After a ride in the helicopter, Junior and his mother were let off at the closest airport where a private plane was waiting to fly them to New York. And that wasn't even the crazy part!
The crazy part, the reason why such measures had been taken, was outright unreal. Junior could not believe it! But it was all so very, very real!
He and his mother were having breakfast in the airplane. During the night, they had flown across the US, and while Junior had barely slept, Beatrix, just couldn't.
BEATRIX
I'm telling you it's too dangerous!
JUNIOR
Mom, you heard Uncle Jack, the president's going to be there. That means that we are going to be completely safe!
BEATRIX
Junior, even presidents can be killed!
JUNIOR
If you think it's dangerous, then why are you coming?
BEATRIX
I'm not letting YOU out of MY sight!
Junior sighed. Last night Uncle Jack had rushed them onto the helicopter, refusing to explain himself.
JACK
C'mon, we need to go!
BEATRIX
Where do you think you are going with my son!?
JACK
Get in the helicopter, Bea. I'll explain on the way! We NEED to go!
And so Junior's mother had gotten in the chopper, leaving bewildered Amanda and John behind.
JACK
Thank god I have found you, Junior! You weren't at home, you weren't at your grandfather’s place...
JUNIOR
I told you, we were coming to the lake!
JACK
I forgot, Junior, I forgot!
Said Jack emphatically.
JACK
And when I finally remembered you were at the lake, I couldn't remember which one! I'm so useless...
But thank God I have found you!
He hugged Junior very tight.
JACK
The most amazing thing, the most amazing thing!
JUNIOR
What is going on?
BEATRIX
Yes Jack, please, explain to us, what is going on? What do you need from Junior so badly?
JACK
Haven't you heard?
Jack said, baffled.
BEATRIX
No, we haven't heard anything of anyone for the past ten days.
JACK
Aaah, that explains it, that explains it...
He composed himself, took a deep breath, and addressing Junior, said
JACK
Nine days ago, for the duration of twenty-four hours, radio telescopes all over the world received a message in Chinese, English and Russian. It said: "My name is Konos. I request permission to approach your planet. I come in peace.".
For a moment no one could talk.
BEATRIX
You are joking, Jack, you must be!
JACK
Does this helicopter look like a joke to you?!
Said Uncle Jack, gesturing wildly.
JACK
The signal was found to be originating from a very specific spot... Can you guess where that was, Junior?
Suddenly the reason behind Uncle Jack's rush to get him became obvious.
JUNIOR
NEPTUNE! They are behind Neptune!
JACK
Correct! That's why all your calculations were wrong! The mass of the starship hiding behind Neptune is enough to change the orbits of its moons... Imagine that!
JUNIOR
Wow...
BEATRIX
But why do you need him now?
JACK
Well, in the scientific community there has been a lot of talk lately, about what to do in the event that evidence of extraterrestrial life were to be found, but we haven't gotten to a “declaration of principles" yet, however...
JUNIOR
However?
JACK
However, it was the data YOU collected that gave us proof we were dealing with something... something else!
We sent a message back towards Neptune, and after some back and forth, a meeting was arranged outside the UN building for tomorrow at noon! You, together with the Secretary General of the United Nations, have been chosen to greet our guest.
You are a kid and the son of a fallen astronaut! Even the Russians couldn’t say no to that!
BEATRIX
Impossible! I won't allow it!
JACK
Bea, the General Assembly... effectively every nation in the world has voted to bestow this honor upon Junior! How can you take this away from him?
JUNIOR
This... this is so much to take in...
And just as Junior got out of the helicopter that had flown him and his mother into Manhattan, as he saw the tens of thousands of people gathered in the streets of New York, the realization finally sank in.
We are not alone in the universe.
