Survive

“Humanity has seven days left to stop its own advance!” – said the Emperor, “and even if we lose, the Earth will not be destroyed”.

“What of Earth, your Highness, what of it! It’ll last billions of years, it’ll outlast us!”

“Yes,” said the Emperor “and no. The Earth, if it is indeed destroyed and we know not if it isn’t, will take all life to its own grave. No-one shall be able to survive, even if it’ll outlast humanity – the extinction is what follows, one way or another. Thus, the lifespan of the Earth, be it larger than of us, is yet so short that seems to me a mere instant!”

“And yet can we survive, my Liege?”

"In this situation, we make but a small difference."

"And yet will we make that small difference?”

"We won’t. But what’s even more important is the theoretical fact that we can.”

“So?..”

“Do not forget yourself!”

“So, my Gracious Sovereign?”

“There’s a whole world for us to discover beyond Earth! Even if the Earth gets destroyed, the brave survivors shall, as it were, survive.”

“So there’s a ship?”

(quietly) “Yes, sirrah, whisper it only to the selected few. (loud) By my honour, we should save as many people as we can!”

“And would you?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Oh. I get it… The Earth shall die! Oh death, I just want to die, now!”

“No-no, have comfort! The Earth shall not die – it shall get destroyed. And, by my own power, I spare no means to aid those poor souls that would survive this fiery apocalypse! Do not wish death upon yourself, by God's will you shall survive!”

“…I see and I obey, my dread Sovereign! Yet please, do not misunderstand me. You, you are a powerful person. You can do many things. If you give it your full attention it won’t be difficult for you to protect Earth. And us. And me.”

The Emperor was surprised. “You don't want to survive then? You want me to save all of you?” The man nodded in agreement, he looked very weak but he seemed to know something.

The Emperor thought the same. There was a certain possibility that he might be saved, there was that ship. He could save himself, that he could. He had to save all the people he met on his way. That he would.

And yet he didn’t.