English: Audio text:

The Little Mermaid: It could have been something like this. In the Paleozoic, some kind of supercivilization scattered its spores across the cosmos. On different planets, creatures like us grew out of them. Their mission was to stake out a platform, to build a friendly civilization. And self-destruction was provided for that, so that they would have a desire to correct themselves, and to develop technologies for this. Somewhere it turned out better, somewhere worse. For example, on Earth, the spores managed to germinate – but it did not work out, and if it were not for you, I think we would never have come to the surface. Let's be realistic, right now my main goal is personal immortality. And let's put the question straight. Would it be useful to kill all the people for this? I would single out four factors. People as competitors for resources, people as assistants supporting infrastructure, and people as armed opponents, who, firstly, will defend themselves in the event of our attack, but, secondly, may attack first. Simply because they will consider us enemies themselves. Now it seems to me that the peaceful option is more profitable and real. After increasing intelligence and reducing aggressiveness, you will be little different from us, and before that, I think we will find something to respond to your possible attack. .. There is another, fifth, factor – people as creatures that I love. And I am really willing to sacrifice some probability of immortality in order to preserve you and improve. Although, perhaps, love is just a reaction of my subconscious to your usefulness. And then it doesn't add anything to the first four factors.

Second Prince: You speak as if innate programs are no longer important, and everything is decided by your personal interest in obtaining immortality. But if their goal is not development and not immortality, namely the cleansing of the earth from us?

The Little Mermaid: Now it seems to me that this is somehow stupid. To kill everyone, they would have come up with something simpler. The main program is actually very simple. Our creators gave us a happy life, but they did not grant us immortality. And a rational being who loves life will not be able to accept death – whether it is programmed, or associated with a loss of reliability. It will fight. ... I'm going back to the sea now. I have to tell everything there. I'll be back in about a month, and I think that some of us will also come to the surface – to begin with, just to study people, to understand how to interact with you. And somewhere by spring, a detailed development scenario will be determined. ... Wait for me... I will definitely come back. I won't cheat.