The Genesis Act

Joseph Kolb

In the year 2138, overpopulation was threatening the quality of life and continuance of the human race. The U.N. met to consider how to fix this. After much discussion and debate, a new plan of action was created to ensure the safety of the planet. Starting in the year 2140, each family was limited to birth of one child in order to reduce the population. Following this transition period, all prospective parents needed to file for the conception of a child. The potential parents financial status, mental states, and quality of genetic material are analyzed. If their application is accepted, the couples reproductive cells would be submitted to a government-mandated hospital, where the baby is artificially conceived, undergoes gestation, and is born. A family can only be approved for a child once. The government informed the public the transition period is necessary both for the ease into the new lifestyle change all citizens must undergo, and in order to properly assure that the artificial conception is finalized and safe for use. Unbeknownst to the general population however, other research aside from perfecting the synthetic pregnancy is taking place. The 5-year transitional period is the time needed for the government to fund extensive gene and DNA research to achieve the ability to easily control sexual preference and hormone levels in the early stages of embryonic development. When the transitional period is over, all babies conceived in the government hospitals are genetically altered so they are born asexual, with relatively equal levels of both testosterone and estrogen. The government does this in order to prevent couples from conceiving without government approval, or even more importantly, additional babies. Adoption from other countries cannot be considered, as overpopulation was affecting countries worldwide. Furthermore, this was seen as an opportunity to potentially solve other social problems, such as rape, domestic violence, and crime by altering the hormone levels of the citizens. The entire plan is entitled The Genesis Act.

Following its instatement the birth rate declines, but it is not until around 2165 that it dramatic difference is seen. The change in sexuality is noticed, but generally not opposed. People explain it by the change in how children are born. During this 20 year period, studies take place comparing males and females, specifically looking at personality traits, mental states, desires, motives, etc. Unsatisfied with the changes in male and female, more genetic research ensues. Within several years a new method is devised in which differences between males and females, physically, physiologically, and mentally, are compromised. Government officials favor it, and it becomes the procedure for all conceptions. By 2250, masculinity and femininity become concepts no longer applicable to either gender, and sex is obsolete. By design, the population has become almost entirely androgynous. In the year 2257, despite males and females both existing in society, the pronouns he and she are renounced, replaced instead by zer, and all related pronouns. Mankind continued on, forgetting our history as the years passed. The day I lost hope began like most mornings. A larks song and the roar of a small hurricane forming in Britts bathroom awaked me. Sensing my wake, the walls brightened to a foggy silver. As I sat up in bed, the short tritone jingle played, and Alice began my morning announcements, the grog not quite shaken from my head. Good morning, Kiran. she began, in a monotone yet amiable flow, easily heard over the rumble from Britts bathroom. Today is April 1st, 2145. The time is 7:30. Outside it is 62 degrees C with light cloud coverage. Make sure to wear a coat today -- rain is predicted to begin at 14:00 and continue through the night. High is 67, low is 45. On your schedule today you have listed an appointment with Doctor Eriks at 15:00, My eyes darted to the open bathroom door. I had forgotten to silence the appointment, and for a tense moment I feared Britt returning to the bedroom. The irritating roar of driCleanse did not cease though, and if Britt had heard the announcement it must not have

been worth asking about. I relaxed slightly and sprung up from my bed, listening half-heartedly to Alices laundry list. At 17:30 you have a visiting session with your par. You have 3 new messages. Have a pleasant morning. The tritone repeated, as poppies and tigers began to overtake most of the room. Britts morning visions had already faded from the walls. I glanced over at the bed parallel to mine, already made and seemingly untouched. The thought of visiting my par seemed to intensify the bad morning taste in my mouth. It had been three months since I had visited the care facility, following the advice of the headcaretaker. I was advised it would probably be better for both pars and my wellbeing to take some time before another visit, to which I was more than happy to abide. Visits to par always were a dismal peek into what my future potentially held. As for the appointment, I was not mentally ready to go there. Suddenly the artificial wind ceased. Through the door I heard Susan informed Britt the sanitation process was complete before it slid open and Britts head peeked through. Kiran I have two interviews and a meeting today with the head of Cals department. Im probably not going to get home until 20 or later, is that okay? As I dug through my closet I turned to face zer. Today Britts hair was a deep bronze, which I could see zhe was in the process of slicking back. It complimented zer pale skin and made zer large, black eyes more striking. As I looked at zer, I thought of how similar our bodies were. Britts face was narrower than mine, and slightly longer. My cheekbones were higher, and my eyes more almond-shaped, but had a larger nose. Despite that, both of us had defined jaw lines, with large eyes and slim faces. Though Britts pale skin was uncommon, I found it exotic and intriguing. I thought Britt was very beautiful. Then I noticed Britts eyebrows knitted together as zhe saw me scanning zer face. Thats a lovely color; you really should keep it after the meeting. Im visiting par this afternoon, well see how that goes. I said grudgingly. Zhe gave me a friendly smile. Well I have something that may cheer you up. Ive made reservations at Paols for Thursday. Oh we havent been to Paols in ages! Whats the occasion?

I went through my calendar and I realized our ten year anniversary what last week. I thought we should celebrate. Zhe laughed shortly and shut his bathroom door. I contemplated the strange idea that Britt and I had been married for a decade before I grabbed some clothes and headed into my bathroom. I undressed, activated the shower and stepped under the warm stream of water. The walls around me were rounded and smooth, an ambient white glow filling the small space. I pulled the door shut behind me, closing me into safety. I closed my eyes, and felt my hair slowly deflate. This was my sanctuary. But I soon found myself drifting back to what Britt had said. Ten years. It seemed impossible we had been together for that long, plus two years before that. I smiled, thinking of our relationship. Britt and I fit each other so well. We had met at Holbrooks Academy. I laugh at this now, because as a child I told myself I was never going to marry someone from my own boarding school. I had felt doing so was stereotypical and incredibly ordinary. Even now as an adult, I see how many couples in my life met in their boarding school. In some ways, I can understand it. Being around the same kids for your entire childhood and adolescence in a contained environment: this is where the people you become closest with are found. I thought fondly of Lux and Pace, both of whom I still saw weekly. It was a comforting to think I had certain things in my life, certain people that were constant throughout the years. But maybe I was just biased. To be fair though, Britt and I didnt realize our feelings for each other until after graduation. I mean, that is how my parents met, Im pretty sure. My parents. Then suddenly I couldnt help it. The appointment, our anniversary, my visitation with par. I knew it was improper, knew it was so inappropriate, but I found my thoughts drifting to the topic which I found so intriguing and disturbing at the same time. I opened my eyes and glanced down at my glistening body. My olive skin, wet with forged rain. I wasnt sure if my work in the Archive Halls or my own questioning of society or some combination of both led me to question my own desires. In society, gender, the forbidden topic, meant basically nothing. Or at least we want it to mean nothing. But after being assigned to The Department of 20th and 21st Century Records, I began to see how our society did not fit into how history traditionally addressed gender.

And standing there in the shower, the warm water cascading down onto my frame, I thought of how my world was devoid of masculinity or femininity. The old-world concepts that I understood but found incredibly difficult to visualize the segregation, the injustice, the extreme and categorical way in which they controlled someones life. All I coul d see was androgyny. But the one thing I took away from my work was the intimacy of families. I honed in on the closeness between man and wife, parents and their children, brothers to their sisters (terms Interface helped me understand.) All of the records I found, of children living with their parents through adolescence, learning and growing from their nurture This is what I desired. My own family had long ago fallen apart. As a young adult soon to leave Holbrooks I was excited to spend more time with my parents following my graduation. Both worked long hours during the short breaks between school years when I would return home, and unlike most children, they rarely visited or sent me anything while I was at school. Unfortunately, 2 months before I was due to leave the Academy, my par Bern became violently ill. Zer health declined rapidly, and within three weeks, zhe died. Par Jan became simply par. And par took the loss terribly. Quickly zhe became mentally unstable, and soon was admitted to the care home zhe resides in now. Within a matter of weeks, I lost both of my parents who I barely had gotten to know. I never had the opportunity to. I closed my eyes again, and there were Britt and I, standing over a cradle watching our baby, turning to each other and smiling broadly, overjoyed. I was not going to allow myself to become my parents. I was going to be a par for my child. I was going to love zer. I stepped from the shower and the rain ceased. I dried myself, and stared hard in the mirror for a few moments before dressing in a loose white top and a pair of grey slacks. I entered the living room to discover Britt had already left for work. My presence in the room prompted Alice to announce, Message from Britt Markus, before playing zer voice to me. Ive left for work; sorry I couldnt wait and didnt want to disturb you. Hope things go okay with your par. Have a nice day! I gave a small, sad smile to no one, and went to my study to work.

My productivity was minimal, as thoughts of my appointment consumed my mind. It was irrational, inexplicable anxiety, but nevertheless, I stressed. At 14:58, I nervously went and sat in the parlor. My heart pounded in my chest. Right on time, I received a call from Dr Eriks. I answered and he appeared holographed before me. Kiran Marks? Yes, I am zhe. If my records are correct, you came in for a pre-conception check up, and this is the follow-up consultation, yes? The memory of the check up put my stomach in knots, and sickened me. I clenched my clammy hands together tight. Yes. My breaths became rapid. I have unfortunate news. The reproductive cells we took as samples do not meet our genetic baselines for healthy, normal gestation. Now we could try taking another sample, but it is highly unlikely Doctor what are you saying? Kiran, you are not eligible to apply to conceive a child. You are sterile. My world caved in. I heard nothing else zhe said, just the dull howl of wind behind a door and lark songs for 50 years. And for the first time in my life, I cried.