Глава 15

Nothing, Dr. Warfarin, and that's when I woke up.

What a strange dream, but then again, you remember it quite clearly, which means your brain's memory module is still functioning properly.

The more clearly you remember your dream, the closer you were to waking up when you dreamed it. As I see it, the fact that you were able to remember your dream is a very good thing.

Say, I haven't seen Dr. Touch today...

She has other matters to attend to. She told me to give this to you. Look.

Huh? The spring, the gears... the hands... all the parts that make up a clock!

She said it would help relieve your stress.

Dr. Warfarin, is Rhodes Island in some kind of trouble again?

Little one, you've come to the wrong place.

(Unsurprisingly, Beepy got lost.)

(Hiding in fear)

It seems like Closure failed to examine your program modules.

Little one, this item here should definitely not be on your maintenance list.

The Goliath lifts it gently and examines it curiously in his hands.

(Angrily spins treads)

What a huge change. It was empty when Her Highness left.

Now, there are so many interesting people and things here, right?

Ascalon.

Tell them not to worry. I'll take care of the mobility layer.

Okay.

Ascalon, you seem in poorer spirits than you were when you returned from Victoria.

What about all the people working under you?

They have been dispatched to create the Isolation Zone outside the ship. I'm remaining on this ship, and that's sufficient.

Rhodes Island does indeed need a blade that moves through the darkness, but that doesn't mean that you need to consciously remain silent.

Come chat with me when you have time. I have liquor here.

Besides, I want you to tell me about Theresis.

I witnessed the beginning of that heroic epic, and you witnessed its end. What we saw was very different.

Okay.

I will convey your thoughts to the Doctor and Amiya when they have time.

The Goliath places 'Beepy' in front of the exit passage.

Stop wandering around—the mobility layer is dangerous. Don't underestimate what high-concentrations of Originium can do to someone like you.

I'll keep my eye on the work here, and that'll be enough.

(Runs away in a panic)

Dame Kal'tsit, what could've gotten you this tense?

PRTS Operation Record: [Confidential] Escort Catastrophe warning system and medical center core components

Executor: [Confidential] Mechanist, Logos, Raidian

Contact: (Records erased)

Situation abnormal. Enemy weapons technology exceeds mission parameters. Risk of exposure present.

Possible enemy signal detection capability. Shutting down drone transmission temporarily.

Logos, I'm counting on you for the drone's live feed.

I'm ready.

'Circuits.' Etched into Originium through spoken words—drawn by hand to reveal what the swarm perceives.

Logos's bone pen hovers in the air, automatically transcribing the images recorded by the drone.

Twelve flexible vehicles buried in the sand. Thirty-one armed militants.

The five sniper's nests have already been marked. There seems to be a signal isolation device in the tent, which the scanner cannot penetrate.

All are carrying unidentified weapons. Threat level unknown. Further on-site confirmation required—

Raidian, you're up next. I'm starting the drone recall procedure.

In position!

Wait a second. Can you see me?

The bone pen taps lightly—its strokes weaving together the rough outline of a human form.

Raidian gives a tentative wave to the two people watching the feed, and even in floating text, her smile comes through clearly.

We are standing by, ready to assist you.

It's no problem. In ninety seconds, your drone and I will leave together.

On screen, Raidian walks into the signal-blocking tent as if no one else is there—and the transmission cuts out.

Bzzzz—

Logos?

We're ready to launch a full assault at any time—the incantations have already drifted on the wind to the edge of their camp.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Thirty seconds...

Bzzzt—Done! All intel's been transcribed. I'll be back in a sec!

It didn't create even a single stir—I overwrote the visual signals received by each target's brain.

Chances are, all they saw was a mischievous little sandbeast slipping into the tent to escape the wind and sand.

Mechanist, how goes it? Did you discover anything while parsing the intel reports?

All weapons have had their origins erased and have been modified to suit their operators.

But I'm familiar with how to operate it. Doctor discussed its rather rare design with me just recently.

They are from Ægir.

Ægir? But the people who are going to interface with us, aren't they also...?

Regardless, the threat has been cleared.

We must not yield to such a threat and allow it to interfere with our equipment transfer—nor can we create any disruption that could alert the personnel involved.

The matter is of great importance and needs to be resolved quietly.

PRTS Operation Record: [Confidential] Ensure the transfer and installation of mining modules

Executor: [Confidential] Misery, Stormeye, Sharp

Contact: (Records erased)

There is no way. They're wearing special protective equipment to ward off our physical attacks.

This was arranged in advance—they even knew our personnel layout.

Orchid, stay back, they're clearly after our mining module.

Figures. I knew I'd end up working overtime again.

Spot, support Midnight and Catapult.

Popukar, have you called for reinforcements?

Yeah... I called already.

Orchid, be careful!

Hmm... futile. As for the others...

'There is no one else.'

Where is that sound coming from?!

You really have prepared well. Unfortunately, you're not quite strong enough to handle Arts.

No, that's not right. It shouldn't be you.

'Shh. Even your heart has gone silent.'

I'll deal with the injured. That said, Midnight is getting too worked up again.

Orchid, I'll have to trouble you to deal with him.

Leave him to me.

The Doctor guessed correctly. Someone leaked the details of our operations.

Wrap this up quickly. Tow the backup mining ship to the nearest nomadic city and get the energy bay patched up.

Then return to the ship at once to avoid any mishaps.

P-Pith, why are you our backup?

PRTS told me it would be Misery...

You followed a hunch?

A last-minute change in plans right before departure; I'm just worried that...

I believe in you.

Misery, Stormeye, Sharp and such have other plans.