“Well, of course it’s daunting,” she says, and toys with her hair, lowering her eyes. “Deva was my first time off-planet, and this is… this is different. You know our history with Nibiru. You heard what the schools on Gaia teach about it. And… there’s so much at stake.” She bites her lip. After a moment, she raises her eyes to me again, and I try to pretend I wasn’t staring at her mouth. “You really think they’ll listen to us? To me? A Gaian?”

I run a hand through my hair and look out at Nibiru again.

“Yes,” I say, and mean it. “Like I told you, I think you’ll find them more similar to you than you expect. I mean, overall, people are pretty much the same wherever you go.” I shrug. “There are wonderful ones who will give you the clothes off their back if you need them, and terrible ones who will take everything you have merely because they don’t want you to have it, and all kinds in between. We’re all just people, you know? Nothing worse and nothing better.” I nod, not sure if I’m trying to reassure her or myself. “All you need to do is remind them of that.”

Shey is silent. When I look at her, I find her smiling up at me in a way that makes warmth curl in my stomach.

“My, my. An awfully philosophical statement for a smuggler…”

“Why shouldn’t I be philosophical? I’ve seen more of Nova Vita than any of those scholars back on your planet. Probably more than ninety-nine percent of people anywhere in this system.” I spread my hands out toward the expanse of space through the panel and shoot her a grin just as wide. “I’m bound to have some big thoughts.”

I’m hoping to make her laugh, but the look she gives me is thoughtful.

“I suppose that’s true,” she says, and once again gazes out at the planet we’re approaching. I study her face as she turns toward it: the delicate swoop of her nose, the wistful look in her eyes, the long lashes fanning out around them. “Have you been to Nibiru many times?” she asks without looking away from it. I’m grateful, as it gives me a chance to stare a little longer.

“Uh, yeah. We spent a few years there when I was a kid.” I tear my gaze away from her and look out at Nibiru instead, playing back those memories, so different than my earlier childhood on Gaia. My mind wanders to the waves, the salt-tinged wind, the smell of fresh fish roasting over a fire, and the sound of laughter in the marketplace.

“You loved it there,” Shey says, and I blink, turning to find her looking at me.