This is a fan translation of Line of Dreams (Линия грёз) by the Russian science fiction and fantasy author Sergei Lukyanenko. The novel can be considered a fan fiction of the original Master of Orion game.


Chapter 2

These had to be underground facilities. Not a single window… and the pressing sensation of the rock over their heads. They crossed a large chamber, completely empty and with no discernible purpose. Using the light from a Bumblebee shot, they found two hallways: one with an unpleasantly low ceiling and a damp earthen floor, and one inlaid with stone tiles, more suitable for humans. They went down the second one, constantly bumping into walls, as the hallway kept turning at odd angles.

"You like your burrows, don't you?" Kay muttered, moving forward. "Cozy little burrows, narrow. Idiot!"

The last statement had obviously been meant for himself. He stopped, switching something in the Ultimatum, and Arthur saw a pale blue glow over the weapon.

"This thing has a night vision mode," Kay explained. "Haven't worked much with it, forgot everything…"

Arthur decided not to ask where Kay had worked with an Ultimatum, a weapon issued only to Imperial Marines. All the tension of the past several days had built up inside him. To keep himself from getting left behind, he gripped his bodyguard's belt. The hallway gradually rose, but they had no idea how deep the hypertunnel had deposited them.

"Kay, why did you change your mind about killing me?"

"I liked your idea of a miracle," Altos replied without stopping.

"And yet?"

"Do you know about the carrot and the stick your father promised me?"

"I get it."

"Well, I also didn't want to lose your friendship," Kay added.

"Had it manifested itself in any way?"

"Is that really necessary?"

They continued walking for another half-hour. Kay was starting to breathe heavily, as the Ultimatum had some weight to it. Then he stopped so abruptly that Arthur ran into his back. In the weak glow of the night vision screen, Curtis Jr. could see how tense Altos's face was. He had noticed something. But he wasn't shooting.

"Don't move!" Kay shouted into the darkness. A quiet voice that sounded like a polyphonic choir replied to him, "I am motionless. Who are you?"

Arthur didn't need to see the screen. He knew which race spoke with their entire bodies.

"Kay Altos and Arthur van Curtis!" his bodyguard answered without hesitation.

"That is good," the Silicoid rumbled. It didn't feel the need to imitate human emotions, which was a clear sign that it was experiencing plenty of genuine feelings. "We have been sent for you. May I approach?"

"Yes. Keep your body in the vertical position. Any axial deviation will be treated an attack."

The Silicoid floated over to them, a dark column with sparks dancing under its base. It asked, "May I create light?"

"A dim one."

A flaming ball appeared above the Silicoid. It could have been a weapon, but Kay decided not to object.

"We wish to take you off Layon," the Silicoid repeated.

"Why? You're not at war with the Darloks, and you don't support humanity." Kay kept the Ultimatum trained on it.

"The interests of the Foundation."

"We don't care about the interests of the Foundation of the Mind." Kay was examining the Silicoid. It looked unusually bright, its stone body was covered by a golden patina, occasionally peppered by black charred spots. "What's going to happen to us, rocky?"

"A conversation aboard the ship. Then probably death." The Silicoid wasn't trying to evade.

"Let's go." Kay turned the barrel away.

"Walk down the hallway, you will be met. I am staying."

"Why?"

"I am sensing the presence of Darlok symbiotes following you. Hurry."

"Ah, so that's how you found us," Kay stated contentedly. "I wish you a fun battle and an easy death."

"My body is not suitable for a symbiosis with the Darloks, so my death will be easy," the Silicoid replied with dignity. "Go."

They continued on their way, leaving the Silicoid behind them. The golden pillar hung motionless in the middle of the hallway. After the humans had disappeared around the corner, the Silicoid extinguished its lighting. About five minutes later, the soft push of a blast wave caught up to them.

"Lie down in the foundation and rest; now is the time for reflection. The one has become many, and the world has grown stronger…" Kay recited.

Arthur didn't understand these words. But the Silicoid would have been pleased, as well as surprised. The valediction of the Foundation of the Mind had never been translated into vocal speech from the language of electromagnetic waves.

They were joined by three more Silicoids, all of them charred to almost black. Here and there, the remains of their golden armor gleamed through. Arthur had thought that the burning smell was coming from them, but he was mistaken. The smell was coming from somewhere above.

They finally came out onto the surface in this company, into the dark midday of Layon. It was gloomy, even though the sun was trying to shine through the clouds of ash. The air was permeated by suffocating smoke. Here and there, ruins of buildings were smoking, though which Silicoids floated, moving towards their enormous ship.

This area remained relatively intact, since heavy weapons hadn't been used here.

"You've done a great job here," Kay said. Arthur started coughing and could barely walk. Kay threw the Ultimatum onto his back and picked up the boy.

For some reason, Kay thought about the Three Sisters. Shedar's Second Planet had looked different after the human bombardment; there had been too much water there, so steam was present in place of the smoke.

But Kay was still remembering his burned-down home.