Idiocracy 2: The Inevitable Journey
Chapter 1: An Ambitious Plan
oOo
The year is 2022. The location is Langley, Virginia, at CIA headquarters. The CIA had taken note of the sliding average intellect and cultural rot, and wanted to find out what direction the nation was headed. What the main problems would end up being, how they worsened, and how to prevent them. This would either benefit humanity, or simply gain an advantage for themselves. That, and maybe find out which nations or people would be a "problem", so that they could be dealt with.
It was the most ambitious project the CIA would ever launch, and would rely on technology assumed to exist at this future date. They would purposely send one of their agents to the year 2305; long enough to assess what long-term issues arouse and how, but not so late that he would fail to integrate. And then a time machine, it was hoped, would send him back. This wasn't guaranteed, but it was the best shot they had.
Unbeknownst to the CIA, the Army already conducted its own cryogenic sleep experiment 17 years prior. This was meant to last only a year, though the two people preserved would eventually wake up in the year 2505. They would change history after discovering they were now the "smartest people in the world". Or in the US, at least, which thought of itself as being the "entire world". But this was a story for a later time.
"Mr. Ames, great to see you. I'm sure you've heard about our upcoming project and heard the rumors, but we're about to begin this thing.", CIA director Woolsey said, as the agent walked into his office. It was the beginning of this agent's shift, and he was ordered to report to the director first-thing.
Robert Walker Ames, 39, a mid-level agent with an unremarkable career was chosen in part because he didn't stand out. No family, and his parents were deceased as well, so he wouldn't be missed. Aside from these two men, only a handful of agents knew of the project. And those beside Ames may never live to see if it was successful.
"Yes sir, it's a big honor. I've been thinking of it a lot, and I'm looking forward to it. I may as well see what the future holds, and come back assuming a time machine has been developed. And if not, I'm sure it'll be a great journey." Ames, an awkward and introverted person, was intellectual but not overly outgoing. He was a good enough analyst, and fluent in Russian, but wasn't a "guy's guy". He also tended to prattle on instead of getting to the point, and even now his voice showed his nervousness about this plan.
But he was good at putting things together. All he had to do was observe, put together a shortlist of what social and cultural trends would materialize, and what people would be a "problem", and return. His analytical skill was his forte, and his introverted nature meant he would likely take the necessary notes and get back. He wouldn't make many friends and decide to stay where he was, or get distracted.
He had his own motivations as well. Being an unremarkable person with no family, he felt he had hit a dead-end with his career and was lonely in the romantic department. In this future date, he could meet someone; a woman interested in him, who would be fascinated with his mission and appreciate his mannerisms. He would also gain prestige with the CIA, and move up the ladder. It was either try this, or stay the course forever. Ames chose to take the risk.
"You're the best one for this project", the director said. "You've been a company man for many years now, but this is something new. We can't guarantee the agency, the United States or even the Earth will be around in 2305. Or, if the CIA or whatever's in its place will have the motivation or skill to send someone back to this year. So sending someone forward in cryo-sleep will be the only way to guarantee we'll have a man on the ground with motivation to come back."
"When does it happen?", Ames asked. He thought of the director's statement, and started to wonder what the backup plan would be if the government had vanished.
"We're just about done sorting you out in the here-and-now. In case you don't return, we don't want anyone to get curious and learn about the project. We've prepared your obituary, and set aside funds for you to access in the future. We also have a kit you can use."
The director reached for a bag of items for Ames and handed him one of the items: "We'll give you a card to access funds from the State Department. It works at any ATM, and even if the government as we know it isn't around, it will work. We've been using these around the world for awhile now, no matter what the undercover name is, so the idea is that'll also work in the future." He put the card back and handed over the bag.
"Are you sure? What if the whole world is gone?"
"The cryo-chamber you'll be in will keep operating as long as the electric grid holds. It's set to wake you back up when the time comes, or if it loses power. So as long as our infrastructure is in place, that means our government still will be in some form, so we will still have a State Department that our intelligence communities will interact with."
Ames looked down slightly. He was still eager, but the director was assuming a lot. He even began to wonder if there was still time to back out, but he couldn't do that. He was already prone to avoid risks, and thought one reason women didn't find him attractive was that he wasn't bold or brave enough.
Director Woolsey continued, "Your kit contains some gold and a few diamonds. Presumably, those will still have value in case there's a snag with the card. That'll give you some living expenses while seeing how well-founded the fears and culture wars of today are. The cryo-chamber itself is located in a warehouse about ten miles west of here. It's not a major developed area, and the land itself is directly owned by the Federal government. It probably won't want to sell land to private developers so close to our intelligence hub."
Ames grudgingly accepted this, but had one more major question, "And how will I find a time machine?"
"We've been working on one, or at least the technology for it. Along with other world governments. NASA might also develop faster-than-light travel or CERN can also find some quantum-tunnelling technology. More than one agency might develop it independently. You could integrate yourself into almost any intelligence or scientific body and gain access."
"Might, could", Ames thought to himself. This was all untested territory. He would be like an explorer setting off for what he thought was the edge of the world, only to see what was there. But he didn't have much now; at least worth staying for. Succeed, either for the CIA or himself, and the rewards could be big.
Director Woolsey added, "You'll need some 'pocket lint' when you arrive, to provide an identity. The kit also has a driver's license, Social Security Card and passport, all dated to 2305. Assuming the designs are similar enough to pass, they'll get you by, or be better than nothing. They're under your own name. May be unusual for the agency, but you're not exactly undercover, and you won't have to improvise."
Final details were discussed, such as transportation. Ames would use a taxi upon awakening, or the future equivalent, since a vehicle from the present may not work and would draw attention. He would avail himself to an intelligence agency while concealing his true origin, and learn about the current state of the world while looking for this time machine.
Preparations were complete, and his last will and testament prepared. The CIA escorted him to the warehouse to begin this experiment a few days after this meeting. He changed from his suit into clothing more suitable for sleeping, and stored his suit along with a spare in an air-tight compartment next to his cryo-chamber, created for this purpose. Ames got into the chamber, saw the door close and felt himself drift to sleep. The next time he would experience consciousness, if he did, it would be a whole new world. One that he needed to integrate into, document, and then return; assuming everything went according to plan.