Human Administrator

(Complete. The author's other story, Global Nightmare, is now underway.)

“Have you ever grown corn? If one plant in a huge field develops a disease, the farmer digs it up and plants another corn plant in its place.” I carefully explained the finer points of farming to the person in front of me.

The person in front of me continued to scream in distress. “So you killed me and replaced me with an identical copy?”

I quickly explained, “Don't say things like that. This isn't killing, it's replacement. You aren't dead. You're just in a mode where nobody can see you. And the new you isn't identical, either. He's healthy in body and mind, and he doesn't hit people or gamble.”

He wouldn't listen and kept falling apart, so I had to summon the patience expected of a human administrator and explain again.

“Look at this whole field of people. They're doing so well. But then you showed up and changed. You became a mutant.” I showed him what he had done, explaining that his violence and gambling had directly harmed six people and indirectly harmed eighteen more. All of them could have had better lives.

By then, I was genuinely proud of my work. “Look! Now that you've been replaced with a hardworking, motivated version of yourself, your wife and children are so happy!”

Unfortunately, he wasn't the kind of person who could take pride in someone else's work. He was still falling apart, and now he wanted to hit me, too.

As I ran, I envied the people who grew corn. Once a corn plant was pulled out, it couldn't chase you and try to hit you.

P.S. She won't get beaten up. She just enjoys messing around.

Another P.S. It's a multi-orientation story because one episode has the heroine put the soul of an ancient woman into the body of a modern man. It doesn't involve any other sexual orientations.

Written in third person. Episodic stories. An ensemble cast.

Theme: Treasure life, and cherish every person you meet.