Wrong For Who?
A Short Philosophical Story
Wai the Okasi waited patiently with the Head of Humanity for permission to enter the Supreme Leader’s chamber. His face was long and green, the nerves beneath twitching at his uncertain thoughts.
Should he say something?
Aggressive outbursts could be heard from within, alongside the whip like cracks of heavy staffs wielded by the spiritual nurturers. They came fast and steady, beating out a harsh rhythm that echoed around the chamber and escaped into the clean metal corridor. It sung through the pipes in the walls, resonating like a painful heartbeat down the hallway.
The sounds suddenly ceased.
After another moment their summons was announced.
“Enter!”
The electric lock clicked and the thick metal doors split down the middle, sliding to the side and out of sight within the arch of the entry passage. Ensor cast a cautionary glance at Wai before striding through the doorway, leading the way into the room beyond.
Wai winced at the tone of Ensor’s thoughts but followed his superior through the archway.
The Supreme Leader’s chamber was a cavernous room with high arcing ceilings of steel. Wai’s footpads clung gently to the cold metal floor with each step as he followed Ensor to their appointment.
When Ensor abruptly stopped and bowed, Wai hurried to his side to do likewise.
“I respect the one as part of the whole,” Ensor stated proudly with Wai copying the words quickly.
“And I respect the two as part of the whole,” the Supreme Leader replied with a soft smile as he rose from his cross-legged position to greet the newcomers.
Dema, the Supreme Leader, was the shortest person in the room but his power was undeniable. His large eyes darted from Ensor to Wai and back, his mind pilfering in between the cracks of their thoughts for anything useful.
Wai could feel the gentle tugs at the edges of his consciousness as he was inspected by his leader. Dema’s smile twitched playfully as he gleaned what he wanted and began to consider the information. He wore a traditional white cloth belt that wrapped in between his legs: the most commonly worn garmant of the Okasi.
As was customary, Ensor and Wai waited in silence until they were addressed.
Behind the Supreme Leader, the Domai were gently placing their heavy metal staffs on a holding rack. As each of the four spiritual nurturers finished they returned to stand behind their leader, who’s fresh injuries alluded to the recent beating he had just endured. His face was only slightly swollen with one of his large yellow eyes peaking out from beneath a growing lump on his brow. His upper body was lined with sickly maroon bruises.
“I think you fractured my mesoma chamber, Nalam,” the Supreme Leader said with a grin to one of his nurturers, tenderly massaging a darkening mark on his bare green chest. The frail figure smiled back, her yellow eyes narrowing in pleasure. She bowed with respect at the compliment.
“Hail Suba,” she said which was chorussed by all present.
“Ensor,” Dema said looking to Wai’s superior, “Please share with me your assessment.”
“Well, my lord,” he began uncertainly, “We’ve hit a snag with the Earth project.”
“With the Toxoplasmosis Gondii?” Dema asked, raising the right crest of his bruised brow in quizzical amusement as he looked to Wai, “Your mental defenses require a little work my poddling.”
Wai swallowed with embarrassment.
“Yes, my lord,” he stammered with a bow.
“Who even came up with that name?” Dema inquired looking back to Ensor.
“They did, sir,” Ensor quickly threw an irritated look Wai’s way, “The humans.”
Dema chuckled.
“Such an interesting little species,” he mused, “Please continue.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Ensor replied, “We believe we have hit maximum saturation levels, although these are much less than we predicted. We were hoping for a 95% saturation rate of the toxoplasmosis infection however for the last eight years we have not been able to get that number above 70%.”
“And you believe it is because of human nature?”
Ensor straightened, attempting to maintain his composure despite his underling absentmindedly revealing his thoughts before they were spoken.
“I do,” he confirmed, “I think the variance in their personalities would make it difficult to increase the saturation any higher without committing more resources to the project.”
“I see,” Dema replied thoughtfully, “And the modifiers are not effective enough for this.”
“No, my lord,” Ensor shook his olive colored head, “The isolating coldness demonstrated by the males and the social warmth demonstrated by the females was effective at first at encouraging loneliness in the humans so they’d seek out cats as personal pets. However at this point their individual preferences are overriding the influence of the Toxoplasmosis. The remaining humans either don’t like cats, don’t want pets, or prefer other animals for companionship.”
Dema nodded with understanding and closed his eyes. He stood motionless in meditation.
Silence descended on the gathering as the Supreme Leader was allowed to entertain his thoughts. Despite Wai’s own telepathic abilities, he could not penetrate the mental shields of his poddling to view Dema’s sentiments. The leader was far too strong for someone of Wai’s status to read without permission.
There may have been a small number among their race who had a similar mastery of the Will to Dema, however his spiritual bond with the Queen gave him access to powers others could only envy.
“You believe we should proceed with the project at these saturation levels,” Dema said finally.
It was not a question that needed an answer.
After another moment of quiet reflection Dema’s angular yellow eyes opened and his face softened slightly.
“Thank you for your report, Ensor,” he said, “You reward me for appointing you to the Head of Humanity. Until we two are one.”
“Until we two are one,” Ensor bowed graciously and began turning to Wai.
“I would like a moment with my poddling,” Dema added quickly, “Please, grant me this.”
“Of course, my lord,” Ensor bowed again and left without giving Wai another look.
There was a hiss as the doors sealed shut behind Ensor and Wai found himself standing before the Supreme Leader and his spiritual nurturers alone.
“Please,” Dema invited when the doors were closed, “Express your concerns freely Wai.”
Wai hesitated before the wisdom of his leader.
“I don’t think we should initiate the plan,” he said finally.
“You did not possess such sentiment when we conceived of the plan,” Dema pointed out, “What changed?”
Wai could feel the probing presence within his mind. The Supreme Leader already knew the answer, he wanted Wai to say it.
But Wai could not.
“You are fond of them.”
It was not an accusation, merely an acknowledgement.
“It’s not just that…”
“You think they have enough potential to surpass what they are,” Dema continued saying what Wai could not.
“I do.”
“Please explain,” Dema invited, “You must justify these feelings on your own.”
“There is so much good in them,” Wai blurted suddenly, “They show so much capability to evolve.”
“Evolution is not a thing we do,” Urajee, one of the Domai calmly reminded, “It is a thing that is done to us. We do not choose to evolve, evolution chooses who remains.”
“They have the capacity to change, I mean,” Wai clarified.
“And yet they have not,” Dema finished.
He smiled at Wai’s sympathetic conscious. He had always been fond of those who had grown in the same pod as he, despite society’s insistence on egalitarian treatment.
The universe is not perfect for Suba did not intend it to be.
“May I explore your sentiments?” Dema asked.
Wai hurried to nod his agreement.
“There have been several instances within their brief recorded history of opportunities for spiritual upheaval,” the Supreme Leader continued steadily, “Great figures were born amongst their race who possessed the serene peace and an understanding of the Will of Suba. Each and every time the Will was introduced to them it was rejected.
“This was not a single time, or even a handful of times. The Will has been sowing itself within the humans since their consciousness blossomed, and it has yet to find a compassionate home within their societies. Our laws on this are very clear, my poddling.”
“They just need more time,” Wai insisted, “They don’t know the consequences of their actions.”
“How much time would you give them?”
Wai didn’t have an answer.
“How much longer would you condemn this planet to such imbalance?” Dema clarified, “When do you propose the humans can achieve enlightenment to the Will?”
Wai looked down, ashamed.
He felt the observant consciouses of the spiritual nurturers analyzing him. He felt the inquisitive gentle touch of the Supreme Leader delicately combing his thoughts, and remained silent.
“You believe it is their love,” Dema said finally.
The word hung in the air ominously. Wai winced when he heard it.
“You believe their love is a form of Suba Will?” Dema extrapolated, watching Wai for his response.
Wai met his leader’s inquiring gaze and nodded.
“I think the humans feeling love demonstrates that they have the capacity to achieve enlightenment of the Will of Suba.”
Dema began to pace slowly, thoughtfully. The spiritual nurturers remained stationary while their diminutive leader began to patiently plod around his poddling.
“How,” he asked finally when he had circled behind Wai, “Help me understand why you feel this is possible.”
“As you have said,” Wai explained, “There have been several instances of the Will seeking shelter among the humans. Each time it has failed to root properly and grow, however each time it left them changed.”
“You refer to their religions?”
“Yes, my lord,” Wai continued, “When you look at the fundamental tenets of their religious beliefs they almost always carry the Will of Suba. Respect one another, acceptance of what is, dedication to a greater purpose, determination to live a good life-“
“They are corrupted,” Ghis, the oldest Domai interrupted gently, “They dilute the tool of enlightenment with frivolous rules to distract themselves from the Will of Suba.”
This was not an attack on Wai or his feelings, it was simply an observation being added to the discussion. Wai felt the calming caress of the old monk’s consciousness massaging his mind, an apology to Wai’s sentiments for any distress the sudden rebuttal may have caused.
“They know not what they do,” Wai tried again, “If only they had someone to guide them-“
“They do not seek guidance,” Nalam interjected folding her hands in front of her, “You outlined previously how their spiritual guides are treated. Their words are twisted to serve the powerful, there is a selfishness among the humans that may never be cured.”
“But it might be,” Wai argued, “If they just had the right leader-“
“But they do not,” Nalam returned with a friendly smile, “The Will of Suba has not yet provided them with a spiritual leader capable of enlightening this species. The Will of Suba has instead brought them to us.”
Dema had finished a full circle around Wai and began a second, methodically stepping to the rhythm of the conversation. The bruises on his chest had begun to fade as the leader’s body repaired itself.
Wai was astounded at the Supreme Leader’s mastery of the Will. Dema could hear it echo in silence, he could feel it filling up empty space, and he moved along the path of its intent with a joyful child-like curiosity.
Wai would never attain the oneness with the Will that his poddling had. It was not his purpose to. Dema had been especially selected for his spiritual resonance. He had been trained among the other elite and gifted younglings of the Okasi, overcoming all of the necessary trials and challenges presented by the various factions of their society.
One does not simply become a leader of the Okasi, they must be made.
Since the time of their enlightenment, tradition insisted that only the most spiritually attuned should be offered the opportunity to lead, and they must earn it. The corrupting influence of power could only be consistently resisted by training those who would receive it.
Through competitive training and a rigorous series of physical, mental and spiritual tests that lasted the first thirty years of their lives, these elite members of the Okasi were sculpted by their society into the leaders the people deserved. Those who completed the training were presented to the Queen, who then chose the mate that would best suit her needs.
For while the Queen was responsible for creating the birth pods, an endless task that required a self-sacrificing devotion to their species, the Supreme Leader was selected to lead in her stead and to protect her and the society at all costs.
Each member in the society has their role to play.
Guided by the Will of Suba, the Okasi had survived countless existential threats. They had mastered travel between the stars and had begun to cultivate the Will of Suba throughout the universe.
“Domai,” the Supreme Leader said, killing the void that was growing in the conversation, “I wish to privately counsel my poddling. Please, grant me this.”
The use of their official title made it clear this request was non-negotiable.
“Until we two are one,” they answered obediently.
“Until we two are one,” replied Dema with a bow to each of his spiritual nurturers in turn.
The four bent in response and gracefully processed in single file to the back wall where they passed through a curtain and left the room.
Wai knew not to expect the Domai’s absence to ease the task at hand. Convincing the Supreme Leader to spare the humans would be almost impossible.
“Please,” Dema gestured to the bare metal floor in front of him, “Sit with me.”
Wai obeyed. It was rare to get an individual audience with Dema, and Wai knew this was an incredible honor.
Despite the precious time he’d been given, Wai did not speak immediately.
The two sat in silence facing each other with the Supreme Leader readopting his preferred cross-legged position. Wai sat on his knees with his hands folded in his lap.
He could feel Dema’s consciousness rubbing on his own, loosening the thoughts and sending calm vibrations across the telepathic cloud between them.
“You did not answer my question,” Dema said finally, his words echoing softly around the empty chamber, “Please, grant me this.”
Dema let the words hang in the silence that followed, patiently waiting for his poddling to reply.
The humility the Supreme Leader used to address those beneath him was what solidified the Okasi way of life. Mutual respect and self-sacrifice were cherished above all else.
When Wai did not provide an answer, Dema guided the conversation to the topic of his question.
“How long,” he repeated.
“I don’t know,” Wai replied feebly, “I don’t know how long the spiritual revolution of the humans would take. All I know is that to remove their opportunity to achieve enlightenment to the Will of Suba feels wrong.”
“Wrong for who?”
Wai looked down as he considered this.
“For the humans,” he said finally, “It doesn’t seem fair.”
Dema smiled in amusement, as a parent does at the harmless folly of their child.
“The Will of Suba does not promote fairness,” he answered simply, “Fairness is relative.”
Wai felt his face flush yellow with embarrassment as his poddling picked apart his argument with a delicate precision.
“Did I ever tell you how I felt when I was selected as Supreme Leader?”
Wai was unprepared for the intimacy of the question and shifted his weight uncertainly.
“No, my lord.”
Dema quietly organized his thoughts as the silence resonated within the chamber.
“On the day the greatest honor was bestowed upon me, I did not want it.”
Wai’s eyes widened in surprise. He could sense the sentiment was true and realized he had been trusted with very private information, a gift he did not feel he had earned by merely sharing a birthing pod for five years.
“That’s only natural,” Wai suggested, “To pass the leadership training you must demonstrate an honest rejection of power.”
“I believed that my life was over, and that the path Suba provided was not for me.”
“That can’t be,” Wai argued in confusion, “Every Okasi at some point has wished to have the role that you have.”
“And yet, it is true my poddling,” Dema went on, “Before that day, there was an infinity of pathways leading to my future. The moment I was chosen by the Queen, my Queen, all of those pathways were taken from me. All but one.”
The words waited, engraved in time.
Wai had lost where the lesson was leading. He could feel the consciousness of the Supreme Leader prodding his thoughts, digesting his reaction to the news before continuing.
“Have I been a good leader?”
Wai was stunned by the development.
“Of course, my lord,” he attested quickly, “Our species has sown the Will of Suba farther throughout the universe than any Supreme Leader before you.”
Dema smiled with a knowing sadness.
“So you think my selection as Supreme Leader was fair for our people?”
The question created a clear path through the confusion Wai was struggling with, alluding to the intended lesson he was to learn.
“I believe so, yes.”
“Despite my individual feelings that it was unfair for me.”
“But my lord,” Wai argued, “Do you still feel this way?”
Dema shook his head.
“If those paths had not been severed,” he explained, “I would not have received such clarity on the path I must take. Despite my doubts, I put my faith in the Will, and once I set my foot upon the path intended by Suba, a new infinity of possibilities were gifted to me.”
Wai understood.
“You think my personal feelings are misleading me?”
“If that is the conclusion you have arrived at, perhaps that is your thought as well.”
“But my lord,” Wai protested, “I have seen the goodness within them. They do charitable acts, they care for each other deeply. Is there no way to help them?”
Dema sighed and stood.
“I wish to move,” he said, “Move with me.”
Wai climbed to his feet and began accompanying his leader while the latter paced in broad, meaningless circles.
“Our way of life is very purposefully maintained,” Dema said thoughtfully, “For many millennia we have cultivated our civilization with one common goal in mind.”
He stopped and looked expectantly to Wai. The swelling in his brow was all but gone.
“Survival,” Wai answered, the word tasting sharp as he said it.
“You say survival,” Dema resumed walking the imaginary circle on the floor again, “I would say our common goal is to live.”
Wai swallowed.
“And so far,” the Supreme Leader continued, “The most successful way we have done this is by living in accordance with the Will of Suba. The Will guides us, informs us, it teaches us. By enduring our own pain we understand the suffering of others. By accepting our roles within society, we are blessed with a purpose that sustains sacrifice and succeeds death. When we show respect for our kin, we may have faith that they will live with the benefit of our respect.”
“Treat others the way you want to be treated,” Wai suggested.
Dema stopped.
His features darkened slightly and he raised a defensive hand.
“No, my poddling,” he instructed, “That mantra possesses the expectation of an equal exchange.”
His face broke again into his usual playful amusement.
“You have found another purpose for my question,” he chuckled, “How much time do you think we should wait for our respect to be reciprocated?”
Wai’s thoughts began to buzz.
He could feel a realization hiding just beyond the intangible veil that separated his mind from the understanding of his Supreme Leader. It was so close but was being withheld from him, driving him to come up with his own answer in its absence.
Yet he found none forthcoming.
“I don’t know,” Wai admitted regretfully.
“There is no answer,” Dema explained, “It is why we do not place our faith in time to guide us. We put it in the Will of Suba, the Will that exists in all of us. We put our faith in our society to protect us as parts of itself and to provide us an opportunity to live. Our individual sacrifices strengthen society, and our acceptance of that sacrifice brings purpose and relief. This is the only thing the Will of Suba truly intends; for us to live.”
Wai was beginning to see the naivety in his own sentiments.
“The humans say change comes with time,” he said softly.
“No, Wai,” Dema countered, “Change comes through motion. Without motion, nothing can progress. The very perception of our minds provides a medium for time to move forward. When we create action, only then can there be consequences.”
“Cause and effect,” Wai continued.
“Precisely,” Dema grinned, “Without motion, existence cannot be. Motion creates direction, direction creates imbalance, it creates charge, and from charge we get the structure of our reality; electricity, magnetism, entropy.
“These are neutral concepts. Everything has its opposite. It does not suggest that the universe seeks fairness, it teaches that the universe seeks balance. It is the Will of Suba that we assist in creating this balance, as evidenced by our way of life extending the longevity of our society. We are not viewed fondly by the universe, nor with contempt. We are simply viewed, and we must accept this.”
Dema gestured to their surroundings.
“Balance does not ensure fairness,” he continued, “But through balance we gain stability, and it is on stability that we build our society and live as a whole despite our individuality.”
“Could the humans not be taught to seek balance then?” Wai insisted, “Could we not guide them to it?”
“So quickly you forget the words of your elders, Wai,” Dema chided playfully, “The humans do not seek guidance.”
“Some of them do,” Wai countered.
“No, my poddling,” Dema answered gravely, “They seek medicine, a salvation against mortality. They are afraid. They see themselves as individual creatures rather than one species, and thus the survival of their species does not bring them the same peaceful acceptance of death that it brings us.
“They do not sacrifice for their society, and they do not feel responsible for it. It is as Nalam stated, they have a selfishness to them that is difficult to overcome. They value individuality over unity, they seek personal gain in place of societal improvement. They prefer chaos to balance. It is not their choice to corrupt the words of the prophets that preach the Will of Suba. They cannot help themselves.”
Wai halted abruptly, allowing the Supreme Leader to continue his slow methodical path alone, the path that only he could see.
“Tell me, Wai,” Dema continued without turning, “How much respect can one human have for another, if they cherish their own personal satisfaction while others of their race suffer needlessly?”
Wai did not answer.
“If you have twice what you need,” Dema changed tact, “And you see an Okasi sister or brother with nothing, what would you do?”
“I would give them what I don’t need, of course,” Wai answered without hesitation.
“And why would you do this?”
“Because the Will of Suba has brought them to me when I have enough to share and they are in want.”
“And what if this leads you to want in future?”
“That would be the Will of Suba,” the answer was automatic.
“But what of your suffering? Why not hold onto what you have now so you have it in the future if the need arises. Why risk suffering in the future?”
“Suffering is necessary for balance,” Wai replied, “Everyone suffers, it is unavoidable.”
“Is that what the humans believe?”
Wai paused.
“No.”
Dema had completed a full circle since departing his poddling and Wai found him at his side once more, orbiting thoughtfully.
Wai joined the pace alongside his leader again.
“Tell me what the humans teach about suffering.”
The lesson of his leader was becoming more clear.
“The humans feel that suffering is bad and they try to avoid it.”
“So they do not accept suffering is unavoidable when it is presented to them,” Dema confirmed, “If they reject it, what happens to their suffering?”
“It will become the burden of others,” Wai breathed, now understanding.
“Hmm,” hummed the Supreme Leader, “But if they pass suffering onto one another, how do they trust each other?”
“They…” clarity cut through Wai’s mind, “They don’t.”
“Without mutual trust,” continued Dema, “How can there be faith?”
Wai found the conclusion on his own.
“They cannot be taught to have faith in one another,” he whispered.
“No,” agreed Dema, “They must choose it on their own, and they all must choose it together. We request that those who choose to reject the Will of Suba leave our society for this very reason.
“Their society is measured in individuality, and individuals acknowledge themselves using the things that differentiate them from others. This is not what brings balance. This brings only selfishness. Balance is attained by understanding our similarities in spite of our differences.
“Positive and Negative are opposites, but they are also the same thing. You cannot have one without the other. It is our mutual respect that bonds us together in a way the humans could never achieve. When one appears among them possessing Suba Will, and they demonstrate faith and their trust in their brothers and sisters, they are often betrayed or slain before their wisdom is heard. The humans are not like us.”
Dema stopped and placed a supportive hand on Wai’s shoulder.
“When we put our faith in the Will of Suba, we accept whatever the Will brings our way; suffering, sacrifice,” Dema paused.
“Death.”
The word chilled the air.
“You have been struggling with the fate of the humans on their behalf, because the humans do not accept these things. You have been looking at their perspective for so long, you have started to see through it. It is why you have uncertain feelings about their inevitable end.
“You know as well as I that all things come to an end. The Will created the universe, and its intent will end the universe. Mourning the humans in the future will be the same as mourning them in the present. I expect you can see now, that their individuality prevents them from attaining enlightenment.”
Wai wanted to say something but felt the quieting suggestion of the Supreme Leader’s mind.
“They will continue to flee their suffering,” the Supreme Leader continued, “They will continue to fear death, and this will only further perpetuate imbalance on the planet Earth. When balance becomes too unstable, life struggles to exist. The Will of Suba cannot live where there is no life.”
The two Okasi poddlings stood in silence for a moment while Wai’s thoughts swam within stillness.
Finally Wai understood.
“The very aggression that enabled their survival is the final hurdle they cannot cross.”
Dema smiled.
“Yes.”
“It prevents them from trusting one another completely.”
“Yes,” Dema nodded slowly, “They know of the aggression within themselves. They know it lives within others of their kind, and they fear it. We are blessed with a mental connection that permits us to overcome such mistrust.”
Wai shook his tall green head as if clearing clouds of fog from his mind.
“My lord,” he said with watery lilac tears forming in his eyes, “Thank you for taking the time to help me see this.”
“You understand now,” the Supreme Leader pulled his poddling into a gentle embrace, “The emotion you feel is a gift from Suba. You have been presented with a path to mourn the end of the humans. Whether you choose to is up to you.”
Wai wiped his eyes and nodded.
“It hurts,” he said.
“Suffering does,” Dema replied, “That is what it is.”
Wai put a hand to his chest to steady himself. His tears began to flow as he contemplated the suffering that the humans were about to face.
“When you said that it felt wrong,” the Supreme Leader reminded, “I asked who you felt was being wronged. Your answer was the humans.”
Wai nodded, wiping his eyes again.
“I hope by directing your attention to the creatures of Earth who already tread the path of the Will of Suba, I can alleviate some of your suffering. While we condemn one species, we are a saving grace for others.”
Wai realized his folly. He had been so focussed on the humans, so fascinated by their individuality and their potential, that he had forgotten the creatures of Earth that were not immediately relevant to their plan.
“Wrong for who,” Wai repeated quietly.
He’d been such a fool and it had felt so right. Was this the same sentiment that guided the humans away from their own enlightenment?
“Yes,” the Supreme Leader agreed, “There are several eusocial species of insects, as well as crustaceans and mammals who populate the Earth in societies that nurture the Will of Suba.”
“They do not choose to do so, my lord,” he quickly countered.
“We do not choose to either, Wai,” Dema said gently, “Just as we do not choose to live, or to die. We walk the paths provided by Suba, and our acceptance and faith permits us to be grateful for the opportunity.”
“But they are not enlightened!” Wai insisted.
“The Will of Suba does not require enlightenment,” Dema answered, “Enlightenment is only a guide for those who have a choice. It helps us choose the path of Suba. It allows us to accept the inevitable and this alleviates the perception of our own suffering. The purest form of the Will of Suba requires no choice. That is what it is.”
Wai understood the gift he was being given, the kindness his Supreme Leader had intended to grant him ever since the beginning of their personal conversation when he had asked Wai, “Wrong for who?”
The humans may suffer and die from the project, but creatures like the ants and the mole-rats would benefit. When the one creating imbalance is removed, the stability that returns is a boon for those who strive toward their collective success.
“I request your permission to initiate the plan,” Dema revealed to Wai, “Please, grant me this.”
Wai was deeply humbled by the honor his Supreme Leader was bestowing on him. He was overcome with shame and gratefulness simultaneously.
“Of course, my lord,” he replied through his tears, “Forgive me.”
Dema closed his eyes briefly, concentration hardening his features. When he reopened them his smile returned.
“It is done.”
Wai sank to his knees as his overwhelming emotions weighed down upon him.
He had been part of the team to bioengineer the Toxoplasmosis gondii parasite for their destructive purposes. The microparasitic protozoan reproduced naturally in the intestines of cats, infecting other animals such as mice, rats and birds and altering their behavior so that they were drawn to their common predator.
The disease altered their minds to overcome their instinctive fear of death. Once they were eaten, the tachyzoites would then be able to spawn eggs that would be dispersed through the feces of their cat hosts.
It was the perfect opportunity for the disease to spread to the humans.
Despite identifying the parasite, humanity had not uncovered the threat it posed to them. Wai and his team had deliberately utilized the dormant bradyzoite state of the organisms to avoid the humans from identifying their true purpose. They had infected most animal species on the planet, yet the trigger would only influence the humans.
The adjustments they made meant that when the necessary command was given by Ensor, the parasites would be activated and would result in the humans behaving identically to the prey of cats.
It would drive them to seek out their own deaths.
The infected individuals would be manipulated to find mortal danger and aggressively pursue it until their own demise.
Wai imagined the confusion they would feel when witnessing their loved ones ending themselves before their eyes. Organized society would quickly crumble as the fervent desire for non-existence ripped families and communities apart. Support systems would fail in the wake of such a massive and insurmountable loss of life, and more in turn would die.
Despite the sadness he felt at these thoughts, Wai now understood the necessity.
The few humans remaining would be mercifully dispatched by the forces of the Okasi when they came, who would restore the Will of Suba and provide balance to the struggling planet. The number of survivors would be higher than predicted, but that would not add much risk to the servants of Suba.
With the end of humanity, life on the planet Earth would be free to establish the tireless balance it had sustained for millions of years before the apes looked to the stars and dreamed of immortality.
Author’s note: Hey there! Seb here! I just wanted to thank you for choosing to spend your time reading my work. It means the world to little old me, head swirling with horror stories, to know that out of the darkness of our experiences we can form real human connections and investigate subjects that are exciting and scary. I’m so grateful that you chose to come on this journey with me and I hope it has prompted some fun questions for you to enjoy thinking about in the future. Your support means a lot and I am honored that you put your belief in me to entertain you.
Thank you.
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© 2025 Sebastian Arends | Sincerely Seb. All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any part of this story or accompanying image is prohibited without permission from the author. No generative artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the writing of this work. The author expressly prohibits any entity from using this publication for purposes of training AI technologies.
This was such a good read. I keep thinking about “wrong for who?” and Wai holding onto the idea that humans still have potential because of love… that part really got me.
Very thoughtful read 💜👾