Dark Nine [18+]

Chapter One

Year 20,500

I didn't know I'd find my mate through my darkest instincts, or that I was even on that path since the beginning of my instinctual journey.

Usually everything was so simple here on Earth – it was only difficult if you didn't obey.

Technology organised the chaos.

However, humans were still spiritual with unpredictable ties to the dark matter of the universe, so we had to organise that too... well, kind of.

Humans had evolved to survive by perfecting Our Technocracy in the Universe to co-exist with each other and all other planetary systems who were in contact with us.

We also called our beloved human government system simply; Our Tcno.

Free will power was kept through the declaration of the Dark Light Constitution.

The Light was the enlightened choice through the Tcno's intelligence. The Dark was instinct. Either option had to be recorded on your file, but nothing was recorded post-decision if you chose the Dark Path.

To keep Tcno basic rather than overbearing, only nine major life decisions were monitored by the Tcno, and all these decisions were made when you were 12 years old.

You would note Dark or Light.

Decision One. Privacy. [ Dark ] [ Light]

Decision Two. Health. [ Dark ] [ Light]

Decision Three. Education. [ Dark ] [ Light]

Decision Four. Social Circles. [ Dark ] [ Light]

Decision Five. Super Powers. [ Dark ] [ Light]

Decision Six. Philosophy. [ Dark ] [ Light]

Decision Seven. Mate. [ Dark ] [ Light]

Decision Eight. Taxes. [ Dark ] [ Light ]

Decision Nine. FDW [Final Death Wishes]. [ Dark ] [ Light ]

The most common Dark decisions were for 6, 8 and 9. Light for all the others ensured a fulfilled life with limited danger and maximum safety.

To be a Dark Three – choosing three dark choices over enlightened choices – was normal. 75% of the population chose these set principles.

To be a Dark Four, Five, Six, Seven or Eight always had inconsistent data. There was no annual statistic that matched the previous year. We didn't really understand the inconsistent data, but it did prove, to most, that we had free will because of the constant inconsistencies in choice.

However, one statistic was finite. To be a Dark Nine was impossible. No one was a Dark Nine, because if you were a Dark Nine you were removed from Our Tcno.

There was nothing on the outside.

Nothing.

No one.

You were marched outside the walls of Our Tcno and never heard from again.

Your rights vanquished, so even if you were executed, nothing could stop it – as you lost all your rights in the system.

There is one small loop hole, however, to leap from the Dark Eight, into the Dark Nine category, choosing instinct over Our Tcno's intelligence.

It's the loop hole that comes with Decision Seven.

It was the only decision you had to make twice.

Your mate.

It was only a preliminary decision at 12, hell, because you were 12, noting whether you wanted Tcno to choose the mate for you later on in your life, or whether you would choose on instinct alone, could be flexible.