– Oh, wait a minute. What have you turned this meeting into? You know how important it is. It's not even a meeting of heads of state. We can't meet all of a sudden, even on such an important but single issue. I'm eliminating you both. The council has equally important matters on its agenda," said the chairman.
– Arrest us both. Remove me temporarily from power, or rather him. Time must be running out soon anyway," Big-data said in a harsh tone.
– Suspend, suspend, take control. We need to know what's going on. Take them to the medical section. Do a sanity check. Something's going on here. And I'm initiating danger level one. I hope the council agrees with me," the chairman sounded frankly annoyed. – Regarding virtual reality, the timer cannot be changed. It's the way Irene is programmed. It's for security reasons. If you saw the original start time, it should not have changed. Secondly, the second defense: you cannot re-enter virtual reality in virtual reality. So I'm going to send you to the lab in the science block – you did a session there – and we'll check it out there. If you enter the session – it means that this is reality, and if not – we are in the virtual world. Although it's not serious. If the council will allow me, I'll go over the latest security settings. I think it's about time the scientific community knew them. You, Master Ruthra, of all people, should know that. We all have a signaling code that signals every hour that we're in the real world. The virtual world doesn't have that program. That's why the thought doesn't even occur there. So, gentlemen, let us dispel your doubts and at the same time, I think, take part in your experiment, – he grinned slightly, and this reaction was transmitted to many in the hall. – I hope you don't mind being escorted to the laboratory?
– I absolutely do not," Big Boss blurted out instantly.
– This is kindergarten. You can check the protocols," said Ruthra in the scientist's body.
– You see, commentary is unnecessary," Big Boss said snidely, trying to imitate Rutra's gestures, namely, opening his palms up in front of him.
– Alrighty, let's go," Big-data muttered with a dose of anger and walked towards the exit.
– Irene, put me through to security, escort them to the lab, and live stream what's happening here. While we discuss the process of robotization of industries in developed countries and the consequences of migration associated with it. And the second question is about cloning in animal husbandry in developed countries. Now we have reached the point where we don't need people, cows without udders.
Big Boss and Big Data walked through with a security escort, though there was still the signal of Irene's remote taser still on. "Haven't we given a lot of power to artificial intelligence," Ruthra thought, glancing absently at the flashing light accompanying them.
– What are you up to? – He finally got his thoughts together and turned to Big Boss.
– What are you talking about, sir?
– Enough already. Tell me what you're doing.
– I don't know what you're talking about.
– Look, friendship is friendship, but you seem to have lost your fear. I'm gonna cut off your access to the lab. You and your unit were assembled by me as a team of the best, most progressive and advanced scientists in the world. I've given you brain enhancements and a direct link to the knowledge base. It is not yet known whether you could be such a "luminary of science", as you present yourself, if it were not for brain enhancement and full access to the works of other scientists, and in fact the tacit use of them. And of any scientific center in the world.
– I'll point out, this disease has a name, too. I'm sorry, you may have a split personality.
– You're out of your mind.
– I would ask you to respect the subordination in the dialog.
– All right, Mr. Cheeky, let's see.
They entered the lab, the rigs were empty.
– Well, you see," Big Boss decided to get smart.
– Lie down, the concert is over," Big-data "threw" him.
– Now you will be shocked, however science must also have sacrifices.
– Come on, come on. Enough already," Big-data almost bellowed and lay down in the machine.
The laboratory workers present began to put on their masks and check the readings of the instruments. The voice of the chairman was heard in everyone's head. The Conference system was turned on, they were all in a common dialog, Irene too.
– Irene, can you tell me where these people are located?
– They are in the real world," Irene stated dryly.
– What are you talking about? Are you saying I'm crazy? Mr. Chairman, please analyze what's going on. It's already annoying me frankly. What the hell is going on? Do you realize what's going on? This guy wants to steal my body. No less than that," said Rutra, who looked like a doctoral-level scientist to everyone.
– With all due respect to you and your merits – medics, or rather psychiatrists, should intervene in what is going on.
– Mr. Master, we need to conduct a virtual reality session. Or rather, to terminate it. I don't really know how. It should end on its own. What the hell am I worried about? It should end sooner or later. Maybe in virtual reality it seems to us that a lot of time has passed, but in reality it hasn't expired yet.
The big boss, too, took off his mask and climbed out of the rig himself, sat down on its edge, then addressed the chairman, though it was an address to the whole council, for all could hear them.
– Mr. Presiding Magistrate, I think this situation has been described many times in medical practice. I think the scientist just needs to rest… or he should be treated already. Sorry, I too thought it was a joke or part of his program.
– What are you talking about, you con artist. Give me back my body! – shouted Big Data.
– Dear Doctor, will you make your own way to a psychiatrist or…I hope we are well-mannered people.
– Mr. Magister, it's terrible. I don't even know how to explain it to you. This man tricked me into these installations and changed the contents of our brains. He put his consciousness into my body and mine into his. It's, it's, it's a horror. It's a nightmare. Can you imagine such a thing?! – Big Data was almost shouting.
– Calm down. I see– I don't even know what I see anymore. It's impossible. You said so yourself. I mean, I'm already confused with you. Master Ruthra Paschow said it was impossible. The body would either die or be in a coma for some time, with a five or six minute return of consciousness, as I recall. It's impossible to transfer consciousness from one body to another, or rather, from a body to a clone and then back again after a long time. Especially not like this.
– As you can see, it's possible. He achieved it and kept it secret. And now, when we checked everything, he used it," Big-data began to explain calmly.
– That's the kind of dreamer you'd have to look for," Big Boss put in.
– You found him," the chairman replied.
– On my own head," Big Boss answered him guiltily.
– Will you go to the psychiatrist, Mr. Doctor? – asked the chairman courteously.
– I'm not going anywhere! Check out Irene's protocols. It should all be documented. You can't let this go, he'll be in your body tomorrow. Imagine what he could do.
– So you mean to say that it is possible to transfer consciousness between people, to return to the original body, with both bodies functioning absolutely normally? Is that what you're trying to convince me and the council of?
– I don't want to. He does. Or rather, it doesn't mean anything at all. There's no such thing, we're in a virtual world," Big-data replied to the chairman, trying to keep a calm tone.
– I assure you, you're in the real world. You don't believe me? You don't believe the board, you don't believe Irene? I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to take you to a psychiatrist.
After these words, Big-data shook slightly and collapsed on the virtual reality unit's cot without moving. After about ten seconds, he groaned and said with difficulty:
– It's a conspiracy, it's a power grab. He'll have all the access to Irene.
Suddenly Big Boss stood up, his coworkers walked over to him and began to stack Big Daddy in the BP rig.
– What's going on? – The chairman asked sternly.
– Wait a minute, your honor, I'll explain everything and even show you," Big-boss said while checking the readings of the devices.
Words were addressed to the chairman and the board.
– That's right, we're not in a virtual reality, except that reality isn't quite what it seems.
– Mr. Master Paschow, what are you up to? I must remind you, the council meets in person quite rarely, because having everyone in one place goes against the concept of security. The council requires immediate clarification. In spite of your lofty status, provide clarification! Or I'll be forced to ask you to voluntarily go to a psychiatrist as well.
– All right, Mr. Chairman. Just listen to this. The distinguished doctor is not entirely wrong. The fact is that we did conduct an experiment. Please check the record and the protocol of this experiment.
– Irene, show us, the council, the tape and the protocol of their experiment," the chairman asked.
– I can't do it. These files are locked in me.
– Blocked how? Who can block you at all?
– Only someone who has the code to the customization.
– You mean Master Paschow has blocked you?
– Yeah, the lockdown code is a cipher in his DNA. Only he can make the changes.
– Changes cannot be global and permanent. Are these files saved?
– Yes, Your Honor, preserved.
– Mr. Magister Paschow, the council demands that these files be unlocked immediately.
– I'll clarify. Irene is not fully blocked on this event. You can see what time the lockout occurred. Irene, let me know the time of the lockout.
– This morning; 8 hours 46 minutes and 27 seconds.
– Now would you please advise what time the BP session started?
– This morning; 8 hours 28 minutes and 59 seconds.
– Gentlemen, don't you find my action on chronology strange?
– We find not only your action on the timeline strange, but everything that is going on today in general. Explain what's going on.
– Logically, I should have blocked Irene before the BP session if I wanted to hide something. However, it turns out that I do want to hide something, since I did block the recording and logging of events. Isn't that right?
– Rutra Tigrovic, please be clear, we're not here to investigate.
– Wait, that's the whole point. Let's do this, since you want to find out fast. Let's go into virtual reality, then come out and check the recording of the last session.
– Why?
– I wish the esteemed luminary of science would stop having a split personality.
– I don't have a split personality! Grifter, give me back my body! – shouted Big Daddy, who had almost regained consciousness.
– Okay, honorable council? – ignoring the cries of the "scientist," Big Boss asked.
– Let's do it already, I think it has to do with the new experiments," the chairman's voice trembled a little, either from concealed anger or from uncertainty about the decision.
– Irene, once I'm in the installation, before you put us into the VR state, connect to me by password, I'll access the DNA code, and you can show the esteemed council the past record and the event logs. Then, when we're in session, run the reverse process – from what we ran in the locked files. I've already entered the data into you, you know the algorithm of action.
– I get it.
Big Boss lay down in the rig, he and Big Data were hooked up to the system, the indicators began to show changes only they could understand, Rutra's waspy voice could be heard in the scientist's body.
– Just try not to give me my body back.
In review for the board, which was also a kind of reality, went the footage from the last session. Nothing unusual was happening. The session passed, the subjects stood up, and only the unusualness of what was happening was visible from the dialogs. Those present began to follow the broadcasted picture with more and more curiosity. In the meantime, the BP signal indicator in the laboratory went out, and then the indicators of another installation turned on. When everyone began to watch the scene of the conversation in the hall in front of the council hall, the chairman turned to Irene:
– Irene, did Master Ruthra know about the experiments being conducted by the "luminary of science"?
– Yeah. I did.
– Has he participated in them before?
– Yes, without his resolution it is impossible to turn on the installations.
– This second setup in the lab is needed to transfer personality from brain to brain?
– Yeah. It's an advanced setup they've perfected.
– Who directly perfected it – Master Rutra or the "luminary of science"?
– "A luminary of science."
– What's going on out there now?
– They're walking out of the session.
At this time in the lab, the staff was removing the masks from Rutra and the scientist. Rutra, not waiting for all the Velcro to be removed, jumped up and looked in the mirror:
– Holy shit, I'm gonna dream about this.
Then Ruthra looked around the room and those present, the doctor climbing out of the rig, looked in the mirror again, and, stretching his words, repeated:
– So it's all true? Irene, do you have it all on tape?
– Yes, Comrade Commander.
Irene, used to Ruthra's turns of speech and jokes, could afford to talk to him that way, knowing that Ruthra liked it.
– So it's all true?
– Really, really," the doctor said, slowing down his words as he approached Rutra.
– You will be suspended from the experiments," Ruthra said in a stern yet friendly manner.
