"If we lose hope, Dave...then we already lost. I agree, focus on the K'Hara. But with the Guild Core on our hides, Loberty our enemy, we,have little choice. Liberty wants the Osiris and all our intel before they make peace. Thier problem."
Ellie pauses.
"You fight to preserve humanity. But not at any cost. If we sacrificed our humanity to preserve humans, then we would,be no better off than if the,Nomads had taken us."
Ellie doesnt return the glare, only looks,at him.
"When we lose faith in what we joined, then how would we win? I lost face with OHC, but not the,Order."
Ellie points to Rika.
"Choose your words carefully. If humanity must progress at any cost..."
Ellie looks Dave in the eye.
"Would you sacrifice her, right now, to 'progress' humanity? To perserve it, hard choices must be,made, but would you sacrifice a life so young for progress? Choose your words carefully. They determine whether I stay...or stand."
Ellie was saddened her question into his past had led to this. Behind her wall, she wept and raged at her curiosity, her idiocity. Her body had aged...but not her mind. Mature as she was...she was still a little girl. She had screwed it all up because she wanted to know more.
After dinner, Ellie silently promised herself she would grab Aqua and ask her to talk with her.
Ellie clutched Dave's gift as tears welled up. Nevermind the look of trust. She perfered the charismatic smile.
![[Image: jeremy10.png]](http://i40.servimg.com/u/f40/16/80/35/65/jeremy10.png)