The message was short, and at first, puzzling. It boomed in every local language from anything with a power source and a speaker. There should have been a mothership, a miles long modern sculpture hanging over a major metropolitan center. That was the alien invasion Hollywood promised us. But the skies were clear. All we got was the message, delivered in a smooth, emotionless baritone.
“The test begins now. You have eight minutes. Good luck.” At first, this contact was met with confusion. We only understood it when the sun went out.
And by then, it was far too late.