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2024-10-29 19:42:56Top secret.
Black box III link Ogre DP.
16.VI.30
Commander Rob A. entry 4/6
— Hello, commander. - Suddenly heard on the command frequency. - You're good to run.
- Who is it?
— Conquista. Faye whispered. Rob, don't answer!
"Familiar voice, who is it?"
"Don't you recognize me?"
— Commander! Frost's tense voice was heard. “I see their captain-general!”
— Distance to the target?
- A mile and a half.
So shoot, why are you delaying?
- I don't…
"What's wrong with all of you!" Fey, on the perimeter.
I climbed a tree with the desire to tell Fros everything I think about him. For once, we are in a better position, we can no longer play the exchange, but snap their fighters from a distance! Return home winners!
The words stood in my throat like a stake when I took the shooting complex from Froze, crouched down on the scope and saw a familiar face at maximum magnification. He looked strange in antediluvian camouflage with a primitive "Kalash" on his shoulder, but there could be no mistake.
- Did you know? Our opponent smiled white-toothed. "Froz, why don't you shoot?"
Hyde. Damn Lucky Hyde. We were firmly convinced of his death, because the Conquest did not need living operatives, we left, and he remained to cover our retreat. Mourned, resigned to the loss.
“Congratulations on a successful landing in the tundra region. In the meantime, Lucky continued to joke. “The next day here is only a month away. I've been here, I know.
— How did you survive?
Oh, it took some effort. But don't worry, the Conquest needs people like you. Give up, and I promise that only Fey and Frost will die.
- You shouldn't go...
Well, I didn't expect any other answer. Capture team, move out.
He winked at me again, knowing unmistakably where I was aiming at him from. And disappeared, vanished into the mist.
Lucky Hyde, a living legend.
Will anything in this world work the way it's supposed to? I moaned. - This is a public service, everyone was checked for reliability a hundred times!
A living refutation of the stereotype about the short life of a Far Seek operative.
I was pierced by frost between the shoulder blades. Again, a flash of insight. If it could turn out that not all of the captured operatives were destroyed, the commanders were not destroyed after interrogation - Conquista specialists know how to work well with the psyche, they could even recruit group commanders.
“According to the latest intelligence, we were at war with ourselves…” I muttered.
What are we going to do, Commander? Frost asked, surveying the area again.
- I'm sorry, what. Run. And, if necessary, fight!
But Hyde...
It's not Hyde anymore. It's just a creature with the face, mannerisms and talents of your old commander, Frost. And if we don't jump above our heads now, we'll all be in trouble. Did you get it?
- Yes sir.
Frost was also partly right. We were taught to survive, hide, get information and pack trophies for transport. What we were not taught was to fight with our own kind. Let each operative be worth two Conquest fighters, let us be better equipped and trained.
A herd of rams led by a lion will always defeat a pack of lions led by a ram. If I'm counting on at least some chance, it's better to close the mitten now, put doubts aside - and just work! Worked as always!
- Fei, let's go.
— Commander.
- Fighters, weapons in automatic mode. If I remember anything about Hyde's work, we've probably already been surrounded on all sides. We will break through with a fight.
- There is.
I jumped down from the tree, checked the complex. Fifty rounds in the magazine, three interchangeable. Enough to kill the entire Conquista squad, if only to beat for sure. But we all remember the statistics of wars: no less than ten thousand shots are fired for one killed.
Frost landed noiselessly behind him.
Top secret.
Black box III link Ogre DP.
16.VI.30
Commander Rob A. entry 5/6.
Cat and mouse, a game of catch-up in half with a chess game. I have not come out of the trance for a day, I'm sure Hyde is in the same situation. But he knows much more, knows much more. Therefore, in the struggle between two intuitives, the more experienced one will inevitably win.
- Fey, charge?
- Thirty percent.
Two more times for the same. We manage to keep our distance, we manage to stay out of open, gun-toting areas, but how long can that last? Hyde got in touch twice more, he didn’t smile anymore - there must be no such coherence between him and Conquista. The first losses even before the first shots.
And he did not stop trying to take us alive. Or rather, just me. Yes, only hell with two.
“Fey, for two hours, in a short burst.
- There is.
The complex barked briefly, and curses came from somewhere in the periphery.
“Next time, take it a little higher, it didn’t hit the head.”
- Received.
In total, three operatives exhausted by the chase against about the same number of Conquista fighters. As I understand it, Hyde drowned one fighter in a swamp, and we just cut off the second.
Chances are slowly improving. A little more, and we can take the fight. After all, can we? Truth? This, of course, is Lucky, but we have been together for half a year, more than a dozen sorties behind us.
Hell no. If it had been a regular hunting party, we would have fought back. But I'm afraid Lucky will be able to put us all down even alone.
- Snack on the go, do not slow down the speed.
— Commander. - Bassed in the back of Frost. "Maybe I'll step aside - and out of the chatter of them all?"
Moron. An overgrown, experienced idiot.
No offense, Fros. Who are you up against? Against unwashed savages? Or against a specialist who knows our own tricks better than all of us?
- How would he know? It just came to my mind.
- From there, how do I know where to stand and where not to step in this swamp. If you fight alone with Fey against Hyde, who will you bet on?
— …
- That's it. We don't split up, we go as one group. Let's hope he loses someone else by... Fey, by nine o'clock, tree!
The machine chirped.
A wolf pack can afford not to save energy if the victim is within reach. Everything that remains in the strained muscles is invested in the last jerk - rest after, everything after! The main thing is to grab, grind the throat with the jaws.
Without waiting for my command, the detachment reorganized so that the next tree was strictly behind our backs. Dart guns at such a distance are ineffective, but, firstly, of our entire team, Conquest only needs me, and secondly, a bullet will not kill you from the first hit, unless it hits your head or heart.
The lucky man was listed in the memorial as killed on duty, which automatically meant that all his ammunition, weapons, devices were written off as losses in battle. All products of the technological genius of the scientists of the Search were at his service. Including exactly the same rifle complex.
If we now find ourselves in an open area, and he will click us like targets in a shooting range.
“Froz, six o’clock, three hundred meters.
The bolt clicked briefly. Three for three.
Or…
— Commander! Fei screamed. "There's a large enemy force ahead!"
- Do not engage in battle, turn aside.
- But…
Yes, we will find ourselves between two fires. I don't know who is leading the second squad, but if it's the same i-person, then we're in serious trouble.
- I'm going, guys, to the right!
The fog helped us, my insights and instincts, we continued the race, and not one of us was even injured yet. And it was strange enough. Damn strange it was, to be honest - Hyde was one of the top ten shooters in the Search.
Where and how the Conquista got reinforcements, I didn’t even want to think. Hell, even in my amateurish opinion, there are at least a couple of ways to reunite the scattered forces. I'm sure Hyde has just as many.
I guessed that we didn’t have a chance at first, I guessed at the moment when a harmless snag exploded under Fey’s feet, and the air around became heavy, reluctantly oozing into the lungs even through the filters of the mask.
— Argon! Hold up dy...
A rough, primitive net shot up overhead, Fey fell, thrashed, trying to get out, but her movements became slower with every second.
With Froze, the situation was even worse - the operative was shamelessly sleeping, probably having grabbed gas.
Remember, Rob. Hyde taught me with his usual smile. The commander is always the most valuable member of the team. Operatives can be changed, weapons and costumes will be given new ones. But if you get caught by enemies ... Do not let yourself be caught if suddenly something happens. Run.
Run.
The strained nerves groaned in protest, driving me into a state of stress, time slowed down, the air pushed into my chest with an elastic barrier. I won't be able to function in this state for long, and it will most likely cost me dearly. But now the most important thing is to be saved. It is necessary to escape from the field of traps, to break through the closing ring.
Run.
We were taught to hit to kill, not to get into fights that last more than a few hits. Survive where others cannot. Like rats.
The rat will always find a way.
Out of nowhere, a Conquista fighter stood up in front of me, looking wild in a green spotted overall against a gray misty forest, flew off like a broken doll to the side in a split second.
Run.
The rat will always find a way.
Behind the conquistador's back, his instinct indicated a gap, a gap leading to freedom. I will leave the ring, and from the side I will cut you all out!
Everyone! Including the traitor Hyde.
My heart was pounding every other time, my lungs burned from lack of oxygen, but I was still in the argon cloud. Break through, forward, forward!
A rat can always escape.
Lucky Hyde taxied out from behind a tree, still smiling, moving so fast I could barely catch his movements. Also in a state of stress, also ready to destroy opponents ... Or catch their own kind.
“Nothing personal, Rob.
A butt flickered, and the world plunged into blackness.
Lucky Hyde. Rat Wolf Hyde.
Top secret.
Black box III link Ogre DP.
16.VI.30
Commander Rob A. entry 6/6
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THE OUTLAND 9
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THE OUTLAND 12
In the tube, ahead of seconds, long beeps ran, each of which heaped an increasingly heavy burden on my shoulders.— Hello? - They yawned into the phone. — Frames listen.- Hello. This is Mashko's deputy, Rob. Can you tell me the home address of Eduard Semyonovich?“Actually, this is classified information. Anything else?What does "closed" mean? Damn it, he didn't just show up for work!- Listen, young man, leave a request ...- No, you listen! I yelled with an anger that surprised me. - Your Mashko, perhaps, is now lying at home with well-baked brains, while you are breeding bureaucracy here!— Yes, sorry. I will transfer you to my direct supervisor.If he can help me.— Bauer. - A well-placed male voice answered in the receiver. - We do not provide information about the place of residence of employees, this is illegal.- Do you know why Mashko went on sick leave?- Not. But we are not interested in this. And generally speaking…- Mashko went on sick leave to go for the implantation
Latest Chapter
- THE OUTLAND
Epilogue
And then ... Everything went - as it went. And may there always remain worlds where people are lonely, where it is dark, and icteric palms of maples fall from the sky. One day Avdeyka and his mother... Aunt? The devil will break his leg in their difficult relationship. One way or another, they will definitely get there. Maybe one day they will get to the chair where my reader is bent from loneliness. Who knows, the universe is merciful and loves its children. But it is not exactly. But it is known: today the very first seven testers-gods got up from sleep. Eduardo, Shelly, Alexey, Umbra, Erebus and Nyukta, Selina. Alive, absolutely. Skinny, of course, like a spring rook, but quite sane. Shelly even tried to pick up her son from the distributor, but she was quickly explained that he would definitely be better there. Astrix also did not go away, although he got out from under the dropper. From time to time he walks into other people's dreams, treats him to strange drinks and cigare
- THE OUTLAND
181
Rob, hurry up! Astrix's voice called. We won't be able to hold him back for long!The scarlet bloody whip in the air was overwhelmed by several multi-colored energy flows at once, trembling with tension. The thaumaturge, gaping, stopped bombarding me with new spells for a change and stared at the doomsday reigning in the sky.Who are you boy? Why did you decide that to treat you the same way as everyone else is the greatest injustice? Where did the thoughts in your head come from that people should be connected by feelings and affections, and not by common interests?I understood what all this battle was about, what the road had led to until now. The boy remained alone all his life, believing that he was just very unlucky, and that somewhere there must be friendly hands, a warm smile and hope for tomorrow - you just need to look properly. About the fact that the world is dying of loneliness, he learned much later, becoming much older.A world that didn't need a boy. A world that aband
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180
- Un-life. Why don't you rein in your robbers then? - I almost believed it. Nearly. “The corruption is preparing for a massive raid on the lands of the living, which means…- I know. But I'm still an avatar, my abilities are limited. And I can't go anywhere from here. To become a goddess in the fullest sense of the word, I need...— Believers! I slapped my forehead. - Well, of course. Followers, believers, own church.“We can start with the first knights. So... How do you look... - She blushed, looked away. - Well…“Become one of those ugly strategists?— Rob! You are to blame for their appearance! You can look whatever you want!- Nevermind. But you yourself understand - there is some complexity. If I'm next to you on Limbo right now, it most likely means that I'm dead. And a corpse cannot be turned corrupted. An undead connecting rod - you can, but not with Filth.- It's true. But something has changed.- Yes?“You see, two people from the same account came into this world. And one
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179
"I look into my eyes ... I'll touch my lips. And what to say when I'm gone?" - Asked guitar picks over the black Icelandic beach, and the night was surprisingly warm, not at all suitable for November in the northern latitudes of Limbo.Night again, beach again. Another terrible headache.“Rob, Rob…” Nervous, sensitive fingers stroked my head. “You never get used to the fact that the body is a weapon. Relaxed, believed in the brothers on opposite sides of the barricades. That's what I got. Did you get it?- I cant. I complained without opening my eyes. - I'm tired. Why do they keep killing me? We almost agreed, almost resolved the issue.“We haven’t decided, stupid Robushka. And they couldn't. Understand that from the point of view of Warcraft, it is he who overcomes fifty years of captivity, cut off from his loved one, overcomes obstacle after obstacle, trying to reunite the family. Or at least avenge their deaths. And when he wins, there will be a happy epilogue and everyone will be
- THE OUTLAND
178
He dissapeared."Spider, come on!" I pleaded.A silent prayer burst out of my chest and spread throughout the Oikumene, and when there was no space between me and the fury of the avenging god, a huge black sword, literally a millimeter above my head, was stopped by a blade of sand.“You should look for an opponent in size,” Astrix smiled white-toothed.So you helped him. Ware said slowly. "It's good that both of you are here!"- And what will you do? Ban me too?- Not.Ware waved his hand, and the glow of the font parted, releasing the already familiar crystal, which contained the powers of the defeated gods. Only this one was much larger, and not empty. Zhdan froze inside him with his mouth wide open from a tearing cry!- Oh, you're a creature. Spider said softly. “You do understand that after this you won’t leave here with your own feet?”- Don't care. I don't care at all! I will kill you both!The clapping of his hands fanned the blood around him, and the magician's body seemed to
- THE OUTLAND
177
Closed tightly, I almost completely stopped relying on the light, leaving only my new outlandish vision. It gave the picture with spots, intersecting lines, but the brain quickly adjusted itself, and from the flickering in front of the inner gaze, it independently completed a completely three-dimensional picture of the environment. The steps underfoot seemed new, almost untrodden, although the temple itself is definitely more than two thousand years old...However, this is logical. Only a couple of dozen people have walked this road. The senior pantheon came to the Font when it was still an ordinary cave in the mountain, and, of course, no staircase had yet been built. So consider it an untrodden path.Turn after turn, the levels went past - the sacrificial altar, administrative premises, the household unit, the barracks ... Soon, according to the sensations, the ground level also passed. This was told to me by my vision, since nothing has changed in all other parameters. There were n
- THE OUTLAND
176
The Christmas tree backed away, and I, sinfully squeezing past it in half, stared thoughtfully at my avatar. A savage Amri, a slave by birth, a pacifist by conviction - it was necessary to manage, in such and such a world, to get a lowered pain threshold! Laughter and sin, in general, are obviously cannon fodder, which usually does not survive even the first serious battle.But they survived. And they didn't even get scars. Unless, of course, do not count those inside. And, of course, a snowflake peeking out from under the undergarments. But this is not a scar, but rather a protective mark. Okay, good time to pull, it is already in short supply.- Hey, get up! I called.The spider said something about the reunion of soul and body. But damn, how to implement it? God somehow forgot to mention the technical details - either he really didn’t know, or for him such tricks are so in the order of things that they are not worth clarifying.No answer. Of course."Get up, motherfucker!" I shook
- THE OUTLAND
175
- What?! I barked. - What nonsense! Xolotl is alive, I personally...- Killed her? Astrix raised an eyebrow. “Finished off what little was left of her?”But you are all alive. You, Ware, other scumbags. What happened to Shelly?- She was already unstable at the time of digitization because of the child, you understand? One and a half consciousness, working out of tune. Technique then simply did not provide for such a situation ... And now, you yourself understand. Pregnancy is a vanishingly rare phenomenon these days.“But she gave birth in those two thousand years.- Both in real life and in virtual, yes. But in real life, the process of childbirth is simply the separation of one from the other without any sacrifice on the part of the psychostructure. In the virtual, everything turned out a little differently.And who did she give birth to? Gary?The spider chuckled.- Does not give you a dream of rest, I see. No, not Gary. Who cares. The main thing is that the rejection mechanism at
- THE OUTLAND
174
Agnis exhaled convulsively again, but said nothing.— In general, it all started with Haang as the very first. He went to the abyss, where he deposed the archangel. Now all the Filth is in his hands. They do not touch people yet, but they destroyed one cemetery. Guess which one.“The same thing, without the ankh!” I gasped. “So there is no longer any protection between humans and the Filth!”- Right. Khaang's troops catch all living things and turn them into Filth - they accumulate strength. As soon as they accumulate enough, they move on. We have no idea where, but it is clear now: Haang will not be the only corrupted god at the head of this army. Soon the rest will realize where the game is fatter, and against the seven demons, I'm afraid even I can't resist.- Good. What we can do?- Restore balance. Astrix shrugged. — Return the ankh to its homeland, restore the lich of the plundered cemetery. Even one lich can hold back the Filth indefinitely, and if he summons a bone dragon...-
