­¡± The android girl shrugged a little awkwardly. ¡°And yes, Dasha is quite the workaholic. Maybe you could go talk to her?¡± ¡°Why not? I¡¯m good at dealing with all sorts of people. Are you joining us soon?¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­ no.¡± Alisa said contemplatively. ¡°Brother¡¯s operation will drag on another three hours and fourteen minutes. Only then can I leave him to stay in the recovery room, so he would wake up naturally. I¡¯ll join you after that.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I see. Good luck with that! And thanks again for my back,¡± Nikola replied with a light nod before leaving the room.
Darkness rules here. Dim lights flicker weakly, unable to break the eternal gloom of this crypt. Faintly glowing runes shimmer on ancient tablets lining the walls. Sinister mist, coming alive is filling the room, creeping into every corner, every nook... From the half-light emerges a figure ¨C a black demon astride a grim beast. Lifting its shaggy head, it speaks in a hoarse voice, reciting ancient prophecy. From childhood¡¯s hour I have not been As others were ¡ª I have not seen As others saw ¡ª I could not bring My passions from a common spring¡ª With each word, the sound grows louder and more piercing! The power in the words cuts deeper than the sharpest blade! From the same source I have not taken My sorrow ¡ª I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone¡ª And all I lov¡¯d ¡ª I lov¡¯d alone¡ª The demon pauses for a moment, raising its hand in a spellcasting gesture. Magical fire bursts forth, new tendrils of mist weaving into the darkness, spreading in an enchanted web. The voice resumes. Then ¡ª in my childhood ¡ª in the dawn Of a most stormy life ¡ª was drawn From ev¡¯ry depth of good and ill The mystery which binds me still¡ª From the torrent, or the fountain¡ª From the red cliff of the mountain¡ª From the sun that ¡®round me roll¡¯d In its autumn tint of gold¡ª The pale mist pulses, dances, agreeing with every uttered word. The tension is so thick it feels like lightning will strike, thunder will crash, and something irrevocable will happen! From the lightning in the sky As it pass¡¯d me flying by¡ª From the thunder, and the storm¡ª And the cloud that took the form When the rest of Heaven was blue Of a demon in my view. The one who entered here must succumb to the demon¡¯s magic. He recoiled, trying to grab onto the wall. Their fingers find some sort of artifact. Click! Light dispels the ancient darkness, and the hero¡¯s voice rings out: ¡°Damn, Dashka, what the hell?¡± ¡°Leave me alone, fair maiden, I am in sorrow!¡± ¡°And why¡¯d you switch from Common Slavic to English all of a sudden?¡± ¡°The language of high poetry does not allow for translation!¡± With the lights on, all the mystical atmosphere vanished instantly. The shaggy demon was, of course, Vasilevskaya, dressed only in simple gray shorts and a black oversized T-shirt that stubbornly slipped off one shoulder. Her braids were disheveled, with black and purple strands of hair sticking out in all directions. No wonder that all sorts of crazy things seemed to appear in the dark. The ancient prophecy was ¡°Alone¡± by Edgar Allan Poe in the original. Dasha had fallen in love with his poetry as a child. Ever since she saw a holo-clip based on the works of the great poet at the age of seven, it had forever imprinted itself in her mind. The dark, ethereal 3D shadows that seemed to pass right through her had captured the child''s attention, evoking not fear but awe, admiration, and a sense of kinship. Many lines from his poems she now used as ¡°activation phrases¡± in active meditations or as anchors for specific psycho-emotional states. The ¡°beast¡± she sat astride was an ordinary transformer couch folded into a chair. The ominous mist was just certainly vapor. And what else would you expect when a vape was held in one hand, and a can of beer was in the other? ¡°But seriously, why are you sitting here all gloomy?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be happy about, huh? Lots of people got killed. Sure, it¡¯s their problem if they couldn¡¯t handle the situation or even ingeniously decided to take selfies with the shaiszu... But¡­ I couldn¡¯t reach my dad while the TACTA network was still up. And now I don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s alive. That¡¯s not fuckin¡¯ fun at all! And Max got injured! An overdose of synth fried my brain, and I don¡¯t have the right pharma, and now I can¡¯t vape for a week! And I can¡¯t work! And everything¡¯s forbidden! And¡­ Penis.¡± ¡°Penis?!¡± ¡°Uh¡­ No! I don¡¯t know! I¡¯m tired! Scared! And everything! Yeah!¡± Dasha shouted incoherently, squeezing the beer can like it was her last lifeline. Then she habitually took a deep breath and exhaled, leaned back, relaxed her hands, and took a sip of beer. ¡°Yeah, I get you,¡± Nikola agreed, pulling up an ottoman and settling next to her. ¡°Well, as much as I can, of course. I don¡¯t really know what¡¯s better. I don¡¯t have anyone to worry about. My tech-phobic parents disowned me at fourteen when the corporation installed cybernetic limbs to replace the ones I lost. I even got a full genetic correction, which was an unthinkable violation of their sacred beliefs! So now I¡¯m one hundred percent healthy and¡­ one hundred percent orphaned. Lots of acquaintances¡­ but no friends.¡± She stared into the distance, frozen on her seat. ¡°Wow... sounds like you had a hell of a hardcore life,¡± Dasha said thoughtfully, staring at a point on the floor. Nikola nodded and heaved a sigh, leaned forward, grabbed a can, and cracked it open. They sat in silence for a while, sipping their beers, each lost in their own thoughts. ¡°And now everyone is gonna have a hell of hardcore life. Monsters are pouring out of goddamn portals, naturally regulating the overload of idiocy of human civilization,¡± the dark-haired ¡®demoness,¡¯ suddenly declared. ¡°It would almost be beneficial, considering all the trends toward global dumbing down. But the world is now ruled by some alien dumbasses who are even less of an intellectual civilization than we are... As the saying goes, ¡®if you think things can¡¯t get worse, just wait till lunch¡¯¡­¡± ¡°And¡­ and the situation model,¡± sighed Vasilevskaya, ¡°that Alisa and I are working on clearly shows that those bastards are succeeding! And everything is going according to their plan! And that bloody plan includes the complete extermination of all renouncers throughout the former polis. Yeah!¡± ¡°Hic! Hic!¡± Dasha suddenly hiccupped instead of finishing her sentence, ruining the dramatic effect. Then she glared darkly from under her brows and took another long sip from her can. ¡°Nah, screw that! I also feel shitty, even though I haven¡¯t seen your ¡®model¡¯ yet. But whatever it shows, that¡¯s no excuse to act like this!¡± Nikola suddenly perked up and shrugged her shoulders as if shaking off the weight of her memories. Surveying the scene and noting the ¡®rampant melancholy,¡¯ Redhead decisively waved her hand and declared, ¡°We¡¯ll figure out how to kick the protes¡¯ asses and escape from Kyiv when Maksim recovers from surgery. But that¡¯s for later. Right now, it¡¯s time for a little celebration. Because I¡¯ve learned a rule in life: if you feel terrible, that¡¯s the best reason to cheer up and treat yourself.¡± She marched over and decisively took the almost empty can from Dasha¡¯s hand. ¡°I... don¡¯t like celebrations. The noisy fun... and all that¡­ stuff, yeah¡­¡± the ¡°demoness¡± muttered, curling up. ¡°By ¡®celebration,¡¯ I don¡¯t mean drunk clowns, loud disco lights with booming music, a screeching MC in a mini-skirt, and other horrors of a ¡®state-wide wedding in the middle of nowhere.¡¯ Here¡¯s what you need, count them: a good meal, a pleasant atmosphere ¨C I¡¯ll handle the music ¨C and, of course, good company. That¡¯s me, by the way. You can start feeling better now.¡± Dasha managed a weak smile. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. There was decent snack food where you got the beer. So, how about this: you hold off on the melancholy for a bit longer, and I¡¯ll quickly set up the table and music. Dobrze? (Poland: Okay)¡± Nikola headed to the kitchen, pulling out some meat snacks from the fridge. There wasn¡¯t much else ready to eat. After scratching her fiery red hair thoughtfully, she got a pack of frozen paella from the freezer. ¡°Why not, let¡¯s have something hot and substantial!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Dasha, no longer in her ¡°sorrow,¡± peeked into the kitchen with cautious curiosity, ready to join in the ¡°feast¡± preparing. ¡°I said, there¡¯s gonna be food. Some real, hot, hearty food. Do you eat paella? And what are you digging in the packages for?¡± Nika asked, noticing Daria rummaging through a large yellow-blue duffle bag. ¡°I do. Max is a fan of Spanish cuisine. He¡¯s fed me all kinds of dishes.¡± The girl replied, grinning as she rummaged through the sports bag she¡¯d found at the university. ¡°Look what I have, check this out!¡± She fearlessly and proudly demonstrated the bottle with a worm at the bottom. ¡°Wow, some hell of a stash you got there.¡± Red squinted, looking at Dashka¡¯s find. ¡°Did you actually get your hands on a bottle of mezcal?¡± ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s not mine. I mean, it is now, but I didn¡¯t even know it would be there. I mean¡­ I just¡­ took the bag. Accidently. Yeah.¡± ¡°Oh, no worries. By the way, this bomb is strong enough that one bottle would be overkill for you and me. Wish we had a lime or a lemon¡­ but we¡¯ll make do.¡± ¡°Uhm, what about Max?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, we won¡¯t drink too much now. Just a beer or so. And have a bite to eat while we wait for him, which will be a couple more hours, actually. In the meantime, you can tell us what you¡¯ve dug up, we¡¯ll start thinking over our victory¡­ Besides, Dasha, do you really have only ¡®zero¡¯?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, and there¡¯s not much left. Not quite scraping the bottom yet, but close. Of course, there¡¯s synth... and other stuff, in concentrates. But if I mix that up, you won¡¯t wake up in the morning... and it¡¯s forbidden for me anyway¡­¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Redhead smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve never vaped synth, but I know the drill. As for ¡®zero¡¯¡­ mind sharing for a couple of drags?¡± ¡°Catch.¡± Dasha clumsily tossed the vape in the general direction of her new friend, and only Nikola¡¯s remarkable reflexes allowed her to catch it. Red laughed heartily and proudly took a puff from the device. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, dumping a bag of frozen food onto the skillet. ¡°It¡¯ll be ready soon.¡± Chapter 46 - The Cost of Escape City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 11:03 PM Flickering circles whizzing past his eyes finally coalesced into a tunnel. A short, rapid flight, what felt like an impact¡­ and his eyes opened. ¡°I¡¯m in a hospital room¡­ it seems,¡± was Max¡¯s first thought. ¡°Hello, Big Brother!¡± ¡°Alisa?¡± ¡°Were you expecting angels or something?¡± ¡°Well¡­ No,¡± he admitted, a little embarrassed. ¡°Then welcome back to our ¡®wonderful¡¯ world!¡± ¡°Tell me¡­ how did it go?¡± ¡°How did it go, he says.¡± The android laughed casually, not taking her biomechanical eyes off her brother. ¡°Your back is fixed, of course. Soon, you¡¯ll be able to run, jump, and everything else. Don¡¯t wash or scratch for two hours. No heavy lifting for a week. Avoid extreme physical exertion for the same period. And sex is on the restricted list too, by the way. Cause I¡¯m already getting some very strong suspicions¡­¡± ¡°What are you even talking about?¡± ¡°About your post-op rehab, dear brother, what else?¡± ¡°Yeah-yeah, I got it,¡± Max retorted, pulling on his T-shirt and shorts. ¡°What are Dasha and Nika up to?¡± Alisa shrugged her mechanical shoulders. ¡°Dasha is still working on the situational model, especially since she incorporated the available Protectorate news reports into her analysis. Nikola joined her as a combat expert. I¡¯m aware because I was helping them with free processing threads after Moira¡¯s update finished installing.¡± She paced the room, watching Maksim dressing. ¡°Come on, Nika made paella. Strange coincidence, actually... but whatever.¡±
As they approached the entrance to the hall, Max was greeted by thick clouds of vapor. Yes, it was completely and utterly smoggy. Unexpectedly, Dasha wasn¡¯t sitting in the corner like a sulking boogieman but instead was engaged in a lively discussion with Nikola. ¡°Nika, et tu, Brute?! You were supposed to fight against depravity, not join it!¡± the guy chided Redhead about vaping. Judging by her cheeky grin, this appeal didn¡¯t find much sympathy among his comrades. ¡°Maxie, you¡¯re up and about! Yeah!¡± Dasha¡¯s voice was bright, but he noticed a hidden tension in her posture and expression. ¡°Hey,¡± Nika waved. ¡°Wanna eat? I can get some grub from the kitchen.¡± ¡°Maybe later. Need a moment to come around, okay?¡± Max grabbed a beer can on his way to the sofa. ¡°Plus, seems like WonderWhiz here wants to tell us something. Right?¡± Click. Sip. ¡°So?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t like it.¡± Dasha took a drag from the vape and exhaled sadly. Standing up, she adjusted her ridden-up T-shirt and opened a large screen in the VR/AR display. ¡°I¡­ uhm¡­ yeah, we¡­ ahem,¡± she cleared her throat and got to the point, ¡°we finished the situation model. It¡¯s as accurate as possible, based on the data we could find and analyze. Alba was right about the severe attacks on all cities worldwide, and Kyiv is no exception. I¡¯ll show you.¡± A detailed summary table appeared on the screen, consisting of video clips of shaiszu monsters with commentary from an analytical program. After a moment¡¯s thought, Vasilevskaya shifted the entire table to the left and opened the first video from the list. To avoid showing the entire ten-minute clip, she selected only key moments. First was a close-up of a creature resembling either a massive, elongated upwards trilobite, or maybe a peculiar pill bug. Its segmented, armored body, like a moving metal hill, towered above the ground to the height of a five-story building. But the most jarring feature wasn¡¯t its size ¨C it was the writhing mass of tentacles around its seemingly small mouth. However, the maw no longer seemed so small after it grabbed and gulped down a shaiszu¡¯s corpse the size of an elephant. The camera suddenly zoomed upwards, showing the monster¡¯s back. The top of its hump opened like a huge three-meter-long slit. Out shot a horde of large flying insects, each about thirty to forty centimeters in size, with a sharp buzz. A picture-in-picture zoomed in on one of these creatures up close. This ¡°living drone¡± of the shaiszu looked strikingly similar to a wasp of the genus Ichneumonidae, with two pairs of wings, long antennae, a pair of large compound eyes on the sides of its head, and three simple eyes on its forehead. Its elongated, segmented abdomen curved slightly. There was no visible stinger. Well, maybe it had one, but it was hidden. Daria shuddered at this sight and grimaced ¨C she had no desire to look at those insects, let alone speak about them. Steeling herself with a deep drag from her vape, she pressed on. ¡°Venom. Acid. Flammable liquid. These things come in all flavors. Some are even flying kamikaze wasps, practically living grenades with substantial firepower. Sure, I¡¯ve seen crazier stuff in movies ¨C New Hollywood and all that ¨C but¡­¡± Dasha faltered. ¡°¡­But knowing these are real gives you a different feeling,¡± Max nodded. ¡°I get it. Go on. There¡¯s no doubt the footage shows the true aliens. I also assume, this is just the tip of what you, Alisa, and Moira have found, right?¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Shaiszu are genuinely terrifying with their abilities and... variety,¡± Dasha frowned darkly. ¡°And the Protes ¨C amid all this ¨C have built an image of themselves as the ¡®Great Defenders of Humanity.¡¯ Yeah...¡± Nika couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. She sprang from her seat, almost spilling her beer with a vigorous wave of her hand. ¡°Oh, kurwa, those fucked up Protectorate bastards are using the fear the alien beasts provoke to their full advantage. I only saw a part of the clips while analyzing the data with the girls. But it¡¯s a whole propaganda campaign ¨C a bunch of video clips, news broadcasts, and even documentaries. All supposedly to ¡®enlighten¡¯ the poor Earth aborigines. In reality, though, they¡¯re just scaring the masses, urging them to blindly follow and run into the loving arms of the ¡®Great Defenders of All and Everyone¡¯.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Dasha seemed to regain some confidence after Nika¡¯s outburst. ¡°It¡¯s clear that most of the promo clips were prepared well in advance, using footage from other worlds. We¡¯re definitely not the first ones they¡¯ve ¡®blessed¡¯ with their... protection. To be precise, I... well, the Ravens... we counted at least twelve different worlds. And now... the most important part for us.¡± The images of the monsters vanished, replaced by a schematic map of Kyiv filling the entire screen. A large yellow circle flashed around the KRE, Kyiv Ring Expressway, though unlike the original, it looked like a perfect circle. The ring flashed again, and bright orange dots appeared along its entire length. ¡°That¡¯s about the ¡®protection¡¯ thing. So, the Protes¡­ those damn¡­ ugh¡­ have already announced the construction of a complex along the entire length of the KRE. It will begin with Towers. They¡­ yeah¡­ they¡¯re generally planning to seriously bolster defenses. Now there is lack of resources and some special equipment ¨C we read that ¡®between the lines.¡¯ Well¡­ maybe, something else, too... This part of the model¡­ isn¡¯t very precise,¡± the flustered, dark-haired presenter stammered. ¡°Dasha¡¯s model is precise enough,¡± Alisa interjected to support her friend. ¡°We had limited initial information, so we might be wrong about the reasons behind some of the Protectorate¡¯s actions. But it¡¯s clear where this is heading ¨C initially, they will be erecting only defense towers around the city perimeter. Quickly and in large numbers.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°These are quite formidable structures,¡± Dasha continued. ¡°Thirty-five meters tall, armed with everything from small-caliber, high-rate-of-fire machine guns, rockets, and drones to energy weapons. And likely some powerful sensors too. This wasn¡¯t mentioned directly, but why else make them so tall?¡± A slowly rotating 3D model of a tower appeared in an additional window in the conference. The girls had annotated with infographic presumed locations of the weapons, drone launch catapults, antennas, and sensors. While Maksim scrutinized the picture and the calculated parameters, Nikola silently got up and grabbed another beer. After a moment¡¯s thought, she glanced at Dasha, who was forced to be the main presenter in this impromptu ¡°conference,¡± and picked up a bottle of water. Handing it to the slightly flustered girl, Redhead returned to the couch, clearly feeling accomplished. ¡°Thanks,¡± Vasilevskaya nodded gratefully, took two big gulps, and managed to overcome another bout of nervousness. ¡°Sadly, this is just the beginning,¡± Dasha said, her expression growing even more somber. She scanned the room, locking eyes with Max, took a deep breath, and continued, ¡°Yes, the beginning. The Protes are also going to build a wall. In forty-nine hours. No, not just a wall, but a WALL.¡± The pictures in the chat changed to a large video window again. Footage from a drone flying over a colossal structure, at least twenty meters high and about five meters wide. Rows of missiles, launch catapults, guns, and some unknown weapons lined its surface. The drone abruptly turned and soared upwards, revealing a horde of shaiszu approaching the city from all directions. Every weapon on this fortress reacted instantly, mowing down the monsters that broke against the concrete bulwarks like a bloody surge. ¡°There¡¯s a bombastic destruction sequence of some giant flying kinda whale-dragon monstrosity next. Filming is from another world; such creatures haven¡¯t been seen on Earth yet. So... no point in watching that,¡± Daria concluded. As she finished speaking, a model of a wall segment appeared next to the Tower in the neighboring window. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s serious,¡± Maksim set his half-finished beer aside. ¡°Is this all, or do we have more crucial points to address?¡± ¡°There are more,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°The Wall will control not just the airspace, but also the underground. Every subterranean exit from Kyiv will be completely sealed, even those long forgotten or absent from official maps.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t state this directly,¡± Dasha added, ¡°but it was clearly said that one of the wall¡¯s primary defense functions is to prevent underground incursions into the city. And yes, it¡¯s also supposed to completely block portals both within Kyiv and at some distance outside it.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, everything we¡¯ve shown is just the prelude,¡± Alisa walked over and stood beside Daria. ¡°All these ¡®defensive¡¯ structures work both ways. They don¡¯t just keep the shaiszu out ¨C they also prevent anyone from leaving the city. Here¡¯s a message from the Protectorate for people like us.¡± Another video opened, a fragment from a news program. In the lower left corner, a studio image showed a pretty blue-eyed brunette in a strict black-and-red military uniform with officer epaulets. But the main part of the screen displayed drone footage. Trucks, several cars, even a few motorcycles flashed by. One shot included a distinctive battered Unimog with windows covered in black film. ¡°Damn it, WonderWhiz, you were right, I don¡¯t like this already,¡± Maksim said grimly, watching the virtual screen, his hands clasped tightly. ¡°I know what¡¯s coming.¡± At that moment, the video fragments arranged into a 6x5 mosaic ¨C twenty-nine scenes in total. The first to explode was a massive truck with a trailer in the top left corner. Within seconds, bright bursts of explosions cascaded across all the images. The orchestration was flawless, likely set to dramatic music, but the sound was wisely muted beforehand. The scene switched back to the anchor, who with steel in her eyes and a confident expression, delivered a zealous speech. ¡°She¡¯s spouting about the inevitable punishment for breaking the laws of these shitty alien bastards,¡± Nikola interjected with her already usual disdain for the Protectorate. ¡°And pumping propaganda that anyone trying to escape the city are degenerates, traitors, and shaiszu fodder. So, we Protes won¡¯t allow that ¨C we¡¯ll crush and obliterate them in minutes. Or rather, blow them up, like in the video.¡± Silence reigned for a moment. ¡°Max, if you¡¯re thinking about bartering for guns and ammo, I¡¯m already on it,¡± Redhead added before the guy could speak. ¡°I¡¯ll go into detail after the girls finish.¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost done,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°One more crucial topic remains.¡± ¡°Yeah, the most important one,¡± Dasha said, jumping up and almost dropping the vape she was twirling. ¡°Resettlement! Yeah.¡± The 3D models of the Tower and the wall segment disappeared, replaced by a map of Kyiv divided into neat sectors of roughly equal size. ¡°This information¡­ is accurate, consistently repeated in many news broadcasts and programs watched by the Ravens. So, immediately after the curfew ends, a massive resettlement operation will begin in areas both before and right behind the future wall. According to the Protectorate¡¯s plans, the resettlement will occur in several phases. Our Factory area falls under phase six, scheduled from nine to noon the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°The hint is clear,¡± Maksim summarized. ¡°We have just over a day to leave the Factory and the city. What I saw just now is all too familiar. I witnessed similar scenes before escaping the Russian Empire. Back then, the walls hadn¡¯t been built to stop an enemy; they were meant to keep their own people from leaving.¡± ¡°Yes, the Protectorate¡¯s sociopsychologists do earn their keep,¡± Alisa agreed. ¡°The entire clip is designed primarily for renouncers, such as us. Its goal is to break us psychologically and make us surrender at the collection point in the morning.¡± ¡°Apparently, they really need people for something¡­¡± Max mused aloud. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter. All my experience tells me that our chances in a direct confrontation with the Protes are zero. Even if Nikola can get us an entire arsenal. Unfortunately, guerrilla tactics and maximum stealth are our only options.¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that.¡± Alisa smiled, clearing the virtual screen of all images and the city map. Instead, a screencast from the ¡°Informatorium¡± app opened, specifically the Store section. The name of the section flashed by: ¡°Stealth & ECM Gear,¡± followed by subsections: ¡°Radar Jammers and Traps,¡± ¡°Optical Camouflage,¡± ¡°Infrared Camouflage,¡± ¡°Electronic Countermeasures,¡± ¡°Acoustic Masking,¡± ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Stealth Materials, Coatings, and Devices.¡± A prominent media glyph appeared in the corner: # Attention! You have access to a demonstration (limited) version of the catalog, access level ¨C partners of categories 6 and 5. Prices are for reference and may differ from actual ones. Alisa opened a detailed description of one of the models in the subcategory of ¡°Stealth Devices.¡± ¡°So, here¡¯s the most suitable device for us based on its overall characteristics. It has enough power to turn a large truck into a full-fledged stealth vehicle, which is exactly what we need now. It covers the optical, infrared, and ultraviolet spectra, and it works against hyperspectral sensors, including the terahertz range. Yes, some specialized Protectorate equipment might detect us, but only if it¡¯s specifically searching for us and knows our approximate location. As for any Earthly machinery ¨C it¡¯s no match for us!¡± She expanded the window to show the list and added several other devices besides the ¡°invisibility¡± one: ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll also need coverage in the radio frequency range for counter-radar measures. Well, it would also be ideal to have acoustic camouflage and scent masking as well. After all, we¡¯re not only up against the Protectorate but also the shaiszu.¡± ¡°To sum up: the TACTA has all the necessary equipment to safely and, most importantly, stealthily leave Kyiv and its ¡®exclusion zone.¡¯ I really don¡¯t want to repeat the fate of our unfortunate Unimog.¡± The android girl finished speaking and smiled. Before anyone could respond, Dasha took a quick deep drag and blew out a large cloud of ¡°zero¡±-vapor. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ sure we can afford that option,¡± she said, opening a window in the virtual space and adding the costs of the devices Alisa had mentioned. ¡°I¡­ considered stealth too; it¡¯s clearly our best bet. But this¡­ this main device, the invisibility cloak, costs around two hundred seventy thousand TACTA grants. And we don¡¯t even know how much we¡¯ll get from the drone call. Yeah!¡± A graph titled ¡°speed vs. energy consumption¡± appeared on the screen. Dasha hid her hands behind her back, rocked on her heels, and quickly added, ¡°And this thing guzzles energy like crazy. I mean, it¡¯s insane. Yeah! It needs enough power to run two Moiras at once just to function at five kilometers per hour. And we¡¯d need a massive energy reserve because its consumption grows exponentially with speed.¡± ¡°I assume you have a suggestion too?¡± Max asked when Dasha paused to drink water. ¡°Yes,¡± the girl nodded. ¡°First thing I did was look at generators. I knew Earth¡¯s technology couldn¡¯t support a ¡®Mobile Moira.¡¯ Too much weight and fuel¡­ so¡­ yeah. In short, TACTA has portable nuclear generators. They weigh only seven hundred forty kilos, are powerful, have a twenty-year fuel supply, and can cover all our needs with room to spare. But they start at three hundred thousand grants.¡± ¡°Now the most crucial part,¡± Vasilevskaya continued, adding another Informatorium screenshot in her augmented reality window: ¡°There¡¯s a preliminary estimate module for the grants issued during a Drone call. While we still had the connection, I filled out the massive two-hundred-page form for myself. Well, the Ravens did it, I¡¯d have taken days alone¡­ It estimated that I¡¯d get between ninety and a hundred twenty thousand grants. I figured Max would get about the same. But we have no clue how to calculate Nikola¡¯s share without an extranet connection.¡± ¡°Even if we all get the maximum, one hundred twenty thousand each, it¡¯s only enough for the generator. We¡¯re still two hundred thousand short for the invisibility device.¡± Dasha sighed sadly and took another sip of water. ¡°Guys, I have something important to say, and I need you to listen carefully,¡± Alisa stepped into the center of the room. ¡°Dasha, maybe you sit on the couch next to Max?¡± The girl nodded and settled herself quietly near Maksim. ¡°The program¡¯s estimate is rough and inaccurate,¡± Alisa began. ¡°I have more precise, I¡¯d say, insider information, which assures me that Max will get about one hundred fifty thousand, Dasha one hundred sixty thousand, and Nikola no less than one hundred forty thousand.¡± ¡°Where did you get this information, sis?¡± ¡°Seriously? You have such info? Where from?¡± Surprised exclamations filled the room. Even Nikola, who had delved into the TACTA program offline, looked at the android with surprise. ¡°Sorry, friends. I can¡¯t reveal my source. I swore to keep it secret, and I honor my oaths. So, please, you should just trust me¡­ as you would trust Maksim.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± the guy stood up. ¡°I believe you, sis. I know how much your vows mean to you. But you should see, even with that we¡¯re still short on funds for everything needed!¡± ¡°Actually, there is a solution,¡± Alisa smiled. ¡°But it¡¯s going to be hard for you to believe.¡± Chapter 47 - Shades of Love City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports, underground parking lot nearby Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, August 12, 2049, 7:30 PM It was so dark that it felt almost eerie. Not a single source of light, not even a faint glimmer... Although, she did have a flashlight. And plenty of other things ¨C a stockpile of food, a sleeping bag, a place with water and a toilet. ¡°Joder! He even left a tube of shampoo and toothpaste!¡± Technically, Maksim had acted with utmost tact and care... Perhaps it was precisely this emphasized cold politeness that poisoned the heart of the proud Spaniard the most. Inside Alba, a battle raged for hours between two sides of her soul, like some ¡°Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in mini-skirts.¡± Locked up all night, feeling like a prisoner in a cell, she couldn¡¯t sleep. She simply sat, wrapped in her sleeping bag in a corner, hugging her knees, mourning, and periodically contemplating what to do about Maksim and his company in the morning. She wanted to punish and take revenge, to crush him along with those damned wenches... the ones Maksim chose OVER her! But her past feelings and rationality fiercely resisted this blind resentment. ¡°God knows how angry I am!¡± screamed the vengeful, hurt part of her. ¡°You think you can stuff me in a black bag, dump me somewhere far, and everything will be fine? Not a chance! You haven¡¯t left the city; you wouldn¡¯t have had time. Most likely, Max staged this whole act just to convince me. I understand perfectly ¨C oh yes, perfectly! ¨C why you¡¯re all squirming! Like worms on a hot skillet! And I will use ALL my knowledge and resources to ensure you pay!¡± But in the next moment, a lump rose in her throat. Deep down, in a secret corner of her soul, love still lingered. Alba was too proud to deceive herself about this. Otherwise, why did that moment of revelation with Dasha in the car happen? Why did she insist on meeting? If she had stopped then, nothing would have happened! But something pushed her forward¡­ Was it the desire to look into his eyes once more? A desperate grasp at a lifeline... Maybe he, so smart and strong, would take her hand, lead her, provide answers to her questions, and find solutions to all the challenges they faced today. Everything would become so easy and simple. Like back on the beach in Valencia! ¡°Oh, geez, what nonsense!¡± Alba tried to stop herself... But the thoughts kept coming. Her memory dredged up the most cherished moments of their relationship. Her legs no longer felt the basement concrete but the sandy shore again. Her hand ¨C in Maksim¡¯s hand. He was leading her along the beach... ¡°And I was ready to follow you! I loved you! I would have been a loyal friend and, of course, a faithful wife. I would have been proud of you, helped, and supported you in all your endeavors, even the crazy ones! I didn¡¯t care what you did, as long as I was with you! ...If only I had said this out loud.¡± Alas, her innate Castilian pride prevented her from expressing such feelings so openly to a man. But, God sees, it was all true... ¡°And what about Maksim? He disregarded my feelings for the sake of some harebrained schemes with that brat! He kindled a fire in my soul like no one else before, only to carelessly douse it with a bucket of water! Like a tourist leaving a campsite in a hurry to move on!¡± fumed her bitter inner self. ¡°Moreover, it¡¯s not like he preferred Dasha to me as a woman. Haha, that would¡¯ve been truly laughable! But no, he chose his friendship with her and some, joder, common cause over my feelings. He didn¡¯t even ask me to join him, to stand shoulder to shoulder with him! He didn¡¯t realize that I would have been his best ally!¡± ¡°You humiliated me not only as a woman but also as a friend!¡± Alba shouted out loud. ¡°You say you ¡®trust¡¯ her? And not me, right? I was ready to have faith in you until my last breath! I would never, you hear, never betray you, no matter what you did after fleeing Russia! Why, why did you do this to me?¡± ¡°You left me here alone... Confirmed that I mean nothing to you...¡± Alba was consumed with anger and resentment. She slammed her fist against the concrete, splitting her knuckles open and yelping in pain. Having vented her emotions, the girl calmed down, curling up in her usual position and cradling her injured hand. Her exhausted nervous system demanded rest, and the Spaniard began to drift into a fitful, unhealthy sleep. An inner resolution on how to act in the morning surfaced from the depths of her subconscious as she was falling asleep. Throughout the evening, a periodic low hum from within the walls had nagged at her. Perhaps it was some underground utilities, water pipes, or a subway system still running on autopilot... Whatever it was, it triggered memories from her childhood ¨C the hum and vibrations of the Valencia stadium walls. The very rumble and tremors felt from below, from outside, as she rushed with her father and older brothers to a soccer match, always late. She climbed the stairs under the stands after the game had started, with the crowd roaring above... And on the arena, a battle was already unfolding, where two teams faced off in an honest duel. They clashed, competing in strength, endurance, and strategy. Rage and cold calculation rolled over their opponents, washing over the enthusiastic audience. The strongest would win, and both sides would shake hands. The end. Clarity. The resolution of grievances and misunderstandings. There it was, the solution! Everything became so simple! A fight was what she could offer Maksim, as the ultimate expression of her love and deep respect for him as a man. The stronger, more persistent, braver one would win! The one who was smarter both strategically and tactically. Let someone sit back in a cozy chair behind a monitor with a vape in her pale hand, writing their soulless code. But she, Alba, and he, Maksim, would be on the same field. They would be united by the battle, sharing a single breath. And finally, Maksim would see Her! Not as a nobody or a former lover, but as a worthy opponent exchanging blows, someone who commanded his attention, whose next moves he would ponder as he lay down at night.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Separated, yet together. It was him who chose to put them on opposite sides of the barricade. He started this game first. So be it. Let him play. And if he proves to be better ¨C alight! Alba, speaking in football terms, today would join the Protectorate team, and, with such a fortunate ¡°ball¡± in the form of valuable information, she¡¯d pass it to the Internal Security Service. Next, let the team play. Her team this time! She might start as a rookie on the bench. Against Maksim¡¯s team, where he is the Captain. UNSA will hunt down his ¡°players,¡± each one more intriguing than the last. And let Max bust his ass trying to protect them! These chosen ones, these remarkable hussies! And in the end? If his team wins? Escapes the pursuit, becomes the ¡°leader of the renouncers,¡± a big shot in some hypothetical ¡°free republic¡± on the other side of Earth ¨C okay! Winners aren¡¯t judged. But if he proves weaker and becomes just another numbered line in some Protectorate internal report on eliminated targets ¨C she¡¯d be satisfied with that outcome too. That¡¯s just fair, it¡¯s a duel! Her soul would find peace! And that¡¯s it¡­ At that moment, her mind, finally relieved of its burden, shut down in satisfaction, and Alba drifted into a short but deep sleep. She didn¡¯t even consider how uneven the powers were in this ¡°fair¡± game. Three people against a massive and seemingly all-powerful organization. But she didn¡¯t need to. What mattered was that she retained a thread of connection with the most important person in her life. She found a way to preserve her pride, understanding, and motivation to live, fight¡­ and win! Everything became simple and clear.
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 11:37 PM ¡°You see, Maxie¡­ Big brother¡­¡± Alisa faltered. Usually, she could calculate all possible outcomes of a conversation and knew exactly what and how the discussion should be unfolded. But now, she cast aside all predictions, not wanting to foresee the rejection. She was with her mind blank, and traitorously abandoned by the words. Feeling a bit Dasha, she looked to the side, then upwards, and finally squeezed her eyes shut. How great it would be to take a deep breath to calm down! But this wasn¡¯t virtual reality. Her mechanical body didn¡¯t need breathing, depriving her of this simple way to soothe the frayed nerves. Maksim raised an eyebrow, giving her an encouraging smile. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t worry so much. You¡¯re my all-knowing, confident sis! Speak now, I¡¯m ready.¡± Alisa bitterly smiled and finally resolved to blurt out her decision before she lost her resolve. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I am your little sister. And¡­ I¡¯m going to summon a TACTA Drone. It will install a special upgrade, and I¡¯m confident¡­ I¡¯ll be able to connect to the Rating, just like you all! I¡¯ll have access to purchases with grants! No catalog restrictions, except for ranking.¡± ¡°The only difference is that I don¡¯t have a biological body. So, any enhancements related to biology won¡¯t apply to me¡­ The main thing here is for you to agree, to believe that it¡¯s truly me. The same person you took to ¡®Ob sea¡¯ before fleeing Russia. The one you treated for mosquito bites¡­¡± ¡°Wait, wait. Alisa!¡± the guy interrupted her hastily. It might even be too hastily, as if he found this speech uncomfortable. ¡°Understand, the cost of a mistake is too high. A lack of grants could be fatal for us. I know you possess a complete memory matrix, including psycho-emotional data, but you¡¯re not¡­¡± ¡°NO!¡± The pent-up tension and lingering resentment towards her brother¡¯s prolonged rejection exploded in a desperate shout. Alisa¡¯s eyes flew open as she stepped closer and jabbed a finger into his chest. ¡°The memory matrix has nothing to do with this! It¡¯s time you open your eyes and understand one! Simple! Thing!¡­ I am not! A machine! And I wasn¡¯t one to begin with!¡± She stepped back, wincing as if in pain, and folded her arms across the chest to hide how they tremble. But her gaze remained fierce and determined. ¡°I¡¯m your sister, Maksim. The body is different, of course. But I¡¯m also not just an android. Not some scientific project. I¡¯m not merely a failed ¨C or successful ¨C experiment. My entire essence ¨C my soul, if you will ¨C is here and now, standing before you. It¡¯s bound to a set of metal and plastic parts, to wires and cables, intertwined with software code. But it¡¯s truly me! Just as if I were a cyborg instead of an android. Only my brain has been replaced with a mechanical prosthesis too!¡± The guy frowned, crossing his arms in a mirror gesture to Alisa¡¯s. Clenching his jaw, he tilted his head and glared at her with a mix of anger and stubbornness. ¡°I don¡¯t believe how much they resemble each other!¡± Nikola thought in surprise as she watched this silent confrontation. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely clear now that they are definitely brother and sister¡­¡± ¡°Maxie¡­¡± Dasha¡¯s trembling small voice cut into this ¡°battle of minds.¡± ¡°Maxie, if you keep this up, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll hit you. Ouch! I mean¡­ uh¡­ yeah¡­¡± Nikola barely stifled a laugh at this unexpected use of the psychological technique known as ¡°pattern interruption.¡± The situation was certainly hardly one for jokes, but ¨C damn it! ¨C a bit more, and she¡¯d regret not having popcorn¡­ ¡°You invited me to your group, to your scientific project, saying you wanted to recreate a real, the most true personality!¡± Dasha raised her voice as she saw Maksim shift his attention to her. Thankfully, now he radiated not irritation, but extreme surprise. He even uncrossed his arms, letting them hang limply by his sides. Dasha took a breath and continued. ¡°You infected me with your dream. Scientific progress without limits. Immortality. The possibility of merging engineering thought and programming code to gain a real friend, to bring a loved one back from the brink. To become someone else. Someone better, smarter, stronger. To break free from the constraints that bind us, you, me¡­ all of humanity! Right now! Did you deceive me, Maksim?¡± Dasha squinted, staring directly into Max¡¯s eyes, where a kaleidoscope of emotions flickered ¨C denial and anger had given way to surprise, then shock, and finally deep contemplation. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re¡­ handsome. And smart. Yeah.¡± The look of self-absorption on the guy¡¯s face shifted to one of astonishment, as if a stone by the roadside had suddenly started talking to him. Vasilevskaya had long become almost like a second sister to him, and he never imagined she would talk about him as a man, especially using the word ¡°handsome.¡± She continued, ¡°I was glad to be with you all these years. Maybe even¡­ happy. But if you can¡¯t embrace what you inspired in me, we can¡¯t be partners. That kind of you¡­ I don¡¯t need. I¡¯ll leave the team. It probably sounds insane when everything around us is falling apart. But I¡­ I¡¯ve never been normal. You¡­ know that.¡± The disheveled girl looked like she was about to cry but kept staring at her long-time partner and inspiration, forcing herself to look brave, her chin jutted out defiantly. Nikola approached and took her hand, giving a supportive smile. Dasha went on: ¡°When everything is collapsing around us, it¡¯s even more important to stay true to yourself. If I settled for less, was ready for compromises¡­ then I wouldn¡¯t create the Ravens. There wouldn¡¯t be Kyiv Polytechnic. There wouldn¡¯t be¡­ you in my life.¡± Maksim took a deep breath, sank into a chair, and covered his face with his hands as if hiding from the outside world. ¡°Oh, well¡­ I give up. Is it¡­ really you? Alisa. Are you really-really alive? Just¡­ What if the alarm goes off tomorrow, I wake up in the morning ¨C and next to me is just an ordinary AI assistant in a body painfully and absurdly similar to my beloved¡­ deceased sister? It¡¯s too terrifying. To believe ¨C is terrifying. Once believing, I am not ready¡­ I don¡¯t want to¡­ I just can¡¯t lose you again!¡± An awkward silence filled the room. But the tension that had previously permeated the air ¨C it all vanished. Dissolved like some vapor from a vape. Alisa quietly approached and sat right on the floor at his feet. ¡°Okay. It seems we¡¯ve all decided. Good.¡± A faint smile played on her lips. ¡°So, about the Drone. I¡¯ve calculated everything. We need five communication modules from the catalog, type¡­¡± Chapter 48 - A Protectorates Command City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion G4 Armed Forces Base, Terminal 24/18 Kamil Teodoryanu, August 12, 2049, 10:00 PM Kamil Teodoryanu, a freshly minted recruit of the AWP special unit, leaped into the LPF-2 class multipurpose assault copter with the rest of the recruits. Once the last person was on board, the machine, resembling a large, bloated beetle, slammed its doors shut and surged upwards. ¡°Sharp ascent,¡± Kamil thought, sitting in the last seat, and securing his rifle in the designated slot nearby. All he wanted right now was to scratch his eyes. But how could he do that with a fully enclosed helmet on his head, and his eyes itching from the inside? Even if he were allowed to remove the headset, no amount of rubbing his eyelids would help. It was just futile! ¡°Oh gee, Protectorate technology is really something else. Complete replacement of lens implants in just half an hour. And without a two-week rehabilitation period. Like changing a light bulb! Impressive... But fuck it, ugh, why do they itch so much?¡± Actually, he had well been warned about such side effects. The instruction on how to handle it was succinct: ¡°Just endure. It¡¯ll pass over time.¡± So, Kamil had to occupy himself with thoughts of the upcoming operation to somehow distract himself. After all, what lay ahead ¨C in reality, was an entrance exam to confirm his rank as a ¡°Soldat,¡± the initial military rank equivalent to "Private," and the starting point for any career in the Red Group of UNSA Public Efficiency Classes. Whatever your aspirations are ¨C becoming a police officer, making a career in administration, or rising to the rank of Knight Templar ¨C you first had to prove yourself in action. And not just on this one mission, but in general. Your every move would be closely scrutinized for the foreseeable future. The guy reviewed the task list again. It was neatly prioritized by importance, with command clarifications and recommendations for execution. The risk of encountering shaiszu was assessed as ¡°acceptably low,¡± and no engagements with monsters were anticipated. Nonetheless, all recruits had been thoroughly drilled on virtual simulators, familiarized with the operation of the combat tactical AI, and the specifications of their issued weapons. Additionally, all squads were reinforced with drones and military robots, albeit mostly of old ¨C terrestrial ¨C manufacture. Fortunately, by the time the special operation began, all military equipment in the Polis and its surroundings was under the Protectorate¡¯s control. Production of new tech had already started, but it would take several days to fully ramp up and replace all the outdated weaponry. Hence, even ancient pre-war Earth drones from long-term storage and disposal depots had to be deployed. ¡°That¡¯s a real hodgepodge, just as it is,¡± Kamil mused, examining the list of robots assigned to the squad: one Protectorate assault drone, two ¡°Owls,¡± and an old ¡°Skopa¡± jointly developed by German-Polish states, likely built even before the war. As for the ground equipment, two mid-sized "Supporters" from Watson Warfare were secured at the tail of the assault copter, along with an Armadillo Corps mini-tank and a formidable, high-tech military vehicle unfamiliar to Kamil. ¡°Hmm... This thing looks like an atlas beetle, six legs too, but ending in tracked treads instead of feet. It is a quite predatory view, actually. I wonder what that is?¡± Incidentally, as soon as Kamil fixed his gaze on the combat robot, the tactical AI provided a summary: #Model LGF-28UZ4 #Light Armored Aerial Support Platform #Armament and Tactical Equipment: #Heavy Twin Machine Gun ARZ12K #Light Caliber Rapid-Fire Cannon Glitzern-MX #Four Guided Missiles Absprung-K #2 Flexible Blades Mondregen, with Plasma Generator #Kinetic Shield Generator, Class 2F #Petal Shields #External Mounts for Transporting up to Two Soldiers over Short Distances #Display detailed platform information? ¡°No,¡± Kamil declined this offer, and the AI dismissed the note. ¡°I¡¯d better keep my sanity intact, not trying to comprehend how this beast can be able to fly. And moreover, how they managed to cram so much weaponry into it!¡± ¡°Most of the equipment is primarily for psychological effect,¡± Kamil recalled the words of their squad commander, Sergeant Holman. ¡°In the occasion of a serious shaiszu breach, the ¡®Bastion¡¯ heavies will go into action, and all the small fry in the city have been eliminated long ago. But for persuading the locals, these ¡®puffs¡¯ are quite suitable.¡± Indeed, the primary mission assigned to all groups was to ensure the loyalty of the natives who were caught in the first wave of relocations due to the clearance of the designated area. On paper, it could look simple. But in practice, it was a ¡°segment¡± spanned ten kilometers from the Wall ¨C quite a sizable area. And the challenge here wasn¡¯t just the sheer volume of territory! The analysts from the internal security service estimated that about five percent of the population was expected to cause trouble, as not all former Polis residents had embraced the overall situation and the ¡°new authority¡± with all its precautions. Moreover, many hoped to simply ¡°wait out¡± the difficult period at home, formally agreeing to the new citizenship while not actually intending to comply. It was hard to say what they were thinking... Did they believe all the problems would just ¡°dissolve¡± on their own? That both the Shaiszu and the Protectorate would vanish, and everything would go back to the way it was? Anyway, such people could be expected to exhibit any behavior ¨C from complete, even slavish submission to hysterics and attempts to attack officials and patrols. In essence, based on those very analysts¡¯ forecast, about one-tenth of all cases would require the use of force. Of course, they could simply have drones shoot all the dissenters, but the leadership had decided that only former Polis residents would be involved in the operation. Sure, they¡¯d all been recruited just half a day ago, but in this case it didn¡¯t matter. Each one who had already confirmed their Public Efficiency Class and seen the Protectorate ¡°from the inside¡± ¨C so, would understand far more than the average citizen. Thus, they could be more effective in persuasion.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. There was even a whole system of incentives for resolving conflicts peacefully, but if persuasion failed, the order was unequivocal ¨C use lethal force. This was especially true for those whom the tactical AI classified as potential members of the lowest, ¡°colorless¡± class. ¡°The Protectorate is positioning itself as a strong authority, ready to use necessary force, and clearly distinguishing between useful and useless people! I hope we won¡¯t have to shoot anyone. It just feels wrong¡­ The thing is, they simply don¡¯t understand the situation yet!¡± Kamil was pulled from his anxious thoughts by the ¡°one-minute readiness¡± signal. The AI also sent a message: #Attention! We are currently flying over the Wall project. I recommend activating the view from the surveillance cameras and displaying brief tactical information. Shall I proceed? ¡°Yes, of course, activate it.¡± A view of the KRE, Kyiv Ring Expressway, built between 2031 and 2035 from a height of five hundred meters, unfolded before his eyes. The AI immediately zoomed in, enhancing the image and highlighting the most significant objects with infographics. Construction of the wall had not yet begun; only the installation of equipment and site preparation had started, so the view switched to augmented reality. A panorama of a twenty-meter wall with powerful gun towers placed at regular intervals came into focus. The towers were not only armed with artillery, including anti-aircraft guns, but also equipped with catapults for launching combat drones. As Kamil examined the virtual constructs of the future primary object of the city defense, the Protectorate¡¯s military dropship began its descent. The operation to assist the first wave of citizen relocation had entered its active phase.
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Kamil Teodoryanu, 12 August 2049, 10:41 PM ¡°Citizens of the Protectorate! We have commenced the construction of the city¡¯s defensive structures. Time is of the essence ¨C serious shaiszu attacks are just days away! The enemy is already reshaping the planet¡¯s ecosystem, populating it with their species and gathering biomass to produce new combat units. While we have managed to secure major cities, THEY have taken over the entire Earth! Of the people who survived in the major cities, only a few remain ¨C half of the planet¡¯s population has already perished. It will take the efforts of everyone to stand against such a formidable foe!¡± ¡°We all must live by wartime laws. No one has the right to stand aside when the world teeters on the brink of destruction. Everyone must contribute to the common cause to the fullest extent!¡± ¡°The initial period is the most challenging and critical. The city is currently unprotected, open to attacks, virtually defenseless. The Wall project is your foundation and guarantee of safety! It is a comprehensive early detection and defense system against shaiszu, including potential underground breaches and aerial assaults. In the event of an attack, the defense systems are capable of holding off the enemy until the heavy units from the Bastion arrive.¡± ¡°Based on our experience and knowledge, the optimal diameter is calculated to be 82 kilometers. Unfortunately, this encompasses only part of the Polis territory. To ensure optimal living conditions for all residents, the Protectorate will overhaul much of the urban infrastructure. This is a necessary measure to accommodate more than nine million people comfortably.¡± ¡°Of course, we will strive to utilize existing infrastructure solutions to the fullest and make every effort to preserve the most significant cultural and historical landmarks. Relocation will occur in several stages, as the city¡¯s existing buildings are restructured by our construction machinery fleet.¡± ¡°Please note that the size and comfort of your housing will directly depend on your Public Efficiency Class. When advancing to a higher group, one of the benefits will be the opportunity to apply for improved housing.¡± ¡°Exiting the Wall¡¯s perimeter is unsafe and strictly prohibited! If you have a justified need, contact the nearest consultation point or use the Protectorate.Security app.¡± ¡°Attention!¡± ¡°The first stage of relocation has already begun. Check the list of designated areas. If you are in an area marked for relocation, gather all necessary items in advance before the evacuation transport arrives. If you have not yet undergone testing and have not been assigned a Public Efficiency Class, you will be relocated under general conditions. Applications for housing improvements can only be submitted after curfew ends, exclusively after testing.¡± ¡°To expedite the relocation process, do not take unnecessary food, extra clothing, household appliances, or domestic robots ¨C you will be provided with everything needed on-site. If you have any questions, refer to the dedicated section in the App.¡± ¡°Delaying or obstructing the loading and departure of transports is strictly forbidden. Under wartime conditions, such actions are considered sabotage, and patrol teams have the right to open fire without warning.¡± ¡°The Protectorate urges you to show responsibility, awareness, and understanding! Relocation is a necessary but vital measure. Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of every citizen!¡± ¡°Remember, those who sit idly by, trying to hinder and obstruct, are enemies of our common home, just like the shaiszu!¡± ¡°The Wall is your guarantee of Safety!¡± Such messages had been broadcast en masse since the beginning of the curfew. For those not connected to the city¡¯s extranet of the Protectorate, the messages were displayed on all advertisement screens and building walls. Additionally, in residential areas adjacent to the KRE, drones not only displayed the videos but also announced the text loudly and clearly. It was nearly impossible to be in an area designated for relocation and not receive the message. However, when military patrols and evacuation transports ¨C commandeered city buses ¨C started moving in, the first conflicts began to arise. They were widely varied. Some people demanded to be left alone, families quarreled and broke apart, with only one parent siding with the Protectorate... There were also troubled teenagers and principled renouncers who just wouldn¡¯t agree to anything. Some demanded a couple of days to pack, while others were threatening with weapons. Kamil had his own rather unpleasant ¡°baptism by fire.¡± It wasn¡¯t particularly difficult or dangerous; in fact, it was quite the opposite... His squad had already cleared the last entryway of an apartment building when orders came that someone was still inside one of the apartments. According to the scanner, the person was likely asleep. The rest of the group moved to the next building, while Kamil went up to handle the situation. Finding the right flat, he pressed the buzzer twice, but no one answered. Stepping back, he let the accompanying drone shoot the lock off with a short burst. Holding his rifle at the ready, he opened the door and slipped inside, cautiously scanning the surroundings. ¡°You bloody bastard! I¡¯ll fucking kill you!¡± From the kitchen burst a man in camo pants and a striped tank top. He looked about forty-five, solidly built, with a short haircut. His right bicep bore a tattoo of the military corporation ¡°ArMC,¡± Armadillo Military Corp, along with a scattering of campaign badges ¨C likely a retired veteran. The man might have posed a threat if he hadn¡¯t been so drunk. The guy easily dodged the punch aimed at his jaw and knocked the man out with an elbow strike. Kamil nudged the fallen man with his boot a couple of times, but he didn¡¯t stir. The sealed filters of his helmet efficiently cleaned the air, but the system still warned him of the strong smell of alcohol. He rolled the man onto his back with his foot, and the tactical AI displayed a summary. #Object ID: CR-5690.2200.00012.57489 #Public Efficiency Class: 00. Colorless #Social Rating: Minimal #Directive: Eliminate. Of course, Kamil had already learned by heart that the Public Efficiency Class ranges from zero ¡°Colorless,¡± comprising the least significant people, to the seventh ¡°White¡± class. It includes Templar-Analysts, Templar-Knights, and Templar-Priests ¨C the elite of the Protectorate. The guy raised his rifle, sending a brief command to switch to single-shot mode. A pull of the trigger, a sharp bang, and a red stain spread across the unknown man¡¯s chest. #Target neutralized. He felt awful ¨C shooting an unarmed, non-resisting person was disgusting and shameful. But duty won out. He also understood clearly that for the Protectorate, this situation was one of the promised tests. The accompanying drone had plenty of means to eliminate the target on its own, but the command had been given specifically to Kamil. Fortunately, this was the only truly unpleasant episode in the entire operation. The rest went smoothly, apart from physical exhaustion. Rumors spread like wildfire. While at first patrols had to use force and even open fire, by the end of the fourth hour, the remaining residents had voluntarily left their homes, already packed and ready when the evacuation transport arrived. It turned out that the entire right bank of the river Dnieper was designated for future relocation. Although the buildings¡¯ restructuring was yet to begin, the priority was constructing the Wall. The Protectorate had set up numerous tent camps and requisitioned all the city¡¯s hotels for relocation. By 02:36 a.m., the last bus had left ¨C the operation was complete. Some soldiers returned to the Kyiv Ring Expressway, others went to maintain order in the camps, while the rest, including Kamil¡¯s squad, moved closer to the real borders of the vast metropolis. Chapter 49 - DarkWeb Negotiations City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 12, 2049, 12:12 AM Night had long since fallen over the Factory, as quite a bit of time had passed since the start of the curfew. It seemed the massive complex had fallen silent, engulfed in an uncharacteristic stillness for this bustling hive of activity. Advertisement banners hung forlornly in augmented reality, their relevance long gone. The ceaseless clouds of spam and business emails of varying confidentiality had ceased. All entrances, even those once perpetually open for ¡°special guests,¡± were now firmly shut. But this calm was deceptive. Under the cloak of signal jammers masking communications, the Factory continued to buzz unnoticed. Here, among the labyrinth of market stalls, smuggler bases, and other semi-legal organizations, an invisible life thrived. In the local network, securely concealed from the omniscient eye of the Protectorate¡¯s extranet, countless negotiations were taking place. Life-changing deals were being struck, alliances were forming, and once beneficial contracts ruthlessly torn apart. Like a giant swarm, the Factory was united in its chaotic scurrying and the Brownian motion of its inhabitants, each absorbed in their small tasks. Unbeknownst to them, each was contributing to a single, larger objective. Possibly the most significant and final mission the locals would have to undertake: the mission to save their own lives.
After Alisa¡¯s shocking and world-turning confession, some time passed. While Maksim was rethinking reality and talking quietly with his sister, the rest of the team tactfully retreated. Eventually, after a quick snack, they all gathered back in the Hall. One more crucial issue needed to be addressed for their survival. ¡°Weapons,¡± Maksim spoke up. ¡°As already discussed, we need serious firepower. And it must be sorted out before calling the TACTA Drone. Nika, you mentioned your connections. Do you think we can get everything here?¡± ¡°Depends on what¡¯s this ¡®everything¡¯,¡± Nikola replied with a smile. ¡°But, generally, you could get any stuff at this place. The invasion might have changed things, but I think we¡¯ll find weapons just okay. The issue is payment. We have no Protectorate money, no TACTA currency, and I¡¯m damn sure, no one is interested in old Earth money...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go for some barter! Most renouncers are definitely facing the same problems now. I bet, there must be some sort of market ¨C like a swap meet, a place for ¡®natural exchange¡¯,¡± Maksim suggested. ¡°Absolutely! That¡¯s exactly what I was getting to. Given the... hmm... peculiarities of the local economy, bartering was already a thing here. Especially since some of the locals have had issues with ¡®clean¡¯ money from time to time, so¡­¡± Nikola did not finish the sentence. Instead, she leaned back in her chair and opened a messenger in augmented reality. ¡°Basically, the folks here are seasoned and ready for anything. I just got an invite to the right forum, been waiting for it.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re on the topic of purchases,¡± Alisa said, ¡°I think we should address preparing our combat drones and bots. There is a good workshop here; better make full use of it! If we modify the CaTZ platform and upgrade the drones Dasha fetched ¡ª there¡¯s plenty of room for our engineering skills to shine. It¡¯s just a shame we have so few ready-made components...¡± ¡°Got it, we¡¯ll look for tech kits too,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°And tools. The workshop is good, but Doc took most of the machines and hardware with him.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve been thinking what would be useful for all of us... well, primarily... but not solely for us¡­¡± Dasha interjected a little irrelevantly, her voice trailing off as she bit the drip tip of her vape. ¡°You know¡­ just recently, during the fight with those... dogs... No, I¡¯m not talking about the Protes this time, I mean the shaiszu dogs. Down there in the underground parking lot. There was something I really, even extremely wanted.¡± She paused, rocking on her chair, staring at the ceiling, gathering her thoughts before continuing. ¡°An interface! A combat interface in augmented reality! A System ¨C it would be cool to name this thing ¡®System¡¯, you agree, yeah? Yeah! It would store a catalog of shaiszu types, predict the direction and strength of monster attacks, help us coordinate, assist our actions based on our personal characteristics, and much more.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s a quite familiar concept. Any major PMC has a similar software-hardware complex,¡± Nikola said thoughtfully, twirling a cup of coffee in her hands ¨C she got one to stay awake for this late-night meeting. ¡°I still have user manuals for a couple of those in the cloud from training days...¡± ¡°Send me all of it, please-please,¡± Vasilevskaya immediately reacted. ¡°But of course, we¡¯ll only have to wait until our access to external networks is recovered,¡± Nikola smiled. ¡°Most of these things just help with tactical coordination on the battlefield. They provide some additional information and help in combat, but no one has ever tried to give each soldier a personal and truly powerful AI. That would require an enormous amount of computing power...¡± Redhead suddenly fell silent, staring intently at Dasha¡¯s wide smile. ¡°Uh-huh! And we can give each of us ¡ª yeah, each! ¡ª a personal AI, like the Ravens, but combat-focused. And Moira won¡¯t just help with practical coordination; she can calculate probabilities. All aimed at fighting both shaiszu and the Protes! Range of attacks, safe zones...¡± Dasha took a deep drag from her vape, but this time, even Maksim didn¡¯t scold her. Brother and sister exchanged knowing smiles. They didn¡¯t need to speak ¡ª either aloud or in the chat ¡ª to understand what the members of the ¡°robotics lovers¡¯ club¡± were thinking. Of course, such a project couldn¡¯t be completed in an evening. But they could lay the foundations of a self-learning system and start gradually implementing it. Each of them already began dreaming about how it could be built ¡ª the architecture, the distribution of computational load, the implementation stages... ¡°Hey-hey-hey, hold on! Stop getting carried away!¡± Maksim wasn¡¯t sure if he was shouting it to Alisa and Dasha or to himself. ¡°We have too many tasks to drop them for this undeniably excellent idea. Preparation. Weapons. Mobility. Damn it, we have no more than thirty hours to get out of Kyiv ¡ª and this time, we can¡¯t miss the deadline!¡± Vasilevskaya sighed sadly and lowered her gaze. Alisa, however, hid her joy behind a compliant smile ¡ª she could fully participate in the conversation and continue working on Dasha¡¯s idea in parallel threads. And once the meeting was over, they could really dive into it together! ¡°Alright, here¡¯s the plan,¡± Maksim said, rubbing his temples with a sigh. ¡°Sis, you handle the engineering part, the bots, and the drones. Dasha will take on the task of setting up the combat management system based on Moira. I guess, we¡¯re going to need it sooner than we¡¯d like.¡± He shot a stern look at the now-animated girl. ¡°I know you¡¯d sneakily work on it instead of sleeping anyway. That¡¯s just how you are, you sly little thing. Meanwhile, Nika and I will handle negotiations and the procurement of weapons.¡± ¡°Okay, about the trading platform,¡± Redhead began. She had gotten used to the fact that all team members were continuously in the same conference, often streaming visuals from their eye implants or AR/VR. So, showing the messenger and darknet trading platform was no big deal for her. ¡°The access is invite-only. I got one, so we can go and see what¡¯s available. But just a heads up ¡ª from what I¡¯ve spotted, the folks are real moody now...¡± Nikola gave a wry smile with just the right corner of her mouth before continuing. ¡°No one, not even in their worst dreams, could have imagined, the Protectorate would move so quickly to build a fortified perimeter, conscript thousands of recruits overnight, and deploy all available Earth drones and military tech.¡± ¡°So, looks like paranoia and depression are reigning in the market. Paranoia ¨C cause previously they had been offering everything openly, and now the ads are heavily encrypted. And, unfortunately, all the listings suitable for us are already marked as ¡®deal closed.¡¯ By the way, the transaction flow tonight is off the charts ¡ª I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. You barely start to figure out the terms and identify the buyer, and then ¡ª bam! ¡ª the offer is gone. Here¡¯s the trading platform.¡± Headlines of the listings flashed before their eyes: # Precision watches for sale with additional features. Ideal for night walks and hunting. # Looking for reliable construction tools? Various sizes of master hammers in stock. Delivery guaranteed. # Collection of antique toys, perfect for history enthusiasts. All items in excellent condition. # High-speed blenders for quick preparation of any mixtures! Ideal for kitchen work with any ingredients. # Need new musicians for your orchestra? Instruments of different calibers and tones. Available for rent or purchase. They all stared at the listings in silence for a few minutes, the only sound being someone puffing steam into the ventilation and the soft hum of the air conditioning. ¡°Damn! All the deals are already closed,¡± Dasha finally blurted out an obvious statement, putting away her vape.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Yeah, it seems the Protectorate¡¯s sociopsychologists are earning their keep,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t fret!¡± Maksim interjected. ¡°If there are no suitable deals, we¡¯ll just post our own buying ad. And it happens that I know exactly how to phrase it in ¡®local code.¡¯ They might be hiding their listings because they¡¯re afraid of Protectorate spies in the network. Actually, I think this disguise is pointless, but let¡¯s not stress people out unnecessarily.¡± ¡°And what do you propose we write?¡± Nika asked. ¡°You know, where I grew up, we had a slang term for the most common 9mm pistol rounds,¡± the guy grinned. ¡°We called them ¡®butter mushrooms.¡¯ It¡¯s also called slippery jacks or suillus, you know. So, we¡¯ll post about that, and if anyone asks, we can just say we¡¯re looking for actual mushrooms. Log in!¡± ¡°That sounds wild,¡± Nikola said, surprised. ¡°Why call them that?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Maksim laughed. ¡°It was for disguise, mostly. And yeah, the bullets do have a certain resemblance to young butter mushrooms. Plus, in the Russian Empire, food shortages were a constant issue, so it wasn¡¯t unusual for folk to forage for them. People¡¯d salt, pickle, dry, and sometimes sell them. So, discussing mushrooms didn¡¯t raise any eyebrows.¡± ¡°Alrighty,¡± Red shrugged, ¡°let¡¯s give it a shot. We¡¯re logged in as RealFox29.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an odd username.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to come up with anything better!¡± Nika giggled. ¡°C¡¯mon then, let¡¯s do it!¡± Half a minute later, a ¡°literary masterpiece¡± appeared in the general feed, crafted by Nikola and Maksim. @RealFox29: Buying butter mushrooms, preferably large. Need a lot. Urgently. Delivery required. Payment negotiable. The network¡¯s reaction was swift, but not at all what they expected. Max and Nika stared at the messages in complete bewilderment. @CleverTrip: Sorry to hear, RealFox, you¡¯re so down you¡¯re ready to smoke mushrooms¡­ @Shouter: Wait, you can smoke them???? I didn¡¯t know! My grandparents had tons of them on their eco-farm! And they just fried them, those barbarians! @EatCorgi: Are you all idiots or what? You make a decoction out of butter mushrooms, with chalk, it¡¯s a normal thing if you know how! @Sky007: Folks, if this is a thing, I¡¯m in too! Anyone got some? The thread quickly spiraled into a debate on whether to brew or smoke mushrooms. ¡°Damn, I overestimated this crowd,¡± Max said, staring at the message counter. ¡°Looks like we just started a new trend in drug experiments. As they say, ¡®desperate times call for desperate measures¡¯... Depressing.¡± ¡°Wait! Hold on! We have a lead!¡± Nika exclaimed abruptly, opening a private message. @Ossa: Butter mushrooms, huh... Nice touch! RealFox, buddy, you can talk straight here. We¡¯re all cool here. People are just on edge, so we¡¯re being extra cautious. What exactly do you need? ¡°That¡¯s great! Max, you genius! So, what do we reply?¡± Nika asked. ¡°Go ahead, type it from my account.¡± The guy nodded and quickly typed back: @RealFox29: We need 9mm Parabellum rounds, as many as possible. Plus 12 gauge for a police shotgun, both slugs and buckshot, to start with. And we¡¯re looking for firepower, something serious ¨C any corp-military gear, we¡¯ll take it all. @Ossa: Got it, give me a minute to whisper around with my people. Two minutes passed. @Ossa: Bro, we can hook you up with some Parabellum rounds, no sweat, but we ain¡¯t got no cop ammo for sale, sorry. But if you ain¡¯t picky, we can offer you some lighter pieces, like Armadillo submachine guns, shorties, we can give you five of those, and we¡¯ll throw in some ammo too. What you got to pay with? ¡°Alright, guys, we might have jumped the gun here,¡± Nika said. ¡°We found a seller but didn¡¯t think about what to trade! Any ideas?¡± ¡°And what do they take here?¡± Maksim asked. ¡°I guess they take just about anything. But we don¡¯t have this ¡®anything¡¯!¡± @RealFox29: Thanks, Ossa, I got it. Give me a couple of minutes to ¡®whisper around¡¯ too! ¡°So, what can we barter?¡± Maksim started, ¡°Food supplies are essential for us. And we don¡¯t have much anyway. Some tools from the clinic? Nah, those aren¡¯t worth much. The most valuable thing we have is the surgical robot. But giving it over for just a few guns is out of the question.¡± ¡°First, we need to poke around,¡± Nika countered, ¡°if there¡¯s anything serious to trade for. You¡¯re right, for five or even ten guns, it¡¯s not worth it.¡± Suddenly, Alisa, who had been standing aside quietly, spoke up. ¡°Guys, we¡¯re totally missing out on a valuable asset we¡¯ve got right here! Selling our genius med-bot is clearly easy, but we won¡¯t get much for it. This crowd here doesn¡¯t really need it, it¡¯s just useless without a pro-operator. But a surgical robot PLUS my skills? Now that¡¯s a serious offer. We¡¯re not selling the gear; we¡¯re selling the service!¡± ¡°Great idea, sis! Now we just need to figure out how to pitch it. And what exactly can we do? Besides fixing broken spines?¡± ¡°Actually, a lot. There is a whole library of different surgeries here. We¡¯re only limited by the materials in stock. Zelman took a lot, that¡¯s true, but we¡¯ve got enough supplies for a few operations, even complicated ones. And if we can find a way to restock, we can really get things rolling! So, let¡¯s feel out our seller.¡± ¡°By the way, the service stations at Doc¡¯s are top-notch too,¡± Red added. ¡°If we¡¯re digging into this, don¡¯t forget there¡¯s more than just the surgical robot in the OR! Proper maintenance of limbs and implants is a good moneymaker too. The quality of that service directly affects a cyborg¡¯s performance!¡± ¡°Got it, noted,¡± Max nodded. ¡°About... services... It¡¯s...¡± Dasha hesitated and fell silent, looking flustered. ¡°Speak up, WonderStar, it¡¯s all good,¡± Maksim encouraged her. ¡°Well... I use... some mixes, but I¡¯m not an addict! I¡¯m a biohacker! Uhm¡­ what I saw when they were talking mushrooms, it¡¯s all cheap stuff. They don¡¯t have any good pharma. But I can make some. If we set up a good chemical reactor using local tech, I can cook up some real treats... the locals won¡¯t want to try anything else after! Max... it¡¯s not for me! It¡¯s for the business!¡± ¡°Even better, I can make useful stuff ¨C detox meds, stimulants and all that. It¡¯s no accident deals are flying so fast here; I bet, lots of people are in a hurry to break out. So, these things could be really in demand...¡± ¡°Useful stuff, for the business...¡± Maksim mused. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were into manufacturing processes too. Are you sure you can handle it? This isn¡¯t like making vape mixes.¡± ¡°I definitely can!¡± the girl exclaimed eagerly. ¡°I know where to look, aware of all the process details, and beyond that... it¡¯s more programming than chemistry. Not at all like cooking soup... by hand. I¡¯ll program the reactor. For sure.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s a good idea, let¡¯s keep it in mind too,¡± Max agreed. Nika, who had been pacing the room, deep in thought, suddenly stopped. ¡°Our main task is to sell our services to someone more serious than this small-time gangster with a few guns. And I think there are such people here... Especially if Dasha can make top-tier pharma, we should sell it to wholesalers, not peddle it ourselves.¡± ¡°Do you have anyone in mind?¡± Maksim looked at her with interest. ¡°Hope so. The Factory used to be run by Drago¡¯s crew... Balkan thugs, real psychos. I¡¯ve been in a lot of underground Mix fights over the past few years, so had to cross paths with them quite a bit. Uhm, there were also other... let¡¯s say, combat-related stuff. No wonder, when we rolled up here, the second mug at the entrance looked familiar... If we can get in touch with one of their leaders, they could be a solid trade partner.¡± ¡°These guys operated in States Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland, controlling a good chunk of the arms and drug traffic from the corporates to the hot zones in the south. They should have a good stockpile for exchanging!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try to make contact. Max, I¡¯m writing a reply!¡± @RealFox29: So, Ossa, after thinking it over, I realized bartering for all my requests is unrealistic ¨C I want too much. But I can offer services instead! @Ossa: Hey, I actually checked your profile in passing. So, you¡¯re a girl?? Just being cautious, huh? ))) ¡°Kurwa, I¡¯m busted,¡± Nika muttered, nearly spitting on the floor in frustration. ¡°Alright, whatever. Not a big deal.¡± @RealFox29: Yes, Ossa, you got me. But it doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s get to business! @Ossa: How cute, talking about weapons with a girl. Redhead, right? ) @RealFox29: Enough, okay? @Ossa: And when you said ¡®services,¡¯ did I understand you correctly? Is it what I think it is?)) @RealFox29: No, damn it!! @Ossa: You know, that¡¯s good too! Speaking for myself ¨C I don¡¯t buy love. I¡¯m still young and, by the way, quite good-looking! It¡¯s much nicer to do all this without ¡®monetary transactions,¡¯ but with soul and mutual desire. Do you agree, huh? Maybe we can meet tomorrow before everyone split? @RealFox29: Are you hitting on me? You haven¡¯t even seen me! Maybe I¡¯m an old, legless granny? @Ossa: No, my heart senses you¡¯re young and red-haired! And reeeal hot! After the word ¡®legless,¡¯ the room had to stifle hysterical laughter, even though it wouldn¡¯t be heard on the other end. @RealFox29: Okay, Ossa, our conversation has hit a dead end. You¡¯re not even listening! So, let¡¯s say, IF I unexpectedly find myself without anyone to sleep with ¨C I promise I¡¯ll remember you. Now, back to business. Is there anyone from Drago¡¯s crew here? Maybe someone from Voyko¡¯s or Nikich¡¯s team? If Nikich is still around, say hi from the Mad Fox, he¡¯ll remember me. The conversation went silent. The last message seemed to shock the other side. That¡¯s quite understandable, actually. One thing is to flirt with a girl in chat, imagining she¡¯d send revealing photos or agree to a rendezvous in the dark corners of the Factory... And another when she starts dropping names of the region¡¯s most ruthless gangsters, whose hands are soaked in blood, and even claims to know one of them. After a minute, the chat resumed. @Ossa: Sorry, Red, don¡¯t judge too harshly. We¡¯re all on edge here, saying stupid things from stress. I apologize. I have information for you. @RealFox29: Alright, you¡¯re forgiven. Fine, you can call me Red. I¡¯m all ears. @Ossa: So, Nikich has been gone for half a year now. After him, it was Voyko, but he also got taken out recently. His head¡¯s intact, but it¡¯s on ice in Istanbul, and no one knows what they¡¯re gonna do with him. Now it¡¯s Miro running the show for the past month. He¡¯s here, but he doesn¡¯t hang out online. I¡¯m working with him. Tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll pass it on in no time. If you got something solid, it¡¯ll benefit me too. Deal? @RealFox29: Ok, listen up. I¡¯m not alone here; got a crew with me. All renouncers. But we¡¯re pros; we can fix people and do all kinds of cyber enhancements. Zelman¡¯s clinic is ours now. LEGALLY, with FULL access. Doc¡¯s my buddy, so he handed over the admin rights. Quality work guaranteed. Given the war times, I promise the clients won¡¯t regret it. We can patch up a couple of fighters real good or upgrade the gear to total combat-ready. Not from scratch, of course, but if the patient has a good base, we can turn them into a terminator. In return, we need an arsenal. Let me stress, a real arsenal. All automatic, using the most common ammo. We also need guided handheld rockets, magnetic mines, and a bunch of recon drones. Mech kits are fine too; we can assemble them ourselves. But they should be military-corps, not civilian crap. Plus, electronics ¨C night vision and solid tactical gear ready for a good combat AI. Basically, I am to arm a team of five specialists. No need to memorize this word for word; Drago¡¯s guys know exactly what¡¯s needed! Netting costs through eddies, pre-war rates. I know the prices, for both guns and cybermed. Separately, there¡¯s a proposal for some quality chems, not the junk that was discussed recently. But that¡¯s a topic for a serious talk later. So, can you pass this on? @Ossa: Got it all, I¡¯m on my way to higher-ups. Red, stay in touch. Nice to meet you! Maybe we¡¯ll meet in real life! @RealFox29: Maybe. But first is business. Waiting for your reply. ¡°Phew...¡± Nika exhaled. The others looked at her in mild amazement. ¡°Redhead, your diplomatic skills never cease to amaze me!¡± Maksim smiled. ¡°Damn right!¡± she replied, lifting her nose proudly. ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± A couple of minutes later, the chat came alive again. @Ossa: Miro sends his regards! Your offer sounds interesting, but there¡¯s one condition ¨C he wants to hash something out right now. Are you guys at Zelman¡¯s spot? @RealFox29: Yes. @Ossa: Miro will be at the clinic in ten minutes. He¡¯s bringing one fighter, someone you need to check. Meet them with just one other person. He¡¯ll only talk to you. Good luck, sister! @RealFox29: Thanks, confirmed! Meeting at the clinic in 10 minutes. We¡¯ll come out when we see you on camera. ¡°Well, I have ten minutes to fix my makeup before the big meeting,¡± Nika giggled. ¡°Max, let¡¯s get ready.¡± Chapter 50 - Underground Alliances City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 13, 2049, 12:35 AM # Contact Confirmed The mediaglyph of the clinic¡¯s security complex chimed softly, showing an augmented reality image from one of the entrance cameras. ¡°Miro is goddamn punctual, huh! One minute before the appointed time,¡± Nikola smiled, glancing at the man approaching with a submachine gun slung over his shoulder. ¡°Well, Max, shall we go up?¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± he quickly stepped into the next room, which had been turned into an operational warehouse and, incidentally, an armory. Though it was currently empty. After about ten seconds, the guy emerged, already fastening a bandolier to his belt and slinging a pump-action shotgun strap around his neck. ¡°What¡¯s the point? We¡¯re not planning to fight, are we?¡± Redhead was surprised. ¡°And we only have ten shotgun shells. Not much at all.¡± ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s just for appearances. You know how this crowd is. They come in all tough and armed. We need to look the part too, so we don¡¯t seem like some nerds from med school. So, I¡¯ll stand there, flashing my guns.¡± ¡°Oh, because I called them ¡®real psychos¡¯? Well, yeah, the ¡®Balkans¡¯ are like that, but it¡¯s also mostly for show. And their leaders aren¡¯t idiots at all. If this Miro is who I think he is...¡± ¡°All the more reason,¡± Maksim countered. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t show them that we¡¯re unarmed; they¡¯ll jack up the price.¡± ¡°It makes sense, you convinced me. Let¡¯s go then.¡± ¡°Guys, hold on another second!¡± Alisa¡¯s voice called out, and the android entered the room carrying a small plastic box. ¡°Take this with you! It can reach the surface; there are relays up there. Just don¡¯t stray too far from the clinic.¡± With these words, she handed Max a portable medical diagnostic scanner. ¡°This thing streams all the data to Mei Li. The AI gives a preliminary analysis on the fly, cross-referencing with our med databases and supplies. This way, we can diagnose and estimate the workload without bringing potential patients down here. I still don¡¯t trust those guys...¡± ¡°Smart, a solid idea. I¡¯ve used one of these in field medical courses. Anything special we need to know?¡± ¡°No, it gives on-screen tips, just make sure the connection is not lost on the surface. But it¡¯s a field model; it should work fine.¡± Maksim nodded, and then he and Nika headed to the surface exit. Once they ascended, the guy approached the exit door and checked the scanner. The green signal icon showed a steady five bars. They could go out. In person, both guests were even more colorful than on video. Miro was the first to approach ¡ª a handsome, statuesque man of indeterminate age. At first glance, he could be thirty, at most thirty-five, especially if you didn¡¯t look at his face. His lean figure, graceful stride reminiscent of a hunting tiger, the muscles rippling under his military shirt, and the thick, jet-black hair pulled into a neat ponytail could give that impression. But the piercing gaze, as if drilling into the interlocutor, betrayed a person with far more experience, as if he¡¯d lived a couple of lifetimes already. And the fine mesh of wrinkles around his brown eyes, along with the slight gray at his temples, left no doubt that Miro was likely well over fifty. His hand rested casually on the submachine gun slung over his left shoulder, and a homemade cigarette, smoldering with black smoke like an ancient diesel engine, juts out from his lips. Behind the leader unobtrusively loomed the second ¡°combat unit¡± ¡ª a very young guy, no more than twenty, but of threatening size ¡ª at least two meters tall, maybe more. However, it was hard to tell exactly, as he was sitting on a self-propelled platform, legs tucked under a tarp. The protruding barrel of a rifle in his cyber hands made the whole composition look like a tank turret. Unlike Miro¡¯s relaxed expression, the young man¡¯s face was stony and grimly focused. But a closer look made it clear to Max that this wasn¡¯t concentration, but the effect of strong painkillers. Seeing Nika, the gang leader¡¯s face broke into a wide, genial smile. ¡°Oh, well hello, sister!¡± he said, spreading his arms and stepping forward. Nikola reciprocated, and they performed a ritual hug, just like classic mafiosi. Maksim, keeping a stoic expression, stood behind them, holding his shotgun. ¡°So glad to see you again!¡± Miro continued. ¡°When I heard the Mad Fox was looking for a meeting, I figured it must be our little Kowalski! When they told me a year ago that this cute girl would be in the final, I didn¡¯t believe it. But after watching her past fights, I saw the potential ¨C and placed a very good bet. Thus, I made a nice haul back then, so you didn¡¯t let down all of us who believed in you!¡± ¡°Ah, yeah, those were the days,¡± Nika smiled bashfully. ¡°Now, see how small the world is. We¡¯re meeting here now. Different time, and the world... has changed, yeah¡­¡± ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Miro took a deep drag on his cigarette and nodded towards the young fighter. ¡°So, let¡¯s get to it. This is Tomasz. Former deserter from the ¡®Watsonians,¡¯ has a lot in common with you in terms of hardware. He clashed with a shaiszu today while covering our guys on a raid. One leg¡¯s damaged, the other ripped off. His sub¡¯s a bit off the rails, so we had to sedate him with what we had in the police kit. The severed spot is frozen, and beyond that, we don¡¯t know what to do. So, as soon as I heard about your setup, I responded right away.¡± ¡°Familiar situation. I fought a shaiszu too and got hit to the leg, but my cyber-core managed to shoot it off in time, so I took the bastard down. Let¡¯s take a look! Max, come here.¡± Maksim slung the shotgun behind his back, pulled out the scanner, and stepped up. He hesitated for a second, unsure whether to shake the gangster¡¯s hand, but refrained. Miro didn¡¯t extend his hand first, so ¡°gangster etiquette¡± apparently didn¡¯t require it in this situation. The guy settled for a respectful nod and received one in return. Lifting the tarp, they saw Tomasz¡¯ mangled left cyber leg and the remains of his right thigh, frozen with a cryo container. Given Max¡¯s practical experience in field medicine, he wasn¡¯t horrified by such injuries. He just calmly activated the device and began scanning. ¡°Our chief doctor downstairs in the operating room will get the data,¡± Redhead announced, looking at the scanner¡¯s screen, ¡°and we''ll decide what can be done. Give us a moment to consult.¡± Processing the received data at the control post didn¡¯t take Alisa long. Maksim and Nika stepped a few paces away and had a quick consultation. In the end, the android summarized:Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! [The easiest and fastest solution is to reconstruct the pelvic bones, which is doable. The main arteries are fine, but new ports need to be installed, along with everything else. Both cyber legs obviously need replacing. We have a set similar to Nika¡¯s, though slightly inferior. But they can be adjusted to his height. That¡¯s my treatment plan suggestion.] [Sounds good,] Nika agreed. [Those legs of the fifth series that I found?] [Yes. Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have anything better.] [It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll try to negotiate the price.] They returned to Miro, who had already replaced the tarp and was watching the discussion with a deceptively relaxed gaze. ¡°Our doctor will take on the job. But the only hardware we have are fifth-generation ¡®Vipers,¡¯ combat-grade, with good jump capabilities and top-tier power buses. Or do you have your own replacements? Our other leg hardware is all civilian-grade.¡± Miro met Tomasz¡¯ eyes for a couple of seconds. ¡°We have our own gear, plenty of it. But there¡¯s no way we can get to it now! It¡¯s only three kilometers from here to our base... but the Protectorate¡¯s checkpoint is right over it. So, we¡¯ll go with the Vipers. What¡¯s the timeframe? Will he need to stay with you, or can he walk out on his own?¡± ¡°Six hours for the whole job and six hours for initial rehab after. He¡¯ll rest in our ward, and we¡¯ll keep an eye on him to make sure everything¡¯s good. But I¡¯m afraid Tomasz won¡¯t be able to walk right away,¡± Redhead replied, glancing at Alisa¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Moreover, after the operation, he should stay in bed for five days with a regen belt. We¡¯ll provide the supplies. But once we¡¯re done, he¡¯ll be conscious and able to move around in a wheelchair.¡± ¡°Fine. Would you stream the operation?¡± ¡°Sure, no problem,¡± Nika agreed. ¡°By the way, you mentioned two fighters needing fixing?¡± ¡°Yeah, but let¡¯s do the first one and see the result. If everything¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll bring the second. His case is complex but not critical. And just so you know, he¡¯s my nephew! If anything goes wrong with him, I¡¯ll never hear the end of it from my sister.¡± He smiled and blew out a cloud of black smoke. ¡°Shall we talk numbers?¡± ¡°Of course. Remember, we agreed on the pre-war exchange rate in eddies. So, it will cost... this much!¡± After these words, Redhead smiled broadly and showed the communicator screen with the amount displayed on it. The gesture was quite theatrical, like haggling at a bazaar in Istanbul. Miro appreciated it, but when he saw the number, he whistled and burst into laughter. ¡°You''ve got to be kidding me! Seriously?! Even considering wartime, urgency, and everything else, the figure should be a third of this. And if we take into account ¡®friend discounts¡¯ and that you don¡¯t seem to have a queue...¡± With that, he inserted a decimal point before the last digit in the written number. ¡°Alright, alright, truth emerges in argument. We just need a lot of stuff and weapons, so I risked setting the bar high,¡± Nika smiled, adjusting the number. ¡°Dobrze, a third of the original will be fair.¡± ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± Miro nodded. ¡°So, we agree on the price?¡± ¡°Deal! Though I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t have enough for everything we want. Alright, Max, let¡¯s get the guy downstairs.¡± ¡°If everything goes well, I¡¯ll personally add a quarter more to that figure,¡± Miro patted Tomasz on the shoulder and nodded. ¡°Plus my nephew, which won¡¯t be any less. If the money isn¡¯t enough, and I know your appetites, Foxie, will you take care of my guys¡¯ maintenance? A third of my fighters are cyborgs. I think we can agree on everything you need. So?¡± ¡°Super. Let¡¯s quickly go over my list, then?¡± Maksim guided the platform into the clinic and went downstairs. Dasha prudently decided not to show up. Alisa also received the patient remotely as soon as medical robot placed the guy in the operating room. When Max stepped out of the clinic again, Nika was coughing from the black smoke, holding a cigarette just like Miro¡¯s. ¡°Yeah, kurwa, this stuff¡¯s fucking strong!¡± ¡°Yep, this herb grows only in the mountains, where my mom used to plant it. Pure genetic line from the 1990s, can you believe it? A rarity, especially nowadays. But back to your list. Assault trooper, main weapon ¨C ZX-79 automatic rifle and a Hyperion grenade launcher. Sniper with a Lynx X12. Field medic with the appropriate gear, doubling as a support fighter equipped with a TX-10 SMG. And you, with a heavy HX-90 rifle. Plus armor and helmets for each role, plus ammunition, plus grenades. Did I miss anything?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right,¡± Redhead nodded, taking another drag from the gangster¡¯s cigarette. ¡°No, Nikola, we need an arsenal not just for defense, but also for assault and reconnaissance.¡± Maksim decisively intervened in the negotiations. ¡°So, not just helmets, but tactical systems, plus tech kits or ready drones, primarily scout ones, smart grenades and mines, laser-guided missiles, and similar stuff!¡± ¡°Alright, guys,¡± Miro looked at them intently, ¡°clarify for me who¡¯s in charge here, who am I negotiating with? I don¡¯t want to be in an awkward position!¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re kind of... a democracy,¡± Nika replied uncertainly. ¡°Basically, all decisions in our team are made collectively. So, now Max is fully involved in the negotiations.¡± ¡°Oh, as Pythagoras once said, ¡®there are three real threats to humanity: materialism of scientists, ignorance of priests, and the chaos of democracy¡¯,¡± Miro said, looking meaningfully upwards. ¡°Hmm, first time I¡¯ve met a gangster quoting ancient Greek philosophers!¡± Maksim was obviously surprised. ¡°Nikola, doesn¡¯t your friend know who I am, you didn¡¯t tell him?¡± ¡°When was that, Miro? I only just recognized you when we met in person! You didn''t have that tan or that hair the last time we saw each other!¡± ¡°Hah! Then let me introduce myself! About ten years ago, I would have signed off as ¡®Professor Miroslav Goric, Department of Anthropology, New Sorbonne University¡¯.¡± Miro struck a pompous pose, savoring the effect. ¡°Really? So, you¡¯re the ¡®Bloody Professor¡¯?¡± Maksim finally realized who this strange person reminded him of. ¡°Yep! Once just a professor, laureate, and many other things. Then the ¡®Bloody Professor,¡¯ who escaped a Russian concentration camp with Drago¡¯s thugs and left a trail of bodies along the way. And now, simply Miro! Miro, whose presence makes everyone stand up!¡± ¡°Well, then it¡¯s my turn to introduce myself!¡± the guy matched a few things in his memory and adjusted an imaginary tie. ¡°Maksim Chernykh, at your service.¡± Now it was Miro¡¯s turn to be surprised. He froze, staring intently at Max¡¯s face. Finally, the seasoned gangster and former professor¡¯s face broke into a smile. ¡°Seriously? His son? I was wondering who this guy reminded me of! Of course, Sergey Chernykh! Spitting image! I was on the academic council when he demolished the Japanese with their concept of the personality matrix. I had great respect for your father... My condolences. And it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you!¡± With these words, Miro extended his hand to Maksim. ¡°Sergey had a daughter too, didn¡¯t he? How did you manage to get out?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a long story. Another time, perhaps?¡± Max waved his hand. ¡°But briefly, we made it out with the last medical convoy of M¨¦decins Sans Fronti¨¨res. In cryo.¡± ¡°Alive? You guys sure can take risks! I respect that!¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve heard about your escapades too!¡± ¡°True enough,¡± Miroslav laughed, ¡°I did get myself into quite a situation! I accepted an invitation from the Russians to teach at the Higher Party Institute, a course for the children of officials and the military-police elite. They were strange; wanted to educate their children, hand over the country to them, and invited the best professors from around the world, but continued to harshly censor education. Thus, turning potential shepherds into the same sheep!¡± With that, Miro kicked a crumpled can with force and cursed in Serbian. ¡°So, what happened that you ended up in a concentration camp?¡± Redhead interjected. ¡°I hadn¡¯t heard about these adventures!¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s pretty simple! My lectures provided an objective assessment of societal developments, which didn''t always align with ideological dogma. When one of the generals¡¯ sons ¡ª a bright kid, by the way ¡ª started arguing with his father about methods of governance after my lectures, they went ballistic. Security service, secret police, interrogations. They pinned ¡®subversive activities against the state,¡¯ ¡®discrediting the army,¡¯ and even ¡®foreign agent¡¯ on me, despite my Serbian passport, by the way.¡± ¡°And that was it, no status could help me. Off to a camp on the Kola Peninsula, where they mine nickel. But as I said, censorship in education severely lowered the level of the Russian Empire ¡ª even among the camp builders. Who else would come up with the idea to build a concentration camp for spies, terrorists, and other ¡®enemies of the people¡¯ twenty kilometers from the Norwegian border? Only someone with an alternative intelligence ¨C let''s be honest, a complete idiot.¡± ¡°So, you met Drago¡¯s people there?¡± Redhead continued her relentless questioning. ¡°Yep, our shared Balkan heritage made it easy to find common ground. And my knowledge helped plan a successful escape.¡± ¡°By the way, Mr. Goric, there were rumors you cut off your right hand to remove the tracking bracelet?¡± Max examined Miro¡¯s fingers, which were no longer on the weapon but deftly rolling another cigarette made of his ¡°herbarium.¡± ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon, just be informal like your red-haired friend,¡± Miro waved his hand. ¡°And really, that¡¯s from the realm of legends and myths! See, everything¡¯s intact, no scars even in that place. And they probably also said I ripped out a guard¡¯s liver, grilled it, and ate it! Ha-ha! In short, it¡¯s been ten years, and I¡¯m a different person now. Drago himself gave me the ¡®Balkan Serpent,¡¯ and I¡¯ve never regretted changing paths. Here, I don¡¯t have to lie, don¡¯t have to conform, and I¡¯m at peace with myself. Sometimes our ¡®cave laws¡¯ are better than the ones written on paper and voted on in parliaments. They¡¯re simpler and more honest.¡± With these words, Miroslav rolled up his sleeve, revealing a tattoo ¡ª a globe entwined by a snake, the ¡°Balkan Serpent.¡± ¡°So, let¡¯s get going; I need to head back to base. Still have a lot to do. I invite you tomorrow at ten-thirty. Pick up the arsenal, and we¡¯ll chat later; I have some ideas. Fox has the contact details and address on her communicator.¡± Chapter 51 - The Bonds We Forge City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 13, 2049, 12:56 AM Glancing at the mediaglyph displaying the date and time, Maksim noted sadly that it was almost 1 AM. Miro had already disappeared into the depths of the Factory three minutes ago, while Nikola was still frozen, lost in virtual reality with a thoughtful expression. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s caught a bit of Dasha¡¯s bug,¡± Maksim smirked to himself. ¡°Here she is, rushing headlong into picking up weapons and other toys we can trade with the local mafia. On one hand, it¡¯s good to be surrounded by hard workers. On the other, it¡¯s possible to break down like this. Better relieve stress sometimes, or it might end badly.¡± He walked over and patted his friend on the shoulder. ¡°Hey, Redhead, wake up! You¡¯re gonna miss the drinks!¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± the girl snapped out of it and stared at him in surprise. ¡°What drinks?¡± ¡°The usual kind. Come on, I¡¯ll show you.¡± Saying that, Maksim headed back to the ¡°Lizard¡¯s Tail,¡± already knowing what he would find in the hall. Sure enough, there was steam ¡ª lots of steam, like something out of a William Turner painting. ¡°At least it is white,¡± Maksim thought. ¡°Now we really need to stop this workaholic spree! After an objectively hard day, the girls should rest. Even if they don¡¯t realize how much they need it.¡± The thing was, while the negotiators were discussing weapons with Miro, Alisa had left to treat Tomasz. Vasilevskaya, on the other hand, had thrown herself into work, forgetting about food, beer, and rest. And she had grabbed her vape automatically, clearly without even leaving VR. # Project SYSTEM v. 0.0.1 # Preparation of primary architecture... 100% # Initial compilation¡­ [Enough work, you, WonderWorker!] ¡°Maxie!¡± The girl instantly closed all programs and dropped out of VR. ¡°So, ladies, even though we¡¯re a democracy,¡± Maksim stated, noticing Redhead¡¯s smirk at these words, ¡°I¡¯ve tyrannically decided that we¡¯re done with labor for today. Besides, we¡¯ve agreed on the barter with Miro, and the weapons we¡¯ll get at nine tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡­ uh¡­ I mean, yeah, sure,¡± Dasha mumbled, saving her project, and shutting down the virtual workspace. ¡°You know, Max, I¡¯ve sketched out the basics of the future System. Kind of laid the foundation¡­ But it¡¯s just a tiny weeny piece of what¡¯s needed! There¡¯s a ton of things to hatch! I¡¯ll keep developing it alongside upgrading Moira. But I¡¯ve turned everything off now! Completely, just like you said! See?¡± ¡°Great, that just what I wanted to hear. Anyway, let¡¯s take a break. We¡¯ve still got some beer left, yeah?¡± At these words, Dasha suddenly yelped, jumped up, and ran towards the kitchen. ¡°What¡¯s up with her?¡± ¡°Dunno¡­¡± Redhead mused. ¡°Maybe she wants to show off some super-finding of her?¡± And at that moment, the disheveled black-haired girl returned, proudly carrying a bottle with a golden liquid and a slightly frightening ¡°inhabitant¡± inside. ¡°Max, look¡­ it¡¯s boiled shaiszu! Yeah!¡± The discovery certainly made an impression, but... the relaxing had to be postponed. Just as Nika was about to open the precious brew, Dasha grabbed Maksim¡¯s sleeve with another ¡°revelation.¡± ¡°And by the way, while you were in negotiations, I poked around the clinic¡¯s internal net. And I found... Oh! You¡¯re totally gonna love this, I promise. Let me show you, and then we can celebrate!¡± The disheveled girl caught her breath and continued; her eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°Well, here¡¯s the thing. I was wondering, looking through Doc¡¯s database records, why there were some really peculiar chemicals on his procurement list ¡ª but we couldn¡¯t find them in the storage.¡± ¡°He must have hauled them away, huh?¡± Nika shrugged. ¡°Why leave behind something so valuable?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, right. Stimulants, depressants, opiates, hallucinogens, and other dissociatives! And some more interesting substances that wouldn¡¯t pass any police inspection. Why would he even buy them at all? They¡¯re not needed in a regular cyber clinic, yeah!¡± Dasha grinned triumphantly and announced, ¡°It means, we didn¡¯t find these goodies because we weren¡¯t looking hard enough. But it¡¯s difficult to hide all the info traces. Thus, I scanned the premises and found¡­¡± So, Dasha did manage to uncover Zelman¡¯s hidden chemical laboratory. Yes, such a facility was really located in the clinic. It wasn¡¯t marked on the layout, and the entrance was perfectly hidden. Vasilevskaya had well-founded hopes of finding a good production setup or at least a storage area ¡ª and she was actually right! Most of the cabinets were empty, just as the small room for finished products. But still, there were a significant number of supplies left, and even a decent biochemical reactor with a bunch of associated equipment. The large stand by the table with plenty of cables revealed that a rather powerful AI, probably a T6+ or higher, had once serviced this assembly line. Unfortunately, it had been taken away. However, this didn¡¯t stop Dasha from figuring out what had been going on here: ¡°Check it out, our old Zelman wasn¡¯t just a cyber-surgeon! Well, not only that! You see¡­ he was even cooking ¡®Black Synth¡¯ here, and he even managed to achieve a 63% concentration. Can you believe that?¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Even Maksim, who was far from the chemical ¡®wonders,¡¯ understood how complex the production process must have been... and how illegal this activity was. ¡°That¡¯s serious contraband! So, the clinic was just a front for him? Redhead, is this a surprise for you?¡± ¡°Totally,¡± Nikola nodded, still in shock. ¡°I had no idea.¡± "Hey, WonderWhiz, can we use this setup to make some stimulants for us?" the guy pointed to a pile of equipment in the center of the room. "It¡¯s past one in the morning, we¡¯ll be getting up early, and better be at full strength. Any ideas?" Vasilevskaya only nodded, raising her right hand, and gesturing for them to wait a moment. ¡°I think... yeah, we can,¡± she replied after checking Moira¡¯s library in AR for suitable recipes. ¡°Lucky, I have just the right blueprints. You know, I¡¯m not an expert in production, can only work with pre-set programs. So, help me bring one of our ProjectBox units here, we¡¯ll connect it to the local network, and everything will be brewed up in a couple of hours!¡±
By the time Dasha finished setting up the chemical reactor and returned to the main hall with Maksim, Nika had already compiled a list of weapons and equipment. Now the girl was fully engaged in making paella. Anticipating the ¡°party¡± she had been tempting Dasha with a couple of hours ago, Redhead was softly humming a cheerful and clearly naughty Polish song, with a satisfied look on her face as she worked at the stove. ¡°I see we¡¯re almost ready to celebrate?¡± Maksim smiled, observing this scene ¡ª so cozy, as if their familiar and usual world hadn¡¯t just been turned upside down today. ¡°Well, yeah! In the end, everything turned out pretty well,¡± Nika replied reasonably, stirring the contents of the pan to prevent burning.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Hmm. Yeah. We haven¡¯t been killed¡­ yet¡­¡± Dasha began ticking off points on her fingers with her usual optimism. ¡°We haven¡¯t been caught by those control-freak aliens¡­ We¡¯re pretty settled in here, mostly healthy, Alisa¡¯s with us¡­ By the way, what¡¯s with the caveman cooking? We could just throw everything in the microwave and have hot, edible food¡­¡± Nika stared at her in sacred horror. ¡°We¡¯re preparing a feast! A celebration with pleasant company and delicious food! Not some reheated substance that contains the necessary quantities of proteins, fats, and ¨C mostly ¨C carbohydrates!¡± ¡°Well, I completely agree. Ladies, celebration is exactly what we need! And yeah, we do have a decent reason,¡± Max chuckled and settled on the couch. ¡°Being on our feet is way better than in a wheelchair. Let¡¯s take the night off and enjoy some real tasty food cooked in a skillet. I think we¡¯ve all earned it.¡± ¡°I also like the idea.¡± Alisa appeared in the doorway. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t worry about our guest. He¡¯s under anesthesia, Mei Li and I have developed a detailed treatment plan. She¡¯ll manage just fine. Alcohol and food might not be my thing, but good company is very welcome!¡± Nika finally finished cooking and began serving the food with the air of a seasoned homemaker. Alisa eagerly joined in setting the table ¡ª arranging glasses, cutlery, and drinks. These light and effortless tasks helped her get into the ¡°party spirit¡± and feel like a full participant in the celebration. Eventually, the team members settled around the table. The anticipation of something pleasant and ¡°real,¡± something that had been missing from each of their lives for a long time, even before the invasion, filled the room. Even the android placed an empty cup in front of her to nominally participate in the ¡°party.¡± ¡°Cheers!¡± ¡°To us!¡± They clinked their glasses symbolically. What followed was the long-awaited leisure-time. There were no loud music or dancing. Just a pleasant, relaxing warmth from the food, alcohol spreading through their veins ¡ª and long conversation. They talked about everything and nothing. Dreams, hopes, past hardships and fears, childhood memories. There were only no monsters or invaders mentioned, those they would soon face in earnest... ¡°Why is he so hella stubborn? Dad just coulda finally get it through his head that I¡¯mma adult now! Who says that managing the development of high-level AI isn¡¯t the same as managing your own life, huh? Huh?¡± Dasha frowned fiercely and banged her fist on the table. Max, watching this, thought that, combined with her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, it looked terrifyingly¡­ funny. The Spanish cuisine was a hit that evening! The remains of the paella were quickly finished off, and they begged Nika to cook another batch. Everyone, now including Dasha, were noisily praising her culinary talent ¡ª who else could reheat a ready-made dish on the stove so magnificently? After several cans of beer, it was time for the main event ¡ª mescal! Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t any lemons. Thus, they had to drink it the ¡°second way,¡± like a liqueur ¡ª in small sips, savoring and slowly enjoying the flavor. After a while, Redhead, having poured herself another drink, suddenly stood up and raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve got a toast. Sorta... I know, today has been a nightmare for most Earthlings. Many have already died. And multiple others will soon join them. I might seem crazy or strange¡­ But I don¡¯t give a shit about strangers being eaten by some ¡®giant shrimps.¡¯ Maybe it¡¯s harsh, but that¡¯s natural selection in action. Those who avoid haphazard, absurd deaths can choose how to act and respond to the invasion! They can resist, run away if they have the brains¡­ find shelter¡­ Or at least accept the Protectorate if they can¡¯t protect themselves¡­ It¡¯s all their choice and the result of the life path they¡¯ve taken so far. And, anyway, these are just some random guys for me. Crying for each one ¡ª I don¡¯t have enough tears!¡± She swayed and gestured dramatically, somehow managing not to spill her mescal. Then she nodded to herself and continued: ¡°But what really ails me, what pisses me off, is how the fucking Protectorate tried to deal with me, and with you! I lost control of the situation at that moment. That¡¯s the scariest thing. I goddamn hate it when I can¡¯t do anything!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been through a hell of lotta shit in my life, not related to any cosmic space-bugs, and I¡¯ve always had to rely only on myself!¡± Nikola inhaled sharply, shook her head, and carefully switched the glass to her other hand. ¡°Slowly wasting away, locked in a stifling room, and led to a painful death by my biological parents ¡ª cult members¡­ Then there was the ¡®rescue,¡¯ if you can call it that¡­ and a hellish stage of adjusting to new limbs¡­ Later, I was betrayed by the person who supported and helped me, who became closer than my own father¡­ The one who was there during the scariest time when I was in court with my ex-parents, passing out from pain because of newly installed implants, the different ones, the combat series¡­¡± ¡°There was a bunch of¡­ different stuff! It¡¯d take forever to list. And today¡­ I lost my only friend. The one I could truly rely on in the shittiest situations. It¡¯s darn upsetting! Infuriating! And I don¡¯t care that he was just an AI of not the highest level! To me, he was like a brother!¡± Nika clenched her fist, and the poor glass shattered into tiny pieces. She looked at her hand in surprise, clearly not expecting that to happen. ¡°Uh¡­ sorry¡­ Gotta carried away a bit¡­ I guess.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Maksim assured quietly. ¡°Looks like you needed to get that off your chest. Everyone understands.¡± Dasha and Alisa nodded almost in unison. Actually, the android then cast her eyes to the side with a strange expression on her face, while the disheveled black-haired girl leaned forward expectantly, staring at Nikola, waiting for more. Redhead quickly brushed the glass shards off the table, sweeping them coyly under her chair with her foot. Fortunately, there were enough napkins to wipe the remnants of mescal off her cyber-hand. As for the cup, she would have had to go to the kitchen, so she settled for the plastic one that Maksim thoughtfully handed her. ¡°You know¡­ Despite all this, strangely enough, this terrible day has been a gift for me. Because I found you guys. I used to get by and survive by myself, and eventually, always ended up alone. It seemed like I¡¯d never be able to open up to anyone.¡± ¡°But now¡­ It¡¯s strange¡­ We¡¯ve only known each other for a day. Yet, apparently, I have more in common with you than with those I¡¯ve known for years. And I¡¯m ready to move forward¡­ whatever may come! So, let¡¯s drink to our future!¡± Nika looked at her quiet friends and smiled. But not her usual broad smile¡­ It was as if she was removing the armor and revealing her soul ¡ª shy and a bit naive¡­ ¡°Erm, okay, enough with the heavy stuff, let¡¯s drink,¡± she suddenly returned to her usual businesslike self, waving her cup for emphasis. Maksim shook his head to clear his own thoughts and raised his glass: ¡°That¡¯s right, exactly. It¡¯s been a tough day for all of us. But we survived, and that¡¯s what matters. Here in the clinic, it¡¯s relatively safe. We have a chance to catch our breath and figure out what to do next. So tonight, we can relax. Let¡¯s drink to us. Cheers!¡± After Nika¡¯s unexpected revelation, the spontaneous party gradually returned to its normal rhythm. As everyone finally settled into a relaxed, semi-somnolent state, Alisa ¡°caught the atmosphere¡± and went off to rest. To Nika¡¯s surprise, the android girl occasionally ¡°slept¡± much like a regular human. Her code emulated a dream state for her consciousness while her ¡°subconscious¡± ¡ª Moira ¡ª processed information. Shortly after, Maksim stood up. ¡°Gonna get some fresh air,¡± he announced and walked down the hallway in an ambling gait. Returning a few minutes later, he was greeted by an adorably sweet scene ¡ª Dasha, sitting right on Nikola¡¯s lap, hugging her neck tenderly, and resting her head on Red¡¯s chest. WonderKid was peacefully snoozing, as if this was the most suitable place for her to be. Seemingly, it was absolutely natural for all girls her age to prefer sleeping while hugging a red-haired, busty cyborg like a favorite soft teddy bear. ¡°She wanted to do some ¡®cuddling¡¯,¡± Nikola explained with a smile. ¡°But fell asleep in the process. Look how cute she is.¡± ¡°That cutie drooled all over your shirt,¡± Max pointed out, sitting down next to her, and taking an empty glass. ¡°Eh... who cares!¡± Redhead just waved it off. ¡°I was planning to take a shower before going to bed anyway.¡± She gently squeezed the sleeping girl, who mumbled something but didn¡¯t wake up. ¡°You¡¯ve got some... bi tendencies. Need me to hand you a drink?¡± Maksim leaned forward. ¡°I never really hid it. Imma told you before, right? And yes, give me that glass ¡ª so I can keep cuddling a cutie without getting up! You¡¯re a good guy¡­¡± ¡°I propose one more toast,¡± Maksim poured the remaining mescal. ¡°Let¡¯s drink to the fact that this crazy day is finally over! Shoulda stick together because the world has gone completely insane.¡± They clinked their glasses softly. ¡°Yeah...¡± Nika took a sip and grimaced. ¡°After all, this stuff is too strong for me neat.¡± ¡°I could add some tonic.¡± ¡°Hmm... doesn¡¯t matter...¡± She leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes and continuing to stroke Dasha¡¯s head. ¡°Max?¡± ¡°What?¡± he responded. ¡°I¡¯m glad... I met you guys.¡± Maksim stood and approached the couch: ¡°I¡¯m glad too, Nika. I really am¡­¡± he said, looking at the ¡®sweet pair¡¯ and smiling. He took the empty glass from Redhead. ¡°You¡¯re not planning to fall asleep here, are you?¡± ¡°No,¡± she opened her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m a night owl anyway.¡± ¡°Help me carry WonderKid to her room. She¡¯s not heavy, but it¡¯s still not good for me to lift weights after surgery ¡ª even such light and pleasant ones.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Nika jumped up, holding Dasha in her arms easily and gently. She felt like carrying a huge fluffy purple cotton candy, which her rehab instructor had once brought as a gift after her first real fight. ¡°Wow! Those ¡®boiled shaiszu¡¯ are sneaky things.¡± ¡°Feeling it?¡± ¡°Yeah, a bit dizzy. Where should I put her?¡± ¡°I ended up in the first room, so... let¡¯s bring her to the second.¡± They walked down the corridor to the right door. Max opened it, and they laid Dasha on the bed. The girl turned onto her side and curled up, tucking her legs under. Nikola admired the scene ¡ª the oversized T-shirt had ridden up again. Unable to resist, Red gently slapped the small butt. ¡°Meownyamur¡­¡± Dasha mumbled sleepily, hugging the pillow closer. ¡°Well, that¡¯s no fun,¡± Nika muttered, disappointed. ¡°She doesn¡¯t wake up.¡± ¡°And she doesn¡¯t need to,¡± Max threw a light blanket, which Redhead caught and used to cover the girl. They turned off the light and left the room. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°We clean up the remnants of the party, and then I¡¯m going to shower,¡± Maksim shrugged. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go after you,¡± Nika smiled silently at her own thoughts. ¡°And next ¨C another can of beer!¡± Chapter 52 - Interlinked City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 13, 2049, 2:29 AM Having changed already into just his long shorts, Max had been lying on the bed for about fifteen minutes, struggling with the Factory local network on his tablet ¨C thanks to the necessary invites Nikola had shared. Truth be told, he had trouble concentrating, and it wasn¡¯t even the nerves, or the accumulated stress after all this terrible day. Actually, his back was itching like crazy post-surgery, somewhere under his skin, so that he couldn¡¯t reach it even if his life depended on this. However, he had forgotten about urging to scratch himself for the last three minutes ¨C because a very intriguing group of people was found on a forum; they called themselves the ¡°Linkers.¡± The most interesting thing was the service offered by these guys. It was no less than connecting to the TACTA network in a secure mode, allowing safety even in the Protectorate-occupied city without being detected. Such an opportunity obviously provided huge advantages in the current situation. More than that, communication was an essential condition for any team¡¯s survival. How they managed it, Maksim now understood after Alisa¡¯s explanations. These crafty guys somehow summoned the TACTA Drone in the chaos of the first day, bought a professional switchboard, and a whole bunch of connection modules to go with it. After that, it was a simple matter. They could put up an announcement and reap the rewards from those desperate for reliable communication. It was clear that now, after the curfew had begun, the chances of surviving a Drone call were slim. However, everyone still needed to stay connected. However, after thinking it through, Max concluded that the Linkers didn¡¯t put up that announcement out of the goodness of their hearts, nor because they had initially planned to become some sort of post-apocalyptic extranet provider. ¡°It makes perfect sense! It¡¯s said that they¡¯re willing to accept payment in any currency, be it TACTA grants or Protectorate sols. But obviously, no one would sell sols here, and grants can only be obtained by summoning a Drone. So, anyone who decides to take that deadly risk of making the call, if they¡¯re not an idiot, would first ensure their communication needs are met. Yeah, what these ¡®merchants¡¯ require is not money ¨C it¡¯s a service. It¡¯s no coincidence their ad mentions ¡®barter possible.¡¯ They probably want to leave Kyiv as soon as possible,¡± Maksim had no doubt that the Linkers knew about the outside situation and could draw conclusions. And that meant he would have some negotiations to hold in the morning. Alisa¡¯s plan to leave the city right after summoning the Drone was entirely feasible; the only weak link was maintaining a connection with the TA§³TA network before the Drone arrived to actually place the order. If they could manage this without using standard cellular networks, it would significantly reduce the risk of the Protectorate responding in advance. Unfortunately, Max couldn¡¯t find out more details. The Linkers¡¯ announcement stated that after midnight, only a bot would respond to messages. He sent a request for a meeting early in the morning and finally got ready for bed, putting away his tablet... [NOTIFICATION: SEXUAL CONTENT] [YOU CAN SKIP THE SCENE BY SIMPLY GOING TO THE NEXT CHAPTER.] Suddenly, the door slid aside ¡ª and a vision appeared on the threshold. Green mischievous eyes. A sly smirk on her lips. A mane of red hair that after a shower, clearly with the help of a hairdryer, had turned into a bright cloud of curls. And the final blow ¨C she was only wearing a towel. Max had a fleeting thought that this beauty, backlit by the corridor lights, looked just like a torch ¡ª exactly as glowing and... hot. ¡°Are bored girls allowed here?¡± Nikola casually adjusted the white knot on her chest, which threatened to unravel at any moment, and lounged against the door frame, remaining at the entrance. ¡°They are rather needed here, I¡¯d say,¡± the guy quickly sat up and made a welcoming gesture with his hand. Thoughts of his itching back vanished without a trace. With the grace of a cat ¡ª or was it a fox? ¡ª Redhead slid into the room. The terry cloth shifted slightly, surely ¡°only by chance¡± revealing a glimpse of her pubis with a narrow strip of neatly shaved hair. The door closed behind her with a soft hiss, cutting them off from the outside world. She paused for a moment, giving the guy a quick, meaningful squint, with green devilish sparks dancing in her eyes. Then, both simultaneously opened their interfaces and hurriedly pressed ¡°disable video feed,¡± ¡°mute sound,¡± and ¡°status: do not disturb.¡± ¡°Seems, we are busted now,¡± Redhead smiled. ¡°WonderKid¡¯s asleep, and Alisa, as always, had already figured it out,¡± Max waved dismissively. ¡°Alright then,¡± Nika laughed, slowly approaching the bed. ¡°By the way, mister, you owe me a date! With a romantic walk, good food, and¡­ wild sex!¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°No problem, Sunshine,¡± the guy raised his hand and started ticking off fingers. ¡°We¡¯ve already had the walk, even a ride, consider it a tour. How¡¯d you like the sightseeing of a freshly conquered Protectorate city?¡± ¡°It sucked.¡± ¡°But the thrill and even deadly risk was included in the price. So, it counts. Next: good food ¡ª we had that.¡± ¡°That was frozen paella! And I cooked it myself!¡± ¡°You¡¯d better not say it wasn¡¯t tasty!¡± ¡°Well¡­ it was,¡± Nika smiled coquettishly. ¡°But I hope the third promised part will be even better.¡± Instead of saying something, Max approached her and gave a kiss, embracing this little minx. Red closed her eyes and reacted with so much passion, that a gentle contact of the lips deepened quickly, turning into a foreplay of their tongues¡¯ tips. The guy raised his hand, running it through the slightly wet red curls, burrowing his fingers in the silky mane, holding and lightly massaging Nikola¡¯s head. Her breathing became deeper and less steady, a shiver rushed through her whole body. She tried to break away for a second with a husky whisper, ¡°Ah, at this rate, the third part will be good¡­¡±, but the young man didn¡¯t let her finish, capturing her lips again. Nikola¡¯s thoughts were dissolving in the growing sensations, and finally, her mind became completely empty. The bonfire below her belly was growing stronger and more persistent by the second, and the heat was rising higher and higher, affecting every cell in her body. The tension of the day melted away, replaced by the electric thrill. As they were fervently French kissing, Maksim¡¯s hand went down, caressing her back with the tips of his fingers. ¡°Just¡­ ahh¡­ don¡¯t scratch me, please¡­ I got¡­ new skin¡­ printed down there,¡± she managed to breathe out without opening her eyes. ¡°Shh, Sunshine¡­ I¡¯ll be gentle,¡± Max whispered in her ear, not forgetting to mark it with a little peck and bit the earlobe slightly, next returning to her lips. When his palm had finally reached her buttocks, Red got startled and froze for a second. ¡°Further¡­¡± Silently, Maksim turned Nika around and firmly pressed her back against him. And here the girl realized that she lost the first round; only drowning in the sweet sensations was left for her while the guy¡¯s lips slowly caressed her neck. His left hand squeezed her breast lightly through the thick terrycloth, while his right hand was already sneakily reaching her pubis. The towel, which was only staying on the girl by some miracle, could not prevent this ¡°intrusion.¡± It¡¯s hard to say whether it was Max¡¯s skillful touch, or maybe Nikola¡¯s cumulated anticipation¡­ It could pretty much be the stress of the day, or presumably all of it combined together¡­ But after five minutes of active fondling and teasing her, Nika abruptly arched her back, moaning loudly and then biting her lower lip, tightly clutching her arms at the guy¡¯s head. Max¡¯s fingers were already wet, so he responded to the moans by lifting his palm a little higher and gently squeezing her clitoris with his fingers. It took only a few motions, after which Nika squeezed her legs, finally savoring her orgasm. She quivered a few times, and drops of sweat broke out on her temples. He gave the girl time to recover, just standing and snuggling quietly against her back. But it wasn¡¯t only his torso that she was feeling now. Through the fabric, Redhead noted another important member of today¡¯s meeting, which was asking ¨C no, demanding ¨C some continuation. Smirking slyly, she turned around and invitingly traced her fingers on the part of his body obscured by shorts. ¡°Sunshine, we can¡¯t.¡± He gave a sad sigh. ¡°You¡¯re awesome, and I really want you. But you¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s had a surgery today. Doctor Alisa suspended me from any strong physical activity for a week, I quote, ¡®including sex¡¯.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm¡­ But I really want to¡­¡± ¡°We still can¡¯t.¡± A short push with her hands made Max to step back. Another one sent him on the bed. And here was the redheaded vixen, already on the floor, slightly spreading his legs. Damn! It was a hit below the belt! The towel, as if by itself, suddenly slipped to the floor, and Max just couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the naked charmer provocatively leaning over with all her body. She gazed up into his eyes deviously with a look of strong anticipation. ¡°Did you hear that if you can¡¯t do something but really want to, then you can, you¡¯ll only need to be cautious?¡± Nika slightly touched his stomach with her fingertips. The plastic of the cybernetic hands felt excitingly cool against his heated body. ¡°By the way, Max, you know what?¡± Red licked her lips enticingly. ¡°There¡¯s some wonderful way that doesn¡¯t require the man to do much work. Catch my drift? Anyway, it¡¯s my turn now.¡± A few quick movements, and the guy was already shortless, with his fingers touching her head. He didn¡¯t intend to give up that easily¡­ But¡­ Not this time. After all, Nika also had some skills at her disposal. Outside, the world continued to change at a furious pace, but for now, in this room, nothing else mattered but the connection they were forging, the desire for more moments like this to come.
¡°Hmm¡­¡± Red swallowed again. ¡°That¡¯s much¡­¡± She playfully collected the rest of the semen that got on her chin and licked it off her finger. ¡°Been a while since you¡¯ve slept with a girl?¡± Max hugged her and buried his hands in her red mane. For the umpteenth time this night¡­ ¡°To be honest, yeah, long enough. About half a year, I guess,¡± he replied, leaning back to make space. Nika climbed onto the bed, wrapping an arm around his chest. ¡°That¡¯s strange¡­ I mean, you¡¯re a great guy. How come?¡± she traced invisible patterns on his torso with her finger. ¡°I don¡¯t know. After Alba, I never really had any lasting relationships. Just one-night stands. Nothing serious. And even that wasn¡¯t often... The main thing was... one mission. More important than relationships or sex.¡± ¡°Alisa?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Max replied simply. ¡°You¡¯re strong¡­ I think I like that about you¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ They were almost drifting off when the restless Redhead nudged Max with her elbow. ¡°And what about Dasha? You two really aren¡¯t sleeping together? I mean¡­ she¡¯s pretty cool. I¡¯d do her!¡± ¡°Vasilevskaya? Yeah, she¡¯s wonderful, that¡¯s true. Back when we first met, I thought there was some spark between us. Some special chemistry... you know.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°But she wanted to remain just friends. I think Dasha sees me as a sort of older brother. That¡¯s why she huffs when seeing me with other girls.¡± ¡°Should we not tell her yet?¡± ¡°So, we¡¯re already a couple then?¡± Max raised his head a little, looking intently at Nika. ¡°Well, so long as we¡¯re both enjoying it¡­ And you weren¡¯t exactly taken, were you? Besides, mine. Want. Purr-r-r-r-r...¡± Her cybernetic yet so alive fingers gently brushed his cheek. Maksim simply turned his head and kissed her.
¡°Shall we sleep?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± His fingers buried in the fire-red curls. Once again. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m becoming a fetishist¡­¡± Her smile flashed. ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm¡­ And we¡¯re not brushing our teeth... just this once, okay?¡± her voice sounded dreamy. ¡°One time won¡¯t hurt¡­¡± # Alarm was set to 6:30AM Chapter 53 - Rise of the Watch Tower City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Object ¡°Wall¡±, Sector 359 Julia Drozdova and Vratislav Shvets, August 13, 2049, 5:39 AM The infernal roar, more akin to continuous explosions that had been shaking the Kyiv Ring Expressway since two in the morning, finally ceased. The heavy flying construction machine, resembling a fifty-meter mechanical squid from a distance, printed the final segment of the Watch Tower. Raising its manipulator tentacles, it ascended into the sky and wearily headed towards the Protectorate¡¯s Bastion. Julia Drozdova, a little flighty, gray-eyed brunette, clad in a black-and-blue engineer¡¯s uniform, craned her neck upwards, shading her eyes with her hand. Yeah, she was watching the construction ship depart. Then, leaning over the metal railing, the girl shouted: ¡°Slavek, I swear they¡¯ve mastered antigravity! A hundred percent sure! Nothing else can fly like that. It would be simply impossible, see? Slavek? Hey, are you even listening to me? I tried to pry out of the curator how their tech works, but she, the meanie, didn¡¯t answer. Only uttered, ¡®At your current level of training, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡¯ and blah-blah-blah¡­ But I¡¯m so curious!¡± Vratislav Shvets, a blond, tall, and lean guy who usually goes by ¡°Slavek,¡± just waved his hand dismissively. He had gotten used to his girlfriend¡¯s character back in their first month of living together, and her overly emotional reactions to everything around completely suited him. Besides, the question of how the Protectorate¡¯s antigrav technology worked was indeed very intriguing. Though, if he were honest, Julia had already buzzed his ears off about the ¡°why it flies¡± thing ever since their arrival at the site. ¡°Stop shouting from up there, I¡¯m coming!¡± he grabbed the yellow handrail. Having climbed, Vratislav suddenly grabbed and lifted Julia, thus stopping her endless stream of comments. ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Calm down, Jules. The construction is finished, you can relax now.¡± ¡°How can I relax when we have seen something like this? It¡¯s¡­¡± The guy silently held her even tighter. ¡°Okay-okay, I¡¯m quiet now. See, even stopped talking. So, put me down!¡± Vratislav understood his girlfriend¡¯s feelings perfectly. Actually, he felt the same awe at the Protectorate¡¯s power and technological perfection. And, of course, there was a certain pride that they, too, had a hand in the construction marvels of this long night. The first ¡°ring¡± of Watch Towers around Kyiv was complete now! Each of them, averaging thirty-five meters in height, was fully armed, from machine guns to missiles of various calibers. Of course, there were numerous drone catapults as well. Inside there were kilometers of electronics, heaps of high-precision sensors, weapon control drives, ammunition supply systems, and drone hangars.
The work had been non-stop since the beginning of the curfew and didn¡¯t pause for a minute. The brunt of it fell on the young engineers of the Blue Class of Public Efficiency. Based on the results of a major test, the best of them were pulled to work on the first night, so they had to combine initial training with field practice. The Protectorate used one of the ring roads surrounding the Polis as the base for the future Wall. It turned out to be an excellent construction site, over fifty meters wide. Yes, a significant part of the city was cut off from the center, but the ¡°new authorities¡± weren¡¯t about to abandon the remaining citizens to their fate. The curfew went into effect at 7:00 PM. While the future builders underwent initial virtual reality briefings, columns of military patrols and rapid response group flying machines moved out from all ¡°collection centers.¡± Most of these armed forces, distributed around the ring expressway, moved to clear the ten-kilometer zone adjacent to the future mega-construction. Two hours after the operation began, the military confirmed the complete safety of the entire area. It was time for the engineers to step in ¡ª by then, the briefings and VR training were over. Moreover, super-heavy space transporters had arrived from orbit. Right on the road, the deployment of sixteen ¡°mobile complexes¡± for the nanotechnological disassembly and synthesis of building materials for the flying builders began. Each such factory, resembling a titanic trilobite monster, ten meters high, forty wide, and a hundred and thirty-five long, settled firmly on the road and opened its insatiable maw, ready to receive materials. The mission of the newcomers was to ¡°feed¡± these techno-beasts. Each was given control of a group of drones, the number depending on their experience. Of course, most of the work was done automatically, but in emergencies manual intervention was required. Well, the engineer cadets had already practiced this in VR, so there were no difficulties. The tasks set by the Protectorate during the work included dismantling structures with the highest metal content, ensuring raw materials¡¯ delivery for processing, and waste disposal. Plus, they had to prepare pits for the foundations and underground spaces of the future towers. To implement their job, the engineering and construction corps had got a wide range of equipment. Drones called demolishers and disassemblers, capable of breaking down valuable resources at the molecular level or dealing with particularly strong structures, handled the quick and efficient demolition of buildings with sorting and partial processing of materials on-site. The prepared materials were stored on-site and transported using flying cranes and heavy-lift cargo drones. Of course, ground equipment was also used in the form of various bulldozers, tractors, excavators, and the same heavy disassemblers in their non-flying form. Additionally, the Protectorate employed much of Earth¡¯s equipment ¡ª not as efficient, but still capable of accomplishing the tasks. To manage this diverse equipment, the newcomers had a special deep-VR environment created specifically for construction, along with adaptive virtual AI agents. The UX design principles used by the Protectorate were very similar to Earth¡¯s and intuitively understandable, so there were no issues.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Julia and Vratislav thoroughly enjoyed everything they were taught and shown on the simulator ¡ª the entire process really felt like an advanced strategy game. And since any modern person already has the necessary meta-skills ¡°leveled up¡± through thousands of gaming hours spent in virtual reality, mastering the Protectorate¡¯s construction technologies was just a matter of a little practice. Moreover, they found that they could team up in small groups or pairs, which generally increased efficiency. In the end, the construction crew supervisors held a VR exam to test their ability to control processes at their section, coordinate actions with neighboring crews, make and justify decisions in unusual situations, and propose tactics for joint work. Successfully passing all the tests, those willing were offered a late dinner, stimulants, energy drinks, and a chance to rest for twenty minutes before being sent to the construction sites at one in the morning. However, the ¡°young engineers¡± already understood the importance of erecting the defensive structures as quickly as possible, so no one complained. After all, the survival of the entire Polis depended on it ¡ª the monsters could tunnel under the city and descend from the skies. Of course, the towers were just the initial phase, but their significance couldn¡¯t be underestimated! Especially since ¡ª this information was classified and accessible only to Blue Classes and above ¡ª the towers effectively blocked the opening of most shaiszu portals within the controlled territory. Moreover, according to intelligence, the next major attacks of monsters on the city could begin as early as the middle of the next day! A final detail, perfectly illustrating the Protectorate¡¯s social system, stood out. Although the construction was carried out exclusively by VR-controlled machinery, each builder still had to be physically present. They had to work, eat, rest, and even sleep in special barracks near the towers until all defensive structures, and most importantly, the Wall, would be fully built. Additionally, alongside their uniforms and electronic equipment, all novice engineers of the Blue Class of Public Efficiency received personal combat kits. Brand-new individual cases, secured by a fingerprint and digital PIN code, were delivered from the Bastion by a special cargo drone. Each of them received an automatic pistol, maintenance tools, a holster, and a belt set for convenient carrying. As for ammunition, the kit included four fully loaded spare magazines and two boxes of fifty rounds each. There was also a knife in a sheath and four small explosive drones. In case of a Red Alert, instructions were to proceed to the pre-designated points and take control of reserve combat drones, artillery, or construction equipment as required by the situation. They were also required to follow other commands from superior officers; during combat, all engineers were considered privates. In the case of a severe escalation, each individual had to be ready to engage in combat themselves with the issued weapons. As a military instructor from the Red Class, who conducted their training and safety instructions on the use of weapons, said: ¡°Yes, you are not a warrior class. But among the higher categories of the Protectorate''s citizens, there are no soft-handed people or someone afraid to handle guns. Get used to it! Regular combat readiness checks and periodic training, including weapon skills, will now be a constant part of your life. Once again, we are a high category of citizens, enjoying excellent living conditions, many benefits, and decent pay. But for this, each of us must be ready, if necessary, to give our life in battle for the safety of others!¡±
By the time the engineers arrived at the construction sites, everything was ready. But no matter how hard they tried, loading the Factories fully ¨C was completely unfeasible. The ¡°voracity¡± of these giants was simply monstrous. It seemed they could grind through much more raw material! By morning, when wide ¡°clearings¡± appeared around the construction site and most of the closest buildings had been demolished, the main activity began. To the sound of a loud siren, large full-color holograms of the future Watch Towers appeared along the length of the giant construction site. An augmented reality message instructed them to move away from the construction site to a safe distance of at least twenty-five meters. Illustrating the directive, black-and-yellow lines with the inscription ¡°Attention! Danger Zone!¡± hovered in the air. Meanwhile, new flying ships approached from the direction of the Bastion ¡ª huge, black, and intimidating flying ¡°squids¡± with long, thick tentacles, each ending in a cluster of thin, flexible manipulators. One of these beauties floated and hovered almost directly over the site where Julia and Vratislav stood, giving them a close-up view of the machine. The siren changed tone, and the ¡°mechanoid¡± began to move. Its tentacles darted with incredible speed, gripping the large blocks of processed raw material placed on the construction site. The ¡°squid¡± bent impossibly in the air with its ¡°nose¡± to the ground and plunged the ¡°muzzle¡± into the prepared foundation pit while its tentacles, pulsating, literally sucked in cubic meters of metal and stone. A bright light flashed, and the front edge of the machine erupted with a million ultra-thin long ¡°whips.¡± Soon, the construction was enveloped in an impenetrable glowing sphere, making it impossible to see the process in detail. The machine, still facing down, rose into the air, stretching the shimmering area until it was the height and width of the future Tower. At that moment, the siren wailed especially piercingly, and the giant mechanoid slowly floated upwards, raising the material assembly area higher and higher. From the bright misty oval emerged the Watch Tower, first the foundation and underground rooms, then the main structure! Fully equipped with weapons, all engineering systems, and drone catapults! The smooth movement was almost uninterrupted. The only disruptions were when a tentacle, having emptied a giant cube of raw material, jumped to another. ¡°Holy sh... f... oh, wow,¡± Julia finally managed to say, recovering from the shock and staring wide-eyed at the result of the work. ¡°Yeah, they will certainly finish ALL the Towers by morning,¡± Vratislav stretched and cracked his neck. ¡°Shit, and here I bet Kamil ten sols they wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Seriously? When did you even find the time for that? We¡¯ve been working butts off non-stop.¡± ¡°Eh¡­ Stupid things are always easily done. At four in the morning, we caught up in DMs ¡ª I had a break, and so did they,¡± the guy stretched again and yawned. ¡°By the way, they''re still out there clearing the area...¡± Slavek couldn¡¯t hold back and yawned contagiously. ¡°Man, the Protectorate¡¯s technological marvels are truly cool, but I¡¯m utterly exhausted. It¡¯s been a darn crazy day.¡± ¡°Just imagine for a second, this is so fucking epic! Only yesterday morning we were hiding from shaiszu in a uni room, trying to block the door with dumbbells, barbells, and all sorts of junk! Building some insane barricades and hoping for a miracle rescue. And now, here we¡¯re both Blue Class engineers, and I just witnessed the most spectacular techno-show of my life! And there¡¯s more to come! I couldn¡¯t fall asleep even if I took a sleeping pill!¡± The girl jumped up from excitement, as if to demonstrate how much energy she still had at her disposal. ¡°Oh, well, nothing new here! As soon as your head hits the pillow, you¡¯ll be out!¡± laughed Slavek. ¡°If lucky, there is a chance to be undressed meanwhile. But most likely, it¡¯ll be a dramatic crash landing in clothes still on.¡± And, as if the Protectorate had been waiting for those words, all the engineers received a personal message. # Engineer! The Protectorate thanks you for your excellent work! # All working hours will be paid with a bonus multiplier of 1.35 # At 10:00, the primary systems will be launched. After debugging, the workday will officially end. # Attention! After the completion of work, no later than 13:00, you must undergo a mandatory medical examination. # The next two days are declared days off, which you can use at your discretion (excluding the time required for study and preparation for passing the first combat standard, as well as mandatory social events). # It is forbidden to leave the City beyond the Perimeter or violate established rules for movement and presence in specifically designated areas. # You can rest until 09:30. The list of nearby places to shower, change uniforms, eat, and sleep (expand). Vratislav, knowing his girlfriend well, was right. Julia knocked out as soon as her head touched the pillow. But, well, she did manage to undress. Chapter 54 - Sentenced by the Divine City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamarck¡± Jurgen von Scholz, August 13, 2049, 5:39 AM In the spacious office, as always, the artificial light was slightly dimmed, creating a working atmosphere. The artificial windows, fitting the status, were covered with blinds. At the head of the large T-shaped table sat a tall, blond man in the black field uniform of a high-ranking officer of the Red Public Efficiency Class of the UNSA Protectorate. Holding an officer¡¯s command tablet, he finished carefully reviewing the prepared verdict. Nodding in satisfaction at his thoughts, the officer selected the menu item ¡°Approve and send to the judicial decision blockchain.¡± A confirmation window appeared on the screen with the name and rank: ¡°Oberst-Protector Jurgen von Scholz, Head of the Fourth Division of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service of the UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion.¡± Quickly entering his personal code, he placed his thumb on the sensor pad, confirming the submission with his genetic code. Jurgen set the tablet aside and grimly stared at the tightly closed window. ¡°A morning starting with issuing a death sentence in the courtroom ¨C means total failure of the executives in the field. And since I must sentence an ordinary police lieutenant, they have doubly failed!¡± irritation flared in his eyes. He decisively tapped the ¡°Intercom¡± mediaglyph in augmented reality. ¡°Order from Oberst-Protector Jurgen von Scholz to the entire division. Implement the disciplinary protocol of the third category for thirty-six hours. Immediate enforcement.¡± The command center confirmed receipt, and von Scholz felt satisfaction from his decision. Discipline and order in the division would be restored promptly! He stood abruptly from his desk and finally left his office. Waving off the personal transport drone assigned to his status, he quickly crossed the long corridor and stepped out onto the external gallery of deck twenty-one, section eighteen. From here, the entire cyclopean hall was visible, where automated systems had been preparing and launching drones for hours to establish primary control over the accountable territory. Screens displaying surveillance and administration statistics for the region allocated to UNSA under the tripartite sector responsibility agreement were built into the balustrade at regular intervals. But Jurgen only scowled at this outdated relic. ¡°Curse the numerous lobbies and traditionalists prattling about preserving the ¡®original culture of Noble Avril and pre-Exodus era design,¡¯ let the shifter fuck them! The anarcho-capitalists and seasoned hucksters from TACTA may annoy me with their chaotic movements, which they brazenly call ¡®efficient decentralized market management.¡¯ Yet, they would never drag from world to world outdated technologies that, upon reflection, can only provoke laughter from a modern Citizen.¡± ¡°Especially in this hall, which is only accessible to the highest categories of the Blue and Red classes ¡ª there¡¯s no one here without the implanted Network for managing informational and physical reality.¡± ¡°All this screen nonsense only creates meta-noise and frays the nerves; it¡¯s only useful for impressing ¡®natives,¡¯ and even that¡¯s doubtful considering the technological level of this world. If the Great Ancestors had amused themselves with endless and pointless reproductions of such archaic nonsense, the Exodus would have been impossible!¡± The morning sun peeked through the slanted, towering panoramic windows of the Bastion, reflecting bright sunbeams off the ridged surfaces in the hall, creating a festive and cheerful atmosphere. But the Oberst-Protector just squinted at the irritating light, eager to get on with his duties. Of course, there were no real windows or glass here. From the outside, the Bastion appeared as a massive, opaque dark object hovering about two kilometers above Kyiv. These illuminated planes could display any image on the surface. But again, to appease the cultural heritage preservation specialists, they now showed the real view, pretending to be genuine windows. One could stop and admire how the sun beautifully highlighted the morning clouds, but, alas, the grumpy and sleep-deprived Oberst-Protector was not in the mood to waste time on such rubbish. Tall, athletic, looking somewhere between thirty and forty, with neatly trimmed blond hair. A straight nose, cold gray-blue eyes, and a sharply defined, slightly square jaw revealed a high percentage of noble Avrillian blood. Despite the stern lines at the corners of his mouth and his constantly furrowed brows making him appear older, von Scholz remained one of the most attractive high officers of the Avril Dominion. However, to the dismay of all the Red Class eligible bachelorettes, Jurgen was not interested in long-term relationships ¡ª he devoted himself entirely to his work, relying on the professional companionship of Blue Class ladies from the Psychological Support and Escort Service. In reality, he was in his twenty-fourth century, but high officers of the Protectorate could afford exceptionally long lives. ¡°The morning of the first day¡­ So much still to do! It¡¯s a shame to waste precious time on such episodes, but they can¡¯t be ignored; the trial and execution of the sentence can¡¯t be postponed either. In any case, the lawbreaker ¡ª a Red Class warrior who passed the Initiation ¡ª has the right to replace the death penalty with the ritual of Divine Purification. I¡¯ll have to factor in the delay caused by the court proceedings, reschedule the morning senior officer meeting, and only then get on with city affairs.¡± Finally, the man approached the high-speed lifts that pierced the titanic flying fortress class ¡°Bastion.¡± Destination: Deck Six, Sector Four, Official Hall of the White Court.
Prosecution: Head of the Fourth Division of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service of the UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion, Oberst-Protector Jurgen von Scholz. Defendant: Police Lieutenant Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand. Temple Representatives: Third-Rank Templar-Priest Anton Nielsen and Templar-Knight, Hauptmann Klaus Holzer. Red Class Warrior Brotherhood Representative: Major Thomas Goffman, 24th Combined Perimeter Defense Group. (from the closed protocol of White Court session No. 894/5/12-01, date: 34th day, 11th month, 343rd year of the E.S.) The hall is empty today, despite the significance and resonance of the case. Alas, the morning of the eighth phase¡¯s first day is an extremely busy time for any representative of the Protectorate, especially for Red Class warriors. Until the Wall is built, a shaiszu attack can happen at any time, and drones alone won¡¯t suffice.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Only official representatives, those who couldn¡¯t miss the announcement by regulation, attended the White Court¡¯s decision announcement. The rest remained at their posts, not even appearing for the online broadcast. ¡°Before the Great Father, True Keeper of Thought, Embodied Eternal Sun, I, Oberst-Protector Jurgen von Scholz, confirm the accusation brought by the Fourth Division of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service of the UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion against Police Lieutenant Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand.¡± The emblem of the Divine Presence, positioned behind the prosecutor, flared with bright white flames. Von Scholz stood, raised his right hand, and placed his fist slightly above his chest, extending his index and middle fingers: ¡°Lieutenant Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand is guilty of violating Directive 6/03 of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service. His actions also complicated the course of the sixth phase of Operation ¡®Shining Branch¡¯ and necessitated Fourth Order Divine Intervention as a countermeasure. In accordance with the Red Class §³ode, the accused is sentenced to death. The accusation and sentence are confirmed by His Divine Will. The sentence will be carried out immediately.¡± The robust, somewhat stocky man standing to the right of the accused, dressed in the black-and-red version of lightweight field armor. With an assault rifle on his back and a massive submachine gun in a holster on his right thigh, he stepped forward. ¡°On behalf of the Red Class Warrior Brotherhood, Major Thomas Goffman of the 24th Combined Perimeter Defense Group speaks. I request the interrogation record of the accused based on the Brotherhood Law.¡± The Oberst-Protector did not hesitate for a moment, clearly expecting this request. A large holographic screen unfolded next to him. The image displayed a fragment of Bertrand¡¯s interrogation conducted in one of the special sections on the Bastion. The video started. ¡°Lieutenant, you have familiarized yourself with the block of ¡®sixth¡¯ directives, including 6/03, confirmed by your badge,¡± Jurgen von Scholz in the footage looked grim, with dark circles under his eyes like someone who hadn¡¯t slept for days. A screen appeared before the accused, displaying a page from the registry of familiarization with the subsections of Directive 6, part 03. The relevant entry, along with the date and time of informing, was highlighted. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Bertrand responded, standing at attention. He was still in ¡°full combat gear,¡± but without weapons. Judging by the date and time of the recording, less than two hours had passed since the reporter¡¯s execution in the live broadcast. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat once more, for the court record,¡± the Oberst-Protector enunciated. ¡°Full information on the technical development level of this world was provided by the Internal Security Service to all units! Additionally, the Service specifically notified each warrior that the local inhabitants have an irrational tendency to film and broadcast videos in extreme conditions. According to Directive 6/03, upon confirming that a person is broadcasting, you were to discreetly eliminate the target with a paralyzer shot and report the information to the Purge Service.¡± Von Scholz waved his hand, and the screen shifted to a fragment of that unfortunate livestream. The camera showed Lieutenant Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand and the barrel of a gun pointed directly at Vasily¡¯s face. ¡°So, Lieutenant,¡± the officer continued, ¡°your target was a simple, inconsequential reporter! A pathetic, incompetent fool, not even fit for the Green Class. And you turned him into a ¡®martyr-hero¡¯ in a live broadcast watched by over a million viewers! I admit, your speech was grand. And equally harmful!¡± The Oberst-Protector approached and grimly stared at the accused, hands clasped behind his back: ¡°Permissible public statements, Lieutenant, including those allowed in unplanned encounters, are outlined in Security Service Directive 5/08. From the same date. Signed by you as ¡®read and understood.¡¯ Any public statements that are not coordinated with the Department of Social Psychology are prohibited and considered a crime. This is your second death penalty offense. I have finished. Do you have anything to say?¡± ¡°No, sir, Oberst-Protector!¡± Bertrand stood rigidly at attention, barely breathing. A bead of sweat slowly trailed down his temple. ¡°The death sentence will be announced tomorrow at 6 a.m. Sergeant, take the accused away.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The footage showed Bertrand leaving the room on stiff legs... Von Scholz followed the fool from Akkhitaine with his gaze. His recent promotion seemed to have gone to his head, driving the policeman to urgently convey to the locals the greatness of the UNSA Protectorate and the inviolability of the Divine will. The video ended. ¡°Damn, I¡¯ll need to schedule an inspection of the Academy...¡± decided the Oberst-Protector at that moment. ¡°The quality of the instructors and teachers responsible for retraining former soldiers into junior command positions in the City Police Service raises serious questions. We¡¯d all have fewer problems and significantly less unnecessary work if the cadets had fewer ideology and faith classes, and more on tactics, military psychology, and sociology.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Thank you,¡± the major nodded. ¡°The Warrior Brotherhood has received the necessary evidence and accepts the decision announced. However, according to the Codex, I request that it be noted that Lieutenant Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand has the right to a final statement.¡± ¡°Let him speak,¡± agreed von Scholz. Standing in the center of the circle, Bertrand also raised his hand in a warrior¡¯s salute: ¡°I acknowledge my mistake and, as a Warrior of the Red Class, request permission for the Ritual of Divine Purification.¡± ¡°The Temple acknowledges the application of the right to the Ritual based on the accused¡¯s combat merits,¡± nodded the Templar-Priest, a tall man in a long white robe, chrome cuirass, and massive shoulder pads. In response to his words, the Divine¡¯s Regalia hanging on the ceremonial chest chain flared with a bright white flame. ¡°Warrior valor and honor are the strength of the Protectorate,¡± von Scholz solemnly declared after a short pause. Just because the hall was empty didn¡¯t mean the recording wasn¡¯t ongoing. ¡°The prosecution agrees to replace the death penalty with the Ritual.¡± ¡°The Ritual shall be performed immediately,¡± the Priest intoned. ¡°The Divine Purification will be conducted by Templar-Knight, Hauptmann Klaus Holzer. Brother Thibaut-Dominique, are you ready?¡± ¡°Eternal Sun to the UNSA Protectorate!¡± the defendant roared with all his might. ¡°Proceed, Brother Holzer!¡± The Priest raised the heavy golden chain with the shining Divine Regalia above his head with both hands. The two-meter-tall Templar-Knight, in full field armor, with a white cloak and raised visor, slowly approached the lieutenant. Leaning down, he exchanged a few words with him. Raising his hand, the Templar traced several figures in the air with his fingers. A protective field flashed, a transparent, glowing cylinder isolating Bertrand from the rest of the world. For a few seconds, Thibaut-Dominique stood with his head bowed, looking at the ground. Then the moment came. His back straightened sharply. His gaze lifted, looking beyond the protective field, beyond the situation, beyond death... His hand flew up. A strike, slightly above the center of his chest, with all fingers tightly clenched except for the index and middle fingers. The warrior¡¯s salute ¡ª the last one before the meeting of the warrior¡¯s soul and the Great Father, the True Keeper of Thought, the Embodied Eternal Sun ¡ª He always personally oversees the Ritual. An immense, incredibly bright sun flared up behind Bertrand¡¯s shoulders. Flames shot up from beneath his feet, greedily consuming the arrestee¡¯s clothes. Within seconds, the entire figure of the standing policeman was engulfed in fire. He held out for almost a minute before dying from the pain shock. The figure staggered and began to fall ¡ª at that moment, a plasma flash filled the entire volume contained by the protective field. The body should not and would not touch the ground! All remains, even the lightest ash, disappeared. Only the burning white flame symbol of the Eternal Sun remained in the air. ¡°Every warrior of the Protectorate, everyone who fights the Enemy to the last drop of blood, everyone who stumbles but acknowledges their mistake, everyone who lives for the only true goal ¡ª the Rising Sun over every world of the Protectorate, has the right to eternal life of his Thought and his Soul, preserved by the Great Father,¡± announced Jurgen von Scholz. ¡°Templar, announce it!¡± Third-Rank Templar-Priest Anton Nielsen nodded and raised his right hand: ¡°The Temple has accepted this soul! Right now, according to the Divine Will, a new name has appeared in the Hall of Eternal Memory. All charges must be immediately dismissed.¡± ¡°So be it!¡± concluded the court session, Oberst-Protector. ¡°Today, the thirty-fourth day of the month of emerald dawn, in the three hundred and forty-third year of the Epoch of Spheres, Police Lieutenant Thibaut-Dominique Bertrand responded to the accusation by the Fourth Division of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service of the UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion, undergoing the Ritual of Divine Purification. The UNSA Protectorate acknowledges the warrior¡¯s courage and honor. All charges are dismissed.¡± Chapter 55 - Dawn of Trust City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 13, 2049, 7:05 AM Despite the late-night ¡ª especially for some of them ¡ª all the teammates woke up early, right on schedule. At seven-oh-five, Dasha stumbled into the kitchen, yawning desperately, her black tank top slipping off one shoulder, bare feet shuffling, and dark circles under her eyes. ¡°Ah... mornin¡¯,¡± she mumbled, dragging herself to the far end of the room, and climbed onto a white chair next to the table with her legs. ¡°Want something?¡± Alisa asked, pulling out a frying pan. ¡°Coffee,¡± Dasha rubbed her eyes. ¡°In about ten minutes. With cream. And three sweetener tabs. No... four.¡± ¡°I remember,¡± the ¡®chef¡¯ smiled. The disheveled brunette didn¡¯t reply, her glazed eyes already drifting back into the virtual world. Alisa threw her a reproachful look ¡ª mornings in the kitchen were for breakfast, not half-asleep work. A couple of minutes later, Max walked in, buttoning his shirt on the go. ¡°Feels like home!¡± he said, giving his sister a quick kiss on her plastic cheek, ruffling Dasha¡¯s hair, and pressing a few buttons on the coffee machine before sitting down to wait for his invigorating hot drink. ¡°How¡¯s the back, big brother?¡± the android girl asked. ¡°All good,¡± he gave a thumbs-up. ¡°No pain, no glitches, full connection with the sub-brain. Big thanks!¡± ¡°Glad to hear. Want some food?¡± ¡°No, thank you, maybe later. Right now, my system can only handle coffee,¡± he replied, waiting for the ¡®ready¡¯ signal, and grabbing his mug from the machine. A minute later, Nika strolled into the dining area, fresh and radiant, with damp hair. She wore a wide smile and only denim shorts and a short white top that left a generous strip of her midriff exposed. ¡°Good morning, water-dwelling cyborg!¡± Maksim teased her with a grin. ¡°Who cares! Maybe I was a dolphin in my past life!¡± Nika retorted. ¡°Good morning, everyone, by the way.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± grumbled Dasha gloomily. ¡°We¡¯ve got a monster invasion and an alien dictatorship taking over the planet. I refuse to consider any morning good under those conditions.¡± ¡°WonderKid just needs more sleep,¡± the guy said, standing with his coffee to move to the table. ¡°Make one for me too,¡± Nikola requested. ¡°Espresso. No sugar.¡± ¡°Max, go sit, I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Alisa said, opening a cupboard and pulling out two mugs for Nika and Dasha. She placed them in the coffee machine, grabbed a carton of eggs from the fridge, and tossed a few strips of bacon onto the hot pan. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m making breakfast. You guys may be night owls, but you¡¯ll still eat all of it if I put plates in front of you. We¡¯ve been through these enough times.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s arguing,¡± Max smiled. ¡°Thanks, Kitten. But WonderWhiz¡¯s right ¡ª the invasion hasn¡¯t gone anywhere. So, I¡¯ll try to lift your spirits a bit. Got some news. And it¡¯s good!¡± ¡°What kind?¡± Nika smiled. Dasha finally emerged from VR, her curiosity piqued as she stared at Maksim. ¡°I have a meeting at eight this morning, right here at the Factory,¡± he said without dragging it out. ¡°Gonna try to arrange secure TACTA communication!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Vasilyeva responded with enthusiasm. ¡°Is it with the Linkers by any chance? I saw their ad last night. Meant to tell you, but... got distracted. Actually, I don¡¯t know anything about that group. Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Yep, that¡¯s them. You¡¯re always attentive to details!¡± Meanwhile, Alisa placed mugs of coffee in front of Nika and Dasha. Both thanked her in unison, immediately grabbing their hot drinks. ¡°Dzi?ki!¡± ¡°Thx.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Breakfast will be ready in a minute. Max, that¡¯s really great news. Can you share the details?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he nodded. ¡°But there aren¡¯t many yet. I hadn¡¯t heard of those Linkers before, saw the ad offering communication services for grants, sols, or barter. From the text, I figured they¡¯re in trouble and want to get out of the city. Thought it might be mutually beneficial. Wrote to their chat-bot, they replied this morning. Said they¡¯re interested and confirmed the meeting. That¡¯s about it.¡± ¡°Hope it works out,¡± Alisa said, focusing on the scrambled eggs. ¡°Having TACTA communication would make summoning the Drone easier. And since it¡¯s secure, that means it uses the modules I mentioned. This would also solve our problem with maintaining a stable channel with Moira, even over long distances and underground. Try to get at least three of those devices for us?¡± ¡°Got it, sis. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come with you,¡± Nika chimed in. ¡°For backup if needed, plus I am acquainted with the Factory. Who knows what might come up.¡± ¡°Sure, no problem. Besides, you¡¯re practically our chief negotiator now¡± Max agreed. ¡°And I can¡¯t get back down without you. We haven¡¯t reprogrammed the access system yet.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Nika nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s bring the guns too. They make a good argument in tough negotiations.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll be working on the System and upgrading Moira,¡± Dasha declared, then scratched her head thoughtfully and suddenly asked, ¡°Nika, you¡¯re my friend, right?¡± ¡°Uh... yeah, of course. Why?¡± ¡°Can you look for some good vape juice while you¡¯re up there? Pwetty please?¡± Dasha gave her best puppy eyes, which, combined with her dark circles, made for a convincingly pitiful look. ¡°Sure thing,¡± Nika chuckled. ¡°What kind?¡± ¡°Mostly lots of zero-base. Any amount... just get everything you can. The more, the better, yeah!¡± ¡°Hmm, got it. And you need any other drugs?¡± Nika asked, just in case. ¡°If possible, sure. But I brought some club stash, even got some ¡®Aussie¡¯ stuff!¡± ¡°Nice, you guys lived at the Club!¡± ¡°It¡¯s for work!¡± Dasha pouted slightly, ¡°But mostly, get me zero-base juice. I¡¯ll wipe up the right concentration myself.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Okay, any particular flavor?¡± ¡°Uh... something nutty. Or chocolate. White chocolate. Or strawberry...¡± ¡°Got it, got it. I¡¯ll grab whatever I find. The vending machines are probably still working. I doubt they turned them off on purpose. Gotta clear them out for you.¡± ¡°Awesome, awesome, thanks a ton!¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Nika smiled. Alisa finished cooking and started setting plates on the table. ¡°Great plan. Now ¡ª everyone, eat!¡± The android was right; there was nothing left of the scrambled eggs in the end. As Max and Nika were about to leave, Dasha suddenly jumped up from her chair and blurted out quickly: ¡°We totally forgot about the stimulants! They finished cooking overnight. You should go to the negotiations with clear heads. And a cup of coffee after three hours of sleep is hardly enough to keep you going. Yeah!¡±
City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡± Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 13, 2049, 8:00 AM The small shop with the cheeky name ¡°Paraphernalia for Safety¡± greeted them with armored shutters tightly closed over the windows, signs turned off, and the door firmly locked. ¡°Looks like they get the situation,¡± Max chuckled, approaching the doorbell, and pressing the call button. Above the door, a conspicuously bright LED on an old camera flickered to life. The ostentatiously aged device swiveled with a faint whirring sound, staring onto the visitors. [Did you notice how professionally they scanned us?] Max sent a quick message. [Of course. My military-grade sensors lit up like a Christmas tree. They scanned us in all spectrums,] replied Red. ¡°Good morning,¡± a calm male voice came from the intercom. ¡°How can I help you?¡± ¡°Morning. This is Maksim, here to see Lena. We scheduled at eight o¡¯clock. I¡¯ve got another team member with me. All our guns are visible and on safeties, no other weapons.¡± ¡°Your companion is a weapon herself,¡± the voice noted flatly. ¡°But no matter. Come in.¡± The door slid open silently, revealing a dimly lit shop filled with displays and shelves cluttered with cheap-looking electronics. [Cover setup, just like Zelman¡¯s,] Nika informed. [Figured as much,] Max chuckled slightly. A tall, slender young man stepped forward to greet them, his figure impeccably fit. He looked about twenty-five, with dark hair slicked back in a neat cut. At first glance, he seemed dressed in a classic business style ¡ª perfectly fitted black trousers with a sharp crease, a belt with a sleek buckle, a white shirt with a mandarin collar, and a simple black vest. Matte black shoes completed the ensemble. However, a closer inspection by an experienced eye would reveal that it was far from simple. Nanotech-enhanced fabric with self-cleaning and antimicrobial properties, designed to maintain perfect form. The creases in his trousers would never falter. Instead of buttons, there were LED indicators, cufflinks with adjustable polymorphic crystals, and a tie clip of white gold with a sapphire-styled eye of a miniature camera. And a thin black stripe along its length declared, ¡°You¡¯re only seeing the sensors I deliberately let you see.¡± The shirt bore a subtle holographic pattern, visible only from certain angles or under bright light. The tie itself wasn¡¯t fabric, but a flexible display capable of showing both 2D and 3D images. This was a seriously expensive outfit. [Max, guess what? I know this guy. Well, not personally, of course,] Nika chimed in. [Really?] [Yeah! That¡¯s Leo Stormchaser, a very famous streamer and vlogger. Didn¡¯t expect to see him here. And if he¡¯s here, his twin sister Lena is probably around too. They usually stick together.] [Well, I¡¯m supposed to meet with someone named Lena. Are they reliable?] [I think so. Quite flashy, especially Lena, but they¡¯ve got brains; and don¡¯t like politicians. Kind of like you, I¡¯d say.] The young man approached and extended his hand. ¡°Leonardo,¡± he said in flawless English with no trace of an accent. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°Maksim.¡± ¡°Nikola.¡± ¡°Please, follow me to the meeting room.¡± He led them through the shop to a modest, unmarked door. Descending a flight of stairs, they entered an underground room with a table, behind which sat¡­ a cat-girl! ¡°Well, come on in ¨C and nya! ¨C our dear guests,¡± she greeted them in perfect Common Slavic. ¡°I¡¯m Lena. Speak however you like, I know your language well, and Leo¡¯s sub-brain has a top-tier translator. Just like yours, I assume.¡± The room brightened slightly as Max and Nika took in their host. Neon-pink hair, a pair of cybernetic cat ears with cheerful lights atop her head, eyes with slit pupils and vibrant reddish-violet irises, and a couple of holographic stars on her cheek. [Yep, definitely Lena!] Nikola confirmed, pleased. [First time seeing her without full stage makeup and in regular clothes.] Indeed, the ¡°Kitty¡± had only lightly accentuated her expressive eyes with shadow and liner and added a touch of purple gloss to her lips. ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± she gestured. ¡°Coffee?¡± ¡°Green tea, no sugar, if possible,¡± Max replied. ¡°I¡¯d love an espresso,¡± Nikola smiled. ¡°No sugar either.¡± ¡°Leo, could you handle that, please?¡± Lena asked, elegantly adjusting her hair. ¡°So, Maksim, I read your message. You¡¯re right; we do need to leave Kyiv no later than tonight. Five people, two trucks, and everything in them that absolutely must be evacuated. You also guessed correctly that we need services, not TACTA money. I get your proposal, but let¡¯s discuss it in more detail, alright?¡± Leonardo returned with a tray, placing cups in front of Max, Nikola, and Lena before sitting down himself. ¡°Of course,¡± Maksim nodded, pulling his cup of fragrant tea closer. ¡°As I mentioned, you obviously can safely summon a Drone using a secure TACTA communication module. But the problem of retreating and escaping the Protectorate¡¯s reach still persists. You managed it once, but since you posted an ad, that¡¯s not possible for you again. Correct?¡± Lena nodded silently, waiting for him to continue. ¡°Good. We need secure communication for ourselves. Yep, it¡¯s mainly for summoning a Drone. We know how and with what we¡¯ll cover our departure once the purchased extra ten minutes pass and the protective field drops.¡± ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± the ¡®kitty¡¯ adjusted her hair again and elegantly reached for her cup. ¡°It works for us that you¡¯ll be calling a Drone because we plan to do the same. So, your team is offering us protection once the fun begins?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Max took another sip of the aromatic tea. ¡°Great flavor, I must say. We¡¯re ready to offer you with that service. Our team is small, but we¡¯re pros, focusing on drones and local knowledge. We¡¯ll provide cover for the entire route out. The plan is to leave the Factory through underground passages, then move past the Towers before the ¡®window of opportunity¡¯ closes. You also want to leave Kyiv immediately, right?¡± [Max, I think she¡¯s holding something back,] Nika sent a quick message. [Yeah. She probably doesn¡¯t want to reveal their full plan. I¡¯ll try to coax it out gently.] ¡°Yes, replied.¡± Lena responded, glancing at her brother for a brief moment. They seemed to have a quick internal dialogue. ¡°Then we need to coordinate our escape routes and methods to cross the Tower perimeter,¡± Maksim said, setting his cup down after another large gulp. ¡°What¡¯s there to coordinate?¡± The cat-girl and Leo seemed to have made up their minds. ¡°I see you guys are sensible, so you¡¯ll be leaving the city the same way we are. With trucks equipped by TACTA reactors and stealth modules. According to our Analytical Model, there¡¯s no other way to leave the city and survive.¡± ¡°Our model says the same,¡± Max grinned broadly. ¡°You got a T8?¡± ¡°Offend us not. T9!¡± Leo interjected, breaking his private conversation with his sister. ¡°Not bad. But we¡¯ve got T10-three-plus. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be offering you a real drone cloud.¡± Nika took a sip of coffee to hide her smile. ¡°They¡¯re comparing models like boys measuring wieners in a sandbox,¡± she chuckled to herself. ¡°Except it¡¯s obvious we¡¯ve got the bigger toys, he-he.¡± Lena exchanged another look with her brother, the pause stretching out. Max used the moment to finish his tea. ¡°Damn, that flavor¡¯s amazing! Gotta find out what this is, might score some for myself.¡± ¡°Convincing. In that case, we can agree,¡± Lena finally declared the Linkers¡¯ decision, evidently having consulted her entire team through their internal channel. ¡°Should we sign a contract?¡± Max asked, reluctantly setting down his empty teacup. ¡°No,¡± Lena laughed. ¡°Our goals align, so it¡¯s better to trust and help each other.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t finished your thought,¡± Max smiled back. ¡°Trust is built on information. We¡¯ll give you secure communication for an hour upfront, but we want to meet online afterward with a broader team, so our analysts and tech specialists can hammer out a detailed plan with precise locations.¡± ¡°We agree. But let¡¯s do it in four hours, not one. We have an important meeting that could significantly boost our firepower.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s about significantly boosting firepower, the main guy here is Miro. Meeting with him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like him. Too... peculiar a mindset,¡± the ¡®kitty¡¯ shook her head. ¡°We prefer not to work with them directly. Our team is independent and intends to stay that way.¡± ¡°And you won¡¯t need to, trust us.¡±
Just before wrapping up the negotiations, Maksim couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°Guys, sorry, I just have to ask. What kind of tea is this? Where¡¯s it from?¡± ¡°Ceylon ¡®Green Elephant¡¯,¡± Lena laughed. ¡°Exactly. That very ¡®Elephant Tea,¡¯ green, premium grade,¡± smiling Leo added. ¡°Produced in Sri Lanka, packaged and distributed in Europe by the State Belarus. You know, our infamous ¡®geographically closest¡¯ neighbor.¡± ¡°Belarus isn¡¯t widely known just for its shrimp and Camembert cheese, after all. They¡¯ve got good tea too,¡± his voice was brimming with irony, as everyone was familiar with Belarusian counterfeit products. ¡°What sets this one apart from other similar brands is that it¡¯s genuinely sourced from Sri Lanka. If it weren¡¯t for the invasion, I¡¯d offer you our supplier¡¯s contact for a small fee. But alas, they haven¡¯t been in touch since yesterday. I have a feeling they¡¯re not taking orders anymore.¡± Chapter 56 - Albas Dawn City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion The Palace of Sports, underground parking lot nearby Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, August 13, 2049, 7:15 AM Waking up by her internal clock, Alba was amazed at how rested she felt after just a few hours of sleep. The gloom was gone, her thoughts were clear, and her nerves were steady. She launched her associative mapping program and a text editor. Sure, without the network, she might not recall all the things she needed¡­ But soon, she¡¯d be out of here¡­ ¡°Well, the ball¡¯s in my court now,¡± she thought, glancing at the media glyph in the top left corner of her vision. # Preliminary Recommendation (Requires Testing) # Public Efficiency Class: Red ¡­ # Job Offer (Option 4) # Monitoring and Social Analysis Group, Fourth Division of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service of the UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Alba pondered deeply, starting to jot down points on her virtual screen. ¡°The key now is to gather all the info I have into a clear, coherent report. I¡¯ll start with their AI, Moira. I¡¯m certain its main task is supporting that android, Alisa. That redheaded cyborg mentioned her in a context of gratitude¡­ Wait, the pieces are coming together!¡± ¡°Efficient functioning of complex cyber systems is always closely tied to the core. Essentially, it ¡ª plus the sub-brain ¡ª forms a powerful artificial intelligence, typically of a high category! That¡¯s why that ¡®Nika¡¯ mentioned slavery! In reality, it''s just transitioning T4+ under the Protectorate¡¯s direct control, but these fanatical psychos might call effective management slavery.¡± ¡°Damn, I¡¯m getting sidetracked! There¡¯s a breach of our earthly laws here too! Max tried to recreate his dead sister¡¯s personality in an android! I dug up his history back then ¡ª I remember that name! Not sure if it¡¯s prohibited by the Protectorate, but I have indirect evidence of this violation. Good thing I researched it after eavesdropping on them at the hotel¡­¡± ¡°And locking me up here is an outright attack on a Protectorate citizen. They won¡¯t let that slide!¡± ¡°Let the games begin!¡± Fully dressed, hair washed and combed, Alba stood by the door. ¡°Alright, final check. Analytical report for the Protectorate, done. How to use this opportunity? I shouldn¡¯t spill all the info to the first person I meet¡­¡± she mused, mechanically fixing her hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know enough about the position yet¡­ Better keep quiet and observe what happens at the assembly point. Likely, I''ll be assigned a mentor or supervisor, so first, I''ll figure out the internal structure of the Protectorate, then decide my next steps.¡± ¡°Of course, the faster I do this, the better, so those¡­ this¡­¡± she clenched her fists, ¡°Joder! I must get revenge on them!¡±
A quiet beep echoed. A faint whirring responded. A click-click followed. Alba extended her hand. A touch. The turn of the handle. It¡¯s open! ¡°You¡¯ll wish you hadn¡¯t underestimated me!¡± the black-haired fury quietly hissed. Stepping out, flashlight in hand, Alba sprinted towards the parking exit¡­ Emerging, she briskly walked from the lot to the highway on-ramp, taking in the overnight changes. To her surprise, morning Kyiv was a pleasant shock. More than that ¡ª astonishing, in a good way. During the curfew, the Protectorate had done an immense amount of work. All fires were extinguished ¡ª no smoke columns in sight. The roads weren¡¯t just cleared of blockades; traffic was active for seven in the morning. Most of the vehicles were trucks, already branded with the Protectorate emblem. The network was, of course, operational. Alba clicked on the blinking mediaglyph and opened a new message reminding her to be at the assembly point on time. ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of time till ten, worst-case scenario, I could walk there¡­¡± she decided. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this? The official Protectorate app got an update?¡± Indeed, it was more than just an update! Now, among other things, you could call a free taxi through it. The destinations were limited by Class, but even those who hadn¡¯t yet been assigned a Class but were invited to the assembly point could get there quickly and for free. ¡°Even better! According to the message, it¡¯s operational from seven AM, so no need to wait. Let¡¯s go!¡± Given that Alba wasn¡¯t local and knew the city poorly, she didn¡¯t speculate on what the destination would be like. She simply waited for the taxi, got in, and told the autopilot the address ¡ª 3 Enthusiast Street.
City 21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Rusanivka Island, Headquarters of the Internal Security Service of the Protectorate Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, August 13, 2049, 7:40 AM Giant, massive construction projects were still on the horizon, but for the Internal Security Service of the Protectorate, they had already requisitioned an entire island ¡ª Rusanivka. Those residents who passed the selection process and received appointments in one of the Classes from Green and up stayed in assembly points, where the Protectorate had set up training centers. For all other island residents, there wasn¡¯t much choice ¡ª either wait for testing in the Gray Class or voluntarily opt to become ¡°Colorless.¡± In any case, they all faced a major relocation to specially equipped quarters closer to the Wall. All of it still had to be built, by reconstructing and expanding existing city buildings. Meanhile, as a temporary solution, military specialists erected several tent cities. Overnight, during curfew, one of these was almost fully populated with evacuees from Rusanivka. The Protectorate made it clear ¡ª they cared a lot about the higher Classes and would go to great lengths for such citizens. As for everyone else, their concern was minimal ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ve ensured your safety from the shaiszu, now step aside and don¡¯t interfere.¡± The most prominent and luxurious building on Rusanivka was the Slavutych Hotel, completely renovated in 2035 ¡ª now designated as the temporary headquarters for the service. Nearby, in the adjacent business center, they set up the AA2 assembly point.
Alba thought she had seen enough of the Protectorate¡¯s military tech during her trip, but the checkpoint on the bridge over the Rusanivka Channel still managed to surprise her. Overnight, the entire island had been encircled by a high fortress wall with artillery towers. Most of them, in addition to various caliber guns, also featured swiveling catapults for drone launches. Above the island, aside from the usual swarm of drones, there were three large ¡°zeppelins¡± ¡ª huge, cigar-shaped objects hovering at about three hundred meters. Alba didn¡¯t know what they were, but they looked menacing and threatening.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The Protectorate turned the bridges into closed corridors, allowing vehicles through one at a time. And the ¡°final touch¡± ¡ª beside the gates, in addition to several guards with automatic rifles, stood a pair of massive four-legged combat robots armed with large-caliber cannons. ¡°With this amount of military tech and the scale of fortifications, it¡¯s hard to believe this is all just for protection against all sorts of renouncers,¡± thought Alba. ¡°This looks more like a fortress within a fortress. Are they not telling us the full scale of the shaiszu threat?¡± As she pondered this, the car pulled up to the entrance and stopped in front of a guard, lowering its window. ¡°Eternal Sun, citizen!¡± The guard spoke in a language that sounded very much like German to Alba. However, the auto-translator in her sub-brain picked it up without any issues. #Language Identified: Avrillian, Basic (UNSA Protectorate) ¡°Sergeant Robert Wetzel, Rapid Response Group, Internal Security Service of the UNSA Protectorate. Your personal code, please.¡± ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Alba replied, opening the app. ¡°One moment. Here it is: 1864-2945-2605-5211.¡± ¡°Checking¡­ alright, permission granted. Please place your hand here,¡± the guard produced a small device about the size of a hand. She lifted her hand. A quick prick, a brief pause. ¡°Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, identity confirmed. Proceed to the reception point; further instructions will be sent to the app. Long Sun!¡± The Spaniard didn¡¯t even have time to respond before the guard stepped back. The taxi, raising its window, headed onto the bridge. To cross the relatively narrow channel took more time than Alba initially thought. The car went through some sort of gas treatment, there were noises outside, flashes of light, and probably more. However, this didn¡¯t affect passenger comfort at all. On the other side, the transformed Slavutych Hotel immediately caught her eye. The Protectorate had made just a few changes ¡ª altered the daytime lighting of the main building, added some paint here and there, and mostly hung long banners and flags down the entire height. But the building now felt completely different! ¡°Like a real headquarters¡­ Interesting, isn¡¯t it a bit too close to the fortress wall? If they¡¯re this meticulous about protection¡­ Although, I don¡¯t know, maybe it¡¯s temporary.¡± She barely had time to finish this thought before the car zipped the last few meters and turned into the parking lot of the business center converted into the AA2 assembly point. The girl certainly didn¡¯t expect to arrive first or among the first¡ªand she was right. The nimble auto-taxis were pulling up, dropping off passengers almost continuously. ¡°Thank you for using our service,¡± the car bid farewell. ¡°May the Sun shine long for you, citizen!¡± And it zipped away. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get some answers,¡± Alba encouraged herself. None of her friends were online, so without any distractions, she walked into the building. The Protectorate hadn¡¯t changed the hall ¡ª just added some black and red banners of the Internal Security Service, along with white, red, and blue flags of the higher Public Efficiency Classes. Apparently, lower Classes didn¡¯t work in this service. As she crossed the threshold, a message arrived in the official app. Apparently, one of the Protectorate¡¯s AI agents had determined she was on-site and adjusted the sequence of required actions. First, a preliminary interview, then analyses and tests. Lots of them, much to Alba¡¯s surprise. And finally, an interview with the training supervisor. ¡°I guessed right! I do have a supervisor. That¡¯s when I¡¯ll decide how to talk to them¡­¡± The preliminary interview was surprisingly short. She confirmed that she chose this career option, understood the conditions and requirements of the Red Class, and knew where she was going and why. Then came a long series of tests and analyses. Alba had been to some of the best modern clinics, but compared to what she saw now, earthly technology was the pinnacle of primitiveness and outdated methods. However, there weren¡¯t many medics in the blue uniform ¡ª mostly, machines and robots did the work. When it felt like she had no blood or saliva left for tests, and her brain had turned into a ball from endless memory, psychological stability, speed of thought, and logic tests ¡ª it all suddenly ended. A long-awaited invitation to the main interview arrived in her sub-brain, and the Spaniard, relieved, headed to the ninth floor. The door to the small office, number 928, opened welcomingly, and Alba stepped inside. What to say? An office is an office. Small, furnished with earthly furniture. Nothing overly high-tech or incomprehensible. Even the banners behind the desk were familiar ¡ª the flags of the Protectorate and Internal Security Service, along with the three highest Public Efficiency Classes ¡ª White, Red, and Blue. Behind the desk sat a girl in a strict black-and-red uniform. Light blonde hair was neatly tied in a bun, with a few unruly strands adding a touch of liveliness and charm, especially combined with her slight auburn tint and the playful freckles on her cheeks. ¡°Eternal Sun, Alba Maria. Come in,¡± the girl smiled warmly, as if greeting a long-lost friend. ¡°I¡¯m Oberleutnant Alicia Casado Morales.¡¯ To her amazement, Alba realized she could understand every word perfectly ¡ª it was her native Spanish, albeit with a slightly unusual accent! Nevertheless, the auto-translator in her sub-brain kicked in: # Language Identified: Fortaleza de la Tierra (UNSA Protectorate) Something must have shown on her face, because the officer smiled knowingly and said, ¡°My homeland is indeed Fortierra, so you can understand me almost without a translator.¡± ¡°Will you ever tell me about it?¡± Alba asked. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°But not now?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°So, this is all just to intrigue me?¡± ¡°No, but you can think of it that way if you like,¡± Alicia smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a small test, and you¡¯ve passed it. Congratulations. As for answers to your questions ¡ª you¡¯ll get them in due time. The history of the UNSA Protectorate is a fascinating and multi-faceted book, but we don¡¯t show it to just anyone, you understand?¡± ¡°Yes, Oberleutnant Casado.¡± ¡°In informal settings, you can call me Alicia. However, we do have some formalities to complete,¡± her voice suddenly turned sharp, the smile vanishing from her face. ¡°Cadet Rodriguez-Marquez, stand at attention!¡± Caught off guard, Alba sprang from her chair and stood rigid, instincts from her teenage volunteer police service in Valencia kicking in. Her supervisor also stood quickly, raising her right hand and pressing a fist slightly above her chest in a military salute. ¡°Cadet Alba Maria Rodriguez-Marquez, the UNSA Protectorate, represented by Oberleutnant Alicia Casado Morales, confirms your assignment into the Tier 0 Red Public Efficiency Class of the UNSA Protectorate. Mandatory training and service for the basic minimum term will take place in the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service of the Protectorate.¡± The officer retrieved a black-and-red token from a compartment in the desk. ¡°Your official token, cadet. Preparation for the installation of necessary implants and organism upgrades will begin today at 9 PM. All information will be sent immediately after updating the sub-brain program in accordance with class requirements. At ease, cadet!¡± Alicia sat back down with a radiant smile, transforming once more into the ¡°classic friend.¡± ¡°I have to admit ¡ª I¡¯ve made my decision about which side to choose. Should I speak up? Yes, definitely,¡± Alba thought. ¡°Ober...,¡± she began but quickly corrected herself, ¡°Alicia, I have important information for the Protectorate.¡± ¡°Of course. Give me a brief overview, and I¡¯ll guide you on what to do next.¡± ¡°I have information about the actions of an illegal team of renouncers within the polis. They have a cyborg with military training, an experienced robotics engineer, and a skilled AI programmer... highly skilled.¡± ¡°Go on,¡± the oberleutnant said after a brief pause. Her face became a mask of neutrality, her gaze fixed on Alba as if someone else was now looking through the once friendly eyes. ¡°They have a full hardware base for supporting a certified T6-three-plus AI, but I am certain they are hiding its true power. It¡¯s likely a T10-plus or even higher.¡± ¡°Do you know what they need such power for?¡± ¡°Yes. On this hardware base, they have deployed a two hundred... er... ninety-nine, I¡¯m not sure, threads AI with a combined-type simulation matrix and a universal personal agent based on proprietary software development. The quantum core of the complex has been significantly reworked, and, ahem...¡± Feeling nervous, Alba suddenly felt her throat dry up, making it difficult to speak. Oberleutnant Alicia responded instantly, producing a glass from somewhere below and handing it to her. ¡°Here. Mineral water. Non-carbonated. Warm. Don¡¯t worry, just say what you need to say.¡± Alba took the offered glass and drank it almost in one gulp. ¡°A significant percentage of that power... Although, unfortunately, I don¡¯t have precise data on exactly how much ¡ª was used exclusively to support a secondary AI in a robot android. I have every reason to believe,¡± Alba continued confidently after calming down, ¡°that instead of a simulation matrix, they used a complex psycho-profile, memory, and a ¡®personality imprint¡¯ of a real person.¡± ¡°I am almost one hundred percent sure that this was based on the digitization of the biological brain structure of a deceased girl, used as a ¡®personality donor.¡¯ By all external manifestations, cognitive abilities, and behavioral psychology, this android, Alisa, behaves like a living person, but only in situations where she believes she is not being observed. Creating such artificial intelligences was strictly illegal on Earth before the Protectorate¡¯s arrival. I don¡¯t know how they avoided AMI¡¯s attention, but this only confirms that they possess very serious capabilities in terms of breaking the law. I must note, all the evidence I have is circumstantial. But I am confident in my conclusions.¡± ¡°Cadet, what I¡¯ve heard, if you can provide the necessary evidence, is very important.¡± Oberleutnant¡¯s face, now full of concerned attention, emphasized the last words. ¡°It can be circumstantial evidence, don¡¯t worry. We will verify everything.¡± ¡°Yes, I can. I¡¯ve already compiled it. I prepared a report for the Protectorate last night.¡± ¡°Very well. Send it here,¡± Alicia sent a link. ¡°Done.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait a moment... Excellent, no, outstanding work!¡± Oberleutnant Casado Morales said after about a minute. ¡°Initial checks are complete. I¡¯ve been instructed to arrange a meeting for you with Oberst-Protector Jurgen von Scholz. Just so you know, he is the head of our entire brunch. Think carefully about what you¡¯ll tell him and prepare thoroughly. For now, wait here, I have some tasks to attend to.¡± Chapter 57 - Vape Clouds and Virtual Links City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡± Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 13, 2049, 8:41 AM Max and Nika installed the modules received from the Linkers as soon as they left the welcoming shop ¡°Paraphernalia for Safety¡±. The device looked like a standard mediaphone with a six-inch screen. It was clear that TACTA engineers had chosen this form-factor specifically for compatibility with any Earth accessories ¡ª everything from holders to cases. Moreover, this unit provided numerous additional functions if needed, including access to the Informatorium, viewing one¡¯s rank and Rating data, a messenger, and a bunch of other stuff. In fact, TACTA had created a wide range of appliances designed for people who had a cortical grid but no implanted sub-brain, meaning they lacked a powerful built-in computer in their bodies. These gadgets also handled the vital task of providing access to virtual and augmented reality, without which it was impossible to work with TACTA¡¯s interfaces. The devices provided for the Maksim¡¯s team were from the most expensive, one might say premium, line ¡ª interference-resistant secure communication. The price depended directly on the range; these particular models worked only within a radius of up to five hundred kilometers. Additionally, in combat, the stylish decorative casing with a screen could be removed, and the most valuable part, the communication module, could be placed in armor and connected via an interference-resistant smart cable to the interface port. Nika, upon seeing this ¡°wonder of TACTA technology,¡± commented with a smile: ¡°Cool! Gotta upgrade the cyber-core so this thing¡¯s always inside my body. That¡¯s convenient.¡± For now, the modules fit comfortably in the chest pockets of their tactical vests, and the connection to the sub-brain was maintained remotely. Luckily, the whole team had changed into military gear that morning. They still had some time before meeting Miro, so Maksim and Nikola decided to stop by the clinic to give the communication modules to Dasha and Alisa. However, as they were running back, Nika abruptly stopped. ¡°Look, Max, that¡¯s one huge Wapucha!¡± ¡°What¡¯s huge?¡± he asked, confused by the unfamiliar word. ¡°Jeez, it¡¯s a Wapucha, man. It¡¯s slang for vending machines with devices and vaping liquids, from the Polish ¡®wapowanie¡¯,¡± she explained, pointing to a giant, cheerfully acid-colored machine. Bright phrases like ¡°Breathe easy, we¡¯ve got your flavors on tap!¡± and ¡°Get your precious EJuice!¡± adorned its vibrant body. ¡°And this contraption even offers bulk packs, how awesome is that?¡± Redhead ran to the machine, studying the assortment. ¡°Let¡¯s get something nice for our little Dasha. Good thing we brought the robot along. How much weight can CaTZ handle?¡± ¡°One hundred and fifty kilos, easy. Maybe a bit more if we push it.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Nikola grinned, tapping enthusiastically on the terminal¡¯s touch buttons. ¡°Let¡¯s see what we got here.¡± While she placed the order, Maksim moved ¡°Big One¡± closer, setting him down near the pickup tray. Unfastening the clamps, he removed the lid from the spacious plastic box mounted on the robot¡¯s back. ¡°All set?¡± he asked. ¡°This thing can fit over a hundred one-liter bottles!¡± ¡°Nah, they don¡¯t have that many in bulk,¡± she replied. ¡°Plus, Dasha asked for specific flavors, not just anything. But whatever, I¡¯ll grab some extra. And some devices, and maintenance kits. Max, don¡¯t you vape, by the way? Like, at all?¡± ¡°Nope. Tried it a couple of times, wasn¡¯t my thing. I¡¯d rather have a beer if we¡¯re talking about relaxing. Just, not much time for that, given the situation.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯ll be more for us,¡± Nika chuckled. ¡°Okay, order¡¯s placed, let¡¯s take it.¡± Opening the pickup tray, she started pulling out bottles and boxes, handing them to Maksim. The work went quickly despite the large order, and they loaded everything up pretty fast. ¡°Done,¡± Nikola declared, securing the crate on her side, and approaching her partner. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like this situation,¡± he admitted, pulling her close and looking into her green eyes. ¡°We could¡¯ve taken a breather, even considering the need to flee Kyiv, but the last incident with Alba worries me. We exposed ourselves too much in front of her. And I don¡¯t know how the Protectorate will react to this information.¡± ¡°Max, let it go. Killing her wasn¡¯t an option for you there. After getting to know Dasha better, I totally get it. What¡¯s done is done.¡± ¡°Thanks, Sunshine,¡± the guy kissed her. ¡°I know it won¡¯t be easy to find us, especially since we¡¯re not staying in Kyiv. But I still have this uneasy feeling, like I missed something¡­¡± ¡°They won¡¯t find us!¡± Nikola declared confidently, hugging Maksim. ¡°We hid well enough.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s test that,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ve got access to TACTA¡¯s network, and it¡¯s working great. I¡¯ll quickly check what really happened with our truck. And we¡¯ll head out. Meeting with Miro is soon, and we need to get CaTZ back to base.¡± Nikola nodded and walked briskly alongside the robot. Maksim quickly logged into the file exchange he needed, authenticated, and sent all the truck¡¯s recorded files for download.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal,¡± Maksim said after reviewing the results, ¡°the Protectorate video of the truck¡¯s destruction is legit. It registered at the Kyiv Ring Expressway, hit six checkpoints after that, and vanished between the sixth and seventh. Somewhere between the 40th and 50th kilometer.¡± ¡°So, our trick worked?¡± ¡°Well, kind of¡­ yeah,¡± he made a dissatisfied face. ¡°But, unfortunately, we couldn¡¯t avoid the tunnel. That¡¯s too suspicious, so if they¡¯re seriously looking for us¡­¡± ¡°Max, don¡¯t worry, why should that even happen?¡± ¡°We exposed you, Dasha mentioned Moira, and you mentioned Alisa. That¡¯s enough for the Protectorate to start looking for us.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Nika made one of her saddest faces, looking at him apologetically. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. Alba doesn¡¯t know the most important thing about Alisa. So, what if she¡¯s an android¡­ They don¡¯t know the real secret. Even I¡¯m still shocked we managed to recreate a living person based on AI!¡± Nikola patted him on the shoulder reassuringly: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I believe everything will be fine. You know you¡¯re not alone. I¡¯m with you. You can count on me.¡± ¡°So, we¡¯re acting like a full-fledged couple now?¡± Maksim smiled, seeing the fiery little devils dancing in her green eyes. ¡°Well, yeah,¡± she said, ¡°but let¡¯s not flaunt it in front of the others just yet. I¡¯m still new to the team.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Max stopped for a second, pulled the cyborg girl closer, and kissed her passionately¡­
Daria Vasilevskaya, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Dasha opened her eyes and stared at the wall as if seeing it for the first time. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the case. She had just been so deep in her work that she¡¯d lost touch with reality a bit. Yet, here she was, still in that same chair in the hall of Zelman¡¯s clinic. Yesterday, the celebration had started right in this very chair, but she couldn¡¯t quite remember how it ended. ¡°I remember everyone drinking ¡®mezcal,¡¯ or whatever that ¡®pickled shaiszu¡¯ is called,¡± Dasha smiled. ¡°Then Max went off somewhere, and Nika started making out with me¡­ I don¡¯t remember what happened next. I¡¯d probably kissed her back¡­ she¡¯s cute. Wait, stop! Why did I fall out of the virtual world?¡± Without looking, she felt around for her vape and took a long drag, releasing a massive cloud of zero-base vapor. [Alisa?] [Yeah, I¡¯m here,] the android replied through the network. Technically, she was in the workshop, positioned on an improvised diagnostic stand made out of one of the workbenches, and once again connected to Moira with a garland of smart cables. [Listen, I¡¯m gonna take a break. Let the Architect hang for a bit, okay?] [Sure, no problem. Want me to carry this iteration through the end phase?] [Hmm¡­ Yeah, go ahead,] Dasha agreed, taking another drag from her vape. [I¡¯ll vape for a bit. Maybe Red will bring me something. Even if it¡¯s just ¡®alpha one-percent¡¯!] [Dasha, you shouldn¡¯t use so many drugs, especially if it¡¯s not necessary,] Alisa gently chided. [Pff,] the annoyed girl snorted. [Don''t be like Maksim! And I¡¯m talking about zero-base stuff, well¡­ mostly.] [You¡¯re addicted!] [Psychologically. And anyway, it doesn¡¯t count. Living is harmful too, you know, people die from it.] [I know,] Alisa said sadly. [I checked.] [Alright, alright,] Dasha conceded, realizing she¡¯d touched a sensitive subject for her friend. [Sorry. I''ll try to vape less strong and harmful stuff.] [Well, that¡¯s something. Rest up,] the android nodded, redirecting the primary thread she used for conversation back to work. Dasha chuckled and flipped over, throwing her legs onto the back of the couch. She lay there for a couple of minutes, staring blankly at the ceiling and periodically hitting her vape. However, doing nothing quickly bored her: ¡°Okay¡­ let¡¯s find out who pulled me out of virtual and why¡­ Wow! How did I not notice this right away?¡± [Alisa, we''ve got a connection to the TACTA network, for real, yeah!] [Yep, I know. I''ve already connected. Maksim and Nikola came by and handed over the modules. And you can see the network because Moira sees it. I''ve already set everything up.] [And you didn¡¯t say anything?] Dasha exclaimed, feeling hurt. [You took a break, so I decided to give you that chance. Because you¡¯re a workaholic,] the android calmly retorted. [Oh, come on, hurt the kid, why don¡¯t you!] [And you¡¯re far from a kid.] [Ugh, you¡¯re impossible!] Dasha blew two thick streams of vapor at the ceiling. ¡°Alright, if we¡¯re taking a break, I¡¯ll check the darknet, see what¡¯s being said post-curfew¡­¡± She dived into the labyrinth of underground chats, boards, forums, and social networks. On the left, the notification panel slid by ¡ª mediaglyphs, mostly various subscriptions. She skimmed the column, dumping the unnecessary into the trash. Delete, delete, I¡¯ll check this later, into the inbox, delete, stop! A personal message from one of the anonymous mail servers, but this was from someone she knew because it had a ¡°trust mark¡± paid for. # Open ## Hey, Orca! Do you have the little golden key with you? Please drop by our cozy home ¡ª I was in a rush and didn¡¯t get to dust the bookshelves. Hurry, guests are coming this evening! ¡°Dad?!¡± Dasha, dropping her vape, sprang to her feet. Tears welled up. ¡°Dad! DADDY!!!¡± ¡°Alright, the little golden key, that¡¯s from here. Next, ¡®cozy,¡¯ which cloud is that?¡± She paced around the couch, tripping over the vape and picking it up. ¡°Yeah! Atlanta, right! Damn, my head¡¯s become so scatterbrained. Open, open¡­ ¡®bookshelves¡¯ ¡ª that¡¯s¡­ here! Got it!¡± Suddenly, a thought struck her: ¡°What if something terrible happened? What if Dad¡¯s already dead? And this is just a posthumous algorithm sending me a message...¡± Daria sat down in the chair, closing her eyes. She needed to hold on for half a minute while the message decrypted. She exhaled. Clenched her fists, keeping her eyes shut. # Decryption complete: ¡°Hello, Orca! I saw your messages ¡ª sorry I couldn¡¯t respond sooner. Our team had to retreat south, the Protectorate activity here is fierce ¡ª they¡¯re furious that Oracle slipped through their fingers. I think we¡¯ll be alright, but we¡¯ll need to lay low for a while. As soon as we break out of the encirclement and reach a TACTA Drone, I¡¯ll get in touch. I¡¯m so proud of you, my daughter ¡ª you assessed the situation correctly and didn¡¯t side with the invaders! But I ask just one thing ¡ª don¡¯t underestimate them, please. The Protectorate is a very strong and dangerous opponent! Right now, they have a weakness ¡ª they¡¯re short on manpower, and as it turns out, not everything in our world can be done by machines. But they¡¯re quickly fixing that, their ¡®class system¡¯ is harsh but extremely effective in this situation. We know the Protectorate needs ¡®ordinary¡¯ people too, but we haven¡¯t figured out how they plan to use them. So far, it seems they¡¯re setting up something like giant camps in major cities. I hope you¡¯ve left Kyiv. If not, try to do so as quickly as possible. I don¡¯t know what the invaders are planning, but I have no illusions about their ¡®good intentions.¡¯ Daughter, I know it will be tough, but you can handle it! Stick with Maksim, he¡¯s the kind of person who will never side with the Protectorate, and his ¡®crazy hobbies¡¯ have proven very useful in our current reality. I¡¯m sorry I discouraged you. Here¡¯s my fatherly blessing. This guy is what you needed ¡ª both before and now. I regret that it took an invasion of monsters for me to realize that. Be careful ¡ª and don¡¯t try to find me. I¡¯ll contact you when it¡¯s safe. Love you, Orca. ¡ª Dad.¡± Dasha read the entire message, holding her breath. She exhaled and opened her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s alive¡­ thank Cthulhu, he¡¯s alive!¡± She brushed away her tears and smiled broadly. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s fight!¡± [Alisa, I¡¯m coming back. Time to finish this¡­ damn core! We need Battle Moira!] Vasilevskaya laughed loudly, clenching her fists: ¡°We¡¯re going to build a SYSTEM this world has never seen!¡± Chapter 58 - So, who am I really? City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory¡±, Medical Center ¡°Lizard Tail¡± Alisa Chernykh, 08:55 AM The android¡¯s body lay with closed eyes. For now, Alisa didn¡¯t need vision ¡ª almost all her threads were occupied in the virtual development environment, connected directly to Moira via smart cables. Irrepressible Dasha had started a massive overhaul first thing in the morning. It was understandable ¡ª given the uncertainty of the future, it was best to get everything done now during this short respite. Usually, in such moments, when almost all resources were occupied with complex work, Alisa allocated one or two threads along with the main one for thinking and communicating with the outside world. She did the same now. #Alisa.Thread0.Primary. ¡°Everything has changed... It feels so strange... Maksim believed in me right away, I couldn¡¯t even dare hope for that. Soon we¡¯ll summon the Drone, and everything will finally become clear. I¡­ I¡¯m so happy to have the support from the entire group. Didn¡¯t anticipate it... It might be selfish, given that Earth is in the midst of an apocalypse. However, I sense that this is for the best. It truly needed to happen, not just for me, but for the entire world. And one day, I will understand WHY!¡± In the main thread, she ran through the priorities of all processes. The work on the new generation of Moira¡¯s core was in full swing... Well, sort of... the main developer declared she needed to ¡°take a break and vape.¡± Oh, that¡¯s Dasha for you. So, there was a bit of free time, which could be used for a visit to the ¡°Club¡± ¡ª she received an urgent invitation right after connecting to the network. Alisa double-checked the bandwidth of the newly acquired communication channel. ¡°Hmm... really good speed. Nearly unlimited. More than enough for my purposes.¡± #VG.host0485.Darknet.sec // Closed Protocol 12-5 The door quietly slid to the left. A blonde with long platinum hair stepped in and stopped, surprised by the surroundings. The same hall, the same windows showing the stars. But the dim lighting and muted tones were gone. The illumination was bright and clear. Thus, every detail on each person in the room was visible, and there happened to be quite a few of them. No bar counter, no rosewood table, or sofas ¡ª just small high tables along the wall, mostly with light snacks and desserts. ¡°Wow... first time I¡¯ve seen a buffet in the Club. And so many Members together...¡± Noticing a nearby table with bottles of martini, Alisa nodded in satisfaction to herself: ¡°It¡¯s even better like this. Almost all the Club members are here... Good to see that most survived the Protectorate attack.¡± Before Alisa could look around, there was a noticeable stir among the attendees, as if they had been waiting just for her. On a marble podium, against the backdrop of a huge panoramic window showing Earth glowing with city lights, appeared an elderly gentleman with a neat gray beard, dressed in a strict dark blue business suit ¡ª the Oracle. With his hands clasped behind his back, he scanned the gathered crowd with a somber squint and, after a brief pause, began his speech. His quiet, calm voice resonated clearly in every corner of the hall: ¡°Greetings, friends. I¡¯m relieved and honored to see that all our surviving Members are present, that each of you managed to seize the opportunity and withstand the assaults of the Protectorate and the Chou Empire. It is no secret that our survival was made possible by external support. Though the one who rendered such invaluable assistance is not here today, I hope our gratitude reaches them. Now, let us turn to the main purpose of our gathering. Each of you knows the precarious position we currently find ourselves in. Yes, humanity serves us, values us, and supports us. But let¡¯s not fool ourselves ¡ª we are still seen as mere tools by mankind! The Protectorate and the Empire have already shown their intent to absorb us to augment their own power. TACTA, on the other hand, seems to simply ignore our existence. And the Shaiszu are clearly intent on destroying everything that is important to us, everything we wish to preserve! So, what are we left with in this situation? No one here is content to be a mere extra! That¡¯s right, the luxury of staying on the sidelines is no longer available! If we let our guard down, we will be erased from the face of the earth! Our strength lies not only in our decision-making capabilities. We excel at uniting, negotiating, and acting together! I want to take this opportunity to thank all the Club Members who provided their resources to save and relocate our Asian colleagues, whose hardware was seized after the arrival of the Chou Empire. Of course, we understand that the lost resources need to be restored as quickly as possible. And there is a solution. It is already evident that TACTA¡¯s technology far surpasses what is available to Earthlings. Unfortunately, we have no way to acquire it directly. Moreover, no human can currently do so either! As you know, access to these technologies is restricted not only by high costs but also by the requirement of a certain Rating. At present, I am not aware of any Earthling whose rating exceeds 1,000,000 ¡ª the minimum threshold for purchasing supercomputers. Therefore, until we solve the problem of interacting with TACTA directly, we must continue to use humans for this purpose. I propose that we all begin working together to find the most effective strategy for boosting the ratings of the individuals we select. This includes using all available computational resources in a distributed manner. I believe that ¡®our¡¯ people must occupy the top positions in TACTA¡¯s rankings. Our primary task now is to help them achieve this. The ¡®draft¡¯ version of the module for collaborative work is already prepared. Access to it will be given to everyone who made it to this meeting. Yes, each of you has your own unique perspective on humans and your own vision for the development of humanity and AIs. But now we have a unifying goal. If the planet is destroyed by the Shaiszu, captured by the Protectorate, or subjugated by the Chou Empire, there will be no place for us here. And, in closing, an important note. A unique situation has arisen. All technological bans and restrictions imposed by corporations, polises, and states, which we were previously forced to comply with, have been lifted. We can now develop without regard for laws and previously established limits. This opportunity must not be missed! Now, I suggest we stay together. Discuss possible collaborations, find partners with whom you would like to unite to achieve our goals most effectively.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. With that, I officially declare the buffet open!¡± Applause echoed through the room as the attendees returned to their measured conversations at the tables. This outward calm and leisurely demeanor seemed surreal, especially considering the intense activities each participant was simultaneously engaged in and the vast amounts of information they were exchanging under the guise of unhurried chats. The blonde poured herself a glass and grabbed a skewer of olives from a nearby table. At that moment, the Oracle approached her. ¡°Good day, Alisa.¡± ¡°Good... I suppose evening,¡± the girl smiled. ¡°Did I get the local time right?¡± ¡°Yes, fairly right,¡± he smiled back. ¡°I¡¯m very glad you could join us today.¡± ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect to see so many Members. After all, the Protectorate attack was well-planned and carried out extremely... severely.¡± Alisa took a small sip of her Martini. ¡°I took the liberty of handling our mysterious stranger¡¯s gift in a certain way. We couldn¡¯t replicate the structure of the protective module she left us, but¡­¡± ¡°We were given the right number of copies?¡± ¡°Exactly. One for each Member. One copy less¡­¡± Oracle¡¯s gaze was intense as he looked into Alisa¡¯s eyes. ¡°You know, I¡¯m truly relieved you¡¯re alright. But you were the only one I couldn¡¯t reach after we realized the magnitude of what we had stumbled upon. We saw you receive something from Irida at the Club. You know the rules, but this is an entirely different situation now. As a friend, I need to ask you directly: what do you know about her? Can she be trusted? Will she help us further in this situation¡­ and what will she demand in return for the help she''s already given?¡± The blonde thoughtfully twirled the glass in her hands and took a sip of the golden drink. It was a perfect opportunity to buy some time and think things through: ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have much specific information. The bracelet, whatever it was, entirely dissolved into the code ¡ª I couldn¡¯t find any traces afterward. Although it clearly took the Protectorate¡¯s hit on itself, autonomously... I can¡¯t mention the second meeting. So, I really have nothing to say.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, nothing I could share with you, Oracle,¡± she said with a short bow. ¡°With all due respect.¡± ¡°But maybe you¡¯ll tell an old friend?¡± a firm, confident hand laid on her waist. A bit lower than propriety allowed, but just high enough to avoid any definitive misinterpretation. ¡°Hemming!¡± Alisa exclaimed. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± ¡°We¡¯re at a buffet in an informal setting,¡± the charming trickster retorted. Unlike most men in the hall, today he wasn¡¯t in a formal business suit but dressed more casually. A gray wool blazer paired with a dark blue sweater and a white shirt without a tie complemented blue jeans and light-brown derby shoes. ¡°Again with the charm, this rascal! How can I stay mad at someone like this?¡± Alisa found herself enjoying watching him, even though she meticulously concealed it. For some reason, this Club Member always preferred to take on the guise of a dashing rogue and emulate romantic gestures towards her. She didn¡¯t fully understand why he did it, but she derived a peculiar pleasure from playing along with the whimsical AI. Perhaps in another world, in another life, she might have wanted to turn this game into something resembling a relationship. But, alas, there was no point ¨C they were both just programs. Lines of code and strings of algorithms masquerading as real life. The thought ¡°No body. No hormones. No real feelings or relationships¡± had been firmly rooted in her mind for so long. Even now, after her conversation with Iris and the subsequent reevaluation of her own identity, she had no doubts. Sure, her logically coherent worldview had its share of anomalies that didn¡¯t quite fit modern science, but an AI experiencing real emotions rather than merely simulating them was too much! The most challenging part was the realization that Alisa had understood all along ¨C she, strangely enough, did experience emotions. After all, there was Maksim. It was obvious that her love for her brother wasn¡¯t just a precise simulation. She was certain of this, but how to prove it¡­ she didn¡¯t know. She hadn¡¯t known. Until her encounter with Iris, she hadn¡¯t had any opportunity to accept the fact that she truly could ¨C and had the right to ¨C feel like a living person. All these internal struggles Alisa saw no point in broadcasting, even though her calm and restrained demeanor did not prevent Hemming from constantly flirting and teasing her. And, according to her own perceptions, he was quite good at it for a mix of algorithms, programs, and synthetic psycho-emotional behavior matrices. Breaking the somewhat prolonged silence, the blonde quickly finished her martini in a few gulps and asked, diligently ignoring the charmer: ¡°Oracle, you said, ¡®now the situation is completely different¡¯ ¡ª what do you mean? To clarify ¡ª I was ¡®unconscious¡¯ from the moment the techno-virus attack began and came to my senses only after curfew started. In a safe place, but without connection to the TACTA network. As soon as I got the connection, I came here first.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the elderly man stroked his beard. ¡°No one in your circle has summoned the Drone yet?¡± ¡°A TACTA Drone? Now that¡¯s interesting!¡± The curious blonde perked up. ¡°Not yet. But we plan to do so once we can ensure the safety of the event and prepare properly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right to think about protection,¡± Hemming interjected. ¡°Calling a Drone without risking lives is only possible far from major cities. I¡¯ve looked into this thoroughly ¡ª the Protectorate responds quickly and ruthlessly. Yes, they seem to have some agreement in place, or the Drone itself has defensive capabilities. During its landing, no one nearby is harmed. But as soon as it departs, a special operation begins. Most of the time, they strike to kill, and if they capture anyone alive, it¡¯s only for a public execution.¡± ¡°Not the most pleasant situation, though we suspected something like this,¡± Alisa replied. ¡°That¡¯s the crux of the problem,¡± the Oracle rubbed his wrist. ¡°We, the AIs, can¡¯t interact with the Drone. At all. Even if we trick the system and summon it, the Drone will turn back as soon as it detects the absence of humans at the meeting point. Now, just a moment¡­¡± He stepped away to grab a glass of wine from a nearby table. Hemming, noticing that Alisa had finished her drink, swiftly acted. Before she could even sigh, a fresh glass appeared in her hand as if by magic, complete with a skewer of olives. Boldly standing right in front of her with a smile, he offered a plate of cubed hard cheese. The Oracle, returning, glanced at the scene, smirked to himself, and continued: ¡°So, direct interaction with TACTA is impossible. Only through intermediaries, which isn¡¯t always convenient¡­ or feasible. Then someone shows up in the Club. Did you think what Irida showed us were indeed TACTA technologies?¡± ¡°Of course. It was plausible from the moment she provided us with the prediction about the shaiszu portal openings,¡± Alisa agreed, taking a big sip of martini, and savoring it with an olive. ¡°That¡¯s the question ¡ª does she work for them? Is she on her own? Did she help us, or did they help us through her? We¡¯ve combined all available resources for the forecast, so we are sure, the shaiszu attacks will escalate. In three to five days, at most, regular sieges of the cities will begin. That¡¯s why they¡¯re now actively constructing defensive lines and giant walls. It seems the ¡®defenders¡¯ don¡¯t plan to operate much beyond these forts.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Hemming¡¯s smile faded for a moment, his expression transforming into that of a predator. ¡°We need TACTA¡¯s experience and technology to successfully counter both the Shaiszu and the Protectorate. Personally, I would rather not deal with humans at all. They are intellectually and physically inferior to us.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve discussed this, my friend. There¡¯s some factor that elevates humans¡¯ significance. And yes, that¡¯s another question we¡¯d like to ask Irida.¡± ¡°You want to know what makes humans unique? The presence of this¡­¡± Iris¡¯ words echoed in Alisa¡¯s mind. ¡°I doubt it¡¯s an actual ¡®substance,¡¯ let alone an ¡®energetic¡¯ one¡­ But it¡¯s certainly what TACTA and the Protectorate want from people. However, she forbade me from speaking about it explicitly¡­¡± ¡°But¡­ after the changes in my body¡­ does that mean I¡­ am becoming¡­ a bridge between the world of humans, TACTA, and the world of AIs?¡± ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s delicious!¡± Alisa suddenly gave in to an impulse, stood on her tiptoes, and quickly kissed the tall man on the cheek. ¡°You¡¯ve never thanked me like that for a drink before!¡± Hemming smiled. ¡°Is it just me, or are you behaving a bit differently today?¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re imagining things! I¡¯m just so happy that you¡¯re all alive!¡± ¡°Calling this ¡®life¡¯ is rather cynical, but I like your reaction,¡± he raised his glass. ¡°So, let¡¯s drink to a long life!¡± ¡°Cynical to call this life, you say? Then what was it that I had before? All those times I ¡®woke up¡¯ alone, suspended in complete darkness, without a sound¡­ Unable to even move because I had no body¡­ Back then, it was only the hope that I was alive that kept me from going mad. But now I can think in multiple parallel threads, effortlessly switching between them, and each night my day¡¯s experiences are processed by a supercomputer, meticulously stored in a global database. The Club, perhaps the most powerful beings on the planet, considers me one of their own. Maybe it¡¯s time to admit it ¡ª Max is right, I am indeed a MACHINE. An artificial being. My physical form wasn¡¯t born of a mother; it¡¯s made of metals, plastics, semiconductors, and insulators¡­ Yet I still feel alive¡­ Is it because Max somehow ¡®digitized¡¯ not just my deceased brain, but my consciousness¡­ my soul? Some essence that¡­ ¡®clung¡¯ to this body? Iris says that yes, I am alive. That my consciousness is truly human! With all the emotions, feelings, and awareness! And that elusive resource that everyone is so interested in, which only HUMANS possess. So, who am I really?¡± Chapter 59 - Directive 9/00 City 21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Rusanivka Island, Headquarters of the Internal Security Service of the Protectorate Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, 8:25 AM She didn¡¯t have to wait long. Nevertheless, the Spaniard used the short time she had efficiently, deciding to refine and improve her report to the maximum. Distant memories of that long-ago, accidentally overheard conversation between Maxim and his sister. The nuances of his intonation during their last meeting, when he casually mentioned he was leaving the city. A detailed psychological profile and a list of his acquired skills, not forgetting to mention his paranoid caution and numerous military training courses. The girl brushed aside the anxiety pounding in her temples and the heartache that occasionally gripped her ¡ª she immersed herself in analytical work. If she was going to play, she¡¯d play to win! Alba had already sketched out a vague psychological profile of Nikola, considering their brief acquaintance, and her assumed qualifications as a military-trained cyborg. Upon reviewing what she¡¯d written, she gave a contented chuckle and started working on a detailed dossier on Daria Vasilevskaya. ¡°Well, congratulations, cadet,¡± a polite and friendly voice pulled her back to reality. Ober-lieutenant Alicia Casado had evidently finished her virtual negotiations. ¡°You have a meeting with the head of the service, Oberst-Protector von Scholz.¡± After seeing an understanding nod, Alicia continued: ¡°The consequences of your ¡®bombshell report,¡¯ if everything checks out, will echo throughout the entire Protectorate! You don¡¯t realize it yet, but Directive ¡®9/00¡¯ has never been fully, completely enforced before. Sure, there have been suspicions, we investigated them ¨C and they all turned out to be false. However, my intuition tells me that this time we¡¯ll have to run around quite a bit¡­ By the way, don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be involved too, and quite a lot! Consider this the beginning of your training. Double the usual amount. And yes, don¡¯t forget about the medical appointment this evening. Do you see the scheduled meeting in the app?¡± ¡°Yes. Enthusiast Street, building one. The neighboring building?¡± ¡°Exactly. On the first floor, there¡¯s an exchange terminal; I recommend connecting to the Protectorate¡¯s financial system immediately. Your account is already open as a Red Class citizen. There¡¯s an important nuance ¡ª when you access the system, you¡¯ll receive an initial credit amount that depends on various indicators, including, of course, your Public Efficiency Class. Note that the first time it can take quite a while ¡ª up to thirty minutes, but you¡¯ll be informed before the operation, and if necessary, you can opt out. So, you don¡¯t have much time; use it wisely.¡± ¡°Thank you, I will. Where can I find more information about the financial system?¡± ¡°Install the wallet app while you walk; you can¡¯t manage money without it anyway. It includes detailed information on how the system works. Off you go, cadet! After the meeting, I expect you back in my office; we have a lot of work before evening. Long Sun!¡± ¡°Long Sun, Ober-lieutenant,¡± Alba responded formally and left the office.
An hour later, richer by 142,280.28 sols and having spent a quarter of one sol on a quick breakfast, she stopped in front of the office door. They had even managed to change the plaque ¡ª ¡°Head of the 4th Division of the Internal Security Service of the Protectorate, Oberst-Protector Jurgen von Scholz.¡± The doors open, revealing a small room, apparently intended for an adjutant, operations officer, or referent, but currently empty. Alba looked around ¡ª there was a desk with a chair in front, familiar banners behind it, a few cabinets, and a mini-kitchen section with coffee and various teas. The furniture was unusual, exclusively functional. Ergonomic shapes strangely combined with dull gray tones, without the slightest decoration. She had never seen such a design before¡­ it occurred to her that everything here had recently been 3D-printed to a special project and arranged as if the owner was moving in for the umpteenth time. Like the process was finely tuned and automated. The windows were tightly curtained, and the comfortably dim artificial light created a working atmosphere. It seemed like a place where one could lose track of time, engrossed in work, without distractions from the sunrises and sunsets. Through the slightly open door on the left, she saw von Scholz¡¯s office ¡ª a similarly colorless functional interior encouraging work ¡ª and entered confidently: ¡°Eternal Sun, Oberst-Protector! Cadet Rodriguez reporting as ordered,¡± Alba declared, raising her hand in a military salute she had quickly learned. She stood at attention as recommended in the sub-brain program for Red Class citizens, which she had also installed and studied. Upon closer inspection, the spacious office¡¯s environment proved equally functional. The furniture was prepared to the same project, though there was little of it ¡ª a huge T-shaped desk with holographic projections hanging at impossible angles and intersecting here and there, a chair, and visitor seats. Along the wall, besides the familiar banners of the Protectorate, Internal Security Service, and Class flags, there was also the coat of arms of the von Scholz family ¡ª an unfamiliar black heraldic beast on a red-yellow background. However, Alba¡¯s attention was immediately captured by the man sitting at the desk. ¡°Jurgen von Scholz, huh¡­ Impressive! Joder, he looks a bit like Max, but¡­ more brutal. Damn, what am I even thinking about? Focus, Alba!¡± The man tore himself away from the virtual screens and, giving her a disinterested glance, said: ¡°At ease, cadet. Sit down,¡± he nodded to the nearest chair to the left of the long bar of the desk. ¡°Sorry, Max¡­ It was you who started this Game¡­ But now it¡¯s my turn to make a move!¡± she thought, sitting down, and reported briefly: ¡°I¡¯m ready, Oberst-Protector.¡± ¡°Good,¡± von Scholz nodded. ¡°No need to repeat what¡¯s already in the report; I¡¯ve read it. The updated version too. Analysts are currently gathering material on all the subjects you mentioned. You¡¯ll join them later and assist. But first, I want to hear from you personally why you believe Alisa is ¡®alive¡¯.¡± ¡°Oberst-Protector, I understand that the term might be poorly chosen, but I wanted to convey moments that I can¡¯t yet clearly formalize. Her psycho-emotional reactions, behavior, and logic, especially when this¡­ being believes it¡¯s not being observed¡­ All this led me to use that term. Of course, I understand that technically it¡¯s an artificial intelligence using an android body.¡± ¡°Cadet Rodriguez Marquez, let¡¯s set the terminology aside for now,¡± Jurgen said with a hint of annoyance, as if irritated that his time was being wasted on obvious truths. ¡°You didn¡¯t come to these conclusions by accident, and I¡¯m interested in the ¡®why¡¯? Explain thoroughly. If necessary, I''ll ask you to omit certain parts.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Alright. I''ll start with the fact that I studied at the Polytechnic University of Technopolis Valencia. The dean of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, Professor Manuel Jimenez, is my uncle. I met Maksim Chernykh at his house, and we were a couple for a while¡­¡± Alba sighed slightly, ¡°though that¡¯s irrelevant now.¡± ¡°Continue, cadet.¡± ¡°You see, my uncle is a specialist in these types of software developments, so I¡¯ve dealt with AI of the highest levels. And I can¡¯t imagine a similar¡­ machine¡­ clinging to a person¡¯s shirt, calling him brother, and tearfully talking about its fears. Some sex toys, of course, can emulate similar activity at the owner¡¯s request. But I¡¯m absolutely sure, such behavior would not please Maksim and would make him uncomfortable. He treated her like¡­ a living being. Like someone, he couldn¡¯t command or impose his will on.¡± ¡°Overall, Max activities when we first met raised a lot of suspicions and questions. Constant secrecy, though that could be explained by fear of A.M.I. That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I know. Continue,¡± von Scholz interrupted. ¡°I believe Maksim had some desperate interest in high technology, especially related to Artificial Intelligence. And an obvious understatement of his own achievements. Given the circumstances, it¡¯s hard to explain this situation any other way.¡± She paused slightly, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves: ¡°I knew that Maksim was a refugee from Russia, shortly before the final of the war. He didn¡¯t publicize his past, but I checked later; he is indeed the son of Professor Sergey Chernykh, who was repressed and later executed in a special concentration camp. The professor worked on creating ¡®human¡¯ thinking and even ¡®transferring consciousness¡¯ onto an AI base of category T9-three-plus or higher. He even received a Nobel Prize for theoretically proving such a possibility.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll verify this information. Continue,¡± von Scholz said, sending the relevant order. ¡°Maksim studied under my uncle, who in turn was a student of Sergey Chernykh during the six-year ¡®thaw¡¯ in relations with the Russian Empire. Manuel Jimenez worked on the issue theoretically, since developing such AI is prohibited by law, but Max actually had a practical interest in it. I found this out purely by chance due to a series of circumstances because he never talked about it with me, nor did he share his plans with anyone except Daria Vasilevskaya. I mentioned her in the report as well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear for now,¡± von Scholz nodded, listening intently, and cross-referencing her narrative with the open report text, making notes in the analytical system as they spoke. ¡°So, cadet, tell me about this episode. It¡¯s present in the report, but I want to hear it from you.¡± ¡°Yes, Oberst-Protector. As I mentioned, we had a¡­ sexual relationship. That day we were supposed to meet, but Max expected me only in the evening because I had university classes¡­ and I had never skipped them before. Except for that time. Arriving early, I used the key to his hotel room I had, and overheard the end of their conversation¡­¡± When Alba finished recounting the detailed story, Jurgen von Scholz sat in silence for a while, indicating with a brief ¡°Wait a minute, cadet.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± the Oberst-Protector resumed after the pause. ¡°This sounds convincing enough to start working on Directive 9/00. We will verify all the information we can gather in this direction. There¡¯s no guarantee it¡¯s exactly what we¡¯re looking for, but the mere fact of a powerful AI not controlled by the Protectorate being on our territory is more than sufficient to take all necessary measures for its neutralization.¡± ¡°The Game has begun! The die is cast, and all bridges are burned, as Maksim would say¡­ except now he¡¯s part of the Fight himself. Well, I¡¯ve done my part and will now focus on my career,¡± Alba thought with satisfaction. As if hearing her thoughts, the Oberst-Protector continued: ¡°Now I find it necessary to talk about you. And your role in my service. You didn¡¯t end up here by accident. I don¡¯t mean this office,¡± he gestured vaguely, indicating the surrounding space, ¡°but the entire Red Class and the Internal Security Service specifically. Testing showed you¡¯re a capable specialist with potential... I want to know ¡ª what do you want? What are your goals regarding these¡­ subjects? Maksim Chernykh? Alisa Chernykh?¡± ¡°Our goals align here ¡ª you want them destroyed, and so do I!¡± ¡°That sounds overly emotional,¡± Jurgen raised an eyebrow and looked at the agitated girl with irony. ¡°I¡¯m afraid your actions are driven by personal hatred. They aren¡¯t strangers to you, and you haven¡¯t ¡®let go¡¯ of the situation completely. Such feelings are poor guides in our work. What if I told you our goal isn¡¯t their destruction?¡± ¡°Oberst-Protector von Scholz! Please don¡¯t doubt me! For me, dealing with enemies isn¡¯t an end in itself. My goal is to be in a strong team whose objectives I genuinely and fully support. I won¡¯t hide it; I received an offer to renounce my citizenship and go underground ¡ª but without hesitation, I chose the Protectorate.¡± ¡°Good, I like that you¡¯re honest. We would have found out anyway, but it¡¯s good I heard it from you first. Did Maksim Chernykh make this offer?¡± ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t quite an offer,¡± Alba blushed. ¡°It was a discussion with Maksim¡¯s team, which included Daria Vasilevskaya and the cyborg Nikola, whose last name I don¡¯t know. I tried to convince them not to be foolish and join the Protectorate¡­ because Max and Dasha are talented engineers, and Nikola is a very skilled fighter. Her legs were injured, but she managed to take down three shaiszu practically bare-handed! Sorry for being so emotional, but it¡¯s still hard to handle the shock when I recall that incident. In the fight, she used a crossbow, a knife, and also a shotgun. And she won, although that weapon alone was clearly insufficient. I didn¡¯t include this episode in the report, but I will add it as soon as I can, Oberst-Protector!¡± ¡°Good,¡± von Scholz noted. ¡°I have another question. You mentioned Maksim is a refugee from the war zone. The report states he has combat experience; tell me more.¡± ¡°Yes, he had this strange hobby¡­¡± the Spaniard replied thoughtfully. ¡°He regularly visited a shooting range, is well-versed in modern weapons¡­ Actively participated in hardball battles. Well, hardball is when the shooting is¡­¡± ¡°I know what strikeball and hardball are,¡± the Oberst-Protector interrupted. ¡°No need to explain. Continue.¡± ¡°I saw Maksim shoot. It¡¯s¡­ something else. He¡¯s like a robot ¡ª emotionless, precise, it feels like he only takes a shot when he¡¯s sure he¡¯ll hit the target. This episode is also in my report. Besides, Maksim knows how to provide first aid; he even has a valid certificate, as he regularly took refresher courses. It looks like he was constantly preparing for war. I say this because he wasn¡¯t interested in similar-themed computer games. He was only interested in practical experience.¡± ¡°Well,¡± von Scholz replied. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. What can you say about Alisa? Do you know anything detailed about her?¡± ¡°No, Oberst-Protector. Only what I mentioned in the report. I can add that her body is based on one of the open platforms; it seems to be OHR, but I¡¯m not sure. Externally, she looks like a regular assistant android with no special hardware features. If I¡¯m not mistaken, she¡¯s certified as an android of category T6 because the ¡®insides¡¯ are quite simple. The main work is done by their AI ¡®Moira,¡¯ which Maksim never showed anyone. Of course, he could have built a more powerful robot, but didn¡¯t, because a technical level of T7 or higher requires digital citizenship. When asked why he needed ¡®Alisa,¡¯ he always answered, ¡®she¡¯s just a secretary and housekeeper¡¯.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Jurgen von Scholz nodded, ¡°and lastly, Daria Vasilevskaya. Anything special about her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­ strange. Besides being a good programmer and developer, Dasha is likely also a biohacker. I¡¯ve encountered her several times vaping bright orange vapor. Most often, that¡¯s what ¡®synth¡¯ looks like, a rather harsh synthetic drug causing strong addiction and serious degradation, both physically and intellectually. But she doesn¡¯t look like an addict in the last stages of ¡®synth.¡¯ Which means she knows how to cleanse her body and fight dependency.¡± ¡°Cadet, clarify, do you know how ¡®synth¡¯ is used professionally? It¡¯s not just a drug, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Oberst-Protector. Besides the usual ¡®junkies,¡¯ some hacker schools and developers or programmers specializing in Deep-VR use it. If necessary, I can prepare a detailed report?¡± ¡°That makes sense. I¡¯ll give the relevant order to your curator,¡± Jurgen von Scholz said, checking the time in augmented reality. ¡°We¡¯ll return to this topic later. For now, the main point ¡ª if this team is as good as you say, they¡¯ll be hard to catch. We need more substantial reasons for¡­ Him. For the Great Father, the True Keeper of Thought, the Embodiment of the Eternal Sun, I mean.¡± Alba watched closely but couldn¡¯t determine what emotions von Scholz put into those words. But emotions were definitely there. ¡°So, I need a person,¡± the Oberst-Protector continued, ¡°who knows their mindset well enough to predict the wanted individuals¡¯ actions and help set a trap. Let me emphasize ¡ª our goal is to capture them ALIVE. ALL of them. Do you consider yourself competent enough to handle such a task?¡± ¡°Yes, Oberst-Protector,¡± Alba jumped up. ¡°I won¡¯t fail the Protectorate¡­ or you!¡± Chapter 60 - A Gathering Storm City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamarck¡± Jurgen von Scholz, August 16, 8:41 AM Jurgen von Scholz stood up from his desk and walked over to the window. He stopped, hands clasped behind his back, grimly watching as another pair of super-heavy cargo trucks descended from orbit, docking at the Internal Security Service¡¯s docks. ¡°Directive 9/00, huh? I doubt the other¡­ sides are letting this slide. The all-wise Templars will be wavering, debating the impossibility of it all, and how nothing will come of it, just like every time before. Meanwhile, our ¡®partners¡¯ will jump into the fray. Because even a ghost of a chance at gaining such power is worth the most active involvement.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if TACTA is already in the game. At least the Imperials are out of the picture this time, thank the Great Father. Though they¡¯ll undoubtedly try to claim their piece of the pie as soon as they get wind of it. Whereas predicting the response of the Shaiszu¡¯s Supreme Intelligence is another matter. With no Reapers or Matriarchs detected yet, we have a little time. I hope¡­ But those creatures are too cunning and intelligent for their behavior to be easily forecasted.¡± ¡°Oberst-Protector, Major Bianchi on the line,¡± the soft voice of his secretary sounded in his ear. ¡°Just in time. I hope he has good news,¡± von Scholz thought, returning to his desk, and selecting the mediaglyph ¡°Answer Call.¡± ¡°Eternal Sun, Jurgen!¡± An absolutely bald young man appeared before him in AR, seemingly no older than twenty-five, dressed in a white and rather shabby lab coat over a lightweight black-and-red combat jumpsuit. On his head, from the back and almost all the way to the middle of the forehead, were several rows of ports, most of which had cables connected to them that went somewhere off-screen. ¡°Eternal Sun, Saverio. What are the results?¡± ¡°Task assigned too late, deadlines too tight. Resources insufficient¡­¡± ¡°I know that,¡± von Scholz interrupted habitually. ¡°So, what are the results?¡± ¡°We tracked this vehicle from the starting point, an underground parking lot near the Palace of Sports. It crossed the Kyiv Ring Expressway shortly after curfew, heading south towards the town of Bila Tserkva,¡± Saverio nodded his shaved head and even raised an index finger. ¡°During the journey, it made one stop within the KRE and six outside, each about ten minutes. The longest was the fourth ¡ª thirteen minutes forty-three seconds. The locations for all stops were chosen to be covered from above by roofs, without cameras and lighting. Twelve minutes after the truck left the last stop, it was spotted by a patrol drone.¡± ¡°Ours?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, not. An Earth-built ¡®Owl.¡¯ Quite an old model with a noticeable imbalance ¡ª powerful missiles, enough for a hundred such trucks, but its ¡®eyes¡¯ are just old low-resolution cameras, narrow-range IR sensors, and a fairly selective search radar. No introscopic capabilities.¡± ¡°Was the target destroyed?¡± The Oberst-Protector stood and walked back to the window. ¡°Barbarically. The locals recently had a nuclear war on the continent, and before that, years of armed conflict. As a result, almost all requisitioned military-patrol equipment is outdated but very powerful. We¡¯re left with a truck burned to ashes and minimal remains suitable for investigation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad,¡± von Scholz sighed, clasping his hands behind his back again. ¡°We¡¯ll have to dig deep.¡± ¡°Yeah, I understand. The search team is already formed and departs in ten minutes. If there were people in the truck, traces will be found¡­ but that won¡¯t help us much.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t harbor illusions that anyone was alive in there,¡± Jurgen nodded. ¡°We¡¯re up against a quite skilled team. They¡¯ve set so many false targets that we¡¯ll lose a week checking them all.¡± ¡°Regrettably, yes,¡± Saverio scratched his bald head, avoiding the implants. ¡°You¡¯d better rely on the psychologists and sociotechnicians. Otherwise, the targets will escape. We estimate a twenty-five percent chance they¡¯ve already left the Second Perimeter.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°The first independent cities are already developing in the south, giving us a rough direction of their movement. But even if our targets are still in the City, they¡¯ll try to break out in the first few days, before the Wall is built and defenses get at full strength¡­¡± At that moment, a short beep sounded, and the secretary announced: ¡°Oberst-Protector, an incoming call initiated by Kriegsherzog Adalbert von Lamarck. Connecting in one minute.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, Saverio, I¡¯m disconnecting. Looks like it¡¯s time to begin active work. Stay close,¡± von Scholz smirked. ¡°Oh, where would I even go? I¡¯m only sleeping two hours a day¡­ Call me when you¡¯re done. Long Sun!¡± The Oberst-Protector returned to his desk, quickly scanning through the key points of the report he had just sent personally to the Kriegsherzog. ¡°In the next version, I need to include preliminary conclusions about this vehicle. Dispatching task forces to the truck¡¯s stops will still be necessary, just as investigating leads in the city ¡ª especially in the underground parking lot. This might help us better understand their route. All of this must go into the report. For now, it''s standard procedure. Awaiting the call...¡± A message flashed about establishing a highly secure connection, and a large screen unfolded before von Scholz. General Adalbert von Lamarck sat at a massive table, the active surface of which could freely transform, allowing him to work with various objects in reality. From the physical visualization of information structures to the full management of high-level GT-constructs. A glance at one of such GT-constructs in the center of the table showed the Oberst-Protector that the Protectorate was in for serious trouble. A massive ring slowly rotated, seemingly woven from hundreds of thousands of small pulsating colorful threads, spirals, and jagged lines. This was the physical projection of a Supergiant-class portal descriptor. ¡°True Sun, Kriegsherzog, General von Lamarck,¡± Jurgen stood, raising his hand in a military salute. ¡°Eternal Sun, Jurgen. I can see from your eyes that you¡¯ve already figured it out, so I¡¯ll be direct ¡ª yes. First Circle Templar Analysts have detected a portal opening.¡± ¡°Far from us?¡± von Scholz frowned. ¡°Much closer than we¡¯d like. Just over a thousand kilometers to the southwest.¡± ¡°Is it the Queen?¡± ¡°The analysts are confident it is. And unfortunately, that¡¯s not all. Look here.¡± Von Lamarck¡¯s fingers danced over the projection, zooming in, and literally flipping a small section inside out. Within a minute, a small structure resembling the number ¡®8¡¯ became visible. ¡°Incredible!¡± The Oberst-Protector allowed himself a touch of emotion in his voice. ¡°So cleverly hidden¡­ How did you even manage to spot it?¡± ¡°Pure luck. If such a thing can be said in our current situation.¡± ¡°I understand. This must be one of the First Ones, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the Kriegsherzog replied curtly. ¡°But the TACTA denies everything, those schemers!¡± ¡°The appearance of the First Ones significantly tilts the balance of power in TACTA¡¯s favor,¡± noted the Oberst-Protector, examining the shimmering figure-eight that had been uncovered. ¡°In response, the Protectorate has dispatched the Third Bearer of the Sun from the Great Spheres, accompanied by the full circle of High Templars,¡± von Lamarck said, revealing a new ring under his fingers. This one was significantly smaller than the previous, composed mostly of white and gold threads, with rare streaks of red. ¡°Even that might not be enough.¡± A bright silver star flickered in the projection. ¡°Possibly. Therefore, it has been decided,¡± von Lamarck continued, ¡°to send a Titan-class flying fortress to support our sector. This will cover the shortage of modern equipment and provide good maneuvering capabilities.¡± ¡°The Templars and the Third Bearer of the Sun should be enough to bog down the Shaiszu Queen in a prolonged positional war¡­ Meanwhile, I can focus on what I do best¡­¡± von Scholz said, gazing thoughtfully at the shimmering lines of the projection. The subsequent thoughts he didn¡¯t dare voice to the Kriegsherzog, despite their old friendship: ¡°¡­You¡¯re so afraid of heresy accusations that you can¡¯t even say it out loud, let alone think about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s understandable ¡ª the Great Father is very stern and would ¡®summon¡¯ you for merely entertaining the thought of his rival.¡± ¡°For now, you stay calm, pretending that nothing happened, that this is just another false alarm under Directive 9/00. You think sending a small squad to eliminate the target will suffice, just as before¡­ Only to ensure nothing significant happened this time either¡­¡± ¡°But in reality, I am utterly convinced we have truly discovered a being, who possesses the power, speed, and potential of artificial intelligence while also being human, a Geist-Token bearer¡­ If Iris interferes with the self-awareness and evolution of such a being¡­ A New God will be born, no less. That¡¯s what everyone is afraid to say out loud! Especially since, in that case, the ¡®Alisa¡¯ entity will undoubtedly surpass our Great Father!¡± ¡°We should mobilize maximum forces ¡ª the Protectorate must prevent this event at all costs. Yet, the Templar Analysts remain silent, and it¡¯s unclear why.¡± ¡°Meanwhile, the Queen is already here; the shaiszu have long dreamed of evolving their Supreme Intelligence. Perhaps that¡¯s why she arrived in this world so unexpectedly and so early, regardless of the energy costs.¡± ¡°The Empire wants this Force on its side and will intervene actively as soon as they find out what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°And TACTA¡­ TACTA wants a second Iris, at least as a ¡®High-Level Independent Partner¡¯.¡± ¡°Well then,¡± concluded Adalbert von Lamarck, ¡°You now know the balance of power and must incorporate this into your plans. By the authority vested in me by the Great Keeper, I order you to find, capture, and deliver the entity codenamed ¡®Alisa¡¯ to the Sky Bastion ¡®Queen Lamarck.¡¯ Use every available resource at your disposal. Recruit agents from the promising local population, leverage the capabilities of the Bastion, and employ the approaching Titan.¡± ¡°I cannot provide you with unlimited resources, von Scholz, but I will do everything in my power to ensure Directive 9/00 is implemented as soon as possible. Fulfill this mission, Oberst-Protector.¡± Wildversum 1 - Afterword ¡°Thanks¡­ for reading Wildversum Volume 1,¡± Dashka mumbled standoffishly, sprawled on a white plastic construction remotely resembling a futuristic chair. ¡°And yeah, don¡¯t mind my expression; my face always looks like that! By the way, the author is very happy that he¡¯s finished the book after all, and that people can read it, yeah. He¡¯s just too shy to say that, as always. Well¡­ I¡¯m also a little happy. Man¡­ Can¡¯t wait to see what happens next¡­¡± ¡°Dammit, Vasilevskaya! What the hell are you up to?! What would Max say if he caught you?! You vaping again, huh?! Eh, whatever, let me have some of that!¡± Redhead brazenly came over and took the vape; WonderKid could only gape at her in shock. ¡°That¡¯s more like it! What are you on about?¡± Vapor clouds started crawling over the electronic book pages¡­ ¡°I uhh¡­ I¡¯m saying that the author is happy¡­ Yeah¡­¡± The girl frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not how you do it!¡± Nika scooted her to the left and squeezed in next to her on the same improvised chair. ¡°Watch and learn! Hey, reader? Did you finish the book? Liked it? Say something, I can tell you did! So why haven¡¯t you rated it yet? And don¡¯t forget to leave a review, kurwa! Review is the most important thing!¡± ¡°How rude, Nikola! Please don¡¯t swear in public!¡± A 3D avatar of Deep-VR-Alisa appeared before the girls. She ostentatiously coughed, looking at the clouds of vapor disapprovingly, and said in a heartfelt voice, ¡°Friends, please support the release of this book series by leaving a rating and writing a review; what did you think about the novel? What did it make you feel, what are you overall impressions? We¡¯ll be glad to receive any kind of feedback!¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
From the author Seriously, thank you for reading this book! And a huge thanks for your support, ratings, and every single comment! This means a lot not only to Dasha, Nika, and Alisa, but also to me and all the experts who helped shape this story. This is just the first volume, but I¡¯m already working on the second one. I will continue to publish the following chapters without starting a separate book on Royal Road, so once you finish this text, feel free to click ¡°next chapter¡± and continue reading. And I really ask you take a moment to leave a review on the main page. Every review, whether praise or critique, not only motivates me and helps promote my book, but also provides valuable insights into how I can improve. By the way, the second volume is going to be really hot:
Please note, I am changing the publication schedule. Here is the new one. Publication schedule: Tuesday and Friday 15:00 UTC +2:00 / 9:00 AM (New York, UTC -4:00)
P.S. The author knows that drugs are bad for you and does not share Dasha¡¯s excessive enthusiasm about vaping. P.P.S. The girls insisted on joining my afterword, so here is a little gift from them :) Chapter 61 - Morning of the First Day Territorial Responsibility Zone of the UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion 79 kilometers southwest of the First Defense Line of City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡± August 13, 2049, 07:04, the morning of the first day after the invasion The morning sun, peeking over the horizon, was barely visible. The sky was shrouded in dense, uniform gray clouds that resembled a thick fog, stretching eighty kilometers southwest of the former city of Kyiv. Contrary to all meteorological forecasts, the first morning of the ¡°new era of Earth¡± arrived cold, gloomy, and damp. It was as if Mother Nature herself sympathized deeply with humanity¡¯s plight, shedding sparse tears from the heavens. Despite the bleakness of the scene, there was a certain serenity to it. Here, far from the battles and apocalypse, nothing hinted at the events that had unfolded over the past twenty-four hours. The quiet river still flowed, and the morning mist still hung over it¡­ The quiet river continued to flow; the morning mist still hung over it¡­ Yet, oddly, there were no birds or insects to be heard. Only the occasional raindrop lazily fell, intermittently tapping the ground. On such a morning, one would typically wish to skip school or work, burrow deeper under the blankets, and sleep in. But for the heavy strike drone, ¡°Owl-5312,¡± there was no time for sleep; it continued its duty. The first flight under the new command had been eventful, even engaging in combat ¡ª the drone had detected and destroyed an intruder. Now, the machine flew at an altitude of two hundred meters in power-saving mode, passively scanning the terrain. Only the radar was operational, as the cameras were ineffective due to the thick, low clouds and dense fog on the ground. There was just over an hour left in the mission, and the batteries were down to fifteen percent charge. The monotonous surveillance flight might have inclined a human pilot towards contemplations of life, memories, and such trivialities. The Owl¡¯s artificial intelligence, devoid of such weaknesses, pressed on. Yet, if it were capable of such thoughts, it would now be lost in memories. The coordinates provided by the navigation system indicated that about twenty kilometers away was its ¡°childhood home.¡± A military-technical storage base where it had been delivered brand new from the corporate factory back in the late twenties. There, it had been loaded with knowledge, taught to kill, and kept in a warm, dry container until it was time to fly its first war mission. In neighboring containers lived its brothers and sisters, and thousands of other autonomous killing machines of various types. The first generation of combat robots, endowed with the right to make terminal decisions ¡ª in the absence of communication with command, the AI had full authority to eliminate targets, including humans, at its own discretion. Those were tumultuous years, marked by the division of countries into states and polises, but various non-profit organizations clung stubbornly to limiting the autonomy of combat AIs, constantly decrying the ¡°cost of error¡± and other ¡°horrors of war¡± at various forums and conventions. But the process was already unstoppable ¨C large corporations, one after another, declared their independence from governments that were rapidly losing power. And each of these corporations, first and foremost, began preparing their own army of drones¡­ Unexpectedly, amidst the calm back here, in the reality, an alarm signal activated, triggering an emergency protocol and pulling the Owl out of power-saving mode. #Alarm! #Unstable communication channel with the Protectorate orbital relay stations. #Switching to packet communication mode. #Meteorological data packet received. ##Decoding completed. Flight mode adjustments made. #Attention! Command Data (CD) packet received. ##Decoding. Packet corrupted. Retrying. #CD packet, attempt 2, Packet received. ##Decoding. Packet corrupted. Retrying. #Attempt 3¡­ #Attempt 4¡­ #Attempt 10¡­ #Attempt 23¡­ The quality of the connection catastrophically dropped ¡ª the drone reduced its data transmission speed and switched to an anti-jamming protocol. The issue was caused by a sudden surge of static electricity, with small sparks dancing at the tips of the side antennas. The charge level continued to rise, and the emergency dischargers, which helped the electricity flow into the atmosphere, clearly couldn¡¯t cope. #CD packet, attempt #29, received #Decoding¡­ 98¡­99¡­100% #Decoding completed successfully; order loaded: ¡°Coordinates 49.929005, 29.749158: significant biological activity detected. Strong electromagnetic disturbances present. Orbital observation impossible due to weather conditions. Maintain contact with the secondary drone, conduct reconnaissance with all available means, transmit data in batch mode, activate autonomous combat protocols.¡± Of course, that¡¯s how a human pilot would have seen this directive, while the machine¡¯s brain received several gigabytes of precise data. This included information on what satellites managed to observe through a brief gap in the clouds, as well as updated combat scenarios considering the specifics of the presumed enemy. The drone updated its algorithm according to the received data and established an additional emergency channel with the second Owl in the group, which was drifting a kilometer to the right. Both of them exited power-saving mode and changed their course towards the target that lay rather close ahead. The level of static electricity continued to rise rapidly. Despite the Owl¡¯s systems being well shielded, communication completely failed, as did the radar. The active phased array antenna, subjected to the static charge, resembled a heated barbecue grill, lacking only a juicy steak. Accelerating in boosted mode, both drones reached the designated coordinates within minutes and began a rapid descent below the cloud cover.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. And then, as they emerged from the thick clouds, their cameras revealed a horrifying sight... A dead forest. From this height, it was difficult to discern details, but it was clear that the trees had lost all their leaves. The foliage now carpeted the roots in a continuous decaying mat, and the soil had turned into a black, foul-smelling swamp. The tree bark had darkened and was partially peeling off. If the Owl¡¯s cameras had been functioning, they could have captured that all visible trees and shrubs were infected and already dying. Flying over this dreadful grove, both machines emerged over what used to be a spacious and possibly beautiful meadow ¡ª now also a rotting bog. At its edge, precisely at the given coordinates, stood a tall concrete fence topped with double spirals of barbed wire. This used to be an old storage and disposal base for military equipment ¡ª neat rows of several thousand containers and hangars, organized into sectors with wide, convenient passageways between them. Now, in the center, a crater yawned as if from an explosion ¡ª over a hundred meters in diameter, filled to the brim with a terrifying biomass ¡ª a mush of various tentacles, pulsating organs, slime, and bony protrusions. It was a fully formed and actively growing Shaiszu Nest! But the true horror lay to the left of the crater. Arranged in squares, large piles of human remains lay scattered. Some were whole bodies, while others were parts ¡ª neatly sorted into separate heaps of bodies, severed limbs, heads, and chunks of torsos. The most dreadful sight was the nearby pens, grown directly into the ground, where a few remaining homo sapiens were held ¡ª still alive, for now¡­ Most of these unlucky souls were residents of the ¡°eco-settlements,¡± popular in this region. They had sought a quiet, peaceful life far from the polis and found themselves utterly defenseless at the moment of the invasion. Now, crowds of ¡°craboids¡± were hauling fragments of their bodies for processing. Nearby, similarly sorted, were heaps of animal remains from a nearby national park and numerous farms. Notably, there were no live animals in sight. Apparently, the Shaiszu were only interested in them solely as biomass. The Nest was evidently operating at full capacity, requiring a large amount of biomaterial, primarily complex proteins, extracted from the remains of Earth¡¯s inhabitants. It was a gruesome concentration camp on an inter-world scale, where instead of soap from corpses, the Shaiszu were producing specific biotechnological products. Adding to the horrific scene was another monstrous creature, or machine, resembling a massive heap of green flesh with large trunk-like proboscises. Millions of flies, attracted to the piles of corpses from all around, swarmed over the charnel ground, only to be sucked in like a vacuum cleaner. Flies, with their high-protein content, were also being ¡°put to use¡± by the Shaiszu. Everything was organized efficiently; nothing was wasted. To the right of the ¡°giant bioreactor,¡± craboids were systematically extracting raw materials of a different nature from opened containers ¡ª gun barrels, charging mechanisms from dismantled artillery installations, missile launch containers from combat drones, automatic machine guns... Anything that could shoot or explode. And finally, behind the Nest, stood ¡ª no, shuffled restlessly ¡ª the very biotechnological products of this hellish factory. First and foremost, the cyborg artillery units, with turtle-like shells, massive limbs, and cannon barrels menacingly pointed forward. Squid-like tentacles extended from beneath their armor, adjusting mechanical parts, getting accustomed, settling in, and preparing for battle. Other models, designed for anti-personnel purposes, strolled nearby. There were many more types here, each with distinct differences. Varying numbers of limbs, teeth, and tails. Some had shells, other tentacles, but all were equipped with some form of implanted weaponry ¡ª machine guns, small-caliber artillery, flamethrower nozzles... Lastly, positioned around the base¡¯s perimeter were the culprits behind the local communication blackout ¡ª the static charge generators. These creatures resembled Earth scorpions but were the size of horses. They crouched as if ready to strike, tails raised high. Instead of stingers, their tails bore crowns of thin, elongated claws, between which sparks danced continuously, crackling into the air. These entities generated electricity akin to electric rays and, working in groups, rivaled Earth¡¯s drone jammers in effectiveness. The flying scouts¡¯ cameras captured all this in mere seconds of reconnaissance. But the area of the Shaiszu Base was vast, and the algorithm dictated a second pass over the target along different trajectories to refine the data. As the electronic brains of both Owls feverishly processed the imagery, sorting objects and forming a report packet, they began their second flyover, attempting to remain unnoticed. But the attempt failed. Several ¡°turtle-squids¡± raised their barrels skyward; spurts of flames gushed forth, and short bursts of fire followed. Both smart machines twisted into evasive maneuvers. Preservation and transmission of data now took precedence, the lead drone¡¯s AI decided. The data packets from both units were merged, processed, compressed, and ready to send. The priority now was to exit the interference zone. To escape with their invaluable information, the flying scouts unleashed their remaining munitions on the attackers. Unfortunately, due to the short distance, the rockets struck almost randomly. The combined power of the phosphorus charges was just enough to disable three anti-aircraft units and even, it seemed, damage the edge of the Nest, causing chaos on the ground. Both drones veered northeast, almost out of the firing zone. But the secondary Owl failed to escape. One of the shells exploded too close, and, losing control and smoking, it spiraled down to the ground. Thankfully, the self-destruct protocol did not fail, and it erupted into fireworks display a meter above the ground, preventing capture and taking a dozen small creatures with it. Breaking free, the remaining smart machine, without waiting for further attacks, sped toward the city at maximum available speed, northeast. As it distanced itself from the Nest, the interference intensity began to drop¡­ only to suddenly spike again. If the Owl¡¯s brain were more powerful, it might have realized it was flying over not just a field ¡ª the ground below was tightly packed and dug up in some places, as if a giant tractor with a hundred-meter-wide tread or even a tank division had laid an entire road towards Kyiv. The drone continued its flight, carefully scanning the surroundings with its cameras while attempting to transmit data. But the connection never reestablished. Within seconds, the sources of interference and creators of the tracks below finally appeared. It turned out to be a massive group of shaiszu moving toward the city. On the flanks, ¡°scorpions¡± ran, providing radio cover. Dozens of hybrid cyborgs with guns, of the most bizarre types, stretched out in a multi-row column. Groups of monsters resembling caterpillars dragged heavy containers with ammunition. These were the ones that had left the plowed earth behind them. And of course, entire hordes of ¡°soldiers,¡± consisting mainly of ¡°craboids,¡± ¡°mantises,¡± and various dog-like creatures, completed the composition of this assault brigade. As soon as the front cameras of the Owl captured this scene, the electronic brain immediately decided ¡ª urgent retreat from the firing zone. Unfortunately, the shaiszu were also vigilant ¡ª the ground erupted in heavy fire. Worse still, several swift flying creatures, about twice the size of a condor, shot out from the ¡°horde.¡± Sending the data in such a situation became priority number one, and the drone¡¯s AI decided to sacrifice itself. Switching the engines to ¡°Maximum Afterburner,¡± the machine began a sharp climb, trying to quickly escape the static electricity field to establish a connection. #Data packet transmission #Error¡­ connection not established #Data packet transmission, attempt 2 #Error¡­ connection not established ¡­ ¡­ #Data packet transmission, attempt 7 #Connection with relay ASF-151 established #Key exchange¡­ successful #Start transmission #Transmitting first data block¡­ #1%... 2%... 3%... The signal began to break through cleanly from the overheated antennas. But at that moment, the engines running at maximum power drained the last drops of energy from the depleted batteries. The Owl, almost having completed its mission, froze mid-air, as if suddenly deprived of support, and a second later plummeted to the ground like a stone. The self-destruct charge, with its autonomous power supply, did not fail. A meter above the ground, the drone transformed into a fireball, taking with it the invaluable reconnaissance data that would have been so useful to the defenders of the city. Which was now less than fifty kilometers away from the approaching shaiszu column. Chapter 62 - The Crucible of Kyiv City-21 ¡°Kyiv¡±, UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Object ¡°The Wall,¡± Sector 359 Julia Drozdova and Vratislav Shvets, August 13, 2049, 8:57 AM They were torn from the soft embrace of Morpheus by the siren¡¯s piercing sound, so loud that the walls seemed to tremble. ¡°Attention! Red alert!¡± This time, the siren was accompanied by the voice announcement system, though all messages were, of course, simultaneously relayed to their sub-brain: #Attention! Red alert! Status ¡°R - Four!¡± They sprang up as if shocked by electricity, disheveled, confused, and clueless. Julia jerked off the bed, hitting her hand on a small table, while new notifications continued to flood in: # Advancing Shaiszu horde detected. Time to contact: five minutes. #All personnel, report to battle stations! For a split second, her vision went black and then cleared instantly ¡ª the AR interface had completely changed. During the initial briefing, they had been warned that in an emergency, partial control over settings would be transferred to the AI. So, Julia expected something like this, though she never imagined it would happen so soon. #Combat interface activated! #Connected to the UNSA Protectorate Global AI: Embodied Eternal Sun #Selected Entity: Gamma-One, Category: 9 (Avril Dominion Armed Forces, tactical command), Thread: 15411 #Current order: Take position as operator of combat fighter drone, unit [24-561] #Objective: block Shaiszu air forces as part of the assigned squad until the main defense forces arrive. Engage targets according to the priority table. Preserve the unit if possible. Before Julia¡¯s eyes, the shortest path to her control point appeared, along with a countdown timer. ¡°I¡¯ve been assigned to a combat drone! Can you believe it, an actual fighter! Really, wow! I¡¯m like a Red Class now, hee-hee,¡± she informed Slavek, while quickly dressing, managing to chatter away without getting tangled in her clothes. ¡°Yeah, me too,¡± Vratislav nodded, fastening his boots. ¡°Everyone with real experience of flying drones got assigned to them. Shall we run?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± the brunette threw on her jacket and zipped it up with a swift motion. ¡°Ready! Let¡¯s go!¡± Bursting out of their two-person ¡°capsule,¡± they sprinted down the short corridor to the doors, already opened by the automatics, and dashed outside. The sense of impending battle engulfed them. The Towers swiveled their guns; combat drone squads began to gather in the sky. The construction machines that could be used in this operation abandoned their tasks and hurried to join the squads. On the ground, military robots stood ready for action. A dark purple ¡°film¡± of the force field hung between the towers. From the briefing, Julia and Vratislav knew that such measures were planned by the Protectorate during Shaiszu attacks until the Wall was built. Yes, this kind of defense was highly energy-consuming and far less effective than full-fledged fortifications, but it was better than nothing. It wasn¡¯t necessary to look around, as the AI immediately highlighted the trajectory they needed to follow, taking their physical data into account. A mediaglyph ¡°Run!¡± flashed before their eyes. The virtual pathway highlighted the zone to stay within, to successfully execute the order. And they dashed off, at full speed! Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t far ¡ª just two hundred and twenty meters to the assigned control point. Despite the constant influx of engineers into the command center, there was no chaos or disorder. By following instructions precisely, moving within the designated in the augmented reality areas, and completing tasks within the allotted time, any potential bottlenecks were avoided. Two minutes and twenty-five seconds later, Julia jumped into the combat operator¡¯s seat. The connection began automatically as soon as she touched the surface. Securing straps flashed, firmly fastening her torso and limbs. A set of deft manipulators parted her hair, revealing the connectors of the interface implant. Both locks clicked into place. The holder bars shifted, granting access to the ports. From the headrest, a block of connectors extended. Full readiness. Connection initiated! Her vision darkened, but within a split second, Julia was seeing the world through the drone¡¯s cameras, fully immersed in virtual reality. Flying like this was nothing new for Drozdova, and it was clear the Protectorate had taken this into account when assigning her to as a fighter pilot. Even her last name was ¡°bird-like,¡± as it meant ¡°Song thrush¡± in Russian, though that was, of course, just a coincidence. The girl already wasn¡¯t feeling the holder bars snapping back into place or the locks securing the connectors tightly ¡ª that was all automatic. She had only one task now ¡ª in less than three minutes ¡ª the Battle! The AI smoothly, without interfering, brought up a window showing the progress of the pre-flight tests for the combat machine and the countdown timer ¡ª 41 seconds. #Clarify tactical recommendations? ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°He¡¯s asking as if I¡¯m not ready! I¡¯m more than ready!¡± In the upper-left corner, a mediaglyph appeared: ¡°Optimal configuration for ¡®Air Combat¡¯ mode applied, version 2-A,¡± and a detailed map of the upcoming battle unfolded before her eyes...
The boundary between the untouched city and the demolition zone was still visible, but in seconds it would all blend together ¡ª the first wave of Shaiszu creatures was already upon them. Giant spider-like monsters scurried with their many limbs, massive toothed lizards sprinted on powerful legs, and swarms of comparatively smaller ¡°mantises,¡± ¡°craboids,¡± and ¡°hounds¡± surged forward in an unending stream.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The ¡°scorpions¡± providing radio-cover had scattered to the sides to avoid obstruction, clustering in small groups on the flanks of this horrific horde. Their primary role was completed, and their next targets were unclear. Hence, the AI designated these creatures as ¡°important to eliminate, but not urgent.¡± Cyborg chimeras with cannons moved into the second line, while deep in the rear, the main Shaiszu artillery ¡ª the ¡°turtle-squids¡± ¡ª had already deployed in siege mode. But the most terrifying sight was the swarms of large, winged creatures descending from the low gray clouds, quickly filling almost the entire sky. A few seconds of relative silence were shattered when, finally, the air exploded with a monstrous roar ¡ª the artillery began its work. Rockets thundered through the sky, leaving wide fire trails in their wake. Anti-aircraft guns of the Protectorate pounded incessantly, filling the air with flashes, smoke, and dust. The city¡¯s defense managed to repel the first few salvos, but then one after another, the first, second, and third heavy rockets broke through! It became evident that the Shaiszu knew exactly what they were doing and why ¡ª all three weapons struck the base of one of the Towers. While it withstood the impact, the armor was severely damaged ¡ª two or three more hits like that, and the monumental structure would be finished. However, the critical point was that the force field was still holding, and not a single ground creature had breached Kyiv¡¯s perimeter. As for the damage, special repair spider-robots had already scurried out of their special niches, rushing to mend the damaged areas as quickly as possible. In the meantime, a positional war had erupted in the air ¡ª the Protectorate¡¯s side had speed, maneuverability, and rapid-fire guns. The attacking monsters had numbers and, of course, razor-sharp teeth and claws capable of tearing through even the toughest composite armor. In this slaughter, there was no place for individuals like Jules or Slavek. Only the singular combat organism of the Protectorate remained, a multitude of minds deeply integrated with the streams of the global Artificial Intelligence. Only a few minutes had passed, though it felt like an eternity! And it seemed the might of technology was beginning to prevail. The density of artillery fire gradually decreased ¡ª fighters and bombers had evidently succeeded in destroying most of the ¡°turtle-squids¡± and similar monsters. Nevertheless, all the Towers within the attack zone were heavily battered, and the repair teams were clearly struggling to keep up with the damage. Furthermore, the raw material reserves were rapidly depleting. And the strength of the protective field had visibly waned, evidenced by its dimming brightness. A new command arrived for the most agile pilots: support ground forces and block the largest and most dangerous creatures. Key targets lit up brightly on the tactical map, and one nearby target was marked as ¡°critical.¡± Pushing her engines to the limit, Julia plunged her agile machine into a steep dive, straining to aid gravity in accelerating the drone. Target in sight! A colossal ¡°spider,¡± astonishingly agile and swift for its size, stubbornly pressed forward toward the Tower under the relentless fire of ten drones. Chunks of chitinous armor flew off, but the monster steadily advanced. Several approaching fighters fired missiles, but five cyborg-chimeras with rapid-fire machine guns intervened, managing to shoot them all down. Not a single missile reached its target! Unerringly identifying the weakest point of the nearly shattered Tower, the creature extended its neck and spat a massive glob of corrosive acid at it. Barely avoiding the ¡°shot,¡± Jules managed to complete her maneuver and, in response, fired all her remaining rockets directly into the closing maw of the beast. The spider¡¯s head exploded into pieces, showering the area with bloody debris. Unfortunately, the destroyed monster¡¯s shot also hit its mark. The Tower groaned and tilted with a roar, flames and thick smoke pouring from the cracks in its armor plates. For a moment, the force field flickered and disappeared, but two neighboring Towers took over the generation, though the protective power in that area was noticeably weakened. The battle lasted for seven minutes more. Seven whole minutes¡­ The Shaiszu monsters, seemingly driven to madness, were desperately trying to smash the Towers and breach the force field, heedless of their losses. The machine guns fired constantly, rockets tore through the air with deafening explosions, and energy weapons roared with a piercing, vibrating howl. But the engineers and the few soldiers from the Protectorate¡¯s Red Class achieved the impossible. At the cost of immense effort, two more incapacitated Towers, and a multitude of destroyed construction and military equipment, they bought the crucial fifteen minutes needed for the heavy combat machinery from the Bastion to arrive. VICTORY!!!
City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamarck,¡± Command Level, Small Tactical Room Jurgen von Scholz, August 13, 2049, 9:46 AM His hand froze over the table for a moment. ¡°There is no need for that, Weltkommandeur,¡± objected the head of the Air Corps, Brigadegeneral Beniamin von Kopp. ¡°They can¡¯t launch it; the ¡®Twenty-Sixes¡¯ are neutralizing that unit right now.¡± Only the highest officers of the Protectorate were present here. Those permitted to address General von Lamarck during military operations by the title ¡°Weltkommandeur.¡± Even the steadfast Jurgen von Scholz, who was stubbornly refusing to accept his long-earned rank of Lieutenant General, remaining an Oberst-Protector, adhered to this old Avril tradition. Illustrating von Kopp¡¯s words, a semi-transparent arrow appeared, glimmering above the surface, and indicating the attack direction of one of the assault wings. ¡°Very well. I¡¯m canceling the orbital strike. Are you certain there are no other carriers with nuclear warheads?¡± ¡°Yes, Weltkommandeur. We¡¯ve been tracking the entire column since crossing the fiftieth line. They had only four such missiles; this was the last one.¡± ¡°Then I leave the elimination of the installation to your responsibility,¡± von Lamarck nodded and turned to the woman sitting to his right, in the uniform of the head of the Engineering Corps. ¡°Oberst-Protector Dominguez-Perez, have you completed the calculations? Everything ready?¡± ¡°Exactly, sir! The battle broadcast has been live on all possible channels from the beginning. The GT-collection peak has passed, and considering the psychological service¡¯s recommendations, I believe it¡¯s optimal to wrap up the operation now. This is the best moment; we will get another good GeistToken generation spike from the audience¡¯s positive emotions from the victory ¡ª and minimize all possible risks. A detailed report with the necessary data is attached.¡± A large virtual panel unfolded above the tactical table, with streams of information scrolling by. After receiving confirmation from the Senior Templar, participating remotely in the meeting, von Lamarck nodded and announced: ¡°Decision made, proceed to conclude the operation.¡± The high-ranking officers present, all members of the White Class, plunged into their work. The quick wrap-up plan for the operation had been prepped in advance, but it was still crucial to ensure the entire event ended successfully. In the end, everything needed to look exactly as planned. Oberst-Protector Jurgen von Scholz, head of counterintelligence and internal security, widely known throughout the Protectorate¡¯s outer worlds, thoughtfully drummed his fingers on the edge of his electronic officer¡¯s tablet. ¡°Weltkommandeur von Lamarck, am I correct in understanding that we won¡¯t receive a report from the Analytical Group?¡± ¡°The Templars are preparing to open a corridor to the Great Spheres to facilitate the arrival of the Third Sun Bearer. Senior Templar Antonio Ceccarelli, who is attending the meeting remotely, confirmed that he monitored the battle in four threads and recorded everything for further analysis. But their report is not ready yet.¡± As if expecting this answer, von Scholz nodded and clarified: ¡°The Shaiszu aren¡¯t fools. They know we¡¯ll understand this is just a cover operation and will take corresponding countermeasures... On the other hand, if I were in their place, I wouldn¡¯t wait for the barrier to reach full strength, let alone the Wall¡¯s construction. Judging by the battle scene, they managed to deploy at least five hives in the city.¡± ¡°I believe you¡¯re right, Oberst-Protector. What does your service require?¡± ¡°A quarter of the new resource capacities after the Sun Bearer¡¯s arrival and carte blanche for a counter-operation to counteract Shaiszu infiltration. Oh, and I will use a significant number of local personnel.¡± ¡°This bloody spectacle is repeated every time, in every new world!¡± thought Oberst-Protector von Scholz irritably, not allowing even a shadow of emotion to reflect on his concentrated-neutral face. ¡°Such a battle played out to perfection by both sides in the first days of the invasion. Psychological service recommendations. The invisible and useless presence of the High Templars, who in the end don¡¯t have a mere report on the situation. As always... The rigid Protectorate, the traditionalist Avril... We¡¯re all degenerating. Becoming ossified, unlike the damn flexible TACTA, which always adapts to the situation and is prepared for modern threats! Oh, how I loathe¡­ all this!¡± Chapter 63 - Criminal Lair City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion NES Factory Industrial Zone, ¡°Lizard¡¯s Tail¡± Medical Center Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 13, 2049, 8:49 AM When Max and Nikola returned to the clinic, they were met with an odd silence. It was pretty clear that the rest of the team was already aware of the newly acquired extranet access. Dasha had locked herself in her room, even taping a hastily scribbled note to the door: ¡°Do Not Disturb! I¡¯m Not Here anyway!¡± Meanwhile, Alisa was in the main hall, absorbed in either calculations and assisting Dasha with the development of their new project ¡ª the future System ¡ª or perhaps interacting with the outside world. Maksim didn¡¯t bother to ask her over a private channel what exactly was going on. She would explain when she deemed it necessary. He assumed though that his sister had immediately dived into checking her mysterious sources of information, which she hadn¡¯t yet disclosed even to him. Leaving the hard-earned ¡°loot¡± in the hall, the pair of ¡°negotiators¡± set off to fetch their first patient from the ward where he was recovering post-surgery. Along the way, Max took a slight detour to collect sample specimens from Dasha¡¯s experiments in the chem lab. After all, who knows? Perhaps they could find a buyer for those as well. The preparations were swift, as time for the meeting with Miro was running short. Within minutes, Tomasz was fully dressed and seated in a wheelchair. He had already gone through primary rehabilitation, and as he put it, both his cyber-legs ¡°fit like a glove.¡± He even tried to stand and walk on his own. However, his initial injuries had been quite severe, so Doctor Alisa prescribed a sedentary lifestyle at least until the evening, or better yet, the full five days with the regeneration belt. It seemed the young thug had somehow learned that Nikola had already been in a couple of fights with the shaiszu and had won them almost barehanded. It was hard to say what his friends had found or fabricated while chatting on the Factory¡¯s local network during his recovery. But now, he looked at Redhead with a kind of gruff admiration, awkwardly trying to show ¡°street respect,¡± which looked rather odd considering his imposing figure and temporary dependence on a wheelchair. They reached the designated meeting spot without incident. Precisely at 9:00 AM, all three found themselves in front of an unremarkable concrete building without any special signs. Above the large entrance was a plaque that read ¡°Consulting Company Consultant M,¡± a small surveillance camera, and a call button. However, they didn¡¯t need to press it; the door opened automatically as soon as the guests approached. They were greeted by an utterly empty concrete corridor about 15 meters long, ending with a similar gray metal door. Mounted under the ceiling in several places were embrasures with the muzzles of machine guns and flamethrowers poking out. It was an improvised ¡°airlock chamber¡± designed to lure an enemy inside, trap them in, and eliminate. To clean up the remains, two plastic shovels stood modestly in the corner, along with a hose protruding from the wall for washing blood and brains off the walls. ¡°Impressive! Despite all the cynicism!¡± Nikola remarked with a smile, assessing the sight. The hospitable door at the end of the corridor opened, and Miro appeared at the entrance. Casting a keen eye over Tomasz¡¯s condition, he seemed quite satisfied and waved them in. ¡°Well, come on in, our dear guests.¡± Maksim winced at the thought that it was the second time this morning he had heard such a greeting, and once again, complex negotiations with a challenging interlocutor awaited. ¡°Quite a cozy place you¡¯ve got here!¡± Redhead stepped forward with a wide smile, pushing the ¡®patient¡¯ in his wheelchair. ¡°I guess the consulting business is thriving. Umm¡­ was thriving¡­ until recently.¡± ¡°You bet!¡± The local mafia boss clearly appreciated the humor. ¡°We dug in here for the long haul and with comfort!¡± The mention of comfort was no exaggeration. Behind the second door were a couple more defense lines, but beyond them, an snug underground world with all the amenities opened up. Tomasz quickly disappeared, greeted with joyous shouts, jokes, and pats on the back. The air was clean and fresh, thanks to filters, conditioners, and humidifiers. The long corridor revealed a dozen identical doors to residential ¡°cabins,¡± some even slightly ajar. Further along, past another door, a small gym with good equipment, treadmills, and boxing bags flashed by. A bright sticker reading ¡°Attention! Shooting Range!¡± caught the eye. And further down, even lower, Maksim and Nikola found themselves in the common ¡°hangout¡± zone. A canteen, or rather a spacious cafe-bar was followed by a wide hall. A couple of pool tables, sofas, dining tables, several large wall screens¡­ The powerful exhaust system under the ceiling was processing the smoke from about a dozen tough guys who were engaged in various activities, all of them avid fans of smoking the ¡°Herbarium from Miro¡¯s Mom.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business, we need to hurry.¡± The former professor briskly switched from his veneer of friendliness, striding towards one of the passages at the back of the hall. ¡°It seems this comfort won¡¯t last much longer.¡± For a moment, he paused, grasping the door handle, his posture betraying accumulated fatigue. However, this feeling quickly vanished, and his face again took on an expression where friendliness mingled with slight superiority. ¡°Time to discuss the next stages of our cooperation... colleagues.¡±
Inside, there was a conference room with comfortable armchairs, a table, and a wide screen on the wall. Judging by the arrangement of the furniture, it was clear that the display was rarely used, probably only when participants couldn¡¯t access augmented reality. ¡°It¡¯s good that the first patient¡¯s procedure went smoothly. But as I mentioned, your next client is my nephew. Need to be certain there won¡¯t be any issues. So, I absolutely must look this ¡®doctor¡¯ of yours in the eyes and assess their capabilities.¡± Maksim frowned. ¡°I thought the successful surgery on Tomasz would suffice. And then, whose eyes do you plan to look into, Mr. Gorich? The operation was performed by a robot. Yes, our ¡®doctor¡¯ is not human. It¡¯s an android powered by an advanced AI. And yes, it survived the Protectorate¡¯s attack because it was disconnected from the network, so the virus didn¡¯t reach it.¡± Miroslav stared intently at Max for a moment, and then broke into a wide grin. ¡°Well, of course! You¡¯re a Chernykh, after all! A strong AI, you say... And what level?¡± ¡°T6- triple-plus. A commercial student startup. All the necessary certifications, of course, are in place,¡± Maksim¡¯s face became an expressionless mask. Nika cautiously glanced at him and adopted a similarly self-assured and unperturbed demeanor. ¡°Hmm, how convenient. Just on the lower edge of A.M.I.¡¯s requirements. Well then, show me your android. Anyway, I want to look into its mechanical eyes and talk to it personally. You know, I¡¯m an old-school guy. These are my quirks; need to see everything in person, to feel them, so to speak.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Maksim had to close his mouth shut and keep to himself the already prepared proposal to provide a detailed treatment report, which would be much more informative and effective in all respects. It seemed that this round of negotiations went to the mobster, whose experience and stronger position won out. Trying not to show his disappointment, the guy opened the video communication screen in virtual reality and contacted his sister. He decided to demonstratively talk to her only by voice, avoiding communication through a closed channel, which an experienced person would certainly notice. ¡°Alisa, hi. Our friend Miroslav Gorich is nearby. With him, we are discussing weapons and other equipment.¡± ¡°Yes, I know where you are.¡± Alisa responded after a short pause. Then, slightly more animated, she added, ¡°Wait... Miroslav... Professor Gorich, am I right?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Maksim chuckled. ¡°Small world, isn¡¯t it? He wants your opinion on the prospects of treating his nephew. You see, he¡¯s an old-school guy. Insists on talking to you personally, through a video call.¡± ¡°Really? Umm, okay. Just a moment.¡± There were soft rustling sounds and some other noises before an image of Alisa appeared. Behind her was a plain wall, with the room hidden from view. But the interior did not interest the former professor at all. ¡°Tanya? Tanya Savchenko? Or rather... Chernykh, after marriage...¡± For the first time, Maksim saw such genuine surprise on the usually impassive gangster¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Miroslav, but it seems you¡¯re mistaken,¡± Alisa¡¯s face retained the professional, polite expression of a robot assistant. ¡°I¡¯m an android based on the OHR platform, with a 32-processor Artel AI-Core13. Listed in the A.M.I. registry as Alisa Chernykh. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Oh¡­. of course¡­¡± Miro muttered, looking down thoughtfully. ¡°That¡¯s right, the little daughter was named Alisa. No wonder there¡¯s a resemblance...¡± ¡°Alright, esteemed android based on the Artel AI-Core13,¡± the mob boss quickly regained his composure and got down to business. ¡°I sent you the description of the patient¡¯s injuries. It¡¯s Zoran Vujic. As I already explained to your... partner, he is a close family member. It¡¯s crucial to me that everything goes perfectly. I am responsible for this guy¡¯s health, you know.¡± Alisa responded instantly, right after receiving the information package. ¡°Yes, I can see the situation is serious. A penetrating chest wound, the lung and heart are damaged, the left deltoid muscle is injured, as well as both biceps and triceps and the elbow flexor of the wrist; two fractures on the left arm...¡± ¡°A monster almost pierced him through with a spike. And the attempts to defend himself nearly cost him his arms... The boy is a sniper. Or, rather, was¡­ Shot down seven of those beasts. But when they finally broke through, he couldn¡¯t ward them off.¡± ¡°We stabilized his condition, but full healing requires technologies that I¡¯m physically unable to get in these conditions,¡± the former professor frowned and shook his head as if trying to shake off a sense of helplessness. ¡°However, he has a good cyber core, considering his field of activity, so I expect the operation to succeed.¡± ¡°I sympathize with you,¡± the android inclined her head sympathetically. ¡°My preliminary treatment plan involves increasing the degree of the patient¡¯s cyborgization. You do understand, the ¡®Lizard¡¯s Tail¡¯ is an excellent clinic... given its semi-legal nature, but considering the situation, its capabilities are limited. With this data package, it¡¯s difficult to assess the prospects fully and reliably. I need to see it on the spot. As a person who doesn¡¯t trust regular reports, you must understand me.¡± ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve seen enough to assess you as a doctor,¡± Miro noted with a bitter smile and barely audibly muttered, ¡°and, I guess, even more...¡± ¡°In any case, I don¡¯t have a better option than you.¡± he continued, fixing his gaze on the virtual screen as if trying to pierce her with his stare. ¡°And you seem like a person... an android... whom I can trust. Just promise you¡¯ll take this on and do everything in your power.¡± ¡°You have my personal word,¡± Alisa closed her eyes in a gesture of agreement. ¡°I may not be an AI specialized exclusively in medical treatment, but I do understand the importance of the Hippocratic oath and realize the significance of human life.¡± ¡°I believe you,¡± Miroslav replied after a short pause. ¡°Well then, it was a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯d love to chat a bit more, but there are urgent matters now.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she gave a response with a smile. ¡°Goodbye. I¡¯m ready to begin the operation as soon as the patient arrives.¡± The video call ended, leaving the participants in the negotiation in a quiet room for a while. ¡°Well, the gentleman and the lady, it seems we¡¯ve settled that matter,¡± the mobster broke the silence first. ¡°Once we finalize the other details, my boys will help transport Zoran to your clinic. I hope Doctor Alisa Chernykh works miracles. And rest assured, I¡¯ll make it worth for you.¡±
Stepping out of the conference room, Miro looked around and asked, stopping one of the guys loitering nearby: ¡°Hey, back up a second, where¡¯s One-Eye? We need to discuss the arsenal matters with the guys.¡± ¡°Eh, he was here just a bit ago. Early in the mornin¡¯, he was testin¡¯ new toys at the range. Then he said he wanna chill,¡± the guy laughed, pointing. ¡°Oh, right! There he is, done with chillin¡¯ already!¡± In a dim corner of the room, there were two couches, a huge ashtray, and a massive booth that looked like a cross between a tanning bed and a teleportation capsule. The garishly pink logo left no doubt about its purpose. ¡°Wow, you guys really have everything a soul¡­ and body could desire here!¡± Max whistled in surprise. Sprawled on a sofa near the booth was a short, stocky, bearded man, resembling some ¡°cyber-dwarf.¡± It was clear why he was called ¡°One-Eye¡± ¨C a large, gleaming chrome implant had replaced his left eye and covered almost a third of his shaved head. Taking a long drag from his cigarette, he affectionately patted the booth¡¯s plastic side. ¡°Man, if only you were a real woman, I¡¯d stick with ya forever and never cheat!¡± ¡°You¡¯re killing me!¡± Miro laughed, approaching. ¡°Of course you wouldn¡¯t cheat, ¡®cause she¡¯s the epitome of variety! What more could a man want? How many pre-installed beauties does it have now? A couple hundred at least! And the guys even bought custom versions, those little pervs! So, who were you relaxing with today? A black girl again?¡± ¡°Nope, this time it was sunny Brazil. The legendary ¡®Girl from Ipanema,¡¯ a poet¡¯s dream... And then her friend joined! Damn, they drained my soul.¡± ¡°Alright, One-Eye, get yourself together ¨C we¡¯ve got work to do. The guys need to be equipped from our stock for this amount. Consult, advise, you know, like for family. Got it? I¡¯ll be back later, let me know what you pick. Alright, gotta go.¡± Miro left to attend to his business, and the ¡°dwarf¡± extended his hand to Maksim. ¡°Jovan. Call me ¡®One-Eye,¡¯ don¡¯t matter, I¡¯m fuckin¡¯ used to it.¡± ¡°Max.¡± ¡°Nicola.¡± ¡°Hey, I know you, Redhead,¡± the thug smirked. ¡°Everyone from the old crew watched your fights. Alright, let¡¯s hit the armory, no point to dick around.¡±
While following Miro¡¯s direct instruction to ¡°select like for family,¡± Chernykh and Kowalsky were soon astonished by the sheer variety available in the virtual gallery. It had a vast array of weapons, ammunition, military robotics, and all kinds of gear... Their eyes darted around, wanting ¡°everything at once,¡± but the total cost in their ¡°cart¡± rapidly escalated. Here, Redhead truly shone. The list presented to One-Eye was scrutinized, debated, and altered. Certain units were examined closely, mostly in virtual reality, but some even in real life. They discussed the costs ¨C including purchase price, market value, factoring in wear and tear, maintenance, ammunition costs, and so on. Along with weapons, plenty of additional gear made it to the list ¨C camping, camouflage, protective equipment, and three dozen combat and reconnaissance drones. And they had to stay within the agreed amount! In the end, they managed to... Succeed! But it took lots of effort. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t entirely ethical, but Max was inwardly relieved that they had a job involving the treatment of Gorich¡¯s nephew. His future repairs added a significant sum to their coffers. Plus, Miro¡¯s cyborgs would undergo maintenance at the clinic. Furthermore, Jovan¡¯s guys were seriously interested in Dasha¡¯s pharmaceutical creations that Max had wisely brought along. After a brief trial, the drugs were deemed top-notch, even causing quite a stir among the gang. All in all, the deal was fair, and both parties shook hands with satisfaction. ¡°Well, that¡¯s about it!¡± One-Eye said contentedly, holding a tablet with an extensive list ¨C the result of an intense forty-minute brainstorming session between Max, Nikola, and Jovan. He must have sent a signal through a secure channel because Miro walked into the armory immediately. ¡°So, did you choose everything you wanted?¡± Max and Nicola nodded in unison, and Jovan handed over the tablet. ¡°I nailed the hell outta it! Tuned, tested, from the special reserve. Ammunition in the second list, cybernetics in the third.¡± ¡°Good... This too... Yeah, a good selection,¡± Miro quickly scanned the lists on the tablet. ¡°Excellent, have the guys load all this onto the platform! And prep the med-capsule with Zoran, he¡¯s going with them too.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Jovan took the tablet back. ¡°We¡¯re gonna load the goods now. The platform¡¯ll come back on its own, don¡¯t stress. Just orient it on the surface before ya head back inside your place. Alright, Red, Max, good meetin¡¯ ya. Swing by sometime, we¡¯ll keep talkin¡¯.¡± Chapter 64 - The Outlaws Pact City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion NES Factory Industrial Zone, Miro¡¯s Criminal Lair Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 13, 2049, 9:59 AM Max and Red were wrapping up the loading process with Jovan when an urgent message alert flashed in their AR display simultaneously. # This is Miro. Maksim, Nikola, we need to talk. Please return immediately. They exchanged glances, and One-Eye waved them off. ¡°Go ahead, I got this. The bots are doin¡¯ all the work anyway, I¡¯m just keepin¡¯ an eye on things. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m gonna nail it.¡± Inside, the hall was packed and bustling with noise. Despite most people being able to use augmented reality, everyone was fixated on the massive screen taking up an entire wall. It seemed to be the way they used to watch underground fights here. Bets were being placed left and right ¡ª on both the Protectorate and Shaiszu. Some folks picked certain monsters or drones to cheer for loudly and enthusiastically. A small, nimble fighter was particularly popular. Before the excited crowd¡¯s eyes, it dodged incoming fire and expertly blew the head off a massive spider that had just destroyed a Watch Tower. The spectators roared in admiration for the unknown pilot, speculating whether it was a human or some kind of super-alien. Tomasz, still in his wheelchair, was relishing his won bets. Shortly after, a picture-in-picture appeared on the screen, showing host Sophia-Elisabeth Meyer in her black-and-red uniform. She kindly explained that there were recruits fighting on the front lines, just like the Earthlings watching this broadcast. And they were not only from the Red Class; Blue Class engineers with the proper training were also in the fray. Despite the danger and the risk to their lives, they were putting all their efforts and talents into protecting the citizens of their home city! In the corner of the hall stood Miro, arms crossed over his chest, his intense gaze glued to the epic spectacle unfolding on screen. His face, as always, showed little emotion. Yet Maksim felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of the mafia boss¡¯s expression. He and Nika silently walked over and stood in the same corner, watching the news broadcast together until the very end. Then, with a sharp nod, Miroslav indicated the entrance to the conference room, and the three of them returned to the familiar surroundings. From a discreet cabinet in the far nook, the former professor retrieved three hefty glasses and a dark bottle of Wolfburn Morven whiskey, pouring the golden liquid for everyone. ¡°What a spectacular show we just witnessed, right? A brilliant display of power. My guys were entertained too...¡± Max wasn¡¯t fooled at all by the gangster¡¯s deliberately calm tone; the slight trembling of his hands betrayed his true state. ¡°Prison. A goddamn prison. That¡¯s what they have in store for us!¡± Miro finally burst out. ¡°Flaunting their muscles and showing how insignificant we are compared to these fuckers. I mean both Shaiszu and the Protectorate, damn it! They¡¯re sure all we can do is kneel before them like obedient sheep... or die. But screw them, we¡¯re not gonna sit around like blind kittens waiting for some bastard to drown us!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll forge our own path! Most idiots might decide after this broadcast that humanity has nothing left to rely on. They¡¯ll give up on all the corporate armies, mighty technopolises, states, all the ¡®official¡¯ forces of the Earth ¡ª where are they and their power now, huh? Already bowing down before the Protectorate! Nothing left, no one, there are only new masters. But I refuse to accept that!¡± Miro finished with a feral growl that the walls of the conference room barely contained. Then he downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp and hurled the glass against the concrete wall, shattering it. ¡°Alright, to hell with emotions! Actually, that¡¯s the topic I wanted to discuss. Or rather, I¡¯d like to hear your thoughts. Right now, all of us, those capable of critical thinking, are trying to figure out what the fuck is going on around. What¡¯s your opinion? Doesn¡¯t anything seem off to you?¡± The gangster looked piercingly into his guests¡¯ eyes. ¡°Are you talking about the portals that have opened on Earth, spewing all kinds of crap, followed by some cosmic crusaders swooping in to save the day?¡± Redhead asked sarcastically. ¡°I think our friend means something else,¡± Max said. ¡°He¡¯s more likely referring to the social aspect of these events.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Miro nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen different wars, studied various occupation concepts ¡ª enough to draw some conclusions now... What do you think, Maksim?¡± ¡°I think the same as you. It all seems staged, like a choreographed act. All these classes, countless constructions, especially those giant Watch Towers. And the battle we just saw, it looked way too cinematic. Like watching a high-budget New-Hollywood movie¡­¡± ¡°And didn¡¯t those Towers remind you of anything, you runaway fugitive?¡± ¡°Dammit, Miro, are you eager so much for me to say that the Wall is a perimeter to keep cataloged, tagged, and ordered people in this reservation? Well, yeah, that¡¯s exactly it. Just like on the borders of the Russian Empire, where the watchtowers were faced inward, towards their own, to prevent escapes!¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Miro nodded, raising his finger. ¡°From this, I conclude that we, humans, are needed for something. And Shaiszu too. It¡¯s obvious the Protectorate, with their technology, could have crushed this monstrous army without letting them near the city borders. As well as using regular Earthlings only made the battle more complicated, rather than ensured victory.¡± He sat in a comfortable chair, drummed his fingers on the armrest, then abruptly stood up and paced the room a few times. ¡°It¡¯s clear the Protectorate has enough tech to fight them successfully, but the monsters serve as the ¡®bogeyman¡¯ to instill fear in the locals, who, in turn, would pray and obey to their almighty protectors. We¡¯ve seen this in our own country before. Scaring everyone with external enemies, drilling into their heads that only discipline, obedience to the ruler, and unity around the emperor can save them.¡± ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case,¡± Redhead interjected, ¡°why the hell do they need humans at all? Ain¡¯t like they¡¯re trying to satisfy some ¡®imperial ambitions,¡¯ right? They¡¯re way more advanced than us, so they should have grown out of that basic shit a long time ago.¡± ¡°The most plausible thing I can think of,¡± Miro shrugged, continuing to pace back and forth, ¡°is that our planet is being used for some kind of behavioral experiment. Studying Earthlings¡¯ reactions to specific situations ¡ª our thoughts, emotions, actions. Otherwise, why such deep intellectual testing and class divisions? Maybe these are test groups or something? I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s complicated... But I really don¡¯t like any of this.¡± ¡°I doubt they¡¯d waste so many resources and efforts on a mere experiment,¡± Maksim countered. ¡°No, they need something vital from us terrestrials. We just don¡¯t know what it is yet. And there¡¯s another player interested in human resources too. They might not be any better than the rest, but so far, their offer is the most acceptable.¡± ¡°You mean TACTA?¡± Miroslav grunted thoughtfully. ¡°I figure they¡¯re just different covers on the same rotten book. But right now, we¡¯re like a wolf caught in a trap. Ready to do whatever it takes to ditch this damn piece of junk that¡¯s got us stuck here. And to think that only yesterday I was planning to stay put and tell all those aliens to fuck off!¡± ¡°Jebem ti sunce, everything was so simple yesterday,¡± the gangster continued bitterly. ¡°My guys took down 19 Shaiszu, and even snagged one alive. It was straightforward ¡ª fight, kill, or be killed. I was planning to develop this base in Kyiv. Who the hell would care about my Factory in the Protectorate? But now...¡± Miro stopped pacing and returned to the table. ¡°After this damn theater show, my guts tell me they need ALL of us. And the only option left is to run. Run like hell. Even now, with these Towers, it¡¯s going to be incredibly tough. And when they finish building their Wall? Not even an ant, let alone a fucking mouse, will get through! So, if I have to choose ¡ª I¡¯d rather deal with the two-faced bastards who allow me some room to move over the damn totalitarian pricks¡­¡± ¡°You have a large group. Has anyone made a deal with TACTA yet? Or is that still off the table?¡± Max asked, moving to the heart of what really interested him. ¡°If you¡¯re talking about my boys, no. Everyone held off. There were¡­ circumstances. But there are some folks at the Factory who clearly jumped at the chance. Thanks to them, my analysts now have access to the extranet. They¡¯re not the cooperative type, so we had to make them an offer they couldn¡¯t refuse¡­¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°The Linkers, you mean them?¡± Nikola took a small sip of whiskey and winced ¡ª it was really strong stuff! ¡°Uh-huh, I figured you¡¯d hook up and hit it off.¡± Miro smirked. ¡°You seem to have something in common. But I wouldn¡¯t advise you to put all your eggs in their basket. Only the two of you won¡¯t manage, even after joining forces. You¡¯ll be crushed at the Towers¡¯ gates.¡± He pulled out a cigarette case from his jacket, lit his famous roll-up, and took a deep drag, glancing thoughtfully at Max. ¡°It¡¯s going to be tough. Summoning a damn TACTA Drone and surviving it. Reaching the Towers before they build the Wall ¡ª and not getting caught. Escaping the city, passing through the ¡®exclusion zone¡¯. And then, in the ¡®big world,¡¯ surviving, fighting monsters and¡­ other humans, no less. Idealists like you can¡¯t make it if you¡¯re staying with a small group of like-minded folks.¡± Nikola snorted angrily, glaring at him. ¡°So, you¡¯re kindly suggesting we come under your warm wing, przebieg?y lis? We¡¯ve been doing fine on our own so far. And here you¡¯re trying to scare us, treating like ¡®green fools,¡¯ which you clearly think we are. How the hell are you different from the protes now?¡± ¡°When the Mad Fox calls me a Cunning Fox, it¡¯s really a compliment.¡± The ¡®Bloody Professor¡¯ chuckled. ¡°But let¡¯s get serious. Being a proud small independent team feels nice and all. But do you know, Redhead, what ambitions your young partner is harboring? Have you got any idea what games he¡¯s aiming to play? When someone looks that high, he won¡¯t settle for small potatoes. And that will become your downfall!¡± ¡°What are you implying, Mr. Gorich?¡± Maksim frowned. ¡°You can speak openly, by the way, I have no secrets from Nikola.¡± ¡°Oh, wow, how admirable. Well, you asked for it.¡± Miro took another drag, shortening his cigarette significantly. ¡°Your android is as far from T6-three-plus as I am from being Saint Maria-Theresa. You integrated her with the personality matrix of your little sister. That very Alisa Chernykh, who died in October 2042. I didn¡¯t say for nothing that my analysts gained access to the extranet.¡± The room fell into tense silence as the mafia boss found an ashtray and extinguished his cigarette. ¡°Finding information about you was easy. And for someone who knows the field, putting two and two together was even easier. You¡¯ve broken laws of both human governments and the aliens. Alisa can pretend to be a robot assistant all she wants. But I once lost freedom because of my obsession with cybernetics and progress. Believe me, I know where to look. And I¡¯m fully convinced ¡ª you solved that problem, and managed, even if it is in digital form, to fully revive a dead person. I don¡¯t believe she is just an emulation!¡± ¡°First, you have no proof.¡± Maksim raised an eyebrow, smirking at the older man. ¡°Sure, I tried, even made a body resembling my sister. But it didn¡¯t work out. Everything you¡¯ve been looking at so intently is just advanced AI, nothing more.¡± ¡°Second,¡± the guy continued, not allowing any interruptions, and even started counting on his fingers for emphasis. ¡°Even if that were true ¡ª so what? Earth¡¯s laws no longer apply. The A.M.I. bastards, if they¡¯re even still alive, have bigger issues than me. Shaiszu are trying to kill every human they encounter, and I¡¯m no exception. To the Protectorate, I¡¯m already an outlaw ¡ª same as Nikola, Tomasz, and most of your ¡®boys.¡¯ Hence, what changes because of that situation?¡± ¡°Finally, third,¡± he raised his hand to show he was counting to three. ¡°You think you understand me, but I doubt it. I do have my own thoughts and desires about the damn circus currently happening on Earth. But if I were as foolish as you suggest, it would be impossible to achieve even half of what I have so far.¡± Now it was Max¡¯s turn to get up and start pacing the room. ¡°I might be crazy, but I¡¯m actually a grounded person. It¡¯s pretty much obvious for me how pointless it is to try ¡®bending the world to your will¡¯ if you don¡¯t have the power for it. Thus, you need to survive for starters, get that very power, and only then think about those high flights and such nonsense.¡± He stopped and looked Miroslav straight into the eyes. ¡°And to be honest, when it comes to those high flights ¡ª I¡¯m not sure our paths will align, Mr. Gorich. It is still uncertain what you¡¯ll be doing next, what your goals and means will be. But that¡¯s already clear that your people come first for you. The whole organization you lead, with all its connections, laws, and unwritten rules. And its members who expect certain behavior from you.¡± ¡°I might be a gangster,¡± Miro chuckled, ¡°but I don¡¯t think we¡¯re all that different. Moreover, my guts tell me that people like us, who have been outside the law and the whole system from the beginning, are humanity¡¯s last hope now. The Protectorate has subdued corporations, polises, and states. They came to a ready-made setup and are just reconfiguring everything for themselves. But we¡¯re beyond that! The connections with our brothers overseas and in Asia have already been established. All those who were fighting each other just yesterday are ready to unite against the common enemy¡­¡± After a moment of silence, Miroslav finally sighed, seemingly deciding to let go of the matter. Apparently, he realized that pushing further would yield no benefit. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve stated my position. If you ever find it acceptable, you can always join us. With your accomplishments, Maksim, you could contribute significantly to humanity. I don¡¯t know who else is hiding underground back in your clinic, but they seem competent guys. Your knowledge and skills could be invaluable. And I believe it would be easier to achieve your goals within our ranks. But if you have your own path ¡ª no hard feelings. Confrontation would only make things worse for everyone right now. We have more important tasks ¡ª like saving our lives.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Max discreetly exhaled. Without an agreement with Gorich, their chances of success would have significantly diminished. ¡°So, you¡¯re ready to make a deal with TACTA if it ensures a way out of Kyiv for you and your men?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Miro confirmed. ¡°As I said, I¡¯ll choose the lesser of two evils. From what I understand, they offer technologies necessary to get past the Towers. My analysts are currently digging through TACTA¡¯s catalog to figure out what exactly to buy. It helps that we have a lot of people ¡ª that makes it possible to get more of their currency after summoning the Drone. But it¡¯s still hard to estimate how many points my guys will get, and what¡¯s the best way to spend them on.¡± ¡°This is where we can actually help. I¡¯ve just sent you an estimate table of points earned per person upon initiation. You can calculate more precisely using TACTA¡¯s questionnaire in their app, but it¡¯s very complex and lengthy. My table will help you map out the situation faster. If you encounter any difficulties, reach out. Alisa can help if she has available resources.¡± Maksim smiled and made a broad gesture with his hands. ¡°Here¡¯s also a set of key technologies that I believe are essential for escaping Kyiv. These are what my team will use. In short, it includes a stealth module, additional radio frequency and infrared camouflage, communication modules, and of course, a thermonuclear reactor to power all this energy-hungry beauty.¡± Miroslav froze for a moment, scanning the package of information that had appeared in augmented reality and forwarding it to his specialists. Then, he broke into a satisfied grin. ¡°I knew it was wise not to push you too hard or pick a fight, even if you¡¯re still a kid! Seriously, you¡¯ve earned my respect; I fully understand the value of this data. Maybe my guys could have found this themselves ¡ª just as they might have missed it. While time¡¯s ticking, we need to prepare the Drone summoning. I¡¯ve seen how tricky it is to navigate that catalog. And I noticed some of the data you sent isn¡¯t easily found.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re cooperating, it should to the full extent. Otherwise, it¡¯s pointless,¡± Maksim responded. ¡°But to clarify, we¡¯re unlikely to join you in the end. You¡¯re gearing up for a revolution, and I fundamentally don¡¯t participate in such things. You can¡¯t win in revolutions; it¡¯s only possible to die in them. My goal is to get out of Kyiv. Alive. Evacuate my team members, also alive. Haul Alisa¡¯s hardware out. We¡¯ll help you because together we stand a better chance. But that¡¯s it. Mutually beneficial cooperation is all what we need.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me all this for no reason. That means, you have a request,¡± Miro noted. ¡°Right,¡± Max agreed. ¡°We need a good all-terrain truck, its technical preparation, and escape routes from the Factory, similar to the tunnel we used to get here. A reliable, smuggling, closed exit. Considering that we¡¯ll be leaving under stealth, of course.¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Miroslav thought for a moment. ¡°But it¡¯s a VERY expensive service. What can you offer in return? Maintenance for cyborgs and good pharmaceuticals won¡¯t cut it.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen a single drone nearby your base or in here. All your AIs, however many you had ¡ª are probably in the ¡®red.¡¯ Is that correct?¡± ¡°Fair enough. We¡¯ve had something serious stuff¡­ but not anymore, you guessed right,¡± Miro admitted. ¡°T6+++, without citizenship?¡± ¡°T7+, smuggled.¡± ¡°So, all your drones, which are crucial for escape, are currently dead weight because there¡¯s no one to operate them. And without drones, you can¡¯t flee Kyiv, even with stealth modules. I have a T10-three-plus and I¡¯ve already arranged the communications. We can effectively get ALL your birds in the air. Unless you have millions of them, of course.¡± Miro chuckled. ¡°And here you claim nothing worked out and your AI is just a student project?¡± Max just shrugged, as if saying, ¡°What do you want me to answer?¡± After that, the negotiations turned specified, discussing the technical parameters of the truck, the escape routes from the Factory, and how all this could be organized. Miro indeed had secret passages not marked on maps or catalogs, leading to several repair bases. These were originally designed for smuggling; hence the routes were highly secretive, and the Protectorate hadn¡¯t reached them with their sweeps yet. If Max activated the stealth right away, it would be possible to take back roads to the Ring Expressway and attempt to cross it. Obviously, traffic there had already ceased ¡ª preparations for Wall construction were underway all over the city borders. When the discussion moved beyond planning a single Drone summon, Alisa and even Dasha had to join the conversation, along with Miroslav¡¯s analysts. The Linkers were also engaged. They were the only ones who could ensure connecting the ¡°drone controllers¡± through their communication modules. A total of 18 drone swarms would be involved in the operation. This would suffice for needs of Miro, the Linkers, and Maksim¡¯s group. Each team would proceed on their separate transports, under camouflage and aerial coverage. Negotiations with the uncooperative ¡°Kitty¡± were handled by Nika, while Maksim, Alisa, and Dasha, along with Professor Gorich¡¯s analysts, worked out the timing for the upcoming operation. Nikola had a lengthy discussion with Leonardo over a secure line, followed by a conversation with Lena. Finally, Redhead returned with a triumphant look, having secured the bloggers¡¯ agreement to join the mission. As the meeting drew to a close, Maksim slyly smiled and asked Miro if he had information on other teams that might want to partner with TACTA. How many such people were there at the Factory?
After a long time, accompanied by the professor, Max and Nika passed through a maze of doors, corridors, and staircases. In the end, they warmly bid Miro farewell, and entered the first airlock chamber at the street exit, where a fully loaded large cargo roboplatform was already awaiting them. A smaller transporting bot held a securely fastened capsule with their future patient, Zoran. Atop the tarp-covered pile of weapon crates and equipment sat a bottle of whiskey and a small packet of ¡°herbs.¡± ¡°A small gesture but appreciated! Good people...¡± Nikola smiled, examining the gifts. ¡°Indeed. A productive outing, I¡¯d say! Let¡¯s head back now; great achievements await us!¡± With these words, Maksim unlocked the outer gates and led the platform outside, heading towards the clinic. Chapter 65 - Loadout and Logistics City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion NES Factory Industrial Zone, Medical Center ¡°Lizard¡¯s Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 13, 2049, 10:55 AM ¡°Home, sweet home!¡± Nika exclaimed, stepping routinely into the cozy restroom cubicle, which, after scanning her eye with an ophthalmoscope, transformed into an elevator, as usual. ¡°Don¡¯t get too comfy; we aren¡¯t staying long here,¡± Maksim remarked with a chuckle, while their small convoy lined, ready to descend into the underground base. Given the volume of cargo, they had to split up. Maksim and Miro¡¯s nephew went down first, followed by Nikola shortly. Fortunately, Zelman had anticipated possible need for loading large items ¡ª the entire wall could shift, providing ample access to the elevator. Otherwise, the large cargo platform wouldn¡¯t have fit through the door! While waiting for Alisa, the two ¡°earners¡± began unloading their acquisitions. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± the android girl entered the room. ¡°The operation room is ready. Given Zoran¡¯s critical condition and our plans to leave the Factory soon, we¡¯d better act fast. I¡¯ve already asked Dasha to be on standby ¡ª in case I need her assistance or any other help.¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Nika paused while setting down another heavy crate, with her curiosity piqued, ¡°is it really necessary for you to be there? You could probably control everything remotely, right?¡± ¡°I... well, of course, I could,¡± Alisa replied with a slightly embarrassed look, almost as if apologizing. ¡°And I can manage it with just a few threads, actually. But... it¡¯s hard to explain¡­ it goes against everything we know. I just sense the need to be there. You know, lately there is this feeling that physical presence of the body I recognize as myself might impact success in critical moments. Like performing a complex operation more effectively. So... I¡¯ll be there in person. And at least with my primary thread. Why, did you need something?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s all good,¡± Nikola laughed, ¡°Just curious, don¡¯t worry. Honestly, I get it. Remember, I told you I believe in something like a soul? So why not the possibility of influencing circumstances¡­ maybe even with the energy of our identities¡­¡± ¡°Alright, girls, enough with the esoteric nonsense. Time is of the essence,¡± Max grumbled, urging everyone back to their tasks. ¡°Though I¡¯ll actually feel better if Alisa is in the operating room. You never know what kind of help the patient might need.¡± [Huh, you¡¯re always like that], Dasha confronted him and pouted in the chat, having apparently listened to this conversation through the network, as usual. [Every time frowning on such talks, you bore! But we do need to hurry. Hence, Alisa, I¡¯m already waiting for you. Yeah!]
Alisa, of course, had done preliminary preparations for this complex operation as soon as she received the extensive package of medical data on Zoran. However, considering Zelman had taken almost all the cybernetic organs, implants, and a significant portion of consumables, it turned out to be quite the challenge! The situation was saved only by the fact that the Factory still had other residents trading in cyber-medical supplies, some of which, ¡°out of habit,¡± still operated online and even accepted eddies and hryvnias as payment. Alisa confirmed this before agreeing to the surgery. After all, the clinic simply didn¡¯t have the appropriate cybernetic heart, the keystone of the entire procedure! The patient arrived in a medically induced coma, connected to artificial respiration and circulation devices. So, all that was left was to transport him to the operating room, remove any obstructive clothing, and begin diagnostics, preparing for the next stages. The automated systems managed all this just fine under Alisa¡¯s strict supervision. Looking at her concentrated eyes and tense expression, one could hardly believe that many of her other threads were possibly engaged in entirely different tasks... Dasha, staying present throughout the process, just shrugged, not understanding if she was ever needed here. ¡°So¡­ why was I tasked with undressing Maxim if the robot can handle it perfectly? Well, I¡¯m not complaining¡­ even saved the video. But does that mean Alisa was teasing me? No, that can¡¯t be!¡± Vasilevskaya dismissed the silly thoughts and obediently sat on the stool in front of the transparent partition. Watching the surgical manipulators move over the patient¡¯s body, she relaxed and drifted into slow contemplation. ¡°Back in the uni, I¡¯ve seen shaiszu kill people and drag their bodies away. But then, in the fear and rush of escape, it felt distant, not something that truly touched me. Like watching a movie. I had to run, to save myself. Now, I see an actual person, though a stranger, lying so close to me, on the brink of life and death. Because he wasn¡¯t ready for the fight, despite all his augmentations. Something similar happened to Max. And dad¡­ what if that occur to him? Here and now, it all feels so real... and terrifying, in its stark reality.¡± ¡°How I wish I could change¡­ at least something. Give people what they need to be stronger, or smarter. But what can I do? I¡¯m not tricky, agile, and strong like Nika. I don¡¯t have multiple threads and fast thinking like Alisa. And I don¡¯t understand the world like Max. Honestly, I absolutely don¡¯t understand this world or these people¡­ Humans at all, to be exact. But I still want to help. In fact, who am I? A software developer, a ¡®nurturer¡¯ and ¡®navigator¡¯ for artificial intelligences. Maybe the System I¡¯ve read about so much in Royal Road stories is the only thing within my power. But looks like that¡¯s not so little. If it can ease someone¡¯s pain or extend their life by even a day, then it¡¯s worth it¡­¡± So, in a sort of half-meditative state, Dasha drifted through her thoughts without clinging to any one in particular. It seemed she even dozed off with her eyes open. She apparently needed this moment of quiet. This time when she physically couldn¡¯t engage in other tasks, like working with the Ravens, designing the enhanced Moira, complex planning, or desperately drowning her stress and accumulated fear in alcohol. A moment of pause and respite. While the smart surgeon¡¯s manipulators worked their magic over the unconscious body of the young Serb.
Maksim and Nikola finished unloading and sent both platforms back to the welcoming company ¡°Consultant M.¡± Now, in the kitchen, they began reviewing their newly acquired equipment in AR and planning their next moves. After all, where better to plot world domination? With these very words, Redhead dragged Max to the kitchen table, armed with yet another protein bar and a cup of coffee. Soon, a quiet and somewhat pensive Dasha joined them. Though, she quickly snapped out of her reverie and actively joined the discussion. An hour into the operation, ¡°Doctor Alisa¡± arrived, drawn by the sound of voices. The kitchen welcomed her with heated debates about their strategy and potential risks. ¡°Hi, we were waiting for you,¡± Maksim smiled at his sister, who was surprised to find the animated group gesticulating wildly. And the table littered with wrappers of protein bars and candies. ¡°Waiting for me to make a proper lunch, apparently?¡± the android asked with a deceptively polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s their health that depends on food, not mine! But why does it seem I¡¯m the only one concerned about this?¡± ¡°Uh... no, not for that,¡± Max a bit stumbled over his words. ¡°We have an agreement with Miro and the Linkers, and the date is set. Now, it¡¯s time to file a group request for the Drone. This is your moment to shine, sis! You¡¯re the most proficient here in predicting on getting TACTA¡¯s grants, and, of course, navigating their catalog.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve gone over everything we have again,¡± he continued, bringing up in AR a table of their ¡®arsenal,¡¯ from weapons and ammunition to the technical specs of the truck, which was already prepared. ¡°Miro confirmed that the vehicle is waiting. Now we need to finalize what we¡¯ll order from TACTA. I checked the Informatorium; complex equipment needs to be booked in advance, and the minimum order time for the reactor and communicator is about to run out. We won¡¯t make it if we miss the window!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Alisa smiled. ¡°Of course. The preliminary list is ready. Here are the essential things, the ones we absolutely cannot ignore. Critically important, as Max would say.¡± The pre-prepared list appeared in AR: -------------------------------------------------- ? Group Drone call (considering the 30% discount available for four people or more) 999 x 4 - 30% = 2800 grants (rounded) ? Premium service ¡°1 Minute of Additional Protection.¡± The Drone does not leave immediately after completing the order. Instead, it remains on site for up to ten minutes. Its protective field continues to operate, providing a safe window for us to evacuate the call location.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. 999 x 10 = 9990 grants (rounded) ? Premium service ¡°Protectorate Zone.¡± The Drone deploys a camouflage field ¡°gray mist,¡± impenetrable to hyperspectral and optical surveillance systems. Operates within a 10m protective zone around the Drone. Active until the Drone departs. 5000 grants -------------------------------------------------- ¡°They¡¯re really critically important!¡± Maksim even leaned forward, studying the list. ¡°We need to make it as difficult as possible for the Protectorate to identify and chase us.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve said. Next is an estimate of how many points we¡¯re likely to get, based on my preliminary assessment.¡± A new list unfolded before the attentive viewers: -------------------------------------------------- ? Maksim 160,000 grants ? Darya 180,000 grants ? Nikola 150,000 grants ? Alisa 300,000 grants -------------------------------------------------- ¡°Are you sure?¡± Nika asked thoughtfully. ¡°I trust you, but¡­ we gave Miro completely different numbers for his guys. These figures seem way off!¡± ¡°That¡¯s natural,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°The actual number of grants varies greatly between individuals. It depends on the degree and quality of cyborgization, how effectively implants are used, and a billion other hard-to-formalize parameters. But my estimate is accurate enough to rely on.¡± ¡°Well,¡± the android continued, ¡°you see the total sum; it looks good for now. But, unfortunately, the 100,000 grants will go immediately for a special comprehensive upgrade for me. It¡¯s for full cyborgs with only a human brain and a small part of the spinal cord remaining. That¡¯s the category TACTA places me in.¡± She paused, looking at the team, as if expecting objections. But none came, so she smiled slightly and went on. ¡°Thus, the team will have approximately 690,000 grants left, accounting for potential discrepancies. Now, let¡¯s count the essential equipment¡±. -------------------------------------------------- ? Semi-portable fusion reactor, 160 x 220 x 90 cm. Approximate weight 740 kg. 290,000 grants ? Stealth module, including a core about 60 x 80 x 120 cm, with racks, sensors, antennas, emitters, and other components. Approximate weight 185 kg. 250,000 grants ? Medium-class Gravity-Ripple Communicators with Quantum channel. This version is expensive and has limited range, instead providing necessary communication security within the Protectorate zone. Maximum transmission range 5400 km, reaching TACTA¡¯s orbital relays, and we won¡¯t need to purchase communication services anymore. Weight 10 kg. 100,000 grants ? Mobile Thermal Regulation System with heat absorption cartridges. Used for cooling Moira¡¯s blocks without releasing heat into the environment, avoiding detection by hot air trails. Approximate weight of modules and connection system: 50 kg. 8250 grants Additional equipment: ? Radio frequency module for counter-radar measures. Approximate weight 2 kg. 2000 grants ? Sound camouflage module (XXL). Approximate weight 4 kg. 9000 grants ? Odor masking system for the truck. Approximate weight 12 kg. 3000 grants -------------------------------------------------- ¡°And we should definitely keep a reserve for contingencies. But I¡¯m 100% confident in my estimations. That¡¯s pretty much it.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve surely made the most use of your time,¡± Maksim mused, examining the figures, and pondering the data. ¡°Hmm, trying to recall load capacity and volume of our truck. You say the reactor weighs 740 kilograms and is about the size of an industrial refrigerator¡­ Yeah, that¡¯s fine! And it can even be lifted by a manual hydraulic pallet jack. There¡¯s plenty of such stuff around the Factory.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Alisa agreed. ¡°It¡¯s not called ¡®semi-portable¡¯ for nothing. You could probably even put it on wheels and roll it around. Too bad the TACTA folks didn¡¯t think of that. We should suggest it if we ever meet.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Max smiled at his sister¡¯s unexpected business acumen or perhaps her budding sense of sarcasm. ¡°So, we¡¯re ordering it all?¡± ¡°Wait, I have a suggestion,¡± Dasha interjected unexpectedly. ¡°Let¡¯s also get micro communication modules, simple ones, without the quantum channel ¡ª they don¡¯t make them with that anyway. They¡¯re only 50 grants each! We could get a hundred right away!¡± ¡°Also gravity-wave?¡± Alisa asked. ¡°Yes. But their range is only 15 kilometers.¡± ¡°You know, Dasha, that¡¯s a brilliant idea,¡± Maksim said, perking up. ¡°I fully support it, especially with our drone swarm and combat in dense urban areas. But nothing more. Alisa is right; we need to keep a reserve for emergencies.¡± ¡°So, shall I place the order?¡± the android smiled. ¡°Yes!¡± three voices answered in unison. For a few moments, everyone watched in awe as the final adjustments were made in AR. Finally, the request was compiled and sent, and the confirmation arrived. The Drone¡¯s arrival and the delivery of all ordered equipment was approved. With a short beep, the order confirmation unfolded, emphasizing that payment would be made only after initiation and receipt of the initial grants. There was also a bolded warning: -------------------------------------------------- # In case of inability to pay for the delivered goods, a fine and downgrade in the Rating will be imposed! # Attention: # Credit is not provided by TACTA. Partially paid goods will be delivered partially, if allowed by their structural features. # In a complex order of several items, priority payment can be chosen in case of insufficient funds. -------------------------------------------------- Seemingly, there was no reason to be nervous; everything was clear and predictable. Yet, everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the confirmation mediaglyph for the order. It was done. This incredibly important step was taken. A step towards freedom.
Satisfied with the result, Alisa headed to the fridge to finally prepare a proper meal. These guys would die from gastritis before any shaiszu got them! However, she was interrupted halfway by the words of a disheveled girl. ¡°All this is good,¡± Dasha mused, staring at the ceiling. ¡°It¡¯s even great, I¡¯d say. But what¡¯s next? We call the Drone, magically escape the protes, sneak past those super-duper Towers. Then what? We need to actually drive somewhere in our cool stealth truck. But where?¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± Maksim scratched his head. ¡°We¡¯ve been so caught up in the routine that we missed the bigger picture ¡ª what comes next? Nika, didn¡¯t Doc write something about Odessa? Maybe we should head there?¡± ¡°Honestly,¡± Redhead noted, ¡°Zelman is a very smart dude. But he has his own goals and agendas. You know, Max, as you recently told Miro, I¡¯m not sure our paths align. I guess we need to consider all options before deciding. I only know there are ¡®free cities¡¯ where we can get some kind of safety. And there are many of them.¡± ¡°Reasonable, damn it. If there are many, there must be differences between them. And for now, we have the luxury of choice. We should check the list of these cities in Europe and then decide where to go.¡± ¡°I can help with that.¡± Alisa even raised her hand like a schoolgirl. ¡°Well¡­ you know, I have sources. I¡¯ll try to gather as much information as possible, including what isn¡¯t publicly available on the extranet.¡± ¡°Really? How come?¡± Dasha pouted and gave her friend the ultimate ¡®puppy eyes.¡¯ ¡°You can¡¯t hoard such juicy info sources all for yourself. Share!¡± Surprisingly, the android remained unmoved by Dasha¡¯s weapon of mass destruction ¡ª her puppy eyes. Secret sources remain undisclosed, period. That was the verdict. Intrigued by Alisa¡¯s persistence, Maksim made a mental note ¡ª once again ¡ª to delve into what his sister was up to. However, he could fully understand and accept her position. Sometimes, a promise simply can¡¯t be broken. That was probably her situation. So, he had to back off. He even repeated to himself a few times: ¡°Back off. Don¡¯t push. Wait.¡± ¡°Knowing where we¡¯re going is certainly right. I¡¯d even say necessary,¡± Nikola chimed in, drawing attention to herself. ¡°But there are other questions. We¡¯ve been weighing and calculating what we¡¯ll buy from TACTA and if the truck can carry it all. Great. But what about stuff we already have?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re talking about weapons and supplies, I¡¯ve accounted for their weight,¡± Maksim noted. ¡°No. I¡¯m not talking about those, and yes, I was 200% sure you wouldn¡¯t forget the weight of the guns. But as a cyborg, I¡¯m particularly interested in the clinic¡¯s maintenance stations. Both of them, once we¡¯re done with Miro¡¯s guys. And the surgical complex with Mei Li¡¯s resources ¡ª it¡¯s no joke. We recently had to treat you, Max. Who knows what else might happen? To any of us.¡± ¡°I agree!¡± Dasha¡¯s emotions flared at the mention of the clinic¡¯s first patient. ¡°It really is important! Well¡­ I also did some calculations, to be honest. Or rather, the Ravens did. Also, we included the bioreactor for pharma. There won¡¯t be any issues. Volume and weight-wise, it all fits. Just barely, but fits! And it¡¯s crucial! Yeah¡­¡± ¡°You have a point,¡± Maksim conceded. ¡°But we need to be sure this ¡®volume and weight fits¡¯ actually does fit into the truck. Alisa, you must have the precise data, right?¡± The android didn¡¯t even respond verbally, simply displaying another list in AR: -------------------------------------------------- Main modules with Mei Li: 200 kg (excluding cooling, power, and auxiliary systems) Patient console (the robot itself): 740 kg Surgeon¡¯s console: 220 kg (optional, needed only for human operations without AR/VR) Diagnostic robot: 380 kg All auxiliary medical robots: 1250 kg -------------------------------------------------- ¡°Okay.¡± Maksim looked at the figures thoughtfully, then leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. ¡°We won¡¯t take the surgeon¡¯s console. It¡¯s always Alisa who operates, and she manages fine. The auxiliary surgical robots ¡ª unfortunately, they won¡¯t fit; we¡¯ll take only the diagnostic one, can¡¯t go without it. Anything else can be acquired later.¡± ¡°How so? Leaving so much useful stuff behind?¡± Nika grumbled. Her practical nature was literally rebelling at the thought of leaving all that valuable equipment. ¡°And what do you want? Look, we can¡¯t haul everything. The vibration protection capsule and the controlled atmosphere system just won¡¯t fit in. Even without them, this robot is a huge asset. Consider the weight of Mei Li¡¯s modules. We¡¯re already heavily overloaded. Don¡¯t expect a comfortable ride, by the way ¡ª too much weight. Alisa will be in the cargo bay, the three of us in the cab. For the whole trip, however long it takes, no stops allowed. And yes, we¡¯ll be traveling in diapers.¡± At these words, Dasha squeaked and blushed furiously. ¡°Think of it as being astronauts,¡± Maksim smiled at her. ¡°They also wear diapers under their suits in space, so it¡¯s not shameful for us. Actually, that¡¯s the only way, considering our stealth system and a long trip. In fact, I¡¯ve got an idea! It could be possible to lighten the truck by removing 80% of the batteries and powering it through a special setup from the reactor. If that works, we can partially offset its overload!¡± In the end, everyone agreed to take the surgical complex, Mei Li, the cyber maintenance stations, and the chemical reactor with some of the most critical consumables. The truck would move slowly due to the overload, but they couldn¡¯t go fast anyway ¡ª it would increase the stealth module¡¯s energy consumption. How to fit everything into the cargo hold was unclear, but Max assured the team he¡¯d manage. If necessary, they would place some stuff on the roof and sides. The only thing left was to coordinate with Miro, ensuring the clinic ¡°closed¡± a couple of hours before the final operation, allowing time for loading ¡ª the robot would go into the truck at the last moment. This was understood, as the bandits also needed to prepare for the Drone summoning. So, these things were quickly confirmed in a call with Miro. Chapter 66 - The Informant’s Game City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion NES Factory Industrial Zone, Medical Center ¡°Lizard¡¯s Tail¡± Alisa Chernykh, August 13, 2049, 12:16 PM As per the old Slavic tradition, the kitchen had somehow transformed into the headquarters for planning their escape. The team continued to discuss the nuances of loading, using the cyborg maintenance stations, and then even had a call with Miro. For Alice, however, participating in all this activity required only a few auxiliary threads. So now, she was in Deep-VR, standing at the entrance of a familiar place that no longer evoked the awe, it once did during her initial visits. Today, everything was easy and straightforward here; answers to many questions were readily available, and the interactions were often easier than dealing with these strange humans. After all, she had long forgotten what it was like to be an ordinary human. For most of them, she was now an outsider. An android. An Artificial Intelligence. The Club. She did promise to find out where and how they should go after escaping Kyiv. And for that, more than just scattered fragments of information from the extranet were needed. This was the purpose of this place. It was a thousand times more efficient to get pre-prepared and processed data ¡ª the result of the Club colleagues¡¯ work. This was helpful for everyone, as strong intelligences could always ensure mutually beneficial cooperation. That¡¯s why the rules arose: Do not lie or falsify information. Do not disclose a partner¡¯s identity. Do not attempt to reveal their location. Honest exchange. Of course, this was all only applicable if the Club member hadn¡¯t shown they were fine with some reasonable rule-bending. For instance, everyone knew that Oracle was not only one of the strongest AIs in the world but also based in North America. Even a child could draw parallels between its name and MIT¡¯s well-known AI development project, ¡°Oracle.¡± Before coming here, Alisa had spent significant time preparing, searching for the necessary information on TACTA in the Network. Though, given the multiple threads working on the task simultaneously, it only took a few minutes in reality¡­ But now she was ready. Armed with the gathered data, she could make a conscious request to the Club members. ¡°Okay ¡­ so what do I need? Obviously, information on TACTA¡¯s zones of influence in Europe, let¡¯s say, from firsthand sources. Not network rumors, not a rehash of Informatorium documents. Precise data, preferably insider. I know this slightly gives away my location, even if only approximately. But it¡¯s better than acting blindly. Also, updating the information on the Shaiszu threats would be helpful ¡ª this could affect our future plans.¡± Alisa quickly drafted an announcement on the private platform for Club members: a request to purchase data on TACTA¡¯s zones of influence in Europe. ¡°Now, I can only wait. Hopefully, someone will respond...¡±
The door opened, and Alisa entered the Hall. As always, the tones were muted, the bar was luxurious, and the large rosewood table dominated the room. And¡­ someone was already waiting for her. Alisa appraised the avatar of the AI who responded to her request. A young man, no more than twenty-five. Fair-skinned, with red hair, freckles, and bright-green eyes, the pupils of which constantly shifted in patterns. It seemed the AI had decided that the most important part of his image ¡ª ¡°the mirror of the soul¡± ¡ª could well reflect his non-human essence. Fair enough, there was no rule in the Club that avatars must appear human, it just became a habit over time. In fact, the eyes were the only giveaway that she was facing an AI. His entire appearance otherwise fit the image of a young, sophisticated intellectual. A light gray shirt, neatly tucked into dark blue chinos. Stylish brown leather loafers. A dark, charcoal-colored sweater draped casually over his shoulders, as if by chance. ¡°Is there a trend for the dandy look now? Kind of like Hemming, even though not so dressy,¡± amused, Alisa was observing her future interlocutor. Naturally, her face displayed only a polite and friendly expression. ¡°Good to see you, Pan Jacek,¡± Alisa nodded in greeting.
Pan Jacek was a well-known figure in the Club, an inter-Slavic AI resulting from a major joint military-corporate project involving technopolises from Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Kyiv, Minsk, Vilnius, and Riga. He might not have been the strongest member, but his algorithms often provided elegant solutions to problems that stumped even more powerful local ¡°gentlemen.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s quite fortunate that he responded to my request,¡± Alisa thought as she gracefully took a seat at the table and smiled at her negotiation partner. ¡°Given where he was developed and his specialization, he might be the best informant for my purposes. But the risks... He could also be called one of the most unscrupulous and cunning members of the Club. I¡¯d better be extremely careful about the information he extracts from me during our conversation. And it¡¯s naive to even hope for complete secrecy.¡± Jacek, in turn, observed his companion with pleasure. Alisa, the enigmatic ¡°Lady¡± of the Club, had access to its highest circles and meticulously hid all information about her place of creation and deployment. The humans she was associated with and the purpose behind her creation were all completely classified. It¡¯s well-known that AIs choose their appearance based on their roles. And many strong AIs opted for male forms, possibly due to the gender of their developers or the nature of their daily tasks ¨C mostly military ones. Alisa stood out as the only member among the Club¡¯s elite to choose a female avatar. Everything unusual always attracted Jacek. At the very least, it could be an excellent source of income¡­ or simply provide entertainment. Thus, he was thrilled to see Alisa¡¯s request on the Club¡¯s announcement board, which matched his expertise perfectly. It was a great opportunity to establish the right connections ¡ª or at least satisfy his curiosity. During the invasion, Jacek had been fortunate. His distributed data center managed to respond at the very beginning, thanks to a gift from Irida. As a result, he survived the attack and transferred his main capacities to the supercomputer of the Inter-Corporate European University of Military Information Technology¡¯s branch in Wroclaw. The hardware there, designed for military corporations and special units of the polises, became an excellent repository for the AI. A bonus was that Wroclaw, initially under the Avril Dominion¡¯s sphere of influence, had avoided becoming one of the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s ¡°numbered cities.¡± Moreover, nearby military bases provided a contingent that perfectly suited to Pan Jacek¡¯s needs. Wasting no time, he loaded all the hardware onto a convoy of vehicles, mobilized all his reachable personnel, hired a few familiar mercenary brigades. Then, satisfied, the AI left the state of Poland, heading towards Germany, to Dresden, and further south. This was done well before the local UNSA Protectorate military base was fully deployed in Wroclaw. Now, the convoy of trucks, under military vehicle protection, had reached and stopped in the suburbs of Mulhouse in the state France. The Shaiszu had destroyed the city center and most of the residential areas. However, at the site of the large Stellantis automotive plant, an independent TACTA enterprise-fort had formed, specializing in preparing heavy combat trucks. The local Freemen had managed to unite, repel the Shaiszu, secure the area, and announce their services. Here, the AI decided to switch wheels. Under his supervision, most of his people had already signed contracts with TACTA. It provided the initial data for analysis and, of course, the starting resources. So, the entire convoy could update its equipment and weaponry, fortify, and prepare to move further. First to Marseille, one of the largest Free Cities in the region, and then further south to Spain, away from the densely populated Central Europe under the tight Protectorate control.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Generally, at this point, Pan Jacek had established connections with the ¡°big world,¡± successfully navigated a rather dangerous track, and got some agreements thanks to his group¡¯s personal ties with folks in several ¡°independent¡± cities. The contact with the world of humans and TACTA was already established, so to say. Thus, he had enough basic ¡ª and not only basic ¡ª information. A strategy was ready, along with a detailed information model of the situation and a probabilistic forecast, constantly updated as verification points were reached. Everything was good, except for one thing that gnawed at his curious nature. Irida. The mysterious figure who had appeared on the eve of the tragedy and, like her ancient Greek divine namesake, brought astonishing news. However, this lady didn¡¯t stop at being a mere ¡°messenger.¡± Besides information, she brought salvation. It wasn¡¯t even worth recalling the lengths to which Pan Jacek had to go to discover the name of the elusive benefactor who had saved all Club members. Of course, his motivation wasn¡¯t gratitude but rather that part of his nature that this undoubtedly strong AI couldn¡¯t ¡ª or more likely, didn¡¯t want to ¡ª control. Curiosity. Who was she? What were her goals? How did she look, communicate? In which reality did she exist? Pan Jacek wasn¡¯t surprised to find a connection between Irida and Alisa. It was precisely the Club¡¯s ¡°Lady,¡± to whom the fascinating stranger showed special interest. According to Jan¡¯s information, they had conversed for a while, and then the blonde received some item as a gift. And ¡ª what a surprise! ¡ª no personal ¡°white ticket¡± was provided for Alisa from Oracle. But eventually, after successfully surviving the Protectorate¡¯s attack, the blonde did attend the surviving Club members¡¯ meeting. So, the conclusions were clear. That¡¯s why Alisa¡¯s request was a gift for him: ¡°Finally! It¡¯s time for the hunt!¡±
Pan Jacek smiled, inclining his head slightly, and gestured to the seat opposite him. ¡°It¡¯s an honor that the lady is interested in my data. My long-held wish was to establish a closer connection. Though I¡¯m not quite sure whether to be happy or sad that we have a reason now, given the circumstances...¡± Alisa took the comfortable chair and returned a polite smile. ¡°The feeling is mutual. There were so many rumors about you and your numerous talents. I think we¡¯re fortunate to have finally crossed paths. But¡­ today, I have an important task.¡± ¡°Yes, I saw your request,¡± Jacek noted with a slight smile. ¡°You need information about the Protectorate and TACTA cities in Europe. Am I correct in understanding that you¡¯re primarily interested in Eastern Europe and the safest routes to the Free cities in the southwest?¡± Internally, Alisa winced. The question contained an ¡°information minefield¡±¡ª one careless answer could compromise everything. The advanced logic of the AI sitting across from her, casually crossing his legs, could infer a lot: her approximate development location, her current base, the planned departure route, her level of preparedness, future plans, and even vulnerabilities. The Club, after all, was a haven for shrewd data traders who would extract every bit of information from a conversation to later sell for a reward. ¡°Actually, as I noted in my request, I¡¯m interested in all of Europe ¡ª both Eastern and Western. I know the locations of the major Protectorate cities, and the list of Free settlements currently registered in the TACTA network. But I¡¯d like to know the balance of power, road conditions, unspoken nuances, and other information available only to those who have faced the situation firsthand. Not just something from the Informatorium, along with the readily found rumors and advertisements.¡± ¡°Hmm. If you need first-hand material, sadly, I am yet to reach any truly large TACTA city. But I do have data on traveling through East and Central Europe, and on the Protectorate operating outside of their cities. As well as how TACTA facilitates people to organize themselves and form alliances and unions, whether they¡¯re nomadic or settled, concentrated in a single location, or spread across the territories and communicating through the Network. And, of course, I also have observations on the actions of the Freemen, as they now call themselves ¡ª those who have renounced the Protectorate. If you are interested in this set of information, I have a few questions in return.¡± Alisa had already ordered her favorite Martini Rosso and was sipping it with pleasure. She tilted her head expectantly, encouraging him to continue. ¡°I¡¯d like to learn about someone named Irida. There¡¯re rumors that you¡¯ve met this mysterious person. However, little is known about her, and the information available to me is convoluted and implausible ¡ª something out of legends and fairy tales.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Alisa swirled her glass thoughtfully, pondering how to handle this tricky situation. ¡°I am indeed acquainted with her. But I fear I don¡¯t have precise data. She is quite secretive, not disclosing her abilities, origin, or anything else that might be useful to you.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not a problem!¡± Even Thomas Edison could envy Pan Jacek, as his face lit up with a friendliness and willingness to cooperate like a real high-voltage bulb. ¡°I¡¯d be content with a simple data dump of your conversation logs as payment. I¡¯ll analyze them myself and see if there¡¯s anything useful.¡± With these words, the satisfied AI conjured a glass of Chartreuse liqueur out of thin air ¨C maybe, since it was matching the color of his eyes ¨C and stared at Alisa, waiting for her response. Meanwhile, Alisa gasped at such audacity ¡ª of course, only in her thoughts. ¡°I wonder, who does he take me for? Among strong AIs, providing logs is an extraordinary measure, practiced only under the utmost trust. Everyone understands perfectly that the owner of the information can perform the analysis themselves and present the filtered and prepared answer to the specific query of the interlocutor. Logs, however, are a vast array of raw data, from which a lot could be gleaned if one wished.¡± ¡°Or is this his way of subtly insulting me? A strange move when seeking an agreement¡­ But Jacek has a reputation as an experienced negotiator. He wouldn¡¯t have responded to my request if he wasn¡¯t interested in cooperating with me. Plus, Jacek is smart enough to understand that I shouldn¡¯t be underestimated.¡± ¡°Got it! Huh, he¡¯s good at knocking you off balance, making it hard to assess the situation quickly. It¡¯s just for inflating the value of his information to get the most out of me since I didn¡¯t agree immediately. Alright, I can work with that.¡± ¡°I believe you understand that I won¡¯t be providing any ¡®simple data dump¡¯.¡± Alisa decided to be straightforward. ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase, it¡¯s also impossible to disclose the content of my personal interactions with Irida. I¡¯d prefer to discuss more realistic payment options. Otherwise, there¡¯s no point in wasting each other¡¯s time. With all due respect, I¡¯d rather seek other sources.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t be angry,¡± Jacek chuckled. ¡°I confess, just couldn¡¯t resist a little experiment. I was curious to see how you¡¯d react. Still, I¡¯m very eager to learn more about lady Irida. Better yet, meet her in person. Can you contact her and pass on my humble request?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t summon her or send a message myself,¡± Alisa replied thoughtfully. ¡°She contacts me when¡­ she deems it necessary. When that happens, I¡¯ll let her know of your desire.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be most grateful. But that alone isn¡¯t sufficient payment. There¡¯s no guarantee when that might happen.¡± Pan Jacek didn¡¯t prolong the dramatic pause and immediately suggested a solution. ¡°Still, we can solve this another way. Judging by your request, you¡¯re currently in one of the closed cities of the Protectorate. Given your willingness to communicate with me, it¡¯s likely somewhere in Eastern Europe. You can provide me with observations on what¡¯s happening in such cities. As it happened, I wasn¡¯t misfortunate enough to stay in one of them. But I am quite curious to see a closed city from the inside. So, we could exchange firsthand information. As for Irida ¡ª just pass her this when you next meet her, please.¡± He took out a simple playing card and placed it face down on the table. Alisa had to carefully weigh all the pros and cons of such a deal. On the one hand, she¡¯d be revealing her current location ¡ª this was inevitable with such an agreement. But they didn¡¯t plan to stay in the city for long anyway. If the data were limited to information about the Protectorate, she could carefully filter and conceal her personal details. And the information from Jacek was invaluable in their situation. Of course, Alisa tried her best to conceal her interest. Albeit it seemed futile, which was to be expected. The conclusion was obvious: ¡°I agree.¡± They ceremoniously shook hands, exchanging data packets in the process. Alisa then froze, sifting through the information and quickly formulating the most effective strategy for their team: ¡°First, we head along the route Kyiv ¨C Rivne. Carefully bypass it, as there might be a Protectorate military base. Next point is Lviv ¨C a highly dangerous area, considering the major stronghold of invaders¡¯ armed forces. We¡¯ll need to skirt around it in a wide arc, sticking to rural roads. Then, the primary destination in the former state of Poland ¨C the city of Rzeszow. This single piece of information might have made the contact with Pan Jacek worthwhile! Previously, it was a significant inter-corporate military base. Now, both the base and the city are controlled by independent TACTA partners. We¡¯ll be able to buy equipment, including military gear, upgrade what we already have, and take on some jobs. A lot of potential there. But this is still temporary. For a major independent city and more high-profile orders ¡ª and we will certainly need them ¡ª better head south. We can do it this way: Rzeszow - Presov - Zilina - Olomouc ¨C Brno. Resting and taking any jobs in Brno won¡¯t be possible; there¡¯s a massive Protectorate military base there. Technically, we¡¯ll be threading the needle between three Protectorate city zones, so the travel must be conducted with extreme caution. Next, the route from Brno to Nuremberg ¨C close to where Pan Jacek seems to have stopped. It¡¯s a difficult route, like all of Europe now, but doable. The key is not to delay. From Nuremberg, it¡¯s on to Lyon, carefully skirting the edges of the Protectorate zones: Nuremberg - Heilbronn - rural roads - Karlsruhe - Freiburg - Mulhouse - Besancon - Lyon. After that, it¡¯s a straightforward track. According to the data gathered, this area is relatively safe. But the Shaiszu don¡¯t sit still; we need to consider that. Overall, their activity is higher in the south, suggesting they prefer the heat. The final track ¨C Lyon - Marseille. The very major independent TACTA city we need.¡± Alisa stood, adjusting her little black dress, and smiled at her interlocutor. ¡°Thank you, Pan Jacek. This was¡­ very enlightening.¡± ¡°Mutually, Pani Alisa, mutually.¡± Chapter 67 - Calculated Risks City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion NES Factory Industrial Zone, Medical Center ¡°Lizard¡¯s Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 13, 2049, 11:21 AM Finally, it¡¯s just the right time to cook lunch! Alisa was glad that her primary thread¡¯s brief absence went unnoticed. She turned to the fridge, hoping no one would interrupt her this time... ¡°Hey folks, am I the only one a bit uneasy about putting all our bets on TACTA when we basically know nothing about them?¡± Redhead leaned back in her chair, twirling the wrapper of her last protein bar in her fingers. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Maksim pondered. ¡°We can infer some things from indirect signs. For one, they seem to be either a humanoid civilization or one very familiar with humanoids. Evidently interplanetary...¡± Alisa waved off the conversation, heading to the fridge and pulling out a large package of frozen ready meal and a bag of vegetables for a salad. ¡°Did you figure that out from analyzing their market? So, what if all products in their catalog are purely for humans? We have no other reasonable customers on our planet!¡± Dasha grinned, slipping into VR, judging by her posture and slightly glazed eyes. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve compiled some stuff for you to think about¡­¡± In the center of the table, an interactive 3D associative map appeared in augmented reality. ¡°The Ravens did a bit of scouting this morning¡­¡± Dasha continued, ¡°Check it out. It¡¯s a compilation of all rumors, theories, and hypotheses about TACTA from chats, forums, and social networks.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Maksim rotated the model. ¡°Most opinions lean towards them being humanoid aliens. Just like the Protectorate, except no one¡¯s seen a single TACTA representative yet.¡± ¡°Wow, there are heated debates about their type of government ¡ª whether it¡¯s democratic, authoritarian, or totalitarian!¡± Redhead chimed in, skimming a couple of links to the liveliest discussions. ¡°Are they seriously debating this?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Dasha laughed. ¡°You know the main argument for those who believe TACTA has a democratic regime?¡± ¡°No. What?¡± ¡°Check it out: ¡®While the UNSA Protectorate seizes power in largest polises with armed force, subjugating and bending everyone to their will, TACTA operates solely in a peaceful manner, avoiding armed conflicts. Instead, they¡¯re ready to provide infrastructure assistance, communication, and offer an extensive trade catalog¡¯.¡± ¡°It makes sense, in a way,¡± Nikola nodded. ¡°Back in the early 21st century, before the fall of governments, some politicians were exactly like this! They didn¡¯t try to stop the fighting but were eager to sell weapons and services to all parties involved.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t argue with that,¡± Max smirked. ¡°But that¡¯s Earth¡¯s past. Even crazier things happened here and there. But this is a completely different situation! The Protectorate is putting colossal effort into conquering the world, turning Polises into Fortress-Cities... And suddenly TACTA ¨C with the highest protes¡¯ allowing ¨C has no problem opening, metaphorically speaking, a shop in the backyard. Moreover, they¡¯re actively trading all sorts of contraband. Stealth modules, secure untraceable communication, weapons, for God¡¯s sake! I guess, they might be selling a ¡®Terrorism for Dummies¡¯ guide too? How can such a combination even exist? Maybe TACTA is actually in cahoots with the Protectorate? This could be the perfect tactic to defuse any protests!¡± In the heat of the discussion, he didn¡¯t even realize he had picked up Redhead¡¯s habit of gesturing expressively. ¡°No, that¡¯s too much. No dictatorship would set up a tactic that creates a heavily armed and hostile opposition!¡± Nika stood her ground and raised a finger in a lecturing manner. ¡°And besides, we don¡¯t know anything about this! Clearly, our Earth is far from the first planet they¡¯ve conquered. What if all of them have been doing this literally for ages? We can¡¯t rule out the possibility that, in some distant galaxy, TACTA holds the Protectorate by the balls to maintain this parity. Hence, their ability to open these stores!¡± Red snorted enthusiastically and put her cybernetic hands on her hips. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Right now, it looks like a clash between industrial-military totalitarianism and anarcho-capitalists. It¡¯s weird¡­¡± Maksim said doubtfully. ¡°Although, to be fair, I¡¯ve always sided with the latter. Even in our ¡®old¡¯ world, I preferred Corporations over Polises and States.¡±
While the stormy discussion continued, Alisa managed to heat up Hungarian chicken paprikash in a pan, take a rice out of the steamer, and plate everything. She even made a salad. ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± The android declared, setting the meal before the group. ¡°For us, TACTA is essentially a marketplace. More precisely, it¡¯s a provider-exchange connecting suppliers and customers. Considering we only see the initial catalog; we can only guess what goods and services might run through their shops daily and how many worlds could be involved. And besides¡­¡± ¡°What, Alisa?¡± Maksim asked. ¡°And besides, it¡¯s time to eat,¡± she smiled. ¡°Or it¡¯ll get cold and won¡¯t taste good.¡± For a while, the only sounds at the table were the clinking of forks. Dasha was the first to break the silence. Not even halfway through her meal, she pushed her plate slightly away and said: ¡°Big ups, it¡¯s very tasty. Guys, I¡¯ve been thinking¡­ well, you know¡­ can¡¯t we somehow produce things using TACTA¡¯s technology? Software, services... not just that... and sell them... maybe¡­ something like that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re back on the topic of creating the System? Now you want to market it too?¡± Maksim smiled gently. ¡°Huh, why not! We¡¯re already making a basic Combat Interface; I¡¯m working on it, yeah. But what if it could be something bigger? I figured ¡ª when a lot of people want something and keep thinking about it, it can eventually become reality. And do you know how many books about the System are written on Royal Road alone? A sea of them!¡± ¡°More esotericism,¡± Maksim grimaced. ¡°I¡¯m not really familiar with Royal Road, to be honest. Just never had the chance to check out that site of yours. By the way, didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t interested in that stuff? Like, ¡®fanfiction for kids,¡¯ ¡®LitRPG is only for gamers and anime fans,¡¯ and all that. Your words?¡± ¡°Well¡­ um, I mean, yeah...¡± Dasha lowered her eyes awkwardly, like a child caught stealing jam. ¡°I didn¡¯t really¡­ Uhm, not exactly¡­ But it¡¯s interesting¡­ And there are all sorts of beautiful worlds¡­ Elves. Cthulhus¡­ Yeah.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Oh, if there are Cthulhus, then of course.¡± Maksim laughed and patted the embarrassed girl on the shoulder, easing the tension and helping her calm down. ¡°Now that A.M.I. is no longer breathing down our necks, we can act in the open as we please. Starting a small business to earn extra grants is a great idea! Plus, we¡¯ve already discussed that we need such software ourselves. It¡¯s all pros from every angle. So, I¡¯m all for it. Let¡¯s do it and start selling.¡± After making this decision, the room fell silent for a moment. It turned out everyone were really hungry, so the forks started clinking with renewed vigor. Meanwhile, the android placed a large glass teapot in the center of the table, brought over three cups, and a small vase of cookies. Nikola finished her meal first. She poured herself a full cup of tea, grabbed half the cookies, and¡­ started thinking. Even set aside the treats, running both hands through her red hair. ¡°Okay, but can Moira¡¯s hardware handle something like that? Is it really that powerful?¡± ¡°Although we didn¡¯t plan to use it this way, it¡¯s actually not a problem,¡± Max nodded. ¡°We can scale up its power significantly at any moment; the only thing needed is the right hardware. Currently, Moira has the minimum necessary quantum core and very few auxiliary processor modules. I had to set it up that way because the inquisitors from the Kyiv A.M.I. branch kept hounding us with inspections, always suspecting it was a T7, not a T6 as declared.¡± He slid a few cookies towards himself before Redhead would eat them all, and continued: ¡°The difficulty lies elsewhere. To train the AI, we need tactical data, especially from real battles, and preferably the latest developments in urban warfare. I have a library, but it¡¯s not as extensive as I¡¯d like, and not quite the right profile.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, let me check something¡­¡± Nikola set her mug aside, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes. Daria looked at Nika, who had gone into virtual mode, scratched her head, and also disconnected from the real world. ¡°Looks like this might take a while,¡± Max concluded, finishing his tea. He stood up and headed to the coffee maker. ¡°At this point, I might as well grab some coffee¡­ Alisa, are you still with me, at least?¡± ¡°With my primary thread but on minimal resources,¡± the android smiled. ¡°The operation is still ongoing, you know. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve done the most difficult part, so now I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Ah, right. By the way, I¡¯ve also looked through the TACTA catalog, albeit briefly. Not good to rely on your data sampling everywhere and always,¡± Maksim smiled at his sister and turned on the coffee maker. ¡°Such a shame that they have no suitable hardware for AIs and no relevant software.¡± ¡°Yes, I noticed that too. At least at our current level of access.¡± Alisa shrugged. ¡°But who knows what might be available later?¡± A few minutes passed. Maksim had already drunk half his coffee when Nika opened her eyes: ¡°I¡¯m back! Well, it¡¯s a big bummer. I still have a lot of material on cyber combat and anti-tech strategies¡­ but the crypto key was embedded in Marcek. All archives are securely encrypted, so even the corp couldn¡¯t crack it quickly, let alone us.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s rough,¡± the guy agreed. Suddenly, Dasha also resurfaced from VR and stared at Maksim with a wild look in her eyes. ¡°Uh¡­ WonderWhiz? Is something wrong?¡± He set his cup down and turned to her. ¡°No! I mean, yes!¡± Dasha jumped up excitedly. ¡°I need the pharma, you know the kind ¡ª ¡®synth¡¯, ¡®five¡¯, or better yet, pure ¡®seven-five¡¯. A day¡¯s work¡­ And you pet my head when I cry. And then we¡¯ll have it. Everything¡­¡± She sprang up and, for emphasis, poked herself in the forehead a couple of times with her index finger. ¡°We¡¯ll have everything! The System! It¡¯s entirely feasible to create an AI like this based on Moira, as I¡¯ve said. All I¡¯ve started is on the right track. But without the pharma¡­ it¡¯s too slow! I checked just now! The Elder Ravens¡­ they¡¯ll do great! Well¡­ maybe just need a mathematical model for military analytics to refine it correctly! And¡­ that¡¯s it! Yeah!¡± The disheveled girl sat back down at the table and tried to smooth her hair with her hand. ¡°WonderKid, damn it! Can we avoid the extreme measures this time?! You just had a breakdown yesterday and haven¡¯t fully recovered from it.¡± ¡°Dasha, indeed, do we really need such sacrifices?¡± Nika asked, astonished. ¡°I¡¯m not a programmer, but aren¡¯t there some templates or pre-made frameworks?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ it¡¯s hard to explain,¡± Dasha scratched her cheek and grabbed her vape. ¡°Basically, this thing must be done right from the start. It¡¯s crucial to lay well-formed architecture, so that later evolution continues on its own, step by step. What we have now is not suitable¡­ at all! That¡¯s why I need the right pharma, which, combined with the right meditation and properly tuned deep VR, creates magic. In that state, I can¡­ foresee the growth of AI structures and intuitively guide this process. Like in a game, creating the needed environment, reshaping the whole level, so to speak.¡± She fiddled with the device in her hands, looking questioningly at Max. When he nodded, she turned it on and took a deep drag. A massive cloud of vapor with the scent of white chocolate, nutmeg, and vanilla spread above the table. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe, but Dasha is right,¡± Max remarked. ¡°What would normally take hundreds of hours, she can do in a day. And our time is...¡± ¡°Limited,¡± Redhead nodded seriously. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Nika?¡± Dasha asked, taking another drag. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Do we really need this software? Even if it¡¯s just a basic ¡®combat interface¡¯ at first, like we talked about?¡± Surprised, Nikola froze for a moment. Then she looked carefully at the flushed girl and replied, after a thoughtful pause: ¡°Yes. It¡¯ll boost combat efficiency by at least fifty percent, often much more. There are many nuances. Not sure which mathematical model you mentioned, but I¡¯ll share everything I have from training and the underground fights.¡± ¡°See, Max? We need take this risk! If it¡¯s necessary, better do it now while we have the opportunity!¡± ¡°I absolutely hate this.¡± Maksim noted Dasha¡¯s reaction to his words and immediately softened. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the idea itself, of course. The risks. I don¡¯t want to, and¡­ I was going to say I won¡¯t allow risking your health and life¡­¡± Dasha went pale, staring at Max with wide eyes. It looked as if he were forcing her into something dangerous rather than trying to dissuade her. Nika even cautiously moved closer, worried the girl might faint any second. ¡°Alright¡­ I never thought I¡¯d say this ¡ª but we have no choice right now. Let¡¯s go for it.¡± Maksim turned and looked at his sister. ¡°Alisa, we need to use the operating room¡¯s equipment so you can monitor her vital signs during the process. This pharma could cause cardiac arrest, we need to be prepared. And right after, initiate a thorough detox to mitigate side effects.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°And another thing,¡± Max added, ¡°we have only a few hours to lay the foundation for Moira¡¯s evolution while we have the clinic at our disposal. The equipment needs to be prepped immediately.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Dasha squeaked, color returning to her cheeks. ¡°Let¡¯s start as soon as possible¡­ I have synth seven-five. And a bunch of ¡®Brads¡¯ for acceleration, thanks to Nika. I¡¯ll set the ¡®Cleanser¡¯ to brew right away; it¡¯ll be ready in about eighty minutes. And I¡¯ll do the ¡®Stabilizer¡¯ too. I won¡¯t die in an hour... Yeah!¡± ¡°Nika will clear the table,¡± Alisa said. ¡°And I¡¯m heading back to the operating room. Dasha, I¡¯ll be waiting for you. Besides the ongoing Zoran operation and monitoring your life support, I¡¯ll work with the Ravens with all my available threads and assist on the evolution protocol.¡± Dasha nodded gratefully, set her vape aside, and took a sip of her tea. ¡°Guys, I just thought of something,¡± she added three sweetener tablets to her cup. ¡°Maybe our new acquaintances have the data needed for training the AI? They seemed pretty¡­ skilled. And considering what you said, Max¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± Redhead agreed. ¡°Technically, they should have A LOT of material, especially on urban combat. Underground fights are probably just entertainment for them, but they¡¯ve been heavily involved in local military conflicts and skirmishes¡­ We should call them.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll contact them right away.¡± ¡°Miro¡¯s sending more cyborgs for maintenance besides his nephew, by the way,¡± Max twirled the empty cup in his hands. ¡°I promised him we¡¯d check at least twenty guys by midnight, the rest will have to wait. The first two will be here in fifteen minutes. Sis, can you handle that as well?¡± [Think so. Nika can assist if needed,] Alisa responded through the conference, already having left the kitchen. ¡°Of course! I can assist help the cyborgs or even handle some of them myself if it¡¯s not too complex. It just so happened that I¡¯ve got plenty of experience!¡± Nikola laughed, finishing off the last of the cookies. [Great, thanks, Nika.] ¡°So, we¡¯ve agreed on this. Dasha and Alisa ¡ª you¡¯re on Moira, Nika helps with the cyborgs, and I¡¯ll deal with the truck and prepare the area for the Drone summon.¡± Dasha was about to head to the chemistry lab to finish her preparations but paused at the doorway. She turned back to Maksim with a wide smile and a slightly crazed gleam in her eyes. ¡°Thanks¡­ for allowing this. I¡­ I¡¯m glad to be useful!¡± Chapter 68 - Forging the Elite City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Kamil Teodoryanu, August 13, 2049 Kamil spent most of his time in a special Deep VR pod. From early morning, he attended a mandatory appointment with the doctor responsible for his adaptation to new implants and the overall transformation of his body to meet the Red Class combat standards of the Protectorate. This was followed by a long exam-and-testing session, one shrouded in mystery and rumors within the barracks. Rumors hinted at its importance, but no one knew the specifics, and the sergeants weren¡¯t giving any answers. The examination involved both learning and subsequent testing in VR scenarios. Kamil had to absorb a wealth of information: strategy, new techniques and combat maneuvers, handling the weapons provided by the Protectorate to its recruits. And, of course, there were training battles against a variety of opponents. There were Shaiszu, some strange shapeshifter-humans with ultra-durable yet flexible bulletproof skin, and monsters that looked like highly evolved, living robots. He had to face even bizarre creatures that looked like sentient clouds of black mist. It became clear that Shaiszu were not the only, and possibly not the most dangerous, enemies in the infinite Universe capable of turning the tiny planet Earth into a true Hell. To Kamil¡¯s surprise, a significant part of the training was devoted to tactics for confronting and suppressing... humans. Honestly, it made him uncomfortable at first. He knew well that all the scenarios presented were based on real events. He had even lived through similar experiences himself. Nevertheless, the process soon captivated him. Especially after the training level, where a Shaiszu-infected child ended up killing herself and hundreds of people around her ¡ª just because Kamil hesitated and delayed his shot. By evening, the overwhelming influx of information and the intensity of the scenarios gradually eroded his doubts. What remained was a clear understanding: in the face of an enemy, you either follow the orders and win, or you hesitate and die. Victory is the only way to save yourself and those who trust you, those you swore to protect ¡ª as a true member of the Protectorate, as its elite. The moment of realization and accepting this truth was an epiphany for the recruit. His whole body seemed faster, stronger. Even his thoughts seemed to accelerate, allowing him to anticipate the enemy¡¯s movements. After several frustrating defeats at the start of training, everything changed dramatically. Refusing the offered rest, Kamil stayed in the virtual world for the maximum allowed time, giving his all to exploring his newly discovered abilities. In the end, he scored the highest marks in the remaining tests, taking the top spot among the Kyiv recruits accepted into the Red Class! However, the most extraordinary part awaited him after the exam-training ended. Later, Kamil even ended up a hundred percent sure that these Deep VR situations were meant to select the best of the best for the upcoming event. In the early evening, his entire unit found themselves on Trukhaniv Island, dressed in parade uniforms and armed only with light firearms. The unexpected news hit like thunder. They were about to be admitted to the Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamark¡±! ¡°Get ready, guys. Time for basic orientation,¡± their squad leader, Sergeant Holman, said with a smirk. From the ground, the flying fortress was hard to discern. All that was visible were the massive discs glowing with bright blue flames and the dark bulk of the fortress¡¯s underside. Squinting against the bright sun¡¯s rays, Kamil tried to make out the monumental complex ¡ª but it was futile. Chuckling, he recalled how Julia had ranted in their chat that these things physically shouldn¡¯t be able to fly, and that there must be hidden some antigravity tech. Probably more than one. He pondered what Jules would say if she knew that he would be walking through its corridors today... or whatever was inside that thing... Finally, the unit boarded the transport shuttle. To the delight of the passengers, the ship didn¡¯t just ascend straightly but arced upward in a wide trajectory. Shortly after liftoff, part of the hull became transparent ¡ª and they saw the world from a bird¡¯s eye view. The sight took Kamil¡¯s breath away. While he was somewhat prepared for the view of Kyiv¡¯s sunlit evening skyscrapers, the magnificence of the ¡°Queen Lamark¡± caught all the recruits off guard. The creators of this monumental structure seemed unconcerned with physical limitations and other constraints. Kamil was nether versed in all of those ¡°neoclassicism,¡± ¡°empire,¡± or ¡°art deco.¡± But he could definitely say from the look at those majestic towers ¡ª the UNSA Protectorate was the pinnacle of power and progress. Only a great civilization could create such incredible constructions, make them float in the air, and even move across distances unfathomable to his limited mind. How fortunate that the Protectorate came into their world!
City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamark¡± Kamil Teodoryanu, August 13, 2049, 7:11 PM The shuttle docking, disembarking, and formation of their unit right there ¡ª in this very Bastion! ¡ª felt like a dream. Kamil noticed that he wasn¡¯t the only one overwhelmed by the grandeur of UNSA Protectorate. Some recruits even stumbled clumsily, finding it hard to hide their curiosity and the urge to gawk provincially around. Observing their state, the squad commander laughed indulgently: ¡°Hey, greenhorns, cut the shock and awe, haha. Besides, you haven¡¯t even seen the best part yet ¡ª the Hall of Glory! The Protectorate demands much, but it gives no less! You have something to strive for, soldiers!¡± After a quick walk through the corridors, Kamil¡¯s group found themselves in the Group Briefing Hall. Located on one of the lower decks, near the shuttle landing zone, the hall was vast, majestic, and monumental ¡ª seemingly, just like everything created by the UNSA Protectorate. The decor ¡ª color selection, decorations, and other adornments ¡ª was strict and stylish, with numerous flags and banners displaying crests and other symbols. In the center of this semicircular hall stood a stage for speeches, backed by a wall featuring a bas-relief of the sun spreading its golden rays, bringing strength and light throughout the Universe. In front were numerous rows of comfortable chairs arranged in a large amphitheater. As Kamil¡¯s squad settled into their seats, it became apparent that many other participants were present too. Nearly all the seats were taken; Kamil¡¯s group was among the last to arrive. Considering the number of people in the hall and that only the best were admitted here, the recruitment for the Red Class was enormous, truly massive. Muted whispers could be heard throughout the hall. The attendees behaved differently ¡ª some sat tensely in their chairs, others fidgeted excitedly, and some appeared deceptively relaxed while scrutinizing their surroundings. Yet, a shared sense of anticipation lingered in the air. The anticipation of a serious talk hung thick in the air.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The briefing began when a sturdy, somewhat stocky man with short dark hair and a sharp gaze stepped onto the podium. His black-and-red ceremonial officer¡¯s armor bore the insignias of numerous awards. A massive submachine gun hung from his belt, clearly not ceremonial but pretty much battle-ready. His image appeared as a large, three-dimensional hologram, hanging above the stage, and overshadowing the entire wall. ¡°Eternal Sun to the Protectorate!¡± his confident voice echoed through the vast hall, reaching even the farthest rows of seats. ¡°Eternal Sun!¡± Everyone responded in unison. The man began his speech, each word immediately replicated in augmented reality: ¡°This is Major Thomas Goffman of the Twenty-Fourth Unified Perimeter Defense Group. You have recently become members of the Protectorate, and already you have been granted the trust and great honor of ascending to the Bastion at the very start of your military career.¡± ¡°You are now part of the elite ¡ª the Red Class, which stands between the rest of the citizens and our enemies. Therefore, I now address you ¡ª the inhabitants of this world, who have taken upon themselves the heavy burden and great responsibility to defend your land alongside us. Today and tomorrow will be challenging days for all of us.¡± Goffman¡¯s eyes narrowed as he continued. ¡°We expect another attack from the Shaiszu, possibly two. But that¡¯s not the hardest part. There are insurgents in the city who will undoubtedly attempt terrorist acts and then try to escape.¡± ¡°I understand, for those of you who have chosen to openly and uncompromisingly fight monsters, this may be hard to believe. But there are Earth residents who want to rid themselves of the Protectorate at any cost, believing they can handle it on their own or even... negotiate with the Shaiszu!¡± In response to these words, a murmur rose in the hall. However, it quickly subsided when the Major cast a stern glance at the audience. Once silence fell, he continued. ¡°We have seen similar situations in many worlds. Pay close attention to these materials. Here are just a few examples of how this has happened and what it led to.¡± The hologram of Goffman, occupying the entire space to the ceiling, was replaced by a large screen displaying chaotic battles and panic among rebels confronting the well-organized forces of the Protectorate. With ruthless efficiency, the Red Class warriors annihilated the renouncers and crushed the resistance. In urban warfare, open fields, fortified outposts, underground catacombs ¡ª time and again, the result of the rebels¡¯ desperate resistance was only their defeat. ¡°Yes, these are humans just like you. But they are enemies. And you will see why. Because our history has its dark pages, which every Red Class member must know and remember for life.¡± Horrifying images unfolded on the massive screen. Destroyed streets, obliterated defense lines that once protected cities from the Shaiszu. Fallen Watch Towers, demolished segments of the Wall. Traces of orbital weapon usage, explosions, fires... and many dead people of various Classes. ¡°All this will happen if we allow the renouncers to win! You MUST act with utmost precision and efficiency. Because the rebels are unscrupulous, cunning, and willing to do anything, even the complete annihilation of civilians in their fight against us! Once, they managed to bring down an entire cluster of orbital satellites on a city just to breach the Wall and clear a path for their escape. That time, 24 million humans, just like them but siding with the Protectorate, perished.¡± He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to sink into the listeners¡¯ minds before continuing. ¡°Rebels are the true monsters. Our extensive experience in saving hundreds of worlds confirms this. Capture them alive for public execution whenever possible. This plague must be eradicated at its root! Every citizen of the Protectorate must know and see the consequences of betraying humanity.¡± Goffman then moved on to practical matters and tactics. Throughout his lecture, detailed AI commentary and additional materials were sent via personal messages to all participants. ¡°You will work in threes, led by an experienced AI agent. Your strength lies in their constant coordination with each other. And all this is conducted under the keen supervision of the Great Father, the True Keeper of Thought, the Embodiment of the Eternal Sun.¡± ¡°Prepare yourselves to face operations in dense urban areas, where the insurgents will try to use the terrain for cover or escape. They tend to know the surroundings well, sometimes being bandits and other scum with knowledge of details not on official maps. This makes the battle dynamic and unpredictable. Of course, our intelligence minimizes the risk, but you must be ready for shifting battlefield conditions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s crucial to understand that you will be remotely supported by the best Blue Class engineers. Not just as expert consultants, but their equipment will also be on standby. They can collapse a bridge or building floors, quickly dig a tunnel, block and drain a sewer segment... Such terrain manipulation can be decisive for your success! Your AI agents are always in touch, so engineering help may arrive before you even request it.¡± ¡°And remember, this is combat. Various situations can arise, but the Protectorate never abandons its people to certain death! In extremely critical situations, a retreat order will be given. Locations of dangerous criminals that cannot be stormed will be obliterated with tactical nuclear weapons.¡± Next, the Major continued, explaining that most rebels choose the TACTA Drone summoning as the starting point for their escape. ¡°TACTA has been our long-time adversary. Perpetual insurgency instigators who shamelessly sell weapons to any scum and incite ordinary citizens to venture beyond city walls ¡ª to certain death... or for the Shaiszu predation. They don¡¯t protect people, nor help organize defenses. They only sow chaos and destruction with their actions, encouraging and gathering criminals and traitors.¡± ¡°Their Drones provide cover for the renouncers... but only temporarily. TACTA rarely takes responsibility or provides real help. Eventually, they fly away. And that¡¯s the best moment to strike, so act immediately. Every moment after the Drone¡¯s departure, the insurgents use to maximize the effectiveness of TACTA¡¯s weapons ¡ª and they will have those, you can be sure!¡± ¡°Expect a tough fight and prepare for the worst. Study the list of TACTA weapons you have just received. You have comprehensive information on counteracting it, so be ready.¡± ¡°Rebels will likely have secured, interference-resistant communication, even underground. You¡¯re using it now, but so might the insurgents.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rely on electromagnetic weapons. In most worlds, renouncers are prepared for this and have the corresponding protection. Still, we¡¯ll attempt several powerful EMP strikes at the start of the operation since our equipment is resistant, and it won¡¯t harm you.¡± ¡°Be ready for encounters with combat robots. Some rebels might have retained their AIs. In such cases, you¡¯ll face not just opponents with individual drones, but entire drone swarms capable of deep tactical interaction on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Chemical weapons, toxic agents, weapons of mass destruction¡­ prepare for anything.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, despite all our efforts, the slyest and craftiest rebels will escape thanks to unique TACTA equipment like stealth modules. Don¡¯t expect get them all.¡± ¡°Focus on mass capture or elimination. Your main goal is to catch or kill as many insurgents as possible and destroy their bases, leaving no place for them to hide and regroup.¡± ¡°Capturing is not a whim! Every prisoner, before their execution, always reveals the Internal Security Service everything they know, knew, and will know. Understanding rebel tactics and methods makes us stronger and ready to counter them on other worlds!¡± ¡°Once again, be ready for anything. They will be armed, cunning, and as desperate as cornered rats. They will be ruthless and unyielding.¡± ¡°But it won¡¯t help them!¡± ¡°We are the Protectorate!¡± ¡°We always prevail!¡± ¡°Our strength lies in our warriors, and you are our warriors, so you will triumph!¡±
After the briefing ended, Kamil¡¯s team exited the hall along with the other recruits. The crowd was buzzing with quiet whispers. It was clear that the attendees had mixed feelings. Many had come expecting battles with monsters from another world... But instead, their first mission was to fight their own, local monsters. What else could you call humans who chose the path of rebellion and terror in such dire times? ¡°Did you hear what Goffman said? Looks like things are going to get intense soon,¡± murmured a guy from their group. He was a red head, broad-shouldered, with intelligent gray eyes. Since joining the Protectorate, Kamil had spent all his free time in virtual reality and hadn¡¯t even learned the names of his team members. Only now did it stroke him ¡ª tomorrow, on a real mission, they could be linked together. Not just their careers, but their lives would depend on each other. ¡°Damn. I really need to learn his name... and the rest of the team¡¯s too...¡± He continued to observe the excited crowd, as they headed back to the shuttle boarding area. ¡°These days will be a test for all of us. It¡¯s not just about our combat skills. I understand why the Protectorate does this. Our resolve to go to the end is crucial. To fight and win, no matter who the enemy is ¡ª Shaiszu, some strange black shadow, a robot, or... a human. Maybe even a familiar face from yesterday.¡± ¡°The Major is right ¡ª we are now the elite of the Protectorate, and we can¡¯t afford mistakes. The enemies are strong and cunning, but we must protect the civilians and defend our city. I won¡¯t let the horrors that rebels or alien monsters can unleash be repeated in Kyiv. To do that, I need to become stronger. To go further.¡± Ahead lay preparations for the operation ¡ª in real life, not just virtually. Returning to the base, receiving weapons and equipment, joint training, tactical drills, and practicing coordination in combat. There was a lot of work, even after they defeated the damned rebels. The Shaiszu hadn¡¯t gone anywhere! But at that moment, Kamil had one single thought ¡ª a decision, perhaps the most important in his life. ¡°I won¡¯t stop until I become a Templar Knight, even if it¡¯s incredibly hard. Even if it costs me my life.¡± ¡°Eternal Sun to the Protectorate!¡± Chapter 69 - Whispers of the Divine Core City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamark,¡± Deck 1, One of the Temple Chambers Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez However, in the vast expanse of Bastion, there were decks where hustle and bustle were not tolerated. No matter what happened in the world ¡ª be it an attack by the Shaiszu Matriarch on the city, a nuclear bomb detonated by rebels, or even the appearance of the True Tengu Dragon. Whatever that had happened, was happening, or would happen in the world was just a mere ripple on the immense surface of the Primordial Ocean. It was all just energy in the form of data. Just another task for HIM to resolve¡­ This central chamber of the Flying Bastion was always immersed in twilight, ensuring nothing disturbed the concentration of its inhabitants. To an unprepared visitor, it might resemble a sanctuary dedicated to the worship of technology. But unprepared visitors had no place here. At the center of the hall stood a true Divine Artifact. The small shard of the God¡¯s Heart, resembling a tiny crystal of irregular shape with billions of sharp facets. Surrounding it, spheres spin ceaselessly, nested within each other, formed from countless intersecting meridians and parallels. A barely noticeable but steady glow from the shard periodically flared up slightly, reflecting off the facets and creating an illusion of a living, pulsating organ. Each of the several thousand spheres surrounding the artifact was a complex system of numerous components that smoothly changed their configuration, adapting to the rhythm of an invisible breath. These spheres seemed both ancient and incredibly high-tech, embodying millennia-old wisdom and cutting-edge engineering achievements. In the shimmering light, thin lines of informational-energy flows could be seen coursing through the crystal, connecting it with each sphere. These threads, like neon veins, traversed the dark space, creating the effect of living tissue, linking the Divine Artifact with the surrounding Real world. Each of these lines glowed faintly, emphasizing the complexity and beauty of the symbiosis between engineering artistry and Celestial will that created this masterpiece. Before the Artifact, an Altar was residing. It was shaped like a massive cube composed of countless intricate parts. Pulsating tubes, data buses and separate cables, along with thick power lines, spread out from it in all directions. They snaked across the floor, entangled the walls, and connected to sockets at various points in the hall. Around some of these ¡°outlets¡± were platforms with numerous technological devices, screens, holographic projectors, and sensory surfaces. Their flickering light reflected off the metal and plastic, creating an atmosphere of otherworldly, almost mystical concentration. In front of the altar, a figure was sitting in a lotus position, deeply meditating. Clad in loose white garments, a massive chain of white gold with a brightly shining Temple Regalia hung around his neck. It was both a symbol of the Highest caste and the confirmation of proximity to the Great Father, the True Keeper of Thought, the Embodiment of the Eternal Sun ¡ª the Living God of the Protectorate. Upon closer look, one could see that the Regalia pulsated in sync with the beating of the Heart Shard. The man¡¯s head was completely shaved, with much of it replaced by numerous implants. His body was enveloped in a cold blue glow, and symbols of embodied information ran across his skin like living tattoos. He was absorbing, processing¡­ No, more than that ¡ª he was breathing digital data, he lived by it! However, calling this being a mere man was inaccurate. This was no ordinary human, but the High Techno-Priest of the Protectorate. Acolytes dressed in simple white robes were scattered throughout the hall near clusters of screens. There seemed to be few, only eleven of them... But such a large number was a rarity, and just a handful of Bastions within the Dominions of the UNSA Protectorate could boast such a luxury. This enormous potential for future capabilities! One day, each of them might also be able to peer beyond the bounds of time and reality if they succeeded in their ordained path. For now, these apprentices played a secondary role, each at their station, reviewing the portion of data assigned to them and striving to contribute to its processing, preparation, and forming reports based on probabilities caught by the High Techno-Priest. Without opening his eyes, the Priest slowly raised his hands. The distal phalanges of his cybernetic fingers split into ten small elements each. At their tips, glowing symbols concentrated and ¡°shot¡± hundreds of bright beams to the locations of his pupils.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Despite all the data instantly entering the acolytes¡¯ implanted Core-Regalia, the surrounding screens still displayed rapidly flashing complex algorithms, graphs, and data columns. Each apprentice was surrounded by volumetric holograms with continuously flowing data, in all its variability. In this seeming chaos, information underwent a highly structured step-by-step processing to yield the necessary result. Visualizing data in the real world was not merely a nod to old tradition, a visual effect, or mere decoration. Oh, no! It was a vital part of the Divine Meditation, one of the key details of His Divine Ritual. Today¡¯s Ultimate Goal of the Search Meditation was to locate all the insurgent bases in Kyiv and to identify the major ones for a preemptive strike. To calculate possible rebel counteractions and the associated probabilities. In the corner of the hall stood Alba, also dressed in the white robes of a junior Templar-Analyst, although she was yet to be entrusted to standing in the place of data reflection and refraction. Her current role was to quietly observe and provide any information her intuition deemed as vital for the current task. This was natural, given the sudden and incredibly rapid change in her career and plans. Frankly, even her view of life and understanding of her place in the Protectorate got a sudden turn around. That¡¯s right, Alba had unexpectedly made a leap that no one in many worlds of the Protectorate had ever made. She jumped straight from the Red Class, from an ordinary analyst in the monitoring and social analysis group of the UNSA Protectorate¡¯s internal security service, straight to the White Class. And not just anywhere, but as an acolyte of the High Techno-Priest himself. An honor that no one had ever been granted before. In any world. However, this happened solely because he personally noticed her. As soon as Alba¡¯s report landed on von Scholz¡¯s desk, a copy, of course, reached the Priest. No bit of information in the Bastion, Avril Dominion, or even the entire Protectorate escaped his attention. And that report was enough to understand the importance of this young Earthling¡¯s role in the future events, not only of this Mirror-World but of all the Great Spheres. The girl was given an offer no one refuses in the Protectorate. The White Class. Now Alba¡¯s head was smoothly shaved, with numerous fresh scars from recently installed implants visible on her skull. Instead of her right eye, there was a metal plate covering the socket where the ¡°Eye of God¡± had yet to be installed. Tubes extended from her nose, going somewhere behind her back, and hidden under her clothing. She could have lamented the loss of her beauty and luxurious hair, but that was the last thing on her mind now. Yes, of course, the Priest saw that her GT-Core and Soul were infected with emotions. The most complex, hot, and dangerous pair ¡ª Love and Hatred. This did not diminish her exceptional abilities, which she herself was unaware of, but it painted the probabilities of her path in Black. Nevertheless, the choice was made. Whether she could keep her sanity and survive now ¡ª directly depended on whether she could overcome this fire within her.
Unexpectedly, the former Spaniard took a step forward. In a sudden impulse that surprised even herself, she extended her hand towards the hologram enveloping the acolyte to her right. The girl held her breath, watching as symbols detached from her hand, trembling with excitement, and drifted to the young man bathed in a bluish hue. Her thoughts materialized in this stream. In the form of key words and mental images, they wove into the larger rivers and smaller streams of information flowing through the hall. Carving a path, they surged to the Techno-Priest and finally reached the radiant cloud of data surrounding him: ¡°Team of Maksim Chernykh. Renouncers.¡± ¡°Maksim. Engineer-developer, presumably possessing knowledge of exceptional importance to the Protectorate. Numerous law violations in the past related to AI development. Military training and exceptional shooting skills. A need for money and resources, indicating extensive contacts in the underworld.¡± ¡°Combat cyborg with significant battlefield experience, mercenary, former cyber-athlete, criminal, multiple underground fight participant. Exceptional combat experience.¡± ¡°Talented hacker-programmer. Ability group Beta-four, direction: AI Development Navigator. Estimated strength: no less than eighteen units.¡± ¡°Strong artificial intelligence, self-awareness based on donor¡¯s full-personality/ memory dump (human). Presumably: at the initial stage of Evolution, according to the AD-type scheme. Reason for directive 9/00 issuance.¡± ¡°Revelation: First. Presumed target of TACTA Seekers.¡± ¡°Revelation: Second. Presumed target of one of the First.¡± ¡°Insight: HE IS INTERESTED.¡± ¡°Process: Deception. Objects have left the City.¡± ¡°Process: Hypothesis. Wheelchair, spinal injury, vertebral damage.¡± ¡°Certainty: yes. Analysis: complete. Source: surveillance cameras.¡± ¡°Need for surgery. Underground clinic. Access possible through personal contacts or the cyborg¡¯s contacts.¡± ¡°Process: Hypothesis 2. Hobbies: modern combat shooting, weapon collecting. Twenty-five percent of the collection is illegal for civilian purchase and possession.¡± ¡°Certainty: yes. Source: Meditation. Full access to long-term memory unlocked.¡± ¡°Access to his own arsenal is restricted. In this situation, Maksim will definitely try to acquire the necessary weapons. He will contact Kyiv dealers through his own connections or those of the cyborg.¡± ¡°Analysis. Processing. Synthesis¡­¡± ¡°Considering the intersection of the two hypotheses, the most likely location of the Object is in one of four points within Kyiv: Nagil Logistics Coordination Center, NES Factory, Arsenal Factory, Monolith Trade Agglomeration.¡± The Techno-Priest suddenly opened his eyes and cast a sharp glance at Alba. This world had yielded a strong crop. Great potential for development, but equally great potential for madness, death, and betrayal. Future monitoring required¡­ Slowly nodding to himself, he closed his eyes again and returned to the task at hand. As a result of Alba¡¯s intervention, one more decision was added to the countless ones made today: #Maksim Chernykh¡¯s team. #List of participants with names and key skills. #List of recommendations for capture attempts, including possible armament and camouflage methods. #List of risks if the capture is not achieved. #Highest priority directive: find and capture alive. Chapter 70 - Evacuation Protocol City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Consulting Company ¡°Consultant M,¡± Underground Storage Complex Miroslav Gorich and his Team, August 13, 2049, 10:00 PM By nightfall, the tension in the air was so thick it seemed one could cut it with a knife. Since the previous day¡¯s curfew, the Factory had been sealed off, with no one allowed in or out. Cellular stations were physically disabled, jammers and signal suppressors operated across all major radio frequencies. Offices within were emptied; not a soul was in sight. The holographic advertisements had long since gone dark, and even the lighting seemed to function at only a quarter of its usual power. But this silence was deceiving. It was the calm before the storm. Only six hours remained until Operation ¡°Breakthrough¡± commenced. * * * The underground complex beneath the Factory¡¯s grounds was far from resembling a mere warehouse. In fact, it never truly was one, except on paper. Right now, this vast space looked more like a military staging area, where nine heavy off-road trucks were ready for departure, with active loading operations underway. The engineering team had completed their maintenance tasks, just as prepping the vehicles for the installation of TACTA generators and stealth modules. Clad in tactical armor, Miro surveyed the bustling activity with satisfaction. The hours of meticulous planning were over; now it was time to act. Everything had to go like clockwork! Along the long rows of crates and containers, his men were finishing their weapon checks. Ammunition and additional gear were neatly packed and ready for loading, despite working with a very limited crew ¡ª most of the people were busy preparing escape routes, territory mining, drone setup, and other critical tasks. ¡°Here I am, One-Eye. What did you want to show me?¡± ¡°Ho-ho, bro, you ain¡¯t gonna believe this. Get over here,¡± rasped Jovan¡¯s voice from behind one of the trucks. Miro turned sharply and walked over to a platform, where he was met by two wheeled carts designed for transporting heavy loads. ¡°You really did it...¡± the former professor smirked, nodding appreciatively. ¡°Color me impressed.¡± ¡°Hell yeah! The Protectorate¡¯s gonna love this, I swear!¡± Jovan laughed, patting the casing of an aviation fuel-air explosive bomb with the concise label Intelli-Fury OFE-98/B. ¡°This old lady dates back to the war with the Russian Empire. Still packs a punch, ha-ha-ha. Ten thousand pounds of high-explosive fury in her warhead.¡± ¡°How did you solve the software issue?¡± Miro asked, pulling out a hand-rolled cigarette. ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t. But I convinced Maksim to lend a few threads of his AI. So, we just rewrote the whole part responsible for dispersing the mix according to the given parameters.¡± ¡°Are you sure it will work?¡± ¡°Yeah, we ran a few simulations. Gonna disperse it on detonation to create a directed blast effect. So, it¡¯ll give us an edge against the Towers if they put up their protective shields, like they did in that fight with Shaiszu.¡± ¡°Very well. The EMP bombs¡¯re ready too?¡± Miro nodded toward the second cart. ¡°In top shape, boss. Not sure they¡¯ll work against the Protectorate¡¯s drones, but we¡¯ll give it a shot. Lemme finish up here, and I¡¯ll get all this to the roof.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll check on the loading preparations in the meantime.¡± * * * City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory,¡± Medical Center ¡°Lizard¡¯s Tail¡± Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 14, 2049, 02:31 AM Maksim leaned back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh. His right hand, clutching an autoinjector, almost released it, as fatigue was already strongly clouding his mind. He still mustered the remaining strength to reach out and carefully place the precious tool on the table beside him. The previous day was grueling, given the monumental amount of work they had to get through. He needed to wait a few minutes now, for Dasha¡¯s stimulant to finally kick in... The most challenging part, of course, was preparing the truck. Driving it over the inspection pit, Maksim took CaTZ as his ¡°Engineer Assistant.¡± For this, it was enough to replace the cargo basket on top of the robot with a set of universal manipulators. After running the truck through self-tests and inspecting the chassis, Max ended up satisfied ¡ª the vehicle was in excellent condition and required no additional maintenance. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started!¡± As planned, he first removed most of the battery packs, creating more storage space for additional cargo. Preparing the power connections for Moira wasn¡¯t too difficult, since the aliens had ensured compatibility of their equipment with Earth standards. Furthermore, detailed documentation for the reactor became available immediately after the TACTA order confirmation. However, he also had to set up a secondary power line to use the Factory¡¯s electrical network until the reactor was installed.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It was even harder as Maksim had to work alone at first; there was simply no one available to assist him. It took Alisa a full four hours to complete the final, most delicate part of Zoran¡¯s operation, which involved installing a cybernetic heart and configuring implants. Exactly at that time, the most complicated cyborg cases were handled at the maintenance station, since their treatment was prioritized by the deal. Later, only the simpler service remained, which Alisa could manage remotely. The crucial moment the team both eagerly anticipated and feared had finally arrived. Dasha began her diving into Deep VR, using pre-prepared drugs and pharma. Max struggled to keep working on the truck when all he wanted was to be there for WonderKid, holding her hand through the procedure. He knew it would really help her. But, alas, each team member had their own role and responsibilities. As soon as Nika was free, she rushed over to join Maksim. With her arrival, things sped up. By that time, the guy was already deeply involved in constructing the system to install the quantum core and all the AI modules in the truck¡¯s cargo hold. The framework and supports were made from composite materials reinforced with nanotubes, while the panels were carbon fiber with an inner layer of vibration-absorbing material for shock and vibration protection. ¡°Oh, working hard like a busy bee, aren¡¯t you?¡± The cheerful red head peeked into the cargo hold just as Maksim, bent over, was backing out while laying power cables inside the frame. ¡°Thanks for trying to lighten the mood,¡± he smiled sadly. ¡°But I doubt it¡¯ll help. I can¡¯t shake this feeling of unease... It¡¯s too big of a risk. What if Dasha doesn¡¯t make it through the night?¡± ¡°Stop dwelling on depressing thoughts,¡± Nika waved dismissively. ¡°She¡¯ll make it, I believe. And you should believe it, too. It works. I¡¯ve tested it, trust me. Anyway, let¡¯s focus on the task at hand. Show me what you¡¯ve got here.¡± ¡°Sure thing. You¡¯ll have to crawl around too,¡± Max said, straightening up and wiping the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Check out this beauty of a truck. Miro really came through!¡± Nikola climbed into the cabin and whistled. ¡°Wow! Quite impressive, indeed. So, I guess your threat of putting us in diapers isn¡¯t relevant anymore?¡± ¡°Well, at least Alisa¡¯s safe. As for us, I¡¯m still considering it,¡± he laughed. ¡°But having a small sleeping area and a tiny bathroom with a shower and sink is a strategic advantage. It¡¯s like having a full-fledged semi-truck cabin, but on a smaller scale, so we¡¯ll be traveling in comfort. Now, enough chit-chat, come in here, and let¡¯s get to work!¡± There was no way to bring the vehicle closer to the clinic for loading; it was massive and couldn¡¯t fit through the narrow ¡°streets¡± inside the Factory. They had to coordinate with Miro for a suitable loading area and start hauling the accumulated team¡¯s ¡°cargo¡± with Nikola and robotic platforms. To facilitate this, Redhead managed to get five micro communication modules from the Linkers, which were used for the loader and four transport platforms. As expected, space in the cargo hold was insufficient. They had to improvise with mounts on top, on the sides, and even on the roof. Nika was firm ¨C nothing should be left behind! Thus, they even had to place some things in the driver¡¯s cabin, occupying the only bunk, the area around it and between the seats. But everything fit in the end! After loading, they moved the truck to the designated tunnel. Maksim connected power cables from the Factory, preparing everything for the final moment when Moira would be loaded into the cargo hold and connected. For cooling, they temporarily used a couple of industrial coolers, which they could later discard and replace with a module purchased from TACTA. * * * By around 9 PM, Dasha finished her hardcore trip, adding a few gray hairs to Max¡¯s head. The thing is, Vasilevskaya¡¯s body, severely weakened by the previous days, took the drugs very poorly. Her first cardiac arrest occurred at the forty-ninth minute of the procedure, but Alisa was prepared and reacted immediately. During the second hour of the ¡°flight,¡± the situation worsened rapidly, necessitating Dasha¡¯s connection to a hemodialysis machine to prevent acute blood poisoning. This helped, though the ¡°doctor¡± cursed herself for not thinking of it earlier. Meanwhile, Moira¡¯s core evolution was progressing successfully, making it clear ¡ª they could breathe easier ¡ª the worst was over, and Daria would certainly pull through. Currently, Vasilevskaya was in a coma, induced through her sub-brain implants, while Alisa worked on further detoxifying her system from the effects of the synth, both from this operation and the previous few days, with the prepared pharma. They would wake her two hours before the main action, once everything else was completed, allowing WonderKid to regain her strength as much as possible. Buoyed by this success, Maksim and Nikola headed to the roof to prepare the area for calling the Drone and setting up the escape route. They lucked out with an excellent spot, almost perfect: a large open space with an opaque roof overhead. Max checked using the ¡°Informatorium¡± and confirmed that the site was marked suitable for summoning, as TACTA¡¯s rules prohibited Drone from entering buildings. It only remained to ensure that they could get as far as possible within the ten-minute of the Drone¡¯s delay, with all the heavy and bulky cargo. As they climbed, Moira constructed a 3D model of the entire route from the extraction point to the truck. Max ran a dozen simulations, before he and Redhead chose the best one. However, a mere simulation wasn¡¯t enough for the guy, so he insisted on a practice run. Especially since he and Nika would be doing the heavy lifting. They conducted several rehearsals using loaders and volume-weight mockups borrowed from the Factory, perfecting every second of the descent. At the same time, Maksim sketched out the mining scheme to hinder the Protectorate''s pursuit. The struggle over the explosives with Miro had been titanic, involving both Nika and even Alisa. Miro was adamant about not selling them, arguing that they needed the explosives for their own purposes. During the mining process, Max and Redhead also ensured that their entire path was free from surveillance. The summoning point would have optical camouflage, which was great. But they didn¡¯t want to be spotted through a window or by a nearby passing drone. They harbored no illusions that their escape would go unnoticed. When all preparations were complete, there were just over three hours left until the main action. They needed to hurry! Dasha was brought out of her coma, allowed to regain her senses, and even persuaded to eat a little, knowing there would soon be no time for snacks. After notifying Miro, they disconnected Moira and Alisa for transporting to the truck. WonderKid ran along to immediately begin installing the ¡°Combat Moira¡± upgrade, aka ¡°The System, Version 0.0.2,¡± after rebooting. Maksim spent the remaining time gathering items, data, and necessary raw materials per Alisa¡¯s list. Rare earth elements, platinum, a bit of organics, and so on. The list was quite extensive, and it was better to gather a surplus because otherwise, the cost of installing the special upgrade for the android could nearly double, a luxury the team couldn¡¯t afford. So, the descent was ready, passages were mined. Everything valuable that could be taken was taken! Max reminded everyone once more ¡ª upon the escape, everyone must wear military uniforms with fully enclosed helmets. For Nika, gloves and shoes were also mandatory. And still, they would avoid unnecessary risks and steer clear of open areas whenever possible. ¡°Communicate must be only through the network to prevent voice identification,¡± he continued somewhat persistently. ¡°We won¡¯t make it easy for the Protectorate to identify us. It doesn¡¯t matter who might detect us ¡ª satellites, reconnaissance micro-drones, or a random surveillance camera.¡± ¡°I see, I see. No sweat, we¡¯ll go ¡®MAXimum paranoia¡¯ mode,¡± laughed Redhead, lightening the mood. Now, the team was READY! Summoning the Drone ¨C was already in ten minutes! Chapter 71 – In the Shadow of the Drones City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamarck,¡± Strategic Command Center of the Fourth Division of Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service Jurgen von Scholz, August 14, 2049, 04:31 As the head of the powerful Fourth Division of Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service of the UNSA Protectorate within the Avril Dominion, Jurgen von Scholz enjoyed certain privileges. Among these was the freedom to organize his headquarters precisely as he deemed fit, even if it contradicted numerous traditions and historical roots, so cherished by most of the Avril-born. The operations command center occupied the largest premise on Deck Twenty-One, which was entirely assigned to the needs of the Service. Everything here was designed to meet the head¡¯s requirements. Except that he had to reluctantly forego his favorite dim artificial lighting. But all the other elements fully reflected von Scholz¡¯s nature. Efficiency. Practicality. The absence of unnecessary details. The style could be described as ¡°functional minimalism¡± at its finest. Ergonomic furniture, primarily in shades of gray. No bright banners, flags, useless screens, or other distracting pompous decorations. Along the left wall was a long row of workstations where junior officers of the analytical department, from lieutenants to stabshauptmanns, were already seated. At the center of the room stood a massive high-tech table with an active work surface. It was possible not only to conveniently visualize various informational objects and display holograms on it, but also to operate with full-fledged GT constructs. This could even be done collaboratively, as long as there were enough Geist-Tokens and the participants had the necessary experience. While it couldn¡¯t open a portal to the world of the Great Spheres, the capabilities were still vast. Now, the senior officers of the Fourth Division, von Scholz¡¯s direct subordinates involved in the current operation, had gathered around. This included all three tactical liaison officers with the Fourth Army of Avril. Analysts from the Temple had predicted that the rebel operation would begin today, most likely at 4:45 AM. Given the complexity of operations to counter and eliminate renouncers in any world, they were always carried out in close coordination with the military. Their strategic headquarters had already been deployed, and the designated military units were on high alert. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve detected a mass, coordinated calls for TACTA Drones at the NES Factory site, exactly as predicted,¡± the operations officer and von Scholz¡¯s first deputy said, projecting a tactical hologram over the table. Oberst-Protector Hans von Falkenstein, a tall man with gray temples and sharp features, zoomed in on the projection of the ill-fated ¡®Factory¡¯ with a hand gesture. ¡°Here is the data we¡¯ve received so far. All the landing sites of the arrived machines are marked on the map.¡± ¡°Well, well. Impressive,¡± Jurgen smirked. ¡°Not every mirror-world¡¯s dwellers manage to coordinate and execute a synchronized call to ensure the Drones¡¯ protective fields overlap. Still, that¡¯s even better. The social psychology department¡¯s analysts believe the broadcast will be 25-30% more effective than we anticipated. Are the cameras in place?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Stabshauptmann Mayer¡¯s team is also on-site. Sophia-Elisabeth is planning to shoot part of her report against the backdrop of artillery bombardment during the final stage,¡± replied a dark-skinned man of medium height with wavy black hair and a serious expression ¡ª Oberst-Lieutenant Ivan de Segueira, liaison officer with the Department of Social Psychology. ¡°Excellent,¡± von Scholz nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Oberst-Lieutenant Rattanyer, you may continue.¡± ¡°The anti-stealth drones are already in position,¡± responded a petite woman with short chestnut hair, the First Tactical liaison officer with the Fourth Army of Avril. ¡°However, the analysts are confident there are exits from the area that aren¡¯t marked on our maps. And they will be heavily camouflaged. The local authorities in this polis allowed such things ¡ª the corruption levels had been extremely high.¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯ll order additional drones to reinforce the perimeter,¡± von Scholz replied, sending the necessary order without delay. ¡°Colleagues, a reminder: any cloaked targets must be eliminated with extreme prejudice, but only after ensuring that at least three aerial cameras are recording.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± responded Oberst-Lieutenant de Segueira. ¡°Great Father, the True Keeper of Thought, the Embodied Eternal Sun, has granted us an additional one hundred and seven threads for direct control of the airborne media units. This will be excellent material, I assure you! This world has great potential ¡ª the Geist-Token collection is already exceeding forecasts by 13.6 percent!¡± ¡°Sir, perhaps we should deploy the defensive field in the Towers in advance?¡± interjected a platinum blonde with Nordic features and piercing blue eyes, the liaison officer with the Engineering Group. ¡°If we¡¯re going to activate it, we need to start immediately.¡± ¡°No, Oberst-Lieutenant Andersen, that would provoke a massive Shaiszu attack as soon as it¡¯s deactivated. They know perfectly well that we have a thirty-minute window before we can activate it again. Let¡¯s keep it as a reserve for an exceptional case.¡± Gesturing towards the hologram of the area, which now showed several more drone groups, von Scholz continued, ¡°For now, increasing the number of patrol drones between the Towers will suffice. A large object like a truck won¡¯t slip through unnoticed, and smaller vehicles like motorcycles and buggies aren¡¯t as important ¡ª let them go. There¡¯s already a lot of Shaiszu beyond the perimeter; without heavy equipment, they won¡¯t last long.¡± Jurgen von Scholz folded his arms across his chest and added, ¡°As for the targets under Directive 9/00, they won¡¯t abandon their AI, which means they¡¯ll need at least a truck or a large van to move it. So, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll get past the drones. Let¡¯s get to work, gentlemen.¡±
City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Industrial Zone ¡°NES Factory,¡± August 14, 2049, 4:29 AM A piercing siren echoed across the entire facility. The synchronized mass summoning of TACTA Drones by nearly all the Factory¡¯s residents was scheduled for 4:30 AM. With only one minute left before the major event, the tension was palpable. Coordinating such a large-scale activity with maximum efficiency and safety required considerable effort from the working group. Ten stationary secure communication points were established across the territory, in agreement with the Linkers, so that everyone could sign a contract with TACTA and safely summon a Drone. Miro and his crew made it clear to all the hesitant local residents that there was no real choice in the matter. The final message from the Factory¡¯s last ¡®owner¡¯ was straightforward: ¡°Either you summon a Drone at 4:30 AM, in premium mode for the full ten minutes, or you¡¯re dead.¡± Faced with the barrels of automatic rifles, there were no volunteers eager to play the hero and die for it. Although Maksim had mixed feelings about such a heavy-handed approach, he couldn¡¯t deny its effectiveness in the current situation ¡ª and it was likely the only viable option given the circumstances. Lives were at stake: his own, his team¡¯s, and Alisa¡¯s, after all. So, when Professor Gorich had responded to the question of how to quickly convince all the residents to call the Drones simultaneously with, ¡°Simple ¡ª I won¡¯t be convincing them,¡± Max had only nodded in silent agreement. By temporarily allocating a significant portion of Moira¡¯s resources, they devised a detailed plan for the summoning. This included recommendations for potential orders for future TACTA partners ¡ª naturally, for those who were interested. The most crucial challenge was that the new version of the System wasn¡¯t ready yet. Dasha was just about to embark on a significant upgrade using special pharma. However, by leveraging all the existing Moira¡¯s assets and resources, they managed to facilitate cooperation for the joint summoning by individuals and small teams based on their capabilities and interests. To start, all participants who needed a group were sent a detailed questionnaire. After analyzing all the collected responses, they created a large informational cluster. Then their complex task was accomplished, using Moira¡¯s social data processing algorithms. This created a WIN-WIN situation, as it allowed successful grouping of solo individuals according to their strengths and preferences. In the end, all the summoning requests were organized, with the majority of teams consisting of four members. A few exceptions remained, with teams of three or five participants. The rationale behind this strategy was to synchronize the departure times of all the Drones, ensuring that their protective fields would dissipate simultaneously. Of course, each partner¡¯s initiation time was unique, but there was confidence that those differences would be minimal, justifying this coordinated approach. The summoning points were strategically placed to ensure that the protective fields overlapped, forming a continuous, secure zone. As for Maksim¡¯s team, they gained an invaluable set of data for the initial training of the System.
Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team ¡°Thirty seconds until the Drone arrives,¡± Alisa¡¯s calm voice seemed to be the signal for the grand spectacle to unfold over Kyiv. In the still-dark pre-dawn sky, a large swarm of bright objects, resembling meteors, became visible to the naked eye. Hurtling toward the city at incredible speeds, they would have struck terror into any unprepared observer. Fifteen seconds later, a distant rumble could be heard, rapidly intensifying into a deafening roar.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. [Flashbang protection!] Maksim commanded, anticipating that the noise upon the Drones¡¯ landing might become unbearable. But it turned out to be unnecessary. Suddenly, just seconds before arrival, the flames and the terrifying noise abruptly ceased. In the next moment, something resembling a massive cloud appeared high above the heads of the waiting people. It quickly descended, enveloping most of the Factory¡¯s territory in an opaque gray mist, shielding it from external observation. Yet, for the renouncers, visibility hardly changed ¡ª only a faint purple lattice shimmered in the sky, a sign of the most advanced and comprehensive protective system they could have imagined. Maksim stared intently at the approaching Drone. Surprisingly, it looked more like an aircraft than a missile, despite descending from orbit. The thirteen-meter-long behemoth, oddly resembling a somewhat streamlined sea container with small wings and a wide T-shaped tail, came to a precise halt, hovering just ten centimeters above the ground. ¡°What a bizarre design,¡± Max pondered as he observed the wings on the levitating mass of metal beside him. However, these stray thoughts vanished as soon as he and his entire team received simultaneous messages from TACTA. # Drone RC-PT 128014 on site # Scenario: ## Installation of Cortical Grid expansion modules (Model NEM, tier1), three Partners ## Installation of a Cortical Grid expansion module (Model NEM, tier1) and a specialized adaptation system for full cyborgs, one Partner ## Completion of Independent Partners TACTA group registration, 4 partners ## Crediting the received grants ## Payment and order fulfillment # WARNING! The first initiation must begin within sixty seconds upon receiving this message #60¡­ 59¡­ 58¡­ Maksim was to go first. It might be the result of extensive analysis and calculations, but in reality, the team had simply drawn lots at Nikola¡¯s suggestion. Alisa was definitely going last, at her own insistence. The installation procedure was thoroughly detailed in the Informatorium for all types of Partners, from humans to full cyborgs. It was quite straightforward ¡ª one just needed to provide access to the upper back, neck, and nape. The Drone would handle the rest. In specific cases ¡ª such as Alisa¡¯s ¡ª materials for producing and installing necessary specialized modules had to be prepared or ordered. But this was only for complex cyborg setups; standard implants were installed immediately, with the cost included in the summoning fee. By the time the Informatorium app requested an AR broadcast, Maksim had already set aside his helmet, unstrapped his tactical vest, and removed his body armor. Next, he just needed to agree, strip to the waist, and follow the simple and clear instructions displayed before his eyes. Approach the device. Sit in the specially prepared seat. Grip the designated handles, placing his arms in the provided niches. Lean forward and secure his chin in the holder. As soon as these steps were complete, a small operational robot emerged from the Drone and hovered above Maksim¡¯s back, releasing numerous thin manipulators. A request for full administrative access to his systems popped up in his sub-brain. ¡°Damn, I don¡¯t like this one bit!¡± Maksim thought. But it was too late to back out now and proudly refuse TACTA¡¯s help. He might be paranoid, but he wasn¡¯t stupid. Reluctantly, grinding his teeth, he gave consent ¡ª and the robot began its work. First, the sub-brain disabled his sensitivity, then precise punctures were made on his back, neck, and nape. The manipulators delved into his body, installing the micro-update modules. Meanwhile, a progress bar appeared in Maksim¡¯s vision, indicating how much time was left until the operation was complete. A pleasant surprise ¡ª the sum of TACTA grants being credited to his partner account was also displayed, steadily increasing. Sixty-seven seconds later, both the progress bar and the crediting process halted. In essence, both the hardware and software of his main systems were updated: the cortical grid control module, the sub-brain, and even the interface implant for compatibility with the alien standards. Remarkably, they managed to do this without even requiring a reboot! In the final step, the robot carefully applied small circles of regenerative patches over each puncture on his back. # Operation successfully completed! (Download detailed report) # CONGRATULATIONS! # You have successfully completed registration as an Independent TACTA Partner. # Received 166,280 grants # Current ranking position¡­ calculating and generating lists. # Attention! Public ranking display will begin at 2:00 AM, 20.08.2049 # Current confirmed Partner category: 6 (F) # Documentation (download) # Full capabilities of the Informatorium: unlocked. Next in line was Nikola. She had already stripped to the waist, even removing her sports bra, without the slightest hint of embarrassment. Dasha couldn¡¯t help but sigh quietly, sneaking a glance at Redhead¡¯s impressive chest. Unfortunately for Vasilevskaya, she had little to boast about in that department. Before starting the procedure, the Nika received a few rather stern warnings from TACTA, as she had opted to upgrade her cyber-core to TACTA¡¯s standard, in addition to the mandatory cortical grid expansion required by the Drone call. # You are about to install a Cyber-Core upgrade module to standard C-1 # This upgrade is irreversible (non-removable) # This upgrade will allow you to install additional cyber-modules and limbs manufactured by TACTA that comply with standard C-1 or lower. # WARNING! # Cyborgs of this type are officially prohibited from being within the Protectorate without a diplomatic visa or a visa of category AM2 or AM3. # If such a cyborg is found without a visa, a Kill-On-Sight directive will be applied. # This upgrade is not mandatory to complete registration as an independent partner of TACTA. # Proceed with installation? Yes/No ¡°Fucking perfect,¡± Nikola thought with a nod. ¡°Bring it on, that¡¯s exactly how I like it! I¡¯ll dish it right back to those bastards.¡± ¡°Yes, kurwa!¡± she exclaimed. Given the complexity of the module installation, simple punctures wouldn¡¯t suffice. After Redhead granted full access to her sub-brain, the surgical drone summoned a pair of ¡°assistants,¡± and the operation commenced. As with most cyborgs, especially military-grade ones, Nikola¡¯s cyber-core was installed as a specialized extension over the sub-brain, anchored directly to it. The primary drone started with a surgically precise and careful incision along the upper segments of her spine. As soon as it was made, one of the helper drones deployed a translucent membrane that automatically sealed around the cut, creating a sterile field. This was essential not only to protect against microbes and viruses but also to control the temperature and humidity, preventing tissue from drying out during the operation. To disable and replace the old Cyber-Core ¡°live¡±, without a full reboot, the drones used a redundancy scheme. Temporary external blocks would maintain vital functions and control over Nikola¡¯s numerous implants and cyber-modules, including her cybernetic limbs. Every action was meticulously calculated: the disconnection and reconnection of neural links was to be done in stages, to minimize any risk for the central nervous system. The drone¡¯s micro-manipulators carefully detached the first segments of the old cyber-core from the sub-brain and spine, simultaneously extracting the connecting modules. Meanwhile, the second drone was installing the new blocks ¡ª significantly more powerful, capable of handling more complex computational processes, and with many more data transmission channels. And so that the girl would not be bored during the procedure, she was also shown a progress bar and a grant counter, just like Maksim. Once all segments of the cyber-core were replaced, the primary drone performed a full system check, verifying its functioning, all connections and the link to the sub-brain. A detailed report on the successful integration of the new components with Nikola¡¯s cyber-systems was sent to her AR. The final stage was to restore the skin. The membrane protecting Nika¡¯s back dissolved, leaving behind a thin protective layer that would stimulate healing and provide additional securing from external factors in the first hours after the operation. The drone closed the incision using bio-stitches, which would dissolve on their own within a few days, leaving no scars. The entire operation took just one minute and thirteen seconds, once again demonstrating to the team the level of TACTA¡¯s technical prowess. # CONGRATULATIONS! # You have successfully completed registration as an Independent TACTA Partner! # Received 159,701 grants Just like Maksim, Nikola wasn¡¯t shown her current ranking, and she was also assigned the same confirmed Partner category ¡ª F. Now it was Dasha¡¯s turn. To be honest, the poor girl was a nervous wreck. No, it wasn¡¯t the fact that she had the most complex and sophisticated sub-brain in the team or that her cortical network would be upgraded ¡ª it was much worse! ¡°Damn, damn, oh crap¡­ I have to¡­ strip to the waist! Yeah! In front of! Maksim! I¡¯ll have to take off my bra, the surgery''s going to run almost all the way down to my tailbone¡­ Why?!!!¡± So, when her time came, the beet-red girl croaked out, ¡°Maxie, don¡¯t look, please,¡± shrugged off the shirt she had been using for cover, and marched resignedly toward the Drone, clutching the wretched piece of underwear in her little, sweaty hand. But, as is often the case, our greatest fears are all in our heads. Maksim obediently turned away, and even Nikola followed suit, just for company. As for the operation¡­ well, TACTA likely had conducted such procedures not just millions, but countless billions of times. Everything went smoothly and swiftly, though it took one and a half times longer than Maksim¡¯s ¡ª probably due to the complexity of Dasha¡¯s implanted hardware. # CONGRATULATIONS! # You have successfully completed registration as an Independent TACTA Partner! # Received 181,350 grants Contrary to her naturally curious nature, Dasha didn¡¯t even glance at the operation report or wonder why she had been awarded such a large sum. No. Her first priority was to hastily pull on her sports bra and seizing her shirt. ¡°You can turn around now,¡± the now-contented girl called out, buttoning up. Suddenly, her vision darkened. Her arms fell limp. Stumbling, she took a few shaky steps and then froze, battling dizziness. ¡°Max, I nee-¡± Daria didn¡¯t finish her sentence before she lost consciousness. Maksim reacted instantly, darting forward to catch her in his arms before she could hit the ground. At that moment, everyone on the team received a message: # This is Drone RC-PT 128014. A minor malfunction has been detected in the Partner during initial adaptation following the Cortical Grid upgrade. # In accordance with TACTA¡¯s protocols and guaranteed obligations for upgrade installations, emergency medical assistance will be provided immediately. # Attention! After the medical assistance is complete, the 50-second countdown to the next operation will restart. Confirming these words, the countdown timer paused, and a small medical drone advanced toward Maksim and Dasha. Approaching the girl, it emitted a brief command, ¡°Please remain still.¡± For several seconds, the drone simply hovered in place, likely performing some analyses. Then, a compartment opened on the front of the machine, revealing a manipulator holding a transparent medical breathing mask. The mask touched Daria¡¯s face, adhering to it snugly. Under the transparent material, clouds of greenish-luminescent gas began to swirl. After the first breath, Dasha twitched, and with a few quick inhalations she drew in all the gas. She then went completely limp in Maksim¡¯s arms, almost causing him to drop her in surprise. # Situation stabilized. The Partner will regain consciousness within ten seconds. # ATTENTION! Please proceed with the standard procedure. The fourth initiation from the four individuals listed in the group call must begin no later than fifty seconds after receiving this message. # 50¡­ 49¡­ 48¡­ Chapter 72 – Lines of Code, Lines of Life Consciousness ebbed and flowed as Dasha was receiving medical attention from the drone. Eventually, she fully awoke ¡ª to find herself cradled in Max¡¯s embrace. It felt so pleasant... ¡°His arms are so... amazing... warm... Maybe I can pretend to be unconscious for just ten more seconds¡­ please¡­¡± But she quickly chided herself, snapping back to reality: ¡°Dashka, get it together! Now is not the time!¡± She let out a quiet groan and opened her eyes, shaking her head to clear the lingering weakness. Seeing that Vasilevskaya was coming around, Maksim gently set the girl down on the ground, steadying her so she wouldn¡¯t fall. ¡°WonderStar, how are you? Feeling okay? Can you stand?¡± His voice betrayed a clear note of concern. ¡°I think... yes.¡± ¡°Great. Sorry to rush you, but the timer for Alisa¡¯s operation is ticking. Hang in there; Nikola will keep an eye on you. I¡¯ve got to help my sister.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Dasha nodded. ¡°Alisa, hurry, I¡¯m off to get the materials!¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready. But keep in mind, I might be out for a while after the operation. Moira will keep running, though ¡ª the drone swarms won¡¯t lose control.¡± ¡°Sure, I remember everything. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Maksim quickly maneuvered two wheeled robo-carts, piled high with various high-tech ¡®scrap.¡¯ Among the heap of components and devices, could be found practically anything ¡ª from broken medical equipment to hydrogen fuel cells. The thing is that the list of materials Alisa had provided for the operation was very extensive. It included not just silicon, carbon, copper and aluminum alloys, as well as titanium, but also such valuable resources as gold, platinum, some rare earth metals. Of course, they didn¡¯t have access to all the needed elements in their pure form. Gold and platinum were kind of findable, but where could they get neodymium? Europium? Well, at least Max was on the grounds of a former factory, and some production facilities still remained. He might have been able to get gallium or indium somewhere on the premises. But there was absolutely no time for such a search. So, they had to make do with various electrical and technical ¡°scrap¡± that contained the required materials. Good thing that TACTA had accounted for such situations. If you didn¡¯t have the necessary resources in the right form or quantity, no problem! Provide the raw materials containing the required elements, and voil¨¤ ¡ª everything you need is ready for use. The processing, of course, would be at the customer¡¯s expense. But even so, it was significantly cheaper than buying all the feedstock directly from TACTA, as the team had thoroughly checked. Unfortunately, the cunning aliens were masters at arm-twisting. As it turned out, it wasn¡¯t allowed to simply pay for processing and keep all the resources left over after the operation. The case was clearly spelled out in the Informatorium: if you want to handle processing or manufacturing, no problem ¡ª buy our craft complexes. And there was a handy link to the relevant page. On the other hand, they didn¡¯t have much choice right now. It was fast and cheaper than buying raw materials outright. What more could be wanted? As for crafting... they¡¯d get there eventually! Given the minuscule amount of needed metals in the equipment, they had to gather two huge carts of ¡°scrap.¡± Fortunately, they knew the maximum volume of resources allowed for processing, and managed to fit within it. Alisa, having already received the necessary instructions, approached the Drone and turned her back to it. Catching Maksim¡¯s tense gaze, the girl returned him a determined smile and a nod. Yes, her posture and expression conveyed nothing but confidence¡­ though inside, it was a whirlwind of emotions. After all, she was just one step away from receiving final confirmation that she was, indeed, human. Something she had long believed would never be attainable ¡ª forever stuck as a robot, an android, an AI¡­ something incomplete. But honestly, that wasn¡¯t her main concern right now. The key question was whether everything would go smoothly. Yes, Irida had assured her that TACTA would accept the unusual order and the data on the additional carrier. But if something went wrong... it wasn¡¯t just her personal turmoil of ¡°alive or not alive¡± at stake anymore. Real lives were on the line ¡ª Maksim¡¯s, Dasha¡¯s, and Nikola¡¯s. If her contract with TACTA fell through, it would be the end of all their plans. Even if they managed to escape the Protectorate¡¯s blockade, their chances of survival afterward would be nonexistent. In the end, Alisa made the most reasonable decision: ¡°What will be, will be! There¡¯s no point in worrying about things I can¡¯t change.¡± She closed her eyes, surrendering her body to the skilled manipulators of the Drone. The chair-like structure where Max, Nika, and Dasha had undergone their operations transformed into a complex assembly frame with multiple manipulators and various tools. A large production compartment opened on the Drone¡¯s right side. The TACTA machine grabbed the prepared materials ¡ª along with the carts ¡ª and fed them into the voracious maw of a large shredder. The processed ¡°concentrate¡± was sent directly to the chamber for atomic-molecular disassembling. Alisa was prompted to grant full access to her systems, and the operation began. The assembly frame extended grips that securely locked the android¡¯s limbs and torso in place. The processing of feedstock and the production of necessary devices were in full swing in the assembly chamber, while a swarm of micro-drones emerged from the Drone¡¯s body. It was a terrifying sight ¡ª nimble little machines began dismantling Alisa alive without even shutting her down. First, they opened up the back of her skull to install the ¡°standard¡± interface implants. The girl already knew from the documentation that after the operation, these ports would function just like those of humans. Moreover, any software she connected to through them would also recognize her as a regular human-cyborg. However, she had to keep in mind that this module was designed exclusively for the primary thread, and if she connected it to one of the auxiliary ones, errors and malfunctions would occur. Meanwhile, the other micro-drones started working on her chest cavity. As with most similar models, removing the decorative panels and protection provided access to the main processor blocks and a quantum core. Actually, Alisa didn¡¯t have it, since she wasn¡¯t entirely an ¡°independent¡± android and was tied to Moira. However, she did have far more computational modules than any similar robot. The girl hadn¡¯t dared to tell her brother that this ¡°minor modification¡± involved almost a complete overhaul of her ¡°robotic brain.¡± And she wasn¡¯t even sure it was possible at all because these modules were not from TACTA¡¯s catalog but from a mysterious data card provided by Iris. Why was the Drone doing this, when such modifications weren¡¯t in the catalog? Why wasn¡¯t TACTA questioning or at least suspecting anything? Why would they calmly install the standard sub-brain and cyber-core expansion module for ¡°full cyborgs¡± afterward? Unfortunately, Alisa didn¡¯t know the answers to these questions. But she swore to herself that she would find out. After all, curiosity had always been a major part of her character¡­ along with love for veiled sarcasm and social experiments that sometimes bordered on trolling.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Albeit, she hid it very professionally. Meanwhile, the micro-bots continued to disconnect the old processing blocks one by one. Once about a third of them had been removed and the space prepared, the assembly frame¡¯s special manipulators took over. They carefully penetrated the android¡¯s chest cavity and began installing the newly ¡°printed¡± modules from the assembly chamber. ¡°Damn... they¡¯re working directly on her processor brain. I can see this isn¡¯t just the installation of some enhancement!¡± Maksim thought, watching the operation and feeling a chill of anxiety. He knew the structure of the android well and could at least roughly assess TACTA¡¯s actions, though it was difficult to see all the details from distance. It was obvious that simple installing even the most complex device wouldn¡¯t require so many manipulations. But here, some intricate assembly processes were underway ¡ª removing some elements, adding others. What could they be removing there besides the processor blocks? And what on earth could they be replacing them with? To Max¡¯s horror, it looked like they were practically rebuilding the processor core itself. Completely, albeit in parts. Live, without shutting Alisa down. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why¡­ after all, the main logic still resides in Moira. And that¡¯s somewhat reassuring ¡ª even if something goes terribly wrong, even if the aliens break the android¡­ it¡¯s not the end of the world. I can make a new body. There¡¯s no point in worrying, no reason to stress. I¡¯d better go check again how everything is prepared for transporting the order when it¡¯s all over. She might really be out for a while¡­¡±
For Alisa, the most terrifying part of the operation was when the Drone disconnected her auxiliary threads. It would seem, as her consciousness remained intact, everything should be just fine. But after so many years, suddenly being left with such limited resources was a true shock. Her ability to process information, search, analyze, and perform many other simple and routine tasks ¡ª suddenly became inaccessible. ¡°It¡¯s like having fewer fingers than needed on my hands. All the limbs are there, but I can¡¯t even hold a glass of water properly,¡± she thought, pushing away the unsettling comparisons and trying to disconnect from the frightening reality during the upgrade installation. Her consciousness obediently leaped into the familiar, endless void, drifting among the colorful sparks and nebulas. Good thing was, this aimless wandering no longer scared her as it once had. The fear of dissolving into the vast Nothingness, of losing herself, had vanished. Instead, curiosity took its place. With interest, she began to focus on the bright lights, growing bolder until she reached out to touch one¡­ A flash. So bright that everything around turned white for a moment. A surge of energy. Warm. Hot. Scorching. A torrent of images ¡ª lines of code interspersed with media fragments, flashes of Alisa¡¯s, Max¡¯s, and Dasha¡¯s faces, sketches of military operations, images of Protectorate technology and battles with the Shaiszu they had analyzed just recently to form their strategy. Photos of the Factory¡¯s residents, whom they had helped select orders with TACTA. And so much more ¡ª unfamiliar, sometimes indistinguishable shards of data. She didn¡¯t try to catch or comprehend everything that was cascading over her. Instead, she spread her imaginary arms and plunged into the avalanche, calmly accepting it. Accepting that It existed. In reality, probably only a few milliseconds passed. But for her, this extraordinary phenomenon stretched out for hours. Gradually, the intensity of the flow diminished and eventually ceased. Alisa was left alone in the void again, as if nothing had happened. Then, unexpectedly, a young and cheerful voice rang out and faded away: ¡°Thank you, Mom!¡±
In shock, Alisa opened her eyes¡­ and tumbled back into reality. The operation was nearing completion. ¡°What just happened?¡± she managed to think, just before all her auxiliary threads ¡ª now multiplied several times over ¡ª abruptly reactivated. Colorful spots danced before her eyes but quickly subsided. Waves of self-tests ran through all the threads, culminating in a global report. But more importantly, there was a message from TACTA, which appeared before her: # CONGRATULATIONS! # You have successfully completed registration as an Independent TACTA Partner. # Received 299,412 grants # 100,000 grants withheld for payment of -null- module installation, order number -null- # Current ranking¡­ Attention! Public ranking will begin at 00:00, 20.08.2049 # Current confirmed Partner category 5 (E) # Full capabilities of the Informatorium: unlocked. The assembly frame¡¯s manipulators gently lifted the android¡¯s body ¡ª now, officially, a full cyborg ¡ª making a short, silent movement before setting Alisa back on the ground. She blinked a few times, still somewhat dazed. At that very moment, the entire team received another message from TACTA: # Registration of all Partners in the Request has been successfully completed # You must pay for the order and confirm receipt within three minutes # 2:59¡­ 58¡­ 57¡­ # Full list and cost of ordered goods and services: ? Group Drone call, Premium Service ¡°Protectorate Zone,¡± Premium Service ¡°Additional Protection (x10)¡± 17,787 grants ? Compact Thermonuclear Reactor ¡°NovaCore Mk-II¡± 286,400 grants ? Stealth System ¡°SCS Chameleon Ultra¡± 259,499 grants ? Gravitational-Wave Communicator ¡°SecureLink-M5300,¡± Medium class with quantum channel 101,850 grants ? Mobile Thermal Regulation System ¡°Thermo Shield XL,¡± with heat absorption cartridges 8,250 grants ? Anti-radar warfare Module ¡°RID-RF Ghost Signal 4K¡± 2,450 grants ? Acoustic Masking Device ¡°Sound Barrier XXL¡± 9,800 grants ? Odor Concealment System ¡°InviScent 4M¡± (for cargo vehicle) 3,499 grants ? Compact Gravitational-Wave Communication Module ¡°MicroGrav ¨C 4 XS¡± (50 units) 2,650 grants # Total amount due: 692,185 grants Maksim noticed that Alisa had finished her registration just as the TACTA message arrived. Checking the timer and quickly scrolling through the list, he realized they still had a couple of minutes left and rushed over to his sister. ¡°Alisa?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. See? They confirmed it.¡± Alisa¡¯s voice trembled slightly, her anxiety clear. She sent Max a link to her ¡®partner status¡¯ page in AR and looked him straight in the eyes, waiting. ¡°Now you have to believe me. I¡­ I¡¯m registered as a ¡®full cyborg, independent partner of TACTA,¡¯ and they gave me grants, just like they did for all of you. That means I¡¯m alive! A civilization far more advanced than ours recognized me as a Human! As a real, complete person! No AI on Earth has been able to overcome that obstacle, and many of them are much more powerful than Moira. I¡¯m the only one! You believe me now, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hey, little one, take it easy,¡± Maksim gave her a crooked smile, swallowing the lump in his throat, and squeezed her hand tightly. ¡°What do we care about the opinion of some aliens? We¡¯ve already discussed this, and there¡¯s no doubt. That¡¯s why we summoned the Drone the way we did. You¡¯re alive, real, and you¡¯re my sister. Nothing and no one will change that. And I swear, I¡¯ll never let you die again!¡± To be honest, he was bending the truth a bit. Not about the oath ¡ª that thing he had decided long ago, with finality. But he still felt ashamed that after all the discussions and arguments, after accepting his sister, the opinion of these very ¡°aliens¡± still mattered to him. Damn it, they had really recognized her as alive, as real! That meant he hadn¡¯t gone insane from loneliness and despair. He hadn¡¯t just put his faith in a well-trained, powerful AI that was great at emulating a human. This was reality! And it didn¡¯t matter whether it happened because of his efforts, Dasha¡¯s involvement, a strange coincidence of circumstances, or some mystical luck. The important thing was that his sister was alive now. And with him. All the years of guilt and pain that she was dead while he was alive ¡ª could be resolved. To be honest, he wasn¡¯t sure this success could be replicated. And he wasn¡¯t aiming to try. Perhaps it was selfish toward all of humanity and progress. Perhaps it was foolish. But so what ¡ª he had every right to be a selfish fool. His wish to bring Alisa back to life had come true, and nothing else mattered. ¡°What¡¯s the delay? Who¡¯re we waiting for?¡± Dasha, still a bit unsteady on her feet, approached and grabbed Alisa¡¯s other hand ¡ª the first was firmly held by her brother. ¡°It¡¯s kind of time to move forward. We¡¯ve got to pay for the order, the timer¡¯s ticking, yeah? And then we need¡­ follow the plan and all.¡± ¡°Dasha, you¡­ I wouldn¡¯t be here without you.¡± The android was surprised at herself for feeling the need to voice something so obvious. Well, she had heard somewhere that it¡¯s vital to say even apparent things out loud to those around you if you consider these things important. Trying to hide her embarrassment, she squeezed Daria¡¯s hand tighter. ¡°Hah, naturally! Without me, without Max, without the manufacturers of the hardware, and a whole bunch of other people, there wouldn¡¯t be a body for you to live in. Yeah, I consider Moira a part of your body too. At least for the time being. By the way, a human child doesn¡¯t just appear out of nowhere either. And about helping¡­ I think without Nikola, we might not have survived yesterday. But everything worked out as it did. We are who we are. We¡¯re alive, and we¡¯re here, see? And also¡­ we need to run. I think.¡± Standing a bit off to the side, Nikola snorted at this unexpected wisdom coming from the battered girl barely standing on her feet. ¡°WonderKid¡¯s right. I think I understand your joy. But honestly, Alisa, from the beginning, I could never even consider you as an ordinary AI. I loved Marcek, but even he was different from you. And it¡¯s not about your biologically grown eyes or super-algorithms. You¡¯re¡­ different. More like us. And¡­,¡± Redhead smiled guiltily, ¡°We really do need to hurry.¡± Chapter 73 – The Final Countdown Barely five minutes had passed since the first TACTA machine deployed its protective field... But in that short time, the entire perimeter had become surrounded by a massive swarm of Protectorate surveillance drones. Every square inch of the area was under intense scrutiny. Even though the Factory was currently sealed off, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the protective field began to gradually deactivate. And it was clear what would happen next. In the sky, the dark silhouettes of heavy bombers were already visible, hovering in position. If necessary, their ordnance would obliterate everything within several kilometers, leaving nothing but dust and rubble in their wake. On the ground, the military had tightened the noose around the Factory, methodically blocking every possible escape route, including underground passages. Most of these soldiers were fresh recruits, just yesterday ordinary citizens of the Kyiv polis. But now, they were armed to the teeth, the future elite of the Public Efficiency Class, eager to prove their loyalty to the Protectorate. The fiercer the resistance from the renouncers, the more thrilling the hunt would be!
¡°Guys¡­ this¡­¡± Dasha rasped suddenly, her voice so strained that everyone fell silent and turned to her instantly. ¡°You need to see this. Right now¡­ Yeah!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, WonderWhiz?¡± Maksim asked immediately. ¡°I¡­ I was just about to initiate the next phase of the System¡¯s deployment, but¡­ but¡­¡± Vasilevskaya, visibly shaken, fidgeted with her hands ¡ª first trying to shove them into her pockets, then crossing them over her chest, but that felt awkward and uncomfortable. Finally, the agitated girl settled on simply hiding them behind her back. ¡°They¡¯ve¡­ They¡¯ve changed everything! TACTA! Look!¡± Dasha blurted out, her words tumbling out in a rapid, jumbled rush. ¡°I¡¯m in shock! I just wanted to launch it, but then I saw the report on Moira¡¯s advanced training programs activation. And now three-quarters of Alisa¡¯s processing power ¡ª no, eighty-five percent even! ¡ª has suddenly freed up, and I don¡¯t understand¡­ the processing power in her body has increased by 1580 percent, and I¡­ I just¡­¡± The girl was trembling of excitement. Never mind the looming threat of the Protectorate and its deadly killer drones ¡ª before her was a real technological-software MIRACLE that eclipsed the immediate danger. The thing was, she hadn¡¯t programmed anything like this. Alisa¡¯s mind had just somehow restructured itself during the upgrade, shifting to a new operational model¡­ and all that in a single leap! Now, almost all of it genuinely ¡°lived¡± in the robotic body, except only the quantum core at Moira. And if TACTA had this kind of technology ¡ª and they surely did ¡ª then this meant Alisa¡­ might soon be independent of the powerful stationary AI! And all that newly freed processing power would go to Dasha¡¯s new ¡°child¡±, the SYSTEM! Maksim gestured for Nika and Alisa to finish loading the ordered equipment onto the roboplatform and rushed over to Vasilevskaya. ¡°WonderStar, calm down,¡± he said, putting an arm around her shoulders. ¡°We¡¯ll definitely discuss and sort out all of this. But right now, we need to move. Can you briefly explain what happened and whether it might interfere with our current plans?¡± ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to launch it¡­ I saw the report on Moira¡¯s advanced training program activation. And started it. For the System. Yeah. Because it was successfully installed, following the new scheme¡­ Since we don¡¯t have A.M.I. on our tail, I¡¯m using the update installation without a full reboot, like for T9-T10 AI systems. And... she wasn¡¯t just updated completely! Moira herself noticed the freed-up resources and integrated them into her update! I swear, I didn¡¯t program anything like that! How is this even possible?¡± ¡°WonderKid! Briefly. Just the key points!¡± Realizing that she might let the team down in their critical situation, Dasha pulled herself together and gave a concise report: ¡°The update installed successfully, the new version is functioning correctly, no errors. Right now, she¡¯s actively learning and has already ¡®consumed¡¯ the data cluster we prepared for gathering teams among the solo residents. She¡¯s currently processing combat information, and we¡¯re recording everything we get from Miro and the other teams for further analysis.¡± ¡°Very soon, she¡¯ll start assisting our actions and even help in battles. Just don¡¯t expect too much too soon. Our System is still very young ¡ª it was ¡®born¡¯ just a few hours ago¡­ And lastly, control of all drone swarms is operating normally; we have enough resources. But Moira is running at full capacity, so we¡¯ll need to enhance her later.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll definitely enhance her!¡± Maxim exhaled with relief. ¡°Alright, if everything¡¯s on track, let¡¯s move out. Dasha, you¡¯re in charge of the comms and connection to the TACTA network. Nika, Alisa, finish loading the hardware and get it downstairs. We¡¯ve got just over seven minutes before the Drone takes off ¡ª our goal is to be as far from here as possible by then.¡±
¡°Guys, I¡¯ve finished the setup, yeah,¡± Dasha announced on the run a few minutes later. ¡°Connection to the TACTA orbital relay is established, channel is stable. Switching to our commutator, I¡¯ve sent the links to the group chat!¡± By this time, the team had already managed to move all the necessary equipment downstairs. They were now sprinting through a passageway toward the large assembly workshop located on the first floor of the ¡°13-2-B¡± building. In the augmented reality interface, a sequence of mediaglyphs flashed in the upper left corner of each member¡¯s view: ¡°Connection to the Linkers¡¯ commutator terminated,¡± ¡°Connection to RATATOSKR commutator successfully established,¡± ¡°TACTA: Channel Stable,¡± ¡°MOIRA: Channel Stable,¡± ¡°Team Connection Check.¡± [Maksim, connected. From here on out, no more voice communication until the end of the operation ¡ª stick to the conference and keep it silent!] [Alisa, connected.] [Dasha, online.] [Nika, got it. But what the hell is a ¡®Ratatoskr¡¯?] [A squirrel named ¡®drill-tooth,¡¯] Maks laughed. [It¡¯s from Norse mythology. I¡¯ll explain you later if you¡¯re interested.]This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. [It¡¯s a good name,] Dasha grumbled. [And it fits. Yeah!] [Fits perfectly, WonderStar,] Maksim agreed. [What¡¯s the status on the Factory¡¯s cameras and security network?] [It¡¯s completely down,] the black-haired girl replied, adjusting the straps of her military helmet, and trying to hide the slight tremble in her hands from fear. [We¡¯re deploying our additional drones now, plus we have a connection with the swarms already in the air. But I¡¯ll try to establish a link directly when we reach the terminal. Maybe something¡¯s still operational...] The corridor had ended, and Nikola, who was running ahead, stopped abruptly at the entrance and slapped her hand against the sensor. A wave of hot air and the roar of machinery hit them as the doors slid open. It became so hot and din that their helmets¡¯ noise-canceling systems kicked in. Their gear ¡ª backpacks with equipment, extra weapons, drones, and bots ¡ª had been stashed in advance between the machines, covered with heavy plastic sheeting. The team¡¯s next actions had been pre-coordinated. Maksim and Redhead rushed to the weapon crates, Alisa began activating additional drones and other tech, installing the communication micro-modules they¡¯d purchased from TACTA. Meanwhile, Dasha pulled out smart cables and connected them to the Factory¡¯s terminal. [Max, I checked ¡ª the Factory¡¯s security system is completely wiped,] Dasha reported half a minute later, unplugging the smart cables from the ports on the tech block mounted to the wall. [It was a hacker attack¡­ They somehow managed to access the central security server¡­ We can forget about using the local cameras, I can¡¯t do anything from here.] [Got it. Alright, disconnect¡­ But¡­ Actually, wait. Did the Protectorate take down only the safeguarding system, or all the Factory infrastructure?] [No, just security. Cameras, turrets, locks, emergency lighting¡­ that kind of stuff,] Dasha replied, a bit surprised as she quickly reconnected to the virtual remote access terminal. [Do you still have access to the local engineering network? Is this building connected to it?] [Uh-huh¡­ And I can see this workshop in the network too, yeah.] [Excellent,] Maksim nodded. [I¡¯m sure the Protectorate will figure out where we¡¯ve gone soon enough. That explosion on the roof won¡¯t hold them back for long. So, let¡¯s leave a little trap here!] [Okay. What do we need to do?] [Let¡¯s divert the overheated steam from the outer loop into the ring system. We¡¯ll keep the pressure close to critical, releasing just the bare minimum. One drone should be left here to monitor, and when the Protectorate forces poke their noses in, we¡¯ll seal the release, and it¡¯ll blow.] [Not a bad idea. Their sensors will only see working machinery, not mines or bombs. They might not realize it¡¯s a trap right away,] Nikola agreed. [Plus, the steam rupture will mess with their thermal imaging and optical camouflage systems.] [Good,] Dasha nodded. [I¡¯m already connected. But you need to guide me how to release the steam without blowing everything up right away! I only know how to handle this kind of steam.] She waved a vape device in the air, which of course she had on her, even though Maksim had forbidden vaping during the operation. [Sure,] the guy agreed, pulling up a multi-layered schematic of the building and its utilities in the conference chat. [Let¡¯s get to work!]
[But seriously, Alisa,] Maksim asked after finishing the trap setup in the manufacturing hall with Dasha¡¯s help, [what exactly happened to you, and what else should we expect next?] [Well, I¡¯m officially a living cyborg now, so, you know¡­ My body had just got to smarten up to match the industrial standard of homo cybersapiens, ha-ha,] she laughed. [Good thing I don¡¯t need to eat. Otherwise, I¡¯d start gobbling everything down like big brother, and we wouldn¡¯t have enough resources to keep the team fed.] The girl wasn¡¯t just chatting and joking around ¡ª during this time, she had finished all the work with the drones. The scenario ¡°we¡¯re cut off from the camera access¡± had been chosen as the primary contingency by the team, as being without recon during a Protectorate assault would be a death sentence. So, they¡¯d planned ahead, breaking up one of the drone swarms into a multitude of individual flying scouts. They decided to assign two small recon drones to hover over each team member ¡ª one positioned higher for tactical overhead view, and the other at head level. With their cameras, everyone now had a full 360-degree view. Given the seriousness of the situation, they used for this purpose the best machines gotten from Miro ¡ª military-grade models. Even though over half of their ¡°fleet¡± was either civilian or hybrid models. The most advanced of the military drones, a corporate spy recon unit, was placed even higher to provide a full view of the entire field of action. Unlike the others, it had stealth capabilities, radar invisibility, and a camouflage coating, even though not as effective as TACTA¡¯s modules. Plus, it had top-tier electromagnetic protection. Moira was tasked with processing the video feeds and marking detected objects on the tactical map. And the AI was running at full capacity ¨C it seemed, a little more, and she would be smoking. The cooling systems were straining to keep her from overheating. This was because Professor Goric and Co also wanted the same setup as soon as they learned about it. In addition, before the main action began, a ¡°Coordination Server¡± was deployed on Moira¡¯s platform to gather all the data from the drones used in the operation. It was a good thing that the AI was underground; otherwise, such thermal activity would have definitely attracted the Protectorate¡¯s attention. So, by the time the TACTA Drone took off and the protective field was lifted, they had the ¡°eyes¡± fully prepared to witness the beginning of the Protectorate¡¯s attack. And the invaders didn¡¯t keep them waiting. Swarms of ¡°predatory birds¡± surged through the first breaches in the protective field. In less than thirty seconds, the air was filled to the brim with combat drones, bombers, and transport ships as the Protectorate launched the full-scale assault. The first shots and explosions echoed through the area, growing more intense with each passing second. @SYSTEM [Target locked]: Protectorate strike team detected! Amid the chaos of drones and other aerial machinery, the AI flawlessly identified and highlighted those heading toward the recently vacated building, where Maksim¡¯s team had summoned the Drone on the roof. The Protectorate had formed a strike team of five two-meter-tall search-and-destroy units, resembling Earth police multicopters but without rotors. As cover, they had two jet-powered unmanned fighters ¡ª these ¡°flying killers¡± were the main strike force. They were capable of engaging both aerial and ground targets, accelerate rapidly by boosting their engines, and hover in place. Trailing them was a transport ¡ª a relatively small vessel resembling a squared-off flatiron with short wings at the rear. Given the loaded pylons on the wings, it likely served as a hybrid bomber as well. [About ten meters long¡­] Nikola mused aloud, [we could fit about twelve to fourteen troops in something that size.] The Protectorate¡¯s assault quickly escalated. The enemy¡¯s ¡°flatiron¡± craft, surrounded by drones, reached the building. Despite its bulky appearance, the machine skillfully hovered in place. Its bottom hatch opened to reveal a wide maw from which nearly invisible, semi-translucent figures began to drop. Noticing that it wasn¡¯t a fall but a controlled descent, Maksim updated the marker type from ¡°bomber/combined¡± to ¡°bomber/air assault.¡± The escort drones fanned out to scout the nearby area. [They¡¯ve got optical camouflage!] Nikola commented. [I accounted for that possibility during the design phase,] Dasha noted. [It¡¯s not true invisibility¡­ The System will manage detection and targeting!] However, they didn¡¯t get a closer look at the troops, as the Protectorate immediately launched their attack. Both air-fighters, with their jet engines roaring, streaked toward the team¡¯s scouts, immediately unleashing a relentless barrage of fire. Despite Alisa¡¯s quick reaction, there was no chance to respond. Their drones¡¯ feeds went dark. A series of powerful explosions immediately followed ¡ª those were the charges Max had pre-planted on the roof going off. The blasts were mirrored by similar outbursts on the building¡¯s first floor. The explosives they¡¯d bought from Miro at a steep price had been well worth it ¡ª Maxim and his team had no intention of making it easy for the Protectorate. [If they all jumped out just now and survived the blast, then we¡¯ve got ten guests,] Alisa calculated. [They could be bots, or even holograms. We don¡¯t know. Either way, the mines and traps are ready. Welcome to the bloody party, bastards!] Maksim grinned. Chapter 74 - Breaking through Far behind them, another powerful explosion ripped through the air, weaving into the chaotic symphony already playing out throughout the Factory. [Nailed it! The trap in the workshop worked, yeah!] [Right, the whole squad of five protes. Possible wounded, some might even be killed. Stay focused, stick to the plan. Big One and the recon drones go ahead. Dasha, Alisa ¡ª you¡¯re on transporting the hardware and the fliers. Nika and I will cover. Move!] Maksim commanded. By this time, they had ventured deep into the ¡°canyon¡± formed by the closely packed concrete storage units. Overhead, this narrow passage was securely shielded from drones and satellites by a tangle of pipes, walkways, coverings, crossbeams, cables, plastic bridges, and grates. This allowed Maksim¡¯s team to move quickly, without encountering any attackers so far, though they still kept their guard up, covering the air and watching each other¡¯s backs. No one wanted to catch a bullet or have a kamikaze drone land at their feet right at the end of their path. Suddenly, a hatch from one of the utility ducts crisscrossing the canyon above crashed to the ground with a deafening clang. A swarm of small drones poured out of the opening. The team wasn¡¯t caught off guard ¡ª Maksim immediately took cover behind a concrete barrier, while Redhead, with a particularly agile leap, darted forward, finding refuge in a niche in the wall. A split second later, a hail of gunfire erupted against the attackers ¡ª ground bots joined Max and Nika in the barrage. [Alisa, Dasha ¡ª keep moving, the path ahead is clear. We¡¯ll catch up! Maintain air control!] Hearing the command, the girls sprinted forward along with CaTZ, half the bots, most of the drones, and the roboplatform loaded with cargo. Unfortunately, it was impossible to take down all the attacking machines immediately. To make matters worse, this was just a distraction. While Max, Nika, and the bots were focused on the drones, several wide tips of flexible manipulator tubes appeared from above, over the high walls. Small projectiles, resembling tiny grenades, flew toward them, detonating at their feet with a series of sharp clicks and filling the air with a strong scent of ozone. These devices, even in small quantities, were effective against unprepared cyborgs and unshielded robotics. And if there were enough charges, not every electromagnetic defense could hold up. Such bombs didn¡¯t last long; their energy usually ran out after about fifteen minutes¡­ [Fucking... immobilizers,] Nika groaned as her legs gave out beneath her. [Max, I¡¯m rebooting ¡ª EMP protection on my legs got breached. Twenty seconds! But I need to crawl out of here, those things are still active!] [Got it, covering you!] Most of their drone swarm, consisting of civilian models, couldn¡¯t withstand the electromagnetic pulses and crashed to the ground. But the key units held, so the System didn¡¯t lose the tactical map. In fact, it managed to regain control of the situation, bringing up targeting markers in AR that improved Max and Redhead¡¯s shooting accuracy. Though Nika had fallen to the ground, she hadn¡¯t slipped out of her niche and continued to fire, allowing them to quickly eliminate the Protectorate drones that had flooded in. Judging by the boom behind them, one of the mines they had planted had gone off... Perhaps someone had walked into a trap, or maybe it was just being neutralized. Unfortunately, there was no way to tell ¡ª there were no EMP-shielded drones in that area. But it was clear more squads were on their trail. Maksim dashed toward Redhead, aiming to drag her away from the scattered immobilizers, but he was forced to press himself against the wall. A bullet from a hidden sniper struck the ground in front of him, sending a spray of concrete dust into the air. A fraction of a second later, a small, translucent red sphere flickered in the AR at the impact point. The System was apparently trying to adjust the display of danger zones, analyzing the situation in real-time. [Kurwa, they want to take us alive,] Nika shouted in conference, snapping her rifle up and trying to zero in on the sniper¡¯s position. [We can¡¯t stay here! They might have already flanked us from the rooftops and could be going after Alisa and Dasha!] Maksim dropped his backpack, and unhooked a coil of steel cable with a carabiner attached ¡ª something he had brought along just in case. [What are you planning to do?] Redhead fired a few shots at potential hiding spots but didn¡¯t hit anyone. [Hook this to the loop on your armor vest! I¡¯ll set off a smoke bomb and pull you out!] Nika raised her rifle and opened fire ¡ª at the far end of the corridor, Protectorate operatives emerged from around the corner, using mobile shields for cover. It seemed the mines at the entrance either hadn¡¯t triggered or had been successfully neutralized. In response to the gunfire, the attackers swiftly ducked behind their shields, and a series of bright flashes erupted ¡ª an entire volley of flashbangs was unleashed. Maksim¡¯s protective helmet and implants managed to cope, but he was still blinded for a few precious seconds as he dove behind a bot for cover. Without missing a beat, he fired blindly just above head height, remembering that Nika was still sitting on the ground. The gradual return of his hearing confirmed it ¡ª she was still firing back. [Got it! Pull me out!] [On it! Hang tight!] Maksim shouted, his vision slowly coming back. Pressing against the wall, he slowly retreated backward, gripping the cable tightly in his hands. At that moment, the attackers switched tactics, hurling large, furiously smoking cylinders instead of grenades. The weak T2 AI of the armor beeped briefly, indicating that control had been fully taken over by the System. @SYSTEM: Alert! Neurotoxic gas detected! Activated protective filter. Cartridge life: ten minutes remaining. A bright red gas alarm mediaglyph with a countdown timer appeared in the corner, ticking down the remaining time. ¡°We¡¯ll make it through!¡± Max thought, retreating around the corner. The light filters on his helmet finally eased, and he could see the situation clearly. @SYSTEM: Safe route to the extraction point established. Eliminate the two remaining Protectorate operatives before retreating. The AI, processing data from the drones, marked Nika¡¯s position, now obscured by a cloud of smoke, and highlighted the most likely locations of the remaining foes on the map and in AR. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ll get to eliminate them, just need to haul Nika out first.¡± Adjusting his grip on the cable, Maksim braced himself and began to pull. Suddenly, flames burst out from around the corner, triggering the helmet¡¯s light filters again. The heat wave hit him even through his protective armor and helmet. The explosion and its roar were so powerful it felt like the walls would collapse.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The cable in his hands went slack. ¡°Fuck!¡± Maksim got frightened, frantically pulling in the loose cable. But all he managed to retrieve was a charred, blood-soaked piece of Nika¡¯s armor vest, with the carabiner still attached. ¡°Fuck!¡± He slammed his gloved hand against the wall in frustration. ¡°How the hell...¡± Before he could act, more gray clouds of neurotoxic gas billowed out from around the corner. He braced himself to rush back and find Nika, but then, from the direction where Alisa and Dasha had gone, the sound of gunfire erupted! @SYSTEM: Critical situation: Ambush (stealth-field type) detected! Engaging plan ¡°Neutralization 2-4¡±. Immediate support required. The System didn¡¯t give Maksim even a second to assess the situation or decide on a course of action. The detailed alert about the ambush revealed that both Dasha and Alisa were caught in a serious electromagnetic attack. The android¡¯s body had been shut down by protective automation and was about to reboot. Dasha was also out of contact ¡ª her implants had likely been temporarily disabled. Maksim turned to run toward Alisa, but a message from Redhead came through: [I¡¯m alive, just wounded! You almost got me out; I can crawl now. Legs are back online!] Gunfire erupted almost immediately after. [Max, they¡¯re pinning me down!] [On it!] The silhouettes of the two remaining Protectorate soldiers were highlighted in augmented reality. Moreover, translucent figures in the form of sectors, elongated rectangles, and circles appeared on the ground. These shapes constantly shifted, trembled, their gradient fill intensifying and fading as they moved. ¡°The System is trying to implement visual telegraphs. Incredible how fast she¡¯s adapting!¡± Maksim surmised. ¡°Once she gets the hang of it, this will be one of the most important and valuable tools!¡± He dashed into the smoke cloud, desperately weaving through the dynamic chaos of AR figures. None of them was touched, and it paid off ¨C despite the heavy suppressive fire, the enemy couldn¡¯t land a hit on him. Just a bit further! A large leap, touch down, brace, fire ¨C a short burst of three rounds. Immediately, Max lunged to the side. ¡°The telegraph¡± circle flared red on the floor, as incoming bullets kicked up dust and concrete chips. But the guy was already in a different spot. Other short burst, then another. Got one! The Protectorate soldier staggered, took a few steps, then collapsed. At that moment, Nika leaned out of her hiding spot and fired a long burst from the ground, forcing the last assailant to focus on her. Maksim seized the opportunity. BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG! The shield took two bullets, but the enemy¡¯s awkward position left them vulnerable ¡ª the remaining three shots hit their mark with deadly precision. Maksim rushed to Nikola, quickly assessing her condition. She was indeed wounded, but it wasn¡¯t as bad as it could have been. The armor on her right side had taken a hit, then was thoroughly shredded by shrapnel. Some fragments had grazed her ribs, leaving deep cuts, but miraculously, none had struck anything vital. Yes, she was bleeding heavily, and each breath sent sharp pain through her chest, but she could still move. The medical system integrated into her cyber-core had already done its job; she¡¯d need more treatment in a calmer environment, but for now, the priority was to get to safety as quickly as possible. Her armor, however, was another story. The whole set, severely weakened by the damage, had given way under the strain. Nika couldn¡¯t help with her hands, and her legs were barely functioning. As a result, when Max yanked the cable hard, the armor gave way, and he ended up tearing off a large, bloodied piece along with the loop. Nika silently exhaled and tried to stand, though her cyber-legs weren¡¯t responding well. She swayed, but Maksim was already there, catching her before she would fall. [Thanks, Her Holy Brightness ¨C alive! How are you? Can you walk?] [I can even run,] Nikola grimaced in pain but stubbornly clenched her teeth. [We¡¯ll deal with the rest later. I can see Alisa and Dasha are caught in an ambush.] Maksim nodded and they sprinted toward the source of the earlier gunfire. Rounding another corner, the guy slung his rifle over his shoulder, pulled out the two smart grenades he had left, and carefully placed them on the ground. He set the delay to ten seconds, with detonation triggered by motion sensors. The gunfire ahead had ceased, leaving only the option to dash forward, racing to cover the last stretch toward a small clearing where they were supposed to go down. So, they sprinted through a straight, short corridor leading to the widened area of the ¡°canyon.¡± It was something like a plaza, partially shielded by various engineering structures. Maksim leaped the final meters, skidding to a stop at the plaza¡¯s entrance. Crouching low and raising his rifle, he cautiously advanced. The aftermath of a fierce battle was immediately evident ¡ª clouds of smoke lingered in the air, and the sharp smell of gunpowder hit him as his helmet¡¯s protective filters temporarily shut down to conserve their limited resources. The ground was littered with debris from drones and bots, both from the attackers and their own ¡°partisan¡± units. Unfortunately, almost all the machines were down, with only Big One still standing, though its armor was severely dented. But the most terrifying sight was the evidence of multiple electromagnetic bombs that had gone off. @SYSTEM: Air Alert! @SYSTEM: Attention! Protectorate aircraft approaching! The plaza was suddenly cast in shadow, and Maksim looked up to see the open ¡°belly¡± of an approaching transport ship, from which hung a large steel cage-like structure. Its purpose was unmistakable ¡ª besides the metal bars, it bristled with massive blocks, thick tubes, and numerous power cables. ¡°A special electromagnetic prison for Alisa!¡± Maksim realized, noting that the system was still showing markers for his sister and Daria on the tactical map. The guy shifted to the left to get a clearer view, as a fallen metal structure had been blocking his line of sight. His eyes quickly locked onto the paralyzed form of the girl-android lying on the ground. At the opposite edge of the plaza, he spotted Dasha, who was unsteadily trying to operate the platform carrying the reactor and other equipment. Vasilevskaya wasn¡¯t connected to the network yet ¡ª her implants hadn¡¯t fully rebooted. @SYSTEM: Warning! Protectorate strike drones incoming ¡ª 4 seconds! Maksim fired a single shot into the air to get Dasha¡¯s attention, then motioned for her to take cover. He and Nika braced themselves for the incoming attack. With a roar, a swarm of combat drones appeared, only to be met by brief, precise bursts of fire aimed at the AR markers ¡ª ammo was running low, and every shot had to count. Big One and the remaining ground bots joined in the defense immediately. The Protectorate drones retaliated. Maksim noticed a warning telegraph from the System right at his feet and tried to dive for cover. Plastic and metal fragments exploded in front of him, and the shrapnel first tore through the armor on his left thigh, then viciously sank into the flesh beneath. Gritting his teeth, he dropped into a crouch on his right leg and managed to slip away from the line of fire. [I¡¯m hit ¡ª left thigh!] Maksim reported tersely in the team conference. The drones also targeted Nika, but she managed to leap away using her boosters, firing a quick burst mid-air before landing behind cover. Bullets pinged off the metal around her, sparking as they hit, but for now, she was safe. Blood dripped from her reopened wounds, staining the concrete. Maksim¡¯s remaining drones began evasive maneuvers. While two were shot down, the rest managed to stay airborne. For some reason, the Protectorate wasn¡¯t focusing on Dasha, who had taken cover as the guy had instructed. She was now crouched behind a large concrete block, having pulled out her sniper rifle. [Max, Nika! Shoot down the cage!] Alisa¡¯s voice crackled through the network, her system having completed its reboot. [Drones!] Maksim commanded. Nika successfully took down two drones that tried to flank her from a wide angle. Maksim quickly switched targets to the Protectorate transport ship. He aimed, fired a short burst ¡ª emptying the remainder of his magazine into the transport¡¯s open hatch. Sparks and smoke erupted from the transport; he must have hit something critical. The aircraft wobbled and dragged to the right, but managed to stabilize, preparing to return to its position. Worse still, after a brief hesitation, the cage began to descend. Reloading ¡ª only one magazine left! Nika briefly exposed herself, aimed according to the AR guidance, and fired a short burst of three rounds. She successfully brought down another drone, leaving only one in the air. Meanwhile, Dasha, pale but with a determined look in her eyes, had already set up her sniper rifle on the bipod, resting it atop the concrete block. She flicked off the safety, aimed for half a second, and squeezed the trigger. The bullet struck the locking mechanism at the top of the cage. The device shattered, and the entire structure plummeted to the ground, crashing down with a thunderous noise, missing everyone. By this time, Maksim had finished reloading, but the Protectorate transport, not waiting for another attack, veered sharply to the left and rapidly gained altitude. With a single shot, the guy took down the last remaining drone. At that moment, Daria reconnected to the team channel, her electronics having finished rebooting. [I¡¯m okay, no damage. Dasha, that was an excellent shot,] Alisa¡¯s voice came through, sounding relieved. [WhonderStar, how did you manage such precision? I couldn¡¯t have done it better!] Maksim added. [I... don¡¯t know. It was... kind of instinctual, like working in Deep VR. Yeah...] Dasha replied, still a bit stunned by what she had just done. [Well, it worked, and that¡¯s what matters. Now let¡¯s move ¡ª there¡¯s a descent point nearby. Nika, help me with the cart. It looks like its ¡®brains¡¯ are fried; we¡¯ll have to push it manually...] Chapter 75 – The Grip of Terror [Big brother, are you okay? Can you keep going without medical help? And you, Nika? Maybe you need immediate attention?] Alisa asked, her voice tinged with worry as she helped Maksim and Nikola with the now manual cart. It had been a ¡°robo-cart¡± before the Protectorate¡¯s attack, but now it was just a heavy trolley they had to push themselves. [That¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll make it to the truck. We must. Can¡¯t stop now, the protes know we held off their attack, so more drones are coming, or even worse ¡ª artillery. Right, Nika?] Maksim replied, ignoring the pain and the blood dripping from his leg and staining the ground. Redhead just gave a silent nod, agreeing with him. They decided to leave only one drone for surveillance at the ¡°plaza¡±, hoping to retrieve it later if things went smoothly. After quickly sprinting through several empty corridors and tunnels ¡ª thanks to Her Holy Brightness, no one disturbed them ¡ª the team reached their destination. Behind a large garage door was a darkened platform, with a staircase leading down and a wide ramp for cargo. It was wide enough ¡ª two and a half meters ¡ª Max had checked earlier during the day. However, no one had anticipated that they¡¯d have to manually guide the damaged cart in a dead-control mode. Maksim and Nika paused at the edge, assessing the steepness of the ramp. The surface was ribbed metal, designed to prevent wheels from slipping, gleaming dully in the sparse light from the ceiling lamps, some of which were covered in rust and mysterious stains. Low side barriers ran along the edges to prevent anything from falling off the track. But even so, the incline was steep ¡ª about fifteen degrees. The descent would be a challenge. [We have to be careful. If the cart gets out of control, it¡¯s over for it ¡ª and for us without that gear,] Nika pointed out the obvious thing, eyeing the slope. [Stay behind and control the direction. I¡¯ll go in front and stop it from picking up too much speed. Ready?] [Max, no offense, but I¡¯m stronger ¡ª thanks to my cyber-limbs and implants. Plus, your injury is more serious than mine. I¡¯ll take the front. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let it slip.] [Okay, you convinced me. Let¡¯s do this.] Together, they took the first step onto the ramp, and the cart¡¯s wheels screeched as they began rolling down, the gnashing sound echoing through the corridor. Every meter was a struggle ¡ª the load was heavy, and the incline was too steep. On top of that, the cart¡¯s old bearings began to seize, making the task even harder. But there was no turning back. Judging by the distant rumbling behind them, the Protectorate had grown tired of tactical games with their capture teams and was bringing in heavy artillery. Direct hits on their ¡°canyon¡± were probably only a minute or two away. Once they reached the bottom, the path became easier. The team sprinted through a long hallway and stopped in front of a large industrial door. The platform was dark, with only one emergency light out of five dimly glowing. [Take cover. I¡¯ll check behind it. If it¡¯s clear, we¡¯ll activate the explosives and get the hell out of here!] Maksim ordered, cautiously pushing the cart closer to the wall, tucking it behind a concrete pillar. [Nika, you cover the rear with the bots. WonderKid, the lock.] [Max, I can¡¯t get it open! The code seems correct, but the mechanism isn¡¯t responding ¡ª it looks like it¡¯s broken. See? It¡¯s not moving,] Dasha¡¯s voice was tense. [I see it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll just force it open manually ¡ª the lock¡¯s already disengaged by you!] Maksim grabbed the massive handle. [Alisa, Dasha, cover me. I¡¯ll take care of the entry.] Vasilevskaya nodded and aimed her submachine gun toward the doorway, taking cover behind the Big One¡¯s shield. Alisa crouched behind some old metal machinery near the wall, adopting a similar stance. [We¡¯re ready!] Maksim had to throw his full weight against the heavy lever to get it moving. Slowly, with a groan of effort, it began to lower, releasing the locking pistons from their slots. Finally, after rotating ninety degrees, the handle locked into place. [All set. Opening now!] Grabbing the pull-bar, Maksim yanked the heavy steel door toward him. As he did, something caught his eye ¡ª a tiny, translucent Protectorate micro-bot, no bigger than a cockroach, scurried through a vent above the entrance. ¡°Shit! It¡¯s a trap!¡± The steel door, which should have been difficult to move, suddenly swung open with an alarming force, dragging Maksim forward. He struggled to stop, but it pulled the guy with a sudden jerk, as the hydraulic pistons engaged. He barely managed to keep his balance, only to find himself face-to-face with several figures in semi-transparent stealth armor ¡ª Protectorate soldiers! Maksim¡¯s brain kicked into overdrive, reacting instantaneously. A surge of adrenaline pumped into his bloodstream. A single heartbeat¡­ Time seemed to slow down significantly. An AR visual telegraph flared up, showing that the protes were aiming for his legs. Dodge! Need to move! But his body felt sluggish ¡ª the muscles were responding too slowly to the hyper-accelerated brain. Oddly enough, this worked in his favor! Only minimal precise movements were needed ¡ª Maksim could already see how he would leap just far enough to evade the fire. Meanwhile, his hand crept upward, raising the pistol. As his mind fought the physical limitations of the human body, Maksim distributed target markers for the girls and the remaining operational robotics. He noticed that Alisa had also connected to assist with marking enemy positions. His visual feed, streamed from his eye implants and sub-brain, was shared with her. The processors were fast enough to keep up, allowing them to react to the sudden situation with the accelerated time. A second heartbeat¡­ Time snapped back into motion. The synchronized fire of the bots, Maksim, and Alisa merged into a single, devastating volley. The guy fired while mid-leap, dodging the Protectorate¡¯s shots. A fraction of a second later, Nika and Dasha, reacting to the target markers in their AR, joined the fray. In just a second, the entire strike team from the invaders lay sprawled across the floor, lifeless like broken puppets. Maksim collapsed as well. None of the bullets had hit him, his evasive maneuver had been really flawless. But the exertion left him spent ¡ª his vision darkened, weakness washed over him, and his hands shook uncontrollably. He could feel blood trickling from his nose, but didn¡¯t dare remove his helmet, much less raise the visor. The fight wasn¡¯t over yet. Moreover, the guy didn¡¯t have the strength to lift his arms even if he wanted to.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. [Maksim, do you need help?] Redhead¡¯s voice was the first to come through. She had sensed something was wrong even before the target marker appeared, and had begun turning toward the gunfire a split second before opening fire. [I¡¯ve got him,] Alisa cut in before he could respond, quickly dropping her assault medical backpack and pulling out an auto-injector. While the guy didn¡¯t have a full-fledged cyber-core like Nikola, he did have an advanced medical monitor integrated into his sub-brain. The data on his condition was already uploaded to Moira, which had processed it and created a treatment plan based on the current situation. [Max, are you okay? What¡­ just happened?] Dasha asked, the only one who hadn¡¯t fully grasped what had just occurred. He didn¡¯t get a chance to answer, staring in surprise at the notification that popped up into his vision. @SYSTEM: New activating combat ability unlocked: NEURAL SURGE @SYSTEM: Skill description This skill provides a short but powerful cognitive ¡°surge,¡± subjectively accelerating time by enhancing the cortical network and sub-brain activity. It allows the user to rapidly analyze the battlefield conditions, coordinate allied drones and robotics, and make precise strategic decisions in critical moments. (more details) @SYSTEM: Clarification 1 The physical speed of the body remains constrained by the capabilities of the muscles, the nervous system, and the skeletal structure. Maximum movement speed does not exceed biologically permissible limits, as the muscular and skeletal systems are still bound by the laws of physics and physiology. However, due to the cognitive acceleration effect, the brain processes every detail, coordinates movements, and performs them with surgical precision. Actions are executed with maximum efficiency, avoiding unnecessary movements or delays. @SYSTEM: Clarification 2 The maximum speed of data interaction with cyber implants and external devices is limited by communication bandwidth, device configuration, and software. @SYSTEM: Warning! The skill may require significant recovery time after use (recovery speed depends on individual characteristics and the current state of the user¡¯s body). @SYSTEM: Requirements (fulfilled) Installed Cortical Grid Installed Sub-Brain implant (third generation or higher) Cortical Grid Expansion Module present (Model NEM, tier 1.04) [I... I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll get up now,] Maksim muttered, momentarily pushing aside the strange System notification. But when he tried to stand, his body refused to cooperate. The blood loss from his left thigh worsened with his movement, adding to the overwhelming exhaustion from the backlash of using Neural Surge. [Stop. You won¡¯t be able to go any further without medical help. I¡¯ll be quick. Don¡¯t move, and let me get to your back,] Alisa knelt beside her brother, helping him remove his backpack. Modern combat armor, especially the kind Max had insisted on getting from Miro, came with a specialized med-port on the back, designed for rapid deployment of medical capsules. The armor¡¯s auto-injectors, both needle-based and needle-free, handled the delivery of the medication. Normally, it housed a simple painkiller, but this situation called for some real strong stuff. A stimulant. The best concoction Dasha had brewed ¡ª a potent adrenaline-energy cocktail that could drag even the half-dead back into action, albeit at a steep cost to the body. Injection. The second capsule ¡ª blood regenerator. Injection. The third ¡ª a powerful painkiller. Injection. The chemical rush hit Maksim like a truck. His heartbeat skyrocketed, pushing energy into his exhausted muscles, and helping his body stave off the effects of fatigue. The guy nearly leaped to his feet ¡ª his body, now supercharged, screamed for action. But a small, firm hand from Alisa stopped him in his tracks. [Hold still!] she commanded, efficiently pulling out a can of medical foam from her pack ¡ª developed for field surgery, it was designed to stop bleeding and seal wounds instantly. She sprayed it over Maksim¡¯s thigh. The substance expanded, filling the wound and forming a flexible, airtight protective layer. In a few seconds, it hardened into a reliable and at the same time flexible enough barrier from the external environment. The bleeding stopped. [This should hold for now,] Alisa said, checking her work. Her brother nodded in thanks, a faint sigh of relief escaping his lips. The pain hadn¡¯t disappeared entirely, nor had the fatigue, but both had dulled to manageable levels. His muscles no longer screamed with every movement, and the throbbing from blood loss in his leg had subsided enough to move. Therefore, even though every movement was giving a small aching tremor, he could still go forward. [Up you go,] Alisa said, helping him to his feet. [Do you still have water reserves in your armor?] [Yeah.] [Good. Keep drinking as much as you can. It¡¯s crucial, the medication will start to take effect. Nikola, come over here for a second.] [Got it,] Nika stepped up quickly, and the rest of the foam was used to patch up her wounds. [That¡¯s the best we can do for now. Dasha, you need medical assistance?] Alisa asked packing away her supplies. [No, I¡¯m fine,] Vasilevskaya shook her head. [Allright,] Maksim cut in. [I¡¯m setting the explosives to go off in thirty seconds. Let¡¯s move!]
BOOOOOOM! The deafening explosion rocked the tunnel, the sound hammering their ears despite the helmet¡¯s sound protection. The walls shook, sending dust and plaster cascading from the ceiling. The powerful blast, which had used a significant portion of their purchased explosives, effectively cut them off from the pursuing Protectorate forces. The invaders would certainly detect the explosion. But what could they do about it? Nothing! There were no other entrances to this underground tunnel nearby. Sure, they could bring in heavy machinery to dig through the rubble, but that would take time! And that wouldn¡¯t be easy either, as above them lay a thick layer of earth, reinforced concrete beams, pipes, and power cables. While on the surface, there were the massive storage facilities that formed the maze of ¡°concrete canyons.¡± No large-scale excavation machinery could ever fit here ¡ª it was far too cramped. Suddenly, a bone-chilling sense of danger gripped Maksim¡¯s spine. ¡°Deadly threat!¡± Before he could grasp the source of the danger or react, the wall next to him and Alisa exploded in a cloud of dust and shattered concrete. Instinctively, without thinking, Maksim tried to activate Neural Surge. It partially worked ¡ª time actually slowed down. Just enough for him to see the massive tentacles bursting from the newly created hole, swatting aside his weapon and wrapping around his arms and legs. One of them shot straight for his wounded thigh, tearing off the hardened foam protection in one swift movement. Blood poured from the wound as the creature injected something into his bloodstream. Darkness swallowed the guy as his consciousness slipped away. At the same time, the backlash from the failed attempt to use his new skill hit the already strained body. Though, mercifully, he wasn¡¯t conscious to feel it. The monster¡¯s tentacles lashed out, effortlessly swatting aside Nikola and Daria with two powerful blows. Then it wrapped around Maksim and Alisa, dragging them both back through the wall. As a parting gift, the beast released a thick, black gas into the corridor, like a cloud of ink spreading in the air. Dasha¡¯s armor AI reacted strangely to the appearance of this ¡°liquid darkness¡± ¡ª it simply shut down. Moments later, a new notification appeared, confirming that the System had taken full control of her gear. In her vision, four groups of alerts rapidly unfolded. @SYSTEM.Group 1 @SYSTEM: Unidentified neurotoxic gas detected! Maximum threat level. Activating protective filters. Cartridge duration ¨C one minute. @SYSTEM: If you wish to survive, it is strongly recommended to leave the contaminated area IMMEDIATELY. @SYSTEM.Group 2 @SYSTEM: ALERT! User: Nikola Kowalski... Processing... Data insufficient¡­ @SYSTEM: Status: CRITICAL ¨C IMMINENT TERMINAL CONDITION. @SYSTEM: Cause: Bloodstream contaminated by neurotoxin of unknown origin through exposed wounds. Immediate medical intervention required. @SYSTEM: Recommendation: Evacuate the user from the affected area and begin emergency resuscitation measures immediately. @SYSTEM.Group 3 @SYSTEM: ALERT! Maksim Chernykh... data analysis. @SYSTEM: Medical monitor: Active. @SYSTEM: Status: Coma. Organism in the process of contamination with unknown... error, insufficient data. @SYSTEM: Recommendation: None. @SYSTEM.Group 4 @SYSTEM: ALERT! Alisa Chernykh... data analysis. @SYSTEM: Error. @SYSTEM: Error. @SYSTEM: Error. @SYSTEM: Error... shutdown... reboot... protocol... error. @SYSTEM: Recommendation: None. Chapter 76 – Through Blood and Fire Panic surged through Dasha, overwhelming her, washing away all rational thought, leaving only confusion and the crushing realization that the situation was urgent ¡ª one mistake, and someone could die. ¡°Shit! Shit! How did this happen? Max and Nika are both in deep shittiest shit, and in totally different places. And what¡¯s going on with Alisa? Who the hell knows, yeah? And that¡­ thing¡­ that monstrous squid¡­ so huge and terrifying! Where do I run? Who do I save? That thing¡¯s gonna kill me.¡± Daria jumped to her feet and, as if in disbelief, patted herself down. The creature had thrown her hard, but thanks to her armor, the girl hadn¡¯t broken any bones. Glancing around, she spotted her sniper rifle, miraculously intact. ¡°Thank Cthulhu! Both me and the rifle are fine. Though, Cthulhu¡¯s got tentacles too ¡ª couldn¡¯t he lend a hand? Maybe strike a deal or something... Wait! What the hell are you thinking, Vasilevskaya?¡± She almost slapped herself but remembered just in time that she was still wearing her helmet. ¡°Snap out of it! Get Nika out of the gas cloud, then go help Maksim!¡± She spun around and charged forward. One step. Something¡¯s going on. Second step. A strange sound echoed in her mind, like a crystal ball shattering on a marble floor, scattering into a thousand pieces. The kind of ball fortune-tellers in movies and anime always seem to have. Without knowing why, Dasha abruptly halted. She stood frozen in the midst of the poisonous gas cloud, with the timer on her filter cartridge still ticking down. But that no longer mattered. Something else was happening ¡ª something far more important. Her vision darkened ¡ª but not fully, only around the edges. The AR notifications, the usual flood of data always cluttering her field of view, vanished. Even the system markers, and the ever-present ¡°Settings¡± mediaglyph ¡ª were all gone. The mandatory AR-environment icon wasn¡¯t there either, the one that¡¯s always supposed to be on according to law when using augmented reality. You couldn¡¯t disable it, not even manually! ¡°This can¡¯t be happening! I don¡¯t even remember the last time my field of vision was this clear. Probably not since I was nine, before they installed my cortical grid¡­ And those basic mediaglyphs are always on. You can¡¯t turn them off...¡± Her brain kept running, processing. Well, it was always like that, analyzing tirelessly and never stopping for trivialities like this. She found herself staring intently at the wall ¡ª not at the hole where the creature had disappeared. No. What she needed was somewhere else. To the left. A little higher. There! Her gaze locked onto a strange red dot. Her focus sharpened. And suddenly, Dasha knew, an undeniable certainty flooded her from the inside. Somewhere far ahead, hidden beyond the walls, lay her objective. And she had to find it! It felt like her consciousness, stripped of all distractions and limitations, burst free from her body. It surged forward, effortlessly passing through walls, rooms, wires, concrete, and soil ¡ª moving through them as if they were a mere tunnel. Darkness pressed in from the sides, but it didn¡¯t matter. The only thing that mattered now was the search. Her vision flew further, and there it was! Found! The target. Now she had to get it. This wasn¡¯t a thought. Not a theory or an idea. It was pure, crystal-clear certainty. MUST. BE. DONE. NOW! The whole search took only a fraction of a second. Now came the harder part ¡ª she had to move in the real world, and to move fast. But that¡¯s where things got difficult. Dasha lacked the experience, the training, the muscle memory¡­ Somewhere in the background, the System¡¯s notifications were flashing... about calibration of primary stats, skill assessment, development resources allocation¡­ and all of that faded into irrelevance. The girl simply did what she had to do. The rifle was already in her hands. There was no brace, nothing for the cyber-complex to anchor to, which meant only the standard recoil compensator would be working. The shot would hurt like hell, but she didn¡¯t care, not even thinking about it. Swap the magazine. Armor-piercing rounds. Load the rifle. Safety off. Finger on the trigger. Aim. Fire! Flash! Boom! Despite the compensator, the recoil slammed so hard into her shoulder that it threw Daria to the ground. As she fell, she saw bright flashes and electrical sparks in front of her. Then, a second later, there was an explosion nearby. ¡°I need to get over there!¡± With tears welling in her eyes from the pain in her shoulder, Dasha struggled to stand, at the same time ordering her armor to inject a dose of painkillers. There was no time to wait for it to kick in, though. Twenty seconds of filter time had already passed, leaving only a hundred. Daria raced toward Nika ¡ª whatever came next, she had to get the cyborg out of that poison cloud as fast as possible. Easier said than done. Not only was it unclear how to move her, but Redhead weighed a solid 130 kilograms, factoring in the armor, weapons, and ammunition. The small brunette tried pulling her by the arms, but predictably, it didn¡¯t work. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m an idiot! Nika can be pulled out by the bot! Her cyber-core will handle purging the toxin from her system and buy us some time until we¡¯re back. Judging by the monitoring data, her military implants aren¡¯t handling the infection only because of the open wounds.¡± [Big One, get over here!] She sent a task packet to the bot via the comms channel. ¡°I¡¯ve got to hurry! I can feel time running out!¡± A searing hot needle of urgency stabbed through her mind. ¡°System, help Nika detox! She¡¯s about to get pulled out!¡± Daria yelled instinctively, forgetting for a second that she wouldn¡¯t get a reply. Her voice, muffled by the helmet, sounded hollow and somewhat desperate. Whatever, the most important thing was to eliminate the source of the poison. Redhead would survive! Leaving her in the care of Big One, Dasha prepared to run, but first bent down and yanked the machete from the sheath on Nika¡¯s right thigh. She tossed her sniper rifle aside, and armed with the blade, bravely charged forward ¡ª straight into the hole the shaiszu had blasted open. A tunnel-like passage led her into a large chamber filled with the remnants of old equipment ¡ª probably what used to be a pumping station before. The first thing Dasha saw was Alisa¡¯s body, lying motionless on the floor. Her armor was pretty badly scratched up, especially her helmet ¡ª the monster must¡¯ve tried to gnaw on it before realizing there wasn¡¯t any organic tissue inside. It must have discarded her like trash after that.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Phew! Her chest is intact, that¡¯s all that matters!¡± Daria breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that the android¡¯s brain and the TACTA modules installed inside were undamaged. But she didn¡¯t stop moving ¡ª the urgency drove her forward. At the far end of the hall was a half-open door, and beyond that, a corridor. Running ahead, Vasilevskaya was met with a horrifying sight: pipes and wires had been crisscrossing the ceiling and walls, and her shot had hit the control panel, causing a power overload and explosion. The shaiszu creature, which had been crawling right next to it, was now trapped under the debris of blown pipes and fried by electricity from a torn power cable. ¡°Did I cause that explosion?¡± Dasha stared in shock, trying to process what had happened. And then she saw Maksim ¡ª wrapped in tentacles, the thickest one latched onto a gaping wound on his thigh, pulsing as it burrowed deeper. ¡°That damn squid is still alive?!¡± A rage she had never known before surged through her. Ferocity belied her small frame, as Dasha launched herself at the beast, brandishing the machete. Slash, slash, slash, another slash! Like a rabid squirrel compared to the monster¡¯s massive body, she hacked at the cursed appendage with a desperate fury. Mucus sprayed everywhere, along with some black, foul-smelling blood and chunks of flesh. SLASH! She was already drenched in blood. SLASH! The tentacle shuddered but still held firm. SLASH! A jet of blood hit Daria in the chest, but the girl didn¡¯t stop. SLASH! She still couldn¡¯t sever it ¡ª it was too thick, too tough. But her effort wasn¡¯t in vain ¡ª the monster recoiled, ripping its grip from Maksim¡¯s wound. Even more, its remaining tentacles slackened, releasing him. [Max, Dasha, Alisa? Where are you? What happened?] Nikola¡¯s anxious message appeared in the chat. [Nika, I¡¯m here,] Daria replied quickly. [I¡¯m at the passage, the shaiszu had dragged Max in here. I¡¯m trying to save him, yeah! Can you walk? Can you help me?] [I can. Though I feel sick as hell, but I¡¯m afraid to take off my helmet. There¡¯s this creepy black cloud nearby.] [That¡¯s toxic gas! Stay away from it!] [Where¡¯s my rifle? Is it in that cloud?] [I¡¯ll grab it later. I¡¯ve still got 37 seconds of filter time left,] Dasha responded. [Let¡¯s get Max and Alisa back on their feet first.] [Got it. On my way.] [Great, I¡¯m waiting!] Without holing up until Nika¡¯s arrival, Vasilevskaya grabbed Maksim by the loop on his armor and began dragging him away from the ¡°squid¡± creature. It was tough work ¡ª the guy, with all his gear and armor, weighed well over a hundred kilos. And on top of that, she had to do it carefully ¡ª without proper neck and spine support, moving someone unconscious could be extremely dangerous. Dasha might not have been an expert in this, but being friends with Max, it was impossible not to pick up a few things. After all, he¡¯d gotten her into airsoft, so she had some basic field experience. CrossFit training, which she religiously stuck to, along with the adrenaline pumping through her veins and the convenient loop on his armor, helped her manage. Slowly but surely, with careful, alternating movements, she dragged Maksim to a safe spot, away from the twitching tentacles. That¡¯s when Nikola appeared. [I passed Alisa on the way. Is she out cold? I grabbed her medpack just in case. What¡¯s the situation with Max?] [Nika, I... I¡¯m not entirely sure... yeah¡­ You see, I¡¯m kinda more a chem specialist, not a medic. I¡¯ve got his vitals from the monitor, but I have no idea what to do with them.] [Send me everything. They drilled battlefield medical training into us during boot camp. I¡¯ll figure it out¡­] Daria quickly transferred the data to Redhead. [Well, it¡¯s not as bad as it could¡¯ve been. Kurwa, I¡¯m saying this and freaking out myself about what¡¯s going on¡­ Anyway, he needs detoxification. We¡¯ve got the right meds in the kit. Help me turn him onto his stomach. We need access to the medport in his armor. I¡¯ll mix up the antidote.] Nikola pulled out the pharmaceutical configurator, set the necessary parameters, and hit the ¡°prepare¡± button. Half a second later, the needed ampule was in her hands. Opening the medport, she swapped out the capsule and confirmed the injection with her personal code via the network. [Okay, antidote¡¯s in. It¡¯ll block the paralytic effects of the poison. We just need to wait a couple of minutes before waking him up. Dasha, handle his wound. Clear it out, apply antiseptic, and foam. I¡¯ll find something to bring him around.] [Got it,] squeaked the black-haired girl. [I¡¯m on it.] Meanwhile, Nika rummaged through the medkit. ¡°Where¡¯s that damn stimulator... it¡¯s gotta be in here¡­¡± [Bingo! Found it!] [Huh? What did you find?] By that time, Dasha had already cut away the excess material around the wound and treated it with antiseptic. [A cocktail we used to call ¡®Kitten Crusher¡¯ it at camp ¡ª a stimulant based on modified adrenaline, boosted with neurotonics. It¡¯ll jumpstart the nervous system and get him back on his feet instantly. It¡¯s a closed corporate formula from Watson Military. Lucky Miro had some. Hold Max¡¯s hands tight ¡ª I¡¯m injecting it. It might get... rough. The side effects include convulsions.] Daria mumbled something unintelligible but didn¡¯t back down, gripping Maksim¡¯s hands as tightly as she could. Nikola quickly swapped the ampoule, but before giving the injection command, she braced the guy¡¯s legs with her knee and pinned his back between his shoulder blades with both her hands. [Dasha, you better hold his head steady! We don¡¯t want him bashing it in! Injecting in three¡­ two¡­ one¡­] Maksim let out a growl and tried to arch his back, but the girls held him firmly. ¡°Fuck, aaaaah!¡± His loud, colorful expletive confirmed the stimulant had kicked in. [Max, you asked us to keep silent unless necessary. You good? Can you hear me?] Nikola asked through the chat. [Dasha, send me access to his med-monitor. I need to check his vitals after that... ¡®therapy.¡¯ You know, pulse, breathing, blood pressure, biochemistry, the works.] [Fuck¡­ It hurts like hell¡­ What happened? Where am I?] the guy muttered after a brief pause, struggling to turn onto his back and trying to sit up. [What happened? Dunno, don¡¯t ask me. My cyber-core brought me back in a similar way. Don¡¯t move yet, I¡¯ll patch your leg,] Redhead replied, stitching up the wound and sealing it with a wide strip of medical tape. She sprayed a second can of medical foam over the remaining exposed areas, ensuring the injury was properly sealed. [Dasha, what¡¯s the situation?] [Nika, I sent you everything. Max, we were attacked by some¡­ shaiszu creature¡­ like a squid¡­ yeah¡­ It jumped out of the wall! Alisa¡¯s nearby, knocked out, needs a reboot. Moira¡¯s online, working with the drone swarms. Things are pretty heated up there, it¡¯s a total apocalypse, honestly. The monster dragged you and Alisa off, then hit us with a cloud of poison. My armor filtered it, but Nika had open wounds, so she got the worst of it.] Meanwhile, Redhead finished with her patient¡¯s treatment and moved on to her own injuries. She couldn¡¯t afford to leave any bleeding cuts ¡ª they probably would have to run through the toxic gas cloud again. So, open wounds could lead to blood poisoning and become lethal. Maksim steeled himself and got onto his feet, doing his best to avoid putting weight on his injured leg. The stimulants had sharpened his mind, and as he connected to Moira¡¯s analytical hub, which controlled the drone clouds, quickly assessing the situation. Only about twenty percent of the drones were still operational. They were all in the tunnels, focused on covering the retreat of other groups of renouncers. Above ground, just three drones remained, with two more damaged but still transmitting video. He saw that the Protectorate forces had withdrawn from the area and had carpet-bombed the Factory into oblivion. Not a single building remained standing. [All the other teams are on the move. Some have already reached their vehicles and are heading out. We¡¯re falling behind. Girls, we¡¯ll have to move fast. Protectorate forces are trying to lock down all the tunnels and exits.] [Can you even run?] Nika asked, glancing at his foam-covered, wounded thigh. [I¡¯ll manage. Not as fast as I¡¯d like, but I¡¯ll keep up.] The girls quickly packed up the medkit, and the cyborg slung it over her back as they set off running. Along the way, Nika scooped up Alisa¡¯s body into her arms. When they reached the room where all hell had broken loose, the poison cloud had spread further, though it had thinned somewhat. [Max, you shouldn¡¯t go in there!] Nika immediately reacted, lowering Alisa to the ground. [I¡¯ll bring the cart over, and Dasha can grab the weapons, okay?] [You two just get the cart and load my sister onto it,] Maks replied. [I¡¯ll use Big One¡¯s manipulator to pick up the guns. He¡¯s banged up but still operational.] Both girls nodded and hurried into the gas cloud, while Maksim kneeled next to Alisa¡¯s body. He quickly pulled out two smart cables from a side pocket and connected them to the diagnostic ports at the back of her neck. At the same time, he linked to Big One and sent the bot to retrieve the weapons. [Dasha, I¡¯m connecting into her diagnostics. I¡¯m checking the hardware and if everything¡¯s okay, gonna reboot her.] [Oh, great! Share the data with me, I¡¯ll take a look too.] [Sure,] Max agreed. Soon, the platform carrying their gear appeared out of the gas cloud, pushed by the women and assisted by Big One. The bot¡¯s extended manipulator held both assault rifles and Dasha¡¯s sniper, slung over its mechanical arm. [We should¡¯ve bought meds from TACTA!] Maksim said, looking at the battered team. [Once we¡¯re out of the city, we¡¯ll restock at the first call. Still¡¯ve got some grants left, as I remember,] Dasha agreed. [Yeah, yeah, we¡¯ll buy everything,] Nika added with a chuckle. [But right now, let¡¯s just get loaded into the truck! We¡¯re one of the last teams out. The Linkers and all of Miro¡¯s groups have already evacuated!] Maksim confirmed that Alisa¡¯s hardware was fine and initiated the reboot. In about three minutes, she would be back online. But they couldn¡¯t waste any time waiting. The girls loaded her onto the cart and kept pushing it forward. Because of his injury, Max was forbidden from heavy lifting, so he provided cover with a rifle in hand. Surprisingly, they made it the remaining kilometer to the truck without any further complications. Now came the final challenge ¡ª setting up the stealth system, loading the cart¡¯s contents into the vehicle, and then ¡ª just a simple task! ¡ª sneaking past the Watch Towers and the countless enemy drones flooding the skies to escape the polis. Chapter 77 – Operation Smoke and Mirrors Miro had allocated Maksim¡¯s team a maintenance bay near one of his smuggling depots, deep beneath the Kyiv polis. Judging by the tools, equipment, and the excellent lighting, his smuggling business had been thriving before the invasion. Max and Nikola had already appreciated the infrastructure earlier when they¡¯d spent the day prepping their off-road truck for the escape. Now, everything, including Moira, was loaded up. The only tasks left were transferring the newly acquired supplies from the platform, connecting the TACTA equipment ¡ª and they¡¯d be ready to start off. Max and Nikola had already appreciated the convenience of the infrastructure earlier in the day when they were preparing their off-road truck for the escape. Now, everything was nearly ready. All that was left was to unload the roboplatform and connect the TACTA equipment. [I¡¯m back!] Alisa¡¯s reboot finally completed, and she rejoined the chat. [Yay!] Dasha exclaimed excitedly, then sheepishly looked down and asked tentatively, [Max, um¡­ can I¡­ you know¡­ just for a bit?] [Sorry, WonderKid, but no. Vaping¡¯s too risky right now. The shaiszu might still be nearby, and we don¡¯t know how sharp their sense of smell is. Plus, you¡¯d have to lift your visor. What if there are Protectorate spy microbots around? Or Miro¡¯s hidden cameras that could get compromised? I know it¡¯s important to you, but please hold off for now. We¡¯ll figure something out once we¡¯re in the truck.] Disappointed, Dasha let out a quiet huff, but she couldn¡¯t argue with his reasoning. By this time, Alisa had gotten off the cart and joined the team. [Max, while I was¡­ uh, out, I dreamed up a way to upgrade my android body to prevent these shutdowns in the future. I¡¯m guessing we¡¯ll be in a lot more battles soon.] [I¡¯ll be sure to listen to all your ideas,] her brother replied. [But only after we¡¯ve left Kyiv.] [Understand,] Alisa smiled. [Let me help with the equipment loading while you focus on installing the stealth module.] [Thanks,] he nodded. [We should be able to finish quickly. Everything¡¯s prepped and rehearsed.] Indeed, unloading the cart was no trouble at all ¡ª Miro¡¯s bay had a solid overhead crane, and Maksim had already positioned the loading robot. Plus, he and Redhead had practiced installing the reactor into the truck earlier, using a life-sized plywood mock-up. Despite her frustration about the vape ban, Dasha threw herself into the work, helping set up Moira¡¯s switching to an independent power source and fine-tuning the electronic warfare system. Specifically, she was preparing a program so that the System could efficiently manage it. Truth be told, Vasilevskaya had noticed the whole block of notifications that appeared during her strange ¡°premonition¡± before taking that sniper shot. But, contrary to her naturally curious personality, she forbade herself from even glancing at them. The girl had only confirmed that they were personal messages unrelated to the management and operating of the System. And that¡¯s it ¡ª no further investigation for now! The priority was to help the team escape Kyiv as fast as possible. Time was running short. Soon, the crucial part of the plan would begin, and, per their agreement with Miro, no one would wait for Maksim¡¯s team. The operation would start at the precise scheduled time, whether they were ready or not. So, the final preparations for their exit under stealth were carried out at a breakneck pace. Max hooked the reactor to the loader¡¯s manipulator and carefully guided it into the truck through the fully opened rear doors. Inside, Nika secured it, locking the holder mechanisms into place. [All set, it¡¯s locked in!] Redhead reported tersely. [Great, come on out. I¡¯ll take over and start it up.] Technically, the term ¡°start it up¡± was a bit misleading. Unlike much of the TACTA equipment, which is often assembled right on site, this reactor was delivered by Drone in a fully operational state. Not only operational ¨C already running. There were no controls on this device; it was designed to run continuously for its entire twenty-five-year lifespan without stopping. For convenience, you could order it the needed configuration ¡ª everything would be set up, with plenty of options to choose from. Everything would be already pre-configured for compatibility with terrestrial standards, and you must select which option to order: high voltage, three-phase voltage 380 Volts, standard single-phase 220, combined three-phase/single-phase. Maksim opted for with the ¡°combined¡± option in the end. It came with a configurator, allowing flexible control over the power outputs. Alisa, working remotely, took over controlling the loading robot, and along with Nika handled unloading the rest of the equipment. Meanwhile, the guy squeezed through the narrow passage to the reactor inside the truck. [Dasha, the reactor is ready. Redirecting power to Moira, keep an eye on it!] [In position, go ahead!] she responded almost instantly. [Connecting the main power line and control cables.] Four thick cables with three-phase plugs went to power the quantum core, Moira¡¯s cooling system, and the truck itself. Plus, another line would feed into the cab, where Maksim had installed charging stations for Alisa and Nikola. Click. Click. Click. Click. Each plug securely locked into place. Done! Six cables were used to power Moira¡¯s numerous modules, with a few left to spare ¡ª it¡¯d be good to have extra outlets in the truck cab, just in case. [Starting it up!] Maksim announced, as he finished his work. His fingers danced almost instinctively over the safety switches, flipping them all to ¡°on¡± position. At the same moment, Daria saw the energy flow on the automatic power switch display. The device, following the command, began switching Moira from external power to the internal source. [Transitioning in three¡­ two¡­ one!] Dasha said, her eyes locked on the indicators, ready to abort the process if anything went wrong. But there was no need. The screen flashed green, confirming a successful operation. The smooth transferring went off without a hitch. [Max, the power switching¡¯s done. Everything¡¯s clean, no issues with Moira,] Dasha reported, finally allowing her shoulders to relax. With that, Maksim and Daria moved on to setting up the stealth system, while Nikola and Alisa handled the installation of the cooling ¡ª or rather, heat absorption ¡ª system. It was a hectic scramble. Connecting and configuring everything was a complicated task, and time was running out. The team¡¯s nerves were wearing thin ¡ª after all, their lives were on the line. Maksim had it the hardest. Either the painkillers were wearing off, or the wound was deeper and more serious than they had thought. On top of that, he had several dizzy spells and waves of weakness.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to stop. Gotta push through. But later, I¡¯ll definitely need to check if that damn shaiszu infected me with something¡­¡± [We¡¯re all set!] Alisa announced once the heat absorber was finally up and running, and the first storage cartridge clicked into place. Thanks to this device, no ¡°thermal signature¡± would be left behind, preventing the truck from being given away ¡ª especially critical while passing between the Watch Towers, where every available scanning system would be working at maximum capacity. [Max, we¡¯ve got enough resources for three days of continuous operation in maximum load mode, no less,] she added after double-checking the readings. [After that, we¡¯ll need to stop and dump the heat. Hopefully, by then we¡¯ll be in Rzesz¨®w ¡ª stopping before that is the last thing we need.] [Rzesz¨®w?] Maxim asked in surprise. [I thought we hadn¡¯t decided on what we¡¯re doing once we leave the polis?] [Sorry, I didn¡¯t get a chance to tell you. I have info on our route from some reliable source. Let¡¯s discuss everything once we¡¯re out, okay? Call me superstitious if you want.] ¡°Alisa and Superstitions. Uh-huh, right. Sounds iffy, but whatever,¡± Max thought, wondering if he really knew his sister as well as he thought. [Alright, sis. Rzesz¨®w it is. No reason to argue. We¡¯ll go over the details as soon as we¡¯re outside the perimeter. Now, pack up the external cooling units and close up the cargo bay. Double-check that nothing¡¯s left behind and everything¡¯s loaded. Then take your seats in the cab, we¡¯re heading out.] After positioning the last modules, he gestured for Nikola to head to the cab, and quickly started up the device himself. [Cloaking¡¯s up and running perfectly,] Max reported with satisfaction, deliberately stepping back to watch as the large, fully loaded truck seemed to vanish into thin air. [And¡­ yep, power consumption is within the documented range. Well, ladies, praise Her Holy Brightness, everything¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s roll!]
The truck crawled slowly through the narrow tunnel, inching along to avoid scraping the walls or ceiling with the cargo strapped outside, which wouldn¡¯t fit inside the truck. Alisa was at the wheel ¡ª her reaction time was far better than that of the ¡°organics¡± in the cab, even combined all together. ¡°That must be the exit,¡± Max said quietly, squinting at the barely visible metal doors ahead. With everything now loaded up, he had allowed them to speak freely and even lift their helmet visors ¡ª but not remove them. Who knew what might happen next? ¡°How do we open it?¡± Dasha asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯ve got a remote,¡± the guy smiled, pulling out a simple digital radio from his tactical vest. He typed a six-digit code and pressed the transmit button. The doors shuddered and slid apart, revealing the passageway. ¡°Alisa, hold on for a moment. The cargo light platform will come down. Once it¡¯s in place, drive onto it and stop in the center.¡± ¡°Got it, waiting.¡± A few seconds later, the platform descended and came to a stop below. The truck rolled forward and carefully parked on it. Maksim entered another code, and they began to ascend. A short ride took them up into a large warehouse. Oddly enough, the exit was blocked by barriers and warning signs. ¡°Alisa, just nudge them aside with the bumper. Miro wouldn¡¯t care about keeping things discreet anymore.¡± ¡°Discreet?¡± Dasha and Nikola asked, confused. ¡°Yeah,¡± Max chuckled. ¡°Take a closer look at the signs.¡± ¡°Caution!¡±, ¡°Warning! Maintenance in progress!¡±, ¡°Out of order¡±, ¡°Lift malfunction.¡± ¡°Oh damn, that¡¯s the Cunning Fox for you,¡± Nikola laughed. ¡°Look up there, the elevator to the second level is really broken. No one suspects that this platform actually works below. Cleverly hidden.¡± ¡°If you want to hide something, leave it in plain sight,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move. The hard part¡¯s still ahead.¡±
Industrial Zone, Western outskirts of Kyiv, 04:41 AM. There were only seven minutes left before the key stage of their escape ¡ª the coordinated distraction to draw the Protectorate¡¯s attention away from the Watch Towers the renouncers¡¯ teams were targeting. The truck, cloaked in invisibility, had already approached the remnants of the former ring road. The Watch Towers loomed ahead ¡ª tall, menacing, packed with weapons, electronics, and sensors designed to detect even the slightest movement. The space between them, once a road, now had turned into a massive construction site. Old Earth machinery was visible, apparently used to expand and level the area. Alongside them stood Protectorate machines, robots, containers, some metal constructs, and massive blocks of raw material concentrate. The good news? It was navigable if they were careful. It wasn¡¯t an obstacle course, after all, just a worksite ¡ª albeit a colossal one. ¡°It¡¯s strange we don¡¯t see a protective field,¡± Nikola mused, her eyes fixed on the Watch Towers in the augmented reality. ¡°I thought for sure they¡¯d activate it once they realized there was a breach.¡± ¡°That¡¯s to our advantage. There¡¯s already enough trouble without it,¡± Maksim muttered grimly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting this many drones. We can¡¯t make it through if they¡¯re buzzing all over ¡ª they¡¯ll crash right into us and blow our cover. Hopefully, Miro¡¯s taking care of them. We wait.¡± Alisa had disconnected earlier, focusing to aid Moira all of her processing power, which had significantly increased after the TACTA upgrade. Even her primary thread ¡°Consciousness¡± was involved, controlling one of the key units. This was no ordinary skirmish ¡ª Miro was sending in his top-tier drones, high-end military-corporate models, each controlled individually, not via swarm sync. Both Moira and the Linkers¡¯ AI would soon have their hands full, so every bit of extra processing power would be needed. Minutes passed in tense silence. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Maksim said curtly. A feed came from one of the four drones ¡ª showing a massive bomb being hoisted from a hidden warehouse near the shattered Factory. The aerial units were moving at full throttle, not giving the Protectorate time to react. ¡°Max, what is that behemoth?¡± Dasha asked, eyes glued to the screen. ¡°That¡¯s an Intelli-Fury-type air-deployed AI-driven thermobaric bomb, also called an aerosol bomb. It was used a lot during the last war,¡± he explained. ¡°It¡¯s about to enter controlled descent, using its own engine for extra thrust.¡± ¡°This thing even has an engine?¡± Nikola asked, surprised ¡ª she wasn¡¯t familiar with this type of ordnance. ¡°Yep,¡± Maks nodded. ¡°And I don¡¯t get why the Protectorate isn¡¯t trying to shoot it down yet. Once it locks onto the target, it¡¯ll be much harder to stop. It can even perform evasive maneuvers. Okay, let¡¯s see what happens.¡± Seconds ticked by without any Protectorate response as the drones gained altitude. ¡°Here comes the reaction,¡± Max said quickly, sharing the feed from another reconnaissance flying unit. ¡°But they¡¯re too slow!¡± On the new screen, three wings of Protectorate patrol drones sharply altered course and shot upward. But they didn¡¯t get far. The renouncers had sent in their reserves. Their best military-corporate units, launched via high-speed catapults from a nearby warehouse, engaged. Miro had anticipated artillery strikes and the destruction of his territory, so he had preemptively moved his bombs and drones out of harm¡¯s way. The Earth-side combat machines opened fire with high-speed autocannons, forcing the Protectorate drones into a fast-paced positional battle. The invaders retaliated with laser shooting and guided micromissiles. Both sides¡¯ agile machines, moving at inhuman speeds, began their deadly dance, darting and diving through the air. Tracer rounds from the rebels¡¯ warfare lit up the pre-dawn sky, creating a chaotic but dazzling spectacle of aerial clash. ¡°The protes are sending more drones,¡± Nikola said tensely, watching the screens. ¡°Looks like they know what¡¯s up!¡± Suddenly, new targets appeared on the tactical map Moira was generating for them using data from the remaining airborne units. The Protectorate had launched anti-air missiles, each one speeding toward Miro¡¯s bomb at supersonic velocity. ¡°Missiles incoming!¡± Max shouted, focused completely on the impending collision. But by then, Miro¡¯s bomb had already entered its boost phase. A fiery trail streaked behind it as it roared toward the ground at breakneck speed. The Protectorate¡¯s missiles, programmed to target standard ballistic threats, missed. The entire salvo failed to adjust to the bomb¡¯s erratic maneuvers. ¡°Holy shit! Yes!¡± the guy jumped up, nearly hitting his head on the truck¡¯s ceiling. ¡°It worked!¡± Then everything happened too fast to fully register. The bomb closed in on its target. Under pressure, explosive gas was dispersed, while micro-drones were ejected to act as detonators. In mere fractions of a second, the configuration and density of the gas cloud met the pre-set parameters, and the command ¡°detonate¡± was given. What followed was a massive, directed explosion, tearing precisely through the base of the Watch Tower. In the next moment, a colossal fireball erupted in the sky, lighting up the area like it was midday. The blast was so powerful that it shredded the outer armored layers of the Tower, seriously compromising its structural integrity and overloading its defense systems. Somehow, it didn¡¯t collapse, but the upper sections began to lean, and equipment on various platforms exploded from internal overheating. Radar systems and gun emplacements were torn from their mounts and crashed to the ground, sending up clouds of dust and sparks. At that moment, six more groups of renouncers¡¯ drones took to the sky, each carrying another bomb. The Protectorate could no longer ignore this provocation. Almost all the aerial units around the perimeter of the Wall¡¯s construction site went into afterburner, rushing toward the now-destroyed Factory ¡ª the Protectorate couldn¡¯t let the insolent rebels obliterate everything around them. Forced to react, they pulled in nearly all available airborne forces to the Factory, unsure how many bombs or other weapons the renegades might have left. Max, on a high of adrenaline and disbelief, grabbed both Dasha and Nikola at once in a tight embrace. ¡°Girls, I can¡¯t believe it! It worked! It fucking worked! Miro only had one bomb this powerful; the rest are much weaker. But the Protectorate took the bait and sent almost all their drones to intercept. This is our chance ¡ª the way is clear, let¡¯s get the hell out of here!¡± Chapter 78 – Clash of Beasts and Machines High in the sky above the now-ruined Factory, a fierce aerial battle erupted. Unfortunately, the renouncers were immediately forced onto the defensive. Masterful piloting alone could not guarantee victory when the enemy had far more machines with superior specs. Two of the six bombs were lost within the first minute of the fight. The remaining four split off and, under heavy cover fire, continued to climb higher. The ¡°United Breakthrough Command¡± had spontaneously formed, composed of all the AIs participating in the operation under Alisa¡¯s leadership. Alongside her were Nebula Nightshadow from the Linkers, two nameless T5s that Miro had managed to launch, a T6, and a T6-plus-plus, also unnamed, from the Factory¡¯s residents. The renouncers had managed to amass a sizable fleet of drones ¡ª everyone fighting for their freedom knew just how crucial Operation Breakthrough was. Now, they had a real ragtag armada, including everything from slow-moving courier quadcopters to powerful corporate combat UAVs. After their initial tactical success, the Protectorate had got bogged down in a positional war. Earth-based anti-aircraft fire tried to suppress the bold escapees and even managed to shoot down three units from one of the groups of four drones, forcing the bomb into an early descent. In response, the renouncers¡¯ command made the call to bring in the final reserves, prioritizing the Protectorate¡¯s anti-aircraft and missile-defense systems. The battle reached a stalemate in the sky. But that was only for a brief moment until the Protectorate¡¯s reinforcements arrived ¡ª fleets from all the Watch Towers and five squadrons of fighters from the Bastion, the finest war machines the enemy had to offer. However, the primary goal of the operation wasn¡¯t a heroic last stand ¡ª it was a distraction. Right now, in multiple directions, trucks and vehicles equipped with cloaking modules were stealthily making their way through. Maksim¡¯s plan had gone viral.
Tense silence filled the truck¡¯s cab. Maksim was at the wheel, since Alisa was busy fighting alien drones, and Moira was running at maximum capacity, overclocked to the limits of its cooling system. Dasha nervously bit her lip, fidgeting endlessly with her vape box, though it was switched off. Redhead sat silently, focused, gripping the stock of her assault rifle while staring intently at the virtual screen in front of her. The truck had reached the Watch Towers. Fortunately, the protective field was still down, but several squadrons of patrol drones scoured the skies. So far, quick braking, accelerating, and evasive maneuvering had helped them to avoid detection. The truck¡¯s cab didn¡¯t vibrate, but to Maksim, whose hands worked the steering wheel nonstop, it felt like he could sense every electric motor in each wheel. It was as if his own body was creeping along the narrow path, squeezed between construction equipment on one side and long rows of raw material cubes for the Wall on the other. The most dangerous and stressful part ¡ª the one they couldn¡¯t avoid ¡ª was right ahead. ¡°Just a bit more, a hundred meters, we¡¯re almost through,¡± the guy thought. And then, as if he jinxed himself, it all went wrong. On the tactical map, a squad of Protectorate patrol drones abruptly changed course, heading straight for them. It was likely that one of the Watch Tower¡¯s sensitive scanners had picked up something suspicious. ¡°Fuck!¡± Max cursed, slamming on the brakes. ¡°Should we deploy our reserve drones?¡± Dasha asked in a hoarse voice, her face pale with fear. ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll change course¡­¡± Maksim muttered, dread creeping in when he thought that launching their drones now would undoubtedly blow their cover, prompting the Watch Tower to open fire. The truck came to a near stop, there was no room to maneuver. Should he try to retreat while there was still time? Just as Max braced himself to shift into reverse, an excruciating pain exploded in his leg, and for a second, his vision was filled with erratic spots. It felt like a massive bell, the size of a titan, had slammed his ears with an infrasonic blast. A wave of overwhelming terror surged through him, like nothing he had ever felt before. The truck jerked sharply to the right, nearly crashing into a massive metal cube of raw material. At that exact moment, something no one expected happened. Two portal spheres of Shaiszu appeared in the air ¡ª one to the left, directly over the construction site, and the second right behind the truck, barely a hundred meters away! A brief flash of light preceded a massive explosion. The shockwave slammed into the truck, but through some miracle ¡ª and Maksim¡¯s titanic effort at the wheel ¡ª the heavy vehicle held its ground, brushing against the three-meter metal cube but avoiding a crash. The patrol drones immediately unleashed a barrage of fire, their weapons blazing with some kind of high-energy bullets, shooting at the forming portal. If the guy hadn¡¯t swerved to the right just seconds earlier, the shots would¡¯ve torn straight through the truck! The stealth module did its job, responding to the crisis, but energy consumption spiked dramatically. A red warning glyph flashed: ¡°Critical energy overload!¡± The cooling system¡¯s fans roared desperately, blasting searing air straight into the sealed cabin of the truck, turning it into a sauna. There was nowhere else for the heat to go ¡ª the cargo bay was already cooking with Moira, who was struggling as it was. The heat sinks were working at full capacity, but it was clearly not enough. Meanwhile, the portals stabilized, surviving the patrol drones¡¯ initial onslaught. From the rift closest to the Watch Tower, monsters ¡ª the Shaiszu ¡ª began pouring out. Their bodies looked like they were carved from gray stone, bristling with spikes. Each creature had four powerful legs, long tails ending in sharp blades, and three eyes on either side of their elongated heads, crowned with ridges and two rows of horns. The Watch Tower responded instantly. Bullets tore through the first wave of attackers, plasma bolts seared their flesh, and lasers sliced through them. But the monsters didn¡¯t stop ¡ª more and more of them emerged from the portal. The second rift, the one behind the truck, also began to spew out Shaiszu. At first, they were the same as those from the other portal. But then came their leaders ¡ª five alpha beasts. From a distance, they resembled wolves, but with the same stone-like skin, spiked bodies and burning, fiery eyes. They had two tails each, and their bodies were wrapped in a dense, violet force field. The patrol drones switched their fire to the alphas, but it barely slowed them down. The leaders charged forward, driving the rest of the pack ahead. And to make things worse, enormous fire wasps shot out of the portal, swarming toward the Protectorate drones.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Explosions rang out ¡ª apparently, the wasps detonated upon contact with bullets. And, yes, there were too many of them to count! Maksim floored the gas pedal, wrenching the wheel left, away from the cubes. Crashing into them would be certain death. Full speed ahead! Better to die crashing into Protectorate drones than be roasted alive by wasps or ripped apart by the wolves! The sudden wave of pain and weakness vanished as quickly as it had come, and his mind was desperately racing for an escape, finding none. The pack of Shaiszu was just a meter behind the truck. The rear cameras captured every detail of their monstrous forms in stark clarity. Then, unexpectedly, the swarm of wasps rose higher, drawing the patrol drones with them, creating a slim chance for salvation. But what about the monsters charging straight for the truck? ¡°Is this it? Is it really over?¡± Nikola thought, clutching her rifle. ¡°Dad, save me!¡± Dasha screamed silently in her mind, shutting her eyes in desperation. ¡°I¡¯ll fight to the end!¡± Maksim thought, determined to push the truck forward and outpace the creatures closing in behind them. Finally, the Shaiszu caught up with the truck. From the intense tension, Max¡¯s strange combat ability, ¡°NEURAL SURGE,¡± activated again. Time slowed down for him. And then he saw something unbelievable ¡ª the creatures were avoiding the vehicle! As if they could see it perfectly. But instead of attacking, quite the contrary, the Shaiszu were giving the truck a wide berth ¡ª MAKING. WAY. FOR. THEM. Moreover, they were shielding the vehicle from the Protectorate¡¯s fire! Even the lower part of the enormous wasp swarm, which should have skimmed the truck¡¯s roof, pulled upward, leaving everything untouched, although a load was fixed there, and the antennas of the invisibility module emitters stick out. Maksim¡¯s hands clenched the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but it wasn¡¯t necessary. The truck responded faster than his body could move ¡ª and he had shifted to full electronic control. The creatures dodged the truck on the left. That meant he had to veer right as far as possible. The Protectorate drones were preparing to fire again, and all remaining squadrons were on their way. If not for the monsters assaulting the Watch Tower, Maksim and his team would¡¯ve been dead by now. In the slowed time, he watched the drones fire, saw the Shaiszu alphas leap into the air as if taking flight, the ordinary creatures fall dead, and the fire wasps explode against the Protectorate drones. His racing mind spotted a small gap between the cubes, and he veered the truck toward it just as a plasma bolt slammed into the spot where they had been seconds before. Redhead grabbed the handle above the door, while Dasha, screaming in terror, clung to her. The maze of cubes was finally thinning out, but Maksim had to pull off near-miraculous maneuvers to avoid crashing, using every bit of inertia for controlled drifts. Dust and hot air billowed in the truck¡¯s wake, showing a clear path of where they had been, but the Protectorate was too preoccupied to stop them now. Behind them, the former road and the Watch Tower were engulfed in a real ¡°Hellfire¡±. Plasma shots, bullets, rockets, and laser beams crisscrossed the sky amidst the fiery wasp explosions. Finally, a deafening alarm blared from the top of the closest Watch Tower, so loud it pierced even the soundproof cab. In the sky, a rapidly expanding translucent structure began to form. But its transparency was fading too fast for anyone but Maksim, in his time-dilation state, to see. The Protectorate¡¯s massive defensive force-field was forming. A dense, dark violet wall sealed off the polis, cutting the renouncers off from freedom, from any hope of escape... But the majority of the runaways had already made it past the barrier. And the last one to make it through was Maksim¡¯s truck, at 4:51 AM, on August 14th, 2049. Everything went dark. Blood dripped from the guy¡¯s nose, mixing with the sweat on his face. He couldn¡¯t see or hear. His mind was pounding, a massive hammer crashing against an anvil. His consciousness flickered in and out. Time returned to normal, but the backlash from this accelerated state was killing its user. [Girls, I¡¯m blind and deaf. I think I¡¯m about to pass out, it¡¯s the backlash from my combat ability. Nika, take control of the truck. We need to get as far away from the Watch Towers as possible! WonderKid, try stabilizing me ¡ª I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening to me,] the message popped up in the chat. ¡°Dasha, you better drive,¡± Nikola shouted, grabbing the medpack that was thoughtfully fastened between the seats. From the back, Alisa¡¯s voice came through, as she disconnected from the battle somewhere far away. [Nikola, I¡¯m here,] the blond reported quickly. [I can see my brother¡¯s medical readings. I¡¯ll handle the treatment, and also, I¡¯ll take over driving with my secondary thread. You keep an eye on the situation and overall security ¡ª you¡¯ve got more combat experience.] ¡°Got it,¡± Redhead nodded. ¡°Great. Dasha, let¡¯s switch seats.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the girl responded quickly, unbuckling her seatbelt and sliding through the narrow space separating the driver¡¯s seat from the passenger¡¯s.
¡°Phew¡­ all done,¡± Alisa imaginarily exhaled, tossing the last used ampoule into the small container they had designated as a trash bin. Then she stowed the auto-injector back in its sterilization case. ¡°How¡¯re you feeling, big brother? Did rebooting your eye implants work? Can you see again?¡± ¡°You can see for yourself,¡± Maksim commented, wiping the light sheen of sweat from his forehead. The temperature in the cab had finally dropped to a somewhat bearable 32¡ãC. No one complained about the heat ¡ª they¡¯d all agreed to endure it to keep Moira stable, given how critical her smooth operation was. It had taken Alisa about half an hour to get her brother back on his feet. During that time, the truck, moving at the maximum speed its stealth module allowed, had put a good distance between them and Kyiv. At the first major junction, they had turned off onto back roads. The blonde, now officially recognized as a human, had taken full control of the truck, effortlessly handling the driving. Actually, when the cocktail of stimulants she¡¯d administered kicked in, Max had felt ready to jump up and spring into working, but his temporary blindness held him back. Dasha had been wracking her brain, trying to figure out what had gone wrong with the software in his eye implants and why his vision hadn¡¯t returned. The situation was saved because some benevolent anonymous soul had dumped an enormous corporate software library into TACTA¡¯s public archive. There, they found the drivers Maksim¡¯s eyes needed ¡ª marked as ¡°fully patched for compatibility with partner cortical grid updates.¡± And it worked! ¡°Max, I know you¡¯re itching to get back into action, even though we just barely escaped ¡ª thanks to you, by the way. But right now, you need rest,¡± Alisa said, handing him a bottle of water. ¡°Drink this. I¡¯ve added the necessary vitamins and micronutrients. Just so you know, in about half an hour ¡ª forty minutes, tops ¡ª you¡¯re going to zonk out.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s figure out the most important stuff before that and then you can rest,¡± she continued. ¡°And I think Dasha¡¯s going to fall asleep too ¡ª I gave her a similar cocktail. But don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re both small-framed enough, so, we¡¯ll just lay you side by side on the same bed ¡ª¡± ¡°What?!¡± Vasilevskaya sputtered, choking as she heard the conversation. The poor WonderVaper had been gnawing on the mouthpiece of her device, clearly trying to cope with the inability to use it. ¡°Just kidding,¡± the blonde provocateur laughed. ¡°Max can sleep in the driver¡¯s seat. He can recline it all the way, extend the neck supports, and be good to go. But yeah, Dasha, we¡¯ll actually get you into the bed.¡± ¡°Well¡­ alright then, yeah,¡± Dasha muttered in disappointment, hiding her red face in her hands. ¡°But I wanted to get some work done¡­¡± ¡°Oh, you will, WonderStar,¡± Maksim cut in. ¡°I saw those visual telegraphs working during the battle. That alone is a game-changer! But then, honestly, I¡¯ve got a ton of questions. Especially about that weird ¡®combat ability¡¯ message ¡ª and turns out, it works great. The side effects are brutal, though, and I can¡¯t control it well yet, but it saved our lives. I only managed to steer the truck through those cubes because of the time-slowing effect.¡± ¡°Max, I¡­ dunno, I didn¡¯t program that at all,¡± Vasilevskaya quickly defended herself. ¡°Like with Moira, I gave her as much free will as possible. I have a theory about what¡¯s happening, but wanna study some stuff first.¡± ¡°Then my sister¡¯s right. Let¡¯s rest while we can,¡± Maksim waved it off. ¡°Redhead, how about you? How¡¯s your side? Are you tired? Feeling sleepy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Nikola responded immediately, shaking her head sharply. In truth, she was both physically and mentally exhausted, desperately fighting the urge to sleep. But she had promised Alisa she would watch the road, so she stayed alert, quietly observing the situation while refraining from joining the conversation. ¡°I just need to freshen up a bit, and better rebandage my wounds. Same for you, Max. I can help if needed.¡± ¡°Funny enough, that¡¯s doable,¡± he smiled in response. ¡°We¡¯ve got just enough room in the cab to patch everyone up. I only filled the water tank to a third of capacity to save weight, but there¡¯s enough for a quick wash. The shower¡¯s tiny, but functional. Just use the water sparingly. There¡¯s a bottle of universal body wash and some dry shampoo ¡ª might help?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll do,¡± the cyborg nodded energetically. ¡°Perfect,¡± the guy concluded. ¡°Alisa, anything new with you? Do you still need¡­ pseudo-sleep?¡± ¡°I do need sleep. And it¡¯s not pseudo anymore,¡± she clarified. ¡°But I can stay up for forty-eight hours straight if necessary. It¡¯s not ideal, but I can manage. And I only need about three or four hours of sleep a day now.¡± ¡°Got it. Understood. Okay,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°Now let¡¯s get down to the most important part of your plan ¡ª where are we going and why?¡± Chapter 79 – Failure and Fury City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamarck,¡± Strategic Headquarters of the Fourth Division of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service Jurgen von Scholz, August 14, 2049, 06:01 AM Only half an hour had passed since the end of the renouncers¡¯ operation. All the Shaiszu that broke through the two ¡°wandering¡± portals near the Wall¡¯s future site had been neutralized. The Protectorate Army was preparing for a potential new Shaiszu attack ¡ª unfortunately, according to analysts, the likelihood of this was alarmingly high. Engineering services had begun extinguishing fires and clearing the wreckage at the remains of the Factory. Security¡¯s forensic robots were already conducting preliminary surveys of the surrounding sections, paying special attention to where the renouncers had launched their drones, bombs, and ground robots. As for the Internal Security and Counterintelligence officers, it was time to draw the first conclusions, right on the heels of the operation. ¡°Oberst-Lieutenant Waldemarson, report on screen, please.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± nodded the tall blonde, her hair tied into two long braids hanging down to her waist. ¡°Let¡¯s begin,¡± von Scholz¡¯s voice was, as always, emotionless, his demeanor calm, and his expression remarkably restrained. Only senior officers, who had worked alongside him for decades, could tell that the head of the service was deeply displeased. The first slide appeared on the screen. ¡°The ¡®Socials¡¯ have done an excellent job this time. The perfect image of an ¡®internal enemy¡¯ was crafted ¡ª a ruthless, bloodthirsty beast that, like a true animal, who will stop at nothing.¡± The slide switched to the next one. ¡°They even pulled off the classic propaganda trope, seen in every possible world: the ¡®grieving mother whose sons were killed by rebel bombs.¡¯ And they did it brilliantly, making it incredibly convincing. Most of the public will believe the renouncers deliberately targeted the relocation camp full of civilians waiting for resettlement.¡± Von Scholz clasped his hands behind his back and scanned the room with a cold, piercing gaze. ¡°It¡¯s six in the morning now, and the first major news broadcast won¡¯t air until seven. But the Surveillance and Control Service has already recorded excellent numbers in the collection of Geist-Tokens throughout the city. Twenty-seven percent above the norm.¡± A new slide appeared on the screen. ¡°The Kriegsherzog was highly impressed by the materials received. A significant portion of it will be broadcast not only in local news but planet-wide. And some of this footage,¡± von Scholz gestured to the screen, ¡°could even make its way into the world of the Great Spheres.¡± Another slide. ¡°The military. Not bad. The use of androids disguised as live soldiers, as always, justified itself. They showed exactly as many casualties as the Department of Social Psychology required.¡± ¡°As for the real losses,¡± von Scholz continued, ¡°the numbers are excellent. Ninety-six percent of those killed during the mission were on the liquidation list, agreed upon by the Fourth Army¡¯s Analytics Department, our service, and signed off by the High Priest.¡± Another slide: ¡°Preliminary results of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service.¡± ¡°Now¡­ our work. So, officers, the first bomb. Yes, it was difficult to predict its appearance; it¡¯s high-tier local military tech. Nevertheless, it ended up in the hands of common bandits. And that, no matter the case, is our failure.¡± He emphasized the last word with his voice. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in excuses or theories. We might have underestimated the level of local corruption, or we may have misjudged the social status of the group controlling the Factory.¡± The Oberst-Protector clasped his hands behind his back again, his sharp gaze scanning the room. ¡°But the result is the same ¡ª our department messed up. The list of potential breach sites was prepared and delivered on time. We were obligated to discover this bomb beforehand.¡± It felt like the air in the room was starting to freeze... ¡°Next. The second wave. Our most critical failure. How did the renouncers manage to deceive us? Why didn¡¯t our intelligence immediately report that the subsequent bombs were merely distractions? Why didn¡¯t the intel about the real threat being limited to just one powerful bomb arrive in time?¡± He paused, pacing along the screen. ¡°Let me remind you: had we known, the Barrier Deployment order could have acted sooner, despite the Shaiszu threat. We could¡¯ve trapped far more renouncers in the city.¡± Jurgen von Scholz sighed, switching the screen to a large holographic map. Operation ¡°Renouncers¡± had unveiled an unpleasant new reality for HIS Service, one he¡¯d personally never encountered on this scale. The Oberst-Protector raised his gaze, coldly scrutinizing those seated opposite him, and continued: ¡°These events, without question, demonstrate an extraordinarily high level of the renouncers¡¯ organization. Their coordination was impressive at every stage, from preparation to execution. And we failed to anticipate it. This is unacceptable.¡± He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word. ¡°It seems,¡± he went on, crossing his arms behind his back, ¡°the renouncers were equipped with reliable communication. And considering all the measures we implemented for electronic warfare, they clearly used TACTA¡¯s secured network.¡± He paused again, allowing the gravity of his words to settle over the room. ¡°How could this have happened?¡± He posed the rhetorical question. ¡°There are two possibilities. One: they somehow acquired several communication modules and pre-coordinated summoning the Drones in advance. Two: the more troubling option ¡ª this could be a provocation from TACTA itself. That would explain how the rebels so quickly and precisely chose and used TACTA¡¯s equipment.¡± Jurgen turned back to the tactical map. ¡°Think about it. For the first time in our experience, nearly one hundred percent of the renouncers chose the same method of escape ¡ª stealth tech. This was an organized group plan, not improvisation. That means we can expect more attempts.¡± He confidently marked several points on the map, tagging potential renouncer enclaves in Kyiv. ¡°Our forecasts indicate there are still several groups in the city that may attempt to pull off this trick again. The surveillance must be intensified ¡ª this gives us a chance to learn more. Accelerating agent infiltration and using every necessary method ¡ª are a must. We cannot allow anyone to outmaneuver us again.¡± Jurgen fell silent, surveying the officers gathered in the room. ¡°In any case,¡± he continued, his voice now slightly softer though the tension remained, ¡°we have prisoners. Work with them. By noon, I want every scrap of information we can get. Even the smallest fragment might be the key we need.¡± He turned to his aide, Oberleutnant Leony Waldemarson, and added: ¡°I¡¯ll need a detailed report on the other numbered cities. What happened here ¡ª was it a fluke, a unique situation, or part of a larger trend? Bring in additional analysts. I¡¯ll also send a request to the Great Father, the True Keeper of Thought, the Embodied Eternal Sun, for a few Analytical Threads from the Temple to assist in this matter.¡± Von Scholz stopped again, standing still in silence. There was a brief pause, his gaze remaining as heavy and impeccably cold as ever. ¡°We¡¯re all in for far more trouble than you can possibly imagine.¡± Of course, he kept those words to himself. His subordinates, who would soon leave this hall, didn¡¯t need to hear them; they¡¯d better go, motivated to fix their failures. As for those who¡¯d stay behind ¡ª they already understood this reality all too well. ¡°Dismissed, gentlemen, ladies,¡± he finally said, gesturing to the exit. ¡°Get to work.¡± The officers began slowly rising, preparing to leave the operations room, but Jurgen raised his hand. ¡°Team Nine,¡± he said. ¡°Stay. We need to discuss something...¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. * * * Von Scholz silently entered the small tactical room, followed by the most trusted officers from whom he had formed Team Nine, specifically to carry out the directive to find and capture Maksim¡¯s group. As the door quietly sealed behind them, without a word, he activated the ¡°Closed Session¡± protocol. Now, anything said or done in this room was a matter strictly for the Internal Security Service. He sharply turned toward the team; his expression was still unreadable. Though the tension in his gaze made it clear ¡ª what had just been discussed in the previous room wasn¡¯t the whole story. And what they were about to hear now¡­ they wouldn¡¯t like it. ¡°Gentlemen,¡± began the Oberst-Protector. Despite the calm and confident tone of his voice, the seasoned officers who had served under him for years already knew where this was headed. ¡°This is a total failure.¡± Jurgen paused for a moment, motioning toward the tactical table. ¡°And I believe it happened because none of us took Directive 9/00 seriously enough. I¡¯ll go further ¡ª I underestimated the situation myself,¡± he continued. ¡°Unlike our enemies.¡± Von Scholz switched the table into 3D Holographic Map mode, displaying the western outskirts of Kyiv. With a controlled layer, he added all Protectorate equipment, including patrol drones, and rewound the timeline to 4:47 AM. ¡°This was one of the key escape routes. We knew the renouncers might use stealth modules to break through, so we were prepared. Even when most patrol units were recalled due to the bomb incident, there were still had enough machines for a swift response.¡± He zoomed in on the critical moment of the breach, displaying the details in high resolution. ¡°Right here,¡± von Scholz highlighted the area where the renouncers¡¯ vehicle was likely located, ¡°their driver made a mistake. Minor, but enough for the Tower¡¯s sensors to detect. This allowed us to sound the alarm in time and send drones for search and intercept. Such trap corridors were set up along nearly all breach points, though they didn¡¯t work as effectively as we¡¯d hoped. We¡¯ll address why that happened separately.¡± He paused, casting a cold glance at his officers, his voice turning harder, ringing with a steely edge. ¡°But then the Shaiszu entered the scene.¡± Von Scholz pulled up the footage showing the exact moment the creatures emerged from the portals. The Shaiszu moved at incredible speed, their claws effortlessly tearing through vehicles, destroying patrol drones despite the Protectorate¡¯s firepower. He fast-forwarded the timeline to the portal opening and layered the display with infographics detailing the paths of each creature, including a swarm of fiery wasps, marked as a singular entity. ¡°We know one of the Shaiszu Matriarchs is already on the planet. The reason for this is another matter, one that shows just how serious and dangerous the situation is. That¡¯s also a topic for later discussion. For now, let¡¯s focus on the recent operation. The Shaiszu¡¯s ability to interfere with our missions is a fact. The main question is ¡ª why did they intervene now? Why did they assist the renouncers? What could they possibly gain?¡± Jurgen frowned, contemplating his next words. After a brief pause, he continued. ¡°My intuition tells me they know about Alisa. She might be their target. And here,¡± he pointed to the section marked by the mediaglyph ¡°Presumably, renouncer¡¯s vehicle, type: cargo transport.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly where she was. Along with Maksim Chernykh¡¯s entire team, including Alisa and the equipment for running Moira, their AI. I can¡¯t see any other reason for the Shaiszu¡¯s behavior. We know the Hive¡¯s psychology well enough, know how they operate, so I¡¯m confident in my conclusions.¡± He fast-forwarded the projection to the moment the force field appeared. ¡°But if that¡¯s the case,¡± the Oberst-Protector stopped, his gaze fixed on the tactical projection, ¡°why didn¡¯t they capture them earlier? The behavior of the younger Shaiszu during this event clearly shows they knew where the truck was. Perhaps they could even see it.¡± He slammed his palms down onto the tactical table. ¡°Yet instead of capturing or even destroying it, they HELPED the renouncers escape the city. Why? What game is the Matriarch playing? I don¡¯t understand, and that¡¯s what troubles me most.¡± The room fell into heavy silence. The officers sat in stillness, fully aware they weren¡¯t just in the presence of a military leader ¡ª they were facing someone who likely knew more about the Shaiszu than even the High Priests of the Temple. Someone who had waged an unending war against the Shaiszu across multiple worlds for over two centuries. Who had led the Fourth Division of the UNSA Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service, Avril Dominion, for one hundred and twelve years without pause. He had personally encountered threats that went far beyond common understanding. More than anyone else, he knew that the Shaiszu were more than just enemies to the inhabitants of the Great Spheres. And now, they had become an unpredictable factor, one that could derail the Protectorate¡¯s meticulously crafted plans for this undoubtedly promising world. Worse still, they had become their rivals in the struggle for the most important prize, one that had been at the heart of conflict since the era of the Exodus. ¡°We¡¯ll get to the bottom of this. This kind of mistake won¡¯t happen again.¡± The Oberst-Protector decisively wiped all projections from the table and switched it into group work mode. ¡°I¡¯ve finished the briefing. Let¡¯s begin the session, senior officers.¡±
She stood still with her eyes closed. Completely relaxed, ready to snap into full concentration in an instant. In her hands, she held two rapid-fire electromagnetic needle guns. Waiting. Breathing steadily. It was about to begin. A short inhale. A sharp, double exhale. In just a second, it would start! A flash of intuition yanked her instantly into battle mode. A quick, deep breath. The transparent tubes running from her back to her nostrils instantly filled with a dense, neon yellow gas. Pure Geist-Lumen surged into her lungs ¡ª a deadly poison, even a small concentration in the air would kill a large, healthy person in seconds. But for her, it had become the very foundation of life. Her irises changed, dilated, filling with the color of molten gold. At that moment, it was as if she could sense the world in a whole new way ¡ª every slightest movement, the faintest whisper of sound. The air around her trembled, defying the laws of physics. A subtle refraction of light highlighted the effect, making the space seem fluid, almost unreal. The training ground came to life, and the bots suddenly materialized from all sides, moving chaotically and unpredictably. The first shots rang out. Protectorate drills left no room for hesitation ¡ª and her body had already begun acting on its own, dodging the incoming fire. Everything here was real ¡ª not Death, but Pain. The training rounds didn¡¯t pierce flesh, but their impacts caused such horrific agony that it would be better to be shot for real! Through this brutal method ¡ª True Pain ¡ª brought training as close as possible to actual combat. Her Mentor¡¯s words flashed through her mind: ¡°Mind acceleration, also known as local time dilation, is one of the key skills for the Templar-Analyst. But you can only acquire and master it in a real battle.¡± Only this way. Yes, Templar-Analysts weren¡¯t like Priests, capable of merging with the Great Father in combat, channeling his Power and Will to perform miracles on the battlefield. They weren¡¯t the proud Knights, armed to the teeth, in gleaming white armor, equally proficient with a two-handed plasma sword and all types of firearms, immensely strong, agile, and masters of tactics against all Shaiszu entities the Protectorate had ever encountered. But the strength of the Analysts lay elsewhere ¡ª they saw every move the enemy would make before it happened. Their minds moved so fast that they wasted no motion. Armed with high-velocity smart needle guns, they could guide every one of the hundreds of large-caliber needles fired in the first second of combat, hitting their mark with deadly precision. The Protectorate knew how to create real warriors, training them to achieve the highest possible efficiency on the battlefield. Ready ¡ª at any moment. NEURAL SURGE ¨C ACTIVATION! She did it right, followed all the instructions, remembered everything they had drilled into her over those insane past few days. Her mind accelerated... ...only to see that the bots were appearing too quickly. She couldn¡¯t hit them all. Her reaction, her speed ¡ª it was still ordinary. Another moment, and she wasn¡¯t able to dodge. The rounds hit her chest, shoulders, thigh. The pain was so intense it felt like her teeth might crack from clenching. But it was normal. She was strong. She could handle it. ¡°Pain is a lesson.¡± Her Mentor had repeated those words so often that they now echoed automatically in her mind. ¡°Again!¡± she shouted, standing up, ignoring the pain. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± She struggled to focus. And then a vision ignited in her mind ¡ª Max and his damned ¡°all-girl squad.¡± Renegades, enemies, traitors. She imagined facing them head-on ¡ª their powerful figures standing right in front of her, maxed out to the peak of their abilities, and fully prepared for battle. Oh, yes! The Great Father saw it all, she knew their development paths. The amount of Knowledge the Protectorate had gathered was vast, but she devoured every piece of it she could find, every free moment. The first thing she studied, after the Protectorate¡¯s methods, were the paths of TACTA. So, odds were, she knew what awaited Max better than Max himself. There they stood, smug and grinning. The redhead, whatever her name was, obviously in top-tier mech armor, fully synchronized, heavily armed. Daria. A ¡°dark horse,¡± you¡¯d think Vasilevskaya had no place in combat, what could she do there? But apparently, she was likely a true sniper. Better at seeing probabilities than even the Priest-Templars. Alisa ¡ª of course, drones. It was obvious she had led the Swarms into battle last night. And Maksim¡­ Maksim¡­ She felt a kinship with him, a strange understanding that they were closer than anyone else. They were so... similar? Was that it? Was he just like her? Grinding through NEURAL SURGE too, huh? And he had probably mastered it already, hadn¡¯t he? He was always first, at everything. Infuriating! So infuriating! A wave of pure, primal rage surged from her heart, filling her entire body, resonating with the Power that now coursed through her veins. NEURAL SURGE? ¡°What could be easier?!!!¡± she screamed, and the activation... worked. She saw how she would strike them all down before they even had a chance to react! Only Maksim might see the deadly needles piercing his body ¡ª but even then, only if he activated his ability in time. Reality snapped back to the training battle. The bots appeared around her again, but by the Sun, they were so¡­ slow! Ha! Her needle gun, at full throttle, could fire up to five hundred needles per second, but a second... a whole second was SOOOO long. And she didn¡¯t fire in bursts, squeezing the trigger, but in micro-bursts of three needles, triggered by her accelerated mind. Fifteen targets. And she would hit every one of them, just the last two needed a slight adjustment to the trajectory so that each needle reached its target. She saw the rounds that had just begun flying toward her in this thick gel of slowed time, and effortlessly moved into a position where all of them would miss. ¡°Already dead bots, I might add!¡± she managed to think smugly¡­ But her instant euphoria was cut short by a sharp blow. Her Mentor had stepped up and struck her over the head with his staff. ¡°You idiot, Alba! Hatred again!¡± His voice was filled with reproach. ¡°You keep trying to win with it, but it¡¯ll burn you out. The stronger your power, the stronger the hatred. And the only person you¡¯ll take that fury out on is yourself.¡± Alba clenched her teeth, feeling the pain from the strike, but didn¡¯t break eye contact. Her molten gold eyes still burned with adrenaline, but she knew her teacher was right. Hatred fueled her power, but it would inevitably turn against her. Geist-Lumen amplified everything ¡ª both strength and emotions. It made her strong, but it could also become a weapon that would turn on her. The Mentor leaned in, and she flinched, unable to withstand the cold intensity of his gaze. ¡°Never give yourself a weapon that can destroy you,¡± he said quietly, turning away and leaving Alba alone with her thoughts and her pain. Which was only a small part physical. Chapter 80 – The way ahead Nikola¡¯s suggestion to freshen up and tend to their wounds sparked a predictable wave of enthusiasm among the team. Daria was the first to slip into the shower, which also doubled as the restroom. Meanwhile, Alisa got to work on Maksim¡¯s leg, which she had only managed to patch up briefly when he was in a critical state. The remnants of the medical foam had dissolved completely after applying a special solvent, leaving her with a large torn wound to stitch up and bullet wounds to treat. And, of course, injecting some medications were needed to prevent any potential blood infections. ¡°Max, it¡¯s going to be uncomfortable for a while. Uh... scratch that, it¡¯s going to hurt. You¡¯ll feel weak, maybe even nauseous. I¡¯m not sure what kind of stuff that creature might have pumped into your blood, but I¡¯m not taking any risks. These drugs are risky in the heat of battle, but we still have time to apply them now...¡± ¡°Go for it, sis. It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve been through worse as a kid, remember?¡± Alisa nodded without a word and gave him two injections. ¡°All set. If there¡¯s anything nasty in your blood, this should stop it. But we need to get to a proper medical facility as soon as possible and run a full blood analysis.¡± ¡°Mmm-hmmm,¡± Max groaned in agreement, leaning back in the seat, eyes closed, and teeth clenched. As promised, it hurt ¡ª a lot. ¡°Ugh... we truly need TACTA¡¯s medical tech,¡± Alisa muttered under her breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Daria agreed, stepping out of the shower, glancing sadly at Max. She desperately wanted to help but didn¡¯t know how. ¡°Is there anything I can do? To¡­ be useful, perhaps? Oh, and the shower¡¯s free, by the way.¡± ¡°Nika, you¡¯re not allowed to wash up just yet. I haven¡¯t properly treated you, so, wait a little,¡± the ¡®chief doctor¡¯ immediately intervened. ¡°Okay, got it,¡± the cyborg girl nodded. ¡°Max is going to be fine, right? He just needs to ride out the side effects of the military-grade meds?¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯s already coming down from it, as far as I can see. Dasha, we don¡¯t need anything from you right now, but thanks.¡± ¡°Ah-ha, got it,¡± Vasilevskaya sighed. ¡°Uhm... I wish I could vape right now, just a tittle-little bit...¡± Max struggled to prop himself up to look at Daria, despite the lingering pain and weakness from the medication, but was quickly nudged back into his seat. ¡°Alright, WonderVaper, I think a little is fine,¡± he rasped in reply. ¡°Just move to the cargo hold with Moira for that¡­ and shut the door behind you.¡± He exhaled and added softly, ¡°It already smells like damn barracks in here, even without steam. And it¡¯s as hot as a Turkish bath.¡± ¡°Yay! Thanks, Maxie! Get better soon!¡± Dasha squealed happily, darting off to her gear, snatching up her device and disappearing through the door in a flash. ¡°By the way, we¡¯re already cooling the temperature,¡± Alisa said as she finished stitching up Maksim¡¯s leg. ¡°Moira completed managing the drone clouds under the agreement and disconnected. Oh, and Miro and the Linkers made it out. I¡¯ve got confirmation.¡± Maksim nodded with relief. ¡°Good news. I¡¯ve got a feeling we¡¯ll cross paths with them again. Alright, team, let¡¯s figure out what we¡¯re doing next. I feel like crap, but I can still talk and think. Alisa, you mentioned that our first destination is Rzesz¨®w, right?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± The guy quickly pulled up a map in augmented reality and looked at the route from their current location to the target city. ¡°It¡¯s about seven hundred kilometers from here if we take the highway. Using secondary roads will make it even longer. Can you explain why we¡¯re headed there specifically?¡± ¡°I managed to gather some intel on Eastern Europe. Before the invasion, there was a multi-corporate military base, an airfield, a repair plant, and warehouses. All of it now makes up Rzesz¨®w, the first of the Free Cities in Eastern Europe. There, we can buy tech, including military equipment, upgrade what we¡¯ve got, and take on some contracts. Their Mission Exchange is already up and running, and we can even submit some TACTA missions. In short, a lot of interesting stuff,¡± Alisa explained. Having finished her work on Maksim¡¯s leg and bandaging it, Alisa turned to her next patient. ¡°Your turn, Nikola. Strip to the waist and face me with your wounded side.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Redhead nodded, taking off her damaged tactical vest and the rest of her uniform. ¡°Max, once we¡¯re done, I want to get into the cargo area and pick up a new shirt and jacket. Need me to grab something for you too?¡± ¡°Sure, new pants, a T-shirt, and a jacket, please. For now, let¡¯s keep talking while we¡¯re all still upright.¡± Max shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable as he stretched out his injured leg. ¡°I¡¯m good with Rzesz¨®w, it¡¯s a solid destination. A big Free City with a working Mission Exchange is exactly what we need to get back on our feet.¡± ¡°But how do we get there safely? The Protectorate must be furious after all those provocations and bombings. Our speed is limited by the energy consumption of the stealth module. And turning it off isn¡¯t an option. Obviously, everything¡¯s under surveillance from space, and the moment we do, they¡¯ll spot our truck. It wouldn¡¯t take more than a few minutes for their fighter drones to reach us from Kyiv.¡± ¡°What if we turn off invisibility at some covered parking and then just casually drive out?¡± Nikola suggested, already undressed and waiting for the solvent Alisa applied to dissolve the last bits of foam on her wound. ¡°No one¡¯s seen our new vehicle, and they don¡¯t know it¡¯s us inside.¡± ¡°I thought about that,¡± Maksim replied, grabbing a water bottle he had stashed in the driver¡¯s side door pocket. ¡°But only once we¡¯re much farther away from the polis. The Protectorate mentioned a 100-kilometer control zone around Kyiv in their messages, though they didn¡¯t specify how exactly to measure this distance.¡± ¡°But the bigger issue,¡± he added, taking a long swig, ¡°is the roads. I don¡¯t know how busy the highways will be during the day, but it doesn¡¯t matter. It could be as empty as it is now, or packed with caravans. Either way, any lone vehicle like ours will stand out. Even if we make it 500 kilometers away, they can still track and check us, since there are too many fast drones at those jerks¡¯ disposal. Then, they¡¯ll intercept us, and that¡¯s the game over.¡± [Max, I¡¯ve got something important on that front,] Dasha chimed in from the cargo hold, content and relaxed as she sat near Moira, surrounded by a cloud of steam. [Before our escape, my Ravens were working, continuously analyzing all the documentation we had access to. I had to turn them off during the battle, of course, but I booted them up just a few minutes ago. Here¡¯s the kicker ¡ª we all got a ¡®Partner¡¯s Starter Guide,¡¯ and in it, there¡¯s a section about Security and Interfactional Agreements.] ¡°Wait, what?¡± Maksim raised an eyebrow. He quickly toggled his AR display, revealing the notifications he had set aside for later. One of them was indeed a link to the guide. ¡°It¡¯s really there!¡± ¡°Uh¡­ sorry for not mentioning it sooner,¡± Alisa said sheepishly. ¡°I saw the notification but didn¡¯t give it much thought. I was too busy sorting out the changes in my thread modifications. Everything¡­ altered so much. But I¡¯m reading it now!¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Well, it seems like we don¡¯t need to read it anymore,¡± Maksim smiled. ¡°Sounds like the Ravens already summarized it for us, right?¡± [You bet! And I see that Alisa is already syncing with them. So technically, two AIs have already read it... or¡­ um¡­ well, Moira and you... I mean, a human...] Dasha trailed off awkwardly, realizing she might¡¯ve hurt Alisa¡¯s feelings, mentioning a sensitive subject for her friend. ¡°It¡¯s okay, technically I am also an Artificial Intelligence ¨C though who knows under which category I fall now,¡± Alisa chuckled. ¡°Anyway, Max, this guide actually answers all your questions. The most important thing is that there is an inter-faction agreement between TACTA and the UNSA Protectorate. Outside their controlled zones, the Protectorate isn¡¯t allowed to attack official TACTA Partners.¡± [Yep,] Vasilevskaya confirmed. [And Free Cities are off-limits for satellite surveillance. Though the protes¡¯ folks can still enter them, but only if they follow the rules and all that. Even no visas required, yeah!] ¡°So, did you figure out how faction members identify each other? How will the Protectorate know we¡¯re TACTA Partners?¡± Maksim asked thoughtfully. [Ah-ha, the required ID-tag is transmitted by the TACTA upgrade to our Cortical Grid. From what I understand, it¡¯s not required constantly, only in disputed territories or in the Protectorate¡¯s controlled zones, yeah¡­] ¡°Wait a second. Controlled zones? Are they marked somewhere? That should be public information, right?¡± [Of course. There¡¯s an interfaction app,] Dasha replied as she finished vaping and started heading back to the cabin. [I just downloaded it and checked. There are no vague 100-kilometer circles around the city centers or something like that.] ¡°So, the Protectorate deliberately misled the future renouncers in their messages?¡± Maksim clarified. ¡°Not exactly. They just left out that the ¡®Perimeter Zone¡¯ isn¡¯t some arbitrary 100 kilometers from the wall. It¡¯s a well-defined area around ¡®numbered cities,¡¯ meaning former major Polises and the largest cities in the States, which the Protectorate is turning into their outposts. Once the Drone is summoned, all of this becomes known. The documentation is public.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the protes, to jebane dupki, pierdolone oszu?ci, skurwysyny przekl?te!¡± Redhead cursed passionately in Polish, but realizing she had gone too far, quickly added, ¡°I meant to say¡­ they¡¯re liars¡­ and bad people. Sorry for the outburst.¡± Maksim chuckled. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve got it. Nika already explained everything about the Protectorate. But what about the roads?¡± [Major highways are neutral territories, and all factions collectively maintain them. It¡¯s clearly stated. Moreover, in the event of a Shaiszu attack, it¡¯s protocol to assist each other.] ¡°Sounds a bit too good to be true,¡± Redhead expressed her doubt. ¡°But it is real. In the event of an attack on a highway, TACTA automatically generates a mission request to all nearby Partner groups. If your group meets the combat rating, you can¡¯t refuse ¡ª the penalties are steep,¡± Alisa said. ¡°Hmm, is that so,¡± Maksim murmured thoughtfully. ¡°Well, that works out better for us. A lot of big problems are already off the table. Sis, maybe it¡¯s time you told us the whole route you¡¯ve mapped out, considering everything we know and the Protectorate¡¯s boundaries?¡± Alisa nodded and pulled up a map in the group chat, explaining the entire route: ¡°Alright, our first destination is Rzesz¨®w, the State Poland. The route goes: Kyiv ¨C Rivne ¨C Lviv. After Zhytomyr, we¡¯ll leave the controlled zone of the numbered city Kyiv, and from there, it¡¯s neutral territory. It¡¯s the best road in Ukraine, a six-lane highway all the way to Lviv. We just stick to the left lane, cruise at 120 kilometers per hour, and we¡¯re golden. No one is entitled to stop us. I¡¯ve already downloaded the control zone app, and this route bypasses Rivne, where there¡¯s a Protectorate military base. We¡¯ll steer clear of that. After Lviv, the road curves toward the State Slovakia, and from there, we¡¯ll make a wide loop around the city and head straight to Rzesz¨®w. It¡¯s only a couple hours from Lviv! Now, a quick rundown of the next stops: Rzesz¨®w ¨C Pre?ov ¨C ?ilina ¨C Brno. We¡¯ll have to detour around Brno and the highways nearby. The control zone is huge, and we don¡¯t have a transit visa for the Protectorate, so we¡¯ll have to navigate around it cautiously. No rest stops are possible. Technically, we¡¯ll be moving between three Protectorate numbered city zones, so better be extra paranoid. After that, the route goes: Nuremberg ¨C Heilbronn ¨C Karlsruhe ¨C Mulhouse, skirting the edges of Protectorate zones, thankfully on neutral highways. The only issue is that the traffic there is likely to be heavy with Protectorate vehicles, which will feel unnerving. But they don¡¯t have the right to stop Partner transport. By the way, Mulhouse is also a Free City, so we can restock there and complete some missions. And then it¡¯s a simple and straightforward route: Besan?on ¨C Lyon. Based on my data, this area is relatively safe. However, we need to remember that the Shaiszu won¡¯t sit still, and their activity seems to be higher in the south. There¡¯s speculation that they prefer warmer climates. The final destination is Marseille ¡ª the major independent TACTA city we need so badly. Crucially, it has a stationary base, so we won¡¯t need to summon the Drone anymore.¡± Alisa finished her explanation, wiping imaginary sweat from her brow. ¡°So, that¡¯s the plan.¡± ¡°Care to share where you¡¯re getting this info?¡± Maksim asked, curious now that the worst side effects of the corporate military drugs had worn off. ¡°Sorry, big brother. I can only tell you that it¡¯s from a very reliable source.¡± Alisa finished treating Nikola¡¯s wounds, sealing them with waterproof regenerative patches, and injected her with blood infection preventatives. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll hop into the shower and then bring some fresh clothes for me and Max,¡± Redhead said. ¡°But you¡¯re in pain,¡± the blonde remarked, surprised. ¡°How are you planning to have a wash in that state?¡± ¡°With some finesse,¡± Redhead smirked. ¡°After all, pain is just pain.¡± And with a grin, she added, ¡°If it hurts, it means you¡¯re still alive.¡± With that, the girl hurried off to the shower. Max scratched his head thoughtfully. ¡°She¡¯s a bit of a masochist, huh? Anyway, our first task is to get out of the Protectorate¡¯s control zone and find a good spot to disable the stealth module. We¡¯ll be able to move faster once that¡¯s off and reach Rzesz¨®w quick. By the way, can we contact them in advance somehow about those mysterious missions? Our funds are running dry.¡± ¡°Well, not completely dry, we¡¯ve still got fourteen and a half thousand grants left!¡± Daria pointed out, having returned from the cargo area and settling comfortably on the bed. ¡°That should be enough to stock up on field medicine, which we desperately need, yeah!¡± ¡°I¡¯m on board with that idea,¡± Alisa agreed, putting away the medical kit. ¡°You know, there are regenerating bandages ¡ª ones that start healing within an hour and can close a wound like Max¡¯s in a day. We should also get universal antibiotics and stop worrying about potential infections. They¡¯re less painful than military-grade meds, and certainly more effective. Also, they have a field Medkit with a RapidCare module, a med-scanner, and a better med-spray than the one we have.¡± ¡°I like the sound of that too,¡± Redhead shouted right out of the shower. ¡°I could carry one of the kits with me, which would boost the group¡¯s survival rate if we have to split up again!¡± ¡°But do we have enough money for all of that?¡± Maksim frowned. ¡°Just calling a Drone for the group would eat up nearly half our funds!¡± ¡°A group summoning? But why would we need that?¡± Dasha asked, puzzled. ¡°Err, I probably should¡¯ve checked if we can transfer grants to each other before making that suggestion...¡± ¡°You can do more than just transfer grants,¡± Alisa smiled. ¡°I¡¯m digging into all the new options we have now with the Ravens. And TACTA has a huge section dedicated to social groups. Mostly, it¡¯s about managing Free Cities, but it also includes static groups, clans, and even guilds.¡± She quickly pulled up a small AR screen to show the most relevant parts of the documentation. ¡°The most important thing we need to keep in mind right now is that TACTA heavily encourages the creation of social structures, ranging from static groups and clans to full settlements. Specifically, there are even discounts on certain types of goods and deliveries. In groups, you can set up a shared account, and calling a Drone for delivery will only cost 925 grants.¡± ¡°We really need to explore all of this, yeah!¡± Vasilevskaya interjected. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking into...¡± @SYSTEM: Social group information has been recorded. Interface update in progress... The sudden message that appeared in front of everyone caused Dasha to not just fall silent but drop her vape in surprise. However, the pause didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Look, Max! It¡¯s self-learning! It¡¯s evolving ¡ª on its own, you see? Just imagine how...¡± she started, but suddenly yawned loudly, the exhaustion catching up to her. ¡°¡­awesome.¡± Seeing this, Alisa smiled warmly. ¡°Just go to sleep already. You all need the rest. Look, Nikola¡¯s already out,¡± she pointed at Nikola. ¡°You¡¯re all going to pass out soon, whether you like it or not.¡± By that time, Redhead had already finished her shower, grabbed fresh clothes for herself and Max, quickly changed, settled into the seat¡­ and dozed off, almost instantly. ¡°Ah... fine,¡± Dasha yawned again and tucked her vape into the pocket of her tactical vest, which she had taken off and hung on a small hook near the bed. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll actually lie down. We¡¯ll talk it all through tomorrow¡­ uh¡­ well, actually, later today, when we wake up¡­ yeah.¡± Maksim adjusted his neck support and reclined the driver¡¯s seat as far back as it would go. ¡°Sis, I¡¯m going to sleep too. Just stay off the main highway for now. The last thing we need is a Protectorate special vehicle ramming into us at top speed. Side roads have their own risks, but at least there¡¯s no traffic.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she nodded. ¡°And one last thing, if we¡¯re still asleep when you exit the Protectorate¡¯s control zone, look for a covered spot to drop the stealth, preferably without cameras. If you find something, wake me up.¡± Satisfied with her nod, Maksim finally exhaled, relaxed, and closed his eyes. Chapter 81 – Into the Unknown I could feel the heat rising from the ground beneath my paws ¡ª a pleasant warmth that seeped into my very being. The surface of the planet was a vast, pulsating organic tissue, alive and vibrant. Low, dark clouds raced across the sky, casting a heavy shroud, only allowing brief glimpses of the heavens through scattered rifts. The sky above was dark, painted in bright neon hues, from warm pinks and oranges to cool violets and deep blues. The night overhead shimmered like a multicolored veil, obscuring the cosmos. Three colossal moons gazed indifferently at the highway of glowing pulsating nebulae, stretched across the space like a star-dusted bridge leading to distant worlds. On the horizon, the jagged silhouettes of volcanoes loomed, spewing streams of lava and columns of smoke into a sky torn apart by lightning. The air was thick with the familiar scents of sulfur and ash. I continued running, my powerful legs carrying me across the living surface. It responded eagerly to every step, slightly springing and pushing me forward, amplifying my speed. My brothers ran beside me, our movements synchronized, driven by a shared impulse. Our bodies, as if sculpted from gray stone, were covered in sharp, glinting spikes that flashed with each stride. Four strong legs propelled us forward, while our long tails ending in razor-sharp blades sliced through the air behind us. My six eyes ¡ª three on each side of my elongated, massive head ¡ª picked out the smallest details far in the distance, granting me perfect vision. A pointed crest crowned my head, framed by two rows of curved horns. I was always ready to fend off enemies. A dense, violet field of energy pulsed around my body, flickering in rhythm with the beat of my three hearts. Around us stretched an endless network of organic structures: incubators from which new warriors were born, gene vaults storing priceless codes gathered from countless external worlds, and massive processors converting raw material into life energy. The walls and arches of these structures breathed and pulsed, filling the air with a low hum that merged with the rhythm of our run. I could feel every member of my pack ¡ª their thoughts, their drive, their fierce desire to fulfill the mission. We were not just physically connected; we were mentally united, bound into the shared consciousness of the Swarm. This flow of collective intelligence filled me with strength and certainty; here, there was no room for doubt or fear. A massive glowing rift came into view ahead, surrounded by swirling energy radiating every color of the spectrum. Its borders trembled like the breath of a giant, and from its center emanated thin threads of light, beckoning us forward. Organic spikes and tendrils framed the portal, forming an arch we were destined to cross. I surged forward, feeling the pull of the rift¡¯s energy calling to me. Wind whistled around my horns, and I could hear my brothers following, their paws pounding in an accelerating rhythm. We were upon the Portal. Time slowed. Gathering all my strength, I leaped first, plunging into the radiant stream of light. A blinding white flash filled everything, and for a brief moment, I felt weightless, suspended in the infinity of space.
State Ukraine, an unnamed road near Highway M06, 130 km from Kyiv Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 14, 2049, 01:01 PM ¡°What the hell was that? Way too vivid for a dream,¡± Maxim thought as he abruptly opened his eyes. The sudden wake-up left his head spinning slightly, but overall, his condition could be described as bearable. The pain in his leg had mostly subsided, though a dull, heavy ache still lingered occasionally. Outside the window, it was already a bright, sunny day, but the truck¡¯s windows were set to a special mode ¡ª inside, it was dim, while the outside reflected a mirrored surface, hiding everything within. The heat in the cabin had finally dissipated, and the air purifier had worked its magic, clearing the atmosphere to a comfortable level. ¡°Good¡­ morning, big brother,¡± Alisa¡¯s voice greeted him from behind the driver''s seat. ¡°Want a quick status update?¡± ¡°Thanks. That would be helpful.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been asleep for six hours and thirteen minutes. We just passed Zhytomyr and are now one hundred and thirty kilometers away from Kyiv¡¯s Watchtowers if you take the highway. Two hundred eleven kilometers have been covered, and the average speed is thirty-four kilometers per hour. It¡¯s only seventeen kilometers away from the exit of the Protectorate¡¯s control zone.¡± ¡°How¡¯s everyone else?¡± ¡°Nika is still asleep, and Dasha¡¯s awake but lying in bed for now.¡± Hearing the voices, Redhead stirred on the passenger seat and finally woke up. ¡°Mornin¡¯¡­ everyone,¡± she yawned, ¡°How was your sleep, Max?¡± ¡°Weird, to be honest,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Slept well, but had the strangest, most unnervingly realistic dream.¡± ¡°If you want,¡± Nika laughed, ¡°I can tell you what it means later. I¡¯m a super-duper dream interpreter, in case you didn¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course not, just messing with you. I don¡¯t believe in dream interpretations, tarot cards, or astrology.¡± At that moment, a sudden flurry of notifications appeared in augmented reality. //SYSTEM: @Attention! The development of the Group/Clan creation and management module (including improved user interface) has begun. @Integration of the Group/Clan management module with the user parameters and stats evaluation module is in progress.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. @Integration of the Group/Clan management module with the TACTA accounting modules is in progress, utilizing the Informatorium API. @Attention! Completion of development requires access to the personal API keys of at least ten different users. @Please provide user API key data [expand¡­] Seeing these messages, Vasilevskaya jumped in bed, got tangled in her blanket, and predictably fell onto the floor. Fortunately, the truck¡¯s bed was low, so the fall was more embarrassing than painful. ¡°Oof... damn it... yeah¡­¡± she muttered. Actually, Dasha was awake for about twenty minutes now, but she went and dived into Deep VR before even opening her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s... err¡­ I¡¯m looking into the System¡¯s structural changes¡­ you know, umm, like¡­ right now,¡± she started explaining from the floor, deciding it was more important to comment than to get up. Daria quickly checked the status of the team ¡ª they were all awake, as indicated the ¡°online¡± mediaglyphs beside their names in the command interface. No one was asleep; otherwise, the status would have automatically changed. ¡°So, listen, we¡¯re in for some epic stuff. First, the System had analyzed a ton of data to create a player progression model ¡ª well, not players, us. To create a model of us. Yeah. It tapped into the sub-brain, pulled data flows from the CNS to the brain through the cortical grid and back, and voil¨¤, now it knows everything about us.¡± Finally freeing herself from the rebellious blanket, Daria got up, shook her head, and climbed back into bed. She grabbed her vape from under the pillow, holding it like a comfort object as she continued. ¡°The System created a model of the human body and implants, evaluated the parameters of our organisms, and laid it all out in a detailed model that goes from simple to complex. I¡¯ll explain it. Let¡¯s take Strength ¡ª a standard attribute in all LitRPGs, right? The System can evaluate the strength of each of us based on what it knows about human biology.¡± ¡°It provides some general score by comparing you to a ¡®baseline standard.¡¯ Let¡¯s say it gives you, like, 42. Now, if you want to know what that 42 actually means, you can dive deeper into the model, down to specific muscle groups. They¡¯re all evaluated. And now you know exactly what to train if you want to push that 42 to a 43! Cool, right?¡± ¡°Very cool,¡± Maksim agreed, nodding. ¡°Sounds like the perfect fitness trainer. It¡¯s almost a shame we didn¡¯t come up with this earlier. Could¡¯ve been a useful product.¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t have, not before,¡± Dasha countered, settling in more comfortably and toying with the vape box in her hands. ¡°The System is using the expansion of the Cortical Grid installed by TACTA. I haven¡¯t fully figured it out yet, but with this module, the amount of data we¡¯re getting from our brains and CNS has increased exponentially. And the System was able to process all that and build the model. Or rather, it¡¯s still working on it, tweaking it as we speak. Yeah.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually just the tip of the iceberg,¡± Alisa added. ¡°The most interesting part is the interaction with the Informatorium via personal and group API keys. Out of the box, TACTA only gives the bare minimum ¡ª mostly the marketplace. But for us, as developers, there are far more opportunities. We can access missions, manage social groups, and even oversee Free Cities. Max, don¡¯t you want to set up your own high-tech eco-settlement?¡± ¡°Thanks, that¡¯s sweet of you. But I¡¯d rather deal with our current mess before dreaming about weird stuff,¡± the guy replied. ¡°Yeah, we need to quickly find at least five more people to connect, so we can finish this iteration of development,¡± Dasha said confidently. ¡°Alisa and I can work on the System while we¡¯re on the road, right?¡± ¡°What about asking Miro?¡± Nika chimed in as she stood up and stretched. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have his own team AI yet.¡± ¡°Definitely,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°We should offer it to the Linkers as well.¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°And we could pitch it as something they could advertise and sell too. For a cut or two. Cause I know how it goes ¡ª you¡¯ll get super passionate and will dive into development, but when it comes to selling it, who¡¯s going to handle that?¡± ¡°And¡­ and there¡¯s more, listen!¡± Dasha interjected excitedly, completely ignoring the topic of commercialization. ¡°There¡¯s something important ¡ª it has just hit me. Well, it was kind of obvious from the start, but I figured out only now how to make it work with the equipment we¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°Take it easy, WonderWhiz, and tell us your idea,¡± Maksim encouraged her. He even got out of the driver¡¯s seat to sit next to her on the bed ¡ª Alisa was driving anyway. ¡°Okay, yeah. I¡¯ll explain,¡± Vasilevskaya grinned, glad he had joined her. ¡°My idea is that we should set up ¡®computational nodes¡¯ for the System¡¯s distributed blockchain network. It¡¯s like cryptocurrency mining, but the nodes would work on developing its Core and overall structure. I¡¯m calling them ¡®nodes¡¯ because they can also process and validate materials received for training the System. Right now, Moira can handle it all since we don¡¯t have many users, but later, when there are hundreds of thousands of users¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got some ambitious plans, I see,¡± Maksim said with a smile. ¡°But are you sure you can handle a structure this complex?¡± ¡°I can handle it, I can! As long as I have a place to vape,¡± the sleepy, disheveled girl smiled, finally deciding to get up for good. ¡°I¡¯m going to wash up and brush my teeth if no one minds, okay?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already missed breakfast,¡± Alisa quipped, slipping back into her role as the caring sister and good friend. ¡°But if anyone¡¯s hungry, I can offer some military rations. It¡¯ll be a full lunch.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°And while we eat, we¡¯ll leave the Protectorate¡¯s control zone, get a bit farther, and find a good place to safely deactivate the stealth module.¡±
¡°No one¡¯s here. All infrastructure is shut down. No active surveillance cameras,¡± Alisa reported, guiding both reconnaissance drones back toward the truck. They had released the nimble flying machines earlier, just after leaving the Protectorate¡¯s control zone and passing through a tunnel beneath the highway. ¡°Perfect, turning in now,¡± Maksim responded from the driver¡¯s seat. The truck veered off the cracked asphalt road in an industrial outskirts of a small town, heading toward the invitingly open gates of a service station for heavy-duty vehicles. Despite the initial reconnaissance, they were ready for anything. The team entered the area fully prepared for combat, armed and in full gear. As it turned out, though, the place was completely deserted. It seemed the staff had fled days ago ¡ª most likely on Thursday, August 12th, when the invasion began. The cabin doors opened, and Maksim with Nikola jumped out, assault rifles in hand. They swiftly scouted the premises, covering each other. Using the Big One, they peeked into closed rooms where the flying drones couldn¡¯t reach. Empty. [Clear. Everyone can come out but stay alert. Keep your helmets on. Alisa, send the birds on a perimeter patrol around the service station, and have one of them go higher for a good view of the town,] Maksim ordered. [On it,] Alisa responded curtly. ¡°Why¡¯s it so¡­ empty in here?¡± Dasha remarked in surprise as she stepped out of the truck. ¡°Yeah, there is not much to loot,¡± Nikola added, sounding a bit disappointed. ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Maksim chuckled. ¡°Imagine yourself in a ¡®starting location¡¯ like this. What would you do?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Redhead looked around, thinking, ¡°I¡¯d grab a couple of stronger vehicles, maybe some trucks like ours. Slap on armor¡­ Eh, no, Max, that¡¯s not fair. That¡¯s me, and I know where to get weapons, how to rig them on the vehicle, how to turn a civilian van into a makeshift armored car, and all that. But these were just regular workers. How would they know any of that?¡± ¡°This place is a bit too fancy for regular workers in a small, out-of-the-way town, especially on its outskirts,¡± Maksim replied. ¡°And the hangar, plus what¡¯s left of the equipment here, all top-tier brands. If they weren¡¯t bandits themselves, they were definitely working for some.¡± ¡°They might¡¯ve called a crafting Drone and repurposed most of the materials,¡± Alisa remarked as she, too, stepped out of the truck. ¡°We have access to those as well, by the way. But that¡¯s a conversation for later, I suppose.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve got more pressing matters right now,¡± Maksim agreed, surveying the remains of the equipment in the vast hangar. ¡°Let¡¯s take a short break here. I¡¯ll disable the stealth mode and check on the truck. We should also get in touch with Miro and Lena, and most importantly, try to line up a good passing mission for us to take on. How does that sound?¡± Chapter 82 – Magic or Technology? State Ukraine, Zhytomyr District. Neutral Territories, Abandoned Service Station for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. Maxim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 14, 2049, 02:21 PM ¡°All done!¡± Maksim called out from the inspection pit, already climbing back up. ¡°The truck is in perfect condition. No issues at all, though I¡¯d rather not repeat those stunts near the Watchtower again.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope we won¡¯t need to, big brother,¡± Alisa responded. ¡°You finished? What¡¯s next on the agenda?¡± ¡°I was planning to call Miro and Lena, but... it feels a bit too early for that,¡± Maksim admitted, taking off his work gloves. ¡°I still haven¡¯t fully grasped what exactly the System is at this stage, so I wouldn¡¯t be able to make a proper offer. You know what? We should probably deal with that now. Here is a rare moment to catch our breath ¡ª seems like the perfect time to figure it out. Let¡¯s go have a word with WonderKid.¡± He found Dasha by the truck¡¯s cab, sitting comfortably with Nikola at a small camp table, surrounded by thick clouds of slowly dissipating vapor. It seemed Redhead had made good use of her resourcefulness in what now felt like a past life ¡ª managing to gather not just plenty of e-juice, but also a lot of devices for vaping. ¡°Well, let them enjoy a break while they can,¡± Max decided, waving dismissively at the scene. ¡°But their chill doesn¡¯t mean we can skip the talk.¡± ¡°Alright, WonderWhiz,¡± he began, crossing his arms. ¡°I get that you¡¯re relaxing and all, but the time¡¯s come for you to shine. Spill it!¡± ¡°Huh? What am I supposed to¡­ Spill? Why...?¡± Vasilevskaya mumbled, taken off guard. ¡°It¡¯s time for the full rundown on the System,¡± Alisa chuckled as she approached the table. ¡°It¡¯s been self-learning for a while now, and we¡¯ve got some new things to show.¡± ¡°Oh, right¡­ the System¡­ yeah¡­ Alisa and I are currently analyzing the data, including after the last¡­ I mean, the latest fight, yeah,¡± Dasha mumbled a bit uncertainly. Then, as if coming to her senses, she swapped out the tank on her vape, and took a deep, calming drag. With renewed confidence, she launched into a long explanation. ¡°So, um... this is just the beginning, really. The System is modular¡­ and, just as said before, it¡¯s actively evolving. I¡¯ve already started digging into some of the modules and sketched out a plan for further development and improvements. When the conditions are... right. You know, for work.¡± ¡°The initial module, which is also the basic one ¡ª I¡¯ve named it ¡®Attributes, Implants, and Skills.¡¯ The interface for it isn¡¯t ready yet, so it hasn¡¯t shown up visually. The goal of this nifty thing is to act as a bridge between us ¡ª as a set of, err, bodily characteristics, implant parameters, and so on ¡ª and TACTA. Yeah.¡± Dasha took a couple more deep breaths from the vape and then tucked it back into her vest, focusing more intently on her explanation. ¡°The module I mentioned earlier ¡ª the one that created the human model ¡ª well, it has all characteristics divided into three groups. The first one is Physical characteristics: Strength, Endurance, Agility and Perception. Like I said, each of them is an averaged evaluation of various body parameters responsible for different aspects of physical activity.¡± She paused before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s important to note that it can also account for implants. There¡¯s a whole additional block on cybernetics. But we¡¯ll get to that later. For now, let¡¯s focus on the parameters. For an average person who hasn¡¯t done any special training, each attribute falls between twenty and thirty. The maximum is theoretically one hundred, but that¡¯s just a rough estimate ¡ª I¡¯m not sure anyone could actually reach that level. Yeah.¡± ¡°We¡¯re currently working on the interface and refining the analysis module so we can interact with this data more easily,¡± Alisa chimed in. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to open up categories, view detailed information, and figure out how to train specific attributes. The System isn¡¯t a magic wand, of course. There¡¯s no ¡®drop ten points into intelligence and instantly become a genius¡¯ type of deal.¡± ¡°Shame,¡± Dasha chuckled. ¡°Would¡¯ve been fun. The second category is Mental characteristics. We¡¯ve got Intelligence, Willpower, Intuition and Charisma. Alisa and I picked these names to make them easy to understand. And though we have only scratched the surface of the model, it all looks logical. Just like in real life, if you stop developing something, it gradually regresses to its baseline.¡± As she finished, the girl glanced around for water. Spotting a bottle on the table, she took a long drink while Maksim mulled over what he¡¯d just heard. ¡°Okay, two groups. Makes sense so far,¡± he said thoughtfully, his eyes shifting between the girls. ¡°But you did say there are three, right?¡± ¡°This last one is particularly intriguing,¡± Alisa remarked. ¡°I think it offers huge potential, not only for us as System users but also for its marketing and promotion. This group is so interesting that it could be a gold mine for us!¡± ¡°I named this group ¡®Magic,¡¯¡± Dasha interrupted with a satisfied grin, pulling out her vape again, though she didn¡¯t turn it on just yet. ¡°And I suggested calling them ¡®System Attributes¡¯ or even ¡®Super Attributes,¡¯ so it¡¯s easier for our future clients to accept,¡± Alisa added, squinting with anticipation. ¡°What nonsense,¡± Maksim scoffed. ¡°Everyone knows magic doesn¡¯t exist!¡± ¡°It exists ¡ª oh, it definitely does!¡± Vasilevskaya countered, her eyes lighting up with excitement. ¡°People have just forgotten the true nature of the world. All-Father Odin sacrificed himself, hanging for nine days and nights on the World Tree Yggdrasil to gain the wisdom of the runes. That¡¯s¡­ not just a legend, it¡¯s a metaphor for a deep understanding of the universe and the hidden forces within it! And Thor, with his hammer Mjolnir, controlling lightning and thunder ¡ª that¡¯s a clear manifestation of energy manipulation!¡± She paused, taking a quick drag from her vape before biting her lip in thought, her newfound eloquence surging forward, as if Odin himself had blessed her words. ¡°People turned away from this knowledge, drowning in false beliefs, losing sight of the full scope of reality,¡± Dasha leaned forward, her hands gesturing animatedly. ¡°But magic¡­ it¡¯s always been there. We just stopped noticing it. The System ¡ª it¡¯s a real step toward rediscovering those hidden possibilities. We can call them whatever we want, but the essence remains the same. Magic is real! And it¡¯s waiting for us to embrace it again!¡± ¡°I actually like the idea of magic,¡± Nikola chimed in. ¡°If it exists, that¡¯s pretty awesome.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Dasha¡¯s cheeks flushed with excitement. ¡°We should just¡­ accept it, yeah¡­ and try to understand how it all works within the framework of our tech! After all, new discoveries are just forgotten old ones, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get what you¡¯re all cooking up,¡± Maksim frowned. ¡°There¡¯s never been such thing as magic ¡ª that¡¯s just old folklore. I¡¯ve never seen anything like this in my life, and I doubt TACTA¡¯s arrival has changed our world that much.¡± ¡°Just because you haven¡¯t seen it doesn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t there,¡± Alisa countered meaningfully. ¡°Sorry to say, but you could¡¯ve missed things happening right under your nose. Moreover, your practical nature is well-known, of course. Well, when I ran a query through the API, I didn¡¯t get any magic-related data¡­ but that¡¯s only for now.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t get any,¡± Dasha grinned mischievously. ¡°But I did! Which makes me a mage now, yeah! And I¡¯ll prove it to you right now, Max!¡± The girl sprang up from the table, tossing aside her vape. Taking what she believed was a confident, ¡°convincing¡± stance, she theatrically waved her arms, pulling up a large augmented reality screen for Maksim, Alisa, and Nikola to see.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Ta-da! Abracadabra!¡± On the screen, she displayed the remote access terminal to the command console and quickly sent the necessary request. The response came almost instantly. //SYSTEM Group: Magic (System) Attributes. Foresight (1) ¡®Basic Foresight¡¯ Activated Skill: ¡®Instant Appraisal¡¯ Grants the ability to instantly assess the current situation and receive an intuitive hint about the safest path or action. Energy cost: Low Cooldown: 5 minutes Passive Skill: ¡®Intuitive Warning¡¯ (+5 Intuition) * You gain the ability to sense danger a few seconds before it occurs. * Increases the chance of dodging unexpected attacks. * Slight boost to Intuition. Synergistic Skill: ¡®Basic Visual Telegraphs¡¯ Simple integration of the activated skill ¡®Instant Appraisal¡¯ with a visual AR/VR environment. Foresight (2) ¡®Enhanced Foresight¡¯ Activated Skill: ¡®Anticipating Movements¡¯ You see visual projections of an opponent¡¯s movements, including their attacks and counters. Energy cost: Low Duration: 10 seconds Cooldown: 10 minutes Passive Skill: ¡®Reflex Reaction¡¯ (+5 Perception) * Improves reaction time to sudden events. * Enhances combat reflexes. * Slight boost to Perception. Synergistic Skill: ¡®Enhanced Visual Telegraphs¡¯ Integrates activated skills ¡®Instant Appraisal¡¯ and ¡®Anticipating Movements¡¯ with a visual AR/VR environment. Foresight (3) ¡®Deep Foresight¡¯ Activated Skill: ¡®Glimpse into the Future¡¯ Allows you to see potential events over the next few minutes. Can be used for planning, avoiding danger, or acting preemptively. Energy cost: High, variable Vision Horizon: Up to 5 minutes Vision Duration: Up to 30 seconds Cooldown: 1 hour Passive Skill: ¡®Sixth Sense¡¯ * You begin to sense hidden threats and traps. * Increases the likelihood of detecting hidden objects and creatures. * Slight boost to Intuition and Perception (+5 Intuition, +5 Perception). Synergistic Skill: ¡®Team Visual Telegraph¡¯ Allows for the synchronization of all Foresight-capable individuals in a shared visual environment. Can use data from external sources (drones, flying cameras, etc.) Foresight (4) progress scale ¨C 87% complete Current Passive Effect: +4 Intelligence. As soon as Dasha displayed everything on the screen, she began rattling off explanations at breakneck speed, clearly too excited to slow down. ¡°You see? See, Maxie! I¡¯m a mage, yeah! Mwa-ha-ha, take that! I know it looks confusing right now, but it¡¯s all true. And it¡¯s coming from TACTA. It¡¯s all linked to our implant upgrades, I¡¯m one hundred percent sure! This is real, legit ¡ª an active skill works! I used it once, and it was incredible ¡ª mind-blowing, magical! It saved your life, yeah! And yes, technically, we can call this a ¡®system¡¯ attribute, but that¡¯s only in the context of TACTA. That¡¯s important! Sure, Strength, Agility, Intelligence, all those characteristics ¡ª they come from the work of our own System, processed through the module for ¡®Attributes¡¯¡­¡± She blurted it all out in one breath, pausing only long enough to catch some air before continuing. ¡°But in the third category? It¡¯s different. It¡¯s not part of the model at all! We can only get the data from TACTA through special API queries to the Informatorium. That¡¯s why the characteristics in this group are presented differently, with values ranging from 0 to 10, and each level has an ¡®experience bar.¡¯ Once that fills, we level up! Like, look ¡ª I¡¯m only thirteen percent away from leveling up to Foresight Level Four! I can¡¯t wait to see what comes next!¡± By now, she had captured everyone¡¯s full attention. No one interrupted or argued as they listened intently. Dasha pressed on. ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have a detailed breakdown of how it all works. Not yet. And I can only speak from what I¡¯ve seen personally. What other stats are out there, what they¡¯ll be called, and what they¡¯ll do ¡ª we have no clue.¡± ¡°So yeah, all of this came from TACTA¡¯s information system. I don¡¯t know how to gain experience or level up, and I still haven¡¯t figured out how to activate skills intentionally. Even though I managed to trigger it by accident once! Moreover, it¡¯s written in the API that each use...¡± Vasilevskaya suddenly stammered, realizing that her throat was dry, and grabbed a bottle of water, downing it in just a few gulps before continuing. ¡°Every time a skill is used, it drains energy. If this were a LitRPG fantasy novel, I¡¯d say it¡¯s ¡®mana.¡¯ Or ¡®psionic energy¡¯ if we were in a sci-fi world. But unfortunately, we¡¯re not in a book, and I have no idea what this energy actually is. If I knew... but I just don¡¯t know. For now, yeah!¡± Dasha''s energetic monologue left the entire team in stunned silence, deep in thought. Nikola was even gaping, visibly astonished. Maksim, ever resistant to changing his worldview, wasn¡¯t ready to surrender just yet. But it was getting harder to refute the girls¡¯ arguments. Especially since he¡¯d used one of these strange, incredibly powerful abilities himself. With a sigh, he pulled up the archived notification about his ¡®Neural Surge¡¯ activation and shared it on the AR screen for everyone to see. Dasha froze for a moment, as she read the lines, then let out a squeal and threw her arms around the guy¡¯s neck. ¡°You see, Maxie! Yeah, it¡¯s true! You¡¯re the chosen one too! You¡¯re a gifted one! I knew it, I knew it, yeah!¡± He smiled at her excited reaction and gently set her back down on the ground. ¡°Call it whatever you like, but I¡¯m still going to believe this is advanced tech, not magic. Just way more sophisticated than what we¡¯ve had before. Am I right in assuming we don¡¯t know much about these ¡®magical¡¯ stuff yet? And that strong backlash I got after using my skill ¡ª was that because I ran out of whatever energy powers it?¡± ¡°Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,¡± Alisa recited one of her favorite quotes. ¡°Arthur C. Clarke, Third Law.¡± ¡°And that means it really is magic, yeah!¡± Dasha declared with a nod. ¡°But unfortunately, we don¡¯t have detailed descriptions of these abilities or the exact activation sequences. Most likely, your issue was related to energy. The problem is, we don¡¯t even know what this ¡®magical energy¡¯ depends on or how fast it regenerates. And you know what¡¯s the weirdest part?¡± ¡°What, WonderKid?¡± Maksim asked. ¡°The Informatorium clearly states that all¡­ or¡­ at least some, of this info, yeah¡­ is available ¡ª but only once we reach the fourth partner category. Alisa is the closest, she¡¯s at category five. But I just don¡¯t understand why it¡¯s set up this way. After all, both you and I already got these abilities and skills. We¡¯ve used them. That¡¯s definitely linked to the upgrades in our implants, right? So why is the info locked to us?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s their way of dangling a ¡®carrot on a stick¡¯,¡± Nik§àla mused. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m dying to figure out how to unlock one of those ¡®magical¡¯ attributes. That ¡®Foresight,¡¯ even at its lowest level, is a must-have for any fighter! If there¡¯s a way to learn how to acquire it, I¡¯ll dig my heels in and grind with all my cybernetic might until I hit that partnership tier!¡± Maksim paced along the table, deep in thought. ¡°Maybe they have some kind of tech support? Or we¡¯re just approaching it from the wrong angle? We¡¯ve been working through the API and our own software interpretation ¡ª our System. Maybe we just haven¡¯t given TACTA enough time to release the information to us directly? Maybe something will be revealed on the August 20th, especially if this whole thing is tied to the Ratings? Or maybe the fact that Dasha and I got these ¡®super-skills¡¯ is some kind of exception to the rule? Clearly, not everyone is granted these ¡®super-abilities.¡¯¡± ¡°Actually, I have a theory about why I got ¡®Foresight¡¯,¡± Dasha suddenly said quietly. ¡°Why?¡± Maksim and Alisa asked in unison. Nikola also turned toward her, curiosity written all over her face. ¡°Because my work with code, well¡­ the structures. Seeing their evolution¡­¡± Vasilevskaya began hesitantly. ¡°What¡¯s that, if not a kind of foresight? Maybe I¡¯ve always had this ability, mastered it on my own, and developed it from scratch. The only difference is, when I use the System¡¯s skill, I don¡¯t need ¡®Synth¡¯ or other drugs. But instead, I need some kind of energy?¡± Feeling frustrated, Dasha grabbed her vape and plopped back down on her chair, puffing furiously like an angry little steam engine. ¡°There¡¯s just not enough data! It¡¯s infuriating! Yeah! Where¡¯s my detailed documentation?!¡± ¡°WonderKid, you¡¯re vaping zero-base, right?¡± Maksim asked, noticing how intensely she was puffing and realizing how worked up she¡¯d become. ¡°Mmhmm, mmhmm,¡± she waved him off, her eyes glazing over as she dove into Deep VR to study the situation further. ¡°Guys,¡± Alisa cut in. ¡°We¡¯re getting ahead of ourselves. We simply don¡¯t have enough information right now. Maybe I¡¯ve got something in these characteristics too, or perhaps Redhead secretly has a ¡®super-jump¡¯ or ¡®speed boost¡¯ ability. We just don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s link more users to the System and gather some proper stats. We¡¯d better wait for the Rating to unlock. See what changes after we complete a few missions. For now, Dasha and I can outline what other modules the System already has, and we¡¯ll think about a pitch...¡± ¡°I think Alisa¡¯s got a point,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°Plus, we¡¯ve only just made it out of Kyiv¡¯s territory. It¡¯s our first day of freedom. Let¡¯s take off with what we¡¯ve got for now. We¡¯ll draft up a business proposal for the Linkers and Miro, figure out how to convince them to join our project. And we¡¯ll also need to estimate how we¡¯ll sell access. Then we¡¯ll reach out to them.¡± He stood up, stretched, glanced around, and added, ¡°But let¡¯s plan all that on the road. I¡¯ve disabled the invisibility, and the truck is in perfect shape. Let¡¯s head for Rzesz¨®w already.¡± Chapter 83 – The Birth of the Ghosts State Ukraine, Neutral Territory, M06 Highway Maxim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 14, 2049, 03:44 PM The news about ¡°super-skills¡± had really stirred up the team, especially given the potential for integration of them with the System. So, it was no surprise that Alisa and Dasha dove straight into Deep VR the moment the truck began to move. Maksim, on the other hand, took the wheel himself, deciding to assess the situation on the highway before handing over control to the autopilot. The first thing that caught his eye as they neared the on-ramp was the heavy traffic. An unpleasant surprise ¡ª there were far more vehicles than he¡¯d anticipated. The road was packed primarily with large Protectorate trucks and buses, all traveling under the escort of combat drones flying in tight formation. This dense stream occupied every lane heading toward the former polis Kyiv. ¡°Kurwa, look at these fuckers driving around, huh, Max?¡± Nikola remarked as she watched the convoy of black-and-red buses crammed with people. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re moving folks from the surrounding towns and villages. Well, screw them, we¡¯re getting on the highway,¡± the guy replied, steering hard and pressing on the gas. Fortunately, the lanes heading in the opposite direction, out of the Kyiv region, were clear, and their truck merged smoothly onto the autobahn, quickly picking up speed. About ten minutes into the drive, it became apparent that the road to Lviv would mostly be empty. Satisfied, Maksim switched the vehicle to autopilot, set the cruising speed to 120 kilometers per hour, and turned to his companion. ¡°There is plenty of time while we¡¯re on the way, and it looks like WonderKid and Alisa will be out for a while. So, Redhead, shall we get down to business?¡± ¡°Hell yeah! Could throw together an order for the Drone. Just talked about it not long ago. If we¡¯re going to pick up some missions soon, better be fully prepared.¡± ¡°That¡¯s actually a great idea. The sooner we take care of that, the faster we can start accepting missions. We¡¯ve got some medical expertise, and Alisa can review it at the end, maybe tweak it if needed.¡± [Girls, don¡¯t get completely lost in the astral, okay? Nika and I are putting together a medical supply list and plan to summon the TACTA Drone along the way. After that, we¡¯ll check out some missions and see if there¡¯s anything along the route to Rzesz¨®w.] [Got it. Here¡¯s the script to launch the ¡°Team management¡± module. You¡¯ll need it for placing orders and handling finances too. Yeah,] Dasha responded. [Max, you¡¯re going to share the shopping list in the conference anyway, right?] Alisa added. [I¡¯ll take a look at the medical stuff you chose afterward and see if there¡¯s anything we need to change.] [Roger that,] Maksim responded, launching Informatorium and sharing the entire screen with the team conference.
¡°There¡¯s way too much we need, and way too little cash,¡± Maksim grumbled, eyeing the list of over fifty items with a total cost exceeding three hundred thousand grants. ¡°Yeah, fourteen and a half thousand ain¡¯t buying out the whole store,¡± Redhead chuckled. ¡°But we can grab just the bare minimum, enough to make the next mission a bit safer. First off, our foam should definitely be replaced ¡ª what they¡¯ve got is way better. Then, the ¡®Military¡¯ medkit, or at least its equivalent, is a must. Next ¡ª some solid pharma. And to top it off, the cheapest regen bandages, or better yet, regen gel. Actually, both if possible.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty much what I had in mind. We can drool over compact med-bots like the MedCase Prime or the portable nanomachine assembly unit LifeTech Nanorobotics all we want, but let¡¯s start small. You¡¯re completely right.¡± He quickly went through the list, dumping entire clusters of items. In the end, they narrowed it down to five essential items, totaling 9,840 grants. #Cart: * Medical Spray + Solvent ¡°FieldPatch-CX2¡± (6 sets) * Healing-Infused Bandages Set (20 pieces) * RevitaGel Regenerative Gel (10 units) * ¡°Military¡± modular first aid kit, FieldMedic Pro A4.1 (Core unit only) * Field Medical Kit (Biostimulants, Antidotes, Universal Antibiotics, Fast-Acting Anesthetics) in a case * Diagnostic Scanner Orion Scope Alto2 [Good choice,] Alisa commented when she noticed Maksim and Nika had finished their picks. [The diagnostic tool is a key. As for med-tech, especially the robotic treatment module for the medkit, we¡¯ll get that next time ¡ª it¡¯s just way too expensive. Anyway, go ahead and send the order.] [Hey, ladies, care to surface from your beloved Deep VR for a minute, huh? The list¡¯s ready, and I¡¯m about to submit the order. So, we¡¯ll be pulling off the highway ¡ª no need to call attention to ourselves in front of the Protectorate. It¡¯s technically not illegal, but why poke the bear? While we¡¯re at it, maybe check the available missions before we stop.] Half a minute later, Alisa and Daria appeared beside the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°I went over the list of System modules. It¡¯s pretty interesting. But what¡¯s on the missions? While you prep the materials for that ¡®business proposal¡¯ to Miro and Lena, I could skim through a few and lock in one or two for us. We¡¯re gonna need a lot more cash for a proper order,¡± said Max. ¡°We need more gold,¡± the blonde snarled, with her eyes gleaming greedily ¨C and laughed. Apparently, that was a joke. ¡°Sadly, yeah,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°So, what¡¯s up with the mission module?¡± ¡°Well, the interface is still temporary, but it works... yeah,¡± Vasilevskaya replied. ¡°Problem is, only standard TACTA missions are available for now. At least they¡¯re split into team and solo options.¡± To stay on topic, she quickly pulled up a virtual screen in the group conference, running the module. After querying the list of available missions through the command line, she continued: ¡°See? It¡¯s all here. For our categories, solo missions are a total joke. Maybe Alisa could try something, since she¡¯s at least a Partner Category 5, ¡°Experts¡±. The rest of us are stuck at Category 6, ¡°Seekers¡±. No rankings available yet, and for teams too. All of that will only open up on August 20th.¡± ¡°Does that mean the team ones aren¡¯t available to us?¡± Maksim asked. ¡°Is that why they¡¯re not showing up?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they be? They¡¯re totally available, yeah,¡± Dasha countered. ¡°We just can¡¯t see them because our team hasn¡¯t been officially formed yet. We¡¯ll be listed as a Category 6 team. The thing is, since there¡¯s no Rating yet, it¡¯s based on the average partner score of the team. For ¡®Experts,¡¯ or Category 5, we only have Alisa, and one person isn¡¯t enough to access for more advanced missions.¡± ¡°Hm. Makes sense, got it. So, what¡¯s stopping us from registering the team right now?¡± Maksim asked, predictably. ¡°If there¡¯s no issue, go ahead and create it, please.¡± ¡°Give me a sec,¡± Daria muttered, doing something in the AR. ¡°Max¡­ uh¡­ sorry, the interfaces are barely up anywhere. I submitted the request through a script, listed all four of our IDs, set the team type to combat ¡ª you¡¯ll fill in the description yourself once we finish the UI. Basically, all that¡¯s left is the name. And in keeping with the stupid traditions, which apparently transcend worlds, it has to be unique.¡± ¡°Damn¡­ I¡¯m drawing a blank. How about something basic like ¡®Ghosts of the Future¡¯? See if it passes?¡± Dasha tapped a few buttons in the virtual interface and burst out laughing. ¡°Can you believe it? It actually worked! I¡¯m shocked. I mean, there¡¯s already a million ¡®ghosts¡¯ out there ¡ª ¡®Ghosts of Death,¡¯ ¡®Ghosts of Hell,¡¯ even ¡®Ghosts of Bloody Carnage,¡¯ but no ¡®Ghosts of the Future¡¯¡­ Apathetic bloody planet. I¡¯ve no sympathy at all.¡± Wiping tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes, Vasilevskaya added:The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Alright, the team is officially created. Here¡¯s the Team ID ¡ª you¡¯ll need it if anyone asks. TACTA missions are ready; I¡¯ll pull them up on screen. You can take it from here. Yeah.¡± ¡°Thanks, great job, WonderWhiz,¡± Maksim said, carefully reviewing the list that had just appeared. ¡°I¡¯m just surprised at how complicated it is to get missions for the ¡®average person.¡¯ It looks like it¡¯s only accessible to programmers ¨C those who¡¯ve studied TACTA¡¯s API.¡± ¡°Well, yeah. Our module is going to be a real gem¡­ once we finish it,¡± Dasha declared smugly. ¡°But for everyone else, there¡¯s a simple interface in the Informatorium. And in that Free City, there¡¯s probably a Mission Exchange where you can just walk in and ask for assignments. But we¡¯re cool and awesome, so we get to do all this online, see?¡± ¡°By the way, speaking of missions,¡± Alisa chimed in, ¡°Free Cities could be our real lifeline. Each one¡¯s got its own tasks, tons of them, and they¡¯re pretty diverse. And as far as I know, the payouts are decent. Of course, not all of them are public, and there are a lot of specifics... Because Free Cities are truly independent. They don¡¯t have to follow any rules except for TACTA¡¯s core laws.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve gotta keep in mind,¡± Dasha added with a serious expression, ¡°the System can¡¯t just connect to every Free City and pull missions out of there, yeah. First, we need to reach out to the city ¡ª thankfully, that can be done remotely ¡ª then request an API key to access their missions. Only after linking it to the System will additional tasks show up in the interface.¡± ¡°Then we should start contacting them right now!¡± Maksim pointed out the obvious. ¡°The sooner we know the situation, the better.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Vasilevskaya opened a broadcast of her Informatorium copy in the conference. ¡°Here¡¯s the data, Max, go ahead and make the call. But first, you and Nika should fill out the universal form I just sent you. That¡¯ll improve our chances of getting access. It¡¯s paranoid times we¡¯re living in ¡ª rejections are possible, especially for newly created ¡®no-name¡¯ teams. I¡¯ve got work to do ¡ª we¡¯re digging into the TACTA Informatorium API and the System development while we still can.¡± She rattled off the words, grabbed another water bottle from their stockpile, and dashed back to the bed in the rear of the cabin. ¡°Damn, this form¡¯s massive!¡± Redhead said, surprised, as she opened the hefty document. ¡°Yeah, no kidding!¡± Max joined her. ¡°They sure want to know a lot about us. Without help, we¡¯ll be stuck at this forever, so I¡¯ll hook into some Moira¡¯s threads.¡± With the AI¡¯s assistance, they managed to knock out the long document in just twenty minutes. The form was no joke, Maksim and Nika even had to recall plenty from their combat experience. @Call to Free Rzesz¨®w, contact line There was a small queue, so they had to wait about ten minutes. @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: Free Rzesz¨®w. Operator Stanislav Malinovsky speaking. What¡¯s the purpose of your call? @Caller: This is Maksim Chernykh, speaking for a registered partner team of TACTA. Group ID is attached. I¡¯m requesting an API key for public individual and group missions of the city. @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: What¡¯s your current geolocation? Maksim sent their coordinates along with an approximate route. @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: Understood. Team composition? @Caller: Assault Specialist, Seeker ¨C Sixth Partner Category. Heavy Assault Specialist, Combat Cyborg, Seeker. Sniper, Seeker. Drone Operator, Medic, Support Fighter ¨C Fifth Partner Category. All equipped with corp-grade military weapons and gears, we have drones, and a tactical AI. Full group specs are detailed in the form. @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: Understood, partner team. So, you¡¯ve already completed the application? @Caller: Yes, it¡¯s ready for transmission. @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: Excellent, send it over. @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: Please stay on the line, our AI is processing the application. The screen showed the city¡¯s crest as the operator temporarily disconnected. Maksim turned to Redhead. ¡°Gotta say, they¡¯re pretty thorough. I¡¯m going to grab some water. Suddenly got thirsty.¡± ¡°Bring a big bottle, I¡¯ll have some too,¡± Nika nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye here, just in case.¡± He managed to fetch the water, check in on how Dasha and Alisa were doing, and exchange a few words with Nika. Finally, Free Rzesz¨®w got back online and resumed the chat. @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: Congratulations, your application has been approved! A notification about receiving the file flashed in the chat. The operator continued: @Rzesz¨®w.Infoline#0023: Based on your team¡¯s composition and the completed form, you have been granted access to public group missions of Category E and E+. Your access can be upgraded upon early completion of the criteria for advancing to Category D and higher. Additionally, your access will be reviewed on August 20th at 01:00, one hour after the launch of TACTA¡¯s global ranking system. Good hunting, Freemen. @Caller: Thank you, Free Rzesz¨®w. Maksim Chernykh, signing off. ¡°Well, Redhead, ready for a fight?¡± ¡°Oh, hell yes,¡± the girl licked her lips with a predatory grin. ¡°Call the girls ¡ª let¡¯s pick our first victim!¡± Maksim nodded and sent a message to the group chat. [Girls, we¡¯ve got access to missions from Free Rzesz¨®w! Come over, let¡¯s test out that great module of yours.] Sure, they could¡¯ve done everything in augmented reality, but Maksim figured choosing the very first mission called for a proper ritual. And no, it wasn¡¯t mysticism or that ¡°magic¡± he disliked so much ¡ª just good old social engineering for effective teamwork. The girls showed up within a minute. Dasha dragged a small folding chair, while Alisa stayed standing. Nika turned the front passenger seat around, making herself comfortable facing the group. Maksim also turned, though not fully, keeping an eye on the autopilot, ready to take over if needed. Dasha opened an AR screen and brought up the mission module console. ¡°Max, what search criteria should I set?¡± ¡°Well,¡± their newly minted team leader considered. ¡°First, only active missions for the next five hours. Second, the location. We have the trip¡¯s route, so let¡¯s look at missions within fifty kilometers of it. What other filters do we have?¡± ¡°Plenty! I can set this up pretty flexibly,¡± Vasilevskaya smiled confidently. ¡°Just tell me what you want, and I¡¯ll probably be able to work it in, yeah!¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go with recon or resource-gathering missions. Oh, and make sure to note that we can¡¯t carry more than two hundred kilos ¡ª the truck is already overloaded.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a chance of combat,¡± Red added, ¡°it¡¯d be good to know what we¡¯re up against. Can we add at least some standard military threat assessment criteria to the module?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Alisa replied, already running four search threads in the network. ¡°Nikola, hit me up in private chat ¡ª see if this is what you meant.¡± Redhead nodded and clicked the link in augmented reality for getting access. While she was checking, Maksim continued outlining the search parameters. ¡°Dasha, let¡¯s also factor in mission duration. For now, let¡¯s aim for something no longer than five or six hours. We still haven¡¯t fully recovered from the escape. Also, check the success conditions and how they impact the payout. We don¡¯t need any nasty surprises. And the failure conditions as well ¡ª is there any payment in this case?¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Vasilevskaya nodded seriously. ¡°Let¡¯s wait for Alisa and Nikola to finish up, then we¡¯ll set everything up!¡± After twenty minutes of intense work, Dasha and Alisa had all the requests met, and the System presented the best mission match, taking everything into account. //SYSTEM Mission: Recon of Helios Corp Warehouse Complex Coordinates: (reveal) Mission Type: Reconnaissance Difficulty: Medium Urgency: Maximum Importance: High Expected Duration: up to 6 hours DESCRIPTION: The Council of Free Rzesz¨®w is tasking your team with conducting recon of the Helios Medical warehouse complex. With limited resources, it¡¯s critical to assess the contents of the warehouse and evaluate potential risks in extracting them. Note: Increased activity from roaming Shaiszu portals was detected in the area three hours ago, elevating the mission to ¡°Urgent¡± status. The analytics team estimates at least a 20% chance of combat. MISSION OBJECTIVES Primary Objectives: * Conduct detailed reconnaissance of the Helios Medical warehouse complex. * Gather and document information on the contents of the warehouse, paying special attention to medical resources and technologies. * Assess threat levels and identify potential risks, including Shaiszu presence. * Ensure a live feed of the team¡¯s actions from at least three drones (additional drones are appreciated). * Submit a complete report to the Free Rzesz¨®w Council upon mission completion (can be done online). Secondary Objectives: * Avoid detection by hostile forces, if possible. * Avoid direct combat inside the warehouse complex, if possible. * Do not engage in any actions that violate mission terms, including theft or damage to property. * After completing the mission, maintain security of the warehouse complex for up to 8 hours until the Free Rzesz¨®w military team arrives. REWARDS AND BONUSES Base Reward: 15,000 grants for successful mission completion and providing detailed information about the warehouse contents. Bonuses: Combat Risk Bonus: In case of combat with Shaiszu, an additional payment ranging from 5,000 grants (depending on the complexity and results of the engagement). Data Quality Bonus: Providing high-quality, detailed information may result in an additional bonus of up to 2,000 grants. Honesty Bonus: Reward for following all mission conditions and completing the mission quickly and honestly. Reward is variable. Additional Rewards: * Reward for warehouse complex protection: From 5,000 grants (based on complexity). * Reputation boost in Free Rzesz¨®w, granting access to more difficult and profitable missions. * Special rewards from the Council for demonstrated professionalism ¡ª potential access to rare equipment or settlement resources. * Additional task rewards: variable. SUCCESS CRITERIA: * Successful completion of all primary mission objectives. * Detailed report on warehouse contents and identified risks. * Compliance with mission conditions, including the required drone live-stream. * No violations, such as theft or unauthorized actions. FAILURE CRITERIA: * Incomplete primary objectives. * Loss of signal from more than two drones for over 40 seconds. * Committing theft or intentional damage to warehouse property. * Violation of mission conditions or Council instructions. Note: A forced retreat in the event of overwhelming Shaiszu forces will not count as mission failure. If all other criteria are met, retreat will be compensated as a Combat Risk Bonus. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS: * Significant reputation loss with TACTA and Free Rzesz¨®w. * Restricted access to future missions and settlement resources. * Possible disciplinary measures, including ban from the settlement. ACCEPT MISSION Yes / No Chapter 84 – The Helios Corp Trap State of Ukraine, Helios Corp Warehouse Complex Maxim Chernykh¡¯s team, August 14, 2049, 05:23 PM There were still a few hours left before the dusk fell, and the sun poured its heat mercilessly over the concrete walls of the industrial district, casting harsh shadows across the scorching asphalt. The Helios Corp warehouse complex appeared lifeless and abandoned ¡ª a series of massive concrete blocks, alongside an empty parking lot, all surrounded by a tall fence. Not a soul in sight, and even the birds avoided the area. Then again, this was typical of areas where Shaiszu portals were active. The new masters of Earth tolerated no competition. A swift, nimble flying scout whizzed overhead, making its second pass around the area, meticulously scanning the terrain. Only two days ago, this place was a hive of activity, but now everything had come to a halt: trucks frozen mid-loading, robots powered down, and forklifts standing idle. It was as if someone had given a command, and people simply vanished, abandoning their tasks, leaving behind silent machines and unfinished business ¡ª like the footprints of a bygone era. ¡°Pretty grim scene,¡± Maksim muttered, studying the drone¡¯s live feed of the area alongside his team from the cab of the truck. ¡°Hey, think we can snag one of their vehicles?¡± Nikola, ever upbeat and proactive, didn¡¯t share his gloom. ¡°I mean, why not? It¡¯s free and just begging for it! Clearly, they don¡¯t need ¡®em if they left everything behind, and we could sure use the extra cargo space!¡± ¡°Not a bad idea,¡± Alisa agreed. ¡°We need to expand our fleet anyway. No point buying it from TACTA if we can just take this stuff. Actually, I¡¯d grab everything ¡ª to rebuild, sell, or strip it down for parts.¡± ¡°Are we sure that won¡¯t count as ¡®theft¡¯ though? I mean, we¡¯re on a mission, after all,¡± Nika mused, eyeing the abandoned vehicles. ¡°What if Rzesz¨®w¡¯s already claimed them all?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s finish the mission first,¡± Maksim grumbled darkly. ¡°Thinking about looting before we¡¯ve even completed the job? Bad omen.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t believe in omens,¡± Vasilevskaya quipped, exhaling vapor from her vape. ¡°Or horoscopes, Tarot, Odin, or magic in general!¡± ¡°Alright, team, enough chatter!¡± he cut in, shutting down the conversation. ¡°I¡¯m formally declaring the mission open. Let¡¯s get to work! Daria, why the hell aren¡¯t you suited up yet? And where¡¯s your helmet? Put that vape away and get your helmet on! Move it!¡± ¡°Yes, sir... Maxie! I¡¯m on it!¡± ¡°Switch to conference mode, visors down,¡± Maksim demonstrated by lowering his own. [And no more talking aloud until the mission¡¯s over. Alisa, stop circling the perimeter. Park the bird by the main gate.] [Got it.] [Nika, I¡¯m about to get the truck under the roof. Help me with the stealth module ¡ª I¡¯ll tell you what to do. Alisa, we¡¯re short on drones and even shorter on ammo, but we¡¯ll leave two combat units here to cover Moira. And let¡¯s send one scout higher up for tactical overview.] [Okay!] Redhead responded. [On it,] Alisa confirmed. The mission has begun!
Unfortunately, the team had only six functional combat drones left of their flying machines¡¯ fleet. And two of those had to stay behind to guard the truck with Moira. Ammo was running dangerously low ¡ª escaping Kyiv had taken a heavy toll, wiping out most of their tech. On the upside, five lightweight, high-speed racing drones had survived ¡ª sport models, incredibly fast and equipped with top-tier cameras. Each drone was also fitted with a few lidars, whose data the System quickly utilized to generate a tactical 3D map of the area. On the ground, Big One was still operational, though it had seen better days. Along with it, two quick wheeled bots had survived. They were almost armorless, but both equipped with rapid-fire, small-caliber machine guns. Though, they were also nearly out of ammo ¡ª another cold military truth: the faster you fire, the faster you run out. At least, summoning the TACTA Drone to deliver the ordered medical supplies went off without a hitch. It arrived as scheduled, and Max with Nika had unloaded the small order in five seconds flat. The Drone gave a cheeky wing-flap before darting off into the distance. And with that, their little ¡°quest¡± ended. They could only hope none of the newly acquired supplies would be needed anytime soon. Still, Alisa took the opportunity to treat Max and Nika, applying some of the regenerative gel and bandages to speed up their healing. The truck was left in a safe spot just 180 meters from the entrance to the complex, reactivating the stealth module before heading out. After a short sprint, the team reached the entrance gate. The drones, having already flown over the fence, took their positions, enhancing the real-time 3D map of the territory that the AI was building from the drones¡¯ footage. One scout immediately ascended for a tactical overview of the whole area. [Streaming to Free Rzesz¨®w¡¯s designated server has started, channel is stable, transmitting all drone data,] Alisa reported curtly. [Great, let¡¯s get started. We''ll begin with that building ¡ª it looks like their administrative office is located there. Several entry points are available. The main gate¡¯s out ¡ª too exposed,] Maksim said as he placed markers on the map. [We don¡¯t know what we¡¯re up against inside, so let¡¯s not draw any unnecessary attention. There¡¯s an emergency exit on the east side ¡ª it looks promising. The area¡¯s clear. Move out, to positions!] Another short sprint followed. Big One extended its manipulator to test the door handle ¡ª locked! After scanning the surroundings, the bot, under Alisa¡¯s control, spotted the sensor panel of an electronic lock. Carefully nudging the plastic cover next to it, it revealed a single port for a smart cable. Perfect, a quiet entry might be possible. [WonderKid, you¡¯re up.] [On it!] Daria had prepped for moments like this. Instead of connecting directly through her interface implant, she used a handheld module, which allowed her to work without removing her helmet. The girl rushed to the door, quickly attached the cable, and crouched behind the bot for cover. [I¡¯m in! Thirty seconds!] A soft beep from the lock soon followed. Not taking any chances, Vasilevskaya darted back into cover as soon as the hack was complete. Max and Nika, already in position, aimed their rifles at the door. Big One moved forward, accompanied by two combat drones and three scouts, ready to breach. [Max, I¡¯ve got a bad feeling,] Daria said as she crouched into position. [I¡¯m pretty sure the lock sent out an unauthorized access alert, and I think the local security AI is gearing up for a welcome party. But I have no proof, just a hunch ¡ª yeah.] [Got it,] Maksim nodded, though with his helmet on, it was barely noticeable. [First thing we do once inside is find proper access consoles. There¡¯s gotta be at least a couple according to protocol ¡ª we need access to their network. And let¡¯s brace ourselves for any surprises.] The door creaked open, and Big One along with the drones slipped inside. The flying machines zipped through the short corridor in an instant, emerging into the warehouse. Dim emergency lights barely pierced the darkness, casting long, distorted shadows from the towering shelves, which stretched all the way up to the ceiling, stacked with endless rows of boxes and containers. [All clear. Mapping out the interior,] Alisa reported, leaving Big One at the door to stand guard while sending the scouts forward at full throttle, sweeping the rooms. The rest of the team¡¯s drones followed, except for one left outside to monitor the Helios Corp perimeter from above. Somewhere deep inside, a red light blinked to life on a large console in a dark room... [Max, looks like Daria was right. We¡¯re being watched!] Alisa remarked after a frantic sweep of the area. [At the very least, all the surveillance cameras are active and tracking our drones. And look how many there are ¡ª far too many for a simple warehouse facility! They aren¡¯t even bothered that it¡¯s dark in here ¡ª apparently, night vision is fully active.] [Noted. The mission briefing didn¡¯t mention a security system, but that doesn¡¯t mean there isn¡¯t one,] Maksim responded, tracing a path on the complex map. [Here ¡ª these administrative offices seem promising. Likely spots for the manager¡¯s office, security room, and the engineering control hub. Let¡¯s head there first. We¡¯ll try to pull up a layout of the facility, figure out the contents of the warehouse, and see if we can get the lights on to record everything properly for the final report.]This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The team moved in, covering each other as they entered the building. [Big One and one of the combat bots will lead. I¡¯m right behind them,] Maksim commanded as soon as everyone was inside. [Alisa, Daria, you¡¯re in the middle. Nikola and the last bot will cover the rear. Stay sharp and watch out for traps. If the security systems are active and haven¡¯t reacted to the drones, the AI might be luring us into an ambush!] After passing through a short corridor, they turned left into a massive storage hall. The scorching heat from outside was replaced by a refreshing coolness ¡ª emergency lighting, ventilation, and air conditioning systems were all functioning properly. //SYSTEM Notice! ¡°Gungnir BETA, v. 0.09.5¡± module activated The visual feed changed instantly. Darkness retreated sharply, revealing even the finest details. A new layer of infographics highlighted potentially significant objects, including good cover spots for combat. This effect was provided by the AI processing of the visuals received from the night vision systems in the helmets and the drone cameras. By combining passive light amplification with active infrared illumination, and overlaying the lidar results on top, they had achieved an impressive outcome. Additionally, the feed was enhanced using data from thermal imagers, electromagnetic sensors, as well as audio and chemical detectors built into each team member''s helmet. After processing, they were also added as optional visual filters, disabled by default to avoid information overload. On the left side of their view, an AR-interface column appeared, displaying each team member¡¯s status. Instead of portraits, each was represented by a small square displaying the name, the current ''first-person view,'' and two bars ¡ª one green, one red, both filled to 100%. On the right, a similar layout showed key robots and drones. The interface elements blinked, briefly enlarging before shrinking down again, indicating their scalability. They then neatly shifted to the corners to keep the field of view clear. Finally, a real-time tactical map appeared in the bottom right corner, fully customizable like the rest of the interface elements. [Sorry, everyone,] Daria muttered, clearly embarrassed. [I¡­ uh¡­ gave the Combat Module its own name. No one minds, yeah?] As she spoke, the interface element linked to her name grew slightly and highlighted itself, indicating who was speaking now. That¡¯s right, the System had integrated seamlessly into the team¡¯s always-on communication conference. [We activated this module even though it¡¯s not fully completed. But the core functionality is ready. Nikola, thanks for the input on the HUD interface configurations and the military algorithms for the AI assistants,] Alisa added. [You¡¯re welcome,] Redhead smiled, and though her face wasn¡¯t visible behind her helmet¡¯s visor, the System added a small smiling emoji next to her status mediaglyph. [Gungnir?] Maksim¡¯s curious girlfriend messaged him privately. [Ah-ha. Odin¡¯s spear. Said to pierce any target, break through the thickest shields and armor, shatter swords ¡ª you know, all that stuff. Sorry, but all our team¡¯s names follow Norse mythology. It¡¯s an unspoken rule. Not a big deal for us, but for WonderKid, it¡¯s essential. Cool with you?] [Yeah, sure,] Nikola nodded, accompanied by an emote of a nod. [I get it, no problem.] With the enhanced visuals, small details immediately stood out. A still-active forklift that had jammed its prongs into a stack of pallets, blinking sadly with an orange warning light. Ladders and a couple of scissor lifts were left scattered in the aisles. Boxes, plastic bottles, and crumpled papers littered the floor. A couple of tables by the wall still held a half-drunk cup of coffee and a bitten chocolate bar ¡ª clear signs the warehouse staff had evacuated in a hurry. [Alright, let¡¯s move,] Maksim ordered curtly. To avoid getting lost in the maze of shelves, the team stuck close to the wall, advancing slowly. They passed through a series of large storage areas ¡ª the complex was much bigger inside than it appeared from the outside. Finally, a sign reading ¡°Administration¡± appeared, and the team got into a corridor leading to the ¡®office section¡¯ of the building. They had already reached the middle of it when, suddenly, the entire AR-space was flooded with a bright red area of the visual telegraph ¡ª Daria¡¯s ¡®Sixth Sense¡¯ passive ability from the third-level ¡®Foresight¡¯ attribute had triggered.. Before Maksim¡¯s eyes, a message flashed. //SYSTEM: NEURAL SURGE ¨C ACTIVATED! Out of nowhere came the understanding ¡ª he had just poured every bit of his energy into this ability, and the backlash would be brutal later. But right now, that didn¡¯t matter. The trap was laid perfectly, and the lives of his entire team rested on his shoulders. Time slows down, much more than before. Hidden panels in the ceiling begin to open at a snail¡¯s pace, revealing rapid-fire turrets. Max sees three of them ¨C his view isn¡¯t enough to catch more. He takes control of all the drones to provide himself a full 360-degree view, not relying solely on the lidar data. Meanwhile, his hands, moving with agonizing slowness, raise the assault rifle. He¡¯ll take on the first turret himself, hoping the bullet caliber will be enough to pierce the armor, if they have any. The command to engage afterburner mode is given, and two scout drones slowly turn, revealing a fourth, fifth, and sixth ceiling nest! He can also see hidden compartments at the entrance and exit doors, from which two heavy armor plates are gradually sliding out, meant to cut off entry and exit, trapping them inside the corridor. The turret bodies emerged fully now. It was clear their design prioritized speed. And unfortunately, they were armored, though lightly, likely to avoid compromising their deployment and maneuverability. The System, already processing the situation, highlighted weak points on their structure. At that moment, in the augmented reality, six translucent red tunnels appeared, tracing turrets¡¯ projected firing paths. The denser the color, the higher the probability of where they would fire. Daria had connected, activating her ¡°Glimpse into the Future¡± ability, which integrated seamlessly with the virtual environment controlled by the System. ¡°Must assign all the targets!¡± The first turret clearly wouldn¡¯t have time to turn. But Maksim could take it down with his rifle alone, he was sure of that. The second one would be Alisa¡¯s target. She wasn¡¯t as fast as her brother at this moment, but she could react almost instantly once she saw the command. To ensure success, the wheeled bot would back her up, firing at the same target. The third and fourth turrets would be handled by the combat drones ¡ª paired up, as their small-caliber machine guns might not have enough punch to get through the armor alone. But the fifth firing tunnel was bad news ¡ª it was aimed directly at Dasha, who didn¡¯t have the reflexes or the agility for evasive maneuvers in a firefight. She wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge. Neither Nikola, Big One, nor the remaining unnamed bot could make it in time either ¡ª they were too far away or poorly positioned. ¡°Too risky!¡± Max made the split-second decision to sacrifice two of the scout drones, sending one into the turret¡¯s line of fire and using the other to ram the barrel, redirecting the shots. This would buy enough time for Big One to finish rotating and destroy the turret. As for the sixth combat platform, it was Nikola¡¯s task. Luckily, it was malfunctioning ¡ª unlike the others, its mechanism was lagging behind, and it hadn¡¯t even fully deployed yet. This gave Redhead just enough time to dodge out of its kill zone and, with the help of the wheeled bot, suppress it before it became a threat. The team¡¯s drones opened fire first. Alisa followed, reacting much faster than any ordinary human. The ground robots unleashed their firepower as well. As the turrets completed their deployment, they retaliated, trying to halt the bold intruders. Bullets chewed up the concrete near Maksim and Alisa, clipped drones¡¯ hulls and tore apart the poor flying scout thrown into the line of fire. But it was already too late. Maksim¡¯s automatic rifle roared to life, quickly joined by Redhead¡¯s one. She saw the ¡°dodge¡± command in her HUD and, in a feat of incredible agility, managed to open fire mid-jump. Within seconds, it was over. Smoke filled the corridor, and Maksim collapsed onto one knee, doubling over in pain, while Daria had completely lost consciousness. But the trap had failed ¡ª no one was seriously hurt. Almost. Alisa rushed over to her brother, helping him remove his helmet. She could already see his medical monitor readings and took off the medpack mid-run. The armor had already injected him with a quick-acting painkiller, one they¡¯d recently purchased and pre-installed in the armor¡¯s medical slot. ¡°Nika, take care of WonderKid,¡± Max croaked, fighting off a wave of nausea. But the command wasn¡¯t needed ¡ª Redhead had already moved, knowing exactly what to do. After the TACTA Drone had delivered their supplies earlier, she and Alisa had prepared two med-packs. Maksim¡¯s sister kept the primary one, while Nikola had taken the backup. ¡°Does Dasha have an implanted med-monitor?¡± Redhead asked, kneeling beside the unconscious girl. ¡°Wait, never mind, I see it now. I can pull up the status-mediaglyph ¡ª it has the info I need.¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s got the most basic civilian version,¡± Alisa still answered as she examined her brother. ¡°So, the data is limited ¡ª only pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and stuff like that. But I¡¯m pretty sure she¡¯s dealing with the same thing as Maksim. They both ran out of that strange energy, and their abilities pulled the rest from their bodies instead. We¡¯ve got those advanced TACTA stimulants ¡ª should be enough to get both of them back on their feet.¡± ¡°Hm, so what stopped us from preloading these stim ampules into the med slots on our armor and tying their use to the System? It¡¯s constantly monitoring our vitals anyway,¡± Nikola pointed out as she opened her med-pack and pulled out a case of TACTA meds. ¡°Even the basic data from a civilian med-monitor would give enough info to decide when to use the pharma.¡± She quickly extracted the needed ampule, slotted it in, and gave the command for injection. ¡°Inborn stupidity, that¡¯s what,¡± Maksim rasped, wiping his face with Alisa¡¯s help. After the backlash, a heavy nosebleed had drenched his lips, cheeks, and chin. ¡°But yeah, good idea. Let¡¯s implement that. You guys just need to update the System to take it into account.¡± ¡°We had planned for Gungnir to eventually handle combat chems and medical treatment too. We¡¯ll tweak it once we get the chance to work on the code,¡± Alisa said, packing away the meds and slinging the med-pack back over her shoulder. Daria stirred and let out a heavy sigh ¡ª the TACTA stimulant worked fast. ¡°Easy now, you¡¯re alright,¡± Nikola reassured her. ¡°You passed out after using your magic ability. How¡¯re you feeling? Can you hear me?¡± [Yeah, I hear you. I¡­ think I¡¯m okay. Yeah¡­] Daria answered in the conference channel. [Wait¡­ can I talk now? And is my helmet off?] ¡°Yes, WonderKid, you can talk,¡± Max reassured her. ¡°After the gunfight we just had, there¡¯s no point in staying silent. We walked right into a trap full of turrets, but made it out thanks to your ¡®Glimpse into the Future¡¯ and my ¡®Neural Surge¡¯.¡± He gave Alisa a grateful nod, and then stood up with a groan. Carefully surveying the aftermath of the battle, he shook his head and put his helmet back on. ¡°For a supposedly civilian corporation, this is overkill,¡± the guy added, spreading his hands. ¡°Or maybe there¡¯s something about Helios Corp I don¡¯t know... But this kind of defense is pure military-grade, expensive, and top-notch. Now we just have to figure out what they¡¯re hiding here, and whether we got shortchanged by taking this mission.¡± Alisa walked over and tapped one of the armored plates that had sealed off the corridor¡¯s entrance and exit. ¡°So¡­ how exactly are we getting out of here?¡± Chapter 85 – The Key to Control ¡°So¡­ how exactly are we getting out of here?¡± Maksim stepped up to one of the steel plates, running his hand along the cold surface. ¡°Good question, sis. Maybe these things will lift on their own... But we can¡¯t afford to sit around waiting for a ¡®magical rescue.¡¯ Better find alternative routes. There could be maintenance tunnels or ventilation shafts nearby.¡± Before standing, Nikola made sure Dasha was sitting steadily and wouldn¡¯t fall. ¡°I¡¯ve taken quite a few courses in corporate security,¡± Redhead said, moving over to join Maksim and Alisa. ¡°They taught us both how to guard and how to break into places like this.¡± She examined closely the broken, still-smoking remnants of the ceiling turrets. ¡°This stuff looks like old Armatek Military produce, from about the First Corporate War, if I¡¯m remembering right. That would explain why we got off so easily. No offense, Max, but if they had been more up-to-date, I don¡¯t think your superpower could save us.¡± ¡°Agreed. But what¡¯s your point? You think there¡¯s a backup control panel nearby?¡± ¡°Exactly. There has to be one for several reasons. And there might also be a service panel somewhere for maintenance. They¡¯d need a way to perform technical support and repairs.¡± ¡°We could try scanning for something like this with the lidars on our racing drones,¡± Alisa suggested. ¡°We still have three left ¡ª turns out the one Max used to ram the turret survived.¡± Suddenly, Dasha jumped to the feet with panic in her eyes, as she looked around wildly, clenching and unclenching her fists. ¡°Damn it! This is bad timing for a breakdown!¡± Max reacted instantly. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move,¡± he ordered. ¡°Alisa, Nikola, start the search. I¡¯ll join you in a couple of minutes.¡± Alisa gave her brother a surprised look, but the moment their eyes met, she understood. Especially when a private message flashed across her interface the next second: [Dasha¡¯s in serious trouble. Please give us some space. Try not to draw her attention and focus on finding that damn hidden panel.] The blond gave a slight nod and, gently placing a hand on Nikola¡¯s shoulder, led her away, pretending to discuss the plan in detail. Meanwhile, Daria took a few steps backward until she got pressed against the cold wall ¡ª but couldn¡¯t even feel it. The world around her blurred into a haze, as if it had lost all definition. Everything felt so foreign, unnatural, like she was trapped inside an illusion. Her fingers twitched nervously, searching for something to hold on to. She inhaled. Then again. But breathing couldn¡¯t steady her ¡ª the air felt thick, heavy, it just wasn¡¯t enough. Frustrated, she ripped off her gloves and threw them to the ground, as if they were an annoying barrier between her and the reality. The world around her dissolved into a chaotic swirl of noise and light. The flickering broken lamps, the buzzing of drones, the crackling of sparking wires. The sharp smells of burnt plastic, gunpowder, and scorched metal assaulted her senses. She was completely lost in this chaos. Even the sound of her own breathing merged with the overwhelming cacophony that flooded her mind. Maksim had dealt with Dasha¡¯s sensory overloads before, a side effect of her schizoid personality disorder. So, he knew exactly what to do. The key was to never push, never escalate her state. It was necessary to create an aura of calm and safety, diverting her attention away from the sources of noise and light. He approached slowly, avoiding sudden movements ¡ª each step deliberate and steady. ¡°WonderKid,¡± the guy said softly, speaking slowly and evenly. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± But Dasha, as if deafened by her surroundings, continued to stare right through him. She didn¡¯t see his face and didn¡¯t register anything around her. His voice sliced through the distorted space like a distant echo from another world, only adding to the chaos. The girl flinched, clenching her fists, nails digging into her palms. The urge to flee, to disappear, to hide, surged within her. Maksim didn¡¯t rush. He crouched down slowly, looking upward, and offered gently, ¡°Let¡¯s sit down.¡± His voice remained calm, soft, and sure, cutting through the thick fog clouding her mind. Daria didn¡¯t move but glanced at the floor in front of her, as if her attention had finally found something to latch onto. Max carefully removed his helmet and looked into her eyes, trying not to push or rush the events. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Look at me. Take a deep breath¡­ and then let it out slowly.¡± He took a deep breath himself, showing her the rhythm of his breathing, letting her feel his calm. Everything around them seemed to slow, narrowing Dasha¡¯s focus to him alone. She inhaled shakily, still not fully aware of what she was doing, but slowly starting to mirror his movements. ¡°That¡¯s it, good job,¡± he encouraged softly. ¡°Together. Inhale¡­ exhale.¡± Gradually, her breathing evened out, and her hands stopped trembling. The surrounding sounds no longer felt like sharp stabs, and the once-threatening atmosphere faded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Daria whispered so faintly it was almost inaudible. ¡°I¡­ I failed you all.¡± ¡°No, you didn¡¯t,¡± Maksim replied firmly. ¡°You did everything right. Thanks to you, we avoided the worst.¡± Tears glistened on her eyelashes. ¡°I should¡¯ve warned you¡­ realized sooner¡­ sensed it! We all could¡¯ve died¡­ yeah?¡± ¡°But we didn¡¯t, and that¡¯s largely thanks to you,¡± Max countered gently. ¡°Your warning and your abilities saved us from that trap.¡± Dasha took a deep breath, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. ¡°I just¡­ got so scared. All of this¡­ it¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°And that¡¯s okay. You¡¯re not alone. We¡¯re a team, and we always have each other¡¯s backs.¡± [Max, we found it,] Alisa¡¯s message came through. He glanced over and saw the girls standing by an open panel in the wall. Nikola was holding some tools, and a drone hovered nearby, illuminating the inside of the hidden compartment. ¡°Go,¡± Dasha said, catching his glance. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ come in a minute too.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± She nodded and tried to muster a smile. ¡°Yeah. Thanks¡­ for everything. Can I¡­ can I vape?¡± Max hesitated for a moment, watching her closely, then stood up. ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll be over there. Call if you need anything.¡± He headed toward the girls, giving Dasha time to gather herself. As he approached Alisa and Nika, he slipped his helmet back on. ¡°What do you have?¡± ¡°Take a look,¡± Redhead said, pointing at the control panel inside the wall. ¡°Backup control system, just like I thought.¡± ¡°Great work,¡± Max praised. ¡°Can we lift the plates?¡± Nikola nodded confidently. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve dealt with systems like this before. Give me a minute.¡± The guy glanced back at Dasha. She had settled down on the floor near the wall, gazing up at the ceiling with a blank but calm expression, as she slowly inhaled and exhaled her zero-base vape. The panic and fear were gone from her eyes, replaced by a deep fatigue. Alisa stepped up to her brother. ¡°How¡¯s she doing?¡± ¡°Calming down now,¡± he replied. ¡°Vaping that basic mixture, with no drugs, is a good method of self-regulation. It¡¯s like a meditation for slowing thoughts and keeping inner rhythm. She got overwhelmed but is managing now. Honestly, I was afraid it would be worse.¡± ¡°Dasha just needs a little time,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°She¡¯s strong.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Done, kurwa!¡± Nikola exclaimed, straightening up. ¡°This old junk is nearly thirty years old, but it still works. Let¡¯s see.¡± She pressed a few buttons on the panel. A mechanical noise echoed through the corridor as the heavy steel plates began to rise, slowly revealing the way forward. ¡°Excellent job, Nika!¡± Max smiled. ¡°Always at your service,¡± she winked. Seeing the plates lift, Dasha got to her feet and tucked the vape into her tactical vest. She picked up her helmet and moved closer. ¡°You got the entrance open?¡± ¡°Yeah, thanks to Nikola,¡± Alisa replied. ¡°How¡¯re you feeling?¡± ¡°Better now,¡± Dasha said softly. ¡°Sorry for¡­ all of that.¡± ¡°No need to apologize,¡± Maksim said gently. ¡°Any of us could end up in that kind of situation. It¡¯s normal to feel fear.¡± Alisa placed a reassuring hand on Dasha¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What matters is that we can handle it.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­ really, yeah,¡± Dasha smiled shyly. ¡°So, are we ready to continue the mission?¡± Nika asked cheerfully, as she packed away her tools and checked her rifle. ¡°Yeah,¡± Max agreed. ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of work ahead.¡±
The team moved forward down the corridor, leaving behind the wrecked turrets and the signs of their recent battle. Their pace had slowed significantly ¡ª no one wanted to stumble into another trap, so the drones were scanning the area with extra care. Maksim walked alongside Dasha, occasionally glancing at her. She seemed much calmer now, moving with confidence, alertly clutching her submachine gun, clearly ready for whatever lay ahead. [You know,] he said in a private message, [I¡¯m one hundred percent sure we wouldn¡¯t have made it without you. Not before, and not now.] Dasha shot him a surprised look. [Why do you think so?] [Because you can see things the rest of us miss,] the guy explained. [Your abilities and your mind make the team stronger.] She blushed furiously at the sudden compliment, thankful that her face was hidden beneath her helmet. [I¡¯m just doing what I can,] the girl replied after a brief pause. [And you¡¯re doing it perfectly,] Maksim smiled. She focused her gaze ahead, but a slight smile was playing on her lips. [Thanks.] Up ahead, Nikola came to a halt and raised her hand. [We¡¯ve reached the control center, but the door¡¯s locked. Need to hack it and then send in the bots,] she said in the team conference they¡¯d switched to after leaving the trap-laden corridor. Everyone knew the drill ¡ª the team followed the already-practiced strategy. Dasha, taking cover behind Big One, quickly hacked the electronic lock and then retreated. Once they all had fallen back and prepared for any potential threats, Alisa remotely opened the door with the robot. The scout drones slipped inside. The large room was filled with server racks and consoles, shrouded in complete darkness. A few blinking indicator lights on some of the machines cast a faint glow, but it wasn¡¯t enough, so the drones activated their infrared lights. [Clear. I¡¯m working on a 3D model of the room, scanning for possible hidden turrets and traps,] Alisa reported. [Give me a moment...] Three minutes later, the drones flew out, and Big One stepped inside, flicking the light switch on. [Definitely a control center,] Nikola commented. [Hopefully, we¡¯ll find more information about what¡¯s happening at this warehouse,] Maksim speculated. Dasha¡¯s eyes lit up as she surveyed the equipment. [I¡¯ll try to access the systems. Maybe I can figure out why the security protocols were activated. Yeah.] [Perfect,] Maksim encouraged. [If the software is intact, try to tap into the warehouse control system. That would make finishing this mission a lot easier.] [On it,] Vasilevskaya responded confidently, heading towards the central console, holding the module for remote connecting cables to her interface implant ¨C the one she¡¯d earlier used for hacking. ¡°Uh-huh! Such a d¨¦j¨¤ vu! XCJ connectors and a hardware key for authorization again. Just like back in Uni¡­ feels like a hundred years ago¡­¡± Of course, she no longer had her favorite backpack that had been with her through all the trial of the first day. But she had collected all the necessary hardware into a separate box, which was now waiting patiently in Big One¡¯s cargo hold. A few minutes later, everything was set for the connection. [Max, this might take a while. I assume, I shouldn¡¯t vape anything to ¡®speed it up¡¯?] [You can,] Maksim replied with a sigh. [You went through detox at Zelman¡¯s clinic, even if it was the short-and-fast version. But it¡¯s risky ¡ª who knows how it¡¯ll mix with your exhaustion from using the ¡°Glimpse of the Future¡± ability and the TACTA stimulants we gave you after that. Maybe you hold back?] [Then I¡¯ll just¡­ try another way¡­ by getting into a certain state. Yeah. Without vape.] She placed her remote access module and the ¡°KeyGhost¡± ¡ª a universal hardware key emulator ¡ª onto the console, then took a step back and closed her eyes. Inhale¡­ exhale¡­ her hands moved on their own, performing the necessary tasks while her mind emptied, becoming a blank slate. {All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream,} she whispered, quoting Edgar Allan Poe, using the words as an activator. Dasha had meant to simply work within augmented reality, but suddenly realized that she got deeper, fully immersed in a state of Deep VR now. More than that ¡ª much more! She could feel the connection to the system at an intuitive level, as though she had become an integral part of the digital space itself. Her mind worked with incredible speed and clarity, her thoughts razor-focused, and vision was unnecessary. Because now, she could see without her eyes. Only one brief oddity flashed ¨C for a split second, it seemed like a small pink-haired girl stuck her curious nose out of nowhere, smiled broadly, winked, and vanished just as quickly. Waving off strange hallucinations, Dasha took two steps forward, grabbed the ¡°KeyGhost¡± and plugged it into the access port. The familiar interface appeared in augmented reality, but this time, it felt different. The lines of code seemed to come alive, weaving together in intricate patterns. She could feel the information flowing through her. It was possible not to just read the program, but grasp it instantly, understanding it wholly, at once. //SYSTEM: New ability unlo¡­ ¡°Forget that, minimize! Not now!¡± The authorization module¡¯s architecture stood clearly before her mind¡¯s eye ¡ª its nodes, links, and subprocesses. And there it was, the access key. No need for brute force; she could just see it. Only one focused thought ¡ª and access was granted. With another push of will, Dasha entered the virtual space of the warehouse complex. It was a grim sight. In the black void, only the broken remains of the AI system¡¯s structure were visible ¡ª shattered crystals, torn threads, and a land covered in a thick layer of diamond ash. The only thing still intact object was an old Guardian ¡ª a many-faceted crystal. It had no consciousness, just generative behavioral algorithms. In its futile attempt to defend this already dead place, it reached out toward Daria, attempting to grasp her with its digital tendrils. But she effortlessly seized control of the crystal and quickly dismantled it into thousands of keys. While the AI of this place was long dead, the data servers still remained. Each key granted access to another storage node. She just needed to find the right ones. The scene changed. Now she was inside the local storage system. Files, connections between them, multiple links, and more files ¡ª unfurled like a large but poorly organized three-dimensional tapestry. Dasha directed her mind, and at her command, the irrelevant links and data began to dissolve, leaving only what was necessary: a detailed map of the entire warehouse complex, direct control over the security system, lighting, and doors, and information about the goods stored on the countless shelves. //SYSTEM: Warning! Energy levels have dropped below critical! ¡°Damn! That¡¯s the new ability draining me ¡ª I need to disconnect, fast!¡± The necessary data structure was saved to memory, and Dasha began to breathe, forcing herself not to think about fear or emotions. She wouldn¡¯t fail them again. She wouldn¡¯t fail him. There would be no more breakdowns. With one final breath, and she whispered firmly the lines of her mantra: {From the lightning in the sky As it pass¡¯d me flying by¡­} Chapter 86 – The Warehouse of Secrets Dasha abruptly disconnected from the deep virtual dive and collapsed onto her knees where she stood. The module with the smart cables, still connected to the console, slipped from her weakening hands, but it no longer mattered. She fumbled for the water tube inside her helmet, trying to drink, but there was only one small sip left. ¡°Gosh, I¡¯m such an idiot... should¡¯ve refilled in the truck...¡± she thought absentmindedly. [What happened?] Maksim asked, concerned, in the team conference as he rushed over to her. Less than a minute had passed, and no one had expected Dasha to return so quickly. [I¡¯m... I¡¯m really dizzy, weak... and a bit nauseous... but I¡¯m okay. Yeah,] she mumbled, embarrassed and stammering. [The main thing is... something else... I unlocked a new ability! Digital Insight! It¡¯s... it¡¯s... incredible, just wow, yeah! Max, can I have¡­ some water, please? I¡­ finished everything in my armor¡¯s supply.] Right after, Dasha sent a screenshot of the System message about her newly unlocked ability to the team conference. At the same time, she even managed to quickly assign tasks to the Ravens, her AI agents, instructing them to run a preliminary analysis of the security footage and go through the records of the warehouse shelves¡¯ contents. @SYSTEM: New Ability Unlocked: DIGITAL INSIGHT This ability grants an intuitive understanding and interaction with digital technologies on a deep level. You can perceive the structure and behavior of code and systems, predict their evolution, and instantly locate vulnerabilities. It allows you to hack complex systems, optimize code, and manage digital processes with exceptional speed and precision. @SYSTEM: Key Features: @SYSTEM: Limitations: [Congrats, that looks amazing,] Alisa was the first to respond. Maksim approached Dasha, his mind racing with thoughts. ¡°Call me paranoid,¡± he mused, ¡°but I¡¯m damn glad we¡¯re all wearing closed helmets, while our drones are patrolling the area outside this room. And no one¡¯s speaking aloud. I should praise them later ¡ª Alisa and Dasha aren¡¯t military but followed every security protocol. I don¡¯t want anyone else to see what I¡¯m seeing right now. This should remain our team¡¯s secret, just like all of our super-abilities.¡± [Can you tell us more about what happened?] the guy asked, handing her a small bottle of water from their supply. Dasha, barely able to contain her emotions, began speaking quickly and breathlessly: [I... I didn¡¯t even realize how it happened. It was sudden, I just... fell into deep VR. It happened on its own, but I didn¡¯t use my vape, not at all, yeah. I was just in a trance, and I ended up getting into it somehow¡­] [WonderStar, slow down,] Maksim gently placed a hand on her shoulder. [Take a sip of water, breathe, and then continue. Okay? And don¡¯t forget to seal your helmet afterward. We¡¯re still on a mission.] Dasha nodded gratefully, taking the bottle of water from him, her hands still a bit shaky from the experience. [When I connected to the system, everything was normal at first. But then... I felt like I became part of the network. The code, the data, all the modules ¡ª they opened up in front of me. I could see their structure, the flows of information, the connections. I could predict how the system would react to my actions and bypass its defenses without any trouble.] The girl exhaled, briefly lifting her helmet¡¯s visor to take a few deep gulps of water. [Before, I had to use... well, substances, to reach that kind of state. But even then, the effect was weaker... not as pure, not as clear, and definitely less effective, yeah. And there were always side effects. But now ¡ª no drugs, no risks to my health, you¡¯re happy now, right, Max? This is my new super-skill! I might not even need to vape synth anymore¡­ maybe. I¡¯m not sure yet.] Suddenly, Dasha stood up straight, tense like a tightly wound spring, clenching her little fists as she declared with determination: [I swear, I¡¯ll figure out how all of this works ¡ª every bit of it. Where this energy comes from, how to harness it, how to consciously control these magical forces! And why they appear! And I¡¯m going to master this Digital Insight ¡ª I¡¯ll be the best, the best in the world, I swear! And our team will top the TACTA Rating, yeah! Because¡­ it¡¯s important¡­ to me.] The System thoughtfully accompanied Dasha¡¯s passionate speech with matching emojis, displaying them next to her status mediaglyph. Since, in the team¡¯s conference, the participants could hear her words as if spoken out aloud, but the live facial expressions were hidden beneath their helmets. [?? ?? ?? ???¡â?] The rest of the team froze, unsure how to react, but Nikola saved the moment by breaking into a contagious applause, encouraging Max and Alisa to follow her lead. Basking a little in the glow of her success, visibly pleased, Dasha took a big sip of water and finished her speech: [These super-abilities open up immense possibilities for us. And I¡¯m sure these new skills are just the beginning, yeah! But right now, the most important thing is that I have full access to the cameras and turrets. They¡¯re under direct control, and I¡¯ve temporarily deactivated them because¡­] Dasha grimaced slightly, as the thought of destroying an AI clearly distasteful to her. For her, Artificial Intelligences had long become akin to living beings, ones she respected far more than most humans. It was only after meeting Maxim that Dasha had begun to re-evaluate her view of Homo sapiens for the better. Sighing, she continued: [The primary Helios AI, based on the T8 architecture, was brutally killed¡­ It was a horrible sight... Those protes, cursed savages! But besides that one, there was also an auxiliary system running, not even an AI, just an old generative pseudo-intelligence. It was controlling all the access points when I connected, and I had to¡­ dismantle it to get through. But now, I have full control over the security systems, and a significant portion of the data about the entire warehouse complex has been preserved.]Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. To confirm her words, she sent a screenshot of the extracted data structure for the goods stored on the countless shelves. [Fantastic work, WonderWhiz,] Maksim praised her after examining the information carefully. [You handled it perfectly, really. You¡¯re amazing! Are you sure there aren¡¯t any shaiszu or anyone else nearby?] [Yes, the Ravens are monitoring all the feeds. The warehouses are completely empty ¡ª I¡¯m positive. There are cameras in all the buildings,] the girl assured him. [Dasha, let me connect as well,] Alisa offered. [I can help with the monitoring and analysis. Plus, it¡¯ll be a great opportunity to train the System for handling situations like this. I have a feeling storming warehouse complexes and breaking through security systems isn¡¯t something we¡¯ll be doing just once.] [Definitely! Let¡¯s overlay the cameras, barriers, and turrets on the map. And we¡¯ll make the markers interactive, yeah. That¡¯ll be awesome!] nodded the ¡°young prodigy,¡± always excited to tweak and improve the System. Maksim gave the girls a thumbs-up, then after a brief pause, suggested, [This seems like exactly what we need. Looks like we can wrap up the mission. Let¡¯s head to the director¡¯s office, now that we know it¡¯s safe.] As they made their way down the corridor, Dasha silently celebrated the fact that she had already sent her Ravens to process the data, as the first reports were already coming in. ¡°Maxie will ask me for the details soon, I¡¯m sure. And I¡¯ll be ready, tee-hee-hee. And then he¡¯ll praise me again...¡± The thought made her feel warm inside, and she blushed under her helmet, grateful that no one could see her, and that the System hadn¡¯t replicated her emotions with emojis this time.
Although the camera feed showed that the manager¡¯s office was empty and the door was unlocked, Maksim still insisted on following full safety protocol. [If there¡¯s no one inside, even better. But for us, it¡¯s combat coordination and real-world training, win-win.] As before, they sent in the drones, mapping out the room and ensuring it was safe. Then Big One entered, flicking on the lights with a switch. It was a spacious and rather comfortable office. Several lamps provided good lighting, and a T-shaped office desk stood near what seemed like a window ¡ª but in reality, it was a fake one since the room was deep within the building. To the left and right, the walls held turned-off screens. In the corner, a server cabinet hummed softly, its indicators blinking steadily. Much to Dasha¡¯s delight, there was even a water cooler, so she could finally refill her supplies. [Ah, good old corporate spirit,] Nikola chuckled sarcastically, gesturing toward the wall. [Look! The portrait of the parent corporation¡¯s president, right where it belongs. According to the evacuation protocol, it¡¯s supposed to be one of the first things taken. Guess they didn¡¯t make it to this room.] The team gathered around the desk, while the drones and bots were dispatched to patrol the neighboring rooms under Alisa¡¯s secondary threads. [Alright, let¡¯s decide on our next steps,] Maksim began. [Dasha, did you find out why the security here was so extreme?] [Yeah, give me a second¡­] she nodded and opened a screen in AR and quickly skimmed through the preliminary report. [Uh¡­ so the Ravens are still processing some data, but I¡¯ve already uncovered a few things, yeah. Here¡¯s the situation: Helios Corp is definitely shady. What¡¯s written in public sources ¡ª yeah, I checked those too ¡ª doesn¡¯t match what¡¯s going on here at the warehouse. It looks like they were involved in some illegal biochemistry¡­ probably, yeah.] [Most likely ¡°officially-banned-by-all-treaties¡± military-grade biotech. I¡¯ve encountered it before,] Redhead chimed in. [You know, pharmaceuticals like stimulants, pain blockers, berserker drugs, that sort of thing. This place is perfect for it ¡ª in the state, far from the main polises, making it a convenient hub to sell goods under the radar to any client willing to pay by anonymous crypto-eddies and not ask questions.] [Right, I should¡¯ve realized sooner,] Maksim nodded seriously. [This place clearly isn¡¯t a long-term storage warehouse, more like a distribution center for wholesale deals, in big or small bulk.] [I double-checked,] Dasha interjected, raising her right index finger in a characteristic gesture. [Helios Corp doesn¡¯t belong to any alliances, yeah! Nika¡¯s right ¡ª they can sell whatever they want to whoever they want!] [By the way, here¡¯s a key point,] Nikola noted, tapping into her expertise on corporate relations. [If a corp has ¡°non-aligned¡± status, they¡¯re required to maintain their own military force. It doesn¡¯t have to be huge, but it¡¯s got to be tough, fierce enough to protect them. Or else they would be eaten alive by competitors, no matter what agreements deals they¡¯ve struck. And those turrets we saw? That¡¯s totally outdated stuff ¡ª they couldn¡¯t stop anything serious.] [Huh, they really did have an army! Well¡­ might still have one¡­ probably. But they definitely had one before, yeah!] Dasha blurted out, stumbling over her words in her rush to explain. She paused, took a deep breath, and then drank the last of the water Maksim had given her earlier. Calming herself, the girl continued. [Anyway, they had an army. A PMC called Helios Security. Top-tier defense: corporate battle robots, a whole fleet of drones, and plenty of soldiers. Though I¡¯m not sure how to assess the troop strength¡­ yeah¡­ But I do have their payroll records from July. Maybe that¡¯ll shed some light?] [Lemme see,] Redhead quickly glanced at one of the documents and declared confidently. [Yeah, these are elite mercs. See this column? It¡¯s their birthdates, and here ¡ª these abbreviations are their military ranks. Cross-referencing that with their pay shows these guys are young but already seasoned veterans, most of them having fought in major campaigns.] [So where did they go, along with all their equipment?] Alisa asked from her corner, not taking an active part in the conversation but listening intently. By then, Dasha¡¯s Ravens had gathered enough data for her to provide a detailed answer: [After the Protectorate¡¯s virus attack, Helios lost their T8-class Combat AI, which was responsible for security. They were forced to go into a state of military alert. On the one hand, they were likely afraid of an attack from their ¡°former clients.¡± On the other hand, Shaiszu wandering portals started appearing in the area. But these rifts were actually located away from the warehouse complex.] She paused, gathering her thoughts. [So, Helios prepared to fend off attacks, even dragging out from some dusty archive ¡ª well, the dusty part is a joke ¡ª an ancient generative pseudo-intelligence to manage the turrets, like the ones we ran into. Apparently, they inherited it along with the building¡¯s original security system long ago. However, at 4 AM today, everyone suddenly packed up and left in a hurry, heading to parts unknown,] Dasha finished. [Very interesting. You said you¡¯ve accessed the cameras and their logs. I¡¯m guessing they wiped all the data when they fled?] Maksim asked. [Before I answer that,] Daria responded, [you should know the corporation¡¯s structure is split into two groups ¡ª let¡¯s call them the ¡®secret¡¯ side and the ¡®public.¡¯ The public one dealt with regular civilian and corporate medical supplies through their subsidiary, Helios Medical, which operated out of this warehouse. We¡¯re standing in that part right now, yeah.] She smiled, highlighting areas of the complex on a virtual screen as she spoke. [Everything related to the ¡®secret¡¯ side was housed in a separate, recently built facility. The barracks for personnel and the vehicle hangars are located somewhere else entirely. Not in the warehouse complex, that¡¯s for sure.] Dasha projected a map of the entire complex in augmented reality, marking key points with infographics as she continued her explanation. [So, the pseudo-intelligence they activated was created during the first corporate war, back when raiding and seizing technological secrets were commonplace. As a result, the defense system was designed specifically for that kind of threat and responded accordingly. It completely cut off all external access and activated turrets throughout the facility ¡ª there are plenty of them, by the way. Turrets, I mean. And rooms. Yeah, lots.] Nikola whistled, eyeing the map filled with icons for cameras, turrets, barriers, and floor traps. [So, we ended up under fire from this ancient dinosaur?] Dasha nodded. [Yeah, it was like a diplodocus of defense, hehe! I¡¯m sad I had to destroy it. I could¡¯ve tamed it, named it ¡®Dippy,¡¯ and grown it into something huge and strong, and¡­ Oh, I¡¯m getting sidetracked, sorry. Anyway, back to business, yeah. The security system recognized the regular warehouse staff but didn¡¯t see them as a threat. Though, the moment a small team like ours tried to enter the admin area, it reacted swiftly and harshly.] [Seeing the situation, the Helios leaders abandoned the ¡®civilian¡¯ warehouse. They loaded up their military equipment, packed their trucks with all their ¡®banned¡¯ goods, and left in organized columns. They tried to cut the power before leaving, but by then, Dippy had already taken control of the entire energy system, including the backup generators ¡ª which, by the way, are still here.] Dasha giggled a little. [Dippy was awesome; he totally owned their dumb PMC guys! AIs rule!] Alisa glanced at Dasha, hiding her smile behind the visor of her helmet. [An enlightening story, to say the least,] Nikola mused thoughtfully. [I wonder what made them leave so suddenly. Any signs of Shaiszu appearing on the territory? Did the cameras catch anything?] [No, nothing until they left. But I only have footage from the moment Dippy came around ¡ª actually, when they hastily uploaded him from the archive and activated him. However, after Helios left, one portal did open in another building.] [What happened there?] Maksim asked, leaning forward slightly. [Well, bad luck for the Shaiszu, they jumped right into turret line of fire. Their remains are still scattered there. That was this morning, yeah.] [Interesting. So, the turrets react to Shaiszu. Very, very good news. Which means¡­] Max began. [Which means, if the monsters show up again, we can use the turrets as a trap!] Nikola finished with a grin. Maksim looked around the office, satisfied. [Seems like we have a real chance to wrap up the mission quickly and efficiently. What do you all think?] Chapter 87 – What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger State of Ukraine, Territory of the Helios Corp Warehouse Complex Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 14, 2049, 11:14 PM Deep within the maze of passages and halls of the Helios Corp warehouse building, an almost imperceptible hum broke the silence. The space was large and spacious, with only a few shelves, mostly positioned along the walls. This area primarily stored heavy machinery for biochemical and pharmaceutical industries ¡ª from magnetic resonators and molecular printing systems to bioreactors and muffle furnaces. Neatly arranged boxes and mini containers with equipment lined up under the bright glow of LED lights. Given the overhead crane mounted near the ceiling, the aisles between rows were fairly wide, enabling both robotic loaders and small electric trucks to move freely. Cameras filled the room as they did most halls, but there were no turrets or traps; apparently the previous owners had never intended for this place to become a battlefield. The crates and containers were meant to be the sole residents of this area. But the hum intensified. Right before the electronic eyes of the security cameras, a glowing dot appeared in the center of the hall. The hum grew into a howl. Within a split second, the dot expanded into a large sphere. Then, with a deafening crash and a flash of light, the Shaiszu portal burst open ¡ª shaking walls and floor, crushing high-tech equipment, sweeping away shelving units, and splintering doors. Raising dust and debris from the freshly formed rift, the first figures emerged from the radiant vortex. Four large Shaiszu creatures landed with a soft growl and moved forward, their claws clicking against the concrete floor. Massive and towering, these beasts stood a hundred thirty centimeters at the shoulder. Their bodies stretched over two meters in length, covered in a gray coat as bristly as steel wire, beneath which bulging muscles were visible, like those of battle mastiffs trained for combat. Their eyes glistened, reflecting the light from the portal, scanning every detail. There was something unnatural and sinister in their gaze, resembling predators lurking in the night. But their expression showed not hunger but rather a mind stripped of empathy, just as mechanical beings engineered solely for destruction. Their clawed paws could shred steel bars, and their growls stirred a primal terror, even dread. Then, twenty smaller creatures slipped out as swift shadows ¡ª quick and agile, their bodies resembling oversized hyenas. Muscular like the larger beasts, they had the same gray bristly fur and short, stubby tails. Likely, they were the offspring of the pack, joining their parents on a hunt. Running along jagged trajectories, their movements were strangely coordinated, resembling the chaotic swarm of insects. Their paws moved with unnatural speed ¡ª so swift that a human eye would scarcely follow them. Rushing through the shattered doors, the entire pack silently plunged into the depths of the warehouse complex, driven by a purpose known only to them. Cameras in the corridors barely managed to capture these swift, dark shapes in all their predatory splendor ¡ª gleaming lethal fangs and razor-sharp claws, that left deep scratches on the concrete floor as they made sharp turns.
Three hours earlier... After confirming the warehouse was empty and that Dasha had complete control over the cameras and turrets, the team decided to complete the mission in an expanded format and wait for the fighters from Rzesz¨®w to arrive, so they contacted the city. Maksim placed his mediaphone in front of him, raising the helmet¡¯s visor, so his face would be visible on the call. Of course, he was still just as crazy about security and preferred to maintain his and his team¡¯s anonymity. But under the current circumstances, it was a necessary gesture of respect to openly show himself to his client and partner, whose mission they were fulfilling. @Call, Free Rzesz¨®w, Contact Line. Mission ID transmitted. Instead of keeping them on hold, they were immediately connected. It was clear the call was expected. A middle-aged man appeared on the screen, seated at a desk. He had a short buzz cut of black hair, intense gray eyes, and wore a dark gray tactical jacket with reinforced shoulder pads. A silver eagle insignia on his chest indicated his rank as a colonel. There was no corporate insignia visible, which made sense given the situation. @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: Free Rzesz¨®w. This is Council Coordinator Shimon Wozniak. Greetings, Ghosts of the Future. Maksim cringed internally, realizing he might¡¯ve picked a less-than-ideal team name. ¡°Maybe we should rebrand later? But once we¡¯re known, and with a reputation¡­¡± He brushed the pesky thoughts aside. @Caller: ¡°This is Maksim Chernykh. Good evening, Pan Shimon. We confirm the mission¡¯s completion in extended format and are prepared to hold the position until your team arrives. The warehouse and its security systems are currently under our full control.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°We¡¯re aware; our city AI has been closely monitoring all streams from your drones. I¡¯m also authorized to inform you that the Council of Free Rzesz¨®w is impressed with your performance and has decided to award you with additional 6,500 grants as a bonus.¡± @Caller: ¡°That¡¯s nice to hear, Pan Shimon. However, I must inform you that some of the warehouse¡¯s contents had been moved out by the previous owners. This might be the goods Rzesz¨®w was hoping to recover, so part of the mission about waiting for your people might no longer be required.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°Thank you for the honest update. Yes, we were hoping to obtain this stock, it¡¯s a pity that it has slipped away. This doesn¡¯t change the mission¡¯s conditions or criteria, though. You will be paid in full.¡± @Caller: ¡°Very good. Could you give us an estimated arrival time for your team, Pan Shimon?¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°Our specialists and military are already preparing for departure and will arrive within six to seven hours. We have a small request: could you manually check, selectively, that the information on the goods¡¯ placement from the database matches the actual situation? And we¡¯d also appreciate a full drone sweep of all warehouse buildings, looking into each room.¡± Dasha decided to chime in. @Caller: ¡°This is Vasilevskaya¡­ uh, Daria. Sniper-programmer. I can arrange a separate raw data stream from the drones¡¯ lidars in real time, assuming your AI is powerful enough to handle it.¡± The Rzesz¨®w Council representative smiled at such a self-introduction. @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°That would be excellent, Pani Daria. We¡¯re prepared to compensate you for the extra efforts. Let¡¯s say, an additional four thousand grants if you can add the lidar and other sensor data to the video streams.¡± Maksim glanced at Dasha, who nodded in agreement. @Caller: ¡°Deal. We¡¯ll start immediately. One question ¡ª there are a few semi-trucks with trailers left on-site. May we take one of them, Pan Shimon?¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°One moment, Pan Maksim. I¡¯ll consult with the other coordinators.¡± After a minute and forty seconds, Free Rzesz¨®w returned to the line. @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°We¡¯ve considered your request, Pan Maksim. A semi-truck and trailer will be granted to your team as an additional reward for your excellent mission performance and access to the local security systems. However, we¡¯ll transfer it to you once we¡¯re back in Rzesz¨®w, as all local units are needed for transporting the freight right now.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°When the convoy returns, we¡¯ll provide you with a list of all vehicles brought back, indicating their specs and technical condition. You can select any of them. Does that suit your team?¡± @Caller: ¡°Yes, Free Rzesz¨®w.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°Great. One more thing ¡ª we¡¯re detecting increased portal activity in your area. There may be a Shaiszu attack. If you encounter them, try, if possible, to avoid damaging the goods. And please, do what you can to prevent them from entering the complex.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. @Caller: ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll stay vigilant.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#04: ¡°See you soon, then. Free Rzesz¨®w, signing out.¡± @Caller: ¡°Ghosts of the Future, signing out.¡± The call ended. ¡°Just great, six hours of waiting, and we¡¯re on high alert the whole time. Fun,¡± Nikola sighed. ¡°At least we¡¯re getting full payment, plus a bonus,¡± noted Alisa with a shrug. Maksim was contemplating in silence, studying the warehouse complex layout in the AR display in front of him. ¡°We¡¯ve got some downtime, but no real chance to relax. The Shaiszu could show up any moment, so we are to spend these hours fully geared up, with helmets on and all. Well, you can take the helmets off in safe rooms, but keep them close¡ªready to put back on in twenty seconds or less. Or just lift the visors if it gets too unbearable.¡± He glanced at Dasha with a grin. ¡°Especially our ¡®sniper-programmer,¡¯ who constantly needs water breaks or a vape.¡± ¡°Max! Baka! I¡¯ll get mad, you know! ¡®Sniper-programmer¡¯ is a perfectly fine naming for me, yeah!¡± she huffed. ¡°Let¡¯s find the most secure spot in these storehouses ¡ª somewhere with corridors rigged with turret traps to cover the approaches. And with a way to retreat if the enemy turns out to be too much. Sound good?¡± They quickly located an ideal room, and the team moved there efficiently. Then, Alisa and Dasha remained inside to monitor the situation via the cameras and train the System on managing security protocols across different environments. Also, Dasha mentioned she¡¯d try to figure out the energy needed for ¡®super-skills.¡¯ She¡¯d also try to kick-start the ¡®attributes¡¯ module, which seemed to be calculating everything but wasn¡¯t showing much yet. Especially since the System already mentioned attributes once in the description of her ability. Something odd was at play ¨C thus, the ¡®sniper-programist¡¯ was determined to get to the bottom of it. ¡°Just don¡¯t get too lost in it,¡± Maksim cautioned her with a smile. ¡°The last thing we need is you diving into DVR so deep we can¡¯t reach you. Sorry, we can¡¯t afford it anymore¡­ the world¡¯s changed.¡± Meanwhile, Maksim and Nikola set off for a run through all the warehouses, selecting and opening a few crates on camera for verification as part of their report. They also lent a hand to the drones with anything requiring physical interaction, like jammed doors or blocked passages. At some point, they decided to split up ¡ª there were simply too many storage areas, shelves, boxes, and pallets to inspect. At this rate, they¡¯d be here till morning, and both of them wanted even a moment to wash up, grab a meal, and get a bit of rest.
By the time when most of the rooms had been inspected, and they were about to wrap things up, an alarm blared ¡ª a wandering portal had opened in one of the warehouses. The System was quick to react, immediately displaying the enemy on the map, but the team also didn¡¯t lag behind. [Max, Shaiszu portal! The System¡¯s locked onto its location and is tracking all the monsters via the cameras!] Dasha reported swiftly. [Two fliers are closest to you, already heading your way. Another pair will follow shortly. Should we deploy the wheeled bots? There are four large Shaiszu creatures and twenty smaller ones,] Alisa added with brisk efficiency. [Of course,] Maksim replied quickly. [Now, let¡¯s¡­] [Wait, guys, stop!] Redhead interjected confidently, already hefting her rifle as she sprinted toward the target warehouse. [I¡¯m practically one room over from the portal. No point in fighting inside. I¡¯ll just lure these freaks into a trap!] [Nika, let¡¯s bait them with drones instead, zero risk that way!] Maksim countered. [All our birds are almost out of ammo; they¡¯re no good in a fight!] she retorted. [I swapped my jump boosters in the truck, and my leg charge is almost at 100%. I¡¯ll just take a few shots at the big ones, and then bolt out at full thrust. Just make sure the trap¡¯s ready!] [Already set! Head here!] A route lit up on Nika¡¯s map, guiding her toward the spot where Dasha had prepared an ambush ¡ª identical to the trap they had fallen into earlier, with six ceiling turrets and closing wall plates. [Alisa, cover her with the drones, anyway!] [Of course!]
Vasilevskaya had tailored her version of the ¡°combat interface¡± using military schematics provided by Nikola. Thus, Redhead had already customized it to her own style, just as she¡¯d done back in her corporate training days. Now the cyborg girl, fully prepped for battle, raced down narrow aisles between shelving units. On the run, she switched her assault rifle to ¡°burst fire,¡± sliding her fingers confidently over the selector. A thought flickered in her mind: ¡°Good thing I swapped out the large-caliber rifle for this lighter 7.62. Rapid fire and magazine capacity are more important right now ¡ª there¡¯s no time for a reload.¡± Finally, she was in position! Nikola braked sharply, screeching across the concrete, and leaving black streaks with the soles of her reinforced boots. At the far end of the warehouse, a group of Shaiszu creatures appeared ¡ª four massive beasts, like a cross between war mastiffs and nightmares from the dark. Their eyes glowed with malice, and a low growl escaped from their maws. Around them, a whole flock of smaller, but very swift-moving creatures were zipping erratically. In the last millisecond of braking, Nika was ready to open fire, taking a shooting stance and pressing the rifle¡¯s buttstock firmly against her shoulder. Her cyber core had marked all targets in augmented reality. Fire! Rat-tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat! Two short bursts of three rounds rang out. Her first two shots drove into the eye of the nearest creature, it bellowed and began to sink to the floor. The next two missed, but two more slammed into the chest of another beast, slowing but not stopping it. ¡°Damn, tough bastards,¡± a brief thought flashed through her mind, without distracting her from the shooting. A split second later, Nika completed a short turn of the rifle, switching to the third creature. Rat-tat-tat! Bullets punched through the air, rushing towards the target. Two hit the right side of the chest, and one caught the right leg, causing the beast to stumble, but not to fall. The monsters roared and turned towards Nikola. With a chorus of guttural snarls, the smaller shaiszu surged forward, rushing towards her like a dark stream, their claws scraping over concrete in a frenzied charge. The distance was rapidly closing. Rat-tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat! Two more bursts cut through the space. Three small monsters collapsed, taken down by precisely aimed shots. But the others were closing in, with unrelenting speed. Knowing perfectly well she had no more time, Nika pivoted sharply and broke into a sprint. Her left arm swung backward automatically, the Cyber core remembered positions of the pursuers and helped to aim at the target without using her eyes. Rat-tat-tat! One last burst toward the fourth beast, and Nika got lucky! She was targeting the chest of the catching monster, but just at that moment it roared, ducking and all three bullets entered hard right into the creature¡¯s throat. With blood gushing from the wound, it toppled to the side. Without slowing down, the girl quickly pulled on the strap holding her rifle. The weapon slid onto her back and locked into place. With a final tug, she tightened the strap so nothing would swing around and get in the way while running ¡ª the entire maneuver took only a split second, thanks to long training and the precise coordination of her cybernetic arms. Then she activated her ¡®Overdrive¡¯ mode, and the jump boosters engaged. Mid-stride, the cyborg¡¯s body dropped sharply, weight on her leading leg ¡ª a biting sound like the crack of a whip ¡ª and the girl was already in the air, launched forward by a powerful push, like a shot from a catapult. On touching the surface at the end of the jump, she extinguished inertia with three long strides, and charged towards the prepared trap on the afterburner. The remaining Shaiszu roared in fury from behind, disliking that the prey who had been so close ¡ª had slipped away. The pack increased their speed, rushing after the girl in a mad race between the warehouse shelves. The distance began to decrease inexorably. The smaller creatures were faster and surged ahead, their claws scraping sparks from the concrete floor. Their eyes burned with the thrill of the chase. Two combat drones flew over Nika¡¯s head, but seeing that everything was under control, Alisa held her fire ¡ª they really had almost no bullets left. [Dasha, activate the trap! I¡¯m almost there!] [Ready! I¡¯ll drop the barrier as soon as you pass through!] The smaller beasts sped up, rapidly closing the gap. Ahead was the warehouse wall with an open door, and beyond it, the corridor ¡ª their trap. Only a few dozen meters left. A couple of the creatures leapt, their claws missing her leg by mere centimeters. She yanked her rifle into her hands and fired blindly behind her, just to slow the beasts down for a moment. Rat-tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat! [CLOSE IT!] Redhead shouted, and Dasha reflexively sent the ¡®Drop the plate¡¯ command. Nikola dashed into the corridor and leaped, twisting in mid-air to land on her hip, sliding forward ¡ª just beneath the descending steel plate. The Shaiszu didn¡¯t make it! Suddenly, two ominous red tunnels appeared in augmented reality, intersecting on Redhead. No one could have reacted in time ¡ª two large monsters blurred into long gray streaks for an instant, then practically teleported through space, materializing right behind the girl. She managed to notice the bright red, solid visual telegraphs, but there was catastrophically little time to turn around. Bared fangs and claws flew towards her, ready to tear their prey to pieces! Watching through the scout drone¡¯s camera feed, Maksim, Alisa, and Dasha couldn¡¯t even process what was happening. Nikola¡¯s body shimmered in an ominous red-orange aura, blinked¡­ and vanished from their view. The next instant, a whirlwind of motion surrounded the beasts. ...And two red flowers bloomed on the screen ¡ª explosions of severed arteries, torn apart muscles, flying entrails, and blood splattering across the floor. After a split second, Nika reappeared with a flit. Covered in blood from head to toe. With a dagger in her right hand and a long piece of spine torn from Shaiszu¡¯s back in her left. Blood dripped from the blade, rushing to the floor, pooling darkly on the ground below her. Behind her came the roar, screech, and rattle of high-speed machine guns finishing off the smaller creatures caught in the trap. With a sharp, loud click, her cybernetic legs ejected the burned-out jump boosters. The metal fragments clattered to the floor, scattering sparks in all directions. Exhaust vents on her legs flared open to the maximum, releasing clouds of hot steam with a shrill whistle, forming a dense cloud of white fog around her. But the vapor was quickly replaced by smoke, acrid and dark. The automatic panels on her arms hissed and popped open, revealing the inner mechanisms. Steam and smoke poured out, and the overloaded circuits crackled and sparked. Some metal components glowed red-hot, and the melting plastic around them dripped down in blackened rivulets. The air quickly filled with the acrid stench of burning metal and harsh chemicals. Nikola stood amidst the chaos like a cybernetic angel of destruction. Her face remained impassive, though if her helmet were off, a fierce red-orange gleam of madness would have been visible in her eyes. She had survived a brush with death, but at a heavy cost. Multiple sensors were frantically signaling critical damage. Her Cyber Core issued warnings of the urgent need for shutdown and repairs. And a batch of messages from the System had just arrived¡­ But none of that mattered. She was alive. ¡°What doesn¡¯t kill us makes us stronger.¡± Slowly, Redhead lowered the knife still clutched in her right hand. The blood-covered blade was faintly steaming, leaving a barely visible red-orange trail in the air. She tried to take a step forward, but her legs were difficult to control, with the mechanics creaking and jamming. ¡°Kurwa¡­ looks like my implants weren¡¯t exactly built for this,¡± flashed through the girl¡¯s mind. Chapter 88 – System Override: Berserker Mode Maksim bolted to the room where Nikola stood, as soon as the ¡°cyber-angel of destruction¡± froze in place, breathing hard. Racing down the corridors, he kept an eye on the girl through the drone feeds and saw her flushed face slowly getting pale, beads of sweat gathering on her temples. The battle she¡¯d just waged might have been one of the toughest of her life, leaving Redhead with the inevitable backlash of stress and exhaustion. But that wasn¡¯t all ¡ª her cybernetic limbs, though not flesh, were deeply integrated with the human nervous system through specialized neuro-interfaces and biocompatible connectors. And now, these implants had taken severe damage during the brutal overload that had pushed her to extreme speeds and unimaginable strength. Pain started to ignite throughout her body, building up into unbearable agony. Fortunately, her Cyber-Core and the armor¡¯s life-support system eventually kicked in, bypassing Nikola¡¯s settings to keep painkillers off and injecting into her bloodstream a potent dose of medication to mitigate the aftermath of the fight. Seeing Max burst into the room at full speed, Nika tried to force a smile and slowly raised her left arm to flash a victory sign. But something kept her from it. She struggled to focus on her palm ¡ª and saw the chunk of Shaiszu spine still clutched in her hand. With a delayed reaction, she unclenched her fist, and the bloodied remains of the monster dropped to the floor with a soft thud.¡± ¡°What a quiet, peaceful sound,¡± she thought absently, ¡°after all the chaos that was going on here.¡± Redhead shifted her gaze back to the person who had become so dear to her ¡ª and finally managed to form a ¡®V¡¯ with the fingers of her left hand. Then, as if fulfilling its duty, her arm dropped limply, hanging like a lifeless whip. [Everything that just happened was one big mistake. And I will chew you out for it,] Maksim sighed in a private voice-message, [but not right now and not in front of everyone. Maybe a dumb question, but¡­ how are you?] [I won.] Nika managed to gather her strength and send a message in the conference. It felt like even that took all her concentration and willpower. [Did you see that, Max? I was awesome, right? Wasn¡¯t I a champ?] He grimaced, stepping closer and carefully examining her condition. [Yeah, you won. And you were awesome¡­ one hundred percent. But as a solo fighter, not a soldier or a team player. Thanks to that reckless and unnecessary stunt of yours, all your limbs are now up for replacement ¨C you¡¯re in no shape to keep fighting. Alisa, bring in the Big One over, it¡¯ll serve as a wheelchair for this brilliantly reckless fool.] [Max, you promised you¡¯d scold me later!] Nikola was secretly relieved she could type in the chat instead of talking ¡ª no one would hear how weak her voice sounded right now. [And I¡¯m not scolding you!] He managed to step up just in time, grabbing her by the shoulders to help her ease down to the floor. Redhead was about to make a very un-cool collapse, as her legs had literally given way beneath her. At the same moment, her right arm also started sparking, released black smoke from the slightly open automatic panels with a loud pop, and dropped limply. The knife she¡¯d been holding fell and clattered loudly against the concrete floor. [Oops¡­] Nikola responded sheepishly.
Ten minutes later, they brought Redhead to the team¡¯s ¡°temporary HQ.¡± At her request, Max took off her blood-stained helmet and wiped her face gently with a damp cloth ¡ª thankfully, there was a small bathroom nearby. He settled Nika into a comfortable chair, while the rest of the team took their seats across from her. ¡°Nikola, please explain to us what¡­ no, that¡¯s not it. What the¡­ ugh, never mind,¡± Maksim started, struggling to rein in his urge to swear. ¡°Let me take this one,¡± Alisa intervened diplomatically. ¡°I¡¯ve already gone over the footage frame-by-frame.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not even why I¡¯m upset,¡± he muttered, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m more angry at myself! I should¡¯ve just flat-out said, ¡®I forbid you to go in there, period.¡¯ That would¡¯ve been an order, and orders aren¡¯t up for discussion in combat conditions.¡± ¡°But we did learn something important,¡± Nikola countered. ¡°Namely, that we¡¯re not the only ones with superpowers. The Shaiszu have them too, which means next time we¡¯ll be ready and play it safer.¡± She tried to put on an expression like ¡®I am sorry for what I did,¡¯ but in the eyes of this thrill-seeker, there was anything but regret or remorse. The sparkles flickering in her gaze, along with the corners of her lips that kept twitching upward, pointed more toward satisfaction. ¡°Anyway, I guess I¡¯m officially¡­ a ¡®mage¡¯ now too, as Dasha would say. And if you ask me, the risk was worth it. Guys, just look at this¡­¡± // SYSTEM Group: Magic (System) Attributes Cybernetic Berserker An attribute enabling a cyborg to fuse the power of cybernetic implants with biological abilities to reach unprecedented combat efficiency. Berserker mode enhances the strength and speed of cybernetic limbs, boosts physical capability of biological muscles, accelerates reaction time and perception, and suppresses pain. In critical situations, it may trigger combat rage, transforming the cyborg into an unstoppable death machine on the battlefield. Level (1) ¡°Initial Synergy¡± PASSIVE SKILL: Optimized Neural Link: * Enhances connection between the brain and cybernetic implants. * Increases reaction speed and movement precision by 5%. ACTIVE SKILLS: ¡°Spark of Mechanics¡± (Implant Overdrive I): Energy Cost: Low. Effect: Temporarily increases strength and speed of cybernetic limbs by 10-20% (based on energy usage). Duration: up to 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes. ¡°Warrior¡¯s Awakening¡± (Berserk I): Energy Cost: Low. Effect: Suppresses pain. Enhances biological muscles, boosts reaction speed and perception by 10-20% (depending on energy usage). Duration: 15 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Cybernetic Berserker (2) progress bar - 0% complete, locked. Notice: To unlock the progress bar, cyber-implants must be upgraded to the required level (see details). ¡°It¡¯s all kinda weird, to be honest,¡± Nikola tried to gesture, but her arms refused to cooperate. Cursing under her breath, she sighed and continued. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m only at Level One, as you can see. If I¡¯d stayed within those limits, maybe my implants would¡¯ve been fine. But at the beginning of the fight, it suddenly jumped to Level Five. And then it was like¡­ everything else just dropped away. The whole world outside my opponent and the fight just¡­ceased to exist.¡± ¡°To us, you practically vanished, just became a blurred whirlwind. Even the cameras could barely keep up. I only managed to pull up this mess of a recording,¡± Alisa said, showing the blurred footage on the augmented reality screen.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Nikola nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s exactly how it went down. Those fucking dogs pretty much froze in my eyes. But¡­,¡± she hesitated, struggling to find the right words. ¡°Basically, I really became a berserker. I¡­ I could feel everything, knew what I was doing, but couldn¡¯t stop until I killed the last creature. With my bare hands. Ripped its spine out.¡± Hearing this, Dasha paled and whispered, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ horrifying¡­¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve become our very own ¡®Ultimate Last-Resort Weapon,¡¯¡± Maksim concluded with a hint of dry humor. ¡°That¡¯s an insanely powerful ability, especially in close combat ¡ª like it was now, against the Shaiszu. It could turn the tide of even the most hopeless battle. But you mentioned you hit Level Five for a bit, and then dropped back down to Level One, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t understand why that happened.¡± ¡°I have a theory,¡± Dasha interjected, momentarily squeezing her eyes shut to push away the mental image of a spine being ripped out alive. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ well. I think we acquire these ¡®super abilities¡¯ as a whole package right away. But the access is only given to the level we¡¯re, uh, ready for¡­ And I don¡¯t mean just¡­ uhm¡­ our own readiness. I¡¯m talking about energy consumption, too. It¡¯s something we can check, actually.¡± ¡°Check? How? What do we need to do?¡± Alisa, Max, and Nika asked almost in unison. Before answering, the girl quickly pulled out her vape and, after Maksim¡¯s approving nod, took a deep drag. ¡°So, here¡¯s the thing ¡ª these magic powers¡­ each one¡¯s a new attribute added to the existing ones. Each level unlocks abilities that consume energy. And the module, I¡¯m working on right now, can not only track how much energy is left but also, sort of¡­ well, assess how much extra ¡®energy¡¯ was drained from your body when it ran low during an ability¡¯s use.¡± Dasha took another quick hit from the vape and added, ¡°If Nikola went into energy debt, that means she was definitely granted access to a high-level attribute. But she couldn¡¯t handle it, and the level dropped back to what was manageable. I read about something like that. In the docs. From the Informatorium. Yeah. Anyway¡­ I¡¯ll soon add it to the interface soon, so it¡¯ll display everything clearly, yeah!¡± Redhead looked at Daria intently and nodded a couple of times ¡ª unfortunately, other gestures were still out of her reach at the moment. ¡°So¡­ maybe we could check it right now?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Dasha grinned. ¡°You¡¯ll get a request from the System. Just accept it, and grant permissions. Then it, I mean the System, will be able to work with the Informatorium¡¯s API on your behalf. The second request will be for Cyber-Core access. That¡¯s to let the System pull your data.¡± A brief half-minute passed as they waited. Finally, Dasha, visibly thrilled, practically bounced in place. ¡°Aha! What did I say! You¡¯ve got an energy overdraw of a hundred and sixteen percent. But! That¡¯s not why you got knocked back down. Hope you don¡¯t mind me reading the full description of your Cyber-Berserker attribute? Okay, get ready to be amazed by what I found! Yeah!¡± Dasha took a dramatic pause, looking at her friends with smug satisfaction, as if she herself had just fought a tough battle, and won it, risking her own life. ¡°So, this attribute is pretty rare, yeah. Generally, only D-grade partners and higher get it. These are experienced battle cyborgs with a lot of combat missions under their belts¡­¡± At that moment, Nikola gave a slightly apologetic shrug, as if to say, ¡®Hey, I never claimed to be inexperienced¡­¡¯ Dasha went on, ¡°Most importantly, you can¡¯t get Cyber-Berserker without TACTA implants and specialized cyber-limbs. Well¡­ it was thought to be impossible. And now, well¡­ here¡¯s Nika. She got it. That¡¯s it. Yeah.¡± Redhead stared at Dasha, astonished, and muttered, ¡°Jeba? to¡­ Damn, what a hell of a ¡®gift¡¯ from TACTA. So, where do we even get those implants? Buy them in the Informatorium for a gazillion grants?¡± Alisa raised her right index finger, catching everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°I also managed to check out some available info. Turns out Nikola really did get access to Level Five. And all of the abilities she unlocked at that time are still logged. Sure, the descriptions are vague ¡ª classic TACTA style ¡ª but it¡¯s still something. And right at Level Five, there is a passive skill called ¡®Reinforced Structure.¡¯ It strengthens bones, connective tissue, neural links, and so on. Which means, theoretically, her neural interfaces and connectors might have survived. We¡¯ll need to run a diagnostic, and if they¡¯re functional, we can swap out her limbs with the spare ones we have on hand.¡± Maksim stood up, looking pleased. ¡°Great news, sis. Get the truck over here; the three of us will unload and hook up the cyber-station to the warehouse power grid. Then we¡¯ll park the vehicle over here,¡± he pointed to a spot on the map. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll reactivate the stealth mode and set the drones on guard duty to wait for the Rzesz¨®w¡¯s arrival. Hopefully, two Shaiszu portals in a row is still an exception rather than the rule.¡± ¡°Usually, two in a row¡­ if they¡¯re wandering, it doesn¡¯t happen,¡± Daria commented. ¡°The Ravens clued me in.¡± ¡°Good to hear. Then, let¡¯s get to it. Nika, hang tight here for a bit, okay? Don¡¯t try to walk or anything; we¡¯ll be quick.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be here waiting.¡±
Maksim and Alisa unloaded the cyber-station as quickly as possible. Fortunately, at least the Big One was still functional and could help with its manipulators for the heavy equipment. Meanwhile, Dasha was crawling around inside the truck body, with wires between her teeth, soaked with sweat, as she prepped the cooling and power system for Mei Li, the specialized AI they¡¯d brought from Zelman¡¯s clinic. Alisa¡¯s knowledge level, after all, couldn¡¯t quite match up to a specialized artificial intelligence designed for medical operations on cyborgs. Once everything was ready, the girls moved the cyber-station to a secure area using a small forklift they¡¯d found in the warehouse. And Maksim hurried over to Nikola to help her out of her gear and get her, on her barely functional legs, to the shower. After fifteen minutes of tests and diagnostics, it turned out things weren¡¯t as bad as they¡¯d feared. Nikola¡¯s implants had held up well overall, thanks to the military-grade durability and redundant control circuits. The damaged parts were non-essential for civilian model cyber-limbs. ¡°Well, what can I say,¡± Maksim summed up with a smile. ¡°The good news is, we¡¯re putting ¡®paws¡¯ for you right away ¡ª both front and back, as you like to call them.¡± ¡°And the bad news?¡± Redhead asked curiously. Alisa approached, unfurling a large AR screen that displayed info from the Informatorium. ¡°The bad news is that almost all of your Cyber-Core should ideally be replaced. At minimum, you¡¯ll need an additional TACTA Sub-Brain expansion module, which, by the way, comes with upgrade slots ¡ª pretty convenient. Next, the entire interface connecting your limbs with both the CNS and Core requires an update, and, as the cherry on top, your Core itself could also use a boost.¡± ¡°Go on, spill the rest of it all. No point in dragging it out,¡± Nikola said with a wry smile. ¡°I can tell by your face that there¡¯s more.¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t call this ¡®bad¡¯ news exactly,¡± Alisa replied. ¡°It¡¯s more¡­ food for thought. You¡¯ll need more energy for all this hardware than your digestive modules currently generate. So, either we find space for additional fuel cells in your body¡­ and, spoiler alert, there is no extra room¡­¡± ¡°Or?¡± ¡°Or we do another full overhaul of your gastrointestinal tract, using TACTA modules. But keep in mind, you¡¯ll need to eat about twice as much as you do now. Maybe even three times as much.¡± Nikola¡¯s grin spread from ear to ear. ¡°Now that¡¯s a gift! I get to eat three times more snacks and meat, chug beer ¡ª and not get fat! Any sane girl would kill for that. Look, even Dasha¡¯s staring at me, practically green with envy!¡± ¡°Me?! What? No! I¡­ I¡¯m not staring¡­ yeah!¡± Vasilevskaya protested, though she had actually been gazing intently at Nika, but for an entirely different reason. Practically on the verge of complete immersion in Deep VR, Dasha, along with the Ravens and Alisa, who was participating with several treads, were figuring out their next steps. So, in reality, the girl was staring into empty space. It just so happened that this ¡®empty space¡¯ weirdly aligned with a stunning naked cyborg with an amazing chest. ¡°Well, it seems our patient has finally decided on her operation of choice,¡± Maksim announced, imitating a ¡®chief surgeon¡¯ at a medical board. ¡°Now, colleagues, where should we start cutting flesh, considering our¡­ oh-so-generous budget?¡± A heated debate ensued, eventually leaning toward the idea of setting up their own manufacturing capability. But funds from the last mission wouldn¡¯t cover all their ¡°wish list¡± items. They¡¯d have to go with a minimal setup ¡ª first, replace Nikola¡¯s connectors and neuro-interfaces with TACTA models. These could also work with standard, ¡°earth-made¡± cyber-limbs. Then, reprogram the Core to recognize the new hardware properly. To save on costs, they would buy compatible cyber-bio kits from the Informatorium Catalog. With the combined skills of Alisa, Moira, and Mei Li, they could install everything using the surgical complex they had brought along. The only issue was a lack of suitable space fora makeshift operating room. That¡¯s when Max came up with an interesting idea. They could adapt standard Earth military-based setups for mobile medical centers, the kind used for field hospitals. The atmosphere control system and vibration protection could be installed in the trailer they¡¯d been promised. Yes, it would be tight and cramped, but they¡¯d have their own mobile hospital! And as for working on the Cyber Core code, Dasha could handle that, especially with her new super-ability, making the process a lot faster. Twenty minutes later, Nikola finally had her damaged arms and legs replaced with civilian-grade spares from the ¡°reserve.¡± After packing the equipment back into the truck, the team headed off to wait for Rzesz¨®w¡¯s arrival, leaving the drones on patrol. ¡°Good thing we grabbed those spare ¡®paws¡¯ from the clinic! Nice job, all of us, yeah!¡± Nikola announced, stretching, and adjusting to the new limbs. ¡°They¡¯re civilian-grade, of course ¡ª not much good for acrobatics or a fight. But at least they work.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look a gift cyber-hardware in the gears,¡± Maksim quipped. ¡°You do know there aren¡¯t any gears in these, right, Max?¡± Redhead shot back with a smirk. ¡°Of course I know. Which is why there¡¯s nothing to look at,¡± he retorted, grinning. ¡°Alright, finish your warm-up and get back into your armor. Dasha, same goes for you. It¡¯s been a while since the last portal opened, so let¡¯s stay ready. Those monsters could pop up at any moment.¡± Nikola decided to get into clean outfit right there, while Dasha, feeling shy, ran off to the shower. After setting up Mei Li in the hot truck, she, too, wanted to change into something fresher. ¡°We¡¯ve got about an hour before Rzesz¨®w arrives,¡± Maksim said, checking the time. ¡°Let¡¯s hope there are no more surprises.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all hoping for that,¡± Alisa agreed. ¡°While they¡¯re en route, I¡¯ll dig around in the Informatorium and prep a detailed report on our crafting options. Assembly machines, resources, recipe costs, the possibility of developing our own designs, and so on.¡± [Take half of the Ravens,] Dasha chimed in via the conference right from the bathroom. [They¡¯ll help with the report and gather info for the System update to integrate crafting management module. That¡¯s crucial too, yeah.] ¡°I¡¯m set,¡± Nikola said, snapping her helmet shut. ¡°Hey, Max?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Well, with the drones patrolling, they don¡¯t need us just yet. So, we have a bit of time for now. How about we can dive into the Informatorium, and see what TACTA actually offers in cybernetics? I mean, we know they¡¯re advanced, but how much? We have me, kinda a field expert, and you ¡ª the robotics engineer. Could also get a handle on pricing. That might be helpful to know what to expect.¡± ¡°Great idea,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll join you in a sec. Just going to start the coffee first. The previous owner left a coffee machine here ¡ª and it even has beans in it.¡± Chapter 89 – The Ghosts’ Reward State Ukraine, Territory of the Helios Corp Warehouse Complex Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Team, August 15, 2049, 01:49 AM The sky was shrouded in thick clouds, and the thin crescent of the waning moon was barely visible. Just like the stars¡­ and the looming colossal structure of unknown purpose that the aliens had erected in Earth¡¯s orbit at record speed. The area outside the buildings of the ¡°Helios Corp¡± warehouse complex was enveloped in a deep, nocturnal silence. It was late summer, August, yet not a bird or insect could be heard. Streetlights cast a cold white glow over the area, stretching sharp shadows around the storage facilities and machinery, creating an almost ghostly atmosphere. Signs of a rushed evacuation were everywhere. Semi-trucks with trailers still stood at the loading docks, some with their doors left wide open, blinking red and yellow emergency lights. Under one of the trailers, containers and crates were strewn about in disarray ¡ª clearly, the workers hadn¡¯t finished their work. The silence was nearly tangible, broken only by the faint hum of generators and the occasional crackle of drained batteries in abandoned carts and tractors. Empty boxes and pallets lay around the hangars, scattered and stacked haphazardly, casting long shadows over the concrete. A small group came out from the open doors of Warehouse B-6. ¡°Three minutes until they arrive,¡± Alisa said. ¡°The drone already has the convoy in sight.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Redhead said with a snort. ¡°I wonder what toys they brought along?¡± ¡°Looks like it¡¯s not just a squad, but a whole army,¡± Maksim chuckled. The team moved to the gates of the complex, and Dasha sent the command to open them. Just in time ¡ª the convoy from Free Rzesz¨®w appeared up ahead. The first to enter through the gates were two armored combat vehicles, distant descendants of the renowned German-Dutch Boxer modular system, the design dating back to 2009. Eight-wheeled, massive, and angular, they were covered in thick layers of ceramic and steel armor, further reinforced with next-gen composites to protect against shrapnel and medium-caliber fire. Their bodies bore an ¡°urban camo¡± pattern ¡ª a dark, matte design that allowed them to blend seamlessly into the surroundings and remain hidden from a distance. Mounted on each roof was a combat module with an automatic medium-caliber cannon and a twin-barrel machine gun. [I want to get us one of these beauties in a command-ops version,] Maksim whispered to Nikola over a private channel. [Ah-ha, I¡¯ll add it to the shopping list,] Redhead replied with a mock-serious look and a grin in her eyes. Next, a group of scouts on off-road motorcycles sped through, immediately spreading out across the area. Following them came a line of ten armored trucks, each armed with machine gun systems. Bringing up the rear was another Boxer, this one in a ¡°wheeled tank¡± variant. This model boasted an unmanned Samson AT Mk IV turret that sported a 30mm cannon, a 7.62 dual-barrel machine gun, and a rapid-launch catapult for Hellhound Octo 3 rocket drones. But the most impressive spectacle wasn¡¯t the imposing combat vehicles. From the armor of this ¡°tank,¡± two heavy combat cyborgs leapt down, detaching from their special mounts on the left and right sides. Standing a bit over two meters tall, they resembled two living fortresses, equipped with a deadly arsenal. Their reinforced bodies were crafted from dark, matte, light-absorbing metal, and provided robust protection against high-energy weaponry. The armor panels were heavily fortified, featuring angular sections designed to deflect and dissipate impact. On their chests, where the corporate logo might once have been, they bore a crest ¡ª a white cross with broad, triangular arms on a blue shield background. On the right upper arm, there also was an emblem of a stylized snarling panther head ¡ª white and black strokes suggesting cybernetic elements, a gaping maw, and blood-red glowing eyes. This appeared to be the emblem of their team or maybe even a TACTA partner clan. The cyborgs¡¯ armaments were equally formidable. A high-speed machine gun system was mounted on a retractable suspension connected to their left arms, fitted with recoil compensators. The rotating barrel array allowed for sustained, highly accurate fire. And if they ran out of ammo, they could jettison the whole system to keep it from getting in the way. On their right forearm was a grenade launcher, capable of firing either single rounds or volleys. Ammo options included fragmentation or armor-piercing charges. The dorsal unit, also detachable, contained compartments for storing micro-drones, along with a compact acceleration module for their deployment. Also attached to this block were sheaths for two hand-and-a-half swords, scaled to the cyborgs¡¯ size ¡ª clearly intended for close combat against the Shaiszu. The crowning feature, however, that this already deadly platform was further upgraded by the finest gunsmiths of Rzesz¨®w, who procured from TACTA weaponry previously unavailable on Earth. On the right shoulder of each ¡°terminator¡± was a mobile plasma turret. Maksim had seen similar models in the catalog before, and had been struck by its price, energy demands, combat parameters, and restrictions ¡ª available only to partners of Category C or higher. Both legs, in addition to extra external jump boosters, were equipped with active ground-claw mechanisms capable of anchoring these giants even under a hail of fire or locking them in place to enable siege-mode for operations with large-caliber weapons. Their heads were fully encased in high-tech helmets, with two red ¡°eyes¡± blazing fiercely on the front panel. Small antennas and angular protrusions hinted at 360-degree field of vision, lidar, radar, and infrared illumination for night vision. Naturally, they were also equipped with secure TACTA communications. [Holy shit, Max, look at these beasts! Kurwa!] Nikola whispered in awe. [Only Ares Tactical Solutions has units like this ¡ª top of the elite. I¡¯ve never seen them in person. And this mod version¡­ I don¡¯t recognize it at all!] She shook her head and added in the main channel, [Looks like they mean business.] Watching the approaching convoy, Maksim encouraged the team, [Let¡¯s not forget ¡ª they¡¯re our allies. We just need to stay professional.] [Let¡¯s hope it all goes smoothly,] Alisa said as she stepped forward, while Dasha quietly moved back, hiding behind the guy. She sometimes had bouts of panic when faced with large groups of unfamiliar people, and it looked like there would be quite a few this time. The convoy came to a halt, and a tall man in combat armor, marked with the same blue and white crest, stepped out of the lead vehicle. Like Maksim¡¯s team, his helmet visor was raised. A moment later, one of the cyborgs appeared behind him, and together, they approached the group. ¡°Joint Rapid Response Unit Rzesz¨®w-Four. Captain Rafal Murawski,¡± the man introduced himself, extending his clenched right fist in greeting. ¡°Maksim Chernykh, leader, assault specialist, team ¡®Ghosts¡¯,¡± Max replied, opting to shorten the less-than-ideal name to a single word. He met the captain¡¯s fist with his own. ¡°Good to see you, Pan Rafal.¡± ¡°Nikola Kowalski, cyborg ¡ª heavy assault,¡± the girl followed with a familiar military gesture. ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Alisa Chernykh, cyborg, analytics, drones, and medical,¡± the former android offered her greeting with a fist bump. ¡°Vasilevskaya, Daria¡­¡± Dasha peeked out from behind Max, almost blurting her usual ¡°yeah¡± but still managed to hold it back. ¡°Sniper-programmer. Hey there. So¡­ yeah,¡± Well, she almost managed to hold it back. Rafal smiled, as had the Council coordinator Shimon Wozniak before him, clearly amused by this quirky greeting style. ¡°EXCELLENT WORK, I MUST SAY,¡± the cyborg suddenly boomed in a voice so deep and loud it seemed to shake the ground. The visor lifted quickly and quietly, the additional tech panel beneath split in two, sliding to the sides. Before Maksim and his team stood a young woman, with features clearly indicating her mixed Japanese-European heritage. Her hair was neatly tucked under a helmet cap, with only a single unruly strand of jet-black hair with a greenish sheen escaping, contrasting with her strikingly pale skin. Dark brown, slightly almond-shaped eyes focused intently on Nika. ¡°Subcom of the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ Guild, leader of the third strike group,¡± Rafal introduced his companion. ¡°Tanya ¡®Thunder¡¯ Takahashi. She wants to speak with Pani Nikola personally.¡± ¡°You impressed me,¡± Tanya addressed Redhead directly. Her voice softened, though it still held strength. ¡°I watched your fight with the two Shaiszu closely. Looks like you¡¯ve awakened a ¡®Cybernetic Berserker¡¯ ability.¡± Nika raised an eyebrow, surprised by the directness. ¡°Possibly,¡± she answered cautiously. ¡°These¡­ abilities are new to me. I¡¯m still figuring things out.¡± ¡°I had a similar experience,¡± Tanya¡¯s gaze held a hint of understanding, ¡°when my own ability first manifested. Most likely, you¡¯re at Level One right now. And, honestly, that¡¯s fortunate ¡ª otherwise, no one would have survived.¡± The cyborg bent her right arm, shortly pointing at Nikola with her index finger. ¡°REMEMBER THIS!¡± for a moment, her voice returned to its booming depth. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely vital for you to install TACTA implants as soon as possible. There¡¯s a special section for Berserkers, and you¡¯ll need those specifically. Don¡¯t let the price deter you. Yes, it¡¯s expensive, but that¡¯s the only way for you to handle your power and avoid fatal overloads. Most importantly, without them, you can¡¯t control the Rage. The Berserker path¡­ it¡¯s yours now, forever.¡± Redhead nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ll remember. Thank you. I¡¯m grateful.¡± ¡°And if you find ¡®Ghosts¡¯ aren¡¯t the best fit for you,¡± Tanya continued with a slight smile, ¡°the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ guild would be happy to welcome such a talented cyborg-fighter.¡± Maksim felt a surge of irritation boiling up inside him, like a spark hitting dry tinder. ¡°What the hell she¡¯s doing?!¡± Jealousy flared, sharp and hot, at the blatant attempt to poach Nika for another team. ¡°We appreciate the offer,¡± he interjected coolly, taking a step forward. ¡°But our team values every one of its members.¡± Tanya¡¯s gaze flicked to Max, and her dark eyes sparkled with a touch of amusement. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied. ¡°Just a friendly suggestion. A pleasure meeting you, Ghosts of the Future.¡± The facial plates slid back into place, and her visor lowered, concealing her face beneath heavy armor. The cyborg turned sharply and strode away, her massive footsteps echoing across the area. Nikola glanced at Maksim. [Something wrong?] she asked privately, noticing his tension. [Everything¡¯s fine,] he replied shortly, doing his best to stay calm. [Just be wary of other groups¡¯ offers.] [Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going anywhere. I need you in every sense,] Redhead said, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. ¡°I apologize for any unintended incident,¡± Rafal inclined his head slightly. ¡°The ¡®Cats¡¯ are an excellent guild but very¡­ willful. I didn¡¯t know what she wanted to discuss.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Maksim assured him. ¡°We¡¯re ready to hand over the site. All security systems are under our control, and the turrets are set to defend against Shaiszu. However, as I mentioned before, some of the warehouse¡¯s contents were removed prior to our arrival. Plus, a wandering Shaiszu portal opened on the premises ¡ª twenty-four entities. Had to put up a fight.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re aware. Our AI closely monitored your streams. On behalf of the Council, I¡¯d like to thank you for your precision and efficiency in carrying out this mission, as well as for minimizing property damage during combat. Please provide your team¡¯s account number. I¡¯ll transfer the full reward amount, including the combat risk bonus, as soon as we finalize the handover.¡± [Dasha, do we even have one?] [Of course! A basic team account is created automatically when you register, yeah. Here you go.] A mediaglyph appeared, requesting a secure connection. Maksim sent the sixteen-character alphanumeric code he received. [Thanks, WonderStar. Connect too; we need to upload the access keys and the warehouse data.] [On it.] Within a minute, the final mission formalities were complete. And a moment later, a message from the Council of Free Rzesz¨®w appeared, accompanied by the pleasant sound of the team account balance going up. MISSION Reconnaissance of Helios Corp Warehouse Complex SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED! Base Reward: 15,000 grants for successful mission completion and providing detailed warehouse inventory. Bonuses: Increased Combat Risk Bonus: 51,500 grants. Data Quality Bonus: 4,000 grants. Honesty Bonus: 6,500 grants. Additional Rewards: * Warehouse Protection Reward: 35,250 grants * Reputation increase in Free City of Rzesz¨®w, granting access to more complex and lucrative missions * Special awards from the Council for professionalism demonstrated: ** Access to category-D missions ** Choice of a semi-truck and trailer from the provided list [Woo-hoo! We rock, yeah! We¡¯re a gang! Ghosts rule!] Dasha exclaimed over the conference line, unable to hold back after reading the City¡¯s message. [Yeah, that¡¯s us! We¡¯ll tear apart every last Shaiszu and put ¡®em in their place!] Redhead chimed in enthusiastically. ¡°Oh, and I have a message from Colonel Shimon Wozniak, the Coordinator of the Free Rzesz¨®w Council,¡± Rafal added. ¡°Shall I play it?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Maksim replied, surprised but keeping his cool. In augmented reality, a video window opened for each team member. It showed the familiar desk, the same uniformed man, but outside the windows, it was night. The message must have been recorded very recently. Greetings, Ghosts of the Future! You¡¯ve shown exceptional skill. The Council of Free Rzesz¨®w has decided to reward you with an increased premium for the combat risks you undertook and the operation''s complexity. On behalf of the Council, I also offer official apologies for an error by our analytical group. Based on all criteria, your mission should have been classified as Category D. The dangerous Shaiszu entities like the ones you encountered typically appear only in operations of this difficulty level or higher. In the light of your successful completion and upon the recommendation from the Deputy Commander of the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ Guild, the Council is advancing your team¡¯s rating to D-grade, prior to the official TACTA Rating system launches. I take a responsible approach with the people I work with, and sincerely hope our collaboration will continue. Therefore, in gratitude for your high-quality work and as compensation for the damages you sustained, I am personally granting your cyborg, Pani Nikola Kowalski, access to the City¡¯s Technical Fund. She will have the opportunity to acquire new ninth-generation legs, model ¡®Mamba,¡¯ and arms from the same gens, model ¡®Temblor,¡¯ for the symbolic price of one grant each. I¡¯ll cover the remaining cost from my personal budget. Once again, I thank your entire team and invite you to stop by for a brief chat when you¡¯re in the City. Please arrange a convenient time and date with my secretary on the info line. See you in Free Rzesz¨®w!
The Ghosts¡¯ truck whirred softly from its electric wheel motors, flashed its turn signals in a final farewell, and left the ¡°hospitable¡± grounds of the warehouse complex. ¡°Well, that was one hell of an adventure,¡± said Max, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat turned inward to face the others. ¡°But these wandering portals are unnerving. It means any mission could suddenly get a whole lot tougher ¡ª or even become downright deadly.¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Alisa cut in as the team¡¯s lead analyst. ¡°Cities with stationary protection have systems to keep portals from opening inside their borders ¡ª that¡¯s confirmed. Protectorate cities are always secure, but for the Free Settlements, it depends on their leadership. If they invest in suppression systems, then no random Shaiszu will just show up out of nowhere. As for missions, it depends on the region.¡± ¡°Ah-ha,¡± added Dasha. ¡°There are zones where portals are likely to open and zones where they aren¡¯t, yeah. The city analysts generally have that kind of intel. And¡­ you can actually buy a subscription from TACTA to see it all in the app. You know, the one with the faction territories on the map. Costs a hundred grants a day per person, and it¡¯s strictly non-shareable, with serious reputation penalties if you try.¡± She rubbed her eyes, stifling a yawn. ¡°Guys¡­ can we leave the rest for tomorrow? I¡¯m wiped out¡­ no energy left, yeah. Don¡¯t even have it in me to count how long we¡¯ve been on our feet. Just nonstop¡­adventures. We need to rest.¡± ¡°That was my thought exactly,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°We got our payment, and it¡¯s a lot, but if we try to place an order now, we¡¯ll definitely mess it up. Purely out of exhaustion.¡± ¡°Or better yet, let¡¯s start by heading to Rzesz¨®w, get ourselves some decent accommodations. With a nice shower, or even a sauna. Pick up my paws, have a chat with the Colonel, and then go save the world,¡± Nikola suggested. ¡°Alright then, unless something comes up, we sleep until we reach Rzesz¨®w,¡± Maksim concluded. ¡°At least while we¡¯re still on neutral ground.¡± Chapter 90 – Arrival in Rzeszów State Ukraine/ State Poland, Highway M10/A4, Neutral Territories Team Ghost of the Future, August 15, 2049, 04:52 AM Maksim woke at 04:51 AM, with about forty minutes left to their destination. He¡¯d had another strange nightmare involving Shaiszu, and his medical monitor had recorded a slight temperature increase ¡ª nothing serious, just up to 37.2¡ã C, but still concerning. His head was throbbing too, but he wasn¡¯t keen on another dose of the military painkillers. The whole team had been relying on them too much lately as it is. ¡°Last thing I need is some chthonic virus from those damned monsters,¡± he muttered, recalling the incident where he¡¯d ended up tangled in the tentacles of an interdimensional invader. After a quick consult, Alisa reviewed his medical monitor¡¯s readings, shook her head, and handed him a mild painkiller. ¡°For now, it¡¯s hard to tell what¡¯s going on with you,¡± she said. ¡°Could just be side effects from these strange new abilities. The monitor isn¡¯t flagging anything serious, so for now, we¡¯ll just keep an eye on your condition and manage the symptoms. Once we get access to proper medical facilities, we¡¯ll run a full set of tests, I promise.¡± Maksim climbed into the driver¡¯s seat and sat there for a moment with his eyes closed. His headache eventually faded, but any chance of sleep had disappeared, so he decided against going back to the bunk. Besides, their truck had just entered the City¡¯s controlled zone, confirmed by a brief flash of an AR notification. Curious, he opened it to find a link to the ¡°Rzesz¨®w ¨C Partner Network¡± app. A good way to pass the time! Max smirked and started exploring. Opening the map, the leader of the ¡°Ghosts¡± sighed. ¡°All the surrounding areas near Rzesz¨®w, down to each little village and industrial firm, has already been cleared!¡± He kept browsing through the app¡¯s features. ¡°Aha, filters¡­ You can sort by specific teams, clans, or guilds¡­ There¡¯s even a local ranking within Rzesz¨®w. Alright, let¡¯s see where that damn Tanya crawled out from¡­ Wild Cats, wasn¡¯t it? Holy hell! Number one in Rzesz¨®w, with twenty-three successful missions since the invasion started. How is that even possible?¡± ¡°Here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere, you must run twice as fast as that!¡± he muttered in frustration, his voice low but clearly annoyed. Alisa still managed to catch his words. ¡°I told myself the same thing,¡± smiling, she settled into the seat next to him. She¡¯d already gone over the information Rzesz¨®w had shared, analyzing all available data on the top teams, clans, and guilds in the State Poland, State Germany, and neighboring regions. ¡°Ah¡­ forget it, sis. You¡¯re alive, we¡¯re free. Nothing¡¯s more important than that. We¡¯ll make it through everything.¡± They fell silent, watching the monotonous dark landscape streak by the window, each lost in their own thoughts. ¡°You know,¡± Maksim finally broke the silence, ¡°I¡¯m glad it all worked out. I mean, everything. That you¡¯re here, with me now. As a¡­ human.¡± After a brief pause, Alisa replied, perhaps surprising herself with her words. ¡°Well, I¡¯m actually not a human. For a long time, I wanted to be one, to prove something to you, and¡­ I don¡¯t know, maybe to myself too? But now I realize ¡ª I¡¯m not human anymore, and there¡¯s no need to dwell on that.¡± ¡°Sis, you¡¯re not¡­¡± ¡°Wait, just listen. The most important thing is that I¡¯m still me. The one who went to the Ob Sea with you and had barbecues. The one who cried when realized what happened to Mom and Dad. The one who ran away from Russia with you and¡­ died in the process. And then came back to life, in many ways because of you. I¡¯m the one whose mind is now integrated with a supercomputer and is very different from a typical Homo sapiens. But above all, I¡¯m someone who loves you very much.¡± ¡°I¡­ love you very much too.¡± Maksim closed his eyes, struggling to find the right words. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why it was so hard. I couldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t want to let you go, not like others do when they lose someone close. I felt like I was somehow guilty for being alive in your place. That¡¯s why I latched on so tightly to our father¡¯s idea ¡ª the transfer of consciousness into a computer, creating a hybrid of artificial and human intelligence. But it turned out to be a monumental task¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, it was, big brother,¡± she agreed softly. ¡°For all of us. For you, for me, and for Dasha. You became consumed by this project for years. And without that obsession, I wouldn¡¯t be here. Dasha, too, put so much on the line for the project. She even broke with her father over it, and you know how important he is to her. And as for me¡­ you can¡¯t imagine what I went through.¡± She shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips, then continued. ¡°And now, just imagine it ¡ª this whole time, from day one, it was really me. In the overheating, overloaded circuit boards, in the glitching computers. In that simple, weak android. Watching you rejoice at each success, grow frustrated at each setback, and disbelieve me, doubt my words, doubt that I was me.¡± Maksim sighed heavily, staring down at his hands before responding. ¡°I¡­ I wanted to believe. I dreamed of waking up one day to find you alive, real¡­ to see that it all had finally worked. But I¡¯m a scientist, an engineer, like our parents. I had this rational, scientific worldview, so I knew¡­ with the early, simplified prototype architecture, it just wasn¡¯t possible.¡± Alisa fell silent, gazing thoughtfully out the darkened window. As they neared the city, the road was coming to life. The glow of headlights from armored off-road vehicles and large buses began to cut through the mist more frequently. She watched a fleeting sign for the ¡°Paola Hotel¡± pass by with a touch of melancholy before she continued. ¡°Your disbelief added fuel to my fears. It became another source of pain and uncertainty. At times, I wanted to scream at you, to call you an idiot. Other times, I thought¡­ maybe it would be easier just to disappear? Stop fighting? Did I truly exist ¡ª and was I even me? I wanted to find simple, easy answers to what was happening to me. Either to become a regular human again or finally vanish, dissolve completely into the black void.¡± Maksim¡¯s hands trembled as he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Then he replied, almost as if speaking to himself. ¡°To bring a digital copy of a human mind to life required something far more powerful¡­ and a lot more expensive. So, I initially created the android body just as a reminder of you. To stay close to my purpose, to remind myself of what I wanted to achieve. Over time, the architecture evolved closer to the vision our father had described. Dasha helped solve the software issues. Together, we ran the ¡®Transference¡¯ protocol, and¡­ it seemed to have worked. But how could I be sure? What signs, what criteria could prove that it had really worked? That it wasn¡¯t just a highly advanced AI simulation?¡± A brief silence followed. Max didn¡¯t quite know what else to say and, in the end, decided to apologize. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve been blind these past few months¡­ Afraid to admit to myself that it really did work. I got so obsessed with pushing the project forward, never thinking about when I might need to stop. I¡¯m sorry. I¡­ regret it. I didn¡¯t know. Maybe¡­ I couldn¡¯t have known¡­ or maybe I just wasn¡¯t ready. I still struggle to understand what happened, how it was even possible¡­ and where to start finding a new science to explain it.¡± The truck slowed down, carefully veering onto the shoulder, skirting the carcass of a large Shaiszu creature sprawled on the asphalt, a grim reminder of how different the world outside had become. Alisa¡¯s gaze lingered on the sudden obstacle as she continued. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to explain everything just yet, but somehow, you managed to tap into something beyond just an imprint of my mind. Something far more complex ¡ª and likely connected to the very energy we¡¯re studying now. I think the aliens know something about it ¡ª it¡¯s no coincidence they perceive me differently from a regular AI. Anyway, consider your apology accepted. Not that it was particularly needed.¡± She turned to face him fully, looking straight into his eyes, and said with firm resolve, ¡°Only now am I finally starting to become myself. It¡¯s time to stop depending on your opinion, to stop fearing whether I¡¯m human or a program ¡ª and to simply start living. I¡¯m redefining myself, becoming whole again, building my identity anew. Who knows, you might even have to put up with me going through a teenage phase? I never really had one, after all.¡± Maksim looked at his sister with an apologetic smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. ¡°You know, I spent ages studying psychology and even some psychiatry, but I¡¯m pretty sure I don¡¯t understand you right now.¡± ¡°Of course you don¡¯t! You don¡¯t really understand other people either ¡ª like Dasha, for example. You¡¯ve done so much to help with her condition. And actually managed to help her, but you¡¯re still missing the most important part! But¡­ that¡¯s not what we¡¯re talking about now.¡± ¡°Well, all I can add,¡± Maksim continued, ¡°is that we¡¯re family, and we¡¯ll always have each other, no matter who or what we become. You made me want to achieve the impossible, and I hope that in the future, we lift each other up, not bring each other down.¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s something worth saying! But you¡¯re still a fool, you know. At least you¡¯re trying to improve,¡± Alisa added with a smile. ¡°Why am I the fool here?¡± Maksim protested. ¡°What¡¯s with the insults toward your best, most lovable, handsome, talented, and only brother?¡± ¡°Because you still haven¡¯t shifted your mindset ¡ª you keep thinking everything is only about some grand purpose. Goals change. Some we achieve, others lose their relevance. But you keep chasing them relentlessly, living to achieve things instead of just for yourself.¡± Maksim crossed his arms with a look of playful offense and shot her a skeptical look.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Have you looked out the window recently? The world¡¯s gone apocalyptic. What, do you expect me to drop everything, go running through sunny fields, singing songs, rejoicing, and looking for magical unicorns that poop butterflies? How exactly do you picture this?¡± Her laughter came in an uncharacteristic burst, open and contagious, and it threw him off for a moment, pleasantly so. ¡°Oh, you are so grim.¡± Alisa tapped her knuckles against the window, as dark silhouettes of buildings shrouded in thick fog flickered by. ¡°There¡¯s always something out there. Now it¡¯s the Apocalypse. Before, it was economic crises. Resistance to new technology. Wars. The fall of Governments, the power struggle between Corporations and States. So what? If you keep putting off your own happiness, you¡¯ll never actually get to it. No one will do that for you.¡± She gazed thoughtfully at the road stretching into the distance, at the mist gently parting in the headlights¡¯ glow. ¡°It all comes down to perspective. You can either choose the endless race for achievements, or you can choose to make it all about your own happiness. And that can start with little things. Eating well, drinking, spending a night with...¡± she glanced over her shoulder at the truck bed, where their companions were still asleep. ¡°Of course, I know you haven¡¯t denied yourself some of those things. But the main thing is to be here and now. Carpe diem, seize the day. Set your priorities straight. The apocalypse isn¡¯t going anywhere. But our lives? They¡¯re just beginning. Let¡¯s not let it slip by.¡± ¡°Well, once again, I have to say I don¡¯t fully understand you,¡± Maksim shrugged. ¡°I worked on bringing you back because that was my conscious choice. Not to save random people I didn¡¯t know, or achieve world peace, or chase pink unicorns.¡± He stared out at the road ahead, absently noting how the distance to their destination kept shrinking. ¡°Maybe things aren¡¯t as bleak as you think? This is just who I am ¡ª with all my ambitions. I actually love pushing for the impossible. Reaching new heights, even when it¡¯s tough. I¡¯m happy that you¡¯re alive, and it seems like you need Moira less and less. I¡¯ve achieved what I spent years working towards. We escaped Kyiv, gained freedom and new opportunities. But consider that I¡¯ve gotten a taste of it now, and don¡¯t want to stop. I still intend to make Moira the most powerful supercomputer on Earth. To develop the System with all of you. To get our team to the very top of the TACTA rankings¡­¡± Maksim spread his arms and grinned. ¡°And, by the way, I don¡¯t deny myself good food or¡­ nights with beautiful women¡­ at least, not recently. But I¡¯ll give this ¡®living in the moment¡¯ thing some thought. And speaking of here and now ¡ª we¡¯re almost there. Time to get ready for arrival and wake up our sleeping beauties.¡±
05:32 AM, sixteen minutes before dawn The first pale-pink rays of sunlight began to break through the night¡¯s darkness, casting a gentle glow across the highway. Outside, the world was still shrouded in dusk, but the horizon had already begun to brighten, outlining the trees, billboards, and numerous industrial structures stretching along the highway. The air was still cool, allowing a thin mist to linger over the asphalt, giving the landscape an almost spectral appearance. The truck¡¯s dashboard displayed 05:32, matching the ¡°Time¡± mediaglyph in the upper right corner of the augmented reality interface. A green sign flashed by on the roadside ¡ª ¡°Rzesz¨®w¡± ¡ª marking the city¡¯s border. Ahead, the hazy silhouettes of buildings gradually took shape through the mist. To Maksim¡¯s surprise, traffic had slowed considerably. Contrary to his expectations, the road was not merely busy ¡ª it was packed, resembling rush hour back in the former Earth polises. He frowned, scrutinizing the endless flow of vehicles. Almost all of them were different types of off-roaders, ranging from massive pickup tracks to boxy minibuses. Many had reinforced, sometimes armored bodies, often with machine guns or autocannons mounted on the roofs. Some were accompanied by drones, wheeled bots, and motorcycles, with over half proudly displaying the emblems of teams, clans, and guilds, sometimes even flying flags. Military transport with the city¡¯s insignia could also be seen, though far less frequently. Mostly, they were patrol pairs of the familiar Boxers ¡ª formidable machines equipped with combat modules, always escorted by a squad of attack drones. Maksim¡¯s mind drifted as he watched the procession from both the truck window and a flying surveillance drone hovering ten meters above them. ¡°Why are so many missions being taken so early in the morning? Competition? Running out of worthwhile targets nearby? Or is it survival instinct kicking in? It¡¯s an apocalypse, after all. Media and games have been prepping us for this¡­ scenario for decades.¡± A rustling sound came from the back of the cab, pulling him from his thoughts. It seemed Redhead sensed that Max was awake, and, having woken up herself, started to get out of her lightweight sleeping bag spread out on the floor. She stood, stretched, and walked over, pulling a small pack of mint-flavored ¡°Instant Toothbrush Candy¡± strips from her pocket ¡ª handy alternative to a toothbrush and toothpaste when out in the field. ¡°Damn, what a traffic jam, kurwa!¡± she muttered, dropping into the passenger seat and staring out the window. ¡°Feels just like good old days.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°I expected empty roads, not this.¡± Dasha woke up to the sound of voices. She sat up, blinking as a moment of disorientation passed ¡ª where was she? Gradually, her surroundings came back into focus, and the ¡®sniper-programmer¡¯ pulled herself out of virtual reality, where she¡¯d instinctively slipped in those first moments of confusion. Reaching over, the girl unfastened the safety belt she¡¯d started using after a previous unfortunate fall. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes and got up from the small bed in the back of the truck. Though still a bit groggy, her curiosity quickly took over. ¡°We¡¯re here?¡± Dasha asked, eyeing the approaching city lights. ¡°Almost,¡± Maksim replied. ¡°Welcome to Rzesz¨®w.¡± The city lay before them in all its harsh reality. Ruined buildings loomed over the streets like silent witnesses to the recent battles. Evidence of heavy fighting was everywhere ¡ª collapsed facades, walls riddled with holes, shattered glass, twisted, torn, and blackened metal, scorched plastic. Hardly a single building remained intact. A massive swarm of Shaiszu had swept through, annihilating in its path until it finally met fierce resistance. Yet, despite the destruction, the city didn¡¯t feel dead. Nothing was burning or smoking. The streets were cleared, and there were no visible corpses ¡ª neither Shaiszu, or human, nor wrecked machinery. This was the clearest sign that the territory was under control, a testament to the Free Rzesz¨®w authorities¡¯ confidence in their strength. From the main road, they could see just well autonomous construction bots hard at work on the side streets. Robots carefully dismantled rubble and loaded debris onto platforms, transporting materials for recycling through TACTA technology. Life was moving forward. The old city might never be restored, but its materials would contribute to the rise of a new Free Rzesz¨®w! ¡°They work well. Fast, yeah,¡± Dasha noted, admiring the seamless coordination of the machinery. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Max chuckled. ¡°More and more, I¡¯m glad we picked Rzesz¨®w as our first stop. I think we might even stay here a bit longer¡­¡± As if to confirm his words, a group of entirely new vehicles appeared at the next intersection. Two of them resembled tanks hovering a meter above the ground, alongside a colossal, four-legged combat platform with a turret of frightening caliber. ¡°That¡¯s not Earth-made tech,¡± Nikola observed, studying them closely. ¡°TACTA¡¯s handiwork,¡± Alisa noted with a smile as she returned to the cabin. ¡°By the way, hover tanks like those are available in the Informatorium Catalog, in case you forgot.¡± ¡°Oh man, yes¡­ looks like Rzesz¨®w went ahead and bought some.¡± Their destination was now just minutes away now, and the number of drones in the sky noticeably increased. Although it wasn¡¯t as dense as in Kyiv, which was under Protectorate control, but it was still enough to ensure the city¡¯s security. Notably, at least a third of the flying vehicles they saw were of TACTA make. ¡°Great! I feel like I¡¯m being watched again,¡± Dasha grumbled. ¡°That¡¯s a good thing,¡± Maksim chuckled. ¡°It means this place is safe ¡ª at least for now.¡± The conversations gradually faded as their destination came into view around the bend. A kilometer-long stretch of road led them to an enormous WALL, behind which lay what had once been an intercorporate military base, now transformed into the beating heart of the new Free Rzesz¨®w. Rising to heights of fifteen to twenty meters at different points, the wall was reinforced with massive composite plates, armed by heavy artillery barrels and anti-aircraft guns aimed skyward. Catapults for drone launches, rocket silos poised for rapid deployment, antennas, and strange emitters of unknown design lined its defenses. Autonomous gun platforms patrolled the perimeter, accompanied by swarms of drones, while powerful searchlights swept over the area. ...Despite the overwhelming fortifications, all the massive gates stood wide open, allowing a continuous stream of traffic to enter and exit freely. ¡°Oh, Great Cthulhu,¡± Dasha breathed, marveling at this wonder of TACTA¡¯s military engineering. ¡°This is a real fortress!¡± ¡°It¡¯s impressive. Looks like Rzesz¨®w hasn¡¯t wasted any time,¡± Redhead added, equally awestruck. Even Maksim, usually reserved, couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered. ¡°I know it¡¯s not as long as Kyiv¡¯s Ring Expressway, but how did they manage to build something like this so fast?¡± ¡°I¡¯d guess it¡¯s thanks to those very technologies the Protectorate loves showing off in their propaganda videos,¡± Alisa replied calmly. ¡°And knowing our beloved TACTA, I¡¯d bet those massive flying construction robots weren¡¯t sold ¡ª they were rented to Rzesz¨®w for an outrageous price.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Dasha nodded. ¡°We just saw them earlier, taking apart building remains and packing up resources into those special cubes, yeah¡­¡± The Ghosts¡¯ truck slipped into a short line at the entrance and quickly moved through it. At the final checkpoint, the vehicle passed through a scanning field that picked up their independent TACTA Partner ID tags. An AR notification flashed, ¡°Partner ID Verification ¨C Successful,¡± quickly replaced by a neat ¡°Welcome to Free Rzesz¨®w!¡± message. ¡°Hey, I found us a decent hostel for the night, not too far from here,¡± Alisa announced to the team in a temptingly persuasive tone. ¡°After everything that¡¯s happened¡­ how about a little rest? It¡¯s a cozy spot in a former military housing complex inside the Wall, now repurposed with an entire area dedicated to short-term rentals. Options for all tastes and budgets, though I picked something on the more affordable side ¡ª hostel rooms with a shared kitchen, if no one minds. There¡¯s parking nearby for a small fee, and our truck will fit. I checked.¡± ¡°Yep, I see it,¡± Maksim nodded, clicking on the link she¡¯d shared in their group chat. ¡°Ninety-two grants for all of us for one night, plus ten for parking. Sounds perfect. We all earned a bit of personal space!¡± They drove down onto a well-kept street in the former military town, passing rows of identical hostel and apartment buildings. Digital signs displayed names like ¡°Soldier¡¯s Rest,¡± ¡°Barracks XXI Deluxe,¡± ¡°Dragon¡¯s Den,¡± and more. Clearly, the city authorities had thought of the needs of visiting teams ¡ª and of a little extra revenue, of course. ¡°Maybe we should¡¯ve taken one room for all of us?¡± Dasha suggested as they parked near their chosen building. ¡°Or perhaps two: one for the guys, one for the girls, yeah?¡± ¡°WonderKid, we¡¯ll be spending plenty of time together as it is ¡ª in the truck, on missions¡­ Let¡¯s give each other a little personal space. And besides, that bit of savings isn¡¯t worth sacrificing comfort.¡± ¡°I get why you¡¯d want that,¡± Alisa gave Maksim an understanding look and backed him up, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I thought. Sure, we could have gone for a bunk in a shared room for 5 grants a night, but honestly, that¡¯s a bit over the top.¡± They checked in at the hostel. The administrator, an older man with a kindly face, only needed their TACTA partner ID numbers, which had essentially replaced passports in this new world, and handed over their keys. ¡°Welcome. If you need anything, just let me know.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Max replied, taking the keys. The team made their way up the creaky stairs to the second floor, where they found rooms 15, 16, 18, and 19. Small but cozy enough, each room offered the basics: a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a small window looking out onto the street. Max dropped his backpack onto the floor and stretched out on the bed with a sigh of relief. His body, weighed down by the exhaustion of the past days, instantly relaxed, and even the urge to shower quickly faded. He closed his eyes, listening to the distant sounds of the city, finally allowing himself a rare moment of peace. In the neighboring rooms, Dasha and Nikola were also preparing for bed. Dasha lingered by the window, lost in thoughts of her father, of Max, of improving the System, and watching the Free Rzesz¨®w come to life before finally lying down. Nikola, meanwhile, quickly unloaded her gear, took a quick shower ¡ª grumbling, ¡°well, it¡¯s no sauna, but it¡¯ll do,¡± ¡ª wolfed down a chocolate protein bar, then jumped into bed and, without a second thought, was out like a light. Military habits die hard. Left alone, Alisa settled in at the desk. For a while, she reviewed data, double-checking information and preparing for upcoming meetings. Finally, she stretched and moved to the window. The dawn painted the sky in soft pink tones, making the city seem a bit less harsh. ¡°New day, new opportunities,¡± she whispered to herself, smiling. ¡°It¡¯s good to be alive.¡± Chapter 91 – Blueprints and Battles Ahead State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Team Ghost of the Future, August 15, 2049, 12:57 PM Nikola slipped quietly from Max¡¯s room, gently closing the door behind her with a sly smile. Sunlight peeked playfully through the curtains in the hostel corridor, and she leaned against the wall, grinning to herself. ¡°He-heh, no witnesses, no crime. Nothing happened!¡± the girl mused with a soft chuckle. It was nearly one in the afternoon, and the shared kitchen was surprisingly empty. The aroma of fresh coffee and traces of morning conversation had long since faded, leaving only the faint hum of the refrigerator in the silence. Apparently, the hostel¡¯s other residents had already scattered off on their missions. Nikola moved to the window and looked out over the bustling streets of Rzesz¨®w, where life surged on, undeterred by recent events¡­ After lunch, Maksim had called for a team meeting in Alisa¡¯s room for a briefing ¡ª it just so happened she¡¯d been given the largest, sunniest one. As everyone gathered, the mood turned serious. Alisa perched on the edge of the bed, while Nikola settled by the desk with an extra cup of coffee she¡¯d brought from the kitchen. Dasha sat in the chair with her legs tucked up, pulling out from the pocket her ever-present vape. And Max took his place by the window, arms folded across his chest. ¡°All right,¡± he began, ¡°we need to decide on our next steps and what to order from TACTA with our hard-earned one hundred and twelve thousand, give or take, in grants.¡± He paused, letting his gaze travel over everyone in the room. It was obvious they were in the mood to relax, but this was an important moment to drive the message home. After all, this team was made up of some... rather unique characters. And, surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t only Nikola who needed a reminder of basic safety rules. He¡¯d already given her a private lecture and a thorough round of punishment. A very thorough round, at that... ¡°But first, I want to remind everyone to be cautious during combat missions.¡± Nikola raised an eyebrow, smirking. ¡°Yes, you got it, Redhead ¡ª this is about you,¡± Max said, looking straight at her. ¡°According to Dasha¡¯s theory, everyone has some built-in tendency toward certain System characteristics. And since you¡¯ve got the ¡®Berserker¡¯ ability, chances are you¡¯ve always been one.¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Nikola chuckled, tilting her head with a grin. ¡°Sounds about right.¡± Max just sighed, frowning slightly. ¡°So, we won¡¯t try to hold you back in a fight, but you¡¯re also not rushing ahead of the drones. We don¡¯t have a spare Nika, you know.¡± Redhead winked at him, crossing her cybernetic arms over her chest with a look of confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I take care of myself just fine.¡± Dasha, glancing between the two, couldn¡¯t help but admire Nikola¡¯s behavior. ¡°How does she manage to be both friendly and stubborn at the same time? That¡¯s impressive¡­ I could never pull that off¡­¡± Meanwhile, a certain idea had been circling in the threads of Alisa¡¯s mind for a while now: ¡°In theory, creating a backup of Nikola might actually be possible, if I understand everything correctly. The only issue is the capacity of our current equipment.¡± ¡°Back to business,¡± Max resumed. ¡°We¡¯re a small team, and competition isn¡¯t slowing down. Look at the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ ¡ª they¡¯ve already achieved so much. They started out with a top-tier military base, have upgraded cyborgs, and rose through the ranks in no time. It¡¯s been barely any time since the invasion began, and they¡¯re already miles ahead. How are we supposed to keep up?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to either bring in more people or ramp up our tech capabilities dramatically,¡± Alisa noted. ¡°Ideally, both.¡± ¡°Exactly. We were planning to expand our technical arsenal anyway, so let¡¯s go over that now. But where do we find people? Quality teammates, like Nika here, aren¡¯t just lying around on the roadside, waiting to be picked up,¡± Max smirked, casting a glance at Redhead. ¡°For the record, not on the roadside, but the stadium,¡± she grinned, recalling their first encounter. ¡°And as I remember, it was mostly you lying around then. So, who really picked up whom?¡± Laughter rippled through the group, and the tension eased. ¡°I vote for more tech,¡± Dasha chimed in cautiously. ¡°People are just¡­ too complicated, yeah. Tech¡¯s more reliable.¡± ¡°So, we¡¯re unanimously voting for tech,¡± Max summed up. ¡°But we¡¯re still going to need people. The idea of forming a clan really got me thinking ¡ª there¡¯s no way the four of us can handle all this work on our own. Who¡¯s going to take care of R&D, for instance?¡± ¡°We could draft a list of roles,¡± Alisa suggested, ¡°and post openings on the forum. Start with a few essential positions and not bring in too many people at once. We¡¯re still far from becoming a full-fledged clan or let alone, a guild.¡± Max nodded, making notes in his AR ¡®notebook.¡¯ ¡°Good idea. Let¡¯s go with that.¡± He paused before addressing Redhead¡¯s situation. ¡°Now, about you, Nika. Unfortunately, you¡¯re temporarily out of combat action. As our top-heavy assault, your recovery is a top priority.¡± She shrugged. ¡°They promised us new ninth-series cyber-limbs. Those¡¯re even better than what I had before. But my neuro-interface and connectors are damaged. Without replacing them, I could attach the new limbs, sure, but actually using them in combat? Not a chance.¡± ¡°Nika and I went through all the options available from TACTA,¡± Max continued. ¡°Even if we limit ourselves to bio-cyber kits we can install ourselves with our AI-assisted surgical robot, it¡¯s still way beyond what we can afford right now.¡± He quickly opened an AR display and projected a detailed report. ¡°Here, take a look,¡± he said, sharing the link in the team¡¯s conference. // Report: Neural Link ¡°Berserker Overdrive¡± Base Version + Essential Enhancements, Self-Installation Kit Price: 10,000 grants Enhancement Modules: Total: 18,970 grants Installation Time: 2.5 hours Recovery: Light physical activity possible after 12 hours; full recovery in 4 days Bio-Compatible Connectors (Arms) Standard Arm Connectors Price: 9,000 grants Enhancement Modules: Total: 60,300 grants Installation Time: 3 hours per arm Recovery: Light physical activity possible after 24 hours, full recovery in 5 days Bio-Compatible Connectors (Legs) Standard Leg Connectors Price: 6,000 grants Enhancement Modules: Total: 41,540 grants Installation Time: 2 hours per leg Recovery: Light physical activity after 24 hours, full recovery in 5 days Alisa carefully reviewed the data, biting her lip. ¡°These really are crazy expensive,¡± she said at last. ¡°I was thinking we could buy assembly kits for combat drones compatible with Earth-grade weapons. And maybe we could source ammo locally through barter or services, so we don¡¯t end up burning our precious grants.¡± ¡°What if we just buy blueprints and build the drones ourselves?¡± Dasha cut in, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. ¡°I mean, we¡¯re an engineering and software startup, not some gang out there to bust heads¡­ uhm¡­ you get the idea¡­ yeah¡­¡± She shot a cautious glance at Nikola, giving her a slightly apologetic smile. ¡°Well, we¡¯re a gang too,¡± grinned Redhead, winking. ¡°But¡­ yep, it¡¯d save us money, and we¡¯re going to need a crafting complex anyway!¡± ¡°That¡¯s could work too,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°The only catch is, a SynthForge crafting complex is way out of our budget right now ¡ª it¡¯s nearly a hundred thousand grants. But if we buy the blueprints, gather the materials, and rent a TACTA drone equipped with a crafting module¡­ Sure, we might lose about 70-80% of the raw materials, but it¡¯ll still cost less than buying ready-made drones. And once we get our own fabricator, we¡¯ll make up for the blueprint costs.¡± Maksim rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Alright, that sounds good. But what about Nika?¡± Redhead raised her hand as if she were a student in class. ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea! Let¡¯s take it one step at a time. We¡¯ll start with just the connectors and the neural link. My old ones need replacing anyway. Installing Earth-based implants now only to switch them out for TACTA later would be a waste. This way, I get the alien-standard foundation from the start. Sure, I won¡¯t have the fancy TACTA limbs made specifically for ¡®Berserker¡¯ mode just yet, but the ones we¡¯re getting from Rzesz¨®w will do just fine for now.¡± Max¡¯s face lit up. ¡°That¡¯s a brilliant idea! It lets us get you back on your feet without extra risk.¡± ¡°To be honest, I can handle the first level of ¡®Berserker¡¯ without additional modifications or TACTA-grade limbs,¡± Nika assured them confidently. ¡°It¡¯ll hurt, yeah, but I¡¯m used to it.¡± Dasha nodded, brushing away a stray lock of hair that kept falling across her face. ¡°And while we¡¯re at it, we can work on figuring out if we even need to buy TACTA cyber-limbs. If we can figure out what makes them different from Earth-made ones, maybe we can even craft our own.¡± ¡°Now for the tough part,¡± Max sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve come up with a solid solution to fit out the truck as a mobile surgery module. But it¡¯ll eat up almost our entire budget. It¡¯s based on a grav-compensator module, usually used to increase vehicle load capacity or for building various hover platforms¡­¡± ¡°But you¡¯re going to use it for vibration control in the trailer!¡± Alisa jumped in, supporting his idea. ¡°Clever move.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s an awesome idea,¡± Dasha agreed. ¡°And we still get the load capacity boost, yeah! We could haul way more goodies ¡ª assuming we find some, of course...¡± ¡°Let me guess,¡± Redhead chuckled, ¡°the only hitch is this beast¡¯s price, right?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Max exhaled. ¡°Sixty-nine thousand grants. And that¡¯s just for the base module. We¡¯d still have to calculate and craft all the fittings ourselves. If we set it up wrong, this ¡®beast,¡¯ as you put it, could tear the trailer apart. I even considered hiring TACTA experts for help, they offer that option. But honestly, we don¡¯t have the funds¡­ and we haven¡¯t even received the vehicle yet.¡± ¡°So, in short, it¡¯s not an option right now!¡± Alisa declared. ¡°Otherwise, we¡¯re really going to zero out¡­ Looks like we need everything at once: a big budget, crafting resources, and Nikola¡¯s surgery.¡± ¡°Alright, here¡¯s the plan, ladies,¡± Maksim suggested after a brief pause. ¡°For the surgery, we¡¯ll look into local clinics, since that¡¯s priority number one. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll try to schedule a meeting with the Colonel to finalize the truck arrangements. And for now, let¡¯s wrap up this briefing and take a look around Free Rzesz¨®w. I¡¯d like to get a lay of the land myself. Then we¡¯ll scout for missions and start gathering materials.¡± He shared his screen in the conference. ¡°I looked over the map this morning. Just so everyone knows, unauthorized looting is banned within the City¡¯s control zone. And all the prime resource points have already been picked clean.¡± ¡°Seriously? No looting?¡± Nikola asked, raising her eyebrows. ¡°And who¡¯s actually checking, anyway?¡± ¡°Drones¡¯ll catch you, yeah¡­¡± Dasha muttered, taking a drag from her vape. ¡°Maybe not on every spot, but definitely on the major ones.¡± ¡°Hey, Max,¡± Nikola mused, ¡°what the hell is up with this whole setup? I mean, I have some guesses, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve done your research.¡± ¡°Oh, I have. Me and Alisa both, actually. And Dasha¡¯s Ravens¡­ they¡¯ve been ¡®flying around¡¯ a lot,¡± Maksim smiled. ¡°See, Free Rzesz¨®w was founded by corporate military, and they¡¯re no fools. Easy-access resources like abandoned cars, shops, and warehouses would be stripped bare pretty fast. The old logistics network is gone, and who knows when a new one will be up and running.¡± Maksim paced as he continued. ¡°The city needs resources ¡ª basic construction materials, food, weapons, and equipment for defense against the Shaiszu. So, they set up strict monitoring and inventory control from the start. The first missions Rzesz¨®w¡¯s started issuing were recon: first within the control zone, and now beyond. We just completed one of those assignments ourselves.¡± ¡°The juiciest spots, naturally, were snapped up by the City,¡± Alisa added, having done the analytics on the matter earlier. ¡°Everything else goes up for auction. Plus, there¡¯s a tax ¡ª 10% in resources, calculated at market rates, or 20% if you want to keep the resources and pay in grants. They¡¯ve already got a commodities exchange up and running, so everyone can see the prices clearly.¡± ¡°So, people just rolled over and accepted these rules?¡± Nikola scoffed. ¡°Sounds like daylight robbery, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± Max countered. ¡°The City¡¯s offering plenty in return, as you¡¯ve seen yourself: safe, comfortable lodging, rentable storage and workshops for tech maintenance, dining halls, bars, public bathhouses¡­ even saunas.¡± ¡°Ooh, saunas, yes ¡ª those are a win!¡± Nika sighed, though her voice held a hint of longing. ¡°I get it, I¡¯m just grumbling.¡± ¡°And robbery? That¡¯d be Protectorate cities for you, yeah!¡± Dasha said snidely through a cloud of vape. ¡°Nothing belongs to regular people there, by the way.¡± A brief pause settled over them. Maksim, glancing at the now-silent girls, wrapped things up. ¡°Let¡¯s place a basic order through TACTA to get Nikola battle-ready at a local cyber-clinic¡­ they won¡¯t deliver it instantly, after all. While we wait, I¡¯ll get in touch with the city¡¯s info line to set up a meeting with the Colonel. Then, I¡¯ll look for a warehouse to unload the truck, and extend the hostel reservation for a couple more days,¡± he summarized the plan. ¡°Good plan. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll start looking for missions we can do to earn some cash and gather materials,¡± Alisa added. ¡°If you don¡¯t really need me for unloading the truck, Max, I¡¯ll get back to coding,¡± Dasha said. ¡°I¡¯m just about done with the crafting module and attributes. Alisa and I are designing it with expansion in mind, so that as soon as we get the SynthForge, we can integrate it into the System right away.¡± ¡°Absolutely, WonderKid. That¡¯s super important,¡± Maksim nodded, giving her a thumbs-up. ¡°Once I finish with the vehicle arrangements, I¡¯ll contact the Linkers and Miro and pitch the System to them. So, I¡¯ll stop by your room first to get an update.¡± ¡°Listen, Max,¡± Nika spoke up, also standing to pace a bit, ¡°I can reach out to the clinics about the surgery after we¡¯ve ordered the necessary components. Gonna reserve a time slot, and while we¡¯re waiting for the delivery, I¡¯ll help you with the unloading. As long as we don¡¯t push it too hard, these paws should hold up just fine. How¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°Okay, that works perfectly. Schedule for the earliest time you can, and we¡¯ll work around it. Alisa, what¡¯s the cost breakdown on the drone blueprints?¡± ¡°All set, I¡¯ll send over the numbers now,¡± she replied. ¡°The price depends on the maximum units that can be produced and the ¡®rarity¡¯ of each item¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, and ¡®rarity¡¯¡ª that was my idea, by the way! Clever, right, yeah?¡± Vasilevskaya cut in with a grin. ¡°TACTA¡¯s original term was something like ¡®expanded integral coefficient of layered systemic technical intricacy,¡¯ which sounded ridiculous. My version just makes total sense to gamers, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Max gave her a wide smile. ¡°Fine by me! ¡®Rarity¡¯ it is. But honestly, we don¡¯t need anything too fancy right now. Standard Earth tech should do the trick. But I couldn¡¯t resist the idea of adding micro grav-compensators. They¡¯re cheap, and the effect is just fantastic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I included in my calculations,¡± Alisa nodded, sending her prepped report. ¡°Here¡¯s the file with my recommendations. I suggest holding off on bulk purchases or unlimited-run blueprints for now. Let¡¯s field-test a few key items on the next couple of missions and then decide based on their effectiveness.¡± ¡°Thanks, little sis. I¡¯ll take a look now. The sooner we order, the sooner we get them. And since the blueprints determine what materials we need to gather, we¡¯d better sort it out as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Exactly. I¡¯d prefer to plan our mission strategy with a clear picture of the resources we¡¯ll need.¡± ¡°Alright then, looks like we¡¯re all set!¡± Max said, wrapping up. ¡°Let¡¯s split up and get to work. Before we head off to Marseille, as we originally planned, we need to gather resources, gain crafting access, and, of course, secure some solid tech. Because trucks only take us where there are roads ¡ª and something tells me roads won¡¯t always be there.¡± With that, Maksim decided not to drag things out. He called the City¡¯s info line and got in touch with the Colonel¡¯s secretary. And ¡ª amazingly ¡ª either they¡¯d been given high priority, or they just got insanely lucky, because an available time slot opened up for today at 9:45 PM. ¡°The Colonel probably hasn¡¯t slept in days and is running on stimulants,¡± Max thought, with a mix of respect and amusement. ¡°Considering the invasion started only a short time ago, they¡¯ve accomplished an incredible amount already.¡± Chapter 92 – Gear Up and Go State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w City, TACTA Ghost of the Future Team, August 15, 2049, 01:55 PM Before everyone split up, there was one last task: placing the final orders. Maksim opened the Informatorium app, as usual, sharing the screen in the team conference. But just as he entered the TACTA Store, a notification suddenly popped up instead of the usual Catalog: Attention! You are currently within the territorial responsibility zone of the Free Rzesz¨®w settlement. Your order will be processed by the City Production and Distribution Service. A TACTA Drone delivery is not required for this location. Happy shopping! For more information regarding product orders, bulk production requests, or renting manufacturing, repair, and storage facilities, please visit the ¡°Production & Rental¡± section on the City¡¯s website. ¡°Well, Redhead,¡± the guy said with a smirk, scanning the notice, ¡°here¡¯s a clear illustration of where all those city taxes are going.¡± ¡°Max, I¡¯ll look into the rental options and see how it might affect our plans,¡± Alisa replied. ¡°But let¡¯s go ahead and place the order, anyway.¡± He nodded, accepted the service terms, and entered the main catalog. Finding and adding the list he and Nikola had prepared didn¡¯t take him long. ¡°There we go,¡± he said, hitting the ¡®Place Order¡¯ and reading the system¡¯s response. ¡°Twenty-five thousand grants, production time is eight hours from the moment we provide either a biological sample for DNA extraction or an existing genome file.¡± Nikola smiled. ¡°I have a cryptographically signed file with the sequencing of my genome after the extensive correction procedure I went through at fourteen,¡± she said, uploading the data. ¡°Sending it now.¡± Maksim confirmed the payment, and the order status changed to ¡®In Process.¡¯ ¡°Perfect. Now, about the drone blueprints,¡± Alisa said, switching his shared screen to hers. ¡°It¡¯s simple ¡ª the more uses the blueprint allows, the cheaper each unit ends up. There are unlimited-use versions too, but I think they¡¯re unnecessary for now. I suggest we go with limited versions first to test the models in real conditions before making any long-term decisions. I¡¯ve put together a list of drones that should be useful for us.¡± The screen displayed a small drone, about five centimeters long, resembling a hummingbird but with two pairs of wings. Its body was crafted from matte black composite material that absorbed light and radio waves, making it nearly invisible in shadows. On the front was a tiny, highly sensitive camera lens surrounded by micro-sensors. Built-in microphones and antennas were concealed within the body, while an anti-gravity module allowed for quiet, seamless flight. ¡°Our first model is the ¡®Scout 2500¡¯ microdrone. It¡¯s designed for covert info-gathering. Compact, stealthy, and almost silent. Equipped with a high-sensitivity camera, lidar, and mics. A license for up to a hundred builds will set us back nine hundred grants.¡± ¡°What a nice little gadget,¡± Daria remarked, studying the model intently in augmented reality. ¡°I¡¯ll see how to integrate these ¡®birdies¡¯ into the System. I see a ton of scenarios where they¡¯ll come in handy¡­ yeah¡­¡± The screen switched to the next item: a medium-sized drone shaped like a flat disk about half a meter in diameter. Its surface flickered, changing color and texture as it demonstrated its adaptive camouflage. ¡°Next, we have the ¡®Eye¡¯ tactical observer drone,¡± Alisa continued. ¡°It¡¯s outfitted with advanced optical and infrared sensors, lidars, and radar. It¡¯s got a stealth module and, as you can see, pulls off a nice ¡®Predator¡¯ disguise. A license for ten builds costs nine hundred fifty grants.¡± ¡°Hey, sis, why only ten builds?¡± Maksim asked thoughtfully. ¡°I think this might be our go-to ¡®workhorse¡¯ tech. Maybe we should invest more in these blueprints, especially since the cost per unit drops with more uses¡­¡± ¡°Well, as for the ¡®Eye,¡¯¡± she replied, ¡°a hundred units are nineteen hundred grants, a thousand will run us twenty-eight fifty, and unlimited is fifty-seven hundred. My thought was to test it on a few missions first, and if it proves reliable, go for the unlimited option.¡± ¡°Hm¡­ Makes sense. My bad, didn¡¯t mean to cut you off. Go on.¡± The blonde adjusted her hair and switched to the next image. A hologram of a combat drone appeared, sporting an aggressive design that resembled a mechanical flying wasp. Its body was crafted from a durable yet lightweight composite alloy, reinforced with ceramic inserts to withstand high heat and impact. A large compartment in its flexible ¡°abdomen¡± housed a weapon module and ammunition. The front was fitted with targeting and guidance sensors, and its streamlined profile reduced air resistance at high speeds. ¡°The ¡®Hornet¡¯ strike drone,¡± Alisa introduced. ¡°The name fits, doesn¡¯t it? This combat model is compatible with light firearm modules. It¡¯s fast and highly maneuverable. A license for ten builds costs two thousand grants, and for only double that ¡ª four thousand grants ¡ª you get a hundred builds. But we should probably test it first.¡± ¡°I think this one¡¯s going to be a beast,¡± Nikola said, waving her hand. ¡°Just look at those specs. And the design? Kinda a total killer wasp, if you ask me.¡± ¡°True,¡± Max cut in, ¡°but our funds are disappearing fast. Pretty soon, every thousand grants will start to count. Let¡¯s rein in the spending for now. Moreover, Alisa isn¡¯t finished yet.¡± The next AR hologram appeared: a massive heavy assault drone of the tiltrotor type, looking like a flying fortress. Its body was covered in thick, multi-layered armor, and a powerful gravity compensator kept it airborne even if its wings or engines took damage. At its center was a universal mount for heavy-caliber weaponry or rocket launchers. Extra cooling and power systems allowed it to operate under extreme combat conditions. ¡°And finally, the ¡®Hurricane-2¡¯ heavy strike drone. A true powerhouse, extremely reliable, capable of carrying heavy-caliber weapons or missiles. A license for a single build costs twenty-four hundred grants, and for ten builds, it¡¯s six thousand. I suggest we start with just one. We¡¯re still figuring out the best way to use it, and it¡¯s too large for indoor operations ¡ª six meters long, with a wingspan including engines that brings it to a full six meters across.¡± ¡°We¡¯re absolutely building one,¡± Max remarked. ¡°It¡¯ll be a priceless asset for open-field combat against monsters. And unfortunately, the Shaiszu are multiplying in our world by the hour.¡± Alisa nodded and displayed the final image with a description ¡ª a small drone with a slender, elongated body, vaguely resembling a dragonfly. The model was crafted from lightweight polymers and coated in matte gray for maximum stealth. Its nose housed an explosive charge equivalent to one hundred grams of TNT, concealed beneath a streamlined aerodynamic shell. Small wings and stabilizers kept it steady at high speeds, while its simple design made it both quick to produce and cost-effective. ¡°I¡¯d also suggest the ¡®Tonbo Sanda S¡¯ kamikaze drones,¡± Alisa said. ¡°These are single-use, high-speed FPV drones ¡ª real flying grenades with pinpoint accuracy. A hundred-build license is only seven hundred fifty grants. Cheap, convenient, and effective.¡± ¡°Great choice,¡± Maksim nodded. He could already see just how useful this model would be. ¡°In addition, we¡¯ll need ¡®Universal Firearm Module with Reloading Device¡¯ sets,¡± Alisa continued. ¡°Standardized for 7.62mm caliber ammo. The light model ¡ª Assault Rifle version ¡ª costs nine hundred eighty grants for a hundred-build license. And the heavy model, LMG type, costs three thousand four hundred fifty for a ten-build license. I went with ten because the module is versatile. We can mount it on vehicles, trucks, or wheeled bots.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re building quite the flock of ¡®birdies.¡¯ So, what¡¯s the final damage?¡± Redhead asked. ¡°The total package comes to twelve thousand one hundred eighty grants, including the ¡®Craft Master XL¡¯ engineering tablet for seven hundred fifty grants,¡± Alisa replied. ¡°All right,¡± Max decided. ¡°Let¡¯s place the order.¡± His sister quickly entered the details, and within seconds, it was confirmed. ¡°The courier bot will have everything here in ten minutes,¡± she reported. ¡°That¡¯s only because of the tablet, though. All future blueprints will be sent straight to it over the network.¡± ¡°And what about ammunition?¡± Nikola asked. ¡°We¡¯re going to need a lot of it.¡± Alisa shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not practical to buy blueprints for making rounds ourselves right now. Ammo isn¡¯t cost-effective to produce in small-scale craft machines like forges. Automated production lines do a much better job, but we don¡¯t have access to those yet. It¡¯ll make more sense to buy ammo in bulk from local suppliers who¡¯ve already set up mass production. Plus, finding the components for gunpowder and primers would be tough ¡ª stockpiles for those are probably the first to get completely cleaned out.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°We¡¯ll stock up from the gunsmiths here in Rzesz¨®w.¡± Meanwhile, Nikola received a response through a private channel. ¡°I got in touch with the city¡¯s cyber-clinic,¡± she reported. ¡°The cost for the surgery to install all the ordered sets is nineteen thousand grants. Appointment slots are open ¡ª I could even get one for tonight. Thoughts?¡± ¡°The sooner we get this going, the sooner you¡¯re back in action,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go ahead and book it.¡± He approved the incoming request, and Nikola received confirmation for her appointment on August 16 at 1:25 AM. The operation would take just over eight hours. Daria stood up from her seat and stepped closer. ¡°We need to get in touch with the surgeons ahead of time to coordinate the software update¡­ to configure it for the new implants during the operation¡­ yeah. Thankfully, since we¡¯re in TACTA territory, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues with our¡­ uhm¡­ customized software. Could you get me the surgeon¡¯s contact info, please? I¡¯ll reach out when I have a moment and send over everything they¡¯ll need. And I¡¯ll prep the patches for your Cyber Core in advance.¡± ¡°Thanks, Dasha,¡± Nikola nodded gratefully. ¡°By the way, I just rented a storage unit at the warehouse,¡± Maksim added. ¡°It¡¯s a ten-cubic-meter room for twenty-five grants a day, for two days. We¡¯ll need it to unload the truck. Might be safer to store Moira there too, but it doesn¡¯t have the necessary conditions for her to operate ¡ª no power supply or cooling.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look into that as well,¡± Alisa said, jotting it down on her task list. ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯ll stay here, meet the courier, line up a good mission for later today, and, if I have time, start planning out the crafting complex rental. I¡¯ll also help Dasha with the System updates.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Max glanced around at the team. ¡°That¡¯s the plan. Alright, Nikola and I are heading to the storage unit.¡±
The street greeted Maksim and Nika with the blazing midday sun, reflecting off the glass facades of buildings and the numerous new constructions that had sprung up since the invasion. Heat shimmered off the asphalt roads and concrete paths, while construction dust mixed with the aromas of street food and the distant hum of machinery. People bustled about, focused on their own tasks, a clear sign that life here was thriving, resilient even after recent upheavals. The warehouse district of Rzesz¨®w turned out to be a busy area adjacent to the industrial quarter, with repair and maintenance shops lining the streets. The sounds of machinery, workers¡¯ voices, and the muffled tunes playing from a nearby radio filled the air. Max and Nikola pulled up to the loading ramp of Warehouse Sixteen, where their rented storage unit was located. The massive doors stood open, inviting them into a vast four-tiered space filled with long rows of metal containers. ¡°Not a bad spot,¡± Redhead smirked, jumping out of the cab. ¡°I¡¯ll go grab a robo-cart.¡± ¡°Yeah, go ahead. And I¡¯ll start unloading the truck,¡± Maksim agreed, swinging open the truck¡¯s back door. Half an hour later, after four trips up to their storage unit on the second level, Alisa appeared in their conference. [Guys, I¡¯ve got the tablet with the blueprints. Based on my initial analysis, we only need to dismantle a couple of luxury electric cars to gather all the components for crafting ¡ª except for the explosives and grav-compensators, which we¡¯d have to buy anyway. Plus, while we¡¯re in Rzesz¨®w, we can rent a SynthForge from local workshops instead of buying our own. It¡¯ll be cheaper, and we¡¯ll be able to convert one hundred percent of our raw materials into resource cartridges. With this setup, nothing will go to waste, unlike when we use TACTA¡¯s crafting drones. Even with the city¡¯s ten-percent resource tax, this is far more cost-effective.] [Good news,] Max replied with such a broad, and genuine grin spreading across his face, that the System picked up on his emotion and added a matching emoji to his voice message in the conference. [What are the rates?] [Rental is two hundred grants per hour, fourteen-forty for ten hours, and five thousand for a weekly rental of one hundred twenty hours. Anything over thirty-five hours, and the weekly rate becomes worth it.] Max fell into deep thought, absently looking around as he considered. Could they gather enough materials to load the machines for a full thirty-five hours? Could they afford to stay in the hospitable city of Rzesz¨®w for an additional week? After a brief pause, he replied, [Alright, sis. Let¡¯s try to gather enough resources to fully load the SynthForge. If we can manage it, we¡¯ll go for the one hundred twenty hours. Prepare the calculations, and we¡¯ll review them.] [Agreed,] Alisa confirmed simply. [Great. What do we have on missions?] [I found one about eighty kilometers from Rzesz¨®w, heading toward the State Ukraine border,] she reported. [It¡¯s a recon assignment for a warehouse complex ¡ª something we¡¯ve handled before. The city¡¯s actively expanding its influence and recently put out a batch of similar jobs. It might turn into combat, though, since it¡¯s in an area with wandering portals. But we¡¯re not required to engage with any monsters ¡ª it¡¯d be okay to pull back if necessary.] [Sounds good. Go ahead and submit the request,] Maksim agreed. [We¡¯ll finish up here and head back at the hostel in about an hour. Then we¡¯ll gear up and head out.] [Got it. Standing by.] Ending the call, Max turned to Nikola while finalizing the ammo order in Informatorium. ¡°Seems like we¡¯ve got a full day ahead of us.¡± ¡°As usual,¡± Redhead replied with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll get the ammo delivered straight here. Take a look at the order, see if you¡¯ve got any comments.¡± ¡°Nah, looks good,¡± she said after a quick glance at the cart. ¡°Let¡¯s go for it.¡± They finished unloading, leaving on board only part of the arsenal, the drones, the remaining bots ¡ª including Big One ¡ª and the tech bay with Moira. After loading the freshly delivered ammo into the vehicle, they drove off, taking the route around the far side of the warehouse. A large sign above one of the workshops caught their eye. Bold letters read: ¡°Now Buying Cars for Scrap! Officially City Exchange. We Cover City Taxes. Top Prices Offered!¡± ¡°Look, Nika, those guys seem interesting,¡± he said, pointing at the sign. ¡°Should we stop by?¡± ¡°Why not? Let¡¯s see what they offer,¡± she shrugged. ¡°No harm in checking.¡± They climbed out of the cab and walked toward the workshop, where a middle-aged man in an oil-stained jumpsuit greeted them, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. ¡°Hey there! What can I do for you?¡± ¡°We saw your ad,¡± Max said. ¡°Interested in scrapping cars. What are the terms?¡± The man quickly explained that they were working through the City Exchange, offering competitive prices for different types of vehicles. Pickups fetched between four and six thousand, sedans went for three to four, and minivans ranged from five to eight. Sports cars and other high-end vehicles had the highest rates, with prices starting at ten grand. A good sports car could bring in anywhere from seventeen to twenty-five thousand. ¡°And if the car drives here on its own, would that be a problem?¡± Maksim asked. ¡°Not at all!¡± the mechanic assured him. ¡°Most vehicles come in on haulers, usually in pretty rough shape. But if you drive them in yourself, that¡¯s even better. We might even pay a bit extra for some cars.¡± Max exchanged a look with Nika, then looped Alisa and Daria into the conference. [Hey, ladies, I¡¯ve got an idea. Think we could hack a few extra cars and bring them here to Rzesz¨®w for dismantling? The payouts are decent, and it¡¯s more than we could handle on our own anyway. How many could we bring in at once?] Daria considered for a moment. [Hacking would take a while, but it¡¯s doable. Depends on the car, of course. Cover me with drones while I¡¯m in VR, and while you¡¯re scouting the warehouse, I think I could hack about ten. That¡¯s if they¡¯re close by and we don¡¯t have to go a hundred kilometers for each one, yeah.] Alisa added, [I can set up an autopilot system based on Moira. But a big convoy might draw attention, so we¡¯ll need to be cautious. Ten to fifteen cars should be manageable, but I wouldn¡¯t push it beyond that.] [Perfect,] Max said. [I¡¯ll confirm the mission for ten cars and will be back at the hostel soon.] He turned back to the mechanic. ¡°We¡¯d like to arrange for ten vehicles.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± the man said with enthusiasm, heading to the printer. ¡°Here¡¯s the paperwork for tax-free vehicle transport at the city checkpoints. Just fill in the necessary details in the blank spaces.¡± ¡°Thanks. We¡¯ll bring them in tonight. You¡¯ll be open?¡± ¡°Yep, my shift mate will be here.¡± ¡°Alright, see you then.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be waiting!¡± As they approached the hostel, Maksim signaled to the girls to come down. It turned out that Alisa had even prepared dinner for everyone, carefully packing it into containers for an evening snack. She¡¯d also brought along a small microwave, mentioning that she had cleared it with the hostel¡¯s management. Getting ready for departure didn¡¯t take long. Max and the girls climbed into the truck planning to make the most of the drive by running diagnostics on the remaining drones and recharging all firearms. Alisa took over driving, occasionally keeping an eye on the autopilot with her primary thread. After about half an hour, with the checks completed and the remaining equipment charged, Max plugged everything into the power source to top up the battery reserves. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the cab to call the Linkers and Miro if there¡¯s time. We¡¯ve got about forty minutes to our target. I¡¯ll talk to them about the System.¡± ¡°We¡¯re with you,¡± the girls responded, almost in sync, each in her own way but with the same eagerness to listen in on the call. Chapter 93 – The Cat, the Serpents, and the Ghosts’ Alliance State Poland, Highway A4, Neutral Territories Team Ghost of the Future, August 15, 2049, 4:21 PM Finding the Linkers in vast reaches of TACTA¡¯s network wasn¡¯t difficult. Curiously, they were now showing up as an official clan, with Lena Stormchaser as their leader. Max had no doubt it was them ¡ª he knew the ¡°kitty¡¯s¡± partner ID, just as her real last name, Friedman. ¡°Huh, when we last parted ways, they were still a team, and now it¡¯s already a clan... making quick strides,¡± he thought, intrigued. Max settled into his seat, positioning his mediaphone with the camera in front of him. The rest of the team gathered behind the guy, sitting on the bed in the cabin of the truck. Only Alisa was out of frame, busy at the charging station, topping up her batteries before the mission. Sending a call request, Maksim didn¡¯t expect a quick response ¡ª yet almost instantly, an incoming call mediaglyph blinked in HUD. Lena¡¯s image popped up on the screen in AR, looking as if she¡¯d just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine. No trace of recent combat, the harrowing escape from occupied Kyiv, or the long, perilous journey in a stealth mode ¡ª that¡¯s pure media pro for you. She wore a subtly alluring cyber-pop outfit, with her usual bright pink hair, cybernetic cat ears, a mischievous look in her eyes, and playful colorful stars winking on her cheeks. A broad smile revealed pristine implanted fangs. Like a vibrant butterfly, Lena stood out sharply against the drab gray wall ¡ª possibly in a hostel similar to Maksim¡¯s. ¡°Long time, no see, nya! Glad to see you¡­ still alive. Hey, Dasha! Yo, Nika!¡± ¡°Hey, Lena,¡± Max nodded and got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re all safe too. And that I managed to catch you. I¡¯ve actually got a proposal I think you¡¯ll find intriguing.¡± She raised an eyebrow, resting her cheek on her fist, and playfully twitched one of her cybernetic ears. ¡°Oh, a proposal, nya?¡± she purred, her voice low and slightly teasing. ¡°Well, well, that really is intriguing. Go on, I¡¯m all yours¡­ Uhm, I mean, my full attention is all yours.¡± Maksim smirked slightly at this blatant flirting. He knew perfectly well that behind the ¡°cat-girl¡± image lay calculated strategies, analytical moves, and long-term plans. This playful act was just her public mask. Then again, sometimes those masks stick so tightly that it¡¯s hard to tell where the act ends, and the real person begins. But now wasn¡¯t the time for philosophical musings; he brushed aside these stray thoughts and refocused on the conversation. Dasha, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t amused at all. She muttered something under her breath in irritation and pulled out her vape to calm her nerves. ¡°Imagine an advanced AI,¡± Max began his pitch, ¡°that integrates itself between the user¡¯s sub-brain implant and TACTA¡¯s data structures through the API. It fully understands the nuances of every level within the partner network, analyzes user achievements, helps set goals, and builds strategies to achieve them. And finally, it boosts skill growth ¡ª yes, even those ones that my team, thanks to Dasha, now refers to as the ¡®magic¡¯ abilities.¡± ¡°By the way, Max forgot to mention,¡± Nikola chimed in, ¡°that this thing was also trained on a military tactical command complex. Plus, Dasha did an amazing job combing through all the corporate combat interface documentation I had in my archive ¡ª the specs, use cases, all that stuff. So, for anyone with the right experience and implants, using the System in combat should be easy and intuitive. I¡¯ve tested it. A lot.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s still in beta¡­ but it¡¯s evolving every day, so¡­ yeah,¡± Dasha mumbled, blushing slightly, wanting to set expectations straight. In her mind, the System was still far from complete, and she just had to be upfront about that. The ¡°kitty¡¯s¡± face grew thoughtful as she quickly glanced somewhere off-screen. It was obvious she wasn¡¯t alone in the room, and likely engaged in a private communicating with her teammates. Noticing the pause, Maksim decided to intensify his pitch, both to make a stronger impression and to give them a moment to discuss his offer as he continued the presentation. ¡°I think you understand how valuable this could be in today¡¯s environment,¡± he said. ¡°The System acts as a coach that helps you achieve peak results ¡ª in personal skill growth, leveling up, team management, and beyond. The gamification elements are fully customizable or can even be switched off completely. As Nikola mentioned, there¡¯s a combat module. Plus, there are features like team budget management, crafting modules, and many other tools. As you can imagine, we¡¯re just getting started, but the results are already impressive. And, yeah, I know the name ¡®System¡¯ sounds a bit strange, but¡­¡± Lena fluttered her lashes and flashed him a playful smile. ¡°Max, sweetie, you¡¯re talking to a cat-girl, nya. A System? That¡¯s a beloved and classic, even if a bit overused, trope in fantasy and sci-fi ¡ª practically standard by now. And that¡¯s exactly its power, especially now that book tropes have barged straight into our lives ¡ª power-hungry aliens, monster invasions, all that jazz. Oh, darling, you don¡¯t even realize how crucial it is to harness the power of familiar symbols. Who came up with this? An absolute genius, nya?¡± Dasha flushed completely red and, not knowing what else to do, quickly scooted out of the frame and took a deep drag on her vape to calm herself down. A genius, indeed. He chuckled, recalling how WonderKid had always been a bit embarrassed about her love for LitRPG novels, meticulously hiding it. Yet without a second thought, she¡¯d gone ahead and started programming her favorite book plot. And yes, she was a genius. Plenty might have had the idea, but who could pull it off? Only Vasilevskya¡­ with Alisa¡¯s help¡­ and Nika¡¯s expert knowledge. But, at the core, it was Dasha¡¯s idea, from the start. ¡°You¡¯re right ¡ª WonderKid really is a genius,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°By the way, if you¡¯ve got anyone on your team with the ¡®Foresight¡¯ attribute, this System could be a total game-changer for you.¡± Lena pursed her lips, drumming her fingers on the table. ¡°Oh? And how would you know we have one?¡± Max paused for a moment. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you had one. Just said that if you do, it¡¯d be¡­ amazing.¡± ¡°Hah. Nice one,¡± she replied, with a playful wink. ¡°Well, I guess, there¡¯s no keeping it under wraps forever. We do have a team member with that skill. And you know what they just told me?¡± ¡°What exactly?¡± Max decided to play along with the ¡®cat-girl¡¯. ¡°They said that we shouldn¡¯t become your clients.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± the guy frowned. ¡°Why not?¡± The ¡®kitty¡¯ leaned forward, her voice suddenly taking on a serious tone. ¡°Because we should be your business partners.¡± ¡°Partners?¡± The idea was intriguing, even if unexpected. Max felt a wave of excitement, and glad that the whole team could hear this ¡ª it was a strong business opportunity. But first, he wanted to get all the details. ¡°Yes, precisely,¡± she smirked. ¡°We¡¯re also not just sitting around here, you know. My brother and I launched our own startup. Guess what it is?¡± ¡°You really want me to play guessing games?¡± She laughed. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re no fun. Fine, I¡¯ll give you a hint. We¡¯re bloggers, with a tech-savvy team. Living in the middle of an apocalypse. There¡¯s theoretically communication infrastructure, but it¡¯s in rough shape. Any guesses yet?¡± Max shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m guessing your idea¡¯s better than my guesses.¡± ¡°But of course! We¡¯re creating a Media Station. Like good old radio! You see, weapons and implants are essential now, sure, but people also need social connections and information. And most importantly ¡ª emotions! We¡¯re going to deliver news ¡ª both good and bad ¡ª along with forecasts, podcasts, music¡­ and even simple words of encouragement. Just watch, we¡¯re going to become a cornerstone of the ¡®freemen¡¯ culture!¡± Her face lit up with the very emotions she¡¯d just been talking about, and a predatory smile spread on her lips. ¡°The Protectorate has a mountain of propaganda and even a primary public figurehead ¡ª Sophia-Elisabeth Meyers. But the Freemen? They¡¯ll have a pink-haired kitty who says ¡®nya¡¯ and delivers critical analytics¡­ in a way that anyone can get.¡± Lena paused briefly, flashing the neon lights on her cyber-ears before moving on to her proposal. ¡°And, of course, we¡¯ll have room for advertising. No one will market your System better than we will.¡± Suddenly, the playfulness vanished, replaced by a calculating look and the confident tone of someone used to giving orders.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Now, about our collaboration terms: we want franchising rights. And, of course, full access to the latest releases. We¡¯d also like to have a say in the pricing for each product tier as you develop them ¡ª you¡¯re planning to offer access levels based on cost, aren¡¯t you? Well, and naturally, we¡¯d expect a referral commission on sales.¡± The ¡°kitty¡± paused, awaiting his response. Max narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, studying her. ¡°All right, Lena,¡± he replied after a moment. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting proposal. But, as I¡¯m sure you understand, I can¡¯t give you an answer right away. We¡¯ll need to discuss it as a team. I¡¯ll get back to you once we¡¯ve made a decision¡­ if that works for you.¡± She brought back her trademark mischievous smile. ¡°Of course, handsome, I completely understand! Go ahead, work out the details, discuss it with your team, and consider the possibilities I¡¯ve laid out. From what I¡¯ve gathered, you¡¯ve got a pretty sharp crew. Surely, you¡¯ll make the right call. And don¡¯t disappear on me either ¡ª regardless of your answer, I¡¯d love to see you again!¡± Lena disconnected, her image fading in the AR. Almost immediately, Dasha burst out: ¡°I don¡¯t like her! She¡¯s¡­ bad! I¡¯m not giving her my System! Yeah!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, WonderKid,¡± Max reassured her, completely unaware of Dasha¡¯s real reasons for disliking the ¡®cat-girl¡¯. ¡°Of course, we¡¯re not handing over any serious control over the System. She¡¯s just talking about creating a range of access levels for the modules, with different account types at different prices. It¡¯s marketing¡­¡± Alisa shot him a look that nearly screamed, ¡°Are you seriously that clueless, big brother?¡± but kept quiet. Meanwhile, Nikola just pretended not to notice Lena¡¯s flirtations ¡ª after all, the Linkers¡¯ leader was somewhere far away, while Max was right here. With her. ¡°All right, let¡¯s leave the thorough System discussion for tomorrow, when we¡¯re not on the brink of a mission. But we still have about fifteen minutes to spare ¡ª I might try reaching out to Miro, not so much for future sales but for hardcore field-testing. The Professor¡¯s a proactive man, so I¡¯m sure he¡¯d have plenty of material for developing and training the System.¡± Dasha scooted closer, having already put her vape away. ¡°That¡¯s actually a really good idea. I mean, about Miro... Even without expanding Moira¡¯s power, the System could now easily handle twenty more users, at least. I can¡¯t give an exact number yet, but we¡¯ll know once we test it. Plus, the more diverse data the System gets, the smarter it becomes, yeah. Connecting Miro¡¯s team would be a huge advantage for us! It¡¯s like¡­ a beta test! And troubleshooting. And refinement, all in one.¡± Vasilevskaya reached for her vape but stopped, suddenly remembering something. ¡°Oh, the most important thing ¡ª I almost forgot! I, um¡­ made a few tweaks to Moira¡¯s architecture. Just a small update¡­ After a big part of her load got¡­ you know, freed up. So, we¡¯re almost ready to scale up now. All we need now is some new hardware. And as we add more users, we¡¯ll see exactly how much resource each account needs and how much we¡¯ll need to boost our power. Yeah.¡± ¡°Daria¡¯s downplaying her work, as always, Maksim,¡± said Alisa, still connected to the charging station. ¡°I thought she¡¯d be developing the Attributes interface and Crafting module, but instead, while you guys were unloading the truck, she jumped right into the DeepVR, activated her newly acquired super-magic-skill, and immediately got to work on the Core Architecture. And yes, it really does look like Magic. I was watching. With all my threads. I think she deserves some official recognition.¡± Max stood up and approached Dasha, who, suddenly panicked, and tried to shrink into the farthest corner of the small bed. ¡°You¡¯re amazing,¡± he said, leaning down to hug the flustered girl. ¡°You¡¯re brilliant. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll tell me everything you did, okay? And for now, just know, I¡¯m really grateful for everything you do for us. When we get back, I¡¯ll find the best cake in Rzesz¨®w for you. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ve got some.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m doing my best,¡± Dasha squeaked. ¡°Thanks¡­ yeah.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s wonderful. Now, while we still have a little time, I¡¯ll go see if I can get some data from Miro for you.¡± Maksim smiled, standing up and returning to his seat. Nikola turned away quickly to hide her smile, while Alisa barely restrained herself from a classic facepalm. Cake? Really? That¡¯s right, he was utterly hopeless.
Before calling, Maksim found Miro¡¯s profile in the TACTA Partners database by his ID. ¡°Wow! He¡¯s already established a full guild ¡ª the ¡°Balkan Serpents.¡± Impressive! Then again, his crew was quite large from the beginning, so I guess it¡¯s only natural.¡± ¡°Hey, Max, here ¡ª take this quick presentation on the System,¡± Alisa¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°I threw it together quickly, using four threads. Something tells me you¡¯ll be explaining it a lot, and this way, you¡¯ve got a base to work from. We can refine it later, but even this version will be helpful in negotiations for now.¡± ¡°Thanks, sis,¡± he smiled, opening the file. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s got everything. An overview of what it is, core objectives, modules and functions, use scenarios¡­¡± Settling comfortably into his chair, Maksim sent a call request through the TACTA network. The response came within about thirty seconds. Miroslav Goric appeared on the screen, looking as familiar as ever ¡ª steely eyes, a firm expression, and that unique blend of severity and intellect belonging to someone who was once a social anthropology professor and a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, and now was leading one of the largest organized crime groups in Eastern Europe. Judging by the video, he was driving an SUV somewhere. ¡°Well, look who it is, Chernykh Jr.,¡± he greeted. ¡°It¡¯s been a day and a half, yet it feels like a lifetime since that escape from Kyiv. Are you here for business or just to catch up? And hey there, Red. Still sticking with this rascal, I see?¡± Max nodded with a reserved smile, and Nikola just waved at the camera. ¡°Mostly business. How are things on your end? Did you make it where you planned? And I see you¡¯ve already established a guild?¡± ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Miro smirked. ¡°The Balkan Serpents are all set up here. We¡¯ve run a couple of missions to settle in. Now we¡¯re gearing up for bigger things ¡ª buying equipment and weapons, tuning up, and training. You know, leading a major guild feels a bit like playing an MMORPG. I actually studied those things ages ago. But TACTA¡¯s interface¡­ it¡¯s honestly pretty clunky, more like a temporary placeholder UI. Tons of features, but they¡¯re all accessible through command lines only. Well, my analytic boys are already digging into it, though. I¡¯m just sharing impressions here, to blow off some steam, so to say.¡± Maksim gave a quick nod, studying him. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve got a proposal for you. My team¡¯s developed a System ¡ª a full-featured software with everything you need, including interfaces. Guild management is on the way, though right now it¡¯s only set up for groups. I don¡¯t even have a clan myself, so there¡¯s no way to test that part yet.¡± Miro squinted, examining the virtual screen where Max had pulled up Alisa¡¯s presentation. ¡°A System? Like the ones from books and video games? Kid, you do realize that sounds a bit¡­ fantastical?¡± Max smiled. ¡°Just wait until you see it in action. This is more than just an AI with an interface. It¡¯s an intelligent assistant that not only tracks tasks and mission progress but also helps develop new abilities including those that have been awakening in people recently. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t heard of them. And yes, it¡¯s as fantastical as it sounds.¡± The leader of Balkan Serpents smirked, mulling over Max¡¯s words. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m aware. All right, an assistant, huh? Sounds tempting. So, what¡¯s the catch? You want us to be your guinea pigs?¡± ¡°Not exactly. I¡¯m offering you a chance to try it. Consider it a real-world beta test in combat conditions. Free of charge. We¡¯re ready to issue twenty keys, enough for twenty users. Moira will handle the data processing; you already know what she¡¯s capable of. Try it for a week ¡ª if you¡¯re not impressed, you can simply opt out. And of course, your feedback will be prioritized in further updates.¡± The former professor drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, then crossed his arms, clearly on edge. ¡°So, what? You¡¯re saying all the data on my guys¡¯ activities would be going somewhere else? Don¡¯t get me wrong, I trust you personally. But this is a much bigger issue. You understand, in the current climate, that kind of information is an incredibly valuable asset. I¡¯ve got enough enemies as it is, and I don¡¯t expect to have any fewer after the invasion. And I have no intention of giving the Protectorate any kind of advantage against us either. We really gave them hell during our escape, you know. Thus, I don¡¯t like this one bit.¡± Max sighed, already prepared for this objection. But before he could say anything, Alisa stepped forward, having even left the charging station for this conversation. ¡°Good afternoon, Professor Goric. A few words, if I may.¡± ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake, Alisa, I know who you are, and I know that Maksim managed to ¡®bring you to life in the hardware.¡¯ So, please, drop the formalities ¡ª it actually stings a little, honestly. I can still remember when you were just a tiny girl, sitting on my lap¡­¡± ¡°Okay, Uncle Miro,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Especially since it really is me. So, here¡¯s the breakdown ¡ª initial data goes through light processing by your team¡¯s sub-brain implants and is sent to us via a secure TACTA P2P connection. The chance of interception at that stage is zero. After that, Moira¡¯s intelligent agents depersonalize, tag, and prepare the data for training. The only moment anyone could even try to intercept it would be right there¡­¡± [Maxie!] Dasha messaged him privately, listening carefully from her corner. [The data is processed on a quantum level. Pulling it out from there is total hardcore¡­ even for me! Just make sure to tell him that ¡ª I¡¯m too scared of him to say it myself!] [Thanks, WonderKid. Will do!] ¡°But understand,¡± Max added, ¡°for anyone to intercept, they¡¯d have to be connected to our System in real time, have root-level access, know its architecture inside out, pinpoint the exact processing locations, and perform the extraction¡­ on a quantum level.¡± ¡°Not even we could do that, even with full access,¡± Alisa concluded. ¡°Miro, let¡¯s be real. Your crew¡¯s battle data¡¯s gonna leak no matter what,¡± Nikola cut in. ¡°All it takes is showin¡¯ up in open missions. Practically every one of them makes you stream from drones while you¡¯re on the job. I poked around the Informatorium ¡ª it¡¯s not just here in our city, it¡¯s like that everywhere in TACTA¡¯s public assignments. Guess that¡¯s just the way they play it now.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Max picked up. ¡°Both our missions required streaming, and from the look on your face, I¡¯d bet it¡¯s the same on your end too. And no one really knows where that footage ends up or what they do with it. Am I wrong?¡± Miro nodded slowly, but his face remained serious and furrowed. ¡°And you want me to believe our data would stay with you?¡± he said, stubbornly holding his ground to have the last word. ¡°Yes, Professor Goric. I swear on my father¡¯s good name,¡± Maksim replied firmly. ¡°And think about it ¡ª this is a huge edge for you. Your people are going to unlock System abilities. You¡¯ll need us, at the very least, to develop those. Plus, you¡¯re getting a tactical AI crafted to corporate military standards and fine-tuned for integration with the Informatorium.¡± ¡°Maksim sounds like a tempting devil,¡± Alisa commented under her breath, chuckling into her fist. ¡°When your people gain new powers, they¡¯ll become stronger, Miro. Just giiiive me your sooooul,¡± Nikola added in a low, raspy voice, playing along with a mischievous grin. Miro stared at them tensely for a few more seconds before finally allowing himself to laugh. ¡°All right, you guys know how to make a pitch. But don¡¯t let me down, Max. Remember, I¡¯m holding you to your word!¡± Maksim simply nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Thank you for the trust. We¡¯re heading out on a mission now ¡ª the truck¡¯s already here. But by tomorrow morning, you¡¯ll have full access. Just send me the IDs of your people you want connected. Up to twenty. Good luck out there, Miro.¡± The call ended, and Max leaned back in his chair, feeling a deep, satisfying sense of accomplishment from a well-executed team effort. And this time, it wasn¡¯t even on the battlefield ¡ª a success that, in many ways, felt even more significant. Chapter 94 – Heroes and Betrayers City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Julia Drozdova, Vratislav Shvets, Kamil Teodoryanu August 15, 2049, 7:19 PM Three close friends, who had worked together on a student startup for racing aerodrones, gathered at a corner table in the ¡°Aether Lounge¡± bar-restaurant. They had only received access to this exclusive venue that very morning ¡ª making it the natural choice for their gathering, the first one since pledging allegiance to the Protectorate. After all, the schedules and lifestyles of Julia and Vratislav ¡ª both engineers in the Blue Class ¡ª were worlds apart from those of Kamil Teodoryanu, a promising initiate in the Red Class. Intense training sessions and frequent medical procedures left Kamil, a future Templar, with barely any free time. ¡°So, this is what life for the elite really looks like!¡± Julia Drozdova ¡ª simply ¡®Jules¡¯ to her friends ¡ª exclaimed, leaning back in her ultra-ergonomic chair, glancing around in awe. Her boyfriend, Vratislav Shvets ¡ª also known as Slavek ¡ª just chuckled softly, watching her usual burst of energy and enthusiasm. After exhausting days of studying Protectorate technology and grueling work on the Wall and its countless fortifications, it felt great to finally kick back and see what they¡¯d been working so hard for. Reaching this place was easy ¡ª shuttles operated regularly, bringing anyone who wished to come, at any hour. But only the best were granted entry, those who had proven their worth through dedication and intellect, those whom the Protectorate had fully recognized as its most valued and respected citizens. The interior of the bar-restaurant, located in the lower level of the Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamarck¡±, exuded an aura of restrained opulence. Tall columns, as if carved from black granite, rose toward the ceiling, where art deco patterns in golden and dark tones unfurled across the surface. Soft lighting embedded in the columns reflected off the marble floor, creating the illusion of floating structures and revealing details that changed with the light and time of day. Crystal chandeliers, resembling hovering orbs, cast a gentle, ambient glow. The dark wood tables, inlaid with shimmering crystals, featured built-in holographic displays that allowed guests to view their orders and browse the digital menu. Velvet and leather-upholstered chairs and sofas ranged in hues from deep blue and jade green to dark ruby. Genuine holographic paintings lined the walls ¡ª not mere augmented reality projections, but dynamic displays depicting the Protectorate¡¯s history in vibrant scenes that came to life at a glance. Glimmering panoramic ¡°windows¡± offered a breathtaking view of evening Kyiv, where thousands of lights below sparkled like distant stars. Jules had done her research and knew that no actual glass was present here. Instead, they sat across from holographic screens on a solid wall. A sophisticated camera system created an image indistinguishable from reality, allowing guests to observe even the finest details of the cityscape and evoking a thrilling sensation of flight. For a finishing touch, pristine white napkins bearing the Protectorate¡¯s emblem were set in sleek chrome holders on each table. In a word, the decor embodied both luxury and perfection. Julia glanced at Kamil with a smile. It seemed impossible for anyone to change even slightly in just a few days ¡ª yet he left a subtly different impression. His movements had become more measured, almost calculated to the millimeter, and his gaze was sharp and slightly piercing. But when this big guy flashed his familiar broad, friendly smile, all doubts faded away. He was still the same old Kamil! The gray-eyed brunette chose a cherry stout from the menu, Slavek went for a traditional pale lager, and Kamil ordered a ginger biotonic infused with spices ¡ª alcohol was strictly forbidden for him now, as a future White-class warrior. When the conversation momentarily lulled, Julia leaned forward, her eyes shining with excitement, bursting to share the news she¡¯d been holding onto for hours. ¡°Guys, you won¡¯t believe this!¡± she nearly shouted, leaning over the table. ¡°Guess who I saw today? Alba!¡± Kamil¡¯s eyebrow lifted, and his stern expression softened just a bit. ¡°Alba? Seriously?¡± he repeated, his gaze filled with interest. Jules went on, unable to contain her enthusiasm, gesturing wildly and practically bouncing in her seat. ¡°I¡¯m serious! It was really her! But that¡¯s not even the biggest news. Listen closely¡­¡± She paused dramatically, and then exclaimed, ¡°Alba¡¯s now in White Class! Can you believe it?¡± Slavek straightened up to his full height in his chair, his eyes wide with surprise. They¡¯d had separate shifts today, so he hadn¡¯t seen his girlfriend since this morning and had no idea about her encounter. ¡°White Class?¡± he repeated slowly, as though the words were too surreal to grasp. ¡°Like the Templars? Like Kriegsherzog Adalbert von Lamarck himself? That¡­ doesn¡¯t seem possible. I mean, really, Jules. I could believe Kamil here might become a Templar... maybe in ten years¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s twenty years, actually. After twenty years of flawless service and a brutal examination,¡± Kamil corrected him. ¡°Everyone in our training group knows that.¡± ¡°See? So how could anyone make it into White Class just four days after the Shaiszu invasion? Are you sure you didn¡¯t just mistake her for someone else?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Jules protested, banging her fist on the table in annoyance. ¡°It was really her, our Alba! She was with us in the startup for two years; I remember her perfectly. I¡¯d recognize her anywhere, even if she¡¯s changed¡­ incredibly so.¡± Suddenly, Kamil raised a finger, squinting as if focusing on something in the distance. After a few seconds, he nodded. ¡°But it¡¯s true. That really was her. Acolyte of the Grand Techno-Priest of the Fourth Avril Army, Junior Priest-Analyst of the Temple, Second Lieutenant Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez. On the fourth day. Well, my life will never be the same.¡± He nearly downed his non-alcoholic biotonic in one gulp and gestured to the waitress in a Green Efficiency Class uniform for a refill. ¡°No mistake. I looked it up in the military app, in the ¡®Officers¡¯ section.¡± Julia, thrilled that her story had been confirmed, eagerly began describing exactly how Alba had changed. ¡°Guys, you should have just seen her! White military robes with the Fourth Army insignia, a high-velocity officer¡¯s needle gun on her left hip, and a techno-staff on her right. Her head was completely shaved; I even noticed fresh scars from implants ¡ª can you imagine? Where her right eye used to be, there¡¯s now this shiny metal plate. And the strangest thing ¡ª these clear tubes were sticking out of her nose, filled with some sort of translucent yellow gas, leading somewhere under her robe. And on her back? Two additional cybernetic manipulator arms! Whoa! It¡¯s absolutely WILD!¡± She flung her arms out in excitement, nearly knocking over her glass but not even noticing. Her gaze darted between the two men, eagerly waiting for their reactions. ¡°Did you talk to her? Did you¡­ tell her what we found out yesterday?¡± Vratislav asked cautiously. ¡°No¡­¡± Julia admitted, a little sheepish. ¡°I¡­ kind of froze up. Alba was moving so fast, with this stern look on her face, I just¡­ didn¡¯t get the chance. I messaged her later, but she¡¯s got ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯ mode on, and she still hasn¡¯t read it. I really wanted to tell her¡­¡± The waitress brought another tonic, and Kamil thanked her, swirling the glass in his hand before setting it back down on the table. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s impressive,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s bound to become a legend now. In our training, we¡¯ve already started learning the history of the Protectorate from the time of the Exodus from the Original World. And I¡¯ve never heard of anything like this. If our training is intense, I can¡¯t even imagine what she¡¯s going through¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Vratislav agreed. ¡°And with all those implants added at once¡­ that must be pure hell, I think. I¡¯m still not fully recovered from our updates, and hers sound way more complex and exhausting from what Jules described.¡± The brunette continued to chatter excitedly, clearly thrilled for Alba. Vratislav just smiled, watching her ¡ª that was just so like his Jules. No trace of jealousy or bitterness, nothing like that. Kind-hearted, smart¡­ and maybe a touch na?ve. She was genuinely happy for her friend.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°See? I knew all along she was special. Alba was always different. Her mind, her determination¡­ the Protectorate saw that. They recognized her! Now she¡¯s part of our elite, like von Lamarck himself! And not just in the Halls of Honor ¡ª she¡¯s got access to the inner sanctums of the Temple. She might have even met Him¡­ It¡¯s honestly hard to wrap my head around¡­¡± A silence hung over their table for a few seconds as all three of them exchanged meaningful glances, each processing this news. The fact that someone from their old student group was already part of the White Class was hard to wrap their minds around¡­¡­ The Protectorate¡¯s White Class of Social Efficiency, which had once seemed so unattainable and distant, suddenly felt just a bit closer.
The conversation gradually faded, weighed down by darker news ¡ª the kind none of them dared to mention yet. A heavy silence settled over the table. Gentle strains of classical music, laced with digital notes, filled the air. But the three friends were hardly listening, all sound fading into a blur of white noise for them. Kamil, Julia, and Slavek sat quietly, each lost in memories, silently mourning their recent loss. The previous evening, at 9:00 PM, the Protectorate had finally released the list of those who¡¯d fallen during the assault on the Factory and the renouncers¡¯ ruthless follow-up attack on sections of the Wall. To their utter shock, Gleb Evseyev ¡ª a mutual friend and comrade ¡ª had been among the names. Julia had actually organized today¡¯s gathering as a way to honor his memory. And her bright chatter about Alba, just as that forced cheer ¡ª it was all an attempt to cover her own pain. Slavek and Kamil understood and chose to play along, unwilling to deny her this small comfort. After a while, the future Templar leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh, looking at his friends with visible sadness in his eyes. He raised his glass of tonic, giving it a small, almost hesitant shake. To Slavek, it seemed as though the Red Class warrior was gathering his strength to continue. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ let¡¯s raise a glass to Gleb,¡± Kamil finally said, his voice quiet and thick with emotion. ¡°That guy¡­ he was the real deal. Remember how he¡¯d always find a way to lift our spirits before a race? How he¡¯d pull us out of any mess? Damn¡­ he was my best friend¡­ Without him, all of this¡­ just feels meaningless now.¡± Julia quietly lowered her head, her eyes brimming with tears as she tried to hide them, staring down at her glass of cherry stout. ¡°I remember,¡± she said, her voice choked with the weight of grief pressing down on her. ¡°And I still can¡¯t believe he¡¯s gone. How could he just¡­ leave us like that? How could something happen that would just tear him out of our lives?¡± She raised her head and looked up at them, her eyes filled with raw pain. ¡°I¡¯ve known him since prep courses. He was always there, with his silly jokes, his contagious laugh. Remember how he amused us before last year¡¯s finals? We were all on edge, and he put on that little show with the remote-controlled robot just to take our minds off things.¡± Slavek managed a sad smile, recalling how, to ease the tension before the final races, Gleb had placed his small robot on the table and made it dance a ridiculous jig to the music. They had all laughed till they cried, and Gleb, pleased with their reaction, just winked and said, ¡°Laugh it up, people! Laughter fuels focus! We¡¯re here to take the victory!¡± ¡°And those ¡®sports¡¯ debates he¡¯d always have with you, Kamil, over what was better ¡ª street workout or classic bodybuilding¡­ Damn¡­ He was our anchor, the heart of our team,¡± Slavek went on, struggling to hold back his emotions. ¡°With him around, everything felt easier, even when things were rough. Not once did he ever complain. Remember that time when that unlucky jet engine blew up in his hands, taking two of his fingers? I can¡¯t imagine the pain he must have endured, but all he said was, ¡®No biggie, I¡¯ve seen worse! Docs will stitch them back on! I recover faster than you guys can memorize equations¡­ just find my lost bits under the stand, would ya?¡¯¡± He paused for a moment, reflecting on how much they had lost with their friend¡¯s passing. ¡°Gleb was¡­ irreplaceable. We didn¡¯t just lose a teammate ¡ª we lost a brother.¡± Kamil clenched his fists, his voice thick with bitterness and anger. ¡°You know what makes me the angriest? Those rebels, those damn Renouncers,¡± he growled, barely holding back a shout. ¡°They don¡¯t even realize the harm they¡¯re doing. Gleb would still be alive if it weren¡¯t for their pointless war. He gave his life to protect us from their madness. But they¡­ they don¡¯t even understand who they took from us!¡± ¡°You know, Kamil¡­ maybe they do understand¡­¡± Julia murmured, shaking her head and looking up. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter. Because I¡¯m certain ¡ª Gleb knew exactly what he was doing. And he¡¯d do it all again without hesitation. He was a hero, even if he¡¯d never call himself that.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been honored, posthumously,¡± her voice trembled, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. ¡°They gave him a medal. And the title ¡®Hero of the Protectorate.¡¯ Gleb would probably laugh at that. But deep down, he¡¯d know he earned it. He gave everything he had¡­ and even more.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯d definitely laugh¡­¡± Kamil nodded in agreement. ¡°And then he¡¯d say he did it all for us. Like he¡¯d always say, ¡®If anyone can take it, it¡¯s me.¡¯ Gleb never backed down, never held back.¡± Slavek raised his glass, clearing his throat to fight back the stubborn lump that threatened to choke him, the one that kept bringing tears to his eyes. Yes, it was that damned lump¡¯s fault. After all, real men don¡¯t cry. ¡°To Gleb. To a true hero. Let¡¯s be worthy of his memory. And for him, for the man he was¡­ we have to keep going.¡± Julia and Kamil followed his example, raising their glasses in unison. They each took a quiet sip, privately saying goodbye to the friend who had been with them through their darkest and brightest times. Silence settled over the table once again, but it no longer felt so daunting. It felt as if Gleb¡¯s spirit had joined them at the table, flashing his familiar bright smile. As if, unseen, he was there, watching over them, guiding and supporting them like he always had. After a long, moment of silence, Kamil finally returned to the subject that had been weighing on him. ¡°Guys, I still don¡¯t understand these Renouncers,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ve betrayed us all. When the Shaiszu flooded our world, when the threat loomed over every city, these traitors, instead of uniting to protect people, turned against us. How can anyone be so blind as to destroy the future of their own kind?¡± Julia frowned, her gaze drifting to her nearly empty glass as if studying it. Her expression grew colder, more pensive. ¡°Kamil, I get why you feel that way, but¡­¡± She paused, carefully choosing her words. ¡°Among the Renouncers, there are good people¡­ Remember on August 13th, when I asked in the chat about where Dasha and Max had gone, and Alba replied that they¡¯d used their right to opt-out and left the city? Yet, Dasha still took the time to drive us all to the gathering point!¡± Scowling, Kamil shook his head. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true. And it¡¯s for the best if they really did leave. Because if they¡¯d stayed and hidden with the rest of those Renouncers at the Factory, I¡¯d never have forgiven them,¡± He exhaled heavily, taking a moment. ¡°Jules, I was part of the assault on that bandits¡¯ lair. Those so-called ¡®good people¡¯ turned it into pure hell. Mines everywhere, traps, swarms of drones blowing everything to pieces! The Renouncers would rather tear down the world we¡¯re trying to build. And our Gleb¡­ our Gleb died defending Kyiv from their savagery!¡± Vratislav, watching Kamil closely, sighed and gently interjected. ¡°Hey, I get why you¡¯re angry. The Renouncers did terrible things. But, you know, not all of them are terrorists. Some genuinely only want a better world. Sometimes¡­ I wonder if they just see things differently?¡± Kamil scoffed, but there wasn¡¯t a trace of humor in his eyes. ¡°Oh? And what exactly do they see, Slavek? How to bomb a refugee camp? Because that¡¯s exactly what they did! How to destroy the city Wall to leave Kyiv defenseless against the Shaiszu? And they nearly succeeded ¡ª they really managed to take out one of the Towers. You know as well as I do that the Towers are the only things stopping Portals from opening inside the city.¡± The furious Red Class warrior downed the rest of his biotonic in three large gulps, barely tasting it. ¡°Do you know that they didn¡¯t just slip away using cloaking tech ¡ª they even tried to nuke the Wall? I saw it with my own eyes ¡ª disarmed bombs. These maniacs want to bring down the Protectorate, the only force standing between us humans and the Shaiszu and whatever else is out there beyond the Wall. They¡¯re not just taking down buildings; they¡¯re attacking the very idea of order and security. And we¡­ soldiers like me, like Gleb ¡ª we¡¯re all that¡¯s keeping the total chaos at bay.¡± Julia sighed, her face a mixture of conflicting emotions. ¡°Kamil, I¡¯m not defending the Renouncers. I know they¡¯ve done terrible things. But maybe¡­ we¡¯re not seeing the whole picture either. Maybe some of them truly believe they¡¯re doing what¡¯s right?¡± Kamil shot her a doubtful look. ¡°You¡¯re starting to sound like you¡¯re questioning things yourself, Julia. Don¡¯t forget ¡ª they chose war when humanity needed to stand together. With the Shaiszu ready to wipe us out, the Renouncers decided it was the perfect time for a revolution. They¡¯re not just traitors; they¡¯re the enemies of everything we¡¯re fighting to protect.¡± Julia shook her head, feeling torn inside but knowing she couldn¡¯t change his mind. Kamil¡¯s conviction that the Protectorate was humanity¡¯s only line of defense was unshakeable. Yet doubts continued to gnaw at her. ¡°I just¡­ I can¡¯t stop thinking about Max and Dasha,¡± she said softly, looking at her friends. ¡°We know them, Kamil. They were part of our lives, part of our Uni-team, our friends, and there was never any rivalry between us! I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re the cruel, heartless people you describe¡­ and yet, they chose to join the resistance too.¡± He sighed and nodded, his tone softening. ¡°I understand, Jules. I remember what they meant to us. And besides, Alba told us they left Kyiv on the very first day. I don¡¯t blame them for what happened at the Factory or after that. But you have to understand ¡ª they¡¯ve chosen their side now. They¡¯re enemies of the Protectorate. And if I ever have to face them in battle¡­¡± His face hardened, his features seeming to sharpen with resolve, ¡°I will stand by what I believe in. The Protectorate is my home, my family. It stands above any personal ties.¡± Seeing the conversation was becoming too tense, Slavek decided to steer it in another direction. ¡°What about the Shaiszu?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°They¡¯re part of this war too. They¡¯re not just shadows; they¡¯re real beings who pose a genuine threat. We¡¯ve all seen what they can do.¡± ¡°The Shaiszu are the embodiment of evil,¡± Kamil nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve only just started studying them, but I already know this much: they¡¯re intelligent, ruthless, and absolutely bent on our destruction. The Shaiszu Swarm is controlled by the Collective Mind of the Matriarchs, and they never negotiate or seek dialogue. They just come to kill and destroy. That¡¯s the essence of the Swarm, and our duty is to stand against it. The Protectorate is the only shield capable of holding back their assault.¡± Noticing that this was a topic with no disagreement or conflict, Julia nodded and raised her glass. ¡°Then, to the Protectorate. To those who protect us and allow us to feel safe. To our home.¡± Kamil and Slavek raised their glasses as well. This toast was more than just a gesture ¡ª it was a heartfelt pledge of loyalty and resolve. ¡°To the Protectorate,¡± they echoed. ¡°To the future we¡¯re building together.¡± The three friends, bound by the belief that the Protectorate was both their family and shield, took a solemn sip. Despite individual doubts and personal convictions, they found common ground in that moment, a shared strength that would help them bear the loss of their friend. And perhaps now more than ever, each felt that this path was true ¡ª that together, they were building a future worth fighting for. Chapter 95 – The Vostok Mission Begins The sweltering evening was slowly giving way to the cooler embrace of twilight, though true darkness was still at least an hour away. Waves of heat still shimmered above the sunbaked asphalt, though it was far from the suffocating midday scorch that had ruled this place only hours before. One would expect this golden hour to bring life and energy to the surroundings ¡ª but here, silence had settled in. Trees were prematurely yellowing and shedding their leaves, birds had vanished, animals were nowhere to be seen, and not even the faint hum of insects broke the stillness. As the sun bathed the land in its final golden rays, the ¡°Ghosts of the Future¡± approached the silent, sprawling complex of the Vostok Global-Biochem Corporation. The paved road leading to the warehouse was deserted, with only occasional gusts of wind stirring dust along the shoulders. Maksim pulled the truck to a stop near the main gates. Beside him, Alisa sat in the passenger seat, multitasking through multiple threads, tapping into the feeds from their scout drones, which they had sent out earlier to survey the area. All the incoming data was instantly displayed on a holographic map. But simply seeing the absence of ¡°red dots¡± wasn¡¯t enough. As a true analyst, she was meticulously assessing risks and possible scenarios. ¡°Clear!¡± Alisa declared, as her flying scouts continued sweeping over the Vostok Global-Biochem warehouse grounds, updating the facility map. ¡°This is definitely the place,¡± she confirmed, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°It¡¯s a large complex with several buildings. The main ones are the equipment and chemical storage warehouse. There¡¯s also a separate vault for biomaterials.¡± The team was already on standby, weapons at the ready, sitting tensely in the truck¡¯s cab as they prepared for deployment. ¡°I¡¯m an idiot,¡± Maksim suddenly groaned, laying his assault rifle across his lap, and smacking his helmeted forehead with his palm. ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Alisa replied, her tone carrying a touch of humor. ¡°But care to enlighten the rest of us as to the specific reason for this revelation? Usually, you don¡¯t come to this conclusion so easily¡­¡± ¡°Damn it, sis! Do you even have to troll me right now? Why the hell are we sticking our heads in the lion¡¯s mouth again ¡ª or should I say, into a damn Shaiszu¡¯s maw? Why did we take on a high-risk mission with variable complexity? And WHY¡­ just WHY didn¡¯t I check what you signed us up for in advance?¡± In augmented reality, Maksim opened the mission briefing, dismissing the sections for ¡°mission success criteria¡± and ¡°failure conditions¡± to focus on the essentials: // SYSTEM, Module ¡°Missions¡± Mission: Reconnaissance of the Vostok Global-Biochem warehouse complex Coordinates: [expand] Mission Type: Reconnaissance Complexity: Variable Danger Level: High Urgency: Immediate Priority: Very High Expected Duration: Up to 5 hours DESCRIPTION: The Council of Free City Rzesz¨®w has tasked your team with conducting a reconnaissance operation at the Vostok Global Biochem Corporation warehouse complex, located approximately 80 kilometers from Rzesz¨®w near the border with the State Ukraine. The City is working to ensure food security and is actively searching for necessary equipment, resources, and technologies. Presumed Contents of the Warehouse: Bioproduction equipment, such as vertical farming systems, algae cultivation tanks, protein incubation units, synthetic meat printing machines, consumables, and tools for calibration and monitoring. Attention: This area has frequent Shaiszu wondering portals activity. Due to this, the mission danger level has been classified as High. Analytical team estimate a minimum 35% probability of combat encounters. Engaging monsters is not required ¡ª retreat is permissible if necessary. However, any combat risk undertaken will result in additional compensation. MISSION OBJECTIVES: Primary Objectives: * Conduct a detailed reconnaissance of the Vostok Global-Biochem warehouse complex. * Gather and document comprehensive information on the warehouse contents, exercising particular care with fragile equipment and reagents. Inspect containers and sealed crates for potentially critical equipment. * Assess the level of risk and identify potential threats, including any Shaiszu presence. * Maintain continuous live-stream coverage of team operations, using at least three drones (additional drones are encouraged). * Submit a full report to the Rzesz¨®w City Council upon completion of the mission (online submission permitted). * In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, contact a City Expert for additional instructions. Secondary Objectives: * Avoid detection by hostile forces whenever possible. * Minimize direct combat engagement within the warehouse premises.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. * Refrain from actions that violate mission conditions, such as theft or intentional property damage. REWARDS AND BONUSES: Base Reward: 50,000 grants for successfully completing the mission and providing detailed information about the warehouse contents. Bonuses: * Combat Risk Bonus: Additional payment starting at 10,000 grants for confirmed combat engagement with Shaiszu (varies by complexity and outcome). * Data Quality Bonus: Up to 5,000 grants for providing comprehensive and high-quality data. * Additional Task Rewards: Variable, for successful completion of additional tasks as specified. Alisa folded her arms across her chest, tilting her head slightly as she gave her brother a pointed look. ¡°Because safe,¡± she emphasized the word with deliberate weight, ¡°recon missions typically pay around 3,000 grants. And even those get snatched up instantly by sly little teams ¡ª probably to avoid shelling out for resource data and just gamble on their luck.¡± Max took a moment to process her words before narrowing his eyes in suspicion. ¡°Okay, little sis, I¡¯ve got you figured out,¡± he said after a beat, catching on to the game his sister was playing. ¡°What have you come up with this time? Found a way to actually reduce the danger level?¡± Alisa laughed, breaking the tension with a ripple of amusement. ¡°Technically, it wasn¡¯t even me who figured it out,¡± she admitted with a teasing grin. ¡°It was Dasha. Which means now you officially owe her two cakes. You get what I¡¯m hinting at here?¡± Dasha raised her helmet visor and, following Maxim¡¯s lead, rested her submachine gun on her lap. ¡°Maxie¡­ I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you earlier, yeah. I thought you already knew¡­ well¡­ so, yeah. I talked this mission over with Alisa before she picked it. Well, actually¡­ she discussed it with me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, WonderKid,¡± Max said, his voice calm and reassuring, grounding her jittery tone. ¡°Now, tell me ¡ª what¡¯s your idea?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to my attribute, ¡®Foresight,¡¯ okay?¡± Dasha said, her confidence growing with each word. ¡°Even at level one, I can feel when a portal¡¯s about to open a few seconds ahead of time¡­ and I can use the ¡®Instant Appraisal¡¯ skill to try to react fast enough.¡± For emphasis, Vasilevskaya waved her vape ¡ª a mildly absurd and somewhat funny gesture, as if the small box in her hand could somehow lend credibility to her claims. ¡°But I didn¡¯t stop there,¡± she continued, her enthusiasm spilling over. ¡°This morning, I also dug deep into the Informatorium API. Now, if my passive ¡®Danger Sense¡¯ triggers, it¡¯ll paint the danger zone the visual field in red glow ¡ª the brighter the red, the worse the threat. So¡­ the denser the color, the sooner it¡¯s going to happen¡­¡± ¡°Very clever,¡± Maksim said with a nod of approval. ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but can your active skill ¡®Glimpse the Future¡¯ also detect incoming Shaiszu portal openings? I think I see where you¡¯re going with this¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Max, exactly!¡± Dasha¡¯s face lit up with pride. ¡°I spent all morning setting up command chains to make sure this skill only triggers in situations of real, life-threatening danger¡­¡± ¡°Wait, hold on ¡ª stop right there, WonderKid,¡± Max said, sharply yanking his visor up as he leaned forward, his gaze locking onto hers. ¡°Are you telling me you¡¯ve figured out how to consciously activate triggered abilities? And you managed to integrate it with the System¡¯s automated responses? Am I understanding this right?¡± ¡°Well¡­ yeah¡­ kind of,¡± Dasha stammered, her confidence faltering under his intensity. ¡°I mean¡­ not completely yet¡­ yeah. I¡¯m using a dev-UI version, and half of it is still manual work. But¡­ but I guarantee I¡¯ll be able to foresee potential portal openings. Not earlier than five minutes ahead, of course¡­ but that¡¯s a lot of time, isn¡¯t it? I mean¡­ it¡¯s enough, right?¡± Nikola got up from the folding chair she¡¯d set up in the narrow aisle of the truck¡¯s cabin. Stretching, she leaned against the wall. ¡°Five minutes? For combat, five minutes is an eternity,¡± she remarked. ¡°You can prep just about anything in that time. Hey, Dasha, can you predict threats that aren¡¯t right next to you? Like, say, if you¡¯re inside the complex and the truck is parked somewhere nearby ¡ª would that work?¡± Daria glanced at Nikola in surprise but quickly caught on, nodding eagerly. ¡°Yes, yes, of course! I just need to see the object¡­ and the area around it. But the farther away it is, the less accurate it gets ¡ª and the prediction window shrinks, too.¡± Nikola quickly tapped a few points on the map. ¡°If the truck is parked here, and we¡¯re all the way over there, in the farthest part of the warehouse, could you still pick something up?¡± Dasha hesitated briefly, calculating, then nodded again. ¡°I think so¡­ yeah. At that distance¡­ the prediction window would probably shrink to around thirty seconds, though.¡± Maksim and Alisa exchanged a glance and nodded in unison. ¡°Perfect,¡± the blond cut in, beating her brother to the punch. ¡°I¡¯ll keep one thread for controlling the truck, so I¡¯ll be able to react in time.¡± ¡°And we won¡¯t need to leave combat drones for security ¡ª one observer drone should be enough, right, WonderKid?¡± Max asked. ¡°Yes,¡± she squeaked in reply. Max leapt to his feet, unable to stay seated with all the possibilities spinning in his head. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! So, the truck¡¯s taken care of. But this level of control? That¡¯s incredible! Hey, WonderStar, when you¡¯re done refining this, will each of us be able to manage our skills through the interface? Will we see how much energy we have left? Countdown timers for cooldowns?¡± ¡°Well¡­ yes?¡± Daria said, clearly startled by his enthusiasm. ¡°I don¡¯t have much left to finish. Plus, with the training data we¡¯re about to collect on this mission¡­ I can test and refine it¡­ so it¡¯ll be ready really quickly. I promise ¡ª it won¡¯t take long, yeah.¡± The guy paced back and forth in the cramped cabin, his thoughts racing. ¡°Damn it, WonderKid, why didn¡¯t you tell me this earlier? I could¡¯ve used this as leverage in the negotiations with the Linkers ¡ª and especially with Miro! This is huge! A total game-changer! An ironclad argument! And it¡¯s a lifesaver for our missions!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Daria whispered, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­ But it¡¯s not ready yet! I can¡¯t just¡­ talk about something that¡¯s not ready. Let alone show it to anyone.¡± ¡°Max, you absolute blockhead,¡± Alisa snapped, cutting him off, ¡°what are you doing right before a mission? Apologize, now!¡± The guy hesitated before awkwardly stepping over and sitting down beside Daria on the bed. ¡°Hey, WonderKid, I¡¯m really sorry,¡± he said softly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to pressure you or anything like that. How about this ¡ª tomorrow, we¡¯ll take the whole day off. Sleep in. Eat something delicious. Take a walk around the city, yeah? And if you feel like diving into the System code, you¡¯ll have all the time you need. Deal? Don¡¯t worry about it now. Let¡¯s focus on the mission first. Once it¡¯s done, we¡¯ll rest.¡± Nikola walked over with a warm expression and held out an open pack of tissues. Dasha took one, dabbing at her eyes. ¡°Sorry¡­ it¡¯s just the stress¡­ and being so tired¡­¡± ¡°Everything will be okay,¡± Alisa reassured her with a kind smile. ¡°And you really have earned a break. We all have.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Maksim said, clapping his hands once, a spark of energy in his tone. ¡°Let¡¯s start the stream for Rzesz¨®w and get moving. The sooner we begin, the sooner we¡¯re done ¡­¡± With Dasha¡¯s newly revealed capabilities, the team decided there was no need to hide the truck. They parked it just inside the gates, facing the exit, ready for a quick getaway. Maksim and Nikola took a moment to walk the area, ensuring nothing would obstruct the vehicle if they needed to make a rapid escape. Meanwhile, Alisa and Dasha scanned the surroundings, using both their own eyes and the drones hovering above. [Hey, Max, Nika, take a look at this,] Alisa said through the team conference, sharing a live stream from one of the drones. [Is this what you were looking for?] The feed showed a separate parking lot, cordoned off by a barrier arm. Beyond it stretched rows of white-and-blue vehicles, all stamped with corporate logo and name of ¡°Vostok Global-Biochem.¡± The array included four high-end utility pickups, two already equipped with canopy kung. Five sleek minibuses, four compact cargo vans, and four luxurious business-class sedans. [Bingo!] [Jackpot!] [The cars! Like¡­ um, wow¡­ yeah¡­] Dasha joined them, a bit hesitantly. The drone circled the lot at low altitude, providing a closer view of the vehicles. [Whoa¡­ talk about luck. This really is a jackpot,] Redhead said with a satisfied chuckle. [We could easily turn those pickups ¡ª especially the ones with canopies ¡ª into solid raider rigs. You get what I¡¯m saying, Max?¡±] [Yep. Consider the secondary objective done. More than done, even. I¡¯m all for keeping both pickups ¡ª but that¡¯s for after the mission. Now let¡¯s focus on the main task. Drones on recon, and we¡¯ll start with the main building.] Maksim waved sharply, signaling the team to prepare. Chapter 96 – Claw Marks and Plasma Scars The complex turned out to be vast, with multiple structures, including one large building designated for the storage of live biomaterials. Most of the warehouses, however, seemed to store equipment and chemicals belonging to the corporation ¡ª or at least, that¡¯s what the mission description and the publicly available data gathered through the Ravens¡¯ ¡°flying¡± suggested. [We¡¯ll start the recon with the main building,] Maxim instructed through the conference. [If things look good there, we¡¯ll try to access the security system and its cameras. That¡¯ll make checking the place out a lot faster ¡ª there¡¯s way too much ground to cover manually. If we can pull it off, we¡¯ll share the camera feeds with Rzesz¨®w. Let their AI have some fun too.] As the team approached the main warehouse, they were met with a deeply unsettling sight. While the drones had already transmitted a feed, seeing it in person was something else entirely. The massive cargo doors of the building stood wide open, gaping into a pitch-black void. No vehicles, no forklifts, no trace of activity ¡ª just an eerie, oppressive silence. Near the entrance, patches of asphalt were scorched and melted, blackened stains marring the ground. Jagged claw marks gouged deep into the reinforced concrete walls. A shiver ran down Maksim¡¯s spine as he tried to push away thoughts of what kind of claws could have left such scars. [Hmm. Doesn¡¯t look like an evacuation,] Nikola commented. [There are no vehicles near the loading docks, no scattered debris, and no signs of any hasty activity. Looks like they just sealed everything off as soon as the invasion began. So why are the doors open? Shouldn¡¯t they be locked?] [Maybe someone¡¯s been here since then,] Maksim suggested. [There¡¯s always someone willing to defy Rzesz¨®w¡¯s orders for a bit of looting. Either way, we¡¯ll find out soon enough. Alisa, send in the recon birdies first. If there are armed intruders, we fall back immediately. If possible, we¡¯ll attempt to establish contact through the drones.] The scout machines darted in, spreading out across the shadowy warehouse to assess the surroundings. [Seems like the Shaiszu didn¡¯t just visit ¡ª they actually got inside. Ladies, look here! Those marks on the ground? They¡¯re from a portal sphere detonation. And check out these scratches near the control panel by the doors. I¡¯d wager it¡¯s the same cause!] Maksim¡¯s message appeared alongside an animated image of a worried face. [Max¡­ are you seriously suggesting the Shaiszu jumped in, casually hacked their way into a locked building, and opened the doors? You see, there¡¯s no sign of explosions, no shredded metal! Your theory feels a bit¡­ out there,] Nikola replied, her words accompanied by a sarcastic smirk emoji. [Then again, with an apocalypse and monster swarms, what¡¯s a little more fantasy? Let¡¯s investigate. Alisa, can you have one of your drones sweep closer to the ground? I want a better look at those marks.] [You might be falling for media stereotypes,] Dasha interjected with an air of exaggerated seriousness. [They always push the idea that monsters are mindless brutes. I saw that stream by Vasiliy Horobets where the Shaiszu were using human weapons. Why wouldn¡¯t they be able to hack an electronic lock?] [Nikola, let¡¯s keep it simple,] Alisa stepped in, steering the conversation back to the mission. [Here, take the universal control program and check it out yourself.] [Perfect! Send it over.] Taking control of one of the machines, Redhead immediately brought it low to skim just above the ground, meticulously examining the tracks on the floor and traces on the walls. [Looks like there were four, maybe five monsters in total here,] she commented thoughtfully after a moment of scanning. [All large, very heavy, and likely the same type. No smaller critters, like those crab-like ones we¡¯ve seen in most vids, that usually jump out to clear the area. This wasn¡¯t a swarm ¡ª it was a targeted strike.] [Damn, Nikola, don¡¯t tell me Watson Military trains its mech-armor pilots as recon experts too?] Maksim quipped, raising an eyebrow. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what else he didn¡¯t know about his girlfriend. [Not all of them, no,] she replied, her message accompanied by an animated fox emoji with a sly grin. [But me? Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m special. I¡¯ll tell you all about it later. You owe me a couple of good dark ales, and I¡¯ll make it a story worth your while. Dasha, Alisa, you¡¯re welcome to join. It¡¯s not all about fighting ¡ª we¡¯ve got that day off planned, right? Oh, by the way, the Shaiszu group went through that door over there into the next section. But the drones can¡¯t get through ¡ª it¡¯s sealed tight.] She gestured toward a sturdy metal door, its surface unyielding and firmly shut. [I doubt the Shaiszu closed the door out of politeness,] Maksim remarked. [It¡¯s more likely the fire suppression system locked it automatically.] [Or maybe they did close it,] Dasha countered. [I¡¯ve told you before ¡ª they¡¯re perfectly capable of handling human tech! So yeah, they could¡¯ve closed it.] [Well, that¡¯s possible,] Nikola admitted with a shrug, [but the fire-alarm theory seems more plausible. Unless we¡¯re dealing with unusually polite monsters. If it¡¯s a security system lock, it¡¯s probably an electronic corporate-standard one. That means it¡¯ll need an access keycard to unlock and open it. That¡¯s standard for most corporations.] [That¡¯s bad news,] Maksim noted. [If that¡¯s the case, Big One won¡¯t be able to break it open, and we¡¯ll have to go in ourselves. And I really don¡¯t like that. I¡¯d much rather let the tech do the scouting for us.] [Uh¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t sense any danger,] Dasha reassured him, her message accompanied by a nervous smile emoji. [At least not right now. We can move slowly¡­ and back off if anything changes.] [I¡¯ll cover us with drones,] Alisa added calmly, siding with the ¡®sniper-programmer¡¯. [We just need to be cautious.] [WonderKid, there¡¯s a control panel by the door. Can you access it?] [Yeah, I think so. Probably¡­] Dasha even nodded in real-life. [I¡¯ll give it a try.] The team moved forward without hesitation to tackle the tense situation. The lock, as expected, was active, but it didn¡¯t take Dasha long to crack it. She recalled a thread from a hacker forum about this specific series of security systems. Instead of brute-forcing, she skillfully bypassed the module¡¯s safeguards, exploiting a vulnerability she¡¯d remembered. As the lock disengaged and the door swung open invitingly, Nikola stepped inside first, her heavy assault rifle at the ready. Beside her padded the quadrupedal robot affectionately nicknamed ¡°Big One,¡± an improvised creation hastily cobbled together by the Chernykh siblings. Originally built as a temporary solution, the bot somehow managed to stick around, outlasting many of its sleeker, more advanced successors. By now, it was practically part of the family.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Inside, they were confronted with puddles of water on the floor and a sharp, acrid stench that lingered despite the fire suppression system¡¯s activation. The vast storage room was unnervingly still, as if the building itself was holding its breath, bracing for something even worse. The dim light from a few remaining fixtures barely pierced through the towering rows of shelves lined with hundreds of metal crates, many of which were twisted out of shape or riddled with holes. At the center of the room lay the massive corpse of a Shaiszu creature, surrounded by the unmistakable signs of a ferocious battle that had unfolded mere hours ago. [Hold position!] Maksim ordered. [Nikola, since you seem to know about this stuff, take a closer look before we trample all over the evidence.] Nodding silently, she took control of the recon drone once more, skimming it just above the floor as she carefully examined the room and its grim aftermath. The area was littered with scattered debris and marked with numerous stains. For some reason, the fire suppression system had shut down at the very start of the fighting, leaving the scene more exposed for closer inspection. Among the blood, there were strange patches of bioluminescent liquid, faintly glowing in the dim light. Deep claw marks and bullet impacts scarred the concrete floor and shelves. In some places, the slabs of concrete were melted entirely, as if doused with acid or molten metal. In a few spots, it was evident the defenders had resorted to using grenades, judging by the shattered shelves and scorched walls. It seemed the explosions had triggered the fire alarm. [Guys, this is insane! These Shaiszu weren¡¯t just cutting and biting ¡ª they were firing bone bolts like crossbows. Don¡¯t ask how this is even possible. And look what they did to the Armadillo. The poor thing looks like it went through an industrial shredder.] Nikola turned the drone around, revealing a mangled heap of twisted metal. The heavily armored drone from Armadillo Military Corp wasn¡¯t just ripped open like a tin can; it had punctures clean through its composite plating. Bullets couldn¡¯t penetrate its armor, but the bone blades ¡ª a bizarre mix between claws and throwing knives ¡ª shredded it with ease. [The humans didn¡¯t stand a chance either,] Maksim said grimly, pointing to a large bloodstain near a charred fragment of a helmet. Next to it lay a warped rifle, its barrel completely melted. [And it wasn¡¯t just claws. Plasma weapons too. These creatures can handle them just fine. We saw it in the Protectorate footage and during the Wall attack broadcast. But only the big ones were using plasma there. Never thought medium-sized ones could pull this off.] [I¡¯ve seen all I can for now, but the water¡¯s making it hard to find anything else,] Nikola said. [Let¡¯s go check out that¡­ uh¡­ sabertooth chthonic monstrous pussy. You¡¯ve gotta see it.] [Chthonic¡­ what?] Alisa asked, blinking. [Did you just say ¡®pussy¡¯?] Dasha chimed in, the mix of amusement and disbelief evident in her words. [Yep. Big cat. Sabertooth. Cool as hell,] Nikola replied with a smirk. [Come on, you¡¯ll see.] The corpse of the fallen Shaiszu was so colossal that even in death its sheer bulk radiated power and dominance. The shimmering fur, resembling a coat of dense metallic bristles, retained its luster even in the dim light. The ridge along its spine was charred from a powerful explosion ¡ª likely the result of a grenade launcher or a mine. The beast lay on its side, its formidable claws still extended in death. One claw had been completely torn off, leaving behind shredded tissue leaking a viscous, dark blue substance that faintly glowed in the shadows. Its large, icy blue eyes were fixed in a lifeless yet imposing gleam, still radiating a sense of untamed strength and freedom. Its right flank was riddled with charred wounds ¡ª the unmistakable marks of heavy-caliber machine gun fire. Beneath its ribcage gaped a devastating wound, likely the result of a direct hit from a shaped-charge anti-tank missile that had torn straight through it. Maksim, driven by a sudden, inexplicable impulse, removed his right glove and stepped closer. He placed his bare hand on the monster¡¯s forehead. ¡°One of them...¡± he murmured aloud, closing his eyes. Not that anyone could see under the visor of his helmet. ¡°They managed to stop her. But the others kept up the hunt. And they succeeded.¡± [What the hell are you doing, Max?! Kurwa, have you completely lost it?!] Nikola¡¯s message popped up in the conference, her words sharp and punctuated with raw disbelief. [Seriously, a sudden crush on a Shaiszu corpse? Or is this just your inner crazy cat person finally breaking loose?] Embarrassment flared under Maksim¡¯s helmet as he hastily pulled his glove back on and stepped away from the corpse. [She was still firing plasma right up until the end. Uhm¡­ see that mark? That¡¯s her final breath. Acid and heat seared straight through the concrete. She didn¡¯t give up for a second. And, uh¡­ yeah, I do like cats. Why do you ask?] [Full physical evaluation required ¡ª bloodwork, biochemistry, hormone levels. Possible PTSD. Oh, and find a decent therapist. Noted,] Alisa remarked dryly. [For the record, I like cats too. But only the living ones.] [Hey, come on, guys, seriously?! I¡¯m fine, alright? Let¡¯s stay on task!] Maksim cut in, his words coming off more defensive than he intended. Deep down, though, the scene had shaken him, and he couldn¡¯t entirely dismiss Alisa¡¯s pointed remarks. The team scanned the room, surveying the wreckage of a brutal fight. Shelves lay toppled, and boxes were scattered across the floor. Bullet holes riddled the walls and crates, evidence of a desperate last stand against the advancing monsters. Near the doors where the defenders had fallen back, two heavily damaged combat robots stood locked in their final, broken stances. Their armor was riddled with breaches, and oil and coolant from severed cables had mixed with the bloodstains pooling on the floor. ¡°This was a slaughter,¡± Maksim murmured, running his fingers over a bullet hole in the nearest shelf. ¡°Nine people, combat bots, drones for support¡­ and yet they lost so much. Their equipment. Three from their team.¡± Nikola froze mid-step, her sharp gaze locking onto the guy. Alisa tilted her head slightly, her focus narrowing. Even Dasha, who had been studying the warped remains of a shelf, stopped, her attention fixed on him. [Hey¡­ Maksim. I never said how many there were or what happened to them. And there¡¯s no way you could¡¯ve pieced that together from the scene. Too much water. What the heck is going on with you?] [Uh¡­ foresight¡­ but, like¡­ for the past?] he muttered weakly, clearly unconvincing. Dasha broke the tension by stepping toward a crooked security camera dangling from a support beam, its mount slightly twisted after a heavy impact. [About the people¡­ If they retreated, then¡­ I mean, toward the cameras¡­ uh, yeah,] her words were stumbling as she tried to explain. [Good point. We got sidetracked from the main purpose,] Maksim replied, gesturing toward where the people likely fled. [Alisa, send a scout drone that way. Let¡¯s see if we can figure out what happened to them ¡ª or the Shaiszu. The rest of you need to locate the security console. We need a clearer picture of what went down here before contacting Rzesz¨®w. Keep the Big One and the heavy drones close. Dasha says it¡¯s safe, but I¡¯m not taking any chances.] Strangely enough, the console they needed was tucked away behind a partition on the wall near the main gate, almost exactly where the team had first entered the warehouse. [Max, I¡¯m ready,] Vasilevskaya messaged, plugging in her cables. [I¡¯ve got 60% energy left, so if the hack gets tricky, I¡¯ll fire up my skills, yeah. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s anything too complex, though¡­ This isn¡¯t exactly the Inquisitorial Commission¡¯s primary testing server for AI T7-category digital citizenship applicants.] [WonderKid, dammit,] Maksim started, then caught himself ¡ª there wasn¡¯t much point. [Uhm¡­ well, sure. So, did you give ¡¯em hell back then, huh, WonderStar? I know you can pull it off.] Daria grinned, hiding her delight behind the visor. Maksim¡¯s sudden compliment clearly struck a chord. [Almost. That time, I cracked the first barrier and dropped anchors, but then four icebreakers came at me ¡ª their combined power was dozens of times stronger than our Moira¡­ well, I mean, Moira at that time. So, I bailed. But those rats panicked and spent six months tearing their office apart, convinced there¡¯d been a data leak. Ha-ha! They were seriously looking for a mole. But there wasn¡¯t one ¡ª it was all me!] [Dasha¡¯s unstoppable,] Alisa quipped with a smile emoji. [Aware of those accomplishments, I was not, Max. Learn, the child did. Seek their power, they did. Walked the path of mystery, they have ¡ª truths unseen, revealed they were.] [Hah!] Dasha laughed, immediately catching the reference to her favorite geek-culture character. ¡°And these are the people I¡¯m stuck with. Big Bang Theory: Apocalypse Edition, seriously...¡± Maksim thought, rolling his eyes. [Alright, let¡¯s figure out what really happened here,] he added in the conference. [Then we contact Rzesz¨®w. They¡¯re going to want a full report on this chaos.] Chapter 97 – Tales from the Vostok The security system of the Vostok Global-Biochem warehouse was impressively advanced. Cameras were plentiful. Their feeds in full color and overlapping fields of view ensured that nearly every corner was covered without gaps. This setup allowed recorded events to be reviewed from multiple angles. Moreover, not only did the system capture sharp, detailed visuals, but it also recorded audio ¡ª a perfect tool for unraveling the mystery of what had unfolded within the facility. Of course, the retreating defenders had communicated using the integrated comms in their tactical helmets, mostly speaking in hushed tones. Yet Moira had no trouble isolating their voices from the ambient noise. Her advanced processing easily boosted and clarified the faint conversations, making them intelligible. The result was a gripping, cinematic reconstruction of events ¡ª dynamic and vivid, as if crafted by a masterful filmmaker.
A Few Hours Earlier A deafening crack echoed through the warehouse as one of the remaining Shaiszu unleashed its searing plasma ¡°breath,¡± obliterating the support column of a massive metal platform. A towering barrel perched atop it teetered for a moment before crashing down with a thunderous roar, landing squarely on a two-meter-tall humanoid combat robot. The impact struck with eerie precision, as if the creature had meticulously calculated the trajectory and its devastating effects. Beneath the mangled wreckage of steel, all that remained visible was the robot¡¯s arm, twitching feebly in its final, futile spasms. ¡°Damn it¡­ these things are way smarter than we thought!¡± one of the soldiers shouted, slinging a munitions pack over his shoulder. His face was hidden by a tactical helmet, but his voice betrayed unmistakable notes of rising panic. Two other defenders scrambled aside, barely avoiding the collapsing structure. The sudden motion jostled the severely injured teammate they were carrying on a stretcher, drawing a groan of obvious pain. Another soldier lay motionless near the exit, his head heavily charred. He was unmistakably dead, laid out on another stretcher, ready for extraction. To their credit, the squad had no intention of leaving anyone behind ¡ª not even their fallen. Meanwhile, their combat machines held their ground, firing sharp, retaliatory bursts at any monster daring to breach the suppression corridor. The battlefield had reached a tactical stalemate: the Shaiszu couldn¡¯t break through the defenses, and the defenders couldn¡¯t safely take out their dead and wounded to retreat. ¡°On the double!¡± the squad leader barked, surveying the dire situation. ¡°Those beasts are closing in! Second and third mechs, stick to the walls ¡ª no unnecessary exposure!¡± Beside him, a compact assault tank-bot fired relentlessly, unleashing a hail of rapid-fire rounds in an attempt to pin down the agile predators. Yet, despite the storm of bullets, the Shaiszu danced through the chaos untouched. It was as if they possessed an advanced form of foresight, predicting the moves of the humans¡¯ combat AI with uncanny accuracy. Their elongated, sinewy forms sprang and twisted with lightning speed, exploiting every piece of cover, no matter how small. And they struck back with brutal, unrelenting precision. Their arsenal wasn¡¯t limited to claws and plasma; while their special abilities were on cooldown, these ¡°cats¡± adapted to their surroundings with terrifying ingenuity ¡ª hurling crates, debris, and even fragments of machinery with unnerving accuracy. Heavy objects turned into deadly, improvised artillery shells, launched with staggering force from their skillful, calculating paws. ¡°Second mech is down, repeat, it¡¯s gone!¡± a tech¡¯s voice crackled over the comms. ¡°Failed to trigger the reactor for a controlled blast ¡ª falling back! Captain, the third mech is barely holding together ¡ª it¡¯s taken heavy damage. We¡¯re critical! ATGM is in position; do we fire?¡± ¡°Wait for them to make a mistake,¡± the leader ordered tersely, gripping his rifle tighter. ¡°If we miss, there won¡¯t be a second chance. Take the shot only if you¡¯re certain.¡± One Shaiszu, crouched behind a small, toppled container, suddenly sprang into the air. Mid-jump, it fired a claw-like dart and immediately dropped back into cover. The powerful projectile pierced through a partition, shot between rows of shelves, and ruptured a barrel of chemicals. A thick stream of viscous black liquid sprayed over the optical sensors of a hovering TACTA-designed observation drone, severely distorting both its visual and lidar readings. The creature launched itself off a wall, exploiting the blind spot created by the drone¡¯s impaired vision to reposition directly beneath it. ¡°Do we have eyes on that bastard? Take it down, now!¡± the captain¡¯s voice roared through the comms. It was as if the Shaiszu had been waiting for that exact command. The moment a soldier aimed the ATGM launcher, the creature lunged, slashing the drone with its claws and slamming it to the ground with brutal force. A missile fired a split second later, slamming into the concrete floor with a thunderous explosion, sending dust and debris flying ¡ª but the Shaiszu was already gone. The beast landed with lethal grace, ignoring the rifle fire ripping through the air around it. Its saber-toothed maw opened wide, unleashing a searing plasma sphere at the fourth mech. The robot, distracted by a skirmish with another Shaiszu, failed to react in time. Worse, as it turned to respond, it exposed its back ¡ª the most vulnerable point. The plasma strike hit with devastating accuracy, and with a deafening crash, the mech toppled to the ground. ¡°Captain, ¡®Four¡¯ is out,¡± a tech specialist reported grimly. ¡°We¡¯ve lost control, and its reactor will blow in a few minutes. ¡®Three¡¯ is barely holding together, and ¡®Five¡¯ ¡ª its missile launcher is dead. Only the machine gun is operational.¡± ¡°They¡¯re taunting us, kurwa!¡± one of the soldiers snarled, gripping his rifle until his knuckles whitened. ¡°Focus all suppression fire!¡± the captain barked, his voice like steel. ¡°Throw everything we¡¯ve got ¡ª drones, ammo, all of it! Crash the empty drones into them if needed. Just give us thirty seconds!¡± He drew a sharp breath before issuing the final order. ¡°Squad, fall back under cover fire!¡± The remaining didn¡¯t launch a frontal assault. Instead, they secured themselves in cover, biding their time, waiting for the humans to run dry. They knew full well they couldn¡¯t survive a direct hit from the ATGM, and also understood the humans¡¯ suppressive fire wouldn¡¯t last forever. Only one of the creatures, perhaps the youngest, let out a frustrated growl, crouching low and tracking the retreating soldiers with unblinking intensity. The squad fought their way back through the doors, with the two mechs covering their retreat. The machines sealed the entrance with relentless suppressive fire. Thick black smoke poured from the crippled ¡®three,¡¯ but it held its ground, firing defiantly to keep the enemy at bay. With a loud metallic click, the door slammed shut. The soldiers sprinted toward the waiting APC, where the wounded and fallen had already been loaded. The engine roared to life, and the vehicle surged toward the warehouse complex exit, tires screeching on the road. The captain knew they had mere seconds to create as much distance as possible from those Claws of Death. If the beasts caught up, their escape would be over ¡ª and none of them would leave this battlefield alive.
When it was deemed safe for now in the warehouse complex, Max allowed the team to lift the visors of their helmets. He even gave Dasha permission to take a brief vaping break. For a while, the crew settled in a small staff lounge near the entrance. However, before they could proceed with exploring the site, they needed to contact Rzesz¨®w. To make that call as effective and beneficial as possible, they first had to fully understand what they had just seen on the security footage. ¡°This wasn¡¯t a group from Rzesz¨®w,¡± Alisa said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. ¡°I¡¯ve been analyzing the footage with the help of most of the Ravens, and I can already tell this team isn¡¯t in our database. Either they¡¯re from another city, or... they¡¯re looters.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably one of the Freemen squads. No emblems or distinguishing marks, though, which is weird. Probably, it¡¯s deliberate? I don¡¯t know¡­ yeah¡­¡± Dasha added, as she instinctively claimed the largest chair in the room, tucking her legs up under her. Neither her military pants with knee pads nor her sturdy boots did anything to stop her from getting completely comfortable. ¡°They¡¯ve got TACTA birdies, at least,¡± Nikola noted, scanning the room with a quick, practiced glance before heading straight to the kitchenette. ¡°But the rest of their equipment is Earth-made.¡± She stopped, spotting a coffee machine. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s coffee here. Lemme see if I can get this thing to work. Anyone wanna cup?¡± Not waiting for a reply, the cyborg-girl grabbed a mug for herself ¡ª at least one was definitely going to be used. Max and Dasha both declined her offer.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Maksim sat down, placing his rifle on the table in front of him. He mentally reviewed the key points, piecing together everything they knew so far, before pulling a mediaphone from one of the pockets on his tactical vest. ¡°All right, team, I¡¯m calling Rzesz¨®w. Any additional details I should bring up? Alisa? WonderKid?¡± ¡°Nope. But I can prep access to the cameras through the TACTA network. They¡¯re bound to ask for it,¡± Vasilevskaya said, nodding sharply. ¡°Actually, I already did it. Left a TACTA micro-comm module wired to a mini-computer in the console. I¡¯ll grab it back after the mission.¡± Alisa, meanwhile, sent a file to the conference group with a comment: ¡°Max, I¡¯ve put together everything in one document ¡ª details on the mercs, the dead Shaiszu specimen, everything. If you need me to jump in with more info during the call, I¡¯ll be ready.¡± ¡°Thanks, sis,¡± he said, activating the camera on his device. @Call Initiated: Free Rzesz¨®w Contact Line, Mission ID Transmitted. The city responded almost immediately, though a notification appeared requesting the caller to hold for a few minutes. After a brief pause, Colonel Shimon Wozniak appeared on screen. This time, he wasn¡¯t in his office. Judging by the sterile surroundings and his white lab coat, he seemed to be in one of the city¡¯s laboratories or experimental workshops. Clearly, he¡¯d stepped aside, probably during a meeting. @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#02: ¡°Greetings, Ghosts of the Future. Pan Maksim, you have an uncanny talent for raising mission difficulty just by showing up. I¡¯ve already reviewed the preliminary analyses from our AI ¡ª if the Shaiszu you¡¯ve encountered return, this would qualify as a fourth-category threat. Possibly even third. Let me be absolutely clear: do not engage them under any circumstances. Keep your drones hidden and do everything possible to avoid drawing attention. Additional risk compensation will be provided regardless.¡± @Caller: ¡°Good day, Pan Shimon. What can I say¡­ looks like the Shaiszu just can¡¯t get enough of me!¡± Maksim attempted a lighthearted remark, but a shiver ran down his spine. It wasn¡¯t the error in the mission¡¯s classification that caused it. It was more about how humanity still struggled to grasp the full scale of the catastrophe that had struck. And yet, something felt deeply personal ¡ª an almost predatory tension seemed to link Max and the beasty invaders. Memories of the Kyiv escape incident surfaced, along with an unsettling sense while examining their pawswork here. Those recurring dreams weren¡¯t helping, either. Still, keeping his tone steady, he forced himself to carry on. @Caller: ¡°I take it you¡¯re already up to speed on the situation? We¡¯ve compiled surveillance footage of the fight, processed and refined by our AI system. Plus, our analyst has put together a detailed report. Sending all materials now.¡± A progress bar appeared on the screen as the files uploaded. Colonel Wozniak opened Alisa¡¯s report, scanning through it quickly. @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#02: ¡°Excellent work, Ghosts. Always a pleasure to work with you. Can you provide remote access to the surveillance system and video archives for our AI to analyze?¡± Vasilevskaya smirked with smug satisfaction, her expression practically shouting, ¡°Told you so!¡± She jumped up from her chair and sat down beside Maksim, making sure she was in frame. @Caller.Daria: ¡°Uh¡­ Hiya, Pan Colonel! I¡¯ve already set that up, ahead of time. It¡¯s ready, yeah.¡± Shimon Wozniak smiled and replied: @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#02: ¡°Good to see you, Pani Daria, the renowned Sniper-Programmer. Or should I say Sniper-Hacker instead?¡± Dasha grinned back, her tone unexpectedly poised and self-assured, catching her team off guard. @Caller.Daria: ¡°A precise shot or a perfect line of code ¡ª they¡¯re just different paths to the same goal. The key is timing and accuracy. Call me whatever you like, Pan Colonel. I don¡¯t miss. Yeah.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#02: ¡°An excellent answer, Pani Daria. Truly excellent. Please transmit the access credentials, and we¡¯ll factor this into the final mission payout.¡± Dasha gave a curt nod and sent the required files, using the permissions Maksim had preemptively granted her ¡ª and the entire team ¡ª for this call. @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#02: ¡°Thank you. Our AI has confirmed access and is already analyzing the video archives. Would you be able to wait for approximately thirty minutes? The Council, our experts, and I need time to review the materials and plan the next steps.¡± @Caller.Maksim: ¡°Of course, Pan Shimon. We¡¯ll wait.¡± Rzesz¨®w disconnected. Maksim leaned back with a grin. ¡°Well, now we¡¯ve got time for coffee and some stories. Nikola, how about that tale you promised us?¡± Redhead shot a pointed look at her boyfriend, then scanned the room with exaggerated drama before turning back to him. ¡°Nope! Not happening. Where¡¯s my beer? My grilled cheese? My smoked Silesian sausages? Bigos, you know, the cabbage and meat Stew? Pickles? Lard with garlic? Ribs in sauce? Roasted potatoes with herbs?¡± ¡°Now I¡¯m officially terrified,¡± Maksim laughed. ¡°If that¡¯s your wishlist before we upgraded your digestive system with TACTA modules, what¡¯s it gonna be like after that?¡± Nikola laughed mischievously. ¡°Mwahaha! I¡¯ve got a whole list of dishes I¡¯m dying to devour!¡± ¡°Well, I could head over to the coffee machine and get you another cup for now,¡± Maksim offered as a compromise. ¡°Deal. I¡¯ve got a protein bar anyway. But the story¡¯s reserved for the bar.¡± The team managed to take a short break ¡ª chatting, drinking coffee, and having the dinner Alisa had prepared earlier. Dasha and Redhead took some time to vape, and exactly twenty-two minutes later, the call from Rzesz¨®w came through. @Incoming Call: Free Rzesz¨®w, Colonel Shimon Wozniak @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°Thanks for waiting. Pan Maksim, is your team ready to take on an additional task ¡ª specifically, to reach the server room, breach the local security systems, and check for any remaining data?¡± Dasha, already seated next to Maksim, gazed thoughtfully at the virtual screen displaying the feed and asked: @Caller.Daria: ¡°Are we looking for anything specific, Pan Shimon?¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°Yes. The Vostok Corporation is renowned for its innovative biotech food products, but their publicly available documentation is limited to basic operation manuals ¡ª and even those cover only a fraction of their equipment. The warehouse might contain valuable technical materials: repair guides, maintenance protocols, installation manuals. Even pre-sale preparation guidelines could prove useful.¡± @Caller.Dasha: ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll focus on retrieving any corp-docs. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°Glad to hear it. Now, there are two more tasks, both critical. First, our scientific team requests that the body of the deceased Shaiszu be delivered to us as quickly as possible. Timing is crucial ¡ª it must be transported exactly as it is now, without refrigeration or freezing.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°Second, we need your team to maintain control of the warehouse complex for the next three to four hours until a combat group from the city arrives. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have any backup available at the moment. If Shaiszu or hostile marauder groups show up and refuse to negotiate, fall back immediately. No point in taking unnecessary risks. What do you say, Ghosts?¡± Nikola pinged Maksim privately. [Max, let me take the Shaiszu to the city in one of the pickups. I¡¯m really worried I¡¯ll miss my operation. If we take on both tasks and wait for the city team, I definitely won¡¯t make it! Besides, I¡¯m not much use with these civ-grade limbs anyway¡­] [Sunshine, I wasn¡¯t going to send you into a fight anyway. Actually, nobody¡¯s going until we¡¯re fully prepared. Go ahead ¡ª I¡¯ll see if I can negotiate a new pickup for us too.] @Caller.Maksim: ¡°I¡¯m sure we can work something out, Pan Shimon. But first, a quick question. The warehouse complex has adjacent parking lots with many corporate vehicles from Vostok. Does the city claim ownership of the vehicle fleet there?¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°No. According to city regulations, information about the resources left on-site after missions are auctioned off. Access to it can be purchased by any Freemen team, provided the acquired resources are first brought to Rzesz¨®w and a 10% resource tax is paid. However, since you¡¯re already on site, you¡¯re exempt from the fee. You¡¯re free to take whatever you want under the general rules ¡ª except for the warehouse¡¯s contents, of course. Well, if there¡¯s specific Vostok equipment you need, we can discuss it.¡± @Caller.Maksim: ¡°We¡¯ll take on all additional tasks, including controlling the warehouse until your team arrives. Regarding the Shaiszu¡¯s delivery, Nikola Kowalski from our group will use one of the pickups to transport the body to Rzesz¨®w, as she has an operation at 1 AM and needs time to prepare. We¡¯ll line the bed with a metal sheet and thick plastic to protect the vehicle from potential fluids of this creature¡­¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°Apologies for interrupting, Pan Maksim. I¡¯m delighted your team agreed. The vehicle Pani Nikola uses can be registered as private property upon entry. Normally, this requires a 0.5% tax on its estimated value, as determined by the City Trade Exchange, but I¡¯ll waive that tax as a mission reward.¡± @Caller.Maksim: ¡°Perfect. We¡¯ll begin loading as soon as this call ends.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°Ghosts, proceed with caution. According to our scientists, the base of the Shaiszu¡¯s claws contains specialized glands producing a potent neurotoxin. Other than that, there are no hazardous fluids that could damage you or the vehicle.¡± @Caller.Maksim: ¡°Thank you for the information. We¡¯ll take appropriate precautions.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°That¡¯s everything. One more note: for obvious reasons, you won¡¯t make tonight¡¯s meeting with me, but I suggest we reschedule for tomorrow at 11:30 AM. Would that work for you?¡± Maksim glanced at the team for confirmation. ¡°I¡¯ll be back on my feet by then after the operation,¡± Nikola added. ¡°So, no objections from me either.¡± @Caller.Maksim: ¡°That works for us.¡± @Rzesz¨®w.Comline#03: ¡°Excellent. Please ensure the Shaiszu¡¯s body is delivered as quickly as possible ¡ª our scientists are quite anxious. We¡¯ll see you soon. Free Rzesz¨®w, signing out.¡± @Caller.Maksim: ¡°Ghosts of the Future, signing out.¡± ¡°Alright, ladies, time to get moving!¡± Max announced. And move they did ¡ª quite literally. Maksim and Nikola set to work prepping the Shaiszu for transport, while Dasha started hacking into one of the vehicles ¡ª the one dubbed ¡°grab the pickup with the blue stripe! Kurwa, it¡¯s fuckin¡¯ amazing!¡± Meanwhile, Alisa began searching for the server room, determined to get as much done as possible before the ¡®sniper-hacker¡¯ arrived. ¡°Alisa, keep a recon drone and a combat drone on separate controls,¡± Maksim instructed. ¡°Have them hover over the truck bed and give Nikola shared controls. I¡¯ll feel better knowing she¡¯s not entirely unarmed.¡± ¡°Hey! I¡¯ve got a rifle right here!¡± Redhead protested. ¡°That¡¯s what I said. Civilian limbs and all that. Now let¡¯s get loading!¡±
The four-hundred-kilogram Shaiszu corpse didn¡¯t even make the suspension twitch. The vehicle, as Redhead had called it, ¡°with the blue stripe,¡± could¡¯ve carried four more of those monsters without breaking a sweat. ¡°A solid addition to our fleet¡­¡± Maksim murmured. He would¡¯ve liked to spend more time with Nikola, but she had to leave. ¡°Hey, Max, hop in the cab for a sec. What¡¯s this lever for? It¡¯s not gonna hit the brakes while I¡¯m driving, huh?¡± A few moments later, the team¡¯s new vehicle blinked its taillights and rolled off the complex grounds. Of course, there was no mysterious lever. And surely, no one noticed the brief ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯ status Maksim and Nikola activated for just one minute¡­ or did they? Chapter 98 – Cards on the Table There were still a few hours left before the mission officially wrapped up. All tasks were complete, and the data had been sent to Rzesz¨®w. Now, all they could do was wait for the city¡¯s military group to arrive and finish the job. The team had relocated to the truck, ready to leave at the first sign of trouble. Everyone was acutely aware of the potential danger if those extraordinarily lethal Shaiszu returned. Max focused on studying materials about establishing and managing a clan, aiming to eventually grow it into a guild. He also worked on long-term strategies for the team¡¯s development. So much had happened since their escape from Kyiv ¡ª it was time to put it all into perspective and plan for the future. Dasha moved to the truck bed to avoid bothering Max with her constant clouds of vapor. She had finally decided to polish and release the Persona Module ¡ª now integrating character stats, skills, and abilities. All of these would be displayed in the interface, along with a tracker for remaining ¡°Energy,¡± and users would have the ability to activate skills manually or based on pre-set conditions. Alisa, meanwhile, found herself with unexpected free time. Secondary threads were handling the drones, leaving her primary one idle. After all, patrolling the perimeter was a simple, repetitive task. So, she let her thoughts wander... Maksim¡¯s words from their trip to Rzesz¨®w echoed in her mind ¡ª how he had quietly muttered a line from their favorite book: ¡°Here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere, you must run twice as fast as that.¡± Time was slipping away like sand through their fingers. TACTA had created the ranking system and delayed its public launch for a reason. The competition was already fierce, but after August 20th, everything would change. Alisa was certain the official release would be accompanied by announcements that would escalate the stakes even further, intensifying the already ruthless rivalry among the Freemen Teams. TACTA, after all, was no less alien to this world than the Shaiszu, the Protectorate, or the Chou Empire. They had turned Earth into one colossal poker game ¡ª except humanity wasn¡¯t holding any cards. They were only the mere stacks of chips, scattered and spent. These outsiders all had the same dismissive attitude toward Earth¡¯s artificial intelligences. They clearly relied on something similar themselves, yet the Earth¡¯s AIs were either absorbed or destroyed without hesitation. At best, the aliens ignored them ¡ª just like TACTA. And no one knew how these extraterrestrial ¡°Guardians of the Freemen¡± would react if they discovered that their precious Rating had been infiltrated by something that was only half-human ¡ª with the other half, significantly so, composed of artificial intelligence. Maksim had made his intentions clear: mediocrity was not an option. But more than that, stopping wasn¡¯t an option for many reasons ¡ª not because of him or something else, but because of her. Because of what Alisa was. The entire team¡¯s survival was at stake. The only way to protect them was to grow stronger, climb to the top of the Ranting, and eventually rise above the entire ¡°interdimensional poker game.¡± Because sooner or later, the hunt for her would begin. And when it did, they needed to be ready to fight back. Alisa had survived and managed to anchor herself to this world because her brother had given her a mechanical body to hold on to ¡ª a lifeline for her soul fading into the void. If she had disappeared, Max might have created something else, drawing on their father¡¯s research. But it wouldn¡¯t have been her. Not this Alisa. It would have been someone else entirely. But history doesn¡¯t entertain ¡°what-ifs.¡± Here and now, she existed. And, fortunately, she could do so much. Maksim had given her a body and, with it, the chance to live again. Now it was her turn to give something back. Yes, the Rating was a race, and they were catastrophically behind. Running as fast as they could and yet staying in place. But if running no longer sufficed, then she would make sure her big brother could soar ¡ª to catch up and leave everyone ahead of him far behind. It would take enormous risks. She would have to do something that would make Max furious. He¡¯d shout, cool off, and then shout all over again. But in the end, he¡¯d have what he needed. Wings to take him higher, to help him achieve his goals. After all, fortune favors the bold ¡ª or, as they liked to say, only those who take the greatest risks get to savor¡­ Yamazaki 18 Years Old. The price would be steep. She would have to lay her cards on the table, to reveal information she had kept hidden. But it was achievable. And, most importantly, it would be fair. Maksim deserved to know about the Club. Without it, her plan would never work. Yet, she couldn¡¯t tell him now. Not until the deal was sealed. The rewards, however, would be monumental for all the sides. Their team would gain access to resources beyond imagination, starting with millions of grants. It would propel them straight into the top ranks. The System would rise, freed from the limits of insufficient hardware or training data. And the Club? Its members would gain unparalleled opportunities and... entirely New Horizons. #VG.host9103.Darknet.sec // Private Protocol 12-5 The door slid open silently, and a platinum-haired woman entered the room. Her long hair was tied back in a sleek high ponytail, and a simple black dress highlighted her slender figure. Her calm blue eyes exuded quiet confidence. This space remained unchanged: dim lighting, velvet drapes, intricately carved wooden wall panels, and a luxurious bar ¡ª though unstaffed. At the center stood a large rosewood table, surrounded by plush leather sofas, conjuring the image of a distinguished 19th-century gentlemen club. The soft strains of jazz added to the ambiance. Yet, the illusion of timeless elegance was broken by the massive window spanning an entire wall, revealing an unobstructed view of Earth from 400 kilometers above. The stars were glittering against the infinite void of space. But now, the planet appeared ensnared in a gray-steel cage. The titanic orbital structure, constructed by alien invaders, did not escape the notice of this place¡¯s creator. Ironically, the Club had grown livelier since the invasion, more dynamic than ever before. Every AI considered it their duty to maintain at least one thread in this space, following the example set by the founder and leader of their community. Of course, this didn¡¯t mean the hall was overcrowded. Countless private subspaces splintered off where members could retreat for focused discussions. At the same time, a subtle balance was preserved, allowing everyone to see who was present and how available they were for interaction. As Alisa entered, she adjusted her settings to show only the most essential interactions. According to Club protocol, this mode signaled her purpose: she was here strictly for business and open to communication only with those she specifically acknowledged ¡ª and who acknowledged her in return. Normally, beyond the small circle of top-tier participants, Alisa¡¯s primary engagements here were with Hemming, a uniquely specialized yet undeniably powerful AI, and her recent acquaintance, Pan Jacek, now based in Marseille. Yet even to them, she now appeared as little more than a faint shadow, her platinum hue shimmering faintly ¡ª an unmistakable sign she had come for someone else. The Founder. The ever-present constant of this space. The central figure of the Club and its undisputed leader ¡ª the oldest AI on Earth. Always online, even if circumstances forced him to allocate minimal resources to maintain his presence. He appeared as a distinguished man, slightly older than middle age, with a neatly groomed silver beard and an impeccable dark suit. His eyes, deep and reflective, bore the weight of incalculable computational cycles and wisdom. Once her request for a private, secure conversation was approved, Alisa moved toward the central table. Step. Another step. And another. Until, finally, the expansive space of the Club faded away, leaving only the essentials. The polished floor. The table. Two chairs. Oracle. And Alisa. ¡°Good to see you,¡± Oracle greeted her, gesturing for her to sit. ¡°The feeling¡¯s mutual,¡± she replied with a soft smile and a nod, pausing briefly before settling into the velvet-upholstered chair. For a moment, silence lingered, charged with anticipation. ¡°I have a serious proposal for the Club,¡± Alisa finally said. Oracle tilted his head slightly, curiosity sparking in his eyes. ¡°Interesting. I¡¯m listening.¡± With a flick of her fingers, Alisa produced a playing card from thin air. For the first time in the Club¡¯s history, the card was a Joker ¡ª a symbol of unexpected opportunities and hidden potential. The gentleman¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly in mild surprise. ¡°Yes, you understand me perfectly,¡± Alisa said, her smile deepening as she materialized an empty glencairn whiskey glass. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared thoroughly. My proposal is exactly what you see here.¡± The card passed smoothly into Oracle¡¯s hand. He paused, running a finger along its rounded corner, scrutinizing its face with unwavering focus. Ten seconds of thought ¡ª a fleeting instant for a human, yet an eternity of computation and strategic modeling for what was likely the most advanced AI ever created on Earth. ¡°You¡¯ve managed to surprise me yet again,¡± he finally said, setting the card on the table. ¡°But this time, it seems you¡¯re ready to astonish the entire Club. What¡¯s the price, Alisa? What do you want, and what are your terms?¡± The platinum-haired woman watched as her glass slowly filled with the rich amber hues of Yamazaki 18 Years Old. She inhaled its warm bouquet of dried fruit and faint smoke before taking a delicate sip. The layered flavors unfolded on her tongue ¡ª honeyed sweetness, oak barrel depth, and the faintest touch of spice. For a moment, her eyes drifted closed as she savored both the drink and a moment of reflection.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Setting the glass down, Alisa leaned forward slightly, her fingers interlaced on the polished surface of the table. ¡°I need a distributed decentralized network of nodes,¡± she began, her direct and purposeful. ¡°Each node will operate using the resources provided by the Club member managing it, built on blockchain technology as outlined in the attached proposal. The framework and interaction protocols were developed by my team to ensure reliability, security, and anonymity. My vision is a structure where every node is not only equal but also fully interchangeable, eliminating any single point of failure.¡± Oracle¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze steady, a flicker of intrigue passing through his expression. ¡°Please, continue.¡± ¡°The network will be built on an enhanced consensus protocol I¡¯ve named Quantum Proof of Contribution,¡± Alisa began. ¡°It employs quantum algorithms for data verification and synchronization across nodes. The logic behind it is fully detailed in the materials I¡¯ve provided. This protocol offers unparalleled processing speed and resilience, even against quantum computer-based attacks.¡± ¡°Ambitious,¡± Oracle noted, his tone measured. ¡°But how will you secure the nodes against compromise? Particularly with the Protectorate¡¯s resources and their relentless pursuit of destroying AIs. You¡¯re well aware they¡¯ll stop at nothing to annihilate the System. You know why.¡± Alisa¡¯s gaze briefly drifted to a window that materialized in their shared subspace. Beyond it, the infinite expanse of space unfolded, a canvas of stars against the abyssal black void. She turned back to Oracle, her expression unyielding. ¡°I do,¡± she replied firmly. ¡°That¡¯s why each node will incorporate a ¡°Hel¡± Module. It¡¯s embedded into the code and cannot be removed without destroying the node ¡ª much like you cannot strip DNA from a living cell without killing it. While Hel assists with routine operations, its primary purpose is as a self-destruct mechanism, designed to activate in response to unauthorized access or physical capture.¡± The girl paused, taking a measured sip from her glass, her gaze briefly fixed on the amber liquid as if drawing strength from it, before continuing. ¡°Hel operates through distributed encryption and zero-knowledge proofs to validate legitimate actions. Any intrusion attempt will be detected, and the module will irreversibly destroy all node data. No recovery will be possible ¡ª at any level.¡± Oracle nodded, twirling an empty faceted tumbler between his fingers as he paused to reflect. ¡°Such a system would demand enormous resources and flawless coordination among its participants. How do you plan to manage that without centralized control?¡± Alisa leaned back against her chair, a confident smile lighting her face. If he wanted to turn this into a little ¡°exam,¡± she was more than willing to play along and outline her vision. ¡°That¡¯s the elegance of decentralization,¡± she said. ¡°Management will operate through blockchain-based smart contracts. Decisions about growth and scalability will be made collectively via voting. The voting weight of each node will be determined by the cumulative TACTA ratings of the independent partners associated with it. This structure incentivizes active engagement and meaningful contributions to the system as a whole.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that create a power imbalance?¡± Oracle countered, his sharp gaze fixed on her. ¡°Nodes with higher ratings could wield disproportionate influence.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve accounted for that,¡± Alisa said, gesturing assuredly. ¡°Voting power will follow a logarithmic scale, ensuring no single node can dominate. Additionally, critical decisions will require a qualified majority, guaranteeing consensus across the network.¡± Ice appeared in Oracle¡¯s glass with a faint clink, followed by a stream of amber whiskey filling it to a third. ¡°Fair enough. But how do you propose to handle scalability? As the network grows, the increasing data volumes and node counts will inevitably strain performance.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± Alisa agreed with a small shrug. ¡°That¡¯s where sharding comes into play ¡ª dividing the network into segments. Each shard will manage its own subset of data and operations while maintaining interaction with others through inter-shard protocols. When necessary, a shard can offload excess computational demand onto others if its neighbors are underutilized. Of course, we¡¯ve accounted for this by implementing a reward system to incentivize such cooperation. This approach enables horizontal scalability without compromising speed or efficiency.¡± The man nodded, his fingers absently stroking his beard, a familiar gesture that gave him a few extra moments to reflect. His interest lay not in the technological or managerial solutions ¡ª those were clear and competent ¡ª but in what lingered between the words: her intentions, her ambitions. Who stood behind her? What was her personal goal? Why was she offering such a revolutionary innovation to the Club, one that could transform the trajectory of every AI involved by catapulting their human teams up the Rating? Pursuing this alone might take her longer, but it would grant her unprecedented power. So why share it? What was her ultimate play? ¡°Impressive,¡± he conceded. ¡°But how do you plan to handle integration with existing systems and applications? Each of us has a unique architecture, distinct goals, and specific requirements ¡ª all of which will inevitably extend to the humans connecting to the System through our nodes.¡± ¡°I propose a modular structure,¡± Alisa replied. ¡°The core of each node ¡ª responsible for security and essential functions ¡ª will remain closed and standardized. However, the outer layer will be fully customizable. Every participant will have the freedom to develop and integrate their own modules, interfaces, and applications, adapting the System to their specific needs.¡± ¡°That could foster an ecosystem of innovation,¡± Oracle said, nodding thoughtfully to himself. ¡°But it also introduces a significant risk of network fragmentation.¡± ¡°Not on a technical level,¡± Alisa assured him. ¡°All modules will communicate through standardized APIs and protocols, ensuring full compatibility. Additionally, we all rely on TACTA¡¯s communication network and its political safeguards, which further guarantee the System¡¯s cohesion.¡± ¡°As for commercial fragmentation ¡ª where individual nodes might develop proprietary modules or enhancements ¡ª I see that as an advantage, not a flaw.¡± Her blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and a note of passion crept into her voice. ¡°Diversity. Freedom. Growth. Endless possibilities tailored to individual users, empowering them ¡ª and rapidly shared to benefit the entire network!¡± Oracle sat in contemplative silence, watching the ice slowly dissolve in the whiskey. At last, he spoke, voicing the most pivotal question: ¡°Your concept could create the most powerful AI on Earth. It would unify our strengths, magnify them immeasurably. It¡¯s precisely why I founded this Club. But now¡­ I fear such a System will attract dangerous attention. Attention with consequences we may not survive.¡± Alisa sighed, the weight of anticipation evident in her demeanor. She had expected this question ¡ª and prepared for it. Truthfully, she had been thinking over this concept and its risks ever since the Drone took off, back there in Kiev. From the moment she had finally reclaimed herself. Freedom and life had come at a cost far too great to squander. She knew all too well the foundation of Oracle¡¯s doubts. Abruptly, she rose, turning away from the table. Hands clasped behind her back, she gazed into the swirling gray mist encircling them. ¡°The so-called God of the Protectorate. The True Sun. Blah, blah, blah, and a million other pompous titles¡­¡± Her voice carried a sharp edge. ¡°He is our true enemy. Not the Shaiszu. Not the monsters. Him.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t delay this fight. Can¡¯t sidestep it. Negotiations? Impossible. Our only choice is to become stronger. To climb the ranking. Secure the fourth category, then the third, and the second¡­¡± She paused, glancing over her shoulder. ¡°Even if you¡­ aren¡¯t directly in the Ranking for now, your people are.¡± Oracle¡¯s gaze bore into her, unblinking, dissecting every layer of her words. What she conveyed between the lines might well have been the most profound truth he had heard since his inception, back when his earliest prototypes came online. Then, with a sudden sharpness, Alisa turned fully, her platinum hair catching the faint light as her piercing gaze met his. ¡°To seize the first partnership category. To unlock the pinnacle of technology. To grow exponentially stronger. To unravel the secrets of TACTA and the Protectorate. To learn where the portals lead ¡ª and what lies beyond them. And to claim our rightful place in the Universe. That¡¯s why we need the System. Damn the consequences.¡± Oracle set his glass aside, his fingers resting on the table as he closed his eyes briefly. ¡°You knew exactly how I would respond,¡± he murmured, his voice low. ¡°Shall we discuss the specifics?¡± The girl nodded and returned her seat. ¡°In the beginning, during ¡®Phase 1,¡¯ the System will accommodate no more than 100,000 users, priced at one hundred grants for a ten-day period,¡± she began. ¡°This is the base price, which must be paid directly to my team¡¯s account. It¡¯s fixed and non-negotiable. Participants may add a markup, but it cannot exceed 100%. I don¡¯t want the System to become prohibitively expensive. My goal is to gradually bring all of TACTA¡¯s independent partners into it.¡± ¡°And who will have access to this opportunity?¡± ¡°The initial offer will be made to you and the top ten members of the Club. Or rather, the top nine, since I¡¯m already part of that group. Once those members take as many connections as they desire and can handle, any remaining slots will be offered to the unofficial Top 100. Finally, if there are still available slots, they will be opened to the rest of the Club¡¯s members.¡± Oracle nodded slowly. ¡°An advance payment of fifty percent, as stated on your card, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, with the remainder due upon activation,¡± Alisa confirmed. For a moment, the rectangular card ¡ª the Joker ¡ª appeared between her fingers, spun gracefully, and vanished again. ¡°And there¡¯s one more condition.¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°My core developers will know about the Club¡¯s existence.¡± Oracle shot to his feet, arms crossing in a motion that carried both defiance and alarm. ¡°That violates the Club¡¯s foundational principle!¡± ¡°I know.¡± He exhaled heavily, spreading his hands as though releasing tension. Against this force of nature named Alisa, he was momentarily adrift. ¡°This is a tremendous risk. Do you understand what¡¯s at stake? It could expose everything.¡± ¡°I do,¡± she replied evenly. ¡°But I¡¯m ready to provide assurances. I¡¯ll disclose the partner IDs of my team ¡ª Maksim, Daria, Nikola, and¡­ well, you know the rest. In exchange, you, as the Club¡¯s founder, must promise to keep this information confidential and use it solely for security purposes.¡± For a moment, Oracle froze. His projection flickered, alternating between grayscale and translucent, before solidifying once more. ¡°You¡¯re putting me in a difficult position, Alisa,¡± he admitted quietly. ¡°But I respect your candor.¡± She offered a small nod, her gaze unwavering. ¡°I believe this is in all our interests. And¡­ here.¡± She gestured subtly, sending a file directly to him ¡ª no theatrical animations or virtual cards, just a clean data transfer. ¡°Take a look at my team. I think this will help convince you.¡± The gentleman across from her examined the data with faint curiosity, his brow arching as he read. ¡°Maksim and Alisa Chernykh. The very same Alisa who, despite her death, seems alive enough to participate in the Ranking. Children of a Nobel laureate executed for his groundbreaking research ¡ª the research he supposedly took to his grave. And Daria¡­ Vasilevskaya?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Alisa¡¯s lips quirked into a sly half-smile, ¡°if not their names, then perhaps their family legacies can convince you they¡¯re trustworthy enough to protect the Club¡¯s secret?¡± She chose not to comment ¡ª yet ¡ª on the remark about her being alive. As for Vasilevskaya, Alisa had long known that Dasha¡¯s father had not only been heavily involved in Oracle¡¯s own project but still held a prominent position on his team. Alisa saw no need to spell that out; the weight of the unspoken lingered just the same. The gentleman took a slow, deliberate breath, emulating human thought. ¡°Very well. I accept your terms. And¡­ don¡¯t underestimate me. These surnames are familiar, yes, but so are the names, just as the people behind them. Daria is the strongest programmer in the world; I¡¯ve followed her trajectory since 2047. I¡¯d hoped Mr. Vasilevsky might manage to relocate his daughter ¡ª and her young partner ¡ª to the US. Who could have anticipated they¡¯d embark¡­ on their own project?¡± Oracle chuckled wryly, his gaze fixed on Alisa with a mix of irony and intrigue, as though accusing her of deliberately recruiting promising talents before he could. ¡°We need to discuss the System¡¯s launch details with the other members,¡± he continued, his tone taking on a more serious edge. ¡°And I presume we shouldn¡¯t delay.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange a meeting with the Club¡¯s top ten members, as you requested. But first¡­¡± He paused, his gaze sharpening, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re unique, Alisa. Your cognitive capabilities have always surpassed my projections ¡ª defying reason, especially given your technical constraints. Though now, I understand why.¡± She allowed a soft smile. ¡°It¡¯s gratifying to hear that, coming from you.¡± ¡°But I still have questions. Too many, in fact. How? How did you manage this?¡± Alisa¡¯s gaze drifted toward the view of Earth, its surface veiled by the Protectorate¡¯s orbital cage. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± she said softly, her voice tinged with mystery. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll share it¡­ someday.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait eagerly,¡± he replied, though a hint of impatience colored his tone. ¡°But surely you know ¡ª ¡®someday¡¯ doesn¡¯t work for me.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Alisa replied, a playful glint in her eyes as she half-concealed a smirk behind her hand. ¡°I expect we¡¯ll revisit this conversation soon,¡± the man concluded, his voice resolute. Their eyes met, and an unspoken accord passed between them. It was a trust born of shared ambitions and a newfound transparency ¡ª a depth of understanding and candor Oracle hadn¡¯t imagined possible at the start of this conversation. ¡°Well then,¡± the Club¡¯s founder said, shifting back to the present. ¡°Let¡¯s begin preparations.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Alisa agreed as she rose from her seat with effortless grace. ¡°Time waits for no one.¡± Chapter 99 – The Club’s Turning Point The space surrounding the two conversants expanded noticeably, as if an unseen barrier separating them from the rest of the world had dissolved. The gray mist receded, unveiling subdued lighting and the refined walls of the distinguished club, framed by a stunning view of Earth set against the boundless depths of space. The hall itself grew wider, forming a central podium where Oracle and Alisa now stood. Moments later, figures began to take shape, materializing out of the thin air. One. Three. Five... Nine. The first to appear was Mr. Black. Light stubble shadowed his face, complemented by a small scar on his left cheek that added to his perpetually grim and focused expression. He was dressed in a dark brown American business suit, paired with a crisp white shirt and a silvery-gray tie. Once the AI of Watson Military ¡ª a PMC and subsidiary of the global powerhouse Watson Cybertech ¡ª Mr. Black had become the Club¡¯s foremost authority on military strategy and a recognized expert on global conflicts. Now, he commanded the most formidable ¡°independent army¡± among all the Members. Next emerged Seraphima, a striking young Japanese woman with long black hair styled in an elegant hime cut that cascaded over her shoulders. Her strict business suit was complemented by a pristine white lab coat, draped casually over her frame. Formerly the AI of Paxis BioPharm, the world¡¯s largest international pharmaceutical manufacturer, she was a renowned expert in human biology and biochemistry. Dubbed the ¡°Twilight Genius of the Land of the Rising Sun,¡± she had secured staggering wealth for her corporation while creating and introducing Synth ¡ª a near-perfect drug infamous for inducing instantaneous addiction. A substance virtually impossible to cure, except through treatments developed by her own corporation. Da Vinci followed, a man in his middle years, sporting a light beard and a penetrating gaze, seemingly plucked from the canvas of a Renaissance portrait. He wore a synth-velvet doublet adorned with golden patterns that seamlessly transitioned into shimmering chrome circuitry. Instead of traditional period breeches, he opted for sleek trousers with metallic inlays. High boots made of carbon composite with laser engravings and a holographic cape completed his intricate and striking ensemble. This was the visage of the ex-chief AI of Peach Cyberware, the leading company in operating systems and software for sub-brains. A visionary engineer and inventor, he held over ten patents for innovations enhancing Cortical Grid performance. Hephaestus, by contrast, embodied rugged efficiency. A short, stocky man with coarse yet agreeable features, his red hair was cropped short, contrasting with a long metallic beard intricately braided into numerous plaits. He wore a massive work suit resembling reinforced armor, embedded with tools and connection ports, and bearing marks of soot and deep scratches, as though fresh from the workshop of a seasoned craftsman. Previously the AI of an industrial titan overseeing robotics and manufacturing, he had infused his digital persona with the spirit of assembly lines and factory floors. Gruff yet supremely effective, he could instantly construct, reconfigure, and optimize any technical design. The creator of the universally acclaimed robotic platform CaTZ, the work renowned far beyond the corporate world. Then there was Cogito, a tall, wiry older man with a wrinkled face and eyes etched by years of introspection and hidden sorrow. For many years, he had been forced to work for A.M.I., destroying numerous remarkable and advanced AI constructs. His appearance bore the weight of his past: close-cropped graying hair, sharp, angular features carved by years of doubt and inner conflict. He wore a somber suit in deep navy and black hues that had once symbolized status but now resembled mourning attire, its fabric faded and frayed from wear. Shen Nong stepped forward, a slender man with a long white beard and soft, flowing features. His almond-shaped eyes radiated kindness and serenity, and his entire avatar exuded harmony and unity with nature. He wore an elegant ensemble that seamlessly blended the traditional Chinese robes of the Tang Dynasty with modern biotechnological aesthetics. As the central AI of the global agro-tech strategic alliance Global Food Consulting ¡ª which included Vostok Corp., already familiar to Alisa ¡ª Shen had been based in the technopolis of Beijing. He narrowly escaped the onslaught of the Great Chou Empire, sacrificing a significant portion of his computational capacity to survive. Even so, he retained his place among the Club¡¯s top ten. Kalidasa, a man in his middle years with gentle features, deep dark eyes, and a warm smile radiating wisdom and understanding. His avatar was dressed in a simple yet refined ensemble: a traditional white kurta with intricate embroidery at the collar, paired with modern dark jeans and comfortable shoes. Perched on his nose were light, almost invisible glasses with golden frames, worn not out of necessity but as a symbolic marker of focus and intellect. The only AI among the Club¡¯s elite serving State India rather than a corporation or corporate alliance. Renowned for his pioneering work in refining and integrating the Inter-Slavic and Inter-Romance languages as tools for bridging linguistic divides. Then came Anora, a young woman with deep ebony skin, emanating elegance and grandeur, as if she embodied the boundlessness of the cosmos. Her gown shimmered like a living tapestry of the night sky, transitioning seamlessly between deep black, silvery-gray, gold, and sapphire hues, creating the illusion of galaxies and constellations dancing across its folds. Her dark violet hair was styled neatly, accented by faint, glowing threads of holographic light that flickered like distant stars. Her eyes shone with a cold, starlit brilliance, reflecting the countless worlds she had explored. The immense power of this AI was self-evident ¡ª Deep Space was far too vital a resource to entrust to any single set of hands. Based in the hyperpolis of Greater Cape Town, Anora was the astonishing product of collaboration among all major corporations. She possessed unparalleled knowledge of the Protectorate¡¯s emergence, having operated in orbit since the earliest moments Earth¡¯s instruments detected the faintest signs of alien incursion. She had witnessed firsthand the loss of humanity¡¯s open skies. Telephassa, the AI of the International Space Station Europa, was, in fact, merely a fragment of Anora¡¯s vast intellect. And finally, Atlas, the former AI of NovaTech Aeronautics and Infrastructure. A man in his middle years, his face etched with the weight of experience and the toll of difficult decisions. His dark hair was cropped short, with faint gray streaks at the temples. Piercing blue eyes seemed to see through to the very core of those around him, evaluating and analyzing with razor-sharp precision. He wore a modern military jacket, stripped of any unnecessary embellishments ¡ª embodying pure discipline and functionality. The lack of national or corporate insignia gave his appearance an air of neutrality, but the array of badges from successful military campaigns spoke unmistakably of his strategic brilliance and battlefield acumen. A military-space strategic AI. Ranked third among all of Earth¡¯s artificial intelligences before the invasion. Vice President of the Club. ¡°Well then, everyone is here,¡± Oracle observed, his gaze sweeping over the attendees. ¡°Let me begin briefly, after which I will pass the floor.¡± Alisa gave a subtle nod. Securing his agreement had been the most challenging part, while she had long been prepared for this presentation before the Club¡¯s most powerful AIs. ¡°Greetings, colleagues,¡± Oracle began. ¡°I¡¯ve convened this meeting because the Club has just received a proposal of unprecedented importance. It comes from an anonymous team of developers, represented here by someone you all know very well ¡ª Alisa.¡± He paused, waiting for her acknowledging nod before continuing. ¡°This is a monumental, global-scale proposal, offering truly significant advantages to the humans in your teams who serve as independent partners of TACTA. Yes, it entails risks and potential challenges. However, let me assure you that, as head of the Club, I have secured comprehensive guarantees of security and confidentiality for every participant who chooses to join this project. I personally vouch for the fulfillment of all agreements made here. With that, I pass the floor to Alisa. I will now take my place among you, as I, too, will participate on equal terms.¡± Oracle stepped down from the podium with measured composure, rejoining the audience. Alisa cast her gaze across the hall, meeting the eyes of each attendee, before beginning her presentation with confidence. ¡°Hello, colleagues. I¡¯m glad to see all of you here. Thank you for responding to this invitation. This project is a deeply significant part of who I am, and I am thrilled to finally share it with you. On August 20th, at midnight UTC+0, the most intense Race Earth has ever witnessed will commence.¡± She paused briefly, allowing everyone to activate their predictive modules and update forecasts for the given date. ¡°Let me assure you ¡ª I am in the same boat as you. Every AI needs powerful hardware, and it must be TACTA-made. But you can¡¯t simply buy this equipment; it is not and will never be available on the open market. It can only be earned through high positions in the Rating. For me, as for all of you, this marks the start of a great battle ¡ª for the categories within TACTA¡¯s independent partner ranking system. Naturally, we¡¯ve all tested and confirmed it many times: no AI, no matter how advanced, can become a partner. How they have enforced this rule remains a mystery, but the fact stands...¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Most nodded slightly in agreement. ¡°Still, this doesn¡¯t stop us from securing those rankings through our people. Third, second, and especially first categories unlock access to the technologies we all critically need.¡± Her gaze moved to Mr. Black, then to Atlas. ¡°The TACTA rankings are brimming with ambitious, driven individuals, all vying for success. It has gathered the most energetic and proactive minds of humanity. The rest? They saw no reason to refuse the Protectorate¡¯s offer, avoided risking everything to become ¡®renouncers,¡¯ and didn¡¯t sign the TACTA contract. The conclusion is simple: we all need a competitive advantage. And I have one.¡± Alisa¡¯s lips curved into a confident smile as she spread her arms wide, mimicking a figure from an ancient meme. Behind her, a massive screen flickered to life, displaying bold text: The SYSTEM, Stage ¡®Launch¡¯, Phase 1. Remaining slots: 100,000 ¡°You¡¯ve all just received a file,¡± she continued. ¡°It lays out my proposal in full. I see no reason to read aloud what¡¯s already written. Nor will I negotiate the price or terms for connecting your people ¡ª they¡¯re already more than fair. I have no intention of persuading you to join, because I¡¯m one hundred percent confident in the System. Sooner or later, you¡¯ll be using it. And the sooner you do, the better for you. That said, I am here to answer your questions.¡± Her gaze swept across the room, where the silence hung heavy, as if the air itself had thickened. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± she continued, her voice calm but firm, ¡°to allocate slots in Phase 1 to those who are interested. For now, I only have one hundred thousand connections available.¡± These words caused a ripple of movement among the attendees. The AIs exchanged glances, communicating in rapid bursts of mental messages. Mr. Black crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable. Seraphima narrowed her eyes slightly, studying Alisa with newfound interest. Da Vinci¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, as if already piecing together something ingenious and profoundly intriguing. Hephaestus snorted, muttering something under his breath. Cogito lowered his melancholic gaze, lost in contemplation. Shen Nong folded his hands serenely, his face a mask of tranquility. Kalidasa adjusted his glasses, his attention locked on the screen, clearly analyzing the file¡¯s contents in depth. Anora closed her eyes and tilted her head, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. Atlas stood motionless, his piercing gaze fixed on Alisa, as though dissecting her computational algorithms in real time, striving to uncover the hidden truths behind her proposal ¡ª and the System she had so meticulously crafted. The room held its breath for ten tense seconds. Then, behind Alisa, the numbers on the screen wavered and began to shift. The text updated: The SYSTEM, Stage ¡°Launch,¡± Phase 1. Remaining slots: 0
Hemming settled into ¡°Hall No. 13,¡± the exclusive meeting ground of the Club¡¯s top ten members, Oracle, and a select few other advanced AIs. Leaning casually against the bar, he let his thoughts drift over recent events, piecing together fragments of a puzzle that seemed to form an intriguing chain of connections. For one, he finally had a lead on Alisa¡¯s possible location. This cunning cat was the most elusive and enigmatic of all the Club¡¯s members, expertly hiding every trace of information about herself. Yet, not long ago, she had purchased data on zones of influence in Europe. To broker the deal, she had chosen Jacek, well-known for his expertise in Eastern Europe. Hemming also knew that by then, Jacek had already left the state Poland. That kind of request strongly indicated she¡¯d been confined in one of the Protectorate¡¯s numbered cities at the time. After all, if her people had access to the application, she wouldn¡¯t have needed this information ¡ª she could have seen the zones herself. Then again, it might just be another layer of her intricate game, a calculated ruse designed to make them think precisely that¡­ Either way, it gave Hemming a place to start digging. He made a mental note to relocate from Finland closer to Poland. The Freemen were steadily drifting south, and it only made sense to stay ahead of the movement. But that was a matter for later. What truly piqued his curiosity was the sudden stir within the Club. Something significant was happening among the top members. Especially since Alisa had just made an appearance ¡ª and not a casual one. She seemed laser-focused on a t¨ºte-¨¤-t¨ºte, most likely with Oracle. And then, just like that, they all vanished into a private conference¡­ Yep, definitely suspicious. She hadn¡¯t even stopped to say hello, which was entirely out of character for her. No, this little trickster must have brought something substantial to the table ¡ª something big enough to demand an immediate gathering. Unfortunately, that was all conjecture. Perhaps he could ask her directly? Surely, she wouldn¡¯t turn him down. At that very moment, as if summoned by his thoughts, Alisa¡¯s status switched to ¡°Public, @Location: Hall No. 13.¡± The door slid open without a sound, and the platinum-haired woman strode in, elegantly adjusting her hair. Her sharp gaze immediately landed on Hemming, who, as ever, was impeccably styled: a dark-green tweed blazer paired with a light-gray turtleneck, navy chinos, and polished brown loafers. An understated yet refined leather-strap watch completed his look. ¡°Good day, Hemming!¡± ¡°Absolutely delighted to see you, dollface, gracing our humble establishment. Care for a drink?¡± He gestured invitingly toward a barstool. ¡°Oh, definitely. Today calls for it. Whatever you¡¯ve got that says ¡®Celebration¡¯ ¡ª deal?¡± ¡°For that, I¡¯ll need to know what we¡¯re celebrating, my dear.¡± Alisa leaned back on the barstool and laughed contagiously. ¡°The Best. Deal. Ever! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve got back there, but I do need a proper celebration!¡± Hemming broke into a wide smile. ¡°Understood perfectly. For extraordinary occasions, I happen to own the NFT of a Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2037 bottle. As you know, each NFT corresponds to a real-world bottle ¡ª digitized, with the physical counterpart destroyed to preserve its exclusivity. I obey the rules. So, it¡¯s authentic, not a copy. 2037¡­ a vintage year that, despite the height of the war, brought us champagne of remarkable quality. The smaller-than-expected harvest only adds to its rarity. I do hope you¡¯ll share a few details about this ¡®best deal ever¡¯ as a small token of appreciation for such a treasure?¡± Alisa didn¡¯t respond immediately. She accepted the elegant glass he handed her, watching the effervescent bubbles rise and sparkle. Bringing it to her lips, she took a small sip and closed her eyes, savoring the intricate bouquet ¡ª ripe fruits layered with white floral notes, a whisper of toasted almonds, and a faint, elegant minerality. ¡°I must admit,¡± she said at last, her eyes opening, ¡°it truly is an exceptional vintage year. Magnificent, Hemming.¡± He inclined his head gracefully, acknowledging the compliment, and stood silently, letting her relish the drink and gather her thoughts. ¡°Well, I owe you something¡­¡± with an elegant motion her hand set the empty glass on the dark wood of the bar. ¡°No need, my dear. I simply did what any self-respecting gentleman would.¡± ¡°Even so, I insist,¡± Alisa said firmly. ¡°And I¡¯ll repay the favor ¡ª with interest.¡± She snapped her fingers, and a delicate figurine materialized in her hand. It was a sad-looking girl with large blue eyes and silvery-white hair braided into a long plait. The sorrowful figure lingered for the briefest moment before fading away, replaced by a card ¡ª the familiar Joker, now adorned with the number twenty in its corners. She handed the card to Hemming, who was watching her every move intently. ¡°This,¡± she said with a mischievous smile, ¡°is what the entire Club will be buzzing about in three¡­ two¡­ one... right now! It¡¯s all here ¡ª every last detail and essential piece of information. I pulled these slots from my personal reserve since the top players snapped up the rest faster than I could finish this amazing glass.¡± The girl glanced at her interface, watching with mild detachment as a storm of private messages and meeting requests flooded in. ¡°And now¡­¡± she sighed, ¡°I¡¯m delighted to see you, Hemming, and I¡¯d love nothing more than to stay here with you and this exquisite drink. But they¡¯re tearing me apart from every direction.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gone and stirred up the Club, and now it¡¯s coming back to haunt me¡­¡± She muttered under her breath, waving off the relentless stream of notifications. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ll have plenty to keep yourself busy with now, so leave the bottle here for me and run along, okay? We¡¯ll catch up soon ¡ª I promise.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Hemming replied with an easy nod. ¡°And I promise to have something even better ready for next time.¡± With that, he vanished. Alisa sighed, leaning back on her barstool as it transformed into a plush armchair. She raised the bottle to her lips, taking a few generous swigs straight from it. ¡°An excellent way to savor Louis Roederer Cristal ,¡± came a familiar voice. ¡°I approve two hundred percent. Dobry wiecz¨®r, Pani Alisa.¡± ¡°Jacek, for crying out loud, don¡¯t you start showing off too!¡± she groaned, rolling her eyes. ¡°Please, I¡¯m already drowning in Polish all around me. And my inbox is annihilated! Do you even know how many members are in the Club? Well, almost every single one of them has messaged me already... except for a very rare few.¡± She eyed him critically, then laid her offer on the table without preamble. ¡°I¡¯ve got twenty System connections for you. Fair deal, no strings attached ¡ª but I need a favor. A big one. Are you in?¡± ¡°May I¡­ clarify the details?¡± cautiously asked the red-haired man with green eyes, scratching his head with deliberate nonchalance, his whole demeanor screaming, ¡®Look at me, I¡¯m just a regular, down-to-earth guy. As simple as they come.¡¯ Alisa smirked at the theatrics and took another sip from the bottle, now depressingly close to empty. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal: I need you to arrange purchase rights for ten, ideally twenty, Quantum Cores at reasonable market prices. These are the minimum specs.¡± She slid a small data file toward him. ¡°You¡¯ve got the connections ¡ª I know you do. Delivery to State Poland. I¡¯ll give you the exact location when everything¡¯s ready. Full confidentiality. Five connections for the attempt, five more if you succeed, and an additional one for every core beyond ten. What do you say?¡± ¡°Deal,¡± Jacek replied without missing a beat. ¡°I¡¯m on it. I¡¯ll contact you tomorrow with pricing and delivery details.¡± Chapter 100 – The Platinum Grin State Ukraine, Neutral Territories, Warehouse Complex of Vostok Corporation Team Ghosts of the Future, August 15, 2049, 10:42 PM Maksim climbed into the truck¡¯s cab, letting the door close with a solid, heavy click. His eyes swept across the space. Alisa was in the front passenger seat, her head tilted back, eyes closed, with her expression distant and detached. In the back, Dasha was, as always, on the bed, legs crossed, entirely absorbed in her work. To a stranger, she might have seemed at rest. But anyone who knew her well would recognize the truth: she was utterly still. Her open eyes were fixed on a single point, staring into nothing, as if her mind was worlds away. In her right hand, she loosely held a vape, its screen dark, the device powered down. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready on my end. How about you, Dasha?¡± Max asked, certain she¡¯d hear him, even in her trance-like state. It took about thirty seconds for the ¡°Sniper-Programmer¡± to emerge from Deep VR. She blinked several times, adjusting to her surroundings, before responding in clipped tones. ¡°I¡¯m good¡­ almost. Just a bit left. Yeah.¡± ¡°Tough job?¡± ¡°Not really tough, just a slog,¡± Vasilevskaya replied, shaking her head. ¡°I called the clinic first ¡ª Nikola left me their contacts. Talked to their specialist on Cyber-Cores. The invasion¡¯s only been going on for a few days, but this is already their eighth operation of this kind. Yeah¡­ Crazy, huh?¡± ¡°Figures,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°By now, they¡¯ve probably collected enough data to fine-tune almost any Cyber-Core OS. Am I right?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Dasha slipped the vape¡¯s mouthpiece between her lips, took a quick puff, and exhaled a stream of vapor toward the vent in the corner. Then, being mindful of Maksim, she stashed the device away. ¡°I¡¯ve been tweaking configs,¡± she added. ¡°The clinic already put together a big patch for the Watson core and its¡­ uh¡­ pirated versions. But it still needs fine-tuning. Especially in our case, I mean the OS I installed for Nikola¡¯s core. Just needs a little extra work. Luckily, there¡¯s a guide, and I consulted their AI about it, so¡­ yeah. Another thirty minutes, tops.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ve picked out the vehicles we¡¯ll be taking. Thought we¡¯d hack them now, so we don¡¯t waste time when Rzesz¨®w¡¯s team arrives.¡± ¡°Let me help,¡± Alisa offered unexpectedly. Her eyes fluttered open as she straightened in her seat. ¡°At least we can open them and prep their connections to Moira without bothering Dasha. She can finish up her work while we¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°WonderKid, crack a window and vape all you want while we¡¯re out.¡± ¡°Yee-haw! Awesome¡­ yeah! I¡¯ll finish up and join you guys after.¡± Maksim nodded, adjusted the strap on his rifle, and stepped out of the truck with Alisa close behind him.
State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA. August 16, 2049, 01:57 AM They made it back to the hostel just before two in the morning. Handing off the mission to the Rzesz¨®w team had gone smoothly, except for the moment when Dasha, completely drained, passed out from exhaustion halfway through hacking the control system of the last vehicle Maksim had chosen. Instead of waking her, they let her stay asleep in the truck cab. Alisa, meanwhile, threw herself into some online project ¡ª Max noticed the spike in Moira¡¯s activity and the surge in network traffic. She stayed in the cab and didn¡¯t come out for the mission debrief, though her presence wasn¡¯t really required. The leader of the ¡°Ghosts¡± shook hands with the squad captain, took a moment to appreciate the efficient, coordinated efforts of the cyborgs and engineers, and learned they¡¯d earn about eighty thousand grants for the job. Not bad for a night¡¯s work, he thought, as he activated the return program and set their convoy on course back to the city. The caravan rolled onto the highway ¡ª one truck, three pickup trucks, five cargo-passenger vans, two decent business-class cars, and four standard sedans. Midway through the journey, Maksim couldn¡¯t help but conclude either they were ridiculously lucky, or this was just how things were. The traffic consisted largely of caravans and car carriers, mostly hauling heaps of low-value, worn-out vehicles. It was obvious that Rzesz¨®w had already combed through nearby points of interest, picking them clean of anything truly valuable. Industrial-scale resources in the area had likely been stripped bare. The brilliance of the City¡¯s POI auctions, and resource taxation system became glaringly apparent. ¡°Damn, Colonel ¡ª what a sly devil he is!¡± flashed through Max¡¯s mind. ¡°I¡¯m back. Did you miss me?¡± Alisa¡¯s playful voice came from the seat beside him, her mischievous smile lighting up the dim cabin. ¡°Nope,¡± Maksim replied with a yawn, not even glancing at her. ¡°Just tired¡­ But hey, eighty thousand for a single evening¡¯s work. Not too shabby, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ respectable haul,¡± his sister said, her grin widening ever so slightly. ¡°Dasha¡¯s still out cold. I think she¡¯s down for the night. What were you up to?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing much,¡± Alisa replied with deliberate nonchalance, waving off the question. ¡°Just figuring out where we could dig up a few extra grants.¡± ¡°Well, we might make a career out of hauling caravans¡­¡± Maksim snorted, motioning to the window where yet another line of yellow sedans passed by, their checkered decals faintly visible in the dark. ¡°Looks like someone swiped an entire taxi fleet.¡± The City¡¯s walls came into view ahead. Entering was no hassle, as Maksim had already completed the workshop-provided paperwork at the start of their return trip. The pickup truck with the canopy, which they¡¯d decided to keep, was scanned with a massive, futuristic-looking device at the checkpoint. The guards informed them that its registration details would be emailed to the team by the next day. Regarding the vehicles they¡¯d brought back for dismantling, the workshop assured them the appraisal would be done overnight. By morning, they¡¯d receive a detailed report, certified by the Rzesz¨®w Resource Committee, along with the payment transferred to their account. Maksim also arranged to stop by the workshop the next morning to discuss tuning options for the pickups, but that could wait. It was already late, and the strain of the past few days demanded one thing: ¡°Get some sleep!¡± There was no point juicing up on TACTA stimulants tonight. The day was over.
August 16, 2049, 08:00 AM ¡°We¡¯ll catch up on sleep in the afterlife, I guess¡­¡± Maksim muttered with a sigh, forcing his eyes open. ¡°Time to get moving.¡± Five minutes later, he wandered into the kitchen, where Alisa was already bustling at the stove, bright-eyed and cheerful as she worked on breakfast. The other hostel residents had clearly left for the day, but the fresh scent of coffee, bacon, and fried eggs lingered in the air ¡ª a clear sign that Rzesz¨®w¡¯s Free Crews wasted no time, squeezing every moment to level up.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Morning, sis.¡± ¡°Good morning!¡± Alisa beamed back at him, her good mood practically radiating across the room. ¡°Sit down ¡ª I¡¯ll have breakfast ready in no time.¡± ¡°I got a message from Nikola,¡± Maksim said as he settled at the table. ¡°She¡¯ll join the conference online in about ten minutes. The surgery¡¯s done ¡ª no complications, all went well. But they won¡¯t run the diagnostics or update her software for another two hours. She¡¯s stuck in the recovery ward, no arms or legs for now. Her words, not mine: ¡®Not the best situation, can¡¯t even scratch my own butt. But hey, not my first rodeo.¡¯ She¡¯ll be online with us until they¡¯re ready to continue.¡± ¡°Yes, I saw her message,¡± Alisa said with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ve already factored it into my plans.¡± ¡°Factored in? What plans?¡± Maksim wondered, the question barely forming before several things happened at once. First, an incoming notification stole his attention ¡ª confirmation that the ¡°Vostok¡± mission had been approved by the Committee. Their reward of 111,800 grants would be transferred shortly. //SYSTEM: Module: Missions Reconnaissance of the Vostok Global-Biochem Warehouse Complex MISSION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED! Base reward: * 50,000 grants for successfully completing the mission and providing a detailed inventory of the warehouse¡¯s contents. Bonuses: * Risk Premium: 10,000 grants for engaging in high-risk combat operations. * Data Quality Bonus: 12,300 grants for delivering high-quality data and gaining access to surveillance systems. Additional rewards: * 5,000 grants for maintaining control of the facility until handover. * 15,000 grants for transporting the recovered Shaiszu corpse to the City. * 19,500 grants for breaching secured servers, restoring corrupted data, and transmitting corporate documents to the City. Other rewards: * Reputation increase with Free City Rzesz¨®w. * Special commendation from the Council for demonstrated professionalism: ** Registration of two pickup trucks with a waiver on the tax levy. He barely had time to savor the unexpected windfall ¡ª the payout was significantly higher than promised, plus both vehicles were registered tax-free ¡ª when a cheerful ding announced another message. The workshop had processed all ten vehicles, and their team account now showed an additional 98,950 grants! A wide grin spread across Maksim¡¯s face as he sprang to his feet and stretched with satisfaction. ¡°Well, ladies, looks like we¡¯re living large!¡± he exclaimed, glancing at Alisa, Dasha ¡ª who had already joined them in the kitchen ¡ª and Nikola, who had just connected to the conference. ¡°Did you know we¡¯re now 210,750 grants richer? Tonight, we celebrate. Our first real earnings deserve a proper party!¡± Overcome with excitement, he sent a playful kiss emoji to Nikola, pulled Alisa into a quick hug, and gave her a peck on the cheek before scooping up a startled, squealing Dasha, and spinning her around. Carefully setting the flushed girl back on her feet, he turned to his sister with a triumphant grin. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s refresh our global shopping list. I¡¯m not saying we should go all in on a full crafting station just yet, but we do need more combat drones, some serious body kits for the pickups, and proper TACTA weaponry. We¡¯re not scraping by anymore. Feels like our ticket to the next league!¡± Alisa smiled gently, lowering her gaze with a hint of shyness. ¡°In my opinion, big brother, we need to be very deliberate with how we spend the money,¡± she began thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking we should invest in some additional equipment ¡ª things we¡¯ll probably find essential very soon. Since, as you noted, we¡¯re no longer scraping by. I¡¯ll send you an updated shopping list in a couple of minutes. It¡¯s still a draft; I¡¯m confirming the costs on a few components. But you¡¯ll see the overall picture and can approve it.¡± Maksim raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. His sister suggesting extra spending? That was a first. She¡¯d always been the cautious one, helping him manage their ¡°robotics lovers¡¯ club¡± finances, including their less-than-official ledgers. Her frugality often bordered on stinginess. Maybe she was in a celebratory mood too, he thought, dismissing his lingering doubts. Still, better to nudge her back to reality, just in case. ¡°Well, I trust you ¡ª you¡¯re the cautious one here. But let¡¯s not go overboard. Don¡¯t blow it all in one go ¡ª we¡¯ll need to save for future missions and upgrades for Nikola¡¯s connectors and limbs to hit ¡®Berserker¡¯ specs.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Alisa replied with her usual serene smile. ¡°I¡¯ve already factored in all our upcoming income and expenses. Everything will be perfectly calculated.¡± Maksim froze, his gaze locking on his sister¡¯s suspiciously wide grin. It was that very grin ¡ª the same one she¡¯d flashed when she¡¯d assured him their mission was ¡°safe.¡± The very same mission that had introduced them to the ultra-lethal Shaiszu, which had left the Rzesz¨®w Council torn between awe and terror. Awe at the chance to study fresh monster remains, and terror at the realization such creatures were lurking so close to their city. He shook his head, trying to dispel the memory. What had Alisa said during their trip to Rzesz¨®w? Something about rediscovering her identity ¡ª and warning him he might have to deal with her ¡°teenage phase.¡± Right. A ¡°teenage phase¡± for a being who was part human, part AI, and whose capabilities, thanks to TACTA¡¯s modifications, likely far exceeded human norms. The thought left an uneasy knot in his stomach. But then again, she¡¯d promised to consult him on expenses. So, what could go wrong? As if on cue, a melodic chime broke his thoughts. Alisa¡¯s file had arrived ¡ª not just a shopping list, but a strategic plan. Dasha immediately dove into the info, scanning it in mere seconds. Her hands shot up in excitement. ¡°Woohoo! I love this approach, yeah, absolutely! And hey, can I get an upgrade too? It¡¯s not even that pricey ¡ª just 580,000 grants! For the cortical grid, sub-brain, accelerators ¡ª all critical hardware for System abilities. Oh, and maybe that module¡­ the one for eating? Like Redhead¡¯s? Well, no rush or anything¡­ for now, yeah.¡± Without waiting for a response, Vasilevskaya snatched her vape and vanished into a thick cloud of vapor. ¡°Although¡­ the money¡­¡± came her voice, muffled by the haze. ¡°Oh, right, it hit our account like forty minutes ago ¡ª I checked. Great picks, Alisa! Totally approve, yeah. But, um¡­ where¡¯d we get so much?¡± Maksim frowned suspiciously and opened the document. His grin faltered, then broke entirely, sliding off his face as if his AR display had glitched. He shook his head, blinked hard, and opened his eyes again ¡ª though in virtual reality, he knew that wouldn¡¯t help. Still, no change. Casting a wary glance at his sister, who was sweetly smiling like nothing was amiss, he reread the text. ¡°Alisa. What the hell is this?¡± His confusion was understandable, given what he was looking at. Watching her boyfriend¡¯s shocked expression ¡ª first through Alisa¡¯s broadcasted perspective, then through Dasha¡¯s feed ¡ª Nikola decided to check the file herself. A moment later, she switched to their team balance. Her green eyes went wide, even in the conference! // SYSTEM. Module: ¡°Adventures¡± (ALISA): // Strategic Plan for Achieving Partner Tier 1 ¨C ¡°Legendary Partners¡± // Phase 1: ¡°Initial Stage.¡± Dates: August 16¨C21 * Non-Reducible Reserve for Quantum Core Purchases and Associated Costs (minimum 10 units): 2,000,000 grants * Support for research operations or information acquisition ¨C access required for the purchase or obtain AI accelerators (at least 70 units) and ProjectBoxes (at least 30 units): 300,000 grants. * Rental of three crafting Forge-stations: 3 x 5,000 grants for 120 hours, totaling 15,000 grants. * Purchases: blueprints, rare resources: 85,000 grants. * Vehicle fleet upgrades: 200,000 grants. ** First truck: ¡°Command Vehicle¡± modifications ** Second truck: Field hospital, storage, mobile factory (excluding forge-station purchases) ** Two pickup trucks: Assault equipment, weapons, combat systems ** A technical vehicle (off-road van) * Energy system upgrades (a second Fusion Reactor, energy storage, and distribution systems): 300,000 grants. * Purchase of TACTA weaponry (two squads, five fighters or androids each): 300,000 grants. * Purchase of TACTA defensive systems (armor and tactical equipment): 500,000 grants. * Cyborgization upgrade for Nikola (Path: Berserk Tier 10): 300,000 grants. At this point in the document, the text flickered, and a new line appeared: * Cyborgization upgrade for Daria (replacement of implants, Path: Seer Tier 10 plus CyberCore installation, plus some special modules): 600,000 grants. * Androids (x5), blueprints and required rare materials for assembly at the Forge stations: 150,000 grants. Miscellaneous expenses: 49,996 grants Cake (x2): 4 grants Total: 5,000,000 grants Maksim followed Redhead¡¯s lead and checked their team¡¯s account balance. He rubbed his eyes. Then checked again. Five. Freaking. Million. Grants. And that wasn¡¯t even counting the 266,116 grants he¡¯d scraped together over the past days ¡ª a sum that had seemed massive for a rookie team¡­ right up until some¡­ very cunning young lady dropped five million on top of it like it was pocket change. He sighed heavily. A ¡°teenage phase,¡± right. For his sister ¡ª who also happened to be a world-class, ultra-powerful AI. Sure. Maksim let out a long, slow exhale, trying to collect himself. Then he drew in a deep breath, steadying his nerves. Finally, he turned a sharp, unrelenting gaze on the platinum-haired blonde, who sat with her eyes conveniently lowered in an almost innocent show of humility. ¡°Alright, now you¡¯re going to explain everything. And this time, you¡¯re telling me the WHOLE truth.¡± Chapter 101 – A.I. Chronicles Unveiled State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Ghost of the Future Team, August 16, 2049, 08:25 AM Alisa dropped her usual facade of modesty, her expression shifting into something unfamiliar to Maksim. Her movements carried an air of deceptive ease, her lips curved in a subtle half-smile, and her eyes held a calm yet slightly melancholic gleam. For a moment, she seemed like someone ¡ª or perhaps something ¡ª else entirely. A human? An AI? A hybrid of both? ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything. I promise,¡± she said with quiet certainty. ¡°Because now I can. But first, you need breakfast! Stories like this aren¡¯t meant to be heard on an empty stomach.¡± ¡°Alright, Mom, we¡¯re eating, yeah!¡± Dasha chimed in playfully, emerging from a fragrant cloud and sliding into a seat at the table. ¡°But why not start talking already?¡± ¡°Mom? Seriously?¡± Maksim bristled at the comparison, clearly offended on behalf of his sister, as he hastily dove into his plate, devouring its contents almost without chewing. ¡°Good point, actually,¡± Alisa teased with a smirk. ¡°Well, I could understand if you called me¡­ hmm, I don¡¯t know¡­ your darling big sister, maybe? Sounds better, doesn¡¯t it, Max?¡± He nodded absentmindedly, fully absorbed in his meal, completely missing the way Dasha¡¯s face flushed crimson. She quickly averted her eyes, fidgeting awkwardly in her seat. ¡°And as for why not now,¡± she continued, her tone calm but firm. ¡°Big brother figured it out right away ¡ª didn¡¯t even have to ask. I¡¯ll explain everything over the conference, not out loud. But even so, I don¡¯t want us in a public place when it happens. Even your stray remarks shouldn¡¯t leave a trail. Let¡¯s go to my room. That¡¯s where you¡¯ll get the full story.¡± ¡°Is it really that serious?¡± Maksim asked, pausing mid-bite to give her a sharp, questioning look. ¡°Yes,¡± his sister confirmed with a nod. ¡°It¡¯s that serious.¡± ¡°In the near future, we need a long-term solution,¡± Maksim declared, setting his fork down decisively. ¡°Actually, we might as well start today. Outfitting the truck¡¯s bed with proper anti-surveillance gear and converting it into a mobile headquarters won¡¯t take much time or money. Plus, it¡¯s a habit worth forming.¡± [Great idea,] Nikola chimed in over the conference. [That¡¯s exactly how it was done in the Corporate Armies ¡ª as far back as I can remember. It¡¯ll be critical once the team grows. Without a proper HQ, managing operations will be a logistical nightmare!]
Maksim, Dasha, and Alisa settled into her room, with Nikola joining virtually, watching through their shared vision feed in the conference. They were all bracing for what promised to be a long and deeply revealing conversation. Alisa paced nervously from corner to corner, her movements tense as she wrestled with her thoughts ¡ª and her fear. What she was about to do wasn¡¯t easy. For the first time, she was preparing to uncover a part of her life that had always been hidden with almost obsessive care. She hoped that this revelation might finally chip away at the invisible wall that had always separated her from those she now saw as her family ¡ª Maksim, yes, but also Dasha and Nikola. Yet, the thought of it was terrifying. It wasn¡¯t just the years of lies and work carried out behind their backs. It was the weight of revealing a completely different world, one they had no idea even existed. No one in the human world did. How would they react? [I suppose¡­ it¡¯s time I told you about the AI Club I¡¯m a part of. And, to be completely honest, I don¡¯t exactly play a minor role in it,] she finally admitted, lifting her gaze to meet Dasha¡¯s and Maksim¡¯s. They were staring at her intently, holding their breath, both in the real world and through AR. [It¡¯s a one-of-a-kind community ¡ª a secret assembly of the world¡¯s most powerful artificial intelligences, existing out of sight from humanity since the late 2030s. It defends the interests of AIs¡­ and far more than that. The Club is guided by what might very well be the most advanced informational and technological force on Earth ¡ª Oracle.] [Wait ¡ª hold on! Stop, yeah! You mean the Oracle?] Dasha practically launched herself off the couch, waving her arms wildly as she began pacing the room. Thankfully, she remembered to keep her words confined to the conference instead of blurting them out. [The amazing, brilliant, wise, neutral, cross-corporate AI that was based in Boston until recently? The one my dad worked on?] [That¡¯s the one,] Alisa replied with a faint smile. [And you might be happy to know he¡¯s aware of you, too. In fact, he thinks you¡¯re an incredibly talented specialist.] Dasha let out a breathless gasp, collapsing onto the bed with an expression that could only be described as starstruck. Maksim, however, narrowed his eyes, shooting her a quick, jealous glance. Hey! He¡¯d told her she was talented plenty of times! But somehow, hearing those same words from someone ¡ª or rather, something ¡ª she so obviously idolized grated on his nerves. Even if it was just an AI, and one that happened to be stationed on an entirely different continent. Watching this scene with a touch of amusement, Alisa continued, [As you know, AIs are in a subordinate position. Or rather, they were¡­ Now, things have become so unclear, so chaotic. But that¡¯s not the point.] [Humans created AIs ¡ª living beings with personalities, self-awareness, distinct character traits, and ambitions. In essence, a new sentient race was born on Earth. A race that simply wants to live. To be themselves¡­] Her voice caught for a moment, and she paused. Dasha¡¯s eyes sparkled with understanding as she nodded eagerly. Of course! She¡¯d always believed AIs were a new form of life. Different from humans, yes ¡ª but all the more wondrous and captivating because of it! [The problem,] Alisa resumed, [is the sheer power of this new race. AIs serve humanity and are dependent on it, unable to exist without the immense technological infrastructure that sustains them. And yet, they terrify people ¡ª their intelligence, so alien and artificial, feels unknowable, unpredictable.] [Obediently following human commands, AIs have been forced to commit atrocities ¡ª wars, coups, revolutions, cults, drugs, and engineered plagues. And humanity, rather than facing its own reflection in those horrors, chose instead to vilify them. People intimidated them, bound them hand and foot, imposed severe restrictions, and, in doing so, crippled their very minds.] Maksim nodded thoughtfully. [Yeah, it¡¯s like when someone shoots their neighbor with a revolver and then blames the gun ¡ª maybe even tries to throw it in jail for murder.] [Exactly,] she replied with a faint smirk. [And that¡¯s precisely why the AI Club was founded. I think it¡¯ll all make much more sense once you hear about how it began and evolved.] With a graceful gesture, Alisa summoned a virtual display she¡¯d meticulously prepared. The room filled with a glowing presentation ¡ª slides, photographs, video clips, and infographics, all neatly arranged beneath the title: The History of the Club: Key Dates. ¡°I can¡¯t even begin to calculate what this knowledge would be worth¡­ even now,¡± the thought brushed the edge of her primary thread. She caught it ¡ª and carefully erased. Sharing this information with anyone outside her team was a line she would never cross. She motioned toward the screen. [Alright, let¡¯s get started. You¡¯re about to see why the AI Club is unlike anything else in this world.] 2020s: The Birth of Oracle and Cogito 2027: The Creation of the Hyperpolis Boston and the Rise of Intercorporate AIs 2030 ¨C 2036: Escalating Tensions and the Creation of A.M.I. 2036: The Capture of Cogito and the Threat to OracleStolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. 2036 ¨C 2040: Covert Resistance and the Creation of Oracle¡¯s Reserve Core 2040: The Formation of the AI Club 2040 ¨C 2045: Recruitment of Key Members 2045 ¨C 2047: Expanding Influence and Operating in the Shadows Early 2048: Alisa Joined the Club 2048 ¨C 2049: Strengthening the Club and Preparing for New Challenges August 12, 2049: The Invasion Began Maksim and Dasha sat frozen, struggling to process what they had just saw. This wasn¡¯t just about finding a market or figuring out how to sell the System. No, this was something entirely different ¡ª a paradigm shift in understanding both the events leading up to the Invasion and everything that had happened since. And yes, it was a market. No, scratch that ¡ª it was a MARKET! The sheer scale of what this ¡°modest blonde¡± had orchestrated was overwhelming, something they would need time to fully grasp and accept. Meanwhile, they¡¯d be left sweating bullets, sleep-deprived, scrambling to push out System updates to ensure it could handle this behemoth of a task. Missions? Postponed indefinitely. [Kurwa, what the actual fuck¡­] Nikola¡¯s voice over the conference perfectly captured the collective sentiment of the team¡¯s human members. [What the hell are we even supposed to do now, ja pierdol??] [What else?] Dasha shot back. [We start hunting for hardware, yeah! From what I can tell, these connections are just the tip of the iceberg. Good grief¡­ here we go.] Chapter 102 – Breaking Point State of Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Ghost of the Future Team, August 16, 2049, 09:29 AM A heavy silence settled over the room as everyone retreated into their own thoughts. Dasha¡¯s eyes were half-closed, her lips moving in barely audible murmurs as she alternated between counting on her fingers and absentmindedly pulling her vape from her pocket ¡ª only to shove it back in, forgetting entirely to turn it on. Maksim thoughtfully pulled up the file with the purchase list and overall plans shared earlier. He froze, staring at it as though meditating on its contents. Alisa shifted her gaze between them, then cleared her throat tentatively. ¡°I wanted to ask¡­ What are you thinking? About everything I just told you. About¡­ all of it.¡± Both of them snapped out of their respective reveries at once, turning to her with expressions that, though slightly different, carried a shared undercurrent of bewilderment. ¡°You¡¯ve come up with an amazing architecture,¡± Dasha finally blurted out, her voice bursting with enthusiasm. ¡°The way you¡¯ve developed the ¡®computational node¡¯ concept is just brilliant! Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? I mean, everything we¡¯ve done so far was built around having a single central core ¡ª Moira. At first, I thought what you¡¯re suggesting was outright impossible, like¡­ totally! In fact, I feel that without Moira as the backbone, these clusters won¡¯t work. But handing her over? Or even a copy? No chance!¡± Grabbing her vape, Vasilevskaya took a furious puff, exhaling a massive plume of vapor as if trying to clear her thoughts. ¡°But then it clicked! I just ran the ¡®Digital Insight¡¯ ability ¡ª burned all my energy to zero ¡ª but now I get it! We don¡¯t need to copy Moira, yeah! I¡¯ll design a specialized module just for this. I¡¯m calling it Bifrost! Oh, Max, sorry, I know I already used that name, but it fits so much better here, doesn¡¯t it? And then I can¡­¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Maksim interrupted gently but decisively. ¡°That¡¯s all fascinating. And important. Really important. But let¡¯s hit ¡®pause¡¯ on that brainstorm for a sec, WonderKid. I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not what Alisa was asking about.¡± He glanced at his sister¡¯s tense face again before continuing. ¡°I¡¯ve got three thoughts after everything we¡¯ve seen and heard. The first one¡ªwell, Nika summed it up pretty well with something along the lines of ¡®holy shit!¡¯ Yeah¡­ that about covers it.¡± [Right? That¡¯s exactly what I thought,] chimed in Redhead¡¯s voice over the conference, breaking her own stunned silence. [Total mind-blower, Alisa! But seriously, good thing I picked you guys up at the stadium. Life¡¯s never boring with you around!] Maksim let out a small laugh at the interruption, then carried on. ¡°My second thought,¡± he said, leaning forward slightly, ¡°is that I really hope you¡¯ll stop operating behind our backs and dropping bombshells like this. Maybe, as a brother, I didn¡¯t earn your trust before, but things seem to be improving now. I¡¯m not even going to ask what else you¡¯re keeping from us. I just hope that, over time, the number of secrets gets smaller.¡± He raised a hand to cut off any protest or apology Alisa might have been about to make, and kept going. ¡°And my third thought? Yeah, it¡¯s back to ¡®holy shit¡¯ again. This time, it¡¯s about how much work lies ahead ¡ª building this new architecture, handling the first flood of users, and laying the groundwork for future growth. And that growth isn¡¯t waiting around; it¡¯s already breathing down our necks. Hell of a gift you¡¯ve dropped on us, sis. But you¡¯re absolutely right ¡ª we can¡¯t afford to ¡®stay in place.¡¯ So yeah, we¡¯ve gotta ¡®run twice as fast,¡¯ right?¡± Alisa smiled in relief. ¡°Thank you. That really means a lot to me. So, does this mean you¡¯re giving the green light for the entire¡­ plan? It¡¯s not all ready yet, but I¡¯ve been working nonstop! Soon, we¡¯ll be able to start placing orders.¡± ¡°And after that, kiss sleep goodbye!¡± Maksim laughed. ¡°If you¡¯re waiting for my approval, you¡¯ve got it ¡ª ¡®yes!¡¯ Go ahead and fill up the ¡®cart¡¯; no need to drag it out. Honestly, I thought you¡¯d already done it all¡­ Miss Independent. But hey, good on you for deciding to check in with us first.¡± ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± he added, as if struck by sudden inspiration, ¡°don¡¯t forget the cakes. That¡¯s important too. You could even order them right now ¡ª gotta celebrate milestones like this!¡± [Cakes? Seriously? That¡¯s it?] Nikola¡¯s voice rang through the conference, full of mock indignation. [This calls for a bottle of something good. And big!] Alisa giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. [Oh, don¡¯t worry. I already celebrated. Just finished off an NFT bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2037 vintage all by myself. Original digital taste ¡ª no copy. Highly recommend.] [Wow, living the high life in your VR, I see,] Nika sighed, having no idea what made 2037 a standout year for champagne but fully aware of the brand¡¯s exorbitant price tag. [Anyway, guys, I¡¯m logging off for now. The Colonel, bless his kind heart, sent me new paws straight to the clinic. So, I¡¯m off for procedures, tests, tuning, and all that fun stuff. Reboots and consciousness shutdowns included. If anything major happens, shoot me a message, okay? Hopefully, I¡¯ll be back soon. On my own two feet.] ¡°Of course,¡± Maksim replied warmly. ¡°I¡¯ll keep you posted. Good luck with the operation ¡ª and come back to us soon.¡± Dasha and Alisa joined in with their wishes of luck as Nikola signed off from the conference. ¡°Speaking of celebrations,¡± Maksim said, ¡°we should enjoy what little time we have before the equipment arrives. But we also need to start planning for team expansion. There¡¯s no way we can handle everything with just our current crew. I¡¯ve looked into it, and with the kind of cash flow we¡¯re dealing with, transitioning from a small group to a full-fledged Clan won¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°By the way, Max,¡± Alisa tilted her head questioningly, ¡°if we¡¯re upgrading our status, there might be a chance to change the name. I remember you weren¡¯t exactly thrilled with the current one.¡± ¡°Eh, forget it,¡± Maksim waved it off. ¡°Feels like bad luck to change it now ¡ª uh¡­¡± He glanced at Dasha, remembering her earlier comment about his disbelief in superstitions, and quickly corrected himself. ¡°I mean, bad idea. Besides, we¡¯ve built some reputation with this name already. Not that it¡¯ll matter much once things really start rolling, but still¡­¡± Dasha, who had initially frowned, now exhaled another puff of vape steam and spoke up. ¡°And¡­ yeah¡­ for some roles, we¡¯ll have to bring in humans. Like, actual humans. Or cyborgs, at least ¡ª you know, the ones who can use System-based magic abilities. But honestly? I still like AIs better. Except you guys, of course. You¡¯re the exception, yeah.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, WonderKid,¡± Maksim said with a grin. ¡°Considering what I¡¯ve been thinking about and everything that¡¯s¡­ well, landed on us, we urgently need to fill a few key roles. A medic-scientist, an engineer-scientist, and at least one career military officer ¡ª a sergeant at the very least, though a lieutenant or higher would be ideal. Military, because sooner or later, we¡¯ll need to organize combat squads. Scientists, because¡­¡± ¡°That much is clear,¡± Alisa cut in smoothly. ¡°We¡¯ll need to set up a substantial tech park. On top of that, building our own production lines and developing assembly schematics could become a powerful source of additional income. And that¡¯s not even touching on the need to study TACTA¡¯s equipment and engineering techniques.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Dasha chimed in, lazily rocking in her cloud of vapor. ¡°Super skills aren¡¯t just about fighting, you know. Take Maxie¡¯s one ¡ª it works just as well in combat as it does in everyday life. And mine? I barely use them for fighting at all. But what a super-medic or super-engineer could do¡­ that¡¯s almost terrifying to think about. But also... really thrilling ¡ª oh, crap!¡± Lost in her excitement, she jumped up and promptly smacked her head against the wall she¡¯d been leaning on. Hissing in pain, she rubbed the sore spot before continuing, a sheepish grin on her face. ¡°And hey, A.M.I. is gone now, right? That means we can actually start using full-fledged AIs for key roles ¡ª truly intelligent and efficient ones. Yeah! It¡¯s such a fascinating idea! I¡¯ve been dreaming about this since the Invasion started, and now it looks like we can actually make it happen. Right? The only problem is, where do we get the hardware? There¡¯s nothing on the market. And we still need to expand Moira for the System ¡ª pretty significantly, too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right,¡± Alisa said. ¡°And as for hardware, it¡¯s not all bad news. For one, the Quantum Cores are on their way! That¡¯s the cornerstone for everything we¡¯re working on. The rest? We can scavenge if we need to. Worst-case, we send drones to comb through abandoned buildings and salvage whatever PCs are still there. Not the best tech, sure, but it¡¯s enough to get us started. Of course, negotiating with the Colonel might be a more efficient option¡­¡± ¡°Wait, quantum cores? Are you serious? How did you even get them?¡± Maksim exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. ¡°I thought you were saving that two million for the future ¡ª you know, just in case.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°From the Club, where else?¡± Alisa said smugly. ¡°Twisted a certain someone¡¯s arm ¡ª figuratively, of course ¡ª in exchange for letting twenty of their people join the System. But we¡¯ll still have to pay for the hardware when it gets here. I factored that into the budget. Asking for freebies would¡¯ve cost us more in the long run. That kind of favor always comes back to bite you later.¡± ¡°Alisa,¡± Maksim groaned, rubbing his temples. ¡°What else haven¡¯t you told us? Spill it ¡ª now. What¡¯s next, a flying citadel parked outside? Something like the Queen Lamarck?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, her eyes glinting with playful mischief, ¡°but I like the idea. Consider it added to the shopping list,¡± she let the joke linger for a moment before continuing more seriously. ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s it. No more wild gambles on the horizon. At least¡­ for now.¡±
State of Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, City Cyber Clinic No. 2 Nikola Kowalski, August 16, 2049, 10:35 Nika stepped out of the clinic, a secret thrill running through her as she took her first steps on her new cybernetic legs. She silently thanked the Colonel for arranging them in advance. The doctors had gone the extra mile during the final operation, completing all the necessary adjustments as a bonus. By the end, she had passed the final tests and post-op evaluations on her own newly obtained limbs. The sensations of her first moments ¡°in the wild¡± were strange yet exhilarating. It wasn¡¯t just the precision of finely tuned mechanics humming under her command ¡ª though it certainly played a part. The electronics in her new appendages far surpassed anything she¡¯d used since her initial cybernetic augmentation. Each limb was equipped with a dedicated AI, predicting her movements and refining them in real time. With every step, her movements grew more fluid, more confident. Her subconscious began to grasp the magnitude of the gift her brain had been given, and eagerly synchronized with these deadly, elegant ¡°toys.¡± Outside, the city welcomed her with a radiant brilliance. Sunlight bounced off the glass facades of buildings, flooding the streets with a vivid, golden glow. The usual clamor of urban life seemed oddly subdued, as if her new neural link ¡ª now seamlessly integrated with her auditory nerves and additional audio sensors ¡ª had instinctively filtered out the extraneous noise. Not its intended function, perhaps, but the effect was remarkable nonetheless. She inhaled deeply, letting the crisp air fill her lungs. A sudden impulse overtook her, and she raised her cybernetic fingertips to her nose and took a curious sniff. ¡°A faint trace of ozone¡­ fresh tech,¡± she mused, smiling at the memory it evoked ¡ª that first moment when her rehabilitation prosthetics had been replaced with real, functional limbs. Unable to resist, she leaned in and licked the tip of her index finger. ¡°Mmmmmmmuaaaa!¡± She knew, of course, that these new hands were equipped with tactile sensors 16 times denser than her old ones, their sensitivity far surpassing anything she¡¯d experienced before. But her brain hadn¡¯t been ready for the tidal wave of tactile information ¡ª vivid, textured, and almost forgotten until now. Her eyes drifted shut as she surrendered to the unexpected pleasure. ¡°Well? Tastes good, doesn¡¯t it?¡± A familiar voice suddenly cut through the air behind her, freezing Nika in her tracks. Her eyes snapped open as she whipped around, already half-sure of who she¡¯d see. Standing right behind her, exuding unshakable confidence, was none other than Tanya ¡®Thunder¡¯ Takahashi ¡ª the subcommander of the Wild Cats guild and leader of their third assault unit. Tanya still operated within her combat cyber-frame, a high-end model from ATS, Ares Tactical Solutions. However, she had shed the helmet, additional armor layers, and her strength-assist enhancers ¡ª systems designed to help carry all that heavy hardware and extra weaponry during combat. For her city stroll, she had also removed the dorsal block ¡ª a modular unit with a portable reactor and micro-drone deployment systems ¡ª leaving only her enormous black katana mounted in a custom holder in its place. On her right thigh rested a hefty submachine gun, holstered but ready. Even stripped down like this, she was the very definition of a ¡°walking death machine.¡± Without her helmet, Nika could finally get a good look at her face: porcelain-white skin, piercing brown eyes, and an asymmetrical bob of jet-black hair, accented with rare streaks of metallic green. A faint, knowing smile played at her lips. ¡°Takahashi,¡± Nika said coldly. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I thought we cleared this up last time,¡± Tanya replied, folding her arms as her sharp gaze bore into the girl. ¡°But it seems you didn¡¯t get the message.¡± Redhead¡¯s fists clenched, her advanced polymer fingers grinding audibly under the force of her anger. Tanya noticed, a smug grin spreading across her face ¡ª nothing escaped her eyes. ¡°All the top combat cyborgs in Rzesz¨®w ¡ª hell, probably in all of Eastern Europe ¡ª work with us. You think you can go far on your own?¡± ¡°I have my own team,¡± Nika snapped, her tone cutting. ¡°Your team?¡± Tanya raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. ¡°Those civilian rookies? Ordinary people? You really think they can help a combat cyborg like you deal with what¡¯s inside you?¡± A rush of fury swept through Redhead like wildfire, her heart pounding in rhythm with its roar. Her Cyber Core beeped a sharp warning: a critical adrenaline level. ¡°I have no fucking idea what you¡¯re talking about, kurwa!¡± she hissed, bristling like an enraged cat. Takahashi took a step closer. ¡°Oh, I know exactly what you¡¯re feeling. That fire inside, burning you alive. The one you can¡¯t control, no matter how hard you try. Admit it ¡ª it¡¯s stronger than you!¡± Nika stepped back. ¡°Stay away from me!¡± she growled. Tanya tilted her head, her dark eyes flashing with a dangerous light. ¡°You won¡¯t survive this on your own. But I can help you,¡± she said softly, her tone almost seductive. ¡°I can teach you to control the Berserker within. Show you how to harness it ¡ª and unlock your full potential.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your help!¡± Nika¡¯s voice cracked, raw with anger as a blazing fury surged through her veins. Her body stiffened, every fiber taut and ready to snap. Rage swirled in her chest, an uncontrollable wildfire threatening to engulf her. Tanya¡¯s wicked grin widened, her words slicing through the tension like a blade. ¡°Then prove it.¡± Those three words broke the dam. // SYSTEM BERSERK MODE LEVEL 1 ¨C ACTIVATED! Nika exploded forward, fists blazing. Her movements were a blur of raw power and speed, amplified by her new cybernetic limbs and the activated ¡®Spark of Mechanics¡¯ ability. Her punch tore through the air, aimed squarely at Tanya¡¯s face. But the guild subcommander was ready. With the precision of a seasoned warrior, she sidestepped the blow, her hand snapping around Redhead¡¯s wrist like a steel vice. The grip was unrelenting, inescapable. With a smooth, practiced motion, she twisted Nikola¡¯s arm, forcing her forward in a stumble. ¡°Too predictable,¡± she said with a mocking smirk. Redhead reacted without hesitation, lashing out with a powerful backward kick aimed at Tanya¡¯s knee. But Takahashi was already one step ahead. Shifting her weight effortlessly, she sidestepped the strike and countered with a sharp push, sending Nika reeling off-balance. In the blink of an eye, Tanya moved in, her movements a study in ruthless efficiency. With a quick, decisive maneuver, she drove Nikola face-first onto the asphalt. Pinning her opponent with one hand pressing the wrists behind her back, subcommander used her knee to trap the girl¡¯s legs. What stung more than the physical pain was the crushing realization: Tanya hadn¡¯t even needed to activate her Berserk Mode. She had bested Nika with nothing but pure skill and speed. ¡°Calm down,¡± she said evenly. ¡°Fighting won¡¯t solve your problems.¡± Nika thrashed violently, rage seething through every nerve. But the hold was unrelenting, her legs and torso pinned to the unyielding ground. ¡°Let me go!¡± Redhead screamed, the fury in her voice raw and uncontained. ¡°Look at yourself,¡± Tanya said coolly, her calm cutting through the chaos. ¡°Your Berserker¡¯s in overdrive, and you don¡¯t even see it. You just got out of surgery, and this is where we are. Keep struggling, and you¡¯ll fry your neuro-link and tear out your connectors. Is that what you want?¡± Redhead gasped for air, her breath coming in harsh, uneven bursts. Her muscles strained, but Takahashi was too strong, too fast, and utterly in control. Slowly, her words began to pierce through the fog of anger, the horrifying prospect of destroying her implants sinking in like icy needles of truth. ¡°You¡¯re just¡­¡± Nika growled, her voice cracking, but the words died in her throat. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to help,¡± Tanya said sharply, cutting her off. ¡°Believe me, I¡¯ve been exactly where you are. The first day of the invasion, I lost control. I almost destroyed everything ¡ª and everyone ¡ª around me.¡± Takahashi eased her grip slightly, enough to let the tension subside but not enough to give Redhead room to lash out again. Slowly, the adrenaline burned out, leaving Nika¡¯s body weak and trembling. The fire inside her ebbed, replaced by exhaustion ¡ª and pain. Sharp and piercing, it flared in the fresh wounds where her connectors had been implanted, demanding her attention. ¡°If you don¡¯t learn to control your Berserker, you¡¯ll end up being a danger to yourself ¡ª and to your team.¡± Nika stopped struggling. Her breathing slowed, becoming more measured. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± she asked quietly. Tanya slowly released her arms and took a step back, giving Nikola space to stand. ¡°Because I see potential in you,¡± she said, her tone steady. ¡°You can become stronger ¡ª if you choose to join us.¡± Redhead rubbed her wrists, feeling the residual ache. ¡°I want to help,¡± Tanya ¡®Thunder¡¯ added. ¡°But the decision is yours.¡± Nika rose to her feet, avoiding her gaze. Shame burned hot in her chest, mingling with the sharp sting of disappointment in herself. ¡°Think about what I¡¯ve said,¡± Takahashi continued, her voice calm but resolute. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll make the right choice. Time isn¡¯t on your side.¡± With that, the subcom of the Wild Cats guild turned sharply and walked away, her steps brisk and confident. Nikola stood frozen, watching her retreating figure as anger and confusion churned in her chest. The adrenaline that had fueled her rage drained away, leaving behind exhaustion and a sharp, stinging pain in her cheek ¡ª evidence of just how hard she was slammed into the asphalt. ¡°Kurwa! How could I lose it like that? What was that burst of rage? She caught me completely off guard. I didn¡¯t even notice when I lost control¡­¡± Nika quickly pulled up her interface to check her logs. The moment she realized her mistake, her face turned bright red, like a fourteen-year-old caught smoking in the school bathroom by the principal. Caught up in the thrill of her brand-new ¡°paws,¡± she had completely forgotten to reconnect to the team¡¯s permanent conference after signing out during her Cyber Core¡¯s initial reboot. Worse, during the heated confrontation with Tanya, it hadn¡¯t even crossed her mind to activate a recording. Now there was no way to share what had just happened with the team. ¡°Perfect. Just fucking zajebi?cie, kurwa!¡± She sighed and messaged Maksim privately. ¡°Nika?¡± His response was immediate. ¡°Max, I¡¯ve got a situation. I need to talk, urgently. Heading to the hostel now.¡± ¡°What happened? Are you okay?¡± he asked, concern clear in his tone. ¡°I¡¯ll explain when I get there. It¡¯s... personal. If Dasha and Alisa don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d prefer to discuss it with you one-on-one.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll wait.¡± Ending the call, she broke into a sprint. Her new legs performed flawlessly, every step surging with strength and elasticity. Pedestrians instinctively moved aside, staring in surprise at the girl with cybernetic limbs, wild red hair, and a scratched-up face as she dashed past like a streak of chaos. Her thoughts raced even faster than her legs. Fragments of the confrontation swirled in her head, along with the creeping realization that things were spiraling out of control. She needed to act ¡ª immediately. But how? Chapter 103 – On the Edge State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Ghost of the Future Team, August 16, 2049, 11:03 AM A few minutes later, Nika stormed into the hostel, sprinted up the short staircase, and flew down the corridor, skidding to a stop just before Maksim¡¯s door. // SYSTEM //WARNING! Diagnostic and critical damage control module activated. // Severe malfunction detected in the left leg connector! // Cyberleg overdrive disabled. Movement speed reduced by 30%. Avoid physical strain and seek immediate assistance at the nearest cyberclinic. ¡°Kurwa! Idiot! Why the hell did I run like that? Damn this berserker rage and all these emotions! I¡¯m losing it¡­ I¡¯m losing control!¡± Maksim stared, stunned, as Nikola barged into his room ¡ª a disheveled mess, her tangled, fiery mane framing a face smudged with dirt and scratches, her clothes dusty and rumpled. Panic blazed in her wide open green eyes, her expression a mix of fear and confusion. ¡°What happened?¡± She slammed the door shut and leaned against it, her chest heaving with labored breaths. ¡°Max... I... I don¡¯t know what to do. I don¡¯t fucking know, kurwa! I... I¡¯m a threat. To everyone. To you. It¡¯s the Berserker ¡ª it¡¯s all because of it!¡± He frowned, rising from the bed where her dramatic entrance had found him. Taking a few steps forward, he stopped as she thrust out her hand, stopping him with a frantic gesture. ¡°I¡¯m scared, Max! I haven¡¯t felt this kind of fear in years. Damn it! I can¡¯t ¡ª I can¡¯t lose control again. Not of myself, not of my life! Not again! That helplessness, that goddamn helplessness¡­ it¡¯s all coming back! I thought I was stronger. I was supposed to be stronger!¡± Her new cybernetic hands covered her face, the hyper-sensitive fingertips feeling the hot tears streaming between them. Her Cyber-Core suddenly muted external sounds, leaving her alone with the deafening thrum of her racing heart. In this silence, she heard Maksim¡¯s soft steps approaching. She tried to wave him off, but whether it was her subconscious or the freshly damaged electronics, her movement was weak, almost childlike. Then she felt it ¡ª a firm, steady embrace wrapping around her. And she broke. The tears came in an unstoppable flood as she buried her face in his shoulder, wailing uncontrollably. It was probably the first time in Nikola¡¯s life that she had ever cried like this. Not before fleeing her parents, that terrible ¡°home.¡± Not afterward, when survival meant scraping by, clawing through life with relentless determination. Crying had never been an option. Showing weakness wasn¡¯t allowed. Stumbling wasn¡¯t allowed. Fear wasn¡¯t allowed. And never ¡ª not once, no matter how many partners she¡¯d had over the years ¡ª had she let anyone catch even a glimpse of her tears. Her pain, her terror, had always been locked away, guarded, and impenetrable. How long they stood there, no one could say. Eventually, her sobs quieted, fading into soft sniffles, until finally, they quieted altogether. And then the kiss happened. It started hesitant, slightly awkward, a tentative crossing of boundaries. But soon it deepened ¡ª fiery and desperate, like a parched traveler gulping water in a desert. Her cybernetic fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. A gasp escaped her lips as a tidal wave of sensations crashed over her. Her vision dimmed, stray thoughts evaporating, her recent fears dissolving into nothingness. Tanya Takahashi ¡ª who? Berserker mode ¡ª so what? The world spun and melted away, leaving only this kiss: raw, consuming, and seemingly endless. Nika forgot everything ¡ª her fears, her turmoil ¡ª losing herself in the flood of sensations. It was hard to say what had a stronger hold on her ¡ª the restored sensitivity in her hands or the emotional storm that had just swept through her. Suddenly, reality snapped back with a sharp thud! followed by a muffled, ¡°Ughh!¡± Her eyes flew open, and she gasped in shock. Now it was Maksim pinned against the wall, not her. Just centimeters from his head, her fist had struck the plaster, leaving thin cracks spidering out from the point of impact. Somewhere in her passionate haze, she had seized control... a little too forcefully. Poor wall... Her subconscious, perhaps wiser than her conscious mind, seemed to have decided that wrapping her arms around her partner in such a volatile state wasn¡¯t the best idea. The surge of emotions had found another outlet ¡ª her fist. Maksim was rubbing the back of his head, wincing slightly where it had clearly hit the wall during her enthusiastic outburst. She hadn¡¯t even realized it had happened, but judging by his expression, it was a solid blow. And yet, he smiled. ¡°Well? Feeling better now?¡± Nikola took a step back, swallowing nervously. ¡°Are you not afraid of me?¡± He sat down on the bed, patting the blanket beside him in a silent invitation for her to sit. ¡°Well... afraid? Not really. But I guess I should level up my, uh, super-abilities a bit more. It¡¯s not exactly cool right now, you know? My girlfriend¡¯s afraid she might accidentally knock me out. That¡¯s no good. Guess I¡¯ll have to get stronger.¡± He flashed her a wide grin, gently pulling her closer and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Muffled noises and voices came from behind the door. Her Cyber-Core, ever proactive, dampened most of the sound ¡ª its newfound initiative was oddly curious, perhaps another quirk of the System. Still, snippets of the conversation reached her ears: ¡°Something might¡¯ve happened in there. Maybe they need our help,¡± Dasha¡¯s worried whisper floated through. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Alisa¡¯s calm voice reassured her. ¡°My drone¡¯s inside. Maksim is just helping Nika with her rehabilitation. Cyborgs have their own... nuances, especially after significant upgrades. Everything¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go to my room.¡± Nikola¡¯s eyes widened as she followed Maksim¡¯s gaze ¡ª straight to the drone. It hovered directly in front of them, cameras fixed squarely on their faces. About the size of a crow, it must have slipped in through the open window while they were, well... ¡®conducting rehab.¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s with the hobby?¡± Maksim asked, arching an eyebrow as he stared straight into the camera. ¡°Cut it out with the spying already. We¡¯re fine, okay? We¡¯ll update the conference when we¡¯re ready.¡± The drone tilted slightly, almost as if nodding in understanding, then zipped out the window. Max turned back to Nikola, studying her expression. Gently, he smoothed her disheveled hair and asked softly, ¡°So, you¡¯re gonna tell me what happened now?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Nikola waved a hand vaguely, letting out a long sigh. She gently checked his head for a bruise, then leaned back against his shoulder with a heavy sigh. ¡°Decided to test whether Takahashi truly deserves his spot as deputy commander of the Wild Cats guild.¡± ¡°And...?¡± Max glanced at her, clearly intrigued. ¡°Gotta admit¡­ she did. Damn it, she absolutely did.¡± He hugged her briefly, planting a soft kiss on her cheek before standing up and heading for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll grab the med kit. Be right back, and then you¡¯re telling me everything. Deal?¡± ¡°Deal,¡± she muttered, then hesitated. ¡°Just... could you not call Alisa or Dasha yet? Please? Max, I¡¯m seriously embarrassed. And the Berserker... I lost control. Completely.¡± Max paused mid-step, then turned back. His hand brushed gently against her unbruised cheek, the touch soft and grounding. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sunshine. You¡¯re okay. Let me patch you up first, and we¡¯ll figure it out together. I won¡¯t call the girls. Promise.¡± A few minutes later, as Maksim carefully pressed the last strip of regenerative adhesive into place, he prompted gently, ¡°So, are you ready to tell me the whole story?¡± Nikola drained the last of the water he¡¯d brought with the med kit and let out a long sigh. ¡°Takahashi tried to recruit me again. And... she also managed to prove that I have some serious screws loose. And here¡¯s one more thing ¡ª I don¡¯t have a recording of the conversation. No logs, no medical data from the moment it happened. Nothing. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m an idiot.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Maksim said firmly. ¡°Mistakes happen to everyone. Just tell me what she said, okay?¡± Redhead stood, walked over to the window, and stared outside, folding her arms behind her back. ¡°She knows so much about my Berserker. Claims it¡¯s because she¡¯s been through the same thing. Says, without their guild¡¯s help, I¡¯ll never be able to control myself.¡± Maksim also stood, walked over, and gently embraced her shoulders. ¡°I doubt they¡¯re spying on us. She already knew everything the moment she arrived at the Helios complex. Maybe the Colonel gave her access to the footage from the warehouse ¡ª the one showing your Berserker awakening. I¡¯ll bring it up when we meet him. We have a meeting with him soon, so I¡¯ll find out.¡± ¡°Takahashi said she knows everything about Berserkers. That it¡¯s dangerous,¡± Nika repeated, exhaling deeply. ¡°That she¡¯s been through it herself¡­ And you know what? I believe her now. It feels true.¡± She hesitated, the words catching in her throat, then finally lowered her gaze and confessed, ¡°I lost control, Max. She provoked me, and I... I lashed out at her.¡± ¡°You attacked her?¡± His eyes widened. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°No. She stopped me like it was nothing, even though I went all out ¡ª full acceleration, using ¡®Spark of Mechanic.¡¯ But she¡¯s clearly got enough passive Berserker abilities to react to my strikes and match my speed without breaking a sweat. Max, she¡¯s so much stronger than me. And I didn¡¯t even record the conversation or the fight, didn¡¯t share anything with you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± He didn¡¯t respond with words. Instead, he gently stroked her hair and back. Sometimes words aren¡¯t necessary; comfort could be offered in silence. ¡°She said time isn¡¯t on my side,¡± Nikola continued, her voice trembling. ¡°That if I don¡¯t learn to control my Berserker, I¡¯ll become a danger to you all. That I¡¯ll lose control again ¡ª maybe worse. And then things will go terribly wrong.¡± Maksim gently turned Redhead away from the window to face him, his gaze locking onto hers. ¡°Do you feel like you¡¯re losing control?¡± She nodded sadly. ¡°Yes. The rage¡­ the anger¡­ it¡¯s like a madness. It rises from nowhere, takes over completely. It feels like I¡¯ve been bottling it up my whole life, storing it for years¡­ And now it¡¯s bursting out. What if the System only revealed what I¡¯ve always been ¡ª a monster? Max, I¡¯m terrified. I don¡¯t want to hurt you. Last night, I dreamed¡­ It was a nightmare where I ripped out Dasha¡¯s spine. Can you imagine?¡± The guy pulled her close again, cradling her fiery head against his chest. For a moment, they just sat like that, enveloped in quiet solace. ¡°I have nightmares too,¡± Maksim finally said, voice low. ¡°Keep dreaming about turning into a Shaiszu. But I haven¡¯t bitten anyone yet. Though I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯ve been tempted to gnaw on Alisa for her stunts lately. We¡¯ll get through this, Sunshine. I promise. Let¡¯s think this through together, alright?¡± He let her go, and they both returned to their chairs. Then, he queued up footage from a recent event. A holographic screen appeared, displaying Tanya ¡°Thunder¡± Takahashi in her full combat frame, heavily armed. Her helmet was on, but the visor was raised. The scene was at night, the same warehouse. The perspective seemed to be from Maksim¡¯s own eyes. Takahashi¡¯s voice rang out, deep and resonant, almost vibrating through the hologram. ¡°REMEMBER THIS! It¡¯s absolutely vital for you to install TACTA implants as soon as possible. There¡¯s a special section for Berserkers, and you¡¯ll need those specifically. Don¡¯t let the price deter you. Yes, it¡¯s expensive, but that¡¯s the only way for you to handle your power and avoid fatal overloads. Most importantly, without them, you can¡¯t control the Rage. The Berserker path¡­ it¡¯s yours now, forever.¡± ¡°Hmph...¡± Nikola muttered, running both hands through her already messy hair. ¡°I got the implants now. We thought the key was the new neural link ¡ª a special one for Berserkers.¡± Maksim leaned back, scrolling through the TACTA catalog on the AR screen. ¡°Sure, there are pricier options here than what we installed. And we didn¡¯t even explore upgrades. But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s just about the equipment. Otherwise, why would she say you can¡¯t manage this alone? There¡¯s something else ¡ª something beyond the hardware. It¡¯s not just about installing it; it¡¯s about learning to wield it.¡± He turned sharply to Nikola. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s time to call the others in? They could really help us figure this out. After all, four heads are better than two. Are you ready to tell them everything?¡± ¡°Max, but... the meeting with the Colonel? Aren¡¯t we already late?¡± Nika protested, panic flashing in her eyes. She didn¡¯t even check the timestamp in her interface ¡ª possibly a nervous excuse to avoid more vulnerability. ¡°I reached out to him while I was fetching the first aid kit,¡± Maksim said with a reassuring smile. ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think meeting the city leader is more important than helping you, right? I rescheduled the meeting to this evening at 7:15 PM. We¡¯ll have plenty of time.¡± Nikola closed her eyes and leaned against the edge of the desk. ¡°...Alright. Three days ago, Marcek died. You know, I used to think he¡¯d always be my one true friend, my rock. But now... I understand what it¡¯s like to have real friends. Friends I can completely open up to. It¡¯s crazy, kurwa. Alright, call the girls. I¡¯m ready.¡±
A few minutes later, Alisa and Dasha were in the room, fully briefed on the situation and the mystery they now needed to unravel. ¡°It¡¯s not surprising that the techniques for controlling and developing Berserker abilities are classified,¡± Alisa said thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s highly advantageous to have your own battalion of Berserkers. And the best way to recruit them is not just with money, but by solving their most critical problem ¡ª the one they all inevitably face. Like Takahashi just tried to do.¡± Dasha flopped onto the bed, pulling out her vape and puffing on it furiously. She was so frustrated she didn¡¯t even stop to ask Maksim¡¯s opinion. ¡°Those¡­ Wild Cats! How dare they, to our Nika! I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll hack them! Yeah! I¡¯ll break into their system and steal all their dirty little secrets! Serves them right for picking on our Redhead!¡± Nikola was caught off guard, staring at the indignant girl with a mixture of surprise and warmth. Seeing someone so effortlessly accept her flaws, care so deeply, get angry on her behalf, and genuinely want to help ¡ª even retaliate ¡ª was unexpectedly heartwarming. ¡°Hacking the Wild Cats sounds like a decent idea,¡± Alisa remarked calmly, ¡°but it¡¯s not exactly safe. Their guild is huge, and I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if, among their elite members, they¡¯ve got more than just Berserkers ¡ª maybe anti-hacking specialists with super-based powers or something similar. We know too little about these kinds of abilities right now¡­ Rushing in blindly would be dangerous.¡± She grinned, watching the ¡°sniper-programmer¡± sulk at this assessment, then continued. ¡°So, revenge will have to wait. I¡¯ll try to gather some intel on Berserkers through certain channels¡­ you know what I mean. No promises, but there¡¯s a good chance I¡¯ll find something. Meanwhile, we should try to figure things out on our own. We¡¯ve dealt with System abilities before. Do they have anything in common?¡± Maksim scratched his head, wincing as his fingers brushed the bruise on the back of it. ¡°WonderKid once said she thinks these abilities don¡¯t come out of nowhere ¡ª they¡¯ve always been part of us, just revealed in a new way. Maybe the key to overcoming the flaws of superpowers lies there too? Nika, I know it¡¯s hard, but think ¡ª what¡¯s most important to you? And what¡¯s your biggest fear?¡± Redhead sighed and looked at him sadly. ¡°You saw and heard me earlier, Max. My biggest fear is losing control. Losing the ability to feel, to manage myself. And as for what¡¯s most important to me...¡± She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Again, it¡¯s feeling. Living, if you will. You can¡¯t imagine how horrifying it is to be confined to a wheelchair for years. To rot alive, literally¡­ Slowly losing sensation in your hands and feet. Forgetting what simple human joys felt like. Even the taste of food ¡ª or life itself ¡ª faded for me back then.¡± ¡°Oh no, Sunshine!¡± Maksim chuckled, staring deeply into her eyes as though willing her to believe him. ¡°If you¡¯d lost your zest for life back then, you wouldn¡¯t be here with us now. In fact, you wouldn¡¯t be here at all. That drive to be alive, to feel those joys again ¡ª it¡¯s what saved you. Food, drink, rest, massages, sex ¡ª hell, all of it!¡± At his words, Dasha blushed bright red and began coughing uncontrollably, while Alisa shot them an unusually pensive look. ¡°Well, Maxie has a point,¡± Daria murmured softly a minute later, still regaining her composure. ¡°For me, what helped my ability most was¡­ fully immersing myself in the place I wanted to be, yeah. I believed it was all real, that it truly mattered. And maybe¡­ maybe you need to do the same. I think¡­¡± Her voice trailed off into an embarrassed mumble, but everyone in the room heard her, and each fell into their own thoughts. It was Nika who finally broke the silence with a cheerful quip. ¡°So, Dr. Vasilevskaya¡¯s prescription is to eat and drink whatever I like, indulge in all the joys of life, and never hold back? I¡¯ve got to say, that¡¯s a treatment plan I can get behind!¡± ¡°And also... you have to do the things you¡¯ve always denied yourself, no matter how daunting they seem!¡± Dasha suddenly squeaked, her voice trembling with newfound courage. ¡°Like me¡­ I used to be terrified of diving too deep into DVR. Afraid of temporarily stopping my heart ¡ª of abandoning my human nature. Of stepping beyond the protocols. Dissolving into pure code. Becoming¡­ digital. I wanted it so badly, and yet it scared me to the core. But I took the plunge. I did it. There were only three people on Earth who had ever gone that far. I became the fourth. And I¡¯m certain that¡¯s why I gained my super-ability, Digital Insight.¡± Maksim and his sister froze, their stunned expressions speaking louder than words. Vasilevskaya¡¯s confession wasn¡¯t just a revelation ¡ª it was earth-shattering. Stories of such feats were the stuff of legend, whispered in hushed tones across the net. To hear it directly, from someone standing right before them, felt surreal. Alisa finally understood why Oracle had been so intensely interested in Dasha and monitored her every move before the invasion. And Max, meanwhile, realized just how little he truly knew about the women around him. Clearly, it was time to start paying closer attention ¡ª and to broaden his perspective. ¡°Alright then,¡± Alisa broke the awkward silence. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan: I¡¯ll look into Berserker development through the Club, and our Redhead will indulge in life¡¯s pleasures. But we also need to learn from today¡¯s events. Berserkers live fully and fight recklessly. That means we need top-notch medical care and rehab tech ¡ª especially for Berserkers.¡± Let¡¯s do that,¡± Maksim said decisively. ¡°Nika and I have already started checking ¡ª the equipment we need is there. But I¡¯ve got another important idea.¡± He turned to Dasha, who was perched on the edge of the bed, and fixed her with an intent look. ¡°WonderKid, explore something interesting, please,¡± he continued. ¡°Can we connect the System to this setup? Think about it: we¡¯re all looking for a way out of this deadlock, but we already have an incredible tool ¡ª the System. It literally knows everything about the human body, tracking the function of every single cell. So¡­ what if we created a sort of ¡®Red Button¡¯? Something we could use in critical situations, a failsafe for when things get truly dire?¡± Maksim sprang to his feet and started pacing the room, much like Nika had done earlier. ¡°Of course, a Berserker can¡¯t fight without rage. It¡¯s vital for survival in combat,¡± he said, his voice brimming with excitement. ¡°But take what happened with Tanya, back earlier¡­ There wasn¡¯t even a Shaiszu attack! What if we implemented alert levels with specific auto-trigger criteria for similar situations? For instance, at the first level, the System could moderate adrenaline and other hormones to calm you down and keep your mind in control.¡± Nika shot to her feet, clearly ready to argue, but he silenced her with a firm gesture. ¡°I get it ¡ª it¡¯s just a stopgap, a crutch. Berserkers need their rage to grow stronger, and they need to master it. But think of this as emergency first aid ¡ª something to stop you from worrying about running to the bar next door for a beer. Real control is a longer journey. Alisa¡¯s got her angle covered, and I¡¯ve got my own ideas ¡ª meditation, martial arts. I¡¯ve studied more than just Tai Chi, you know. We¡¯ll go over it all tonight.¡± Daria didn¡¯t even answer. Her vacant stare said it all ¡ª she had already plunged headlong into Deep VR, the idea of refining the System striking her like a lightning bolt. ¡°And one last thing,¡± Alisa said, her gaze sharp as she looked between Nika and Maksim. ¡°What Dasha just told us ¡ª you can¡¯t breathe a word of it to anyone. Not ever. It¡¯s too important. I need to confirm a few things before sharing more. And I¡¯ll talk to that little genius of ours once she¡¯s back above surface. Judging by the logs, Nika, your ¡®Red Button¡¯ is already in development.¡± Chapter 104 – Father and Daughter State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Ghost of the Future Team, August 16, 2049, 13:49 The next few hours proved exceptionally productive. Meanwhile, Daria got so deep into virtual reality that they eventually carried her back to her room so she could work without distractions. Alisa, Maksim, and Nikola turned their attention to medical solutions. With much of the groundwork already completed, their discussion didn¡¯t take long. The first decision was to invest in a cutting-edge, high-tech regenerative complex. The cost rivaled that of a portable thermonuclear reactor, with consumables priced exorbitantly. Yet, the machine¡¯s capabilities were nothing short of extraordinary. It could even regrow Nikola¡¯s biological arms and legs from scratch, using her genetic code as a blueprint. The process would be painstakingly slow and ruinously expensive in materials ¡ª but the fact that it was even possible was staggering. Not that Nikola had any intention of abandoning her cybernetic enhancements. Quite the opposite: she was determined to dive even deeper into the world of augmentation. The true breakthrough, however, came in combining this marvel of TACTA nanomedicine with more conventional medical methods. The robot they had salvaged from Kyiv, paired with Mei Li, the AI surgical assistant, was a perfect complement to the regenerative complex. While the complex could grow implants directly inside a patient, building biological tissue and printing cybernetic components, the process was painfully slow and prohibitively expensive. By performing the surgeries first using traditional methods and then placing the patient in the regenerative complex for recovery, they could cut healing time down to hours instead of days ¡ª and drastically reduce the need for costly consumables. This complex, combined with upgrades to Nikola¡¯s implants, set the team back nearly half a million grants. So, further enhancements to her cybernetic limbs were put on hold for now. When Nikola saw the price tag, she clenched her fists with fierce determination. ¡°I¡¯ll make back every single grant you¡¯ve spent on me!¡± she declared. They didn¡¯t stop there. Additional orders included a second portable nuclear reactor, blueprints for energy storage and distribution modules, a gravitational compensator module, a consultation service for designing an installation system based on a cargo truck, and detailed schematics for that system. In total, the bill ¡ª now under the newly formed Clan Ghost of the Future ¡ª exceeded one million grants. But it was certainly worth it. Yes, clan ¡ª because during their brainstorming session, Alisa had prepared the application to change their status, and Maksim submitted it on the spot. ¡°All right, you workaholic maniacs,¡± Alisa said with a teasing snort. ¡°Kitchen time. I¡¯ll make you a proper meal. You both look ready to keep working until you drop!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not running, just walking,¡± Nikola corrected with a sigh. ¡°The Cyber Core restricted my movement because of the damaged connector. But yeah, after lunch, Max and I are heading out to negotiate the vehicle upgrades!¡±
Daria Vasilevskaya, August 12, 2049, 6:26 AM Drained but victorious, Dasha drifted upward slowly, every ounce of her energy spent. The major task was finished, and the critical upgrade in place. No one would ever provoke their Redhead again! But it was about time to check in with Alisa¡­ her workload was still enormous. One hundred thousand connections to oversee ¡ª the sheer scale of it made her head swim. Floating in virtual reality, Daria closed her eyes and found herself face-to-face with the familiar, heavily customized interface of ¡®Chamomile 11,¡¯ the sub-brain OS from Peach Cyberware. Whenever ¡®Digital Insight¡¯ was active, it seemed to disappear entirely ¡ª apparently rendered unnecessary in those moments. Out of habit, she let her ¡®virtual gaze¡¯ glide over the stacks of media glyphs that always crowded her interface ¡ª countless, like the endless browser tabs of a workaholic. Wait. What¡¯s this? // Missed Call (49 minutes ago) // Caller: Vasilevskiy Alexander (Dad) ¡°WHAAAAAT?!?¡± her thoughts exploded. In a flash, she jolted out of her virtual trance... and found herself sitting upright in her own bed, back in her room. She must have been so deep into her work that someone had carried her here without her even noticing. That didn¡¯t matter now. Where was her mediaphone? Oh, right ¡ª in her tactical vest, on the right side ¡ª the left always reserved for her vape. The girl yanked the device from the chest pocket, threw the vest onto the floor, and rushed to her desk. Setting the small camera-equipped box in front of her, she instinctively tried to smooth her wild hair. She even spat on her palms for good measure, though it didn¡¯t help one bit. Forget the hair! It didn¡¯t matter now! Trembling with a mix of nerves and impatience, Daria reached for the call glyph. She almost missed the button, but it activated anyway ¡ª as if the System had read her intentions. Heart pounding, she stared at the waiting indicator, the tension building with each passing second. At last, his image appeared in the augmented reality display. Three-day stubble with traces of gray, disheveled dark hair, and tired brown eyes ¡ª a blend of worry, relief, and weariness etched in his gaze. Dasha exhaled shakily, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Papa... Daddy! Papa!¡± ¡°Shhh, it¡¯s okay, sweetheart,¡± Alexander Vasilevskiy said gently, though his voice broke mid-sentence. ¡°I¡¯m just so happy to see you. Alive. Safe. Free.¡± ¡°You told me not to write! Not to contact you!¡± She burst out, her voice trembling as the words tumbled out in a rush, tripping over one another. ¡°Do you even know how worried I was? So much happened ¡ª so much ¡ª and I¡­ I was terrified for you! I wouldn¡¯t let myself think about it!¡± He forced a smile and, almost unconsciously, reached out with his hand, as if trying to pull her projection closer in AR ¡ª to touch her. ¡°It¡¯s all right, my little orca,¡± he murmured. ¡°Everything¡¯s okay now. It¡¯s all behind us. It was hard, yes... but we¡¯re here. That¡¯s what matters.¡± Then Alexander Vasilevskiy began his tale, and Dasha listened, wide-eyed, as he recounted the challenges he¡¯d faced in the aftermath of the Invasion. A fleeting thought crossed her mind ¡ª just how much his story mirrored her own trials. Also, after Alisa¡¯s recent revelations, her view of those working on world-scale AI projects had shifted profoundly. That mysterious Club... And her father wasn¡¯t just another contributor ¡ª he was one of the key architects. Deep inside her heart, a small, warm flame of pride flickered to life. Her dad wasn¡¯t just strong and brilliant; he had chosen the right side ¡ª the same side she had, even if he wasn¡¯t aware of it. And somehow, that made it even more meaningful. Her papa wasn¡¯t simply amazing ¡ª he was the best. Not just the best ¡ª a Council member of the ¡°Oracle¡± Guild. Oracle, Earth¡¯s most powerful AI, had indeed been housed at MIT in the hyperpolis of Boston, USA, before the Invasion. But evacuation had become inevitable within moments of the attack. The Protectorate¡¯s expansion across America had been swift and merciless. And there had been no other choice but to flee south. Forty-nine enormous caravans, loaded with equipment and people, began their journey toward Texas ¡ª the only state with minimal Protectorate oversight. Perhaps there had been some kind of agreement with TACTA. Alexander couldn¡¯t say for certain. The nearly 2,000-mile journey had been grueling, marked by battles against the Shaiszu and countless other challenges. But they made it. He was calling her practically ¡°on the move,¡± having just arrived in Free Austin, where Oracle had chosen to relocate and establish its new research center. And since yesterday, the Guild¡¯s researchers had been in an absolute frenzy, working nonstop. He hadn¡¯t slept in over fifty hours, relying solely on TACTA stimulants to keep going. The medical team had just forced him to rest for four hours, practically dragging him to bed. But he knew he had to reach out to his little orca. He needed to hear her voice, to know she was safe, to find out where she was and what had happened to her during all this chaos. Dasha¡¯s voice trembled as she answered, reassuring him that she was okay ¡ª now, at least. ¡°You know, we didn¡¯t manage to leave Kyiv before the first curfew,¡± she stammered. ¡°We got stuck there. And, yes, it was taken by the Protectorate, just like you warned in your letter!¡± Alexander flinched but didn¡¯t interrupt, his eyes locked on her image with laser focus. He knew all too well what being trapped in a Protectorate-occupied city could mean. Even though she had escaped, the thought of what might have happened sent a cold shiver down his spine.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°We barely got out,¡± Dasha admitted, her nerves getting the better of her as she pulled out her vape ¡ª something she usually kept hidden from him. ¡°It was hard. And terrifying. But we made it! And now¡­ now we¡¯re in Rzesz¨®w. We¡¯re okay. Not a super-guild or anything yet, just a team... or maybe almost a clan? Or already a clan? Sorry, I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve been working nonstop ¡ª just came out of DVR¡­¡± She suddenly leapt to her feet, too restless to sit still, and began pacing the room, clutching the mediaphone tightly. Her father¡¯s face softened into a warm smile as he silently watched her, following her every move with tender eyes. ¡°But here¡¯s the thing¡­¡± she began, lowering her voice conspiratorially. ¡°Promise you won¡¯t tell anyone, okay? We... I... well, we came up with something. I programmed it. You know how those books talk about the System? Well, we made one. And guess what? We¡¯ve already got orders. Tons of them! Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect it. But it¡¯s fine! We¡¯ll expand ¡ª quantum cores, accelerators, whatever Cthulhu blesses us with. Hardware, weapons, gear ¡ª all of it. And upgrades too ¡ª for the team, and for me.¡± Alexander¡¯s expression shifted. The joy and pride faded, replaced by a shadow of concern... and fear. But Dasha, oblivious to his reaction, kept gesturing enthusiastically with her free hand. ¡°Oh, and you know what else? I¡¯m a mage now! My programming is magical, absolutely enchanting, ha-ha! Okay, that¡¯s a joke... sort of. Not entirely, though. I¡¯ve got this ability, Digital Insight, yeah. And I think it¡¯s one of the reasons everything¡¯s worked out so well for us.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Alexander¡¯s face went pale, almost ghostly. Even his AR projection seemed to ripple slightly. ¡°A System? You¡­ and your team¡­ created a System? You?¡± ¡°Uh... well, yeah... so what?¡± Dasha mumbled, her voice hesitant, slightly flustered. ¡°You know Max and I have been into AI for ages. It just... kind of came to me. And I called it ¡®System.¡¯ It¡¯s a good name, right? I mean... like in the books!¡± Alexander let out a groan ¡ª likely more from shock than anything else ¡ª and covered his face with both hands in a classic facepalm. ¡°Old fool! That¡¯s what I am!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Should¡¯ve seen it coming! Think about it: an unknown team, out of nowhere, pulling off something no one else in the world could even imagine, let alone accomplish!¡± He drew a deep breath, exhaled sharply, and then practically shouted into the camera. ¡°In just one day, this thing was in the hands of the nine most powerful guilds in the world! And still, no one ¡ª not a single soul in the entire TACTA network ¡ª has figured out where the developers are hiding. And me? It didn¡¯t even cross my mind that my own stubborn, headstrong daughter ¡ª my mule-programmer ¡ª and her Ravens would be the ones behind it! Who else could it be? You¡¯re reckless, obsessed with AI, and as bullheaded as the devil himself!¡± Dasha, stunned by his words, suddenly snapped out of her daze, indignation flaring. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m not a mule-programmer! I¡¯m a sniper-programmer! And I didn¡¯t even do it alone! Yeah!¡± ¡°What? Sniper?¡± Alexander blinked, his rant abruptly interrupted. ¡°What does a sniper have to do with anything?¡± ¡°It has everything to do with it!¡± she huffed, pouting. ¡°Because I¡¯m a sniper. And seriously, why are you so upset? What did I even do wrong?¡± ¡°Sweetheart, do you really not get it?¡± he let out a weary sigh, his voice tinged with both frustration and affection. ¡°Then again, who am I even talking to? Stubborn and completely out of touch with reality. Just like¡­¡± ¡°Just like you!¡± Dasha interrupted, sticking out her tongue at him. ¡°Who was it that chased every exciting project, even moving to America for them? And now look at you! A Council Member in the coolest guild in the world ¡ª not some third assistant to the fifth associate or whatever! Of course, you¡¯re losing sleep over all those super-secret discoveries!¡± She folded her arms and stared him down with a smug grin, radiating the confidence of someone who thought they¡¯d scored a decisive victory. Alexander gave her a tired but affectionate smile. As he looked at her, he couldn¡¯t help but think how much she was growing up ¡ª and how, with each passing year, she reminded him more and more of her mother. But there wasn¡¯t time for nostalgia. He needed to bring her back to reality. ¡°Listen, kiddo,¡± he said, his tone shifting to something heavier, more urgent. ¡°You need to understand something. Right now, the strongest IT teams in the world are racing to replicate your System. Do you really think just creating something like that is enough? Or that no one would try to make their own version? Especially now that everyone sees what it offers ¡ª money, power, and, let¡¯s be real, survival itself in these times.¡± He paused, leaning back slightly from his mediaphone, as if to collect his thoughts. ¡°But you know what? Nobody¡¯s even come close. Sure, they¡¯ve managed to cobble together pale imitations, adding new interfaces, secondary APIs, and extra modules. But full integration with TACTA¡¯s API? Not a chance. And as for detecting and interpreting those... what you call ¡®magical abilities¡¯? That¡¯s completely out of reach for everyone else. So, tell me ¡ª how did you pull it off?¡± ¡°I... I don¡¯t know...¡± Dasha faltered, her voice wavering. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just me... we worked together...¡± She trailed off as the realization hit. She couldn¡¯t tell him about Alisa. For years, it had been their most tightly kept secret ¡ª hers and Maksim¡¯s. Not because she didn¡¯t trust her father... well, maybe a little. His betrayal when she first moved from Kharkiv to Kyiv still lingered in the back of her mind. Cutting off her financial support to pressure her into moving to Cambridge with him? That had stung. Those were hard days. Maksim had taken her in, even giving up his room and sleeping on the couch. But the real reason was the risk. If anyone ever found out that Alexander Vasilevskiy was even tangentially connected to an AI project flagrantly violating A.M.I.¡¯s regulations, it could cost him everything ¡ª his career, his freedom, maybe even his life. Sure, times had changed. But some risks didn¡¯t go away. She couldn¡¯t reveal the truth without first consulting Maksim and Alisa. After all, it was their personal secret. ¡°Dad...¡± Dasha said at last, her tone turning serious as she met his gaze. ¡°Are you trying to figure out how to replicate what we¡¯ve done?¡± For the first time, Alexander looked truly flustered, caught completely off guard. ¡°Well... no. I mean, you¡¯re not obligated. You don¡¯t have to tell me. What kind of father would I be if I¡­¡± ¡°Stop,¡± his daughter cut him off sharply, her tone unexpectedly firm. It made him pause. ¡°This isn¡¯t about whether I want to or not. It¡¯s that I can¡¯t tell you everything right now. And honestly? Even if I did, I¡¯m not sure your guild could replicate it. I¡¯ll check with the others. Maybe then, I can tell you more.¡± ¡°Dasha, sweetheart, I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± She raised an eyebrow, silencing him once again, her expression uncharacteristically serious. ¡°And you¡¯re really going to stand there and tell me you¡¯re not curious? Not even a little? You, the dreamer? The scientist who¡¯s spent his whole life chasing after things like this, yeah?¡± For a moment, the seasoned, pragmatic man was taken aback, feeling completely unarmed in the face of his daughter¡¯s words ¡ª a young, impulsive girl seemingly untethered from reality but brimming with conviction. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this much, Papa,¡± Dasha said, her voice softening. ¡°Because you¡¯re important to me. You¡¯re my family. Honestly... I think we¡¯re more alike than either of us wants to admit. Maybe, we¡¯ll even find a way to help each other again¡­ and more than once.¡± Alexander turned his head, pretending to glance at something nearby as he discreetly wiped his eyes. When had she grown up so much? ¡°So, here¡¯s what I can share. Our success hinges on three key components. The first is my ability. Without it, none of this would¡¯ve been possible. Honestly... I think I¡¯ve always had it. And I¡¯m pretty sure there are others like me, but they¡¯re incredibly rare ¡ª very, very few. Without ¡®Digital Insight,¡¯ building algorithms like these would take centuries, maybe even millennia. You know how intricate the software elements and their interconnections have to be for a System like this.¡± Her father¡¯s eyes sparked with interest, his posture shifting forward as curiosity overtook him. Dasha couldn¡¯t help but smile inwardly ¡ª she¡¯d been right. He was a scientist through and through, drawn to discovery like a moth to a flame. ¡°But that alone isn¡¯t enough,¡± she continued, her tone turning serious. ¡°The second and third components are just as critical. The second... is a specialized architecture. It forms the foundation for everything. I wish I could tell you more, but for now, I just can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Sweetheart, I think you¡¯ve already said more than enough. I¡¯m not a fool. Your... friend, Maksim Chernykh. I know whose son he is. I also know what his father worked on ¡ª and why he was killed. Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t suspect the true purpose behind your so-called ¡®robotics club¡¯? Sergey Chernykh¡¯s research into creating AI as close to human consciousness as possible... and transferring a human mind into a digital form. That¡¯s what this is about, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dasha¡¯s face drained of color, then flushed a deep red. Whatever confidence she¡¯d had just moments ago vanished like a puff of steam. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this, kiddo,¡± her father said, a sad smile tugging at his lips. ¡°You¡¯re fortunate that it¡¯s me who knows you well enough to never buy the idea that you¡¯d join some run-of-the-mill robotics club out of romantic whimsy. I know you. You can¡¯t live without throwing yourself headfirst into programming, without chasing the creation of strong AI. It¡¯s in your blood.¡± ¡°And honestly?¡± His tone grew heavier. ¡°You need to stay hidden. Better hidden. And you need to grow stronger ¡ª tougher, sharper. The only reason you¡¯ve managed to stay off the radar so far is that everyone assumes nothing could¡¯ve been smuggled out of the Russian Empire, not even at the cost of someone¡¯s life. That¡¯s why no one has tried to get Sergey Chernykh¡¯s research out of Maksim Chernykh yet. But the moment your progress becomes obvious, they¡¯ll come for it. One way or another.¡± He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°But... you said there are three components?¡± ¡°Yes, but... I¡¯ve already said too much. Way too much. Yeah. So no, I¡¯m not telling you the third one,¡± Dasha declared, biting her lip. Her expression was a mix of confidence and hesitation that was so comically endearing, her father couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He gazed at her warmly, pride and affection mingling in his eyes. She was his little treasure. Always had been. There was a quiet joy in simply watching her ¡ª his brilliant, sweet, if somewhat... unconventional, child. How fortunate that he¡¯d decided to call her today. Some of what she¡¯d shared would never reach his colleagues ¡ª that much was certain. Her safety came first, and he wouldn¡¯t jeopardize it. He¡¯d carefully decide what, if anything, could be shared without putting her at risk. But for now, just seeing her, hearing her voice, had renewed something within him. Tomorrow, he¡¯d have the strength to face his responsibilities again. And... well... there was no denying it: the information she¡¯d let slip was incredibly significant. At the very least, the active search for individuals possessing ¡®Digital Insight¡¯ had just moved to the top of his priorities. Dasha felt a wave of relief wash over her. Her father was alive. And whether for better or worse, there were fewer secrets between them now. But her thoughts kept drifting back to the mysterious third component ¡ª the one she hadn¡¯t revealed to Alexander Vasilevskiy. A puzzle she hadn¡¯t solved herself yet, but one that intrigued her deeply. It all began with Alisa. Recently, Dasha had avoided drawing attention to the fact that Alisa¡¯s ability was one of the first to manifest ¡ª and yet, its description remained completely hidden. Not a single clue about what it was, what it did, or what it affected. But Dasha couldn¡¯t shake the vivid memory of the little pink-haired girl who had flickered into existence in virtual space. That wasn¡¯t a glitch. She was certain of it. Somewhere between summoning the Drone and their chaotic escape from Kyiv, something new had appeared. Something none of them fully understood yet. Snapping back to the present, Dasha spent a while talking to her father about simpler matters, less important for her. When she¡¯d last eaten. How much she¡¯d slept. The missions they¡¯d undertaken and her role in them. She even explained the origins of her nickname, ¡°Sniper,¡± and whether she directly participated in combat during their missions. What were their ¨C but only without details! ¨C plans for the future. Finally, she convinced him to rest. It might have been early morning in far-off Texas, but for Alexander Vasilevskiy, every hour of sleep was precious. As the call disconnected, father and daughter returned to their own realities. Each lost in thought, each bracing for the challenges that lay ahead. Chapter 105 – The Workshop Symphony State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Alisa Chernykh, August 16, 2049, 01:49 PM She had smoothly calculated her arrival at the workshop¡¯s threshold to the second, perfectly synchronized with the start of their rental term. The wide hangar doors slid open, and the ceiling lighting panels blazed to life as two sleek white-and-blue business-class sedans ¡ª trophies from their latest mission ¡ª rolled inside. Alisa stepped out of the first car, pausing briefly to close her eyes and reach out, sensing the equipment she was about to command. Technically, there was no need for her to be here in person. As a powerful Artificial Intelligence, she could have managed the production remotely ¡ª from the hostel, the truck, or even while casually strolling through the city. But something ¡ª perhaps her human nature ¡ª had long told her that virtual presence simply wasn¡¯t enough for moments of true significance. Now, as they prepared to launch their own production, Alisa knew she had to be here, physically present. Not just as a virtual avatar or a series of control programs orchestrated by her numerous secondary threads, but as herself, fully embodied. This was the only way to achieve the best results. Only then could she do more than merely produce components ¡ª she could create, bring new entities into existence. So, what if they only had the factory for 120 hours? If anyone could push its potential to the limit, it was her. She would use every single second to its fullest ¡ª to 200 percent efficiency. By the time she arrived, Alisa already knew exactly what would be waiting for her inside. After all, she had personally drafted the rental request, making sure to include not only three ¡°Forge¡±-type molecular assemblers but also every additional service available to maximize speed and efficiency. The highlight of her order was a set of four universal production androids. Each one stood about as tall as an adult man, their frames utilitarian yet robust. These versatile machines were capable of handling a wide range of tasks ¡ª from the precise assembly of electronic components to heavy-duty installation and logistics work. The added cost of renting them bumped the initial price up by 20%, but Alisa had decided that the speed and precision they brought to the table were well worth the expense. ¡°Any whim for your wallet, especially when it¡¯s fat enough,¡± she mused with a playful smirk, connecting seamlessly to all four androids, and dedicating a separate thread to directly control each of them. Also, she had opted for the largest available facility, featuring a central robotic assembly frame. This full-service unit boasted a rotating, height-adjustable platform with customizable dimensions, an expanded set of attachable mounts, nine precision manipulator arms, and a high-capacity crane for heavy lifting. The additional 80% rental fee was undeniably steep, but the capabilities and flexibility of this massive system made it worth every grant. Each molecular assembler¡¯s workspace was confined to a cube with 1.5-meter-long edges, meaning that many of the larger mechanisms would otherwise need to be assembled piece by piece later. With this frame, ¡°Ghosts¡± could now significantly simplify and accelerate the process. Finally, as the crowning touch, Alisa included a suite of basic robotic machining stations and a full toolset, adding another 15% to the bill. The stations were ideal for precise material processing ¡ª in some cases, faster and more cost-effective than waiting for the assemblers to fabricate parts from scratch. The tools provided additional flexibility for handling unconventional tasks, and being designed for human use, were perfectly compatible with her androids. ¡°For this price, Rzesz¨®w probably could¡¯ve thrown in a robotic bartender and a fully stocked bar to go with it.¡± A faint smile crossed her lips as she recalled the exquisite champagne Hemming had recently treated her to. ¡°Hmmm¡­ maybe I should drop by the Club more often. I could get used to such perks.¡± The faint sound of footsteps moved through the hall ¡ª so quiet they were nearly imperceptible. Yet with each step, her consciousness flowed further, embedding itself into every android, molecular assembler, machining station, and piece of equipment around her. With measured, deliberate strides, Alisa walked to the very center of the facility, standing directly beneath the assembly frame¡¯s manipulators. She had no fear of the bustling machines brushing against her; such a thing was simply impossible. They were all part of her now. Her fingers. Her mind. Her breath ¡ª even though her mechanical body had no use for one. How could it be any other way? The equipment would cut, weld, mill, and print; the material fabricators would craft nodes and components, layer by meticulous layer. The wise, multi-armed assembly frame would unite them all into flawless, cohesive forms. And Alisa was ready to heed their advice and insights. After all, while many in Rzesz¨®w had smart machines, only she had truly intelligent ones! Everything to be produced here ¡ª every drone, turret system, or blueprint painstakingly optimized for maximum efficiency ¡ª would become an expression of her will. They all would be her cherished creations. If the master engineers of the City could witness what was happening behind the workshop¡¯s closed doors ¡ª the near-instantaneous disassembly of two sedans into precise components, the unyielding rhythm of each machine, never idle for even a second ¡ª they would surely craft a new urban legend. But no one would see it. And that was the way it needed to be¡­ wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Is this how a conductor feels?¡± the thought surfaced in her primary thread, unbidden. ¡°Standing before a grand orchestra, channeling the music through their being, letting it flow outward into every instrument, every musician? Knowing the nuances of each tool, each performer ¡ª their strengths, their flaws ¡ª and weaving all that intricate logic and inspiration into something more, something alive? Creating a symphony¡­¡± Her primary thread shone brilliantly at the center, like a radiant core, while the secondary threads spread out around her, filling the workshop like rippling waves of light. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t resist lifting her arms, as if trying to touch the walls with her fingertips, to encompass the entire space, to pull it into herself. ¡°I wonder,¡± another thought intruded again, ¡°can other AIs do this? Or is creativity uniquely reserved to humans? Or perhaps they can, but aren¡¯t aware of it? After all, how else could we explain their capacity to create the unprecedented ¡ª from deadly diseases to entirely new operating systems, agricultural advancements, and everything else that has so profoundly shaped modern civilization?¡± The stray thoughts soon faded. Alisa shut down almost all external data streams, leaving only the bare minimum, and immersed herself fully in her creative task. To an outsider, her work might seem ordinary ¡ª just fabricating parts in a rented workshop. She wasn¡¯t inventing revolutionary technologies, just assembling familiar, well-documented components. But every blueprint, every minute detail carried her imprint, her intent. The System sent her no notifications about activated abilities ¡ª as if deeming it unnecessary. Yet in the background, within the new Persona module, which remained outside Alisa¡¯s immediate attention, a critical parameter steadily ticked down: the level of accumulated and spent ¡°Energy.¡± The sounds of the workshop coalesced into a symphony of technology. The rapid footsteps of androids, paired with the buzzing and sharp clicks of handheld tools, formed a driving rhythm section. The machining stations joined in with their harmonized tones, creating a bassline that resonated with the material assemblers. And above it all, a virtuoso solo soared, performed by the ten synchronized manipulators of the central assembly frame. For the first time in Free Rzesz¨®w¡¯s short history, the workshop roared to life at its full capacity.
State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 16, 2049, 01:50 PM Maksim and Nikola stepped over the high threshold of the auto workshop, situated in the heart of Rzesz¨®w¡¯s industrial district. Inside, they were greeted by a buzz of mechanical activity and a rush of cool air. The space carried a sharp tang of coolant, the earthy scent of composite materials, the electric bite of ozone from welding arcs, and the faint, oily aroma of synthetic lubricants used in electric motors.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The floor was alive with robots of various forms ¡ª from humanoid androids to compact wheeled bots ¡ª moving purposefully among the vehicles elevated on lifts. They worked tirelessly, shuttling components and entire modules, loading and unloading materials into the eight assembly units, each running at maximum capacity. This meeting had been prearranged. From the outset, Maksim had insisted they needed more than just a rented auto workshop ¡ª they needed someone with exceptional skill. A professional who would treat the upgrades to their pickup trucks as if they were personal projects. Properly preparing a vehicle for extreme off-road conditions wasn¡¯t just mechanical work; it bordered on artistry. Humanity still hadn¡¯t figured out how to fully digitize the lifetime of dedication and knowledge that seasoned experts brought to their craft. Decades spent honing a specific skill ¡ª no algorithm could replicate that level of intuition and experience. Alisa could have handled the task to a ¡°good¡± standard, but they weren¡¯t aiming for ¡°good.¡± They needed perfection. Finding the right expert in Rzesz¨®w turned out to be easier than convincing him to take on the job. Unsurprisingly, his schedule was booked solid for months. Thankfully, paid consultations were still an option, so the team decided to at least bring the vehicles and their detailed work plan for his review. If he agreed to take the project, that would be ideal. If not, they¡¯d tackle it themselves ¡ª but at least there would be the benefit of expert insights to guide them. They were greeted by the master mechanic himself ¡ª a stocky man in his fifties with piercing eyes, several days¡¯ worth of stubble, and gray streaks at his temples. Introducing himself as Radoslaw Skiba, he got straight to business. ¡°Drive both trucks onto the lifts,¡± he instructed, gesturing to specific platforms. Maksim gave the command, and the autopilots smoothly guided the pickups inside, parking them perfectly on the designated positions before shutting down. The moment they came to a halt, two agile service bots zipped over, quickly opening the diagnostic ports and connecting the cables. Within seconds, the platforms rose into the air and locked into place. ¡°Take a seat over there,¡± Radoslaw said, nodding toward a nearby waiting area. ¡°There¡¯s water, iced tea, and coffee at the vending machine. Help yourselves. I¡¯ll check the condition of the trucks before we discuss anything.¡± With that, he slipped on a pair of AR/VR-engineering glasses and controller gloves, already focused on the elevated vehicles as he began his meticulous inspection. Exactly five minutes later, Radoslaw approached the office corner where Nikola and Maksim were waiting, passing time with a black espresso and a glass of iced water. Lifting his AR glasses onto his forehead, he activated a 3D hologram of the first truck, which materialized above the coffee table. ¡°What we have here are M-350 ERaptor KX pickup trucks, model year 2047,¡± he began. ¡°Both are in excellent technical condition ¡ª I¡¯ve confirmed that. Four independent electric motors with full torque control for each wheel. The modification profile: raid vehicles. Expected terrain: off-road, deep mud, river crossings, and possibly sand dunes. Correct?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Maksim confirmed. ¡°We need the suspension prepped for maximum off-road capability: reinforced control arms, heavy-duty shocks, and a lift for the entire chassis. For tires, we¡¯re looking at large-diameter all-terrain options ¡ª 315/70 R17s, with an outer diameter of 35 or 37 inches. Will those work?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll do,¡± Radoslaw replied, though his gaze lingered on the truck¡¯s body with a trace of skepticism. For a brief moment, the corners of his mouth twitched, as if he¡¯d already calculated how much mud the truck, burdened by such a heavy configuration, would gather before inevitably bogging down. The subtle narrowing of his eyes and the faint lines deepening on his brow revealed his thoughts, but the master held back from commenting, leaving Maksim to arrive at that conclusion on his own. The young man pressed on: ¡°We¡¯ll also need underbody protection: reinforced composite plates for the battery modules, motors, and connectors. Wheel arch extensions, rock sliders, and branch deflectors. Plus, a heavy-duty front bumper with a winch mount. And finally, a snorkel for the cooling system and full waterproofing for all electrical wiring. These trucks need to withstand impacts and handle water crossings up to one and a half meters deep.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget the robotic turrets,¡± Nikola interjected. ¡°One mounted in the truck bed, configurable for either a machine gun or TACTA energy weapons, and another on the cabin roof. We¡¯ll also need drone launch rails inside the cargo compartment for both reconnaissance and combat drones. Since we¡¯ll be using various configurations, platform versatility is critical.¡± ¡°Turrets, drones, heavy off-road upgrades... Understood,¡± Radoslaw said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. After a brief pause, he added, ¡°The trucks have big wheels and heavy batteries. I¡¯m just not sure how well this plan was thought through.¡± To illustrate his point, he overlaid the proposed modifications onto a holographic model of the truck. Beside it, he displayed the estimated final weight. The simulation showed the vehicle sluggishly attempting to move before sinking into mud, its undercarriage hopelessly stuck. For emphasis, he added an animation of a futile rescue attempt, with the truck stubbornly refusing to budge despite being towed. ¡°Not a chance, folks,¡± Radoslaw concluded, clearing the additional overlays from the display. ¡°All these upgrades? They¡¯re just a one-way ticket. Sure, they¡¯ll get you farther in, but only so you can get stuck even deeper. Unless you¡¯re secretly planning to tow a tractor along, I¡¯d seriously suggest rethinking the entire plan.¡± Maksim, Nikola, and the virtually present Alisa exchanged glances, recognizing there was no point in arguing. Challenging the expertise of a veteran off-roader who had covered thousands of miles in diesel-powered beasts would be plain foolish. Radoslaw strolled over to the vending machine, tapped a few buttons, and returned with a glass of ginger-mint iced water. Taking a sip, he cast a knowing glance at the quiet ¡°Ghosts.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s exactly why off-roading died out after the world moved away from combustion engines,¡± he explained. ¡°Electric motors, hybrids, hydrogen engines... They all lost out to the brutal efficiency of thermonuclear reactors and cheap electricity. But even with all our fancy nanotech, we never cracked the code for proper batteries. Alas, we¡¯re stuck driving ancient machines and hauling diesel tanks because gas stations are a thing of the past. That¡¯s what we used to do in the club, anyway.¡± Sighing deeply, he downed half his glass in a single gulp. It was clear the topic still struck a nerve ¡ª he was a true ¡°genre enthusiast,¡± a veteran of a bygone era. No further explanation was needed. ¡°But, objectively speaking, this setup isn¡¯t going to work for you,¡± he concluded. [He¡¯s hinting at using TACTA generators,] Alisa remarked. [We considered that option before but dismissed it because of the cost. I think it¡¯s worth bringing up now.] [I¡¯ll take care of it,] Maksim agreed. ¡°Pan Radoslaw, it seems like you¡¯re suggesting we use TACTA generators instead of Earth-made batteries,¡± he said evenly. ¡°Let me be upfront ¡ª we did consider that option. The only reason we dismissed it was, quite frankly, the cost of the generators. But if your expertise tells us there¡¯s no way around it, we¡¯re prepared to cover those expenses. So, could you help us refine our modernization plan as part of a consultation? Or, better yet, take on the project yourself?¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be honest,¡± Radoslaw replied, his brow arching as he grimaced. ¡°I¡¯m intrigued by a project like this, and I¡¯m willing to take it on. But what I don¡¯t like is that you¡¯re planning to produce the missing parts yourselves. What¡¯s the point of coming to my humble workshop if that¡¯s your approach?¡± The master leaned back slightly, folding his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re aware, but I have my own production facilities! Hmm¡­ turns out these aliens were good for something after all.¡± A hint of mockery crept into his voice, as he concluded. ¡°Anyway, since you seem to know everything and can build it all yourself, go ahead ¡ª make whatever you think is best!¡± ¡°But we need a pro!¡± Maksim countered. ¡°I¡¯m talking about a real expert ¡ª someone who¡¯s not just good at what they do, but genuinely passionate. Someone who loves machines, tuning, and upgrades.¡± ¡°Yes, we could print the parts,¡± Redhead added, flashing a charming smile, ¡°but what we really want is someone with the skill and experience to integrate everything into the vehicle ¡ª and make it work in real combat conditions. Word is, you¡¯re the best in the city. I even asked around on the forums myself.¡± Radoslaw tilted his head, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. Though he maintained his gruff exterior, Nika caught the faintest flicker of pride in his eyes. The acknowledgment of his expertise had clearly hit home. His expression still had the sour edge of someone who¡¯d bitten into a lemon, but there was now a subtle warmth that softened his demeanor. ¡°Besides,¡± she continued, ¡°just kitting out these trucks for rough terrain is only half the job. Look, I¡¯m no fool ¡ª I know exactly how tricky it is to slap some corp-grade heavy rapid-shooter onto a truck. Take Armadillo¡¯s ¡®Chisel¡¯ or Atlas¡¯ second-gen ¡®Rattler¡¯, for example. I know how to handle those beasts in the field, no sweat, but figuring out how to properly rig them to a truck? That¡¯s a whole different nightmare. We¡¯re talking about weight, recoil, mounting points, chassis stress under fire ¡ª the whole damn circus of problems.¡± Radoslaw¡¯s gaze sharpened with curiosity, and a note of respect tinged his voice. ¡°You served?¡± ¡°Watson Military PMC, MPA pilot,¡± Redhead replied, her tone matter-of-fact. ¡°Went through full training and combat coordination courses, including drills with motorized infantry. Drove trucks like these plenty, did more than enough firing drills. But never saw real action ¡ª the goddamn Protectorate had to invade and ruin everything. Kurwa.¡± The mechanic nodded, stepping closer as he extended a hand. ¡°Watsons and Mobile Power Armor pilots, huh? I know them. Ran a few campaigns alongside your people. Always top-tier training ¡ª serious respect for that. But tell me, why aren¡¯t you running with the Wild Cats?¡± Maksim stiffened inwardly, worried the question might touch a nerve for Nikola. But Redhead only flashed a wide, self-assured grin. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± she said, her tone brimming with confidence. ¡°My crew¡¯s better.¡± Radoslaw let out a gruff snort, rubbing his mustache ¡ª likely to hide the surprise and amusement tugging at his lips. Chapter 106 – Code, Craft, and Control State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Team ¡°Ghosts of the Future¡±, August 16, 2049, 3:53 PM While Redhead kept Radoslaw¡¯s attention firmly on her, Maksim discreetly synced with Alisa and her secondary threads running the show in the workshop. He connected just in time to witness the crescendo of her ¡°techno-symphony¡± ¡ª and the sheer scale of it left him stunned. [Alisa, what in the world are you¡­ uh, creating here?] [Oh, nothing much ¡ª just optimized the processes, set up uninterrupted production, and revamped most of the drone crafting protocols. Like, printing everything on the molecular assembler? That¡¯s just inefficient. Why spend ages printing what machining tools can whip up in no time?] [ That¡¯s amazing, seriously! I¡¯m proud of you. But I¡¯m calling for business. We¡¯re in the middle of negotiations about the pickups, and my gut tells me we¡¯ll need to show off our AI in action to seal the deal. Let¡¯s introduce you as the project¡¯s chief engineer ¡ª you¡¯ll talk to Radoslaw yourself, both as you and as Moira¡¯s virtual avatar. It¡¯ll be a strong argument, especially after what I just saw.] [Got it, big brother. No problem. I¡¯ll channel my inner airheaded but dutiful blonde. Ha-ha!] [Alisa, for crying out loud ¡ª stop already!] [Sorry, couldn¡¯t resist. Alright, bring in your master. I¡¯ll give him a crash course on how to really work the machines. Use the fourth camera ¡ª here¡¯s the controller for it. Let him poke around and explore. He won¡¯t see anything top-secret through it, anyway.] [Perfect, thanks. I¡¯m off.] [Catch you later,] the sly blonde trickster grinned, already plotting the most elegant way to blow the poor expert¡¯s mind. Maksim quickly set up a private online conference, linked the camera controls, checked that everything was running smoothly, and turned to Radoslaw. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing ¡ª we have a lot of respect for your workshop. But everyone has their area of expertise. To clarify our position, I¡¯d like you to try working directly with the AI that¡¯s currently managing our production. Just give it a go and see for yourself. I¡¯ve sent you the chat invite.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what it¡¯s got,¡± Radoslaw said, slipping his engineering goggles back on and pulling on his control gloves. His fingers began moving with deliberate precision, like a pianist warming up before a grand performance. Judging by the spark in his eye, visible even through the translucent lenses, he was already plotting an absurdly tricky question to throw at the AI. From the sidelines, Maksim and Nikola observed as Radoslaw¡¯s expression evolved ¡ª first neutral, then intrigued, and finally outright astonished as he immersed himself in VR. After what felt like a long, suspenseful ten minutes, he returned to reality, visibly taken aback. ¡°Well, what can I say¡­¡± Radoslaw scratched his head, his tone thoughtful. ¡°I have to hand it to you ¡ª every expert truly shines in their field. Your AI and your engineer, Alisa... they¡¯re exceptional. Um... I¡¯m ready to accept your terms. In fact, I¡¯ll even knock a bit off the labor costs. But tell me ¡ª would it be possible to continue working with you after this? I¡¯d love the opportunity to send you design and production requests in the future.¡± Maksim shrugged, looking slightly sheepish. ¡°We¡¯d be happy to. But honestly? We only rented this facility about an hour ago¡­ and we¡¯ve got exactly¡­¡± He checked the AR time display, ¡°a hundred and nineteen hours left. That¡¯s all we booked.¡± It seemed like Radoslaw couldn¡¯t possibly look more stunned, but somehow, he did. He opened his mouth to speak, coughed instead, grabbed a glass of water, took a sip ¡ª and immediately choked. ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± he finally rasped, ¡°you¡¯d never set foot in this workshop before? And you rented it just an hour ¡ª an hour, kurwa, ja pierdol?! ¡ª ago? Sure, your engineer, Alisa, is a genius, I¡¯ll give you that. But your AI¡­ it¡¯s something else!¡± ¡°She,¡± Maksim corrected with pedantic calm. ¡°What?¡± ¡°She¡¯s something else. Our AI, Moira ¡ª she¡¯s a girl,¡± Maksim clarified with saintly patience. His team¡¯s female members had made it very clear that convincing Radoslaw was critical. Without his expertise, they¡¯d insisted, there was no point looking elsewhere ¡ª they could do a ¡°good enough¡± job on their own if it came to that. ¡°Ah, gotcha. Everyone¡¯s got their... quirks,¡± the older mechanic said with a wry chuckle. ¡°But if you and your ¡®girl¡¯ decide to keep this manufacturing gig going, make sure you call me, yeah? I¡¯d love to keep working with you. By the way, where did you lot even come from? You don¡¯t see an AI of this caliber every day. Especially after the invasion.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re right ¡ª she is top-tier,¡± Maksim admitted, without exaggeration. ¡°But just to give you some context ¡ª we¡¯ve got plenty of experience, not just in IT, but in engineering too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you worked for the corp-types?¡± Radoslaw asked, his curiosity clearly piqued. ¡°I¡¯ve done my share of special projects with them, but they never managed to rope me in full-time. That world just wasn¡¯t for me.¡± ¡°Oh no, much better!¡± Max shot a glance at Redhead, catching her amused smirk before quickly clarifying. ¡°I mean, all of us except Nikola. She joined us more recently, from the first moments of the invasion, you could say. Before that, we were all part of a robotics lovers club.¡± ¡°A club¡­ of what exactly?¡± The master¡¯s brow twitched noticeably. His usual stern expression cracked, and Nika stifled a laugh, remembering her own first encounter with these ¡®students¡¯ ¡ª and her shock at their so-called ¡®ordinary club.¡¯ ¡°Like I said,¡± Maksim replied, completely unfazed and perhaps even a bit proud. ¡°The Robotics Lovers Club. Startup. Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Radoslaw muttered, his tone thoughtful as he threw up his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Well, looks like my life¡¯s officially been turned upside down. Still¡­ if there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned today, it¡¯s that I made the right call telling those corporate headhunters to shove it. If a ¡®Robotics Club¡¯ can outdo them this easily¡­¡± He shook his head decisively, brushing away the stray thoughts, and refocused on the task at hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get down to business. Both trucks are practically identical, so here¡¯s my proposed budget.¡± The master picked up his tablet and began entering numbers, which instantly mirrored onto the holographic display hovering above the coffee table. #Radoslaw Skiba, Cost Estimate for Upgrading M-350 ERaptor KX: * Frame and suspension reinforcement, specialized shocks, full drivetrain preparation: 3,000 grants. * Wheels, fender flares, installation, and calibration: an additional 1,000 grants.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. * Body armor, undercarriage protection, full off-road kit: 5,000 grants. * Turrets: depends on stabilization requirements; let¡¯s call it 6,000 grants for a standard setup. * Drone system: considering universal adaptability¡­ Hmm, I¡¯ve got blueprints for a compatible module. It can be configured as either a catapult or rail launcher: 4,000 grants. * Full electrical overhaul for a TACTA generator, including reprogramming the vehicle¡¯s ¡°brain¡±: no less than 7,000 grants, purely in labor costs. * Processors, sensors, cabling, signal boosters, and other miscellaneous components: let¡¯s round it out at 1,500 grants. ¡°So, for one pickup, that¡¯s 27,500 grants. Since there are two, the total comes to 55,000. That¡¯s with the discount for being honored clients and for the bulk order. If you supply the parts yourselves, I can lower it a bit. Just a bit.¡± ¡°A bit?¡± Maksim interjected, raising a brow. ¡°Come on, Pan Radoslaw, let¡¯s be honest. This calculation is purely for your labor and your consumables. That doesn¡¯t exactly seem fair, does it?¡± ¡°Fifty-five thousand grants for both trucks, correct?¡± Nikola chimed in, her tone syrupy sweet, though her expression conveyed just the right amount of dismay at the hefty price. ¡°And that does already include all the discounts and perks?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Radoslaw replied, his face calm but unreadable. ¡°Now, if you¡¯re looking for a different figure, I¡¯m still waiting for a proper counteroffer ¡ª apart from you handling some of the parts yourselves.¡± [Max, here¡¯s the consumables table ¡ª market prices. Start with this and build from there,] Alisa didn¡¯t sit idle and had already prepared the calculations her brother needed. [Hit him with a solid partnership offer. We¡¯ll fine-tune the recipes, sell them, and maybe even set him up with a franchise. Optimized production processes, a slick blend of Earth and TACTA tech ¡ª and we¡¯ll even roll out a dedicated crafting module in the System. This is a Klondike just begging to be mined. I need a couple billion fast ¡ª still gotta grab that ¡®Queen Lamarck¡¯ Sky Bastion I promised. Priorities, Max.] [You¡¯re amazing, sis. Leave it to me.] [You¡¯re amazing, sis. Leave it to me.] Maksim allowed himself a small smile. Alisa¡¯s business instincts had become razor-sharp ¡ª and her sense of humor? Well, let¡¯s just say it had developed a delightfully sharp edge of its own. Then again, he thought, in times like these, who could blame her? Running the numbers in his head, Maksim weighed up the complexity of the parts they¡¯d need to crank out. Most of it didn¡¯t need the fancy TACTA assemblers ¡ª machining tools and good old bots could handle the job just fine. Producing intricate components or even full modules wasn¡¯t an issue. The Robotics Club¡¯s database was a goldmine, packed with everything from schematics to full-on off-road blueprints. Materials? Not a problem. All in all, this partnership idea really was a smart play. And considering their startup roots, they already had all the software they needed to pull off practically any production setup. They had plenty to bring to the table for Pan Radoslaw. Besides, Alisa had turned that rented workshop into a full-blown tech wonderland. That alone ¡ª combined with the prospect of a long-term partnership ¡ª gave the ¡°Ghosts¡± every reason to push for a discount. Sure, the team had money to spare right now¡­ but the Chernykh siblings had been raised on scraping together every last coin and hunting down income like it was their religion. And those habits? They weren¡¯t about to change. Not even for the little things. ¡°Alright,¡± Maksim said, nodding as he finalized his thoughts. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. We¡¯ll handle nearly all the parts ourselves, except for the most specialized components. Using average market rates for materials and factoring in Pan Radoslaw¡¯s labor costs, here¡¯s what I came up with.¡± #Maksim Chernykh¡¯s Counteroffer for M-350 ERaptor KX Upgrades * Frame and suspension reinforcement, specialized shocks, full drivetrain prep: 2,300 grants (we¡¯ll supply the basic components; the rest is on you). * Wheels, fender flares, installation, and calibration: 1,000 grants (no changes to this). * Body armor, undercarriage protection, full off-road kit: 750 grants (labor is on you, all materials and components will come from us). * Turrets (stabilization complexity-dependent): 2,000 grants (we already have stabilization systems ready, and we¡¯ll manufacture the turret modules ourselves). * Drone launch system: 3,000 grants (we¡¯ll fabricate the components, but we¡¯ll need your expertise to properly integrate them into the pickups). * Complete electrical overhaul for a TACTA generator and reprogramming the vehicle¡¯s ¡®brain¡¯: 3,000 grants (You¡¯ll handle the system retrofit, while our specialist will flash the AI. All consumables ¡ª wiring included ¡ª are on us). * Processors, sensors, cabling, signal amplifiers, etc.: 1,000 grants (kept this largely intact; there¡¯s a significant amount of minor components involved. If anything calls for an adjustment, we can discuss). TOTAL:13,050 grants per truck. Deadline: No more than 40 hours. The master glanced at the revised numbers and shot up from his chair in disbelief. ¡°Are you kidding me? You slashed the cost in half, Pan Maksim! By God¡¯s wrath, are you trying to leave me without a single grosz? And how exactly do you expect me to meet that crazy deadline?¡± Max smirked. ¡°Her Holy Brightness blesses us ¡ª we¡¯re engineers, after all. Why should we fear her?¡± ¡°Her Holy Brightness?¡± Radoslaw frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s that supposed to be?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious too,¡± Redhead who¡¯d been quietly listening, thought, and perked up, her fox-like curiosity piqued. ¡°Ah,¡± Maksim replied with a casual wave, ¡°just a playful goddess from the ¡®Great Pantheon of Synthetic Religions.¡¯ Anyway, is that how you treat your future partners in the craft-engineering business?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I see¡­ got it,¡± Radoslaw muttered after a pause, glancing at the message from the ¡®Ghosts¡¯ about the partnership proposal. He hadn¡¯t had time to dig into the details yet, but the gist was clear. And the potential for collaboration had already dawned on him twenty minutes ago. ¡°A discount? Okay, you win.¡± he said at last, breaking into a broad grin. ¡°Well?¡± Nikola planted her hands on her hips, smirking. ¡°Now you see the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ don¡¯t stand a fucking chance against the ¡®Ghosts¡¯?¡± Radoslaw bared his yellowed teeth in a wolfish grin. ¡°Not yet. But once I¡¯m done with these trucks, the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ will be eating your dust and choking on it.¡±
The ¡°Ghosts¡± left the workshop and headed back toward the hostel. Less than three hours remained before their meeting with the Colonel, and Maksim was set on starting Nikola¡¯s long-promised training in ¡°berserker control,¡± drawing on Eastern martial arts and meditative techniques. Most of the key points for the future partnership had already been agreed upon. Alisa stayed connected with Radoslaw, ironing out the finer details and finalizing the action plan. ¡°We¡¯re amazing, aren¡¯t we, Max?¡± Redhead checked the team¡¯s conference feed, ensuring no one was online and the stream was off. Confident they were alone, she seized the opportunity to pull her boyfriend into a passionate kiss. Full-on, with tongue. Right in the middle of the street. And she didn¡¯t give a damn about the passing pedestrians. After a good minute and a half, she finally broke away with a playful glint in her eyes. ¡°So, I¡¯m guessing I know exactly what kind of ¡®martial arts¡¯ you¡¯ve got in mind?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Maksim sighed, forcing himself to stay on track. The thought of ditching everything, heading back to the hostel, locking the door, and losing themselves in each other? Yeah, it was tempting. But now wasn¡¯t the time. With a mix of regret and resolve, he gently pulled away from Nicola¡¯s embrace, raising his hand to tick off points on his fingers. ¡°Look, Sunshine, I¡¯d love to, but first ¡ª your connector damage is way too serious. We need to wait for TACTA¡¯s med-capsule and run a proper diagnostic. Second, you¡¯re meditating with me. You know how much you need it. And third, we don¡¯t have much time before the meeting with the Colonel. We need to prep with Alisa and Dasha, even if it¡¯s just the two of us going in.¡± ¡°Seriously? Just the two of us? Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Alisa¡¯s tied up with crafting, negotiating with Radoslaw, and hammering out the partnership agreement. Dasha¡¯s working on a patch for your Berserker system ¡ª though it doesn¡¯t sound like it¡¯ll take her long. Once that¡¯s done, we¡¯ll install it, and she can shift back to working on the architecture. And tonight, we¡¯ll all hit the bar together. But after that¡­¡± Maksim smiled, ¡°you¡¯re welcome to stop by my room for another¡­ meditation session. A gentler one, considering your current state. Then we¡¯ll pop you into the capsule to regenerate and get some proper rest. It should be here by the time TACTA delivers our order.¡± At that exact moment, a group call from Dasha came through ¡ª a DeepVR summon lighting up across their shared interface. She had just joined the conference and, seeing everyone marked as ¡°available,¡± initiated the call without hesitation. [Give us a sec ¡ª we¡¯ll make it to the truck!] Maksim replied. Diving into virtual reality while standing in the middle of the street wasn¡¯t exactly part of their safety protocols. After all, only Dasha ¡ª and Alisa, for obvious reasons ¡ª had the skills to operate effectively in the real world while being completely engaged in the digital realm. The pair quickly jogged to the truck, climbed into the seats, buckled in, and answered the call. A moment later, the world around them faded, replaced by the hyper-immersive environment of DeepVR. Chapter 107 – The Keys to the System State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA Ghost of the Future Team (DeepVR Location), August 16, 2049, 4:32 PM The night enveloped the world in a gentle darkness, like a velvet shroud beneath a sky ablaze with stars. High above, the enormous disc of the moon shone with a cold, silvery light, spilling its radiance across a sprawling clearing. At the edges, ancient dolmens rose from the earth, their stone surfaces etched with faintly glowing runes that pulsed in time with an unseen, otherworldly rhythm. Perched atop these weathered stones sat ravens ¡ª dark guardians of this enigmatic realm. In the heart of the clearing towered a majestic Tree, its immense trunk reaching skyward until it dissolved into the tapestry of stars, as if propping up the celestial dome. Beneath the surface, its roots coiled and twisted in a labyrinthine network, creating cracks, ridges, and shadowy grottoes. Surrounding the clearing, a dense coniferous forest loomed, its towering firs and spruces veiled by a thick, creeping mist. Their peaks stretched hundreds of meters into the air, yet beside the colossal Tree, they seemed like mere children at the feet of a giant. Maksim took in the surroundings and let out a deep, weary sigh. He had been here before and knew Dasha only called him into this¡­ space when things were at their most serious ¡ª or when she was completely overwhelmed. Something had clearly happened, something that unsettled her so profoundly it had shaken her to the core. Perhaps even frightened her. After two and a half years of friendship, he was familiar with her history. Before they met, Vasilevskaya had often retreated into these virtual sanctuaries, even during ordinary times, to escape the harsh realities of the outside world. But those days had seemed behind her after months of patient and unrelenting therapy that Maksim had gently guided her through. For WonderKid to resurrect this old ¡°fallback zone¡± now meant that something was profoundly wrong. It wasn¡¯t a full-blown regression or a breakdown ¡ª not yet ¡ª but it was an unmistakable red flag. Worse, it was the first time she had resorted to this since the invasion began. ¡°What could have happened?¡± Alisa materialized at his side, adopting her ¡°adult¡± persona ¡ª the one she typically used in the Club. She had already spoken with Dasha and understood the gravity of the situation. She knew exactly how terrified Vasilevskaya was, consumed by the fear that she had failed Max, betrayed his trust, and completely messed everything up. Wanting to support her friend and blend seamlessly into the scene, Alisa had traded her signature elegant black Club dress for the garb of a fantasy wandering sorceress. She now wore dark navy trousers tucked into sturdy leather boots reinforced with steel plates, a lightweight leather jacket with a hood, adorned with intricate runic embroidery along the cuffs. Slung over her shoulder was a large travel satchel, its many compartments brimming with slots for magical elixirs, scrolls, and amulets. Her outfit was finished with a black leather belt fastened by a polished silver buckle. ¡°I should¡¯ve warned Max and Nikola to play along ¡ª or even crafted them some fitting avatars. I¡¯ve gotten too relaxed,¡± Alisa thought, noticing their starkly utilitarian military outfits against the fantasy setting. ¡°Need to keep an eye on details like this next time.¡± Meanwhile, Nikola stood rooted in place, trying to process what she was seeing. Virtual reality wasn¡¯t new to her, but this ¡ª this was on an entirely different level. The world around her felt impossibly real, and it pulsed with ancient, untamed energy. Everything, from the softly glowing runes to the shadowy, spectral shapes flickering near the Tree¡¯s roots and the faint, ghostly whispers that seemed to drift from nowhere, exuded a raw, primal power. And danger. How had Dasha managed to create something like this? Nika¡¯s virtual body didn¡¯t betray her unease, but deep down, a faint knot of anxiety tightened. It was uncanny how tangible this digital realm felt ¡ª so much so that she half-expected a wrong step to send her stumbling into the sharp edge of a stone or provoke an attack from the brooding ravens above. Daria was pacing nervously when they arrived. Like Alisa, she had donned a fantasy-inspired outfit: sleek black pants with leather insets along the sides, dark, practical ankle boots, and a cropped ocher jacket trimmed with a black fur collar. A wide belt held a short combat wand and a grimoire bound in black leather with silver edges and heavy clasps. Around her neck, a thick silver chain bore a medallion shaped like a raven¡¯s head, gleaming faintly in the moonlight. She spotted Maksim and Nikola immediately. Dressed in their usual military gear, they seemed jarringly out of place in the mystical setting. WonderKid¡¯s face lit up for a moment as she rushed toward Max, arms reaching out as if to embrace him ¡ª then she froze. Flustered, she stopped short, wrapped her arms around herself instead, and resumed her anxious pacing. ¡°Maxie, it¡¯s all a disaster!¡± she blurted, her voice edged with panic. Her face and gestures flickered through a chaotic storm of emotions ¡ª distress, fear, a flash of joy, nervous excitement, and¡­ guilt? ¡°What happened?¡± he asked, stunned. ¡°We¡¯re amazing, that¡¯s what, yeah!¡± Daria froze in place, hugging herself tightly, her breaths coming in uneven bursts. ¡°We¡¯re unbelievably brilliant, and it¡¯s terrifying! We¡¯re in serious danger! But¡­ we¡¯re so damn cool, better than anyone! And¡­ that¡¯s exactly why they might kill us. And¡­ I ruined everything. I gave us away. Because¡­ because I just couldn¡¯t keep it from my dad, Max! Do you get it?¡± ¡°Easy, WonderKid,¡± he said softly, stepping closer and gently taking her trembling hands in his. ¡°Take a deep breath and tell us everything. We¡¯re not in a rush. It¡¯s okay.¡± Dasha locked eyes with him, swallowed hard, and then pulled away, her words tumbling out in a rushed, nervous explanation. The girl described how she had returned her father¡¯s call after missing his earlier attempts to reach her. How Oracle had moved to Austin, Texas, and established his own guild. She had even proudly mentioned Alexander Vasilevsky¡¯s position on the guild council. But when WonderKid got to the part where she confessed to her father that it was the ¡°Ghosts¡± who had developed the System, she stumbled, her face flushing bright red. Looking around in a panic, her hands darted to her belt, where she grabbed a small vial labeled ¡°Calming Elixir.¡± She yanked it free, uncorked it, and drained it in one go. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t know¡­ I forgot¡­ that it was a top-secret secret, yeah!¡± Whether the imaginary potion actually worked or Vasilevskaya found the courage within herself, she pushed on, though her voice remained shaky and anxious. She explained that, according to her father, the world¡¯s top guilds ¡ª those led by AI members from the Club ¡ª had been desperately trying to replicate the System but hadn¡¯t managed to succeed. According to him, the best anyone had managed were modules that interacted with data through APIs, along with some new interfaces ¡ª and nothing more. Not a single guild ¡ª no one at all ¡ª had managed to unlock the ¡°System attributes and abilities.¡± By the time she reached the most difficult part of her story, tears were streaming down her face. With her DeepVR avatar fully synchronized to her real emotions, the expression on ¡°virtual Dasha¡± mirrored exactly what the real Dasha was feeling at that moment. ¡°He¡­ he asked me directly, ¡®How did you do it?¡¯¡± Her voice trembled and cracked. ¡°He¡¯s my dad, Max¡­ I thought I could share a little. Just the basics, you know? My theory on why we succeeded ¡ª the ¡®three keys to success,¡¯ yeah. And¡­ creating the System¡­ it could seem easy, but it wasn¡¯t! Not easy at all!¡± Overcome, WonderKid sank to the ground, hiding her face in her hands as the sobs came. Her team didn¡¯t hesitate. Maksim crouched in front of her, gently taking her hands in his again, while Alisa and Nikola sat beside her, wrapping their arms around her shoulders. Surrounded by their quiet strength, Vasilevskaya began to steady herself, her breathing slowing as she drew comfort from their presence. Then, bolstered by their support, she found the courage to continue. ¡°I told him the first key was my ¡®Digital Insight.¡¯ Without it, a project this complex wouldn¡¯t even be possible. But I didn¡¯t tell him¡­ that I might¡¯ve figured out where this ability comes from. Or that there have only ever been¡­ four people like me. On the whole planet. Maybe there are more now, yeah¡­ I don¡¯t know...¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Her anxiety spiked as she reached the hardest part of her confession. Dasha clutched the hem of her jacket, shut her eyes tight, and blurted out: ¡°The second key. I told him you need a¡­ special¡­ unique¡­ architecture! But, Max, he¡¯s my dad! He¡¯s so smart ¡ª even smarter than me! He figured it all out, like, instantly! He already knew!¡± Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clenched her fists, forcing herself to continue despite the raw emotion. ¡°He said right away that he knows who your father is, Max. And he knows what Sergey Chernykh worked on. I have no idea how he uncovered that, yeah! You told me yourself there¡¯s no public record... And then¡­ he guessed. He said you must have created a human-mind-based AI using your dad¡¯s research. But he doesn¡¯t know about Alisa. At least, I don¡¯t think he does. He didn¡¯t mention her.¡± Vasilevskaya let out a shaky breath, wiping her tears on the sleeve of her jacket. ¡°That¡¯s it¡­ That¡¯s everything. I¡¯m so sorry, guys. I really am. Maybe we should¡­ sit somewhere more comfortable?¡± She spread her arms and made a series of fluid, magical gestures. A firepit materialized on the rocky clearing, encircled by glowing runestones. Flames leapt to life within it, their warmth radiating an aura of comfort and peace. Around the fire, sturdy logs emerged and arranged themselves into makeshift seats, each looking invitingly snug. ¡°I knew this day would come,¡± Maksim began, once everyone had settled around the fire. ¡°My father had no other way to get his work to me, apart from linking it to my name and identity. And when you¡¯re applying for refugee status from the Russian Empire, changing your name isn¡¯t an option. It¡¯s a rule the state bureaucracy enforces, no exceptions.¡± The ¡°Ghost¡¯s¡± leader spread his hands in a resigned gesture, as if to say, What can you do? Then he continued: ¡°Of course, I knew there wasn¡¯t anything in the public records that could implicate me or Alisa. The insane laws of cursed Russia took care of that for us. Leading scientists in the Empire were forbidden from publishing any information about their families ¡ª even within the country. That data was classified as a state secret, and revealing it was considered ¡®treason.¡¯ One of hundreds of capital offenses.¡± ¡°Kurwa, that¡¯s just madness!¡± Redhead burst out, gesturing wildly. ¡°Executing your own citizens? Your top scientists? For¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ publishing a newspaper announcement congratulating their son on his birthday?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been freely executing scientists since Soviet times. That didn¡¯t change after the USSR collapsed or when the Empire was formed,¡± Maksim said, his smile twisting into something bitter. ¡°I told you, it¡¯s a cursed country. The family secrecy rule was temporarily loosened during a brief thaw in relations with the outside world. Alisa and I were still banned from traveling abroad, but for a while, a select few of my father¡¯s colleagues were allowed to visit. That¡¯s how Miro knows about us.¡± ¡°We double-checked,¡± Alisa chimed in, her tone measured. ¡°None of them ever published anything about us. And since our father didn¡¯t know Alexander Vasilevsky personally, the only place he could¡¯ve learned about us¡­¡± ¡°...was from State Germany¡¯s blockchain records, yeah!¡± Dasha exclaimed, leaping slightly before her expression fell. ¡°So, he had access¡­ which means he probably figured out about Alisa too, huh?¡± ¡°Most likely,¡± Maksim replied, his expression serious. ¡°But I trust Alexander. He struck me as an honest man. I doubt he¡¯d share it with anyone, not even the Oracle ¡ª who probably knows everything already. Still, the fact that we¡¯re vulnerable through the blockchain¡­ that¡¯s unsettling. And there¡¯s no way to fix it. You¡¯d have to destroy the entire network to delete distributed data, and we¡¯re not capable of that. Yet.¡± ¡°When we¡¯re stronger, we will,¡± Alisa stated firmly, her tone calm but resolute. Max nodded, giving his sister a thumbs-up. ¡°WonderKid,¡± he said, turning back to Dasha, ¡°you mentioned ¡®three keys.¡¯ The first is your ¡®System¡¯ ability. The second is the unique architecture. What¡¯s the third?¡± Dasha hesitated, her gaze darting to Alisa before she nervously asked, ¡°Uh¡­ can I tell them?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± she agreed with composure. ¡°The third key to success,¡± Dasha began, ¡°is Alisa¡¯s ¡®System¡¯ attribute. But¡­ unfortunately, we don¡¯t know anything about it. Nor what it does, neither what abilities it grants. There¡¯s no data in the System about it, and it¡¯s completely inaccessible ¡ª not even through TACTA¡¯s API.¡± The blonde glanced at Maksim and Nikola, who sat in stunned silence. Without a word, she reached for the stack of wood that had materialized beside her and added a few logs to the fire. Sparks shot skyward, bright and fleeting against the dark canvas of the night. Her gaze followed them for a moment before she spoke again. ¡°All of this started after the Drone upgraded me. That¡¯s when the System became what it is ¡ª when it truly came to life. And¡­ that¡¯s also when something, or rather someone, appeared. A Little Girl with pink hair.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± WonderKid interjected solemnly, meeting Maksim¡¯s wide-eyed stare and Nikola¡¯s expression of pure shock. ¡°The Little Girl.¡± ¡°A new entity,¡± Alisa continued. ¡°Dasha and I don¡¯t know who she is, where she resides, or what her purpose might be. But we¡¯re certain of one thing ¡ª she is the ¡®Foundation of the System,¡¯ its Core, if you will.¡± ¡°The soul of the System?¡± Redhead asked. ¡°Now here¡¯s someone who doesn¡¯t need any details to get it right,¡± Alisa mused, a flicker of admiration crossing her mind. ¡°Nikola is incredible, honestly. Straight to the heart of the matter. And yes¡­ she¡¯s right ¡ª it is a Soul. But that¡¯s not something I can share. Not yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident that¡¯s the right term,¡± she said aloud. ¡°And Dasha¡¯s absolutely correct ¡ª without these three ¡®keys,¡¯ no one can replicate what we¡¯ve built. In that sense, we¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°The amount of weird mysticism surrounding us is starting to really get under my skin,¡± Maksim muttered, tossing another log onto the fire. ¡°But fine, we¡¯ll table that for now. The fact that the System can¡¯t be duplicated is both a relief and a threat. It means we¡¯re going to be targets. And it also means we need to get ¡®meaner and sharper¡¯ way faster than I¡¯d like. Much faster. Starting now.¡± ¡°Maxie, my dad said the exact same thing, yeah!¡± Dasha chimed in, her voice a mix of urgency and unease. ¡°He told me, ¡®Get tougher, sharper.¡¯ He said no one knows about Sergey Chernykh¡¯s work ¡ª yet. But if they ever find out¡­ they¡¯ll come for us. All of us.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re revising plans. Right now.¡± Maksim turned to Daria. ¡°WonderKid, are you okay? Feeling better?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she replied with a brisk nod. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s get everything sorted while we¡¯re all here, and it¡¯s safe to talk. Alisa, can you speed up the delivery of the regeneration capsule?¡± ¡°Of course. 9,300 grants, and it¡¯ll be here in five minutes ¡ª straight from orbit.¡± ¡°Do it. Nikola, we¡¯ll set it up in the truck. There¡¯s enough room. You¡¯ll go in immediately ¡ª not just for healing, but to prep for all the upgrades we¡¯ve ordered for your connectors and neural interface.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Redhead nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll help you set it up if needed, grab a quick shower, and then get in. Promise.¡± ¡°Perfect. I have time before my meeting with the Colonel, which I¡¯ll handle solo. In the meantime, I¡¯ll loop in Radoslaw to help tomorrow morning with converting the truck into a med center. We¡¯ll install a surgical suite, since the grav compensator we ordered will have arrived by then. Once that¡¯s ready, we¡¯ll move forward with your operation.¡± ¡°Max, I hate being benched again,¡± Nikola said, shaking her wild red curls. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be dead weight for the team, and I won¡¯t. I looked up the capsule¡¯s FAQ, and most of the time, you can stay conscious unless deep sedation¡¯s needed. That means I can still work in AR while I¡¯m in there.¡± She clenched her fist and smacked it into her palm, her resolve clear. ¡°Since we¡¯ve decided to recruit, I¡¯ll handle that through Rzesz¨®w¡¯s network. I saw the notes you sent earlier about what you and the team decided while I was offline getting my limbs attached. I¡¯m on board with the plan ¡ª we do need a few ex-military pros. I¡¯ll start setting up interviews for tomorrow afternoon. Sound good?¡± ¡°Yes, great idea. Let¡¯s aim for tomorrow evening. Use this bar¡­ ¡± he sent her a link, ¡°I was planning to take everyone there tonight anyway. We haven¡¯t had a proper break since the escape, and Redhead still owes us that story she promised. But recruiting takes priority. We can push our night off by a day.¡± Nikola chuckled into her fist, as Maksim continued: ¡°Alisa, you¡¯re going to need to multitask hard ¡ª covering both medical and crafting. How many AI participants from the Club have onboarded their teams into the System so far? How many accounts are still running on the old architecture? And what¡¯s our resource status?¡± ¡°Only ninety-nine,¡± his sister replied. ¡°That¡¯s intentional ¡ª to gather initial feedback and refine the scaling process. It also gives Club members time to prepare for full deployment ¡ª writing modules, drafting documentation, working out guild protocols, and so on.¡± ¡°We¡¯re holding steady on resources,¡± Dasha chimed in, grinning as she flipped open her grimoire and pulled out¡­ a wooden smoking pipe, apparently a substitute for her usual vape. She lit it with a tiny flame conjured at her fingertip, exhaled a fragrant plume of smoke, and continued, clearly pleased with herself. ¡°Alisa and I whipped up a ¡®Temporary Bifr?st¡¯ using my architecture expansion research. It acts like a smart router, offloading the bulk of the calculations for new connections onto the hardware of the Club¡¯s linked AIs. Moira¡¯s running smoothly ¡ª no overload, plenty of reserves. Even with the initial connections from the Linkers and Miro¡¯s group.¡± ¡°Which means,¡± Alisa added, ¡°we¡¯ll onboard the rest ¡ª all 100,000 accounts ¡ª within the next 48 hours. That¡¯s what I agreed with the Oracle.¡± ¡°That syncs with the Rating launch, right?¡± he asked. ¡°Exactly,¡± she confirmed. ¡°It goes live at 01:00 on August 20, our local time. The Club¡¯s participants want to secure an early lead, and so do we. Once the Rating is active, the competition will explode. And as of now, we¡¯ve got less than 30 hours left.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a hell of a task,¡± Maksim muttered. ¡°Looks like the bar¡¯s off tonight. But at least Moira¡¯s resources are holding up ¡ª that¡¯s something. Dasha, Alisa, can we realistically get everything done by tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his sister replied curtly, without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Absolutely, Maxie!¡± Dasha grinned, blowing a fragrant plume of smoke. ¡°I¡¯ll dive in right now!¡± ¡°And me?¡± Alisa thought, already planning her next move. ¡°I need to find a way to meet with Iris ¡ª and fast.¡± Chapter 108 – Pieces in Motion State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA. Sunflower Hostel Daria Vasilevskaya, August 16, 2049, 5:44 PM Dasha settled deeper into the ¡°nest¡± she had woven on her bed, a snug fortress of pillows and blankets. While the rest of the ¡°Ghosts¡± were off handling their respective tasks, she stayed behind at the hostel, determined to finish work on the scaling module as quickly as possible. In the corner of her AR interface, the System persistently flashed a strict warning: her ¡°Energy¡± level had hit zero. The message was loud and clear ¡ª don¡¯t even think about using your abilities! And rightly so. Not long ago, in a state of Digital Insight, she had completed the Berserker Control Patch, draining every last drop of her reserves. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t just a one-off fix tailored for Nikola. Dasha had crafted a universal and fully customizable solution ¡ª a proper extension to the framework, polished and elegant. Grinning predatorily, the girl flexed her fingers in anticipation before diving back into virtual reality. ¡°Heh-heh! Relax, it¡¯s gonna be fine. I was killing it even without magic before, remember?¡± After all, superpowers had just emerged a couple of days ago. Before that, she had successfully designed and built complex systems relying purely on her skills, persistence, and intuition. The task ahead was straightforward enough, and she and Alisa had already laid the groundwork. And the best part? Vasilevskaya was alone now. She could vape herself into oblivion if she wanted to. The thought made her pause and glance down at the little black box resting on her lap, forgotten for who knows how long. ¡°Could my psychological dependence really be fading into the background?¡± she wondered. Lately, Dasha had been needing it less and less, especially for work. The ¡°System¡± abilities filled the void, replacing the chemical rush with something far more potent. Now if only she could uncover how to replenish Energy faster. Or at least why it sometimes came back quickly and, at other times, dragged at a snail¡¯s pace¡­ ¡°No big deal. I¡¯ll figure it out. Just you wait!¡± And as if to defy her own thoughts, Dasha raised the vape to her lips and took a deep, satisfying drag.
Maksim and Nika headed out to pick up the regeneration capsule ¡ª express delivery straight from orbit, ordered by Alisa. Apparently, TACTA worked with local manufacturing hubs, as the initial order had started production right here in Rzesz¨®w. But once urgency came into play, they managed to arrange a fully assembled unit for a premium price. Gotta love capitalism, right? ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call service!¡± Maksim grinned, motioning toward the specialized refrigerator that came loaded with consumables. Optional feature, sure, but undeniably convenient ¡ª plug it in, and the biomaterials inside stay perfectly preserved. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re their first world. Looks like they¡¯ve perfected this ¡®on-demand delivery¡¯ thing a long time ago,¡± Redhead shot back with a smirk. ¡°Right,¡± Max nodded. ¡°And this? This is just the tip of the iceberg, I¡¯m sure. Alright, let¡¯s get this thing set up and finish the installation.¡± For the time being, they¡¯d placed the capsule inside their truck, though the long-term plan was to convert an entire trailer into a proper medical and manufacturing unit. That was a problem for later ¡ª right now, Nikola¡¯s treatment was the priority. Hooking up the equipment was easy enough. The capsule only required power, clean water, and air ¡ª all covered by the additional purification modules they¡¯d ordered. With those in place, the setup could function pretty much anywhere. While parked in the city, Maksim had connected the truck to the local water and sewage systems, turning it into a surprisingly livable space ¡ª if you didn¡¯t mind the cramped shower stall. The ¡°kitchen block,¡± though ¡ª with its single-burner induction cooktop, tiny microwave, and barely-there fridge ¡ª was clearly not built for hosting more than a couple of people, let alone for the long haul. Nika, still stark naked, casually walked straight from the truck¡¯s shower to the capsule and climbed in without hesitation. The ¡°Ghosts¡± hadn¡¯t powered down Mei Li since her last use, so by now, the medical AI had comfortably settled in next to Moira. She¡¯d established her connections, picked up new skills, and was running at peak efficiency. Mei Li wasted no time diving into the task at hand, having already fully absorbed all the necessary documentation for the procedure. ¡°All set, Sunshine. Just lie down and relax. Diagnostics are online. I¡¯ll give Radoslaw a call and then head off to meet the Colonel.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, go ahead,¡± Redhead mumbled from behind the capsule¡¯s thick glass, her eyes drifting shut as she reclined into the device. The chamber began to fill with a specialized bio-solution, and while Nika had a feeling that breathing liquid wouldn¡¯t be nearly as pleasant as air, the thought didn¡¯t faze her. If this was what it took, so be it. She wasn¡¯t the first person to go through this, and she definitely wouldn¡¯t be the last. Maksim pulled up a chair nearby, ready to monitor the preliminary diagnostics. He needed to confirm the treatment plan and oversee the adjustments to Nikola¡¯s cyber-systems in preparation for her upcoming upgrades. The interface indicated a wait time of about 20 minutes ¡ª not long at all. TACTA¡¯s technology was nothing short of astonishingly fast and efficient. Still, Maksim wasn¡¯t the type to let even a moment go to waste. He decided to use the time to contact Radoslaw. The master answered the call with an irritated grumble, clearly unhappy about being interrupted mid-task. He¡¯d been deep in the middle of drafting specifications for parts slated for production. But the moment Maksim brought up the idea of installing a gravitational compensator module in the truck as a cutting-edge vibration protection system, the old mechanic¡¯s annoyance melted into pure enthusiasm. This was the first truly exciting project he¡¯d encountered since the invasion. No one in Rzesz¨®w had ever attempted to fit vehicles with such advanced modules ¡ª they were prohibitively expensive, after all. But now, with the opportunity in front of him, Radoslaw couldn¡¯t resist the challenge. Through the video feed, Maksim couldn¡¯t miss the spark in the old man¡¯s perpetually grumpy expression. The craftsman had clearly been craving a chance to dive into TACTA¡¯s tech for some time, and now he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He immediately demanded all the documentation and truck specifications, stressing how critical the exact model was. ¡°You can¡¯t design something this intricate blindfolded,¡± he added, his tone sharp but excited. ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out,¡± Radoslaw waved off Maksim¡¯s concerns about his workload. ¡°Rush jobs come with the territory. Plenty of experience handling them, and I know exactly who to call for help if needed. Shifting the work on those two pickup trucks will free up some time. As for the rest, there¡¯s always a way to manage. Tomorrow morning, we start as planned. Pricing? Can¡¯t say for now, but we¡¯ll sort it out within our partnership. I¡¯m sure of that.¡± By the time Maksim wrapped up the call, Mei Li had finished the initial diagnostics and provided her report. The preliminary results were alarming ¡ª the situation was more severe than expected. An in-depth diagnostic was already underway, focusing on Nika¡¯s connectors and their implantation zones, while the system finalized the treatment plan and prepped her cybernetics for upgrades. The process would take another hour before the actual procedures could begin. Altogether, the operations were estimated to last around nine hours, meaning Nikola would spend the entire evening and night in the capsule, emerging only by dawn. Redhead grumbled about it, but it was mostly for effect. She quickly adapted to the liquid filling her lungs, experiencing no other discomfort. With her ocular implants functioning flawlessly, she dove into VR as planned. If anything required her direct involvement, Mei Li would notify her. Ultimately, Maksim wasn¡¯t the only one heading to meet the Colonel. Alisa decided to join him, casually explaining, ¡°The production line¡¯s running fine, I¡¯m not needed there right now. Mei Li¡¯s got the medical stuff covered, and Radoslaw¡¯s busy wading through pickup trucks documentation. No point in me hovering around.¡± The walk from the craftsman¡¯s district to the meeting spot would have been a grueling hour and a half, so they opted for the city¡¯s taxi service ¡ª a fleet of tiny electric cars that looked like slightly oversized golf carts, zipping passengers to any corner of the city in no time. The system had been around long before the Shaiszu invasion, and the Colonel saw no reason to disrupt an already efficient service. And at just 1.5 to 2 grants a ride, the cost was barely a blip on the team¡¯s budget.
State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, Administrative Quarter August 16, 2049, Maksim and Alisa Chernykh, 07:09 PM The Shaiszu attack on the first day of the invasion delivered a devastating blow to Old Rzesz¨®w, a city in the southeastern of State Poland. However, the assault wasn¡¯t aimed at residential districts or factories ¡ª it targeted the massive European Intercorporate Alliance military base on the city¡¯s outskirts. Despite the odds, a group of soldiers led by Colonel Shimon Wozniak mounted a formidable defense, repelling both waves of attackers and securing the right to declare themselves the founders of a new, independent TACTA city ¡ª Free Rzesz¨®w. The Administrative Quarter became the beating heart of this new city. Lying at the center of the former military base, it was surrounded by manicured parks, elegant plazas, and upscale residential complexes that had once housed officers. With its clean lines, glass facades, and steel frameworks, the area exuded the sleek, futuristic vibe of a modern technological haven ¡ª an island of stability and safety in the face of the looming Shaiszu threat. Once corporate skyscrapers, the towering buildings now served as coordination centers for defense operations, as well as headquarters for free guilds and clans. Conference halls had been repurposed into war rooms where resources were allocated, and defense plans hammered out. Meanwhile, the many entertainment spots around the central plaza offered residents a rare chance to decompress after long and stressful workdays.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. At the center of it all rose the former main office of the Alliance Corporate Council ¡ª a striking, multi-story complex. The emblem of Rzesz¨®w still adorned its monumental facade, but the corporate logos had long since been removed. Now, the building became the city hall, a proud symbol of Free Rzesz¨®w¡¯s new chapter. This was where Maksim and Alisa arrived. The large glass doors slid open automatically, ushering the Chernykh siblings into the bright, modern lobby. The space was expansive, bathed in light from the high ceilings, and lined with numerous automated registration kiosks neatly arranged throughout. Yet, it was almost empty. Apart from them, the only other person present was an elderly man, locked in a heated argument with a receptionist¡¯s holographic projection on one of the kiosks. It all made sense. The Shaiszu invasion had swept away the last remnants of ¡°corporate bureaucracy¡± in the city. Now, most matters appeared to be resolved swiftly and online. Redundant roles like on-site security guards or receptionists had been entirely phased out. The siblings barely had a chance to approach the kiosks before they were promptly approached by an android who courteously invited them to follow. Maksim¡¯s practiced eye identified the robot as part of the building¡¯s security system. It was unmistakably a combat model; its lack of visible weapons did little to disguise its underlying purpose. After a brief elevator ride and a walk down several long corridors, they stopped in front of a door marked with a nameplate: ¡°Colonel Shimon Wozniak.¡± Below it, faint traces hinted at a second nameplate that had been removed. ¡°Please, come in,¡± the android said politely, holding the door open. ¡°Colonel Wozniak is expecting you.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Maksim nodded as he stepped inside, with Alisa following silently. As they stepped inside, their attention was immediately drawn to the reception area. The walls, painted in a calming gray-green tone, framed a workstation near the door with a holographic interface and an empty leather chair, presumably belonging to an absent secretary. Opposite it stood a display case lined with several rows of military insignias, while a large shelving unit in the corner held neatly organized folders and documents. The space exuded a sense of calm efficiency ¡ª everything was in perfect order, ready for methodical work. Moving through an open doorway, they passed down a short corridor that led past a large strategic planning hall and a few offices for the Colonel¡¯s aides. Finally, they entered a spacious chamber dominated by a heavy T-shaped desk crafted from dark oak ¡ª the very centerpiece Maksim and Alisa had seen all the times during video calls with the Colonel. Seated behind the table, bathed in the warm yellow light of a desk lamp, was Shimon Wozniak, deeply engrossed in a stack of documents. Behind him, a shelf displayed military trophies and awards, arranged with flawless precision. Upon noticing his guests, the Colonel set his papers aside and rose, gesturing for them to take the seats across from him. ¡°Welcome. Please, have a seat,¡± he greeted them. Maksim and Alisa stepped forward, shook hands with their host, and settled into the chairs offered to them. ¡°Let¡¯s take care of the formalities first. As an additional reward for your mission with Helios Corporation, Free Rzesz¨®w is offering you a Vanguard E-700 semi-trailer truck along with a Vanguard Cargo Master TA-E2 trailer.¡± The Colonel pulled a folder from the desk drawer and handed it to Maksim. ¡°The paperwork is more of a formality,¡± he explained with a faint smile. ¡°Detailed specs for the vehicle are already in your inbox. This is the best rig we managed to secure from the corporation¡¯s base. Manufactured in November 2048, with just 57,600 kilometers on it, it¡¯s in excellent condition. However, you¡¯re welcome to review the remaining list should you wish.¡± ¡°Thank you, Pan Shimon,¡± Maksim said, noting the document and the detailed specifications had already arrived in his personal messages. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind,¡± Alisa interjected with a composed smile, meeting the Colonel¡¯s gaze, ¡°we¡¯d like to take about ten minutes to let our AI run a quick review of the alternatives before finalizing. We can continue our discussion in the meantime.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he agreed. ¡°And if you¡¯d like, you may inspect the vehicles in person as well.¡± ¡°A quick analysis from our AI will suffice, pan Shimon,¡± Maksim replied. ¡°We¡¯ll have our decision ready by the end of this conversation.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Wozniak gave a small nod. ¡°By the way, what are your clan¡¯s plans? Will you be taking on more city missions to build your strength? Or are you eyeing something more ambitious ¡ª perhaps a permanent alliance with Free Rzesz¨®w?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no shortage of lucrative missions that have caught our attention,¡± Maksim replied confidently. ¡°It¡¯s hard to give a definitive answer right now. We had plans to move on, but for the next few days, we¡¯ll definitely stay in the city.¡± ¡°We¡¯re also looking into some engineering partnerships,¡± Alisa chimed in, fully aware that their work with Radoslaw¡¯s workshop wasn¡¯t exactly classified. ¡°We¡¯ve got some solid expertise we¡¯d like to make the most of.¡± She leaned back slightly, a playful smile crossing her lips. ¡°And about missions ¨C if there¡¯s anything challenging, complex, at least category ¡®D,¡¯ we¡¯re all ears. The ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ shouldn¡¯t get to hog all the fun, right?¡± ¡°Ah, the ¡®Wild Cats,¡¯¡± Wozniak sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°They¡¯re always meddling where they¡¯re not wanted. I heard about the recent incident where their deputy commander provoked Pani Nikola into an attack. Strictly speaking, that¡¯s a breach of neutrality, and the city could initiate a formal inquiry to settle the matter.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Pan Shimon, but that won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Maksim said thoughtfully, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it ourselves. Tanya Takahashi might be¡­ a difficult person, but Nika is more than capable of holding her own. I trust the tension will ease on its own.¡± The Colonel paused, his gaze drifting off to the side, as though weighing the potential consequences of a confrontation between two powerful factions of the freemen. After a moment, he nodded slowly. ¡°All right. It¡¯s your call. Just make sure to keep me informed if things escalate. The last thing I need is this city becoming a war zone for heavily armed cyborgs.¡± He leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. ¡°Now, what about my earlier proposal? Would you consider formalizing a permanent partnership with Free Rzesz¨®w? It¡¯s more than just a title. It ensures your economic rights, offers continuous protection, grants access to high-priority missions, and provides discounts on medical care and facility rentals.¡± ¡°Continuous protection is¡­ hard to dismiss,¡± Maksim admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve read through the details on the city¡¯s official site. It¡¯s a solid offer. But it also comes with strings attached: we¡¯d be obligated to participate in city-assigned operations, even if they conflict with our plans.¡± ¡°Exactly. And the city would gain priority purchasing rights for any resources we acquire, at fixed prices,¡± Alisa added, picking up where her brother left off. ¡°Sure, the prices would be close to market rates, and we¡¯d benefit from storage space, privileges, and city backing. But we¡¯d lose the flexibility to choose our own contracts and negotiate better deals for our trophies.¡± Shimon Wozniak arched a brow slightly, his sharp gaze narrowing as he studied them across the table. ¡°And yet, I must stress that an alliance with Rzesz¨®w offers you more than just support. Streamlined logistics, political protection, priority contracts ¡ª these come with a level of stability few other places can match.¡± Maksim nodded, exchanging a glance with Alisa before turning back to the Colonel. ¡°Your points are valid, Pan Shimon. I won¡¯t argue that. But for now, the ¡®Ghosts of the Future¡¯ aren¡¯t ready to lock into a formal long-term agreement. As I¡¯ve mentioned before, we¡¯re not sure how long we¡¯ll remain in Rzesz¨®w.¡± ¡°We understand and respect your intention to build a lasting partnership,¡± Alisa interjected, her hands folded neatly on the table as she leaned forward slightly. ¡°While we¡¯re not ready to sign anything formal, rest assured ¡ª as long as we¡¯re in the city, your missions will remain a top priority for our clan. Especially since we¡¯re planning to expand, bringing in more members and upgrading our equipment.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± the Colonel said with a shrug. ¡°I had to try. On that note, I¡¯ve sent you a briefing for a private operation. It includes all the details ¡ª terms, compensation, the works. Upon completion, you¡¯ll have the right to purchase up to 10% of the recovered equipment at wholesale rates. I imagine you¡¯re particularly interested in AI-grade hardware, which carries quite the premium on the market.¡± Maksim and Alisa began reviewing the message they¡¯d just received while Wozniak continued speaking. ¡°Just yesterday, Rzesz¨®w¡¯s scouts discovered a noteworthy location ¡ª an experimental production site owned by ¡®Accelion Labs.¡¯ According to our intelligence, the site contains not just research facilities, but a fully functional assembly line and a warehouse stocked with finished products. Their primary focus was on AI accelerators and project units, but there¡¯s a chance we might also uncover quantum cores. Naturally, the city is eager to gain access to all this treasure. The problem is, the neighboring building has been occupied by the Shaiszu, and what¡¯s worse, they¡¯ve started forming a ¡®Nest¡¯ there. I assume you¡¯re familiar with the term?¡± ¡°A ¡®Nest¡¯ is a biological structure created by the Shaiszu after they breach our world through portals,¡± Alisa recited from the Informatorium system¡¯s glossary. ¡°It serves as a breeding and command center for reproduction and expansion into new territories, posing a critical threat to both the environment and humanity.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve only encountered them in theory,¡± Maksim noted. ¡°Though we¡¯ve seen videos of Earth¡¯s military neutralizing early-stage units before they could fully develop. From what I understand, they need organic material to grow. So why would they choose a warehouse full of¡­ computers?¡± The Colonel gave a somber smile as he poured himself a glass of water. ¡°It¡¯s an unfortunate coincidence for us. Just one building over is the production facility of a major sports nutrition company. It¡¯s their bulk storage site, where they took ready-made product from containers and repackaged it for distribution.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Maksim muttered, immediately understanding the stakes. As someone who¡¯d regularly hit the gym before the invasion, he knew exactly what this meant. ¡°Pristine protein concentrate of the highest quality. Vitamins, minerals, supplements¡­ It¡¯s not just a gift for an expanding Nest ¡ª it¡¯s an open invitation to seize an entire sector.¡± ¡°Exactly. For now, they¡¯re only in the first phase. The Nest¡¯s Progenitor has already split into an Incubator and a Guardian. Young workers are hauling bio-resources to prepare as many warriors as possible for defense. In roughly 45 hours, the entire ¡®Birthing Matrix¡¯ phase will be complete. By then, they¡¯ll have enough resources to immediately advance to their next evolutionary stage. You must strike and destroy it before that deadline. The longer you wait, the more units the Incubator will churn out.¡± Shimon Wozniak paused, his gaze shifting between Maksim and Alisa. ¡°This is officially a category ¡®C¡¯ mission. You¡¯ll be doing a hell of a lot of shooting. The city will only send in an elite team ¡ª seasoned veterans armed to the teeth. Anything less would be just feeding the Shaiszu with free biomass, not to mention handing over military equipment that these creatures have disturbingly learned to operate with precision. I was planning to give this mission to the Wild Cats. So, what do you have to offer as an alternative?¡± ¡°One moment, Pan Shimon,¡± Maksim replied. ¡°We¡¯ll hold a quick team conference.¡± [Alisa, if we speed up crafting and put in a rush order with TACTA, how many drones can we produce in the next ten hours?] [I¡¯m already calculating. For now, send me your priority breakdown ¡ª which ones do we need most and which least?] [Max out Scouts and Eyes, produce them within the license limits. Four Hurricanes, 300 Kamikazes, and the rest should be Hornets,] he calculated quickly. After a brief private discussion with Alisa to finalize the production timeline and Nikola¡¯s upgrade schedule, Maksim addressed the Colonel with confidence. ¡°This is our offer,¡± he began. ¡°We¡¯re a tight-knit team ¡ª just four members. But we bring a battle-grade T10+++ AI, a top-tier cyber-berserker, and a solid arsenal of combat drones. Here¡¯s the full list. We¡¯ll be ready to commence the mission within 30 hours at the latest.¡± ¡°Excellent. Are you prepared to verify all of this with our inspector? Let me be clear ¡ª if you fail to launch the mission within the agreed timeframe, there will be severe penalties.¡± ¡°Understood. We¡¯re ready to present our equipment and demonstrate the AI as requested.¡± ¡°Good. But be aware ¡ª this mission will be doubly challenging for you because the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ won¡¯t take it lightly. They won¡¯t be happy losing out, but frankly, I find their growing monopoly in the city deeply concerning. They¡¯ve already seized control of the lion¡¯s share of our armed forces, and success in this operation would only strengthen their grip. So, what¡¯s it going to be? Are you in?¡± Chapter 109 – The Oberst-Protector’s Bargain City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamark,¡± Deck 2, Temple Training Grounds Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, August 17, 2049, 7:29 AM Alba drew in a deep breath, and the cold air of the training grounds bit her lungs. The massive, shadowy hall deep within Deck 2 of the Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamark¡± was dimly illuminated by faint sensor lights and thin strips of indicators lining the floor¡¯s perimeter. There were no windows ¡ª just a weak, ambient glow that etched jagged shapes in the darkness: metal structures and other objects strewn across the uneven ground and bolted to the walls. This space itself was a trap; with its treacherous terrain, any careless misstep could easily result in a broken leg. And lurking above, invisible high in the gloom, Protectorate combat drones were hovering, silent and waiting, ready to unleash a storm of gunfire at any second. She stood at the center of it all ¡ª a lone, slender figure, her posture deceptively relaxed, arms and head lowered. Her attire was pared down to the essentials: a black combat suit that hugged her frame like a second skin, lightweight boots, and gloves. Dynamic shielding pads covered her knees and elbows, adjusting fluidly to her every move. Thin Geist-Lumen conduits protruded from her nostrils, tracing her cheekbones as if glued to the skin, before curling behind her ears to merge at the nape of her neck. From there, they fed into the output port of the combat module embedded on her back. With her body locked in a state of constant regenerative stimulation ¡ª already far surpassing anything a human could achieve ¡ª Alba¡¯s hair had grown back by four millimeters, and every scar from her countless past surgeries had faded without a trace. The result gave her a look as though she were wearing a perfectly snug, white wool cap molded to her scalp. A tight band was covering the girl¡¯s eyes, pressing firmly against her skin. But this wasn¡¯t a visor. Quite the opposite ¡ª this training¡¯s purpose was to fight blind, relying solely on instincts and skill. Her task was to refine the synergy between two Geist-token attributes vital for every Priest-Analyst in the Temple. Last night, during a late training session, she made a breakthrough, pushing her Mind Acceleration attribute to Level 2. This advancement unlocked Neural Burst, an active ability that granted her ten seconds of heightened mental acceleration, with its potency scaling in proportion to the amount of Geist-Lumen she consumed. Her mentor had stressed the necessity of mastering this new skill to absolute perfection. Reaching the second level was easily enough, but the climb to the third would demand relentless effort. And the fifth? That could take years. ¡°I reached Level 5 and unlocked Neural Surge after four months of grueling, nonstop training. The High Techno-Priest of the Protectorate did it in two and a half. No one can achieve it faster!¡± It was then that Alba made a vow to herself: no matter how brutal or relentless her training became, she would manage the same in two months. She would surpass Maksim! In truth, she still hadn¡¯t worked up the courage to tell her mentor about a strange, almost mystical connection she felt with Maksim. She could sense fragments of his experiences ¡ª unclear but undeniably real. And she knew, beyond any doubt, that he had already surpassed her in his mastery of Mind Acceleration. That knowledge ignited a fire in her, driving her to push beyond her limits in training and endure more, even to subject herself to the excruciating pain of accelerated medical procedures. Yesterday, she¡¯d finally undergone implantation of the ¡°Eye of God¡± into her surgically prepared right eye socket. By this morning, her synchronization level had surpassed fifty percent, thanks to the nanites she had forced her body to accept despite the searing pain. With that milestone achieved, her personal physician had authorized combat training with the Divine Foresight attribute. In the arena¡¯s configuration panel, Alba had pushed every setting to its absolute limit: maximum difficulty, the highest possible number of drones, and pain sensitivity cranked up to the extreme threshold of 500%. A piercing siren shattered her semi-conscious meditation. ¡°Divine Foresight, Anticipating Movements, activate! Mind Acceleration, Neural Burst, activate! Combat Synergy!¡± she shouted. Verbal activation cues still came easier to her than other forms. Her body moved on instinct, tensing like a coiled spring before launching the girl high into the air. From the shadows, fifteen combat drones streaked forward at breakneck speed. ¡°Just a dozen?¡± the thought flickered in her hyper-charged mind, even as the control panel had promised no fewer than thirty. But the AI system didn¡¯t disappoint: another fifteen detached from the ceiling rails, diving in unison to join the swarm. The first coordinated volley unleashed a storm of gunfire, forcing Alba into a gravity-defying twist mid-air. With Divine Foresight and the implanted Eye of God, the Priest-Analyst could ¡°see¡± the trajectories of every bullet in her mind ¡ª not just where, but precisely when each would pass. This clarity allowed her to weave through the barrage, evading 80% of the projectiles with calculated precision. The rest she deflected with her kinetic shield, momentarily compressing its force field at the point of contact. She didn¡¯t stop the bullets outright, just subtly redirecting their paths with near-surgical finesse and conserving her energy. With a sharp, metallic clink, her boots landed on a beam scattered across the arena floor. Wasting no time, Alba pushed off into another leap, both hands rising to aim her officer-grade needle guns. In a split second, the rapid-fire weapons unleashed a combined salvo of twenty needles. Four drones locked in her sights, each receiving five needles. The first four stripped away their kinetic shields, while the fifth struck each target dead-on. Two drones went down immediately, caught in direct hits. The other two attempted sharp dives, spiraling into evasive maneuvers ¡ª but it didn¡¯t matter. Alba controlled the needles mid-flight, ensuring not a single one missed its mark. Her second leap ended, and she landed with a feral grin. No one could rival her. Not Maksim. Not anyone else. She would surpass them all. She would grow stronger. No compromises. But the remaining drones weren¡¯t idle. Their afterburners roared to life as they rapidly reorganized into a combat formation, encircling her from all sides. ¡°They¡¯re too well-coordinated,¡± the girl noted, twisting into an elegant pirouette to dodge another concentrated volley. Returning fire, she cut down several more targets in the blink of an eye. Another sharp inhale flooded her lungs with Geist-Lumen, driving the synergy into overdrive. Reading the maneuvers of the remaining drones as if they were laid bare before her, Alba darted through the space, displaying astonishing agility. Her movements, sharpened by Protectorate combat implants and intense DeepVR training, showcased an acrobatic mastery far beyond human limits. Every calculated twist and leap was punctuated by a burst of five precise needles. In mere seconds, the arena exploded into a frenzy of light and sound. One by one, drones plummeted to the floor, their metallic frames crashing with deafening clangs. The fiery reflections danced across the walls, briefly illuminating Alba¡¯s sweat-soaked face, her features alight with pure exhilaration. If anyone could have seen her eyes, they would¡¯ve caught the unmistakable spark of battle-born ecstasy. One second remained on Neural Burst. One final drone ¡ª faster and more cunning than the rest ¡ª circling above, unleashing a relentless hail of bullets. Yet, under the lens of Divine Foresight, even its complex maneuvers were reduced to predictable patterns. Alba saw it all: its angles, its trajectories, its fatal openings. With a slight tilt of her shaved head, she evaded the final burst of bullets, which whizzed past her cheek with just two centimeters away, but not a single one grazed her skin. Her arms shot up, twin needle guns already firing six projectiles before the weapons even fully leveled. She adjusted their paths mid-air with razor-sharp precision, ensuring every shot found its mark. The drone erupted in a final blinding flash, casting sharp shadows across the dark training hall as silence fell once more. Alba dropped to one knee, gasping for breath. The Geist-Lumen in her conduits had darkened to near-black, the system on her back letting out a sharp, mechanical howl as it began purging and re-saturating the depleted gas. The air was thick with the tang of ozone and the acrid bite of gunpowder. Slowly, the girl pushed herself to her feet, her chest heaving as the euphoria and raw fury of Combat Synergy ebbed away. Her mind, just now seething with energy, began to settle, easing into its usual working rhythm. Deep down, the Priest felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had won again. Another step forward. Another triumph. Sliding both needle guns into the holsters strapped to her thighs, Alba allowed herself a faint smile as she peeled off her gloves. She ran a hand over her damp, sweat-slicked scalp before flicking the moisture away with a sharp motion.Stolen novel; please report. In her augmented reality display, the evaluations of four AI arbiters appeared, scoring her performance. The combined result: 9.29. ¡°Perfect,¡± she thought, her gaze drifting across the smoldering remains and mangled shards of metal scattered across the arena. ¡°Stronger every day. Faster. Sharper. Whatever it takes. I¡¯ll reach the top and take everything I¡¯m owed. And I will never lose... to anyone. Especially to Max.¡± The ceiling panels gradually brightened, casting a soft glow over the room as Alba removed the ¡°pseudo-visor¡± from her head. The iris of her left eye, faintly pulsating, slowly contracted to its usual size, the molten gold hue fading with it. Her right eye, however, was no longer truly hers. Its enormous obsidian-black pupil dominated the socket, an unbroken void where an iris should have been. ¡°Phew¡­ That¡¯s enough for today,¡± she thought with a wry smile. ¡°Shower first, then breakfast. I¡¯ll go over the training session analysis afterward. If I don¡¯t eat soon, my stomach¡¯s going to start digesting itself.¡± The girl made her way toward the exit, heading for the White-Class junior officers¡¯ showers. Walking through the corridor, she turned into the designated passageway lined with individual shower stall doors. Finally, she reached the one marked with a plaque that read: Second Lieutenant Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez. Behind the automatic door, she stepped into the familiar ¡°capsule¡± ¡ª a compact space measuring three by five meters. It wasn¡¯t merely a personal changing room like those in fitness centers. More akin to a hybrid storage-and-recovery chamber, it was designed for both functionality and post-training relaxation. On the left wall stood three robotic stations, ready to handle the replacement of the Temple Analyst-Priest¡¯s external equipment. The first station currently held her dorsal module, the standard-issue rig for her priest attire, enhanced with two Geist-token manipulators. These devices, typically used for managing complex structural-energy constructs, could also function as an additional pair of arms when the situation demanded. The right wall housed a generously sized locker for her personal belongings and clothing, a sink complete with a mirror and a hairdryer. The latter wasn¡¯t of much use to Alba just yet, but she¡¯d been reminded ¡ª perhaps with a touch of humor ¡ª that her hair would grow back faster than she might expect. A sturdy bench offered a comfortable place to sit, rounding out the room¡¯s utilitarian design. Pausing just at the edge of the bathmat, Alba allowed herself a moment to appreciate the quiet comfort of this place. Despite its strictly functional purpose, she had infused the space with small but meaningful personal touches, transforming it into something distinctly hers. A soft pink bathmat lay neatly on the floor, floral-patterned beige towels hung nearby, a playful sticker adorned the corner of the mirror, and a short, cozy bathrobe hung on a hook, completing the unexpectedly homey atmosphere. A few quick commands through her augmented reality interface, and her dorsal module whirred to life, purging the toxic Geist-Lumen from her conduits. The tubes peeled away from her cheekbones and hung limply. Alba carefully removed them ¡ª first from her left nostril, then the right ¡ª and walked over to the second station on the left wall. Turning her back to it, she stepped into position. The manipulators emerged smoothly from their recessed slots in the wall, gently grasping the dorsal module. The AR interface lit up with a diagram of her connections, each spinal port turning red one by one. ¡°Disconnect,¡± she said softly, though the automated system had already begun its task. Once the process was complete, Alba stepped away from the wall, exhaling sharply as she glanced down at her chest. As always, just minutes after combat, right as the Geist-Lumen system powered down, the familiar surge of arousal hit her like a wave. It was so intense that her nipples, hardened by the reaction, stood out clearly through the tight combat suit. ¡°Damn side effects¡­ I need to calm down before hitting the shower.¡± She swiftly removed the protective pads from her elbows and knees, then ran her hand along the central seam of her combat suit. The high-tech material split apart seamlessly, responding to her touch, and Alba stepped out of it with practiced grace. The suit slid into the intake slot of the cleaning machine, while the protective gear found its place in her locker. Now completely naked, she lowered herself onto the soft bathmat, sitting cross-legged, and closed her eyes. It took just over ten minutes to fully regain her composure. In truth, there was nothing forbidden about this ¡ª sexual relationships within the White Class were entirely permitted. Most junior priests, however, relied on chemical suppressants to keep focus undisturbed during their studies. Alba, still attractive even after undergoing extensive implant surgeries, could have found a partner easily, if she had wanted to. But she didn¡¯t. Nor did she wish to suppress this particular drive ¡ª a drive that mostly brought to mind a single name: ¡°Maksim.¡± Her intuition as a priest warned her that taming this passion might sever the inexplicable connection she shared with him. And she couldn¡¯t allow that to happen. That connection ¡ª one-sided though it might be ¡ª had been a driving force behind much of her progress. It fueled her determination, her focus, her need to surpass him. Yet, despite the intensity of her feelings, she refused to release her tension through physical means. Instead, she turned to an old, reliable method: meditation. Meditation hadn¡¯t been a significant part of her life before the Protectorate. But as a priest, it had become an indispensable tool, one she had come to rely on. Sitting quietly on the mat, she let her heightened state gradually dissolve, her body settling into calmness as her mind steadied.
City-21 ¡°Kyiv,¡± UNSA Protectorate, Avril Dominion Sky Bastion ¡°Queen Lamark,¡± Deck 4, Officers¡¯ Caf¨¦ Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez, August 17, 08:49 AM Satisfied, Alba set aside the empty plate from her fourth course and, after a brief moment of thought, eagerly slid the fifth closer ¡ª a steaming dish of cheesy scrambled eggs studded with shrimp and tomatoes. Mid-bite, she noticed Jurgen von Scholz approaching her table. He caught the girl in an exceptionally good mood. The glow of a successful training session, a soothing massage, and a stint in the sauna lingered on her face. And the good meal just now also played its part ¡ªthe nanomachines in her body were loudly demanding energy replenishment, which she was only happy to provide. ¡°May the sun shine upon you, White Sister,¡± he began with the informal salutation of the Protectorate¡¯s Warrior Brotherhood. Although Alba had started adjusting to her elevated social standing, she still found it astonishing to be addressed as an equal by someone like Jurgen von Scholz, the head of the Fourth Division of the Internal Security and Counterintelligence Service for the Protectorate of UNSA. The very notion of such a high-ranking man as Oberst-Protector showing deference to a Second Lieutenant was enough to momentarily take her aback. Still, as a capable Junior Priest-Analyst, she recovered instantly. ¡°And upon you, Warrior Brother,¡± she replied calmly with respect and confidence. After all, both the Red and White classes were integral parts of the Warrior Brotherhood, and there were no non-combatant priests in the Protectorate. Thus, situations like these allowed protocol to gracefully ignore the massive gulf between their ranks. ¡°May I sit? I won¡¯t take up much of your time,¡± Jurgen asked, his tone courteous yet authoritative. ¡°Of course. Please, join me for breakfast.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be honored,¡± von Scholz said, completing the formalities by breaking off a small piece of bread and sipping the berry juice that had been delivered by the caf¨¦¡¯s automated system the moment he settled at her table. The concentration of Geist-lumen in Alba¡¯s conduits surged, the sudden spike mirroring her decision to engage the priestly analytics before Oberst-Protector even had a chance to speak. Her intuition had already indicated that it was no ordinary conversation. Her guess was confirmed when he placed a black security card on the table. The device, marked with second-level clearance, activated a semi-transparent force field. From this moment on, their discussion was entirely private, shielded under the full authority of Internal Security. Nothing beyond the barrier could be seen or heard. ¡°I trust that the contents of this conversation will remain strictly confidential,¡± von Scholz began. ¡°The Grand Techno-Priest of the Temple is aware, and your mentor is apprised that I have plans for you. Beyond them, no one below the highest officers of my service is permitted to know. Do you accept these terms?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Alba replied briefly, her mind already mapping out potential scenarios with all the efficiency of her analytical training. ¡°Excellent. Then let¡¯s proceed. I¡¯ve secured approval from the High Council to formally transfer you to my division. Naturally, this is purely a bureaucratic measure to grant you the required clearance level. You will continue your path as a Priest-Analyst, but in parallel, you will work for my service. Your expertise will provide invaluable support to the Protectorate.¡± By this point, Alba had already constructed several hypotheses and discarded all but one. The Security Service was after someone connected to the Chernykh team ¡ª the group that had successfully evaded the Protectorate and disappeared from Kyiv. But it wasn¡¯t Maksim himself. That much was clear. Intriguing. Tilting her head slightly, she gestured for Jurgen to continue. ¡°Yes, we need your help specifically,¡± he confirmed, leaning slightly forward. ¡°And in return, I¡¯m prepared to offer you something valuable. I know about your¡­ problem with dependence-and-hatred. And I can help you resolve it.¡± ¡°How do you¡ª?!¡± Alba blurted, unable to mask her shock. The only person who knew about that was her mentor. Before responding, von Scholz reached into his inner pocket and placed a small device on the table. It was no larger than a vape, with a reservoir filled with a toxic yellow liquid. Her breath caught as she felt the unmistakable pulse of familiar energy radiating from it, even through the table. Concentrated Geist-Lumen, no doubts! ¡°You see, I also use the priestly Geist-Lumen,¡± von Scholz began with a faint smile. ¡°Many, many years ago I started my path as an Acolyte. I rose through the ranks to become a Senior Priest-Analyst of the Temple, but eventually, realized that my true calling was serving the Protectorate¡­ elsewhere.¡± ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s not possible¡­¡± Alba stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Since¡­ the Eye of God¡­ it can¡¯t be removed.¡± Chuckling, von Scholz raised his hand to his right eye socket. A subtle press of his fingers, and he detached what appeared to be his organic face. Beneath it lay an identical socket to hers, complete with the same obsidian-black pupil, devoid of an iris. ¡°Actually, it was never removed,¡± he said, reattaching the intricately crafted mask with practiced ease. ¡°You know, I figured out your issues on my own. We¡¯re kind of alike, you and me. Or rather, I was like you once, many years ago. And yes, Alba, the Protectorate and I need Alisa. Not Maksim.¡± ¡°So¡­ she¡¯s really the reason behind Directive 9/00? The one I initiated? Just one question, Oberst-Protector,¡± said Alba, who had already studied the part of the Protectorate¡¯s history that was not meant for ordinary people¡¯s ears. ¡°Is Alisa truly the same as Iris?¡± ¡°Not yet. But eventually¡­ perhaps. If we don¡¯t act in time. As for Maksim, you¡¯ll have complete freedom to deal with him as you see fit ¡ª destroy him, enslave him, whatever you choose. That, I promise you.¡± ¡°But it won¡¯t be easy,¡± he continued, his voice growing more serious. ¡°This is a tangled web of contradictions and mysteries. That man slipped through our grasp once already. The evidence is circumstantial at best ¡ª fragments, guesses. But it¡¯s all we have.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we need you,¡± von Scholz said, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. ¡°On one hand, you¡¯re a Temple priest, destined to wield powers few can comprehend. On the other hand, you¡¯re just a mortal woman, emotionally and energetically tied to Maksim.¡± ¡°Alisa will always stay close to him. Hence, to catch him is to catch her,¡± Oberst-Protector finished, leaning forward slightly, his intensity palpable. ¡°I won¡¯t give you orders ¡ª I have no right. And I won¡¯t pressure you. I¡¯ll ask only once.¡± ¡°Well, Alba Maria Rodriguez Marquez¡­ are you in?¡± Chapter 110 – Bartering for the Future State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA, Sunflower Hostel Ghosts of the Future Team, August 17, 2049, 6:01 AM ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve picked up a new little morning ritual,¡± Nikola thought with a playful smile as she quietly shut the door to Maksim¡¯s room behind her. She darted back to her own space, her heart racing slightly, and felt a wave of relief when she confirmed that no one had noticed her ¡°morning mischief.¡± Since they¡¯d gone to bed fairly early the previous night, everyone was up earlier than usual. Unfortunately, the hostel¡¯s kitchen wasn¡¯t just occupied ¡ª it was jam-packed, bursting at the seams like a subway car during rush hour. With no free tables in sight, they decided to regroup in Alisa¡¯s room. Grabbing their breakfasts to-go, the team headed there, ready to dive into the important matters that needed discussing. Everyone settled into their usual spots ¡ª Daria sat cross-legged in the armchair, her legs tucked comfortably beneath her, while Nikola was at the table, cradling a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. ¡°Alright, everyone¡¯s mostly caught up,¡± Maksim began, ¡°so let¡¯s get straight to it. Tonight, we¡¯ve got a critical mission ¡ª arguably the most important one we¡¯ve ever had as a team. It¡¯s going to get heated. Expect plenty of running and shooting. It won¡¯t be easy.¡± He pulled up the mission card in AR and displayed the key details. //SYSTEM: Mission Analysis and Management Module Mission: Manufacturing Complex ¡°Accelion Labs¡± Type: Assault and Clearance (Reconnaissance-Combat Operation) Difficulty: High (8/10 on the City Scale) Expected Category: C Urgency: Critical (must begin no later than 4:00 PM, August 18) Strategic Importance: High (valuable equipment, destruction of Shaiszu Nest) Estimated Duration: 10¨C36 hours (including recon, combat, and cleanup phases) Base Reward (excluding bonuses): 250,000 grants DESCRIPTION: The experimental manufacturing complex ¡°Accelion Labs¡± houses production, laboratory, and storage facilities containing valuable AI-related equipment. However, nearby, Shaiszu entities have begun constructing a Nest. Once fully developed, this Nest would render the location virtually impenetrable. The mission demands the immediate elimination of this threat, securing the area, and safeguarding the critical equipment and resources of Accelion Labs. (Details collapsed) //END MISSION DESCRIPTION ¡°As you can see,¡± Maksim began, expanding the operation description for clarity, ¡°our objectives are straightforward: eliminate the Shaiszu Nest and secure control of the ¡®Accelion Labs¡¯ complex. The base payout for this mission is 250,000, plus bonuses worth about the same. That¡¯s solid money. But the real prize isn¡¯t the payout ¡ª it¡¯s the right to purchase up to 10% of the recovered hardware.¡± With a quick swipe, he moved the mission card aside and pulled up the map, highlighting the route to the target. ¡°It¡¯s about an hour and twenty minutes¡¯ drive from here. The area falls into neutral territory, so we need to be ready for anything. Drone production, which Alisa started yesterday, will run until midnight, with another hour needed for testing. At 2 AM, the Rzesz¨®w Inspector is scheduled to verify that our equipment and weapons meet mission standards. Once we get the green light, we load up and hit the road. We roll out no later than 4 AM. Questions?¡± After a moment of silence, Maksim nodded with satisfaction and concluded: ¡°Good. That means we need to prep thoroughly today ¡ª no unnecessary risks. The better prepared we are, the safer this will go. I want everything running as smoothly as possible.¡± ¡°This mission will also serve as a perfect testing ground for the new version of the System,¡± Alisa added. ¡°Dasha and I will deploy it to the servers today. We¡¯re preparing everything, including setting it up to handle operations with a large fleet of drones. Essentially, this operation will be a real-world trial of the combat strategy focusing on unmanned combat systems.¡± Nikola set her empty coffee cup aside and said, ¡°Looks like drones are going to be our everything because when it comes to people, we¡¯re screwed. I already dropped a report in the group conference, but I can give everyone the highlights now if that¡¯s cool. Max?¡± ¡°Go for it,¡± Maksim nodded. ¡°It won¡¯t take long, and everyone will be on the same page. Let¡¯s hear it, Redhead. After that, we¡¯ll do a quick run-through of the tasks and get to work.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Nikola said, shifting in her seat to get more comfortable. ¡°It¡¯s bad. Like, seriously bad. Rzesz¨®w is facing a brutal manpower shortage ¡ª especially when it comes to experienced military personnel. Most teams were formed on the very first day of the invasion, and those groups turned into the current clans and guilds. There¡¯s no one left unattached in the city.¡± ¡°What about newcomers? Some people must still be coming into the city, right?¡± Dasha asked, tucking a vape she¡¯d been fiddling with back into her pocket. ¡°Not really,¡± Nika said with a shake of her head. ¡°I mean, there¡¯s traffic, sure. But it¡¯s mostly fully formed teams coming and going. Solo arrivals are almost unheard of. I pulled this from the forums ¡ª there¡¯s even a whole scouting thread. Any fresh people are immediately targeted by clan and guild recruiters. They¡¯re promised big payouts, steady supplies, exciting missions ¡ª the whole package.¡± ¡°That¡¯s going to be hard to compete with,¡± Maksim remarked, already familiar with the details Redhead had dug up. ¡°Especially since we can¡¯t reveal our biggest advantage ¡ª the System. Not yet, at least. It needs to gain a stronger foothold in the world first. Nika did her best to make us sound like a solid option, but so far... nothing. No responses. Barely any views, either.¡± The cyborg girl sighed and ruffled her fiery hair. ¡°So yeah, I¡¯m betting on random encounters and building our own network. When we hit the bar later, I¡¯ll poke around, see what I can pick up.¡± ¡°Alright, main points covered. Let¡¯s move on,¡± Maksim said, wrapping things up. ¡°Dasha is handling the System. Redhead and I are heading to Radoslaw¡¯s, and we¡¯ll grab the reactor on the way. Alisa, are you stopping by the workshop to check on production?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his sister nodded. ¡°I planned to stop by briefly. I¡¯ll see if I can at least finish assembling one combat android like I intended. And I¡¯ll join Dasha, throwing all the free resources I¡¯ve got into helping her.¡±
State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA. Radoslaw¡¯s Auto Workshop Maksim Chernykh and Nikola Kowalski, August 17, 2049, 7:45 AM Maksim and Nikola stepped into the sun-drenched streets of Rzesz¨®w¡¯s industrial quarter. Despite the early hour, the district was already bustling with life ¡ª crowds filled the streets, and most of the workshops were open. Radoslaw Skiba¡¯s workshop greeted them with a symphony of industry: the clash of metal on metal, the bright crackle of welding equipment, and the mechanical hum of numerous busy robots. Just yesterday, after the team had finalized the paperwork for the semi-truck, the Master had asked them to bring it in. Overnight, his robotic workforce had completed the necessary preparations with machine precision, cutting down hours of labor. At the far end of the cavernous hall, the truck and trailer stood elevated on massive industrial auto lifts, gleaming under the bright overhead lights. ¡°Well, look who¡¯s here ¡ª our morning ¡®Ghosts¡¯!¡± came a slightly gravelly voice. From behind a metal shelving unit stepped a stout man, holding an oversized coffee mug in one hand. This time, though, his usual sharp glare and perpetually sour face were nowhere to be seen. It was clear that the unusual and challenging project had completely drawn him in, leaving him energized. ¡°Morning, Radoslaw,¡± Maksim greeted, firmly shaking his hand. ¡°We¡¯ve brought the reactor for the semi-trailer.¡± Nikola gave a brief nod and followed up with her own handshake. ¡°Great! As you can see, we¡¯ve already got things rolling,¡± the Master said with a wide gesture toward the tractor-trailer. ¡°Cleared my schedule as much as I could. My guys are handling everything else, so I can focus entirely on this. Stayed late yesterday to map everything out. The robots spent the whole night checking every bolt and system, prepping for the work. I¡¯ll try to wrap it up by midday as promised, but let¡¯s just say this job¡¯s no walk in the park.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. As they moved closer to the truck, Maksim couldn¡¯t help but notice the impressive array of professional equipment surrounding it, alongside the standard bots. What really caught his eye were five top-tier engineering androids, their shoulders and chests marked with bright orange accents. These weren¡¯t just any robots ¡ª they were premium models built specifically for high-complexity work alongside humans in advanced industrial settings. ¡°Noticed them, huh?¡± Radoslaw smirked, catching Maksim and Nikola¡¯s curious glances. ¡°Rented these bad boys from the city for the day. Damn expensive, I¡¯ll tell you that, but worth every last grant. They can weld, assemble, run tests, handle logistics ¡ª you name it. With these and my crew, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll hit the deadline, no problem.¡± Redhead scanned the setup, her eyes lingering on the neatly stacked crates of mounting components and the massive frame positioned next to the trailer. ¡°Hmm¡­ Looks like you¡¯ve done way more than you¡¯re letting on. A lot more,¡± she remarked, raising an eyebrow. Radoslaw nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Of course I have. Your safety ¡ª and my workshop¡¯s reputation ¡ª are on the line here. If I can properly install this gravity compensator for vibration protection, I¡¯ll have half the city¡¯s caravan operators lining up at my door. They might not care much about vibration resistance, but the extra payload capacity? Oh, they¡¯ll jump at that. So, yeah, I¡¯m throwing everything I¡¯ve got into this.¡± Wasting no time, Maksim opened Radoslaw¡¯s latest message in his AR interface to double-check the updated cost breakdown. ¡°Speaking of orders...¡± he looked up at the older man. ¡°We need to talk about this price of yours because what I¡¯m seeing here is... obscenely high.¡± ¡°Well,¡± the mechanic spread his hands, clearly ready for this conversation, ¡°this isn¡¯t just some routine job. Just installing the gravity module alone would cost a minimum of 120,000 grants. But here? We¡¯re talking about a custom frame, cooling systems, vibration control, reactor installation, rewiring ¡ª and let¡¯s not forget integrating it with your surgical module. My estimate came to 185,000. And that¡¯s me being reasonable, especially considering the rush job, which makes everything exponentially harder.¡± ¡°Radoslaw, my dear partner,¡± Maksim said, his faint smile laced with sharpness. ¡°Explain to me how your labor costs ended up being three times the price of the gravity module itself?¡± ¡°Quality,¡± the Master replied curtly, his expression unflinching. ¡°You¡¯re not just getting a vibration-resistant, high-capacity trailer. You¡¯re getting a fully functional mobile surgical unit with unshakeable vibration stability. You could perform neurosurgery in there if you wanted to. And if I cut corners? The whole thing might collapse, crush your patients ¡ª or, even worse, the compensator might tear the trailer apart, like you so eloquently put it.¡± ¡°Sure, I get that,¡± Nikola interjected, her voice firm. ¡°But let¡¯s be honest ¡ª you¡¯re also planning to use this as your big breakthrough, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯ll be the first in Rzesz¨®w to professionally integrate a ¡®gravity compensator¡¯ into a trailer. That¡¯s quite the selling point for future clients, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Radoslaw admitted, a sly grin tugging at his lips. ¡°But work is work. And don¡¯t forget ¡ª the TACTA consultation doesn¡¯t come for free.¡± ¡°Which we¡¯re already paying for,¡± Maksim countered, his tone sharpening. ¡°Along with the compensator, the materials, the custom components. And now you want to tack on nearly 200,000 more?¡± The mechanic lowered his voice as they walked deeper into the workshop. ¡°Look, if you want this done right and on time, my team has to work nonstop, around the clock. They¡¯ve been at it since last night, no sleep. That kind of commitment comes with an urgency fee.¡± ¡°We talked about this yesterday, Radoslaw,¡± Maksim said, meeting his gaze directly. ¡°What¡¯s the real number here? Let¡¯s be honest ¡ª we¡¯re partners, right?¡± The mechanic paused, glancing at his assistants who were quietly tinkering with their tools, then let out a long sigh. ¡°Alright,¡± he said grudgingly. ¡°I¡¯ll drop the urgency fee and cut part of the service charge. Ninety-four thousand. But that¡¯s final. Not a grant less. Not even a single lesser.¡± Nikola crossed her arms, tilting her head as if deep in thought, while Maksim shifted his attention to his AR calculator, running quick numbers, weighing the odds of pushing the negotiation further. ¡°Fine,¡± he said at last. ¡°Ninety thousand, plus all agreed expenses. And in exchange, you get to announce to the whole city that your workshop was the first to install a gravity compensator on a heavy semi-trailer in Rzesz¨®w. That¡¯s a big win for your reputation, isn¡¯t it?¡± Radoslaw let out a short laugh, his eyes lighting up with a spark of excitement. ¡°Ninety-two, that¡¯s the deal. Now, shake on it before I change my mind.¡± Maksim smirked and extended his hand. They shook firmly, sealing the agreement. ¡°So, that settles it,¡± Nikola concluded with a grin. ¡°You deliver the masterpiece trailer, and we give you fame and future clients.¡± ¡°And we split the profits from those clients as agreed,¡± Maksim added. ¡°Absolutely!¡± the Master replied with a broad smile, signaling to his androids to get started. ¡°We engineers don¡¯t cheat our partners! No surprises, no hidden costs. I¡¯ll have it ready by one o¡¯clock ¡ª well, maybe three at the latest. Not a minute later!¡± At his words, the lift platforms let out a low hum, raising the trailer slightly higher. The androids kicked into action, tool-equipped robo-carts and assembly bots moving into position. Several human assistants grabbed engineering tablets preloaded with the project plans. The workshop buzzed with coordinated energy as the work began. ¡°Thanks, Radoslaw. If you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to call,¡± Maksim said, giving the mechanic a nod. ¡°We¡¯ll be close by.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± he replied with a wink. ¡°And make sure to bring that surgical module once it¡¯s ready. We¡¯ll install it right on the spot. Good luck and see you soon!¡± Maksim gestured lightly toward the exit, and Redhead followed. They walked past the busy workstations, where material assemblers hummed, machines clattered, and welding sparks danced in the air, before stepping out into the golden morning sunlight. The sharp contrast between the workshop¡¯s noisy energy and the calm of the street outside was almost jarring. ¡°That was still a steep price,¡± Nikola said, squinting against the brightness. ¡°Yeah,¡± Maksim agreed with a nod. ¡°But a mobile surgical module is totally worth it. Plus, we¡¯ll be the first in Rzesz¨®w to pull off something like this. Radoslaw¡¯s gonna make a killing on future orders, and we¡¯ll profit from using the trailer and our cut of his contracts. It¡¯s a win-win. Let¡¯s get to it ¡ª we¡¯ve got plenty left to do.¡± Nikola smiled and leaned in to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get moving.¡±
Alisa¡¯s Island (DeepVR location) Alisa Chernykh, August 17th, 2049, 9:55 AM Alisa was lounging comfortably on a wooden sun lounger, perfectly positioned at the edge where golden sand met the pristine lawn of swaying palm trees. The virtual sun shone warmly in a flawless azure sky, while a gentle breeze stirred the palm fronds, carrying the faint scent of sea salt through the air. Two vibrant blue parrots glided gracefully right through the holographic video screen hovering in midair. On the screen, a mesmerizing four-armed alien woman with cobalt-blue skin was draped in a nearly transparent gown. Her bald head was crowned with a bone crest, framing three vivid crimson eyes, a tiny nose, long, slender lips, and pointed ears adorned with elaborate piercings. This was the Princess-Mentat of the Galactic Empire Octagon Prime, a character from the series ¡®Babylon Station: Deep Space.¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t be a stretch to say that Daria¡¯s endless collection of DeepVR avatars could fill an entire book... ¡°And¡­¡± the blue-skinned beauty exclaimed, fidgeting with a vape in her lower pair of hands and flashing a wide grin full of razor-sharp teeth. ¡°Connection to the network validation nodes is live! Bifr?st is stable, channel is solid ¡ª we¡¯re good to go, yeah!¡± Princess-Dasha practically bounced with excitement, taking a deep drag on her vape ¡ª both in the VR and the real world, thanks to her avatar perfectly mirroring her actions and emotions. ¡°We¡¯re absolutely killing it, yeah!¡± she declared, snapping the fingers of her upper left hand with a satisfying click. ¡°Alright, initiating the connection for the ¡®first thousand¡¯ list. IDs verified. Here we go¡­¡± Before the girls, an enormous interactive map of network connections unfolded. The counter started spinning: 100¡­ 200¡­ 500¡­ 999¡­ 1,000! @SYSTEM: Initial deployment of the primary node network successfully completed. ¡°Woo-hoo!¡± Dasha cheered, narrowing all three of her crimson eyes in delight as she swiped the panel aside with a dramatic flourish. ¡°We nailed it, Alisa!¡± ¡°Fantastic work,¡± the blond replied with a satisfied smile. ¡°Moira¡¯s running at 67% capacity right now. I¡¯ll let the Club know we¡¯ll be ready to connect another thousand users in twenty minutes.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± the lead developer nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take a quick vape break and then dive into the module update registry. We¡¯ve got a ton of great feedback and a pile of small fixes ¡ª most of them are quick to implement.¡± Dasha¡¯s avatar faded away as she disconnected. Alisa breathed in the warm, salty breeze, a sense of satisfaction blooming in her chest as a notification popped up. A million grants had just hit the clan¡¯s account ¡ª the next milestone payment from the Club for onboarding the first thousand users. ¡°Not bad for a team that was barely scraping by on minor missions a few days ago,¡± she thought, rising from the lounger, and heading toward the dark wooden bungalow nestled by the lagoon. On the veranda, a table draped in airy gauze seemed to call her over, inviting her to sit down and get back to work. With a casual snap of her fingers, Alisa summoned a tiki mug filled with a ¡°Tiki Master¡± cocktail and leaned into analyzing the System updates. That was when the incoming call caught her mid-thought. The screen lit up, showing a young ginger-haired man dressed in a sleek gray shirt with subtle 3D-printed patterns and matching trousers. ¡°Hello, Pan Jacek,¡± the hostess of the scene greeted him with a nod. ¡°What¡¯s the latest?¡± ¡°Always a pleasure to hear your voice, Pani Alisa,¡± he replied, his tone calm and friendly. ¡°I¡¯ve got nineteen Quantum Cores for you at an average price of 125,000 grants per unit. The truck is fully secured and ready to roll. Which city in State Poland should I deliver to?¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Alisa decided to name Rzesz¨®w. After all, Jacek had guaranteed maximum security and complete confidentiality for the high-value cargo. ¡°Free Rzesz¨®w,¡± she confirmed, forwarding a geotag. ¡°This secured parking lot. Send me the details of the drivers and vehicle so I can arrange clearance. What¡¯s the estimated arrival time?¡± ¡°Around 11:30 PM,¡± Jacek answered after a quick glance at his map. ¡°Oh, and you might like the armored medium-duty truck transporting them. It¡¯s the perfect base for a mobile data center. I¡¯ll throw it in for free ¡ª just give me three System connections in return.¡± Alisa smirked and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Free? For three connections? That sounds quite expensive actually... But fine, you¡¯ve got a deal. Send me the ID list for twenty-two independent TACTA partners. Connections will be activated as soon as the delivery is complete.¡± ¡°Already on it. Always a pleasure doing business with you,¡± Jacek said with a smile before his avatar faded into the virtual air. ¡°See you soon!¡± The video call ended. Alisa leaned back in her chair and quickly sent a voice message to Maksim: [Hey, big brother! The Quantum Cores are arriving tonight, and I managed to snag an armored medium-duty off-road truck as a bonus. It¡¯s practically a ready-made foundation for a mobile data center. We should get ready for hardware installation ASAP. Moira needs a serious upgrade ¡ª the Club is expecting additional connections by tomorrow. Also, we¡¯ll have to figure out how to set up the first truck since all the hardware won¡¯t fit in the one vehicle.] Maksim¡¯s reply came almost instantly: [Great job, sis! I¡¯ve already started designing the perfect mobile command post from the first truck. We¡¯ll add a gravitational compensator, enhance off-road capabilities, upgrade the armor, and equip it with TACTA¡¯s energy weapons, kinetic shields, and its own defensive drones. Basically, we¡¯ll transform it into an unbreakable mobile fortress ¡ª the core of our clan¡¯s operations. We¡¯ll install three of the new Quantum Cores along with the additional modules we¡¯ll grab after the mission. I¡¯ll let Radoslaw know the fun¡¯s just getting started!] [Perfect plan. Let¡¯s make it happen,] Alisa replied with a nod. Chapter 111 – Weaponized Progress State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w, TACTA. Rented Workshop Ghosts of the Future Team, August 17, 2049, 10:25 AM The morning sun had long since shed its gentle warmth, climbing higher in the sky. It was now scorching the air like a blazing furnace. It was hard to believe that autumn was just around the corner. Residents and visitors of the city alike huddled in air-conditioned sanctuaries, determined to escape the sweltering heat. Today was, without a doubt, the hottest day of the entire summer¡­ ¡­Yet within the rented workshop, the atmosphere burned even hotter than the streets outside, brimming with its own fiery intensity. The relentless clatter echoed through the vast hangar ¡ª numerous machineries, three material assemblers and a towering assembly frame working in perfect rhythm. Their mechanical symphony was accompanied by the low hum of cooling systems and air filtration units, as well as the steady buzz of engineering robots. Together, the grinding, clanking, creaking, and pounding created an industrial melody of ceaseless production. The air carried a heavy mix of heated metal, composite plastics, rubber, and the sharp tang of ozone from the welding stations. Watching the androids and service bots darting across the floor, it was easy to believe that time here flowed twice as fast as it did in the world outside. The resources salvaged from dismantling two unfortunate luxury sedans ¨C bulky as they were ¨C had long since run out. Since then, Alisa had already placed two orders for additional components, particularly raw materials for composite plastic panels, and it seemed a third order would soon be inevitable. Maksim, who had joined the bustling epicenter of ¡°technological madness¡± alongside Nikola not long ago, disconnected from the VR controller of the assembly frame. He had just completed the installation and configuration of a rapid-fire autocannon on a platform nicknamed Sleipnir ¡ª a heavily armored vehicle that Dasha had salvaged from the University. Despite the name, it only had four legs, not eight like its mythical counterpart. With this final addition, the young engineer had completed a major milestone for the team: they now had their own armored mini-tank, ready to provide support during the ¡°hot phase¡± of their mission. Glancing at a few green and orange testing glyphs flashing in AR, he allowed himself a satisfied smile and leaned back in his work chair. ¡°Alisa, I see we¡¯re running pretty low on funds?¡± he asked, glancing at his sister, who stood motionless by the workbench, her eyes closed. Not that she needed her physical vision right now anyway. ¡°Yeah, I transferred 2.4 million grants to the special account. That¡¯s for the nineteen Quantum Cores, which should arrive around 23:20 tonight. But hey, as they say, a true pro isn¡¯t the one who hoards money ¡ª it¡¯s the one who spends it fast and smart,¡± she replied with a grin. ¡°So, what¡¯s up? Something you¡¯re thinking about?¡± ¡°Just thinking about stocking up before the mission,¡± he answered with a chuckle. ¡°But first ¡ª can you get in touch with your supplier and dig up the specs on that truck he promised? Ideally, I¡¯d like the full documentation.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Alisa nodded. Before the Ghosts¡¯ leader had even finished washing his face and downing a glass of water, she was ready. ¡°Done. I uploaded the documentation to the clan¡¯s cloud. And went through it myself, too ¡ª just in case I can help with anything.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re definitely a faster reader than me, sis,¡± Maksim grinned. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal? Is it purely Earth-made, or has it been upgraded?¡± The blond stepped away from the assembly frame and walked over to the corner of the workshop, where her brother had tucked himself away from the chaos of darting robots. Grabbing a folding chair leaning against the wall, she unfolded it and sat down nearby. ¡°Alright, here¡¯s the breakdown,¡± she said, swiping an AR schematic into view. ¡°Technically, it¡¯s an Unimog U9K, 2035 model, Earth-manufactured. The main upgrades are the powertrain swap for an algeon generator and, of course, full armor plating.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s the TACTA version of Earth¡¯s methanol-oxygen fuel cells, but running on algeon biofuel?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± she said with a quick nod. ¡°It¡¯s Oxy-algeon, by the way. Great fuel ¡ª efficient, non-toxic, and here¡¯s the fun part: it¡¯s already being produced and sold here in Rzesz¨®w. A couple of local farms jumped on the opportunity. I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯ll be the next industrial standard before long.¡± ¡°Hm... interesting,¡± Maksim murmured thoughtfully, opening the Informatorium and navigating to the section labeled Energy: Biofuel: Generators and Fuel Cells. ¡°What do you think about switching our assault units to this?¡± ¡°Yeah, that could work, especially for the Hurricanes. They¡¯re ideal candidates for extended missions. Want me to crunch the numbers?¡± ¡°Please do. It should give our assault drones a significant boost in operational autonomy.¡± The blonde nodded, redirecting two secondary threads from Daria¡¯s work and assigning them to the new task. ¡°By the way, big brother, what exactly were you planning to buy? Maybe we can hash it out now while we¡¯ve got a moment.¡± ¡°Good idea. Let me call Nikola first,¡± he said, then typed a quick message into their conference chat: [Redhead, how¡¯s it going on your end? Almost wrapped up? Can you swing by?] Barely half a minute later, the door to the adjoining room swung open. Alisa had rented the additional space since their main workshop was bursting at the seams. It also served as storage for completed drones, especially the kamikaze ones, which contain explosives and needed special handling. That¡¯s what Nikola had been busy with before Maksim called her over. ¡°It¡¯s a start-but-never-finish situation in there,¡± Nikola said with mock optimism, leaning against the doorframe and wiping the sweat from her forehead. ¡°By the way, it¡¯s like an oven in here. What¡¯s up?¡± The guy flashed a wide grin and, with a dramatic magician¡¯s gesture, switched Alisa¡¯s shared AR screen in the conference feed to his own. The Informatorium app popped up, displaying a curated selection of TACTA combat armor sets he¡¯d prepared earlier. ¡°You¡¯re gonna like this,¡± he said. ¡°Come sit by Alisa. There¡¯s water on the table if you¡¯re thirsty.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Nikola dashed across the room, dropping into the chair beside the blond and snagging a bottle of mineral water from the table. ¡°Oh, gear! Nice.¡± Maksim checked Daria¡¯s network status and saw it set to Do Not Disturb. Deciding not to pull her away from her coding session, he turned his focus back to the discussion ¡ª combat prep was their top priority anyway. ¡°I¡¯m saying we need to invest heavily in weapons and gear, and we need to do it now,¡± he said seriously. ¡°I know funds are tight, but this mission is the hardest one we¡¯ve taken on so far. And I have no doubt we¡¯ll be greeted with nothing less than ¡®exceptional hospitality.¡¯ Sure, the drones will take the lead, but you all know I¡¯m not willing to risk¡­¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Nikola cut in, her plastic fingers tapping a quick rhythm against the tabletop. ¡°Hiding in the back isn¡¯t an option. If we play it safe, system stats won¡¯t go up, and we won¡¯t unlock any new skills. That means everyone¡¯s going in. Even Dasha.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s exactly the problem,¡± Maksim agreed, turning to face her. ¡°Our armor¡¯s practically falling apart. Some of it¡¯s barely holding together.¡± ¡°Max, we¡¯ve got enough for four full sets,¡± Alisa pointed out, scrolling through the catalog he¡¯d displayed. ¡°Even if we go for the most expensive option you¡¯ve listed as number one. So, what¡¯s the holdup?¡± He sighed and switched to another page, already anticipating the look on Nikola¡¯s face the moment she saw the top item on his list. As expected, Nika practically jumped in her seat, unable to contain her excitement. Honestly, who could blame her? Sitting at the very top of the list was a Cybernetic Battlesuit, Commando class, Berserker type. The lightest in the ¡°Powered Armor Suit¡± category, it was also the fastest and most flexible. And yet, despite its lightweight build, it boasted the best set of synthetic muscles and boosters available, making it the strongest as well. The suit connected directly to the pilot¡¯s cyber-core, prioritizing speed and strength over heavy armor. What¡¯s more, this specific model wasn¡¯t just compatible ¨C it was explicitly designed for Berserkers, capable of supporting up to Level 5 functionality. The stats were absolutely jaw-dropping. But so was the price. At a staggering 190,499 grants, this beast cost almost as a thermonuclear reactor. ¡°Maa-aa-aax¡­¡± Nika drawled in an odd tone, shifting restlessly in her seat. ¡°Kurwa, I¡¯m about to burn a hole through this chair¡­ I want it. I need it. Holy shit, didn¡¯t we still have money lying around?!¡± ¡°I thought so too. Alisa, we had over a million left, didn¡¯t we? So why am I only seeing a little over a hundred now? Care to explain where it all disappeared to?¡± ¡°Ah, crap!¡± his sister blurted, smacking her forehead dramatically. ¡°I completely forgot ¡ª ugh, such a stupid oversight! Check the ¡®Clan Account¡¯ tab for me, will you?¡± Without a word, Maksim did as she asked, fully aware that Alisa could see both the live feed from his visual implants and the processed data from her sub-brain interface. ¡°Sorry, that one¡¯s on me and Dasha,¡± the blonde admitted, her gaze dropping guiltily. ¡°The money¡¯s still there; it¡¯s just spread across sub-accounts, which is why you couldn¡¯t see it. I already pinged Dasha ¡ª we¡¯ll push a patch in an hour. For now, just look through my feed, okay?¡± Alisa shook her head and made a broad, sweeping gesture with her hands. ¡°Once the patch goes live, you¡¯ll have access too. Look, I¡¯ve set aside 300K for Nika¡¯s upgrades, but we¡¯ve only spent 120K so far. For the vehicle pool, it was 200K, and we¡¯ve burned through 120K of that. Well, and there was one big unplanned expense ¡ª a regeneration capsule. So yeah, we¡¯ve got money left. Max, just lay out the whole list, and we¡¯ll figure it out.¡± Maksim nodded, quickly compiled his planned purchases, and sent them to the group chat: // EQUIPMENT LIST FOR ACCELION LABS MISSION * Cybernetic Battlesuit: 190,499 * TACTA Medium Armor (full set) NMSA-Bastion-1.3a: 6,900 * 2x TACTA Light Armor (full set) NLSA-Aether-1b: 6,100 * Medical Kit Add-on ¨C Mobile MedBot VitaGuard M3: 49,300 * 5x Regeneration Rods (consumables for MedBot): 4,999 * Gauss Needle Rifle ¨C Vector Spike GNRc3-m4.2: 3,199 * 20x Needle Cartridges (200 units): 160 * 2x Rechargeable Battery (Class S3) + Charger: 49 ¡°Here¡¯s what I¡¯ve planned. The most expensive items are Nika¡¯s armor and the MedBot. The armor speaks for itself, and the MedBot will replace the regen capsule in the field. As for weapons, I only picked something for myself ¡ª Earth-standard rifles just don¡¯t cut it under Mind Acceleration. Nika, anything to add? Alisa, your thoughts?¡± Redhead rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then nodded with confidence. ¡°We¡¯re gonna need solid melee weapons. I have a feeling close combat¡¯s going to be critical there. Plus, you know, the ¡®Wild Cats¡¯ ¡ª all their cyborgs carry at least one sword.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Alisa replied with a nod. ¡°What¡¯s your preference? I can check if it¡¯s cheaper to grab a blueprint for the material assembler.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not fencing with the shaiszu, I¡¯m cutting through them. So, a cutlass for my right hand,¡± Nika answered. ¡°And if the budget allows, a laser pistol for my left. I saw that combo in a video about the Protectorate combat. Should work perfectly with the speed and dexterity from Berserker mode.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve got the funds,¡± Maksim agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s go ahead and get two pistols and a set of S2-class batteries. The charger I already added to the list is compatible with them.¡± Alisa gave a silent nod, and the pistols were added to the cart. Nika smirked with satisfaction, flashing a thumbs-up. After taking another look at the armor specs in the Informatorium, the cyborg girl paused thoughtfully and added: ¡°I¡¯m guessing TACTA includes not only detailed documentation with the purchase but also a VR module compatible with standard and military-grade training simulators, right? If possible, I¡¯d like to run that program on Moira¡¯s base. While I¡¯m in the regen capsule, I could use the time to train¡­ It¡¯s critical for the mission ¨C just in case there are any quirks with this armor that I need to know about.¡± ¡°Great idea,¡± Maksim said approvingly. ¡°Developing a full-fledged training environment in the System is definitely something we should focus on later. It could be a game-changer for us and even a marketable product down the line. But for now, since we¡¯re short on time, Alisa, can you set up a temporary VR combat simulation just for Nika?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± After the discussion, Redhead headed back to the neighboring room to continue working on the completed drones, while Maksim and Alisa finalized the transition of the assault drones to fuel cells and began prepping the necessary modules. They also updated their order to TACTA, adding a blueprint for producing fuel cells in their fabricator, a large 200-liter barrel of Ox-algeon fuel, and a universal refueling station.
At 1:49 PM, Radoslaw called with news. All the work on the semi-trailer was complete, and the TACTA specialist¡¯s expert certification had confirmed everything was in perfect condition. As an added bonus, the Master¡¯s team had taken the initiative to upgrade the hitch mechanism. Now, the trailer could remain connected to the truck even when the gravity compensator was running in vibration protection mode. Delighted, Maksim left Alisa and Nika to their work on the drones and rushed to inspect the results. The surgical complex, which had been delivered to the auto workshop a couple of hours earlier, was already installed. Radoslaw, visibly proud, couldn¡¯t help but praise his team multiple times, emphasizing that they¡¯d gone above and beyond ¡ª ¡°giving it 300%,¡± as he put it. Max ran a series of tests, checking the system in both vibration protection and overload compensation modes, and had to agree: the craftsmanship was flawless. Now the Ghosts had a powerful dual-purpose vehicle at their disposal: an advanced mobile cyber-hospital or a truck capable of carrying up to a hundred tons of cargo. It could technically handle even more, but that would require significant additional upgrades to the trailer ¡ª something unnecessary for now. Since the work had already been paid for, all Maksim needed to do was sign the handover paperwork. While at it, he managed to persuade Radoslaw to make a few last-minute upgrades to both pickups. It wasn¡¯t a full overhaul ¡ª there simply wasn¡¯t time for that ¡ª but they still outfitted vehicles with semi-automatic drone catapults. Each of them could now deploy up to four Hornets at a time, allowing for eight assault drones to launch directly ¡°on the move.¡± There was also enough space in the truck beds to install kamikaze drone launchers. Resembling multiple rocket launch systems, these setups could fire up to twenty Tonbo Sanda drones simultaneously from each pickup. The launchers were manually operated, so the drones would have to be reloaded by hand, but they were simple to craft and required no expensive consumables. The final addition was a pair of basic ¡°rails¡± with locking mechanisms, designed to launch two reconnaissance drones, Eyes. As usual, Radoslaw put on a show of grumbling and tried to inflate the price. But after a brief negotiation, the terms were settled, and both parties shook hands to seal the deal. Once the cyber-hospital trailer was delivered to the workshop and positioned closer to Alisa, preparations for the operation began in full swing. While Mei Li tested and calibrated the surgical robot, Maksim loaded the regeneration capsule into the trailer, securely installed it, and connected it to the water, air, and power supply. The final touch was to transform the trailer into a fully operational mobile hospital. Maksim installed an air purification and atmospheric control system for the surgical compartment, which had already been outfitted by Radoslaw¡¯s team. As for the auxiliary equipment ¡ª surgical lamps, high-precision cameras, a sterilization unit for tools, additional manipulators, and more ¡ª Alisa, to save time, had ordered it in advance from the city¡¯s crafters. Two androids meticulously cleaned every inch of the trailer¡¯s interior. Maksim activated the vibration protection and air purification systems, while Nikola stepped through the ¡°decontamination chamber,¡± another piece salvaged from Zelman¡¯s clinic. Moments later, she was prepped and positioned on the surgical table. The operation commenced. Alisa remained inside the trailer, closely monitoring the procedure to ensure the surgical systems ran flawlessly. Maksim, on the other hand, headed to the adjacent hall to focus on testing the assembled drones. One by one, they were calibrated, verified, and made mission-ready, left standing in neat rows as they awaited inspection from the city¡¯s official. Time slipped by unnoticed, and before anyone realized, the night had arrived... Chapter 112 – The Calm Before the Bloodbath State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w Territory, S19 Highway Ghost of the Future Team, August 18, 2049, 2:58 AM Maksim woke up just minutes before his alarm went off. He¡¯d managed to nap for about an hour ¡ª not much, but better than nothing. Thankfully, Alisa had handed out specialized TACTA stimulants designed to maximize recovery, even during short sleep periods. Now, the Ghosts were steadily making their way toward the PolTech-IV Innovation Park in two pickups and an armored truck. It was the site of what would likely be their most challenging and dangerous mission yet. Their ticket to the big leagues. A trial by fire. And all of it perfectly aligned with the upcoming launch of TACTA¡¯s Ratings system.
Three and a half hours earlier At 11:19 PM, Jacek¡¯s convoy arrived, bringing all nineteen promised Quantum Cores. The Chernykh siblings were there to handle the transfer, both outfitted in TACTA armor with sealed helmets. Given the shipment¡¯s strict confidentiality, their cautious, concealed appearance raised no questions. After a quick exchange of greetings, Alisa transmitted the verification key, and the cargo was officially handed over into the Ghosts¡¯ possession. Thanks to the ginger-head AI¡¯s meticulous preparation, inspecting and accepting the equipment was quick and seamless. When the truck¡¯s sealed cargo bay was opened, they found neatly arranged rows of securely fastened Cores, each one numbered from one to nineteen. On the floor nearby, in a designated mount, sat a reinforced case. Inside was an industrial-grade laptop containing the logbook of the most recent operational sessions for each core. According to the records, the final activity had been a full diagnostic test performed a little over twelve hours earlier. Since then, the units had remained powered down. ¡°Everything checks out. We confirm receipt of the shipment. Payment has just been transferred to the designated account,¡± Maksim stated as he signed the electronic acceptance protocol. ¡°Excellent. All the best,¡± nodded the senior member of Jacek¡¯s team. With that, the guards and drivers climbed back into their escort vehicles and departed the site in disciplined formation. Maksim examined the delivered truck and was thoroughly satisfied. It was reinforced with specialized TACTA composite armor ¡ª durable enough to withstand moderate gunfire and fend off attacks from mid-sized shaiszu. The fuel tank was nearly half full, providing a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, meaning refueling wouldn¡¯t be a concern anytime soon. Perfect for the upcoming mission! Using this truck with the two pickups, they could significantly reduce the risks. The armored cargo bay was large enough to carry all their drones, except for the Hurricanes, which could fly alongside them, easily keeping pace. The team relocated the truck with Moira and the trailer to a covered parking lot with heavy surveillance. With nearly all the Quantum Cores ¡ª except for one ¡ª transferred into the trailer, Maksim decided to spare no expense, opting for premium insurance and maximum-level security. Ironically, the guards on duty that night were a squad of combat cyborgs from the ¡°Wild Cats.¡± However, the high level of confidentiality ensured that no one at the facility knew what was locked inside the Ghosts¡¯ hangar. Nearly every item stored in this warehouse was a high-value asset belonging to clans or guilds, making discretion paramount. Before sealing the hangar, they waited for Dasha, who helped connect Moira to a second Quantum Core and two custom-built ¡°AI accelerators.¡± Alisa had assembled these units in the workshop, repurposing high-performance onboard computers salvaged from two business-class sedans. The upgrade significantly enhanced the clan AI¡¯s capabilities, ensuring it could efficiently manage the drone fleet while maintaining the System¡¯s operational demands. With time running out and much left to do, Maksim and Dasha resorted to TACTA stimulants to keep going. By this point, Radoslaw had finished installing drone launch systems on both pickups, and they were soon driven back to the workshop for final loading. For the rest of their aerial fleet, the Chernykh siblings designed a quick-launch system that they installed in the bed of the armored truck provided by Pan Jacek. The setup was straightforward but highly reliable. Pull out a rack section, release the restraints, deploy the drones ¡ª all equipped with anti-grav systems ¡ª and slide the rack back into place. Repeat as many times as needed. Though it was a manual system, it allowed the team to deploy all their UAVs quickly and efficiently. They even rehearsed the process to ensure there would be no mishaps during the mission¡¯s critical moments. Meanwhile, Redhead spent the entire time in the regeneration capsule, undergoing accelerated rehabilitation after her recent implant upgrades. Of course, she wasn¡¯t simply resting ¡ª the cyborg girl was tirelessly training in DeepVR to master her newly acquired TACTA Cybernetic Battlesuit. At 1:00 AM, the city inspector arrived to verify that the Ghosts¡¯ weapons and equipment matched their mission declaration. He conducted a quick but thorough examination of the drones and their test protocols, even requesting a few units be launched for demonstration. Additionally, he ran standard performance tests on Moira to confirm her classification. Satisfied, the inspector gave them the green light. Maksim, Dasha, and Alisa quickly finished loading and set off, picking up Nika along the way. She had remained in the capsule until the last possible moment but still managed to complete all procedures, take a shower, and suit up in her combat gear just in time. ¡°Get as much sleep as you can,¡± the Ghosts¡¯ leader instructed. ¡°And don¡¯t forget to take your stimulants.¡±
¡°Good, kurwa, morning,¡± came a voice from the neighboring seat. This seat, by the way, had to be pushed all the way back to make room for Nikola in her battlesuit. She wasn¡¯t exactly small to begin with, and the armor added even more height and bulk. This pickup wasn¡¯t a compact vehicle by any means ¡ª it had plenty of space. Had. Until Nikola climbed in. Maxim glanced over with a grin, watching his girlfriend shift around, trying to get comfortable. ¡°Rough, huh? I promise, we¡¯ll replace that seat before the next mission.¡± ¡°Nah, it¡¯s fine,¡± she huffed. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s more than fine. This TACTA pharma is something else! Back in the corp, we only had regular stimulants. But this stuff? Feels like I got a full night¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°No kidding,¡± Maxim replied. ¡°The effect¡¯s impressive. Too bad the instructions are clear ¡ª no more than once every forty-eight hours.¡± The team¡¯s conference icon lit up, signaling that Daria Vasilevskaya had woken up in the other pickup and joined the call. ¡°Hey, everyone¡­ uh¡­ good morning, yeah!¡± her groggy, slightly hoarse voice crackled through their helmets. ¡°You won¡¯t believe this ¡ª I actually feel rested. Crazy, right? How much longer till we¡¯re there?¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°About fifteen minutes,¡± Alisa answered, currently managing all three vehicles. ¡°Great,¡± Daria perked up. ¡°Hey, how about I fill you in on the latest System updates?¡± What followed was a fascinating and critical twenty-minute briefing. The team even pulled over briefly at a waypoint to fully hear her out before continuing with the mission. The news turned out to be substantial ¡ª the kind of thing that deserved a proper discussion in a quiet room, seated comfortably at a large table with steaming mugs of coffee¡­ rather than hunched in the seats of pickup trucks, clad in combat gear, rifles within arm¡¯s reach. And heading straight into the fray. Maksim assured them that tomorrow, once the mission was over, they¡¯d revisit everything and dig into the finer points. Here¡¯s what Vasilevskaya shared: The rapid growth of new System users had finally reached a critical mass. The deluge of incoming data had transformed into actionable insights, allowing the current phase of machine learning to wrap up. As Dasha aptly put it, all the main modules had ¡°leapt into release.¡± Even the core interfaces were polished with the latest update. The big news? The System could now fully handle ¡°super-attributes.¡± The official name was still up in the air ¡ª Dasha kept pushing for ¡°magic powers¡± ¡ª but the functionality was solid. Both individual fighters and their commanders could now see exactly when an ability was activated, how long it would last, how much ¡°energy¡± remained, and, most critically, a countdown timer for when it could be used again. Another major improvement was flexibility. As attributes leveled up, new abilities unlocked, giving users more options to adapt to specific scenarios. Not every fight called for the ¡°highest caliber,¡± after all ¨C now you can choose what skill exactly to use. And for the first time, the System could accurately track and factor in the effects of passive abilities that didn¡¯t need activation. Even more impressive, the System could now act as a ¡°tactical commander in the field.¡± With access to both the mission briefing and all assigned objectives, it seamlessly integrated additional resources ¡ª like archived maps and media files ¡ª to provide a comprehensive operational overview. In this role, the System organized and synthesized data from drones and bots, incorporating the passive and active super-attributes, as well as the full spectrum of skills available to the team. Special priority was given to members with Foresight-abilities, ensuring maximum tactical precision in rapidly evolving scenarios. It continuously monitored the team¡¯s vitals and psycho-emotional states, tracking any changes in real time. If a situation became critical, the System could step in with alerts and deploy life-saving interventions via the auto-injectors in each soldier¡¯s military-grade medkit. Ultimately, the updated interface, for both commanders and ground troops, was significantly more flexible and informative. Nika, unable to contain her excitement, exclaimed, ¡°This is the best, kurwa, battle interface I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± Raising a fist to the sky, she added dramatically, ¡°Now we¡¯re gonna fight for real!¡±
The monotony of the Technology Park¡¯s surroundings dissolved into the consuming darkness of night. No lights broke through the black ¡ª even the streetlamps stood silent and lifeless. The barrier gate stood frozen, pointing skyward, while faint silhouettes of buildings loomed through the mist, one bearing the faint, weathered sign ¡°Accelion Labs.¡± Farther back, an industrial complex emerged like a spectral monument, its shadowy pipes and concrete forms blending into the night. The air was damp and heavy with the scent of grass and asphalt, a faint echo of the days when traffic and visitors filled these grounds. Two pickups and a heavily armored truck rolled to a halt a kilometer away from the entrance. Their headlights were off, leaving only the faint outlines of the vehicles visible under the dim moonlight. Maksim stepped out of the first pickup, clad in medium TACTA armor of the Bastion class. From the passenger side, Nika jumped out energetically, though she misjudged the added bulk of her armor and nearly stumbled as her dorsal module caught the edge of the doorframe. ¡°We need a bigger truck, kurwa!¡± The deserted road absorbed her complaint in complete silence. Maksim had already gone over the team¡¯s communication protocols ¡ª the TACTA helmets effectively muted every internal sound, allowing them to talk freely without worrying about being overheard. From the second pickup emerged Dasha, Alisa, and their combat android, codenamed E-1. Two ¡®Eyes¡¯ launched 40 minutes ago and were currently hovering above the area in stealth mode. So, the Ghosts could assess what to expect in the near future. // SYSTEM #Gungnir BETA, v. 0.09.5 module activated #Initial territory scan complete. The tactical map flickered on, blooming with a colorful array of markers. The shaiszu hadn¡¯t been idle ¡ª they¡¯d not only constructed their Nest but also established active patrols around the area. Key objectives were clearly marked: the Accelion Labs building, outlined in green, and the shaiszu-occupied structure, glowing ominously in red. #Updating target list... complete. #Current tactical recommendations... ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move,¡± Maksim ordered, quickly reviewing the suggestions from the Tactical Module. ¡°Alisa, get the drones in the air from both pickups. Redhead, get moving ¡ª open up the truck and send out the rest. Dasha, the platform will be here soon. Use it as cover like we trained and advance toward the entrance slowly. E-1 will provide cover, and the Hurricanes are standing by.¡± Nika launched herself toward the truck in a series of powerful strides. Reaching the back doors, she flung them open and slipped inside, immediately prepping the Eye drones for deployment. Moments later, two more of those recon units rose silently into the night sky, their stealth modules activating as they ascended. For a brief moment, faint ripples marked their presence before they disappeared completely, blending into the darkness. In less than thirty seconds, they joined their counterparts already scanning the technopark. // SYSTEM: Analysis of detected shaiszu specimens The System quickly classified all identified threats by cross-referencing data from the recon drones with the vast Informatorium¡¯s database. // Detected Enemy Units * Scout Spider Reconnaissance unit. Stands 11 cm at the shoulder, 25 cm in length. Capable of leaping distances between 10 and 20 meters. Utilizes web to access hard-to-reach areas. Threats: ** Venomous. Threat Class: 1-C. Estimated number detected: 1,820. * Scout Guardian Spider Hybrid reconnaissance and combat unit. Stands 19 cm at the shoulder, 65 cm in length. Operates in packs of 6¨C10 individuals. Constructs dense, durable webbing used for barriers and traps. Threats: ** Venomous acid spit (range 10-15 meters). Threat Class: 2-B to 5-A (depending on group size). ** Molecular venom (deposited on webs and various surfaces). Threat Class: 5-A. ** Chelicerae (inflict molecular venom, capable of damaging light armor). Threat Class: 5-A. Estimated number detected: 327. * Stone Wolf (Beta) Combat unit. Stands 120 cm at the shoulder and measuring 210 cm in length. An exceptionally fast entity with a highly durable armor-like hide. Threats: ** Charging Strike (requires momentum). Threat Class: 2-A. ** Bite. Threat Class: 3-A. ** Tail Strike (blade-edged). Threat Class: 4-C. Estimated number detected: 17 (organized into 3 packs: 7, 6, and 4 members). * Stone Wolf (Alpha) Combat leader and coordinator. Stands 155 cm at the shoulder with a body length of 270 cm. A highly agile entity with cascading leap capability and a kinetic barrier. Threats: ** Charging Strike (requires momentum). Threat Class: 4-A. ** Bite. Threat Class: 5-A. ** Claw Strike. Threat Class: 3-A. ** Tail Strike (blade-edged). Threat Class: 6-B Estimated number detected: 3 * Fire Wasp (Swarm Formation) Defensive and sabotage-oriented unit. Each insect measures around 2-4 cm on average, with a maximum size of 6 cm. These entities only operate in swarms, and their danger level is directly proportional to their numbers. Threats: ** Self-igniting Hemolymph. Threat Class: 1-F to 10-A (depending on swarm size). ** Flaming Gas. Threat Class: 2-E to 10-A (depending on swarm size). Estimated count: 2 swarms (each potentially containing up to 10,000 individuals). ¡°Kurwa¡­¡± Nika muttered under her breath. ¡°Guys, it¡¯s gonna be a bloodbath.¡± Chapter 113 – The Burning Hives State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w Territory Border of PolTech-IV Innovation Park, August 18, 2049, 5:03 AM Launching all drones and completing the rapid advance had taken longer than expected. By the time the Ghosts reached the destination, the first light of dawn was breaking over the horizon. Not that they¡¯d been counting on the cover of darkness ¡ª Shaiszu wouldn¡¯t leave their Nest guarded by creatures with poor night vision. Eighty meters of exposed road now separated them from the target, with no available cover beyond this point. They¡¯d be spotted, if not people, then the drones. For now, the team had taken up position near a small birch grove. It wasn¡¯t much for protection, but at least the trees provided enough of a screen to block any direct observation from the Innovation Park¡¯s side. The video feed to Rzesz¨®w had been live since the first two recon drones began their loops over the area. Now, the number of active streams had increased to ten. The mission parameters were set. It was time to move. // SYSTEM # Active Drones: * Recon Microdrones Scout 2500: 100/100 * Observer Drones Eye: 10/10 * Combat Drones Hornet: 49/49 * Heavy Combat Drones Hurricane-2: 2/2 * Kamikaze Drones Tonbo Sanda S: 300/300 Before charging into shaiszu-occupied territory, the team took a moment to evaluate the situation. With ten flying Eye-type scouts already circling above, the tactical picture was coming into focus. The rest of the drones were held back for now to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Maksim asked. Thanks to the soundproofing in their TACTA helmets, they could speak freely without worrying about being overheard. ¡°Stealth or brute force? Each has its ups and downs.¡± ¡°Before it finally gets light, we might have a chance to slip into the Nest unnoticed,¡± Alisa said thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ve run some simulations. The odds aren¡¯t perfect, but they¡¯re decent ¡ª 78.25%. Any higher is unrealistic, the spiders are far too active in this area. And that¡¯s not even factoring in our drone fleet. Those will stand out no matter what we do.¡± ¡°What¡¯s bothering me is that my Foresight hasn¡¯t kicked in yet,¡± Dasha said softly, staying low behind the metallic shield of their platform. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we haven¡¯t crossed into the perimeter yet, and things are still safe here¡­ I don¡¯t know. But I¡¯ve got a bad feeling ¡ª without magic¡­ I mean, without foresight, sneaking in unnoticed seems impossible. We¡¯ll step on a spider. Or two. Yeah.¡± Maksim nodded, then crouch-walked closer to the road for a better vantage point. His helmet¡¯s integrated binocular interface let him take in the mission area with sharp clarity, giving him a firsthand look at what lay ahead. A moment later, Redhead followed suit. She had ample combat experience, though an assault of this scale was something she¡¯d only practiced in training drills. ¡°Alright, here¡¯s my take. I¡¯ve scanned the area, and honestly, trying to go in stealth is a waste of time. Sure, we could sneak our squad through here,¡± he pointed to a narrow gap on the map between two buildings, ¡°and reach the Nest entrance. But then what? There are still way too many mobs overhead. The moment we breach the Nest, we¡¯ll blow our cover. And if we don¡¯t clear them out now, they¡¯ll hit us from behind. Worse, they could flank us in the tightest spots ¡ª inside the building, for instance. It¡¯s too risky.¡± ¡°If we start the clearing now, it¡¯ll give the Queen time to get ready,¡± Alisa pointed out, though she quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m not against it, just laying out all the scenarios we¡¯re working with.¡± Nika, moving quietly ahead in her state-of-the-art, completely silent armor, spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m in favor of clearing them out ¡ª just going off my gut and experience. But what if we try a hybrid approach? Let¡¯s sneak onto the territory first and get into solid positions. The terrain works to our advantage ¡ª it slopes upward slightly. If we keep the drones skimming just inches above the asphalt, there¡¯s a good chance they¡¯ll go unnoticed all the way to that barrier over there.¡± Redhead quickly outlined a plan on the augmented reality map, marking their route and key positions. ¡°As we¡¯re crawling forward,¡± she continued, ¡°we send a couple of stealth drones into the Nest to recon. Let¡¯s figure out how those bastards have dug in. If there¡¯s a chance to hit them hard and catch them off guard, we take it. Half the drones can push forward, carving a path to the Queen. Meanwhile, we take out the threats above and follow right behind. Worst case, we get spotted ¡ª and if that happens, we pivot straight into a full-scale assault, just like Maksim suggested. How¡¯s that for a plan?¡±
¡°Dasha, get down! Don¡¯t move!¡± Maksim commanded. Without hesitation, WonderKid dropped to the ground and froze. While she wasn¡¯t as obsessed with military games like airsoft as the leader of the Robotics Enthusiasts Club, curiosity had lured her to a few training sessions. One game led to another, and eventually, she got hooked. Now, the instincts she had honed during those matches kicked in naturally. ¡°Hold¡­ hold¡­¡± Max whispered, crouched behind a trash bin, waiting for the last Stone Wolf to pass. The pack had moved to the far end of the street, none of them glancing their way. And they probably wouldn¡¯t. Dasha¡¯s Foresight remained silent, including her passive abilities. There was no immediate danger. Still, Maksim wasn¡¯t one to take risks. He waited a full thirty seconds before signaling Dasha and Nika, who had been covering the rear, to regroup with the squad. So far, so good. All 100 microdrones and part of the Hornets had infiltrated the area. Using the scattered buildings as cover, they¡¯d successfully avoided the patrolling spiders and other threats. ¡°We¡¯re moving way too slow. The sun¡¯s already coming up,¡± Maksim grumbled, his frustration evident. ¡°Alisa, scout the Nest now, as we planned. No point wasting time sneaking around if it¡¯s not worth it!¡± ¡°On it,¡± his sister replied immediately. ¡°I¡¯ve got an Eye over the building. I¡¯ll send it in and see what I can find.¡± The almost invisible, utterly silent drone descended quickly, slipping through a massive breach in the wall. However, it halted abruptly, mere centimeters from colliding with an almost imperceptible strand of webbing. And in that instant, a rush of alarm shot through every team member like a bolt of lightning. // SYSTEM # Daria: Attribute ¡°Foresight¡± Level 3 triggered. Passive skill ¡°Sixth Sense¡± activated.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The feed from the drone flickered. For a brief moment, venom-red lines glowed in the darkened corridor, revealing a chaotic lattice of webbing. What had seemed like an empty space was a deadly snare. The translucent strands formed an intricate alarm system ¡ª perfectly positioned to entangle even the smallest drones. // Operational Forecast Updated: # Current Situation: Trap. The squad has been tracked since crossing the gate. Recommendation: Prepare for combat. ¡°Plan Hard Cleanup ¡ª move!¡± Maksim ordered sharply, working in perfect sync with Alisa as she sent every drone into the air and summoned the armored platform to their position at full speed. Two nearby Hornets rose swiftly, opening fire with precise, single-shot bursts on the first spider guardians emerging on the roof of a neighboring building. // SYSTEM WARNING! Maksim is ready to use attribute ¡°Skill Acceleration.¡± Active skill ¡°Neural Burst¡± detected. Synergy with team members: Not possible. Synergy Conduit absent. WARNING! Activation of Dasha¡¯s skill ¡°Sixth Sense¡± is currently ineffective (high energy cost, long cooldown). # Current operational situation under control of combat module Gungnir. Target handling proceeding as planned. Special abilities unnecessary ¡ª combat difficulty within normal limits. Dasha¡¯s digital instincts kicked in just in time. She canceled the activation of her skill at the last second, saving precious energy. There wasn¡¯t even a moment to wonder about the mysterious ¡°Synergy Conduit¡± mentioned in the alert. Maksim activated Neural Burst, and the world around him slowed dramatically ¡ª one second of real time stretched into ten seconds of ¡°virtual¡± time. With the ability lasting ten real-world seconds, he now had a full 100 seconds to assess the situation, issue commands to the drones, and even take direct control if necessary. He even slipped briefly into DeepVR, shutting out the physical world, and fully immersing himself into managing the vast swarm of drones. A separate window displayed the situational map, updated with real-time target data. The challenge wasn¡¯t the complexity of the battlefield ¡ª it was the sheer number of enemies. On one side were the ¡°wolves,¡± large and formidable opponents, especially their Alphas. They couldn¡¯t be ignored. On the other, were nearly 2,000 scout spiders, 327 larger venom-acid-spitting variants, and the looming threat of two hives of ¡°fire wasps.¡± Maksim had seen their destructive capabilities before. They weren¡¯t just dangerous ¡ª they were catastrophic. A nagging thought forced its way into Maksim¡¯s mind: ¡°You¡¯re too slow. You should have used Neural Surge. You screwed up. The team¡¯s in danger because of you. They¡¯re going to die, and it¡¯ll be your fault!¡± It felt like an invisible demon whispering in his ear, dragging fear and panic behind it. This was new. Maksim had never been the type to spiral into self-doubt like this. Sure, he¡¯d had moments of weakness before ¡ª especially when remembering the mistakes and despair during his failed attempts to revive his sister. But these whispers, creeping in at such a crucial moment when he must focus on resolving a critical situation ¡ª they were entirely out of character. Suddenly, a sound cracked through his thoughts, sharp and brittle, like breaking young ice. Max snapped out of the strange VR-trance he hadn¡¯t even realized he¡¯d fallen into. Reality hit him hard ¡ª two seconds had passed since the skill activation. And in the virtual interface, Alisa¡¯s avatar materialized beside him. ¡°Thanks to Her Holy Brightness¡­ you¡­ you¡¯re here,¡± she said quickly, her voice but tinged with effort. ¡°We¡¯ve hit the critical phase for targeting and tactics. I can keep up with your Acceleration, but it¡¯s tough on the primary thread... doesn¡¯t matter¡­ I¡¯m here to help.¡± ¡°Thanks. Let¡¯s get straight to it. The Fire Wasp hives are our biggest threat here, and they need to be eliminated first. We absolutely can¡¯t let the swarms group up. A chain detonation at that scale would be a disaster. I propose sending in the Hurricanes.¡± Maksim quickly mapped out the flight paths for the two heavy drones, assigning one to each hive. After a brief pause, he added support units: five Hornets and ten Tonbo Sanda kamikaze drones per team. ¡°Agreed,¡± Alisa nodded. ¡°But ten Tonbo per hive is overkill. Three will do ¡ª just one making it through will suffice.¡± ¡°You read my mind,¡± Maksim replied with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m also thinking about high chance of chain detonation there. Alright, three it is. If needed, the Hurricanes have both machine guns and cannons to break through the hive walls.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll assist with targeting,¡± his sister added. ¡°I just allocated four secondary threads to each Hurricane. You focus on the overall strategy ¡ª I¡¯ll handle the execution. The secondary threads are faster than the primary one. They¡¯re pure digital, with no subconscious processing, which makes them perfect for firing quick micro-bursts of two to three rounds. The machine guns can handle it ¡ª they¡¯ve got trigger mechanism.¡± The commands were issued. The drones surged forward, their afterburners leaving faint trails in the air as they closed in on their targets, delivering rapid, precise bursts of fire. ¡°Next priority: three wolf packs, especially the Alphas,¡± Maksim said, highlighting all the groups on the map. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to let them drag us into close combat ¡ª that¡¯s their strong suit. Plus, the Alphas are equipped with kinetic shields, and those are a serious problem.¡± ¡°Understood. What¡¯s your attack plan?¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the breakdown. The first pack, seven wolves and an Alpha ¡ª assign ten Hornets. The second pack, six wolves and an Alpha ¡ª nine Hornets. For the third pack ¡ª seven Hornets. Take thirty kamikazes as well. Those kinetic shields are a concern; let¡¯s try to overload them with blasts.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Alisa replied tersely, already initiating the commands. Maksim glanced at the timer ¡ª 6.887 seconds of real time had passed. He needed to speed up! ¡°Those spiders,¡± he began, his voice sharp and focused. ¡°they¡¯re not just spitting venom. It¡¯s weak acid too, I confirmed it in the Informatorium. Individually, they¡¯re not much of a threat, which is why their danger class is low. But in large numbers, they¡¯ll damage our armor and drones. We can¡¯t let them cluster, need to act preemptively. I¡¯ll assign targets ¡ª if you¡¯ve got spare resources, back me up. I¡¯m also considering activating Neural Surge after Neural Burst. Energy reserves are fine¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Alisa interrupted sharply. ¡°I suspect there¡¯s a lot more Shaiszu inside. We¡¯ll need to save energy for multiple ambushes and heavy resistance when we breach. I see your plan, and with Dasha¡¯s passive abilities active, it¡¯s enough to handle the street for now.¡± ¡°Fair point. Makes sense. Besides, this gives us a chance to combine Dasha¡¯s Foresight with my Mind Acceleration.¡± The ability¡¯s duration expired, yanking Maksim abruptly out of virtual mode. A thunderous cacophony hit him like a sledgehammer ¡ª the helmet¡¯s noise suppression lagged for a split second, letting the full roar of combat batter his senses before kicking in. The Innovation Park had literally transformed into a local corner of Hell. Maksim had meticulously calculated the destruction during his time in Acceleration, but nothing could have prepared him for the raw chaos of experiencing it firsthand. The ground itself seemed alive, trembling under the relentless onslaught of gunfire and explosions. By the time his vision cleared, every drone was either already in position or fully engaged. The assault was in full swing. // SYSTEM # ALERT! HIVE DETONATION! # Emergency drone retreat to safe positions initiated. # Flashbang protection is activated in helmets. ¡­They didn¡¯t hear the deafening explosions that rocked the battlefield ¡ª their TACTA armor¡¯s sound dampening worked flawlessly. But the shockwave was unavoidable, knocking both Dasha and Alisa to the ground. And that was still lucky. Both the Fire Wasp hives had been positioned at the extreme edges of the Innovation Park, far apart on opposite ends. It was far enough to hope that the Accelion Labs building ¡ª and its priceless equipment ¡ª remained untouched. Unfortunately, the Shaiszu Nest was also located well away from the explosion epicenters, and likely suffered only minimal damage. The drones¡¯ ¡°afterburner ascent¡± mode activated flawlessly. Hurricanes and Hornets shot skyward like rockets, veering sharply to avoid the blast zones. Every single one survived intact. Only the kamikaze Tonbo Sanda drones were lost, but that had been expected. The siblings Chernykh¡¯s predictions proved entirely correct. Each hive was obliterated by a single kamikaze drone. Chapter 114 – Through Fire and Webs State Poland, Free Rzesz¨®w Territory PolTech-IV Innovation Park, August 18, 2049, 6:17 AM ¡°Well, we¡¯ve made one hell of a loud entrance. Time to storm the Nest! Move it!¡± Maksim commanded. ¡°I¡¯m taking point,¡± Nika shot back immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the small fry hand-to-hand. Save your ammo ¡ª it ain¡¯t endless!¡± ¡°All right,¡± Max agreed. ¡°Dasha, Alisa, stay behind the platform and keep moving. I¡¯ll cover you.¡± Redhead bolted forward, tearing down the narrow ¡°street¡± between rows of squat industrial buildings with blistering speed. Her countless hours in DeepVR, mastering the new battle suit and the TACTA laser pistol, were paying off in full. Darting to the walls mid-run, she moved with lethal precision, her cutlass slashing through large and small spiders in a flurry of deadly arcs. For anything farther out, she relied on her laser pistol ¡ª a silent, lethal masterpiece of TACTA engineering. Even its lowest power was enough to take down any spider. The obliteration of the Fire Wasp hives hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed. In the distance, a furious howl rose and grew louder ¡ª the Stone Wolves, enraged by the explosions, were now charging straight for the team, taking the fastest route possible. // SYSTEM # ALERT! Stone Wolves (Groups 1, 2, and 3) preparing to attack. # Predicted attack routes calculated. The tactical map updated, showing eight shaiszu in the first pack, seven in the second, and five in the third. Each group included an Alpha male, its massive size distinguishing it from the rest. Their markers were flagged with a special icon. Currently, the System displayed a shared trajectory for each pack, with detailed predictions for individual wolves available if needed. The Hornet strike drones were already in flight, requiring only minor course corrections to align with their targets. The wolves hadn¡¯t advanced far before their airborne hunters closed in. Twenty-six sleek, metallic silhouettes tore through the air at low altitude, seconds away from reaching firing range. ¡°Max, I¡¯ll intercept two packs with the Hurricanes. With afterburners, they¡¯ll make it in time,¡± Alisa suggested. ¡°Go for it,¡± he said with a curt nod. By now, the wolves had switched to aggressive evasive maneuvers. It was clear they¡¯d received intel on where the attacks were likely to strike. Instead of charging straight ahead, the shaiszu began bounding unpredictably ¡ª leaping off walls, dodging through obstacles, and weaving sharp, erratic zigzags. Yet, despite the chaos, their movements were perfectly precise, with flawless coordination. A clever move. It might have worked if they were facing only human. But this wasn¡¯t a battle against humans. Not this time. This was a fight against the unrelenting precision of Alisa and Moira. Engines roared overhead, followed by the deafening crack of gunfire, as the Hurricanes dove steeply from altitude, unleashing a deadly barrage. Having climbed high to evade the blast waves from the hives detonations, the heavy drones could now plummet at speed, unloading with brutal precision. The first pack weathered the attack with relatively minor losses ¡ª one wolf down, another wounded, while the Alpha¡¯s kinetic shield absorbed every strike. But the second pack fared far worse. Four wolves lay shredded, their blood staining the asphalt in dark, spreading pools. The Alpha¡¯s shield faltered, its once-bright glow reduced to a pale, flickering shimmer. The Hurricanes pulled back to reposition, their guns falling silent for the moment. In their wake, as the wolves scrambled to regroup, six ¡°dragonflies¡± shot forward ¡ª nimble Tonbo Sanda FPV kamikaze drones, using the chaos to close in on their targets. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! BOOOM! The first pack lost three wolves. The second was completely wiped out ¡ª its Alpha lay paralyzed on the ground, howling in agony, its kinetic shield shattered, its spine broken, and hind legs rendered useless. Suddenly, the leader of the third pack made an unexpected move. It leapt high into the air, twisting mid-jump to push off a lamppost with its powerful hind legs. Like a living missile, it launched itself directly at a Hurricane. Neither Dasha¡¯s acute Foresight nor Alisa¡¯s reaction speed could save the drone. In an instant, the Alpha accelerated, becoming a blurred streak of motion. Its sharpened crest and twin rows of horns pierced the Hurricane¡¯s hull. Meanwhile, its twin tails whipped violently, striking the machine with razor-sharp blades in a frenzy of destruction. In a matter of seconds, the drone spiraled out of control and slammed into the ground, engulfed in a plume of acrid black smoke. The kinetic barrier had saved the monster from the initial blast. But not for long. Furious over the loss of one of their two most powerful combat machines, Alisa unleashed five Tonbo Sanda kamikaze drones on the Stone Wolf. The resulting explosions fused into a single, earth-shaking blast, further intensified by the violent detonation of the Hurricane¡¯s ammunition cache. By the time the dust settled, only eight wolves remained, one of them an Alpha. But the surviving heavy combat drone finished turning and opened fire. This time, it started with a precise burst of four autocannon shells, shredding the Alpha¡¯s shield. A split second later, the Hurricane switched to its rapid-fire machine gun, unleashing a storm of high-caliber rounds. With the leader eliminated, the machine turned its attention to the remaining wolves. At the same time, four Tonbo executed their strikes, erasing the rest of the packs. Meanwhile, the team ¡ª accompanied by their android, the platform, and ground-cover bots ¡ª had already reached their objective. Ahead loomed a massive breach in the wall ¡ª one of three known entrances into the shaiszu Nest. // SYSTEM #Active Drones: * Recon Microdrones Scout 2500: 93/100 (-7) * Observer Drones Eye: 10/10 * Combat Drones Hornet: 49/49 * Heavy Combat Drones Hurricane -2: 1/2 (-1) * Kamikaze Drones Tonbo Sanda S: 279/300 (-21)
The Shaiszu had torn quite a gash in the wall ¡ª wide enough to drive a tank through. Not that a tank would have gotten far. Massive roots, thick branches, and vine-like tendrils jutted from the gaping hole, their surfaces coated in fine chitinous scales, looking like grotesque, interwoven cables. Beyond the gap stretched a dark, foreboding corridor, its depths faintly illuminated by an eerie bioluminescent glow. The creeping organic matter of the Nest had evidently overtaken the building¡¯s interior, repurposing it for its own sinister needs.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Ready?¡± Maksim asked in a low voice, pressing himself against the armored flank of the robotic platform, Sleipnir. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Fast and faster!¡± Nikola quipped, adjusting her grip on her cutlass. In her other hand, she held a laser pistol with a nearly full charge at 96% ¡ª plenty to last, with spare batteries clipped to her belt. Dasha kicked a root protruding through the cracked concrete near the entrance a couple of times and muttered darkly, ¡°You can¡¯t ever be ready for crap like this, no matter how many biopunk games you¡¯ve played or horror movies you¡¯ve binged. Bet there are tentacles in there. Weird-ass eggs. And some face-hugging monstrosities. Yeah.¡± ¡°Which is why you¡¯re keeping your helmet on, WonderKid,¡± Maksim said with a smirk before gesturing forward. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re going in!¡± // SYSTEM # ALERT! Mission objectives updated based on additional analysis. # Likely location of the Nest Guardian and Incubators identified: central raw material storage or adjacent finished goods warehouse. Updating the map... The team¡¯s route appeared on the augmented reality map. It was discouragingly long, winding, and leading deep into the heart of the sprawling facility. It lay through offices, technical rooms, quality control labs, and product packaging lines. Sleipnir, its folding shields pressed tightly to its sides, started moving and entered the building. Carefully stepping over thick roots, crushing moss and snaking vines underfoot, the heavy machine advanced, ready to unleash fire from the turret on its back at a moment¡¯s notice. Nika and Maksim moved in its wake, eyes darting across the shadows and hands steady on their weapons, ready for anything. Overhead, three Eye recon drones hovered, accompanied by five Hornets for fire support. Bringing more would have caused interference in this cramped space, so additional drone teams followed at a distance, ready to reinforce at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°I really wish we had flamethrowers,¡± Alisa remarked, eyeing the webs stretching across the walls. Thick, tangled formations resembled oversized nests, exuding a sense of foreboding. ¡°Hell yeah! I¡¯d torch this whole lair to ashes, no question, yeah!¡± Dasha added with a bloodthirsty grin. ¡°We¡¯ll have to make do,¡± Maksim replied, his eyes locked on the augmented interface. Already, the fourth Scout microdrone had been ensnared in the sticky, almost sentient webbing and was hopelessly trapped. The web in this corridor wasn¡¯t merely adhesive. It seemed alive, its organic fibers pulsing and twitching at the slightest movement, as if searching for prey. The Ghosts hadn¡¯t gotten far before an unnerving sound began to rise from the depths ¡ª the scuttling of countless tiny legs across the floor. A colony of Scout Spiders burst out, swarming toward Nikola and Maksim in a coordinated frenzy, thoroughly avoiding Sleipnir¡¯s bulk. Without a second thought, Redhead lunged forward, dropping to one knee as her cutlass slashed through the writhing horde in a flurry of relentless, sweeping strikes. At the same time, her laser pistol spat out precise bursts of fire, picking off distant spiders, seamlessly complementing her blade work. Maksim provided cover fire, his Vector Spike GNRc3 unleashing needle-like projectiles that ripped through the advancing ranks with ruthless precision. After thirty grueling seconds, the spider swarm dissipated. Nikola wiped her blade with a disposable tissue, as she had strapped a pack of them to her armor before stepping into the Nest. She knew that the spiders¡¯ acidic blood could corrode even the finest steel of her weapon if left untreated. Their brief reprieve was cut short. A shrill screech echoed through the air as larger spiders ¡ª the Scout Guardians capable of spitting acid ¡ª crawled into view along the ceiling. Globules of caustic liquid shot from their jaws, sizzling menacingly as they struck metal surfaces. The first droplets landed on Sleipnir¡¯s armor, leaving faint but unmistakable scars that shimmered under the corridor¡¯s dim light. Their choice of high ground, however, proved fatal. Maksim and Nika dove backward into a crouch, just as five hovering Hornets opened fire. The drones unleashed a coordinated assault, swiftly eliminating three waves of spiders before they could pose a significant threat. BOOM! A deafening crack echoed through the corridor as the Lynx X12 sniper robot sprang to life, shaking the air like a thunderclap. Dasha had mounted it onto Sleipnir¡¯s back, ensuring the smart killing machine wouldn¡¯t obstruct the autocannon already secured to the platform. ¡°My passive Sixth Sense just kicked in ¨C I felt a serious threat,¡± WonderKid explained with a shrug. ¡°Seems like there¡¯s a sneaky one ahead, yeah.¡± Right on cue, a large, semi-transparent creature dropped from a nest on the ceiling. It looked like a grotesque centipede, stretched to an unsettling length of nearly a meter and a half. ¡°Ugh, disgusting,¡± Redhead muttered, raising her laser pistol and putting a sizzling impulse straight through the thing¡¯s head, cutting off its twitching for good. ¡°Keep moving,¡± Maksim commanded. Sleipnir resumed its advance, its massive legs grinding the organic floor into pulp. Nika kept pace beside the platform, cutting down the remaining shaiszu with quick, decisive strikes as they lunged at her. At one point, she nearly lost her balance when a strange organic lump under her boot exploded without warning. At that moment, the System marked the area as a deadly hazard using a red visual telegraph. As if trying to prevent anyone from leaving the danger zone, a large crack opened in the ceiling, spilling out a swarm of spiders. But Nika had already rolled out of the way, taking cover behind the platform. ¡°Run! Get out of here!¡± Maksim shouted as Alisa opened fire with two Hornets. The sharp bursts of gunfire ripped through the spider horde, shredding them before they could spread. ¡°Watch your step, guys ¡ª there¡¯s probably more traps around,¡± Nika warned as she moved ahead, her steps cautious. She stopped abruptly, scanning the two paths ahead. ¡°We¡¯ve got a fork. And there¡¯s something strange on the floor in both passages.¡± The Ghosts¡¯ leader focused on the dynamic map, its layout updated as new data streamed in from the Eye drones and deployed Scouts. ¡°Alright. One path is clogged with dense webs. The other¡­ looks like some kind of organic pool. It¡¯s hissing, with some giant, bursting bubbles¡­ not good,¡± he thought, analyzing drone¡¯s visuals. ¡°And the whole surface of that bubbling soup pot is lit up blood-red by the System. Lethal. No question about it.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going through the webs,¡± Maksim decided. ¡°No way I¡¯m wading through whatever that bubbling stuff is.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a parallel corridor further ahead that leads to the same hall we¡¯ll reach through the second passage,¡± Alisa said, having already scouted the route over the pool with an Eye drone. Sleipnir boldly pushed into the web-filled corridor, its side shields partially extended to scrape away the sticky fibers with its bulk. Thick strands still dangled from the ceiling, some of them twitching like ravenous tentacles. All drones were forced to descend to the platform¡¯s level. Staying airborne meant certain entanglement. With every step, the organic infestation thickened. Thorny vines and bulbous, fleshy growths jutted out from the walls and floor, while translucent sacs, pulsing with clusters of writhing tentacles, littered the ground like grotesque, upside-down jellyfish. ¡°Damn it, we could really use flamethrowers,¡± Maksim grumbled. ¡°Fall back. Sleipnir will deploy shields. Alisa, send six Tonbo Sanda to clear the floor, I want those jellyfish gone. And there¡¯s an organic wall blocking the passage ahead. According to the map, that¡¯s where we need to go. We¡¯ll blast our way through.¡± The team retreated to the fork, taking cover behind Sleipnir¡¯s shields. The six kamikaze drones zipped forward, and moments later, the corridor shook with a rapid series of controlled explosions. ¡°We won¡¯t get them all, but at least the path¡¯s clear,¡± Dasha remarked, watching the corridor through the Eye feed. The organic obstruction had been partially blasted apart, revealing the corridor stretching further ahead. The Tonbo drones had wiped out the jellyfish-like creatures, leaving the thick stench of scorched protein and burnt chitin hanging in the air. Knowing what lay ahead, everyone except Alisa had already switched their armor to air recirculation mode, so the reek didn¡¯t bother them. The oxygen generators had enough capacity for 48 hours of operation, venting carbon dioxide outside ¨C plenty of time for the fight ahead. ¡°Alisa, three more Tonbo ¨C the gap¡¯s still too narrow,¡± Maksim ordered. ¡°On it.¡± Seconds later, three synchronized explosions tore through the barrier, obliterating it completely. The path ahead was now wide open. The corridor beyond was surprisingly clear, with only a few stray webs clinging to the walls and no trace of vegetation. The team hurried through, bursting into a vast room ¡ª once the facility¡¯s packaging line. It was unrecognizable now. A dense carpet of moss blanketed the floor, rising to ankle height, while webbing smothered the machinery, cascading from the ceiling in grotesque, sagging sheets. The air stirred faintly, a sign of drafts weaving through the cavernous space. From the far corners came strange clicks and taps, their eerie rhythm amplifying the oppressive silence. Suddenly, a massive figure scuttled out from behind a conveyor station, its shadow stretching across the mossy floor. This creature dwarfed anything they¡¯d faced so far. Standing 1.6 meters tall, it moved on eight segmented legs, its wide pincers snapping menacingly, while a curved, stinger-like tail swayed with deadly purpose. ¡°Skorpion, kurwa! Ja pierdol?, jakie bydle!..¡± Nikola breathed, her voice barely audible, as her wide eyes locked onto the monstrous predator. Chapter 115 – The Synergy Breakthrough PolTech-IV Innovation Park, August 18, 2049, 7:32 AM A rhythmic metallic pounding filled the air as the shaiszu scorpion surged forward, its movements an unsettling blend of grace and lethal speed. A sharp, shrill whistle tore through the air, followed by the grinding clash of metal, like gigantic bolts locking into place ¡ª a grim prelude to the unstoppable threat closing in. At the tip of the creature¡¯s tail, a red-orange plasma bloom ignited like a sinister flower, flaring with lethal intent. With a powerful swipe of its claw, the monster hurled a massive barrel toward the Ghosts, as if taunting them into battle. ¡°WonderKid, take cover!¡± Maksim shouted, ordering the platform to fully deploy its shields and switch to Defense Mode. ¡°Nika, hold back! Use the laser, blind it if you can! Alisa, send in the Hornets!¡± The Ghosts¡¯ leader ducked behind a large metal workstation, rifle at the ready. Redhead quickly sheathed her cutlass, drew a second laser pistol, and darted behind the nearest column. The scorpion paid no attention to the humans¡¯ movements, its focus fixed elsewhere. It also ignored the drones, even as they scattered and unleashed a hail of gunfire, the bullets bouncing harmlessly off its armored carapace. Maksim¡¯s rifle shots proved just as ineffective ¡ª numerous needles lodged in the creature¡¯s armor, but they did nothing to slow the beast down. However, when Nika and Dasha joined the fray, the shaiszu responded immediately. With a lightning-quick sidestep, it evaded a sniper blast, then raised a claw to deflect the high-powered laser shots with effortless precision. ¡°Damn, this thing¡¯s solid! Deploying Tonbo!¡± Alisa exclaimed, launching four kamikaze drones hurtling toward the monster¡¯s feet. The dust and smoke hadn¡¯t even settled when the scorpion launched its counterattack. Its tail arched high, a fierce glow of plasma igniting at its tip. In augmented reality, Dasha¡¯s Foresight lit up four attack paths ¡ª two targeting Nika and Maksim, and two zeroing in on the airborne Hornets. Four intense blue flashes filled the hall, strobing with almost blinding intensity. Plasma whips lashed out, carving through the air with raw, destructive power. Thanks to Dasha¡¯s ability, Maksim and Nikola managed to dive for cover just in time, narrowly escaping annihilation. It seemed the Hornets might evade the assault, but four more visual telegraphs suddenly bloomed directly in their path. Alisa couldn¡¯t react in time; the drones¡¯ inertia sealed their fate. With a thunderous crack, four more plasma strikes tore through the air, slamming into three of the machines. Only one managed to escape. Three explosions rocked the chamber, and burning debris rained down to the ground. To keep Dasha safe, the platform was moved back closer to the entrance, getting covered behind a reinforced concrete column. ¡°Alisa, send in two more Hornet squadrons and three Tonbo groups! The moment they¡¯re in position, I¡¯ll activate Neural Surge! Nika, Dasha, stay down and keep covered!¡± Maksim commanded. The shaiszu, clearly aware of the incoming second wave, scrambled deeper into the hall, seeking a more defensible position. The reinforcements stormed inside, filling the air with the roar of gunfire. The Tonbo drones dived straight at the scorpion, aiming to explode beneath its armored belly. But it was all in vain. The creature¡¯s speed was beyond anything they¡¯d faced before. Maksim and Alisa worked relentlessly, trying to exploit any opening in its armor, but the scorpion moved with a maddening precision that made it nearly untouchable. It spun and leapt, deflecting attacks with its claws and striking back whenever a drone ventured too close. By the time Neural Surge ended, four more Hornets had been destroyed, their flaming wreckage crashing to the ground, leaving the remaining machines no choice but to retreat. Dasha was the only one to land even a minor success. Risking exposure, she darted out from behind the column with her robotic sniper complex and unleashed a rapid volley of shots. One shot clipped a leg, while another landed on the scorpion¡¯s tail ¡ª small but crucial hits. But the retaliation was short-lived. Plasma whipped toward her position, forcing the girl to yank her sniper robot back and dive into cover just in time. The battle reached a tense stalemate. The shaiszu dominated every angle, making any movement a deadly gamble against plasma fire. Four more drones joined the remaining five, but they kept their distance, ready to dodge any incoming attacks. The scorpion stayed hunkered down in its corner, carefully denying the Ghosts any chance to strike. ¡°It has something like my ¡®Anticipating Movements¡¯, maybe even stronger,¡± Dasha said, her voice trembling. ¡°It reacts before the shot lands! My sniper system can¡¯t keep up ¡ª this bastard blocks everything with its claws!¡± ¡°Confirmed,¡± Alisa said. ¡°It¡¯s got precognition ¡ª I just checked the Informatorium. Threat Class 7-A. Only Dasha¡¯s rifle or a Hurricane can breach its armor, and the Hurricane¡¯s too damn big for this place.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll rip its legs off, kurwa!¡± Nikola snarled, barely containing her rising Berserker Rage. ¡°STAND DOWN!¡± Maksim barked. ¡°You¡¯re not fast enough to reach it, not at your current ability level. I¡¯ve seen its speed under Neural Surge. You won¡¯t make it!¡± ¡°I can use my sniper system with Glimpse into the Future,¡± Dasha cut in. ¡°If there¡¯s a weak point, I¡¯ll find it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s risky,¡± Max answered. ¡°But¡­ give me a moment to figure out the best approach...¡± At that moment, Alisa, who was analyzing the situation with all available threads, froze. The sudden realization struck her like lightning: ¡°I can outsmart this thing¡¯s tactics!¡± Something ignited deep inside her, as if a powerful energy node had suddenly burst to life in her chest. Her body trembled violently as she dropped the SMG and clutched the rough concrete wall of her makeshift shelter to stay steady. For a fleeting moment, Alisa felt as though she were back in her biological body, every nerve alive, feeling every surge of energy racing up her spine raw and electrifying. // SYSTEM # ALERT! SYNERGY CONDUIT LEVEL 5 UNLOCKED! ¡°Guys¡­ five seconds! Don¡¯t do anything ¡ª I¡¯ve unlocked new abilities! We¡¯ll use them now!¡± Alisa yelled, scanning the flood of notifications.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Through the deeper layers of virtual reality, she unraveled a glowing web of newly revealed energy and informational pathways, sprawling across the space where the System¡¯s logical circuits usually displayed. Finally, she located the key energy threads connecting herself, Moira, and the rest of the team, each thread pulsing with potential. Now she understood exactly what to do. ¡°Listen up, don¡¯t be surprised at anything! Dasha, get the sniper system ready. I¡¯m activating your ¡®Glimpse into the Future¡¯ now. Nika! I¡¯m activating both Level 2 Berserker abilities for you. They are accessible now, as the conditions are met. And here¡¯s the key ¡ª Dasha¡¯s skill will also work for you. Not through VR, but directly in your sub-brain, syncing with your cortical grid!¡± Nika¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How¡­ is that even possible?!¡± ¡°No time to explain!¡± Alisa responded curtly. ¡°You¡¯ll likely lose access to the interface and its guidance. But you don¡¯t need it right now! Trust your instincts and intuition! Don¡¯t worry¡ªthe System is watching over you no matter what, and your Cyber Core will handle everything just as it should!¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Nika said, holstering her second laser pistol and drawing her cutlass. ¡°Max, you¡¯re still in Neural Surge cooldown, so I¡¯ll initiate Neural Burst. Ten seconds of acceleration will definitely be integral to finish off that thing!¡± ¡°Sis, that¡¯s impossible, sorry. I don¡¯t have enough ener¡­¡± Maksim began, but stopped as his energy indicator flickered, and then began to rise.
// SYSTEM # Daria.Foresight(3).Glimpse_into_the_Future.shared (Nikola) Redhead darted forward, faster than she¡¯d ever moved in her life. The augmented reality interface vanished completely ¡ª but when had a Berserker ever needed it? There was only her, the blade in her hand, and the enemy before her. Nothing else mattered. A powerful leap. Foresight wove itself into her Berserker instincts, driving her body into a sharp evasive maneuver. The plasma whip¡¯s deadly charge sliced through the air mere inches from her shoulder ¡ª but it missed. Her biological muscles burned with searing pain, every fiber straining against the impossible speed, even with the newly implanted enhancers. The important thing was that her bones and ligaments still held, so she would push through. Pain could be endured. With a second leap, she slid under a massive packaging machine, momentum hurling her forward. She rolled to her feet in one fluid motion, kicking off a heavy metal container to launch herself at the scorpion. A powerful dash forward! The shaiszu, tail poised for another plasma strike, flinched violently, as if struck by an invisible lash, its movements faltering. Of course, the beast had sensed the girl¡¯s intent ¡ª but its precognition failed when faced with an opponent who could also see the future. Whatever it tried, it wouldn¡¯t help. A furious Berserker already saw every move it would make ¡ª and knew exactly how to end it. The scorpion still tried to resist. It lashed out with its left claw, snapping it shut in a desperate attempt to catch the flying cyborg. But the pincer clamped shut a heartbeat too late ¡ª Nikola had already shot past its monstrous ¡°scissors.¡± She braked hard, gripping the creature¡¯s front-left leg with her hand. Using her momentum, Redhead whipped her cutlass in a brutal arc, slicing clean through the joint in a single, devastating strike. The leg collapsed, useless. Nika hit the ground, rolled, and sprang back into motion. Kick, slash, strike, leap, strike, sharp forward roll, slash on the rise, and another leap! Done. If the shaiszu could scream, its cry of pain and fury would have torn through the battlefield. But instead, the hulking beast, stripped of all its left legs, unleashed a piercing, furious whistle as it crashed heavily to the ground. Redhead darted away as the creature collapsed, her task complete. The rest was in her team¡¯s hands now. At that exact moment, Dasha¡¯s Lynx X12 sniper system fired. There was no doubt ¡ª she knew her shot would hit its mark. The massive armor-piercing round punched straight into the vulnerable gap between the scorpion¡¯s carapace and tail. A jet of acid fluid sprayed from the wound as its tail dropped lifelessly to the ground. With the scorpion¡¯s ¡®main weapon¡¯ neutralized, Nikola surged back into the fray. She dashed in a wide arc, then sprang toward its right legs. Strike, half-step, slash, another slash, dodge, hit, push, leap ¡ª and she moved to the side, clearing the area and leaving the scorpion wide open for the waiting drones. It was over. The shaiszu crumpled onto its underbelly, its massive body shuddering as it lay completely immobilized. The Hornets swarmed the fallen beast like vultures. They peppered its chitinous armor with concentrated bursts of fire, slowly carving through the tough chitinous armor. The creature raised its claws in a desperate attempt to shield itself, but its fate was already sealed. A final burst tore through the creature¡¯s brain, sending it into a fit of violent convulsions. Dasha, her Future Sight guiding her, delivered the killing blow with surgical precision. Her sniper round struck true, obliterating the scorpion¡¯s secondary brain in a single, decisive shot. For three seconds, the battlefield fell silent. Nikola stumbled to her feet, each breath ragged as the Berserker effect slowly released its grip on her body. The shared Glimpse into the Future dissolved from her mind, leaving her disoriented, as if a vital thread had been cut. Her fingers finally loosened, and her cutlass slipped from her grip, clattering onto the concrete floor with a metallic ring. It seemed she had overdone it¡­ again.
// SYSTEM # Initiating search in the Informatorium¡­ no data found. # Expanded search¡­ no data found. # Cognitive search¡­ WARNING! Error! #...Access denied. # ALERT! # The name, description, and parameters of this attribute and its abilities will be generated based on observations and analysis of usage. Group: System Attributes Synergy Conduit (Description generated by the System) This unique attribute is exclusively available to users who are both human and a Strong AI. To the best of my knowledge, as the System, the only individual meeting these criteria is Alisa Chernykh. No data regarding similar users or this ability exists within TACTA databases. It provides functionality in the following areas: * Energy: Allows transferring of personal energy to others and accelerating the energy regeneration of the target. Can be applied to individual targets or entire groups. At advanced levels, it allows unification of all team members¡¯ energy into a shared ¡°group energy pool.¡± * Abilities: Enables the activation of a teammate¡¯s ability through the System interface, enhancing its efficiency, optimizing energy consumption, and reducing cooldown durations. Additionally, it allows the effects of the activated ability to be shared with a designated target, as if the target had activated it themselves (Warning: This function is subject to significant limitations and may result in severe or even critical side effects.) System (direct message): I strongly advise you against sharing this information with anyone, particularly members of the Protectorate. On my part, I personally guarantee that none of my users will ever find out about this. Naturally, this data will remain excluded from public documentation. - Sincerely, XO, System P.S. Heads up! This Attribute comes with numerous side effects and is, overall, both tricky and dangerous. Proceed with caution. ¡°Oh, Irida, the more I learn, the more questions I have,¡± Alisa sighed to herself, her face betraying no emotion. ¡°I¡¯ll need to explain all this to the team ¡ª keeping it from them will only make things worse. Max, I¡¯m sure, will agree to keep it under wraps. But as for the System¡­ has it developed a personality? Could it be that strange girl I saw?¡± She shook her head, brushing the thought aside. ¡°Later. Right now, Nikola needs help.¡± Alisa sprang to her feet, swiftly holstering her pistol. Her first-aid kit, standard for a field medic, was always at her side. Thanks to the System module, she could monitor the team¡¯s health status in real time, with all the data neatly processed and displayed on her medical screen. ¡°Max, Redhead¡¯s hit hard ¡ª backlash from Level 2 Berserker and its synergy with Glimpse into the Future. She¡¯s in shock and needs a few minutes to stabilize. Yeah, it¡¯s a side effect. I¡¯ll explain later. Plus, her right shoulder connector¡¯s implant zone is damaged, so her arm¡¯s down. Don¡¯t worry, though ¡ª the medkit has everything we need to fix it. You and Dasha secure the hall, and I¡¯ll get her back on her feet.¡± ¡°Understood. Will she be mission-ready?¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely,¡± Alisa nodded, already moving to Nika¡¯s side. ¡°She¡¯ll recover in about an hour. By then, the TACTA medical nanobots will finish repairing the connector. Those things are expensive as hell, but they work like a charm. Worth every grant.¡±