When the announcement came, the world celebrated. The world is quite foolish at times.
After years of research, the United Science Coalition (USCO) had finally discovered the method of identifying a person’s biological ‘soulmate’. By careful genetic comparison, computers could tell whether two genomes likely to produce ideal offspring. In theory, this would result in both partners finding each other extraordinarily attractive, with similar personalities.
Couples boasted that they had already found their soulmates, and made large wagers that the tests would prove it. As soon as the process opened to the public, the facilities were overrun with lustful citizens of all ages, hoping to find their perfect match. A database was started to match persons from different provinces, increasing the success rate. Billions of credits were spent searching for romantic satisfaction.
But most couples had not found their soulmates. Millions left their lovers – their lives – to seek gratification with persons they had never met. Parents left their children to produce flawless offspring. Chaos ensued. The masses demanded the Government do something about the disarray, and the Government happily complied.
The tests were banned to prevent further havoc. But that made the people angry – how could they find their perfect mates? The debates raged, frustration increased, and society deteriorated. But finally a ‘compromise’ was reached – one which would shape the world for centuries.