Menolly sat there, quiet, refined. Patiently waiting for me to gather my wits and get control of myself.

I have never had a panic attack and I’m certainly not prone to hysteria. Too much damned drama as far as I am concerned, so this was definitely a first for me. I think I am allowed a little leeway though, all things considered. One could hardly believe this to be a normal Tuesday, and I thought I was not doing too bad in holding onto whatever rationality I had left in me.

‘OK Del, you’ve got this’ I mutter to myself.

I stand, depositing the cat unceremoniously on the floor, she gives me a look and proceeds to mooch off indignantly. Without a word to my uninvited guest, I grab my mug and walk back to the kitchen.

I needed to restore some reflection of normality, so I put on the kettle and throw a slice of bread in the toaster.

A few minutes later I return to my chair. Sit down and take a bite of my toast.

“Right Menolly 90210 or whoever you are,” I say through a mouthful of crumbs.

“The world is ending and I’m some superhero messiah thing that’s going to save humanity.” She gives a bit of a wry smile. “So how in hell am I to do that.”

After a brief pause, she once again gives a slight nod as if recognising I was over a necessary hurdle.

“The universe as you understand it, is far more complex than humanity has yet understood. The Galactic Collective is just one of many overwatch bodies, each responsible for observing and eventually integrating new sapient species into the Overmind.”

She is watching me closely.

Personally, I have decided to just sit and listen and think of it as a movie, one I just happen to be part of for now. But that’s just another plot twist and life is certainly full of those. At least this way I can hold on to my sanity for a bit longer, at least until it’s time to change the reel.

“The Overmind? Is that some sort of high almighty lording over us and deciding our planets fate?”

Menolly’s eyes flicker slightly,

“Something like that, but not. The Overmind can be thought of as the creator and keeper of the rules that govern every aspect of how things work. Think of what you know about the laws of physics or life. They are a tiny shadow of the infinite possibilities that the Overmind manages.”

I pause mid-chew, and then swallow loudly.

“Are you telling me it’s some kind of superbeing? Or even a god?”

She shakes her head

“No Del, gods are something else entirely.”

‘Gods are something else? Damn Del. And she said gods – plural. That’s going to upset some folks’

“Never had much time for religion myself” I said as I took a sip of coffee.

“Think of the Overmind as a consciousness, one that includes and interacts with every sentient race in subtle yet real ways. It’s both a tool and a keeper of knowledge. It provides a commonality and a bridge between species. At the same time, it allows for complete freedom of thought and action within the natural laws it governs.”

I could feel my mind starting to gloss over again. I put down my plate and watched idly as Misty ran over to lick the butter from the uneaten remains.

“OK, so the Galaxy is full of super advanced people who have all long met your criteria and now rule the waves, and if we manage to pass your little test, we get thrown into this melting pot? Perhaps it might be better to not have that happen.”

I said morosely

‘Damn it man, with the crap world we have with all the shit going on’ I couldn’t help thinking to myself.

“Why the fuck would you want this crap planet as part of your Overmind anyway?”

Menolly tilted her head slightly, as if considering how best to respond to my pessimism. For a moment, her eyes softened, almost human. Made me wonder if there was anything human about her.

“The Overmind doesn’t see things in terms of good or bad,” she said. “It looks at potential, what a species can become, not what it currently is. Humanity is… complex, yes. Chaotic, sometimes. But the Overmind values diversity of thought, creativity, and willpower. And your species is, like all human species, remarkable in an ability to adapt, develop and endure.”

I snorted. “Endure? Sure. Look at us, barely surviving, polluting the planet, always on the brink of one disaster or another. If we’re so great, why do we keep screwing things up?”

She paused, and I thought for a moment she might actually agree with me. Instead, she spoke calmly, with the same frustrating patience she’d had since this whole conversation started.

“It’s not about perfection, Del. It’s about growth. Struggle is part of growth. The Galactic Collective is not a utopia where everyone lives in harmony and peace. Each civilization within it has had its own trials, its own self-destructive tendencies. But those who evolve beyond those struggles contribute something invaluable to the Collective.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And what, exactly, does Earth contribute? Reality TV and social media addiction?”

She smiled faintly, the first sign of amusement I’d seen. “Earth’s creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience. Your culture is vibrant, even if at times it seems… chaotic. The Overmind recognizes that growth comes through conflict. Your world may seem broken now, but it is on the cusp of transformation. It just needs a catalyst.”

“And that’s me? A catalyst?” My mind flicked back to school science experiments.

“In a way” Menolly responded. “But more than that. You are a representative. You have shown, not just through your testing online but also in your interaction with me today. That you possess an ability to rise to even the most stressful or absurd challenges. That will be so important going forward if the Collective is to intervene.”

“There are always these ifs, buts and maybes hanging over everything” I retort. “You are shoving a whole lot of pressure onto my shoulders and I still don’t think you have the right person”

“We are confident, and we do think you are the right choice.”

“Why though. I am a beaten up man with buggered legs. I saw 60 pass me by and while away my days wasting time and wallowing in nostalgia. What do I bring to the table that some fit athletic intelligent youngster couldn’t do better”

She looked at me, her face calm.

“You are adaptable, free from any unbending dogma, have an open mind showing flexibility and a remarkable strength of will. You also have willingness to take on board totally alien and new concepts and have shown you can handle pressure.”

I stared at her, digesting the weight of it all. Me, flexible? Adaptable? If she’d seen how long it took me to switch from VHS to DVD, she might reconsider.

“Well,” I said, feeling the sarcasm rise, “I guess it’s good to know I’m humanity’s best shot, based on my ability to… what? Wing it?”

Menolly didn’t miss a beat. “Winging it has worked remarkably well for humans so far.”

I chuckled ‘She got you there Del’ I mused.

“So what happens now. I have to sit some sort of cosmic test? An entrance exam?”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Not quite but it is a test.” She answers. “It won’t be easy, I will be honest with you about that. But as part of the Galactic Collective I can do a few things to aid you where I can.”

“So not left completely high and dry then” I snarked back.

The look she gave me was unreadable.

“No” she said. “That was never the plan. Any test is only valid if the one taking it is provided with at least rudimentary tools to make sure they start on an even playing field.”

“Not quite thrown to the wolves then, just almost” I shook my head. “Do I actually have a chance, does humanity, does Earth?” I feel the build-up of dread, almost nauseous, in my stomach. For a moment I rest my head in my hand and close my eyes.

‘Make this go away please’ I say hopefully to myself. I look back up. Her eyes pierce into mine as if seeing into my very soul.

“That’s up to you Del. If you didn’t have a chance I wouldn’t be here. Today would never have happened and in 5 years… you would have been consigned to the same fate as the rest of your species as your planet played host to the approaching mountain.”

She sighs, you could almost think she was human. Hell for a large chunk of our meeting I would never have even considered anything different. It was still hard to believe she wasn’t.

‘If this all turns out to be some twisted nightmare after all… Quit it Del. This is too damn real for that.’

“If there was another way, or more candidates and met the criteria, then we would have taken a different path. There is also still the chance that others may pass and you could be joined at a later point. This is by no means impossible.”

“There might be others who pass then?” I ask hopefully. “How likely is that in reality.”

She is always assessing me, watching, seeing. Its unnerving in one way. Strangely comforting in another.

“Without getting too deep into probability calculations the Collective have undertaken. You are the one person to pass in just over a million who have found the site. Most just passed the page by. Some didn’t. With earth’s present internet usage we expect another 7 to 8 million to find the page over the next 3 years. After that the page will be closed as that will be the point where the final decision will be made. So there is a slim possibility other representatives will be found.”

I looked at her sharply

“But why, why 3 years? Why didn’t you just make your decision already and either save us or let the cards land where they fall. This still doesn’t really make sense.”

This was one thing that my mind kept coming back to. Why, and why me? Not in a self-pitying manner but a simple question of what made me the correct choice.

“While its true” Menolly answered. “The Collective monitoring party could well have packed up and left in place automatic systems to record for the archives the end of another potential addition to the Universal whole. Most times that would have been the case as only a small number actually make it to integration.”

“So why not us?” I ask.

“The majority thought that should be the case.” She responded bluntly. “But, there was a significant enough minority who felt the potential should not be wasted out of hand, but instead, a slender lifeline offered.”

“Which brings you to me I suppose” I shake my head.

“Which brings us to you.” She agreed.

For a while, we sat in silence. He eyes, flickered between blue and grey, so fast it was almost imperceptible. It made Del think of some sort of computer, constantly parsing information, running millions of iterations with every moment.

“Are you an android?” he suddenly asked.

She tilted her head, somewhat expressing surprise at the unexpected question.

“I suppose I am close to what you might expect an android to be, but no. I am a construct of the Systarni. We are a race that developed from a civilisation that gradually adapted more and more to mechanical enhancements, until, after many millennia we became what we are now. So while not an android, that is to say an unliving machine. I am more a cyborg. A melding of the biological and mechanical.”

I shrugged and mused. “I guess the universe is full of all sorts.”

“Indeed it is” she agreed “Although it is surprising how many times striking similarities arise on disparate evolutionary paths.” She lifted her hand to indicate me.

“Humanity has developed multiple varieties across the universe for example, becoming one of the most widespread species.”

I raise an eyebrow. “So why bother with all this and trying to save one more human species” I quickly did a rapid mental step back. “Not that I don’t want that of course.” I said with a half smile.

“Because no matter how many types of humanity or other species are inducted into the realm of the Overmind. Each brings something unique that adds to the whole.”

“But.” She raised her hand. “We are getting distracted. I need to give you what information I can about your task and integrate you into the Overmind so you can do what you must.”

Although it was said with no inflection, her words hit me with a touch of finality. There really was no misunderstanding this any more. A lot was at stake, more than I could truly imagine, and yet. I was the one carrying the can.

“OK” I said, resignation obvious in my tone. “What do I do?”

“For now” She said “Sit comfortably and pass me your hand.”

I opened my eyes, I’m not sure how long after. It could have been minutes or hours. I guess it didn’t really matter as we are in a bloody time warp by all accounts.

Menolly was still sat there. Quietly watching me.

I noticed something. Actually I noticed a few things but the first most glaring thing was my constant pain and ache in my legs.

It was gone!

So were the other numerous aches that come with life dragging you through to the far end of middle age. The little niggles in my back, that tooth that had been annoying me for months but dentists cost too damn much. Even the headache that had been threatening to explode fully as the day had worn on.

Standing I walked quickly to the bathroom to look in the mirror

‘Still the same ugly old bastard though.’ I thought with a wry smile.

As I examined myself more closely I became aware of a quiet, almost sub-audible beeping.

“What the hell?” I said out loud and went back to the lounge.

As I entered she turned to look at me.

I said. “Menolly, whatever the Overmind or you did, I feel better than I can remember since the accident. But I have some weird arsed buzzing going on in my head. Did something go wrong when you patched me up?” I may have sounded worried, yep, I definitely sounded worried. I was worried. I get fixed up but my brain is fizzling.

‘Del, master of never quite managing to not fuck things up.’

“Its alright Del” she says reassuringly. “That’s the Overmind. You have been integrated into it and that is its way of notifying you that information is available.”

I sat down. “OK so what do you mean, information.”

“Let me give you a brief outline of how things work. The rest of it you will find out as you go along as its all dependent of what choices you make.”

“Fair enough. Hit me”

She momentarily looks shocked.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea Del. I am far stronger than you and”

“No,” I interrupt her. “Not literally. Let me have the information. Hit me with it is just a saying.”

“Oh, I shall add that to our database.” She assumes a look that reminds me of a teacher I had long ago.

“I told you that the Overmind acted as both a tool and a database of knowledge.

As a tool it can keep you updated with your progress and guide you in what you need to do if you are to meet the criteria of your task.”

I nodded.

“Information can be found by simple mental commands to access them. Think ‘Status’.”

I gave her a quizzical look but did as I was told.

And promptly jumped back deeper into my chair as a screen flashed up in front of me.

‘Holy hells, what the actual!’ I waved my hands in front of my face and rapidly turned my head. Wherever I looked it was right in front of me, semi transparent so I could see through it, but bloody disconcerting.

“What the hell is this” I shout.

Menolly’s calm but authoritative voice cuts through. “Take a breath Del, its not dangerous and in reality its literally generated in your minds eye. Your brain has just created an image to provide what you requested of the Overmind, in this case your status. You can clear it just by thinking ‘end’ or any other command you personally understand as closing the effect. Try it and then open and close it a few times to get the hang of it.”

Warily I thought, ‘Close’ Damned if it didn’t work. Being the good student I opened and closed it a few more times. I didn’t at this time bother to read whatever it said, probably scared shitless would be my status.

As I closed it for the 3rd time and now feeling comfortable in its control I looked back to Menolly.

“What else?” I asked

“There are various other common commands such as ‘log’ to update you on what you are doing and have done. Status can also be used to assess the condition of clothing and any goods or equipment you might be using. Useful to see if something is getting worn out and in need of repair.”

I nod and she continues. There is also a basic function to help you find information on things around you. Look at something, an object or an animal for example and think ‘identify’. Its not foolproof and will not properly identify anything significantly stronger than you but it provides access to the knowledge database that is the Overmind.”

I look at Misty once more, curled up and sleeping in her box.

‘Identify.’

Words appear in front of me:

Cat: Misty, your companion.

Level: 1

Agile and stealthy.

Strengths: Dexterity, agility.

Weaknesses: Intelligence, wisdom.

Attacks: Pounce, bite, rake.

Skill: Charm person

.

Satisfied, I glance over at Menolly.

‘Identify.’

Words appear, far more sparse this time:

Systarni Bipedal Construct: Menolly 14711

Affiliation: Galactic Collective

Level: ???

Strengths: Unknown

Weaknesses: Unknown

Attacks: Unknown

Skills: Unknown

“Well, that’s not very helpful,” I mutter. “So you’re a bit of a mystery woman then?”

“As I said, Del,” Menolly responds, “identify won’t reveal much about those significantly more powerful than you. The stronger they are, the less you’ll know.”

Nodding my head to indicate my understanding “Alright, what else?”

“We are almost done.”

‘I sure am.’ I mutter.

“What was that?” She asks.

“Nothing, nothing. So what now?”

“A straight forward decision. Basically in order for a full assessment to made for your species, you need to prove its merits in a number of ways. Adaptability, initiative, morality and so on.”

“And how do I do that” I ask.

“Simple really Del.” Her eyes are piercing.

“Survive”