Interview

In the recesses of the generation ship Aldrin a young man interviews an immortal, but none like he has seen before, for this immortal is not of ones and zeroes but of flesh.

"You've come to interview me huh?"

"Yes."

"Well, get on with it."

"The first question is" He looks down at his notepad "how did you come immortal?"

"Next."

"Okay um... what do you do in your free time?"

"I do a variety of things, most of which lead to death. I play it as safe as I can but when I party I go hard. Right now I'm just chilling exploring the galaxy, listening to some Pink Floyd."

"Who's that?"

"It's a band from thousands of years ago."

"Are they any good?"

"Just look em up kid, you won't regret it."

"Third question, what's your name and life story?"

"My name is I. Mortalis. I use that middle and last name. Of course I change my first name often to throw people off my scent. Sometimes I like a particular name so I added a Jr. after it. I forgot my real name long ago. I thing it was John or something. My life story is long so I'll give you a few bullet points. Born in 1921, have had 50 wives, been in like 5 bands, own over half the known universe, and my favorite food is a BLT."

"Okay then. Fourth question time, how do you finance your immortality."

For cash I re-inherit my own fortune every time, it grows with every time I'm reborn. This is the fund for my wild parties, drugs, sky diving, space walks, and planet colonizing. There is a lot you can do in 80 generations. A lot of people to meet and places to see."

"Rebirth? So you've been born 80 times?" The young man fumbled with his notepad, periodically wiping the sweat that welled on his hands unto his pant legs.

"No, 81. Lest we not forget my original birth. Who would of thought a lowly son of an Italian immigrant would become this."

"How were you born each time? Do you rise up from a pile of ashes like a phoenix? You said earlier you still age do you reverse age then age again? Or are you a baby every time?"

"Bingo. I awake after every death as an infant, my consciousness and memories intact. Once the body's brain is complex enough for a self awareness my soul jumps right in."

"Do your new parents know about this?"

"This is my least favorite part of my immortality. I usually just play dumb for the first few years of life and when I'm old enough, around the teen years I run away from the family."

"Doesn't that make you feel bad?"

"Not any more."

The young man cringed. Had I. lost his humanity.

"So how did you become immortal."

"I guess I'll tell you, it was a genie."

The young man looked stunned and confused.

"But a genie? Isn't that magic?"

"Yes, very old magic, the kind that lurks in the shadows. The kind humanity has forgotten about. The ghosts, the cryptids, the gods. Those things are far behind us now. Way back on Earth. Occasionally I'll meet a vampire or two, but for the most part they hide, they haven't evolved to much, they don't change every generation like me. They are vestiges, windows to the past to which we can't return. In this time of warp engines and Dyson spheres there's no need for bigfoot, Zeus, or vampires. Humanity has the power of god's at their finger tips, I would even say more powerful than the old gods. But that's just my opinion, any other questions for this interview of yours?"

"What did you use your other two wishes on."

"I haven't."

"Do you wish you could?"

"I'm not falling for it genie."

"What? Me? No no no no."

"Cut the crap genie we both know I'm saving those wishes."

"I could take you back, back to where it all began, you can be mortal again and still retain all of your memories."

"I'll have to order a lawyer program."

"So you'll consider it?"

"Maybe in a few lives. See you soon."

The immortal grins and presses a large red button on the wall. Sirens start to go off and in an instant the airlock opens launching I. and the genie into space.