And humankind would have experienced its first contact with other sentient species, Dev mused. “There will be reams of information to keep our specialists busy for decades to come. We might ask you a few questions about the cosmos on the way home. To add to the store of knowledge we will be able to deliver.” A wry grin spread across his face. “I imagine we will be anointed instant celebrities whether we wish it or not. There won’t be anywhere on the planet where we can hide.”

Jakob Zimmer was nodding slowly. “It will be necessary for us to expose ourselves to the media before the government can sequester us away in some underground facility.” His smile was thinner than Dev’s. “I do not look forward to endless rounds of debriefing. Quickly and freely unburdening ourselves of what we know to the public at large will ensure that countries that did not supply this ship with ‘guests’ will not have reason to react to our return in paranoid, dangerous fashion.” Turning away from both the aliens and his colleagues, he fell into a deep, whispering conversation with his wife.

Syrenii glanced from him to Dev. “So as soon as we see you safely back to the surface of your world, you have no problem returning full control of this ship to us and seeing us depart your solar vicinity?”

“Nope,” Reed chimed in. “None. Once we’re off the ship we won’t be in control of it any longer, though as I mentioned we’ll leave orders for it—and for you—to leave us permanently in peace. You’ll be free to go on your way. Wherever that is.”

Syrenii gestured with a small hand. “Then we will do our best to expedite your return. Even though we think it is not a good idea. It may be that all will go well.”

Dev’s gaze narrowed. “I am still puzzled by your reluctance, even now, to return us to Earth. It seems such a simple, straightforward request. As it has been all along. What could possibly be a problem with that?”

But the A'jeii captain had turned and was walking away, murmuring to those A'jeii who flanked him on both sides. A hand on his shoulder momentarily startled Dev.

“Their future isn’t our future, Devali. We go our way—home—and they go theirs.”

Dev nodded slowly. “What if they decide to come back later? We will put prohibitions on this ship. But what if, despite what Syrenii said, they decide to return with a different vessel? One that is heavily armed?”