Artur Zadikyan
Binary code: Mystery number one
Chapter 11. Flight into the unknown
One morning Rutra was brewing his coffee out of habit. Chief Zhidkov came into his office and asked:
– Don't you think we're in a Groundhog Day situation?
– Why not?" said Ruthra, smiling slightly.
– Rutra Tigrovic, it's time to move on to a new phase.
– What, are we speaking at the USND? – Rutra asked jokingly, but realized that he was referring to something more important than the U.S. National Defense University, since Yuri Vasilyevich rarely addressed those younger than him by name and patronymic, much less by rank.
– No, something else. I must introduce you to one more (perhaps the last) secret.
– What is it?
– This is the station. Are you ready to visit it?
– You know, Yuri Vasilyevich, that I'm always ready.
– You need to spend at least a week on it.
– What are we going to do there? – Ruthra stared at Zhidkov questioningly.
– To be enlightened," Vasilyevich replied simply and briefly.
– Curious," Ruthra replied calmly. – What about my business trip? You told me to prepare my staff and family for a business trip of at least a week.
– And what, you got it ready?
– Oh, yeah.
– And how did the family react?
– My wife is already here, and I told the kids I'd come with presents. They are well aware that "Daddy can do it", as they say.
– Great, then let's go.
They descended to an even deeper level, the elevator doors opened at a narrow gauge, shabby station, boarded the car, and "rolled. Ruthra didn't see anything remarkable (except for the gray branches), though he was surprised at the depth of the level and the sheer number of branching routes whose names were indicated by numbers. At last the wagon came to a stop. To go on, in the other direction, it was necessary to make a change. Vasilievich was silent, and Ruthra tried not to ask unnecessary questions, waiting for the end of the journey. Again the stations began to pass before his eyes.
After a while they reached the gates of the most classified part of the tunnel. The gate opened, though Vasilievich had given no command. Rutra's curiosity was growing, peaking as they headed for the Capsule station.
– Now you're about to learn a secret that those who have been allowed into Metro 2 don't even know about.
– What's the mystery?
– There is a Metro-3. This is where you and I came down," said the colonel.
– Is there a Metro Four?" – Ruthra asked, trying not to give his question a tone of sarcasm.
– No, there's no fourth. Did you realize we went down to the third?
– Got it, just didn't think it was a subway. Although it's not clear what was where we were having a smoke break.
– It's not really a subway, there are such dead ends that even I don't know everything in so many years.
– What's a capsule station?
– You're about to find out.
They got off at this station, which was similar to the one where Vasilievich had told them about the Perimeter problem. No one was there, there was a sliding iron door on the opposite wall. Zhidkov approached it, looked into the reader's scanner, there was a click, and the door slid open. There was a huge pipe. To get into it, he had to push back another hatch, which Vasilievich did. Rutra saw a kind of capsule inside, a specially equipped place for one person.
– Sit down, or rather – lie down, you'll try it out, – said the chief.
– I hope no trickery is intended?
– How can our work be without a catch?
– Is it safe? – Ruthra asked in a firm voice.
– Trust me, absolutely. The road to heaven is always safe. This is a new installation for emergency and high-speed travel between stations.
Ruthra looked around the rig; there didn't seem to be anything dangerous in it. He climbed in, and Vasilievich slammed first the hatch of the capsule itself and then the main hatch. Rutra got a little worried, looked questioningly through the glass windows of both hatches at Vasilievich. He smiled in his pleasant way. Inside the capsule was a soft bed-chair that automatically "enveloped" him so that he was almost in a spacesuit. There were no controls of any kind. Rutra looked at the Colonel again, no sound was heard, Vasilievich was indicating something with his hands – either "no" or "don't do it". In a split second several metamorphoses occurred to Rutra – waves of anxiety, outrage, indignation, concern and uncertainty came over him all at once. He realized the meaning of Vasilievich's gesture – "goodbye." Rutra's body shook with the jerk of the "capsule," which raced, accelerating more and more, down the tube. Where was this strange machine going? Rutra did not lose his composure. Logic told him he was not going to death.
Part Two: Binary Code-2. Polygon of civilization
We often look for parallel worlds without noticing the real world around us. We want to solve a conspiracy theory without knowing the theory itself. Are there organizations running the world? From this book you'll learn about the one and only mystery. Rutra, by fate or by someone's design, has fallen into it. What awaits him? Who is his friend and who is his enemy: human or artificial intelligence? Who will come back out – him or his double? A fascinating journey into a super-secret, super-technological world hidden in the bowels of the earth awaits you.
The most powerful influence on us is a secret that is carefully hidden from us.
Chapter 1: The testing ground of civilization
The capsule was accelerating at breakneck speed, and it was dark. Ruthra was nervous, shaking violently. Suddenly there was light, the capsule was passing through the station. Ruthra noticed that this station was very similar to the one where he had boarded the tube; he saw the sign "#22" on the wall and remembered that at the beginning of the journey it had said "#21". The capsule swept through the station; pitch blackness came again. Ruthra calmed down a bit and looked around. The capsule wasn't so cramped. A holographic display lit up in front of his face, and the words "Speak" flashed on it, not very brightly. After a little thought, he asked:
– What to say and to whom?
– Good afternoon," a female voice replied.
– Who am I talking to?
– I am the central reference computer, my call sign is Knight.
Ruthra thought it was a prank at first, but the situation was too serious for jokes. The pod sped past another station, which was exactly the same as the previous two. Ruthra oriented himself: the Knight call sign indicated that the stations had official names as well. It was customary in intelligence and military circles to use secret designations for facilities, towns, villages, military units, etc.; to contact a station, you had to give the operator a secret call sign.
Where is the capsule going? Judging by what Vasilievich said, he figured that the capsule would return to where he sat in it.
– Where is the capsule going? – Ruthra asked.
– The capsule is not coming, the capsule is going," the voice replied.
– Don't be so smart, tell me where the pod is going. – Ruthra said irritably.
– The final destination is the Polygon facility. I am a computer, I answer according to the program, don't get angry.
Ruthra took a deep exhale, calmed down, determined to make contact:
– I understand you're an operator?
Although Zero had employed a similar machine capable of supporting logical dialog, he had never had a conversation with it that way.
The computer did not respond. Then Ruthra decided to emphasize the more important question:
– What's "Polygon"? We have to go back.
– Program set," the voice replied.
– Where is this located? – Ruthra was outraged, though he tried to remain calm.
– The Polygon Center is an advanced level training facility.
– What level? I've had enough of my own.
– I'm not authorized to answer that.
– Where is it located?
– The Polygon facility is located at paragraph 88.
– 88? – Ruthra asked in surprise and annoyance.
– 88," repeated a voice from the speakers.
The capsule was traveling through a very long station, and it was not like the others: high ceiling, huge tubes partially embedded in the wall running in a semicircle along the walls. Ruthra realized that they were not tubes: incredibly, they were marked with ballistic missile markings. On exiting the station, the number 36 was painted on the wall. "When will it be 88?" – he thought. After running through several options in his mind, Rutra decided to check the "interlocutor".
– Tell me all about Center Zero," he said.
– The answer requires an eight-digit tolerance code.
– All right, tell me what you're authorized to tell me.
– About what, exactly?
– Tell me about the Polygon point," Ruthra suggested.
– The Polygon Center is used to enhance individuals," the computer replied briefly.
– That's it?
– That's it for you. For more information – you must give the eight-digit authorization code.
– Where am I supposed to get it?
– You should know it if you have a security clearance.
– I guess I have clearance, but no code," Ruthra said, more to himself than to her. – Well, why do I need you as my interlocutor?
– I can answer unclassified questions and I also monitor your well-being.
– And how am I feeling? – Ruthra asked with some sarcasm.
– Your parameters are normal," the computer mind replied calmly.
– Unclassified questions – what are those for you?
– They're not for me.
It was no use getting angry, you had to ask in a way "she" understood.
– What questions are unclassified? – Ruthra asked, hoping for a precise answer.
This time the computer got it 'right', though it didn't help Ruthra. "She" said:
– I can answer any publicly available questions from open databases and some about ongoing processes.
– Can you get on the internet?
– Yeah, that's absolutely right.
– Can you put on some music?
– I can.
– How much more time is needed to reach station number 88?
– Another 32 minutes and 19 seconds," the computer replied with extreme precision.
– Is there any destination information you can give me?
– Not without an access code.
Ruthra considered it useless to dialog further.
– Turn on the Discover Trance radio station," he asked.
– I'm on it.
A dynamic melody began to play in the capsule. Ruthra decided to gather his thoughts, to analyze what was happening.
***
Soon enough, the capsule stopped. The door opened. A man in a strange jumpsuit, white gloves, and a face mask (like a doctor's) opened the capsule's hatch.
– Come out," he said with absolutely no emotion.
There was something familiar and yet mysterious in his gaze. Ruthra stepped out, looked around, and asked:
– Where am I?" cried Ruthra.
– Follow me. Don't shout," the man in overalls said calmly. – You are nobody here, only three people know that you are here.
– Who are these three men?
– The one who sent, the one who met, and the one we are going to.
– What is your rank? – Ruthra asked in a commanding voice.
– My name is Ruthra, come along," he said. – You will soon get over it.
– How!?
Ruthra looked closely at the stranger and realized that it was an exact replica of him. He looked anxiously into the eyes of the man in all white and asked quietly:
– What's going on?
There was no response. The doppelganger turned around, heading for the door on the opposite side. Ruthra saw that everything around him was white, like an operating room.
– What the hell is this all about, I demand an answer!
– Come on, I told you, it'll pass soon.
– What will pass? Who are you? Where am I? I demand communication with Center Zero! – Rutra shouted.
The doppelganger walked ahead, and Ruthra followed him, or rather, he caught up with him and tried to make him answer questions. They reached a door that blended in with the wall, like everything else here. Ruthra-2 stood in front of the scanner, a red beam appeared, and the door opened. Behind it was a large vestibule (like a freight elevator).
– Come in," the doppelganger said.
Ruthra entered and waited for the man in white to enter as well, but it never happened.
– Take your clothes off.
– Why? – Ruthra asked.
– Take your clothes off!
Rutra wanted to get out, but at that moment a spark flashed at eye level and an electric shock ran through his body. Pain shot through his body and Rutra fell down, he was slightly concussed.
– What's going on here, who are you, who's in charge? – Ruthra struggled to speak, stood up and prepared to attack his copy.
– Take off your clothes," the doppelganger repeated again.
Ruthra assessed the situation, but before he could do anything, he was shocked again. He fell, this time the shock was stronger. Ruthra struggled to speak:
– Where am I going?
– You're a reasonable man, obey orders.
– What, whose? – Ruthra asked.
– Mine," said the doppelganger. – I'm Colonel Rutra here, and now it's up to you to decide whether you or I get out of here to the center.
Ruthra began to speculate in his mind: is this a prank, a test, just plain crazy…
– Why colonel? I'm a lieutenant colonel.
– You will if you pass the exam.
Ruthra remembered that Vasilievich had promised to initiate some grand secret after he passed the exam. Besides, the chief had said that Rutra would get clearance to all departments.
– Take off your clothes," the same order followed again.
Ruthra decided to see what would happen. It was reassuring that he hadn't been killed yet. So he could hope that his life was not in danger. He stripped down to his underwear.
– Completely," the same order followed again.
A hatch in the corner opened. Ruthra had taken off his underwear after all.
– Throw your clothes over there.
Ruthra wanted to object, but he saw the look in his copy's eyes. He had to obediently follow the command, pushing the things into the hole.
– Take off the belt.
Ruthra always wore a leather belt with an electronic key to the safe where the codebooks and the dialing device for entering secret codes were kept. It was never allowed to be removed, not even in the bathroom.
– I can't take it off, the belt can only be torn or cut.
– Tear it up," the doppelganger said.
Ruthra tore the belt with difficulty and threw it into the hatch, secretly hoping that the alarm that the Zero Center should sound after this manipulation would save him. The hatch closed automatically. The doppelganger instantly slammed the door shut. Ruthra was left alone. Something clicked in the "vestibule," and several small openings opened at the bottom, top, right, and left. A stream of liquid came from everywhere, so strong that it hurt. Ruthra tried to hide his face, turning in different directions because standing in one position was painful. He waited impatiently for it to stop. The shower watered Rutra for about five minutes, the smell from the water was unpleasant, resembling a mixture of disinfectants. When the shower ended, warm air under great pressure flowed through the holes. The surface of the body became completely dry.
A recess opened in the wall to the right. It contained the same overalls as the double, socks, underwear, and shoes. Ruthra realized it was all meant for him. He dressed, then the door opened.
– Let's go," the Rutra doppelganger said in a calm, monotone voice.
– Explain what's going on!
– You'll be told everything soon enough," the doppelganger replied.
They walked to the end of the room. The doppelganger rested his forehead against the wall and froze for a few seconds. Ruthra realized it was a method of identification, and part of the wall moved away, revealing a long corridor. Everything was white – floor, ceiling, walls, furniture.
– Keep up," the doppelganger said and walked quickly forward.
Ruthra could barely keep up with him, it was a veritable white-washed maze.
– Where are we going? Why can't we go straight ahead?
– You haven't been to 51 yet.
– Where?" asked Ruthra.
– You still have a long way to go, wait for it.
– Wait for whom? – Ruthra asked, trying not to show his anger.
So they reached the room, the entrance to which the doppelganger had discovered by retinal scanning. There was nothing here (except a few oddly shaped chairs).
– To adapt, you must attend an introductory lecture," the doppelganger announced nonchalantly.
– Some other nonsense? – Ruthra asked.
There was no reply, of course. The doppelganger remained silent. Ruthra waited, curious and indignant. A minute or so passed.
– Have a seat, listen.
Ruthra sat down in the chair, and the doppelganger moved to the wall. Speech came from somewhere in the ceiling, apparently there were invisible speakers built in. A woman's voice announced:
– Information preparation. Part one. Medical professionals have learned how to beam knowledge directly into the brain. Leading scientists have made a new innovative discovery. They have created a special computer that allows you to pump information into the human brain. The unique discovery belongs to the researchers of the center HRL Laboratories, which is located in the city of Malibu, California. The authors of the project believe that in the future, when this technology can be improved, people will be able to use it to accelerate the acquisition of necessary skills, for example, to quickly learn foreign languages or learning to drive. In addition, each person will be able to create a clone: it will be possible to "print" a person using a 3D printer in just 2 hours and 47 minutes. Special lasers have been developed that can print 100 cells in a few seconds. Nanoengineering experts are studying the possibility of cloning a human heart on a 3D printer. According to them, if the technology is developed, the vital organ can be printed incredibly quickly – in 30 seconds. But that's not all – scientists have created a drug in case of nuclear war. An international group of scientists has developed a drug to combat the effects of radiation on the human body. The drug was created on the basis of the medical department of the University of Texas in the USA.
The voice was silent. Ruthra waited a moment, looked at the doppelganger, who was also silent, then asked:
– All of them?
– That's it. Let's go," the doppelganger said calmly and walked forward, constantly turning down monotonous corridors.
Ruthra followed him. When he finally lost his coordination in space, the doppelganger stopped in front of a wall and said into an invisible speaker, "It's okay." The wall slid apart a little, forming a passage. It was the door to a room.
– Come in," the doppelganger "asked.
Ruthra saw an ordinary office, with a long table with a chair and chairs in the middle, a single shelf of books along the wall, and several shelves of electronic modules, each with glowing lights. There were no windows. In the chair sat a man in his sixties, almost completely gray-haired, with a slightly elongated face, blue eyes, neither fat nor thin.
– Good afternoon," he said and smiled.
– Kind," Ruthra replied without emotion.
– Sit down, I hope you've calmed down. It's always like that at the beginning of the journey.
"So it's practiced here. What kind of place is this? In whose department?" – Ruthra pondered.
– Who are you?
The master of the office rose from his desk, approached Rutra, and held out his hand.
– Yuri Yarovitovich," he introduced himself; taking Rutra under his elbow, he motioned for him to sit down.
– Rutra Tigrovich," Rutra introduced himself in turn and sat down at the table.
– I understand you're a bit taken aback," the man said, looking intently at Rutra and then at his double.
The man nodded and walked out, the door closing automatically.
– I'll try to explain everything briefly, but don't interrupt and don't ask questions. You can write down your questions, here's a sheet of paper and a pen. What I will tell you will seem incredible, but I think that your psyche is already a little prepared after acquaintance with Center Zero, Metro-2 and Metro-3. And before that you have seen a lot of things, read special literature, including, as far as I know, radical literature.
Ruthra decided to be quiet and listen to what he would be told to make sense of the situation.
– Tell me, Ruthra, when you were on a mission, where did the orders come from?
– From my superiors," Ruthra replied grudgingly.
– Okay, which one?
– From the direct," Ruthra replied, his whole demeanor showing that he thought these questions were foolish.
– Don't jump to conclusions, listen," said Yarovitovich. – Orders, orders, instructions go from superiors to subordinates. Right?
– Okay.
– And where is the most important link, where the first order comes from, where instructions for instructions, rules for rules are written? Do you know about the existence of commands in envelopes in case of X hour?
– You mean the secret envelopes that are kept in strategic centers? Envelopes that contain orders in case a special event occurs where you have to perform an action according to an enclosed instruction?
– Yeah. What do you know about them? What are they for?
– To ensure that no one knows about the contents of a secret order or instruction before the deadline, so that it does not have to be transmitted through communication channels. The reliability of secrecy and secrecy must be virtually 100 percent," Rutra said.
– If any of those who were to execute the order knew the contents of the instruction in advance, they would have the opportunity to "betray" the secret or deliberately avoid executing the order. When submarines were captured or a group of scouts failed, the command could be given to open package number so-and-so. The one who received such an order opened the package and saw that it was necessary to shoot the coder, launch a missile with a nuclear charge, etc. Some kind of unusual, unexpected solution.
– Yeah, I know.
– You have envelopes like that at Zero, too.
– I am aware of that," Rutra replied. – Yuri Vasilyevich told me that the president has such packages, but no one knows what they contain.
– Yes, there is, and did he tell you that once there was a violation? Gorbachev, out of curiosity, opened the packages and found that in one of them was an order for nuclear bombing of major cities, capitals of NATO strategic centers, world confessional centers. Gorbachev "surrendered" this plan to the NATO, showed that he was on their side, accused the Communist Party leadership of aggressive intentions.
– And there was no control over him? – Ruthra said a little sarcastically.
– The system worked a little differently back then. It was a victim of its own omnipotence. It is information that turns position into power. This system is very complicated. For example, so that no one knows who is the most important, there must always be public figures who are positioned for the public as the supreme power. Let me say even more – the supreme power itself should not know that there is a permanent organized system that controls the change and functioning of the official supreme power.
– So then what happened to Gorbachev?
– After the scandal broke out, which, by the way, was pre-planned (it is foolish to believe that the NATO bloc did not assume that the USSR had such a plan), I reported to Gorbachev on the results of a study of the moral implications for the country. Upon receiving his post, he thought he had taken the devil by the beard. Gorbachev had no idea what structure he was talking to, assuming that I was an ordinary KGB officer.
– All right. What does this situation have to do with it, why am I being treated this way, who is this double and where did he come from?
– You may find it hard to believe what I am about to say, but that is exactly what it is. If someone has secrets and uses them to rule the state and the people, he always wants to have a guarantee that he will be in power; even when those whom he rules are dissatisfied with that power. The real power is hidden. Everyone you see is an "entertainer." There is dirt and dossiers on everyone. The situation is as follows: there must be a guarantee that no one will know or guess about the system's innermost secrets. Even if someone does guess, what they say must border on the fantastic, that is, it must be implausible. Imagine you go out there to people and tell them all this. What would they say? They'll think you're crazy. That's all. The way you're being treated, it's the optimal method, calculated in advance. You're just an ordinary person here, an apprentice. Your future and even your life depend on how you do in your training.
Rutra was a little shocked by what he heard, and in his heart he began to reassure himself that by using the word "life" Yarowitowicz had meant it philosophically, though he began to feel that his own life was in danger. It became a little frightening. Scared that if he died here, his family wouldn't even know what had happened to him. Yarovitovich's calm manner of conversation, his penetrating gaze were alarming. A slight shiver ran through his body, the hair on his arms rippled slightly, and his brain puzzled over the question, "Is this what I wanted?" He hadn't counted on his new assignment leading to this. Like a sane person – the instinct for self-preservation kicked in. Money and career took a back seat, Rutra wanted to go home to his family, his children who needed him and rarely saw him. He blamed himself for sacrificing his personal interests quite often, for choosing service, but that was the way the system had brought him up. The thought of his family never left him, and he decided to get out of here by all means.
– I'd like to know what kind of guy met me?
– That's part of the plan, too. No random people get in here, just like Center Zero. Our system works clearly and without error. At a certain level, all the links in the human-action-result chain should already be clearly known. We have big plans for you. A doppelganger is not just your twin. The technology of genetic engineering after the disclosure of the genome code has gone so far that it is possible by changing it to make any copies, even mutants – half-human-half-animal. We took your biomaterial, processed it, calculated the code, inserted it into the chromosomal chain of the object, and it gradually began to change until it became completely like you. It is necessary for you to become friends, to begin to understand each other. In the future, you'll have to work in tandem. You're probably wondering why we're so encrypted. Understand, even if there is a voluntary/unvoluntary change of power up there, it should not affect us. We should be able to get out of here, with something that is technologically, technically and intellectually much more progressive and stronger, to once again become the power for those who were dissatisfied with the previous one.
– You've got it all twisted up," said Ruthra.
– What did you think? Power is always the same, only its representatives change. Think about it, wouldn't you devise the most unbelievable ways to keep power? Why be a public figure in non-public affairs when your duty is to do the job, not PR. PR is for the weak, the vulnerable, and the vicious.
– Okay, then why do you need me? Why did you take my clothes?
– They take away everyone's clothes. There's a special regime here, sanitary. You know what I mean? They'll give it back to you. Why do we need you? What's not to understand?
– I'd like to know more specifically.
– More specifically? At the first stage of the establishment of our service, we were either in power (not the first persons, of course) or always close to it to control it. This created problems. We needed control over the controllers. The second stage was to establish our service as an underground organization; to allow those who were needed to be in power, but in such a way that they did not understand that we were the ones who decided everything for them. Now we have begun the third stage – to prepare those who will be in power, but not the one you see on TV, but the one that will be the liaison between us and them.
– It's very confusing," Rutra said.
– For example, for example, the president will suddenly "lock up", he will be stressed, he will be influenced in some way (including remotely), he will decide to take an action beyond his authority. Who will stop him?
– Control Services," Ruthra replied.
– You probably missed what I said about Sergeevich, didn't you? If we give a person power over everyone to make it easier for us to control him, there is always the possibility that he will abuse that power, that he will do something unpredictable. There must be a body that can react instantly to the situation. Do you understand?
– You mean the possession of state secrets and the command system of strategic nuclear forces?
– Everyone! You know very well that all changes happen by preliminary miscalculation – in documents, legislation, foreign and domestic policy, even school education programs.
Rutra understood what he was saying. A person saw society and its condition from his own position, and the system saw everything as a whole at once, knew even more than everyone knew about himself. All the data were entered into a special program "Mosaic", and it calculated possible variants of development of society, a particular situation, a person, etc. Then, in order to achieve the desired result, one or another impact was made. The calculation process consisted of three stages. The first was a miscalculation for the next 25 years, the second – for 75-100 years, the third – completely classified, there were rumors that the calculation was made for a thousand years ahead. To the average person it would seem incredible and even ridiculous, but nevertheless – such things happened. Ruthra was only allowed to the first stage, but even that was sometimes shocking. And how can you not be surprised when you know that an event is going to be presented as if it were a fait accompli. Nothing happens by accident, everything goes according to a script. What struck him was that someone was handing over power as a baton, otherwise – how could one plan for hundreds of years ahead. Here he began to understand – who carries it out and how. Up there, the "F" department was in charge of forecasting. Apparently, Vasilyevich had talked about this situation, saying that if he passed the exam, he would be admitted to all departments.
