"When the Soviet Union was just established, we turned to Joseph Stalin with just single purpose - helping our Soviet people. I and my workings are the legacy of Stalin. Psionic legacy. You never had a question, why is that? "

"I did. And not only me. However, in the end, you still betrayed us ... I wonder what the Master would say, find out what you've done?"

The former Soviet general, the former famous winner of Yuri's psionic war, the former confidant of Romanov, and probably the only "Commie," who shook hands with Alliance General Karvil. Awarded with all possible awards of blood enemies, which in some way became a symbol of "reconciliation" of the latter.

Then, ten years ago, he could not even think that the victories would bring him the post of head of the Soviet Union, and the promised peace for the world. A world where two absolutely opposite systems live and interact.

"Interesting. What would you say when you saw what your actions led to?" main communist continued to poke himself under the head, looking somewhere in the distance.

"Comrade Commander-in-Chief, are you listening to me?" The secretary's female voice brought him back from heaven to earth. "You are scheduled to meet tomorrow with FutureTech, they intend to discuss with you the creation in the territory of Siberia of the so-called ..."

"... a large Hadron Collider, intended for investigating some higher matter there." finished for the subordinate master of the office. "Because in Europe and the US they were sent to a very deep place for a long time, and be advised not interfere "real" scientist to create. This transaction will allow us to gain access to some of the Alliance's advanced developments, rather than being content with obsolete and often stolen technologies. Yes, I remember everything, do not remind me about it every day."

The girl in response to the monologue of the leader just strange smiled.

She looked about thirty years old, dark-blond hair, with a brow covering very rare bright violet eyes. A perfectly seated military uniform with shoulder straps of a major, and a smile. If an artist of antiquity captured it, it would probably compete with the legendary Mona Lisa, so beautiful it was.

However, it is for some reason called "grin of the devil". Apparently, because usually after demonstrating this "grin" to the interlocutor flows a stream of arguments proving his complete failure at all possible points of reference. Given the overshooting IQ and just hell erudition, coupled with the personality of medieval witch, the current head of the Union's secretary was known to the whole world.

Already with the usual gesture, removing the bangs of hair, which hindered her sight, girl retorted:

"You told me to remind me of all meetings, of course, because ..." She folded her arms and raised her chin, parodying the chief. "There are so many useless pieces of paper that the nature defenders will soon judging me!" So remind me of all the meetings at least a month. Otherwise, I will definitely forget about one of them. "

"How I hate it when you're right," the office owner actually ignored her speech.

"Hah, I'm always right, comrade commander-in-chief, it's time for you to get used to it already." On that note she put another folder with the inscription "FutureTech" on the table, and slipped out of the office herself.

The Supreme literally realized for a couple of seconds what had been said, and afterwards, unable to restrain himself, laughed tiredly and leaned back in his chair.

"Damn, get this woman in the Middle Ages, she would have been burned at the stake!"

Here, the chief caught himself thinking that he cannot remember her name and usually calls her to himself or a "woman" or a "secretary". On this note he was absorbed in reflections.

How much does it already work for him? One year? Two? Or maybe from the very beginning, when he was just appointed? Although no ... No, no, no, THEN she could not work, because his first years were Sofia ...

Memories of his permanent adjutant, who walk with him to fire, water and war with the Alliance, and after Yuri's one, painfully pierced the heart of the ex-general. This burden will be with him for the rest of his life, one of his main mistakes.

...

"It cannot be."

"But Comrade Commander-in-Chief, this is a report from one of our most senior "moles" in the Alliance."

"She could not, your "mole" is wrong.

"This was confirmed not only by him, but also by SMERSH from the MGB, misinformation is ..."

"This is-can-not-be!" the head of the Union repeated.

No, it was just some kind of rally, it's just nonsense, impossible, unrealizable, unreal.

But the head of the special department of the GRU, a man "without a face", because that was restored literally in pieces after one of the operations, crush down all defense walls of the "impossible" that the leader feverishly built.

"Facts, Comrade Supreme." The facts say that Comrade Sophia, your secretary and adjutant ... betrayed you, us and our country, and merges information to the Alliance."

These words produced the effect of an atomic explosion in the head of the country's head. He could not sit still, his feet themselves went to the office to and fro, cutting the mileage.

"Where I made a mistake ...? How ...? She was with me from the very beginning. Betray ... but why, why? We have experienced so many things, even when we were on the edge, she was on our side. So why ...?"

Thoughts were confused in the Brownian movement, the brain did not want to perceive information, shouting that all this was a lie. But…

"We need your sanction, comrade supreme," he said impassively. "Your sanction, and we will take it in red."

The ex-general only looked at the subordinate hard, and after, gritting his teeth, said:

"Do it."

...

Someone wise said that a beautiful woman is beautiful in all circumstances. So, he was right.

Very "specific" methods of interrogation were applied to the major ... the ex-major of the Soviet Army, the ex-adjutant of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Sofia. Now she was only a traitor of the Motherland, who looked with endlessly sadness to the head of the Soviets, that became a statue to himself. Once upon a time, a beautiful face with dark hair stuck in bruises and abrasions, the chest hardly breathed the air, and every beat of the heart gave a sharp pain. The picture was complemented by a chair, to which she was tied on the arms and legs, and several controlling grunts without shoulder straps.

"Not so ... I imagined our meeting" ... with a hard smile and coughing up blood, the woman said. Despite a series of knocked out teeth, her smile remained beautiful. "I ask you only one thing: do not break the comedy, do what you must."

"For what?" That's all he was interested in right now. Why did she do this, why did she betray what they fought for so long? He was not worried about accomplices who had already been arrested and shot, the damage they had inflicted, and so on. He was interested in the reason.

The woman sighed with difficulty and looked her former leader and friend in the eye:

"You understand that perfectly well." The Union has no chance against the Alliance, we could only break them by the war, but it showed our backwardness. And you became a symbol of "peaceful" coexistence. And then ... when the war was over ... I understood ..." she laughed hard. "By analyzing endless reports, documents and data, I realized that we lost. We lost even without starting to play, our position ... we have no chance to beat them, you also understand this? No one! Everything that we have created and will create for so long will be erased in powder after two generations, and even earlier! And then it became clear to me, I say enough ... enough ... I do not need a better future, no world's communism, or anything else. I only wanted you, my General ... I wanted you to understand that too as well. That our whole country and the whole system that we defended, stillborn ..."

She still said a lot: and that sooner or later they will be squeezed, and that people will still strive for the strange word "freedom", and many other things that were "so common in the Alliance." The ex-general did not hear it, his heart methodically burned all those feelings that before had develop to Sophia - like a hellish hearth with a raging flame.

"So I did it, and I nothing to..."

Her speech was been interrupted by shot. The verdict was executed.

...

The commander-in-chief shook his head, chasing away the obsession of memories. He and before this, not once and not two personally brought the verdict to the traitors in execution, but never had he even the thought that he would have to kill Sophia. Then her betrayal stirred up all the top echelons of the country's authorities and special services, round-ups went so that been very unquiet. Of course, no one began to disseminate information about this, announcing that she had died from an "unexpected heart attack" and buried with all military honors.

"So, we need to concentrate on the work," the leader said to himself, looking at Future documents. - Otherwise, I will not turn a blind eye ... in any case, we need technology.

Only now, after so much time, the former military realized how much his former girlfriend was still right. Not in the sense that everyone should be betrayed and try to escape, no, this is the most disgusting thing that can imagine. But...

"We do not have to cooperate with this company from a good life," the ex-general muttered irritably, tongue-tied, examining the documents. "If before our technologies were simply different from the Alliance, then gradually and really there is a small, but more and more noticeable lag. At the same time, for purely economic factors, we are completely incommensurable - behind them the whole of Western Europe and Japan, and behind us ... countries that themselves need to help and tightened in development. Behind them is the standard of living that aspires to heaven, and behind us is a stable, but already losing, hell!" throwing back the documents, the head began to invent again. "Our economy, we must admit it, is gradually beginning to take over, the influence of their capital is still minimal, but it will soon become extremely serious. Of course, we can continue to develop, directing our forces exclusively to ourselves, but we will not be able to live in a vacuum. And such "comrades" as Sofia will only be more and more ... damn."

This question has long tormented not only the commander-in-chief, but also his closest associates. Forged for war, the Union's economy in a peaceful life worked much worse and periodically malfunctioned. Of course, until the glitches were visible only above, but just for now.

Not finding an answer in the office, the thoughts of the head of state flew away again somewhere into his mind distances.

...

"Your mind is clear. You are definitely not unreasonable."

The otherworldly voice brought the youngest Soviet general out of his thoughts. Turning, he ran into Romanov's adviser, Yuri, standing next to him, with an interest that looked at the officer.

"I understand, Comrade General, you are unhappy with the fact that the awards went to General Vladimir. But do not worry, you will still have the opportunity to show what you are capable of."

"If you come into my head, Comrade Yuri, you probably did not read valuable thoughts," replied the commander. "I am not much concerned about awards and recognition: the main thing is to realize that everything I do will be useful for my country."

The last words evoked a smile from the psionic.

"It would not be interesting, if I read your thoughts. A clear mind is more interesting to listen, not read."

"This, how I understand, a compliment?"

"You understand well, Comrade General." Comrade Romanov approved your transition to my submission. Believe me, I'm not Comrade Vladimir - I need results, not glory."

At that time the young general could not imagine what fate he was waiting for.

...

"Tell me, Comrade Yuri ... what was he like?"

The Soviet general, in which many already saw almost a model for imitation and admiration, was rarely the first to begin a dialogue with his chief. But his demonstration of a joint photo with the Master fired a officer into the soul.

"Oooh ... Comrade General knows how to ask interesting questions," Yuri answered with a strange warmth unusual for him. "I would say, in comparison with him that both our prime minister and American president is completely insolvent heads of state. It's like trying to embrace a huge planet with your bare hands. He is a surprisingly different starting point, it can never fit into their pathetic, redneck-like sense."

For the first time, a young military man hears from Yuri disapproval of Romanov, but then he considered that this was simply a comparison.

"You know, comrade, all the psi-technology that the Union now has is the result of our joint work with Joseph. He gave me everything to make the work move as efficiently as possible, and even more. And if..."

What exactly Yuri wanted to say, the general does not know: literally in an instant all kindness evaporated, as if she was not there, and the same slightly arrogant and mysterious psionic appeared before the commander.

"I think we'll have time to discuss this later. Someday in the future."

It's a sad but the future had other plans.

...

"I wonder why Comrade General is not surprised at all?" - psionic smiled the widest smile, which he was able to, looking at the former subordinate. True, he was the only one who experienced the pleasure of this meeting, albeit through the monitor screen.

"You ... you ... HOW DID YOU?!" YOU BETRAY US ALL!" - roared the general, who was struggling to keep several conscripts, so he did not inadvertently attack the screen.

"Betrayed?" - Yuri quirked an eyebrow in surprise. "Whom did I betray, Comrade General? I just, let's say, retired and took only what was created by me and my friend. Is this wrong?" - At that moment the bald man bent slightly and hissed. "Is it wrong to take back what you've dedicated your entire life to? Is it wrong to take away from this idiot Romanov what he and his like joyfully destroyed? Is it wrong to take responsibility for what your country can not do?"

"You ..." the ex-subordinate tried to spit out something.

"I do what I had to do much earlier. You will understand me, General, you will surely understand…" Psionic glared exponentially. "When the time comes and the truth becomes known to you."

- YURI!

At this point, the broadcast was terminated.

...

"Do you understand that if they learn about this channel, they'll just shoot me as a likely traitor?!"

"You worry too much, General, everything is under control."

"Apart from the fact that I'm talking with the traitor again ..."

"And you and I know why. You are burned with a lack of understanding why I did this, and instead of bringing victory to the Soviet Union, I preferred the path of a traitor."

"Is it so obvious?"

"Ooooh! My friend, it's written on your face, otherwise you would not have had such dialogues with me."

"If, of course, you just did not subordinate my mind and it's not just another performance ..."

Yuri only laughed out loud.

"If it was necessary, it would have been done long ago - but no, Comrade General, it's uninteresting and too simple. You, comrade, create extremely complicated and hard situations for me, ruining my plans and fanatically persecuting in all corners of the earth. You could negotiate with the Alliance, and now you command both armies, just to catch me and finally get to the truth.

"Truth? The only thing I want is to hang you on the gallows as a traitor."

"Were you often betrayed?" Suddenly the merry psionic asked seriously. "Do not say that I betrayed you, that is wrong. I betrayed Romanov, but not you, Comrade General. Therefore, you did not drink the true taste of betrayal. Oh no. This is still to be learned and felt on your own skin. Then and only then you can understand all my actions."

...

Oddly enough, the wise Yuri was almost a prophet. When the general became supreme commander, he watched with great interest the old cases concerning Psi Corps. As it turned out, the psionic was not so much a founder, but as more a test object, for the return to the life from the dead state in one of the projects begun under Stalin order. The project was then interrupted by a loss in the war. However, one, one single sample of the psionic hyperbrain has survived. And according to Romanov's order, it was implanted in Yuri, killed under strange circumstances even before the war. Fortunately, the body was actually embalmed, and the latest developments in Soviet medicine allowed him to return to life. At the first years, the bald man worked to recreate the Master and bring him back to life. But here he was awaited by a terrible bummer: Romanov. In appearance, carefree and stupid, but in his heart he was cunning and prudent, he was afraid for his power and realized that return to life of the past general secretary would be his end. Therefore, the body of the mustachioed allegedly "disappeared" from the underground levels of the Mausoleum, specially for this built.

Then did Yuri feel that he was betrayed? Very, very much can be. Given his almost fanatical devotion to the "father of the nations." Or is everything much deeper? For the first death in the documents was briefly indicated: there is no data. That is, even the secret services did not know what caused the death. This led to not the most pleasant thoughts about who is to blame. And why immediately after this head of the Union began to behave ... completely inadequate. Don't clear.

In any case, the commander-in-chief at that moment only could sigh sadly and think: "Genius, but such a fool all the same."

But after the betrayal of Sofia ... everything began to play in new colors. The head of state realized how terrible a trauma is being caused by betrayal, and how deep it is, that neither time, nor anything else will heal it. The psionic was right: as soon as he found out the inside story, his eyes opened. That night, the head did not let anyone in and gently passed glass behind glass, trying to squeeze out all the loathing from awareness.

Under this hail of memories, the head of the country himself did not notice how he fell asleep. He often do that at his workplace, for he often worked from morning till morning to actual wearout ... but, probably, if not for this, he would have known something extremely interesting. And would be extremely ashamed that he did not remember the name of his secretary.

...

As soon as the ex-general went to the kingdom of Morpheus to recall the old exploits, his secretary came quietly into his office, trying not to make a noise.

"You're working on depreciation, Comrade General," she smiled, looking at the sleeping chief. "So many years have passed, but you still do not intend to take care of yourself."

The girl cautiously literally floated to him, and began to sort through the documents. As, actually, she did from the very beginning of her work. Both official and real.

...

"Well, Comrade General, we finally met face to face again."

Yuri smiled strangely, looking at his former subordinate, who, accompanied by the Soviet and the Alliance troops, looked at him with eyes full of grim supremacy. Each of them had an "anti-psi" helmet, designed by Einstein to fight against Yuri. Therefore, the latter could not take them under control ... or just wanted them to believe it.

"Surrender, traitor, your time is now!" The General spat out.

"Your mind is still beautiful, for his crystal clear, Comrade General," the psionic shook his head. "But do not you think it will be over?"

"I think and I know, traitor. Time to pay for all bills."

The answer was a strange smile, a smile of triumph.

...

Then there was the psi prison and the "connection" of the time lines that led to the "disappearance" of all traces of Psi Corps and Yuri himself, but the "peace" between the USSR and the Alliance by the struggles of the General was preserved, as was the memory of that war. But...

The "disappearance" of traces is not equal to the disappearance of the organization. Teleportation to the past was only at the beginning of the second war, and the psionic activity began much, much earlier, and he took it into account during the preparatory work.

Usually, when he appeared on the battlefield, he said that there is only one Yuri Prime. It was true, but at the same time it was not - as was the opinion that there was only one modernized hyper-brain. Yes, since Stalin's time there was only one, but who says that it was impossible to recreate it? And who said that the re-created one will necessarily be placed in a psionic clone?

Only the very top of Yuri's organization knew about this project, and the result was for a long time in special cryo-capacity in remote locations of the Union. The system was autonomous, and closed so that every year "requested" confirmation personally from the head of the organization. After the absence of this, that "freed" the result of the long work of the genetic department of the psionic. The object, by psi-abilities, is not inferior to the bald man, with his memory, but with a completely different personality, created from scratch for different conditions and targets: to help and control. She did not have a name, but have her ancestor's memory and intellect, coupled with a burning desire to help one particular "young general". And other was only the matter of technique - because all think that the psi technologies has sunk into oblivion.

So Proselyte of Yuri became in this world.

Observation of the new hypostasis of the former winner of the original was entertaining, but for many times his actions caused surprise by their specific illogicality, but always leading to the desired results. Of course, there were problems, and she tried to help the leader of the country, as she could. At the same time, without forgetting to activate the "sleeping" cells of the organization around the world, and preparing for the future. The betrayal of Sophia, however, was somewhat unexpected for her, need be act stiffly and quickly, so that there were no serious consequences.

And after - direct work with the target and accurate bringing it to the right thoughts. It's not that the Union's economy was so bad or the technology so lost to the Alliance. But is it bad to thicken the colors in some places?

The girl smiled predatorily, sparkling her eyes, looking at the person sleeping peacefully, but still in the soul of such a young general, on which her original had once noticed. Years, of course, take their payment, and working capacity is not what it was during the war, but who cares about the body? The main thing is the mind! And his mind is still crystal clear.

"Do not worry, my dear," she whispered. "I'll take care of you. The Prime one really wanted to be your father, and he believed that you could do that he couldn't. Walk pass where he stumbled. That's why he gave me to you as assistant. So don't worry - we will bury them."