The Snipe’s Flight

It would be unnatural to refuse. Sergey Mironov with what I remembered him from memory scraps would be flattered with Alice’s attention. And the refusal could raise excess questions. I have allowed it to involve myself in thick of the dancing bodies.

Music was primitive, but Alice moved to its step with surprising, almost predatory grace. She not just danced – she studied me. Its movements were call, question which I had to answer with the same movements. I tried to correspond, accompanying role of slightly drunk, confused navigator, but inside everything has been compressed in spring. When it has nestled on me, in me the storm of emotions has blown up. Its soft and gentle embraces, has begun to smell her skin, the aroma of its gentle flower perfume confused me, reminding that I not only the agent, but also the man in young, strong body. For many years loneliness have created in me emptiness which this body desperately tried to fill. After dance it, without releasing my hand, has pulled me to rack.

– Two shot «Auruma Dust». For courage, – she has thrown to the bartender. Also has looked at me. I wanted to refuse, but her look did not leave space for maneuver. We have clinked glasses. Liquid has burned throat, leaving aftertaste of rancid cranberry and pure alcohol. The second shot has followed the first almost instantly, on its initiative. In the head has hooted, but the consciousness tempered in strict sober years kept as the rock. The body reacted differently: heat spread on veins, relaxing me.

And then there was what had to happen. We did not arrange. Just at some point when Gena has begun to shout the obscene song, and the captain, frowning, tried to stop up him with elbow, our views have met. In her eyes there was only understanding, fatigue and that call of flesh which is heavier than any arguments of mind. She has silently taken me by hand and has led from bar, without looking back at the others. Nobody has called to us. Here, on the outskirts of civilization, it was in the nature of things. We have silently gone to hotel to enjoy ours in the friend arisen desire which appears between the man and the woman.

The hotel into which Alice has brought me was called «Well». The poor, six-storied building from combined concrete panels stuck to the building of port as parasite. The elevator did not work. We have walked upstairs, the smelling mold and deodorant, on the third floor. The chip key Alice has opened door in number. The room was tiny as our sleeping capsule on «Scythian», but here was though some visibility of cosiness: shabby rug on floor, on wall the plasma screen with the flickering prompt showing infinite sunset over false mountains and that is surprising, wide bed.

The door was closed, cutting us from noise of the kosmoport. The silence has hung, between us, dense, ringing. Then Alice has turned to me, and everything has occurred by itself. There was no tenderness, there were no preludes – only hunger, greed, desperate attempt of two lonely people locked in iron box among stars to feel though for moment that they are alive. I kissed it, and lips remembered movements. My hands slid on her back, and fingers knew how to undo intricate fastener on her overalls. Alice hot kissed me, and I was given her, having allowed to muffle voice of the mind for a while.

But the agent cannot be switched off completely. Even during the hottest moments the part me remained the cold observer fixing details: scar on her shoulder, similar to trace from splinter, birthmark under the left clavicle as she blinked at culmination point, her face became unfamiliar, others. And then, when the passion has subsided, having left behind only sticky fatigue and slight sense of shame, I pretended that I fall asleep. Lying on back, I listened attentively to its equal breath, to far rumble of cars outside the window. After a while she has carefully risen on elbow, has looked at me. I have represented deep, quiet sleep. It has softly touched my cheek, has illegibly whispered something, and then has quietly got out of bed. I observed through the half-closed eyes as its naked figure, sports and fine as I blade, have slipped to the twilight of the room and have disappeared behind the bathroom door. The switch has clicked. The sound of the flowing water was heard. I have moved silently as shadow. Not to spy. I had other purpose. Her overalls lay on chair. Near it small zone cover in which it carried personal belongings: multitool, the spare battery for the tablet, room key. And its personal communicator, the thin, elegant gadget in the form of bracelet is simpler than mine.

Water in the bathroom rustled, hiding any sounds. I have taken its lump. The screen is blocked by biometrics. My bracelet activated by light touch has let out almost invisible blue beam, having slipped on the case of the device. Scanner fast and deep breaking up of electronic devices. I needed contents, metadata: active background processes, the last encrypted communication channels, all information which was on it. All that can tell me whether she dealt doubly in the last hours or not.

The beam has run on surface. On the mini-screen of my bracelet lines of the downloaded data have started gleaming. Having finished, I have examined the room. I have not found any other personal belongings, except small blaster. But nothing yet absolutely meant. Professionals do not leave proofs in the hotel room, but I have slightly opened door in number. Having returned to the room, did not begin to put on clothes, having remained so much in underwear. Has taken seat in chair which stood in dark corner of the room. Also began to wait. In twenty minutes I have heard as water has stopped flowing, and in minute Alice has fluttered out from there. It, without having paid to me attention, has quietly approached my clothes and has taken out my communicator from pocket. Having poked in it and having realized that it cannot open it, she began to look for the communicator.

– Darling you look for it? – quiet tone I have asked. She has sharply turned back, and I have seen genuine surprise in her eyes. – My girl. Very slowly give my lump to me and also slowly sit down. We have something to you to talk about. – Having guided at it blaster, I have offered. It, slowly, has transferred me my lump. Also has sat down on edge of bed, without taking away from me the look.

– Who are you? – she has asked me, and its voice shivered a little.

– Same, as well as you, the girl, – the same quiet voice have answered I. – Here only at us is and become serious problem, than this.

– And what?

– About it later. And now I suggest to agree. I personally have nothing against you. Your task is your task. But in these circumstances it would be expedient to us to combine our efforts to survive. – She looked at me, but has not uttered words, I have continued. – Not only our life, but also life of other crew of the ship in the next forty eight hours depends on our further actions.

– I do not understand what you speak Mironov about, you have again hit?

– You understand everything, the girl, – with smile I have answered. – We will arrive as follows, I will send to crew from your lump the message that they have come all here, and we honestly and openly will talk? It suits you?

– And I have other options? – having raised eyebrow, she has asked and has lowered view of blaster in my hands.

– Yes, to die here and now, – I have sustained pause, but she has not answered again. Then I have quickly typed the text of the message on its coma and have sent to all crew. It was necessary only to wait. We sat silently and looked at each other. That, time went quicker, I have turned on the TV. On all channels broadcast urgent news. Miners on mines of corporation have rebelled, heavy fighting is going. There are dead on both sides. It is necessary to wait for the statement of administration of the planet for introduction of martial law and curfew.

In fifteen minutes the tramping was heard, the door in number was sharply opened and to the room other crew has become hollow. All have looked at me.

– Misters, I ask all of you will calm down. We with Alice have to you very important conversation. Kim, – I have looked at him, having noticed as it has slowly stretched to the hidden holster. – I ask you not to do it. Let’s me express, and then you, Kim, will make the decision to kill me or not. Good? – I have taken of them quiet view.

– What here occurs? – Lavrov has growled.

– The captain, friends, sit down, we will have long and detailed conversation. – I have pointed by blaster to the chairs standing under the TV. They have turned and began to take seats. The captain and Gena have taken seat on chairs, and Kim has got up about the captain, having leaned shoulder against wall.

– Kim, – taking weapon aside and putting it on bedstand, but, without letting go it, I have asked. – I can trust you? I will put weapon, but if in this room someone gets the you will shoot at it? – he has looked at me and has slowly nodded. – Well, – I have continued, letting go weapon. – Let’s those begin. And so developed circumstances force me to pass to extreme measures. But it is demanded by the developed situation. Who I am, I will answer you at the very end of our conversation. For now I suggest each of you to listen to me and what I will tell. It will not be pleasant to much of you, but I ask you to behave. Each of attendees has the and even not one skeleton in the cupboard. We will get some now and we will begin with you, Alice. – I have translated view of it. – Means, you do not want to tell us the history, well, then I will tell it. Alice is the agent of the Western European consortium working under cover. Its task was to find out that for cargo «Scythian» on this planet transports. – I have looked at it again, and she has hung the head, having looked down the look in floor. – It is clear. Then I will continue. Having made several unsuccessful attempts to scan contents of containers during flight. Our girl has made the next attempt to learn that she in them and has been found by Ki. It is better than nothing, than to eliminate the witness, she has not thought up, having struck it professional blow to the area of the head with wrench, taking away from itself any suspicions. Then has hidden it in lock hangar. But you, the girl, have miscalculated. Ki! – I have called synthetics.

In it moment from under bed was chosen by Ki, showing to all attendees deep dent on the head.

– I managed to restore its work of memory and to throw data on the lump. Where I have also seen all this. Ki, show us video. – Ki’s eyes were lit, and at small distance there was hologram of Alice ransacking near the last container, then it beats Ki, and the picture vanishes. All were silent and looked at Alice.

– I … – it have swallowed and have continued. – Mironov has told the truth, I am agent, – she has answered, without raising the head.

– To me it is unclear only one Alice why you wanted to kill me? – it has raised the head and has looked at me with the surprised look. – But how?

– Alice, daughter. «Why you are so?» – the captain has asked.

– Ki, our dear friend sintetik, he watched all of you and me. But we will talk about him later when its time comes. And so, checking data, I have found video where you Alice suddenly pull out from under me step-ladder, and I fall and I hit the head against floor. Also I lie unconscious. For what you so with me the girl? – I have looked in her eyes.

– I … I did not want, – having rolled up the head, she has told. – I have begun to panic. Even before take-off I tried to scan container, you have found me behind attempt to open it. When I have told that I check fastenings to me it seemed that you have not believed me. And I … have decided to get rid of you while we still were on the earth, having arranged everything as accident. – She has again hung the head.

– Well, I trust you, Alice. I believe that emotions and panic have got of you the best, and you have made up the mind to this desperate step. Only under risk of failure of operation and disclosure of your personality you have gone to it. I understand it and I am not angry with you, the girl, – she has raised the head, her eyes were full of tears and despair. I have put it the hand on shoulder and have smiled to it.

– What the hell! – the captain has exclaimed. – Do you understand that for it it is necessary to it?

– Wait a minute, the captain, the heads sech we will be then, and now I will continue. And so. The special forces soldier Kim following at us, he is Vladislav Kozhin. The commander of special group of special purpose, the Russian Empire captain Mikhail Nikolaevich Sergeyev will be more correct to tell so. Three times awarded with Imperial Two-headed Oryol, and still very large number of awards and medals for faultless service of the empire and performance of the missions. But here with the last mission it was not set two months ago. The captain and his group has appeared in such meat grinder on one of planets, very important for the empire, from which hardly in general live could return. But at everything at the same time his commander has left its group without support and without evacuation. Only you have survived, the captain, – all have turned in its party, even Alice, having opened mouth has raised the head and looked at motionless Kim. – Having returned to the empire, Kim has found this coward and the traitor and has killed him. Having realized that he has made, has run away from the empire, has replaced name and documents and became the mercenary. Under different names. – I have looked at it he continued to stand and look quietly to me in the face. I have continued. – I do not make not feasible promises, I am the same officer, as well as you. I, as well as you swore oath and swore on fidelity of the empire and to the emperor. Upon termination of this mission if I survive. I will try to help you if you help to survive to us. – He has nodded, without having uttered words. The captain has stretched hand in pocket and in it the moment all in the room have strained. It, having inspected all, has told:

– Quietly, I behind cigarettes, – getting black pack of some cigarettes. I have asked one, and it has taken out one cigarette and has thrown to me pack. – Smoke on health to you now more necessary. – I have got cigarette and have lit from the matches lying on table. The puff has dragged on and has exhaled.

– Thanks, the captain, – I have nodded to it. – Then with your permission, I will continue. Also I will pass to our following hero. Gennady. – All have with astonishment looked at me, probably, expecting that I will begin with the captain. – Yes. Gena. When you killed the real Gennady Sysoyev, I hope, you not for long tormented him? – He sat without moving. Its usual expression of eternal irritation has slipped from face as mask, having left behind emptiness. He did not begin to deny. Has not tried to contract or snatch. It it is simple … Gena has stopped being. It was similar not to explosion, and to thawing of skin on body. Skin on face and hands, has begun to darken, turning into something glossy, casting ferrous and dark gray metal. His clothes – the old, shabby overalls – have not torn. It was absorbed in this new metal flesh, became its part, through it muscle fibers which the person could not have have appeared. Fingers were extended, joints have acted, framed sharp as if the ground bone plates. Nails became similar to the short, bent blades from black obsidian. But the most terrible – it was his face. Or rather, what from it remained. Sysoyev’s lines were erased as the drawing on damp sand. There was smooth, shapeless oval on which only two deepenings on the place of nose and rigid crack of mouth have appeared. And then in this darkness eyes have flashed. Not two points. And set. As at spider. Difficult, facet, flickering cold, lifeless scarlet light. Light proceeded from within, from skull depth, and in its crimson reflection skin cast in color of the baked blood. It became higher. Each line of his new body shouted of terrible efficiency. It was the car. It was the metamorph. One of the most expensive and terrible products of the black market of genetic engineering. The live weapon capable to imitate the person for years. Until activation of task of murder.

Kim, was instinctively displaced to the left, having taken position between monster and window. The professional saw before himself weapon with which, perhaps, already dealt. And this weapon was the top class. Alice has started back to wall, having pressed palm to mouth. In her eyes there was not only horror, but also bitter enlightenment. She lived with it … it something in close metal box for months. Slept, ate, trusted it the life and life of the ship. The captain Lavrov has not moved a little. He sat, having straightened back, and his old, weather-beaten bear look studied metamorph without fear, but with the deepest, ice contempt. He looked at thing which has dared to pretend to be his friend. Which dared to concern its ship. At this moment something has brightly sparkled, and in second in the head of metamorph the huge black hole gaped. It slowly began to precipitate on floor, and then was just filled up on one side, spilling black slush on all floor. All have looked in that party from where the shot has been made by clot of the concentrated plasma. Ki was motionless, only his right hand extended forward came to an end not with brush, but trunk of the built-in fighting laser. In the room the silence which in five minutes was interrupted by the captain’s voice has hung.

– I do not understand anything else. How you have understood that it is metamorph? – The captain has asked and having become silent has stared at me.

– Well, I will explain, – it is a little, having calmed themselves, I have told. – The captain, you when be noticed for the friend that he, wiping hands after repair rags, put how usual rag? But did not throw it on floor.

– No. He usually threw it anywhere, I and crew always swore at it as there were cases of injuries from the fact that it on floor underfoot rolled. – I have nodded, agreeing with this argument.

– Did you notice or saw that the crew member during flight has poured to himself coffee and left it, never without having drunk from cup?

– No. Coffee is very important for crew. As renders the invigorating effect for the person. – I have again nodded, agreeing also with this opinion.

– Well and at last the last. I have finally made sure of bar that it is not person when around it behind table there were empty circles, and he affectedly tried to seem drunk. To tell the truth changed. – I have made helpless gesture.

– It is very interesting, the detective, – I have even shuddered as its brutal voice did not match in any way the person who told it.

– Kim, I want to notice, you have fine baritone, – I have told, smiling broadly. – But you are mistaken, I am not detective. I am agent of the Russian secret service of its imperial majesty. I ask all of you to address further me Sergey Mironov or the Snipe. – I have looked at Kim, he has a little smiled corners of lips. – Now about situation in which all of us with you have appeared.

– Stand, stand. And how captain? And Ki? Will you about them tell nothing? – Alice has protested.

– And what you want to hear? The captain it and in space the captain. That there is the most true captain of the Scythian freighter. And here Ki. Here, I think, we will take break so far. So, remains to time for our actions very little. All of us are threatened by either death, or penal servitude on it to the planet. – I have looked at the TV on which there were continuously urgent news, and what I have read, has changed my decision about continuation of the story who there is who. I have included loudness and from the screen not young, the blonde, but the nice leader of news said: «I repeat, urgent news. Due to the attempt of military takeover. When using in it the forbidden fighting metamorphs. The planetary administration of the planet Aurum-4 imposes ban on arrivals and departures of any vessels from the planet. Without martial law is urgently imposed, police and security planetary structures are abolished. All population of the planet has to carry out and submit to requirements of military strictly. Otherwise they have the right to open fire on defeat. Also to be introduced restrictions on priob …». I have switched off sound. I have looked at all sitting in the room and have even taken view of Ki who has already removed weapon, and now on its place there was its usual brush.

– Now you understand in what situation we are?

– More than, – there has begun the captain. – Freight was delivered by us and all cones to us. I so understand there in containers there were these creatures. – He has spat lying metamorph.

– We are come to be liquidated as witnesses, we live are not necessary to them, – Kim noted.

– If to consider the fact that we with Sergey the spies, will interrogate us at first with addiction and when we are not able already to give anything to them useful will get rid of us. Snipe, how many at us time, your way? – I have looked at Alice and have understood now the status of indisputable leadership has been transferred to me.

– Ki, that with galactic communication?

– It was disconnected two hours ago, – he has answered. I have looked how on the screen the line ran that there is no signal. I see. If it was possible to look four hours ago though some galactic channels, have switched-off them then and only planetary channels were available. That now full information muffling and any channel did not work any more.

– Two, there can be three hours. If already we are not looked for. Kym, to us needs weapon. You have captain, probably, here communications with local pirates. We need their help.

– What plan, Snipe? – the captain has asked.

– Just like that the planet not to leave. But the planetary administration somehow all the same moves. Besides it needs to hold communication and to send products to orbital base. We need to get on the planetary spaceport of administration. I will hijack the ship, and we will be able to leave.

Chapter 4

– That, friends, – I have told, looking at this speckled group, – it seems, we have appeared in the thick of interstellar adventure from which at any agent respecting himself eyes would begin to sparkle. Only it smells not of glory, but the prison cell, and even direct execution. Time now – our main enemy. To you the captain, Alice and Ki it is necessary to go to bar. Find local underground network there, we urgently need the conductor knowing all cracks on this planet. We need urgently to bring down from this planet. The most important we need the card of the corporate kosmoport. Placement of posts of protection, number of hangars and so on. Learn how many we should jump on this Godforsaken hole and on what. Will you cope?

Lavrov silently has nodded, its bear figure, appear, already strained to be in action. He devoured with look the body lying on floor his once former friend Gena, and in his eyes the rage stormed. He has understood the main thing: its ship, its crew became change in someone’s to dirty game, and he could not reconcile to it.

– Ki, to you it is clear? – I have asked synthetics.

– Current situation demands from me the maximum assistance to people and survival of crew for the subsequent rescue of «Scythian». My computing power are restored for only forty percent at present. It is enough for the analysis of routes and breaking of primitive security systems. I am ready the Snipe.

– Perfectly. Alice? – it has raised on me eyes. The fear and confusion in them were replaced by cold determination. The agent in it has got the best.

– I know couple of tiptoes in local bar. They will bring me to people necessary to us. There smugglers who carry cargoes bypassing corporate and galactic posts hang out. They too not really love Herpix. Therefore have to help us … for the corresponding payment, of course.

– Let’s pay from ship cash desk, – Lavrov has muttered. – If we reach it. Of course.

– Kim and I, – have continued I, – we go on «Scythian». We need weapon, ammunition, space suits just in case and everything that can be carried away from edibles. We meet here exactly in hour. If someone is not – we improvise, but we do not wait. Time is more expensive than the imperial credits.

We have dispersed. With Kim we have slipped out hotel as shadows, having merged with gray crowd of workers, loaders and other port crowd. Morning air on Aurum-4 was dense and caustic, but now seemed to me is more sweet than any terrestrial breeze – it was freedom air, let and with dust impurity. There was a wish to live something very much. Approaching external dock ring where there was our faithful rusty slogger, we with Kim have at the same time stood, having nestled on heap of abandoned containers. The instinct perfected on hundreds of operations shouted of danger.