Denis was scared and dumbfounded. Alex, without losing a second, jumped to the still-lying Sophie and stretched out his hand to her ear to find the treasured button carefully hidden under artificial leather to mechanically turn off the robot.

- What are you doing? - amazedly raised his brows Lavrov

- I will explain later - Alex, who made the necessary security procedure, got up - better tell me, what are you doing here yourself? By the way, thanks! - he shook hands with someone.

- I work here. In the protection of the club ... - Denis explained discouraged by recent events - Is that singer Sophie ?! The same one?

- She is - Alex grinned - the most real. Almost...

- What does almost mean? And why did she attack you?

“Probably because such a command was given to her,” Alex answered, realizing that Neuman had obviously tried here, who wanted to destroy him with the help of controlled dolls.

Denis now absolutely nothing, not understanding, leaned over the girl

“We killed her?”

- No, just turned off

- In terms of? - Denis's surprise grew in his eyes

Alex smiled at his savior

- I'll explain everything! Then. But first you need to leave the club unnoticed. Together with Sophie. Are there such ins and outs?

- Yes, there are, - after thinking a little, Lavrov said - it is possible through the back room. There is usually no one at this time.

“Excellent - sincerely delighted Alex - it means that we will disappear without any problems from here - Now we take a beautiful woman and make legs”. By the way, keep in mind - it is heavy.

Lifting the pupa and picking it up from both sides, the guys, depicting a retinue of a heavily drunk star, began to move in the direction of the utility room.

The appearance of Denis at a dangerous moment for him was considered by Alex to be an incredibly happy event, one might say a gift of fate, so he decided to open up before Lavrov and draw him to his side. Telegin believed that Denis was not capable of betrayal, although in fact they were not so familiar. But for the second time in this short acquaintance, a guy helps him out in critical situations. And the help of a real living person, a reliable comrade, in the absence of his teacher, was simply necessary for him. That's just how to explain everything to Denis ... After all, a normal person in this whole story with a corporation for the manufacture of artificial intelligence pupae, if he believes, then only in delirium or in a dream.

- Now tell me!

The friends sat in the large kitchen of the spacious apartment that Alex had recently rented for himself and for Zhenya. Thanks to the money, Telegin Shevchenko could allow such a luxurious two-level housing, consisting not a lot of many of the five living rooms.In one of them they put a lifeless doll, Sophie, Alex asked, or rather ordered Zhenya to look after her, although he was sure that the model that was turned off was unlikely to be able to take any action. Evgenia, in turn, was probably surprised, but she was accustomed to obeying her beloved, so now she was looking at fashion magazines, sitting in a chair next to the bed where Sophie was placed, hoping that sooner or later Alex would explain what was happening to her. Moreover, the heroine of many tabloid publications, popular singer Sophie, rested nearby in a completely unconscious state.

- I understand that you are waiting for explanations, but let's drink first - Alex said with understanding, pouring expensive brandy into glasses from a big-bellied bottle

- I see, I began to bling even more - said Denis, accepting a vessel filled to the brim.

- Yes it is, little things. The situation, as they say, obliges - Alex waved it off, gulping down a drink, which according to the tradition of civilized drinking, had to be savored in small sips.

But Telegin now was not up to that. He was once again going to be killed. If not Denis ... Hmmm, otherwise he would probably have been lying on the floor of the club with a broken head, and Sophie would have continued her speech. After all, she is a doll and feelings of compassion for her neighbor are hardly programmed. But all is well that ends well. And after such a good mouthful of intoxicating, Telegin was a little more cheerful and decided to introduce Denis at least a little into the course of events. But I thought I should start a little from afar:

- Denis, have you ever noticed that some of our pop stars are very beautiful, as if even unreal beautiful?

- How is Sophie? - smiled Lavrov

- Well, yes, like Sophie, for example

- Yes, she is cool. Even when I was carrying her, I could barely cope with the excitement - Denis confessed, having mixed a little - I can imagine how conscious she is ...

- You will soon see - Telegin promised in all seriousness, immediately asking - did this ever bother you?

- What exactly? The splendor of a beautiful girl? And why should this surprise? - Denis asked, wondering - women have been admired since time immemorial ...

- Yes, you are right, but do not you think that this beloved perfection looks artificial?

- Are you talking about Sophie specifically?

- Yes, let's talk about her

Lavrov thought, shrugged.

- Probably there is something like that. But she is not a poor girl, she can afford all sorts of spas, make-ups, tanning salons there ... I don’t understand what you are leading to? I, for one, are more concerned with the question of why this is why she almost killed you and, secondly, if they didn’t catch her, because we pulled her out of the concert. And kidnapping is already a criminal article ...

- The fact of the matter is that Sophie is not a man ... - as if, by the way, Alex remarked, finally, having decided to tell her friend the truth - she was an artificial creation created by the hands of a very intelligent man.

And Denis didn’t seem surprised, finished his glass, carefully put it on the table and slowly chewed on a slice of lemon:

“You mean Sophie is a robot?”

- Well, approximately - Telegin smiled, who obviously did not expect such a calm reaction - more precisely, a high-tech android. And not only she ...

- You would have tied up with alcohol - Denis nodded at the opened bottle - otherwise I will start to think that you are one of those abnormals that I have heard enough about my former job ...

- So you don’t believe me - even Telegin was delighted - then imagine your version of events ... Why do you think Sophie attacked me?

- Well, you're a journalist, maybe you wrote an ugly letter about her. The stars, you know how nervous she is. And if she was a robot, which is simply unbelievable, she did not harm the person. I read fiction sometimes. So, brother, you need to do something with your hectic imagination. She is unlikely to bring good ...

Alex grinned:

“She would not attack me if she was not reprogrammed for my destruction.” Everything is much more serious than you think.

- I noticed - Denis said with irony - it’s good that the “green men” still do not come to you.

Alex was not even offended:

“Can you just listen to me?”

- And nothing to comment?

- If not difficult, until the end of my story

- I will try - Denis grinned, pouring himself another brandy - I can, but you cannot yet ...

Telegin tells Denis a little about his life, in general about the corporation, Sergey Anatolevich and some of his models. And, of course, about Neuman, who at the moment was a great danger.

“Too improbable,” Lavrov noted at the end of his story — but you couldn't invent it all.

- Even with my hectic fantasy - Alex smiled

- But why did you decide to tell me everything? After all, this is, in fact, exclusive information?

“Because I decided that you are my friend and you are the only one I can rely on right now.”

- But what about Zhenya? She's your friend too. And very pretty - Denis Alex winked - or do you seriously not take the girls?

- She's clever, and more than once helped me. But she is not human either. This is my tutor's personal gift.

- Nothing a present - Lavrov whistled - you know, Alex, it is so unreal that ...