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– Good afternoon! Still alive, then? – he began his greeting with an old joke.
– Hello, Robert, – Adam said courteously, hiding his sweaty palms in front of him. – You’ve got so many guards, I don’t even feel comfortable, – he admitted embarrassedly.
– Don’t worry, security’s never been a problem. You could supply half the alliance army with the weapons stored here. It would be foolish to leave it unattended. By the way, I’d like you to meet Captain Khrenin, our internal security officer. – Robert pointed his hand at a tall, scowling young man dressed head to toe in advanced combat gear. – He and his men will protect my life and yours, even at the cost of their own. We are perfectly safe, but we must hurry.
Audley patted Adam on the shoulder, inviting him to follow. They, accompanied by the internal security team, walked through the glass office building. A new car and two security vehicles were waiting for them on the other side. Noticing his guest’s mute surprise, Robert hurried to clarify the situation:
– We have that event I told you about yesterday. It won’t take long. After that, we’ll sign the papers and you’ll be completely free.
Somehow his offer seemed doubtful. Intuition was stubbornly advising me not to go to an unknown place and for an unknown purpose. Everything seemed strange: Audley’s uncharacteristic vigor and the armed men everywhere. No matter what Robert said, Adam knew that no security service could have any right to carry lethal weapons, and this one had even more than it needed. For a dozen years now, tasks using lethal means had only been performed by robots. They were directly subordinate to either the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Civil Protection. People with guns were breaking the law, which meant Audley was breaking the law. Adam remembered his wife, the visions and dreams. Everything layered on top of each other, making him afraid to make a seemingly simple decision.
– Still, I wish I knew a little more to agree. Don’t get me wrong, I have to prioritize my time. It’s my workday, – he decided to justify his own indecision.
Robert laughed.
– When it comes to the unique, one-of-a-kind, the last thing you should be thinking about is work. Come on, stop fidgeting and get in the car!
Intuition is a faithful helper of those who know themselves and an insidious enemy of those who have not yet found themselves. It speaks about many things when no one can say anything. It is treacherously silent when noise reigns supreme. Adam couldn’t make out her words or hints. He succumbed to the noise and got into the car.
– Do you know why I’m urging you to attend the upcoming event? – Robert broke the long silence.
They had been traveling for a dozen minutes without a word between them. During that time the number of «guards» had increased to fifteen escort cars, filled with people of unpleasantly stern appearance. For a while the buildings of the complex flashed in the windows, but then they disappeared. Now the «combat convoy» was moving along a flat, deserted terrain.
– You said you were interested in me as an engineer.
– That’s also, that’s also true. But in general, I have long wanted to know what kind of person you are, what qualities prevail in you, what your strengths and weaknesses are. I want to understand why you have what I don’t have.
– What are you talking about?
Robert faltered.
– I’m talking about your gift for creating new things, – he said, clearly lying. – Today we will visit a secret facility. For a long time, my partners and I, – he said the last word with his lips pressed tightly together, – have been trying to find a cure for our world – something that could make everything new. And, today, perhaps we will succeed. It would be symbolic for an innovator like you to appreciate our efforts.
– Well, – Adam cleared his throat. – I’m honored. I still don’t fully understand this intense interest in me. I’m not a genius, I’m just an engineer, but I have to admit, you can be intriguing.
– I do, – Robert said cryptically, and then fell silent.
The watch on the wrist counted down the seconds. Five minutes later, the car passed a large embankment and stopped. The doors clicked open. The small space, surrounded by an embankment that hid the horizon from view, had a single entrance. There was no checkpoint, no gate, not even a barrier. In general, it looked more like a bomb crater with a cleared area at the bottom than a protected secret facility. For a moment he thought Robert was playing a practical joke, but Audley nodded and the whole place came to life. The security men emerged from the escort cars. They scattered around the perimeter, clearly and coherently taking up defensive positions. A dozen drones flew into the sky, and the entry point was quickly blocked by an armored vehicle. After another minute, a captain with the strange surname of Khrenin approached Robert and handed him the remote control.
– Everything is ready, – the guard captain briefly reported.
Audley scanned his finger, pressed one of the two buttons on the remote. A slight vibration ran through the ground and, along with a muffled, distant hum, subsided. An elevator car appeared from the ground, shedding sand and gravel.
– There’s no communication down there, – Robert said, turning to Adam. – All electronic devices will have to be left at the gatehouse. If you need to call or e-mail anyone, I suggest you do it now. We won’t be able to do that for the next three hours.
The personal electronic assistant on his arm was already doing a thorough check, glowing a distinctive color. Adam started up the assistant as well. There was one unread message from Annet:
«Honey, good luck to you! I’ve found the perfect place for our evening and I really want to share the big news with you! Text me when you’re done and I’ll send you the address. Love you!».
Fifth wedding anniversary. Adam had forgotten even about her. Yesterday had thrown him completely out of his normal life. He didn’t answer anything. He’d rather call when it was over, tell Annet how much he loved her, and give her the natural pearl necklace that had been in his workshop for a week. Annet loved pearls, no doubt she would be delighted with such a gift. Adam turned off the assistant with a shudder in his chest.
The elevator descended silently. On the scoreboard, which counted meters, not floors, the number with a minus sign was increasing rapidly. «Minus one hundred and fifty,» the elevator stopped and slid open. At the beginning of a long, metal-clad corridor, a man sat behind thick bars. He produced two portable safes for electrical appliances and personal effects. A couple of minutes, two clicks of the locks closing, an additional inspection and the way was clear.
– The precautions must be a little confusing to you, – Robert began, tapping his heels with each step. – I’ll try to explain, – the smile faded from his face. – You’re a good engineer, Adam, that’s for sure. Probably the best I know. But beyond that, there’s another link between us. It’s what’s driving me to make you an offer. – He paused. – Working at the Center is not the limit of your ambition, I know that. We work on a whole different level. You won’t have to invent a support staff. You’ll be able to concentrate on more meaningful projects, perhaps even personal ones. We’ve had your Infantryman and Sergeant robotic platforms for eight years. Working with them is a real pleasure, so the management of the company has made a decision, and now I am offering you a permanent job with us. We will increase your salary in two times and add percentages from the realization of all the systems you have created.
Robert looked at Adam, wanting to see some reaction on his face, but seeing none, he put his smile back on and spoke less seriously.
– You think about it, while I tell you exactly what we’re doing here. You’re at one of four secret RoboticsGangIndustries test sites. This facility is where we test some of our most powerful innovation projects. One of them is being tested today.
He approached the massive gate blocking the entire passage and scanned his retinas. The thick flaps hissed open, letting the men through.
– Our company has always been interested in innovation, not separating science from the gun business, – Robert continued with a sigh. – Almost three centuries ago, our founding fathers realized that it wasn’t enough to just make rifles. They needed to look to the future. So they created the first scientific innovation bureau under the umbrella of a weapons company.
A platoon of soldiers, armored from head to toe, walked down the corridor. Adam, no longer surprised by the presence of armed men, looked at them with interest and listened attentively.
– What was presented to people as the ingenious developments of one or a couple of people was in fact the result of the work of dozens and sometimes hundreds of outstanding scientific figures. Aviation, artillery, communications – none of this would have happened if it weren’t for our company’s forebears. Does «Manhattan Project» mean anything to you? – Audley asked, turning his head.
– The creation of the nuclear bomb… Yes, I studied history at university.
– That’s right! – Robert affirmed with satisfaction. – It took mankind nearly a hundred years to unlock the secrets of the atom and tame its power. Now crowds seek to destroy that legacy, not realizing that without it there would be no world as we know it. Everything in the chain stands in its place and everything is interconnected, good and bad, black and white. No matter how much we want to, one cannot exist without the other. We thought nuclear reactions were a powerful source of energy release. That was until the scientific community started talking about antimatter and its almost magical properties. More than a century ago, we supported research institutes and financed the creation of the Large Hadron Collider. Thus, for the first time in two thousand sixty-fourth year, we obtained a stable antimatter atom and were able to begin the real study of its properties.
The corridor came to a new thick metal barrier. Robert scanned his retina again, and the passage opened. The spacious room was filled with about forty people in strange white and dark orange jumpsuits with air filtration systems on their faces. They sat at consoles and monitors, running from desk to desk, muttering to each other and meaningfully writing data on a huge digital board. A large holographic table stood in the middle of the room, with an underground horizontal nuclear test site projected above it.
– So, – Audley continued, descending the small staircase, shouting over the conversations of the scientists. – In the sixty-fourth year, we got the first stable atom. It turned out that its potential energy capabilities are dozens of times higher than we had predicted. To obtain this energy it was enough to extract a particle from the vacuum, and no waste – pure and powerful energy! It was a breakthrough. But it was not easy to synthesize industrially stable antimatter.
– Hello, welcome to the control center of the New Day range! – greeted the pleasant voice of the artificial intelligence.
– Later! – Robert said carelessly and waved away the hologram of the girl’s assistant. He walked over to the small system control panel, made a few notes, and turned back to Adam. – What was I saying? Antimatter, right! – He answered his own question. – There are only five grams of antimatter in the world right now. Because of our financial involvement, we have one of them at our firing range today. There are four thousand high-capacity batteries all around the hangar, and this gram will provide us and the collider with energy of the highest quality for many years, charging all of them. It will allow us to increase antimatter production tenfold. Well, there’s plenty of options on where to apply this power. We will usher in a new era!
– I don’t know what to say, – Adam said, both confused and delighted. – My head is spinning. So many things…
– Gentlemen, – the dialog was interrupted by one of the men in coveralls, who suddenly appeared nearby. – You need to wear these for your own safety.
A short, stocky man handed over two dark orange overalls and respirators with an air filtration system. Having put on the protective suits, the newcomers sat down at the holographic table and began to watch the last preparations. On the hologram, people in the same white and dark orange jumpsuits were running around the huge hangar, which served as a testing ground. They were debugging battery power systems, adjusting fasteners, installing sensors, checking their performance.
– Is this range anywhere near here, or are we seeing the broadcast from afar?
– Relatively close… – Robert answered the question and shook his head. – It’s five kilometers from us and nine hundred and forty meters below us. You figure out for yourself whether it’s close or not.
Adam smiled, but decided to elaborate:
– Is it safe?
– From three hundred meters and deeper there is hard rock. It’s perfect for holding back any disturbances. This site has been used to test nuclear bombs up to a hundred and twenty megatons. Antimatter doesn’t have the same destructive effect. Its reaction when it comes in contact with other substances is self-destruction, releasing massive amounts of clean energy. We’re perfectly safe, – Audley reassured him.
The people from the image of the range disappeared. Another man in overalls entered the control center and, with a thumbs-up, gave the countdown. A siren wailed, and an announcer’s voice from the old days clearly counted down the seconds: «Ten, nine, eight, seven…". A vibration came from somewhere above.
– What’s that? – Adam inquired.
– That’s aviation dropping bombs on the ground test site. That’s how we cover the vibrations of underground testing, – he received a curt reply.
The countdown continued: «Three, two, one…» – nothing happened on the image of the underground test site. Everything around him froze in anticipation. Unable to bear the prolonged pause, Robert jumped up and, hitting the table angrily, shouted at the scientists staring at the monitors:
– You made a mistake! It was supposed to… – the image of the polygon flashed, and he was silent.
– Mr. Audley, look! The gauges are going off the scale, it worked!
Indeed, the batteries were charging at breakneck speed. In seconds, they were filled to the brim with energy. Deep below, there was a rumbling and grinding sound, and all the furniture in the control center began to shake. The scientists tensed, an effect they clearly hadn’t expected. The image of the hangar-polygon showed a small flask of antimatter, and from it green streams of unknown substance flew out at a furious speed, rushing upwards and wriggling like kites. It quickly filled the entire polygon, and then, ignoring any obstacles, rushed upward.
The rumbling from downstairs was growing. It was coming fast.
– Everyone stay where you are! – Robert commanded. – What’s on the instruments?
– The instruments have reached their limits, they are holding them! – replied one of the people sitting at the monitor.
– Okay, so it’s coming up.
The underground rumbling grew stronger, and soon it was backed up by a siren and an announcer’s voice: «Danger of collapse, seismic instability, leave the facility according to the evacuation plan. Danger, evacuate the facility according to the evacuation plan».
– We have to go…» the man in glasses sitting behind the monitor said in a half-voice. – We have to go, alarm! Can’t you hear it?!
Everyone had heard, and everyone but Robert was of the same opinion.
– I’m afraid nobody’s leaving here, – he said in a cold voice. – Gentlemen, thank you for your work. – The words were drowned out by the explosion of the monitor, the hologram swam, the lights flickered, but the speaker was not deterred. – I must inform you that the doors are blocked on my order, – he said with a smile at the excitement of the people. – Today is a great day! You and I have done the impossible, gentlemen, we have changed everything!
– Open the door, you fucking innovator! – one of those who had already made it to the exit couldn’t stand it.
– Robert, you’re crazy, we’re all going to die here! – the other one supported him.
Adam was the one who decided to go for the more obvious measures. He had checked the door himself and it was indeed locked, and the artificial intelligence of the complex, even with the use of the developer’s codes, had also failed. He came up close to Robert and grabbed him by his clothes.
– Come to your senses, Audley! We’re all going to get slammed in here. You promised me an unforgettable experience, well, I got it, now get us out of here!
– No, naive young man, there’s no way out of this. You see, the best effect requires sacrifice. The strongest energy is produced before death, especially when one realizes it is coming. There is no better food for energy, – he hesitated, searching for the right word. – Divine, – he said, finding it, – Than our emotions and feelings, than our faith. Everyone here is already condemned! – he laughed and spread his arms out to the sides. – In the new world Annet will not be with you, she will belong to me. Yes, yes, everything in the new world will belong to me!
– You sick bastard! – Adam punched Robert in the face and he fell to the floor, losing his respirator.
The lamps and monitors continued to explode, throwing off sparks, driving the terrified range workers to madness. Some of them heard the words about the victim, and in a flamboyant manner hurried to inform the others. A real panic began. People knocked on the door, screamed, fell on their knees and prayed, someone took out electronic devices from hiding places and tried to call relatives and rescuers. Soon the first scream of horror was heard, quickly fading into a faint wheeze. A green substance began to seep into the room through the floor and walls. Those of its tongues that managed to reach the people were convulsing them, as if sucking the life out of them. With each passing second, the victims became more numerous, as did the branches of the green substance. Adam, cut off from the blocked exit, jumped over one of its branches and almost stepped on Robert, who was sitting on the floor.
– You’re clever! – laughed the man. – But you can’t escape fate.
– What’s that stuff coming out of everywhere?!
– Ah, this is the power from the other side of reality. It will bring the Universe and everything beyond it into balance and harmony. Our side will return to the source.
– What sides, what harmony?! People are dying here!
– Everyone sees the world in his own image, and everyone is right, because there are an infinite number of meanings in it. However, the truth, the one and only truth, is one, and today all mankind is learning it.
Adam didn’t get a chance to absorb what Audley was saying. A sharp pain pierced his knee. Like a burning dagger, the green stream slowly penetrated his muscles and tendons. He couldn’t stay on his feet, falling to the floor to Robert’s hysterical laughter. Despite the pain and fear of the unknown, anger took over and Adam struck Audley again. He put all his strength into the blow. If he was going to die, let this man who wanted his wife, who had made him the victim of deceit and some diabolical act, let him get what he deserved – a blow full of spite and contempt.
The hum, the noise of the siren, the explosions and crackling of sparks, the cries of the dying, the screams of the still living, even Audley’s hoarse laughter, all blended into one symphony of chaos. Adam could feel the strength leaving his body, the very life itself being sucked out by the green tongue of this cursed substance. All attempts to get away from it had come to nothing.
His eyes were beginning to darken when a different kind of crackling sound was heard behind him. A chair flew into the air, and then an unknown force pulled him. As he crossed the circle outlined by white sparks, Adam felt he couldn’t breathe. He was enveloped in cold, blue and airlessness, but the pain of the substance’s torture had ceased. It was as if its outgrowth had been frightened by the desolate space and decided to leave the old victim and go straight to the new one.
It was hard to realize what was happening. Some force was carrying him God knows where through the dark blue vortex. What was waiting for him on the other side, and whether there was a back side at all – there were many questions in his mind, but none of them were answered. Before he passed out from lack of air, Adam noticed Audley being sucked into the vortex. Then he was turned around and saw nothing else.
Chapter 5: Awakening
The bare treetops creaked as they leaned against each other under the force of the wind. Sparse snowflakes fell from a sky covered with heavy gray clouds. His head ached terribly, and his wooden muscles and joints refused to bend. His body was so cold that his insides, dried out and exhausted, didn’t seem to function at all.
– I’m not dead? – With a muffled groan, the quiet words came out.
A drop of melted water dripped into his half-open mouth through the leaky respirator. The first small gulp was a sharp pain. The spasm it produced made it impossible to inhale and Adam coughed. Someone had heard him. From the side of his head came the crunch of twigs, followed by the sound of cautious footsteps. The respirator left his face with the stranger’s help, giving his flesh a pleasant sensation of freedom. Something cold and metallic touched his lips and poured the life-giving liquid into his mouth. Each sip made it easier, but it didn’t fully satisfy the urge.
– More, please! More!
Adam tried with all his might to reach for the distant flask, but his hands would not obey, continuing to lie dead weight on the cold ground.
– What’s wrong with my body, why won’t it obey?
– We’ll find out, – a woman’s voice said tensely. – It’s a wonder you can breathe and talk at all. I’d advise you to do less of both. Your rotten body might not hold up, and I’d have to dig a hole, and I don’t really want to do that. It’s frozen.
Above him stood a middle-aged woman with long, curly dark hair gathered in a ponytail. The fine lines near her eyes betrayed a slight feisty nature, and the brown depths of her gaze high intelligence. She studied him, stood for a few seconds in confusion, but then, as if making a decision for herself, took off her cloak and threw it over the man lying in front of her.
– You’ll last an hour, and that’s all we need, – she added without much enthusiasm.
– What? Adam didn’t hear the last word. – Oh, an hour… Yeah, just an hour.
His eyes were blurred, his thoughts confused, and a wild weakness weighing him down. Through the dream he felt the freshness of the moss on which his hands were stretched, the gusts of wind ruffling his hair, and the heavy breathing of his savior pulling his heavy body by the straps. Then warmth, the pleasant smell of pine, the crackle of the fire, the prick in his arm, and lightness, such a pleasant lightness.
When he woke up, he couldn’t tell exactly how long he had slept. He felt much better, which was saying a lot. He was in a full bed with blankets and pillows. A fireplace was burning in the room, casting rare sparks on the tempered glass. Along the walls were an empty desk and a couple of unremarkable cabinets, and the floor was covered by a fluffy rug yellowed with old age. Adam raised himself slightly and only then noticed the dog by the bed, watching his every move.
– Well, hello. What’s your name? – the dog didn’t move. – Uh, okay. You’re not very social, are you? – Again, no response.
The sound of footsteps came from the door, and the dog stood up, wagged his tail, and took his place at the door. Not five seconds later, the same dark-haired woman whose silhouette, though hazy, still wandered in the memory as a bright star of salvation, entered the room. The animal wagged its tail even more vigorously, began to paw and nuzzle at its mistress, unconsciously obstructing her passage.
– All right, calm down, Alpha. Give me the road, – the woman said, stroking the dog behind the ear, then looked up at her guest. – You look pretty good for a recently dead man, even your skin color is almost normal. Surprisingly you recover very quickly, do you want to tell me what the secret is?
– I don’t know what you mean, – Adam said, sitting up higher. – I wish I knew where I was.
– You are in my home, – she said calmly, sitting down on a chair by the bed. – I’m Maria Fleur, Maria, – she introduced herself. – And this is my dog Alpha, – she scratched her pet behind the ear. She closed her eyes and rumbled with pleasure. – Now it’s your turn. Who are you, where did you come from, how did you get to the relic forest?
– Where’d you go?
– Into the relict forest, you fool! – The landlady’s tone changed, and a small antique revolver rested on her knee. – You know, it is not customary in our land to answer a question with a question. But I’ll give you another try and ask you again, «Who are you?»
Adam had never been in a situation like this before, and he had never been threatened with a gun before. There was no fear, only a strange incomprehension of what was happening.
