The two men were silent for a long moment before Dev, unable to restrain himself any longer, spoke up. “This is big stuff. Very big stuff. We need to tell the Zimmers.” He shook his head in wonder and disbelief. “Humans, but from another world. Panspermia. Convergent evolution. Or something else we cannot even imagine.”

Reed was more cautious. “All this is assuming the ship knows exactly what it’s talking about. Its parameters for defining ‘humans like us’ might be way off. But if they’re not—if what it just said is accurate—then yeah, big stuff. Wait ’til the folks back home hear this one. Who knows? Maybe someday soon we’ll get the opportunity to meet our galactic cousins.”

Dev was thinking hard. “Maybe that would not be such a good idea.”

The big man frowned. “What are you talking about? First, we find out there are other intelligent species out here, now we find out—if this ship’s AI is accurate—that there are others like us. Other humans.”

Dev was nodding slowly. “Let us assume that to be the case. These other humans are just that: ‘other.’ They are not from Earth. If they have visited places like Mozehn, it is reasonable to assume that their level of technology is at least equal to that of the A'jeii and the Olone. History has shown that when one technologically superior group of humans encounters one that is measurably more primitive, the primitive peoples invariably lose out. Badly.”

Reed’s seriousness returned. “You’re imposing terrestrial cultural patterns on aliens who we know nothing about. They may be human body types but if they’re not from Earth then they’re still aliens. You’re making socio-cultural assumptions, just like you’re assuming their level of technology. We don’t know that they possess the equivalents of A'jeii or Olone tech.”

“No, we do not. But I think it is reasonable to assume as much. And I also think I know how to find out.”

Telling himself that there was no reason why Reed should have to ask all the relevant questions, Dev moved toward the same wall his host was confronting.

“Ship. The A'jeii have told us that you were stolen from your owners. To which species do you rightfully belong?” Beside him he could hear Reed suck in a breath.

As always, the ship’s AI responded without hesitation.

“Humans.”

Dev nodded slowly at nothing in particular. Certain mysteries were being resolved. Seemingly unconnected concepts were falling into place.

“Humans like those with whom the Mozehn previously had contact?”

“Yes.” Very calm and matter-of-fact was the AI.