– What city? You mean it's not supposed to be a town?
– Moscow is a separate state, a protected zone observing neutrality. Among other things, it is in the status of an offshore zone, where the governing functions of the world government and the UN are concentrated.
– Enough, I don't believe it. The experiment didn't work.
– Please listen. Everyone doesn't believe it at first. Please listen.
– Rangit, is that you?
– No. Listen to me. I understand you don't believe it, but you're not the first. According to my records, you've been in a coma for 28 years.
– What the hell are you talking about? System glitch? Or is someone trying to play a joke on me?
– Please – evaluate the situations ts ию adequately. I have to inform you the following: there was a system failure during your experiment. The body you are in now, the body you consider to be yours, is not the real body of scientist Paskhov.
– You're out of your mind. Who's talking to me anyway? What's the big joke?
– I asked you to be reasonable. I'm an intelligent machine, I can't lie to you.
– What are you saying, you can't lie? That's very surprising.
– You did the experiments yourself. You made your own cloned body. You wanted to embed a digital copy of yourself in it. Didn't you?
– So… so what?
– There was a system failure during the experiment, your real body is stored in another facility. This body is a copy of yours. You can even feel it now. You've made it younger and uploaded your mind into it. To ensure your adequacy, I must conduct a test. I must question you. So, who are you?
– That's crazy. Who were you just talking to?
– Please answer the question adequately. Until you answer the question, I can't let you go.
Ruthra tried to stand up. He couldn't. Something invisible kept him chained to the cot.
– Release me at once!
– I told you, you have to take a test. It's not that hard, just answer the questions.
– What the hell kind of questions?
– Who are you?
– You know exactly who I am.
Ruthra was becoming increasingly irritated, angry.
– Please answer in the logic you yourself put into the thinking of an artificial intelligence. Who are you?
– What the hell. I'm sick of these Parmenides pranks. Who the hell are you?
– Please answer the question. Who are you?
– Fuck you.
Ruthra tried to stand up again. Again he failed. He cursed irritably, but nothing helped. The machine was inexorable.