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 5

"Bitch," Ralph Gordon said. There was no hatred in his voice, merely surprise. The marine sergeant had gotten a lot younger, but Isabella recognized him with ease. She gave a slightly tense smile and advised him, "Don't get distracted. Lemak is waiting for me, isn't he?"

Gordon's gaze slid along Kal one more time, and she thought that assigning a man she had recently killed as her escort was clearly not an accident.

"Move," Gordon ordered.

They were led through the hallways of the orbital base by an escort of twenty people in powered armor, a reasonable precaution, given the capabilities of the Meklar and the mechanist. Kal herself had made a point of removing her armor and weapons. Arthur was walking next to Marjan, a stimulant injection was allowing him to move after a 3C-level interrogation. The boy was only slightly dragging his right foot and squinting painfully whenever they passed under bright lights. Finally, they were brought into a small oval room, with an automated laser turret on the ceiling and metal walls that were melted in some places.

"Everyone, except for Kal," in Gordon's lips, the name came off like a curse, "wait here."

With two escorts, not counting Ralph, Isabella made her way in a transport pod to the base's central sector. Lemak was planning on receiving her in his own office, not in the brig, which was already a victory.

A guard was posted before the entrance to Lemak's office. Kal had prepared herself to wait, but the door opened immediately. Nudging at her back, Ralph entered the office with Isabella.

The Admiral was sitting facing away from his visitors; there was a raging sea on the panoramic window. It seemed that he was more interested in the picture than anything else.

"The detainee is here, Admiral," Ralph said.

"Leave us."

Gordon threw one last hateful glare at Kal and left. The Admiral was still facing away from her.

"Your voice sounds more youthful, Lemak," Kal said. The Admiral turned in his chair slowly and replied, "I'm more youthful as well."

For the next several moments, Isabella stared at her childhood idol. The fifty-year-old Lemak momentarily made her feel like a schoolgirl again.

"Thank you for meeting me here and not in an interrogation room," she said finally.

"That is easy enough to fix," Lemak informed her. "There are local hypertunnels in this office that lead to the control centers… and to the brig."

"You should take the boy to the brig."

"Was he your target? Well, well, well… So what did that prankster do? Burn down the Incedios Ministry of Education building?"

"He knew too much."

"Why knew?"

"Because he must not be allowed to leave here. He has aTan, and that complicates things, but we have to deal with it."

Lemak clicked his tongue in annoyance, "We? Marvelous. And how do we deal with immortality?"

"The boy will explain."

The Admiral rose to his feet, and Kal sensed the deliberate harshness of his movements. Lemak hadn't had time to properly play with his new, or rather old and forgotten, body.

"Speak."

"He's Arthur Curtis, son of Curtis van Curtis."

Her words had the expected effect, a mixture of confusion and fear on Lemak's face. Without giving him a chance to collect himself, Kal explained, "The father is likely using the son for some incredibly important mission. We may be talking about something that will make aTan look like a child's toy."

Lemak paced through his office. Then he asked sharply, "Why did you kill my people?"

"You shouldn't have given me an escort. I wanted to prove that I was cooperating with you of my own free will. Besides, all of them have aTan, all I did was hurt their wallets and their egos. If we squeeze everything out of the boy, then immorality will become as accessible to us as for Curtis."

"Perhaps." Lemak approached Kal and looked into her eyes. "You're offering me a gamble that can ruin us in a matter of seconds, should the boy die and his father learn about this."

"But the prize is good too."

"But why would you split it two ways?.. Clearly, your helpers don't count."

"Because the boy is immune to drugs and handles 3C without crying or screaming. I need a powerful ally, whose interrogation methods are different from ours," Kal informed him honestly and added, after a brief pause, "Besides, I like you, Admiral. Especially now."

"You got lucky twice… in this body, I'm more prone to engaging in gambles." Lemak turned to his desk, glanced at a screen unseen by Kal, then touched a sensor key and gave an order. "Take the boy to the brig under constant monitoring. The rest of the detainees can move about the base but not leave it. Assign them quarters."

He looked at Kal again and noted, "This is interesting, especially the fact that Curtis has sent his young son into space. I have good specialists, they'll begin working immediately. The boy will talk."

"Thank you, Lemak." Kal remained motionless.

"I think our strange alliance needs to be sealed with a small banquet." The Admiral spread his hands, as if submitting to the inevitable. "What would you say to a dinner by candlelight?"

"I wouldn't mind a breakfast in bed either," Isabella replied frankly, feeling the tension leave her.