Hello! I'm Evan Redgrave. I was recently promoted and transferred to this floor.
Hello! I'm Evan Redgrave. I was recently promoted and transferred to this floor.
Due to your merits or your Authority?
Responses
Due to merit
Due to merit
That's good. All creatures should be judged by their actions, not subjective impressions. Do you agree?
I guess...
Now, that is wrong. A person need never doubt themselves as long as they are doing the right thing. Yes?
Yes!
You learn fast. Well, let's get acquainted! I’m Isaac Weinberg. I was a good friend of your father and I’m the head of this floor.
Due to Authority
Due to Authority
That won’t get you anywhere on my floor. Here we only value true achievements in the field of science.
I'll remember that!
You'd better. I’m Isaac Weinberg. I am the demiurge of this floor and all that transpires on it.
Demiurge? Does that mean... creator?
Yes. Your father came up with that one. I create new creatures and breathe life into them. He and I were pretty close. Until... the accident.
Good to see you, Evan. I hope there’s a very important reason why you’re distracting me? ... and what if we give Carl more aggression? Hmm... No... That’s not an option... How may I help you, Evan? Redgrave? Your father was constantly bothering me with trivial matters too. Speak.
Responses
Find out what he wants
Give him the emitters and report on performance
Report test results
Report on Carl Stein
Talk about the Canon of Clones
Talk about the Canon of Clones
Tell about the time traveler
Call for help in the Suburbs
General chat
End conversation
Evan, I have an important task for you. Can you be trusted?
I'll do what I can, Comrade Weinberg.
As you know, on this floor we bend nature to our will and reshape human nature as we please. You’ve probably wondered why.
Why?
Why, to correct mistakes! Over the course of our evolution, humans have accumulated so much genetic, biological and social debris that we simply cannot keep encouraging the haphazard and chaotic development of our species!
But I thought we couldn’t do anything about that?
Wrong! And that is exactly what your task is concerned with. We have learned to remotely stimulate certain parts of the brain, causing recipients to react in accordance with our wishes.
Department RGD-9, acting under orders from the Ministry of Patriotism, has developed portable emitters. You need to install them in the Ministry.
Responses
Ask about emitters
What are these emitters?
A side development from our main project with your father. They work at the physiological level: they stimulate the patriotism gland and the production of adrenaline.
Patriotism gland?
Yes, such a thing exists. I’ll show you later. The Ministry has decided to give its employees some extra love for the motherland, as well a productivity boost.
Is that possible?
I told you, Evan: we're at the point where we can correct nature's mistakes. And there are quite a lot of those in humans!
And yes, I can do anything here.
Ask about safety
Is it safe?
It's actually good for people, Evan! They’ve all gotten lazy and forgotten who makes their lives happier.
Ask about installation spots
And where should I put the emitters?
The processing procedure requires that the recipient remains within the emission radius for a certain time.
Therefore, the patriotism emitters must be placed inside statues and busts of the Leader. We'll have just enough time for the procedure while people are cheering.
I see.
The productivity amplifiers should be put in crowded places. Vending machines, eateries, water fountains, office phones.
We don't need any on our floor. Everyone is working hard here already.
I see.
Agree
Got it. Shall I get started?
Here are the emitters. You'll figure out which is which as you go along. There are some extra - just hand them in when you're done.
Refuse
I don't want to irradiate people without their consent!
Children are sent to school without their consent, too - they won't get smart otherwise!
But we’re not talking about children! These are my colleagues!
We are all someone's colleagues. Besides, we’ll only get a little bit of patriotism, while the other floors could do with a productivity boost.
Your father and I came up with this technology together. I didn’t think you would mind. He considered it to be very promising.
Responses
Change your mind and agree
If my father thought that it was for the best... then I agree.
I knew you would, although I wish I didn't have to waste so much time. Don’t do that again.
Here are the emitters. You'll figure out which is which as you go along. There are some extra - just hand them in when you're done.
Insist on your refusal
I don't believe that my father would have stood for this. Secretly controlling another person is low!
So it’s better to do it out in the open?
Everyone should have the right to decide what they do and what they believe!
So you think that we’re causing harm to humanity here?
It seems to me that you’re crazy here - you’re trying to force people to stop being themselves.
That’s what all forms of power do. And no forms of power tolerate those who stand in their way.
So what, are you going to irradiate me, too?
Why waste the energy? The perfect world can manage without you.
Back
I’m done with the emitters, Comrade Weinberg.
Did everything go as planned?
Yes, I did everything just like you said: statues and vending machines!
Were there enough emitters?
Yes, there were even some left over.
I asked you to bring those back.
Sorry, I must have gotten too caught up in the work...
This is what I’m talking about, Evan, when I talk about the shortcomings of humanity. Bad memory, low responsibility, excuses. We'll fix it all. But for now, bring me the emitters.
Excellent. Let's see how this will affect the overall indicators of personality testing...
Where did we leave off? Hmmm....
You said that the emitters are a side project of your work with my father. And what was the main goal?
Unfortunately, I can't tell you that, Evan. It’s classified.
Heimdall?
Yes... What?! No! I never mentioned anything about that!
In a nutshell, at least? This has got to be some brilliant idea!
“Brilliant” doesn’t even begin to describe it. Well, fine... In a nutshell? The world is not perfect.
Sorry, Comrade Weinberg, but that's not such a... uhm... new idea.
The novelty of an idea is determined by the conclusions derived from it, Evan. Caleb and I came to the conclusion that imperfection can be corrected if we correct those who create it. That is to say, people.
Either they stop making mistakes... Or they will have to be replaced by those who do not make mistakes.
Replaced?! By whom?
Look around you. Do you still not understand?
Clones? Do you want to replace people with clones?
For starters, we just need to get to know people better. Dissect their consciousness. Understand their essence, so as not to repeat their mistakes in clones.
Have you already undergone personality testing?
Responses
Learn more about testing
What for?
In my work, I need to constantly check the generalized level of the various personality characteristics of standard people. Testing allows me to assess the degree to which our ideas and efforts affect the mass consciousness.
Refuse
No.
It’s a mandatory procedure. Find a work phone to answer the test questions. And then we’ll compare your results to everyone else’s.
Why?
Find out whether you're fit to work here.
If this is necessary for work, then, of course I’ll do it!
Agree
Yes!
Yes? And what was your score?
...
The ability to lie is the first thing that we exclude from the character of clones. Laziness is the second. And third, we reduce the pain threshold, because those who lie and laze around are punished often.
Apologies, Comrade Weinberg! This won't happen again. I’ll take the test!
I passed the test, Comrade Weinberg!
Yes, I saw it. An excellent performance, Evan. I honestly didn’t expect you to be such a great fit!
Fit for what?
Come. I'll show you something special.
Yes, I know. And I don’t think you tried at all.
To tell you the truth, I didn’t understand why I was being asked those things.
You didn't? Okay, I'll show you something. Follow me.
Meet Carl Stein! The so-called “Carl Zero”. The first model. The master copy.
Somehow he doesn’t strike me as the perfect specimen...
And that's what we, the geneticists and biologists, are here for. When we copy him, we introduce a genetic correction code into the body and “firmware” into his consciousness. The latter suppresses Carl Zero’s unneeded memories and emotions, while enhancing the qualities we're looking for: diligence, submission, endurance, as well as a lack of curiosity, compassion and experience.
So, the base version isn’t important to you at all? Why do you keep Carl here then?
Historically, all our technologies were designed around him. And recently, a bug has appeared in the firmware that we are still unable to fix.
A bug in the firmware?
Yes. Carl had a pretty... difficult life. All those fears, experiences and losses got lodged somewhere very deep inside him, and have been manifesting themselves in his clones at the most unexpected times via a weakness in their firmware.
And what do you want to do?
I have a hypothesis that the breakdown creates a complex memory of the last year of Carl’s life. Something happened during this period. Something very bad. Something that won't stop bugging him, despite the fact that we’ve cut his brain up in every conceivable way.
And how do we fix it?
We need to find out what those events were, and what combination of memories causes this effect.
Don't you know?
When I cut up a lab rat, I don't care how many brothers it had or how well it slept. Clones must obey their coding. That's what I know.
But he’s not a lab rat!
Evan, I have no time to play philosophical games with you. Find out what happened to Carl, and find out how these memories manage to penetrate the firmware.
So, find out what hurt him, then hurt him more?
Well, when you put it that way... Yes. This is what we call a “scientific experiment”, in case you weren’t aware.
Responses
Agree
Refuse
I won’t do it. I refuse to torture a living... well, almost living, person, and do him more harm.
This is not a man, Evan. This is a clone.
Carl Stein died long ago. This thing was grown in a test tube. It might look like Stein, but until we upload the firmware, he can't even breathe on his own. And now there’s a bug in that firmware! What if that affects the lives of all of the clones? Do you want them to suffer?
Responses
Change your mind and agree
Well… In that case... Okay.
Insist on your refusal
As if they aren’t suffering already! No, I don’t want to do this.
Evan, I’ve shown you classified research... Revealed the secrets of the universe to you!
You think too highly of yourself, Comrade Weinberg. And frankly, you're a lousy demiurge.
What?! You child! Security!
To get started, collect all the information you can about the last year of Carl Stein’s life - everything you can find. Your colleagues know something - from time to time they’ve needed this kind of information for their work. And there’s bound do be something in the archives.
Is the building where he lived still there?
Aha! Great idea! You can check the building - there might still be some emotional ties there.
And then?
And then we’ll create a visual simulation of Carl’s consciousness and feed him everything we’ve found. If my hypothesis is correct, then we’ll find out what’s caused the firmware malfunction.
And if not?
Then we’ll keep searching, combining, and trying. It should work at some point!
Comrade Weinberg, I have gathered all available information about the life of Carl Stein.
Are you sure?
Responses
Confirm
Yes. I’ve learned of everything that happened to him. It should help to evoke some strong emotions.
Excellent! Come on.
Check again
I’ll double-check just in case!
I have developed a special interface for data exchange with Carl Zero.
Now I will create a visual simulation to make it easier for you to control the process. With this interface, you’ll be able to start a dialogue with Carl's consciousness. Your task is to cause a peak reaction - make him experience a barrage of negative emotions.
Maybe it’d be better if you did it? I don’t really like torturing people...
And have you try to control the visual simulation? No way. You started this, you finish it!
But what if I fail?
Evan, science can do anything! It's just a matter of how many experiments you carry out - and you have no limits in this regard.
Finally! I did it! I found a vulnerability!
You?
Are you challenging my scientific seniority?
No, but...
That's right. But I will make note of your efforts in the Canon of Clones.
“Canon of Clones”? What is that?
Oh yes... I haven’t told you yet... The Canon of Clones is the book that the clones will live by when there is no longer a single person born on Earth naturally.
But why would they need a book? You’ve put everything they need in their heads.
Even clones need to know how it all began. Here it is. Take a look. Then we can discuss it.
Comrade Weinberg! I read your book and I’d like to ask you…
You made the right choice! Which one? I have many excellent publications to my name! There was supposed to be another one recently, but some problems cropped up with “The Path of the Leader”…
I read the Canon of Clones.
The Canon... What? How?! Impossible!
It was just lying there out in the open and...
So you’re not even trying to hide the fact that you stole it!
It wasn’t that simple!
You have tasted the fruit of forbidden knowledge! Security! Take him away and station a guard at the entrance to my office.
I read the Canon of Clones.
Are you joking, Evan?! It’s not some two-line propaganda flyer! Did you really read it?
Yes, I have. It reminds me of something... a fatherly creator, obedient prophets, mistakes and sins... Just like some kind of religion.
Such speed! Incredible...
Evan? I'm glad to see you. Well, have you read the Canon of Clones?
Yes, I have. It reminds me of something... a fatherly creator, obedient prophets, mistakes and sins... Just like some kind of religion.
Now you’re getting it!
But why do clones need a religion?
I’ve been studying the clones for a very long time, and I’ve long understood that even those soulless husks need something to believe in. I can put anything I want in them, so why not a new faith? The right faith?
The right faith?
Well yes! The infallible creator-scientist leaves his commandments as code with no ability to override them.
And are you the infallible scientist?
Do you know of any other candidates?
Of course not.
But creators always have their prophets to transmit their knowledge and help strengthen the faith. You did me a great service in helping me with that vulnerability. Would you like me to include you in the Canon?
Responses
Why?
What do I get from this “Canon”?
Think, Evan! The Clone Age is not far off. There will be fewer and fewer people every day. In your opinion, which is a better way to immortalize yourself - being a tool in the Ministry, or being a perfectly-preserved clone memory?
And what does that require from me?
When the clones have liberated the world from people entirely, we will be the last remaining connection they have with the past. And then you and I will put an end to sin and imperfection on this planet...
You and I? Put an end to... You mean...
Yes. We will leave this life, and leave behind us magnificent statues to be worshipped by every living being on Earth!
...
Pretty cool, right? Do you like my statues? Yours will be the same, only smaller.
Agree
Why not? I shall become Evan the Great, or something like that....
Hold on! You will be Evan Redgrave, assistant to Isaac the Creator, the great ruler of the Chosen... Nothing more. But that is an honor, too.
What should I do next?
When I need you, I'll let you know. That is all.
Gently refuse
You know, Comrade Weinberg, it seems to me that I’m not cut out for that role. Me, a prophet?
Don't you like my idea?
I do, a lot! You’ll make a great god!
Well, at least you recognize that. What a pity, Evan, what a pity indeed! I thought we were like-minded...
Insult his religious sensibilities
I don’t want to be in any “Canon”! This is nonsense! I barely managed to get through ten pages - it’s complete gibberish!
Gibberish? It contains within it nothing less than the entire ethical and scientific paradigm of humanity!
It is utter insanity! And you're as much a god as a tram is a ballerina.
What?! There is no greater god than I! Do you have any idea what I could do to you?
Strike me down with lightning? Or no... Send some old guy with a hood and scythe after me? Is that it?
Right! Except instead of “some old guy”, it’ll be the Security Service. There is no place on this floor those who would question me. So commands the will of God!
Isaac, may I ask you as a scientist: do you believe in time travel?
Theoretically, based on what we know, one can travel into the future if traveling at the speed of light, or faster. It isn’t possible to go back into the past.
Are you sure?
What’s bothering you, Evan? Have you invented a time machine?
I haven’t. But recently, a man came to my home, introduced himself as Horatio Newport and said that he had come from the future.
Horatio Newport? Our Horatio? Fascinating! And what did he want?
He wanted me to meddle with the cloning technology because, in his words, there are some faults in it, and those faults will cause the clones to attack people in the future.
Poppycock! That’s not possible.
Which part - the part about the faults?
Especially the part about the faults! The technology is almost perfect! But I'm talking about time travel - it’s pure idiocy!
Yes? Um... And what if I believed him?
What do you mean you believed him, Evan? Did you do anything to the technology?
Well, yes... I made some changes to the firmware and changed the vaccine... Because yours was defective.
WHAT?! Evan, do you have any idea what you've done?! Do you know what will happen to you now?!
Responses
Pay off
Guilty! It won’t happen again! I’m ready to atone!
Well, well... At ease, soldier. This is a temple of science, not a barracks. It’s good that you owned up to this, and it’s not too late to fix it.
But we’ll have to transfer Newport to a better place. Better, farther away, and quieter...
Who do you think you are?! Three doctors of science, five professors and one academician worked on that firmware! That vaccine took five years of work! Do you think you know our work better than we do?
You’ve destroyed your career with your own hands, Evan. Sorry, but I can't help you now.
Make peace
If I hadn’t done this, everyone would have died after 23 generations of clones! I’ve done my duty to the future!
Evan, you are breathtakingly idiotic! I literally cannot spare the breath required to swear at you right now.
Guard, take this idiot away!
Responses
Find out what's in store
What should I expect?
Oh, you’re better off not knowing!
Leave in silence
Find out what's in store
What should I expect?
Oh, you’re better off not knowing!
Well... He was so persuasive! I...
What are you saying, Evan? Did you really believe that charlatan?!
Well... I made some corrections to the firmware...
WHAT?! Evan, do you have any idea what you've done?! Do you know what will happen to you now?!
Responses
Pay off
Guilty! It won’t happen again! I’m ready to atone!
Well, well... At ease, soldier. This is a temple of science, not a barracks. We’ll take a look at your firmware. Maybe the damage isn’t too bad.
But we’ll transfer Newport to a better place. Better, farther away, and quieter.
Who do you think you are?! Three doctors of science, five professors and one academician worked on this firmware! Do you think you know our work better than we do?
You’ve destroyed your career with your own hands, Evan. Sorry, but I can't help you now.
Make peace
If I hadn’t done this, everyone would have died after 23 generations of clones! I’ve done my duty to the future!
Evan, you are breathtakingly idiotic! I literally cannot spare the breath required to swear at you right now.
Guard, take this idiot away!
Responses
Find out what's in store
What should I expect?
Oh, you’re better off not knowing!
Leave in silence
He was most likely yet another South Borean spy. They’ve been after our technology for a long time.
He seemed suspicious to me, too.
You’ve done well by reporting this! So, they’re interested in Newport... I’ll transfer him to the secret block, just in case.
Redgrave! What are you doing, you scoundrel! How did it even occur to you?!
What are you talking about, Comrade Weinberg?
You made changes to the firmware and replaced the vaccine that we injected the clones with!
....
What - cat got your tongue? Didn't think I'd find out? You can't hide from me! You're done for, Redgrave! Who ordered you to sabotage everything?
It wasn’t an order - he asked! His name is Horatio Newport. He came from the future to prevent a global catastrophe.
Evan, are you drunk? What future? What disaster? You were taken advantage of to commit sabotage, then framed and ratted out as soon as it started to smell bad.
You think so?
You are a spectacular imbecile.
Responses
Pay off
I’m willing to do everything I can and dedicate every effort, every skill, to fix my mistake!
That's good. All creatures should be judged by their actions, not subjective impressions. Do you agree?
I guess...
Now, that is wrong. A person need never doubt themselves as long as they are doing the right thing. Yes?
Yes!
You learn fast. Well, let's get acquainted! I’m Isaac Weinberg. I was a good friend of your father and I’m the head of this floor.
No, no. I won't let you go anywhere near these matters anymore.
What should I do now?
....
Go for now. Work. I will deal with your mess.
But I will transfer Newport to a better place. With thick walls, and away from prying eyes.
You took the results of this whole floor’s many months of hard work, and flushed them down the toilet. And you’re expecting a pat on the head?
No, Redgrave. We do not forgive such mistakes.
I'm sorry I liked you. I respected your father, but... You have to answer for your actions yourself.
Security! Take this idiot away.
Make peace
If I hadn’t done this, everyone would have died after 23 generations of clones! I’ve done my duty to the future!
Evan, you are breathtakingly idiotic! I literally cannot spare the breath required to swear at you right now.
Guard, take this idiot away!
Responses
Find out what's in store
What should I expect?
Oh, you’re better off not knowing!
Leave in silence
Comrade Weinberg, may I talk to you about a personal matter?
In general, I don’t welcome these things. But since you're here...
I won't take long. We have a lot of biomaterial left after the experiments on the clones. Can I keep their internal organs?
Why do you need internal organs? For experiments? But you're not a scientist.
There’s a place where they could do a lot of good. The chemical plant has poisoned everything around it, and people are getting sick.
Do you want to transplant organs into people who are going to die from pollution anyway? What's the point? Evolution has made its choice!
But these are human beings! It's not their fault the plant was built there. Stephen Dawking is trying to somehow alleviate their fate, but he lacks the resources, so I decided to help.
Hmmm...
Okay. You helped me solve the problem with Carl Zero, so I’ll help you. Let Dawking come to see me somehow, and we’ll figure something out.
Evan, I believe I also asked you to help me?
Yes, but…
So then why are you asking me for a favor in return, having not yet done a thing for me? Do what I asked, and then we'll talk. Okay?
Responses
Talk about clones
Comrade Weinberg, why do we need so many clones?
Strange question, Evan! Where else can we find so many able-bodied men to meet the needs of the economy? We’re at war, if you haven’t noticed!
Well then, why not send the clones to be soldiers, instead of ordinary people?!
Do you know how much it costs to make a clone? Losing people is much more cost-effective.
Ask about this floor
Isaac, how did you end up on this floor?
I didn’t - I created it. Everything you see around you is my creation, my life! I know every cell in every clone, I know every single Carl just by looking at them!
I must admit... Sometimes I even come here to talk to them.
Do they respond?
Of course not. But I’m happy to sit here in silence and think about a better world...
Discuss areas of research
Comrade Weinberg, what are you working on at the moment?
I’m preparing the launch of a new generation of clones. We managed to eliminate almost all the bugs in the previous version - there are still a couple of little things left over, like hiccups, tickling, and a love of cats.
What?
It’s odd, but all Carls just love cats. And we just can’t do anything about it.
Discuss the future
Comrade Weinberg, do you think that the clones will really make our future better?
Of course. What were you expecting? Everything bad about our current society comes from people. Laziness, anger, aggression, love...
Is love a bad thing?
When love interferes with the fulfillment of work quotas, it certainly is bad! We'll fill the world with ideal creatures, and when there are enough of them, people will realize how beautiful it is to live in a perfectly constructed world!
And what happens next?
I hope by then that society will develop to the point of voluntarily giving this planet over to the clones. But until then, Evan, we still have to work and work!
Talk about father
You said you knew my father...
Yes, Evan. Caleb and I were close - two bright minds, two geniuses, two brilliant scientists... Of course, we always had something to talk about or argue about... He often came to me for advice, and I never turned him away.
Do you know what happened to him?
You know, for the last while your father was very thoughtful... Sullen, I’d even say. Maybe he realized that his way of correcting reality wasn’t as good as mine, and just couldn’t accept it?
His way?
Oh yes... Sorry. You’re not supposed to know about that.
Talk about the throne room
Tell me about the throne room.
What do you want to know?
Responses
Ask about the giant statue of the Leader
Is it me, or does this statue violate the rules regarding portrayals of the Leader in art?
Umm... This is an unfinished work. There’ll be.. Well, you'll see. Of course! This is a statue of me! “Isaac the Father on the heavenly throne”. When I finish my work, the clones will worship this statue and worship me as a god!
Tell me about Carl Zero
What is Carl Zero doing here?
Although we use him as a benchmark, there are still a lot of issues with him. We still haven’t managed to iron out some bugs in his firmware.
He’s waiting to assume his place in history! I fixed the bugs in his firmware, and now he is the perfect specimen!
You know, you can take pride in the fact that you helped me with this successful experiment, I authorize it!
Back
Back
This is my lab! But I call it the throne room. This is where the future of our country lies! If everything goes well, I will tell you more about it.
Comrade Weinberg!
Hello, Carl…
Comrade Weinberg!
Hello, Carl!
Comrade Weinberg!
Hello, Carl! I'm so sick of it!
Well, here we are. Everything that you see is the result of well-coordinated work between man and clone!
Glad to see you, Evan. I heard you got promoted. I hope you won't forget about your friend when you reach the very top.
Why are you here, Redgrave? I’m not your boss anymore. Go back to your own floor, and stop distracting me from my work.
I don't have time to talk about this.
Codes required:
You cannot change you choice
Connections
Achievements
Whoever Makes Himself Low Will Be Made High