The Experiment

“One would think that those who have been on the receiving end of cruelty and prejudice would never treat another in a like manner if they came to hold positions of power and wealth. It is an idiosyncrasy of the human race that the opposite is true. For that reason, it is impossible for the human race to survive. Therefore, I am recommending they all be terminated from the test planet immediately.” Smorgash nodded at the council.

“What is the rush?” Ngorx asked.

“Rush? They’ve been allowed to exist for far too long now. Longer than any other creature we have tested. And although they have some advanced qualities, they have used them to manipulate the experimental habitat in an overwhelmingly negative way. The end is inevitable. Why wait until they have destroyed it and we have to start from scratch to rebuild it. It will be far quicker and cheaper to end it now, repair the damage, and begin with the next subspecies. We also won’t risk losing the species specimens which have proven to be suitable to move forward to the next phase.”

“Designer,” Ngorx pleaded. “We have been close before and this species has always managed to surprise us and find a way to turn everything around at almost the last minute. We have learned some very useful techniques from them.”

Xaenjyk bypassed the translators and sent its head waves through the chamber. “Same Smorgash. These too many choose worst from many choice.”

“But, what about the Promise?” Ngorx challenged in push talk. “You gave choice and let them continue when began.”

“Uhhh, always Promise Choice you say.” Xaenjyk pushed the feel and the pressure waves rippled through the council uncomfortably.

“You made tree, you made tempt, you let continue when them disobey.” Ngorx pushed more.

“You remind push too too.” The pressure waves punched through the gel.

“Yes, You too too,” Smorgash pushed. “You test like they test. Maybe you part them. Maybe you too too them and should go with.” Smorgash pushed the think to Xaenjyk and felt the heat from push too back from Ngorx.

“Done!” Xaenjyk drew the waves back in and waited for the gel to still.

“Same Smorgash,” the wave returned from Xaenjyk. “Gave choice, they go make choose, eat food from tree, disobey. Them not learn no control. Try to be us. Stupid bigger than smart.”

“They eat wrong fruit red round.” Ngorx push pleaded. “No hurt real test.”

“Still test, too too close. If ate yellow big small round…” Xaenjyk thought quivered. The council reverberated feel.

Xaenjyk again push say. “If eat them, danger,” a push shudder wobbled through the gel. “Too too close.”

“Too too close,” the council echoed.

“Too too close,” Ngorx echo pushed.

“Smorgash, send tell only smart gentle best. Build big again. Save some all good. Not bad this now. Must smart gentle best. Other clean be swept. We begin next new.”

Smorgash emit agree good. Ngorx emit slow =.

“Next, new,” Xaenjyk pushes.

A rumble begins to fill space. The gel begins to shudder. It builds and builds and will not stop, even when the designer and the council try full push.

Silence has reigned for long.

The creatures, two, alike yet not, exist without need or want. Those words would have no meaning to them if they used words. They describe an unknown, never experienced. Yet, they have a feel in their center. It grows slowly. They do not know what it means, but they know they desire.

They move without stopping, unable to appreciate the good and the beauty they survey. They know nothing else, and yet they desire.

“I want…” The first puts forth.

“I need…” The second pushes.

They watch each other and wander knowing not what this feeling means.

It approaches. They have seen it before. It does not scare but plants a seed of hollow wanting. They do not understand. It moves away and they see a seed it has dropped in the fertile soil. The lift liquid falls from the sky. They open their mouths, and it flows into them until they want no more.

The liquid has already entered the seed and it has attached and swollen.

They wander through dark and light and when next they return, they see no seed. They find a large tree covered in golden fruit. They reach to touch and feel the pulse.

“Touch not, eat not. This is not for you.” The feeling disappears as quickly as it came over them.

A familiar shadow darkens their path. It is the known one. It offers the golden treasure before passing over the tree and absorbing most of the alluring food.

“Taste,” it insinuates. “Eat and you will know.”

They hesitate, then taste. Liquid gushes from the orbs, flowing over them and into them and through them. They are transformed.

The first points to the tree and searches the shadow, the question unspoken.

“Pear,” Ngorx says.