[ WP ] Two time travelers appear in the present day , claiming to both come from the same year . Both of them describe radically different versions of the future .

Six months earlier, he had arrived in a glowing green sphere of light, carrying a mobile computer had he packed with carefully chosen images, history texts, technology blueprints, and assorted proofs all of which were subsequently dissected by teams of skeptical scientists, seeking to debunk him. One by one, with varying degrees of good grace, they had reluctantly admitted they could not -- - yet! ( they invariably included that `` yet'' in each admission ). 
 
 The general public, much more excitable and far less skeptical, had excitedly debated why he had come instead. And today was the big news conference. Reg Atheson, aka The Time Traveler began by introducing himself to much applause and began a prepared speech complete with extensive visual aides piped across from his mobile computer which had been successfully interfaced into to auditorium's projectors. 
 
 `` Ladies and gentlemen, let me first begin by saying,'Congratulations humanity, you did it!''' There was some polite applause, but no one was yet sure what he was talking about. 
 
 `` On the wall behind me, you can see a series of images, that illustrate the path *you* and your descendants made happen. Where I come from, humanity has finally overcome the problems of the ages by pulling together, working hard, and sacrificing nobly for the greater good.'' 
 
 `` Now, I know, at this early point in your history, you've probably heard all this before, and have long since started to dismiss it as empty promises by those who want to control you, but I'm here to show you all this so that you wo n't give up. Look at it, my friends: where I come from, we have ended war, united the governments of the world, all but eliminated crime, even made pollution a thing of the past. True equality unites all humanity as brothers and sisters. We've created clean but bountiful sources of energy, and invented 100 % renewable synthetics that eliminate waste. The future is dazzling, my friends, and it all starts here, tonight!'' Now the crowd really started to cheer. 
 
 But then, before the entire assembled crowd and also on camera, so it was relayed live to the entire connected world, a bright green glow filled the stage, and suddenly there was an angry looking young woman standing on the stage, dressed in a similar unisex outfit to the one the Time Traveler was always seen in. Everyone fell silent as she appeared, and no one was more surprised than the Time Traveler himself. `` Lorena!?'' he exclaimed, then, becoming aware of the microphone and pushing it away from him, he said, more quietly, `` What are you *doing* here?'' 
 
 `` What am *I* doing here?'' she hooted, `` Oh *that's* a good one. It's not like you were hard to track. You did n't exactly manage to keep a low profile, did you?'' she asked, gesturing at the room full of people who were shuffling about awkwardly, wondering what was going on. `` Good God, Reg! Time travel? What the hell were you thinking? What is it this time, you old fraud? Three-generation Ponzi? Maybe political shadow puppeteering?'' 
 
 `` This is not the time or place, Lorena!'' he hissed, worried how much of this the mic was picking up, `` I was just showing these good people what the future will hold for them.'' 
 
 `` Showing them the future, or setting yourself up to sell it to them?'' she snapped cynically. She brushed past him and grabbed the microphone. 
 
 `` Excuse, me, everyone. I'm afraid I have some bad news. Now, I'm a little late for this presentation, so forgive me if I do n't cover every talking point, but the future is not quite the sugar coated dream you have no doubt been hearing about.'' The audience was dead silent and a sense of dread settled over the auditorium. 
 
 `` We still have plenty of war and crime, just like every generation before us. There are indeed some remarkable technologies out there. Many of them never see the light of day because certain people would make less profits if they did. Those that do are mostly for the people who can afford it. I'm sure that sounds a little familiar to you.'' 
 
 Now there were the first murmurs and angry mumbling throughout the audience. One particular loud mutter could be heard to say, `` Got that right, babe.'' Reg could feel his moment slipping away. Hastily, he pushed Lorena aside and grabbed back the microphone. 
 
 `` Ladies and gentlemen, I come with extensive proof. This... obviously delusional woman provides no proof to back up these claims which I assure you are completely contrary to the reality I have seen with my own eyes. I have no idea why she is saying these things, but I can assure you the future is a golden land. Please do *not* let this pessimistic rambling cause you to lose hope!'' 
 
 Lorena once again seized the microphone, but she was addressing Reg almost as much as the audience when she said, `` I hardly need to bring proof of my own, when you've done such a good job of it yourself. Ladies and gentlemen, I draw your attention to the images on the projector right now. Does *this* look like a golden land to you?'' 
 
 Reg sneered and turned to look at the current series of images. What he saw caused him to falter. The projector was showing hazy yellow skies over litter strewn slums, alternating with sections of town that looked like burned out former battlefields. He shook his head, disbelieving. Where had these images come from? He knew he had n't included them in the database, because there were no such places except in historical documents. He hastily pulled the plug on the microphone and hissed at Lorena, `` Alright, how did you do this? And *why*?'' 
 
 `` How did *I* do this?'' She looked at him like he was a slow child who disappointed her by failing to pick up on something fundamental. `` *I* did n't do anything, you fool. *You* did. When you screwed with the continuum.'' 
 
 `` I...? No, no no no no...'' Reg said. This he knew could not be so. `` I suppose now you're going to tell me history is a chaotic system and even well intentioned changes can have negative outcomes. But I do n't buy it. Not this. How can giving people confidence lead to destroying the world?'' 
 
 She stared at him, disbelieving for a moment before saying, `` You poor stupid hapless idiot,'' and was surprised to find she actually felt just a tiny touch of sympathy. `` You really think that's what you were doing? Giving them confidence?'' She sighed. 
 
 `` You did n't even *study* this period in human history, did you? You tell them the future is a guaranteed good deal, and you feed their sense of entitlement. Why try? It'll all work out. The Time Traveler said so. Whatever we do, whatever we do n't do, we already know sooner or later it works out, so, you just look out for you, and let the future take care of itself.'' 
 
 `` That is the most hatefully cynical thing I have ever heard,'' he said. 
 
 `` Well, I'm sorry you feel that way,'' she said, `` And I'm sorry for this, too.'' 
 
 `` Sorry for what,'' he asked, but then she slapped the cuffs on him. 
 
 `` You're under arrest, Reg. Charges include attemped fraud, unauthorized use of a time teleport and at this point, possibly crimes against humanity.'' 
 
 Unsure of what she was returning them both to, she nonetheless pressed a recall switch on her wrist band and a green glow engulfed them both as they disappeared. On the screen, the images of ruined slums alternated rapidly with shining perfect cities, switching back and forth faster and faster until both sets of images vanished, and the display showed a blank blue screen as the connection to the projector was lost. 

