'Auralex…'
Case recalled the Second Commander beneath the King, a leader he too had once served and knew.
Commander Auralex, famed as the Antavon Kingdom's greatest, stood as a powerful and commanding presence, his reputation second only to the First Commander beneath the King.
This is exactly how the events of the past had turned up, and nothing had changed.
Well, the only difference now was that Case was expecting their arrival, unlike his family, who remained stunned and dumbfounded.
'I remembered I was scared shitless that I began to pee from my seat. Oh well… that isn't happening now.'
Case pushed aside the humiliating memory inside his head and focused on Auralex's calm, dignified voice echoing through the broadcast systems as he resumed speaking as if to give time for everyone to digest such information.
"I assume you have many questions. Believe me, I've met countless planets that have the same reactions. Talking about 'changing fate' seems a very serious matter, after all. And that is in fact true."
"Let's proceed with how your choice right now will deem what will be your future—your lives and your planet."
Beside him, a holographic screen materialized with its level of detail surpassing even Earth's finest technology, as Auralex began to speak.
"In accordance with Rules of Outer: Article 2 Section 10. The planet founded by a resident should be given the right to deliver the said planet freedom of choice to choose—failure to do so will incur heavy punishment, heavily associated with the Death Penalty and Slavery to the particular resident that founded the planet."
Auralex scrunched his nose before explaining.
"As you can see from the screen, this is the law administered from Outer. As long as you're a resident, you are part of Outer and will be—for eternity. And I am part of it, so is the Kingdom I represent, as well as the King I serve. Because of it, you are allowed to choose from the three choices that the Rules of Outer can give."
Auralex removed the holographic display, setting it back to its original placement before revealing his face again.
He then raised a finger to give the first choice the Earth has under their hands.
"The first choice is to become a Resident. For me, personally, I would choose this as it means the rules of Outer can be applied to your planet once you say the words thereafter. No bullshit or anything. Becoming a resident has its own perks, which you can read later, and as you expected, has its cons."
"First disadvantage of 'only' being a resident is the fact that you're planet is prone to attacks. You are on your own, fighting with your own strengths, and defending malicious influence with your own actions. It has many other cons as well, but this should be your worry if your planet is this… weak."
Watching from the couch, Case couldn't help but click his tongue, knowing he would've taken the chance to become a Resident if not for Earth's pitifully low level of technology.
It was so far behind that the comparison was pointless.
A prime example was the Avanton Kingdom, where Auralex currently lived.
Just their spaceship alone lying dormant outside of the Earth's atmosphere is enough to make everyone extinct in just a few minutes.
Becoming a resident is simple, really.
Putting it on layman's terms, the Earth is like a house where people was living in it.
No one will help you since you are on your own. You fight and defend your home with whatever you have.
This is where the second option came in.
"Don't be saddened, Earthlings. The second choice is something I would suggest your planet should choose. Become an Associate."
"Becoming an Associate means also becoming a resident of Outer, but there's more. You'll be under the jurisdiction of a Kingdom or the person-in-charge who founded you. And to put it more simply, becoming part of the Kingdom without any retaliation.
"It has its perks, however. That is the fact that you will be protected under the same Kingdom without ever worrying about harm. Of course, it would only be possible if the Kingdom you're under is capable, and the Avanton Kingdom is very capable of doing that."
There wasn't anything wrong with being under the Avanton Kingdom since that's how everything happened in the past.
Earth was 'associated' with Avanton Kingdom, hence they are protected and under their banners.
But there was a catch, and it was an obvious one.
Whatever the Avanton Kingdom orders Earth to do, Earth must follow.
It's like your house is part of a community where that same community helps each other rat out enemies, but its leader has the final say in it all, leaving the henchmen disabled by its orders, no matter what.
'It's just being a slave, but in lighter terms.' Case thought inwardly, scoffing at how Auralex delivered his words.
"Of course, if you don't like being a Resident or Associate, then you can choose the third choice the Outer has to offer, and it's Independence. Believe me, you'll only choose this if your world leaders are lunatics or beyond saving.
"Choosing to be an Independent Planet means you aren't a resident of an Outer, but just part of it. Rules of Outer stills apply to you, but only to a bare minimum that even considering being part of it is laughable.
"Being Independent means you are prone to attacks of any kind, and you will not receive help from any of the Residents or Associates or even the Outer itself. You are just you. And believe me, the Universe is a vast thing. Even a 0.1 percent of its magnitude can wipe you out in the blink of an eye.
"So choose wisely,"
Case didn't even consider being Independent since it means that you will start your own faction from scratch.
Space explorations and fending off enemies will be nigh impossible without the help of Outer.
"Those are the three given choices, Earthlings. To give us your decision, one of our ships is currently stationed at one of the places in your world, and we'll reveal our coordinates once this announcement is done. Based on the Outer Rules, temporary protection will be given to you by us for a month. Count every second."
Then, as if he were not done yet, Auralex slowly curled his lips upward.
"Oh, by the way, don't do anything funny once you've made a representative come visit us. We come in good intentions, and we'd like to keep it that way once we leave. That will be all."
Soon, Auralex's magnificent face vanished from television screens, cellphones, board displays, and every related device.
In its place, glowing coordinates appeared, hovering vertically above the screens, displaying the precise location of their current station.
Soon, everything came back to normal.
But humankind was restless.
Nothing was normal since then.
And nothing ever will be since it started.
March 26, 2030, marked the day humankind was faced with a choice.
That choice alone will change the trajectory that Earth will face moving forward.