There was terrible pain and Kir barely opened his eyes.
- Where am I?
"You're a lucky one, I installed tracking chip in you," said the Doctor.
- Your heart couldn't handle the long-term use of the exoskeleton at maximum speed. It's a good thing I replaced your legs. You passed out in the desert. I had to save you. It's amazing you were able to run that far from Cezarre. - Doc.
"Where is John?" whispered Kir.
- He's in a coma, he's lost too much blood. - Doc.
Kir passed out. And he had nightmares about his little sister, brother, father and mother. He remembered how Ryn burned his brother and sister in front of him. And he burned his father and mother when they were in the house. When he woke up, he was very sweaty.
He got out of the bed and clutched the neck of Dock.
- Save him - hissed Kir, squeezing his neck.
- If you kill me, I will hardly be able to save your friend. - Doc said through his teeth and pain. Kir let him go.
Kir hit the wall with his fist with all his might.
- Please. He shouldn't. He shouldn't... –
Doc put his hand on Kira's shoulder.
-No one should. I'm already doing everything I can. The center might be able to help him a lot. But if you show up there, they'll immediately send you off for experiments, and they'll use your friend to blackmail you. -
*The center was under the control of the military, bandits and all sorts of marginals were better off not going there. Biomodifications were allowed, but only under the control and with the permission of the military. You could only get body modification due to disability or if you were in the service. Violations of the law were punishable by death. Underground Biomodifications, although more dangerous, cost less money and developed much faster than military technology. Therefore, the military were happy when they came across cyborgs from the underworld. That's what they called everyone who did not live on their territory. Even though the underworld technologies were more advanced, they were considered inferior people. New technologies reached the military with a 5-year delay due to the rigid hierarchy, central control and huge bureaucracy, and sometimes much more, many were not allowed at all for various reasons, the main reason, of course, was always one power or fear of losing power. Even despite the technological lag, the military managed to hold their territories due to the amount of resources, that is, people and expensive military equipment. Not all innovations could overcome expensive and proven technologies. Some developments could only be carried out with a large amount of money*
- I know, but I can't allow another innocent death. I'll leave him near the field hospital and hope that someone will pick him up. As I approach, I'll most likely be detected by military equipment for tracking external objects, but if I'm fast enough, I should be able to do it.
- Your heart may not be able to withstand such loads if you go right now. You need rest –
-Rest... While I'm resting, John will be dead. -
- So you want to kick the bucket with John. Great idea, keep it up. - Doc said sarcastically.
- Doc, I appreciate your help, but I can't let John die because of me, let the same thing happen to him as happened to my family. So don't get in my way.
- If your heart starts acting up and you end up in the center, I'm not going to crawl into the dragon's mouth.
After that, Kir asked to pack John into a carrying capsule, when Doc packed it, he shook Kir's hand and looked into him into his eyes.
*The transfer capsules were like a cocoon, all the equipment was placed inside. A convenient device for transporting patients who were in serious condition. The equipment was glued to the walls of this capsule.