The Final Verdict

Written By James Camacho

The their arrival was met with complete and utter shock. 

Sirens sounded off across the world as each government attempted to address their instantaneous arrival. 

Suddenly, as if everyone in the world was sharing the same channel, listening to the same sound, and seeing the same image all at once, they prepared to speak.

Traversing all known, and unknown languages, the visitors conveyed their message. 

“Without malice and in an earnest effort to advance the people, we offer 3 answers to any questions you may have. “Having knowledge of everything that has happened and will happen, we offer this chance at resolving whatever major truths prioritize your existence. By the end of day, 3 questions will be answered.”

They explained their conditions.

“Each answer shall be delivered to 3 citizens of the world, randomly based on nothing other than pure chance. 

No one will be identified until an answer is given, and no additional questions will be considered.”

The simulcast ended.

The world stood still.

Like caged animals, people across the world erupted in panic. 

The desperate rejoiced and claimed new idols from outer space.

The hopeful eagerly awaited the idea of answers from a higher power above them. 

Others rioted, destroyed, isolated, prayed, cried, and watched as the world tore itself apart. 

Governments and leaders across the world quickly attempted to find what 3 people were selected. 

The first of which was located rather easily, within hours of the broadcast.

Coming forward publicly, the first individual was a young white male located in Bruges, Belgium. 

The parents of the teen identified themselves and were quickly intercepted by political officials and law enforcement.

The officials brought in experts in almost any field imaginable. 

Physicists, Astronomers, Mathematicians, Historians, Anthropologists, Cryptographers, and the token Philosopher filled the room. 

Each spending hours fine-tuning their final submission for the question. 

By the time the simulcast resumed, the government officials had already disregarded the contributions of their specialists. Ultimately, the President would decide what the young man would ask. 

The boy began to speak, his voice shaky and effete was broadcasted and translated worldwide. 

Reading a piece of paper, with a meticulously crafted prompt on it, he asked a question that was appropriate for the circumstance, yet cliche to many.

“What is the absolute meaning of life and existence for all human beings on Earth?”

Silence followed for an awkward and uncomfortable amount of time.

Prepared for this scenario, a philosopher handed him another piece of paper which he read easier.

“What is the purpose of our existence, as human beings?”

Suddenly, as if cracking the code, the visitors answered.

They spoke in complete and infallible truth, with all the knowledge of existence supporting them.

After 15 seconds, they stopped.. 

However, while accurate, their answer was so astronomically dense, not a human who has lived, or ever will live, could understand it.As if explaining advanced calculus to a child, bits and pieces could be parsed, yet little was actually received or appreciated. 

The broadcast ended again. 

The world entered into a deeper state of anxiety and confusion.

Religious demonstrations and rioting ravaged the streets, as billions waited for the next selected person to be discovered.

But the next person was never located. 

In the remote Mexican town of Ixcatla, an elderly woman working the fields, felt a sensation like never before. 

As the warm sun and clear air surrounded her, she had realized through the simulcast that she had been chosen and was next to answer. 

Much like all the other governments, the Mexican government frantically attempted to determine if any of their own had been selected.

However in their attempts they did little to scour the remote areas of the country, focusing on metropolitan areas and major cities in a strategy to play the numbers.

After she had finished in the field, she sat and waited until the visitors returned. 

When she realized it was time, she asked,

“Does heaven exist?”

Never had she questioned her faith or devotion 

But now, as if hoping for vindication for her efforts, she waited . 

The visitors responded, in a surprisingly coherent sentence. 

“Through the people and experiences together, and what you cannot carry with you, yes.”

For the first time in almost a full day, billions breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Though the world was not at peace, its descent into madness had paused. 

Those who had discredited religion remained dubious,

Those who had spent their life devoted doubled down and quickly became zealots. 

All the while the woman embraced a satisfied grin, walked into her house, and began to make food.

While many criticized her question and saw it as another opportunity wasted,

She was content.

With mere hours left in the day, one person remained. 

An older black man living in California, on the edge of San Francisco. 

He was awakened from his nap when he first tuned into the simulcast.. 

However, unlike the others, this man yearned for an answer far before any visitors arrived.

His question, more than two decades in the making, had been affirmed over years of speculation and trial in the public court of opinion.

His mind made up and his question confirmed.

He sat and watched his television until they returned. 

His room, adorned with trophies and awards that echoed his name, sheltered a man who waited patiently.

The visitors returned. 

The world tuned in. 

Choosing not to come forward as a chosen voice, he was unable to be located. 

The mystery and suspense only grew greater.

The time came and the visitors asked, 

“What is your question?”

America, more divided than ever, eagerly leaned in, begging to hear what would follow.

Confidently, the man began to speak, with a familiar voice that some recognized instantly. 

He spoke, 

“Yeah, I gotta question,” he said in a jovial tone.

“Did I really do all those awful things they say I did?”

The people remained stunned, as many were perceptive to this individual’s voice.

Americans and many abroad descended into madness once more. 

The cruel irony of fate

Randomness had never seemed more absurd.

The visitors prepared their ultimate answer, combining in unison one final time.

Almost assuredly, they answered.

“No, O.J,” 

“It really wasn’t you.”

Indeed, the final person was none other than former NFL running back-turned social pariah Orenthal “O.J '' Simpson. 

With their jaws unhinged and beat red in face, millions of white Americans specifically entered a near catatonic-state of dumbfoundedness.

For in a world of uncertainty, the now slack jawed had placed more faith and assuredness in the Juice’s guilt than almost anything else.

It HAD to be true. 

“He HAD to have done it”, they exclaimed in disbelief. 

white Americans entered into a fury, as they believed this to be the ultimate injustice. One scientist could be heard shouting from his upper-west side condominium,

”One last chance, to know ANYTHING in the universe, with absolute truth and knowledge, and it's WASTED…on a killer? 

But this was far from a joke. 

The same man who rushed for over 11,000 yards would be the last to decide the world's final inquiry.

Hundreds of millions of Black and Brown people cheered across the world.

Save for the few billions unaware of his existence who remained both confused and ultimately, disappointed. 

Confirmed in his truth, Simpson calmly opened a fresh bottle of Martell. 

Resting in his favorite trophy room chair, he reclined, cracked a smile, 

and returned to watching his television.

And as quickly and mysteriously as they arrived, the visitors disappeared.