Twenty-Two

The Carryx arrive and reorganize the prisoners by species, splitting groups apart. Rickar orchestrates a swap to keep the separated couple Campar and Ghati together, sacrificing his own position in the process. One group, including Campar and Ghati, is taken away for a new assignment while the others remain behind.

Campar persuades the reluctant, unwashed Ghati to leave his bed and join a gathering in the common room, where they discover dozens of aliens and humans assembled. Vaudai explains that an enemy command ship has been captured intact—a rare occurrence—and expresses frustration that the three Soft Lothark present fail to grasp its intelligence value. Rickar briefs them on the uncertain next steps: approaching the ship, determining if it's a trap, and extracting intelligence before the enemy returns. A large, heavily scarred Carryx soldier then enters with four Sinen in unfamiliar uniforms and orders everyone to group by species. As the groups separate, Rickar notices Campar and Ghati being placed in different divisions and realizes what is about to happen. In a moment of decisive action, Rickar walks into the open space between groups and calls Ghati over; using a graceful maneuver, he exchanges places with Ghati, allowing the couple to remain together while he takes Ghati's spot. The Carryx soldier and Vaudai then conduct a conversation in untranslated Carryx, after which one group—including Campar and Ghati—is led away by the Sinen for a new assignment described as exploration. Rickar and the remaining prisoners stay behind in reserve. Dervan protests their separation, desperate to go with them, while Rickar examines Vaudai's display showing the disabled command ship and a trajectory line leading to the heliopause, suggesting the ship is heading toward asymmetric space.