Emergency lighting in the form of ceiling lights, worked, but created eerie cones of light, tightly surrounded by impenetrable blackness. Though now a horror movie shoot. The ship's systems made a couple of weak attempts to prevent the opening of the locks, but Spark quickly "persuaded" them to cooperate. After the second lock, Vika got into a spacious room. There was already gravity. Probably the speed of the rotation of the ship was enough. Judging by the form - a warehouse. But the warehouse is almost empty. However, not uninhabited. Just behind the back hissed a hermetic rotation, several creatures rushed at the girl at once. A kind of cross between a wolf and a lizard. The force field of the suit threw off the attackers, and they howled violently, began to describe the circles around the brave astronaut. Mouths of creatures were bloodied. Far from the opposite wall, scanners found human remains! And not one!

“I probably interrupted their lunch,” Vika thought sadly. Where on earth ship alien beasts? Runaway load? Alien invaders? Fumbling around, she found more than a dozen open cells. Electronic locks on the doors, burned red.

- Computer failure?

- I fix multiple violations in the electronic systems of the ship. The probability of abnormal operation of the locking mechanisms is extremely high.

“I see,” said the girl. No luck team. Hopefully, they haven't eaten all yet. However, the creatures do not go to the contact, and they managed to taste human flesh. We'll have to destroy them.

“The moral side of the question is at the discretion of the captain,” Spark answered calmly.

After the first shot, the creatures rushed to the side, but that did not save them. For a while, the girl wandered between the boxes and the cages, until she was convinced that all the animals were dead.

Angry creatures are there, it remains to find a frightened princess, - the former dugout grimaced. She walked to the bloodied pile next to the open doors of the warehouse. Identify the remains was not possible. It looks like a man. The remains of other crew members at different stages of decomposition did not add clarity. Judging by the remnants of clothing - these are members of the crew.

“No luck,” Vika said out loud and looked into the corridor. Why did they open the warehouse? Didn't you think the cells would be open too? Probably.

Stepping softly and holding her weapon at the ready, the girl moved along a long corridor with dozens of doors to the cabins. The scanner squeaked, probing the space around in search of sentient beings. Signs of life were found only in one of thirty doors.

- Open, - for some reason whispered the team Vika.

The doors disappeared into the wall. From the cabin there was a loud, frightened cry and a slight tramp of bare feet. Stepping inside, Vika found two people hiding under the bed. There was nowhere else to hide. Predatory animals from the warehouse were four-legged. Head low to the ground. “Under the bed, they would find them even faster than on it,” Vika said to herself. Not very clever.

- Get out please, gently said voltranka, removing the weapon behind his back, but without removing the protection.

From under the bed got two fragile teenager. Spark, impartially scanned them and issued a conclusion on the screen. Height: forty meter. Weight: sixty. Blue eyes. Foot size and so on ... Age is similar to about twenty Earth years. But in appearance, pulling for fifteen years, no more. Thin, pale, disheveled and obviously hungry. Vick hesitated. It looks like twins. Even in such poor condition - very beautiful. Some, too regular features. The same, turned figures. Of clothes - thin, dirty swimming trunks and ribbon instead of a bra. Which, almost did not cope with the duties of retaining large breasts. One Vika looked attentively at the one that was without a ribbon and realized with surprise that it was a boy.It was possible to understand this only by the absence of the chest and protruding swimming trunks. The same beauty and feminine features.

- Hmm. Finding no danger, Vika folded the helmet behind her back.

- Who are you? What happened, she asked in earthly language.

The children exchanged a little frightened glance, but remained silent. Voltranka, figured out how it looks from the side. Threatening combat spacesuit. White color did not make it less impressive and formidable. She literally hung over the children, closing a single exit from the cabin. Realizing her mistake, she dropped to one knee.

- Are you hungry? “Well, of course, yes!” For such a case, she seized a hiking mill and quickly made food for the children. I hesitated a second, after hearing from Iskra a detailed report on the state of the children. Without food for about two days. So they could eat without a special procedure applied after a long fast.

The children obediently took the bags, but twisted them in bewilderment in their hands, continuing to look at the guest with caution. Vika walked to the folding table and laid out two self-heating sets. The smell of food, clear and without words. The children exchanged glances and cautiously avoiding the stranger, quickly settled down at a table. Vika watched earthlings for a while, then went out into the corridor. The children looked at her fearfully, trying to stand behind her. The girl nodded reassuringly at them. The corridor was dark and very quiet.

“Another life form has been found in the control center of the ship,” Spark said.

- Check, - Vick nodded.

After eating, the children noticeably relaxed and cheered up. You could ask questions again.

- What is your name guys?

“Willow,” the girl said. And this is Beck. The young man nodded.

- Are you a brother and sister?

- No - they answered in chorus.

- Hmm. And what ... and where are you flying? What happened?

- We belong to Mr. Verdin. We flew for a long time. Then there was a strong blow and the lights went out. We know nothing more.

- Hmm. Wait a minute What does it mean to "belong"?

- Mr. Verdin, the captain of this ship. We belong to him. We are his property.

“I didn’t know that there is still slavery on Earth.” What about your parents?

- We have no parents. We were told that we are not human. Said many times. Willow, swallowed. “We were raised artificially,” Yves replied, diligently uttering the last word.

There was a feeling that the children were not very smart. To test the theory, Vika asked a few more questions regarding the well-known history of the Earth and some aspects of people's relationships. It quickly became clear that the circle of children's knowledge is very narrow. They have invested only the basic set, so that they can maintain a simple dialogue and, more or less, take care of themselves.

Vick involuntarily imbued with pity for these children and gave them a calming impulse. Willow and Beck relaxed.

- Come on then we will find your “master”, said Vika with pressure. I sense that he lives in the command compartment. - Keep close and do not be afraid.

- What about wolves? - scaredly looked at each other children.

- Wolves? Are you talking about animals in stock? I had to kill them all.

- One? Everyone? We saw several sailors go to the warehouse, but no one returned, and then the wolves walked around our room for a long time and scratched at the door, ”Iva said.

“I found the body of only one ... a sailor,” answered Vika. But I assure you, there are no more animals on the ship.

Vika, confidently stomped ahead, demonstrating with all her appearance that she was able to stand up for herself and protect anyone. The children were minced two steps behind.

The door to the wheelhouse was locked and littered with something from the inside. Spark opened the locks, and Vick scattered the improvised barricade with a powerful blow.

- Who is there? - There was a frightened male voice. Do not come, I will shoot !!!

“Own,” Vika answered calmly, carefully examining the room.

A young man with a pistol appeared from around the corner.

- Are you lifeguards? Why so long? We've been hanging out here for two days. Then he saw Vika and stopped puzzled.

- Who are you? What is this form?

The man was handsome. And young. What did not fit his dossier. Probably several rejuvenation treatments.Multiple implants ... Read more →