Sara prepared a surprise. She had brought an old, printed photo.

  “Taj, I have something for you. Mona didn’t take anything with her, from what I know. Look,” Sara said.

  She gave him the photo and observed his reaction.

  He was very surprised.

  “I recognize you; I also know which one is Rowan, but who is here?” Sara pointed her finger at a person.

  There was silence; it lasted for quite a while.

  Sara knew. She pretended she didn’t, but she was aware. She waited patiently.

  “Song. Elder Jiu Song, Commander. O, he had his hair tied in this funny bun back then. He wore it like that for a very short time, I remember.” Taj suddenly stopped talking.

  Sara didn’t say anything to give him some time.

  Taj looked at the photo for a few minutes, then gently, very gently, touched one point on it. He appeared almost miserable. Then, as if to cheer up the atmosphere, he shook his head.

  “You all shrink. Humanity grows bigger and shrinks at the same time. Amusing, as he would say. Song, as Song would say,” he added.

  Sara lightly laughed.

  “Yes. You wouldn’t currently be perceived as short, yet you are the smallest man in this photo. It is even fun to think. I wonder, is it because of the gravity after terraforming? Could it be the cause?” she asked.

  “I could research it… I could come back to science, and I would like to,” Taj said.

  “Si would like to work with you.” Sara commented on it.

  “You sounded like Wei,” he said, again looking sad. “Thank you, Sara. It is very nice of you to bring it. Everyone is dead except me. How bad, no?”

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  “Luna is not?” she asked softly.

  “She is the last. You know about it?” Taj asked back and looked at her, as if not certain.

  “I am aware of what Mona had decided. Dual. Poor kid. So, no solution for her?” Sara asked, as it was something she had been thinking a lot about recently.

  It was what her son wanted to research. Would it be possible to solve this problem? Could Taj help? Did he know something more?

  “Nothing I am aware of. We didn’t have this problem back then; only the two of us developed Shadows’ wave. We had many concerns around waves, honestly. No, we didn’t find any solution, except what Lan created for me. Luna uses this invention to separate flows. But to cure her duality, no. Unfortunately, she is aware. She is the last,” Taj said.

  “The last Clar. What about you, then? Or have you decided to try my son’s idea?” Sara was curious.

  “Clar…” Taj started, but she recalled something and interrupted him.

  “Apologies, Taj. I forgot. Wan told me. It was not your surname, and also you weren’t very fond of being called like that,” she said slowly.

  “O, no apologies needed. It stuck with me. The truth is, it was a very long time ago what happened. A very unfortunate thing, and I should face it—my mistake, my mistake.” Taj said it aloud; it sounded more as if he said it to himself.

  “Song wouldn’t agree with me though,” he suddenly added.

  “Taj? I will tell you in detail later what happened here, but… Wan died peacefully, but she was sad you were lost somewhere; she was worried. An Yi, the same. An, she died on Moon Three, trying to fight off the attackers,” Sara stopped, sighed. “What Mona had done—I do not judge her choice of husband, but she could have at least not taken you with her. Am I correct in assuming she didn’t ask for your permission?”

  “No, not really,” Taj sighed as well. “Sara? It is amazing to be back. I also feel good about Luna. To answer your previous question, correct. I decided to try your son’s idea. It would ease Luna; she is determined to protect me with her life, and I need to stop it. She should live her life, and I should face my problems separately, no?”

  Taj asked, but it was more like a statement.

  Sara nodded.

  “I am glad. If I understand my son’s idea correctly, you would then be independent? Too many problems were caused by those who wanted to steal the knowledge. I am aware of many inventions that we shouldn’t use freely. I am aware. Soon Si will also be. My husband will pass the information.”

  She got up.

  “Taj? Let me show you around. You do not sleep—I cannot sleep; let me show you what changed here. Moreover, from what I remember, you don’t eat or drink, but you liked tea, right? You did like to check the smell; this you can still do? Let’s go to the kitchens to make a pot of tea and then visit our gardens. I recall you were a terraformer and liked nature.”

  It made Taj smile.

  Sara smiled too.

  They walked out of the room slowly.