AMANDA
Save our planet?! What are you talking about?
Konos chuckled before answering.
KONOS
Don't worry, you are not in immediate danger, but given enough time...
AMANDA
So we are in danger! Are you seriously saying that my brother and I should be the ones to persuade you to save the Earth?
KONOS
No Amanda, not at all... I'm just asking for your opinion. After all, everything I know about mankind I have learned from these books, while you have been living here your entire lives...
Konos sat down in the armchair.
KONOS
I see a lot of ourselves in humans. And it's not just because we look very much alike, it's a deeper connection. But in critical traits, we are very different...
AMANDA
You've said that already, you don't love as much as we do...
Unable to restrain himself, Konos burst out laughing vigorously. This time though, his laughter was different, deeper, earnest joy from his former self.
Once he had recomposed himself, he addressed Amanda.
KONOS
Romantic love is indeed rare amongst our people, but we do love, very much so. We cooperate, trust and forgive each others. Unlike you, we know no murder, we know no war, and that's what concerns me... Humans are much more... intense in their emotions than we are... You seem to never be content, always wanting more.... This drives you to research, to better yourselves, but also drives you to do terrible things...
Konos sat still for a while, contemplating what he just said.
KONOS
Should you face a global crisis, would you be able to truly work together, to make sacrifices, to leave your differences aside? Junior, what do you think? You have been quiet for a while now...
Junior had indeed been quiet. Earlier on, he had sat down in a nearby chair and set about contemplating the wooden floor.
JUNIOR
So you really are dead...
Finally said Junior.
When they first met, Konos had clearly told him so, but Junior had refused to understand, fooling himself into thinking it was possible to see... him... again.
To avoid showing his embarrassment, he kept his gaze down, as Konos knelt down before him.
KONOS
I understand what's bothering you, at least, I think I do...
JUNIOR
How would you know? You weren't here when...
KONOS
Junior, I have read about your father... I know what happened to him.
That was the last straw. Junior couldn't hold back the tears any longer. He started crying.
JUNIOR
I'm sorry... I just thought I could, we could...
Said Junior, sobbing.
KONOS
Don't be sorry about your feelings, Junior, they are the path to your salvation; they surely were the path to mine... My words won't erase your pain, but maybe, with time, you will be able to make sense of it all. I know death, I have felt it, and understand that without it there could not be life. Embrace the pain, embrace the fear and put them to good use. Let me ask you this: would the two of us have met hadn't your father died?
Junior pondered these words. If it hadn't been for his father's death he wouldn't have sought refuge in Jack's work and he wouldn't have detected the trace of Konos' starship behind Neptune.
JUNIOR
No, we wouldn't have met...
KONOS
Then remember that even the worst circumstances can always lead to good things. Nae works in mysterious ways...
Amanda wiped away her own tears before addressing Konos.
AMANDA
The way you talk about Nae... Is it God?
KONOS
Interesting...
Said Konos, knowingly.
KONOS
God is an extremely touchy subject among you, isn't it? Everybody thinks they know more than the others...
Konos got up and resumed his pacing.
KONOS
Perhaps it would help if you would stop thinking of God as an entity who can consciously make decisions or affect events on its own. That responsibility is something that falls entirely upon us. We have to choose which path to take. Nae lies where different choices meet, it lies within us.
Konos stopped and turned around, facing both Junior and Amanda.
KONOS
It is clear to me that we are all here for a reason. I don't know what it is, but I'm still waiting for your answer... Do you think that humans deserve my help to avoid the calamities that lie ahead if you continue on you path?
Junior stood up and said, his voice still broken
JUNIOR
Konos, honestly I don't know whether we deserve your help or not, but whatever my sister or I can say doesn't really matter, does it?
He walked up to Konos and said, his voice now firm, devoid of sadness
JUNIOR
If what you say about Nae is true, all that matters is what you choose to do.
Again, the library echoed with Konos' true laughter. This time Junior and Amanda joined in, unable to resist his infectious joy.
