Sapiens

V.

"It's awake." Ignotum points at the humanoid figure in the dark observation room.

"That took a while. I thought you used the lowest grade tranquillizer we have?" Mirum replied.

"That was the lowest grade tranquillizer we have. Y'know what, we brought it here. Let's just get the information we needed and get out."

Ignotum and Mirum both walked towards the enclosed room, their hands with 3 fingers holding a list of questions that have bugged them about the humanoid figure. Upon walking into the room, the humanoid being stared at them with terror and attempts to run away.

"Calm down, we're not here to hurt you," Ignotum said. "Please, have a seat here. We have much to discuss."

A light in the room switched on, revealing a table and chairs made of a weird iridescent material, akin to glass, but shimmering in rainbow colours. Confused, the humanoid being took a sit, with Ignotum and Mirum sitting opposite of the humanoid.

"I'm sure you have many questions right now, so before we start, do you want a question or two?" Mirum asked. "It's okay, take your time. We have plenty to spare."

After a while, the humanoid opened its mouth and asked.

"What... are you? Where am I?"

"We are just explorers of the universe, that's all. You're the first carbon-based lifeform we've encountered so far. So, we're quite curious about you and your species. As to where you are, well, see for yourself."

Ignotum with its three fingers activated a console of sorts in the room, switching off the light, and making the entire room transparent. The humanoid look outwards and saw a beautiful blue planet, reflecting the light from the nearby star; its moon slowly orbiting around it.

"Holy... shit. Is that the Earth?"

"Yep. It's one beautiful planet. Now, can you please tell us your name?"

"Kyle. Kyle Mulligan."

"No, not that. The other one."

"Which other names?" The humanoid stared at Ignotum, confused at its request.

"These."

Mirum pulled up another console and looked up a website from Earth. The humanoid looks at its name and recognizes it. It's Wikipedia.

"These names. Panthera Leo and what not. I doubt your entire species is named Kyle Mulligan." Mirum lets out a chuckle, which sounds oddly weird, but puts an uneasy feeling of ease on the humanoid.

"That name? Okay. I... no, We are called the Homo Sapiens."

"Fascinating. Can you tell us about your species? What is it like being a 'homo sapiens'?"

Kyle sat there in the silence and thought for a while. He stares into the endless void of space, looking at the Earth, then the nearby stars.

"The human race, or the homo sapiens to be more exact, is, well, one of the most niche species of Earth. A few hundred or thousand years ago, we are on the secondary, maybe tertiary food chain, hiding from larger animals while bullying the small ones...

Ignotum scribes down everything Kyle says, every detail, every event, every memory, while Mirum just listens in awe.

"...Then, we found the fire. To you advanced aliens, it might seem like nothing from your spaceships and advanced gadgets, but to us, it was a turning point. Humans started to harness the power of the flames, and with it, elevated its position on the food chain, and subsequently the world. Then, we met our brothers and sisters. Homo Neanderthals and Homo Erectus. We don't know what happened to them, but, they were pretty much gone upon meeting us."

"Interesting. And these species are similar but different? How different were they with the sapiens?"

"Well... I'm not much of a biologist myself, or an archaeologist," Kyle said, scratching his head, "But, I have a few ideas of how they were. The Neanderthals are stronger, taller, and have a larger brain capacity, while the Erectus... was basically a pre-Sapiens version of humans. Nevertheless, if I remembered correctly, there are around 14 different species in the Homo genus. Yet, we're the only one alive, and around, for now. There have been speculations for the future, a species named Homo Novae, but since that's far in the future, we may never know."

Mirum and Ignotum look at each other and nods their head. Ignotum ticks off 2 questions from his list, while Mirum asks another one.

"How far is the technology level of your species? Faster-Than-Light travel? Nuclear Fusion?"

"Well... as you have seen so far, I don't think we're anywhere as close to what you're describing." Kyle lets out a chuckle. "Though, nuclear fusion is something we've figured out, is just that we don't know how to make it efficient enough. The life of every homo sapiens on the Earth is slowly improving, and more people are getting the awareness of the effects of climate change. More diseases are getting cured and prevented, more people are getting educated. Overall, we're doing well in some places, while others... not really. Climate change is an obvious problem. There, it's so obvious that you can see it from here," Kyle pointed at the Amazon forest, where slowly the great lungs of the Earth gets reduced to cinder and ashes, its smoke polluting nearby lives. 

"Various pointless conflicts among government and political groups, idiotic companies that are destroying the Earth just for more money, and everyone not working together to solve the problems we have right now. It's just... It's just not that good right now."

Ignotum ticks off the second last question, and moves on to the next one. Mirum pulls out an alien relics and sets it on the table. It shimmers and glows in the dark observation room, rotating in its position.

"So, let's say I gave you this relic to help you solve all your problems, and along with it provide information and the necessary resources to help improve your species. Will you accept it?"

Kyle looked at the relic and remained silent for a while. He touched the relic, its glow illuminating the entire room with a bright light. It momentarily transported the three of them into a virtual world, where large megapolis stands on Earth, humanity working together with nature, and glimpses of humans colonizing the entire Milky Way, creating a lasting legacy.

"This is what you can do if you take the relic. Will you take it, Kyle? Will you secure the future of humanity?"

Kyle fell silent, thinking deeply. A few seconds, maybe minutes, maybe hours. The concept of time ceased to exist in the virtual realm. 

"No." Kyle replied sternly. "I will not."

"Looking back at history," Kyle continued, "we bunch of primates have done some stupid, idiotic stuff. We've had wars where we tried to kill each us just because our beliefs are different. We've had wars where we fought over a kettle. We've survived devastating, apocalyptic events that dropped our total population to less than 10 thousand. Yet, we're still here! We survived deadly plagues, made things that can kill the entire planet, and yet, we're still here! If humanity were to destroy itself, then its in own fault. But, I, for one, believe that humanity, in the end, will work its way out of the ashes and rebuild civilization, time and time again. So, no. I won't take that relic of yours, no matter how much it will help us. That'll be our path, no matter how rough it is. It'll help us grow and develop. It'll help us achieve those goals you've listed."

Ignotum ticks off the last question on the list and looks at Mirum.

"Good job, Kyle. That was a test. It was a test to test whether you would take the easier way out. And, so far, only you passed it. The others... Let's say their planets don't look too good after they accepted the relic. And, it's true that your species is a mere infant of the universe, growing and learning. But, we see your species persistence, the hardships you've powered through, and the future you may hold. Congratulations."

"Thanks?"

The room fell silent. The Earth slowly spinning in the background, lights of cities flickering on as it reaches night in the area.

"So... what now?"
"We will continue to observe the development of your species. But, for now, you may go."

"I'm free?"

"Yep."
"Will I ever see you again?"

"Perhaps, in time, when you've figured out the stars and space travel. Perhaps. For now, focus on your species current goals, and try to get those done first. We'll meet you in the cosmos, should your species is able to work together to achieve those goals."

"Okay. This was a hell of an experience." 

Ignotum and Mirum toggled the teleportation console and commence a teleportation process for Kyle to return to Earth.

"Goodbye. Wait, guys! How do you-"

Without finishing his question, Kyle was teleported back to his town. He looked up to the sky, and smiled. 

"Nevermind then. See you in the stars, my friends."

-End-

Well, this wasn't so bad. I think.