Life in 2,867

Mars was about to change, and inevitably Earth was about to change. Everything was about to change. Change was written throughout the old Earth archives. Billions of writings detailing the history of a species both poised for extinction and greatness, often all at once, often at odds with itself. Like a wild rabid beast our species ran uninhibited through history, a cataclysmic disaster rocketing toward the stars. Zoom in on any one part of human history and you’re greeted with self induced challenge and self wrought misery. Yet, you’re also greeted with those that would remake the fabric of the world to overcome those challenges and build a better future. For me, a human writer living in 2,867 humanity was a paradox. While I found the challenges of humanities’ past complex and difficult, I knew in that moment that the challenges of our future would be worse. Denying that was futile. As a student of the old archives I had seemingly watched the species great renaissances and their great declines. The pandemic of 2020 and 2021 or the moment in 2,036 when humanity merged with machine artificial intelligence. As a human writer, I understood why Mars was humanities’ inevitable future. What started as a private expedition to the red planet in 2,040 had been a disaster, and led to a fundamental redefining of society. The formation of a massive space exploration project and the construction of moon bases capable of automated ship and habitat construction.

Deep in the old Earth archives I had followed humanity through the great decline of 2,100. A time when nano-bot therapies to extend human life led to a complete loss of emotional response. People became like zombies, shuffling through life in what was described as a waking sleep. Millions died, and it took nearly 50 years to truly overcome. I was aware that our planet Earth formally died in 2,108, when the oceans could no longer support life and violent storms ravaged the globe, flooding coastal cities and making much of the planet inhabitable. It was these violent and cataclysmic changes that led to the Mars initiative, the idea that the red planet could act as a temporary home for humanity while the Earth was reset. It was this series of events, the discovery and overuse of fossil fuels and the resulting climate change that led to where I was right at that moment. In 2,150 after much of humanity was consumed by the climate crisis that the terraforming of Mars went from theory to reality. Events were set in motion that would begin making the red world a home for mankind, and the desolate, deserted and dead would be transformed into the organic and alive. The process of terraforming the world would take nearly 600 years. Equipment failures, personnel deaths, a Martian environment that was stubborn and difficult, all became challenges that were nearly impossible to overcome.

Humanities arc of existence all led to this moment, but it was these key moments in history that had defined it. Fossil fuels which led to climate change. The discovery of artificial intelligence and its merger with human consciousness, the unemployment of billions which led to the formation of the One World Government, impending climate disaster and the death of hundreds of millions, a dead world which required an ecological reset to continue supporting life, the Mars terraforming initiative, which promised humanity a place to go during the 500 year period Earth would be renewed, the placement of a permanent human settlement on Mars, and eventually the discovery of Martian indeginious life. Finally, the cloning of that Martian indegious life and the creation of Aries. As humanity had often done throughout history, they merely traded the solution for one problem to create another.

Indigenous Martian life had been discovered in 2,800 as human scientists branched out across a largely habitable red world. The Mars of 2,800 was lush, a world that traded a deep iron red for lush green and the vivid blue of living seas. Earth species had been cloned, genetically manipulated and enhanced to bring life to this newly alive red world. On Mars, one could marvel at the Earth as it was millions of years ago. Caught in a fixed tropical climate and home to inspiring beasts. Dinosaur-like reptoids wandered lush rainforests, dazzling fish swarmed across clear turquoise seas, life replaced absolute emptiness, giving a once barren world color and vitality. Deep within the ancient rock of Mars the fossilized life of a once human-like population was found. It didn’t take long before human scientists sought to recreate this life. They had learned that Mars’ old inhabitants shared 98% of their genetic makeup with humans. It was the same genetic equivalent humans shared with Chimpanzees. 2 percent doesn’t sound like much, it seems insignificant. But, attempt to train a Chimp to compose a symphony, and you learn how truly significant 2% is genetically.

Aries was born in 2,820. A fusion of the human genome and that of Mars’ ancient inhabitants. By the time Aries was twenty, it was clear that he was different. Aries was brilliant, he greatly exceeded his human creators’ intelligence, and at times it seemed he exceeded AI. By the time Aries was 30, he had become the de facto ruler of Mars. Several years ago, Aries had demanded that Earth based tourism providers quit sending visitors to Mars. Shipments of rare Mars minerals to Earth had stopped, and the bioengineering implants that kept humans alive long past their usual lifespans had ceased to be delivered. It was clear Mars was changing, and perhaps it wasn’t a human world any longer.

As a human writer, it was my purpose to catalogue history. We are all given a purpose at birth, assigned by Cedric, a brilliant life purpose AI. So as I sat there, this day in 2,867 I was waiting for a communication from Mars. Aries had indicated he planned to announce his vision for Mars’ future. Humanity was anxious to hear it. Mars was to be our home while Earth was revitalized, and we feared Aries leadership had greatly altered those plans. Einstein, the brilliant prediction AI all of Earth relied on had suggested Mars would segregate from Earth shortly after Aries’ rise to power. Perhaps Einstein was right. I was on hand to catalogue the statement, commit it to record with a human voice. There aren’t many human writers in 2,867. The recordation of history is mostly completed by AI, an out of sight and out of mind affair that is cold and without emotion. I fear that as you read this, from somewhere in our future, all remnants of human emotion have been eradicated. Perhaps you’ve never felt immense fear, or immense joy. Those powerful elixirs of human experience are nearly gone today, replaced with automatic nerve sensory control via a neural implant installed into everyone at birth.

The communication screen suddenly illuminated. The face of a bald, pale skinned man with striking green eyes displaced the clarity particles of the screen. Slowly the 3D rendering system fleshed out the minute details of his face, tracing in each wrinkle and drawing a complex scar above his upper lip. As I watched the man’s face seemingly materialize his prominent brow extended subtly forward, dark eyebrows appeared as pale lips suddenly transitioned to light red. It was a striking and unmistakable face, a determined gaze and focused stare that raised the hairs on the back of my neck and sent goosebumps down my arms. Soon the face was rendered in detailed 3D, standing before me as if the man had been teleported into the recordation room. Silence, the unmistakable face was easily recognized as Aries. Behind him was a white wall, no one stood near, and beneath his pale neck was simply a white cloth smock. It was a few moments before the eerily red lips began moving, and a few moments more before a calm and relaxing voice boomed from the recordation room sound speakers. A comforting voice, one that could soothe a restless child, or ease an elderly human into the afterlife. I loved the sound of Aries’ voice, and when he spoke, I relaxed my muscles and cleared my mind so that I could savor each and every word. It was that voice that was building a future for Mars, and as I stared into those determined eyes, I realized for certain that without firing a shot, we had lost Mars.

The prominent face began speaking. “People of Earth, first I must express my sincere gratitude for your countless efforts to fill Mars with life. I know you have not visited the red world, or seen the magnitude of your efforts, but I can assure you, it is astonishing. MagnificentSplendid trees tower over the colony, and rivers run down the rocky ravines and steep slopes of the red world. Your creation is coming alive, and those of us who call this world home couldn’t be more grateful. And I must thank you for my existence, a labor of love by those of you dedicated to the restoration of Mars, right down to the very beings whom inhabited it billions of years ago. It speaks to human curiosity and ingenuity, and I couldn’t be more proud to stand among your ranks.”

“While I greatly admire humanities’ work on Mars, right up to my own creation, I believe it is of great importance to address the planet, as I know that Earthlings have a robust plan for Mars’ future. Your planet is overcrowded and in desperate need of being restored to its once fertile state. During this time the Earth will undergo violent changes, weather patterns will rapidly change with powerful storms and ecosystems will become unstable. A large percentage of humanity will need someplace to go, and it’s for this reason that you’ve invested so much in terraforming Mars. I am happy to report that your labor has not been in vein, Mars is alive and beautiful. Mars is an independent world, one that does not necessarily hold any responsibility to Earth, or its people. You may believe that your investment in Mars’ current ecological change wealth rewards you the right to determine its future. Those of us residing on Mars disagree, as it has been our labor and ingenuity that has fueled Mars’ re-birth as a vibrant world, filled to the brim with unique possibilities. While we all have sympathy for the plight of Earth and her many people, we do not share any responsibility in your current plight, nor responsibility to correct it. Why should Mars, an independent and unique planet suffer, so that mankind can try to repair centuries of Earth’s planetary abuse? Abuse committed at the hands of humanity, without restraint or regard for their home planet. How could the lot of you ever be trusted with another planet’s future, especially when you view this new world as a temporary nexus in the repair of your home world? I am here to clarify that you shall not gamble with Mars’ fate. Mars’ destiny is not tied to Earth, and Earth’s destiny is not tied to Mars. Each planet will remain independent of each other, just as it has been for billions of years. Mars’ future will be decided by those of us who call it home, not by bureaucrats and citizens of the One World government.

I know for many of you, this is upsetting. Your future, your planet’s future – both are inexorably linked to Mars, yet only in your minds. You are a species familiar with independence, it’s been a long valued trait of human culture. As of this day, Mars has declared her independence from Earth and the control of the One World government. One World ’s name says it all, it consists of only one celestial body in this vast galaxy. Mars is our world, and all we ask is that from this point forward, we be left to our own devices.”

With that, the communication screen went blank, and silence took over the planet, like the looming shadow of an impending apocalypse.