Sacrificed
Andrew Males
“We will take your Sun in one Earth day.”
From seemingly nowhere, the aliens had shown up and set a countdown for the entire Solar System. They had no time for small talk.
The President struggled to remember her extraterrestrial communications training. “Can we work together to find another… more satisfactory way?”
“There is no other way for us. Your Sun is a perfect replacement for our dying star.”
“Then take us with you!”
“Impossible.”
“But billions will die!”
“Quadrillions will be saved. You would do the same, if you could.”
The President stared at the loud speaker, not wanting to meet the eyes of her advisors.
###
Pleas, threats and philosophical debate followed, to no avail.
“We must go. The wormhole must be started. We wish you good luck.”
###
The President looked up at the night sky and shivered, as Earth - no longer in orbit -
hurtled into the dark unknown.