text: Where We Go The ELIK stare intently across the rounded table. Their cold, calculating glares have always been a major factor in their power over the hominians. Although, the hominian here have certainly dealt with the ELIK long enough to not let that intimidate them, especially not now. While the projector shows footage of the hominian being shoved into cages, crying children being torn from their mothers and fathers, all manners of restraint being employed as hominians struggle to flee from the ELIK, the hominians in the room become saddened and horrified while the ELIK maintain their cold glares. The footage ends and Kayla speaks. "This clearly shows the inhumanity of the ELIK race. For too long have the ELIK been determined to rule over us, as machines would do over humankind in some dystopian universe. But we are not seeing machines on these videos committing attrocious crimes, we are seeing people." Kayla says with conviction while the other hominians scoff. "I urge...no, we urge, the ELIK to reconsider their current occupation of Timea. The first step in moving forward together is signing this peace treaty." She then looks directly at Kenobi. "Your feelings of urgency do not factor into this negotation High Commander" Kenobi responds to Kayla. "Furthermore, it has been stated numerous times that no treaty will be recognized, so long as hominians maintain military presence within ZONE24." The ELIK refer to Timea as ZONE24 as their mapping system follows a zoning protocol, as that is more logical. "General Gorbus and your people were fairly compensated after the battle of 2299, and yet you hominians continue to refer to ZONE24 as this...Timea. As long as you continue this ..." Kayla interrupts, "General Gorbus was a traitor, he does not represent us and never did!", she says fiercely. Then she looks over to Simon, her friend and senior deputy, with an almost immediate regret in how she responded. The ELIK notice the rise in Kayla's emotion, a mistake she knows not to make. "Isn't that so like your kind Commander?" Corea says smuggly, clearly attempting to rise that twinge of anger that Kayla revealed. Corea is Kenobi's most trusted advisor, some say she is the one truly in charge the ELIK. She continues, "One moment a loyal citizen...a loyal friend even. The next moment, nothing but self-preserving altruism. Such a finicky trait and yet it is so valued." But Kayla knows better. "My kind, no. My kind would never commit war crimes like the ELIK have committed at Timea. My kind wants peace, which is why we've brought forth this treaty." She then looks directly at Kenobi, "Kenobi, we can learn to exist side-by-side with one another. It was many years ago when the ELIK parted from the hominians - with good reason. But there has been nothing but blood shed ever since. Why do you insist that we continue this war that our ancestors started? This began during a time when they knew nothing of each others differences, which led to fear and that fear created hate. It's a tale as old as time and yet we don't learn from the mistakes of our past. We can continue on this path but it leads to more death and destruction, with no end in sight. Can't you see that this waste of life, regardless of which side suffers, has no grand meaning or design. You believe this is some system, cleansing itself of it's old programming". Kayla is referencing one of the four main tenets of the ELIK code, which governs their entire society. However, hominians are only aware of the one tenet. Kayla continues on. "You follow this code as if this gives meaning to your existence. The rules by which a society governs itself simply lays the foundation, however, what we build upon that foundation is where meaning is found - the beginning and the end of all existence, and everything in between. We know what you are and how we are different from you. Your logical minds provide for a greater foundation than the hominians could ever imagine - but with that youth, you have yet to discover the illogical. You can start now. Sign this treaty and take the first step into understanding the greater meaning. If you don't, meaninglessness prevails. Where we go from here is your choice." The ELIK are silent now. There is no more reasoning to put forth. The hominians appeal to an empathetic nerve that was severed from the ELIK long ago. It wasn't as if the ELIK weren't prepared for negotiations to turn this way, in fact the ELIK counted on it. In their minds, defeating the hominians isn't a choice, it's predetermination. They don't know of life having a beginning or an end, as Kayla suggested, they only know time and space flows without restraint. How this negotiation ends is a matter of calculating each move and maneuvering beyond each manipulative attempt, of which the ELIK have determined cannot be accomplished with reason, only by elimination. Kenobi breaks his silence. "Commander, choice was never an option. You speak of an end to all existence..." Suddenly the base alarms go off. Kayla turns to the high court window. A storm of high frequency laser pulses are zeroing in from just outside the atmosphere. She turns to Kenobi. "...