This story should not be taken too seriously. First of all, this is banter at the BioShock universe and its realities (although, perhaps, this is another alternative universe). Set before the events of System Shock 2 and BioShock Infinite.
2111, TriOptimum Corporation building, unknown location.
Robert and Rosalind Lutes sat in a sterile, locked office with no windows or doors, like an interrogation room, awaiting the arrival of their new boss. For the past few months, they and a hundred other teams of scientists have been living and working in a closed test site of the TriOptimum corporation, undergoing testing for a certain scientific project, the details of which were kept in the strictest confidence. There were rumors that the chief manager of the company, Anatoly Korenchkin himself, selects his scientific employees in this way, but no one really knew anything.
And after all the numerous physical, mental and psychological tests that befell them over all these months, the Lutes were finally selected to participate in this special project, the essence of which they were eager to find out.
“God, it’s so nice to put on normal clothes again,” Rosalind said, grinning, straightening the sleeves of her white blouse. — Still, walking in the same overalls for six months is not a test for the faint of heart.
“Your truth,” Robert responded. – Listen, I keep thinking: what if all these tests are just a screen and we have already become part of some experiment that we simply don’t know about yet??
-You’re digging too deep, brother. “It’s always like this with you when you’re nervous…” she answered, taking out a pack of cigarettes from her jacket pocket. “Wow, it’s still intact.”! you will?
“Only those who watched us from the observation bridge and through the lenses of hundreds of cameras know what this test is for, who needs it, and whether it was all a drunken dog’s dream.”. We, as you understand, were not there. So sit back and enjoy the moment while you can. I have a feeling that we won’t have it soon..
Then the door at the opposite end of the office swung open and a tall, stately man in a good suit entered the room. The rumors, partly, turned out to be true – it was the same Russian oligarch.
– Good evening, gentlemen. I’m Anatoly Korenchkin, nice to meet you.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Robert replied, shaking his hand. – It’s a little surprising to see you here. I heard that you usually do business through intermediaries.
– Yes, that’s true. But the matter that I want to discuss with you is too specific and requires my direct participation. First of all, let me congratulate you on successfully passing the selection. I saw your results and was pleasantly surprised. I have never seen such coordinated work.
– Thank you, sir. It’s just that my brother and I were always together. Even before we were born.
– This quality will be very useful to you in the work that is prepared for you. Make yourself comfortable, we have a lot to talk about. As you understand, everything that will be said here should not go beyond these walls.
With these words, he activated the control panel built into the table and pressed a couple of buttons. The lamp light dimmed and a built-in screen on the side wall began to show slides showing excerpts from the history of the corporation.
— As you know, despite all the progress in promoting scientific progress, the design of the light engine and the construction of the Von Braun, the bureaucrats continue to put pressure on our necks, trying in every possible way to strangle all our attempts to develop humanity. People are still scared by the incident of 2072! Even to simply remove the Von Braun from the docks we need “official permission” from the government. What can we say about something more… Something that can change the world.
Within the framework of underground laboratories, we can produce only small developments: a new type of implants, minor genetic modifications, slightly improved weapons, and so on. But, if we want to do something global, which requires the participation of many people and a huge territory for work, they will immediately figure us out and shut down any undertakings, and even drag us through the courts. Even the testing that we organized was double-checked so many times that the volume of all accumulated documentation is enough for a small novel.
One thing we know for sure: the old methods of creating research sites and conducting scientific work that guided centuries before us no longer work… At least not in this reality.
– And you see some kind of alternative here?? – asked Rosalind.
– Exactly! You know Marie Delacroix and you are also familiar with the FTL drive she created. You know that, in addition to its main task of accelerating a spacecraft to superluminal speed, this device also has one extremely interesting side effect – it distorts space and time around itself. We could not help but notice this most curious property: together with Marie, we carefully studied it and over the past few years, secretly from all governments, we have developed a completely new device based on it – the “Variable Calculator”. Named after Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine.
You will become more familiar with https://casinocosmobet.co.uk/ its structure and method of operation, but for now I will tell you the most important thing: this device is the key that opens the door to alternative realities. Are you familiar with the theory of the multiverse?? This is it! With the Variable Calculator, TriOptimum Corporation has been given power that is far greater than any other power we can gain in this world: power over space and time! And this, in turn, opens up truly limitless possibilities for us. Why beg the government for a couple of hectares for a research center when we can build it in another dimension, without spending any of our own resources on it and, if the experiment gets out of control, without danger to our own world?
With these words, he switched the slides and a new tape appeared, clearly showing in the form of diagrams and infographics the entire complex system of branches and relationships between different realities.
– But wait! – interrupted Robert – If we assume that we can enter any existing reality, is there a possibility that from the other end there will be those who want to “invade” ours?? And what to do with the “butterfly effect”?
“Good question, Mr. Lutes,” Korenchkin replied, stroking his mustache. — We carefully studied this option and that is why for space-time travel we settled on the time period from the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th century – an era when technological development remained at a fairly low level, by our standards, but serious progressive changes were already taking place and all the resources we needed were available.
As for the “butterfly effect”, there is no need to worry about this, since time is not linear and has a high degree of resistance. At the very moment when we intervene in the course of history, a parallel universe is formed, independent of ours or the original reality. In addition, for greater safety, we make sure that all research takes place in closed areas, cut off from the outside world. So the danger of a retaliatory invasion or collision of realities does not exceed a hundredth of a percent.
— As I understand it, our task is to equip these same centers for you in other worlds? – asked Rose.
– Absolutely right! During the years that the “Variable Calculator” was being developed, we created a special scientific department, of which you will become a part. We call you “Progressors” – your task will be to go to another dimension, merge with the local population and, through the “powers that be,” promote all those developments that in our reality are still at the design stage, preliminary testing or prohibited by the UNN: underwater cities, flying houses, drinking genetic tonics, organic implants, complete cybernization of the body..
You will be able to observe from the front row how all these amazing developments change people, society, what new ideas they bring with them. And your task will be to record all this, write it down and transfer it to us. You will take such a huge step for all of humanity that compared to it, Armstrong’s step is like a goose patter!
The Lutes were so engrossed in Anatoly’s speech that only at that moment they noticed that the cigarettes they had lit at first had long been smoked. Watching this, the manager grinned contentedly and offered them another one of his own, which was more expensive.
— And there are many of us like that… “progressors”?
– Very little. Have you seen how strictly we select new candidates?. In addition, we cannot carry out such selections constantly: we do not want to arouse suspicion? Two more people passed the selection before you: Professor Tennenbaum and Suchong. You will meet them soon.
From tomorrow and throughout the next year your training will take place. You will be taught in detail everything you need to know for life in the early twentieth century: how to behave in society, how to speak, how to dress, how to assemble a supercomputer with only scrap metal, an alternator and an incandescent light bulb.
We will gradually bring you up to date, giving you new details of your task. Of course, we won’t stand for the reward: fifty million nanites. To everyone. The money has already been transferred to your accounts.
So what do you say? Can I say that we are partners?
– Of course, Mr. Korenchkin! We are yours! – Rosalind replied, shaking her employer’s hand firmly.
– Stick with me and everything will be fine.
The very day had come when the Lutes had to go into the distant past and change the history of America with their own hands. In the meantime, they were trying on their new old clothes, preparing for the “farewell dinner”. They would spend the next few years in a world where even electricity was a luxury, and this was their last chance to enjoy all the delights of twenty-second century cuisine.
“… She’s kind of ridiculous,” said Rosa, meticulously looking at her new coat.
“I like it,” Robert answered, “vintage and stylish, but without going overboard.”.
– Well, the taste and color..
There was a knock on the door.
– Good afternoon, gentlemen! – Korechkin greeted when it was opened for him – Are you ready??
– Wonderful. You look great, vintage fashion suits you.
“Thank you,” Rose replied.
They walked to the dining room along the observation bridge over the testing laboratory. From above it was easy to see that the “Variable Calculator” was already in a startup state and was ready at any moment to open the door to another dimension.
— Is there any news from Suchong and Tennenbaum?? – asked Robert.
“Unfortunately, none,” answered Anatoly. “We found out that Professor Suchong is dead, and Tennenbaum, apparently, decided to leave the project early and stay in Rapture… Well, let her.
— Do you think it was a mistake to choose them?? – asked Rosalind.
– Why? Not at all. We received all the data we needed. Suchong with Tennenbaum is no longer necessary. And Delight… You yourself saw how it falls apart, everything is clear with it.
Noticing the obvious concern on the faces of the Lutes, Korenchkin stopped.
– Don’t worry, it will be easier to work with Comstock than with Andrei Rayanovsky… At least until he becomes an eccentric, hysterical millionaire. The main thing is, don’t repeat the mistakes of Ian and Bridget and don’t let momentary emotions get the better of your precious intellect. If you successfully complete this mission, I will give you a bonus from some of the money they should have received… Let’s think positively. – he added with a wide smile.
At lunch, while Anatoly devoured his steak with gusto, the Lutes barely touched their food: news of the sad fate of their colleagues greatly spoiled their appetite.
“Mr. Korenchkin,” Robert began, “I wanted to ask about Comstock… Judging by the data about him that you gave us, his mental state should not be particularly stable.”. Are you sure this was the best option??
— Which of the great leaders had it stable, Robert? From Alexander the Great? At Napoleon’s? Maybe Hitler’s? Believe me, we analyzed hundreds of personalities of that time and Comstock turned out to be the most suitable from any point of view: moderately fanatical, moderately calculating, smart, but not too. And stubborn as hell. He’s the perfect option.
When lunch was over, they went into the laboratory, meeting the scientific staff devoted to Korenchkin and the gates of the “Variable Calculator” illuminating the entire space of the room, leading them into the unknown.
“Here are all the things you need,” said Anatoly, handing the Lutes a plump suitcase. “Money, documents, tools – everything is there.”. There is also a device there with which you can contact your native reality. To a twentieth-century person it will look like an ordinary telegraph transmitter, but in fact it is a communicator with which you can communicate with us and transmit data to us. It’s not fast, especially considering the time barrier, but where else can you write to another dimension??
“Thank you, Mr. Korenchkin,” said Robert, “We won’t let you down.”.
Anatoly put his hands on their shoulders as a sign of encouragement.
– Well, are you ready for the greatest trip of your life??
“Absolutely,” the Lutes said together.
– That’s what I wanted to hear. You know, I watched Comstock a lot and from personal experience I can give you one simple piece of advice: agree with him in everything he says and do everything he asks you to do, no matter how ridiculous the request may seem. And then, I assure you, he will pray for you.
The Lutes nodded silently and headed towards the gap in reality, leading them into the endless abyss of the past. A steady hum emanating from the apparatus and from the rupture itself filled everything for them, including all the other sounds of the laboratory.
