Hundreds of years ago, there was a great war on Earth. The greatest of world wars. It was fought by all of humankind, the combatants were from all nations, colors and creeds. It lasted for generations, yet little is known of the finer details of the war. It was a war that changed the sheer fabric of human society, a war between men and women. 

The great war of humankind lead to the downfall of society and technology, many lives and relics of the old world were lost. No one truly knows who the victor was, and there is often conflicting information about what really happened, but the aftermath lead to “The Great Divide”. 

What all historians can agree on was that a stalemate was agreed upon, after decades or even hundreds of years of fighting both sides agreed to an unamicable truce. The terms of the agreement was that men and women would be completely segregated, and that the only prevailing modern technology available to both sides was the ability to reproduce without the need for the other gender. That was the last time men and women spoke to each other for eons, both societies became hermit kingdoms, never to interact with one another ever again.

Logic. Strength. Brotherhood. These three words are the core philosophies of male society. The comradery of man is held sacred above all else, the true utilitarian utopia. From early childhood boys are educated in these ideals, they are separated from their birth fathers and brought to the education facilities in the grand halls of the capital. Boys live, eat and learn together, to strengthen their bonds and to reiterate the great teachings of the elders.

The preservation of society is paramount above all else, the eternal service for the great good of the whole. At the age of eighteen, the elders of the high council allocate the children into one of two fields that they believe would benefit society the most. 

The two pillars of society, laborers and thinkers. Laborers are respected for their strength and dedication to building society with their hands, while thinkers are revered for building society with their minds. 

Neither allocation is ‘higher’ than the other, but the elite ‘chosen’ are decided on their contribution to the benefit of man. The harder worker or contributor you are, the more respect and admiration you have in society. Only the ‘chosen’ are permitted to breed, as logic dictates they would produce the most successful offspring, thus continuing the cycle of man.

A man is born, a man contributes, a man dies.

The cries of the next generation can be heard in the hallowed corridors of the nursing wing, a key cornerstone of the grand halls. “The birth was a success, congratulations on your contribution to the brotherhood” claimed the obstetrician. The delivery doctor was wrinkled, wearing big round black glasses, bald at the top and dark grey hair on the sides of his head. “The elders shall be pleased to hear this”. The haggard and worn-out birth father breathes a sigh of relief, and clutches the hands of the donor father. “Praise be the elders, may we see him?”. 

The doctor frowns as he adjusts his glasses, he clears his throat as he gathers the confidence to speak. “Ahem- unfortunately, you cannot. That is the agreed upon terms set by the elders when you became chosen”. The birth father inhales sharply and glances sadly to the donor father, the pain is visible in their eyes and yet they remained quiet. 

An uncomfortable silence washes over the room like a tidal wave, with only a gentle hum of the medical devices uttering any kind of noise. 

The donor father speaks up to break the tension of the room, “As the elders command it. We wish the boy well” the doctor nods in agreement. “Aye, may the elders bless him as they have blessed you”.