“They’re still here?” Didn’t they have important national matters to take care of? If half the rumors he heard on the plane ride over were true the leaders were making some very large and risky plans.

“Not at all. All of them left shortly before they addressed their own nations. Most of them are on a conference call in that building over there.” The agent pointed out a very shabby shack that looked more like a series of boards leaning against each other than a completed structure.

The agent then seemed to forget all about him, going back to collecting non-personal items and calling out names. Off in the distance he could see another plane starting it’s decent. Bringing in another load of draftees presumably.

While everyone else was crowding around the agent and being watched by what appeared to be armed African forces, Kohn made his way unhindered to what was so generously being called a building. The single guard at the door nodded to him before holding the door open for him.

Inside were a series of monitors that were hooked up to a relatively weak looking laptop on a desk with a camera on a tripod behind it. The whole setup seemed like some scene out of a crazy spy movie.

On each screen he could see someone important looking, presumably the world leaders. Most of them were distracted, talking to someone off screen or looking at files labeled in red.

“Just wait.”

“WHOA!” Initially Kohn had thought the building was empty. The guy that was suddenly standing next to him took him completely by surprise. He’d have to check his pants later.

“Sorry about that. Occupational habit. Raj.”

“Kohn.” We shook hands.

Raj looked like a tourist you’d find at some shopping mall or amusement park. A beige shirt, kakis, flip flops, slightly unshaven and he was even going bald. If he had a pair of sunglasses and a camera it would have been a perfect picture of a lost tourist.

“So you’re the volunteer.”

“The?”

“Yep.” Raj clicked his tongue as if he couldn’t believe there had been any. “The only one. Everyone else out there is part of the draft.” He waved his hands to gesture out the door.

“At least from the US.” He hurriedly added. “Apparently the British had a few dozen. And supposedly the Russians, Chinese and Koreans had nothing but volunteers. Though no one is too certain how true that is.”

“I don’t understand. I thought it was just the US that had to send people to the aliens?”

“Why?”

“Well, because we fired the nukes. The US put up the most resistance.”

Understanding crossed Raj’s face. Blowing a raspberry he filled Kohn in a little. “The Prince is demanding more of the US than the rest of the world, but never-the-less he is taking people from every continent. Even from Antarctica though I’m told that he’s only taking two researchers from there. Something about there being a small population, though rumor is that he’s demanding they increase the population as quickly as possible. If that’s true then I’m sure there’ll be a few happy people down there-“

Kohn was getting a little embarrassed thinking about what it would be like to be forced to reproduce so he interrupted Raj. “I’m sorry, but why am I here?”

“Oh, the world leaders are speaking to every volunteer. Well, except the Russians, the Chinese and Korean volunteers. I guess they don’t think they’re actual volunteers.”

“So this is just like a thank you speech?”

“Well you’ll find out soon. Heads up.”

It seemed like the world leaders had all been made aware that he was waiting for them. They momentarily finished up their business and were looking at him through the recording devices.

“Mr. Lowson.” The man from the monitor labeled Congo spoke up.

“Yes sir?” Kohn asked nervously, unsure about what they wanted.

“We thank you for your service to your country and to your world.” For the first time Kohn saw that there wasn’t a monitor labeled US. “And wished to send you off with our blessings.”

“Thank you sir. Sirs! And ladies!” He was took focused on the Congo leader, but thankfully Raj jolted him to look at the other monitors and to see the other leaders staring back at him.

They all chuckled at him. Probably they had expected him to be nervous.

“That’s quite alright.” They all wiped the grins from their faces. The Congo leader, probably chosen before to give the speech continued in a stern, but dependable voice. “We’ve asked to speak to you as the representatives of not only Earth, but as representatives for the men. Women. And children. Of all those related to you and the others that will be going into space. We wish to ask you for a favor.”

“Sir? A favor? You do know that I’m leaving Earth right?”

More chuckles and grins, a few giving out ho-ho’s at his cheekiness. “Yes,” Well at least he was smiling now “we are aware. The favor that we wished to ask of you.”

The Congo leader’s thoughts brought him back down to his seriousness again. “The majority of people out there with you are not volunteers. They have been drafted or conscripted in order to meet the forty-eight hour deadline. They are not of the same mental strength as one such as yourself.”

“Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses sir.”

“So they do. But, we wish for you and the other volunteers to look out for them. All of them.” His eyes were emphasizing that he expected Kohn to help anyone who fell behind.

“Sir?” Kohn wasn’t sure exactly why he needed to do that. “Why would anyone need looking out for? What will we be doing, exactly?”

“You will be trained. Militarily trained.” Sinking comprehension filled Kohn’s stomach. “You are going to war.”

“With who?”

“The Prince and the Kingdom are facing a force that seeks to destroy life.” A few of the world leader’s couldn’t control their facial expressions at this point. Fear and grim determination was filled on their faces. “You and others will be fighting a war in the defense of Earth, and other planets, before that enemy reaches us.”

“So the rumors about the military being exempted from the draft were true? But you’re not planning to use them to take back Earth, you’re going to use them for defense for when this enemy shows up?”

If he was surprised he didn’t show it. “Yes.”

Kohn’s brain couldn’t sit still with this info. Hundreds of ideas came and went in seconds. “Might I suggest a huge push to space travel and an emergency ARK plan? Followed up with some sort of early warning deep space telemetry system?”

The man in the monitor labeled Japan gave a sturdy HO to that. “You are brighter than the others.” He remarked at Kohn.

“Such ideas are already being implemented. The Earth is drastically shifting, changing, with a purpose. Try not to worry about us. Focus on your own training and come back to us when you can.”

“Thank you.” Kohn held his right fist cupped with his left hand. “I promise all of you. I will help as many as I can. If luck is on our side, we’ll all come home one day. Until then, I’ll leave knowing the Earth is in your hands.”

Each of them on the screens saluted him, backs firm and proud of their fellow human.

***

After Kohn had left the viewing area, Raj spoke to them. “He is a very brave individual.”

The British prime minister couldn’t agree more. The Japanese prime minister took it a step further. “I would have preferred he not have volunteered. Men like him will be needed in the coming years.”

“Just men? There were a few women that volunteered as well.”

“I would like,” before an argument could break out Raj interjected “to propose that when it is built, our first fleet spaceship be named Mr. Lowson. All in favor?”