After finishing checking the water paths and gates were working correctly we had all decided to take an early break and relax for the rest of the day. I decided to sit in my usual spot by the little lake. It was still a while before the sun set, so I sat back and enjoyed the warm feeling on my skin. I could almost feel it being absorbed by my skin, taking in the sunlight and carbon dioxide I was supposed to breathe out. Producing oxygen that would be absorbed by my bloodstream and glucose to add to my energy stores.
It seems that the new recruits are more than capable of using the connection, compared to the difficulty you first had. It seems the more my mass increases the stronger the connection forms.
“Well, that is to be expected. Although some of them are beginning to question how a society of totally connected beings will function.” Modern humans worked because they followed laws that had evolved over several thousand years. Age restrictions on marriage and relationships were set, although some old white men didn’t follow them. Incest was universally frowned upon due to the very possible chance of having a child with diseases and/or deformities.
This would change radically if Myc took over, many children could be grown outside of the body. If we lived for far longer than most humans and had minds that were connected since birth, age became a shaky concept. Although children’s brains would still need time to grow and mature. At least until Myc was confident in altering the brain and body with near perfect control.
While incest was a normal thing that most animals avoided out of instinctual desire to have healthy offspring. But with Myc everyone’s DNA could be tweaked and fixed, there wasn’t really a possibility of recessive genes being accidentally passed down. And even if there was, Myc could fix any problems that arose.
The other major factor being that if everyone grew up in large communities connected to each other from birth. If the instinct to avoid familial breeding was still there, it could be difficult to have sustainable birth rates. In Israel they formed a system called Kibbutz, where large communities formed around agriculture. Many children grew up together since they were born, the incest taboo made it very difficult for the children to date and marry. Even if they weren’t actually related, in a collective society where everyone was connected a similar problem could ensue.
Society will evolve as time goes on, we will face issues as every creature on the planet does. However, connected and without violence we can figure out a solution. For now I suppose we will continue with your society’s more reasonable laws, waiting till 18 for older relationships to form and not allowing any incestual relations to form.
“I suppose that is the best we can ask for, at least for now.” I continued looking out at the lake, the reflection of the sky bounced off the water’s surface. Creating a colorful rippling moving picture as the sun slowly pushed its way across the sky. I closed my eyes, connecting myself to the others throughout the small camp.
Rein and Nate were hanging out in the woods, they seemed to have formed a brotherly bond. Neither of them had brothers growing up, Nate just had Cat, and Rein had a couple of older sisters. They made a little obstacle course out in the woods, using branches and small holes to test their newly changed forms. It seemed they were getting along nicely.
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Cat, Scarlette, and Niki were sitting around my old shelter chatting. It was nice to see Cat have some female companions after being stuck with me and Nate for so long. Even with Myc helping with most challenges that women went through, there were still different priorities for men vs women.
They were talking about the beauty of not having a period every month, no need for makeup, not having to shave, and the lack of back pain. Myc took care of a lot of unnecessary human shortcomings and ascetic problems that arose in modern society.
Human women were one of the few species that had a menstrual cycle so painful and complicated. It was a precaution due to the dangers of being pregnant, many complications could arise from having a child. So the female body would reject any fertilized eggs that it deemed too risky to carry.
While the endometrial lining was too costly to keep up constantly and too costly to reabsorb so it was shed aka a period. Myc was more capable of reabsorbing the nutrients from spent cells, while any fertilized egg would be connected to both the mother and Myc.
This would stop normal pregnancy issues of the baby attempting to steal more nutrients than the mother was capable of providing. The baby would seek to keep itself and its mother happy and healthy, normal human babies were selfish parasites willing to risk the mother’s life.
Myc also helped with other issues, stopping hair growth anywhere it was unnecessary. A perfectly controlled inner temperature and clothes meant that hair was essentially unnecessary. Although Myc was willing to keep it based on preference.
While makeup wasn’t necessarily a female issue alone, Myc was capable of changing pigment with ease. So skin color, cheek blush, eye shadow, pimples, etc… were just minor changes that Myc was happy to make.
The other main problem that was an arguing point for Myc and the girls was the issue of breasts. Myc didn’t see the point in keeping them, most mammals would only grow breasts when they gave birth. Otherwise it was an unnecessary excess of body fat on the chest, it caused issues in the already hated human spine. The girls fought Myc over the issue, Myc was unable to convince them otherwise. Even though Myc saw it as an issue that could be easily fixed, it still fixed any lingering back pain that arose due to them.
Is there anything that you want changed? Most of my experiments have been seeking a more general increase in the hybrid capabilities. However, while everyone else seeks to make changes here and there, you have not asked for anything in a while.
“I don’t really have any complaints over my form. I don’t need any scales or flowers, I just don’t see the point.”
I understand that this society will be tough to manage once it really gets going, there will be a lot of work. We may even have to fight another species if we wish to keep our place in this world. However, simply working, sleeping, and eating are how human societies work. You being the oldest member of this species need to help set an example, I wish for this society to allow its members to enjoy life. It is a lot of work to set up, but once we are ready I wish for you and the other members to find ways to enjoy the camp we create. Cooking, art, and music are some of the good things that humans create, however many of the humans don’t have the time since they are forced to work most of their waking hours. If you all simply work all day and don’t enjoy yourselves then we will fall into pits that the human society has dug themselves into.
“I suppose. I never really had any hobbies when I was human. Looking for the meteorite was the first time I did something other than reading or watching tv. Well once planting season is over, I will try to find something that interests me. For now I just want to sit here and watch the sunset.”
Very well. I will let you watch in peace, just remember that life will only get more difficult. Until our numbers grow large enough, there is always a threat of us being wiped out. I hope that you do not spend the last possible months of your life simply working.
“I am trying to make sure that it isn’t the last possible few months, that is why I am working.”
I know. I just don’t wish to see the same regrets you had when we thought you were going to die by the lake.
“I am not going to let anyone get hurt simply because I was too weak to help them.”
No one wants to see you die just to save their lives, take your own advice. Just as you told Niki, being scared of death is natural, wanting to live is a goal worth achieving.