In the few days that had passed since that night, Sofia seemed to have finally come to her senses. She made some conclusions that she kept in the back of her mind. At the same time, the hare Alexander, or as he was now called in the military town, Private Businka, became something of a star among the military personnel. They saluted him, and his presence brought some relief to the tense atmosphere that had reigned here lately.
Preparations for the Vladivostok Forum were in full swing. Russia's entire superhuman force was preparing to be sent there to ensure the safety of the event. While everyone was busy, Alexander decided to explore building "B".
Sofia again gave herself up to pleasures with one of the guys, and Alexander did not want to witness this. Moving around the building, he observed the life of the military: the tired faces of the soldiers, the warlike atmosphere in the barracks, where the soldiers discussed tactics and strategies. Next to them, groups of superhumans who, although they possessed unique abilities, did not seem to pay enough attention to honing their skills. The air was filled with a sense of unrealized potential.
- The battle with Zeus and Fireball should have shown them this, but the rocket fire and the escape of Zeus evened the odds. As a result, no one learned anything... - Alexander thought, checking his ice claws, which, to his satisfaction, worked flawlessly. The thread of soul he wove remained stable despite the difficult battle and subsequent recuperation.
In these thoughts, the duty officer caught up with him, who, smiling, saluted and said:
- Private Businka, you are being summoned to the commander of the military camp! - Alexander shrugged his shoulders and jumped towards the exit, while the duty officer still watched him with a smile on his lips, assessing his unusual behavior and extraordinary role in their common cause.
When Alexander entered the fourth floor of the office building, he felt a tense atmosphere. Junior Lieutenant Ivan Kharitonov stood with a gloomy expression on his face, maintaining his steadfastness despite the anger that was visible in his eyes. Next to him was Senior Sergeant Andrei Mikheev, who seemed to be experiencing physical ailments, holding his stomach and trying to cope with the discomfort. Junior Sergeant Sofia Berentseva stood a little to the side, her gaze was downcast, and she seemed absorbed in her thoughts and experiences.
- It seems that Ivan found out about Sofia’s latest connections. This was to be expected. - Alexander thought, approaching the girl, who immediately picked him up.
While they were waiting at the duty officer, Captain Polypchuk, their supervisor, approached them. He took the sealed package from the attendant and briefly waved his hand, making it clear that he needed to follow him.
Going down to the floor below, they passed work stations where secretaries and assistants were working intently. The captain stopped in front of one of the offices, which was adapted for holding meetings of the workforce.
This office was different from the strict military premises. There was a large oval table in it, with comfortable chairs arranged around it. There was a notice board on the wall, full of notes and notices, giving the room a sense of constant activity and communication. In one corner there was a cozy sofa with several soft pillows, creating an area for informal communication.
Along one wall there was a cabinet with stationery and a small tea area where you could make tea or coffee during breaks. On the window there was a flower pot with a bright flowering plant, giving the office a feeling of homeliness and warmth.
Captain Polypchuk took one of the chairs and sat down, looking at those gathered in front of him, preparing to explain the reason for their sudden call.
All those present took empty seats, awaiting instructions from Captain Polypchuk. The tension in the air grew stronger as the captain began his explanation.
- So, guys, the task has been received. Return to Gran, departure in five hours. Our goal is a creature called Charon. - the captain announced, looking directly at each of them. Andrey, raising his eyebrows in surprise, was the first to react:
- Are we going to hunt the ferryman of the other world? I didn’t know that he was there too... Although this is logical to some extent.
Alexander the hare, hearing the name of Charon, involuntarily pricked up his ears. This meeting could be the key to returning his real body, because Charon had to fulfill one of his wishes.
- No, according to our operational data, Charon is a merchant who exchanges souls for objects. One of which, the Violet of Life, is very important. She's worth a couple hundred thousand souls. The goal is to buy and deliver to the real world. - the captain continued.
- It seems that one of the higher ranks or rich people decided to extend their life a little. - for some reason Alexander thought.
“There are many souls, it’s dangerous...” Ivan said thoughtfully, to which the captain nodded:
- Therefore, this volume will be divided between the three of you.
Hearing this, Alexander, full of determination, stood on his hind legs, which caused some embarrassment to the captain.
“You’re a private, you’re not entitled to your rank...” he justified himself, seeing the hare’s reaction.
The details of the plan were discussed for some time, after which the meeting was ended. The group, including Alexander, set out to prepare for the upcoming mission, each lost in their own thoughts about the upcoming meeting with Charon and the possibilities it could open.
After all the preparations, their path lay in the scientific laboratory at the military camp. The entrance there, located in the left wing of building "A", was strictly guarded. After going through security, where security carefully checked the documents of each team member, including Alexander the hare, they headed to the elevator. Going down, Alexander felt how they were passing three floors underground.
When the elevator doors opened, Alexander found himself in another world that seemed to come out of the pages of a science fiction novel. The lab's hallway was long and well-lit, the walls lined with sleek metal panels and the floor covered in anti-static coating. Along the corridor there were glass doors, behind which one could see various laboratory rooms equipped with the most modern equipment.
- And why was Bead dragged here, souls will be divided between us anyway! - Sofia was indignant, walking along the corridor.
- Orders are not discussed, you know, Sophia. - Ivan answered calmly.
They approached a glass door, behind which men in spacesuits were working with small containers. Inside these containers was a silver light that flickered and shimmered.
- How many souls... - Alexander could not contain his surprise. He realized that this was an army soul storage facility, and there were a huge number of such containers. - Why don’t they spend it on the development of their soldiers?!
The group of people in white coats that came out to them consisted of three scientists. The first of them, the oldest, was a man about 60 years old with gray hair and a stern, penetrating gaze behind thick glasses. He looked like a man who had spent his entire life in a laboratory, with deep wrinkles that testified to years of scientific work.
The second scientist was younger, about 40, with short dark hair and sharp, attentive eyes. His posture and confident movements indicated that he was used to working under stressful conditions.
The third scientist is a young woman in her 30s with long curly hair pulled back into a neat bun. She wore glasses and had concentrated attention and intelligence written all over her face.
- Now the process of transferring souls will begin, during this time all outsiders must be in a special room. - announced the senior scientist.
Sofia was indignant:
- Well, why did they even drag him here? And so it was clear from the task that he would not get a shower! - to which the scientist reacted calmly:
- You have an order, we have an order. Pass the hare.
- He’s actually Private Businka. He also has documents! - Sofia sarcastically, but still handed the hare to one of the scientists. He, taking Alexander by the scruff of the neck, caused his indignation, and the hare tried to free himself, but to no avail.
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Ivan, seeing the treatment of Alexander, stepped forward and squeezed the hand of the scientist, who screamed in pain.
- Why are you completely crazy? - Ivan exclaimed.
His screams caused a commotion and the alarm sounded in the laboratory. But Ivan, not paying attention to this, approached the scientists as close as possible and firmly stated:
- He's part of our team! And if you treat him badly, then that’s how you treat us. And we will not forgive this.
When the scientist holding the hare mumbled the order, the elder of the group of scientists intervened. He carefully picked up Alexander, placing him in his palms.
- We'll treat him well. - he said with a slight smile, as if trying to defuse the tense situation.
However, as Alexander was carried away from the group, he became acutely aware of the danger. His instincts were alert, and he prepared for any developments. Brought into the medical office, he saw in front of him a metal table that was obviously intended for him.
When the scientists tried to strap him to the table, Alexander knew it was time to act. His ephemeral ice claws instantly appeared, and with incredible precision and strength, he cut and froze part of the table. The temperature in the room dropped sharply from the cold emanating from his claws, causing the air to condense.
The hare quickly jumped into the resulting hole, his movements were fast and dexterous. He rushed to the nearest wall and used his claws again, this time to punch his way out. The wall became frosted as his claws touched its surface, and he quickly created an opening large enough for him to crawl through.
There was a commotion in the laboratory due to his escape. The alarms began to sound, but Alexander was already too far away for that to stop him. He quickly moved through the created passage.
Making his way into the next office through a cut hole, Alexander found himself in a room that was clearly not intended for his eyes. The room was large and resembled a high-tech laboratory. In the center were rows of transparent capsules, each of which contained a person. Silvery flashes, like invisible streams of energy, slowly flowed through thin transparent tubes connecting the capsules with various devices and monitors located on the walls of the room. The dim bluish lighting gave the scene a touch of mysticism and mystery.
- They cut a person’s soul and wait until it recovers for subsequent circumcision? Rational, of course, but somehow not in the spirit of a Russian person... I wouldn’t do that. I wonder if it's the creation of those artificial souls or the formation of real ones? - Alexander thought, looking around.
He walked to the nearest cell and jumped onto its edge to see who was inside. In the capsule lay a wounded man, his skin was pale, his face showed signs of suffering and fatigue. The man's chest heaved slowly, as if every breath was a laborious effort. Traces of recent wounds and operations were visible on his body, and his gaze seemed absent, as if he were somewhere far away, in his inner world.
- Why don't they send him to the Fringe? The body can be restored... - Alexander thought, feeling pity and sympathy for the unfortunate man in the capsule.
When the door to the laboratory opened and the siren suddenly stopped buzzing, a colonel, the head of the military camp, entered the room. His uniform was casually draped in a lab coat. He leaned tiredly against the wall, with visible signs of fatigue on his face and gaze, reflecting many years of experience in military service. His eyes were full of seriousness and some disappointment.
- These scientists never follow orders exactly. I didn't want them to scare you, I just wanted to check if we knew everything about you. - he began, speaking about his motives. - I took responsibility and brought you into the staff. This is a big risk, I just wanted to check. And the scientists decided that they were smarter than everyone else... Fools. Sorry, Businka.
The hare came into the light, and the colonel, tired of internal struggle and responsibility, smiled sluggishly.
- You are smart and quick-witted. And seeing this, he probably would have thought that we were some kind of villains. No. These are our soldiers, they voluntarily did this for the good of their homeland. This way we can develop without needlessly taking risks in the Edge. Of course, we send groups there, but only when it is really necessary.
Alexander, listening to the colonel’s words, involuntarily shook his head. There was doubt and distrust in his gaze, although the colonel may have understood this in his own way.
- This is true. - the colonel answered, as if trying to convince not only the hare, but also himself.
The room they were in was filled with the sounds of machines and instruments, creating an atmosphere of scientific diligence and search. However, the air in the laboratory was permeated with a heavy sense of moral ambiguity and ethical dilemmas that this work carried with it. The colonel, conducting the conversation with Alexander, tried to smooth out the rough edges.
- There was a lot of fuss with all this research. There's a mission ahead and we don't have time. But let's agree this: after you return, you will undergo research. This is necessary for the peace of mind of senior management. This time you will be under the supervision of your group. Agreed? - the colonel said, but the hare stood motionless, not giving any answer. The colonel sighed wearily and added: “On my behalf, I will give you a hundred souls for your trouble.” Is it coming?
The hare nodded at this proposal and jumped towards the colonel. The man smiled:
- I’m old already, I can barely stand myself on my feet, so come on with your paws. And don't lag behind, otherwise you'll be training with the others in physical training. - Noticing the hare's nod in response, the colonel thought for a second, noting this in his mind.
They walked out into the corridor together, where a group of military men, momentarily confused, pointed their weapons at Ivan's group. Ivan seemed ready to take action to save his comrade. But the colonel intervened in his authoritative voice:
- Leave it alone! Finish the work with the souls, after which I will wait for you with Private Businka in the departure chamber. Execute! - With these words, he resolved the difficult situation and continued on his way, and the hare followed him, casting only a short glance at his comrades.
As they entered the elevator, heading to the floor above, the doors opened to reveal a long hallway. On the left side there were many glass rooms. These rooms were equipped with the latest technology, each containing a comfortable bed and a series of monitors to monitor the patient's condition. Opposite, on the right side, was a large hospital room. There were rows of beds, each equipped with medical equipment, including life support machines and monitors to monitor the health of patients.
- In these glass rooms, we essentially kill our soldiers by putting them to sleep. The method is safe, recovery after this is minimal. There is almost no damage. But our doctors are already working on the right to help if there is a problem. - the colonel explained, leading them along the corridor.
Alexander looked at the people lying in the glass rooms. They seemed to be sleeping, but their pale skin betrayed the unnaturalness of what was happening. They approached one of the free cells and stopped.
- They will come soon. This is your first task. Your opportunity to prove to everyone that I am a madman who took a hare into service. I believe in you and in you! - continued the colonel.
Alexander felt the sincerity in the words of the old military man and nodded in agreement. At that moment, his comrades came out of the elevator and were launched into the room. The guys lay down on the bed. Sofia took the hare with her and hugged him tightly, whispering:
- I don’t like dying...
After this, gas was released into the room, which smoothly sent Ivan’s group into the world of dreams. A minute later, he took the lives of Ivan, Andrei, Sofia and Alexander, plunging them into eternal sleep. At this moment, the boundary between life and death, reality and sleep became thinner than ever.