Innu-Akku

Falling stars

The picture before Esma's eyes distorted, first transferring the cardinal's rant with the rest of the team to the epicenter, and then bringing to the Elems surface.
Rocky, black-purple from the crimson light, with lots of debris, it still didn't look like a fang-filled maw, although it looked gloomy. Behind, there were the lights of the community, breaking the dense twilight with warm yellow light.
- Interesting, will we ever come back?- Lana dreamily asked, sitting on a rock and lamenting the fact that this time there wasn't a single star visible.
- Unlikely, - grumbled the white Saluki, sitting nearby and fixing something. - They don't really need us. And don't look out for stars here; they're not like back on Mother Earth."
Upon hearing the response, Fifty-First jolted as if slapped, almost falling and dropping the toolbox with a loud crash.
- Enough of your grieving, dear lady! We'll conquer this virgin land! Look at these unplowed fields! It's perfect for Sivka-Burka to plow. Just you wait, you'll become a princess on the Far away planet. Where else is that said?!
Dropping her gaze, Lana sighed wistfully. It was as if her dream had just shattered into sharp shards. Esma understood these feelings better than anyone else. It was her dream of journeying to Earth that made her become a bootlegger.
- Let me entertain you with a story,- the familiar tried to cheer up his partner, picking up the box and placing it next to himself, as he began the tale.- Do you know why they named this planet Elem? No? Oh! It's very interesting! In my human days, I knew a lapdog. She used to be a translator. And she told me that the name comes from Hebrew and means 'Human'.
Foreign knowledge and memories over the story suggested that the saluki's attachment to the girl, as well as their friendship, began with that scandal. The familiar was the only one who stood up for Lana in the argument, reminding that even the staff didn't have enough working hands. And there was neither the possibility nor the resources to return the already transformed bootleg:
- Have you forgotten that the mechanism got us only this far, and a distress signal will ruin all the work?
- Well, since you're so kind, then redo as much as you can for her,- one of the bootlegs smirked smugly.
- As you wish, Your Grace, - the girl began to help Buran with work and with rare outings to the surface. At first, Lana found it difficult to get used to the quirky way of communication and constant attempts to change the subject whenever Earth or the past was hinted at, but talking to Buran's friend helped.
Having caught Lana in the elevator hall, the spaniel patted her on the shoulder, leading her into the arriving magnetic cab:
- Don't be scared of him. He's already greybeard. Some of us, dogs, are ten years older. Kass and Sonya for sure, maybe someone else if you ask. And with our transmitters, a year counts as ten. So he behaves... a little weirdly. But he's a good fellow. He doesn't refuse to help anyone. And he stood up for you in front of everyone.
- Why? Right then others quarreled on me: I'm a burden. Whatever I take on - everything falls apart.
- He sees that your signals are still not stable and you don't have good control of your body, so he's not overloading you. And experience is a valuable thing.
Confused, the girl thanked him for the explanation and quickly got out on one of the floors.
- Well done! You scared her even more, - one of the familiar's member reprimanded.
- And you, Lydia Yevgenyevna, listen more! It's useful for you with your ears, - the spaniel laughed at the alabay's remarks as he drove down.
The rest of the staff, from the voices of memories, perceived Lana quite friendly. Except for Kassiya Annovna, who shook her head, calling the colonist a "poor girl," and Tatyana Varfolomeevna snorted sarcastically: "Oh! Did this clown take responsibility for something?!"
- The ships will arrive today, won't they?- Lana returned to her thoughts.
- If everything is calculated correctly, then they should arrive today.
- From Earth? Or from Mars?
- From Mother Geya. I wanted to enquire, why are you so eager to go there?
- I wonder which countries they are from?- Lana ignored the second question, dreamily thinking about something.
- You can find out from the newcomers.
- Do you think they will tell us?
- Without a doubt. Everyone cherishes memories of their homeland.
- And you, Burka?!
- And me, gray one.
- Then tell me! You know all about me, but I don't know anything about you. I don't even know your name! You're the only one I address by the name of your body!
- You're right. Indeed, are you curious, dear lady?
- Very curious, Burka! - Lana nodded impatiently. - Don't hold back!
- I am from Moscovy. Initially i was attached to the center of industrial genomics in Naro-Fominsk. And my name... it's not so important. There were half of the country like me, and just as many were born during my dog's age.
- You didn't like it? I mean your name.
- You could say that - the familiar one sighed sadly, returning to the details. - It wouldn't have changed anything about me.
- Then how did you end up here?
- It was jumping from the frying pan into the fire. The center was embroiled in corruption. The director, Ermakova, was quite the scoundrel. If she had just stayed quiet... trouble is, it only becomes trouble because it's awoken - it shows no mercy; it targets everyone. She not only awakened it but also implicated others in that horror! The center was closed, and us, the tail-wearers, were first sent to hospitals and sanatoriums in the southern regions, and then part of us were sent here. Anywhere is better than being written off or disposed of. Where would they find so many tails with paws of scientists and for a pittance?
- Buran, is it true that familiars... are they like serfs or slaves from Earth history textbooks? - the girl asked in a reverent whisper, revealing her Martian past. Esma immediately remembered: Even though familiars became that way on Mars, it was rare, and their body was different from a human's, like couple from Asurang - with claws, ears, and a tail.
- Indeed, - the dog suddenly snapped, putting away the tools in the drawer and the repaired part in his pocket. - There's no injustice here. Our punishment for what we've done is to spend the rest of our lives in animal skins, without a part of our emotions and someone else's property to haunt us.
Silence hung in the air. Shocked by the response, Lana fell silent, hanging her head in defeat. After a minute of silence, she timidly asked:
- Is it scary? I mean... to live like this?
- Too much...- the familiar slapped himself on the forehead, realizing he had said too much. - Mm-hmm. Your Burka is not appropriate. You can't fit into an ear, or escape as a fair maiden. Only empty talk and suffering! A total disaster!
- No, no,- protested the girl, waving her hand and then forcing a strained and bitter smile. - I just remembered the familiar-educator.
- And what about him for you memorable?- Buran tried to make amends, seeing that Lana had brightened up a bit. - I knew many during my canine years. Perhaps I recall him.
- Not much, to be honest. I don't even remember what kind of animal he was. Just fragments of a fairy tale and a warm, warm voice. He definitely talked about souls in rosebuds. And about a star-princess, I think. And a promise... I often dreamt that first we, then... I mean, the owners, are flying to Mars. In the dream, I cry, don't want to leave Earth. I cry, resist, wave my hands, stomp my feet, and even try to bite the adults. And in all this, I lose something important from my pocket. And when I grow up, the familiar comes for me and takes me on a distant journey. Just as he promised. To the place where the Goddess Princess lived. I resisted on Asurang when I saw the familiars loading with canops onto the ship. They told us in school that earthlings make 'death cycles' in space. So I thought they were sending me to the distribution center. It was a chance of a lifetime! Fami... the owners and I were denied his visit. How was I supposed to know the mission was heading for Elem? And don't laugh, I confused hibernation capsules with 'death cycle'! They look alike!
Something changed in Buran's gaze for a moment. It was as if he wanted to reveal a secret. But the desire quickly faded under a wave of fear, making him bow playfully and return to his previous manner.
- Dear lady, since such a wonder is described in that fairy tale, I am ready to accompany you in your search. I promise to keep your soul safe and sound along the way,- he was about to add that it was time to go back when a flash appeared in the sky. Another one followed. And another...
- Look, Burka, the stars are falling! Make a wish quickly! - taking the falling stars for a meteor shower, Lana began to tug on Buran's sleeve, delighted with what was happening. In her naive and childishly innocent excitement, there was hope for a miracle.
- It's not morning stars, dear lady! Lidar won't let it happen!
- It seems your lidar all gone!
Jumping off the rock and clasping her hands in prayer, the girl began to whisper her most secret wish.
- It's too soon for them,- the familiar scratched his head, addressing the base.
Meanwhile, Esma was looking at the sky, fascinated by this important moment. The colonist was right: the ships looked too much like falling stars. Imagining that something like this was happening on Mars, Esma felt both pride and apprehension.
The roar of landing filled the air. Tremors ran underfoot. A cloud of dust rose in the distance. A new exciting milestone in the history of Elma was approaching.
"We are broken, but alive. Blinded by the modern times," - the words from the recording slipped through. A bright flash and loud singing merged, turning into a monstrous electromagnetic whirlwind.
Both the familiar and the colonist fell dead, and Esma grabbed her head from the unbearable pain.
The sensations were distorted beyond recognition, disorienting.
Somewhere on the periphery, the name of the bird creature "Gamayun" was heard.
It seemed that someone was flapping black wings, soaring upwards and distorting the sky, making it move in an unnatural ripple. The two visions merged, one telling the story of the world of the Gods "Theotroph" with the voice of the familiar, the other with the sleepy childish voice: "Are we going to fly into space on spacecraft?" then returning to the first vision and the calling voice. All of this was distorted by the recording and the strange wailing, mixed with static.
When the familiar finished the story: "They asked the Higher Mind to turn their souls into stars, shining over the roses meadows..." the pain became unbearable.
"Do you want to kill me, weed?" - Esma barely managed to say, not knowing what else to expect.
Thoughts of the unknown electromagnetic storm that had suddenly appeared flashed in her mind, then disappeared along with the image of what was happening.