Players

"So, all the world is not a stage and we are not merely players," the general said to The Greys (trying to be clever). "No," they replied (in unison, through the translator, after an awkward delay). "All of the cosmos is a chessboard and Earth is a key piece of that." "We're a key piece!" the general exclaimed proudly to the others and The Greys sat motionless, eyes front. "We need you to move," The Greys said eventually, "and, by "move", we mean "evolve". That is how the game is played. Earth to Queen Four." "Wait," said an analyst behind the videographer, "that's an opening move ... Pawn to Queen Four. A new game is starting?" "WE'RE A PAWN PLANET?!?" flummoxed the general, offended, but The Greys spoke directly to the analyst. "Do not worry, but do not tarry," they cautioned. "You will have a chance to capture an enemy 'en passant'. The other side is on its way." "Time frame?" the analyst asked and The Greys didn't answer. He stared, frozen in place (wondering how soon until we could colonize Mars), while the others pelted him with panicked questions.