They were still in the galley forty-some minutes later when Trig strutted back in. His cheeks were bright red; his eyes swollen, bloodshot, glassy; and his skin shiny with sweat, but he looked happy, almost euphoric.

“How’d it go, kid?” Sparrow asked, leaning back against the wall.

He grinned and puffed up his chest. “Awesome. But sheesh, my throat

burns!”

“I can’t imagine why,” Nielsen said in a dry tone.

The kid started toward the kitchen area, and then stopped and looked at Kira. “Can you believe we’re actually going to get to explore alien ruins tomorrow?!”

“You’re looking forward to it?”

He nodded, serious but still excited. “Oh yeah. But, well … I was wondering, what happens if they’re still around?”

“I’d like to know that too,” Nielsen murmured.

In her mind’s eye, Kira again saw the Highmost sweep the Staff of Blue downward, and a dark and miserable planet vanish from the sky. “We hope they’re in a good mood.”