NOVEL NEXT The Chosen One
Inside a crowded and stuffy bar, captivated patrons exhibited either optimism or anxiety while watching a live news broadcast and holding their assigned tickets.
"This is Rebecca Fleming, channel six news. As you can see, I'm standing here beside hundreds of other reporters at the courtyard—in the same area, they made first contact with us. I doubt if anyone on Earth is unaware of this historic event about to take place. Nevertheless, I'll clarify that only one of us, out of all the billions of inhabitants of our planet, will be chosen as the one.
"Let's remember. The Zertoskans have a deep sense of oneness. They do not differentiate themselves from one another. So we agreed to use our own selection system to embrace the Zertoskan spirit of oneness by applying impartiality, to escape our own biases or any sense of entitlement, or what we judge to be fair.
"As agreed to by an international coalition, the chosen one shall go to the Zertoskan homeworld and be 'upgraded' to immortal status and instilled with their vast wisdom. To lead us all. To save us from ourselves and recently revealed galactic threats. Oh, look! Here comes their ambassador's ship now!"
A flying saucer dropped out of the sky and landed, hovering meters above the ground. A tall, slender Zertoskan alien ambassador wearing a bright silver helmet and a fluttering golden cloak drifted down while holding up a ticket.
"It looks like they've chosen a lottery number!"
Cameras flashed and clicked, and reporters spoke to their audiences.
The bar patrons chugged drinks, clutched onto their tickets, and kept watching the broadcast.
"This is so exciting! The Zertoskan ambassador is handing the ticket to our lottery commissioner Jack Gordon, who has the worldwide identification database on hand."
Jack Gordon scanned the ticket and announced the selection over a microphone.
"Sean Jones, 34, San Quentin, you are the chosen one."
"What the fuck? Are they kidding?" Rebecca shouted, "Jones? That sadistic murderer!"
Reporters around her raised their fists and protested.
The bar patrons booed and shouted anti-alien sentiments, many ripping up their tickets and tossing their drinks on the floor.
Meanwhile, outside of the bar, the cries of a rowdy and angry mob got louder and louder.