Behold the Brave New World

 

This short story, which I published on Daily Prompt earlier this week, is based on Brave New World, the amazing thought-provoking book by Aldous Huxley where “humans” were created in factories according to role they were supposed to have in society, rather than being born. Read it a long time ago but it marked me forever. I also hope not to be stereotyping, but I wanted to stress the huge societal differences. The prompt was about a world where humans were genetically engineered to be useful to their society one days. however, a character isn't happy with the role they are supposed to play. I came up with the below. I hope I did some justice to the Huxley's novel.

Behold the Brave New World

“They added too many drops of ambition and intelligence to your body when you were a baby, Eugene.” Said Dr Pearce. “As a janitor you shouldn’t be this ambitious. Nor this intelligent. However, there is no way of reversing the situation. Once in your blood, forever in your blood.”

Eugene looked around the doctor’s office and saw countless notes on features associated to jobs and titles. In theory he was supposed to be “only” a janitor. His fellows seemed to be content with their role in society and never even found it strange to be despised, mocked or even beaten by “superior” humans. But not Eugene. He had not hesitated to punch that banker in his face when the self-righteous prick spat at his feet and called him a “filthy, worthless wretch who doesn’t know what his place is”. That is why Eugene was now with Dr Pearce. A doctor who could assist the so called “beings gone wrong”.

“I don’t like the way superiors talk to us, inferiors.” Eugene muttered, his arms crossed on this chest like a sulking child. “In any case, what do superiority and inferiority even mean? How are they measured?”

“You would never notice if you had not been given so much intelligence by mistake.” Dr Pearce said patting him on his back. “Come with me to the lab, there is something I want to show you that will make you understand how our society works.”

The doctor opened the door and held it for him in a display of courtesy that neither Eugene nor his fellows were used to from “superiors”. Then he guided him to the basement. The lab was a huge windowless room, buzzing with the sound of machines, babies crying and people shouting. Eugene could immediately see who the workers and the supervisors were. They didn’t even need to say a word or do a thing. It was all in the attitude they exuded. But surely words and actions added to all that Eugene considered inequality and highly unfair.

“Can’t you see this is too much self-esteem for a cleaning-woman? She will want to become more than that and we can’t allow it. Reduce the amount. You wanna cause a rebellion?”

The supervisor walked away not without elbowing the worker and making him spread the liquid all over himself. But the man just cleaned himself without any reaction, as if being  elbowed was the most normal thing in the world.

“Why doesn’t he revolt?” Eugene cried. “How can he accept being treated like that?”

“Because he doesn’t even know he’s being mistreated.” stated the doctor, pushing the young adult to a cabinet full of files and random papers.

That environment made Eugene feel sick to the core. But outside it wasn’t much different. He saw Dr Pearce remove a file and open it before his eyes.

“This is the manual created 100 years ago for baby selection. Our society is divided in several categories: Alphas, Betas, Deltas and Omegas. The Alphas are doctors, engineers, lawyers, bankers, politicians and people who have high-paid jobs. Depending on their job and/or title, they are given drops of certain features. A lawyer, for example, needs to be convincing and well-spoken. But also cunning and fearless. Then we have the Betas who are people like teachers, nurses, supervisors of all kinds, police officers... Then we have the Deltas who are composed of sales people, waiters, shop assistants... finally, ranking lowest, we have the Omegas: cleaning ladies, street cleaners and janitors... like you...”

Eugene was listening attentively. He didn’t know he was an Omega. He had never heard that word before.

“What does all that mean?”

“It means all of us have a role to play in this society and are given features accordingly. But the roles aren’t chosen by the person him or herself. Those who control our system do.”

“You mean the Alphas?” Eugene asked with a pang of disgust. He was starting to put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together.

“Shhhh... don’t speak so loud. There are Alphas here.” the doctor admonished him.

“I don’t care. I didn’t want to be a janitor. I can be much more than that.”

The doctor grabbed Eugene’s right arm tight and pushed him away to a corner.

“My boy, for your own life and safety, please just stick to who you are. There is a reason why the Alphas have been doing this.” he whispered to the young janitor. “They wanted no competition and in order to avoid so, they have declared that certain features cannot be given to those ranking lowest. Otherwise there could be a rebellion. Omegas cannot be Alphas. The features they are given allow them to accept their inferiority without questioning if it’s wrong or right.”

Eugene had now tears bursting in his eyes. He wasn’t sad though. He was shocked. He was revolted. How could the Alphas play with people like that?

“Why are Omegas considered inferior? Not fair! And why do the Alphas have to be so cruel and mistreat them?” he asked wiping his runny nose to his sleeve.

“They don’t know either.” the doctor said patting Eugene’s shoulder again. “I think it’s a dominance thing, though. Something to make it clear they are the unquestionable rulers.”

“Not fair, not fair...” Eugene babbled, still crying. “And you? As a doctor you are an Alpha. But you seem nice. Can’t you help me?”

Dr Pearce looked at him deeply in his eyes. Suddenly Eugene had a bad feeling. What happened next was too quick. The doctor took a syringe from his pocket and immediately stuck it on Eugene’s neck, pushing the golden liquid hard into his vein. Eugene tried to react but the liquid spread too quickly.

“Only by doing this, dear boy. Giving you an extra dose of acceptance. Your cells will absorb it in no time.”

Eugene stared at the doctor pleadingly, his body going numb. He fell silent. A few minutes later, the doctor asked him:

“What are you, Eugene?”

“I am an Omega. A janitor.” the young man answered mechanically, his gaze fixed.

“Good. You will not revolt ever again. Now time to take you out.”

The doctor guided him out of the lab, away from the buzz. He took him outside, opened the door and gently pushed Eugene out. He closed he door with a sigh and closed his eyes.

“I am so sorry, lad, but it was for your own good. I also know how it feels to hate my job. I shouldn’t have been given so much empathy but I still have to do what they demand.”