OUT OF RANK

Two

It took me a little over fifteen minutes to prepare dinner, since the only food at home was a dozen eggs and sausages. I did not invent a wheel and just made scrambled eggs with sausages. He put three servings and called the guys to eat. I called out a couple of times and didn't get a response. What are they doing there? I think it will be easier to go and see than to sit and guess. Halfway to the room, I heard that they were arguing very violently about something:

“You don’t understand…” I heard Lyosha’s voice. "It's alien technology!"

- Do not talk nonsense! If that's true, we wouldn't be sitting here right now! Tom shouted excitedly.

Coming closer, I saw that my friends were looking with great interest at some kind of glass panel, more like a tablet. True, made of glass and with some kind of frame along the contour. I already wanted to ask the guys what it is, but they beat me to it:

- Oh, Pasha, come here, we just wanted to show you this, and we need you to help us deal with this thing. Are you fiddling with computers? Tim almost screamed. You could even see in his eyes that he was very excited. From what, I wonder? It's just glass.

- I don’t rummage, but I understand a little, but what does this have to do with it? What struck you about the glass panel? I couldn't help but state the obvious.

- Yes, you take it, you will definitely be shocked! Lesha blurted out.

Coming closer to the guys and sitting on the sofa, I looked at them like they were idiots and picked up "it". Well, what should I do with you? What is so special about you? The only thing that clearly catches your eye is the painfully familiar logo on the back or front of this thing, you won’t understand the first time. Decided to check with friends.

- And then what? And why is the Allisization logo on this thing?

Where did they even get it?

“At first we were also surprised by this logo and thought that someone decided to joke like that and try to sell this thing under the guise of some newfangled device. And then I just threw it away, because it didn’t work out, but we made a mistake.

Well, yes, I would have thought so too.

So you just found it while walking around the city? I asked.

“Yes and no, we really found her, but we were walking around an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city,” Lyosha said with a smile on his face. I'm not at all surprised that they did not listen to my advice about the fact that walking, and even more so drinking on abandoned places, is not the best idea.

“Okay, that’s sorted out, what’s next?” The usual glass, albeit with a logo, but what's wrong with that? I asked and looked at my friends expectantly. They, in turn, looked at me like I was a moron and looked at each other. Then they said in unison:

- Pasha, which one of us is rummaging through computers? You or us? Put your palm on the surface and you will understand everything - now they are also teasing me.

Okay, first we need to deal with this panel. Grabbing the tablet in my left hand, I carefully brought my palm to it.

What happened next shocked me. It just can't be! How?! For the next ten seconds, which seemed like an eternity, I sat and stared at the inscription right in front of my face! No, it wasn't a 3D projection or anything like that. The feeling that my eyes themselves projected this inscription in front of me. Not even an inscription, but rather some kind of dialog box:

Status : ?????

Rank : ?????

Level : ?????

Cancel / Accept

And how to understand it? I need to come to my senses and figure it out a little, I think the guys will not be able to explain anything to me, because they themselves do not know what it is. So, you need to figure it out yourself. What is "Status, Rank and Level"? And what should be included here? What will happen after that? Too many questions and no answers.

This is how the next hours flew by. None of us could figure out why this input field is needed and what all these labels mean. The time on the clock was approaching midnight and friends decided to go home, entrusting this contraption to me and asking me not to poke anything there without them, especially if I can understand what the panel is for.

After saying goodbye to the guys, I went to my room and sat down at the computer to g****e a little. Suddenly someone faced similar, and I can understand a little bit about it. After sitting like this for about twenty minutes, I was distracted by an incoming call. The call was from my mother, strange, she usually texts. Calls only if something serious happened. When I answered, I heard my mother's crying voice:

“Pashenka, dear, where are you now?” “I never heard her cry.

- Mom, calm down, I'm at home now, what happened? Are you at work? “So what the hell is going on?”

I'm at work, son. I beg you, listen to me carefully and, most importantly, keep yourself in control.

After such words, it was difficult for me to do this, but I tried not to show emotions and continued to listen.

“Your father…his flight…”

- Mom, what are you talking about? What happened? I already knew what she was trying to say, but I couldn't believe it was true.

- Crashed...

After hearing what I already understood, I did not find anything better than just dropping the call. Yes, how so?! Why does our family attract all the worst?! Planes fall very rarely, what could cause the crash?! Yes, you need to come to your senses. I will contact my mother later, now I am not in that condition, I need to bring myself to my senses.

I got up from the table and went to the kitchen and took a bottle of whiskey from the drawer. Without being stingy, he poured himself a full glass. After thinking for a while, he drank it in one gulp and poured himself another one. I think that's enough, it's better to go to the living room and finish it there.

Fifteen minutes later, I still couldn't calm down, but I decided to call my mother and talk to her. After all, it is also very difficult for her now. You can't leave her alone. Reaching for my phone, I hit a glass of whiskey and spilled it on the "tablet" that the guys brought. Damn, I hope I didn't break it, but what difference does it make now? Taking the tablet in hand, I decided to check if it works. Raising my hand to the tablet, I realized that it was working, and a familiar window crawled out in front of me:

Status : ?????

Rank : ?????

Level : ?????

Cancel / Accept

- Yes, everything went! I said and pressed the accept button without filling anything out. It can't get any worse. - So what? This is all…

The last thing I remember was how my consciousness faded.

Some time later. Military Medical Center. Department of intensive care. Chamber number 3.

I woke up with a terrible headache that went away almost immediately. But a voice followed her. Feeling like it comes from my thoughts:

“Awakening successful,” a young female voice said.

“K…r…l…” The words in my head became less clear, and I could hardly make out the meaning.

I think I heard the word "King". No, it probably did. Which of me is the king, by golly. Okay, now we need to think about something else. Where I am? How much time has passed?

When I opened my eyes, I realized almost immediately that I was in a hospital. And to be more precise, in some military institution. I have an eye for such things, thanks to my father. Damn dad...

So! No time for sentimentality. With the place of my deployment, I more or less decided, but there were questions. How much did I sleep? Trying to get up, I realized that my limbs obey me very badly, I could not even lean on my arm to get up. Yes, but this is already very bad. Apparently, I spent too much time lying down. However, it is not clear for how long. Looking around, I noticed a dropper with some kind of liquid. Directly from her in my direction, namely to the elbow bend, a tube was stretched through which this liquid entered my body.

Looking down at my hands, I was horrified at the sight of them. Most of all, they looked like skin-covered bones of a skeleton! Damn, I guess I really lay there for a long time without moving. I hope they have a good rehabilitation center here and they will quickly put me on my feet.

Before I could really imagine when I could turn back into that “normal” me, I heard a very hurried clatter of heels outside the door. Judging by the growing tone of sounds, the girl is moving towards my room. Great, I hope she will help me put everything in its place and bring me up to date.

Literally fifteen seconds later, the door to my room opened, and I saw the astonished face of the nurse. She looked straight at me and, as it seemed to me, all she could do was flap her eyelashes. So she stood for about ten seconds and, abruptly turning around, ran back. They probably no longer hoped that I would wake up. Well, let's wait until she comes back.

Luckily, I didn't have to wait long. Approximately two minutes later, three people literally flew (!) into my ward. One of them is the same nurse, and the other two, most likely, were doctors. Hah, and their reaction to my awakening is absolutely identical. Wait, maybe they are just horrified by my appearance? No, even before I woke up, I was lying in the same form. Something they stand for too long, they must somehow be brought out of a trance.

"So you're just going to look at me?" Or do you still have something to say? - After my words, they looked at each other in silence, whispered, and, apparently, decided to get down to business.

“Young man, my name is Arkady Anatolyevich, I am the new head doctor of this hospital, and part-time I am a B-rank adventurer, healer class.

I didn’t understand anything, what else is an adventurer? Glitches, probably, but my mother told me: “Play less games, son!” Didn't really listen.

“Let me speak to you all. What's the last thing you remember? How did you feel during your awakening? How do you feel now?

How many questions do you ask, do I have to answer all of them? My head still hurts a little. Of course, I had to lie to them a little. My head is already gone. But if I didn’t say that, they would be bombarded with even more questions.

- No, don't bother, we'll have time to discuss everything. - Well, thank God, I already thought it wouldn’t work. - Do you have any questions? Although it's me, of course there is. Ask, do not be shy.

Now that's another conversation. What should I start with? Ask about the voice in your head? No, they will consider me a schizo, and guys in white coats from another department will come for me. This option is definitely not suitable. Ask where am I? It's not so important now. So the last option remains:

- Doctor, ahem, Arkady Anatolyevich. How long have I been here? - After my question, sweat broke out on the doctor's forehead.

- Pavel, we cannot tell you this information until we are sure that you have finally come to your senses ... - So, but this already scares me very much. How long have I been here?

“Damn, okay, what about my mom? Where is she now? I asked hopefully. After all, on the eve of my “failure”, our family lost their father, and I really hope that everything is in order with my mother.

“Unfortunately, we are also unable to provide you with this information for the same reasons. - Yes, you are kidding me!

“Can you at least tell me what happened to me?”

- Alas, we have not figured out the cause of your coma. - Well, they're being bullied.

I was about to ask a couple more questions, but I was stopped by a man standing at a distance from the head physician.

- Arkady Anatolyevich, it seems to me that the patient is too exhausted. I think he should recover first, and then ask questions, ”he said in a rather rude tone. Hmm, who is he that allows himself to communicate with the head physician like that?

— Yes, you are probably right. Pavel, how about starting a rehabilitation course right away? Our best healers will help you in this matter. Literally tomorrow you will be in the same shape. — Healers? I still didn't hear it? Will I be back in shape tomorrow?

Something is clearly wrong here. But I won't ask too many questions just yet.

- Okay, let's do this.

“That’s great, I advise you to lie down now, the healers will be free in the afternoon, but for now, drink this,” the head physician replied with a smile on his face and handed me a bottle of red liquid.

Taking the bottle in my hands, I turned it around and looked at the doctor with incomprehension. In turn, he silently nodded to me, saying: "Drink and do not worry."

Well, if it really helps me get back on my feet, why not have a drink? As soon as I uncorked the bottle, a bright aroma of wild berries hit my nose. A rather pleasant smell, more reminiscent of some kind of tincture, rather than medicine. Without pulling the cat by the tail, I emptied the contents in one gulp and was about to hand the container back. But as soon as I tried to do this, the bottle immediately evaporated right in my hand. What the hell is this? Apparently understanding my confusion, the doctor decided to encourage me: