At the Mospheiran airport, Bren Cameron heads for the plane waiting to take him home to Shejidan.  After an awkward goodbye with his brother, mother, and a distraught Barb, he meets four Mospheiran diplomats joining him.  These four will be riding the newly completed atevi space shuttle up to the station.  This same shuttle will also be taking Jase and Yolanda back since they have, just within the last day, been recalled by Pheonix.  Banichi and Jago meet the humans when they land and accompany them to the space center where Jase, resigned to his fate, meets and welcomes them.  There, the humans see the shuttle Shai-shan for the first time.

Bren leaves for his own Bu-javid apartment, a new one since he left the Atageini residence.  His major domo, Narani, informs him Ilisidi wishes his company for tea.  He visits Ilisidi in her apartment, and over tea, explains some human history from before the Landing, especially of the heroism of Taylor and others who sacrificed themselves to save the ship, and what it means to be one of Taylor's Children.  After tea, Bren is summoned to meet with Tabini where Tabini proceeds to drop another surprise in Bren's lap: he is going to the space station with Jase.  His job will be to assess the situation with the ship's people and the Mospheiran delegates.