Nahuatl checked the computer read out again. He was hoping he’d miscalculated something. But the numbers were correct. So that was that. It was over.

Mixtec and Zapotec computers had seen this tragedy coming ages ago. But they were gone now. Their people had long ago faded into that dreamy place where all high tech people go when their craft is no longer required.

Nahuatle had held on as long as he could. For the people’s sake. But he’d crunched the numbers and numbers don’t lie. The computer had looked at all the facts and come to a cataclysmic conclusion: civilization was about to end.

The planet Xoo was a glorious thing. A world lit aflame by its volcanic mountains and cooled by the waters that went down to the planet’s core. Everything had a balance. Life with death. Good with evil. Science with religion.

Nahuatl shook his head. Those of a religious bent had followed their faith to the most minute detail. The terrible sacrifices the devout had made....and yet the end was near. No temple, no matter how high they built them-could change that.

Nahuatl looked out of his office window into the street below. The city was built on a series of canals and they were full of people going about the business of living. People still brought their goods to market. They still greeted each other and wished each other a good morning. Pretty girls still caught the attention of enterprising young men. Life went on even though, by now, life was meaningless.

Zipacna, Nahuatl’s assistant, entered the room. He lowered his eyes, as was the custom to show respect for his superior. He stood before Nahuatl with his head bowed.

“Speak,” Nahuatl said. If Nahuatl had not given him permission to speak, Zipacna would have stood there all day. “Scouts have seen them now,” Zipacna said, “on the road that leads to the sea.” “The aliens?” “Yes.” Nahuatl knew they were coming. The computer said they would be coming.

“What do they look like?” Nahuatl asked.

“Like nothing we have ever seen,” Zipacna said. “They are huge! As tall as two men! And they have four legs...and a set of arms.”

“Six appendages,” Nahuatl said thoughtfully. “I suppose they are insectoid?”

Zipacna shrugged.

“Do they have a language?”

“They do not speak any language we know,” Zipacna said sadly. “I think they must speak some language. Reports say their ship is huge. Surely they must speak to each other if they have to operate such a vessel.”

Nahuatl bit his lower lip. There was an awkward silence between the two men. Then, Zipacna’s youthful spirit could not be contained any longer and he blurted out, “We have a huge army! Can’t we fight them?”

“No.”

“But they are not many! No matter how much more advanced their technology is to ours, we could overpower them by sheer numbers-”

“No!”

But we can not just stand by and watch these aliens take our land! What did we build this city for? Why do we pay our taxes? Just so aliens can come here and take all this away from us?!!”

“They would destroy us!!!” Nahuatl yelled. “I programmed all the facts into the computer. It says the aliens are destined to destroy our civilization. There is nothing we can do!!!”

“But we should at least try!!!”

“No!!” Nahuatl bellowed. “Better to let our people enjoy the last few days they have!! There will be no war!!!”

Zipacna sobbed quietly. Nahuatl walked over to the computer. It was huge because the people had not yet harnessed electricity. Now they never would. Yet the computer clicked along, a series of obsidian levers and copper gears held together by rubber bands.

Next to the computer was the master calendar. It worked on a 260 day year- a system they called “the sacred count”.

Destroy all this before the aliens get here.,” Nahuatl said. “I don’t want them getting the best of our technology.”

“They are so advanced,” Zipacna said. “Surely there is nothing we have that they don’t already know.”

“The computer says they are warriors first and profiteers second. They are not scientist and we do not need to help them,” Nahuatl said. “Let them have Tenochtitlan but they cannot have our knowledge!”

The master calendar whirled, marking the middle of the day. The great Emperor, Montezuma, greeted the aliens. He was surprised when an alien devided itself. Indeed, it was no one alien but a man riding an amazing creature.

It was the end of the world and the aliens were entering the city, Tenochtitlan.

It was November, 1519 AD and Cortez was entering Mexico City.