Stories

The core of corruption

It was hard to breathe, the helmet display showed the oxygen supply for exactly half an hour. During this time, Revil planned to get to the city center and get the Death Mask. There was a caustic green fog around, there was no air here, half-dead people wandered the streets, creatures captured by the influence of the Mask.
The sound of footsteps spread through the empty rooms of the abandoned building, Revil moved carefully, not knowing what to expect in the most dangerous place of Technolab.

Don’t move !
by M-Delcambre

The city has long been captured by corruption, but not the earthly one that enslaves the minds of politicians and the power-hungry. The corruption of the Death Mask captures the minds of living beings, they lose control over themselves and begin to live for the sake of fulfilling its desires. All who fell under the influence began to believe that they would receive eternal life as a result of their service. To maintain control, the Mask requires a constant influx of new slaves, the capture of new territories with pure beings.

To the northwest, Revil saw the blue glow that Alice had told him about, in the center of which was a huge building created by the Technolab builders. A strange, grotesque pile of protruding frames and mechanical parts, as if created by a madman, it was terrifying in its appearance.

Revil climbed down from the building window to the street to continue his journey, when suddenly he heard a loud slam of metal limbs on the asphalt. Turning around, he saw the Demon in front of him – a biomechanical creature with three human heads, similar to a spider, slowly moving towards him. A circle of a strange mirror-black color appeared in the sky, it was difficult to tear your eyes away. A deafening roar of a city siren was heard, calling the slave creatures to help the Demon. Things were damn bad, but Revil had a surprise prepared for this case…

Flame Steel: Courier Nimble Eyes

His name was Revil, and his nickname was Nimble Eyes. His friends called him Nimble. A street-bred, nimble kid, he always knows what’s interesting and who to get it from. For this, he earned the respect of the criminal world of Alterra – 14.
Now he was inside the warehouse of Native Pharm-United. There were huge containers around, the smell of pharmaceuticals.
– Why did you get up? Take it and go.
The clerk said snapping, he looked nervous, shifting from foot to foot, it was clear that he was very afraid. His shirt was wet with sweat.
– I’m from the security service.
The clerk’s face turned pale and he staggered even more.
– So what now?
– On the floor – hands behind your head!
The clerk frowned, took a deep breath, and pulled his hand down. Quick Eyes sensed something was wrong – it looked like he was reaching for a gun. Revil stunned him with a blow to the impudent face, the little body fell in front of him with a pop.
–I asked nicely…
After searching the clerk, Revil found a regular inhaler, the kind used by asthmatics, in place of the gun. He also found an access card to the company’s laboratory sectors. It was a very lucky find.
The Toxic Brothers gang sent him to pick up a batch of the banned substance – endofomil. But Revil didn’t care about the Brothers and their toxicity, he was here for another reason – he intended to draw his lucky ticket.
The elevator doors swung open, Shustryak chose the floor indicated on the map – forty-second. The elevator slowly moved. Revil was thinking about what he would do in the laboratory sector. He was aware of sophisticated security systems, intelligent identity verification systems, brain wave analysis and the like.

Revil by Inc

He wasn’t alone here, an employee of the Lorian company agreed to help him cause a system failure, as a result of which Revil would have ten minutes to carry out his plan.
On the thirty-third floor, the elevator stopped, and a loud bang was heard above Revil’s head – something landed with a crash on the roof of the elevator.
Shustryak reached for his pistol, but at that moment metal tentacles broke through the roof of the elevator. They entangled him, there was a grinding sound and the roof of the elevator was turned inside out. A girl’s face looked at him through the hole – cold empty eyes, a metal plate with blinking red indicators on half of her face, deliberately not hidden under the skin.
– Before you die, answer me, why did you come here?
Shustryak couldn’t move, the steel tentacles were squeezing him tighter and tighter, soon he wouldn’t even be able to breathe.
– I have come for what is rightfully mine!
A satisfied grin appeared on the girl’s face. The indicators flashed alternately green and red…

Flame Steel Stories: Words of the Sage

The Oracle said:
– The Queen’s name was once forbidden to pronounce. Although it was an ordinary royal name and did not hint at anything special: not a forbidden religion, not a race, not even a foot size.
Both mom and dad, though young, were already infinitely wise. They protected their son from unnecessary knowledge. They knew perfectly well what the queen’s name was, but stubbornly kept silent.

Dark Mage by alanlathwell on DeviantArt

Herostratus burned the temple, and his name should have been consigned to eternal oblivion, but it turned out the other way around: ask any pimply idiot what seven times eight is, and he won’t tell you, but ask who burned the temple of Artemis, and he’ll remember someone’s temple and Herostratus.
This is what forbidden fruit means. You can’t burn such knowledge out of your brain with a hot iron, or even with a dotted wave infractor.
This knowledge has shadows that are unknown where they will one day emerge in the brain, and what will happen to the carrier of such a brain. This was the only case that contradicted the saying: knowledge is never superfluous.
That’s why the parents were silent. But they talked a lot in front of the child about everything else, on the edge of danger, on the edge of decency, on the edge of secrecy.

Flame Steel Stories: The Ark

The sun was approaching sunset. Birds were circling in the sky above the sea, shouting to each other.
The sky turned crimson with its colors, and the day gradually disappeared under the cover of night.
A young couple were walking along the embankment, holding their baby’s hands on either side and quietly chatting about something.

“Mom, Dad, why doesn’t Her Majesty have a name?” asked a boy who looked about six years old.
“Because I’m not allowed to, son,” the father responded.
– What are you not allowed to do? Have a name? After all, we have a name, and everyone has one, – the boy did not calm down. Interest burned in his sapphire eyes.
“Son, this is the law, and we are obliged to observe it,” this time it was the mother who explained to the boy.
– But, Mom, who came up with such a law? After all, I can ask your name or Dad’s, why can’t I ask her name?
– Because she’s a queen, son.
– But she is also a person. If I meet her on the street and want to get to know her, I will tell her my name and what will she answer me? She should answer me and tell me her name. That is right, that is what everyone says, – the boy never tired.
The father and mother laughed.
“You’re just still little and can’t understand everything, but a little time will pass and everything will become clear to you,” smiling, the father patted the boy on the head, which tousled his smooth, dark hair.
“Dad, look what a big bird,” the boy pointed to a black dot on the horizon that was rapidly approaching.
“Yes, perhaps very big,” said Mom.
“It’s not a bird, my boy,” the father said thoughtfully, fixing his gaze on the dot that was growing larger and larger with each passing second. “It’s very strange, because flights have been banned by Her Majesty for a whole year, in connection with that incident, what kind of ship is it then?”
– A ship? – the boy cried out in delight.

ship4 Ковчег by Anthony

A huge mass of black metal, heated by the atmosphere, rushed over the sea, cutting through the evening, sea air. The deafening roar of the engines was heard from afar, causing a slight horror, in combination with the appearance of this machine. The ship riveted the gaze of many who were at that moment on the embankment. People whispered among themselves, exchanging a few questioning phrases, wondering why this ship appeared in the air at that time.

Without identification marks, the iron monster hung in the air above the embankment, its metal glittering in the red light of the setting sun and raising dust from the heated engines. A blue beam of light appeared from under the bottom of the ship, which began to scan the people on the embankment. After several personalities, it jumped to a young couple with a child, and after scanning them, a hole opened in the belly of this monster. Panic broke out on the embankment, people rushed in all directions from the ship. The father grabbed the boy in his arms and they rushed to run. But it was too late: the beam attracted the boy like a magnet, who could not move, lifting him higher and higher into the air.
– Who are you?! What do you want from our child!? – the mother shouted towards the ship.
Two sudden flashes from the blue beam source and what seemed to be two beams of energy collided with the boy’s parents on the embankment, after which they fell unconscious. The boy disappeared into the darkness of the ship’s closing hatch, after which the machine turned sharply, its engines glowing with blue flame and disappeared in a flash of hyperspeed, leaving behind an atmospheric trace in the evening sky, when the sun was approaching sunset and day was about to give way to night…

Flame Steel Stories: Talk Show

Six of Her Majesty’s chosen knights, who had been through the Battle of Vartigos, the bitter siege of the Royal Castle in 2130 known as the “Siege of a Thousand Machines”, the best of the Queen’s best warriors, were floundering in the waters of the Lorsum resort among the wreckage of the Hilton Hotel.

–We’ve lost, absolutely.– Gunner Turner mumbled. –We’ve lost the Queen, now our heads are off our shoulders.
Five heads turned in his direction.
– You personally were the drunkest of all yesterday! You personally bear responsibility for what happened!
– Gable’s gone completely nuts, your idea was to go have fun at a bar!
Petty Officer Craves yelled:
– Shut up, both of you! Look, there’s something rising up there in the depths.
Nearby, in the darkness of the waters, a ray of light loomed, something huge rose from the depths, and everyone began to rock on the waves.
–This can’t be…
With a roar, the MST-430 combat vehicle breaks the surface of the water, it is painted in graffiti, the door to the pilot’s cabin is broken off, the lighting is partially broken.
–What happened to her?
– Looks like Gable, you didn’t lose all of our cars yesterday, one came back to us on its own.

It was obvious that the emergency surfacing system had been activated in the combat vehicle; judging by the appearance of the vehicle, local punks had taken it for a ride and, not understanding how to unlock the weapon system, had thrown it into the bay.
Ernie climbs into the pilot’s seat.
– Boss, all systems are normal.
–But we were still late…
–Wait a little longer!
Turner gets into shooting range.
– Craves! This is the Queen’s beacon. We can still catch up with them before they leave the planet.
–Okay, fly out and save Her Majesty. In the meantime, we’ll get ashore and dry off.

The battle machine with the best warriors takes off and rushes towards the sun. They were about to fight a very cunning and seasoned enemy.

SteamJunk Mecha by Hideyoshi on DeviantArt

That evening, Craves met the team with the rescued Queen. Apparently, she did not even realize that she was first lost and then returned at the last moment.
“I was in hell.”
– Yes, your Highness.
–I was forced to watch the Malachi show…
“This is terrible.”
– This show is full of old women… They gossip about different topics and Malacher throws wood on the fire…
– You are very strong.
– Of course I’m very strong. Anyone else would have gone crazy.

Her Majesty looked unwell. During the two hours she had been held captive, all of her royal trinkets had been lost, and she was wearing the army boots that Rifleman Turner had given her.
– You are right as always.
–You’ll lead an army one day, Craves.
Isabella fell into Craves’ arms and he carried her to safety.

He kept wondering what the Queen would say when she saw herself in the mirror. After all, she now had a barcode and signature stamped on her forehead: Property of Selectum Alfredo“.

Flame Steel Stories: At Larsum Resort

QR Coast Environment by Talros on DeviantArt

Senior Craves got up very early today. He hadn’t expected to do so at all, since Her Majesty was in no danger except for the jellyfish, since they were at the Lorsum resort.
He couldn’t forgive himself for the fact that the warm sun and the beach had relaxed him, he let his boys have fun in the bar instead of providing protection to the Queen.
– Company rise!
The penthouse room at the Hilton Hotel responds with a half-hearted “Fuck off.”
– Rise up, sheep! The Queen has been stolen from under our noses!
From the far room comes out the shooter Turner, sleepy, with red eyes, with a bottle of cognac in one hand and a statue of the local goddess Arsha in the other.
–We won’t let them steal the Queen!
Turner falls to the floor right into a pile of pillows on the floor.
– They’ve already kidnapped her! Get up immediately!
– Who are they?!
Asks mechanic Gable, coming out of the bathroom in a women’s robe and pink slippers with the inscription Q.D.
–They are…
At this moment, there is a rumble on the lower floors of the hotel, people are screaming, it looks like an explosion has occurred, the building begins to creak and shake very loudly.
The entire Royal Company of Her Majesty’s Knights wakes up from the roar, each in their own clothes…
– Company, listen to my command! Everyone to your vehicles!
Pilot Ernie swears loudly, and through the swearing it becomes clear that the keys to the military forklift were lost in a bar.
– I was playing pyramid yesterday, on the last glass the pyramid fell, I had to give the key to some bald guy.
Craves understands that the situation cannot be corrected now. Without cars, without weapons, without the Queen…
The hotel shakes again and the building begins to tip over.
– Craves, what should we do!? Now we’re going to crash on Mother Earth!
The building falls on its side, everyone falls with it. Magazines and beer mugs flew past the foreman, a harmonica hit him in the forehead and flew on.
Impact, it became dark.
And then Craves realizes that he has fallen into the water and begins to float up.
– Ahaha! We’re lucky the hotel is on the shore, we fell right into the water! – shouts signal operator Manny.

Flame Steel Stories: Some Like It Hot

<SECRET: ACCESS A>
2142.03.21
Intercepting message QDFS-0076

Hello everyone! I’m Selena, alive and well, back with you! After my last post, “How to make an explosive cat?!”, my dear readers have been bombarding me with letters asking about using copying technology on humans.

My robot cat by MaximeChiasson on DeviantArt

I will quote one letter from sector A:

“Free Selena, hello to you!
Following the instructions in your post, my wife and I made an explosive cat. The neighbor’s Cerberus tried to eat it – the dog was blown up all over the neighborhood by the explosion.
Thanks to you, we solved a huge problem – the little brat no longer shits in our yard. Sincere thanks.
I have a question – is it possible to get a bigger Grooves chamber and make an explosive copy of myself or my wife?

Sincerely, Rolum Menstrive”

You’re welcome, Roli! You are a true free man of the Royal Sector, in the new note I will answer you specifically!

As you know, Crigg Groves invented the so-called “Groves camera” for copying small-sized things. He was a slob, constantly losing things, so he wanted to have several copies in reserve.
And you know what, Roli? I’M SURE YOU DON’T KNOW!
There is simply no such thing as a bigger camera.
Funny, right?
It just doesn’t exist.

In fact, there are – they hide. Personally, I collected one myself for our Fire Battalion!
(You don’t think I’m going to give out the real name, do you?!)
Below I will list the parts needed to assemble the Grooves camera (again) (I hate repeating myself!!!):

1. Microwave
2.Car battery
3.Grooves Laser

All of this is easy to get, even in your sector. What about a “bigger” camera, you ask me? You can’t squeeze a copy of yourself into a microwave.
Or are you the size of a cat?

Roli, you need to find a repair unit that is used to repair combat vehicles.
We still need a lot of electricity!!!
I get electricity straight from the star’s phase shaft. Rolum, do you have a spare star?

So here is the list of what is needed:

1. Combat vehicle repair unit
2. Electricity from the phase shaft
3.Groovvs Laser

I added assembly diagrams, stages of the technical process and a pinch of black magic to this note!

Happy explosions Roly! Freedom from the tyranny of the Kingdom!

Flame Steel Stories: Interview

–They are all idiots, they give everything away themselves.
– After all, you and your guys capture their ship, what else can they do?
Marcus stands up to his full height, takes out his gun and points it at me.
– Notepad. It’s the most important thing for you, give it to me.
– But why do you need my notebook?
I hear the pistol’s safety catch click. I obediently hand over my notebook with notes.
– You’re the same idiot.
Marcus takes the notebook and walks towards the ship.
– But what about the interview? There are my notes in there, I can’t publish it if you don’t give it to me!
Marcus Lobotryas is a famous galactic pirate, adventurer. Don’t judge him by his funny nickname. He is known for robbing transport ships, robberies.

Pirate Soldier by EmmanuelMadailArt on DeviantArt

Any businessman in the galaxy refuses to work in the sector where Marcus appears. He is responsible for the death of the bounty hunter Swift Franco.
It seems that the Knights of Her Majesty desire his head more than complete and total control over the rebellious sectors.
Now he stands before me, long black leather jacket, iridescent blue lace patterns on his clothes, the look of a hawk.
– You have no more than two years to live.
He throws the notebook on the ground.
– You’ll go wild, you’ll become a madman.
I hear Marcus’s gang of bandits opening another container. Loud laughter rings out “Aaah! There’s more booze here!”
Several bandits are already opening bottles and starting to drink to the general cackling.
Marcus points his finger towards his team.
– Be as they want?
The question confused me. Does he want me to be part of his gang?
– No, I have no desire for robbery.
I hear a chuckle from him.
– Wandering around the galaxy with nothing to do. You’ll end up like them.
– But I’m a journalist, that’s my job!
The sound of welding is heard as another container is opened. At first, laughter is heard, but suddenly an inhuman roar is heard,
screams of one of the bandits: “What is this!”, another: “It’s a monster from the mines! We’re all going to die!”
A huge monster appears before my eyes. A monster as tall as a mountain, with claws, fur and red eyes full of rage.
– Hide!

Alien Assault by PReilly on DeviantArt

Marcus runs towards the monster, I hide behind the nearest boulder.
The monster knocks out several bandits with its huge paw, they fly apart. Shouts and shots are heard.
My editor Zhoren sees what’s going on and sends me a message:
– Shannon, get out of there, I don’t want to get you back in pieces!
I gather my strength and start running towards the ship. Marcus shouts to his team to retreat to the ship and fly away.
The monster’s roar makes several people freeze in horror, they stand still and it smashes them into the ground with its huge paw.
Marcus shouts to me:
– Run, journalist!
I manage to press the airlock button, but the storm makes it hard for the doors to open. I manage to run in.
I see Marcus running into the airlock at the last moment.
– Haha, the monster of the mines isn’t that scary, right?!
And then I see him fall onto the metal floor. One leg remains on the other side of the half-open door. The monster’s huge claw sticks out of his leg.
“Idiot help me!”
I grab Marcus by the hand, several people grab me and try to pull us out. At that moment I realize that the ship has already taken off. We start to be thrown around the airlock, pulled out into the opening airlock door.
You can hear the monster hitting the ship with its second paw, we are being pulled out even more. The red signal light starts to shine, the sound of depressurization screams shrilly.
Marcus screams, his hand flies out of mine, and the stream pushes me down with him, straight onto the ground of planet Tisis 4.

—

–Grandpa, are you telling your stories again?
Eleanor enters the room and places two cups of tea on the table.
– I tell my granddaughter stories from my life.
“Again about the “monster of the mines”?
I frown, can’t you just listen to an old man and not ridicule him? Youth.
– Grandpa, what happened next?
– “Daughter, grandpa killed the monster, and he’s a hero. And it’s time for you to sleep.”
– You’re all lying! How could he kill him if the grandfather is small and the monster is big!
She’s right, after all…