Ask a Foolish Question

In a distant future, a forgotten race left behind a colossal machine simply known as the Answerer—an entity that can answer any legitimate question. Driven by curiosity and the desire to understand the deepest mysteries of existence, an aging biologist and his brilliant physicist companion set out on a daring sub‑space journey to find the silent oracle. Their hopes hinge on two timeless queries: what is life and what is death? As they chase rumors across the solar system, the story unfolds with a mix of awe, scientific wonder, and the fragile hope of meeting a being that “knows everything.”

Meanwhile, a band of space‑faring harvesters, led by the intrepid Lek, have spent generations collecting a scarce element called purple. Their work has become ritual, yet the true nature of the substance eludes them, prompting Lek to turn to the Answerer for clarity. Speaking in ancient tongues of imminent decision, they prepare to ask why purple governs their lives, hoping that the ultimate source of knowledge will finally reveal its purpose.