Chapter 9-The Hand of Hypocrisy
Before Ames took a seat, the Director filled him in. "Good news Ames, for your reputation, and that of our agency. WANK-TV can interview you"-he checked his computer screen-"right now. I'll give you the address, it's just a few blocks from here. Good luck, we'll be watching you from here. Well, us and those who control our budget."
"Thanks. I'll be sure to clear things up." Ames took the address and promptly left for the interview, not acknowledging the other agents. He entered the WANK-TV building and headed for the interview room. The others in the FBI, as well as Kyrie and certain people in government, would be watching him; tripping over himself and 'apologizing' for what happened Sunday night.
He would have a chance to survive, but he thought of what would happen if tucked tail now, prostrating himself. People like Kyrie, O'Rourke, Seymor and Hermann had seen him, and respected him for what he had done. The best feeling he ever had was to feel valued, and be seen as brave, rather than the introvert who co-workers and women didn't respect. At least it never felt like they did.
But he was thinking of his own reasons, and emotions, too. He was DISGUSTED by some of the things he had seen in this modern world. And everyone was watching him? If he could never get back to 2022, he may as well be a little honest about how he really felt. Even if he could never see it, he knew how his real friends would feel. Reaching this room,he waited to be motioned in.
"Welcome everyone to 'WANK and Friends' Morning Show. I'm your host, Paul 'Pepsi' Ailes", the anchor said. "We've got alot of stories to get to this morning, including 'Are organic foods turning your son gay?'. But first, we have a major exclusive. We're sure you saw the major breaking news spectacle on Sunday, when one of the FBI appeared to be attacking religion and defending socialism. It shocked everyone, including myself. Such a thing has never happened, and would normally result in a well-deserved arrest for terrorism. However, the FBI Director has reached out to us directly, and offered an exclusive interview with this man, to see why he said it, and what he may have meant to say. Everyone, let's welcome Agent Robert Walker Ames."
Ames walked in, and sat on an interview couch. "Hello, I'm here to further elaborate on what happened Sunday, and maybe add a few things."
"Well that's great. So Mr. Ames, you've been a member of the FBI for just a little while compared to most agents, and you already racked up a great record against the Democrats, in places like Miami and Austin. However, Sunday night was... worrying, and the Director wanted us to give you the chance to speak on it. So, what was going through your head?"
Ames then asked, "Is this live?"
"Well yes, of course."
"Ok. I assumed." Ames was assured that certain people could see him unedited. "Well, I have to be honest about those issues, and some others that I didn't really get the chance to address that night. I'd like to talk about guns, and the 2nd Amendment."
This was always a popular topic, so Ailes was happy to follow this lead. "Oh yes, I'm sure people would love to hear your perspective. What about guns do you like best, and how many do you own?"
"Well, I don't own any, I just have the one I was issued, by the Agency. But, I've seen plenty of people wave them around; in Austin when I saw Congressman Abbott speak, here in DC when the Mayor was talking, and elsewhere. And I always wondered why they needed them, why they needed to be so public with them."
The anchor assumed he was about to praise these guns. "Ok, so lots of Patriots had their guns on them. How did you feel as a Patriot when you saw them? And how safe were these gatherings as a result?"
"How did I feel? Well, I could tell they thought their guns were 'manly'. But growing up I was taught what someone made a 'real man' by watching others, and forming an opinion as I got older. I got the impression that a 'real man' was someone who could learn from mistakes, as well as take responsibility for their actions and behavior. To help their community in some way. To be reliable to those that depend on him."
The anchor was confused how this related to guns. He attempted to clarify, "So when you met these Patriots carrying guns, is this how they were?"
"Not at all. I just thought of how useless, and dangerous, all of these guns were. These guys were insane children, firing at the roof of the building, or just waving it around for other clowns to see. I hear they want these guns to stop all the bad guys, but there have been several school shootings in this past month alone, in addition to other violent crime. Where were all the good guys then? Where were all these 'tough guys' who need to wear a gun when entering the hardware store? I mean, this has always been an issue, but it has gotten MUCH worse!"
Ames rarely raised his voice, but now he had a good reason to. The anchor was at first baffled, but now alarmed. He glanced over to the camera crew who were wondering if they should cut to commercial. "Mr. Ames, you surely can't be insulting Patriots. They have a god-given right to carry guns in our nation!"
"What about voters in Austin, and their right not to see a gun when they're trying to vote? What about the rights of parents who want to see a high school graduation? I respect the right to own a gun, but these guys are TINY and WEAK if they need to carry a gun when proving their 'manhood'. They may as well castrate themselves, since they clearly aren't 'real men'."
The anchor didn't know what else to add, and just sat dumbfounded. This interview didn't go as he had planned.
At that moment, armed FBI field agents came in and arrested Ames. This wasn't much of a surprise. "Mr. Ames, you are under arrest for attacking religious liberty, defending socialism, terrorism, and attacking the 2nd Amendment."
Ames, who was surprised this didn't happen sooner, simply asked, "What took you so long?" They took him out of the room while the live TV was still showing.
Yes, Ames had helped curb the pollution thad had ruined southern US beaches and wetlands for generations. Yes, he had brought badly-needed attention to infrastructure, at least in a tiny way. Yes, he had tried to sow the seeds of critical thinking when it came to religious leaders and the fundamental form or purpose of a government. And yes, he had questioned the narrative of guns being 'manly', and whether they were more harm than good; at least in this future setting.
But in so doing, he had committed the worst crimes imaginable in this future world. He had angered the wealthy and powerful, in the church and government, by trying to expose their greed, lies and hypocrisy to those too brainwashed or stupid to realize it. In truth, those that always preached about wanting to improve the country, and give spiritual advice, didn't give a damn about anyone but themselves.
But even worse, he had angered the mighty gun lobby. Attempting to divide the ideas of "manhood" and "owning a gun" was the last straw. The NRA called the Director during this interview and screamed at him, ordering him to do something. He then had no choice but to dispatch armed field agents to place him in custody.
Ames was then taken to the same detention center that the Democrats he rescued had been stored in. But he wouldn't be stored long. The Director came to visit him, in what would be the last time they would see each other. They sat across each other in their visitation room.
"Ames, Ames, Ames. I really would have thought the interview would go differently. But now, there's no going back."
"I kind of figured that."
"The FBI will need to repair alot of damage. And we will, though our funding will be hurt for a long time. But as for you, you can help in your own way. The court has ordered for you to go to Rehabilitation in a couple days. We'll be fully absolved and people will hopefully forget."
Ames was surprised at the fast pace. "I haven't been to court yet."
"You don't have to, since the evidence is pretty clear. They entered a 'summary judgment' on your guilt."
"Why am I surprised. But I don't regret any action I've taken."
"Suit yourself... " The Director was curious now and decided to ask: "By the way, the Democrats you 'interrogated'. What really happened with them?"
"...ask me Friday." Ames blew the Director off. He wasn't about to betray his friends now.
Director Bannon waited a moment, then said, "I'm disappointed. You could have redeemed yourself, Ames. In a small way. But I'll be sure to tune in, everyone in the FBI will."
He then added, "We spoke about those people, 'Democrats', when you got back from Miami. Out in California, with their always-changing gender identities and culture wars. I don't think you know how bad it is." His face conveyed disgust at his mental image of the place. "If you were to go out there and try befriending them, it wouldn't end well. If you did anything, or nothing at all, they'd accuse you of a 'micro-aggression'. Call an obvious man a 'man'? Say a woman is beautiful? Tell a black guy he spoke well at a conference? You'd be shamed and torn down in every imaginable way. And if a transgender person flirted with you? Are you sure you wouldn't be shamed, or even arrested for a hate crime, if you turned them down?"
"Why are you telling me this?" Ames was confused as to why California was relevant right now.
"It gets worse. They have 'drag queens', or men in dresses, dance in front of young boys. They pressure these kids to go, cheer them, and even wear dresses themselves when at home. It makes the parents feel 'progressive'. Every family out there is running around with one 'gay or transgender' 6-year-old, Ames. I'm just trying to tell you the REALITY of what's really going on with them. And if they had their way, the nation would be a nightmare. Guys like us-or me, rather-would be the underground resistance. We would give it all to fight back."
Ames was still confused why the Director was bringing this up; Kyrie and the others mentioned no such thing. And he himself certainly wouldn't support it. "But you said they don't 'bother with socialism' out there? What does any of that have to do with what I said, about socialism, or guns?"
The director finished his lecture. "That's how they start things, but it's never enough. They always need a new cause or 'purity test', and it ends with mentally disturbed men 'grooming' kids for sex. I ask you what's worse: A tiny bit more corporate profit, or your kids being 'groomed' behind your back, and given hormone blockers to prevent puberty? That's the question we at the FBI keep in mind everyday." Ames had nothing to say; this sounded like paranoid fear-mongering.
Director Bannon stood to leave. "We'll find them, you know. And they'll get it worse. You sure weren't much of an agent."
"Well you weren't much of a director. I didn't even ask for this position. You've only hurt the people you should have been protecting." The Director likely wasn't listening as he walked out.
Ames was lucky he wasn't tortured, but it was no fun if someone was already too weak or injured when they arrived at Rehabilitation. The crowd wanted a show, after all. And after a few days had passed, Ames would be transported to this facility. However, there may be a way to escape this fate and get to safety.