34. THE OBJECT?
Zaitsev’s Gambit (The Gardener’s Bluff)
— «What object are we talking about?» — I asked, trying to buy seconds and gather my thoughts. — «I assumed the object was your probe ‘Mediator’?»
The lie about my ignorance sounded unconvincing, but I needed to check how deeply the +Angi understood Professor Zaitsev’s plan.
The projection of Lana +Ang maintained a stone-cold expression, but her voice grew harsher, acquiring metallic notes:
— «The probe ‘Mediator’ is merely a communication platform, Sergey. The object in question — is ‘Fractal-0‘. Its true location is unknown to us, its nature studied only in fragments.» — (I smirked mentally — the old fox Zaitsev had taken care of that). — «This Artifact was created by our ancestors,» — the entity continued. — «We possess the code for its destruction and the code to initiate the cycle. However, analysis indicates the presence of a control element. An external safety fuse. Tell us about it. Tell us about Zaitsev. The time for ‘Hope’ has expired.»
I realized: I couldn’t stall any longer. Zaitsev sacrificed himself and us, the crew of «Ark-3,» to hide this knowledge until the last moment. The verdict was practically announced. Only the last trump card remained.
— «Alright.» — My heart beat heavily, slowly, tapping out a funeral march for our secret. — «I will tell you. Professor Zaitsev is not just a scientist. He is the First Contactee. But not with the +Angi. With the Object.» — I nodded toward the glowing Cube. — «He didn’t find it in orbit. He uncovered it beneath the Earth’s surface. In the depths of the Pacific Ocean. What you call ‘Fractal-0’ — is not a library of knowledge. It is a Generator.» — I paused, letting the information settle. — «An ancient mechanism left by another race or, perhaps, your renegade ancestors. It doesn’t just store data. It also emits a field that suppresses the ‘gene of self-destruction’ you keep talking about. This field makes people… submissive. Happy. Aggression, greed, the lust for power — disappear under its influence. People forget about them.»
Lana +Ang leaned forward. Her projection rippled with static. For the first time, through the mask of indifference, something resembling… interest? Or alarm? Or analysis emerged?
— «Conflict suppression? There is no data regarding this function in our databases…»
— «Because Zaitsev hid it,» — I cut in. — «He calculated it: upon learning about the Generator, you would abandon the ‘Rebirth’. You would simply monopolize its power. You would turn us into perfect slaves, stripped of the ability to choose. You would take our Hope away, replacing it with biochemical submission.»
The entity remained silent, processing the data.
— «The object is protected by shields that you couldn’t hack,» — I pressed on. — «The only way to control the Generator is the Control Element.»
— «What is this Element?» — the voice of the +Ang lashed out like an order. — «Speak!»
— «‘Ark-3’ is not a rescue mission. It’s a diversion. We erased our personalities, went through Nullification, to confirm a false hypothesis about the destruction of Knowledge.» — I tapped my finger against my temple. — «The true key is here. The Control Element is located in my memory. It is a neuro-linguistic code. One phrase activates the Generator for suppression. The other — the one you have — initiates destruction. We are in a stalemate. We have parity.»
Zaitsev believed that I, having gone through the hell of Nullification, would retain the ability to make this choice.
— «Because there is always a choice,» — I allowed myself a faint smile. — «For both us and you.» — I straightened up, feeling the remnants of my human will hardening, turning into a tempered rod. — «You can launch Project ‘Rebirth’, +Ang. You can activate your Executioner on Earth, and he will begin your harvest. Initiate your cycle. Preparations are likely already underway. But I offer you an alternative. A modification. Use the Generator. Suppress those very ‘demo-sins’ of ours that you hate so fiercely. Make our world sterilely happy and submissive.»
Without breaking eye contact, I looked into the eyes of Lana Kubysh’s projection. What I had just done — was a pure, cold provocation.
Gathering my thoughts, I continued:
— «Or… Or give us a chance. I will hand over the Generator’s control code to you. You yourselves will decide when to apply the ‘external leash’, and when to let us walk on our own. We will return to wars, to mistakes, to filth. But we will retain our Hope. Our Responsibility. Our Free Choice. Give us time. Time to sort ourselves out on our own — without a forced lobotomy, and we will do all this under your supervision.»
Lana +Ang froze. Then the projection flickered, as if the playback system of this hologram had been attacked by a virus of logical contradiction.
— «You are offering Free Choice… at the risk of the complete destruction of the Cradle? That is irrational. That is a trap…»
— «It is Hope, +Ang,» — I said quietly. — «Hope for us. And a test for you. What is your choice?»
The entity remained silent. But before hearing the verdict, I decided to ask the main question. The one that had tormented me from the very beginning.
— «Tell me, +Ang. Why Earth?» — I stepped toward the flickering ghost. — «Why did you intervene at all? Is the preservation of the Cradle, one small, backwater planet, so important to you? With your technologies, with your power… you could terraform any rock in the galaxy. You could create a new Cradle. Or?..»
Or are you not so omnipotent after all?
> ⚠️ ENTITY STATUS: ATTEMPTED LOGICAL BLACKMAIL. VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS.
>
> 🎭 Look at how desperately the erased piece of meat is thrashing! The protein-based Judge decided to play poker with the Higher Logic. He is bluffing with the Generator of Submission, he is offering the algorithm a deal, threatening it with a code he himself has forgotten. Charming, unprecedented audacity.
>
> 🧠 But while Judge Sergey Dmitriev in orbit delivers his beautiful, pompous speeches about Free Choice and Hope, he does not know the main thing. He doesn’t know that the Executioner has already been activated. And this Executioner is a completely different person, a bitter piece of meat, who is striding across the Earth right now in rubber boots with a bloodied knife tucked in the bootleg.
>
> 💀 The System does not bargain, Contactee. The System runs parallel processes. And your question «Why Earth?» — is the first time you have truly gotten close to the Truth, a Truth that will burn out the rest of your neurons.
