A hypothetical zombie/mutant-type question.

[Dusk Raven]

I was gonna make this anyway, but the zombie thread reminded me.

The world is slowly succumbing to a virus. This virus alters the DNA of its host, enhancing strength and agility, turning nails into claws, and basically making humans feral. It also causes its hosts to lose most of their sentience, and using the space for a thicker skull. They still retain their memories, as well as their skills and the intelligence to still do many of the non-abstract things.

You (or me,, whichever) have become infected. Fortunately, you are an Alpha: a mutant that has all the characteristics of a normal mutant, except that you retain your intelligence. Ordinary mutants are intensely submissive to you.

Now, as the infection spreads through your area, you have a choice to make. Any humans you infect will also become alphas. So, do you infect your significant other yourself, or let the beta mutants do it?

A big question. Will she/he be content in this mutant world? Resent you for infecting her? Will she/he be happy while everyone else - including her friends - is a beta? If she is a beta, she will of course be content, and you won't be rejected. But will you miss the facets of a relationship only possible through sentience? Might you find them without it on her part?

That's a question I've been brooding over lately. I also might present others, if you guys don't mind.

[Duel]

Relationship?

The bigger question is:

Commitment!?

:|

Anyway, I'd sit back and let the Betas do the work.

[Jamos]

I would kill off all of the inferior betas and populate with the alphas. Though, Dusk, you can't actually have multiple alphas in a group. They could be the equivalent of one, but not actually be The Alpha.

[Dusk Raven]

The ratio of Alphas to Betas is about 1:200. Once the huge population of the world starts breaking up into packs, the Alphas might choose one and go with it.

[Chuck]

I would kill off all of the inferior betas and populate with the alphas. Though, Dusk, you can't actually have multiple alphas in a group. They could be the equivalent of one, but not actually be The Alpha.
He not using it in the sense of an Alpha Male in a pack. He's just using Alpha and Beta to label the two types of mutants.

To answer the question, since regular mutants are so submissive to me I'd make sure my significant other got infected by betas. Then I know I went get any lip when I ask for a sammich.

[The_Real_Crunk]

All the Alphas mutate further and merge into one superior being.

[peachy]

But will you miss the facets of a relationship only possible through sentience?
Nope.

Beta and bang away.

[Dusk Raven]

For me, I think I'd go to her and talk to her. I'd probably ask her if what she wanted. And if I thought that she couldn't ever love me (we're just friends), I'd leave her to my subordinates. I think the latter would be more likely.

[Red Dragon]

That's a question I've been brooding over lately. I also might present others, if you guys don't mind.

Brooding?

Brooding over some odd weird mutant question?


To aswer your question. There are more Betas than Alphas. Thus even if I did infect more Alphas there would still be more betas.

So everything would turn out to be the same as it is now.

So screw that let the betas multiply by themselves, they won't know they can overthow me.

[Dusk Raven]

Brooding?

Brooding over some odd weird mutant question?

Brooding is a strong word, I've just been thinking about it.

To aswer your question. There are more Betas than Alphas. Thus even if I did infect more Alphas there would still be more betas.

So everything would turn out to be the same as it is now.

So screw that let the betas multiply by themselves, they won't know they can overthow me.

What?

...Okay. But you seem to have misunderstood my question.

[The Ice Cream Man]

I would probably just confront the person about it and not jump to infecting or throwing to the betas or anything.

[Dusk Raven]

What about after that?

"Throwing" was a metaphorical term, by the way.