The Immortality Game

Marcus followed the tattooed man through the ticket booths and down the longest escalator he had ever seen to a platform crowded with gaunt, dark-cloaked people holding flickering torches and candles. A frightened mutter rose from the group.

“Igor, you’re alive,” exclaimed the elderly woman who had been trying to calm the crowd. “Someone bring him a rag for his nose, quickly now!”

“I’m okay,” Igor said, “but I’m worried about the guards.” He glanced askance at Marcus, who shook his head. “That’s what I feared. Where did they go?”

The old woman pointed toward one of the tracks. “Leonid took the girl that way. I didn’t want to tell them where they had gone, but they saw the light from his lamp.”

Igor looked at Marcus again. “There you go. I recommend you forget about her and leave this place. If anyone can bring your friend to safety, it’s Leonid. If you follow those men, they’ll likely kill you as well.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Marcus said, nodding, “but it’s too late to start acting sane now. May I please borrow a candle or something?”

Igor shook his head again. “You young people never listen to your elders.”

“Here, young man.” The old woman held out a lit torch and another as a spare. “Don’t leave the main tunnel. That way you can’t get lost. If you hurry you might still see their light.”

Marcus took the torches. “Thank you. You’ve been very kind.”

Another of the dim figures waved him forward and led Marcus to some wooden steps leading down to the track. Marcus looked back at the strange assembly, waved once, and set off at a jog along the cluttered track.

Moscow

Sunday, June 8, 2138

7:41 p.m. MSK

The concrete walls of the little cell felt like they were closing in on Tyoma. He paced back and forth, three steps each way, and pressed his hands against each wall to give it a little shove, as if he could prevent them from closing in any farther. When this became boring, he arranged the three stools so that he could slalom through them as he paced, but he discovered that this made him dizzy, so he sat down on one of the stools and stared at the painting of Delchev. If Javier can multitask as well as he says he can, why couldn’t he stay and chat with me?

He picked up the plate the guard had brought him with his sandwich and tried to toss it in the air and catch it, but it bounced off his fingers and clattered away into a corner. Funny how much I treasure my thinking time when at home, but force me to be alone and thinking is the last thing I want to do.

«That was a very interesting worm you had in your slot,» Javier said.

«Back at last,» Tyoma replied. «Took you long enough.»

«The security here is much more impressive than I imagined it could be. I had a lot to concentrate on.»

«What about my worm?»

«You’re an excellent coder, Dr. Grachev. I never imagined someone could find a way to code a worm that could trick my sentry code. I’ll have to do some improvements. I’ve removed the worm, by the way. You’ll need a new firewall, though.»

«I knew that.»

«I could install one for you.»

«Hmm, thank you, but I’d rather construct one of my own.»

«Why were you infected with your own worm?»

Tyoma explained what he had done to infect Lev’s virtual reality, incidentally destroying his own and the general’s as well. «I’m not sure how to make use of it.»

«It’s something to consider,» Javier said. «The only way to get to Lev is to have someone plug into his private space. Your worm was clever enough that he should have no idea that his firewall is compromised.»

«Thank you,» Tyoma said. «You were the reason I chose to go into coding. Your sentry code is a masterpiece. I’ve studied it for many years.»

«Well, if your immortality codes end up working out, I believe it will be me applauding you and your colleagues.»

Tyoma stood and began to pace again. «Okay, you said their security is better than you expected. What does that mean?»

Javier gave a slightly metallic chuckle. «I managed to find floor plans for this structure, and I can get to their security cameras, but they have all of their other security on a completely private network. It would take far too long for me to attempt to infiltrate that. It doesn’t touch the Web, so I’d have to find someone from their security, plant a miniature version of myself in their slot, and wait for them to slot into their private network. Basically, and I’m sorry to say this, I can’t get you out that door.»

Tyoma dropped himself back onto a stool. «So I’m stuck waiting for the general after all.»

«Let’s not give up so easily,» Javier said. «I’m monitoring the cameras throughout the building. If the guard returns I can at least pin down your precise location. Do you have anything useful on you?»