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Organization 28
Location : Underbelly.Location : Unknown.Time : Tuesday, 18-42Consciousness returned very slowly. Someone was rummaging through Ernest's pockets, cursing. Pulled off the coat entirely. A fleeting thought came to him about the fine pipe left in his inner pocket. Finally, swearing at the detective's weight, weak hands stuffed him into some kind of ladle covered with frozen concrete splashes."I'm not sure if that's a great idea," said a familiar voice that lacked any sympathy. And even more so - cloying and fawning, which A.N. he fed along with the female a few hours earlier. Mr Allen. Himself. Grieving father.Tim, this is a great idea. The web is flooded with rain forecasts. The corpses of this couple will be carried into the River. When the bosses miss them, they will already swim to the reservoir.Or the landings. You don't know exactly where the spillway is, do you?- Not. But the Light One knows, and he informed.Well, if it's light...“Damn sweet couple,” Ernest tried to moan.
Organization 29
Location : Underbelly.Location : Unknown.Time : Tuesday, 19-20The group walked for ten minutes. The passage did not turn anywhere, although sometimes Ernest noticed not very noticeable doors to some rooms. Finally, Anton stopped in front of one of them and grinned noticeably. Approached A.N. noticed the black trim on the door.- This is it?- Yes. - said the security guard, opened a hatch. Calmly met the access panel, put his hand. I wasn't surprised when the door opened automatically.Ernest expected to see a secret room inside, equipped for rest and rearmament. But I was disappointed to see only a niche filled with equipment, albeit a deep one. Anton silently pulled out five light bulletproof vests, two first-aid kits, the same number of box-shaped shotguns, bandoliers and laspistols.— Silencer? For a shotgun?"Otherwise you'll go deaf." I'm glad you don't have to explain your lack of lasrifles.“Not an idiot,” A.N. grinned.- What about us? the girl said
Organization 30
They don't bloom on the surface. - the "dark" grumbled and discharged the laser into the floor. It was the girl, who opened her eyes and looked at the light with fascination, gasped and hid again. The crawling conspirators froze. - Knit the captives, otherwise they have already begun to crawl away. I'm more concerned not with the presence of a tree in the dungeon, but with how much it grew.— And how much? It doesn't seem big.- For such a height, twenty years, no less. And my people checked the exit a year ago. When they started to prepare for the operation.“That means they were actively watering,” A.N. muttered, jerking the prisoner muttering curses to his feet. Extremely familiar. If you put a touchingly mournful expression on this bald head...“Here’s the thing,” Anton drawled doubtfully, “they should have been watered with something like blood.— Are you kidding?- Not. But I'm not exactly sure. The mechanism of tree growth is not very clear to human biologists.“It's just that
Organization 31
Location : Old townLocation : Agni Corp Security B-8 StrongholdTime : Tuesday, 21-42Nobody stopped him. And the laughs faded away. It was from what. The sight of the detective, covered in blood and carrying the corpse of a giant centipede on his shoulder, will knock anyone out of a playful mood. Ernest jabbed his middle fingers several times, could not restrain himself. But for the rest he remained calm until the captain's office. It was there that he tossed the cordula onto the table. Directly on the data-slates, without much understanding of their importance.Wazaf's face took on a delicate shade of purple, half in rage, half in disgust. He could only squeeze out:- It...— Cordul. The one we've been looking for for so long. On his conscience six contract killings and at least one accidental. As well as a double attempt on the life of a security officer and at least one double attempt on the life of a Charter member."Evidence," the captain said hoarsely, trying his hardest to pu
Organization 32
Location : WastelandsLocation: Lair, exact location unknown.Time : Tuesday, 24:12The creak of a pen, the rustle of archaic paper. Deaf strokes of the press. Ordinary bureaucratic sounds, almost forgotten by this world. Even now they were almost drowned out by the rustling of the artificial waterfall behind them. The Third Master did not like the departure of life into Digital. Enjoyed the benefits of progress, but still created an "air gap" between documents. Just in case.But real-time tracking Radim could not afford such a whim. Coffee, some holoscreens. Virtual keyboard, real keyboard, augmented reality glasses. A stack of highly secure data-slates. A pack of coffee, a few protein snacks. And a spare in case of emergency - an almost untouched pack of cigarettes. Radim smoked only five cigarettes in his seven years at the Organization. And everything is right at the workplace.The current situation did not belong to those that need to be seasoned with the bitterness of tobacco. J
Organization 33
"Kael Zerbe," the master's richly ornamented mask turned slightly to one side.I didn't expect you to show up so early.“I was attracted by the rumors about the newfound Tree. You didn't mean to cut it down, did you?“No way,” Anton answered sincerely, remembering the first time the radiance had fascinated him.“Right,” said the stranger. He stepped closer, pulled out a lean limb from a shapeless dark cloak. - The person who raised this tree. He found the rare position of the stars. One of hundreds of thousands. He got lucky."I... at your service, sir," Allen murmured, crouching closer. But he stopped when he felt Zerbe's burning gaze. And even crawled back a little.- We need to expand this room. Restrict access to the uninitiated. Small shrine. Yes. sincere.The security guards didn't interfere. Skane received a short text order from the officer on the snail. Silently advanced to the opening and froze like a statue. No one was supposed to interfere with the conversation. Even if it
Organization 34
Location : New City.Location: Bar "Two hundred and twenty"Time : Monday, 05-22. Five months from the arrival of the Candidate. Summer season.Ernest "turned on" at the most inopportune moment. Marv was already actively punching some dude in the face, and Lenny was trying to pull him away. He got hit on the head and got into a fight himself. Gasper and his casual companion, no matter how hard they tried, could not hide the shock. However, like Hans-Ove Nacht, Ernest's colleague in the operations department. Yes, this part of the group could rarely get involved in a banal tavern fight.How did this supremely strange company end up in this establishment? Very simple. Tavern in the Old City, bad news, random calls to contacts. Join Jacques Gaspard, who is resting nearby, to drop Nakhta about a promising business. And now the company is diluted. Two stormtroopers, two detectives and a lawyer. Sounds like the name of a stupidly primitive anecdote, but what can you do.When two stormtroope
Organization 35
Mr. Marv very rarely got into fights. Few were ready to fight on equal terms with an almost two-meter attack aircraft. Especially - seeing traces of chewing cordula on the chin. But the fellows who entered the fray followed the call of the member, not the head. That is why they turned their attention to the near, and not distant drunkards. And that's why Hans now, with a snapping blow of the okapi neuroshocker, caused screams of the purest, bestial horror from the brute who came to the rescue, while Marv continued to swing his fists, reminiscent of ancient pneumatic hammers. And Ernest...Take advantage of the distraction of the opponent, take him by the breasts and smash his forehead on the head. Hear a crunch and something hot pouring down your forehead. Let go of a falling opponent, understand that help is not required. Uppercut on the slowly rising "bull", without waiting for the fall, finalize with the left. Lubricate the blow, lubricate another one. Turn over the fallen opponent
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
