“Gentlemen, you've had time to consider your thoughts. Now it's time to vote. Know that we need a clear majority decision if we're to proceed with the plan and as I'm a neutral party, I will not be voting. Understood?”

The silence gives Elienai her answer.

“If you're in favour of targeting the Island, raise your hand.”

Two hands are raised. Karama and a man in a beige shirt.

“If you're in favour of targeting the Mainland, raise your hand.”

Three hands are raised. Agbada, Charcoal and another.

Seni and I haven't voted yet.

“Seni?” Elienai asks.

He shakes his head, “I’m going to abstain.”

Elienai stares at him for what seems to be a long time. Then she shrugs.

“Okay then. Ene?”

I want to strangle Seni for putting me in this position.

When I told Elienai I was a monster as well for joining this committee, this was not what I envisioned. I can feel forty million and seven pairs of eyes on me. A vote for Mainland will give Elienai her clear majority. A vote for Island will force a revote. If I abstain, we’re deadlocked. And both debates have their pros and cons.

I cough and try not to think of the simulation we witnessed. It's hard not to. Am I being selfish? If a decision is not made in time, the UN will intervene and who knows what plans they have.

Either way, forty million people will perish. And it will be Ene Osijo who sentenced them.

Sacrifice, huh? Easy to spout, not so easy to follow.

“Mainland.” I say.

Immediately the room descends into chaos. Karama and Beige shirt look crushed, Agbada and Charcoal are dancing. I want nothing more than to go home. Seni looks like he's disappointed. Well then, he should have voted. Silly brat.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around. It's Hermit.

“Thank you, Ene. I know this wasn't an easy choice to make.” She wraps her arms around me and I almost feel completely better.

“Ahem.”

We both turn at the same time to see Seni.

“I need to see you both. Now,” he says. By now the meeting room is almost empty, so he ushers us both into seats and faces us.

“Let me first apologise for abstaining, Mr Osijo. I understand that I put you on the spot there.” He extends his hand.

I take it. “No hard feelings. It was bound to happen anyway,” I say.

“Why did you abstain?” Elienai asks.

Seni sighs and glances around to be sure it's just the three of us.

“I'm only telling you this because for some reason I can’t quite fathom, I like you both and besides, it's too late anyway. I abstained because it doesn't matter. You'll all either be dead or subjugated this time tomorrow.”

“What are you talking about, Seni?” I demand.

“Well,” Seni grins. “This will sound very strange but I assure you that it's completely true.”

“Speak,” I snap.

“I’m only trying to prepare your minds for what you’re about to hear.”

“Just say what you want to say, Seni.” Elienai orders.

“Very well then.” He pauses, as though for effect. “I'm not human. I belong to a race of beings called The Myriad.”

The completely dumbfounded look on Elienai's and my face gives Seni all the answers he needs.

“Look, why would I call you both here just to finesse you? I'm a Myriad. A soldier scout. There were seven of us sent to each continent, to assess humanity. I've been here for a hundred and twenty years. I only look this young because I want to.”

Elienai and I are completely silent, our respective brains struggling to register this information.

“I'm the last of the scouts and I send in my final report tonight. A unanimous decision was necessary in order to accelerate invasion plans. That decision was made a few weeks ago.”

I laugh nervously, trying to make sense out of this revelation. It’s completely unbelievable. In all our years of space exploration, humanity has never come across actionable evidence pointing toward extraterrestrial life. And yet here I am, talking to a self-proclaimed alien— and I find myself believing him.

“Why are you telling us this?” Elienai asks, her voice devoid of moisture.

Seni shrugs.

“I don't know,” he says. “I guess I you both deserved to know your world is ending. Humans are terribly flawed, unable to see the forest for the trees. They make terrible choices not out of necessity but greed. They deserve to see their world crumble. But you two... you’re different somehow.” He rises to his feet, indicating that this meeting is over.

“When it's all over, I hope you two are still alive,” he says. “I feel like we could've been friends.” With that, he leaves.

Elienai and I remain alone in the meeting room, our minds sifting through this information, desperately telling ourselves he was lying and yet knowing it is in fact the terrible truth.

“Whatever shall we do?” She asks.

“I don't know, Hermit. Usually in the movies, all our weapons are useless against alien technology. And Seni looks like he's adapted to our world so the ‘germs saving the world’ theory is dismissed.” I sigh and rise to my feet.

“I think I'll go home and finish my book before tomorrow. Will you join me? Voke’s always happy when we have visitors, even though she's scared of you.”

I extend my hand to her. She takes it and we leave the room hand-in-hand.

Today, I shall reminisce with an old friend and finish my book.

Tomorrow will be interesting.