I laugh. He has a slightly different tone when he’s joking around. It took a long time for me to identify. It’s like… it’s in the timing between words. They don’t have the same cadence. I can’t really put my finger on it, but I know when I hear it.

From the External Collection Unit screen, I order the sampler to close its doors and return to its flat configuration. The panel reports that it’s been done, and I confirm it with hull cameras.

I climb into the Orlan EVA suit, enter the airlock, and cycle it.

Adrian is absolutely gorgeous in person. I stay out on the hull staring at the huge world for several minutes. Bands of dark and light green cover the orb, and the reflected glow from Tau Ceti is simply breathtaking. I could stare at it for hours.

I probably got to do this with Earth too. I wish I could remember. Man, I really wish I could remember that. It must have been every bit as beautiful.

“You out long time,” comes Rocky’s voice through the headset. “You are safe, question?”

I set up the EVA panel to always play my radio feed over speakers in the control room. Plus, I taped a headset microphone to Rocky’s control-room bulb and set it to be voice-activated. All he has to do is talk and it broadcasts.

“I’m looking at Adrian. It’s pretty.”

“Look later. Get sample now.”

“You’re pushy.”

“Yes.”

I climb along the hull, bathed in Adrian-light. Everything has a light-green tinge to it. I find the sample collector right where it’s supposed to be.

It’s not as big as I expected. It’s a half-meter square or so. There’s a lever beside it with red and yellow stripes all around it. Text on the lever reads PULL LEVER TO RELEASE ECU—ПОТЯНУТЬ РЫЧАГ ЧТОБЫ ОСВОБОДИТЬ ECU—拉杆释放 ECU.

I clip a tether to a convenient hole on the unit (presumably put there for this exact use), and pull the lever over to the open position.

The sampler floats free of the hull.

I work my way back across the hull to the airlock with the sampler in tow. I cycle my way back in and climb out of the suit.

“All is good, question?” Rocky asks.

“Yes.”

“Good!” Rocky says. “You inspect with science gear, question?”

“Yes. Now.” I bring up the Centrifuge panel. “Prepare for gravity.”

“Yes, gravity.” He grips handholds with three of his claws. “For science gear.”

Once the centrifuge spins up, I get to work in the lab.

Rocky scurries into his tunnel in the lab ceiling and watches intently. Well, not “watches.” Listens intently, I guess.

I lay the sampler on the lab table and open one of the panels. This is the side that faced Tau Ceti. I smile at what I see.