[ WP ] Advances in technology have lengthened human life considerably . But the human body was never meant to live this long . New health problems arise .

Immortality. It had been all the rage, 40 years ago. 
 
 *New miracle drug stops the aging process. * 
 *Live forever! * 
 *Take back your life! * 
 
 The arrogance of it all made Derek's head hurt even more than it already did. The migraine was behind his eyes, pulsing away relentlessly. Not for the first time, he wondered if it was a tumor. He almost wished it was, in a black sort of way, if it meant he did n't have to suffer the day to day monotony anymore. 
 
 When the AA drug first hit the market, people were lined up outside of the stores for miles. There were fights and riots, theft and murder, scams and sneakery. But the worst was yet to come. The pill had to be taken every 32 days and it was priced just low enough to be attainable by the average Joe, but just high enough that Joe had to sell his house, car and children in order to keep taking it. 
 
 Funnily enough, Derek had heard horror stories of people doing exactly that. 
 
 But for a few years, humanity was actually making progress. Healthcare was made affordable, jobs and the economy were booming, and people were helping one another. The wars slowed to a trickle. Why risk eternal life over a little bit of oil? 
 
 But the ramifications of the AA - Anti Aging drug took longer to manifest themselves. 
 
 The population exploded in only 15 years. Humans went from 7 billion people to 16 billion by 2030. They'd lost count by 2045. Resources were becoming more scarce, food was hard to come by, and the planet was having a hard time digesting all of the waste that humanity produced. Animals started dying off in droves, entire species started to disappear, and governments could barely maintain themselves. 
 
 Peoples bodies started to give out. The drug stopped cellular degradation, but it did little to prevent the major organs from over exertion. And no matter which way you looked at it, 140 years was over exertion. Cancer was rampant, new diseases were the norm, and the flu was absolutely ravenous. Then people started to go sterile. 
 
 Soon after that, the governments of the world decided that the drug was causing more problems than it solved. In an incredibly short sighted move, they voted to disband the AA Pharmaceutical Corporation and cease production of the AA drug. 
 
 The word pandemonium fell spectacularly short of describing what came next. People had become so comfortable with the idea that death was held at bay that they did n't try to reconcile themselves with it anymore. They'd gone from the subconscious acceptance of eventuality, to subconscious dependence on their false pharmaceutical God. 
 
 Rumor had it though, that you could still get the drug, provided you had the money and connections. 
 
 Derek was one of those people. He'd been alive for nearly 150 years now, and he'd watched stoically while his family and friends grew old and wasted away. He hated himself for it, but not enough to stop taking the drugs. He'd accumulated more wealth than... well... anyone. Ever. 
 
 In retrospect, if he'd known when he was 35 how much pain and suffering he'd eventually cause, maybe he would n't have invented the AA drug. Maybe. At the very least, he would n't have gone public with it. 
 
 But it was a little too late for second chances. The planet was devastated. The human race had been reduced to only a few billion, and that number was shrinking by the day. 
 
 A sudden knock drew Derek out of his nostalgic thoughts. 
 
 `` Enter,'' he growled. 
 
 A slight man with a servile demeanor slipped into the massive study. 
 
 `` Sir, your transport ship is fueled and ready. The passengers have entered stasis with success, provisions have been stored and inventoried, and our course has been verified and programmed.'' The servants voice was methodical and confident, but Derek thought he noticed a slight tremor. 
 
 `` Very well, James. Your family is safely aboard, I trust?'' Derek spared the servant an appraising glance. 
 
 `` Yes sir,'' James stammered, `` Your generosity will not be...'' 
 
 `` Good,'' Derek cut across him, and raised one eyebrow at his servant for the last 80 years. `` How long is the flight?'' 
 
 `` Approximately 257 years, sir,'' came James' shaky voice. 
 
 `` Excellent. The new planet has been verified and we're reasonably sure it will sustain us. If not,'' and Derek gave James a predatory grin, `` We have plenty of time to search for another one.'' 
 
 = 
 
 Disclaimer: This is my first time to write anything. Be honest.
