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different as can be imagined. It’s as if worms on Earth achieved sentience alongside humans, and at the same rate.”
    “Perhaps not the same rate,” argued Haviti. “Your natives brandish more primitive weapons and show no sign of clothes-wearing.”
    “You saw them.” Tellenberg eyed her challengingly. “Why would they need clothes?”
    “They might as well come from two entirely different worlds.” N’kosi was turning philosophical. “They’ve apparently evolved here. It’s not a situation like on Fluva, where you have two sentient species living side by side but one consisting of long-term immigrants.”
    “Still, we can’t be certain that both are native to this world until we have more information.” Haviti was insistent. “If such proves to be the case, it will be a fascinating development.” Her gaze roved around the table. “The next question is, which species do we first pursue contact with? I would vote for the fuzzies.”
    “Why?” countered Valnadireb vigorously. “Because they most closely resemble primates? Who is to say that the jelly-creatures are not more advanced? Or more amenable to further contact?”
    Boylan put his foot down. “It’s a scientific decision to be made, but I don’t want to see any of my team strain their brains. You will work out details and I will support you. Enough first contact for tonight. I myself would like hear what else you found today.”
    Araza turned back to his work. Though reluctant to comply with the captain’s directive, the scientific quartet had enough common sense to recognize the wisdom of giving so contentious a matter a rest. Talk turned to methods of photosynthesis, productiveness of alcohol-blended seawater versus that of fresh, density of microfauna, and other less controversial discoveries. Eventually adrenaline grew drained, eyes became heavy, and one by one the team stumbled off to sleep. Not a one of them believed that the day’s discoveries had been anything less than inestimable or a red-letter day for Commonwealth science. Given what they had accomplished in a single twenty-four-hour period, who knew what wonders waited to be quantified and recorded over the forthcoming weeks? Only exhaustion finally mitigated excitement and allowed any of them to even think of sleep.
    No fool he, Boylan retired first, followed in close order by N’kosi and Valnadireb. Even the seemingly tireless Araza had disappeared into his personal cubicle by the time Tellenberg and Haviti found themselves walking together down the corridor. They had not so much resolved their disagreements as run out of the physical and intellectual fuel with which to power them.
    Tellenberg studied the door that opened into his individual space. “I’ve stayed in prefab field rooms like these before. They’re pretty solid. They may look skeletal, but they’re perfectly soundproofed.”
    Haviti stepped easily around him. “Forget it, Esra. It’s too early in the expedition, too soon in our relationship, and I’m too excited by what we all learned at dinner tonight.”
    He smiled helpfully. “I could assist you in relaxing.”
    She smiled back. “I don’t recall requiring any assistance in relaxing on the journey out.”
    He persisted. “There are interesting variants on the concept of space-plus that involve the utilization of drives of the non-Kurita-Kinoshita variety.”
    “Sounds like pretty elementary physics to me.” Reaching out, she gave him a friendly and (worst of all) semimaternal pat on the arm. “I already know enough about alternate drive systems, thanks. For one thing, when improperly engaged they have a disconcerting tendency to fail at critical moments. We wouldn’t want that to happen, now would we?”
    “Uh, no, I suppose not.” He blinked at his door. Recognizing the relevant visual and electrical patterns, it clicked open. “I hope you sleep well, Tiare.”
    “I always sleep well; on Earth, on other planets civilized and elsewise, on