Their First Message

“You’re absolutely sure?”

The head of NASA shrugged. “Afraid so, ma’am. That’s what they’re saying.”

The president sighed and nodded to her media team. A few minutes later her solemn face appeared on half a billion screens around the world. “My fellow Americans, and all our friends around the world. After months of work, our scientists have finally managed to decipher the aliens’ message. I choose to view it as one of hope—as a promise of support in difficult times. I hope you will too.”

She cleared her throat. “Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and desert you…”