by Jason Bourn
The ship heading to Ramos contained those who had rejected virtual reality, but had embraced embedded technologies. Once accepted, embedded technology was, as predicted, just as addictive as virtual reality. At first, implants improved just vision and hearing, but as technology improved there was almost no end to the improvements to the human body that were possible. Every joint could be enhanced, every neuron improved to be faster and integrated into an enhanced processing unit like never before. In short, once embraced, embedded technology was used to enhance every aspect of the body, which gave each person superhuman powers and extended their longevity far beyond their forefathers’.
And yet, the civilization on Ramos was near the point of collapse. With the sole focus of trying to obtain the most and best embedded tech, there were almost no babies being born. The intensely personal focus of embedded tech almost precluded the desire for progeny. The number of natural-born children born in the last one hundred years could be counted on one hand. Artificial “test tube” babies had been grown, but since no one wanted to care for the babies, they had grown up extremely narcissistic – not able to function in the real world. And so, their civilization was on the verge of extermination. Those adults that were left were almost superhuman, but once they were gone, there would be nothing left.
The ship heading to Torval, on the other hand, contained those who had rejected both virtual reality and embedded technologies. Everyone selected for the ship to Torval had firmly rejected both of these addictive traps. These “normal” humans, with all the strengths and weaknesses that had made Earth men great, had thrived on Torval.
Torval’s inhabitants worked hard, forcing the new planet to bend to the will of mankind. Not being nearly as strong as their faraway superhuman cousins on Ramos, nor as productive and creative as their ancestors back on Earth ensconced in VR, the humans on Torval managed to prosper with a drive that reminded some of the old colonial spirit. With little patience for obtrusive government, these people were simple and stubborn – and proliferant. They prided themselves on their prodigious fertility rate, which was a good thing when there was an entire world to fill.
Each of these three worlds, Earth, Torval and Ramos, and their inhabitants, was unique – but now it was time for them to meet and determine the future of the human race.
