A couple of years ago, after it was revealed that Sergey had some genetic disorder I wrote this sci-fi short story inspired by the fact that Larry/Sergey would be doing exactly this:
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In the year 2010, scientists perfected suspended animation through the use of cryogenics for the purpose of surgery. After more than a decade of study and refinement, long term suspended animation became a reality, yet a privilege reserved for only the most wealthy and influential.
The thinking at the time was that only those who showed a global and fundamental contribution to society (while still viewed through the ridiculously tinted lenses of the global elite of the era) were worthy of entering into such state.
The process was both incredibly complex and costly. As each Transport, as they were known, required their own stand alone facility to be built around them. Significant resources were put into the development of each facility as they required complete autonomous support systems to accommodate whatever duration was selected by the Transport.
Standalone, yet fully redundant, power, security and life support systems were essential to the longevity of each facility.
Additionally, it was recognized that monetary resources would be subject to change over time, especially fiat-currency based resources. Thus there was a need to place physical holders of value that would be perceived to not deplete/dilute over time into the facilities for use by the Transport when they resuscitate.
These resources are the most sought after treasure of the new world.
After hundreds of years of human progress, civilization could no longer sustain itself in an organized self-supporting system. Through utter corruption of what some call the human soul, the world has fallen dark. There are very few outposts of safety in the current Trial of Life, as its now known.
Many Transporters have been found, resuscitated and exploited already. There are believed to be many many more, but their locations are both secret and secure. Akin to your life relying on the discovery of an undisturbed Tomb of a Pharaoh - even though every consciousness on the planet is also seeking the same tomb.
They are the last bastion of hope for they alone have the reserves of precious materials needed to sustain life for the current generation.
Metals, technology (however outdated), medicines, seeds, weapons and minerals are all a part of each Transport 'Crop'.
One find can support a group or community for years alone based on the barter and renewable resource potentials in each Crop.
One transport, found in 2465, that of a long dead nanotech pioneer - who was purportedly responsible for much of the cybernetic medical capabilities of the 21st century, which he sought to cure his genetic predisposition for a certain disease, was so vast that the still powerful city-state in the western province of North America was able to be founded.
The resources of this individual were extraordinary, but his resuscitation, as they all are, was rather gruesome and cold.
The security systems in each Transport Facility are biometric and very complex. They can only be accessed by a living, calm and (relatively) healthy Transport.
If the system, and its control mechanism AI, detect signs of duress, stress or serious injury to the Transport - they go into fail-safe. Which is to say they self detonate. Taking with them all resources, the Transport and the Seekers as well.
There have been many instances of this, such that the art of successful Resuscitation has become an extremely profitable business.
The most active and successful Resuscitation Team (RT) have been the ironically named, Live Well Group.
The most conniving, well practiced and profitable con in the history of mankind.
LWG alone has been responsible for the resuscitation of more than 370 Transports. Their group is currently the most powerful in the world. With their own city-state, established after the Brin case mentioned, they have a cast of thousands of cons all working to ensure the Transport believes they have been Awakened to a new, advanced, safe world and that they would be allowed to stake part in a significant way now that they have been Transported.
They are fooled into releasing their resources, then brutally tortured for information about any other Transports or any other knowledge they may possess, which invariably is less than nothing.
It is a hard world out there now, and the LWGs ruthless strive to locate the thousands of other Transport Facilities is both the worst aspect of our modern struggle - yet ironically will serve to be the basis of the ongoing endeavor of the species.
There is rumor of a vast facility of resources and Transports in an underground 'CITY' of the most elite Transports ever. A facility supposedly comprised of the 13 most powerful and rich bloodlines of people to have ever existed.
It is not known which continent this facility is on, but I believe it is in Antarctica - fully automated and with the ability to auto-resuscitate at a given time.
This is my mission, this is my life's work. To find and own this facility and crush any and all other groups that oppose me.
I like the background, though from a narrative standpoint, it is better presented piecemeal, as the hero progresses.
Just one quibble: cryonics (not "cryogenics") today is much less expensive than that. Okay, you don't live back (yet). But if we get working suspended animation, with resuscitation and all, it will probably be much cheaper, much more dependent on the survival of our current civilization, and much less protected.
I wrote it in 2010 after the wired article about Sergey's gene issue came out... it was a stream of conscious post, and I hadn't edited it since...
I predicted that given his resources and being found to have a genetic predisposition to a disease with later-in-life onset, he would focus on health/longevity.
With the article that came out at the same time about cryonic (thanks) surgery, I was thinking that he would be more likely to be able to freeze himself later in life than to cure his genetic disorder.
----
In the year 2010, scientists perfected suspended animation through the use of cryogenics for the purpose of surgery. After more than a decade of study and refinement, long term suspended animation became a reality, yet a privilege reserved for only the most wealthy and influential.
The thinking at the time was that only those who showed a global and fundamental contribution to society (while still viewed through the ridiculously tinted lenses of the global elite of the era) were worthy of entering into such state.
The process was both incredibly complex and costly. As each Transport, as they were known, required their own stand alone facility to be built around them. Significant resources were put into the development of each facility as they required complete autonomous support systems to accommodate whatever duration was selected by the Transport.
Standalone, yet fully redundant, power, security and life support systems were essential to the longevity of each facility.
Additionally, it was recognized that monetary resources would be subject to change over time, especially fiat-currency based resources. Thus there was a need to place physical holders of value that would be perceived to not deplete/dilute over time into the facilities for use by the Transport when they resuscitate.
These resources are the most sought after treasure of the new world.
After hundreds of years of human progress, civilization could no longer sustain itself in an organized self-supporting system. Through utter corruption of what some call the human soul, the world has fallen dark. There are very few outposts of safety in the current Trial of Life, as its now known.
Many Transporters have been found, resuscitated and exploited already. There are believed to be many many more, but their locations are both secret and secure. Akin to your life relying on the discovery of an undisturbed Tomb of a Pharaoh - even though every consciousness on the planet is also seeking the same tomb.
They are the last bastion of hope for they alone have the reserves of precious materials needed to sustain life for the current generation.
Metals, technology (however outdated), medicines, seeds, weapons and minerals are all a part of each Transport 'Crop'.
One find can support a group or community for years alone based on the barter and renewable resource potentials in each Crop.
One transport, found in 2465, that of a long dead nanotech pioneer - who was purportedly responsible for much of the cybernetic medical capabilities of the 21st century, which he sought to cure his genetic predisposition for a certain disease, was so vast that the still powerful city-state in the western province of North America was able to be founded.
The resources of this individual were extraordinary, but his resuscitation, as they all are, was rather gruesome and cold.
The security systems in each Transport Facility are biometric and very complex. They can only be accessed by a living, calm and (relatively) healthy Transport.
If the system, and its control mechanism AI, detect signs of duress, stress or serious injury to the Transport - they go into fail-safe. Which is to say they self detonate. Taking with them all resources, the Transport and the Seekers as well.
There have been many instances of this, such that the art of successful Resuscitation has become an extremely profitable business.
The most active and successful Resuscitation Team (RT) have been the ironically named, Live Well Group.
The most conniving, well practiced and profitable con in the history of mankind.
LWG alone has been responsible for the resuscitation of more than 370 Transports. Their group is currently the most powerful in the world. With their own city-state, established after the Brin case mentioned, they have a cast of thousands of cons all working to ensure the Transport believes they have been Awakened to a new, advanced, safe world and that they would be allowed to stake part in a significant way now that they have been Transported.
They are fooled into releasing their resources, then brutally tortured for information about any other Transports or any other knowledge they may possess, which invariably is less than nothing.
It is a hard world out there now, and the LWGs ruthless strive to locate the thousands of other Transport Facilities is both the worst aspect of our modern struggle - yet ironically will serve to be the basis of the ongoing endeavor of the species.
There is rumor of a vast facility of resources and Transports in an underground 'CITY' of the most elite Transports ever. A facility supposedly comprised of the 13 most powerful and rich bloodlines of people to have ever existed.
It is not known which continent this facility is on, but I believe it is in Antarctica - fully automated and with the ability to auto-resuscitate at a given time.
This is my mission, this is my life's work. To find and own this facility and crush any and all other groups that oppose me.