Judges

Abstract

Is humanity worth saving? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, an injured war veteran and a woman are brought to an alien ship. The alien explains humanity will, in another generation, move beyond its planet with bases throughout the solar system and eventually, travel the stars. This concerns the aliens as they have found some sentient species to be violent space travelers that cause death and disorder to the larger polity. As such, the aliens have gotten in the habit of visiting sentient beings just before they emerge from their planet to decide if they should foster, or exterminate the species. While they have reviewed the history of world media, they find talking to the specifies and asking them to defend the future of their species, is also helpful in the decision-making process. The veteran argues for saving humanity, while the woman argues humanity is inherently violent, dangerous, and not worthy of a future in the stars. The debate goes for several hours, covering several topics, until the alien decides, and leaves them to report back.