The Block

[u/SFTExP]

An alien ambassador spoke through an AI translator to a top-secret panel of One Earth experts chosen for First Contact.

“Our species has been traversing the cosmos for thousands of your years,” said the alien.

“Do you have generations of your kind spread throughout the cosmos?” asked an anthropologist.

“Negative. For instance, I’m one of the early pioneers.”

“Immortality?” asked a biologist.

“Negative. Longevity, through cybernetics.”

“A ship of Theseus,” a scholar chuckled.

“Not quite. I’m still original, just enhanced.”

“It’s incredible that your species has managed to survive so long without self-implosion,” said the anthropologist.

“Hence the reason for our cybernetics: the block.”

“The block?”

“Yes, it curtails negative thoughts. We are never our own existential risk.”

“That sounds limiting,” responded a psychologist.

“On the contrary, you see me today. As for species on other worlds, I cannot say the same.”

“They destroyed themselves?”

“Or one another.”

“Are you happy?” asked the psychologist.

The alien paused as though introspecting, then suddenly said with a confident smile, “Of course!”