Intent on the Olone, Dev had not noticed the arrival of this newcomer. For that matter, neither had Vantolos. This might have had something to do with the A'jeii’s wee stature. Dev was at once fascinated and a bit startled by the A'jeii’s unexpected interjection. Its comment provided the first proof that the Olones, and Vantolos in particular, were not the only aliens capable of or familiar with human speech. Heedless of the undescribed consequences to which Vantolos had alluded, and additionally any that might be mentioned by the A'jeii, Dev leaped at this new opportunity.

“Your colleague Vantolos insists that I and my companions must remain sequestered in our living quarters or suffer unknown ‘consequences.’”

As the A'jeii slowly digested this, Dev decided that, while fluent, speaking in alien English was more difficult for the smaller alien than it was for the Olone. If the tentacled species was more nimble when it came to exchanging pleasantries in alien speech, that would go a long way toward explaining why Vantolos had been chosen as the ship’s primary contact individual for Earth.

This did not keep the A'jeii from unleashing a torrent of short, clipped, incomprehensible speech in the Olone’s direction. Vantolos responded by protesting, or so Dev thought, with words in the same language the A'jeii was using as well as much gesticulating of his own flexible limbs. This neither slowed nor intimidated the A'jeii. When the short biped had finished yammering at the Olone, it turned to look up at Dev.

“I am Tilenyii, the—I am something akin to what you would call a supervisor. I am responsible for much that happens with this journeying now as well as in the future. I regret both this Olone’s manners—they can be an acerbic folk—and his verbal treatment of you and the rest of your kind. But their volubility has its uses.” The A'jeii paused. “I am sixth kin to the captain, Syrenii, who you met earlier. We are—what you might think of as distant sisters. We regret your presence here almost as much as you do yourselves. It was not planned. It was not intended. It was an accident.”

“Then,” Dev murmured hopefully, “rectify the accident. Take us home.”

“Unfortunately,” Tilenyii replied, “that is not possible. In that, Vantolos has been truthful. We cannot go back. We were compelled to leave your beautiful but confused world in a great hurry. A problem developed that demanded our immediate and rapid departure. So much so that there was not even time to return you to the surface of your world.”

Dev tried another track. “If you have a problem that involves Earth, maybe I and my companions can help you. We are a diverse bunch commanding many specialties and …”

The A'jeii made an intricate gesture with her left hand, the three fingertips all pressing against one another. “Would that you could. Help us with our problem. But I doubt it.”