Project Ouroboros (4 page)

30 years ago

"Are you by? Team "Merkhaba" calls for centre "Enki"! Team "Merkhaba" calls for the centre, come in! I Trier Lugal, and a team "Merkhaba" asks the centre to grant the sixth level access! Are you by? We demand the sixth level access!"

"Centre "Enki " here! Are you by?! How do you hear us? Mr Aine Soph orders to continue the research! Access is granted! Are you by?"

"I can't hear you! The research is being continued in accordance with Directive 126 on the sixth level access! The connection is cutting off! We could be some time offline! "

"Sending reinforcements to you! Are you by? Team "Merkhaba" Can you hear me ?! Come in! Come in! "

... communication interrupted ...

***

— Hello, is this Mr Director General's reception office?

— Hello, Mr Aine Soph is busy.

— Tell him it's very important! It is from Greenland!

— One minute.

— Hello.

— Mr Aine Soph, I'm calling from Greenland. The rescue team "Athena" has found a team member of "Merkhaba"! He claims that his name is Trier Lugal. No one but him has survived. What do we do?

— Bring him to me.

... communication interrupted ...

***

The interrogation room was pitch dark. Trier Lugal didn't see people who were interrogating him, and they also didn't see him. They didn't need to know each other. Perhaps it was just the security service, perhaps — Elam reconnaissance or even someone more serious, but one thing he was sure about was that somewhere there was a chair, where Mr Director General was sitting. He didn't give a reason to guess his presence, but the particular chill that went from this terrible man, even in darkness permeated. He was definitely there.

— What happened the day when Tiamat-1 reached Elam?

— I drew up a report that this natural phenomenon in no way could affect our research, and insisted on it's continuation. In response, I received approval from the management. Then, due to increase of Tiamat-1, we have requested permission to use the sixth level access.

— What does it mean?

— Continuation of work in emergency conditions. We didn't have a chance to put together the team and evacuate. It was almost impossible technically.

— What happened to you then?

— Hurricane Tiamat reached Greenland. Our station was flooded.

— Why didn't the others survive?

— They were down in caves, and I was on duty at the surface. I was protected by the walls, the others drowned.

— You managed to keep the results of the research?

— Yes.

— And where are they?

— In my mind.

***

Black telephone rang again.

— Aine Soph listening.

— It's Mr Tiferet speaking. We've heard you have some news.

— Good afternoon, Mr Tiferet. We have two Lamashtu. Can we begin?

— Mr Daath has allowed to carry out experiments.

— Experimental units are ready.

— We will be present in person.

— Thank you, Mr Tiferet. I am very grateful.

— Don't be. It is a common business.

Communication interrupted.

Mr Director-General stared out the window of his office. El’Athar was looking at his heavy boots with metal inserts that he bought the day before. He mentally imagined how he drives a skull in the concrete: he wanted to try a new thing in practice very much. He wondered, whether the blood would wash away without any problems.

In fact, the agent was languishing in anticipation of further orders, because both Lamashtu were in detention security units, and no one knew what to do with them next. Frankly, El’Athar didn't really understand why, "Enki" would need two homeless teens, as he wasn't stupid.

It seemed to the special agent that these Lamashtu created the effect of presence artfully, but in fact physically they weren't there, just their projections. El’Athar immediately felt that they were not real people, but they had the charisma that filled these projections with enough volume to become three-dimensional. Mr Aine Soph was also not quite human, but didn't cause any other emotions besides cold and alienation. Consequently, they did not belong to the same species of non-human. Of course, it was only a guess, but El’Athar had some special skills, which could detect and analyse the smallest details and make some conclusions, using the method of induction.

El’Athar tired. He was waiting for any indication, but Mr Director said nothing, lost in his thought. Agent was a little anxious, he realized that all this time he was engaged in some kind of nonsense, but now the REAL work, which only he could do, began. However, so far nothing happened, and El’Athar continued thinking.

After the first meeting with Mr Director El’Athar found as much information about the phenomenon of "Uncanny valley" as he could. Now he knew why Aine Soph caused rejection and Lamashtu didn't. The essence of this phenomenon lied in the fact that a humanoid robot evoked fear and dislike, because his actions looked too smooth, his face frightened with perfect symmetry. Slow, awkward, unnatural director was clear evidence of these words — in his presence, everyone felt uncomfortable. But Lamashtu were not particularly like people and didn't cause such cold feelings. When looking at them people felt light sympathy — and nothing more.

Special agent's conclusions were too inaccurate and probably a little far-fetched, but he could not stop thinking about it. When he imagined that those creatures had long been among to the ordinary people who were not even aware of such a surprise, it didn't let him stop thinking because of a cold sensation that these thoughts created in his chest. What else can be hidden inside the armoured walls of large corporations and government agencies? And how one could not become paranoid? In fact, it was terrifying. Really terrifying.

Well, and what are you, El’Athar? Do you firmly believe in yourself and who you really are?..

The agent returned to reality when Mr Director General stood up from his chair and continuing to think about something, walked around the office. The agent sat motionless — he was still waiting for orders.

Aine Soph pressed the red button:

— Rada notify the security service that Lamashtu should be transferred to the area of responsibility of our new employee, Dr Tekhina Ami.

— Yes, Mr Director.

— Thank you.

He hung up, and then turned to El’Athar:

— Soon there will be more. Watch the city. And keep an eye on Tekhina Ami.

— All right, I will do everything in my power.

Security service of "Enki" research centre was in the basement, and access to it was possible only with a special biometric passport, having the shape of a semicircle. The department had two levels of access: regular and archive. Data marked "Top Secret" was stocked in the archive. Only four people had access there, among whom was El’Athar.

Archives of "Enki" looked quite ordinary: long steel shelves with folders, drawers, boxes — all numbered and sorted by date of receipt. There were memory sticks filled with the data. Some of the information was printed, most often those were very old documents that have not yet been digitized. However, modern state institutions were not able to do anything without the paper chase and bureaucracy, especially when it came to the important things. Knowing what you are looking for, you could easily find the top-secret materials in plain text form, endorsed by the Ministry of the Interior. There was a desktop computer, which was used exclusively for the data search. There was a little direct information on the server, normally only markers and file names, indicating exactly where the documents were located.

El’Athar sat down at the computer and typed "Merkhaba" in the search bar. He did not know how many documents on this project there were, which ones were there, and which ones at the Ministry of the Interior. After some time, the system prompted for the password, and the agent immediately introduced a secret code. "The password is entered incorrectly." El’Athar swore and re-dialled the combination, but an error message flashed again on the monitor. Apparently, the documents tagged as "Project "Merkhaba" were destroyed. So he had to deal with reports from the Ministry.

Sometimes in the process of searching he managed to find quite strange documents, from which secrecy and conspiracy emanated, and in such moments El’Athar felt like a hero detective close to unlocking the secrets of the mystical, but very often information that fell into his hands increasingly convinced that even very serious people who were responsible for the fate of the State, may be the most common idiots.

Realizing that further searches were useless El’Athar decided to visit the guys who he brought to "Enki" that day, and at the same time to get acquainted with the new employee, as she would certainly be with them in the "corner of Dr Moreau." Agent went down to minus first floor, where the entrance to the laboratory "unit" was.

From the outset El’Athar clearly understood what it was going to be, when he agreed to work in "Enki". Unfortunately, he was not in a position to refuse to perform certain questionable errands of Director General or to dictate his terms. Agent should at least admit to himself that he was a prisoner rather than an employee, despite the high salary and absolute trust of Aine Soph. A year ago, the Director General appeared on the verge of death row and offered cooperation, noting that the country's best scout had nothing to do in prison. Lord, a year already... All this time El’Athar was ready to unconditionally fulfil the tasks that he received from Aine Soph, even if they were beyond morality. But to experiment on children, even if they were not quite human — was too much even for the one who had passed through a lot of human filth. And now he was frantically thinking about whether or not to do anything to save the unfortunate Lamashtu from the fate of experimental materials prepared for them. They were just kids! However, special agent had never indulged in vain hopes. El’Athar never had to discuss his position with the Director General, but the agent was firmly convinced that in case of rebellion he would find himself on death row rather quickly.

"Isn't it too much for you to take, El’Athar?" — He thought, and opened the door. In the hall of the "corner of Dr Moreau" stood a couple of sofas, clothes hangers, umbrellas and outdoor clothing, on the floor — vases with fresh flowers. On one of the sofas both Lamashtu were sitting with gloomy faces, and the older one appeared to shrivel somehow and pressed himself into the soft furnishings. El’Athar walked across the room to see if there was someone else. Dr Tekhina Ami was in her office talking on the phone — it was heard because of the half-open door, which had already a sign with her name. The agent was about to announce his presence, but the woman herself went into the common room and stared at El’Athar.

"She's all right," — he thought, quickly and professionally examining wheat thick hair, big green eyes, red lipstick on her lips and delicate hands. At first glance, Dr Ami was too thin, but it fitted her, and her smock bothered to estimate the true figure.

— I am El’Athar, a special security officer — agent introduced himself, waiting for Dr Ami's  reaction, other than wide-eyed astonishment.

— My name is Tekhina Ami, I'm a specialist in neuroscience — now she looked more puzzled, but still continued to stand at the threshold of her office. — What are you doing here, special officer?

— These kids are my responsibility, I brought them here.

— I think I have heard something about you — Dr Ami went to the couch in the lobby.

— Really? — El’Athar grinned and followed Tekhina. — What have you heard?

— No one knows what you do, but as I can see, you're interfering with the work of others. — She leaned over the blonde older guy, asking him to allow to look at his hands.

— What are you doing now, I do not know. — The agent sat on the sofa in front of her, watching the actions of the new employee and her legs.

— I'm just passing the examination. With these children I can see at what stage an error crept into my work. Of course, if I will be allowed to carry out some research.

— So that's why they're here — El’Athar did not even pretend that he was surprised. Instead, he turned to Lamashtu:

— What's your name then?

— I am Aleph, a musician — the older one said quietly, without raising his head.

— I am Tharsis — the younger glared into his eyes angrily.

El’Athar nodded.

— On the minus third floor there are several premises for employees. Basically the ones who have not yet had time to get housing or prefer to live at work are lodged there — Dr Ami continued, examining the hand of Tharsis. — You can live there.

— You, too, would prefer to live on the job? — El’Athar grinned when Tekhina could not find the answer, but the question was more rhetorical.

— I'm still working at the University of Elam. So I have no time to be at home — after a long pause said Ami.

— They you can stay with me — suggested El’Athar.

— Don't you have enough of your own concerns? — Tekhina grunted, without looking at him.

— Enough! You know I have planned a visit to the city theater on Friday, they are showing a new musical, would you keep me company?

— What time does it start?

— At eight o'clock.

— Well, pick me up at the lab at seven.

— Agreed — El’Athar smiled and went out into the hall.