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Ruthra glanced angrily at the "servants of science" who stood a little away from the rigs, then awkwardly stood up and walked over to the next rig. He couldn't believe his eyes – there was a man who looked just like him! Suddenly, Ruthra realized that the scientist could have done such a thing to learn the secrets he possessed in the real world. He shuddered, "Then who am I now?"
Ruthra looked into the mirror set into the wall, a large, full-length mirror. He couldn't say he was horrified; he couldn't say he was surprised… Strangely enough, Ruthra didn't even feel a strong sense of surprise, so much so that he'd been raised and trained by virtual reality, or rather, by feeling in it and not believing in it afterward. Ruthra was aware of what the scientist had done, knew it wasn't real, but couldn't quite grasp the purpose, though he could guess. Apparently, the one wanted to demonstrate his new capabilities and accomplishments. Of course, the brazenness and daring he had displayed was also so provocative that Ruthra's rage could hardly be contained by his new body. His body, and in fact the body of a scientist! The mirror reflected the "luminary of science".
Another man's body was horrible. Though it was perfectly normal by Ruthra's standards, quite athletic, it was alien. The only thing that made him feel better was the unreality of what was happening. Ruthra rushed to wake himself up, to reprimand the insolent man who'd gotten into his body and end the experiment, but then he felt another twitch. He couldn't influence the real world in the virtual world, he couldn't order the experiment to stop!
– For crying out loud, you're not natural either! – he yelled at the scientists. – Wake him up immediately! – he shouted, realizing at the same time the absurdity of his demand in two guises.
Even if it was natural – it wasn't Ruthra who was ordering them, it worked. The tricky scientist could have made sure they didn't know about the most intimate part of the experiment. Ruthra walked over and kicked the rig in which his body lay with fury. The machine shook slightly, and the man lying in it spoke without opening his eyes.
– Well, well, well, I'd ask you.
It was said in the style of his fellow scientist, with a smile and a joking tone, but emphasizing his importance.
– Come on, get up, there's a prize waiting for you, maybe even a Nobel Prize. You've succeeded, so you can return my body, otherwise there will be no one to defend the project in front of the council.
– I don't need that. I have my personality written down and I can be you from time to time and when I need to be me.
The tone was slightly haughty and the words spoken were arrogant.
Rutra was almost insulted by this.
– What does it mean to think?
– And there you go.
He climbed out of the rig and looked in the mirror.
– We're in virtual reality, so don't get too excited. I saw the timer, if they don't force you back, you have 20 minutes to enjoy being commander.
– And you're okay, keeping in shape. Or is that done by technology, too? There's no way around it, it's the chip stimulating your muscles.
– Tell me what you're up to. Let's just say the surprise didn't work out.
– What's the surprise, honored scientist? The only surprise is in the alteration of memory. I admit, although you know it yourself, it can be influenced, to put it mildly, edited.
– What are you talking about? We worked together on this technology.
– It's not that important right now.
– Exactly. Why would you do that in virtual reality?
Rutra pointed at himself.
– You hopefully haven't forgotten, there is a board meeting scheduled for today.
– И?
– What do you say in there?
– Enough with the clowning around. This is virtual reality. We weren't wearing helmets or sensors.
– And they were taken beforehand. That's my technology.
– I almost believe it. About 18 minutes to go. Keep going.
– Okay, okay, let's just get out of here. If we're in the virtual, it doesn't matter. We'll wake up wherever we are. In the meantime, I'll give you, I mean, like me, access to the information that you, well, again, like, instead of me, should present to the council.
– Please remember the chain of command. Friendship is friendship, but we're not drinking buddies.
– That's exactly what I'm telling you, let's go.
– All right, let's see what song you're gonna sing next. I don't want our friendship to end.
– That's later, now let's go. If you think we're in the virtual, then let's continue the experiment. Let's go.
– All right, let's go.
They went to the upper level, walked to the scientists' block, and approached the office.
– Let's make a deal like this: so that we don't confuse employees, coworkers, and understand each other better, you call me Big Boss and I'll call you Big Date.
– All right, Big Boss, can't wait for the time to run out.
– Yes, Big Data. Stand in front of the scanner, the lock is set to my body.
– What do you want in there?
– I need to access the information through the chip. It's still in the brain.
The scanner clicked, the door moved aside, and they entered. The scientist's colleagues followed them like an entourage, or perhaps an escort.
– Dear Big-data, I turn on the link, make contact between the chip and the system, remove the password, and you already know everything I knew. I mean… It's really confusing.
He laughed.
– Come on, smile, smile. Make me feel like a big important boss too. No, not a boss, but part of the power of the world. How did you get into this system, anyway? It's not the billionaires who are the rulers of the souls of men, it's some dark personalities.
– I'll ask you to be careful where you turn. There are billionaires out there, and there are people like you. The first one to conceive is the one with the power over everyone.
– Uh-oh. That's an interesting thought. I'll say – and my idea is not a bad one.
– It'll be over soon.
– Soon. Maybe I'll like it… and leave it at that.
– The timer's a stubborn thing, and Irene can see everything.
– Don't forget that timers are made by people, programmed by people, and yes Irene was created by people like us.
– Stop fantasizing. What's next?
– Open in your memory, recall my speech, the arguments about convincing the council in the reality of the program of transmigration of consciousness, the existence of parallel worlds and the possibility of instilling consciousness from here into a person there.
– I hope you get cured. Your past programs have been a success after all.
– Tell me, you didn't believe it, did you? All of you – the council, other colleagues and staff, no one.
– In rapid cloning?
– Yeah. (chuckles)
– Who'd believe you could make a human being like a crystal in a test tube?
– That's right. It worked.
– Right. That's why you're in complete control.
– And then why not put someone else's mind into that body?
– What do you mean? You mean the Super Spy program?
– Yeah. You build a body, take out the personality you want, put in your mind, and presto! – you're ready to be president.
– People like you, trust someone like that, leave them unchecked – that way you'll replace everyone with yourself.
– Why, just like that, we are the rulers of the world.
– Yeah. And they're fools, that's why they're rulers over such… and more. We've forgotten what you're up to, buddy. I did it back in my last Super Spy program. Chipping and mind transference. You weren't the first to think of it. And in case you haven't forgotten, I've developed many important programs with you.
– Yes, yes, I remember everything, Your Excellency. Just the scientific basis, all the little things on which the technology is based, have been developed and realized through experiments by our scientific community.
– Okay, what's next? What else is in the program?
– Nothing in the program. Just life as usual. What was on the schedule? Council presentation coming up.
– Oh, those minutes would be up by now. How much time is left?
– Buddy.
He smiled.
– It's kind of unusual to have a dialog. We're not in virtual reality. I'm being honest with you. Yeah, it's an experiment, I didn't mean to do anything wrong. Although I had it all figured out, I suspect the system had more than that. I mean, you can't hide from Irene. She could have known what we were up to, for all I know. It doesn't matter, though, because I'm not going to take over by switching identities. I want to prove to the council that my program is real.
– I almost believed it. What's next? The clock is ticking.
– Let them tick, it won't make a difference. We're not in a virtual reality.
– What's next?
– Let's go to the council.
– И?
– And you will defend the project," Ruthra in the professor's body laughed now.
– Okay, I'm gonna go with your bullshit. It's like it all hits you in the brain when you remove the password.
They got out and went to the council chamber. It was impossible for anyone to get in. A system of pass scanners checked everything down to the DNA code. Big Data was identified as a scientist, Big Boss as the real Rutra. Only the certainty that they were in virtual reality helped Rutra keep his cool.
– I wonder when you thought of that. I mean, the board isn't really aware of your proposal. Why do you have to present it in this scenario? And more importantly, how do you want to use it in reality? Because you're about to find out the council's reaction to the way we introduce ourselves. And I'm not gonna tell you I'm not really a scientist. I won't tell you about the switch. Then what? I mean, that's obviously what you're counting on, isn't it?
– I'm counting on it, I'm confessing it, and it's going to work out the way I planned.
– Let's see. What's the real thing? What's the point? There, in reality, no one will give you an endorsement just for praise in the virtual, even if you convince the council here. In fact, I've already convinced them… Oh, I get it. Since the weighty word on the council is mine and the responsibility for projects with risk is mine – you want to use my body to make an endorsement. It's ingenious, but it's also primitive. It's not a big deal. You'll test everyone's reaction, and maybe not even everyone… I'm sure many will remain silent.
– I'll tell you all about it later. Let's go in.
– Not yet. You took a body, but you don't know the life of that body. They're still waiting for you, or rather for me, in the lobby, with questions and suggestions. So don't embarrass me. I didn't download the chip with the information. Heh-heh," he teased Big Boss.
The meeting was set for the morning. Rutra had not, of course, prepared the speech, had no final position, much less a decision, but was still more inclined to approve the program than to reject it. Responsibility was responsibility, what had he to fear? In case of failure his personal projects would be rejected? So in this project, the subsequent use and the ideas themselves had been suggested by him. Ruthra had even envisioned the scenario, knowing the methods and mannerisms of his learned associate. Everything would be exactly in the perspective that was commonplace to him, however, that was the peculiar aura of this place, of this world. For example, the scientists would propose to implement some fantastic program, perhaps with the help of the "idea generator" installation they had created, to enter the alpha resonance frequency of the brain of a scientific specialist who was working on the cloning project, and "give birth" in his brain to the solution of a complex problem of changing DNA to adapt animals to the atmosphere of Mars. All such things were realistic for them. Ruthra had speculated how things would be, only speculation – for that's what speculation is for, it doesn't have to be a pattern. This time things weren't going according to plan. Besides, the personalities weren't the same now. They'd approach Rutra with questions, and what would Big Boss say? The only thing that comforted him was that this was a virtual world, and the session was still about six minutes away.
In the hall, a specialist in the study of the microcosm and the effect on matter of massless particles approached Rutra, that is, his body, which contained the "luminary of science," even before the meeting began, and, taking him by the shoulder in a friendly manner, said conspiratorially quietly, almost in a whisper:
– I have something to tell you that will make you more surprised than ever.
– Yeah? Even that happens? – Big Boss said with irony.
– Imagine that," replied the minister of science. – Believe me, it will change your perception of reality.
– I dunno, if it still has room to flip, flip it, however, I think it will remain unshakable.
– You'd better be prepared.
– All right. (Sighs) Let's get on with it.
– So, before, well, as is our custom," the doctor smiled, "you should listen to the information. So that your consciousness can be prepared for the load it will take, and your logic can digest what is coming.
– That's kind of what we're here for. I'm all ears.
– No, no, no. Of course, general information first, because this will be a collegial decision. I gave you the general tone of the conversation from the beginning, because your opinion will determine how seriously they will take what I have to say.
Rutra, though not real, understood the scientist's cunning. Everyone knew about Rutra's supervision and support of scientific projects; he really delved into them, actively participated and proposed progressive ideas.
– All right, I promise to give you the floor. You will definitely propose your project. But please, you understand, the main agenda is for another program. If you want, you can give me the details later, preferably with evidence. And I'll gather the new council afterwards. If, of course, the proposed by you has a place in the overall strategic paradigm of the system.
– Oh yes, I'll be sure to introduce you to everything.
"So much for the second stratagem," thought Big-data. It turns out that if in his body he could not find out the secrets of the competing groups, for this he would have to cooperate with them, offering something of his own, then this way he could find out all the plans and programs, the levels of success achieved by all the scientific groups.
