ORKNEY SYSTEM, TAU EDGE WORLDS [NOMAD ACTIVITY DETECTED]
A lone “Sabre” is crossing the limitless and beautiful void of the star system that bretonians called “Orkney” from one side, and Gauls called “Brittany” from the other side. Once upon a time, there was a furious war between two nations, two kingdoms, and two ideologies. Now there were no fights except for occasional bretonian visits or local Gaians and Maquis trying to make the day not so boring. However, even local conflicts have cooled down because of a new menace over their heads – the Nomads within Tau space who create troubles for any unlucky soul here.
The name of the person piloting “Sabre” is Leo Serre – former Gallic Royal Navy officer and current operative of The Order, the organization that was founded for countering Nomads. Serre wasn't alone in a fighter – he had a young woman of unusual behavior as a passenger. Serre was sent to Taus from Order space and tasked to patronize her despite the problems she could create. It wasn't a serious problem for Gallic man to keep an eye on somebody, but Katya, or Ekaterina is that kind of woman you could name “the princess to be rescued from the dragon's tower” as described in ancient fairy tales. But Leo wasn't a handsome prince, Rogozina wasn't a supreme princess. Though Serre was sure of one thing – Katya is a beautiful and self-confident girl, sometimes a bit overconfident, with a Slavic appearance, long flowing dark brown hair, rare freckles, and green eyes. No one could say was lucky or not to meet her, because Katya is a literally magnet for troubles – she was already chased in Liberty by strange freelancers or made some problems for Xenos by rescuing somebody called Victoria Blake. Seriously, she can put her nose anywhere and anytime!
As the cherry on the cake, they both have a new interesting task – finding artifact of unknown origin from the depths of Tau-61 system. The system was discovered recently and only a few brave idiots get in there and leave the system after getting spanked. The Order assumes it's the epicenter of Nomads spread here, in Taus, but nobody has solid proof to begin any kind of large-scale cleansing operation. Everything is still limited to probing through small patrol groups, scanner drones and hired adventurers.
And now they both were on road straightly into the snake's mouth. Leo has opened terminal and checked basics like fuel level and navigational map to correct autopilot. The path through open space to Stronsay asteroids will take at least four hours, so he has time for sleep.
“All systems are operating normally. Fuel level – 91%”
Leo nodded approvingly at the artificial female voice and turned back looking at the already asleep girl in the passenger's cabin. He turned on the quiet mode so that nothing would disturb them, and settled himself comfortably for sleep until fighter arrive at the waypoint.
- Battleship Amenta, this is Order Commander Leo Serre, I and Zoner Ekaterina Rogozina request permission to dock by order of Commodore Storgen. “Commander Serre, you and miss Rogozina are permitted to dock. Commodore is waiting for you in the briefing room.”
“Sabre” and “Raven's Talon” just arrived from Roussilon after a brief meeting with a group of people who lives at remote Andorra Haven station. Serre wanted to lay low somewhere in Tau-37, but his communicator received a message to arrive at battleship Amenta as soon as possible. He had no idea what could happen, but he and Rogozina turned back to Orkney where battleship is hiding from unwanted attention. Dispatcher allowed the fighter to land on free pads 6 and 7, but slowly and carefully, because Amenta, as Osiris-class battleship, is relatively small one among other known battleships. Agent and scientists landed ships and left their cockpits. It is the first time when Ekaterina sees The Order from inside, so she tried to walk alongside and keep up with commander.
- Agent Thunderbird! - somebody called Serre behind them.
He turned his head back and saw another agent from Omicrons wearing their basic dark-grey uniform. - Bonjour, agent Moonkeeper, I haven't expected to find you on Amenta. Katya, meet my combat buddy, Artur Teryoshin. He is from Jiangxi, just like you.
- Рад знакомству, Екатерина. Желаю вам обоим приятного времяпровождения (//Nice to meet you, Ekaterina. I wish you both a pleasant time), - and Teryoshin gave them a sly wink, - Leo, are you looking for something? - Yes, I was called by our Commodore. Can you show me where is briefing room?
- It's easy, just walk about fifty meters ahead and you will see doors with a nameplate on top “BRIEFING ROOM”. But what the hell entire Commodore wants from you?
- I would tell you if I knew, but I have no wish to keep High Command waiting, can it wait until we are free?
- No questions, bratan, just don't forget to make a visit before you leave us once again.
- Спасибо, Артур, рада буду ещё побеседовать. (//Thank you, Artur, I will be glad to chat) - Katya responded in their native language and smiled sweetly at him.
Artur waved to them and walked away. Meanwhile, Katya and Leo found a room with a proper nametable above the door. Serre asked for permission to enter and did so a few seconds later. The briefing room was empty except for Commodore himself and another woman who looked barely older than Ekaterina. They both looked at arrivals. - A-ha, commander Serre, you finally arrived, - Storgen said in a calm voice and threw a glance on Ekaterina, - And not alone. - Katya, darling! - Storgen's companion jumped up to the coalition girl and hugged her in a friendly way. - Sally, haven't seen you for a long time, - Katya replied with her usual smile and confused Serre with this sudden expression, - Leo, you look like you've seen a ghost, relax. We were friends since the past decade long before you and Sally joined The Order.
- Yes, commander, we're in an informal setting, officially I haven't left Carthage, so you can call us by name within this room. Besides, you are a bit older than me by several years.
Leo was confused, but nodded and asked why he and Katya had been called to Amenta. William, instead of words, just unbuttoned the top of his uniform top and pulled out a pendant in the shape of a luminous blue flower. - My parents gave it to me when I was a kid. This is an artifact, an active artifact, and always been like this for as long as I remember. And it helps me to survive in Omicrons by overstepping mental attacks.
Sally came closer and continued: - For some reason artifact reacts to Nomad presence, when it sees its twin, and also protects the owner from effects on the psyche. This one has been with Willy for over two decades, I have a similar thing too, - and Sally took a red glowing crystal in the shape of a 12-pointed star out of her pocket. - That's all that we know about them. Nobody else has ever heard about that kind of artifacts. Their true nature remains a riddle.
- We tell you about this not just to show nice bling, but also offer a work, - Storgen said getting sullen, - Although I don't like it a bit, it's important. Some months ago me and Sally had visited Tau-61 for the first time and passed by one of the satellites of a large gas giant there, and both our artifacts reacted in the same way – they felt the third artifact was nearby. We didn't have the time or opportunity to explore everything ourselves, and even now I have to go back to Carthage, so I have no other choice but offer this task to you. No large groups, reinforcements, or capital ships will be there – we rely on stealth and a sort of secrecy. Nobody will know where are you and why.
- Isn't this the place rumored to be full of Nomads? - Ekaterina asked in surprise, - I can't imagine how fast and strong we are supposed to be there. However, I wouldn't mind looking and discovering something new for myself. - And you will have a chance, Katya, just fully fuel the ship and take supplies for at least a week if you are going to explore the desert and cold terrain. And fly on the same fighter with Leo.
- Eh? Why should I leave my “Raven's Talon”? I have strong piercing lasers on it, nobody would dare to attack us, - Katya answered indignantly. - Two ships are easier to detect than one, my friend. Do not worry, our brave Gallic commander will not leave the girl in trouble. He won't? - Sally came close to Leo and put her arm around his shoulders, looking into his eyes with a sharp, even dangerous look. - You better promise, Leo, - William laughed at it. He clearly knew what does it mean.
Leo just looked at both girls, whistling Commodore, and gulped fearfully.
- Hey, wake up, you moron! - a sudden panicked voice shouted near ears.
With bad thoughts, Leo came out of his nap and grabbed a steering wheel, turned off the autopilot, and turned “Sabre” sharply upward. A huge asteroid came out of nowhere, suddenly blocking the path, and the autopilot doesn't know how to turn at a high angle when giant rocks say hi in the middle of unmanned space.
Leo, to the screams of Katya, managed at the last moment to evade collision with this huge space boulder and returned on set course. - Merde, that was close... - Leo said quietly, relaxing in the pilot's saddle. - You are such a sleepyhead, “commander”! - Ekaterina said with irritation and fear in her voice, - But I cannot deny – you have impressive reflexes and you saved our butts.
- We were anyway covered by a positron shield. Worst case scenario, we'd just get knocked back like a soccer ball, - Leo countered and felt something hit their ship making Katya scream again. - What was that?!
- Asteroid shards. They are too small to damage or throw us off course, calm down, Katya. Seems like we have reached Stronsay field and some parts have dense asteroid clusters. We should be inside one of them. Tau-61 jump hole must be not far from us, such a gravitational anomaly cannot be unnoticed.
- Okay, but watch carefully. I prefer not to put the shields to the durability test.
The next 20 minutes passed quietly and without incidents. Serre tried to watch the radars closely, but no surprises caught up with them. Soon Serre noticed asteroids move around something as if in orbit.
“Anomaly detected!”
- The jump hole must be ahead that causes gravitational distortions making asteroids act unnaturally. Can you see it, Leo?
Leo nodded and turned on manual control again because the path begins too unpredictable. Soon the anomaly itself appeared in front of “Sabre” - a sparkling red-blue something with the eye in its center. The jumphole also shoots flashes of lightning in nearby asteroids. - Initiating hyperspace transition systems. Hold on, we are going in, Katya.
In a minute their ship was pulled into hyperspace tunnel and after seconds of a crazy ride was spit out already in the middle of a different space.
Leo shook his head and looked at Ekaterina. - Are you alright?
- A little dizzy, but okay...Still can't use travel using jump holes. Jump gates are way more comfortable than random space anomalies, - Katya said holding her head, and asked, - So...We are in Tau-61, aren't we?
Leo pressed a few keys, turned the cameras in different directions, and looked around. Then he opened a map of the Sirius sector and looked at their location. - Yes, Ekaterina, we just entered Tau-61 system. However, it's strange that there doesn't seem to be anyone here but us…Well, except for ice rocks surrounding our ship, - commander said and scratched the back of his head, - However I wouldn’t get relaxed so far.
- And where are we supposed to search for first? – Katya asked feeling confused. - Wait. Didn’t Wilson give you her red crystal?
- Oh right, she did, - Katya came to her senses and took the artifact out of her pocket. It didn’t react in any way, - Hmm, no reaction, so we have to move somewhere else. The artifact should start glowing like a beacon when we come closer.
- I will direct us towards this gas giant that is pretty far from us. Radars will warn us of an approaching threat if there is one.
Left Ayvick Ice Asteroid Field
Ten minutes later our adventurers left the ice asteroid field and started moving on autopilot. Leo estimated that it would take them at least two hours to reach the outer orbit of the planet. They hadn't had a chance to get to know each other before, so Leo decided to tell Katya about himself, his times in Gallic Royal Navy, and what happened after. He was once an officer, aspiring to the top, but his dream has burned alongside battlecruiser Grenoble and his friends in Newcastle. The girl sat and listened attentively to his stories about the house in Gallia, beautiful sunsets on Marseille, and delicious gallic wines.
In turn, Katya told a story about her life on Gran Canaria and how she met The Order long before Serre could even know about the organization. She had a connection with the Order, but never showed any desire to join – she was afraid of Omicrons, knowing full well the danger. Nomads and Das Wilde are a headache for those who dwell in Omegas. Das Wilde has Rheinland origin – remnants of the First Nomad War who managed to escape from Rheinland when chancellor Gustav Niemann was declared missing and The Order alongside the local military started a crusade against them. They still exist, but not as intense as they used to be in the past – the majority of Das Wilde was found and terminated.
They both didn't notice how quickly the time flew by while they were talking.
The artifact finally beeped as the ship began to circle the gas giant. - Leo, look! Artifact found something! - Katya said excitedly. - Then let's take a look around, - Leo replied and smoothly turned the steering wheel to the left. Soon a smaller icy planet appeared over the edge of the gas giant, - Must be a satellite. I will come closer, and watch if the artifact tells us something more.
The radar began to show the signatures of another ship when “Sabre” was tens of thousands of kilometers away. - We are not alone here, - Leo said trying to scan the approaching ship.
- Obviously, we couldn’t just come here unnoticed,- Leo opened the radio and said on the mic. “Obviously”
He came closer on impulse speed and recognized another ship has Auxo signatures. - Auxesians? I am surprised you are far from Liberty borders. “I am not…an Auxesian?”
Katya snorted and said something in her native language. Serre squinted and asked: - Then who are you? A thief on Auxesian ship? “I am just…me”
Gaul was about to reply when a second signal came from the atmosphere of the satellite. There's obviously something there, since someone is taking off from the surface. “Nonono, you can’t steal a Technocrat ship. I made this…Well, still making it.”
- Agama. I recognize this kind of fighters. Bonjour whoever you are.
Katya leaned to Leo and quietly asked: - What is Agama? Who are they?
- Agama was used by former enemy of the Kingdom – The Council, but what are they doing here?...Alright, let’s listen to them.
- Now I start thinking it wasn’t a good idea, - Ekaterina said when Leo turned on the mic again. “I wonder”
Second voice was heard in radio. “Enough said – a former Council on free reign – now that it’s defunct and I am not getting along with Maquis too well.” - Shouldn’t former Council people be a part of the Union? “Most did integrate indeed. I am not like the most”
Auxo tried to interrupt their dialogue. “So…I wonder why you risked yourself, coming here”
- Are you seriously sure I have to tell you, Auxesian? “Technocrat is the accurate name and I am positively sure”
- I can understand Sioux presence here since it’s gallic border but you? “I told you I am me. Wherever the science glows, I go”
Former Council callsigned Sioux responded: “Technocrat’s my guest. I invited her to observe an interesting phenomenon” - Then I can tell you it’s scientific-related. “Speaking of such you have some specimens on board that you shouldn’t have”
Katya became alarmed, because she thought it was about her. In fact, there were still Nomad remains, destroyed in Orkney recently. - Shouldn’t defend myself you mean? “No, but you should present them to me”
- There is the only place I can present them to. I am sure they can’t stay alive after everthing they have done.
Serre turned his “Sabre” around looking forward at Auxo and opened cargo bay. He smirked and immediately blasted them with Ross turrets. “I didn’t say to destroy them!”
The sensors alarmingly beeped that they had been targeted by Auxesian. - Uh-oh, looks like you made her angry, Leo. She’s aiming guns at us, prepare to fight. “Instead – since you so graciously destroyed them, you volunteer yourself in place to assist me in my experiments. Destructive as always. So short-sighted…What a shame”
- I suppose they are far from good ones. “Oh, you will be helping me in something ‘very’ important”
- In your dream, ‘Auxesian’. “Now, do not struggle, I wouldn’t want you to get scratched, ‘phage’.”
Serenity. It was everywhere on this moon. From the smallest ice chip to the ray of one of the two stars. Azure, pink-tinged sky is very clear today, unusual clear – no a single floating cloud.
Hascosay - a world full of tranquility, but also of silent danger. Only madmen can try to conquer and colonize this icy world. For all its serenity, Hascosay kills with its icy breath anyone who lands on it. While the frozen ocean is nothing but a pure desert with arctic climate, a couple of not very large continents have complex mountain systems that include vertical cliffs, deep gorges, canyons, and underground labyrinths. Due to being a distant world in the Tau-61, Hascosay's equator couldn't change climatic conditions on the moon, but there are intense volcanic belts and geothermal hotspots that managed to melt ice and snow and increase the local temperature to make life there comfortable for the majority unexplored life beings.
Suddenly the serene sky was cut off by something that looked like a slowly falling meteor, but it wasn't a meteor, but an unfortunate “Sabre” that was shot down by Auxesian and Council pilot in the upper atmosphere. The ship was close enough to begin its descent through the atmosphere taken by gravity. The shield managed to take the friction of the atmosphere but was completely disabled because of the damage received in combat. The ship was rapidly approaching the surface, one of the canyons.
- Katya, hold tight! I will try to slow us down with vertical engines, but it's hard when the main ones don't work! - Leo shouted, trying to shout out the alarming sounds of the ship and rolling steering wheel in panic. - I don't want to become a pancake, do something! - Katya yelled back. - Dammit, we won't have time to break! I release the air breaks, - and Serre he frantically pressed a few keys, launching vertical engines that pilots use to control landing and takeoff from the surface, and several curved flaps made for breaking ship using air. The ship outside made an awful rude whistling and creaking sound. - Leo, I can see a canyon, over there! - Katya pointed a finger towards zigzag dark line on the surface, - This is our chance to buy few more seconds!
- I don't like this, but let's dive!
A minute later wounded and smoking “Sabre” approached the edge of the canyon actually slowing down. Just as the couple was getting excited about landing successfully, the ship hit a rock with its wing and completely broke its left wing making the ship roll like a barrel and fall down. The canyon was way deeper than it looked and the light from above was almost invisible as the bow of the ship pierced the icy bottom and fell into the cave, knocking all parts of the ship out.
Katya and Leo screamed with fear until they crashed into a stone wall, causing a rockfall behind them.
It's unknown how long Leo was unconscious – maybe ten minutes or maybe several hours. His mind became confused, the line between illusion and reality almost blurred.
Serre thought he was back on board the glorious Battleship Marseille, listening to the admiral's passionate speech about their great mission, how Kingdom and King himself are almighty. Then he thought he was doing the right thing - he just wanted to bite off his little piece of the glory cake. glory worthy of a Gallic Royal Navy officer. Even now Leo heard a voice whispering of his own power to make Gallia powerful and mighty again, that the Gallic Union was weak to accept its own conqueror's nature.
“...Come to us, Admiral Serre...We will teach you...We will make your people be proud of you...All will praise and pray for you...Just stretch out your hand and the universe is yours...”
Suddenly he felt a warm wave gently surround his consciousness. The whispering gradually subsided, changed to a furious hiss for a second, and completely vanished. Leo opened his eyes when the cool wind blew in his face, but could see almost nothing in such darkness.
- Merde, my head is blowing... - the guy tried to search for any light source, but there was almost nothing working on the ship. Pressing buttons on the panel gave him no result. After looking around the ship, Leo found a headlamp in the cockpit. - Good lord, I hope this thing works.
He turned on the lantern and bright light filled the cockpit of the wrecked “Sabre”. The first thing he saw was the girl behind the pilot's seat, also unconscious. Leo Leo immediately jumped up to her and laid her body down to search for injuries. Fortunately, the safety system in the cabin prevented them from injuring themselves and she didn't seem traumatized. Katya has a pulse and breathing, giving Serre a chance to exhale in relief – she is alive. He looked around to drop in their backpack anything they might need in this hostile world. The backpack was assembled back on the battleship Amenta at Katya and Sally's request because they didn't know what to expect during their trip. Leo removed datadisk and blackbox out of the ship. Blackbox is too heavy and large for carrying in hands and must be broken.
Leo heard a moan when he finished work with datadisk – Katya awoke.
- Ч-что за чёртовщина происходит?...(//W-what the hell is going on?...)Leo, is that y-you? - she said quietly trying to get up. - Katya, yes, it's me, tell me you are okay. Does it hurt anything?
- It seems I hurt my back and side...But nothing serious...Where are we, Leo?
- I don't know, but it looks like we're deep below the surface Hascosay. We are lucky – we can breathe here, so this moon has oxygen.
- Why do you think so? We are still inside our “Sabre”.
Leo pointed to the front window of the cockpit – the glass was broken: - We would be dead if it was the opposite.
- Huh, I see. Then let's get out of the ship.
- The cockpit's wiper is jammed, I can't even open the door to the outside the emergency way. Take the second lantern and check our backpack – I am going to try to break the window somehow.
Leo picked up a broken iron bar and began beating on the edges of the window in an attempt to break it from the hull. Meanwhile, Katya turned on the second flashlight and opened the backpack again. In the end, the window peeled away from the ship and fell to the ground with a crack. Serre climbed out of the ship and jumped down. Rogozina dropped her backpack and jumped out after it in Serre's hands. And Katya suddenly hit the guy hard on the shoulder. - Hey, why did you hit me?!
- You are the reason why we are stuck here! - she shouted indignantly and turned away, crossing her arms over her chest.
- Excusez-moi? I didn't ask those two to turn us into guinea pigs for their guns, and I saved us from turning into juicy pancakes on ice.
Katya didn't respond. Leo decided to light the ship and assess the damage of the fighter.
- So...Wings are broken, the vertical stabilizer is curved, many details are lost, window is cracked and ship itself is pinned by rocks. “Sabre” is now nothing more than a piece of scrap metal.
- Ideas, great gallic virtuoso?
- Ideas, you say...Yes, I have one. Remember the council pilot that was alongside Auxesian? The ship has left Hascosay meaning there are human bases on it. We can try to walk through these caves and reach one of the bases, find a transporter and take off this moon. What do you think, Katya?
- Another crazy plan? I would rather say “no”, but since we have no choice...Alright, we have food for the next four or five days – you, Order guys, have impressive compact briquettes. Where do you get them from?
- Ask them once we return home.
The couple looked deep into the cave and wondered what dangers awaited them ahead.
Leo looked deep into the tunnel and was about to move when he suddenly remembered something important.
- Oh crap, I forgot of one more thing, - he said in an apologetic voice and climbed back on the ship. - What now, Serre? Did you forget of your favorite toy? - Katya mumbled sarcastically and a loud bang of something heavy made her turn head back – Leo threw out a small metal box, - Haven't expected your tastes so bad.
- How funny, you should have been a part-time comedian, - Serre replied with the same sarcastic tone when jumped down, took a rock and dropped it on the box with force. Device cracked and with the next hit the box shattered into pieces.
Katya looked at the scene with bewilderment, but Leo nodded approvingly and explained:
- A blackbox. Now nobody can read anything about “Sabre”, ownership, and ship records. I took everything out, but blackbox is too heavy to drag it with us.
- Smart...Where was it?...Oh I found, - Katya pulled out an artifact that was pulsing with a red glow, - It's reacting faster than I saw outside.
- Do you think the same thing is somewhere on Hascosay?
- Anything is possible.
Rogozina put the crystal back in her pocket and they both started moving into the tunnel, lighting the way with flashlights. They are bright enough to make Leo and Katya everything enlighten around them. They walked silently and the silence was interrupted only by the clatter of their shoes. The girl was confused by the strange appearance of the caves themselves, which had suspiciously smooth walls with sparse patterns in the waves. Thinking back on her geography lessons, she got scared after realizing where they could be and she stopped moving. Leo walked a few more meters and noticed Katya's steps paused.
- Are you okay, Katya?
- I am, but...I am worried and feel scared a bit.
- Huh? Did you hear a mystic voice or what?
- Voice? No, I didn't hear anything. I don't like the look of this tunnel. Look closely at the walls and how they look.
- I am sorry, but I am officer – not geologist to say the nature or rocks around us. Tell me what you mean.
- I can't say for sure, but from the looks of it, the structure of the stone is obviously volcanic in nature. Something that was left after ancient volcano eruptions...Leo, I am afraid we are inside the lava tunnel. Hopefully, it's a very old one and we don't have to race against the magma.
- Better be wrong.
- I want to be wrong too...
The feeling of anxiety did not leave the guys, but they continued to walk along the tunnel, which had long ceased to be straight. The cave began to look more like a snake, turning left and right, as it went up and down. Quite unnatural for normal lava tunnels. This route gradually wore Katya and Leo down, making them think hard about resting because they hadn't rested since takeoff from Amenta. About two hours passed at this pace when Leo noticed something new in the tunnel - a hole in the wall. He ran up to the formation and directed a ray of light outside - the breach went down below at a slight angle potentially allowing humans to pass here. Serre jumped off the ledge onto the rocks and helped Katya to do the same. Holding hands, they slowly walked down the rocks, and when they reached the bottom, Leo raised his head - his headlamp illuminated a completely different cave, which already looked like...a cave, not a tube.
- Are you sure we should have left the tunnel? – Katya asked worryingly. - I ain’t sure of anything in this place, but it was the airflow coming from the hole that attracted me. Let’s follow it – air must come from outside…Mon Dieu, can you see those columns?
- Yes, we call them stalagnates. They are formed as a result of the fusion of stalactites and stalagmites, - the girl said like she was a teacher on a lesson, - Thousand and million years must pass for this, so caves are really ancient…Leo, I am tired and hungry, we should find a place to rest.
Leo nodded, looked around the cave, and found a ledge near one of the columns. They came there and Rogozina sat down on the cold stone, exhaling with a sigh of relief. She looked up at the stone ceiling and listened to the light howl of the wind while her partner prepared a heating cell to make something similar to a bonfire since there was no single wood to fire. As the blue flames flickered, he relaxed and pulled out one of the briquettes giving it to Katya, then took one for himself. Serre couldn’t tell in precise what it reminded him of, but the taste was sweet. When the guy had finished everything, he followed Katya's example and laid down, too. The fire cheerfully warmed them both, giving them a sense of comfort in this unfriendly cave.
- Who would have guessed where we'd end up, huh? – Leo said, but nobody replied. He turned his head right and saw the girl lying next to him, already asleep. “She looks really tired. Well, I will let her rest”.
Leo marveled at the strange thoughts and feelings that came into his mind. He was afraid. But not of himself.
Our hero was tired, but there was no way he could sleep. The oppressive silence was interrupted only by the sound of the fire and the girl's sniffling in her sleep. He looked at her to make sure everything was okay and stood up from his seat. After walking carefully over the rocks for about twenty meters, he realized that the walk’s going to be difficult because of the strong unevenness of the surface.
“Heck, it's easy to fall and break legs here!” Leo thought, stepping over another sharp rock. Step by step, Serre walked a bit more and noticed that the cave branched off into three, making their task way harder. The guy raised an eyebrow in surprise and tried to look into each of them trying to figure out which way is optimal. He didn’t know these places, which did not help in any way.
- Oh great! - He said sarcastically to himself and entered the hallway on the right side. Suddenly, however, he saw that there was nothing ahead instead than a path and jumped back. Carefully shining a light under his feet, he found that the trail dropped off sharply and there was a deep abyss ahead. Leo swore and left the passage out, - I should be careful next time…
Turning around, he walked with the same caution back to where Katya was sleeping. But luck is never infinite, and Leo fell backward onto a flat rock, letting out a cry of surprise. Leaning on his hands, the guy rose up through the pain in his back and slowly made his way to the ledge.
- Leo? - he heard a sleepy female voice. Katya is awake, - I heard you shout…Did something happen?
Leo looked at her and answered: - Nothing serious. I just had an unlucky landing on my back.
- Did you hurt?
- I am okay. But I feel like we're going to get bumps and bruises - we have a very interesting path ahead of us on a terribly bumpy road. Moreover, cave split into three lesser caves.
- Unbelievable…Dear, - she rubbed her eyes, - How long I have been asleep?
- No idea, I lost count of time too. Maybe an hour, maybe little more.
- Did you get enough sleep?
- What? No…No, I have been awakened for a whole time, - he answered honestly since he was really overcome by strange insomnia, - And we had to have some of us on guard.
- Let me keep watch and you take an hour's nap then.
- No need, we shouldn’t stay here forever.
Katya sullenly agreed and rose silently to her feet. Leo covered the rest of the improvised fire with a stone and threw his backpack on his back. Mindful of the danger underfoot, Leo made the girl walk behind to avoid trouble, making them both reach those three passages.
- While you were asleep, I had already looked around the place. Passage on the right side is a trap – there is a bottomless pit that we cannot pass, but I do not have any clue about the other two, - Leo said, lighting up the central path. - Then the option is to guess. And I say we choose the left side.
- Why do you think so?
- A woman’s intuition.
Katya blinked with one eye on Leo and he snorted on this overconfident offer. Commander never liked to pray on luck, but she was right in one thing – there was no choice, but to challenge their fortune. They both headed through another long tunnel, but it was very different from the first one in that the walls were not so flat. Leo advised us to look carefully under our feet, but that didn't help Katya the first time – she didn't notice a small cleavage and caught the edge, falling to one knee. Leo helped her pull her leg out, made sure she wasn't hurt, and they continued on their way.
One eternity, couple of falls and a dozen swearing later, young Rogozina stopped, and tried to listen.
- What's the matter?
- Can you hear something, Leo? - she asked him and added, - Shut up and listen.
Serre strained his hearing, and a few moments later he thought he heard the sound of water. His eyes widened at the realization of what he had heard and ran forward. Katya wasn't far behind him. Soon they found a source of the sound - spring water flowing down the wall to form a creek. And the cave itself began to widen and go lower. Leo dropped a backpack down alongside his headlamp, poured water into hands and tasted. Agent only now realized how thirsty he was, spitting on safety precautions.
- This water...it's even better than on Akabat! - with these words he washed his face and drank some more. Katya put the flashlights so that they shine on the guys, letting them get plenty to drink.
After finishing the water, Katya and Leo felt more awake and fresh. Serre was not lazy to draw water for their further adventures and they continued on their road. As they descended carefully, the creek became wider, and soon the cave ended. The couple raised their heads, noticing that it was somehow brighter around them - they had entered a valley with an underground lake, and the walls around them emitted an unusually dark blue glow, weakly but illuminating the valley as a whole.
- Woah, what is this place? - Leo asked, fascinated. - I...I don't know...Look upside - it's all solid crystal structure. Looks like a huge gemstone bubble, but I can't recall what kind of crystal it would be. This planet is not only full of unpleasant surprises.
- It's a satellite, not a planet, Katya.
It took them almost twenty minutes to get around the lake, but they still didn't find an exit until Leo guessed to light up above his head.
- Katya, here's another entrance, look above!
- Huh...Right, but...Leo, we have a little problem – the rock is vertical, above two meters high and we are not ice climbers.
Serre scratched his chin, thinking. - I might have an idea, - he dropped his backpack and tried to climb using carvings in the stone, but unfortunately, he couldn't reach the edge of the cliff and jumped down after several failed tries. - Doesn't work? - Katya asked him, rubbing palms nervously. - Dammit, just a little out of reach, there is nothing to cling to at the top of the rock. Katya, take me upstairs, there is very little effort needed.
- Are you sure it's going to work?
- It's not like we have better options. I will drag you as soon as I get there, - Leo climbed again to the point he couldn't overcome, - Come on, grab my ass and push me up now!
Katya did skeptically what he asked and gave him a boost. - Yes, I made it! - Serre, sighing heavily managed to climb up, - Give me the backpack now and climb after me.
Rogozina felt less confident here, but still climbed up and grabbed Leo's hands. It was hard, but they did overcome this obstacle. Hence they both fell down to the ground. Katya and Leo looked at each other and laughed merrily.
It had probably been two days since two lost travelers found themselves in the cave catacombs under the ice of Hascosay. Katya and Leo desperately tried to find an exit out, because they were frankly fed up enough with enclosed space underground. In order not to go crazy, the couple often tried to talk to each other on different topics. Secretly, he was glad to have Katya near him. Though, any company would be fine - he would not have stood the test of the dungeons alone. After the funny incident with the vertical ascent, Leo's organism protested against its owner and pitifully asked for a rest. Serre tried to say he was fine, but Katya refused to listen this time and forced him to sleep for a couple of hours – Leo gave up after threatening to get hit in the head if he won't stop resisting.
On the way, before some suspicious rise, they set up a small camp for the third time and slept together without fear of anything in the warmth and peace. Katya used to be strong before her friends and colleagues on Gran Canaria, but she had never been in an extreme situation there. Starting from planet Harris, Leo became her partner and bodyguard against his own will and this fact was disturbing for young ex-coalitioner. Even now she felt that she was a burden on the Order officer and it depressed her, but Katya wasn't sure enough to talk to him about her mental anxieties and fears. Fears of getting lost in the dark and dying.
With an effort, but the girl did fall asleep, not knowing that her negativity had already been noticed. Like snake venom, a whisper slowly poisoned her consciousness. Katya had a weird dream when she was alone in a dark place and heard a melodic voice:
“Treason...Deceive...Deceive is everywhere...We can give everything...No fears, no loneliness, no anxiety...Give me a hand, Ekaterina...”
In a fit of desperation, the girl was about to agree, but something in her subconscious told her that she would fall into a trap. Red light and warmth filled everything around and she couldn't hear or see anything...Except for an angry hiss coming from nothing.
Some time later, Leo woke up next to Katya – they were in another wide cave in front of a trail that climbed far up and agreed that they would rest and start climbing. In the faint light of the blue fire, Leo saw that the girl was sleeping unnaturally huddled in herself, and frowned. Equally strange was that the artifact beneath it glowed brighter than before and did not pulsate. Assuming the worst, Leo tried to carefully wake her up and he did it after several tries.
Katya almost jumped up and looked at the guy with green eyes full of fear. And she cried, falling face down on his chest.
- Katya! What happened to you? - Leo lost his temper at this turn of events, but Katya did not say anything and he stroked her head, trying to calm her down and understand what was wrong with her. - I-i d-don't wan-nt to st-t-tay here al-lone...Don't l-leave me, - the girl tried to say through tears, shocking Serre. - Why the hell do you think I wanted to leave you?
Leo opened their backpack, took a capacity with water and poured some cold water into his hand, and washed the girl's face. - Here, take a drink, you'll feel better now, - with these words, Katya drank a little and tried to catch her breath.
Realizing what just happened, she blushed but began to speak without sobbing.
- Something...Told me in my dreams you will deceive me and let me die in this horrible place. A strange whisper...I don't know what was that, but...I actually believed in this.
- What? Katya, you are a fool to think something like this! - Leo felt a little angry and even offended hearing this, - We came together, together we'll return home, and that's not even up for discussion, did you understand?
Rogozina looked at him with a mixture of mistrust and hope, but something was really bothering and Serre frowned again.
- You say a whisper was in your dream? When we fell here, I thought I was hallucinating when I heard the same thing, but now I realize that both can't be having the same hallucination. Something or someone is going into our heads and I don't like it...Tell me once you feel any better.
- Of course. Give me a few minutes to calm down.
Leo paced back and forth, thinking that they were in a very ominous place. He also thought of her strange words about how he was supposedly going to leave her here and couldn’t believe it was real. Such attitude was against his character and he would not have dared to do such a thing.
Meanwhile, Katya pulled herself together, checked her backpack, which was getting lighter, and tried to figure out how much more provision they had. Then they began to climb up the trail, which was long and often looped.
- Hey, Leo, you told me you heard the same voice. Do you have any ideas, what could it be? - Katya asked, cautiously avoiding the stones sticking out of the ground. - I suspect the worst. In my memory, there is only one species capable of causing illusions and that's the reason why we'd better get out of here as soon as possible. I have no wish to face the Nomads now.