The Librarian regarded him with a perplexed expression, then turned to Dakota to say, Ive prepared quarters for our guest.

Just to be clear, persisted Bash, youre seriously telling me this thing can really stop the Swarm?

We believe, or at least hope, it can, the Librarian replied, with the aid of data we recovered from the Wanderer regarding the means by which that entity once destroyed an entire Swarm.

Right. Bash nodded, still looking far from convinced. A bunch of Magi ships specially designed for the purpose couldnt pull it off, but this septic tank on legs can . . . how, exactly?

Dakota failed to suppress a grin. You know, she said to the Librarian, you really havent been very forthcoming on just how this is going to work.

Or about our stopping here, added Bash. You might have mentioned it sooner than you did.

They hadnt been told about this rendezvous until just a few days before, when Dakota had noticed, from her regular monitoring of their progress across the galaxy, that their faster-than-light jumps were becoming shorter and shorter, arrowing in on a particular region deep in interstellar space, and half a dozen light years from any star. Even when the Magi ship had matched course and speed with an Atn clade-world an asteroid converted into a combination of living quarters and space-bound manufactory the Librarian had been vague as to why.

We now understand, said the Librarian, the means by which the Wanderer destroyed another Swarm. By using that method, we have been running simulations to identify the optimum approach to neutralizing this Swarm, and it became rapidly apparent that our greatest chance of success in doing so lies with the Atn. We would have been more forthcoming before now but, until we felt sure of engaging the strategy with the highest chance of success, there was really very little to tell.

But theres still just the one of him? Bash insisted. Or her. It. Whatever.

Im guessing, said Dakota, this has something to do with the Atns original purpose. I mean the reason they were created.

Huh? Bash stared at her.

The Librarian glanced over at him. A long time ago, it explained, the first Atn were fashioned out of a Maker Swarms components.

Seriously? said Bash, looking between the two of them as the Atn shifted and rumbled and turned its head this way and that. Dakota wondered if it understood what they were saying.

They were the Magis first attempt at destroying the Swarms, Dakota explained. They essentially reprogrammed a Swarm in order to hunt down other Swarms, but somewhere down the line they forgot their purpose.

How do you know all this, Megan? he asked.

From my previous life, she said. I found out a lot about them from a Shoal member I met a couple of times. And its not Megan any more, remember?

Right. He nodded. I keep forgetting.