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 11

When Kay came back into the room, Tommy was just starting to wash himself. He had wasted ten minutes making sure that the hatch wouldn't open and that the ship had no intention of calling the police. That was pretty much what Kay expected. He prepared dinner and had time to drink a glass of wine, before Tommy Arano finally chanced coming out of the shower.

"Hungry?" Kay asked in a friendly manner. "It's not a good idea to eat right before bed, but we're not going to sleep anytime soon."

Tommy looked away. He'd already made up his mind about Kay's actions and expected nothing good.

"Eat," Kay repeated, refilling his glass. "Hold on, come here."

The boy didn't have much of a choice. He approached. Kay took a metal comb from the back pocket of his jeans and slid his fingers along the sharp teeth with a smile.

"You forgot to comb your hair, Artie."

"My name is Tommy Arano," the boy said hopelessly.

"I forgot… Parted left, correct? There's a hair dryer in there too, but we're not going to the theater…"

Kay put the comb back into his pocket and started unbuttoning Tommy's still wet shirt. The boy jerked but decided not to resist.

"That's what I thought," Kay said with satisfaction, examining the rough scar on Tommy's left shoulder. "I missed just a little… What, no money for proper healing? Or do you think that scars look good on boys? They don't even look good on adults, buddy. Go eat."

Cautiously glancing at Kay, Tommy sat in a chair and quickly buttoned his shirt back up.

"We're about to experiment with your digestion," Kay said, playing with his glass. "Why did you freeze up? It's just sausage. Eat, while I tell you a story, which will mess up the production of your stomach acid and the food's movement through your intestine."

He grimaced, watching Tommy start to chew obediently.

"They definitely brought you down, kid. You still have bravery, but not much is left of your willpower. You can flare up, but not burn. Compared to that, your shrunken biceps and thin shoulders are nothing."

Tommy lowered the half-eaten sausage, for the first time giving Kay a curious glance.

"What, remembering now? A year ago, you were developed extremely well… for a child, of course. But you forgot how to maintain your body."

"I'm growing," Tommy said.

"Sure. Inside. Eat, you need protein. And stop being afraid, I'm not going to kill you. You have no idea what punishment you've managed to avoid, you lucky dog."

Tommy looked at Kay mistrustfully.

"Do you know who Curtis van Curtis is?"

"I have an A in Political Science," Tommy said with hesitant pride.

"What about Arthur van Curtis?"

"His son… I think."

"Let go with that for now. Eat! Our story starts in a dirty hotel, where a man named Kay Altos was sleeping peacefully. The day before, while landing his boat, he had switched to manual control, and the gravity drives killed a little girl, who'd been doing her little business…" Kay set the glass aside and spoke in a different tone. "If it makes a difference, Kay Altos had no intention of killing her. He is even prepared to apologize to the boy who thinks himself the girl's brother. He also forgives the boy for his death."

"But you're alive," Tommy said.

"Probably not for long. I will never have aTan again. In a way, you've killed me for good. But I'm asking for your forgiveness."

Kay stood up, went up to Tommy, and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'm very sorry. I've never killed senselessly, either children or adults."

"Why are you telling me this?" Tommy asked. He was crying quietly, silently.

"You're about to understand. You're a smart kid, even if you lack your former knowledge. Hear the story out to the end, all right?"

"All right," Tommy said.


When Kay was done, he was finishing the bottle of Mrrshan wine, while Tommy Arano was almost done with his first sausage.

"I don't believe you," the boy said. "It's all lies. You found out that I got into a car accident a year ago, and made up… made up…"

"A very long story. Why? I could have forgotten about you and not exacted my vengeance, I could have tortured your little body for a long time. Why would I lie, Artie?"

"My name is Tommy!"

"All right. Why would I lie? And what kind of car accident causes you to lose all your memories but come out without a scratch?"

Kay suddenly leaned across the table and slapped Tommy on the cheek. With a movement of the head, Tommy evaded the blow, and Kay's wrist ended up in his hands.

"Go on," Kay cheered him on. "Continue the movement, and you'll break all my fingers. It's a synthesis-iodo move, you know it well. You're a little war machine, Artie-Tommy. Your personality was erased, but they didn't touch your base memory… otherwise you'd be peeing in your pants and learning to speak again. I don't know why the Silicoids had been so lenient, but you can at least thank them for that. A single iodo course, and you'll be able to use it consciously. Want to know why? You're not learning, you're remembering. You've even met Emperor Gray himself, to say nothing of any far less important riffraff. You can fly this boat, and you can even control a military destroyer. You're Arthur van Curtis, clone of Curtis van Curtis. You were a prince, and now you're a pauper."

Tommy Arano was opening his palms slowly. Kay's hand finished its movement and gave his cheek a gentle pat.

"You're not from Kailis, you're from Terra. You've gone through aTan dozens of times, and one time they tried to stop you with a new method. It worked partly. Now you're Tommy."

"Clones don't have souls…" the boy whispered.

"Yes, they do. Or aTan wouldn't have worked, would it? One could argue if you have a soul, what you were left with, when Arthur van Curtis was resurrected on Terra. But I'm not a theologian. I don't care if your soul was split in two halves, reproduced by dividing itself, or if the Unified Will mercifully gifted you a brand-new soul. But you're not a zombie, you have free will, you can get aTan. The neural net is already in your head by the way."

"What do you want me for?"

"For an extremely vile purpose."

Tommy pulled away.

"Don't worry, the purpose I'm speaking of is even viler than that. You're my lock pick. You're my trump jack, which I'm going to hide up my sleeve. I'd prefer a king or an ace, but we're going to have to bluff."

"I don't believe you," Tommy repeated stubbornly. "Even if you're right, why should I get involved?"

Kay laughed, "Why? Poor Kailis or the aTan Empire, the career of an accountant or control of the galaxy, the secrets of soap operas or the planet Grail; your choice!"

"That's not mine. There's already an Arthur Curtis in the galaxy, right?"

"Trust me, there's going to be room for you too."

The boy was silent. Kay leaned back in his chair wearily. He said, "What time is it?"

Tommy glanced at his watch, but Kay hadn't been talking to him.

"Three-thirty at night, local time," the boat replied in a thick baritone. "Kay, buddy, I'm shocked by your story. No idiot has managed to get himself into a mess like that before!"

"Shut up," Kay half-asked and half-ordered. "I've forgotten what you were like. Be a tender and nurturing lady."

"Of course, honey. Shall I clean your guns?" the ship cooed.

"Jackass," Kay said, stretching. "Freak… Tommy, were you expected to come home tonight?"

The boy chuckled.

"Then call home. Ship, give him a connection!"

Tommy jerked and stared at Kay.

"Speak the number," Altos said.

"Are you serious?"

"Go ahead. The handset is on the table. Tell them you'll be home by noon. Just don't mention where you are, or the connection will be cut off."

"Are you serious about this?" Tommy repeated.

Kay covered his eyes with his hand wearily, and the ship's lights immediately dimmed.

"Kid, I had a mother too once. Is that so difficult to believe?"

"Yes," Tommy answered with a challenge in his voice.


Altos patiently listened to Tommy's conversation with Mrs. Arano. When everything he deemed important had been spoken, he broke the connection with a single gesture. He stood and, pushing Tommy gently, led him to a door that had previously been closed.

"I have two bedrooms," he informed him. "This one's yours."

"Are you going to lock me in?" the boy asked.

"Of course, I don't have aTan anymore. Good night."

Tommy fell asleep quickly, without taking off his clothes. His fears had been abated only a little, but he was too tired and overloaded with information.

Kay first forced himself to brush his teeth and remove his shoes.