«If you, useless worm, don’t shut up now, then rest assured, I’ll shoot you!»
Fonzy stood up from the table and turned to face Frank. He was squeezing something in his hand and smiling so annoyingly that not only Frank, but even the quietly peeping Ray was ready to break into the house and punch this idiot in his impudent face. Gray-yellow eyes lingered on the swamp-colored hair and green plaid skirt – all of this seemed vaguely familiar to Ray. He definitely remembered that he had seen this Fonzy somewhere before. At this time, Frank’s bass boomed in the living room:
– We’re on a mission, idiot!
Fonzy answered something quietly, after which Frank aimed his crossbow hand at Fonzy.
«One more phrase like that and my sister will become a widow.»
Fonzy raised his fist up and unclenched it. On his palm lay a grenade with a stupid face drawn on it.
– When did you have time? – Iya was surprised.
– Ha, when Frank the non-policeman assured you that I wouldn’t be able to steal her!! – Fonzy replied and laughed. – Nobody interferes with my fingers, not even the Sinister policemen, ha-ha!!
Frank and Iya looked at each other with faces as if the behavior of their husband-and-brother-in-law was something new to them.
– Let’s see what’s on the second floor? – Iya suggested.
Frank, whose fighting ardor had subsided somewhat, nodded in agreement and walked towards the stairs. Iya looked out the window – and Rei managed to duck his head at the last moment, catching his breath in relief. He heard the footsteps shaking the living room stop, after which it sounded:
– Iya and I will look around the second floor.
– Yes, my master non-policeman!! – Fonzy’s answer was full of irony.
Powerful footsteps sounded again, then Fonzy’s satisfied voice was heard.
– A grenade makes people polite, non-policemen, ha-ha, ha-ha!!
Ray raised his head slightly. Fonzy remained at the table to finish drawing the grenade. A pink mohawk flashed by the staircase opening made it clear to Rey that Iya was following her brother upstairs.
Ray sat down on the ground and began to analyze what he heard. Based on what he overheard now and heard from 72372 earlier, UN employees had already been here. With their shots they left the hostel in an unsatisfactory condition. «But since the UN interrogated 72372, it means they need information. And since they don’t have information, it means that Elias and the aliens from the past don’t belong to them either.»
Rey was delighted, but immediately dropped. He realized that he had no idea where his brother was now. Meanwhile, a phrase flashed through his head again, reminding Rey of his true essence:
«I am a soldier of the Bale Empire. My code name is Destroyer. I answer only to Sixten Bale. My main task is to get into Paxbright territory and destroy Johann Shelter. I have no right to allow myself to die before Shelter’s death. The reward for Shelter’s death will be my own death…»
He realized that even if by some miracle he managed to change time, he would not be able to get rid of the reflexes implanted by Bail. Realizing this thought, Ray grabbed his hands into the short-cropped lawn and tore out a handful of earth. It was stupid that he felt life again. Stupid and cruel at the same time. This is not his way. Even if he changes time, he will not be able to change himself. In addition, Athena has her own Rey in the past – Rey, who did not have time to go crazy from face addiction and the effects of sonic weapons.
His split brain was visited by a burning desire to destroy something. Powerlessness gives rise to aggression, aggression can provoke death, and death is something that he needs more than life and something that his damned body that does not obey him is programmed to avoid.
I have no right to allow myself to die before Shelter’s death…
Ray almost cried. He buried the back of his head against the perfectly straight wall of the house and began to look at the sky, in which the clouds were slowly gathering…
He heard loud footsteps. He realized that the brother and sister had finished exploring the second floor and thought that they would most likely want to explore the back yard. He stood up, holding the machine gun to his chest and looked at the gas mask, which remained lying on the grass.
«There’s nothing there, Fonzy,» said Iya’s voice. «Get your ass up, we need to get out of here.»
Ray perked up – it means these people won’t be looking around the backyard. And then he became depressed – he noticed a huge ATV standing nearby and realized that the trio most likely arrived on it.
«No, Fonzy will stay here,» Frank’s voice said with ominous undertones.
– Why? – Iya was surprised.
«Suddenly Elias, or the UN, or our friends from the past will come here.» Someone will have to wrap them up and deliver them to Lowdown.
– Why me, a non-policeman?! Why not you?!!
– Because my prosthesis and pistol cannot compare with your grenade!
Loud footsteps were heard, and then:
– Your husband, Iya, turns out to be a magnificent artist. Tell me, who does this mug remind you of?
Ray tilted his head slightly to watch what was happening in the living room out of the corner of his eye. Frank showed Iya Fonzy’s grenade; Fonzy himself was sitting at the table. He was twitching more than usual…
Iya stopped looking at the grenade and placed it on the table in front of Fonzy, giving her husband a frustrated look.
– This face resembles your face, Frank.
– That’s it. So, Fonzy, listen to me carefully. I order you to stay here for another twenty-four hours. In the event of Elias or the aliens appearing – in general, as soon as anything important happens, you immediately dial me. Clear?
– But, Frank, don’t be a policeman!! I’m not a member of your gang, non-policeman!! I’m just hanging out with my wife, nothing more!!
– What are you afraid of, Fonzy? – Frank asked, scratching his wide sideburns with his prosthetic. «You stole a grenade right from the Sinister interventionist.»
– That’s it!! – Fonzy jumped up from his chair. – I’m a pickpocket, not your six!
Immediately, Ray remembered why this Fonzy seemed familiar to him. He was the guy in the skirt who stole the watch glove from a Sinister official at Blake and Bliss in Lowdown.
Frank jabbed his prosthetic crossbow into Fonzy’s skinny chest. All of Fonzy’s twitchiness instantly disappeared and he froze.
«As long as you accompany me on my missions, you are my six.» Explain why?
Iya, upset that she had to see standing behind her brother, shook her head.
– No, non-policeman Frank!! Don’t explain!! – Fonzy answered looking at his wife.
Frank turned to Iya, looking slightly guilty. Iya silently turned around and headed towards the door that led to the backyard.
Ray picked up a gas mask from the ground, somehow placed it on his head and walked back to the bench, pretending that he was patrolling the area.
Door opened.
– I need to take a break from him for at least a day, nothing will happen to him…
– I understand…
