To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

Kira wakes out of hibernation to total darkness. When the Soft Blade illuminates her cabin, she sees that it is festooned with vines, ribs, and glowing fruits that mimic the fern pattern the xeno had replicated earlier. She can feel the growth as a part of her and knows she played a part in its creation, even as she was sleeping. She is happy to use the xeno to create instead of to destroy. She wills the xeno to release her from the growth they’ve created and leaves it behind in the cabin. However, she knows if she called to the rest of the xeno it would come to her.

The Wallfish arrives at its destination, and Falconi asks her and Itari to come to Control. They send a farscent message to the Knot of Minds. While they wait for a response, Kira worries about Falconi, who is suffering more than usual from cryo and will have to go back in soon. She returns to her cabin and is pleased with the xeno overgrowth. The next day they receive a message from Tschetter with the meeting coordinates and depart for their destination.