Understanding

Understanding

“Hello?  Where are you?  I can hear you but I can’t see you.”

Don’t worry about seeing us.

“Wait…how’d you do that?”

Telepathy.

“That’s not possible!”

You needn’t use your primitive words, earthling.  We will hear your thoughts.

Like that could ever be possible...

Yes, I assure you that it is quite possible, not only possible, but a reality.

But, how?

That’s not important.  We have but a few moments and there’s so much to tell.

Why me?  Why choose to communicate with me?

You are one of your species who understand the importance of the environment.  That’s why we brought you here.  Your people are slowly poisoning themselves by polluting the air, water, and soil of your planet.  Look.

“Woe!”  I mean, ‘woe!’  How’d you do that?  There was nothing on that wall and then there was a picture of the earth!  I could still see it even with my eyes closed!

Telepathy.  Now please, concentrate.

Sorry.

Your planet is in danger, and with it, the rest of the universe.  The water is being poisoned, the air is darkened with smoke and smog; your beautiful lands are littered with garbage, your streets filled with trash and cigarette butts. 

We’re trying to clean things up but not everyone understands or cares that they’re trashing the planet.  They say they are here to have fun and live a life of ease.  They think it is their children’s responsibility.

They’re wrong.  We’ve brought 10,000 of your people here to teach humans how to take the action that is needed now or within 10 years your planet will be irreparably damaged.

Some of us drive hybrid cars to save gas…

That’s a start, but it could be, as your species says, ‘too little, too late’?

“Oh.”  I mean ‘oh’.  What should we be doing?

It’s quite simple, really.  Preserve the rainforests, stop using so many throw-away products, recycle whatever you can, use less fossil fuel, stop littering, practice crop rotation to build up your soil’s productivity instead of dumping untold tons of chemicals, curb manufacturing pollution of the air, water, and land, use your resources wisely, and teach your children to do the same.

We're already trying to do those things.

More is needed.  That’s why we’ve brought you all here; to help spread the word.  You see, every planet in the universe is connected.  If something tragic and irreversible happens to one, it will affect the others in time.

What are we going to do?

We will teach you all you need to know; then you will return home and collect samples of Earth’s flora and fauna so we can help regenerate the planet in event of global obliteration of life.  You’ll each receive a list of plants and animals along with a booklet containing all of the directions you’ll need to know, including what to do with the vials once you have filled them.

“Yaawwnn, I must’ve been dreaming…what in the world is this?  Glass vials?  Where did these come from?”

500 words.

Written for  "The Dialogue 500: IT'S BACK, BABY!"  contest:  Write a story of 500 words or less in dialogue only following this prompt:  You have landed on another world. Using telepathic communication, the aliens from the planet talk to you.