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

Chapter Four

Continent of Vinland, 2073, three and a half weeks before elections

It turned out to be a beautiful day, and Chris, leaving the university library, where he usually worked on weekends, decided not to resort to the air bus, but to walk, just like yesterday. He walked, looking at the huge buildings rushing into the sky, glass faces shining in the sun, and thought about the rulers of the past. This time he was replaying the events of the early 21st century in his head, trying to build a scenario in which the superpowers of that time would be able to declare a moratorium on the development of space programs. In this situation, would it have been possible to prevent that terrible catastrophe and preserve the world in its previous form?

Suddenly, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles appeared in the air. They had the shape of a flying saucer, on top of which there was a glass dome with a camera; it rotated 360 degrees and, with the first scan of the cornea, recognized a person from a database. Having identified the object, the drones flew up from different directions, emitting warning signals and, blocking a section of the street, ordered all people in this area not to move. Then the guards arrived in flying cars. By law, in such a situation, citizens of the Continent had to squat down and, with their hands behind their heads, look down. People caught in the machine’s field of vision followed the order to demonstrate obedience to the order to the drones equipped with weapons, as well as to the guards. The military had no right to use brute force or weapons against anyone who complied with these conditions.

Having landed near the sidewalk, the guards rushed towards the guy, at whom the red beams of the drone lasers were directed. Unlike the others, he was ordered to stand with his hands folded behind his head.

Coming closer, one of the guards said:

– Gustave Dreyfus, you were seen in the company of Stefan Routh, who was arrested yesterday for collaborating with the rebels. We have also received information that you are downloading prohibited literature. Therefore, I ask you to follow us to the station.

The guards said Gustave Dreyfus? But Chris only knew Gustave Dreyfus. They studied at university together! However, Chris did not dare look at the suspect. Only when he heard the young man answer that he was not guilty of anything and that all the charges against him were fabricated, did Chris finally become convinced by his voice that it was really his classmate who was being arrested. To the surprise of the other citizens who continued to squat, Taffer stood up and said with a smile:

– Forgive me, but this is some kind of misunderstanding. I know this man. Gustave and I study at university together. I assure you, he is not guilty of anything.

The drones quickly responded – two of them aimed lasers at Chris, letting the guards know who dared to disturb order. Having once again scanned the young man’s retina, they transmitted to the guards all the information about Chris and his family on the monitors built into the glasses.

Gustave looked with delight at his classmate who decided to stand up for him. The first guard quickly handcuffed the suspect and led him to one of the flying cars, while the second headed towards Chris. Having learned that the young man had the highest degree, he hid the weapon and, coming closer, asked:

“Chris Taffer, why did you disobey orders and stand up?” Don’t you know that this is strictly prohibited?

– Forgive me, but I wanted to say that I know Gustave and he is not guilty of anything. I am well aware of the Code of the Continent – I spent a long time studying the process of its writing and the biography of the authors and would not dare to break it if it were about a person unfamiliar to me.

– Chris Taffer, in the future, do not interfere with the guards in performing their duties. You have the fifth level, and you must show special responsibility so as not to lose it.

Gustave was worried about his comrade and, while the guards were pushing him into a police car, he looked at his classmate with concern. Chris took two steps back, knelt down again and put his hands behind his head. After the guard aircraft and drones disappeared from sight, the people got up and continued on their way.

Chris’s mood was ruined. Injustice happened before his eyes: the guards arrested Gustave simply because he knew one of the rebels.

Arriving home, he barely audibly greeted his mother and went to his room. It was the first time a man had been captured before his eyes, and he was still impressed. What was most striking was that the arresting guards did not bring charges, as was required by the code, based only on assumptions. Chris decided to help Gustave and go to tomorrow’s trial.

The mother called for dinner, but Chris, citing fatigue, remained in the room. Realizing the burden placed on students during final exams, Barbara decided not to insist. But when he first refused to watch the ruler’s speech, he became seriously worried.

After knocking, she walked into the room and saw Chris sitting silently, looking at one point.

– What’s happened? “Barbara decisively clicked the remote control, moving the second floating chair, and sat down next to her son. “And don’t say it’s nothing special.”

Chris was silent for some time, still looking at one point.

“I saw how Gustave Dreyfus from our university was arrested. And it was unfair! Mom, how could they seize Gustave just because they allegedly found prohibited literature on him and he was seen in the company of someone suspicious! The guards did not even allow Gustave to say a word in his defense! This is against the law, you understand!

Barbara hugged her son and he rested his head on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry,” his mother stroked Chris’s hair, just like when he was a child. Now her son is taller than her and much broader in the shoulders, but still needs his mother’s warmth, consolation and protection. And this is good, because for Barbara, Chris is still her boy, and she will help her son and protect him as much as she can. “It’s just a misunderstanding,” Barbara continued, kissing her son on the top of his head. “The authorities will definitely sort everything out, you’ll see!” Now, just before the elections, the situation is such that the government must be vigilant. But the rebels will definitely be caught, and Gustave will be released, because he is not guilty of anything.

“Mom,” Chris raised his head and looked at her seriously. – I’ll go to court tomorrow. I need to make sure that justice is served.

“Of course,” Barbara smiled.

This was all Chris: compliance with laws, citizens’ rights and justice was always important to him. As a child, unlike other children in the yard, he always cleaned up his toys without being reminded, and once, when a neighbor’s fat son started attacking a frail boy with his fists, Chris did not hesitate to rush to his defense, despite the fact that he himself was younger and weaker bullies. That’s her Chris, and she wouldn’t want any other son.

– Let’s go have dinner. “I made your favorite potato casserole,” the mother stood up decisively and patted her son’s hair. “You’ll see, everything will work out.”

Chris nodded. My mother’s words made my heart feel lighter. She’s right: this incident is just an unfortunate misunderstanding. It happens. Someone slandered Gustave, but the authorities will sort it out. If anything happens, it will be possible to testify.

The cheerful Chris followed his mother into the kitchen. There was an appetizing smell of potato casserole, the soft light was on, the smart home system, reacting to the emotional outburst, turned on soothing melodic music, and Chris finally calmed down. He shouldn’t have gotten upset. The government is acting wisely and is absolutely right to increase security measures. You can expect anything from the rebels, but Gustave will be released tomorrow. Everything will really be fine.

The next day, after class, Chris went to court. He needed to see with his own eyes how Gustave would be acquitted and justice would prevail. But despite the fact that the accusations of connections with rebels and downloading illegal literature were not confirmed, the court decided to expel Gustave from the university for meeting one of the rebels.

Chris thought about objecting during the sentencing, but found the strength to restrain himself. Before his eyes, Gustave was expelled from the university only because for many years he had been a close friend of a certain Stefan, who turned out to be a member of the resistance. This was contrary to the laws, since nowhere did it say that communication with a student under suspicion could result in expulsion.

Arriving home, Chris shared his impressions with his mother. He had heard about such situations more than once, but this was the first time this had happened before his eyes.

– Mom, I don’t understand what’s going on?! – he said, walking around the room, and even relaxing music this time was not able to have its calming effect. – Gustave was expelled from the university just because he knew one of the rebels, where is the justice? This is arbitrariness and a direct violation of the laws! How is this even possible? Professor Graves was right: you shouldn’t take everything at face value.

– Chris! “Barbara tried to catch his hand, but her son, as if not noticing her, continued to pace from corner to corner. – Just understand: there are different situations. The ruler cannot control everything, so sometimes violations occur on the ground. Please don’t worry so much! After the elections, your classmate’s case will definitely be sorted out.

After a pause, Barbara continued:

“Son, you need to study hard to do well in your final exams.” Each person should try to do his job as best as possible, and then there will be order in Vinland.

“I understand,” Chris nodded slowly. His mother always told him about personal responsibility. Of course, the ruler thinks about a lot at once and cannot keep track of all the details, but what if there are weaknesses in the system and something is not working correctly. Is it really possible to leave this to fate?

“Chris, promise you won’t do anything stupid!” – the mother resolutely turned him towards her and looked into his eyes.

“I promise,” the young man said reluctantly.

Chris promised to fulfill the request, but he was tormented by doubts. I remembered the professor’s words that absolute truth does not exist, and a person should always be in search of it, questioning and analyzing current events. It turns out that Code 282 turned out to be far from ideal, and neither was the judicial system. Chris wanted to understand his role in life, think about the future of the Continent and understand himself.

In the depths of his soul, Chris had long understood that everything in Vinland was not as prosperous as shown on the video camera, but he did not want to believe it. There were only a few weeks left before the election of the ruler of the Continent. Although Chris had stopped watching news and political programs, as Mr. Graves had once advised him, he was increasingly hearing about arrests of suspects in connection with the insurgency. Are all these people really guilty?

It was time for final exams, but the main event was the upcoming election of the head of Vinland. Everything was going smoothly until, shortly before election day, something happened that guards across the Continent had been warning about for the past few weeks. According to the main channels, the rebels, using chemical weapons, attacked one of the areas adjacent to the mainland. Dozens of people were poisoned. The ruler, wearing special clothes, immediately went to support the citizens and help eliminate the consequences of the attack. Addressing the residents of Vinland through the screens, he promised to continue the fight against the rebels to the bitter end and to prevent the threat of attack in the future. This act rallied the common people around the ruler and raised his rating to the desired 90 percent.

Arrests continued before the elections. The strangest thing is that one day Professor Graves disappeared without a trace. Chris tried to make inquiries about him, but no one really knew anything. Someone said that the professor was ill, someone insisted that he had gone on vacation, as if such a thing was even possible during exams, the boldest hinted at an arrest, and this, in Chris’s opinion, was most likely to be true. What will be next?

The fight against the rebels did not stop for a minute. The authorities continued to introduce the best agents into their ranks, but most often unsuccessfully, they were exposed. The guards needed new faces, those who could join the rebels and not arouse much suspicion. They will also help identify members of the resistance among university students. The interview took place with dozens of the best students, and one day Chris was called to the Office and offered him cooperation.

“Both the professors and the students respect you,” the man with unpleasant, prickly eyes told Chris, “why don’t you talk to your friends, ask them about what they think about the current government.” I assure you that no one will even think that you work for us.

– Are you asking me to spy?! – Chris jumped up on a hard chair with a high straight back, which seemed created specifically to make office visitors uncomfortable.

– Well, why do that? – the man smiled, but his watery-gray eyes continued to remain prickly and cold. – You know how difficult the situation is now. The rebels are ready to sacrifice the lives of thousands of people to please their ambitions. The ruler will need the help and assistance of every honest citizen of Vinland. Are you an honest citizen?

“Yes,” Chris was confused. – But I have to refuse you! This contradicts my life principles. I do not want and will not spy.

“Don’t rush,” the man with prickly eyes looked down at the screen of the tablet lying in front of him. – You have brilliant opportunities. You can build a dizzying career. Of course, if you establish yourself as a reliable and loyal citizen. Don’t rush to answer – you still have time to think. Make your decision very carefully.

Leaving the office, Chris had only one thing on his mind: he needed to pass his final exams and leave. The time has come to leave the capital. He does not need any career if it is built on lies and injustice. It’s better to go to one of the infected areas, for example Attica, immediately after the exams. All he wanted was to remain true to himself and do his job well.

* * *

– Well? – Holofernes looked hard at the visitor. – Elections are next Wednesday, and I have just one question for you: where is the list? Why can’t you find it?

The middle-aged man who appeared on the carpet shifted awkwardly from foot to foot and looked so guilty that, in general, no explanation was required.

“We searched everything thoroughly.” Our best people are working on this matter…” he muttered. – We already…

But the Supreme Guardian raised his hand, interrupting the flow of speech.

“You’ve already made a mistake, you’ve overdone it with the old man, and now he won’t tell you anything.” The list can be anywhere. What if the old man passed this information on to someone underground?

– This is impossible! Moreover, the rebels would have already used it! – the visitor looked ingratiatingly into the eyes of the owner of the office. “I promise you, High Guardian, we will sort everything out.”

“Of course,” he grinned. “You always sort things out.” Yes, the move with the chemical attack was not bad at all, but now that we have won the sympathy of the majority, the stakes have risen. The elections must take place without the slightest incident. If this damn list pops up anywhere, heads will roll. And you know whose heads will suffer first.

The visitor hunched over. It seems that now he wanted to hide on the floor and become as inconspicuous as possible. Perhaps disappear into thin air. Anything.

– Go and prepare very carefully for your next visit. “I don’t like bad news,” said Holofernes. He was burning with anger. Idiots! Honestly, idiots! We went too far with the professor – and here we are. How now to make a report to the ruler, who, of course, will ask what’s going on with this damn list.

It seems that the problem has ceased to be small and has acquired alarming proportions.

* * *

As planned, elections in Vinland took place on the 27th anniversary of the founding of the Continent. Each citizen had an identification number; After confirming it and undergoing a corneal scan, he could vote. This was done to ensure that the elections were held openly and opponents were not able to accuse the ruling regime of falsifying the voting results.

The predictions were confirmed: Demian Roskhald won with 87 percent of the votes, and two other candidates split the remaining thirteen. After a special commission headed by Kronos found no gross violations in the electoral process, Demian Roskhald received another mandate from the board. A new Senate was formed, where the number of supporters of the ruler increased.

In his address, the newly elected head of the Continent thanked everyone who expressed confidence in him and promised to continue to work hard.

Late at night, the master and his associates Bernard and Holofernes gathered in the same office. Having accepted the congratulations, the ruler hugged everyone and asked them to take their seats. After sharing his impressions of the past elections, the master spoke about plans for the near future: to allocate part of the budget funds to space programs. He asked the Minister of Information to prepare the people for this, and the Minister of Defense to build a secret facility to create the first satellite of the new era, which would be code-named “Prometheus”.

Chapter Five

Continent of Vinland, 2076, three years after the election

The three years that Chris spent in Attica flew by. It would seem that very little time has passed, but he has changed. Having escaped from the closed world of the university and the prosperous capital, Chris was faced with a life that he had never imagined before. He took off the rose-colored glasses in which he spent most of his youth, and became even more convinced that not everything on the Continent is as good as the head of the Continent and his like-minded people want to imagine. In Attica, Chris Taffer met volunteers – honest and selfless people working tirelessly to eliminate the consequences of the disaster in remote areas of the Continent and give their descendants a prosperous Vinland. Chris especially valued his acquaintance with Henry Hawk, who, as it turned out later, along with the head of the region, Anatoly Kramer, compiled the Code of the Continent. Chris also worked a lot in the contaminated territories, and simple, understandable work brought him joy, especially since the people around him turned out to be good and reliable. However, he soon could not help but notice that the situation in Attica was rapidly deteriorating. The repressions of the guards also reached those parts. Chris realized that he would not be of much use here and must go to the capital to put an end to the injustices.

Immediately upon arrival in the capital, Chris headed home.

– How you have changed! He has matured! Tanned! “Barbara alternately hugged her son and then pulled away to take a good look at him. – He’s become quite an adult!.. Oh, why are we standing there? Come quickly! I prepared a festive dinner.

Entering his room, Chris stopped. For a moment, blinded by the bright light pouring from the window, the young man thought that he was in a completely unfamiliar place. But no, the room remained the same – with a holographic projection of the starry sky on the ceiling, floating chairs made in the shape of shells, a narrow bed, and a table at which he spent so much time. Even his favorite fluffy blanket with the Apollo’s Arrows logo was still lying on the armrest of his chair. The room remained the same – he himself changed.

Chris, out of habit, touched the scar on his chin and shook his head. Mom is waiting, which means we need to hurry.

When Chris, having rested a little, changed his clothes and went out into the living room, the Sunday show “Apollo’s Arrow” was broadcast on the video visor.

Barbara, as before, baked an apple pie for the holiday dinner and invited her son to the table. The show was in full swing and Rick Fleming’s favorite team was still winning.

– Well, tell me! – Barbara poured aromatic soup into a plate. It seems that for real homemade soup, which only his mother knew how to make, Chris was ready to give a lot.

While the show was on, he shared with his mother his impressions of the time spent in Attica and his views on the future of Vinland.

– You speak out very boldly, son! – Listening to Chris, Barbara shook her head. “We shouldn’t condemn the guards’ desire to put an end to the rebels at any cost.” In the fight against these robbers, all means are good. According to the latest opinion polls, the people support their leader. Everyone knows that he helped restore the Continent after the terrible disaster of 2046 and is fighting the rebels! Don’t you want to join them? – She looked at her son with concern.

“Of course not,” Chris snapped and, in fairness, added: “I don’t want to cooperate with either the authorities or the rebels.” Both of them resort to violence, and this is contrary to my principles. I decided to confront injustice with my own methods.

Chris was convinced that he could change the situation by bringing information to the Supreme Ruler, who bore the name of the powerful god of antiquity, Kronos. This supreme ruler, trained after the disaster of 2046, Artificial Intelligence, also acted as the guardian of the “Code 282”, replacing the constitution, and even the head of Vinland, Demian Roskhald, had to obey his decrees. To gain access to the tower of the main center of Artificial Intelligence, Chris carefully prepared for the exam that each applicant had to pass, and also refreshed his knowledge of all laws. Chris understood that the selection there was harsh, but despite this, he was determined to overcome all the tests and awaken Kronos, the main guarantor of justice.

Barbara was excited about her son’s plans and, fearing for his future, decided to warn:

– Chris, what are you up to? Guards and their agents are on duty there around the clock. If anyone notices something is wrong, you will be immediately captured and declared a conspirator! Now that the fight against the insurgency has entered a decisive stage, the government has tightened control.

“I will take your concerns into account and promise that I will act carefully,” Chris reassured his mother, putting down the spoon. “But this can’t go on any longer.” Understand, I am tired of injustice and will do everything to ensure that power passes to Kronos. It was not in vain that I studied history, and now I have devoted a lot of time to analyzing the real situation on the Continent and talking with people. I see where this is going. The ruler was already practically out of control of the Senate, gradually turning it into a tool for approving his initiatives. After winning the last elections, his power was significantly strengthened. Unfortunately, people do not learn from the mistakes of history, and again and again we return to a situation where another ruler has usurped power.

“Chris, something has changed in you. You started talking like these rebel bandits! – Barbara covered her face with a towel out of excitement.

– No, I consider their methods of struggle unacceptable. There is not much difference between the ruler and the rebels. The first seeks to maintain power, while the others seize it. My goal is to return the control of Vinland to the control of the AI, the fair Kronos, to awaken him by telling him about the ruler’s desire to monopolize power.

After thinking for a moment, Chris continued:

– In Attica we talked for a long time about the fate of Vinland. Do you know that people of all different views go there? In the evenings, after a hard day’s work, we gathered around the fire and thought about the future of the Continent. I was able to meet many interesting people, but I became especially close to Henry. Maybe you’ve heard of him? Henry Hawk. He was one of the drafters of Code 282.

“Maybe I heard it, I don’t remember now,” having received confirmation that her son was not going to take the dangerous path, Barbara calmed down a little.

– After the election of Mr. Roskhald, Henry helped him make the necessary amendments to the laws through the Senate to correct the shortcomings of the hastily drawn up Code 282, not expecting that it would take such a scale. Now he is critical of the authorities and Mr. Roskhald himself and has left for Attica to be away from everything that is happening. Henry said that he regularly publishes articles under a pseudonym on pirate sites, trying to awaken people’s consciousness, but cannot boast of significant success. His example showed that you cannot influence the authorities from afar – they will not hear you. To achieve something, you need to act from within. I do not share his views on the violent overthrow of the regime, but he taught me a lot, and his book became my instructions for building a new, free society.

“I don’t understand, why do you need unnecessary trouble?” In addition, the selection of applicants for the Tower of Kronos is very strict.

“I prepared for this and I think there won’t be any special problems.” Henry taught me many laws. I also researched the security system itself, its advantages and vulnerabilities, so I can pass the selection without much effort. The main thing is that the dossier does not let you down. Do you remember that time when I tried to stand up for a classmate?

“I think everyone has forgotten about this.” I’m afraid, Chris. If you are suspected of trying to somehow influence the decisions of the AI or awaken it, then you shudder to think what the guards will accuse you of.

“I want to help restore legitimate power on the Continent.” I don’t see any other way. And right now, before power is completely in the hands of the ruler, this is especially important!

The mother did not dissuade her son, giving him the opportunity to get to the truth himself. Then Chris, remembering the paper parcel on the table, asked who it was