Mardock Scramble полностью

–Hey, big guy, why are you trying to stop me from speaking?

Tweedledum’s voice emerged from a different speaker, sounding very unimpressed.

–You know that the person you’re here to see will have left the facility shortly? Once your suspect has left, your jurisdiction’ll be revoked and you’ll only have the same privileges as an ordinary Joe. You’ll be violating the law just by being here, big guy.

“You’ve learned to talk the talk, Tweedledum.” Boiled lowered his gun. “In any case, we’ll now be able to put in an official request for full disclosure based on the fact that Rune-Balot was here.”

–Yeah, but the girl will have solved the case by then. With her Oeufcoque.

“My Oeufcoque. I’ll hold him in my hand again before long.”

–Hmm… A love triangle, eh? Tweedledum responded, somewhat taken aback.

Boiled now had no eyes for Tweedledum. He scanned the area quickly before correctly sniffing out the path that Balot had taken. He started heading down that way himself.

–Truth be told, big guy, I was surprised when I heard what you did to them sharks. “The Rusty Gun is pretty keen to prove his usefulness,” I thought.

Boiled stopped for a second and looked back at Tweedledum. But he said nothing and soon disappeared into the forest.

–Oops. That didn’t end up buying them much time, did it…

Tweedledum sighed as he watched the figure disappear.

≡

The silver egg was floating above the rooftop of the facility.

Activated by the Doctor’s voiceprint and key card, the shell cracked open to form a gangway. The Doctor was loading a giant capsule into the egg with a pushcart when he saw Balot running toward him, out of breath. “Barefoot, eh?” he asked, eyes wide open in surprise.

Balot snarced the stereo system of the Humpty-Dumpty.

–I was in a hurry.

“Sure, but are you all right? What if you stepped on something rusty and got tetanus?”

–I’m all right. And even if I did get something, I’d have you fix me up in no time, Doctor.

“Right…” The Doctor nodded meekly, before asking somewhat hesitantly, “So, uh, how did it all go…”

–I found it. The hiding place for that man’s past.

“Have you, now?” The Doctor nodded, visibly relieved, but he still looked apprehensive. “But I’ve thought about it, and I can’t have you become a Commonwealth outlaw. Oeufcoque would be furious with me.”

–All that’s happened is that I’m now on equal footing with you guys. With Oeufcoque, Balot answered back, primly. There was an unusually wide grin on her face.

Something called out to her.

–You’re going, are you?

The stereo broadcast in a different voice.

Balot turned around to see the solitary figure of Tweedledee. Both she and the Doctor looked on in horror at his puffed-up face and the dressings that covered the space where his hands once were.

–Oh, don’t worry about this. I just got a little frisky, thinking I might try and experience some pain for a change. Also, something like this needed to happen in order to trigger security. But I’ll be fixed up in no time.

–I’m so sorry. It’s all because of me.

–Really, it’s fine. If this is what it takes to become your friend then it’s worth it.

Balot seemed shocked when she heard this, but then she nodded.

–Thank you—I’m glad to have you as a friend.

Tweedledee smiled sweetly.

–So long, Balot. You can’t write me or email, but it’d be nice to meet again one day.

Before long the Humpty-Dumpty was in the air, and the opening in the shell wall was closing.

Tweedledee watched the silver egg as it rose into the empty air. Suddenly a large man appeared on the rooftop behind him.

Balot started when she saw him. The Doctor was startled as well.

Boiled lifted his gun up at the Humpty-Dumpty.