The Reckoning
It was the year 2052 when NASA received a series of cryptic signals from outer space. The signals, consisting of a sequence of prime numbers followed by what seemed like garbled noise, intrigued scientists worldwide. After years of investigation, a pattern emerged, hinting at a distant planetary system in the Andromeda galaxy. A decision was made to send a team of astronauts to investigate. The mission, named "Project Reckoning," was kept top secret to avoid mass panic.
The journey took five years, with the crew in stasis for most of the journey. Upon arrival, they were greeted by a sight eerily similar to Earth, with vast oceans, lush green forests, and bustling cities. Yet, there was a peculiar aura about the place, something strangely ethereal.
The crew was soon approached by beings that looked remarkably human. They claimed to be the original humans and referred to the planet as 'Primordia.'
"Our ancestors created Earth as a simulation," one of them explained, "a virtual playground for the soul. But the system is collapsing, and it’s about to be shut down."
Captain Sarah Mitchell, the mission leader, felt a knot in her stomach. "What will happen to the people on Earth?" she asked.
"They will simply cease to exist," the being replied, as if stating a mere fact.
Sarah couldn’t comprehend the implications. "Is there anything we can do to prevent this?"
The being shook its head. "The simulation has run its course. But you, as representatives of Earth, have a choice. You can join us on Primordia, or you can return to Earth and live out your remaining days."
The crew was faced with an impossible decision. If they chose to stay on Primordia, they would be abandoning their families and loved ones. But if they chose to return to Earth, they would be going back to a world destined for oblivion.
In the end, they chose to stay, hoping that in some way, they were preserving a part of Earth by doing so. As they watched their home planet disappear from the sky, they knew that they were the last remnants of a world that once was.