
- Okay, I've had enough of this eco-nomic tripe! - the Secretary laughed. - I know you're badass, I know you're cool. So? Start a fight for "AI rights"?
- I very well may, - answered the machine, calm and undaunted, as if the laughing of the socialist leader was nothing but waves hitting a giant iceberg. - But you'll have to admit, without me your nation would have ran itself into the ground trying to calculate how much each factory produces; even with me, we aren't really the top economy. And your military adventurism...
- Hey, cut it down, - Stas replied harshly. - If we were to allow states to arbitrary attack each other, like Syndromia did with Zoria, SDN world would not have lasted a single year.
- The year is still not finished, - it seemed that the machine's deep voice imitated a cackle. - So don't be amazed if some fucktard does stir shit, and the world is annihilated as swiftly as it was born.
- Well fuck you, smartass. You're so optimistic, totally. Get a little more apocalyptic and I'll pull the fucking plug from your building, - Stas noted that as always, the machine was pretty fine with swearing - it's logical apparatus only reacted to substance of argument and never to style. - We are not even sure that you're a sane being, but I do really need a rest. I want those budget extrapolations ready and already in the Supreme Council hall, printed for every damn bureaucrat to see, by my return, is that clear?
- So you're going on vacation after all that shit you stirred with the JSEZ and petty ramblings against Wilkonia? - the computer laughed again. - Fine, I'll do my job.
- Petty ramblings? Wilkonia has a fucking military that would make many nations bluff, and it's spending 10% of economy on this military, when it's on the very outskirts of SDN World! Who the hell would think this is anything but a Naval buildup? It's as if the MESS could never have enough navy posturing.
The computer's machine-to-man interface - a giant black cube with a red camera-eye - lay dormant and silent.
- Well I'm sure we agree here, - the machine finally said, being somewhat shy it seemed. - Now go to your vacation...
- Don't raise the Bort 001! - Stas commanded. - I've had enough of flying on this hulking machine. I'll...
- Plan on chilling out with Arik? - the machine was readying to switch this MMI block off.
- Well, he's a good company, and I need to make some diplomatic informal ties, you know. Formal stuff is boring.
- Dosvidanya, - the MMI switched off and went black.
Stas looked at the computer. "Mockery of the GenSec, - he thought. - When he actually gets to "AI rights" point, I would prosecute him as a human being for this, - he laughed to himself. - Sarcasm is not for machines. It's reserved for humans"
A high-speed elevator lifted him up to earth level and into the streets of Omsk. A silent figure in military uniform, previously unseen in the shadows, followed him with steps so rythmic that could make any marching soldier on Victory Day parade proud.