Noxon immediately realized that they were manipulating him. Because the moment the mouse said it, Noxon was filled with anxiety that he knew would not go away until he agreed to let the mice reach the alien world in hundreds instead of two dozen. That anxiety was not rational. It was what the mouse wanted him to feel.

“Interesting,” said Noxon. “You aren’t behaving like a potential ally.”

“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” said the alpha.

The other mice were echoing him. “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” they bleated.

“Why are they all squeaking?” asked Deborah. “What are they saying?”

“They’re apologizing for their naked attempt at forcing me to obey them by influencing my emotions,” said Noxon. “I’m pretty sure we can eliminate the alien threat without the help of the mice. The main reason I want to bring them is because I wanted them to exist on a second world, too. And that second world will not be Earth. Earth is the sanctuary for the pure, unmodified human species. The mice have two wallfolds on Garden. Apparently that’s all they’re ever going to get.”

“Don’t pretend you’re trying to look out for our best interests,” said the alpha.

“You know I’m not pretending,” said Noxon. “But I place your best interests well behind the best interests of the whole human species—including your little subgroup. What good is it for me to save humanity from these aliens, only to have you destroy them instead?”

“We’re not destructive,” said the alpha. “We’re makers and builders.”

“You’re human,” said Noxon. “You make war and you eliminate anybody you think is a threat.”

“You’re a threat,” said the alpha.

“And you’ve already thought of six ways to kill me,” said Noxon.

“Only two with any real chance of succeeding,” said the alpha.

“Let’s not kill each other,” said Noxon. “Let’s travel to the alien world and work out a way to turn it into a haven for humans and mice.”

Deborah gasped. Noxon turned to her.

“You’re going to destroy the entire alien species?” she asked.

“That depends on how you define ‘destroy,’” said Noxon. “For instance, if time travelers came back in time, when anthropes existed only as Erectids, and then prevented the development of Sapients, would you say they had destroyed the ‘entire human species’?”

“What a fascinating prospect,” said Wheaton. “If the experiment weren’t so devastating . . .”

“Father,” said Deborah. “That is not a fascinating prospect, it’s genocidal.”

“Genocide is what we saw them do to us,” said Noxon. “Preventive diplomacy is what we plan to do to them. Unless it doesn’t work. In which case, yes. Xenocide, the entire species wiped out, and without an apology or regret. Because when it’s us or them, I choose us.”

“Genetically speaking,” said Wheaton, “it’s the only rational choice.”