The week had gone by so fast Junior couldn't believe it was Friday again. Konos was due to speak at the UN any minute now, but this time there had been no last minute call, no flight to New York. He was at home with his family and Richard.
RICK
Thank you Mrs. Space, lunch was delicious.
BEATRIX
I'm glad you liked it, Richard.
The phone started ringing, and as soon as Beatrix left the room to answer, Amanda, who was on the edge about what Konos might say, asked
AMANDA
Rick, why are you here again?
RICK
Does my presence bother you so much?
JUNIOR
I didn't invite him! He just came here on his own.
RICK
So now that you have your new alien friend you don't wanna hang out with me anymore?
JUNIOR
C'mon Rick, quit screwing around... you can stay...
RICK
You're allowing me to stay, how generous of you...
As Beatrix came back in the room, she said
BEATRIX
It was Grampa on the phone... He says not to worry...
AMANDA
Why would we be worried?
BEATRIX
Yes, why should we be?
Amazingly, both Junior and Amanda had managed not to spill the beans. Their mother kept asking questions they refused to answer. They were all going to find out soon anyway, thought Junior to himself...
Every channel on television was broadcasting Konos' speech at UN's Headquarters.
During the past week, once again, leaders from all over the world had gathered in New York, hoping not to be disappointed this time. They were sitting in the audience, anxiously waiting to finally see him and hear from him, the being from outer space...
JUNIOR
Come on! Let's just tell mom already...
AMANDA
Shut it!
BEATRIX
Do you want to come clean, Junior?
Nobody replied because Konos had suddenly risen to the podium. Everybody listening fell silent.
KONOS
My name is Konos and I come in peace. Thank you all for your hospitality. You have been kind towards me and I intend to be kind towards you.
He took a long pause before continuing.
KONOS
My journey began a long time ago, and while travelling across our galaxy, I have visited countless planets. I will reveal to you that the universe is abundant with life, but our kind of life, intelligent life, is extremely rare...
A few faint gasps could be heard in the audience at the UN.
KONOS
For people like us that means, most of all, responsibility. To protect life that can't protect itself and to nurture and preserve life-arising conditions. That is something humans are failing to do.
The silence grew even louder.
KONOS
You are polluting your planet and consuming resources at an unsustainable rate. You let petty squabbles threaten not only your own existence, but that of every other being on your planet. You are a selfish species, and selfish species don't last long.
Nobody dared raise his voice, but it was clear from the noise in the General Assembly Hall that Konos had upset a lot of people.
KONOS
I have seen the decaying ruins of fallen civilisations. I have seen your likely destiny befall to others, at a time in the past when you had yet to discover fire... You think you are special, but you aren't. Life exists without any specific meaning other than life itself, and you don't need to look outside yourselves to make sense of everything. You think you are special, and you are. You are able to understand the consequences of your actions, and that's why it would be irresponsible to keep acting the way you have until today.
Again the room had fallen silent.
KONOS
It's not my place to tell you how you should govern yourselves, to tell you how you should behave. There are no absolute rights and wrongs. There are only choices and their consequences. So what kind of choices are you going to make?
He took another long pause, studying the audience.
KONOS
The universe is about diversity, it is about change. It's not in spite of, but because of our differences, that we can complement each others and work together to survive, solve the countless and ever-growing problems we face. I can help you, and I have known someone among you that reminded me exactly of who I am, of the difficulties my species had to overcome to be here, with you, today.
...
KONOS
You have many faults, but you have made it this far. This room we stand in is a testament to your achievements.
Powerful applause broke out, and it took a while for Konos to regain the attention of the room....
KONOS
There is a whole universe out there, and I will soon be leaving again...
The silence now was denser than ever.
KONOS
I plan to leave behind some of my clones with enough knowledge to last you a thousand years of development. That is, of course, if you prove your worth. I further plan to take some humans with me on my journey...
That's when it all went blurry for Junior. Konos' words from the television, his mother and sister arguing: "He's toying with us!" "You don't understand!"...
"I am going."
