Wait. No. That’s a dumb question. He’s not a caveman wandering around in space. He’s an advanced interstellar traveler. He has technology. He probably has cameras and radar and stuff that translate data into something he can understand. No different from my Petrovascope. I can’t see IR light, but it can and then it shows it to me on a monitor with light frequencies I can see.

The Blip-A control room probably has awesome-looking Braille-like readouts. Well, I’m sure it’s way more advanced than that.

“Wow…” I stare at him. “Humans spent thousands of years looking up at the stars and wondering what was out there. You guys never saw stars at all but you still worked space travel. What an amazing people you Eridians must be. Scientific geniuses.”

The knot in the tape comes loose, recoils wildly, and smacks Rocky’s hand. He shakes the affected hand in pain for a moment, then continues messing with the tape measure.

“Yeah. You’re definitely a scientist.”

“All rise,” said the bailiff, “the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington is now in session. The Honorable Justice Meredith Spencer presiding.”

The entire courtroom stood as the judge took her seat.

“Be seated,” the bailiff said. He handed the justice a folder. “Your Honor, today’s case is Intellectual Property Alliance v. Project Hail Mary.”

The judge nodded. “Plaintiff, are you ready for trial?”

The plaintiff’s table was crowded with well-dressed men and women. The eldest of them, a man in his sixties, stood to answer. “We are, Your Honor.”

“Defense, are you ready for trial?”

Stratt sat alone at the defense table, typing away on her tablet.

The justice cleared her throat. “Defense?”

Stratt finished typing and stood. “I’m ready.”

Justice Spencer gestured to Stratt’s table. “Counselor, where is the rest of your team?”

“Just me,” she said. “And I’m not a counselor—I’m the defendant.”

“Ms. Stratt.” Spencer took off her glasses and glared. “The defendant in this case is a rather famous intergovernmental consortium of scientists.”

“Led by me,” said Stratt. “I move to dismiss.”

“You can’t make motions yet, Ms.Stratt,” said Spencer. “Just tell me if you’re ready to proceed.”

“I’m ready,”

“All right. Plaintiff, you may begin your opening statement.”

The man stood. “May it please the court and ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my name is Theodore Canton, counsel for the Intellectual Property Alliance in this action.