The Beauty of Progress (SHORT STORY)

The Beauty of Progress

It was all so disgustingly dirty. How their flesh glistened with weeks' worth of grime was sure to give him nightmares. Their unwashed hair and bare bodies was all just too much for Patsen. How could these savages live like this? It was just morbid, immoral even. He had seen enough.

"Stop, stop, enough with the pictures. You are saying you want me to travel and study these... these things! I just won't do it." Patsen folded his arms over his chest in defiance.

"I think you misunderstand me Mr. Patsen, it is not a request. This is your mission and for the good of our people you must see to it that they are studied and cataloged." The Coordinator smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. They stayed hollow and cold, devoid of any thought. Her sole purpose was to carry out the wishes of Bricen, the leader of our community and head of research.

"Have your things packed by evening, your capsule leaves at 11-35.07." Patsen rose from his chair, gave her a curt nod with his eyes to the floor and exited her office. The door slid open in front of him, and Patsen listened to the familiar swoosh as it disappeared into the right side wall. It slid back into place as he stepped outside and entered the stream of people walking around the space ship, The Emperia. His plastic trousers squeaked as he walked, but not nearly as much as the latex skirts and dresses the women were wearing. Some had not yet mastered the proper way to walk in these skintight clothing pieces and wobbled back and forth teetering on plat-formed shoes. His own platform shoes clicked against the polished grey floors.

His path curved with the ship and Patsen caught a glimpse of the sky through a small circular window. It was pitch black and speckled with stars, colors swished in the open space and he thought he could make out the planet Deltroid 5 in the distance. He enjoyed their planets value of technology and industry; it was clean with tall buildings of metal, progress at its finest.

A cold hand brushed against his arm. Patsen looked up to see his research partner Martin had joined him at the window.

Mr. Patsen! Well, well, I hear you are being sent on some investigative research, first one right? I suppose the lab will be pretty lonely now that you are gone but we can pick the experiment back up when you return. Hopefully you got a good assignment.

Martin's mouth had not moved once. About a hundred years ago, a brilliant inventor created a chip to be inserted in the mind that would eliminate the need for cell phones and computers. Patsen smiled to himself at the thought of such beautiful innovation.

It's nothing too bad; anything is worth it if it leads to progress.

Martin nodded his head and smiled knowingly. He too shared a love of progress, as did the others who lived in the community. Research was the center of life on the spacecraft, and it was the common purpose to better society through the wonders of technology.

The two men said their good byes and went their separate ways. Patsen continued down the hall, creating a mental list of all he would need for the journey ahead.

Patsen located the tube that held his shuttle. Before he located the launching site, he went to the Office of Journeys for provisions. They already had a pack assigned to him filled with meal packets that only required water to activate. 

He placed his hand on the pad next to the door. The material tingled and molded around his hand.

"Hello- George- Patsen. Your shuttle- is ready- for- departure. Destination- Urugaya. Enjoy- your trip." The recognition system paused between almost every word as it processed the information given to it. Such a beautiful invention.