Глава 15

She enters the Sarcophagus.

The interference is really bad.

Not only am I not getting any signals, my Originium Arts are also being suppressed by the environment.

Think, think—

'Raidian...'

This signal profile—PRTS?!

Closure? But the terminal still shows disconnected.

'Track me...'

Raidian tracks the faint signal to an unexpected source.

Dr. Kal'tsit?!

How? But you're—no matter how you did it, you need to—

...No, you can't stop now.

Thank you, Dr. Kal'tsit.

I know what to do now.

'This is Raidian speaking.'

'With assistance, I have been able to establish a temporary electromagnetic communications environment.'

'Intel provided by Dr. Kal'tsit indicates that the abnormal events currently occurring on Rhodes Island originated from the core area known as the Abyss.'

'You are now receiving a briefing about the Abyss. All elite operators are asked to locate the Abyss, while making every effort to ensure your own safety.'

'I repeat. Locate the Abyss, but do not approach without permission. Maintain constant communication at all times.'

'Do your duty, elite operators—'

'Dr. Kal'tsit will be your eyes.'

...Kal'tsit? Thanks.

This is Pith calling to all combat-effective operators. Report.

We're still trying to stop these... things!

But they just keep coming!

We lack the means to completely neutralize these hostile Originium entities. Survival is your first priority.

Any injured personnel are to immediately disengage and seek assistance from Touch.

Kal'tsit... what have you done THIS time?

Dr. Warfarin! Look out!

These things can't hurt me for now. But there are too many of them. It's not easy trying to protect everyone.

Raidian's intel indicates that these things can't be killed.

'Kill'... are these things even alive?

Have Dr. Touch and Dr. Kal'tsit run into these monsters too?

Protect yourself. We're not as weak as you think—

*Sarkaz expletive*!

What I wouldn't do for a chance to take you apart, piece by piece, to find out for sure whether you monsters can die—

Get clear, Chloe!

The Originium entities continue to rush towards Warfarin. Two successfully penetrate her defenses.

They raise their hands towards Chloe—

Then stop. Their motion is not one of aggression, more like an invitation to the patient in front of them, one who is so close to death's door—

(Gazes silently)

Get back! Don't touch them!

B-But I can hear him... screaming? It's like those pained voices are etched into my mind...

W-We're very... alike...

Chloe takes the hand of the Originium entity. Her eyes are filled with sorrow.

Why... why don't you hurt me?

...Are we the same?

Is it because of your infection? The symptoms we've never seen before... Originium is changing.

—That's why your condition progressed quicker than expected!

Does this mean I can help you find a way to deal with them?

I want to try. I want to help you.

I don't want to disappoint you, or let Dr. Touch or Dr. Kal'tsit get hurt...

Warfarin repels the Originium entity in front of Chloe and stands before her patient in a defensive posture.

Do you understand what it is you're offering?

(Smiles) I don't. But I'm not afraid.

Not as fast as you say, Stormeye.

I got sidetracked by the changes to the deck plan.

Luckily, Dr. Kal'tsit and Raidian were able to reestablish communications. Who knows what else I would've run into.

You mentioned Whitesmith over the radio?

One instant she was inviting me to drink and dance in front of her fire. The next instant she was gone, leaving only a bunch of Originium-polluted machines crawling out of the furnace to attack me.

A hallucination?

I can tell what's real and what's not, Stormeye. But what's happening here is beyond anything I can comprehend.

Not that I'm the only one who's seeing strange things.

Originium formations are growing at a visible pace. They thought they knew Originium well enough, but now the facets of the crystals threaten to draw their very minds in.

Stormeye narrows his eyes. He sees Sharp's mouth moving, but his ears hear nothing.

All is quiet. Soon, he cannot even hear his own heartbeat.

The expression he sees on Sharp's face changes.

The next instant, all sound disappears from Rhodes Island, leaving only dead silence in the communications channel that Raidian established.

'Don't fall behind, Stormeye.'

He sees familiar figures, men who were once brothers to him...

He has been reunited with the brothers from his wandering days. But they died long ago...

'That beer we looted is gonna get warm if you don't drink it quick. What are you so worried about?'

(Soundless words)

'Yeah, the rocks have gotten to my throat, but I can still drink. Haven't gotten my tongue yet.'

'You really want to go with those people? Suit yourself. Won't shed any tears for you if you die on that Rhodes Island.'

'But... sit a while longer by the fire before you go. The moons are almost up. Don't you want to see them?'

He had yearned for a peaceful parting with his brothers, but right now all Stormeye feels is anger.

At the same time, on the other side of Rhodes Island...

'Where are you going?'

'You've already found me, Ascalon.'

'There's no need to go any further.'

Only a timely push by Misery saved Ascalon from the flying Originium shrapnel.

'We haven't settled our bet yet, Misery.'

'Don't get distracted. Look, I still have four rounds left in my gun.'

Originium is growing rampant, and the appearances of the mysterious Originium enemies are ever more frequent, accompanied by 'illusions' that they cannot help but be distracted by—

The very place itself is trying to drive them out.

Ascalon wants to reach Raidian, to tell her that the Abyss has been located...

But the Originium drowns out all sound.

The deathly silence is a mystery, a tomb made of lead, threatening to drag Rhodes Island into an abyss from which there is no escape—

'This is Mantra'.

'I've spoken to Dr. Kal'tsit. I will not suffer this mockery of memory and emotion.'

Every operator on Rhodes Island hears Mantra's voice in their head. It is her Originium Arts, the power and fury of which all of them can sense.

'If it tries to stop us with silence—'

'—Then I will be the voice that connects us.'

'Now, I return your voices to you.'

It's Mantra!

She's sharing the information that the others have collected.

Ascalon and Misery are close to the Abyss.

They've sent over the Abyss's signal profile to Raidian, who will be able to trace it, even if the spatial environment changes again.

They are currently holding position, helping Raidian establish an information anchor based on their own biosignals.