Gaul Atreides (@gaulatreides)

"hypergamous disengagement" The visitors scoured the brittle pamphlets, unearthed in a climate controlled trove that survived the centuries. They had questions. Did this extinct race of intelligent beings understand the nature of the threat facing them? If so, did they attempt to avert the catastrophe? For the vistors, a fortuitous, sex-specific genetic mutation saved them from a similar fate. What they wanted to know was whether another species tried to adapt to the same fertility pressures in their own way? The lead investigator tugged at a yellowed printout of an ancient text. He blew off the dust. "Dread Game" Further examination of the writing offered an answer. They knew. Or someone knew, and tried to send the message. A blueprint to save their species. Further down the pile of papers, another entreaty. "III. You shall make your mission, not your woman, your priority Forget all those romantic cliches of the leading man proclaiming his undying love for the woman who completes him. Despite whatever protestations to the contrary, women do not want to be "The One" or the center of a man's existence. They in fact want to subordinate themselves to a wothy man's life purpose, to help him achieve that purpose with their feminine support, and to follow the path he lays out. You must respect a woman's integrity and not lie to her that she is "your everything". She is not your everything, and if she is, she will soon not be anymore." It was, the visitor would later report to its superior, indirect proof of a cosmic law that directs the will of all advanced life in the universe. A sign, at last, of a Creator.