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Organization 11
According to the landing page "Old New Ultracity" (that's us!), this morning the inhabitants of the decent island of Token (which, according to Mr. Ekaterina, admire the lazy dockers of the embankment) again could not sleep. For once, the reason for such paradoxical behavior was not a noisy feast, not a scandal preceding a divorce, and even, oh gods, not a visit from an annoyed "owner".This time, the inhabitants of the Pits forgot to ask their neighbors about the time and habitually began to cut each other in another war right in the middle of the night. According to our very exclusive source, who was fishing for shrimp at night (regular shrimp, not langus. Great "hosts", do not send us to khurtukul or something consonant), this time was really restless.Word to our source!An old fisherman appears in the frame. If not for a clean-shaven face, he could even now go on the cover of the next reissue of The Old Man and the Sea."What can you say about tonight, Mr. Harry?"- There were sh
Organization 12
Location : Soap factories.Location : Surroundings of the former Alien Chemicals plant.Time : Wednesday, 14-10.According to the activity map, the soap factories are practically extinct. However, the reality was somewhat different from the beautiful hologram. As always. Ernest first of all appreciated the real picture of the world. And the world, through an omnipotent and all-pervading web of control, gave him what he needed. After the standard clearance procedure, of course.The "extinct" soap factories were such only in the preliminary counterintelligence reports. In reality, on Pylnik (the passport name is Pervaya Zavodskaya Street), trade was going on briskly. People and non-humans sauntered along the broken asphalt, and in the dilapidated workshops something pounded, squealed and boiled. Creating the illusion, albeit utterly archaic, but still - of the existing industrial activity.However, Ernest was not the first and not even the twenty-fifth time he went on patrol through Dus
Organization 13
Zhilodin Valkua, an auditor of thirty-three standard years, left the house last night for a business meeting in the central Soap Factory and still has not returned. Miss Valkua has been repeatedly noted by our highly respected Hosts, she has a child and an asakka dependent. If you have seen or heard anything about her, please let us know!!!The owner of the shop, an elde
Organization 14
Location : Soap factories.Location : Three Corners Square.Time : Wednesday, 16-30."We'll start 'grinding straw' from here," François continued in a businesslike manner. “Let’s break up into half-squads along parallel streets. Let's start cleaning right away, with the move. If you worked, then you know - there is another cesspool here. There is someone to catch, and there is someone to react to the three lawyers. It won't be long before the locals start rioting.— At the meeting, I was told that the Allies would provide a point of withdrawal. It's not in my data.— But it is, comrade. Stronghold of the bankrupt security service. Concrete, shutters, everything is as it should be. Area nine, stronghold thirteen. Right after the end of the Bellows. The building was mothballed by our specialists as soon as the area of responsibility was transferred.- Usually they say this about boxes from which everything was taken out, except for the stone.- They looked after it. Our lured engineer
Organization 15
Location : Soap factories.Location : Former stronghold "9-13".Time : Wednesday, 18-25It was Ernest's longest sideways flight. Not counting the explosion of a land mine under an infantry fighting vehicle a year ago and a match with a neighboring yard, where A.N. stood at the gate. Fifteen years ago. But this one, perhaps, took the details. The jump came out spectacular and long - it feels like all three meters. Yellow city dust got into all the cracks, mouth and eyes. Was it worth it? Undoubtedly.The explosion of plasma scattered a couple of "sons", and the rest of the fighters, with long-familiar movements, stole from the bisector, to the walls. Ernest dodged behind some debris that had landed close to him after the explosion. The idea was rather stupid - a piece of concrete hid only his head and shoulders, but the squad leader did not care.After all, the open area was openly poured with fire. The protective shutters on the windows on either side of the entrance were thrown back,
Organization 16
Show with a gesture about the light noise and one and a half seconds of exposure. Prepare mentally for noise and light - their glasses and dampers will be extinguished, but not completely. Wait for the grenade to be thrown. Hear screams, stand up so that you can barely look over the top step. Quickly, according to the positions fixed by the "worm", work out with a laser. To see how the machine gunner characteristically clenched his hands, to fall on the steps. Hear a booming pop and feel a piece of something sticky. Skin to understand that Soga did not have time, but the machine gunner still fired the trigger. Get up, finish off the remnants, enter the waiting room along with the rest of the fighters who have run in. Fifteen seconds of time.A furious scream that the dampeners cannot contain. This is Marv. Slowly reloading ancient lasrifles hit the assault cuirass, do not pierce. And phlogiston didn't even think of turning off. Plasma walks along the walls, the dilapidated armor of th
Organization 17
Location : New City.Location: AgniCorp Security Headquarters.Time : Wednesday, 19-48.Two hover platforms brought two full compartments. The commanders laconicly requested data on the clash and control over the reconnaissance biobot. Ernest didn't mind. He spent the time before the arrival of reinforcements piped and fussing over Sogi's body. It was A.N. took the liberty of sealing her body in plastic. Forever - after all, it was definitely necessary to bury her in a closed coffin.Francois waited for the armored personnel carrier, gathered his people, briefly said goodbye - and left. Ernest consulted colleagues for some time, and smoked again. I stuck to the moping squad, forced to collect trophies. Convinced that he himself began to mope, he joined. There were so many trunks that one room was littered with them almost to the waist. I had to ask for a favor from my colleagues.What was still in abundance at the former base of the “sour” was drugs. Phase bags. Boxes of pencils. Good
Organization 18
Location : Old City.Location: Stanton Furnished Rooms.Time : Wednesday, 22-25The locker room greeted Ernest with the stench of stale sweat and tobacco smoke. The department met him as if he had returned from the other world. And when A.N. showed the audience a “small bead”, and they began to swing it at all. They threw me on my back and began throwing me into the air, accompanying the action with hoots and approving interjections. Mostly unprintable.- Kill me, damn it! - All that remained was for Ernest to yell, flying up to the ceiling and listening to the laughter and disapproving whispers of Agni Corp bureaucrats.“Not today, boss, not today!” someone answered. There was nothing to be said against this argument.When, finally, someone was lowered under the click of opening cans of warm (refrigerator was not included in the equipment of the locker room) beer, it took some time to return to the sinful earth. And jubilant, and flying.A.N. reminded me of Jimmy Two Steps head. Lenn
Latest Chapter
- Organization
Epilogue
Location: Landing Archipelago.Location: Giraffe Neck IslandTime : Friday, 01:50Barry made the most of his emna-infused combat body. Maneuvering between the few land-paying mobiles, he ran straight to the first pier. He held back the urge to jump into the water right there, turned left and ran all the way to a bend in the river. There, closer to the opposite shore, lay the northernmost, small island from the Landing group. Too narrow and too swampy for anything to be built on.But overgrown with small shrubs, with the ruins of a mansion. In which was the last unopened cache of the merry fellow Dimmy. He really wanted to retire. But I didn't, ha.The downpour caught Lean in the middle of the river. Chemistry in the blood seethed, making it difficult to get hypothermia. And, of course, get under the propellers of ships passing by. In every distant hum of Barry's clapping his arms wide, there were biobots flying over his soul. And in every dissatisfied snort of the urdaleb, who came ou
- Organization
76
Location : Old CityLocation: Stanton Furnished Rooms.Time : 14:44. Thursday.I haven't felt this bad in a long time.I've been in bed for five days now. Plast. I go out to the nearest shop for beer and soup concentrate. From any solid food - vomiting. Especially if it is with the aroma of the sea or seafood.I was also glad, idiot, that they didn’t put a bomb in my neck. It would be better to sew.How do you want to take a break sometimes? Well, you know it. Bitterness somewhere in the region of the cephalothorax. Coffee does not give strength. You lie in bed and think about everything that you lied to. Better to die than to live like this. White handkerchiefs, varnished coffin. Lamentations of the former.So, this is all complete nonsense. Parents, of course, if you have any, will not stint on a good house, in which their blood will lie. But believe me, an old visitor to the funeral of suicides - if the former appear on the mortal field, they behave more qui
- Organization
75
Location : WastelandsLocation: Lair.Time : 11-54. Monday.The guards stood at a respectful distance from the atrium. No one was to disturb the two men in their conversation. Especially when one is an ippie, and the second is a Master who burns him. Katerina, assistant to the all-powerful leader, frantically endured meetings and politely refused visitors. And she prayed that the Third would come out of the fenced corner with the waterfall in his usual icy calm.Because she knew perfectly well what a one-eyed leader in a bad mood is capable of. If anyone were in Nick's place, they would most likely go to a special block of the Lair. From which no one came out by himself.Outwardly, the ippie was impenetrably calm. No, of course, the dressing did not give him any pleasure. Yes, and he perfectly remembered the worst days of his career, one of which was not so long ago. Today is not even close to them. After all, no one from the Organization died. Still, Nick hadn't seen the Third in suc
- Organization
74
Location : New City.Location: Port area.Time : Sunday, 19:23.Ernest moved calmly. A twitchy person always raises questions. Calm and knowing what to do (even if it is filled with vomit and blood) - no. The candidate resolutely moved towards the snow-white "waffle iron", the first one he met on the way. He raised his hand, wondering who would dare to take it in this form. He was surprised at the sight of a cab diving right in front of him. The side window did not open (safety is paramount), but a friendly voice came from the speaker:- Buddy, give me a lift? I have all-weather seats, at least dry your ass!- Can you smoke inside? Ernest inquired lazily. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now.“Any whim for your glitters, mate. And if you pay with “beads”, then at least I’ll pick up a girl raging with boredom at the Token.“Then to Besilnya, street of the third Highest, house 24,” Ernest decided and climbed into a cab. In Besilna, he had a wretched apartment bought according to a
- Organization
73
Location : Old CityLocation: Smiling BuddhaTime : Sunday, 17:14Ernest pretended to think. The data from the sleuth biobot flooded his snail. So far, on the first floor, there are only eight “bulls” around it in a semicircle. And three more are on the way. There could not have been a better moment. He tipped the wine down his throat and set the glass down.“Then now,” he said calmly.“I hope you haven’t smoked for the last hour,” Lemai chuckled. - I don't like tobacco smoke. Physically nauseous.“Not at all,” the candidate smiled broadly.Approach the scary woman. Take a look from top to bottom. To see a slight triumph in the eyes of Lemay, who threw back her head. Gently touch your head with your fingers. Kiss, remembering a thousand kinds of poison, slightly surprised at Lemay's activity. Activate routertier. Insert a blade into the white throat of a "respected merchant". Jump back, noticing genuine surprise on the face of Danielle, who is clamping a wide wound. Hear hysterical:"
- Organization
72
Location : Besilnia, Old Town.Location: Lane 13a, building 35Time : Saturday, 20:41“No,” Ernest muttered in disgust.- Well, he could become another victim if he drank poisoned beer.“That’s why I don’t drink with strangers,” A.N. lied. and vowed to stop. Speaking of strangers. Recently I was in Malaya Besilna. And imagine, they began to read predictions to me there."Oh," asked Hildur. - Do you remember the name? Some prophets are popular on the net, I can tell you about the accuracy of their forecasts.- Surname Kenard, and the name of some ... meat.- Meat?- Well, Kebabus, or Roll, or Sausages ...Jonsdottir laughed again.— Ruland? - Ernest shook his head positively and waved to the bartender - pour another one. And when he returned his head, he realized: the girl suddenly raised her blue eyes and stuck her unblinking gaze at the candidate. If so, then you should take his words more seriously. Sometimes, for general development, the "masters" give him the insides of impaled cr
- Organization
71
Location : Besilnia, Old Town.Location: Lane 13a, building 35Time : Saturday, 20:20.Ernest found this bar by accident. Once, almost in a past life, he went to Igni after a case. The denouement there had a frankly brown aftertaste (not chocolate), and the detective wanted to unwind. Dry cleaning, as damned Lemay rightly pointed out, could remove external dirt. For the rest, wise people came up with something else. Snooker, alcohol and corrupt women. A palliative who has repeatedly removed burnout syndromes. It was to him that A.N. decided to apply while watching a smart automaton clean the traces of blood from an innocent victim from a random gunfight from his trench coat. Marlin gang, racketeering case. Old city, spring season.However, that evening he was still really lucky. First, he calculated his meager savings and decided to spend some crowns on a beer at a random bar. Anything is better than a few tokens - at Igni. The brothels were as good as the spaceports at making money o
- Organization
70
Location : Old CityLocation: Smiling BuddhaTime : Saturday, 17:21.Ernest relaxed and reached for his glass. He knew perfectly well that nervous bandits (even if they were packaged in the "guise" of the security service) could do stupid things. Perhaps Daniel Lemay will tug at his old-wheat curl, twist his mouth (admitting a couple of wrinkles on his smooth face) and scold them for screwing up the deal. But the candidate will lie in the middle of a tasteless interior and spoil the carpet with his liquids. From such a distance and with such a number of trunks, the carapace is unlikely to save.Therefore, take a small sip of wine. Refrain from blowing out the entire glass at once. Still, it is quite possible that the twitching, dumb-headed bighead with a plasma pistol is just an element of the entourage. Still, Lemay loves to bring his guests to a nervous tick. Quietly put the glass on the tablecloth. Smile into cold eyes.“Mrs. Lemay,” A.N. began softly, “some
- Organization
69
Location : New CityLocation: Newlow, level 3bTime : Friday, 20:24Krzysztof Boltzmann hesitated. The candidate noticed that the conversation had touched something unsettling in the fat man. An old humiliation pacified by complacency and a hefty security deposit. But, fortunately, the lover of watchmaking did not possess oratory.— What a stupid question, Sir Ernest...“Krzysztof,” the candidate interrupted softly, his eyes flashing. - Please reply.“Okay, okay…” The pawnshop scratched the back of his head. - After the first, yes, there were several unpleasant incidents. Ordinary punks and "bulls" who somehow learned about the "bead". I then reinforced the rear airlock and began to constantly carry a pistol. But after the second it was all very calm. Even the tax inspector, so that his Cordul devoured, did not visit more often than necessary.- I understood you. Well, Krzysztof. Your debt is closed.- Truth? the pawnbroker inquired incredulously.- Truth. How
