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 8

Louis Nomachi, the man who had recognized Arthur Curtis, changed after aTan. Kal, who was in a state of constant tension and continuing to sleep with Lemak, did not notice that.

Louis was being consumed by fear. He was cursing the moment he had started watching the recording of Kay's memories. He hated himself for his hasty advice to Isabella, to skip the usual channels and intercept the boy at Volantis. He was recalling his typical wastefulness with curses. How could he have had miscalculated so much…

Mohammadi, almost fully recovered, did not speak to him. It appeared that she had managed to blame the failure on Louis, if only to herself. And Kal wasn't in a hurry to make any conclusions.

When Lemak's destroyer came out into normal space near an unknown miserable planet named Grail, Louis sensed trouble in his gut. He wasn't known for possessing excessive intuition, and the chill in the pit of his stomach terrified him.

Locking himself in his cabin, Nomachi was downing some cheap cognac, doing his best to avoid unnecessary expenses. He was waiting for the alarm that would become his death knell. He didn't know how Kay Altos could harm him, hidden deep in the heart of a powerful warship. He simply felt death approaching, as if it had a quota to fill.


Kay brought Arthur onto the bridge. The stimulants were working, and he was conscious, even though anyone would be hard-pressed to say it just by looking at him. The ship was shuddering, as she was decelerating too quickly, while dropping out of hyperspace. Tommy was throwing nervous glances at Kay; it appeared as if memory loss hadn't affected his familial sense for trouble.

"We'll be at the planet in fifteen minutes," Dutch said. "Do you want to know what's going to happen next?"

Arthur nodded and answered quietly, "Trouble. I don't know what kind, but it'll be there."

"Maybe. Artie, Tommy, as your substitute, and I renewed our aTan."

The boy thought his words over for several seconds, then nodded.

"Do you understand what I want to do?"

"I do. What about Tommy?"

"He's going to get the boat, space, and a long life."

"Have you thought about asking me?" Tommy asked. He and Kay spent a moment staring at one another, as if they were meeting for the first time. Then Dutch shook his head, "I thought about that. But even Curtis van Curtis wouldn't be able to anticipate the result. If you don't believe me, ask Arthur."

The shuddering ended, and the gray haze on the screens was replaced by a vast darkness. At the same moment, the ship's voice, dry and official, put an end to the argument, "Kay, I think we're being expected."


The destroyer was floating over the planet, a metal hulk a hundred meters in length, bristling with turrets. The ship's purpose was to intercept enemy fighters near poorly defended planets, making her an ideal ship to capture a tiny boat that had just entered normal space.

"He's got no chance," Lemak said. "This close to the planet, he won't have enough power to flee into hyper."

"What about ignoring all your guns and just landing? We can't destroy them, and Kay knows it."

"Boarding teams are ready. Do you want to reinforce them?"

Kal glanced at her people. Nomachi was slightly drunk and jerked from Lemak's offer as if he'd been struck. Marjan nodded — she wanted to have another chat with Kay Altos. The mechanist was once again in top shape, although her damaged ear hadn't been restored for some reason.

"We'll let your specialists do their job," Kal decided. "Can we contact the boat?"

"If they'll want to reply."

Isabella nodded, "They will, let me talk to them."


Kay had been expecting unpleasantness of a different sort. Something that went outside the boundaries of reality, not letting Arthur get close to the planet as successfully as the warships of the Silicoid Foundation.

But the destroyer several thousand kilometers from them didn't look like a product of some unknown superpower. An ordinary Imperial ship, capable of vaporizing fighters in droves and, when necessary, to scour them in search of crews.

"We won't be able to get away," the boat informed them.

Kay didn't even try to answer. He got up from the pilot's seat and looked at the boys. Arthur didn't seem surprised, and Tommy actually looked pleased.

"Boat, space, and life? Hah!" he said gladly. "Are you going to leave me to them? I'd rather kill myself."

Kay took his Bumblebee out of the holster and glanced at Arthur in askance.

"I don't know," the boy replied. "I really don't. Let everything happen as it's supposed to."

For some reason, it was incredibly difficult to aim the gun at him. To pull the trigger was completely unthinkable. Kay turned the pistol towards Tommy, who closed his eyes and gripped the armrests of his seat but said nothing.

"I've taken the liberty of altering course and accelerating," the boat spoke, and Kay lowered the gun. "I think it's the best option."

Arthur laughed quietly.

"You seem to think that you have aTan as well. Why don't you heave to? I still need a boat." Kay threw an involuntary glance at the console.

"Artificial intelligence is illegal in the Empire, Dutch. I don't have a choice either."

"You're just an imitation," Kay said, feeling as if something was gripping his throat. "A companion for a loner. Quit clowning around."

"Idiot," the boat said and fell silent. But the course hadn't changed.

Kay Dutch put the gun onto his seat. A call indicator was blinking on the console, which the boat hadn't even bothered to inform them about, ignoring all rules. Kay pressed a key and smiled at Isabella.

"We're about to have a hot encounter," he informed her and cut the connection before the woman could say a word.

The boys looked at him. Kay came up to Arthur, stood behind him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. The destroyer was growing on the screen, wrapped in the haze of its shield, gray and tiny compared to the planet.

"Grail is beautiful," Kay said. "I like planets that don't have any cities yet."

"Hold Tommy's hand. He's scared."

Kay had time to grab the boy by the hand, which was moist from the sweat but cold as ice. He even asked Arthur, "What about you?"

But there was no more time for a reply.