Free The Great Altruist by Z. D. Robinson

buried her head in her folded arms as she listened carefully to Genesis explain the dangers of time-travel. As much as her heart yearned to save her parents, she wondered if taking such a risk was necessary. Her parents weren’t angry at her for not killing the guards. Even the feelings of regret over that event had begun to subside. Perhaps she could just beg Genesis to take her parents from the camp so they could live together here in the forest. As she condemned her own selfishness, the thought fled her mind as quickly as she thought of it. “I’d sacrifice anything to save my parents,” she said. “But how could I think only of myself while so many good people suffer?” She covered her face and began to cry. Genesis rushed to her side and sat atop her shoulder.
     
                “I won’t leave you,” she said.
     
                “You can’t stay here forever, will you?”
     
                “I have nowhere else to go either. But don’t worry,” she added, “you’re in no rush to decide what to do regarding the war. It won’t be stopped overnight anyway.”
     
                Jadzia wiped her eyes dry. “I feel like I have nothing left. My family is gone, I have no home. I don’t even have any clothes to wear! My only friend is you.”
     
                “Of all the people I could have chosen, I’m proud of choosing you,” Genesis said. “And by the way, if you want clothes, I can always go find you some.”
     
                Jadzia lied back on the grass and stretched out in the noon sun. “We’re in this together, right? If you don’t get clothes, I don’t get clothes!” she said, laughing.
     
                Genesis laughed as well and said: “The offer stands.” As Jadzia bathed in the sun, Genesis flew into the sky and hovered several meters above the creek. “Get some rest,” she said. “I’ll be back soon.” With that, Genesis shot into the sky at tremendous speed and disappeared from Jadzia’s view.
     
                Jadzia closed her eyes and meditated on the choices set before her. There were but two paths to choose from: she could leave her old life behind and start anew – perhaps here, in the forest; or she could save the lives of millions of others and possibly negate her own existence. Her selfish part chose the former path; it cared not for the lives of others, but was interested only in self-preservation. But as Jadzia followed that road in her mind, she was left with a sinking feeling in her gut. She would she be alone, without family, and she wouldn’t even be able to live with herself. The other choice risked her life, perhaps even unnecessarily - after all, even Genesis could never be sure if their efforts would be successful. And if they failed, would Genesis be able to go back and fix the events that would allow for Jadzia’s conception?
     
                As despondent as Jadzia felt over losing her parents, she could not ignore her youth, the decades of potential life that lie in front of her. Besides, she had sworn to herself that she would never return to the camp where she suffered for six years, but what if her attempts to prevent the war forced her to witness other atrocities, heinous acts so wicked she could not imagine them in advance! But still, the thought of giving away all she had to save even one life left her with a feeling of deep and profound satisfaction.
     
                Relieved with her decision, she went to the pile of food and ate what she could. A moment later, Genesis arrived in a flourish and sat atop the stone by the water. Jadzia ran cool water from the creek through her hair and returned to Genesis’s side. “I’ve come to a decision,” she said.
     
                “Good.” Genesis, having already read her mind, did her best to feign ignorance.
     
                “You already know, don’t you?” Jadzia