An extinction was about to take place. Based on all calculations and predictive analyses of all involved, the extermination was almost guaranteed to go on as scheduled.
The extinction was to occur on a rocky planet covered in waters of blue, one that was placed third from a medium-sized hydrogen-helium ball located somewhere near the middle of its galaxy. The exact time and date of this extinction were unknown factors to almost all life forms that existed in the temporal realm of three-dimensional space, except for one in particular whose knowledge was beyond most concepts of knowing.
This life form of deep origins had survived over the eons here on this rocky planet, in many ways, shapes and forms. It existed at the edge of reality before time even began. So versatile was this life form that it is possible, even plausible, that it had made its presence known on astronomical bodies other than this lonely water-covered planet.
In one form of genetic code or another, the protocell's signature existed in all others, even today. Even in the species that was slated for annihilation.
A small chance of redemption for the doomed species existed, and perhaps a stay of execution would be issued. Or it would not, and a species at large would be food for all that remained in its demise. Order and entropy could coexist in the same choice, regardless of the fate of one species.
The oldest species in the world watched and waited for the doomed species to decide its fate. Time was always on the side of the protocell, and it always would be. The limitation of time only belonged to the condemned. The time for wisdom, as far as this species was concerned, was now. For the oldest, time was eternal.
