New Hope: Book 1
38

Ellie opened her teary eyes. She expected to hear the sound of bursting metal at any second and feel the heat of the fiery blast of the atomic explosion.

But nothing like that came, and the time left to the complete deactivation of the cooling installation had surely passed. She calculated and programmed everything herself! Maybe it is how some people say that when death comes suddenly, one might not even notice it?

Ellie opened one eye first, the second a moment later. It was like waiting for the impact of the nuclear explosion to reach her and apologize politely for its delay. The entire room would be filled with hot plasma, and then it would wipe out all traces of people, and Protagonists, on this ice-rock continent.

When nothing awful happened after a while, and Ellie’s watch already showed zero hours, Ellie looked around the nearest vicinity more thoroughly. Elrael? He’s on the floor. What?! What is happening? How is it the psychopath stopped mid-way and fell dead on the floor, instead of completing his work?

What about John? “John!” cried Ellie when she realized the direct danger had clearly passed. I don’t know what happened exactly, but who would it interest if we’re alive?! she thought. She tried to embrace the lieutenant with all her might. He just released a stifled moan of pain, but he also had no intention of lightening his own embrace exerted on Ellie.

“What’s going on, Ellie? I thought we should be dead by now?” asked John. “I don’t want to complain, don’t get me wrong. I’m glad nothing exploded, but why? And what did you do to that robot?”

“It wasn’t me! I don’t know what happened. Everything was set up, calculated, and ready to work,” she replied in surprise. “I thought I was making the last decision in my life and I was already preparing for the end, when... Nothing happened,” she sighed in confusion, though she was grateful she was breathing. “And to think we can breathe! Wow! One can enjoy the little things when the circumstances are right!” said Ellie.

“If you’re not responsible for what happened here... then who?” the lieutenant wondered.

“I think this will be a good moment to answer that question,” said a woman’s voice. Both Ellie and John jumped up in surprise. A moment later, a being resembling Elrael in his holographic form came out of the shadows of one of the room’s ends.

“I don’t come here to cause anybody harm. I am not a threat to you,” said the form calmly and melodiously. Her tone of voice evoked trust and confidence, somehow - exactly the reaction the newcomer hoped to trigger.

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