章 11: New Life
The Pearl of the Goddess Hotel | Illium
Riessa T'Lani.
Consciousness returned in a jerk. I will tell them about this awakening, and I don't care what they do to me. And just as I was about to launch into a profanity-laden swearing fit, I realized I wasn't where I'd passed out. I was in a luxurious hotel room, and that's how they furnish rooms. And the hotel was clearly not for ordinary people. Where did it all go? Was it a dream? If so, thank the Goddess because it was a horrible dream! All right, I can still lie down. And just as I rolled over onto my side to continue the dream, I saw a note on the table. I got up and walked over to the table, and read a short note that made me want to fall under the ground:
"We're watching."
And at the bottom was a drawing of that damned skull. And such hope that it was a dream! Why would I do such a thing!
After getting dressed and cleaning up, I decided to get some air. They told me nothing about restrictions, so I could do what I wanted. Let's start with where I was. I saw the city in typical Azarian architecture when I opened the window. Okay, so they probably dropped me off at Illyum. Makes sense. Closest to Terminus. And what did they give me with it? Omni on the spot, what's the count? How much?!
And there was a sum of seven zeros in the account. Where they got it from is a mystery to me. I'll go downstairs, find out how long my room is occupied, and call my friends.
In the lobby, I was met by a girl servant, from whom I learned about the room and payment.
- The room was paid for a year in advance, ma'am. The person who paid, unfortunately, did not give his name, but we allow that.
- And how much did he pay for the room?
- About two million credits, ma'am. They don't scrimp.
- All right, I'm going to take a walk around town. If anyone asks for me, let me know.
- Of course, madam. Have a good day.
Life's getting better. Working for them isn't such a bad idea. It's getting late, so I can hit the clubs and get my mind right.
Tyros - Adept of the Secret Guard | One of Illium's skyscrapers
Keno's life is incomprehensible, too different from life in the Empire. There, everything works as a single mechanism, and everything is one, as the Emperor willed. Here it is not; they fight with themselves for riches, power, or some crap that will kill them. But the Emperor sent us here, and we will do his will. And while we wait for the target, we must purge the Soul of darkness and tune in to the task. Sitting in a meditation pose, I whispered the words of the litany.
I know no fear,
For I am the dagger in his hand.
For I feel no pain,
For my flesh is metal
I will not be broken,
For my Soul is His servant.
But I will not fear death,
For my service is eternal.
After these cherished words, I felt calm, and my equanimity returned. Nothing must distract me from His will. Again I looked at the columns of cars flying between the buildings.
I was distracted from my contemplation of the city by my partner's voice:
- First, the target is out of the building," my partner Mark had only recently become a shadow and was currently in practice, and was assigned to me as number two.
- Roger that, Number Two, we're just escorting her today and seeing who she's meeting with.
- Let me ask you a question.
- Go ahead.
- Why do we need this Xeno? We can take on the person we want and fit into their society?
- She's also part of their society, and besides, she knows her way around. With her help, we'll know if the Emperor needs these Xenos or if they're our enemies. And if it's one of us, it will take time to adapt to the new environment, and we perceive them differently. Remember, it's still Keno.
- I see your point, Number One," he returned to watching our xeno-agent.
- Let's move out after her, turn on the camouflage.
After a few seconds, the two blurry figures disappeared into the shadows of the building.
Riessa T'Lani
I was walking down one of the streets of a familiar planet. I was in a familiar society, and everything was so familiar after my imprisonment. I had been to Illium several times. I have many acquaintances from different races, so I already had several appointments. I even discovered that one of my sisters was on the planet right now, which is very good. A vacation with my family may give me complete peace of mind.
That's all the meetings behind me; we discussed buying a new ship and hiring a crew, money allowed. There were also a couple of meetings about the job to keep a low profile. By the way, I had to make up a separate story about the ship. So far, there was a version with an attack by pirates and a big payoff from them. That's what I stuck to. My assistant also got in touch, and I was very happy to do so. She had also woken up in a hotel on the other side of the planet and was now on her way to me. So things are getting better! But still, I have to meet my sister and talk business.
So there I am, sitting on a bench in one of the parks, waiting for my sister. The weather is beautiful, there's hardly anyone around, and it's quiet. It's bliss. I would have continued to sit if my privacy had not been violated. As soon as I closed my eyes, I felt someone sitting beside me. When I opened my eyes, I saw a beautiful Azari girl clutching a tablet uncertainly.
- Um... may I sit down? - What a gentle voice she had, just a girl. We could have some fun with her later. That would be really nice.
- Yes, of course, to what do I owe such a beautiful maiden? - She was even more embarrassed at that. She was a beauty.
Quietly sitting down, she continued to clutch her clipboard shyly.
- So, what does such a charming girl want from me? - Well, she's almost ready, but how do I get to the room quickly? Call a cab or...
- Your service to the Empire... ...or the asylum.
- I beg your pardon?
- There's an assignment for you, Mistress T'Lani," and she smiled sweetly, "We told you we're watching and waiting for you to fulfil your obligations. And your assignment you will recognize on this tablet. We'll contact you ourselves. Have a good day, Miss T'Lani. I hope to see you soon," and with a sweet smile, she... it left the park. And I sat there with the damn tablet, wondering how deeply they had infiltrated our society and if they could even be one of us. And so, in prostration, I sat for the rest of the day, contemplating those with whom I had come into contact.
Terra | Throne Room
- So, Karos, what can you tell me about Project Nova? - I was once again seated on my favourite throne, networked to the entire planet.
- My Emperor, the development is complete, and the prototype is ready, but we will know the reality only in combat. At this point, the weapon has been tested, and I recommend that it be placed on the ships of the Strike Fleet. In the case of manpower, it has shown tremendous effectiveness, as it is equally effective against both armour and organics. The only downside is the huge energy cost; only the Reactor Spirit from a battleship and the second series will be able to produce enough energy*(1).
- Acknowledged, you have full carte blanche to act with the fleet, and I want this gun in service by the time battles are possible.
- You got it, Highness.
- All right, now to the rest. What can you tell us about Project Zero?
- We learned about biotics from the ship's Xeno network. The Council of Masters has decided that using the element known as "Zero" is not rational. A great difficulty in obtaining "objects" with a great expenditure of manpower.
- Has a replacement option been developed? - Getting something like biotics would be very helpful.
- Confirmed, there are currently three potential areas of biotics replacement:
1) Psi implants: the most difficult development, there has been little success and is unlikely to appear, but development will continue.
2) Gravity implants: a promising development based on antigravity engine technology. There are already results in mental control of gravity in certain areas.
3) Energy-implant: A way of storing energy in the body without harming the "carrier" is being developed. The results will be available by the end of the year. If there are positive results, this project will get the highest potential.
- That's all for now; I'll report any progress in person.
- Accepted, as long as you're free," I called my most trusted man after waiting for him to bow and leave.
- Legate," a large dark armour emerged from the shadows but was, in fact, a super-perfect platform, namely one of the advanced boarding bots of the synthetic race.
- My Emperor," he bowed, though he might not have done so for thousands of years.
- What do you think of the people of Xeno? Do we need them?
- There are interesting specimens among them, and they are completely useless. What do you mean exactly?
- Look," I held up the images of all the races in the Citadel, "I'm interested in these two," and two of the images stood out.
- Nomads with weak immunity and a rebellious AI enclave created by a race of the same nomads. Are you sure? I don't see the point of them. There's no economy, no features either.
- They are both in dire straits. If we lend a helping hand, they will become our loyal allies or part of the Empire.
- I'm still trying to figure out AI, Emperor; the Foundations forbid the creation of AI.
- There is truth in what you say, Legatus. I will discuss the subject of synthetics with Karos. But the organics are worth considering. Their race was very advanced before the AI incident. They could be an asset to the Mechanicus.
- As you wish, Overlord.
- Send a couple of shadows to their fleet. Have them do some probing. I won't keep you any longer, Legatus," I waited for the figure to disappear behind the doors, and then I turned my gaze to the large window behind which the vast golden city shone and thought about the eternal.
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