The Center was engaged in the development of software and the technical skeleton of most combat androids. «Sergeant» was the name of the technical platform that hid the Centers best work in the field of military-industrial complex support. These platforms were in service with governments, large security companies, and of course, they were supplied to such a whale of an industry as the RGI. The shipment of military orders had a weighty share in the Centers budget, and projects related to it always found funding and technical support.
Chen, now for you,» the director continued. Call a press conference and present to the public the look of our future new products. I have reviewed your presentations and Im sure they will be to the liking of our partners. Special praise for the color choice. Emerald is something incredible!
I wanted to emphasize the consistency and fundamental nature of our company. I wanted to convey that robots are not just expensive toys. They are deep, mysterious and luxurious.
That is indeed a good idea. Good for you! Derek, youre all right,» Agatha continued. Just get on with the production. Im sure you can do it.
Of course, Madam Director! Crawford answered without concealing his bravado.
Well, thats fine! If no one has anything to add, I suggest we end the meeting and get to work.
No one wanted to add anything. The meeting was over. The clock showed a beautiful combination of two ones and two zeros. Leaving the office, Adam moved leisurely toward the elevator. His workplace was four floors down, with just under an hour to go before the meeting, which meant he could look at the «hanging» projects.
The Life Capsule required an updated body and system layout to integrate additional equipment. «Numismat, an android commissioned by the main banking department. All the calculations and technical documentation had already been worked out, but required careful checking. If it had to be checked manually, it would have taken weeks. There was a neurointerface available a favorite tool that allowed to quickly deal with boring bureaucratic red tape.
The workshop was empty, as usual. It was a large, open room with many tables, shelves, machines, and tools of all kinds that belonged entirely to Adam. For many months now, the only guests in this space have been robotic assistants of various configurations and purposes. For some reason, no one was drawn to the workshop.
Ah, there you are!
The neurointerface lay in its eternal place. Small goggles with sensors, slightly dusty, flashed blue in a welcome way, indicating they were ready for their intended use. Adam sat down in his chair and slipped them on. The processor buzzed pleasantly, and the lenses blurred and then blackened, hiding the entire world from view. Darkness in its true form. Two seconds, three
«Its junk again,» Adam thought to himself.
No sooner had the thought been replaced by a new one, than a hologram of a young girl appeared in his mind, which smiled pleasantly and spoke:
«The Shining Neurointerface welcomes you. Please do not remove the neurointerface until the synchronization with your nervous system is complete. It will only take a few seconds. With the neurointerface Shining you will be able to assimilate a large amount of data in an instant, get information about everything, turn all your thoughts and dreams into reality. The Shining neurointerface erases the boundaries of the possible!».
The girl disappeared and an inscription appeared in her place:
«100% synchronization complete.»
Adam saw his workshop again, but no longer through his eyes. Everything was happening as if in a dream, a controlled dream, in his mind.
«Open reports on the Life Capsule 3.0 and Numismatist projects,» he mentally commanded.
Hundreds of pages flashed before his eyes. They were alternately marked in green, moving from one stack to another. The stack of checked sheets quickly grew fuller, and soon, words appeared on top of it:
«Checked. No errors detected.»
Adam removed the neural interface and glanced apprehensively at his watch. The time was 11:33. His head was a little sore, a standard side effect of using the Shine. But two major tasks had been completed.
After making a few notes, dictating the inspection report, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. It was necessary to put his thoughts in order. There was an important meeting ahead, and in such a state it was not only impossible, but absolutely contraindicated. There was too much at stake. His temples throbbed, his ears rang, and weakness pressed down on his head. Adam jerked convulsively, took a deep breath and, feeling wildly weak, fell into a dream.
Chapter 2: The Phenomenon
What are you doing, Tagged?! We must get back to camp before dark. Theres no escape in these woods from the creatures. Dont stop!
Adam stood before him, a tall man with thick, light blond hair on his face and a small braid on the side of his shaved head. His right eyebrow was cut in two by a long scar, and instead of an eye, the eye socket was filled with a prosthetic.
All right, Quiet, lets go!
Adam didnt recognize his voice. He didnt recognize the man whose back he was scrutinizing so closely. Nor did he understand why the area called a forest was so different from the familiar forest.
Instead of tree trunks, wide black poles were pointing dozens of meters into the sky. Instead of leaves on what had once been branches, dull yellow and copper-red tattered cloths fluttered in the wind. It was hard to tell whether they were part of the pillars, or whether the huge cloths had somehow managed to rise up and remained there, hooked firmly into the black branches. The unusual pillars were aiming for the sky, but the strange-looking ivy, on the other hand, was perfectly at home near the ground. Its long tentacles crawled through the grass, enveloping the trunks of the pillars. Sometimes they interlocked with each other and formed rope bridges or even whole walls, which the birds eagerly nestled in. The grass, too, was unusual. Its color varied from yellow to bright red, and there were some purple islands. It seemed that every color and combination of colors was possible in this forest, except green.
Adam obediently followed the strange guide. Adam followed the strange guide with dexterity and confidence. Sometimes he raised his left hand above his head, made signs with it, and then hid it again under the hem of his cloak. His right hand was always at his hip, close to the holster of his needle.
Quiet jumped over another snag, cocked his head toward the sky, and immediately stopped. Adam, staring up at another majestic pillar, didnt see it, didnt have time to react, and lightly grazed Pathfinder.
Im sorry, Quiet, my heads spinning! Im not myself for some reason.
To the right, beyond the ivy thicket, there was a terrible sound: someone on the other side of the natural wall stomped heavily, roared, and in the next instant tore through the thick growth with mighty blows, revealing himself. Such a monster Adam could not have imagined even in his worst nightmares. The creature wasnt just big, it was enormous. Four meters tall, several tons of muscle and bone. On a thick neck that no man could wrap his arms around, it had a broad head, from the mouth of which, through the gaps of half-rotten lips, the dull yellow huge fangs were visible. A moment, and the creature, pushing off with its hind paws, was close enough to strike. Adam was unable to move, not even to cover himself with his hand or recoil, obeying his instinct for self-preservation. He took the blow just as the ivy had been torn apart by the creatures paws seconds earlier.