“Metaphysics aside, I don’t see that option as placing anybody’s soul in jeopardy. One thing I do know, though. Like any bluff, this one will have a hell of a lot better chance of succeeding if at least one of you backs me up.”

At a sweep of his hand across the wall, the portal appeared. He stepped through and was gone.

Following the big man’s exit it was very quiet in the Zimmers’ cabin for some moments, until Jakob Zimmer spoke up. “You do what you wish, Dev. We will not judge you. From a practical standpoint, Gavin makes quite a case. Ethically, however …” He shrugged. “This sort of deception is not for Chiasa and myself.”

Dev pursed his lips. “Speaking entirely theoretically, do you think Gavin’s proposal would have any chance of success?”

Jakob sighed heavily. “I am ashamed to say that he makes a very good argument. Indulging the whims of a quartet of people, two of whom are unlikely to even be around for much longer, would mean nothing to governments and corporations. Only the four of us would know that the rationale for such indulgence has no basis in fact. Or morality.”

“But at the same time, the two of you would not expose the bluff if Gavin decides to go ahead with it?”

“Or if you decided to join with him, no. It would not be worth the time or trouble. And Chiasa and I have no time left to expend on trouble.” He nodded in the direction of the now closed portal. “Despite what Gavin may think, the two of us are looking forward to returning to our work, and to our studies.”

“I don’t need a private plane.” Katou-Zimmer smiled at Dev. “Only privacy. Peace and quiet and a place to work.”

Dev had to repress a laugh. “As the first humans to travel on an alien ship, and to another world, how much privacy do you think you’ll be allowed?”

“We will deal with it as best we are able,” Jakob told him. “And we will do so with our ethics intact.”

Dev nodded understandingly. The Zimmers’ response to Reed’s proposal made complete sense.

Just not necessarily to him.

‘Soon,’ as Reed had been told, turned out to be comparatively accurate. Scarcely another week had passed when Tilenyii came to their cabins to announce to each of them individually that they were crossing the orbit of Mars and were already decelerating with an eye to shortly entering Earth orbit.

The A'jeii spoke to Dev as the human dressed. The alien had no interest in the larger biped’s naked body, what inquisitiveness she might have felt having long since faded as a matter of curiosity. “You will be put down in the same exact location where you last set foot on your world.”