The section of wall containing his portal hummed softly for attention. Probably Gavin, he told himself as he rose from his bed. Wanting to know if Dev was on board with his plan. Even as he activated the portal to admit the visitor, Dev still had not decided how he was going to answer.

There was no need. It was Tilenyii who was standing outside, not Reed. Dev was more relieved than he cared to admit, even though the arrival of the A'jeii constituted nothing more than a postponement of the decision he still had to make. Had they entered Earth orbit already? If so, he could have accessed a portal in his quarters to reveal the view.

“Come with me.” The A'jeii seemed unusually subdued.

Dev frowned. “Have we arrived?” Leaning through the opening, he peered down the corridor. It was empty. “What about the others? Are they on the shuttle already?”

“They are not on the shuttle. They have gathered forward, with the rest of us.” Though the A'jeii’s short legs were moving rapidly, Dev had no difficulty keeping pace with the shorter stride.

“Gathered? Why forward? Why not at the shuttle?” A horrible, naked thought crossed his mind. “We’re still going home, aren’t we? To Earth?”

The A'jeii peered up at him out of wide, dark eyes. “To be quite honest, I don’t know where you are going. Or any of your companions. Or for that matter, myself and my own colleagues. Nothing is certain any longer. There are no more assurances. Not for you, not for I, not for anyone on this vessel.”

Dev swallowed. Something had gone wrong, but what? “What is going on? Why is everyone gathering forward?”

The A'jeii emitted a surprisingly low-pitched whine. “We tried to tell you there was a reason why it was not a good idea to return to this system. That reason has manifested itself.”

“I do not understand.” They were heading for the vicinity of the bridge, Dev noted with rising unease. “What reason?”

A deeper whine. “The owners of this craft have arrived here. Their intent was to try and track our departure path from this system. By returning, we have spared them the trouble.”

Try as he might, Dev couldn’t find it in his heart to be sympathetic. The A'jeii had treated him and his companions with indifference, the Olone had treated them with contempt, and the Kaijank with intimidation. Whatever happened to the ship thieves was none of his or his friends’ concern.