Brainiac

"... and this, students, is why our planet will survive our species, but our species alas, will not survive our planet. Any questions?" Milton Fine clutched the lectern, looking into the eyes of everyone in the auditorium. Looking for any sign of true intelligence. Looking for any sign that any of these idiot humans actually understood what he was saying.

"Sir?" the voice came from a girl, Kerri Pallas. Pretty by human standards, but nothing special where it counts.

"It's Professor, Kerri, but yes, what is your question?" Fine locked eyes with her, and raised an eyebrow.

"Well umm... This may sound very stupid," almost definitely, thought Fine, "but is there no way our species, that is, the human race, can relocate? You know, eventually reach another planet that we might inhabit?"

Fine smiles, "A grand dream, for such a species as ours, Kerri. For something like that to ever happen we would need to 1.) Find a planet that we can live on, from, and with, 2.) Ensure that there are no native inhabitants that might object to our presence, and 3.) Actually rid Earth of any religion, conflicting politics or national borders. The Earth, as it is, cannot function as a unique entity. You probably imagine a world inhabited by Americans, but what about the Arabs? Would they be invited to the party? What about those pesky Russians? Can they be trusted? If we could see past all these ridiculous notions of difference, look to one leader perhaps, and follow his or her every word without conflict or questioning, then, we might have a chance."

"So you mean we'd need to live under a worldwide Dictatorship?" Fine glared at her. "I never said that. But someone needs to enlighten 'us' before we can ever have a chance to evolve. If we are as we currently are in a couple of thousand years, maybe sooner, we're as good as destroyed. Class dismissed, on that happy note."

The students filed out, and Fine walked backstage and into the dressing room he'd been allocated for this lecture. He didn't have any notes to put away, his knowledge being stored entirely in his 12th level intellect. He sat, facing a cracked mirror probably hundreds of failed actors and so-called intellectuals had probably looked into since this renovated auditorium's founding. "Kerri Pallas. She asks questions. I feel I underestimated her. Perhaps she could understand in time, with adequate conditioning. A drone with understanding is always welcome. Hmm..." Fine's form slowly altered into Brainiac's favoured appearance, green-skinned and red diodes on his scalp.

 A knock on the door, followed by it's quick opening. Kerri had just burst into the dressing room. "Professor Fine, I wanted to... Ohmygodwhatthehell-" Brainiac stood and locked his eyes with the young girl. "Ah, nowhere near enough time for conditioning, Kerri, I am sorry." Unable to look away from his eyes, glowing red and forcing their way into his mind. "No, I was right. No great capacity for understanding, no hope for survival." He pulls a scalpel from his pocket. "I could crush your mind with mine and leave you alive but braindead. Here's a mercy from me." Brainiac slowly slid the blade across her throat and let her fall to the floor.

"No hope for survival."