The Immortality Game

Tyoma didn’t know if he should be frightened of this man or not. He wavered between getting into the car or just doing nothing and hoping the man would go away.

The man shrugged and climbed into the car. A window lowered. “You’re a real nutcase, you know that? Yeah, whatever, see you tomorrow.” The air car rose into the air and Tyoma breathed a sigh of relief.

Come on, Kostya. Hurry up and help me figure out this mess.

Moscow

Sunday, June 8, 2138

10:20 p.m. MSK

A memory of pain. Tyoma snapped his eyes open and the faint echo of pain died away, replaced by a feeling of utter calm. By the painting on the wall he realized he was in his cell in The Pyramid, but he was lying on a gurney that hadn’t been in the room before. No one was in the room with him, but three bots were there going about different chores. The two little round ones were cleaning bots, scouring the last of the blood from the floor. Near Tyoma’s left knee hovered a blocky med bot, checking the tightness of the bulky bandage.

Ah, God! Tyoma thought. Bastard blew my knee off. He vividly remembered the flying shards of bone, the horrific image of his knee seeming to explode. He watched the med bot, grateful not to be feeling any pain.

«You’re back with us,» Javier said. «I was worried when you so suddenly dropped offline.»

«They blew my goddamned knee off!» Tyoma mentally shouted.

«I’m sorry. I told you there weren’t enough cameras on this level for me to be certain you were safe.»

«I’ll never get out of here now.»

«You know, I think it’s for the best,» Javier said. «Let the general’s men take you. I can handle the general. You have nothing to worry about.»

Tyoma couldn’t help but laugh. The situation I’m in and he tells me there’s nothing to worry about! A faint twinge of pain shot from his knee, and Tyoma coughed into his fist several times to stop the laughter. «You know…‌I’ve spent a very long life working on science…‌mathematics, coding. Never imagined in my craziest dreams that I would ever become involved with mobsters. I don’t think anyone can ever seriously tell me there is nothing to worry about anymore.»

«I’m not making light of your situation,» Javier said. «I only meant that I can ensure that the general lets you go unharmed. Relax the best you can and trust me. I need you, remember?»

Tyoma imagined attempting what Javier Saenz wished to do and found the idea impossibly difficult. Whatever coding Javier used to build his AI, however brilliant, it wouldn’t be compatible with the type of data Tyoma and his colleagues had been working on for decades. He was afraid to say this to Javier right now, though. Suddenly he wanted to hear the reassuring voice of a friend, so he accessed his contacts list and sent a signal to Kostya. For a minute he thought there would be no answer, but finally it clicked through.

«Tyoma? What’s wrong? I’m just in the car now.»

«I just needed to hear a friendly voice,» Tyoma said. «This has easily been the worst day of my life.»

«I understand. I’m sorry. I’ll pick you up and get you home. We’ll talk it over if you like…‌or you can draw a nice hot bath and just try to forget about it.»

«Pick me up? Did they call you? They’re letting me go?»

There was silence for a long moment. «Are you okay? I just got off the line with you a few minutes ago, but now you sound like you have no idea we just talked. You gave me your coordinates. What do you think I’m doing in the car?»

Tyoma’s mouth hung open. What the hell? «You…‌you sure it was me? I’ve been unconscious for some time and just woke up.»

«What? Are you serious?»

«I’m…‌yeah, I’m staring at the med bot right now while he works on my knee.»

«You said you were in a parking lot. It’s about three kilometers from The Pyramid. I assumed Dr. Saenz had helped you escape, but you acted like you never even heard of him.»

Tyoma shook his head. Am I losing my mind? «What’s going on? I’m still in The Pyramid. I tried to escape but I got shot instead.»

«Shot!? Are you okay? I—»

«Yes, I’m…‌well, not fine, but I’m as good as I could hope for while still being held prisoner by gangsters.»

«Okay, okay, just a second. Let me think,» said Kostya. «Okay, how about I fly over the location of the coordinates I was given and see if I can notice anything suspicious? After that, I’ll come to The Pyramid and try to negotiate your release.»

«That all sounds dangerous to me,» Tyoma said. «You shouldn’t come here. I don’t trust these people for a moment. And whatever crazy stunt they are pulling mimicking me, that sounds like a trap.»

«Why would they set some kind of trap for me? They have all the leverage they need. When they contacted us earlier they could have just made me come to them. This doesn’t make sense.»

«I know, I know. I don’t know what to say. It just feels wrong.»