Project A129. «Remember the future…» English edition (The original version of the book was published in 2017)

The AI Tower was located in the central square of the capital, in close proximity to the towers of the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Guardians. These towers had forty floors and were decorated with crowns, together making up a triad, which was popularly called the «Three Crowns».

During his third month in the tower, Chris was confirmed to have high level access allowing him to continue working on the thirty-first floor. He decided to share the good news with his mother and went home over the weekend.

Barbara was glad to meet her son. They talked for a long time about his work and what was happening on the Continent. After lunch, Chris went to Mr. Graves to inquire about his health and return the books.

Taking the package, Chris headed to the professor’s house. Mr. Graves’s apartment was on the fourth floor. Surprisingly, an elderly woman opened the door. They greeted each other, and the guest introduced himself:

– My name is Chris Taffer. Is Mr. Graves at home?

– There is no professor. I’m his housekeeper, Mrs. Oliver. Should I give him something?

«What a pity,» Chris said barely audibly. – Mr. Graves was my professor at the university. I wanted to inquire about his well-being after everything that happened and return the books.

Looking at the package, the housekeeper kindly said:

– Mr. Graves went to the country to visit his daughter. After all these events, he prefers to spend more time with her. From the first day we believed in the professor’s innocence, and recently he was acquitted. But the time spent in captivity affected his health, and he changed a lot. Now it is no longer easy to recognize him as the former professor.

The clicking of heels was heard from the top floor, and a woman’s voice sounded behind Chris:

– Hello, Mrs. Oliver! The elevator is broken again, so we have to go down the stairs.

Chris turned. The girl’s face seemed familiar, but he couldn’t remember where it came from. She looked to be about twenty-five years old. Chris’s thoughts were interrupted by the housekeeper, who entered into a dialogue:

– This elevator is long overdue for replacement, but no one responds to our complaints.

«But this also has its advantages: you can meet your neighbors more often,» the girl smiled in response.

Wishing her a good day, Mrs. Oliver said goodbye to her neighbor and looked back at Chris. The young man was saddened by the news about the professor’s poor health and, sighing with regret, was about to say goodbye.

«Say your name and digital ID again,» the housekeeper asked. «I’ll tell Mr. Graves you stopped by, and he or his daughter will be sure to contact you.»

– Chris Taffer. Here’s my digital ID.

– If you want, you can leave the package and I will give it to the professor.

After thinking for a moment, Chris replied:

– I have the weekend ahead and I would like to re-read some of the books. Let me know when Mr. Graves returns, I will visit him again and give him everything myself.

Chris was upset that he was unable to meet with the professor, and decided to take a walk through the well-known places where he spent his childhood and youth. He spent the weekend at home with his mother and books, and on Monday he went to work.

* * *

On Monday, Chris was contacted by the professor’s daughter. She introduced herself as Minerva and said that Mr. Graves was delighted when he heard about the former student’s visit, and would like to meet tomorrow at the Leonard Cafe on Trotsky Avenue.

The next day, taking with him a bundle of books, Chris went to the Leonard cafe. From the panoramic windows one could watch people passing by and look at recently erected buildings. In the middle of the street stood a monument on a pedestal in honor of Trotsky, a famous revolutionary of the past. After the disaster, the new government wanted to focus on the social development of the continent, blurring the boundaries between rich and poor. That is why in Vinland there were so many names of streets and squares in honor of the leaders of the proletariat from different continents – great revolutionaries who wanted to make the world of the past more just. At the agreed time, a pretty girl approached the table where Chris was sitting.

– I’m Minerva. Can I sit down?

– Certainly! – Chris pulled up a chair and looked around in search of the professor.

«Father described exactly what you look like, so it wasn’t difficult to find you in the cafe,» the girl said, turning her gaze towards the guy. Chris couldn’t help noticing that the professor’s daughter looked slightly vulgar because of her short skirt and too deep neckline for this time of day. The professor himself was nowhere to be found, and Chris asked with annoyance:

«Didn’t Mr. Graves come with you?»

«He was going to, but in the morning he felt bad, and the doctors recommended bed rest. I didn’t want to leave my father alone, but he insisted that I go to meet you.

«It’s a pity that the professor couldn’t come.» How is he feeling? – Chris asked.

Looking around, the girl said indignantly, but barely audibly:

«You know what methods these executioners use to extract a confession!» After their father spent two and a half years under torture and interrogation, his health rapidly deteriorated. As soon as he was acquitted, I visited my father every day in the apartment, and then took him to the countryside, closer to the hospital, he is gradually recovering.

They ordered coffee, and the waiter brought it in the old fashioned way, and there was a certain charm about it. Chris did not like modern ordering systems, when selection is made remotely, and food and drinks are served to the table using a conveyor belt or a robot waiter.

– Why did the guards seize the professor? How did it all happen? Chris asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

The cozy atmosphere of the cafe: bouquets of fresh flowers on every table, real curtains, like in pictures in old books, and even antique furniture made of dark wood, all this took you back to distant times and created a feeling of reliability, stability, and peace. It is not surprising that the professor loved to spend time here after long lectures.

«This is a very complicated story,» the girl sighed and straightened her hair with a fleeting movement. – According to the official version, several of his students went over to the side of the rebels. The guards forced him to confess to recruiting these students and creating a resistance cell under the roof of the university. But even now, the father continues to claim that the main goal of the authorities was to get some information, some kind of list that he kept for a special occasion. «Looking around again, the girl quietly added: «No matter how much the guards intimidated my father, threatening him with a death sentence, they never managed to get a confession.» Unable to prove anything, they were forced to release him.

Chris thought for a moment, then clarified:

«So Mr. Graves was a member of the resistance all this time?»

– Yes, from the very first day! – the girl said with delight.

Her revelations surprised Chris. He was about to clarify what prompted the professor to side with the rebels, but the girl continued:

«We are ready to do anything to overthrow the government!» With your help, we will put an end to injustice and be victorious in this fight. «Chris was confused and didn’t understand what he was talking about. Looking around once again, the girl continued enthusiastically: «Father was incredibly happy when the housekeeper announced your visit.» He said that now is the crucial time for our struggle and once you hand over the list, we will finally overthrow the head of the Continent. The ruler cannot be allowed to monopolize power by pushing Kronos away from control over the decisions he makes.

Chris couldn’t understand what list the girl was talking about, since this topic had never been touched upon in conversations with Mr. Graves, and just in case he decided to clarify:

– What list are we talking about?

– With the names of the rebels. With your help, we will alert key members of the resistance on the Continent and start an uprising. Father said that the list is kept with you. «After a pause, the girl continued: «All these years, the government has been deceiving the people, and therefore Mr. Roskhald manages to remain at the head of the Continent, but now his power will come to an end!»

Chris tried to remember if he had actually received anything unusual from the professor’s hands, and said:

– I don’t have any list.

– How is it not? – the girl was indignant. «Did your father give you anything before your arrest?»

– Some books. But I didn’t find anything similar there. The data may be stored by another student.

Trying to hide her indignation, the girl, pointing to the package that Chris had brought with him, asked sharply:

– Is this for father?

Not understanding the girl’s behavior, Chris calmly replied:

– Yes. I wanted to present these books in person, but Mr. Graves, unfortunately, did not come. Please give them to the professor.

The girl looked carefully at the package. Chris was about to say that he couldn’t find Mr. Graves’s book, The Age of Blockchain, or Belshazzar’s Feast, in stores, but he noticed that her focus had shifted. She suddenly fell silent, turning to the window of the coffee shop. After a short pause, the girl turned back to Chris, a smile appeared on her face, and in a kind voice Minerva said:

«Chris, your father spoke very highly of you, and so I am glad to announce that the main battle is approaching.» Demian Roskhald’s days as leader of the Continent are numbered, but we need loyal men to put an end to his rule. Do you want to continue your father’s work and join the ranks of the rebels?

After looking carefully at the girl, Chris answered sincerely:

«Whether the professor told you or not, I do not accept the rebels’ methods of fighting.» You are trying to violently overthrow the government, inciting government violence in response. Ordinary residents of Vinland suffer from this.

Without reacting, the girl turned her gaze to the clock, which suddenly began to blink, notifying her of an incoming message. After reading it, she said:

– The doctor wrote that my father’s health has improved and he is ready to see you. Now you can personally hand over the books to him. My car is parked next to the cafe.

Chris was happy about this news and, having paid, went to the meeting.

Arriving at the country house where Minerva said Mr. Graves was, they drove into the garage. The automatic gates closed, and the girl, turning off the ignition, offered to go inside. Chris got out of the car, but before he even had time to look around, he felt a sting in his back and lost consciousness.

Having come to his senses, Chris could not understand where he was. He was lying on the sofa in an unfamiliar, half-empty room. Some voices were heard, but under the influence of the injected drug he could not make out the words. Opening his eyes slightly, Taffer saw a long chandelier. A few meters from the sofa there was a table covered with a transparent tablecloth, at which sat two middle-aged men and the same girl who introduced herself as the professor’s daughter.

Gradually regaining consciousness, Chris began to hear their conversation more clearly. Squinting his eyes with difficulty, he saw one of the men carefully scanning books from a bundle with a special device. The second one was angry with the girl. He stood up and, pacing back and forth across the room, said irritably:

– How many times do I have to tell you – don’t rush! Why do you move so quickly from topic to topic without giving the subject a chance to speak? Weren’t you taught in special training courses that the first thing you need to do is to lull the vigilance of your interlocutor, to win him over? If you had done everything as expected, the guy could have agreed to cooperate with the rebels, and we would have had the opportunity to blackmail him and infiltrate him into the underground.

«I tried to be nice to him, but realizing that he was not the one we were looking for, I almost lost it,» the girl answered guiltily.

«It’s not for you to decide whether this object is the right one or not!» You must strictly follow the instructions you received before the meeting,» he continued.

«I’m terribly tired of the constant complaints from you!» At a meeting at headquarters, I asked several times not to be involved in such tasks. I did an internship on seducing and recruiting rebels through intimate services, and you know very well how much useful information I obtained, how many actions were prevented! But what you are making me do now is completely different!

After these words, the man moderated his ardor and said calmly:

«For missions like this, we usually choose Guardian Aphrodite, but now she’s working with another suspect.» We did a pre-briefing and you had an earpiece. All you had to do was follow the instructions.

«Isn’t it clear that he has nothing to do with the rebels?» He is level five. At the slightest suspicion he would have been captured long ago. I assure you, he didn’t even understand what we were talking about when I started talking about the list. Review the recording of our meeting to make sure.

«We will interrogate everyone who may be in any way connected with the resistance.» According to the instructions, we should test him with a lie detector as soon as the truth serum starts working.

Throwing aside the last book from the bundle, the second guard said with annoyance:

– There is nothing suspicious here. Maybe we’re looking in the wrong place? – he asked his colleague, who continued to rush around the room.

«We have accurate information that the list was kept by the professor, since he was the link between the rebel cells on the Continent. There is now activity in resistance groups, and this may be due to preparations for large-scale sabotage. We need to be the first to find the list at all costs.

Suddenly the bracelet on the hand of the first guard rang. Looking at him, the guard ordered, adjusting the detector:

– Bring the detainee here, the truth serum has begun to take effect. Now he will tell you everything he knows and doesn’t know.

The second guard picked up the confused young man, sat him on a chair and began to put the instruments on the interrogated man. After everything was ready, the jailers began the interrogation. The detector confirmed the veracity of Chris’s words: he had heard about the list for the first time and really did not want to cooperate with the rebels.

It seems that the guards were rather upset by this development. When Chris came to his senses and the serum had lost its strength, they brought him a cup of strong coffee to cheer him up:

«I apologize for this misunderstanding,» muttered the first of the guards. «As a decent citizen, you yourself understand that increased vigilance is now required. We were informed about a large-scale sabotage planned by the rebels, similar to the one that took place several years ago. You understand that our task is to protect the citizens of the Continent by any means.

«I understand,» Chris drank his coffee, rubbed the scar on his chin and slowly rose from his chair. My head was still spinning.

– You can take these books, but you, Chris Taffer, will have an urgent request. If someone suspicious tries to contact you, you will notify us immediately. Here, take this,» the guard handed Chris an old-style pen.

– What is this? – the young man was surprised.

– Press this button, if the rebels come to you, it will give us a signal. Now you need to be prepared for any surprise! – the guard said pathetically.

Chris couldn’t help but grin. A pen with a surprise? It looks like it’s from some old, old spy movie.

– Without a doubt! I promise that I will be vigilant and will remain guardian of the interests of the citizens of the Continent and justice,» Chris said, looking into the eyes of the investigator.

Staggering slightly, the young man went out into the street. An air taxi was already waiting for him 20 meters from the house. Approaching the unmanned aerial vehicle, he delightedly exposed his face to the fresh wind, which immediately ruffled his hair. The events of this day showed in the best possible way that the guards indiscriminately violate the rights of the citizens of Vinland and all the requirements of the Code, under the guise of fighting the rebels. Is this what the founding fathers of the Continent wanted? This cannot continue, this must end, Chris thought as he climbed into the air taxi above the house where he was illegally interrogated. He received further evidence of the guards’ violation of Code 282 and realized that he had chosen the right path.

Chapter Six

Continent of Vinland, 2077

Chris returned to work, and everything, as before, went as usual. On the weekend, he decided to go home for a change of scenery and forget about what happened. Taffer did not let his mother in on all the events and spent most of the time in the room, thinking about the future of Vinland, the fate of Mr. Graves and the list about which he was interrogated. Chris had a lot of questions to which there were no clear answers. He decided to take advantage of his position and ask these questions to Artificial Intelligence at the first opportunity.

One day, when there was no one in the office except him, Chris went to the Wise One.

Kronos was in a large open hall with columns, reminiscent of an ancient temple, and sat on a raised platform under a small shell-shaped canopy, like a god dressed in a snow-white toga. A huge city lay at his feet, and, looking at this picture, everyone who arrived at Kronos felt delight and surprise at the power and beauty of this spectacle. At the same time, Kronos did not suppress; on the contrary, he felt kindness and wisdom, a desire to listen and understand.

Approaching the steps leading to the dais, Chris hesitated. He didn’t know where to start the conversation, and watched as the king, sparkling with multi-colored light bulbs, sat on the throne, making countless calculations within himself and watching the city from above. The architect gave him this position. Kronos was constrained in his movements, but when he heard Chris’s breathing, he turned around, scanned his cornea and asked:

«Why are you so puzzled, Chris Taffer?»

Hearing the voice of the Wise One, Chris froze. He knew that Kronos would certainly identify him, since all Vinland’s computers had a hierarchical structure, and information would eventually flow here, but he was still confused. In addition, Kronos had direct access to the databases of eye corneas kept by the guards, which allowed him to easily identify who was standing in front of him.

After a pause, the AI continued:

– What brings you to this room?

– Supreme Ruler Kronos, I am confused because I can’t find an answer to one question.

– Does this question concern you personally or is it of global significance?

«It concerns me personally, but it may have an impact on the political structure of the Continent.

After a short pause, the Wise One asked another question:

– You have to make a choice and don’t know whether it will be right?

– Yes.

– What does this choice concern?

– The future of Vinland. I’m worried about where the Continent will end up under Demian Roskhald’s rule. What’s next for Vinland?

Kronos’s eyes changed color, as they did while the thought process was going on. In a matter of seconds, having analyzed all the political regimes of the past and compared them with the current situation, he calmly said:

– If everything is left as it is, then totalitarianism will reign on the Continent.

– Supreme Ruler Kronos, why are you talking about this so calmly?

«I only monitor the implementation of the Code, and what future awaits Vinland is decided by the ruler and senators elected by the people.» If the citizens of the Continent are happy with everything and there are no mass unrest, then I must accept their choice, whether I like it or not.

Chris was tormented by other questions, but when he heard footsteps, he realized that his colleague was returning to his workplace, and it was time to end the conversation. Thanking Kronos, he hurried to his computer.

* * *

Throughout the night shift, Chris thought about the conclusion made by the Wise One. Exactly at nine in the morning, when another shift took over at the AI control panels, he, as usual, went into the cafe on the ground floor of the building. Chris loved to spend time there, reflect on what was happening on the Continent, and then go on vacation. That morning, he was also sitting by the window, drinking coffee and thinking about life, when suddenly his attention was drawn to a book that looked out of the bag of a girl passing by – «The Age of Blockchain, or Belshazzar’s Feast,» which Mr. Graves was working on. Running out of the cafe, Chris caught up with the girl.

– I’m sorry! Tell me, how did you get this book?

When the girl turned around, her face seemed familiar to Chris. After thinking a little, he remembered that he had seen her several times in the ministry cafeteria, as well as on the day when he visited the professor’s apartment.

«Excuse me, were you the one coming down the stairs when I was talking to Mr. Graves’s housekeeper?»

«Yes, you’re right,» the girl smiled, and Chris realized that she was very pretty. Medium height, slender, with shoulder-length dark hair. Particularly beautiful were her brown, sparkling eyes and the dimples on her cheeks that appeared from her especially radiant smile.

«Chris Taffer,» the young man introduced himself.

«My name is Lucia,» said the girl.

«I happened to see Professor Graves’s book in your place and wanted to know how you got it.»

– Are you talking about this book? – The girl took a bound edition out of her bag. Carefully holding it in her hands, she shared: «This book is not sold in stores.» The owner of one shop, a good friend of mine, gave it to me to read for a while. Why did she interest you so much?

– I am a historian in my first specialty; I completed my studies at the university in the department of the author of this very book. Where did you study?

– Far from these places. I came here several years ago to work at the Ministry of Information.

– Please tell me the address of this bookstore! I need to find out from the dealer how the book, banned after Mr. Graves’ arrest, came into his possession. Perhaps he can tell about the health and whereabouts of the professor.

Seeing his sincerity and concern for the fate of Mr. Graves, the girl looked at Chris more carefully:

– Do you know that many bookstores operate underground, and not everyone can get into them? Since it’s so important, I can take you there after work today.

«Wonderful,» Chris agreed. «I’m free this evening.»

– Then let’s go at 20:00 on Marx Avenue, near the fountain.

– OK see you later!

«See you later,» the girl said and, returning the book to her wicker bag, continued on her way.

After getting some sleep after the night shift, Chris went to the specified address. The girl was gone for a long time. At 20:30 he was about to return to his place, but saw a familiar silhouette in the distance.

«Sorry for being late, I had to stay late,» said Lucia, approaching him. Her hair was slightly disheveled, a slight blush appeared on her cheeks, and the freckles that strewn her pale skin became even brighter.

«I was about to leave, deciding that your plans had changed, but suddenly you appeared at the last moment, one might say, out of nowhere,» Chris looked at Lucia with interest. Still, I wonder who she is. Perhaps an agent provocateur, like the girl who came to the cafe and tried to find out information about some list. But I didn’t want to believe it. His new friend seemed surprisingly sincere and fragile, as if she was not from this world.

Looking at her watch, the girl said:

– While it’s not too late, we can look into the bookstore. It is located in Luz.

Hearing the name of the thirteenth region of the Continent, Chris thought about refusing, but the desire to find out at least something about the fate of Mr. Graves gave him determination. At this time the girl continued:

«We’ll go there in my flying machine, it’s parked two blocks from here.»

Is he invited to Luz? Yes, it looks like a new check. Well, there’s nothing to be afraid of. It is impossible to blame him for anything. It’s worth taking a walk and seeing what Lucia wants from him.

– With pleasure. «I just didn’t know how to spend this evening,» Chris smiled.

Lucia’s aircraft was parked among others in the parking lot. It was a small supersonic plane that could fit two people in the cabin, quite standard, as Chris noted. Taffer noted with surprise that Lucia did not have a feminine, uncertain style of control; on the contrary, all the actions of his new acquaintance were clear and precise, and she drove herself, without resorting to the services of an autopilot.

Thirty minutes later, Chris and Lucia arrived in Luz. The citizens of this region did not want to obey Kronos, for which they were deprived of the right to vote and other preferences enjoyed by residents of the other twelve regions. Luz, by agreement with the first ruler of Vinland, recognized himself as part of the Continent and made monthly contributions to the treasury, but at the same time continued to live by his Code. They also managed to ensure that guards, military robots and even drones could not cross the border of the thirteenth region without special permission from the Senate. It was like a state within a state, living according to its own laws, but not enjoying general rights.

After walking several streets, the young people came to a dilapidated building. The girl knocked three times and an elderly man opened the door. Walking inside, Chris saw shelves filled with paper publications. He was delighted because on the Continent, books were mostly distributed electronically so that their contents could be easily controlled.

Taking Lucia aside, the man asked in a whisper so that Chris could not hear:

– Is he one of us?

– No.

«Why did you bring him here then?»

– We need his help. Steve wants to talk to him.

«Maybe he’s connected to the guards!»

– We checked, there was no surveillance of him.

Without taking her eyes off Chris, who was leafing through books of ancient Greek thinkers, she added:

– Please prepare the room. Steve, Cheng and Nigel will arrive soon.

The man went to carry out an errand, and at that time the girl approached Chris, who was already standing at another shelf.

«You won’t find such rare books even in the university library!» But my mother showed me the funds! – the young man said with admiration. The yellowed paper of the edition of bygone times smelled of dust and, barely perceptibly, of expensive tobacco. Whose fingers touched her once? Who left this small scratch on a perfectly preserved binding? This book had its own story, and Chris wanted to know it.

«Mr. Anand carefully kept them all this time,» the girl tenderly ran her hand along the spines of the books lined up on the shelf. «He is opposed to edited publications presented electronically on the Continent, and wants to convey reliable information to future generations. There is not only a bookstore, but also a library where you can borrow real paper books. The next shelf displays a collection of books published in the 19th century.

«Do you know anything about Mr. Graves?» – Chris regretfully returned the book to its place.

«There has been no news about the professor since his arrest,» Lucia shook her head, and sadness surged in her speckled brown eyes.

Chris was surprised by the girl’s answer.

– Where does this information come from?

– He’s my father. I arrived in the capital to find him.

Just as he thought. Another daughter and another test. Now, for sure, they will ask him about the list and cooperation with the resistance. Still, it’s a pity that the story ended so anally. He was beginning to like Lucia, she wanted so much to believe him. Well, obviously you shouldn’t delay it. He must show that he is a good citizen, if only in order not to fail his mission in the AI tower. Chris was about to press the button on the pen given by those interrogating him last time and call the guards, but the girl noticed his movement and quickly said:

– Please don’t do this! I am indeed Professor Graves’ daughter. My full name is Minerva-Lucia Carter.

Chris paused. Of course, her words mean nothing – and the first provocateur called herself Minerva.

«Maybe my father was talking about me.» I was raised by my grandmother far from the capital and took my mother’s surname as a child.

Minerva showed a photograph from her childhood archives, where she stood next to the professor, and then a video from one of her birthdays to convince Chris of the truth of her words, and then continued:

«Having learned that the guards had captured my father, I arrived here and joined the ranks of the resistance.

«You’re the second professor’s daughter I’ve met in a week,» Chris shook his head. «If you don’t show me Mr. Graves, who will confirm these words, I will leave.»

The girl put a magnetic key and the book «The Age of Blockchain, or Belshazzar’s Feast» on the table and, pointing to the door, calmly said:

«Since the day of my father’s arrest, none of the rebels have seen him.» Some think that he is still in the hands of the guards, others that he has escaped and is hiding, and still others claim that he has been dead for a long time. That’s all I know. You can go. Use the key and you’re free.

Taking the key and book in his hands, Chris was about to leave the store, but something stopped him. The girl continued with sadness in her voice:

«The guards said they released my father, but there is no confirmation of this, he did not contact anyone. We think all the pardon talk is part of a plan being played out by the guards to find out about the list and identify resistance agents. We wouldn’t involve you, but we simply have no other choice. Steve, Cheng and Nigel will arrive now, they would like to talk to you. – Taking out the tablet and sorting through the folders in search of the desired file, the girl continued: – We have been collecting information about you from the moment you came to your father’s apartment. We know about your service in the AI tower, that you live close to work and go home to the north of the capital once a month. When you came to your father’s house, it immediately became known to government investigators. That housekeeper immediately passes on all the information about visitors to the guards, so, alas, it was not possible to get to you before the interrogators. Having learned that you were inquiring about your father’s health, they sent their agent to you. «Handing out a tablet with a photo of the guards and that girl agent arresting a group of rebels, Minerva asked: «Was that her?»