Relics of the Past - Chapter Six

Mark and John reached John’s room. “How do you know I was asleep for over 300 years?” John asked.

“Your brain scan shows that you still have the capacity for greed and selfish ambition. Those traits were eliminated from the human brain 300 years ago.” Mark replied.

“You’re telling me that no person alive today is greedy and selfish?” John asked

“You’re the only one.” was Mark’s reply.

“How is that possible?” John asked in astonishment.

“300 years ago. Scientists mapped the brain and discovered that certain traits like greed could be pinpointed in a certain place. When that place in the brain is changed, greed disappears. The same thing is true for selfishness and a lot of other different things. The scientists then figured out how to eliminate those traits and keep them from being passed on. Since greed and selfishness has been eliminated, mankind is now free to reach its full potential and for 200 of those years, we have been spreading across the universe, building colonies and outposts like this one.”

“What about ambition?” John asked, “Without ambition, how could you achieve all of this.” John made a motion with his hands to indicate all the things around him.

“That’s another thing the scientists discovered, when the brain is changed, the interests of the person is also changed. Different people are ‘programmed’ to be interested in different things. So instead of ambition driving them to gain wealth, they are merely pursuing the thing that provides their life with satisfaction.”

“What about you? What provides your life with satisfaction?” John asked.

“I am interested in the lessons of history. When we know what history teaches us, we can avoid making the same mistakes. But we know that a lot of the mistakes of the past were committed because of self-interest. I am also interested in puzzles and mathematical formulas, that’s the reason I am here. The structure you were in had an inscription on it and I was given the task of figuring it out.”

“Did you figure it out?”

“Yes, it was a serial number used to distinguish this structure from any other structure like it. The implications are that we will eventually encounter another structure like the structure you were enclosed in.” Mark could not contain his enthusiasm when he said this and John could not help but notice.

“This sounds like paradise.” John commented, “To be able to do the thing you enjoy because you want to and not because you have to. What about money?”

Mark replied, “There are enough minerals mined in a single asteroid to make each person a multi-millionaire and it costs so little to produce anything that it doesn’t matter anymore. Everyone does everything for free and receives everything for free. I know it will seem unworkable to your mind but you have to understand that everybody takes only what they use and nobody owns any possessions because there is no such thing as greed anymore.”