Читать книгу Crossroads: The Beginning After the End - - Страница 3

«How can I begin, «Hello, dear diary’?» It’s ridiculous! «Well, my name is Adam, I’m thirty-five years old, and… basically, I have nothing to say to you. Writing nonsense into blank pages is definitely not my thing. But Annet says that according to recent studies, communicating with our inner self is an important element in preserving our nervous system. Maybe so, but so far, I feel like a weird person who can’t find anyone to talk to. It’s crazy…».

– Darling, this is all very stupid! Why don’t we leave it at that? There’s nothing wrong with my nervous system!

The man rubbed his face and turned around, staring hopefully into the emptiness of the bathroom doorway.

– Don’t talk nonsense! – was heard in response. – The doctor said you needed it. Write what you think. Try to open up in your diary.

– What can you say…

Adam muttered quietly and reluctantly placed his hands on the hologram keyboard.

«I can write everything I think… Well, come on, head, think now! The methods of dealing with the consequences of using the neural interface are, to put it bluntly, „so-so“. Well, I didn’t pass the test, so what? My neural interface is malfunctioning – it is clear that there will be temporary deviations, but still passes, why this circus?! I’d rather take a trip to the sea. It’s only a couple of hundred kilometers away, and we can’t get there for the sixth year. They say to me: „We need you, we appreciate you.“ Yeah, right? I’ve been working on a cyber-dog for six months without a day off, and what? I put my heart and soul into it, and they scrapped it. I’m trying to do something for the good of mankind. In general, we need to celebrate the anniversary and change something. A vacation, the sea, and then maybe I’ll change jobs. I’ll find another place. Luckily, I am not an idiot».

The man sighed tiredly, scratched the back of his head, thought about something, and shouted:

– Annie, how many words should be in the report?

It came from the bathroom:

– It’s not a report! But you have to write at least fifty.

Adam returned to the text and counted the number of words.

– Enough,» – he summed it up nicely. – Annie, I’ve written everything. Let’s go to bed! Tomorrow is a work day and I’m busy as usual.

– Are you staying the night again? – Annet asked unhappily, appearing in the doorway for a moment.

– I hope not. I’ve had enough sleepovers at the office. I have a house and you. I can’t just forget about my wife, can I?

– Before, you weren’t held back by my existence.

– Annie, don’t start! You’re my queen.

It was the only thing he could utter as he marveled at his wife’s beauty. Her long brown hair, her luscious rounded hips, her breasts showing through the translucent silk underwear, and her eyes… tantalizing, lustrous, intoxicating!

Annet leaned over her husband and, the scent of sweet perfume immediately hit his nose.

– Was someone being a good boy today? – she whispered.

– I am… Yeah… I am like that sometimes!

His fingers lay down the rounded hips and slid upward. Gently and carefully, as if they were a predator afraid to frighten away the wary prey. When they reached the silken threads, they took a leap and, landing, shrunk, leaving marks on her skin. Annet moaned sweetly.

– Then I am all yours! – She whispered and kissed her husband.

***

Monday morning in the metropolis, as always, was accompanied by the human rush, the bustle of robot assistants, the whirring of drone motors, and the electric whoosh of public and private transportation.

When Adam, in high spirits after a stormy night, found himself only a block from the Center, the familiar voice of a robotic assistant who had appeared nearby, as if from nowhere, added to the general buzz.

– Good morning, master! Beautiful day, isn’t it? – The metallic voice, reminding of the most unpleasant part of the job, echoed in the head with a stabbing pain.

– It was good before I met you. Let’s get right to the point,» – the man grumbled indignantly. – You’re earlier than usual today. Did something happen?

– Nothing’s wrong, it’s a beautiful day! I must remind you that at ten o’clock before noon, you have a briefing in the office nine hundred and seven; at noon you have a meeting with Robert Audley – the representative of RoboticsGansIndustries… – the robot monotonously spoke for almost a minute, announcing the hourly schedule, without a single free window. – And you also need to check the work of the «Life Capsule 3.0» and «Numismat» project teams, but I don’t know where to put it. My system couldn’t find the necessary time slot in your work schedule.

Adam wasn’t surprised in the least. He heard messages like this every time he went to work and every time the assistant system failed to properly package the entire task list. It was just the way it was – robots were great at math, but they couldn’t learn to think like humans – to combine the incompatible and work, sometimes breaking the rules.

– Also, by my calculations, you won’t have time for a full meal, so I made the order with delivery at fifteen hours and five minutes. You’ll have ten minutes to eat. Anything you’d like to add to the schedule?

– Didn’t I tell you it was a good morning before I met you? Now that’s interesting… Annet would love that!

His attention was drawn to one of the holograms of modern art objects on display at the city exhibition he was passing by. It was boring to listen to the robot’s far-from-perfect answers, but here was something new, even the added flavor was a blooming rose.

«In memory of the passing summer, must be?» – flashed through the head.

– You told it, master! – the robot accelerated his thoughts. – But I don’t understand why the morning stopped being good after our meeting,» – the machine complained, deftly avoiding collisions with the visitors. – My system says that…

– All right, that’s it! Too many words this morning, sorry. I’ve accepted the schedule, I’ll find time to check the work of «Numismatist» and «Capsule of Life 3.0» teams. Thanks for lunch, you’re free.

– Glad to help, master. And, I’ve calculated all the possibilities. A morning like today fits the description of good by eighty-six percent, which means it’s more good than bad.

– All right, so be it, – Adam replied with a tired smile. – Fly, come on, I’ll be right there!

The modern art exhibition was far behind. The sweet scent of rose had been replaced by the tasteless smell of the commercial district. A massive building loomed up ahead with a hologram with a large inscription above the entrance:

«Center for Robotic Technology and Innovation.»

– Well, here we are…

Adam crossed the spacious lobby with quick steps, moving toward the elevator bay. There weren’t many people inside the walls of the Center. The Center was different from any other building in the city at all. Unlike the others, it had been built by robots to build robots. They were designed, approved, manufactured, repaired, destroyed, and, for the most part, robots worked here, too. Adam and his sixty-five colleagues were rare and valuable personnel in administration, engineering, robotics, programming, and cybernetics.

Despite the small number of people, he was not alone in waiting for the elevator. Next to him, two robot assistants, an autonomous printing system, a robot guard, and two robots of the «Administrator» version were impatiently spinning in place.

The lift ride was fast and silent. The silence of the high-speed ascent was broken only by the rumble of passing floors and the eternal beeping of a dozen processors. On the ninth floor the doors opened, revealing a long corridor with dozens of offices.

– Have a good day, sloggers!

The doors slammed shut, and then the programmed responses came from the elevator. The flaws in the systems, the constant imperfections that prevented the creation from reaching perfection, had saddened Adam in his first years of work. Now, however, they caused nothing but smiles. After ten years of working on the most complex machines in the world, you get used to both their beauty and their ugliness.

The door to the office opened suddenly, almost hitting him in the face. Adam stopped just in time:

– What’s your hurry? It’s morning! – Chen, the head of the marketing department and a bright representative of the intellectual elite of the Asian Union, appeared in front of the eyes. – You should be more careful! I don’t have the best reaction on Monday morning, I could have been knocked down.

– I’m sorry, – Chen said guiltily. – It was Derek! He’s joking about my last company again, and he won’t even listen. The numbers are up, which means everything went well, right?

– I think the numbers speak for themselves.

– That’s what I’m saying. He’s getting on my nerves, on purpose!

– Calm down, you’ve known him for a while. He’s not worth your worry. Just exhale and forget what he said. You can’t start a Monday morning like that. Why don’t you have some coffee? There’s a new update on the machine, I think you’ll be happy with it.

– What was added there? – Chen was interested.

– Here, go and find out, – Adam winked at him.

– Okay, – the head of the marketing department gave up and waved his hand. – You’re right. Better coffee than poison from Derek’s mouth. You want me to grab you one?

– Well, if it’s not too much trouble.

– The usual double espresso, no sugar?

– That’s right, the classics are everything.

Chen squinted his eyes in disagreement but didn’t say anything. He loved new things and was inspired by new things. However, he respected other people’s positions as much as his own, for which he had the respect of most of his colleagues.

The second elevator arrived on the floor, and the director of the Center stepped out of it: tall, and slender, her hair gathered in a bundle and pinned up with a hairpin. She always smelled of exclusive perfume. Adam thought he could already smell it, even though there was a decent distance between them. The Director looked up at him after greeting Chen with a smile. Ten years of working together and Adam felt like day one. It had always been like that with Agatha: every appearance made him cringe, and feel like a small boy, but as soon as she smiled, the strange awkwardness receded. Then the weekend passes without her company, and at the beginning of the new week it starts all over again. She smiled at him, and the daze lifted. He smiled back and stepped away from the door, clearing the passage.

– Can’t decide whether you should come in? – The director jokingly asked, noting the awkwardness.

– No, I’m just thinking about what Chen said, – Adam couldn’t admit it. – I’m tuning into my work, it’s my new rite.

The director grinned.

Agatha Becker was the director of the Center and one of its first employees. She never celebrated her birthday, so no one knew how old she was. They only knew that she had been born before the Age of Abundance and had been on the development team of the first «Capsule of Life», but her real old age was not reflected in her appearance. She looked like a woman in her prime. Whether it was the merit of her invention or something else, it worked. The director was good-looking.

Speaking of the invention, thanks to it – the «Capsule of Life», people were able to forget about diseases and live many times longer. Correction of DNA defects, cell renewal, and deep diagnostics of all body systems with the possibility of eliminating problems – they learned to treat everything simply and quickly. Still incorrigible, unfortunately, remained only vices that had no biological basis, such as stupidity, or evilness. Madame director was an amazing person – a legend in her industry. She had time to innovate and manage one of the largest enterprises in the North Atlantic Alliance, but at the same time she did not forget about herself.

As much positive and high emotion was given by Agatha, so much negative emotion was broadcast by Derek Crawford, the head of the production lines. He remained one of the incurable.

– Madam director, – he rose in greeting. – Let me tell you that you are irresistible today! – He stretched his already thin lips in a smile, then bowed.

Derek Crawford was a controversial character. Despite the many negative shades of character, he was a great professional, and the position of head of production lines was well deserved. He had a great education, and most importantly – real knowledge, and a special talent – to perfectly perform the work, giving it a minimum of time.

– Thank you, Crawford, – Agatha answered him without a trace of emotion. – Well, gentlemen, – she said to him and Adam. – Let’s wait for Chen and get started. We have a lot to talk about.

She took a chair at the beginning of the long glass table. She dug into her purse, pulled out a pad, and began studying the report tables. A free couple minutes. Adam remembered his plans and decided to use the time in an unpleasant but useful conversation with Derek:

– How was your weekend? – taking a seat next to him, Adam began in an unpretentious manner.

– Not bad. Not bad at all. What did you want?

«That’s how he feels…» – Adam thought.

– I was wondering about the cyber dog project of increased realism. Was looking at the work in progress yesterday, so I remembered…

Crawford smirked.

– Well, what do you want from me? The project’s closed, it’s over, you know that.

– That’s the thing, I know. Just like I know you’re the only one who can give me access to it, Agatha excluded. I’d like to finish what I started.

– Perket, did you drink too much over the weekend and you’re not out of it yet, or what? Your doggy’s closed, forget it!

That wasn’t the answer Adam wanted. He couldn’t back down, or Crawford would become even more arrogant.

– Maybe we can make a deal.

– Make a deal? What interest do you have in a decommissioned project? I guarantee you, it’ll never be put back into production. People don’t need that many dogs, remember?

– I have to get the prototype to the finish line, and consider it a professional interest.

– You can tell someone else.

– You don’t believe me, fine! I’ll tell you what. I’ll get you a table at the Royal Harley, and you get a week of after-hours access to all the project materials. How does that sound?

A sly smile slid across Crawford’s face. The truth was, it wouldn’t cost him anything to give access to the project, but he didn’t like to do anything without benefiting himself. And he also didn’t understand the true intentions of the requestor and was afraid of being cheap. But a reserved seat at a table in the city’s finest restaurant, where all reservations were kept for months in advance, was a good price.

– It’s a deal, but no jokes, – he decided to agree. – I’ll give you access, but you’ll work only in the archive. If you want, you can take your whole workroom there. Nothing about the project must leave the archives, is that clear?

– Yeah, no problem… – Adam confirmed the arrangement.

– I’m here!

Chen returned to the office with two glasses of coffee. He handed over one glass and kept the other for himself. Taking a seat at his desk, he took an audible sip of his blueberry latte through the tube, then winked at Adam. He liked the upgrade.

– Well, I see that everyone is in place, – the director began, having finished going through the reports. – Let’s go over the main things: over the weekend, the thirty-second assembly line failed to meet the plan, and the seventeenth assembly line’s figures slipped. We need to find out what the problem is and eliminate it before the losses become critical. Next, the latest advertising campaign has already yielded results. According to the statistical agency, we can exceed the planned figures for this quarter. If, of course, we continue to work at the same pace. Speaking of pace, Adam, you’ll have an introductory meeting today with Robert Audley of RoboticsGansIndustries. Try to negotiate a contract for 200,000 units. If you can negotiate that many «sergeants», we won’t have to look elsewhere.

– Why don’t you let Chen handle it? I’m not much of a salesman, you know…

– Adam, I want it to be you. You’re the creator of «sergeants» and no one else is going to present it better than you. Besides, you know how I feel about Audley. I think you’ll do just as well as Chen.

RGI was the Center’s largest customer in the field of military robotics. The history of cooperation between the two organizations was rich and intense, as was the history of the relationship between the Center’s director and Robert Audley. However, unlike the former, the latter was in an extremely poor state. It is not without reason they say that from love to hate there is only one step. And this step is inevitable, if we are talking about treason and betrayal. Since the breakup, Agatha had avoided seeing Robert as long as she could, but business is business. As much as she wanted to erase her ex from her life completely while taking care of business, she couldn’t.

– Would you do that for me? – Agatha asked finally, looking at Adam intently.

The one who knew the history of the difficult breakup nodded understandingly. Just three years ago, the Center’s director and Robert Audley were one of the city’s most successful couples. Robert’s career growth and Agatha’s success had been in the news at regular intervals, and their photos from social parties had even appeared on the covers of major news outlets a couple of times. But then some young girl literally drove Robert crazy. He abandoned business, did not hesitate to find out the relationship with Agatha in public. There were rumors that the girl was married and had no sympathy for Audley, but Robert did not know the word «no». Who that girl was, remained a mystery, and how things turned out further, also did not become public. To find out the details no one could, although many people tried. For various reasons, they all failed, but the result was not surprising because Audley had great power that extended far beyond the city. Despite this, Agatha did not bear the humiliation and left Robert. Fortunately for the city, the relationship between the Center and RoboticsGansIndustries was not affected by the separation of their heads. The two had correctly assessed the risks and were above spoiling the long-standing profitable relationship between the giants of their industries with personal problems. And again, business is business. There should be nothing personal in it.

The Center was engaged in the development of software and the technical skeleton of most combat androids. «Sergeant» was the name of the technical platform that hid the Center’s best work in the field of military-industrial complex support. These platforms were in service with governments, large security companies, and of course, they were supplied to such a whale of an industry as the RGI. The shipment of military orders had a weighty share in the Center’s budget, and projects related to it always found funding and technical support.

– Chen, now for you,» the director continued. – Call a press conference and present to the public the look of our future new products. I have reviewed your presentations and I’m sure they will be to the liking of our partners. Special praise for the color choice. Emerald is something incredible!

– I wanted to emphasize the consistency and fundamental nature of our company. I wanted to convey that robots are not just expensive toys. They are deep, mysterious and luxurious.

– That is indeed a good idea. Good for you! Derek, you’re all right,» Agatha continued. – Just get on with the production. I’m sure you can do it.

– Of course, Madam Director! – Crawford answered without concealing his bravado.

– Well, that’s fine! If no one has anything to add, I suggest we end the meeting and get to work.

No one wanted to add anything. The meeting was over. The clock showed a beautiful combination of two ones and two zeros. Leaving the office, Adam moved leisurely toward the elevator. His workplace was four floors down, with just under an hour to go before the meeting, which meant he could look at the «hanging» projects.

The Life Capsule required an updated body and system layout to integrate additional equipment. «Numismat, an android commissioned by the main banking department. All the calculations and technical documentation had already been worked out, but required careful checking. If it had to be checked manually, it would have taken weeks. There was a neurointerface available – a favorite tool that allowed to quickly deal with boring bureaucratic red tape.

The workshop was empty, as usual. It was a large, open room with many tables, shelves, machines, and tools of all kinds that belonged entirely to Adam. For many months now, the only guests in this space have been robotic assistants of various configurations and purposes. For some reason, no one was drawn to the workshop.

– Ah, there you are!

The neurointerface lay in its eternal place. Small goggles with sensors, slightly dusty, flashed blue in a welcome way, indicating they were ready for their intended use. Adam sat down in his chair and slipped them on. The processor buzzed pleasantly, and the lenses blurred and then blackened, hiding the entire world from view. Darkness in its true form. Two seconds, three…

«It’s junk again,» Adam thought to himself.

No sooner had the thought been replaced by a new one, than a hologram of a young girl appeared in his mind, which smiled pleasantly and spoke:

«The Shining Neurointerface welcomes you. Please do not remove the neurointerface until the synchronization with your nervous system is complete. It will only take a few seconds. With the neurointerface „Shining“ you will be able to assimilate a large amount of data in an instant, get information about everything, turn all your thoughts and dreams into reality. The Shining neurointerface erases the boundaries of the possible!».

The girl disappeared and an inscription appeared in her place:

«100% synchronization complete.»

Adam saw his workshop again, but no longer through his eyes. Everything was happening as if in a dream, a controlled dream, in his mind.

«Open reports on the Life Capsule 3.0 and Numismatist projects,» he mentally commanded.

Hundreds of pages flashed before his eyes. They were alternately marked in green, moving from one stack to another. The stack of checked sheets quickly grew fuller, and soon, words appeared on top of it:

«Checked. No errors detected.»

Adam removed the neural interface and glanced apprehensively at his watch. The time was 11:33. His head was a little sore, a standard side effect of using the Shine. But two major tasks had been completed.

After making a few notes, dictating the inspection report, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. It was necessary to put his thoughts in order. There was an important meeting ahead, and in such a state it was not only impossible, but absolutely contraindicated. There was too much at stake. His temples throbbed, his ears rang, and weakness pressed down on his head. Adam jerked convulsively, took a deep breath and, feeling wildly weak, fell into a dream.