the Toremi soldier Toum, one of the New Mother’s guards, watches the GC fleet from a feeding garden. He finds the species of the GC confusing. They do not all speak with one voice, and he cannot trust them despite the new alliance. Hiul, a female Toremi, joins him and tries to talk to him about the aliens. She knows that he is conflicted and doubts the course chosen by the New Mother. He becomes angry, but she calmly deflects him by tugging at his feelings of doubt. Hiul is part of a faction within the clan that opposes the alliance. Toum has access to his own ship, and she wants him to let them use it.

The Wayfarer emerges from its final jump to Hedra Ka. The crew is stir-crazy and glad to have arrived. Ashby joins Sissix in the control room where they take their first look at Hedra Ka. It is a primordial planet riven by veins of lava. Ashby is surprised by the design of the Toremi ships that seem very delicate to him. Ashby asks the crew to get clean and dressed to receive visitors.