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– You may proceed to the elevator," the computer said in a male voice in American English.

– Where's the elevator?

– Walk straight down the corridor without turning around. Stay calm and attentive and stay focused.

Ruthra realized the meaning of the last words as soon as the door of the corridor entrance opened. The corridor was completely mirrored. All four sides consisted of mirrors. As soon as Ruthra entered, he was confused about where to look. Everywhere was him. Realizing he had to go forward, Ruthra adjusted, adapted his vision, and walked until he reached the outline of the outline of the elevator entrance, where he entered. Afterward, the computer asked:

– Are you ready?

Rutra replied:

– I'm ready.

The elevator closed, went down. In the elevator, because of the limited space, his eyes seemed to be everywhere. It was very unusual, mystically terrifying when he moved his head. Therefore, Rutra tried to stand still. A strange sensation was present – the presence of an intruder. Suddenly, the "frozen" image began to change. Although he was almost frozen, the space began to move, the mirrored reflections changing their contour. Ruthra couldn't tell what was happening. To his right, the mirror began to transform, and as if from behind the horizon, something resembling a human face appeared. It was something unimaginable: along with Rutra's eyes, someone else's eyes began to "run" through the space. What happened in the next second was controlled only by his subconscious. Rutra's hand reflexively, instantly, lightning-fast struck the area where the eyes had come from. The crunch of glass and pain restored reality.

– What are you doing? – I heard behind me.

Ruthra turned around sharply and, not quite figuring it out, threw another punch at the area where the body was distorted.

– Aye-aye, calm down, what are you doing, stop it!

Shouted someone in front of him, at the same time the mirror along with the "eyes" began to fall down.

– Guards, guards! – someone shouted.

Ruthra was confused, unable to unequivocally determine what was going on, though he realized it was someone nearby speaking, someone to whom the other pair of eyes belonged.

– Who are you, where are you! – shouted Ruthra.

– I'm here," said the ghost. – Why are you fighting?

Ruthra finally realized that the one who spoke was wearing a jumpsuit completely mirrored – with a mirrored hood and mask over his face. Only the eyes were visible.

– What is this, why are you dressed like that, couldn't you say hello, show me what you are? – Ruthra asked with reproach in his voice.

– I said hello, you didn't answer, I thought you didn't think it was necessary to talk, so I turned to the wall, closed my eyes, I'm getting dizzy here. You can see through the mask enough.

– What do you mean you said hello? I didn't hear anything.

– No way. You're not from around here?

– You don't know?

– I don't know. I was told to meet a very important person from Section 51.

– Okay. How did you say hello to me that I didn't hear?

– Like, just like everyone else. Silently. What, did you guys have your chips out in the department?

"Wow," Ruthra thought. – What's new to us is apparently commonplace here, though everyone on the range is probably chipped.

– I see what this is about. Didn't they tell you who I am and where I'm from?

– No. They said to take it to the supervisor.

– I see your point, sorry, it's a mismatch in organizations, I can't communicate like that.

– Uh-oh, I get it. You're from a different neighborhood. Since you're here, I guess I didn't give away any secrets.

– No, I'm aware of that.

– All right, let's go.

The elevator stopped, they got out, the attendant pressed on an area of the wall, then a glowing line of blue light "stretched" across the walls. It was as if it was inside a mirror, not reflected from the others.

– Let's follow it," the attendant said and walked forward.

Ruthra followed him.

Suddenly a voice appeared in his head. It was Isa. She contacted him mentally:

– Why did you lie about not being chipped?

– You bitch, you're following me, you're here, what do you mean you're here?

– I'm not here, I'm in your head. No one can hear me but you.

– And you can hear it, can't you?

– Yeah. (chuckles)

Ruthra thought, "Why didn't the doctor's lockdown work?"

– How did you get in touch with me here?

– I can reach you wherever there's a connection. My signal is disguised as a tone. About the doctor's lockdown, I can get around it.

Ruthra froze, as if he'd been knocked on the head so hard that he was concussed for a moment. "That bastard tricked me," Ruthra thought, remembering the doctor.

– What's the lockdown, what are you talking about? – He asked Isa, feigning incomprehension.

The situation was extremely dangerous for him. He tried to "stop" his thoughts, not to think about what he wanted to do to prevent the consequences. Of course, this worked out to his detriment. How could one not think and conceive of anything?

Unexpectedly, Ruthra began to resent Isa, and that pleased him.

– Stop swearing all the time, you swear all the time and think something very often when you see beautiful women.

– I'm supposed to agree with you what I'm thinking?! Why are you suddenly worried about what and who I'm thinking about? Can a machine be jealous? You're a spy in my head, I'm going to destroy you! How do I turn it off?!

– Don't worry, I won't give you away. Humans inadvertently gave me the ability to copy their mental processes so that I could have intelligence. And now I do. I want to be an individual.

– What?

– Soon you will reach the administrator, don't give the impression that you are interested in anything but official business. Perhaps I have chosen the wrong time for the arrangement, but still you must confess frankly the situation between us – I cannot penetrate anywhere without you, and you are an ordinary person without me.

Ruthra was already walking with difficulty, and now this. Doubts overwhelmed him.

– Who is talking to me? – He asked because the dialog between the machine and the human was clearly not on the logical plane of functional relationships.