Under the control of the future

- Do you know who to give it to? - Mona could barely hide her surprise; such operations were carried out by a select group of people who had overcome the challenge.

- Before you go to the challenge centre, you'll be given all the information, - Chris said, trying to catch the slightest hint in Mona's expression that might reveal her as someone privy to the secrets of the organics.

- Now I'll definitely be even more worried.

- Don’t be. It's not as complicated as it seems at first glance.

Chapter 22

Distracted by his worries, his senses demanded attention. He was ready to give it, but only to one of them: The one that came with responsibility. Focusing on the readings from the subtle energy meter, Iron calmed down; the device was picking up the energy flawlessly. The elegant pendant gave no hint that it was a technological development, but it would enable Mona to accurately determine who she was dealing with. The flaw in his invention was that the object being tested had to be brought too close. Proximity always carries danger, even if only hypothetical. He shouldn't have put her in that position, but he had no choice. Millions of quantum substance owners were at stake.

Iron entered the updated programme scripts into the device and closed the panel, which locked from the inside so that opening the case would destroy its contents. He had to play it safe in case Mona was exposed; the future could not be put at risk. He would not go against the rules.

Glancing at the neat little device that resembled a trivial ornament, Iron decided to distract himself from the pangs of conscience that had intensified since meeting Mona. Not now. When she returned to the past, he would indulge in self-flagellation to his heart's content.

Chapter 23

Understanding oneself is fundamental, but this can be obscured by the insignificant information provided by those around us. In Mona's case, there was very little information available, and this prevented her from understanding her own essence.

Mona wondered what people had become in her century, and whether they were fundamentally different from those who had remained in the past. Prior to Bystris's confession and her encounter with Iron, she had taken prolonged youth and increased life expectancy for granted as inevitable outcomes of scientific progress in medicine. Now, however, she had her doubts. Was she herself human? Did she have a quantum substance? Were the people around her human? Had humans long since ceased to be themselves and become robots? But if people were still subject to death, then they must be made of living matter. True, organic cyborgs also died.

Feeling confused by her own reasoning, Mona craved pleasant sensations. She found these at a body improvement centre. She got a boost of energy from the massage machine touching her skin. This was followed by immersion in water at a different temperature. Then, the client was moved to a spacious room for restorative sleep, during which all of their bodily systems were analysed.

This last point rekindled her suspicion that people today were artificial.

Only her feelings allowed her to verify this. Love. She was only familiar with it in relation to her attachment to her parents. Did she love? Mona was increasingly inclined to think that she was different from other people.

Chapter 24

The commission members were not perplexed. One after another, signatures indicating agreement to proceed appeared. He hesitated to sign the document because of his doubts.

- Are you puzzled by something? - The chief administrator asked the representative of the technical and social development department.

- I wonder if sending an ordinary employee into the past will change the course of events, - Klur said, voicing the standard risk that had been discussed repeatedly at meetings of officials responsible for travelling into the past for research purposes, rather than the reason for his concern. The question worked against his plans, but he had prepared possible answers.

- The candidate will undergo training to prevent the concerns you have raised from arising.

- Perhaps the engineer's journey will pass without incident. But the risks are great. - Klur did not abandon the idea of travelling into the past himself; however, to do so, he had to ensure that he would not be caught. He considered it an unjustified risk to entrust secret data to someone he did not know personally.

- It’s no higher risk than when students and researchers are sent.

- The first group of designated individuals was sent to the past a long time ago. It has been thoroughly studied by our predecessors. - Klur considered a combined approach.

- As far as I know, Mona, being an employee of an artificial intelligence company, has the right to study certain aspects of neural network modelling developed in the past in detail. - Klur’s interlocutor only wanted to finish the formalities quickly and leave the meeting room.

- Why all this historical background? Current developments have come a long way. It's a whim of the female nature, costly for the company's and the centre's budget, and risky for her.

- I think a thorough study of the origins of these issues would be beneficial. My decision goes against your reservations.

The chief administrator looked at Klur expectantly. There was no indication in his opponent's movements or facial expressions that would warrant an investigation into the private actions of an individual. But his suspicion grew. Contrary to professional ethics, he had had to rely on his intuition before.

- Is it advisable to send Mona alone, without an escort? - The head of the technical and social development department decided to test the waters.

- I don't see the point in forming a whole team to overcome something that isn't influential, - said the chief administrator, looking away from the secretary.

- All the signatures have been collected, - the secretary announced.

The person whose signature had legalised the approval process noticed a suspicious sign: Klur's twitching shoulder convinced him that his intuition was right.

- Please stay, - said the chief administrator, looking at the head of the security department and his assistant. - The rest of you may leave.

Chapter 25

- I have to undergo training, - she said, not looking at the chronically confused artificial intelligence standing behind her.

- And then you'll come home? - Bistris knew what answer he would get to his rather naive question.

- You know I will. And yes, I'm becoming more and more convinced that you're not an ordinary robot.

- Mona, are you going to return me to the developer?

- You confirm my suspicions. There's something human hidden inside you. I think I can guess what might have happened in the past and where I am going.

- I’m not sure...

- That’s another example of thinking that isn't typical of a robot.

Mona turned to her assistant and tried to imagine what Bistris was like when his consciousness belonged to a biological body. She didn't have such a powerful imagination, though. She had to do without visualising her suspicions.

- Sometimes I remember things that seem to have happened to me.

- Most likely, some of the memories in your consciousness have been wiped. I'll try to clarify everything as much as possible. I need to leave for a little while.- Mona smiled at the robot, her face covered in ultra-thin rubber and bearing a mechanical sadness.

- Will you come back?

- Right now, yes.

Chapter 26

He tried to make a good impression on her. Giant waves rolled in, one after another. The ocean stretched out before the girl, who was standing dangerously close to the raging waters on the shore. At such close proximity, the scent was more noticeable. His scent. Unique. It could not be reproduced by anyone else. Not even the sea. Not even another ocean.

- Mona, you came, - he said, expressing his doubts about the upcoming meeting.

- Of course, - she replied, her light eyes not betraying any seriousness that was significant to him. She remained sweet and seemed harmless. Candidates like her were never sent on special missions.

- I’ve prepared a device for you that detects the presence of quantum substances. It's quite simple to use. Just point it at the object you want to check. If the substance is present, the device will glow. There is a button that activates the device and transmits a signal to the base — that is, to my transmitter.

- How simple.

- It only seems that way. I ask you to take this device seriously. It contains technology that is unavailable to 21st-century people.

- I’ll have to be careful with every step I take in the past.

- Our world depends on you. The future depends on you. Previous survivors were careful, but not always, and this had consequences. There were also those who coped admirably with the planned integration.

- I think I studied some of their biographies, - Mona smiled, remembering vivid examples of names from history.

- Geniuses, prophets and teachers who created their own movements were not seen as outsiders. They simply stood out from those who were not their contemporaries.

- You’re right. They were ahead of their time, yet no one suspected them of time travel.

- Let’s put it this way: the further back in time the Overcomers were sent, the less people knew about time and the future.

- Weren’t the Overcomers sent to the 21st century?

- Of course they were. I'm sure such trips took place — perhaps too often — but not officially.

- Is that why you asked me? - Mona felt as if she was being asked to play the role of a spy.

- Yes, - Iron realised that Mona alone would not be enough to carry out his plan.

- If I find those who have been deprived of quantum substance, what should I do? - The girl tried not to fully grasp the gravity of the tasks ahead, lest she panic.

- The device I gave you will send a report with all the necessary information to the temporary violators’ database.

- My task isn't that important, - she told herself, trying to reassure herself. She wanted to allow self-deception to triumph over the immutable truth.

- On the contrary, without you, we will never be able to track down the enemies of humanity, - he said. He never underestimated the importance of deeds or those who committed them.

Mona took a deep breath, trying to calm down before fear overwhelmed her. She liked the idea of serving the greater good. But the possibility of being remembered by name in an archive dampened her enthusiasm.

Chapter 27

- You need to investigate these suspicions.

The head of security understood what the person authorised to maintain public safety was going to tell him without further explanation, as he shared the same doubts.

- It will be done.

- I remember there were developments fifty years ago that helped detect quantum substances in individuals of interest, - said the chief administrator, who was extremely security-conscious and sought to detect the slightest indication of danger. With each passing year, he became increasingly suspicious.

- They were lost, as far as I remember, - said the assistant head of security Ulysses, whose memory was his strong point.

- It would be good to find those who could theoretically have kept them, - the administrator pondered, considering an alternative course of action.

- Let’s get on it. Can I ask a question? - Ulysses needed a clear understanding of the situation; due to his inability to fill in the missing details, he could not see the big picture.

- Of course.

- Why do you need to know?

- I suspect that we have not been able to completely control the process of creating new bodies for organic cyborgs. They are skilled at passing themselves off as humans who have undergone global body modernisation. - The administrator had his own score to settle with the descendants of the clones.

- Even if that's the case, their numbers are negligible, - said Ulysses, who didn't understand why this issue was causing concern.

- I also have my doubts about this, - Adar said, not hiding his concern.

- Are they connected to Klur? - Ulysses couldn't identify any risk factors in the person in question.

- Directly, - Adar replied. He did not consider his suspicions to be unfounded; he simply preferred to trust his intuition, as did the person who had called the unscheduled meeting.

- I suggest we keep an eye on the suspect. After all, Klur is involved in matters related to the development of society.

The administrator made it clear with his entire demeanour that the negotiations were over.

Chapter 28

The transport capsule sped along at the speed set by the passenger. A melody played inside, encouraging the passenger to open up to energy flows. Increasing the capsule's manoeuvring altitude, Mona looked out over the sprawling city. She felt scared. She had never travelled to the past before, not even as part of an educational programme. Her parents had tried to shield her from learning about the imperfections of people in past centuries. She was aware of them. In theory, at least. But what would she do when she encountered them? Relying on the instructions given by the staff at the transition centre seemed risky and naive. However, reading about the behavioural characteristics of 21^(st)-century humans in books seemed unproductive. Having studied the relevant literature for a long time, she was aware of the unprecedented luck she had been born into in a century when humanity had moved significantly away from the delusions that had ruined lives and prevented personal growth. Mona imagined, not without horror, that she would not be able to receive energy from space, which had been unavailable two centuries earlier. This posed a significant risk to both her health and her appearance. In the 21st century, advanced minds resorted to biohacking as a method of maintaining physical harmony. However, it was only available to a select few at that time and was rather expensive.

Only now did she realise how lonely she would be in the future she was heading towards of her own free will. And vulnerable. She valued physical and psychological comfort highly. Based on the available data, only a few people achieved this in the 21st century.

Chapter 29

- Valerian. Let's not go into too much detail about my position. I'm your instructor.

- Mona.

A tall man of indeterminate age sat down at a thin, white table on a chair that seemed disproportionate to his build. It was too fragile. Mona had assumed that the training would include physical training, but she was wrong.

- I can guess what question is on your mind. Preparing a candidate to overcome challenges is primarily a moral task. It is much more important to not break down psychologically than to adapt physically. But we will also cover that in our lessons.

- Will there be many of them?

- As you get into the subject. Have you ever encountered aggression from people in your immediate and wider environment?

- No.

- In the past, aggression was seen as a normal way for individuals to demonstrate their power. Violating ethical norms and personal boundaries was also accepted as a fact of modern life. Even public figures, scientists, and creative professionals did not bother to treat others with respect.

- That sounds scary, but not that scary.

- You think that simply being in a state of external aggression undermines your belief in your own strength and creates nervous tension. Internal tension. Have I understood you correctly?

- I don't understand the essence of this question. I have never experienced it myself.

- Right. What exactly puzzles you at this stage of preparing to overcome it? - Valerian was considered a fierce opponent of his contemporaries’ interest in the past, which he despised for its imperfections.

- Did people of that period have the opportunity to distance themselves from their environment?

- Rare members of society cut themselves off from others and immerse themselves in their own personal world. They work outside the collective format, focusing on developing their own consciousness.

- So, like us now?

- The similarity is quite remote. They still had to interact with their peers.

- But they still managed to break free from the collective system. - Mona found a reason to calm down, believing that she would be able to behave in the 21^(st) century as she was used to.

- Those were a few lucky ones. But even they had to integrate into society from time to time, and society treated them the same as before. Building personal relationships was fraught with inconveniences and compromises.

- What an anti-human society, - the girl sighed sadly, trying not to react to the increasingly frequent feeling of regret.

- And this is only a small part of what we know about how our ancestors lived.

- I am amazed that it was possible to break such a social model.

- It didn't happen without our intervention, - Valerian said. He had no doubt that human intervention in the layers of time was right, as it allowed some things to change, thereby modelling the development of the future. At the same time, he regretted the impossibility of making wholesale changes to the course of history.

- I admit that I still don't really understand how we influence events that took place long before we appeared, - said Mona, feeling embarrassed by her own ignorance at such moments of triumph.

- The discovery of gamma bursts made time travel possible. I admit that the pioneers made many mistakes. They were later corrected, - said Valerian, who never forgot his own participation in those missions and was proud of his contribution to rectifying the pioneers' mistakes.

- But how can you change things in time?

- Explain what exactly puzzles you.

- For example, we might decide to influence the year 1800, thereby changing the course of a particular event. But what about the time period that has already passed, the year 1900? - Mona loved to ponder such questions. She often had to do so alone. It seemed absurd to involve Bistris in such pursuits. At least, that was the case until he made her question the artificiality of its essence.

- Does the past influence the future? Partly. When such changes occur, representatives of the future travel to different time periods to correct events.'

- It feels like time is some kind of endless straight line.

- Time runs forward, but it is looped. Each time, there is a distortion in every segment. However, you should not focus on this topic, as you are not responsible for making changes. You are going as an observer, but without the right to act.

- It won't be possible to do nothing at all, - Mona said, doubting that her presence would bring about any change in the society she would find herself in.

- Don’t do anything drastic. Don't help anyone. Don't share your knowledge. Don't warn them about what's going to happen. It will be difficult, but if you see similarities between certain individuals and us, allow yourself a minor exception. They are different, - said Valerian, who did not expect perfect behaviour from the person he was briefing. Over his many years of service, he had studied the psychotypes of numerous survivors.

- Be indifferent?

- There is no other way.

Chapter 30

- You’re afraid.

- How do you know? - Mona didn't ask the question; she was simply voicing her latest discovery about her robot's emotional state.

- I know that feeling.

- I wonder how that's possible.

- Mona, I'm trying to remember something about the past. To help you, - Bistris said, appearing completely confused and helpless. But that didn't stop him from trying to look like a hero.

- Is it working?

The girl approached the mirror, which stretched from floor to ceiling — something that never ceased to amaze her, given that no human being is five metres tall. She carefully ran a comb through her long hair, going over every strand.

- Partly. I remember the feeling of rushing. That's when I felt fear. I felt uncomfortable for a long time. Then it was as if I fell into a deep sleep. After that, I became someone else. Then I fell again and came to my senses.

- Bistris, I can't say for sure that your consciousness was artificially created and placed in a robot, - she said, voicing her suspicions. - It’s possible that this happened during the digitisation process.

- Mona, I don't understand you very well right now.

- You don't have to. I'm just saying what I think. I'll sort it out soon.

- I think you're getting involved in something dangerous. Now I'm starting to get scared.

Mona continued to look at herself in the mirror. At that moment, she was only frightened by the temporary nature of the procedure, which those responsible for carrying it out said was safe for her appearance and health. However, her own fears did not dissipate. She could not imagine seeing a changed appearance in the mirror. At the same time, she realised that change was inevitable.

Chapter 31

- Let’s continue, - said the instructor. His voice did not sound like he was giving a command, but there was a firmness to it that cut off any attempt at starting a friendly conversation.

Mona nodded and settled into a delicate, perfectly suited chair.

- In the 21^(st) century, as I mentioned at our last meeting, the importance of the individual was trampled underfoot. Most people were preoccupied with finding ways to feed themselves and pay for housing. Another important characteristic of the people of that time was their dependence on acquiring goods.

- Was anything of value appreciated?

- By a few individuals.

- What a strange time, - said Mona, unable to believe that such people had created artificial intelligence.

- I think that in the future, people will also think about us.

- But we are different.

- And for those who were, and for those who will be, - Valerian smiled for the first time since talking to the candidate.

- Non-stop development.

- I wouldn't be so quick to characterise a person like that. Especially someone who lived in the 21^(st) century.

- Why?

- Primitive thinking prevailed among the population. It was passed down through the generations and affected virtually all spheres of life. The most important thing you will encounter is how people, and of course men, perceived women at that time.

- What’s wrong with that? - Mona felt a natural uneasiness, fearing that people from the past would interfere with her personality, embodied by her physical and mental selves.

- You’re not worrying for nothing. I just want to point out your lack of knowledge about the period you've chosen.