Welcome to 2047. Soon, to become 2048. The world? Much the same as ever. Some better computer appliances that are cheaper and more affordable than ever, that's all.
Meet Joseph Hall Carpenter. Joe to casual acquaintances, and "Carp" to close friends. He's a more or less average and somewhat likable fellow. Joe's a really bright guy, but in his own words?
"I'm no Einstein, by any stretch".
He went to college after he graduated high school, to a local state university. Armed with his freshly minted associates and bachelors in mathematics and computer science, he went to work as a programmer in his field. He did some great work, big things really, but his boss gave him a hard time and lorded his status as the VP over him. Joe waited until he was between big assignments? And tendered his resignation. Life for him? Was too short to possibly live like this.
He retreated back into the last thing he had known, where he was reasonably happy. Academia. As a graduate student, he earned his masters in mathematics. Teaching computer science and mathematics classes, as his graduate school job. Time to either go back to the world outside? Or... stay.
Why not apply for doctoral candidacy. His coursework in physics and mathematics completed, he has to get his doctoral thesis proposed, accepted, then completed to receive what he figures he now wants. A doctor in front of his name, a little PhD after it on his drivers license. The better pay and benefits that comes from being a full PhD professor. That little bit of prestige it brings.
He's caught in limbo. The university? Loves to keep graduate students teaching classes for the lower pay and benefits of a grad student. As a big renowned research university? A doctoral thesis needs to be relevant to the field. To bring prestige to their university. So people know that they don't just pump out degrees for nothing.
Joe also? Develops weird ideas. Heresy, in the world of physics. He comes to believe? That dark matter, isn't real. Neither does dark energy exist. These? Were just created to explain what isn't yet explained. He has wholly unaccepted ideas about how the big bang came about, and what went on for that crucial one tenth of a second, between big bang, and all matter and time springing into being.
Convinced he's right, this does not soften the blow of becoming both a standing joke and a punch line both in one, to his field. Its also? Not helping him get his doctoral thesis accepted and approved, so he can move on to what he wants.
Now? Doomed to failed mediocrity, he gets a new blow. He's now convinced of something he ironically would have no trouble getting everyone to believe this time around. He thinks he might be going insane. In fact, he's quite certain of it. Just lovely, he thinks. Really caps it all off.
In unrelated matters, a strange astronomical phenomenon appears. No one can explain that, either.
Joe finally gives himself over to his complete madness. Why fight it. Might as well wallow in it, and enjoy it while it lasts, right? There's just one thing Joe hasn't counted on.
What if he isn't stark raving mad?
What if he's about to meet his destiny.
He has but two choices. Either he's already stark raving mad, and going for broke. His little bit of life quality he still has left? Well. That will soon end the way things are going now, won't it. Raving madmen can't very well long be entrusted to teach undergraduate math and computer science classes.
His other choice? He's not crazy. Meet it all head on, and embrace destiny. Because if that choice is correct, then his own fate is of no real consequence anyways. Its not just the fate of the world, its the fate of the entire known universe and he's the only one who can stop it.
Carp decides, he has to take the high road.
A true madman? Can't be stopped.