The Place Where

by Rodion Pretis

  - Contact us anytime, I will always support you ...

  “I have to go,” she smiled once more and disappeared with words. - See you.

  “Save you, Trainin,” Alexander whispered in her wake.

  * * *

  The car in which the team ended up was hovering next to the hotel parking lot, and could easily accommodate five more people. It was a hybrid of a car and ... a jet plane.

  “Cool machine,” the Destroyer grunted.

  “The hotel is also not easy,” Alexey pointed to the complex, which was crowned by the voluminous holographic name of the hotel hanging in the air, under which all kinds of rooms and services provided in it were advertised.

  “And here is the advertisement,” the Player groaned.

  “I also do not like advertising, but in this case it is useful, now we know that this hotel can offer us, and that it is designed for wealthy customers,” the girl objected.

  Alexei is right, - the Wolf pushed the player who wanted to argue. “Hey, pilot, don't get stuck in traffic jams, let's park, or they'll start honking,” the truth, a fiery red “car” flying up from behind burst into a howl and tried to overtake them to occupy the only empty parking space.

  “Here I am,” the player grimaced and, masterfully stepping around the red one, squeezed the “car” into the last empty space clearly intended for a smaller transport. The answer was the indignant roar of a red car signal.

  “Here he is,” the Destroyer cheered, “he tried to get around, and when he was bypassed, he was indignant.

  Guys, something tells me that we need to register quickly, otherwise there will be no places, - Alexey thought for a second, - Wolf and I will teleport to the registrar, and you will catch us when you register the car in the parking lot , turn on and off the connection under what pretext. Is the wolf ready?

  - Always ready! - He winked and, smiling cheerfully at her, disappeared.

  “I also found a pioneer,” the girl sighed and followed him.

  - Wow! - the Player whistled, noting that armed guards were running towards them, - Guys, we seem to have broken something there.

  “And then,” the Destroyer grinned, “who drives cars like that!” Well, you didn't give a damn when you parked.

  “At least it won't be boring,” Nick flashed a smile and, opening his suitcase, quickly assembled his rifle ...

  Chapter 6

  Near the reception desk, Wolf first materialized right out of thin air, and a second later Alexey joined him.

  “Good afternoon,” the receptionist girl greeted with a sweet smile, hardly restraining herself so as not to laugh at the “sagging jaw” of a man, “we would like to rent an apartment with an office.”

  “I'm afraid I can't help you with anything,” the registrar answered strangled after a long pause, “we have all the numbers occupied.”

  - Are you sure? - the girl said all the same softly.

  “I am absolutely sure,” the registrar has already dealt with surprise and assumed an important look. - There are no numbers for YOU. We have a decent hotel.

  “What do you allow yourself!” The Wolf snapped and moved toward the man, but Alexei stopped him with a raised hand:

  “Wolf, let me,” the girl turned back to the receptionist: the smile disappeared, and her eyes looked hard and firm, she spoke, and steel sounded in her voice, “an apartment with an office and several bedrooms.”

  “But ...” the man tried to object.

  “Immediately,” Alexei cut him off with an impatient objection.

  - What's going on here? - a calm male voice slightly eased the tension.

  “We want to settle here,” Alexey turned to the approachee: he was a tall, well-knit, dark-eyed and dark-haired man in an expensive suit, whose whiskey was silvered by gray hair - she decided the security service.

  “So what's the problem?” - He looked at the receptionist.

  “There are no places,” he said.

  “I have other information,” the metal sounded in the girl's voice again.

  “Free, Zack,” the ice in his voice finished off the registrar, he wilted and stepped aside.

  “You are right, there is one room,” the man confirmed Alexei's hunch, “these are apartments with an office and three bedrooms, designed for six people.” Will it fit?

  - Yes of course. This is exactly what we need. ”The girl smiled at him.

  “We have to fill out the form ...” he tried to do something with his right hand, but could not and, turning pale at once, cursed, “Damn!”

  “Let me do it myself,” Alexei suggested.

  “Sorry,” the man handed her the portable terminal with his left hand, which was surprisingly heavy.

  “No need to apologize,” the girl proceeded to fill out the registration form, and he watched her fingers fly over the terminal, she thought for a second, and then continued with a sly smile. - Done.

  “Now insert the card into the groove and press enter,” he prompted.

  “Done,” Alexey pulled out a card and returned the terminal.

  - So, everything seems to be right ... but what is it? - the man was surprised pointing to the column in which it appeared from where the people came - Terra Incognita.

  “Terra Incognita,” the girl voiced, and Wolf coughed, trying to hide his laughter.

  “Well then, welcome to Grassora, dei terra incognita,” the smile completely transformed the face of the guard, and lit his eyes, making him simply irresistible.

  “Thank you,” Alexey smiled back.

  “Your number is 3-14 in the Alpha block,” the man handed the magnetic key card to Alexei. “I'm taking you here, please.”

  “In a minute,” the girl asked, “I will only contact the others, something they lingered in the parking lot.”

  - So this is your silver-blue Hybrid sat down a few minutes ago neglecting all our rules? - said the man.

  - And what are some problems? - wary Wolf.

  “I'm afraid so,” the guard sighed. - It was an unauthorized landing in the hotel parking zone, and our sensors fixed weapons on board, all forces were thrown to capture.

  “God ...” the girl breathed. - Call them back!

  “This is impossible,” the man shook his head, “there is no connection, all channels are jammed, this is the usual procedure in such cases.”

  “Alex, I tried to get in touch with the guys,” the Wolf looked tense, “sheer interference, they don't hear us.”

  “Can you stop your own?” - after a second reflection asked the security guard Alexei.

  “If I get there,” he confirmed her hunch.

  - Well. So, Wolf, teleport to the guys, turn on the protective field and do not protrude. I will contact you. ”The wolf disappeared without further discussion, and the girl turned to the security guard. “Can I see the place we need to go?”

  “Yes,” the man answered and handed her a pocket terminal, on which their “car” was visible surrounded by a dense ring of armed people.

  “I will transfer us to the only free area where they will immediately notice us,” Alexey looked directly into his eyes.

  - Between the hybrid and my people? - the security guard specified.

  - Yes.

  “And you are risky,” the man smiled. - What is your name?

  - If everything ends well, you can call me Alyoshka.

  - And if not?

  “Then it will not matter anymore,” the girl grinned and took his hand. - Ready? Then hold on ...

  * * *

  The wolf appeared in the cabin just at the moment when the Destroyer, Nick and the Player were about to go outside and take the fight.

  “Guys, wait,” the Wolf stopped them, “Alex will try to come to an agreement.”

  “And it will deprive us of such entertainment,” Nick protested, but quickly fell silent under the heavy gaze of the Wolf.

  “Player, turn on the protective field,” Wolf's voice sounded cold and firm, “we sit here and do not rock the boat until
Alexey contacts us.” Do not forget, she is in charge here.

  “So, we will wait,” the Destroyer said his weighty word and settled down comfortably in the chair, but did not let his beloved weapon out of his hands.

  “The field is on,” said the Player, “but you won't turn it off so quickly, if something unexpected happens, we can get out of the car no sooner than in 1-2 minutes.”

  “I hope nothing of the kind happens,” Wolf remarked grimly and stared out the window.

  The field interfered with the quality of the review, but still he managed to notice how a couple of figures appeared between the machine and the shrinking ring of attackers and thought: “What the hell is she doing?!”

  - Player, unlock the doors! - horror for a second nailed the Wolf to the chair, He felt rather than heard the shots ...

  Alexei clearly calculated the place of occurrence, but she did not expect that there would be so many nervous personalities in the capture group that they would immediately open fire as soon as they appeared in front of them. She managed to cover up her companion - their only hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and unscathed topple to the ground. The girl felt that her shoulder was shot again, and blood was flowing along the ribs.

  “I will distract them,” Alexey said, “and you must stop all this before anyone is seriously injured.” Ready? Get started! - She jumped to her feet and started spinning around, distracting the attention of the shooters and at the same time dodging the shots, hoping that he would succeed in his plan.

  - Set aside! - rising to his feet, the man yelled at the full power of his weak lungs. “They are dei and hotel guests!” Stop shooting!

  They heard him, and instantly turned off the jammer, transmitted a command to ceasefire via communication, but one of the shooters, who noticed a motionless figure, still managed to let go of it. The man did not understand that he was so hard knocked to the ground, with a groan he raised himself and then a cry burst from his chest:

  - Alyosha! - and he rushed to her, the jumpsuit on her back was torn to shreds and soaked in blood, he turned her over and looked into such beautiful and such dead eyes ...

  Chapter 7

  The door of the Hybrid slid sharply to the side, and at first the figure of the Destroyer appeared with its favorite weapon at the ready, followed by the armed Wolf, the Player, followed by Nick with a sniper rifle. They moved easily and harmoniously - a real professional team, and only a few seconds later they were next to Alexei and a security man who could not take his eyes off the girl's face. The wolf sank to one knee next to them, and the rest stood in a circular defense.

  - What is there? - the first destroyer could not stand it.

  “She's dead,” the man answered lifelessly.

  - Wolf! What the hell is going on?! - It was already Nick.

  “God ...” The player glanced at the girl and swallowed.

  “We will wait,” the Wolf issued his verdict.

  - What? - This again came the voice of a man.

  - Do you think it will work? The Destroyer asked hopefully.

  “The last time it turned out, and I, by the way, did it, too,” answered the Wolf.

  “Well, then there is hope,” Nick reasoned.

  - What is the hope? - the guard did not let up.

  “Since you and I are stuck here,” Wolf said rather harshly, “without tantrums, please.”

  “How can you be so calm!” - the man exploded. “She died saving you!”

  “You can bet,” Nick muttered.

  “We hope she is alive,” the Destroyer put in.

  - What do you not see? She is dead! - the man closed his eyes. “I know that for sure.”

  “Listen, we can't do anything right now,” the Wolf reassuringly put his hand on the guard's shoulder, noting that he had managed to get so attached to Alex in such a short period of time, “let's at least get to know each other. ”

  - What? - the man was surprised.

  “I'm the Wolf, this is Nick, the Player,” the Wolf pointed to his friends, introducing them, “but the one was the smasher.” Destroyer.

  “Also a joker was found for me,” the Destroyer muttered, without turning around.

  “You seem to have already met her,” continued the Wolf.

  “You're just crazy ...” the guard shook his head.

  “You know, I'm also interested in your name,” came out Alexey's slightly hoarse voice.

  “Welcome back,” Wolf sighed in relief.

  “Deja vu,” the girl smiled, rising with the help of the Wolf and looking around. “Only this time, much more painful.” I'm afraid I'm not yet able to get up.

  “That's not a problem, Alex.” I can carry you in my arms, ”the Destroyer suggested, rejoicing that she remained alive.

  “Give me another minute,” Alexey asked, struggling with weakness.

  “Alyosha ...” the man gradually realized that she was still alive.

  “So will you reveal the secret?” - She was breathing still superficially and with difficulty. - So what's your name?

  “Taikan,” he replied, “you can just Tai.”

  “Glad to meet you, Taikan,” her eyes splashed warmly. “Are you taking us to your room?”

  “Of course,” the man answered.

  “Guys, you can lower the weapon,” the girl said quietly, “Taikan explained everything to the security guards.” Now we can safely move around the hotel. The incident is over.

  “I don't think so,” said the Wolf, “they shot you.”

  “But I think that is all,” Alexey said firmly and forced herself to her feet.

  - Alex ...

  “That's all, Wolf,” the girl remarked in an objectionable tone, “the question is closed.”

  - Heck! - the Wolf cursed in half a voice.

  “The alarm has been canceled,” Taikan meanwhile gave orders to the security guards, “to all return to their places.” What happened here, we will discuss with the commanders later. Everything, everyone is free.

  Seeing that the armed security was quickly resolving, the friends relaxed a little and surrounded Alexei, squeezing her together in an embrace.

  “Caution, choke,” the girl laughed and coughed.

  - Alex, are you okay? - the player voiced a general question.

  “For a man who was recently dead - very much,” she tried to laugh it off.

  “So not really,” Wolf sighed.

  “You would have been thrown into the queue,” the girl snorted, “I would have looked at your“ everything is in order. ” I just have to take a bath and relax.

  “Come on, I'll accompany you,” suggested Taikan.

  - How's your shoulder? - asked Alexei. “Did the wound open again?”

  - What? - the man was surprised.

  “You have blood,” she explained.

  “I didn't notice, somehow it wasn't before,” he answered honestly. “It still doesn't heal.”

  “Today I can't help you, but come back in tomorrow and see what can be done,” Alexey smiled and sighed deeper. “I'm better now, we can go.”

  “Maybe I can carry you all the same,” the Destroyer made another attempt.

  - Thanks but I do not need. But I would lean on my hand, - taking a few steps and becoming even paler, she said hardly audibly.

  “That's what, Alyosha,” Tykan looked directly into her eyes. “Either I will carry you, or he.” Choose.

  - Even so? - the girl raised an eyebrow.

  “Your choice,” he still looked openly into her eyes, and she realized that he was not bluffing and could easily fulfill his intention.

  “But your shoulder ...”

  “If it weren't for it, I wouldn't ask, but I would just bring you to the room and call the doctor,” the man answered.

  “Who are you to act like that?!” - indignation flared up in her chest.

  “The owner of the hotel,” he answered simply ...

  * * *

  The next morning, Alexey left her bedroom in the apar
tment hall, dressed only in a long, softly draped robe, where she found her team having breakfast.