Incentives

The garden hummed with life, a gentle breeze stirring through the flowering vines as Maren watched her granddaughter, Tessa, clip herbs from the edges of the path. Maren’s heart felt warm just being here—this world, this lush paradise, was a dream that had once seemed impossible.

“So, Tess,” Maren said, eyes twinkling. “Got yourself a boyfriend yet?”

Tessa looked up, blinking as if the question had come in a foreign language. “A… boyfriend?”

“Yes,” Maren replied, amused at her granddaughter’s expression. “You know, someone special you’d want to spend time with?”

Tessa let out a short laugh. “Why would I do that?”

Maren frowned. “Because… well, because it’s nice to have someone close. A partmer?”

Tessa shrugged, going back to her task. “There’s no point in that. It’d be a huge distraction, and it wouldn’t help my reputation score. And if I want a child, there are plenty of options. All the top-rated men are available anyway.”

“The top-rated men?” Maren asked, eyebrows raised.

“Yes. The Family Fund makes it easy. They did all the calculations years ago and only certified the top five percent of men as breeding-eligible. That way, we know we’re passing on the best genetics and maximizing potential,” Tessa explained, her tone light as though she were discussing the weather. “Those guys are vetted. They’re chosen specifically for traits that match our society’s values—health, intelligence, contribution records. If I wanted to, I could apply for a session with one of them.”

Maren felt a pang of disorientation. “So… people just meet with these men to get pregnant?”

“Right. That’s really their main role in society, isn’t it?” Tessa said, matter-of-factly. “Once they pass the certification, they’re on-call for anyone who qualifies and requests them. A guy can only meet with so many people each month, so it’s pretty exclusive.”

“But—” Maren struggled to find the words. “But that’s so… cold. Doesn’t anyone just fall in love? Find someone they want to build a family with?”

Tessa gave her an odd look. “Why would anyone do that? That’s inefficient. I don’t need a partner when the government already supports all child-rearing costs. There’s the Family Fund, the support councils, co-ops for child care. It’s all done fairly. The more kids I have, the more credits and prestige I get. Especially if I have daughters.”

“Daughters are… worth more?” Maren asked slowly, feeling like she was drifting further from any concept of family she’d ever known.

“Oh, yes. Having daughters is a huge boost in standing. They’re the next generation of contributors, after all. Boys aren’t really needed much—most of them don’t qualify for the certification program, so they aren’t expected to contribute as parents. Most women try for girls, since daughters are what raise your social standing,” Tessa said, brushing dirt from her hands.

Maren’s chest tightened. “And… the men who aren’t in this five percent?”

“Well, they do things here and there. Some do art or music,” Tessa replied, shrugging as if this were obvious. “Everyone has some role. But the Family Fund doesn’t incentivize non child-bearing contributors. It’s a fair system. Women have all the support they need for raising kids.  If someone doesn’t contribute to the next generation, they have a responsibility to leave the best for the contributing members.”

“And people are okay with this?” Maren asked, a note of disbelief slipping through her voice.

“Of course,” Tessa replied with a smile. “It’s what we’re here for. The government’s made it all possible. And I’ve already applied for the top co-op spot for next year. That way, I’ll get all the best for my first child—and since I’m aiming for at least three daughters, it’ll help my standing immensely.

Maren felt herself leaning back, the weight of Tessa’s words sinking in. All around them, the garden blossomed, vibrant and untouched by the world’s hardships. But as she looked at her granddaughter—young, bright, and utterly devoted to this new order—she wondered if they’d given up something precious to get here, something that no amount of greenery or incentives could ever replace.

That evening, Maren sat on the edge of the porch with her husband, Theo, looking out over the quiet fields. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow across the horizon, but Maren barely noticed, lost in her thoughts.

Theo glanced at her, his brow furrowing. “You’ve been quiet all evening. What’s on your mind?”

Maren sighed, folding her hands in her lap. “It’s Tessa. We had… a strange conversation today. I’d known that things had changed, but I didn’t realize just how far it’s gone. She was telling me how they think about relationships now, about men.” She shook her head slowly. “She doesn’t even see a point to having a partner.”

Theo nodded, thoughtfully. “I suppose I can see how that would happen. We knew things would be different here—new world, new rules. You know as well as I do, Maren, we came here to avoid the collapse happening back on Earth. There were more elderly diapers being sold than baby diapers. The population had gotten so top-heavy, society was crumbling under its own weight. There weren’t even enough people left to care for the aging.”

“I know, I know,” Maren murmured. “We agreed to start fresh, to support a system that would prioritize survival and growth. And yes, it’s incredible what we’ve built here. But…” She looked out over the garden, her expression wistful. “But I never thought it would mean that people would just stop needing each other.”

Theo reached over, resting a hand on hers. “In a way, it makes sense. Back on Earth, men and women depended on each other for survival. Men would work and provide, and women would care for the children and the home. Even later, when both were working, there was still a sense of partnership. But here? Here, women don’t need men to raise kids or support them. The system does that.”

“But that’s just it,” Maren said, her voice soft with sorrow. “If they don’t need each other, then what happens to love? To companionship?”

Theo sighed, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Maybe it’s just… different now. Not everyone’s looking for that one, lifelong partner the way we did.”

Maren shook her head. “But it’s not just that. Tessa told me all about how it works. They have this… this top five percent of men. Only the highest-ranked are even allowed to have children. The rest are just… unnecessary. How could anyone not feel unwanted in a world like that?”

“It’s hard for us to understand,” Theo said. “But it seems normal to them. And it’s not without its benefits, Maren. The birth rate has been stable here. The population’s growing again. Our society is strong, our resources are abundant. And it’s still better than watching society collapse around us.”

Maren was silent for a moment, considering his words. She knew he was right. The system was working, technically. But she couldn’t shake the sadness lingering in her chest. “It may be stable, but I don’t know if it’s really… whole,” she said softly. “Tessa and the others—they’ll never know what it’s like to grow and change with someone by their side. To share the hard times and the good times, to know someone inside and out.”

Theo tilted his head, gazing at her warmly. “That’s what you’re really worried about, isn’t it? That they’re losing something precious in exchange for stability.”

“Yes.” Maren’s voice was barely a whisper. “They’ve given up the joy and struggle of sharing a life with someone. The way you and I have.” She looked down, her expression pained. “Maybe they’re content without it, but it still feels like a loss. Like they’ve been cheated out of something important—something irreplaceable.”

Theo took a deep breath, his gaze distant as he thought. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we can’t pass down every part of our way of life to them. But they’re finding their own ways of being happy, Maren. We might not understand it, but it’s their world now.”

Maren nodded, but there was still a quiet sorrow in her eyes. “I just hope they’ll find a way to see it someday, Theo. To know what we know—that there’s more to life than just surviving. That love, real companionship… it’s worth every hardship.”

Theo wrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. They sat together in the deepening twilight, feeling the weight of time and change pressing gently but firmly against them.