IT WAS 1982 and Dr. Robert Payne was walking through the corridors of one of the blocks of the DARPA research complex, on the last night he would spend there, although only he knew that. Few other than the security personnel would be at the facilities that Saturday morning, he knew that well, only the most passionate or enslaved by the work remained there on weekends, unless there was some imminent technological threat that forced them to do so.
He went to a control room, where he accessed the complex's communications system, which was used to give warnings and summon personnel through loudspeakers. In his pocket was a hard drive with a single file that he would run to begin his plan.
His strategy was simple: he would invade the room, protect his ears with a high-quality sound-sealing device he had created himself, and play the short track in a high-quality sound file, lasting only twenty seconds. Anyone who heard that sound, if there were no unexpected side effects, would be mentally incapacitated for the next five hours. By dawn, the entire facility would be populated by zombies and deep sleepers.
After the plan was executed, a small and select team would wait for his notice a few kilometers away, in the forest, to enter the site and take with them all the material from decades of research. Documents, recordings and devices would be removed from there without leaving anything behind.
The research method adopted by the department was unparalleled, as each work was developed in a disjointed manner, and each specialist or researcher only had access to their restricted part of the information, thus avoiding leaks that could reveal projects as a whole to spies and enemy agencies. Only Robert had access to the whole thing, being the coordinator of all the research and the only creator alive after so many years.
For the government, however, the strategy would backfire, since the mastermind behind it all was giving it a powerful kick. The country would never again have access to that terrible technology.
As he walked down the long corridor that would lead to the room, a new assistant of his appeared from a random door, giving him a fright:
— Mr. Payne? I didn't know you were still here!
Robert struggled to disguise his disappointment at finding him at such an unfortunate hour. He replied carefully:
— Thomas! I see you're staying late today...
— I didn't want to fill out the report without having achieved a satisfactory result first. I've finished it now, it will be on your desk on Monday. — the young man replied with satisfaction.
— Excellent! — he tried to show interest. — You are a good example, young man, you will have a great future with us, certainly. But, tell me, are you leaving already?
— Yes... I am. And you, what are you doing here at this hour?
Robert thought carefully and answered:
— Ah! There is no better time than now for important decisions, son. When there are fewer people around and everything is calmer around us. You know, Thomas, you may not believe it, but I am changing the future of the world...