Глава 15

Friston does not understand why his daughter chose this as their meeting place.

This is no vacation spot. Too much sand in one's shoes.

I should take a break.

He sits on a dune and removes his shoes, only for the wind to send the sand he pours out into his face.

*cough* *cough*...

This is most undignified—why am I in full dress?

Why did she ask me to come here?

There is no answer on the radio. He wanders aimlessly on the yellow sands, calling his daughter's name.

No one answers until night has fallen.

...A party?

He follows the sound to find the camp on the dunes in the distance, filled with lights and ribbons.

He hears his daughter's familiar laughter, and runs towards her in joy.

You made it to my wedding, dad!

Friston almost cries at the sight of the golden hair.

I've been looking for you for so long, my sunshine.

Is this your wedding?

Of course. The ceremony is about to start. Let's go.

We'll walk the red carpet, arm in arm. Give me your blessings, dad.

Friston tries to take her arm, but he can not reach it.

Will you not give me your blessing?

No... no, that’s not what I meant... I—

(Unknown Language) I—

Will you not give me your blessing?

(Unknown Language) ...Sunshine?

You did not want us to see the truth of the stars?

(Unknown language) ...You're not my sunshine.

(Unknown language) Have I left home? I remember this bunker—

(Unknown language) 'The preservation room'.

You will not answer any more of my questions?

(Unknown language) Kristen. You're Kristen...

(Unknown language) I've heard of you. No, I've seen you... no. How did I know you?

(Unknown language) I've never known you—

(Unknown language) Who the devil turned off the light?!

(Unknown language) Damn it!

Why have you imprisoned me here?

Closure! Is this another one of your damned jokes?

Friston realizes that he is buried in the 'photos' that fill the room. A volume of 'A Complete Bestiary of Terra' covers his camera module.

Are they even photos? He has never visited the places in them, nor could he ever.

There are only fragmented images on the countless photos.

Sand dune, bonfire, camp, golden hair, and the preservation room where the sun does not shine.

A dream...?

Friston dreamed. Friston-3 dreamed.

He printed his own dream.

It should not be possible for me to dream. Did Closure upload a new firmware without telling me?

I don't have time to argue with you right now, Mr. Friston!

I guarantee you in the strongest possible terms that I have not uploaded any firmware that could have caused you to dream.

The PRTS anomalies are getting out of control. It will take time to deploy the backup command system.

All the work has to be assigned manually. I wish I had six or seven pairs of eyes! We've completely lost contact with some areas and we have no idea what's going on—

Relax, Closure.

I'm not trying to argue with you. I just want to make sure that all possibilities for my unusual malfunctions are accounted for.

We've eliminated firmware bugs and hardware malfunctions as possibilities. Then—

What is it?

Answer me, Closure... this is important...

What is the energy source that powers my core?

Huh? Originium, of course.

Are the majority of your retrofitted operation platforms Originium-powered?

...Your tone is starting to scare me, Mr. Friston. What are you trying to say?

You're a genius, Closure.

Huh?

Excellent thinking, cutting off the link between the retrofitted operation platforms and PRTS. But that's not enough, not by a long shot.

Huh? What's going on? Why are things shaking?

Popukar was awakened by the continuous flashing. She looks out of the porthole, but sees nothing unusual outside.

Looks like a nice day. No sign of rain.

Maybe somebody was training noisily outside?

Hm... PRTS comms are still down?

Looks like today's assignment is in the isolation zone outside the ship. I should report to Orchid.

Morning—hey, where did everybody go?

It's so quiet... where is Orchid? I can't reach her...

I should check the cafeteria.

The cafeteria's... this way—

Popukar's sleepy eyes are only half-open, but she could find her way from the deck to the cafeteria even if they were completely shut.

That is how well she knows Rhodes Island—

Wh-Whoa, whoaaaa!

O-Ouch, that hurts...

She is tripped by a toolbox from the Engineering Department left in the corridor.

I thought Engineering was done with working in this area...

So careless!

She kneels down to rub her knee, which doesn't hurt so much anymore, then puts the scattered tools and boxes away to the sides of the corridor.

That light again... what...?

Popukar stands up and looks to the porthole next to her—

She sees many strange people.

Who are they?

New visitors...?

The other side of the porthole is supposed to be the deck. Are these people lost?

She walks briskly through the corridor, but begins to slow down as she becomes increasingly confused.

Why do I see them on every porthole?

O-Orchid? This is Popukar.

Seems like communications are still down. I don't know if I'm getting through to you...

Are you seeing anything weird?

There is no response from the communicator.

(Unknown language) When true destruction... on me... powerless...

(Unknown language) Equal end...

A-Are they talking? I can't hear...

Th-The mission comes first. Maybe Orchid is already waiting for me in the isolation zone outside.

A left turn here...

Go straight, then push the door open...

Then the exit passage—

Let me get to the ground first...

Huh?

I think I'm here...