After taking a look around the rooms, Ethan had taken off his vest and rifle and set them on one of several chairs in the large seating area while the others availed themselves of the cooked meats and steamed vegetables laid out on the large table.

They were all exhausted from the long trek, but still excited enough about the lighter sky and massive village around them to keep up a conversation around their meal.

Ethan accepted a cup of the steaming hot tea Pyro enjoyed making, then carried it to a far window where Colonel Patterson was standing.

"Look at that, Griff. It's a huge city, really, just stretched out long instead of sprawling around like back on Earth. And yet, when you look out there, really look, it seems barely occupied."

Ethan looked out the window at the market place below. Some of the vendors had closed up and were wandering down streets and into open cafes, where other vendors were serving hot meals in open courtyards.

"This city could hold thousands," Patterson continued. "Hell, hundreds of thousands, just in this part we can see."

Beyond the marketplace directly below, Ethan could see buildings dotting the area. They were houses, almost identical to the ones in Eferia's village, lining one side of the street, while the opposite side opened up into a green belt of sorts. Trees and grasses, with flowers and a small river running through. Beyond that he couldn't see well, but if he followed the line of the street, another tall white building loomed.

"And yet, I'm counting just a few hundred people here and there. Maybe a thousand, tops." Colonel Patterson took a deep sigh and gazed out the window.

The white building stood at least five stories high, and spanned further into the center of the gray area than Ethan could see. It began up against the wall, then extended into the twilight. He could barely make out shapes on the roof, and realized there were a few people up there, strolling around, apparently chatting. The building itself was filled with windows on every level. Huge, wide windows with solid panes of what he assumed were the same glass as what he was gazing through.

As he looked more closely around the area, he noticed shapes here and there along the walkway and between some vendors. They were sculptures, mostly of birds, but now and then he saw a tree or plant, or shapes he couldn't identify.

These didn't glow orange like the wall mural, but they were beautiful nevertheless, in some type of reflective silver metal.

"It's beautiful," he said.

"What's that?" Colonel Patterson looked at Ethan as if he hadn't realized he was standing there.

"This city, it's beautiful. Very clean, organized," he said.

Colonel Patterson grunted, clasping his hands behind his back. "At least we can see here."

Ethan turned around and leaned against the wall beside the window, keeping his voice low. "Have you noticed how unsurprised they seem to be to find visitors from another world?"

"I hadn't thought of that," Patterson frowned. "I wonder why that is."

Ethan shrugged. "I don't know. Unless it just never occurred to them it might be unusual."

"You think we're not the first people from another planet to land here?"

"No, that's not what I mean," Ethan said. "I doubt there have been any other visitors, aside from that old crashed Starlight probe. I wonder if, as a people, they just never assumed they were the only ones in their galaxy."

"They certainly aren't terribly advanced here. Perhaps they haven't even realized we're from another world. They might not even know what the stars in the sky really are."

Ethan shrugged. "I think they do, and I think they've always assumed every light in the sky was another world full of people. Whereas the human race started off assuming we were the only planet with life, maybe these people were just the opposite. Maybe they don't realize not every spot in the sky can hold life."

"Interesting thought."

"It's just speculation," he admitted. "Eferia's language skills were limited, and I didn't want to tip our hand, so the subject never came up."

"I should hope these council people are a lot smarter than our provincial friends were," Patterson sniffed. "And I'd like to see the light side of this world, meet those people. We'll need to make some decisions pretty soon, and I need more facts. More data."

Ethan stood there quietly, sipping his tea and watching the others at the table. The mood had definitely lightened along with the lighting outside, and a general sense of optimism seemed to fill the room.

As much as he wanted to join their sentiment, Ethan knew this was the time to be more alert, even wary to a certain degree, until they could honestly convince themselves the people on this world were exactly as they seemed.

"You'd best get some sleep," Colonel Patterson said as he finally moved away from the window. "I need you sharp tomorrow, Griff. You seem especially able to communicate with these people, hear what they're saying between the lines."

"Yes, sir," Ethan replied. He pushed away from the wall and started toward the chair where he'd left his vest and rifle.

"In a bed this time, Major," Patterson added. "They've gotta be softer here, surely."

Ethan laughed shortly, then nodded. "Yes, sir."

After depositing his cup in the basin for washing dishes next to the fire pit, Ethan gathered his things and walked through the doorway at the far end of the large room. There was a long corridor with doors on either side, and one more at the far end housing the washroom. He availed himself of it, then picked one of the rooms next to the only door back out to the main room.

Inside he found a chair and bed, both covered thickly in blankets and thick, soft furs. The bed and chair themselves were made of stone, but the coverings completely made up for any discomfort.

Ethan didn't expect to sleep very deeply. The voices from the main room were filtering in, and his head was spinning with the day's new input, but no sooner had he gotten comfortable underneath the furs, he was blinking awake to the alarm on his watch.

It had been a dreamless sleep, but the complete lack of awareness made it anything but restful. Although the hands on his watch told him he'd been sleeping for five hours, it felt like he'd just lied down.

A quick wash and he was back in the main living area, where Colonel Patterson was pouring steaming water into two cups of Pyro's tea concentrate.

"This stuff isn't half bad, once you get used to it," he said as he pushed a cup toward Ethan. "Pyro made some concentrated extract. Makes a quick cup a lot quicker to make."

Ethan accepted the cup and suppressed a yawn. "Any sign of our new friends?"

"No," Patterson shook his head and sat down. "I was looking out the windows at the village around us and haven't seen anyone out there yet, so I assume we're up early."

"How do you want to handle this?"

"You and I," he said. "We'll have to include Doctor Keller and Doctor Warren, or else they'll make a fuss sure enough, but I want the men spread out, investigating this village and the people here. I'd like a good estimate of their numbers."

"Unless they're hiding something, I think there's a good reason we're not seeing as many people as we'd expect in a place this size." Ethan looked at his tea as he thought about the mural in Eferia's village, and the massive graveyard they passed on the trek to the gray. "If they've been at war for generations, each side trying to destroy the other, this peace they've reached could well have been out of necessity."

Colonel Patterson frowned, then sat back in his chair and nodded slowly. "You think they decimated their own populations?"

Ethan shrugged. "I'm just guessing here. But the size of their villages, the lack of crowding, and the size of that graveyard all help explain the story I think that mural was conveying."

"The mural." He sniffed. "You did mention a story there. What did Eferia and Tolen say about it?"

"Nothing," Ethan replied. "I asked, but she said she didn't have the right words to explain it."

Colonel Patterson sat forward. "You're sure she's not just hiding some truth from us?"

Ethan chewed his lip for a moment. "I want to say no. Hell, I want to believe we've just found the perfect place to colonize and reestablish the human race, but--"

"But you're too much a Marine to dismiss unanswered questions," Patterson finished with a nod. "It's important we remain vigilant, Griff."

"I'd prefer cautiously optimistic."

Colonel Patterson waved a hand. "Tomato, potato. So long as we keep open minds and loaded guns, we'll live to tell our tales. In order to get to the truth, we're going to have to present them someone they believe is doing likewise. You've got that whole puppy dog eyes thing going for you, and the patience to work around their language barriers."

Ethan refrained from rolling those puppy dog eyes at the description. "We should be open to the possibility that we can bring the fleet here," he said. "If these people are exactly as they seem, we should do everything we can to contact the other ships as they come out of light speed. We were all taking a risk with 581c, hoping to eventually eek out a life there."

Colonel Patterson pursed his lips and contemplated his tea. "You know, Griff, it could already be too late."

Ethan blinked.

"I realize there could well be another explanation for what happened to the Solaria, but the only answer that makes any real sense is sabotage."

Ethan rubbed his eyes. "It doesn't add up."

"It does, if you think about it," Patterson continued. "How else do so many backups and alternate programs all fail at the same time? That damn ship was designed to run on half the engines it carried, and had backups backing up the backups. How does it all go to hell at the very same time?" He jabbed a finger at the table. "And how is it those computers made the choices themselves, without waking up one single command officer would could override it? Independent thought in machines was outlawed before I was even born."

"That's just how they were programmed," Ethan said. "The brass figured if the ship took years to find a landing site, there was no logic in taking any crew out of cryosleep."

"This is the same brass who put your sister on another ship," Patterson snorted. "We could have used her here."

"We still can," Ethan said. "If Captain Marshall's people can figure out a way around the onboard computers in the fleet ships, we still can."

Colonel Patterson nodded, rubbing his chin. "And if the populations here are as limited as you think, we wouldn't have much trouble taking control here."

"That's not exactly what I meant," Ethan said with a sigh. "It's entirely possible these people would welcome the other ships, and all of our people."

"That remains to be seen," Patterson huffed. "But I'll let you keep the open mind here. There has to be some reason they all walk around so heavily armed in what they claim is a safe area."

"Could be so engrained in their culture after so much war they don't think twice about."

"At least they haven't made an effort to disarm us, yet."

Before Ethan could say more, Lydia and Doctor Keller came out from the sleeping area just ahead of the others.

"Good morning," Lydia said as she walked up to the table. "Did you sleep well, Ethan?"

"I did," he replied, frustrated by the interruption.

"Have we seen our hosts yet?" Doctor Keller ask. "I'm not really sure if we're all on the same page yet, as far as sleeping and waking schedules."

Ethan checked his watch. If he'd been back home in Alaska, it would be six o'clock in the morning. A cold, winter morning, where the sun would rise a few feet above the horizon, stay there for half the day, then vanish again, leaving them bathed in a sort of hazy gray tinged with white.

"I'm sure they'll be about soon," the colonel replied. "Soon as you two have had breakfast, we'll go see if we can find them and meet this council of theirs."

Ethan stood and walked to a window, gazing out at the marketplace below. There were a few people outside now, moving around in their booths, rolling up coverings and arranging stacks and bins, preparing for the day to begin. The small café where he'd seen large groups taking an evening meal was also beginning to stir to life, as early visitors wandered in to retrieve cups that let off steam into the cool morning air.

"How big you figure this place is?" Wingman asked as he walked up to Ethan and glanced out the window.

"That's what you're going to find out," he replied. "The colonel and I, and our two scientist friends, are going to meet with their council. Meanwhile you and the men will mill around, be polite and see what's what." He looked back at Colonel Patterson and the others. "See if you can find out how far this marketplace stretches, and where the other side of the wall is. I'd like an idea of the population."

"Yes, sir," Wingman nodded.

"And get in touch with Captain Marshall, see how far out the rest of them are and when they expect to arrive."

"You got it," he tapped his forehead, then turned and headed for the breakfast table with a smile and growling stomach.

When they'd all had breakfast and washed up, Ethan followed Colonel Patterson, Lydia and Doctor Keller down the stairs and out into the courtyard in front of their tall white building. On the way down, he wondered what occupied the rest of the building, and where the other entrances were, but before he could voice his curiosity, they noticed Ara and Kerin walking toward them.

Both were wearing long, gray robes, an addition to their regular clothing from yesterday. The robes looked symbolic in nature, and not terribly warm or practical, but they covered the crossbows each had slung over their backs, and made the knifes at their belts look less menacing.

"I trust you are well rested?" Ara said as she approached.

"Yes, we are, thank you," Colonel Patterson replied.

"Then you will be anxious to speak with our council," she motioned for them all to follow, then started down a path that wound around the white building to the main walkway.

"They are anxious to speak with you," Kerin added as he fell in step alongside Lydia.

Ethan would have felt more comfortable bringing up the rear, where he could get a good look around while they were walking, but Colonel Patterson made sure he was up front, alongside Ara, so he decided to make the best of it.

"The two of you are members of this council, is that correct?"

Ara smiled. "We are, yes. The gray council number thirty members. Half from the light side, half from the dark. We are then in groups, responsible for many different things. But this you will learn. I would not wish to confuse you before you have seen our council."

"You will stay, will you not?" Kerin asked. "You are welcome to stay here in the gray as long as you like, you and the rest of your peoples."

"We'd like to," Lydia replied. She shot Colonel Patterson a quick glance. "You have a lovely place here, and your world is beautiful."

"I'd like to see more of your world," Patterson added. "The light side, for instance. We haven't seen that yet. On our world, it isn't light or dark like this."

Ara looked to Ethan, eyebrows raised. "It is not?"

"No, it isn't," he replied. "Our sun moves across the sky, so we have half light, half dark."

Her eyes widened, as did Kerin's, and they shared a surprised look.

Ethan took the opportunity to look around. They were on the other side of the white building now, walking toward the other white structure they'd seen from the windows. It looked bigger from street level, and shone almost sparkling white among the other gray buildings, with a twilight sky above.

He could see a few people moving by the windows in the upper level, also wearing gray robes and occasionally looking through the window toward them. Along the street they were still passing vendors, cafes and more of the houses like those in Eferia's village on the dark side. He looked at one door as they walked by and noticed a large metal key sticking out of the door. The next house was the same, but the third house they passed had no key in the large door lock.

As they approached the large building, Ara motioned for them to angle right and follow a path to a door that stood open and inviting.

"The council meets on the top," she said as she stepped through the door and started up a wide staircase. "From there, you can see everything."

Ethan took the stairs alongside Ara, and noticed right away there was a difference in construction from all the other buildings they'd seen. This one wasn't just stone, it looked like white marble, with the stairs carved into the solid surface. At the top landing, a room opened up. As they passed that to start up the next level of steps, he glanced in and saw tables and seats, all carved out of the same marble.

Each level held a large, open room with tables and seating, but the top floor, just below the roof access, was the largest of all. Open and void of clutter, a few marble benches and silvery metal sculptures were the only furnishings taking up the generous space. Ara led them through this open room to the far end, where they walked through a wide archway into what could have passed for a theater or lecture hall.

They were entering from the side, with several tiers of seats arching up to their right, and a small raised platform facing them where one table and ten chairs stood. The seats stacked along the incline were filled with men and women, blonde and dark haired alike, all wearing gray robes. The seatbacks were tall, and sported names on them visible above each person's head, so the seats had to stack up high enough not to block the view for the one behind.

Ara brought Ethan and the others to the raised platform and offered them seats at the table, facing the group. When they were seated, she turned to the group.

"I present to you John Patterson, Ethan Griff, Bob Keller and Lydia Warren."

A chorus of "Greetings from Earth" rang out from the smiling crowd as Ara and Kerin took their seats in the first row.

Ethan found himself struggling not to burst into laughter just then. He knew he was tired, and the stresses they were all under had been solid and steady for over two weeks now, but that excuse wouldn't get him far, so he swallowed it all down and glanced at Colonel Patterson sitting beside him.

"It's good to meet you all," he said with a nod to the group as a whole. "I hope by now you realize we're here on your world with the best of intentions. Quite frankly, we didn't expect to be here, or find you here either."

A man in the center of the audience stood up and everyone looked toward him.

"I do not understand," he said. "You did not expect to find us?"

He sat back down after asking his question and Ethan read the name Ardin on the back of his seat.

"Frankly, no," Colonel Patterson replied. "You see, we were not traveling to this world, but another world much farther away from here."

Ethan kept his expression blank, but he was genuinely surprised the colonel was giving out this much information so soon.

"On our way there we saw this world and landed our ship here, expecting to find it empty," Patterson added.

A quiet murmur started up in the audience, then another man stood.

"What star do you come from?"

"We come from a planet, very far from here, that orbits a star we call Sol," Lydia replied before Colonel Patterson could say anything. "And we were traveling to a new world to live there. A world that had no other people on it."

"Which is why we apologize for coming here," Colonel Patterson interjected quickly. He flashed Lydia a stern look but Ethan could tell she hadn't seen it. "You see, we would not have intruded onto your world if we'd known it was already occupied."

More murmuring ensued, and Ethan watched the faces of the audience. They seemed a bit confused, but it couldn't be the language since they clearly had a good grasp of English, far better than Eferia and Tolen had.

The concept of leaving one's planet was most likely out of their reach and the subject was sure to come up if he didn't manage to steer it clear for the time being.

"If your people don't want us here, we will leave without taking offense," he said.

Colonel Patterson turned to him, eyebrows arched a bit.

"We are here with peaceful intentions," Ethan continued. "And welcome the chance to get to know you better."

A woman whose seat identified her as Pilan stood, nodding toward Ethan. "We, too, welcome that opportunity. Tolen tells us that you have been fine people, and brave. If you truly do come here in peace, then in peace you are welcomed."

Before they could respond, another woman stood.

"How many do you number?"

"Right now there are just over one thousand of us," Colonel Patterson replied without hesitation. "However, there are more, still traveling, who would like to come here."

The murmuring grew louder, and Ara stood.

"Many more?"

"Yes," Ethan replied. "Many thousands more. They're traveling to the other world, the one we were going to, but if they were welcome, we could ask them to come here instead."

"But before we ask them, I'd like to see more of your world," Patterson interjected. "We've only seen the dark side, and some of this gray area. I'd like to see your light side, explore a little, take a group there to test the soil and examine your plants and animals, and the people on that side."

Ara didn't sit, but turned to the audience and addressed them in another language, similar to the one Eferia's people had used, but with slight differences. They all listened to her intently and nodded now again.

Suddenly she turned back to them and nodded. "We will take you to the light side, John Patterson, and as many of your peoples as would like. But we would ask that some stay here, so that we might get to know you all better."

Pilan stood again. "Yes, we do wish to know you more closely. And you should know us more closely, before you ask the rest of your peoples to come here."

"Agreed," Patterson said. He turned to Lydia and Doctor Keller. "These two will come with me to the light side, and I'll bring my squad." Then, to Ethan's surprised, the colonel turned and put a hand on his shoulder. "Ethan Griff will remain here, to lead the rest of our people in getting to know you better."

Ethan opened his mouth to protest, but the audience had all suddenly sprung to their feet, nodding and agreeing with smiles.

"If you will follow us," Ara said. "There is food and drink. We can speak freely and discuss your travels."

They all began making their way back out through the archway, while Ara waited for Ethan and the others to come down from the platform and join them.

"Colonel, I--"

"We'll be along shortly," Colonel Patterson nodded to Ara, then motioned for the doctors to leave the room before he turned to Ethan again. "I need you, Griff. I can trust you to get to the bottom of things here more than anyone else."

"Sir--"

He held up a hand. "I'm not about to leave this up to the Navy. It's their fuck up that stranded us here in the first place. I need eyes, ears and a brain I can rely on to gather Intel and report back to me without hiding any facts."

Ethan wanted to argue, but he knew it wasn't going to get him anywhere. "You're taking the squad?"

"I'll leave you Wingman and Flash, but I want the others with me, and Sentinel," he replied. "You and I will stay in contact with regular reports, so I'll keep you updated."

"What do you expect to find on the light side that you didn't see in the dark?" Ethan asked.

"The sun, for one," Patterson replied with a snort. "And I'm hoping the people on that side are a little more advanced. Maybe even more enlightened."

"I doubt they would be. If one side of this war was more advanced, it wouldn't have ended in a stalemate."

Colonel Patterson smiled then, and there was a definite gleam in his eye that hadn't been there before.

"Who says it ended in stalemate?"

With that, he turned and followed after the others, leaving Ethan standing alone on the platform in an empty auditorium.

Which is where he stayed for a moment, puzzling over the new developments, until Ara came back looking for him. She was holding two goblets, and stepped up onto the platform where she could offer him one.

"There is food, as well," she said, pointing at the archway. "But I sense you wished to be alone for a moment."

As she turned to leave, Ethan touched her arm.

"No, that's all right," he said. He accepted the goblet and looked at the amber liquid.

"It is the juice of the Garon fruit. Very refreshing, and with no Alter in it," she said. "After the evening meals, we would drink Garon juice with Alter, but that is not correct for the decision times."

"Alter?" Ethan sniffed the juice, then tasted it. It was thick and full of flavor, much like papaya, but felt light and refreshing going down his throat.

"Alter is a drink that will confuse your thinking if you drink overly much."

"Ah, like alcohol," Ethan smiled. "We have something similar."

Ara smiled and touched Ethan's arm, then nodded toward the archway. "Would you join us? I am very interested in learning of you."

He nodded, then let her lead him off the platform and through the arch into the open room where a few of her people were gathered around Lydia, asking questions and listening intently to her replies.

Ara continued walking, taking the stairs down one level into a room now filled with food-laden tables where the rest of her council were milling about, talking to Colonel Patterson and Doctor Keller.

The one Ethan remembered was named Pilan and a man he couldn't identify approached, carrying goblets of their own and plates of fruits and cooked meat.

"Ethan Griff, this is Pilan of Na and Silden of Eth," Ara said.

Thankfully, they didn't repeat the greeting from Earth as Ethan nodded. "I'm happy to meet you," he said.

"And we, you," Pilan replied. "Are you not hungry?"

Ethan glanced at their plates, intending to decline politely, but his stomach had other ideas that it was about to make known in an audible fashion. "Actually, I am."

Before he knew it, he'd been ushered over to a table filled with foods, handed a plate, and had it laden with all manner of cooked meats and interesting fruits. Then he was shown a table where all four of them could sit and enjoy their brunch next to a window overlooking the village below them.

"I am glad that you will remain here," Ada said as she peeled the skin from a yellowish round fruit. "I was hoping to show you our home, and ask you of your home."

"Yes," Pilan added. "I can see in your eyes something other than in theirs."

Ethan's eyebrows raised. "Really?"

"There is a calm about you," Silden said. "And an intelligence that is clear to our eyes."

Ethan had no reply to that, so he munched some cooked beast instead.

"And I am glad your people speak Starlight," Ada said. "Our peoples have two languages, but here in the gray we use Starlight in order to remain equal among each other."

"On our world the language is called English," Ethan explained. "And not everyone speaks it."

That raised some eyebrows and drew instant attention.

"You see, on my world, there are more than two peoples. In fact, there were once many many peoples, who all spoke their own language," he explained. "Over time, the many peoples had come together. By the time our ship was leaving our world, the peoples all considered themselves as one people, but still many languages were being spoken."

"And your peoples did not try to end each other?" Pilan asked.

Ethan took a breath, pursing his lips, then shrugged very slightly. "They did, actually. Throughout history they did, many times. Different people, different wars. They would try, and then find a way to have peace. Then different people would try, and find peace. There were times when none of the people were trying to kill the others, and there were times when all of the people were trying to kill all of the others." He looked at Pilan. "It's something we grew to understand and try harder to avoid."

"To live in peace is not so easy," Ara said quietly. "But we are pleased that you understand these things."

"And that you understand what it means to have peace," Silden added. "It is very important to us that our peoples remain at peace. With each other, and with your peoples."

"Yes," Ethan agreed. "That is very important." He glanced around and found Colonel Patterson speaking with two blonde men in a corner. "Is that why all of your people still carry weapons?"

Ara touched the strap holding her crossbow against her back. "Weapons are a sign of respect and honor, for those who went before us. And a reminder of the time of dying. Also, if you venture out from the walls of the gray, there are beasts one must be protected from."

Ethan wondered if they would understand the term 'level playing field'. He'd also realized that every weapon he'd seen so far was closer to hand to hand fighting. Arrows could be shot a distance, but you had to be within sight of your target, much like a rifle or sidearm. He'd seen no evidence of anything long range, or explosive.

He was pondering the significance of that when Colonel Patterson approached.

"Griff, our people are arriving. We need to bring them up to speed and coordinate. I'd like to leave for the light side of this place in the morning."

Ethan stood, glancing at his new friends. "Thank you for the food."

"We will speak later," Ada said as she stood. "Your people will be shown to the shelter. There are many levels, and you are welcome to use them all for as long as you wish."

"Thank you," he said.

"When you are taken to the light side of our world, John Patterson, we will escort you," Pilan announced. "Our people can teach you what beasts to be wary of, and where to find fruits and anything else you might wish to know."

Colonel Patterson nodded to her, then gestured for Ethan to come along.