Part Three - Chapter 9

Rey vs. mysterious creatures in a city reservoir

Part Three. Shadows In the Water.

I turned onto my back and brought my hands under my head. Easy movements of my tail were enough to keep me afloat, and I didn’t feel like swimming anywhere at the moment. I could finally relax; I wasn’t hungry, I felt at peace with the world. It was easy to breathe in salty water. I knew where I could find shelter and food if I wanted to.

The ability to enjoy the rays of light in the layers of water was a rare treat for me, but I could afford it right now. It was absolute serenity, with no fears and worries in my soul.

A shadow flickered beside me, at the limit of my peripheral vision. I didn’t pay attention to it: I was within the familiar territory guarded by our family. No enemy could pass them without being noticed. So the shadow I saw was probably one of the Guards swimming around, nothing special.

The shadow appeared again, this time on the other side. It was big and dark… too big to be one of my kind. The feeling of alert flared inside of me.

I turned around and hovered in the water vertically. I tried calling the family, but received no answer. I couldn’t have swam far, just couldn’t! Some moments ago the family was still by my side, so very close!

The water around me was still. The sun kept shining up above my head, and beneath me there were seaweeds gently moving with the flow. Suddenly I noticed there was no-one down there. Usually those weeds were filled with small creepers who neither interested me nor were afraid of me. They were gone now. Even the small fries that were too dumb to be scared by close movement of my tail disappeared all of a sudden. Such things never happen without a reason.

Never. Law of nature. 

I didn’t want to think about a thing that could frighten them off; I felt it was close to me. But I was on the protected territory, the Guards were supposed to warn me of any danger, that’s how family works! Could it be that they left me?..

The shadow swam so close to me that I got a good look at its dark blue scaly side. The creature was about three times bigger than me, and I had my guesses about who it was. That monstrous silhouette seemed far too familiar… But they stopped hunting in these waters, we chased them away!

We did that by attacking together. Many died back then for the sake of the family. And now I was all alone. I had no chances to survive, but I started to let all of my spikes out nevertheless. I was aware the predator wouldn’t leave that easily. It came for me; it came to eat.

The shadow grew tired of moving around me, the creature had finally understood there was no-one here but me. It attacked me at the speed that I could only dream about. I could see its huge eyes and fangs. Long, crocked, covered with tiny cracks. Nothing could ever escape those jaws, and now they closed on me.

I had never felt such pain before. There was a horrible sound, and I belatedly realized it was the sound of my armor breaking. Thick hot liquid filled my throat; it came from somewhere inside of me. I didn’t bother to hold it in, I just opened my mouth and let it leak out. The water around us became crimson. In that water, sparkling in the sunlight, the pieces of my scales were slowly sinking into the abyss.

The creature moved away, and I started to drown. I didn’t have to look at my wounds, it was enough for me to see the part of my body that stayed in the predator’s jaws to understand my fate. But I was a predator too, nobody could kill me that easily!

When I reached the bottom, the pain was nearly gone, changed by the feeling of emptiness. At this moment I realized that it wasn’t another wound I can recover from. It was my final moment, nothing was going to come after this.

And the creature swam to me again…

I got up so abruptly that I hit the top of the niche with my head. Cursing my luck, I got out of my shelter and clumsily swam to the surface. I felt like even here, inside the pool, the shadow was still close, it could attack me any minute.

I climbed out of the pool without my usual grace. No, not climbed �" I crawled out of it and curled on the tiled floor. I was shaking, but not with cold or fear. I’d seen this nightmare before, but it had never gone so far!

I died…

It wasn’t some fantasy. The thing that I had just gone through was the actual dying. But how could it be possible? How can anyone remember �" or even know �" about their own death?

“Those dreams again, huh?”

In my current condition I wasn’t able to feel Lita enter my room. Or was she here before I woke up? Quite likely. I had long since noticed that those nightmares robbed me the control over my powers for some time.

But it’s okay that she’s here. It would be much worse if someone else witnessed this… someone like Anton. I don’t even want to think about it!

“Yeah…”

“Is it that bad?”

“Even worse,” I looked at her with helplessness that I wasn’t used to �" and didn’t like it. “Lita, I was killed.”

I touched the places where the fangs of that thing crushed me, but the scales were intact, not even a scratch or a scar on them. Thus it never happened. But why do I remember it so clearly?!

Lita just sighed and sat beside me on the floor. She put her gloved hand above my hand.

“Has anything like this happened to you before?” she asked, the compassion clear in her voice.

“No, even when I was locked in that cell! And I’ve never been out in the sea like this! I can’t know any of this even theoretically!”

“I wish I could explain it to you, but I can’t, I just don’t know. At moments like this, I really miss Dr. Strelov, he’d be able to help you. He’s the only one who knew… I’m sorry. I came to tell you that we have a new assignment, get ready. I hope it’ll distract you from those nightmares.”

I shared that hope. After all, the nightmares first started during the days of my rest �" the period that lasted longer than I expected. Instead of the promised two days I got a week. And the new mission… it’ll keep me busy. I was planning to get so tired I’d sleep without any dreams at all.

I didn’t need much time to get ready, all I had to do was put on the uniform I’d recently received. Lita said it was a new and improved version of my training suit. Basically, it was new all right, but I strongly doubted the improved part.

My watcher led me to the garage. I’d never been there before, but had a fair idea of where this place was in the general Headquarters layout. We were using a truck instead of a helicopter this time, and it was a new experience for me.

Anything is better than getting into the air and losing the contact with the elements I’m comfortable in!

“Where do I have to work now?” I inquired.

I knew she wouldn’t be hiding anything from me, and I was right.

“City reservoir, Kursk region. This mission’s main complication is the proximity of inhabited buildings. To put it simple, people live close to where you’ll be hiding, so you must be careful. There’s even a beach by that reservoir.”

I just frowned, I didn’t like that assignment already. Risking, tracking, hunting, fighting �" that’s one thing. But hiding from people when they’re that close is totally different! What am I, a tadpole?!

We reached the garage in silence. I knew Lita would give me the details when the time was right for it, so I didn’t waste my energy on asking questions. I made myself think of humans and my future mission �" of anything that could make me forget that bloody nightmare!

The garage turned out to be a very spacious accommodation with no windows and only four walls. It reminded me of a box turned upside down. The hall was filled with various vehicles. By one of them, a small white truck, a group of humans was already waiting for us, a tall broad-shouldered man among them.

I noticed Lita cringe at the sight of him.

“What’s he doing here?” she mumbled.

The cold-hearted Lita was being so obvious in her negativity? Now that’s interesting!

“Who’s that?” I asked.

“Your number one fan. Do me a favor, keep your mouth shut. No matter what he says to you, don’t talk back!”

So much for the freedom of speech…

When we came closer, the man gave me such a contemptuous look… as if I were a lump of mud trying to become the ruler of the world. I didn’t like him too, but I fought my desire to stare back. Lita was on my side, and I appreciated her warning.

“Lolita, I need to talk to you,” he turned to my watcher, completely ignoring me now. I guess in his private universe I was unworthy of a simple “hi.» 

“Of course, I always welcome a mindful talk,” she smirked. “Rey, get into the car, I’ll be with you in a minute.”

I went into the truck obediently, my every movement showing that I was a good little puppy, loyal to my master. But once I was inside, I immediately got to the wall �" it wasn’t an obstacle enough to keep me from hearing their talk as clearly as if I was standing right by Lita’s side. Like hell am I missing this conversation!

“What did you want to talk about, Mr. Limenko?”

Her tone was demonstratively polite. I knew she used it to talk to people whom she strongly disliked.

“About the thing you call Rey. What a ridiculous name! But that’s not the point. You know that it has no right to live.”

I can argue that…

“First of all, Rey’s a he, not it,” Lita explained patiently. “Secondly, the Line One beasts’ right to live doesn’t irritate you that much, you don’t even doubt it.”

“It’s different. Just look at him! The very appearance of Subject 2-2 shows that he’s dangerous!”

Come on, I’m cute! In my own way, that’s the version I’ll hold onto. Plus, he’s also no beauty pageant queen…

Just as I thought, Lita shared my opinion:

“Oh really? Don’t you think he actually looks more human than any of the Line One beasts? His body is not different from a human one under the armor, the differences on his face are barely noticeable, and I’m not even mentioning his intellectual abilities!”

“That’s the main source of danger!” the man exclaimed with triumph. What was he so enthusiastic about? “He may look like a human, but he’ll never be one!”

I barely contained the desire to laugh. What made them think I wanted to be a human?! I was just fine with being the scary scaly me!

“Don’t forget that Subject 2-2 is one of Dr. Strelov’s creations,” Lita said coldly. “He was your friend, if I’m not mistaken.”

“He was, but our friendship has nothing to do with his sins and mistakes. Vladimir made many of them. Remember the freaks that are kept on Level Zero? And I’m not even mentioning the First Family! This creature belongs with them, not with us!”

“He doesn’t. Rey is different.”

“Do you really believe it, Ms. Askari? The First Family’s watchers also believed their pets to be good �" until the moment of their death. Knowing about what happened to them, can you really be free of any doubt?”

I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but he was emotional about it. Lita, however, remained adamant:

“I have no doubt. I believe him.”

“I can see it’s pointless!” he said in annoyance. “Fine, keep working, just don’t get too attached to him. Sooner or later he’ll make a mistake, and I’ll be the one signing the permission for his liquidation! Have a nice day.”

I could hear footsteps, he was walking away together with his companions. In a moment Lita entered the truck and took her place on a bench by the wall. I sat on the floor by her feet �" the bench was too small for me. I felt she was upset.

There were dozens of questions buzzing in my head, but I decided to save them for later. She’d probably answer even now, but while she was in such mood, I could foresee the essence of her answers! All the variety from “None of your business” to “Just because!” coming my way. Nah, I’d rather wait a bit to let her chill.

The truck started its movement. There were no windows in here, and the driver was protected from us by a thick wall. I couldn’t tell where we were and what we were passing. The motion of the car was all I felt.

After twenty minutes of going in silence, disturbed only with the hum of the engine, I finally decided to talk.

“Who was that guy? You know, Mr. ‘Let’s cut Rey’s intensities out and torture him to death!’ dude.”

My timing turned out to be perfect since she answered calmly:

“Remember I told you there is a person in the Council who hates you?”

How could I forget! Because of him I had to go through the fight with Leo which was absolutely useless and, in my case, quite dangerous. And he was the one who sent me to hunt down a psychopath killer �" not exactly the type of mission for a beast with no proper training.

“Recently I’ve discovered he’s the one oppressing you,” she continued. “It wasn’t too hard, I just studied the documents connected to you and noticed that most of them had his signature. Plus, I’ve asked some people I trust about who issued those orders. You got yourself a very dangerous enemy, congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I replied wryly.

“You’re welcome. Vyacheslav Grigorievich Limenko is a very important figure in the Council. If he decided to play against you, things are going to be tough for us. Though I can’t understand why he’s doing this! He used to be Dr. Strelov’s close friend, he even helped him during the initial stage of the project, he saved it from being shut down. And then you appeared. It looks like it’s personal, I mean, his hatred, but it can’t be! He’s really not the type of person to behave that way!”

“Not to mention the fact I’ve never met him!” I reminded.

“Yeah, that too… It doesn’t matter. He won’t stop us. He’s not the only one making decisions!”

I didn’t point out that thanks to him all my petty mistakes would be noticed and never forgiven. It was unpleasant, but what could I do? Look at him puppy-eyed and ask why he doesn’t like the poor little me? As if I needed his support! The fact I served humans was bad enough. I wasn’t going to become their willing slave!

To decrease the anger I felt, I asked:

“Who are the mysterious Level Zero inhabitants?”

She gave me an astonished look:

“You’ve been eavesdropping?!”

Oops…

“You told me to go into the truck. I had no orders about listening or not listening to your talk,” I reported, trying to look like I really was as dumb as I sounded.

Lita didn’t believe me, naturally.

“You’re one sly lizard…Okay, in the future I’ll remember to specify every detail of your instructions! As for those inhabitants… When Dr. Strelov sent beasts to the Fund, they were basically nothing more than animals. The watchers had to teach and train them. You’re an exception, because you’re equal to humans when it comes to intelligence. Just don’t get too full of yourself, got it?”

“Being as smart as a human is not a great achievement,” I stated innocently. “Just a bit above the potato intelligence level…”

She rolled her eyes at me:

“You’re a smartass of your own kind! Where was I… Oh yeah, the training. A new beast gets a watcher right after becoming part of the project. That watcher is to prepare them for missions. But not all beasts can be trained, there’s always a risk of failure. I’m not sure what it depends on, but some beasts are just unfit for work. It doesn’t mean they’d totally brainless, on the contrary, some of them are quite smart. They simply don’t obey, and no threats can force them. And we can’t just kill them, because, though it sounds rather cynical, they’re worth big money. Very big in most cases. So the ones who are considered unfit go to the Level Zero of our Headquarters, it’s the lowest level. They’re… studied there.”

“Like I was studied?” I barely managed to pronounce it.

There were the sounds of screaming outside my cell every day. I thought I was hearing things, I was in no condition to think too much about it. But now I was starting to understand.

“No,” Lita shook her head. “Rey, the thing that happened to you is unique �" and unforgivable. You’re special, and that was turned against you. And those beasts… the conditions they live in are not too posh, but bearable. They’re used for testing new medications and treatment methods. As far as I know, there are about twenty of them on the Level Zero at the moment. And the number of normal beasts who work with us is thirty six, not including you.”

I didn’t ask whether these thirty six were the remains of the original greater number. Even without it I knew that beasts died on missions. Not too often, but it had to happen. What I really wanted to know was the identity of those who were kept in the cells beside mine. But it doesn’t look like she really knows the situation too well; she’s a watcher, not a jailer.

The road under the truck changed, and our ride became bumpy. That tremor made me snap out of my memories and return into the present moment.

“Where are we going? What am I going to do?”

It was more important now than the past.

“Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about it. It’s summer, people spend a lot of time by the water. Recently in one of the reservoirs a number of attacks was registered. They started with the approach of the heat. All of them happened right in the middle of the day”.

Naturally, since I doubted many people visited beaches at night!

“So who’s the impudent one?” I asked.

“How should I know? That’s something you have to find out. The victims couldn’t see the one who attacked them, but they’re sure there were many of these creatures, their bodies were solid and slimy. Here, take a look.”

She handed me a photo of a man sitting on blood-stained sand. In the center of the picture were his legs covered by small yet very deep wounds, in some places I could even see the bones showing. As if someone ripped pieces of flesh out of him! I suddenly shivered, remembering my dream.

“His legs were amputated, there was no hope for restoring them. But he was lucky, if I may say so. He survived. We already have two corpses �" a sixty-year-old man and a young girl. Both managed to get out of the water, but the loss of blood was lethal in their cases. The girl had some of her internal organs damaged, and our experts believe…” at this point, Lita stammered, but quickly regained her self-control. “They believe one the creatures managed to get inside of her.”

Somehow, even with my lack of knowledge about this world, I don’t think it’s too typical for city reservoirs…

“Charming. And I’m supposed to deal with that?”

“Not alone, they decided to cut you some slack this time. A Line One beast is already waiting at the reservoir for us. His name is Oscar, he’ll be providing brutal strength on this mission, while you’re the brain. Though I’d rather they assigned someone else to work with us.”

I’d be able to sense her discontent even if she tried to hide it. But Lita didn’t. Now I just had to ask:

“What’s wrong with that Oscar?”

“Nothing, he’s all right. Oscar is one of the top ten beasts in both strength and intelligence, suitable to be your assistant while you’re still in training. It’s just… I don’t like the team he’s part of,” she confessed. “The one who works with him, Yulia, is a very specific watcher, you’ll see for yourself. And if you don’t see, or rather, don’t understand what’s going on, it’s for the better.”

I didn’t know there were other female watchers! Lita was the only one I saw at the Headquarters. Why was she so unhappy? Because she wasn’t the only woman working at the project? Jealousy issues? It was possible. Humans work that way.

Now I was sorry we had to work with that team too.

I didn’t like the assignment. My dreams were not exactly a good inspiration to jump into the reservoir where something unknown was lurking. And that Oscar’s presence didn’t change anything for me. But with no choice given, I’ll just have to endure it.