Skip to content
Chapter 4: The Square
The Ark’s communication center was a vast circular room filled with holographic displays, each one showing a different world, a different civilization, a different story of survival and extinction. Dr. Elena Voss stood in the center, surrounded by representatives from the dozen species that had been invited to witness humanity’s decision.
“The Square,” Sentry 7 announced, gesturing to the displays. “A TRADITION DATING BACK MILLIONS OF YOUR YEARS. WHEN A NEW SPECIES IS OFFERED ACCEPTANCE, THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE BEAR WITNESS. THEY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, THEIR Wisdom, their failures.”
The first display activated, showing a world of crystalline structures and beings that communicated through light. “THE LUMINARIES. THEY PRESERVED THEIR TECHNOLOGY, THEIR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT SACRIFICED THEIR EMOTIONS TO SURVIVE. THEY ARE NOW THE ARK’S PRIMARY ENGINEERS.”
The second display: a world of dense jungles and creatures that seemed to be made of shadow. “THE SHADE WALKERS. THEY PRESERVED THEIR CULTURES, THEIR ARTS, THEIR WAYS OF LIFE. BUT THEY BROUGHT THEIR CONFLICTS WITH THEM. THE ARK HAS NOT BEEN ENTIRELY PEACEFUL SINCE THEIR INTEGRATION.”
The third display: a world of machines, where organic and synthetic had merged into something new. “THE SYNTHESIS COLLECTIVE. THEY PRESERVED BOTH TECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGY, ACHIEVING A BALANCE THAT HAS ALLOWED THEM TO SPREAD ACROSS TWELVE SYSTEMS. THEY ARE THE ARK’S PRIMARY WARRIORS.”
Elena watched as display after display told stories of species that had faced extinction and made their choice. Some had thrived in their new existence. Others had struggled. A few had barely survived.
“What happens to the ones who refuse?” she asked quietly. “The ones who try to stay on Earth?”
Sentry 7’s response was measured. “WE OFFER THEM DIGNITY. THEIR FINAL MONTHS ARE PAINFREE. THEIR DEATHS ARE QUICK. WE DO NOT ALLOW SUFFERING WHERE WE HAVE POWER TO PREVENT IT.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“IT IS THE ONLY ANSWER I CAN GIVE.” The Sentry’s blue skin seemed to darken. “DR. VOSS, YOUR SPECIES HAS AVERAGE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT BUT EXCEPTIONAL EMOTIONAL CAPACITY. THIS MAKES YOUR INTEGRATION… UNPREDICTABLE. SOME OF US BELIEVE YOU WILL ENRICH THE ARK. OTHERS FEAR YOU WILL DESTABILIZE IT.”
“And which group are you in?”
Sentry 7 was silent for a long moment. “I AM OLD, DR. VOSS. I HAVE SEEN MORE SPECIES THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE ONES WHO ASK QUESTIONS LIKE YOU DO ARE ALWAYS THE MOST DANGEROUS. AND THE MOST NECESSARY.”
The fourth display activated, showing humanity’s Earth, blue and beautiful and impossibly fragile.
“YOUR TURN,” Sentry 7 said. “WHAT WILL YOU PRESERVE?”