The captain and I decided that the former Moscow Station in the old city would serve as our base of operations.
At first, the only work I had to do was to enter my password into a terminal when asked so that some money could be transferred.
Then things began to happen. Roughly three hours after that, we finished rounding up Chernobog’s remaining members. Then the bald man, whose name was Joseph, transported a large number of weapons into the station. Joseph was the one who’d called Anton to Russia in the first place.
I’d only looked at the list of equipment for a few seconds while making the payment, but I remembered that, in addition to personal firearms, the list also included an attack helicopter and a personnel carrier.
Meanwhile, New World was no doubt going to come at us using powered suits. It was hard to see how we were going to cope with nothing but those old-fashioned weapons.
Then again, I know these weapons are old-fashioned, but I’d love to know where they all came from.
The captain might have known, but she was nowhere to be seen.
While everyone else was gone, I was left waiting alone and helping myself to the pirozhki and the sickly sweet Russian tea that had been passed around.
“Arakawa, we’re ready.” The captain burst into the room and threw a new terminal at me. “I’ve come up with a declaration just like you planned. Now we just need to contact Noa.”
I guess they don’t want me to know the particulars until I’ve sent the request for asylum to my mom. In that case, first we should send a transmission to Noa over an unencrypted channel.
“All right,” I said. “I’ll send a transmission.”
I used my terminal to contact Noa over an ordinary channel, and the operator on duty soon appeared on the screen.
The operator looked surprised to see my face.
Sorry, but there’s no time to explain.
I ignored the operator’s questions and asked to be put through to my mom. I heard some sort of argument going on among Noa’s staff, but eventually my tired-looking mom appeared on the screen.
“Kouki!” Mom cried. “I’m glad you’re safe. Who are those armed people you’re with? Please tell me they aren’t New World.”
“They’re not. But I can see how you’d think so. The balaclavas they’re wearing almost make them look like an old-fashioned terrorist group.”
I couldn’t blame her for looking so worried. If Mom were to say that the captain and her people looked like Afghan guerrillas from the 2000s, I wouldn’t be able to argue. It probably looked like the enemy had me.
I did my best to sound full of confidence as I spoke so that Mom’s anxiety would be lessened somewhat.
“These people used to fight alongside Anton as part of Chernobog’s combat unit. Well, some of them are part of the espionage unit. They’re cooperating with me, and we’ve set up camp here in Old Moscow.”
“Kou! Stop! You’re transmitting over a standard, unencrypted channel. Don’t you realize that New World could be listening to our entire conversation?!”
Of course I realize that. I’ve thought it through, so calm down.
To keep the discussion moving forward, I didn’t give Mom any more opportunities to share her concerns. I turned to the captain, who was standing beside me with her arms folded, looking menacing, and I asked her to indicate our location on the map. Then I spoke at the screen in the rudest tone I could manage.
“To Dr. Sandra Zelenskaya, the leader of New World. I’m sure you’re listening. I imagine you must have felt quite frustrated when I escaped from the hotel? Well, I thought I’d give you another chance. I’m right here in Old Moscow. I don’t know whether you’re planning to capture me or kill me, but whatever you’re planning, you know where to find me.
“I don’t want to waste too much time on a researcher stupid enough to believe in occult notions such as reincarnation and the soul. That’s why I’m going to wait here and let you come to me. In exchange, I’d like you to bring Anton Bortkiewicz, Yakov Tarkovsky, and Yuri Pamfilova with you. If they’re already dead, there’s nothing to discuss. I’ll change location immediately. However, if they are still living, release them near Bechet Lake in the old city.
“The time from their release until I manage to move to a new location is the time I’m giving you to capture me. Reply within the next two hours. I’ll leave it to you to decide how exactly you get your message to me. I know you’re not the smartest woman around, but I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”
I’d said all that I needed to say, so I cut off the transmission. I then sent a document describing our planned course of action to Mom’s personal address, hoping that she’d notice.
The document included my request that asylum be given to the captain and her people. The document also suggested a pretense that the Russian army could use when offering us support and details of what I wanted the Russian army to do for us.
Next, I had to worry about when Dr. Sandra would give us her reply. I’d have to discuss that with the captain.