The Girl in the Gym

Mathematical line of thought

Some would argue that the same lack of emotion had made it a peaceful land. The marriage didn't exist as a social construct, and there was no jealousy or competition. Everyone had a place in the world and a job to do. They didn't aspire or even think about doing something other than what they had been assigned. Since that was according to their capabilities and IQ, they were already best suited for the roles given to them. There was were no fights, no inexplicable rages, and all differences of opinions were settled by the leaders.

It was as if they had picked up a mathematical line of thought and kept to that path. Who knows what would have happened if even one of them had strayed. There was a complete inclination towards science and mathematics and their society was also structured in that way. Of culture, music, dance, poetry, art and social there was no trace. They never questioned their own selves until the reports from their scouts to the earth came back.

Since the beginning of time on Planet Zero, there had been no wars and no conflict. All wealth was equally distributed, so no one was richer or poorer. This eliminated any sort of inequality. Currency or money was also not a concept at Planet Zero. It kept their society tension free and smoothly moving forward. There were no priests, temples or religious leanings of any kind.

If they were to have believed in any god, Science would have been it. Learning was their prayer and obeisance. Their temples were the massive laboratories that dotted the landscape and within it, the scientists, the priests of knowledge protected and dispensed all their learning.

The best among them was chosen to lead the planet and govern the people. The head was elected the king who held his office until death. Nobody had absolute power, and they based their decisions only on logic and science. There was no place for politics in the administration, and it had been running effortlessly since its inception. If they had been a private economy, one would have imagined it to be peerless. However, they were technocrats, as it were.

There were a few, however, who were known to push the edges of scientific curiosity and experimentation further than most. They were the ones who would climb the bridge and walk till the farthest reaches, trying to uncover the secrets of space and universe around them. It was these group of Zeroans who were chosen to become astronauts. They were Zerowan to the core, but with an added yearning for space exploration.

But before they begin the mission, the astronauts had to undergo rigorous training to make sure they would survive in the wilderness and the populace of earth alike.

"You must remember this carefully. The earth's atmosphere is more volatile than ours. The pod is likely to heat up during landing and there may be crosswinds that may take you far away from your designated landing space. You all must be prepared for any eventuality," said the instructor.

"In addition to that, you will have to integrate yourself with the people or they will be suspicious of you. Your superior knowledge should help ingratiate yourselves to them," he added, "We will be in constant touch. A prototype device had been sent for approval which will serve as a communication device as well as a homing beacon for all of you."