A

MOST MODERN

LOVE








A Short Fiction

By

David A. Archer
02/15/1968





09/18/2006










Everyone thought it was the end of the world, in so many words.

There was really no way of knowing that it probably was, but in ways that no one would ever really know. There was really no way to tell that our existence had undergone a drastic change.

There is really no reason to be apocalyptic about it. We as a species had progressed to a degree and mental capacity that the change itself didn’t even effect most people.

Many did speculate that it was an invasion of some sort. Some other life form that simply took over, with no consideration for what was already in motion.

As I mentioned, considering the direction of human development, I can’t say as it mattered too much. Most people didn’t even recognize it as the sort of radical change that it was.

I guess that means that it really wasn’t so “radical” after all. Regardless of the irreparable damage and atmospheric alteration which it produced.

Most of the experts seem to think it began as a form of infection. Similar to many other infections that have nagged at humanity for centuries.

What they didn’t know then, is that it was and is very much its own life form from places we will now never find. It mutated in a manner that is probably even a surprise to itself, just given the environment and the condition of the host bodies it chose to inhabit in the initial phases of the infestation.

It spread at first, as many other infections… through a germ like manner. Kissing, sexual intercourse, even some air borne infections similar to contagious tuberculosis.

Then it would grow inside the body as it mutated to accommodate the atmosphere.

It would access the bloodstream then grow in a vine like manner within it, centralizing at the base of the brain stem.

Early examples of autopsy results showed the growth very much resembling a creeping vine type of vegetation, though it crept through the body as apposed to on the side of a building.

The one thing that was found about it, is that it needed oxygen to survive. Which means it would procure it through various bodily orifices. Including the vaginal and the male urethra, always extending in a tongue like manner to fit the task.

It wasn’t long before human puppets were walking around with numerous examples of these “extensions” protruding from their bodies. Some with clusters of them from the nostrils, others from the ears and mouth… some even displaying them from the tear ducts.

It was looked upon as some form of new aesthetic and even sought after in some social circles. In fact it could be said that it had become “all the rage” in the civilized world. Those already with matured infections were even making the cover of popular magazines, in displays of what came to be known as “Full Flaunt.” This of course, being a point when the parasite was in full exposure from the various orifices of the host.

Before much longer it was found that there was a form of communication between the individual infections – independent of the hosts or any other. It was so pronounced that it even became a form of mating ritual within those social areas that sought to carry this infection. The “extensions” would actually interact in closed quarters. If “they” found a mutual attraction, then it was deemed to be a “good match” between human hosts.

It was said to even heighten the human sexual experience, which as you may guess made it all the more in demand.

This aspect is what served to insight obvious concerns from various governments. It is known that there was some concern in a covert fashion for some time, but the overt and seemingly welcomed use of this life form, drove many institutions to great lengths of investigation.

Soon they found that it had no apparent ill effects. None they could discern immediately anyhow, and none of the evidence from autopsies gave any other notion to suspicion.

It seemed very much to live on proteins procured from the natural activity of the human body.

The mistake was in thinking it was harmless, but then again there wasn’t much anyone could do. It was simply waiting for a time when the substantial majority of the population were employed as hosts.

The “government” institutions did find that it had a correspondence with the human existence in some way. That is to say, it interacted with the brain and in that then, made some influence on decision making to some degree. They just didn’t know what “degree” exactly.

They used it themselves in many experimental ploys. Finding that they could in effect, use the “host” as a form of living robot through influencing the matured “parasite” now extended entirely through the body of the host.

This, of course was another mistake given that it acted to remove any barriers of other concern through the distraction of the “findings.”

It was in no uncertain terms, a novelty for what seemed the longest time. Everyone wanted “one.” So to speak.

Some even speculate that it managed to pass in commonality, the ever popular question of “can I have a puppy” once it found its way into the mainstream of culture through appearances on children’s programming.

It is amazing to think that even for centuries, humans have been trying to remove such infections from their existence. Even being repulsed at the sight of full blown parasitic infestations seen in any given study of “less advanced cultures.” Worms crawling from the nose of some native somewhere, was normally inspiration to “lose ones lunch” as the old saying used to go. Now it had become a wanted, if not a needed accessory. As if it were simply part of ones wardrobe.

As it advanced in proliferation, concerns predictably became less and less. It was even as though the human race were just waiting for something of the sort to take over. As a species we had “advanced” to a degree, that all anyone wanted it would seem, was for someone or something else to make all of the decisions.. as long as there was safety in the form of some excuse.

Early studies of this infection revealed that many of the “hosts” found themselves suddenly in the disposition of a very pronounced need to perform “exactly.” That is to say, they found some need to be entirely correct in every nuance of their existence.

It was found that this small quirk, was as result of the interaction and interpretation between the human “host” and the parasite. There was a lack of understanding pertaining to understanding, if that makes any sense.

The parasite, for some reason, felt a deathly need to comply with set standards exactly as they were presented in what amounted to a literal fashion.

Many tended to speculate that this was a pre-disposition of some sort which was part of the initial ploy in maintaining a secrecy. To “not be found out” as it were.

Obviously the parasite was just a little off on the estimates in the need for care in such concerns. It seems that it didn’t expect to be found out and then welcomed with such an abandon.

People just didn’t care. In fact, they wanted the infection. They lined up in droves to be “exposed” once it was deemed a harmless accoutrement to everyday existence.

It was even seen as better than having found some new drug.

Many even wanted to know if they could hurry the growth rate in any way, just to be able to have the effect of protruding, tongue like tentacles from their visible (and other) orifices.

The world and our existence had changed.

No one even noticed it. Which leads a person to wonder if it is that we actually perceive ourselves and existence, at all?

Maybe, in consideration of the ease with which our entire existences were procured… just maybe, we have never been of our own cognitive recognizance, so to speak.

Maybe, this new form of parasitic infestation simply over threw another, pre-existing entity which had, until that time, provided for our every perceived moment through much the same ways?

Maybe, as I consider it here in the early evening of another day having watched the machine like movements out on the street, briefly stopping at times in unison to allow extended tongue like tentacles to interact and intertwine.. maybe it is that we have always only been some form of host for something else… something from some area of existence beyond our comprehension which are merely “taking turns” in using our fleshy manifestations. With each advance of “their” species, we then find a transfer and transition with and within those inhabiting our life forms?

It is odd to think that we seem only to be nothing but a host in this brief existence. Acting as a carriage to something beyond any understanding we will ever have.

Steadily conditioning ourselves to suit such a purpose in the manner through which we conduct our lives….

…from one meaningless distraction, to another.